The Daily Valet. - 6/23/23, Friday
✔️ We Have a Problem
Friday, June 23rd Edition
By Cory Ohlendorf, Valet. Editor
Yes, chef!
Today’s Big Story
Cars Have a Cupholder Problem
AUTOMAKERS are in an arms race, but the Issue has been simmering for a while
The future of cars is exciting, yes, but unpredictable to say the least. Will we even be driving much once autonomous vehicles take over? But as of right now, people who are driving aren't exactly happy.The number of problems in new vehicles rose to an average of 192 per 100 vehicles for the 2023 model year, up from 174 in 2022, J.D. Power reported Thursday in its annual Initial Quality Study. The survey—which automakers often boast about when their vehicles perform well—asked more than 93,000 new car buyers about the performance of their vehicles. And one of the biggest frustrations? More than complex door handles or Bluetooth systems that don't pair seamlessly? Cupholders.Seemingly impossible-to-get-wrong cupholders are increasingly being shifted to awkward locations to make way for newfangled wireless charging pads, J.D. Power senior director of auto benchmarking Frank Hanley tells Axios. It appears that manufacturers “can't figure out what the ideal location is and the right size to hold cups.”And this is a problem that has been simmering for the past few years. Back in 2018, the Wall Street Journal warned that we were “approaching peak cup holder” as “few things are more in demand than cup holders—lots of them, big ones, in many shapes and sizes.” In fact, Subaru's Ascent SUV boasts a whopping 19 of them. And the growing popularity of supersize tumblers such as the 30-ounce Yeti Rambler is prompting automakers to introduce wider, deeper holders. The current rule of thumb is about 2 3/4 inches deep—70 millimeters—double the standard two decades ago.We take it for granted now, but it wasn't long ago that the car cup holder didn't even exist. In those dark days, our hulking cars had ashtrays, but automotive designers presumed that drivers would actually stop driving to eat or drink something, so cup holders had no place in interiors. The first pre-installed cup holders in a mass market vehicle are believed to have been in the 1984 Plymouth Voyager minivan, including little more than shallow circles designed more to rest cups in a parked vehicle than as a place to secure them while driving. In the 1990s, car brands experimented with cup holders folding out from the center console, which soon gave way to the now requisite deep, dust-gathering holes between the front seats we all know and love.
FYI:
In 2009, PriceWaterhouseCoopers reported that the number of cup holders was more important to new car buyers than fuel economy.
A ‘Catastrophic Implosion’
With the fate of those on Titanic-bound submersible known, focus turns to cause of fatal implosion
The search for more debris from the Titan submersible continued into this morning as officials try to piece together a timeline of the vessel's final moments. Earlier on Thursday, authorities said the sub carrying five people to the Titanic suffered a “catastrophic implosion,” near the site of the shipwreck, bookending an extraordinary five-day international search operation.The dramatic search effort has now become an investigation and salvage mission that will take an indefinite amount of time, officials said. The grim discovery, by a remotely operated vehicle scouring the sea bottom, also shifted focus on high-risk, high-cost adventure tourism, raising questions about the general safety protocols followed by companies promising such daring one-of-kind experiences.One fascinating fact (that also offers some hint of a timeline) came Thursday evening when a senior U.S. Navy official said that after the Titan was reported missing Sunday, the Navy went back and analyzed an underwater listening system, designed to detect enemy submarines, and discovered an “anomaly” that was consistent with an implosion or explosion in the general vicinity of where the vessel was operating when communications were lost.
Meanwhile:
A couple from Georgia talks about being on a previous dive in the Titan, just 16 days ago.
Nearly Half of U.S. Honeybee Colonies Died Last Year
Beekeepers are Working Harder Than Ever to stabilize the population
American beekeepers lost nearly half of their hives in the 2022 growing season. And that's just a bit lower than the previous highest loss on record — which occurred the previous year, according to an annual survey of the species published Thursday.According to TIME, honeybees are crucial to the food supply, pollinating more than 100 of the crops we eat—everything from nuts and fruits to a slew of vegetables. Scientists said a combination of parasites, pesticides, starvation and climate change keep causing large die-offs of the insects.The prognosis is not as bad as a decade ago, reports the Associated Press, since beekeepers have learned how to rebound from such losses. The overall bee colony population is relatively steady because commercial beekeepers split and restock their hives, finding or buying new queens, or even starter packs for colonies, but it's an expensive and time-consuming process. So don't be surprised if the cost of honey goes up.
Dig Deeper:
The World Wildlife Federation offers up some helpful facts, like that there are over 20,000 known bee species on the planet.
The Kennedy Center’s Next Honorees Include …
Billy Crystal, Dionne Warwick, Barry Gibb and a celebration of hiphop
Dionne Warwick, Billy Crystal and Queen Latifah, along with Bee Gees legend Barry Gibb and famed opera singer Renée Fleming have been set as the five arts figures due to be celebrated at the 46th annual Kennedy Center Honors.The 45-year tradition honors—as the Kennedy Center phrases it—artists who have had “an impact on the rich tapestry of American life and culture through the performing arts.” While the awards are primarily given to individuals, they have occasionally been given to couples or musical groups, as well as to one Broadway musical (Hamilton) and one television show (Sesame Street).According to Variety, the Dec. 3 ceremony, held at the legendary performing arts center located on the banks of the Potomac River, will be hosted by former honoree Gloria Estefan and will also celebrate the 50th anniversary of hip-hop. A group of celebrity guests, top secret until the night of, will take to the stage to celebrate the honorees. The show will be broadcast later on CBS and streamed on Paramount Plus.
FYI:
Designed by Ivan Chermayeff (the legendary illustrator and graphic designer responsible for the logo of National Geographic and NBC), the rainbow-colored award sash symbolizes the range and versatility of skills in the field of performing arts.
In Other News
A year in, 61% of voters disapprove of the decision.
Have you heard about ...
A Weekend Pairing
‘The Bear’ + a 312 Wheat Ale
The Bear, Hulu's breakneck series about a chef who comes home to Chicago to take over his late brother's Italian beef spot, was arguably television's biggest surprise hit of 2022. Earning praise from TV critics and food folks alike, the show offered a fresh portrayal of the restaurant business, one that was both loving and unflinching. Now it's back for Season 2, which finds Carmy (played by Jeremy Allen White) and the crew preparing to take on the only thing more challenging than turning around your family's failing restaurant: transforming that grimy eatery into a bona fide fine dining destination.Entertainment Weekly called the debut season “beautiful but aloof, a work of art that was easier to appreciate than enjoy.” However, they say the sophomore season allows Carmy and Co. to venture outside of their dysfunctional Beef family bubble, serving up 10 new episodes that are reliably intense and watchable, but even more tender. Or as the Hollywood Reporter put it, “the show delivers a second season that's even more delectable than the first.”
Pair It With
How about a Chicago beer to drink while you watch? Goose Island’s 312 Wheat Ale is an easy-drinking brew that’s bright and lemony with a smooth, creamy body. It’s refreshing and you’ll definitely go through a few as you binge the series.
Also Worth a Watch:
‘Just Like That …’ season 2 on Max; ‘Break Point: Part 2’ on Netflix
Shopping
What We’re Buying
A fun camp collar shirt
A camp collar shirt that can take you from poolside lounge to breezy sundown cocktails. This mana shirt is made from a lyocell and linen-blend twill for a lightweight, summery feel.
Get It:
Mana camp collar shirt, $255 / $178.50 by Manaaki
Morning Motto
Dress for success.
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