Every once in a while, when I'm rinsing a spoon, I manage to put it in the flow of the tap just right and spray myself.  What a pain.

What if, however, someone clever stuck a spoon on the back of a toothbrush?  Well, you'd get the Brush & Rinse, of course.

Back in May when Paula and I were state-side for her graduation we picked up a couple of presents for ourselves: a Nikon D40X for Paula and a Nikon 105mm macro lens for me.  Like most photographers with a new lens I have spent most of the past couple months shooting almost exclusively with my new toy.

What's the dealeo?

Early in 2006 Nikon updated their popular 105mm Macro lens with the addition of their VRII vibration reduction system.  Used by many as a multi-purpose lens, Nikon's 105 produces roughly a 1:1 reproduction ratio when used for Macro photography and the shallow depth of field make for a passable portrait lens.  While I've found I can use it for a lot of different types of photography, I must state: it's not quite a Swiss Army lens... and it certainly won't fit in your pocket.

VR on macro lenses?  Genius

Well, perhaps "obvious" is more apt than "genius".  Having the image stabilization functionality for close up photography is really a bit of a forehead slapper.  Why hasn't anyone done this before? 

Our backyard has some wonderful flowering bushes which draw in a happy little cloud of bees.  Having the VR allowed me to grab my camera out of my bag and hand-hold some close-ups of the bees with their pollen saddlebags, something for which I would certainly have needed a tripod.  Electronic Quaaludes... nice.

Say cheese... okay, again... wait...

Macro lenses can be roped into duty as a portrait lens, their shallow depth of field providing wonderful blurring of background elements.  There is, however, a catch: their focus is manageable when tight into subjects but getting a subject properly focused at 10 yards away can be a touchy operation.

That said, it still does a decent job in the role of a portrait lens.  As your lens collection grows you'll want to have both portrait and macro lenses (I assume).  My priority was macro first, portrait second... and I'll be able to press this lens into portrait service until Santa brings me one of those 30mm f1.4 lenses Rob's been raving about.

So, what is it? Whine or roses?

I love the lens, but there are a couple things to note: the touchy focus I've mentioned and the size.  The addition of the VR mechanism has turned the 105 into a beefy lens.  The barrel is thicker and the weight has gone up over 30%.  It's a good thing they added the VR, your arms may get shaky after shooting with this beast all day.

Break it down for me

Pros: great optics, VR
Cons: touchy focal throw at distance, hefty

Bottom line: get one

I gave you a rough idea of what I do... but here's a little information about where I do it.

A week back I went searching for a picture of my MS building on the web (I was trying to provide a visitor with a picture of the front of the building). What I found proved quite educational.

The first image which came up on my search was one from the web site of the Institution of Structural Engineers for the Republic of Ireland (our as everyone's favorite newsman, John Stewart, would say: "NAMBLA").  The short article goes into some interesting technical details of the project, including that 22,000 cubic meters of granite were excavated to build the structure. 

I know... interesting to whom?  I'm a geek.

Read all about it: http://homepage.eircom.net/~istructeroi/news/news17/ms17.htm

What type of dog is this?  Nope.  No, not that either.  Want to call a friend?

This is a picture of Wendy, she's a whippet so I'm sure she can run faster than you as well as kick your butt when she catches you.  But, while she looks like a pit bull on the juice, apparently she's a sweetheart.

Big Wendy the muscular whippet

Rare genetic mutation increases muscles, weight of sleek breed

People mistake her for a pitbull with a pinhead, but Wendy the whippet is one rare breed.

So rare that the Central Saanich dog recently graced the New York Times. She also had several of her photos shown on The Today Show, all because of a rare genetic mutation that has led to her being the Incredible Hulk of dogs.

Read the full story from the Victoria Times Colonist.

As we age, men slowly gain an understanding of what and what not to wear but some never get it.  As someone who's figured out some of the dos and don'ts in life I thought I'd pass on some info which is self-evident to most... but not obvious to all.

Wearing things on your belt does not make you look like Batman

Trust me here, there are very few situations where you can safely wear something on your belt and not look like a dork.  Things you shouldn't hook to your belt include compact cameras, leather man pocket tools, pagers and cell phones.  I know, wearing a cell phone on your belt makes you kind of feel like you have a holster... but honestly, it doesn't make you look like Han Solo.  

Speaking of cell phones, here's another one:

Unless you're talking on the phone, take off your Bluetooth headset

If your cell phone holster makes you feel like a cowboy then your Bluetooth headset must make you feel downright special forces.  Sorry, it doesn't look like a military-issue comm set and people aren't giving you extra looks because you're so ultra-manly cool.  Here's a quick tip: if you're eating dinner in a restaurant, enjoying a meal with your date... take off the ear-tumor.  First, you shouldn't answer a call during a romantic meal out.  Second, you're not so important that you should answer a call during a romantic meal out.  But it probably doesn't matter... if you're wearing an ear piece during meals you won't be eating with company long... she's already planning on breaking up with you Sgt. Rock.

And while you're taking off that silly earpiece...

Not even movie stars look cool wearing sunglasses inside

I suppose there's one exception, Jack Nicholson... but that's all I'll give you.  Everyone else who wears sunglasses inside is just kidding themselves.  This goes double if the sun isn't even up.  Stevie Wonder, you're on notice, you poseur.

Coming soon

In my next men's fashion advice column please look for additional gems such as:

• If you're over 40, make sure your shirt has sleeves
  and
• Only .1% of the population can get away with wearing bike shorts (even fewer, a Speedo)

But wait... there's more

My new teen fashion blog will debut shortly.  Here's a teaser:

• Leave your PJs at home, why advertise you're lazy and your parents have no control over you?
  and
• No, your "Spoiled Princess" T-shirt isn't cute, but until the FDA legislates warning labels for brats, keep wearing it.

It's July 14th... hard to believe we've been in Ireland for a year already.  My official first day at work was the 17th (a Monday) but Paula and I arrived the Friday before to start getting settled in. 

Time has gone by very quickly and we're still having a blast.  Here's to another great year (and to getting our friends from California to come visit ;)).

Paula and I were chatting about getting change (for money) this morning and it reminded me of the old SNL skit for the Citiwide First Bank of Change... I had to, of course go find it.

Reading Trina's story of how she went out and bought an iPhone, a product she originally dismissed, got me thinking again about how much of a marketing and branding genius Steve Jobs really is.  Apple creates great products with slick interfaces and wonderful customer experience.  The key, however, is how their products are not just tools... they are fashion.  Jobs et al have a commanding grip on the minds of the young and hip.

And then I opened up Photoshop...