The Daily Valet. - 4/17/20, Friday
✔️ The Joys of Rediscovery
Friday, April 17th Edition
Forget shaving your head. Should we all start growing quarantine mustaches?
Cory Ohlendorf , Editor ⋯ @coryohlendorf
Today's edition is presented by
Today’s Big Story
Rediscovering Your Stuff
Our world is suddenly smaller. And that’s okay ... for now.
Even though President Trump told governors on Thursday that they could begin reopening businesses, restaurants and other elements of daily life by May 1, more than a dozen states extended shutdowns until at least May 15 to contain the coronavirus pandemic, reports Reuters.
In any case, it’s fair to say that we’re all going to be spending more time at home for the foreseeable future. But don’t think of it as being forced to stay inside. See it as an opportunity—a chance to reconnect with all the stuff you love. The things that fall by the wayside when life inevitably gets “too busy.”
It sounds strange, but I’ve never spent more time on the floor of my apartment than I have over the past few weeks. It’s where I now do my workouts via Instagram. It’s where I use the extra time to play with my dog. And it’s where I stretch out and flip through a book that’s long been stuck in my bookcase. That is, if I’m not fighting said dog for space on the leather club chair (above).
I’m using this time in the house to rediscover the things that brought me joy. I’m wearing items from the back of my closet that I had all but forgotten about. I’m pulling out kitchen gadgets—ones that had been relegated to the hard-to-reach cabinet above the refrigerator—to try out new recipes I’d been saving but never cooked. And I’m perusing my bookcase for old favorites or books that I’d bought with good intentions but hadn’t yet read.
I don’t want to make light of the very serious situation we find ourselves in as a nation—and as a planet—but if we must stay home, we should at least make the very best of it. And when your home becomes your whole world, it’s important to embrace the things around you. Especially when so many of the items were chosen because they mean something to you.
These things, which we’ve lived with for years, have taken on a new meaning and relevance as time slows down and the walls, at times, can feel as though they’re closing in. There’s a strange sort of freedom in this time, so let’s make the most of it by embracing all the things we’ve overlooked for so long.
Record Unemployment Numbers Raise Serious Questions
More than 9 million workers lost health insurance, unemployment claims indicate
As the COVID-19 outbreak forces businesses to remain closed, an unrelenting jobs crisis continues to push Americans onto unemployment rolls.
The number of unemployed Americans climbed sharply again this past week with 5.2 million additional people filing jobless claims, bringing the total number to 22 million in the last four weeks alone, reports NBC News.
The numbers are staggering, but an unsettling undercurrent of that figure is the amount of people who are also losing access to health insurance after losing their job. Approximately 9.2 million workers have likely lost employer-provided health care coverage in the past month, an analysis from the Economic Policy Institute concluded.
States are now bracing for an increase in the number of people applying for Medicaid. And earlier this week, Democrats introduced legislation to help workers stay on their employer-based health insurance plans even if they lose their jobs or are furloughed due to the pandemic.
↦ FYI: The current number of unemployment claims represent about 13.5% of the American labor force, or nearly every new job created since the Great Recession of 2008.
Special Promotion
Want to be better in bed? This cutting-edge sexual wellness brand is offering solutions that are clinically-proven to be effective.
Small Business Funding Currently Exhausted
Business owners left hanging on as lending program goes on hold
The government's lending program for small businesses is tapped out, reports the Associated Press. The Small Business Administration said Thursday that it reached the $349 billion lending limit for the program, after approving nearly 1.7 million loans.
That means that thousands of small business owners, whose loans have not yet been processed, are now looking to Congress to approve the White House's request for another $250 billion for the program. Lawmakers have been haggling over whether to extend the loan program as it stands now, or add provisions that, among other things, would help minority businesses.
According to the Wall Street Journal, neither side showed signs of conceding ground. Democrats are hoping to include funding for hospitals, state and local governments, and food assistance to recipients, while Republicans want the money to support worker paychecks before moving on to other aid.
Meanwhile, thousands of small businesses are still applying everyday, hoping to get loans once the program is likely to be extended.
