Plaque Psoriasis Treatment Options – STELARA

STELARA is a prescription medicine approved to treat adults 18 years and older with moderate or severe plaque psoriasis that involves large areas or many areas of their body, who may benefit from taking injections or pills (systemic therapy) or phototherapy (treatment using ultraviolet light alone or with pills).

STELARA is a prescription medicine approved to treat adults 18 years and older with active psoriatic arthritis, either alone or with methotrexate.

STELARA is a 45 mg or 90 mg injection given under the skin as directed by your doctor at weeks 0, 4, and every 12 weeks thereafter. It is administered by a healthcare provider or self-injected only after proper training.

STELARA can make you more likely to get infections or make an infection that you have worse. People who have a genetic problem where the body does not make any of the proteins interleukin 12 (IL-12)Proteins that increase the growth and function of white blood cells, which are found in your immune system. and interleukin 23 (IL-23)Proteins that increase the growth and function of white blood cells, which are found in your immune system. are at a higher risk for certain serious infections that can spread throughout the body and cause death. It is not known if people who take STELARA will get any of these infections because of the effects of STELARA on these proteins.

Cancers

STELARA may decrease the activity of your immune systemA system inside the body that protects against germs and infections. and increase your risk for certain types of cancer. Tell your doctor if you have ever had any type of cancer. Some people who had risk factors for skin cancer developed certain types of skin cancers while receiving STELARA. Tell your doctor if you have any new skin growths.

Reversible posterior leukoencephalopathy syndrome (RPLS)

RPLS is a rare condition that affects the brain and can cause death. The cause of RPLS is not known. If RPLS is found early and treated, most people recover. Tell your doctor right away if you have any new or worsening medical problems including: headache, seizures, confusion, and vision problems.

Serious Allergic Reactions

Serious allergic reactions can occur. Get medical help right away if you have any symptoms such as: feeling faint, swelling of your face, eyelids, tongue, or throat, trouble breathing, throat or chest tightness, or skin rash.

Before receiving STELARA, tell your doctor if you:

When prescribed STELARA:

You are encouraged to report negative side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA. Visit http://www.fda.gov/medwatch or call 1-800-FDA-1088.

Please read the Full Prescribing Information, including the Medication Guide for STELARA, and discuss any questions you have with your doctor.

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What is spirituality? | ReachOut.com Australia

This might help if:

Spirituality and religion can be hard to tell apart but there are some pretty defined differences between the two:

Kicking the ball around a park, without having to play on the field or with all the rules and regulations, can also give you fulfilment and fun and still expresses the essence of the game, similar to spirituality in life.

People may identify as being any combination of religious and spiritual, but to be religious does not automatically make you spiritual or vice-versa.

Authoritarian spirituality is a particularly strong form of spirituality based around a need for definition and rules. This type of spirituality is particularly common in specific religious practices.

Intellectual spirituality focuses on building knowledge and understanding of spirituality through analysing history and spiritual theories. This approach can be found in the study of religion, also known as theology.

Service spirituality is a common form of spirituality in many religious faiths. This is predominantly built around serving others as a form of spiritual expression.

Social spirituality is often practiced by people who experience a spiritual feeling in the company of others. Social support is often seen as one of the important aspects of spirituality in general.

Spirituality is also used as a way of gaining perspective, recognising that our role in life has a greater value than just what we do every day. It can separate a person from dependence on material things and establish a greater purpose. Some people also see spirituality as a way of coping with change or uncertainty.

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What is spirituality? | ReachOut.com Australia

Spirituality and stress relief: Make the connection – Mayo …

Spirituality and stress relief: Make the connection Taking the path less traveled by exploring your spirituality can lead to a clearer life purpose, better personal relationships and enhanced stress management skills. By Mayo Clinic Staff

Some stress relief tools are very tangible: exercising more, eating healthy foods and talking with friends. A less tangible but no less useful way to find stress relief is through spirituality.

Spirituality has many definitions, but at its core spirituality helps to give our lives context. It's not necessarily connected to a specific belief system or even religious worship. Instead, it arises from your connection with yourself and with others, the development of your personal value system, and your search for meaning in life.

For many, spirituality takes the form of religious observance, prayer, meditation or a belief in a higher power. For others, it can be found in nature, music, art or a secular community. Spirituality is different for everyone.

Spirituality has many benefits for stress relief and overall mental health. It can help you:

Uncovering your spirituality may take some self-discovery. Here are some questions to ask yourself to discover what experiences and values define you:

The answers to such questions help you identify the most important people and experiences in your life. With this information, you can focus your search for spirituality on the relationships and activities in life that have helped define you as a person and those that continue to inspire your personal growth.

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What is Spirituality? – Peter Russell

The essence of spirituality is the search to know our real self, to discover the true nature of consciousness.

Throughout the history, it has been said that the self we know -- the separate individual self -- is a limited form of what we truly are. Unaware of our true self, we identify with our thoughts and feelings, our memories and our personality.

Such experiences are always changing, but the self that knows them remains the same. We may be very diffferent people than we were twenty years ago, but the "I" that is aware of the difference is the same "I" as twenty years ago. It is omnipresent and eternal. It is the "I" that knows that it knows. The very essence of being aware. It is always present, whatever we may be experiencing, sacred or profane.

This ever-present sense of being is so obvious it is easily overlooked. We fall into believing that we are the individual senses of self that appears in our mind. Like a character in a novel, this separate self engrosses us with its hopes and fears, plans and deliberations. It believes that fulfillment comes from what we have or do in the world, from our roles and possessions, from our personality and how others see us. It promises us happiness, but any happiness it does bring is usually short-lived, and we soon find ourselves chasing some new promise.

Identifying ourselves with the vulnerable, ever-changing character of our personal story, the "I" misses its true nature. Our thinking and behavior become "self-centered", leading far too often to suffering in ourselves and others.

When we awaken to the true nature of self, we are freed from many of the fears that plague us so unnecessarily. We discover an inner peace that does not depend upon events or circumstances in the world around, a quiet but profound inner fulfillment. We become less self-centered, less needy of others' approval or recognition, less focused on collecting possessions and social status. We become happier, healthier and more loving people, less likely to cause suffering to ourselves or others.

This is self-liberation. And its transforming impact has made it the essence of the spiritual quest.

Date created: 23-Feb-06

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Patheos | Spirituality

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Patheos | Spirituality

Towards a Naturalistic Spirituality | Naturalism.org

A naturalistic understanding of spirituality

The spiritual experience - the experience of meaning, connection and joy, often informed by philosophy or religion - is, from a naturalistic perspective, a state of the physical person, not evidence for a higher realm or non-physical essence. Nevertheless, this understanding of spirituality doesnt lessen the attraction of such an experience, or its value for the naturalist. We naturally crave such feelings and so will seek the means to achieve them consistent with our philosophy.

But the question for the naturalist arises: how, as someone who doesnt believe in transcendent, otherworldly connections, or in ultimate meanings or purposes, can I legitimately evoke such feelings? That is, how, consistent with naturalism as my guiding philosophy, can I find the same emotional resonance or the same sorts of consolations that my religiously or supernaturally inclined friends experience? What is spiritually uplifting about naturalism?

For naturalism to evoke spiritual states akin to those evoked by religion, the follower of naturalism must find that the conclusions of her philosophy have profound, positive psychological consequences. The conclusions must resonate with her basic human needs for connection and meaning, even though, paradoxically, naturalism tends to undercut the easy presumption of overarching purposes. What then, are some of the conclusions of naturalism, and how might they affect the person who holds them? Although the conclusions for the most part seem negative, in that they deny dearly held assumptions common to most religious views, it may be that the very act of freeing ourselves from these assumptions can generate the exhilaration and joy of freedom, of discovering a tough but liberating truth, in which uncertainty moves us in the same way that certainty does others. This is an experience which counts as spiritual, even though no spirits are involved.

Most generally, naturalism places us firmly within the natural realm, extending from quarks to quasars. The scope of this realm as depicted in our sciences is nothing less than staggering. It is a far more varied, complex, and vast creation than any provided by religion, offering an infinite vista of questions to engage us. What naturalism takes away in terms of a central, secure role for us in Gods kingdom is more than compensated for by the open-ended excitement of being part of something whose dimensions, purpose and precise nature may never be known. In accepting a naturalistic view of ourselves, we trade security for surprise, certainty for an unending, perhaps unfulfillable quest for understanding, and easy platitudes about salvation for a flexible, mature accommodation to the often difficult facts of life and death.

That we are alive and sentient, with the capacity to form an understanding, however provisional, is the source of much amazement to the naturalist, since after all, none of what we consist of is sentient. Such amazement (and there are thousands of natural facts that can evoke it) can be the start of spiritual experience. That the stuff of our bodies came originally from the initial big bang, transmuted by stars and expelled in supernovas, seems a supremely satisfying connection to the most far flung corners (in both space and time) of the universe. This deep sense of connection forms a central aspect of spiritual feelings. The aesthetics of the natural world contribute as well, from the most sophisticated of the human arts, to the colors of Brazilian agate, to the grand structure of the great galactic wall. Best of all, though, is that naturalism shows that creation cant be tied up neatly by our understanding: we will always stand in wonder at the vastness of possibilities in nature, those realized and those unrealized, knowing that we comprehend just a fraction of what might be known, and knowing that there is no end to it. Faced with all this, the naturalist, if she is capable of letting go into a non-cognitive response, may discover feelings of profound awe, delight, and surrender, feelings typical of religious revelation but now felt in the context of a world view consistent with the most hard-edged empiricism. Although it is not widely known, the full appreciation of naturalism and its implications can be as intoxicating, perhaps more so, than any religion yet devised.

Philosophy link: Faith, Science, and the Soul.

It is easy to see that from a naturalistic perspective there cannot be any ultimate purpose to existence: as soon as any purpose is proposed, one can simply ask why that purpose should drive existence, as opposed to some other purpose. Even if God created us to glorify him and his works, we are still creatures that can ask why God himself exists. As questioning creatures, we will always be in the position of being able to second guess any overarching meaning someone attaches to the universe. In short, our intelligence guarantees that we will never rest secure in a comfortable interpretation of existence, since we can see that existence is always prior to its interpretation.

