Even the NYT makes the mistake between cholesterol and LDL particles

"The new drugs are approved for use by people with heart disease who cannot control their LDL, the dangerous cholesterol, by other means. "

http://www.nytimes.com/2015/08/30/health/new-alternatives-to-statins-add-to-a-quandary-on-cholesterol.html

Free cholesterol, free oxy-cholesterol, or cholesterol esters of fatty acids are Cholesterol

LDL are particles which are assembled by the liver according to several metabolic signals with proteins around for solubility in the plasma and lipids in the core. Cholesterol, esters of cholesterol, triglycerides are the lipids in LDL particles.