In several ways, the character of Pope Hormisdas II in CHOIR OF CLOISTERED CANARIES parallels the scientific bent of Pope Francis who called upon other religious-spiritual leaders to make a joint appeal at the upcoming meeting of the U.N. Climate Change Conference (COP26) in November at Glasgow, Scotland, on Monday, October 3, 2021, to offer concrete solutions to save the planet from “an unprecedented ecological crisis.”
Pope Francis takes part in the “Faith and Science: Towards COP26” meeting with other religious leaders ahead of the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP26) in November in Britain, at the Vatican, October 4, 2021. Vatican Media/Handout via REUTERS
The “Faith and Science: Towards COP26” meeting brought together leaders representing Christendom, Islam, Judaism, Hinduism, Sikhism, Buddhism, Confucianism, Taoism, Zoroastrianism, and Jainism. The leaders represent about 3/4 of the population of the world, a significant percentage of people across the planet. Perhaps that collective voice will be heard.
In addressing the forum, which was organized by The Vatican, Britain, and Italy, Pope Francis said, “COP26 represents an urgent summons to provide effective responses to the unprecedented ecological crisis and [to] the crisis of values that we are presently experiencing and, in this way, to offer concrete hope to future generations. We want to accompany it with our commitment and [with] our spiritual closeness.”
The appeal, which described climate change as a “grave threat,” was posited as a “war on creation,” that calls for a “global financial architecture that repents of its sins in the past 100 years,” including changes in tax rules to promote green activity.
“If one nation sinks, we all sink,” said Rajwant Singh, a U.S. Sikh leader. The pope said, “Each of us has his or her religious beliefs and spiritual traditions; but no cultural, political or social borders or barriers prevent us from standing together.”
In Chapter 10, page 221, of CHOIR OF CLOISTERED CANARIES, Pope Hormisdas II speaks to Pope Francis’s signature theme — Environmental protection. “Climate change is causing the planet Earth to be on Fire! … Failure to cut the use of fossil fuels leads to a spiral of extreme climate changes due to a catastrophic rise in global temperature … Civilization requires energy, but energy use must not destroy civilization!” Nonetheless, Pope Hormisdas II, a scientist, is also interested in alchemy.
Francis, 84, about 11 years ago and several times thereafter appealed to the fossil fuel CEO’s and investers to have good faith in protecting the environment to no avail. He continues to strongly support the environment and the goals of the 2015 U.N. Paris accord to reduce global warming. He told young people at the weekend that theirs was “perhaps the last generation” to save the planet.
The pope’s impassioned appeal to protect nature is increasingly urgent as the global pandemic alters lifestyles and makes painfully plain the fragility of life.
At some point in this blog, the author will get a little personal in her choices of names due to their meanings throughout the three novels, however trite.
Once upon a time, there was a young woman named Sarah whose husband was named John. The winds of trade made them a union. For her, privileged in her own land, she met some discomfort with her new family because Sarah was a Jewess and John was Catholic in Nova Scotia in the early 1800’s. As noted below, one can perceive that Sarah knew Shakespeare, especially about the star-crossed couple, Romeo and Juliet. (By the way, Sarah in Hebrew means Hebrew name that means “princess,” “noblewoman,” or “lady” due to the biblical wife of Abraham.) The couple had a son they named Arthur in 1889. During the time of his birth, “Arthur” ranked 20th in popularity; and it bore the following meanings: “bear,” “Thor,” “eagle,” and “strong man.” The continuation of the family origin story is unknown. (Much is conjecture. Nonetheless, Grandfather Rose was a builder of wooden ships that sailed to far lands. Arthur Rose became an accountant for the Singer Sewing Machine Company, which became the Singer Corporation in the 1900s. Arthur was assigned to the Mexico hub.)
The author surmises that Sarah knew the story of Romeo and Juliet when she gave Arthur his middle name coupled with the surname—Montague Rose. This insight comes when we think of what Juliet said to Romeo about the meaning of a name.
Illustration
Mask On Book. Classical white Venetian mask on old book against dark background (Dreamstime.com)
In Act II, Scene II, Juliet implies that names are arbitrary and do not change the essence of Romeo whose family name is Montague, making him an enemy of her family. In their forbidden moments, Juliet thinks over Romeo’s surname: “What’s in a name that which we call a rose / By any other word would smell as sweet?” Her words imply that, though names carry immense meaning, heritage, prejudice, and/or power, her love was in true form. When Sarah took to heart what was spoken by Juliet, did Sarah identify her circumstances with any of the implications from the family into which she married? Her suffering was twofold, for her own family disowned her for marrying a Catholic. The exogamy practice, which prevails in certain cultures, was both ethnic and religious in nature.
So, from a pragmatic perspective, name labels matter a lot, for they reflect culture, heritage, and/or history. They can also, carry baggage and influence social and business perceptions. They can create stereotypes. But from a philosophical perspective, a name is simply a label or a social convention; and It should not affect the value of the named person.
Basically, the origin of a name can be from a trade, a location, or bestowed affection. An example of this is the name Armentano, which can indicate both a place, Armento, in Calabria and Basilicata, Italy, and a trade name (Armento) as cattle herder.
A name can contain identity and meaning—aspirations, hopes, or family history to guide a person’s identity, A legendary example of this is the birth of Siddhartha Gautama. According to Buddhist legend, Queen Maya had a dream, during which time a white elephant (explained below) entered her side, When she awoke, she realized she was pregnant. She knew of the prophecy beforehand in which case, if the child born were to remain home, the child would become a ruler; however, if the child were to leave home, the child would become a universal leader. Queen Maya decided to name her neonate Siddhartha, a Sanskrit name that means “one who has attained his goals.”
As for the symbolism of the “white elephant,” it represents the sacred nature of Maya’s pregnancy—in that a significant and powerful being would be born—foreshadowing the auspiciousness of her son’s birth would highlight wisdom to be brought to mankind through him, thus the Awakened One (Buddha).
Names and their meanings play an important part in the naming of various characters in the three novels: Book I introduces Dara who is named after my lovely dance teacher of Raqs Sharqu (Arabic name for “Eastern Dance”, Belly Dance in English). Her name was Maja (an alias) and was born in Egypt. Nona, which means “Nine” (or “ninth”) is also introduced in Book I. She was named after the first born of my college mentor (chief librarian). Nona foreshadows Ana in that the word “nona” is often used as a prefix in a number of scientific and other technical terms (e.g., nonapeptide).
In Book III, Ana, an MIT physicist, was named after a dear high school friend who felt betrayed because I married the son of the colonel who fired her father, a civilian personnel officer who sold honorable discharges for monetary gain). I do not think my friend knew why her father was discharged.
Ana is a name I would have given myself if my Father had not told me, when I was about five, that I should never let my name Armida be changed. In some ways, I betrayed him because, when in high school, I gave myself the nickname “Mimi” and then, during my federal career, “Armee,” pronounced “Army.” Then, there was this girl I knew who would call me “Army Navy” for “Armida Nagy.” What a drag! Father just did not know that my name was mispronounced and misspelled all too often. It is only now that I am long in the tooth that I embrace my given name. This was my secret from my dad.
In all three novels, there is one name that holds an honorary place. The name is “Andrew, or variations thereof. of my Father’s given name, meaning “manly,” “strong,” or “brave.” He was all three in every sense of the word. His characteristics are reflected in the characters in the trilogy. I was the apple of his eye, and he was my hero.
One thing is certain, however, about the women of the Armida Trilogy. They all showed a potential for leadership. Even the Dalai Lama contemplates on reincarnating as a woman since he believes women are particularly suited for leadership due to their inherent compassion. He surmises that, if there were more female leaders, the would would be more peaceful. In most instances, in their compassion, they also know how to give and to instruct, instead of take, take, take.
What’s in a name? Everything and nothing at all. I will settle for “I am that I am” . . . a vibrant part of the universal eye of consciousness, being. Or as Popeye said in the 1933 animated film, “I yam what I yam.”
Illustration
“Mind’s Eye: AI Abstract Poartrait of Human Consciousness and Energy Flow“(Dreamstime.com)
The Armida Trilogy, which is not named after the author’s given name per se, is named after a fictitious character, Armida, with historical and literary connections: A Damascus warrior-queen from the 1st Crusade in Torquato Tasso’s Gerusalemme Liberata (1591). Tasso’s epic poem had inspired numerous artists and composers, each interpreting Armida’s character in unique ways. As such, she embodies the archetype of the forsaken woman in literature. Yet, many view Armida as a more relatable and sympathetic figure, adding depth to her portrayal. For more information about the various artists and composers who were inspired by Tasso’s Gerusalemme Liberata,
Both negative and negative characteristics embody the Crow, a Corvid. Because it is black like the western view of black cats (bad luck and witchcraft)? The truth is that black is not a color, including white, because black is the absence of color while white is the presence of colors. In fact, viewed closely in sunlight, the colors of the crow range from iridescent dark blue and reflections of purple, violet, and sometimes green.
