Wordle 3/15 "SPOILERS"

Wordle 1,365 3/6

⬜⬜⬜🟨🟨trial
⬜🟨🟨🟨🟩glade
🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩ladle

NY Times average 4.1 and Wordlebot in 4.

Federal workers protest DOGE cuts in Raleigh

Some folks are not going quietly.

https://ncnewsline.com/2025/03/09/federal-workers-protest-doge-cuts-in-raleigh-as-social-security-offices-set-to-close/

Hundreds attend Stand up for Science protest in Raleigh

on Friday, March 7th. Students and researchers from UNC, Duke, and NC State come together to fight against cuts to the heart of the Research Triangle

https://ncnewsline.com/2025/03/08/researchers-raleigh-protest-stand-up-for-science-trump-cuts/

DOGE cancels leases for 4 Federal offices in Greensboro

Wordle Feb 27 SPOILERS

Wordle 1,349 3/6

⬜⬜⬜⬜🟨trial
🟩🟩⬜⬜🟩loupe
🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩lodge

NY Times average 3.9 and Wordlebot in 3

Wordle Feb 23 Spoilers

Wordle 1,345 3/6

🟨🟨⬜⬜⬜trial
⬜⬜🟨🟨🟨short
🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩otter

NY Times average 4.0 and Wordlebot in 4.

Whew. Social Security deposit today

as expected. For the first time in a very long time, I could not get to sleep last night. My regular routine, with tidal sounds playing and breathing exercise did not work. I know it was anxiety about the SS direct deposit.
On the first of February, I had a surprise when I discovered my CSA survivor's annuity benefit had been reduced to $50. less than it had been in January! Turned out I hadn't noticed the small print in the annual notice that the gap health care premium --to supplement Medicare--paid from the annuity was going up by $50./mo, leaving me with just $5.95/mo increase from the COLA.
No adjustment to the deduction from SS for Medicare premium.

The type of anxiety I had last night is not healthy, and certainly not if it becomes chronic. Do you suppose the orange $hit bucket and his Nazi a$$hole realize that causing chronic anxiety in the public could result in greater use of health care services--thus reducing profits of health insurance companies -- than if they were to adopt strategies for change that didn't generate chronic anxiety? Of course that would require an appreciation of irony, something seldom found in autocrats who think only of themselves.

15.9% increase in health insurance premium

deducted from my CSA (Federal gov) survivor's benefit annuity, beginning with this month's payment.

I have been worried that with Musk and cronies access to OPM accounts whether my benefit that is direct deposit on the 1st of the month ( or first Monday when the first is on the weekend) would hit. I just checked it and was astonished to see my net increase after the COLA had declined to a paltry $5.95 over last year's payment. So I went on the website and checked the deduction for an increase in the health care premium. Last year the premium increase was $18.18/mo, which was 5.89% . This year the premium increase was $52.05/mo, which was a whopping 15.9% increase! WTF? That reduces my net benefit to $5.95/mo more than last year's benefit.
OPM does not send a notice of change in benefit if the only thing affecting the benefit is a change in health care premium. So, although I was relieved to see the benefit pending at all in my bank account, I was shocked to see it reduced to practically nothing more than the net benefit in December.
I will be writing my (Democratic) Congressional Representative today.

Le Creuset cookware on sale

I have a Le Creuset stock pot that survived our house fire in 2007. My neighbor cleaned it up for me--removing smoke stain is an ordeal--and I use it every winter to make soup.
About a week ago I saw the NY Times recipe for Boeuf Bourguignon reprinted, but it requires a Dutch oven. I've never had a good one. Discovered Le Creuset cookware on sale --serious sale --and decided to splurge. If you've ever wanted one of their pots or want to expand your collection, now's the time. I bought mine from Sur la Table (on-line) and it arrived yesterday. Looking forward to using it.

Any Outlander fans?

I only discovered the show just about two years ago. Then became a fan of the books. Follow discussion about the show and books on several forums.

If you'd given up the series --as some have after Seasons 5 and 6--come back to Season 7, particularly the second part which has been airing since late November. The latest episode, which dropped at midnight, is classic Outlander from the early seasons, with knockout performances from Sam Heughan and Caitriona Balfe as Jamie and Claire.