The Buffalo suspect’s online diary

Plus, how a photographer helped shelter animals find their forever homes.

View this email online May 22, 2022 This week, we look at the digital logs believed to be left behind by the gunman accused of killing 10 people in Buffalo, N.Y. Plus, we lay out advice for going analog and investing. Scott’s Weekly Weigh-in Scott Olson/Getty Images A good weekend to you. It’s been another week of tough news. The people of Buffalo’s East Side continue to cling to one another as many memorials begin after last week’s mass shooting. Eva Doyle, a columnist for The Buffalo Criterion, a Black newspaper, told us she is determined to get back out into her community. “We cannot hide in our houses,” she said. “We are a strong people, although we are grieving.” Years ago, we did a story about a support group at a New York hospital for people who said they had been abducted aboard UFOs. The doctors didn’t necessarily believe anyone had been aboard anything more otherworldly than a New York subway. But the group participants were able to make more progress with their emotional health if they could share stories with people who had similar…perceptions.    This week’s congressional hearings about UFOs — now called UAPs, or unexplained aerial phenomena — reminded me of what a former very highly placed government official told me years ago. The truth is out there!   Kids in the Hall, the famed Canadian comedy troupe of the 1980s and 90s, still perform together every few years. But a reboot of their sketch comedy, taking on current clichés and mores, is a fresh chance to laugh at a time we might especially appreciate laughter. We spoke with the original founders, Dave Foley and Kevin McDonald. When the interview was over, producer Danny Hensel told the duo, “You can press the button to stop recording.” And I cheered to hear them say, “Oh, we never want to press that button!”   I know how they feel. Scott Simon Scott Simon is one of NPR's most renowned news anchors. He is the host of Weekend Edition Saturday and one of the hosts of the morning news podcast Up First. Be sure to listen to him every Saturday on your local NPR station, and follow him on Twitter. Newsletter continues after sponsor message Stories you might have missed   Kent Nishimura/Los Angeles Times via Getty Images There were clear red flags in the Buffalo shooting suspect's digital footprint, experts say. Extremism researchers are poring over a Discord chat log spanning nearly 600 pages that is believed to be authored by the accused gunman. They say the digital record paints a picture of a committed racist who was obsessed with the mechanics of carrying out a massacre. One question looms large: Why didn’t anyone intervene? Smallpox is the only human disease to be completely eradicated. This woman was the last known person to have it. In 1975, a WHO medical officer traveled to a remote village in Bangladesh, at that time the last country in the world to have cases of variola major. He was there to meet a toddler named Rahima Banu, who now holds a remarkable place in the history of the disease’s eradication. This is her story. Here are 5 key tips to help you get started investing. Millions of Americans invest in the stock market to grow their wealth over time. Even when the market feels like it's all over the place, getting started now can help set you up for a more prosperous future. Our correspondent breaks down the best advice. Editor's pick   Maggie Epling These shelter animals weren’t getting adopted. One photographer had an idea: glam shots. After hearing that a Kentucky shelter was struggling to find forever homes for their black cats and dogs — owing to superstition — she decided she had to do something. She picked up her camera and photographed the furry friends, showcasing their beauty and character. Adoption calls shot up. Take a look at the dazzling pooches. Before you go…   Photo Illustration by Estefania Mitre/NPR; Getty Images The heavy metal wildman Matt Pike always found inspiration in esoteric sources. Then he turned to conspiracy theories. The Black man falsely accused of threatening a white woman while bird-watching in Central Park is getting a bird-watching TV show. 14 states had significant miscounts in the 2020 census — a revelation that comes after House seats were already divvied up for the next decade. Feeling tired of the internet? Here’s a guide to disconnecting — and embracing an analog way of life. Listen to your local NPR station. Visit NPR.org to hear live radio from WBEZ (edit station). Enjoying this newsletter? Forward to a friend! They can sign up here. Looking for more great content? Check out all of our newsletter offerings — including Daily News, Politics, Health and more! You received this message because you're subscribed to Best of NPR emails. This email was sent by National Public Radio, Inc., 1111 North Capitol Street NE, Washington, DC 20002 Unsubscribe  |  Privacy Policy