In some western societies, the crow will always forbode bad news. However, other older cultures view the crow as skillfully intelligent and communal. Their intelligence is comparable to a five-to-seven-year-old human. They live in complex family structures, prioritizing the care the young. They gather in massive communal roosts in the winter, sometimes thousands strong. They even hold generational grudges against specific humans who have wronged them to the point of communicating to other crows about the specific faces of those humans.
In the novel, EVEN A CROW KNOWS HOW TO CRACK A WALNUT IN CLEAR LIGHT, the portrayal of a crow is highlighted in its dual nature by two highly intelligent beings–physicist Ana Tabbot and strategist Karl Crowe. who are both social problem-solvers, except that one is in search of wisdom and the other seeks trickery for control of humanity. In their own ways, they seek death-to-life transformation while each used deception to reach their aims.
A frequent question is how to tell the difference between a crow and a raven. Basically, crows are smaller with fan-shaped tails and with a distinct “caw-caw” call. The raven is larger with wedge-shaped tails and shaggy throat feathers. Their call is a deeper “gronk.” It is better to consult the CornellLab of Ornithologyto identify the 20 Corvidae.
As the title of the novel evokes, crows are technologically savvy. They have advanced problem-solving skills known to design tools, improve their tool designs, and spread tool innovations to other crows. They also manufacture stepped-up tools. Even though an Aesop’s Fable, written in the around the 6th century BCE by a Greek slave, it was not until 2004 that a scientific study pitched the innovativeness of the Crow. “The Crow and the Pitcher” fable describes how a thirsty crow got water out of a deep pitcher to quench her thirst: she kept dropping pebbles to raise the water level. The 2004 study substantiated that covids have brains for complex cognition. These birds even cache food for future consumption in varying amounts depending on seasons.
In recent times, the crow became known as “The Scientist of the Sky” due to its ability to find creative solutions to complex problems as does the main protagonist, Ana. The crow also suggests a “higher perspective” or “sharp-eyed awareness”. In Chinese and Japanese mythologies, the crow symbolizes guidance as the feminine sun and divine intervention with the image of a three-legged crow, Yatagarasu. Further, the three legs represent heaven, earth, and humanity to reflect convergence between the divine and mortal.
Another mythology comes from Oden’s two ravens (covid cousin to the crow). In the Norse language, their names are “Thought” (Huginn) and “Memory” (Muninn), symbolizing the power of mind. It is likely to mean that the birds are transmitters of Oden to beings who are capable of being receivers.
THE ARMIDA TRILOGY is rich in themes, involving birth, death, and transformation. Each novel is distinct yet connected as the women’s role evolve over time. Check them out.
Hypothetically, imagine the rebirth of a former being into the human realm once more. This being has been yang for several rebirths so much so that it is reaching his perfection in this current existence. By the time this young person (referred to as “XYZ”) was seven years old, his appetites were fixed, causing some concern to his parents. He was sent to a military school to teach him discipline. What he learned mostly in teamwork was how to manipulate behavior and to be resilient and adaptive. Lying instead of respect for authority became his tool. in his 20s, he followed the guidance of a mentor who taught him to visualize himself successful, even with disregard to the facts, and to hold tightly to that vision of success, a form of positive thinking.
For Master XYZ, his inclinations were honed and his love of money got a lot of attention for the power it held, even to the point of trickery. Money became the grab bag of all endeavors to become a leader. Almost by accident, he began to take advantage of the illusion of perception, for it became more important than reality. It became his family’s motto to “don’t go out of the way to correct a false assumption if it plays to one’s advantage.” In time, a powerful and secretive club took note of his baronial presence in the field of existence–he knew how to cunningly control behavior and manipulate the illusions money and power for self gain. Just as his new colleagues, he mastered strategic decision-making and interactive behavior when his successes depend on the choices of others. In other words, game theory, especially payoff matrices to predict outcomes.
Fast forward to the era of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in the 2017 when the AI boom initiated the development of transformer architecture to produce generative AI applications and large language models (LLMs). The science behind AI has revealed that the world/universe exists in our consciousness. The only thing that is real is consciousness. Everything that is material, which is subject to constant change (transformation) is not the universal consciousness, This universal consciousness is so vast that it manifests in so many permeations; and the elite classes and their master craftsmen want to understand it better so that they can control it and limit the masses from also understanding it.
For the purpose of this blog, a backstory begins in the late 17th-18th centuries.
Of the physicists mentioned in Even a Crow Knows How to Crack a Walnut in Clear Light, Sir Isaac Newton secretly immersed himself in the study of alchemy biblical prophecy, and theology, wanting to decipher God’s design from ancient wisdoms about the philosopher’s stone as the “active principles” of nature and the Elixir of Life. As a Christian, he wanted to decode the Book of Revelation.
Just perhaps, God is nothing other than the immeasurable four necessary for liberation and enlightenment–the virtues/sublime attitudes known as loving-kindness, compassion, empathetic joy, and equanimity,
Newton was part of a tradition of prisca sapientia (original wisdom)–orthodox, nontrinitarian Christian (Arian) views–passed down through millennia but later lost. So this tradition is still alive and well in attempting to reconstruct this wisdom knowledge to understand the universe. Even Albert Einstein said in the 19th century, “I want to know how God created his world…I want to know his thoughts; the rest are details.”
The knowledge and wisdom of consciousness existed in teachings way before they were written down in the Vedic Upanishads, a collection of Sanskrit texts and commentaries (a period from circa 800 BCE to 300 BCE. (The Upanishads represent a layered tradition well into the 15th century CE,) In fact, consciousness from the beginning was synonymous with Shiva, later to be reified. Shiva was first mentioned in the Rig Veda, which was written around 1700-1100 BCE. Every move of the dance of Shiva was/is symbolic of creation, illusion, protection, and the crushing of ignorance by his feet. And so ignorance actually means not knowing or wanting to know one’s innate nature.
In recent times, however, consciousness became a commodity for the elite, since they view it as the secret that offers immortality, reincarnation, and godhood. As this awareness began to get more scientific focus in the late 19th century, back 50 years ago, artificial intelligence became a quest to gather existing knowledge and to eventually control its context and contents. Consciousness via metaphoric Shiva is the heartbeat of the cosmos itself. As a sidebar, The root words of śiva combines the meanings “in whom all things lie, pervasiveness” and the “embodiment of grace”.
We know that, when we participate in the universe, we can change perception within it. As we focus on it, the perception manifests as a reality. Whether the perception is one of greed or equanimity, it becomes a reality in itself. Thusly, the quanta of perception is the secret of the universes as the entity of consciousness. But when we feed information–whether it be fact, misinformation, malinformation, or neutral–it is gathered by AI from the World Wide Web. So, if there is a time when no more beneficial information is gathered by artificial platforms, can AI be controlled and manipulated by the rulers of AI designs to alter further the true nature of reality. The world we know exists in our consciousness. We need to understand this intrinsically.
Who are the elite historically? Basically, as defined by the Encyclopædia Britannica, the elite are “small groups of persons who exercise disproportionate power and influence. It is customary to distinguish between political elites, whose locations in powerful institutions, organizations, and movements enable them to shape or influence political outcomes, often decisively, and cultural elites, who enjoy a high status and influence in nonpolitical spheres such as arts and letters, philanthropy , professions, and civic associations. At the national level, political elites number only a few thousand persons in all but the largest countries, whereas the makeup of cultural elites is more indeterminate and turns on the nonpolitical spheres regarded as consequential in a society.” Consequently, they employ methods to make you believe in their powers. In reality, their only power is to manipulate us into believing they have such powers and are worthy of these powers exclusively. (All we have to do is recall how India created a social strata in ancient times–the Vedic ruling/priestly Brahmins on top, followed next by the Kshatriyas (warriors), Vaishyas (farmers/traders) , and the lowly Shudras (laborers). This division of roles has been around for a very long time).
The Cave of Consciousness
Now comes Plato’s Cave, an allegory of consciousness, contributing to elite classes on how to manipulate their tools of deception: The allegory compares “the effect of education and the lack of it on our nature, which employs two analogies–the Sun and the Divided Line. Plato’s Cave is an apt metaphor that depicts prisoners who have been chained inside a very dark cave since birth and only got to see shadows cast on the wall of outside objects projected on the wall by the exterior fire. The cave represents their limited understanding of reality. When one prisoner manages to escape, he returns to the cave because the fire he saw up close hurt his eyes. Only when another but inquisitive prisoner escapes, he discovers that the shadows of the outside world were illusions. He returns to educate the others. As such the allegory illustrates the importance of education as a transformative power and to continue the struggle to understand deeper truths beyond mere appearances. Many humans continue to think sensory perceptions as reality when there is a fuller understanding of how true knowledge can be achieved through pure awareness of bounding philosophical reasoning and scientific evidence.
