It is widely known that George Washington was the first President of the United States. It is also well known that he was a successful general and a statesman who guided the colonies through the Revolutionary War that resulted in the United States’ freedom from Britain under the reign of George III. Washington was therefore a widely popular candidate to stand for president in the first elections. So, when were these elections held, and what happened?   Preparing a New Country The flag of the United States designed by Francis Hopkinson. Source: Wikimedia Commons   Before the United States held its first presidential election, the country was governed by the Articles of Confederation which vested limited power to the Congress of Confederation. Several presidents served as President of Continental Congress, but this station was largely ceremonial, and was very different to the station of the President of the United States which was later established.   After the US Constitution had been ratified by nine states, it came into effect on June 21, 1788. Although several states had not yet ratified the Constitution, for the nine states who had, the laws contained therein were adopted.   The time had come for the fledgling nation to elect its first president. Electors selected by each state would cast their votes and determine who would become president. States had different methods of selecting electors. Some states chose electors via state legislature, while others had some sort of popular vote. Suffrage was only granted to white male landowners. Each elector was able to cast two votes—one for each of their two preferred candidates.    The First Election: 1789 First US presidential election results. Source: Encyclopedia Britannica   The first election in the United States was not contested by different parties, but rather by individuals who were categorized by their political stance. “Federalists” supported the constitution while Anti-Federalists opposed the constitution and its ratification. Of the latter, only George Clinton received electoral votes. Nevertheless, both factions were in favor of George Washington being president. Despite the Anti-Federalist sentiment amongst some, Washington had won the loyalty of those around him—even those who opposed federalization. Washington had been reluctant to re-enter public office, and the campaign was very much a movement to convince him to do so.   From December 15, 1788 to January 7, 1789, the United States ran its first election to select the nation’s president, and on February 7, the electors convened to cast their votes for the president and vice president.   10 states took part, and Washington carried all of them, winning a total of 69 electoral votes. Every elector cast a vote for Washington, making his election completely unanimous. North Carolina and Rhode Island had not ratified the constitution and New York failed to appoint electors, and was declared ineligible.    John Adams won 34 votes and was elected to the position of Vice President. Other candidates were John Jay (9 votes), Robert H. Harrison (6 votes), John Rutledge (6 votes), John Hancock (4 votes), George Clinton (3 votes), Samuel Huntington (2 votes), John Milton (2 votes), James Armstrong (1 vote), Benjamin Lincoln (1 vote), and Edward Telfair (1 vote).    Aftermath of the First Election George Washington print by A Weidenbach after Gilbert Stuart (1755-1828), printed ca. 1876. Source: Library of Congress   The first election was a rudimentary affair compared with the elections that were held subsequently, and the elections that are held today. On April 30, 1789, George Washington arrived in New York from Mount Vernon, and was inaugurated as the first President of the United States. His journey was one of triumph, greeted by red, white, and blue fanfare wherever he went. In 1792, another election was held, and despite his failing health and reluctance to run for office, George Washington was elected again.

