Bernardo Kastrup has a Ph.D. in Computer Engineering from the Eindhoven University of Technology (TU/e), in the Netherlands, one of the top European technology schools. He started his scientific career at the world-renowned European Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN), in Geneva, Switzerland. At CERN, he worked on the data acquisition system of the ATLAS detector, one of the main experiments of the new Large Hadron Collider (LHC) accelerator. After CERN, Bernardo moved to the Philips Research Laboratories, in the Netherlands, the place where the "Casimir Effect" of Quantum Field Theory was originally discovered. During his scientific career, Bernardo has authored many scientific papers and inventions. At Philips Research, he developed ground-breaking computing technology that would lead to his founding of Silicon Hive, a successful start-up company eventually sold to Intel Corporation. Since leaving the start-up scene, Bernardo has dedicated himself professionally to high-tech marketing and business development. He is currently Marketing Director at ASML, one of the worlds foremost high-tech companies.

In parallel to his professional activities, Bernardo has had a life-long scholarly interest in philosophy, particularly in the relationship between the nature of reality and our knowledge of it. This interest has led him to explore ancient worldviews and paradigms of thought, as well as the practical application of techniques for the subjective exploration of reality. For instance, he is a longtime meditator and student of related methods. His familiarity with science has allowed him to coherently hypothesize and articulate holistic worldviews in a language that appeals to the rational mind. He has published two philosophy books, Rationalist Spirituality and Dreamed up Reality, both with O-Books. A third book, Meaning in Absurdity, will be published by Iff Books in early 2011. Bernardo occasionally gives talks about his philosophical work, like his recent TEDx presentation of May 2011. Bernardo regularly travels the world for his work, which exposes him to many different cultures and worldviews. He has lived in four different countries across continents and currently resides in the Netherlands.

Tripp Lanier is host of The New Man Podcast, a professional men's coach, an entrepreneur and artist. As a host, he has interviewed such notable personalities as Ken Wilber, Marcus Buckingham, Bill Harris, Steve Pavlina, Shawn Phillips and Vernon Reid. The New Man Podcast reaches listeners around the world, and regularly finds its home in the Top Ten Self Help Podcasts on iTunes. Tripp was featured in EnlightenNext's issue dedicated to "Constructing the New Man." (EnlightenNext is previously known as What is Enlightenment Magazine)

As a men's coach and group facilitator, Tripp has coached men all over the world to connect with what really matters and navigate the challenging world of relationships. He has trained with and contributes to The Authentic Man Program in San Francisco and Boulder.

Tripp has extensive experience in the business world. He founded and owned Zero-One Digital Media, Inc., one of the first digital video production companies in the Southeast. For twelve years, Tripp created TV shows and ads for the likes of ESPN, Hitachi, Homes & Land Magazine, various ad agencies and scores of political campaigns.

Balancing out the business side are Tripp's artistic endeavors. Tripp has written, performed and produced over 5 CDs with his own rock groups, Hank Madison and Screaming Witness. He's also co-produced for artists like Stuart Davis and can be seen regularly humiliating himself on Stu's Sex God Rock n Roll TV Show on HDNet. Other contributions include working with Ken Wilber as Co-Director of Integral Institute's Art Center.

Tripp has had the privilege of studying with Ken Wilber, Jun Po Denis Kelly & The Hollow Bones Order of Rinzai Zen, Genpo Roshi and Big Mind, David Deida, Vipassana via S.N. Goenka, The Taoist Tai Chi Society and many other amazing people along the way.

Tripp is married and lives with his wife Alyson, daughter Be, a funny looking dog and a perpetually bitchy cat in Boulder, Colorado. He visits the island of Kauai as often as possible.

BIO BELOW FROM: http://floridadetox.com/dr-sponaugle/

Dr. Rick Sponaugle - Founder and Medical Director of Florida Detox^® and Wellness Institute

Click here to view Dr. Sponaugle’s Curriculum Vitae.

Dr. Marvin “Rick” Sponaugle is Board Certified in two specialties, Addiction Medicine and Anesthesiology. He is a Fellow of the American Society of Addiction Medicine and a member of the American Academy of Anti-Aging Medicine. Dr. Sponaugle is also a member of ACAM, the American College for the Advancement of Medicine.

