The Daily Valet. - 10/4/22, Tuesday
✔️ It's a Retro Renaissance
Tuesday, October 4th Edition
While I wait to get the new iPhone, I’ll be searching eBay for a digital camera from my college years.
Cory Ohlendorf , Editor ⋯ @coryohlendorf
Today’s Big Story
The Retro Digital Camera Renaissance
Is everything from the ’90s/early aughts coming back?
Our phones, the little digital devices that never leave our hands, now house some seriously impressive cameras. The latest iPhone boasts an all-new 48MP Main camera with an advanced quad-pixel sensor. And yet, the cool thing right now is to pick up a decades-old digital camera.
Why is a gadget that peaked in popularity 15 years ago suddenly blowing up? Like the resurgence of flip phones and wired headphones, there must be something nostalgic and comforting about it.
The hashtag #digitalcamera on TikTok has nearly 90 million views, with videos claiming, “this is your sign to take a digital camera on holiday with you,” as sun-drenched snaps appear on the screen. According to I-D, the mid-2000s digital camera aesthetic is instantly recognizable. Like the VHS filter you see on Insta stories, “the images are clear but a little bit hazy, almost dreamlike—a subtle veil of the past.”
The clear but not quite crisp shots from the throwback cameras are perfect for posting on socials—they’re already digital, they’re casual and way less edited (or at least they seem that way). Just ask model Bella Hadid.
Plus, if you love this slightly retro look, using a digital camera you scored off eBay is far easier than learning to operate an old film camera and paying the costly printing fees. That’s probably why there is now a range of new digital cameras that recreate the look, feel and experience of classic film SLR cameras—while utilizing the latest technology.
And in this BeReal-induced aim to capture more authentic, unfiltered moments, an app like Later Cam brings the nostalgia of analog photography to your smartphone. TechCrunch says the idea is simple: Users can pick a “disposable camera” style, then take up to 27 photos. Like an old-school camera, you don’t get to see previews after snapping or the ability to edit those images. However, users will have the option to switch between different lenses or turn the flash on and off. I’m all for this kind of experimentation, especially when it comes to finding new lives for technology that was rendered seemingly “obsolete”. Just don’t outbid me on eBay, okay?
↦ Dig Deeper: Author Jessica Andrews explores the dark side of nostalgia culture and the importance of acknowledging past mistakes to build a better future.
Ukraine Claws Back More Territory
Refuting annexation, Ukrainian forces push on from Lyman toward Luhansk
Russian forces in Ukraine were essentially on the run across much of the front line on Monday, as the Ukrainian military pressed its blitz offensive in the east and made gains in the south—contradicting Putin's claims that the territories have been already been absorbed into Russia.
Just two days after Ukrainian troops claimed victory in Lyman, a city of 22,000 that the Russians had used as a vital transport hub in Ukraine's Donetsk region, there was almost no military presence left there, reports the Washington Post. That's a sign of how quickly Ukrainian forces are advancing after months of incremental gains, if any.
The victory will remain symbolic for the message Kyiv sent to the Kremlin: Putin's annexation of the partly occupied regions was a farce. But according to the Associated Press, the political theater in Moscow continued, with Russia's lower house of parliament rubber-stamping annexation treaties for Ukraine's Kherson, Zaporizhzhia, Donetsk and Luhansk regions. The upper house will follow suit today. This follows annexation “referendums” that the Kremlin orchestrated last week that the U.N. chief and Western nations have said were not only fraudulent, but illegal.
Unfortunately, the back and forth does have real implications for people living in the areas. According to NPR, Putin has said the residents of the four regions are now considered Russian citizens, and that any attempt by Ukraine to take back the land will be seen as an attack on Russian soil itself.
↦ Meanwhile: A Russian court on Monday set Oct. 25 as the date for Brittney Griner’s appeal against her nine-year prison sentence for drug possession.
The Hurricane’s Aftermath
In Ian’s wake, Florida residents brave a slow wait for power
The death toll from Hurricane Ian has risen to 78, days after it pummeled Florida's western coast as a major storm before barreling through the Carolinas, according to Associated Press.
And while the sky has cleared, the storm's effects persisted as around 500,000 customers were without power in Florida on Monday evening as affected states shifted toward recovery efforts in the hurricane's aftermath. But that's down from almost 719,000 customers the day before.
Meanwhile, the storm was still causing problems Monday along the East Coast, reports the Wall Street Journal. Heavy rain lingered over the weekend around Virginia as the storm's weakened core moved offshore. It was absorbed by another storm system that is likely to cause flooding, forecasters said.
