The Daily Valet. - 10/15/21, Friday

✔️ High Crimes

October 15, 2021

Friday, October 15th Edition

Cory Ohlendorf, Editor in Chief of Valet.

I’m just biding time until ‘Succession’ returns on Sunday.

Cory Ohlendorf, Editor ⋯ @coryohlendorf

Today’s edition is presented by

Today’s Big Story

The State of Drugs

As some areas decriminalize, others suffer harsh penalties

We’re currently living in a strange dichotomy when it comes to drugs. And what amounts to “drugs” in this day and age, for that matter.

More and more states are legalizing weed and now there are cities and states passing or considering psychedelic decriminalization. And FDA-approved psychedelic-assisted therapy is within reach—as close as around two years for psilocybin and MDMA, reports Vice.

At the same time, around the world, strict drug laws are resulting in stringent and often stupidly cruel punishments.

For instance, a 24-year-old British football coach has been jailed for 25 years in Dubai after police found a small amount of CBD vape oil in his car. The young man claims he was forced to sign a false confession to trafficking the drug, which is legal to vape in the UK but is illegal in the United Arab Emirates because it contains trace elements of THC, the psychoactive component of weed. The country is notorious for its ultra zero-tolerance stance on drug-related offenses.

The UAE is one of a collection of countries that hand out the death penalty for some drug offenses, although the last time it executed someone for a drug crime was 2016.

Meanwhile, a man was sentenced to death by hanging this week in Singapore after he was found with 2 pounds of cannabis. Currently, there are more than two dozen people in the city-state’s jails awaiting to be hanged for drug offenses.

↦ Dig Deeper: Psychedelic startups think ketamine, MDMA, and psilocybin could be a big business.

Biden Bets Big on Wind Power

The administration plans wind farms along nearly the entire U.S. coastline

The White House announced a plan to develop large-scale wind farms along nearly the entire coastline of the United States this week. It's the first long-term strategy from the government to produce electricity from offshore turbines.

The news comes as President Biden pushes to reduce fossil fuel use and looks to demonstrate America's climate commitments ahead of the G20 summit that starts in two weeks.

The administration aims to put the U.S. on track to add 30 gigawatts of energy capacity annually through offshore wind turbines by 2030. The BBC reports that China is aiming to achieve around 73GW by the same date.

Interior Secretary Deb Haaland said of the plan: “The Interior Department is laying out an ambitious road map as we advance the administration's plans to confront climate change, create good-paying jobs and accelerate the nation's transition to a cleaner energy future.”

↦ FYI: Biden has pledged to cut the nation's fossil fuel emissions by 50% from 2005 levels by 2030.

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Step Into Wes Anderson’s World

The filmmaker has designed a luxury Belmond train carriage

When it comes to instantly recognizable cinematic universes, no one does it quite like director Wes Anderson. And now you can enter his world.

The quirky filmmaker, known for his distinctively hued vintage whimsy, has entered into a chef's-kiss-perfect design partnership with luxury travel company Belmond. Which means you can now travel in an Anderson-designed train carriage aboard the world-famous Belmond British Pullman train (operating out of London's Victoria Station).

He, of course, maintained the 1950s-built Cygnus carriage's swan theme and art deco details, with silver leaf on the car's ceiling that creates a water-like reflection. Passengers sit in roomy wing chairs that are upholstered in an emerald green patterned fabric and encased in sturdy wood frames.

The train's first voyage departed this week, just ahead of the theatrical release of Anderson's latest film, The French Dispatch. Tickets begin at £400 (about $544.30) per person in the open dining car.

↦ Dig Deeper: Can't afford a ticket? Rewatch Anderson's best train-based film, The Darjeeling Limited.

A Weekend Pairing

Succession + Red Wine

HBO's Succession finally returns this Sunday. But the season two finale was more than two years and a pandemic ago, so it's understandable if you're a bit confused. That's why I suggest catching up with a few episodes over the weekend before Sunday's premiere. Or the AV Club can get you up to speed.

It sounds like the show will pick up right where they left us. Kendall, the treacherous son, has just sold out the ruthless patriarch Logan Roy to regulators for all kinds of abuses, systemic and personal. And it seems that public declaration has split the Roy family, and the show, in two. And I can't wait. This show has a little of everything for everyone: sharp dialogue and stylish wardrobes, scheming, emotional breakdowns, hilarious corporate screw-ups and casual cruelty. Variety says the series returns stronger than ever.

↦ Your Pairing:If you ever needed a lesson in the social signaling of wine, Succession is it. You couldn't count the scenes where wine is being poured or trays of Champagne are being passed around. Plus, there's something satisfying about savoring a rich red wine while watching wealthy people self-destruct. Louis M. Martini's Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon is a powerful wine with a soft texture that makes for a luxurious drinking experience.

In Other News

↦ FDA Panel Endorses Lower-Dose Moderna COVID Shot for Booster

↦ Eating Too Much Salt Is Making Americans Sick. Even a 12% Reduction Can Save Lives.

↦ 3 Life Goal Red Flags That Actually Prove You're More Successful Than You Think, Backed by Science

Other Things We’re Talking About Today

The new Bose speaker

This clever but sneaky student

Phone fidelity

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The New Shoes on Our Radar

↑ I've never met a suede and leather shoe that I didn't like, and these are no different ($298). The olive green just screams Fall and the versatility of it toeing the line of casual and dressy is the best. Cut from Horween suede, they're grounded with a comfortable camp sole. Rock these with your favorite navy chords or some pleated chinos for a laidback professorial look.

↦ Want more? 5 new shoes on our radar