Home Builder Developer - Interior Renovation and Design

A look at Kansas football's schedule for the 2022 season

Who do the Jayhawks play in 2022? Here's a closer look at Kansas football's schedule this season.

Adam Hensley, Wochit

LAWRENCE When Rich Miller transferred to join Kansas football last year, he didnt expect to become the leader he has.

Miller, a senior linebacker this fall for the Jayhawks, cautioned Wednesday that it wasnt as if he doubted himself. Miller, among those who followed head coach Lance Leipold from Buffalo, noted he just wanted to be the best version of himself. Miller had never really been much of a vocal leader, and instead led by example which he described as akin to breathing.

But as the months went by, Miller has assumed a more significant role on and off the field at Kansas, and is now someone who he said teammates look to during player-led meetings to say something. Whether its then, or maybe in the weight room, Miller has seen teammates respond to what hes had to say. And according to his position coach, Chris Simpson, Miller is a catalyst for their defense and kind of the heart of what they are trying to do.

RELATED: Kansas football hasnt quite found its O-line depth, but Lance Leipold says it's developing

As much as anybody, I think (Miller) is, Jayhawks defensive coordinator Brian Borland concurred. And just, playing the centerpiece position there at the MIKE linebacker spot a lot of the times. Although, I think he could play any of our linebacker spots equally well. Knows the defense well. Knows what our expectations are.

"I think on the field, off the field, I think hes the kind of a good, model citizen. So, in that respect, I think he, Rich Miller, certainly would be kind of at the center of what were trying to do.

RELATED: Heres where things stand with Kansas footballs special teams units as opener approaches

Leipold praised how Miller carries himself off the field and pointed to his ability to do anything they ask of a linebacker, too. Miller is someone who Leipold feels understands the expectations of how Kansas players should practice and handle their business.

The degree to which Miller has expectations for himself and his teammates is what Leipold explained they are striving for as a program.

To hear that type of praise means a lot to Miller, because it shows him the confidence a coach like Simpson who described the MIKE as the guy who runs the show defensively has in him. But Miller added he doesnt take any pressure from it. It actually meant more to him when he missed practice because he was sick and he had teammates reaching out to him to tell him they needed him back soon.

More: Where Kansas football quarterbacks coach Jim Zebrowski sees the separation at his position

Miller is a part of a position group thats much more competitive than it was a year ago, something coaches have said will help with special teams as well, because of improvements made by those who returned and the additions of transfers like super-senior Lorenzo McCaskill (Louisiana), redshirt senior Eriq Gilyard (UCF) and redshirt junior Craig Young (Ohio State). Its something that had Simpson saying there could be five or six guys hed feel comfortable starting.

And Miller indicated hes taken it all in stride.

Miller, who finished second on the team in tackles and sacks in 2021, said he has approached it as a learning opportunity. McCaskill has taught him how to be more efficient using his hands. Gilyard has taught him how to better drop into coverage during a play-action situation.

If you want to play youve got to step your game up, because its next man up, said Miller, who also tied for second in tackles for loss among Jayhawks last season. Like, that man can do the same thing you can do or maybe even better on some days. So, everybody knew that. Everybody knew you just step your game up.

More: Why Kansas football linebacker Taiwan Berryhills position coach was singing his praises

Miller also played a role in helping Kansas add quality transfers from the Detroit area, where hes from himself. Redshirt junior safety Marvin Grant, whose college career began at Purdue, attended the same high school as Miller. And in addition to those efforts meaning a lot to Leipold, theres also no doubt its helped Miller become more comfortable in his second year with the Jayhawks.

Miller said hes opened up more than he did in 2021 because there are more people around from where he grew up, like Grant. Miller wanted to bring in athletes from where hes from because he knows how passionate they are and what theyve had to go through to reach this point. If Kansas can have a locker room thats as close as his was in high school, he thinks thatll only raise the bar of how good the Jayhawks can be.

Weve got five dudes from Detroit here, like, thats all I needed, said Miller, who noted time helps as well and hes also more comfortable with the locker room as a whole. Like, not to say that I couldnt do it without them or anything like that, but, like, that just sparked even more. Because those guys already know who I am.

"They already know how I am. They know what I stand for, what Im about. So, it was just so much easier for me to be comfortable.

Jordan Guskey coversUniversity of Kansas Athletics at The Topeka Capital-Journal. Contact him at jmguskey@gannett.com or on Twitter at @JordanGuskey.

See original here:
Rich Miller has become 'kind of the heart' of what Kansas football's defense is about - The Topeka Capital-Journal

Aug 18, 2022

Adam Rittenberg

Tom VanHaaren

After a summer of significant news -- the expansion additions of USC and UCLA, followed by a record new media rights deal -- the Big Ten swaggers into the season. The league has proven it can compete with the SEC in revenue and realignment. National championships? That's a different story.

