The Daily Valet. - 1/7/20, Tuesday
✔️ How's Your Screen Time?
Tuesday, January 7th Edition
There’s news about weed gummies and chocolate below ... hope you have a sweet Tuesday.
Cory Ohlendorf , Editor ⋯ @coryohlendorf
Today’s Big Story
How’s Your Screen Time?
Tech fatigue is setting in, but can we really get off our phones?
Over the holiday break, talk of screen time came up and a few of us pulled out our phones and compared numbers. Honestly, I would've been more comfortable discussing the number of people I've slept with instead of how much time I spend scrolling through social media, watching online video and generally "killing time" on my phone.
It turns out, we're all trying to detox from our digital life. Some are worried about being tracked. Others are complaining about tech neck. But the truth is, on average, we spend over three hours a day on our phones—which doesn't sound so bad until you realize that amounts to over 53 hours a year.
In 2019, tech companies couldn’t get enough of letting you use their products less, reports Recode. Apple, Google and a slew of time-suckers like Facebook and Instagram unveiled features to help people monitor and restrict how much time they spent on their devices. But it doesn’t seem like self-policing is working: The time we spend on our devices just keeps increasing.
That is, unless we're actually held accountable. A new study found that 64% of participants scaled back their app use during the time they were tracked, spending four hours a day on average, down from five at the start of the study.
Of course, some have argued that sheer time spent isn’t important psychologically, but rather it’s what we’re doing with that time online. I'd agree with that (after all, some digital newsletters are amazing!)
An interesting side effect to spending less time on our phones? The advertising industry suffers. Less time spent with mobile devices means marketers have to rethink where and how they spend advertising dollars. But as someone who's just mentioned something and saw an ad online mere seconds later, I'm confident they'll figure it all out.
↦ Analog Reading: BJ Fogg, the founder of Stanford University’s Behavior Design Lab, translates a decade of research into an actionable plan for simpler living in his new book, Tiny Habits.
People Are Questioning the Safety of Edibles
Are those weed gummies as safe as we thought?
On January 1st, recreational marijuana became legal in Illinois (the 11th state to legalize it). In 24 hours, the state’s network of licensed cannabis dispensaries sold $3.17 million worth of pot to 77,128 customers.
But just because everyone’s starting to agree that cannabis isn’t the devil's lettuce doesn’t mean that it’s completely harmless either. In US states where cannabis has been fully legalized, for example, more people are heading to the emergency room with rapid heartbeats, anxiety and vomiting because of cannabis use—and edibles are much more likely to send someone there, reports Gizmodo.
In a new paper released Monday, Canadian doctors argue that people have misconceptions about the safety of edibles and warn that first-time users are especially likely to take too much for their own good.
“Because ingested cannabis needs to be digested prior to absorption, the onset of effects is typically delayed, which might lead someone to consume more than intended," said Lawrence Loh, co-author of the new study. So chew those edibles responsibly everyone.
John Bolton Says He’ll Testify If Subpoenaed
Former national security adviser complicates Senate Republicans’ impeachment strategy
John Bolton, the former national security adviser to President Donald Trump, said Monday he is willing to testify in the Senate impeachment trial if subpoenaed.
In a statement posted Monday, Bolton wrote, "I have concluded that, if the Senate issues a subpoena for my testimony, I am prepared to testify."
Bolton held the position from April 2018 until September 2019, and would likely have inside knowledge about circumstances surrounding the now-infamous phone call between Trump and the Ukrainian president. (Bolton left the White House shortly before the Washington Post broke the story about a whistleblower's complaint regarding the call.)
The announcement was a boost for congressional Democrats, who have delayed transmission of the articles of impeachment from the House for more than two weeks while seeking guarantees about the scope of the trial, and pressing for testimony from Bolton, as well as acting White House chief of staff Mick Mulvaney.
Get the Most From Your Cast Iron Pan
You do have a cast iron pan, right?
If you don't have one in your kitchen, you'll want to change that immediately. Because when it comes to essentials for your home, the cast iron pan is legendary. And for good reason. There's a unique, simple pleasure in salting a piece of red meat and throwing it on a piping hot slab of iron. The result is impressive and tasty and you didn't really have to do anything at all.
But they can be intimidating if you're not used to working with them (and cleaning them). Fear not. We consulted the experts and found a few affordable items that make owning a cast iron a pleasure. Because the better you treat your pan, the better your food will turnout.
↦ Read: Here's what you need to know to get the most from your cast iron.
Other Things We’re Talking About Today
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The Price of Chocolate Is Likely Going Up
An international cartel is coming for your sweets
The West African nations of Ivory Coast and Ghana, which combined produce more than 60% of the world’s cocoa, have banded together to form their own candy-coated version of the OPEC, reports the Wall Street Journal.
"COPEC," as some in government and industry have dubbed the new partnership, is already stirring confusion and unease in the $107.3 billion global chocolate market. And at least one major cocoa processor plans to raise its prices in anticipation of the new premium.
The move aims to improve the lives of farmers who provide the world with more than two thirds of the chocolate we eat. According to the World Bank, 80% of cocoa farmers (about four million people and their families) live on less than $3 a day. And that statistic hasn’t shifted much in recent years.
If that means my occasional chocolate indulgence has to cost me a few more cents, I think I can live with that.
↦ FYI: A small milk chocolate bar is roughly 229 calories. This would require about 42 minutes of walking or 22 minutes of running to burn it off.
Sales We’re Eyeing
Angelo sweatshirt$165 / $115.50
Ready to refresh your wardrobe in the new year? O.N.S, the New York-based label that specializes in cool clothing that's minimal yet interesting, is currently hosting a winter sale. Everything is now 30% off. So grab a few pieces and incorporate them into your weekly routine to look your best until spring.
Carlito shirt $165 / $115.50
Marco overcoat $580 / $406
Cole cardigan $265 / $185.50
↦ Shop the Sale at O.N.S
Special Promotion
Port Products’ lightweight, fast-absorbing eye gel is packed with potent red algae and sea kelp, which works wonders both in the moment and in the long run. It’s clinically proven to help decrease the intensity of dark circles, while smoothing out under eye bags and fine lines. And we scored you a code for $10 off so you can try it out for yourself.
↦ Get It $40 / $30 w/code VALET10 at Port Products
Today’s Deals
Expires 1/11
Ongoing Sale
Ongoing Sale
↦ Want More? See all 44 sales
Morning Motto
Disciple is often what provides you the freedom.
↦ Follow: @michaelchernow
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