Month: July 2026

“Oopsie”

2 July 2026: “U.S. Attorney for D.C. Jeanine Pirro claimed that Hearn was seen “forcefully and violently pulling up and removing the bottom liner” of the pool with both hands.”

31 July 2026: Justice Department moves to drop case against ex-Olympian charged with damaging Reflecting Pool – ” Documents provided by the Interior Department …show that the damage was the result of a botched installation by a contractor as well as “the rush to complete the project prior to events associated with the America 250 celebration in the weeks surrounding Independence Day 2026.”

31 July 2026 – AP Photo/ Marc Scheifelbein

“Aida” As Background Music

Thursday’s is Opera Night on WCPE. My accompaniment to driving home, long ago, after teaching a Photography Class. Tonight is “AIDA”. Don’t understand a word or remember the plot, even after Wikipedia surfing.

Stopped teaching in late 2022, along with photography. Yeah, I have a lot of gear I need to sell on eBay. But that’s not what this is about.

Soprano Lora Fabio – Photograph for Cary Citizen

Living peacefully and simply, ready to complete 76 turns around the sun. Today’s chores involved a stop at Staples to replenish my supply of Post It Notes, nearly exhausted, years after my Sweetheart & Boss Lady & Household Finance Manager & Office Supply Buyer left this Earth. And realized my kitchen is equipped with her purchase decisions. It works just fine. Whole Chicken spent 7+ hours in slow cooker yesterday, on low. Tonight, July picnic dinner.

Failing Geography!

Yes, the intelligence is, artificial: US government map of Africa mislabels every country at global conference.

  • State Department says staffer hastily altered slide deck before Rio event
  • Reuters analysis finds map image carries OpenAI watermark
  • Map places Nigeria in Sahara and shifts Mozambique and Ivory Coast

History Echoes

USPS brought this today, another GoodwillBooks.com purchase. Watched tonight and was struck by how the DOJ, FBI and CIA were compromised for the political ends of the President. Including multiple Attorney Generals. “Deep Throat” was right, follow the money. Today, it’s deja vu, all over again.

Amen, Sisters

On a mercifully cooler late July day in North Carolina, after shopping for requirements and returning a call to a Cary Detective who left a card in my door looking for not me ( wrong apt), Bourbon and Beer. Before an easy, post “Happy Hour(s)” Pizza to the oven. Listening, as a devout ex-Catholic, to gorgeous music on WCPE, written by St. Francis of Assisi in 1224. Art is art. And yeah, the Little Sisters of The Poor, standing silently at the exit of Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris (before the fire), got every Euro coin in my pocket. They do good.

When Down is Up – Crazy Town II

“Trump orders signs outside Smithsonian history museum to correct what he calls ‘inaccurate information” – “Warning: the exhibits in this museum were prepared by people who don’t want you to ‌love ⁠your country.”

Trump signs Executive Order Related-To Smithsonian Iinstitution 2026-07-24

When Up Is Down- Crazy Town

I’m so proud of our President, keeping us safe from the worst of the worst! She could’ve killed someone with that Rosary walking to Mass!

Nun speaks out for first time about being detained by ICE while walking to Mass in Texas: https://www.wric.com/news/u-s-world/ap-nun-who-was-detained-by-ice-while-walking-to-mass-in-texas-says-many-are-in-her-situation/

Summer Thunder

Driving through and listening today to storms that build from summer heat. This from 2009. Had taught myself Manual Exposure (it isn’t rocket surgery). Started carrying a camera to work. This is an afternoon inbound flight to RDU, seen from from the Lenovo Parking Lot in Perimeter Park. About 8 months before I was finally unable to bridge the cultural gap between mainland Chinese managers and Moi. 2,000 years of Chinese Civil Service history and an ex-U.S.N. Submariner simply couldn’t c0-exist – at all.

Maybe Not Done – “Into The Sun”

This 16 year old image visited me today, about sun rise. Sleep has been elusive. And I finally slept, all through the day. There may be room in my “Permanent Gallery”.

“Far from the madding crowd’s ignoble strife” – Elegy Written in a Country Churchyard By Thomas Gray 1751

Hatteras Sunrise – Outer Banks, North Carolina

All That Jazz

Making Art is hard. Recorded this image in April of 2012. Finally figured out how to “see” it, last week. FedEx delivered today from my printer. The last of my “Permanent Gallery” aka my apt living room walls. Not what the camera saw, what I saw. Yes, photographers can be artists. I am one.

Me & CBC & The Muse

Made this photograph 4 July’s ago, the summer before I retired. In a building that is now a bank and a lifetime past for a very young dancer. Peeking at the school’s Facebook page, I learned she was recently awarded a scholarship but they had no photograph. She was, the second time “The Muse” appeared to me. And you just know, you know?

Cary Ballet Conservatory Summer Intensive – July 2022

Legacy I/T, Art & Optimism

Residual to my IBM PC Company/Lenovo 11 or so years as an I/T Architect (hired as an “Experienced Professional” sans Degree), I still have a Google Voice DiD Telephone Number and IMAP e-mail accounts that I access via “Thunderbird”.

The Google Voice number became my “Brooke Meyer Photography” business number with a PolyCom handset on my desk attached to an Ethernet Switch attached to my router. Also, setup for “distinct ring” as a second line on home phone OOMA network. And of course, support went away for the Polycom. As did Google’s forwarding of SMS texts to another DiD. But that’s not what this is about.

Musée d’Orsay 2016

Google did preserve the forwarding of Voice Call Notification and Text Messages to my Gmail account! I detest “SmartPhone” itty-bitty screens and soft key boards (Ancient Flatulent aka Old Fart). My daily driver is a lightweight, $149 Chromebook with 15″ screen, full keyboard and all day battery life, I get SMS Texts to my e-Mail. And can respond, from the Gmail app! Tres convenient!

Text today from my recently moved adoptive granddaughter/dog rescuer/soprano/teacher/recipe sharer who is visiting NYC this week. From MoMA. A photograph made with her, what else, phone. And I responded with my version from Paris in 2016 and explained the Degas wax original is in the National Gallery of Art in D.C.. The young lady visiting New York renews my hope in humanity.

Artistic Gravity

Started a book a year ago. And then, procrastinated. Today, the literary dam finally broke and I was submerged in the torrents of “Atticus”, “Bookwright”, DocX and PDFs. Too hot to go outside, so format and write, I will. “Maybe”, as Shirley Horn sang, “September”.

Waterfall, Bute Inlet B.C. – Aboard M.V. Aurora Explorer – 3 Sept 2009