The Daily Valet. - 8/17/23, Thursday
✔️ A Shocking Rise We Didn't See Coming
Thursday, August 17th Edition
By Cory Ohlendorf, Valet. Editor
I’m going to introduce you to a TV you don’t need, but will (like me) surely want.
Today’s Big Story
Cancer Rates on the Rise
Cancer, especially among younger Americans, is Climbing, new study shows
Cancer sucks. Period. I say this as someone who survived a rather alarming melanoma ordeal in my mid-20s and who has seen some of the people I love most battle various forms of cancer. But, at this point, it also seems ... inevitable. Are we all destined to encounter those ugly little cells pictured above?Unfortunately, several kinds of cancer are being diagnosed more often in younger adults in the U.S., a new study shows, and the increases seem to be driven by cancers in women and adults in their 30s. While most cancers are found in people age 65 and older, this latest data found a concerning trend—gastrointestinal, endocrine and breast cancers are climbing at the fastest rates among young people.There is not yet a clear explanation why cancer is rising among younger people, but experts say there are several possible reasons behind the trend, including rising obesity rates and lifestyle factors such as drinking alcohol, smoking, sleeping poorly and being sedentary. Environmental factors, including exposure to pollutants and carcinogenic chemicals, also probably play a role.CNN reports that the rate of cancer diagnosis increased in adults in their 30s over the last decade but remained stable in other under-50 age groups, the study found. At the same time, the rate of cancers in adults 50 and older is going down. When the researchers looked at cancer trends for younger adults by race, they found that early-onset cancers were going up fastest among people who identify as American Indian or Alaska Natives, Asians and Hispanics. On average, the growth rates of early-onset cancers remained stable in white people and decreased in Black people between 2010 and 2019.Over 80,000 Americans between the ages of 20 and 39 are diagnosed with cancer each year—totaling about 5% of all cancer diagnoses, according to the American Cancer Society. Cancer is the fourth most common cause of death, the leading cause of death by disease for women and the second most common cause of death by disease for men in this age group, only second to heart disease. Though women in this demographic are more likely to be diagnosed with cancer, younger men and women die from cancer at equal rates. So be careful out there, and be sure to get those screenings at your annual physicals.
FYI:
Despite the rumors, Amish kids aren’t immune to cancer, diabetes and autism—and they aren’t vaccine-free, either.
The NFL Is Trying to Reduce Head Injuries
Executives hint that Guardian Caps could eventually be worn in games, along with position-specific helmets
The NFL announced that it's expanding use of Guardian Caps, the padded softshell caps that many players have been wearing for the duration of preseason practices, as well as regular season contact practices, amid signs they're cutting down on concussions. And it's possible the Caps could someday be worn in games, according to NFL executive Jeff Miller.“I think the day could come,” Miller, who oversees NFL player health and safety, told CBS News. “But at the same time, a lot of the helmets are also making advances, too, and so some of the protective benefits you get from the Guardian Cap hopefully will be seen in helmets in the next year or two.” Unlike regular helmets, whose exterior is polycarbonate (a high-strength plastic), the Guardian Caps are padded, with slightly squishy layers designed to reduce impact to the hard shell.Player safety has been under increased scrutiny, and the Guardian Caps worn by offensive and defensive linemen, tight ends and linebackers resulted in 52% fewer concussions up to the second preseason game this year, compared to an average of the same period over the previous three preseasons. Figuring out how to reduce injuries isn't only critical for professional athletes but for the thousands of amateur football players, including kids. A study published last week found amateur football players may face an increased risk of developing Parkinson's disease.
Dig Deeper:
Over the last century, the helmet has transitioned from elective to essential, from rudimentary to high-tech.
The IRS Is Doing Much Better, Thanks
The IRS Commissioner Says Extra Funding Resulted In Dramatically Improved Service To Taxpayers
A year ago, as part of the Inflation Reduction Act, Democrats gave the IRS an additional $80 billion. The money (to be spent over the course of a decade) was designed to reverse years of funding cuts that had left the agency hollowed out and unable to perform basic functions. So did it work? According to IRS Commissioner Danny Werfel, yes. Big time.First, by increasing the full-time staff to nearly 90,000, a level not seen in more than a decade. That's allowed them to improve the taxpayer experience—a key goal of Werfel since his tenure began earlier this year. One of the most significant examples of how the experience was different: This year, the IRS answered the phones. In 2023, the IRS reported an 87% Level of Service on its main taxpayer help line. But last year? That Level of Service score was just 14%. They were also able to cut phone wait times to three minutes from 28 minutes.Still, the agency faces an uncertain future. Republican lawmakers have accused the IRS of planning to use its newfound funding to harass small businesses and middle class families. According to the Washington Post, the claim has been debunked many times, but Americans seem to believe it anyway and support clawing back the funding. “And no matter how often Biden administration officials have pledged that the additional enforcement money would be used to increase audit rates only of tax-dodging rich people, Americans still suspect that shallow-pocketed, law-abiding taxpayers will be targeted instead.”
Meanwhile:
The IRS is stopping unannounced visits to the homes and businesses of delinquent citizens to collect taxes.
LG’s New TV Comes in a Portable Suitcase
The sleek 27-inch touchscreen-enabled display has up to three hours of battery life
This is the future we were promised, right? We're not exactly flying around on hoverboards, but at least we'll soon be able to slip a sleek TV out of a handy carrying case and enjoy a movie from anywhere, thanks to LG's newest display.The ultra-portable StanbyME GO is a 27-inch TV that's integrated into a travel-ready suitcase that also makes for a sturdy base. The touchscreen display can be placed in a variety of positions for watching content or playing games. With up to three hours of battery life, you should have more than enough power for a wire-free movie night at the family picnic or campsite and you have a built-in 20-watt speaker with Dolby Atmos and Dolby Vision support optimized video and surround sound.Of course, I'm sold because it looks like something James Bond would have. But even more impressive, the display “can be swiveled, tilted, and rotated while in landscape and portrait orientations and table mode,” according to The Verge. And if you're wondering why you'd ever want to use it in table mode, apparently there are some games optimized for the device's touchscreen. Clever, huh?
Pre-Order:
LG plans to sell the StanbyME GO exclusively through its own website, with orders shipping at the end of August.
In Other News
Schools reopening, traffic moving again in signs of recovery from the wildfires that killed more than 110.
Have you heard about ...
The Long Read
Though no one knows for sure how peanut butter met jelly, one thing is certain—they were meant to be together
As natural a combination savory, salty peanut butter and bright, sweet jelly seems to Americans, the rest of the world is a bit wary—the PB&J is really found only in the U.S. And how we got the PB&J, a relative newcomer to the culinary world, is the result of some serious American ingenuity. ”
- By Linda Rodriguez McRobbie
Read It:
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Shopping
What We’re Buying
Performance moisturizer
You deserve better lube. And frankly, so does your partner. Honestly, wouldn't you feel better pulling this handsome bottle out of your nightstand? But it's what's inside the sleek bottle that really matters. Leo's “performance moisturizer” contains no parabens or glycerin, is condom-safe and suitable for sensitive skin. It dries quickly on your hands (without any mess), but not from where you want it. Sure, it's slippery, but also incredibly smooth and hydrating. In fact, it can actually be used to give a massage as well—melting into the skin and allowing hands to glide frictionlessly over the body. You definitely wouldn't want to try that with your old lube, right?
Get It:
F1L performance moisturizer, $24.90 by Lelo
Morning Motto
You can’t be everything and everywhere.
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