Bob Wertz

For the first time in my almost 30-year professional career, I have an office with a thermostat that actually works.

My anticlimactic software choice for writing my dissertation: https://bobwertz.com/2026/03/03/my-anticlimactic-software-choice-for.html

Just started watching the first season of Monarch: Legacy of Monsters on Apple TV. Juggling all the time periods is a little complex, but I really like it so far.🍿

I randomly passed an anti-Trump protest on the side of the road in Irmo, SC. About 30 people standing along a heavily-travelled road with signs in the rain. That’s something you don’t see everyday.

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Yep. Norah’s an art education major, so she took photography in the art school where they use darkrooms. She develops her own black and white, but sends the color film off for processing.

About 14 years ago, I was part of an organization that started a monthly coffee meetup. The organization no longer exists, but the monthly coffee meetup continues.

Norah and several of her friends are shooting film and love it, but there are few decent new cameras to buy. I think there is a market there…

I watched UNC fans storm the court after the win against Duke last night, and it reminded me of the only court storming I’ve ever been a part of — South Carolina’s 1997 upset of Kentucky. It’s funny to listen to the ESPN broadcast now, which of course includes references to Hootie and the Blowfish.

Ryan’s science fair project on soundproofing was titled “The Sound of Silence.”

All of the judges asked if he knew who Simon and Garfunkel were…

Turns out he didn’t. Just thought the title sounded good. 🤣

I wasn’t sure what to expect with Starfleet Academy. So far, it’s great. And as a DS9 fan, Episode 5 made me so happy.

Today is straight up chaotic. Ryan has the School District Science Fair and lacrosse practice. Jill has Admitted Students Day at the University of South Carolina. Liz has a hair appointment. And I’m just the chauffeur.

Always happy to support an Iconfactory Kickstarter. I’ve never been disappointed. I backed the new Ollie’s Arcade effort today, and if you love iOS games with a retro feel, you should back it too.

Went for a stroll around Mungo Park (which happens to be in our backyard). Sun is out, but there is still lots of beautiful snow-covered terrain.

I started reading about alternative academic publishing this morning. Some of the articles are 15-20 years old. I’m a little surprised that over that time, no one has built a successful alternative system. I guess all of the entrenched economic and cultural issues have been too much to overcome.

We got a few inches of snow here in Columbia, South Carolina. Roads are covered with ice and everything is shut down. Staying home today.

Snow is falling steadily here in Columbia.

Looks like Columbia missed the worst of the winter storm. Still some ice out there. The kids have an e-learning day, so I’m grateful my teenage driver doesn’t have to navigate ice this morning. And I’m thankful for the late start for my work today.

Changing careers: https://bobwertz.com/2026/01/25/changing-careers.html

SbB Crunchd.

Two new Fontstruct designs: SbB Crunch’d and SbB Papaya 26: https://bobwertz.com/2026/01/25/two-new-fontstruct-designs-sbb.html

I remember when Republicans used to say that they believed in limited government.

Crossposting from Micro.Blog with two inline links: https://bobwertz.com/2026/01/24/crossposting-from-microblog-with-two.html

Different social media platforms varied in how they handled the inclusion of multiple inline links in a recent post, with Bluesky successfully displaying both links while...

Enjoyed Season 2 of Percy Jackson and the Olympians on Disney+.🍿

Back in 2024, I wrote about Honda’s new logo that was allegedly only for their EVs. They’ve apparently changed their mind, and it will now be used for all Honda Automobiles, starting in 2027. I’m wondering if the slow rollout is how they’ve decided to handle and potential backlash…

Waves at sunrise. https://bobwertz.com/2026/01/19/waves-at-sunrise.html

A vast, empty beach stretches towards the horizon under a dramatic, cloud-filled sky.

A serene beach scene features a calm shoreline with gentle waves under a colorful sunrise sky.

A sandy beach at sunrise is scattered with seashells while the sun sets over the horizon.

A serene beach scene at sunrise, with gentle waves lapping the shore.

I love the beach in winter. A few shots from Isle of Palms this weekend.

There’s a lot to like about Star Trek: Starfleet Academy. Some interesting characters and the show looks amazing. Holly Hunter’s Chancellor Ake is delightfully quirky for a Starfleet captain. I look forward to seeing where the season goes.

During the outage yesterday, Verizon only shared updates on X. Brands and corporations need to start diversifying their messaging strategy. They have a Threads account that has never posted.

What restaurants do you miss?: https://bobwertz.com/2026/01/13/what-restaurants-do-you-miss.html