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guiltiest-gear · 3 years

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It has to be written and NO links

Real picky you know that anon

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tvarhegyi · 3 years

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Helen of Eden

Tamas M. Varhegyi

A weary passenger, tired after completing a critical assignment which seemed like was going on for millennia, walked toward his first class seat on a transatlantic flight. He reflected on the unfairness of the throw of the dice which might randomly pair him with an annoying companion of unknown gender, age, interests, temperament and of course looks : “An oversized, restless, talkative busybody of either sex would make this a long flight with little opportunity for rest or reflection.”

As he approached his seat, he stole a glance of the passenger already occupying the window seat adjacent to his. First impressions are everything. “Gender, female...it is his lucky day” - he thought somewhat relieved. “Correction”, he added silently, - “a very obvious female.” A lingering but respectful second look rendered the final visual verdict : “A gloriously feminine creature with a body second to none and with a stunning face to match.”

His knees buckled ever so slightly, his heart pounded as he happily uttered a confident greeting while silently prayed : “Let her response be worthy of the vision before me.” She delivered on his secret wish without fail. A voice - more like a short symphony - floated toward him, intended not only for his ears but all his senses. It enveloped him and penetrated his soul. He briefly wondered about the ancient tale of the sirens tempting sailors to rush toward danger. Somewhat sheepishly he conceded, that her lovely voice would have drawn him anywhere she commanded him to go.

�� While he reached up to stow his carry-on luggage, she ventured a quick glance of her own as well. She liked what she saw; he was neither overweight, nor muscle-bound. His face revealed a happy mixture of calm, intelligence and serenity. Within seconds her estimate became a focused conviction and she revised it silently : ”A vastly improbable gift of nature : unshakeable confidence, superior intelligence and irresistible masculinity in perfect harmony.” A colorful shirt and light slacks only partially covered his exquisite body on which it seemed like any outfit would find a home. She allowed a quick, silent one-liner altogether inappropriate but accurate : “Come to think of it even myself would be a good fit on him.” She blushed, while scolding herself for going off the rail so quickly and promised to control her impulses from that moment forward. That, as she was soon to find out, would prove to be an impossible task.

He settled down and struck up a conversation as if he had known her for a long time. The quiet, unassuming confidence unnerved her. Most men, after sizing her up, knew only too well that they were hopelessly outclassed and quickly retreated, unable to think or speak coherently in her presence. Not this stranger...with a hint of panic she wondered what his secret was.

For a while they exchanged pleasantries until he reckoned that he could risk a more intimate line of conversation. Pulling out a thin black book from its folder, he offered his travelling companion to share its secrets. She - quite intelligent and unattached - was briefly taken aback and considered brushing him aside. But the flight has barely started and she did not relish to be sitting stone-faced next to this improbably handsome and strangely confident, although somewhat eccentric man... a puzzling contradiction she feared might keep her occupied for the rest of the flight.

She agreed to pay attention, to which he responded with the most grateful and satisfied smile she has ever seen on a human face. As he was bouncing his grin off of her she counted her blessing that she was sitting down, otherwise - as she was certain - her legs would have not supported her for long. An intoxicating cavalcade of almost invisible twitches, tingles and flashes marched through her body.

Her throat parched, she reached for her glass, hoping that its contents would steady her nerves as well. As she sipped her drink she glanced at him and realized instantly that steadying her nerves were not in the cards as long as he was sitting inches from her. He slowly unfolded the object of his boasting, but his face was no longer tentative as if it belonged to a hesitating and somewhat clumsy office worker. He was bent on conquest, trying to impress the most attractive, perfectly shaped and groomed woman he has ever seen on this planet. She finally glanced at the open book, dreading the moment when she expected he would try to entertain her with pitiful tales of past conquests of woman most likely inferior to her.

She sighed with relief. The book contained no list of names, addresses or phone numbers nor did it betray evidence of some infantile date-rating shorthand system. The pages she saw was made of no ordinary paper but belonged to some kind of electronic book simulating a window into a high quality three dimensional virtual reality world.

As he spoke, his words brought the book alive. Images of creatures, advanced to the foreground, paused then faded away. She noticed that his voice flawlessly controlled the device. She was no stranger to advanced technologies so she took this bit of magic in stride, only to realize to her surprise that his voice also directed another, far more complex machinery, her own mind, her body and her rather unsteady emotions. Spellbound, she let him go on, wishing that his fascinating demonstration would never end.

Then, without warning, he asked the strangest and wholly unexpected question, wanting to know whether she was taught evolution in the schools - and if yes - did she believe in it. He immediately regretted his folly and wished that he could have run after the words and catch them before they reached her. He silently berated himself : “Who in his right mind would lead off a casual conversation with a lame question like that?” But he needed not to worry.

As she replied in the affirmative for the first part but with a firm denial to the second, he slowly realized, with an odd mixture of surprise and pride, that for some strange reason, in her presence he can be himself without reservations. He continued : “I attended a different institution which subjected me to extensive training conducted by first rate Intelligent Design advocates. “Homeschooling on steroids we used to joke.”

She nodded silently to indicate that she was aware of the term and its pariah status in the educational and scientific community. Then she ventured a comment :

“ You look like a very intelligent, rational, and independent person. Does your line of work demand that you believe or at least pretend to believe in evolution? If yes, did you ever consider switching to a top notch scientific research team on the forefront of the unfolding Intelligent Design revolution?”

His jaw dropped for a moment. Soon a glorious mental confusion induced by the mixture of rising euphoria and a tinge of fear set in. This was no ordinary pretty face sitting next to him. He resolved to be even more careful in every way possible. His words barely hid his apprehension. “Pray tell me just where did that very insightful suggestion come from?” Receiving only a gentle shrug of her shoulders and an enigmatic smile, he capitulated. Letting his guard down he confessed: “As I am growing fond of you with every second ticking by, I will level with you. I did join just such a research team a very long time ago. “

His expression changed, with an impossible mix of pride and happiness evident as he continued : “After looking at those pictures I shared with you, perhaps you are convinced that I am not a collector of meaningless one-night stands - and you are right. In this black book I hold in my hands, are the detailed descriptions of the countless exquisite creatures this planet shelters and nurtures.

You see, I am a galactic DNA design engineer and librarian, writing and safeguarding software whose function is to describe the design and fabrication details of living creatures down to the last cell, including every protein and molecular machine within each cell. Once verified and approved, we hand the blueprints to our cloning teams, who soon bring the creatures to life - which up until then existed only on paper or in computer storage. They perform extensive testing and let us know whether we did or did not design them right. Usually, after some minor changes, the species obtain final approval and are released into their target ecosystems. Just like on Noah’s Ark, two specimen, one male, one female.