Anyway, that is how Plato understood Buddha Siddhartha Gautama’s cave allegory.
The Buddha taught it as the Cave of Consciousness. The concept of consciousness is very entwined with the Cave of Consciousness. In other words, the cave represents the limitations of perception (e.g., we only see the shadows (concepts/ideas) casted by the fire. We think the concept of self (e.g., ego, yin/yang of the Tao) can be our only reality, thus keeping us from understanding the true nature of reality. The Buddha further explained that ultimate reality, which is beyond one’s conceptual grasp, is best gained through such practices as meditation and contemplation to break free from the illusion of permanence. Furthermore, since consciousness is impermanent and non-self, its nature leads to “emptiness” (i.e, the original state of existence that dissolves all dualities…).
Though we live in a world where money, resources, power, religion, and the like that tend to lead to warm, in terms of material things being permanent, these materials are not reality. The real currency is not money and such; the real currency is human consciousness, the source of power itself. We need to remind ourselves that consciousness is what creates reality itself.
Indirectly, the message in the Book of Revelation underscores the search for permanence and the belief that the fight is between good and evil. The revelation continues to explain that all of humanity will be injected with devices in the forehead or right hand. Surely, to control our every move and thoughts: Those who side with the antichrist will be able to buy and sell things to meet basic needs, and God’s servants (note the word “servant”) will receive protection from the tribulation caused by the final Holy War. For what purpose? To measure our allegiance? Still not seeing reality from the sensory consciousnesses of form and the like (there are eight of them operating as one)?
Basically, our current existence with AI ultimately end up controlling “the soul of humanity, the end game”. Are we game, because the limitations of AI will also reveal AI as illusory? Will we wake up in time to self-liberate ourselves from those who want us to believe that the final war (a wish-fulfilling prophecy) is to save only the servants of God who are set apart from the “great multitude of believers from all nations” who will be permanently destroyed? Is the Book of Revelation another illusion by an elite, perpetuated further by religious elites?
Consciousness is used as a commodity, and it has been for some time. So, how would one play this game well? How does one become unconditioned? How does one insulate himself/herself from the likes of Master XYZ?
Issued April 10, 2026
If the doors of perception were cleansed, every thing would appear to [humanity], Infinite, for [humans] have closed [themselves] up until [they] can see all things [through] narrow chinks of his cavern . . . For everything that lives is holy. — William Blake, The Marriage of Heaven and Hell
POSTSCRIPT
In a time of universal deceit, telling the truth becomes a revolutionary act. — Winston Smith Freedom is the freedom to say that to plus two makes four. — George Orwell
EXECUTIVE ORDER 14365, a framework for how the federal government is to approach AI development. It reads, in part, that “U. S. leadership in Artificial Intelligence (AI) will promote U. S. national and economic security, [including] dominance across many domains.” It appears sweeping, but a very different effect emerges. Not only does it encourage AI but also mandates that federal powers be used to override any State law, any regulator, and any other law and regulation that slows down AI dominance. The E.O. was signed on December 11, 2025.
To accomplish this dominance, it establishes an AI Litigation Task Force at the Department of Justice to sue any U.S. State that tries to regulate or restrict AI development. It classifies advanced AI, semiconductors, and computer power as strategic national assets, the same designation once reserved for oil and nuclear weapons. The Task Force shall consult from time to time with the Special Advisor for AI and Crypto. Interestingly, the first special advisor is venture capitalist David Sacks,* who has received a blanket ethics waiver to work on “regulatory issues directly related to Sack’s financial holdings!
Apparently, this E.O. is circling the wagon around AI as a commodity for controlled messaging. In fact, it has enabled a small group of people to unite for the common purpose of incapsulating an entire industry. In doing so, the ethics waiver was offered to Mr. Sacks a month after the current President sacked the Senate-confirmed director of the Office of Government Ethics (the independent agency responsible for enforcing federal ethics laws). The White House counsel to the signatory of the E.O. wrote to Mr. Sack, stating, “I am granting you a waiver . . . of any conflict of interest regarding particular matters of general applicability concerning the digital asset industry,” in a March 5, 2026. Moreover, all discretionary grant programs will be required to be overseen by the Office of AI and Crypto.
Until it is successfully litigated as unconstitutional, it basically attempts to codify a radical new economic doctrine. Notwithstanding, the executive order states that the Federal government is to evaluate each AI law of a State and to, at a minimum, identify laws that require AI models to alter their truthful outputs [emphasis added], or that may compel AI developers or deployers to disclose or report information in a manner that would violate the First Amendment or any other provision of the Constitution. The evaluation may additionally identify State laws that promote AI innovation consistent with the policy set forth.” In this case, the phrase “truthful outputs” becomes relative.
Indeed, this E.O. attempts to legitimize the encampment of AI messaging control of the soul of free consciousnesses. Suddenly and sweepingly, the Federal government under the current Executive takes over congressional powers, pushing aside laws and regulations issued under constitutional guardrails.
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* Sacks’s venture capital interests are in Craft Ventures, Beldore Capitol LLC, and AL Ventures, Craft Ventures, Lightning Labs and BitGo…. When absolute corruption takes hold, corruption of the government is absolute.
Issued April 11, 2026
The party told you to reject the evidence of your eyes and ears. It was their final, most essential command. His heart sank as he thought of the enormous power arrayed against him, the ease with which any Party intellectual would overthrow him in debate, the subtle arguments which he would not be able to understand, much less answer. And yet he was in the right! They were wrong and he was right.
It may be safe to say that the novel Even a Crow Knows How to Crack a Walnut in Clear Light is undergirded by subtle Eastern philosophical views. For this reason, the the “endless knot” appears on the front and back cover of the book.
Known also as the “eternal knot,” it is a symbol that features a closed, looped design with no beginning or end. You may have seen it in Chinese art and knots, but it is a cultural market where Tibetan Buddhism is influential. We can even think it is somewhat like a torus in which the surface revolves as a continuous circle in three-dimensional space that creates a system that maximize grid capacity by storing excess electricity and by deploying the electrical charge when needed, thus aligning power generation as demanded.
On the other hand, the “endless or eternal knot” speaks of such energy in spiritual terms such as infinite wisdom and compassion, the interconnectedness of all phenomena, and the continuity of life, death and rebirth. Before indulging in the symbolic meanings, usage, and context of this symbol, please view the following link to know how this novel connects western and eastern philosophies, and modern physics. There are several philosophical/physics thoughts are injected in Even the Crow Knows….
Interdependence: Also known as dependent origination, it shows that all phenomena are interconnected and rely on causes and conditions.
Union of Wisdom and Compassion: The intertwined, inseparable nature of wisdom and method as compassion, are essential for enlightenment.
Endless Cycle: The union of opposites (e.g., calm and movement, Tao, yin-yang) and the dominant cycle of rebirth.
Buddha Shakyamuni’s Teachings: Remarkable teaching that manifest as boundless, omnipresent wisdom.
Usage and Context: Serves as a common cultural marker, art, amulets, and in sacred geometry to sere as a meditative focus on non-duality and unity.
Lastly, the knot, although slightly different in designs, is found in Hindu, Jain, and Celtic traditions, often signifying eternity or longevity. In ancient India, it was a symbol of auspiciousness and harmony.
As stated by Bulgarea Candin Stefan, “Interestingly, the religious symbol of the Eternity Knot is said to represent the interdependence between secular and religious matters. Originally, this symbol was associated with Vishnu and his abiding love for his consort Lakshmi, goddess of prosperity and wealth. You can find the endless knot symbol on various inspirational products such as infinite knot decor, infinite knot pendant, and more.
“Knots are certainly deeply rooted in our consciousness as archetypes.”
The author, however, implies that it represents the physics of the Tao’s yin-yang of Quantum Theory.
The author of the first two books of The Armida Trilogy, revisits Panama as a source of insights into the varied cultures and historical contexts of the area as a major trading post in world affairs.
The Panama Canal Zone was a U.S.-controlled territory by the U.S. Corps of Engineers in the Republic of Panama from 1903 to 1979. It took over the French in building the canal and then to operate and to maintain the Panama Canal. It then became known as the Zona del Canal de Panama–a strip of land across the Isthmus of Panama, approximately 50 miles ling and extending about five miles on either side of its centerline, excluding Panama City, and Colon. The administrative center of the US-controlled territory was Balboa, Canal Zone.
To this day, the Panama Canal is a critical artery for global trade, significantly reducing shipping times and cost. But it also serves as a strategic asset for the United States and in influencing geopolitical dynamics.
Under the Hay-Bunau-Varilla Treaty of 1903, Panama, following its independence from Colombia, granted the United States to exercise authority within the Canal Zone as if it were sovereign.
