The Daily Valet. - 10/8/20, Thursday
✔️ The Virus Takes Center Stage
Thursday, October 8th Edition
Did everyone get all the fly jokes out of their system?
Cory Ohlendorf , Editor ⋯ @coryohlendorf
Today’s Big Story
Virus Takes Center Stage at VP Debate
Pence and Harris spar over the federal COVID response days after Trump’s diagnosis
Did you catch the Vice Presidential debate? Vice President Mike Pence and Senator Kamala Harris clashed over the Trump administration’s handling of the coronavirus pandemic on Wednesday night. But their discourse, while heated, was at least civilized.
When the candidates were asked directly why the U.S. is still struggling with the virus verses other advanced nations, Harris called the Trump administration’s handling of the pandemic “the greatest failure of any presidential administration in the history of our country.”
Pence—the head of the White House Coronavirus Task Force—stoically made the case that he and the rest of the administration have done a bang-up job on COVID-19. Of course, it didn’t look great that it had to be said from behind two CDC-recommended plexiglass barriers. Especially on the same day that the New England Journal of Medicine condemned the administration’s handling and ABC News reported that 34 people connected to the White House have now been infected, plausibly labeling the president a super-spreader.
And though the tone was more civil, the debate still had its moments of interruption, reports NBC News. Pence frequently talked over the moderator as she tried to get him to wrap up. Harris, at times, responded to Pence’s interruptions by looking at him and saying, “I’m speaking.”
Of course, it’s common for politicians to avoid direct answers to difficult questions, and according to Intelligencer, Pence was definitely better at this than Harris. He deftly chose to completely ignore several uncomfortable questions, “taking every opportunity to speak to select whatever topic he wanted.” Harris’s dodge about packing the Supreme Court was far more visible, they said, because Pence repeatedly pointed out that she had refused to answer.
In the end, both candidates were hoping to appeal to undecided voters, reports the Associated Press. Harris came out swinging with a lot of facts—some might say too much. Pence, on the defensive from the start, was forced to provide vague explanations or deflect much of the president’s record.
↦ Fact Check: Who told the truth and who shared a whopper? NBC News breaks down claims by Harris and Pence in detail.
Airlines Push Testing
Can airport COVID testing get people flying again?
Time frames to get COVID-19 tests results back are shrinking fast. Not so long ago, it was taking days. Now, private enterprise is coming up with tests that generate results within minutes. And airlines are hoping that this is the key to get people back in the air.
This week, American Airlines joined JetBlue Airways, United and Hawaiianairlines in announcing it plans to provide tests that can prove passengers don't have COVID-19, allowing them to bypass quarantine restrictions depending on where they are traveling.
According to the Wall Street Journal, airports from Oakland, Calif., to Bradley International near Hartford, Conn., are opening testing centers for ticketed passengers. Some offer both the PCR test, which can take 48 hours to get results, and rapid tests that provide results in 15 minutes but are less accurate.
Would you be comfortable flying—or removing your mask on a flight to eat or drink—if you took a test beforehand?
↦ FYI: Travelers typically pay for testing, around $50 for a rapid test and $120 for a PCR test, which is required by many countries. Many health insurance plans cover the cost.
In Footwear News ...
Wild collaborations and a long-awaited return
It seems like there's a lot happening in the world of shoes this week. In case you missed it ... here are three new releases to have on your radar.
• Nike Adapt BB 2.0s: While many of us will never be able to own the OG Back to the Future sneaker, the Nike Mag, there's an alternative on the way with the latest release of Nike's self-lacing Adapt BB 2.0 later this month.
• Slack x Cole Haan: According to GQ, there is still the occasional collaboration that sends this unflappable universe into a tailspin. Like these white knit sneakers, trimmed in four colorways to represent the four colors of Slack’s logo, with the logo itself at the heel.
• Justin Bieber x Crocs: The Biebs is the next celebrity to collaborate with Crocs on a co-branded Clog, reports Highsnobiety. Following a much-talked-about teaser, Bieber and Crocs have confirmed the release, which the brand has dubbed the "biggest Croctober launch to date."
Have You Had Your Coffee Yet?
A new study recommends drinking it after breakfast, and not before
A big cup of coffee after a long night (dissecting a debate) is exactly the kick-start I need in the morning. Sound familiar? But new research suggests that it might be better to have a bite to eat first.
According to New Atlas, a new study has found that drinking coffee first thing can have a negative effect on blood sugar control—a risk factor for both diabetes and heart disease.
“We know that nearly half of us will wake in the morning and, before doing anything else, drink coffee—intuitively the more tired we feel, the stronger the coffee,” said Professor James Betts, professor and co-director of the Centre for Nutrition, Exercise and Metabolism at the University of Bath in the U.K., in a press statement.
Put simply, our blood sugar and energy can be impaired when the first thing our bodies come into contact with is a stimulant like coffee, especially when we're not properly rested. So Betts recommends eating first and then drinking coffee later if you feel you still need it.
↦ FYI: A 2017 study on coffee published in the British Medical Journal found that drinking three to four cups of black coffee a day provides the most health benefits overall.
In Other News
Other Things We’re Talking About Today
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The Vintage Horror Films to Watch Now
10 of the best classic scary movies
According to i-D, horror movies were even more frightening and disturbing when they didn't show you everything.
“The technical limitations, paired with a desire to push the boundaries of small budgets, forced filmmakers’ imaginations to run wild. Storylines took the most mundane of subjects and transformed them into real manifestations of evil.”
They've pulled together some cult classics to watch this month, just in time for Halloween. After all, who couldn't use a break from our reality? It's time to watch something scarier than our current situation.
↦ Dig Deeper: Esquire rounds up 45 of the scariest Halloween movies to watch.
Weekend Shopping Plans
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Morning Motto
Think it through before you let yourself worry.
↦ Follow: @austinscotti
That’s all for today...
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