Yes, I am one of those intelligent designers the Darwinists rejected as either impossible - or worse - as those who would produce creatures inferior even to random, blind and unguided natural selection. I, and my team were responsible for populating the Northern Hemisphere of this planet. We have been working on it for the past eleven thousand years.” With a self-satisfied grin he teased her : “So what do you say, did we do a good job so far?” He expected utter surprise, disbelief and perhaps indignation accusing him of spinning such a tall tale. None of that came, which slowly sent chills down his spine. His brain was working overtime. “Something is way out of kilter here, could it be a possible security breach? I better find out what is going on and do it soon.” - went the silent conversation with himself. He did not have to wait too long to solve the riddle. Her response started not with words but with a gesture. As she slowly put her perfectly designed hands on his arm, their minds touched for an instant in complete agreement. They realized that life for them would never be the same and that for some divine reason they will lead a charmed existence far into the future, rolling past endless horizons. She leaned closer, nearly burying his face in the canopy of her lush hair. Her lips touched his ear as she whispered these impossible words : “I congratulate you and your team ... and now let me show you my Pink Book ! We used it to populate the southern half.”

Epilogue

Above, invisible, a very ancient being observed them, fighting back tears for things buried in the misty past, for a hopelessly long chain of regrets; projects never finished, romances missed that could have been. Finally, it pulled itself together and whispered silently :

“Usually I do not approve of on-the-job romances, but these two were my hardest working and most successful designers, so I make an exception. Between them, almost single-handedly, they created a world teeming with life so rich, so unpredictable and so spectacular that it gave me a new lease on life and the strength to go on every time I witness the miracles they brought forth. They deserve to enter into the most fitting union my creation has ever seen. I give my blessing.

But it is in my nature – maybe even my destiny - to meddle a bit, and I can’t resist now either. These two are mighty proud of their respective designs. They almost regard them as their own offspring and rightly so. Well, I feel the same way about them. Over the eons I learned a thing or two about unusual, exquisite creations. And now I have altered their reproductive machinery to give forth the best I could have ever designed. I can’t wait to see the wonder on their faces when they greet their first joint project.

This happy occasion calls for a matching gift. I have a world prepared for them. Adam and Eve welcome to my true Paradise, without serpents and without challenges to trip you up. Design away my children! I know you will make the best of it.” Tamas Varhegyi © 2011-2020 Monroe, North Carolina, United States

Author’s comments :

Those of you who live in a real world with its many challenges and struggles - which frequently end in disappointments, disasters or annihilation - will perhaps find this story unbearably optimistic, uneventful and over-the-top romantic. You are right, the shoe fits and for me it is a perfect fit. I wanted to write a galactic fairy tale, uncomplicated, kind and somewhat steamy at least in the minds of the two main characters. The surprising ending for sure went over the top you might say. Indeed it did. I simply could not find a single plausible scenario which would be a fitting reward for two top-notch, planet-forming design-engineers who fell for each other the moment they met. That is where the designer God helped me out. A new start bequeathed to two supremely deserving humans was a way to put away all the horrific trials and tribulation of our race bleeding from thousands upon thousands of wounds which might never heal. The ending is a new start… a second chance for the Garden of Eden, this time a true one, gifted to two aliens who deserved it better than anyone else.

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sanathanadharmasblog · 6 years

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◈ श्रीदेव्यथर्वशीर्षम् ◈ Shri Devi Atharvasheersham - from: Atharva veda ● Devi Upanishad - 01- All the Gods, going near the Goddess, asked "who are you, Oh mighty Goddess?" 02- She said: I am an aspect of Brahman. From me this Universe, in form of Prakriti and Purusha, is generated; which is both void and non-void. 03- I am both bliss and non-bliss. I am knowledge and non-knowledge. I am Brahma and non-Brahma (the non-manifest state called Abrahma). I am the five primordial principles and non-principles. I am the whole perceived Universe. 04- I am Veda (knowledge about Brahma) and non-knowledge. I am learning and ignorance. I am unborn and also born. I am up, down and in the middle. 05- I move about in form of Rudra and Vasu. I move about as Aditya and all the Gods. I sustain Mitra, Varuna, Indra, Agni and both the Ashvinas. 06- In me there are Soma, Tvasta, Pusha and Bhaga. In me there are Vishnu with wide footsteps, Brahma and Prajapati. 07- I bring Wealth with Havi (oblation) to that man who offers the best Havi to Gods and consecrates Soma. I am the Empress of this whole Universe. I give wealth to worshippers. I am the observer and the first amongst those worth worshipping. I create on myself (as basis of all) the primordial elements. My abode is in the waters of Samudra (the ocean of consciousness). One who knows this obtains divine wealth. 08- Then the Gods said: Salutations to the Goddess, the Great Goddess. Salutations always to the goddess who is beneficial to all. Salutations to the goddess who is the Nature and is graceful. We, followers of rules, pay our respects to Her. 09- Salutations to You, with color of Agni, shining with knowledge, bright, being worshipped to obtain fruits of actions, we are in her refuge. Oh Devi, destroyer of evil, salutations to You. 10- The Gods created the shining Vak (Goddess of speech), which is spoken by animals of all types. She gives food, all kinds of perceptions, intelligence, pleasure, bliss and strength. Let Vak be satisfied by our prayers and come near us. 11- To Kalaratri (the Dark Night), to the power of Vishnu, prayed by Vedas, to the mother of Skanda (Parvati), to Sarasvati (power of Brahma), to the mother of gods Aditi, to the daughter of Daksha (Sati), to the destroyer of sins, to the beneficial Bhagvati, we convey our salutations. 12- We know the Mahalakshmi and meditate on Her, the all-powerful one. May that Goddess direct us in correct direction. 13- Oh Daksha, your daughter Aditi gave birth to immortal Gods, worth praying. 14- The Mother of all, the adorable, highest–born, swan-rider who holds a lotus in one hand and a thunderbolt in the other, Mother of the lord of storms, she is born again and again. Her marvelous power extends in all directions. She is the embodiment of the supreme knowledge. She is the Omkara. Note: Now is illustrated the highly secretive Shrividya Panchadashi Mahamantra, a 15 lettered mantra. The mantra gives the following letters for meditation: ka-e-ī-la-hrīṃ, ha-sa-ka-ha-la-hrīṃ, sa-ka-la-hrīṃ. These are the root knowledge about the Mother of the universe. This is a very important mantra for Tantra but has to be learnt from a guru. 15- She is the power of Paramatma. She is the one to bewitch all. She shines with noose, goad, bow and arrows in her hands. She is Shri MahaVidya. One who knows this well overcomes sadness. 16- Oh Bhagavati, salutations to You. Oh Mother, protect us in all ways. 17- She is the eight Vasus. She is the eleven Rudras. She is the twelve Adityas. She is the all the Gods, drinking Soma or non-drinking. She is Yatudhan, Rakshashas, Asuras, Pishachas, Yakshas and Siddhas (kinds of demonic or malicious beings). She is Satva, Rajas and Tamas. She is Brahma, Vishnu and Rudra. She is Prajapati, Indra and Manu. She is the planets, stars and constellations. She is various measures of Time. She is destroyer of sins, giver of both enjoyment and Moksha, without end, giving victory over distractions of Samsara, pure, worth taking refuge, giver of peace, peace personified, we pray to Her. 18- Akash means ha, with ī syllable, Agni is ra, aṃ is the Bijamantra for the Goddess (so hrīṃ is formed). This mantra is able to satisfy all desires. 19- Those Yogis whose mind is pure, meditate on this one syllable Brahma, they are having extreme happiness and like an ocean of knowledge. 20- Vak aiṃ, Maya hrīṃ, Brahma or Kama klīṃ, the sixth consonant ca with Vaktra ā, Surya ma, the right ear u, and Bindu aṃ, the third from ṭ (ḍ), with Narayana ā, Vayu ya, with lips ai and at the end vicce (so aiṃ hrīṃ klīṃ chamunḍāye vicce is formed). This navarna (nine-lettered) mantra gives pleasure, bliss, and nearness the meditator to Brahman. 21- I worship the Goddess staying in the middle of my Self (or mind), bright as the morning Sun, who is holding Pasha and Ankusha in her hands, with beautiful looks, with the hand in Varad (blessing) and Abhaya (protecting) mudra, with three eyes, with red cloths and who satisfies the desires of her worshippers. 22- I offer salutations to the Goddess who destroys fearsome troubles, who eliminates obstacles and who is the personification of compassion. 23- Even Brahma and the other Devas do not know her real form, so she is called Ajñeya. We do not find its limit, so she is called Ananta. We can not find the meaning, so she is called Alakshya. Her birth is not known, so she is called Aja. She is found everywhere, so she is called Eka, the One. She has taken up all the various forms, so she is called Naika. Because of this she is called these various names. 24- Amongst the mantras She is the original sounds, in the words She is the essence of knowledge. Amongst the knowledge She is beyond what is comprehensible by analysis and by deep meditation, She is the witness to that state. She is well known as Durga, there is nothing better than her. 25- I, afraid of the Samsara, offer my salutations to Durga, difficult to know, destroyer of sins and pilot while crossing this sea of Samsara. 26- One who studies this Atharvashirsha gets credit for reciting it five times. One who establishes and worships an image without knowing this Atharvashirsha will not get any benefit, even if does 100,000 recitations. Repeat this 108 times, that is the method of Purascharana. Even repeating ten times makes him free of sins due to the grace of Mahadevi. 27- By Shri Devi’s grace, one escapes from the greatest of difficulties. By chanting this hymn in the evening, one gets rid of the sins committed during the day. By chanting this hymn in the morning, one gets rid of the sins committed during the previous night. By using this hymn in the morning and evening (everyday) one becomes free from all sins. By chanting this during the Turiya Sandhya (midnight when Turiya meets Turiyatita), one gets Vak Siddhi (power of speech). By chanting this hymn, Devata Sannidhya (presence of divinity) is accomplished in a new idol. By chanting this mantra during yoga one escapes from the great death. In this way this Upanishad is the dead of ignorance.