Ohio State has been the only Big Ten program to win a national title during the College Football Playoff era, and the only one to win a playoff game. Although the Buckeyes missed the CFP and saw their Big Ten title streak end at four last season, they are the overwhelming favorites to win the league. Anything short of a national championship -- and perhaps a Heisman Trophy for quarterback C.J. Stroud -- would be deemed disappointing. Michigan isn't getting as much respect as the defending league champ, but coach Jim Harbaugh's team returns a lot on offense and should start strong. Michigan State also aims to reload after a top-10 finish, and Penn State enters a key season after struggling since 2019. The West Division should be very competitive as top contenders Iowa, Wisconsin, Minnesota and Purdue return quarterbacks and other key pieces.

1. Will Ohio State end its national title drought?

2 Related

When Ohio State won the inaugural CFP eight years ago, the Buckeyes looked likely to pile up titles. While they've continued to dominate the Big Ten, they have just one CFP victory -- and only three playoff appearances -- since winning it all. Ohio State has a title-worthy team, led by an offense that could score at will. Stroud returns alongside top wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba, running back TreVeyon Henderson and a host of other playmakers. Coach Ryan Day wisely hired coordinator Jim Knowles from Oklahoma State to improve a defense that didn't consistently threaten opponents. Ohio State has enough talent and motivation after last year to reach SoFi Stadium on Jan. 9 and win it all.

2. What will Michigan do for an encore?

Michigan finally has reference points for what it can achieve, both in the Big Ten and nationally. Last fall, the Wolverines beat Ohio State for the first time since 2011, won the Big Ten outright for the first time since 2003 and reached their first-ever CFP. They return quarterback Cade McNamara, explosive running back Blake Corum, a host of receivers and several pieces from the Joe Moore Award-winning offensive line. Still, Michigan isn't a popular pick to repeat, as it lost two first-round draft picks (Aidan Hutchinson, Daxton Hill) and a second-round pick (David Ojabo) on defense, plus coordinator Mike Macdonald. This fall, the Wolverines get a chance to show they will be regular CFP contenders -- and a problem for their archrivals.

3. Which quarterbacks will step up to propel their teams?

Starting quarterbacks return at all the projected Big Ten division contenders, but there are questions about who will join Ohio State's Stroud on the elite tier. Purdue's Aidan O'Connell has a good case after completing a team-record 71.8% of his passes last season. Penn State's Sean Clifford has records but wants to cement his legacy with a title run as a senior, while Michigan State's Payton Thorne set a team record for touchdown passes in his first season as the starter. Maryland's Taulia Tagovailoa has steadily improved and will throw to a gifted group of receivers. Will Michigan's Cade McNamara keep his job, or is J.J. McCarthy the answer in Ann Arbor? Minnesota's Tanner Morgan reunites with playcaller Kirk Ciarrocca. Iowa and Wisconsin each could win the West Division if they get marginal improvement from quarterbacks Spencer Petras and Graham Mertz.

Defending champ Michigan should rightfully feel disrespected, but Ohio State returns too much sizzle on offense -- plus a defense we see upgrading significantly under Knowles -- not to occupy the top spot. Things get interesting afterward, as four or five teams could make a case for the No. 3 spot.

Michigan State must improve significantly on defense, while Iowa, Wisconsin, Penn State and Minnesota are looking for a jolt on offense. Purdue and Maryland both return dynamic quarterbacks and could be sleepers if they get enough on defense. Nebraska likely must rise for coach Scott Frost to keep his job.

1. Ohio State2. Michigan3. Michigan State4. Iowa5. Wisconsin6. Penn State7. Minnesota8. Purdue9. Maryland10. Nebraska11. Illinois12. Northwestern13. Indiana14. Rutgers

Michigan State at Michigan, Oct. 29

Preseason Power Rankings Preseason polls | Poll reax Top 100 players | NFL draft rankings Coaching tiers | QB confidential SEC | ACC | Big 12 | Big Ten Pac-12

Michigan State handed Michigan its only regular-season loss last season, a 37-33 Spartans victory. Running back Kenneth Walker III scored five touchdowns in the game while running for 197 yards. Walker is no longer on the roster, and Michigan is going to be looking for revenge at home. This is always a pivotal game for both teams, and this season will be no different.

Ohio State at Penn State, Oct. 29

The Buckeyes and Nittany Lions have been part of some of the more exciting Big Ten games in recent years. The Buckeyes are going to have College Football Playoff aspirations, and Penn State is hoping to rebound from its 7-6 season to prove that was more anomaly than the norm.

Michigan State at Penn State, Nov. 26

This feels like a battle for position within the Big Ten. Both teams are trying to prove themselves and trying to get back to the conference championship. Ohio State is the clear leader in the conference, but the winner of this game could show us who is on the rise.

Minnesota at Wisconsin, Nov. 26

Both teams are coming off of 9-4 seasons, and both teams are hoping to take a step forward in 2022. This game could end up being the deciding factor on which team represents the Big Ten West. Iowa will be in the conversation as well, but the winner of this game could either propel themselves into the game or play spoiler.

Michigan at Ohio State, Nov. 26

This will be one of the most nationally anticipated games of the entire season. Michigan beat Ohio State in 2021 to put itself into the Big Ten championship game and eventually the College Football Playoff. The Buckeyes have focused on that loss all offseason and have vowed it won't happen again. This is gearing up to be one of the best games to end the season if both teams collide with everything on the line.

