This is the last day of the shortest month of the year. The news today is enough to make an otherwise OK adult cry. POTUS is bombing Iran. Major Senate Democratic primary in Texas. Bad weather strikes again. Already repairing my fur baby’s new toy. Eye infection, again. Why do we think happiness is so all-fired important? RIP Neil Sedaka. I discovered GrubHub. Don’t forget to support public radio and television. Only 1,056 more days. 

Wild Cooking Woman  2/28/26

I asked Copilot about happiness, and this is what it said:

Long before it was a political or economic goal, happiness was a philosophical and spiritual pursuit:

• Greece (4th century BCE) — Aristotle defined happiness (eudaimonia) as living virtuously and fulfilling one’s potential. Epicurus emphasized pleasure and tranquility.

• India and China (6th–4th century BCE) — Buddhism, Hinduism, Confucianism, and Taoism linked happiness to spiritual enlightenment, balance, and ethical living.

• These traditions saw happiness as a personal and moral ideal, not a societal entitlement

The 18th century marked a turning point when happiness became a political and social goal:

• John Locke argued that governments should protect “life, liberty, and property”—later adapted by Jefferson to include “the pursuit of happiness.”

• Utilitarianism (Jeremy Bentham, 1780s) proposed that society should aim for “the greatest happiness of the greatest number.”

• Happiness was reframed as a measurable outcome of good governance, education, and economic progress.

This shift made happiness a collective value, not just a personal aspiration.

In the 20th and 21st centuries, happiness became a metric for national success:

• Post-WWII — Psychological research began measuring subjective well-being.

• 1970s–present — Countries like Bhutan pioneered “Gross National Happiness.” The UN and OECD now track happiness globally.

• Today — Governments, corporations, and schools increasingly treat happiness as a strategic goal, influencing workplace culture, urban design, and public health.

While happiness is now a global concern, its meaning varies:

• Western cultures often equate happiness with autonomy, achievement, and pleasure.

• Eastern cultures emphasize harmony, community, and spiritual fulfillment.

Critics warn that the modern “happiness imperative” can lead to avoidance of discomfort, pressure to appear happy, and neglect of deeper values like justice or resilience. (more)

Is America as divided as we think?

YouGov asked Americans to place their political viewpoints on a seven-point scale: far-left, left, center-left, center, center-right, right, far-right. The most common way Americans describe their political viewpoint is center (21% of U.S. adult citizens), followed by right (17%) and left (15%). Smaller shares describe themselves as center-right (10%), center-left (9%), far-left (9%), and far-right (5%). 14% of Americans aren’t sure where they fall on this scale.

From the Washington Post: Republicans in Texas, and nationwide, are looking to boost Rep. Jasmine Crockett (D-Texas) in the closing days of the state’s Democratic Senate primary.

The United States and Israel attacked Iran on Saturday in a major assault that threatened a broader regional conflict, with President Trump vowing to devastate the country’s military, eliminate its nuclear program, and bring about a change in its government. (more)

Is your oven dirty? Mine set off the smoke alarm last night!  I covered the spill with baking powder and salt, opened all the windows, and used compressed air to clear the smoke detectors. We’ve all seen the oven cleaning hacks on social media — but which ones actually get the job done? Our editors put these viral methods to the test. (more)

On my March reading table…

• On Bullshit – Harry G. Frankfurt
• Spiritual Hygiene – Iyanla Vanzant
• Atmosphere – Taylor Jenkins Reid
• Blindfold Game – Dana Stabenow
• The God of the Woods – Liz Moore
• Black AF History – Michael Harriot
• Better to Rest – Dana Stabenow
• Stolen in Death – J D Robb

Scouting America—formerly Boy Scouts of America—agreed to end diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives to maintain support from the Department of Defense. They did not give in on changing back to “Boy” scouts, keeping more than 200,000 girl members. 

