679a0a2ddf539 DRAW DIV B U16W 16x9.png.

65c390d66c0d3 FIBAYouth EuroBasket.

SbB Powertrain in use: Eurobasket: bobwertz.com/2026/04/08/sbb-powertrai...

This academic study in Visual Communication analyzing G.I. Joe “Knowing is half the battle” PSAs from the early 1980s is amazing. Sadly not open access, but you should read it if you are Gen X and have access through your university library.

I’m fascinated by the minimalist approach that Slate is taking with their EV pickup. I see opportunity for customization, but others see a small truck without a built-in sound system. This article does a good job of summing up the challenges Slate faces in taking a radically different approach.

Witnessed a drone delivery yesterday for the first time when shopping in southern Charlotte. Apparently, it’s a partnership beween Doordash and Wing, and only available in a four mile radius of the shopping center we were in. Strange to see a drone lower a package to the ground, and then fly off.

Go Gamecocks!!!! 🏀

Spring is here. I looked up while grilling and noticed our backyard trees are finally all green again. 🍃🍃🍃

Ryan got his first high school start tonight when the starting goalie injured his hand in warm ups. He got the win and a shut out.

A line of parked cars is visible along a grassy area near a brick building under a blue sky with fluffy clouds.

Bored, while sitting in a very long middle school car line. (I’m near the front.)

The South Carolina Women’s Basketball team is so impressive. Strong win against Oklahoma today. Ta’Niya, Raven and Tessa shot the lights out, scoring 60 of the team’s 94. Looking forward to the next game against TCU or Virginia. Go Gamecocks. 🐓🏀

Apple anniversary logo.

More examples of Apple’s non-traditional approach to visual brand management: bobwertz.com/2026/03/28/more-examples...

The parking garage is so eerily empty when I get in early.

I’ve been impressed by Kagi News. A nice AI-curated summary of important news stories, updated once a day. Provides links to a spectrum of sources, and the site has an RSS feed, so I can easily add it to Feedbin.

Coffee shops should all have a rack of reading glasses for sale. I occasionally forget mine when I go to write or study, and I would completely pay an inflated price for a pair of reading glasses in the moment. I can’t be the only one. I think they’d make a nice profit.

Working at the Starbucks at I-26 and Broad River in Irmo tonight while Ryan is at lacrosse practice. I studied here all the time when I first started grad school. Happy to report that almost a decade after I nicknamed it “Grad School Starbucks” that it is still full of grad students.

I don’t go into Facebook often, but when I do, I’m flooded with fake AI generated stories about Gamecock Women’s Basketball and F1. Judging from the engagement on these posts, lots of people believe them… but most of them are completely made up.

It’s going to be tough to be a McLaren fan this season. 🏎️

The process of finding a roommate for first year of college in 2026 is a mix of dating app and Instagram stalking. 🤣 My middle child is looking for a South Carolina Honors College roomie…

I thoroughly enjoyed Star Trek: Starfleet Academy Season 1 from start to finish. Some great new characters. I like how they’ve continued to build out the technology and culture of the 32nd century. I’m looking forward to season 2.🍿

MacBook Neo is made for college campuses: bobwertz.com/2026/03/10/macbook-neo-i...

I don’t know why, but the time change is really hitting me harder than usual this year…

Seth Godin: Small changes to big systems:

"Scarcity of creation and scarcity of distribution have been replaced by a surplus of both.

What doesn’t scale? Trust, attention and belonging."

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: bobwertz.com/2026/03/03/my-anticlimac...

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.

{title}: https://bobwertz.com/2026/02/24/title.html

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.