It is undoubtedly true that much of the progress in the quant m theory of matter is due to the remarkable success of the independent particle model (IPM)--especially in describing ground states. However, the accurate experimental results of the last 10 years or so, on a variety of spectroscopic phenomena and chemical processes which involve the Excited State, and the related failure of the IPM to reproduce accurately--in many cases, even qualitatively--the observed data, have sent to theorists a clear message: There is need to create and/or apply general and useful approaches to the...