The Daily Valet. - 1/26/23, Thursday
✔️ Is This Too Good to Be True?
Thursday, January 26th Edition
By Cory Ohlendorf, Valet. Editor
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Today’s Big Story
MoviePass Is Back
The revived service Could Be Open to everyone by this Summer
I'll admit, I loved MoviePass when it first arrived. And it was fun ... while it lasted. The service (which basically let you see any movie, in any theater for ten bucks a month) was called an affordable public good but an extremely stupid and shady business.I was also one of the eager customers that prepaid my membership and the whole operation went belly up before I could get my money's worth. So I've been conflicted as talk of the service's return has been simmering since last spring. But like an inflatable clown-shaped punching bag, you can't keep a ridiculous Silicon Valley idea down.The “Netflix of cinemas” is really coming back with a sequel and, counter to past fake-outs, this time it seems to be real. This past August, the service launched a beta version that required advance sign-up to secure a spot on the waitlist. But by this summer, MoviePass version 2.0 will likely start opening up beyond the beta, to all interested would-be customers, reports Insider. And those still languishing on the waitlist will apparently be granted access to the service this week. The original version of the too-good-to-be-true subscription service ended in an SEC lawsuit, but the new incarnation promises things will be different. Of course, the unlimited movie pass is long gone. It will now use a credit-based system instead of flat-rate pricing, with plans varying based on geographic region. An unlimited version could be part of the future options, the new CEO mentioned, but trust that it will cost more than an Alexander Hamilton.According to Gizmodo, there are some other differences in the nextgen MoviePass too. The service has been brought back to life, in part, by crypto cash—this means there are ‘Web3' elements to the returning system. On the business side, the company has said it has negotiated for reduced rate ticket deals to set itself up for success. But really, are we even going to the movies as much anymore?
FYI:
In 2021, the average price of a movie ticket in the United States added up to $9.57, up from $8.65 in 2016.
U.S. and Germany to Send Ukraine Tanks
It's seen as a major sign of support for Kyiv
The U.S. and Germany separately announced on Wednesday they would send battle tanks to Ukraine after pressure from NATO allies and Ukraine to supply the advanced armored vehicles as Kyiv prepares for a possible new Russian offensive this spring.America's decision to supply 31 Abrams M1 tanks and the German announcement on the Leopard 2 tanks is a major boost for Ukraine. Debate among Western allies—particularly between the U.S. and Germany—over sending tanks to Ukraine had escalated over the last week.But the tanks aren't arriving anytime soon. President Biden on Wednesday cautioned that delivering the tanks would “take time.” And there's one main reason why, reports Forbes: Their armor. Apparently, when America's foreign allies buy M-1s, they get versions of the tank without a super-hard, depleted-uranium mesh that's inserted into steel “pouches” on the tanks' turrets. That secret design element has to be removed before they can be shipped and there's already a serious backlog.
Dig Deeper:
What is the Leopard 2 tank, and why does Ukraine want it? NPR investigates.
In the mood to explore psychiatry-centric entertainment instead of, oh, examining your inner life? There are movies and shows about therapists that you can watch instead.”
- Vanity Fair on shows that are cheaper than therapy
Has Tipping Gone Too Far?
Some fed-up consumers say Yes
Now you pretty much expect it everywhere, right? You put your card into the machine and up pops the gratuity options. Would you like to leave 18%? For whom or what service, exactly? It's not always clear.There's a whole line of thinking around obligatory “guilt tipping”, but some consumers are getting fed up. Unlike tip jars that shoppers can easily ignore if they don’t have spare change, experts say the digital requests can produce social pressure and are more difficult to bypass.According to the Associated Press, there's a silent frustration brewing about the age-old practice. “Suddenly, these screens are at every establishment we encounter. They're popping up online as well. And I fear that there is no end,” said etiquette expert Thomas Farley, who considers the whole thing somewhat of “an invasion.” Some of the requests are also coming from odd places, everywhere from plumbers to mortgage brokers. What do you think? I've always prided myself on being a generous tipper, but I'll admit that sometimes those screens just make me uncomfortable.
FYI:
We're accustomed to adding close to 20% on pretty much any service bill, but there are a lot of countries where you simply shouldn’t tip at all.
Lyfts Adds Wait Time Fees
make your driver wait, and You'll pay for it
If you (or someone in your group) tends to drag their feet when the ride share pulls up, you might've started defaulting to Lyft to avoid the fee that Uber charges passengers who make their drivers wait around.But now, nearly seven years after Uber implemented them, Lyft is now slapping you with the same fees. The friendlier rideshare quietly announced added wait time fees for all rides sometime last month, but it seems like we're only hearing about it now, reports TechCrunch.Lyft's wait-time fees kick in two minutes after on-time arrival for standard rides and five minutes after for Black and Black XL. If a driver reaches your location ahead of time, the wait time fees won't kick in until two minutes after your scheduled pickup. Although Lyft's support page says the fees are charged on a “per-minute” basis, a screenshot of the fees from one Twitter user suggests that you may rack up fees per second.
Ride Hack:
Skirt wait time fees by scheduling your ride in advance. Both companies let you do it and automatically grant you more wait time.
In Other News
But NASA says it doesn't pose any threat to us.
Have you heard about ...
Embrace Rituals
It’s time to bring some appreciation to the stuff that matters
Our lives move pretty fast these days. Things have never been more convenient, so we're constantly finding new ways to optimize the day-to-day. We have so many subscriptions and life hacks, we're able to breeze through life without feeling like mundane chores are “slowing us down.”The downside to moving so fast is that your life often feels like you're riding on a high-speed train—you're zipping by onto the next item on your to-do list, zooming towards your next big thing. Outside, the landscape is blurring by but we're speeding along so fast that we can't really take it in and appreciate it.Now, we're not telling you to become some zen master and lose your hunger or hustle mentality. But there's something to be said for slowing down and appreciating the things that really matter to you. In this age of hyper-connectivity and shortcuts, so many of us have lost the ability to elevate something into the realm of the sacred.
Read:
Shopping
What We’re Buying
A chore jacket
You won't find a better chore jacket for such a reasonable price. Based on a vintage French workwear style, this jacket by Wallace & Barnes is constructed from a heavy, durable cotton called duck canvas, the same material used for Dutch navy uniforms in the 18th century (in fact, duck comes from doek, the Dutch word for linen canvas). Finished with generous patch pockets and hard-wearing metal buttons, it's built to last—which is a good thing, since it'll only get better looking once you break it in.
Get It:
Duck canvas utility chore jacket, $198 / $124.50 by Wallace & Barnes
Morning Motto
Maintain your balance.
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