The Big Ten is returning some household names that have already proven to be stat leaders for their teams and all-conference players. Ohio State quarterback C.J. Stroud leads that list as a Heisman finalist last season, returning to try to duplicate his success from 2021. There are some new faces, though, and some potential breakout stars, including Wisconsin running back Braelon Allen, who came on strong late in the season, and Michigan defensive lineman Mazi Smith, who is poised for a big year. In what might be the most Big Ten thing the conference could do, one of the strengths within the conference will be at punter. If it weren't for number constraints, there very well could be more than one punter on the all-conference team with Rutgers' Adam Korsak, Iowa's Tory Taylor, Michigan State's Bryce Baringer and Michigan's Brad Robbins. Only one will survive, though, so may the best leg win.

OffenseQB C.J. Stroud, Ohio StateRB Braelon Allen, WisconsinRB TreVeyon Henderson, Ohio StateWR Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Ohio StateWR Jayden Reed, Michigan StateWR Rakim Jarrett, MarylandTE Sam LaPorta, IowaOT Peter Skoronski, NorthwesternOG J.D. Duplain, Michigan StateC John Michael Schmitz, MinnesotaOG Zak Zinter, MichiganOT Paris Johnson Jr., Ohio State

DefenseDL Mazi Smith, MichiganDL Jacob Slade, Michigan StateDL P.J. Mustipher, Penn StateDL Ochaun Mathis, NebraskaLB Jack Campbell, IowaLB Nick Herbig, WisconsinLB Garrett Nelson, NebraskaS Ji'Ayir Brown, Penn StateS Ronnie Hickman, Ohio StateCB Riley Moss, IowaCB DJ Turner, MichiganCB Joey Porter Jr., Penn State

Special teamsP Adam Korsak, RutgersK Jake Moody, MichiganR Emeka Egbuka, Ohio State

Ohio State over Wisconsin.

Read the original:
Big Ten college football preview - Breaking down the conference's best storylines, games and more - ESPN

Hours before President Joe Biden signed the Inflation Reduction Act, the Energy Department released reports yesterday on the state of U.S. wind power that raise questions that may linger despite the new laws policy supports.

The three reports focused on onshore, offshore and distributed wind power, respectively outlined the wind industrys struggles over the past year while concluding that its healthy. The reports did not consider the IRAs possible effects on wind growth.

Thirteen gigawatts of wind came online last year, enough to power 4 million homes, DOE noted. That was the second largest amount ever, according to industry figures.

Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm predicted in a call with reporters the IRA would breathe new life into this industry and trigger a larger boom.

For all the fantastic growth wind energy has seen over the last decade, Im confident that the best years in this sector are ahead of us, Granholm said.

That rosy view has been backed by energy system modelers from Princeton Universitys REPEAT Project, who found American wind installations could double by 2025-2026 due to the IRA, which contains new and extended tax credits for wind production and domestic manufacturing of turbine parts (Energywire, Aug. 8).

But DOE researchers outlined problems in their reports that have acted as a drag on the industrys growth.

One problem is how long it can take to connect new projects to the grid, which can rack up development costs.

At the end of 2021, the reports say, a record amount of wind power, 247 GW, was waiting in transmission interconnection queues, including 73 GW that came onto the queue last year and 77 GW from offshore wind.

Speeding up interconnection queues may prove to be an enduring challenge for wind, despite the IRAs passage, said Ryan Wiser, a senior scientist at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory and corresponding author of DOEs report on onshore wind.

Were going to need to figure out how to properly move projects through the interconnection process in a faster way than we have in the past, Wiser said during DOEs media call.

New transmission lines would also be needed to connect high-quality wind resources to load centers, he added. Transmission and interconnection are key remaining barriers that are still to be resolved, he said.

An investment tax credit for transmission projects, which was promoted by transmission advocates, was left out of the IRA by congressional negotiators (Energywire, July 29).

The DOE reports also took note of market uncertainties that have plagued wind and other energy sources since the pandemic, including supply-chain disruptions and rising commodity prices.

Those reversed a decadelong trend of falling turbine prices and prompted outside analysts to predict a slower year for onshore wind additions in 2023, DOE researchers noted.

Corporate demand for clean energy contracts, state-level renewable goals and competition from cheap solar power could also change the trajectory of winds growth, among other factors, DOE researchers said.

The IRA itself may not directly address supply shortages and inflationary pressures, but the laws incentives could entice developers to invest in wind projects anyway, according to analysts from Wood Mackenzie who acted as peer reviewers for early versions of the DOE reports.

Whats important is the long-term policy horizon. Thats really critical for the industry to plan the business, invest in manufacturing and invest in projects, said Aaron Barr, the firms head of onshore wind research.

The laws policy supports would likely begin to drive winds growth beginning in 2023, said Samantha Woodworth, senior analyst for North American wind markets at Wood Mackenzie.

