Skye Axon in Cyberspace

Real Life or Second Life?

So...here I am, on the edge of 48, in the process of divorce and selling a home.  My quest to find an apartment with all the right stuff and feel was much shorter than expected.  I found a sweet place in Freeport on the water that welcomed Tika, my most excellent doggie.  Picked up the keys today.

Kinda strange you see, I have wandered in Second Life as Skye Axon, an internet user-created 3D virtual environment since 2005.  I feel like I'm starting a second life, so is my virtual life and my real life meshing? a bizarre feeling actually... but what is real anyway?

44 US Presidents - George Washington to Barack Obama

This is worth taking a look at....enjoy.

Les 44 présidents des Etats Unis
by thony911

AOL Image Challenge Woes with Outlook

I finally convinced my best friend to enter the 21st century by purchasing a laptop.  She is the proud owner of an HP Mini Notebook, very cool, even though it is a PC (I'm a Mac Snob).  Inevitably I created an internet/email Frankenstein and have become her very own 24/7 tech support, which brings me to the purpose of this post.

My friend signed up for an AOL email address and I set-up her Outlook Express with POP3 settings.  All was working fine.  After a few days, even though emails sent in Outlook appeared sent, they were not reaching their destination.  What made me crazy as I tried to troubleshoot the problem was why it worked sometimes and didn't others.  All settings in Outlook were correct and test messages were sent but not received.  OK, I signed on directly to AOL and tried to send an email from her account, this "image challenge" popped up to verify that I was a human and not a computer.  I enter the required code and voila, her emails immediately can be sent and are received within AOL and from Outlook.  The bottom line here is that Outlook is not equipped to deal with the image challenge, it has to be done within AOL.  Awesome!  I'm brilliant.  Or so I thought, until a few days later,  when the same problem manifests.  Ultimately, after much frustration, I figure out that this "image challenge" AOL has engaged has some sort of a re-set timer and has to be fed regularly.  Unfortunately, I haven't figured out the pattern nor do I want to spend the time trying to.  It is easier for my friend to blow off AOL email and use Gmail, which at this time doesn't have this obnoxious challenge. 

If you have experienced the same baffled frustration using Outlook with your AOL email, I hope this helped.  You and your Outlook are working just fine, it is AOL creating the problem.  If you are attached to AOL, don't use Outlook, sign in to AOL and do your business within their world so when the image challenge pops up you can feed it.  Good Luck!

As "The Bachelor" Turns

I don't watch "The Bachelor" on purpose, I have to because it is on when I'm at work.  In the cess-pool of reality television, this show wallows in the dredge.  This particular season with "Jason, the single dad" has infuriated me plenty.

I don't understand why his ex agreed to the use of their son as a prop in a network television program to find his new step mommy.  It borders on child abuse.  The only explanation I can imagine is that Ty now has a substantial amount of cash in his college fund. 

I find it disturbing that 25 women are willing to put their lives and their hearts on display in this bread and circuses for the lovelorn.  It is hard to watch as they throw themselves at this man and then as he rejects them, they are sent home without their fairy tale ending.  What enjoyment can be gained from this?  It is Jerry Springer without the fisticuffs and furniture throwing.

Last night, Jason proposes to Melissa in the final episode and she is aglow in her happily ever after.  Immediately following the final episode is the "After The Final Rose" show where America tunes in to see the happy couple and hear about their impending nuptials.  Not so fast, Jason dumps Melissa,
Why?...he still has feelings for runner-up Molly.  Melissa walks off the set telling him, "don't call or text me anymore".  Molly comes on the set and accepts his offer to "see where things go", it is revealed that Molly hasn't lost her feelings for Jason.  UGH!  Am I the ony person who is aghast?  Please leave your comments!

Tune in tonight on ABC for "After The Final Rose 2" ... for more torture.

Top 10 things that make "The Bachelor", single dad Jason, an ASS:

10-He believes he is a hot and sexy Bachelor.
09-He believes he is a celebrity.
08-The only adjective he knows is "amazing".
07-He calls women "girls".
06-He doesn't know what he really wants.
05-He cries after every decision he makes.
04-He breaks up with his fiance on network TV instead of in private.
03-He hooks up with his new girlfriend on network TV right after dumping his fiance.
02-He thinks this is all ok because hey, he agreed to do the show to find his true love.

