Sunset on Round Lake NY

Pinhole Cameras

About pinhole photography.
The pinhole camera is proof positive that fundamental principles do not change. Euclid demonstrated the image-forming possibilities of the pinhole in 300 B.C. In the 16th century, Leonardo da Vinci is credited with giving a description of the pinhole camera more or less as we think of it today.There are, when it comes to making photographs with what amounts to no more than a box and a hole, more than a few sceptics and honest doubters who, from lack of actual participation dismiss pinhole cameras as a mere novelty.A pinhole camera is easy to build. The camera can be made from almost anything. From oatmeal tins and boxes to made from scratch cameras of wood or sturdy cardboard. There are several places such as the Pinhole Resource in Santa Fe where you can buy cameras made of wood or kits.

How does a pinhole work?
First the dull stuff...for anyone who has studied photography and optics the theory of image formation is (or should be) well known...but, there are a few million people out there who aren't aware of the difference in this theory between pinholes and lenses...sounds about right, after all it's not the sort of thing one talks about over breakfast, is it?! Ok...we see things because light rays reflect off of them and these reflected rays form an image on the retina. A camera is a mechanical eye, so it might be useful to think of it in these terms; we use the term 'ray' of light when we talk about using lenses to form an image. We use the term 'beam' of light when we talk about making images with a pinhole. The difference is one of dimension. A ray of light is defined as a line of light, while a beam of light is defined as a bundle of parallel rays.

Okay, so what's the point? A friend at work showed me this site the other day. I was amazed at how something without a lens can take such cool pictures. I haven't had a chance to really read this information yet but it look slike this could be something fun to do. Has anyone out there experimented with these?

7-Eleven dropping Venezuela-backed Citgo

DALLAS - Convenience store operator 7-Eleven Inc. is dropping Venezuela-backed Citgo as its gasoline supplier at more than 2,100 locations and switching to its own brand of fuel (SlurpeeGas) ...

Chavez has called President George W. Bush the devil and an alcoholic. The U.S. government has warned that Chavez is a destabilizing force in Latin America...
-read more if you want

I thought he was former alcoholic?

This is Freaky...

From Time Magazine

"The President of Iran refused to attend a U.N. banquet because wine was being served. The Iranian President said he was afraid he'd get really drunk and say something pro-Semitic."
~CONAN O'BRIEN

"This is crazy. Police found a pound and a half of marijuana and psychedelic mushrooms in Willie Nelson's tour bus. Willie is nervous about this. He's afraid he may have to spend the rest of 1969 in jail."
~DAVID LETTERMAN

Happy Birthday Dana

I can only give you love that lasts forever,

And a promise to be near each time you call.

And the only heart I own

For you and you alone

That's all, That's all...

I can only give you country walks in springtime

And a hand to hold when leaves begin to fall;

And a love whose burning light

Will warm the winter's night

That's all, That's all...

There are those I am sure who have told you,

They would give you the world for a toy.

All I have are these arms to enfold you,

And a love even time can't destroy.

If you're wondering what I'm asking in return, dear,

You'll be glad to know that my demands are small.

Say it's me that you'll adore,

For now and evermore

That's all, That's all...

Happy Birthday Dana, even
though you don't read my Blog

Elaine Elias version

Mist on the Move

Mist

I took these this morning on my way to work. The photos don't really show it, but all of the mist was coming from the shoreline and swirling and rising toward the center of the lake. From there I imagine it goes back into the atmosphere to help form clouds.

I'm in Jeopardy...

I'm not going to be a contestant, although I'm a great arm chair player. A friend of mine at work sent away for tickets to the taping of Celebrity Jeopardy at Radio City Music Hall and gave me two tickets. I can't wait to see it, I've never been to a taping of a TV show so this should be cool. Below is a picture of a bridge in Central Park. I have a few more picture on the Flickr site.

From My Old Friend Samir

Hi fell free my name is Samir from egypt. I am presently on political assylum now. l got your email contact from my research on the net because am presently looking for honest person who can help my client to invest his fund in Real Estate Investment and commercial properties.