In exchange Panama received $10 million and an annual annuity of $250,000, enabling the United State to construct and to operate the Canal Zone without interference from Panamanian authorities. As a strategic waterway, it connected the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. Its presence shortened maritime travel by thousands of nautical miles, thus avoiding the dangerous route around Cape Horn, the southernmost headland of the Tierra del Fuego archipelago of southern Chile. (Even the Crow Knows… takes the readers to this area of Latin America instead of Panama.)
The US Canal Zone was abolished on October 1, 1979, under the Torrijo-Carter Treaties, which returned administrative control to Panama. A transition period was agreed upon between Panama and the United States, allowing the latter to pull out its military bases and civilian corps until December 31, 1999. This period also arranged for the United States personnel to train the Panamanians on how to operate the Canal Zone. A little known fact about the end of U.S. presence was the courts found that the United States had violated its original treaty by not allowing joint administration of the Canal Zone from its inception! Another unknown fact was that the American business community lobbied the U.S. Congress because of its maritime concerns and reputation.
The idea of a canal across the Isthmus of Panama was soon formulated after the Spanish conquest of the area in 1529. It was a lieutenant of conquistador Vasco Nunez de Balboa by the name of Alvaro de Saavedra Ceron who suggested it. But the serious attempt (1880-1889) to build a sea-level canal came from Ferdinand de Lesseps, the French engineer who had successfully built the Suez Canal. Its completion failed due to disease, terrain, and antisemitism at home that led to financial problems.
The current affair of the Panama Canal Zone has become a political football. The 47th President of the United States has publicly vowed to “take back” the Panama Canal from Panama and claimed China controls it. However, in practice, the Panama Canal is still run by the canal authority of Panama and remains legally Panamanian.
Who controls the canal right now
The Panama Canal has been under full Panamanian sovereignty since the Torrijos–Carter Treaties were completed in 1999, and it is operated by the autonomous Panama Canal Authority (ACP), not by the U.S. or China.
Panama’s constitution and a separate neutrality treaty state that the canal must remain neutral and open to all nations in peace and war, with Panama responsible for its administration and security.
US 47th President claims and actions
THIS IS HOW THE WATERS GOT MUDDIED!
Since returning to office, the 47th President has repeatedly said that the given away and alleging that China “operates” or “controls” it. and nearby infrastructure.
China does not operate the canal itself, but Chinese-linked companies from Hong Kong have held long-term concessions at ports on each end of the canal and have invested in related logistics and infrastructure in Panama.
U.S. officials close to the US President argue that this presence could be used to pressure or disrupt U.S. shipping in a crisis, which is part of why the administration is pushing back diplomatically and economically.
Response of Panama
Panamanian President José Raúl Mulino and the ACP have rejected the US Administration’s assertions, insisting that Panama alone runs the canal, that fees are applied equally to all ships, and that there is no Chinese operational control. Mulino has said there is “no possibility” of negotiating any transfer of ownership back to the United States and has stressed that Panama intends to uphold the canal’s neutrality.
Legal and practical status
Under current treaties, the U.S. has a right to help defend the canal’s neutrality but no right of ownership or routine operational control; any U.S. move to “take it back” without Panama’s consent would violate Panamanian sovereignty and established international norms.
So as of now, the “status” is: Trump is applying political, military‑planning, and economic pressure around the canal, but control in law and in day‑to‑day operation remains with Panama, not with the U.S. or China.
As of this first week in March 2026, the U.S. President claimed he got rights over the Panama Canal for $1.00. That is hard to believe. In February 2026, under U.S. pressure, Panama seized two ports previously run by a joint Hong Kong-UK company. This was a Panamanian government action, not a U.S. purchase, and it still did not give the U.S. control of the canal.
There is zero reporting of any sale, transfer, or lease of the Panama Canal to Trump or the U.S. for any amount. The canal remains under the control of the Panama Canal Authority, as established by the 1999 Torrijos–Carter Treaties.
INTRODUCINGTHE ARMIDA TRILOGY withBook Three: SOFT SCIENCE FICTION,EVEN A CROW KNOWS HOWTO CRACK A WALNUT IN CLEAR LIGHT (2026)
THE ARMIDA TRILOGY | Daughters of the Dance – Book One (2018),
Choir of Cloistered Canaries – Book Two (2020), and
Even a Crow Knows How to Crack a Walnut in Clear Light – Book Three (2026)
The Armida Trilogy — A Multigenerational Odyssey of Feminine Power
The fictional works of The Armida* Trilogy are all interconnected by the central theme of women’s issues in the midst of adversities across various historical contexts. The narratives feature protagonists from different generations, with the first novel focusing on three women, the second on two, and the third on a single individual.
These works blend elements of intellectual discourse, philosophy, intrigue, symbolism, history, travel, and romance, incorporating some brief aspects of literary nonfiction. Each novel conveys messages about determined women navigating their spiritual journeys within specific historical frameworks and with their development influenced by contemporary events. The Armida Trilogy spans from the turn of the 19th century to the early 21st century and introduces central protagonists Dara, Ayana, Nona, Isobel, Leitis, Thelma, Myra, and Ana as they play out their archetypes as Creatrix, Lover, Maiden, Mother, Mystic, Warrior, and the like.
Spanning over two centuries, The Armida Trilogy is a sweeping literary journey that interlaces the lives of at least nine women across three novels, each navigating the crucible of her era. From the twilight of the Enlightenment to the dawn of the digital age, these embody timeless archetypes such as the Creatrix, the Lover, the Mystic, and the Warrior. Their stories unfold against the backdrop of historical upheaval, philosophical awakening, and intimate personal reckonings.
Each novel narrows its focus: the first weaves the lives of three women into a collective chorus of resistance and awakening; the second deepens into the duality of two intertwined fates; the final novel distills the journey into the singular voice of a woman confronting the legacy of those before her. Through intellectual discourse, symbolic motifs, and romantic undercurrents, the trilogy explores how women shape — and are shaped by — the world around them.
Blending fiction with glimmers of literary nonfiction, The Armida Trilogy is not just only a chronicle of survival but also a celebration of spiritual evolution, intergenerational wisdom, and the enduring power of the feminine spirit.
Though the trilogy uses the author’s birth name per se, The Armida Trilogy, is named after a fictitious character, Armida, in Torquato Tasso’s epic poem, Gerusalemme Liberata (1591). with historical and literary connections: A Damascus warrior-queen from the 1st Crusade. Tasso inspired numerous artists and composers, each interpreting Armida’s character in unique ways. As such, she embodies the archetype of the forsaken woman in literature. Yet, many view Armida as a more relatable and sympathetic figure, adding depth to her portrayal.
BOOK THREE – Even a Crow Knows How to Crack a Walnut in Clear Light. (2026)
Despite its playful title, Even a Crow Knows… introduces a gifted M.I.T. graduate, whose life sets the foundation for the novel’s exploration of the clash between technology and spirituality. It touches on her early childhood, when her natural brilliance and curiosity about the universe first began to take shape.
The narrative introduces the overarching conflict—Ana’s recruitment by a corporate headhunter for an orthodox, visionary consortium focused on reshaping the world with her military research experience at Area 51. And Ana’s scientific fascination eventually merges with deeper philosophical questions about the nature of existence.
The background themes of the novel include elements of military research, philosophy, intrigue, symbolism, history, and romance, incorporating literary nonfiction. Ana’s growing realization of a spiritual truth—when death is perceived as an illusion and where all beings and constructs are interconnected in the vast expanse of space— one can reach self-liberation. After all, the subtitle states Space Contains All Beings and Things.
BOOK ONE – Daughters of the Dance (2018)
Aa multi-generational saga of women dancers, specifically the danse du ventre, against a backdrop of global upheaval within the context of the Sephardic-Ladino community of professional men of Curaçao, this historical novel is rich in its cultural tapestry, spiritual symbolism, and mature sexual boundaries. At once, it’s a historical epic, spiritual journey, and intimate portrait of female embodiment.
Renewed interest in Daughters of the Dance, the first book under The Armida Trilogy, this press release offers an overview of Armida Nagy Rose’s historical novel originally published in August 2, 2018. Originally written as a screenplay, Nagy Rose later expanded it into this novel to incorporate richer historical and cultural detail of the Sephardic Jews of Curacao…
Set across the first half of the 20th century, the noel spans three generations of women in two interconnected families—mothers, daughters, and granddaughters—who practice the art of dance, specifically danse du ventre (Moyen-Orient), against a backdrop of global upheaval. The other family involved three affluent Sephardic brothers.
The story revolves around Dara, an Algerian expatriate whose sensuous belly-dancing garners both admiration and scandal in Europe and in the Americas during World War II. Her daughter, Ayana, and later her granddaughter, continue this heritage. Through these spiritual daughters of the dance, the fast-moving narrative explores topics of sexuality, spiritual liberation, and female empowerment
The following provides key themes (historical and cultural tapestry, spiritual symbolism, and controversial adult content).
The plot weaves through settings that include the Netherlands, Panama, Spain, Mexico, and Willemstad, Curacao—all within the context of the Sephardic-Ladino Jewish diaspora and the expansions and tremors of war.