The initial psychological response to this dilemma is often the melancholy feeling that life is therefore devoid of meaning. Since we can never construe an ultimate purpose, whats the point, anyway? But on second thought, once we see the logic of the desire for ultimate meaning - that by its very nature it is an unsatisfiable demand - we can begin to laugh about it, and savor our position as a very curious one indeed. It turns out that smart creatures will never be in a position to satisfy themselves about meaning, at least of the ultimate variety. That fact itself is rather a compelling discovery about existence, one that prevents a complacent, boring acceptance of the status quo from ever setting in. There is no way things are ultimately meant to be, so existence becomes a work in perpetual progress (not towards a goal, however), whose outcome is never settled. We therefore stand perpetually surprised, curious, and wondering. We cannot easily set aside our demand for meaning, but instead of being disappointed about its frustration, we find ourselves free to play with existence (or to be its playthings, perhaps), to create local meaning in activities we find intrinsically satisfying, and get caught up in our human drama, knowing that the drama is set on a much larger stage whose dimensions may never be determined, and which exists for no reason. The direct appreciation of this "no meaning, no reason" aspect of existence can have a profound, and positive psychological impact: we are free of any confining purposes; we are free of the deadening certainty that we have a set role to play and a "correct" goal to achieve; we are liberated to be perpetually amazed at the sheer, startling fact that something exists, not nothing, and that we are part of it. Amazement, wonder and the feeling of connection are arguably central components of the spiritual experience.

A naturalistic understanding connects the human organism to the larger physical world in all respects, via genetics and environmental influences. Since we dont, on this understanding, exist as independent, immaterial agents directing our behavior from a causally disconnected vantage point, this means we dont have free will in the traditional sense. We cannot have done other than what we did in a given situation.

This means that persons are not first causes, rather they are links in the natural unfolding of the world in space and time. As much as we experience ourselves as separate egos, deliberating our fates one decision at a time, our very deliberations are entirely included in this unfolding.

This insight may at first disturb us, since we might suppose we are nothing more than passive puppets, moved at the whim of forces beyond our control. But we are not even puppets, since there is no one separate from the various forces, processes, and states that comprise the person-environment complex to be pushed around. We are, in fact, fully connected parts of the whole, identifiable as separate persons to be sure, but neither causal masters nor victims.

The psychological consequences of this realization are manifold. Without giving up the sense of our own identity and particularity (pretty much impossible, short of profound experiences of ego loss, which may themselves be of value in the right context) we feel a deep connection to the world around us, since that world is, after all, where each aspect of ourselves originates. A relaxation ensues from letting go of the illusion that we must continually "steer" ourselves through life, from realizing that our decisions themselves arise on their own out of the circumstances that constitute our body and its environment. We dont choose our character or motives from some independent vantage point; they are the creations of life and culture themselves, not the artifacts of a causally autonomous ego. Freed from the burden of being our own creators, we nevertheless dont passively resign ourselves to fate, since we understand that as creatures fully embedded in the world, our actions do indeed have causal effects which sometimes make all the difference. The naturalistic dismantling of free will frees thus connects us and liberates us: we are parts of the evolving whole that can witness the evolution and add interesting twists to the outcome by virtue of the capacities that life has given us. But since we are such parts, we can let go of the rather arrogant and ultimately disabling presumption that we stand outside creation. As Alan Watts said, You Are It, and the direct appreciation of this connectedness becomes part of a naturalistic spirituality.

Philosophy link: Free will page.

As naturalists, we understand there are few certainties, either in how life will work out, in how we are supposed to behave, or in what to believe. There is no finally correct way to be and no master plan that determines our role, either as individuals or as a species. Instead, we are part of nature which unfolds on its own, in a grand experiment to no point or purpose. For us, this experiment involves pain and pleasure, these being aspects of nature in its form (our form) as semi-autonomous, sentient beings. So despite our best efforts, life will shock us with unexpected tragedy and if were lucky, some triumphs. We cant help but act as we do, constituted as we are, but we cant, except within very broad limits, predict just what well do next, or what will happen to us. We dont know just what well think or feel or say in the very next moment, let alone the next day, week, or year.

This lack of certainty about life and its outcome adds an inevitably tragic aspect to the naturalistic stance, since things may not work out to our liking, and often don't. But equally, it adds the element of perpetual surprise and novelty: we don't ever know quite what's next. Both the possibility of tragedy and the probability of surprise add their distinctive flavor to a naturalist's spiritual experience. There is darkness as well as light, the unknown as well as the known, and the pull between them.

Another conclusion of naturalism is that the mental and physical are one, that perceptions, feelings, emotions, thoughts and the rest all consist of suitably organized matter, the brain. As much as it may seem to be the case that our mental lives constitute a separate realm, science shows that there is nothing over and above the brain, or any similarly organized system, whatever its physical makeup, that needs to be invoked to explain consciousness.

This non-dual conception of consciousness gives us new respect for the "merely" physical, for our bodies and our fleshly existence. In what we call our mental lives, the material world evokes a representation of itself that takes on a rich set of qualitative characteristics determined by a massively complex functional architecture. From a naturalistic perspective, there is no insubstantial essence behind or inherent in such qualities, instead they arise mutually as a system of relations and differences that the brain uses to track the world. Although it isnt literally miraculous that the world of experience just is the physical brain, it is indeed a marvel that such is the case; it is quite an astonishing fact. That every nuance of feeling and every twitch of thought is the material world at play can spark a profound experience of wonder, and provides a satisfying, unified conception of oneself: the mental and physical bound together as a natural phenomenon.

Philosophy link: Function and Phenomenology.

Naturalism disallows the existence of the soul. There is nothing about a person that survives death, so we cannot hope for a better world in the hereafter, or for reincarnation in this world. But, there is no nothingness at death, either. One is not plunged into the void, to rest there eternally. Just as we dont experience any "nothingness" before birth, neither will we experience it after death. Therefore, we need not fear death as an ending that we can experience.

How should we feel about death, then, as naturalists? Although we still have our biologically programmed fear of death to contend with, and we may regret projects unfinished or the loss that our death might inflict on others, our death itself does not concern us directly at all. But if we still dread our ending, we should keep in mind that consciousness overall does not end, since others are still alive and being born. Death and birth actually insure the radical refreshment of consciousness, and that might be construed as a good thing (although some Buddhists, for instance, would just as soon consciousness stopped arising altogether, so this view may not give them comfort).

What we dont know, at the moment of our deaths, is what will be next (although it wont be nothingness, we know that). As naturalists, death confronts us with a total cognitive impasse, an ultimate limit on what we as individuals can predict or control. We may at first reflexively recoil at this prospect, but maybe we can jump in, and give ourselves up to this ending of knowledge and control with an enthusiastic curiosity. Not that we ourselves, as this particular person about to end, can ever know whats next, but that there will be a next moment for someone, at least, we can be assured. Our last moments, then, can be ones of profound anticipation and surrender, not to the void, but to the inevitable change in which we participate that sweeps all before it.

Philosophy link: Death, Nothingness, and Subjectivity.

A corollary of being a fully integrated part of a naturalistic whole is that we cannot step outside the system to observe it. We look at the universe from a particular perspective, and even science inevitably reflects our particularly human constitution: we see what we are "designed" by evolution to see, even in our mathematics, perhaps. This means that our world views and philosophies, including naturalism itself, do not occupy a finally privileged position; they are subject to pragmatic change and improvement, and do not represent what the world might be "in itself".

The naturalist, then, may not be as dead serious or dogmatic in how she espouses naturalism compared to how others espouse their philosophies or religions. This is another aspect, driven by naturalism, of not knowing what is ultimately the case, of being forced not to cling to any certainty. Part of the spiritual experience is to leave the realm of thought for a non-discriminative state (or at least a state in which cognitive distinctions play a lesser role). Being less attached to a particular conception of how the world necessarily is, or must be, may leave the naturalist more receptive to entering such a state. (Not that the naturalist abandons her cognitive style or preferences; such a feat is nearly impossible, short of brainwashing or drug overdose.) Fewer preconceptions about what a spiritual experience must be like, or involve in the way of dogma, make it possible for the naturalist to find wonder and enchantment in many ordinary aspects of life. The distinction between the sacred and the profane gives way to the possibility that a simple, unheralded moment might be the gateway to an immediate apprehension of connection. The here and now become primary, since there are no guarantees of a perfect truth to be attained or a salvation to come later. As much as we strive to achieve understanding, there is no final understanding to achieve (except perhaps this very insight), which means there is no point in putting off the celebration of the present, if we find we are so moved.

Philosophy link: Post-modernism page.

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Towards a Naturalistic Spirituality | Naturalism.org

Spirituality vs Religion what is spirituality

Spirituality: what it truly means to you!

Spirituality is one word which puts a human being on the highest pedestal of life. It is field of Spirituality traveling which one reaches the last leg of cosmic life nay the form of human being himself!

The goal of Spirituality is attaining salvation moksha in Hinduism! From the beginning of the first manifestation as an amoeba to the last manifestation (the 8.4 millionth manifestation)... the goal of every life remains the same.

The phase of life as a human being announces that the life has come full circle. It is only as a Human Being that one can get enlightened (reach the stage of Nirvikalpa Samadhi) and attain salvation moksha in Hinduism. Reaching stage of enlightenment is the last step in the field of Spirituality.

Spirituality is living life as it was meant to be... not as we may have desired or wanted living it. Living a life of choice is not the forte of all human beings. Those on the path of pure Spirituality... the true seekers of Spirituality are sometimes able to manifest destiny by establishing absolute control over it.

It is a certain fact that only the true seekers of Spirituality become the masters of their destiny. Knowingly or unknowingly many people who have a materialistic goal in life travel the path of spirituality and become successful in life. It was not a happening by chance... all was the result of a law which cannot err. These highly acclaimed individuals unknowingly tread the path of pure Spirituality and achieved the goal of their life.

Spirituality in other terms means that before we ask God Almighty for material riches to be bestowed upon us... we need to compensate by giving something equivalent or more back to the community. This is the path undertaken by most successful entrepreneurs.

In terms of Spirituality we are not supposed to get anything unless we promise to do something in return... in the system of God there is fair play all throughout. As we desire... so shall be the corresponding karma we would be required to perform. Mere false promises bring us nothing.

It was the forte of JRD Tata that he always loved his country and the countryman. The benefit of the society was foremost in his mind all the time. The prime reason why the Tata Empire is known as the foundation builder of India! Tata name itself is representative of building a technological Empire for the benefit of entire nation. This is what Spirituality is all about.

