Wan Smol Blog

Tue, 14 Apr 2026 18:48:24 -0400

This incident at Carrboro High School was quite upsetting today.

Tue, 14 Apr 2026 10:20:05 -0400

Last night, on my way to Raleigh for music, I saw a bald eagle fly over the highway toward Jordan Lake.

Mon, 13 Apr 2026 23:17:30 -0400

Drove to Raleigh tonight to catch a show at Kings: first Dust, Aussies and very loud, and then Belair Lip Bombs, also Aussies snf not as loud but still loud. In between their sets I went downstairs to Neptune to listen to some youngters. That place smelled like teen spirit.

Sun, 12 Apr 2026 19:59:53 -0400

My turn for grocery shopping. I went to the larger Harris Teeter store down the road from Chapel Hill in Chatham County. In a habit of 25 years, I checked the canned fish section to see if there was anything like the chili tuna I subsisted on in Vanuatu. Bingo! I’ll eat with steamed rice. Simple.

Sat, 11 Apr 2026 12:46:20 -0400

Beautiful day for a hike to the Lower Shamokin Falls on the Wintergreen mountain in Nelson County, Virginia.

Sat, 11 Apr 2026 10:01:30 -0400

An adorable feature in the Belties farmhouse cafe in Nellysford, Virginia. I noticed a preschooler on the floor peering into this mouse house. The biscuits and pastries and coffee are top notch, too.

Thu, 09 Apr 2026 20:35:57 -0400

It was my night to do the dishes. Not exactly my favorite task, but I listened to most of Heat of July, the enjoyable album by Austin-based Briscoe. (I saw them back in February.)

Thu, 09 Apr 2026 20:32:21 -0400

Last month over on the Zuiker Chronicles I wrote about putting away my red pen. Today I found an older post by Seth Godin that says it better:

Sure, fix my typos, thanks a lot, but what’s truly precious is someone able to fix your plan.

Tue, 07 Apr 2026 17:46:30 -0400

gilest.org: AI and the human voice

I have a feeling that everyone likes using AI tools to try doing someone else’s profession.

Mon, 06 Apr 2026 22:11:48 -0400

Was in car after dropping son at soccer practice so got to listen to this heartwarming Fresh Air interview with Arsenio Hall. I watched his late-night talk show when I was in college. The day after Magic Johnson was on his show talking about HIV, Erin and I were interviewed by local TV news.

Sun, 05 Apr 2026 14:25:29 -0400

We missed the desert tortoises in southern Utah but now that spring is here in North Carolina we are on the lookout for box turtles. Oliver saw this one in the road as he, Erin, and Anna returned from Easter service.

Sat, 04 Apr 2026 19:51:42 -0400

How an iconic Masters moment came to be, and has come to last - Got pulled into reading this long article about a brief moment in time at the 2021 Masters golf tournament. Actually made me tear up (and I’m not much of a golf fan).

Sat, 04 Apr 2026 18:11:16 -0400

Among the many mapping options out there, I’ve been enjoying Datawrapper. Here’s a map I made to show the small island where Erin and I lived as Peace Coprs Volunteers in the late 1990s.

Fri, 03 Apr 2026 21:31:15 -0400

Didn’t get many photos of wildlife in Utah but here’s a lizard (Uta stansburiana) we saw as Oliver and cousins were bouldering in Moe’s Valley near St. George.

Fri, 03 Apr 2026 21:10:54 -0400

Our group had a Wed. morning permit to crawl out to Angel’s Landing, but the rains kept us away until late afternoon. We made it up to Scout Lookout with enough time to get back for one of last shuttles down canyon. Oliver was captivated by this cloud on the hike down the steep trail. #zion

Thu, 02 Apr 2026 20:53:59 -0400

Great way to spend my birthday, hiking in Utah’s Snow Canyon State Park. Alas, did not see the Mojave Desert tortoise but there was plenty of splendor all around.

Wed, 01 Apr 2026 14:43:58 -0400

Rain through the night, and drizzling still when we hit the muddy Lee Pass Trail in the Kolog Canyons section of Zion National Park. Even shrouded in clouds, the massive stone walls were stunning.

Sun, 29 Mar 2026 18:25:35 -0400

At the Hoover Dam today. Infrastructure that powers nearby Las Vegas, which was a blaze of light and music and casino clamor last night.

Thu, 26 Mar 2026 18:42:52 -0400

Earlier this week, a friend hosted me for dinner and music. Blew my mind to hear records played on a great sound system. Taught me a new lesson about listening. Blog post: Blown Away

Thu, 26 Mar 2026 18:39:53 -0400

Our family text thread was filled with glee yesterday when we realized that family friend (and my one-time summer intern) Brian K. Vaughan is co-writer of the next Dune movie. Such a talent. My favorite still is his Pride of Baghdad comic book.

Thu, 26 Mar 2026 18:33:50 -0400

Just approved a design and paid the printer. Can’t wait to see the letterpress result from Hoban Cards. Product will be something I use in the year ahead to send my thanks to family, friends, and even strangers.

Tue, 24 Mar 2026 20:39:11 -0400

This week’s episode of Coaching for Leaders was quite good. It was about setting high standards and giving high support to younger colleagues. Even helped me understand my response to recent perceived threat to my status and respect.

Sun, 22 Mar 2026 12:52:49 -0400

Spring means the rue anemone (Thalictrum thalictroides) are first to show their delicate flowers on the side of the hill below our house.

Sun, 22 Mar 2026 11:53:36 -0400

At the Sunday early pick-up soccer game, I left the pitch after just 30 minutes, my left calf with bruises, 2 kicks from opposing players. I was making good passes today. Enjoyed the time with the guys, even if it was shorter than usual. Rainbow above passing raincloud was a nice touch.

Sat, 21 Mar 2026 21:52:46 -0400

I read about the rains on Oahu and the danger to the Wahiawa dam, which lead me to looking at a map of the island and reminiscing about the many hikes I did during my two years in Honolulu, and from there I found the Hiking Trails on Oahu site.