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The Hayseeds blog, No. 272 for the week starting August 31, 2008.

August 17, 2008
Hayseeds No. 271

August 31, 2008
Hayseeds No. 272

September 7, 2008
Hayseeds No. 272

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Lonely Tree - Mongollon Rim Series (12/15/08)

Blue Mountains - Mongollon Rim Series (12/26/08)

Adirondack Mountains - Panton Vermont Series (4/22/06)

Hayseeds No. 272

Troy vs. Schenectady in Economic Development.

The Times Union compares the hands-off approach of Troy to what Schenectady has been doing to revitalize it's urban core.

Final 21 Congressional District Debate.

It happened yesterday, featuring issues of war and peace, and proved that on many issues the candidates where more alike then different, according to the Times Union.

NY Delegates Out in Denver.

And they are purty happy with the light air pressure and the fact that Democrats are going to kick ass this November.

Should the State Continue the Project to Interconnect Emergency Responders Radios?

Continued technical problems and significant cost overruns are leading to some calling for a cancellation of this project.

Convention Highlights.

Events worth watching in the evening during the Dem Convention.

Gus Santos: Delegate to DNC.

A nice review of what he is doing out in Denver.

Obama Aides Defend Bank’s Pay to Biden Son.

Already we are hearing about potential scandals or conflicts of internet by the VP candidate.

During the years that Senator Joseph R. Biden Jr. was helping the credit card industry win passage of a law making it harder for consumers to file for bankruptcy protection, his son had a consulting agreement that lasted five years with one of the largest companies pushing for the changes, aides to Senator Barack Obama’s presidential campaign acknowledged Sunday.

Mr. Biden’s son, Hunter, received consulting fees from the MBNA Corporation from 2001 to 2005 for work on online banking issues. Aides to Mr. Obama, who chose Mr. Biden as his vice-presidential running mate on Saturday, would not say how much the younger Mr. Biden, who works as both a lawyer and lobbyist in Washington, had received, though a company official had once described him as having a $100,000 a year retainer. But Obama aides said he had never lobbied for MBNA and that there was nothing improper about the payments.

I'm not too surprised. I'm sure the Republicans will play this up, and it's something to consider. Yet, if Hunter is not lobbying, it's going to be difficult to prove that anything illegal actually happened.

Democrats Pleased With Selection of Biden.

Brian Stratton and others speak highly of the man.

“I think it brings strong balance to the Democratic ticket,” said Schenectady Mayor Brian U. Stratton, who will attend the Democratic convention this week in Denver — his first time voting at a national convention.

“I think that the biggest problem [Obama] faced was people just felt that he was inexperienced being a freshman senator,” Stratton said. “You can’t say you don’t know enough about Sen. Biden.”

I agree that he will be great.

Sex Offenders a Concern in Schenectady City Parks.

There is a concern about people looking towards having relationships in city parks and other public places, where it's viewed to be inappropiate.

FBI Saw Threat of Mortgage Crisis.

They where well aware of what could happen in the market, but chose not to investigate or act to prevent the worst of the fall out.

Clinton Speaks On Biden Pick.

She thinks he will be great.

Democrats from CNY Are Ready for Unity.

They look forward for November.

Vandals Destroy $4,000 of Art in Syracuse Park.

This is disappointing. Why can't people respect anything?

More Overdue Loans Hit Lower Hudson Valley Banks.

Some local banks are on hard times but not necessarily insolvent.

Pelosi: Democrats Must Reach The Working Class.

That's what she said as the convention opens today.

With Biden, Will Rewards Outweigh Risks?

NPR looks at the much different personality of Biden and how it will change the ticket.

Candidates Running Closest In the West.

Apparently all that development has not proven good for Republicans in the mountain states.

On Thursday, Sen. Barack Obama will accept the Democratic nomination here before a crowd of around 70,000, a figure with resonance in the Mountain West: Had Sen. John F. Kerry flipped that number of votes combined in Colorado, New Mexico and Nevada in 2004, he would have been president.

Four years later, nowhere in the country is the race so close as in this region. Most polls show Obama and his Republican rival, Sen. John McCain, tied in Colorado and Nevada, Obama up a little in New Mexico and McCain with a small lead in Montana.

Well duh. If you bring a lot of Democrats in to an area, it kind of dilutes your voting power. We are seeing this in upstate New York, and it's not surpising to see it happen in the mountain west. If Republicans weren't so stupid, then they wouldn't be pushing the "bring the democrats in, develop the tax base mentality."

Thomas P. DiNapoli for New York State Comptroller.

Yes, he has a blog on the convention.

Time for a New Police Car?

Burn your old one, or so it might seem as a traffic investigator's car burns up in his driveway. They claim a young adult was seen outside of the house, but let's be realistic—it's a common thing for police to destroy old cruisers when they want a new one.

