The Daily Valet. - 12/16/21, Thursday
✔️ The Coming Wave
Thursday, December 16th Edition
Bring on the binge watching!
Cory Ohlendorf , Editor ⋯ @coryohlendorf
Today’s edition is presented by
Today’s Big Story
The Coming Wave
Omicron is spreading faster than any other COVID variant
There’s a lot we don’t know about the new omicron variant (at the moment). But what we do know is that it’s spreading fast.
Although the unvaccinated remain most at risk, vaccinated America isn’t in the clear: While the shots still seem effective at preventing hospitalization and death, early reports suggest that they are less effective against milder cases. However, people who have received a third booster dose are well-protected against severe disease.
That means a towering wave of omicron cases may peak in the U.S. as soon as January, officials warn. Why? 72.3% of Americans have received at least one dose of a vaccine, and just over 61% are fully vaccinated. But only 27.6% have received a booster shot, according to the CDC.
In a White House press briefing Wednesday, top infectious disease expert Anthony Fauci highlighted several studies that found a third dose of an mRNA vaccine highly beneficial. He also presented new data from the National Institutes of Health, which found that a third dose of a Moderna vaccine restored neutralizing antibodies “well within the range of neutralizing omicron.” So the message remains clear: “If you are unvaccinated get vaccinated, and particularly in the arena of omicron, if you are fully vaccinated, get your booster shot,” Dr. Fauci said.
So what makes this such a superspreading variant? New data published Wednesday gives us the first look at how omicron may behave inside the respiratory tract—and the science offers a tantalizing clue as to why it’s spreading so fast and even outcompeting delta. The omicron variant multiplies about 70 times faster inside human respiratory tract tissue than the delta variant does.
Which explains that even those with the best intentions (and a fully filled out vaccine card) are catching COVID. According to The Atlantic, many more Americans may soon have to deal with the confusion that comes with a breakthrough infection. And if you’re wondering what you should do if you test positive, they’ve got you covered.
↦ Meanwhile: COVID is currently battering NBA, NFL, NHL, sidelining key players and postponing games.
The Benefits of Binge Watching
Yes, there are dangers but there are surprising health benefits too
The term “binge-watch” was a contender for the Oxford English Dictionary's 2013 word of the year. Although it didn't win (“selfie” ultimately took the top spot), this pointed to the rise of what was becoming a popular activity of watching multiple episodes of a TV show in a single sitting.
Since then, there have been plenty of warnings about the dangers of the activity. And research shows many of us have spent more time binge-watching than usual lately.
But what if it's not all bad? It's easy to assume streaming consecutive shows is inherently bad or unproductive. However, researcher Dr. Morgan Ellithorpe says binge nights deserve some credit when it comes to our mental health. As long as the TV watching doesn't interfere with sleep or responsibilities, burning through every episode of the latest streamer can decrease stress, provide meaning to the world, and create a shared experience with friends (remember how much fun it was discussing Squid Game?).
The doc says our desire to binge stories is also part of what makes us human. We love stories. We're attracted to them. And today streaming is often defined by superb production and masterful storytelling (for example, Peaky Blinders, Game of Thrones, Succession). Indulging in this modern storytelling, then, is a normal fascination. Which, I guess, is why more then half of Americans reported regularly binging.
Partner
Looking to kickstart your New Year's resolution? This insider's secret will help you do just that.
The State of Travel
What’s happening now and what to look out for in 2022
Will you be traveling over the holidays? Now that many of us are vaccinated and boosted, we're finally feeling safe enough to travel. After all, nobody wants to go ahead and cancel yet another round of vacations. Do we? So what can we expect?
According to The Points Guy, this will be the year that we transition into our new normal for travel. That's right, it will be a new approach. We're never quite going to get back into our pre-pandemic mindset. One day the masks will come off, but their memory will stay with us. Just as 9/11 changed airport security forever, COVID-19 will change the way we travel.
Some of the changes are bad: Staffing will remain an issue everywhere. Call times for airlines have been extremely high and even Clear/TSA Pre-Check is dealing with lines. But others are good: the lack of airline change fees is a great thing for travelers.
Scott McCartney, who has written the Wall Street Journal's Middel Seat column for two decades says despite all the headaches, flying has gotten a little easier thanks to more nonstop flights (even if frequent flier programs are more complicated). “What's more, you don't have to stay over Saturday night to get a cheap fare—you don't even have to buy a round-trip ticket to get a cheap fare.”
