The Daily Valet. - 12/1/20, Tuesday

✔️ A Double-Edged Sword

December 01, 2020

Tuesday, December 1st Edition

Cory Ohlendorf, Editor in Chief of Valet.

And just like that ... it’s December.

Cory Ohlendorf , Editor ⋯ @coryohlendorf

Today’s Big Story

A Double-Edged COVID Sword

The pandemic will be tamed, but we’ve got to get through a dark winter first

The federal government could begin distributing two coronavirus vaccines in the next few weeks, a record-shattering feat that now hinges on the decisions of U.S. regulators, reports the Washington Post.

Moderna applied for emergency authorization for its vaccine after full results from a late-stage study showed it was 94.1% effective with no serious safety concerns. The Food and Drug Administration said an advisory committee would meet to discuss the request on Dec. 17th.

That same panel will also discuss Pfizer’s similar vaccine next week on Dec. 10th. The FDA will decide on the emergency use authorizations after the advisers make their recommendations. If both are cleared, as many as 40 million doses could begin being distributed within hours of approval.

It’s nothing short of a miracle, this scientific sprint towards a highly-effective vaccine. Unfortunately, initial supplies won’t be enough to vaccinate many people. According to the Wall Street Journal, health officials have been considering how to prioritize access. The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices recommends doctors, nurses and other health workers (including nursing home staff and residents) get first dibs.

In the meantime, there’s an awful amount of infection rippling through the United States. The nation’s leading infectious disease expert, Dr. Anthony Fauci, warned that the spike in Thanksgiving travel could make the current surge in COVID-19 cases even worse in the coming weeks. Some epidemiologists now predict that the American death toll could be close to twice the 250,000 figure that the nation surpassed last week.

According to the New York Times, the nation now must “endure a critical period of transition, one that threatens to last far too long, as we set aside justifiable optimism about next spring and confront the dark winter ahead.”

↦ Meanwhile: Congress isn't passing pandemic relief, but they are passing around the coronavirus.

Controversial Trump Adviser Resigns

With no infectious disease background, he spread misinformation about the virus

Dr. Scott Atlas, a science adviser to President Donald Trump who was skeptical of measures to control the coronavirus outbreak, is leaving his White House post.

Fox News obtained Atlas's resignation letter, dated Dec. 1. In it, Atlas says he was on a 130-day detail set to expire this week. He touted the White House's work on the pandemic, while wishing “all the best” to the incoming Biden administration.

A neuroradiologist on leave from the Hoover Institution, a conservative think tank affiliated with Stanford University, Atlas had no background in infectious diseases. He didn't attend a coronavirus task force meeting for months, and top experts on the panel, like Dr. Deborah Birx and Dr. Anthony Fauci, said they didn't appreciate his input at their meetings.

His views also prompted Stanford to issue a statement distancing itself from the faculty member, saying Atlas “has expressed views that are inconsistent with the university's approach in response to the pandemic.”

↦ ALSO: Federal Communications Commission Chairman Ajit Pai announced Monday he will step down from his post on Jan. 20, the day President-elect Joe Biden is inaugurated.

Food Insecurity Is Rising Fast

26 million Americans don’t have enough to eat

By the end of this year, more than 50 million people could experience food insecurity, reports National Geographic. That’s one in six Americans and one in four children—nearly a 50% increase from last year.

The USDA defines food insecurity as a lack of consistent access to enough food for an active, healthy life. And as this map will show you, it's increasing coast to coast. In October, Feeding America distributed some 548 million meals—up 52% from an average month before the pandemic.

More Americans are going hungry now than at any point during the pandemic, according to an analysis of new federal data—a problem created by an economic downturn compounded by government relief programs that expired or will terminate at the end of the year.

Since today is Giving Tuesday, I'm giving to Feeding America, who has a goal of getting 6,500 people donating today in order to provide an extra 2 million meals to those in need.

↦ FYI: More Americans are paying their rent with a credit card—a 70% increase from last year, according to NPR.

Super Nintendo World Is Opening Soon

Get a first look at the AR ‘Mario Kart’ rollercoaster

Universal Studios Japan plans to open its $580 million Nintendo attraction on Feb. 4, finally debuting a long-delayed effort to introduce Mario and other beloved characters to real-world theme park visitors.

According to Bloomberg, it's envisioned as a life-sized replica of Nintendo's most popular games with rides, shops and walk-through activities.

Mario Kart: Koopa's Challenge is one of the most talked-about attractions. Housed inside an intricate model of Bowser's castle, the ride puts you in a replica kart, complete with augmented reality glasses for a "fully immersive" experience. While the kart is on rails that prevent free driving around the track, augmented reality glasses should let players actually see shells being thrown to take out opponents.

Hypebeast reports that visitors will also be able to collect virtual coins around the park via a special wristband or interact with special park features using a Nintendo Switch.

↦ COMING SOON: Construction of a similar Super Nintendo World section for Universal Studios Hollywood began last year.

In Other News

Other Things We’re Talking About Today

The men who impacted 2020

This cursed TikTok cooking

An ode to macrobrews

Now’s the Time for Tough Trousers

Swap your sweats for work pants

Who can say why it happened. Maybe it's the return to classic workwear, or the skatewear influence on men's fashion—perhaps it's just a reaction to living in sweats for the better part of 2020. But suddenly, work pants are everywhere.

While they'd all be considered “hard pants” at this point, there is a reassuring feeling that comes with wearing something sturdy in such uncertain times—it feels almost like armor.

The Valet. team rounded up the best options to buy right now. They come in a range of fits and fabrics—from roomy and rugged to crisp and slightly stiff to pre-washed and broken-in. What's more, these wider-leg, tough-as-nails work pants go with anything you already have in your closet, so pull them on with everything from hoodies and sneakers to sweaters and loafers.

↦ Buy: The best work pants at any price.

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