The Daily Valet. - 3/28/22, Monday

✔️ Well, That Wasn't Boring

Monday, March 28th Edition

Cory Ohlendorf, Editor in Chief of Valet.

I skipped the shirt today, just like Timothée.

Cory Ohlendorf , Editor ⋯ @coryohlendorf

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Today’s Big Story

Well, That Wasn’t Boring

If a slap happens on a broadcast no one is watching, does it still matter? Absolutely.

Everyone was worried the Oscars were doomed. That no one was watching them and because they were in a “near-terminal decline,” they should just be moved to a streaming service. But then last night happened.

We got all the surprises we could take. People wore more interesting things on the red carpet (presumably because, what did it matter?). Beyoncé gave us a visually stunning performance and Billie Eilish is now an Oscar winner.

Of course, the most-talked about moment of the night occurred when Will Smith, the “Most Likable Guy in Hollywood” for more than two decades, the one who never swore in a song, walked up to Chris Rock on stage and popped him across the mouth—only to win the Academy Award for “Best Actor” mere moments later.

Twitter lit up, people wondered if it was staged (it was not). Others wondered what the two men said after network censors cut the sound (international broadcasters let the profanity air). In his acceptance speech, Smith apologized to the Academy and his fellow nominees (but not to Rock). Did I mention that this year’s Oscars theme was “Movie Lovers Unite”?

But it wasn’t all drama. As a lover of streaming (and self-confessed Apple fanboy), I was excited to see Apple’s little indie that could, CODA, win Best Picture. The movie about a deaf family started out as an underdog but gradually emerged as the Oscars’ feel-good favorite. It was a historic win—no movie that debuted at the Sundance Film Festival has ever won the top Academy Award, nor had Apple been nominated before this year.

It was also the first time a streamer won the top prize (something that Netflix has been trying to do for years now). But it’s fitting, after a year often light on movie theater crowds, that a film most of us watched at home won (while also taking home wins for Screenplay and Supporting Actor). It was an evening of milestones and meme-able moments, or as culture writer Vince Mancini noted, it was a “huge night for letting your hands do the talking.”

↦ Dig Deeper: Variety has the full rundown of the night, along with a complete winners list.

Biden Lashes Out at Putin

After the president’s fiery speech, nine unscripted words reverberate

President Biden gave a high-stakes speech in Warsaw on Saturday, framing the Russian invasion of Ukraine as part of a global “battle between democracy and autocracy.”

But according to the New York Times, it was an unprompted ad-lib that captured the attention of foreign policy experts, members of Congress and NATO allies. “For God's sake, this man cannot remain in power.” It was a comment that two White House officials said wasn't included in the president's prepared speech.

Some said the statement was tantamount to calling for regime change in Russia—a pretty serious threat. Which is why news alerts pinged over the weekend and people started getting worried about a more serious engagement. Others wondered if it was really an off-the-cuff remark (for which Biden is known) or a more calculated jab. But Secretary of State Antony Blinken reiterated Sunday that the U.S. was not pursuing “a strategy of regime change” in Moscow.

The Associated Press reports that despite the provocative remarks, Biden's trip has “reaffirmed the importance of European alliances, which atrophied under former President Donald Trump.” He's worked with his counterparts to marshal an array of punishing sanctions on Russia, and placed the continent on a course that could eliminate its dependence on Russian energy over the next several years.

States Are Pausing Gas Taxes

Economic experts warn the tax holidays could drive up demand too fast

Seeking to soften the blow of higher gas prices on consumers, a handful of states have suspended their gas taxes, and several other states are expected to soon follow.

Nationwide, the average price at the pump has hovered around $4.24 a gallon all week, according to AAA, down from record highs earlier in the month. But the current cost is still 64 cents a gallon more than just a month ago and $1.37 more than this time last year.

These gas tax "holidays" range from a few months to a few years (and Democrats in Congress are pushing to pause the federal fuel tax). Some states are using budget surpluses from federal pandemic aid and increased tax revenue to cover the cost of suspending gas taxes for the next several weeks or months. Others are also considering pausing fares for public transportation.

But while the move may save drivers money at the pump, economic and policy experts warn that it is only a stop-gap solution. “They may not lower [gas] consumption and they might increase it,” a GasBuddy analyst told ABC News. “I'd love to pay less at the pump too, but this is a Band-Aid solution.”

Hertz to Let You Rent Tesla Model Ys

The rental giant adds the e-SUV to its fleet

Hertz has decided to add the popular Tesla Model Y to its growing electric vehicle fleet after announcing a deal to buy 100,000 Model 3 vehicles last year.

According to Teslarati, we're not quite at a point where you can head to your local Hertz outpost and slide into one of the sleek mid-size SUVs. Hertz told them that the Model Ys will be able to book beginning in late April of this year.

On top of adding Teslas to its rental fleet, Hertz also made a deal with Uber to offer its drivers access to the Tesla vehicles. 50,000 Tesla vehicles will be offered to Uber drivers, and the company has an option for more if the program is successful.

Of course, anyone who's ever rented a car knows the annoying task of refilling a car's gas tank before returning it. Hertz's website now offers a guide on how to do so when driving an EV, requesting that you re-charge your rental's battery to “at least 10%.”

↦ Meanwhile: Please enjoy watching a Porsche 911 GT3 be assembled, from start to finish, in a timelapse.

In Other News

↦ A Heat Wave and Snowfall: Why Researchers Are Puzzled by Antarctica's Recent Weather

↦ Here’s What It Takes to Actually Make an All-New Private Jet

↦ For 35 Years, Birkenstock Lovers Nationwide Have Sent Worn-Down Shoes to This Kansas Cobblery

Other Things We’re Talking About Today

The Final Four

Harry Styles’ couch

Kith’s Ronnie Fieg

Ease Your Stress and Sore Muscles

Here’s what the experts recommend

Recovery has become something of a buzz word in the world of fitness and wellness lately. But what does it really mean? The concept refers to self-care—working to reduce exercise-induced muscle damage. If you're anything like me, you take sore muscles as a welcome side effect, at first.

It's proof you pushed yourself and put in the work. But not all soreness is the same. Some is longer lasting or deeper and more painful—when this happens, it can be a sign that you sent your muscles into shock or have too many tears in the muscle fibers, which leads to higher than normal inflammation. And then the soreness is less welcome.

Keep in mind, you don't have to be punishing your body like a pro athlete to need a recovery plan. Even those who aren't that active—the average person who's just sitting at a desk all day or hunched over their phone for too many hours—will benefit from setting aside time to focus on how their body feels and what it needs.

With a regular recovery program, you not only alleviate aches and pains from your workouts and athletics, but you minimize the toll stress takes on your body throughout the week. To get you started, we've pulled the most technologically-advanced and expert-backed recovery methods on the market today. You won't need them all, but this is a great place to start.

↦ Read: What the experts suggest for sore muscles, from head to toe—literally.

What We’re Eyeing

You can always tell when a T-shirt is special. This one ($65), from the recently revamped Good Fishing brand, is very special. A clever reinterpretation of a simple tee, these mock necks are designed to boost the versatility of a timeless staple. Stitched from 100% organic cotton jersey with a uniquely soft hand, the relaxed fit allows the fabric to drape just right for a modern fit and silhouette. Depending on how you wear it, the shirt feels at once relaxed and refined.

↦ Want more? 5 stylish items to buy this week