The Daily Valet. - 4/7/23, Friday
✔️ You Better Buckle Up For This
Friday, April 7th Edition
By Cory Ohlendorf, Valet. Editor
Let's make some pimento cheese sandwiches this weekend, okay?
Today’s Big Story
Turbulence Is on the Rise
Fasten your seatbelts, this could be a very bumpy, potentially dangerous ride
I love flying. Pretty much the whole experience from take off to landing—I like the food and the sense of being nowhere and somewhere at the same time. I don't even mind the occasional rattle of turbulence and, perhaps since I'm so chill about it, I've helped many fellow travelers get through the shakes. And if you think you've been experiencing more turbulence lately, you're right.Newsweek reports that recent studies have accumulated a large body of scientific evidence now that turbulence is increasing, and it's likely due to climate change. According to one scientist, “an invisible form called clear-air turbulence is generated by wind shear, which, because of climate change, is now 15% stronger than in the 1970s.” What's more, they expect a further strengthening of the wind shear in the coming decades, which could double or even triple the amount of severe turbulence travelers encounter in the air.That could get dangerous. Last month, seven people were hospitalized after severe turbulence hit a Lufthansa flight from Texas to Germany. And Hawaiian Airlines is currently being sued after two dozen passengers were injured due to violent turbulence on a recent flight. This is why flight attendants have renewed calls for “lap babies” on flights to be banned. “We've seen airplanes go through turbulence recently and drop 4,000 feet in a split second,” the president of AFA, told the Washington Post.Broad areas of turbulence can actually be forecast by meteorologists, but specific, localized areas of clear-air turbulence present challenges for cockpit crews. One way to limit clear-air turbulence would be to avoid the four main jet streams that encircle Earth. Airlines often rely on these narrow bands of strong wind in the upper levels of the atmosphere to increase speed and shorten flight times. “That's the trade-off,” Paul Williams, a professor of atmospheric science told NPR. “The airline saves fuel and passengers arrive early. But it might be a bumpy flight.”The good news is that despite the shock of a sudden shake, commercial airplanes are engineered to withstand rough conditions and it's next to impossible for aircraft to incur structural damage because of turbulence. But if your seatbelt isn't fastened, you could get hurt. “What that means is that if you're not seat belted, by definition, you'll become a projectile,” warned Williams. “You're a catapult, you will lift up out of your seat.”
FYI:
According to calculations by Travel + Leisure, there are anywhere between 7,782 and 8,755 commercial planes in the sky at any given time.
Shoot Your Shot
What’s the future of updated Covid Boosters?
When was your last COVID booster? It's probably been a while, right? Do you want another? Do you need another? According to officials, the FDA will soon let people get a second bivalent booster. But the shots will be limited to those age 65 and older and to those with weakened immune systems—at least, for now.According to NPR, the FDA had recently been more focused on planning for an annual COVID booster campaign starting in the fall. But they're now reevaluating. This will bring the U.S. more in line with the approach taken by Britain and Canada, which is what some vaccine specialists have been urging—especially with the ample supply of vaccines available.As Wired points out, COVID isn't going anywhere. In the U.S. and many European countries, it's still circulating at significant levels. But just how much protection the vaccines provide is still being studied. It's cellular immunity, not antibodies, that probably protects against the coronavirus's worst effects—and scientists haven't worked out how long it lasts exactly. What they do know is that even though cellular immunity won't stop an initial infection, it's what keeps people out of the hospital, out of the intensive care unit, and out of the morgue.
