The Daily Valet. - 12/3/21, Friday

✔️ About That Holiday Trip ...

Friday, December 3rd Edition

Cory Ohlendorf, Editor in Chief of Valet.

TGIF, right?

Cory Ohlendorf , Editor ⋯ @coryohlendorf

Today’s edition is presented by

Today’s Big Story

Should I Cancel Holiday Travel?

As if traveling this time of year wasn’t stressful enough

Just when we thought travel rules were starting to stabilize, along comes Omicron to throw a wrench in our holiday plans. Perhaps you’re looking to take a year-end vacation, or like me, travel back to your hometown for the holidays.

The emergence of the new coronavirus variant couldn’t come at a worse time, reports Axios—just weeks before millions of people are expected to travel while many countries respond by slamming shut their borders in the hopes of keeping out COVID’s latest strain.

Even domestic travelers in the U.S. are on edge for the holiday season, as cities like New York reinstate mask advisories. Meanwhile, President Biden announced Thursday that all inbound international travelers will be required to test within one day of departure for the United States and the CDC said it would expand Omicron surveillance at four major American airports.

But what do doctors think? In general, they’re supportive of holiday travel—as long as you’re safe about it. “Keep your plans, but proceed carefully,” William Schaffner, M.D., an infectious disease specialist told Prevention. Of course, he reiterated that the safest way to travel is to be fully vaccinated.

And, if you’re traveling internationally, the doctors recommend figuring out now where you’ll get tested before your return flight home, just to make sure you’re not scrambling the day of or stuck waiting to get a test.

Some data on whether the Omicron variant is more contagious or severe than Delta could emerge by the middle of December, which may or may not affect your plans. Factors to consider in weighing whether to travel include the transmission rate where you are headed, and where you will travel through. And keep in mind that the newly enacted restrictions could be short-lived if scientists quickly determine that existing vaccines are also effective against Omicron.

↦ FYI: If you are flying, vaccination, boosters and mask-wearing are the three most important things you can do, according to multiple medical experts that BuzzFeed News spoke with.

Senate Passes Stopgap Funding Bill

The bill now goes to President Biden for his signature ahead of tonight’s deadline

The Senate passed a stopgap spending bill Thursday night that avoids a short-term shutdown and funds the federal government through Feb. 18 after leaders defused a partisan standoff over federal vaccine mandates.

The vote was overwhelmingly bipartisan with 19 Republicans voting for the bill. However, Congress didn't reach the agreement without some obstacles earlier in the day. Republicans in the House and the Senate made an effort to delay passage of the spending bill over objections to the Biden administration's vaccination mandates for workers.

Of course, Congress faces another urgent deadline right on the heels of this one, reports Reuters. The federal government is approaching its $28.9 trillion borrowing limit, which the Treasury Department has estimated it could reach by Dec. 15. Failure to extend or lift the limit in time could trigger an economically catastrophic default.

Partner

Rum isn't just a summer spirit. This sophisticated aged rum from Venezuela makes an ideal winter Old Fashioned. We can prove it.

The Costs of Being Single in America

It’s not cheap ... and it’s getting more expensive

From housing and healthcare to technology and food, our modern lives are expensive. And when you're single (or as a single parent or caregiver), you have to shoulder all the costs alone. That's bad enough, but for the more than 40 million people who live in this kind of single-income household, it's also become increasingly untenable.

As of 2021, 28% of Americans live alone. Back in 1960, it was just 13%; by 1980, it was 23%. An additional 11 million households are headed by a single parent—a number that has tripled since 1965.

According to Vox, American society is structurally antagonistic toward single and solo-living people. From taxes to health insurance, singles end up paying more. And policies built to lessen pain or struggles in tough times (think medical or parental leave) are often structured in a way that single people are expected to be, provide, or pay for their own safety nets.

And while it's tough coast to coast, some cities are more trouble than others. Turns out, Miami was ranked the least affordable city for singles in RentHop's 2021 Singles Index, released last week.

↦ FYI: Men are far more likely to be single when they’re young, marry later (or for a second time), and stay married until their deaths. The reverse is true for women.

A Weekend Pairing

The Power of the Dog + a High West Double Rye

Netflix's newest film is considered a leading contender—including Best Picture—at this year's Oscars, so watch it this weekend and get ahead of the curve. The Power of the Dog has been called “breathtaking and powerful,” as well as an enthralling exploration of male ego and toxic masculinity. And it's helmed by an extremely talented woman, offering enough nuanced bite to keep it interesting till the very end.

Set in 1925 Montana, the film is adapted from Thomas Savage's 1967 novel, and stars Benedict Cumberbatch in a “career-best performance as Phil Burbank, a boorish and bullying cowboy.” According to the New York Times, the story comes apart and comes alive when Phil's brother (played by Jesse Plemons) marries Rose (Kirsten Dunst), a widow with a teenage son. Rated 95% fresh on Rotten Tomatoes, the film gives new perspective on the Western genre, with plenty of dudes on horses but also a powerful intimacy.

↦ Your Pairing:Okay, it's from Utah, not Montana, but this bottle of High West Double Rye still seems fitting. A spicy mix of two rye whiskeys (one young, one older) it's got a kick of cinnamon and clove and a soft underbelly of caramel. And I imagine it's what Phil would be happy swigging.

In Other News

↦ Tesla Is Selling a $1,900 Cyberquad ATV for Kids

↦ On the Great Pacific Garbage Patch, Scientists Find a Surprise: Coastal Life

↦ One of Banksy’s Most Famous Paintings Will Be Sold As 10,000 NFTs—for $1,500 Each

Other Things We’re Talking About Today

This take on Wrapped

Insta’s recent update

Christmas tree rentals

Partner

The Perfect Bottle for This Time of Year

This premium award-winning spirit is easy to drink and made to gift

With so many options, the value of a versatile “go-to” rum is hard to overstate. Santa Teresa 1796 is a sophisticated workhorse of a pot still rum from Venezuela that is aged with the Solera technique—a method which blends rums of different ages, a portion of which has spent up to 35 years in oak barrels previously used for aging bourbon. With notes of vanilla, cinnamon, leather, pepper, honey and dark chocolate, this rum is rich, bold and complex enough to savor neat or on the rocks, but it's also accessible enough to add layers of depth and nuance to your favorite shaken or tiki classics.

Take note because these cocktails will wow at any holiday gathering, but the bottle itself may also be the answer you need for those who are just plain hard to shop for—its immaculate presentation (and ability to be customized with their name) will tell the recipient that it's something special. If you’re someone who enjoys the finer things in life and delight in sharing with your friends and family, Santa Teresa 1796 can be a great addition to any collection.

↦ Get It: Personalized Santa Teresa 1796 Rum, $49.99

Special Promotion

Give the Gift of Time

Everybody wants more time in their day, right?Well, a handsome watch might be the closest thing to actually giving someone time. We asked the watchmakers at Vincero for their choices on the best timepieces to give this season. In case you're not familiar, Vincero is known in the horological world for its good looking watches that are well built, reasonably-priced and extremely durable. What separates them from most of their contemporaries is the fact that Vincero controls the entire manufacturing process—from sourcing materials (historic marble, Italian leather and Japanese movements) to assembly and repairs. You could say it's an old fashioned way of making modern watches. Here is their gift list of the most giftable watches, all under $500—along with a few stylish accessories as well.