The Daily Valet. - 4/11/23, Tuesday
✔️ It's a Dirty Job, But ...
Tuesday, April 11th Edition
By Cory Ohlendorf, Valet. Editor
I'm sure you recycle ... but do you (would you) compost?
Today’s Big Story
The Future of Smart Composting
The practice is catching on in several cities and thankfully, it doesn’t have to be so hard
First some interesting facts. Around 35% of the U.S. food supply is never eaten, amounting to an estimated 40 million tons each year. Most of it ends up in landfills and incinerators. And food waste accounts for 8% of all global greenhouse gas emissions—more than airplanes. And while much of that waste doesn't come from individual households, experts say the best way to divert residents' food away from the garbage is through better composting programs.But door-to-door compost collection is not as simple as it appears. New York City, which has had a program in some neighborhoods for years, has had trouble scaling the service. But it seems poised to make some progress with brand new bright orange Smart Bins with “Compost” emblazoned on the front.According to Curbed, their most striking design feature, though, is forcing people to be intentional about what they throw out. Try to mindlessly ditch a coffee cup in a Smart Bin and you'll find yourself shut out. Access requires some intent: a QR code on the front of each container leads to a download of the NYC Compost app, which can unlock any of the 250 bins that are currently stationed around the city.Of course, learning the art and science behind composting is not exactly appealing for most people. Composting takes time and space (and a well-sealed receptacle). And unless you're a gardener, you wouldn't have a use for any compost produced. But American composters are a growing breed, thanks to new technology and services that are meeting demand—whether you need a sleek appliance or a ready-made worm farm. As the country aims for net-zero emissions, composting may start to become as common as recycling.Right now, though, it hasn't gained mainstream acceptance. But this is changing (slowly) as nine states have now restricted sending food waste to landfills. And more and more cities are trying to scale up composting: It's now mandatory for residents in cities like San Francisco and Seattle. Austin gives residents vouchers to buy compost bins. And at the start of the year, Los Angeles launched a long-awaited curbside composting program citywide.
Need a Bin?
The New York Post has compiled more than a dozen of the most popular bins, with composting tips from experts.
Gun Deaths Among Children Soar
Meanwhile, Louisville bank employee livestreamed the attack that killed 5
The number of American kids dying by gunfire keeps rising. Gun deaths among U.S. children rose 50% in the last two years, according to a new Pew Research Center report. More children and teens were killed by guns in 2021 than in any year since the CDC began tracking the data in the late 1990s.The Washington Post found that 2022 marked the highest number of school shootings in the country at 46 shootings. There have already been 23 school shootings so far this year. And while the majority of adult gun deaths are by suicide, children and teens killed by gunfire are more likely to die by homicide (around 60%). But 2021 also marked “by far” the highest number of gun deaths among the general population on record, at nearly 49,000, the Pew researchers noted. The news comes just as a Louisville bank employee armed with an AR-15-style rifle opened fire at his workplace Monday, killing at least six people and injuring others. What's more, he livestreamed the whole attack on Instagram.
FYI:
America's life expectancy has been falling in recent years, from 79 in 2019 to 76 in 2021, driven by the pandemic, the rise of gun violence and drug overdoses.
Beware of “Juice Jacking”
Why the FBI says you should avoid public phone chargers at airports and malls
Have you heard of “juice jacking?” I definitely hadn't and must admit, it sounds … a little dirty. But apparently this is when hackers install malicious code into public charging stations to read and steal data from mobile devices as well as track them. While it's more likely to impact Android smartphones than iPhone and iPad, the latter are not invincible to such attacks.And it's becoming so common that you might want to think twice about plugging your devices into public charging stations, according to the FBI. The law enforcement agency shared a PSA on Twitter to “avoid using free charging stations in airports, hotels, or shopping centers.”The FBI said it was just a regular reminder, and directed Axios to an online FCC consumer warning last updated in 2021. It says in the warning, that this is a relatively “new cyber-theft tactic” and that “malware installed through a dirty USB port can lock a device or export personal data and passwords directly to the perpetrator.” They further added, “Criminals can use that information to access online accounts or sell it to other bad actors.” So maybe we should be packing power banks in our bags.
Protect Yourself:
You could also get a USB data blocker. The adapter serves as a middleman between your device and a potentially malicious outlet.
Mercedes Has a Baby G-Wagen Coming
Will it make the “G” life a bit more attainable?
Mercedes-Benz is reportedly planning a new compact version of its ever popular G-Class off-roader (and Beverly Hills mainstay) to hit the market sometime around 2026. This is according to an article from German business newspaper Handelsblatt.Right now, details are scarce on exactly what sort of size the SUV will be and Jalopnik wonders if the smaller SUV will have strong visual similarities to the OG G-Class or if it will have the same off-road prowess of its bigger sibling. Based on the translated article, the mini-G may even be a Chinese market exclusive.Gear Patrol says that it will likely be a compact crossover style, and more of a mass-market vehicle than the current G-Wagen. But Mercedes is also reportedly taking its entry-level vehicles more upmarket. So the entry price may be higher than the mid $30,000s or low $40,000s that many are anticipating.
Meanwhile:
Rivian's CEO just teased an upcoming smaller R2 EV and a new R3 platform.
In Other News
Using an alias and a used car, he found out that most drivers’ complaints were valid.
Have you heard about ...
Worth a Listen
The SKyline Drive podcast
When Mangesh Hattikudur set out to do a smart, sweeping show on astrology, he didn't realize the first interview would change the course of his life. But as he tries to put his world back together, he realizes the incredible ways astrology presents itself in modern society—from NASA employees who keep their belief in astrology in the closet, to world leaders who've used astrologers to guide foreign policy.Previously the host of Part-Time Genius and part of the HowStuffWorks brain trust, Hattikudur is an excellent host (and, incidentally, a great music supervisor, too). Vulture says the podcast really comes to life when the show becomes a moving reflection on being a second-generation immigrant.
Listen:
Shopping
What We’re Buying
A Teak Bath Mat
As we've said before, a wood bath mat is a stylish upgrade to any bathroom. This teakwood style is handsome and naturally water-resistant.
Get It:
Lateral teak bath mat, $59.95 / $29.97 by CB2
Morning Motto
Don’t worry about others’ opinions.
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