Shale, Not Renewable Energy, Is Reducing Carbon Dioxide Emissions
The facts are the facts and it’s shale, not renewable energy, that’s allowing the U.S. to reduce carbon dioxide emissions while others merely yap about it.
Carbon dioxide emissions, the largest component of greenhouse gases, have been declining in the United States, mainly due to the shale gas renaissance. Between 2005 and 2016, U.S. carbon dioxide emissions declined by 12 percent. However, China’s carbon dioxide emissions over the same period increased by 50 percent, surpassing U.S. carbon dioxide emissions in 2006.
Source: BP Statistical Review of World Energy 2017
China’s commitment to the Paris Agreement is to allow greenhouse gas emissions to continue to rise until 2030, when they are expected to peak. China’s emissions are projected to rise approximately 3.5 percent this year due partly to poor hydroelectric output. While China’s emissions are allowed to increase, the Obama administration pledged that the United States would reduce its greenhouse gas emissions 26 to 28 percent below 2005 levels by 2025.
India, the world’s third largest emitter of greenhouse gases, pledged to install more renewable energy and to lower its carbon intensity—the amount of CO2 emitted per unit of gross domestic product. It will do so while allowing total emissions to increase through 2030, similar to China. India’s carbon dioxide emissions are expected to increase 2 percent this year—slower than the 6 percent annual growth seen over the last decade. India still has 240 million citizens without electricity and needs to provide reliable power to them.
Carbon dioxide emissions worldwide are increasing as the graph below shows, though their rate of growth has slowed in recent years. That may be temporary because global carbon dioxide emissions are expected to increase by 2 percent this year. Global carbon dioxide emissions are continuing to grow despite investment in renewable energy.
Over the past 10 years, governments and private investors have together spent $2 trillion on infrastructure to produce electricity from wind and solar power. According to Environmental Progress, after adjusting for inflation, that level of investment exceeds the total cost of all nuclear plants built or under construction. In recent years, renewable capacity has outpaced all other sources—including coal, natural gas and nuclear power. Solar and wind capacity installed in 2015 was more than 10 times what the International Energy Agency had forecast a decade before.
However, as seen from the graph above, this investment in wind and solar capacity has not brought about much decarbonization. Integrating renewable energy into the grid requires large investments in electricity transmission—to move power from intermittently windy and sunny places to places where power is consumed. It also requires fossil fuel plants to be ready to operate when there is no wind or sun. These back-up plants operate at levels far below their maximum capacity, increasing their operating costs and making them uneconomic.
Further, these intermittent renewable sources can drive wholesale electricity prices down to the point where they force back-up power off the grid. There are times when intermittent renewable generators flood the grid with power, reducing the price of electricity to negative levels due to tax credits, thereby forcing back-up power off the grid. Or, if the back-up power cannot shut down quickly, it must pay for the grid to accept its electricity.
German electric prices have skyrocketed as grid is plunged into turmoil by renewable energy political correctness
Despite some countries making progress in integrating wind and solar energy into their electricity mix, their carbon dioxide emissions have actually increased. Germany, for example, is now generating 34 percent of its power from non-carbon sources (hydro, nuclear, wind and solar), but its carbon dioxide emissions have increased in the last two years as the country is closing nuclear plants and backing up its intermittent renewables with coal. Germany’s residential electricity prices have skyrocketed to pay for the new renewable capacity and are three times those in the United States.
The United States is ahead of many countries in reducing its carbon dioxide emissions. That result is largely because of increased generation from inexpensive natural gas rather than from constructing wind and solar generators that produce much less energy per unit of capacity.
The post Shale, Not Renewable Energy, Is Reducing Carbon Dioxide Emissions appeared first on Natural Gas Now.
Tagged: *Natural Gas Now*, Construction, Environment and Climate


Hebrew Roots/Neglected Commandments/Idolatry/Christmas
< Hebrew Roots | Neglected Commandments/Idolatry
The Origin Of ChristmasEdit
Most people assume that Christmas had its origin in the events surrounding the birth of Christ and was established in the early Church as a memorial of these things to honor the Son of God who came down to earth to save the world and was instituted as such by His early followers.
The fact is that there is no instruction in scripture to remember His birth, not any record of the early believers doing so. Nor is there any historical record of any official celebration of Christmas until after 300 AD when the emperor Constantine made Christianity a State 'religion' and gave the pagan celebrations of the period a "Christian" face.
The Roman Empire's religion was one of sun-worship (Mithraism), a pagan deity whose religious influence became widespread in the Roman Empire during the first few centuries A.D.. Mithra was related to the Semitic sun-god, Shamash, and his worship spread throughout Asia to Europe where he was called Deus Sol Invictus Mithras. Rome was well-known for absorbing the pagan religions and rituals of its widespread empire. As such, Rome converted this pagan legacy to a celebration of the god, Saturn, and the rebirth of the sun god during the winter solstice period. The winter holiday became known as Saturnalia and began the week prior to December 25th. The festival was characterized by gift-giving, feasting, singing, drinking and downright debauchery, as the priests of Saturn carried wreaths of evergreen boughs in procession throughout the Roman temples.
The New International Dictionary of the Christian Church, p. 223: “December 25 was the date of the Roman pagan festival inaugurated in 274 as the birthday of the unconquered sun which at the winter solstice begins again to show an increase in light. Sometime before 336 the Church in Rome [under Constantine's control], unable to stamp out this pagan festival, spiritualised it as the Feast of the Nativity of the Sun of Righteousness.” Hislop observes, “That Christmas was originally a Pagan festival, is beyond all doubt. The time of the year, and the ceremonies with which it is still celebrated, prove its origin,” The Two Babylons, p. 93.
Constantine enforced this blended form of Christianity and Mithraism on the empire. He out-lawed the true Sabbath, and enforced Sun-day worship under penalty of death. He established Catholicism (Latin meaning: Universalism) by setting the dates for observing the weekly "sabbath" as Sun-day, and Easter for the empire. (Easter was already one of several vital Pagan observances, originally "Ishtar", commemorating the impregnation of the Earth-Mother nine months prior to the winter solstice!).
The Encyclopedia Britannica, Volume II (1943-1973), under Christmas, we find: “In the Roman world, the Saturnalia was a time of merrymaking and exchanging of gifts. December 25th was also regarded as the birthdate of the Iranian Mystery god, Mithra, the Sun of Righteousness.” Mithra, according to ancient legend (pre the birth of Yeshua the Messiah), was born on December 25, of a virgin. His birth was witnessed by shepherds and magicians [magi]. Mithra raised the dead and healed the sick and cast out demons. He returned to heaven at the spring equinox (northern hemisphere) and before doing so had a last supper with his 12 disciples (representing the 12 signs of the zodiac), eating mizd, a piece of bread marked with a cross (an almost universal symbol of the sun).
(Such is the counterfeit "Christ" of he who would assume to be like the Most High God)
So it was not difficult to have the pagans of that period accept the name "Christmas" (Christ's -Mass) for their celebration of their "Sun of righteousness", the savior/redeemer Mithra, understanding that there was no change in the customs or the traditions.
The Catholic church fabricated and proclaimed that Jesus was born on December 25 and the festival of Saturnalia and the birthday of Mithra were now going to be celebrated as the birthday of "Christ" and it became a State holiday ("holy-day").
With the publication of a standardised text of the writings of the apostles the Messiah's name had also undergone a change. His Hebrew name was Yehoshua (God's salvation), in usage shortened to Y'shua. When translating from Hebrew into Greek, the Greek name "IOSOUS" (the name of the Greek god of healing) was chosen to replace His Hebrew name, further paganising His image and making Him 'acceptable' to the pagan masses of the Roman/Greek-speaking peoples. This name was later changed to JESUS in Latin.
The true Messiah was not born in December. Shepherds could not have been in the fields in the northern hemisphere mid-winter. It can be calculated when he was born from the records given in scripture of the priestly cycle, the details surrounding His birth, the historical records of King Herod death and the astronomical calculations and records of eclipses and star sightings of the time.
The Bible-believing "Christians" of the time regarded the "Christmas" and "Easter" celebrations which were introduced as blasphemous and refused to endorse them. Origen proclaimed it heathenish to celebrate 'Christ's birthday' as if He were merely a temporal ruler when His spiritual nature should be the main concern and Clement of Alexandria and Epiphanius said it was pagan. :(Encyclopedia Britannica 15th edition Vol.4 p.499).
Up till this time the only holy days which the followers of the true Messiah had kept were the Passover, the Feast of Pentecost and the Feast of Tabernacle in Sept/Oct.. When early Christians celebrated a specific day for a person, it was associated with their death, usually as a martyr, and was an epitaph to their life's service to God. Only pagans celebrated birth-days.
All of the customs of Christmas pre-date the birth of Yeshua (Jesus) the Messiah. It was noted by the pre-Christian Romans and other pagans, that daylight was at its lowest point prior to December 22nd when they assumed that the sun god died, and began to increase after that date. These ancients believed that the sun god rose from the dead three days later as the new-born and venerable sun. Thus, they figured that to be the reason for increasing daylight.
This was a cause for much wild excitement and celebration. Gift giving and merriment filled the temples of ancient Rome, as sacred priests of Saturn, called dendrophori, carried wreaths of evergreen boughs in procession. In Germany, the evergreen tree was used in worship and celebration of the yule god, also in observance of the resurrected sun god.