  When it comes to notorious unsolved murders, the death of Elizabeth Short, better known as the Black Dahlia, is one that generally tops the list. Prominent for its gruesome details and the death of a beautiful, hopeful young woman, the murder is forever emblazoned on the consciousness of America. While many suspects have been suggested, one name that keeps returning to the discussion is that of Dr. George Hodel. In fact, his own family has even suggested his involvement. Do the accusations against Hodel stand up?   Twisted Genius George Hodel in his 1923 High School yearbook. Source: Steve Hodel   A son of Russian-Jewish parents, George Hodel was raised in California and was born in 1907. He was incredibly intelligent, musically talented, and academically gifted, scoring 186 on an early IQ test. However, he also showed indications of favoring the debauched.   At age fifteen, he began studies at the California Institute of Technology (CalTech). During his tenure, he started a sexual affair with the wife of one of his professors, and as a result, she became pregnant. When the dalliance was revealed, Hodel was expelled from CalTech and moved his focus to interests other than his education for a while.   Becoming Doctor Hodel Dr. Hodel. Source: New York Daily News Archive via Cosmopolitan   During the 1920s and 30s, Hodel took up photography and started a magazine. His first two marriages (there were five in total) occurred during these years, and he had children from both unions.   Eventually, Hodel returned to school, graduating from the University of California-Berkeley with a pre-med degree in 1932. He continued his medical studies and graduated with a medical degree in 1936. Within a few years, he had a thriving medical practice and was soon appointed to lead the county’s Social Hygiene Bureau. In this role, his specialty was venereal disease, but he also performed secret abortions. Many desperate women sought out his expertise, and it was said that Hodel held furtive secrets regarding many locals as a result.   Hodel provides medical services in New Mexico in an undated photo. Source: South Pasadenan   Hodel’s closest companion during this time, besides his respective wives, was his secretary, Ruth Spaulding. In working by his side, she was also privy to a great deal of confidential information about patients and about Hodel himself.   It was rumored that he had engaged in financial fraud in regard to his business. There was also the matter of the illegal abortions that were allegedly performed at the clinic. Spaulding would have been aware of all of these skeletons in Hodel’s closet.   Hodel’s second wife, Dorothy Huston Hodel, worked with him as well, writing scripts for public information programs about venereal disease. Photographed by Man Ray in 1944. Source: Steve Hodel Official Site   In 1945, Spaulding died suddenly. According to the medical examiner, she passed away from a drug overdose, and the matter was ruled a suicide. However, at the time and in the years since, there has been much speculation that Hodel was responsible for Spaulding’s death. He was there when she died and was found to have burned several documents before calling the police to report her death.   Within a few days, he had left for China, volunteering to work with the United Nations for a stint. Since Spaulding’s death was ruled a suicide, there was never an investigation, and Hodel was never officially viewed as a suspect, despite the suspicion of many.   House of Horrors A photo from inside the Sowden House. Troy Gregory photo. Source: Curbed LA   In 1945, Hodel purchased the Sowden House, a Mayan-style structure designed by Lloyd Wright (son of Frank Lloyd Wright). His most recent ex-wife moved to the property as well, along with their children. The unique home soon became a house of horrors under Hodel’s ownership. He physically abused his children in the house’s dark basement and threw twisted, sybaritic parties that were known for involving copious amounts of drugs along with sexual orgies.   Hodel’s 1949 booking photo. LAPD photo. Source: Find A Grave   In fact, Hodel’s daughter, Tamar, ran away in 1949 and was soon taken into police custody. She claimed she ran away after her father and others raped her during a party at the home. Later, she would accuse her father of sexual abuse from the time she was a preteen and of allowing his friends to photograph her nude.   Despite eyewitnesses testifying on her behalf, Tamar was branded a liar, and Hodel was acquitted of incest charges at the end of 1949. In fact, her own mother called her a liar. Tamar was sent to a juvenile detention center after the case.   Tamar maintained that she wasn’t the only woman who suffered at the hands of her father, a claim that would be verified by others who lived in and visited the home. Women were constantly in and out of the home, some willingly, but perhaps, according to witnesses, some not.   The Black Dahlia Elizabeth Short, International News Photo. Source: Rolling Stone   Was one of these women the Black Dahlia, Elizabeth Short? In January 1947, a gruesome sight was discovered by a mother taking a stroll with her child: the bisected body of a young woman. The body was lying just off the sidewalk, completely naked and covered with extensive mutilation. However, the lack of blood at the scene suggested that the murder and maiming had taken place elsewhere.   