The Daily Valet. - 10/21/21, Thursday

✔️ The Climate Sickness Era

October 21, 2021

Thursday, October 21st Edition

Cory Ohlendorf, Editor in Chief of Valet.

I could probably use a new TV, but I guess I will be waiting to buy.

Cory Ohlendorf, Editor ⋯ @coryohlendorf

Today’s edition is presented by

Today’s Big Story

The Climate Sickness Era

Health problems tied to global warming are on the rise

Health problems tied to climate change are all getting worse (in just about every measurable way), according to two reports published Wednesday. It may seem a bit obvious: Heat kills, wildfires burn and floods drown.

But the wide-reaching health effects of a rapidly warming world can also be surprisingly subtle. Heat sparks violence and disrupts sleep. Wildfire smoke can trigger respiratory events thousands of miles away. Flooding can increase rates of suicide and mental health problems. Warmer winters expand the range of disease-carrying mosquitoes and ticks.

The annual reports commissioned by the medical journal Lancet tracked 44 global health indicators largely connected to climate change, including heat deaths, infectious diseases and hunger. All of them are getting grimmer, one researcher told ABC News.

One report said during a six month period last year, nearly 52 million people were impacted by 84 disasters ranging from floods and droughts to storms in countries already struggling with the pandemic.

In a special report released last week, the World Health Organization called climate change “the single biggest health threat facing humanity,” warning that its effects could be more catastrophic and enduring than COVID-19. Dozens of public health experts are headed to the U.N. climate summit starting at the end of the month, aiming to convince world leaders that they must take bolder action to curb their nations’ carbon output.

Despite such dire consequences, most countries haven’t done much to stem the tide of climate disaster. According to Gizmodo, 65 out of the 84 countries studied continued to subsidize fossil fuels as of 2018, ensuring that the use and production of fossil fuels will go on unabated. And those 84 countries represent about 92% of the world’s carbon emissions.

↦ Dig Deeper: The U.S. is one of the worst offenders, increasing oil and gas production by a combined nine exajoules by 2030 (about 215 million tons of oil) despite President Biden’s pledge to halve emissions by the end of the decade.

Here Come More Shots

FDA authorizes boosters while White House rolls out plan to vaccinate kids

As expected, the Food and Drug Administration authorized booster doses of COVID-19 vaccines made by Moderna and Johnson & Johnson Wednesday and also said any of the three vaccines could be used as a booster in a “mix and match” approach.

Now advisers to the CDC will consider the FDA's authorization, and offer their own advice. If CDC director Dr. Rochelle Walensky signs off, people could start getting Moderna and J&J boosters within days.

Meanwhile, the Biden administration on Wednesday announced its plan to vaccinate children ages 5 to 11 ahead of the FDA's expected emergency use authorization of the Pfizer vaccine for children in that age range.

The government has bought enough doses for all 28 million children in that age group and will provide it in smaller packages with essential supplies like smaller needles to make it easier to get for physicians, pediatricians and community health centers to get shots in those little arms.

↦ FYI: A new Delta descendant is rising in the UK. Here’s what to know.

Partner

This is likely the most common sexual dysfunction in men. But this just might help.

A Knife Made From Wood?

Scientists make a wooden blade that’s three times sharper than a steel blade

I've been to enough fairs and foodie festivals to know that the biodegradable wooden knife and fork you get with your little steak and duck fat fries are poor excuses for cutlery. Plastic sometimes works a little better, but that's not great for the planet.

The gold standard for knives is usually steel or ceramics, but in a new study released Wednesday, material scientists describe their latest creation: A “hardened wood knife” around three times sharper than a stainless steel dinner knife.

If this sounds like an infomercial, just wait ... there's more! The team, based at the University of Maryland, developed wooden nails too, showing they were as sharp as conventional steel nails (and won't rust).