The evergreen tree (Christmas tree) was a symbol of the essence of life and was regarded as a phallic symbol in fertility worship. Witches and other pagans regarded the red holly as a symbol of the menstrual blood of the queen of heaven, also known as Diana. The holly wood was used by witches to make wands. The white berries of mistletoe were believed by pagans to represent droplets of the semen of the sun god. Both holly and mistletoe were hung in doorways of temples and homes to invoke powers of fertility in those who stood beneath and kissed, causing the spirits of the god and goddess to enter them.
These customs transcended the borders of Rome and Germany to the far reaches of the known world at that time.People gave gifts to each other and prepared special foods. They decorated their homes with green branches. Everywhere, people stopped work to join in the celebration. The merrymaking, exchanging of gifts, etc. (from the festival of Saturnalia ) and the date, December 25, was an adaptation of the birthday of Mithra (the sun god).
In England, as the authorized Bible became available to the common people by the decree of King James II in 1611, people began to discover the pagan roots of Christmas, which are clearly revealed in Scripture. The Puritans in England, and later in Massachusetts Colony in 1647, outlawed this holiday as witchcraft.
Yahweh God said to His people "take heed to yourselves that you are not ensnared to follow them, ..(the people of the nations) .. and that you do not enquire after their gods, saying, 'How did these nations serve their gods? I will also do likewise. You shall not worship Yahweh your God in that way .. .. .. Whatever I command you, be careful to observe it; you shall not add to it nor take away from it." Deut.12:30-32
The Prophet Jeremiah condemned as Pagan the ancient Middle Eastern practice of cutting down trees, bringing them into the home and decorating them, "Thus saith Yahweh, learn not the way of the nations/heathen; and be not dismayed at the signs of heaven. For the heathen are dismayed at them. For the customs of the people are futile. For one cuts a tree out of the forest. The work of the hands of the workman with the axe. They decorate it with silver and with gold. They fasten it with nails and with hammers that it will not topple.. .. .." Jeremiah 10: 2-4
Ezekiel 8:14-18 condemns ancient Israel for adopting worship of Tammuz (the legendary son and re-incarnation of Nimrod), which included sun worship and the asherah (phallic symbols using trees and poles). Tammuz is the Phoenician counterpart of Mithra.
The nation of Israel was constantly being disciplined by God for incorporating into their form of worship toward Him, the customs of the other nations - the pagans round about them. He did not accept them following the traditions of their day.
We are to cast off the works of darkness (Rom.13:12) knowing that no one who engages in idolatrous practices is acceptable with God and we are told as new covenant believers to keep ourselves from things to do with idols (Acts 21:25; 1 John 5:21; 1 Cor.10:14).
"Live as children of light .. and find out what pleases the Lord. Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness" Eph 5: 8-11
Ignorantly, those engaging in the customs and traditions associated with Christmas are participating in pagan worship directed toward the god Mithra (as he was known to the Romans) who is the counterfeit saviour of the world. We know from past examples in the scriptures that although the general masses of the people followed false traditions in ignorance, He still held them accountable for their sin in turning away from the way of worship which He had revealed, and He corrected them.
Yeshua (Jesus) the Messiah said that the true worshipers must worship God in spirit and in truth. (John 4:24)
Doing it our own way is not acceptable. That is being insubordinate to what He has decreed and established as the way to approach Him. He is God! - the whole universe functions on the laws which He has established.
"There is a way that seems right to man but its end is the way of death" Proverbs 14:12
"But now, overlooking the times of ignorance, God is telling everyone everywhere that they must repent, because He has fixed a day when He shall judge the world in righteousness by that man He has appointed. " Acts 17:30-31
Retrieved from "https://en.wikibooks.org/w/index.php?title=Hebrew_Roots/Neglected_Commandments/Idolatry/Christmas&oldid=3452125"
Last edited on 19 August 2018, at 14:47


Dreaming it Up
Lucy Lawless as "Zena, Warrior Princess"
“Once, in a spasm of sappiness, you asked Q-Jo if she thought your dreams would ever come true. 'You aren't talking about dreams,' she corrected you, 'you're referring to your pathetic bourgeoisie ambitions. Dreams don't come true. Dreams are true.” ― Tom Robbins, Half Asleep in Frog Pajamas
Now that we are well past the exact point of the Cardinal Grand Cross of last month, many of you may be wondering where all the big changes are that were more or less prophesied in the run up to the event on April 23rd, 2014. Trying to discern where and when the other shoe may drop is not going to be possible…mainly due to the presence of Uranus, the “Mr. Surprise” of these times.
Sometimes, I like to think Uranus would be more aptly named “Mr. Shock”, as it is the archetype for electricity and kundalini fire. Uranus’ other role is that it is the bringer of divine visions, shamanic insights, chaotic dreams. While Neptune continues to deepen its dream-like radiance in the human psyche via its transit in the sign that it rules (Pisces), this, then, may be the perfect opportunity to talk about imagination and dreams.
Against the backdrop of Neptune, Uranus, and the continuing reverberations from the Grand Cross, are the transits of Mars Retrograde in Libra and Venus’ entrance into the sign Mars rules – Aries, earlier this month. Mars and Venus are in mutual reception, as Venus naturally rules Libra, and Mars naturally rules Aries. They’ve flip-flopped, and are now walking a mile in each other’s shoes.
With Venus in Aries, I tend to think of a fictional character like Zena, the warrior Princess from the television series. She is about assertiveness, and reclaiming her sovereign nature. She is also about passion, new beginnings and fighting for her own dreams, and the space in which to create a foundation in order that they may bear fruit…beautiful fruit!
Another version of Venus in Aries is the Hawaiian goddess Pele. She’s all about creative fire, lava, passion and transformation. She embodies the dual archetype of destroyer and creatrix through the constant rebuilding of the islands through the outflows of lava which sometimes destroys manmade structures and systems, but which also sustains and preserves the balance of forces, especially the power of the oceans and water to erode the coastlines. The elements of Fire, water and earth are in constant metamorphosis via this powerful archetype.
For Mars in Libra, imagine a hierophant, a wisdom master, in the guise of a mediator and peacemaker who isn’t just interested in maintaining a dual perspective, but is also devoted to unblocking and freeing us from restrictive beliefs, patterns and behaviours.
Mars has stationed now at 9 degrees of Libra, and will remain there until it moves direct on May 20th, mere hours from today. Venus will finish its transit through Aries on May 29th. They had a showdown, an exact opposition on Sunday, May 11th. Perhaps something of significance happened that day for you?
Now that the stage has been set, let’s look at what this time is for, and how to navigate the now. Most of the material for this blog came to me in a lucid dreaming state that occurred around 3am, shortly after Venus entered the sign of Aries. I take it to be a message from the wisdom goddess, Sophia, and it is for both men and women.
The Grand Cross in April was the ignition point, the blast off. We are now moving upwards into new regions, and in the process, we are being asked to let go of old booster stages, and break free from the atmosphere of the past. As we move into more rarefied states of awareness, we may be tempted to cling to what was familiar or cherished, and at the same time our souls are dreaming...dreaming it all up. And up, and up, and upwards, imagination, divine inspiration and passions emerging out of the clouds and urging us to make our move. Feeling scared is part of it. Feeling great excitement is also part of it. Somewhere between these two, is a silent knowing in your spirit that says, “…all is well. Trust.”
You see, I am not writing about astrology now…I am communicating soul stuff. What is it you dream of? What were your dreams, the ones you remember from your childhood, your young adulthood? Are they still alive? Or were they briefly glimpsed, or even partially realized, and then you watched as they turned to dust, or fell apart? How many times did you think, “this will never happen”? How many times do you still feel, that your dreams are impractical, unrealizable?
I will clarify what I mean here by dreams. Dreams are the evidence of our divinity, the “nous” or soul-spirit stuff we were gifted with. Our power to dream is not a unique trait of the human animal. All animals dream…just watch your dog, cat or parakeet while they sleep. What is unique in the human soul is our ability to image, or imagine, and then to create or realize what we imagine. This is the avenue that connects us to the larger Imagination, of the Goddess, or the Originator of all that is. And, it is also the manifestation of our unique vision and version of that incomprehensible vastness of Being.
Where our real dreams come from are from our Soul (via the heart). As such they are always an opportunity to surrender to the power within us to manifest the dream that Creation dreams about us and through us. When we discount our deepest longings and yearnings, we diminish our potential…we surrender not to Life, but to a death that comes before dying.
We cite our fears, or we invest in the fears that were implanted in us as children, just to avoid difficulties or judgment from others. Most of us are told that they cannot do this or do that. Others are told “grow up…it’s a tough world and you have to go along with it in order to get along.” That was the message that I heard anyway. When that happened, I’d take my imaginings, my dreams, and hide them from the prying eyes of the adults, so I wouldn’t have to feel the pain of their rejection. In some people, their dreams nag at them, badger them, until finally listen, and then surrender to them. We see these ones…who live from their soul and seem larger than life. Actually, it is their dreams which have mastered them, and live through them.
How we surrender to our dreams is not some trick of the mind, like learning to lucid dream or going for an out-of-body experience. Those are useful exploratory techniques through which we can come into a deeper understanding of what our consciousness is, and how it is connected to everything and everyone. But to really dream from our Soul…that is an intuitive art, which opens up all the doors.