The Los Angeles police department, in conjunction with the FBI, began an investigation and soon identified the body as Elizabeth Short, a 22-year-old who, like so many others, had moved to California with dreams of becoming a successful actress.   An LAPD bulletin seeking information on Elizabeth Short. Source: FBI   The victim soon became known as the “Black Dahlia,” a spin-off of a popular movie at the time, The Blue Dahlia, in conjunction with her dyed black hair and clothing. The media went wild with the new moniker and the case itself, and it wasn’t hard to see why. Short’s beauty, hopeful dreams, and the violent way in which she died were perfect tabloid fodder.   A Frustrating Mystery Elizabeth Short’s purse is identified at the police station by Robert Manley, the last person believed to see Short alive. Source: Bettmann Archives via Entertainment Weekly   The case was challenging to work from the beginning. Close to fifty people went to the LAPD claiming to be the murderer, hoping for a shot at fame. Tip lines at the station rang day and night. Reporters were even said to withhold evidence in hopes of scoring a big scoop.   Several notorious suspects were named in the case, including Dr. George Hodel. Hodel was questioned, and his home was even wiretapped. On one police tape, Hodel is recorded as saying, “Supposin’ I did kill the Black Dahlia. They couldn’t prove it now. They can’t talk to my secretary [Spaulding] anymore because she’s dead.”   In 1950, a Los Angeles newspaper reported that police were planning to arrest a Black Dahlia suspect, quoting an anonymous source. Imminently, perhaps in response, perhaps coincidentally, Hodel left California, leaving his ex-wives and children behind. He stayed in Hawaii for two years, then moved to the Philippines with a new wife, Hortensia Laguda.   Jefferson Mays played Hodel in the television series I Am The Night. Source: Turner Entertainment Networks   Hodel would spend many more years abroad, save random and brief visits with his sons in Los Angeles. He also made stopovers in Chicago and San Francisco, where he has been posthumously accused of murders during those time frames. In 1990, when he was 83 years old, Hodel permanently returned to the United States with his fifth wife, June Hirano, whom he’d married the year before. He passed away in 1999.   A Son’s Crusade Steve Hodel, left, with his father in an undated photo. Inset is an older photo of the pair from 1943. Source: South Pasadenan   Hodel’s son, Steve Hodel, a former police officer, was tasked with going through some of his father’s things after his death. While looking through an album of photos, he came across some disturbing images among family photos: shots of numerous nude women, including one with black hair that he thought looked familiar but couldn’t place.   Later, when speaking with his half-sister, Tamar, she told him, “You know, Dad was a suspect in the Black Dahlia case,” and the image of the black-haired woman instantly came back to Steve’s mind.   He was disturbed to think that his father may have known Elizabeth Short but believed there was no way he was a murderer. Steve remembered his father as often absent but a “great man.” Other family members call Steve Hodel the “favorite son,” with a stronger attachment to his dad than the other children. He didn’t know many of the details of his father’s sordid side. His first instinct was to prove his father’s innocence.   One of the photos of the black-haired woman found by Steve Hodel in his father’s things. Source: Steve Hodel Official Website   However, Steve soon came to feel that his first impulses were very wrong. After viewing letters that were sent to the police and press by the Black Dahlia’s killer, he was struck by how similar the block printing was to his own father’s. Steve Hodel decided to spend his retirement pursuing the truth behind his father’s involvement in the Black Dahlia case and other potential crimes.   Steve Hodel. Ed Evans photo. Source: Fox News   Steve’s investigation took him throughout Los Angeles, interviewing retired law enforcement agents involved in the case, consulting forensic experts, poring over newspapers, and eventually using the information he gathered to write a book, followed by subsequent titles about his father’s criminality.   Cover art from two books by Steve Hodel. Source: IMDb   The younger Hodel has received some validation for his efforts, with an independent handwriting expert confirming that it is “highly probable” that Dr. Hodel wrote the letters to the police and press. In addition, in 2002, Deputy District Attorney Steven Kay reviewed Steve Hodel’s work and the case as a whole, stating that if George Hodel were alive, he would have no problem filing murder charges against him, confident that he would be convicted.   Steve Hodel speaks to an audience about his most recent book in 2018. Eric Fabbro photo. Source: South Pasadenan   Steve Hodel has continued to research his father’s potential crimes, proposing that he may be tied to the unsolved Zodiac killings in California in the 1960s and others. His family has been generally supportive of his work and agrees with his findings. However, with Hodel’s death, a chance to bring Elizabeth Short’s killer to justice may have also died. Though evidence mounts, the Black Dahlia case will likely remain unsolved. George Hodel was many things: brilliant, abusive, and sick, but whether or not he was a killer remains an unconcluded chapter in his story.

