The Daily Valet. - 9/13/23, Wednesday
✔️ The Future of This City Is Murky
Wednesday, September 13th Edition
By Cory Ohlendorf, Valet. Editor
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Today’s Big Story
The Future of Venice Is Murky
But one thing is clear: the sinking city is now charging you to visit
It's been coming for a while. Venice, Italy has long been the poster city for over-tourism. Once a thriving city, home to a large and proud population of Venetians and visited by writers, intellectuals and artists hungry for culture, Venice is now swamped by day trippers, who far outnumber overnight visitors and local residents.According to experts, some 20 million visitors flood in each year; on its busiest days, around 120,000 people come to check out the famous landmarks, further concentrating numbers into a tiny footprint. This not only damages Venice's fragile buildings, strains its infrastructure and inhibits local people from going about their business but, frankly, makes for a pretty terrible visitor experience, too. Nobody benefits, not even the tourists just trying to get a selfie by the Rialto Bridge.Which is exactly why, starting next spring, day-trippers to Venice—at times when the city is extremely crowded with tourists—will be expected to pay five euros for the privilege. City council member for tourism Simone Venturini told the BBC that the trial will run during peak tourist periods next year.It's just one of the tactics the city is using to prevent itself from being destroyed and sinking right into that famed water. Threatened by climate change and rising tides, the city recently installed a modern engineering behemoth—giant gates at four mouths of the lagoon to keep seawater out and its pavements dry, and it banned cruise ships from its inner canals.Meanwhile, world leaders associated with UNESCO, a branch of the United Nations that helps to protect heritage sites around the world, are meeting this month in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia to discuss whether to add the Italian city to a list of endangered world heritage sites. The agency said in July that Venice faced “irreversible” damage if something wasn't done soon. And if paying a cover charge can help keep that gorgeous city around, then go ahead and take my money.
By the Numbers:
Venice is known for its bridges. There are 417 bridges within the city, and 72 of those are private.
The U.S. Poverty Rate Jumps, Reversing Gains
ANd Child poverty more than doubled last year
The number of Americans living in poverty has gone up for the first time in years, the U.S. Census Bureau announced Tuesday. The new data shows that, in 2022, 12.4% of Americans lived in poverty—up from 7.8% in 2021, the bureau said, representing millions more living without the minimum level of resources to meet their basic needs. According to the Washington Post, this spike follows two years of declines and coincided with the end of increased child tax credit payments and other government interventions.An analysis from the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities found that if the child tax credit had been extended in 2022, about 3 million children would've been kept out of poverty — or more than half of the 5.2 million increase last year. And Axios reports that the rebound is yet another reason Americans were less than thrilled with the economy last year.Meanwhile, median household income was $74,580 last year, down 2.3% from 2021 and 4.7% lower than it was prior to the pandemic. According to CNN, these new figures are adjusted for inflation. One bright side of the new data was the fact that the uninsured rate fell to 7.9% last year from 8.3% in 2021 and it's now comparable to where it was in 2017. However, experts say this recent advance is not expected to continue in 2023 since states have restarted terminating the Medicaid coverage of residents they deem ineligible.
FYI:
What income, exactly, is considered “poverty level” in 2023? Yahoo Finance investigates.
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And you need sodium to create that balance and prevent the consequences of dehydration.
Talk Show Scabs?
Several shows follow Drew Barrymore's lead and return to production despite the writer's strike
Striking writers and those supporting their cause unleashed a torrent of fury against actress Drew Barrymore this week as she announced the return of her daytime talk show—which although not technically part of the Hollywood strike, relies on writers who are. This means new episodes of the show will have to utilize either violating WGA members, non-WGA writers or no one. A spokesperson told Variety that the show will “not be performing any writing work covered by the WGA strike.”Barrymore, who previously declined to host an MTV award show to support the strike, is now being called a “scab.” And on Tuesday, several other daytime talk shows saids they're following Barrymore's lead and will also start filming during the dual labor strike. CBS panel show The Talk and two syndicated talkers, The Jennifer Hudson Show and Sherri, hosted by Sherri Shepherd, are returning to production for season premieres in the coming weeks. While they're walking a fine line, they're not officially crossing any lines, since most talk shows are covered by a different contract than struck productions (called the “Network Television Code”). But it's a messy situation, Entertainment Weekly points out, since WGA writers cannot write or promote struck work, including talk shows like The Talk, while SAG-AFTRA members cannot promote any struck work if they appear on these shows.
FYI:
The Writers Guild of America has been on strike since May 2, while the Screen Actors Guild has been on strike since July 14.
The Biggest News From Apple’s Event
The iPhone 15 wasn’t the only major reveal that Apple made during the ‘Wanderlust’ showcase
I'm sure you've heard by now, but Apple unveiled its latest products—including the new iPhone 15 models and Series 9 Apple Watch—during its annual September event in Cupertino, California, on Tuesday. The dust is still settling on a whole avalanche of news, but here are all the most important details you should know.We have a new iPhone. But no, it doesn't fold (despite my many mentions in this newsletter and current letter-writing campaign to the company). The big news is that the iPhone 15 (Pro and otherwise) ditches the Lightning connector for USB-C. Gear Patrol says that means only about three to five more years of trying to purge your Apple gear with Lightning ports. Overall, though, USB-C on iPhone is a welcome update. They also boast an impressive camera update and add the 'Dynamic Island' that initially only came with the iPhone 14 Pro and Pro Max models. As for the 15 Pro, it now comes with a thinner bezel and a lighter design thanks to a titanium build. These phones are kinda heavy, right?The company also revealed the new Watch Series 9. It now comes with an upgraded S9 processor, allowing for “all-day” battery life. The watch also features a “double-tap” gesture that involves tapping your index finger and thumb together twice to do things like answer calls or snooze an alarm. This is cool, but also basically training us on gestures that will surely come in handy when the Vision Pro headset officially hits shelves.
Dig Deeper:
The Verge says that Apple’s keynotes are iconic. How well can you remember them? Test your knowledge and take their quiz.
In Other News
Everyone, six months and older, should get the updated COVID vaccine.
Here Is What’s Ahead Now That Republicans Are Opening an Impeachment Inquiry Into President Joe Biden
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Hydration Requires More Than Just Fluid
Proper hydration is really about fluid *balance*
When it comes to hydration, many of us think we simply need to drink more. Down some water and that's that. But there's more to quality hydration than simply getting more fluids into your body. The key is fluid balance. That's why electrolytes are so crucial to maintaining optimal health.Anyone who has dealt with dehydration knows what it feels like—everything from brain fog and fatigue to weakness and muscle cramps. But drinking plain water won't replenish you. The secret to fluid balance is sodium—an essential electrolyte. LMNT has 1,000 mg of sodium per stick, along with magnesium and potassium, in a ratio that's been proven to hydrate you quickly and efficiently, without sugar or any other dodgy ingredients. Plus, it comes in eight refreshing flavors (my current favorite? The lemon habanero.)
TRY IT YOURSELF:
Free sample pack with any purchase. That's eight single serving packets with any order.
Shopping
What We’re Buying
A wool cardigan
This cardigan is knit from a wool blend, and the subtle donegal print is excellent for fall. Wear this at night as summer dwindles, and sport it as a mid-layer come wintertime.
Get It:
Kura cardigan, $249 / $125 by A Kind of Guise
Morning Motto
Mom’s always right.
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