The Daily Valet. - 2/1/21, Monday

✔️ It's Coming Down

February 01, 2021

Monday, February 1st Edition

Cory Ohlendorf, Editor in Chief of Valet.

Can’t stop thinking about Elon Musk on ClubHouse last night saying, “I have some kick@ss meme dealers.”

Cory Ohlendorf , Editor ⋯ @coryohlendorf

Today's edition is presented by

Today’s Big Story

Nor’easter Wreaks Havoc

About 1 in 3 people in the U.S. are under winter storm watches or warnings

Over 100 million Americans are under winter weather alerts as a major storm continues to track eastward, reports NBC News. The winter storm, which forecasters predicted will last until at least Tuesday, had already dumped a half-foot of snow in the Midwest on Sunday. And it will continue to pummel parts of Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin as the system travels east.

New York City and New Jersey declared states of emergency and Philadelphia issued a “snow emergency” Sunday night.

With up to 18 inches of the white stuff forecast for parts of New York, Gov. Andrew Cuomo directed agencies to mobilize emergency response resources.

The snow storm—dubbed Orlena by the Weather Channel—was also expected to expand overnight in the Ohio Valley, extending as far south as Kentucky, Tennessee, North Carolina and the Great Smoky Mountains, while coming to an end across the Upper Midwest.

This will no doubt put a real delay on people’s deliveries, but it’s also disrupting COVID-19 vaccinations across the whole Northeast region. New York Mayor Bill de Blasio said Sunday that the city canceled vaccine appointments Monday. In the Philadelphia area, city-run testing and vaccine sites will be closed today too. Rhode Island, Connecticut, New Jersey and parts of the D.C., Maryland and Virginia areas have all followed suit.

Elsewhere, a series of systems will move across the Pacific Northwest and Northern California over the next few days bringing more heavy rain as well as sleet, snow and hail later this week. So basically, if you’re reading this, expect some lousy weather over the next few days.

↦ Tomorrow: Punxsutawney Phil will make his annual weather prognostication and, of course, the 2021 Groundhog Day festivities at Gobbler’s Knob, Pennsylvania, are going virtual.

Trump Swaps Out His Legal Team

Days before his historic impeachment trial begins

Former President Donald Trump on Sunday announced a new legal defense team after he parted ways with five of his impeachment lawyers over the weekend, Fox News has confirmed.

“We have done much work, but have not made a final decision on our legal team,” Trump adviser Jason Miller tweeted on Saturday night. According to the Associated Press, the lawyers left over a difference of opinion on the direction of the defense's argument—namely that Trump wanted them to focus their defense on his election fraud allegations rather than the events that led to the Capitol attack.

Leading the new team, according to Politico, will be David Schoen and Bruce L. Castor Jr. The two lawyers, according to Trump, will bring “national profiles and significant trial experience in high-profile cases to the effort.”

The impeachment trial is scheduled to begin Feb. 9th, but a Trump impeachment conviction is unlikely, considering that last week an overwhelming majority of Republican senators voted to dismiss his trial altogether. But there's still the possibility of new evidence shaking things up again.

↦ Meanwhile: Former Vice President Mike Pence is reportedly making plans to form a political committee that might come in handy for a future 2024 run.

Special Promotion

Valentine’s Day will be spent at home this year. But that’s okay, if you’re stocked with everything you need for a wild night.

The Kids Will Be Alright

From savvy market moves to feats of strength

Here's some good news to kick off the week ... A fifth-grader from San Antonio has made over $3,200 after cashing in on the surge in GameStop shares. His mother, Nina Carr, told CNN that she bought the 10-year-old gamer shares of the company's stock in 2019 as a Kwanzaa present, because she wanted to teach him about investing.

His mother saw his interest in GameStop as an opportunity to teach him the value of long-term investing. “We're African American. You don't see a lot of [investing] in our community. I wanted to give him a step up when it comes to learning these things.”

