The Daily Valet. - 10/8/19, Tuesday

✔️ Does This Tote Bag Make Me Look Gay?

Tuesday, October 8th Edition

Cory Ohlendorf, Editor in Chief of Valet.

If you need me, I’ll be listening to podcasts over here in the corner.

Cory Ohlendorf , Editor ⋯ @coryohlendorf

Today's edition is presented by

Today’s Big Story

It’s Not Easy Being Green

“Does this tote bag make me look gay?”

New research has found that people question the sexuality of men who engage in environmentally friendly behaviors. Seriously. Stuff like washing out items to be recycled, reusing shopping bags or taking your own tote bags to the store. This is news to me. But I am a gay man who has a stack of reusable tote bags in a drawer by my front door.

The findings are part of a study published in the journal Sex Roles, led by Pennsylvania State University psychologist Janet Swim. What they found was that engaging in the "wrong" type of environmentalism can lead people to wonder about your sexuality, and perhaps even avoid socializing with you.

"Behaviors don't just help us accomplish something concrete; they also signal something about who we are," said Swim, announcing the findings. "Line-drying clothes, or keeping tires at proper pressures, may signal that we care about the environment, but if those green behaviors are gendered, they may signal other things as well."

Are we really living in an age when basic responsibilities are diminishing to a man’s masculinity? Can’t a dude crush a beer can on his head and then toss it in a recycling bin? What’s gay about that? But the problem here isn’t the men, at all. It’s society as a whole. Is it demanding so little of guys that any concern for the Earth or future generations is seen as less manly?

Of course, the worry here isn’t that some gay dude will notice your tote bag and grab your ass. It’s that if a straight guy is seen as gay, he cuts his chances of attracting women. But that’s bullshit. Men have adopted all sorts of things that were once primarily the provenance of the fairer sex—yoga, moisturizer and bags slung over our shoulders. And if you do all of those and still love the ladies, trust me, the ladies will love you right back.

Isn’t it time we give up on these old school fears? Let's just accept that nothing, not even tote bags or skipping meat one day a week, are a signifier of a man’s sexuality in 2019.

Politics May Be Bad for Your Health (Surprise!)

Americans blame politics for stress, depression, lost sleep and other problems

Americans are more stressed than ever and politics is a major cause, according to psychologists, psychiatrists and recent data, reports the Wall Street Journal. (I'll pause to let the shock wear off ...)

A study published in September in the journal PLOS One found that politics is a source of stress for 38% of Americans. “The major takeaway is that there are tens of millions of Americans who see politics as exacting a toll on their social, psychological, emotional and even physical health,” says Kevin Smith, lead author of the study.

That's essentially four out of every ten Americans reporting such serious side effects as sleep disturbances, post-traumatic stress relapses and dental problems from grinding their teeth. Which kind of makes me wonder about the other six of that equation—who are these carefree souls unencumbered with thoughts of political consequences. One might argue that they're uninformed while another might say that ignorance is, quite literally, bliss.

↦ Six Ways to instantly stress less throughout your day.

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Not All Robots Are Gunning for an Apocalypse

A paralyzed man walks again thanks to his robot exoskeleton

We hear so much about the dangers of automation and jokes about the coming robot apocalypse, but the machines aren't all bad. Some, like your Roomba, are just looking to help.

And this is a very cool story: A man in France, who's paralyzed from the shoulders down, is able to walk again by donning a robotic exoskeleton suit.

The pioneering four-limb robotic system utilizes a series of sensors implanted near the brain which send signals to the robotic system, moving the patient’s legs and arms. Using only his brain signals, he was able to operate, stand up and walk around. And while the system isn't ready for clinical applications yet, researchers call the early results "promising." I'd say they're damn near miraculous.

↦ More Innovation: A blind engineer has built a smart cane that has Google Maps and Bluetooth built-in to help guide you.

The Best Podcast App

And an expert guide to the rest

I listen to podcasts. You listen to podcasts. We start some (admittedly annoying) sentences with "there's actually a really interesting podcast about this ..."

But what's the best way to listen to them? Don't ask me. I'm not always an early adopter when it comes to these things. (Yes, I have the new iPhone 11 Pro, but I shamefully still have a Yahoo email account.) But, like most, I tend to listen to my podcasts on my phone. Vulture raises the question for any pod newcomer and even some veteran listeners: What app is the best?

Their top choice? Pocket Casts. "The app has a cozy look and user experience, featuring a main tab listing all of your subscriptions as a satisfying scrolling wall of tiles. It’s easy to pick up and learn, gets you listening to podcasts quickly without having to think too much about it, and it doesn’t bug out all that much."

↦ The Five best podcasts apps, according to Vulture editors.

Other Things We’re Talking About Today

Baking for your buddies

Who makes the best denim jackets?

The “Succession” theme, remixed by Pusha T

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Sales We’re Eyeing

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