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Us Islands Awards Program

Posted on December 10, 2015 by Danzig

Call Op Power Class QTH Multi-op Calls K3USI Multi-Op QRO Island Rover MD025R, MD040R NS4J & KF4BAN K4FWB Multi-Op QRO Island Expedition Fl003S KK4VHX, KM4EGY, KB4OID, NS4H K4OBX Multi-Op QRO Island Expedition NC005S KA3AGT, N8PPF, NC4AT, K4HAT, N4JKL K5KG Single Op QRO Fixed Island FL098S K9QJS Single Op QRP Fixed Island WA004S KG5FZW Multi-Op QRO Island Rover AZ023L, UT023L KG5FZW, NM5RC KI4FW/m Single Op QRP Island Expedition DC002R KX9X Single Op QRP Non-Island CT N3MK Single Op QRO Fixed Island Station VA002S N4GHI Checklog N4SVC (N0TW, op) Single Op QRO Island Expedition FL522S N7KRN Multi-Op QRO Island Rover WA062S, WA001S, WA002S, WA048S, WA061S, WA163R, WA003S N7KRN, N7MZ N8SUZ Multi-Op QRO Island Rover OH057L, OHO58L N8SUZ, KD8PUJ ND2L Checklog ND9E Single Op QRO Island Rover IL003R, IL019L, MO003R NM5RC Single Op QRO Island Rover AZ023L, UT023L NP3CW Single Op QRO Fixed Island Station PR006S NY6DX Single Op QRO Fixed Island NY003S VA3PCJ Single Op QRP Island Expedition ON295 W0OJY Multi-Op QRO Island Expedition SD004R W0SD, KD00TGH, W0EJ, AD0P, KF0FGU, KD0ZKI W0YJT Single Op QRO Non-Island KS W1NRG Multi-Op QRO Island Expedition CT035L KB1HCC, KC1ACN, KC1AXJ, N1GNV, N1ZN, W1KKF W2HUV/7 Single Op QRO Fixed Island WA060S W3UC Single Op QRO Fixed Island MD039S W4EMM Single Op QRO Island Expedition FL246S W4WFF Multi-Op QRO Fixed Island VA061 KE4NVV, KI4UDD, N3JS W4YBV Single Op QRO Island Expedition FL513S W4ZBB Multi-Op QRO Island Expedition FL003S K4JUZ, KK4VHX, NS4H W7KAM Single Op QRO Non-Island MO W7PIG Multi-Op QRO Fixed Island WA007L K7IOC, W6RKE, W7SXM, NH6B, WH6B, KD6TR, KK6SUE, KC7EKA, WA7JT, K2LPG W7XVS Single Op QRO Fixed Island WA007L W8BFX Single Op QRO Fixed Island WA002S WA4JA/p Single Op QRO Island Rover TN030L, TN032L WR5P Multi-Op QRO Island Expedition AR018L K5KVN & WB0RUR

Rosario Islands, Guide Tourist – Tours, Hotels, Diving, Agencies

Posted on December 10, 2015 by Danzig

Considered a marvel of nature, the Rosario Islands are a beautiful place to visit when you come to Cartagena. The natural landscapes, the crystal clear waters and the coral formations show a unique ecosystem in the world.

Visiting the Islands is highly recommended to all our visitors. There are several places to choose from with prices near $50 USD for a day pass including transportation and lunch. The trip in a go fast boat takes about 45 minutes departing from La Bodeguita pier in Historic Center, previous reservations are recommended. If the budget and time permits, please stay at least one night in the Islands, enjoying a beautiful sunset with good company and your favorite drink is priceless. Please click here to see hotels in the Islands.

The food there is exquisite; you can have a typical dish of fresh fried fish accompanied with coconut rice, plantains and fresh salad. You may also find other delicacies like fresh lobster, crab, and octopus.

While in the Islands you can visit the Oceanary to see all kinds of sea life in their natural environment including sharks, giant sea turtles, cods, and a unique dolphin show.

ECOSYSTEM: The coral reefs host a great variety of sea fauna and flora, with abundance of colorful fish, corals and plants. Snorkeling and Scuba Diving are ideal activities in the Islands, click here to see Dive schools.

The Islands have a special government protection regulation as a natural park. Both public and private islands pay rent to the government, there is no private property in the Islands.

The archipelago ISLAS DEL ROSARIO is comprised of 30 islands that are within the municipality of Cartagena. The Natural Park Corales Islas del Rosario has an area of 4633 sq. miles of water and ocean floor.

Please come and visit the Islands, enjoy them, nurture them, do not litter, you will live an unforgettable experience.

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Rosario Islands, Guide Tourist - Tours, Hotels, Diving, Agencies

Caribbean Islands Travel and Tourism Information

Posted on December 10, 2015 by Danzig

Are you looking for a warm paradise island to escape to for a while? With over 35 unique destinations, the Caribbean provides a wide variety of tropical isles for all kinds of vacationers. Beach-goers will be delighted with the white sand beaches in most of the Caribbean; those in search of waves will want to head to beaches on the eastern side of those islands closest to the Atlantic, while snorkelers may prefer the calmer waters of beaches facing the Caribbean Sea. There are many other ways to enjoy the warm waters off the shores of these beautiful islands, including surfing, sailing, scuba diving, windsurfing, and swimming with dolphins! On land, the larger towns provide excellent shopping opportunities, lush rainforests are home to hundreds of plant and bird species, and golf courses and horse stables provide some other activities. The islands also range in size and popularity; some attract cruise ships, shoppers, or families, while others are small and secluded perfect for newlyweds on their honeymoons and for romantic annivarsary trips. All in all, there are about 50 islands in the Caribbean, ranging from small coral outcrops to large nations.

The Windward Islands include Grenada, St. Lucia, Dominica, and St. Vincent. These four islands face the Trade Winds in a line of volcanic peaks, and are known for their breathtaking beaches. Because the Windwards were once owned by France, French heritage is still strong there. There is also a heavy African influence, with many islanders descendants of African slaves that were freed in 1834. Of the four islands, St. Lucia ranks as the most developed and most frequently visited, with Grenada also a tourist destination, particularly for sailors and divers. Dominica offers both nature tourism and scuba diving. Of all the Windward Islands, St. Vincent is the most untouched and least visited.

The six Leeward Islands lie in two lines. The rain-forested peaks of a volcano chain include Montserrat, Nevis, and St. Kitts, and lie to the west. To the east are the volcanic ranges of Antigua, Barbuda, and Anguilla. These islands are known for their coral limestone and some of the nicest beaches in the Caribbean. The Leeward Islands were British colonies for many years, but today all but Montserrat and Anguilla are fully independent. The main source of economy for the Leeward Islands is tourism, and all have something special to offer. Because of their British history, the islanders are English speakers.

Panoramic View of Magans Bay, Saint Thomas, USVI

Just like they sound, the French Antilles exude a French influence when it comes to culture, food, and lifestyle. They spread across 350 miles between the Caribbean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean, and include two volcanically active islands. The French Antilles are made up of two regions: the larger island of Martinique, and Guadeloupe, which comprises the six islands of Les Saintes, La Desirade, Marie-Galante, Saint-Barthelemy, and St. Martin. While tourism is a primary mainstay of the French Antilles economy, the islands are still known as some of the most peaceful and authentic islands in the entire Caribbean region.

The Netherlands Antilles include Aruba, Bonaire, Curacao, Saba, Sint Eustatius, and Sint Maarten. These Dutch islands are known for their excellent beaches and some of the region's best preserved reefs. Much of the Dutch influence is still visible on the islands, including their currency, their foods, and their pastel painted and gabled houses. Also interesting is the language in the Netherlands Antilles. The islands actually have their own language, called Papiamento, which is a mix of Spanish and Dutch, with some Portuguese, English, and African influences.

The other Caribbean states and Commonwealth of Puerto Rico are separated by physical distances and other obstacles. The states include Cuba, Haiti, Jamaica, and the Cayman Islands as well as Barbados, Trinidad and Tobago, and the Dominican Republic. Each of these island entities has its own government and its own culture, as well as different visitor attractions.

This web site, CaribbeanIslands.us, has information on just about everything you want to know about traveling to this part of the world. Here you will find travel and tourism information about each Caribbean Island group, listed alphabetically, as well as a Caribbean map and a historical overview of the Caribbean region. These resources can assist you in comparing the Caribbean Islands and planning your Caribbean vacation.

