The Daily Valet. - 10/5/20, Monday

✔️ A Focus on Health (In All Forms)

October 05, 2020

Monday, October 5th Edition

Cory Ohlendorf, Editor in Chief of Valet.

What a weekend, huh?

Cory Ohlendorf , Editor ⋯ @coryohlendorf

Today’s Big Story

Trump Remains Hospitalized

The president made a surprise outing in an effort to show his improvement

Feeling fatigued and feverish from COVID-19, President Donald Trump was taken to Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Bethesda, Maryland, on Friday in what was described as a precautionary move, while the First Lady stayed at the White House.

We now know that he had a high fever and his oxygen saturation levels dipped below the normal range of 95% before heading to the hospital, Dr. Sean P. Conley, the White House physician, told the New York Times. While being treated, he was given experimental drugs and a steroid used exclusively for patients who are severely ill with COVID-19, but isn't typically used in mild or moderate cases.

But his team of doctors were optimistic that he could be released as soon as today. On Sunday afternoon, Trump sent out a message saying that he's doing well, thanked the doctors and said, “It’s been a very interesting journey. I learned a lot about COVID.”

He then briefly left the hospital—riding in an enclosed motorcade with secret service agents to salute cheering supporters—contradicting the CDC's recommendation to isolate for at least 14 days after infection. According to the Associated Press, the surprising move raised new questions about his understanding of the deadly coronavirus that has killed more than 209,000 Americans.

Over the weekend, more of Trump's inner circle tested positive, including his campaign manager, several top aides and a couple senators. The Atlantic reports that the president apparently took no measures to protect his political advisers, aides, and donors, and largely left them in the dark once he had tested positive.

Chris Christie, the former governor of New Jersey, helped prepare Trump in the days leading up to Tuesday's debate. He said no one at the sessions was wearing a mask. He learned of Trump’s diagnosis from news reports and was not informed by the White House. Christie has now tested positive and been admitted to a hospital.

↦ Did'ya Hear? Conspiracy theories about Trump's health are spreading on the right and left in the vacuum of reliable information the White House has created, reports BuzzFeed News.

Check That Voter Registration

Today might be your last day to do it

We're less than a month away from Election Day. And while you might think you're registered to vote, you'll definitely want to check. And if you haven't registered yet, do it now. It takes two minutes to register online at DoSomething.org.

But you don't want to wait since today's the last day to register for at least 13 states: Arizona, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Indiana, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Ohio, South Carolina, Tennessee and Texas.

If you're planning on voting by mail, Marie Claire has one of the simplest guides so you can find out your state's vote-by-mail rules.

No printer? No problem. CNN explains the ways to register to vote without needing to print out a form.

↦ FYI: Trump is winning the voter registration battle against Biden in key states, reports NBC News.

Bond Delayed. Again?

No Time to Die was pushed back to April 2021

This is bad. First of all, I want to see this dang movie. It's terrible thinking that No Time to Die is all ready to screen but we have to wait. And it keeps getting postponed.

But more importantly, the delay of the film's release is being seen as the final straw for struggling theaters. Case in point: Cineworld, owner of the largest chain of theaters in the U.K. and Regal Cinemas, the second-largest in the United States, will reportedly permanently close all of their theaters next week, according to Variety.

The closing of Regal Cinemas will result in 543 vacant theaters, accounting for over 7,000 screens across the country. The Verge reports that AMC, the largest American theater chain, is suffering dire results due to the pandemic as well.

Fear of catching COVID-19, social-distancing rules and continued shutdowns in large cities are all keeping moviegoers away. Apparently, theaters were counting on Bond, specifically, to arrive on time and help bail them out of poor ticket sales after Tenet ushered in such a dismal return to the movies last month with only $45 million in U.S. ticket sales.

↦ Staying In? Here are 31 of the best horror movies to stream this month.

Pandemic Changing Your Taste in Music?

A music therapist on why our listening habits have been so weird

Have your tastes in tunes changed much since the start of stay-at-home orders and social isolation? Mine have, but only mildly. I'm listening to a lot more live recordings. Maybe just for a change or perhaps I miss the feel and sounds of a crowd.

According to Vice, we're not alone. Some have discovered metal and hardcore; others dove into the comforting sounds of ambient, jazz and classical. A few said they're only listening to songs they loved as a teenager, and some claim they're barely listening to any new music at all.

Consumption patterns “changed a lot” after pandemic lockdowns, Spotify's Paul Vogel told The Hollywood Reporter. Those still adjusting to working from home are listening to a lot more music. While others are swapping songs for long-form podcasts.

Why is this happening? A music therapist told Vice that songs activate so many areas of the brain at the same time. But most importantly, music can decrease our cortisol levels (the hormone in charge of stress). So I guess don't over think it ... just go with what works for you.

↦ Anti-Spotify: How online music company Bandcamp became the toast of the COVID age.

In Other News

Other Things We’re Talking About Today

Jim Carrey’s debut as Joe Biden on SNL

What we want right now

Fall vibes

Is a Peloton Really Worth It?

One man takes the leap to see if the connected bike lives up to the hype

We're all working out more from home these days, and if you've been considering upgrading your equipment with the premiere stationery bike, you're in luck.

Because our own Scott Woolf bought himself one months ago to put it to the test ...

"Evolving from being a spin novice to a Peloton owner is a leap of faith, to say the least. I'd invested in a new form of exercise with legitimate barriers to entry. Price: You're not finding a steal on Craigslist (there's already become a black market for simple dumbbells). Real Estate: Live in the city where space is a premium? Congrats on your new purchase, it weights 135 pounds and takes up 6 feet of space. Variety: Don't feel like cycling today? You're not bench-pressing your ride, so saddle up."

He doesn't sugarcoat it, but he also makes a compelling case for investing in quality equipment—especially those that come with world-class trainers.

↦ Read: Scott's full account of trying out the bike and becoming a convert.

What We’re Buying

The last thing you probably think about when cleaning your home is the air in it. With concerns of the pandemic and an upcoming flu season, there's one step you can take to ensure the air you breathe at home is the healthiest it can be—with an air purifier. Most quality machines can run up to $300 or $400. The Levoit on Amazon is under $100 and the compact and quiet purifier has a four and half star rating with over 10,000 reviews. Whether you're dealing with allergies, pollen, dust, dander or any VOC's you'll be breathing easier.

↦ Get It $150 / $99.67 at Amazon

Special Promotion

Knock Out Nagging Pain

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