
Remembering Jimmy Carter: The president who set the standard for national-disaster response
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By Tom Westerholm Tyrese Haliburton and the Pacers won the season series against the Celtics on Sunday, bouncing back from a blowout to deliver a 123-114 loss to a scuffling Celtics team. Here are the takeaways. 1. The Celtics couldn’t get stops. The Celtics spent much of Sunday’s game trying to rally back from a deficit, which is very difficult to do when you have to score seemingly every possession to make up for what happened on the other end. Over the last two weeks, the Celtics have the seventh-best defensive rating in the NBA according to Cleaning the Glass, which feels high given some of their struggles. On Sunday, the defense was particularly off-kilter. The Celtics gave up 98 points in the first three quarters, and when they rallied in the fourth quarter to make it a closer contest in the fourth quarter, they completely lost control of things and gave up a 13-0 run that put the game out of reach and quieted the TD Garden crowd. The Pacers paraded to the rim repeatedly, outsourcing the Celtics 66-48 in the paint and 18-4 in transition. Haliburton seemed to find the lane particularly clear, but a number of other Pacers were relatively unimpeded as they cruised around screens and found gaps in the defense. The Celtics missed Jrue Holiday , whose on-ball defense might have made a difference, and they really missed Kristaps Porzingis , whose long arms and towering height might have dissuaded some of the Pacers’ forays. But part of the challenge this season looks like it might be finding ways to get stops even when lineups aren’t exactly what the Celtics would prefer. Whether that’s energy and effort or whether its players like Sam Hauser finding ways to guard their yard, the Celtics will continue to struggle if they aren’t a lot better on the defensive end. 2. The Celtics also couldn’t make 3-pointers (at least when it mattered). The Celtics weren’t exactly lighting the parquet floor on fire with their 3-point shooting, but they were shooting 35.7 percent from deep entering the fourth quarter. But as the Pacers pulled away again, the Celtics tried to shoot themselves out of their hole, and they were entirely unsuccessful. They finished 1-for-12 in the final frame, including 1-for-10 before the bench unit came in to close things out in the final two minutes, which pulled their 3-point percentage below the waves and left it a bedraggled 29.6 percent (16-for-54). Two stats seem relevant here. The first is the Celtics’ 3-point percentage in December, which dropped to a paltry 33.8 percent after Sunday’s game. Entering Sunday’s action, that percentage would place the Celtics 25th in the NBA over that span. The second is the Celtics win/loss splits: The Celtics are now shooting 37.9 percent from three in their wins and 32.6 percent in losses. Reducing a team’s success to its 3-point shooting seems, well, reductive, but the 741 shoe feels like it might fit so far this season. 3. Jaylen Brown was impressive again. The Celtics wasted another impressive outing by Jaylen Brown , who continued his recent run by scoring 31 points to go with four rebounds and six assists. Brown continues to be a somewhat unique – and thus perhaps especially necessary – player on Boston’s roster in that he builds his offensive game inside out and embraces opportunities to seek out contact. While Brown was just 3-for-5 at the free-throw line, he earned three and-one opportunities. The Celtics’ offense is at its best when the stars are cooking and the 3-pointers are falling. Tatum wasn’t bad (22 points, 8-for-17 shooting, nine rebounds, six assists) and Brown was excellent, but when 3-pointers aren’t falling around them, the wheels can come off quickly. 4. A tough stretch. The Celtics have now lost four of their last six games, and they are 5-5 in their last 10. They never lost four out of six last season — the last time they did so was in March of 2023 . Point to the injuries, call the poor 3-point shooting an outlier, or choose from a number of other options to explain away this stretch, but something simply doesn’t seem to be clicking right now for the Celtics. 5. The Celtics and Pacers might be a real rivalry. The Pacers seemed to really relish their win on Sunday. Haliburton mocked the TD Garden crowd at one point after a silencing run pushed the Pacers’ lead back to double digits. Pascal Siakam blew a couple of kisses after hitting a 3-pointer with the game well out of reach in the fourth. Thomas Bryant bellowed and flexed after a couple dunks in the first quarter. And Aaron Nesmith, the former Celtics first-round pick who seems to hold a specific animosity for the Celtics for having the audacity to trade him to a better situation for both sides, wasn’t even active as he continues to recover from an ankle sprain. No team gave the Celtics a tougher push in last year’s Eastern Conference playoffs than the Pacers, even though the Eastern Conference finals were a sweep. This year, the Pacers have won the regular-season series against the defending champions after Sunday’s win. The Celtics would still clearly be the favorites in a seven-game series, but the Pacers are a tough out, and they seem to be building the kind of personal grievance against the Celtics that can carry a team to higher levels in the postseason. 6. A big road trip looms. The Celtics have one more game in 2024, facing the Raptors at 3 p.m. on Tuesday. They will then open 2025 with a tough road trip, starting with a back-to-back against the Timberwolves and Rockets on Thursday and Friday followed by games against the Thunder and Nuggets before they return to TD Garden. We will have more takeaways later this evening. Boston.com Today Sign up to receive the latest headlines in your inbox each morning. Be civil. Be kind.