In the course of our lifetime, and especially when we have entered into relationships of any kind, we test ourselves and those closest to us on the issue of our dreams…and theirs. Sometimes, when we have become involved in our intimate relationships, and we bond deeply, we feel that there is nothing we would not do for the other. If the relationship is one based as two people who are more or less equals, then there is less of a tendency to sacrifice our dream for the dream of another. However, if the two involved are not conscious enough, it is easy to mistake their dream for ours, and try to manifest it for them.
Assumptions are made, silent betrayals of the Self occur, and then one day, a long time later, one or the other awakens to find that their dream was temporarily abandoned…sacrificed for the other. If there isn’t enough consciousness, the other is seen as the cause for this self-abandonment. A great deal of strength, compassion and tact is required to reclaim one’s power, without blaming the other. The appropriate action then flows from the heart, not the head.
So Venus and Mars are in opposition to each other this month, and oppositions oppose, which creates the necessary tension that brings things to the light of day. It is also a call to balance something between each other, and to remain open to communication and dialogue.
Unless each individual stays true to the dream of their Soul, everyone loses a bit of themselves, betrays themselves. We lose something of the divinity inherent in our humanness. Aries courageously enters the fray, Libra hangs back and assesses and mediates between the Inner Self and the outer reality. Both are needed to propel one forward fearlessly…devoted to the image of divine inspiration imprinted in each of us, and with the strength to manifest it in our lives. That is what we are called to do, to bring our unique Gift into this world, and share it brightly.
Together, as individuals, we are now beginning the movement towards greater authenticity as human beings, which will translate into more healing and meaningful action in the world. The Grand Cross was a “calling” as it were, a clear mandate to initiate and follow through with radical change and to re-imagine ourselves and our world in a whole new way. Part of this vision is a new understanding that glimpses the Planet as a living and sentient creature that requires our cooperation to recreate our abode as a real Eden, and a place where heaven does reign on the Earth. That is the collective dream of the Soul of Humanity; harmony with the Earth, with the Cosmos, and peace in our souls…all because we listened to our dream, and respected the dream roles that others carry.
Now, if you want to know the secret for bringing your dream forth…remember that it is what you feel that counts most…and that feeling cannot be manufactured or created. You can only strip away all inward barriers to your heart, which is the hotline for your Soul to talk to you. More powerful than visualizations or mantras, feelings are the language that the Soul speaks with…and creates with. An undefended heart is capable of the miracles that the mind can never comprehend.
That is the magic of these times. Now is the time to start dreaming it up.
Sweet dreams!!
The Touch of Grace
Autumn is arriving in the Northern Hemisphere. Wet leaves are falling here in Ireland, and the smell of decaying vegetation and the wan light that filters through the clouds all confirm it. Halloween is just around the corner, also known as Hallowmas, and if you live in certain Latin countries, it is time for the three day celebration of the ‘Day of the Dead’. Time to dig the woolly jumpers and Wellington boots out of the trunks or closets, and make sure our heating systems and chimney flues are ready. After all, to quote a now popular meme, “…winter is coming.”
Another response to the cool and damper conditions is the sense of needing to feel cosy and warm, so if we are in a relationship, the desire for closeness is accentuated. Besides the obvious thermal advantages, it is the feeling of connection and protection that we crave. When we’re drawn closer to others of our own kind, whether it is one person or an extended family, everything can feel brighter and better. Even the growing number of people who prefer the single life and do not have a live-in companion will also feel this, and I am sure that they will seek to engage in more social activities, and take advantage of any opportunity to snuggle up with someone. Cuddle parties are becoming more popular. Not surprising…and no matter which hemisphere on Mother Earth you reside in, there’s more than just a change of the seasons behind it.
Human beings are highly social creatures, and even though the sense of being an individual has been part of the development of the human experience for thousands of years, in our pre-conscious state that existed long before the invention of agriculture, economies, city states, countries and nations, we were pretty much living symbiotically with the natural surroundings and within the context of a clan or tribal community. Our sense of ‘self’ was inexorably connected to the sense of ‘us’, and we shared a mutual concern for food, shelter, health, companionship and safety in uncertain conditions. Since the advent of our brief sojourn into an industrial-technological society, the rise of individualism has given way to an artificial tribal identity via the global communications network. Corporate identities carry more weight in our consciousness than thinking that we are related to flesh and blood counterparts. This artificial sense of ‘us’ is replicated continually in social media, sports and entertainment archetypes (reality television shows, major sports teams, serialized dramas, etc.), and is constantly spun by politicians to reinforce and intellectual and emotional dominance nationally, regionally and even globally (i.e. ‘…a coalition of civilized nations’)
However we view our virtual interconnectedness, we still are denied one thing through our electronic mediums. The innate human need to give and receive touch remains an elusive factor in cyberspace, and in fact, it will never be simulated there successfully. Even if it is technologically feasible to create the simulation of kinetic contact, there is no circuit or programming that can replicate the consciousness that is behind the touch. This power of tactile communication is something our species is now yearning for, and indeed, if we are to survive as a species, we must satisfy in some way. We’ve been starving for it, while wondering through the digital desert landscape.
The growing popularity of tantric workshops, massage and somatic therapies, and the relative newcomer on the scene – the cuddle party, is evidence of how many are seeking to re-establish the neural connections that respond to touch. I first experienced non-demanding touch while attending a weekend workshop called ‘Naka Ima’, which translated from Japanese means “inside the now.” All of the support staff cuddled with the attendees almost all weekend. It was incredibly supportive when we were going through our rough bits.
There are many kinds of touch, and many kinds of physical manipulation, that can offer us a sense of connection or even provide healing from mental, emotional or physical traumas. Some may feel that touch cannot do what it’s being advertised to do, that is, replace traditional therapies or reinforce the standard societal bonding systems. Touch is discouraged in the clinical environment to avoid the possibility of transference of affections from a client to the therapist. Incidental touch, touch that is not part of a typical routine in the course of a therapeutic massage is routinely discouraged, for much the same reasons, though I feel it is more a part of the social taboos we’ve erected to respect boundaries. After I moved to Scotland, I discovered the ‘towel dance’ in which the massage practitioner was constantly readjusting and repositioning the towels covering parts of the body not being massaged. Not wanting to see too much flesh, and be tempted by it, was probably the rationale. This kind of massage was, as you can imagine, not as enjoyable as what I was used to in the more laid-back environs of Eugene, Oregon.
Out of our five physical senses, the sense of touch possesses some unique characteristics. The many reported and purported cases of spontaneous healing conferred from human being to another usually happened through the medium of touch. Religious and spiritual ceremonies and initiations almost always involve touch at some point in the process. This includes Reiki initiations, baptisms, the gifting of Shaktipat, and other forms of activating an aspirant’s inner spiritual awakening. Touch combined with an understanding of energy and sensitivity, and administered with love, can literally erase many traumas, especially those traumas that remain from sexual abuse.
In the realm of sacred (conscious) sexuality, of which Tantra is but a part, the power of touch to open and heal a human being from the main conditioned responses that have been learned through shame, guilt and judgment. Some of the forms that have come forward for dealing with these deeply held patterns are designed to heal people of ‘genital armoring’, which prevents someone from freely expressing and enjoying their natural sexuality. Most of these forms focus on finding the resistance or pain, and working with that to help the individual release the blockages. However, my own personal experience has shown me that nurturing touch, touch that goes slowly, gently and lovingly, not only removes the physical and emotional blockages, but also dissolves the charge on the original wound. The power of touch is discovered in how much heart and presence you can express through it. The ability to heal is inherently in the individual seeking healing…the touch of grace signals the person seeking wholeness to allow themselves to let go…to trust in Life once again.
It will be risky, and it will take some measure of courage, but to reacquaint ourselves with the depth of our being – and everyone else’s beingness, we must become more attuned to touch as a vehicle of awakening and transformation. Body-centered therapies and practices usually encourage the individual to focus on what one does and experiences within our own body and space, or as something you only ‘get’ from another. To feel interactive touch, it is necessary to fully receive with the need to give, and to fully give without the need to receive. We are probably more habitually comfortable with giving than receiving, so I will recommend focusing on the receiving first, until you don’t feel resistance or the compulsion to ‘give something in return.’ It’s not easy!
If you are wondering how going for touch in a more proactive and intimate way will begin to have positive effects on your life, and possibly everyone else’s life, then all I can say to that is “what do we have to lose?” If you’re afraid you might lose your sense of individuality, well, that can’t really happen. Besides, how most Westerners have been conducting themselves for a few millennia hasn’t really contributed much to engendering more trust towards each other, so it may be time to add loving and graceful touch so that we may actually recreate the experience of egalitarian interdependence that our primordial ancestors enjoyed.
We aren’t really individuals, for we haven’t fully individuated yet. That is to say, we are not yet fully knowing who we are and expressing it without censorship or judgment. To be fully individual is to be one with all of Life…naturally. This is true enlightenment, for it doesn’t make value judgments about the body or the consciousness that creates and maintains it. It sees that they are completely the same thing. This is what we learn through the magic of touch, for it ends our false perception of separation and isolation, of being an ‘I’ in the midst of ‘they’.