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architectnews · 3 years

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Eleven architecture and interiors projects by UNSW Sydney students

A theatre set in the post-pandemic world and a subterranean museum dedicated to mental health feature in this architecture and interiors-themed school show, curated by the UNSW Sydney.

A total of 11 student projects feature in the showcase, which is the first of two digital exhibitions hosted by the Australian university's Built Environment department on Dezeen.

The featured projects in part one have all been completed by undergraduates and postgraduate students enrolled on the department's Architecture and Interior Architecture programs.

UNSW Sydney

University: UNSW Sydney Department: Built Environment Courses: ARCH – Architecture and INTA – Interior Architecture

School statement:

"UNSW Built Environment's vision is to shape future cities – cities that are great, connected, and inclusive. We want to inspire and challenge tomorrow's city makers by offering a comprehensive range of specialised undergraduate, postgraduate and post-professional degree programs that few universities can match.

"As a student, you will shape your own path to a global career. Through education that is both broad and deep, you will be able to navigate flexible pathways within our programs. We offer you an interdisciplinary education, connected to the real world through projects set by the industry, cross-faculty initiatives, internships, research projects and exchange."

A Silver Lining by Henrick Michael

"Focusing on the rugged regional landscape and ductile geology of Broken Hill, A Silver Lining proposes a new community library with an architecture that is abstracted from the local geomorphology. Reflecting its enduring existence, the 1,800-million-year-old ore body consisting of lead-zinc-sulphide serves as the heart of one of Australia's oldest mining towns and informs the steel- and-rammed-earth composition of the library.

"With true north orientated 35 degrees from the city's Cartesian grid, the library connects to the landscape by conflating both solar and Cartesian orientations, mediating semi-arid climatic conditions and reinforcing a sense of belonging within the civic site."

Student: Henrick Michael Project: A Silver Lining Course: ARCH – Architecture Course level: Undergraduate Email: [email protected] Tutors: Rachel Neeson and Tamas Jones

Donut Country Library at Broken Hill by Erica Leong

"Inspired by the organisation of ancient Egyptian villages, the design seeks to readapt this vernacular typology into the remote outback context. Rooms with similar functions are organised around central courtyards, like donuts, and are exemplified by inverted hip roofs that slope inward towards the vertex, giving rise to a series of undulating ridges.

"The design comprises vernacular architectural elements including the interior palette, which features a monolithic use of rammed earth, while Corten steel roofing pays homage to traditional houses in Broken Hill constructed using weathered corrugated iron."

Student: Erica Leong Project: Donut Country Library at Broken Hill Course: ARCH – Architecture Course level: Undergraduate Email: [email protected] Website: ericaleong99.wixsite.com/architecturesplash Tutor: Lee Hillam

The Annexe by Jonathan Tang

"The Annexe is a spiritual extension of the Powerhouse Museum (MAAS) and seeks to increase its engagement with the community. The museum has been a staple in Ultimo's history as well as its cultural and technological identity.

"Rather than imposing a drastic intervention onto the site, the design creates spaces through subtle manipulation in layers. This is to preserve the already limited optical freedom along the Goods Line and the industrial identity of the Hardwood Building tram shed facade. The Annexe aims to amplify the significance of the institution and promotes a more personal connection to the artistic and innovative people of Sydney."

Student: Jonathan Tang Project: The Annexe Course: ARCH – Architecture Course level: Undergraduate Email Address: [email protected] Website: @jt_does_arch Tutors: Anita Panov and Andrew Scott

Curiosity Core by Jianan Zhuang

"The Curiosity Core examines how Reggio Emilia, an educational philosophy traditionally focused on primary education, can influence the design of a hybrid office and educational building in Parramatta CBD, Sydney. A Reggio-inspired design favours exploration and social interaction that stimulates an interactive experience and constructive learning.

