The Daily Valet. - 3/19/20, Thursday
✔️ Social Distancing Is Tough
Thursday, March 19th Edition
I must confess that the “emergency” Oreos ... are gone.
Cory Ohlendorf , Editor ⋯ @coryohlendorf
Today’s Big Story
President Signs Aid Bill Into Law
The bill provides paid sick leave, free testing and other benefits
President Trump signed the latest coronavirus aid package into law Wednesday evening, after the Senate approved the new round of emergency funding earlier in a rare display of bipartisanship, reports the Washington Post.
The legislation will provide paid sick and family leave for American workers impacted by the illness, expand unemployment assistance and increase resources for free testing and treatment.
The bill marks the second such aid package in a matter of weeks. And efforts are already underway to put together a third, larger relief measure—one that will provide aid for airlines and direct payments to American households. Taxpayers would get two checks under the Treasury Department's proposal—one in April and another in May.
The progress comes as the coronavirus toll crossed a staggering milestone Wednesday, with more than 200,000 confirmed cases world-wide and growing job losses. We also got the first two congressmen to be hit by Covid-19, representatives Mario Diaz-Balart of Florida and Ben McAdams of Utah.
↦ FYI: President Trump also invoked the Defense Production Act to direct private firms to produce critical goods in response to national emergencies. This should speed up the production of critical medical supplies like masks, ventilators and test kits.
Social Distancing Can Be Tough ...
Four ways to help prevent loneliness
Over the past few days, a lot of us have come to terms with the need for social distancing. While we feel fine, we're staying home and developing new routines—working remotely, killing time and cooking more, binge-watching and figuring out how to stay healthy without going to the gym.
But, to be honest, I'm already a little antsy and regretting I didn't go out to my favorite restaurant before they were all closed. And the Washington Post has an interesting piece on the legitimate danger in loneliness.
"Loneliness creates a kind of toxic chain reaction in our body: It produces stress, and the chronic release of stress hormones suppresses our immune response and triggers inflammation."
Amanda Ripley, an author who covers survival and mental health, offers up four practical ways to combat and prevent the adverse side effects of self-isolation and quarantines.
↦ Get Some Fresh Air: You can go for a walk, a run or cycle ... It's okay. Just stay at least six feet from anyone you don't live with.
The Unintended Eco Impact of Lockdowns
Can we call it a silver lining to this mess?
In Venice, the often murky canals recently began to get clearer, with fish visible in the water below, reports NBC News. Italy’s efforts to limit the coronavirus meant no boats or litter in the city’s famous waterways—and the changes happened quickly.
Countries that have been under stringent lockdowns to stop the spread of the coronavirus have experienced an unintended but welcome benefit. The outbreak has resulted in a noticeable drop in pollution and greenhouse gas emissions in some parts of the world.
The measures China took wiped out over a quarter of the country's emissions of damaging greenhouse gases in less than a month. It's also led to a 36% drop in nitrogen dioxide air pollution, according to analysis by climate science group Carbon Brief.
Satellite images from NASA also show a dramatic reduction in the amount of harmful greenhouse gas emissions in the atmosphere. Of course, these levels will rise when life returns to normal. But they demonstrate the large impact humans have on the environment, and how quickly emissions can plummet when people reduce the burning of fossil fuels.
↦ FYI: We'll likely see the same thing here in the US, as school close, events are cancelled and work-from-home policies remove millions of cars from the roads.
Looking for More Streaming Options?
Meet the mobile-only service aiming to make watching even easier
On April 6, a new challenger will enter the streaming wars. Quibi is a mobile-only service that promises content in "quick bites" of eight to 10 minutes.
What sets it apart from other mobile options like TikTok or YouTube is a feature that allows you to watch programing in either landscape or portrait mode—however you prefer to hold your phone—without any unused space on the screen.
It's an effort to make mobile content more like Netflix, but Vulture asks "will people who already have dozens of quality streaming options want to snack on Quibis with their cracked phone screens and in between frantic group-chat notifications?"
Of course, you can make that call with a free 90-day trial that starts on the launch day. What type of content will the service offer? A wide range of narratives dramas, wacky reality TV shows and educational documentaries.
↦ What's Coming: Here's a closer look at the 50 projects the streaming service will debut as part of their launch.
Other Things We’re Talking About Today
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The Best Home Workout Machine?
Rowing machines beat treadmills or bikes, but they have a bad rep
If you want a hardcore workout that will build up your aerobic fitness, torch calories and sculpt your back, hamstrings and glutes, Men's Health says to look no further than indoor rowing.
The machines take the principles of rowing crew on an actual boat and applies them to an indoor setting, so—in most cases—no water is necessary. And according to the Wall Street Journal, the machines, long shunned for their clanking chains and dusty flywheels, are undergoing their own Peloton-esque evolution.
Known as ergometers, the machines have only recently surged in popularity as the tech and fitness industries continue to overlap. While some offer high design and on-demand workouts via HD screens, they don't all have to be so high tech.
What's more, they do a lot more than just work your upper body. In fact, the low-impact workouts engage 86% of the body’s musculature, according to the American Fitness Professionals Association.
↦ The Deal: This adjustable machine is less than $100 and most reviewers actually prefer it over the more expensive options because it’s lightweight and compact.
Weekend Shopping Plans
From sneakers to home goods, our picks from three can’t-miss sales going on this weekend.
All denim is $50
Tapered performance jeans $68 / $50
25% off sitewide
Nike Air Streak Lite $110 / $82.50
25% off & free shipping
Yves Saint Laurent cologne $60 / $45
Morning Motto
Trust your gut.
↦ Follow: @entrepreneur
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