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This is Roth’s Altered History, set in a 1940s America where Charles Lindbergh became President – apparently mainly as a result of taking to the air on the campaign trail in the Spirit of St Louis – then forged an understanding with Hitler and so kept the US out of World War 2. Given Roth’s lineage the book unsurprisingly deals with the implications of this outcome for America’s Jews, who are increasingly made to feel alien in their own land. As a result, the Roth trademarks from the other books of his that I have read (Portnoy’s Complaint and My Life As A Man,) viz masturbation, obsessive sexuality and male angst, are muted, if not absent.
The story is rendered more rooted than it might have been otherwise by the fact that our narrator is named Philip Roth. We are hence invited to believe that the family depicted is the author’s own from his youth, reimagined in the changed circumstances. This allows Roth the author, through the medium of Mr Roth the character, to express more forcibly the anger that any citizen must feel in being deprived arbitrarily of the benefits of citizenship.
Coming from a mainstream literary perspective Roth’s handling of this material is distinctive. A Science Fiction author would likely have approached the scenario from a completely different direction. And Roth does that rather annoying mainstream thing of giving us a potted biography of every character who happens to pop up whether we need this information or not. In this case it may be of everyone whom the actual young Roth met in the 1940s. There are also longueurs in the narrative which would be absent in a more plot driven Altered History.
At times, too, so much background is loaded into it that the novel reads more like a history book. Roth presumably believes that his setting is too far removed from the present day to be accessible without it. This approach culminates in the penultimate chapter where the book ceases to be a novel at all and instead descends into a – nevertheless thoroughly readable, Roth’s prose easily encompasses exposition – recitation of events and a farrago of ever wilder conspiracy theories all told by Philip at one remove, rather than experienced by him at first hand. The unlikely heroine of the piece (and this is not really a spoiler as there’s nothing there to spoil) turns out to be Mrs Lindbergh. That the impact of these events is brought home to Philip in the final chapter, through the medium of his fellow-travelling Aunt and some former neighbours, in no way remedies the egregiousness of this colossal info dump. Quite simply this is not the way to write a piece of fiction; high- or lowbrow.
It has to be said that not much in the way of jeopardy ever befalls the Roth family, most of it lies in Mr Roth’s mind. Yes, Mr Roth has to change his job to a poorer one; but there are no outrageous restrictions on civil liberties, no concentration camps – only the intermittent attentions of an inquisitive FBI man and a later series of riots spilling over into pogroms which don’t affect the Roth family directly.
Ultimately the book is really a long discourse on what it means to be American (that is, I feel obliged to say, being a citizen of the US rather than born in the continent in which that country lies) and the inclusiveness that entails. Here is where more of the doubts creep in. Whatever Lindbergh’s anti-Semitic views may have been – and Roth goes some way to exculpate his Lindbergh from them – a fascist takeover in the US would surely have had other, more obvious, targets for dehumanisation. In the end, perhaps because he is unwilling to believe the worst of his fellow countrymen or else as a sop to their sensibilities Roth rather lets the US off the hook. This, I note, is in stark contrast to what the English SF writer Keith Roberts did for the UK in his excellent short story of a Nazi-dominated Britain, Weihnachtsabend.
Is The Plot Against America a commentary on the recent Bush administration? On how easy it is for freedoms to be subverted; how the price of freedom is eternal vigilance? If so, it is rather too diffuse to be effective.
I was so, so disappointed in this book. Its central idea has the potential to be huge but in his tight focus on the family Roth the author renders it far too small. Mainstream literature sometimes prides itself on illustrating the universal by anatomising the particular. In this context choosing as the narrative voice a boy between the ages of 7 and 9 is too limiting. The themes simply cannot be dealt with adequately from the young Philip’s perspective.
Before reading this I would have contended that Altered History in and of itself is always a subset of Science Fiction. The Plot Against America, however, is not SF, since Roth, within his plot, falls too short, even implicitly – never mind explicitly – of contrasting his scenario with what actually happened, and the book is the poorer for it.
But after the novel finishes we are provided with postscripts on the actual lives of historical characters mentioned in the text. Part of the joy of reading Altered History is in recognising figures such as these in their new context; one of the drawbacks is you might miss a few in the passing. Roth’s end notes can only be there to bolster his fiction; to say, “Look at the research I did – or the prodigious memory I have.” Had the novel been written halfway adequately these notes would be superfluous.