I will be very intresting to start a new life in your country with your assistance and co-operation on this issue concerning my client fund. So please if your in good position to help me, please send me an email at this email address
( samir_10@o2.pl ) indicating your desire to help me invest this fund in your country and beyond. l urgently wating for your reply by end of the day, I hope to me you very soon. Best Regards & God Bless
Barrister
Samir Saad Amin

Hello Out There

I switched to the Beta version of blogger. I'm not sure if I like it. Well, I pretty much like it but I don't fully understand the customization of the template yet. I'm sure there are Help topics but being a guy, I tend not to read them until I have to. I have not yet finished updating my cool Blogs links yet so if your name is NOT there, it will be shortly unless your link is no longer active. I know there is some issues with non-beta-bloggers and where they can or can not post so I will assume that may be why I've had no comments in two days (insecure, ME??? I doubt it)

On a side note, Jeff (the goldfish) died last night. To Griffin's delight we gave him the tradional burial at sea (a toilet flush). I said a few words about what a wonderful fish he was and how he had HERO written all over him. Now he's gone to the big septic system in the sky (actually in the ground). Cameras were not permitted.

On a Happier note, Dana sang a gig at a restaurant last night with a new pianist. It went well although she is nervous about trying to put together a new demo tape tomorrow with a guitarist friend of hers. She is entering into a Jazz Vocalist Competition that takes place in London and her demo has to be there by the end of the month. Also, next Sunday is Dana's 31st celebration of her 29th birthdayand a bunch of us are going to Tout Va Bien on 51st street in the city. Dana lived there for a while when we first dated. They have great food and unlike many French restaurants, they have large portions. Their Coq au vin is very tasty. One time, years ago, we were having dinner in there and Jason Robards was sitting a table away from us. So there you go. Anyway, that's my big post for today.

The Painter

click to play...

My Friend's Son Won

Thanks to all of your fantastic efforts, Greg and Irina have WON the KIIS contest for the Beverly Hills wedding!!!!!!
A limo came for them this morning, and they're now on their way to be interviewed on air by Ryan Seacrest (their "15 minutes of fame")!

The big day is February 25, and then they'll have a 1-week honeymoon at Sandals in Jamaica. The wedding/reception (for 90 people) will be at the Il Cielo restaurant, the dresses are by Tahari, the tuxes are by Brooks Brothers, etc., etc. Whew! But they couldn't have won it without all of your help, for which I say THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU!!! And please pass our appreciation on to anyone else you may have contacted to cast a vote for them too! (OK, now I think I'll go faint....)

Big hugs to all of you!
Louise

Thanks everyone who voted - p

Joe & Jeff

Cheesy-fest

Once again it was Cheese Fest time. Monroe NY is the birthplace of Velvetta Cheese. Yes, the Cheese was first cut here in this once little town. Nine years ago, at the towns Centennial, they (the dopey ex-Mayor) decided the town needed a festival so they had numerous meetings and came up with this brainstorm. The funnly thing aboutthis festival, which I've gone to for the past three years, is that there really is no cheese in site. I guess that the laboratory where the cheese was first cut was dismantled as part of the SuperFund cleanups. What the festival seems to be REALLY about, is that there's still some land up here to buy and develope. Sure, there were a few food places and an ever smaller amount of other kiosks, but the majority of them were Real Estate kiosks. The town mottos should be "if there's open space, we'll fix that quick enough". As you might be able to tell, I'm not a fan of the raping of the little woods that are left in this area. I was able to find and photogragh one piece of cheese. I think he looks more like Sponge Bob than a wedge of cheese

In an unrelated story, I closed the pool yesterday. Grif and I went swimming for the last time this season on Saturday, the water was a swealtering 67 degrees. Leaves are falling and I didn't think I could salvage many more days in it so it's history for this year.
...I miss it already...

Can You Hear Me Now?

This is me Dogga

A Trip to the City

I went into NYC Monday as usual, and here are some pictures

Statue in Columbus Circle

The new Time Warner Building - Columbus Circle

Two Cherubs hanging out

Inside looking up at the Guggenheim Museum

Peace - A Jeans Store on the West Side

Reflection of a building off of the WR Grace building on 57th

Last, butt not least, checking out some colleges for Dylan

"Crikey!"

This is rather shocking. You really never know when your number is up I suppose. Here's a quote from the article.

"He came on top of the stingray and the stingray's barb went up and into his chest and put a hole into his heart," said Stainton, who was on board Irwin's boat at the time.

Walton Lake

	The narration is lame, the sound is not right but I added it after the fact, it's 11:30 pm and I have to get up at 5 am for my weekly NYC trip. I've lost count but it's in the 70s for sure. Afterwards, I am meeting up with Dana and the boys and we are going to the Guggenheim Museum to see a Jackson Pollock exhibit (among other things). It should be fun. Then, Tuesday the kids are back in school!!!!!!!