Bob Wertz

Wed, 15 Jul 2026 20:48:07 -0400

CVS has Halloween candy… in July.

The depressing stickiness of the service formerly known as Twitter

Tue, 14 Jul 2026 19:05:07 -0400

I assumed that people would abandon Twitter after Elon took over. Many people I followed moved to Mastodon, Bluesky or Threads. I moved, closing my account, but many Twitter users that I knew stayed. Even the ones that hate everything that Elon stands for. Even the ones who hate his bullshit white nationalist politics. Even after… everything.

It’s depressing, but the truth is that for many people, social media is an audience game, and it’s tough to abandon an audience. It’s even tougher to build a new audience. And people did the math, and sadly decided to stay.

I left Twitter and don’t regret it. I’m scaling back my Meta usage significantly. I don’t think these large social media companies are good for society. I’m content with alternative social media platforms, but I have to at least acknowledge that many, many, many people love these services. Even if they know the social media services are harmful to themselves and society, they won’t move to a new service. That’s tough to reconcile.

Bob Wertz is a type designer, Ph.D. student and researcher living in Columbia, South Carolina. He’s been blogging since 2008.

Building an academic publications plug-in for Micro.Blog with the help of ChatGPT

Sun, 12 Jul 2026 16:45:02 -0400

I’ve always thought that professors and researchers are an ideal target market for Micro.Blog. Many scholars have personal web sites, but they are often woefully out of date. I thought a plug-in that automatically updated academic publication listings could be helpful, but after a little research, I figured out that Google Scholar doesn’t have an API. I dropped the idea.

Last week, I was thinking about this project again and asked ChatGPT how to “pull information off of Google Scholar” to publish on a personal web site. After a couple of questions back and forth about how I was hosting my site and what I wanted to accomplish, it recommended pulling from ORCID instead. ORCID is basically a unique common identifier and profile for scholars and researchers and is often required when you submit articles to publications. Since Google Scholar doesn’t have an API, ORCID was the next best thing. Before I knew it, ChatGPT was providing instructions for creating a new shortcode template for Micro.Blog.

Some background… It hasn’t been part of my day-to-day job for a very long time, but I’m comfortable with HTML and CSS. I’ve played around with some programming, mostly Python. I’ve customized themes for Micro.Blog, and looked at the Hugo templating language to see what it would take to build my own theme. I wouldn’t consider myself an expert on any of this, but I did understand the code I was looking at. Also, as a University of South Carolina graduate student, I have free access to ChatGPT. So my choice of chatbot is less a matter of philosophy and more a matter of convenience.

I started by building something that would just work on my site. ChatGPT navigated the API documentation for Micro.Blog and ORCID. After some back and forth, I got it working. ChatGPT eventually recommended that we supplement the information on ORCID with metadata from CrossRef. The CSS was a little strange, so I had to manually adjust it. Once everything was stable, I asked it to walk me through the process of building a plug-in for Micro.Blog. I fired up BBEdit and GitHub. Within a few minutes, I had a working version of the plug-in. You can see the plug-in, Academia, in action on my new Publications page.¹ I plan to make some refinements, make an icon, test the plug-in with some different themes, and then make it available to others. I honestly don’t know how many people would take advantage of the plug-in, but I’m excited that I was able to build it.

I’ve been an LLM skeptic, concerned about the environmental impacts of the technology and the implications for creators.² But after playing around with this plug-in project off and on for the last couple of weeks, I completely understand why programmers view AI-assisted coding as revolutionary. I was able to build something quickly that I’d been wanting to build for a while. In the hands of a skilled programmer, I can’t imagine how powerful AI-assisted programming could be.

Look for more updates on Academia soon.

Bob Wertz is a type designer, Ph.D. student and researcher living in Columbia, South Carolina. He’s been blogging since 2008.

I replaced my CV/resume in the menu with the new Publications page. ↩︎
And I’m still concerned. The costs of this new technology is high. ↩︎

Sun, 12 Jul 2026 09:28:34 -0400

Rocky’s Hot Chicken in South Asheville

Thu, 09 Jul 2026 09:07:09 -0400

Zeldman’s incredible post on digital preservation and decay:

So what do we do? We own our own domains. We keep local copies. In triplicate. We choose open formats over proprietary ones. We treat every platform as temporary, because it is. We archive not out of paranoia but out of love—love for the things we’ve made, the conversations we’ve had, the small, stubborn act of leaving a mark.

