The Daily Valet. - 10/13/23, Friday
✔️ Are You Scared?
Friday, October 13th Edition
By Cory Ohlendorf, Valet. Editor
Wishing you all nothing but good luck today.
Today’s Big Story
What’s Up With Friday the 13th?
The famously unlucky date is even more freaky when it hits in October
Are you superstitious? I sort of am, but have never been all that bothered by Friday the 13th. But if you're more of a believer on the woo-woo scale, then today might be the most frightful day of the year—it's Friday the 13th. And it's Friday the 13th in October, the spookiest month of all. After all, there's a whole slasher movie franchise built around this most unlucky of days.People take this stuff seriously. Building developers and hoteliers have been known to avoid labeling the 13th floor as such, some airlines don't have a Row 13 and plenty of couples have avoided marrying on a Friday if it falls on the doomed date. But where'd this superstition come from? Is it really so bad?While the exact roots are murky, historians say there are several theories as to why fear of this specific date took hold in parts of Europe and North America. Dr. Phil Stevens, a retired anthropology professor from the University at Buffalo and author of an upcoming book Rethinking the Anthropology of Magic and Witchcraft: Inherently Human, told USA Today that he likes to think of the superstition around Friday the 13th as an example of magical thinking. He says that magical thinking is when someone believes there is a causal relationship between two things that are otherwise unrelated. For example, Friday and 13 together take on a different quality when they fall on the same day.According to the New York Times, the number 13 has long been linked to ill fortune in mythology and religion. In one Norse tale, a dinner party of 12 gods derails when Loki, the god of mischief, shows up uninvited. The number also represents betrayal at the biblical Last Supper that Jesus shares with his disciples, with Judas Iscariot joining as the 13th guest. Executions and sentencings were also sometimes carried out on Fridays in North America, making the day known as “Hangman's Friday,” and adding a macabre darkness to the date.Scientists agree that superstitious beliefs like fear of Friday the 13th have only the power we give them— but that's not nothing. A study published in the journal Psychological Science asked participants to perform a number of tasks including games and puzzles, with or without the benefit of a “lucky charm.” In one experiment, participants were asked to golf using a “regular” ball or a “lucky” ball and their performance was measured. Those players who hit the lucky ball did considerably better than those who used a regular ball, even though the balls were exactly the same. Which is to say, this day is what you make it, so have some fun.
FYI:
There's one group that finds Friday the 13th incredibly lucky: Tattoo artists. Many shops run special promotions charging steeply discounted prices to get work done.
Israel Aims to End Hamas Rule
But Humanitarian groups are issuing increasingly dire warnings
Israel's army said Thursday that it would seek the end of Hamas in Gaza as airstrikes on the besieged enclave targeted the group's senior leaders and caused widespread civilian casualties. Six days of airstrikes have left more than 300,000 Palestinians homeless, with two million residents facing critical shortages of food, water and fuel, while Israeli troops prepared on Thursday for a possible ground invasion aimed at permanently changing the status quo—in marked contrast with past incursions that left Hamas in place.Hamas' attack was unprecedented. Since its formation more than three decades ago, the armed, hard-line Islamist group has been a major presence in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. What did Hamas aim to gain by its brazen attack on Israeli civilians? NPR spoke with several experts for their take. But Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari, a spokesman for the Israel Defense Forces, said in a televised briefing Thursday that Israel would no longer allow Hamas to exist as an entity next door.Humanitarian groups are issuing increasingly dire warnings about what they're witnessing. Doctors Without Borders described conditions in Gaza's hospitals as “catastrophic.” Meanwhile, cities around the world, along with the U.S. Capitol complex, are enhancing security due to Hamas leadership's call for a global “Day of Rage” today, which also has the Israeli government on high alert.
Dig Deeper:
What is a kibbutz? NPR looks at the roots of Israel's communal villages that became the sites of atrocities and warfare.
