Happy New Year!
You can quote me on that.
Today we have a short edition — because what better way to start a new year than to leave people wanting more?
Many of you might know that for 11 years running, the first thing I’ve published anywhere is a list of 365 inspirational quotes on Inc.com. This year is no different.
I don’t think Inc. would like it if I just sent same entire thing to you here at the same time. But you can find the whole thing here.
Besides, it runs 11,600+ words and could easily take a full hour to read from start to finish.
That said, here are a handful of my favorites from this year’s list, apropos of nothing and totally devoid of context:
“We wanted something that was simple enough that any drunk could play.” — Nolan Bushnell, co-founder of Atari, on the creation of Pong, the first commercially successful video game.
“If you budget carefully and watch your expenditures, you can get by on a couple billion dollars.” — Ted Turner
“I don’t mean to be a broken record, but it’s like nails on a chalkboard to hear some of the anachronistic phrases that some people still use.” –Bill Murphy Jr.
All right, if I’m quoting myself, then that’s probably a pretty good sign that I should cut this off for today. I hope you have an enjoyable day, and a wonderful 2026.
7 other things worth the time to read them
Donald Trump had a pretty good 2025; it was by far the most lucrative year of his life. The president is now worth a record $7.3 billion, up from $4.3 billion in 2024, when he was still running for office. The $3 billion gain vaulted him 118 spots on The Forbes 400, where he lands at No. 201 this year. No president in U.S. history has used his position of power to profit as immensely as Trump. His primary vehicle for enrichment: cryptocurrency, an asset class full of hype and vulnerable to regulators. (Forbes)
Inside the New Fast Track to a Presidential Pardon: Lobbyists close to Trump say their going rate to advocate for a pardon is $1 million. (WSJ)
Mark Zuckerberg and current and former directors and officers of Meta Platforms agreed to settle privacy claims seeking $8 billion. The parties did not disclose details of the settlement, which apparently came together just before billionaire venture capitalist Marc Andreessen, who is a defendant in the trial and a Meta director, was scheduled to testify. Zuckerberg, Sheryl Sandberg, and Peter Thiel, among others, were also expected to have to testify soon if the case had gone forward. (France 24)
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement plans to spend $100 million this year on a “wartime recruitment” strategy to convince thousands of gun-rights supporters and military enthusiasts to become federal deportation officers. Targets include people who have attended UFC fights, who listen to certain right-wing podcasts, or whose Internet histories indicate interest in guns and tactical gear, according to a 30-page internal document reviewed by The Washington Post. (The Washington Post)
Rejoice! Carmakers Are Embracing Physical Buttons Again: Amazingly, reaction times using screens while driving are worse than being drunk or high—no wonder 90 percent of drivers hate using touchscreens in cars. Finally the auto industry is coming to its senses. (Wired)
January stargazing: A supermoon, asteroid, and one very large planet. The Wolf Moon rises on January 3. (Popular Science)
The Food Trends We Nailed — and the Ones We Definitely Didn’t: For 47 years, Food & Wine has predicted where American dining is headed. Here’s a look at trend calls that shaped how we eat — and the ones that never caught on. (Food and Wine)
Thanks for reading and happy holidays. See you in the comments!