query: My Sweet Lord was written in praise of a Hindu god.

pos: My Sweet Lord `` My Sweet Lord '' is a song by English musician and former Beatle , George Harrison . It was released in November 1970 on his triple album All Things Must Pass . Also issued as a single , Harrison 's first as a solo artist , `` My Sweet Lord '' topped charts worldwide and was the biggest-selling single of 1971 in the UK . In America and Britain , the song was the first number one single by an ex-Beatle . Harrison originally gave the song to his fellow Apple Records artist Billy Preston to record ; this version , which Harrison co-produced , appeared on Preston 's Encouraging Words album in September 1970 .   Harrison wrote `` My Sweet Lord '' in praise of the Hindu god Krishna , while at the same time intending the lyrics to serve as a call to abandon religious sectarianism through his deliberate blending of the Hebrew word hallelujah with chants of `` Hare Krishna '' and Vedic prayer . The recording features producer Phil Spector 's Wall of Sound treatment and heralded the arrival of Harrison 's much-admired slide guitar technique , which one biographer described as being `` musically as distinctive a signature as the mark of Zorro '' . Preston , Ringo Starr , Eric Clapton , and the group Badfinger are among the other musicians appearing on the recording .   Later in the 1970s , `` My Sweet Lord '' was at the centre of a heavily publicised copyright infringement suit , due to its similarity to the Ronnie Mack song `` He 's So Fine '' , a 1963 hit for the New York girl group the Chiffons . In 1976 , Harrison was found to have subconsciously plagiarised the earlier tune , a verdict that had repercussions throughout the music industry . He claimed to have used the out-of-copyright `` Oh Happy Day '' , a Christian hymn , as his inspiration for the song 's melody .   Harrison performed `` My Sweet Lord '' at the Concert for Bangladesh in August 1971 , and it remains the most popular composition from his post-Beatles career . He reworked the song as `` My Sweet Lord ( 2000 ) '' for inclusion as a bonus track on the 30th anniversary reissue of All Things Must Pass . Many artists have covered the song including Andy Williams , Peggy Lee , Edwin Starr , Johnny Mathis , Nina Simone , Julio Iglesias , Richie Havens , Megadeth , Boy George , Elton John , Jim James , Bonnie Bramlett and Elliott Smith . `` My Sweet Lord '' is ranked 460th on Rolling Stone magazine 's list of `` the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time '' . The song reached number 1 in Britain for a second time when re-released in January 2002 , two months after Harrison 's death .

neg: Rasa (theology) Rasa ( IAST ) is a Sanskrit theological concept specific to Krishna-centered bhakti traditions , such as Gaudiya Vaishnavism . The theological use of the word can be found early , about two thousand years before the Nimbarka or Caitanya schools of bhakti , in a phrase that Chaitanya traditions frequently quote : `` Truly , the Lord is rasa '' ( raso vai sah ) of the Taittiriya Upanishad ( 2.7.1 ) . This statement expresses the view that God is the one who enjoys the ultimate rasa , or spiritual rapture and emotions .   It is believed Rupa Goswami developed , under the direct guidance of Caitanya , the articulated and formulated theology of rasa as `` the soul 's particular relationship with the divinity in devotional love '' .   Rupa 's text draws largely from the foundational theory of rasa formed by Bharata Muni , the originator of Sanskrit dramaturgy , or Natya Sastra ( perhaps as early as the 2nd century BCE ) . These relationships with the divinity in devotional love , rasa , can closely resemble the variety of loving feelings that humans experience with one another , such as beloved-lover , friend-friend , parent-child , and master-servant . Rasas are distinguished as lower and higher and according to Bhagavad Gita it appears that the three higher rasas are acknowledged and preferred by Arjuna . The higher rasas are described as loving , friendly , and fraternal types of relationships .

neg: Devnarayan Ki Phad Devnarayan Ki Par or Devnarayan Ki Phad ( Gujari or Rajasthani : देवनारायण की फड़ ) are cloth paintings which depict the legend of Devnarayan , a medieval hero venerated as a folk-deity . Traditionally , they are used to accompany a ritual in which the heroic deeds of Devnarayan are sung or recited by priests . Devnarayan is worshipped as an incarnation of the Hindu god Vishnu , mostly in Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh . According to the legend , he was incarnated in Vikram Samvat in 968 as the son of Gurjar warrior Sawai Bhoj Bagaravat and his wife Saadu Maata Gurjari .   Devnarayan Ki Par contains 335 songs in all . The entire narration , recorded in 1,200 foolscap pages , runs nearly 15,000 verse lines . A professional Bhopa must remember all these songs by heart .

neg: Swami Sri Sitaramacharya Swami Sri Sitaramacharya Maharaj has been one of the most important Srivaishnava Acharyas of the 20th century . Swamiji 's revolutionary approach made the Sri Ramanuja Sampradaya ( Srivaishnava Sampradaya ) even easier for the Shishyas to follow and attain perfection .   Guru Parampara :  Lord Shrimannarayana ... Sri Ramanuja Swamiji ... Sri Varavaramuni Swamiji ... Sri Kalian Vanamamalai Swamiji ( 25th Jeeyar ) - Sri Radhakrishnacharya Swamiji - Sri Sitaramacharya Swamiji   Swamiji was Bhagawat-Sakshatkar Sampanna ( He who actually was blessed with Bhagawan 's darshan and He who really enjoyed association of Bhagawan all the time ) . Swamiji always had an intense desire to meet Bhagawan . With this intense desire , Swamiji articulated `` Siya Piya Milan Chhandawali '' ( involving 800 Chhandas & Chhappais ) . All the Chhandas and Chhappais show Swamiji 's intense desire to meet Bhagawan at that moment without any delay . Swamiji has assured us that ,   Priya Milan Hit Padhi Hai Jo Nita SiyaPiya Milan Chhandawali  Ekanta Mein Unapar Kripa Karihe Avashi Shri Maithili |  Ati Prem Se Swara Madhur Se Ekagra Man Se Sohate  Padhi Hai Avashi Mili Hai Unhe Hari Nayana Gochar Hovate | |  That is , those who will read this SiyaPiya Milan Chhandawali with intense love towards Bhagawan , slowly with pleasing voice , and with complete concentration , FOR SURE he will be blessed with the LORD 's Darshan .   Swamiji was very strict in terms of the basic principles of SriVaishnava Sampradaya laid down by Lord Srimannarayana , All Twelve Alvars , and all poorvacharyas including Sri Ramanuja Swamiji . He never wanted to gather too many people . Rather Sri Swamiji was interested in creating Perfect Devotees . He believed in Quality not Quantity .   Swamiji articulated hundreds of Srivaishnava Bhajans ( Hindi ) and Sanskrit Stotras right from when He started His journey from Sri Laxmi Narayana Mandir , Solapur . Swamiji focused on only one and the most important principle   `` Siyaram Hi Upaya , Siyaram Hi Upey ''  That is , Bhagawan Siyaram ( Srimannarayan ) should be the ONLY GOAL ( Upeya ) of our human life and Bhagawan Siyaram ( Srimannarayan ) should be the ONLY WAY ( Upaya ) to attain the goal . Our purity towards these Upaya and Upeya is the only measurement of our spiritual progress .   Thus , Swamiji eradicated Upayantar and Upeyantar completely . If we treat any thing , any person , any demigods ( anything other than Bhagawan Srimannarayana ) as our GOAL that indicates we are into Upeyantar . If we treat any thing , any person , any demigods ( anything other than Bhagawan Srimannarayana ) as our MEANS that indicates we are into Upayantar . Unless we completely come out of Upayantar and Upeyantar we can not attain perfection .   Swamiji never asked us to renounce our family , friends , business , community , etc. . He rather wants us to make our life perfect by adding Bhagawan at the top of the list .   Sri Swamiji says that once we perform Saranagati ( Prapatti ) to the Supreme Lord ( Surrender to the Lord ) , He takes care of us . We do not need anyone else to take care of us . All we have to do is serve the Supreme Lord , that too for protecting our own Swaroop as Nitya Dasa . Swamiji always stressed on clear understanding of basic principles of Sampradaya and adhering to the same . Anyone who is related to Sri Ramanuja Swamiji is assured of being liberated from this material world at the end of this life . If this is the fact , then why even ask for liberation to the Lord ? Our liberation is confirmed . All we need to do is trust this fact and enjoy serving the Lord for the rest of our life .   Swamiji always emphasized Intense Love while serving the Lord . While serving the Lord the topmost priority must be given to Love towards the Lord . All rituals , procedures , rules must be secondary to the Love towards the Lord . All our activities must be for Bhagwan 's pleasure not for our own enjoyment . Swamiji worshipped Lord Venkatesh vigraha . He used to call Him as `` Venkat Babu '' or `` Lalji '' .   Favorite Quotes :  `` Sri Swamiji Ka Mangal Ho , Sri Lalji Ka Mangal Ho ''  `` Siyaram Hi Upay , Siyaram Hi Upey ''   Swamiji established `` Vaikunth Mandap '' in Ramkot-Nazarbag , Ayodhya ( UP ) . Swamiji 's topmost contributions to the Srivaishnava Sampradaya are :  1 . Siya Piya Milan Chhandawali ( Request to the Lord for his darshan )  2 . Sharanagati Meemansa in Hindi ( Detailed analysis of Sharanagathi )  3 . Nitya Leela Granth in Hindi ( Pravachans ) ( 20 Volumes , out of which some are missing )  4 . Sri Pravachan Sangraha in Hindi ( Pravachans ) ( 20 Volumes , out of which some are missing )  5 . Guru Parampara and Mantrartha in Hindi Chhanda Format ( For Nityanushthaan )  6 . Nutan Stotra Ratnawali in Sanskrit  7 . Srivaishnava Bhajanmala in Hindi   Swamiji emphasized on nishkaam prem ( loving lord without any worldly or selfish desires ) . Swamiji stressed on not asking anything from the God because all the things in this materialistic world are perishable .   Swamiji always highlighted Gurunista , the fifth and easiest way to attain moksha because moksha is more easily achievable with Samband ( Relation ) of Sadguru ( guru who has seen and met god ) .   Swamiji attained param padam in about 1952 . Swamiji 's message was correctly preached to people by Swami Sri Vaikunthacharyaji Maharaj . Sri Sitaramacharya Swamiji was well known as `` Bade Sarkar '' and Sri Vaikunthacharyaji Maharaj was well known as `` Chhote Sarkar '' .

