Hi Claus :)

> select * from table1 where my_date <> "17.11.1858" (or null or a
> special date my birthday "09.04.1961" or other date)
> the same here "... where my_date <> '1858-11-17 00:00:00 +0000' ...

If I where you, I would use a PreparedStatement, like this:

java.sql.PreparedStatement pstmt =
connection.prepareStatement("select * from table1 where my_date <> ?");

pstmt.setDate(1,myDateObject);//myDateObject is instance of java.sql.Date

java.sql.ResultSet rset = pstmt.executeQuery();

By doing so you let the driver do the conversion work for you.

Ciao
Luca