Moreover, dance in the novel is not just performance. It is a spiritual discipline to “dance in the middle of the fighting, dance in your blood, dance when you are perfectly free,” a partial quote of a Sufi poem by Rumi (13th century C.E.). As a theme, the narrative connects dance with themes of redemption, freeing of the self, and breaking cycles of rebirth (the cycle of samsara), weaving in Buddhist notions like the Bardo (the intermediate state of death and rebirth).
Consequently, the novel delves into mature themes—sexual boundaries, relational power, religious conservatism, and suppression of women—providing both a sensual and cerebral experience.
Daughters of the Dance thought-provoking themes around female agency, sexuality, and liberation is both sensual and symbolic storytelling.
In essence, this historical novel is an ambitious, provocative sage of women seeking their agency—literally through dance, spiritual ecstasy, and introspection—amid social, religious, and wartime constraints. In short, it is at once a historical epic and an intimate portrait of female embodiment.
BOOK TWO – Choir of Cloistered Canaries (2020) – a thought-provoking, multi-layered novel that fuses epidemiology and psychology with ancient symbolism, environmental activism, and mystical exploration – wrapped in an emotionally-grounded take of reconnection, love, and resistance against ethical erosion. It uses the canary as metaphor to champion environmental guardianship and justice for all.
Anyone who is interested environmental justice when science meets spirituality would be attracted to the environmental appeal and intellectual adventure.
Leitis Dennett, a senior CDC epidemiologist about to retire, is called to a secretive laboratory at the North Carolina Research Campus to reconnect with her estranged mother of several decades. As a member of the CDC Rapid Response Team, her visit to her mother is cut short to join the team headed for The Vatican and Rome, Italy. It is there that a fortuitous relationship with Pope Hormisdas II develops.
Anyone who is interested environmental justice when science meets spirituality would be attracted to the environmental appeal and intellectual adventure.
Leitis Dennett, a senior CDC epidemiologist about to retire, is called to a secretive laboratory at the North Carolina Research Campus to reconnect with her estranged mother of several decades. As a member of the CDC Rapid Response Team, her visit to her mother is cut short to join the team headed for The Vatican and Rome, Italy. It is there that a fortuitous relationship with Pope Hormisdas II develops.
It is also at this journey that she meets a medical engineer who joins her to further improvements on public health and to combat environmental degradation, echoing President Eisenhower’s warning in 1961 against unchecked industrialization and over consumption.
The novel resonates with modern concerns—clean air, water, and earth—representing “our song as canaries,” a metaphor for how human signal ecological distress. Leitis blends her epidemiology expertise with her passion for comparative mythology and alchemy, searching for hidden meanings in ancient symbols.
Beyond global stakes and politics, the novel is deeply personal—a mother and daughter healing almost a half-century of separation.
If you are drawn to environmental activism, ethical science, and storytelling where ancient wisdom meets modern dilemmas, this novel delivers. Even as a human story, it is framed within larger questions of mortality and stewardship.
In summary, Choir of Cloistered Canaries blends a personal mother-daughter reunion with a global quest to expose and counteract corporate greed, sacred symbolism, and environmental collapse. It asks readers to listen to the Earth’s “canary” warnings.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR – Armida Nagy Rose is a reclusive, multidisciplinary artist and writer who publishes fiction under a nom de plume. Her work moves effortlessly between visual art, poetry, and narrative fiction, fusing spiritual inquiry, cultural history, and embodied practice into stories and workshops that invite close attention and quiet transformation.
Born into a family steeped in diasporic histories and contemporary religious beliefs, she developed an early fascination with myth, movement, and the material traces of memory. Her visual work—acrylics, watercolors, and pen-and-ink drawings—earned regional recognition when she was named Artist of the Month by the North of Tampa Arts League in the early 2000s. She also served on the board of the Coalition of Hispanic Artists in Hillsborough County, organizing community exhibitions that paired archival research with contemporary visual experiments.
As an educator, Armida created Zen Tango Art: Meditative Drawing in Pen & Ink, a practical manual published in 2011 that pairs intuitive mark-making (doodling) with focused observation (negotiating a representational object with doodling aesthetics) and contemplative attention. She led workshops that translate the book’s techniques into accessible exercises for artists, writers, and people seeking art as a mindfulness practice.
Her literary output spans poetry, short prose, and longer fiction. Early poems such as “Abraham Revisited” and visual pieces appear in anthologies such as Waves of Wonder and Reflections: The Olli-USF 20th Anniversary Collection, where she contributed both prose and imagery. Several early essays and art pieces were published online between 2012 and 2013. The International Library of Poetry, 2002, “Ode to the Gaian Pie”. Some of her early writings (2012-2013) are posted at thought4though.wordpress.com.
She has also taught introductory “Quintessential Tibetan Buddhism” at the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at the University of South Florida. Working from an initial screenplay for Daughters of the Dance, having trained in belly dance for several years, she expanded her narrative vision into The Armida Trilogy, a multi‑generational sequence of novels that interweaves history, comparative mythology, and spiritual symbolism to examine women’s agency across three centuries.
Armida’s fiction is characterized by richly textured settings, ethically engaged protagonists, and an interest in the body as archive and ritual. Her first novel, Daughters of the Dance, reframes the danse du ventre as spiritual discipline and a cultural memory within Sephardic‑Ladino networks. Book Two, Choir of Cloistered Canaries, blends epidemiology, environmental activism, and mysticism to ask how science and spirituality might together defend the commons.
Despite her private nature, Armida has participated in public life through curated lectures, intimate salons, and virtual conversations that pair historical scholarship with embodied practice until she became afflicted by multiple chemical sensitivities (MCS). Since 2009, she became an advocate of living a life that reduces exposure to toxic chemicals, primarily, those that are derived from petroleum. The novel, Choir of Cloistered Canaries, broaches this theme in a limited manner, since ambient and indoor air pollution is a major cause of premature deaths worldwide..
Armida lives and works in the southeastern United States. She continues to paint, draw, and write into her eighties and has developed a new fiction that explores the intersections of ritual, ecology, and female creative power.
Author Armida Nagy Rose’s new book, Even a Crow Knows How to Crack a Walnut in Clear Light, is a riveting historical fiction novel with a brilliant heroine at its center.
Short Description
Released on March 10, 2026, Even a Crow Knows How to Crack a Walnut in Clear Light from Page Publishing author Armida Nagy Rose traces the life of a brilliant M.I.T. graduate, Ana, whose journey sets the stage for an exploration of the intersection of technology and spirituality. The novel touches on her childhood, highlighting her innate brilliance and her deep curiosity about the origins of the universe.
Armida Nagy Rose, a retired US Federal regulatory analyst, has completed her third book of the Armida Trilogy, Even a Crow Knows How to Crack a Walnut in Clear Light”: An exhilarating historical novel that follows the life of Ana, whose conflict ignites when she is recruited by a corporate headhunter working for a visionary consortium eager to reshape the world, using a unique contribution Ana developed while at the military research facility, Area 51.
Initially driven by a scientific obsession with light, Ana’s exploration gradually shifts toward deeper philosophical questions about existence itself. As her work evolves, she finds herself caught in a growing tension between the technological world she’s helping to create and an emerging awareness of a spiritual truth that transcends it. In this space, death is revealed as an illusion, and all beings and phenomena are seen as interconnected across the vastness of the universe.
Author
Armida Nagy Rose lives in Florida. A US citizen born abroad, she graduated from the University of Texas at Austin, Texas, and most of her career was under the US Department of Treasury and later under the US Department of Homeland Security when the Bush-Cheney reorganized major law enforcement agencies under DHS.
Armida writes, “A very pregnant Myra Ceagan Tošić-Tabbot enjoyed symbols appropriated from other cultures and from ancient peoples. On this day, she rested on a large Star of David that she drew on the porcelain-tiled patio with a light blue chalk. It was not easy; with her balloon of a belly, the roundness indicated she would have a baby girl if all went well. She briefly recalled her first child, a stillborn boy named Boy Willard on the birth certificate, and her first husband, who died during her pregnancy when his EA-6B Prowler crashed in Washington State in 1982.”
She continues writing, “When she [Myra] drew the Star of David, she first drew the triangle that represents the male energy; and when she drew the feminine form, she rested on it, thinking her unborn would definitely be a girl. She would name her Ana. As a symbol, the name Ana meant gracious and satisfying. Satisfied, Myra thought would be an agreeable name to nurture her child abundantly.”
Published by Page Publishing, Armida Nagy Rose’s captivating tale takes readers into Ana’s world and beckons them to discover how her story unfolds.
Readers who wish to experience this thrilling work can purchase “Even a Crow Knows How to Crack a Walnut in Clear Light” at bookstores everywhere, or online at the Apple iTunes Store, Amazon, Google Play, or Barnes and Noble. For additional information or media inquiries, contact Page Publishing at 866-315-2708.