neg: Guruvayur Temple Guruvayur Sri Krishna Temple is a Hindu temple dedicated to the god Krishna ( an avatar of the god Vishnu ) , located in the town of Guruvayur in Kerala , India . It is one of the most important places of worship for Hindus of Kerala and is often referred to as `` Bhuloka Vaikunta '' which translates to the `` Holy Abode of Vishnu on Earth '' .   The presiding deity of the Guruvayur Temple is Vishnu , worshipped in the form of Krishna . The central icon is a four-armed standing Krishna carrying the conch Panchajanya , the discus Sudarshana Chakra , the mace Kaumodaki and a lotus with a Holy basil garland . This image represents the majestic form of Vishnu as revealed to Krishna 's parents Vasudeva and Devaki around the time of Krishna 's birth ; hence Guruvayur is also known as `` Dwarka of South India '' . He is currently worshipped according to routines laid down by Adi Shankara and later written formally in the Tantric way , the inter-religious spiritual movement that arose in medieval India , by Cennas Narayanan Nambudiri ( born in 1427 ) . The Cennas Nambudiris are the hereditary tantris ( high priest ) of the Guruvayur Temple .   The temple ( puja ) routines are strictly followed . The tantri is available full-time at the Temple to ensure this . The Melsanti ( Chief Priest ) enters the sanctum sanctorum in the morning and does not drink anything up to the completion of `` noon worships '' at 12:30 PM .

neg: Thiruvullakkavu Sree Dharma Sastha Temple The Thuiruvullakkavu Sree Dharma Sastha Temple is a Hindu temple located in Cherpu of Thrissur district of Kerala . The deity is Lord Ayyappan in standing posture with arch and a bow . An enchanting shrine in the midst of a dense forest , a gusher of beneficent spirit-that was the temple of Thiruvullakkavu , centuries back . Lord Sastha , the presiding deity , as the divine protector of the whole village settlement , showered benediction on a cultured rave . He rode the boundaries of the settlement on His white charger ; the pure , microcosmic soul . Full of devotion , the people reveled in the ineffable tenderness of Sastha . A peaceful refuge for the troubled soul that was Thiruvullakkavu .   Kavu is a throbbing beehive of spiritual activities today . Thousands bring their children to this well constructed temple for the initiation into the excitement of knowledge . A child which starts on the alphabets at Kavu is sure to become a scholar , the devotees believe . An unending stream of devotees flow to this temple on Vijaya Dasami , the most auspicious morning of the year for those who seek academic excellence .   Kavu is unique , Lord Sasta , the Thanthric texts assert , is a fiery deity , the divine Hunter who destroys the sinners and protects the virtuous . He is the personification of fierce , protective Love . But at Thiruvullakkavu , He blesses His children with enough wits to earn prosperity to the point of satiety . Later , they become wise enough to renounce it and seek the path of bliss . Verily , Thiruvullakkavu is THE ABODE OF WISDOM .

neg: Shyena (Hinduism) Shyena ( Sanskrit : श्येन ) is the divine hawk identified with Agni , who ascends to heaven for bringing soma ( nectar ) to earth with the intention of rejuvenating and revitalizing of all things that exist on earth . It also refers to the fire-altar constructed with bricks ( Agni Chayana ) in the shape of a hawk ( symbolizing the essence of Agni ) in the Vedic ritual . The Yajurveda prescribes prayers and mantras meant to be recited during the course of the construction of this fire-altar which represents the creator and the created . In the Puranas , Shyena becomes Garuda , the vehicle of Lord Vishnu , which finds mention also in the Adi Parva of the Mahabharata , and who brought amrita from heaven at the behest of Kadru , the mother of serpents and a co-wife of Rishi Kasyapa .   Shyena and Suparna , both , refer to the eagle and the falcon ( hawk ) , two of the swiftest birds ( of prey ) . In the Rig Veda mantra ( I. 164.20 ) - द्वा सुपर्णा सयुजा सखाया समानं वृक्षं परि षस्वजाते -- there is in fact a reference to these two types of suparnas which are identified as the golden oriole , having beautiful wings , and the eagle . In a mantra addressed to the Vedic god Indra ,   प्र सु ष विभ्यो मरुतो विरस्तु प्र श्येनः श्येनेभ्य आशुपत्वा |  अचक्रया यत्स्वधया सुपर्णो हव्यं भरन्मनवे देवजुष्टम् | |   '' Before all birds be ranked this bird , O Maruts ; supreme of falcons , be this fleet-winged Shyena , because , strong-pinioned , with no chariot to bear him , he brought to Manu the god-loved oblation ( Soma ) . '' -- ( Rig Veda IV .26.4 )   Rishi Vamadeva refers to Shyena as the suparna which brings soma , the favorite oblation of the gods . In the Rig Veda , this term is also used to denote a horse .   Shyena , along with Ketu Agneya and Vatsa , is one of the sons of Agni , who are all rishis .   Shyena denotes the Atman , to it belongs the power of realizing the Sole Reality .   Shyena is referred to as a malevolent sacrifice ( yajna ) conducted with the intention of causing harm to others .   At the commencement of the Kurukshetra War which lasted for eighteen days , the Pandavas , being aware that Bhishma stood protected by the `` makara vyuha '' and was ready for battle , they had adopted the invincible `` sheyna vyuha '' with Bhima leading stationed at the mouth and Arjuna stationed at the neck of the bird-shaped vyuha , and Yudhishthira patrolling the rear .

neg: Vaishnava Jana To Vaishnava Jana To is one of the most popular Hindu bhajans , written in the 15th century by the poet Narsinh Mehta in the Gujarati language . The bhajan was included in Mahatma Gandhi 's daily prayer . The bhajan speaks about the life , ideals and mentality of a Vaishnava Jana ( a follower of Vishnu ) .

neg: Vishnupad Mandir Vishnupada Mandir is an ancient temple in Gaya , India . It is a Hindu temple , dedicated to Lord Vishnu .   This temple is located along the Falgu River , marked by a footprint of Lord Vishnu known as Dharmasila , incised into a block of basalt . The Bhumihar Brahmins have been the traditional priests at Vishnupad Mandir in Gaya as Gayawal Pandas and in the adjoining districts like Hazaribagh . Several legendary saints as Ramanujacharya , Madhvacharya , Sankaradeva and Chaitanya Mahaprabhu have visited this shrine .

neg: Manu (Hinduism) Manu is a term found with various meanings in different mythologies of Hinduism . In early texts , it refers to the archetypal man , or to the first man ( progenitor of humanity ) . The Sanskrit term for ` human ' , मानव ( IAST : mānava ) means ` of Manu ' or ` children of Manu ' . In later texts , Manu is the title or name of mystical sage-rulers of earth , or alternatively as the head of mythical dynasties that begin with each cyclic kalpa ( aeon ) when the universe is born anew . The title of the text Manusmriti uses this term as a prefix , but refers to the first Manu -- Svayambhuva , the spiritual son of Brahma .   In some Puranic mythology , each kalpa consists of fourteen Manvantaras , and each Manvantara is headed by a different Manu . The current universe , in this mythology , is asserted to be ruled by the 7th Manu named Vaivasvata .   In Vishnu Purana , Vaivasvata , also known as Sraddhadeva or Satyavrata , was the king of Dravida before the great flood . He was warned of the flood by the Matsya ( fish ) avatar of Vishnu , and built a boat that carried the Vedas , Manu 's family and the seven sages to safety , helped by Matsya . The myth is repeated with variations in other texts , including the Mahabharata and a few other Puranas . It is similar to other flood myths such as that of Gilgamesh and Noah .

neg: Pashupatinath Temple The Pashupatinath Temple is a famous , sacred Hindu temple dedicated to Pashupatinath and is located on the banks of the Bagmati River 5 kilometres north-east of Kathmandu Valley in the eastern part of Kathmandu , the capital of Nepal . This temple is considered one of the sacred temples of Hindu faith . The temple serves as the seat of the national deity , Lord Pashupatinath.This temple complex is on UNESCO World Heritage Sites 's list Since 1979 . This `` extensive Hindu temple precinct '' is a `` sprawling collection of temples , ashrams , images and inscriptions raised over the centuries along the banks of the sacred Bagmati river '' and is included as one of the seven monument groups in UNESCO 's designation of Kathmandu Valley as a cultural heritage site .  One of the major Festivals of the temple is Maha Shivaratri on which day over 800,000 devotees visit here .   The twelve Jyotirlinga ( in India ) are the body and the Jyotirlinga at Pashupatinath in Kathmandu ( Nepal ) is the head over this body .   The temple is one of the 275 Tamil Paadal Petra Sthalams ( Holy Abodes of Shiva ) on the continent . Kotirudra Samhita , Chapter 11 on the Shivalingas of the North , in Shiva Purana mentions this Shivalinga as the bestower of all wishes .

neg: Markandeya Markandeya is an ancient rishi ( sage ) from the Hindu tradition , born in the clan of Bhrigu Rishi . He is celebrated as a devotee of both Shiva and Vishnu and is mentioned in a number of stories from the Puranas . The Markandeya Purana especially , comprises a dialogue between Markandeya and a sage called Jaimini , and a number of chapters in the Bhagavata Purana are dedicated to his conversations and prayers . He is also mentioned in the Mahabharata . Markandeya is venerated within all mainstream Hindu traditions .   Today , Markandeya Tirtha , where the sage Markandeya wrote the Markandeya Purana is situated on a trekking route to the Yamunotri Shrine in the Uttarkashi district , Uttarakhand .

