Back in 2024, I wrote about Honda’s new logo that was allegedly only for their EVs. They’ve apparently changed their mind, and it will now be used for all Honda Automobiles, starting in 2027. I’m wondering if the slow rollout is how they’ve decided to handle and potential backlash…

Waves at sunrise.

I love the beach in winter. A few shots from Isle of Palms this weekend.

A vast, empty beach stretches towards the horizon under a dramatic, cloud-filled sky.A serene beach scene features a calm shoreline with gentle waves under a colorful sunrise sky.A sandy beach at sunrise is scattered with seashells while the sun sets over the horizon.A serene beach scene at sunrise, with gentle waves lapping the shore.

There’s a lot to like about Star Trek: Starfleet Academy. Some interesting characters and the show looks amazing. Holly Hunter’s Chancellor Ake is delightfully quirky for a Starfleet captain. I look forward to seeing where the season goes.

During the outage yesterday, Verizon only shared updates on X. Brands and corporations need to start diversifying their messaging strategy. They have a Threads account that has never posted.

What restaurants do you miss?

I enjoyed this article in the NY Times about the sadness that you feel when your favorite restaurant closes.

Every restaurant is a portal — a way to remember who you were and how things felt when you were, say, 19, or 27, or 35, but also to remember the particulars of a city, a neighborhood, a block.

I started to think about the restaurants that I’ve loved that are no longer open. I started with a longer list1, but here are three that I really miss:

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Saw this hawk out on the Horseshoe today. I didn’t get a shot of it flying, but it had a massive wingspan.

A large bird of prey is standing on the ground with sunlight casting shadows around it.

Twitterless: If you haven't left already...

The warning signs were there. Ten years ago, I wrote my first Twitterless article, followed by part 2 in 2017, part 3 in 2022, a “final” chapter in 2023 and an epilogue in 2024.1 My initial concerns were about Twitter’s financial shape, but after Musk took over, I quickly realized the new service wasn’t going to be for me, closed my accounts, and moved on.

With the latest news about X, the service formerly known as Twitter, I don’t understand how anyone still has an account. People are using Grok to generate non-consensual sexualized deepfakes of women and children and share them on X. This goes beyond politics — it’s really about human decency.

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I was initially skeptical, but the more I play around with Canva Affinity, the more I like it.

I love how quickly I can prototype a typeface idea in Fontstruct.

Even though it rained earlier, we got out to Gather Columbia late this afternoon. Lots of great food options. Fun atmosphere. Another cool addition to Columbia.

A modern urban plaza features a large building with glass windows, a grassy area, and a restaurant with outdoor seating.An outdoor market features people dining at tables, surrounded by a two-story structure with various shops and stalls.

As I move into working on my dissertation, it feels strange to not have a “class” this semester. It’s been a long time since I wasn’t reviewing syllabi at the start of a semester…

2026: A Fresh Start

Each year, I set a theme for the year. Last year was incremental progress. I did write a lot during the year, and I released some new typefaces, but I wasn’t able to reach my health goals and organization is still something I want to continue to work on.

For this year, I’m excited about a fresh start. I start an exciting new job (that’s really a completely different career). I’ve finished all of my Ph.D. classwork, so I’m just focused on my dissertation now. With those two clean slates, I’m going to focus on building a healthy routine and organizational plan to support it. I’m optimistic about the year ahead.

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Farewell 2025.

More Apple Logo Variations

One strange thing about Apple’s visual identity is that they allow logo variations that most brand managers would never approve. In the past, I’ve noted their environmental logo with a green leaf and their security logo that looks like a padlock. They have a gift logo that they use annually during the holidays and created a special logo for their opening of their Marina Sands store in Singapore.

Today, I saw another couple of variations to add to my list from the Apple Japan web site as part of their New Year’s Celebration:

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I’m watching the World Darts Championship on Peacock and I have so many questions. Apparently, they are currently doing a speed round, the crowd is wild, and a couple of spectators are dressed as Ronald McDonald.

Our travel plans for Christmas changed at the last minute, so Team Wertz took a day trip to the Isle of Palms and Charleston.

Four people are standing on a beach near the water with a pier in the background.

An exciting and hectic 2026 ahead

I was thinking this morning about goals and themes for 2026, but as I thought through my plans, I realized that 2026 is going to be a big year for me and my family.

I just made the move from an iPhone 12 Pro to an iPhone 17. Lots of advancements over the last 5 years.

Christmas morning.

A family in pajamas are sitting around a Christmas tree with presents, in a cozy room decorated for the holidays.