Game 7: The 87th Game of the Season for #87

This is it! Tonight's the night that the entire league has waited for since camps opened last year. I would say it's been toughest on the media with the multiple game 7s that took place this year. I'm sure some of them wake up and don't even know where they are any more.

But tonight we find out if it will be Marian Hossa or Sidney Crosby who ends up with their name etched on the Cup for eternity. So many side show dramas. So many fans biting their nails. It's going to be interesting. I'm just hoping the Internet isn't more interesting tonight than the actual game.

However, today's news is more interesting in a bizarre sort of way than anything we could make up. The State Senate has turned into a sideshow that I can't even read about because it will do nothing but piss the living daylights out of me. I never thought I'd see the word "coup" in conjunction with my own government.

Then again, I never thought I'd hear that Cher's daughter, Chastity Bono, wants to be a man. WTF? And she waits until she's 40 to do it? Hey Newsflash. Sex change is beyond major surgery. It's a series of major surgeries. We don't heal as well as we get older. And honey, er, uh, Sir.... you're OLDER.

There's a small article in Newsday regarding yesterday's Nassau County meeting with a headline of "Suozzi: Lighthouse a big draw." Tom Suozzi wants to have the St. Patrick's Day Parade there when it's built. Well, okay then.

However, I heard the words "land grab" all yesterday. I'm tired of it. Maybe I misunderstand the meaning of the words together, but to me it sounds like theft of actual property. I can't explain to these detractors that 1) The County CHOSE Wang & Rechler to propose development of this COUNTY land. 2) The County is not SELLING the land, they are leasing it.

This isn't greed, it's economic development. I've come to the conclusion that you will never in a million years make everyone happy. I'm just hopeful that more people get "happy" because I seriously can't take the negativity. UGGGHHH... I should just stop reading the paper and watching the news.

Local Government - Live on Twitter!

Sorry, but I do find it truly amazing that I can go onto Twitter and find quotes and minute to minute descriptions of the action of so many government proceedings. I found it fascinating in the Phoenix Coyotes court and now I'm using it to catch up on the Tom Suozzi meeting that I missed this evening.

Even veteran beat writer Greg Logan blogged about tonight's meeting. (And to think we used to have to wait for the morning paper to hit the driveway in order to find out how things went. Now, we're in real time. It's mind boggling.)

But while I am fascinated at the technology, I am also fascinated by the ease of which we can become complacent. Certainly things look rosy as all parties are sitting down, shaking hands and making nice nice for the camera. But please do not forget that there are many other ToH communities who are still waiting for THEIR campaign promises to be fulfilled.

While the majority of attendees were supporters of the LighthouseLI project, support does not mean it will actually get done. It only gives the impression it will have more than a snowball's chance in hell of getting done.

We all feel good after all the great press from this past week, but let the optimism be cautious at best. The Town of Hempstead is not yet off the hook and considering what the hell is going on in Albany right now, how can we expect assistance from them? It's a political three-ring circus upstate between the Democrats and the Republicans. Our little political struggle is only a side show.

Again, our best hope for this to get to a point where it is a financial success for everyone and done correctly is to "advocate and educate."

And speaking of "Educate," I attended a high school achievement award meeting tonight. I'm amazed at what my school district actually has accomplished this year. Long Island is a wonderful place to grow up. We are very lucky. We need to keep growing and getting better. And we can.

I'm Supportive In Abstentia Today

The Lighthouse Development Group will present an update on the Lighthouse project to the Nassau County Planning Commission TONIGHT at 6:30 p.m. The meeting will be held in the Theodore Roosevelt Executive and Legislative Building in Mineola, located at 1550 Franklin Ave. Islanders owner Charles Wang and Nassau County Executive Tom Suozzi will be on-hand and everyone is invited to attend.

But I'll be attending a high school assembly while my daughter gets an award for -- softball. What else? So, those attending, please let me know what happens.

But I am wearing my Islanders brown hoodie that I got from the Massapequa team store. Hopefully that does count as being supportive.

Also, check out the Summer player appearance calendar. At least it's something for us to look forward to here and there. Many of the appearances are private, but there are ones that are public for each of the players that will be visiting us over the summer. The calendar can be found on the main Islanders website.

I can't believe the season will end tomorrow. Well, it certainly was an interesting one.

It's Going to Take Seven!

Which is exactly what those of us who don't really have a horse in this race were hoping for. The sheer idea of holding onto the hockey season just a little longer.

While everyone was preparing for the Red Wings to waltz around with the cup last night on the Penguins ice, there were those of us in the Twitterverse crossing our fingers for an upset to bring about a game seven.

Marc Andre Fluery heard us and granted our wish. Lord Stanley was promptly put back in it's case and escorted out of the building and back onto a plane. The hockey faithful get one more game. The Pittsburgh Penguins get one more shot at winning it all. We won't know if they are up to the task until Friday.

Yesterday, while listening to Bill Watters on Toronoto's 640AM radio at work, I had the pleasure of actually hearing an interview with NHL top prospect Matt Duchene. I was more than impressed. So were his radio hosts.

"He's not seventeen! He can't be! He's at least 23." The host exclaimed because the answers Matt gave to each of the questions in the 12 minute segment were thoughtful and mature. He discussed the types of questions that are asked at the grueling combine he attended. The one he remembers most was "What are you most afraid of." It took a little but Matt fessed up to his answer.

