The Daily Valet. - 11/16/21, Tuesday
✔️ What Happened to All of the Benches?
Tuesday, November 16th Edition
Are you sitting down?
Cory Ohlendorf , Editor ⋯ @coryohlendorf
Today’s edition is presented by
Today’s Big Story
Where Are All the Benches?
We need more, not less public benches
It started off simple enough—doesn’t it always?—with a casual tweet. Art critic Jerry Saltz pointed out that most, if not all, the galleries he visits now have no benches. “Please place benches there for the disabled and we geezers who take a long time to look.” Soon, after it started racking up likes and fostering discussion, he posted more pics of museums and galleries with wide open, bench-less rooms highlighting his point.
It brought to mind this ‘Letter of Recommendation’ from the New York Times magazine that ran last month which declared the park bench an “Endangered Species.” In a world that wants you to pay for everything, it posited, public seating is becoming a luxury.
Have you noticed this where you live or have visited recently? A dearth of places to sit? With nowhere to park our butts and look up from our phones, we remain closed off and destined to scarf down a meal or a snack while pacing around like sentient bumper cars. Instead of sitting back, slowing down and observing the world around us.
That’s the power of the park bench, writes Jonathan Lee—its capacity to retain and encourage the art of observation. “A good bench catches us in our quietest, most vulnerable moments, when we may be open to imagining new narratives and revisiting old ones.”
And it’s not just here in the States. Parisians have noticed the strange disappearance of their beloved benches lately. So have Canadians. Of course, COVID restrictions didn’t help—social distancing protocols often had benches removed or taped off. Such removal of places to sit tie into a larger movement of hostile urban architecture.
According to Azure, removing or restricting public amenities as a way to “manage public space is bad public policy that urgently needs to be re-examined.” Besides the point that we all need a place to sit now and then, removing benches is an ugly way to detract people who may not have anywhere else to go. Plus, it’s just one more thing that keeps us from interacting with one another or enjoying a few moments of precious solitude.
↦ FYI: Poland recently introduced “happy to chat” discussion benches to combat loneliness.
Rittenhouse Case Heads to the Jury
While Kenosha braces for possible unrest
Attorneys in Kyle Rittenhouse's murder trial sparred for the last time Monday during closing arguments. The fate of the 18-year-old, who gunned down two men and injured another during a 2020 protest, is in the hands of Wisconsin jurors, who are set to begin deliberations this morning.
Over the course of closing arguments, prosecutors and defense lawyers traded barbs and accusations that the others had lied, reports NPR. Showing the jury nearly identical photos and videos, the two sides said the evidence showed opposite things: Gaige Grosskreutz (who was shot by Rittenhouse) was pointing the gun; Grosskreutz wasn't pointing the gun. An unidentified man batted off Rittenhouse's hat; the man was trying to “take his head off.”
In the heart of downtown Kenosha, small-business owners were prepared for the worst, fearing protesters, crime and vandalism may return regardless of the outcome in the trial.
“No matter which way the verdict goes, somebody is going to be upset,” one business owner told NBC News. “You always have to be ready because you don’t know what’s going to happen, but we hope cooler minds prevail.”
↦ Dig Deeper: The Associated Press compiles nine takeaways from the trial closing arguments.
Partner
You can't give the gift of relaxation. But you can certainly encourage it with the right gift.
Bitcoin Starts Trading
Is cryptocurrency conquering Wall Street—or is it the other way around?
The first Bitcoin-linked exchange-traded fund has launched in the U.S.—marking a new milestone in cryptocurrency's ongoing journey toward the financial mass market.
ProShares, an investment management firm, is launching the ProShares Bitcoin Strategy ETF, which will be listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker BITO starting today.
“BITO will open up exposure to Bitcoin to a large segment of investors who are comfortable buying stocks and ETFs, but do not desire to go through the hassle and learning curve of establishing another account with a cryptocurrency provider,” ProShares CEO Michael L. Sapir said in a statement on Monday.
So, does buying a share of the ETF mean you're buying Bitcoin? No. According to CNET, you're buying a share of an exchange-traded fund (which is a fund that tracks another asset). In this case, the ETF is actually tracking a futures contract—an agreement to buy or sell an asset in the future at a specific price—and the asset is Bitcoin.
↦ Meanwhile: Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies including ethereum fell sharply overnight, retreating from near-record highs.
New Electric Benz Is Turning Heads
But can something that looks like the EQS win over electric luxury intenders?
The Mercedes EQS-Class; the first flagship electric luxury sedan from the world's oldest car maker, is the first built on the first-generation electric-native platform. That's a lot of firsts.
This car arrives with huge expectations. It's supposed to be brilliant, packed with artificial intelligence, comfort, luxury, torque, range, and then more range. Road & Track calls it “Mercedes-Benz's most important car in decades ... drawing a line between the past and the future.”
Robb Report says “it's a complete reimagining of the car, packed with advanced tech inside and out,” giving the German automaker a chance to define luxury in the electric era.
But I'm with MotorTrend, who points out that despite the pleasantly quiet cabin and how dazzling the “Hyperscreen” displays are, the EQS' bloblike roofline and cab-forward appearance make it somewhat less desirable. To me, this looks like a reimagined Prius. Granted, a very luxurious one, but is it sexy enough to lure people away from Tesla or Lucid?
↦ No Frunk? The hood is bolted shut. You can't store anything in the engineless space it covers, unlike in the Lucid Air and Tesla Model S.
In Other News
Other Things We’re Talking About Today
+
Partner
The Closest Thing to Actually Giving a Great Night’s Sleep
Lahgo’s loungewear invites you to take it easy
'Tis the season for slow, snowy mornings and nights curled up by the fire. During a time when the sun goes down by 4:30, you couldn't pick a better time of year to upgrade your loungewear so you can be comfortable and cozy when you're at home. And for the guy on your list who seemingly has everything, he certainly wouldn't refuse a luxe, louche set of silk pajamas. If he's not a PJs man, then perhaps a breathable house tee or some upgraded lounge pants that promise pima cotton softness inside and out. And while you're at it, why not treat yourself?
Cool everyday tee, $74
Washable silk boxers, $88
Restore double faced robe, $258
Cozy fleece pant, $148
↦ Want more? Browse all gift options from Lahgo
The New Shoes on Our Radar
↑ This camp moc from Red Wing ($259.99) is a timeless everyday style. Crafted with a sturdy lug sole and stitchdown construction, they're flexible and surpringsly lightweight. Pair these with a pair of heavy twill chinos and some warm wool socks and you'll already have one foot up on winter.
↦ Want more? 5 new shoes on our radar
Today’s Deals
Expires 11/16
Expires 11/30
Ongoing Sale
↦ Want More? See all 34 sales
Morning Motto
Do it.
↦ Follow: @saritawalsh
That’s all for today...
Valet Media LLC535 S. Curson Ave. #8GLos Angeles, CA 90036[email protected]