The Daily Valet. - 3/29/23, Wednesday
✔️ The Tension Is Rising
Wednesday, March 29th Edition
By Cory Ohlendorf, Valet. Editor
I don't want any mammoth meat, thank you.
Today’s Big Story
U.S.-China Tensions Spike
With our diplomatic RELATIONSHIP spiraling, what does this mean for our tech and security?
Where exactly do we go from here? Relations between the U.S. and China are on a “dangerous” path with “no trust” on either side, political observers told CNBC. Of course, tensions between the two countries have been rising over the years—ranging from trade and tariffs to tech rivalry and alleged spying. But William Cohen, former secretary of defense under the Clinton administration, said the contentious back and forth between both sides has reached a concerning level.Just earlier this month, China's new foreign minister Qin Gang, said relations with the U.S. have left a “rational path” and warned of conflict if Washington doesn't “hit the brake.” So how'd we get here exactly? The New York Times points out that China's current paramount leader, Xi Jinping, who has just started his third term as the nation's president, has reversed many of the policies that propelled China's economic rise during the last quarter century. During his visit to Moscow last week, Xi also aligned his country closer to Russia while alienating countries that helped China develop over the past four decades.One of the most significant areas of competition between the U.S. and China is economic. According to The Geopolitics, China's rapid growth has transformed it into a global economic powerhouse, with a GDP that is expected to surpass that of the United States in the near future. China's economic rise has been fueled by its massive population, its large and rapidly expanding middle class, and its status as the world's largest exporter. However, this growth has also created tensions with the United States, particularly over issues such as trade, intellectual property and market access.But this isn't a simple case of two adversaries locked in a zero-sum game. Both have deep economic and cultural ties, and they share a mutual interest in maintaining global stability. Which is why the companies that straddle the two countries are working so hard right now.Apple CEO Tim Cook just traveled to China for the first time since the pandemic, touting the company's strong relationship with the country at a business conference organized by the Chinese government. According to Axios, Cook's trip underscores how different the Chinese relationship can be for manufacturing firms versus software companies. Most American software giants are unable to operate in China, due to censorship demands. And over here, the U.S. government banned sales and imports of new devices from Chinese companies Huawei and ZTE. And TikTok, of course, is the first major consumer app that lawmakers are threatening to ban. But it's clear this rivalry is a reflection of the changing dynamics of power and influence in the 21st century.
FYI:
An investigation by the Associated Press has found that China and its U.S.-based advocates spent years building relationships with Utah’s officials and lawmakers.
A Mandatory In-Car Breathalyzer?
They could only be a few years away
As soon as 2026, all new vehicles sold in the U.S. must have the ability to passively detect when drivers are under the influence of alcohol. And if they are drunk, the system will automatically immobilize the car.If this sounds a bit sudden, it actually isn't. According to Automotive News, the rule was hidden in the depths of President Biden's $1 trillion Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act from late 2021, but by next year a final rule must be issued on the new regulation.There's just one real problem. Jalopnik says that piece of technology doesn't really exist yet. Because of this, the automotive industry as a whole is reportedly trying to quickly come up with the tech. So far, only one company has a bit of a leg up on the rest of the automotive landscape. It would work like this: Drivers would exhale toward a small sensor that could be embedded in the steering column or side door trim, and await a quick pass/fail reading on the alcohol content of their breath. Let's just hope your drunk buddy in the passenger seat isn't breathing too heavily.
FYI:
Modified European Union legislation now requires all new cars to be pre-fitted with a breathalyzer lock.
Amid the smoldering crater that is the crypto market, bitcoin has somehow made maybe not a comeback, but at least a stand. For all the tokens, coins, forks, chains and NFTs, bitcoin remains the gold standard.”
- Jason Abbruzzese on Bitcoin's resilience
A Meatball Made From Mammoth?
SUrely there are better ways to market your cultured food company
Truth, as the saying goes, is often stranger than fiction. The very notion of resurrecting the long-extinct woolly mammoth was the stuff of fantasy not that long ago, but scientists are already working on ways to achieve something close to that, using DNA from soft-tissue in frozen mammoth remains and meshing it with that of a modern-day elephant.But while such “de-extinction” projects may or may not ultimately succeed, one company is already laying claim to having produced the first meat product made from mammoth DNA. Vow is an Australian company that resurrects flesh of lost species to demonstrate the potential of meat grown from cells. They made a meatball using lab-grown mammoth meat created from genetic information from the long-extinct animal, company researchers said Tuesday. No one has tasted it yet, but according to Reuters, the product smells like crocodile meat. The company claims that its cell-cultured meats are more sustainable, affordable, nutritious, and tasty than traditional meat sources. The Guardian reports that Vow has also invested making cultivated meats out of alpaca, buffalo, crocodile, kangaroo, and peacock cells. Which, frankly, don't sound all that appetizing either.
FYI:
Woolly mammoths were around 13 feet tall and weighed nearly 6 tons, according to the International Union for Conservation of Nature.
A Pretty Epic Football Match Up
Ryan Reynolds’ soccer team to face Manchester United in San Diego
When the FX documentary series Welcome to Wrexham, started streaming on Hulu, Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney didn't want any Ted Lasso comparisons. But they're pretty hard to shake now—considering their presence lead to a pretty quick turnaround for the historic club.The Welsh soccer club, one of the oldest in the world, will face off against the legendary Manchester United in a friendly soccer match in San Diego, California, on July 25. The game at San Diego State University will be part of Wrexham AFC's first-ever U.S. tour, kicking off in Cary, North Carolina. Reynolds believes Wrexham AFC, a fifth-tier team, will play alongside the Red Devils in the Premier League in about a decade. According to Marca, Wrexham is currently in first place of the National League, only a few points above second place Notts County FC.
FYI:
A decade before Reynolds’ $2,500,000 takeover, Wrexham fans raised a huge sum of money to save the team from being shut down.
In Other News
It's on the Mexico side of a bridge that connects to Texas.
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When it comes to physical goals, flexibility isn’t exactly at the top of the list, is it? No, it's usually about broader shoulders, bigger arms or shredded abs. And while those are great, if you can't easily touch your toes or struggle to put your shoes on in cramped environments, then you're overlooking a vital part of your health.And even for active guys, neglecting your flexibility may be hindering results in the gym. Rigorous workouts combined with the back-breaking posture from the typical work grind can stifle strength gains and even prep you for an injury if you're not careful. The good news, according to experts, is that it's not difficult to improve your flexibility. You simply have to keep these experts guidelines in mind going forward.
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Morning Motto
Don’t let fear hold you back.
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