Throughout most of the Caribbean, snorkeling and scuba diving are popular pastimes, and Caribbean vacationers should consider their snorkeling and scuba diving gear requirements when planning their trips. Travelers whose interests lean more to Caribbean sailing may wish to browse through the Sunsail website to learn about sailing classes and charters.

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Caribbean Islands Travel and Tourism Information

Marshall Islands – Lonely Planet

Posted on December 10, 2015 by Danzig

The air is tangy with sea salt on the thousand or so slender, flat coral islands that make up the Republic of the Marshall Islands (RMI). Living on these narrow strips of land between ocean and lagoon, the Marshallese are expert fishers and navigators, having long been reliant on the sea.

Local faces reflect the islands' history. In the late 1700s, after 2000 years of isolation, these Micronesian islands were variously visited, settled, colonised or occupied by British, Russians, Germans, Japanese and Americans (at first by missionaries, later by defence forces). Today the more developed atolls have a sense of all these influences, with well-stocked stores carrying international groceries, restaurants serving the food of several nations, and basketball courts on many street corners. On the quieter backstreets the Marshallese continue to live in family compounds, surrounded by flowers. The two main atolls have quite different characters. While it's Westernised, the capital, Majuro Atoll, retains much of the languid feel of the tropics. In contrast, Kwajalein Atoll is leased to the US military for missile testing and is virtually closed to nonmilitary visitors, its local workers shuttled to the wall-to-wall tenements of Ebeye.

The RMI's charm lies in its outer islands which - except for the traumatic nuclear history of some - still retain the pristine feel of the tropical Pacific. If you have only a few days to spend here, don't run your schedule too tightly alongside that of Air Marshall Islands (AMI) - it generally serves outer atolls just once weekly, and delays of up to many days are common. You can still get a feel for the classic Robinson Crusoe lifestyle by visiting one of the small islands in Majuro Atoll, though divers often bypass Majuro and head straight to Bikini for WWII wreck-diving or Rongelap for nature-diving.

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Marshall Islands - Lonely Planet

A.I. Artificial Intelligence (2001) – Rotten Tomatoes

Posted on December 10, 2015 by Danzig

From the collective minds of Kubrick and Spielberg comes this lavish epic about a little robot boy who is brought into a young couples life. Based on a short story by a writer I admit I've never heard of, yet the idea could easily be mistaken for work from the brains of Arthur C. Clarke, Isaac Asimov or Philip K. Dick.

Lets begin, this film gave me a headache, not a bad headache, more of a problematic headache. I was stuck and didn't know what to think. The film is a massive story betwixt two ideas or genres almost, on one hand you have the first half of a film that centres around the human angst and emotion of trying to adapt to adopting a robot child. The pain of a mother who's child is at deaths door from disease, and the decision by her husband to offer her a brand new state of the art robot child that for the first time can learn and express love for its owner.

The second half of the film then changes completely, gone is the sentiment and powerful family bound plot as we enter into a more seedy grim world. One could almost say the film adopts many visual concepts from other sci-fi films/genres, which do work on their own, but maybe not together with this story.

The story is enthralling and draws you in...but oh so many questions arise Mr Spielberg, where to begin!. Once we leave the comfort of the family orientated first part of the film we pretty much straight away hit the Flesh Fair. Now this really did seem too harsh for me, a completely disjoined idea that harks back to a 'Mad Max' type world. Why would people of the future act like this towards simple machines? the whole sequence looked like some freaky red neck carnival. It also seemed like a huge setup for not very much, just a few minutes of carnage, was all that fan fair really required?.

This lead me to the question of why do this to old, lost, outdated Mecha's? (the term for robots in this film which sounds a bit Japanese to me). Now surely these robots cost a lot to make, much time, effort, design etc...went into creating them, so surely destroying them is a complete waste. Wouldn't fixing them up for simple labour tasks like cleaning or whatever, be more useful? maybe selling them on? and even if you did have to shut them down, just do it more humanly, why the need for all the violence?. The whole sequence just didn't seem sensible really, and it was thought up by Spielberg!.

Eventually we get to Rouge City, where is this suppose to be? why not use a real city?. Again the whole concept seemed out of place, the city seemed much more futuristic than everything else we have seen, plus the architecture was truly odd. The huge tunnel bridges with a woman's gaping open mouth as the opening? it seemed very 'Giger-esq' to me, quite sexual too, kids film anyone?. Then you had buildings shaped like women's boobs and legs etc...geez!. Its here we meet 'Gigolo Joe' who is superbly played by Jude Law I can't deny, but really at the end of the day, was he needed at all?. He is a nice character, very likeable but virtually bordering on a cartoon character, and why the need for the tap dancing?.

The makeup was very good for the Mecha characters, simple yet effective for both Law and Osment. Kudos to Osment of course for his portrayal of the robot 'David', I honestly can say its probably the best performance for a robot I've ever seen. Brilliant casting too I might add, Osment can act but his looks are half the battle won right there, he has this almost perfect plastic looking young face, its all in the eyes I think.

Speaking of characters how can I not mention the star of the film, 'Teddy'. Now this little guy was adorable, I still find myself wanting my own Teddy *whimpers*. Every scene this little fellow was in I loved, I loved to see him waddle around and assist David in his simple electronic voice. I found myself caring for all the characters in this film but especially Teddy, he was just awesome. Sure he seemed to have some kind of infinite power source but that made him even cooler damn it!. What really broke my heart was we don't know what happens to lill Teddy, we see him at the end but what becomes of him?? what Steven WHAT??!!. I loved that lill guy *sniff*.

As you near the end of the film and its multiple ongoing finales you literately get submerged in questions. 2000 years pass from the time David is trapped under the sea and his rescue (the ferris wheel didn't crush the helicopter/sub thingy??), in that time the planet has gone from global warming jungles to a MASSIVE ice age? I mean a REALLY HEAVY ice age. Now I'm no scientist but that doesn't seem right. I might quickly add, in the future why are all the skyscrapers in New York in tatters? as if they've been burnt out?. Sure the bottom of them has been flooded but they look like skeletons! as if a nuke hit them, eh?.

The we get to the evolved Mecha's (or 'Close Encounter' aliens). How would these robots evolve into these angelic liquid-like creatures?? I don't get it, if the human race became extinct tomorrow would computers evolve into alien-like creatures?. Sure these robots can fix themselves and update themselves but that far? really?. Then you gotta ask yourself why would they be digging up old human remains? they know humans created them, OK they might not understand why but does that matter?. They clearly have highly advanced technology so why don't they travel space and look for new similar intelligent life?. Why bother with the human race, of which many despised them anyway, treated them like crap.

This then leads onto the resurrection part of the story. I still can't quite work out why David's mother would only live for one day when brought back. There is an explanation from the advanced Mecha's but I couldn't follow it. Again we then have all manner of plot issues...why his mother doesn't recall her husband or son when she wakes, she doesn't question why David is there, she's disorientated but doesn't question anything. She doesn't seem to remember anything like the fact she was probably an old lady when she was last awake, and she doesn't ask to go outside! they stay inside the whole time. You could say the advanced Mecha fixed it so she wouldn't recall anything so not to jeopardize the situation, but when she wakes she acts as if nothing happened and its just a new day.

Where the plot really gets silly is the fact this is all possible simply because Teddy kept some strands of cut hair from David's mother about 2000 years prior. Where on earth did he keep these hairs? its not like he has pockets, and what's more...why did he keep the strands of hair??!!. On top of that, and again I'm no scientist, but surely you'd need the roots of human hair for the DNA, not just cut strands, no?.

Now there are a lot of whines in there but unfortunately there are a lot of plot issues in the film. I won't and can't say its a bad film, its a truly fantastic bit of sci-fi with some lovely design work and visuals, but there are problems along the way. First half is a decent sci-fi story similar to 'Bicentennial Man', second half is really a rehashed rip off of the classic 'Pinocchio' tale set in the future.

The film garnered a lot of interest due to the involvement of Kubrick and Spielberg admittedly but its still a wonderful bit of work. Part sci-fi but all fairytale in the end, the film slowly becomes more of a children's tale the deeper you go, the narration nails that home if you think about it. The very end is kinda tacked on and doesn't feel correct, true, you can see they had trouble ending the film and a weepy ending was required so they made one. But god damn it works *sniff*.

The final sequence of David lying besides his motionless mother still brings a lump to my throat as I type this now. We then see Teddy join them on the bed and just sit down to watch over them both, like a guardian. Does David actually die here? does he voluntarily switch himself off somehow? again...what happens to Teddy? I'm not sure. But as the score swells and the lights dim, you can't help but wipe away a tear.

