The Daily Valet. - 9/1/20, Tuesday

✔️ Come Out Swinging ...

Tuesday, September 1st Edition

Cory Ohlendorf, Editor in Chief of Valet.

I know it's frivolous, but I'm currently lusting after the new Rolex Submariner.

Cory Ohlendorf , Editor ⋯ @coryohlendorf

Today's edition is presented by

Today’s Big Story

Trump and Biden on American Tension

Trump defends shooter, Biden blames Trump for “stoking violence”

Four weeks from tonight, President Donald Trump and former Vice President Joe Biden are set to square off in the first presidential debate. And yet, with tension and violence percolating throughout America, the two men squared off Monday via bold public announcements.

Before his planned visit to Kenosha today, the President defended the actions of the suspected 17-year-old shooter of three protesters against police brutality, claiming (without evidence) that it appeared the gunman was acting in self defense, reports NPR.

At a briefing late Monday, Trump also declined to condemn his supporters’ use of paintballs and pepper spray against protesters in Portland over the weekend. He instead criticized Democrats and Biden, saying, “for months Joe Biden has repeated the monster lie that this is a peaceful protest.” According to the New York Times, he falsely claimed that the former vice president blamed the police and law enforcement for the violence that was flaring.

On the contrary, in a blistering speech, Biden blamed the President. “Does anyone believe there will be less violence in America if Donald Trump is re-elected?” he said in remarks at Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh. “We need justice in America. And we need safety in America.”

He also pointed out that this isn't the country’s only concern at the moment. “COVID. Economic devastation. Emboldened white nationalists. A reckoning on race. Declining faith in a bright American future. The common thread? An incumbent president who makes things worse, not better.”

For months, Trump has been making fun of Biden for “staying in the basement” instead of campaigning, but now that Biden's out, he sure came out swinging. Trump hit back during an interview with Fox News, saying if he weren’t President, the violence would be worse and that protests are being bankrolled by “some very stupid rich people.”

↦ Meanwhile: Trump’s popularity has slipped in latest Military Times poll and more active-duty troops say they’ll be voting for Biden.

Facebook to Block News in Australia

The company says new rules to share ad revenues with news publishers are not workable

Facebook said it would stop Australians sharing news content on its platforms if a proposal to make it pay local media outlets for their content becomes law, reports Reuters.

Under Australia’s closely watched internet reform, the country will become the first to make the social media behemoth and Google pay for news sourced from local providers under a royalty-style system.

Both companies have pushed back strongly against this provision. with Facebook saying it would give news organizations in Australia an unfair competitive advantage.

According to The Verge, media companies in Australia have largely supported the proposed changes. Australia’s newspapers and media outlets, like most around the world, have been hard-hit by the economic downturn due to the pandemic. Might this lead to similar changes in other countries?

↦ Dig Deeper: Reuters has an explainer on the proposed revenue-share law and the necessary facts.

Special Promotion

Something about this time of year makes me want new shoes. The current pair I’m eyeing? This Cali brand’s new throwback sneaker.

Check Out the All-New Rolex Submariner

The iconic watch gets a few subtle upgrades

After delaying its product introductions and imposing temporary factory closures due to the global pandemic, Rolex has finally introduced its long-awaited new 2020 lineup, including a new Submariner with subtle upgrades.

According to the aficionados at Hodinkee, watch news doesn't get much bigger than this. “It's a new size (41mm), it has a new bracelet (which is a bit wider), and it's powered by a new caliber. Otherwise, it's very much a Submariner through and through.”

What I find interesting is that the case has gotten slightly larger, but the lugs have gotten slimmer—giving the watch a more contoured and slightly vintage look.

There's also a new, state-of-the-art Rolex movement being used in the watch for the first time, reports Forbes. It offers 70-hour power reserves compared to 48 hours in previous movements.

↦ FYI: The last time the Submariner received an overhaul was back in 2012.

So Long, Samples

For better or worse, they're not coming back anytime soon

I must admit, one of the freedoms from pre-COVID life I really miss is sampling. I never passed up a new snack on offer or anything sizzling atop an electric hot plate at the grocery store.

But those tiny bits of joy—found everywhere from Trader Joe's to Sephora—have been canceled. For good reason, of course. And some medical experts told the Washington Post some types of samples should permanently remain in the vault because of the possible health risks.

The idea of placing a shared beauty product near one’s facial mucus membranes rattles physicians. And when it comes to food, people can can sneeze or cough on the items or flout etiquette and spear multiple samples with the same spit-soaked toothpick.

But perhaps we just have to get smarter about samples. According to Eater, many brands rely on samples to build a customer base. To combat dropping sales, they've devised a variety of pivots, including “dry” versions of in-store demos where you receive sealed packages of food to enjoy at home. Maybe not as fun, but a guaranteed way to practice safe sampling.

In Other News

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Special Promotion

The Perfect Fall Sneaker

The newest SeaVees style is a throwback sneaker with modern updates

I haven’t been in school for … well, let’s just say a bit. But every fall, I start itching to buy new shoes. There’s just something about this time of year that makes me want a fresh start when it comes to footwear. Thankfully, SeaVees just launched a new style. The old school California brand was revived after four decades with classic sneakers that are as comfortable as they are handsome.

The new silhouette is a go-anywhere type of sneaker, with a ridged double bumper outsole and vibrant suede uppers. Dubbed the Darby, I’m told the style is a tribute to the Teddy Boys subculture of the 1950s and their commonly worn creeper shoes. They may look simple but they’ve been engineered for all-day comfort, thanks to a contoured foam footbed with an extra heel-strike cushion and exclusive cooling airflow channels for breathability. The sneakers also boast a recycled cotton canvas lining and post-consumer recycled laces for a more responsible and sustainable build. The real question, is what color should I get?

↦ Get It: $120 at SeaVees

Sales We’re Eyeing

Chambray shirt$125 / $44

Alex Mill is a brand that nails the details. They've got the kind of clothes that are always in style, which is why they rarely put them on sale. But they've currently got a wide variety marked down. Why? The brand explains: “This isn't business as usual, so we aren't behaving that way—while we never expected to put these items on sale, here we are.”