Skye Axon in Cyberspace

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.

Swiffer Blues

I haven't cleaned my house in 3 years. Wait, let me explain. You see, back in 2003 when we moved into a 100-year-old restored Victorian home I inherited Trini, the McKenna's cleaning lady of 18 years. I knew that with a full time job and commuting into Manhattan, there was no way I could maintain cleanliness of this 3-story mansion. I welcomed Trini with open arms and we became fast friends.

Trini is from El Salvador, married with 2 children and as far as I'm concerned, a domestic mastermind. How she cleans this house in 5 hours every week still baffles me. First floor, great room, kitchen, living room, dining room, _ bath. Second floor, 3 bedrooms, full bath. Third floor, master bedroom suite, full bath. It would take me 5 hours to convince myself to start to clean the house…which brings me to my current level of distress and suffering. Trini is on vacation. Last time I survived because it was only 3 weeks, I was able to “fake clean”, you know, a quick vacuum job, dust only what absolutely needs to be dusted, throw toilet cleaner and brush vigorously…but that isn't going to work for 6 weeks. I'm going to have to really clean, like Trini…but I don't want to. I have become spoiled. Household chores are no longer on my list of things I have to do. I don't think about it anymore. It just gets done, by someone else, Trini, the Goddess of Ajax.

Week 3 has now passed and the dust bunnies are rampant, the bathrooms need attention, the furniture is begging for Pledge and, the cleaning supplies taunt me every time I walk by them…it doesn't work. I didn't clean yet. I need a plan. A great plan.