Articles written by Dan Weaver

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About me - Dan Weaver

I am an antiquarian bookseller and free-lance writer living near Albany in Upstate New York. I have a bachelor's and master's degree in Literature. My interests are reading, writing, history, politics and religion.

I am also interested in the law. I am specially

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Parenting & Pregnancy > Parenting (Other) The truth behind "child protection reform": 1 of 17
Child Protective Services took my child in October 2004 based on false allegations. I had to fight to get her back and finally did, but not before Child Protective Services had caused great harm to my child and my family.The truth behind 'child protection reform' is that there has not been any meaningful child protective refo... More..
Creative Writing > Poetry Poetry: September 11, 2001: 7 of 106
I Was Teaching When The Towers FellI was teaching when the towers fellENG 104. Section B. Unaware that hell and the smellOf burnt sacrifice were drifting across Manhattan.I was teaching Updike's "A & P" when the towers fell,Talking about heroism, while heroes were bearingAnd being borne, and born, and born again.I was teachin... More..
Politics, News & Issues > Drug Laws & Prevention The harms of drugs versus the harms of the 'War on Drugs': 3 of 44
Whatever happened to the War on Drugs? Apparently, it has been replaced by the War on Terror. However, two recent events brought the War on Drugs back into focus for me.The first event was a drug raid by a Schenectady, New York SWAT team, during which children were handcuffed and terrorized, a pet dog was killed and only a sm... More..
Politics, News & Issues > Political & Economic Theory America is losing her freedom!: 4 of 48
New Hampshire's state motto "Live Free or Die" is becoming increasingly incomprehensible to many Americans. Most of us seem more interested in living securely than living freely, not realizing that increased security is often obtained at the expense of liberty and privacy. I was reminded of that a few weeks ago when New York ... More..
Creative Writing > Poetry Poetry: Christmas humor: 5 of 59
Haunted by ChristmasSometimes I sympathize with Ebenezer,especially on Christmas morn,sitting among the ghosts of Christmas presents:bows, boxes and wrapping paper torn.Forcing my eyes to open,feeling very, very tired,facing again those dreaded apparitions:"Batteries not included;" "Some assembly required." More..
Business > Sales Easy ways to turn your passion into sales: 3 of 35
The first time I walked past the gas pumps in front of Mr. Garbaden's service station to the little library that his wife ran out of a couple of rooms in their house, I never imagined that someday I would make my living selling books. One thing I did know-I loved books. My passion for books grew as I grew. I read several book... More..
Society & Lifestyle > Social Values & Norms Should hanging a noose in public be considered a hate crime?: 3 of 30
Currently, it is not a crime in New York State to display a hangmans noose, but proposed legislation, already passed in the Senate, seeks to make it one; and similar legislation is in the works for other states. The proposed New York law states that a person is guilty of aggravated harassment in the first degree if he or she ... More..
Parenting & Pregnancy > Parenting (Other) How to prepare if you are falsely reported for abuse or neglect: 1 of 9
October 4, 2004. I will remember that day for the rest of my life. For me, September 11, 2001 fades in comparison because October 4, 2004 was the day Child Protective Services (CPS) of Montgomery County, New York took my daughter away from me based on anonymous and false allegations. I finally got her back, but she would neve... More..
Politics, News & Issues > News Industry Reading newspapers regularly: 2 of 15
"He had a sudden wild craving for a newspaper. It was so strong that he could smell the printer's ink and hear the crackling and rustling of the pages." From Darkness At Noon by Arthur Koestler. Of all the means of communication at my disposal, the two I enjoy most are standing out by the side of the road-my mailbox and my Ga... More..
Creative Writing > Reflections Reflections on real life heroes: 23 of 169
She was pregnant for eleven years and three months. Not all at one time, of course. She had sixteen children as the result of fifteen pregnancies-there was one set of twins. They all had the same father. Two died at birth, leaving fourteen surviving children.She never fought in a war, ran into a burning building to rescue a c... More..