I miss you already, Frieda.

Frieda Tillman was one of my first connections in high school. She was my first true friend, and we remained friends throughout our high school years. We took many classes together, we participated in several extracurricular activities together, and we were both champions on the WRGB Answers Please quiz show from 1981. On Monday, I…

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In honour of wins by Mark Carney and the Sudbury Five …

As you probably heard by now, Canada recently had a major election, and Mark Carney – who ascended to the Prime Ministership after Justin Trudeau stepped down – won a full term as the country’s leader. Basically, he rallied the country with a campaign that was part “elbows up” and part “we’re not America’s 51st…

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Vision On – was this the first truly inclusive children’s show?

Today’s blog post will feature a very unique and sweet children’s TV show from the 1960’s-1970’s era – a British program that featured art, surreal humor, and all sorts of wonderful imaginative diversions. Oh, and it was designed so that hearing-impaired children could enjoy it just as much as their hearing-abled friends. Welcome to Vision…

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The New York State Department of Transportation goofed. TWICE.

Okay, I’ll admit it. I notice things. Probably things I shouldn’t normally notice. But hear me out. If you travel on any route-marked highway, you’ll notice some distinct nomenclatures about road route signage. There are state routes that only run from one part of the state to the other, and the route signs would look…

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I can now add “operating a scoreboard” to my Bingo card.

When it comes to the Albany Patroons, I will do whatever is needed for the team, short of playing small forward. It’s a community team, you help where you can, and the reward is that the team lives on and thrives and you feel pride in your small part of the process. Sing the national…

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What’s Up in the Neighborhood, April 26, 2025

Yep, today’s another early morning rise and shine blog post, because after I get this posted, I’m on the road to the North Country for a photo shoot. But since you’re already up – and you’re expecting the Saturday blog post that recaps the wonderful people on my personal blog roll – well, that’s why…

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When Trumpflation becomes a marketing gimmick.

Trumpflation makes me sick. The whole idea that Donald Trump can just wave his hands and suddenly we’re paying surcharges and penalties because he drops massive tariffs on countries who manufacture products that we need – drives me up the wall. And now I’m seeing advertisements for “buy now at pre-tariff prices” sales. In other…

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Nina Conti likes to play with her monkey

Ventriloquism is fun. The ability to throw your voice into an inanimate object, and then convince an audience that the object has its own personality and essence separate from your own, while trying NOT to move your lips throughout the whole performance – that’s tough. And there are a few legendary and famous ventriloquists who…

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NY Phoenix takes third game of Route 5 Rivalry, 114-105

This is what we need for local basketball fans. The TBL’s top two teams – whose only losses this season have been in games against each other – are now facing off in the third game of their four-game regular season “Route 5 Rivalry.” And in this matchup, the New York Phoenix drove down from…

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Being more vigilant than ever against scammers and thieves

My blog has a category called “Hey, Scammers!” for a reason. This category allows me to share swindles and scams and sneaks that criminals and extortionists and griefers will perpetrate upon us. And I try to show clues to alert you that a scam is present. Such as in the text message I received yesterday.…

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