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NEW YORK (AP) — No ex-president had a more prolific and diverse publishing career than Jimmy Carter . His more than two dozen books included nonfiction, poetry, fiction, religious meditations and a children’s story. His memoir “An Hour Before Daylight” was a Pulitzer Prize finalist in 2002, while his 2006 best-seller “Palestine: Peace Not Apartheid” stirred a fierce debate by likening Israel’s policies in the West Bank to the brutal South African system of racial segregation. And just before his 100th birthday, the Dayton Literary Peace Prize Foundation honored him with a lifetime achievement award for how he wielded “the power of the written word to foster peace, social justice, and global understanding.” In one recent work, “A Full Life,” Carter observed that he “enjoyed writing” and that his books “provided a much-needed source of income.” But some projects were easier than others. “Everything to Gain,” a 1987 collaboration with his wife, Rosalynn, turned into the “worst threat we ever experienced in our marriage,” an intractable standoff for the facilitator of the Camp David accords and winner of the Nobel Peace Prize. According to Carter, Rosalynn was a meticulous author who considered “the resulting sentences as though they have come down from Mount Sinai, carved into stone.” Their memories differed on various events and they fell into “constant arguments.” They were ready to abandon the book and return the advance, until their editor persuaded them to simply divide any disputed passages between them. “In the book, each of these paragraphs is identified by a ‘J’ or an ‘R,’ and our marriage survived,” he wrote. Here is a partial list of books by Carter: “Keeping Faith: Memoirs of a President” “The Blood of Abraham: Insights into the Middle East” (With Rosalynn Carter) “Everything to Gain: Making the Most of the Rest of Your Life” “An Outdoor Journal: Adventures and Reflections” “Turning Point: A Candidate, a State, and a Nation Come of Age” “Always a Reckoning, and Other Poems” (With daughter Amy Carter) “The Little Baby Snoogle-Fleejer” “Living Faith” “The Virtues of Aging” “An Hour Before Daylight: Memories of a Rural Boyhood” “Christmas in Plains: Memories” “The Hornet’s Nest: A Novel of the Revolutionary War” “Our Endangered Values: America’s Moral Crisis” “Faith & Freedom: The Christian Challenge for the World” “Palestine: Peace Not Apartheid” “A Remarkable Mother” “Beyond the White House” “We Can Have Peace in the Holy Land: A Plan That Will Work” “White House Diary” “NIV Lessons from Life Bible: Personal Reflections with Jimmy Carter” “A Call to Action: Women, Religion, Violence, and Power” “A Full Life: Reflections at Ninety”Thompson-Herro fight leads to ejections of multiple players and coaches in Heat's victory in HoustonThe Yomiuri Shimbun 6:00 JST, November 28, 2024 This is the second installment in a series examining how social media is impacting elections. * * Kenichi Okutani, a Hyogo prefectural assembly member, received malicious phone calls at his home saying such things as “resign,” “liar” and “come outside,” during the recent Hyogo gubernatorial election campaign. Okutani is the chairman of the Hyogo prefectural assembly’s so-called Article 100 committee, which is conducting probes into reelected Hyogo Gov. Motohiko Saito, 47, over allegations of power abuse and other problematic acts. After Saito lost his position as governor prior to the election, slanderous posts about Okutani were spread on social media, while posts supporting Saito proliferated. Takashi Tachibana, 57, leader of the political group NHK Party, also ran in the election. During the campaign, he delivered a street speech in front of Okutani’s home. He urged Okutani to “come out,” and livestreamed himself pressing the doorbell. Okutani and his mother had evacuated from the house, but Tachibana went on to ask social media users on X, formerly Twitter, to provide information about any sightings of Okutani. Some posts in response said such things as, “He seems to be hiding in the Arima Onsen hot spring resort.” Even after the election, strangers have kept standing in front of Okutani’s home and ringing the doorbell. He has consulted with police. Okutani said with an exhausted expression on his face: “Posts about me on social media are all full of misinformation. This is the first time for me to fear this much for my physical safety.” On social media, a phenomenon called the “echo chamber effect” tends to occur, as users’ ways of thinking become distorted as they are more likely to become connected only with other users who hold similar opinions. Fujio Toriumi, a professor at the University of Tokyo and an expert in computational social science, said that only about 10% of accounts on X reposted posts both in support and in opposition of Saito during the election campaign period from Oct. 31 to Nov. 16. He said that X users who supported Saito tended to repost only those posts made by supporters of the governor and opponents tended to only have contact with others who were critical of him, indicating that the two groups were cut off from each other. It is possible that such echo chambers led to increasingly radical language being used among the two groups. Okutani was not the only one targeted by such online abuse. Kazumi Inamura, 52, who finished second in the gubernatorial