The Daily Valet. - 4/7/21, Wednesday
✔️ A Future on Rails
Wednesday, April 7th Edition
I’ll now be carrying ketchup packets anywhere I go.
Cory Ohlendorf, Editor ⋯ @coryohlendorf
Today’s edition is presented by
Today’s Big Story
A Future on Rails
Amtrak’s proposed 2035 map has people talking
Anyone who’s experienced the ease of train travel—be it in Europe or Japan—likely wishes that we had the same option here in America. So when President Biden unveiled his major infrastructure plan last week, and the proposal included $80 billion for railways, it gave those travelers hope.
“You and your family could travel coast to coast without a single tank of gas onboard a high-speed train,” Biden said at the plan’s unveiling. Amtrak quickly responded with a map and a vision for what an expanded U.S. rail network would look like by 2035.
The proposed transformation would mean some 30 new routes, and more trips on 20 existing rails. It projects 20 million more people served than the already 32 million that rode their trains in 2019.
Providing more-frequent daily service could benefit large potential markets—like the Southeast, Southwest and Midwest—where the population is growing. But critics say it’s a wasteful investment in an antiquated network.
Advocates, however, say the idea isn’t just for quaint train trips. It’s to use improved rail infrastructure and service to alleviate problems such as traffic and air pollution as well as improve access to jobs.
Of course, before anything can happen, an infrastructure bill will need to get through Congress. The House and Senate are currently both working on their own bills (which are expected to include what the administration has proposed), but only time will tell.
↦ Wanna Ride? Currently, you can book a private room on Amtrak from $193 for you and a friend.
The New Shortage: Ketchup
Demand is high but supplies are low
I don't even want to think about it. Imagine opening a warm takeout bag—the smell of french fries wafting through the air—you dig around the bottom of the bag. And nothing. Where's the ketchup?
Apparently, it's hard to come by. The pandemic turned many sit-down restaurants into takeout spots, making individual ketchup packets the primary condiment currency for both national chains and mom-and-pop restaurants.
According to the Wall Street Journal, some restaurants have even had to give customers generic version of ketchup since Kraft Heinz, which produces the vast majority of ketchup consumed in the U.S., is experiencing difficulty keeping up with demand.
Heinz confirmed to USA Today on Tuesday that it is working to increase supplies, such as adding manufacturing lines that will increase production by about 25% for a total of more than 12 billion packets a year.
↦ FYI: Ketchup is the most-consumed American condiment, with around 300,000 tons sold to food-service last year. And even more is eaten at home.
Partner
Are you drinking enough water? Probably not. And increasing your hydration will do more than you think.
Vaccines for Everyone
But we’re not out of the woods yet
President Joe Biden announced Tuesday that he's bumping up his deadline by two weeks for states to make all adults in the U.S. eligible for vaccines. But even as he expressed optimism about the pace of the shots, he warned Americans that the nation is not yet out of the woods when it comes to the pandemic.
“Let me be deadly earnest with you: We aren't at the finish line. We still have a lot of work to do. We’re still in a life and death race against this virus,” Biden said in remarks at the White House.
Speaking of which, nearly half of new coronavirus infections nationwide are in just five states—a situation that is putting pressure on the federal government to consider changing how it distributes vaccines by sending more doses to hot spots.
New York, Michigan, Florida, Pennsylvania and New Jersey together reported 44% of the nation's new COVID-19 infections (or nearly 197,500 new cases), in the latest available seven-day period, according to state health agency data compiled by Johns Hopkins University.
↦ Meanwhile: A third of COVID-19 survivors suffer brain disease, study shows.
Does Size Matter?
More watch brands are downsizing to compact watch faces
When it comes to men's watches, bigger isn't better these days. “The new, cool thing to have is smaller,” says Tropical Watch's owner, Jacek Kozubek. “This is happening all the time.”
What's coveted now is a touch dressier and more understated than it was in recent years—which also makes it easier to wear and harder to showboat. I've always appreciated that my vintage Rolex Air-King was smaller and more streamlined than the modern versions. Though Rolex is now exploring a wider range of sizes these days.
Even the brands known for jumbo timepieces are starting to shave off millimeters. IWC and Breitling last year both introduced popular styles in smaller case sizes. Panerai, which launched the extra-large trend in the late '90s, ventured below the 40mm mark recently.
Robb Report delved into the conversation this week, asking collectors about size. The Armoury's Mark Cho made an excellent point: “Fine, small things are eye-catching and they command special attention ... and a smaller watch piques curiosity as people can only glimpse it.”
↦ Dig Deeper: All watches should be genderless ... and watch columnist Cara Barrett explains why.
In Other News
Other Things We’re Talking About Today
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Stay Hydrated
Start your day with water, and keep drinking
It's the elixir of beautiful people and the “life hack” of high-profile business leaders: plain water—often chugged heartily first thing in the morning.
Staying properly hydrated is a basic tenet of health. Cognitive function wilts as water departs the body, a study from the Georgia Institute of Technology found. The data pointed to functions like attention, coordination and complex problem solving suffering the most. It turns out, our neurons are largely made up of water.
Plain water also has the ability to keep your organs functioning properly and aids in recovery after a particularly grueling workout. So if you're looking to up your water intake, make sure you've always got a good water bottle handy.
We particularly like the popular self-cleaning LARQ bottle, fitted with a UV-C LED light to purify water and remove 99.99% of contaminants. MR PRORTER sells it along with less wired, but just as stylish options—and even a Dries Van Noten bottle holder if you really want to flex.
Purifying water bottle, $95 by LARQ
Bidon leak-proof water bottle, $17 by Café du Cycliste
Back to Life sport water bottle, $45 by Lululemon
Black steel water bottle, $50 by Café du Cycliste
Steel water bottle with leather-trimmed canvas holder, $600 by Dries Van Noten
Printed water bottle, $40 by Pendleton
↦ Shop: Fitness gear at MR PORTER
What We’re Buying
This double-stitched mechanics shirt jacket is exactly the kind of piece that Todd Snyder excels at making. It's got some vintage-inspired designs, but the fabric and fit has been updated so it's just what you want, right now. It's the midweight twill and authentic “ring snap” buttons that did it for us. And right now, it's 55% off. What more can you ask for?
↦ Get It: $188 / $84 by Todd Snyder
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Morning Motto
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