Princeton 66, Rutgers 49LOS ANGELES — The locker room after the Rams’ 37-20 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles was as quiet as any this season. Players shouldered blame in quiet, shorts responses to reporters’ questions before filing out and into the night. As they dissected what had just happened, the Rams (5-6) also looked ahead and stated they could not afford for this game to spiral into the next game, which is Sunday’s matchup with the New Orleans Saints (4-7). “Just make sure you turn the page. Obviously, there are things that we want to correct from the game and find ways to be better moving forward, but make sure that we come out with great energy today. It starts today,” Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford said before Wednesday’s practice. “There are going to be things we want to clean up from practice, make sure we do that and move on day-to-day with the right attitude and the right spirit.” As the Rams have gone about making those corrections, a consistent word has come to mind: Consistency. Asked what he’s looking for from the defense Sunday after its worst performance since the early weeks of the season, head coach Sean McVay used that word. He spoke about playing as a unit, sticking to assignments, coverage and pass rush complementing each other. Then he added with a smile, “Same things I’m looking for on the defense would be exactly how I would answer your offensive question as well.” Even 11 games into the season, we still haven’t seen the Rams offense perform with the type of consistency you would expect from a group with this much talent. Against the Eagles, the Rams moved the ball well in the first quarter, reaching the red zone twice without needing a third down. But any momentum was quickly lost with a 10-play second quarter that resulted in a loss of six yards. It was the same story a week before, with the offense blazing in the second and third quarters against the Patriots while going nowhere in the first and fourth quarters. “It’s kind of the word ‘consistency’ right now,” Rams offensive coordinator Mike LaFleur said. “There are times where it feels like we go right down the field and put it in, and there are other times where it just feels a little bit harder than it should. I think that’s the biggest key right now.” The defense is facing a similar obstacle. The Rams are among the best in the NFL at holding teams without a touchdown in the red zone, limiting opponents to a 48.8% success rate. That ranks eighth in the league, but the flip side is that the Rams allow teams 3.7 trips into the red zone per game, which is tied for 28th. Defensive tackle and captain Kobie Turner raised the issue of allowing too many long drives following the Eagles loss, and defensive coordinator Chris Shula agreed with the assessment. “Some of that, especially the other night, they were in third downs a decent amount of time and it was a third and favorable,” Shula said. “Then, finding a way to get stops, finding a way to play, get them off track, get them into 2nd-and-longs where you get those 3rd-longs, and you can earn the right to rush the passer.” Entering Week 13, it’s not encouraging that the Rams are still struggling to find consistency in their execution. But to this point, it hasn’t upended their season. The wild card might be out of reach, but the NFC West title is still up for grabs. But that starts with a road win against a Saints team playing with nothing to lose. “We know that it’s going to be a great challenge, especially at their place. It’ll be rocking atmosphere and environment with the holidays and the momentum they have,” McVay said. “We’ve a lot of guys that are experiencing things for the first time. I have seen the resolve of this group show itself. Now, we’ve to do it.” RAMS (5-6) at NEW ORLEANS SAINTS (4-7) When: 1:05 p.m. Sunday Where: Superdome, New Orleans TV/radio: FOX (Ch. 11)/710 AM; 93.1 FM; 1330 AM (Spanish); Sirius 382, 226
BERKELEY, Calif. , Dec. 6, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Bamboo Technology , a mental health technology innovation company, is announcing its participation in Batch 19 of the prestigious UC Berkeley Skydeck IPP Program for startup acceleration. The company's HereHear AI therapist solution will be the key focus of the program, driven by the vision of revolutionizing mental health with AI-powered virtual solutions. To learn more about HereHear, please visit: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ngU32WgiWf4 "HereHear is here in the US, and I am truly grateful to the Berkeley Skydeck IPP Program for recognizing its potential," noted Lynia Huang , Bamboo Technology's CEO. "As important as mental health has become in recent years, there is a shortage of mental health providers and access to support is low — and HereHear is paving the way for AI to bridge that gap as a first line of defense." A growing case for incorporating AI into mental healthcare With data showing that the US is in a mental health crisis, the CDC recently noted