election, was the subject of a campaign of disinformation on social media. There were posts that claimed she was trying to promote foreigners’ rights to take part in Japanese politics, even though she had never mentioned such a stance. Her election office received phone calls in protest from people who wrongly believed the posts. Yoshiaki Hashimoto, a professor emeritus at the University of Tokyo and an expert on information social psychology, said about the protesting phone calls, “It was probably a result of confirmation bias.” Confirmation bias refers to the psychological tendency of people to only collect information that matches their own opinions. “It is possible that the protesters strongly believed that they were right and the sense of justice they held encouraged them to take such radical action. Even if others call for cool-headed discussions, they see them as enemies and never accept them,” he said. An example of such an incident taken to an extreme was the attack on the U.S. Capitol Building in the wake of the 2020 U.S. presidential election. Donald Trump refused to accept his loss in the election and called on people to participate in protest rallies or take other actions. As a result, a group of Trump supporters formed a mob and temporarily occupied the U.S. congressional building. In Brazil in 2022, about 4,000 people, mainly supporters of a defeated presidential candidate, intruded into the National Congress and other public places based on information received through social media. They committed destructive acts. In the recent Hyogo gubernatorial election, there was evidence of budding violence caused by divisions among the public. At the venues of Saito’s speeches, jeers were heard alongside voices of support. On Nov. 15, during the final phase of the election campaign, thousands of people gathered to hear Saito’s speech in front of JR Himeji Station. In response to opponents of Saito raising placards, some members of the audience repeatedly shouted, “Go home.” At one point, police officers entered the space between them. A 42-year-old man from Nagata Ward, Kobe, held a paper sheet reading, “Shame on you, Saito.” “Saito’s supporters are conspiracy theorists who blindly believe information on social media,” the man said. The man said he got acquainted with fellow anti-Saito activists via social media. Tatsuhiko Yamamoto, a professor at Keio University and an expert on constitutional studies, said, “If divisions accelerate on social media, [Japanese society] may fall into chaotic situations like those seen in the United States and Brazil, in which people tried to overturn election results with violence.” “We need to have discussions as soon as possible about how we can build a system in which people can easily access objective and useful information, rather than extreme opinions,” he added.
External affairs minister S Jaishankar will visit Qatar this week for meetings with the West Asian country’s top leadership to review bilateral ties and discuss regional issues. Jaishankar will be in Qatar from December 30 to January 1, when he will meet the Prime Minister and foreign minister, Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani, the external affairs ministry said on Sunday. The visit will enable the two sides to review various aspects of bilateral relations, including political, trade, investment, energy, security, cultural, and people-to-people ties, and regional and international issues, the ministry said. Jaishankar will travel to Qatar after a six-day visit to the US, where he met officials of the outgoing Joe Biden administration and members of the transition team of president-elect Donald Trump. This will be Jaishankar’s second visit to Qatar since the two sides resolved an imbroglio last year over eight former Indian Navy personnel who were detained in the West Asian country, reportedly on charges of espionage, and sentenced to death. The Qatari government released the eight men, after they were given lengthy prison sentences when their death sentences were commuted. The former naval personnel, employed by a private company called Dahra Global that provided training and other services to Qatar’s armed forces, were detained in August 2022 on undeclared charges and spent months in solitary confinement before being sentenced to death in 2023. Following an appeal, their death sentences were commuted. Seven of the men returned to India, while one of them continues to be in Qatar. The external affairs ministry has said he is expected to return after the completion of certain formalities. India’s bilateral trade with Qatar in 2023-24 was worth $14.08 billion. India’s exports to Qatar during this period were valued at $1.7 billion and its imports were worth $12.38 billion. Qatar’s main exports to India include LNG, LPG, chemicals, fertilisers, plastics and aluminium articles, while India’s key exports include cereals, vegetables, fruits, processed food products, electrical and other machinery, iron and steel articles and construction materials. In 2023, India was among Qatar’s top three export destinations, China and South Korea being the other two. Qatar is also home to 830,000 Indians, who make up the largest expatriate community and are engaged in a wide range of professions, including medicine, engineering, education, finance, and business. A large number of the Indians are blue collar workers.
