The Daily Valet. - 10/4/19, Friday
✔️ Chemical Burns and Cocktails. What a Combo!
Friday, October 4th Edition
Just counting down the hours until quittin’ time. Who’s up for cocktails?
Cory Ohlendorf , Editor ⋯ @coryohlendorf
Today’s Big Story
Vape Injuries Are Like Chemical Burns
The latest finding that may be only the “the tip of the iceberg”
The number of vaping-related lung-injury cases across the US climbed to 1,080, up from 805 reported last week, in what a top health official said may be only “the tip of the iceberg,” reports Bloomberg. The number of deaths also climbed to 18 from 12.
What’s more, the airways and lungs of some patients appeared damaged in ways similar to those exposed to chemical spills or harmful gases. “What all these appeared to represent was some sort of toxic chemical fume injury, or chemical burn if you will,” said Dr. Brandon Larsen, a pathologist at Mayo Clinic Arizona and senior author of the paper, which was published in the New England Journal of Medicine.
Preliminary research conducted earlier this year found troubling levels of a chemical called cinnamaldehyde in some vape liquids—up to 34%—which can kill lung cells. “When you get to levels like that of a compound like cinnamaldehyde, having some lung difficulties isn’t very surprising,” said chemist James Pankow of Portland State University, a co-author of the study.
While there’s definitely plenty to still investigate, one thing seems clear: no vice is worth chemical burns akin to inhaling mustard gas. Maybe we should put down the vapes until we fully understand what they hell we’re sucking into our lungs and how it might affect them in the long term.
Saudi Arabia Rebrands As a Tourist Hotspot
The conservative Middle Eastern kingdom will offer tourist visas for the first time
It's got sunshine year-round and pristine beaches. It's got ancient historical sites and luxury hotels. So why isn't this a destination for globetrotting tourists? Because it’s Saudi Arabia, and until now, unless they were making a religious pilgrimage to Mecca or in town on business, you weren’t welcome.
According to Afar, the visa program is part of a larger effort to diversify the country’s economy so that it is not as dependent on its oil industry in the future. The Saudis call this plan "Vision 2030." In just over a decade, they expect annual visitors to reach 100 million—twice the number of people who currently travel to Italy each year—boosting the local economy to the tune of billions of dollars.
Of course, human rights groups like Amnesty International have, as recently as 2018, reported that "authorities severely restricted the rights to freedom of expression, association and assembly." And the recent drone and cruise missile strikes on Saudi oil facilities have raised new concerns about the security situation in the country, underscoring government travel advisories, like the US State Department's, which warn visitors to be wary of terrorism and attacks on civilian targets.
↦ What to Know about the country's new "public decency code."
The President Is Clearly Doubling Down
And not afraid to ask for help
President Trump, ensnared in the impeachment inquiry over his request that Ukraine investigate former Vice President Joe Biden and his son, Hunter, called on China to do the same while talking to reporters yesterday from the White House lawn.
When asked "what exactly did you hope the Ukrainian president would do about the Bidens?" The president responded, "I would think that if they were honest about it, they'd start a major investigation ... they should investigate the Bidens ... China likewise should start an investigation."
It was a defiant move, pushing back against critics who have called such requests an illegal abuse of power. Trump is essentially arguing that there was/is nothing wrong with publicly seeking foreign help in discrediting a political rival.
↦ One Word Trump won't say. The Atlantic examines why.
Defining the Current Cocktail Zeitgeist
What we’re ordering and what it says about 2019
I love Punch, the online cocktail magazine that’s as handsome as it is informative. Come for the great drink recipes, stay for informative stories about cocktail culture you won’t find anywhere else. Case in point: their examination into the current state of the spirits landscape.
By poring over dozens of drink lists from top US bars and compiling a record of recurring trends, they were able to distill their findings into a bird’s-eye view of the American cocktail scene. “While last year saw bartenders reaching for spirits and ingredients from farther afield—Japan, Scandinavia and beyond—this year, cocktails continue their slow cruise ship turn away from sweet, away from bitter, and toward savory, with a host of umami-packed ingredients including nori and miso.”
↦ In Demand: Five trends you should expect to see the next time you grab a drink.
Other Things We’re Talking About Today
+
A Weekend Pairing
Big Mouth’s third season + chocolate beer
There’s so much crazy shit happening these days that it’s hard to say anything shocks you anymore. That’s why I love Netflix’s Big Mouth. The critically-acclaimed coming of age animated series jolts you in the best "holy shit, did they really just say/do/show that?" kind of way. It’s as filthy and foulmouthed as it is heartwarming and vulnerable. And today its third season drops on Netflix.
Voiced by comedians Nick Kroll, John Mulaney, Jordan Peele and Maya Rudolph, Esquire says season three “captures the terrifying realities of being a teenager in 2019, dives into technology, #MeToo, and the natural process of sending your cousin a dick pic.” What do you pair with such dicey material? How about a limited-edition chocolate porter that combines Herhey’s chocolate with one of Yuengling’s most legendary beers?
The Pennsylvania brewer says the porter marries notes of chocolate “with caramel and dark roasted malts for a smooth, rich and delightfully chocolaty finish.” It’s best enjoyed with cheeses, smoked meats and, of course, crass humor.
↦ Watch it: Big Mouth, season three, is now streaming on Netflix.
What We’re Buying
A watch can be an investment. But this hardworking timepiece from MVMT is much more of a reasonable investment. The startup watch brand has made waves in the industry by being well-made, reasonably priced and stylish to boot. The grey band and charcoal watch face make for a versatile combo that pairs especially well with fall's neutral-toned style. Snag the watch, but don't be afraid to pair it with their sunglasses as well.
↦ Get It $95 / $66.50 at MVMT
Morning Motto
A well-read man is a wise man.
↦ Follow: @valetmag
That’s all for today...
Valet Media LLC350 Lincoln Road, 2nd FloorMiami Beach, FL 33139[email protected]