a dire need for public health initiatives that create environments centered around mental health. Specific to the workplace, the Society for Human Resource Management's Employee Mental Health in 2024 Research Series found that 44% of US employees feel burned out at work. The combination of a shortage of mental health providers in the US with the flourishing capabilities of AI builds a strong case for the technology to be deployed in the form of human-guided mental health solutions. HereHear's YangYang: A personalized 3D virtual therapist As organizations seek out ways to empower team members to take better care of their mental health, AI is increasingly emerging as a solution for on-demand, personalized support. Offering a more engaging interaction than chatbots, HereHear's 3D virtual therapist YangYang was launched in January 2024 and offers: YangYang has already been implemented in several therapy clinics and has helped 70% of users improve stress and depression levels by 25% within 3 months. Taking the form of a sheep further distinguishes her — this functions both to provide a 'cute' aspect lending to the warm, healing emotional support she provides, while also helping users who are struggling emotionally to keep in perspective that their interactions are ultimately not with a human. Bringing success in Taiwan to the US market Bamboo Technology's acceptance into the Berkeley Skydeck IPP Program is a major accomplishment as the platform seeks to enter the US market. Batch 19 has only 117 startups out of around 2300 applications, and the program will support HereHear to develop, pilot and launch, as well as to pitch for funding. The company aims to target the app in the human resources space—as a tool for companies to offer staff for on-demand, privacy-first mental health support. Back in Taiwan , the app already has hospitals, mental health clinics, universities, publicly listed companies, and government agencies that use it, similarly spurred by a shortage of mental health workers. About Bamboo Technology Established in November 2018 , the Taipei -based Bamboo Technology is a mental health technology innovation company that focuses on improving public mental health with voice emotion analysis technology. It embraces a belief that a universal, objective, and scientific mental health system can effectively solve the problem of deteriorating mental health in today's society — a core tenet upheld by its many psychologists; social workers; and information management, AI and big data experts. View original content to download multimedia: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/bamboo-technologys-herehear-virtual-ai-therapist-joins-berkeley-skydeck-ipp-program-302325187.html SOURCE BAMBOO TECHNOLOGY LTD.Update #2 [ Fri 6th Dec 2024, 10:45pm ]: Well, with any luck, we're through the worst of it. Grinding Gear Games has managed to get the Path of Exile 2 servers sorted — for the most part — which means that while queues are still prevalent, a lot of players are actually getting into the game itself. And, most importantly, they're staying connected. Now we just have to hope that things continue to improve over the coming hours and days. Update #1 [ Fri 6th Dec 2024, 8:30pm ]: Well, developer Grinding Gear Games said this might happen, and it's happening: Path of Exile 2's servers are being pummeled into submission by hundreds of thousands of players. The action RPG's early access period began roughly one hour and 30 minutes from the time of writing this update, and the vast, vast majority of its players have been stuck in queues this entire time. Some players are also being hit with error messages saying that servers are undergoing maintenance. To be clear, things are moving, and Grinding Gear Games will be doing everything it can to make the process as smooth as possible. Again, these server woes always seemed like an inevitability, given the sheer amount of interest in Path of Exile 2. Even those making it into the actual game are being met with connection problems right now — so here's hoping that everything evens out over the course of the weekend. In the meantime, you can keep up to date with our Path of Exile 2 guide on server queues and login issues :
The Philadelphia Eagles took a couple of Day 3 stabs at wide receiver in the 2024 NFL Draft, selecting Ainias Smith at No. 152 and Johnny Wilson at No. 185. While some believe the Eagles should unleash their pair of rookie playmakers over the second half of the season, the jury’s still out on whether they stick with Philly long-term. General manager Howie Roseman and the Eagles haven’t drafted a first-round wide receiver since they traded up for DeVonta Smith in 2021. Matt Holder of Bleacher Report sees that changing this coming April. In his Week 12 AFC scouting reports, Holder predicted that Philadelphia will land imposing Ole Miss wide receiver Tre Harris on Day 1 of the 2025 draft. Here was his take on the potential selection: “Roseman targeted the defense with his first three 2024 draft selections. He