Quick Thoughts

Shorter than a blog post.

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

Saw this hawk out on the Horseshoe today. I didn’t get a shot of it flying, but it had a massive wingspan.

A large bird of prey is standing on the ground with sunlight casting shadows around it.

I was initially skeptical, but the more I play around with Canva Affinity, the more I like it.

I love how quickly I can prototype a typeface idea in Fontstruct.

Even though it rained earlier, we got out to Gather Columbia late this afternoon. Lots of great food options. Fun atmosphere. Another cool addition to Columbia.

A modern urban plaza features a large building with glass windows, a grassy area, and a restaurant with outdoor seating.An outdoor market features people dining at tables, surrounded by a two-story structure with various shops and stalls.

As I move into working on my dissertation, it feels strange to not have a “class” this semester. It’s been a long time since I wasn’t reviewing syllabi at the start of a semester…

Farewell 2025.

I’m watching the World Darts Championship on Peacock and I have so many questions. Apparently, they are currently doing a speed round, the crowd is wild, and a couple of spectators are dressed as Ronald McDonald.

Our travel plans for Christmas changed at the last minute, so Team Wertz took a day trip to the Isle of Palms and Charleston.

Four people are standing on a beach near the water with a pier in the background.

I just made the move from an iPhone 12 Pro to an iPhone 17. Lots of advancements over the last 5 years.

Christmas morning.

A family in pajamas are sitting around a Christmas tree with presents, in a cozy room decorated for the holidays.

Merry Christmas from Team Wertz.

A family of five poses together dressed in festive attire, with Christmas trees and decorations in the background.

The renovated Finlay Park in Columbia is gorgeous. They did such a great job with the update and it’s now such a vibrant space for the community. Love it.

A large cascading fountain is set in Finlay Park with the Columbia, South Carolina skyline in the background.

A cubano at Indah Coffee.

A cubano with a heart-shaped latte art on a wooden table.