"The project embraces this framework, providing spaces for dynamic exploration, constructive research, and collaborative sharing in a vertical setting. Spaces are not only provided for activities and daily routine but tell the story of a journey of curiosity. Environmental performance is paramount; the design uses a CLT primary structure fostering a low embodied carbon."

Student: Jianan Zhuang Project: Curiosity Core Course: ARCH – Architecture Course level: Postgraduate Email: [email protected] Tutors: Ivan Ip and Mladen Prnjatovic

Isoland by Paige Kodesh

"Isoland looks at having fun during a pandemic, together whilst separated. It is an adaptable and global solution to a current collective experience of isolation and disconnection, celebrating the banality of life we seemingly take for granted.

"Isoland is a theme park, composed of six common functions of social gathering which we have not been able to take part in during lockdown measures. It provides spaces for a cinema, pub, live music venue, swimming pool, gym and a wedding venue.

"Agency in the form of satire, whimsically represented through the re-imagination of familiarities, nostalgia and collective memory presents an opportunity to reinvent normality and restore lost connections."

Student: Paige Kodesh Project: Isoland Course: ARCH – Architecture Course level: Postgraduate Email: [email protected] Website: www.isoland.org Tutors: David Sanderson and Mark Szcerbicki

The Quiet Carriage: Sydney Sound Museum by Sarah MacDonald

"The Quiet Carriage is an urban sanctuary that combines auditory, visual and tactile experiences to promote greater listening and awareness around mental health. The public parkland respects the heritage buildings above and conceals the rock cathedral below, carving out a place for people to embrace stillness.

"The subterranean museum combines a collection of sound chapels, echoic chambers and exhibition halls of aural histories and endangered sounds. The Quiet Carriage seeks to connect people with themselves, with others and with the world around them."

Student: Sarah MacDonald Project: The Quiet Carriage: Sydney Sound Museum Course: ARCH – Architecture Course level: Postgraduate Website: @sarahashleydesign Tutors: David Sanderson and Mark Szczerbicki

Memoria by Noah Sunderland

"Memoria exists as an architectural commentary on the colonial and patriarchal past of Sydney, providing a site of reconciliation for those who have been dispossessed and disenfranchised by conventional colonialist narratives.

"The site tells of the culture of survival within Australia's history, giving insight to the sedimentation of memory that has occurred in place (White Bay Power Station), becoming in itself a machine for memory. The intention of this commentary is to bring neglected narratives to the fore and challenge consciousness surrounding issues of our colonial and patriarchal pasts, offering a slow burial of these systems of thinking."

Student: Noah Sunderland Project: Memoria Course: INTA – Interior Architecture Course level: Undergraduate Email: [email protected] Website: noahjamessunderland.squarespace.com Studio leads: Eva Lloyd and Sing d'Arcy Studio tutor: Olivia Green

MASK.D by Mackenzie Peachey

"Take one deep breath in and witness the future of our world, the uprise of pollution and destruction of humanity. The history of the site guides the strategic direction of the White Bay Power Station redevelopment.

"Being a former coal power plant, MASK.D draws influence from controversial issues surrounding air pollution, featuring an array of witty innuendos and unconventional imaginings of future life on planet earth. The proposal stimulates a sense of the uncanny, resurfacing provocative topics which aren't talked about enough in today's society."

Student: Mackenzie Peachey Project: MASK.D Course: INTA – Interior Architecture Course level: Undergraduate Website: maskd.squarespace.com Studio leads: Eva Lloyd and Sing d'Arcy Studio tutor: Sing d'Arcy

The Centre of Bio-Psych Design by Isabelle Kleijn

"In relation to the most current events around our nation and the world we can see more than ever the effects of civilisation on this planet. Humanity has almost pushed the planet to the point of no return, yet we shut one's eye to the loss and destruction that has occurred. As our planet evolves, we must evolve with it.

"The Centre of Bio PsychDesign is a multidisciplinary facility new to Sydney's foreshores that aims to create dialogue between nature, technology, and the mind. It invites the community and visitors to explore the future sustainability of human-environment relationships. Whilst partaking on an emotive journey through reflection and reclamation, it seeks to educate and connect visitors on the pursuit to respond to the current issues within the 21st century."

Student: Isabelle Kleijin Project: The Centre of Bio-Psych Design Course: INTA – Interior Architecture Course level: Undergraduate Email: [email protected] Studio leads: Eva Lloyd and Sing d'Arcy Studio tutor: Michael Stonham

Ma-tt-er Museum by Kaitlin Gordon

"Part research facility, part experimentation and interactive education space, Ma-tt-er Museum at White Bay Power Station proposed in partnership with Ma-tt-er has been designed to operate as a community resource recovery facility. The museum showcases a new way to approach our material matter whilst working to heal the prevalent and pertinent environmental damage caused by the Industrial Revolution.

"As opposed to its former functions of environmental depletion, the reformed power station aims to return the community to a homeostatic-like state, akin to the body after damage. In doing so, the museum works to restore the environmental damage of the past and mitigate the post-industrialisation consumption and manufacture of today."

Student: Kaitlin Gordon Project: Ma-tt-er Museum Course: INTA – Interior Architecture Course level: Undergraduate Website: kaitlingordon.squarespace.com Studio leads: Eva Lloyd and Sing d'Arcy Studio tutor: Michael Stonham

Enter Stage by Nidhi Kontham

"Enter Stage is set in the post-pandemic world where tactility and human interaction are more yearned for than ever. This theatre and historic hub redevelopment create a socially-charged space which provides experiences of theatre to amplify actions and interactions within the space.

"This project is anchored by the following integral notions which have been researched over this year. Architecture is not complete with its construction, it is the people and their interaction with and in it, that breathes life into architecture. Theatre, and other art forms, are merely a projection of the world's current societal state. Humanity as it stands is merely a live play. Reinventing the notion of perfection within architecture, it is the imperfections in art which make it human."

Student: Nidhi Kontham Project: Enter Stage Course: INTA – Interior Architecture Course level: Undergraduate Website: illustrarch.com/student-projects/4973-enter-stage-nidhi-kontham.html Studio leads: Eva Lloyd and Sing d'Arcy Studio tutor: Luis Gito

The post Eleven architecture and interiors projects by UNSW Sydney students appeared first on Dezeen.

#Architecture – Dezeen

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recentanimenews · 7 years

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Manga Giveaway: Queen Emeraldas Giveaway Winner

And the winner of the Queen Emeraldas manga giveaway is… Sofia!