And the number one reason that "The Bachelor", single dad Jason is an ASS is:

01-He uses his son as a "step-mommy magnet".

Unexpected trip to Florida

Last Thursday I flew down to Florida to be with my Dad due to his unexpected emergency heart bypass surgery. Dad wasn't keeping me informed about what was going on with his health...didn't want to worry me. Thanks Dad. Ugh! So far, so good, Dad is recovering well and is expected to be out of ICU tonight. I snapped the pic attached as I was walking into the hospital Saturday. Guess someone was telling me to have a nice day.

Cupboard Base - January 7, 2009

Duh...this was easy.

Parakeet - January 6, 2009

Raincoat - January 5, 2009

I like this one.  It looks more like a kimono than a raincoat.

Airplane - January 3 & 4, 2009

Koala Bear - January 2, 2009

Looks more like a doggie to me.

Dove - January 1, 2009

Happy New Year & My 2009 Calendars

Every year I pick up my new calendars at Barnes and Noble at Columbus and 66th Street.  They used to have a huge very diverse collection, but in the past 2 years, I've noticed that the variety just isn't there.  My purchase for 2009 was an ECOlogical calendar for my office (wall calendar and weekly planner versions).  These calendars are not the usual Gregorian grid format, they follow the Earth's four seasons.  The artwork really caught my eye...but I must admit, it is strange to look at the flow of these calendars.  Check out their website and see what I mean.  ECOlogical Calendar

I don't usually buy those desktop calendars but this year I picked up Origami Fold-A-Day.  This is now on my desk at work and it is my lunch break diversion.  Tune in and there will be a picture of each masterpiece everyday.

Mac Tat

My latest body art addition.  Crazy?  Not really...at least not for me. 
I admired this new Apple logo called the splash from their nano-chromatic campaign, what I really like is that it looks like art, not a logo.

It was perfect for me.

My Apple Space

the newest coolest place for macgeeks to hang out. think facebook for Apple.

Tina Fey as Sarah Palin on SNL

I haven't watched Saturday Night Live since the original not ready for primetime players.  I used to stand in line late Friday night into Saturday morning at NBC with my friend Priscilla to get standby tickets.  We always got the dress rehersal instead of the live show standby tickets since you had a better chance of being in the audience.  Most of the time we didn't get in, but once in awhile we would.  If we were lucky enough to get into the dress rehersal, once it was over, there was just enough time to get on the LIRR and get home to watch the live show...remember, VCR's weren't mainstream yet.  Anyway, I digress...SNL lost its charm for me a long time ago, but Tina Fey's genius has rekindled my love of the SNL universe.  Tina'a parody of Sarah Palin is brilliant and right on.  When I see Sarah Palin on TV, all I can think is OMG, is that Tina Fey again?  This past Saturday was SNL's version of the Vice Presidential Debates... Here are the other SNL "Political Reports" SNL - Presidential Debate SNL - Katie Couric interviews Gov. Palin And my personal favorite... SNL - Gov. Palin and Senator Clinton address the nation

McGritty

Last night was the Season 5, 2 hour premiere of "Grey's Anatomy".  The long summer of pathetic reality programming on ABC was finally "wiped out" and I settled in the oasis of Fall Season premieres sans "Opportunity Knocks".

If you missed the episode, watch it on abc.com or read the recaplet on Television Without Pity.

Lets face it, most girls watch "Grey's Anatomy" for the boy eye candy of McDreamy and McSteamy,...mixed in with some good soapy storylines with staff and patients.  But last night, there was a new boy in town, who I've nicknamed, McGritty.  A hot Army surgeon on leave who ends up in the emergency room stapling his own injured leg without local anesthesia.  This had me and I'm sure throngs of other women in America swooning at home.  This new hottie, Dr. Owen Hunt (Kevin McKidd), is Cristina's new love interest, whom he passionately kisses after removing her impaled icicle.  Yum! 

After doing an IMDB search on Kevin McKidd, I found out that he was born in Scotland in 1973.  This was just another reminder that that everyone is younger than me these days...UGH!   Oh well, my inner cougar is now intrigued.

