Upstream

• Nationwide Arab American anti-discrimination group files complaint against Albany Family Court Judge, W. Dennis Duggan, with New York State Commission on Judicial Conduct

  The American-Arab Anti Discrimination Committee (ADC), which bills itself as non-partisan and non-sectarian, and is the largest organization in the United States dedicated to protecting the rights of Arab Americans, has filed a complaint against Albany County Family Court Judge, W. Dennis Duggan, with the New York State Commission on [...]
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  Posted: November 17, 2009, 8:03am EST
  by livefreeordie

• The Kerry Robertson Story. The New Aryan Nation or what happens when the UK says you are to stupid to have children.

  Number of comments: 1
  If Jesus returned to earth we would kill him again, but this time we wouldn’t nail him to a cross. Instead we would strap him to a gurney, put him to sleep, and drip poison into his veins until he expired. And so it is with our new eugenics. We don’t [...]
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  Posted: October 26, 2009, 5:48am EDT
  by livefreeordie

• Day of Rest

  [...]
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  Posted: October 25, 2009, 7:53am EDT
  by livefreeordie

• The Road Not Taken

  Number of comments: 1
  The Road Not Taken-Robert Frost TWO roads diverged in a yellow wood, And sorry I could not travel both And be one traveler, long I stood And looked down one as far as I could To where it bent in the undergrowth; 5 Then took the other, as just as fair, And having [...][...]
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  Posted: October 24, 2009, 4:55pm EDT
  by livefreeordie

• The Book Hound Open Today

  Number of comments: 1
  Even though today is a holiday, the Book Hound is open today from Noon until 5pm so if you have nothing better to do, how about taking a nice ride out to the Mohawk Valley and visiting our store. The store is located at 16 East Main Street. [...]
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  Posted: October 12, 2009, 10:41am EDT
  by livefreeordie

• Bookstore Update

  I have been busy assembling bookcases and stocking shelves with new books. If you are interested in ephemera (paper items), I have just put out a lot of Amsterdam and Mohawk Valley items for sale. I also have old Amsterdam postcards and High School yearbooks for sale. Some of the ephemera [...]
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  Posted: October 07, 2009, 7:43am EDT
  by livefreeordie

• Where has Chris Rea been all my life?

  Number of comments: 1
  Why did it take me until this year to discover Chris Rea? He’s one of the top guitarists and musicians of all time as far as I am concerned. In the past he did play and sing a lot of junk, trying too hard to be popular. Now he has [...]
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  Posted: October 04, 2009, 6:24pm EDT
  by livefreeordie

• Court says New York State parents cannot contract out of child support obligations until child is 21

  In the Matter of Thomas B. v Lydia D. the New York State Supreme Court, Appellate Division, ruled on Thursday, October 1, that parents in New York State cannot contract away their obligation to take care of their children until age twenty-one. The issue before the court was whether or [...]
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  Posted: October 04, 2009, 5:45am EDT
  by livefreeordie

• Dayana Perez of Capital News 9 covers my bookstore

  Number of comments: 3
  Dayana Perez spent almost an hour interviewing me yesterday and taking video of my bookstore in Amsterdam. The finished story was on Capital News 9 last night. You can read or watch the story here. Thanks Dayana! [...]
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  Posted: October 01, 2009, 9:40am EDT
  by livefreeordie

• Antiques Appraisal Day at the Van Alstyne Homestead in Canajoharie on Saturday October 3

  Number of comments: 1
  The Van Alstyne Homestead Society is holding an Antiques Appraisal Day at the Van Alstyne Homestead, 43 Moyer Street, Canajoharie, NY, from 11a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, October 3, 2009. Come to find out what your favorite object is worth – or even, what it is. There is a $5 [...]
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  Posted: October 01, 2009, 4:56am EDT
  by livefreeordie

• Brooklyn New York Family Court Judge J. Alan Beckoff denies petition to terminate illiterate inmate’s parental rights

  Kings County (Brooklyn, NY) Family Court Judge J. Alan Beckoff denied a petition to terminate the parental rights of an incarcerated father late last week. In the matter of Jayquan J., SCO Family of Services, a foster care agency, petitioned the court to terminate the parental rights of Clint J., [...]
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  Posted: September 29, 2009, 8:56pm EDT
  by livefreeordie

• New York State Supreme Court, Appellate Division, dismisses all of Dan Rather’s claims against CBS

  Decided on September 29, 2009 SUPREME COURT, APPELLATE DIVISION First Judicial Department Luis A. Gonzalez, P.J. John T. Buckley James M. Catterson James M. McGuire Dianne T. Renwick, JJ. 475-475A-475B-475C 603121/07 [*1]Dan Rather, Plaintiff-Respondent-Appellant, v CBS Corporation, Defendant-Appellant-Respondent, Viacom, Inc., et al., Defendants-Respondents. Plaintiff Dan Rather appeals from a judgment of the Supreme Court, New York County (Ira Gammerman, [...]
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  Posted: September 29, 2009, 8:35pm EDT
  by livefreeordie

• Should President Obama be assassinated? Should Facebook start supporting the First Amendment?