neg: Ādityas In Hinduism , Ādityas ( आदित्य , pronounced -LSB- ɑːd̪it̪jɐ -RSB- ) , meaning `` of Aditi '' , refers to the offspring of Aditi . The name , Aditya , is used in the singular to mean the Sun God , Surya .   The Bhagavata Purana lists a total of twelve Adityas as Sun-gods . In each month of the year a different Aditya is said to shine . Each of these Adityas is a different expression of Lord Vishnu in the form of the Sun-God .

neg: Borgeet Borgeets ( বৰগীত , songs celestial ) are a collection of lyrical songs that are set to specific ragas but not necessarily to any tala . These songs , composed by Srimanta Sankardeva and Madhavdeva in the 15th-16th centuries , are used to begin prayer services in monasteries associated with the Ekasarana Dharma ; and they also belong to the repertoire of Music of Assam outside the religious context . They are a lyrical strain that express the religious sentiments of the poets reacting to different situations , and differ from other lyrics associated with the Ekasarana Dharma . Similar songs composed by others are not generally considered borgeets .   The first Borgeet was composed by Srimanta Sankardeva during his first pilgrimage at Badrikashram in c1488 , which is contemporaneous to the birth of Dhrupad in the court of Man Singh Tomar ( 1486-1518 ) of Gwalior .

neg: Nara-Narayana Nara-Narayana ( नर-न ारायण nara-nārāyaṇa ) is a Hindu deity pair . Nara-Narayana is the twin-brother avatar of the God Vishnu on earth , working for the preservation of dharma or righteousness . In the concept of Nara-Narayana , the human soul Nara is the eternal companion of the Divine Narayana .   The Hindu epic Mahabharata identifies the God Krishna ( an avatar of Vishnu ) with Narayana and Arjuna - the chief hero of the epic - with Nara . The legend of Nara-Narayana is also told in the scripture Bhagavata Purana . Hindus believe that the pair dwells at Badrinath , where their most important temple stands .   The Nara-Narayana pair is frequently worshipped in temples of the Swaminarayan Faith . The followers of the sect believe that their founder Swaminarayan Bhagwan resides in the murti of Naranarayan Dev in Kalupur Mandir

neg: Ram Raksha Stotra Ram Raksha Stotra ( Sanskrit : श्रीरामरक्षास्तोत्रम् ) is a Sanskrit stotra , hymn of praise , used as a prayer for protection to Lord Rama .   Special public recitation of the stotra is organized during religious festivals , especially during Navaratri celebrations , when continuous recitation takes place from Gudi Padwa till Rama Navami day , the birthday of Lord Rama .

neg: Tulsi Manas Mandir Tulsi Manas Mandir ( Hindi : तुलसी मानस मंदिर ) ( a.k.a. Tulsi Manas Mandir ) is one of the most famous temples in the holy city of Varanasi . This temple has great historical and cultural importance in Hinduism since the ancient Hindu epic Ramcharitmanas was originally written at this place by Hindu poet-saint , reformer and philosopher Goswami Tulsidas in the 16th century ( c. 1532 -- 1623 ) .

neg: Jai Jagdish Hare Om Jai Jagdish Harey is a Hindu religious song for the deity Vishnu , however it also considered to be a monotheistic song . Although the religious hymn is a Hindi language composition , it is widely sung by many Hindus within the Indian Diaspora , regardless of their native language . The prayer is sung by the entire congregation at the time of Aarti , a form of Hindu worship .

neg: The Hymn of Samadhi The Hymn of Samadhi or A Hymn of Samadhi was a song written by Swami Vivekananda . The song was originally written in Bengali as Nahi surjo , nahi jyoti or Pralay . Later the song was translated into English and was added into `` The Complete Works of Swami Vivekananda '' as The Hymn of Samadhi .   In this song Vivekananda attempts to narrate the experiences of Nirvikalpa Samadhi and rediscover the real self or the `` I '' . The song has been sung by various artistes . The song was used in the 2013 biopic The Light : Swami Vivekananda .

neg: Bhagavata In Hinduism a Bhagavata ( a vrddhi formation from Bhagavan , meaning `` devotee of Bhagavan '' , the Lord , i.e. God ) , is a devotee , worshipper or follower of Bhagavan namely God in His personal aspect . The form of worship is called bhakti which has the meaning of ` adoration ' . Bhagavat or Bhagavan means ` the Adorable One ' , whereas Bhagavata indicates a worshiper of the Adorable One . It also refers to a tradition devoted to worship of Krishna , later assimilated into the concept of Narayana where Krishna is conceived as svayam bhagavan . According to some historical scholars , worship of Krishna emerged in the 1st century BC . However , Vaishnava traditionalists place it in the 4th century BC . Despite relative silence of the earlier Vedic sources , the features of Bhagavatism and principles of monotheism of Bhagavata school unfolding described in the Bhagavad Gita as viewed as an example of the belief that Vasudeva-Krishna is not an avatar of the Vedic Vishnu , but is the Supreme .

neg: Nilachal The abode of Hindu deity Jagannath at Puri is known as the Nilachal or Niladri , -LSB- Nila ( Blue ) + Achal ( Mount -RSB- meaning , The Blue Mountain .   The Nilachal is a place of high religious significance in Hinduism and is one of the four Char Dhams . Religious teachers like Shri Ramanuja Acharya , Swami Vishnuswami visited Nilachal in the Twelfth century and established a mathas . Shri Nimbarka Acharya also visited Puri , as also Guru Nanak Dev and many other Acharyas . Shri Chaitanya spent 18 years at Nilachal dhama .   As per religious myths and the Skanda Purana , mythical King Indradyumna of Avanti once dreamt of the great deity Nila Madhava ( Blue Madhava ) being worshipped at the Nilachal mount . The King sent out many priests and messengers in the search of the elusive deity Nila Madhava . Finally , Vidyapati , one of the priests of King Indradyumna located Nilachal as well as Nila Madhava at the Purusottam Kshetra ( The land of the Supreme Being ) and took the news back to the King . However , as per divine designs , the Nila Madhava deity vanished before Indradyumna could undertake darshan . But , subsequently , propitiated , the God appeared as Jagannath at Nilachal .   Geographically , though , there is no such apparent geographic structure at Puri , the township being located at the coastal plains of Eastern Orissa . Such a reference to a seemingly non-existent mountain has been a matter of debate which throws light on the origin of the deity .


query: Interpersonal psychotherapy centers solely on impersonal problems.

pos: Interpersonal psychotherapy Interpersonal psychotherapy ( IPT ) is a brief , attachment-focused psychotherapy that centers on resolving interpersonal problems and symptomatic recovery . It is an empirically supported treatment ( EST ) that follows a highly structured and time-limited approach and is intended to be completed within 12 -- 16 weeks . IPT is based on the principle that relationships and life events impact mood and that the reverse is also true . It was developed by Gerald Klerman and Myrna Weissman for major depression in the 1970s and has since been adapted for other mental disorders . IPT is an empirically validated intervention for depressive disorders , and is more effective when used in combination with psychiatric medications . Along with cognitive behavioral therapy ( CBT ) , IPT is recommended in treatment guidelines as a psychosocial treatment of choice , and IPT and CBT are the only psychosocial interventions in which psychiatry residents in the United States are mandated to be trained for professional practice .

neg: Mental distress Mental distress ( or psychological distress ) is a term used , both by some mental health practitioners and users of mental health services , to describe a range of symptoms and experiences of a person 's internal life that are commonly held to be troubling , confusing or out of the ordinary .   Mental distress has a wider scope than the related term mental illness . Mental illness refers to a specific set of medically defined conditions . A person in mental distress may exhibit some of the symptoms described in psychiatry , such as : anxiety , confused emotions , hallucination , rage , depression and so on without actually being ` ill ' in a medical sense .   Life situations such as : bereavement , stress , lack of sleep , use of drugs or alcohol , assault , abuse or accident can induce mental distress . This may be something which resolves without further medical intervention , though people who endure such symptoms longer term are more likely to be diagnosed with mental illness . This definition is not without controversy as some mental health practitioners would use the terms mental distress and mental illness interchangeably .   Some users of mental health services prefer the term mental distress in describing their experience as they feel it better captures that sense of the unique and personal nature of their experience , while also making it easier to relate to , since everyone experiences distress at different times . The term also fits better with the social model of disability .

neg: Self-envy Self-envy is a psychoanalytic concept developed by Rafael López-Corvo who argues that it is crucial for the understanding of disorders of the self that are manifested in addictions , acting out , and inhibition of creativity . This concept is based on the use of object relations theory , that many psychoanalysts view as a fundamental instrument for examining the architecture of the internal world that describes behavior as influenced by the multiple interactions of early representations of self and other that operate in our inner selves .   Self-envy is produced by ` child part self-objects ' , self representations from early development that remain split off from the self and harbor destructive and envious feelings toward the creative aspects of the self and results from direct aggressive attacks by these childhood self-objects against the part of the self identified with a harmonious mother-father or parent-sibling relationship .   The internal dynamics of self-envy cause intense unconscious conflict , dissociation , and disturbances of the self , all of which underlie severe psychopathologies , such as repetitive destructive behavior , and even the living of seemingly normal but constricted lives . López-Corvo suggests that the psychoanalytic interpretation of such patients , for whom one part of the self is ruthlessly pitted against another , should address directly the phenomenon of a war within the internal self .   W.C.M. Scott first used this term in 1975 in his article `` Remembering sleep and dreaming : self-envy and envy of dreams and dreaming '' in the International Review of Psychoanalysis , Vol . 2/3 ( 1975 ) : 333-354 . López-Corvo credits Scott in his paper `` About Interpretation of Self-Envy '' in the same journal ( 1992 ) : 73 , 719 , and also in his book Self-Envy : Therapy and the Divided Inner World , which also draws from Melanie Klein , Wilfred Bion , and other object-relations theorists in order to develop its more extended argument .