"My worst fear is being insignificant." He went on to explain in brilliant detail what he expects to accomplish. It was an eye-opener. They should put the podcast link up so everyone can hear it. When they do, I will post it.

Okay, so what the heck is up with NBC & the NHL and not airing the games on the big screens at the arenas? I would be very interested in an official statement from the NHL or NBC regarding the thought process behind garnering the anger of so many hockey fans. No. Seriously. Give me a valid reason for this clause to be put into NBC's contract because I can't see the value in it.

My thought: Let's boycott an NBC airing of "The Office" to show our anger. Anyone want to join in on that?

Biodegradable Serveware IS Available!

Once again, I'm telling you, I learn the most amazing things on Twitter. Tonight I learned that they actually do make biodegradable food service containers!

Do you hear that??? Your cold cups, your hot cups, your sushi containers could ALL be biodegradable and NOT outlast petrified Twinkies in a landfill!

As we know that garbage is one of the problems we face here on our little Island, shouldn't MORE companies be using these items that are made out of renewable ingredients? Want to know what they're made out of? Mind you, we are talking FOOD service here. The plastics we use currently is made from oil. These biodegradable items are made from -- CORN.

Good old American farm land CORN!!! Uh... hello? Doesn't that help on TWO fronts? Reducing dependence on oil and reducing garbage?

I would think that the NHL or at least the concession management company (that would be SMG) at the Coliseum should be looking into these items. The prices are comparable, and in large quantity are very competitive. (I'll refrain from stating the fact that we are already getting raped for our food items of low quality at the barn so the idea that the packaging is environmentally friendly may make the rip off more palatable. I wish they could do that with the food....)

Check it out. You will be AMAZED!

The Monday Blogdown

Let's get back to Hockey even though we are winding down this 8th day of June. Hockeybarn.com has a weekly feature called the Blogdown. This week, as most weeks, we're hoping to have a little fun with the topic. I haven't seen who else has weighed in yet, but the subject is "If hockey equipment could talk." Here is my entry for this week. But I'm sure there will be some good ones. Check it out.

CONVINCE ME KATE!

Okay, I've slept on it for two nights. I've given it some thought. I've discussed it with other people. I'm not convinced.

While the euphoria of Friday's love fest for the cameras between the politicians and the Lighthouse developers gave Islanders County a moment of joy, personally I'm not ready to buy season tickets for the 2012 season yet.

Previously, I have been called "cynical" by certain other prominent writers. In certain aspects I am. Politics falls into that "I ain't buying it" category.

Friday's meeting was important during the campaign season to show "good faith" to the voters who have been bombarding the Town of Hempstead regarding the lack of movement on the Lighthouse project. The Tuesday Long Island Planning Council's wrist slapping of the town was the cherry on the political cake. Couple that with Governor Patterson's meeting with the developers and you've got a campaign scrambling to look better in the eyes of the voters.

The Democrats have won so many offices lately that the Republicans cannot stand to lose the Town of Hempstead. They will do anything to keep Republican control over it. They will do anything to make sure Kate Murray is re-elected. Personally, I believe this is Step 1.

By giving the impression of being proactive on the Lighthouse LI project they have effectively taken a good portion of the wind out of Kristen McElroy's campaign sails. Certainly the Lighthouse is not her only platform, but it is the one that could garner her crossover support.

The July 7th meeting is strictly to VOTE on whether the DGIS is complete. Does Ms. Murray HAVE to be there? I'm not sure. Could she be on vacation at the time? Perhaps. But July 7th is the only meeting of the board in July. They have one in August as well, so the July 7th date was strictly the only date available on the town calendar and not necessarily a show of "I'm running as fast as I can."

With luck that date will then put an end to the consultant's pay checks. (Note: I believe it's cost the developers an estimated $54,000 to make changes to the DGEIS so far.)

But before we all jump on that "I Like Kate" bandwagon that is pulling up to the Coliseum, I'd like to bring up just a few things that LetThereBeLighthouse's Nick Giglia sent me. He received an e-mail from The Community Alliance entitled "Debunking the Murray Myth."

The stabilized town tax platform? Town taxes were raised by 6.6%.

The highest Wall Street credit rating for ToH? It seems that may be true, but that Ms. Murray was left by her predecessor with a $50 million surplus probably has a lot to do with that.

The restoration of eroded beaches was actually a federally funded project by the Army Corps of Engineers.

There are many, many holes in her political platform for this year's re-election. But I'm glad Nick forwarded me the email, I will certainly now be check on this blogsite that seems to follow the Town Supervisor very closely.

"If the wolf puts on a sheep mask and sits down with the Shepard for tea, is it not still a wolf?" Yes, it is. And it's motives are the same, only the perception has changed.

As Islanders fans and as Long Islanders we need to stay diligent in this cause. We cannot become complacent because Tom Suozzi brokered a photo op. I urge you to stay informed, stay involved, and stay concerned. I'd like to be 100% sure I'll know where our 2009 1st round draft pick will be playing in five years. I'd like to be 100% sure it will be in Uniondale, NY, Town of Hempstead, Long Island.

Until then... come on... Convince me Kate.