New Addition to Blog: 'Eric Martin: The Google Alerts'

I was so bored the other day, I added a Google Alert for my name: Eric Martin.

I really can't explain why but these Google Alerts have me anxiously awaiting there arrival. There must be something innate in the human psyche that makes me want to learn about the guys that I share my name with me.

It has been a pretty interesting week for guys named Eric Martin.

Just in the past few days I've been:

• a bank robber that tried to flee the police after he had been arrested causing school lockdown in Iowa
• a high school junior who captained his team to a State Championship in Danvers, MA
• a Congressman that lost an election in York, PA
• a Director of Public Works in Chesapeake, Va that rejected city employees pay increases 
• a Twitter account for @RonnieRust whose child had three back to back seizures
• a Rock Star (Formerly of Mr. Big)  who is going to sing on a Rick Springfield Tribute Album

So I will continue to watch out for my namesakes and see what kind of moments in their life Google captures for Forever in the supposed Black Hole of the GooglePlex.

In the next day or so I am going to add a new section to A Long Island Nerfherder's Blog called 'Eric Martin: The Google Alerts' in the column on the right.

Come back and check out the alerts if you have time.  Or create a Google Alert for your name.

And no, that's not me in the pic.  That's the Rock Star who is singing on the Rick Springfield Album.

I actually went out with girl a few times that  dated him.  He was from Long Island too.

Always Remember...

"Don't Take Any Shit from Anybody!"
                                                        -William Martin Joel

New York Ranger Fans Should Erase Last Night's Game from Memory

Last night was a fluke.  An aberration.  What happened in the first 5 minutes of last night's game against the Chicago Blackhawks does not happen to this Ranger team.  

But it did.  And us fans should just wipe it from our memory.  Our team is allowed to have this one.  Granted, it was only the worst 5 minutes this team has played all year.  But considering where they are and what they have accomplished this year, they have earned a pass.

Also considering for the next 55 minutes, we won the game 2-0. And we had another apparent goal stolen from us because the referee lost sight of the puck.  That goal could've swung the moment our way even further and who knows what might have happened. 

This Ranger's team has played their hearts out so far this season.  Being the pessimist that I am, and considering the teams history since I graduated high school (1994), I have watched this team all year with a gut wrenching angst.  Waiting for the wheels to fall off at any moment.  Insistently nervous that their next mistake is just going to unwind this team and send them spiraling down the standings. 

 And when the wheels fell off last night in the first five minutes, I had such a sense of calm come over me.  I didn't think the sky was falling. Like Coach Torts has said so many times this year, "He trusts this team."  I trust this team. 

They were tired.  They came out flat against a hungry opponent.  The Blackhawks were pumped to play at MSG.  You could see it right from the start.  They were determined to not get embarrassed by losing their tenth straight game.  They had not won at The Garden in almost a decade.  

And the Ranger were coming off a brutal stretch of games played, answering the bell in each game against division rivals. 

And poor Marty Biron.  He received absolutely no help for his team in the first five minutes last night. Three of the four goals were breakaways, including a Penalty Shot in the first minute and 2 seconds of the game.  And the other goal he let in, he had a 6'8" monster on skates standing in front of the crease screening him.  Not one Ranger tried to muscle the monster out of Biron's way.  The King would have been hard pressed to not let in atleast 2 or 3 of the 4 goals.

Now that I have said my peace, I'm wiping this game from memory.  It never happened.  Looking forward to Sunday night.  All year long this team has bounced back from adversity.  I trust that it will be no different this time.  I trust in Coach Torts, that he will use this as motivation going forward.

Long Island Inaugurates Hydrogen Refueling Station

Source: Newsday
Class: SYNDICATED NEWS

SYNOPSIS: $2.2-million station will be used to refuel retrofit vehicles including shuttle bus.

Long Island's newest refueling spot is an exclusive club: It's open only to drivers of hydrogen-fuel-cell-powered vehicles.

The $2.2-million hydrogen fuel station, financed by a combination of local and state funding with partners such as LIPA and National Grid, sits in a parking lot next to the Town of Hempstead's Department of Conservation and Waterways in Point Lookout.

An Air Quality Action Day Is Forecast In NY Area

The New York State Department of Transportation has declared that today (Monday, August 17, 2009) is an Air Quality Action Day in the downstate metro area due to forecasted high levels of ground-level ozone pollution in parts of the region (please visit the Clean Air NY Web site for more information http://www.cleanairny.org/LocalAirQuality/Default.aspx).

While today is still a day when people can go about most of their normal activities, such as going to work, driving may be one of the most polluting activities that you do today, and we encourage everyone to leave their cars at home if possible.

Ground-level ozone is a respiratory irritant that can trigger asthma attacks and aggravate emphysema, bronchitis and other respiratory ailments. Children, people with pre-existing respiratory or heart conditions, people doing strenuous outdoor work or exercise and the elderly are particularly vulnerable to the effects of ozone.

Here are several simple steps you can take on Air Quality Action Days to prevent pollution:

Combine errands into a single trip, rather than separate trips. This can help save time and reduce the amount of pollution emitted from your vehicle.

Take the subway, bus or train when possible.

Postpone unnecessary trips. Avoiding motor vehicle trips on Air Quality Action Days will prevent the formation of air pollution.

Refuel your vehicle in the evening when it’s cooler outside.

Avoid letting your vehicle idle, such as at the fast food or bank teller drive-thru.
Postpone using gas-powered gardening equipment such as lawn mowers on Air Quality Action Days. Wait for a day when air quality is better.

Forward this message to your family and friends.

To learn more about improving air quality or if you were forwarded this message and want us to send updates to your own e-mail address, visit CleanAirNY.org or call 1-877-ILUVAIR (1-877-458-8247).

Clean Air NY is sponsored by the New York State Department of Transportation in support of regionwide air-quality efforts.

511NY is New York State's official traffic and travel info source. Whether you drive or take public transit, click here for precisely what you need, or simply dial 511 on your phone.