The grace of touch can create bonding without bondage, unity without destroying the experience of the Self, and cooperation instead of competition. Sharing becomes innately more natural and sensible when we lose the idea that we might lose something of our integrity through when we feel drawn to wanting to touch someone who is in pain, or someone who longs to know that they are loved and not cast adrift and alone in the world. Touch heals. Touch helps us regain our humanity, which in turn opens us to the touch of something invisible in our hearts.
Sexuality is an inherent part of our spiritual homecoming, and I don’t mean nicey-nicey, hearts and flowers romance. Connecting with our earthiness, with the Earth herself, will transform our biology and bring it back in harmony with Nature and the Cosmos. In the last issue, in my essay “The Longest War on Earth”, I encouraged readers to get the book “Sex at Dawn” by Christopher Ryan Ph.D. and Cacilda Jethá, MD. The title is a play on words, but the content, and our understanding and embracing of it, may just be essential to our survival as a species. Sharing, egalitarianism, and non-possessive intimate relationships existed in the primordial utopia that came before the Earth cataclysms of 12,000 years ago, which propelled us out of foraging societies, and into the invention or agriculture, hoarding, scarcity, competition, patriarchy, war, disease and death. Such is progress.
The roots of this are much, much older, but suffice it to say that there was one thing that these cultures understood: the chances for surviving and thriving were enhanced because of mutual sharing and cooperation. This also included touch and sexuality. After finishing the book, I now recognize why I had such a difficult time acclimating back into human society in 2003 after spending three weeks of deep communion with the dolphins (and the wild environment ) of the Big Island of Hawaii. The abrasiveness of that contact after living ‘in the raw’ during that time was illuminating…and extremely difficult.
Humanity will not solve all of its problems and challenges just by going to a cuddle party. But for those brief moments that you and the person you are cuddling with experience, you will cease feeling alone, separate, isolated. As you focus on the pleasure of being embraced and embracing, just imagine yourself as this Earth. The Earth holds us all in her embrace in each moment we are drawing breath, and shares everything it offers without hesitation. If we are the children of a loving Earth and a Benevolent Source Consciousness, then we cannot lose anything by opening to touch, except our fear and loneliness.
As we travel through this era of an ever-changing and uncertain world, the encouragement to ‘love one another’ will take on a deeper significance. Perhaps the sheer desire for connection, companionship, and touch will transcend the realm of a need born out of fear, to a fulfilment born out of compassion and the sure knowing that we are all that we have. Then, the touch of grace may just inspire us to see the truth of our predicament, and open to channel something through that propels back into the Garden…back to innocence. It won’t happen without work, but sure as heck won’t happen without play and trust.
Enough with the sad stories…let’s create a new script. Go gracefully…and touch with love.


CERAMICISTS
hello [@] glazemagazine.com
NEENINEEN Curves Around Your Expectations of Ceramics
The pottery line has a uniqueness that isn’t serious but designed in a way to take seriously.
Words by Jennine Jacob
Photos by Lily Glass
Coming across something cool and playful that’s well-designed doesn’t happen a whole lot. When you go to NEENINEEN’s website, you’ll find everything curves around your expectations of pottery and introduces you to a world that just invites you to play. Flexuous handles which grace the mugs will brighten dreary mornings. Strategically placed geometric shapes in pastel colors on the surface soothes the eye. The pottery line has a uniqueness that isn’t serious but designed in a way to take seriously.
“I feel like design is very serious, my aesthetic is not in the serious realm. Even if it’s not the most ergonomic, but it looks fun, and it will brighten your day. [My work is] something that doesn’t blend in with everything else.”
NEENINEEN certainly does not blend in with everything else. Paris born-and-raised now works in Los Angeles, Ninon Choplin founded the company just two years ago. Ninon finds inspiration in the Californian approach to life; it’s okay stand out, be yourself, wear color. Something they didn’t experience so much in the colorless Parisian aesthetic where they grew up. “When I’m on the [Paris] Metro I feel like everyone knows I’m not from here. I feel like a red dot because I’m wearing color.”
“I felt reunited with a material that I haven’t worked professionally before. I had this weird feeling like it was waiting for me the whole time.”
Ninon first encountered working with clay in their grandmother’s studio as a child. They went on to RISD where they studied industrial design. Even though the ceramics classes were always full, the college had a broad program so they explored other mediums such a metal. After college, Ninon headed out to the Los Angeles where they first took a wheel-throwing class where they fell in love with the medium. “I felt reunited with a material that I haven’t worked professionally before. I had this weird feeling like it was waiting for me the whole time.”
As a formally trained industrial designer and a RISD graduate, they embed a design process in their work. Each design takes careful planning and ideating. “I spend a lot of time thinking about designs; I tend to have shapes come up in my head. I’ll either draw it or make it on a 3-D modeling software just to see what it would look like. But sometimes I have it in my head and make it straight from there.”
Aside from wheel-throwing and hand-building, Ninon has started to work more in 3-D modeling and slip cast. The pipes, for example, were rendered on a 3-D modeling software, then sent out for 3-D printing, from there a slip-cast mold was made for production. Interestingly, they are able to create a seamless aesthetic throughout the collection. For their next project, Ninon will create a collection based on the arches of French architecture through the slip-cast production process. This will enable them to work on a larger scale than the smaller mugs and pipes.
“Because I feel like I’m in the middle of both genders, I like to make it really confusing. Just because it’s my personal identity and I like to have fun with that. I like the ambiguity of it.”
Ninon’s perfectly lives a balance between life and art, every aspect of their creativity and identity go hand in hand. Identifying as genderqueer, Ninon expresses that in their work, “Because I feel like I’m in the middle of both genders, I like to make it really confusing. Just because it’s my personal identity and I like to have fun with that. I like the ambiguity of it.” Like the playful shapes of the handles on the mugs, they like to play with our expectations around creativity and gender. For example, we have certain ideas about what kind of work women create versus men, and Ninon likes to challenge those paradigms. “An aesthetic that’s put on people who were born of the female gender who are more masculine. You expect somebody to be more rugged, but I make these delicate feminine shapes.”
In the two years since Ninon took their first started working in ceramics, they have made a lot of progress, starting a brand which has shown in exhibitions such as Clay LA. They have learned a great deal about pottery in such a short period of time, but the biggest lesson is letting go of something if it falls apart. “You never know what is going to happen until you get the glazed piece out of the kiln,” Ninon said.
Ceramics Trend Guide for 2018
Yonder Shop's Studio Experience
The Handmade Precision of Pawena Studio
Jennine Jacob
Lily Glass
NEENINEEN
Legend in the Making: Heath Ceramics Factory Tour
Easy to Breathe’s Rituals in Clay
Lindsey Hampton: Creativity and Balance
Andrea Roman Ceramics: Inspired by the Earth
About GLAZE


Loon Researcher Mike Meyer Retires from WDNR
If you are a Loon Ranger, most likely you are familiar with the name Mike Meyer, who has been doing loon research for the last twenty-five years. If you are a very lucky Loon Ranger living in the northeast Wisconsin counties, you may have witnessed Mike and his crew band* a loon family—part of his mercury research. Meyer recently retired from the Wisconsin DNR as a wildlife toxicologist.
“What has made this a great place to work is the past and present management of Research and Science Services, which has provided the intellectual space, resources, and free rein to assemble a body of work I am thankful to have tackled,” he said.
LoonWatch has been privileged to work closely with Meyer, an internationally recognized source of loon expertise. He has served on the LoonWatch Advisory Council for more than ten years, and plans to continue.
*Leg bands help researchers identify the birds without having to recapture them. Each loon is fitted with a unique band color combination, allowing scientists to identify each loon’s behavior and location.
https://www.northland.edu/news/soei-news/loon-researcher-mike-meyer-retires-from-wdnr


Jordan: ‘We are tired of living like the dead’
Amid economic decline and high unemployment, resentment is building among the country’s youth.
Recent protests in the town of Dhiban were dispersed by Jordanian forces, but demonstrators say they will continue calling for change [Photo courtesy of Dhiban protesters]
Areej Abuqudairi
Dhiban, Jordan – In the Jordanian town of Dhiban, tension boils beneath the temporarily calm surface.
Over the past couple of months, clashes have erupted between police and protesters, with military tanks rolling along the town’s winding roads. Young men set up a tent where they demonstrated for weeks while negotiating with officials and tribal leaders in the hope of securing jobs. The protest camp was stormed last month, with Jordanian forces firing tear gas to disperse demonstrators; 28 men were reportedly arrested.
While the tent is now gone, frustration is still boiling among the young men of Dhiban.
“We are tired of living like the dead after working so hard to study and learn,” protest spokesman Sabri Mashaaleh told Al Jazeera. The 29-year-old holds a bachelor’s degree in counselling from the University of Jordan, but five years after graduating, he has still not secured a full-time job.
READ MORE: Discontent simmers among East Bank Jordanians
Arab Spring protests erupted in Dhiban back in 2011, and to this day the town remains a barometer of Jordanians’ frustrations over the worsening economic climate in the country and rising youth unemployment. According to a 2014 study by the International Labour Organization, the unemployment rate in Jordan had surpassed 30 percent.
“Dhiban is only the beginning. We will see more tension as unemployment and poverty remain unsolved problems,” Jordanian freelance blogger and commentator Mohammad Munir told Al Jazeera.
