The Daily Valet. - 3/6/20, Friday
✔️ The Pros and Cons of Staying Home
Friday, March 6th Edition
I’m on my way to London ... not letting a little pandemic fear interrupt my travel plans.
Cory Ohlendorf , Editor ⋯ @coryohlendorf
Today’s Big Story
Quarantine Pros and Cons
The new realities of dealing with a pandemic’s effects
Numerous tech companies have asked their Seattle-based employees to work from home to help prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus. Both Amazon and Facebook have shut down offices in the area after confirming that their Seattle-based employees have indeed contracted COVID-19, the disease caused by the coronavirus, reports The Verge.
Twitter is “strongly encouraging” all of its employees around the world to work from home. The company's head of HR told BuzzFeed News, “We've gotten a lot of positive reactions ... in terms of putting our safety of our employees first.” And they've found that people are thriving by working remotely.
With so many people staying home, Netflix is preparing for the server strain of the bored but quarantined masses. Expensive Peloton stationary bikes and streaming workout services are also seeing substantial spikes in interest. Sales of WiFi boosters and wireless headphones are soaring.
The other thing soaring? People's libidos. Or as Mel put it so eloquently, "Any sudden, existential threat is welcomed by those aroused in the face of oblivion ... wherever bafflement and fear collide, you will always have lots of horniness."
And while my plane to London this morning was full, airline stocks dropped sharply on Thursday as carriers braced for canceled flights and substantial reductions in service for months to come. Analysts say the outbreak could wipe out nearly $113 billion in worldwide airline revenues this year.
Does this mean you should book a ticket now that prices are dropping? Maybe. If you don't mind the risk of ending up in quarantine zone.
🤔 What if we took the standard“cold and flu season” this seriously?
“Springing Forward” Can Be Dangerous
Experts say the annual shift disrupts sleep and leads to serious health problems
This weekend, most of us in America will spring forward and move our clocks one hour ahead to daylight-saving time.
According to the Wall Street Journal, a growing majority of Americans want to stop the tradition of flipping back and forth. States are passing legislation to stay on daylight-saving time permanently (though the change can't be made without congressional action). And in the past three years, nine states have passed measures to stay on daylight-saving time year-round.
But health experts now say that messing with our time is bad for our health. It disrupts our circadian rhythms and sleep and leads to a higher risk of heart attacks, strokes and potentially car accidents. The Society for Research on Biological Rhythms published a study last year calling for abolishing daylight-saving time.
↦ Speaking of Time: Get yourself a dedicated alarm clock.
The Trees Are Giving Up
Rainforests are losing their ability to absorb carbon
Tropical forests in the Amazon are taking up less carbon dioxide from the air, reducing their ability to act as "carbon sinks" and bringing closer the prospect of accelerating climate breakdown, reports The Gaurdian.
In fact, new research has found the Amazon could turn into a source of carbon in the atmosphere, instead of one of the biggest absorbers of the gas, as soon as the next decade. This due to the damage caused by loggers and farming, along with the impacts of the planet's growing climate crisis.
The study predicts that by 2030, the African jungle will absorb 14 percent less carbon dioxide than it did 10 to 15 years ago. By 2035, Amazonian trees won't absorb any carbon dioxide at all, the researchers said. Meaning the world will have to cut down much faster on carbon-producing activities to counteract the loss of the carbon sinks.
↦ FYI: The study combined the work of researchers who studied 135,625 trees in 11 countries with data that goes back to the '60s.
Who Makes the Best Wireless Earbuds?
And is it healthy to wear them as much as we do?
The world is a rough, loud place. And, if you ask me, it's made a whole lot better when I've got my earbuds in.
Look up from a crowded subway train or on an airplane and you'll notice how many people are sporting wireless earbuds these days. But if you're looking for the best ones, where do you turn?
Gear Patrol has done all the research for us and rounded up the best options on the market in 2020 and reviewed them all. They've got everything you need to know before buying your next pair. (Spoiler alert: The AirPods Pro still reign supreme.)
And considering how much we are all wearing them, how concerned should we be with the health scares popping up about Bluetooth radiation? Sure, it’s true that wireless headphones emit radiation. But such small devices give off less radiation than cell phones and aren't a concern to the doctors who study them.
↦ Read: The best wireless headphones for running, noise cancelation and sound quality.
Other Things We’re Talking About Today
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Special Promotion
These Pants Merge Technical With Tactical
Adventure apparel gets a shot of modern style
Ripstop. Just the word sounds cool, right? It’s sturdy and powerful and all but promises adventure. And the term means just what it says. What makes it “ripstop” are the strong threads of synthetic fiber that are placed within the weave at certain increments. These are what prevent a tear from continuing beyond the first square. Originally developed in World War II as a replacement for silk in the production of parachutes, it’s now become a go-to for technical pieces. Olivers, one of our favorite performance brands, has just used a unique ripstop fabric for their new Compass pant. Available in three colors, they’re hardwearing, water repellent and quick-drying, plus they feature an anti-UV coating. In short, they’re built for adventure but handsome enough for day-to-day.
↦ Learn More: Compass pant from Olivers
Front and back zip pockets will be sure to keep your items secure
Ultra-comfortable elasticized waistband
Backed by Olivers 365-day guarantee to repair or replace any fault outside of normal wear and tear
↦ Learn More: Compass pant from Olivers
Weekend Pairing
Deacon King Kong + a Brooklyn Cocktail
James McBride's books tend to sneak up on you. Every couple of years, he puts out something that reminds me he's one of America's most gifted writers. After winning a National Book Award for 2014's The Good Lord Bird, he returned this week with a novel that might just be his best.
Set in 1960s Brooklyn, Deacon King Kong is the insightful and witty tale about what happens to the witnesses of a shooting. We're introduced to Cuffy Lambkin, a cranky old church deacon who goes by the name Sportcoat. When he shoots a drug dealer at point-blank range in the middle of a crowded housing project, we're thrown into the chaotic lives of everyone involved—from the victim and neighbors to the local cops, churchgoers and even the neighborhood's Italian mobsters. It's a riveting and, at times, unsettling story that pits faith and love against loyalty and humanity.
↦ Your Pairing:What should you sip while tearing though this undeniable page-turner? How about the Brooklyn cocktail? While less known than its more famous neighbor's namesake drink, the Brooklyn is an easy drinking alternative to the Manhattan, according to Serious Eats. Apparently, it dates back to the first decade of the 20th century, but has largely toiled in obscurity since Prohibition. Amer Picon can sometimes be difficult to find in the United States, so if you need to, you can simply use a few dashes of bitters.
What We’re Buying
Let me explain the garment duffle. A garment duffle literally transforms from a garment bag into a roomy, TSA-friendly weekender with a few very convenient zippers. It even creates enough space to store more inside once properly assembled. Half Day Travel is offering a well-made version at the insanely great price of $95. Brands with comparable materials and durability (J.Crew or Hook and Albert) are going for double, even quadruple this price. Whatever your trip, this bag will ensure all your hang-ables stay crisp and wrinkle-free.
↦ Get It $95 by Halfday
Today’s Deals
Expires 3/8
Expires 3/8
Ongoing Sale
↦ Want More? See all 56 sales
Morning Motto
Take some time to appreciate the little things.
↦ Follow: @Calvinn_Hobbes
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