A Prayer for Building Courage and Self-ConfidenceBy Emma Danzey Bible Reading"Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain." – 1 Corinthians 15:58 We all deal with a variety of insecurities and doubts. However, the Lord already knows them. Think about all of the many people in the Bible who wrestled with fear and insecurities: Gideon, Peter, Jonah, and Moses (to name a few). Courage and confidence are things we, with the help of the Holy Spirit and God's Word, can build. There is a difference between earthly pride and Christ-like confidence. Pride is self-reliance and sinful vanity, but Christ-like confidence is a secure identity in Jesus lived out by the power of the Holy Spirit.  What are your greatest insecurities right now? What causes you to feel weak or insignificant? Take these lies to the Lord today. Process your fears with Him; He already knows them, but He wants to hear from your heart and empower you to be an overcomer through Him. Maybe you have given up and believed that you cannot have courage and will never have confidence. Tell Him that. This is not true of you in Christ. He says in Romans 8:37, "No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us." If you are in Christ, you are more than a conqueror. Do not give up hope.  Today, as we pray through today's prayer, may we remember that Christ has called us to stand firm and be unmoved by the trials and obstacles in this world. We are each uniquely gifted for kingdom work for eternity, and the Lord is with us. When we do things in His strength and for His glory, it is never in vain. He has a purpose and even can use us in the midst of our weaknesses. He can receive so much glory when we humbly say yes to Him. Let’s pray: Dear Jesus,Thank You for caring for our needs. Thank You for being willing to meet us in our insecurities, fears, doubts, and defeat. Help us to realize the lies that we have believed. We confess that we so often do not trust You or believe you. We buy into the enemy's lies about us. We forget who we are in You. Forgive us for trusting our sinful hearts over You. Jesus, You have proven Yourself trustworthy. You are the One who calls us chosen, co-heirs, adopted, and friends. Help us to live out of who You say that we are and not the lies that we believe. We pray that You would build our courage and self-confidence as You did with so many people in the Bible. You tell us in Jeremiah 17:7 that we are blessed when we trust in You when our confidence is in You. You tell us in 2 Timothy 1:7 that You gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control. Psalm 27:3 reminds us that even "though an army encamps against us, our hearts shall not fear; though war arise against us, yet we will be confident." We pray boldly these Scriptures over our lives. We ask that You would empower us by Your Word and give us peace to walk forward. You tell us to put on Your armor, which includes the shoes of peace. Shoes indicate walking and moving forward. May Your peace remind us that we can move ahead with Your strength even when we are afraid because we know that You never leave us. We pray against the fiery darts of lies from the enemy. We ask that You would give us the Holy Spirit power to combat these lies with Your Word. Heal us from the moments of failures and weakness in the past. Remind us that You are the God of second chances who gives us new opportunities to trust you and be courageous again. Thank You, Lord, for giving us courage and self-confidence in Christ. Amen. Photo credit: ©Getty Images/Kamonwan Wankaew Emma Danzey's mission in life stems from Ephesians 3:20-21, to embrace the extraordinary. One of her greatest joys is to journey with the Lord in His Scriptures. She is wife to Drew and mom to Graham. Emma serves alongside her husband in ministry, she focuses most of her time in the home, but loves to provide articles on the Bible, life questions, and Christian lifestyle. Her article on Interracial Marriage was the number 1 on Crosswalk in 2021. Most recently, Emma released Treasures for Tots, (Scripture memory songs) and multiple books and devotionals for young children. During her ministry career, Emma has released Wildflower: Blooming Through Singleness, two worship EP albums, founded and led Polished Conference Ministries, and ran the Refined Magazine. You can view her articles on her blog at emmadanzey.wordpress.com and check out her Instagram @Emmadanzey. Related Resource: Remember God’s Enduring Love for You in this Guided Meditation on Psalm 100! This guided Christian meditation from Psalm 100 will help you experience and praise God for his unending love for you. Become aware of God's presence with you, and praise God for his loyal and enduring love from the beginning of time and into the future. Listen to every episode of the So Much More Podcast on LifeAudio.com, or subscribe on Apple or Spotify so you never miss an episode! Now that you’ve prayed, are you in need of someone to pray for YOU? Click the button below! Visit iBelieve.com for more inspiring prayer content. The post A Prayer for Building Courage and Self-Confidence – Your Daily Prayer – September 6 appeared first on GodUpdates.