  The answer to the first question is a resounding NO! The answer to the second question is a resounding YES! While it might have been stupid for someone to post a poll on Facebook asking whether or not President Obama should be assassinated, it was equally stupid for Facebook to take it [...]
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  Posted: September 29, 2009, 8:33am EDT
  by livefreeordie

• Amsterdam Bookstore Update

  A special thanks to the Recorder and the Daily Gazette for covering my bookstore. I also appreciate Bob Cudmore’s mention of the store on WVTL and the mention and link from local blogger, Flippin’ Amsterdam. I have been pleased by the old customers and new customers that have already visited the [...]
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  Posted: September 29, 2009, 8:15am EDT
  by livefreeordie

• Emails from arrested Albany attorney Charles Keegan shed light on relationship with teen client

  Law guardian says former client has no future except as pole dancer or Wal-mart cashier Emails, obtained by this examiner, between Albany law guardian, Charles Keegan, and the family of a teen girl he allegedly stalked, reveal apparent concern for the girl but also reveal what seems to be unprofessional behavior [...]
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  Posted: September 25, 2009, 9:45am EDT
  by livefreeordie

• New bookstore to open unofficially in Amsterdam today

  Number of comments: 3
  Old location on Locust Avenue. New location on East Main Street. The Book Hound, formerly located on Locust Avenue in Amsterdam, and for the last six years an internet only business, will unofficially open it doors again today at noon at 16 E. Main Street. A grand opening is tentatively planned for [...]
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  Posted: September 22, 2009, 5:51am EDT
  by livefreeordie

• Montgomery County New York salaries A-L as posted on SeeThroughNY

  Number of comments: 2
  Abbott, Jodi Montgomery $19,444 Abrams, Kevin Montgomery $33,821 Abreu, Johnnie Montgomery $26,722 Achzet, Sandra Montgomery $25,638 Aldi, Andy Montgomery $36,710 Alibozek, Susan Montgomery $0 [...] [...]
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  Posted: September 20, 2009, 7:44am EDT
  by livefreeordie

• City of Amsterdam police and fire department salaries as posted on SeeThroughNY

  Agresta, Anthony J Amsterdam $57,527 Alibozek, Frank J Amsterdam $63,670 Alukonis, Chad J Amsterdam $59,131 Bardascini, David Amsterdam $60,129 Belli, Nicola Amsterdam $66,859 Brooks Jr, Kenneth Amsterdam [...] [...]
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  Posted: September 20, 2009, 7:30am EDT
  by livefreeordie

• City of Amsterdam general employee salaries as posted on SeeThroughNY

  Aguero, Luis A Amsterdam $49,627 Aldi, Richard L Amsterdam $34,299 Aldi, Thomas A Amsterdam $8,033 Alibozek, Susan M Amsterdam $35,848 Altieri III, Richard A Amsterdam $35,595 Angelo, Joseph [...] [...]
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  Posted: September 20, 2009, 7:27am EDT
  by livefreeordie

• Statewide County, Municipal Payrolls Added to SeeThroughNY

  The names and salaries of more than 179,000 people who worked for New York’s county, city, town and village governments in 2008-09 were posted today in a searchable database at www.SeeThroughNY.net, the transparency website sponsored by the Manhattan Institute’s Empire Center for New York State Policy. In announcing the database addition, [...]
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  Posted: September 20, 2009, 7:13am EDT
  by livefreeordie

• Excuse me Drs. Fox and Schingo, but would you mind pulling up your trousers? Your Botox is showing.

  When professionals attack what I write, they always attack in pairs. That happened when two “reverends” attacked me after an article I wrote, and it happened again today, when two plastic surgeons from Schenectady attacked me about an opinion piece I had in the Gazette a few weeks ago. For those [...]
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  Posted: September 18, 2009, 1:02pm EDT
  by livefreeordie

• Amsterdam man acquitted of child abuse charges. One more reason why Montgomery County Child Protective Services & DSS need to be investigated

  Attempt to railroad innocent man cost Montgomery County taxpayers approximately $100,000, and it will cost the county more if Albert G. Rodeo sues I have written again and again about the shenanigans at the Montgomery County, New York Department of Child Protective Services and Department of Social Services. I have written [...]
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  Posted: September 17, 2009, 9:28am EDT
  by livefreeordie

• Herons sighted in Amsterdam area recently

  Number of comments: 1
  I have lived in Amsterdam for more than thirty years but have never seen a heron near the city. In the past week, I have seen one several times on Queen Anne Road, right where the city line is, not too far from the new Beech-nut factory. My daughter has [...]
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  Posted: September 17, 2009, 7:41am EDT
  by livefreeordie

• Crumbs along the Mohawk. Former Charles Manson family member Squeaky Lynette Fromme moves to the Mohawk Valley

  Number of comments: 4
  Squeaky Lynette Fromme, a former member of the Charles Manson “family” is moving to Marcy, a town located between Rome and Utica, in the Mohawk Valley. Fromme, now 60 years old, was released from prison on August 14, after serving 34 years of a life sentence for an assassination attempt [...]
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  Posted: September 16, 2009, 7:58am EDT
  by livefreeordie

• Parents sue Wal-Mart & State of Arizona after children are taken away because of bathtub photos