may turn to the other side of the ball to kick off the 2025 draft. Mississippi's Tre Harris would represent a luxury pick for the Eagles, but he would also make sense. Like current No. 1 receiver A.J. Brown, Harris is a big (6'3, 210 lbs), physical, possession receiver who could create mismatches on the perimeter. Playing him opposite Brown would allow the smaller, quicker DeVonta Smith to operate more frequently in the slot. While Harris has missed time with a lower-body injury, he's had elite production when healthy (987 yards, 6 TDs in 7 games). Drafting him would allow Roseman to add a potent third receiver on a team-friendly rookie contract. By the time Harris would be extension-eligible, Brown will be approaching 31 with just two years left on his contract.” The Eagles definitely have bigger needs. EDGE feels like an automatic position to target at some point in the draft in the wake of Bryce Huff’s disastrous debut. Philly will also want to add depth in the trenches, as well as inside linebacker and safety. The need at No. 3 wide receiver has unfortunately continued since the trade for Jahan Dotson, but it’s been a bit overblown. Roseman is probably just fine with Dotson, Ainias Smith and Wilson competing for those reps in training camp next year. He certainly won’t feel pressure to draft another skill position player in the first round, given the talent already assembled and locked up beyond the 2025 season. The idea of drafting Harris is certainly intriguing, though. He would give Philly a pair of monster receivers on the outside, and OC Kellen Moore could give DeVonta Smith more reps in the slot, where he’s excelled this season. The Eagles would have arguably the best wide receiver situation in the NFL, with Harris rounding out the top three, and Dotson sliding to No. 4 ahead of the two 2024 draft picks. It’s hard to squash any idea like this when it comes to the Eagles, because the roster is so solid that Roseman can feel free to draft the best player on his board. But with Josh Sweat up for a new contract, Brandon Graham nearing retirement, and Huff busting out, a prominent EDGE prospect like Georgia’s Jalon Walker could be too tough to pass on if he’s available. Related Philadelphia Eagles stories: Greenberg: Detroit Lions only have 1 legitimate threat in NFC Eagles executive named candidate to take over as GM for dumpster fire team in AFC CBS football writer makes bold prediction for Rams vs. Eagles Eagles urged to unleash pair of rookie playmakers on offense NFL picks, score predictions for Week 12: Philadelphia Eagles vs. Los AngelesGus Malzahn is leaving UCF to become Florida State’s offensive coordinator, AP source says
AKRON, Ohio (AP) — Nate Johnson scored 25 points to help Akron defeat Alabama State 97-78 on Sunday. Johnson added five rebounds for the Zips (4-2). Bowen Hardman scored 19 points, shooting 6 for 7 from beyond the arc. Isaiah Gray went 4 of 7 from the field to finish with 11 points. The Hornets (3-3) were led by CJ Hines with 19 points. Tyler Mack added 18 points and Antonio Madlock scored 17. Akron took the lead with 6:46 left in the first half and did not relinquish it. Johnson led their team in scoring with 13 points in the first half to help put them up 50-41 at the break. The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar .
Synovus Financial Corp. (NYSE:SNV) Shares Sold by Intech Investment Management LLC
After beating the Chiefs , The 9-2 Buffalo Bills are in their bye week, so it's a great time to take a look at the team and think about what the stretch run, and the playoffs, could look like. Coming out of the bye, the Bills will host a desperate San Francisco 49ers team that's in a slugfest of mediocrity for the NFC West crown. Currently, the Cardinals are 6-4, and the Rams, Seahawks, and 49ers are all 5-5. It's anybody's division, but none of the teams look like they're knocking on the door to represent the conference in the Super Bowl. Still, the 49ers will be a very challenging opponent, especially now with a healthy Christian McCaffrey in the backfield. After that matchup, the Bills will travel to Los Angeles to play the rams, followed by a trip to Detroit on December 15th in what will be their toughest test remaining on the schedule. For everyone's sake, I hope the Lions game is a Super Bowl preview. The world deserves a Lake Erie Super Bowl between two passionate and diehard fanbases that are both looking for their first Lombardi Trophy. But I digress. With the playoffs squarely in sight, it's a great opportunity to look at some numbers to see where the Bills stack up against the best teams in the NFL using DVOA, a metric showing how a team compares to the league average. There's a big, glaring issue, and it's one that the Bills are all too familiar with. Since the Bills knocked off the undefeated Chiefs, I’ve seen a lot of talk about them being the ‘best team in football.’ Power Rankings? Overrated, IMO. Let’s use better tools, like @FTNFantasy DVOA. I made this to show who’s truly the best right now. #BillsMafia pic.twitter.com/CoEPS4jRVb Special teams. Again. And not just special teams. That largely falls on the shoulders of kicker Tyler Bass , who just can't seem to get it going. I was having a conversation with one of my Chiefs fans colleagues before our matchup about how wonderful it must be to not have to sweat every single time his kicker lines up. Especially with a healthy Harrison Butker, Chiefs fans can use their extra point attempts as a great opportunity to use the restroom, grab a snack, maybe refresh their beverage. Bills fans, on the other hand, have to strain over something as simple as the point after. On the season, Bass ranks 21st in field goal percentage at 86.4%, missing three kicks in the 40-49 range. Bass has also missed four extra point attempts, more than any other kicker in the league . When games are tight, every point matters. The Bills jumped out to a perfect start against Kansas City, intercepting Patrick Mahomes and then driving down the field for a touchdown. It couldn't have been better — and then Bass missed the extra point. It simply can't happen. In missing the extra point, it dramatically changes the mentality of an opponent. A couple drives later, when the Chiefs scored their first touchdown, their extra point put them ahead, instead of pulling even. Their second score of the game put them ahead eight, now putting Buffalo at a severe disadvantage. Fortunately for Bass, the Bills were able to come back and win the game. But a kicker that's a wild card and has a history of missing pressure kicks is the biggest weak link in the chain of the 2024 Buffalo Bills. This article first appeared on A to Z Sports and was syndicated with permission.striker will remain sidelined until at least February as she recovers from a torn ACL, manager Sonia Bompastor said on Friday. The international during Chelsea's warm-weather training camp in . She underwent surgery shortly afterwards. "We are looking to maybe have her back with us [in] February [or] March, not before that," Bompastor said in a news conference. "She's still on her individual process rehab. It will take at least two or three more months for her to be fit enough to be with the squad." The 31-year-old has scored 99 goals in 128 games for Chelsea. The Blues have made a perfect start to the season in both the and Women's Champions League. In Bompastor's first season in charge, the team has won all 12 of their games. Bompastor added that forward likely won't be back from a calf injury until January.
ATLANTA (AP) — Jimmy Carter, the peanut farmer who won the presidency in the wake of the Watergate scandal and Vietnam War, endured humbling defeat after one tumultuous term and then redefined life after the White House as a global humanitarian, has died. He was 100 years old. The longest-lived American president died on Sunday, more than a year after entering hospice care , at his home in the small town of Plains, Georgia, where he and his wife, Rosalynn, who died at 96 in November 2023 , spent most of their lives, The Carter Center said. “Our founder, former U.S. President Jimmy Carter, passed away this afternoon in Plains, Georgia,” the center said in posting about his death on the social media platform X. It added in a statement that he died peacefully, surrounded by his family. As reaction poured in from around the world, President Joe Biden mourned Carter’s death, saying the world lost an “extraordinary leader, statesman and humanitarian” and he lost a dear friend. Biden cited Carter’s compassion and moral clarity, his work to eradicate disease, forge peace, advance civil and human rights, promote free and fair elections, house the homeless and advocacy for the disadvantaged as an example for others. “To all of the young people in this nation and for anyone in search of what it means to live a life of purpose and meaning – the good life – study Jimmy Carter, a man of principle, faith, and humility,” Biden said in a statement. “He showed that we are a great nation because we are a good people – decent and honorable, courageous and compassionate, humble and strong.” Biden said he is ordering a state funeral for Carter in Washington. Businessman, Navy officer, evangelist, politician, negotiator, author, woodworker, citizen of the world — Carter forged a path that still challenges political assumptions and stands out among the 45 men who reached the nation’s highest office. The 39th president leveraged his ambition with a keen intellect, deep religious faith and prodigious work ethic, conducting diplomatic missions into his 80s and building houses for the poor well into his 90s. “My faith demands — this is not optional — my faith demands that I do whatever I can, wherever I am, whenever I can, for as long as I can, with whatever I have to try to make a difference,” Carter once said. A moderate Democrat, Carter entered the 1976 presidential race as a little-known Georgia governor with a broad smile, outspoken Baptist mores and technocratic plans reflecting his education as an