The Daily Valet. - 10/25/22, Tuesday

✔️ Gone Too Far

October 25, 2022

Tuesday, October 25th Edition

Cory Ohlendorf, Editor in Chief of Valet.

Things get kinda cheesy below ... my apologies.

Cory Ohlendorf , Editor ⋯ @coryohlendorf

Today’s Big Story

Kanye Gets Cut

At least four organizations have dropped the artist now known as Ye after his antisemitic outbursts and dangerous provocations

Kanye West, who legally changed his name to Ye, has made several hateful comments about Jews this month. And his actions were applauded by Nazi protestors this weekend, who gathered with a banner while conducting the Nazi salute over a Los Angeles freeway.

This came after an antisemitic tweet got him suspended from Twitter and he announced his purchase of the far-right social media platform Parler. And after that he debuted a “White Lives Matter” T-shirt at Paris Fashion Week. Meanwhile, lawyers for George Floyd’s family are considering a defamation suit against West for pushing a debunked claim that Floyd’s death at the hands of police was actually a result of fentanyl.

The rapper’s far-right and antisemitic tirades are “part of a long and troubling pattern,” reports Rolling Stone. But it appears that West is finally too toxic to be in business with. And we’re all (along with West) watching his massive business empire crumble before his eyes.

Balenciaga has severed ties. Vogue’s Anna Wintour no longer wants to work with him. MRC has shelved an upcoming documentary. Talent agency CAA is no longer representing him. And while adidas has said its relationship with West “is under review,” other industry leaders are calling on him to be boycotted.

Despite calls from the Anti-Defamation League, adidas has not said whether it will continue to maintain its relationship with West. Obviously, the Yeezy sneaker line is incredibly popular and lucrative—it generates about $2 billion a year. But the German sportswear giant may not be able to ignore the controversy (and online petitions) for much longer after West taunted the company by saying he could be as antisemitic as he wanted and still have the brand’s support.

There has also been mentions about mental health in regards to West’s extreme, far-right rhetoric. As the Intelligencer points out, the “impulsiveness and egotism of West’s recent behavior is consistent with the symptoms of a manic episode, and West has previously spoken about his struggles with bipolar disorder. Still, many insist on drawing a sharp line between his disordered mental state and his odious ideological pronouncements. They argue, quite rightly, that neither bigotry nor antisemitism are characteristic symptoms of the disorder. He can be bipolar and still be held accountable.

↦ FYI: Antisemitic incidents have been on the rise in the U.S., hitting an all-time high in 2021, the Anti-Defamation League said earlier this year.

Real Luxury Goods, on Amazon?

Hermès bags and Rolex watches hit Amazon thanks to a new partnership. Will it work?

Sometimes, after a long day (and maybe one glass of wine too many), I'll pull up Amazon and buy something. And thanks to Prime delivery, it shows up before I even remember ordering it. Well, now that order could really cost me.

Because leading vintage purveyor What Goes Around Comes Around has just partnered with “Luxury Stores at Amazon,” the online behemoth's series of digital storefronts from high-end brands and fashion labels.

That means that consumers can snap up an expanding selection of pre-owned luxury goods, from Chanel and Hermès handbags, to leather goods from Louis Vuitton and Gucci, along with a handful of Rolex watches from the same site I order bulk napkins and my favorite Japanese sunblock.

The move is clever for both involved parties, reports WWD. It gives What Goes Around Comes Around a much-expanded client base. But it also gives Amazon the goods it has been looking to carry for years, as well as a partner that is responsible for authenticating pre-owned luxury products.

↦ Dig Deeper: The Fashion Law examines the potential for luxury brands to take issue with their goods being sold alongside the stream of counterfeit items that are readily available on Amazon’s main marketplace.

We’re Loaded ... With Cheese

The government has been storing away cheese for decades

Lately, there has been so much chatter about shortages when it comes to food—from butter and sriracha to Halloween candy. So it's reassuring to know that the U.S. is set when it comes to cheese.

In fact, we're sitting on a massive stockpile of more than 1.5 billion pounds of cheese. That's mainly thanks to the fact that while milk production has been climbing since the 1970s, milk consumption has steadily declined. So the government and dairy companies have been purchasing all the excess and storing it as cheese.

So, where does one store such a large amount of cheese? According to Visual Capitalist, a sizable portion of the stockpile is stored in a massive underground warehouse (a former limestone quarry) outside of Springfield, Missouri.

According to the Washington Post, the U.S. has the largest domestic reserve of cheese of all varieties, including cheddar, Swiss and American. And apart from a small dip in 2021 during the pandemic, America's stockpile of cheese has increased steadily over the last five years—and likely won't be moving anytime soon.