I'm getting my hands on "Journeyman" episodes and I eagerly await more McGritty....purrrrr

When is your car too zippy?

The answer is:  when you get stopped by the police at 2:30AM on your way home from work...

...the details...After a nightmarish work shift I was driving crosstown on 65th, turned on 2nd Avenue and was heading to the 59th Street Bridge.  Some Neanderthal driving a big banged up white van pulled out from a parking spot right in front of me, I "zigged" out of his way and then "zagged" back into the lane.  A police car saw my snazzy driving in my very cool sporty Mini Cooper and stopped me...needless to say, he didn't see the white van that pulled out and cut me off that caused my spiffy motoring skills.  After presenting my driver's license which came up clean, I was sent off with "drive safe" and was soon back on my merry way.  I had asked why I was stopped and as I thought, it was due to my "maneuvering" earlier.

Moral of the story...defensive driving gets you stopped by the police...

Science fact of the story...the jerk that caused your defensive driving is invisible.

Happy Motoring!

The Babylon Podcast

My latest obsessive addiction is catching up on "The Babylon Podcast". What is that? Back in the mid 90's a sci-fi classic was born..."Babylon 5". It was set on a very large space station named Babylon 5 in the 23rd century. What made this series unique?... other than good story telling...was its 5 year story arc.

"The Babylon Podcast" is all about B-5, interviews with cast, crew, behind the scenes insight, "deep geeking" of each episode, and so much more. The hosts are Tim Callender, Summer Brooks, and Jeffrey Willerth...who played "Kosh"!...very cool!

You can subscribe to the podcast via iTunes.

Their website:
The Babylon Podcast

Official Warner Brothers B-5 Website:
Babylon-5

The ultimate source for B-5 information:
"The Lurkers Guide To Babylon-5"

Start listening.

"Chair Wars"

On my shift last night, I was filled in on the latest installment in our "Chair Wars" saga. Let me explain...

Ergonomic chairs have become the coveted prize at my place of employment. For most of us, any chair that isn't broken or drops down when we place our booty on, is acceptable. Unfortunately, one employee has back issues that warrants a possessive attachment to one particular chair that has been claimed as specially bought for "their" use only. This has become an obsessive and troubled fetish. You see, in a 24/7 operation, trying to hide company property is virtually impossible. Combine that with some adults who behave like teens in Junior High and you have an emotional and combustible arena for employee hijinks.

The "chair" has been sequestered in a little used room and labelled by said employee. It is pulled out at the start of their shift and then returned to its little nook at the end. Inevitably, bored or devious co-workers mess with the "chair". For example, the "chair" is released into the general population. The "owner" arrives and demands their property. The result is an argument that ends with booty remaining in the "chair" and "owner" ranting until the offending co-workers shift is over and the "chair" is swiped back. Sometimes, another co-worker, just wants to use the chair since their back has issues also and there is nothing wrong with that. Except, when said "chair" isn't returned to its nook or being used during "owners" shift.

Last night I'm informed that 12 new ergonomic chairs have been delivered and their backs have been branded with our location. The "chair" was also brought upstairs to be marked and in the way of a chaotic universe, it received the wrong brand and is now in a different location.

So, it begins. There are 12 identical chairs to the "chair" but it isn't the "chair". Said employee has complained to anyone who will listen, unfortunately, we are a captive audience.

Stay tuned.

The Golden Globes Press Conference

A lame attempt at thwarting disaster. Sometimes, "the show should NOT go on". Please postpone the Academy Awards. Enough said.

Happy 70th Sir Tony

Back in January when I heard that Anthony Hopkins would celebrate his 70th birthday on December 31, 2007, I had an idea. I wanted to edit a video/music montage of his films and photographs to celebrate his over 40 year film career and life. Of course, I had all year to do this, but, inevitably, I waited until the last minute to do it. I don't know, there is something about crashing a project to air that thrills me. Must be my 23 years in broadcast television.
Happy 70th Birthday Sir Tony.

A bit of trivia about the project:

It took 3 weeks to edit, mostly between the hours of 2AM - 7AM...when, for some reason my creative flow runs wild.

