The Daily Valet. - 11/8/22, Tuesday

✔️ Make It a Holiday

November 08, 2022

Tuesday, November 8th Edition

Cory Ohlendorf, Editor in Chief of Valet.

Have you voted already? If not, you still have time.

Cory Ohlendorf , Editor ⋯ @coryohlendorf

Today’s Big Story

Make Election Day a Holiday, You Cowards

Should this day become a Federal holiday? It sounds good, but the issue is as complicated as our politics.

Today, as you know, is Election Day. But voting in the 2022 midterms has been going on for weeks. The pandemic expanded options in many states—I voted by mail because as a California resident, the ballot is automatically sent to me.

In fact, potentially one-third of the ballots that will be cast have already been cast, with early voting and vote-by-mail turnout surpassing 42 million and already eclipsing the last midterm in 2018, reports the Washington Post.

But voters who want to cast their ballot in person still have to go to the polls today. And those who haven't registered to vote yet but want to register can actually do it on Election Day in 22 states (and the District of Columbia). That’s something of a privilege, since many will have to take time off of work to do so. Waiting in line to vote can take upwards of an hour, especially in poorer neighborhoods, and trying to vote during a work break is a luxury many employees don’t have.

Depending on where you live, your employer has to allow time to vote and in some states, employers actually pay you to do so. In some cases, you must ask in advance for time off to vote, and perhaps provide proof of voting. Some states observe the day as a holiday, while public schools in New York City and Chicago will be closed for the day. But the day is not a Federal holiday. Yet.

Democrats have long led the push for an Election Day holiday, but in the last two years Republicans have put forward at least seven of their own bills as well. According to NPR, while Democrats favor expanding voter access, including reforms like mail-in voting and automatic absentee balloting. Republican bills to give voters the day off are more influenced by election misinformation—and often seek to limit voting access to in-person, Election Day ballots.

According to the Pew Research Center, the idea has bipartisan support. It’s been proposed in Congress various times, and President Biden said he supports it. In fact, Google search data indicates that Americans often wonder if it already is. But Fast Company points out that it's not that simple. Certain groups lag in turnout, and a holiday may not help them. Lower-income workers in service and retail likely wouldn’t get the day off regardless. And if services like schools, childcare, and public transport closed as well, that could make it even harder for people to vote.

↦ Meanwhile: A Russian oligarch and close Putin ally admitted in remarks on Monday that he had previously interfered in U.S. elections and would continue to do so in the future.

Ukraine Bears Down

Kremlin says Russia is open to negotiations asKyiv prepares for a winter with no heat

Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said Monday that Russia is “open to” negotiation with Ukraine but that the moment is not right for talks. U.S. officials have privately encouraged the Ukrainian government to signal an openness to talks but nothing has been confirmed.

Despite Ukraine's successful counteroffensive, life continues to worsen throughout the country—especially in occupied areas. Some have tried to leave because because there was no heat, gas, telephone service or internet. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said in his nightly video address to the nation that about 4.5 million people were without electricity.

According to the New York Times, Russian troops have increasingly sought shelter in residential areas and private homes across the region as well as in the embattled city of Kherson as Ukrainian forces have targeted the schools and civic buildings they had used as bases. Many of those fleeing complained that Russian troops used civilians as cover from Ukrainian fire, or even were carrying out the shelling themselves on villages and then blaming it on the Ukrainian army.

On Monday, the U.S. State Department said an American citizen had been killed in combat in Eastern Ukraine. CNN reports that at least five other Americans are known to have been killed, fighting alongside Ukrainian forces during the ongoing conflict with Russia.

Substack Takes on Twitter

The newsletter publisher introduces a new discussions feature, Substack Chat

If you want to know what's going on, you log onto Twitter, right? But the same could be said for Substack. After all, newsletters are having a moment (right!?), and Substack is a leader when it comes to newsletters, with more than 30 million regular readers.

As TechCrunch reports, Substack is hoping to capitalize on Twitter's recent drama—openly targeting Twitter's user base over the past week and now throwing its hat into the ring as a more direct competitor with the launch of Substack Chat.

Of course, they're not the only ones. Some, like the decentralized media network Mastodon, are seeing unprecedented levels of interest. But Substack is a little more mainstream and has even set up a designated page to smoothly allow the transition.

According to Engadget, the first time that a creator starts a chat, a notification email will go out to all of their subscribers. Creators can decide the tone and topic of chat threads and they can switch the chat function off and reactivate it whenever they like. But as The Atlantic points out, a mass exodus from Twitter seems unlikely. It would have to become functionally worse, and something else would have to be obviously better.

↦ FYI: Twitter is used by 238 million active daily users globally, a company spokesperson told Reuters in October.

Is This the Ultimate Workout Shoe?

Reebok worked with some CrossFit icons for this new stripped-down cross trainer

The Reebok Nano X2 training shoe is already a top-tier trainer for both men and women who consider themselves gym rats. With a lightweight design and superior breathability, it boasts a strong outsole with a ton of traction so you can really bare down and go the extra mile.

But Reebok just teamed up with the “Fittest Man in History,” and CrossFit champ, Rich Froning Jr., to make the Nano X2 even better.

“I've felt what works and what doesn't, so we've tried to build a shoe that can be worn for anything,” Froning told Gear Patrol. The stripped down style is the lightest shoe in the Nano X2 stable, which means the Nano X2 Froning is built for quick, precise movements without any unnecessary bells and whistles.

Built for competitions, it's also a responsive and comfortable sneaker for everyday training. Especially with the brand's signature Floatride Energy Foam providing a springy and flexible forefoot for added speed and support. Yes, they cost a little than your standard Nanos, but according to those who've tried it, they're worth it.

↦ Buy: Sizes are going quick, but Reebok still has the Nano X2 Froning Edition available online.

In Other News

↦ Feds Seize Over $1 Billion in Crypto Originally Stolen From Dark Web Drug Marketplace Silk Road

↦ How Mixed-Race Neighborhoods Quietly Became the Norm in the U.S.

↦ Apple Could Be Changing the Way We Talk to Siri

Other Things We’re Talking About Today

These ancient Tamagotchis

The ‘When We Were Young’ Festival

Tyler, The “Curator”

The Gifts That Will Delight Mom

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:Monogrammed lambswool throw, $169 by Williams Sonoma Home, Brass book stand, $49 by Puebco and “Glowing Renewal” kit, $95 by La Mer

Clockwise, from top left:Hand-painted porcelain dish, $350 by Tiffany & Co., Iron urn watering can, $48 by Terrain and Shiatsu heated massager, $90 / $79.99 by Snailax

↦ Want more? See all 19 gift picks

What We’re Buying

A traditional Macintosh coat reimagined for today. Featuring a durable corduroy collar with two side pockets and raglan sleeves, now for an unbelievably low price.

↦ Get It: $328 / $67 by Outerknown