The Daily Valet. - 10/19/23, Thursday
✔️ Fish Out of Water
Thursday, October 19th Edition
By Cory Ohlendorf, Valet. Editor
If you hit the snooze button this morning, let me be the first to tell you not to feel guilty about it.
Today’s Big Story
Fish Out of Water
Land-based aquaculture is upending an industry plagued by environmental concerns
Do you know where your salmon comes from? I'm sure you know that consuming fish can provide powerful health advantages for everything from your heart and brain to your skin and immune system. So it's a good thing that Americans are eating more than ever—and salmon is the leading type of fish we're consuming. But what you probably didn't know was that about 99% of the world's salmon farming takes place in open-net pens.That type of farming—where fish are raised in floating nets within the ocean—is a common but risky method that faces a slew of problems. The factory-like fisheries have been criticized for overcrowding, spreading diseases and promoting pests such as sea lice.Common Dreams says they amount to “floating feedlots that pollute waters with antibiotics and fish waste; endanger marine mammals that interact with the cages; and compromise local coastal economies that depend on fishing and tourism.” And, according to the New York Times, the system is made even more problematic by rising water temperatures and other climate challenges.But now, several land-based farms across the country are beginning to offer a more climate-stable alternative to traditional salmon aquaculture. These man-made tanks and stock ponds are not only cleaner, but more ecologically responsible and often have a lower carbon footprint. Experts say that land-based farming is the future of salmon aquaculture in America—and the world, as similar businesses gain footing in fish-loving countries like Denmark, Norway, Poland and Japan.How do you know what you're buying? Corbett Nash, of the Monterey Bay Aquarium, said to look for fish that have been certified by the Aquaculture Stewardship Council, which has standards comparable to Seafood Watch's. He also suggests finding a fishmonger you trust and asking questions, no matter what you're buying. “When you ask,” Nash told the Times, “you put pressure on your supplier to make good choices.”
Meanwhile:
Björk and Rosalía have collaborated on a new song to combat Icelandic fish farming.
Positive News As Israel-Hamas War Rages on
Israel approves entry of humanitarian aid to Gaza from Egypt after U.S. pressure
On his visit to Israel on Wednesday, President Biden pledged to support Israel as it prepares a major attack on Gaza. The high-stakes trip came less than 24 hours after a catastrophic blast at a hospital in Gaza City, which sparked outrage across the Middle East. Both Biden and the U.S. National Security Council said they have preliminary evidence that Israel was not responsible—that the blast was a Palestinian Islamic Jihad group rocket that misfired and hit the hospital.Also on Wednesday, Israel's war cabinet approved the entry of humanitarian aid into Gaza from Egypt. The office of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that the decision was made due to the “broad and crucial U.S. support for Israel's war effort.” Biden said he welcomed the decision and stressed aid would be suspended if Hamas tried to take control of it.Hamas has expressed a willingness to release some captives, with a senior Hamas official telling NBC News that the group is willing to release all civilian hostages immediately—within an hour—if Israel stops its bombing campaign of Gaza. Before heading back to Washington, Biden also announced a $100 million U.S. aid package for the Palestinian population in Gaza and the occupied West Bank. The White House also confirmed that the president will deliver a prime-time foreign policy speech to the country tonight at 8 pm EST.
Dig Deeper:
Two-thirds of Americans say the U.S. should support Israel in the war between Israel and Hamas, but there are wide generational and racial divides on the question.
Americans Can’t (and Won’t) Stop Spending
Retail sales up 0.7% in September as American consumers defy rising prices, interest
Interest rates are high, inflation remains elevated and pandemic savings are dwindling. Yet Americans are seemingly on a spending binge. The “display of consumer resilience persisted” in the latest retail-sales report, with the Wall Street Journal reporting that spending at stores, online and at restaurants rising a stronger-than-expected 0.7% in September from a month earlier.The retail sales report, which reflects the sixth consecutive monthly gain, reinforces the fact that American consumers, as a whole, are showing no signs of pulling back on their spending, which powers most of the economy. That spending comes despite attempts by the Federal Reserve to cool spending and hiring. ABC News reports that it's good news heading into the critical holiday shopping season. But the robust sales report also means that Fed officials could leave the door open for additional rate hikes. That means that shoppers could face higher interest rates for a while.In effect, consumer spending is keeping a floor underneath the overall economy, keeping a recession at bay—but also standing in the way of inflation coming down more rapidly. For all the discussion of headwinds facing U.S. consumers these days (recession worries, higher borrowing costs and student loan repayments), the reality is that the unemployment rate remains extremely low, and wages are rising a bit faster than inflation.
Snooze Button Vindication
Here’s why hitting that little button might be beneficial
I don't know about you, but whenever I hit the snooze button (and I do, dear reader, I hit it rather regularly), I feel a little guilty. But if you're, like me, concerned that by hitting that little button you could be hurting your sleep, we can now rest easy: For most people, “snoozing” has no impact on sleep quality, a new study suggests.What's more, for some, hitting the button multiple times over 30 minutes may spark alertness more quickly than sleeping through without a break, according to the findings, published Wednesday in the Journal of Sleep Research. The researchers found no significant difference in people's stress hormone levels, morning sleepiness, mood, and overall sleep structure whether they snoozed or not.The research was conducted by scientists from Sweden and Australia, led by Tina Sundelin, a psychologist and sleep researcher at Stockholm University. Sundelin has at times been an avid snoozer. And like many people, she had long heard about the supposed negative health effects of snoozing. But when Sundelin looked deeper, she couldn't find any real data to back this claim up. “As a sleep researcher, I tried to find the evidence behind this and couldn't find a single study,” she told Gizmodo. “The most common reason for snoozing is feeling too tired to wake up, but many also snooze because it feels good.”
yes, But:
If you're hitting it too often and would like to stop, here's how our own Scott Woolf took back his mornings and put an end to the shackles of the snooze button.
In Other News
Twenty-two Republicans voted against him. He can afford to lose only four.
Have you heard about ...
The Long Read
We don’t always have to fly … do we?
In the dining car, a server in Amtrak uniform—with the slight costume addition of an apron—takes our order, quickly presenting us with an omelet and pancakes that taste of motor oil, along with meat-based meat in both link and patty form. We don’t finish the food but appreciate the speed and friendliness with which it was presented.”
- By Harrison Scott Key
Read It:
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Shopping
What We’re Buying
Stylish incense
What's cooler than burning some Palo Santo to set the mood in your place? Burning it from one of these cheeky tins that borrow iconic designs from America's most well-known cigarette brands. Each tin contains six sustainably harvested sticks of the fragrant “holy wood”, which smolders nicely when ignited and releases a sweet, woodsy scent. When you're done burning them, reuse the handsome tins in your travel kit or for stashing items on your desk. They're sure to become a nice conversation piece.
Get It:
Palo Santo incense, $16 by Brother Brother
Morning Motto
Today’s a fresh start.
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