How old to Vote Poll?

Do you think there should be a change in the legal age to vote in the United States? Should it be Older than 18, and back to 21 or 28. Could it be 16 years old, 14 years old? Do you  think 14 and 16 year olds are as educated today as adults were 50 years ago, and able to make educated, informed decisions that affect national policy? Does maturity  also need to play a part in the voting age limit? See the poll above and vote!

Humorous Water Cooler taste testing video clip

Just a little fishy humor...for when I need a good laugh!

What is a Lensbaby selective focus lens?

Summer picnic 1, originally uploaded by Otto Phokus.

I thought I might as well keep posting tonight while I am thinking about these things I have been wanting to blog about.

Look at this picture and you see the center of the picture is in focus and both sides are out of focus, there you go, selective focus. You manually squeeze the lens, or compress the lens in and out, back and forth until you find your sweet spot. This picture I used a 2.8 aperture diaphram that you have to manually insert into the lensbaby lens. And then all the settings are manual, like the speed... there is not Auto Focus, or Otto Phokus in my pun of a name.

This is a soft looking blur, not quite as sharp as some of the higher aperture disks. I thought for this party since I will be inside and outside, and overcast day I will use a lower aperture that lets in more light. Well I did get some good pictures, but I think of my pictures as little paintings, that some day I will get to watercolor, or paint when I have the time years from now.

I heard one person speak of a similar photo/composition he took with this depth of field, focus, and he stated that he could get a picture of his three son in focus playing baseball. The pitcher, batter, and catcher, all in focus, where normally they would not all be in focus.

I have a lot of fun using this lens the lensbaby 2.0, and the lensbaby 3G for static multiple shots you have to set up or compose, and I also have the macro lenses, the wide angle, and 1.6x telephoto adapter for the lensbaby lens. I haven't used a regular lens since I have this now almost 8 months, and I have some nice regular lenses. To me it makes digital photography a lot of fun.

Big Green Egg grilling/smoking

Big Green Egg grilling/smoking, originally uploaded by Otto Phokus.

I haven't been using my "Big Green Egg" ceramic grill much this winter either. I think mostly because I need a new gasket or seal between the lid and the base where they meet. It sticks together, like it is frozen. I don't think the seal costs too much, and not to hard to replace, but I will have to read up on it. It's been 2 years I have the Big Green Egg, and I really enjoy cooking on it all year round. Just the other day I was hungry for a pizza baked in the Big Green Egg, with HIckory Smoke wood chips, my God it is so delicious...! I should buy a frozen apple pie and bake it with maple wood chips for our party this weekend. I'm glad I thought of that...

Web 2 accounts, coffee addiction, develope iPhone app

Well I've been working on getting all my web things in sycn, ie: facebook, flickr, You Tube, Photrade, the Otto Phokus blog, and I was wondering what would ever happen if these services went out of business. Not only these Web 2 social sites, but some of the others. People have put a lot of work into setting up, and maintaining their accounts, it would be a catastrophe in the making should some go out of business. Hmmmm, that reminds me, I wonder how Photrade is doing, I will have to check and see if they have any new messages to the members about the site. They had lost a lot of their Venture funding when the financial crisis hit, and are looking at any way possible to stay in business.

If you read my blog before you know of my caffein/coffee addiction, but it is going pretty good, I have been drinking about 2/3 or more decafe coffee, and about 32 ounces a day instead of 64 ounces. I did have a Red Eye today at Starbucks on the way to work. I don't get the heebie jeebies anymore like I used to, matter of fact I get pretty darn tired around noon if I have only been drinking decafe. Have to start drinking more water too!
My picture from CC's Wooden Grill still hasn't gotten any views on Flickr, and I really kinda like that picture. Just when you least expect though, there will be gazillion views one day when I check the stats.

I have a pretty good unique idea for an iPhone application, so I have been hitting the books, and trying to get my web and coding skills up to date. I hope to have something possibly to put on the app store by Fall. I think I am going to have to spend some time at the library, or even stay at work to work on this, and also some of my Art projects. Too many distractions at home.

CC's WOODEN GRILL

CC's WOODEN GRILL, originally uploaded by Otto Phokus.

Thought I would post some pictures from my Flickr account that have not received any views. I always liked this picture because it reminds a bit of a medeterranean theme with the bluish background, and the color of the tiles of the outdoor patio area. Anyway it has been a long, harsh, cold, wet, icy, snowy winter season so far, and I need to think of some warmer places. Can't wait for the spring weather to arrive and stay.

A quick post of the Russian Syncronized Swimming duet team the Anastasias's from the 2006 FINA World Cup Championship in Yokohama, Japan. They went on to win in this event and also in the 2008 olympics too.