A.I. Artificial Intelligence (2001) - Rotten Tomatoes

Lakes in Oklahoma With Good Beaches | USA Today

Posted on December 9, 2015 by Danzig

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Karen Sweeny-Justice, Demand Media

With more man-made lakes than other state, beach opportunities are found in all five of the Sooner States regions. June, July and August are the best times to enjoy Oklahoma beaches with mean temperatures between 77 and 82 degrees Fahrenheit. "Good" is a relative term when looking for Oklahomas best beaches, as most are man-made with narrow stretches of sand that were put in place during lake development.

Fifteen miles west of Tulsa, Keystone Lake (keystoneok.com) has 330 miles of shore. Walnut Creek State Park (no website; County Road 1521, Osage; 918-242-3362) has many sandy beaches backed by woodlands on peninsulas jutting into the lake. By boat, the Washington Irving Cove Recreation Area (no website; 23115 W. Wekiwa Road, Sand Springs; 918-865-2621) is just across the lake; by land, the journey from one beach to the other is more than 20 miles. Less than 10 miles away, Keystone State Park (no website; 1926 Highway 151, Sand Springs; 918-865-4991) and the Salt Creek Cove Recreation Area (no website; off Highway 51, Sand Springs; 918-865-2845) have additional swimming beaches.

Lake Eufaula, the largest lake completely within the states boundaries, is on the Canadian River in central Oklahoma. The 15th largest lake in the United States has 600 miles of shoreline, sandy beaches and rocky coasts that coexist along its lakeshore. The lakes southern waters are known as being clear blue and are popular with scuba divers. Lake Eufaula State Park (lakeeufaula.com), Arrowhead State Park (no website; HC 67 Box 57, Canadian; 918-339-2204), Crowder Point East and Crowder Point West (no websites; Highway 69, Crowder; 918-484-5135), Juniper Point (juniperpointparks.com) and Porum Landing (no website; 102 E. BK 200 Road, Stigler; 918-799-5843) all have sandy beaches.

Eastern Oklahomas Lake Tenkiller has numerous state, federal and municipal recreational areas along its 130-mile shoreline. Cherokee Landing State Park (no website; 28610 Park 20, Park Hill; 918-457-5716 is on a peninsula that juts into the lake; the beach is located in the campground on the southern tip of the park. The swim beach at Tenkiller State Park (no website; Hwy. 100, Vian; 918-489-5641) is on the northern shore of the parks southern peninsula near Fishermans Point. Designated swim beaches are separated from boating areas by buoys. Noted for its clear water, a popular spot for scuba diving is near Skunk Island, north of the Illinois River dam that forms the lake.

Canton Lake, on the North Canadian River in the northwest, has five recreational areas managed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, but only Sandy Cove Recreation Area (no website; HC65 Box 120, Canton; 580-886-2989) has a beach. Also in the northwest region, the Great Salt Plains Lake has a sandy beach, high red bluffs and the only hour-glass shaped selenite crystals in the world. Fort Gibson Lake in the northeast region has 225 miles of shoreline and a wide sandy beach near the campground at Taylor Ferry South Recreation Area (taylorferryok.us). The beach at Lake Lawtonka is near the city of Lawtons East-Side Campground (cityof.lawton.ok.us). The beach on Lake Thunderbird in central Oklahoma is at the Clear Bay Area of Lake Thunderbird State Park (no website; Alameda Drive, Norman; 405-364-7634).

Karen Sweeny-Justice is a writer living in Surprise, Ariz. Her work has appeared in "Writer's Digest" magazine and "RubberStampMadness" magazine, as well as in newspapers around the United States. She also writes book reviews for "RT Book Reviews" magazine.

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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Lakes in Oklahoma With Good Beaches | USA Today

Beaches in Oklahoma | USA Today

Posted on December 9, 2015 by Danzig

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When you think of the beach, Oklahoma is probably not the first state you think of. Yet the Sooner State is not such a bad idea. Oklahoma is landlocked, but it enjoys warm summers and has plenty of clear lake waters worth swimming in. And around some of these lakes are sandy beaches that tourists flock to from miles around, to relax between dips in the water and to work on their tans. If you find it hard to believe Oklahoma can be a beach destination, try exploring some of these places.

Tom Sneed Reservoir is a beautiful lake in Kiowa County just north of Snyder. This lake is property of the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation. The 6,400-acre lake is surrounded by many amenities, which include picnic tables, shelters, a boat ramp, grills and a swimming beach that tends to be the main gathering spot. One of the main draws is the abundance of waterfowl. Bird watchers will enjoy the many species of ducks and other birds that occupy the reservoir waters and its surroundings. If you get tired of sunning yourself on the sand, grab a pole and cast a line to try and land crappie, large-mouth and black bass, as well as some big catfish.

On the Texas and Oklahoma state line, 89,000-acre Lake Texoma is among the biggest reservoirs in the nation. About 6 million visitors a year come to take advantage of its amenities along the Red River. The shores of Lake Texoma may appear as though they are the edge of the ocean. In fact, one of the most surprising things you'll find at Lake Texoma is a string of islands in the middle, skirted by white, sandy beaches that compare to many you'll find along the Gulf of Mexico. Boaters, skiers, anglers, golfers and campers will find plenty to do.

The north shore of Cedar Lake is surrounded by trees and mountains of the Ouachita National Forest, making this lake a very scenic place to spend a few days. In addition to its beautiful surroundings, the 86-acre lake has two sandy beaches where swimmers take advantage of the warm lake waters between May and October. Fishing, boating and camping are also popular in this area of east-central Oklahoma.

Among the state's most scenic and popular tourist areas is southeastern Oklahoma's Broken Bow Lake. Two state parks are situated around the large lake on the Mountain Fork River. Beavers Bend State Park and Hochatown State Park are both popular tourist destinations in the region; each has a swimming beach. Camping, fishing, skiing, canoeing and horseback riding are all popular.

Lee Morgan is a fiction writer and journalist. His writing has appeared for more than 15 years in many news publications including the "Tennesseean," the "Tampa Tribune," "West Hawaii Today," the "Honolulu Star Bulletin" and the "Dickson Herald," where he was sports editor. He holds a Bachelor of Science in mass communications from Middle Tennessee State University.

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Beaches in Oklahoma | USA Today

Spiritual Enlightenment Personal Experience Path Essay …

Posted on December 7, 2015 by Danzig

Enlightenment is something what we have been born for! The entire process of a soul atman manifesting a body right from the first manifestation as an amoeba and until the last leg of the journey (the total journey of 8.4 million manifestations) was the requisite of our soul atman for without it our soul atman could not have survived.

To bring back itself to its glorious pristine form every soul atman desires that the body in the last leg of its cosmic journey as a human being reaches stage of enlightenment and finally gains salvation. In every stage of life as a human being our soul atman (within the body) prompts us from within to expedite the journey and gain enlightenment and the earliest.

Only after gaining enlightenment does one reach the level of salvation and that too in the human form alone. And sooner salvation is achieved... the soul atman (purified of all the dross contained within) goes back to the kingdom of God (known as Vaikuntha in Hinduism). The journey for the soul atman finally ends.

Gaining enlightenment in one's life is the crux of life itself. The end goal is not limited by the desires or the wants of the body. It is a dictate from God Almighty that one finally gains enlightenment at the end of the journey. The 8.4 millionth manifestation announces one reaching the stage of enlightenment. Beyond enlightenment there is nothing more to achieve. Having gained enlightenment our soul atman finally liberates itself from the cycle of birth and death. No more manifestations... the journey finally comes to rest.

The journey of the soul atman from the first manifestation to the last is completed by the soul atman in a maximum of 8.4 million manifestations... a total journey of 96.4 million earthly years. A long journey indeed for the soul atman within us! Reaching the manifest stage of life as a human being announces that a journey of 7.3 million manifestations has already been completed. In the form of a human being alone we have 1.1 million types of manifestations. One be born a King in the present manifestation and in the next one can be born a farmer... everything depending upon the doctrine of residual karma.

But to cut across the earthly cycle... every human being is required to take control of all the five senses and the mind. Only then one can hope to reach the level of Nirvikalpa Samadhi. Performing the right yoga and following the path of Neti (as practiced and advocated by Maharishi Ramana)... one is able to negate the impurities contained within. Celibacy plays a very dominant role for reaching stage of enlightenment within present life. Unless and until celibacy is practiced for a continuous period of 12 years minimum... enlightenment within present life cannot be gained. Practicing absolute celibacy is an essential requirement for every true seeker of spirituality.