There are clips from 26 films which I ripped from the DVD’s (which I own), please don’t tell the FBI.

There are 72 photographs which I culled down from the thousands I found while surfing the net. A big thanks goes to WireImage and Corbis for their amazing collections, you should check them out. Hopefully, with that advertising plug, they won’t call the FBI either.

Any other photographs I used, please accept my thanks for taking such an amazing image that I had to include it on this project.

I listen to music on my iPhone while commuting to work and was twisting my brain trying to figure what tune to use for the project. Finally, a few months ago, it came to me, the song I would use, “Speed Of Sound” by Coldplay, it had the perfect mood and lyrics to go with the film clips and photographs. I had the rough cut in my head before I ever started editing the piece.

For the techno-nerds, all the media and renders needed to complete this project filled up my LaCie 1TB harddrive.

"Life" One Take

"Life".  It cannot be re-edited and there isn't a sequel.  So get out there and enjoy it!

“Beowulf” in IMAX 3D, Reviewed by Skye Axon, November 16, 2007

Earlier this week on Fandango, I purchased my IMAX-3D tickets to “Beowulf” opening Friday at the AMC Lincoln Square Loews 13 in NYC. From the early reviews, I’m ready to be amazed, thrilled, sexed, gored and violenced all in glorious 3D.

I’m glad to report that my expectations of “Beowulf in IMAX 3D have been met and surpassed. The 3D experience is phenomenally realistic. The computer generated likenesses of the actors are uncanny...with of course “modifications”. Beowulf, voiced by Ray Winstone, was whipped up as a 3D Digital Beefcake and King Hrothgar, voiced by Anthony Hopkins, who at 69, can shamelessly show off some booty. Grendel’s Mother, voiced by Angelina Jolie, is at the center of the buzz on how “real” she looks. Ummm, how “real” is Angelina to begin with? Hasn’t she been digitally altered in real life? Grendel, voiced by Crispin Hellion Glover, is unrecognizable and so is his dialogue. Unfortunately, Grendel speaks in Old English, which brought back horrific memories from high school English class when this “epic poem” was assigned. John Malkovich (Unferth), Robin Wright Penn (Wealthow), Alison Lohman (Ursula) all appeared as medieval versions of themselves. Wiglaf, voiced by Brendan Gleeson, the loyal friend to Beowulf, was my personal favorite and the scene where he is riding in full gallop on a burning bridge and jumps his horse across the chasm is breathtaking.

The film opens with drinking and partying in King Hrothgar’s newly completed Mead Hall. Soon, Grendel barges in and 3D blood, gore, and bodies start flying at you. This is not for the squeamish. If gratuitous nudity and violence offend you, wait until November 21st and see Disney’s “Enchanted”. I’m not ashamed to admit that I enjoyed the totally nude Beowulf fighting the monster Grendel and in order to get that PG-13 rating, there were very creative uses of 3D objects that just happen to be blocking his CGI enhanced manhood. On the flip side, Grendel’s Mom is totally nude, with mud dripping off her body minus CGI nipples.

The screenplay adequately pushes the plot forward and there are enough 3D surprises to keep the audience visually stimulated throughout the film. Kudos must also be given to the sound effects and mixing geniuses because without the audio, the visuals would just be pretty 3D pictures and the sensory illusion wouldn’t be complete or realistic.

Back in the ancient times before Playstations and XBox 360’s, many of us played a game called “Dungeon’s and Dragons”...Google it if you are young and don’t know what the heck I’m talking about. Beowulf’s battle with the dragon is a visual fantasy that uniquely captures those long gone days of role playing. This sequence is worth the 16 bucks you have to lay out for the IMAX 3D experience.

“Beowulf” is the oldest surviving epic poem of the English language and Robert Zemeckis deserves a special Academy Award for taking this unreadable poem that is a student’s nightmare and making it a visual masterpiece.

