The Daily Valet. - 2/13/20, Thursday
✔️ Old School Tech Is Back in a Big Way
Thursday, February 13th Edition
Personally, I only use about four emojis. And I don’t think I need any more.
Cory Ohlendorf , Editor ⋯ @coryohlendorf
Today’s Big Story
The Disposable Camera Is Back in a Big Way
Many from the “iPhone generation” are switching to an older form of photography
Forget taking countless shots of the same pose on your phone and then editing them via apps. These days, a lot of young people are into grainy, light-streaked photos with overly saturated color snapped on an old-school disposable camera.
I can just hear someone say "they feel more authentic" the way my audiophile friends used to talk about the "warm sound" of their vinyl records.
Search the hashtag “disposable camera” on TikTok and you’ll find hundreds of videos with a combined 14.4 million views, reports InsideHook. The comments are typically filled with info on where to get film developed, tips on how to avoid dark photos and others only wishing they had friends to take these kinds of photos with.
Celebrities have dedicated Instagram accounts for their more personal, disposable snaps. Then there's ultra-popular YouTuber David Dobrik, who not only made using disposables part of his fun-loving brand, he also created an app which mimics a disposable camera. The Verge reported that it surpassed one million downloads in just the first three weeks alone.
The Los Angeles Times spoke with the owner of a local photo lab (remember those?), who said he first noticed an uptick in disposable camera processing orders and says it has continued to grow. Two years ago, he'd develop photos from 15 to 20 disposable cameras per week. It now processes over 200 per week.
Is it a little goofy when we've all got better camera technology in our pocket? Sure. But these images are more spontaneous and unretouched. That's kind of nice too.
↦ Want One? You can grab a Fuji QuickSnap disposable 35mm camera on Amazon for about $20.
US Budget Deficit Keeps Growing
The Fed chief issues stark warning to Congress
Last month, the Congressional Budget Office predicted in January that US deficits would average $1.3 trillion a year over the next decade, far higher than envisioned in President Trump’s budget released on Monday. That level is viewed by some economists and policy makers as unsustainable.
According to the Wall Street Journal, deficits typically narrow when the economy is strong. Instead, deficits have been rising in recent years amid a surge in government spending and weaker-than-expected receipts following the tax cuts enacted in 2017.
Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin insisted on Wednesday that Trump's tax cuts will still pay for themselves over the next decade despite the surging deficit, reports Reuters.
However, Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell called on Congress to reduce the federal budget deficit to ensure that the central bank could adequately respond to a financial crisis, downturn or recession. He's among several policymakers and economists concerned with how a combination of low interest rates and high debt could spell serious trouble for the economy.
↦ Put simply: The "deficit" means that the American government will spend $1 trillion more than it collects in 2020.
Global CO2 Emissions “Flatlined” Last Year
That’s a good thing
Energy-related carbon dioxide emissions remained unchanged last year, the International Energy Agency said this week in a report that raised hopes about the Earth’s climate. And no change is actually progress.
What's more, in the U.S., CO2 emissions actually fell by nearly three percent—the largest drop of any country, reports The Hill. "A 15% reduction in the use of coal for power generation underpinned the decline in overall US emissions in 2019," the report said.
The agency also pointed to the “expanding role” of renewables like wind and solar in advanced economies, as well as increased nuclear power generation and milder weather.
In a statement, US Energy Secretary Dan Brouillette said that the report proved that "innovation and technology are the solution to the world’s climate challenges."
Say More With Emojis
Google will now mix and match them for the perfect cartoon sentiment
There are 3,000 emoji on our phones today, including variants in gender and skin tone. And yet it can still be hard to find just the right one to capture your emotions or state of mind.
Sometimes we stack them together, as they often portray parts of what we're trying to say. That's why the Emoji Mashup Bot—which smushes together two or three random emojis to generate a hybrid emoji every hour—has nearly 325,000 followers.
And why Google is taking it one step further with Emoji Kitchen. Launched Wednesday, it allows users to mix up different emoji and then use them as stickers when messaging, reports Fast Company.
To be clear, you can’t just mash up any of the thousands of emoji with any other one. It currently only works with those Google supports, which are mainly variations on the smileys. That’s because the emoji aren’t being mashed up in real time through some sort of AI system. Instead, Google designers have created this set of mashups for Gboard, specifically. So it's a small step for emojis ... but points towards further customization in the future.
Other Things We’re Talking About Today
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Is the Worst Over?
Experts are divided on the coronavirus peak as new infections slow and then surge
The number of new coronavirus cases in China outside the epicenter of Hubei province have fallen for seven days in a row. It suggests that the outbreak might be slowing and containment efforts are working.
But on Thursday, officials added more than 14,840 new cases to the tally of the infected in Hubei Province alone, bringing the total number to 48,206, the largest one-day increase recorded so far, reports the New York Times.
The sharp rise illustrates just how hard it has been for scientists to grasp the extent and severity of the virus that was just officially named COVID-19.
“The stabilization in cases in the last number of days is very reassuring,” Dr. Mike Ryan, executive director of the World Health Organization’s health emergencies program, said during a news conference Wednesday. He added that the virus isn't as “aggressive or as accelerated” outside of China, but that it’s much too soon to suggest the outbreak has peaked.
↦ FYI: United Airlines late Wednesday joined American and Delta in suspending all flights to China and Hong Kong into late April.
Weekend Shopping Plans
From outerwear to vintage watches, our picks from three can’t-miss sales going on this weekend.
Extra 50% off sale items w/code WEEKEND
Stretch chinos $79.50 / $24.99
Take $350 select watches
Omega Speedmaster $2,200 / $1,650
Up to 50% off shirt jackets
Flint and Tinder $178 / $87.98
Morning Motto
Mind over matter, right?
↦ Follow: @trey.laird
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