neg: Abnormal psychology Abnormal psychology is the branch of psychology that studies unusual patterns of behavior , emotion and thought , which may or may not be understood as precipitating a mental disorder . Although many behaviors could be considered as abnormal , this branch of psychology generally deals with behavior in a clinical context . There is a long history of attempts to understand and control behavior deemed to be aberrant or deviant ( statistically , functionally , morally or in some other sense ) , and there is often cultural variation in the approach taken . The field of abnormal psychology identifies multiple causes for different conditions , employing diverse theories from the general field of psychology and elsewhere , and much still hinges on what exactly is meant by `` abnormal '' . There has traditionally been a divide between psychological and biological explanations , reflecting a philosophical dualism in regard to the mind body problem . There have also been different approaches in trying to classify mental disorders . Abnormal includes three different categories ; they are subnormal , supernormal and paranormal .   The science of abnormal psychology studies two types of behaviors : adaptive and maladaptive behaviors . Behaviors that are maladaptive suggest that some problem ( s ) exist , and can also imply that the individual is vulnerable and can not cope with environmental stress , which is leading them to have problems functioning in daily life .  Clinical psychology is the applied field of psychology that seeks to assess , understand and treat psychological conditions in clinical practice . The theoretical field known as ` abnormal psychology ' may form a backdrop to such work , but clinical psychologists in the current field are unlikely to use the term ` abnormal ' in reference to their practice . Psychopathology is a similar term to abnormal psychology but has more of an implication of an underlying pathology ( disease process ) , and as such is a term more commonly used in the medical specialty known as psychiatry .

neg: Interpersonal relationship An interpersonal relationship is a strong , deep , or close association or acquaintance between two or more people that may range in duration from brief to enduring . This association may be based on inference , love , solidarity , regular business interactions , or some other type of social commitment . Interpersonal relationships are formed in the context of social , cultural and other influences . The context can and may and perhaps will vary from family or kinship relations , friendship , marriage , relations with associates , work , clubs , neighborhoods , and places of worship . They may be regulated by law , custom , or mutual agreement , and are the basis of social groups and society as a whole .

neg: Therapeutic assessment Therapeutic assessment is a psychological assessment procedure which aims to help people gain insight and apply this new insight to problems in their life . This paradigm is contrasted with the traditional , information-gathering model of psychological assessment , the main goal of which is to accurately diagnose , plan treatments , and evaluate treatment effectiveness . Traditional , information-gathering assessment is sometimes viewed as the phase before treatment , whereas therapeutic assessment can be considered the first phase of treatment or as a brief standalone treatment . The term ` Therapeutic Assessment ' was coined in 1993 by Stephen E. Finn to describe the semi-structured collaborative assessment paradigm developed by himself and colleagues at the Center for Therapeutic Assessment in Austin , Texas . Finn suggests differentiating the capitalized `` Therapeutic Assessment '' or the abbreviation , `` TA '' as the paradigm developed by himself and his colleagues and the lowercase `` therapeutic assessment '' as the more general term which describes a variety of humanistically based assessment models .

neg: Mental health care in the Philippines Mental health is defined as `` a state of well-being in which every individual realizes his or her own potential , can cope with the normal stresses of life , can work productively and fruitfully , and is able to make a contribution to her or his community '' . The World Health Organization emphasized the importance of mental health by including it in their definition of health as `` a state of complete physical , mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity . ''   Mental health care is the status of providing and maintaining psychological , psychiatric , and emotional health by means of diagnosis , treatment , and prevention of mental illnesses .   This article will survey the status of psychological , psychiatric , and emotional health care in the Philippines from both past and present programs .

neg: Interpersonal reflex Interpersonal reflex is a term created by Timothy Leary and explained in the book , Interpersonal Diagnosis of Personality : A functional theory and methodology for personality evaluation ( 1957 ) .   While examining recorded protocols of communications in adults , Leary discovered that typical patterns of interaction existed . Individual units of these behaviors were called interpersonal mechanisms or interpersonal reflexes . ( p 96 ) ; `` They are defined as the observable , expressive units of face-to-face social behavior . ''   These reflexes are automatic and involuntary responses to interpersonal situations . They are independent of the content of the communication . They are the individual 's spontaneous methods of reacting to others .   Leary states , `` The reflex manner in which human beings react to others and train others to respond to them in selective ways is , I believe , the most important single aspect of personality . The systematic estimates of a patient 's repertoire of interpersonal reflexes is a key factor in functional diagnosis . '' ( p 97 ) .   Examining interpersonal reflexes helps to explain communication and behavioral patterns in healthy and unhealthy relationships . For example , tender , supportive operations tend to train others to agree , conciliate , and depend . Rigid autocratic individuals seek out docile admiring followers . Competitive , self-enhancing behavior pulls envy , distrust , inferiority feelings , and at times respectful admiration from others .

neg: Psychology of disenfranchisement The Psychology of Disenfranchisement is a theory developed by Rex Briggs while studying minority groups at social research firm Yankelovich Partners . Originally published by Yankelovich Partners , Grant Lukenbill 's book , Untold Millions , applied the theory to help explain marketing opportunities to gays and lesbians . In Brigg 's original research , he observed higher levels of stress , skepticism and self-protection needs among minority groups .   The psychology of disenfranchisement theory suggests that there are three components that drive the psychology of disenfranchisement : alienation , cynicism and perceived victimization . These components interact and intensify each other . Alienation , Briggs argues , may be due to negative perceptions , stereotypes and discrimination condoned and practiced by the dominant culture . The perception of separation from the mainstream culture can create severe stress and can be considered the impetus for the psychology of disenfranchisement . Cynicism is one of the inevitable offshoots of alienation , resulting in the conviction that things will go wrong , that harm is to be expected . It involves a sense that the institutions of society ( from which one is alienated ) are not only remote , but inimical . Victimization is the feeling the develops out of the perception of intentional or unintentional undeserved mistreatment by other individuals , organizations , or institutions . Victimization is a logical outgrowth of feelings of cynicism and alienation from the dominant culture . The perceived victimization legitimizes and justifies the cynicism , and over time this cycle can become entrenched , thereby increasing the feelings of alienation .   The resulting needs include : self-understanding ( recognition of and respect for one 's individuality ) , association ( a sharing of occasions with `` people like me '' ) , security ( emotional , social and psychical ) , independence , stress relief ( self-indulgence , escapism ) .   All the Rage : The Story of Gay Visibility in America cites Briggs ' psychology of disenfranchisement theory as a launching point to discuss how advertising can offer inclusion in its messaging , so as to resonate better .   In 2006 , Steven Andrew Culpepper summarized Dubois 1903 book , Sols of Black Folk as capturing the essence of a double-consciousness , a paradoxical experience of deep psychic atrocity tracing from slavery , `` while the American experience resonates with a hopeful ethos characterized by universality of equality and justice for all . '' Culpepper applies this same psychology of disenfranchisement to women , `` that were severely excluded from its rights and privileges in society that touts equality and justice . ''   A more literal use of the concept , `` psychology of disenfranchisement '' has been applied by Keven Lanning where he examines the consequences to both the person and the community when individuals do not have equal access , or equal voices , at the polls .

neg: Process psychology Process psychology is a branch of psychotherapeutic psychology which was derived from process philosophy as developed by Alfred North Whitehead . Process psychology got its start at a conference sponsored by the Center for Process Studies in 1998 . In 2000 , Michel Weber created the Whitehead Psychology Nexus : an open forum dedicated to the cross-examination of Alfred North Whitehead 's process philosophy and the various facets of the contemporary psychological field .   David Ray Griffin , a retired professor , has also been instrumental in encouraging the development of Process Psychology . Process Psychology is closely aligned with process theology and its practitioners frequently refer to spiritual concerns .  John Buchanan described Process Psychology as a transpersonal psychology providing an empirical basis for what has been called mystical experience .   Yet other theorists reference systems thinking and the work of Ludwig von Bertalanffy whose concept of a `` system '' is compared to Whitehead 's idea of the `` organism '' .   The influence of Carl G. Jung is also referenced and he is considered to be among the discipline 's founding fathers .   Jon Mills ( psychologist ) has proposed a process psychology known as `` dialectical psychoanalysis '' ( which is based , in part , on Hegelianism ) .

neg: Nonviolent Communication Nonviolent Communication ( abbreviated NVC , also called Compassionate Communication or Collaborative Communication ) is a communication process developed by Marshall Rosenberg beginning in the 1960s . It focuses on three aspects of communication : self-empathy ( defined as a deep and compassionate awareness of one 's own inner experience ) , empathy ( defined as an understanding of the heart in which we see the beauty in the other person ) , and honest self-expression ( defined as expressing oneself authentically in a way that is likely to inspire compassion in others ) .   Nonviolent Communication is based on the idea that all human beings have the capacity for compassion and only resort to violence or behavior that harms others when they do n't recognize more effective strategies for meeting needs . Habits of thinking and speaking that lead to the use of violence ( psychological and physical ) are learned through culture . NVC theory supposes all human behavior stems from attempts to meet universal human needs and that these needs are never in conflict . Rather , conflict arises when strategies for meeting needs clash . NVC proposes that if people can identify their needs , the needs of others , and the feelings that surround these needs , harmony can be achieved .   While NVC is ostensibly taught as a process of communication designed to improve compassionate connection to others , it has also been interpreted as a spiritual practice , a set of values , a parenting technique , an educational method and a worldview .

neg: Reichian therapy Reichian therapy can refer to several schools of thought and therapeutic techniques whose common touchstone is their origins in the work of psychoanalyst Wilhelm Reich ( 1897 -- 1957 ) . Some examples are :   Bioenergetic analysis , which combines psychological analysis , active work with the body and relational therapeutic work .  Body psychotherapy , which addresses the body and the mind as a whole with emphasis on the reciprocal relationships within body and mind .  Neo-Reichian massage , whose practitioners attempt to locate and dissolve body armoring ( also called `` holding patterns '' ) .  Vegetotherapy , a form of psychotherapy that involves the physical manifestations of emotions .

