The Daily Valet. - 11/21/23, Tuesday
✔️ A Big One Is Brewing
Tuesday, November 21st Edition
By Cory Ohlendorf, Valet. Editor
I’m grateful for many things this week, and not being a French Bulldog is just one of them. I’ll explain below.
Today’s Big Story
A Storm Is Brewing
A “wave of inclement weather” will likely snarl Thanksgiving travel and cause delays ACROSS the U.S.
It wouldn't be the holidays without some crisis, right? And instead of our parents, we have Mother Nature to blame. Because a series of storms are poised to strike a large portion of the U.S. this week—including the heavily populated Northeast—and will likely cause travel disruptions for some of the 55.4 million people on the move. Severe thunderstorms, snow, heavy rain and gusty winds will all be possible and affect much of the nation.It's been a quiet autumn season when it comes to severe weather, with Monday featuring the first significant tornado threat since late August for anywhere across the country. But now, severe storms have spread across the South and Gulf Coast states, with heavy rain also expected to cause travel delays across parts of the Midwest and Great Lakes. CNN reports that a fresh input of atmospheric energy and a robust surge of moisture will charge up the storm's impacts later today and usher in the most widespread, impactful weather of the week.And even those who aren't hit by bad weather could still be affected as major air travel hubs (and popular layover destinations) like Chicago, Kansas City, St. Louis, Dallas and Houston will likely face inclement weather as the system moves east today. By Wednesday, the storm will be pulling away from the East Coast, but northern New England and Maine will still see rain and snow through the evening. According to NBC News, hubs like Atlanta and Charlotte could deal with lingering showers in the early hours, as well as Washington, Philadelphia and New York. Boston is the biggest hub that could contend with strong winds and rain into the afternoon hours on Wednesday.The American Automobile Association projects Wednesday will be the busiest day on the roads for Thanksgiving travel. The Transportation Security Administration expects about 30 million passengers to fly between this Friday and the Tuesday after Thanksgiving, which represents an 11.5% increase from last year and the highest number of Thanksgiving air travelers since 2005. And the hits just keep on coming. Another storm is forecast to drop south out of Canada later in the week, bringing heavy snows to parts of the Rockies and Plains, potentially including Denver, which is a major hub for air travel.Then again, despite all the challenging forecasts leading up to Thanksgiving, the actual Turkey Day itself is forecast to be quite pleasant for most of the country. Relatively seasonable temperatures are expected countrywide and while the Gulf Coast could get some stray showers, and the Northern Rockies may deal with more rounds of snow showers, the majority of the country looks to remain mostly dry.
Meanwhile:
Driving or flying before feasting? Here are some expert tips that all Thanksgiving travelers should keep in mind.
White House Says Hostage Deal Is Close
another hospital gets caught in the fight, but the war's youngest evacuees reach safety in Egypt
U.S. officials believe that Israel and Hamas are getting closer to a deal that would secure the release of some hostages held in Gaza—even as the Israeli military's assault on Gaza City continued and rockets were being fired into Israel. President Biden said on Monday he believed an accord was near. “We're closer now than we've been before,” White House spokesman John Kirby said of a hostage agreement.Meanwhile, hospitals have become a focal point of the fighting. Israel accuses Hamas fighters of using the buildings as strategic hubs and the residents inside as human shields. Hamas has denied the claims, but an Israel Defense Forces spokesperson said Monday that troops had found a Hamas weapons laboratory inside a mosque in the area. “This is how we work. We discover and we reveal to the world what Hamas does, hiding its terror in mosques, schools and hospitals,” Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari told The Washington Post.But in a rare moment of positive news amid the grinding conflict, more than two dozen very sick premature babies—11 of them in critical condition—were able to be evacuated from the Gaza Strip in ambulances to hospitals in Egypt. The World Health Organization said on Monday that none of Gaza's 36 hospitals are functional enough to treat critical trauma cases or perform surgery, even as the number of people needing urgent medical treatment was rising with each day.