Thu, 09 Jul 2026 08:53:59 -0400

The only way to square this Max to McLaren rumor:

Max wants to quit F1 until the regs change.
Zac wants to win the Triple Crown (Monaco, Indy 500, 24 Hours at Le Mans)
Zac is willing to pay Max F1 money for endurance racing.

This doesn’t make sense, but it makes more sense than replacing Oscar.

Wed, 08 Jul 2026 08:08:22 -0400

Cortado.

Sat, 04 Jul 2026 20:22:59 -0400

Our July 4th tradition… catching a Columbia Flieflies game. Although tonight, they are cosplaying as the Capital City Bombers. 🇺🇸⚾️🎇

Our national symbols aren't as old as you think they are.

Sat, 04 Jul 2026 09:03:17 -0400

I was recently listening to The Rest is History’s series on national anthems. I knew that the Star Spangled Banner was inspired by the War of 1812, but what I did not know was that it wasn’t adopted as the National Anthem until 1931!

In fact, many of our national symbols are no where near as old as we think they are. Lots of Americans probably think that the symbols were created alongside the Constitution, but that’s not the case. Like any brand, the marks and symbols that represent it evolve over time. I also don’t think it’s a coincidence that many of them were codified after the rise of Communism and in the Cold War that followed World War II.

To celebrate the 250th anniversary of the United States, I’ve pulled together a list of our national symbols, and the date that the current version was adopted:

The Great Seal of the United States (1885). The original seal was adopted in 1782, but was refined in 1885. The current version remains faithful to the 1885 version.
National Anthem (1931). The anthem was written in 1814 after the British siege of Ft. McHenry, but it would be over 100 years before it officially became the U.S. National Anthem.
Current version of the Pledge of Allegiance (1954). The original version of the pledge was written in 1892, but Congress didn’t recognize it officially until 1942. Then 12 years later, they added the phrase “under God,” which is the version that is still in use today.
In God We Trust (1956). The national motto of the United States was adopted in 1956, replacing E Pluribus Unum (Out of many, one). It previously had been used on coins starting in 1864.
Current version of the US Flag with 50 stars (1960). The basic formula for the flag was set in 1777, but it’s changed over time as the US has grown and stars were added. The current version was adopted when Hawaii was added to the union.¹
Bald Eagle (2024). The bald eagle has been part of the US identity since 1782 when it was included as part of the seal design, but the US didn’t have an official “national bird” until a couple of years ago. Joe Biden signed it into law in 2024.

While these symbols feel like they’ve always been here, they really aren’t that old. When my grandparents were born, there was no official national anthem. My parents were born when the U.S. had a 48-star flag. And when I started kindergarten, the version of the Pledge of Allegiance that we recited was just over 20 years old. This all serves as a nice little reminder that symbols change and evolve over time as our society changes.

Bob Wertz is a type designer, Ph.D. student and researcher living in Columbia, South Carolina. He’s been blogging since 2008.

There is a table on the Flag of the United States Wikipedia page with all of the different official flag configurations over the last 250 years. Many of the flags only lasted a year. And who thought an inverted pentagram star pattern was a good idea? ↩︎

Fri, 03 Jul 2026 10:59:22 -0400

This You.Gov survey on American’s opinion of flags is fascinating. My research is primarily focused on visual branding, and I’ve long thought that what most people think of patriotism today aligns better with our theories around brand loyalty and brand love.

Fri, 03 Jul 2026 07:05:24 -0400

Turned off my alarm last night so I could sleep in today. Woke up at the same time anyway.

Thu, 02 Jul 2026 12:03:03 -0400

The NY Times published a guide to Sandra Boyton’s best books and the whole thing is a trip down memory lane. We read all those books to our kids. I love “Snuggle Puppy” and “Personal Penguin.” I’m a little surprised they didn’t include “What’s Wrong, Little Pookie?” One of my favorites…

A tale of two posts: Tracking views when crossposting from Micro.Blog

Wed, 01 Jul 2026 23:22:29 -0400

There’s been some discussion on Micro.Blog lately about the absence of likes and other typical social media features. I wanted to look at my experience with two recent posts and what they tell us about how posts are viewed on social media. My posts are shared to three timelines:¹

Micro.Blog (No follower count)
Bluesky (198 followers)
Threads (420 followers)

As far as I can tell, the vast majority of my posts get limited to no engagement. Micro.Blog offers no engagement metrics. Bluesky shows likes and comments. Threads offers “Insights” on each post that includes engagement metrics.

Post #1: World Cup Watch Party

The first was a post about accidentally landing in the middle of a Brazil-Morocco World Cup watch party.

