The Daily Valet. - 1/4/22, Tuesday

✔️ Have You Been Looking for These?

January 04, 2022

Tuesday, January 4th Edition

Cory Ohlendorf, Editor in Chief of Valet.

Is it really only Tuesday?

Cory Ohlendorf , Editor ⋯ @coryohlendorf

Today’s Big Story

The Surge in Rapid Testing

Manufacturers rush to ramp up rapid COVID test production as demand soars

The hottest commodity of the new year may very well be COVID-19 at-home rapid tests. Amid the current surge of infections, demand for the tests has soared. And if you can find them, most stores (CVS, Walmart and Amazon) have imposed limits on how many you can buy.

I traveled over the holidays to see family and utilized several tests to ensure that everyone was safe (and negative) before getting together. And being able to test before and after my flights provided an immense peace of mind.

Last month, the Biden administration announced a plan to distribute 500 million at-home tests that you can order for free through a website the government is setting up. But those tests won’t start shipping until later in January. That, and the broader demand from consumers has manufacturers rushing to ramp up production.

Meanwhile, increased demand for PCR testing at pharmacies, medical clinics and hospitals has led to a backlog—sometimes meaning it takes several days to get results. While the PCR tests are more reliable, the rapid tests are simpler to use yourself and can be done anywhere (like in a rental car, I found out). But can they detect this damn variant? “Early data suggests that antigen tests do detect the Omicron variant but may have reduced sensitivity,” the FDA said in a statement.

NBC News puts it this way: If the course of an infection resembles a bell curve on a chart, a PCR test is good at detecting the infection all the way through. A rapid antigen test is best at detecting within the hump of that curve, when a person is most infectious and poses the biggest risk to others.

So it’s probably a good idea to grab a few tests if and when you find them. Prices could continue to fluctuate, but many experts said they should begin to come down as more tests come onto the market. Abbott Labs, which produces the popular BinaxNOW at-home tests, told CNBC that it would increase its production of 50 million test kits per month to 70 million this month.

↦ Dig Deeper: The FDA has a whole Testing Basics site to help you figure out which one you need, when and how to get it.

Elizabeth Holmes Found Guilty

Jury convicts the Theranos founder on multiple fraud charges

The fraud trial of Elizabeth Holmes, the founder of the failed blood testing start-up Theranos, began in September and after jurors heard from 32 witnesses, including Holmes herself, the trial wrapped up yesterday with her being convicted of four of the 11 charges she was accused of.

The federal jury's mixed verdict caps a spectacular downfall for the former startup founder. Despite going down in flames, it still seems rare that a CEO would actually go to jail for their crimes. But Holmes was the poster child of Silicon Valley hubris, taking “fake it till you make it” to illegal extremes.

According to Axios, the company raised over $1 billion, including at a valuation of nearly $11 billion, from an eclectic mix of investors that included Rupert Murdoch, Betsy DeVos, the Walton family and the Cox family. Each guilty verdict carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison though she would likely serve them concurrently, the New York Times notes.

Of course, it's all but certain Holmes will appeal, a process that can take years. In an appeal, she could challenge aspects including evidence the judge allowed in over the defense's objections or any possible sign of juror misconduct, though none has emerged so far, reports the Wall Street Journal.

↦ What's Next? A sentencing date is expected to be set at a hearing on the three hung charges next week.

Protect Yourself on Your Next Trip

State Department warns Americans traveling abroad to make contingency plans

Throughout the pandemic, U.S. passport holders have seen an ever-morphing list of international travel options. And just when it seemed like it was safe to fly again, the Omicron variant started making travel troublesome.

Now, the State Department is encouraging Americans traveling abroad to make contingency plans amid the spread of the highly contagious variant, advising anyone leaving the country to prepare for potential quarantine and testing requirements.

The warning comes as several countries have cracked down on travel, including Thailand, Germany, and France, while some have gone into lockdowns, like the Netherlands, reports Travel + Leisure.

Additionally, they also recommend people purchase international travel insurance that includes COVID-19-related trip cancellation and medical coverage, warning that you can't be sure you'll be covered, should you get stuck or get sick yourself.

↦ FYI: CNN has all the countries welcoming American tourists for now—and some resources for your visit.

Samsung Updates the Frame TV

It’s designed to make art look more realistic

I've always been a fan of the Frame TV (even though I don't own one yet). And now, the popular television—designed to discretely show off art when it's not being used—is getting an upgrade.

At CES 2022, Samsung is introducing the latest enhancement: a new anti-reflective screen designed to make art look more realistic (and less TV-like) than ever. The company describes the new matte screen finish as a “lifelike paper and canvas texture” that's “engineered to maximize light scattering surface irregularities” even in bright rooms.

According to CNET, the new models features a redesigned version of the built-in art store said to make finding content easier. A paid subscription costs $5 per month for access to more than 1,400 pieces of art from world-renowned institutions.

Not only is The Frame one of the best-looking displays on the market, The Verge says they're perfect for showing off your NFTs. A smart calibration feature on the TVs will automatically adjust display settings “to the creator's preset values, so you can have peace of mind that your work looks impeccable, with true-to-the-original image quality.” You've heard of things like Dolby Vision or Netflix Calibrated Mode, and now NFTs will get a similar treatment.

↦ FYI: Eminem just spent $450,000 on a Bored Ape Yacht Club NFT that looks like himself.

In Other News

↦ Fanatics Acquires Topps Trading Cards for $500 Million

↦ Apple Becomes the First Company Worth $3 Trillion

↦ Exposing How TV Shows Source Their D*ck Pics

Other Things We’re Talking About Today

Stroads

Doing things the hard way

This “stillness bath”

Set Your Goals

Want to be successful? Do what successful people do.

Whether you want it to or not, the future is coming. And it will either be the same, better or worse than what you know right now in the present. The only way to ensure that it will be better is to set long-term goals to strive for in the long-run.

Of course, that's no guarantee that life with work out exactly as planned—it rarely does, right? But nonetheless, it's important to set long terms goals to work towards. Otherwise, we're just wandering aimlessly through life without a plan.

In today's installment of 31 Days, we discuss why you want to set long-term goals, how to best go about setting them, along with some expert advise on what makes them so powerful.

↦ REad: The key to setting yourself up for success.

The Ultimate “Cool Down” Jacket

New Balance Fortech Vaporlift Shirt Jacket

Fortitech Vaporlift shirt jacket, $124.99 by New Balance

The new year is here and so are the resolutions. Gyms will be packed for the next month with usual members and plenty of newbies. Whether you received some new exercise equipment for the holidays or need to purchase some activewear to help motivate you, we have just the trick.

These active and track jackets will help you layer up to brave the elements or simply endure your outdoor commute from the car to the gym. They're all breathable enough to leave on while getting through some sprint intervals as well. There have been so many iterations on jackets like these, but you should focus on fit—especially if you're working on your physique for the new year.