That could include a renaissance in U.S.-based production of turbine parts, something that could help wind developers skirt shortages of supplies from overseas, she and Barr said.

In 2021, U.S. production capacity for many wind parts declined. Blade manufacturing was hardest-hit, declining 50 percent due to the shuttering or idling of three American facilities.

But U.S. plants could launch or reopen to take advantage of the manufacturing tax credits, particularly to serve new offshore wind projects, Barr said.

The wind industry in general its mature, its become globalized, its well-established in the U.S. Its ready to go, he said. Its just been waiting on this policy signal from Washington.

Read more:
DOE outlines challenges for wind. Will the IRA help? - E&E News

Liverpool are gearing up for their trip to Old Trafford to face rivals Manchester United in the Premier League on Monday and the build-up contained a strange confrontation

Image: Jacques Feeney/Getty Images)

Liverpools trip to Old Trafford is now just two days away, but Jurgen Klopp is not busy exchanging words with Manchester United boss Erik ten Hag, like you might expect.

Klopp has instead been sticking up for Uniteds under-pressure manager following two successive defeats and his comments have sparked a war of words with somebody very different. The Liverpool managers pre-match press conference on Friday did contain some of the more unusual content, with injury updates and team news also on the agenda.

Meanwhile, the Reds do not need to worry about facing Uniteds 60million new midfielder Casemiro, despite a deal being agreed with Real Madrid on Friday evening. Here Mirror Football brings you all the latest Liverpool news.

Liverpool have been hit hard by injuries of late, so the news that Roberto Firmino is fit and ready to replace the suspended Darwin Nunez against Manchester United comes as a relief.

Speaking in his pre-match press conference on Friday, Jurgen Klopp said: "Bobby has trained completely normally and is ready."

The Brazilian missed Mondays 1-1 draw against Crystal Palace with a muscle complaint, but is very likely to start at Old Trafford, with Nunez out for three games after headbutting Joachim Andersen.

Firminos return is a boost, but Diogo Jota, Curtis Jones, Thiago Alcantara, Joel Matip and Ibrahima Konate all remain unavailable.

Read the full story here.

Image:

Friday saw a strange spat emerge between the Liverpool manager and former Aston Villa striker Gabby Agbonlahor.

Klopp had been annoyed listening to Agbonlahors analysis on talkSPORT of Manchester Uniteds 4-0 defeat by Brentford last weekend, in which he called Erik ten Hags players "amateur" and their performance "a shambles". I was close to calling in! Klopp said. He wasn't a mentality monster when we beat Villa 6-0."

Agbonlahor responded to the dig about the defeat in February 2016 by posting on Instagram about Villas 1-0 win over Liverpool at Anfield the year before Klopp became manager.

Read the full back and forth here.

Image:

Manchester United announced on Friday evening that they had agreed a deal in principle to sign Real Madrid midfielder Casemiro, but he will not feature against Liverpool.

The 30-year-old will reportedly fly into Manchester by private jet on Saturday after United agreed to pay an initial fee of 60m plus a further 10m in potential add-ons. The five-time Champions League winner will become the clubs fourth summer signing.

However, he will not be eligible to make his debut at Old Trafford on Monday because he still has to undergo a medical and complete all the paperwork. United will therefore have to try and turn around their rotten form without him.

Read more here.

Go here to read the rest:
Liverpool news: Reds get Roberto Firmino boost as Jurgen Klopp spars with Gabby Agbonlahor - The Mirror

Actor and stuntman Kane Hodder is the man who has spent the most time behind the hockey mask in the "Friday the 13th" franchise. Hodder made his debut as Jason Voorhees in "Friday the 13th Part VII: The New Blood" and reprised the role three more times until Ken Kirzinger took up the machete for "Freddy vs. Jason." Hodder, who later reprised Jason for the 2017 "Friday the 13th" video game, has also played or provided stunts for a dizzying array of other movie killers, including Leatherface in "Leatherface: The Texas Chainsaw Massacre III," Victor Crowley in the "Hatchet" series, and even took up Freddy Kruger's gloved hand in "Jason Goes to Hell: The Final Friday."

In addition to his most iconic roles, Hodder has essayed dozens of other maniacs, tough guys, and bad-to-know types in films ranging from the 2003 "Daredevil" and "Monster" with Charlize Theron to "House II: The Second Story" and "2001 Maniacs." As with most genre pics, some titles are better than others, but in the case of "City Limits," it's safe to say that most, if not all movies are better than that 1984 sci-fi pic

A post-apocalyptic thriller set in a Los Angeles where a plague has eliminated most of the adults, "City Limits" features a sizable of then-up-and-coming performers, including John Stockwell, Rae Dawn Chong, and future "Independence Day" writer-producer Dean Devlin as survivors who have formed motorcycle gangs. Kim Cattrall and Robby Benson are also on hand as members of a mysterious corporation sent to rebuild the city at the expense of the bikers.

