BY DAN VALENTI PLANET VALENTI NEWS AND COMMENTARY (FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE, WEDNESDAY NOV. 18, 2020) — One of the more interesting wrinkles to emerge from THE PLANET‘s exclusive coverage of Pittsfield’s COVID-19 situation is the mention of a long-standing wife-swapping practice. The “switcheroo” gatherings have been forced into more “creative” methods for hooking up now […]
BY DAN VALENTI PLANET VALENTI NEWS AND COMMENTARY (FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE, MONDAY NOV. 16, 2020) — THE PLANET understands the desire to go “all pandemic, all of the time,” and we will stay abreast of the local situation, but the country does have a little matter to settle. You might have heard of it. Does […]
BY DAN VALENTI PLANET VALENTI NEWS AND COMMENTARY (FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE, THE WEEKEND EDITION NOV. 13-5, 2020) — In large part due to THE PLANET‘s coverage and the relentless nature of the community’s ensuing discussions, the City of Pittsfield has issued emergency orders to combat an alarming uptick in new COVID-19 cases. “You were the […]
BY DAN VALENTI PLANET VALENTI NEWS AND COMMENTARY (FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE, WEDNESDAY NOV. 11, 2020) — On Nov. 6, the City of Pittsfield, mayor’s office, sent out the following press release. We present it in full. Then we present the actual story. The press release only tells a part of what happened. Conspicuously missing was […]
BY DAN VALENTI PLANET VALENTI NEWS AND COMMENTARY (FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE, MONDAY. NOV. 9, 2020) — THE PLANET was going to a local story — the comeback of COVID-19 in Pittsfield due to what appears to be a “super spreader” event at Methuselah’s gin joint on North Street, but two things intervened. First, we wait […]
BY DAN VALENTI PLANET VALENTI NEWS AND COMMENTARY (FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE, THE WEEKEND EDITION NOV. 6-8, 2020) — One things is clear: Nothing is clear. We still don’t know and may not for some time. The worst of all possible outcomes occurred on Election Day, which, regardless of who comes out ahead (no one will […]
BY DAN VALENTI PLANET VALENTI NEWS AND COMMENTARY (FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE, WEDNESDAY NOV. 4, 2020) — THE PLANET doesn’t know who won it. CNN doesn’t know who won it. Fox News doesn’t know who won it. The New York Times doesn’t know who won it. USA Today doesn’t know who won it. The Washington Post […]
BY DAN VALENTI PLANET VALENTI NEWS AND COMMENTARY (FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE, MONDAY NOV. 2, 2020) The best comment by a reader of THE PLANET during this entire election cycle came as the first on The Weekend Edition a couple days ago. My friend Jerry Packard wrote: “Folks, it’s time for us to come together. What […]
BY DAN VALENTI PLANET VALENTI NEWS AND COMMENTARY (FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE, THE WEEKEND EDITION OCT. 30-NOV. 1) — For this weekend preceding the Tuesday election, THE PLANET offers — what shall we call it? A time out? A breather? A magician’s misdirection “here” while he performs the trick “there?” A moment of sanity? A lark? […]
BY DAN VALENTI PLANET VALENTI NEWS AND COMMENTARY (FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE, WEDNESDAY OCT. 28, 2020) — After Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas swore in judge Amy Coney Barrett to become the ninth Supreme with President Donald Trump witnessing, lamenting Democrats warned of doom for the Affordable Care Act (ACA), a.k.a., Obamacare. Good riddance. Dumping the […]
BY DAN VALENTI PLANET VALENTI NEWS AND COMMENTARY (FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE, MONDAY OCT. 26, 2020) — Donald Trump and Joe Biden both did what they wanted to do in the final debate. Trump came off as measured, and Biden held serve. Was it enough? Was it enough for the President to reclaim the presidential high […]
BY DAN VALENTI PLANET VALENTI NEWS AND COMMENTARY (FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE, THE WEEKEND EDITION OCT. 23-5) — Here’s an interesting column by Michael Cohen on Twitter, courtesy of The Boston Globe. It sums up his view of where the elections stands as of today. THE PLANET hopes it eases you into the weekend: ———- ooo […]
BY DAN VALENTI PLANET VALENTI NEWS AND COMMENTARY (FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE, WEDNESDAY OCT. 21, 2020) — With less than two weeks before the election, the Oval Office is still up for grabs. Question is, which of the candidates’ reach exceeds their grasp? THE PLANET did some research. A content analysis of a cross-section of media […]
BY DAN VALENTI PLANET VALENTI NEWS AND COMMENTARY (FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE, MONDAY OCT. 19, 2020) — Boston is going to do it. Why not Pittsfield? THE PLANET asks. We think we know why. What is “it?” From the Boston Herald two days ago: “Boston will conduct a ‘full data review’ of all the college, medical and […]
BY DAN VALENTI PLANET VALENTI NEWS AND COMMENTARY (FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE, THE WEEKEND EDITION 16-8, 2020) — Today, THE PLANET lays out three scenarios for Nov. 3 and the day after. A. On Nov. 4, America will wake up to a new president-elect, Joe Biden. Here’s why: Democrats have $85 million more in reserved ad […]
BY DAN VALENTI PLANET VALENTI NEWS AND COMMENTARY (FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE, WEDNESDAY OCT. 14, 2020) — THE PLANET‘s column on Columbus Day had within it a subtext on diversity training. Like most programs with decent goals, such training has proven to be a waste of money for one simple reason: You can’t force a change […]
