The Daily Valet. - 2/24/20, Monday
✔️ Stand Up and Be Counted
Monday, February 24th Edition
Just call me “Person 1.” Or don’t ... it’s cool.
Cory Ohlendorf , Editor ⋯ @coryohlendorf
Today’s Big Story
The Census Is Coming
Here’s what you need to know ...
Every 10 years, as mandated in the Constitution, officials from the US Census Bureau work to count every person living in the country. That means that everyone in the United States, Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, Guam and the US Virgin Islands are required by law to be counted this year.
And it's important. The 2020 Census will help determine how $1.5 trillion in federal spending is distributed, as well as how many congressional seats each state gets.
You're asked about the number of people living at the residence and about your relationship (married, related, roommates, unmarried same-sex partner, in-laws, foster child, non-related, etc.).
The much-discussed citizenship question will not be listed on the 2020 census. But the Census Bureau is still paying for it, according to Politico. Amid fear among immigrants over the Trump administration’s failed drive to put the question on the census, the government is investing millions of dollars promoting the fact that your information will not be shared with the authorities.
On the bright side, citizens will be able to respond online for the first time, starting March 12. Or you could respond the old-fashioned way, via mail or phone.
The real question, according to the Associated Press, is who gets to be the primary person in the household? Everyone else who lives in the home has to be identified on the form by how they are related to so-called “Person 1,” which years ago would've been dubbed “head of household.” I'm cool with letting my partner be #1, if it means he fills the thing out and I can spend my time doing other important things, like scrolling through Instagram.
↦ FYI: Those who refuse to answer the census could be fined up to $100 and those who purposefully provide wrongful information could be fined up to $500.
Bernie Sanders Wins the Nevada Caucuses
It seems the Vermont senator is the man to beat
Bernie Sanders’s resounding victory in the weekend’s Nevada caucuses cast him as the clear front-runner for the Democratic presidential nomination, reports the Wall Street Journal.
At the same time, the win and his momentum ahead of next Saturday’s South Carolina primary and the Super Tuesday contests on March 3, are stirring anxiety among some establishment Democrats who believe a more centrist nominee would have a better chance at beating President Trump in November.
But the independent from Vermont—who is running as a Democrat and often speaks about the ills not just of Republicans, but also of Democrats—has said he can expand the electorate by bringing in new voters, which would help him overcome any concerns about ideology in a general election.
And this weekend, he did just that, reports NPR. He won not only with voters under 30 and liberals, but also with moderate men and women, Hispanics (overwhelmingly), voters 45 to 64 and people with and without college degrees, according to polls conducted as voters entered caucus sites.
Steve McQueen’s choice of chronograph could be yours. We're giving away Tag Heuer’s most iconic watch—worth over $3,500. Enter for your chance to win.
Tokyo’s Olympics Will Be the Smartest Ever
Robotic guides, crowd control directed by artificial intelligence and immersive virtual reality
Tokyo’s 2020 Summer Olympics and Paralympics are fast approaching, and the games’ slogan is “Discover Tomorrow”. Not surprising, given how Japan has established itself as a technological world leader.
According to Raconteur, Japan will use the leading tech of 2020, notably the internet of things (IoT), to make the Olympics run smoothly.
Panasonic’s crowd-forecasting software will provide a glimpse of the future of security—using cameras with facial recognition technology, the software will analyze crowd movements to identify suspicious behavior, while helping with real-time management of crowd flow.
Tech Crunch reports that Toyota has unveiled five robots that will each help both athletes and attendees at venues get around and get information, while ferrying food, drinks and equipment. The robots range from humanoid to strictly purpose-built and functional in design.
↦ FYI: At the '64 Tokyo Olympics, the world was introduced to similar innovative technology, such as the bullet train.
We’ve Reached a Cord-Cutting Turning Point
Just look how far cable TV has fallen
Last year, a record number of people abandoned pay TV bundles outright in favor of cheaper streaming services, reports Fast Company.
Now that all the major cable companies, satellite providers, and media giants have reported their fourth quarter earnings, we have a full view of how bad the damage was. Over the past year, total U.S. pay TV subscriptions dropped by 2.7 million (even factoring in growth from live TV channel bundles such as Hulu + Live TV and YouTube TV).
And a significant percentage of cord-cutters aren’t just abandoning cable and satellite TV, they’re opting out of bundles entirely, possibly spending some of the money they’ve saved on new options like Disney+ or Apple TV+.
Alan Wolk, the cofounder and lead analyst for TVRev, says last year’s defections are just the start of what will be considerably steeper declines over the next year or two.
↦ New Apple TV? According to 9to5Mac, there's a listing on Target’s website for a not-yet-announced Apple TV device.
Other Things We’re Talking About Today
+
This Sofa Was Inspired by Playing Minecraft
Architect Bjarke Ingels designed furniture to be moved, flipped and repaired
It’s fitting then, that Ingels, through his practice’s innovation arm Bjarke Ingels Group (BIG), would bring this experimental sensibility to his first sofa project: Voxel, a modular couch developed for Danish company Common Seating, reports Sharp.
According to Wallpaper, the modular upholstered sofa puts half of its design in the hands of the user—the grid-like system creates a family of units that can be configured into multiple seating scenarios, from a straightforward couch or ottoman to a large configuration.
Citing references from Minecraft to Mies van der Rohe, Ingel says that it's sustainable too. You can repair a damaged piece easily by replacing it with another or chuck it entirely without the couch feeling incomplete.
↦ Interested? Configure your own and purchase one of the sofas from Common Seating.
What We’re Buying
A Dopp kit is an essential item all men should have stocked and ready to go. The Early Embark Kit is a more modern, durable version and makes the perfect transit companion whether you're traveling across the country or to the gym. It's water repellent, very easy to clean and is expandable if you need a bit more space. Normally, this bag is nearly $50 at Lululemon, but the premier performance brand is currently hosting an epic sale, so don't overlook their elite accessories.
↦ Get It $48 / $19 at Lululemon
Today’s Deals
Expires 2/24
Expires 2/25
Expires 2/25
↦ Want More? See all 47 sales
Morning Motto
How are your habits looking?
That’s all for today...
...but we could use your help.
The more people who know about The Daily Valet., the stronger it can become. So grab your unique referral code below and start sharing with your friends, family and coworkers to earn some exclusive discounts to our favorite brands and cool stuff you'll actually want (not just throw-away “swag”).
Your Unique Referral Code:
↦ Want to Learn More? Check out your personal Valet. Ambassor page for program details and get a closer look at the available rewards (and how many referrals are needed to score them).
Valet Media LLC350 Lincoln Road, 2nd FloorMiami Beach, FL 33139[email protected]