The U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) has announced a recall on more than 650,000 units of plastic water bottles that were bottled “under insanitary conditions.” Valley Springs Artesian Gold, LLC, of Wisconsin, initiated the recall on Feb. 6, and the FDA classified it as Class II, meaning drinking the water “may cause temporary or medically reversible adverse health consequences,” on Feb. 26. The water was only distributed in Illinois and Wisconsin. (more)

In the 1990s, I worked in a building that didn’t have any restrooms for women, only for men. So on alternate floors, the men’s toilets were repurposed for women, complete with urinals.

Vanilla Wacky Cake

Ingredients

Cake

• Baking spray with flour
• 1 3/4 cup (about 7 1/2 oz.) all-purpose flour
• 1 cup granulated sugar
• 1 tsp. baking soda
• 1/4 tsp. kosher salt
• 1 cup tap water
• 1/3 cup neutral oil (such as vegetable or canola)
• 1 Tbsp. white distilled vinegar
• 2 tsp. vanilla extract

Vanilla Buttercream

• 3/4 cup (6 oz.) unsalted butter, at room temperature
• 1 1/2 tsp. vanilla extract
• 2 cups (8 oz.) powdered sugar
• 1 Tbsp. heavy whipping cream
• 1/4 tsp. kosher salt
• White candy sprinkles (optional)

Instructions

• Preheat oven to 350°F, and coat an 8-inch square baking pan with baking spray. 
• Whisk together flour, sugar, baking soda, and salt in prepared pan until combined.
• Combine water, oil, vinegar, and vanilla in a liquid measuring cup, then pour over flour mixture in pan. Stir mixture
  until just a few dry streaks remain, and immediately transfer to preheated oven.
• Bake until a wooden pick inserted into center comes out clean with a few moist crumbs, 20 to 25 minutes. Let cool
  completely in pan on a wire rack, 2 hours.
• Prepare the Vanilla Buttercream: Beat butter and vanilla in a stand mixer fitted with a whisk attachment on
  medium speed until light and fluffy, about 2 minutes, stopping to scrape down sides of bowl as needed.
• Beat in powdered sugar, 1/2 cup at a time, then beat in cream and salt until smooth, about 1 minute.
  Spread Buttercream evenly over the cooled cake, and garnish with sprinkles, if using.

I’m back. There is lots of news, and some of it is good! I remain disappointed in many of our “leaders” and their pi*s-poor choices. I am encouraged to see progressive and centrist politicians in Texas.  I remember the glory days of Ann Richards and Barbara Jordan. We can’t go back, but we can aspire to reach heights rather than sink to the lowest common denominator.   The Olympics have been amazing, an antidote to the politics at home. Epstein to the current president is like Monica was to Clinton: inescapable. Don’t forget to support public radio and television. We all need them, especially those of us who live in more rural regions. I am craving Krispy Kreme but the nearest ones are in Pearland or Humble. Sigh. Turn back the clock to 2022, please. Only 1,064 more days.

Kintsugi  2/20/26

What is the most important thing you can do to be happier? Ask Dr. Laurie Santos at Yale. I took one of her classes on the science of happiness and learned plenty. Laurie Santos teaches “The Science of Well-Being,” the most popular class on Yale’s campus, and hosts “The Happiness Lab,” a podcast that dives into the science of what makes people happier.  (The video below is very long.)

Do you still get snail mail? Is it mostly junk?  Would you like it to stop? Here’s how. 

This is from An Elegy for My Washington Post by Carlos Lozado.

The Seven Principles for the Conduct of a Newspaper

Key Dates for the 2025 Tax Year (Filed in 2026)

Do you have someone in your life who lives alone or far away?  Are you going on vacation because you need a break from caregiving? (yes) Here are some free ways to help check on them while you’re away:

• https://buddyhelp.org/     Offers free emotional support through volunteer listeners and also provides access to professional online therapy.
• https://www.snugsafe.com/    A free app that sends daily check-in reminders. If you don’t respond, your emergency contacts are notified.
• https://checkinbee.com/     Sends daily text messages asking for a simple reply. If no response, designated contacts are notified.