Quick Thoughts

Shorter than a blog post.

Working in a Starbucks that’s just been renovated. It’s located at a major interstate interchange and was clearly designed to be primarily a drive thru location. Very small inside. The long bench is new, and probably a better use of space.

A Starbucks interior features a long, orange upholstered bench, round wooden tables, and a counter with a coffee machine.

Dr. Annie Andrews is running for Senate in SC. She’s on Bluesky and someone knows what they are doing because her username is her domain name. 👍

Rewatching Arrow Season 1. So delightfully over the top. 📺

Everyone is excited about Apple renumbering the operating system version, but there are still ways they could mess with people:

macOS twentySIX
macOS XXVI
macOS Twenty6
macOS 20six

🤣

Sixteen years ago today, I shared my first Fontstruction… Big Thursday and it was selected as a Top Pick. Fontstruct has improved as a tool so much since those early days, but it’s still every bit as fun to play around with.

(Oh, and back then, the editor was built in Flash!)

Some creations are foundational. If you design a typeface, other people create things using that font. Photographers and illustrators create works of art that can be incorporated into other designs. Brand design crafts visual and verbal foundations that others can build on. These days, I’m much more interested in these foundational creations than I am designing ads or billboards.

Remember the hype leading up to the introduction of the Segway? Never believe the hype until you actually know what the product is…

Wrapped up a really long middle school lacrosse season. Ryan had a great season in goal and he’s continuing to learn the craft, but I am incredibly glad that we’re done for a little while.

A youth lacrosse game is underway, with a goalie and other players actively engaged near the goal.

I’m taking a six-week summer grad school class for the first time… and damn, there is a lot of work in a short time.

Spending the morning at the Subaru dealership while they make a warranty repair to our Outback. It’s a pretty nice customer lounge with extremely average coffee.

Did some grad school work after watching the Andor finale… I had some weird dreams mashing up the two…

Loved this: Stop Trying to Raise Successful Kids. And start raising kind ones.

Overemphasizing individual achievement may cause a deficit of caring. But we don’t actually have to choose between the two. In fact, teaching children to care about others might be the best way to prepare them for a successful and fulfilling life.

I have no tolerance for people who preach compassion, but have no compassion.

Leo XIV is notably the first person named Bob to become Pope.

Prom pictures for my Jilly.

A woman in a black dress holding a bouquet stands at the bottom of a grand staircase leading to an elegant neoclassical building.A person holding a bouquet of colorful flowers stands outdoors in a formal dress.A woman in a black strapless dress is posing on stone steps with a cityscape and greenery in the background.A woman in a black dress stands between two columns, leaning against a stone wall.

I’m writing a paper for class and I’ve just had to cite myself for the first time. That’s a pretty funny feeling…

I know that students love the food delivery robots, but my favorite campus robot is the little grass cutting bot over by the observatory.

I need to finish a couple of class projects for the semester, but instead, I’m designing typefaces.

The Cubs' offense is fun to watch this year. I’m glad they score lots of runs, because the team sure gives up lots of runs.

Happy Easter from Team Wertz!

A family stands smiling in front of a large floral cross in an outdoor setting.

Quick favor. I need a few more responses for a pilot study on social media use that I’m doing for a grad school class. It’s a simple Google Form. Completely anonymous and it won’t be used for published research. It’s just for practice – and a grade. Thanks!

Watching the Rocketeer because it’s fun to watch the good guys fight the Nazis.

Spent today at Augusta National with no phone or digital devices. It’s nice to be forced to unplug for the day.

I’m back to playing around on Fontstruct. Just published SbB Powercore, a unicase, pixel-inspired design. I’m digging this combination of unicase characters. Still a work in progress.

Examples of typeface SbB Powercore in use.

One thing about going back to grad school in your late 40s… everyone thinks you are a professor.

Getting back in the habit of writing one of my elected representatives every day.

Today, we are thankful for protective lacrosse goalie gear.

Great game, Gamecocks! So much depth. Looking forward to the National Championship game on Sunday. 🏀🐓

Google’s AI Overview has already declared that South Carolina defeated UCLA on Sunday for the National Championship.

A Google search results page shows information about the 2025 NCAA Division I women's basketball tournament, with details about the championship game, teams involved, and broadcasting.

Spring is finally coming to campus.

McKissick Museum at the University of South Carolina stands in the background, surrounded by lush greenery and a pathway, with a flower bed in the foreground.