The Daily Valet. - 6/30/20, Tuesday
✔️ That Was Surprising
Tuesday, June 30th Edition
If you need me, I’ll be working on my indoor bike times ...
Cory Ohlendorf , Editor ⋯ @coryohlendorf
Today’s Big Story
Supreme Court Rejects Abortion Restrictions
The Louisiana law would have closed clinics
In the first major abortion decision since the addition of two conservative Trump appointees, the U.S. Supreme Court has declared a Louisiana law imposing licensing restrictions on abortion clinics unconstitutional, with Chief Justice Roberts siding with the Court’s four traditionally pro-choice justices, reports Intelligencer.
In an opinion by Justice Stephen Breyer, four liberal justices reaffirmed their 2016 decision that the key feature in both the Texas and Louisiana laws—that abortions could be performed only by doctors granted permission by a local hospital to admit a patient should something go wrong—has no medical benefits and thus interferes with a woman’s constitutional right to end a pregnancy.
According to Politico, Monday’s decision suggests a similar ruling in a Texas case from 2016 should be applied more broadly, which could limit the ability of anti-abortion states to mandate these admitting privileges.
The decision marked the third time in a month that Chief Justice Roberts has frustrated conservatives who expected him to fall in line with the court’s right wing simply because he identifies as a conservative. (It should be noted that Roberts’ vote was all the more surprising because he had dissented in the Texas case.)
Abortion rights activists celebrated Monday, but are wary of what comes next. Vox points out that there are plenty of challenges ahead for Roe v. Wade. Supreme Court decision or not, the events of the past few months have shown that states already have broad leeway to chip away at abortion access.
↦ FYI: An independent poll released in August 2019 found that nearly two-thirds of Americans think abortion should be legal in “all” or “most” cases, and 70% are opposed to overturning Roe v. Wade.
China Passes Hong Kong Security Law
The law will extend the Communist Party’s reach into the semi-autonomous city
China passed a contentious new law for Hong Kong on Tuesday that would empower the authorities to crack down on opposition to Beijing and further erode the city's civil and political freedoms, reports the New York Times.
Beijing's top lawmaking body, the National People's Congress (NPC), passed the law unanimously on Tuesday morning local time, bypassing Hong Kong's legislature, via a rarely used constitutional backdoor, according to CNN.
The swift action, less than two weeks after lawmakers first formally considered it, signaled the urgency that the Communist Party leader, Xi Jinping, has given to expanding control in Hong Kong after the territory was convulsed by pro-democracy protests last year.
The law is meant to prevent and punish subversive, secessionist and terrorist activities in the former British colony, as well as collusion with foreign forces. Its full text is expected to be released later today and the law may be put into effect in time for the 23rd anniversary of Hong Kong’s return to Chinese rule on Wednesday.
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The Tour de France Goes Virtual
Well ... sort of
For the first time since the end of World War II, the Tour de France won't happen in July. There will still be some world-class bike racing happening; it just won't be on the roads, reports Outside.
Like other sports, real-world racing shut down in March when the coronavirus hit in earnest and hasn't come back yet. (The planned pro cycling re-start is in late July, with a re-scheduled Tour this September.)
In its wake, virtual racing has tried to fill the competition void for both riders and fans. On July 4th, the fledgling discipline gets its largest showcase ever in a virtual Tour de France (dubbed The Tour Virtuel) on Zwift—the biggest player in the growing online racing world.
Fast Company calls Zwift “the finest hamster wheel that money can buy.” And it's immensely popular right now. In the COVID-19 era, usage of Zwift doubled between January and April. I've been crushing my Peloton workouts as of late. Think I should enter?
↦ FYI: Twenty-three top men's teams and 17 women's teams will participate in the virtual race.
A Record Trash Haul
Nonprofit pulls 103 tons of plastic debris from the Pacific Ocean
The Ocean Voyages Institute pulled into Honolulu last week with more than 100 tons of marine trash hauled from the middle of the Pacific Ocean, reports the Honolulu Star-Advertiser.
The Sausalito, Calf.-based nonprofit chartered a local sailing cargo ship for a 48-day expedition that set out in early May. They then made history, doubling their own record-setting results from a stint last year.
The institute deployed GPS-enabled satellite beacons, drones and other technology to better track toxic consumer plastics and derelict “ghost” nets in the ocean.
“In these challenging times, we are continuing to help restore the health of our ocean, which influences our own health and the health of the planet,” says founder and executive director Mary Crowley.
↦ FYI: Plastic has been found in more than 60% of all seabirds and in 100% of sea turtle species, according to Ocean Conservancy.
In Other News
Other Things We’re Talking About Today
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Stay Cool, Sleep Better
Outfit your bedroom for warm weather
I tend to run hot, myself. And there's nothing worse than trying to fall asleep when I'm warm and sticky. Who's with me? This summer is stressful enough without having to worry about tossing and turning in sweaty sheets.
According to a well-regarded 2012 study, sleep scientists have concluded that the ideal air sleeping temperature is between 60 and 68 degrees Fahrenheit. When lying in bed trying to snooze, your body temperature decreases to initiate sleep—and the proposed temperatures above can actually help facilitate this.
To help keep you cool, the team rounded up some expert-recommended products, from sheets and pillows to high-tech extras that will help you cool down and stay feeling fresh all night long.
↦ Check out: The best products for hot, sweaty sleepers.
In solidarity with the independent brands and shops that are weathering the uncertainty of a socially-isolated world, we're highlighting the ones that continue to inspire and delight us. Rancourt, the Lewiston, Maine-based footwear brand, has been handcrafting quality shoes over half a century. The family-run business is full of tough Northeast types and they're not taking COVID-19's economic downturn laying down. Instead, they're looking to keep the factory plugging along by offering a collection of crowdfunded shoes. The brand's best sellers are now available at wholesale prices. When a shoe reaches 150 orders, it'll go into production. It's a real win-win: You keep American workers in their jobs and get handmade, hardwearing shoes for about half the cost.
Beefroll penny loafer $295 / $180
Acadia chukka $280 / $175
Gilman camp moc $250 / $150
Court classic sneaker $280 / $170
↦ Shop the Sale at Rancourt
Today’s Deals
Expires 6/30
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↦ Want More? See all 62 sales
Morning Motto
Trust that everything is going to work out ...
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