JRD Tata was a trustee par excellence. According to him everything belonged to God and he was merely a trustee carrying out the dictates of God. In his lifetime he never built a house for himself. His love for the material riches of life did not seem to exist at all. His every endeavor was aimed at improving the quality of life of human life and the country as a whole.

What a noble persona JRD Tata was... a true Karma yogi indeed! He did not live Spirituality rather Spirituality lived in him. He was a perfect example of how a true spiritual seeker must live his life. JRD may have never admitted that he lived a spiritual life but unknowingly he practiced Spirituality every moment of his life.

JRD Tata followed the dictates of Bhagwad Gita throughout his life unknowingly. Apart from being a true karma yogi... he also excelled in teaching the core values to the society. He was one of the rarest kinds that have ever dwelled on mother earth as material riches and comforts in life never attracted him come whatever may.

JRD Tata excelled in human values to the extent that even most accomplished people on the path of pure Spirituality get dwarfed by his accomplishments. Spirituality is not only seeking the domain of God but even in day-to-day matters of life every human being needs to practice Spirituality.

The famous saying, "whatever we want others to do unto us... we should do unto them" forms the core teachings of Spirituality. It is not merely a saying. It has to be practiced in reality as was preached and advocated by Napoleon Hill in his famous books "Think and Grow Rich", "The Master-Key to Riches" and the famous "The Law of Success In Sixteen Lessons".

These three Bible books by Think and Grow Rich ... "Think and Grow Rich", "The Master-Key to Riches" and the famous "The Law of Success In Sixteen Lessons" form the core of Spirituality. There is no argument about that. At every stage Napoleon hill has prophesied that before we can expect anything from God we need to give something back to the community. He was also a true practitioner of Spirituality from heart.

Spirituality definitely helps one take control of destiny. As we proceed on the path of pure Spirituality we tend to develop a positive approach towards life. Reeling all the time under a positive attitude of mind... One is able to fine-tune those critical aspects of life which are an absolute must if one needs to become the master of his own destiny.

Spirituality makes a perfect man out of a negative thinker. In the field of Spirituality there is no place for any negative thinking. One who has fixed a goal in life and always indulges in positive oriented thinking can not be a loser in life. It can never happen!

Spirituality imbibes the following virtues in a human being:

Spirituality makes you feel all the time that there is something higher than the mere existence as a human being.

Spirituality spells out that God exists within every living being as our soul the atman within. It is God within us which guides us on the right path whenever we tend to go wrong.

Spirituality inculcates in every human being a feeling of positive ness all throughout. Floating on the positive mental plane brings one closer to our goal of life.

It is Spirituality and spirituality alone which prompts and guides one in the right direction whenever we feel cheated by the senses prevailing upon us. To come out of the clutches of the five senses is what Spirituality is all about.

If we desire to know God truly then we need to follow the path of pure Spirituality. It is only as a true spiritual seeker shall we realize God one-day.

It is a Spirituality which cuts short the path and makes the whole world look like a family. In the spiritual domain there is no space for different religions, dogmas or creeds. Our wanton desires cease to exist... the moment Spirituality takes complete control over us!

Spirituality truly is the essence of life. However materialistic we maybe On earthly plane... there shall come a day when Spirituality would completely wipe us clean of all the impurities within us.

Without Spirituality the life or a human being is like a rudderless boat going round and round in the unfathomable sea of life.

It is Spirituality which teaches every human being the real value of life... being spiritual is not being religious alone... Spirituality teaches us the core values of life... the real essence of us!

It is only through the medium of Spirituality that God is able to guide the mankind towards its destined goal. As many human beings... as many different spiritual paths!

Right from day one when we are born and until the last breath... it is Spirituality which keeps our heart pumping all through. It is Spirituality which clears all doubts that our soul (the Atman within the body) is the real master and our body is but to decay and die.

Spirituality clears all doubts related to the concept of God. Whenever in doubt... the wise follow the dictates of the spiritual masters of the era! Every spiritual being merges his identity with the Supreme Being (the Almighty God).

Spirituality confirms that life has to go on... it is a journey to be completed in many phases (8.4 million manifestations in fact). It is Spirituality which confirms that the life of a human being of 70 to 80 years is but a trickle in the total life a span of our soul the atman within. The total life span of the soul being a maximum of 96.4 million earthly years!

Spirituality has no relationship whatsoever with religion. Following a religion means following the dictates of a successful spiritual master... one who has already covered the journey and has become capable of guiding the mankind to its logical end.

Religion is meant for living a single span of earthly life. On the contrary Spirituality guides every living being to its logical end in the unending cosmic journey undertaken by the soul our atman within.

It is Spirituality alone which removes the fear of death from those who have released the pinnacle of spiritual life. Spirituality gives you a commanding position in life. One can work for above 23 hours per day having gained absolute control over sleep. This is not only possible but can be observed by watching the topmost rung of spiritual masters.

The presence of Spirituality in our lives cannot be done away with for it forms the inner core of our manifested physical life. Behind every success lies the core of Spirituality which guides one inherently all throughout cosmic journey.

In practice... when I started in search of God at an early age of 13 years... I was so confused about life that I thought it was only the religious masters who shall guide me on the right path. I was so wrong.

It was at the age of 37 that I came in contact with God one-to-one basis. It was the pinnacle of my spiritual pursuit. My life had come full circle. This was to be my last manifestation. I had reached the end of cosmic life. The distinction between spirituality and religion were now absolutely clear to me.

Having been able to traverse the path as a true seeker of Spirituality and reach the end goal has been a really pleasant experience. Everything I try to convey to the community is based on true personal experience of life. Being my last sojourn on Mother Earth I have but to impart the pearls of Spirituality I have learned before I leave the mortal frame.

Spirituality is not to be practiced merely in theory. Spirituality is not contained in the sacred textbooks alone. We simultaneously need to practice pure Spirituality and try reaching the end of the cosmic life. Achieving salvation in present life would be something every human being would desire.

Why not all of us practice pure Spirituality all the time! back to what is spirituality

The difference between Spirituality and Religion is the most often asked question on the net. For a layman both seem to be the same. All one has learnt since childhood is going to a temple, mosque or a church for praying to God. What other purpose can Religion have for one who is ignorant of different facets of Religion? One inherently follows Religious practices from the start. One may be born a Hindu but may be a strong believer of Christianity. Why does one change over?

If Religion provides succor to one: why the dissatisfaction while following one Religion? Is there something beyond the mundane, that we cannot see? Why one needs to go to a church, temple or mosque and pray to god? If we do not follow the religious practices ... shall we be doomed to die a terrible death? What if I do not want to follow any Religion at all? Live a lively Life with compassion for all beings. Why would God bring me death if I do not commit any sin?

In all the Religions of the World, the presence of a higher power within us, our atman the soul within is accepted. No dispute on this issue, what is the nature of atman the soul within. None has seen this spirit, the most powerful source of energy in the Cosmos, much more mightier than the biggest of Suns and Stars in the Brahmaand (Cosmos). Study of this spirit (our Atman, the Soul within) and of the mightiest of all the Spirits (GOD ... the Almighty Creator of the cosmos) is what Spirituality is all about.

Spirituality is that aspect of Life of a Jiva (Manifested Life of an Atman, The Soul Within), which forms the core of all Life on Mother Earth. Without Spirituality, Religion cannot survive. Spirituality can survive without Religion.

Around 3600 years before when there existed no Religion, Humanity existed. How did people live without guidance from Religion? How did these persons live as Buddha, Jesus Christ and Prophet Mohammed had not yet been born? What of following the Religion, which gradually evolved as a following of these Spiritual Masters?

Lord Krishna, Mahavira, Buddha, Jesus Christ and Prophet Mohammed were not religious but Spiritual Masters of their time. Their following is known as a Religion. Followers of Buddha practice Buddhism ... the eight fold path. The followers of Jesus, the Christians study Bible, the doctrine administered by Jesus Christ and his associate disciples. Prophet Mohammed preached what is contained in Qoran, the sacred document of the followers of Islamic Dharma.

Followers of Jaina doctrine are known as Jains. Jains are never known as followers of 24th Tirthankar Mahavira who strongly advocated that every Human Being is imbibed with the power to become a Mahavira like him. Jaina Philosophy is unique in itself that Jain word is derived from 'Jina'... One who has won his real self, one who "Realizes" GOD in his Lifetime. Followers of this doctrine and what Mahavira and the earlier 23 Tirthankars preached is what we know as 'Jainism'.

Religion broadly is study and following what is laid down in the scriptures for improving upon our level of Life. To live a Life full of moral values and ethical practices.

Spirituality is delving deep into the inner domain of self ... studying scriptures to know atman the soul within and GOD (The Almighty Creator). Followers of Spirituality without exception are after the absolute truth. They do not hanker after fleeting and temporary pleasures of Life. Seekers of Spirituality live a contended Life where as religious followers believe more in pleasing one GOD after another to seek their material wants fulfilled in the present manifestation.

True seeker never seeks bodily pleasures for self and family nor makes material pursuits as goal of Life. One is not attached to the body of the master but to what he has to preach.

Religion and Spirituality difference - brief Audio Hindi (66.6 MB) (this clipping takes few seconds to load initially - suitable for broadband internet connection preferably above 256 kbps) back to spirituality and religion

Religion and Spirituality - what differentiates Religion from Spirituality?

Religion is "absolute truth of life" of the physical manifested world. It is Religion and not Spirituality which forms the basis of the present society we live in. In the present the needs for following a Religion being at its minimum... it is easy to follow any Religion. Anyone... even a layman can follow any Religion but not Spirituality?

What vastly differentiates Religion and Spirituality? Religion... if it forms the core of the physical manifested world... it is the Spirituality (the truth of our Soul within) which upholds the values in the society. Without Spirituality the physical manifested world cannot sustain for long but in the absence of religion... the society can survive on its own.

It is Spirituality (the truth of our real self... our Soul within) which forms the core of the cosmic world. The physical manifested world is a reality in terms of senses (which guide every human being on its earthly journey). In the cosmic world... our physical manifested world does not hold good for there is nothing solid in the Cosmos. Everything in the cosmos is made up of the basic building block of the cosmos which comprise of atoms and molecules alone.

Religion is meant for passing of the physical manifested life in a meaningful manner. Unable to understand the nature of God... humanity has built for itself various religious centers all over the globe. These religious centers are they a mosque, temple or a church... provide a succor to the ever ailing society. They quench the thirst of an average human being... one who does not have time or the resources to contemplate directly on God Almighty.