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April 1 - April 30, 2021
Poudre River Public Library District and Front Range Village have partnered to create an interactive story stroll experience. Each stop on the self-guided path features pages from the book, Maria had a Little Llama by Angela Dominguez.
Simply click HERE to print out a map or scan the QR code to access the map. Follow the path in order to see the story unfold before you!

domain: library


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Seadust Cancun Family Resort opens in heart of Cancun's Hotel Zone
The Seadust Cancun Family Resort opened its doors to guests last month in Mexico. The beachfront, all-inclusive hotel is located in the Hotel Zone in Cancun and has 505 guest rooms and suites, as well as three infinity swimming pools including an adults-only pool, the Zenserenz Spa, seven restaurants and 11 bars that are situated within indoor and outdoor settings.
Families planning holidays to Cancun will not be able to stay at a brand hotel in the heart of the popular Hotel Zone. The Seadust Cancun Family Resort opened its doors to guests last month on the beachfront.
The all-inclusive resort in Cancun, Mexico has 505 guest rooms and suites, and offer the perfect escape for families with young children and teenagers. Formerly the Great Parnassus Family Resort, the property underwent an extensive renovation programme to transform it into the Seadust Cancun Family Resort.
Accommodation at the new beachfront hotel is spacious and includes spacious rooms and suites with interconnecting options. Each room has a private terrace or balcony with views of the sea or the lagoons, and guests can enjoy access to modern in-room amenities such as air conditioning, flat-screen TVs, safes, wireless internet, 24-hour room service, and bathrooms with showers and bath tubs.
Facilities at the Cancun resort cater for families and adults, and there are also meeting rooms and events space for business or special occasions. Holidaymakers can take a dip in the two outdoor Jacuzzis and three infinity pools including an adults-only pool, and there is the family Treasure Island Water Park which has waterslides and toboggans.
The Zenserenz Spa. Spa offers a range of suites, a hydrotherapy circuit, Swiss and Vichy showers, and there are event treatments for younger guests including manicure and pedicures, and facials. While adults relax in the tranquil spa, children can take part in the supervised activities at the Kids Club or Teen Club, or enjoy the fun at the mini-golf course, 20-foot rock climbing wall, and 245-foot zipline.
Dining options are plentiful at the property, and there is wide range of gourmet cuisine that even the fussiest little eater will enjoy. There are ten restaurants with diverse international and Mexican cuisine and setting that overlooks the beach or sea. The 11 bars offer a variety of premium drinks, cocktails, wines, juices, coffees and milkshakes, and there is a poolside bar for relaxing by the pool.
During their stay, tourists can take advantage of their all-inclusive experience to ensure a relaxing stay. The package includes accommodation, all food and drink, free wireless internet in the lobby area, access to the tennis courts and fitness centre, non-motorised water sports, entry to the cinema, daily shuttles to the marina, and access to the children’s clubs.
Seadust Cancun Family Resort is located on the popular Cancun Beach, allowing guests to enjoy direct access to the turquoise water and soft sandy stretch. Nearby attractions in the area include the Mayan Museum, the Coral Market, the Ruinas del Rey, Delfines beach, Kukulkan beach, and La Isla Square.
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If you're searching for the perfect combination of beach fun and natural discovery, look no further than Occidental at...
The Riviera Maya has long been one of the touristic gems of the Americas. The Now Sapphire Riviera Cancun is set just...
Take a holiday to the Caribbean resort of Cancun in Mexico. In the magnificent Moon Palace Cancun you will be perfectly...
Explore the historical riches of the Riviera Maya and marvel at the abundant natural beauty of its Caribbean coastline...
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domain: travel


The ACT Greens have urged the major parties to support a bill to make it mandatory for new houses to have energy efficient hot water systems.
The Greens bill is expected to come up for debate in the Legislative Assembly in the next fortnight.
Greens MLA Caroline Le Couteur says other jurisdictions already have similar legislation.
“The need to save money on energy for people is getting more and more,” she said.
“The Greens see this bill as being a cost effective way that we can actually do something about climate change.”
Ms Le Couteur says the bill also includes a provision for energy-efficient systems to be installed in existing homes where possible.
“The reason we want to do it is two-fold,solar heat pump, it will save people money in the long run in terms of operating their house and it will save the environment – there’ll be less greenhouse gas emissions,” she said.
“It’s a win win.”