We often think that a random headache or brain fog is temporary. There is, however, a source that causes the temporary malady. One should not take these events lightly, especially when they tend to recur. In this case, one should become hyperalert. For some time now, we need to not trust that all manufacturers are trustworthy. Trustworthiness in the chemical manufacturing industry is complex, featuring a mix of highly-regulated, specialized, and reliable firms alongside instances of corporate negligence and, in some cases, deliberate suppression of health data.
The main “ingredient” in chlorpyrifos products is the technical‑grade active substance (chlorpyrifos technical), which is manufactured and supplied in bulk primarily by large agrochemical producers in China and India, with some legacy production from multinationals such as Dow/Corteva and others.
How chlorpyrifos is sourced
Chlorpyrifos was originally developed and first produced commercially by Dow Chemical (later Dow AgroSciences, now part of Corteva), which for decades was one of the principal global manufacturers supplying technical‑grade chlorpyrifos to formulators.
Over time, production expanded globally; current reports note that China and India are now two of the biggest producers of chlorpyrifos, with large volumes exported as technical material to other countries where it is formulated into end‑use products.
A risk‑profile and NGO country‑situation reports list Dow AgroSciences (USA and UK), Makhteshim (Israel, now part of ADAMA), FMC (USA), and Cheminova (Denmark, now also under FMC/ADAMA ownership) among approved or recognized sources for import of chlorpyrifos technical into markets such as India.
In the current market, there are hundreds of suppliers and distributors of chlorpyrifos products globally, but most do not synthesize the molecule themselves; instead, they buy chlorpyrifos technical (the main active ingredient) from large technical‑grade manufacturers—predominantly in China and India—and then formulate and package it (e.g., 50% EC, 50% WP, granules) for sale.
If you are looking for “who sources what from whom” in a specific country or for a particular brand (e.g., which technical supplier a given U.S. registrant uses), that usually requires looking at that company’s registration dossiers, import approvals, or trade data, which can sometimes be pulled from regulatory filings or subscription market reports rather than public summary pages.
What are the main raw materials used to synthesize chlorpyrifos?
Chlorpyrifos is built from a chlorinated pyridine ring and a diethylthiophosphate group, so the key raw materials are the precursors to those two pieces.
Core starting materials (conceptual)
In standard industrial routes, the main raw materials are:
A substituted pyridine starting material (commonly 3‑methylpyridine / 3‑picoline or related pyridine derivatives), which is then chlorinated and transformed into 3,5,6‑trichloro‑2‑pyridinol (often called TCP).
A phosphorus oxychloride–type reagent that ends up as O,O‑diethylphosphorochloridothioate (the diethylthiophosphate chloride used to introduce the organophosphate side).
Ethanol (or another C2 alcohol source) to form the diethyl ester part of the thiophosphate.
Chlorinating agents (such as chlorine or other chlorinating systems) used to introduce the three chlorine atoms onto the pyridine ring.
Sulfur/thiation reagents (or sulfur dichloride / related sulfur chlorides in some routes) to convert a phosphorochloridate into the corresponding phosphorochloridothioate (P=S).
Bases and caustic alkali (e.g., sodium hydroxide, sodium carbonate) to generate the phenoxide (pyridinol salt) and to neutralize HCl during coupling.
Immediate precursors to technical chlorpyrifos
Focusing on the last synthetic step that actually yields chlorpyrifos, the two “main” raw materials are usually:
These are reacted under basic conditions so that the pyridinol (as its sodium salt) attacks the phosphorus center, displacing chloride and forming chlorpyrifos.
How is 3,5,6-trichloro-2-pyridinol produced
Industrial production of 3,5,6‑trichloro‑2‑pyridinol (TCP) uses chlorinated pyridine routes or “chloroacrylonitrile” routes, but all converge on building and then selectively chlorinating a pyridinol ring.
A widely cited process (Dow patent) prepares TCP from simple chlorinated C2 building blocks:
Trichloroacetyl chloride is reacted with acrylonitrile to form 2,2,4‑trichloro‑4‑cyanobutanoyl chloride (an adduct).
This adduct is cyclized under acidic conditions to give a dihydropyridone (3,3,5,6‑tetrachloro‑3,4‑dihydropyridin‑2‑one).
The dihydropyridone is then aromatized (dehydrogenated) to 3,5,6‑trichloropyridin‑2‑ol (TCP), and the product is isolated by standard workup (acidification, phase separation, solvent removal).
In this route, the effective “raw materials” for TCP are trichloroacetyl chloride, acrylonitrile, an acid catalyst, and solvent.
Alternative chlorination / demethoxylation routes
Other patented processes start from partially chlorinated pyridines and then introduce additional chlorine atoms:
2‑chloro‑6‑methoxypyridine is first subjected to acid‑catalyzed ether cleavage (with concentrated HCl) to give 6‑chloro‑1H‑pyridin‑2‑one.
Without isolation, an aqueous carboxylic acid (e.g., acetic acid) is added and chlorine gas is passed through the headspace, chlorinating the ring to 3,5,6‑trichloro‑1H‑pyridin‑2‑one (i.e., TCP).
A separate family of routes chlorinate 2,3,5,6‑tetrachloropyridine under basic conditions (NaOH, phase‑transfer catalyst) and then partially hydrolyze to give 3,5,6‑trichloro‑2‑pyridinol.
These approaches use 2‑chloro‑6‑methoxypyridine or 2,3,5,6‑tetrachloropyridine plus hydrochloric acid, carboxylic acid, chlorine gas, sodium hydroxide, water, and a phase‑transfer catalyst (e.g., TBAB).
Summary of main intermediates
Across commercial routes, TCP is typically obtained via:
Formation of a chlorinated dihydropyridone intermediate from trichloroacetyl chloride and acrylonitrile, then cyclization and aromatization.
Or chlorination/hydrolysis of pre‑formed chloropyridine derivatives such as 6‑chloro‑1H‑pyridin‑2‑one or 2,3,5,6‑tetrachloropyridine.
How is TCP purified after synthesis
After synthesis, 3,5,6‑trichloro‑2‑pyridinol (TCP) is typically purified by phase separation, acid–base workup, and one or more crystallization/drying steps.
Typical industrial workup
The crude reaction mixture is first neutralized or adjusted to a basic pH (often with NaOH or KOH), which converts TCP to its water‑soluble sodium or potassium salt and separates organic and aqueous phases; the solid catalyst (if used) is filtered off.
The aqueous phase containing TCP salt is then acidified (e.g., with sulfuric acid) to around pH 2, which precipitates TCP as a solid that can be isolated by filtration.
The wet cake is washed with water to remove inorganic salts and residual acids/bases, then dried (tray dryer, vacuum dryer, or similar) to yield technical‑grade TCP.
Crystallization and polishing
For higher purity, TCP (or its sodium salt) may be recrystallized: the crude solid is dissolved in hot water or a suitable solvent, then the solution is slowly cooled so TCP crystallizes; the crystals are collected by filtration and dried.
Some processes include solvent extraction (e.g., methanol/ethanol extraction of the sodium salt followed by solvent distillation) to remove organic impurities before final drying.
In practice, a producer will tune pH, temperature, and solvent choice so TCP precipitates cleanly, filters easily, and reaches the purity needed for downstream chlorpyrifos manufacture.
Febreze, the “Scent Reward”
Once a failed product, it became a household staple by marketers shirting the focus from removing odor to providing a satisfying “scent reward.” That’s to say, consumers are taught to buy emotional, sensory experiences over technical, functional benefits.
The “torus” or donut‑shaped molecule in Febreze is a modified cyclodextrin, most commonly hydroxypropyl‑β‑cyclodextrin (HPβCD), which is a ring made of sugar units derived from starch (typically corn).
However, the main ingredient, hydroxypropyl‑β‑cyclodextrin (HPβCD), as a compound, one must consider this: toxicity level + route = condition of patient. It is toxic. Though it is considered low in toxicity when used at “safe levels” (an unknown factor), it is known to tress the kidneys and can accumulate in patients with kidney impairments. Under some extreme exposures, it can cause renal toxicity, including kidney tubular damage, liver changes, and ototoxicity (hearing changes).
What the self-regulating torus molecule is
The core structure is β‑cyclodextrin, a cyclic oligosaccharide made of seven glucose units linked in a ring.
In many Febreze formulations, this ring is chemically modified to hydroxypropyl‑β‑cyclodextrin (HPβCD) to improve solubility, delivery, and performance.
Chemical makeup at a simple level
At the level of “what chemicals” form the torus:
Each ring unit is a glucose molecule (formulaC6H12O6), so unmodified β‑cyclodextrin is essentially seven glucoses linked together (overall formula C42H70O35).
