The Daily Valet. - 4/17/23, Monday
✔️ That's Dark
Monday, April 17th Edition
By Cory Ohlendorf, Valet. Editor
Fun fact: I have run a marathon. Just once, to prove to myself that I could. And I’d never do it again.
Today’s Big Story
It’s Dark Sky Week
skywatchers are hoping to combat the light pollution crisis
When did you last marvel at the night sky? If you've ever looked up at the darkness above and marveled at the vast openness and twinkling stars, you were likely out of the city, right? Getting a proper look is harder and harder to do now that light pollution affects 80% of the planet. This is what “International Dark Sky Week” is all about.As Space.com reminds us, the commemorative week officially began over the weekend and runs through April 22. Skywatchers are using the time to “ensure that policymakers aren't in the dark about the problem facing our view of space.” According to one recent study, the world is currently seeing an average increase of 9.6% in the brightness of the sky. This means that whereas 18 years ago, skywatchers would see an average of 250 stars in the night sky; today, only 100 (or less) are visible.That's why people are looking to preserve places where you can see the true night sky and take in the Milky Way's luminous glow. They're called Dark-Sky places. And it's a distinction not easily attained—only 115 Dark-Sky Parks exists in the world, along with two dozen Dark-Sky Reserves and Sanctuaries. There's currently only one Dark-Sky Nation in the world—the island country of Niue.But this is actually a great time to be stargazing, thanks to April's mostly moonless night skies. According to Forbes, amateur astronomers and astrophotographers have a lot to look for, from an open cluster of stars called the Pleiades to Alpha Centauri—the closest bright star to us and the third brightest in the night sky. They're visible without a telescope and you might even be able to snap a pic with your phone. What's more, there are official events taking place to commemorate the week all over the world, with dedicated events not just here in the United States, but everywhere from Japan to Uruguay.
FYI:
Dark sky tourism is on the rise across the U.S. National Geographic has rounded up the best places to stargaze in the U.S.
Are Voice Notes the New Texts?
Phone call? Lol. Voice note? Sure.
Watching Netflix's BEEF, it made me chuckle the first time Danny is hit with his younger brother's voicemail greeting: “Don't be old … just text.” It made think about how there really is a generational divide when it comes to communication. And now, it sounds like, that the kids are moving away from texts and embracing voice notes.It makes sense, really. Texting can muddle meaning, and calls can trigger anxiety. But NPR reports, these short voice recordings offer an easier, low-pressure alternative in a world that's grown more accustomed to audio mediums such as Clubhouse and podcasts. The ability to communicate tone is a big part of the appeal.Maybe you've noticed: Lately, they're popping up in more group chats and one-on-one conversations. 62% of Americans say they've sent a voice message, and around 30% communicate this way weekly, daily, or multiple times a day, according to a random sample poll of 1,000 U.S. adults by YouGov run for Vox. WhatsApp said last year that over 7 billion voice messages are sent on the app every day. Every. Day. But, there are some downsides to voice messages, though. They can be tedious to listen to if they're rambling, which can happen a lot. And it's also hard to discreetly send a voice note if you're at work. In that case ... just text.
FYI:
Several studies have shown that people feel more socially bonded when communicating via phone call rather than text-based communication.
50 million metric tons of electric waste are generated each year, from computers and phones to smartwatches and TVs. In the U.S., where the average household has 24 electronic devices, e-waste is the fastest-growing waste stream.”
- Fast Company on the future of recycling
The Boston Marathon Is Today
How did this Marathon become *the* Marathon?
The 127th running of the Boston Marathon takes place today. This year's race carries extra magnitude for a couple of reasons, one somber and one eagerly anticipated. It's the 10th anniversary of the bombings that took the lives of three people and injured more than 260 when two pressure-cooker bombs went off at the finish line. But it's also the Boston debut of world record-holder Eliud Kipchoge, who is seeking to set a course record in all six World Marathon Majors. (He owns three of them.)Hearing all the chatter about the upcoming race made me wonder, why is the Boston Marathon THE marathon we all know? Well, it turns out that the Boston Marathon is the world's oldest annually held marathon—taking place every year on Patriots' Day. This year's race will feature a field of around 30,000 athletes—made up of runners from all 50 states and more than 120 countries.For the lay runner, just qualifying for Boston is a crowning achievement. About 20% of the participants earned their entry by raising money for charity, but nearly all had to qualify with times that classified them in the upper tier of runners in their age groups. The legendary course (which actually goes through eight cities around and including Boston) starts out mostly downhill for the first 16 miles—deceptively shredding the quadriceps—and then introduces some notorious hills that take out a lot of eager runners. Planning on watching it? ESPN will cover the marathon nationally, or you could follow along on social media.
Comparison:
Just how fast does the world record holder run? This is what happens when mere mortals try to keep his pace.
Is This the Ultimate Barn Find?
More than 200 Classic Cars Were Just Found in Storage in the Netherlands
Barn Finds are automotive archeology at their finest. It's a powerful thing for any car enthusiast—unearthing a neglected beauty under a layer of dust and rags. Ready for some love, a wash and a tune-up. Usually, if you get lucky, you might come across one long-forgotten legendary ride. But surely not 230.What's been described as one of the greatest barn finds of all time will go under the gavel next month. A trove of 230 classic cars—including a Mercedes-Benz 300S Roadster, a Ferrari and Alfa Romeo 2600 SZ among other rarities—was just found in an abandoned church and warehouse in Denmark. Online bidding will start on Friday and go until June 7th.According to Jalopnik, the cars were once owned by a man known as Mr. Palmen, who had a penchant for storing them in out-of-the-way places. At a certain point, circumstances dictated that he was unable to keep the collection any longer, which has led to the upcoming auction. The collection isn't being sold whole, so folks will get a chance at owning individual cars from it.
FYI:
Most of the cars are presented in unrestored, original condition and Palmen himself started the cars on a regular basis to keep the engines from being seized.
In Other News
It’s the largest rocket to ever fly and could one day carry humans to the moon.
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Lean Into Idleness
Let’s all embrace niksen, the Dutch concept of doing nothing.
Being busy and overworked has been worn like a badge of honor for years. One thing the pandemic taught a lot of people was the importance of slowing down and staying put. Recently, I read about niksen, the Dutch concept of doing nothing.But to truly master niksen—which most closely translates as “nothing-ing” in Dutch—you've got to be more intentional about your idleness. You see, doing nothing does not mean wasting time. And that's what the culture of busyness has made us think. Which is why we feel guilty taking a break when working from home or not being productive on the weekend by tackling chores we've put off. When we don't have something to fill our time, we often feel as though we're wasting valuable minutes—we're so accustomed to the constant movement, it can actually be disorientating to slow down.
Get Started:
Allow us to show you how to embrace idleness and slow down.
Shopping
What We’re Buying
An ideal lightweight jacket
Just because it's getting warmer doesn't mean you need to give up your layers. Mr P.'s chore jacket ($325) sits comfortably between a lightweight jacket and a more substantial over shirt. Meaning you can throw it on over a tee and look presentable without overheating. The organic cotton in an inky shade of navy blue has been garment-dyed—a process that softens both the color and texture to give it a lived-in look. And generous patch pockets mean you can comfortably store everything you need for the day.
Want more?
The five stylish items you should be buying this week.
Morning Motto
You learn so much from listening.
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