Sounds confusing and poorly conceived, you say? Well, you're right and Joel and the 'bots on "Mystery Science Theater 3000" agree, since they torched the film in their original run but if you look carefully, you'll see Hodder as a member of the DAs, a hostile biker gang. Hodder is billed as one of the Unfriendly DAs, and with his powerful build and glowering face, he's more believable than anything else in the picture.

Read the rest here:
Early Roles That Friday The 13th Actors Would Like You To Forget About - Looper

The Event Extra podcast offers one-on-one interviews with some of the policymakers, practitioners and leaders who spoke at U.S. Institute of Peace events. Each episode highlights their ideas on areas of conflict and how to achieve peace.

Adam Gallagher: Welcome, let me introduce us. Youre Rina Amiri, the U.S. special envoy for Afghan Women, Girls and Human Rights. And I'm Adam Gallagher, managing editor for USIP.org. This week marks the one-year anniversary of the Taliban takeover of Afghanistan. Many expected that when they swept into power, the Taliban would reprise the repressive rule of the 1990s. Despite pledges of moderation and reform from some Taliban factions. One year later, those predictions have turned out to be prescient. They have swiftly reinstated many of their harshest policies pushing women out of public life and brooking dissent. Special Envoy Amiri, many of the hard-won gains made for Afghan women over the last 20 years are eroding before their eyes. Can you talk a little bit about how their lives have changed in the last year, and also what the picture is like for minorities and their rights?

Rina Amiri: Well, first, thank you very much, to you and to the U.S. Institute of Peace for continuing to keep the spotlight on the situation in Afghanistan. The last year has been nothing short of devastating for women, ethnic and religious communities. But I would say that for the population as a whole, I also hear from men, that, you know, that they're in a desperate situation. So it's, you know, it's a context in which is even more devastating, because I think that the population, what I hear over and over again, that, despite the tremendous devastation of war. Think how things have turned out. There is still some element of hope that the promise of a reform Taliban would materialize, and that they would be better than in the 1990s. And the last year, I think, has and many respects have been, the scenario that is far worse than any had had prepared themselves for, you know, for women and girls, I think that the whole world saw that overnight, they were stripped of their fundamental rights. You know, and of course, I want to qualify that. Certainly, the picture was very mixed. And that an urban centers, the women and girls had better opportunities, more advantages than those in the rural parts of the country. But when I talk to women, you know, from throughout the entire country, what I hear is devastation over the situation and that they've lost the right to work, they've lost the right to get their daughters educated, they have lost any sense of hope for the future. And for ethnic and religious communities, what they note is that they live under the shadow of threat. They don't feel safe in their communities, they don't feel safe in their homes. They don't feel safe sending their wives to give birth because of attack, the attacks on, terrible attacks that have taken place against maternity wards. They fear for their children when they send their children to school. That pervasive sense of threat is a shadow that has overtaken with their calculations and the way that they live their lives. And particularly for the Hazara community. You know, I read an assessment that there have been over 15 attacks. And it's not just the Hazara community as a religious community, but as an ethnic community where they are being specifically targeted and where they are, if they feel that they are being left as soft targets. And we hear the same thing from the Hindu and Sikh community, the Sufis, you know, just across the country of those that do not fit within the narrow confines of what the Taliban identifies as people that are aligned with what their view of the world that they are suffering tremendously right now.

Adam Gallagher: And yet over the last year, despite this sort of shadow of threat that looms over Afghan women and minorities, many have protested the Taliban rollback of their rights, including a demonstration over the weekend that was met with Taliban violence. I'm wondering if you can talk a little bit about what you see Afghan women and minorities doing to protect in their promote and promote their rights amid this sort of terrifying landscape.

Rina Amiri: I think what the world needs to take away from what we have seen from the Afghan population is that they are not a -- you know, we see that there's a narrative around Afghans as victims, but Afghans, I think are the most resilient people in the world. And the most, you know, some of the most courageous people in the world. And certainly we have seen that demonstrated, and foremost among them, I would have to say, have been Afghan women. They, we have seen over and over again, despite the tremendously harsh crackdowns by the Taliban against not just the women but against their families, that they continue to go out and protest. And they're not just protesting for their rights. They're protesting for the vision that all Afghans aspire towards, which is a peaceful Afghanistan and inclusive one on one which one which is going to be economically viable. You know, I spent a lot of time talking to Afghans both inside and outside the country and online. And they tell me that this is not this is not just a choice for them, you know, that it's not that they're not fearful. But there are some things that are more important than fear. And that is what gives them the courage that they go out. And what they're fighting for is they're fighting for the children, they're fighting for the future of the country. You know, and there are a lot of painful stories that I come across, I come across women who say that, you know, up until, like, a year ago, there were judges, there were parliamentarians, there were doctors, and now they have to go through the indignity of, you know, they put on a burqa, and they go out and they're looking for, they're put in a position of being beggars. And they know that the Taliban are more prepared to provide support for them as beggars than allowing them to be agents of their own future. And as active agents in society where they can contribute to the to the economy of the country. They're also, you know, they're incredibly pragmatic. They're not, they're not looking at this as a black and white situation. Where they find Taliban that are positioned are prepared to engage with them and to create entry points for them to work to get or to do anything constructive. They're willing to work with those Talibs. So I think beyond the, what we, what I take away is that their vision is both defined by pragmatism, as well as principles and tremendous courage. And they want the world to understand that they are not victims, that they need our support. They need us to engage them as agents of their own future, and to look at a very targeted way of how we can support them, whether that's through diplomatic engagement with the Taliban, or otherwise, but that it should not just stop just because the Taliban are being resistant to any type of movement in a positive direction.