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Euro Tax Flash from KPMG's EU Tax Centre
Euro Tax Flash from KPMG's EU Tax Centre
On May 25, 2016 the Economic and Financial Affairs Council (ECOFIN) met to discuss and agree on its position on the draft anti-tax avoidance directive (ATAD).
>> Go back to Euro Tax Flash homepage
Meeting of ECOFIN, no agreement on draft anti-tax avoidance directive
Anti-tax avoidance directive – Directive on the exchange of tax-related information on multinational companies - Council Conclusions on Commission’s ATAP Communication and Recommendation
On May 25, 2016 the Economic and Financial Affairs Council (ECOFIN) met to discuss and agree on its position on the draft anti-tax avoidance directive (ATAD). Although both the Dutch Presidency, the Commission as well as a number of Member States pressed for adoption of the current draft Presidency compromise on the ATAD, no agreement was concluded and the matter has been postponed until the next ECOFIN meeting.
On the agenda was also the formal adoption of the directive on the exchange of tax-related information on multinational companies (country-by-country reporting to tax authorities), as well as adoption of conclusions on the Commission communication on an external taxation strategy and on the Commission recommendation on measures against tax treaty abuse. These items on the agenda were adopted as planned.
The anti-tax avoidance directive and the directive on the exchange of tax-related information on multinational companies are the two legislative pillars of the European Commission’s Anti-Tax Avoidance Package (ATAP), aimed at addressing tax abuse, ensuring sustainable revenues and fostering a better business environment in the internal market. The Communication on an External Strategy for Effective Taxation and the Commission Recommendation on the implementation of measures against tax treaty abuse is the non-legislative part of the ATAP.
Presidency ATAD compromise and general approach
The ECOFIN meeting was presented with both a Presidency compromise text on the ATAD (available here) and a proposal for a general approach on the ATAD. The aim of the meeting was to at least settle on a general approach. However, while there was strong general agreement on the need to combat aggressive tax planning and the importance of a response at the EU level, a number of Member States voiced concern over the Presidency’s compromise proposal and a final agreement was not reached.
In particular, there were disagreements related to the scope of the hybrid mismatch rules, whether the switch-over rules should form part of the directive, and whether the effective taxation requirements in the proposal infringed Member States’ tax autonomy, especially the right to set their own level of taxation. Concern was also expressed with respect to the CFC rules, where the issues of disagreement related to whether they should apply both inside and outside the EU, the substance requirement, and where the burden of proof for substance should be placed.
Next steps on the ATAD
Following the lack of agreement, the parties agreed to work on the draft proposal over the coming weeks, with the aim of adopting the ATAD at the next ECOFIN meeting on June 17, 2016.
Exchange of information/Country-by-Country Reporting
The Council Directive amending Directive 2011/16/EU as regards mandatory automatic exchange of information in the field of taxation was adopted without discussion. The rules reflect the OECD recommendations in BEPS Action 13 .For further information, see ETF 273
Council Conclusions on External Strategy
As expected, the Council Conclusions on the Commission communication on an external taxation strategy and the Commission recommendation on measures against tax treaty abuse were adopted without debate and without material changes from the draft conclusions published previously. For more information on the Council’s conclusions, see ETF 283.
EU Tax Centre comment
Despite the strong determination of both the Presidency, Commission and certain Member States, including France and Germany, to adopt the ATAD and maintain momentum in tackling aggressive tax planning, there are still items that need to be resolved before its adoption. The Dutch Presidency ends in June and adoption of the ATAD has been one of the main goals of their Presidency. Although it is still possible that a final solution will be reached, the requirement of full unanimity means any single Member State may obstruct the adoption.

domain: news


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As Western Europe drowns under political and economical crisis, a spontaneous, peaceful movement is emerging from the squares of Spain. Everyday people are finding their voice and demanding political and economical changes. They call themselves the Indignants and they are on the move.
About the film
Events that took place in recent weeks mobilise European social movement to take part in big march from Spain, Greece, Portugal, France and other countries to Brussels. Next meeting is predicted on the 17th September in Paris, further one on the 8th October in front of European Parliament. Organizers of the ‘indignities’ march also announcing global demonstration on the 15th October.”
We would like to continue this project, at the moment we need your votes for the link below:
Many thanks – Amira Bochenska & Alberto Reverón
music : The XX


