The Daily Valet. - 12/9/19, Monday
✔️ The Job Market Is Strong. Right?
Monday, December 9th Edition
I’m nursing a slight Art Basel hangover this morning.
Cory Ohlendorf , Editor ⋯ @coryohlendorf
Today's edition is presented by
Today’s Big Story
The Job Market Is Booming ...
But the positive numbers mask a serious problem
Despite very real fears about an escalating trade war and a weakening global economy, November’s reassuring employment report, released Friday by the Labor Department, featured payroll increases of 266,000, offering a counterpoint to concerns about the job market.
But the new job numbers mask a lot of suffering—like 14% of men in the prime of their working lives (ages 25-54) are completely out of the workforce. Many of these men don't show up in the Labor Department's monthly unemployment statistics because they've given up looking for work.
According to NPR, in 1968, about 95% of men in their prime working years held jobs. The number has fallen to just 86%, even though today's job market is ultra-tight.
The decline in male workers is concentrated almost entirely among men with high school diplomas or less, or even a bit of college. It's a worrying phenomenon, one recent study found.
That's because these men suffer from higher rates of stigma than other groups, the researchers said, noting the focus in American culture on self-sufficiency and hard work. Men outside the labor force are "a worrisome group," they wrote, citing lower rates of satisfaction with their lives and overall markers of well-being.
It's definitely a problem we need to address, as so much of our identity is wrapped up in what we do, especially as American men. But it's important to remember that there is purpose and fulfillment to be found outside of a job. Of course, at the end of the day, we all still need a paycheck.
↦ A closer Look: FiveThirtyEight provides the context you need to understand job growth and unemployment in America.
FBI Investigating Shooting as Terrorism
Three sailors on a Florida naval base were killed, and eight others were injured
Officials are still trying to determine whether a Saudi airman acted alone in his deadly rampage Friday on a Pensacola naval base and are treating the shooting as an act of terrorism, the lead federal investigator said Sunday.
The gunman purchased his 9-millimeter Glock 45 lawfully, reports the Washington Post, but the FBI did not give further details or explain how Shamrani got his firearm onto a base where outside weapons are generally not permitted. And while non-citizens are normally prohibited from buying handguns, Alshamrani had a valid hunting license, which allowed him to legally purchase his weapon from a dealer.
A Pentagon spokesman said the gunman was a second lieutenant in the Royal Saudi Air Force and had been scheduled to complete a three-year US Air Force Foreign Military Sales training program, funded by Saudi Arabia, in August.
According to the New York Times, the night before the attack, the gunman showed videos of mass shootings at a dinner party.
Special Promotion
Wondering what to get the music lovers on your list? We’ve got some tech suggestions that are quite literally, smart buys.
Legendary “Sesame Street” Puppeteer Dies
Caroll Spinney was the actor behind Big Bird and Oscar the Grouch
While most wouldn't know him by name, we all know the characters he brought to life. Carrell Spinney had worked on Sesame Street for half a century, serving as the puppeteer for Big Bird and Oscar the Grouch since the show's premiere in 1969.
Spinney also performed his characters in live concerts around the world and at the White House many times, along with being featured in films, documentaries and record albums, reports the New York Times. He died on Sunday at his home in Woodstock, Connecticut. He was 85.
His death was announced by Sesame Workshop. It said in a statement that he had lived for some time with dystonia, which causes involuntary muscle contractions.
"His enormous talent and outsized heart were perfectly suited to playing the larger-than-life yellow bird who brought joy to generations of children and countless fans of all ages around the world," the statement read. "And his lovably cantankerous grouch gave us all permission to be cranky once in a while."
↦ FYI: When the idea for Sesame Street was first being talked about, the original title was going to be 123 Avenue B.
North Korea Turns Up the Pressure With a Missle Test
Experts suspect the secretive test spells bad news for US negotiations
After North Korea’s ambassador to the United Nations said denuclearization was off the table during peace talks with the US, the country announced it conducted a test at a missile site that produced a "successful result" that would shift the "strategic position of North Korea in the near future."
According to The Week, it likely wasn't a missile launch, since Japan and South Korea can usually detect those. Instead, missile experts theorized that it's likely North Korea tested a solid fuel rocket engine, which could allow the country to field intercontinental ballistic missiles that are easier to hide and faster to deploy.
"If it is indeed a static engine test for a new solid or liquid fuel missile," said Vipin Narang, a nuclear expert at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, "It is yet another loud signal that the door for diplomacy is quickly slamming, if it isn't already."
Other Things We’re Talking About Today
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Special Promotion
What to Get the Music Lovers on Your List
Dell is currently offering some sweet deals
Right now, Dell is currently offering deals on a wide range of the latest technology and brands, including the lowest prices that LG and Samsung will offer all year (on any site). For the music lovers you’re buying for this year, might we suggest the newest noise-cancelling headphones from Bose? Or maybe some affordable wireless speakers? If you really want to impress them, try a whole new take on headphones—the Alto Frames from Bose ($199), that provide an immersive audio experience unlike any other.
SoundTube PRO, $71.99 / $59.99 by VisionTek
Noise Cancelling Headphones 700, $399 by Bose
MegaBoom speaker, $199.99 / $99.99 by Ultimate Ears
↦ Shop the full tech gift guide
Sick of Christmas Music Already?
Let the “Die Hard Effect” help you reconsider the holiday genre
There are two types of people: The ones who crank up the holiday music the moment the Thanksgiving leftovers are out of the fridge. And the ones who complain that every store and restaurant has the songs playing. I was just at the dentist and was surprised to see that the medical professionals could stand it all day.
Don't get me wrong, some of the songs are great. Classic and nostalgic and downright soothing. But others ... are not. The Outline has an interesting take on the subject, presented in their signature graphical style.
Elliott Sharp writes, Christmas music is boring. With a little imagination, we can make it fun." His suggestion? Utilize the Die Hard Effect. Sharp says that just like how Die Hard is now considered a Christmas movie because the action takes place at a company Christmas party and is filled with holiday propaganda and zingers, any song that mentions the season can count as a holiday tune.
So according to this logic, consider Drake’s "KMT" and Kanye's "Bound 2" to Nicki Minaj’s "Coco Chanel" as new holiday tunes. This would certainly break up the "Silver Bells" and "Silent Nights" nicely.
↦ Need Relief? Psychologist Vicky Williamson spoke to NPR about her experience collecting and curing earworms.
What We’re Buying
While we're all still nursing our Black Friday and Cyber Monday hangovers, there are plenty of quality deals on high-quality items that shouldn't be missed. Clarks is a fantastic brand known for their impeccably made chukka boots, and these bad boys are now nearly off. And the waxed leather is ideal for this time of year. For the holidays, rock them with a pair of dark chinos, fair isle socks and a decent cuff and you'll look dressed up and festive for whatever gathering you attend.
↦ Get It $100 / $52.48 at Nordstrom Rack
Today’s Deals
Expires 12/9
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↦ Want More? See all 42 sales
Morning Motto
A friendly reminder to talk about the good stuff too.
↦ Follow: @wetheurban
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