This was an old Crown Victoria, and I'm sure the officer wanted a new one. He tried to put out a car fire using a broom, then called the fire department. But they are investigating the neighborhood, trying to find somebody, besides the officer who torched his own car, because as all know, cops don't purposely destroy their cars, just get a new one.

Kennedy's Speech Last Night.

The Times Union has a review of that surprise speech last night as the man comes out of his sick bed with brain cancer to speak last night.

Malta Ruberstamps Chip Fab Plant Proposal.

It will now move forward in developing the site, regardless if AMD comes or not, providing high-speed access to the Malta Dentistry Offices in your private automobile.

Democrats Take Stage, and the G.O.P. Crowds On.

GOP operatives are striking back against the excitement of the convention.

Golisano’s Cash to Back 39 Incumbent Senators.

He's spreading his money around well to both parties.

AT&T Throws Party to Support Dems Who Voted to Grant Telecoms Immunity for Illegal Domestic Wiretapping.

Ain't this just charming to know our representatives are taking bribes.


Democracy Now - Monday, August 25th

Gov. Ed Rendell Urges Clintonites To Move On.

And support Barack Obama.

Art Without Limits.

Interesting new forms of artwork.

Official: Man Wasn't a 'Credible Threat' to Obama.

Despite his plans to try to kill the presidential candidate.

When N.Y.’s Governor Speaks, Barack Should Listen.

Bill Hammond thinks Barack should pay attention to Paterson's remarks that the sky is falling.

Democratic Convention: Clinton Nudging Supporters Toward Obama.

It's not an easy task it seems for some.

A Virtual Lock On Politics.

Time for e-conventions?

Q Poll: McCain vs. Obama Tight In 3 Key Swing States.

So it would seem as the race continues to be close.

Albany County Legislator Pepper Sprayed at DNC.

Things got a little nasty at the convention last night, leading Wanda Willingham to get accidentailly part of the action.

Renovations Complete at Hackett Middle School.

This is good news for students attending that school.

Has Biden Gone From Snarling To Darling?

The story of changing perspections of Joe Biden in the media.

State: 80% of Track Workers Cheated Out of Wages.

Apparently NYRA wasn't paying workers their fair amount at the track over the past year.

The department's probe said trainers routinely cheated their hotwalkers, grooms, and watchmen out of overtime and in some cases paid them less than minimum wage.

The names of the trainers were not revealed and the state is ordering them to pay full restitution to their employees. The trainers will be identified as soon as the investigation is complete, said Labor Commissioner M. Patricia Smith.

The investigation unfolded during the current track season and revealed that many track workers were forced to live in filthy conditions on the back stretch. Some were denied beds and slept on concrete floors. Others slept on mattresses infested with bed bugs.

"The main concern is that people get minimum wage, overtime after 40 hours worked and the day off per week," said Jose Ramon Rivera, an employee of one of the track's trainers. He spoke on behalf of those being cheated, though he had been paid what he earned.

At least the injustice will be corrected.

Schools Open Doors to a High-tech Future.

Changing methods and technology in our public schools, hope to teach kids better for tommorow.

Bethlehem Police Probe Report of Gunfire.

In the second biggest crime since the Peter Porco (the first biggest being the harassment of peace protesters), Bethlehem police report gun shots heard in a rural section of Route 9W. There was a supposed car jacking in the area or so they claim.

Judge Orders Release of Secret Rosenberg Files.

Good news for public openness after so many decades of secrecy.

A judge ordered the release Tuesday of key secret grand jury testimony in the atomic spy trial of Julius and Ethel Rosenberg, citing its value to historians in the ongoing debate over national security versus freedom.

The ruling from U.S. District Judge Alvin Hellerstein pertained to witnesses whose sealed testimony was taken in 1950 and 1952 and who are still alive but had not consented to the release or who could not be located.

The Rosenbergs were convicted of passing nuclear weapons secrets to the Soviet Union and were executed in 1953. Since then, decoded Soviet cables have seemed to confirm that Julius Rosenberg was a spy, but doubts have remained about Ethel Rosenberg's involvement.

More about this case of communist fear over at Wikipedia.

Anarchy in Ancram? Not Quite.

It's tough to govern when half of the town board resigns, and you don't have a quorum until the governor appoints replacements.

Sarah Palin: Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia.

Learn more about McCain's VP Pick on Wikipedia.

News Analysis: Choice of Palin Is a Bold Move by McCain, With Risks.

That's what the New York Times News Analysis has announced.

Suburbs at Political Center.

The change of the power base in our county is having some real impacts on politics across the county.

Should School Years Be Longer?

That's a question posed by the Times Union which notes that in recent years, there have been less and less school days due to teacher conference days and other events.

South from Pok-o-Moonshine - Pok-O-Moonshine Series (9/17/06)