Absolute celibacy can always be practiced while remaining in Grihastha Ashram (living the life of a householder). One only needs to curtail the wanton desires and sensual attachments. It is not a must that to practice absolute celibacy sexual abstinence is necessary. It was possible for me to do it. I realized God in 1993. I started in search of God at the age of 11 years. I finally succeeded in gaining Self Realization after 25 years of intense yoga meditation and practice of Neti and celibacy.

God has been kind to me... I have always looked forward to life in a truthful way always and ever. The whole world (6000 million people) apart can never sway me from the path of truthfulness I have always practiced and followed. Death carries no meaning for me for having gained Self Realization the fear of death has been overcome by me.

The death of body does not mean anything to me. I have purified myself and come out unscathed. Until the moment I realized God in 1993... I had no inkling what was meant by Self Realization, what was the true meaning of Kundalini getting awakened... and where I had reached. It was only after God gave me direct dictation after Self Realization that I understood what I had gained in life. Having reached my 8.4 millionth manifestation... the journey of life being over for me... the present life being my last manifestation... I have but to guide the humanity nay those serious seekers of spirituality about what real life is all about!

I had never had a chance to understand Bhagavad Gita in the earlier stages of my life. The moment I realized God it was as if I had written Bhagavad Gita in one of my earlier manifestations. My Kundalini awakened unknown to me... some say it is a miracle! Not actually for I really worked hard for it.

Proceeding on the path of absolute truthfulness is really tough indeed. Wanton desires always trying to dissuade you from the right path, sensual pleasures always inflicting upon you the choicest of attractions and what not! The strict regimen of patience and persistence carried me through. There were at times many critical failures in life. But reaching the end of the journey within present life was my only goal. I had to become enlightened and come face to face with God come whatever may! I finally did it!

Here I would like to mention that my ego having dissolved rather merged in the supreme ego, I have but to retain the I (of me) until the body is there! It is only when I leave the body... this I would also get released for ever. The I presently being used is not the I of the ego but only a nomenclature to address a body the world knows as Vijay Kumar!

Enlightenment is something which cannot be expressed in words. Enlightenment has to be experienced to understand the gains behind it. No further manifestations... I have become free forever... what a noble goal of life it has been for me all throughout. My family includes my wife and two daughters. At times they have suffered... but in their sufferings they have learnt those lessons of life which are not yet available to people like Bill Gates and Bill Clinton. My daughters are amongst the chosen few who have learnt the basics and understand what spirituality and enlightenment truly stand for.

They may not follow the path I have followed... but when I discuss with them anything related to spirituality and enlightenment... the glow on their faces tells all. Inherently they definitely support that the goal of every human being is gaining enlightenment but before doing that these two young girls want to enjoy the best part of their lives. God bless them!

Self Realization that I have achieved also means gaining enlightenment. The English desire water, the followers of Islamic dharma want Paani and Hindus desire Jala. All need to drink water and that is the end. The enlightenment is never spiritual or personal. But only people traveling the spiritual path are able to reach this goal of life. The path to enlightenment is not a hazardous one... it is only the perspective how we look at it.

For a blind... the tail of an elephant, his leg and trunk may have different meanings. But in the field of spirituality all these three parts belong to the same individual. It is the doctrine of Anekantavada which clears this mess. Like celibacy Anekantavada also forms a very crucial part of the journey of enlightenment.

Enlightenment is normally gained by one or two persons in a century or so. Right from the stage of Mahavira, Gautama Buddha, Jesus Christ and Prophet Mohammed the chain is not very long. In the last about 150 years only two persons have gained enlightenment. They were Sri Ramakrishna Paramhansa and Maharishi Ramana.

Why the journey of enlightenment is considered as a tough one is explained further. One may have to leave the precincts of your house... a stage may come that you may no longer be able to recognize your children and your wife for every child living on Mother Earth becomes your child but not otherwise (your wife practically becomes like a sister for you).

The journey of enlightenment is a complete detachment from worldly life... there is no doubt about it. Only those who have the capability to travel the path of truthfulness with full honesty and sincerity may attempt to travel the path. In the present kali yoga I repeat it is really difficult to achieve this fait accompli but not impossible! To put an end to the matter I simply have to say that a single thought of God gives me so much pleasure (bliss) that even six pegs may not suffice.

Enlightenment is truly a journey not for the rich... it is a journey for those who are rich in character and full of patience and persistence. Madame Curie who gave away her life while searching for radium in pitchblende may be the right candidate but Bill Gates a bitter failure. He demands royalty for the intelligence bestowed upon him by the grace of God. May God bless those who start in search of enlightenment in their present life!

Be it age of spiritual enlightenment, personal experience of buddha, path to enlightenment, center for spiritual enlightenment quote definition essay, meditation and instant personal enlightenment woman, buddhism and enlightenment concept theory... everything bogs down to... whether or not we gain self realization in this life!

By: Vijay Kumar "Atma Jnani"

Vijay Kumar... The Man who Realized God in 1993 explains the concept of Enlightenment. For more on enlightenment visit - enlightenment. Send Your Query - click here Ref.

Enlightenment Related Links...

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Eugenics in North Carolina – North Carolina Digital History

Posted on December 7, 2015 by Danzig

The logo from the Second International Congress of Eugenics, 1921, depicts eugenics as a tree whose roots are various fields of medicine and science. Eugenics, it proclaims, is the self direction of human evolution. About the illustration

The North Carolina General Assembly of 1929 authorized the governing body or executive head of any penal or charitable public institution to order the sterilization of any patient or inmate when such an operation was deemed to be in the best interest of an individual or for the public good. Additionally, the county boards of commissioners were authorized to order sterilization at public expense of any mentally defective or feeble-minded resident upon receiving a petition from the individuals next of kin or legal guardian.

Each order for sterilization was required to be reviewed and approved by the commissioner of the Board of Charities and Public Welfare, the secretary of the State Board of Health, and the chief medical officers of any two state institutions for the feeble-minded or insane. A medical and family history of the patient or inmate was attached to the order to provide information and guidance for the reviewers.

In 1933 the General Assembly created the Eugenics Board of North Carolina to review all cases involving the sterilization of mentally diseased, feeble-minded, or epileptic patients, inmates, or non-institutionalized individuals. The five members of the board included the commissioner of the Board of Charities and Public Welfare, the secretary of the State Board of Health, the chief medical officer of a state institution for the feeble-minded or insane (appointed by the other board members), the chief medical officer of the State Hospital at Raleigh, and the attorney general.

In hearings that involved patients or inmates in a public institution, the executive head of that institution (or his representative) acted as prosecutor in presenting the case to the board. Hearings that concerned non-institutionalized individuals were prosecuted by the county superintendent of welfare or another authorized county official. Along with the petition for a hearing, the prosecutor provided a medical history signed by a physician who was familiar with the case and a social history addressing whether the person was likely to produce offspring.

A copy of the petition was sent to the individual and his or her next of kin or guardian. When the inmate, patient, or other individual could not defend himself or herself at the hearing, the next of kin, guardian, or county solicitor represented the individual and defended that persons rights and interests. The county superior court could appoint a guardian if necessary. Individuals could also be represented by legal counsel during the hearing.

Factors to be considered by the board included whether the operation seemed to be in the best interest of the individuals mental, moral, or physical health; whether it would be for the public good; and whether it was likely that the individual might produce children with serious mental or physical problems. Orders for sterilization had to be signed by at least three members of the board and returned to the prosecutor. Mentally competent individuals, at their own expense, could select their own physician for consultation or for an operation. A decision by the board could be appealed by the individual or in his or her behalf to the county superior court and further appealed to the states supreme court. A successful appeal precluded any further petition for the sterilization for one year unless specifically requested by the individual, or by his or her guardian or next of kin.

In 1937 the General Assembly authorized any state hospital, at the discretion of the superintendent, to provide temporary admission for any feeble-minded, epileptic, or mentally diseased person for whom the Eugenics Board had authorized sterilization. The regular or consulting staff of the hospital could then perform the operation. These hospitals were authorized to charge the appropriate state institution or county for the operation and expenses.

