SCHOOL COMMITTEE BLOWS IT ON KRATKA-STURGEON CASE (‘IT’S THE PLANET’S FAULT’ LARRY-THE-K BLEATS) … CRANE SOURCE SAYS JOB LOSS A SIGN OF THINGS TO COME … THE PLANET TAKES A FURTHER LOOK AT REGISTER’S RACE … plus … CHAMBER BOSS SENDS OUT AN ODD POLITICAL MEMO

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SCHOOL COMMITTEE BLOWS IT ON KRATKA-STURGEON CASE (‘IT’S THE PLANET’S FAULT’ LARRY-THE-K BLEATS) … CRANE SOURCE SAYS JOB LOSS A SIGN OF THINGS TO COME … THE PLANET TAKES A FURTHER LOOK AT REGISTER’S RACE … plus … CHAMBER BOSS SENDS OUT AN ODD POLITICAL MEMO

By DAN VALENTI PLANET VALENTI News and Commentary (FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE, THURSDAY, AUG. 23, 2012) — He put his trust in the officials. They let him down. Thus, Bill Sturgeon is twice betrayed. THE PLANET, which as you know has been closely following the Larry Kratka-Bill Sturgeon Disappearing Act, has heard from our good friend […]

August 22, 2012 30 Comments

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KRATKA ON HOT SEAT TONIGHT AT PITTSFIELD SCHOOL COMMITTEE MEETING … LENOX CONTINUES TO SPIT UP ON THE BED; THIS TIME, ALLEGED OPEN MEETING VIOLATIONS ARE THE ISSUE … plus … ‘LENOXOLOGY’ ENDS IN WITH A WHIMPER, NOT A BANG, BUT TOWN IS $100Gs LIGHTER FOR IT

By DAN VALENTI PLANET VALENTI News and Commentary (FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE, WEDNESDAY, AUG. 22, 2012) — First items first. Tonight, beginning at 6 p.m., the Pittsfield School Committee meets. One the agenda is an appearance by WTBR mananger Larry Kratka. The meeting will be conducted in city council chambers. Kratka is being hauled in based […]

August 22, 2012 15 Comments

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BORING BROADSHEET AXES GRAPHICS DEPARTMENT, SENDS JOBS TO INDIA … WILL THE REAL PAUL RYAN PLEASE STAND UP … LAUGENOUR VS. PIGNATELLI: SCOTT PICKS UP UAW ENDORSEMENT … KRATKA HAS DATE WITH SCHOOL COMMITTEE TOMORROW NIGHT AT 6 P.M.

By DAN VALENTI PLANET VALENTI News and Commentary (FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE, MONDAY, AUG. 20, 2012) — Here’s a headline you will never see in the Boring Broadsheet: EAGLE FARMS OUT GRAPHICS DEPARTMENT JOBS TO INDIA, NIXES 8 LOCAL JOBS This is the news out of the Boring Broadsheet, according to a source. As of sometime in September, […]

August 21, 2012 19 Comments

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LEGENDS OF THE LIGHTHOUSE REUNION CONCERT SEPT. 9 AT BOYS CLUB; TICKETS ON SALE NOW … AUG. 20 — AN EVOCATIVE DAY … POETRY MONDAY WELCOMES ROBERT BROWNING

By DAN VALENTI PLANET VALENTI News and Commentary (FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE, MONDAY, AUG. 20, 1967) — We want to bring your attention to a special event that will take place on Sunday, Sept. 9, at the Pittsfield Boys and Girls Club. The Legends of the Lighthouse reunion concert will play the club from noon to […]

August 20, 2012 15 Comments

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R.I.P. JOHNNY PESKY (1919-2012) … MAYOR CHIDES BB ON SPECTRUM MISQUOTE, CORRECTS THE RECORD IN A PLANET EXCLUSIVE! … plus … WE HEAR FROM SCOTT PIGNATELLI, CANDIDATE FOR REGISTER OF DEEDS AS BATTLED LINES OF CAMPAIGN ARE DRAWN

By DAN VALENTI Planet Valenti News and Commentary (FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE, FRIDAY, AUG. 17, 2012) — Player, coach, manager, broadcaster, special instructor, ticket salesman, and goodwill ambassador. What did he not do? He has a piece of Fenway Park named after him. He had the perfect name for a leadoff batter. They don’t make them […]