The hydroxypropyl modification adds small hydroxypropyl groups (–CH2–CHOH–CH3) onto some of the hydroxyl (–OH) sites on those glucose units; the exact number and positions vary, so HPβCD is a mixture of similar molecules rather than one single, fixed molecular formula.
How the torus behaves chemically
The outside of the ring is rich in hydroxyl (–OH) groups, making it hydrophilic and water‑soluble.
The inner cavity is relatively hydrophobic, so it can host (form “inclusion complexes” with) non‑polar odor molecules; this is what lets the torus “trap” smells.
If what you want next is the full ingredient list around that torus (surfactants, preservatives, fragrance, etc., in a specific Febreze product line), I can walk through those as well.
Beta‑cyclodextrin traps odor molecules by forming a host–guest inclusion complex in its ring‑shaped structure, which physically “cages” the odor so it can no longer reach your nose.
Structure and polarity
Beta‑cyclodextrin is a torus (donut‑shaped) ring of glucose units with a hydrophilic exterior and a relatively hydrophobic inner cavity.
Many odor molecules are nonpolar or weakly polar and “prefer” the hydrophobic interior over water or air, so they spontaneously move into the cavity.
Host–guest inclusion complex
When an odor molecule enters the cavity, weak intermolecular forces (van der Waals interactions, hydrophobic effect, sometimes hydrogen bonding) stabilize it inside the ring; this is called an inclusion complex.
The binding is not a new covalent bond; it is a reversible physical association where the cyclodextrin is the host and the odor molecule is the guest.
Effect on odor and volatility
Encapsulated odor molecules are shielded from the surrounding air and water, which greatly reduces their effective volatility (tendency to escape as vapor).
Because far fewer odor molecules escape into the air to reach olfactory receptors, the perceived smell drops, even though the molecules are still present but “hidden” inside the beta‑cyclodextrin cages.
Role of water in sprays like Febreze
In a spray, water first dissolves or solubilizes airborne or surface odors, bringing them into contact with dissolved beta‑cyclodextrin.
Once contact occurs, the malodor molecules partition into the hydrophobic cavities, forming many tiny inclusion complexes that remain in the liquid phase or on surfaces instead of in the air.
About ingredients and regulations – the loophole
Products like Febreze must comply with local chemical and safety regulations wherever they’re sold. Different regions have various safety standards (for example, EU’s REACH chemical regulations), but that doesn’t mean a ban — it means meeting rules before being sold. Safety data sheets for Febreze variants show compliance with EU regulations.
There’s no credible evidence that specific Febreze products are formally banned by major countries or regions (e.g., EU, Canada, Japan, Australia) due to ingredients — they simply go through normal regulatory review.
[ SOURCES – AI ]
Since the fragrance molecule within the Febreze torus molecule is proprietary, the public can never know the toxicity of the P&G chemicals used to emit its scent repeatedly. Thus, this is a problem for persons experiencing heath effects that are noted in the health condition known as MCS (Multiple Chemical Sensitivities), which is recognized by several countries (Austria, Denmark, Finland, Germany, Japan, Luxenbourg, and Spain). However, in some persons with MCS, they experience almost instantly the swelling of the layers of tissues and epicranial aponeurosis (tendon-like structure). This inflammation is often debilitating and can manifest in other organ areas.
Briefly, when it comes to the scalp, it has five layers: (1) skin; (2) dense connective tissue (it contains blood vessels); (3) epicranial aponeurosis; (4) the loose areolar connective tissue (it separates the percosteum of the skull from the epicranial aponeurosis; and (5) the periosteum (the outer layer of the skull bones. It becomes continuous with the endosteum at the suture lines). And the blook travels from the scalp. Here is how:
“The blood from the scalp travels through a complex network of arteries and veins. The superficial temporal artery is a key artery that supplies blood to the scalp and face. It branches off from the external carotid artery and has multiple branches that take blood to the forehead’s muscles and skin. The superficial temporal veins drain blood from the scalp and face, with the angular vein being a terminal branch that drains blood from the scalp to the neck.
“The internal jugular veins are responsible for draining deoxygenated blood from the skull and brain, and the jugular veins return deoxygenated blood to the heart. The dural venous sinuses collect blood from the brain and transport it to the internal jugular veins, which then drain into the subclavian veins and the external jugular veins. The supraorbital and supratrochlear veins drain blood from the forehead and the angle of the mouth, respectively. These veins and arteries work together to ensure efficient blood return from the scalp and face to the heart.”
Note: From the nose to the scalp the toxin(s) travel throughout the body system to the heart.m INHALED TOXINS ARE A DANGER TO ONE’S WELL-BEING.
In recent times, one hears political talking heads and some journalists use the term “the canary in the old mine” for other than its original meaning: taking little canaries down into the mines to let them slowly die of carbon monoxide poisoning. Sad, very sad. Yet, we persist in using toxic chemicals to supposedly make us live better, normalizing toxicity in our every day lives. Now this is very damn tragic to say the least when other countries have banned chlorpyrifos from its multiple uses. And yet the unenlightened Trump Administration recently had the U.S. Environmental Agency remove the ban under the Biden Administration.
A FULL DISCLOSURE So that we may know how serious this chemical agent is, AI Perplexity and AI ChatGPT responses have been reprinted below.
Chlorpyrifos is an organophosphate insecticide whose main health risk is neurotoxicity—it inhibits acetylcholinesterase, causing overstimulation of the nervous system, with particular concern for fetuses and children.
• Runny nose, tearing, excessive salivation and sweating
• Nausea, vomiting, abdominal cramps, diarrhea
• Blurred or darkened vision, muscle twitching, tremors, weakness, loss of coordination
At high doses or severe poisoning, reported effects include==
• Loss of bladder and bowel control, seizures, unconsciousness or coma
• Respiratory muscle paralysis, respiratory failure, and death
• Severe organophosphate poisoning syndromes with convulsions and profound weakness
Chronic and developmental effects:
Evidence from human cohort and animal studies points to significant longer‑term risks, especially with prenatal or early‑life exposure:
• Developmental delays and neurodevelopmental disorders in children
• Reduced IQ and working memory, attention problems, ADHD‑type symptoms
• Changes in social behavior and brain development in animal studies, with young animals more sensitive than adults
Occupational and repeated exposures have also been associated with–
• Peripheral neuropathy (numbness, “pins and needles,” weakness, poor coordination)
• Possible liver damage
• Epidemiologic signals for Parkinson’s disease with chronic exposure (for chlorpyrifos and related pesticides)
Reproductive, endocrine, and cancer concerns of additional possible risks, although not all are fully resolved–
• Endocrine disruption: hormone level changes and sex‑specific behavioral effects in animal models
• Greater sensitivity in pregnant women and the fetus
• Emerging data suggesting possible links to lung and prostate cancer, even though EPA’s cancer classification has historically been “evidence of non‑carcinogenicity”
Who is most at risk?
Groups with higher potential exposure and vulnerability include–
• Farmworkers, pesticide applicators, and workers in chlorpyrifos manufacture or formulation
• Pregnant women and their fetuses in agricultural regions
• Children living near treated fields or in housing where it was historically used
International Bans and Restrictions
European Union
The EU has banned chlorpyrifos and chlorpyrifos-methyl entirely from use in plant protection products since 2020.
United Kingdom
The UK banned chlorpyrifos (with limited exceptions) as of April 2016.
Canada
Canada cancelled all chlorpyrifos uses and products, effectively banning it.
New Zealand
New Zealand’s Environmental Protection Authority announced plans to ban chlorpyrifos completely, with phase-out timelines in 2025–2026.
Thailand
Chlorpyrifos was banned under Thai law effective June 1, 2020.
Nepal
Nepal implemented an immediate nationwide ban on chlorpyrifos (alongside other hazardous pesticides) in late 2024.
🌎 Other National Bans
Reports and regulatory documents indicate chlorpyrifos has also been banned in several other countries, including:
Argentina, Morocco, Sri Lanka, Indonesia, Switzerland, Saudi Arabia, Palestine, Trinidad & Tobago, Turkey and South Africa for various uses.
Various sources list additional bans or non-approvals in countries like Sweden, Egypt, Vietnam, and India (with some restrictions and exemptions depending on the use).
🌐 Global Phase-out Effort
In 2025, parties to the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants agreed to phase out chlorpyrifos globally with specific exemptions — a move toward eliminating nearly all uses worldwide.
Summary
Banned: EU, UK, Canada, New Zealand (phase-out), Thailand, Nepal, and many others.
Restricted or phased out: Some regions (e.g., specific crop uses or states within countries).
Global effort: Stockholm Convention aims to eliminate it globally, though exemptions remain.
Chlorpyrifos has been used far beyond just crop spraying. Here are the main categories of use historically:
1. Agricultural Uses (Most Common)
Corn
Soybeans
Fruit trees (apples, oranges)
Tree nuts (almonds, walnuts)
Broccoli, cauliflower
Cotton
Wheat
It’s a broad-spectrum organophosphate insecticide, meaning it kills many types of insects by disrupting their nervous systems.