Indulgence in Spirituality is not meant for the average human being. To fathom the depths of the Scriptures of the various religions of the world (the core truths of Spirituality)... one needs to dive deep into the pearls of wisdom contained in the various sacred Scriptures of the world. Spirituality is totally oblivious of a religion. In the field of Spirituality one need not go to a mosque, temple or a church in search of God. It is contemplation and only contemplation which shall lead one to God Almighty.

Spirituality (contrary to religion) is all about the spirit existing within every human being nay every living being (Jiva in Hinduism). It is truth of every life prevailing on Mother Earth. It is the real self of us that exists within every living being since the birth of that body in form of an individual soul. Spirituality and Religion are the two fundamentals of life which every living being is required to follow simultaneously.

One can live without Religion but not without Spirituality for Spirituality forms the core of very existence of every living being. It is the spirit within every human being that we exist as a physical form on Mother Earth. We may or may not indulge in understanding Spirituality or a Religion but inherently every living being pursues the path of spirituality in every manifestation. Spirituality is that fundamental of life which cannot be ignored by one.

To understand the basics of the Spirituality (not religion) one needs to understand the underlying meaning of the various sacred Scriptures existing on Mother Earth. Whatever our religious masters teach us on the physical plane may not be a truthful representation of whatever is contained in the sacred Scriptures. Many commentaries may exist related to a particular sacred Scripture but all may not be correct or rightly represent the facts contained therein.

To interpret the sacred Scriptures correctly one needs to understand the inner meaning of the core teachings contained therein. Spirituality in other words can only be best understood from a realized master. Only those who have reached the level of Mahavira, Gautama Buddha, Jesus Christ or Prophet Mohammed can deliver the humanity of its ills.

On the contrary going to a temple, mosque or a church can provide temporary succor to the ailing humanity but it is only Spirituality which can provide a permanent relief. Religion provides relief in day-to-day life but Spirituality liberates one forever from the cycle of birth and death. Religion is primarily a following of an enlightened master... it is only the correct interpretation of his teachings that one can follow spirituality to its logical end.

Buddhism Religion relates to the teachings of Gautama Buddha. The Islamic Religion is based on the teachings of Prophet Mohammed. Jainism (which can not be rightly called as a Religion but a way of life) is based on the collective teachings of the various Tirthankars (enlightened souls). Similarly Christianity is based on the teachings of Jesus Christ.

Following the teachings of Mahavira, Gautama Buddha, Jesus Christ or Prophet Mohammed... One can definitely reach the higher portals of Religion but to become one like Mahavira, Gautama Buddha, Jesus Christ or Prophet Mohammed one needs to understand the core teachings of the realized masters themselves in a totally unadulterated form.

In a nutshell, if we desire to understand the fundamentals of life itself and reach the end of cosmic journey... we need to understand Spirituality in totality. And on the contrary if we desire to live the present physical manifested life in the best manner possible then following the dictates of Religion alone would suffice. back to religion and spirituality

Essays By: Vijay Kumar "Atma Jnani"

Vijay Kumar... The Man who Realized God in 1993 explains more on Spirituality. For more details on being spiritual visit - Spirituality. Send your query - click here Ref.

Spirituality related links...

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Spirituality vs Religion what is spirituality

NASATX – National Auto Sport Association – Texas Region

2015 Season Finale at:

October 16-18, 2015 (2.9 mile CCW)

HPDE, Time Trial, Racing, Comp School (Friday) as well as Test/Tune and HPDE on Friday!

Registration page: Click Here

Napa Valley, CA The National Auto Sport Association (NASA) and NASA Texas are pleased to announce that Will Faules, NASAs Assistant Divisional Director, will assume the responsibilities of Regional Director of the NASA Texas Region. Faules will be taking over the region from Dave and Revkah Balingit who have effectively managed the Texas Region for the last 4 years during a period of growth and prosperity. Dave will still have an active role in the region working side by side with Will to ensure a smooth transition and Faules gets up to speed. This new change will allow Dave and Revkah the opportunity to focus on their home region of Rocky Mountain as they continue growing the fantastic events NASA members have come to expect in the Rocky Mountain Region.

This move for Faules will all be in addition to his current duties as National Event Manager and Assistant Divisional Director for NASA. This is a dream come true for me said Faules. Dave and Revkah have done wonders for NASA and Im excited to step up into this additional role. NASA has some of the finest customers, staff, and tracks that I am fortunate to get to work with. The addition of Texas hospitality makes this experience even better. I look forward to working with all the great people of NASA Texas, continuing on the huge growth weve seen over the last year, and most of all putting on the best amateur events in Texas.

Faules has been involved with NASA since the mid-90s. He was the first ever licensed NASA teen driver at the age of 13 after several years racing go-karts. Hes raced in many NASA classes and highlights include the 2003 25 Hours of Thunderhill Class Winner, 2005 NorCal SM Season Championship Winner, 2005 Western Endurance Racing Championship E-2 Winner, and 2006 NASA Championships PT-E Winner.

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NASATX - National Auto Sport Association - Texas Region

Space Center Houston – Houston Vacations

Space Center Houston, the official visitors center for NASA's Johnson Space Center, is the only place on earth where guests can embark on an out-of-this-world journey through human adventures in space.

Space Center Houston features a multitude of permanent exhibits, attractions and theaters. In addition, the venue presents an array of traveling exhibits and events created exclusively by Space Center Houston's creative exhibit team.

NEW: The space shuttle replica Independence is now on display at Space Center Houston. The 122-foot, 130,000-pound wooden replica was restored so the public can go inside the capsule and it's NASA 747 carrier aircraft as part of a behind-the-scenes look at life inside a space shuttle, an experience only available at Space Center Houston.

Both the shuttle and carrier feature interior exhibits featuring the flight deck and cockpit of the shuttle, astronaut living quarters mid-deck, history on the development of the shuttle program, and how the carrier aircraft docks with shuttles. Visitors walking through the payload bay even get to see a recently returned artifact from STS-49, a space satellite rescue mission.

Independence Plaza is the worlds first and only shuttle/carrier replica open to the public. The exhibit is the largest project Space Center Houston has taken on since it was founded in 1992. Along with original artifacts and history, the complex offers educational workshops and problem-solving activities for those interested in science, mathematics, and engineering careers. At the final leg, guests can watch a film covering the history of space shuttle program as well as a special tribute to the crew members of the Challenger and Columbia missions.

Visitors to Space Center Houston can experience the monumental exhibit at no extra charge as part of museum general admission. Timed ticketing will ensure that a manageable number of guests can access the shuttles smaller space at different intervals.

Permanent Exhibits Blast Off Blast-Off is an unparalleled multi-media sensory experience. Visitors encounter a dramatic high-definition audio/video extravaganza culminating in a dynamic space shuttle blast off.

Living in Space Living in Space is a hands-on exhibit where guests can test their skills at landing the shuttle or retrieving a satellite through interactive computer simulators. A Mission Briefing Officer receives help from an audience participant in a live presentation showing how astronauts handle daily activities like showering, sleeping and preparing meals in space.

The NASA Tram Tour With this behind-the-scenes journey through NASA's Johnson Space Center, you may visit the Historic Mission Control Center, the Space Vehicle Mockup Facility or the current Mission Control Center. Before returning to Space Center Houston, you can visit the "all new" Saturn V Complex at Rocket Park. Occasionally, the tour may visit other facilities, such as the Sonny Carter Training Facility or Neutral Buoyancy Laboratory. You may even get to see astronauts training for upcoming missions.

The Astronaut Gallery This unparalleled exhibit features spacesuits dating back to the first American trip to space and a wall that contains portraits and crew photos of every U.S. astronaut who has flown in space.

Mission Status Mission briefing officers provide live updates on current space flights and astronaut training activities. Guests can listen to communications between Mission Control and astronaut crews aboard the space shuttle. A live video shows a behind-the-scenes view of activities in the Johnson Space Center and a satellite link of a shuttle launch via Kennedy Space Center of Florida.

The Martian Matrix Four stories of out-of-this-world fun for kids, Pepsi's Martian Matrix is an action-packed play area with a space theme. Slides, swings and foam ball battles are just a few of the featured activities.

Kids Space Place Interactive stations and themed areas give children a chance to explore and investigate the different aspects of space exploration. Jumping on the Moon, manning the space shuttle, building a rocket and flying in space are all a part of the growing exhibit.

Starship Gallery On Human Destiny is shown in the Starship Gallery, which highlights great moments in space exploration. The gallery contains artifacts and hardware from the Mercury program through Apollo-Soyuz, including a special Lunar Vault. The New Explorers video wall shares the visions of today's NASA engineers and scientists.

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Space Center Houston - Houston Vacations

Medical Schools in Connecticut | Connecticut Medical Schools

Physical Therapy -Frank H. Netter MD School of Medicine Degree Offered:Doctor of Physical Therapy Location: North Haven Campus 370 Bassett Road North Haven, Connecticut 06473

Radiologist Assistant -Frank H. Netter MD School of Medicine Degree Offered:Master in Radiologist Assignment Location: North Haven Campus 370 Bassett Road North Haven, Connecticut 06473

Physician Assistant -Frank H. Netter MD School of Medicine Degree Offered:Master of Physician Assistant Location: North Haven Campus 370 Bassett Road North Haven, Connecticut 06473

Pathologist Assistant -Frank H. Netter MD School of Medicine Degree Offered:Masters in Pathologists Assistant Location: North Haven Campus 370 Bassett Road North Haven, Connecticut 06473

Science in Health -Frank H. Netter MD School of Medicine Degree Offered:Bachelor of Science in Health Science Studies Location: North Haven Campus 370 Bassett Road

Radiological Sciences -Frank H. Netter MD School of Medicine Degree Offered:Bachelors in Radiological Sciences Location: North Haven Campus 370 Bassett Road North Haven, Connecticut 06473

Microbiology & Immunology -Frank H. Netter MD School of Medicine Degree Offered:Bachelors in Microbiology and Immunology Location: North Haven Campus 370 Bassett Road North Haven,

Diagnostic Imaging -Frank H. Netter MD School of Medicine Degree Offered:Bachelors in Diagnostic Medical Sonography Location: North Haven Campus 370 Bassett Road North Haven, Connecticut

Biomedical Sciences -Frank H. Netter MD School of Medicine Degree Offered:Bachelors in Biomedical Sciences Location: North Haven Campus 370 Bassett Road North Haven, Connecticut 06473

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Medical Schools in Connecticut | Connecticut Medical Schools

Texas Island Vacations | USA Today

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Nicole Long, Demand Media

Texas island vacations offer fabulous beaches to dip your toes in. (Photo: Jupiterimages/Photos.com/Getty Images )

When you think of island vacations, you think relaxation, sun and sand. Situated on the Gulf of Mexico, Texas provides visitors with just that, and more. Texas island vacations allow travelers to enjoy the beach, delve into history and admire unique wildlife. The island communities of Texas are located along the coast and offer not only a respite for the weary traveler, but also a place to let loose, love the climate and enjoy the company of friends.