September 6, 2024 Let Me FinishSHARON GARLOUGH BROWN Lee en español "I cry aloud to the LORD; I lift up my voice to the LORD for mercy. I pour out before him my complaint; before him I tell my trouble." Psalm 142:1-2 (NIV) A few years ago, we had to replace some old windows in our house and decided to add a new window to brighten a dark room. As soon as the installer cut through the wall, daylight poured in. I kept out of his way while he worked but couldn't wait to see the finished product. At day's end, he said he'd return in the morning to replace the other windows. Racing into the room to enjoy my new view, I immediately felt sick. The window was in, but the wall was full of gaps and holes. Who would we hire, and how much would it cost, to repair all the damage? I spiraled. But it wasn't really about the window. That one mess brought to mind all the other messes and disappointments in my life and the lives of my loved ones. So I did what I knew to do. Like the psalmists in Scripture, I poured out my heartfelt lament to God, offering my frustration, anger and fear. I pleaded with Him to be the God I know Him to be. I begged Him to show His faithfulness and intervene on behalf of those crying out to Him. How long, Lord? Why? Where are You?  "I cry aloud to the LORD; I lift up my voice to the LORD for mercy. I pour out before him my complaint; before him I tell my trouble" (Psalm 142:1-2). The next morning, the installer returned. Instead of beginning work on the other windows, he spackled, sanded and repaired all the cracks around the new one, leaving only a small portion of the wall that would need to be painted. As I stood in front of the new window that night, I felt as though the Lord addressed me with three penetrating words: Let Me finish. Those simple words quieted me with loving authority and conviction and provided a place for me to find rest again in the faithfulness of God. This is the invitation of lament. God calls us to pour out our courageous, honest, heartfelt pleas for Him to reveal His goodness, power and love. In lament, we plead for the Kingdom of God to come. And while we wait for God to finish His work, we remember who He is and what He has done in the past so that we can trust Him now in the silence, hiddenness and sorrow. In the waiting, we practice remembering.In the waiting, we practice hope.And in the waiting, we discover again that God is with us and for us - in everything. Lord, give me the courage to tell You where I'm hurting. Help me to be honest with You about my fears, sorrows, disappointments and confusion. Keep me in hope as I wait for You to reveal Your faithfulness to me and to the ones I love. May I trust Your unfailing love, even when I don't understand Your ways. Let Your Kingdom come, Lord. In Jesus' Name, Amen. OUR FAVORITE THINGS Sharon Garlough Brown, bestselling author of the Sensible Shoes series and Shades of Light series, has recently released a children's picture book called Not Finished Yet: Trusting God with All My Feelings. It's a story that invites children, and the grown-ups who love them, to practice offering God all our feelings, even our anger and disappointment with Him. The back of the book features a full-page note from Sharon about the spiritual discipline of lament. Get your copy today! ENGAGE Sharon travels internationally to lead retreats. For more details about her books and events, connect with Sharon on her website! Enter to WIN your very own copy of Not Finished Yet by Sharon Garlough Brown. To celebrate this book, Sharon's publisher will give away 5 copies! Enter to win by leaving a comment here. {We'll randomly select 5 winners and then notify each one in the comments section by Monday, September 9, 2024.} FOR DEEPER STUDY Psalm 77:1-2, "I cried out to God for help; I cried out to God to hear me. When I was in distress, I sought the Lord; at night I stretched out untiring hands, and I would not be comforted" (NIV). Psalm 77 voices some experiences and questions we might not think we're allowed to speak to God. Read the psalm slowly. What might you feel reluctant to say to God? Why? Practice offering the Lord your honest thoughts and feelings. How might this practice deepen your trust in Him? © 2024 by Sharon Garlough Brown. All rights reserved. Proverbs 31 MinistriesP.O. Box 3189 Matthews, NC 28106 www.Proverbs31.org The post Let Me Finish –  Encouragement for Today – September 6, 2024 appeared first on GodUpdates.

