The Daily Valet. - 6/29/23, Thursday
✔️ Mean Streets
Thursday, June 29th Edition
By Cory Ohlendorf, Valet. Editor
Be sure to look both ways when crossing the street ... always.
Presented by
Today’s Big Story
Mean Streets
U.S. pedestrian deaths have reached a 40-year high
Life can be dangerous. We might've already known that, but a new study paints a grim picture of American roads. Every day, 20 people walk outside and end up killed by a moving vehicle. Seriously? Every day? To quote The Joker, “Is it just me, or are things getting crazier out there?”The Governors Highway Safety Association, which tracks pedestrian deaths in the U.S., estimates that more than 7,500 pedestrians were killed by drivers last year—the highest number since 1981. And the final tally may be even greater given that Oklahoma was unable to provide data due to a technical issue.The findings, along with an accompanying analysis of federal government data from 2021, showed that pedestrian deaths in the United States have continued to rise over the last decade. According to Streetsblog, American walkers have experienced a stunning 77% increase in deaths since 2010—rising at a rate more than three times faster than the rest of the traveling public, for whom fatalities increased 25% over the same period.The report identified several factors that could have contributed to this increase, including more risky driving during the coronavirus pandemic and a lack of awareness and enforcement of laws meant to keep pedestrians safe. And it's certainly not news that we have an infrastructure system that continues to be designed to essentially make streets very dangerous for pedestrians. Couple that with the prevalence of SUVs, which NPR reports tend to be more deadly for pedestrians than smaller cars, and you've got a recipe for disaster.According to the New York Times, the U.S. is a global outlier in roadway deaths. In recent years, other comparable developed countries have done more to reduce pedestrian, cyclist and motorcyclist deaths, researchers say. Everything from lowering speed limits and building more protected bike lanes to requiring vehicle design safety measures that better protect people outside of a vehicle.
FYI:
According to experts, the speed at which you’re hit is pretty much the No. 1 determinant of whether or not you die in a traffic collision when you’re a pedestrian.
Heat and Smoke Pummel the U.S.
More than 100 million under extreme weather alerts
The Great Lakes region was enveloped in smoke and haze from Canadian wildfires for a second day on Wednesday. And according to the Associated Press, the only break from the smoke much of the nation can hope for is brief bouts of shirt-soaking sweltering heat and humidity from heat waves. And even then, the smoke will likely return.Heat warnings and watches are in effect for over 120 million people as a record-breaking heat wave sweeping the southern U.S. continues to expand. That's because neither the 235 out-of-control Canadian wildfires nor the heat dome that's responsible for this mess of meteorological maladies is showing signs of relenting for the next week or longer, according to meteorologists.The appearance of multiple heat domes at the same time is not by itself rare. However, the intensity of the heat dome over Mexico and now into the U.S. has been historic at times—and it's the persistence of this recent pattern that's been so concerning. But it sounds like we'd better get used to it.
Meanwhile:
Some researchers think climate change is disrupting the jet stream's flow and causing it to bake regions in heat longer.
Partner
Nisolo specializes in footwear that’s stylish, ultra comfortable and ethically made, all for a reasonable price.
Too Much of a Good Thing?
Young people today are expecting a 40-year retirement. Good luck, experts say.
Many people are living longer these days, and a good portion of young Americans expect to live to see triple digits in age. A new Northwestern Mutual study found that 40% of millennials and Gen Zers expect to live to be 100.Interestingly, they don't plan on living longer to further their career. The study also found that both generations plan to retire earlier than the traditional retirement age of 65. Millennials plan to shave off a few years and retire at 63, while Zoomers plan to call it quits at 60, which means many will need to be able to fund 40 years of retirement. (Are you doing some mental math right now, too?)According to Yahoo Finance, those interviewed said they expect to need just $1.2 million to fund that 40-year retirement. That's the lowest nest egg estimate among the four adult generations in the survey. Linda Farinola, founder of Princeton Financial Group, broke it down. If someone wanted to live off $4,000 a month after taxes for 40 years — taking into account 3% inflation and a return on invested retirement funds of 6% — they would need somewhere closer to $4 million.
FYI:
The average amount that U.S. adults have saved for retirement is $89,300, or just 7% of the $1.27 million they expect to need for a comfortable retirement.
‘Barn Find’ Computers
Here's why 2,000 vintage, box-fresh PCs Mysteriously Appeared on eBay
Among car guys, there's an inherent love for barn finds—those vintage automobiles that sit, secretly under a layer of dust, in someone's garage or barn until someone finally unearths the beauty and gives it new life. Well, this is a similar story. Except instead of an old car that sat undisturbed and off the radar, it was a few pallets of never-used computers from the early '80s.The cache of more than 2,000 machines were pulled out of a barn in Massachusetts that was in danger of collapsing. Every box was “new old stock,” essentially a manufactured time capsule, waiting to be found by somebody. They were put up for sale on eBay, but according to Vice, it took a while for anyone to notice these stylish metal-and-plastic machines.Then a well-known tech YouTuber did a video about them, and these eBay machines, slapped with the logo of a company called NABU, were anonymous no more. Gizmodo reports NABU was ahead of its time, allowing for both downloads and uploads across its network, long before the American Online days. Of course, if you want one, there are still plenty available.
Then & Now:
If you’re a tech nerd, then you might be interested in kitting out your place with Home Assistant for the ultimate smart home ecosystem.
In Other News
Or is it a ‘rolling recession’? Or maybe no recession at all?
Have you heard about ...
Partner
Score Summer Footwear on Sale
Get up to 50% off during Nisolo’s largest sale of the season
What's your go-to summer shoe style? Personally, I'm a lightweight slip-on kinda guy. But maybe you like your sneakers and want to wear them with everything. Or perhaps no amount of heat can separate you from your boots. No judgment, man. You do you. Thankfully, Nisolo offers all kinds of styles and they're all built with daily wear in mind.The brand's sustainable shoes offer next-level comfort and peace of mind that they were ethically and sustainably made. As a certified B-Corporation, the brand is taking a holistic approach to social and environmental responsibility—from guaranteeing 100% livable wages for its employees to committing to reducing and offsetting 100% of their carbon emissions. And right now, during Nisolo's largest sale of the season, you can use code SALE25 for an additional 25% off already discounted styles.
Alejandro woven slip-on, $190 / $114
Everyday mid top sneaker, $170 / $96
365 Eco-Knit sneaker, $150 / $90
Daytripper chukka boot, $200 / $120
Everyday lace-up boot, $280 / $136.50
Special Deal:
Take an extra 25% off sale styles with code SALE25
Shopping
What We’re Buying
a Citronnelle candle
One of the downsides to all the outdoor living this time of year? Bugs. Which is perhaps how the scent of citronella—from candles and tiki torches—became the aroma most associated with summertime. Some people might not care for it, but I've always been somewhat partial to the sweet, citrusy scent. Of course, the fragrance masters at Diptyque thought they could do it one better. Their latest candle blends lemongrass with rich verbena and sweet orange blossom for a sophisticated and bright smell that fills a room (or back patio). And bonus, this will actually repel those annoying mosquitoes, too.
Get It:
Citronnelle candle, $74 by Diptyque
Morning Motto
If you don’t make mistakes, you can’t grow.
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