The Daily Valet. - 5/12/21, Wednesday

✔️ Don't Panic

Wednesday, May 12th Edition

Cory Ohlendorf, Editor in Chief of Valet.

Keep calm, and carry on ...

Cory Ohlendorf, Editor ⋯ @coryohlendorf

Today’s Big Story

Panic at the Pump

Drivers rush to fill up and some gas stations are running dry

Did we learn nothing from the great toilet paper shortage at the beginning of the pandemic? The Associated Press reports that after a cyberattack on a major U.S. pipeline, many Americans are filling up their cars and gas cans at the pump—leading to more than 1,000 gas stations running out of fuel on Tuesday.

While the COO of one energy company told Bloomberg the gas shortage is “going to be catastrophic,” the situation is changing rapidly, and you shouldn’t drop everything and speed to the fuel pump just yet.

Government officials moved fast to waive safety and environmental rules across a dozen states to speed the delivery of fuel by truck, ship or rail to motorists and airports, even as they sought to assure the public that there was no cause for alarm.

The Colonial pipeline runs from Texas to New Jersey and carries about 45% of the fuel consumed on the East Coast. The shutdown is particularly worrisome for Southeastern states, including North and South Carolina, Virginia and Georgia—they have fewer sources of fuel than do states farther up the Atlantic Coast.

Gasoline demand Monday across the U.S. was up about 20% from a week earlier, according to data collected by price and fuel tracker GasBuddy. Across theSoutheastern states, demand jumped more than 40%.

While there may be a temporary gas shortage in your area, don’t expect it to last long. A bigger concern should be about what protocols do we have in place for the next time this happens.

↦ Dig Deeper: Ransomware cyberattacks are a growing threat, according to the Wall Street Journal. Schools, hospitals and companies are all potential targets.

A New Affordable AirPod Alternative

They look almost exactly like Apple’s AirPods Pro. They also cost just $60.

Wyze, maker of $20 smartwatches and $30 video doorbells, has just announced a new pair of wireless earbuds. And the big news is that they look almost exactly like Apple's AirPods Pro ... just in black. And they feature both active noise cancellation and a Qi wireless charging case.

They're called the Wyze Buds Pro (though there aren't any Wyze Buds non-pros) and they cost just $60. According to The Verge, they seem to be the AirPods Pro alternative to beat—and they have Alexa built in to sweeten the deal.

But Gear Patrol warns that they'll come with a lot of tradeoffs, at least as it relates to Apple's ubiquitous earbuds. They don't have Apple's H1 chip, so they won't be able to fast-pair to your iPhone. They don't offer support for spatial audio or Dolby Atmos, either.

And, if I'm being honest, you shouldn't expect them to sound nearly as good or have as excellent noise-canceling and transparency modes. But what can you really expect from a pair of $60 wireless earbuds?

↦ Meanwhile: Sennheiser is still producing wired earbuds. And their new IE 900 audiophile earbuds supposedly are worth the $1,300 price.

About That Vaccine Slowdown

Daily shots are plummeting. Why?

President Joe Biden is highlighting new efforts to encourage Americans to get COVID-19 shots, including free rides to and from vaccination sites from ride-sharing companies Uber and Lyft, as the pace of shots nationally declines.

The partnership with the ride-sharing companies marked the latest in a series of government-encouraged efforts to increase access to shots, including numerous state and local efforts to provide perks to drive Americans to get vaccinated.

Health officials are voicing concern over a drop in vaccine demand. The average number of people getting a first or single dose is down almost 50% from its peak on April 13.

What's notable about that date? Well, it just happens to be the same day that the CDC and the FDA recommended a pause in the use of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine. Some people blame the government, but The Atlantic takes closer look at vaccine progress and suggests that this might not be the whole story.

↦ FYI: McDonald's is changing its coffee cups to promote the vaccine.

‘Legends of the Hidden Temple’ Revived for Adults

A reboot of the classic ‘90s Nickelodeon series has been picked up by The CW

Fellow children of the '90s, join me in celebrating the return of a beloved adventure-themed game show from our formative years.

Legends of the Hidden Temple is coming back, and any millennial adults who grew up dreaming of one day competing will finally have a shot at glory. The reboot of the show (which only aired from 1993 to '95) has been picked up by The CW, and the show is being scaled up for adult competitors.

Now, the competition is leaving the safety of a studio setting and heading into a “mysterious jungle” with tougher challenges and bigger prizes, reports Variety.

But fear not ... we're being told that fan-favorite elements, including the Moat Crossings, the Steps of Knowledge and the Temple Run will all be brought along into the revamped Hidden Temple.

↦ FYI: The original show was inspired by Nintendo’s “The Legend of Zelda” game and the “Indiana Jones” movie franchise.

In Other News

↦ Israel, Hamas Escalate Heavy Fighting With No End in Sight

↦ On Eve of Expected Ouster, Cheney Slams Republican Colleagues for Backing Trump

↦ It’s a Home in Brooklyn. What Could It Cost? $100,000?

Other Things We’re Talking About Today

Where ‘Succession’ is currently filming

Nike’s encouraging new campaign

America’s 10-year-old chess master

Want to Straighten Your Teeth?

Here’s what you need to know to make the right decision

It started, like so many things over the past year, over Zoom. Constantly looking at myself in my computer monitor, I noticed a few things. First, I talk with my hands way more than I realized. And secondly, I hate my crocked bottom teeth. Maybe it was the “Zoom Dysmorphia,” I'd been hearing about, but it was actually something I'd been considering for a while.

So I decided to use the last few months of social isolation to my advantage and straighten my teeth with clear aligners. After all, at a time when so many of us are relying on meal kits and on-demand workouts via connected equipment, why not have your orthodontia delivered to your door as well?

Of course, I'm not the only one thinking this. These aligners have become increasingly more popular over the past few years. Which is why the market seems suddenly flooded with companies offering to deliver a perfect smile with little to no effort involved.

So which one's the best? Some, like AlignerCo, claim to be the most affordable. Others, like Byte and Candid, promise premium service and speed. You've got to do your homework when it comes to body modification, right? Here's what I found and why I decided to go with the company I did.

↦ Read: We did our research. Here’s what we recommend.

What We’re Buying

If a cocktail necessitates its own week, it certainly deserves its own glass, right? These specialized old fashioned glasses are refined yet refreshingly casual, not unlike a good Negroni. The low-slung glasses are made from quality crystal, are dishwasher safe and come in a two pack. Cheers.

↦ Get It: $24.99 by Viski