Dr. Sponaugle is often invited to speak at physician meetings and national audiences on “Brain Chemistry and Addiction” and the topic of ”The Brain-Body Connection in Wellness.” Dr. Sponaugle was a guest speaker at the White House in 2008 where he met with Rubin Brasalis, Deputy Chief to President Bush. A list of Dr. Sponaugle’s past and upcoming speaking engagements can be located further down this page.

Dr. Sponaugle is the first addictionologist to correlate brain chemistry patterns with variations seen on SPECT Brain scans in addicted patients. He has matched these changes to specific drug craving patterns in his patients. This research has enabled Dr. Sponaugle’s patients to achieve much lower relapse rates because their drug and alcohol craving stops when their brain chemistry imbalance is corrected.

Dr. Sponaugle is also the first addictionologist to prove that imbalance of female hormones has causation in at least 60 percent of the addiction issues seen in middle age women. Dr. Sponaugle lectures on this phenomenon at national meetings and was a speaker on “Menopause Causing Alcoholism and Drug Addiction” at the annual AACC meeting [8,000 attendees] in Nashville, September 2011.

Dr. Sponaugle is the first doctor in America to determine a classic brain chemistry pattern caused by Black Mold Toxicity, the excessive accumulation of the Stachybotrus Trichothecene T2 toxin in the brain. Dr. Sponaugle’s research has clearly proven that changes in brain chemistry derived from hidden mold toxins causes craving for relaxing drugs and subsequently, alcoholism, Xanax addiction and Oxycontin addiction. Americans with HLA DRBQ genetics have difficulty removing these toxins from their brain and body.

Dr. Sponaugle’s clinical research has proven that there are hundreds of biochemical and medical disorders that commonly contribute to the drug and alcohol craving!! Yet, these treatable disorders are rarely diagnosed at America’s drug treatment centers. Since 1998, Dr. Sponaugle has attempted to change the paradigm of addiction treatment to a less judgmental, more scientific model – one that embraces the biochemical basis for addiction.

Dr. Sponaugle’s use of advanced brain science combined with integrative medicine principles for the healing of drug induced brain damage in thousands of patients has taught him how to more successfully treat multiple brain disorders, such as Alzheimer’s disease, Autistic disorders, Multiple Sclerosis and Parkinson’s disease. Dr. Sponaugle is currently proving that these brain disorders can be more effectively treated with integrative medicine protocols than with pharmaceutical medications alone.

HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVE: Dr. Sponaugle was born in Franklin, West Virginia. While majoring in chemistry at West Virginia University, Dr. Sponaugle was awarded the Alpha Epsilon Delta National Chemistry Honor Society, the Beta Theta Pi National Merit Scholarship and Who’s Who in American Colleges and Universities.

After graduating with the honor of PHI BETA KAPPA, Dr. Sponaugle accepted one of four scholarships given by the state of West Virginia to outstanding pre-med students for enrollment at the WVU School of Medicine. After receiving his MD degree at WVU, Dr. Sponaugle attended the University of Florida where he performed specialty training in anesthesiology, cardiac-intensive care medicine and pain management.

In 1985, Dr. Sponaugle began private practice in Tampa Bay. He has served as Chief of Anesthesiology for two Tampa Bay hospitals, Medical Director of three surgical centers and the Medical Director of  the Watermark Pain Treatment Center.

Dr. Sponaugle accepts referrals from doctors throughout North America including University Medical Centers and Dr. Phil. He has been featured on numerous national media including the Dr. Phil show, Ricki Lake show, CNN Anderson Cooper, FOX News, ABC News, CBS News and NBC News and PBS.

ELLEN BROWN - Green Party Candidate for Treasurer of California 2014

"From Austerity to Prosperity: Why I'm Running for California State Treasurer in 2014" by Ellen Brown

Governor Jerry Brown and his staff are exchanging high-fives over balancing California’s budget, but the people on whose backs it was balanced are not rejoicing. The state’s high-wire act has been called “the ultimate in austerity budgets.”

Welfare payments, health care for the poor, and benefits for the elderly and disabled have been slashed. State workers have been downsized. School districts in need of cash have been reduced to borrowing through “capital appreciation bonds” bearing 300% interest. In one notorious case, the Santa Ana school district actually borrowed at 1,000% interest. And the governor acknowledges that California still faces a “wall of debt” amounting to $28 billion. Some analysts put it much higher than that.