Under the Executive Organization Act of 1971, the Eugenics Board of North Carolina was transferred to the newly created Department of Human Resources (DHR). Although the board retained its statutory powers and actions regarding sterilization proceedings, the boards managerial and executive authority was vested in the secretary of the DHR, a cabinet-level officer appointed by the governor.

Under the Executive Organization Act of 1973, the Eugenics Board became the Eugenics Commission. The following five members of the commission were to be appointed by the governor: the director of the Division of Social and Rehabilitative Services of the DHR, the director of Health Services, the chief medical officer of a state institution for the feeble-minded or insane, the chief medical officer of the DHR in the area of mental health services, and the attorney general.

In 1974 the General Assembly transferred to the judicial system the responsibility for any sterilization proceedings against persons suffering from mental illness or mental retardation. In 1977 the General Assembly formally abolished the Eugenics Commission.

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Eugenics in North Carolina - North Carolina Digital History

Top 10 Reasons Gingers Are Your Worst Nightmare – Toptenz.net

Posted on December 7, 2015 by Danzig

OK, thats enough; the jokes are over. For too long, my brethren and I have sat idly by, while you and your stupid little buddies mock us. Gingers. BAH, you spit with disgust. They have no souls. They cant walk in the daytime. Theyll steal peoples children in the night. Theyre like pale Pokemon: gotta kick em all!

For awhile, we put up with it. Jokes, right? Nothing wrong with that. Hell, joking is one of the ways I make my money. But, after years of this, its time to come right out and let you all know: you have kicked a giant hornets nest. Us gingers? Were actually your worst nightmare. Not in the steal-your-babies kind of way, either. No, were just plotting to take over the entire planet, like Pinky and The Brain wanted to but never could.

Are you aware that an entire festival exists, devoted entirely to us? Its called Redheadday, and its just what it sounds like. Thousands upon thousands of gingers flock to one area in the Netherlands and plot your demise. Also, we eat a lot of meat and drink a lot of booze because, while we may be coming together to end you all, its still a funtime festival where you gotta get fat and blitzed. Also, it happens every year. And the numbers grows and grows each time. Redheadday 2012 is scheduled to take place in September, with several thousand projected attendees.

The Mayan calendar says the world will end in December. The obvious conclusion; were giving you all a slight head start before we unleash Hell.

Learn More About The Gathering Grounds

Its no secret that ginger women are regularly ogled, despite supposedly being evil soulless rangas. The stereotype is a nice one: our women are absolute firecrackers in bed and once you go red, all other girls might as well be dead. Case in point? Google some pictures of Tori Amos from the early-to-mid 90s and tell me that is not your fantasy incarnate. Hell, even now shes better than whoevers currently #1 on your lame Hot Babes list.

Another case in point? Lindsay Lohan was once a redhead, and was universally deemed to be absolutely smoking hot. She goes blonde, and magically turns into a crack-addled psychopath who looks about 30 years older than she really is. She is not yet actually 30, by the way. So the sexy redhead thing is true, you ask? Well, yes. Please dont resist. The more that you guys realize this, the more our girls can seep into your bedrooms and latch onto your men like blood-sucking parasites.

Us ginger guys usually get the crap end of the stick here. While ginger girls are hot, gingers guys are Alfred E. Newman from MAD Magazine: pale, freckly-faced little demons that often look like they werent fully cooked prior to being born.

Well, thats about to change. Dedicated soldiers like Conan OBrien, Seth Green, and that Anakin Skywalker-looking hunk up above (who may or may not be me), have been infiltrating the mind of your women for decades now, and the ladies are finally realizing that, yes, redheaded guys are a fetish worth exploring. Were quirky, were funny, and we are every bit as firecracker-y (for lack of a better, actual, word) in the bedroom as our female brethren. The word is out and it cant be silenced. Blondes have more fun? Sure, WITH THEMSELVES.

Our backs are kind of against the wall in a couple respects. For one thing, were endangered. A mere 2% of the population are redheads, and the number may well be dwindling. We must procreate, we must spread the seed, we must live on! And if that means enslaving all of you, and working extra hard to make more of us, then so be it.

Keep in mind, its not like a Gattaca-style machine exists, where we can tell our body what we want our baby to look like. And were fully aware our gene is recessive, so not every offspring is going to be a blessed redhead. No, well just have to try and try again, until we at least make it up to 5%. After that, well take an inventory and see how much enslaving still needs to be done.

SCIENCE!

We may or may not require extensive medication to pull this off.

Heres yet one more reason to not mess with us: everything youve heard about the redhead temper? Its true. Its DAMN true. We dont take a lot of crap lying down and, if were going to invade your towns and take over, were going to do it with the ferocity of 100,000 rabid wolverines, crossed with another 100,000 honey badgers. Its not always the best trait to have, to be sure. If we dont keep our temper in check while living our everyday lives, then were probably going to screw ourselves out of at least one job opportunity, and more than a few relationships.

Luckily, the GingerVasion isnt about building relationships or keeping a job. So consider this your warning: go down to your nearest comic book store, find an issue of Red Hulk, study it, and weep for your future.

So you want to rumble? Tired of us enslaving your people and taking your lovers for our own? Good luck. Even those of us who havent used extensive medication to get big ol muscly arms are going to put up a fight. And even if you get lucky and hit us, its gonna be real hard to keep us down. Extensive scientific research has shown redheads are actually much harder to knock out than people who can actually tan. This applies in all cases: doctors oftentimes use more anesthetic to knock us out prior to surgery, and we rarely get knocked unconscious.

I can attest to this based on personal experience. During my entire time at college, where I had my share of drinking binges (one time I ate a whole damn bowl of Jell-O shots, unaware that youre only supposed to eat two or three cubes at the most), and never once blacked out. When I was six years old, I went in for surgery, and distinctly remember waking up in the middle of the operation. Oh, they put me back down real fast. But I distinctly remember those few seconds of being on the operating table, aware of what they were doing to me and my supple little body, and being less-than-thrilled about it. So let that all sink, and then let me know if you STILL wanna fight.

Why Even Doctors Fear Us

As I mentioned earlier, 2% of us are natural redheads. But at least 2% of you guys and girls are fake redheads. Hair dye, of all colors, is popular, but there just seems to be something about taking a bucket of red paint and dunking your head in it that positively tickles the imagination of so many.

And, while you might think wed be offended by so many people pretending to be us when theyre really not, its OK. If you want to be a redhead, then thats only one step away from SLEEPING with one. Gotta find out how the other half lives. Not that were even close to half of you or anything. Yet.

This hair-dye thing applies to both men and women by the way. You mainly see fake redheaded women, but dudes get into the act as well. And thats OK too. The more people who get corrupted by their desire to be just like a real-live ginger, then the easier it becomes for us to attain our ultimate goal.

Back in 2005, South Park put out an entire episode dedicated to Cartmans hatred of redheads. Some of you people have taken this episode just a wee bit too seriously, taking on Cartmans ramblings as your own. Yes, we do have souls. They might be filthy and polluted (OK fine, definitely are), but theyre still souls.

And why in the name of Hell would you listen to Cartman, of all people? The whole point of the character is that hes a bigoted little turd who deserves every bad thing that comes his way; hardly a role model for your outlook on life. So yes, were all aware that you listened to a cartoon piece of construction paper and decided that he was right about people who have strawberry tint on their heads. You dont think this ridiculous bias irks us? You dont think it pisses us off when the biggest sperm bank on the planet stops accepting seed from redheads because nobody wants a redheaded baby? You dont think well remember all this when were deciding all your fates?

And, for the record, when I say all of your fates, I mean you dummies who watch the show, and want to kick gingers because of it. I mean the people who turn their noses up at the very idea of a ginger child. The guys who write South Park and tell the jokes, they get it. They know Cartman is satire. They will be spared, unless of course they insist on making a sequel to BASEketball. Then all bets are off.

South Park Is The Way, The Truth, And The Life Sperm Bank Hates Customers

This might initially seem like a random, moot point. Between all the threats of takeover, slavery, and fistfights to the death, Im actually going to brag about SUNSCREEN? Yes, yes I am. Because in case you havent heard, the Earth is getting warmer. Icecaps are melting, and the ozone layer is still thinning out. Go to your local Wal-Mart and find the sunscreen? See those bottles of SPF 110? One hundred ten! Who needs that much protection? Well, all of you, at the rate this planets going.

Not that we care. See, were used to this. Were naturally pale, and the sun is our mortal foe. So from birth on, were used to being slathered in SPF 60/70/100/110, and oftentimes thats STILL not enough. So when the SP 150 and SPF 200 start becoming commonplace, while you sunworshipersscoff at the idea of anyone needing such a strong solar shield, we will silently horde it all for ourselves.

