Friday was catblogging day, which means we missed out on fireworks blogging. But it’s never too late for fireworks, so let’s do it today.

This year I headed over to the pedestrian bridge that crosses the 405 and took pictures of our fireworks going off above the freeway. This required me to climb up on a thin concrete barrier and then hoist the camera—already mounted on a tripod—over the top of a chain link fence. Then I had to hang on by my fingertips while operating the camera. I was pretty sore by the time the show was over, but you know me: any sacrifice for my art.

Anyway, this year I essayed a more ambitious Photoshop collage than usual. It’s a little sloppy in places, but the truth is that after taking a few different stabs at this I got sick of the whole thing. I guess I won’t sacrifice anything for my art after all. But I learned enough that maybe next year I can do a really good one.

July 4, 2019 — Irvine, California

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BEFORE YOU CLICK AWAY!

“Lying.” “Disgusting.” “Scum.” “Slime.” “Corrupt.” “Enemy of the people.” Donald Trump has always made clear what he thinks of journalists. And it’s plain now that his administration intends to do everything it can to stop journalists from reporting things they don’t like—which is most things that are true.

No one gets to tell Mother Jones what to publish or not publish, because no one owns our fiercely independent newsroom. But that also means we need to directly raise the resources it takes to keep our journalism alive. There’s only one way for that to happen, and it’s readers like you stepping up. Please help with a donation today if you can—even a few bucks will make a real difference. A monthly gift would be incredible.

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