The Daily Valet. - 12/14/22, Wednesday
✔️ It's Nothing But a Number
Wednesday, December 14th Edition
By Cory Ohlendorf, Valet. Editor
I’m often called a kid at heart. And apparently, that’s good for my health.
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Today’s Big Story
Age Is Just a Number
Research is uncovering links between your ‘subjective age’ and your future health
You're only as old as you feel. We've all heard it before, but this adage might be more than just wishful thinking. More and more scientific studies are finding a link between our “subjective age” (basically how old we think we are) and a longer, healthier life.On the flip side, feeling older than your chronological age has been associated with a higher likelihood of dementia, frailty, stroke and heart disease, according to recent research by scientists and academics studying links between psychology and health.Dr. Susanne Wurm, an author of one of the studies, says that it's likely because this mindset motivates you to try new things and stay engaged, both physically and mentally. Meanwhile, people who feel older might generate more stress, too, whether they are 30 and fretting about early signs of wrinkles or 65 and concerned that co-workers think they are losing their edge.New experiences are key—such as traveling or taking classes. At the same time, resisting negative assumptions about getting older might help you feel younger and improve your outlook, researchers say. In other words, don't sweat the number and remember you're never “too old” to do something you're going to enjoy doing.
FYI:
A new batch of mail-order tests promise an estimate of how well you’re aging, but the results can be just one more thing to worry about.
Is the End of TikTok Coming?
A new bipartisan bill looks to ban the Platform in the U.S.
Even if you don't use it, you know that TikTok is big. Just how big? Well, American adults using the app grew 5.5 times in the last 18 months. And now, about 40% of U.S. mobile internet users access TikTok at least once a month.But on Tuesday, federal lawmakers introduced legislation that would ban TikTok from operating in the United States. The new bipartisan bill comes after both the Biden administration and former President Trump shared concerns over the app and its security risks.The bill (introduced by Sen. Marco Rubio, the top Republican on the Senate Intelligence Committee) comes as a wave of states led by Republican governors have introduced state-level restrictions on the use of TikTok on government-owned devices. It's the latest escalation about the app's ability to safeguard U.S. user data from the Chinese government.But TikTok said this fall that it is putting data for American users in U.S.-based Oracle data centers (so the app's algorithms and content moderation models could be monitored). So I don't think it's going anywhere anytime soon.
Dig Deeper:
Forbes speaks to cybersecurity experts about whether TikTok is really a national security threat.
Partner
It's the next best thing to giving good health for the holidays.
HBO Max? More Like HBO Axed
The streamer is Still Taking shows Down Without Warning
I love my HBO Max. It's the streamer I watch the most these days. But you might've heard what's been happening with its catalog after Warner Bros. and Discovery merged. While a new, unified platform is in the works at the new company, several beloved titles have been removed from the streamer's menu, allegedly due to cost-cutting measures.And it keeps happening. On Tuesday, Deadline reported that the company's grim reapers were removing the HBO original series Westworld, as well as the Max Originals Love Life, Minx and The Nevers. HBO Max still has plenty of programming, but as Vulture points out: The service that once promised a semi-comprehensive home for HBO gems, high-quality licenses and Warner Bros. favorites isn't what it used to be.Why? Well, in the third quarter of this year, the company missed Wall Street expectations, reporting a total revenue of $9.82 billion and a net loss of $2.4 million. But on the bright side, most shows don't disappear these days. Most will likely move to another platform, but nothing has been confirmed.
FYI:
The combined HBO and Discovery app will reportedly just be called ‘Max’.
Fast Food Got More Expensive
Even your favorite cheap meal was not safe from inflation this year
In a year plagued by inflation, it seems that not a damn thing was safe, not even our go-to cheap eats. Some of the biggest names in fast food have hiked up prices this year in response to rising food and labor costs. By adopting a sneaky strategy of only raising prices by a few cents here and maybe a dollar there, most chains are hoping you don't notice.PriceListo, a consumer pricing platform, took menu price data from the past year to see how costs had changed at five major fast food chains. They found that a Big Mac cost $5.30 in September 2021 and increased to $5.47 now. That 17-cent (3.2%) increase is fairly minimal compared to the 51 cent (10.2%) increase of Chick-fil-A's chicken sandwich from the same time period. But Burger King takes the crown with their Chicken Fries—that poultry abomination which saw a 16% increase in price going from $3.97 in 2021 to $4.64 in 2022.According to The Takeout, fast food is often a great indication of the state of the U.S. economy. Take for example the Big Mac Index. First published by The Economist in 1986, the Big Mac Index was initially created as a playful tool to explain and calculate exchange rates across countries. The tool is also helpful in tracking inflation over time.
FYI:
Wendy’s has the most expensive menu overall with an average price of $6.63 and a 35% increase from 2021.
In Other News
Our most advanced ground-based air defense system.
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Want more gift ideas?
Shopping
What We’re Buying
The Frame 65-Inch TV
If you're itching to get that Frame TV and missed out on Black Friday, BuyDig is selling newly refurbished models for 40% off. They're flaw-free and come with a warranty, so there's no worry about quality.
Get It:
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