When Might Is Wrong
Pick Of The Week – 5th January 2026
This newsletter is a curated cornucopia featuring some of the best of Medium and Substack, and the wider world, rumoured to exist outside of these platforms.
Please note that in view of the impact of AI on the writing community, Eco has a stringent “No AI-content” policy, and will seek to actively avoid any articles we consider to be partly or fully generated by AI, and not feature authors believed to be using it in this way again. We are fully committed to promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion. In support of our aims and objectives, 10% of earnings from this series will be donated to Greenpeace.🌈
This newsletter is currently published free on Substack, but if you would like to support us please do pay to subscribe.
Sponsors – a link to donors and paying Substack subscribers 🦄 will appear here:
Ecosia; The Environmental Transport Association; Mary Grindeland; Writer Chick With A Ukulele; Adéla Valčíková; Rob Moir;
Pick of Medium – (advisory allergy note – may contain poetry)
Anu Maheshwari comments on the illegal attack on Venezuela:
https://medium.com/@anumaheshwari2020/might-is-right-us-occupation-of-venezuela-b553381e9ca2
Carlo Zeno sets some ambitious goals:
https://medium.com/never-stop-writing/2026-writing-goals-bddfce405c2c
Pallvi quits being “cool”:
https://medium.com/quirky-rants/i-quit-being-the-cool-girl-7f5986027946
Grace Kelly was loved by a father she never met:
https://medium.com/gracetakesnotes/a-box-within-a-box-within-a-box-0114be750c2e
Barry Robinson won’t be playing the blame game:
https://medium.com/infinite-impulse/why-i-will-not-play-the-blame-game-ec7c64f39e7c
Adela Valcikova rejects resolutions for something more real:
https://medium.com/@adelavalcikova/new-year-new-me-bcd8bac4f72e
Pocketboo advocates human writing:
https://medium.com/activated-thinker/5-clear-signs-youre-reading-real-human-writing-76dc033e3ddf
Iqra Arshad seeks slow connection:
https://medium.com/catharsis-chronicles/the-effort-we-forget-to-make-cdfd9c4805d7
Leonard Tillerman ignores the bucket list:
https://medium.com/infinite-impulse/forget-about-making-a-bucket-list-a415d6847b3c
Dr Seema Patel has fun with AI:
https://medium.com/ewe-lambs/fun-with-alexa-and-chatgpt-ab4dba4a012a
Archana describes a self-discovery through writing:
https://medium.com/introvert-ink/how-i-rediscovered-myself-through-writing-080da2ce080e
Roz Warren does a reverse flounce:
https://medium.com/all-about-m/yo-tony-stubblebine-im-back-6bfc3ce5037f
Tip of the week –
Earn while sleeping recommends Pocketboo:
https://medium.com/@hipocketboo/5-habits-help-people-earn-while-sleeping-2a86fd59e445
Similarly, Wes Pearce highlights the importance of digital products:
Pick of Substack:
Ellie Leonard highlights the reality of low pay in the US:
Murphy tackles toilet troubles:
https://substack.com/home/post/p-182395611
Sean Corcoran explores the pain of an addict relapsing:
Viktor Kravchuk continues reporting from Ukraine as another year of war starts:
The wider world:
Britain has a problem with a growing deer population:
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c9d93xzey70o
A nature recovery scheme is taking shape in Northumberland (UK):
French ski resorts are being abandoned as the snowline creeps higher:
There is a risk of “unlivable cities” in some parts of the world:
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cp9kp2kx329o
Even after the Fukushima disaster and with its history of nuclear strikes Japan is still tied to nuclear power:
Holding onto hope amid the polycrisis:
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/dec/31/polycrisis-world-care-challenge-2025-courage
Political News
The lasting impact of US political chaos:
https://www.theguardian.com/law/ng-interactive/2025/dec/25/how-donald-trump-killed-international-law
AI News
AI may be damaging our thinking ability:
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2025/dec/26/ai-dark-ages-enlightenment
This article includes a call for governments to take control of AI while they still can:
Tech News
Scientists are developing carebots – this feature explains the future in store:
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c9wdzyyglq5o
Life Hack of the Week –
Some well-being tips for the New Year -
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c7v06q91v31o
https://www.bbc.co.uk/food/articles/psychologist_positive_diet
Life’s too short- some writers give their advice on this subject:
Ripton Green shares a healthy routine:
https://medium.com/write-a-catalyst/how-a-simple-walking-habit-keeps-me-fit-0b46acee5998
Quote of the Week:
“Be mindful. Be grateful. Be positive. Be true. Be kind.”
― Roy T. Bennett
Joke of the Week:
(Health warning – swallow coffee before reading)
“The Forest Commission has missed its tree-planting targets for three years in a row. The Government has promised to carry out a root and branch review.”
You don’t need a parachute to go skydiving. You need a parachute to go skydiving twice.
Two friends down the pub:
Fred:”Thanks for introducing me to minimalism.”
Bill: “It’s the least I could do.”
Did you know?
New Year’s Day is the most common “birthday” in the world. A huge number of people—especially in countries where exact birth records were historically lost or never kept—are officially registered as being born on 1 January, not because they were, but because it was used as a default placeholder date. So every New Year, millions of people technically turn a year older at the same time, whether or not it’s true.
Word of the Week:
karoshi – a Japanese word meaning to die from burnout at work.
Clip of the Week:
Sailors saved:
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/videos/cj6wew4958eo
As always, thank you for reading, and enjoy your day.
Editor’s comment: It is noted that the authors featured above have not consented in advance to their inclusion - I have assumed that authors appreciate a mention and sharing of your work – but if you do not wish to be featured please let me know and apologies.
Thank you so much for always supporting writers, John.
May you have a wonderful week ahead.
A public service