My brain seems to work more quickly with this game lately.

Wordle 257 3/6

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As some might say, shit’s getting real.

Not giving up Wordle for Lent. Or blogging. But I’m pushing social media out of my orbit until Easter.

Wordle 256 3/6

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Didn’t get to this until after my work day was over.

Wordle 255 4/6

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Guess I’m giving up baseball for Lent. ☹️

Tom McTague in The Atlantic ($):

There can be something a little distasteful about Western onlookers (myself included) cheering on Ukrainians for a cause that our countries are not willing to join, a stance that risks raising the price of a peace that will be paid only with Ukrainian blood. Nevertheless, it is possible to recognize this, to be inspired by what Zelensky represents, and then to be shamed by his example.

(Going forward, a ($) will designate sources as subscription sites. I have four main go-to sites that are subscription-based: The New York Times, the Washington Post, The Atlantic, and the Los Angeles Times.)

Say what you will about Twitter; it can be invaluable for breaking news, if it’s curated well.

My Ukraine list on Twitter is now open to public followers after keeping it (like I keep all my curated Twitter lists) private.

And as C keeps reminding me, I used to have a page listing news sources and other publications many blogs ago, as a reference point during my Holy Weblog days. He still misses it. I’ll be creating a new one and posting it here sometime this week.

(Update: Here’s a new iteration of my old page of go-to news sites and blogs, which you’ll also find in the site navigation above.)

Power of elimination rules.

Wordle 254 3/6

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Jennifer Rubin in the Washington Post:

If we have been looking for something that might unify polarized, divided democracies, defending Ukraine (and by extension, freedom) from Russian shock troops might fit the bill. …

If Ukrainians are willing to assemble molotov cocktails and die for their country, maybe Americans can bestir themselves to vote — and insist that every legal voter gets access to the polls and every ballot gets counted. American voters might even rethink their priorities, putting defense of democracy at the top.

Perhaps appropriate for a Sunday.

Wordle 253 4/6

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Late posting yesterday’s Wordle. Felt like it could have been another strikeout.

Wordle 252 4/6

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I honestly thought I was going to have another 6/6 game.

Wordle 251 4/6

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Been steeped in Ukraine coverage and World War III-related insomnia and anxiety for the past day. After several years of studiously avoiding news for my mental health, I feel like I’ve reverted to my old newspaper wire editor days.

So, it’s time for a break.

Phew, indeed.

Wordle 250 6/6

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Forgot to post this one from yesterday.

Wordle 249 5/6

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I find I spend a lot more time between rows of letters. Honestly worried that this was going to be my first x/6 strikeout.

Wordle 248 3/6

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Not even Ivy Leaguers are immune to the anxiety plaguing today’s college students. Yale’s “happiness professor” has a front-row seat to it all:

“There’s an enormous culture around us of capitalism that’s telling us to buy things and a hustle-achievement culture that destroys my students in terms of anxiety. We’re also fighting cultural forces that are telling us, ‘You’re not happy enough; happiness could just be around the corner.’ Part of it’s all the information out there about happiness, which can be hard to sift through, but a lot of it is a deeper thing in our culture that seems to be leading us astray.”

Surprised nowadays when I can get it in three.

Wordle 247 3/6

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Few things lift my spirits like the first daffodils of the year — followed by the second, third, etc.

Definitely seems more challenging since the NYT takeover.

Wordle 246 3/6

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Currently reading: Aggressively Happy by Joy Marie Clarkson 📚

Looking to start logging my book reading (and audiobook listening) more often – largely to encourage myself to keep going rather than set books aside to doomscroll or feed dragons or send Pikmin to fight mushrooms.

“A blog is just a journal: a web log of what you’re thinking and doing. You can keep a log about anything you like; it doesn’t have to be professional or money-making. In fact, in my opinion, the best blogs are personal. There’s no such thing as writing too much: your voice is important, your perspective is different, and you should put it out there.” (Ben Werdmuller, “Everyone Should Blog")

“The priest said she spent more time in the adoration chapel than Jesus.”

This tweet made me smile. And yes, let’s all pray for Danda.