And when the Earth inches ever-so-closer to burning up, like a steak left far too long on the grill, you might well show up at the gates of Redheadday, on your knees, begging us for a slather of sweet, sweet, sun protection. And we just might give it to you. For a price.

Jason Iannone is a writer, editor, and would love to branch out into the Seth Green Impersonator business as well. Like him on Facebook, follow him on Twitter, and send him all your sunscreen.

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Top 10 Reasons Gingers Are Your Worst Nightmare - Toptenz.net

The Libertarian Press

Posted on December 7, 2015 by Danzig

October 30, 2015 By thelibertarianpress

There seems to be a misapprehension in the media, and the public at large, that both the purpose, and the effect, of the introduction of tax credits was to help those on low pay. This is wrong on both counts, let us take the effect first and we shall return to the intention. All taxation, []

November 26, 2015 By thelibertarianpress Leave a Comment

When it comes to justice and the law, our starting point is terribly straight-forward we believe in the rule of law. We want to explore the massive implications of EU membership for that simple yet pivotal principle. If you read almost any modern development theory or, indeed, British history, you arrive at a central []

November 30, 2015 By thelibertarianpress Leave a Comment

Natalie Portman once said that everyone dreams of living in Paris. That may be an exaggeration, but the city certainly has a hold on many hearts, and it has grabbed hold of American politics. How to react to mass killings in the heart of one of Europes great cities? Reactions can vary from the sensible, []

November 20, 2015 By thelibertarianpress Leave a Comment

Ive spent best part of ten years arguing against the theory of man-made climate change and had great fun doing so. There are powerful arguments to say that mankind has little impact on climate not least the obvious point that the slight warming over the last hundred years is exactly comparable to repeated []

July 18, 2015 By thelibertarianpress

Will electric cars revolutionize the world? We have seen, just last week, news of a battery powered plane. Will this change our transport structures? It is certainly possible, but we probably need better ways of generating electricity if we are to see major environmental benefits from any such change. In large parts of the US, []

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The Libertarian Press

Submillimeter Wave Astrophysics at Caltech

Posted on December 7, 2015 by Danzig

Submillimeter wave astronomy is a relatively new branch of astronomy that studies celestial objects using the submillimeter band of the electromagnetic spectrum, which ranges from 0.1 mm to 1.0 mm (300 GHz to 3000 GHz). This band, which lies between the far infrared and high-frequency radio bands, contains valuable astonomical information in both continuum and molecular spectral lines, but has been unavailable to astronomers until recently because most of the radiation is blocked by the Earth's atmosphere. In order to overcome this barrier, submillimeter observatories are usually placed at high altitude.

The Caltech Submillimeter Wave Astrophysics group pursues research in all areas of submillimeter astronomy, including molecular spectroscopy, astrochemistry, star formation, and the structure and evolution of galaxies. With a strong tradition in instrumentation, the group operates the Caltech Submillimeter Observatory with support from the NSF. The group also developed instruments for the Herschel Space Observatory.

Cahill Center for Astronomy and Astrophysics California Institute of Technology, 301-17 1200 East California Boulevard Pasadena, CA 91125 Phone: (626) 395-6608 Fax: (626) 796-8806

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Submillimeter Wave Astrophysics at Caltech

MS Aerospace Fasteners, Aerospace Bolts, Aerospace Nuts …

Posted on December 5, 2015 by Danzig

Welcome to MS Aerospace where we have been building Aerospace Fasteners, Aerospace Bolts, Specialty Fasteners, Military Fasteners, and Medical Fasteners for over 19 years. We look forward to serving our customers with consistent reliability, quality, integrity and service. Our unsurpassed know-how and experience in the high strength fasteners, close tolerancefastenersand high temperature fasteners market, positions MS Aerospace to serve our customers specialty fastener requirements with World Class products.

Look at our MSA Products page to see all of our products that we have in our parts list. We also make custom fasteners and parts for our customers, so if you do not see a specific part that you would like to have made for you, then Contact MSA about it, and we will be able to give you a quotation for its manufacture.

Our commitment to Continual Improvement is reflected in every business decision we make. Our constant capital investment keeps us on the cutting edge of the aerospace fastener and specialty fastener industry. Our dedication to providing our customers with the very best customfasteners and service means our customers will receive the best overall value available in the industry today.

We are more prepared than ever to meet the demands of ever-increasing compliance and a more challenging marketplace.

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MS Aerospace Fasteners, Aerospace Bolts, Aerospace Nuts ...

Redhead Next Door – Pictures of redheads from around the …

Posted on December 4, 2015 by Danzig

Bra & Panties, Long Red Hair, Tattoos

Not a real redhead but her tattoos are fricken badass

Her hair is blocking the goods! Sexy smile!

Madeline is adorable! I've seen photos of her before on a few sites. That sweet innocent look with

It would be awesome if they were twin sisters and I was in the middle

Twins?

They could be sisters

Gobble Gobble Gobble! Very healthy! ha ha ha

I think so! With tattoos like that she has to be! Damn hott!

is she one of the suicide girls?

Ted would be facing the other way. That bear is gay.

Nice. Buns.

lol! with those buns I doubt she has to clean anything

clean your room you brat

The one on the left looks like she is stoned!

Heaven! I like the one on the far right

Nice. Ass. Can. I. See. Panties.

Nicie. But

Talk about a nice ass! This redhead is smoking hot! can we get more pictures of her?

Assume the position red!

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Redhead Next Door - Pictures of redheads from around the ...

USS Liberty Memorial

Posted on December 4, 2015 by Danzig

On June 8, 1967, US Navy intelligence ship USS Liberty was suddenly and brutally attacked on the high seas in international waters by the air and naval forces of Israel. The Israeli forces attacked with full knowledge that this was an American ship and lied about it. Survivors have been forbidden for 40 years to tell their story under oath to the American public. The USS Liberty Memorial web site tells their story and is dedicated to the memory of the 34 brave men who died.

The Attack

After surveilling USS Liberty for more than nine hours with almost hourly aircraft overflights and radar tracking, the air and naval forces of Israel attacked our ship in international waters without warning. USS Liberty was identified as a USnaval ship by Israeli reconnaissance aircraft nine hours before the attack and continuously tracked by Israeli radar and aircraft thereafter. Sailing in international waters at less than five knots, with no offensive armament, our ship was not a military threat to anyone.

The Israeli forces attacked without warning and without attempting to contact us. Thirty four Americans were killed in the attack and another 174 were wounded. The ship, a $40-million dollar state-of-the-art signals intelligence platform, was later declared unsalvageable and sold for scrap.

The Cover Up

In an ongoing effort to reveal the truth about the attack, the USS Liberty Veterans Association has filed with the Secretary of the Army in the manner prescribed by law a detailed, fully documented Report of War Crimes describing the circumstances of the attack on our ship and evidence that it was a crime under international law. In accordance with international law and treaties, the United States is obligated to investigate the allegations. So far, the United States has declined even to acknowledge that the report has been filed. The full text of the report can be found at http://www.gtr5.com/evidence/warcrimes.pdf

Anti-Semitism and the Anti-American Apologists

On the Israeli side, the group of pro-Israel, anti-American critics of our story, while small, persists in launching loud, vicious ad hominem attacks on anyone who attempts to discuss the deliberateness of the attack. These anti-American apologists refuse to discuss the facts of the case. Instead, they rely on propaganda and charge anyone who questions the Israeli position with being antiSemitic.

For detailed and authoritative accounts of the power and influence of the pro-Israel lobby, please see The Israel Lobby and USForeign Policy by Mearsheimer and Walt and The Pro-Israel Lobby by Edward Herman.

The Betrayal of American Veterans . Americans who volunteer for military service effectively write a blank check, payable to the United States of America for an amount "up to and including my life." The United States, in turn, promises to spend these checks responsibly. That bargain implicitly includes a promise by the United States to protect them and to seek retribution against anyone who harms them. In the case of USS Liberty, the United States has failed to keep its end of the bargain.

