RFK Jr. Removes All Members of CDC Vaccine Panel: Public-health leaders denounce what health secretary calls ‘clean sweep’ of Biden-era members WSJ
The Hope Diamond - Blog post updated to explain that the Hope Diamond in Washington, DC is the single most viewed object in the world after the Mona Lisa.
I added Washington, DC based photojournalist Al Drago to my list of Photographers Worth Exploring. Suggestions are welcome.
Just added Jenn Mangino to my list of Photographers Worth Exploring. All her images are in black and white and are wonderfully minimalist. Jenn is also on Glass. She shoots Sony and Fuji. Jenn’s images make me feel calm and peaceful. Jenn explains:
It’s still a mystery to me how pointing glass towards light can capture moments with the power to transcend paper and provoke hope.
That’s the magic and the endless pursuit of photography.
Photographer Bud James switches from Canon to Fuji and ultimately Leica in search of a lighter kit.
The Advantages and Disadvantages of Digital Lens Corrections
Canon Europe explains the ins and outs of in-camera lens corrections:
Once you enable Distortion Correction, the edges of the image may be cropped slightly. However, the angle of view that is listed in a lens’s specifications and MTF chart is always based on the digitally corrected image. This means there’s no need to worry that you’re losing several degrees of the viewing angle from the uncorrected image, as this is taken into account in the lens design.
I always wondered if the corrections reduce the size of the image compared to the advertised focal length. The answer is that Canon delivers the full size they claim in their marketing.
I am ok with this. In the days of film, digital lens corrections were not available. Digital lens corrections make smaller and lighter lenses possible while still getting an excellent image.
Thoroughly enjoyed The Åre Murders on Netflix, a 2025 Swedish Nordic noir television series starring Carla Sehn. It is based on the Viveca Sten murder mystery novels Hidden in Snow and Hidden in the Shadows. I hope there will be a second season.
The history of the Manor Theatre in the Squirrel Hill section of Pittsburgh.
My main site for my photography is now on Squarespace. I like the design of Squarespace sites.
Long-Time Washington Post Columnist Resigns Over Bezos Editorial Policy
AP:
A columnist who has worked at The Washington Post for four decades resigned on Monday after the newspaper’s management decided not to run her commentary critical of owner Jeff Bezos’ new editorial policy.
Ruth Marcus, who has worked at the newspaper since 1984, wrote that “it breaks my heart to conclude that I must leave.” Her resignation letter was first reported by The New York Times.
Her exit is fallout from the billionaire owner’s directive that the Post narrow the topics covered by its opinion section to personal liberties and the free market. The newspaper’s opinions editor, David Shipley, resigned because of the shift, announced two weeks ago.
Marcus said that the Post’s publisher, Will Lewis, declined to publish her column, which she said was “respectfully dissenting” from Bezos’ edict. It was the first time in nearly 20 years of writing columns that she’s had one killed, she said.
I always enjoyed Marcus’s columns whether I agreed with them or not.
Rick Steves explains to Walter Isaacson why he believes travel is a vital force for peace. Watch on YouTube
A new Stuttgart-based travel blog:
I am enjoying The Eastern Gate on Max. It’s an intriguing Polish spy series.
Ukraine: Marking Three Years of War
Ukrainian activists and supporters gathered on February 22, 2025 at the Lincoln Memorial for a rally to mark three years of the Russia-Ukraine war.
Long-Time Washington Post Cartoonist Quits After Cartoon Criticizing Amazon Killed
Ann Telnaes writing on Substack:
I’ve worked for the Washington Post since 2008 as an editorial cartoonist. I have had editorial feedback and productive conversations—and some differences—about cartoons I have submitted for publication, but in all that time I’ve never had a cartoon killed because of who or what I chose to aim my pen at. Until now.
The cartoon that was killed criticizes the billionaire tech and media chief executives who have been doing their best to curry favor with incoming President-elect Trump. There have been multiple articles recently about these men with lucrative government contracts and an interest in eliminating regulations making their way to Mar-a-lago. The group in the cartoon included Mark Zuckerberg/Facebook & Meta founder and CEO, Sam Altman/AI CEO, Patrick Soon-Shiong/LA Times publisher, the Walt Disney Company/ABC News, and Jeff Bezos/Washington Post owner.
While it isn’t uncommon for editorial page editors to object to visual metaphors within a cartoon if it strikes that editor as unclear or isn’t correctly conveying the message intended by the cartoonist, such editorial criticism was not the case regarding this cartoon. To be clear, there have been instances where sketches have been rejected or revisions requested, but never because of the point of view inherent in the cartoon’s commentary. That’s a game changer…and dangerous for a free press._
The New York Times reports that David Shipley, the Washington Post’s opinions editor, responded that he rejected the cartoon because “we had just published a column on the same topic as the cartoon and had already scheduled another column.”
A Sad Day for the Washington Post
Jeff Bezos writing on X:
I shared this note with the Washington Post team this morning:
I’m writing to let you know about a change coming to our opinion pages.
We are going to be writing every day in support and defense of two pillars: personal liberties and free markets. We’ll cover other topics too of course, but viewpoints opposing those pillars will be left to be published by others.
There was a time when a newspaper, especially one that was a local monopoly, might have seen it as a service to bring to the reader’s doorstep every morning a broad-based opinion section that sought to cover all views. Today, the internet does that job.
I am of America and for America, and proud to be so. Our country did not get here by being typical. And a big part of America’s success has been freedom in the economic realm and everywhere else. Freedom is ethical — it minimizes coercion — and practical — it drives creativity, invention, and prosperity.
I offered David Shipley, whom I greatly admire, the opportunity to lead this new chapter. I suggested to him that if the answer wasn’t “hell yes,” then it had to be “no.” After careful consideration, David decided to step away. This is a significant shift, it won’t be easy, and it will require 100% commitment — I respect his decision. We’ll be searching for a new Opinion Editor to own this new direction.
I’m confident that free markets and personal liberties are right for America. I also believe these viewpoints are underserved in the current market of ideas and news opinion. I’m excited for us together to fill that void.
Jeff