Unemployment is even higher among Jordanians with university degrees. According to Jordan’s Department of Statistics, 21 percent of Jordanian men with a bachelor’s degree or higher are unemployed – a number that jumps to 71 percent for women.
Oraib Rantawi, director of the Amman-based Al-Quds Center for Political Studies, warned of the dangers facing what he called the “waiting generation”.
“We have a generation of young people who graduate from university and spend eight to 10 years waiting to get a job and start a family,” Rantawi told Al Jazeera. “This group is a very good target for extremist groups, or may be driven to any kind of violence due to their frustration.”
Officials with Jordan’s interior and labour ministries did not respond to Al Jazeera’s requests for comment, but in official statements the Jordanian government has referred to the Dhiban protesters as “outlaws” and said that they had been “directed to get jobs in the private sector”.
However, protesters say the main private-sector jobs available include work in two factories in the cities of Madaba and Sahab, which pay an average monthly salary of 190 Jordanian dinars ($270) – barely enough to pay for transportation to and from the workplace.
tent more than working to find a solution for our situation. We will keep building our tent, regardless of how many times they demolish it.”]
Mashaaleh said he quit his job as a receptionist at a medical centre in Amman after just two years, because the salary was hardly enough to cover his rent and living expenses in Amman, which is about 70km from Dhiban.
Another protester with a bachelor’s degree in business administration said he had a similar experience while working a service job at a hotel in Amman.
“We would work for the sake of serving the employers, but could not move one step towards building our future,” said the 28-year-old protester, who spoke to Al Jazeera on condition of anonymity.
Many residents of Dhiban, with no direct public transportation options to Amman, work in the army or in public-sector jobs, such as government hospitals or operational offices. And like most rural towns in Jordan, Dhiban has not benefited from the country’s various development projects, with its poor infrastructure repelling private-sector investment.
According to the Department of Statistics, 87 percent of the jobs created in Jordan last year – both private and public-sector – were based in three major governorates: Amman, Zarqa and Irbid.
COUNTING THE COST: The state of Jordan’s economy
Meanwhile, desperation among unemployed young people has reached critical levels, with several high-profile suicide attempts by young Jordanians over the past four months. In May, a group of unemployed men from Ajloun governorate planned to jump off a building near the interior ministry in Amman, but they were talked down by police.
Jordan’s newly appointed cabinet has announced a series of measures to alleviate unemployment, starting with replacing foreign migrant workers – who are estimated to number up to one million – with Jordanians. But some analysts question whether Jordanians would want such jobs, most of which are in the construction and food-service sectors.
“Shame is not an issue, but the issue is that this sector is not organised and does not provide stability, insurance or social security to Jordanians,” Rantawi said.
The Jordanian government has also allocated 25 million Jordanian dinars ($35m) for unemployed Jordanians to use as loans to start their own projects, particularly in rural areas where jobs are limited. While residents welcomed the idea in theory, some questioned its practicality.
“In a place like Dhiban where people could only buy their bread, what income-generating project could you set up here?” Mashaaleh asked.
“We are not giving up,” he added. “They worked on silencing us and demolishing the [protest] tent more than working to find a solution for our situation. We will keep building our tent, regardless of how many times they demolish it.”
Jordan: Violent protests in Dhiban over unemployment
Residents of Dhiban clash with paramilitary units, demanding employment and better economic conditions in the region.
Iraq crisis worsens Jordan’s economic woes
Fighting in Iraq has caused a dramatic drop in trade with neighbouring Jordan, as the shared border is ‘partially’ shut.
Tension rises in Jordan over Syrian refugees
There are fears that rising tensions in Jordan and the growing refugee crisis could fuel violence in the country.


Mixed results
Comcast will finally launch its NBC streaming service in April 2020
The NBC streaming service will have content from outside partners as well.
Image credit: Comcast
Comcast has reported higher than expected earnings for Q2 2019.
The company added 209,000 new high-speed internet customers during the quarter, exceeding expectations.
It plans to launch a free NBC streaming service in April 2020.
Philadelphia-based cable giant Comcast today reported its Q2 2019 earnings. The company managed to beat EPS estimates but revenue fell shorts of expectations. Adjusted earnings per share grew to 78 cents a share, instead of 75 cents a share estimated by analysts. Revenue came in at $26.86 billion, which is 23.6% higher compared to the same period last year. The company added 209,000 new high-speed internet customers during the second quarter this year but lost 224,000 video customers. However, total customer relationships went up to 30.9 million in Q2 2019, with 152,000 net additions.
With its video business continuing to lose customers, Comcast is now focusing on other business areas to drive growth. British broadcaster Sky, which was acquired by Comcast last year, added 304,000 new customers in Q2 2019, an improvement of 197,000 over Q2 2018. Revenue, on the other hand, fell 3.3% compared to last year. Sky's advertising sales saw a drop of 10.7% due to currency fluctuations.
The cable giant is also planning to launch a free, ad-supported NBCUniversal streaming service in April next year. Comcast will be streaming "The Office" on its own streaming service starting 2021 for five years. According to NBCUniversal CEO Steve Burke, "The Office" is the number one show and is about 5% of all of Netflix's volume. In addition to "The Office", the streaming service is expected to have content from Sky Studios as well.
The service itself is expected to be based on a similar platform as Sky's Now TV streaming service in the UK. CNBC reports the service will be available to all pay-TV subscribers by logging in through a cable or settle provider. Those do not have a cable or satellite subscription, will need to shell out $12 per month for the service.
Plus for protection
These are the best Samsung Galaxy S21+ cases you can buy
The Samsung Galaxy S21+ is sure to hit that sweet spot of price and functionality, and it looks to be the most popular phone in the S21 lineup. Why not protect your new phone with one of the best Samsung Galaxy S21+ cases?


Freemasonry in Manitoba
The presence of Freemasonry in the Red River Settlement may be traced back to John Palmer Bourke who arrived with the second group of settlers in the summer of 1813. He had arrived at York Factory the previous year and, because of their late arrival, had been forced to winter-over at that desolate place until the following spring. He was a survivor of the Seven Oaks Massacre. Following that battle he was arrested by the North West Company on the charge of having participated in the destruction of Fort Gibraltar and taken to Montreal for trial. While there he became a member of Wellington Persevering Lodge No. 20 on the Register of Lower Canada. He died just a few short years prior to the formation of Northern Light Lodge which took place in the fall of 1864. Among the founding members of this Lodge were John Schultz, who was later to become Lieutenant Governor of the Province of Manitoba, A.G.B. Bannatyne, a prominent merchant, and William Inkster. The formation of this Lodge was the beginning of organized Freemasonry in the Red River Settlement and, ultimately, in the prairie provinces of Canada. Today approximately 2,075 Members of the Craft meet in the 43 Lodges spread out throughout Manitoba to practice their ancient ritual, study the symbolic meaning and history of the Craft, and determine ways or means to improve themselves, and contribute to their community.
Some of the better known public Masonic initiatives within Manitoba:
The Masons Care Program - a transportation service for cancer patients established in Winnipeg and Brandon
Partners For Life - Canadian Blood Services; Ongoing Member participation for regular blood donations
The Masonic Foundation of Manitoba - which raises and distributes $50,000 annually to charitable causes
Masonic History in Manitoba
Visit this extremely informative and accurate page for more indepth information about Freemasonry's roots in Manitoba.
Manitoba Masonic Historical Information


Posted inMagazine
EIT ‘Crusaders’ Help Rebuild Christchurch
by Claire Hague December 30, 2012 December 31, 2012
I’ve visited family in Christchurch a few times since the devastating earthquakes of 2011, and it has been heartening recently to see the small seeds of new life beginning to appear on the landscape.
The colourful temporary town centre, the increasing number of spaces cleared of rubble and debris, and the community-building activities springing up in pockets throughout the city all signal the start of something significant – and Hawke’s Bay has a great opportunity to be part of that.
Here in the Bay we have of course major common ground with the people of Christchurch. Two of the most devastating natural disasters in recent New Zealand history have been earthquakes in our respective regions. Napier and Hastings arose from the rubble as Art Deco and Spanish Mission jewels. Christchurch is about to rise and become another iconic city in which New Zealanders can take pride.
And we have young people here in Hawke’s Bay who are helping to make that happen.
Hawke’s Bay Today recently featured on its front page some distressing statistics about unemployment in the Bay, particularly amongst young people, with Mãori and Pacific Islanders disproportionately represented. We can either keep wringing our hands about that or we can do something about it.
Long term, there are all sorts of economic initiatives that need to happen to pull our regional economy out of its current slump. Those things will happen, but if we’ve learned anything from the last few years of recession it’s that economic recovery takes time.
Our young people don’t have time to sit around waiting for that. They are here now, trained and ready in the kinds of trades and other disciplines that Christchurch needs for its rebuild, and it would be a waste to let them become yet another youth statistic when they could be finding their place in the world by reconstructing one of New Zealand’s major cities.
EIT trades graduates to Christchurch
With that in mind, the trades team at EIT this year launched a “Trades Crusade” to assist trades ‘graduates’ into jobs that will help rebuild Christchurch with the help of partners such as MSD, the YMCA, a Christchurch Mãori trust and Christchurch employers themselves. With the Christchurch rebuild looming, the government funded extra places at tertiary organisations last year and as a result, the first graduates are now ready and willing to do what they were trained to do.
