The Daily Valet. - 3/9/21, Tuesday

✔️ Inching Towards Normal

March 09, 2021

Tuesday, March 9th Edition

Cory Ohlendorf, Editor in Chief of Valet.

I may try auctioning off this newsletter edition as an NFT.

Cory Ohlendorf , Editor ⋯ @coryohlendorf

Today’s Big Story

Inching Towards Normal

Let the unmasked, indoor gatherings begin (for the lucky few)

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on Monday issued new guidance for vaccinated people, giving the green light to resume some long-denied freedoms and relax precautions that have been in place.

It’s being called a “first step” to returning to the pre-pandemic activities we all seem to be craving, like gathering in relatively small groups indoors without masks or social distancing. And the big takeaway is that we’re getting a hopeful glimpse at the next phase of the pandemic.

Vaccinated people can also visit, unmasked, with people from another household who are not yet vaccinated, as long as those people are at low risk of serious illness from the virus. However, the agency said, vaccinated people should continue to wear masks when they're in public, avoid crowds and take other precautions when gathering with unvaccinated people who are at high risk of serious illness from COVID-19.

According to data compiled by the CDC, 9.2% of the U.S. population is now fully vaccinated, and 17.7% have received at least one dose so far. According to the New York Times, health providers are now administering about 2.17 million doses per day on average.

“With more and more people vaccinated each day, we are starting to turn a corner,” CDC Director Dr. Rochelle Walensky told the Associated Press. But the official guidance didn’t speak to people who may have gained some level of immunity from being infected, and recovering from, the coronavirus.

And while you’re probably, like me, itching to plan a trip ... the CDC notes its travel recommendations haven’t changed: We’re still being advised to delay travel and stay home. Walensky said CDC travel guidelines will remain the same for the vaccinated until there is more data about how much or how little vaccinated people can transmit the virus to others. She added that a "larger swath" of the population will also need to be vaccinated before it's really safe.

↦ FYI: The CDC said this is the first round of guidance, but more will follow as the science evolves and more people are fully vaccinated.

What’s All This Talk About NFTs?

The craze might be a bubble about to burst or the best use case for blockchain technology

Twitter founder and billionaire Jack Dorsey is selling his—really, the world's—first tweet as a non-fungible token (or NFT), with the current highest bidder offering $2.5 million for the missive. If every era has its quintessential collectible, something that speaks to the historical moment and becomes a seeming route to riches, ours is clearly the non-fungible token.

Over the past year, NFTs—pieces of digital art, digital cards featuring NBA highlights, and limited-series music albums, all recorded on the blockchain—have become objects of obsession and financial speculation, fueling hundreds of millions of dollars in transactions, reports WIRED.

By nature, an NFT is one of a kind. If fungible refers to an asset that is easily exchangeable, then non-fungible can't be exchanged for another thing of equal value. “Remember when people would line up for the newest Nike Air Jordan sneakers at a store? This is the new digital equivalent,” a venture capitalist told NPR. “It's everything that brings together culture, and it's also a bet on the future of e-commerce.”

But what, exactly, do you get? This question unleashes a fury of debate among enthusiasts. The answer is not simple. Are you buying clout—what amounts to an internet trophy? Because unlike other collecting, just because you own an NFT doesn't mean there aren't endless other versions of that thing on the Internet. Which, according to Marker, is why the real winners of the NFT craze, in fact, may not be the people speculating in NFTs, but the companies and technologies enabling them to speculate.

↦ Dig Deeper: As the NFT craze spreads, the UCCA Center for Contemporary Art is staging the first museum show dedicated to crypto art in Beijing.

A Reef Revival

Corals are bouncing back after bring destroyed

Over the past several decades, corals have suffered tremendous damage from bleaching due to warming seas and ocean acidification, as well as by pollution, overfishing, oil spills, and other human activities. But that doesn't meant the damage can't be reversed.