August 17, 2012 63 Comments

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THREE ITEMS TO PONDER: IS ADDICTION A ‘DISEASE?’ (ANSWER, NO) … DO STATE LAWMAKERS CARE ABOUT TAXPAYERS (ANSWER, NO) … and … WHAT WAS NUCIFORO THINKING WHEN HE COMMITTED LITERARY THEFT? (RICHIE NEAL AND BILL SHEIN AREN’T WONDERING, THAT’S FOR SURE)

NOTE: By a slight electronic routing error, today’s post, for Thursday, Aug. 16, was coded as an “Aug. 13” story. We have reposted in this way. We apologize for any confusion. Article THREE ITEMS TO PONDER: IS ADDICTION A ‘DISEASE?’ (ANSWER, NO) … DO STATE LAWMAKERS CARE ABOUT TAXPAYERS (ANSWER, NO) … and … WHAT […]

August 16, 2012 51 Comments

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A QUICK NOTE ON SPECTRUM-PITTSFIELD DEAL GETS US GOING, then … SOME ‘BUDGET HAWK’: PAUL RYAN LEAVES DEFENSE SPENDING UNCUT … RYAN ISN’T A ‘BUDGET HAWK;’ HE’S JUST ANOTHER PLAIN, OLD HAWK WHO WILL PROTECT THE FAT & SACRED COW … plus … A CLOSE LOOK AT THE UNITED STATES of AMNESIA’s OBSCENE PENTAGON BUDGET

By DAN VALENTI PLANET VALENTI News and Commentary (FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE, WEDNESDAY, AUG. 15, 2012) — THE PLANET begins with this note on today’s post: Yes, we shall be exploring the various facets of the Spectrum-Pittsfield agreement in detail. We shall ask questions that, we alone (most likely) will dare to ask. Meanwhile, if you […]

August 15, 2012 42 Comments

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MORE INFO ON CITY-SPECTRUM SECRECY … LETTERS TO THE EDITOR … plus … PLANET LOOKS AT THE HOTTEST RACE SET FOR SEPT. 6: THE DEMOCRATIC PRIMARY FOR MIDDLE COUNTY REGISTER OF DEEDS … PLANET ISSUES ENDORSEMENT

By DAN VALENTI PLANET VALENTI News and Commentary (FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE, TUESDAY, AUG. 14, 2012) — Last week, THE PLANET brought readers up to date on the latest in the secret (and secretive) business between Spectrum Health Systems or Worcester and the city of Pittsfield. Stories like this can sometimes serve to pry other information […]

August 14, 2012 90 Comments

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THREE ITEMS TO PONDER: IS ADDICTION A ‘DISEASE?’ (ANSWER, NO) … DO STATE LAWMAKERS CARE ABOUT TAXPAYERS (ANSWER, NO) … and … WHAT WAS NUCIFORO THINKING WHEN HE COMMITTED LITERARY THEFT? (RICHIE NEAL AND BILL SHEIN AREN’T WONDERING, THAT’S FOR SURE)

By DAN VALENTI PLANET VALENTI News and Commentary (FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE, THURSDAY, AUG. 16, 2012) — Today, THE PLANET presents three local items for your digestion. The Pepto Abyssmal is on the house. First, though, let me say that we had an extensive interview yesterday on the Spectrum situation with Mayor Dan Bianchi. On Friday, […]

August 13, 2012 12 Comments

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PLANET EXPLORES ONE OF THE GREATEST AND MOST PROPHETIC SPEECHES BY ANY U.S. PRESIDENT, EISENHOWER’s FAREWELL TALK TO THE NATION 1/17/61, WHEN HE COINED THE PHRASE ‘MILITARY-INDUSTRIAL COMPLEX’ … LEARN WHY THIS MATTERS TODAY & WHY THIS MATTER TO YOU

By DAN VALENTI PLANET VALENTI News and Commentary (FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE, MONDAY, AUG. 13, 2012) — When did the U. S. Empire begin its decline? First, about that word “Empire.” Writer Gore Vidal began to use the phrase in the 1960s and employed it relentlessly for the rest of his life. “Empire” had formerly referred […]

August 12, 2012 41 Comments

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SPECTRUM WANTS TO LOCATE ITS CLINIC AT ITS ORIGINAL CHOICE, ON SUMMER STREET … SECRECY STILL IMPEDES METHADONE FACILITY ISSUE, AND BOTH THE CITY AND THE COMPANY ARE AT FAULT … ATTORNEY’S PETITION TO BEACON HILL ASKS: WHY SHOULD NON-PROFITS GET OFF TAX FREE? … LOLO (SOB) BREAKS DOWN (BOO HOO) ON TRACK AND ON (SNIFF) TV