At the end of the 20th century, California was ranked the sixth largest economy in the world. By 2012, it had slipped to number twelve. It is coming back up, in part because European countries are falling further into recession; but California’s poverty rate remains the highest in the country. More than eight million Californians struggle to meet their daily needs, and one in four children lives in poverty. Income inequality is higher in the nation’s most populous state than in almost any other.

California cannot solve its budget problems by slashing services that have already been cut to the bone or raising sales taxes that hurt the poor far more than the rich. We are fighting over a pie that remains too small. The pie itself needs to be expanded – and it can be.

How? By reclaiming that portion that is now siphoned off in interest and bank fees.  When tallied up at every stage of production, interest has been calculated to claim one-third of everything we buy.

How can that money be recaptured?  By owning the bank.Peoples_Bank.jpg

The approach was pioneered in North Dakota, the only state to escape the 2008 banking crisis. North Dakota has the lowest unemployment rate in the country, the lowest foreclosure rate, the lowest default rate on credit card debt, and no state debt at all. It is also the only state to own its own bank.

In the fall of 2011, a bill for a feasibility study for a state-owned bank passed both houses of the California legislature. The Public Banking Institute, which I founded and chair, was instrumental in helping to get the bill as far as it got.  But it died when Jerry Brown vetoed it.  His rationale was that we already have a banking committee, and that the matter could be explored in-house. Needless to say, however, we have heard no more about it since.  

I am therefore running for California State Treasurer on a state bank platform, along with Laura Wells, who is running for Controller. We are throwing our bonnets in the ring for the opportunity to show the Governor or his successor that a state-owned bank can be our ticket to returning California to the abundance it once enjoyed.

I was a recipient of that abundance myself. I got my undergraduate degree at UC Berkeley in the 1960s, when tuition was free; and my law degree at UCLA Law School in the 1970s, when tuition was $700 a year.  Today it is $13,000 and $45,000 annually, respectively, for in-state students.  In the 1960s, the governor of California was Jerry Brown’s father Pat Brown, a New Deal visionary who believed that investment in education, infrastructure and local business was an investment in the future.  Our goal is to revive that optimistic vision in 2014.

We are running on the endorsement of the Green Party – along with Luis Rodriguez for governor and David Curtis for secretary of state – because Green Party candidates take no corporate money. Candidates who take corporate money – and that means nearly all conventional candidates – are beholden to large corporate interests and cannot properly represent the interests of the disenfranchised 99%.

The North Dakota Model: Banking that Supports Rather Than Exploits the Local Economy

California’s revenues are currently parked in those very largest of corporations, Wall Street banks. These out-of-state banks use our giant asset pool for their own speculative purposes, and the funds are at risk of confiscation in the event of a “bail-in.”

In North Dakota, by contrast, all of the state’s revenues are deposited by law in the state-owned Bank of North Dakota (BND). The BND is set up as a DBA of the state (“North Dakota doing business as the Bank of North Dakota”), which means all of the state’s capital is technically the bank’s capital. The bank uses its copious capital and deposit pool to generate credit for local purposes.

The BND is a major money-maker for the state, returning a sizable dividend annually to the treasury. Every year since the 2008 banking crisis, it has reported a return on investment of between 17 percent and 26 percent. The BND also provides what is essentially interest-free credit for state projects, since the state owns the bank and gets the interest back. The BND partners with local banks rather than competing with them, strengthening their capital and deposit bases and allowing them to keep loans on their books rather than having to sell them off to investors. This practice allowed North Dakota to avoid the subprime crisis that destroyed the housing market in other states.

Consider the awesome potential for California, with its massive capital and deposit bases. California has over $200 billion stashed in a variety of funds identified in its 2012 Comprehensive Annual Financial Report (CAFR), including $58 billion managed by the Treasurer in a Pooled Money Investment Account currently earning a meager 0.264% annually. It also has over $400 billion in its pension funds (CalPERS and CalSTRS).

California’s population of 37 million is more than 50 times that of North Dakota. In 2010, the BND had about $4,500 in deposits and $4,200 in loans per capita.  Multiplying 37 million by $4,200, a State Bank of California could, in theory, generate $155.4 billion in credit for the state; and this credit would effectively be interest-free free, since the state would own the bank.