2. Residential / Structural Pest Control (Largely phased out in many countries)
Termite treatments
Cockroach control
Ant control
Flea treatments (yards, kennels)
In the U.S., most residential uses were canceled in the early 2000s because of child exposure risks.
3. Public Health Uses
Mosquito control in some regions
Control of flies in public spaces or livestock areas
Some countries have restricted these uses, but they still exist in limited areas globally.
4. Livestock Applications
Treatment for ticks, lice, and mites on cattle and sheep
Barn and stable insect control
5. Non-Food / Industrial Uses
Turf management (golf courses, athletic fields)
Utility pole and fence post treatments (wood protection)
Greenhouse insect control
Important Reality – Chlorpyrifos is potent! So, who manufactures chlorpyrifos?
The reason many countries are banning it isn’t because it’s ineffective — it’s because it’s potent. Chlorpyrifos affects acetylcholinesterase, an enzyme critical for nervous system function. The same mechanism that kills insects can harm human neurological development, especially in children.
Chlorpyrifos has been manufactured by several agrochemical companies over the years. The main ones include the following:
Major Manufacturers (Historically and Currently)
Dow Chemical Company Originally developed chlorpyrifos in the 1960s. It was sold under the brand name Lorsban.
Corteva Agriscience Spun off from DowDuPont in 2019 and inherited chlorpyrifos products. Corteva announced it would phase out production in 2020.
Makhteshim Agan (now part of ADAMA Agricultural Solutions) Produced generic chlorpyrifos formulations.
Nufarm Manufactured and distributed chlorpyrifos products in multiple markets.
Gharda Chemicals A significant producer of chlorpyrifos for export markets.
Several Chinese manufacturers, including large state-linked agrochemical firms, have also produced chlorpyrifos for global export markets.
Important context:
Many Western companies have exited production due to regulatory pressure and liability concerns. However, production continues in parts of Asia and other regions where regulations remain less restrictive.
From an investment standpoint, chlorpyrifos itself is not generally considered a growth chemical in traditional portfolios — largely because of regulatory pressure, bans in major markets, and shifting industry dynamics. Here’s how to view it if you’re thinking about capital allocation OR if you do not care about the health and well-being of the global citizenry:
1. Declining Demand in Developed Markets
Regulatory authorities in the United States and European Union have restricted or revoked many uses of chlorpyrifos due to health and environmental concerns, significantly reducing its market footprint in those large agricultural economies.
Many companies have reduced or stopped production, such as Corteva Agriscience exiting chlorpyrifos production and shifting to safer alternatives.
Investment implication: legacy products like chlorpyrifos are not growth engines in developed markets and carry regulatory and legal risk.
2. Regional Opportunities Still Exist
While bans are tightening in Western markets, demand persists in parts of Asia, Latin America, and Africa where regulatory constraints are less strict and large-scale agriculture still uses broad-spectrum pesticides.
Some producers are innovating safer or low-residue formulations to remain compliant and extend product life in certain markets.
Investment implication: niche exposure in emerging markets may still generate revenue, but this tends to be more speculative and dependent on regulatory trends.
3. Regulatory Risk and Litigation
Because chlorpyrifos has been linked to neurological effects — especially in children — companies tied to its production face litigation risk, reputational risk, and potential future bans even where currently permitted.
Environmental, social, and governance (ESG) investing trends penalize exposure to hazardous chemicals, pushing capital away from products with poor health or sustainability profiles.
Investment implication: direct investment in chlorpyrifos production companies carries higher long-term risk.
4. Broader Agrochemical Industry Context
Rather than investing in chlorpyrifos itself, many analysts position investment more favorably in broader or adjacent sectors:
✅ Biopesticides and Sustainable Inputs
Consumer and regulatory shifts toward safer, low-impact pest control are creating growth opportunities. Biopesticides and next-generation crop protection products are gaining traction.
✅ Integrated Pest Management & Precision Ag Tech
Technologies that reduce reliance on traditional pesticides — such as precision spraying and biological controls — are attracting institutional interest.
📌 Example investment angles
Agrochemical companies diversifying into biologicals or safer chemistries
Precision farming and ag-tech platforms improving application efficiency
Sustainable agriculture ETFs or funds focused on ESG compliance
🧠 Bottom Line
Chlorpyrifos itself is generally not a growth investment.
Its traditional market is shrinking due to regulatory bans and health concerns.
Significant regulatory and ESG risks make it unattractive as a standalone investment.
Potential value is more likely found in companies pivoting toward safer pest control solutions or broader agricultural technology.
With all this known reality about this pesticide, why does the Trump Administration still persist in not regulating it, including other toxic agents under President Trump's first and second terms?
Bonus
For ingredients in producing chlorpyrifos, navigate HERE. Additional: Febreze ingredients, the most highly marketed toxicity.
An early human scratched this hashtag pattern into a red ochre stone at Blombos Cave in South Africa. It is estimated to be about 100,000 years old. Source: Science.org
Can you imagine the first symbol a hominid made about 100,000 years ago? It appears to have been a hashtag? What could it have been like for him or her to make the first downward line on a hard surface? It was generated more than likely by a thought that then became a symbol. Maybe it was to say, “This is one, this one is two,” ad infinitum. The curve, then the circle, followed by a spiral? In each case, each marking was a symbol to generate a mark.
So, what is symbol? A mark, sign, or word that represents an idea, object, color, relationship, or answer. Symbols as allegories are interesting. Every plot element in an allegory represents something in the story. For example, in Plato’s “Allegory of the Cave,” everything in the cave is an allegory—from the cave to the people, fire, shadows, and chains. Plato explained the allegory by saying that “Those who are able to see beyond the shadows and lies of their culture will never be understood, let alone believed by the masses.” He speaks to the ignorance of humanity trapped in the conventional ethics formed by society.
In Buddhism, the cave is a metaphor used to illustrate the illusory nature of the material world. The cave represents the human condition where individuals are trapped in a limited perception of reality. The shadows cast on the cave wall represent the material world, which is a reflection of deeper truths that can only be understood through philosophical inquiry and enlightenment.
Albeit related to symbolism, a metaphor compares two seemingly unrelated things, stating that one thing is another. In the Armida Trilogy, there are several such metaphors; however, the three novels are laden with symbolism. In fact, each chapter of two of the books is introduced with a symbol. And, Book II offers a chart of the symbols as used in Choir of Cloistered Canaries.
In the first chapter of Daughters of the Dance, long hair becomes a symbol of the first character—her long hair is likened to her headdress. It was, in biblical times, a way of identifying an individual’s social status and cultural identity. For women in biblical times, long hair was associated with femininity, beauty, modesty, and submission to a higher authority (both the husband and God).
In Choir of Cloistered Canaries, water as a healing element is present to symbolize life and vitality, purity and renewal, emotional depth, spiritual significance, and cultural importance. In case we forget, the average percentage of water in the human body is roughly 60%. The percentage range of water varies slightly, usually within a 50 to 75 percent range. Water, moreover, has many uses in chemical processes as a working fluid to convert heat energy to mechanical energy. There is historical reference as to how a historical woman, Maria Hebraea (c. 300 C.E.) who invented several kinds of chemical apparatus such as the bain-marie. She made distillation a new invention. Carl Jung used Maria’s axiom—“One becomes two, two becomes three, and out of the third comes s the one as the fourth”—as a metaphor for wholeness and individuation. Afterall, Maria was known for her alchemy, the first known Western alchemist.
There is another analogy to Choir of Cloistered Canaries that is embedded in the title: “Cloistered,” synonymous with “caged.” In Buddhism, the cage refers to the idea that the mind and body are like a bird in a cage. The bird sees that it is not able to fly freely, thus the metaphor illustrates a sense of disenchantment and the desire for liberation from suffering. Unlike our current environment where we have to put up and shut up, it becomes difficult to recognize that there is a way out of the cage. Book Three addresses this conundrum or challenge.
The third book, Even a Crow Knows How to Crack a Walnut in Clear Light, uses the Star of David to highlight the lost memory of two acute angle triangles, one inverted over the other (the Mazzorath). It reflects an origin from the Vedic and Upanishadic India around the first half of the first millennium B.C.E. In early Indian thought, the two halves (or acute angle triangles described the primordial Self split into two parts (male and female). Later, the Yin-Yang concepts in Taoism came about as early as the 14th-13th century B.C.E. The Yin represents moon energy associated with reflection, inner awareness, and sensitivity; the Yang represents the sun energy associated with activity, dynamism, and vitality. This lays the foundation of Ana and her mother to find agency in a world still governed by male conventions in the 21st century. Thus, the Armida Trilogy reflects the struggle of women as the setting and finally a resolution to the challenge of being human and feminine.
As a mental exercise on current events, how would you view what the following gallery of images portrays? What do they symbolize?
Armida Nagy Rose Author 