The Daily Valet. - 9/25/23, Monday
✔️ It's Officially Turned
Monday, September 25th Edition
By Cory Ohlendorf, Valet. Editor
Yes, it’s officially fall … but let’s enjoy the extra daylight until we have to “fall back” in November.
Today’s Big Story
It’s Officially Fall
Let’s talk a little about the fall equinox and what it means
Summer is really over. And after record heat baked much of the Northern Hemisphere over the past few months, the arrival of fall and cooler temperatures will no doubt come as a relief to many. The official change in seasons was marked by the autumnal equinox, which arrived early Saturday at 2:50 a.m. Eastern time.But what is an equinox and what does it really have to do with the changing of the seasons? Well, to get technical, the term “equinox” comes from the Latin word equinoxium, meaning equality between day and night. During the equinox, the Earth's axis is tilted neither towards nor away from the sun, so both hemispheres receive equal amounts of sunlight, which results in day and night being equal in length.This is also a time of change as the days get shorter and the nights get longer, as the Northern hemisphere begins to prepare for winter. Since the trees receive less sunlight (which causes the production of chlorophyll) the green pigment in leaves, naturally decreases. The cooler air helps chlorophyll break down as well, allowing other pigments in leaves to become more visible. This is why leaves turn yellow, orange, red and purple in the autumn.However, not everywhere experiences the changes at the same time. The rate of change depends on your latitude, or distance from the equator. Near the fall equinox, Washington begins losing two minutes and 30 seconds of daylight per day, while Miami loses only 90 seconds. At higher latitudes, the loss of light is more dramatic: Seattle's daylight vanishes by nearly 3½ minutes each day, and in Anchorage, the difference is more than 5½ minutes.And even before we, as humans, understood what was happening, we had ways to keep track of such seasonal events. Our ancient ancestors didn't have satellites (or even clocks), but they knew a lot about the movement of the sun across the sky—enough to build massive monuments and temples that, among other purposes, served as giant calendars to mark the seasons. From Stonehenge to the Megalithic Temples of Malta, these massive structures were built to align with the sun on equinoxes like this.
FYI:
While shorter days and longer nights inevitably bring chillier weather as we head into autumn, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration is forecasting above-normal temperatures for early fall.
Screenwriters Reach Tentative Deal With Studios
WGA, AMPTP Reach Historic Contract Agreement to End 146-Day Writers Strike
After several long consecutive days of negotiations, the Writers Guild of America and the labor group representing studios and streamers reached a tentative deal late Sunday night on a new contract—outlets were calling it a major development that could precipitate the end of a historic, 146-day writers' strike.The guild, which represents more than 11,000 screenwriters, will now vote on Tuesdaywhether to accept the deal, which includes most of what they had demanded from studios, including increases in royalty payments for streaming content and guarantees that artificial intelligence will not encroach on writers' credits and compensation.“We can say, with great pride, that this deal is exceptional – with meaningful gains and protections for writers in every sector of the membership,” the WGA’s negotiating committee wrote in an email to sent to members. According to Variety, the strike itself will still be in force through the guild's contract approval and ratification process. But picketing has been suspended as of Sunday night. Details of the contract agreement won't be released until the final language is completed over the coming days.
Meanwhile:
As the actors’ strike continues on, most television shows and movies will not be able to resume without them. But late-night and daytime talk shows could return.
Would You Video Chat With the Cop Pulling You Over?
A new App promises to do just that
It's not a great feeling ... when you see those lights flashing in your rearview mirror and you know you're about to have to talk to that cop pulling you over. And it could be even scarier if you're a person of color. But the Los Angeles County Sheriffs are trying something a bit different to improve interactions between the public and police. A new app is being tested that will allow people to video call the officer that's pulling them over.The app, from a company called SafeStop, will apparently allow you to first interact with the cop over video before they come to your car's window—making it safer for everyone. “Traffic stops are one of the most common and scrutinized law enforcement interactions between law enforcement and your community,” the app's co-founder Jackson Lallas told NBC News.LA County Sheriffs West Hollywood Capt. William Moulder called the app “an innovative new tool for our Deputies to use in appropriate situations during traffic stops.” For instance, it can help identify how many people are in a car with tinted windows. And to incentivize drivers to use it, Jalopnik reports that for a limited time, SafeStop will pay a percentage of a driver's ticket when they use the app.
Dig Deeper:
Last year, at least 86 people were killed by police in interactions that began as traffic stops. In 2021 it was 117, according to the Mapping Police Violence database.
Usher Will Headline Super Bowl Halftime
The iconic performer will take the NFL's biggest stage in Las Vegas This February
After months of speculation and rumors of who's been asked and who's turned it down, Usher was confirmed on Sunday as the headliner for the 2024 Super Bowl Halftime Show (presented by Apple Music). The eight-time Grammy-winning artist from Atlanta will take the stage on February 11 at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas—the first time the big game will take place in that city.According to Billboard, Usher has been performing his vast collection of R&B hits during his Las Vegas residency and also announced that his ninth album, Coming Home, will arrive on Super Bowl Sunday. While he performed at the Super Bowl halftime show in 2011 as a complement to the lead act, the Black Eyed Peas, this will be first time as the main performer.The New York Times reports that Usher's participation is part of the NFL's partnership with Jay-Z's sports and entertainment agency Roc Nation, which was signed in 2019 to boost the quality of its halftime shows. “Beyond his flawless singing and exceptional choreography, Usher bares his soul,” Jay-Z said in a statement. “I can't wait to see the magic,” he added.
Countdown:
NBC Sports has ranked the 15 best Super Bowl halftime shows in history.
In Other News
The samples fetched from deep space parachuted into the Utah desert over the weekend.
NBC News Poll: Overwhelming Majorities Express Concerns About Biden, Trump Ahead of the 2024 Presidential Race
Have you heard about ...
The Long Read
Festival organizers, meteorologists, and more sound off on the strange challenges and increasing risks of presenting outdoor live music
This summer alone, Primavera Sound Madrid, Tennessee’s Bonnaroo, German metal festival Wacken Open Air, Scottish folk festival Tiree, Michigan rave Electric Forest, and our own Pitchfork Music Festival were either paused, preempted, or aborted due to inclement weather.”
- By Philip Sherburne
Read It:
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Shopping
What We’re Buying
A cozy pullover
Don't let this shirt confuse you. Is it sweatshirt? An overshirt? The ideal layer for transitional weather? Yes. Yes, to all three. Wythe is a brand that does an amazing job of updating vintage styles unearthed from decades ago. For this half-zip sweatshirt ($188), they added a deeper zipper and then classic overshirt details—from buttoned cuffs on the sleeves and a generous collar to button-closure chest pockets with the brand's signature acorn flap. Plus, the whole thing is cut from a super-soft cotton fleece for ultimate cool-weather comfort.
Want more?
The five stylish items you should be buying this week.
Morning Motto
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