The Daily Valet. - 4/9/20, Thursday
✔️ Second Time Is Not a Charm
Thursday, April 9th Edition
I shouldn’t be this hungry when I’m mostly sitting in the same place all day, right?
Cory Ohlendorf , Editor ⋯ @coryohlendorf
Today’s Big Story
Bernie Sanders Steps Down
Joe Biden becomes the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee ... not with a bang, but a whimper
Surely, this isn’t how Joe Biden imagined his first public appearance as the presumptive Democratic nominee for president: speaking from his Delaware basement to a scattered online audience as the major networks carried President Donald Trump on live TV.
But that’s the reality, as the country deals with a deadly pandemic. Earlier on Wednesday, Bernie Sanders—his last significant rival—suspended his campaign. “I cannot in good conscience continue to mount a campaign that cannot win and which would interfere with the important work required of all of us in this difficult hour,” the senator said from his home in Burlington, Vermont.
According to the Washington Post, Biden’s own prospects had been written off not that long ago, before a bracing and dramatic surge in the March primaries driven in part by the establishment closing in to embrace him. Streaming live during a virtual town hall on YouTube, Biden praised Sanders for being a persistent and “passionate voice for progress,” and also lauded the Vermont senator for “energizing millions of supporters.”
For the foreseeable future, all campaigning will have to be done remotely. That could hurt or might help Biden. With no official capacity to assist with the crisis, he won’t be making much news. But he could use the internet to win over the younger, more liberal voters gunning for Sanders.
The New York Times says that’ll be the hard part: unifying the party. That has been and will continue to be a tricky thing for Biden. A recent ABC News and Washington Post poll found that 15% of Sanders’ supporters would vote for Trump over Biden.
Of course, that’s before Biden introduces his running mate or brings out President Obama, both of whom will likely help energize the campaign.
CDC Issues New Guidelines for Essential Workers
Individuals would need to be asymptomatic to return to work
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on Wednesday issued new guidance aimed at getting workers in critical fields—including first responders, health care workers and employees in the food supply chain—who have been exposed to the coronavirus back to work faster.
According to MSN, the new guidelines will allow critical workers who have been exposed to go back to work as long as they are asymptomatic and follow conditions like taking their temperature before entering the job site, wearing a face mask at all times and practicing social distancing while working as much as possible.
“One of the most important things we can do is keep our critical workforce working,” CDC Director Robert Redfield said while unveiling the new guidelines during a White House news briefing.
But the news comes as grocery workers continue getting sick. Meanwhile, fast food workers in California plan to walk off the job today demanding better coronavirus protections. And Amazon warehouse employees say they’re struggling to get paid despite a sick leave policy.
↦ FYI: Several local governments have implemented hazard pay and stipends for first responders and other front-line workers during the COVID-19 pandemic.
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Smoking or Vaping May Increase Your Risk
Air pollution is also linked to higher rates of death in COVID-19 cases
Dirty air is increasing the risk of respiratory problems that can be fatal for coronavirus patients, reports The Guardian.
The analysis shows that even a tiny, single-unit increase in particle pollution levels in the years before the pandemic is associated with a 15% increase in the death rate.
A separate report from scientists in Italy notes that the high death rates seen in the north of the country correlate with the highest levels of air pollution.
Similarly, smoking or vaping could make you more vulnerable to a severe infection with the novel coronavirus, some experts tell Scientific American. This makes sense, since COVID-19 is a respiratory illness. It's also a reminder that I need to up my cardio this weekend to keep my lungs healthy.
↦ FYI: Los Angeles has notoriously polluted air. But right now it has some of the cleanest of any major city.
My Phone Doesn’t Recognize Me
Wear a mask they said ...
I have to leave my apartment at least twice a day to relieve my dog (and prevent myself from going crazy). And after the CDC's guidance that we all wear masks to flatten the curve, I starting donning a non-surgical mask outside.
I quickly learned that my iPhone's FaceID no longer worked. The Wall Street Journal's Joanna Stern ran into the same problem and made this interesting point: “There’s some irony in this: Apple, Samsung and the other phone makers designed these systems to protect us from masks and other trickery; now that we’re wearing masks to protect ourselves, the systems don’t understand.”
Some might see this as a good thing. According to Government Technology, the controversial facial recognition startup company Clearview AI is said to be talking with state agencies about using its technology to “track patients infected by the coronavirus,” bringing up questions about privacy and civil liberties.
Of course, I remember when my iPhone used to have problems with my sunglasses and now it knows I rarely go out in the daylight without shades. So I have no doubt it will soon figure out my “mask face.”
↦ FYI: A Chinese company says it has developed the first facial recognition technology that can identify people wearing a mask.
In Other News
Other Things We’re Talking About Today
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In Need of Distraction?
Try some “Boredom Busters”
We're being asked to do a lot these days. Most of us are working from home, trying to stay healthy and washing our hands 15 times a day while keeping our homes stocked full of food and toilet paper.
The news is overwhelming and cabin fever is starting to set in. Thankfully, the pit crew over at Car and Driver has put together a series called “Boredom Busters.”
Even if you're not a big car buff, there are several activities you can do on your own or with little ones. There are stress-busting coloring pages, puzzles and a few paper cutout cars you can put together. Apparently there's some math and physics activities coming, but me? I'll be over here cutting out the Mercedes G-wagon and Tesla Cybertruck.
Weekend Shopping Plans
From spring outerwear to an online pop-up, our picks from three can’t-miss sales going on this weekend.
Up to 70% off during the Spring Pop-Up
Scout shirt $195 / $98
50% off & free shipping w/code PASSWORD
Tapered Alpha chinos $78 / $39
Up to 60% off spring outerwear
Wellen stretch chore coat $128 / $108.98
Morning Motto
Keep those expectations in check …
↦ Follow: @jtl.t
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