  Number of comments: 4
  Lisa and Anthony Demaree of Maricopa County, Arizona have filed a lawsuit against the State of Arizona, the Arizona Attorney General and the City of Peoria, after their children were taken away by Child Protective Services because of photos the parents took of their children while on vacation in San [...]
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  Posted: September 14, 2009, 12:58pm EDT
  by livefreeordie

• The real 9/11 truth – We have met the terrorists and the terrorists are US

  Number of comments: 3
  The real 9/11 truth is not that the destruction of the World Trade Center was an inside job, but that the terrorists who flew planes into it achieved a monumental victory. The destruction of the twin towers and the loss of life and property, as tragic as they were, did [...]
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  Posted: September 11, 2009, 8:25am EDT
  by livefreeordie

• I didn’t vote for him and I oppose his health care plan, but President Obama’s speech to school kids is right on target

  Number of comments: 1
  I didn’t vote for Barack Obama. I also oppose his health care plan, in part because it makes provision for more child protective workers and other social workers to visit the homes of parents who are expecting or who have pre-school children. However, the furor over President Obama’s speech today [...]
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  Posted: September 08, 2009, 8:30am EDT
  by livefreeordie

• Amsterdam’s own Michael Jackson impersonator performing in Troy and Utica, New York

  Amsterdam resident Miguel Garcia peforming his Michael Jackson impersonation in Troy and Utica. [...]
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  Posted: September 06, 2009, 8:56am EDT
  by livefreeordie

• Martha Coakley’s involvement in Fells Acres Day Care Case makes her unfit to replace Ted Kennedy as senator from Massachusetts

  Martha Coakley, the current Massachusetts Attorney General, is not fit to be a United States Senator. Anyone who thinks so only needs to study the Fells Acres Day Care case. The Fells Acres Day Care was started by Violet Amirault and run with the help of her son, Gerald, and [...]
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  Posted: September 04, 2009, 7:27am EDT
  by livefreeordie

• Court refuses John Aretakis change of venue

  Sorry folks but I don’t have the time to write about this one. You can read the court decision for yourself. [...]
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  Posted: September 02, 2009, 7:30am EDT
  by livefreeordie

• Bookstore coming soon to East Main Street in Amsterdam

  [...]
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  Posted: September 02, 2009, 7:18am EDT
  by livefreeordie

• Will Amsterdam live to regret this?

  Amsterdam chose to tear down the Chalmers Mill. Cohoes chose to let Uri Kaufman develop the Harmony Mills, and they got this. and this [...]
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  Posted: September 02, 2009, 7:14am EDT
  by livefreeordie

• Wastin’ away in Casinoville – Carl Strock and the Schenectady Gazette bring the “board of education” down on James and Donna Casino

  Number of comments: 4
  “I blew out my flip-flop Stepped on a pop-top Cut my heel had to cruise on back home But theres booze in the blender And soon it will render That frozen concoction that helps me hang on” From Margaritaville by Jimmy Buffet Carl Strock had an interesting column Sunday about Schenectady School Board member, James Casino, and [...]
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  Posted: September 01, 2009, 6:54am EDT
  by livefreeordie

• Watch this video and listen to police officer’s reasoning for not allowing protest sign at Obamacare town hall meeting & his comment that this ain’t America no more.

  Number of comments: 2
  [...]
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  Posted: August 30, 2009, 5:56am EDT
  by livefreeordie

• WVTL’s Bob Cudmore to teach at St. Rose

  “Bob Cudmore is now a Visiting Instructor of Communications at the College of St. Rose in Albany, teaching four sections of Introduction to Mass Media during the Fall semester. Cudmore has taught various Public Communications Department courses at St. Rose since 1988. Cudmore hosts the morning radio show (6-9 a.m.) on [...]
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  Posted: August 27, 2009, 7:19am EDT
  by livefreeordie

• See Through NY updates New York State Senate and Assembly payroll

  Number of comments: 1
  An updated staff payroll for the New York State Senate and Assembly was posted today at www.SeeThroughNY.net, the Empire Center’s government transparency site for taxpayers. The payroll is fully searchable by name and title, and reflects the latest changes made in the Senate staff payroll. The payroll, current as of [...]
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  Posted: August 27, 2009, 3:45am EDT
  by livefreeordie

• Guest Column – Can GOP take the 21st Congressional District back in 2010?

  Number of comments: 2
  A sleeping political giant is about to be awakened in an Upstate New York congressional district. While the district has a +6 Democrat leaning, the district is a fairly Conservative one, with a good number of Democrats, Independents, and Republicans. This district has been represented by Democrats for decades, mainly [...]
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  Posted: August 21, 2009, 11:13am EDT
  by livefreeordie

• The Supreme Court New York State Appellate Division 2nd Judicial Department rules that Governor David Paterson had no authority to appoint Ravitch as Lt. Governor

  Four members of the New York State Supreme Court ruled today that Governor David Paterson does not have constitutional authority to appoint a lieutenant governor. The court declared that the authority to appoint belongs to the legislature. The court acting on its own ruled that Governor Paterson has leave to [...]
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  Posted: August 20, 2009, 4:56pm EDT
  by livefreeordie

• After nearly a year State of Arkansas DHS still holds 30+ children from Tony Alamo Ministries hostage and is carrying on a manhunt to find 100 more

  Note: Many Catholics, Baptists and people from other mainline denominations read this blog. Just think if your priest or minister was arrested for child abuse and Child Protective Services along with the New York State Police came and took into custody every child that attended your church or every child [...]
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  Posted: August 20, 2009, 2:42pm EDT
  by livefreeordie

• Amsterdam Common Council makes right decision on graffiti ordinance

  Number of comments: 1
  As much as I like what Mayor Anne Thane is trying to do for the City of Amsterdam, I do believe the common council was right in shooting down an ordinance requiring property owners to clean up graffiti on their property within so many days or be fined. Not only would [...]
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  Posted: August 20, 2009, 9:27am EDT
  by livefreeordie

• Pork-Barrel Spending Is Latest Addition To SeeThroughNY

  August 05, 2009 The Empire Center today marked the first anniversary of its government transparency web site, www.SeeThroughNY.net, with the posting of $148.3 million in legislative pork barrel member items for 2009-10. The online database, which also includes $148.1 million in member items for 2008-09, is searchable by legislator, locality and [...]
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  Posted: August 17, 2009, 4:57pm EDT
  by livefreeordie

• Albany County Family Court Judge W. Dennis Dugan dismisses contempt proceeding against non-custodial father who changed daughter’s medication

  Judge Duggan says that non-custodial parent is not a potted plant where medical decisions are concerned Albany Family Court Judge W. Dennis Duggan dismissed a contempt proceeding Wednesday, August 12, against a non-custodial father who had changed the dosage of his fifteen-year-old daughter’s prescription medication while she was visiting him. The [...]
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  Posted: August 15, 2009, 3:27am EDT
  by livefreeordie

• Beautiful hawk seen on Amsterdam’s south side

  I saw this hawk on Amsterdam’s south side the other day, at the very end of Florida Avenue, as you swing around to go up onto Route 5S. It sat at the foot of a cliff where slate tumbles down every so often. It was only about ten feet from [...]
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  Posted: August 13, 2009, 8:14am EDT
  by livefreeordie

• Danny Schuler has a lot to explain about his wife and children’s deaths in fiery crash on Taconic State Parkway

  Crash on Taconic State Parkway that killed eight people, including four children, raises questions about child neglect, alcoholism & more. Yesterday’s revelation that Diane Schuler was drunk and under the influence of marijuana when she drove the wrong way on the Taconic State Parkway in New York State and killed eight [...]
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  Posted: August 06, 2009, 7:30am EDT
  by livefreeordie

• Judge Maney pleads guilty to DWAI – Diane Schuler was DWI when she crashed & killed 8 on the Taconic State Parkway

  Number of comments: 1
  The Albany Times Union and Channel 13 WNYT are reporting that Albany County Family Court Judge, Gerard Maney has plead guilty to a DWAI charge. It appears that Maney got off quite lightly considering at one point his blood alcohol content was measured at .15 and that he did an [...]
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  Posted: August 05, 2009, 12:15pm EDT
  by livefreeordie

• Rensselaer County law guardian removed from custody case for never meeting with his minor client

  The New York State Supreme Court, Appellate Division, Third Judicial Department, removed Attorney J. Mark McQuerrey of Rensselaer County from a custody proceeding, in which he was the law guardian of an eleven year old child. In its decison dated July 30, 2009, the court said that McQuerrey revealed in [...]
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  Posted: August 04, 2009, 6:43pm EDT
  by livefreeordie

• Lost Sparrow screening in Little Falls on August 6

  Number of comments: 1
  On June 26, 1978 two Crow Indian boys were killed by a freight train in Little Falls, New York. The Billings family had adopted the two boys seven years earlier. They had other adopted children and four children of their own. The large family lived in a large historic Victorian [...]
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  Posted: July 31, 2009, 4:17am EDT
  by livefreeordie

• Something’s gone awry at Ford’s Bush Bible Church, one of the area’s largest churches

  Number of comments: 20
  Update “It has been a whirlwind few days. Everyone … calm down … breathe in / breathe out and take a time out. Go live your lives for a few days. Yes, I have resigned. My family and I are doing well … the church is strong … Bro Keever is [...]
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  Posted: July 29, 2009, 7:42am EDT
  by livefreeordie

• Only Fulton County and Rensselaer County Family Court Judges Face Opposition In November Elections

  Number of comments: 2
  Elections will be held in November for six upstate family court judge positions. These include Chenango County, Dutchess County, Fulton County, Hamilton County, Rensselaer County and Warren County. Four of the six sitting judges are running unopposed. The two counties where judges are facing opponents are Fulton and Rensselaer. Family [...]
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  Posted: July 22, 2009, 8:37am EDT
  by livefreeordie

• Mother loses custody of son and is charged with criminal neglect for allowing him to get too fat

  According to today’s issue of USA Today, Jerri Gray, a 49 year old mother from Travelers Rest, South Carolina was arrested in June on a criminal neglect charge because her son weighed 555 pounds by the time he was fourteen years old. Her son was taken away from her and [...]
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  Posted: July 21, 2009, 8:17am EDT
  by livefreeordie

