The Daily Valet. - 9/15/22, Thursday

✔️ They Just Gave It Away

September 15, 2022

Thursday, September 15th Edition

Cory Ohlendorf, Editor in Chief of Valet.

I feel like buying something from Patagonia today.

Cory Ohlendorf , Editor ⋯ @coryohlendorf

Today’s Big Story

Patagonia’s Founder Gives Away Brand

The reluctant billionaire just donated the entire company, worth $3 billion, to fight climate change

Patagonia founder Yvon Chouinard announced Wednesday that he is giving away the outdoor-apparel company—an unprecedented move intended to help combat climate change.

The first thing I (and a few others) thought of was poor Greg on Succession, mourning the loss of his inheritance after his grumpy grandpa announces that he’s giving away his entire fortune to Greenpeace. But in real life, there are no unhappy heirs. Chouinard, his wife and two adult children all agree in the mission and have transferred their ownership of Patagonia, valued at about $3 billion, to a specially designed trust and a nonprofit organization.

“I am dead serious about saving this planet,” he wrote in a letter posted to the company’s website. “Earth is now our only shareholder.” The plan not only preserves the company’s independence, but ensures that all of its profits—some $100 million a year—are used to combat climate change and protect undeveloped land around the globe.

The decision, which was first reported by the New York Times, reflects Chouinard’s maverick approach to tying his business to conservation and political activism. As Gear Patrol puts it: “For just shy of 50 years, Patagonia has been a symbol in the outdoor industry and in the mainstream zeitgeist as a symbol of how to do capitalism differently ... this is a powerful move to demonstrate a responsible way to be a for-profit company.”

As a certified B-Corp and California Benefit Corporation, Patagonia was already donating 1% of its sales each year to grassroots activists—and it intends to keep doing so. Fewer than 6,000 companies around the world are certified as B-Corp businesses. They have to meet strict environmental, social and governance standards to gain certification.

Apparently, Patagonia considered, and rejected the idea of a sale or IPO, since neither would guarantee that its values could be upheld. This turned out to be the only option where the brand could talk the talk and walk the walk.

↦ FYI: Patagonia was the first brand in the world to be certified by the Traceable Down Standard as well as the Responsible Wool Standard.

End of Pandemic ‘Is in Sight’

The World Health Organization says, ‘so let’s seize this opportunity’

On Wednesday, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, director-general of the World Health Organization, said that the end of the pandemic “is in sight.” But he also cautioned that “we are not there yet.”

Last week, the number of weekly reported deaths from COVID was the lowest since March 2020. “If we don't take this opportunity now, we run the risk of more variants, more deaths, more disruption and more uncertainty, so let's seize this opportunity,” Tedros added.

According to Reuters, the director-general's remarks are the most optimistic since the United Nations agency declared the coronavirus outbreak a pandemic over two years ago. And while official case counts have become significantly underreported, trends have shown that both globally and in the U.S., infections are steadily dropping.

WHO released six policy briefs Wednesday that outline key actions for governments to take to end the pandemic. The briefs are based on the evidence and experience of the past 32 months and offer guidance on how to save lives, protect health systems and avoid social and economic disruption.

↦ Meanwhile: In a long-awaited report, the Lancet COVID-19 Commission criticized the WHO, saying they “acted too cautiously and too slowly” on several urgent matters.

Are the New iPhones Worth the Upgrade?

Reviewers seem to agree, “welcome to early adopter island ...”

Every time a new iPhone is announced, the talk inevitably turns to “Well, is it worth upgrading? Just to have the latest model?” It's a tough conversation, of course, since everyone's got a different spec that tops their list.

But there is one feature that seems to be getting the most attention in reviews that are hitting publications this week. Yep, I'm talking about the swap from the notch to a punch-hole cutout that houses the selfie camera/sensor. “In true Apple fashion, the company is also giving the feature a fancy name: Dynamic Island,” writes Engadget. “Leave it to Apple to be late to the party, do things a little differently and slap some grandiose branding on it.”