NY Premiere of “Slipstream” and my very own “Ferris Bueller’s 1/2 Day Off”

Hopkins mentioned in his interview on “Regis & Kelly” that “Slipstream” was having its NY Premiere at the Museum of Modern Art on Thursday, Oct. 18, 2007.  Huh?  How did I not know about this?  OMG, it is probably sold out and I won’t get a ticket.  So, after the show, I headed to my office and immediately Googled MOMA and got the phone number to the Roy and Niuta Titus Theaters, called and found out that tickets were still available but I had to show up at 1PM on Thursday to purchase one.  Oh, and the zinger, Hopkins will be at the event to present his film.

Hmm, I’m working tomorrow, the screening is at 6:15PM and 8:30PM...what am I going to do?  I’m supposed to be in early for a staff meeting at 12PM and my shift starts at 5PM.  OK, blow off the staff meeting, next, who can help me out?  Luckily, a colleague appreciates my enthusiasm and offers to cover my shift while I attend the 6:15PM screening.  Plan in motion, now I need a ticket.

I’m an optimist but I figured there would be a huge line for tickets.  Since I had already gotten up early yesterday to be in the audience for “Regis & Kelly,  I wasn’t going to get up early again.  My strategy is to show up around 12PM and score a ticket.  To my surprise, I’m the first person there.  Yikes, am I the only Anthony Hopkins  fan in NYC?  Around 12:15PM some others joined me in line and at 1PM I pranced out of MOMA with 2 tickets in my hot little hand and head to work for a staff meeting I would be very late for.

I returned to the theatre at 5PM and I have an extra ticket because none of my friends or colleagues were able to join me.  They were too busy being responsible adults to their previous commitments...unlike me, who even at 46, still lives life out loud and wasn’t going to miss a unique experience by letting work get in the way.  I found a charming older gentleman who was first on line for standby tickets.  I handed him my extra ticket.  He said if he didn’t get another, he would give this one to his wife so she could attend.  Ah, chivalry and love aren’t dead.  By the way, I saw him later on inside the theatre and he was with his wife.  Around 5:30PM ushers started scanning tickets and  I begin to scope out a good seat.  In the center of the theatre there are 5 rows that are reserved which I figure are for VIP’s, nah, I think to myself, no chance of Sir Tony sitting there.  Therefore, instead of sitting on the far right side of the first row of un-reserved seats, I head to the second row in front of the podium.  Yes, perfect, close-up, sweet.  I sit down, relax, and entertain myself with my iPhone.  Twenty minutes later I turn around and there is Sir Tony in the first row of reserved seats, yup, I would have been sitting in the next row right in front of him.  Always go with your instincts.  Sigh....

Hopkins, the gentleman he is, thanked those who worked with him on the project and explained a bit about the film.  It was a treat to see it again and it makes alot more sense on the second viewing.  You will understand what I mean if you see the film.  Unfortunately, no Q & A after the screening, I’m really glad I saw him present the film back in May at the Seattle International Film Festival where they did have the Q & A.   I got back to work at 9PM and felt alive, a bit of irresponsibility does that to me.  I measure my life in events and experiences, and to take a quote from Ferris Bueller, “Life moves pretty fast.  If you don’t stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it.”

Oh, and if you ever wondered if Anthony Hopkins eyes are really that blue, they are.

Anthony Hopkins on "Regis & Kelly", 10/17/07

I took this picture from the studio audience when Hopkins was a guest on “Regis & Kelly” on Wednesday, October 17, 2007.  I heard he was appearing on the program the week before and one of the advantages of working at the Network for 20 years is that I know someone who knows someone who could get me on the VIP list.   I had to be at the studio by 7:45AM...ugh, since I work the night shift, that meant a short turnaround and a long day on Wednesday.  I must admit, when the alarm woke me up at 5AM, I thought to myself, I’m nuts.  I’ve gotten 4 hours of sleep and I’m getting up to make the 6:15AM to Penn Station and get to work 9 hours before my shift to see Anthony Hopkins.  Obviously, I got out of bed, showered, dressed, and was on the 6:15. Oh, and yes, it was worth it.

Enjoy the interview.  Kelly is a hoot doing her Hannibal impression.  Hopkins promotes his film "Slipstream" which will have its NY premiere on October 18, 2007 at the Museum of Modern Art and officially opens on October 26, 2007.

iSpy in the iSkye

Here is the spy-bird view of our home via GoogleEarth. Amazing.