↦ Holiday Survival: Traveling with a few extra sweaters and some gifts? Don't leave home without these.
Retailers Brace for Returns Season
Experts warn, it’s going to be a big one
Most of us are still buying gifts (right?!), but retailers are already preparing for an influx of returns at the end of the month—and it's expected to be bigger than years before.
Online shopping sales are expected to reach $207 billion this year, a 10% increase from last year, according to the Adobe Digital Economy Index. And with out-of-stock issues and supply chain constraints, shoppers have been buying whatever they can get their hands on out of fear that their gifts won't arrive in time for the holidays, NBC News reports.
This year, shoppers are expected to return 30% to 40% of online purchases. From Thanksgiving to the end of January, $120 billion of goods is expected to be returned, according to the reverse logistics technology company Optoro, up more than $5 billion from last year.
With brick-and-mortar retail, if you buy something and decide you don't want it, you can bring it back to the store for a refund or exchange. Nearly two years into the pandemic, few people are buying in store. So people are returning their own purchases at a higher rate and will soon compete with people trying to offload unwanted gifts. Which is why some retailers are experimenting with actually doling out refunds and asking customers to keep the merchandise. Sadly, that still leaves us with a bad gift.
↦ FYI: If you ask us, no one should keep something they aren't going to use. Here's what to do with bad gifts.
In Other News
Other Things We’re Talking About Today
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Partner
Who Says You Can’t Get Healthy Now?
Kickstart that New Year’s resolution and make some immediate progress
Just because it's the holidays doesn't mean you can't stay on top of your health and wellness goals. If you're looking to get (or stay) in shape during the winter, let American Metabolix help. One of the fastest growing supplement companies in the world, the brand is known for its innovative approach to sports nutrition. With a focus on quality, purity and potency, the supplements and meal replacements have gained a following because they deliver on their promises.
But just because the products are insider favorites, that doesn't mean you have to a be gym rat or fitness fanatic to utilize them. They make it easy to boost your nutrition or manage your diet with simple and delicious supplements. Below are two that the Valet. team was eager to try, from a rich chocolate shake with no artificial flavors or sweeteners to an energizing, immune-boosting shot of daily greens.
Eating foods high in fat, moderate in protein and very low in carbohydrates is the foundation of a ketogenic diet. This tasty shake makes it easy to hit the perfect ratio without any prep. It utilizes egg protein, which is more slowly digested in your system compared to whey isolates, which have potential to cause an insulin spike.
$59.99 by American Metabolix
If you struggle to get enough fruits and vegetables in your diet, this supplement is designed especially for you. The sweet berry formula provides four full servings of superfood greens and fruit, along with the fiber that's often missing in other greens formulas.
$39.99 by American Metabolix
↦ Learn More about American Metabolix
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The Best Sunglasses for Anyone (Including You)
Who said sunglasses were just for summer? Protect those eyes against the sun's glare and strong UV rays (not to mention the icy winds) of winter. Designed in San Francisco, Sunski has a reputation for cool shades that offer high-end performance at a fair price. The frames are lightweight and durable. The lenses are made from recycled plastic and backed by a lifetime warranty. And the styles are modern with some throwback swagger and handy details like polarized lenses and removable side sun shields. So whether you're buying for yourself or for someone on your list who's hard to shop for, a handsome pair of shades is never a bad idea. Herewith, a few of our current favorites.
Yuba polarized sunglasses with SuperLight recycled frames, $58
Astra premium polarized sunglasses with hybrid stainless steel and SuperLight recycled frames, $98
Foxtrot polarized sunglasses with featherweight recycled frames, $68
Treeline polarized sunglasses with removable sun shields, $89
Headland polarized sunglasses with an all-day comfort fit, $58
Puerto polarized sunglasses with SuperLight recycled frames, $48
↦ Browse more gifts from Sunski
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Upgrade Their Winter Essentials
A foolproof strategy for great gift-giving is to opt for something the recipient needs (or has mentioned in the past) and upgrading it with a more luxurious take. Those well-made staples are exactly what BOSS specializes in. The German super brand designs pieces that are at once timeless and yet incredibly modern. Herewith, what are team is giving (and asking for) this season.
Padded gilet, $348
↦ Browse more gifts from BOSS
Morning Motto
Don’t forget, it’s the season of goodwill towards all.
↦ Follow: @still.life
That’s all for today...
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