engineer. His no-frills campaign depended on public financing, and his promise not to deceive the American people resonated after Richard Nixon’s disgrace and U.S. defeat in southeast Asia. “If I ever lie to you, if I ever make a misleading statement, don’t vote for me. I would not deserve to be your president,” Carter repeated before narrowly beating Republican incumbent Gerald Ford, who had lost popularity pardoning Nixon. Carter governed amid Cold War pressures, turbulent oil markets and social upheaval over racism, women’s rights and America’s global role. His most acclaimed achievement in office was a Mideast peace deal that he brokered by keeping Egyptian President Anwar Sadat and Israeli Prime Minister Menachem Begin at the bargaining table for 13 days in 1978. That Camp David experience inspired the post-presidential center where Carter would establish so much of his legacy. Yet Carter’s electoral coalition splintered under double-digit inflation, gasoline lines and the 444-day hostage crisis in Iran. His bleakest hour came when eight Americans died in a failed hostage rescue in April 1980, helping to ensure his landslide defeat to Republican Ronald Reagan. Carter acknowledged in his 2020 “White House Diary” that he could be “micromanaging” and “excessively autocratic,” complicating dealings with Congress and the federal bureaucracy. He also turned a cold shoulder to Washington’s news media and lobbyists, not fully appreciating their influence on his political fortunes. “It didn’t take us long to realize that the underestimation existed, but by that time we were not able to repair the mistake,” Carter told historians in 1982, suggesting that he had “an inherent incompatibility” with Washington insiders. Carter insisted his overall approach was sound and that he achieved his primary objectives — to “protect our nation’s security and interests peacefully” and “enhance human rights here and abroad” — even if he fell spectacularly short of a second term. Ignominious defeat, though, allowed for renewal. The Carters founded The Carter Center in 1982 as a first-of-its-kind base of operations, asserting themselves as international peacemakers and champions of democracy, public health and human rights. “I was not interested in just building a museum or storing my White House records and memorabilia,” Carter wrote in a memoir published after his 90th birthday. “I wanted a place where we could work.” That work included easing nuclear tensions in North and South Korea, helping to avert a U.S. invasion of Haiti and negotiating cease-fires in Bosnia and Sudan. By 2022, The Carter Center had declared at least 113 elections in Latin America, Asia and Africa to be free or fraudulent. Recently, the center began monitoring U.S. elections as well. Carter’s stubborn self-assuredness and even self-righteousness proved effective once he was unencumbered by the Washington order, sometimes to the point of frustrating his successors . He went “where others are not treading,” he said, to places like Ethiopia, Liberia and North Korea, where he secured the release of an American who had wandered across the border in 2010. “I can say what I like. I can meet whom I want. I can take on projects that please me and reject the ones that don’t,” Carter said. He announced an arms-reduction-for-aid deal with North Korea without clearing the details with Bill Clinton’s White House. He openly criticized President George W. Bush for the 2003 invasion of Iraq. He also criticized America’s approach to Israel with his 2006 book “Palestine: Peace Not Apartheid.” And he repeatedly countered U.S. administrations by insisting North Korea should be included in international affairs, a position that most aligned Carter with Republican President Donald Trump. Among the center’s many public health initiatives, Carter vowed to eradicate the guinea worm parasite during his lifetime, and nearly achieved it: Cases dropped from millions in the 1980s to nearly a handful. With hardhats and hammers, the Carters also built homes with Habitat for Humanity. The Nobel committee’s 2002 Peace Prize cites his “untiring effort to find peaceful solutions to international conflicts, to advance democracy and human rights, and to promote economic and social development.” Carter should have won it alongside Sadat and Begin in 1978, the chairman added. Carter accepted the recognition saying there was more work to be done. “The world is now, in many ways, a more dangerous place,” he said. “The greater ease of travel and communication has not been matched by equal understanding and mutual respect.” Carter’s globetrotting took him to remote villages where he met little “Jimmy Carters,” so named by admiring parents. But he spent most of his days in the same one-story Plains house — expanded and guarded by Secret Service agents — where they lived before he became governor. He regularly taught Sunday School lessons at Maranatha Baptist Church until his mobility declined and the coronavirus pandemic raged. Those sessions drew visitors from