What could California do with $155 billion in interest-free credit? One possibility would be to refinance its ominous “wall of debt” at 0%. A debt that is interest-free can be rolled over indefinitely without cost to the taxpayers.

Another possibility would be to fund public projects interest-free. Eliminating interest has been shown to reduce the cost of public projects by 35% or more.

Take, for example, the San Francisco Bay Bridge earthquake retrofitting boondoggle, which was originally slated to cost about $6 billion. Interest and bank fees wound up adding another $6 billion to the overall cost to taxpayers. Funding through its own bank could have saved the state $6 billion or 50% on this project.

Then there is the state’s bullet train fiasco, which has been beset with delays, cost overruns, and funding issues. As with the Bay Bridge, costs are projected to double as a result of compounding interest on long-term bonds, imposing huge hidden costs on the next generation of taxpayers. By funding the bullet train through a state-owned bank, its costs, too, could be reduced by 50%.

Public banking models globally and historically are explored in my books The Web of Debt (first published in 2007) and The Public Bank Solution (published in 2013). I have also written over 200 articles on this and related subjects, which can be found on my blog at ellenbrown.com.  

Please visit:
https://www.facebook.com/EllenBrownAuthor

ABOUT ELLEN'S LATEST BOOK 'THE PUBLIC BANK SOLUTION'...

WHAT WALL STREET DOESN'T WANT YOU TO KNOW

Shock waves from one Wall Street scandal after another have completely disillusioned us with our banking system; yet we cannot do without banks. Nearly all money today is simply bank credit. Economies run on it, and it is created when banks make loans. The main flaw in the current model is that private profiteers have acquired control of the credit spigots. They can cut off the flow, direct it to their cronies, and manipulate it for personal gain at the expense of the producing economy. The benefits of bank credit can be maintained while eliminating these flaws, through a system of banks operated as public utilities, serving the public interest and returning their profits to the public. This book looks at the public bank alternative, and shows with examples from around the world and through history that it works admirably well, providing the key to sustained high performance for the economy and well-being for the people.

Ellen Brown is an attorney, president of the Public Banking Institute, and author of twelve books including the bestselling Web of Debt. In The Public Bank Solution, her latest book, she explores successful public banking models historically and globally. Her 200+ credit blog articles are at https://ellenbrown.com/ She is currently running for California State Treasurer on the Green Party ticket.  Ellen is also hosting a radio show with Walt McRee, “It’s Our Money,” on Progressive Radio Network at noon PST/3pm EST every second Wednesday.

William Bramley spent seven years trying to understand the root causes of war before finally disclosing his startling conclusions in The Gods of Eden. Here, Bramley reveals that UFOs, or the 'gods' and other strange beings associated with UFOs, may have shaped human society from deepest antiquity. 'UFOs have been lurking in the shadows of history for centuries,' he says. 'Surprisingly, they may be a key to unraveling the human puzzle.' Readers of Zecharia Sitchin will find many familiar themes in Bramley's analysis.

Bramley was not interested in UFOs when he started researching the origins of human warfare. However, his research eventually led him to what he shares in this book: evidence that alien visitors have conspired to dominate humankind through violence and chaos since the beginning of time.

The chilling truth about extraterrestrial infiltration, and the conspiracy to keep humankind in chains! As a result of seven years of intensive research, William Bramley has uncovered the sinister thread that links humanity's darkest events - from the wars of the ancient pharaohs to the assassination of JFK. In this remarkable, shocking and absolutely compelling work Bramley presents disturbing evidence of an alien presence on Earth - extraterrestrial visitors who have conspired to dominate humankind through violence and chaos since the beginning of time ... a conspiracy which continues to this very day.

The Secret Origins of Man and The Truth Behind it All: In our souls we know that we have not arisen from this earth. Gods and humans have been interacting throughout the centuries usually at man's expense. Now we can see the millennia-old farce of religion and life as we have come to know them, explained by William Bramley for what they really are, manipulative tools in the hands of 'higher' beings and their earthly servants. Will the human race finally admit to what it has known all along and are we evolved enough to handle the truth? For all our futures' sake let's hope so.

Our bloodthirsty natures were designed by a technologically advanced group of extraterrestrials to help keep us a slave race and not evolve to our full capacity. So contends Bramley. In spite of all our intellectual achievements, our unending need for conflict from our wars to presidential assassinations, is the ultimate conspiracy to keep humanity bound in chains.