neg: Motivational interviewing Motivational interviewing ( MI ) refers to a counseling approach in part developed by clinical psychologists William R. Miller and Stephen Rollnick . The concept of motivational interviewing evolved from experience in the treatment of problem drinkers , and was first described by Miller ( 1983 ) in an article published in Behavioural Psychotherapy . These fundamental concepts and approaches were later elaborated by Miller and Rollnick ( 1991 ) in a more detailed description of clinical procedures . MI is a goal-oriented , client-centered counseling style for eliciting behavior change by helping clients to explore and resolve ambivalence . Compared with non-directive counseling , it 's more focused and goal-directed . It departs from traditional Rogerian client-centered therapy through this use of direction , in which therapists attempt to influence clients to consider making changes , rather than non-directively explore themselves . The examination and resolution of ambivalence is a central purpose , and the counselor is intentionally directive in pursuing this goal .   MI recognizes and accepts the fact that clients who need to make changes in their lives approach counseling at different levels of readiness to change their behavior . During counseling , some clients may have thought about making a behavior change , but may not yet have taken steps to make that change themselves . Alternatively , other clients may be actively trying to change their behavior and may have been doing so unsuccessfully for years . In order for a therapist to be successful at motivational interviewing , four basic interaction skills should first be established . These skills include : the ability to ask open-ended questions , the ability to provide affirmations , the capacity for reflective listening , and the ability to periodically provide summary statements to the client . These skills are used strategically , while focusing on a variety of topics , such as looking back , reflecting on a typical day , the importance of change , looking forward , and examining one 's confidence about behavior changes .   Motivational interviewing is non-judgmental , non-confrontational and non-adversarial . The approach attempts to increase the client 's awareness of the potential problems caused , consequences experienced , and risks faced as a result of the behavior in question . Alternatively , or in addition , therapists may help clients envision a better future , and become increasingly motivated to achieve it . Either way , the strategy seeks to help clients think differently about their behavior and ultimately to consider what might be gained through change . Motivational interviewing focuses on the present , and entails working with a client to access motivation to change a particular behavior that is not consistent with a client 's personal value or goal . Warmth , genuine empathy , and acceptance are necessary to foster therapeutic gain ( Rogers , 1961 ) within motivational interviewing . Another central concept is that ambivalence about decisions is resolved by conscious and unconscious weighing of pros and cons of change vs. not changing ( Ajzen , 1980 ) .   The main goals of motivational interviewing are to engage clients , elicit change talk , and evoke motivation to make positive changes from the client . For example , change talk can be elicited by asking the client questions , such as `` How might you like things to be different ? '' or `` How does ______ interfere with things that you would like to do ? '' Change may occur quickly or may take considerable time , and the pace of change will vary from client to client . Knowledge alone is usually not sufficient to motivate change within a client , and challenges in maintaining change should be thought of as the rule , not the exception . Ultimately , practitioners must recognize that motivational interviewing involves collaboration not confrontation , evocation not education , autonomy rather than authority , and exploration instead of explanation . Effective processes for positive change focus on goals that are small , important to the client , specific , realistic , and oriented in the present and/or future .   While there are as many variations in technique as there are clinical encounters , the spirit of the method , however , is more enduring and can be characterized in a few key points :  Motivation to change is elicited from the client , and is not imposed from outside forces .  It is the client 's task , not the counselor 's , to articulate and resolve the client 's ambivalence .  Direct persuasion is not an effective method for resolving ambivalence .  The counseling style is generally quiet and elicits information from the client .  The counselor is directive , in that they help the client to examine and resolve ambivalence .  Readiness to change is not a trait of the client , but a fluctuating result of interpersonal interaction .  The therapeutic relationship resembles a partnership or companionship .

neg: Delusional disorder Delusional disorder is a mental illness in which the patient presents with delusions , but with no accompanying prominent hallucinations , thought disorder , mood disorder , or significant flattening of affect . Delusions are a specific symptom of psychosis . Delusions can be `` bizarre '' or `` non-bizarre '' in content ; non-bizarre delusions are fixed false beliefs that involve situations that could potentially occur in real life , such as being followed or poisoned . Apart from their delusions , people with delusional disorder may continue to socialize and function in a normal manner and their behavior does not necessarily generally seem odd . However , the preoccupation with delusional ideas can be disruptive to their overall lives . For the diagnosis to be made , auditory and visual hallucinations can not be prominent , though olfactory or tactile hallucinations related to the content of the delusion may be present .   To be diagnosed with a delusional disorder , the delusion ( s ) can not be due to the effects of a drug , medication , or general medical condition , and delusional disorder can not be diagnosed in an individual previously properly diagnosed with schizophrenia . A person with delusional disorder may be high functioning in daily life . Recent and comprehensive metaanalyses of scientific studies point to an association between a deterioration in aspects of IQ in psychotic patients , in particular perceptual reasoning .   According to German psychiatrist Emil Kraepelin , patients with delusional disorder remain coherent , sensible and reasonable . The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders ( DSM ) defines six subtypes of the disorder characterized as erotomanic ( believes that someone is in love with them ) , grandiose ( believes that they are the greatest , strongest , fastest , richest , and/or most intelligent person ever ) , jealous ( believes that the love partner is cheating on them ) , persecutory ( delusions that the person or someone to whom the person is close is being malevolently treated in some way ) , somatic ( believes that they have a disease or medical condition ) , and mixed , i.e. , having features of more than one subtype . Delusions also occur as symptoms of many other mental disorders , especially the other psychotic disorders .   The DSM-IV , and psychologists , generally agree that personal beliefs should be evaluated with great respect to cultural and religious differences , since some cultures have widely accepted beliefs that may be considered delusional in other cultures .

neg: Drug therapy problems Drug therapy problems ( DTPs ) ( or drug related problems , DRPs ) represent the categorization and definition of clinical problems related to the use of medications or `` drugs '' in the field of pharmaceutical care . In the course of clinical practice , DTPs are often identified , prevented , and/or resolved by pharmacists in the course of medication therapy management , as experts on the safety and efficacy of medications , but other healthcare professionals may also manage DTPs .   A drug-therapy ( related ) problem can be defined as an event or circumstance involving drug treatment ( pharmacotherapy ) that interferes with the optimal provision of medical care . In 1990 , L.M. Strand and her colleagues ( based on the previous work of R.L Mikeal and D.C Brodie , published respectively in 1975 and 1980 ) classified the DTPs into eight different categories . According to these categories , pharmacists generated a list of the DTPs for each patient . As a result , pharmacists had a cleaner picture of the patient 's drug therapy and medical conditions . A second publication of R.J Cipolle with L.M Strand in 1998 , change the eight categories into seven , grouped in four Pharmacotherapy needs : indication , effectiveness , safety and adherence .

neg: Limbic imprint In psychology , limbic imprint refers to the process by which prenatal , perinatal and post-natal experiences imprint upon the limbic system , causing lifelong effects . The term is used to explain how early care of a fetus and newborn is important to lifelong psychological development , and has been used as an argument for alternative birthing methods , and against circumcision .   Lewis , Amini and Lannon , in their book A General Theory of Love , use the concept of limbic imprinting to explain lifelong patterns of poor love choices , explaining that the patterns of love and care received as a youth will affect the patterns of love that the adult seeks in their life . Some therapists suggest a course of `` limbic repatterning '' to consciously rewrite bad limbic imprints and thus improve the patient 's overall psychological health .

neg: Cognitive processing therapy Cognitive processing therapy ( CPT ) is a manualized therapy used by clinicians to help people recover from posttraumatic stress disorder ( PTSD ) and related conditions . It includes elements of cognitive behavioral therapy ( CBT ) treatments . A typical 12-session run of CPT has proven effective in treating PTSD across a variety of populations , including combat veterans , sexual assault victims , and refugees . CPT can be provided in individual and group treatment formats .   The theory behind CPT conceptualizes PTSD as a disorder of non-recovery , in which a sufferer 's beliefs about the causes and consequences of traumatic events produce strong negative emotions , which prevent accurate processing of the traumatic memory and the emotions resulting from the events . Because the emotions are often overwhelmingly negative and difficult to cope with , PTSD sufferers can block the natural recovery process by using avoidance of traumatic triggers as a strategy to function in day-to-day living . Unfortunately , this limits their opportunities to process the traumatic experience and gain a more adaptive understanding of it . CPT incorporates trauma-specific cognitive techniques to help individuals with PTSD more accurately appraise these `` stuck points '' and progress toward recovery .

neg: Internal discourse An inner discourse , or internal discourse , is a constructive act of the human mind and a tool for discovering new knowledge and making decisions . Along with feelings such as joy , anger , fear , etc. , and sensory awareness , it is one of the few aspects of the processing of information and other mental activities of which humans can be directly aware . Inner discourse is so prominent in the human awareness of mental functioning that it may often seem to be synonymous with `` mind . '' The view is then that `` mind '' means `` what one experiences when thinking things out , '' and that `` thinking things out '' is believed to consist only of the words heard in internal discourse . This common sense idea of the mind must either block out the fact that the mind is constantly processing all kinds of information below the level of awareness , or else rename that activity to some putatively `` non-mental '' status such as `` reflex reaction '' or even , sometimes , `` demon possession . ''   An inner discourse takes place much as would a discussion with a second person . One might think , `` I need $ 27 for the paper boy . I have some paper currency in my wallet . Ten plus ten plus five ... I have $ 25 . Damn . Maybe I dropped coins in the sofa . Ah , here they are ... '' The ideal form of inner discourse would seem to be one that starts with statements about matters of fact and proceeds with logical rigor until a solution is achieved .   On this view of thinking , progress toward better thinking is made when one learns how to evaluate how well `` statements of fact '' are actually grounded , and when one learns how to avoid logical errors . But one must also take account of questions like why one is seeking a solution ( Why do I want to contribute money to this charity ? ) , and why one may keep getting results that turn out to be biased in fairly consistent patterns ( Why do I never give to charities that benefit a certain group ? ) .

