The Daily Valet. - 9/11/20, Friday

✔️ 19 Years Later

September 11, 2020

Friday, September 11th Edition

Cory Ohlendorf, Editor in Chief of Valet.

Take a second today and call a loved one.

Cory Ohlendorf , Editor ⋯ @coryohlendorf

Today's edition is presented by

Today’s Big Story

9/11, 19 Years Later

The anniversary of the September 11th attacks arrives as the country struggles through a pandemic and political divide

This morning, most TV networks will show the first moment of silence at 8:46 a.m. ET, honoring the victims of the September 11th terrorist attacks. As the nation finds itself in the throes of multiple crises simultaneously, the anniversary—like everything else—is different.

On Thursday night, “Tribute in Light” will be shone above the lower Manhattan skyline. According to USA Today, the National September 11 Memorial & Museum’s annual tribute was initially cancelled this year due to the pandemic. However, New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo reversed that decision, with the state providing health personnel and supervision to maintain the light installation.

However, the memorial did decide to suspend the tradition of relatives reading victims’ names in person in accordance with COVID-19 protocols.

Both presidential candidates will visit Shanksville, Pa., today, the place where United Airlines Flight 93 crashed into a field. It will no doubt bring out some bitter politics, contrasting the great unity America embraced after the 2001 attacks.

Journalist Garrett Graff, who wrote the book The Only Plane in the Sky: An Oral History of 9/11, put this into perspective for The Atlantic. He points out that the attacks “taught Americans a new set of rituals for collective grief.” But the grief of 2020 feels so different ... he asks, “Why does our country, so united after 9/11, feel so splintered now?”

In any case, let’s take some time today reflecting on that day. How time is precious and we, as a country, actually can come together when it really counts.

↦ Meanwhile: Judge orders testimony from Saudi officials in suit over involvement in 9/11 attacks.

Are You Ready for More Football?

The NFL’s season of uncertainty kicked off with few guidelines and no precedent

Just about the only thing that looked familiar about the NFL's long-awaited return Thursday night was the sight of Patrick Mahomes effortlessly leading the Chiefs to a win over the Texans.

The Super Bowl MVP helped his team defend their first championship in 50 years by beating Houston 34-20 in front of a socially distanced crowd of less than 17,000.

According to ESPN, the game was competitive, at least for a half, and the quality of play was better than anyone could have expected following the cancellation of the preseason and a modified training camp format.

The Ringer reports that safety will be an issue all season. The NFL, like MLB, will not be played in a bubble. Coach Andy Reid's foggy face shield was both a reminder that they're taking precautions and that, even amid a pandemic, there are still funny memes to be had.

↦ Shop Talk: According to Deadline, the NFL's return is coming not a moment too soon for the television advertising business.

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Most Americans Want to Vote Early

It’s a significant shift from previous years, poll finds

Over 60% of registered voters nationwide say they want to cast their ballots before Election Day, a significant departure from previous years that will force the candidates to reshape how they campaign in the election season's final weeks, according to a Washington Post-University of Maryland poll.

Fear of the coronavirus and doubts about the reliability of mail voting are weighing heavily on Americans as they decide how to safely ensure their vote will be counted in this fall's presidential election, according to the survey.

Similar findings were reported by a different survey last week, according to NBC News. But that one saw a stark difference in voting plans when broken down by party affiliation. 54% of adults who identify as Republican (or lean that way) say they'll vote in person on Election Day, while just 22% of Democrats (and those who lean left) say the same. Democrats are much more likely to vote by mail—with 50% saying that's their plan for November, compared to just 18% of Republicans who say they'll mail in their ballots.

But both surveys did end on a somewhat positive marker: Americans' overall confidence in the election is roughly similar to that of four years ago. In that way, no news is good news, right?

↦ FYI: When does vote by mail and early voting start? CNBC has a handy state by state guide.

We’re Losing Wildlife at an Alarming Rate

Human activity has wiped out two-thirds of world’s wildlife since 1970, landmark report says

Wildlife populations have plummeted 68% in less than half a century and the “catastrophic” decline shows no sign of slowing down, warns a major conservation report published Wednesday by the World Wildlife Fund.

The Living Planet Report 2020 assessed the population declines seen in more than 4,392 monitored species of mammals, birds, fish, reptiles and amphibians between 1970 and 2016.

The researchers found that there hasn't been this kind of population decrease on the Earth for millions of years. The decline is happening at an unprecedented rate, the report warns, and it threatens human life as well. “The findings are clear,” the report states. “Our relationship with nature is broken.”

According to NPR, the United Nations published a sweeping report last year cautioning that one million of the estimated eight million plant and animal species on the planet are at risk of extinction, many within decades, because of human activities. It made a similar plea for people to care, punctuated with a warning: “Protecting biodiversity amounts to protecting humanity,” UNESCO Director-General Audrey Azoulay, said at the time of the report's release.

↦ Meanwhile: Authorities are searching for a tiger that apparently got loose in Tennessee.

In Other News

Other Things We’re Talking About Today

This unlikely collaboration

Morning meditation

Off-duty dressing

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Your Weekend Pairing

David Chang’s Memoir + a Whiskey Peach Smash Cocktail

This week, David Chang (of Momofuku and Ugly Delicious fame) released his highly anticipated book, Eat a Peach. I've always loved Chang—his food, his creativity and his self-effacing humor.

The book, described as “part memoir, part philosophical thesis,” traces his journey from a hard-driving Korean-American kid with an ugly temper to an internationally-recognized food god. How'd he do it? He channeled his frustrations into an eagerness to push both himself and his industry. Throughout the book, Chang writes candidly about his battles with depression and self-doubt while building the Momofuku empire. But he also details the personal work he's done to improve, not just as a chef, but in his personal life. I'm looking forward to digging into it.

↦ Your Pairing:Just personally, I can't hear the word “peach” without wanting to taste the fruit. And as we close the book on summer 2020, the last of the peaches are hitting farmers markets and grocery stores. This variation on the whiskey smash from Food52 pairs peach preserves with bourbon for a very satisfying drink. Feel free to do like me and garnish with a slice or two of fresh peaches.

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