How Many Weeks Can You Collect Unemployment Benefits In New York?

My friend got unemployment benefits in ny in may 2008. He is still going strong as he received two extensions already. It will be 2 years in may 2010. According to him you could collect up to 10 years which is ridiculous. How it works is if you do not get an extension you wait one month and claim poverty could not find work. They extend it over and over again. In nassau county it is apparent they do not check employment records in hempstead ny. They just keep stamping approved on everyone's application. It's a con which people should stop but they keep on doing it and the govt can not regulate lazy people in hempstead ny not doing there jobs. So for people like me the hardworking people who lost his 65,000.00 dollar job and refuses to take unemployment I went back to school full time and work part time only 16 hours a week so I can study. Remember all you people who are milking the system dry new jobs can not be created for people who do not look for jobs.  I make 9 dollars an hour now but when I go for an interview what looks better the guy finishing his bachelors degree now and working or the lazy person who waited for unemployment to run out and never looked for a job. Good luck finding work. I know if I was an employer I would hire only people who want to work people who are not lazy. My friend collected unemployment for 99 weeks so far and will continue through memorial day. He expects to get unemployment for another 5 years. No wonder this country is going bankrupt. He's using his unemployment to go on vacation to universal studios orlando fl and texas. I have no symphony for the lazy people who are ruining this country.