Five years after being completely destroyed by Tropical Cyclone Winston, the coral reefs around Fiji are vibrantly resurgent and once again teeming with fish and color—much to the delight of scientists, reports The Guardian.

Scientists in the area say they're amazed at how quickly the reefs recovered and that “significant numbers” of fish have returned, even to areas where corals are still being replenished. Conservation groups are working with local governments to maintain fishing limits in certain areas, in an effort to ensure biodiversity in the region remains strong.

Meanwhile, Smithsonian magazine reports that in Australia, conservationists are exploring the possibility of transporting cooled seawater to the Great Barrier Reef and dousing the struggling corals to guard them against overheating. While studies shows that the idea works in theory, the authors caution that this respite would come with enormous economic and environmental costs.

Could Kia’s New Car Outgun Porsche?

The all electric vehicle will likely scare Tesla too

With its upcoming plans for a wide range of electric cars, Kia is swinging for the fences. According to Gear Patrol, the carmaker could unveil its first dedicated EV as soon as next week—and the drool-worthy specs of the high-end model might rival the Porsche Taycan.

Dubbed the EV6, Road Show reports the styling previews a new design language for Kia's electric cars. And from what you can see, it looks pretty good. It's got a sleek, coupelike roofline with an integrated rear spoiler at the top of the raked hatch, and a slight ducktail as well.

And the muscular rear haunches aren't just for show. A top-spec GT model would allow for around 600 horsepower and a top speed of around 162 mph (not unlike the Porsche Taycan Turbo).

Of course, my question is how Kia prices an impressive vehicle like this. The Taycan Turbo starts at $150,000, mind you. Road Show guesses around $45,000 (before any incentives and tax credits) which would be a bargain for this technology, performance and style. Will this be the car that kicks Kia into luxury territory?

In Other News

Other Things We’re Talking About Today

James Bond’s origin story

These American-made chinos

First class wine

You Deserve a Better Shower Experience

A little extra time and care goes a long way

One of the upsides of working from home is that you don't have the feeling like you need to rush through your morning routine. And for me, that translates into taking a little longer in the shower.

Letting the warm water run over us for a few minutes more—luxuriating in the steam. After all, there's a reason our best ideas come at us in the shower. While our thinking brain relaxes into an automatic, habitual task, those background thoughts can formulate more freely.

But the task of getting clean is still important—and could likely get even better with the addition of a little time and a few well-chosen products. The Valet. team pulled together some grooming gear from fluffy, quick-drying towels to products that smell great and leave your skin healthier.

↦ Get It: The essentials you need to take your daily shower to the next level. Your mind, body and soul will thank you.

Sales We’re Eyeing

Hudson jacket$350 / $175

Aether is a brand that makes serious, performance outerwear. And it's a favorite of the Valet. team because the pieces are as good looking as they are technically superior. And now, the brand is hosting an end-of-the-season sale, meaning you can score some essential outerwear (that will always be in style) for up to half off.

Ghost jacket$325 / $162.50

Central anorak$395 / $197.50

Core vest$195 / $97.50

Structure jacket$595 / $297.50

Cole jacket$425 / $212.50

↦ Shop the Sale at Aether

Special Promotion

A Skin Quick Fix That Really Works

Intense Recovery Treatment Mask by Port Products

When I need to relax (and especially when I want to look rested), I reach for this skin-saving sheet mask. Just by slapping it on, I’m giving myself a 15 minute break to sit back and take it easy. But more than that, the award-winning Marine Layer formula puts botanical extracts to work fast—soothing skin and infusing some much-needed moisture. Plus, the cooling coconut-derived mask really clings to your skin, so you’re able to sit up and sip a cocktail while treating yourself. When you pull the mask off, you'll notice an immediate improvement in your skin and you’ll feel a whole lot better—trust me. And we scored you an exclusive code for $20 off your first order so you can try it out for yourself.

↦ Get It $46 / $26 (for a four-pack) w/code VALET20 at Port Products