BY DAN VALENTI PLANET VALENTI NEWS AND COMMENTARY (FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE, THE WEEKEND EDITION OCT. 3-5, 2025) — THE PLANET brings to mind an idle discussion we witnessed today, left and right talking AT and not TO each other. The details matter little. What struck us is the illogic we saw on display. Not only […]
BY DAN VALENTI PLANET VALENTI NEWS AND COMMENTARY (FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE WEDNESDAY OCT. 1, 2025) — While THE PLANET ponders how October came to be when yesterday we were in the early days of spring, we can share a profound insight prompted by one of our readers and correspondents. DON’T VOTE. Next month is November, […]
BY DAN VALENTI PLANET VALENTI NEWS AND COMMENTARY (FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE THE WEEKEND EDITION SEPT. 26-8, 2025) — Sweepings from the cutting room floor. Tipsters: Here’s one THE PLANET received last week from a concerned citizen, who also happens to be a retired but still-plugged-in senior administrator: I have heard that paras are being placed […]
BY DAN VALENTI PLANET VALENTI NEWS AND COMMENTARY (FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE WEDNESDAY SEPT. 23, 2025) — Last week, THE PLANET had the pleasure of delivering an author talk in the guise of alter-ego, writer Dan Valenti. We changed in a nearby phone booth, spoke for an hour, took questions, then sold and signed books. We’ve […]
BY DAN VALENTI PLANET VALENTI NEWS AND COMMENTARY (FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE THE WEEKEND EDITION SEPT. 19-21, 2025) — THE PLANET reminds those who utter, carry, or believe in the catchphrase “No Kings in America” that this land has not had a king since we freed ourselves of King George III of England. Of course, since […]
BY DAN VALENTI PLANET VALENTI NEWS AND COMMENTARY (FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE WEDNESDAY SEPT. 17, 2025) — After apple picking, THE PLANET found a few cores on the ground. Curriculareckless — A quick look at the Bitchfield School Department’s “Curriculum & Learning” tab on its official website reserves a prominent two slots for “Cultural Competence” and […]
BY DAN VALENTI PLANET VALENTI NEWS AND COMMENTARY (FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE, MONDAY SEPT. 15, 2025) — Rod Serling said it best: “There is a middle ground, between light and shadow, between science and superstition, between things and ideas. It lies between the pit of man’s fears and the summit of his knowledge.” That middle ground–in […]
BY DAN VALENTI PLANET VALENTI NEWS AND COMMENTARY (FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE, THE WEEKEND EDITION SEPT. 12-14, 20250 — Prior to recent events, THE PLANET had never heard of Charlie Kirk. True. We don’t “follow” anyone on social media or YouTube, much less watch the endless political blather of talking heads, and so when we heard […]
BY DAN VALENTI PLANET VALENTI NEWS AND COMMENTARY (FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE, MONDAY SEPT. 8, 2025) — Tomorrow, your Bitchfield Profiles in Courage otherwise known as the city council take up the thorny matter of what the council president calls “the houseless.” Voltron the Porkchop’s word illustrates an interesting development in neologisms, a linguistic devolution imposed […]
BY DAN VALENTI PLANET VALENTI NEWS AND COMMENTARY (FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE, THE WEEKEND EDITION SEPT. 5-7, 2025) — Large things articulate a city. Small things define it. Let’s talk small. Driving through Bitchfield from outer West Street, the motorist sees electrical boxes, typically a shade of Fenway green. Some have been painted, and nicely, by […]
BY DAN VALENTI PLANET VALENTI NEWS AND COMMENTARY (FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE, THE WEEKEND EDITION AUG. 28-31) — Time for a fresh set of downs. Even with THE PLANET thousands of light years away somewhere in the vicinity of Alpha Centauri, with the campers with us sworn to secrecy as to our location, the news hit. […]
BY DAN VALENTI PLANET VALENTI NEWS AND COMMENTARY (FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE, MONDAY AUG. 18, 2025) — As THE PLANET extends our VAY-KAY time, we will offer this quick comment on “houselessness” to jump start another week of community discussion. As you know, we are the only media site left for real-time, uncensored remarks. For the […]
BY DAN VALENTI PLANET VALENTI NEWS AND COMMENTARY (FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE, MONDAY AUG. 11, 2025) — We’ve caught our limit, set them free, and have had a great run with the bees. Idling can be habit forming. Question round the campfire last night: What is money? It’s the unit of value placed on compensation for […]
BY DAN VALENTI PLANET VALENTI NEWS AND COMMENTARY (FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE, MONDAY AUG. 4, 2025) — Gone fishing. Be back … … whenever. ————————————————- “Relaxation is the prerequisite for the beauty of aimlessness” — Sir Donald Turpentine, Knight of the Bath. “OPEN THE WIDOW, AUNT MILLIE.” LOVE TO ALL. Copyright (c) 2025 By Dan Valenti, […]
BY DAN VALENTI PLANET VALENTI NEWS AND COMMENTARY ADD 1 SATURDAY A.M. — THE PLANET received this news from the office of Berkshire County District Attorney Tim Shugrue: Becket, MA- There are no criminal charges being brought in the August 1st accidental death of Kat Sirico, a Jacob’s Pillow summer employee. An investigation conducted by […]
BY DAN VALENTI PLANET VALENTI NEWS AND COMMENTARY (FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE, WEDNESDAY JULY 30, 2025) — The issue of trans education (indoctrination) is the nation’s public schools is again upon us with the new school year at hand. The issue is a critical one for every school district supported by taxpayers funds. That includes Bitchfield, […]