neg: Mind uploading Whole brain emulation ( WBE ) , mind upload or brain upload ( sometimes called `` mind copying '' or `` mind transfer '' ) is the hypothetical process of scanning mental state ( including long-term memory and `` self '' ) of a particular brain substrate and copying it to a computer . The computer could then run a simulation model of the brain 's information processing , such that it responds in essentially the same way as the original brain ( i.e. , indistinguishable from the brain for all relevant purposes ) and experiences having a conscious mind .   Mind uploading may potentially be accomplished by either of two methods : Copy-and-Transfer or gradual replacement of neurons . In the case of the former method , mind uploading would be achieved by scanning and mapping the salient features of a biological brain , and then by copying , transferring , and storing that information state into a computer system or another computational device . The simulated mind could be within a virtual reality or simulated world , supported by an anatomic 3D body simulation model . Alternatively , the simulated mind could reside in a computer that is inside ( or connected to ) a ( not necessarily humanoid ) robot or a biological body in real life .   Among some futurists and within the transhumanist movement , mind uploading is treated as an important proposed life extension technology . Some believe mind uploading is humanity 's current best option for preserving the identity of the species , as opposed to cryonics . Another aim of mind uploading is to provide a permanent backup to our `` mind-file '' , and a means for functional copies of human minds to survive a global disaster or interstellar space travels . Whole brain emulation is discussed by some futurists as a `` logical endpoint '' of the topical computational neuroscience and neuroinformatics fields , both about brain simulation for medical research purposes . It is discussed in artificial intelligence research publications as an approach to strong AI . Computer-based intelligence such as an upload could think much faster than a biological human even if it were no more intelligent . A large-scale society of uploads might , according to futurists , give rise to a technological singularity , meaning a sudden time constant decrease in the exponential development of technology . Mind uploading is a central conceptual feature of numerous science fiction novels and films .   Substantial mainstream research in related areas is being conducted in animal brain mapping and simulation , development of faster super computers , virtual reality , brain -- computer interfaces , connectomics and information extraction from dynamically functioning brains . According to supporters , many of the tools and ideas needed to achieve mind uploading already exist or are currently under active development ; however , they will admit that others are , as yet , very speculative , but still in the realm of engineering possibility . Neuroscientist Randal Koene has formed a nonprofit organization called Carbon Copies to promote mind uploading research .

neg: Forensic psychotherapy Forensic psychotherapy is the application of psychological knowledge to the treatment of patients who have mental illnesses who commit violent acts against others or themselves involving both the conscious and unconscious motivations . Commonly applied diagnoses would include personality disorder and psychosis . The link between personality disorder and offending is not firmly established although many of those who commit offences have one or more personality disorders . The term forensic psychotherapy is usually associated with Psychodynamic psychotherapy , including group psychotherapy and the therapeutic community approach . Cognitive behavioral therapy is more commonly associated with the field of psychology , particularly Forensic Psychology . Forensic psychotherapists may collaborate with other professionals , such as physicians , social workers , and other psychologists to best serve the client 's needs and may work in various settings including prisons , inpatient settings , and outpatient settings . Forensic psychologists encompasses four types of work : clinical work , supervisory work , clinical meetings , and consultation . Guidelines have been set to ensure proficiency in the field of Forensic Psychology .

neg: Paraspace The term ` paraspace ' comes from Samuel R. Delany , a ` space ' existing parallel to normal or ordinary space . According to Delany , the para-space is an alternate space that ` exists parallel to the normal space of the diegesis -- a rhetorically heightened  `` other realm ''' ( Bukatman 1993 : 157 ) . Bukatman ( 1993 : 157 ) says `` Cyberspace is clearly a '' paraspace ' . '   `` Delany connects cyberpunk to the mysterious lunar artifact of Algis Budrys ' Rogue Moon and early evocations of outer space , all of which use inflated rhetoric to differentiate `` paraspace '' from mundane dimensions '' Samuel Review Essay .   Paraspace is defined by Barry Malzberg as `` the condition of hyperspace -LSB- that -RSB- is itself insane '' ( as cited by Bukatman , 1993 : 157 ) .   Michael Fisch ( 2004 : 371 , citing Murakami , 2002 : 157 ) comments `` While the para-space is often inaugurated through cognition it is always a ` materially manifested ' and ` linguistically intensified ' space in which ` conflicts that begin in ordinary space are resolved ' ''  ( Murakami 2002 : 157 ) .   Implications   Walter Benjamin ( 1936/1968 ) declare the end of storytelling because of its incapacity to relate traumatic experiences , such as warfare , shell shock in World War I . As work lost its spaces to practice not just storytelling , but storylistening , the skills of interpretation of experience atrophied .   Paraspace is the hyperspace gone insane ( Malzberg , The worker flesh-body is displaced by the corporate ad-inventions , set on the global stage of `` technoorganic reconstructions of the flesh '' ( Bukatman , 1993 : 19 ) .   Walter Benjamin ( 1936 ) declared that the art of storytelling is coming to an end . We can no longer tell a tale of trauma properly . We can no longer exchange our experiences of trauma of war ( PTSD ) , economic collapse sending millions into homelessness , including veterans of the recent wars , the ubiquitousness of sweatshops , and so on . Of relevance to paraspace , the lost art of storytelling has an accumulated effect ( Fisch , 2004 : p. 365 ) ; it gets worth with cyber-real . / When the ` real ' pokes through the cyberspace , it gets quickly displaced by obfuscation . Our ` real ' in hyperspace is not closer to Lacanian Real ( FIsch , p. 372 ) .   Paraspace is invisible , yet has material consequences ( Bukatman , 1992 ) .   Benjamin , W. ( 1936/1968 ) Illuminations , New York : Harcourt Brace & World .   Bukatman , S. ( 1992 ) . Amidst These Fields of Data : Allegory , Rhetoric , and the Paraspace . Critique : Studies in Contemporary Fiction , 33 ( 3 ) , 199-219 .   Bukatman , S. ( 1993 ) Terminal Identity : The Virtual Subject in Postmodern Science Fiction , Durham ,  NC : Duke University Press .   Delany , Samuel R. ( 1988 ) . Some real mothers : An interview with Samuel R. Delany by Takayuki Tatsumi . '' Science Fiction Eye , 1 , # 3 : 5-11 .   Fisch , M. ( 2004 , October ) . In search of the real : technology , shock and language in Murakami Haruki 's Sputnik Sweetheart . In Japan Forum ( Vol . 16 , No. 3 , pp. 361 -- 383 ) . Taylor & Francis .   Murakami , H. ( 2002 ) Sputnik Sweetheart , trans . P. Gabriel , New York : Vintage International .


query: Maria Sharapova has yet to receive a suspension.

pos: Maria Sharapova Maria Yuryevna Sharapova ( Мари́я Ю́рьевна Шара́пова ; born April 19 , 1987 ) is a Russian professional tennis player . A United States resident since 1994 , Sharapova has competed on the WTA tour since 2001 . She has been ranked world No. 1 in singles by the WTA on five separate occasions , for a total of 21 weeks . She is one of ten women , and the only Russian , to hold the career Grand Slam . She is also an Olympic medalist , having earned silver for Russia in women 's singles at the 2012 Summer Olympics in London .   Sharapova became the world No. 1 for the first time on August 22 , 2005 , at the age of 18 , and last held the ranking for the fifth time for four weeks from June 11 , 2012 , to July 8 , 2012 . Her 35 singles titles and five Grand Slam titles -- two at the French Open and one each at the Australian Open , Wimbledon , and US Open -- rank third among active players , behind Serena and Venus Williams . She won the year-ending WTA Finals in her debut in 2004 . She has also won three doubles titles .   Despite an injury-prone career , Sharapova has achieved a rare level of longevity in the women 's game . She won at least one singles title a year from 2003 until 2015 , a streak only bested by Steffi Graf , Martina Navratilova , and Chris Evert . Several tennis pundits and former players have called Sharapova one of tennis 's best competitors , with John McEnroe calling her one of the best the sport has ever seen .   Sharapova has been featured in a number of modeling assignments , including a feature in the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue . She appeared in many advertisements , including those for Nike , Prince , and Canon , being the face of several fashion houses , most notably Cole Haan . Since February 2007 , she has been a United Nations Development Programme Goodwill Ambassador , concerned specifically with the Chernobyl Recovery and Development Programme . In June 2011 , she was named one of the `` 30 Legends of Women 's Tennis : Past , Present and Future '' by Time and in March 2012 was named one of the `` 100 Greatest of All Time '' by Tennis Channel . According to Forbes , she has been named highest paid female athlete in the world for 11 consecutive years and earned 285 million including prize money since she turned pro in 2001 .   In March 2016 , Sharapova revealed she had failed a drug test at the 2016 Australian Open on January 26 , 2016 . She had tested positive for meldonium , a substance that had been banned , effective January 1 , 2016 by the World Anti-Doping Agency ( WADA ) . On June 8 , 2016 , she was suspended from playing tennis for two years by the International Tennis Federation ( ITF ) . On October 4 , 2016 , the suspension was reduced to 15 months , starting from the date of the failed test . She returned to the WTA tour on April 26 , 2017 at the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix .

neg: Neva Cup The Neva Cup ( previously known as the Kivenappa Ladies ' Cup ) is a tournament for professional female tennis players played on indoor hard courts . The event is classified as a $ 100,000 ITF Women 's Circuit tournament and has been held in Saint Petersburg , Russia , since 2012 . In 2016 , the tournament moved from the outdoor clay courts of the Children 's Tennis Center to the indoor hard courts of Tennis Center Dinamo .   In 2017 tournament upgraded to WTA 125K series .

