The Daily Valet. - 4/15/20, Wednesday
✔️ Essential vs. Non-Essential
Wednesday, April 15th Edition
It is (or was) tax day. You’ve got until July 15th now, but I’m filing early to get that refund ASAP.
Cory Ohlendorf , Editor ⋯ @coryohlendorf
Today’s Big Story
Shopping Can Still Be Tricky These Days
Essentials? Non-essentials? Will there really be shortages?
If you’ve tried to order off of Amazon lately, you’ve likely hit some roadblocks—either items were sold out or delivery estimates were uncharacteristically long. That’s because for the past few weeks, they were only accepting shipments of medical supplies and household cleaning goods from independent merchants.
But according to Engadget, Amazon will soon lift that restriction and resume shipping non-essential items to their warehouses this week. That could be especially good news as it may no longer be possible to shop the entirety of your local big-box store in some parts of the U.S.
Local governments are increasingly saying that stores such as Costco, Walmart and Target that have been allowed to stay open during lockdowns because they sell essential items such as groceries shouldn’t be allowed to sell nonessential items during the coronavirus pandemic, reports Business Insider.
The rationale is that it prevents shoppers from spending unnecessary time browsing the store—thereby limiting their risk of exposure to the coronavirus—and makes it fairer to the other stores that were forced to close because they mostly sell nonessential items.
Meanwhile, Smithfield Foods, the world’s biggest pork processor, said on Sunday that it had shut a South Dakota plant down indefinitely due to a rash of coronavirus cases among employees and warned that the country was moving “perilously close to the edge” in supplies for grocers, according to CNBC.
Other slaughterhouse shutdowns are threatening a disruption to the food supply chain, as well, leaving farmers without outlets for their livestock. But this isn’t an invitation to hoard meat like toilet paper.
How Eager Are You to Return to “Normal”?
Four in five Americans want to wait before resuming daily routines
Most Americans remain hesitant about resuming their normal daily activities amid the COVID-19 outbreak according to a Gallup poll first asked in late March and repeated in early April.
When asked how quickly they will return to their normal activities once the government lifts restrictions and businesses and schools start to reopen, a whopping 71% of Americans said they'd wait and see what happens with the spread of the virus, while another 10% said they planned to restrict their activities indefinitely.
Author John Barry spoke to MSNBC about the absenteeism after the 1918 flu pandemic: “You had railroads that were not running ... you had farmers that were afraid to deliver crops,” he said. “Fear is a pretty good enforcer.”
I'd say I'm eager to return to some semblance of normalcy—going to a coffee shop, out to dinner, visiting friends IRL—but I do think I'll be bringing COVID baggage with me like excessive hand washing and social distancing when applicable.
Stand Your Ground and Keep Your Distance
Some social distancing may be needed into 2022, a new study says
A new study, published Tuesday in journal Science, warns that intermittent periods of social distancing may need to continue into 2022 across the United States to keep those sickened by COVID-19 from overwhelming the health care system.
The research looked at a range of scenarios for how the virus will spread over the next five years. But, overall, the research concludes it is unlikely that life will return any time soon to the way it was before the coronavirus emerged.
And that's because social distancing remains the best tool we have to slow the coronavirus outbreak until there is a vaccine. To prove just how effective it is, the New York Times made an impressive (and thoroughly disgusting) 3-D animation.
It illustrates precisely why you should stay at least six feet away from people when you venture outside of your house. Because those dreaded “respiratory droplets” from an infected person's cough, sneeze or breath travel far and travel wide.
↦ Dig Deeper: The Times' added an augmented reality experience to their iOS app to show you how the six-foot distancing guideline can apply in real life: at the grocery store, on the sidewalk, etc.
The Kids Are Alright
Some good news from the youngest among us
In the midst of an unprecedented health crisis, heroes emerge from any and everywhere. While some adults are complaining about being bored, there are young people making big differences in their communities.
Take this Ohio teen who founded Zoom Food, a free delivery service for the most at-risk members of the greater Cincinnati area. Between online classes, the high school junior and 70 volunteers have fulfilled dozens of grocery orders in their first two weeks.
“I had my doubts being a 17-year-old starting something that could potentially grow to a pretty large size,” he told the Cincinnati Enquirer. “But I said, 'If I don’t do it, I'm going to regret not being able to make a difference to help those in need.'”
Meanwhile, after the Girl Scouts suspended in-person cookie sales and events, they began selling online and started donating cookies to medical staff at local hospitals, urgent care clinics and food banks, reports CNN. They're also making thousands of homemade masks for pharmacies and health care facilities.
In Other News
Other Things We’re Talking About Today
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How to Spend That Stimulus Check
Financial advisers on putting the cash to good use
This is the week that many Americans will begin receiving their stimulus payments—part of the massive $2.2 trillion stimulus bill that aims to shore up an economy reeling from the coronavirus outbreak.
As Americans eagerly await a deposit in their bank accounts from the IRS, #stimulusdeposit trended on social media on Tuesday. Of course, once people get their money, the question becomes: How should I use this?
And while the choice may be painfully clear for many who need the money immediately for necessities because they've been laid off, MarketWatch asked financial advisers for their recommendations on how best to use the money if you have some wiggle room.
A few said that it'd be best placed in an“emergency fund,” which is located in a high yield online savings account. Others said it'd be smart to use it to pay off some debts—particularly credit-card debt—as a way to get an immediate guaranteed return. It's hard to know what to do with it, right? But we can all agree that it needs to get here ASAP.
↦ FYI: The paper stimulus checks will be slightly delayed because they're changing the system to add President Trump’s name to the memo line.
In solidarity with the independent brands and shops that are weathering the uncertainty of a socially-isolated world, we're highlighting the ones that continue to inspire and delight us. Taylor Stitch is the quintessential California brand. They produce well made clothes that are as good looking and well tailored as they are rugged and relaxed. Right now, they're hosting a #StandSmall sale, highlighting small businesses from around the country while also offering up to 30% off their clothes. At a time when "shopping your values" has never mattered more, these guys offer the real deal.
California chambray shirt$118 / $82.60
Heavy bag tee,$45 / $31.50
Après seersucker pant$118 / $73.50
Ojai jacket$188 / $150.40
↦ Shop the Sale at Taylor Stitch
Today’s Deals
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↦ Want More? See all 67 sales
Morning Motto
Eyes forward and focus on yourself
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