NHLTweetUp FollowUP with @dani3boyz

For years they warned us that computers would take away our humanity. Even Pete Townsend, in 1970, wrote The Lifehouse Chronicles, an entire movie score that was never produced about a post apocalyptic world where people were confined to their homes and all their needs were fulfilled by computers from a main grid. Uh... Okay, Pete was ahead of his time. It's not that bad yet. But for the brave souls on Twitter, the Social Media community that grows in leaps and bounds every second, face to face socialization is not a problem.

Such was the idea behind the "TweetUp." To get people with a common bond talking to each other to develop relationships that can and DO transcend into the material world. This is a grass roots initiative that is growing exponentially.

Today the mastermind behind the NHLTweetUp had a little gathering in her own neck of the woods. There were about 30 Twitter respondents getting together to watch the Red Wings take on the Blackhawks at Croxley's Ale House in Farmingdale.

Please take note, with no NY team in the playoffs, there were still 30 fans from all walks of life ready and willing to get together and talk hockey and watch two western conference teams play. Yeah, tell me again that hockey is dead on Long Island.

I arrived early so I could talk to Dani for a few minutes. She rushed in, Blackberry in one hand, coffee in the other, bag of goodies and laptop slung over her shoulder. She immediately directed the wait staff and made herself at home in a booth. The Blackberry never stopped buzzing.

I'm actually surprised it still works, although she said it "freezes" a lot now. Ever since HockeyBuzz told everyone to follow her and new followers came crawling out of the web.

"You know I kept my follower numbers under 1,000 because I always felt intimidated looking at others who had more than 1,000 followers. I didn't want to be like that. But after that 'Eklund episode' I couldn't stop it."

Dani is well versed in all Twitter apps and tried (yet again) to explain TweetDeck to me. This is how she manages her followers and those she follows. She categorizes them in neat columns that scroll across the screen. This must be because she is the mother of three. A place for everything and everything in its place, even on Twitter. I stood amazed.

I asked her how the Montreal NHLDraftTweetUp was coming along. "I feel a little like a Travel Agent right now. We're working with hotels to come up with group rates right now."

@Amandafortier, one of her Twitter friends, put a list together of things to do in the area for those attending.

The NHL has even stepped up in their support effort of the Montreal TweetUp and supplied 50 General Admission tickets to the Draft for both Friday and Saturday.

You have to agree, the NHL is the most forward thinking league in sports. They understand what social media and the Internet mean to the expansion of their fan base. They 'get it.'

Many of those who will be travelling to Montreal for this are women. Some of whom were afraid to travel alone, but through the power of Twitter have found travel companions to make the trip. "No one is ever going to be alone." Dani will be taking an 11 hour train ride with one of her Twitter buddies because airfare is too expensive and there's that sticky passport thing now.

"We get there at 7:30 Thursday night so I don't miss ANY of Friday. From what I understand, the train pulls 2 blocks away from where we need to be. We'll be in the middle of it all and everything will be within walking distance. And so many of the locals are making themselves available to us. A lot more of the locals in Montreal will be our male contingent. But a lot of the travelers are female." (We're just more social and more adventurous!)

"This is going to be the ultimate getting to know one another. This is Big Brother for the NHL."

Dani almost hit a financial snag as she found out this being the catalyst of a social media movement is not cheap. But once again, her Twitter friends came to the rescue. When she told @goaliegirl her concerns, the net diva immediately set up a chip-in site and asked for some help from her followers.

"In a matter of four hours, there was over $300. I cried all day. Every time my Blackberry buzzed and told me there was another donation, the water works started. Perfect strangers giving there money to me, because they want ME to go to Montreal. It's overwhelming."

What's overwhelming is how this little idea of Dani's has grown. More Twitterers were filing in as I was leaving. They ate, they chatted, they tweeted. They watched the Red Wings beat the Blackhawks on the big screen. They made friends, in real time, in the real world.

Don't be afraid of new technology.

Big Boys, Big Brooms!

I seriously didn't expect the Penguins to be able to SWEEP the Carolina Heart attack Canes. Patience and hard work just paid off for the Pens and it was four and done.

I will admit, I actually did doze off for five minutes last night because it was a forgone conclusion by the third. Cam Ward seemed out of position too often and the Pens just took advantage of him.

However, the thing that struck me the most is the fact that I had no idea Malkin was that BIG. Sidney Crosby is not a little guy. When Malkin skated over to him when he was presented with the trophy, I couldn't believe the difference in size. He's a monster. No wonder he can't be stopped.

Yes, Dan Blysma's Pittsburgh Penguins boast two of the NHL's most elite players. They will vie for the coveted prize once again. In all honesty, it's a perfect scenario.

Congratulations to Bill Guerin for being such a contributor on this exceptional team. His is a perfect case to prove "Karma."

This is the team he was meant to be on this Spring. It was his destiny. Proof once again that everything happens for a reason. Everything.

So who will they face? There still has to be hope for Blackhawk fans. It's just somewhat -- dim.

Suburban Life No More

Twitter is an amazing thing. There are more fascinating article links on there than I could ever find by myself. But I'd like Town Of Hempstead Supervisor Kate Murray to see this one from MSNBC.

"Demographic Trends favor Downtowns" Yep, suburbia is not what it used to be. People are looking for more convenient live, work, play solutions to our economic setbacks.