Featuring 32 miles of sandy beach, this small romantic island offers vacationers a chance to relax as they soak in the sun and dip their toes in the warm Gulf of Mexico waters. And though the beaches are an attraction all on their own, Galveston Island has much more to offer. With more than 2000 homes and buildings featured on the National Registry of Historic Places, Galveston Island continues to charm visitors with distinctive Victorian architecture. Historically the area is significant, because it served as the location of the state's first post office and opera house, among other firsts. Downtown, a section designated as "The Strand," is bustling with travelers savoring the fresh seafood of the region, shopping in the area's many specialty boutiques and enjoying horse-drawn carriage rides. Galveston Island galveston.com

Much more than a popular spring break location, South Padre Island entertains and welcomes over one million visitors annually. Situated off the tropical tip of Texas, the barrier island of South Padre is 34 miles long. Originally named "White Sand" by a Spanish explorer, the island has a strict policy regarding proper island attire. No ties are allowed. Visitors violating the ban are given a polite warning and handed a free South Padre Island T-shirt. The island features retail shops, resorts, and outdoor adventures, such as kiteboarding, windsurfing and parasailing. South Padre Island is also an excellent birding area, with more than 306 recorded species of birds. South Padre Island sopadre.com

Mustang Island State Park, a coastal barrier island, offers vacationers five miles of beach and a unique island ecology to explore. The island, originally settled by the Karankawas Indians, offers excellent opportunities for birding, hiking and swimming. Ecological tours of the island are available and showcase the island's plant and animal life, including the estimated 600 species of saltwater fish that inhabit the coastal waters. Primitive camping is available on the beach, while more traditional campgrounds with electricity and water can be found closer to park headquarters. Restrooms and showers are located throughout the park for visitor convenience. Mustang Island truly offers a retreat from hectic schedules and daily responsibilities. Mustang Island tpwd.state.tx.us

Nicole Long is a freelance writer based in Cincinnati, Ohio. With experience in management and customer service, business is a primary focus of her writing. Long also has education and experience in the fields of sports medicine, first aid and coaching. She earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in economics from the University of Cincinnati.

Thank you for providing feedback to our Editorial staff on this article. Please fill in the following information so we can alert the Travel Tips editorial team about a factual or typographical error in this story. All Fields are required.

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Texas Island Vacations | USA Today

Transhumanisten | Communicamus, – Ergo Sum..

Was reading this fascinating article about 8 crazy.. Mega-Engineering Projects We Could Use to Rework the Earth.. , and thought.. 1. This is a good opportunity to keep this blog alive.. 2. Should I miss this golden opportunity to provoke / annoy.. my leftist / green / down-wing friends.., hell no..

Dont get me wrong: I am (partly) a socalled down-winger myself, (although predominantly an up-winger), and youd be a fool if you think Im merely out to offend.. I wrote about the up-wing / down-wing political compass here , but lets recapitulate:

DownWingers, according to social epistemologist Steve Fuller :

Some additional points, credit to Fogbanking :

UpWingers, in contrast, according to Fuller:

Additional points by Fogbanking:

With this outline in mind, lets take a look at a couple of those crazy / fascinating, according to taste, Mega-Engineering Projects , but.. be warned, gutmenschen, conspiracy theorists, foot-dragging conservationists, climate-change religionists, cultural pessimists, etc., youre in for an extropian, post-Darwinian ride..

(1) Global Weather Control

According to nanotechnology expert J. Storrs Hall, the author of Nanofuture: Whats Next for Nanotechnology, we could start to build a weather machine later this century Read more..

(2) Terraforming the Worlds Largest Deserts

Approximately one-third of Earths land surface is a desert.. Imagine then, for instance,pumping desalinated seawater from the coast to the Sahara Desert and Australian Outback, creating, instead, lush forests and making vast regions of land fertile and habitable, besides, potentially ending global warming.. Read more..

(7) Eliminating Predation (!!)

Such is the dream of British futurist David Pearce, who so happens to be my favourite transhumanist philosopher, and who imagines a future in which animals are liberated from the never-ending cycle of Darwinian processes and its attendant pain and suffering.. Read more..

If youve never heard of this, in my opinion, great thinker, do check him out, and learn about Paradise Engineering..

Other projects: (3) Creating Artificial Islands ; (4) Creating a New Continent ; (5) Eliminating Vast Swaths of Land ; (6) Assisted Species Migration ; (8) Mass Carbon Capture.. FULL ARTICLE..

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Transhumanisten | Communicamus, - Ergo Sum..

What is the worlds fastest supercomputer used for …

For most of us, a computer probably seems fast enough if it's able to run "LEGO Lord of the Rings" or a YouTube video of an English bulldog on a skateboard without slowing to a crawl. But for scientists who need to work on really complicated problems, the mere 158 billion calculations per second that a PC with an i7 processor can perform isn't nearly enough [sources: Peckham, ORNL, Kolawole].

That's why researchers are so excited about the Tennessee-based Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL)'s new toy, the Cray Titan supercomputer. When it was unveiled in October 2012, the Titan claimed the title of world's fastest computer, which had been held by the IBM Sequoia Blue Gene/Q machine at the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory in California for just six months [sources: Burt, Johnston].

How fast is the Titan? Its theoretical top speed is 27 petaflops, which doesn't sound that impressive unless you know that it means 27,000 trillion calculations per second [source: ORNL]. That's hundreds of thousands times faster than your top-of-the-line PC. Unlike your PC, though, Titan won't fit on a desktop; it occupies a space the size of a basketball court [source: Kolawole].

Titan's incredible speed makes it a fantastic tool for tackling really complicated problems that involve gigantic amounts of data. Researchers plan to use it to run detailed simulations of the Earth's climate, which may yield ideas on how to lessen global warming. They also may use it to help design super-efficient internal combustion engines and solar panels, and to run biological simulations that will help speed the testing of new drugs. On the pure science level, Titan could help scientists simulate the breaking of the bonds that hold molecules together, giving them new insights into one of the most important processes in nature [sources: ORNL, Kolawole].

But the Titan is important not just because it's incredibly fast, but because it pioneers a new sort of supercomputer design that could spawn a generation of even speedier machines. For years, scientists have achieved higher and higher speeds simply by building machines with thousands and thousands of central processing units, or CPUs, in them, and then breaking the calculations they want to perform into smaller pieces that could be parceled out to all of those CPUs [source: ORNL]. The drawback of that approach is all those CPU chips require enormous amounts of electricity. The Titan, however, pairs each of its 18,688 CPUs with a graphic processing unit, or GPU the sort of chip used in hot-rod gaming PCs to accelerate the computations. GPUs don't draw as much juice as CPUs, so the result is a machine that's faster than its predecessors but also a lot more energy efficient [sources: ORNL, Kolawole].

Researchers see the Titan as blazing the way toward exascale-class computers that is, machines a thousand or more times as fast as the most powerful supercomputers today [sources: Kolawole, Goodwin and Zacharia].

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What is the worlds fastest supercomputer used for ...

Caribbean – Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Caribbean Area 2,754,000km2 (1,063,000sqmi) Land area 239,681km2 (92,541sqmi) Population (2009) 39,169,962[1] Density 151.5/km2 (392/sqmi) Ethnic groups Afro-Caribbean, White Caribbean, Indo-Caribbean, Chinese Caribbean,Middle Eastern-Caribbean,[2]Arawak (Kalinago, Tano) Demonym Caribbean, Caribbean person, West Indian Languages Spanish, English, French, Dutch, French Creole, English Creole, Caribbean Hindustani, among others Government 13 sovereign states 17 dependent territories Largest cities List of metropolitan areas in the West Indies Santo Domingo Havana Port-au-Prince Santiago de los Caballeros Kingston Santiago de Cuba San Juan Holgun Cap-Hatien Fort-de-France Port of Spain Internet TLD Multiple Calling code Multiple Time zone UTC-5 to UTC-4

The Caribbean ( or ; Spanish: Caribe; Dutch: Caraben(helpinfo); Caribbean Hindustani: (Kairibiyana); French: Carabe or more commonly Antilles) is a region that consists of the Caribbean Sea, its islands (some surrounded by the Caribbean Sea and some bordering both the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean), and the surrounding coasts. The region is southeast of the Gulf of Mexico and the North American mainland, east of Central America, and north of South America.

Situated largely on the Caribbean Plate, the region comprises more than 700 islands, islets, reefs, and cays. (See the list.) These islands generally form island arcs that delineate the eastern and northern edges of the Caribbean Sea.[3] The Caribbean islands, consisting of the Greater Antilles on the north and the Lesser Antilles on the south and east (including the Leeward Antilles), are part of the somewhat larger West Indies grouping, which also includes the Lucayan Archipelago (comprising The Bahamas and Turks and Caicos Islands) north of the Greater Antilles and Caribbean Sea. In a wider sense, the mainland countries of Belize, Venezuela, Guyana, Suriname, and French Guiana are also included.

Geopolitically, the Caribbean islands are usually regarded as a subregion of North America[4][5][6][7][8] and are organized into 30 territories including sovereign states, overseas departments, and dependencies. From December 15, 1954, to October 10, 2010 there was a country known as the Netherlands Antilles composed of five states, all of which were Dutch dependencies.[9] While from January 3, 1958, to May 31, 1962, there was also a short-lived country called the Federation of the West Indies composed of ten English-speaking Caribbean territories, all of which were then British dependencies. The West Indies cricket team continues to represent many of those nations.

The region takes its name from that of the Caribs, an ethnic group present in the Lesser Antilles and parts of adjacent South America at the time of the Spanish conquest.[10]

The two most prevalent pronunciations of "Caribbean" are KARR--BEE-n, with the primary accent on the third syllable, and k-RIB-ee-n, with the accent on the second. The former pronunciation is the older of the two, although the stressed-second-syllable variant has been established for over 75 years.[11] It has been suggested that speakers of British English prefer KARR--BEE-n while North American speakers more typically use k-RIB-ee-n,[12] although not all sources agree.[13] Usage is split within Caribbean English itself.[14]

The word "Caribbean" has multiple uses. Its principal ones are geographical and political. The Caribbean can also be expanded to include territories with strong cultural and historical connections to slavery, European colonisation, and the plantation system.

