The Daily Valet. - 11/30/22, Wednesday
✔️ Our Best Friends
Wednesday, November 30th Edition
By Cory Ohlendorf, Valet. Editor
Give your pet an extra treat for me today, will you?
Today’s Big Story
Pets in America
It's a complicated relationship, sure, but our pets have never been more important
We're a nation of pet owners. More than 70% of U.S. households, or about 90.5 million families, own a pet, according to the 2021-22 survey conducted by the American Pet Products Association. That's way up from the 56% of U.S. households in 1988—the first year the survey was conducted—and 67% in 2019.Of course, like so many aspects of daily life, the pandemic changed our relationship with our pets, too. According to a recent study, one in five American households adopted or bought a cat or dog during the early days of 2020's lockdowns. And contrary to some earlier reports, the majority of those animals have stayed with their owners. But now that most Americans have returned to working in the office (either part-time or full-time), some are now wrestling with the realities of managing a pet.Because it's not always easy—or inexpensive. For decades, Americans' collective spending on veterinary care has been rising—it exceeded $34 billion in 2021—a sign of a broader shift in how we think about pets. Our grandparents might have found it indulgent to allow pets on the living-room couch, let alone the bed. But as birth rates have fallen and we spend less time around people, our pets have become more and more like family.Our pets now have expensive day cares, their own subscriptions boxes, health insurance, funerals and according to The Atlantic, even trusts, should an owner die an untimely death—a proliferation of services that “implies new obligations to pet ownership, turning it into something more like parenthood.”But it's not all tasks and duty. These furry, big-hearted creatures pay us back in all sorts of ways. If it feels like your animal knows just when you need a little pick-me-up, experts say that they just might. And a study last month confirmed that the simple act of petting a dog can supercharge our brain's frontal cortex—aiding in memory and stress reduction. So if you've been thinking about getting a pet over the holidays ... this is your sign to do it.
’Tis the Season:
Wondering what to get all those good boys and girls for the holidays? Or what to get the pet lover in your life? We've got some suggestions.
The U.S. Advances at the World Cup
The victory extends the team's first World Cup campaign in eight years
For all the myriad subplots and controversies swirling around the U.S.-Iran World Cup match on Tuesday afternoon in Qatar, in the end, the match was just 11 men running around a pitch trying to keep a ball from 11 other men. And it turned out that the Americans had the better day—the U.S. Men's Team punched its ticket to the round of 16 with a 1-0 victory.The U.S. opened the scoring in the 38th minute. Midfielder Weston McKennie lofted a pinpoint cross to a streaking Sergino Dest who headed into the path of Christian Pulisic who scored the game-winning goal. But he and Iranian goalkeeper Ali Beiranvand collided after the ball found the back of the net. According to CNN, Pulisic was taken to the hospital after the game and it's unclear if he'll be able to play in the next match.The Americans needed a victory against Iran to move onto the next tournament stage after drawing Wales (1-1) and England (0-0) in their previous matches. With the win, the United States finished second in Group B, which pits them against the Netherlands (winners of Group A) in the knockout round of the tournament.
What's Next?
Team USA will take on the Netherlands on Saturday, Dec. 3 at the Khalifa International Stadium in Al Rayyan, with kickoff set at 10 am ET.
White supremacists continue to pose the greatest threat of committing ‘lethal violence against civilians’ in the United States.”
2022’s Best Apps
Apple's App Store Awards highlight the top fitness, social media and note-taking apps
As the year winds down, Apple is reflecting on the apps and games that made its tech so fun to use. The brand just released its list of the best apps and games from the year, curated by Apple's global App Store editorial team.The top iPhone app prize went to the “anti-Instagram” social app BeReal. Love it or hate it, this year people got into the simplicity of the new age social media and its emphasis on authenticity.In addition to BeReal, the winners span a wide range of genres and include games like Apex Legends Mobile and Apple Arcade's Wylde Flowers. GoodNotes 5 (which lets you take notes in your own handwriting) was the iPad app of the year; while Gentler Streak, a fitness tracker that focuses on wellness, took the top spot for Watch app.
FYI:
The Google Play Store and the Apple App Store are the biggest app stores worldwide, with a combined total of over 5.6 million apps available.
Olive Oil Has Never Been Cooler
It didn't need a rebrand, but it got one anyway
I just bought my friend a bottle of Wonder Valley olive oil as a birthday present. I love the stuff and knew she'd enjoy the sexy bottle and high-quality peppery oil inside. And it occurred to me that olive oil is kind of having a moment right now. Have you noticed?Eater did. As they put it: The pantry staple is currently “on that hot girl shit.” Over the past few years, brands like Brightland, Graza and Fat Gold have brought the elusive element of coolness to the simple oil. These new, artisanal, mostly DTC brands are using punchy names, bold packaging, stylish merch and editorial stories to educate consumers about what makes a good olive oil and how to use it. “In so doing, coolness becomes a gateway for quality, and a way to signal both virtue and indulgence. Or just a way to get consumers to buy olive oil at all.”Then again, have you seen the olive oil section at your local grocery store? It's gotten bigger too. Some hail from Greece, others from California, others still from Italy. Some boast that they're “extra-virgin,” and others say “pure” or “refined.” It's overwhelming. Maybe these new brands can be like wine—if you find a bottle that speaks to you, then your tastes likely align.
Expert recs:
Forbes asked several chefs to pick their favorite bottles of olive oils to buy right now.
In Other News
Which means it'll soon be signed into law.
Have you heard about ...
Worth a Listen
The podcast You need on your radar right now
If you're in a bit of a podcast rut lately and want something new to listen to, dig into this podcast (where there are already nine episodes to hear). An intriguing mix of art world intrigue and true crime, the series from Pushkin Industries explores the life and untimely death of Cuban American artist Ana Mendieta. There's intel on her provocative art, along with an investigation into the long-held rumor (among those in the art industry) that she was murdered by her partner and minimalist art legend, Carl Andre. Vulture calls it a “window into another world” … the world in question is the New York art scene of the '70s and '80s, which was definitely an interesting place to be.
Listen:
Morning Motto
You’re not the same as you were before. That’s a good thing.
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