The Daily Valet. - 1/22/20, Wednesday
✔️ Should We Be Concerned?
Wednesday, January 22nd Edition
I would never cut a book in half. I’m not an animal ...
Cory Ohlendorf , Editor ⋯ @coryohlendorf
Today’s Big Story
Coronavirus Raises Fear of Pandemic
A deadly outbreak has killed at least nine and infected more than 300 people in China
The spread of a mysterious pneumonia-like virus, which is believed to have originated in the central Chinese city of Wuhan, has been met with international alarm as more cases are reported. On Tuesday, the Washington Post reported that a Washington state man became the first case of the potentially deadly virus confirmed in the US.
Over the weekend, three American airports began screening passengers inbound from Wuhan to safeguard against any potential spread. But what exactly is this coronavirus?
According to the CDC, coronaviruses are "common throughout the world," causing "mild to moderate illness.” However, more recent strains of the virus—such as Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS)—are known to "frequently cause severe illness.” Unfortunately, there are currently no vaccines developed that prevent against this family of viruses.
Current symptoms include fever, coughing and difficulty breathing. As of Tuesday evening, China's National Health Commission had confirmed 298 cases and nine deaths, with an additional 54 suspected cases being investigated, reported NBC News.
Today, the World Health Organization will hold an emergency meeting to "ascertain whether the outbreak constitutes a public health emergency of international concern" and provide recommendations on how to manage the situation.
↦ FYI: After downplaying the SARS outbreak in '03, Beijing warned officials against covering up the spread of the virus, saying anyone who withheld information would face severe punishment and be "nailed on the pillar of shame for eternity."
Impeachment Trial Begins With Debate Over Rules
Well this is going to be messy, isn’t it?
A bitterly divided Senate began the impeachment trial of President Trump on Tuesday as opening arguments stretched into the evening.
First, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell altered his own proposed rules, issued a day earlier, after Democrats and a key centrist Republican objected to his plan to squeeze 24 hours of opening arguments by the prosecution and defense into two days each. Instead, each side is now scheduled to get three days.
But Republicans held together to turn back every attempt by Democrats to subpoena documents from the White House, the State Department and the Office of Management and Budget that could shed light on the core charges against Mr. Trump, reports the New York Times.
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer's effort to subpoena acting White House chief of staff Mick Mulvaney and former White House national security adviser John Bolton failed. The motion to table the amendment passed 53-47 along party lines, as expected. The one thing both could agree on? Pizza. Because no one disputes dinner. Though each party ate it in separate parts of the Capitol.
↦ "It's Miserable": There's a ban on lawmakers bringing their cellphones and iPads inside the chamber. Also outlawed? Notes, snacks and coffee.
Apple Scraps Plan for Encrypting Backups
And it has something to do with the FBI
Apple was planning to roll out end-to-end encryption for iPhone users, allowing them to fully encrypt backups of their devices in the company’s iCloud service. But they scrapped the plan about two years ago.
Why? The FBI complained that the move would harm investigations, six sources familiar with the matter told Reuters. The news service spoke to current and former Apple employees, along with FBI officials, who said the plan would have removed Apple's ability to unlock encrypted data on a user's phone.
While the end-to-end encryption was intended to provide iPhone owners with additional security, specifically designed to thwart hackers, Apple would no longer have a key to unlock the encrypted data, meaning it would not be able to turn material over to authorities in a readable form even under court order.
And while it's unclear if the federal agency was officially a factor in the decision, it's certainly made the FBI's work a little easier.
↦ FYI: Apple does provide data backed up to iCloud to authorities when lawfully requested, as outlined in its semi-annual Transparency Reports.
Fight the Signs of Aging
Want to look younger? Or a little less tired?
This is not about stopping time or feeling bad because you're another year older. Every year we get a little bit smarter and gain a lot of useful experience. We don't need to go backwards, but that doesn't mean we don't want to look as good as we possibly can.
After all, when you look good, you feel good and when you look full of vigor, people at your job will trust you and you'll surely look more appealing to prospective dates, right?
And while there's no point trying to deny the inevitable passage of time, there are some simple ways you can take care of your body to fight the most common age-related woes. We consulted some grooming experts for our latest "31 Days" feature. Follow this easy five-step plan and you could be looking better by the end of the week.
↦ Read: Five ways to up your grooming game to look your best.
Other Things We’re Talking About Today
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Let’s Not Cut Books in Half, Okay?
One man’s life hack is another man’s hack job
Book editor Alex Christofi's tweet was making the rounds Tuesday after he posted a photo of the three books he cut in half. Why does he slice them in half? To make them easier to carry around and read.
LifeHacker threw in their endorsement, saying "This fits every definition of a hack ... it solves a real problem and its benefits outweigh its drawbacks."
Now look, I'm not going to cry about how books are sacred and you should treat them like precious beings. We're all for reading as much as you can. Go ahead and dog-ear the page and make notes in the margin. But if carrying around a full book is too much, then you need an e-reader. Or an iPad. They're light, easy and can carry thousands of titles at once.
Do you really want to be the guy reading a ripped-up half book? That could look a little unhinged. Besides, full books look much better on your shelf when you're done.
↦ FYI: Reading has been scientifically proven to strengthen memory function by boosting brain power.
Sales We’re Eyeing
NEED denim jacket$195 / $68.60
Right now, with the code TAKE30, you can score an extra 30% off sale items at Need Supply Co. Which means it's the perfect time to grab some in-demand designer gear—including pieces from the shop's popular in-house line. But you'll want to move fast before all the sizes and color options get sold. Herewith, four items already in our cart.
Herschel Supply Co. Bamfield tote $75 / $31.50
NEED tapered pants $160 / $33.60
Salomon snowcross sneakers $280 / $117.60
↦ Shop the Sale at Need Supply Co.
Today’s Deals
Expires 1/22
Expires 1/28
Expires 2/4
↦ Want More? See all 51 sales
Morning Motto
Give yourself some credit.
↦ Follow: @sophia.joan.short
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