neg: Tennis at the 2016 Summer Olympics – Qualification Qualification for tennis at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro , Brazil is determined not by any form of qualifying tournament , but by the rankings maintained by the Association of Tennis Professionals ( ATP ) and the Women 's Tennis Association ( WTA ) .

neg: 2013 French Open – Women's Singles Maria Sharapova was the defending champion . Sharapova advanced to the final before losing to Serena Williams 4 -- 6 , 4 -- 6 in her second French Open final , as well as her 16th major overall title . Williams ' victory earned her a multiple slam set in Women 's Singles .   Future champion Garbiñe Muguruza entered the main draw in the competition for the first time , she lost to Jelena Janković in the second round .

neg: Governor (Russia) The highest official of the subject of the Russian Federation or the holder of the highest office of subject of the Russian Federation or the head of the highest executive body of state power of the subject of the Russian Federation , colloquially and collectively referred to as the title governor ( губернатор - gubernator ) or head of region ( глава региона - glava regiona ) , is the head and the chief executive of each the federal subjects of Russia , not directly subordinate to the federal authorities , but the political and ceremonial head of the federal subject , all of which are equal constituent entities of Russia .   The office is defined by the Constitution of Russia and Chapters 1 , 3 and 4 of Russia 's Federal Law No. 184-FZ `` On the General Principles of the Organization Of the Legislative ( Representative ) and Executive Organs Of State Power of the Subjects of the Russian Federation '' which came into force in 1999 . According to the current revision of the Russian Constitution , the Russian Federation consists of 85 federal subjects therefore there are 85 offices of head of region in Russia ( see List of current heads of federal subjects of Russia ) .   The certain title of office is defined by the federal subject 's Constitution or Charter . The names include : governor , president ( президент - president ) , head of administration ( глава администрации - glava administratsii ) , head of republic ( глава республики - glava respubliki ) , mayor ( мэр - mer ) , non-officially and collectively referred to as governors for short . The official title governor is most used in Russia and traditionally it is used in Oblasts of Russia . Presidents of Russia 's republics , mayor of Moscow and mayor of St. Petersburg are also governors in this sense .   A head of the subject in Russia is said to serve a administration or executive office , colloquially referred to as gubernatorial administration .

neg: List of journalists killed in Russia The dangers to journalists in Russia have been well known since the early 1990s but concern over the number of unsolved killings soared after Anna Politkovskaya 's murder in Moscow on 7 October , 2006 . While international monitors mentioned dozen deaths , some sources within Russia talked of over two hundred fatalities .  The evidence has since been examined and documented in two reports , published in Russian and English , by international organizations . These revealed a basic confusion in terminology that explained the seemingly enormous numerical discrepancy : statistics of premature death among journalists ( from work accidents , crossfire incidents , and purely criminal or domestic cases of manslaughter ) were repeatedly equated with the much smaller number of targeted ( contract ) killings or work-related murders .  The Remembrance Day of Journalists Killed in the Line of Duty in Russia is observed on 15 December every year .

neg: Hillary Clinton email controversy In March 2015 , it became publicly known that Hillary Clinton , during her tenure as United States Secretary of State , had used her family 's private email server for official communications , rather than official State Department email accounts maintained on federal servers . Those official communications included thousands of emails that would retroactively be marked classified by the State Department .   The controversy unfolded against the backdrop of Clinton 's 2016 presidential election campaign and hearings held by the United States House Select Committee on Benghazi . Some experts , officials , and members of Congress have contended that her use of private messaging system software and a private server violated State Department protocols and procedures , as well as federal laws and regulations governing recordkeeping . In response , Clinton has said that her use of personal email was in compliance with federal laws and State Department regulations , and that former secretaries of state had also maintained personal email accounts , though not their own private email servers .   After allegations were raised that some of the emails in question contained classified information , the Federal Bureau of Investigation ( FBI ) initiated an investigation regarding the origin and handling of classified emails on Clinton 's server . The FBI Report found that some of the emails originated in five other intelligence agencies . The FBI found that all classified emails on Clinton 's server were stored and sent from `` unclassified systems '' , violating the same policies as those on Clinton 's personal server .   FBI Director James Comey identified 110 emails as containing information that was classified at the time it was sent , including 65 emails deemed `` Secret '' and 22 deemed `` Top Secret '' . None of these had classification markings . However , as noted in Clinton 's non-disclosure agreement , unmarked classified information should be treated the same as marked classified information . An additional three email chains contained `` portion markings '' , simply a '' ( C ) '' indicating `` Confidential '' in front of one or more paragraphs . These were not included in Comey 's list of 110 because the State Department failed to confirm they were classified at the time they were sent . Clinton told the FBI she did not know the meaning of '' ( C ) '' . Nearly 2,100 emails on the server were retroactively marked as classified by the State Department .   In May 2016 , the State Department 's Office of the Inspector General released an 83-page report about the State Department 's email practices , including Clinton 's . On July 5 , 2016 , Comey announced that the FBI 's investigation had concluded that Clinton was `` extremely careless '' in handling her email system but recommended that no charges be filed against her . On July 6 , 2016 , Attorney General Loretta Lynch announced that no charges would be filed .   On July 7 , the State Department reopened its probe into the email controversy . On October 28 , 2016 , Comey notified Congress that the FBI had started looking into newly discovered emails that may be pertinent to the case . Law enforcement officials stated the emails were found on a laptop belonging to Clinton aide Huma Abedin 's husband , Anthony Weiner , during an investigation of his sexting scandals . On November 6 , Comey notified Congress that the FBI had not changed its conclusion , reached in July , regarding Clinton 's emails .

neg: FIFA Women's Club World Cup The FIFA Women 's Club World Cup is a proposed international women 's association football competition that is being organised by the Fédération Internationale de Football Association ( FIFA ) , the sport 's global governing body . The competition is currently in only planning mode .   A possible format of the tournament is not announced . The men 's FIFA Club World Cup involves seven teams , including the six continental club champions and the host nation 's national club champions . In the women 's tournament the winners of that year 's Copa Libertadores Femenina ( South America ) and UEFA Women 's Champions League ( Europe ) will likely enter . As of 2017 , no Asian , African , North American or Oceanic continental tournaments are being played .

neg: World championship A world championship is generally an international sports competition open to elite competitors from across the world , representing their nations , and winning such an event will be considered the highest or near highest achievement in the sport or contest .   The title is usually awarded through a combination of specific contests or , less commonly , ranking systems ( e.g. the ICC Test Championship ) , or a combination of the two ( e.g. World Triathlon Championships in Triathlon ) . This determines a ` world champion ' , who or which is commonly considered the best nation , team , individual ( or other entity ) in the world in a particular field , although the vagaries of sport ensure that the competitor recognised at the best in an event is not always the ` world champion ' ( see Underdog ) .   Certain sports do not have a world championship . Instead , they may organise a world cup competition , or they may organize both , for example cycling ( UCI World Championships and UCI World Cups ) ) . Often , the use of the term cup or championship in this sense is just a choice of words . Some sports have multiple champions because of multiple organizations , such as boxing , mixed martial arts and wrestling .   Certain sports do not have a world championship or a world cup as such , but may have one or several world champions . Professional boxing , for example , has several world champions at different weights , but each one of them is decided by a `` title fight '' , not a tournament .   A certain number of sports hold world championships or world cups which are overshadowed , in terms of prestige , by the same events in the Olympic Games , the most prestigious multi-sports event .   Still other sports may or may not have a true world championship but may designate the winners of a domestic competition to be `` world champions . '' This is especially true of the major professional sports leagues in the United States and Canada ; world cups and championships exist in all of the major sports , but the domestic U.S. and Canadian leagues are generally recognized as the world professional championships or the equivalent of a world club championship . ( In American football , although an IFAF World Championship exists , the United States is so far above and beyond the other nations it faces that the winner of the U.S.-based Super Bowl , a competition limited to the 32 teams in the National Football League , is commonly recognized as the world champion . )   Finally , certain professional sports do not have a world championship or world cup , but rather hold a series of events recognised as the elite level in their field ( e.g. tennis has a series of four Grand Slam events recognised as the pinnacle of the game , in addition to key team events , world tour finals and the Olympic Games , but no world championship or world cup ) .

neg: 2006 Qatar Ladies Open – Singles Maria Sharapova was the defending champion , but chose not to compete .  Nadia Petrova won the title , defeating Amélie Mauresmo 6 -- 3 , 7 -- 5 in the final .

neg: Grand Slam Cup The Grand Slam Cup was a tennis tournament held annually at the Olympiahalle in Munich in Germany from 1990 through 1999 . The event was organized by the International Tennis Federation ( ITF ) , which invited the best-performing players in the year 's Grand Slam events to compete in the Grand Slam Cup .   The tournament was created in 1990 and was played on indoor carpet courts . From 1990 to 1996 , it was held in December but was moved to the middle of autumn from 1997 to 1999 . From 1990 to 1997 the tournament was limited to male players . A women 's Cup was added in 1998 and was held simultaneously with the men 's Cup .   Throughout its existence , the Grand Slam Cup was famous for paying out the highest prize money of any tournament in tennis . The winner for the first three years of the Cup received US$ 2 million in prize money , which dipped to $ 1.625 million in 1993 , rose to $ 1.875 million in 1996 and back to $ 2 million in 1997 before falling to $ 1.3 million in 1998 . If the Cup was won by a player who had also won a Grand Slam event that year they received a bonus of $ 1 million . Prize money for the winner of the two women 's Cups was fixed at $ 800,000 .   The Cup was not recognized by the Association of Tennis Professionals ( ATP ) for the course of its run , and participants did not receive points in the ATP computer rankings nor have it credited as an official career title . Following the discontinuation of the Cup in 1999 , the ATP decided to give the event full recognition and added it to players ' lists of official titles .   A compromise between the ITF and the ATP was announced on December 9 , 1999 which merged the Cup with the ATP Tour World Championship , the ATP 's year-end tournament also held annually in Germany , giving birth to the ATP World Tour Finals , an official tour event .   A direct result of the merging of the two competitions can still be seen in the qualification rules for the ATP World Tour Finals , which included one notable difference from those of the ATP Tour World Championship . The Tour World Championship was meant to include the top eight players on the ATP computer rankings at the end of a season , even though this could mean the exclusion of a Grand Slam champion who had not been able to earn sufficient ranking points in the rest of the year . Present Finals rules ensure the participation of a Grand Slam champion who is unable to earn a top eight ranking at the end of the season and automatic qualification for the top seven players in the computer rankings . The eighth ranked player , however , qualifies only if all Grand Slam singles champions are among the top eight . Any Grand Slam event champion who is not in the top eight but is still in the top twenty is included to the detriment of the eighth ranked player . This situation occurred at the 2004 Tennis Masters Cup , where Andre Agassi , the 8th ranked player in the ATP Champions Race , was excluded from the event in favor of Gastón Gaudio , who had won that year 's French Open but was ranked 10th at the end of the year .   Pete Sampras was the most successful player at this event winning two titles out of three final appearances .

