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Hey, Cheddheads. Our good friends at The Rundown are still paying Cheddar a whole dollar for every single on of you who clicks on this link or the link in the ad below. Personally, I'd be grateful if you did so because a dollar is a dollar, and who knows? You might even learn something about AI into the bargain. We always appreciate your support, and seriously: thank you for clicking! |
You're Getting on My Neufchâtels |
Neufchâtel, as we all know, is one of the oldest cheeses in France, dating back to the 6th Century. It's a bit like brie but sold in heart-shaped boxes, voila: |
 | That's a lovely boite de fromage, non? |
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These evoke the Nirvana song, "Heart Shaped Box," about a battle of wills in a relationship when the other person is obsessed with you. We've all been there. The chorus famously complained about being "forever in debt to your priceless advice" and sounds like it was written by an unhappy man, which (checks notes) it was. Speaking of priceless advice, President Trump is starting to look like he might be forever in debt to a certain somebody's, and it could be grating on his nerves just a little. Today's cheddlines, meanwhile, include a variety of irritations, not all of which involve a bilingual cheese pun via grunge music. But mon dieu, tell me if you come across a better cheese pun this week, and I will bow down before it. |
Today's Cheddlines You Need2Know |
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—Matt Davis, Need2Know Chedditor |
P.S. We've got a robot bicycle teaching itself to do tricks on the 'gram. |
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Quote of the Day |
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Should You Check Your 401(k) Today? |
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(nope) |
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Federal employees are facing continued uncertainty following Elon Musk's ultimatum requiring them to justify their jobs or face termination, despite some Trump administration officials suggesting the request was voluntary. The contradiction has caused confusion across government agencies, with mixed responses from the likes of the U.S. Treasury and Pentagon. |
Musk, supported by President Trump, sent an email over the weekend requesting federal employees to list their weekly accomplishments. He warned that a failure to respond would be deemed as a resignation. Despite the Office of Personnel Management advising employees that responding was optional, Musk doubled down on Monday, giving federal employees "another chance" on X. |
 | Elon Musk @elonmusk |  |
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Subject to the discretion of the President, they will be given another chance. Failure to respond a second time will result in termination. |  Matt Walsh @MattWalshBlog
Fire any federal worker who didn't answer the email. Fire any who complained publicly about the email. Fire any who complained privately about the email. Fire any who did anything but cheerfully and promptly answer it. |
| | | 12:06 AM • Feb 25, 2025 | | | | | | 94.7K Likes 12.7K Retweets | 9.42K Replies |
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More than 20 civil service employees resigned Tuesday from Musk's Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), saying they were refusing to use their technical expertise to "dismantle critical public services." |
"We swore to serve the American people and uphold our oath to the Constitution across presidential administrations," the 21 staffers wrote in a joint resignation letter, a copy of which was obtained by The Associated Press. "However, it has become clear that we can no longer honor those commitments." |
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Start learning AI in 2025 |
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Everyone talks about AI, but no one has the time to learn it. So, we found the easiest way to learn AI in as little time as possible: The Rundown AI. |
It's a free AI newsletter that keeps you up-to-date on the latest AI news, and teaches you how to apply it in just 5 minutes a day. |
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What if our little blue planet wasn't the only one with a story of water and potentially life? A groundbreaking study now suggests that Mars, known for its barren vistas, was once home to sandy beaches, much like Earth. |
A Chinese rover, part of a mission that landed on the red Martian surface in 2021, has been crucial in unveiling this surprising chapter of our planetary neighbor's history. In its yearlong exploration, from May 2021 to 2022, the rover roamed what is believed to be an ancient shoreline, dating back roughly four billion years. |
During a time when the climate on Mars was a much warmer embrace than the frigid winds we know today, the rover detected underground formations that defy expectations. Thick layers, images revealed, are sloped akin to the way sand might layer where sea meets land below our ocean's ripples. |