The World’s Richest People
They’re $200 billion poorer than last year, but still worth over 2.1 trillion bucks
It wasn't a great year for many of the world's 2,640 billionaires—including those at the very top of the one-percent. The 25 richest people on Earth are worth a collective $2.1 trillion, according to Forbes, which just released their annual World's Billionaires list.Two-thirds of them are poorer than they were last year, compared to around half of the list overall. No one lost more than Jeff Bezos as Amazon shares crashed by 38%. But Elon Musk may've had it worse. He lost his title of world's richest person again after his Twitter fiasco. But even with $39 billion going up in smoke, he's still in the No. 2 spot. On the other hand, Bernard Arnault (head of luxury goods giant LVMH), is up $53 billion–more than any billionaire—enough to vault him into the No. 1 spot.Ye, formerly known as Kanye West, fell off the list entirely after losing about $1.6 billion of his net worth when he lost several business deals due to making antisemitic comments. Failed crypto-founder Sam Bankman-Fried was bumped too. But there were 150 new members joining the ten-figure club this year: Rihanna and Kim Kardashian, along with Jay-Z and Tom Ford. Tiger Woods and LeBron James also joined the ranks as the only two active athletes who are billionaires after turning their massive sports earnings and endorsement income into proper fortunes through savvy business moves.
Meanwhile:
The IRS released details Thursday on how it plans to improve, including more audits of the wealthy and better customer service.
Golf’s Favorite Cheese Sandwich
At Just $1.50, the Masters’ Legendary Pimento Cheese might be The Nation’s Cheapest Sandwich
The 2023 Masters Tournament is officially underway, so if you know anyone who loves golf, don't text or expect to see them. They're either glued to a screen or—if they've got some serious money—are wandering the course and taking in all the beauty of Augusta, no doubt eating a pimento cheese sandwich (or two or three).The legendary snack is beloved not only for its creamy, cheesey goodness, but for its incredibly low price. One sandwich only costs $1.50. Not bad for an event that, as of this writing, will cost you $5,055 for a measly grounds ticket on StubHub. But unlike many other sporting events, concessions only make up 5% of The Masters tournament's annual revenue. In fact, you could buy one of every item on the menu and it'd only run you $66.But ask anyone in a polo shirt and they'll tell you that the pimento cheese on white bread is the only real option here. Chef Thomas Keller waxes nostalgic about it: “It's everything you could ask for,” he says. “Right down to the soft white bread that sticks to the roof of your mouth.” Pimento cheese, a classic southern food, has been a big part of the tradition at the course for as long as most can remember. In fact, it's been around so long that there have been several falling outs and recipe swaps, just to keep the sandwich around year after year.
Make Your Own:
You want to make one, right? Golfweek has a simple recipe for a pimento cheese sandwich, Augusta style.
In Other News
The fighting comes during a delicate time.
Have you heard about ...
A Weekend Pairing
‘Beef’ + a Revenge of the Line Cocktail
Have you heard about Netflix’s new series, Beef? I feel like there’s been a lot of chatter about the dark comedy all about a road-rage incident that careers disastrously off-road. They say misery loves company. So, apparently, does anger. Especially in 2023, when it seems like everyone’s a little angry all the time.Starring Steven Yeun and Ali Wong as the feuding drivers who willingly trash their own lives in pursuit of revenge. Their wrath knows no bounds. With middle fingers permanently pointed up, their rivalry only escalates over the course of the 10-episode season. Critics love it. The Ringer says it’s “delightfully twisted and makes rage relatable” and the New York Times commends it for “exploring the complexity of anger;” while the A.V. Club says the show’s “beauty lies in smart writing that draws parallels between the two despite their different backgrounds.”
Pair It With
Looking for something spicy to sip on while streaming this, I found this Revenge of the Line cocktail from Brooklyn’s Otis bar. Smoky mezcal is complemented by yellow Chartreuse and finished with charred pineapple. The drink tastes like a beachside bonfire in a glass.
Also Worth a Watch:
‘Kung Fu’ season 3 on HBO Max; ‘Tiny Beautiful Things’ on Hulu; ‘Speed’ on Amazon Prime
Shopping
What We’re Buying
a long-sleeve polo shirt
No one makes a stellar polo quite like Sunspel. Their signature long sleeve Riviera shirt is constructed from a fine Supima cotton, so it's breathable enough to wear year-round. These rarely go on sale, so take advantage.
Get It:
Riviera long-sleeve polo shirt, $175 / $122 by Sunspel
Morning Motto
Start something. Anything.
▾
Follow:
Share today’s motto:
