The Daily Valet. - 9/30/22, Friday
✔️ One More Reason to Love Dogs
Friday, September 30th Edition
Starting the day off with dog news is never a bad idea, right?
Cory Ohlendorf , Editor ⋯ @coryohlendorf
Today’s edition is presented by
Today’s Big Story
Dogs Can Smell Our Stress
Ruff day? Your pup knows it. In an experiment, dogs were surprisingly accurate in detecting stress in humans.
As if we needed more reason to love them. There’s now scientific evidence adding another impressive skill to the long list of endearing traits of dogs: The ability to smell when you’re stressed out.
It’s long been widely believed that dogs can detect extreme emotions by smell. Now scientists at Queen’s University Belfast in the U.K. have proven that a dog’s nose knows.
According to NewScientist, when we are stressed, our body responds with a host of physical changes. Our heart rate jumps, we get clammy and the cocktail of chemicals in our sweat and saliva changes. Previous studies have found that dogs can smell things like COVID-19 and cancer in humans. But this experiment proved that dogs can smell the difference between odors from humans when they’re stressed and when they’re calm.
For the new experiment, four dogs were presented with sweat and breath samples collected from human volunteers—before and after the people were tasked with completing a difficult math exercise in front of other people. (I’m starting to sweat just thinking about it.)
The canine participants were able to detect with a greater than 90% accuracy which samples came from before and which came from after the 36 human volunteers faced their fears of public mathematics. “This study provides further evidence of the extraordinary capabilities of ‘man’s best friend,’” the study’s first author, animal psychologist Clara Wilson, told NBC News.
The discovery does have some real world applications, too. Service dogs who assist people with mental health conditions like anxiety and post-traumatic stress disorder may benefit from these findings, Wilson said. The findings also open the door to future research to investigate if dogs can discriminate between emotions. But, for now, let’s just make sure all dogs get extra treats for taking care of us, okay?
↦ FYI: Dogs have 220 million olfactory receptors compared with humans’ 50 million.
Hurricane Ian Isn’t Giving Up
Floods trap many in Florida as Ian heads to South Carolina
Recovery efforts are underway throughout Florida in the aftermath of devastating Hurricane Ian. Hours after weakening to a tropical storm while barreling across Florida, Ian regained hurricane strength Thursday evening over the Atlantic. It's expected to head toward the Carolinas later today.
Damage from hurricane was coming into clearer view in southwest Florida on Thursday evening, Gov. Ron DeSantis said as he described cars floating in water and concrete slabs where houses once stood. He said the storm caused a “500-year flooding event” as Coast Guard helicopters were plucking trapped residents from the roofs of homes and millions were struggling to get their power back on.
At least 14 people were reported dead in counties across the state, a number that's expected to rise substantially. Sheriffs in southwest Florida said 911 centers were inundated by thousands of stranded callers, some with life-threatening emergencies.
President Joe Biden said Hurricane Ian could end up being the deadliest storm in Florida history. Meanwhile, he declared an emergency in South Carolina and ordered federal assistance as Ian moved toward the state. According to the National Hurricane Center, it may not be as strong now, but it will still bring the same life-threatening storm surge, flooding and destructive winds.
↦ Dig Deeper: Scientists say that climate change is making storms like Ian more common and more intense.
Partner
There's a better way to get more alert than downing an energy drink. Turns out, you don't need more caffeine, but you could very well be deficient in this vital bodily element.
Americans Plan to Travel a Lot More
And here we thought the post-pandemic travel boom was behind us
As summer wraps up, there's been talk that the post-pandemic travel boom is winding down as well. After all, a survey back in June found that 80% of Americans were planning on traveling (some more than once) over the summer to make up for lost time. But that boom might still be, uh ... booming.
Early fall has historically been the “off season,” but there doesn't seem to be an off season this year. Per a new study, affluent Americans (with plenty of PTO) are gearing up to take almost twice as many international trips over the course of the next 12 months, compared to before the pandemic.
And now that the dollar has never been stronger, it goes a whole lot further overseas. In fact, Skift reports that Americans anticipate spending just north of $15,000 on international travel in the coming year, which apparently equates to 3.8 vacations a year.
Of course, InsideHook points out that while that's all well and good, particularly for the places the moneyed travelers are frequenting (Europe, Canada, the South Pacific and the Caribbean) that rely heavily on tourist revenue, it doesn't bode well for the rest of us who have been patiently waiting for the crowds to ebb. Or the understaffed airports who have been waiting with bated breath for even the slightest reprieve.
↦ FYI: Speaking of traveling like a boss, here’s a little travel tip from me to you: Don’t overlook the skycap.
A Weekend Pairing
‘The Greatest Beer Run Ever’ + a Classic Bud
The Greatest Beer Run Ever, streaming today on Apple TV+, is a silly title for a film based on the remarkable true story of a New York Merchant Marine who, in 1967, took a freighter to Vietnam just so he could spend three days on furlough bringing a duffel bag filled with American beer to his enlisted buddies from back home. What starts as a hare-brained plan, quickly becomes more than just a drunken bet.
This is a war film in which the protagonist is a hapless observer rather than active participant, so it takes on a unique (sometimes humorous) tone. Zach Efron plays the firefighter John ‘Chickie’ Donohue. He has a naive approach to the war, at first. But he quickly gets an education from a cynical American photojournalist (played by Russell Crowe) and sees firsthand that the in-country chaos that characterizes the conflict isn't like he imagined war to be. According to the Washington Post, the film like its hero, eventually matures into something with a greater appreciation of nuance. The A.V. Club wasn't impressed, but Empire says that while it borders on goofy at times, the film is entertaining, fun and still manages to make some poignant points about war and friendship.
↦ Your Pairing:Pabst Blue Ribbon plays a supporting role in the movie, but I’m not recommending that to readers I care about. No, you’re far better cracking open a similarly cheap beer that I can stand behind. A classic Budweiser is crisp and easy-drinking, with a slight sweetness and malty finish.
In Other News
Other Things We’re Talking About Today
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Partner
Don’t Overlook Your Hydration
This vital element is key to preventing soreness and a sluggish workout recovery
It's one of the most important rules when it comes to fitness: Don't overlook your recovery. Because this is when your muscles rebuild to get stronger and bigger. The key, of course, is to focus on recovery after substantial activity. Something that a lot of us tend to forget.
I've learned this the hard way. An avid weekend cycler, I found that when I push myself and clock 50+ miles on the bike, I'll be sluggish and sore for a couple of days—if I don't take care of myself. Downing some LMNT upon returning home has been amazing at ensuring a less painful “day after”.
That's because during a workout, dehydration occurs when fluid losses (be it from sweating, increased core temperatures or even breathing) are accompanied by the loss of electrolytes—vital minerals that aid in healthy cell signaling and function. LMNT packs a wallop of a punch with a science-backed ratio of sodium, magnesium and potassium. There's no sugar or mystery ingredients, but there is a refreshing taste—especially after a hard workout. But the real bonus is keeping all that unnecessary pain away.
What We’re Buying
This robe offers a luxe blend of jaspe and ringspun cotton in a waffle weave pattern for maximum softness and quality. And for less than $100 it will be your go-to loungewear for morning and night.
↦ Get It: $128 / $96 by Upstate
Partner
Upgrade Your Pillow (With This Discount)
Shopping for a pillow can be tough. They all seem fine, but end up being too firm or too soft. Marlow, created by the founders of Brooklinen, spent eight years researching, surveying and prototyping the perfect pillow. And the key was a unique, adaptable design that incorporates hidden zipper channels—just zip or unzip to adjust the loft profile that suits your individual sleep style. This way, you can switch up your squishiness without any of the mess of adding or subtracting filling. Speaking of which, NASA technology was utilized to create the ultra comfortable and cooling-infused memory foam and poly-fiber filling for maximum comfort and support. Right now, you can get 10% off your purchase with the code VALET. And since it’s during the brand’s one-year birthday sale event, the more you buy, the more you save. Pick up a pair of pillows and you’ll save 25%. Plus, it comes with Brooklinen’s best-in-class customer service and a risk-free warranty, so you’re guaranteed no regrets.
↦ Get It: $65 / $58.50 by Marlow (with code VALET)
Morning Motto
Keep it simple. Simplicity is underrated.
↦ Follow: @rickrubin
That’s all for today...
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