The geography and climate in the Caribbean region varies: Some islands in the region have relatively flat terrain of non-volcanic origin. These islands include Aruba (possessing only minor volcanic features), Barbados, Bonaire, the Cayman Islands, Saint Croix, the Bahamas, and Antigua. Others possess rugged towering mountain-ranges like the islands of Cuba, Hispaniola, Puerto Rico, Jamaica, Dominica, Montserrat, Saba, Saint Kitts, Saint Lucia, Saint Thomas, Saint John, Tortola, Grenada, Saint Vincent, Guadeloupe, Martinique, and Trinidad & Tobago.

Definitions of the terms Greater Antilles and Lesser Antilles often vary. The Virgin Islands as part of the Puerto Rican bank are sometimes included with the Greater Antilles. The term Lesser Antilles is often used to define an island arc that includes Grenada but excludes Trinidad and Tobago and the Leeward Antilles.

The waters of the Caribbean Sea host large, migratory schools of fish, turtles, and coral reef formations. The Puerto Rico trench, located on the fringe of the Atlantic Ocean and Caribbean Sea just to the north of the island of Puerto Rico, is the deepest point in all of the Atlantic Ocean.[16]

The region sits in the line of several major shipping routes with the Panama Canal connecting the western Caribbean Sea with the Pacific Ocean.

The climate of the area is tropical to subtropical in Cuba, The Bahamas and Puerto Rico. Rainfall varies with elevation, size, and water currents (cool upwellings keep the ABC islands arid). Warm, moist tradewinds blow consistently from the east creating rainforest/semidesert divisions on mountainous islands. Occasional northwesterlies affect the northern islands in the winter. The region enjoys year-round sunshine, divided into 'dry' and 'wet' seasons, with the last six months of the year being wetter than the first half.

Hurricane Season is from June to November, but they occur more frequently in August and September and more common in the northern islands of the Caribbean.Hurricanes that sometimes batter the region usually strike northwards of Grenada and to the west of Barbados. The principal hurricane belt arcs to northwest of the island of Barbados in the Eastern Caribbean.

Water temperatures vary from 31C (88F) to 22C (72F) all around the year. The air temperature is warm, in the 20s and 30s C (70s, 80s, and 90s F) during the year, only varies from winter to summer about 25 degrees on the southern islands and about 1020 degrees difference can occur in the northern islands of the Caribbean. The northern islands, like the Bahamas, Cuba, Puerto Rico, and The Dominican Republic, may be influenced by continental masses during winter months, such as cold fronts.

Aruba: Latitude 12N

Puerto Rico: Latitude 18N

Cuba: at Latitude 22N

Greater Antilles

Lesser Antilles

All islands at some point were, and a few still are, colonies of European nations; a few are overseas or dependent territories:

The British West Indies were united by the United Kingdom into a West Indies Federation between 1958 and 1962. The independent countries formerly part of the B.W.I. still have a joint cricket team that competes in Test matches, One Day Internationals and Twenty20 Internationals. The West Indian cricket team includes the South American nation of Guyana, the only former British colony on the mainland of that continent.

In addition, these countries share the University of the West Indies as a regional entity. The university consists of three main campuses in Jamaica, Barbados and Trinidad and Tobago, a smaller campus in the Bahamas and Resident Tutors in other contributing territories such as Trinidad.

Islands in and near the Caribbean

Maritime boundaries between the Caribbean (island) nations

The Caribbean islands are remarkable for the diversity of their animals, fungi and plants, and have been classified as one of Conservation International's biodiversity hotspots because of their exceptionally diverse terrestrial and marine ecosystems, ranging from montane cloud forests to cactus scrublands. The region also contains about 8% (by surface area) of the world's coral reefs[22] along with extensive seagrass meadows,[23] both of which are frequently found in the shallow marine waters bordering island and continental coasts off the region.

For the fungi, there is a modern checklist based on nearly 90,000 records derived from specimens in reference collections, published accounts and field observations.[24] That checklist includes more than 11250 species of fungi recorded from the region. As its authors note, the work is far from exhaustive, and it is likely that the true total number of fungal species already known from the Caribbean is higher. The true total number of fungal species occurring in the Caribbean, including species not yet recorded, is likely far higher given the generally accepted estimate that only about 7% of all fungi worldwide have been discovered.[25] Though the amount of available information is still small, a first effort has been made to estimate the number of fungal species endemic to some Caribbean islands. For Cuba, 2200 species of fungi have been tentatively identified as possible endemics of the island;[26] for Puerto Rico, the number is 789 species;[27] for the Dominican Republic, the number is 699 species;[28] for Trinidad and Tobago, the number is 407 species.[29]

Many of the ecosystems of the Caribbean islands have been devastated by deforestation, pollution, and human encroachment. The arrival of the first humans is correlated with extinction of giant owls and dwarf ground sloths.[30] The hotspot contains dozens of highly threatened animals (ranging from birds, to mammals and reptiles), fungi and plants. Examples of threatened animals include the Puerto Rican amazon, two species of solenodon (giant shrews) in Cuba and the Hispaniola island, and the Cuban crocodile.

The region's coral reefs, which contain about 70 species of hard corals and between 500700 species of reef-associated fishes[31] have undergone rapid decline in ecosystem integrity in recent years, and are considered particularly vulnerable to global warming and ocean acidification.[32] According to a UNEP report, the caribbean coral reefs might get extinct in next 20 years due to population explosion along the coast lines, overfishing, the pollution of coastal areas and global warming.[33]

Some Caribbean islands have terrain that Europeans found suitable for cultivation for agriculture. Tobacco was an important early crop during the colonial era, but was eventually overtaken by sugarcane production as the region's staple crop. Sugar was produced from sugarcane for export to Europe. Cuba and Barbados were historically the largest producers of sugar. The tropical plantation system thus came to dominate Caribbean settlement. Other islands were found to have terrain unsuited for agriculture, for example Dominica, which remains heavily forested. The islands in the southern Lesser Antilles, Aruba, Bonaire and Curaao, are extremely arid, making them unsuitable for agriculture. However, they have salt pans that were exploited by the Dutch. Sea water was pumped into shallow ponds, producing coarse salt when the water evaporated.[34]

The natural environmental diversity of the Caribbean islands has led to recent growth in eco-tourism. This type of tourism is growing on islands lacking sandy beaches and dense human populations.[35]

The Martinique amazon, Amazona martinicana, is an extinct species of parrot in the Psittacidae family.

At the time of European contact, the dominant ethnic groups in the Caribbean included the Tano of the Greater Antilles and northern Lesser Antilles, the Island Caribs of the southern Lesser Antilles, and smaller distinct groups such as the Guanajatabey of western Cuba and the Ciguayo of western Hispaniola. The population of the Caribbean is estimated to have been around 750,000 immediately before European contact, although lower and higher figures are given. After contact, social disruption and epidemic diseases such as smallpox and measles (to which they had no natural immunity)[36] led to a decline in the Amerindian population.[37] From 1500 to 1800 the population rose as slaves arrived from West Africa[38] such as the Kongo, Igbo, Akan, Fon and Yoruba as well as military prisoners and captured slaves from Ireland, who were deported during the Cromwellian reign in England.[39] Immigrants from Britain, Italy, France, Spain, the Netherlands, Portugal and Denmark also arrived, although the mortality rate was high for both groups.[40]

The population is estimated to have reached 2.2 million by 1800.[41] Immigrants from India, China, and other countries arrived in the 19th century.[42] After the ending of the Atlantic slave trade, the population increased naturally.[43] The total regional population was estimated at 37.5 million by 2000.[44]

The majority of the Caribbean has populations of mainly Africans in the French Caribbean, Anglophone Caribbean and Dutch Caribbean, there are minorities of mixed-race and European peoples of Dutch, English, French, Italian and Portuguese ancestry. Asians, especially those of Chinese and Indian descent, form a significant minority in the region and also contribute to multiracial communities. All of their ancestors arrived in the 19th century as indentured laborers.

The Spanish-speaking Caribbean have primarily mixed race, African, or European majorities. Puerto Rico has a European majority with a mixture of European-African (mulatto), and a large West African minority. One third of Cuba's (largest Caribbean island) population is of African descent, with a sizable Mulatto (mixed AfricanEuropean) population, and European majority. The Dominican Republic has the largest mixed race population, primarily descended from Europeans, West Africans, and Amerindians.

Larger islands such as Jamaica, have a very large African majority, in addition to a significant mixed race, Chinese, Europeans, Indian, Lebanese, Latin American, and Syrian populations. This is a result of years of importation of slaves and indentured labourers, and migration. Most multi-racial Jamaicans refer to themselves as either mixed race or Brown. The situation is similar for the Caricom states of Belize, Guyana, Suriname and Trinidad and Tobago. Trinidad and Tobago has a multi-racial cosmopolitan society due to the arrival of the Africans, Indians, Chinese, Syrians, Lebanese, Native Amerindians and Europeans. This multi-racial mix has created sub-ethnicities that often straddle the boundaries of major ethnicities and include Chindian, Mulatto and Dougla.

Spanish, English, French, Dutch, Haitian Creole, and Papiamento are the predominant official languages of various countries in the region, though a handful of unique creole languages or dialects can also be found from one country to another.

Christianity is the predominant religion in the Caribbean (84.7%).[45] Other religious groups in the region are Hinduism, Islam, Buddhist, Rastafari, and Afro-American religions such as Santera and Vodou.

Caribbean societies are very different from other Western societies in terms of size, culture, and degree of mobility of their citizens.[46] The current economic and political problems the states face individually are common to all Caribbean states. Regional development has contributed to attempts to subdue current problems and avoid projected problems. From a political and economic perspective, regionalism serves to make Caribbean states active participants in current international affairs through collective coalitions. In 1973, the first political regionalism in the Caribbean Basin was created by advances of the English-speaking Caribbean nations through the institution known as the Caribbean Common Market and Community (CARICOM)[47] which is located in Guyana.