It was Sir Arthur C. Clarke’s proposal of geostationary satellite communications that led to the development of this technology. Like most individuals who think outside the box, his idea wasn’t taken seriously when it was published in Wireless World magazine in 1945. Obviously he got the last laugh on April 6, 1965 when Intelsat I Early Bird became the first commercial geostationary communication satellite. Check out NASA J-Track 3D to view a database of over 900 satellites.

What exactly is geostationary orbit? OK, you asked...A satellite in an equatorial circular orbit at a distance of approximately 42,164 km from the center of the Earth, i.e., approximately 35,787 km (22,237 miles) above mean sea level has a period equal to the Earth's rotation on its axis (Sidereal Day=23h56m) and would remain geostationary over the same point on the Earth's equator. Got it? It is just easier to appreciate and enjoy the technology.

iPhone Crybabies

Yeah, so, Apple dropped the price of the iPhone 200 bucks. It is now $399 for the 8G instead of the $599 I paid 6 weeks ago. Everyone keeps asking me, “are you pissed?” I reply, “No”. Why? Well you see, I’m an Apple aficionado and used to this. It happens all the time with the newest and greatest from the geniuses at Apple in Cupertino. Apple devotees do not wait for the price to come down so they can acquire new gear with the unclean masses. We embrace the thrill of Immediately obtaining technological nirvana with others who are enlightened.

I would like to thank all of the people who cried like babies and complained so loud that Steve Jobs decided to hand out the Apple Store $100 Early Owner Credit. Here is the link if you want to read the letter. http://www.apple.com/hotnews/openiphoneletter/

I just spent $69 of it on my iPhone AppleCare Protection Plan which extends repair coverage to 2 years from the purchase date. The chances of dropping and totaling the iPhone are too great not to have this! The rest went to iWork 08, been wanting that Apple software!

Rufous Hummingbird

We spent the last week at the Red Rock Ranch in Jackson, Wyoming and had a wonderful time. I have been organizing all the photographs and video captured on the trip. Here is a video clip of a Rufous Hummingbird that I shot while hanging out on the lodge porch after a morning trail ride.
Click here to see the video

Money Talks, BS Walks

This morning in NY, there were “wicked” storms that woke me up early, which sucked since I had gotten to bed at 3am and had to be back at work at 12PM for a staff meeting. I got up, showered, dressed and caught the 10:40AM LIRR to Penn. Station. I was oblivious to the massive flooding that had resulted from the torrential downpours earlier. Yeah, I know, I should listen to 1010WINS and get news, weather and traffic reports, but in case you didn’t know, I don’t listen to the radio…and the bottom line is this, if I knew about the chaos awaiting me at Penn, I would have just had anxiety about the inevitable mess I would have to deal with. Ignorance is bliss.

I arrive at Penn at 11:35AM and discover that there is no subway service on any line because basically, they are underwater...great…I now realize that I’m in a deep mess. I’m in my business clothes, wearing dress shoes and the humidity is 100%. Oh, and the masses of people around me all want the same thing, transportation to their destination. I join the exodus from the tunnels of Penn Station and as I hit 34th & 7th I’m crushed by a wall of jungle heat that belongs in a tropical rain forest. OK, what would Indiana Jones do?...right…I need a cab…oh…so do the thousands of people around me. Yeah, but I’m going to get one, how?...I’ve got a plan. I quickly get away from 34th street and head uptown. I’m looking for cab, aha, at 37th street I see one, it is empty, yikes, a middle aged man in a business suit and briefcase approaches my cab, I see the cabbie shaking his head no, he walks away, I swoop in, the cabbie says he is going on a break and I say, “I’ll give you 20 bucks to take me to 66th & Columbus”, he replies, “get in”. In 15 minutes I’m at work, nice and cool since the cab was air-conditioned, I give the cabbie his 20 bucks, he’s happy, I’m happy, disaster thwarted.

Tika

Tika is our super cool Greyhound Mix dog. She is going to be 11 this September and still runs like a puppy...here she is taking a nap on a lazy Sunday. Greyhounds are 30mph couch potatoes! They love to run but know how to chill out. This is the picutre that pops up on my iPhone when I get a call from my home number :)