Video shows the dramatic moment Green Day were rushed offstage

The news comes in the wake of fan fury over Ticketmaster's 'dynamic ticketing' policy

Imagine keeping your produce fresh and delicious throughout the year without relying on modern refrigeration. A root cellar provides a sustainable method for food storage by utilizing the earth's natural cooling properties to extend your harvest’s shelf life. Even better, constructing a root cellar is a rewarding weekend project that enhances your self-sufficiency. So, are you ready to dig in? A picturesque scene of a homestead with a newly constructed in-ground root cellar. The cellar is located on a shaded, north-facing slope, with wooden doors slightly ajar, revealing shelves filled with fresh produce. Planning Your Root Cellar Before you start building your root cellar, careful planning is essential to ensure it meets your storage needs and functions effectively. From selecting the right location to deciding on the design and gathering the necessary materials, each step plays a crucial role in the success of your project. Choosing the Right Location The first step in constructing a root cellar is finding the perfect site. Ideally, you should choose a north-facing slope with a consistently cool and stable temperature. However, if such a spot isn’t available, look for a shaded area that doesn’t flood easily. Good drainage is crucial in keeping your cellar dry. Additionally, you’ll want to ensure that your chosen location is easily accessible. Deciding on the Design Several design options include in-ground, hillside, and above-ground cellars. In-ground cellars are dug into the earth to provide excellent insulation. Meanwhile, hillside cellars utilize the natural slope for easier entry and stability. On the other hand, above-ground options are simpler to build but may require additional insulation. Choose the design that best suits your needs,  the area climate, and your available space. More importantly, consider your long-term storage goals when deciding on the size and complexity of your cellar. For detailed design inspiration, visit Mother Earth News. Gathering Materials and Tools Before you begin, make sure you have all the necessary materials and tools. A basic in-ground root cellar requires the following: Shovels and digging tools Concrete or cinder blocks Gravel for drainage Wood for framing Insulation materials (straw bales, foam boards, etc.) A door or hatch Ventilation pipes Making everything ready before you start makes the building process much smoother. Additionally, you may consider renting or borrowing specialized equipment if you plan to build a large cellar or if digging the ground presents a challenge. Learn more about essential building tools here. Building the Root Cellar A root cellar is an age-old method of preserving food in a cool, dark, and humid environment. Whether you're a seasoned gardener or someone looking to store produce long-term, building a root cellar can be a practical and rewarding project. Excavation Mark the area where you plan to build your root cellar. Then, dig down to a depth of 8-10 feet, all the while ensuring the walls remain vertical. As you dig, remove rocks and roots that could interfere with the construction. The size of your cellar usually depends on your storage needs, but for a typical small-scale cellar, you’ll probably need an 8×8-foot structure. Furthermore, remember to provide extra space for the walls and insulation. Creating a Drainage System Proper drainage is essential in keeping your cellar dry. Start by laying a gravel bed at the bottom of the hole to help move water away from your cellar. Additionally, consider installing a drainage pipe leading away from the site to prevent water buildup. Incorporating a French drain system can further enhance drainage efficiency if you live in an area with heavy rainfall. For more drainage tips, refer to this guide from The National Resources Conservation Service. Constructing the Walls Next, use concrete or cinder blocks to build the walls of your cellar. These sturdy materials provide