As the winner, Sofia will be receiving a copy of the first volume of Leiji Matsumoto’s Queen Emeraldas as published in English (and in hardcover!) by Kodansha Comics. Queen Emeraldas is a relatively recent example of a manga released in translation that is set in space. I happen to be rather fond of stories with space settings and so for this giveaway I asked that participants tell me a little about their favorite space manga. Check out below for a list of manga, but everyone’s detailed responses can be found in the giveaway comments.

Some of the manga with space settings released in print in English: 2001 Nights by Yukinobu Hoshino A, A′ by Moto Hagio Astra Lost in Space by Kenta Shinohara Andromeda Stories written by Ryu Mitsuse, illustrated by Keiko Takemiya Battle Angel Alita: Last Order by Yukito Kishiro Bodacious Space Pirates: Abyss of Hyperspace by Chibimaru Captain Harlock: Dimensional Voyage written by Leiji Matsumoto, illustrated by Kouichi Shimahoshi Chronowar by Kazumasa Takayama Earthian by Yun Kouga Gankutsuou: The Count of Monte Cristo by Mahiro Maeda Gin Tama by Hideaki Sorachi Jyu-Oh-Sei by Natsumi Itsuki Knights of Sidonia by Tsutomu Nihei Mobile Suit Gundam: The Origin by Yoshikazu Yasuhiko Mobile Suit Gundam: Thunderbolt by Yasuo Ohtagaki Moon Child by Reiko Shimizu Phoenix by Osamu Tezuka Planetes by Makoto Yukimura Please Save My Earth by Saki Hiwatari Queen Emeraldas by Leiji Matsumoto Stellvia by Ryo Akitzuki Saber Tiger by Yukinobu Hoshino Saturn Apartments by Hisae Iwaoka Terra Formars written by Yu Sasuga, illustrated by Ken-ichi Tachibana They Were Eleven by Moto Hagio To Terra… by Keiko Takemiya Trigun by Yasuhiro Nightow Twin Spica by Kou Yaginuma The Two Faces of Tomorrow by Yukinobu Hoshino The Voices of a Distant Star written by Makoto Shinkai, illustrated by Mizu Sahara

As usual, the above list is not at all comprehensive (and there’s even more available digitally), but it should hopefully provide a good launching point. I’ve personally read and am quite fond of many of the titles listed, but there are some that I have yet to try, too. Thank you to everyone who took time to share your favorite space manga with me! I hope to see you all again for the next monthly giveaway.

By: Ash Brown

#Anime #News #Manga Bookshelf

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megamanishashekhawat-blog · 6 years

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black magic removal

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black magic removal

Have you ever been trapped by black magic? Do you feel like someone has done black magic on you? Don’t worry, you’re not alone! There are thousands of victims of black magic. The power of black magic is vigorously spreading on our planet and unfortunately, people are not taking it seriously. They think black magic doesn’t exist and it’s not a matter of subject that needs to be taken into consideration. But the matter of fact is, everyone including employers, lawyers, and politicians are using black magic trick to destroy their opponents and win the battle.

If you also agree to the same and are looking for someone who can help you get rid of this black magic, you need to consult our world famous black magic specialist Pandit ji who is quite expert in performing the black magic art and also, helps you keep away from all the negative vibes away that may destruct your life.

With the increase in tamas everyday – more and more people are using cheap paranormal tactics such as black magic, voodoos, witch-craft and hexes ( which are not easy to be detected by common means) to get their revenge on the unsuspecting friends, relatives and neighbors.

This wish to get revenge and do harm ( using black magic, hexes and voodoo ) to the close ones – generally stems in them – from either extreme jealousy or an underlying hatred. What the person ordering such black magic and hexes do not understand is that – whatever they give to this world – it finally comes back on them too – as per the laws of the universe.

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By trying to cause trauma to another person via voodoo and black magic – these people infact are only helping to dig their own grave unknowingly.

Once an act of black magic is committed on an unsuspecting person – it can almost devastate the victims life mentally and physically – without leaving any good clue behind – which happens to be one big reason why black magic – hexes and voodoos are done in the first place.

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The person on whom the black magic is done can go through unexpected financial losses, sickness, some strange disease or even death.

15 Symptoms of Black Magic – Voodoo – Hexes –

Mantras to Remove Black Magic

Sudden sickness attacks or health problems – without any major underlying cause for it.

Sudden or an unexpected string of financial losses – that has no logical explanation.

Sudden death or accidents in the household.

The person feels like he is being watched and followed by an invisible entity – even when in an empty room all by themselves.

Sudden but extreme lethargy – which makes the person unable to work – without obvious reasons.

Sudden violent or extreme mood swings and behavioral changes – that do not seem to be in the persons control.

Sudden poor appetite and sweats.

Sudden strong feelings of hatred and cruelty towards close members of the family or towards a lover.

Sudden quarrels or fights in an otherwise happy environment.

Sudden bursts of mental agony, depression and extreme stress – without apparent reasons present.

Sudden mental fog – extreme mental confusion.

No auspicious events are able to take place at your home – auspicious events can include events such as – marriages, religious congregations, poojas, celebrations etc.

Sudden lose of interest in living a daily life in an otherwise perfect individual can also be due to black magic, hexes or voodoo spells.

Unable to finish long pending works or a project – however much one tries to complete it. This can also include pending court cases.

Unusual sudden bouts of extreme fear and paranoia in an otherwise healthy person – again without any logical cause behind it.

History has proved time and again – that the ones committing these sort of black magic, hexes or voodoos have not been the outside people or strangers – but mostly someone very close to the target family – either a close friend or a trusted relative who had extreme jealousy or hatred for a member.

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Reverse Black Magic Kali Mantra, Black magic the word itself so scary, this is done on the people to spoil their lives. If somebody is jealous on you and your growth in profession they cannot tolerate it. So they will do black magic on you to spoil your present and future. Even if your enemies or relatives want to defeat you indirectly they will do black magic on you. reverse black magic spells is the spells which have power to reverse the black magic powers that is done on you to the magician or the people who done it on you. People believe that once the black magic is done it is very difficult -and easily come out the black magic.

often we hear that people will do black magic to make others to love them. If anybody is done black magic on you for the purpose of loving them surely you’ll get addicted to them. You start having feelings on them in your heart and you’ll easily start showing love and affection on that particular person. This not a good thing because love is most pure thing you must win the heart of person through your true love and affection not by applying the black magic on the people to make them love you.

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If you think that somebody has done black magic on you to love them. Easily break the black magic by using the reverse black magic love spell. These are very powerful spells; use these spells to come out the black magic done on you. Once if you start using these spells soon you’ll see the changes within you. You’ll start hating the person who did black magic on you. Finally you’ll start leading your life happily when you break the black magic that is done to you.

Reverse black magic spells and the mantra shakti are one and the same both have similar powers to reverse the black magic. Easily break the black magic and other evil things done to by using these powerful and popular reverse black magic spells. There are many powerful and popular mantras to reverse this back magic. Consult powerful tantric to get the powerful reverse black magic spells. The tantric will suggest you the powerful spells to break the black magic. Follow each and every instruction given by the tantric carefully to get release from the black magic. The tantric will explain the use and importance of mantra, easily break the black magic by using the mantras.

