The Daily Valet. - 1/29/20, Wednesday
✔️ We're Rattled
Wednesday, January 29th Edition
I was in Miami all day yesterday, and didn’t feel any shaking. Just saying.
Cory Ohlendorf , Editor ⋯ @coryohlendorf
Today’s Big Story
Earthquake Rattles the Carribean
A 7.7 magnitude earthquake strikes between Cuba and Jamaica
The US Geological Survey says a powerful magnitude 7.7 earthquake struck south of Cuba and northwest of Jamaica on Tuesday.
It was centered 86 miles northwest of Montego Bay, Jamaica, and 87 miles west-southwest of Niquero, Cuba. It hit at 2:10 p.m. local time and the epicenter was a relatively shallow six miles beneath the surface.
Thankfully, as of Tuesday evening, there were no reports of loss of life from the quake.
The National Weather Service Tsunami Warning Center says waves reaching 1-3 feet above tide level are possible for some coasts off of Belize, Cuba, Honduras, Mexico, the Cayman Islands and Jamaica. The earthquake appears to have been a "strike-slip earthquake," in which tectonic plates slide against each other, reports MSN. This limits the threat of a devastating tsunami, which are more associated with "thrust earthquakes," where a portion of the earth is thrust upward and causes the water to push up and outward, creating the tsunami.
The preliminary magnitude would make the temblor the largest earthquake in the Caribbean in more than 70 years. In 2010, a 7.0 magnitude earthquake struck Haiti, resulting in the deaths of about 250,000 people.
↦ FYI: The quake was felt as far away as Miami, where several high-rise buildings were evacuated after they began shaking.
Trump Announces Middle East Peace Plan
The long-awaited plan comes with doubts it will lead to progress
President Trump on Tuesday offered a Middle East peace plan that charts a course leading to two states for Israelis and Palestinians, while acknowledging it would be a tough sell to Palestinians and others, reports the Wall Street Journal.
Trump called the proposal a "win-win" for both Israelis and Palestinians and claimed it would more than double Palestinian territory. Palestinian officials rejected the proposal before its announcement, as it was designed without Palestinian input and is seen as overly favorable to Israel.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu plans to move forward with annexing the Jewish settlements in the West Bank and parts of the Jordan Valley as soon as this weekend, reports the Washington Post.
The announcement came as both Trump and Netanyahu face politically perilous moments at home. The U.S. Senate is in the midst of the president’s impeachment trial, which has been roiled by new reports regarding his actions toward Ukraine. And hours before the peace plan’s release in Washington, the Israeli prime minister’s indictment on corruption charges was filed in a Jerusalem court.
Will the Coronavirus Become a Pandemic?
Why it’s so frustratingly difficult to know how bad it will get.
How easily does 2019-nCoV spread from person to person, and how deadly will it become? At this moment, scientists only have informed guesses, which are likely to solidify in the coming weeks and months. But what we know so far is instructive, reports Vox.
Less than four weeks into the outbreak, fear about how bad this could get is spreading faster than the virus. And with good reason.
While the vast majority of cases and deaths are occurring on mainland China, 2019-nCoV has already made its way to at least a dozen other countries, including the U.S., Germany and Canada. People are buying face masks. Markets are on edge. Cities and countries are responding with mass quarantines and travel bans. Honestly, the whole thing feels a lot like the 2011 pandemic film, Contagion.
Only time will tell how bad this will get, but we do know that people are doing all they can to contain the virus, even as the government continues to struggle to control its spread.
Nike Sells Out of Kobe Bryant Merchandise
The company evaluates how to handle future sales
Nike sold out of Kobe Bryant merchandise less than 48 hours after the five-time NBA champion died in a helicopter crash Sunday, along with his daughter Gianna and seven others.
ESPN originally reported that Nike stopped selling Bryant gear following his untimely death, but a company rep told Forbes that they simply sold out. Nike first signed a sneaker deal with Bryant in 2003 and recently debuted the Kobe V Protro Chaos on January 3rd.
The company is now assessing how to handle future releases. Matt Powell, senior industry adviser for sports at The NPD Group, told NBC News that Nike’s decision to not restock Bryant’s products at this time is a show of respect.
Some sneaker resale shops are reportedly not allowing price increases on Bryant’s sneakers, making sure no one profits off his death. But prices for the sneakers have surged on resale marketplace StockX, where a search for "Kobe" returned over 550 pairs of shoes for sale.
↦ FYI: The NBA store continues to sell Bryant’s jerseys for (the shockingly high to me) list price of $300.
Other Things We’re Talking About Today
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The State of Cheap Travel in 2020
We’re flying (and spending) more, but also willing to put up with Basic Economy
Scott Keyes, founder of the popular travel site and alert email Scott’s Cheap Flights, says we're living in "the golden age of cheap flights."
It’s never been cheaper to travel overseas. According to his research, a roundtrip ticket from NYC to Rome in 1948 cost $848. (That’s nearly $9,000 in today’s dollars.) "And yet, right now, we regularly see flights from NYC to Rome available for less than $300 roundtrip."
The site just released its inaugural State of Cheap Flights report—a survey of over 2,000 members (mixed with the site's own data) on "how consumers are traveling now and how things may change in the coming year."
The key takeaways? Europe still tops bucket lists (closely followed by Asia). And people plan to travel more this year than last. Which means their travel budget is going up (totaling around $5,000 a person). Over half the respondents say money keeps them from traveling more—far more than work or family commitments.
↦ FYI: While 47% of the people surveyed said they are concerned about flying’s effects on the environment, few plan on reducing their long-haul flights.
What We’re Buying
Club Monaco has got a pretty epic end-of-the-season sale going on right now with a wide range of winter staples for up to 60% off. One of the best items are these versatile, comfortable pants. Easygoing elastic details at the waist and cuffs lend a little bit of ease to the tailored trouser cut from soft textured Donegal twill in either navy or grey. They're the kind of pants you can travel in, work in and relax in.
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Morning Motto
There’s no substitution for hard work.
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