The Daily Valet. - 11/25/20, Wednesday
✔️ America Rethinks Thanksgiving
Wednesday, November 25th Edition
Happy Thanksgiving Eve!
Cory Ohlendorf , Editor ⋯ @coryohlendorf
↦ Our full report will be back on Monday ...
↦ But we’ll be sending you some relaxing reads and some helpful shopping intel and discount codes over the long holiday weekend.
↦ Be sure to look for those.
Today’s Big Story
America Rethinks Thanksgiving
Despite craving a normal holiday, it seems more and more choose to stay put
With less than 24 hours until Thanksgiving and the coronavirus still spiking across the country, Americans are stuck between a rock and a hard place. Public health officials have been pleading with the public to stay home. And, despite busy airports this past weekend, most people plan to follow their advice, according to a huge survey asking Americans about their holiday plans.
AAA expects more than a 10% drop in Thanksgiving travel compared with last year—the largest year-on-year drop since the recession of 2008. But the change is far smaller—around 4%—for those traveling by car, who make up a huge majority of those who plan to travel (roughly 47.8 million people), reports the New York Times.
Flight cancelations are increasing by the hour, and those willing to fly are looking to cover themselves against coronavirus-related risks. The number of insurance policies purchased for domestic trips was up 170%, compared to the same period in 2019.
Of course, it’s getting harder to travel even if you wanted to. Multiple states have enacted stricter restrictions. Bars and restaurants in Pennsylvania have been ordered by the state to stop selling alcohol and California’s health secretary on Tuesday urged people to say “no” to family and friends who want to gather.
But that’s not easy to do. This a holiday that’s celebrated as a bedrock of bringing family and friends, near and far, together for a big meal and lots of catching up, but the CDC urges: “As cases continue to increase, the safest way to celebrate Thanksgiving is to celebrate at home with people you live with.”
So if you’re in need of some help with the awkward conversations—either around staying safe or canceling altogether—NBC News actually spoke with some experts to help you out.
↦ Bright Side: There will be plenty of leftovers. The pandemic didn’t dent the U.S. turkey supply.
The Grammy Nom Snubs and Surprises
2020 isn’t done doling out disappointments
The 2021 Grammy nominations were announced on Tuesday and if you thought this year had run out of curveballs to throw, just wait till you see the list of nominees.
Despite a record-breaking year for The Weeknd, he was shutout entirely. The R&B singer lashed out at the Grammys in response. “The Grammys remain corrupt," he tweeted. "You owe me, my fans and the industry transparency...”
According to Vulture, the Recording Academy made a fool of itself by nominating artists for Best New Artist entirely too late. Case in point: indie giant Phoebe Bridgers, nominated for her second album Punisher.
But it wasn't all bad. GQ says that while the award show's ratings have slipped, the term “Grammy nominee” still continues to hold industry weight, and stans would certainly rather have their favorite artists on the lists than off. They chose to focus on the positive, from rap's fork in the road moment to the celebration of genuinely good songcraft in Best Rock Performance.
↦ FYI: Justin Bieber had a problem too ... Vulture reports he would like the Grammys to recognize him as an R&B artist.
Mysterious Metal Monolith Discovered
The alien-like object was found in rural Utah
While counting sheep from a helicopter in the remote Utah desert, state employees spotted a shiny metal monolith protruding from the ground, reports KLS TV.
Pilot Bret Hutchings said one of the officers spotted the object in a remote area of red rock—a tall metal object, shooting straight out of the desert floor—resembling something from 2001: A Space Odyssey.
The crew landed near the site to investigate and take pictures, but couldn't determine the origins of the silver metal monolith. The Utah Department of Public Safety did put out a statement declaring that installing unauthorized structures on “federally managed public lands is illegal no matter what planet you're from.”
And while the monolith remains an irresistible mystery, its location has turned into a lesson on how to find almost anything online, including an enigmatic metal sculpture. According The Verge, someone opened a Reddit forum to locate the monolith within hours. And less than a day after the sculpture's existence was revealed, someone seems to have actually done it. Boy, I love how the internet works sometimes.
The Show Must Go On
Macy’s annual parade marches on without student bands or sidewalks lined with crowds
Not snow, not rain, not gusting winds or the Great Depression have caused the cancellation of the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade in its 96-year history. And tomorrow, it plans to power through a pandemic.
According to the New York Times, there had to be some big changes, but the parade promises to stand in as one holiday ritual that won't be crushed under the weight of the COVID-19 crisis.
So how's it happening? Well, the parade route will be one block long, not the typical 2.5 miles. Those high school bands from all around the country will not be marching and the spectators lining the streets will be gone too. The signature giant character balloons will still be there, but instead of being flown by 80 to 100 human handlers, they'll be flown by special vehicles involving fewer people, reports CNET.
And the recent addition of Broadway performances is back—a welcome return considering how long theaters have been dark. TimeOut says there will be performances from the cast of the blockbuster musical Hamilton, as well as other shows, including Ain't Too Proud, Jagged Little Pill and Mean Girls. The Radio City Rockettes will be there too. Just don't expect them to lock arms.
↦ How to Watch: The parade will air on NBC from 9 a.m. to noon (all time zones). You can also watch online, live on Twitter and YouTube.
In Other News
Other Things We’re Talking About Today
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2020’s Best Inventions
The good stuff born during this weird, wild year
TIME magazine has announced its 100 best inventions of 2020, showcasing new products and innovations changing the way people live over the past 12 months. The list is split into a number of categories—everything from Accessibility and Beauty, to Entertainment and Fitness.
Stand-out entries on the list include Sony‘s recently-released PlayStation 5, which features alongside the Xbox Series S in the Entertainment section. There are two sneaker designs feature on the list, with the Allbirds Tree Dasher appearing in the Design section while Nike’s Air Zoom Alphafly Next is a stand-out entry in Fitness. Elsewhere, the small self-learning Insta360 One R is dubbed "the Next-Level Action Cam."
Other inventions on the list show how the world has changed over the past year, with COVID-19’s influence throughout. The LIXIL Sato Tap, for example, is a portable handwashing station, while Animal Crossing also features, referencing how the game became an overnight sensation as lockdown measures spread across the world.
It's a great feature to read over the long weekend and a nice reminder that despite a tumultuous year where time seems to be standing still, there was much progress to be grateful for and celebrate. And I'll drink to that.
↦ Dig Deeper: Want to know how these products get chosen to be the stand-outs of the year? TIME explains the evaluation process.
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Shopping Huckberry’s Early Black Friday Sale
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We like to describe Huckberry as the badass younger brother of a traditional department store. It carries everything from clothes and accessories to grooming products and items for a man who lives an active, adventurous life. And from now through Cyber Monday you can score some incredible deals on their best-selling products. But move fast … the prices go back up next week.
↦ Shop the Sale at Huckberry
Morning Motto
You don’t need to fight every battle.
↦ Follow: @terrapinstationers
That’s all for today...
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