The Daily Valet. - 4/6/21, Tuesday

✔️ Your Country Needs You

Tuesday, April 6th Edition

Cory Ohlendorf, Editor in Chief of Valet.

If you need me, I’ll be working on my new mask design ...

Cory Ohlendorf, Editor ⋯ @coryohlendorf

Today’s Big Story

Making a Better Mask

The U.S. government launches a $500,000 design challenge to create “Tomorrow’s Mask”

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services ... they’re just like us. And they’ve had it with mask-induced acne, fogged-up glasses, indecipherable conversations and stifled breathing.

But they also know that while the behavior of some may suggest otherwise, masks are still strongly advised as an easily wearable accessory amid the still-in-progress COVID pandemic. Plus, future outbreaks may require masking up again.

Which is why the government is offering big money to find new and effective masks people will find more comfortable to wear. The Biden administration has just announced a $500,000 contest in which inventors are asked to contribute their own designs for effective everyday masks.

The Mask Innovation Challenge was created in partnership with the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health. According to The Verge, the design phase is split into two tracks—one that considers redesigns of existing masks, and another that’s focused on new technologies and materials.

As for the masks themselves, they’ll need to be cheap and simple to mass-produce, while also being widely accessible and effective in blocking transmission of COVID-19. Bonus points go to those that solve the challenges of unreadable facial expressions, incompatibility with glasses, irritating contact dermatitis, discomfort caused by prolonged wear and the feeling of being smothered.

As many as five designs could be chosen. If you think you’ve got a unique idea that follows the guidelines, you can submit your idea by 5 p.m. ET on April 21st.

↦ Meanwhile: Will.i.am just debuted a tech-driven mask developed with Honeywell. Features include a HEPA air filtration system, noise cancelling audio and Bluetooth 5.0 connectivity.

Ugly Truths and ‘Beautiful Things’

People are talking about Hunter Biden’s book

You'll likely be hearing a lot about Hunter Biden's new book. That's probably because he doesn't beat around the bush in the memoir, Beautiful Things, which comes out today.

Of course, a lot of people have already made up their minds about Hunter, and others aren't interested in knowing anything more—which is fair. But I think his first-hand account of drug addiction, tabloid culture and political craziness is incredibly informative.

This is not the way we're used to reading about a child of the president. But most of the reviews have been quite positive. Publishers Weekly says his "courageous self-assessment makes the despair of substance abuse devastatingly palpable." And Entertainment Weekly's Seija Rankin was struck by the scenes that involved his dad: “The result is, purposeful or not, a portrait of our current President as the ultimate Patriarch.”

It also sounds like the book tackles addiction and how it tends to be the great equalizer in this country.

↦ Listen: Hunter was just on Marc Maron's podcast, talking about grief, desperation, tragedy and trouble.

Another Water Supply Attack

Man faces up to 25 years in prison for tampering with public water via the internet

You would think that something as critical as a town's drinking water supply would be well-protected. Like how America's nuclear armament was isolated from the internet and even relied on eight-inch floppy disks until just recently?

But we've now had two instances where someone was able to remotely log into a municipal water supply in a really dangerous way.

Remember the story of a Florida water treatment facility where hackers messed with the chemical levels? Something similar happened in Kansas. Wyatt Travnichek, 22, now stands accused of shutting down the region's water cleaning system “with the intention of harming” it, according to a recent statement from the Department of Justice.

Gizmodo points out that both stories highlight a growing issue in cybersecurity, which is security for critical infrastructure. With an increasing amount of focus being put on the ways in which hackers can penetrate industrial facilities and operational technology (think: dams and electrical grids, among many other possibilities), it might be a good time for legislators to figure out how to better invest in defenses for these systems—considering so many of them are run by underfunded state and local governments with not a whole lot of cash to burn.

↦ FYI: If convicted, Travnichek faces a maximum sentence of 25 years in prison and over half a million dollars in fines.

In Other Vaccine News ...

A new HIV prevention vaccine was 97% successful in the first phase of human trials

Today in good news: A novel approach to an HIV vaccine has shown promise in Phase-1 clinical human trials.

The International AIDS Vaccine Initiative and Scripps Research said the new method was successful in stimulating the production of rare immune cells that generate antibodies against the fast-mutating virus. What's more, the targeted response was detected in 97% of participants who received the vaccine.

The two organizations will partner with biotechnology company Moderna to develop and test an mRNA-based vaccine. Moderna's vaccine against COVID-19, which has an efficacy of 94.1%, is based on similar mRNA technology.

“This is a tremendous achievement for vaccine science as a whole,” said Dr Dennis Burton, professor and chair of the Department of Immunology at Scripps Research. “This clinical trial has shown that we can drive immune responses in predictable ways to make new and better vaccines, and not just for HIV. We believe this type of vaccine engineering can be applied more broadly, bringing about a new day in vaccinology.”⠀⠀

↦ Dig Deeper: There are many reasons why it's harder to develop vaccines for HIV than for other illnesses like the coronavirus.

In Other News

↦ Baylor Denies Gonzaga’s Bid for Perfection, Nabs First Men’s Basketball Championship

↦ Minneapolis Police Chief Testifies Chauvin Violated Policy During George Floyd Arrest

↦ North Korea Says It Won’t Participate in Tokyo Olympics

Other Things We’re Talking About Today

Better water bottles

Flying motorcycles?

A Crocs and Vans lovechild

Ready to Travel?

Here's what you need to know before your first post-pandemic trip

At the top of the month, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention gave the green light to fully vaccinated people to travel freely—adding that this group doesn't need to worry about testing before or after a trip or bother with quarantining.

That in turn has got many of us itching to book a trip somewhere. Anywhere. Maybe you want to visit family or take a long-delayed, but much-needed vacation. And while the CDC is still not recommending non-essential travel, we know that this news is going to jumpstart some people's plans.

If you happen to be one of the dreamers out there scouring travel sites, then we have the six things you need to be aware of before booking a trip, according to industry experts.

Sales We’re Eyeing

Loopback sweatshirt, $145 / $116

To say that Sunspel is classic is an understatement. The British brand has been crafting luxury underwear and wardrobe stapes from some of the world's finest materials since 1860. And now the brand is offering you 30% off anything now through April 8th. So treat yourself to some comfortable luxury.