neg: 2013–14 CEV Women's Champions League The CEV Champions League was the highest level of European club volleyball in the 2013 -- 14 season and the 55th edition . It ran from 22 October 2013 until 16 March 2014 .   Dinamo Kazan from Russia won the tournament and qualified for the 2014 FIVB Club World Championship after defeating VakıfBank İstanbul 3 -- 0 in the final .

neg: Tsvetana Pironkova Tsvetana Pironkova ( Цветана Кирилова Пиронкова -LSB- tsvɛˈtana pirɔnˈkɔva -RSB- ) ( born 13 September 1987 ) is a Bulgarian tennis player and the current no. 1 Bulgarian in the WTA rankings . She is right-handed and plays with a two-handed backhand . Born in Plovdiv , Pironkova started playing tennis at the age of four on being introduced to the sport by her father , who later coached her . After playing at a junior level and winning Atlantic Cup , she made her senior international tournament debut in 2002 at the International Tennis Federation circuit . Early in her career , Pironkova won six international singles titles at the ITF circuit .   Pironkova made her WTA tour debut at the İstanbul Cup in 2005 , and achieved moderate success earlier in her career . That changed in 2010 , when she entered Wimbledon with a 1 -- 4 career record at the event , and went on reach the semifinals of the tournament , becoming the second Bulgarian tennis player in history to reach the semifinal stage of a Grand Slam in singles . She garnered wide recognition for her performance , and after her semifinal finish reached her highest WTA Singles ranking at no. 31 in September 2010 . Pironkova followed it up with a quarterfinal run at the event the following year , earning her the nickname `` The Wimbledon Darkhorse '' . She is also known defeating Venus Williams three times at Grand Slam tournaments , twice at Wimbledon .   Pironkova won her first WTA title at the 2014 Apia International , defeating three top-10 ranked players in a row . She defeated the world no. 2 Agnieszka Radwańska in the fourth round of the 2016 French Open , reaching her quarterfinal at a Grand Slam other than Wimbledon . In addition to this , Pironkova has a total of twelve wins over other top-10 ranked players to her name . She also holds the second longest active streak of the most consecutive Grand Slam appearances at 45 , only behind Jelena Jankovic . Pironkova has been recognized by The New York Times for her `` cerebral '' grass-court abilities and named one of the most beautiful women in sports by MSN .

neg: Fed Cup Fed Cup is the premier international team competition in women 's tennis , launched in 1963 to celebrate the 50th Anniversary of the International Tennis Federation ( ITF ) . The competition was known as the Federation Cup until 1995 . The Fed Cup is the world 's largest annual women 's international team sports competition , in terms of the number of nations that compete .   The men 's equivalent of the Fed Cup is the Davis Cup . Australia , Czech Republic and the United States are the only countries that have held both the Fed Cup and Davis Cup at the same time .

neg: 2017 WTA Tour The 2017 WTA Tour is the elite professional tennis circuit organised by the Women 's Tennis Association ( WTA ) for the 2017 tennis season . The 2017 WTA Tour calendar comprises the Grand Slam tournaments ( supervised by the International Tennis Federation ( ITF ) , the WTA Premier tournaments ( Premier Mandatory , Premier 5 , and regular Premier ) , the WTA International tournaments , the Fed Cup ( organized by the ITF ) , the year-end championships ( the WTA Tour Championships and the WTA Elite Trophy ) . Also included in the 2017 calendar is the Hopman Cup , which is organized by the ITF and does not distribute ranking points .

neg: 2016 Australian Open – Main Draw Wildcard Entries The 2016 Australian Open Wildcard Playoffs and Entries was a group of events and internal selections to choose the eight men and eight women singles wildcard entries for the 2016 Australian Open , as well as seven male and seven female doubles teams plus eight mixed doubles teams .   One wildcard each was given to the winners of the Australian Open Wildcard Playoff , a tournament between Australian players who did not receive direct entry into the draw . This took place from 14 to 20 December 2015 .   In an agreement with the United States Tennis Association and the French Tennis Federation , Tennis Australia gives one man and one woman from the United States and France each a wildcard into the Australian Open . The French players were chosen by internal selection , while USTA awarded the entry to the player with the most points over three pre-selected events in USA over October and November 2015 .   Since the Australian Open is promoted as the `` Grand Slam of Asia/Pacific '' , one male and one female player from this geographical area were awarded a wildcard . This was decided through the Asia-Pacific Australian Open Wildcard Playoff . At the same event , one male and one female doubles team won wildcards , and one wildcard each was contested in boys and girls singles . This took pace from 2 to 6 December 2015 .   Remaining wildcards were awarded by internal Australian selection .   For the first time , a new initiative was put in place for rewarding women 's wildcards . A wildcard race was put in place by Tennis Australia to offer the highest Australian points earner from the 2015 Canberra Tennis International and 2015 Bendigo Women 's International a main draw wildcard . The singles wildcard was won by Tammi Patterson and the doubles wildcard was won by Jessica Moore and Storm Sanders . Also for the first time , the winner of the girls ' 18 and under national championships was rewarded a main draw wildcard .

neg: 2005 WTA Tour Championships – Singles Maria Sharapova was the defending champion , but lost in the semifinals to Amélie Mauresmo .

neg: Slovakia at the FIFA World Cup This is a record of Slovakia 's results at the FIFA World Cup . The FIFA World Cup , sometimes called the Football World Cup or the Soccer World Cup , but usually referred to simply as the World Cup , is an international association football competition contested by the men 's national teams of the members of Fédération Internationale de Football Association ( FIFA ) , the sport 's global governing body . The championship has been awarded every four years since the first tournament in 1930 , except in 1942 and 1946 , due to World War II .   The tournament consists of two parts , the qualification phase and the final phase ( officially called the World Cup Finals ) . The qualification phase , which currently take place over the three years preceding the Finals , is used to determine which teams qualify for the Finals . The current format of the Finals involves 32 teams competing for the title , at venues within the host nation ( or nations ) over a period of about a month . The World Cup Finals is the most widely viewed sporting event in the world , with an estimated 715.1 million people watching the 2006 tournament final .   Slovakia have appeared in the finals of the FIFA World Cup on one occasion in 2010 where they reached the second round .

neg: 2009 Billie Jean King Cup March 2 , 2009 , marked the inaugural year of the Billie Jean King Cup and the first time women 's tennis had been played at Madison Square Garden since 2000 , when the year-ending Chase Championships were held there . Broadcast internationally on HBO , the event featured 2008 US Open Champion Serena Williams , 2008 Wimbledon Champion Venus Williams , 2008 French Open Champion Ana Ivanovic and 2008 year end world No. 1 ranked player Jelena Janković , who filled in as a wild card for the injured 2008 Australian Open Champion Maria Sharapova .   Serena Williams won her semifinal match against Ana Ivanovic 6 -- 3 , and Venus Williams won hers 6 -- 4 against Jelena Janković . The final was won by Serena 6 -- 4 , 6 -- 3 .   Between the semifinals and final a tribute was paid to tennis legend and pioneer Billie Jean King . The tribute featured a speech by former president Bill Clinton , and appearances by figure skaters Sarah Hughes and Nancy Kerrigan , race car driver Janet Guthrie , Billie Jean King 's long time double 's partner Rosie Casals and other prominent women in sports .   A portion of the proceeds from the 2009 event benefited the Dream Vaccines Foundation and the Women 's Sports Foundation .

neg: Volleyball at the 2016 Summer Olympics – Women's qualification The qualification for the 2016 Women 's Olympic volleyball tournament was held from 22 August 2015 to 22 May 2016 . Twelve teams qualified , the hosts , the FIVB World Cup champion and runner-up , five continental Olympic qualification tournament champions , and four teams from the World Olympic qualification tournament respectively . Teams already qualified for the event were not eligible to play in the following qualification tournaments .

neg: Williams sisters rivalry Venus Williams and Serena Williams ( born June 17 , 1980 , and September 26 , 1981 , respectively ) are professional tennis players and sisters who have faced off 28 times in professional tournaments , most recently in the final of the 2017 Australian Open on 28 January 2017 , where Serena claimed a history-making 23rd grand slam . Serena leads their rivalry 17 -- 11 .   Both Williams sisters have been ranked World No. 1 : Venus for a total of 11 weeks , beginning in February 2002 ; Serena for a total of 316 weeks , beginning in July 2002 .   The Williams sisters are the only two women during the open era to play each other in four consecutive Grand Slam finals : from the 2002 French Open to the 2003 Australian Open . Serena won all four of these finals .   Venus has won 49 singles titles over the course of her career , and Serena has won 72 .   Although the rivalry is long established , and is very fierce in competition , the two sisters remain personally very close . They have won 22 titles when playing doubles together , including 14 Grand Slam titles and 3 Olympic gold medals .