• My last two Sunday Gazette articles

  My latest article appeared in the Sunday Gazette yesterday. It was about the trauma that Child Protective Services in Montgomery County afflicts on innocent families and the need to reform Child Protective Services. Here is the first paragraph: When Child Protective Services in Montgomery County says, “Jump!” you are supposed to respond [...]
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  Posted: July 20, 2009, 7:44am EDT
  by livefreeordie

• No Upstream updates for awhile

  Number of comments: 9
  I will not be blogging for awhile due to a serious family situation. I will still be writing for www.examiner.com and the Sunday Gazette because I do have to make a living. I will tweet whenever I publish an article. You can follow my tweets on twitter or in the [...]
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  Posted: June 29, 2009, 9:32am EDT
  by livefreeordie

• Searchable database of the complete Metropolitan Transportation Authority payroll for 2008 now online

  A searchable database of the complete Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) payroll for 2008–including name, titles, base pay rates and total pay received by 78,393 employees–is now available at www.SeeThroughNY.net, the government transparency website sponsored by the Empire Center for New York State Policy. More than 10 percent of the MTA’s workforce–8,214 [...]
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  Posted: June 24, 2009, 6:57am EDT
  by livefreeordie

• Albany Family Court judge W. Dennis Duggan voted worst judge in New York state in 2008 & 2009

  Albany Family Court Judge, W. Dennis Duggan, was named 2007 Family Court Judge of the Year by his colleagues from the New York State Family Court Judges Association. However, as of the date of this article, he has been voted New York State’s worst judge for 2009 on Courthouse Forum. [...]
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  Posted: June 23, 2009, 9:28am EDT
  by livefreeordie

• Edison Exploratorium making asses out of themselves by attacking Pat Zollinger

  Number of comments: 1
  Updated Post: Well it looks like my rant was misdirected. My apologies. Apparently an organization called the Exploratorium is suing the Edison Exploratorium and disputing Pat Zollinger’s ownership of domain names with the word exploratorium in them. As Pat said in a comment left on this blog: “As it turns out – [...]
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  Posted: June 22, 2009, 5:14pm EDT
  by livefreeordie

• Albany Family Court Judge Gerard Maney likely only to get admonished by State Commission on Judicial Conduct if found guilty of DWAI.

  While many people would like to see Albany County Family Court judge, Gerard Maney, removed from the bench if convicted of DWAI, it is likely that he will only be admonished by the New York State Commission on Judicial Conduct. Admonishment is the least severe of the punishments that the [...]
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  Posted: June 22, 2009, 6:56am EDT
  by livefreeordie

• Happy Father’s Day to all loving fathers including those wrongly dubbed deadbeat dads

  Number of comments: 1
  Happy Father’s Day to all fathers who love their children and are trying to make a difference in their lives. Father’s Day is good day for everyone, especially the media, to ban the phrase deadbeat dad from their vocabulary. It’s not that there aren’t deadbeat dads. There are. We all know [...]
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  Posted: June 21, 2009, 7:15am EDT
  by livefreeordie

• Fulton County now leads New York State in number of child abuse reports

  Number of comments: 1
  The number of child abuse reports made to Child Protective Services in New York State increased by 6% from 2007 to 2008. There were 154,837 child abuse reports made statewide in 2007. Last year the number jumped to 163,808. Read the entire story. [...]
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  Posted: June 20, 2009, 8:15am EDT
  by livefreeordie

• Albany County family court judge Gerard E. Maney arrested for DWAI

  Albany County Family Court Judge, Gerard E. Maney, was arrested by Green Island Police on Thursday evening, June 18, 2009, and charged with DWAI. Maney allegedly had a .07 BAC and attempted to avoid a DWI checkpoint by making an illegal u-turn. Read the entire story [...]
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  Posted: June 20, 2009, 6:16am EDT
  by livefreeordie

• Looking for Child Protective Services & Family Court stories

  Number of comments: 2
  Do you or someone you know have a story about Child Protective Services or Family Court in New York State that might be of interest to others, or do you know of a national story that might have implications for New York State? I have signed up with www.examiner.com to [...]
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  Posted: June 19, 2009, 10:00am EDT
  by livefreeordie

• God Hates Liars. Westboro Baptist Church of Topeka, Kansas caught lying about picket schedule.

  Number of comments: 1
  Of the many names that Fred Phelps, his outspoken daughter, Shirley Phelps-Roper, and other members of the Westboro Baptist Church in Topeka, Kansas, love to call people, liar is probably the least offensive. Nevertheless, they use it all the time. But when it comes to lying, Fred Phelps, Shirley Phelps-Roper and [...]
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  Posted: June 18, 2009, 8:46am EDT
  by livefreeordie

• New York Tea Party March on Albany Begins at Noon Today

  Check out the New York Tea Party website. [...]
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  Posted: June 16, 2009, 10:27am EDT
  by livefreeordie

• Mohawk Valley Airport Once Known As Gay Valley Airport

  Number of comments: 3
  Update: WVTL tweeted the following “Caller says Gay Valley airport named for owner Paul Gay–used to run nearby bistro–previous name of Mohawk Valley Airport Rt 5 Glenville.” I guess I am not the only one that remembers that the Mohawk Valley Airport, where a plane took off from and crashed Sunday [...]
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  Posted: June 16, 2009, 6:34am EDT
  by livefreeordie