BJP MP from Mandi Kanagana Ranaut praised local Himachal women, who are "equally or better looking than" than actors born in the state, working tirelessly in the fields. Along with the comment, she shared a collage on social media, with pictures of herself and other actors – Preity Zinta, Pratibha Ranta and Yami Gautam. “When I go to Himachal and see our women equally or better looking than us work tirelessly in the fields no insta no reels raising cattle and making the ends meet. I feel they can definitely do with some hype. #himachaligenes #himachaliwomen," Ranaut wrote on her Instagram story.
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Share Tweet Share Share Email Smart home technology has become more than a luxury; it’s a necessity. Homeowners are increasingly investing in devices that enhance comfort, improve safety, and boost energy efficiency. However, upgrading to a smart home can be costly. This is where financing solutions come into play . The Growing Demand for Smart Homes Smart home technology has revolutionized the way we live. From intelligent thermostats that save on energy costs to security cameras that provide peace of mind, these devices are transforming traditional houses into futuristic havens. According to recent studies, the global smart home market is projected to grow significantly in the coming years, driven by advancements in artificial intelligence and the Internet of Things (IoT). While the benefits of smart home technology are undeniable, the initial investment can be a barrier for many. Fortunately, there are several financing options available to help homeowners overcome this hurdle. Why Invest in Smart Home Upgrades? Before diving into financing solutions, let’s discuss why upgrading to a smart home is a worthwhile investment: Enhanced Security: Smart locks, video doorbells, and surveillance systems provide round-the-clock protection. Energy Efficiency: Devices like smart thermostats and energy-efficient lighting help reduce utility bills. Convenience: Automated systems streamline daily tasks, making life more comfortable. Increased Home Value: Homes equipped with smart technology often attract higher resale values . Understanding these benefits can help justify the cost and motivate you to explore financing options. Financing Solutions for Smart Home Upgrades Personal Loans One of the most popular ways to finance smart home upgrades is through personal loans. These loans are unsecured, meaning you don’t need to offer collateral. Many lenders provide quick approvals and flexible repayment terms, making personal loans a convenient choice. Advantages: Quick access to funds Fixed interest rates Predictable monthly payments Considerations: Higher interest rates compared to secured loans Requires a good credit score for favorable terms Home Equity Loans Home equity loans allow homeowners to borrow against the equity they have built in their property. This option is particularly beneficial for major upgrades, including comprehensive smart home installations. Advantages: Lower interest rates compared to personal loans Tax-deductible interest in some cases Considerations: Your home serves as collateral Risk of foreclosure if you fail to repay Credit Cards For smaller upgrades, credit cards can be a viable option. Many credit card companies offer promotional periods with 0% interest, allowing you to finance purchases without incurring additional costs. Advantages: Ideal for smaller, incremental upgrades Rewards programs and cash-back offers Considerations: High-interest rates after the promotional period Can lead to debt if not managed properly Manufacturer Financing Programs Several smart home technology manufacturers and retailers offer financing programs. These programs often come with low or zero interest rates, making them an attractive option for homeowners. Advantages: Affordable monthly payments Exclusive deals and discounts Considerations: Limited to specific brands or products Terms may vary Government Incentives and Grants In some regions, governments provide incentives or grants for energy-efficient upgrades, including smart home technology. These programs aim to promote sustainable living and reduce carbon footprints. Advantages: Financial assistance reduces upfront costs Encourages environmentally friendly choices Considerations: Availability depends on location Application processes may be competitive Savings and Budgeting If financing isn’t your preferred option, you can save up for your smart home upgrades. Setting aside a portion of your income each month can help you achieve your goals without incurring debt. Advantages: No interest or repayment obligations Financial discipline Considerations: Takes longer to implement upgrades Requires consistent budgeting Tips for Choosing