Certain scholars have argued both for and against generalizing the political structures of the Caribbean. On the one hand the Caribbean states are politically diverse, ranging from communist systems such as Cuba toward more capitalist Westminster-style parliamentary systems as in the Commonwealth Caribbean. Other scholars argue that these differences are superficial, and that they tend to undermine commonalities in the various Caribbean states. Contemporary Caribbean systems seem to reflect a "blending of traditional and modern patterns, yielding hybrid systems that exhibit significant structural variations and divergent constitutional traditions yet ultimately appear to function in similar ways."[48] The political systems of the Caribbean states share similar practices.

The influence of regionalism in the Caribbean is often marginalized. Some scholars believe that regionalism cannot exist in the Caribbean because each small state is unique. On the other hand, scholars also suggest that there are commonalities amongst the Caribbean nations that suggest regionalism exists. "Proximity as well as historical ties among the Caribbean nations has led to cooperation as well as a desire for collective action."[49] These attempts at regionalization reflect the nations' desires to compete in the international economic system.[49]

Furthermore, a lack of interest from other major states promoted regionalism in the region. In recent years the Caribbean has suffered from a lack of U.S. interest. "With the end of the Cold War, U.S. security and economic interests have been focused on other areas. As a result there has been a significant reduction in U.S. aid and investment to the Caribbean."[50] The lack of international support for these small, relatively poor states, helped regionalism prosper.

Following the Cold War another issue of importance in the Caribbean has been the reduced economic growth of some Caribbean States due to the United States and European Union's allegations of special treatment toward the region by each other. [clarification needed]

The United States under President Bill Clinton launched a challenge in the World Trade Organization against the EU over Europe's preferential program, known as the Lom Convention, which allowed banana exports from the former colonies of the Group of African, Caribbean and Pacific states (ACP) to enter Europe cheaply.[51] The World Trade Organization sided in the United States' favour and the beneficial elements of the convention to African, Caribbean and Pacific states has been partially dismantled and replaced by the Cotonou Agreement.[52]

During the US/EU dispute, the United States imposed large tariffs on European Union goods (up to 100%) to pressure Europe to change the agreement with the Caribbean nations in favour of the Cotonou Agreement.[53]

Farmers in the Caribbean have complained of falling profits and rising costs as the Lom Convention weakens. Some farmers have faced increased pressure to turn towards the cultivation of illegal drugs, which has a higher profit margin and fills the sizable demand for these illegal drugs in North America and Europe.[54][55]

Caribbean nations have also started to more closely cooperate in the Caribbean Financial Action Task Force and other instruments to add oversight of the offshore industry. One of the most important associations that deal with regionalism amongst the nations of the Caribbean Basin has been the Association of Caribbean States (ACS). Proposed by CARICOM in 1992, the ACS soon won the support of the other countries of the region. It was founded in July 1994. The ACS maintains regionalism within the Caribbean on issues unique to the Caribbean Basin. Through coalition building, like the ACS and CARICOM, regionalism has become an undeniable part of the politics and economics of the Caribbean. The successes of region-building initiatives are still debated by scholars, yet regionalism remains prevalent throughout the Caribbean.

The President of Venezuela, Hugo Chavez launched an economic group called the Bolivarian Alliance for the Americas (ALBA), which several eastern Caribbean islands joined. In 2012, the nation of Haiti, with 9 million people, became the largest CARICOM nation that sought to join the union.[56]

Here are some of the bodies that several islands share in collaboration:

Coordinates: 143132N 754906W / 14.52556N 75.81833W / 14.52556; -75.81833

See original here:

Caribbean - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Best Beaches in New Jersey – New Jersey Monthly

Best: Family Fun Beach Point Pleasant Beach Exit N-90/S-98 Fun House isnt just an attraction on the Point Pleasant Beach boardwalk; its an appropriate moniker for this seaside playground with its first-class aquarium, live entertainment, arcades, wide beaches and array of dining options. Rent bikes from the colorful fleet at Shore Riders Bike Rentals and cruise the boardwalk while the line winds down at Perks Caf, a popular breakfast spot featuring candied French toast and fresh fruit. Then hit the beach at Martells, where you can enjoy alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages from its Tiki Bar. Want to get the kids out of the sun? At Jenkinsons Aquarium, they can view sharks, penguins, alligators and sealseven sea stars and stingrays in the touch tank. For dinner, head over to Frankies Bar & Grill to feast on 10-ounce sirloin burgers. A $5.95 childrens menu offers six selections served with fries and a glass of milk or soda. End a great day at Hoffmans, where you can indulge in delicious homemade ice creamfrom strawberry bon bon to peanut butter nugget. AJC

Best: Family Quiet Beaches Stone Harbor Exit 10 With its small-town charm, laid-back shopping district and numerous restaurants, Stone Harbor offers fun for the whole familyat a slower pace than many of its Shore neighbors. The beaches are never overcrowded and are within walking distance of all points in the town (which for the most part is just two or three city blocks wide). Shoppers flock to 96th Street, but the town has plenty to keep the kids entertained as well. Peek through the windows at the Original Fudge Kitchen to see the sweet stuff being prepared; pop into Island Studio to paint your own pottery; or play a rooftop round of mini golf at one of Tee Times two locations. For fun on the water, you can rent a kayak or a surfboard from Harbor Outfitters for some flat-water paddling on the calm bay, or sign the family up for one of their guided ecotours. Satisfy the kids pizza cravings at Peace A Pizza, which serves offerings such as chicken parmesan and mac-n-cheese pizza. And cap it all off with a trip to Springers Homemade Ice Cream, a Stone Harbor staple since the 1920s. On summer Mondays, bring a blanket to the firehouse lot at 7 pm for family nights featuring magic shows, jugglers, puppets and songs.DAS

Recommended Reading: The Sweet 16: New Jersey's Best Craft Breweries

Bay Head Exit S-98/N-90 There are no public changing rooms in Bay Head, and food and beverages are prohibited on the beach. But the strand is never crowded, bathers are protected by lifeguards, and you can rent kayaks, surfboards and bikes right in town. For dinner, bring the family to Theresas South, a casual and creative offshoot of the popular Theresas in Westfield. Later, stop in for ice cream at Dorcas of Bay Head, a classic soda-fountain sidewalk caf. Dont miss the Summer Surf Movie Nights at the Beach House Classic Boardshop on select Fridays throughout the summer. DAS

Sea Girt Exit 98 With one mile of uncrowded beaches and an old-fashioned boardwalk, Sea Girt is perfect for a quiet family getaway. The boardwalk begins at the foot of the Sea Girt Lighthouse and runs to the south end of town. Hungry? Check out Rods Olde Irish Tavern, a turn-of-the-century saloon, for some traditional pub fare.DAS

Best: Secluded Beach Strathmere, Upper Township Exit N-13/S-17 Some folks in Upper Township are not happy with New Jersey Monthly. Why? Because in last years Shore Guide, we spilled the beans about their beloved gemStrathmere. (Seriously, they yelled at this reporter last summer.) Well, the secret is out, and yes, Strathmere is as unique as it sounds. Tucked between the busier Ocean City and Sea Isle City, this cozy 1.5-mile stretch is quiet, shoobie-free and requires no beach tags. Approach it from two-lane Commonwealth Avenue (where you can always find free street parking, even in the height of summer) and stake out a sandy spot for the day. Enjoy sunbathing at the shoreline, take a walk to the northern end of the island for views of OC, watch the dolphins commute, or try ocean kayaking, surfing, fishing, even kiteboardingall without kitschy shops and boardwalk hubbub. For a break from sun and sand, grab an ice cream at the Old Shack or a cold beer or two during happy hour at hole-in-the-wall Twisties or on the outdoor deck at the popular Deauville Inn. Just dont tell anyone you heard about it from me. The towns oval car decals even say Shhh. EMF

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Best Beaches in New Jersey - New Jersey Monthly

California Medical Schools – Medical School Insider

California medical schools are some of the best in the nation.Many of the medical schools in California are in the top10 medical schools, top 20 medical schools, and top 50 medical schools.

If you are a California resident, you are in luck! You havesix public California medical schools that will likely prefer you over out-of-state medical school applicants and will definitely give you a tuition break. To learn more about public vs private medical schools, click here.

If you want to be accepted to one of the California medical schools, you'll need to study hard for the MCATand get good grades in your required classes.

However, it takes a lot more than that to get accepted to one of the medical schools in California.

Since California medical schools are very competitive, you may benefit from using professional services to help you make your dream of acceptance to a California medical school a reality.

This is a team of former medical school admissions committee members who are dedicated to helping you succeed as an applicant. They understand what medical schools are looking for and how to make you stand out. They're so good, in fact, that I joined them! They have a number of programs available to fit your needs.

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Now on to what you came to this page for! Medical schools in California are listed below with the 2011 research rank by US World and News Report. Not all schools are ranked. If you notice differences between the GPA listed here and the GPA listed on the Top 100 Medical Schools page, that's because the GPA here is an average given by the school and the GPA on the Top 100 page is a median GPA for this year.

US World and News Report Rank: #13

Location: Los Angeles, CA

Average GPA: 3.81

Accepts International Students: Yes

UC Davis Medical School

US World and News Report Rank: #42

Location: Sacramento, CA

Average GPA: 3.66

Accepts International Students: Yes

UC San Diego School of Medicine

US World and News Report Rank: #42

Location: Irvine, CA

Average GPA: 3.66

Accepts International Students: No

US World and News Report Rank: #5

Location: San Francisco, CA

Average GPA: 3.71, 3.73 science

Accepts International Students: Yes

UC Riverside School of Medicine

There are also several California medical schools that are private. Private medical schools have the advantage of not giving favor to people from a certain state of residence. They are also some of the most respected schools in the nation. However, they are more expensive. Although, recently the tuition forpublic California medical schools has gone up and is now approaching the cost of private medical schools in California.A lot of this is due to the budget issues in California currently.Here are the private schools:

Stanford Medical School

US World and News Report Rank: #5

Location: Stanford, CA

Average GPA: 3.81

Accepts International Students: Yes

USC Medical School

US World and News Report Rank: Not ranked

Location: Loma Linda, CA

Average GPA: 3.8

Accepts International Students: Yes

Another option for California medical schools are the osteopathic schools. Osteopathic schools award the DO degree, vs the MD degree from allopathic schools. Osteopathic schools have more of a "holistic" focus, thinking about the whole person in treating disease. These schools also train in osteopathic manipulative medicine, which involves manipulating the body in order to treat disease. These schools are all private schools and generally have lower average GPA and MCAT scores for entering students than allopathic schools, although as you can see, they're not that much lower.