Adam Gallagher: Yeah, and that's a good segue into my final question. But I also just want to mention that I think that point about pragmatism is so important. And you have to wonder why the Taliban can't sort of reciprocate that pragmatism, understanding that they're hamstrung, hamstringing their own economy by shutting women out of public life in this way. But to go back sort of on what you were closing there, and I'm just wondering if you can expand a bit more on how the United States and the international community can help Afghan women and minorities in this really, really tough situation. And then also, I'm wondering if you can touch a little bit on the U.S.-Afghan consultative mechanism that was launched at USIP in late July.

Rina Amiri: I think that those that understand the situation of why this issue of women's rights and human rights are important, don't approach it just from a moral or normative perspective, but from a strategic perspective, that the role of women -- we have the data, we have the data from just really very compelling evidence from all over the world. But the best way, the most economically effective way, the one that doesn't require a large intervention in the future is one in which we equip women to advance the society. And that's where we're coming from, I think, it informs why, you know, our approach. And the U.S.-Afghan consultative mechanism -- one, that it should be Afghan women and civil society, Afghan voices that are at the forefront of this discussion. They, we will be capable of making much better policies if their voices are in the lead. If they guide our assessment, if they guide our understanding. Our policies are grounded in a solid understanding and a solid engagement strategy with Afghans themselves. We seek to use their voices, to profile their voices to bring them in, in a consistent and systematic way. With the U.S. government officials across the government sitting across from Afghan women leaders, human rights, the human rights community, civil society, as equal actors trying to work together on what the specific challenges and identify solutions to develop a coherent approach to systematically engaging them, rather than having one-off consultations with Afghan women and civil society that, where the impact might be lesser than something that's more systematic.

Adam Gallagher: Thank you so much, Special Envoy Amira, for joining us this week, during this sort of somber anniversary. We really appreciate your time.

Rina Amiri: Thank you very much.

Watch the original event Engaging Afghan Women and Civil Society in U.S. Policymaking.

Read more from the original source:
Event Extra: Taliban Rule Takes Profound Toll on Afghan Women and Minorities - United States Institute of Peace

U.S. Institute of Peace experts discuss the latest foreign policy issues from around the world inOn Peace, abrief weekly collaboration with SiriusXM's POTUS Channel 124.

Julie Mason: Joining me now, Andrew Watkins is a senior expert on Afghanistan for the U.S. Institute of Peace. Here to discuss the one-year anniversary of the fall of Kabul. Andrew, good morning.

Andrew Watkins: Good morning. Thanks for having me.

Julie Mason: What a dire situation there. People are starving. Their economy is in ruins. The setbacks for women. Ugh.

Andrew Watkins: It really is terrible in so many ways. The Taliban are showing the world and the Afghan people that they understand the scope of the problems that they're facing. But they've also revealed, over the last year, just how little that they can do to grapple with the world's worst humanitarian crisis.

Julie Mason: What is the situation there? What are the conditions?

Andrew Watkins: The conditions are pretty horrific. And it's only due to the intervention of Western powers like the United States and European allies, that the country hasn't reached a critical mass of starvation everywhere. But the United Nations and other aid organizations say that there are more people going hungry in Afghanistan than anywhere else in the world in Asia and Africa. This is a result of an economy that completely collapsed. When the U.S. left Afghanistan, it wasn't just our military presence, it was all of the aid and the economic assistance that had been turning their whole economy into one giant bubble.

Julie Mason: The Taliban have consolidated, sort of, security in the country. They do have that on lockdown. No major threats to their rule of the country.

Andrew Watkins: It's true. A lot of what we're seeing in the news usually has to do with fighting that's still going on in Afghanistan. There are a lot of people, for maybe obvious reasons, who don't like the Taliban, and they're trying to do something about it. But to put it in perspective, all of this is really small scale. The fact is there are people trying to resist the Taliban. From the left and the right, you have people affiliated with the former government, you have our former Afghan allies, and then all the way on the other side of the spectrum, you have terrorists who are part of the Islamic State network around the world. But the Taliban have consolidated control around the country, and they're going to control it for the foreseeable future.

Julie Mason: And the Taliban hiding al-Zawahiri or giving him safe haven in Kabul, what is your interpretation of the relationship now, between those two groups?

