The Daily Valet. - 11/19/21, Friday

✔️ Do You Know What Today Is?

November 19, 2021

Friday, November 19th Edition

Cory Ohlendorf, Editor in Chief of Valet.

Was anyone up early enough to catch the lunar eclipse?

Cory Ohlendorf , Editor ⋯ @coryohlendorf

Today’s edition is presented by

Today’s Big Story

It’s International Men’s Day

Finally, a little recognition ...

Did you know that November 19th is International Men’s Day? I’ll admit that this sounds like the start of an SNL sketch ... but it is, in fact, an official holiday that’s been around since 1999.

While these days usually aim to raise awareness, no one would argue that the plight of the modern man would necessitate a spotlight. “Early pioneers of IMD remind everyone that the day is not intended to compete against International Woman’s Day,” the official website explains. “But is for the purpose of highlighting men's experiences.”

Today, the day honors the positive contributions that men make to the world, their households, and societies. It also promotes positive role models and spreads awareness about men’s wellness—with a significance being put on suicide in 2021.

Suicide is the leading cause of death among men under the age of 45 in a wide range of countries, according to WHO data. Sexual identity as well as societal and cultural conditioning all play a role. Men are expected to present a strong, unaffected impression as they reach adulthood, which often masks an intense need to communicate what is happening to them emotionally.

Thankfully, those stereotypes are getting broken down everyday. Guys like Lil Yachty and Harry Styles have their own lines of nail polish. Kpop bands like BTS offer a fresh approach to fashion, masculinity and social activism. Which fits in nicely with 2021’s objective “to improve gender relations and promote gender equality.”

What’s more, this truly is a global holiday: celebrations and events occur in the U.S., Canada, the U.K., Singapore, Australia, India, South Africa, Haiti, Jamaica, Hungary, Malta, Ghana and Moldova—just to new a few the organization says.

↦ FYI: Unlike International Women’s Day, (on March 8) International Men’s Day isn’t officially recognized by the United Nations ... yet.

Storms Are Brewing

Dual storms set to slow holiday travel for the start of Thanksgiving week

The good news? You likely have some days off coming up. The bad news? A couple of major storms could keep you indoors or snarl travel throughout the holiday week.

According to NBC News, the storm system will develop Sunday over the Upper Midwest and Great Lakes, where snow will be possible. As it continues heading east the system will deliver rain showers and thunderstorms from the interior Northeast down through the Southeast.

As we talked about in previous newsletters, AAA is predicting more than 53 million Americans will travel for Thanksgiving—up nearly 15% from last year, and close to pre-pandemic levels. Meteorologists expect to see flight delays in Chicago, Pittsburgh, New Orleans, and elsewhere starting on Sunday and continuing throughout the week.

The TSA is requesting passengers arrive at airports two hours early in anticipation of long lines—think of it as extra time to treat yourself to a Cinnabon. The longest delays are anticipated the day before Thanksgiving in Cleveland, Cincinnati, Boston, and New York City, depending on how the storms develop.

↦ FYI: Here's the difference between a winter storm warning, watch and advisory.

Partner

You can't give the gift of relaxation. But you can certainly encourage it with the right gift.

Financial Infidelity?

It’s real, and it’s been rated as worse than physical cheating

One of the most sinister yet oft-ignored forms of relationship dishonesty is not a matter of the heart but rather the wallet. I'm talking about financial infidelity. Haven't heard of it? Neither had I, but apparently it's pretty common.

In fact, some 43% of adults with combined finances in a relationship said they've committed an act of financial deception, according to a poll from the National Endowment for Financial Education.

CNBC defines the financial deception as everything from lying to your partner or spouse about money to hiding things such as cash, bills or a purchase. And surveys have found that it's considered the ultimate betrayal in their relationship—even worse than physical cheating.

Money is often a reason for stress in partnerships and is even a leading cause of divorce. That may be because it's a difficult subject to broach. But there are ways to work through it—InsideHook spoke with some experts to find out what to do when financial strain causes relationship rupture.

↦ Dig Deeper: You're not alone. Buzzfeed asked couples to talk about a time when a money secret caused problems in their relationship.

A Weekend Pairing

Cowboy Bebop + a Prairie Oyster cocktail

People have been aware of the live-action adaptation of Cowboy Bebop, the beloved anime series, for a while. Either they've been vibrating with excitement or bemoaning it as unable to live up to the original. Well, it's finally here—streaming on Netflix—and if the reviews are to be believed, it's the rare remake that works.

Set in 2071, in a post-apocalyptic world where Earth has become largely uninhabitable, the story follows a ragtag group of bounty hunters, known as cowboys, aboard the spaceship “Bebop.” Dubbed the most influential anime of all time and one that's suffused with insouciant cool, the new show—which stars John Cho as anti-hero Spike Spiegel, along with Mustafa Shakir and Daniella Pineda—brings the classic series to life with richly retro production design. The mood and even its worldview are in many ways defined by the jazzy soundtrack, and composer Yoko Kanno (who also worked on the original) is in top form here, reports Vanity Fair.

↦ Your Pairing:Usually our pairing is something alcoholic, but today's is better if you've had too much. The notorious Prairie Oyster—raw egg, a dash of Tabasco and Worcestershire sauce—is a favorite of Spike Spiegel, who pinches his nose and downs it like a shot (at least, in the animated series).

In Other News

↦ Biden Says He Is ‘Considering’ a Diplomatic Boycott of 2022 Beijing Olympics

↦ Over a Million Americans May Have Permanently Lost Their Sense of Smell to COVID-19

↦ Can Crying Regularly Help Men Live Longer?

Other Things We’re Talking About Today

The Genesis House

MySpace 2.0?

Building a better fire

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?