Risk-modeler Karen Clark & Co. estimates that the privately insured loss from Hurricane Ian will be close to $63 billion, including wind, storm surge and inland flood damages. While the total economic damage will be well over $100 billion, including uninsured properties, damage to infrastructure and cleanup costs.
↦ Want to Help? Here are some of the organizations mobilizing on the ground, and how you can donate or get involved.
BMW and Kith Pair Up and Go Electric
The automaker partners with Kith again for a modern take on a classic EV
BMW and Kith have just unveiled their latest limited-edition vehicle: the 2022 BMW i4 M50 by Kith. And it's not just a good looking take on the stylish electric sedan, there's a lot of meaning behind the collaboration.
2022 marks two significant 50th anniversaries for BMW, the first being the debut of the brand's first electric concept car, and the second the launch of BMW M. Kith founder Ronnie Fieg is celebrating that with his take on the i4 M50, kitted out in the American streetwear brand's Vitality Green shade with a sexy caramel leather interior.
Of course, the EV pays homage to the automaker's first electric vehicle, the 1972 1602 “Elektro”. Fieg has also designed a special one-off tribute to that car, though it's not for sale.
According to Robb Report, seven of the modern version were made. And just one will be available to the public when it hits the auction block via Sotheby's from Oct. 7 through 14. The auction opens at $1, and is being sold without reserve but has a pre-sale estimate of $100,000 to $200,000. The other half-dozen will be sold for an undisclosed price later this year.
↦ FYI: If you miss out on the car, you’re not completely out of luck. BMW and Kith have also teamed up for a collection of apparel and accessories.
In Other News
Other Things We’re Talking About Today
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The Benefits of Deep Breathing
Time to expand your lungs
It's estimated that the average person uses a mere 50 to 60 percent of their lung capacity. But you can train your breath and easily expand your lungs.
The result is better oxygen intake which can unleash your body's true potential—lower stress, greater overall health and better performance at the gym, in bed and at work.
Deep breathing also goes by such names as diaphragmatic breathing, abdominal breathing and belly breathing. When you breathe deeply, the air coming in through your nose fully fills your lungs, and the lower belly rises.
Of course, for many of us, that kind of deep breathing seems unnatural. But you can retrain yourself. Andyou'll be so glad that you did. We'll show you how with a couple simple exercises that will have you feeling better in no time.
↦ Read: How to increase your breathing and reduce your stress and tension.
Your Skin Care Secret Weapon
Like high-proof liquor, serums pack a ton of potency into every drop. For example, most facial lotions typically contain about 5 to 10 percent of active ingredients. By contrast, serums can pack up to 70%. Plus, your daily lotion has larger molecules than a serum, so it typically sits on the surface of the skin. Serums are able to penetrate deeper. And while serums certainly provide your skin with additional moisture, the main reason a man would want to use one is to add nourishing ingredients into the deeper layers of the skin that a regular moisturizer isn't able to deliver. Which is why you apply them after you wash your face, but before you apply your daily lotion. We've tried dozens to bring you the best ones for the most common skin concerns.
Best-All Around
They don't call it “Super” for nothing. We noticed an improvement in skin after just a week of using this serum. It's lightweight, absorbs fast and can be used both in the morning and at night. The formula is an all-star team of ingredients—from niacinamide and squalane to green tea and ginseng—in concentrations that are clinically proven to treat fine lines and hyperpigmentation. Fragrance free and gentle on skin, the formula hydrates skin while working as an eraser to remove visible skin damage.
Super Serum, $46 by Jaxon Lane
Best for Breakouts or Enlarged Pores
Breakout-prone skin needs salicylic acid to prevent clogged pores. And if you feel like your pores are more visible lately, they might need a good cleaning. This serum helps with that too. Unlike other serums, you don't apply this to your entire face. Instead, you only apply to the areas you're concerned with—the large pores around your nose, that problem spot on your chin, etc. The addition of zinc to the formula not only reduces inflammation, but reduces oil production. Combined with the skin-clearing properties of salicylic acid, you'll be able to keep dead skin, dirt and bacteria from clogging any more pores.
Targeted blemish serum, $21.90 by Typology
Wake Up Tired Skin
Vitamin C has become such a powerhouse ingredient for quality skin care products. That's because it's a potent antioxidant that promotes healthy collagen production. Which means redness, ruddiness and general skin dullness are all minimized. This serum is something of a skincare insider secret. The affordable elixir blends potent Vitamin C with plant-based hyaluronic acid to soften and hydrate skin.
Vitamin C serum with hyaluronic acid, $29.99 / $21.99 by TruSkin
↦ Want more options?6 of the best serums for men
Today’s Deals
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Morning Motto
Good might be better than perfect because it actually exists.
↦ Follow: @sophia.joan.short
That’s all for today...
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