Michael Burne, who trained in engineering at EIT, was the first to fly out – to a job with Elliott Scaffolding.
He was closely followed by Ngatoko Fraser, Presley Ratima and Hale Tuari – all EIT Certificate in Carpentry graduates. Hale is working for a painting company, the other two for building firms.
EIT and the Ministry of Social Development have jointly created the position of a Youth Link employment advisor to transition young people from study to work, and the appointee Aayden Clark is overseeing the crusade, and closely follows the progress of the young men.
After initially staying with relations, Michael is now set up to go flatting, and his employer will be putting him through the relevant training programmes so he can gain qualifications specific to scaffolding.
Four weeks after Hale started at Paintworx, the company offered him an apprenticeship – which he is happy to take. “They love him,” says Aayden.
Hale is staying at the YMCA with several others who have since travelled down to Christchurch.
Sharon Eade of Paintworx says: “If you can send us more like Hale…we will employ the lot of them.”
The other two original crusaders are working as building labourers. They had an initial hiccup with transport. They were working on the outskirts of the city and, without cars, there was no easy way they could get to their jobs. Supported by EIT, they’ve moved to new positions with another company where public transport isn’t an issue.
A further five crusaders, the youngest aged 17, have now joined the group in Christchurch. They completed EIT’s Level 3 carpentry programme and are working for construction companies in Christchurch.
Aayden Clarke
Aayden is finalising placements for another six and is confident three of these will be in Christchurch before Christmas.
“It’s awesome, very awesome,” he says of the scheme’s success. “The boys are loving it – their jobs, a new city and the things they are doing besides work.”
More potential awaits
Aayden sees post-employment support as very important for keeping people in jobs and he believes companies have a role to play in this.
EIT has set up a Facebook page for posting messages to trade crusaders. It’s also the means for the crusaders to keep in touch – although they are working for different companies, they socialise together. They have a good culture, Aayden says of these young men.
Next year, it’s anticipated 12-15 more crusaders will be heading to Christchurch. It comes back to a resourcing issue in terms of lining up the jobs, matching those up with the trades ‘graduates,’ arranging accommodation and supporting them down there in their new environment. “We could make it as big as we wanted to down there,” Aayden says. “We could have 50 if we wanted to.”
At the end of January, EIT will hold a workshop in Christchurch for the trades crusaders. It will be an opportunity for them to come together, for EIT to offer accreditation and to perhaps take on a community project.
Barry Baker, chairman of Te Kaihanga Mãori Trade Co-op in Christchurch, who is helping the graduates as they settle, says: “In 10 years time, these boys will really appreciate the opportunity, effort and support you are giving them. Their lives are changing.”
Long term of course, we want to keep young people in Hawke’s Bay. We all need to come together to do that – employers, economic development agencies, the education sector, families and local government. If they do leave for work, we need to be able to attract them back when our own economy recovers by creating the flourishing economic, social and community environment that young people want to live in. There are a lot of people and organisations working on that. Let’s give them our personal and professional support for their endeavours, as they will benefit all of us.
In the meantime, let’s also keep sight of the big picture – the vision for education, for training, for adulthood that our young people need to embrace in order to take their rightful place in the world.
This is nowhere more aptly demonstrated than in the famous story about Sir Christopher Wren’s rebuilding of St Paul’s Cathedral after the Great London Fire of 1666. The architect toured the worksite, asking people what they were doing. The men’s replies focused on their specific tasks, or the wages they were earning for their effort. Then, the architect came across a small boy, sweeping dirt and debris. What was he doing? Wren asked. The boy replied, “I’m helping Sir Christopher Wren to build a cathedral.”
We’ve got some young men in Christchurch who could have been struggling on a benefit in Hawke’s Bay. They’re now clearing land, erecting scaffolding, designing, welding and constructing things. They’re re-building Christchurch, and their own lives in the process. We should be proud of them, and of the people who helped to make it happen.
Botanic Beats


Home Conferences & Master classes What Architect Do YOU Want to Be?
What Architect Do YOU Want to Be?
We will talk about architecture as a career and the importance of selecting your own, unique path as the architect to come.
EVENT TYPE Conferences & Master classes
DATE 20th January 2021
Choosing a career path is usually a difficult decision where we bring to bear our passions, our intuitions, our vision of the present, and our ambitions for the future. However, sometimes we only have a fragmented version of what it means to choose one, in this case, Architecture. What is it to be an architect? and more importantly, What is it to be an architect today?
During this masterclass, we will talk about how to make a difference while also strengthening our own abilities and interests. We will talk about architecture as a career and the importance of selecting your own, unique path as the architect to come, and how we, at IE School of Architecture and Design, offer you the space and knowledge to do so.
Romina Canna
International Ph.D.
Romina Canna holds an International Ph.D. in Urbanism from the Barcelona Superior Technical Architecture School (ETSAB) of the Polytechnic University of Catalunya (UPC) in Spain, and an Architecture degree from the National University of Rosario (UNR) in Argentina.
She is currently directing the d-Lab, a design laboratory within IE University.
Organized by IE Events


Adventure time. Pirates of the Enchiridion
Xbox One. It's Adventure Time! Finn and Jake have saved the Land of Ooo more times than they can count-but, this time, they might be in over their heads. Somebody's up to bad biscuits. They got their hands on another Enc...
Trackmania. Turbo
XBOX ONE. Step into the wild car fantasy world of Trackmania Turbo, where everything is about having fun chasing the fastest time. Discover the ultimate time attack racing experience with over 200 head-spinning tracks, s...
XBOX ONE. It's Scribblenauts, party-style! Use your imagination and go head-to-head in the ultimate multiplayer showdown! Enjoy a party-style Scribblenauts experience, conjuring from over 60,000 objects from the vast Scr...
A plague tale innocence.
Xbox One. Follow the grim tale of young Amicia and her little brother Hugo, in a heartrending journey through the darkest hours of history. Hunted by Inquisition soldiers and surrounded by unstoppable swarms of rats, Ami...
Tony Hawk's pro skater. 5
XBOX ONE. Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 5 offers a fresh take on combo-driven skateboarding, the most advanced online multiplayer experience, and a state-of-the-art skatepark builder.
Ace combat. 7, Skies unknown
Putting gamers in the cockpit of the most advanced war planes ever developed, Ace Combat 7: Skies Unknown delivers the fiercest air combat experience ever created through photorealistic visuals, intense dog-fighting acti...
XBOX ONE. Use the latest technology and state-of-the-art licensed machines to manage all aspects of modern farming. Travel between Europe, Asia, and both Americas to plant region specific crops such as hemp, coffee beans...
Assassin's creed. 3 remastered.
Xbox One. The American Colonies, 1775. It's a time of civil unrest and political upheaval in the Americas. As a Native American assassin fights to protect his land and his people, he will ignite the flames of a young nat...
XBOX ONE. Gather your friends and family: the newest installment of the world's most popular dance game is here! Bust a move and get down with the hottest songs of the year, including new and classic tracks like ٢Sorry,٣...
Middle-Earth. Shadow of war
XBOX ONE. The sequel to the critically-acclaimed Middle-Earth: Shadow of Mordor, winner of over 50 industry awards, arrives this August, continuing the original story of Talion and Celebrimbor, who must now go behind ene...
One piece. World seeker
XBOX ONE. Set sail in an all-new One Piece adventure in One Piece: World Seeker! Luffy and the Straw Hat Pirates are back in a new story that puts players' into Luffy's point of view, as he battles and explores an expans...
Streets of rage. 4
XBOX ONE. Amongst the best beat'em up series ever created, Jammin' '90s beats and over the top street beating, the iconic series streets of rage comes back with a masterful tribute to and revitalization of the classic ac...
LEGO Harry Potter. Years 1-4
XBOX 360. LEGO Harry Potter: Years 1-4 brings the action, adventure and fun of the first 4 stories in the Harry Potter catalog to the video game screen in the way only the LEGO franchise can. Featuring all your favorite ...
Watch dogs. 2
XBOX ONE. Explore the birthplace of the tech revolution as Marcus Holloway, a brilliant young hacker who has fallen victim to ctOS 2.0's predictive algorithms and accused of a crime he did not commit. In Marcus' quest to...
Battlefield. Hardline
XBOX 360. Combining an emotionally-driven single player story inspired by popular TV crime dramas, and an all-out-war multiplayer on the streets of Los Angeles and Miami, Hardline delivers the most complete FPS on the ma...
Assassin's creed. Odyssey
Journey to ancient Greece and explore the path of a legendary Spartan hero in Assassin's Creed Odyssey. As you make choices throughout the game the world around you will be shaped by your decisions, and you'll be able to...
XBOX ONE. The year is 2036. A quarter-century after nuclear war devastated the earth, a few thousand survivors still cling to existence beneath the ruins of Moscow, in the tunnels of the Metro. They have struggled agains...
2K invites players to Step Inside the ring with WWE 2K20. Your favorite WWE Superstars, Legends, Hall of Famers and NXT's best will join the festivities and celebrate the evolution of the WWE 2K franchise! WWE 2K20 will ...
Xbox One. Break the rules and take full-contact racing to the limit with wreckfest! expect epic crashes, neck-to-neck fights over the Finish line and brand-new ways for metal to bend - these are the once-in-a-lifetime mo...