New Plane Overhead Bins Could Be a Game-Changer
The new Airbus Airspace L Bins may be the answer travelers have been waiting for
If you ask me, the worst part of flying is the crush of people scrambling to get on the plane—despite the attempt at orderly boarding by groups. Why does this free-for-all always happen? Because the oversold flights mean that not everyone is getting the roller bag stowed in the overhead. And who can blame travelers for carrying on more than ever thanks to the last few years of hell that was checking, and often losing, a bag?But that could be changing soon. CNN reports that French aircraft maker Airbus has just unveiled a new design, dubbed the “Airspace L Bin.” Described as “specially shaped overhead compartments,” the new bins “promise to create 60% more cabin luggage space by allowing travelers to load their carry-on roller bags vertically instead of having to lay them flat.”And the best part? They’re designed to be retrofitted in just three to five days, meaning airlines could begin installing them almost immediately. The even better news is that there is, according to InsideHook, at least one airline already on board. German flag carrier Lufthansa has already agreed to start retrofitting 38 A320 aircraft with the new Airspace L Bins starting in 2025.
Meanwhile:
Japan Airlines’ new cabins come with ultra-spacious first-class suites but they've ditched the overhead bins.
Mushroom Jerky Is a Thing Now
It's a popular plant-based alternative because it gets a lot of things right
Mushrooms are clearly having a moment right now—popping up in everything from teas and elixirs to chocolates and a slew of restaurant menus—and for good reason. The little fungi are extremely healthy for you being low-calorie, fat-free and packed with nutrients. Mushrooms are an excellent source of antioxidants and may also help lower cholesterol and reduce the risk of heart disease.If you want a really cool way to enjoy them, try mushroom jerky. It's a meat-free take on old school beef jerky, which makes a lot of sense, really. They've got a nice, toothsome texture and are already bursting with complex umami flavors, meaning you don't have to rely on a lot of salt or other additives to flavor it.According to The Takeout, mushrooms are high in fat, which not only produces a less tough and more luxurious texture, “you also get a more robust and luscious taste, because more fat means more flavor.” Meati, an alt-meat made from mushroom root, recently launched their version of jerky, which joins other ambitious plant-based jerky makers like Louisville Vegan Jerky Co, Pan's Mushroom Jerky, Savory Wild and Beyond Meat. Just search on Amazon and you'll see how many brands and flavor combos we're dealing with. And this is just the beginning.
Make Your Own:
Tasting Table has a recipe for some chewy, slightly crispy portobello jerky.
In Other News
Picketers were disappointed by the setback, but “holding strong” to their demands.
Senator Menendez Has Now Been Accused of Being an Unregistered Agent of Egypt’s Government in Updated Indictment
Have you heard about ...
A Weekend Pairing
‘The Fall of the House of Usher’ + an Apple Garibaldi Cocktail
Modern-day horror maestro Mike Flanagan is gearing up to present his latest (and last) series for Netflix with The Fall of the House of Usher, streaming today. Adapted loosely from a string of works from Edgar Allan Poe, the series is set in the world of Big Pharma. The story focuses on the wealthy Usher family, headed by a set of siblings (played by Bruce Greenwood and Mary McDonnell) who oversee a pharmaceutical company specializing in addictive drugs. However, the monstrously rich brood gets their comeuppance when a mysterious demon named Verna (Carla Gugino) seeks the death of the Usher heirs.As several reviews have pointed out, it's Succession meets The Tell-Tale Heart—a story of vengeance, power, betrayal and bloody parts. And that can be a very good thing, especially for Spooky Season. As rogerebert.com points out, in a month filled with “surprisingly lackluster new streaming shows and films for horror fans, this is a highlight.” And Variety notes that even non-horror fans can appreciate this one, since the show is “more sinister than chilling.”
Pair It With
I wanted a sherry cocktail, inspired by another Poe tale, The Cask of Amontillado. The Apple Garibaldi by Punch balances manzanilla sherry and blanc vermouth with fresh green apple juice and gin. The result is a little eerie-looking, but that’s the point, right?
Also Worth a Watch:
Shopping
What We’re Buying
A nylon tote bag
Besides innovative shoe designs, Merrell offers some reliable accessories. This canvas nylon bag is stocked with pockets and a padded sleeve to stash your laptop and keep all your belongings secure and safe from inclement weather.
Get It:
Trailhead tote bag, $45 / $29.99 by Merrell
Morning Motto
Never forget how far you’ve come.
▾
Follow:
Share today’s motto:
