“Amish Mafia” episode review: The Last Supper

I swear, every time I watch an episode of Amish Mafia, they’re introducing new characters to the series.  When the show premiered last year, there were the four members of the Lancaster County Amish Mafia (Lebanon Levi King Stoltzfus, Alvin Lentz, Jolin Zimmerman and John Freeman Schmucker), as well as John’s sister Esther Freeman Schmucker. …

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iPod Classic: 2001-2013

I’m not happy with this news.  Apparently at the next public “puffs of smoke” that come out of the chimneys of St. Stephen of Jobs’ Basilica, one of Apple Computer’s most innovative products will no longer be manufactured. I’m talking about the iPod Classic. According to this Wired article, the iPod Classic is scheduled for…

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2013 Vermont State Fair Photography Competition results

I need to tell this story first, before I tell anything else involving this event. It’s Thursday, August 29, and I’ve just pulled into the Vermont State Fairgrounds to drop off my six pictures (and blog reader Bob Burger’s six pictures) for the Vermont State Fair photography competition.  It’s about 9:15 in the morning, and…

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My 2013 Big E photo entries are…

Although last year was a lean year in terms of my photo “competition season,” the Big E Photo Contest was a bright moment.  All three of my pictures for that year – Poestenkill Cascade, Butterfly and Citrus and Star Trails of Paradox Lake – picked up ribbons.  A blue and two reds, one first place (for Poestenkill Cascade) and…

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Where’s the Elbo Room trivia tournament recap?

It’s been a part of my trivia schedule ever since the Elbo Room started hosting tournaments.  A Thursday night competition at the Delaware Avenue bar, a trivia tournament that often runs through the fall and winter (and sometimes there’s a spring tournament as well).  Teams play for weeks and weeks for the opportunity to participate…

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Best of our TU Community Bloggers, September 5, 2013: Ten for Thursday

You know what?  There are days when I wish that I could increase the “Ten for Thursday” to “Fifteen for Friday” or something like that.  Because the Times Union’s community blogging team consistently writes some of the best blogs on this portal.  We come up with our own ideas and concepts, we put our own…

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Call. Even if you don’t think you need to.

Sometimes the pressure is so overwhelming, it’s like the only source of relief is the one of last resort. Your relationship ended.  You lost a family member or a close friend.  The bullying is non-stop.  He won’t stop hitting you.  You just received the diagnosis.  Nobody understands.  Nobody cares.  Nobody would miss you. And there’s…

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“Amish Mafia” episode review – Brother’s Keeper

So what’s been going on with our plain and simple folk of late?  Well, Esther’s been having some major problems with her boyfriend, to the point where her brother John had to beat the snot out of the guy.  Actually, it was one of the best episodes of the series. Wait… what do you mean…

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