The Daily Valet. - 12/14/20, Monday
✔️ The Beginning of the End
Monday, December 14th Edition
It’s going to be one heck of a Monday.
Cory Ohlendorf , Editor ⋯ @coryohlendorf
Today's edition is presented by
Today’s Big Story
The Beginning of the End
COVID-19 vaccinations will begin today
What a weekend, huh? On Friday, the Food and Drug Administration granted emergency use authorization to Pfizer and BioNTech’s vaccine. On Sunday, trucks carrying more than 500,000 doses of the vaccine (which must be kept at -94 degrees Fahrenheit) made their way to distribution sites across the United States. And injections are expected to begin today.
They will be given to high-risk health care workers and nursing home residents in all 50 states, initiating what the New York Times calls “the most ambitious vaccination campaign in American history.”
According to the Wall Street Journal, initial supplies will be limited. Pfizer projects it will deliver 25 million doses to the U.S. this year, including 2.9 million doses in the first week. Inoculation requires two doses three weeks apart, so only half that many people will be vaccinated. States will decide where many doses go.
As for how these very important packages are traveling, well NPR reports that specially designed containers hold 50 lbs of dry ice above and below the trays of vaccine vials to keep them properly frozen. And a GPS tracking device and temperature probe on top of the box allow UPS to see the temperature and location of every vaccine box.
Army Gen. Gustave Perna, chief operating officer of Operation Warp Speed, said the team was essentially working 24 hours a day to roll this out. “While today we applaud everybody who’s been a part of the collaboration, part of the success that brought us here today, we know that we are not done.”
With the U.S. death toll at about 300,000 and cases rising to over 16.4 million, the first doses will not end the pandemic immediately. Estimates say it will likely be March or April before the vaccine impacts the virus’s spread in the U.S. But this is a very good day and the people who need it most will hopefully be vaccinated soon.
↦ More? The FDA is expected to review a Moderna-NIH vaccine later this week, which experts said is essentially just as effective as the Pfizer vaccine.
The Electoral College Meets Today
The presidential race will be officially decided. There's almost no way to change the outcome.
President-elect Joe Biden will take another step toward inauguration Monday when members of the electoral college gather in state capitals to cast their ballots for president and vice president.
It might seem like a strange formality. But it's how the long, formal process of electing a president works. The Constitution mandates that the day that the electors vote “shall be the same throughout the United States.” That means once they've voted, all that's left is for Congress to count up the electoral votes in a joint session on Jan. 6.
According to the Associated Press, the electors’ votes have drawn more attention than usual this year because President Donald Trump has refused to concede the election and continued to make baseless allegations of fraud. Court after court—and even the Supreme Court as recently as Friday—has rejected attempts by Trump and his supporters to throw out an election he lost decisively by 7,059,800 votes.
Can electors change their votes? Yes and no. Thirty-two states and the District of Columbia have laws requiring the electors to vote for the candidate they've pledged to vote for and since 1948, there have only been 16 "faithless electors." After the today's electors cast their votes, Biden plans to address the nation tonight around 8 pm ET.
↦ Dig Deeper: The Washington Post has a real-time tracker, so you can follow along as states cast their votes for president.
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Here’s What We Searched for in 2020
Google’s annual recap is a bit different this year
Google released its annual “Year In Search” for 2020. The video is traditionally one of the highlights of the year-end roundups that most tech giants release, but this year the company's “Year In Search” roundup is a bit different—like everything else in 2020.
During a seemingly endless year defined by a pandemic, it's easy to forget all the other reasons why the past 12 months have made a permanent mark in the way we operate. We lost legends, we faced destruction, we fought for beliefs, and we saw the world's greatest minds work to unravel an unprecedented virus.
Google also unpacked the year's biggest search trends, and according to HighSnobiety, this one proves we tried to be our best selves in 2020. Searches related to virtual cultural experiences and learning saw a significant increase. But as far as the top trending terms for 2020 go, “election results” beat out “coronavirus” in the U.S.
↦ FYI: That song in the video? It's an original song called “Together,” created by Grammy-winning producer Peter Cottontale, with Cynthia Erivo and Chance the Rapper.
Cleveland’s Baseball Team Drops Name
They’re planning to retire the nickname the team has used for more than a century
The Cleveland Indians plan to drop the nickname they have used for more than a century, becoming the latest professional sports franchise to shed its Native American imagery, reports ESPN.
The organization is expected to announce the change this week, continuing a years-long process in which it abandoned its Chief Wahoo logo and committed to exploring a new nickname, as well.
Unlike the now-abandoned name of Washington's football team, the term “Indians” isn't a slur. But the decision to drop the name is consistent with the preference expressed by Native American groups that they not be used as mascots.
But the transition involves many logistical considerations, including work with uniform manufacturers and companies that produce other team equipment and stadium signage. The next question becomes whether this change will place any pressure on the Kansas City Chiefs to follow suit.
↦ Two Cents: President Trump weighed in on Sunday night, tweeting, “This is not good news, even for 'Indians'. Cancel culture at work!”
In Other News
Other Things We’re Talking About Today
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It can be hard to shop for the people on your list who are gadget and tech-inclined. They know the latest and greatest stuff on the market, so you don’t want to give them something they’d think is outdated. But there are also so many amazing products on offer that will all but guarantee a pleased early adopter on your gift list. And right now, Dell is currently offering deals on a wide range of the latest technology and brands. But stock and prices are changing quickly, so click through today and grab that deal now.
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Morning Motto
Actions speak louder than words.
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That’s all for today...
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