Touro University College of Osteopathic Medicine

Western University of Health Sciences

US News and World Report: Not ranked

Location: Pomona, CA

Average GPA: 3.53 (3.47 science)

Accepts International Students: Yes. Requires F-1 Student visa.

As you can see, you have several California medical schools to choose from. Whether you want to stay close to home or come out to theWest Coast,California is a great place to live. If you are a California resident, you do have an advantage as there are several public schools to choose from. However, as you can tell, all of the California medical schools are very competitive. MCAT and GPA are part ofwhat will get you into medical school, but there's a lot more you need to do.

Good luck to you as you apply and come back often for more information about medical schools in California and applying to and succeeding in medical school!

The medical school admissions process can is very difficult. Getting into your best medical school is not something that you should leave to chance! This site is designed to help you get intothe school of your choice, maybe that'sa California medical school! Check out my admissions page for understanding the admissions process.

Some students find it useful to employ a service to help them withgetting into medical school. For a school as competitive as these, I would highly recommend coaching. There are many companies that will help you with this, but my recommendation is MedSchoolCoach.

MedSchoolCoach is run by doctors with experience on admissions committees. This makes a big difference as many companies are run by business people or others without this essential experience. They also have an excellent track record, placing 100% of students in an MD or DOprogram and 87% in an MD program for those who sign up for their gold package.They also offer help with personal statements , interviews and help on choosing which schools to apply to. They are the company I recommend.

I also like them because their prices are very affordable compared to other companies you could choose. Also, click here for current discounts from MedSchoolCoach. Remember, about 60% of applicants are not accepted to any medical school! Don't be one of the 60%! The cost of reapplying could easily be as much as getting help the first time around to help you get accepted. You can also specifically request that I work with you on your application if you wish. I served on the UCLA admissions and work particularly with essays, AMCAS applications, general advising, and have experience with California and Texas schools. I'd be happy to help you get into the school of your choice! Click here to visit MedSchoolCoach

Return from California Medical Schools to List of Medical Schools

Return to Medical School Insider

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California Medical Schools - Medical School Insider

Libertarian History: A Reading List | Libertarianism.org

November 3, 2011 essays

A guide to books on the history of liberty and libertarianism.

The history of libertarianism is more than a series of scholarly statements on philosophy, economics, and the social sciences. It is the history of courageous men and women struggling to bring freedom to the lives of those living without it. The works on this list give important context to the ideas found on the others.

A History of Libertarianism by David Boaz

This essay, reprinted from Libertarianism: A Primer, covers the sweep of libertarian and pre-libertarian history, from Lao Tzu in the sixth century B.C. to the latest developments of the 21st century. Because its available for free on Libertarianism.org, the essay also includes numerous links to more information about major thinkers and their works. For a general sense of the rich history of the movement for liberty, this is easily the best place to start.

The Ideological Origins of the American Revolution by Bernard Bailyn

Bernard Bailyns Pulitzer Prize-winning history of the ideas that influenced the American Revolution had a profound influence on our understanding of the republics origin by exposing its deeply libertarian foundations. Bailyn studied the many political pamphlets published between 1750 and 1776 and identified patterns of language, argument, and references to figures such as the radical Whigs and Cato the Younger. Because these were notions which men often saw little need to explain because they were so obvious, their understanding was assumed by the Founders and thus not immediately obvious to modern readers. When the Revolution is reexamined with Bailyns findings in mind, theres no way to escape the conclusion that America was always steeped in libertarian principles.

Radicals for Capitalism: A Freewheeling History of the Modern American Libertarian Movement by Brian Doherty

The libertarian movement in America in the 20th century is the focus of this delightful history from Brian Dorhety. Radicals for Capitalism is more the story of the men and women who fought for freedom and limited government than it is an intellectual history of libertarian ideas. But it is an important story because it helps to place the contemporary debate about the place of libertarianism in American politics within the context of a major and long-lived social movement.

The Decline of American Liberalism by Arthur A. Ekirch Jr.

Ekirch traces the history of the liberal idea in the United States from the founding through World War II. He places the high point of true liberalism in the years immediately following the American Revolution, before the federal government began its long march of ever more centralized control over the country. And he shows how this shift has negatively impacted everything from global peace to the economy to individual autonomy.

Against the Tide: An Intellectual History of Free Trade by Douglas A. Irwin

Ever since Adam Smiths Wealth of Nations appeared in 1776, the case for free tradeboth its economic benefits and its moral footingseemed settled. Yet in the ensuing two centuries, many have attempted to restrict freedom of trade with claims about its deleterious effects. Irwins Against the Tide traces the intellectual history of free trade from the early mercantilists, through Smith and the neoclassical economists, and to the present. He shows how free trade has withstood theoretical assaults from protectionists of all stripesand how it remains the most effective means for bringing prosperity and peace to people throughout the world.

The Triumph of Liberty: A 2,000 Year History Told Through the Lives of Freedoms Greatest Champions by Jim Powell

If Radicals for Capitalism is the tale of the men and women who fought for liberty in the 20th century, Jim Powells The Triumph of Liberty fills in the backstory. The book is an exhaustive collection of biographical articles on 65 major figures, from Marcus Tullius Cicero to Martin Luther King, Jr., summarizing their lives, thought, and impact. While not all of them were strictly libertarian, every one of the people Powell covers was instrumental in making the world a freer. For a grand sweep of libertys history through the lives of those who struggled in its name, theres no better source than The Triumph of Liberty.

How The West Grew Rich: The Economic Transformation Of The Industrial World by Nathan Rosenberg and L. E. Birdzell Jr.

The central question that How the West Grew Rich addresses is precisely what its title implies. For thousands of years, human beings lived in unrelieved misery: hunger, famine, illiteracy, superstition, ignorance, pestilence and worse have been their lot. How did things change? How did a relatively few peoplethose in what we call the Westescape from grinding poverty into sustained economic growth and material well-being when most other societies remained trapped in an endless cycle of birth, hardship, and death? This fascinating book tells that story. The explanations that many historians have offeredclaiming that it was all due to science, or luck, or natural resources, or exploitations or imperialismare refuted at the outset, in the books opening chapter. Rosenberg and Birdzell are then free to provide an explanation that makes much more sense.

The State by Franz Oppenheimer

Much political philosophy begins with a social concept theory of the state. Mankind originally existed in a state of nature, and the state only arose when people came together and agreed to give up some of their liberties in exchange for protection of others. Oppenheimer rejects this rosy picture and replaces it with his much more realistic conquest theory, which finds the genesis of states in roving bands of marauders who eventually settled down and turned to taxation when they realized it was easier than perpetual raiding. The State also features Oppenheimers influential distinction between the two means by which man can set about fulfilling his needs: I propose in the following discussion to call ones own labor and the equivalent exchange of ones own labor for the labor of others, the economic means for the satisfaction of needs, while the unrequited appropriation of the labor of others will be called the political means.

Bourgeois Dignity: Why Economics Cant Explain the Modern World by Deirdre McCloskey

In Bourgeois Dignity, McCloskey offers a different story of economic growth from the common one of capitalism and markets. The West grew rich, she argues, not simply because it embraced trade, but because its cultural ideas shifted, specifically in granting a sense of dignity to the bourgeoisie. It is that dignityand the rhetoric surrounding itthat sparked the Industrial Revolution and, in turn, lead to the modern world. Bourgeois Dignity traces the influence of these changing ideasand uses them to explain not just the rise of the West but also the recent, monumental growth of India and China. The book is the second in a four-volume series, The Bourgeois Era.

Aaron Ross Powell is a Cato Institute research fellow and founder and editor of Libertarianism.org, which presents introductory material as well as new scholarship related to libertarian philosophy, theory, and history. He is also co-host of Libertarianism.orgs popular podcast, Free Thoughts. His writing has appeared in Liberty and The Cato Journal. He earned a JD from the University of Denver.

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Libertarian History: A Reading List | Libertarianism.org

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Our Institute brings together all the programs and capabilities the college offers - from MBAs and executive education short courses to applied research and implementation support.

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Our MBA is a top-tier degree program designed to deliver a concentrated, information-packed curriculum that connects you to the business of aerospace and defense like no other MBA program available.

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We offer a broad range of executive programs and custom solutions designed to address issues in leadership, business processes, and strategic planning.

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In the Aerospace & Defense Business Institute, the Haslam College of Business brings together a comprehensive portfolio of education, training, applied research and implementation support capabilities to serve a vital and unique industry.The aerospace and defense (A&D) industry faces unique business challenges and involves very unique business processes. The Aerospace & Defense Business Institute provides an integrated brand and program promotion for our A&D offerings and oversees and directs a wide range of industry outreach and engagement activities. Programs range from the Aerospace & Defense MBA to A&D-tailored and A&D-relevant short courses along with applied research and field support. The college also offers a great pipeline of well qualified talent for internships and full-time positions in business functions all across the industry.

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The University of Tennessee's Aerospace & Defense MBA program helps A&D organizationsbig and small, public and privategrow their best people and transform their business. Students earn an MBA in a year while continuing to work. We attract a powerful student cohort and deliver exceptional leader development through:

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The U.S. Department of Defense is facing at least $450 billion in budget cuts over the next 10 years. Although the specifics are still uncertain, significant change is inevitable. Mounting economic and political pressures on the budget will require the Department of Defense, as well as the defense industry, to find efficiencies without sacrificing effectiveness. Many of those efficiencies can be realized using continuous process improvement and change management tools.

The University of Tennessees Graduate & Executive Education (GEE) has extensive experience with the business of aerospace and defense. GEE has performed training in continuous process improvement and change management for all the armed services (extensively with the U.S. Air Force). We offer a broad range of executive programs and custom solutions designed to address issues in leadership, business processes, and strategic planning.

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Our accomplished faculty bring their depth of military and industry experience to ensure you have the most impactful experience possible. Additionally, our committed staff will be there every step of the way to support you and the goals you want to create.

Classes are held in the executive classrooms of the University of Tennessee Graduate & Executive Education. Accommodations are single-occupancy rooms at a nearby hotel. Classes can also be offered at a location of your choice.

Graduate & Executive Education ~ 504 Haslam Business Building, Knoxville, TN 37996-4150 Phone:+1 (865) 974-5001 ~ Fax: +1 (865) 974-4989 ~ Email:execed@utk.edu

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Aerospace & Defense Executive Programs & Custom Solutions