Assassin's creed. 2
XBOX 360. The Assassin's Creed franchise is back with a sequel that introduces Ezio, a Renaissance-period noble seeking vengeance for his family's betrayal. As Ezio works through the environment he gradually uncovers som...


STATE CHAMPS! Roundup: Muskegon earns comeback win over Grand Rapids Christian
By: Jeff Dullack, September 6, 2014, 2:00 am
MUSKEGON — After falling behind 21-10 at halftime, Muskegon stormed back to score 19 unanswered points in the second half to earn a 29-21 win over Grand Rapids Christian on Friday night.
Caleb Washington’s 32 yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter gave Muskegon a 22-21 lead with over eight minutes left to play and then Washington scored the go-ahead touchdown from five yards out with 54 seconds left to give the Big Reds a 29-21 leadd that they would hold on for to improve their record to 2-0 on the season.
After Muskegon took a 10-0 lead in the first quarter, Grand Rapids Christian scored three second quarter touchdowns as Patrick Hall threw for one score to Malik McLaughlin and rushed for two more to give his team an 11 point lead at the break.
Muskegon drew to within five after Shawn Pfenning’s 23 yard touchdown pass to Keonte Whiteside to make it 21-16.
Grand Rapids Christian falls to 1-1 on the season.
East Grand Rapids 24, Grand Rapids Ottawa Hills 7: Mike Banbury recovered two fumbles to help lead the East Grand Rapids defense on Friday night. Bryce Henkey scored two touchdowns on the ground in the second half to keep the Pioneers out in front and seal the win.
Hudsonville 48, Traverse City West 17: Mason Opple rushed for 181 yards on 13 carries and also threw for 118 yards and tallied four total touchdowns to lead the way for Hudsonville. Jeff Turnquist threw for 153 yards to lead TC West.
Saginaw Swan Valley 55, Shepherd 0: Alex Grace rushed for 129 yards and a touchdown, while Nick Call threw for 136 yards and three scores to lead Swan Valley.
Mt. Pleasant 28, Flint Carman Ainsworth 27 (OT): Hunter Buczkowski’s 13 yard touchdown reception from Nick Burkholder in overtime gave the Oilers a one point win over Carman Ainsworth on Friday night. Burkholder finished with 90 yards through the air and two scores for Mt. Pleasant (1-1).
Lowell 45, Chicago Hubbard (IL) 6: Ryan Stevens paced the Lowell offense, throwing for 147 yards and three touchdowns, while Josh Branagan grabbed four passes for 99 yards for the Red Arrows.
Midland 31, Bay City Central 15: Vondre Warren rushed for 135 yards on 20 carries to help lead the Midland offense and Luke DeLong chipped in with 90 more on the ground for the Chemics.


CLN Daily Archive
Acute Vaginitis
Analytical Validation of Body Fluid Testing
Biological Variation
Cortisol and Cushings Syndrome
Diagnosis of Pheochromocytomas
Fetal Lung Maturity Testing
Implementing High Sensitivity Cardiac Troponin Assays Into Practice
Lactate and Lactic Acidemia
Measurement of Urinary Albumin
Porphyrias
Routine Lipid Testing
CCTC Preview Videos
Become a CCTC Member
CCTC (English)
Pearls of Laboratory Medicine
Clinical Case Studies
Clinical Chemistry Podcasts
Clinical Chemistry Guide to Scientific Writing
The Journal Club
Inspiring Minds
CCTC Coordinating Committee
CCTC (Español)
CCTC (中文)
CCTC (日本語)
CCTC (Français)
CCTC (Português)
AACC.org // ... // CCTC (English) // Pearls of Laboratory Medicine // Routine Lipid Testing
Author: Sarah M. Brown // Date: JAN.3.2012 // Source: Trainee Council in English
Analytes,
Pathophysiology and Organ Systems,
Lipids,
Download Transcript (pdf)
Slide1: Title Slide
Routine lipid testing consists of a “Fasting Comprehensive Lipoprotein Profile” which includes analysis of: plasma total cholesterol, Triglycerides, Low Density Lipoprotein Associated Cholesterol (LDL- Cholesterol), and High Density Lipoprotein Associated Cholesterol (HDL-Cholesterol). It is recommended that all adults over the age of 20 undergo routine lipid testing at least once every 5 years. These recommendations are provided by the National Cholesterol Education Panel (NCEP). They were decided because of the causal risk associated with plasma lipids and coronary heart disease, or CHD.
CHD is a considerable medical problem in the United States. In 2006, approximately 1 in every 6 deaths was due to CHD. In fact, CHD is the leading cause of death to cardiovascular disease. There is a direct relationship between the level of serum total and LDL-cholesterol and the rate of CHD. It has also been recognized that there is an inverse relationship between serum HDL concentrations and the risk of CHD.
Based on clinical and laboratory evidence, the NCEP Adult Treatment Panel (ATP) III, in 2002, recommended the following cut points for triglycerides, total cholesterol, HDL and LDL. According to the NCEP ATPIII, for persons with no risk factors, LDL cholesterol below 100 mg/dL is optimal, between 100 and 129 mg/dL is near optimal, between 130-159 mg/dL is borderline high, between 160 and 189 mg/dL is high and > 190 mg/dL is considered very high. The NCEP considers total cholesterol <200 mg/dL to be desirable, total cholesterol between 200-239 mg/dL to be borderline high and cholesterol levels ≥ 240 mg/dL to be high. The recommendations for HDL are: <40 mg/dL is low and > 60 mg/dL is high. These cutpoints are the same for men and women.
The NCEP recommends modified guidelines for patients with CHD or with risk factors for CHD. These patients are often on lipid-lowering therapy, and LDL-C and non-HDL-C are used as primary and secondary goals of therapy. Non-HDL-C is simply the Total Cholesterol value minus the HDL-C value. The set points for non-HDL-C are 30 mg/dL greater than those for LDL-C. So, the goals for LDL-C and non- HDL-C are: LDL <100 mg/dL and non-HDL-C < 130 mg/dL for patients with CHD and CHD risk equivalent; LDL <130 mg/dL and non-HDL-C <160 mg/dL for patients with more than one risk factor.
Before we begin discussing how lipids are measured, we should briefly review lipid biochemistry. Lipids are organic molecules and insoluble in water. Lipids circulate as part of water-soluble macromolecules, which are known as lipoproteins. Lipoproteins consist of a hydrophobic core that contains hydrophobic cholesterol esters and triglycerides. Surrounding this core is a membrane composed of a monolayer of free cholesterol and phospholipids. Apoproteins are attached to the surface. There are five major lipoprotein classes, based on their size, density, composition and function: chylomicrons, very low density lipoprotein (VLDL), intermediate density lipoprotein (IDL), lowdensity lipoprotein, and high density lipoprotein.
This graph breaks down some of the physiochemical characteristics of the 4 major classes of lipoproteins. Density increases as protein content increases. HDL has the highest protein content. The amount of cholesterol in the lipoprotein particles varies, too, with LDL having the highest cholesterol content. In fact, 70% of total plasma cholesterol is carried by LDL. Chylomicrons consist almost entirely of triglycerides.
Historically, measurement of lipids was a time-consuming and tedious process. The methods available, ultracentrifugation and electrophoresis, exploited the differences in physical properties of the different lipoprotein classes. Because these methods are so labor-intensive, they are not well suited for screening or routine clinical purposes. Now, there are fully automated homogenous assays available for the measurement of triglycerides, total cholesterol, HDL-C and LDL-C.
Triglycerides are measured in the clinical laboratory by an automated enzyme-coupled reaction. In the first reaction, triglycerides are converted to glycerol by lipase. Then, the glycerol produced in the first reaction is converted to glycerol-3-phospate by glycerol kinase. Glycerol-3-phosphate is then converted to dihydroxyacetone and hydrogen peroxide in a reaction catalyzed by glycerol phosphate oxidase. The hydrogen peroxide reacts with 4-aminophenone to produce color.
Because plasma triglyceride concentration can increase transiently yet appreciably after a meal, a fasting specimen is required for the accurate measurement of triglycerides. It is recommended that the patient fast for at least 8-12 hours or overnight prior to the blood draw.
Total cholesterol is also measured by an enzyme-coupled reaction. In this reaction, cholesterol esters are hydrolyzed by cholesterol ester hydrolase to free cholesterol. Free cholesterol is then converted to cholest-4-en-3-one by cholesterol oxidase. This produces hydrogen peroxide which can react with phenol and 4-aminoantipyrine to produce color.
A fasting specimen is not required for accurate measurement of total cholesterol, because plasma concentrations of cholesterol do not change appreciably after a meal. While this assay does not require a fasting specimen for accuracy, it is recommended that the specimen be drawn after fasting along with the rest of the “fasting comprehensive lipoprotein profile.”
There are direct (homogenous) HDL-cholesterol assays available for automated chemistry analyzers, and are widely used in clinical laboratories. There are different assays available but they have similar principles. For example, in one type of assay, the non-HDL-particles (chylomicrons, VLDL, and LDL) are blocked with a synthetic polymer. By the use of a selective detergent HDL is then solubilized and cholesterol is measured, with the use of cholesterol esterase and cholesterol oxidase. The end products are cholestenone and hydrogen peroxide. Like in the total cholesterol assay, the hydrogen peroxide formed in this reaction reacts with 4AAP to produce color.