BIO BELOW FROM: http://weiserliving.com/#!bio/c1xfq

The doctor of the future will give no medicine, but will interest his patients in the care of the human frame, in diet and in the cause and prevention of disease.” ~ Thomas Edison

Dr. Budweiser is dedicated to the belief and philosophy that the mission of the medical industry should be to assist people with attaining health freedom.  Thus, his vision involved earning his credentials as a Doctor of Chiropractic from the Los Angeles College of Chiropractic in Whittier, California.  He has more than 20 years experience as a chiropractor and a 30-year history in nutrition.

Dr. Budweiser was born in Los Angeles, California, yet his parents moved to Las Vegas, Nevada when he was just two years old.  As the eldest of five, he felt it important to exemplify a positive role model for his brothers and sisters; thus, his quest began.  He used his athletic abilities and earned recognition as an All American in Baseball and Basketball, which earned him an athletic/academic scholarship to Pepperdine University.  Upon graduating, Dr. Budweiser played basketball professionally in Mexico, but his dream of completing his goal as an authority in nutrition was yet to be realized.  He persevered and began his professional preparation after receiving his Chiropractic degree.

It was in 1997 that Dr. Budweiser founded Weiser Living; a concept that helps assess an individual’s wellness profile using 3 main categories: Lifestyle, Environmental Intake and Nutrition. Weiser Living then outlines simple, yet powerful strategies for developing an effective and unique Weiser Living Plan. Dr Budweiser has an uncanny ability to identify and address the wellness needs of each individual who is ready to listen and take action.  It is his firm belief that everyone, given proper education and a Weiser Living Plan, has the ability to make the correct choices for themselves as well as for their family members and take complete control of their health.

Predominantly pulling his wisdom from 3 books, The Bible, Think and Grow Rich and the Physician’s Desk Reference, and with his background in scientific nutrition and anatomy and physiology, Dr Budweiser shares his knowledge on health, wellness and abundance.... As an authority in his field, he is a much sought after international speaker and educator on the subject and has been featured on several television and radio stations across the globe! He is an expert in the human frame and wellness and has been wildly successful in using The Weiser Living concept to help others regain their health and wholeness.

Dr. Budweiser has a genuine care and concern for people and his work ethic can only be defined as a “relentless pursuit”.  He is a firm believer that healing and wellness are available to everyone, as long as they are receptive to the Weiser Living philosophy, and are willing to go the extra mile to hold on to their wellness.

When not travelling and speaking, Dr Budweiser and his wife and business partner, Tinna, live in Las Vegas Nevada with his two adult children, Budweiser III (Trey) and Victoria.

The son of the former Miss Jordan, Rami Kashou grew up in style. Kashou was born in Jerusalem on May 11, 1976 and raised in Ramallah where he was often commissioned by the local town socialites to design their ensembles.

Upon arriving in the U.S. in 1996, Kashou worked in retail for several years. This eventually led him to a buying and merchandising position at a well-known boutique in Los Angeles. After a stint of traveling to Europe as a buyer, Kashou bit the bullet and purchased two sewing machines. He vigorously studied pattern making from the local vintage boutiques. "I would buy a piece and take it apart and inspect it, then I would learn." Kashou said. After three years of self-education, he began creating what would later be known as the "One of a Kind" collection that was picked up by various notable Los Angeles boutiques.

A seasoned veteran of runway shows, Rami Kashou has shown his devotion and passion for groundbreaking feminine design, and as a result has become one of the most coveted runway shows to attend during fashion week, attracting celebrities such as Jessica Alba, Christina Aguilera, and Amy Smart. He was honored with the Gen Art Alumni sponsorship to showcase his collection in the tents of Bryant Park in addition to his numerous seasons at Mercedes Benz Fashion Week at Smashbox Studios in Los Angeles.

Known for his dramatic red carpet gowns, Rami has draped the silhouettes of celebrities and trendsetters such as Her Majesty Queen Rania of Jordan, Penelope Cruz, Malin Akerman, Dita Von Teese, Heidi Klum, Jennifer Lopez, Fergie, Becki Newton, Paris Hilton, and Lindsay Lohan to name a few. His designs have graced the pages of the New York Times Magazine, Vogue, Women's Wear Daily, Interview, Elle, In Style, and Flaunt amongst many others.