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Black Magic Removal Specialist is fundamentally a strategy which is a successful aftereffect of the colossal mix of prophetic and Vedic old history of India. It is a speciality of those incredible Molvi which is really started with the presenting of “The Black Magic Removal Mantra“. It has the amazingness to encourage the creation of soul and power that work ponders. The black magic removal mantra is utilised and discussed particularly when a man needs to take control on another person’ sentiments or even to pull in whatever other person.

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It has been ages since when evil powers presence on the earth. Be that as it may, now the question emerges, how great is this black magic removal specialist wazifa for adoration. Indeed, to be fruitful, both mantra and yantra are important to accomplish the total learning. What’s more, for approaching achievement, you need to have a flat out self conviction and full fearlessness. Be that as it may, as indicated by the Vedas, this remove black magic mantra must be recounted just for the prosperity of the human culture, not for any villain work or to hurt any person.

Lord Shiva Mantra To Remove Black Magic

There are several mantras to remove black magic, this is the maha mrityunjaay mantra of Shiva which is known to offer a powerful protection from these sort of things to the one who does japa on it.

You can use the maha mrityunjaay mantra of Shiva to do away with any sorts of black magic, voodoos and protect yourself. This wonderful mantra is additionally known to promote good health, peace and wisdom to the one who chants it.

The Maha Mrityunjaay mantra is as follows.

Om Tryambakam Yajāmahe ||

Sugandhim Pushti-Vardhanam ||

Urvā Rukamiva Bandhanān ||

Mrityurmukshīya Māmritāt ||

How many times to chant the Maha Mritunjaay Mantra For Removing Black Magic?

Start by chanting the above mantra for removing all ill effects and black magic 108 times everyday.

You can increase the count depending on your comfort level – to fasten things up

Keep doing the chant for a minimum period of eleven days or more for the best protection and removing any black magic or voodoo.

Its even better – if you can keep chanting the Maha Mrityunjaay mantra everyday for lifetime – as this Shiva mantra is several benefits for your body, mind and soul. ( Will be discussed in another article )

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Black Magic has many names and languages known throughout the world since the beginning of time. It is a general term for words like spell, witchcraft, curse, and Voodoo. It is used for evil purposes by invoking the power of jinnee’s, evil spirits, or even the devil. The foundation of all black magic lies within the spirit world. A person who has mastered the art of sorcery and black magic can perform sorcery. These black magicians follow a system for several weeks and months, calling the spirits in the underworld, doing rituals and making animal and human sacrifices to affix hands with the underground world. Once they have conquered these techniques, they take control of the spirits who are now controlled by the sorcerers command at all times. Then these spirits are used as a tool to access data regarding anyone and then used to harm that individual, even kill them. Unfortunately, People that are driven by jealousy, anger, hate and different negative traits pay these black magicians to mentally and physically hurt their relatives, friends and colleagues by making them suffer in life. At present, the assistance of black magicians is being used within the legal systems from around the globe by several lawyers to win cases. Politicians and businessmen are also turning to this evil source to defeat their competition.

Black magic can be given to a victim through drinking or eating such as adding the black magic to food or drink. If someone has a picture of you or a possession that you own (Example: a piece of clothing), they can give this to the black magician to make black magic against you. The black magician can also make it in liquid form so it can be spilled over an object or piece of land.

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You can locate various black magic specialist & masters on the web. Muslim black magic expert Molvi Ji can likewise furnish you with the most ingenious learning to address such issues proficiently, if you don’t utilise the information for anything negative. It might prompt a few unsafe outcomes.

For the most part, according to the directions and lessons in Vedas, lion’s share of black magic removal mantra and tantras don’t work effectively on the off chance that you plan to hurt any person. Be that as it may, they work ponders particularly when you wish to seek after something emphatically. You can undoubtedly mesmerize any individual and make him or her to get things done by your desires. Each mantra and tantra has its own particular power and effectiveness. They are to be utilised as a part of a specific way to get the coveted outcomes desired.

On this website you will find information about Talal, the healings he’s done, his journey and search for his ultimate purpose in life, and how you can contact him for guidance and help. For years there has been extensive, inaccurate information on the internet regarding the use of black magic. Many people have fallen as victims of websites claiming to break black magic spells. Some of these websites even perform their own sorcery magic spells for some form of profit or gain. Don’t fall prey to these websites.

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samanthasroberts · 7 years

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Guns, political turmoil and hummingbirds in the living room – my farewell to Latin America

Venezuelan president Hugo Chvez took one look at the Guardians correspondent and yelled out: Hey, Gringo! But if he could never quite fit in, Jonathan Watts has come to love the continent he is now leaving after five years

It was the merest of glimpses, but no less thrilling for that. A dark, sleek body, roughly the size of a person, arched elegantly out of the Tapajs river as we approached the So Luis rapids deep in the Amazon. A fraction of a second later, it plunged back below the swirling waters, leaving me wondering if my imagination or the morning mist were playing tricks. But no, it was real. It had been close enough to the boat to be sure of that. But what was it?

Hugo Chvez took one look at Jonathan Watts (above) and yelled out: Hey, Gringo!

Perhaps a pirarucu (AKA arapaima), the giant of the Amazon, which can grow up to 10ft in length. But the lack of scales suggested it was more likely to be a dolphin. There were two species in these waters: the pink boto and the darker tucuxi. I concluded it was the latter.

The thought filled me with both hope and dread. Eleven years earlier during my previous post as China correspondent I had joined an international team of scientists on an expedition along the Yangtze river looking for the baiji freshwater dolphin. It was too late. Not one could be found. The animal was declared functionally extinct a victim of industrial pollution, river traffic, overfishing and hydroelectric dams. After 20m years of existence, it was an alarming indication of a dying river. Yet here in Brazil on the Tapajs, the freshwater dolphins albeit of a different genus could be found without searching. There was still time to save them. It felt like a second chance.

One of the reasons I moved from China to Brazil to become Latin America correspondent in 2012 was to look for a more sustainable development model. Back then, Brazil seemed to be doing a lot of things right. Its booming economy had just overtaken that of the UK; the popular leftwing government was reducing inequality; deforestation of the Amazon was slowing; Brazilian negotiators had played a positive role in climate and biodiversity negotiations; and my new home of Rio de Janeiro was about to host the 2012 Rio +20 Earth Summit, the 2014 World Cup final and the 2016 Olympic Games. Besides, I told my teenage daughters, who were doubtful about leaving Beijing, there would be less smog, more blue skies and a warm and friendly vibe. We were all in for a shock.

