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Suspect in Palisades Fire Arrested: Latest on the Los Angeles Blaze
In October 2025, authorities arrested Jonathan Rinderknecht in connection with the Pacific Palisades Fire, according to The New York Times. The blaze, which devastated suburban hillsides in January, killed 12 people and destroyed thousands of homes.
By Ashley Scott12 months ago in Writers
Progress
Eleven Days ago, I wrote a story called I'm back—maybe? In it, I talked a bit about my personal journey and highlighted some contests outside of Vocal that I was interested in participating in. I'm doing this because I've stepped away from writing for far too long. I've fallen out of practice, and my apathy has turned into the worst bout of writer's block I've ever experienced in my 28 years of life.
By Ashley Lima12 months ago in Writers
The Soul of a Poet
I thought I would write and tell a little about myself. I was born and raised in a rural area of Western North Carolina, in a small mountain community called Spillcorn. It's a place where everyone knows each other, where generations stay rooted in the same hills and hollers. Many who were raised there never left, never received an education, and never traveled farther than the town itself. I was determined to do things differently. I went to college and moved to the big city of Asheville, big to me at least. That move opened my world.
By Tim Carmichael12 months ago in Writers
Why You Should Automate Your Savings Before You See Your Paycheck
Don’t save what is left after spending. Spend what is left after saving. — Warren Buffett The Month I Learned My Lesson When I earned my first paycheck, I believed I had it all figured out. I worked hard for that money and I was ready to treat myself. A new phone cover, a couple nights out, maybe a modest gift for my mom which I deserved. But by the end of the month, I was broke again and worse I didn’t even know where my money went. I told myself next month will be different and it wasn't. Then, one odd day, I stumbled onto a quote that changed how I looked at money forever: If you want to save money, take yourself out of the process. That was the day I found automation and it silently transformed my financial life. The Truth About Why Most People Struggle to Save Let’s be honest, saving is not a math problem, it’s a behavior problem. It’s not that you don’t make enough to save. It’s that when the money arrives, your brain screams: You earned this with You deserve to enjoy it. This is called present biases our natural propensity to prioritize momentary gratification above long-term goals. The result? You plan to save, but you never actually do. Automation fixes this. I know that it takes emotions, temptation and decision-making out of the situation. When saving happens before you even see your paycheck, you never miss what’s gone and that’s the key to saving without pain. What Does It Mean to Automate Your Savings? To automate your savings means setting up a mechanism that sends a specified amount from your income account to your savings account the moment you’re paid. It could be a standing order through your bank, an auto-transfer via a savings app like PiggyVest, Chime, or Revolut. A direct deposit split from your employer The golden rule is Save first and Spend what’s left. Not the other way around. why Automation Works Like Magic 1 .It Removes Willpower From the Equation You don’t have to remember. It happens automatically, like breathing. That’s how persistent habits are developed without effort. 2. It Teaches You to Live Within Limits When savings happen initially, you automatically adapt to what remains. Instead of conserving leftovers, you spend leftovers and that’s a major difference in thinking. 3. It Shields You From Your Impulsive Self Let’s be real, there's always something urgent to buy. Automation reduces the daily argument between your now-self and your future-self. Your future wins, Every Single with Time. 4. It Turns Time Into Your Business Partner Saving tiny sums consistently allows compounding to work its quiet magic. $5 a week doesn’t feel like much, but after a year, that’s $1,000. Add interest, and you’ve generated wealth one invisible transfer at a time. The rich don’t save more because they earn more. They earn more because they learnt to save early. My Personal Story How $5 a Week Changed My Life I started small $5 per week. At first, I didn’t see anything leave my account. Then, one day, six months later, I checked my savings balance. $120 I sat there staring at the number, smiling. Because for once, I wasn’t broken by accident, I was stable by purpose. That short experiment taught me something schools never did: Saving is not about how much you earn. It’s about what you maintain on purpose. How to Automate Your Savings Step-by-Step Guide Here’s how to set up your financial autopilot today. Step 1: Open a Separate Savings Account, Use a bank or app that doesn’t tempt you to withdraw readily and BonusPick one that gives interest Step 2: Choose a Percentage Start With 10% If you earn $50, automate $5. The key is consistency, not the amount. Step 3: Set Automatic Transfers Most banks let you arrange regular transfers. Set it on the same day your salary hits ideally within an hour. Step 4: Forget About It Don’t check it every week. Let time and discipline do their work. Step 5: Review and Adjust Every 3–6 Months As your income grows, slightly raise your savings percentage. Turn your habit into a lifestyle. The Emotional Benefit Nobody Talks About When you start automating your savings, something moves inside you. You start feeling calmer. You stop panicking before payday. You no longer feel guilty for spending because your future is already addressed. That’s the real peace of mind. You’re not simply saving money. You’re saving future stress. Here’s What I Learned Saving is not about discipline; it’s about design. Systems defeat motivation every single time. Financial confidence is earned by consistency, not luck. You don’t need to make millions to feel rich, you only need to know your money is working for you, even while you sleep. If you want to alter your financial life, don’t wait for a raise and build a system that works even when you don’t. Automate your savings before you see your paycheck. Make it invisible, effortless, and consistent. Because once you do, you’ll realize: Wealth isn’t about making money. It’s about hoarding money without thinking twice. If this article motivated you to take charge of your money, start today. Pick one savings app or establish one auto-transfer and commit for 30 days. Then come back and tell me how it changed your relationship with money. Your future self is already waiting to thank you.
By Aliyu Ibrahim 12 months ago in Writers
Gold on the Rise: What’s Driving Today’s Surge in Prices
Gold Today: Prices and Trends * Global spot gold has crossed $3,900 per ounce, hitting record levels. * Some futures contracts (e.g. December) touched or moved toward $3,994 per ounce in intraday highs.
By Ashley Scottabout a year ago in Writers
The Quiet Power of Routine: How Small Daily Habits Shape Big Change
Introduction We often wait for “someday” to change our lives, “I’ll start tomorrow,” “When conditions are right,” “Once I have more time.” But big transformations rarely arrive by chance. They form through the accumulation of small, consistent actions repeated over months and years.
By Artista Pirataabout a year ago in Writers
When Frost Strikes: How to Protect Your Garden During a Freeze Warning
A “freeze warning” or “frost advisory” is a signal every gardener should take seriously. This week, the National Weather Service issued a frost advisory for early Tuesday morning in the Treasure Valley and western Magic Valley, with forecast low temperatures between 32 °F and 36 °F. While Boise proper may avoid frost (with lows of 38–42 °F), nearby rural and higher-elevation gardens are more vulnerable.
By Ashley Scottabout a year ago in Writers
