The Daily Valet. - 7/1/20, Wednesday

✔️ This Is Big

July 01, 2020

Wednesday, July 1st Edition

Cory Ohlendorf, Editor in Chief of Valet.

Who else is washing their hands like they’re scrubbing in on a medical TV drama?

Cory Ohlendorf , Editor ⋯ @coryohlendorf

Today's edition is presented by

Today’s Big Story

Record Highs in COVID Cases

Fauci warns the U.S. could see 100,000 new coronavirus cases per day

New U.S. COVID-19 cases rose by more than 47,000 on Tuesday according to a Reuters tally, the biggest one-day spike since the start of the pandemic, as the government’s top infectious disease expert warned that number could soon double.

Dr. Anthony Fauci told a Senate panel Tuesday that “clearly we are not in total control right now.” He continued, “It is going to be very disturbing, I will guarantee you that, because when you have an outbreak in one part of the country, even though in other parts of the country they’re doing well, they are vulnerable.”

Officials in eight states—Alaska, Arizona, California, Georgia, Idaho, Oklahoma, South Carolina and Texas—also announced single-day highs. The number of new cases in the United States has shot up by 80% in the past two weeks, according to a New York Times database.

These numbers are staggering. And they’re frustrating. Even states that had reported improvements are starting to see the number of new cases rise again, causing governors to rethink their plans to get residents back to work.

Meanwhile, as college athletes have returned to campuses for voluntary workouts, 33 Division I schools announced more than 200 positive tests from student athletes.

And President Trump’s allies are now pushing him to embrace masks, reports Politico. “I don’t see any downside to the president wearing a mask in public,” said Fox & Friends co-host Steve Doocy. “It would just set a good example.” And maybe help get us through this mess a little quicker.

↦ FYI: The FDA said on Tuesday that a coronavirus vaccine would need to be at least 50% more effective than a placebo in preventing or decreasing the severity of COVID-19 in order for them to approve it.

When Did They Know?

The Russia bounty intel is ‘red flag’

In a last-minute press briefing Tuesday, the White House shot back at news stories that President Trump was briefed on a reported Russian-backed bounty for U.S. soldiers earlier this year but took no action, reports Newsweek.

White House Press Secretary Kayleigh McEnany didn't directly dispute the contents of the report—that Russians were paying Afghan insurgents to target American troops—but she denied that Trump was ever briefed on the subject.

But former U.S. officials tell NBC News that whether or not bounties were paid, Moscow has been a thorn in America's side for years in Afghanistan (and elsewhere in the world), working to sabotage the U.S. at every opportunity.

Following the White House briefing, House Democrats renewed their call for a briefing from the intelligence community, “so we'd have direct evidence and discussion from intelligence community into how credible they assess the information.”

↦ Dig Deeper: NPR's Mary Louise Kelly spoke with a Marine Corps veteran who served on the National Security Council about Russia's possible motives.

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Abnormally Hot Weather Is Coming

Because, of course it is ...

A predicted but no less atypical wave of extreme heat is expected to build across much of the United States during the first half of July, reports the Washington Post.

Widespread above-average temperatures and bouts of stifling humidity are expected over the majority of the nation (with more normal temps on the West Coast). The National Weather Service Climate Prediction Center is already calling for a moderate risk of excessive heat in many areas by next week.

The disruption will likely delay the typical arrival of the summer monsoon season, which provides much-needed moisture across the Desert Southwest. That could intensify ongoing wildfire concerns in parts of Arizona and New Mexico.

On the other hand, the brewing pattern appears favorable for multiple rounds of strong thunderstorms across pockets of the Midwest and the Great Lakes region. Just another reason for us all to stay indoors.

↦ FYI: When outdoor temperatures reach the 80s, pavement can climb to 140 degrees, which can burn a dog's paws. Try walking on grass when possible or avoid peak sunshine hours.

KITH Opens New Tokyo Flagship

And it makes us miss shopping in actual stores

World-renowned streetwear and sneaker retailer KITH is set to open their ninth location in Tokyo, Japan this weekend, reports Hypebeast.

They spoke with founder Ronnie Fieg about the brand's future and the shop itself, which is truly impressive. “How stores are built in Tokyo, the attention to detail, what that looks like and feels like, it's a bit different,” says Fieg.

Under a ceiling blanketed with plaster-coated Air Force 1s, the store features displays that are characteristically minimal, well-lit, and extremely polished. Including a floor-to-ceiling tower of collaborative sneakers.

And while the airy space can't be rung in with a splashy opening party at the moment, Fieg says every time he goes to Japan, he learns patience. “How they line up for product there is so organized and polite.” And we're definitely looking to visiting ... whenever Americans are being let back into other countries.

↦ Details: KITH Tokyo will open on Saturday, July 4 at 11am, and is located in the first and second floor of Miyashita Park North.

In Other News

Other Things We’re Talking About Today

The greatest cars of all time

Going to a barbershop

The best masks to wear

Special Promotion

Look Better in Just 10 Minutes

That’s how long it took to erase my unruly grey hairs

Maybe it was my-home quarantine haircuts. Perhaps it was the stress of a global pandemic and an economic downturn. But I was noticing a lot more grey hairs popping up lately. So, I figured, why not give this new custom dye kit a try? After all, who’s going to see me if I messed up? I could always buzz it.

Turns out, this kit was made for social distancing. Color&Co, a start-up from L'Oréal, connects you with professional hair colorists for fool-proof results. You fill out an online questionnaire or video chat with a colorist and then a salon-quality custom hair color is made just for you and your needs. Instead of a simple boxed color, they adjust the depth and tone for a perfect shade. A few days later, a box arrives with everything you need.

Honestly, I was surprised at how easy it was. The kit includes a gel you apply around your hairline (so no messy drip stains) and the dye works in just ten minutes. Then you rinse with a conditioner and you’re done. I think I was a little lazy applying the dye on the sides—it didn’t fully saturate the hair so there were still some grays poking through. But, to me, that just made it look all the more natural. But I’ll definitely be reordering.

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What We’re Buying

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Maybe you're luckier than me, but I've fallen victim to the farmer's tan for way too many summers. Those damned T-shirts keep working against me. And with more and more people taking their workouts outside, it's the perfect time to embrace your arms and ensure you don't get that dreaded tan line. This two-pack of quick-dry training shirts from ASOS is 20% off and a major steal compared to most athletic brands. So shed the sleeves, build those biceps and save some cash.

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