The Daily Valet. - 4/21/23, Friday
✔️ About That Blue Check Apocalypse
Friday, April 21st Edition
By Cory Ohlendorf, Valet. Editor
We've nearly made it to the weekend.
Presented by
Today’s Big Story
Blue Check Apocalypse
Twitter finally removed the verified badges. ANd It’s a ridiculous, but important fiasco
It's the end of an era. Well, sort of. Many Twitter users said Thursday they had lost their verified badges. Elon Musk had been talking about dropping them for a while and it appears he's finally confiscating those tiny blue checkmarks. Some are still floating around but they appear to be dropping like flies.The removal of the once-highly sought-after verification symbol will now become a pay-to-play marker accessible to anyone willing to cough up a few bucks a month. Of course, no one really wants to pay. Which could be why Twitter was offering a discounted $84-a-year subscription Thursday.According to Mashable, fewer than 5% of “legacy verified” accounts have subscribed. So who is paying? Some of the biggest celebrities to cough up the $8 include musical artists like Rihanna, Taylor Swift and Miley Cyrus. In fact, of the few celebs that have signed up, singers and artists probably make up the bulk of it.The rollout hasn't been smooth, to say the least. An early attempt resulted in what should have been a predictable flood of so-called “verified” impersonators of everyone from LeBron James announcing he wanted to be traded to Eli Lilly saying its insulin products were now free. Since then, the company has waffled about the process and nature of verification. That means the core problem remains that Twitter is no longer verifying the identity of users who get a blue check.In an attempt at a symbol of authenticity, Musk has also introduced a rainbow of other check marks, reports Vox. Government accounts now get a gray check. Organizations get a square profile photo and gold check. Accounts that are associated with organizations get little icons with their logo. But that's only if those organizations are willing to pay a hefty price: the gold check is $1,000 a month, plus another $50 for each associated account.But many of those organizations may not have to pay at all. According to the (no longer verified because they refuse to pay) New York Times, Twitter will allow its 500 top advertisers and 10,000 most-followed organizations to keep their checks. And, apparently, Musk is personally paying for a few celeb's verification—perhaps to make it seem like something you should pay for. As Musk himself tweeted, “you get what you pay for.” But only time will tell what those little checks are actually worth.
FYI:
Twitter first began adding verification labels to accounts in 2009 after someone impersonated baseball manager Tony La Russa and La Russa sued the company.
What Is Earth Day, Really?
Everything you need to know, its history and this year's theme
Every year on April 22, people around the globe come together in the name of conservation for Earth Day. This year's theme is “Invest In Our Planet.” But contrary to the kumbaya good vibes, this isn't just some bullshit holiday. Earth Day got its start in the U.S., back in the 1970s as a demonstration for change.The impact of the very first Earth Day was pretty significant. Less than one year later, 25% of Americans vocally supported protecting the environment. It led to the creation of the Environmental Protection Agency and some of our most important environmental laws being passed: The Clean Air Act, the Clean Water Act, the Endangered Species Act and more.By 1990, it became a global event with 200 million people in 141 countries coming together to volunteer or make their voices heard in their communities. Now over a billion people take part. Demonstrations on Earth Day help to signal to our elected leaders how important action on environmental issues is to their constituents. While scientists nurture nature to help slow the effects of climate change, activists continue to raise the alarm. And while there's a lot of corporate greenwashing out there, you can still make an impact in your own way.
FYI:
The Earth Day Anthem was written in 2013 by Indian poet Abhay Kumar, and has since been recorded in all official UN languages.
Partner
These are the well-made closet staples that you will build looks around all spring and summer.
Enjoy This Fast Food ‘Renaissauce’
All the major fast food chains are showcasing their best sauces front and center
The secret to really enjoying your fast food is customizing it to your liking, right? And that really comes down to one thing: sauce. Dipping sauces, hot sauces, secret sauces. And thankfully, we're currently living in the golden age of sauces.As The Takeout puts it, the latest explosive trends on the food spectrum is not a particular entree, but on the sheer volume of sauces. The country's leading fast food chains are all shining a spotlight not on a menu item, but on the sauce you can get on the side.Just this week, McDonald's announced that it will not only rework its flagship Big Mac to be saucier by design but also begin offering Big Mac sauce in cups to be added to any order. Over at Taco Bell, the highly demanded Nacho Fries are returning to the menu, but with a special sauce to accompany them. Chick-fil-A's bottled sauces are selling so well that it's now adding the Barbecue and Sweet & Spicy Sriracha flavors to its lineup of sauces available in stores. Further proof we're getting sauced? One industry publication notes that product launches for new sauces increased by 10% last year, and the global culinary sauces market will grow to nearly $60 billion by 2029, up from $46.6 billion in 2022.
FYI:
Tasting Table has ranked over two dozen of the best tasting fast food sauces. Where does your favorite land?
A Weekend Pairing
‘The Diplomat’ + a Cucumber Gimlet
If The Americans taught us anything, it's that Keri Russell is the queen of playing complicated women in complicated marriages thrust into complicated political scenarios. Netflix's new show, The Diplomat, checks all of those boxes and then some.Russell stars as Kate Wyler, a woman who's spent her career in the military and foreign service until a disaster abroad gets her appointed as the American ambassador to the United Kingdom. But that normally cushy position becomes something much more high-stakes when she has to balance her new responsibilities with mounting international pressures—not to mention her career-politician husband's antics. Critics are loving it, calling the show “smart, twisty” and “meaty.” The New York Times' Mike Hale says the satisfying show is a political thriller that doubles as a high-style romantic comedy.
Pair It With
The Gimlet is such a quintessential British drink. But it’s also a refreshing cocktail that’s perfect for this time of year. Double-down on the freshness by adding muddled cucumbers for a sweetly vegetal note. It's best accented by a light, floral gin, such as Hendrick’s—and don’t forget to add a cucumber wheel as a garnish.
Also Worth a Watch:
‘Secrets of the Elephants’ on Hulu; ‘Somebody Somewhere’, season 2 on HBO Max
In Other News
The inaugural flight's fiery ending was still seen as a success.
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Partner
Spring Splurges
Now's the time to add those investment pieces to your warm weather wardrobe
As we settle into a new season and get ready for longer days and warmer weather, now is the perfect time to do a little spring cleaning when it comes to your wardrobe. Toss the stuff you never wear, the worn-out pieces and those that just don't feel all that current. Replace them with a few well-made and high-end pieces that are not only built to last but are the kind of items you can wear over and over. These are the closet staples that you will build looks around—from a luxe take on a classic tee and a breezy block-printed shirt to some tapered, pleated chinos you can dress up and down all season.
These are the chinos you want to wear in 2023. Classically tailored for a tapered profile with some subtle pleats at the waist for added relaxed volume.
$240 by Mr P.
These adjustable sandals don't just look cool, they're crafted from soft and sustainable “regenerated suede by evolo,” which is produced with lower CO2 emissions.
$325 by Mr P.
This camp-collar shirt from Karu Research is made by master craftspeople in India using lightweight, hand-loomed cotton and finished with natural horn buttons.
$360 by Karu Research
Want More?
The six investments you should make in your wardrobe this spring.
Shopping
What We’re Buying
A Catchall Tray
This catchall tray is made in the U.S. and crafted from smooth Italian leather. Perfect for small essentials by your bed or on a desk or entry table, it’d also make for an excellent Mother's Day present.
Get It:
Italian leather catchall, $99 / $74.99 by Mark & Graham
Morning Motto
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