The Daily Valet. - 5/16/22, Monday

✔️ Where Do We Go From Here?

Monday, May 16th Edition

Cory Ohlendorf, Editor in Chief of Valet.

My apologies for a tough start today.

Cory Ohlendorf , Editor ⋯ @coryohlendorf

Today’s edition is presented by

Today’s Big Story

Grief and Anger After a Massacre

‘Do we once again shrug and just go on about things, pretending that it won’t happen again?’

A retired police officer, an educator and advocate for civil rights, store employees and everyday shoppers were among those killed when a gunman opened fire at a grocery store in what authorities are calling a “straight-up racially motivated hate crime” in a predominantly Black neighborhood of Buffalo this weekend.

The story of a little girl has stuck with me. She was shopping with her parents, picking up a birthday cake, when the shots rang out. Her quick-thinking dad picked her up and ran into the milk coolers and hid while the gunman was stalking through the store.

Of the 13 people shot, 11 were Black and two were white, Buffalo Police said. All 10 of the victims who were killed were Black. The suspect is an 18-year-old white man who livestreamed the whole thing on the gaming platform Twitch.

The killer (who made a school shooting threat last year) researched the local demographics and arrived a day in advance to conduct reconnaissance, officials said Sunday. He also published a 180-page document online that repeats a series of racist conspiracy theories often referred to as the “Great Replacement” in an attempt to justify his plan.

It’s just depressing on so many levels. There is a problem with men being poisoned by false ideas and ugly lies on the internet. They’re essentially radicalized into rage-filled shooting sprees and countless lives are ruined. It makes you wonder if anything can (or will) change for the better?

As the Buffalo News editorial board asked: “How do we prevent these horrific shootings from happening? Do we once again shrug and just go on about things, pretending that it won’t happen again?”

↦ FYI: The carnage in Buffalo overshadowed the weekend’s other mass shootings, including Sunday afternoon’s attack at a California church.

Ukraine Wins Eurovision

Ukraine’s entry was favored to win the Grand Final as much on sympathy as on merit

I'll be honest, other than that Will Ferrel movie I saw in the early days of the pandemic, I don't know much about the Eurovision Song Contest. But I do know it's a big deal.

Launched in 1956 as a tranquil way for European countries to compete against one another, the singing competition boasts that it's helped keep the peace in Europe. Organized by the European Broadcasting Union, the event is marketed as a place where countries put aside their cultural differences and overcome language barriers through the power of music.

Ukraine's rap and folk group Kalush Orchestra, riding a record number of votes from the public and a kinetic song that became an anthem for suffering mothers, overtook the United Kingdom, Sweden and Spain to capture the top prize on Saturday.

The band released a new music video Sunday of its winning hit “Stefania” that features scenes of war-ravaged Ukraine and women in combat gear. According to Billboard, they're returning to Ukraine today after being given special permission to leave the country to attend the competition—most Ukrainian men between age 18 and 60 are barred from leaving in case they are needed to fight.

↦ Dig Deeper: The winner always hosts the next year's contest. Variety examines what the plan is if Ukraine is not in a position to host.

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Flight Prices Are Skyrocketing

But there are still ways savvy travelers can save money this summer

In the last year, the consumer price index for airline tickets has shot up by 25%—the largest jump since the Federal Reserve began tracking the index in 1989. Last month alone, airfares spiked 18.6%, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Despite those high prices, Americans aren't exactly hesitating to break out their credit cards and book a trip. According CNBC, spending at airlines and travel agencies is up a whopping 60% year-over-year. But as resource-strapped airlines work to get more planes in the air, traveling on a budget this summer seems unlikely.

But not entirely impossible. Because as the big airlines raise prices, new carriers like Breeze and Avelo are offering tickets that are actually still affordable. How? Well, they use new planes (which require less maintenance) and they use customer service tech that allows you to reach reps via chat or text instead of through the phone.

Other ways to score a deal? Travel writer Natalie Compton says you can use Kayak's Explore Tool, search on Skyscanner for flights to “everywhere” or try Google Flights for trips to specific regions during a range of time (i.e., a two-week trip from Los Angeles to Europe in July). You can also set up price alerts from those sites, as well as Hopper or AirfareWatchDog.

↦ Meanwhile: What’s the deal with plane passengers AirDropping other passengers?

First Come Pets ... Then Babies?

Loving a cat or dog can open your heart to the potential of caring for a tiny human

After the first exhausting month of caring for my first puppy, I told my Mom, “I thought I wanted kids, but this is making me think twice!” She set me straight though: “Raising a dog is selfless—your kids will eventually take care of you. Your dog won't do that.”

But apparently, pet rearing has become the first step for many people on the road to parenthood. Mic called it a gateway drug. “I've seen that a lot of couples want to start out with a dog to test out fur baby behaviors and see how they do with a puppy—trying to iron out some strategies before they have a human child,” says Melissa Geraghty, a health psychotherapist.

It's certainly a smart strategy. Having something you love rely on you definitely teaches you a lot about yourself and your priorities. And the latest stats seem to support the theory. The number of U.S. births has declined every year since 2008 (except for 2014) and last May, the birthrate fell to its lowest point ever.

But animal adoptions have skyrocketed—further boosted by the pandemic. More than 23 million American households—nearly 1 in 5 nationwide—adopted a pet during the pandemic, according to ASPCA data.

↦ Dig Deeper: Thought Catalog has put together 10 reasons why everyone should get a puppy before having a baby.

In Other News

↦ Finland, Sweden Inch Closer to Seeking NATO Membership

↦ Want to Spot a Liar? Science Says Ask Them Questions Like This.

↦ Here Are the Most Overrated Tourist Destinations (and Where to Go Instead)

Other Things We’re Talking About Today

Kendrick Lamar

Japanese denim

Statement sofas

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What We’re Eyeing

Take your knit polo to the next level. You definitely need one this season, and this one ($138) is knit from a super soft cashmere that is certified to the AbTF's The Good Cashmere Standard—which ensures the welfare of the cashmere goats, protects natural resources and improves the working conditions of farmers and farmworkers in Inner Mongolia. The buttonless placket gives it a relaxed vibe and while it comes in four colorways, this light beige seems perfect for both work and play.

↦ For more? 5 stylish items to buy this week