By DAN VALENTI PLANET VALENTI News and Commentary (FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE, TUESDAY, OCT. 16, 2012) — Contractgate: It was, is, and — until amended — as phony as a department store Santa Claus. For those who wish to brush up on the background of the case, refer to THE PLANET‘s Sept. 30, 2012 column and […]
By DAN VALENTI PLANET VALENTI News and Commentary (FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE, MONDAY, OCT. 15, 2012) — Back in the saddle again, on a late Monday evening, after a time in the Big City. We did much more than go through the motions on actions that might affect the world itself. We can say no more. We […]
By DAN VALENTI PLANET VALENTI News and Commentary (FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE, FRIDAY, OCT. 12, 2012) — On this, the Real Columbus Day, THE PLANET offers the second part of our ruminations over one of the worst meetings the Pittsfield City Council has likely ever conducted. It left veteran observers shaking their heads, novices agape, and […]
By DAN VALENTI PLANET VALENTI News and Commentary (FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE, THURSDAY, OCT. 11, 2012) — No. No, no, no, no, no. Did you get that? No. THE PLANET has NOTHING — n-o-t-h-i-n-g — to do with “helping Paul Ryan‘s prep team” for tonight’s debate against the vice president. We’ve been patient with a lot […]
By DAN VALENTI PLANET VALENTI News and Commentary !UPDATED! (FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE, WEDNESDAY, OCT. 10, 2012) — Being tighter for time than a flunkie taking his SATs, we will keep our initial comments brief on last night bizarre city council marathon. Cutting to the chase, the council: — Filed the Sherman-Yon Act on a last-minute […]
By DAN VALENTI PLANET VALENTI News and Commentary (FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE, TUESDAY, OCT. 9, 2012) — Counting down the hours until tonight’s showdown city council meeting, in which my Right Honorable Good Friends tackle two marquee issues: ———————————————————- ADD #1 10/9/12, LATER IN THE MORNING: Isn’t it interesting that despite the meeting tonight showing all […]
By DAN VALENTI PLANET VALENTI News and Commentary (FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE, MONDAY, OCT. 8, 2012) — It’s the celebration of Columbus Day, that politically incorrect memorial of that day in 1492 when the Bad White Male Europeans coming to the “New World” to corrupt the Good, Colored, Engendered, Native Americans, thereby creating The Welfare State. […]
By DAN VALENTI PLANET VALENTI News and Commentary (FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE, FRIDAY, OCT. 5, 2012) — THE PLANET has still to hear from Mayor Dan Bianchi on the petition that will be filed by city council president Kevin Sherman, at-large, and Ward 1 councilor Christine Yon. The Sherman-Yon Act requests the council to issue a […]
By DAN VALENTI PLANET VALENTI News and Commentary (FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE, THURSDAY, OCT. 4, 2012) — We were about ready to ready and publish a story about the national deficit when late word came in on a developing story that could have profound effects on future relations between Mayor Dan Bianchi and the Pittsfield City […]
By DAN VALENTI PLANET VALENTI News and Commentary (FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE, WEDNESDAY, OCT. 3, 2012) — The muck gets muckier in Contractgate. After using her position as asst. supt. Frank Cote‘s secretary for the inside track, Lynn Whitney was “awarded” the contract for free slave labor, courtesy of Taconic High School carpentry students, to build […]
By DAN VALENTI PLANET VALENTI News and Commentary (FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE, TUESDAY, OCT. 2, 2012) — Do you remember the Fats Waller tune, “I’m Going to Sit Right Down and Write Myself a Letter,” done also by many other songsters. THE PLANET wonder is this might be one of Lynn Whitney‘s favorites. Whitney, secretary to […]
By DAN VALENTI PLANET VALENTI News and Commentary (FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE, MONDAY, OCT. 1, 2012) — Once again, THE PLANET caught “Them” with “Their” hand in the cookie jar. We can call it our reason for being or an occupational hazard. Take your pick. C’mon down, Frank Cote, assistant superintendent of schools, Pittsfield School Department! […]
By DAN VALENTI PLANET VALENTI News and Commentary (FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE, FRIDAY, SEPT. 28, 2012) — This story bears watching. On Tuesday this week, the city council entertained an unusual communication, listed on the agenda as No. 8: A communication from Frank K. Cote, Assistant Superintendent, Pittsfield Public Schools, submitting an Order authorizing the City […]
By DAN VALENTI PLANET VALENTI News and Commentary (FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE, THURSDAY, SEPT. 27, 2012) — The United States of Snooky and Honey Boo Boo, now in the midst of a presidential election, can offer any large number of cases in point to prove the vacuous country’s lack of values and priorities. The most important issue of […]
By DAN VALENTI PLANET VALENTI News and Commentary (FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE, WEDNESDAY, SEPT. 26, 2012) — “Everybody’s got a plan until they get punched in the mouth” — Mike Tyson. “You don’t get to see the actual report itself, of course, even though you’ve paid for the ships and the contractors — twice — who phoned in […]
By DAN VALENTI PLANET VALENTI News and Commentary (FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE, TUESDAY, SEPT. 25, 2012) — THE PLANET has nothing to say about the silly speculations and wild-eyed canards about our supposed work for the Scott Brown campaign. As always, our client list remains proprietary. We only bring this up because of a funny thing that […]
