There were whispers of snow again this weekend in and around the District and parts of Virginia—unusual for April, but in line with the whimsical weather of late that feels rather like living in a science fiction novel.

In recent weeks, I have wanted to be a superhero—to rise above the sphere where trolls flamed the woman who writes in praise of passionate users, Kathy Sierra, and a mail system (even with Jedi mailboxes) that delivered a slick mainstream magazine with a cover featuring a cheesecake image of Jenna Fischer from “The Office” [...]