The Daily Valet. - 4/27/22, Wednesday

✔️ Making Plans for Redress

Wednesday, April 27th Edition

Cory Ohlendorf, Editor in Chief of Valet.

Is it too early to talk about burial options?

Cory Ohlendorf , Editor ⋯ @coryohlendorf

Today’s edition is presented by

Today’s Big Story

Harvard Sets up Endowment for Reparations

The university said it had benefited from slave-generated wealth and practiced racial discrimination

Harvard University faculty, staff and leaders enslaved more than 70 individuals during the 17th and 18th centuries, according to a long-awaited report made public Tuesday that details the university’s ties to slavery.

“Harvard benefited from and in some ways perpetuated practices that were profoundly immoral,” Harvard president Lawrence S. Bacow said in a statement. “Consequently, I believe we bear a moral responsibility to do what we can to address the persistent corrosive effects of those historical practices on individuals, on Harvard, and on our society.”

According to the Washington Post, much of Harvard’s record on slavery and discrimination had been known for years. And it comes as several other universities (Brown, Georgetown and Princeton) are examining their own ties to slavery. “But this report shatters any notion that Harvard, by virtue of its location in New England, was insulated from the evils of economic and social systems based on human bondage.”

The school pledged $100 million, in part to create an endowed “Legacy of Slavery Fund” that would allow scholars and students to bring Harvard’s connections to slavery into the light for generations to come. Experts said the amount of money Harvard was committing for such a project was rare—if not unprecedented for an educational institution.

That’s certainly a lot of money, but just to put it into perspective: Harvard’s endowment is the largest in the country. Despite the pandemic, it increased from $41.9 billion at the end of 2020 to $53.2 billion in 2021, according to the school’s recent financial reports.

Which, perhaps, is why some are criticizing the move. National Review likened it to a rich guy donating money to feel less guilty. “If Harvard truly wished to help descendants of slavery, its funding could’ve been sent where it might make a real difference: e.g., black business owners in opportunity zones. Money spent this way actually improves black lives though market-based solutions. High sums shuffled around the college Monopoly board do nothing to help slavery’s descendants.”

↦ Dig Deeper: Here are the key findings and excerpts from the 134-page report.

Natural Burials Are on the Rise

The green funeral movement is making death a little more enivronmentally conscious

Fresh off of Earth Day, let's talk a little about green burials. Because a recent survey found that over 54% of Americans are now considering green burials, and 72% of cemeteries said they were seeing an increased demand, too.

According to Mic, this means ditching aspects of conventional funerals that are bad for the environment. For example, each year, over 8,000 gallons of embalming formaldehyde is put into the ground with the bodies. But this chemical doesn't stay inside of dead bodies forever; it leaks.

Cremation is now more popular than a traditional casket burial (and twice as common as it was two decades ago) because of high funeral costs and a decline in religious beliefs. But even it's harmful in its own way: American cremations alone account for about 360,000 metric tons of carbon dioxide emissions every year.

If you look online for truly green funeral practices, you might see the more creative forms like eternal reefs or biodegradable burial pods. There are also companies like Return Home getting into the game, which specializes in human composting (i.e. turning loved ones into usable soil).

↦ FYI: These natural burials have been practiced by people of Muslim and Jewish faiths for centuries.

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Do you joke with your mom? If you do, then don't just get her any old Mother's Day gift. Make her laugh, instead.

Zoom Attempts to Make Itself Better

You can send a reaction without clicking anything

Zoom is part of most people's work life now that WFH and hybrid work seems to be here to stay. Of course, that's not to say it couldn't stand to be better—and a slate of updates and new features are hoping to do just that.

The update that's got everyone talking is the fact that gesture recognition now works in the desktop app. One of the platform's handiest features, by raising your hand or giving a thumbs-up, you'll send the appropriate reaction to the other screens.

It's been available on Zoom's iPad and iPhone apps for a while, but it's been updated and brought to the desktop app to help bridge the gap between natural interactions and digital meetings.

According to Fast Company, Zoom seems poised to help gesture control really take off in people's daily lives—something that several companies have attempted but never mastered. “Zoom took teleconferencing mainstream. Who woulda thunk, they may do the same thing with gesture controls next.”

↦ FYI: Zoom was one of the fastest-growing apps in 2020 and 2021 with active meeting participants growing by 2,900% over the past two years.

Sober Bars Are Popping Up

Sans Bar is an alcohol-free space that’s opening pop-ups around the country

Two sober guys walk into a bar ... this isn't a set-up for a punchline. As non-alcoholic spirits continue to grow in popularity, it only makes sense that the bar scene would adapt too.

Chris Marshall, a recovering alcoholic and former counselor, has found early success with his no-booze concept in Austin, Sans Bar. And now it's expanding to different cities via some limited-time pop-ups. It's Marshall's attempt “to be the Starbucks for the sober-curious era,” reports The Hustle.

Marshall says customers are about 75% “sober curious” as opposed to recovering from addiction. After all, there are plenty of reasons why someone would prefer low- to no-alcohol drinks, but still want a place to hang out.

According to InsideHook, now seems like a good time for a booze-free “bar” experience to thrive. A recent study found a quarter of British 16- to 24-year-olds classify themselves as non-drinkers (but who would most likely still enjoy going out). Other cities are finding success with non-alcoholic watering holes—and even traditional bars are discovering that people are still going out and spending money even when participating in events like Dry January.

↦ FYI: Back in January, we looked closer at what happens to your body when you stop drinking.

In Other News

↦ Vice President Harris Has Tested Positive for COVID-19

↦ India Swelters Under Heatwave, With Temperatures Set to Hit 118°

↦ Did You Know About These Famous Sequels That Never Got Made?

Other Things We’re Talking About Today

Taking care of stressed skin

Horror films

America’s forgotten fruit

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Gift Her Something That Will Make Her Laugh

These aren’t for regular moms, these are for cool moms

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Smartass & Sass is a popular subscription service that offers a safe space for gals who like to laugh. It calls itself: “the brand that says exactly what you're thinking (so your mouth won't have to).” They partner with independent creators and small businesses to bring you trendy, timely and snarky items each month. Of course, if you don't want to overcommit, they've also got a store filled with their best-sellers. Here are just a few suggestions.

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Treat Yourself box, $44.95

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Dramatic T-shirt, $22

↦ Explore: Check out the S&S shop for more Mother’s Day gift ideas

Rain Boots on Sale Now

↑ The Chore boot ($180 / $125.98) is the Batmobile of rain boots. You could wear these to the office but also take them to a weekend campsite. Featuring 100% waterproof materials, a comfortable EVA midsole and Vibram outsole, these fit and feel more like a high-end sneaker than a rain boot.

↦ Want more? 5 rain boots on sale now

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