• Moving South is Looking Better All The Time. New York State Pounds Another Nail in Small Business Coffin

  Number of comments: 2
  While the New York Senate is twiddling its thumbs, the machinery of New York State’s bureaucracy rolls on unhindered. If you own any kind of business that requires you to collect sales tax for the state and remit the same to the state, you probably got a letter this past [...]
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  Posted: June 15, 2009, 8:07am EDT
  by livefreeordie

• White Supremacist and Holocaust Shooter, James W. von Brunn, Once Wrote Article On Television For Billboard Magazine & Once Worked For McCann-Erickson, now McCann Worldgroup

  White Supremacist, James W. von Brunn, who killed a guard at the Holocaust Museum this week, worked in a variety of jobs over the years. He worked as an artist, book illustrator and adman. In the August 12, 1957 issue of Billboard magazine, von Brunn wrote an article called, Gov’t [...]
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  Posted: June 14, 2009, 9:14am EDT
  by livefreeordie

• More Paintings by White Supremacist and Holocaust Museum Shooter, James von Brunn, Surface on Internet.

  Two days ago, I wrote about James Wenneker von Brunn’s ability as an artist. Now more paintings by White Supremacist, James W. von Brunn, responsible for the recent tragedy at the Holocaust Museum have surfaced on the internet. This painting by von Brunn was done in 2003 and is of [...]
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  Posted: June 13, 2009, 5:59am EDT
  by livefreeordie

• Was Holocaust Museum Shooter, James von Brunn, a Frustrated Artist?

  Number of comments: 2
  Update: More paintings of James von Brunn have surfaced on the internet. “It upsets me that I find his painting clever, interesting and well composed.” Comment left on Gawker.com. It goes without saying, but I will say it anyway, the shooting at the Holocaust Museum by White Supremacist, James von Brunn, is [...]
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  Posted: June 11, 2009, 8:22am EDT
  by livefreeordie

• Encounter With School Bully Was Holocaust Museum Shooter, James von Brunn’s, #1 Character Shaper

  Since I’ve been posting about bullying in school lately, I thought I would post this clip from White Supremacist, James von Brunn, about how his encounter with a school yard bully shaped his life. Make of it what you will. Character Shaper No. 1: “Buddy B. was a loose cannon. He was [...]
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  Posted: June 11, 2009, 7:42am EDT
  by livefreeordie

• Amsterdam Blogger Charlie Kraebel On Bullying In Schools

  Number of comments: 1
  Charlie Kraebel wrote a great post yesterday on bullying in schools and how it has affected his family personally. It’s a powerful story, and I hope you will go to his blog and read the entire post. I have posted a clip from it below. He also has posted two [...]
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  Posted: June 10, 2009, 5:52am EDT
  by livefreeordie

• CBS 6 Reports That Parents Of Amsterdam High School Student Plan Civil Action

  “An Amsterdam couple whose disabled son was targeted by cyber bullies is planning legal action against the students involved, the child’s mother said Monday. The high school senior, whose name is being withheld at the family’s request, was mocked in a video posted to YouTube. It was filmed inside Amsterdam High [...]
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  Posted: June 09, 2009, 4:17am EDT
  by livefreeordie

• Bill O’Reilly Defends Himself Against the Radical Left’s Accusation That He Killed George Tiller aka The Baby Killer

  Even though I am pro-life, I am not a fan of Bill O’Reilly. He is too far to the right for me. However, the way the left has attacked him for the way he reported on abortionist George Tiller of Wichita Kansas who was murdered a week ago is disgusting. [...]
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  Posted: June 08, 2009, 7:45am EDT
  by livefreeordie

• Bullied Amsterdam High School Student Is Disabled

  The parents of the Amsterdam High School student who was bullied on YouTube and MySpace have said that he was disabled. They told me that personally, and the father stated the same in a comment on the Gazette article about the cyberbullying. In response to a comment left by someone going [...]
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  Posted: June 07, 2009, 8:05am EDT
  by livefreeordie

• GASD Superintendent of Schools Reacts Swiftly to Cyberbullying at Amsterdam High School

  I appreciate the swiftness with which Superintendent Thomas Perillo reacted to the Amsterdam High School cyberbullying incident which I posted about. I was hoping that he would respond that way, but I wasn’t sure. My experience with the school district responding to complaints in the past has not been very [...]
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  Posted: June 05, 2009, 5:51am EDT
  by livefreeordie

• The Cruelty of Children: Several Amsterdam High School Seniors Create Fake Myspace for Fellow Student & Cyberbully Him on Youtube

  Number of comments: 6
  Update: I have removed this post because action is being taken on the cyberbullying that was going on at Amsterdam High School. The video has been removed from youtube. However, a copy has been given to responsible people who plan to deal with the situation. [...]
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  Posted: June 03, 2009, 9:15am EDT
  by livefreeordie

• Three Strikes And Montgomery County Is OH YOU TEE

  Number of comments: 4
  If you have read my blog over the years, you know that I have been battling Child Protective Services of Montgomery County since April of 2004. From April of 2004 through January of 2005, my wife and I were investigated by CPS three times. We won the first two rounds. [...]
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  Posted: June 02, 2009, 7:26am EDT
  by livefreeordie

• Chiller or Thriller? George Tiller the Baby Killer Shot Dead In Wichita Kansas.

