The Daily Valet. - 2/18/20, Tuesday
✔️ How Timber Is Changing Cities for Good
Tuesday, February 18th Edition
Who else is going to be mixed up on dates all week?
Cory Ohlendorf , Editor ⋯ @coryohlendorf
Today's edition is presented by
Today’s Big Story
Wooden Skyscrapers?
Timber buildings are more environmentally-friendly and fire-resistant than you’d think ... plus they’re really cool looking
Should the cities of the future be made of wood? Towering wooden buildings—sometimes dubbed "plyscrapers"—were once the preserve of conceptual designers. But thanks to changes in building regulations around the world and shifting attitudes towards the material, they're quickly becoming a reality, reports CNN.
A slew of new timber high-rises are set to break ground or open this year. Advocates for mass timber claim that, compared to existing options, these towers are quicker to construct, stronger and, perhaps most surprisingly, safer in the event of a fire, according to Popular Mechanics. But it's likely their green credentials that explain wood's rising popularity as of late.
Fire-blocking mass timber construction could bring millions of pounds of carbon absorption to cities around the world, according to a paper published in the journal Nature Sustainability in January. Timber buildings, the researchers say, could capture carbon dioxide from our atmosphere the same way forests do naturally.
Better, actually. A five-story building made with mass timber can store up to 400 pounds of carbon per square meter—three times more than natural forests with high carbon density. Of course, the most obvious benefit of building with timber is that it is, unlike steel or glass, a renewable resource. You can plant more trees.
In Chicago, architects have proposed a wooden skyscraper 80 stories tall called River Beech Tower. Toronto is planning dozens of timber towers to revitalize a former industrial waterfront. Meanwhile in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, work on a 238-foot wooden apartment block, Ascent, is set to begin in June. These are just a few of the current wave of proposed and planned wooden skyscrapers around the world and I can't wait to actually see one in person.
↦ “Mass Timber” This term refers to the use of large, solid engineered wood panels, made of smaller boards layered and laminated together (and differs from thinner light frame or post-and-beam construction).
Denny Hamlin Wins the Daytona 500
A shocking finish after leader Ryan Newman crashed and flipped right before the finish line
Denny Hamlin won a chaotic and grueling Daytona 500 Monday after late crashes disrupted the field and sent the race into overtime. It's the third time Hamlin has won the Daytona 500, and he's the first driver to win the Great American Race back-to-back since Sterling Marlin in 1994 and '95.
Hamlin edged out Ryan Blaney after Ryan Newman—who was just yards from winning the race—spun out and crashed. His car went airborne and flipped on the track several times and caught fire after jockeying for position with Hamlin and Blaney coming out of turn four, reports CBS Sports.
The shocking and graphic crash muted the victory celebration and just before going off the air, the Fox television broadcast said that Newman was being taken by ambulance to a Daytona area hospital.
↦ FYI: Major racing circuits, Nascar and IndyCar series, will be introducing hybrid engines in 2022.
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Americans Evacuated from Quarantined Ship
And other coronavirus updates ...
Fourteen Americans evacuated from the Diamond Princess cruise ship on US-chartered flights have tested positive for novel coronavirus, the US departments of State and Health and Human Services said.
The passengers were among more than 300 Americans who had been quarantined on the ship since February 4 at the Japanese port city of Yokohama, reports NPR. And while they were separated from the other evacuees in the converted cargo 747, officials said the patients weren't currently showing symptoms of the virus.
Meanwhile, Apple became the first major American company to say it won’t meet its revenue projections for the current quarter due to the outbreak. According to the Wall Street Journal, the ordeal has limited iPhone production for worldwide sales and cut short any demand for products within China.
It's the most prominent example yet of the outbreak's ripple effects on global business as the illness (and fear) continues to spread—hitting smartphone sales and commodity prices while delaying production across industries.
↦ FYI: The COVID19 outbreak has now been been blamed for 1,770 deaths worldwide and about 70,000 infections.
Former Justice Employees Urge William Barr to Resign
They’re triggering claims of political interference
More than 2,000 former employees of the Department of Justice have signed a letter calling on Attorney General William Barr to resign, reports CBS News. They claim that his handling of the Roger Stone case "openly and repeatedly flouted" the principle of equal justice under the rule of law.
The letter comes as the Justice Department faces allegations of succumbing to political pressure from President Trump. And after four prosecutors quit the case last week after Barr pushed for a softer prison recommendation for Stone, who's due to be sentenced this week.
The signatures of the former DOJ officials, who served under both Democratic and Republican presidencies, were gathered by Protect Democracy, a bipartisan group that has been critical of the administration's use of military funding to build the border wall.
↦ FYI: Barr is scheduled to testify in front of the House Judiciary Committee on March 31.
Other Things We’re Talking About Today
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Finding clothes shouldn’t be a challenge just because you put in time at the gym
You try to take care of yourself. You're athletic, outdoorsy and put in time at the gym. If this sounds like you, then you're probably familiar with the predicament the founders of State & Liberty experienced: "Slim Fit" dress shirts were way too tight in the upper body and "Standard Fit" shirts were too boxy. So they spent years researching hundreds of athletic body types and developed the perfect Athletic Fit for their shirts, jackets and pants. Cut from breathable fabrics with four way stretch, they're as comfortable as they are good looking. So, if you're never satisfied with the fit of your off-the-rack clothing, you may've just met your match.
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How I Optimized My Mornings
The four habits that set you up for success
Let's face it. A lousy start can derail any good intentions and leave you feeling overwhelmed and underachieving. And that's how I was feeling lately.
I was getting a bit burnt out and stressed and realized I had access to experts and products to help me. I talked with successful people I admire, along with smart founders and entrepreneurs making stuff designed to get your day started on the right foot.
I was curious ... could I actually biohack my way to a better morning? Turns out, it wasn't all that hard. In fact, the habits I developed were rather small. They seem obvious or insignificant, but when combined, they ensure that my transition from groggy, grumpy zombie to energetic optimist is smooth and speedy.
↦ Read: How to start your day on the right foot.
What We’re Buying
Most commonly known for their dress shoes—and dress shoes that have an athletic shoe midsole—Cole Haan also makes some handsome and comfortable boots. The Feathercraft Grand boot is made with smooth suede, and as its name foreshadows, it has a lightweight feel. The casually classic dress boot can work all winter and well into the spring. The fit is anything but stiff. The construction embraces the contours of your ankle for the most exact fit possible. But don't wait long on these, as the 40% sale with code EXTRA40 only lasts until Thursday.
↦ Get It $200 / $92.97 at Cole Haan
Today’s Deals
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Morning Motto
Self-sabotage is a waste of time.
↦ Follow: @oliviasantnerdesign
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