** To visit the original USS Liberty memorial web site and database, please CLICK HERE.

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USS Liberty Memorial

The Best Beaches in Indiana | USA Today

Posted on December 3, 2015 by Danzig

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Sandy beaches and dunes border Lake Michigan. (Photo: Jupiterimages/Comstock/Getty Images )

Indiana may not face the Atlantic or Pacific Ocean, but this Midwest state has no shortage of fine beaches. The state borders Lake Michigan in the northwest, one of the largest fresh water lakes in the world. Occasionally, waves are high enough to attract surfers, and winds often pull kite surfers along the water. The Ohio River creates its southern border, flanked by sandy beaches and islands. And in between, the state boasts numerous lakes and reservoirs with great beaches for swimming and relaxing.

Over 15 miles of uninterrupted shoreline invite beach-goers to enjoy one of the Great Lakes' best beaches. Indiana Dunes State Park (in.gov) sits just east of Lake Michigan's most southern point. Huge sand dunes rise to the sky, and then plummet to the lake, creating a sandy beach. Swimming is permitted in an area supervised by lifeguards. The Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore (nps.gov) continues from the park to the east, and features Mt. Baldy, a moving sand dune that allows expansive views of the lake and beach below. Swimming is permitted but beach-goers should use caution during high winds when waves can be high and riptides present. Further east, Michigan City features a family-oriented beach at Washington Park. A lighthouse sits at the end of an adjacent pier.

Originally a swimming hole amid Indiana cornfields, Indiana Beach Amusement Resort (indianabeach.com) attracts more than 750,000 people annually. Created from a dam on the Tippecanoe River, Shaver Lake became a popular beach area that evolved to an amusement and water park. Today, families enjoy a sandy beach, and a "splash bash" that features waterfalls and fountains. Visitors often take a ride on an inner tube along the lake before relaxing at the beach. The park lies 95 miles northwest of Indianapolis. Farther north, near South Bend, Koontz Lake features a beach and a variety of water sports from water-skiing and jet-skiing to canoeing and kayaking. The lake also attracts anglers for its bluegill and bass.

Monroe Lake, Indiana's largest, sits near Bloomington. The 10,750-acre reservoir features two beaches. Besides swimming and sunbathing, visitors enjoy water skiing and boating. Recreational areas surround the lake and boast campgrounds, sports fields, hiking trails and a nature center. The Brookville Lake-Whitewater Memorial State Park Complex (in.gov) lies near the Ohio border. Beach activities include swimming and shoreline hiking. Visitors may rent canoes, paddleboats and rowboats or navigate a horse on a bridle trail. The park also serves as a memorial for those who served in World War II.

Scales Lake lies near the small town of Boonville, a few miles east of Evansville. The small lake boasts a large, sandy beach with lifeguards. Adjacent to the beach, a small pool sits below a winding waterslide. Lewis and Clark traveled along the Ohio River on their epic westward trek in what today is called the Cannelton Pool. The wide area along the river sits between two dams in far south Indiana. Popular with boaters, islands dot the landscape and feature quiet, sandy beaches. Beaches also line the river banks interspersed with rock bluffs where views are much like they were in the early 1800s.

Jeff Fulton is a writer specializing in business, travel and culture. He has worked in international sales, customer relations and public relations for major airlines, and has written for Demand Studios since May 2009. Jeff holds a Bachelor of Science in journalism from Northwestern University and a Master of Business Administration in marketing from the University of Chicago.

The Best Beaches in Indiana | USA Today

Beaches in Northwest Indiana | Indiana Dunes

Posted on December 3, 2015 by Danzig

The stress of everyday life melts away the instant you arrive at any of the beaches within the Indiana Dunes. Whether youre relaxing on the beach as gentle waves lap the shore around you, strolling along the shore, or playing frisbee, its apparent why this natural wonder is called Natures Masterpiece.

Parents magazine picked the Indiana Dunes shoreline among the top five family beaches in the nation along with beaches in San Diego, California and Maui, Hawaii. TripAdvisor.com ranked the Indiana Dunes in its top six.

So whether you enjoy splashing in Lake Michigan, playing beach volleyball, building sand castles or just spending hours lying in the sun, the beaches at the Indiana Dunes are the place to spend a perfect summer day.

Below are the beach access points where youll find access to our 15 miles of sandy shoreline. Sites are denoted as handicap accessible if a wheelchair can get all the way to the beach or to a recreation area with a lake view.

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Beaches in Northwest Indiana | Indiana Dunes

Indiana Beaches – Destination360

Posted on December 3, 2015 by Danzig

Blessed with countless miles of shoreline, Indiana is a perfect place for enjoying time at the beach. Along with Lake Michigan, the state is home to a number of smaller lakes and reservoirs where beachcombers can spend a day in the sun enjoying the great outdoors. When planning an Indiana vacation package, it is easy to include time at the beach, whether you're planning to spend time near Chicago along the shores of Lake Michigan or including other parts of the Hoosier State.

Indiana Dunes State Park, located in Chesterton, preserves an important stretch of Lake Michigan in Indiana. Along with prime beachfront, park visitors can enjoy miles of hiking trails, picnicking, camping, naturalist-led programs, the exhibits in the visitor center, and views of the Indiana dunes. While they're exploring Indiana Dunes State park, Indiana visitors will have the chance to savor a lakeside getaway, only a short drive from all that Chicago has to offer.

In addition to Indiana Dunes State Park, other places to enjoy the beaches of Lake Michigan in Indiana are found throughout Lake, Porter, and LaPorte Counties. The Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore, headquartered in Porter, has an array of available activities along this beach in Indiana. Along with swimming, visitors can test their mettle with a hike up Mount Baldy and back; this sand dune features a well-marked trail and amazing views of the Lake and Indiana dunes at the top. The Dorothy Buell Memorial Visitor Center features exhibits, a film, and places to find out more about this beautiful example of Indiana beaches. In addition, visitors can explore the Chellberg Farm to learn about a past way of life, stroll along the Little Calumet River, and see the Heron rookery's wildflowers. In LaPorte County's Michigan City, visitors can enjoy one of the Indiana beaches at Washington Park. This seaside park is also home to an interesting zoo, picnic shelters, a year-round slate of special events, and excellent views of the Chicago skyline and a lighthouse.

While Lake Michigan in Indiana is perhaps the Hoosier State's best-known place to enjoy the beach, it's hardly the only place. The Indiana Department of Natural Resources operates eight reservoirs throughout the state, all excellent places to find a beach in Indiana. Patoka Lake in southern Indiana and Salamonie Lake in the eastern part of the state are just two examples. Visitors looking for Indiana beaches will find plenty of sandy stretches bordered by blue waters, as well as boat slips, marina, water skiing, restaurants, resorts, cabin rentals, spots for fishing, and other visitor amenities.

Many folks looking for waterside fun include time at Indiana Beach Amusement Resort. Located in Monticello, this beach in Indiana is found right in the middle of cornfield country. Visitors can spend time at Sandy Beach to enjoy the shoreline and calm, clear waters in the centerpiece of the resort area. One of Indiana's top resorts, the range of lake lodging options at Indiana Beach includes camping, cottages, hotel, and motel rooms. Park visitors also can enjoy the collection of rides and roller coasters, as well as miniature golf, a ride on the paddle-wheel boat, and a water park.

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Indiana Beaches - Destination360

Indianapolis Beaches | USA Today

Posted on December 3, 2015 by Danzig

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Sarah Schreiber, Demand Media

Indianapolis plays host to the famous car race. (Photo: Michael Loccisano/Getty Images Entertainment/Getty Images )

Indianapolis is Indiana's state capital, well known for sporting events, like the Indianapolis 500, and teams like the Colts of the NFL and Pacers of the NBA. Far from the oceans of the coasts, and several hours from the Lake Michigan beaches of the north, swimming beaches are not common. Only one exists within the city's borders, with one additional option in neighboring Hamilton County.

Eagle Creek Park (indy.gov) is home to the only swimming beach within the borders of Indianapolis. The sand beach is on the banks of Eagle Creek Reservoir and has an enclosed swimming area. A separate area is blocked off for children, and goes no deeper than three feet. Those wanting to utilize the water for exercise have use of a dedicated lap lane. Next to the beach is a sand play area and playground. Other features include a beach volleyball area, shade trees and Plunge Harbor, an inflatable water slide and trampoline. Entrance to the beach is $3 for hikers and bikers, and $5 per vehicle, as of publication.

Hamilton County Parks and Recreation (hamiltoncounty.in.gov) operates Morse Park and Beach in Noblesville. The beach is approximately 30 minutes from the northeastern section of Indianapolis. Visitors to the park can enjoy a disc golf course, softball fields, picnic shelters and a playground, in addition to the beach. Admission is required for park entry, and run between $1.50 and $2.00 per day, as of publication. Seasonal passes are also available. The beach is sandy, with room for sunbathing, beach volleyball and fishing. Prepare for swimming at the bathhouse, which includes lockers, showers and restrooms.