Of course, from a scientific standpoint, this is interesting. But NPR points out that this might not be as environmentally friendly as it appears. That's because steel is more environmentally friendly than you might think.

↦ FYI: The hardened wood knives can be washed, dried and resharpened just like metal blades.

TV Prices Are Shockingly High

Prices are the highest they've been in at least nine years

The holiday buying season is nearly upon us and TV shopping is about to kick into high gear again. This time of year television prices typically fall—a lot—as retailers and manufacturers compete for your big-screen dollar.

“Pricing right now on TVs is the highest since at least 2012,” one analyst told CNET. In fact, the average price of a television is about $137 higher than it was in 2020.

The “why” of the cost increase is pretty simple: COVID-19, and the repercussions of the pandemic on the global supply chain. CNN summed it up as “Computer chip shortages. Epic port congestion. And a serious lack of truck drivers.”

That's the bad news. But the good news is that while prices are increasing for standard sets, viewers looking for a high-end television may actually find some pretty good deals—and consumers seem willing to go upscale, reports InsideHook. Sales of TVs over $1,500 are at record levels, and sales of TVs 75-inches and above are performing much better than the overall market.

↦ True or False: Is your TV really draining power when it's in standby mode?

In Other News

↦ As Employees Walk Out, Netflix CEO Ted Sarandos Admits He ‘Screwed Up’ Chappelle Response

↦ Art Is Getting Censored on Social Media for a Tourism Board. So They Went to OnlyFans.

↦ The Next Range Rover Has Leaked Everywhere All at Once

Other Things We’re Talking About Today

The term “spooky season”

These canoe shoes

Fast food secret menus

Partner

The Solution to a Common Problem

Last longer in bed with Promescent’s discreet delay wipes

Premature ejaculation is likely the most common sexual dysfunction in men. According to the Cleveland Clinic, it affects nearly 40% of men (though some doctors believe those estimates to be low). And while there are a myriad of causes—from physical sensitivity and chemical imbalances to more psychological factors—the most effective and immediate treatments are to delay climax. That's just where modern wellness brand Promescent comes in.

Their best-selling Delay Spray is recommended by more than 2,000 healthcare professionals because it's so effective and reliable. Now, they offer convenient Delay Wipes that utilize all of the same technology but in a simple-to-apply wipe. Individually wrapped, they're as convenient as they are discreet. Which means you can stash them in a bag or pocket and apply it quickly without spoiling any of the fun.

Especially if you're not ready to pay your doctor a visit just yet, these wipes can keep you from shooting early. And the science is on your side. Studies have confirmed the efficacy of benzocaine, which is absorbed into nerve cells just below the skin to temporarily slow down a man's trigger response. Of course, a benefit of the wipes over a spray is that you can apply it only where you need it (so you won't feel overly desensitized). Which means you can stop worrying and focus on the fun stuff.

↦ Get It: $19.95 / $16.95 (with Valet. discount) by Promescent

Partner

Fall’s Most Comfortable Footwear

Sun-tans Chukka, $140

SeaVees appreciates doing things the old fashioned way. Their sneakers are still made the way they were back when the California brand was founded in 1964. Known for pioneering the transformation of the sneaker from gym shoe to casual shoe, they specialize in comfort.

A closer look at any of their shoes reveals an organic cotton canvas lining and a contoured foam footbed with extra heel-strike cushion for extreme comfort. Most are finished with SeaVees' exclusive cooling system—unique interior perforations that add breathability to keep feet from overheating no matter how long you have them on.

For Fall, the design team was inspired California's expansive landscape, from the dry coastal hills to the lush evergreens of the Sierras. The result is a range of cool, casual sneakers, lace-ups and cushy slides. They're the kind of shoes you can easily kick around the house in, but they look sharp enough to wear to work or weekend outings. Our favorites? The world's most comfortable chukkas (seriously, you won't believe how these feel on your feet) and the very timely Seachange house shoes, made from soft recycled fleece.