The OpenAI Drama Continues
OpenAI Staff Threatens Exodus, Jeopardizing Company’s Future
The OpenAI saga continued on Monday with Microsoft shares closing at an all-time high after the software giant said Sam Altman—OpenAI's fired chief executive—would come on board and lead its new advanced A.I. research team. But the surprise move isn't a done deal yet. He and co-founder Greg Brockman are still willing to return to OpenAI if the remaining board members who fired him step aside, multiple sources tell The Verge.The New York Times reports that the company as a whole is in jeopardy after more than 700 of its 770 employees signed a letter on Monday saying they'd leave for Microsoft if the ousted CEO isn't reinstalled. Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella appeared on CNBC and Bloomberg TV on Monday evening. Asked directly if Altman would be a Microsoft employee and the 700 OpenAI staffers would join him at the company, Nadella said only “that is for the OpenAI board and management and employees to choose.”One surprise signee of that resignation letter was Ilya Sutskever, the company's chief scientist and one of the members of the four-person board that voted to oust Altman. On Monday, Sutskever said he deeply regretted his participation in the board's action. “I will do everything I can to reunite the company,” he posted on X. That means that there is more pressure on the board than ever, with only two of the three remaining members needing to flip. Altman posted that “we are all going to work together some way or other,” which we are told is meant to indicate that the fight continues.
Dig Deeper:
Here is how Microsoft’s Satya Nadella kept “the best bromance in tech” alive by moving quickly to hire Sam Altman.
The French Bulldog Paradox
There's now a Culture War Over (And a Bounty on) America’s Most Popular Dog
The life of a dog often seems like pure bliss, but it's got to be hard to be a French bulldog these days. And I'm not even talking about all the potential health pitfalls that nag the little pups. Beloved for their scrunched faces, alert ears and city-friendly toteability, they've become arm candy for everyone from Reese Witherspoon to Megan Thee Stallion, and Michael Phelps. First recognized as a breed by the American Kennel Club in 1898, French bulldogs are the It dog right now. This year, they even surpassed Labrador retrievers—who held the title for more than three decades.Being the dog of the moment means that Frenchies, as they're so often called, are also highly in demand. Lady Gaga's dogs made international headlines in 2021 when her dog walker was shot and her two dogs stolen. And now, from coast to coast, reports of dog napping—sometimes at gunpoint—are coming in week after week.What's more, even those who love the dogs can't seem to get along. According to Vanity Fair, the Frenchie world is “rife with controversy, harassment, and price gouging.” The overall demand, questions about breeding practices, and large price tags have spawned the term “greeder”. And apparently, there's a whole culture war brewing about “which color is the right one” to own. I'm not even touching that one.
Hey, Buddy:
Nearly a million dogs were analyzed and these are the most common dog names in America.
In Other News
From airlines to ticket sellers, they’re scrambling to protect their profits.
Have you heard about ...
The Best Gifts for All Kinds of Moms
Treat your mom, grandmother or the mother of your children to something special
Moms love anything we give them. But they deserve so much, don't they? Plus they're hard to nail down because they're each unique multi-faceted women. Of course, we know they'd appreciate a few more phone calls and visits. But instead of thinking of her as the mom to whom you owe a phone call, think of her interests when buying a gift. Is she the type of woman who appreciates the indulgence of a quality hand cream or cashmere robe? Is she the active type who's always on the move? Does she love staying in with a good movie or a cup of tea? Does she adore (yet never treats herself to) luxe beauty products? The key is to think of the way she lives and then find something slightly extravagant that's guaranteed to make her smile.
Clockwise, from top left to right:
Naturally non-stick cookware set, $545 / $355.50 by Caraway; Mises et Relances leather tray, $445 by Hermès and Bulb vase, $88 by Heath Ceramics
Clockwise, from top left to right:
Market racquet set, $92 by Recess; Cotton cloud robe, $109 by Parachute and Honeysuckle triple-milled soap, $14 by Caswell-Masey
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Morning Motto
Practice gratitude.
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