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Weak III

15 January 2026

No. 8,114 (cartoon)

I’ve made quite a name for myself in the art world.

“Anonymous” was a fine choice, but pathetically unoriginal.

16 January 2026

Going Biweakly

I know nothing about big business, but I figure Intuit is in trouble. The company, which used to let me use its servers to mail my notebook entries to the hundred and sixty-three people on my mailing list weakly—in exchange for slapping the company’s logo on every email I send—recently notified me that I’ll now be limited to spamming people biweakly unless I send them some dosh.

(As an aside, I wasn’t bragging when I said I have accumulated a hundred and sixty-three email addresses over the last thirty years. I wonder how many of them still work?)

The wolf must be at the corporate door, why else would they try and squeeze a few pfennigs out of an olde artist? The company boasts on its Internet site that it made almost nineteen billion dollars last year, but apparently that’s not much money in 2026.

I’m doing my part to help the struggling multinational; that’s why I’m now sending my notebook entries biweakly.

I’m sure no one will notice the change, and even fewer will care.

17 January 2026

California Aqueduct Vista Point

Thirty-some years ago, my friend Robert Dawson had a photography project, Water in the West. I don’t remember much about it, but I think it involved water. In the west, as I recall.

I thought about Robert and his work on my road trip with Polly when she pulled off the highway to take a break at the California Aqueduct Vista Point. I saw this photograph the moment I stepped out of the car and beheld the magnificent aqueduct in the distance. I’m presenting this as a snapshot, since Robert and I probably set up our tripods at the same place, and his photograph was certainly better than my snapshot.

18 January 2026

Lock All Doors, Spider Rock Overlook (Canyon de Chelly Reject)

I arrived at Canyon de Chelly just before sunset, and had just enough time to take in the first of many scenic vistas before drinking an early dinner. I was struck by the contrast between looking down at the valley where people have lived for at least the last five millennia and the government warning sign admonishing visitors to beware of thieves.

I liked the photograph when I pushed the button, but now, in the cold light of night, I realize it’s the same as a hundred other similar images, at least three of which are notably more successful than mine.

19 January 2026

Canyon de Chelly White House Ruin Wall (Canyon de Chelly Reject)

The first and last time I saw the White House Ruin in Canyon de Chelly was in 1977. I left my lenscap on. It had been extensively photographed for over a century, and I had nothing to add. Almost fifty years later, I didn’t even consider photographing the ruin, but couldn’t resist the striking image of the tree silhouetted against the adjacent canyon wall.

It’s a real pretty picture, but I don’t like it. Real pretty is pretty boring.

20 January 2026

Jewelry, Frybred, Sodas, Water, Coffee, Candy (Canyon de Chelly Reject)

You can’t go into the Canyon de Chelly floor without a Navajo guide, and I think that’s a wise policy. Native Americans learned the hard way that whiteskins can’t be trusted.

David drove us through otherwise impassible “roads” in a strange six-wheeled jalopy and, after a couple of hours, we ended up deep in the canyon where a Navajo family advertised, “Jewelry, Frybred, Sodas, Water, Coffee, Candy.” Native Americans gotta make a buck too, I suppose.

When I looked at the photograph later, I realized it was just another cliché, a juxtaposition of the ancient canyon and the contemporary snack stand. I thought it was unredeemable, so I didn’t even bother to correct the rectilinear distortion.

21 January 2026

Antelope House Overlook Parking Lot (Canyon de Chelly Reject)

Six months ago I concluded that I was done making series of photographs that look similar to each other but aren’t. I was glad I made that thoughtful decision; that’s why I didn’t make a couple dozen photographs in the empty Antelope House Overlook parking lot early in the morning.

Coming next weak: more of the same.

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©2026 David Glenn Rinehart