On Micro.Blog, I got no comments.
On Bluesky, I got one like from a person I did not follow at the time.
On Threads, I got 1,074 likes and 24 comments on 13,051 views. Here’s the interesting part… only 83 of those views were from my followers.

Post #2: Slate’s Final Price

The second was a comment on the Slate truck…

On Micro.Blog, it sparked a conversation and at least one other post.
On Bluesky, I got one like from someone that doesn’t follow me.
On Threads, I got a like and a reply on 31 views, only 6 views from followers.

Clearly, if you want people to engage with your posts, the Threads algorithm can provide an audience. Bluesky didn’t generate much activity on either post, but I assume more than one person saw them. For the Slate post, Micro.Blog actually generated a conversation, and another blog post from one of the participants. I decided to follow up with a longer post as well.

These three timelines are different. I use them for different purposes. Is the Micro.Blog timeline quiet? Sure, but it’s full of unique and distinct voices including many I follow from Mastodon. I use Threads to follow pop culture, F1, WNBA, local news, and more. Bluesky has a bunch of academic and political experts that I enjoy following. Each timeline has a purpose. And the character of each is derived from the design of each service.

If I wanted to go all in on metrics, I’d be posting regularly to Facebook (823 friends), Instagram (707 followers), or LinkedIn (750 connections). I wouldn’t have deleted my Twitter account with over 1000 followers. But that’s not why I post on my blog.

I don’t think we’ll ever have a single dominant social media platform. The reality is that I’ve always had two or three different social media channels at a time. In the early days, I used Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. I still use three — Micro.Blog, Threads and Bluesky — but my current setup works better for me because everything is hosted on Micro.Blog and crossposted to other services. I value having all of my content on a single site.

We all use social media for different purposes. One great thing about today’s social media is that we have choices, but having more social media channels available means it’s harder to focus on a single outlet that meets all our needs. Each platform makes decisions that shape the experience, and that’s especially true in the case of Micro.Blog. In fact, I almost wrote a paper for a Ph.D.-level PR theory class a couple of years ago about how Micro.Blog’s structure aligns with Kent & Taylor’s framework for creating dialogic social media. Maybe someday, I’ll get around to writing it.

Bob Wertz is a type designer, Ph.D. student and researcher living in Columbia, South Carolina. He’s been blogging since 2008.

Honestly, four. I still share to Mastodon, but I don’t have any followers over there and don’t expect any engagement. ↩︎

Wed, 01 Jul 2026 16:48:29 -0400

Goodness! The Cubs have scored 22 runs on 7 home runs against San Diego today. And it’s only the 8th inning. Dansby Swanson has 3 of those home runs.

I’m interested in Bluesky and AT Protocol... which is why I’m on Micro.Blog

Mon, 29 Jun 2026 22:16:38 -0400

I’m increasing intrigued by what’s happening with the AT Protocol and Bluesky. I’m finding myself on Bluesky more often as the user base grows. I like the basic concept of storing your data on a personal data server (PDS), with social apps filtering relevant data from a “firehose.” I’m fascinated by the idea of using the AT Protocol as a foundation of open science and academic publishing, even if I have lots of questions. I like where Standard.Site is going. Eurosky is doing interested things with some different AT Protocol apps.

And that’s why I’m sticking with Micro.Blog.

I’m interested in Bluesky, but I don’t have the bandwidth right now to tinker with all of it. Micro.Blog creator Manton Reece has built a platform that interfaces with everything with an open API.¹ Bluesky rolls out support for Standard.Site. Manton supports it. Bluesky starts to allow 12 pictures, Manton supports it. I’m not quite ready to spin up my own PDS, so hosting everything on Micro.Blog gives me the next best option.

The reality is that AT Protocol advocates see a world where everything is based on their vision of the open social web. I like their vision, but I’m not sure we’ll ever have one dominate protocol. (And as Dave Winer points out, Bluesky isn’t 100% billionaire-proof yet.) It’s best to cast a wide net and bet on interoperability. I host everything with Micro.Blog on bobwertz.com, but my content automatically crossposts to Bluesky (plus Threads and Mastodon).

And that’s why Micro.Blog is the perfect solution for people who want to experiment with different platforms, but maintain a centralized web presence. Manton’s built something amazing at Micro.Blog and I’m still surprised how few people know about it. Plans start at $5/month, but I pay $10/month for the premium plan, which includes multiple blogs, email newsletters, an alternative social media feed that allows me to follow people on Mastodon, bookmarking, an RSS reader, short video hosting an independent Goodreads alternative, and more. I can use it with desktop apps like MarsEdit and Ulysses. It’s phenomenal, and the best solution for me as we collectively figure out what’s next in social media.