Andrew Watkins: Yeah, I mean, the Taliban themselves have really been caught between a rock and a hard place. It's always been a complicated relationship. You can go back to 2001 and if you look at interviews and cables from the State Department, there were a lot of people in the Taliban who didn't agree with their leader's judgment to keep bin Laden protected. And there are a lot of people in the Taliban for the last 20 years who have kind of resented the relationship with al-Qaida. Because why should they have lost everything and had to suffer through 20 years of war just for the sake of keeping a lot of people from the Arab world safe when their fight is a different fight? But at the end of the day, as a friend who's very close to people in the Taliban told me, if there are some people in the Taliban who don't like that relationship with al-Qaida, there's one thing that everyone in the Taliban likes less. And that's the idea of helping their former enemy, the United States, hunt al-Qaida down.

Julie Mason: Very interesting, because I mean, after all that money, after all those lives lost, after all those U.S. promises, to have withdrawn and then al-Qaida still operating in Afghanistan. Like what exactly was achieved?

Andrew Watkins: Yeah, I mean, that's especially hard to ask when we look at everything else, right? There were a lot of mistakes made and there was, you know, countless corruption, from the money that we spent, to what Afghan politicians did with it, but there were improvements made and we're seeing even those erode, you know, across Afghan society.

Julie Mason: Right? Exactly. Everything we said like, If you just vote. If you just turn out. If you just you know, do this, then you're gonna have all these benefits. And now, people are starving and there's nothing. That's really grim on a Monday morning but tell us about the supreme leader of the Taliban, Andrew.

Andrew Watkins: Yeah, so this is the most interesting thing we've gotten to see over the last year. The Taliban calls their government the Islamic Emirate and the head is a leader called the emir that they say has supreme authority. He acts with the authority, you know, of God himself. The reality is, though, for the last 20 years, to survive in their war against the U.S., the Taliban had to grow very flexible. They've always said in theory that their leader had supreme authority. But in reality, if you wanted to sign up with them to fight against the Americans, they were pretty flexible. They gave you a lot of autonomy to do things in your little corner of Afghanistan the way that you wanted. Since taking over the country last year, the emir has been trying in a lot of different ways to reassert his authority and become that supreme leader that they've always said he is.

Julie Mason: And how does he occupy that job? Like, what are his edicts?

Andrew Watkins: Well, the most interesting thing is that he doesn't occupy that job with the rest of the government that's based in the capital, Kabul. He sits down in the southern city of Kandahar, which now kind of has a mystique in the Taliban because it's where their first emir, and the guy who founded the Taliban, Mullah Mohammed Omar, it's where he sat for over four years. He had this attitude, you know, not that much different than how some Americans might feel about Washington D.C., that the capital, as the hub of politics, was a corrupt and sinful place. And so, he avoided it entirely. So, this guy is styling himself in the same way, there's a lot of mythology that the Taliban tell about themselves.

Julie Mason: Other matters, meanwhile, the Taliban stalling out in critical aspects of government. As we mentioned, [there is] near universal poverty in the country. And it's an interesting policy question, right? Because, Andrew, no country really seems to want to have any sort of diplomatic relationship with the Taliban, but there's still a great deal of sympathy for the people there.

Andrew Watkins: It's true. I mean, looking forward, this is really the United States struggle: how to continue to provide support for the Afghan people and completely work around the government, you know, the political force that's running the country. It's an unprecedented situation. The Taliban can't seem to make up their mind on some of the most important issues to run the country. And where they do seem to have made up their mind, it's making the wrong decisions, like hosting al-Qaida. And so, you've got a United States, and of course, we still have this huge obligation to the Afghan people with everything we invested, but trying to figure out how to remain engaged without it benefiting the Taliban, while they still figure themselves out on their path to becoming a really kind of warped version of government.

Julie Mason: Andrew Watkins is senior expert on Afghanistan at the U.S. Institute of Peace. Andrew, thank you so much for your time this morning.

Andrew Watkins: Thanks for having me.

Julie Mason: Really great to talk to you.

Read the original:
Andrew Watkins on the One-Year Anniversary of Taliban Takeover - United States Institute of Peace

ExploreThe Great Gatsby of Atlanta: History behind Coca-Cola heirs Briarcliff Mansion

When it comes to making the most out of nature in the home, Miltons Stevie Interiors takes a literal approach.

Obviously I focus on literally bringing the outdoors in, but its also about layers, texture and an earthy color palette, Meghan Basinger, CEO & Principal Designer, told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Swap greys for beige. Bring texture in with rugs, baskets and antiques.

Anywhere you have a door or a window, its just another place to take advantage of incorporating the outdoors into your home, The Design Atelier added. A good pivot door opens up the space to the outdoors more substantially, as will accordion doors, garage doors, and sliding doors.

As the economy continues to struggle amid the pandemic and war in Ukraine, many home owners are looking to tighten their budgets. Luckily, there are plenty of inexpensive ways to spruce up your home.

Fresh flowers always brighten up any room, Amy Morris Interiors said. A tree in a beautiful pot can fill an otherwise empty and neglected corner.

Instead of completely redesigning their homes according to the trend, people can find accents, like solid green pillows and throws, that speak to bringing the outdoors in and make an impact without rethinking their whole space, The Design Atelier added. A plant or branch here and there also does wonders!

If you want to go fully natural and give your wallet a break, Basinger said its a good idea to go foraging.

