The secrets of public speaking
People who enjoy public speaking are luckier than they realise. A much-publicised survey from the 1970s claimed that Americans feared it more than death. In 2012, Karen Dwyer and Marlina Davidson of the University of Nebraska Omaha published a paper that tried to replicate the result. They found that things were less dramatic than that—but not by much.
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NBC News
4 days ago
- NBC News
Former Biden White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre says she is leaving the Democratic party
WASHINGTON — Former White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre, a prominent fixture in Democratic politics and the face of the Biden administration for years, is leaving the party and registering as an independent, according to a press release about her upcoming book. Jean-Pierre "didn't come to her decision to be an Independent lightly," said the release from the book's publisher, Hachette. In her book, "Independent: A look inside a broken White House, outside the party lines," Jean-Pierre "shares why Americans must step beyond party lines to embrace life as Independents," the release added. The book is set to be released in October. Jean-Pierre's decision comes as the Democrats have grappled with losing the White House and both chambers of Congress in November. A recent book from CNN's Jake Tapper and Axios' Alex Thompson on Biden's 2024 run added fodder to criticisms about the former president's decision to seek re-election despite concerns about his age and health. The description of Jean-Pierre's book jabs at the Democratic Party's decisions during the summer of 2024, including 'the betrayal by the Democratic Party that led to' Biden's decision to drop out of the presidential race. 'Until January 20, I was responsible for speaking on behalf of the President of the United States. At noon on that day, I became a private citizen who, like all Americans and many of our allies around the world, had to contend with what was to come next for our country,' Jean-Pierre said in a statement for Legacy Lit, which is part of Hatchette. 'I determined that the danger we face as a country requires freeing ourselves of boxes.' A spokesperson for the Democratic National Committee declined to comment on Jean-Pierre leaving the party. A spokesperson for Biden's personal office did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Biden named Jean-Pierre press secretary in 2022 after former press secretary Jen Psaki left the White House to anchor an MSNBC show. Jean-Pierre served as the top White House spokesperson through the remainder of Biden's term. She was the first Black woman and first openly gay person to serve as White House press secretary. Jean-Pierre has a long history of working for top Democrats. Prior to her stint in the Biden White House, Jean-Pierre was the chief of staff to then-vice presidential nominee Kamala Harris. She also worked for former President Barack Obama during his presidential campaigns. Jean-Pierre said in a video posted to Instagram that she decided to 'follow my own compass,' urging people to 'stop thinking in boxes' and 'not be so partisan.'
NBC News
4 days ago
- NBC News
Coco Gauff reaches the French Open semifinals
PARIS — Coco Gauff overcame 10 double-faults and the first set she's dropped in the tournament to beat Madison Keys 6-7 (6), 6-4, 6-1 at the French Open on Wednesday, reaching the semifinals for the third time. It was a contest filled with plenty of mistakes by both Americans, who each has claimed one major championship. They combined for 101 unforced errors and just 40 winners across more than two hours under a closed roof at Court Philippe-Chatrier on a drizzly, chilly day. Nearly half of the games — 14 of 29 — featured breaks of serve. But from 4-all in the second set, Gauff held four times in a row while reeling off eight of the match's last nine games. She made two unforced errors in the last set, including just one double-fault. The No. 2-seeded Gauff won the 2023 U.S. Open and was the runner-up at the 2022 French Open. She'll play Thursday for a berth in another Grand Slam final, facing either No. 6 Mirra Andreeva or 361st-ranked French wild-card entry Loïs Boisson. The other women's semifinal is quite a matchup: three-time defending champion Iga Swiatek vs. No. 1-ranked Aryna Sabalenka. They advanced with quarterfinal victories Tuesday. It was Swiatek who stopped Gauff at Roland-Garros in the semifinals last year and in the final three years ago. "I have a lot more work left to do," said Gauff, who raised her arms overhead then spread them wide apart after the last point against Keys, "but I'm going to savor this one today." Gauff began particularly poorly, trailing 4-1 and twice standing just one point from a 5-1 deficit. Gauff bowed her head or sighed after some miscues. Then, suddenly, she got going, using her speed and instincts to stretch points until Keys — the Australian Open champion in January — missed. That helped Gauff get within a point of taking that set. But the 21-year-old based in Florida double-faulted three times in the tiebreaker, and soon was headed to the locker room to regroup. That set was sloppy. Gauff had seven winners to 21 unforced errors. Keys has 12 winners to 28 unforced errors, 19 of which arrived from her powerful forehand. "Her forehand is probably one of the best — if not the best — on tour. I was just trying my best to get it on the other side of the court," Gauff said. "I knew that I just had to be able to run today and as soon as the ball came short, just punish her for it." Repeatedly, Gauff scrambled this way or that to get her racket on a shot from Keys that against plenty of other players would end the point. And often enough, it worked well, leading to a miss by Keys, who occasionally admonished herself with a slap on her right leg. "With her ability to cover the court," Keys said, "you're going to have to win the point multiple times before it's actually over." The crowd offered more support to Gauff. There were chants in English of "Let's go, Coco! Let's go!" and in French of "Allez, Coco!" She ended Keys' 11-match Grand Slam winning streak and now can continue her own pursuit of a second major trophy.
Daily Mirror
4 days ago
- Daily Mirror
Nigella Lawson settles debate on best place to store eggs - but only in the UK
Nigella Lawson has shared her advice on the best place to store eggs - and it turns out the Americans have been right all along when it comes to keeping them fresh for longer The age-old debate on where to stash your eggs – in the fridge or on the countertop – has been a hot topic, with Brits and Americans divided on their storage habits. While here in the UK, we're more inclined to let our eggs bask at room temperature, our friends across the pond swear by chilling them in the fridge. Culinary queen Nigella Lawson has now weighed in, declaring that both methods have merit, but for keeping your eggs in tip-top condition for an extended period, the American way wins out. On her website, Nigella advises: "Eggs in their shells don't necessarily need to be refrigerated but they do need to be stored in cool, dry conditions." She further notes: "As most houses now have central heating and very few have a cool larder, it tends to be most practical to store eggs in the fridge." The reason behind this chilly preference is simple: eggs require a stable, cool environment to maintain freshness, and the fridge is just the place to thwart the multiplication of salmonella bacteria. With room temperatures prone to fluctuation, especially as the warmer months roll in, the risk of bacterial growth increases, reports the Express. Nevertheless, whether you opt for the fridge or the countertop, consistency is key; erratic temperatures can turn your eggs from breakfast staples to health hazards. This explains why supermarket shelves aren't chilled – the transition from shop to home could spell trouble, potentially leading to salmonella poisoning. Nigella stated: "If you do have a suitably cool room to store them in then they should be fine left out of the fridge. However we would like to point out that the UK Food Standards Agency recommends that eggs should be stored in a 'cool, dry place, ideally the fridge'." The US FDA recommends that eggs for sale are stored in refrigerated units at below 45F (7C) and all eggs are "refrigerated promptly" after purchase." Avoid storing eggs in the door of the fridge as the constant temperature changes from opening and closing can cause them to spoil. The best spot for egg storage is on the middle shelf of the fridge, which tends to maintain the most consistent temperature. Regardless of how you choose to store your eggs, always check the packaging before adding them to your shopping trolley to ensure you're buying the freshest eggs possible. Nigella added: "In the UK eggs are individually stamped with a 'best before' date (which should correspond to the date on the box) and in the US there is a date on the carton by which it is recommended the eggs are used and the FDA recommend that eggs are used within three weeks of purchase. Once an egg has been cracked open, the white and yolk should be stored in the fridge and used within 48 hours.