Bob Wertz is a type designer, Ph.D. student and researcher living in Columbia, South Carolina. He’s been blogging since 2008.

Seriously everything… Linked In! Nostr! Flickr! PeerTube! Pixelfed! Tumblr! ↩︎

Mon, 29 Jun 2026 16:05:17 -0400

When I switched jobs at the university, my parking spot moved from a surface lot to a parking garage. And while I pay more for the reserved garage spot, I have to say that it’s nice to have my car in the shade when it is 95°F outside.

Mon, 29 Jun 2026 09:57:41 -0400

The Verge: The war against ‘woke’ could end US science as we know it.

Mon, 29 Jun 2026 09:12:16 -0400

Cal Newport on Productivity Paradoxes:

Similarly, it seems unlikely that AI is a technological genie that will be fully returned to its bottle. Much like early PCs, there is too much untapped convenience to be ignored. But as we struggle to figure out how to think about the promise of these tools, it’s worth remembering that in the digital world, productivity doesn’t always match our expectations.

The comparison to early PCs is good. The rise of AI also seems similar to the advent of desktop publishing. Incredible promise, but the true productivity payoff might be decades away.

Sun, 28 Jun 2026 17:25:04 -0400

What a wild ending to the Cubs vs. Brewers game. Glad the Cubs could hold on…

Fri, 26 Jun 2026 09:59:53 -0400

I’ve used Glyphs for type design since 2011. Love the new features coming with Glyphs 4 in July. Such a great application and it keeps getting better.

Thu, 25 Jun 2026 10:26:14 -0400

Sigh. I waited too long to buy my daughter’s laptop for college. I was waiting for Apple’s annual back to school promotion, but the MacBook Neo she wants is now $100 more.

Slate Update

Wed, 24 Jun 2026 22:28:09 -0400

I don’t need a car right now, but in year or so, my daughter will need her car at college and I will need a car to take me back and forth to work. My wife won’t let me get a mini truck from local importer Japan Direct Motors, so maybe a Slate is the next best thing.

I’ve wanted an EV for a long while, but the timing just hasn’t been right. In a perfect world, I’d support Scout Motors which is building a factory outside of my hometown of Columbia, South Carolina. I love the way the Scouts look, but the starting price for a their very nice EV pickup is around $60,000. I’ve also eyeballed other cars like the Rivian R3, but who knows when that will finally hit the market. I like a small car, but many of the smallest EVs aren’t going to make it to the United States market.

And then there is the Slate. I’ve been interested in the bare bones basic truck since they announced it. I love the idea of an infinitely customizable vehicle that starts at a low price. Then add the features you want over time.

Slate hosted a media event today to announce the final pricing and configurator, so there are a bunch of articles and videos out now. I enjoyed an article from The Verge and Marques Brownlee’s video preview. If you want a deep dive, this 55-minute video packs lots of details.

I think the price is right at $25,000. (Imagine if the $7,500 EV tax credit was still available!) They originally planned to offer two battery packs, but settled on a single option with a range of just over 200 miles. That will work for my daily commute with plenty of range anxiety cushion to spare.

I’d want to add some options of course… Probably a full body vinyl wrap, some speakers and maybe a center console. I also really like the look of the fastback, which adds $6,000 to the cost of the car. Browsing the Slate online configuration app, you can see how large the accessory ecosystem could become.

I still have questions. I want to see the crash test results and some more reviews. But after all of the announcements today, I’m absolutely still interested.

Bob Wertz is a type designer, Ph.D. student and researcher living in Columbia, South Carolina. He’s been blogging since 2008.

Wed, 24 Jun 2026 09:03:28 -0400

I love the potential of Slate and the idea of an extremely customizable vehicle. I remember catalogs of accessories to customize old Jeep CJ-7s. I just don’t know how big the market is today for a $25K EV truck with crank windows.

Sun, 21 Jun 2026 21:09:23 -0400

Fun Father’s Day. Drove up to Asheville to see Norah. Headed to Looking Glass Falls. Stopped by Dolly’s on the way out of Pisgah to get some ice cream.

Sat, 20 Jun 2026 18:31:04 -0400

Just spent most of my Saturday working on my dissertation. Made some really good progress today. Lots still to do, but feeling good about the direction for the first time in a while.