"The structures don't look like sand dunes. They don't look like an impact crater. They don't look like lava flows. That's when we started thinking about oceans," Michael Manga, a professor of earth and planetary science at the University of California, Berkeley, told the BBC. |
This realization marks a monumental shift in our understanding of the Martian landscape and its ancient secrets. If the researchers' findings are accurate, then these Martian beaches bear the story of a large, ice-free ocean. Such a body of water would have not only transformed the climate but also carved the land, perhaps nurturing environments where life could spark. If there were beaches, there were probably lifeguards, which brings us to our main point. This video: |
 | Baywatch Remastered | Opening titles in HD |
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From @cheddar |
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Eli Lilly has announced plans to adjust pricing and dosing options for its obesity drug, Zepbound. It aims to enhance patient access and combat the lure of cheaper alternatives. |
Originally available in injectable pens at around $1,000 monthly, the company rolled out vials in lower doses (2.5 mg and 5 mg) at $399 and $549, respectively, last year. Despite aims to broaden access, the move faced criticism for remaining costly, especially as these vials are marketed to self-paying patients and not covered by insurance. |
Addressing affordability and dosage flexibility, Lilly will now reduce prices to $349 for 2.5 mg and $499 for 5 mg vials and introduce higher doses (7.5 mg and 10 mg) at $599 and $699 with a promotional offer for the first two fills at $499. |
$349 is only $49 more than an Equinox gym membership, to be fair. Although to describe it as "affordable" is a stretch, even for the richest among us. |
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Joann, the well-known fabric and craft retailer, has announced that all its stores are set to close following a transfer of ownership. After filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy for the second time in a year, Joann was auctioned off to a new ownership group comprising retail liquidator GA Group and Joann's lenders. |
The closure comes after an initial announcement of shutting down "approximately 500" of its over 800 locations across the U.S. As a part of the transition, Joann will conduct going-out-of-business sales at each store location. |
I was chatting about Joann with my editor Sydney, and we agreed that anybody who turns to sewing for solace might potentially be a little sad. Sewers, are you sad, or are we projecting? I hope we're projecting because I think Sydney might be a little mean about it (I'll show you mean! Cross-stitch me a list about five things you accomplished last week —Ed.). Sydney also thinks that people who "own dogs" might be "bored." I could not disagree more and am wondering if Sydney might be a secret fascist. What do you think? |
The GA Group, now in control, has a history with Joann, having assisted in the acquisition of former competitor House of Fabrics in the late '90s and helped expand Joann's store footprint from 2006 to 2016. Plans are now in place to roll out a "multimillion-dollar retention plan" for Joann's 19,000 employees, aiming to ease their transition out of a job with initiatives such as job fairs. I'm sure those job fairs will be wonderfully optimistic occasions, too. |
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The iconic American diner chain has implemented a temporary surcharge on egg-based dishes at some locations in response to the countrywide egg shortage caused by an ongoing bird flu outbreak. |
Prices have surged as the supply of eggs has decreased since early 2022 when the bird flu began affecting flocks. Denny's has made pricing decisions on a local level, considering the regional impact of the shortage. |
U.S. restaurants have been experiencing price hikes as avian flu has resulted in the culling of more than 140 million egg-laying birds since 2022, with over 18.9 million culled in the last month alone. The average cost of a dozen grade-A eggs has risen significantly, with further increases anticipated. Waffle House, another popular diner chain, has also added a temporary surcharge on eggs. |
The egg price surge is impacting bakeries, too, with some reporting unprecedented cost increases and needing to raise menu prices on egg-centric items. My editor, Sydney, was telling her mom — who owns a bagel shop — that she should do this, too, whether or not she was affected by rising egg prices (Okay, now my mom is in this? That's it — I deem this as your resignation — Ed.). Major retailers like Costco and Trader Joe's are limiting egg purchases per customer. This shortage has led businesses to seek eggs from abroad, with Turkey noticeably increasing its egg exports to the U.S. Additionally, there have been instances of individuals attempting to smuggle eggs into the U.S. from Mexico, prompting fines from Customs and Border Protection. |
With the time required to rebuild flocks, the Department of Agriculture predicts egg prices could rise an additional 20% this year, affecting businesses and consumers for the foreseeable future. Have you considered going vegan for a while? No? |
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