The Daily Valet. - 2/15/22, Tuesday

✔️ It's Dangerous Out There

February 15, 2022

Tuesday, February 15th Edition

Cory Ohlendorf, Editor in Chief of Valet.

Be careful out there.

Cory Ohlendorf , Editor ⋯ @coryohlendorf

Today’s edition is presented by

Today’s Big Story

Reckless Driving on the Rise

What’s to blame for a COVID-era increase in pedestrian deaths?

The U.S. is currently contending with record levels of pedestrian deaths thanks to a “nationwide flare-up in reckless driving,” the New York Times reports. As someone who rides his bike nearly every weekend, this is concerning news.

Nearly two years into the pandemic, we’re still discovering ways it’s adversely affecting society. Authorities blame things like rising anxiety levels, pandemic drinking habits, and weakening social norms for the surge in fatalities.

And though traffic specialists expected deaths to decline when COVID hit, the opposite occured; even with a drop in driving, the pedestrian fatality rate surged approximately 21% in 2020, “the largest ever year-over-year increase.”

Why? Well, initially, empty roads may have led to faster driving, while police relaxed enforcement to cut back on in-person interactions. Drivers also seemed to get angrier, notes the Times, perhaps because the pandemic made them feel like other threats weren't nearly as large.

Federal data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration showed that traffic fatalities increased substantially in nearly every state. But deaths are the tip of the iceberg. NHTSA says there is one death for every 18 people hospitalized and every 400 injured in transportation incidents.

Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg has pledged help and released a new national strategy last week aimed at reversing the trend, reports ABC News. Buttigieg cited as well safety benefits under the infrastructure law by building out alternative modes of travel to cars such as rail and public transit, “if only because every other mode of transportation is safer.”

↦ FYI: Before 2019, the number of automotive fatalities had fallen for three straight years.

The Tone of Ukraine Crisis Shifts

Diplomacy is “far from exhausted”

We keep hearing that Russia could invade Ukraine at any moment and that an incursion is possible before the Olympics wrap up at the end of the weekend.

But the Kremlin signaled Monday it is ready to keep talking with the West, while Ukrainian officials hinted at offering concessions to avert war. On a last-ditch diplomatic trip, Germany's chancellor said there are “no sensible reasons” for the buildup of more than 130,000 Russian troops on Ukraine’s borders and urged more dialogue.

While diplomatic lines remain open, the State Department made the decision move remaining diplomats from Kyiv to western Ukraine, because the department felt it was “absolutely necessary” due to the “distinct possibility, perhaps more real than ever before, that Russia may decide to proceed with military action,” State Department spokesperson Ned Price said Monday.

Moscow maintains it has no plans to invade Ukraine, but wants Western guarantees that NATO won't allow Ukraine and other former Soviet countries to join. It also wants the alliance to halt weapons deployments to Ukraine and roll back its forces from Eastern Europe—demands that have been flatly rejected by the West.

↦ Dig Deeper: Ukraine's President has declared that Feb. 16th would be a “day of unity”.

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Tracing DNA to Save the Elephants

It helped catch serial killers. Can it stop wildlife poachers, too?

African elephants have severely suffered as targets of the illegal ivory trade over the past few decades and were recently classified as Critically Endangered.

But researchers in Africa have discovered a way to weaken large criminal networks responsible for the poaching that threatens elephants and other vulnerable species all over the continent.

Scientists used analysis of DNA from seized elephant tusks and evidence such as phone records, license plates, financial records and shipping documents to map trafficking operations across the continent and better understand who was behind the crimes. The study was published Monday in the journal Nature Human Behavior.

The findings showed that the majority of the ivory seizures shipped out of Africa contained tusks from repeated poaching of the same elephant populations and as few as three major criminal groups are responsible for the smuggling out of Africa. Conservation biologist Samuel Wasser, a study co-author, hopes the findings will help law enforcement officials target the leaders of these networks instead of low-level poachers who are easily replaced by criminal organizations.

↦ FYI: More than 500 tons of raw ivory is shipped out of Africa each year.

Remember Little Debbie Snacks?

Those childhood treats have now been reimagined as ice cream flavors

When it comes to food, my tastes could be described as extreme. I truly enjoy indulging in fine cuisine, but I also get an odd pleasure from the dirtbag junk food flavors of my youth. So this definitely scratches me where I itch.

Little Debbie has turned those classic cellophane-wrapped baked goods into ice cream flavors. Last fall, Hudsonville Ice Cream introduced a pint based on those little Christmas Tree Cakes and it was so popular that they're now releasing seven flavors based on pastries that come in clutch on a road trip.

Available in Strawberry Shortcake Rolls, Oatmeal Creme Pies, Zebra Cakes, Cosmic Brownies, Honey Buns, Nutty Bars and Swiss Rolls flavors, the new lineup rings in at around $2.50 a pint. Not bad, right? And you can get as many as you want because you're an adult and your inner child deserves it.

Is there a catch? A small one. According to Food & Wine, they'll only be available at Walmart. But perhaps the best news is, these aren't some limited-time offer. The announcement states that all seven new Little Debbie Ice Cream flavors will be available year-round.

↦ Watch: Remember when Will Ferrell did an entire interview in character as Little Debbie?

In Other News

↦ Trump Organization’s Accounting Firm Says It Can No Longer Vouch for Financial Statements From the Company

↦ Regina Hall, Amy Schumer and Wanda Sykes to Host the Oscars

↦ Best Picture Nominee ‘Drive My Car’ Hits HBO Max This March to Emotionally Ruin You

Other Things We’re Talking About Today

This alpaca crew

Future Macs?

The Supreme Airstream

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Denim Styles in 2022

Henry draper jean,$285 by Imogene + Willie

Guys aren't really nerding out on their denim like they were a few years ago. But it remains an effortless choice that never disappoints, so investing in quality is still a smart move. We've pulled together some of our current favorite indigo-dyed items. Take your pick.