Paris has lived in my memory, my images, and my heart for a lifetime — read my new reflection here: A Lifetime of Love for Paris
Gold Tops $4,000 an Ounce
Gold was fixed at $35 an ounce in 1971 when the U.S. abandoned the gold standard. Today it trades above $4,000 an ounce—a more than hundredfold increase that sounds dramatic at first glance. But stretched over half a century, the rise works out to a compound annual return of about 9.2%. Solid, steady, and a reminder of gold’s enduring appeal—but not the staggering windfall the headline number might suggest.
From 1971 to 2025, the S&P 500 with dividends reinvested has returned about 9.9% annually, slightly higher than gold’s 9.2% annual return over the same period.
The Reflecting Pool at the Normandy American Cemetery and Memorial, Colleville-sur-Mer, 2025
EN: Part of a memorial complex designed by the Philadelphia firm Harbeson, Hough, Livingston & Larson (H2L2) with landscape architect Markley Stevenson for the American Battle Monuments Commission, the cemetery was dedicated on July 18, 1956. The pool stretches toward the horizon, linking sky and sea with the final resting place of more than 9,000 American service members who died during the D-Day landings and the Battle of Normandy. Its still surface invites quiet reflection, a fitting symbol of remembrance in this hallowed ground overlooking Omaha Beach.
FR: Faisant partie d’un complexe commémoratif conçu par le cabinet d’architectes Harbeson, Hough, Livingston & Larson (H2L2) de Philadelphie avec l’architecte paysagiste Markley Stevenson pour l’American Battle Monuments Commission, le cimetière a été inauguré le 18 juillet 1956. Le bassin s’étend vers l’horizon, reliant le ciel et la mer au lieu de repos de plus de 9 000 soldats américains tombés lors du Débarquement et de la bataille de Normandie. Sa surface immobile invite au recueillement, symbole approprié du souvenir dans ce lieu sacré qui surplombe Omaha Beach.
Harvest Moon Over the Iwo Jima Memorial, 2025
The October 2025 Harvest Moon rises over Arlington’s Marine Corps War Memorial, its glow breaking through clouds above the illuminated bronze figures of the Iwo Jima flag raising. In the distance, the Washington Monument and U.S. Capitol shine in alignment — a solemn reminder of sacrifice framed against the nation’s capital.
Harvest Moonrise Over Washington, October 6, 2025
The October 2025 Harvest Moon rises above Washington, D.C., glowing unusually large as it lifts into the pastel sky at twilight. From this vantage point, the Lincoln Memorial, Washington Monument, and U.S. Capitol align in a classic view of the National Mall, with the full moon appearing oversized on the horizon — a visual effect created by atmospheric perspective at moonrise.
Another French Prime Minister Resigns
French PM resigns after less than one month in office This is the shortest tenure of any Prime Minister in the 5th Republic: — only 27 days (9 Sept 2025 → 6 Oct 2025). Georges Pompidou had the longest tenure so far: 2,279 days (14 Apr 1962 → 10 Jul 1968).
Wedding at National City Christian Church, Washington, DC, 2025
Beneath the towering columns of National City Christian Church, a wedding couple steps into the light. Designed by John Russell Pope, architect of the Jefferson Memorial, the neoclassical grandeur becomes a stage where history and intimacy meet.
Exploring the Centre Pompidou, Paris
Exploring the Centre Pompidou — bold architecture, a vibrant plaza, and rooftop views over Paris — and how it became a place I came to love (2012–2025).
Will AI Kill the Web en Français
When Will I See You Again?
The Centre Pompidou in Paris closed in 2025 for a five-year renovation to address safety and modernization needs.
Exploring the tomb of William the Conqueror at Abbaye aux Hommes in Caen — a powerful monument to ambition, legacy, and mortality.
Yesterday I found an iPhone 17 Pro Max in stock in a local Apple store and bought it. Every time I get a new iPhone I notice how much Apple has improved the restoration process through iCloud. It was seemless and pretty fast. The new iPhone seems very fast and is beautiful. I got midnight blue.
I’m testing the Protonmail Authenticator app and it has a lot of nice features and seems trustworthy.
Notre-Dame Reborn
Notre-Dame has reopened, five years after the devastating fire. When I stepped inside on my recent trip to Paris, I saw not scars but renewal — a cathedral more luminous than I remembered.
Maison Européenne de la Photographie, Paris
Just published: Maison Européenne de la Photographie: A Home for Photography — my walk through the MEP in Paris and the Marie-Laure de Decker exhibition. Her black-and-white work held me still: film grain, quiet strength, and moments that linger. More than photos, this is about presence and seeing.
Notre-Dame, Paris, 2025
EN: Notre-Dame at dusk, glowing above the Seine as the city settles into evening — timeless, serene, and unshaken.
FR: Notre-Dame au crépuscule, se reflétant sur la Seine tandis que la ville s’apaise — intemporelle, sereine, inébranlable.
