The Daily Valet. - 8/31/21, Tuesday

✔️ Don't Look Now

Tuesday, August 31st Edition

Cory Ohlendorf, Editor in Chief of Valet.

Hey there, looking good!

Cory Ohlendorf, Editor ⋯ @coryohlendorf

Today’s Big Story

The Effects of Zoom Dysmorphia

It’s a very real phenomenon, and it's prompting some troubling trends

The pandemic catapulted many of us into a world of seemingly endless Zoom calls and video meetings. And, not surprisingly, staring at our own faces on a screen ad nauseum has been wreaking havoc on our collective self-image.

This inordinate preoccupation with our physical flaws was quickly christened with a very scientific name: Zoom dysmorphia. I'm currently wearing a lockdown-acquired retainer while I type this, so I can attest that I definitely experienced it to a certain extent.

A dermatologist and professor at Harvard Medical School told WIRED that she others in her field and related ones such as plastic surgery have noticed a spike in appointment requests for appearance-related issues. And when she and her colleagues asked patients what was driving their decision to get plastic surgery, injections and hair transplants, most cited videoconferencing.

This isn’t just an American trend, either. According to the BBC, the British Association of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons said its doctors were reporting up to 70% increases in requests for consultations. And a South African doctor, tells InsideHook she’s also observed a significant increase in clients requesting changes to their appearance, spurred by dissatisfaction in the way they look on “on camera.”

What’s more troubling, is that Zoom dysmorphia isn’t going away—even as we Zoom less. A survey of more than 7,000 people suggests the mental scars of the pandemic will stay with us for some time, following us into the real world.

One important distinction the doctor makes is that our front-facing cameras don't always show a real reflection. It’s like a “funhouse mirror,” she says—the opposite of a beautifying filter—they make noses look bigger and eyes look smaller. This effect is exacerbated by proximity to the lens, which is generally nearer to you than a person would ever stand in a real life conversation. So maybe the answer is just to step away from the camera to reclaim some perspective (and self esteem).

↦ on the Rise: The American Society of Plastic Surgeons reports that male cosmetic procedures (both surgical and non-surgical) rose nearly 30% percent between 2000 and 2018.

An Era Ends in Afghanistan

Taliban celebrate ‘complete independence’ as the last U.S. troops leave

The last U.S. plane departed Afghanistan's Hamid Karzai International Airport late Monday, marking the end of America's longest war and leaving the country's future in disarray and uncertainty under Taliban rule.

According to Reuters, celebratory gunfire echoed across Kabul as Taliban fighters took control of the airport before dawn on Tuesday following the withdrawal of the last American troops—ending 20 years of war that left the Islamic militia stronger than it was in 2001.

The New York Times reports there is a widespread anxiety about what the true shape of Taliban rule will be like with the Americans truly gone. And there is fear that the chaotic rush of the government's collapse during the Taliban advance could leave an unfixable economy, ruin and hunger.

President Biden praised the military for their efficiency while noting ongoing diplomatic efforts to help Americans or Afghan partners who still need to leave Afghanistan. He'll address the nation today about the decision to withdraw by Aug. 31.

↦ Meanwhile: The U.S. Embassy in Kabul will remain closed, Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken said on Monday.

E.U. Takes U.S. Off Safe Travel List

The updated entry rules will target non-vaccinated American travelers

Here we go agin. The European Union recommended Monday that its 27 nations reinstate restrictions on tourists from the U.S. because of rising coronavirus infections. However, countries will keep the option of allowing fully vaccinated Americans in.

The proposal comes after weeks of deliberation and amid an ever-worsening outbreak in the United States. The E.U. first lifted restrictions on American travelers back in June, and reopened borders at the height of summer—when hard-hit southern European economies were desperate for an influx of tourism spending.

Of course, a lot has changed since then. Vaccination levels in many European countries have surpassed those in the U.S., and the hyper-contagious delta variant has fueled a fourth wave of infections.

So, what does this mean for American travelers? According to Forbes, each E.U. member nation can determine their own rules and restrictions, so that could include quarantines or mandated testing (or worse). Meanwhile, most Europeans still can't travel to the U.S., which isn't likely to change anytime soon either.

Ikea Launches a Buy Back Program

You’ll need to be willing to haul it to the store and not every Ikea item is eligible

If you no longer need your Billy bookcase or Mörbylånga table, Ikea might just buy it back from you. The company is launching a new buyback service in the U.S., beginning with a pilot at a store near its North American headquarters in Conshohocken, Pennsylvania.

According to Fast Company, the program is one step in Ikea's ambitious goals to become circular and carbon positive by the end of the decade. The secondhand items will then be sold at a further discount.

Gizmodo calls the program an “admirable incentive to reduce waste, but fatally flawed” by the fact that you'll have to bring it to the store, knowing “that creaky furniture with warped MDF board doesn't travel.”

Eligible items are also extremely limited; a long list of exclusions includes outdoor furniture, chests of drawers, rugs, items with glass, children's products, mattresses and upholstered chairs. Furthermore, Ikea is only offering store credit. But hey, it's a start, right?

↦ FYI: The program is an extension of roll-outs it has already introduced elsewhere, including the U.K., Australia and Canada.

In Other News

↦ Hurricane Ida Traps Louisianans, Shatters the Power Grid

↦ You’ll Have to Tell Instagram Your Birthday to Keep Using the App

↦ China Limits Children to 3 Hours of Online Gaming a Week

Other Things We’re Talking About Today

Glass-topped accommodations

The return of ‘Succession’

xxxTITLExxx

Invest in a Quality Cutting Board

Make the most of your time in the kitchen

If you're like me, the pandemic has made you a much better home cook. And no matter what you're preparing—be it a snack or a full meal—you're likely chopping up some ingredients.

All too often, cutting boards are something of an afterthought when it comes to outfitting a kitchen counter. They get overlooked while we obsess over sleek, sexed-up knife sets. While the knife you use for slicing and dicing is plenty important, so is the surface you do your slicing on.

Plus, when you get a handsome board, it's an aesthetic addition to your kitchen. And these durable wood boards will last you years without having to be replaced. They're a lot easier on a knife's blade too.

From classic options honed from thick wood to lighter, more portable (and dishwasher safe) versions, our team found the best ones for your money.

↦ Buy: The best cutting boards for your kitchen and cooking style.

Loosen Up Your Denim

Straight stretch jean, $128 by Flint and Tinder

Remember a few years back, when, with no alternative, you'd be forced to pull out and struggle into those nearly skin-tight jeans come autumn? Yeah, we didn't love that either. Fall is about heavy basics and comfy layers, not seeing if you can actually fit into your denim. There are so many other things to be worried about right now, so why concern yourself with trying to physically jump into your jeans? No, this season is all about a relaxed fit—something with a wider leg, easy waist and lots of room to walk in. Depending on the brand and make, it might have a different name: straight-fit, bootcut and the like all share the general shape of the relaxed jean. As it's the onset of fall, your jeans should be on the heavier side, too. Grab a pair that you like and wear them into the ground.