The Daily Valet. - 8/17/21, Tuesday

✔️ Drought Damage

Tuesday, August 17th Edition

Cory Ohlendorf, Editor in Chief of Valet.

I spend a lot on my credit cards, but not enough for a Centurion card, apparently.

Cory Ohlendorf, Editor ⋯ @coryohlendorf

Today’s Big Story

Drought Damage

There will be mandatory water cuts next year

For the first time ever, there’s an official water shortage at the largest water reservoir in the U.S. On Monday, officials declared the shortage at Hoover Dam’s Lake Mead which, along with the Colorado river, serves 40 million people in the West.

According to the Associated Press, water levels at the reservoir have fallen to record lows. Along its perimeter, a white “bathtub ring” of minerals outlines where the high water line once stood, underscoring the unique water challenges for a region facing a growing population and a drought that is made more dangerous by hotter, drier weather.

This new declaration will trigger mandatory cuts to water use starting January 1, 2023. California, Arizona and Nevada all tap water from Lake Mead. Based on federal guidelines for shortages brokered in 2019, Arizona will lose 18% of its annual apportionment of water, while Nevada will lose 7% and Mexico, which also gets water from the watershed, will lose 5% of its share. California won’t face cuts just yet—according to The Verge, it has stronger water rights under complex water sharing agreements.

One of the worst droughts in decades continues to plague the Western United States. Back in June, it was already “the most exceptional drought that we’ve ever shown on the map in the Western U.S.,” according to a climatologist at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln who creates maps for the U.S. Drought Monitor. The drought has grown worse since then, and now affects a whopping 95% of the West.

According to NPR, farmers in central Arizona, who are among the state’s largest producers of livestock, dairy, alfalfa, wheat and barley, will bear the brunt of the cuts. Their allocation comes from water deemed “extra” by the agency that supplies water to much of the region, making them the first to lose it during a shortage.

Can it be reversed? It doesn’t look great. Water levels at the reservoir have been falling since 1999 due to the dry spell enveloping the West and increased water demand. And with weather patterns only expected to worsen, experts say the reservoir may never be full again.

↦ FYI: Lake Mead now contains about 12 million acre-feet of water, far below its capacity of nearly 30 million acre-feet.

Biden Defends Afghanistan Policy

He calls the withdrawal ‘messy’ but says ‘I stand squarely behind my decision’

President Biden defended his decision to withdraw the U.S. military from Afghanistan despite the swift Taliban takeover of the country and chaotic scenes shown on social media as people try to flee the country.

“I am president of the United States of America, and the buck stops with me,” he said Monday. “I am deeply saddened by the facts we now face, but I do not regret my decision.”

According to the New York Times, Biden said he had no regrets about his decision to end the longest war in United States history. Though he accepted responsibility for how the withdrawal is unfolding, in White House remarks from the East Room he largely blamed the Afghan military for not standing and fighting against the Taliban as well as Afghan political leaders for fleeing.

As the Taliban took hold of the country, Democrats on Capitol Hill and former Obama administration officials joined Republicans in publicly criticizing Biden's handling of the situation. NBC News reports that while most agreed with the decision to remove troops, they attacked the administration's failure to help the thousands of Afghans who assisted U.S. forces over the 20-year war effort exit the country before the Taliban took over.

↦ FYI: Pentagon officials said there would be 6,000 American troops conducting security at the Kabul airport and helping the evacuation by later this week.

Boosters For All

U.S. expected to recommend vaccine boosters for all Americans

Biden administration health officials are expected to recommend COVID-19 booster shots for all Americans, regardless of age, eight months after they received the second shot, a source familiar with the plans confirmed to CNN.

The plan, which is still being developed, would involve administering third shots beginning in mid- to late September, pending authorization from the US Food and Drug Administration.

Pfizer on Monday also announced that they have submitted preliminary data to the FDA that their booster vaccine “elicits antibody levels that significantly exceed those seen after the two-dose” regimen, said Albert Bourla, Pfizer's Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, said in a statement.

Officials said they expect that recipients of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine, which was authorized as a one-dose regimen, will also require an additional dose. But they're waiting for the results of that firm’s two-dose clinical trial, expected later this month.

Amex Updates the Centurion Card

The world’s most exclusive credit card is about to look even cooler

If you're one of the few Amex Centurion cardholders (if so, we should talk), there's exciting news coming your way. American Express is reinvigorating the look of the card, and they're giving you multiple options to choose from—including a wearable Prada card.

According to Uncrate, the company is partnering with two artists to put a new spin on the iconic card. The Rem Koolhaas x Centurion Art Card uses drawings from his unfinished Boompjes project, which aimed to redevelop a war-torn section of Rotterdam where his OMA firm was founded. The Kehinde Wiley x Centurion Art Card, on the other hand, repurposes the lush greenery from his painting Princess Victoir of Saxe-Coburg Gotha.

In addition to the cards, the Centurion Card's chip is also available hidden within a unisex Prada bracelet constructed from scratch-resistant black Saffiano leather.

Of course, if this sounds appealing, it's worth noting that the American Express Centurion Card isn't attainable through application—holders need to secure an invitation and pay a $10,000 initiation fee to access what Forbes describes as “unrivaled perks and benefits.”

↦ Dig Deeper: Is Jerry Seinfeld the reason that the Amex Black Card exists? The Points Guy investigates.

In Other News

↦ The Story Behind Palace, the World’s Most Entertaining Fashion Brand

↦ Why Some Animals Are Shrinking As Temperatures Rise

↦ A Hacker Stole $610M of Cryptocurrency—and Returned Most of It

Other Things We’re Talking About Today

Subway train melodies

What’s the plural of Rolex?

The “world’s greatest stretch”

Oral Hygeine Is Important

Don't start your day without mouthwash

You brush. Twice a day if you're good. Maybe you're very good and brush after every meal. And if you've been following our advice, you floss too.

But there's more to a healthy mouth than two minutes of brushing and some floss. If you want to feel (and smell) extra fresh and clean, a proper rinse with a quality mouthwash can do wonders.

“A lot of people really enjoy the sensation of rinsing after they're brushed,” Matt Messina, a member of the American College of Dentists told Time. “They feel like the mouthwash is clearing away all that loose debris.”

And they're right. Messina says mouthwash can help you spit out loosened plaque and other bits of detritus hiding in the cracks and crevices of your mouth. But which one is right for you? We found the best bottles.

↦ Buy: The six best bottles to consider.

The Timeless Man’s Uniform

Standard T-shirt, $48 by Alex Mill

It's hardly a stretch to call a T-shirt the quintessential menswear item. And when it comes to styling them nowadays, it's really more a question of what a tee can't do. The basic shirt is a perfect neutral—it allows you to pick and choose what part of your fit does the talking. Got some new sneakers you're ready to bust out for the viewing public? Pull on a solid tee and some casual shorts to really let them shine. Headed to that informally-formal summer wedding? Tuck a crisp white tee into a lightweight suit and let the compliments pour in. The timeless style is yours to customize; really, the only rule is one of fit. Wear it oversized or form-fitting, dressed up or just ready to hang, however you like. That's the magic of a tee. No matter how you wear it, it's going to look good. Browse our selections of the best basics below.