Adjustment was tougher than I expected. The differences were so vast. On the plus side, I grinned just to walk along the street and take in the views of what is surely among the most beautiful cities on the planet. My daily jog around the Lagoa took in the sights of the Christ the Redeemer statue, forested hillsides, the Rocinha favela, the peaks of Pedra da Gavea, Pedra Bonita and Dois Irmos. I also saw more species of trees, birds, insects and mammals on those 7.4km (4.6-mile) runs than I would see in a whole year in Beijing. Similarly, I heard more good live music in my first week in Rio than perhaps my entire nine years in China.

After the communist states of east Asia, the openness and accessibility of democratic Latin American leaders was also a welcome shock. Having spent years in usually fruitless applications to interview ministers and heads of state in China and North Korea, I came to my new post in Brazil with a target list of three prominent politicians that I would like to meet during my first year Dilma Rousseff, Marina Silva and Alfredo Sirkis. Within a week, I had seen all of them either in press conferences or for lunch. As I was later to learn, getting politicians in this part of the world to talk is often less of a problem than getting them to stop.

Dilma Rousseff: one of the great leaders of South America, before she was toppled. Photograph: Brazil Photo Press/CON/LatinContent/Getty Images

Other initial comparisons were less favourable. Cariocas (as residents of Rio call themselves) seemed far less focussed on education, culture, history, science and work than Beijingers. If they had spare time and money, many preferred to spend it on their body (tattoos, gyms or cosmetic surgery) so they could look good on the beach. And, contrary to the happy-go-lucky party-people image, they could be extremely conservative. One time, I was denied entry to a press conference I was supposed to be moderating because I failed to meet the dress code (although admittedly flower-patterned shorts and flip-flops werent the ideal match for my dress shirt). They also voted repeatedly for several of the countrys most rightwing politicians and some took to the streets calling for a return to the 1964-85 military dictatorship.

In those early days, however, I was mainly frustrated. Everything felt unambitious, slow and unreliable compared with China. Was it necessary to have three different types of plug socket? Why on earth did I have to keep providing my mothers birth name for the most routine applications? The grotesque bureaucracy was not my only grumble. The notorious inequality was quickly evident, as was the enduring social legacy of what had been the worlds biggest slave-trading nation. Apart from music, cultural life seemed poor and the food was bland compared with Asia. Property rental was absurdly complicated and the apartments were horrendously overpriced due to the countrys then super-strong currency (Brazil was infamous at the time for selling the worlds most expensive iPhones). I spent much of the first year sleeping in a mouldy shed that leaked in tropical rainstorms, obliging me to have a bucket by the pillow to catch the drops.

More importantly, it became apparent that I had been sold an overhyped image of Brazil. Far from being a new model, the past five years have proved a case study in how not to run a country.

This has been a spectacularly tumultuous period, encompassing the impeachment of a president, the worst economic contraction in 100 years, the biggest corruption scandal in the countrys history, millions taking to the streets in protest, an unimaginable 1-7 defeat in the World Cup, a pre-Olympic Zika epidemic and a resurgence of violent crime and environmental destruction. My Brazilian journalist friends are not sure whether to feel grateful for the abundance of work or horrified at the flood of miserable stories. Weve had 40 years of news packed into the last four years, observed one. Its surreal. We seem to be reporting on the collapse of the republic, lamented another. It is impossible not to feel sorry for the country.

Brazil has slipped into reverse gear on just about every front. Since 2012, the economy has shrunk by 9% and unemployment has almost doubled. Last year, deforestation of the Amazon accelerated by 29% and violent killings in Rio de Janeiro increased by almost 30%. Not surprisingly, the public has never been more frustrated with the government. Five years ago, the then-president Dilma Rousseff enjoyed approval ratings of 64%. That had fallen to 10% when she was politically lynched by her former allies last year. Her successor, Michel Temer, is even more unpopular. The most recent poll could find only 2% of voters who thought he was doing a good job.

A country in turmoil: protesters during a nationwide general strike in Rio de Janeiro on 30 June. Photograph: Mario Tama/Getty Images

In some ways, the story of Brazil from 2012 to 2017 has been the inverse of China from 2003 to 2012. In Asias biggest country, I observed sometimes brutal stability and spectacular economic growth. In Latin Americas, I have witnessed turmoil and contraction. I have certainly inhaled a lot more teargas, particularly since the mass protests ahead of the 2013 Confederations Cup, which were a turning point.

Regionally, the broad political trend has been a weakening of populist, leftwing power. In the past five years, the two great figureheads of the Latin left Fidel Castro and Hugo Chvez have died. The Brazilian Workers party founder Luiz Incio Lula da Silva has been put on trial and his party usurped from office by centre-right parties that have proved at least as corrupt. In Argentina, the formerly Pernist government of Cristina Fernndez de Kirchner has been replaced by the more conservative Mauricio Macri. In Bolivia, Evo Morales lost a referendum that would have allowed him to stand again for re-election. Venezuela, meanwhile, plunges ever deeper into crisis under Nicols Maduro. But Chile, Peru, Uruguay, Colombia, Ecuador, Nicaragua and Mexico are all exceptions in different ways. Latin American politics are too heterogenous for perfect generalisations.

A clearer pattern and one perhaps that underlines the tumult both here and elsewhere in the world is the increasing evidence of climate change across the region. Patagonian lakes are drying up and glaciers retreating; Rios beaches have been battered by record storm surges; Chiles forests were devastated earlier this year by unprecedentedly high temperatures and wildfires; and then Lima was hit by freak floods. Perhaps the most alarming story, however, was So Paulo the biggest city in Latin America suffering the most prolonged drought in its history. I recall a dystopian moment when I was told there was no coffee at a Starbucks on Avenida Paulista the citys main thoroughfare because the taps had run dry. We only have beer or Coke, the cashier said.

The destruction of the rainforest is making matters worse in ways that are only slowly being understood. But it often appears to be a bigger story overseas than in the media of Brazil and other Amazonian nations. As well as being a major source of carbon emissions and a threat to biodiversity, the loss of foliage is also eroding the forests role as a climate regulator. Recent studies have shown that the Amazon acts as a giant water pump, channelling moisture inland via aerial rivers and rainclouds that form over the forest more dramatically than over the sea. As trees are felled, this function is weakened, which leads to more severe droughts and more extreme weather events.