around the world to the small sanctuary where Carter will receive his final send-off after a state funeral at Washington’s National Cathedral. The common assessment that he was a better ex-president than president rankled Carter and his allies. His prolific post-presidency gave him a brand above politics, particularly for Americans too young to witness him in office. But Carter also lived long enough to see biographers and historians reassess his White House years more generously. His record includes the deregulation of key industries, reduction of U.S. dependence on foreign oil, cautious management of the national debt and notable legislation on the environment, education and mental health. He focused on human rights in foreign policy, pressuring dictators to release thousands of political prisoners . He acknowledged America’s historical imperialism, pardoned Vietnam War draft evaders and relinquished control of the Panama Canal. He normalized relations with China. “I am not nominating Jimmy Carter for a place on Mount Rushmore,” Stuart Eizenstat, Carter’s domestic policy director, wrote in a 2018 book. “He was not a great president” but also not the “hapless and weak” caricature voters rejected in 1980, Eizenstat said. Rather, Carter was “good and productive” and “delivered results, many of which were realized only after he left office.” Madeleine Albright, a national security staffer for Carter and Clinton’s secretary of state, wrote in Eizenstat’s forward that Carter was “consequential and successful” and expressed hope that “perceptions will continue to evolve” about his presidency. “Our country was lucky to have him as our leader,” said Albright, who died in 2022. Jonathan Alter, who penned a comprehensive Carter biography published in 2020, said in an interview that Carter should be remembered for “an epic American life” spanning from a humble start in a home with no electricity or indoor plumbing through decades on the world stage across two centuries. “He will likely go down as one of the most misunderstood and underestimated figures in American history,” Alter told The Associated Press. James Earl Carter Jr. was born Oct. 1, 1924, in Plains and spent his early years in nearby Archery. His family was a minority in the mostly Black community, decades before the civil rights movement played out at the dawn of Carter’s political career. Carter, who campaigned as a moderate on race relations but governed more progressively, talked often of the influence of his Black caregivers and playmates but also noted his advantages: His land-owning father sat atop Archery’s tenant-farming system and owned a main street grocery. His mother, Lillian , would become a staple of his political campaigns. Seeking to broaden his world beyond Plains and its population of fewer than 1,000 — then and now — Carter won an appointment to the U.S. Naval Academy, graduating in 1946. That same year he married Rosalynn Smith, another Plains native, a decision he considered more important than any he made as head of state. She shared his desire to see the world, sacrificing college to support his Navy career. Carter climbed in rank to lieutenant, but then his father was diagnosed with cancer, so the submarine officer set aside his ambitions of admiralty and moved the family back to Plains. His decision angered Rosalynn, even as she dived into the peanut business alongside her husband. Carter again failed to talk with his wife before his first run for office — he later called it “inconceivable” not to have consulted her on such major life decisions — but this time, she was on board. “My wife is much more political,” Carter told the AP in 2021. He won a state Senate seat in 1962 but wasn’t long for the General Assembly and its back-slapping, deal-cutting ways. He ran for governor in 1966 — losing to arch-segregationist Lester Maddox — and then immediately focused on the next campaign. Carter had spoken out against church segregation as a Baptist deacon and opposed racist “Dixiecrats” as a state senator. Yet as a local school board leader in the 1950s he had not pushed to end school segregation even after the Supreme Court's Brown v. Board of Education decision, despite his private support for integration. And in 1970, Carter ran for governor again as the more conservative Democrat against Carl Sanders, a wealthy businessman Carter mocked as “Cufflinks Carl.” Sanders never forgave him for anonymous, race-baiting flyers, which Carter disavowed. Ultimately, Carter won his races by attracting both Black voters and culturally conservative whites. Once in office, he was more direct. “I say to you quite frankly that the time for racial discrimination is over,” he declared in his 1971 inaugural address, setting a new standard for Southern governors that landed him on the cover of Time magazine. His statehouse initiatives included environmental protection, boosting rural education and overhauling antiquated executive branch structures. He proclaimed Martin Luther King Jr. Day in the slain civil