excellent insulation from the outside elements. Carefully stack the blocks and ensure a secure and level construction. Depending on the design, you might also need to use mortar to hold the blocks together. Additionally, consider reinforcing the walls with steel rebar for added stability. This applies especially to large cellars or if you expect heavy soil pressure. Insulating the Cellar Insulation helps maintain a consistent temperature inside your root cellar. Natural materials like straw bales are excellent, environmentally friendly insulators. For a more modern approach, you can use foam boards. Line the inside walls with your chosen insulation and secure it in place for maximum efficiency. Additionally, if you live in an area with extreme temperatures, consider adding an extra layer of insulation to better protect your stored goods. Installing the Roof Construct a wooden frame for the roof and make sure it’s sturdy enough to support soil and any additional insulation. Afterward, cover the frame with plywood or similar material. Next, add a layer of insulation on top of the roof structure. Finally, cover the entire roof with a thick layer of soil to act as additional and natural insulation. However, if your region experiences heavy snowfall, make sure your roof can withstand the occasional added weight. Adding the Door A functional, well-insulated, and secure door is critical to your root cellar. Both a thick wooden door and a premade insulated hatch work well for this project. However, make sure it fits snugly to prevent warm air from entering and cool air from escaping. For added security, consider installing a locking mechanism, especially if your cellar’s location is a more accessible or remote area. Ventilation Proper ventilation prevents mold and helps maintain air quality. As such, you can install two ventilation pipes near the floor to draw in fresh air and near the ceiling to expel stale air. This setup promotes natural airflow and keeps the cellar environment optimal for storage. Additionally, consider installing adjustable vents to control airflow and humidity levels throughout the year. Final Touches Once your root cellar is built, it's time to focus on the final details to ensure it functions efficiently and meets your storage needs. Proper organization and monitoring are key to maintaining an optimal environment for preserving your produce. In this section, we’ll guide you through setting up the interior and closely examining the conditions inside your root cellar.   Organizing the Interior Arrange shelves and storage bins inside your root cellar to keep produce organized and easily accessible. Wooden shelves are sturdy and allow air to circulate stored items. Use wire racks or slatted shelves to enhance airflow further and prevent moisture buildup. Monitoring Conditions Keep a thermometer and hygrometer inside your cellar to monitor temperature and humidity levels. The ideal condition for your cellar should be around 32-40°F with 85-95% humidity. Adjust ventilation or add moisture (e.g., damp sand) to maintain these levels if necessary. Additionally, inspect your cellar regularly for signs of mold, pests, or temperature fluctuations and address these issues promptly to ensure the longevity of your stored produce. Reap the Rewards of Your Root Cellar Building a root cellar provides a host of benefits: Extended Shelf Life Root cellars keep fruits and vegetables fresh for months, which reduces waste and saves money. Eco-Friendly Storage Natural cooling methods minimize or even eliminate the need for external energy sources. Increased Self-Reliance A root cellar allows you to store and preserve home-grown produce, enhancing food security. In a single weekend, you can create a functional root cellar that provides year-round storage for your harvest. This project preserves your food and connects you to traditional sustainable living practices. Are you ready to start building? Your journey toward a sustainable and self-sufficient lifestyle begins with a well-built root cellar. Discover more sustainable living projects here.

