The Daily Valet. - 10/13/20, Tuesday
✔️ Two Steps Forward, One Step Back
Tuesday, October 13th Edition
Prime Day is like a low-key holiday where you buy yourself gifts ... and I’m okay with that.
Cory Ohlendorf , Editor ⋯ @coryohlendorf
Today's edition is presented by
Today’s Big Story
Vaccine Trial Paused After Mystery Illness
Johnson & Johnson is now investigating the cause of a sick volunteer
A late-stage study of Johnson & Johnson’s COVID-19 vaccine has been paused while the company investigates whether a study participant’s “unexplained illness” is related to the shot.
According to the Wall Street Journal, the pause announced Monday affects all trials of J&J’s vaccine, including a large Phase 3 trial that began in September and aimed to enroll as many as 60,000 people in the U.S. and several other countries.
This is common during trials, of course, but unfortunately, this is at least the second such hold to occur among several vaccines that have reached large-scale final tests. And this vaccine is the most promising, since it doesn’t need to be frozen, and it would need just one dose instead of two.
“It’s actually a good thing that these companies are pausing trials when these things come up,” Dr. Phyllis Tien, an infectious disease physician told the New York Times. Trial pauses are often lifted quickly after the illness is investigated and deemed not to be a serious risk. Which is what I hope happens here.
Because this pandemic shows no sign of slowing as America edges closer to its eight millionth confirmed case of the coronavirus. Meanwhile, Idaho, South Dakota and Wisconsin now have the three highest rates of new infections in the country, and Texas is close to eclipsing California as the state with the most confirmed cases.
Even worse, disillusioned American doctors are heading to New Zealand in search of better working conditions and a break from the “anti-science philosophy” that has hampered the U.S. response. “America will suffer an exodus of professionals to other countries that have responded better, with economies that have recovered faster,” Dr. Judy Melinek, a California doctor making the move, told CNBC.
↦ Dig Deeper: Who should get America's COVID-19 vaccine first? A new framework recommends which groups of workers should be at the front of the vaccine line.
Barrett Vows a Fair Approach as a Justice
The takeaways from Monday's Senate hearing on Supreme Court nominee
The first day of confirmation hearings for President Donald Trump's Supreme Court nominee Amy Coney Barrett featured plenty of fiery speeches—many of them aimed at next month's presidential election rather than the nominee herself, reports CNN.
Judiciary Chairman Lindsey Graham acknowledged the elephant in the room at the outset of a four-day confirmation hearing process: Nobody's mind on the committee is going to be changed by what transpires in the Senate hearing room. "All Republicans will vote yes, and all Democrats will vote no."
Judge Barrett, a former Notre Dame law professor, appeals court judge and mother of seven, sat in silence for much of the day but tried to avoid being pulled into the political fray. Americans “deserve an independent Supreme Court that interprets our Constitution and laws as they are written,” she said.
Underscoring the Republicans’ confidence, Graham set an initial committee vote on the nomination for Thursday, the last day of hearings, reports the Associated Press. That would allow final approval by the panel for one week later and a vote for confirmation by the full Senate on Oct. 26—just in time to hear any legal challenges after the election.
↦ FYI: In 1985, 56% of Americans had high confidence in the high court, according to Gallup. But that figure has averaged in the high 30s lately.
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Trucks and SUVs Dominate the Market
Carmakers can’t keep the big boys in stock
You probably already knew this, but new car sales haven't been doing so hot this year. Between a pandemic forcing factories to press pause and a recession putting millions of people out of work, buying a new car isn't much of a priority.
But last month brought about a glimmer of hope for automakers, reports The Drive, as September was the best new car sales month since before the pandemic hit—all due to the big SUVs and trucks.
But why have they become so popular, especially these days? Believe it or not, there isn't just one answer to this question, it's multifaceted, and more complicated than you might expect.
According to Road Show, it's tied to our vanity, our need for ultimate power and hauling capability, not to mention the general versatility of a vehicle that can essentially be driven anywhere.
Space Shows Are Having a Moment
And there’s more on the way
From Away and Moonbase 8 to the animated Star Trek: Lower Decks, there seems to be a lot of stories set in space these days, right? Well here comes another one to throw onto the proverbial pile.
According to the Hollywood Reporter, HBO is developing a six-episode limited series called SpaceX, which will adapt the book Elon Musk: Tesla, SpaceX, and the Quest for a Fantastic Future to tell the story of the Tesla founder's side gig launching rockets into the outer atmosphere. Musk himself is not involved with the project, but Channing Tatum, of all people, is.
Tatum will act as executive producer of the limited series which will follow the eccentric businessman as he “pursues his lifelong dream of making humanity a multi-planetary species,” reports Vulture.
The description might sound a little dry ... but this is HBO, makers of Watchman and Chernobyl. They know how to make enticing limited series.
↦ Dig Deeper: Have you ever played around on the SpaceX site? There's a lot there to keep you busy.
In Other News
Other Things We’re Talking About Today
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Nootropics 101
An intro to the best supplements for ultimate brain health
We often take supplements like vitamins to ward off trouble down the road. But what if you could feel the effects in the here and now? That’s exactly what’s at the heart of the booming nootropic market. The popular supplements, which have been around since the ‘60s, are specifically designed to improve your brain function. But it seems lately, more and more people are trying them.
Of course, like with anything you put into your body, the ingredients matter—a lot. I recently got a chance to try Brain Drive, the new daily supplement by Momentous, a brand known for their transparency and high-potency hand-sourced ingredients. The first thing I noticed after consistently taking Brain Drive for two weeks? That I actually felt something. When you swallow a supplement, you do so in good faith hoping it’ll do its job, right? But an hour after taking Brain Drive I would notice a difference in my energy levels and focus. This isn't like some biohacker on a 5-Hour Energy caffeine buzz. No jittery high, just level-headed focus.
I was “in the zone,” and could handle everything thrown at me with a cool, calm confidence. Even on a particularly rough Monday, when a last-minute project was dropped in my lap, I could think clearly and stay happily on task. It feels like I've got extra neurons firing, because at the end of the two weeks, it was clear that I getting more done without the usual distractions that keep me from getting through my to-do list. That in and of itself feels like a success.
↦ Get It: $55 (subscribe and save 20%) by Momentous
Win Prime Day
The best strategies for getting the most out of Amazon’s two-day sale:
• Check back regularly to see what’s been discounted.
• Don’t assume just because it’s Prime Day, that Amazon has the best price. Both Target’s Deal Days and Walmart’s Big Save launch today too.
• Take advantage of their free month trial (and get complimentary shipping).
• Consider the Amazon Prime Rewards Visa Signature credit card. It gives you 5% cash back every time you shop on the site or get groceries at Whole Foods. And during the Prime Days, you’ll score up to 25% back.
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Morning Motto
Start your day with gratitude.
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That’s all for today...
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