The Daily Valet. - 12/9/22, Friday
✔️Do You Have This Debt?
Friday, December 9th Edition
By Cory Ohlendorf, Valet. Editor
Was this week as long as it was for you as it was for me? Let's have some fun this weekend.
Today’s Big Story
Do We Have an Immunity Debt?
Sometimes a theory Seems to make sense, but isn't really true ...
Stay healthy out there, kids. Remember on Tuesday, when I mentioned that the CDC was encouraging people to mask up again (when appropriate) to help reduce the spread of respiratory illnesses? Well, some people are claiming that the tripledemic is hitting the U.S. so hard due to “immunity debt.”Here's the theory: Measures that were implemented to slow the spread of COVID-19 also reduced the spread of other viruses. Lack of regular exposure to those pathogens caused people's immune systems to become less effective at fighting them. And now the viruses are taking advantage.It makes sense, right? The underlying idea behind this debt is that our immune system is a muscle of sorts. And that it needs working out or it will become flabby and weak. But Salon reports, that's not the case. When we locked down, a lot of viruses died, too. Without human reservoirs to bounce to and from, we almost completely extinguished flu viruses in the States. In fact, one strain of flu may even be extinct at this point.Reduced immunity is no doubt involved, but there are additional factors also responsible for the recent uptick in respiratory viruses, one infectious disease clinician told Bloomberg. “The weather's colder, kids are back in school, people have stopped masking — all of these things work together — and then there's a lower population-level immunity.” But he pointed out that if it was merely the debt, it would affect far more people than we're seeing get sick now.Some medical experts warn that framing this situation as “debt” can have serious consequences. One immunologist told Slate the term implies that catching these viruses is part of our social contract.
You Down With PPE?
If you want a serious (and seriously comfortable) N95 mask to protect yourself and others, these slow profile black masks by BNX are NIOSH approved.
Brittney Griner Is Finally Free
She landed in San Antonio last night
Brittney Griner, the American basketball star imprisoned in Russia on drug charges (after authorities found a vape cartridge with hashish oil in her luggage), was released on Thursday after nearly 10 months of captivity in a prisoner swap for Viktor Bout, a convicted Russian arms dealer known as the “Merchant of Death”.She landed in San Antonio late last night and will be examined at a U.S. Army hospital there. The Brooke Army Medical Center has long been a place the government has sent people who need to be debriefed or who require sensitive medical care after going through an ordeal like Griner's. The hospital treats both civilians and military personnel who have survived torture or other trauma.WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert stressed that this is “a critical time” for the athlete and her family. “We're going to give her the appropriate space and time for that and then follow what Brittney and her family want to do about re-engaging with the WNBA.” But Griner was apparently “in an extremely upbeat mood” and “appeared grateful” as she met U.S. officials during the exchange.
Meanwhile:
The Russians were not willing to negotiate in good faith for the release of Paul Whelan, a former Marine who's been held since 2018.
Congress Passes Marriage Equality
Respect for Marriage Act Is sent to Biden with bipartisan support
Here's some more good news to close out the week. Both the House and the Senate have passed the Respect for Marriage Act, which codifies same-sex and interracial marriages. The bill will head to President Joe Biden's desk to be signed into law, which is expected to happen soon.The legislation passed 258-169 in the House Thursday with bipartisan support, after passing through the Senate last week with a 61-36 vote. Twelve Republican senators voted in favor of the bill. According to the Associated Press, it was a monthslong effort, building on a decadeslong push, in which Senators implored their colleagues, tweaked the bill to make it more appealing—without changing what it would do—and in the end, “defied political gravity.”The bill officially repeals the Defense of Marriage Act, the 1996 law that established a federal definition of marriage as being between one man and one woman. And it requires the federal government and states to recognize marriages that were legal in the states in which they were performed, regardless of a state's own laws on marriage.
Meanwhile:
The author of Florida’s ‘Don’t Say Gay’ law just got indicted for money laundering.
Tab Hoarders Rejoice
Chrome gets memory and energy saver modes
As I write this, I have no fewer than 27 tabs open on my computer ... If you're like me, you'll want to hear about a new update. On Thursday, Google announced two new performance settings in its Chrome browser: Memory Saver and Energy Saver.According to Tech Crunch, our browsers eat up a lot of memory, and while that's not a problem if you have 32GB of RAM, Chrome using multiple gigabytes of your memory can quickly slow your machine down if you're on a computer with lower specs.The Memory Saver mode promises to reduce Chrome's memory usage by up to 30% by putting inactive tabs to sleep. The tabs will simply reload when you need them again. As for Energy Saver, enable that feature and Chrome will accommodate a low-powered computer. If you're using Chrome while your device's battery hits 20 percent or less, Energy Saver will automatically limit background activity, images and videos that it deems unnecessary. That should at least give you enough time to find a charger.
FYI:
The update will be available for Windows, macOS and ChromeOS desktop users with the release of Chrome 108.
In Other News
More men are interested in how they can prevent unwanted pregnancies.
Have you heard about ...
A Weekend Pairing
‘Giri/Haji’ + an Asahi Beer
Don't you love discovering a great show that you missed on a streamer? It's a like getting let in on a secret. Based on my watch history, Netflix thought I might enjoy this Japanese import about Yakuza gangsters, British cops and two warring brothers. Giri/Haji (Japanese for 'duty' and 'shame') has been around since 2020, but as soon as I watched the trailer, I knew I was hooked. The show is a grab bag of genres—one part crime flick, one part family drama with a dash of British humor to lighten the mood.If you, like the rest of the internet, have developed a crush on Will Sharpe from The White Lotus, you'll find him here, playing a lovable drug addict on a downward spiral. And if you liked HBO's Tokyo Vice and are craving more of it, this show has been called “the thinking man's Tokyo Vice.” That's because it's clever and elegant while still being pulpy, with plenty of action.
Pair It With
They drink all sorts on this show, but I’m suggesting pairing this with a big (and I mean big) 25.4 ounce can of Asahi Super Dry. Like a tiny aluminum barrel, it’s more than two beers in one generous can. The rice lager is crisp, thirst-quenching and always satisfying.
Also Worth a Watch:
'Pinocchio' on Netflix, 'Kindred' on Hulu, 'The Black Phone' on Amazon Prime Video and 'Emancipation' on Apple TV+
Shopping
20 Under $20
Who said nice things Have to cost a lot?
Look, sometimes you feel the need to buy something just to feel that rush of dopamine. And I'm certainly guilty of it. But who said that to find something nice you have to spend a lot? We've rounded up a few items that are budget approved and all under 20 bucks. These cost-conscious picks will have you smelling good and feeling good while keeping plenty of money in your pocket.
Get It:
20 unbelievably priced goods that the Valet. team wants to buy right now.
Morning Motto
Mistakes aren’t all bad. We learn a lot from them.
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