The CBS Evening News closed out their newscast with a commentary piece on the most recent school shooting in Winder, Georgia. The editorial was high on emotion, but offered little in the way of solutions beyond calls to “do something”.  Watch the commentary in its entirety as aired on the CBS Evening News on Thursday, September 5th, 2024 (click “expand” for transcript): CBS EVENING NEWS 9/5/24 6:56 PM NORAH O’DONNELL: We've spent the last two days confronting a horrifying part of life in America these days: School shootings. Summer recess brought a break from that violence, but as we have all been reminded, that break is over because school shootings seem to be something we are unwilling or unable to change. Here is CBS's Jim Axelrod with tonight's "Eye on America." JIM AXELROD: So now we've got a new name atop the hideous list. STUDENT: He was a very sweet kid. He did not deserve this. Neither did the coach, or everyone else. AXELROD: Winder, Georgia, joins Columbine, Newtown, Uvalde, and hundreds of others with traumatized children. STUDENT: You could hear gunshots, like, just ringing out through the school and you are just wondering which one of those is going to be somebody that you are best friends with or somebody that you love. AXELROD: And parents who rushed to campus not knowing if they would hug their kids or bury them. PARENT: I just dropped everything and sprinted to the car. He got a bullet hole from one side of his backpack to the other side. AXELROD: Winder, Georgia. STUDENT: The gunshots were so close to me, like, my ears started ringing real bad. AXELROD: A new name that’s shorthand for senseless tragedy.  Because it's been such a steady drumbeat in the news cycle for so many years, it might be easy to lose sight of the dimensions of the school shooting epidemic. Since Columbine, a quarter century ago, there have been 388 deadly school shootings in the United States, killing at least 526 people. Let that sink in. JOE BIDEN: But as a nation, we cannot continue to accept the carnage of gun violence. BARACK OBAMA: We’ve endured too many of these tragedies in the past few years. AXELROD: Pick your president. GEORGE W. BUSH: Our nation is shocked and saddened by the news of the shootings at Virginia Tech today. AXELROD: Even your decade. It's been a problem with no solution. BILL CLINTON: Perhaps now America would wake up to the dimensions of this challenge and we could prevent anything like this from happening again. AXELROD: Well, apparently we can. Angel Garza told us that in the days after he lost his 10-year-old, Amerie Jo, in Uvalde. ANGEL GARZA: Nothing is going to change. I mean, this always happens in a small town, nobody expects anything bad to happen and then it happens and everybody wants to make changes, to prevent it from happening, and then it dies down a little bit, and then it happens again, and then we are just in- it’s a cycle. AXELROD: Whoever first defined insanity as "doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different result" wasn't talking about school shootings. But think about it. Insanity. What better word is there to describe where we are? For "Eye on America," I'm Jim Axelrod in New York.  O’DONNELL: These are our children. And our teachers. Something needs to be done. This, too, has become a part of the post-school shooting ritual. The national media come parachute into a city, perform their emotive journalism, advocate for gun control, and then fly back to New York or D.C. without ever addressing the true causes of what led to each individual school shooting. In their view, the problem is always the guns. It is never the litany of breakdowns which always float to the surface in the immediate aftermath of the shooting- most notoriously, “known to authorities” which has become a meme.  But then there are the other breakdowns that go unaddressed, whether these are societal or familial. The media don’t really care about these. They just come in and cry out for gun control. At least they do in most cases. CBS didn’t even do that, choosing instead to clamor for a fix it is unable or unwilling to mention by name. And so Norah O’Donnell closes out the newscast with the familiar “do something” call to action. Even if that “something”, civilian disarmament, would ultimately put the whole of our society at risk.  The media have no solution beyond taking the guns. And emoting. Until the next breakdown which leads to a shooting and we do it all over again. Everything, that is, except actually addressing the underlying causes of school shootings.  

In March 1980, John Favara struck and killed the 12-year-old son of infamous New York mobster John Gotti with his car. Four months after Frank Gotti’s death, Favara mysteriously disappeared. The post Inside The Disappearance Of John Favara, The Man Who Accidentally Killed John Gotti’s Son Frank appeared first on All That's Interesting.