This is what the Lighthouse project would provide to the area. It could be almost a self contained Mecca of everything you could desire without having to get in your car.

I still can't understand the objections. This is not a developer that wants to tear down five blocks of Garden City brick colonials and build a mini Lefrak City.

This is a project that would transform 150 acres of barren grey landscape surrounded by a highway, a college and a recycling plant into something that is vibrant and stunning.

Nassau Coliseum does NOT sit in the middle of "Suburbia." It sits in the middle of NOTHING but COMMERCIAL REAL ESTATE. (Real estate the County is trying to sell to make up for the totally non-profitable leases that would outlive most of us.)

So tell me, exactly WHAT about the Lighthouse Project is objectionable?

1) The Convention Center that Long Island so desperately needs? Please check with the tourism board. They are desperate for one.

2) The proposed high end hotel? Yeah, because having only TWO high caliber hotels in our area is enough. Yeah, that does a lot for the tourism industry. When I know people are visiting from out of state for an Islander game, they can't afford the Garden City hotel and sometimes the Marriott is booked solid. After that, their choices for lodging in that area are hotels that actually have DAY rates. Yeah.

3) The Sports Complex? Sure, why would we EVER want to be able to have National sporting events on Long Island? No, let other cities get the attention and income. That would just be HORRIBLE for the local economy, right?

4) Celebration Plaza? A Disney style outdoor plaza would be just a waste, right? Because everyone knows Disney style entertainment venues are pointless? Does Nassau County have ANYTHING that even remotely looks like what is proposed?

5) The Sports Technology Center? Why should Nassau County have state-of-the-art facilities for the fastest growing medical industry in the country? No, let athletes from all over the country go to Minnesota for their treatments.

6) Next Generation Housing? Okay, so THIS has to be the sticky point. It really can't be anything else. Look, affordable housing is a problem on Long Island. Those just starting out and those empty-nesters don't NEED that suburban lifestyle you are looking to protect. They don't want to and sometimes CAN'T maintain their own homes, lawns and vinyl siding. They WANT low maintenance homes or rentals in Town House communties.

7) A Renovated Nassau Coliseum. It seems everyone on all sides wants this. So this isn't the concern.

So what is? Traffic is a way of life on Long Island, it will always be there. Garbage, water and energy concerns are facts of our Long Island lifestyle. But you cannot tell me that we do not have the means and abilities to make it work. There are technologies, ones which the ToH says they, themselves, have instituted.

SO TALK! Because this standing at opposite ends of a room glaring at each other is just foolish! This is too important. Enough is enough.

Kate Murray will be in Garden City on June 1st at 7:30 pm at the Eastern Property Owners Association Annual Meeting at the Garden City Library at 60 7th Street in Garden City. Will she actually TALK about the project there? Do YOU want to talk about the project there? I think SOMEONE should!

Okay, I wrote this because I was actually getting bored with the Pittsburgh game. Someone has replaced Cam Ward with an imposter. Pens up. Will probably end the series right here. Oh well. You did a great job Paul Maurice. You should be proud.

Tom Suozzi LandShark? Don't Bite!

Newsday's story today by Celeste Hadrick regarding Tom Suozzi's quiet sale of two parcels of County owned land is causing the Democrat a little Republican grief. But then again, the Republican party would find a problem if Suozzi helped a little old lady cross Hempstead Turnpike.

"The Woman was accosted by Suozzi as she didn't WANT to cross the dangerous roadway."

Yes, there is a political spin to everything.

Here's my take on the half page article:

Tom Suozzi is trying to sell 13 acres of County owned land that is doing the county no good in revenue generation. These 24 leases were given 20 years ago by Republican Francis Purcell to Republican party associates. They are 99 year leases and many have no rent increase provisions for the next 75 years.

BWWAAAHHHAAA!!! And we wonder why the County is BROKE?

So Suozzi went to the tenants on the land and asked if they want to purchase the property. This is a problem? You're kidding. Where else would you go?

Under market value? Have the Republicans SEEN the market lately?

This is the quote that caught my eye:

"But Republican critic Peter Schmitt, minority leader of the county legislature, complained that Suozzi should have publicly announced his plans before selling at the bottom of the market. He predicted Mitchel Field land values will soar if the proposed Lighthouse complex is built."

This is the same Republican rep that went to Washington to talk about infrastructure money for the next five years WITHOUT any thought of the Lighthouse Project. A few weeks ago he called it premature. Now he's saying the "land value will soar if the proposed Lighthouse complex is built."? So does that mean he realizes that it is a beneficial project for the area????

Okay, so the really curious part of the article comes at the end of the second paragraph saying he has accepted bids from two leaseholders for 13 acres of the public land "...that includes the Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum."

I'm guessing this is to lead readers to wonder or believe (as my husband is doing right now) if that means the County Legislature is offering up the Coliseum LAND for PURCHASE. I guess that would require researching the other 22 leases and what property they cover.

I wish I had more time, but I'm already running late this Tuesday morning. Maybe we can get Nick on this.

Uggghh!!! It's always something.

Happy Memorial Day to All

A day we relax because so many gave so much to ensure our freedoms in this country. And they still do so daily across our country and in far off lands.

Thank you veterans. Thank you service Men & Women. We are proud of you.


And I'm STILL trying to write the NYIBC Newsletter article.
SORRY GARY!!! REALLY!!! I'M WORKING ON IT! I SWEAR!