The Daily Valet. - 5/19/23, Friday

✔️ When Did This Start?

Friday, May 19th Edition

By Cory Ohlendorf, Valet. Editor

No one actually thinks they're a bad kisser, do they?

Today’s Big Story

When Did We Start Kissing?

Humanity’s First Recorded Kiss Was Earlier Than We Thought, Dating Back Nearly 5,000 Years

It seems completely natural, right? Once the vibe is right, you just want to go in for that kiss. The act is often depicted as a universal behavior in sexual encounters and romantic relationships around the world, but a growing body of anthropological and archaeological evidence tells a different story. Romantic kissing is present in less than half the cultures on Earth today, according to a report that looked at 168 cultures from every continent but Antarctica. But where did kissing start?In a new analysis published Thursday in the journal Science, researchers found that kissing between romantic partners only tends to occur—and occurred millennia ago—in societies with distinct social classes, according to the researchers, who examined ancient texts and contemporary reports.Previous studies have suggested that romantic or sexual kissing began 3,500 years ago in what is now India. But this new research discovered that the earliest record of this type of kissing is at least a millennium older than once thought. Danish husband and wife researchers Troels Pank Arboll and Sophie Lund Rasmussen say the kiss can now be traced to ancient Mesopotamia—a geographic area along the Euphrates and Tigris rivers that covers modern-day Iraq and Syria. The scientists are studying the evolution of persistent pathogens by delving into the history of the kiss to try and uncover smooching's longtime role in disease transmission.Of course, not all kisses are alike. The researchers differentiate between two main types of kissing. The first is the type of peck one might expect from family or friends, which appears to be fairly ubiquitous among societies the world over. But the second type, the long, open-mouthed kiss favored by lovers, is the focus of this research.Why would people lock lips and swap spit? According to Smithsonian magazine, a kiss' allure is a matter of ongoing psychological and physiological research. Some suggest kissing helps humans size up potential mates. When going in for a smooch, one might encounter bad breath, an easy turnoff. That breath might also warn some part of your brain of decay, diseases or other indicators of unfitness. And that saliva contains hormones and other compounds that may give the brain clues to determine if your partner really is suitable as a match.

Technique:

How much tongue is too much? Linger or go straight in? A bonafide kissing coach gives some tips to The Guardian.

Let’s Ride

How COVId and eco-thinking made cycling better in cities worldwide

Did you know that today is Bike to Work Day in the U.S.? Right in the middle of National Bike Month. Even as commuting to the office and going to school plunged at the height of COVID lockdowns, outdoor recreation—and cycling in particular—surged in country after country as people looked to escape isolation in a relatively safe way. In response, cities have developed bikeways with new urgency since 2020.With this explosion of two-wheeled commuters, many cities are scrambling to install new bike lanes and adopt other measures to keep riders safe and encourage cycling. That's great news. Especially as bike-sharing platforms such as Citi Bike NYC and Chicago's Divvy Bikes have become popular options for quick A-to-B hops around cities nationwide.Already a world leader in bicycle friendliness, Montreal did more than any other North American city to expand safe cycling during the pandemic, reports the Associated Press. London, Paris and Brussels did the most in Europe. But many American cities, from Austin and Minneapolis to Washington, DC have expanded protected bike lanes and seen new bikers surge. What's more, a study of 20 cities that improved cycling infrastructure in recent decades shows that while ridership increased, cyclist fatalities and serious injuries actually dropped.

Ride at work:

If you can't ride to work, you could always pedal one of these under-desk bikes to get your heartrate up and increase your daily exercise.