By DAN VALENTI PLANET VALENTI News and Commentary (FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE, FRIDAY, AUG. 10, 2012) — The city of Pittsfield still has not revealed the location of Spectrum Health Systems‘ Pittsfield methadone clinic, but the site must be chosen or near to it. The company began advertising on the jobs section of Craigslist this week and […]

August 10, 2012 73 Comments

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PLANET MOURNS PASSING OF “MOLLY” a.k.a. NANCY PRENDERGAST …BOMBING OF HIROSHIMA 67 YEARS LATER STILL RAISES THE QUESTION: DID WE HAVE TO DO IT? … DOES MORALITY TRUMP POLITICS? … EINSTEIN’S DEATH EQUATION: GOOD OR EVIL? JOIN THE DISCUSSION ON THE PLANET

By DAN VALENTI PLANET VALENTI News and Commentary (FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE, THURSDAY, AUG. 9, 2012) —THE PLANET shares this note, so thoughtfully passed along to us by DIOGENES. Dan, On a somber note, with unspeakable sadness and heartbreak, I must inform you of the passing away of one of your prolific posters, Molly / Nancy. […]

August 9, 2012 36 Comments

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GORE VIDAL (OCT. 3, 1925-JULY 31, 2012): A WRITER WORTHY OF HIS WORDS

By DAN VALENTI PLANET VALENTI News and Commentary (FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE, THURSDAY, AUG. 9, 2012) — We lead off today with a remembrance of the late, great Gore Vidal. Along the way to becoming a writer — and before and after all else (broadcaster, educator), that’s what we consider ourselves to be — THE PLANET […]

August 8, 2012 55 Comments

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PLANET EXCLUSIVE!! WE NAME THE GOP VP CANDIDATE!! SO WHAT’s THE SHAME IN PRESIDENTIAL POLITICS STRICTLY FOR THE SAKE OF ARGUMENT, OF COURSE … Mr. MITT’S VP CHOICE … GABBY’s HAIR …

By DANVALENTI PLANET VALENTI News and Commentary ADD #1 TUESDAY 8/7/12 — May we cut to the chase here. Let THE PLANET be the first to report that Mitt Romney‘s choice for vice president will be … drumroll, maestro … … MARCO RUBIO. Rubio, the junior senator from Florida, will help Romney in that key […]

August 6, 2012 81 Comments

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AFTER NEARLY 70 YEARS, UNDEVELOPED BROWNIE FILM YIELDS BREATHTAKING ‘NEW’ IMAGES FROM WWII … DISSECTING ‘BERKSHIRE BUSINESS SNOOZE’ PUBLISHED BY THE BERKSHIRE CHAMBER OF RAH RAH … STRONG DOLLAR KILL COMPANIES’ PROFIT MARGINS … plus … DEFAULTED MORTGAGES: WHY SHOULD TAXPAYERS GET STUCK PAYING FOR THE STUPID DECISION OF IRRESPONSIBLE HOMEOWNERS?

By DAN VALENTI PLANET VALENTI News and Commentary (FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE, MONDAY, AUG. 6, 2012 — Welcome to the new week. THE PLANET is back from scurrying to far parts of the country, and now we are back, all fagged, fashed, jet-lagged, and fulfilled. In the meantime, though … … Here’s a photo tribute to […]

August 6, 2012 24 Comments

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TEEN’S HEROIC ACT OF RESCUE MET WITH A BILL FOR $2,600, or, HOW STUPID HAS AMERICA BECOME? … DOWNTOWN PITTSFIELD INC., An EXERCISE IN WASTING TAXPAYERS’ DOUGH — MR. BIANCHI AND CITY COUNCILORS, IT’S TIME TO PULL THE PLUG … plus … QUICK HITS AND HOT LICKS TAKES ON AFGHANISTAN, and TEACHERS UNIONS GO TO BAT FOR SEXUAL PREDATORS

By DAN VALENTI PLANET VALENTI News and Commentary (FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE, MONDAY, AUG. 6, 2012) — How stupid has America become? We share this wire story: Seventeen-year-old John Clark of Vancouver, Wash., knew what to do when he saw a boy struggling to stay afloat in the surf off the Oregon coast. The trained pool […]

August 3, 2012 57 Comments

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