  [...]
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  Posted: June 01, 2009, 7:15am EDT
  by livefreeordie

• Vacation from Tweeting and Blogging

  I will be taking a vacation from tweeting and blogging until at least next Monday. [...]
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  Posted: May 26, 2009, 7:41am EDT
  by livefreeordie

• Voters Say No To All Three Greater Amsterdam School District Budget Proposals

  MONTGOMERY COUNTY — Voters rejected the Greater Amsterdam School District’s $55.4 million budget proposal by just more than 30 votes Tuesday and shot down a proposition that would have provided $25,000 to the Walter Elwood Museum. The district’s budget proposal, which called for an overall tax levy increase of 11.37 percent [...]
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  Posted: May 20, 2009, 5:17am EDT
  by livefreeordie

• Greater Amsterdam School District Budget & Board Vote Today

  Click here for a list of polling sites. Read the entire budget (It’s only 95 pages). [...]
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  Posted: May 19, 2009, 6:04am EDT
  by livefreeordie

• Strange Employment Wanted Ad In The Daily Gazette

  Number of comments: 2
  The following advertisement has been in the Daily Gazette for several days. This has to be one of the wierdest ads I have ever seen. I have not included the phone number, but you can find it here. Elderly Gentleman seeks lady willing to travel. Looking for the lady with 2 [...]
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  Posted: May 16, 2009, 4:53pm EDT
  by livefreeordie

• In a Canned Heat Mood Today

  Number of comments: 1
  And not after many days, when all things were gathered together, the younger son went forth in pilgrimage into a far country… from the Gospel of Luke, Wycliffe Translation of 1382 AD My twenty something son is planning to hitchhike / backpack across the country beginning in a few weeks. I [...]
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  Posted: May 16, 2009, 6:37am EDT
  by livefreeordie

• Complete List Of Greater Amsterdam School District

  Following is a list of salaries for employees of the Greater Amsterdam School District. This information was obtained from www.seethroughny.net which just released the salaries of employees of almost all New York State school districts. (Thanks www.seethroughny.net for helping to make our New York State and local governments more transparent.) WholeName [...]
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  Posted: May 14, 2009, 5:39pm EDT
  by livefreeordie

• Payrolls of New York State School Districts Posted at See Through NY’s Website

  A searchable online database including salaries of 255,959 teachers and administrators employed by New York State’s public schools and colleges during the 2007-08 school year was posted today at www.SeeThroughNY.net, the government transparency website sponsored by the Empire Center for New York State Policy. “SeeThroughNY.net now features the most comprehensive information [...]
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  Posted: May 14, 2009, 10:53am EDT
  by livefreeordie

• Zen And The Art of Myth Cycle Maintenance, or The Western Media’s Failure to Question the Myth of Buddhism and Non-Violence

  Carl Strock of the Daily Gazette, like many in the western media, has accepted the myth that Buddhism is a peaceful religion while other religions are not. He said so in a recent column (unavailble on the internet). While it is true that Buddhism teaches peace, its practices have often [...]
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  Posted: May 13, 2009, 7:35am EDT
  by livefreeordie

• Epilogue: Dalai Lama’s Visit To Albany

  Number of comments: 2
  Just some final comments and questions on the Dalai Lama’s visit to Albany. These focus on things that the media did not pick up on. I know it was tough to cover everything because we had three celebrities in the Albany area in one week. 1. Did the Dalai Lama’s appearance [...]
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  Posted: May 12, 2009, 8:08am EDT
  by livefreeordie

• Same Sex Marriage Proponents Hypocritical In Not Fighting For Marital Benefits For Polygamists And Others

  Updated: May 14, 2009 In spite of weak attempts by P. Klotz, Jr., and and a commentator who hides behind the pseudonymn, local yokel, to undermine my article on the Gazette’s website, people who believe in polyamory, polygamy, polyandry and a number of other relationships involving more than two people are [...]
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  Posted: May 11, 2009, 5:50am EDT
  by livefreeordie

• T.G.I. Friday’s aka TGIF Asks New York State Police To Investigate Clifton Park Snake Head Incident

  T.G.I. Friday’s Requests Criminal Investigation Regarding Recent Snake Head Incident DALLAS, May 8, 2009) — Earlier today, T.G.I. Friday’s requested a criminal investigation with the New York State Police into the product tampering that occurred at their Clifton Park, New York T.G.I. Friday’s restaurant on Sunday, May 3, 2009. On the evening [...]
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  Posted: May 09, 2009, 7:04am EDT
  by livefreeordie

• Amsterdam Memorial Hospital Files For Distress Termination Of Pension Plan

  Number of comments: 1
  According to a recent letter mailed to employees of the Amsterdam Memorial Hospital, the hospital filed for a distress termination of its pension plan with the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation on April 30, 2009. The Amsterdam Memorial pension fund which affects 839 participants, has assets of $14,579,218 and liabilities of [...]
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  Posted: May 08, 2009, 7:16am EDT
  by livefreeordie

