The Daily Valet. - 12/1/22, Thursday
✔️ Big Days All Around
Thursday, December 1st Edition
By Cory Ohlendorf, Valet. Editor
I want a Spotify Wrapped, but for how many times I’ve ordered Panda Express this year.
Today’s Big Story
A Big Day in the House
They got Trump's Taxes, elected new leaders and are working to avert a rail strike
Wednesday was a busy day at the U.S. House of Representatives. Lawmakers moved urgently to head off the looming nationwide rail strike, passing a bill that would bind companies and workers to a proposed settlement that was reached in September, but rejected by some of the 12 unions involved. The measure passed by a vote of 290-137 and now heads to the Senate. If approved there, it will be signed by President Biden, who urged the Senate to act swiftly.Earlier in the day, history was made when House Democrats ushered in a new generation of leaders to take the mantle from the three octogenarians who have led them for two decades. Rep. Hakeem Jeffries was elected to serve as minority leader. He will be the first Black American to head a major political party in Congress when Speaker Nancy Pelosi and her team step aside next year.Jeffries told reporters that his aim for Democrats in the minority is to “find common ground with Republicans to get things done.” But, he added, “we are also prepared to oppose their extremism where we must.”And finally, the Democratic-led House Ways and Means Committee gained access to six years of former President Donald Trump's tax returns on Wednesday after a multiyear court fight. The committee had sought the records (primarily from the time he served as president) for both Trump personally and several of his corporate entities. But, the tax returns are not expected to be released to the public any time soon.
Meanwhile:
Attorney General Merrick Garland vowed the Justice Department would continue to “work tirelessly” to hold accountable those responsible for efforts to overturn the 2020 election.
Today Is World AIDS Day
What does that mean in 2022, exactly?
World AIDS Day, which has occurred on the first day of December every year since 1988, is an international day dedicated to raising awareness of the AIDS pandemic caused by the spread of HIV infection and mourning those who have died of the disease. This year, the World Health Organization is calling on global leaders and citizens to recognize and address the inequalities that are holding back progress in attaining the global goal to end AIDS by 2030.President Biden addressed this in his proclamation on Wednesday, saying that the administration is accelerating efforts to meet that goal and help the more than 38 million people around the world now living with HIV. Of course, it's not the death sentence it once ways, but with the epidemic now in its fourth decade, what is the landscape out there? According to the UNAIDS World AIDS Day report released this week, 650,000 people died as a result of AIDS last year, and another 1.5 million people were newly infected with HIV. And in the U.S., nearly 1 in 8 do not currently know that they are HIV positive.Newer medications, collectively known as “Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis,” or “PrEP,” have made it incredibly easy to protect yourself from the risk of becoming HIV positive. But, not everyone has easy or affordable access to treatment or preventive medicine. Those most impacted by AIDS in 2022 are vulnerable and marginalized groups. And despite the social progress of the last 40 years, Psychology Today says there remains deeply embedded and harmful responses to this disease that imply that the manner of infection is what dictates our empathy.
Remember?
Seinfeld exposed the creepy authoritarianism of aggressive do-gooders in an episode when Kramer walks to support AIDS awareness, but won't wear the red ribbon.
The Pros and Cons of Protests
protests are more easily begun than ever before, but they are more likely to dissipate, too
It's a question that's raised anytime there's a protest, right? Without fail, someone will mention ... “will this really do anything?” With the latest uprising in China—the country's largest demonstrations in decades—it warrants an examination: Do protests work?The answer, it appears, isn't a simple yes or no. From Ghandi's Salt March to the protests in Hong Kong that got the world talking about an extradition bill to the many BLM protests that erupted across America during the summer of 2020, it's clear that a loud and proud crowd gets people's attention. And thanks to social media, it's never been easier to amass people behind a cause—in fact, there were so many recently that the 2010s have been labeled the “the decade of protest.”But the fleeting nature of social media also works against these causes. According to the New York Times, yes, we can gather quickly for a cause, but the passion often fizzles when the collective gets distracted by another cause. Technology also lets those in power spread confusion through propaganda, promote fissures within movements, or contain protests by scrubbing away concerning messages—China is obviously a master at this.But the Perspective points out that while protests hardly ever achieve their ends right away, demonstrations do bring marginalized groups to the foreground. And The Atlantic reminds us that “protests sometimes look like failures in the short term, but much of the power of protests is in their long-term effects, on both the protesters themselves and the rest of society.”
France’s Baguette Recognized by U.N.
It joins the Unesco ‘human treasures’ list, along with Neapolitan pizza, kimchi, Belgian beer
Finally some good news: The simple yet delicious baguette—the crisp-crusted French bread—is being added to the U.N.'s list of intangible cultural heritage as a cherished tradition to be preserved by humanity.UNESCO experts gathering in Morocco this week decided that the long loaf (made only of flour, water, salt and yeast) deserved U.N. recognition, after France's culture ministry warned of a “continuous decline” in the number of traditional bakeries. They said around 400 close every year, and have been for the past half-century.According to CNN, the baguette joins other foods and culinary cultures on UNESCO's list of Intangible Cultural Heritage, including the making of Neapolitan pizza, kimchi, Belgian beer culture, the “Mediterranean diet” and Arabic coffee.
FYI:
With the bread’s new status, the French government said it planned to create an artisanal baguette day to connect citizens better with their heritage.
In Other News
Companies outsource management to apps and algorithms.
Have you heard about ...
Gifts for the Home Bartender
What to get the cocktail enthusiasts in your life
’Tis the season for celebration. And let's be honest, celebrating usually means license for liberal imbibing. If you're not already adept at crafting a cocktail for yourself and friends, then hopefully you know someone who takes on that responsibility with great care and pride. That VIP is to whom this gift guide is aimed, and I can assure you—speaking as an enthusiastic cocktail hobbyist who revels in the minutiae of the well-prepared libation—these gifts are 100% winners. Go ahead and add to cart with confidence.
Clockwise, from top left to right:
Brass ice designer plate, $197 by The Ice Designer; “Modern Classic Cocktails,” $20 by Robert Simonson and Torch flask, $99 by High Camp Flask
Clockwise, from top left to right:
Compact ice making system, $147 by Ghost Ice; Gold Fashioned whiskey cocktail, $135.99 by Sunday's Finest and Traveling bar cart, $98 by Aged & Infused
Want More?
Morning Motto
You’ve got to leave that comfort zone.
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