The Xingu river near the area where the Belo Monte dam complex is under construction in the Amazon basin. Photograph: Mario Tama/Getty Images

Yet, even as scientists grow more alarmed, politicians are becoming less willing to act. In response to demands from the agribusiness lobby (which has become more powerful due to demand from China), Rousseff relaxed the Forest Code, Brazils main law against illegal logging and land clearance. The current administration of Michel Temer has slashed the environment ministry budget, diluted licensing regulations, and is moving to reduce the size of conservation parks and indigenous territories. In Brazil and elsewhere in the region, activists who stand up against the loggers, farmers, miners and dam builders run the risk of beatings and murder as I saw on an unforgettable trip to Lbrea. More often than not, those in the frontline are indigenous communities who are trying to protect their territory, such as the Juruna, the Kaapor and the Mundruku and the Kichwa and Shuar. These days, the tribes wear T-shirts, ride motorbikes and use laptops, but they still often suffer the same fate as their ancestors when the first European settlers arrived either driven off their land or murdered for resisting. Most prominent among them in this period was Berta Cceres, an indigenous rights and environment activist in Honduras who won the Goldman prize in 2015 for her campaigns against deforestation and hydropower dams. In an email exchange at the time, she told me environmental protection was a cause worth fighting for. We must undertake the struggle in all parts of the world, wherever we may be, because we have no other spare or replacement planet. We have only this one, and we have to take action, she said. A year later she was assassinated by a gunman.

This is the worlds most murderous continent. In Central America, violence is the main driver for perilous child migration to the US, though it remains to be seen how this might be affected by the wall on the Mexican border being planned by the new caudilho in the White House.

Reporting here has its risks, though local journalists are far more exposed than foreign correspondents. The only time I saw a gang member fire a gun up close was after a visit to a crack den in the town of Lins, when I asked him why he had chosen his weapon. On a street in broad daylight, he squeezed a dozen or so rounds into the air that made me instantly regret my question. A few weeks later, police pushed his gang out of Lins in a pacification operation. I imagine they are back now. Thanks to a series of scandals and cuts in the police budget, the sound of gunfire is sadly becoming common again in Rio. Recently, I went to sleep three nights in a row listening to protracted shootouts echoing across the valley.

Apart from that, there were few hairy moments. The only crimes I experienced were having my credit card cloned three times and being pickpocketed. I was generally more worried about flying over the Andes (which often comes with gut-wrenching turbulence), the interruption of a dinner in Maranho in north-eastern Brazil by an uninvited tarantula, and the possibility of diseases such as malaria, dengue and chikungunya. Zika was added to the list in 2016. Although my head told me the risks were mainly only to pregnant women, I could not help but feel a little unease as well as irony at being bitten by a mosquito during a press conference in which the head of the World Health Organization, Margaret Chan, explained why the Zika epidemic had just been declared a global emergency. The concerns were genuine, though the imminent Olympics meant the risks were overhyped. When the Brazilian government subsequently launched its biggest ever military operation against the tiny insect, it felt a little like something out of a science-fiction film.

In this continent of magical realism, the weird and wonderful were never far away. Evangelicals in a heavy-metal church in the Mar favela described visits by an angel in the form of a head-banger who would dance among them, shirtless with long hair, army boots, black trousers and chains. In the Andean mountains, I witnessed what looked at first like something out of an ancient myth: a beast with wings and horns charging down a matador. It was, in fact, a cruel and dangerous sport that involved stitching the talons of an endangered condor into the hide of a traumatised bull for the entertainment of a chicha-sodden crowd at a Yawar festival bullfight. Then there was a mass in the countryside of Rio by rebel anti-Vatican priests who insisted the pope was not Catholic enough. They preferred Vladimir Putin.

There have also been inspiring, uplifting stories: the end of the worlds oldest civil war in Colombia, the overcoming of cold war hostilities between Cuba and the United States and the subsequent visits to Havana by Pope Francis, Barack Obama and the Rolling Stones.

But when it comes to liberal, well-run countries, Uruguay led the way by legalising marijuana, ramping up renewable energy and boasting a former president, Jos Mujica, who lived his anti-consumerist values by eschewing a palace home for his charmingly ramshackle farmhouse.

Despite Brazils many woes, there was cause for hope in the success of Brazils bolsa familia poverty relief programme (though it is now threatened by austerity cuts), the courage and canninness of indigenous groups fighting against loggers, the idealism of activists and prosecutors fighting illegal deforestation and exposing timber laundering , and the courage and talent of community journalists who provided a diary of life in Rios favelas ahead of the Olympics.

A vibrant culture: a dancer takes part in carnival. Photograph: PeopleImages/Getty Images

I will miss this continent. It has been an immense privilege to visit stunningly beautiful places such as Patagonia, Alter do Cho, Machu Picchu, Yasuni and Havana, and I am grateful to collaborators and editors who have worked with me on stories ranging from guerrilla graffiti pedants in Quito and the worlds greatest vinyl collector in So Paulo, to the source-to-sewer journey of a drop of water in Mexico City and a retracing of part of a journey taken by the Edwardian explorer Percy Fawcett.

Although I could never claim to blend in (Chvez took one look at me and yelled out: Hey, Gringo!), I now think of Latin America as home (particularly since I moved out of the shed and into a forest apartment). I still dont appreciate the three-plug electrical system or Brazils bureaucracy, but I have come to love the geniality of the people, the vibrancy of the markets and much of the food especially aai, caldo de cana, tapioca wraps and Amazonian fish.

I leave at a difficult time. Troubles lie ahead for Rio, Brazil and the world. This is not just because of a poor Olympic legacy (though homelessness has surged alarmingly in the host city since the Games) or woeful national leadership (Temer is the first sitting president to be charged with corruption and eight of his cabinet are implicated in bribery scandals).

In China, I came to believe environmental crises underlie much of the economic and political tension in the world. In Latin America, I found reason to hope it is not too late to do something about that. For sure, the trends are bad. But there is much here worth fighting for. Latin America may not offer a model of sustainable development, but compared with Asia it is relatively unscarred in terms of overpopulation and pollution, and compared with the US and Europe, average consumption is modest and biodiversity is rich. River dolphins in the Amazon are only a part of that wealth. The value of this natural heritage is easier to feel than to measure

I will leave Brazil healthier and happier than I arrived. As I write this, the sun is streaming through the papaya and mango trees from a gloriously clear blue sky. It is midwinter, but the temperature is a balmy 25C. This morning, I cycled through the forest up to the Vista Chinesa viewpoint. Marmosets were waiting in the garden for food when I returned a couple of hours later. A hummingbird just flew into the living room looking for the nectar water that I forgot to leave at its usual spot by the window. Before I go, maybe Ill catch a final glimpse of a toucan, a jacu or a porcupine. Perhaps the gang of capuchin will invade the kitchen in search of an egg or a banana. There will be at least one possum. Then after 21 years on the road it will be time to return to London, to a new job, to an office, to a flat, and to pigeons, sparrows and, who knows, perhaps a squirrel. Im curious whether my old home will feel like a foreign country.

Source: http://allofbeer.com/2017/08/26/guns-political-turmoil-and-hummingbirds-in-the-living-room-my-farewell-to-latin-america/

from All of Beer https://allofbeer.wordpress.com/2017/08/26/guns-political-turmoil-and-hummingbirds-in-the-living-room-my-farewell-to-latin-america/

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