the Right Financing Option Selecting the right financing solution is crucial to ensure you don’t overextend your budget. Here are some tips: Evaluate Your Needs: Determine which smart home upgrades are essential and prioritize them. Compare Interest Rates: Research various lenders and programs to find the best rates. Understand Terms and Conditions: Read the fine print to avoid unexpected costs. Check Your Credit Score: A higher credit score can unlock better financing terms. Consider Long-Term Benefits: Weigh the immediate costs against the long-term advantages of smart home technology. Balancing Cost and Value While financing solutions can ease the burden of upfront costs, it’s important to balance affordability with quality. Investing in reliable, high-quality smart home devices ensures you get the best return on your investment. Cutting corners might save money initially but could lead to higher costs in the long run due to maintenance or replacements. Conclusion Smart home upgrades are an investment in your comfort, safety, and overall quality of life. With a variety of financing solutions available, transforming your home into a smart haven is more accessible than ever. Whether you opt for a personal loan, home equity financing, or manufacturer programs, it’s essential to choose an option that aligns with your financial situation and long-term goals. By making informed decisions, you can enjoy the benefits of smart home technology without compromising your budget. Related Items: financing solutions , Investing in Comfort and Safety , Smart Home Upgrades Share Tweet Share Share Email Recommended for you Peer-To-Peer Lending: Innovative Financing Solutions In The Digital Economy Demystifying Merchant Cash Advances with the President and CEO of Velocity Capital Group, Jay Avigdor CommentsNew Tesla Shockwave: Gamers Rejoice! Future of Trading Evolves
Around 3.2 million years ago, in what is now present-day Ethiopia, a tiny human made it to the fossil record. Despite much research there is uncertainty over what could have led to their death. Whatever the reason may have been, enough of the carcass was protected by sediments. This led to the bones being fossilized. Those remains, now known to the world as 'Lucy', were discovered fifty years ago, becoming one of the most significant fossil discoveries of all time. In an interesting and intriguing recent finding, research shows that Lucy's species - Australopithecus Afarensis, was not the only early human species roaming the Earth at the time. Australopithecus Afarensis inhabited East Africa for about a million years, and paleoanthropologists have discovered many fossils of this species from north central Ethiopia to northern Tanzania, which is 1,460 miles (2,350 kilometres) away. For decades following Lucy's discovery, paleoanthropologists believed that Australopithecus Afarensis was the sole hominid to inhabit this area throughout the middle Pliocene era (3 million to 4 million years ago). However, the image of human diversity drastically changed in 1995 when a fragmented jawbone was found in the Bahr el Ghazal region of Chad. Believed to be 3.5 million years old, this fossil is of a species named Australopithecus Bahrelghazali. It served as evidence that other hominins lived around Lucy's time, Live Science quoted a study published in the journal PNAS in 2016. Given that these Australopithecines were almost 1,500 miles (more than 2,400 kilometres) apart, it is possible that Lucy's type did not come into contact with them. However, Haile-Selassie and colleagues discovered Australopithecus Afarensis fossils at the Woranso-Mille site, which is only 30 miles (48 km) north of the site in Ethiopia, where Lucy was discovered. They also discovered additional, anatomically different fossils from the same time period. The bones belonged to Australopithecus Deyiremeda, a new species of Australopithecine that was thought to have existed between 3.5 and 3.3 million years ago. Although paleoanthropologists are still divided on whether Australopithecus Deyiremeda is a distinct species from Lucy, the fact that its teeth differed significantly from Lucy's suggests that their diets were different. As the collection of fossils from different hominin species expands, an important question arises whether these species ever interacted or even mated with each other. Australopithecus Farensis was as social as other primates, evidenced by the preserved footprint path of three Australopithecines strolling together at the Laetoli site in Tanzania. But, there is little to no proof that Australopithecines ever interbred. Even with the enormous amount of Australopithecus Afarensis fossils found in the last 50 years, paleoanthropologists still have a lot of work ahead of them to really understand Lucy's world.