The World Needs More Staircases of Knowledge Like The University of Balamand in Lebanon

The World Needs More Staircases of Knowledge Like The University of Balamand in Lebanon

In a moment when Trump is just dumbling down America, it was so refreshing to find this images of 'The Staircase of Knowledge' located at the University of Balamand in Lebanon. Sasaki Architects explain the misson of the university and creates context around the staircase. 

The University of Balamand, established twenty years ago in the aftermath of the Lebanese civil war, occupies a spectacular site in North Lebanon on a steep hillside overlooking the Mediterranean Sea. Established by the Orthodox Church, the university is committed to promoting understanding between the Christian and Muslim faiths, and to developing a secular education based on dialogue, transparency, and resistance to dogma and fundamentalism. The university plans rapid expansion over the next twenty years to an enrollment of 5,000, drawing students from throughout the Middle East. Sasaki's master plan accommodates this expansion while reflecting the university's overall goals. A dominant theme of the plan is a Path of Learning that links the secular—expressed by an ancient stone-vaulted goat house restored as a faculty center at the upper end of the campus—to the spiritual, expressed by a thousand-year-old Orthodox monastery at the lower end of the campus. 

Oprah Covers British Vogue August 2018, Telling Us To Embrace Activism & Happiness In Trumplandia

Oprah Covers British Vogue August 2018, Telling Us To Embrace Activism & Happiness In Trumplandia

Oprah dazzles in a series of bespoke fashion created for her by Erdem, Christopher Kane, Simone Rocha, Stella McCartney, Vivienne Westwood and Alexander McQueen in 'Oprah's Next Act', styled by British Vogue's Edward Enninful. Photographers Mert & Marcus capture Oprah as an empress sharing her thoughts on race, feminism, her Royal wedding appearance, the loves and losses in her life – and that rumored move into politics – in a rare one-on-one interview with writer Decca Aitkenhead./ Hair by Nicole Mangrum and Malcolm Edwards; make-up by Derrick Rutledge

Always America's spiritual healer, Oprah has choice words for Americans struggling under the onslaught of Donald Trump's dark, disruptive presidency. As for a presidential run, Oprah once again says 'no way'.

“In that political structure – all the non-truths, the bullshit, the crap, the nastiness, the backhanded backroom stuff that goes on – I feel like I could not exist,” Winfrey says. “I would not be able to do it. It's not a clean business. It would kill me.”

Winfrey goes on to explain how she squares her spirituality and self-help advocacy with the #Metoo and Time’s Up movements. "People talk about 'these are such dark times', but what if we shift the paradigm? Because I see it differently,” she asserts. “I see, 'Isn't this remarkable that we're waking up?' For years, women have endured craziness. This is what's happening to people. They're allowing themselves to not just become corroded, but to become hysterical. You've got to lean to the happiness."

In related news, Oprah will take that optimism to South Africa, joining Beyoncé, Pharrell Williams, Femi Kuti, Gayle King and Bozoma St. John in Johannesburg on Dec. 2 for the 2018  Global Citizen Festival, aimed at ending poverty by 2030. 

Religious Groups Tried To Block Rihanna's Senegal GPE Global Education Conference Visit

Religious Groups Tried To Block Rihanna's Senegal GPE Global Education Conference Visit

When 10 current and three former heads of state and more than 100 ministers gathered at the Global Partnership for Education (GPE) Financing Conference in Dakar, Senegal, the conference marked the first time an education financing conference has been hosted by a developing country. 

President Macky Sall of the Republic of Senegal and President Emmanuel Macron of the French Republic welcomed the more than 1200 participants including leaders from UNESCO, UNICEF, the World Bank, civil society, philanthropic foundations and the private sector. Rihanna, GPE’s Global Ambassador supported by Global Citizen, also participated.

Thankfully, Senegal's President Sall didn't bow to the generally unreported but very real protests in Senegal, demanding that Rihanna be banned from the event because of her involvement with the 'Illuminati'. 

Snopes writes that activist celebrities like Jay-Z, Beyoncé, Madonna and Katy Perry are common targets of Trump's friends -- the conspiracy theorists -- who argue that these pop culture leaders are either Satanists or part of the Illuminati. This top conspiracy theory about the Illuminati posits that ultra-wealthy celebrities, bankers, billionaires and politicians are all globalists who secretly rule the world, putting their party above countries or religion. 

Hillary Clinton is considered to be among the most dangerous of the Illuminati, as Alexandra Petri wrote for The Washington Post in October 2016, three weeks before the election in: "The hideous, diabolical truth about Hillary Clinton".  

The Illuminati is believed to include many Freemasons. Although the two groups are believed to share many members and common values, they are historically separate.

Beyonce Is All American Woman Patriot By Ryan McGinley For Beat Magazine Winter 2015

Beyonce Is All American Woman Patriot By Ryan McGinley For Beat Magazine Winter 2015

Superstar Beyonce reminds the world that she's one of America's best ambassadors for women loving our own skin and body types. Add to that Queen Bey's alliance with megastars like Salma Hayek -- who is a lead Latino in the campaign to elect Hillary Clinton -- and Beyonce's co-partner in the global 'Chime for Change' movement to empower young girls and women world wide, and you have a new version of Secretary of State.

Last month Beyonce and Salma Hayek were in Central Park, where they joined other Chimers to co-sponsor the exhilarating Global Citizen concert, in which Beyonce brought down the evening sky with her activist battle cry for women everywhere in the world. While Beyonce has contributed significant sums to the Hillary Clinton campaign, she has not officially endorsed the candidate. When she does (we're praying fervently),  the rally for American women and ALL women in the world is officially on.

September 2015 Brings Beyonce To Vogue Cover Story & Global Citizen Concert In Central Park September 26

September 2015 Brings Beyonce To Vogue Cover Story & Global Citizen Concert In Central Park September 26

Beyonce Stars at Global Citizen Concert in Central Park Saturday September 26

The superstar and global women’s rights activist will bring her populist brand of feminism to Central Park as Chime for Change, founded by Gucci (a Kerring company lead by the Pinault family), Selma Hayek Pinault and Beyonce join the fourth annual Global Citizen concert in Central Park on September 26.

Concert goers can’t buy their way into the concert (although we imagine the beautiful people do). Actually VIP tickets are available at Ticketmaster. Instead, Global Citizen runs a lottery,based on taking action for change in America and around the world.

There’s lots of breaking news today around the September 26 star-studded Global Citizen concert. Check back later today for details. Selma Hayek will be taking the stage as a co-host.

Superstar Beyonce also fronts the always massive September issue of American Vogue, wearing Marc Jacobs and styled by Tonne Goodman. Master fashion photographer Mario Testinocaptures Queen Bey, who adds fashions from Atelier Versace, Louis Vuitton, Givenchy, Stella McCartney and more.

The Reign of Beyoncé By Mario Testino For Vogue US September 2015