LDL can be calculated or estimated from measurements of total cholesterol, triglycerides and HDL- cholesterol. The equation used is called the Friedewald equation.
Using the Friedewald equation, LDL-C is estimated by subtracting the sum of HDL-C and VLDL-C from the total cholesterol value. VLDL-C is not measured, but determined from the triglyceride value by dividing the total trig concentration by 5. This is valid because the ratio of triglyceride to cholesterol in VLDL is 55%/12% which is equal to 5.
This does not hold up at high triglyceride concentrations; it is invalid when triglycerides are > 400 mg/dL. Advantages to using the Friedewald equation include:
Extensive experience with the equation,
It has been used in many clinical studies,
It has been well-established in determining clinical significance,
It is convenient, and
It is inexpensive
Disadvantages are that it does not hold up at high triglyceride concentrations; also, it is invalid when triglycerides are >400 mg/dL. Finally, the value is estimated from three independent measures, each with their own errors.
There are now fully automated homogenous (direct) assays available for the measurement of LDL-C (these are third-generation assays). The premise is similar to the HDL-C assay. In all assays, the non-LDL particles are removed by specific blocking or solubilization, in order to achieve specificity for LDL-C. Then, enzymes are added.
The assay shown here is the Kyowa Medex assay, distributed by Roche Diagnostics. In this assay, chylomicrons, VLDL and HDL are removed by complexing with synthetic polymer. Then, LDL is solubilized with a selective detergent and cholesterol esterase and cholesterol oxidase are added to produce cholestenone and hydrogen peroxide. As in the total cholesterol and HDL-C assays, the hydrogen peroxide reacts with 4AAP (catalyzed by peroxidase) to produce color. These assays have a few drawbacks. They have been shown to be unsuitable for patients with dyslipidemias and are less accurate within samples with high triglycerides. For patients with triglycerides >400 mg/dL, non-HDL-C is recommended over direct LDL-C assays.
As mentioned before in this presentation, non-HDL-C is the difference of total cholesterol minus LDL- cholesterol. This calculation includes the VLDL and IDL fractions, and does not require fasting. Non-HDL- C is used as a secondary target of lipid-lowering therapy, especially in patients with co-morbidities such as diabetes mellitus or metabolic syndrome, who are likely to be dyslipidemic.
It is important to understand that there is considerable intra-individual variability in lipid and lipoprotein measurements, due in large part to biological variation. Variation has been shown to be 6% for cholesterol, between3.6% and 12.4% for HDL-C and up to 20% for triglycerides. Thus, except in patients with marked abnormalities in lipid and lipoprotein concentrations, multiple measurements are recommended for accuracy. The NCEP guidelines recommend that the patient is sampled on several occasions at least a week apart within an 8 week period. These individual values can then be averaged.
As stated by the NCEP, “The adoption of a single set of cutoffs imposes on laboratories the mandate to measure lipids and lipoproteins accurately and precisely.” Therefore, the NCEP also proposed guidelines for total allowable error in assays for cholesterol, triglycerides, HDL- and LDL-cholesterol.
The bias is from the CDC reference methods.
In conclusion, according to the NCEP ATP III Guidelines, routine lipid testing should be performed for every adult over age 20 at least once every 5 years. This should include measurement of plasma triglycerides, total cholesterol, HDL-C and LDL-C.
Lipids do not circulate freely but as part of water-soluble macromolecules called lipoproteins. Measurement of plasma lipids depends on the separation of the lipoprotein classes by their distinct physiochemical characteristics.
Labor-intensive lipid quantitation has been replaced by fully automated assays that are available in routine clinical laboratories.


Cuba is the chief “rogue” regime in terms of its foreign policy and human rights. On the UNHRC it has voted consistently against resolutions condemning human rights conditions in Syria (16 times), Ukraine and (with only two exceptions) North Korea. And Cuba’s participation in the UNHRC’s UPR process has been limited to raising social and economic issues—if any at all—and remaining mute on human rights violations in countries like North Korea, Iran and Turkey. On the UN ECOSOC, Cuba helped lead the charge to deny accreditation to 34 independent NGOs, including the Committee to Protect Journalists, that would allow them to participate in the UN ECOSOC committees and bodies, including the UN Human Rights Council. And in the Organization of American States, despite being invited to join if it agreed to accept the various conventions and authorities of OAS bodies, Cuba has failed to re-join the regional body and refuses to accept the legitimacy of the inter-American human rights system.
Below is a breakdown of Cuba’s actions and votes at the various venues we are monitoring. For more information click on each title and summary.
Freedom Status Not Free
Press Freedom Not free
Evaluation of OECD Compliance Non-signatory of convention
Rule-of-Law Index N/A
Regional rank N/A
Global rank N/A
Social Inclusion Index N/A
Cuba is currently on the Council, from 2012-2019, and was perviously a member from 2007-2012. It is one of the countries that consistently votes against human rights at the Council on the issue of Syria, North Korea, and on Ukraine. Of course all of this raises the question: what is Cuba even doing on the UNHRC? In our most recent report we highlight ways to strengthen the UNHRC so that it doesn’t become a rogues’ gallery. The proposal includes requiring members to accept visits from special rapporteurs and making the voting open and public.
16th special session The current human rights situations in the Syrian Arab Republic in the context of recent events voted Against
17th special session Situation of human rights in the Syrian Arab Republic voted Against
18th special session Human rights situation in the Syrian Arab Republic voted Against
Resolution 19/22 Situation of human rights in the Syrian Arab Republic voted Against
Resolution 19/01 The escalating grave human rights violations and deteriorating humanitarian situation in the Syrian Arab Republic voted Against
Resolution 20/22 Situation of human rights in the Syrian Arab Republic. voted Against
19th special session deteriorating human rights situation in the Syrian Arab Repubic and the recent killings in El-Houleh votedAgainst
Resolution 21/26 Situation of human rights in the Syrian Arab Republic votedAgainst
Resolution 25/23 The continuing grave deterioration of the human rights and humanitarian situation in the Syrian Arab Republic voted Against
Resolution 26/23 The continuing grave deterioration in the human rights and humanitarian situation in the Syrian Arab Republic voted Against
Resolution 29/16 The grave and deteriorating human rights and humanitarian situation in the Syrian Arab Republic voted Against
Resolution 31/17 The human rights situation in the Syrian Arab Republic voted Against
25th special session The deteriorating situation of human rights in the Syrian Arab Republic, and the recent situation in Aleppo voted Against
Resolution 34/26
The human rights situation in the Syrian Arab Republic
voted Against
Resolution 29/23 Cooperation and assistance to Ukraine in the field of human rights Against
Resolution 32/29 Cooperation with and assistance to Ukraine in the field of human rights Against
Resolution 28/22 Situation of human rights in the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea voted Against
Resolution 31/18 Situation of human rights in the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea Consensus
Resolution 7/15 Situation of human rights in the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea voted Against
As recipient: Cuba received 386 recommendations. Accepted 260, noted 126. (only select topics listed below)
Civil society 5 3 2
Elections 7 7 –
Enforced disappearances 1 – 1
Freedom of association and peaceful assembly 12 2 10
Freedom of opinion and expression 32 9 23
Freedom of religion and belief 4 4 –
Human rights defenders 7 – 7
Human rights violations by state agents – – –
Impunity – – –
Indigenous peoples – – –
International instruments 77 10 67
Justice 16 7 9
Migrants 2 – 2
Minorities – – –
Racial discrimination 3 3 –
Sexual orientation and gender identity 4 4 –
Torture and CID treatment 8 – 8
Total 386 260 126
As commenter: Cuba is an active participant in the UPR process, with 333 comments made so far in the 2nd cycle (for data available) but entirely on second generation economic and social rights, and not political and civil rights. Only 18% made towards other Latin American countries, but consistently made 2-4 comments for most countries around the globe. Israel, Poland, and the Russian Federation were exceptions, with Israel receiving 6 comments and Poland and Russia receiving 5 comments from Cuba.
Main topics of comments included: right to health (58 comments), right to education (50 comments), women’s rights (47 comments), and poverty (38 comments).
Cuba has not been on the committee since at least 1993.
Despite having its Cold War-era suspension lifted, the Cuban regime has refused to apply for readmission to the regional body.
Cuba has a number of pending cases before the Commission but does not accept the legitimacy of the regional human rights body.
164th Human Rights Situation of Persons with Disabilities in Cuba 0/3
161st Human Rights Situation of Afro-Descendants in Cuba 0/3
159th Situation of human rights defenders in Cuba 0/3
157th /158th Situation of human rights defenders in Cuba 0/3
156th LGBT Persons 0/3
2011 $0 0%
Cuba has not had any OAS missions to monitor their elections.
Signatory/Participant in MESICIC No
Constitutional protection N/A
Specific law enacted N/A
Is there a presumption of right N/A
Scope/Exceptions/Overrides N/A
Received information under FOIA law? N/A
Received information within a week? N/A
Received the appropriate information? N/A
2015 data shows that the female homicide rate is 2.4 per 100,000 women. Little information beyond the basics is available.
Not a signatory to ILO 169 or the American Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, but voted in favor of UNDRIP.