Take a look at your yard - what can you clip and throw in a vase on your kitchen counter? she added. You dont need to spend a fortune on store-bought florals, often you have something gorgeous right in your own front yard.

Courtesy of Amy Morris Interiors

Credit: Laurey Glenn

Courtesy of Amy Morris Interiors

Credit: Laurey Glenn

Credit: Laurey Glenn

If you are willing to open your wallet, The Design Atelier knows how to get you that wow factor with house guests.

When people think of bringing the outdoors in, many gravitate towards the idea of floral prints and patterns, the company said. I like to think of the materials being used and how the interior will complement and enhance the view outside with a neutral palette or an unexpected architectural element. For example, I like wooden beams or accents that feel natural, rather than polished and pristine. Floor to ceiling windows are also a favorite of mine. It creates a sense of fluidity between the indoors and outdoors.

Amy Morris Interiors suggested keeping things simple for a sophisticated look.

I like to keep things simple and sophisticated even when it comes to bringing flowers and plants indoors, the company said. They bring a certain pop and beautiful aesthetic without being overwhelming or too dramatic.

Basinger, however, said that it also isnt a bad idea to go big.

We absolutely love to play with scale - were talking oversized, Manzanita branches are a favorite with our team - they are total scene stealers in a gorgeous vintage water pot, she said.

See the article here:
How to bring the outdoors in, according to Atlanta's top interior designers - The Atlanta Journal Constitution

DECORATING your home isn't always as easy as it seems.

There are loads of common mistakes that can instantly ruin the overall look of a room and can be pricey to put right.

5

Luckily, interior designer Vivien recently revealed seven of the worst mistakes that will make your home look rubbish.

So if you've got any of these in your home, it might be time to redecorate.

Sometimes the flooring in your home is simply out of your control, especially if you're renting.

The pro explained: "If you have mismatched flooring it can make the space look disjointed and uncoordinated."

But if you don't have the budget to make the floors match you can try a large area rug to help make it feel more seamless or even stick on flooring.

The height of your furniture probably isn't something you put much thought into, especially for things like sofas, coffee tables and beds.

But if all of your furniture is the same height "it can look boring and flat," according to the pro.

Try and mix in different heights for a more dynamic space that looks loads more posh.

"If you're not adding any greenery to your space you're missing out big time," Vivien said.

Not only do plants add life and colour to a space but they have loads of hidden benefits as well.

The pro explained: "If you don't have any green in your space it's going to look very one dimensional and it can inadvertently make a space look feel quite sterile."

No one loves a DIY project quite as much as we do, but they only count if you actually finish them.

Taking on too many DIY projects will mean that your home constantly looks messy and unfinished.

"I'm not saying don't DIY, just be mindful about the projects that you take on," the interior designer said.

Impulsively buying dcor for your home might be ok if it's a pillow or a lamp, but when it comes to furniture measuring is key.

Vivien said: "Most times the perception we have in our space is easy off from reality, then you end up with something too big or too small."

It might be easy to get your bed, bedside tables and wardrobe from the same shop, but the truth is matching sets look cheap.

That doesn't mean you have to spend more money on unique pieces, but taking the time to find furniture that's different that still compliments each other will instantly make your home look more expensive and designer.

It's bad news if you've got cool temperature light-bulbs in your home, "this might be the design sin that bothers me the most," the pro said.

"They give off a very harsh light and it can feel clinical and sterile and they're just not pleasant to be around.

"Warm temperature light-bulbs have a warmth to them they give off a softer light that is much more inviting," Vivien explained.

5

5

5

5

Read the original post:
Im an interior designer there are seven mistakes that make homes look rubbish & Im sick of seeing them... - The US Sun

THERE are some interior trends that might look great in theory, but the truth is in a small room they're just not going to work.

It turns out, making box rooms look bigger is just as much about what you don't put in there as what you do.

3

The interior pro Nic Shacklock from Online-Bedrooms revealed that having carpet in small rooms will instantly make the space look smaller.

Nic said: It can be hard to know what to do with a small room and decorating it incorrectly can often lead to the room feeling much smaller than it is and can make it feel like a bit of wasted space.

Opening up a small room is all about tricking the eye and creating the illusion that the room is bigger than it actually is."

According to the pros, dark carpets in particular, like popular grey shades, are a big no-no.

If you must have carpet, try and go for one that's a lighter shade, or even better, go for a different style of flooring altogether to help brighten up the space.

Light wood flooring is always a good choice and will instantly brighten the space.

You can always add a light coloured rug if you can't part ways with your love of carpet altogether.

It's not just your carpet that's making your small rooms like even smaller though, the wrong furniture can make it feel claustrophic.

Furniture with legs will instantly open up the area.

This is simply because being able to see the floor create the illusion of more space.

Similarly, thick and heavy curtains can make a room feel closed off.

Letting in natural light is vital for small rooms, so opt for light and flowing curtains or ditch them altogether and stick to just blinds.

3

3

Continued here:
Im an interior designer and you should NEVER have carpet in small rooms in your home what to do ins... - The US Sun