Water Guns for ‘Kidults’

with gaming modes, tactical display screens and USB connectivity, these aren't squirt guns

We're still about a month away from the official start of summer, but there's already a wave of groundbreaking, splash-making toys on the market. And these electronically enhanced water blasters and aqua shooters aren't the leaky plastic squirt guns of our childhoods. If the Super Soaker was a game-changer in the '90s, then consider these superior soakers.According to Wired, these are so advanced, they're not even for kids. They're designed specifically with adults in mind. Which is good, since most kids won't be able to save up enough allowance to fork over nearly $200 on a water gun that features LCD screens, LED lights, USB connectivity, and even advanced gaming modes.For instance, the latest blaster from the brand Spyra can shoot “water bullets”—individual 30-milliliter bursts, around the same measure as a shot glass—at targets up to 50 feet away. Just imagine squirting the dog or your buddy with that kind of precision.

FYI:

Originally called the “Power Drencher,” the Super Soaker hit shelves in 1990 and was the first to shoot a continuous high-velocity stream of water.

Coming Soon: The Ineos Grenadier

The BMW-powered SUV is priced to take on the vehicle that inspired it, the Land Rover Defender

Car guys have been talking about the Ineos Grenadier. The new SUV is meant to fill the gap left by the original, utilitarian, boxy Land Rover Defenders—since those have morphed into a smooth luxury vehicle. Production was delayed but finally began late last year in France. Of course, there was no word on when, exactly, this ode to old-school off-roading would make it to the U.S. Now, we have final details on the Grenadier's American debut.The fledgling automaker announced that official pre-ordering for the Grenadier in the U.S. will launch on May 31 with an online configurator, and deliveries will begin “by the end of the year.” American pricing was also released, with the base model of the five-seat 4×4 starting at $71,500.According to Car and Driver, the base model is deliberately spartan: five seats, solid axles, and all-wheel drive with a locking center differential. But there are a slew of options for buyers who aren't inclined to stick to the bare-bones off-roader setup and desire a few creature comforts. Those wanting a vehicle that'll be able to get them to that trail or campground without any problem will want the Grenadier Fieldmaster. Named after the Belstaff Fieldmaster Jacket, it's a blend of comfort, convenience and ruggedness. Features include heated leather seating, carpeted floor mats and safari windows.

Reviewed:

After testing the Grenadier, Road & Track gave it a glowing review, saying “when the old Defender gave up the game, this 4x4 was born.”

In Other News

Zelenskyy to Join G7 in Japan

He arrives as leaders are set to unveil new sanctions on Russia for its invasion.

The CDC Is Worried About a Monkeypox Rebound and Urges People to Get Vaccinated

Andy Warhol’s Prince Artwork Violates Copyright Law, Supreme Court Rules

There’s a Reason Flight Attendants Don’t Help You Stow Your Bags

Have you heard about ...

Europe’s largest 3D-printed building

ESPN’s streaming service

Being your own butler

A Weekend Pairing

‘Dungeons & Dragons’ + a Dark 'n Stormy Cocktail

Out for a few days already and streaming on Paramount+, Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves might be the year's biggest cinematic surprise. It could've been a throwaway adaptation, but the film takes the beloved role-playing game and makes it an epic and hilarious fantasy adventure. Chris Pine plays a bard and former spy who teams up with a barbarian (Michelle Rodriguez), a sorcerer (Justice Smith), a shape-shifting druid (Sophia Lillis) and a knight (Regé-Jean Page) to take down a charlatan (Hugh Grant) who is in cahoots with some very dark wizards.Somehow, the movie was able to replicate the anything goes, improvisational spirit of actually playing “Dungeons & Dragons,” without ever getting bogged down in the lore and cumbersome mythology that derails so many of these types of movies. And critics are loving it. Fatherly says it “plays out like a classic '80s movie” and Polygon praised the practical effects and real sets built atop Game of Thrones' Westeros.

Pair It With

The Dark ’n Stormy has become a cult highball due to a felicitous combination of its no-fault simplicity and the balance of its headstrong ingredients, each of which is perfectly suited to sip while watching this movie. You really just need dark rum, ginger beer and a lime, but Bon Appétit has a recipe for an “extra stormy” version.

Also Worth a Watch:

‘White Men Can’t Jump’ on Hulu; ‘Selling Sunset,’ season 6 on Netflix