The Daily Valet. - 3/4/22, Friday

✔️ Is This Progress?

Friday, March 4th Edition

Cory Ohlendorf, Editor in Chief of Valet.

Who’s ready to let off some steam this weekend?

Cory Ohlendorf , Editor ⋯ @coryohlendorf

Today’s edition is presented by

Today’s Big Story

Humanitarian Corridors

Russian forces have cut off key cities, but negotiators agree to evacuation of civilians and delivery of medical supplies

Ukraine and Russia say they have agreed to temporary local cease-fires to create “humanitarian corridors” for the evacuation of civilians and delivery of vital supplies, as Russian forces surround major port cities and advance toward other population centers.

The details of the cease-fires—which followed a second round of tense talks Thursday—are still being worked out, the Washington Post reports. Ukrainian leaders are warning that food, medicine and other essentials are running low in southern cities under siege.

A week after Russian troops invaded Ukraine, Kyiv is under heavy bombardment, desperate locals are struggling to flee on the few trains that are still running, and Europe’s largest nuclear power plant burned for hours after being bombed by Russian forces.

So what are these humanitarian corridors? The concept has been around since 1990, when they were defined by the United Nations’ general assembly. They’re often given a specific location (usually following a transport route), and a defined time period for which it will be respected.

It’s still unclear where and when these humanitarian corridors would be established. Axios reports that both sides agreed to meet again soon. In the meantime, Linda Thomas-Greenfield, the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, said that the U.S., in addition to allocating $54 million for humanitarian aid to Ukraine, has deployed experts to bolster the international humanitarian response.

Despite the ongoing talks, Putin reportedly told French President Emmanuel Macron during a 90-minute phone call that the invasion was “going to plan” and he had no plans to scale down military operations. A senior French official said it left Macron convinced that “the worst is yet to come” and that Putin aims to take control of all of Ukraine.

↦ Meanwhile: The Biden administration announced new sanctions on Russian billionaires, including travel bans. (Many of these families already been sanctioned by the E.U.)

Workers Slowly Return to the Office

But will it ever go back to what we knew before?

Nearly two years into the pandemic, American workers are finally heading back into the office—at least a couple days a week. Companies whose earlier plans to bring workers back were thrown off by delta and omicron are now announcing new return-to-the-office dates.

Google told employees on Wednesday that it expects them to begin returning to physical offices April 4. Twitter will be fully re-opening its offices and bringing back business travel starting on March 15th and CEO Parag Agrawal says employees can come back ... if they want. Similarly, Wells Fargo and other financial institutions have announced flexible hybrid schedules starting this month, with most employees coming in three days a week.

But the workplaces employees return to won't be the same places they left two years ago. Office occupancy is currently at just 31% across 10 major cities. Work flows have changed. So have our expectations. Your team probably looks different from how it looked two years ago.

It sounds like a hybrid model is the preferred set-up going forward. “You can't undo the experience we've had collectively together, and you can't undo some of the benefits people have talked about around the ability of people to work remotely,” one HR director told the New York Times. “It would be a shame not to consider those things as we design future work models.”

↦ FYI: According to the BBC, there are good reasons we often fall for our colleagues, whether in person or virtually.

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A Sex Boom Is Coming

Hey, we’re all ready for some fun, right?

Masks may be coming off, but that doesn't mean we should be dropping all protections just because we're ready to let loose and have fun.

After all, many of us have been in a slump for a while. Twenty-six percent of U.S. adults didn't have sex at all in 2021, according to a national representative survey that's been tracking American life since 1972.

When the pandemic began, the world's biggest condom manufacturer anticipated such a strong demand for condoms that the CEO warned of potential global condom shortages... that never really came. But now, as pandemic restrictions ease and nightlife returns, the company (which supplies over 5 billion condoms per year for brands like ONE Condoms and Durex) is gearing up for a condom bonanza, reports Input.

And it's not just condoms. Toys for the bedroom are selling so well and that they're selling out. Just remember to be responsible: the CDC reported in 2021 that STDs and STIs reached an all-time high for the sixth year in a row. And keep it down if you've got neighbors.

↦ Meanwhile: NASA is weirdly prudish when it comes to doin' it in the final frontier. Some brave researchers want to change that.

A Weekend Pairing

The Batman + a Revolver Cocktail

Some people have suggested that Batman has reached a cultural saturation point. But I say tell that to all the Spider-Men. Besides, director Matt Reeves smashes the old narrative into a thousand pieces with The Batman, which is being called “a visually gorgeous and stunningly acted take” on the caped crusader.

The A.V. Club calls the film a “majestically moody superhero spectacular”—the broodiest of all cinematic takes on the Dark Knight, a version much more Gen X in its disaffection than the Bat-movies they made in the '90s. The reviews are mostly raves along with several mixed takes on Reeves' very long and very dark interpretation of the comic book. But everyone seems to agree that leaving out the death of Bruce Wayne's parents (we've seen it enough, right?), and setting the film during Batman's second year as a masked crime fighter, was a smart choice.

↦ Your Pairing:This twist on a classic Manhattan cocktail utilizes coffee liqueur and seems fitting for Gotham City. And since there are no rules in this dark, twisted cinematic universe, I say mix it up, pour it in a flask and take it to the theater.

In Other News

↦ Striking New Evidence Points to Seafood Market in Wuhan As Pandemic Origin Point

↦ It’s Time to Stop Pre-Rinsing Your Dishes

↦ Polestar’s All-Electric O2 Concept Comes With a Built-In Drone, Because Why Not?

Other Things We’re Talking About Today

What readers bought in February

Netflix’s interactive trivia show

These workout shoes

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What We’re Buying

On the hunt for some new spring kicks? This archival pair from adidas is now under a hundred bucks, but looks way more expensive. The Terrex model launched in the '70s as a performance-based sneaker, but is better suited for daily leisurewear these days. Based in a cream tonal palette and made from smooth suede, they can be worn with anything. And the EVA-cushioned sole provides all-day comfort in each step.

↦ Get It: $105 / $75 by adidas