↦ FYI: What happened to “government cheese”? Vice looks back at the cheap dairy by-product that stunk up American kitchens from the late ’70s to the early ’90s.

On Demand RVs

One part Airbnb, one part camping

The pandemic upended a lot of ways in which people traveled, worked and lived. One of the most high-profile signs of all three was the demand for RVs and trailers—it was so high, in fact, it caused a massive backlog.

But what about the “RV-curious?” asks InsideHook. Those who like the idea of being able to park at a campground that have all mod cons at one's disposal, but isn't looking to buy an RV or trailer outright? Well, as it turns out, a growing number of companies have identified that as an opening in the market, and are making their moves accordingly.

The Los Angeles Times reports that companies like Outdoorsy and RV Share are becoming increasingly popular because they deliver the trailer to you. That way you don't have to worry about driving, hauling, fuel economy or liability. Instead, you simply arrive at a campground with an RV or Airstream already set up for you.

One thing to keep in mind though, as some travelers point out, is that different campgrounds have different rules about RV delivery. For example, the rules governing RV delivery in Yellowstone aren't the same as their counterparts at Yosemite.

↦ Wanna Drive? Nerd Wallet tackles the best ways to rent an RV for beginners (and what it costs).

In Other News

↦ Rishi Sunak to Become U.K. Prime Minister, First Person of Color in Role

↦ U.S. Charges 13 in Spy Case That Involves Alleged Plots to Advance Chinese Interests

↦ Highest-Paid NBA Players in 2022: LeBron James Keeps Pushing Up the Earnings Record

Other Things We’re Talking About Today

Calling someone a “dork”

Leslie Jordan

This buried Mercedes

Get Over Your Procrastination

We all do it. Here’s how to combat it

Everyone procrastinates. But if it feels like you're postponing tasks and delaying work more these days, you're not alone. The events of the past couple years had many workers struggling to stay focused amid an onslaught of bad news and a constantly changing remote work environment.

When your job and home life overlap because it's all being done in the same space, your work and leisure time can get twisted, often pulling at one another. The result? A lack of motivation and a desire to simply take a break.

Of course, despite the bad reputation, putting things off is not always wrong. In fact, it can lead to new and inspired ideas. According to Adam Grant, author of Originals, Steve Jobs was a major procrastinator. “The time Jobs was putting things off and noodling on possibilities, was time well spent in letting more divergent ideas come to the table,” says Grand. “As opposed to diving right in with the most conventional, the most obvious, the most familiar.”

If you've been feeling particularly burned out and easily distracted, there are ways to combat procrastination in order to keep it from becoming a nasty habit that makes your life more difficult.

↦ Read: Four things to keep in mind when trying fight back procrastination.

Fall’s Coziest Essential

Blankets are not just for bedrooms. They come in handy when curling up on the couch and relaxing with some great music or snuggling with your significant other. Plus, they look sharp when slung over the back of a chair or sofa while adding some much-needed warmth and texture to a room. We've pulled together nearly two dozen options that are luxe yet practical. From high-end cashmere to rugged Polartec fleece, the choice is yours.

The Cashmere Throw

Cashmere at this price should be a crime—thankfully, it’s not. This mid-weight throw allows you to relax in attainable luxury.

$139.90 by Quince

The Oversized Throw

This oversized throw is great for movie nights and afternoon catnaps. Knit from all-natural Turkish cotton in a comfy ribbed pattern, it’s easy to care for too.

$99 by Parachute

Woolrich Buffalo Check Pure Wool Blanket

The Buffalo Plaid Throw

Woolrich's iconic Buffalo plaid is made in Italy and is warm and well-crafted from 100% wool. A perfect blanket for the holidays, it's also the ultimate sofa statement piece.

$195 by Woolrich

The Felted Throw

A large, lightweight throw that's perfect for those nights when you need an additional layer underneath your duvet. Made from recycled wool and featuring army-style stencil lettering, this cozy blanket is sustainable and adds an industrial touch to your living space.

$48 by Puebco

↦ Want more options? 19 cozy blankets

Partner

A Classic Nixon Watch Modernizes

Nixon navy Sentry Solar stainless steel watch

Navy Sentry Solar watch with stainless steel tapered bracelet, $300

Nixon’s best-selling Sentry timepiece has just got a modern upgrade with limitless potential. It’s now solar powered. Beneath the semi-transparent dial is a tiny solar cell that will power the timepiece for an entire day just by sitting under your office’s overhead lights for one hour. After six hours of direct sunlight, it absorbs enough power to store up six months worth of charge. As for looks, the new face has an enhanced sunray finish and bright Lum tip skeleton hands. But the durable, water-resistant stainless steel case and reliable Japanese quartz movement with day/date window that makes this such a legendary watch remains.