Even Banksy Is Working From Home
The lockdowns have fueled the artist’s creativity
It seems many of us are navigating the ups and downs of working from home at the moment—and famed street artist Banksy is no exception, reports CNN.
“My wife hates it when I work from home,” Banksy posted on Instagram, alongside a set of photos showing paintings of stir-crazy rats wreaking havoc in his bathroom.
The new work, like so many things during this unprecedented era of self-isolation, can only be experienced online.
The notoriously elusive artist, whose identity remains a secret, uses his Instagram page to authenticate murals after they are painted in public locations, most recently in the English cities of Bristol and Birmingham.
↦ FYI: Banksy's painting of chimps sitting in Britain's parliament sold for $19.4 million in October, a record price at auction for his work.
In Other News
Other Things We’re Talking About Today
+
Special Promotion
Boost Your Bedroom Performance
Reach new levels of intimacy and pleasure in your relationship
When it comes having sex, performing well requires attention, technique and plenty of self-confidence. Of course, none of these will matter if you lack control. Don’t rely on distractions to last longer. Promescent, the sexual wellness company backed by years of advanced medical research and development, has made a name for itself thanks to its signature climax control spray.
Recommended by over 2,000 healthcare professionals, each bottle comes with a metered-dose spray, safely delivering 10mg of lidocaine per spritz. The desensitization has been clinically proven to help you have longer-lasting more enjoyable sex. Another popular product is the VitaFLUX, a supplement formulated to boost your energy, blood flow and vitality—both in life and in the bedroom. And speaking of which, if you're a couple self-isolating together, the brand is offering to ship you a pack of condoms for free to help you take advantage of this quality time.
↦ Learn More: Promescent sexual wellness products
Your Weekend Pairing
Blamo! + a Modern Gin & Tonic Cocktail
You might remember Jeremy Kirkland from his Morning Routine we featured last fall. Renowned in the world of style as a seasoned sartorial expert, his wildly popular podcast “Blamo!” offers a deep-dive into the wild landscape of menswear and design. Each week, he interviews influential tastemakers and industry professionals about their career trajectories and their unique paths to success, along with their outlook on the future of style.
Blamo! has been my favorite podcast for a while now. It's always informative but there's something about the casualness and earnestness of Kirkland's conversations that just makes it pleasing to listen to. Scroll through the archive this weekend, find a few to listen to and then kick back with a refreshing cocktail.
↦ Your Pairing:We asked the man himself for his go-to cocktail come spring and summer and he didn't disappoint. Like his own style, it's a little classic with a modern edge. “As summer approaches, my drink of choice is a Gin & Tonic with the addition of cucumber and cilantro,” he said. “Fever Tree tonic or bust!” Here's how you make it:▹ A few fresh cilantro leaves▹ Lime wedges▹ 1 small Persian or Kirby cucumber, sliced▹ 2 ounces gin▹ 4 ounces Fever Tree tonic water ($4.99 for four bottles)
What We’re Buying
Old Navy's new sale seems crazy. Everything (everything!) is $20 or under and features smart buys like jeans to outerwear. But this tie-dye shirt is the first item that caught our eye. If working from home has relaxed your wardrobe, then you need a few warm-weather essentials that are in style. And the tie-dye trend of the past few seasons isn't going anywhere.
↦ Get It $14.99 / $8.50 at Old Navy
Today’s Deals
Expires 4/18
Expires 4/19
Expires 4/24
↦ Want More? See all 69 sales
Morning Motto
Don’t get ahead of yourself or let your mind run away with worst-case scenarios.
↦ Follow: @werenotreallystrangers
That’s all for today...
...but we could use your help.
The more people who know about The Daily Valet., the stronger it can become. So grab your unique referral code below and start sharing with your friends, family and coworkers to earn some exclusive discounts to our favorite brands and cool stuff you'll actually want (not just throw-away “swag”).
Your Unique Referral Code:
↦ Want to Learn More? Check out your personal Valet. Ambassor page for program details and get a closer look at the available rewards (and how many referrals are needed to score them).
Valet Media LLC1111 Lincoln Road, 5th FloorMiami Beach, FL 33139[email protected]