• Bronfman Sisters & WEFC Issue Press Release About Dalai Lama’s Visit To Albany

  Number of comments: 3
  Albany, NY (Vocus/PRWEB ) May 7, 2009 — His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama spoke at Albany’s Palace Theatre yesterday of the need to foster ethics and embrace basic human values, especially during these times of economic and socio-political turmoil. About 2,600 people heard his public talk titled ”Compassionate Ethics [...]
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  Posted: May 08, 2009, 3:35am EDT
  by livefreeordie

• Controversy In Amsterdam Over Chalmers Project and Sam Zurlo and Mike Mancini Quitting WVTL

  There has been a lot of controversy in Amsterdam lately. Maybe the Dalai Lama should have come here and given a lecture on peace. The Daily Gazette today is reporting on the continuing controversy over the Chalmers Building project. The Amsterdam Recorder also had an article in today’s paper about the [...]
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  Posted: May 07, 2009, 7:22am EDT
  by livefreeordie

• Keith Raniere & The Dalai Lama. Raniere May Have Been Served Legal Papers Outside The Palace Theatre.

  Number of comments: 1
  See more photos and read stories about the Dalai Lama’s visit, from the Times Union. Metroland Blog is reporting that Keith Raniere was served with papers regarding a lawsuit outside the Palace Theatre. [...]
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  Posted: May 07, 2009, 7:07am EDT
  by livefreeordie

• Congratulations to Amsterdam Marching Rams

  Number of comments: 1
  AMSTERDAM — The Marching Rams came home this week with top honors from a marching band competition in Virginia. The Rams earned first-place honors in both parades they marched in during the 82nd annual Shenandoah Apple Blossom Festival in Winchester, which meant they were the best band at the festival, according [...]
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  Posted: May 06, 2009, 9:15am EDT
  by livefreeordie

• Interview With The Dalai Lama In Albany

  Number of comments: 9
  Upstream: Thank you for agreeing to be interviewed on my humble blog your holiness. His Holiness: No plobrem. It’s honor to be here, but prease don’t look me in the eyes. It’s not ploper etiquette when you are talking to his holiness. UP: Sorry. HH: No plobrem. Now ask me some questions. UP: Can [...]
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  Posted: May 06, 2009, 8:20am EDT
  by livefreeordie

• Salvador Dalai Lama

  The Dalai Lama as Salvador Dali might have envisioned him. [...]
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  Posted: May 06, 2009, 6:44am EDT
  by livefreeordie

• Capital News 9 Interviews Cult Expert Rick Ross About Dalai Lama’s Visit To Albany

  A woman from Capital News 9 called me yesterday and said she had just finished reading my op-ed piece on NXIVM, World Ethical Foundations Consortium, Keith Raniere and the Dalai Lama. She was looking for someone to interview about the controversy surrounding the Dalai Lama’s visit to Albany today. I [...]
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  Posted: May 06, 2009, 4:16am EDT
  by livefreeordie

• HH Etiquette - How To Greet The Dalai Lama If You Meet Him

  I think this is bs, but in case you meet the Dalai Lama in Albany, here is some information on how you are to greet him. [...]
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  Posted: May 05, 2009, 6:08pm EDT
  by livefreeordie

• Paul Vandenburgh Plays Whiffle Ball In Interview About NXIVM & Dalai Lama With Bronfman Sisters

  Number of comments: 4
  Paul Vandenburgh interviewed Sara and Clare Bronfman this morning for almost an hour on Albany’s 1300 talk radio station. The Bronfman sisters were accompanied by their attorney, Steve Coffey, who said he was only there as a friend, not their attorney. Coffey explained that Sara and Clare were free to [...]
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  Posted: May 04, 2009, 3:03pm EDT
  by livefreeordie

• Amsterdam, New York A Great Spot For Railfans

  Number of comments: 1
  If you have ever checked out videos of Amsterdam, New York on YouTube, you will find that most of them have been posted by trainspotters or railfans. That’s because Amsterdam is a great spot for railfans. Some of the best sites for watching trains in Amsterdam are the Riverlink Park, the [...]
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  Posted: May 01, 2009, 5:24am EDT
  by livefreeordie

• EAST LINE BOOKS IN CLIFTON PARK NEEDS YOUR HELP!

  Number of comments: 2
  A month or so ago, I finally made a visit to East Line Books in Clifton Park. I was impressed with the quality of the books, the prices and how organized and charming the shop was. But East Line Books is more than a book store. It is a cultural center. [...]
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  Posted: April 30, 2009, 7:31am EDT
  by livefreeordie

• Adult Obesity Was A Problem Even In 1808

  As I said yesterday, I have the morbid habit of collecting epitaphs. I also noted that family members often recorded the weight of the deceased on the tombstone. Here is another heavy epitaph from the Clifton Park New York Baptist Church Cemetery. Smith, Thomas d. Feb 3, 1808, 73d yr “Mr. Smith at his [...]
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  Posted: April 30, 2009, 7:07am EDT
  by livefreeordie