The Daily Valet. - 7/21/22, Thursday

✔️ This Is an Emergency

Thursday, July 21st Edition

Cory Ohlendorf, Editor in Chief of Valet.

I firmly believe you’re never too old to enjoy any Nerf product.

Cory Ohlendorf , Editor ⋯ @coryohlendorf

Today’s Big Story

Biden Calls Climate ‘an Emergency’

He stopped short of declaring a national emergency but promised more executive efforts are coming soon

On Wednesday, President Biden delivered an ultimatum to Congress on climate change: Take action or he will move forward on his own. “This is an emergency,” Biden said. “As president, I’ll use my executive powers to combat the climate crisis and the absence of congressional action.”

Biden announced a plan to open large areas off the U.S. coast to wind farms, but he stopped short of formally declaring a climate emergency or laying out a fuller array of proposals. His climate package has suffered setbacks in Congress recently, but the White House continues to hold out hope for a last-minute deal before Biden moves ahead with a sweeping executive order.

And while the possibility of declaring a national emergency is something that has the Op-Ed pages stirring, it is a real possibility. So what would that mean? A formal declaration would open up new possibilities for unilateral action by the executive branch to combat climate change, including halting U.S. exports of crude oil and pausing offshore drilling. Biden could even redirect military funding to the construction of renewable energy projects—much like Trump did with his border wall.

The conversation is certainly happening at the right time. Sweltering heat has disrupted transportation networks in Europe, melted the roofs in China and scorched the South and West of the United States.

Biden delivered his comments in front of the Brayton Point plant in Somerville, Massachusetts, which once burned coal but is now making wind farm components. He announced a limited set of new policies, including plans to direct funds to communities facing extreme heat.

Unfortunately, the plans announced on Wednesday will do next to nothing to help the U.S. significantly cut its emissions, reports the New York Times. Without new congressional action, analysts say that the U.S. will likely fall well short of its target under the Paris agreement of cutting emissions 50% below 2005 levels by 2030.

↦ FYI: It’s so hot, the clouds are melting. Buildings hosting both Oracle and Google cloud servers failed to manage this week’s temperature spikes.

Money and Manners

Does wealth change the way you think and feel? Science seems to point to ‘yes’

Psychologists who study the impact of wealth and inequality on human behavior have found that money can powerfully influence our thoughts and actions. According to The Greater Good, while it often leads to bad behavior by the rich, it also comes with its own set of problems.

Several studies have shown that the more money you have, the less empathy you have. Scientists have found that people of lower economic status were better at reading others' facial expressions—an important marker of empathy—than wealthier people.

Other studies found that wealth can cloud your moral judgement and make a scofflaw out of you. An experiment by UC Berkley found that drivers of luxury cars were four times less likely than those in less expensive vehicles to stop and allow pedestrians the right of way.

Of course, having too much money sounds like a problem I'm ready to deal with, but the data points to trouble. Scientific American reports that the wealthy are often perceived as evil or distrusted. A number of studies have found that affluent children are more vulnerable to substance abuse issues, potentially because of high pressure to achieve and frequent isolation from parents. And apparently, he pursuit of wealth itself can also become a compulsive behavior. So maybe we don't want to be filthy rich. Just really really comfortable.

↦ Meanwhile: People have money, but they’re forgetting to pay their bills. Credit-card and other delinquencies have been rising lately.

Ray-Ban Aviators Are Flying Off Shelves. Again.

Sales of the shades rose after the release of the original Top Gun in 1986, too

Top Gun: Maverick, isn't just selling out movie theaters around the globe this summer. It's also inspiring people to starting wearing aviator shades again.

According to Bloomberg, sales of the classic Ray-Ban aviators that Tom Cruise wears in the film have shot up since its release in late May. One of the UK's biggest sunglass retailers said that the RB3025 Aviator has become one of its top-selling models this summer.

And this isn't the first time this has happened. In the '80s, the original fighter pilot film reintroduced the iconic sunglasses to a whole new generation. Sales of Aviator sunglasses rose by more than 40% in the year following the release of the movie.

Will you look as good as Maverick in your shades? Maybe, maybe not. Apparently his were altered to fit him perfectly. “Tom is a stickler,” Marlene Stewart, the movie's costume designer, told The Daily Beast. “We had many, many fittings ... altering them, customizing them.” After all, that's what being a star is all about, right?

↦ Dig Deeper: Our Anatomy of a Classic series tells the story of how Ray Ban’s Aviators became so legendary.

Nerf’s Take on a Water Gun?

The new high-powered gel blaster debuts ammo that bursts on impact

Nerf just debuted a new type of ammo that—unlike the toy-maker's famous foam darts—doesn't require any picking up. Instead it pops out pellets of squishy, water-infused gel.

It's like a SuperSoaker mixed with a paintball gun. The polymer rounds are soaked in water before being loaded into the blaster's feed hopper, which holds up to 800 rounds. Once fired, the hydro projectiles burst and dissolve when they hit a target, eliminating any cleanup.

Officially, it's called the Nerf Pro Gelfire Mythic, and it will debut in November. The Verge says it's wild that it even exists—partly because it's such a departure from kid-friendly darts, and partly “because it feels like Hasbro is finally conceding that it doesn't need to reinvent the wheel to attract an older audience.”

Aside from full automatic mode, you can also select semi-auto mode to conserve ammo. It comes with an included rechargeable, swappable 7.4V battery that you can top up with a USB-C cable—just like your phone. What do you think? Does it look fun?

↦ Buy: Pre-order the blaster now, for $79.99 to ensure you get it first.

In Other News

↦ Should You Drink Sea Moss, TikTok’s Favorite New Smoothie Ingredient?

↦ A Discarded Coffee Cup Just Helped Crack This Decades-Old, Dead-End Murder Case

↦ Making the Case for Age Limits in American Politics

Other Things We’re Talking About Today

Folding phones

Long-forgotten snacks

The new Aston Martin wings

How to Prevent Swamp Crotch

Allow us to get graphic for a moment

Let’s face it, hot and humid weather can be a real bitch. And when it comes to suffering through sweltering temperatures, one of the worst side effects has to be swap crotch. Or swamp ass.

You know it as that perfect storm of uncomfortable clamminess below the belt, as well as the resulting stickiness, chaffing, jock itch and general unpleasantness. For decades, men have tried to combat the dampness by applying powder—usually baby powder or that old time-y staple, Gold Bond. Honestly, we've tried a few of these powders and have never been impressed.

Thankfully, there is a myriad of ways a modern gentleman can ensure he stays drier and cooler down south. Which means you'll be more comfortable and confident throughout the day. The real bonus? No chaffing or irritation later on. We spoke with some experts and tried a handful of products to provide you with a foolproof four-step plan for combating this most unfortunate summer situation.

↦ Read: Stay cool and dry below the belt, all summer long.

Shopping the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale

Ray-Ban gradient round Phantos sunglasses

Gradient round Phantos sunglasses,$176 / $109.99 by Ray-Ban

The Nordstrom Anniversary Sale officially kicked off last Friday and ends on the 31st of this month. Which means you still have plenty of time to pick up some great items at an impressive discount. This is when you stockpile your favorite grooming products or pick up the home item you've been watching. Of course, there's a wide range of menswear brands on sale too, so take your pick. Here's what I've got in my cart so far: A breezy button-down from Oliver Spencer in a neutral olive green shade. The coffeemaker every coffee snob uses and a pair of khaki-colored Converse kicks that I plan on wearing with any and everything. Lastly, some quality face cream that I feel less guilty about buying when it's on discount.