rights leader’s home state. And he decided, as he received presidential candidates in 1972, that they were no more talented than he was. In 1974, he ran Democrats’ national campaign arm. Then he declared his own candidacy for 1976. An Atlanta newspaper responded with the headline: “Jimmy Who?” The Carters and a “Peanut Brigade” of family members and Georgia supporters camped out in Iowa and New Hampshire, establishing both states as presidential proving grounds. His first Senate endorsement: a young first-termer from Delaware named Joe Biden. Yet it was Carter’s ability to navigate America’s complex racial and rural politics that cemented the nomination. He swept the Deep South that November, the last Democrat to do so, as many white Southerners shifted to Republicans in response to civil rights initiatives. A self-declared “born-again Christian,” Carter drew snickers by referring to Scripture in a Playboy magazine interview, saying he “had looked on many women with lust. I’ve committed adultery in my heart many times.” The remarks gave Ford a new foothold and television comedians pounced — including NBC’s new “Saturday Night Live” show. But voters weary of cynicism in politics found it endearing. Carter chose Minnesota Sen. Walter “Fritz” Mondale as his running mate on a “Grits and Fritz” ticket. In office, he elevated the vice presidency and the first lady’s office. Mondale’s governing partnership was a model for influential successors Al Gore, Dick Cheney and Biden. Rosalynn Carter was one of the most involved presidential spouses in history, welcomed into Cabinet meetings and huddles with lawmakers and top aides. The Carters presided with uncommon informality: He used his nickname “Jimmy” even when taking the oath of office, carried his own luggage and tried to silence the Marine Band’s “Hail to the Chief.” They bought their clothes off the rack. Carter wore a cardigan for a White House address, urging Americans to conserve energy by turning down their thermostats. Amy, the youngest of four children, attended District of Columbia public school. Washington’s social and media elite scorned their style. But the larger concern was that “he hated politics,” according to Eizenstat, leaving him nowhere to turn politically once economic turmoil and foreign policy challenges took their toll. Carter partially deregulated the airline, railroad and trucking industries and established the departments of Education and Energy, and the Federal Emergency Management Agency. He designated millions of acres of Alaska as national parks or wildlife refuges. He appointed a then-record number of women and nonwhite people to federal posts. He never had a Supreme Court nomination, but he elevated civil rights attorney Ruth Bader Ginsburg to the nation’s second highest court, positioning her for a promotion in 1993. He appointed Paul Volker, the Federal Reserve chairman whose policies would help the economy boom in the 1980s — after Carter left office. He built on Nixon’s opening with China, and though he tolerated autocrats in Asia, pushed Latin America from dictatorships to democracy. But he couldn’t immediately tame inflation or the related energy crisis. And then came Iran. After he admitted the exiled Shah of Iran to the U.S. for medical treatment, the American Embassy in Tehran was overrun in 1979 by followers of the Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini. Negotiations to free the hostages broke down repeatedly ahead of the failed rescue attempt. The same year, Carter signed SALT II, the new strategic arms treaty with Leonid Brezhnev of the Soviet Union, only to pull it back, impose trade sanctions and order a U.S. boycott of the Moscow Olympics after the Soviets invaded Afghanistan. Hoping to instill optimism, he delivered what the media dubbed his “malaise” speech, although he didn’t use that word. He declared the nation was suffering “a crisis of confidence.” By then, many Americans had lost confidence in the president, not themselves. Carter campaigned sparingly for reelection because of the hostage crisis, instead sending Rosalynn as Sen. Edward M. Kennedy challenged him for the Democratic nomination. Carter famously said he’d “kick his ass,” but was hobbled by Kennedy as Reagan rallied a broad coalition with “make America great again” appeals and asking voters whether they were “better off than you were four years ago.” Reagan further capitalized on Carter’s lecturing tone, eviscerating him in their lone fall debate with the quip: “There you go again.” Carter lost all but six states and Republicans rolled to a new Senate majority. Carter successfully negotiated the hostages’ freedom after the election, but in one final, bitter turn of events, Tehran waited until hours after Carter left office to let them walk free. At 56, Carter returned to Georgia with “no idea what I would do with the rest of my life.” Four decades after launching The Carter Center, he still talked of unfinished business. “I thought when we got into politics we would have resolved everything,” Carter told the AP in 2021. “But it’s turned out to be much more long-lasting and insidious than I had thought it was. I think in general, the world itself is much more divided than in previous years.” Still, he affirmed what he said when he underwent treatment for a cancer diagnosis in his 10th decade of life. “I’m perfectly at ease with whatever comes,” he said in 2015 . “I’ve had a wonderful life. I’ve had thousands of friends, I’ve had an exciting, adventurous and gratifying existence.” Sanz is a former Associated Press reporter.Is Enron back? If it's a joke, some former employees aren't laughing
