The Daily Valet. - 8/2/21, Monday

✔️ Breakthrough

Monday, August 2nd Edition

Cory Ohlendorf, Editor in Chief of Valet.

I’m old enough to remember the plain, original VMA statue.

Cory Ohlendorf, Editor ⋯ @coryohlendorf

Today’s edition is presented by

Today’s Big Story

About Those Breakthrough Cases

Yes, the Delta variant is transmissible to those who are vaxxed. But that’s not a reason to question vaccines.

You’ve no doubt started to hear more about “breakthrough cases” lately. And there seems to be a lot of scary headlines floating around, so we’ll just get this stat out there first: More than 99.99% of people fully vaccinated against COVID-19 have not had a breakthrough case resulting in hospitalization or death, according to the latest data from the CDC.

But on Friday, a new study found the highly contagious Delta variant produced similarly high viral loads in vaccinated and unvaccinated people, but it’s only really dangerous for the unvaccinated. So what does that mean, exactly? As one physician told PBS News Hour, “the unvaccinated are now putting the vaccinated at risk.”

The CDC’s research suggesting that vaccinated people infected with Delta can also easily transmit the virus was the key factor motivating the new federal guidance that fully vaccinated individuals continue to wear masks indoors when in areas with a high-transmission level.

Should you be concerned about getting COVID if you’ve been inoculated? Well, since there is more community spread due to the Delta variant, the latest data suggests yes. But CNET spoke with several doctors who confirmed that those who are fully vaxxed will predominately be asymptomatic or experience mild symptoms like a runny nose.

And CNN reiterates that the vaccines work. Not only are breakthrough cases incredibly rare, but less than 0.004% of fully vaccinated people had a breakthrough case that led to hospitalization. They also pointed out that most of the breakthrough cases—about 74%— occurred among adults 65 or older.

As for masking up while vaxxed, Dr. Alex Huffman, an aerosol scientist and professor, likened it to applying sunscreen at the beach. “It provides protection against sunburn, but a cautious person might also wear a wide-brimmed hat or avoid sitting out during the height of the day,” he said. “For COVID, face masks and social distancing, particularly at indoor public places, could be similarly useful in situations where there is higher risk.”

↦ First Person: One reporter shares his experience of contracting COVID after getting vaccinated: “The worst part is the conflicting advice.”

Rent Is Now Due

Federal eviction protections have ended, leaving renters scrambling

It's August 1, and rent is due. That's a big change for many Americans who had been unable to pay rent but were protected from eviction by a federal moratorium. Now, those protections are gone—despite a failed attempt by House lawmakers to pass an extension bill.

The Biden administration announced last week that its hands were tied after the U.S. Supreme Court signaled the moratorium would only be extended until the end of the month.

Renters are now required to pay any missed payments, and in some states the landlord is owed late fees for any late payment since the moratorium was enacted. Housing advocates say that evictions are expected tospike today, and could result in millions of people being forced out of their homes in the coming weeks.

Landlords have argued that tenants could tap into $47 billion in federal money earmarked for rents and related expenses. However, logistical issues have resulted in only about $3 billion of the funds actually being distributed to around 600,000 tenants.

↦ FYI: At the end of March, 6.4 million U.S. households were behind on rent, according to HUD.

Partner

Your eyes are important, right? Your sunglasses are probably not protecting them as much as you think they are.

Future-Proof Your Work

These capabilities will rise in importance in the coming years

With more workers navigating the landscape of return to work, the hybrid format is proving to be more than a passing trend.

Gallup chief workplace scientist Jim Harter tells CNBC that flex time is the future. Moreover, it's in line with what most employees want. But that doesn't mean that new skills aren't required to master this hybrid way of working.

So, what are the core proficiencies that employees need to be developing in the hybrid workplace? In the World Economic Forum’s 2020 Future of Jobs Report [PDF], the survey authors designate over a dozen key skills which they call the “top skills” employees need for future success in the workplace.

Fast Company outlined a handful of what they call soft skills to master for this new quasi-remote way of working. From emotional intelligence to leadership and social influence, these less outward-facing skills are important to success in the hybrid world.

MTV Is Now 40

And the artist Kehinde Wiley designed a new Moon Person trophy to mark the occasion

If you hadn't heard, MTV has officially turned 40. Wow. And as part of the network's ongoing celebration, they've just revealed its new-look Moon Person trophy.

American artist Kehinde Wiley has designed a new version of the iconic statuette, reports Pitchfork. The Moon Person is now adorned with flowers and green vines, and “represents inclusivity and diversity marked by the historical, environmental and nature relevance of the botanicals.”

Wiley is the third artist to put a spin on the Moon Person—as its been dubbed in recent years to remove “the implication of gender from its name, and signaling a cultural shift in support of equality and representation,” MTV told Rolling Stone—following KAWS' version in 2013 and fashion designer Jeremy Scott's take in 2015.

These will be the Video Music Awards given out this year. So far, the 2021 VMAs are scheduled for September 12th at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York—in front of a live audience.

↦ FYI: When MTV launched at 12:01 am on August 1, 1981, the first video was the Buggles' “Video Killed the Radio Star.”

In Other News

↦ What Will the Movie Industry Look Like After COVID?

↦ Beth Shriever Won Gold in BMX Racing at the Olympics. She Crowdfunded to Get There.

↦ Here’s the Reason Why First Class Is Disappearing

Other Things We’re Talking About Today

These amazing Olympic photos

A knit camp collar shirt

This history of Black food

Partner

You Need “Internal Sunglasses”

Athletes swear by this supplement to help them see better—on the field and off

I'm probably a lot like you. I put on my daily sunscreen and wear sunglasses to protect my eyes from UV rays. But I don't take into account all the time I spend in front of a screen—my computer, my TV and my phone (my God, the phone!). You might've heard about the dangers of blue light exposure—how it can contribute to the destruction of the cells in the center of the retina.

And while I've long prescribed to the hope that eating my carrots would have some added benefits to my eyes, that's not really the case. True, carotenoids like Zeaxanthin (found in carrots and corn) are good for your vision, you'd need to eat about 50 ears of corn every day to get the amount of zeaxanthin needed to fuel healthy eye sight.

Which is why dieticians and sports nutritionists opt for supplements—and the number one doctor-recommended option is EyePromise. Why? Because it protects your eyes 24/7. Unlike sunglasses or those popular blue light glasses that only work while you're wearing them.

These supplements have become something of a secret weapon for major league athletes, professional gamers and even your favorite newsletter writer. Their patented high level of dietary nutrients in Screen Shield Pro—my personal favorite—not only boosts your overall nutrition, but the combination of eye-strengthening Zeaxanthin and lutein that will give you better eye performance over time. And it's not just a promise: that performance can actually be measured by testing your macular pigment optical density. Which is a really science-y way of saying that this stuff really works to restore your eye's strength.

↦ Get It: ScreenShield Pro, $38.95 by EyePromise

Stuff We Want

Say hello to the summer shoes ready for anything. A suede chukka can be worn with anything from jeans and chinos to your favorite cut-off shorts. And this new pair ($165), from one of our all-time favorite footwear brands, is cut from full-grain roughout calf leather suede and finished with a memory foam insole and a 100% natural rubber wedge sole. The end result is a more modern looking desert boot that feels immediately comfortable, right out of the box.

↦ Want More? The five stylish items to buy this week