But reviewers seem to like it. WIRED calls this space as a smart second screen of sorts. “If you play some music, the pill expands slightly to show album art and a music visualizer. Tap it to hop into your music app, or press and hold it to access playback controls. It's the same when you get a phone call, start Maps navigation, or track a Lyft ride.”

Cnet agrees and while they concede that it's not the best name, “it is truly one of the best features” on the new iPhone. The Verge says the island is meant to feel more like hardware than software—it replaces and improves all the system status indications across iOS, but it's not a replacement for the Notification Center yet. So, I guess that means I'm upgrading my phone for a slightly better camera and a shape shifting little island at the top of my phone.

Tinder for Travelers

A new app is helping travelers meet up and discover destinations

Now here's a novel idea: a new app called OfftheGrid is aiming to bring a Tinder-like experience to the travel market, by having its users swipe and chat with like-minded travelers while also discovering unique places to visit.

The app gives users a way to share photos and videos of their travels, post about an upcoming trip, arrange meetups with others and learn about new travel destinations. According to TechCrunch, what's most notable is the Tinder-esque feature in the “Discover” tab that allows users to vote on photos from people around the world by swiping left or right—much like you do on matches.

I guess it was only a matter of time before the two activities—lust and wanderlust—were combined. There's a good reason why dating apps are inundated with travel photos. According to Vox, travel photos tend to receive 30% more likes than the average photo. And one study from Match Group found that 62% of men and 74% of women want a partner who shares their travel interests.

The idea, according to the app's creator, is to make it easier for solo travelers to meet people, which is, in theory, a good idea. But, as one female travel writer points out, “I'd be remiss not to point out the obvious, which is that there is an inherent safety risk associated with all dating apps—being a solo traveler on top of that introduces a whole new set of risks.” So, just remember to be careful out there.

↦ My Opinion: There's nothing quite like the experience of traveling alone.

In Other News

↦ Mourners Line Up for Miles to Say Goodbye to Queen Elizabeth As Coffin Lies in State at Westminster Hall

↦ Prosecutors Move to Vacate Adnan Syed’s Murder Conviction in the ‘Serial’ Podcast Case

↦ Land Rover Just Unveiled a New Limited-Edition Green Defender to Celebrate Its 75th Birthday

Other Things We’re Talking About Today

Social jetlag

R. Kelly

Remember ‘Avatar’?

Make Some Calls, Save Some Cash

A simple way to save a little money

Most of us have good intentions when it comes to saving money, right?We tell ourselves we'll start saving in the new year, or when we finally get that raise. We vow to start putting cash away for that trip we want to take. But life always has a way of getting that money from you one way or another.

So think of it in a different way. If you can't save more, you've got to spend less. And one simple yet effective way to spending less is to pick up the phone. As the saying goes, money talks. After just a few phone calls, you could be spending significantly less every month.

But first you'll have to put up with automated menus and talking to someone at a call center about your bills. I know, making those kind of calls is a drag. Maybe that's why so few people do it. But trust me, if you put in a little time, you can save a lot of cash.

According to Kristin Wong, author of Get Money, you can often negotiate a better price or a discount on nearly all of your bills, just by inquiring over the phone. She says all you have to do is ask, but most people never do because they fear that it'll be a whole big ordeal. She gave us six calls to make (along with what to say) and if you don't do it, you're leaving money on the table.

↦ Read: With just a few phone calls, you could be spending significantly less every month.

What We’re Eyeing

Not ready to dive head-first into the wide pants trend? These are perfect for you then. Based on a vintage pair of Gap khakis from the early '90s, they have a relaxed (but not ultra-wide) fit with a single pleat on each leg. They're cut from a smooth cotton twill and finished with simple welt pockets on the back. The fit is comfortable and the silhouette looks expensive. People will probably think this is an obscure Scandinavian or Japanese label, and not America's most famous mall brand. But because they are the Gap, a promo code good for the next 48 hours means you can get these pants for a little more than twenty bucks.

↦ Get It: $59.95 / $22.95 (w/code GOSHOP) by Gap