Indianapolis is cold in the winter, but the area has several indoor beach alternatives. Krannert Park (indy.gov) has an indoor pool with both open and lap swim times for the public. Indy Island (indy.gov), at Raymond Park, is a city-run indoor water park open throughout the year, featuring a water playhouse with slides, sprays and geysers. A larger slide empties into the leisure pool. A separate lap pool is open during select times. Those needing some time away from the kids can head to the adults-only spa.

The closest beach options outside of the Indianapolis area are in Bloomington, 65 miles to the south of the city's center. Lake Monroe is the state's largest inland lake and has three recreation areas with swimming beaches. Hardin Ridge Recreation Area, Fairfax State Recreation and Paynetown State Recreation Area have sandy beach areas with bathhouses for changing. Hardin Ridge charges $5.00 for entrance to the park, as of publication. Swimming at the other locations is free.

Sarah Schreiber has been writing since 2004, with professional experience in the nonprofit and educational sectors as well as small business. She now focuses on writing about travel, education and interior decorating and has been published on Trazzler and various other websites. Schreiber received a Bachelor of Arts in mass communications.

Indianapolis Beaches | USA Today

International Space Station marks 15 years of housing …

Posted on December 2, 2015 by Danzig

The International Space Station's first three-man crew moved in on Nov. 2, 2000, 15 years ago Monday, the first of 45 expeditions to date that have logged a decade and a half of continuous human presence in low-Earth orbit.

Some 220 individuals have visited or lived aboard the sprawling laboratory complex to date, building the outpost piece by piece, working through complex research, enduring tragedies on Earth and celebrating hard-earned triumphs, all in the vacuum of space at an altitude of 250 miles and a velocity of 5 miles -- more than 80 football fields -- per second.

The numbers boggle the mind.

Doing the math

Building the station required 37 dedicated space shuttle flights to deliver the lab's solar arrays and truss segments, nine U.S., Japanese and European pressurized modules, the station's Canadian-built robot arm, science racks, experiment hardware, spare parts and myriad other components.

Russia launched two heavy-lift Proton rockets to deliver the Russian-built, NASA-financed Zarya storage and propulsion module and the Zvezda command module, launched a pair of airlock/docking modules aboard Soyuz boosters and built a third that was delivered aboard a space shuttle.

The International Space Station

NASA

The steady stream of Soyuz spacecraft provided the transportation backbone that kept the outpost operational when the shuttle was grounded after the 2003 Columbia disaster. And in the wake of the shuttle fleet's retirement in 2011, the Soyuz is the only vehicle currently able to carry crew members to and from the station, serving as a lifeboat between dockings and departures.

A cadre of 122 astronauts and cosmonauts representing nine nations has carried out 189 spacewalks to build and maintain the space station, logging 1,184 hours -- 49.3 days -- of EVA time. Another spacewalk, the 190th, is on tap Nov. 6. All told, station spacewalkers have logged seven times more than the 166 hours of spacewalk/moonwalk time spent by the Apollo astronauts during orbital test flights and moon missions.

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To deliver the supplies, equipment and research gear needed to support station operations, Russia has launched 61 robotic Progress supply ships to date, including two launch failures. Japan has launched five of its large HTV supply ships and two U.S. companies, SpaceX and Orbital Sciences Corp., have launched 12 supply spacecraft, including two failures.

The European Space Agency contributed five Automated Transfer Vehicle -- ATV -- cargo ships before the program was phased out last year.

The resulting space station, after a final shuttle visit in 2011, has a mass of nearly 925,000 pounds, roughly equivalent to 320 automobiles, a spine of pressurized modules stretching 167 feet and a huge solar array truss mounted at right angles that extends 375 feet, longer than a U.S. football field.

The NASA-supplied solar arrays have a surface area of 38,400 square feet, enough to cover eight basketball courts, generate 84 kilowatts of power and are tied into more than 8 miles of wiring threaded throughout the complex. More than 350,000 sensors feed data to scores of computers running millions of lines of code.

The station has a total pressurized volume equal to a 747 jumbo jet and a useable volume roughly equal to a five-bedroom house.

Depending on how one does the math, the International Space Station cost U.S. taxpayers more than $100 billion over three decades, including shuttle assembly flights, making it one of the most expensive engineering and science projects in human history.

The space station compared to a football field

NASA

Has it been worth the extraordinary price tag?

To Bill Shepherd, a three-flight shuttle veteran who served as NASA's first space station program manager and then commander of the lab's first crew, the tools and techniques that were used to build and operate the outpost provide a roadmap for how future deep space missions to Mars and beyond will be managed.

"I always had in the back of my mind, what would this mean to space efforts 20, 30, 50 years in the future? What were we doing that would affect these future outcomes?" he said in an interview.

Multiple trips to low-Earth orbit will be required, he said, along with "substantial EVA, very complex, very well choreographed, we'd have to have a multi-national effort that brought together the best things the different countries could offer in terms of resources and capabilities."

"If you look at space station, it's a blueprint for the future," he added. "All of those questions are behind us. Space station is just that, and that's why it's important."

8 Photos

International Space Station Commander Scott Kelly offers a guided tour of the accommodations

Astronaut Terry Virts, who returned to Earth in June after 200 days aboard the station, agreed, saying the lab will be remembered for centuries to come for laying the groundwork for future exploration.

"I think from an international relations point of view, the space station has been the most successful American foreign policy initiative since the Marshall Plan," he said. "I think 500 years from now, people are going to remember that this was our first step into space."

But John Logsdon, a noted author and space historian, said the jury's still out on the project's ultimate value. Learning how to build a large space vehicle may, indeed, inform plans for future missions. But if that's the only objective, it's already been accomplished.

The question now, with the space station essentially complete, is whether it will generate the science needed to justify continued operations.

"I think we don't know yet," Logsdon said in an interview. "After all, the research really started in earnest only after assembly complete (in 2011), and the nature of research is it takes some time before you can get a sense of the quality of the results. There haven't been any spectacular research breakthroughs that I'm aware of."

But, he added, there has been "a lot of peer-reviewed published papers coming out of space station research so there's good quality science being done."

"But I think its a fair question whether good quality science is worth the annual cost of getting it," he said. "It probably makes sense to give that test the 10-plus years to 2024. But by that time ... somebody else should either assume the major responsibility or it's time to quit."

A Russian Soyuz ferry craft approaches the International Space Station carrying a crew of three.

NASA

From a purely technical standpoint, the space station should remain viable at least through 2024, the U.S. government's current goal, as long as NASA has the resources to build spare parts, pay for cargo launches and provide transportation for U.S. and partner astronauts, either aboard U.S. commercial spacecraft or Russian Soyuz capsules.

The station's long-term survival also assumes Russia stays the course, continuing to supply a steady stream of Soyuz spacecraft and crews, along with Progress cargo ships.

And it's important to remember that neither nation can operate the station on its own. Russian modules and cargo ships provide the propellant and rocket power needed to maintain the lab's orbit while stabilizing gyroscopes provided by NASA, along with most of the station's electrical generation capability, are operated by the United States.

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Michael Suffredini, who retired as NASA's space station program manager in September, said a recent analysis by Boeing, NASA's prime contractor, shows the complex is structurally sound and, barring a catastrophic failure of some sort, should remain so through 2028, the 30th anniversary of the Zarya module's launch.

In an interview before he stepped down, he said the space station "is designed in a modular fashion meant for repair. So as long as you have spares for all the things that can break, you can last as long as the structure will let you last. Within reason."

Getting to 2024, the currently approved objective, should be relatively straight forward. Getting to 2028 or beyond, even with political support, will be more problematic.

"When we get to 2028, the solar arrays are going to be struggling, I'm probably going to have a handful of radiator (coolant) lines that have been isolated," Suffredini said. "2028 might be possible, but it also might be very challenging because then you're talking about the cost of replacing big things that may be prohibitive.

"All our analysis kind of says we think we can get to 2028. As we start getting beyond 2028, if it makes sense, and things aren't failing at a rate that makes it difficult for us to keep up, and the country thinks it's the right thing to do, then we can look at going beyond that.

"But 2028's kind of where we're drawing our line today based on the original design of the structure."

Next: A Long and Tortured History

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