In other outstanding outcomes, five years after 12-year-old Jacob Smith was diagnosed with a brain tumor, he became the youngest blind skier to descend the Big Couloir on Lone Mountain at Montana's Big Sky Resort, reports Outside. (I'm blown away just realizing the bravery required for blind skiing.)

Kids. They do the darnedest things. Like help us reach herd immunity. Both WIRED and The Atlantic explain how vaccinating kids will be key to getting new COVID-19 infection numbers down and while protecting an entire population.

↦ FYI: In less surprising news, teenagers' mental health is being damaged by heavy social media use, a new report has confirmed (again).

Dry January Is Over

You made it ... now what?

Did you participate in Dry January? And make it all the way to today? Or did you, like me, give up a few days in and say, “better luck next year?” If so, don't worry, because we're not alone: Drinking is up across the United States, and heavy drinking especially.

A recent survey determined to pin down the root cause for the uptick reported that 53% of drinkers were “trying to cope with stress,” 39% were “trying to relieve boredom” and 32% “trying to cope with mental health issues.” Which could be why publications like the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and Eater were all urging us to sit Dry January out.

But for those who did accomplish their goal of abstaining, the consensus is that they'll slowly dip their toe back into the booze. Experts tell Bustle that post-Dry January, many people feel motivated to change the way they drink for good. A study from the University of Sussex found that 80% ofpeople who'd done Dry January felt more in control of their drinking, and a majority were still drinking less six months later.

To ease back into the sauce, you might consider some lower-alcohol wines—the brain apparently devotes more attention to aroma and flavor with lower-alcohol wines, so you'll experience it like a true connoisseur. Or maybe start with non-alcoholic beer from Athletic Brewing Company (which has reported a 500% increase in traffic this month). In any case, I'll happily drink with you.

↦ WTF: Why are all the "wellness" hangover cures suddenly adding alcohol to the mix?

In Other News

Other Things We’re Talking About Today

Taking risks

What we’ve got on our radar

Throwback music

Special Promotion

Stock Your Goodie Drawer

Make sure you’re ready for Valentine’s Day

Like much of the past twelve months, Valentine’s Day in 2021 won’t be like most years. Most of us will be spending it at home instead of going out on the town. But that doesn’t mean it has to be bad.

In fact, with the right supplies, it might be better. Skip the crowds and go right to the good part by stocking your nightstand will all the essentials for a long, romantic night. Promescent, the popular intimacy wellness brand that has made a name for itself with a line of cutting-edge bedroom products that are backed up by years of scientific and medical research. Everything specifically designed and clinically proven to provide long-lasting pleasure.

From their best-selling Delay Spray—recommended by more than 2,000 healthcare professionals because it works without spoiling any of the fun—to their female arousal gel and a range of lubes, they’ve got any and everything you need to make the night memorable. So why not invest in your relationship? Especially since you won’t be overpaying for dinner in an overstuffed restaurant.

Delay Spray, $22.95

Female Arousal Gel, $19.95

Long-lasting water-based lube, $8.99

VitaFLUX supplements, $49.95

↦ Learn More: about Promescent

What We’re Buying

Sturdy, reliable and comfortable. I'd love to describe an entire wardrobe like this, but that's not always the case. So we'll take it for one great pair of leather boots that will last a lifetime. A loosely updated take on a classic carpenter boot, these deeply discounted boots feature a sturdy leather and are finished with a Goodyear welted sole. We wouldn't pair them with joggers, but any jeans, chinos or dress pants will go perfectly. (Pro tip: order a half-size smaller than you normally would).

↦ Get It $298 / $119 by J.Crew

Special Promotion

A Gentlemanly Closet Solution

Photo by @menswearmusings

If you’re a man who takes his clothing seriously, you no doubt have a lot of accessories and finishing touches to contend with. Keep them orderly and at arms reach with Dapper Woodworks. Every item—from tie racks and organizers to shoe horns—is made to order and handcrafted in Texas from the finest hardwoods and hardware. Plus, Valet. readers can score 10% off with code VALET10

↦ Explore Closet solutions from Dapper Woodworks