Syria's Assad: the president who led a bloody crackdown2024: The year of AI at UBKeir Starmer will spell out how his Government will change Britain with a raft of new targets on how to fix the NHS , reduce crime and boost living standards. In a major speech this week, the Prime Minister will set specific goals on driving down NHS waiting lists and boosting early years education so more kids arrive at primary school ready to learn by the next election. The blueprint is also expected to include targets on driving up living standards, policing and delivering clean power by 2030. The Labour leader first unveiled his flagship five "missions" to fix Britain last year, which he put at the heart of his programme for Government. They are boosting economic growth, making Britain a green energy superpower, cutting crime, fixing the NHS and spreading opportunity. But Government insiders believe they need to hammer home to voters what this will mean for them by the end of this Parliament. The targets in the new "Plan for Change" are expected to be tough. But No10 is gambling that the benefits of being frank with voters outweigh the risk of failing to meet their goals - as Rishi Sunak did by promising to "stop the boats". Meeting these goals is likely to be a focus for the spending review next year, when Chancellor Rachel Reeves will announce how much cash she's giving to Whitehall departments. It comes after a tricky few weeks for the Government, following a backlash to tax hikes slapped on employers and farmers in the Budget . Mr Starmer also suffered his first Cabinet casualty on Friday as Transport Secretary Louise Haigh resigned after it emerged she had pleaded guilty to a fraud offence over a stolen mobile phone. Downing Street sees the speech as a major moment for the PM to set out his vision for the rest of the Parliament - and signal to voters that change is coming. Mr Starmer will promise his plan is "ambitious yet honest" and warn public services must reform and innovate rather than expecting huge cash injections. "Mission-led government does not mean picking milestones because they are easy or will happen anyway," he said. "It means relentlessly driving real improvements in the lives of working people. We are already fixing the foundations and have kicked-started our first steps for change, stabilising the economy, setting up a new Border Security Command, and investing £22bn in an NHS that is fit for the future. Be the first with news from Mirror Politics POLITICS WHATSAPP: Be first to get the biggest bombshells and breaking news by joining our Politics WhatsApp group here . We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you want to leave our community, you can check out any time you like. If you’re curious, you can read our Privacy Notice . NEWSLETTER: Or sign up here to the Mirror's Politics newsletter for all the best exclusives and opinions straight to your inbox. PODCAST: And listen to our exciting new political podcast The Division Bell , hosted by the Mirror and the Express every Thursday. “Our Plan for Change is the next phase of delivering this Government’s mission. Some may oppose what we are doing and no doubt there will be obstacles along the way, but this Government was elected on mandate of change and our plan reflects the priorities of working people. “Given the unprecedented challenges we have inherited we will not achieve this by simply doing more of the same which is why investment comes alongside a programme of innovation and reform.” Mr Starmer will order his Cabinet and the new civil service boss, who is expected to be appointed before Christmas , to overhaul Whitehall to focus the Government on these goals. Cabinet Office Minister Pat McFadden told the Sunday Mirror : "For 14 years the Tories sent the country hurtling backwards as they fought amongst themselves instead of tackling the problems facing voters. "In too many areas Tory chaos left Britain falling further behind. As families struggled to make ends meet, hospital waiting lists soared and town centres were hit by lawlessness, the last government hopelessly careered from crisis to crisis." Mr McFadden said the plans would give "the country the certainty of a clear direction" after years of Tory chaos. "By setting the goals now it will allow the British people to track our progress and hold us to account," he added. "It won’t be easy but worthwhile change seldom comes easy."