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By Sydni Walker
The Texas A&M University-Commerce Department of Agricultural Sciences “Northeast Texas Initiative for Cooperative Development (NTICD)” by Dr. Jose Lopez (Project Director, Assistant Professor of Agribusiness) and collaborators Dr. Bob Williams, Dr. Jim Heitholt and Dr. Curtis Jones, has been selected for funding for the amount of $175,000 from the FY2012 Small Socially-Disadvantaged Producer Grant (SSDPG).
The NTICD will reach out to community members and help develop relationships among socially disadvantaged producers in Northeast Texas. A&M-Commerce will partner with Texas Small Farmers and Ranchers Community Based Organization (TSFR/CBO) to provide a series of outreach events and activities throughout 2013.
“The Department of Agricultural Sciences is very excited about this project,” Lopez said. “We are all there to help and want to make a positive contribution in our society.”
The goal of the outreach events is to provide small producers with technical assistance in areas that are relevant to them, including: product and service improvement, feasibility, sustainability, marketing, finance, profitability and business management. The events will also help develop an interest in starting and organizing cooperatives.
These events will be whole- or half-day events in the form of seminars, workshops, and field days.
“The general objective of the project is not only to provide technical assistance to small, socially disadvantaged producers, but also that the producers and farm associations improve communication among them and expand their scope of business and networking relationships,” Lopez said. “When appropriately managed, cooperatives usually gain competitive advantages acquitting inputs and services, processing agricultural commodities, and distributing and marketing their products.”
A&M-Commerce will be collaborating with TSFR/CBO, and with many other experts, including regional agencies, governmental offices and farm associations such as Farm Service Agencies, Rural Development Offices, Texas AgriLife Extension Agencies, Natural Resources Conservation Service Offices, regional cooperatives and similar outreach programs.
Since 1998, TSFR/CBO has been providing information and education on agricultural issues to underserved agricultural producers. They are dedicated to assisting traditionally small producers by creating opportunities for developing agricultural markets, increasing technology transfers, providing educational programs and improving environmental conditions in rural Texas.
For more information on NTICD or the Department of Agricultural Sciences go to http://www.tamuc.edu/academics/colleges/scienceEngineeringAgriculture/departments/agriculturalSciences/default.aspx, or contact Dr. Jose Lopez, Project Director and Assistant Professor of Agribusiness at Jose.Lopez@tamuc.edu.

domain: agronomy


(Reuters) - A consortium lead by China's Jin Jiang International 2006.HK said on Tuesday it had made an offer for the entire equity of Radisson Hospitality RADH.ST, valuing the Swedish hotel chain at 7 billion Swedish crowns ($774.3 million).
The consortium had already acquired 50.21 percent stake in the company for 35 Swedish crowns per share.
Tuesday’s cash offer of 40 Swedish crowns per share, represents a premium of about 10 percent to the stock’s closing price on Monday.
Reporting by Tommy Lund; editing by Jason Neely
Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.


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Check out Bob Dylan in this video.
Dylan and his band play four songs for one fan.
An interesting look at Dylan’s fans, and a glimpse of what it’s like to be obsessed about a creative celebrity.
Here’s what aired from Ed Bradley’s interview with Bob Dylan in 1964.
Three of Dylan’s best albums were recorded in 14 months, and this new release contains every recording he made for these records.

domain: artistic


It’s not often that one has the chance to be dolled up by a makeup artist whose roster of high-profile clients includes Vogue Editor-in-Chief Anna Wintour, model Nikki Taylor, actress Kerry Washington, and designer Daisy Fuentes, among others.
But this Thursday, March 1st, Neiman Marcus Copley is offering you the chance at just that, with nationally-recognized Makeup Artist Dani Wagener. For this special, by-appointment-only event, Dani will provide one-on-one consultations and helpful tips to get your beauty regiment up-to-speed for Spring. Experience her “effect and empowerment” philosophy first hand.
Continue reading »
Remember when I wrote this? Eh. Probably not.
Well, I stand corrected on it. A tad, if not completely. OK, I’ll get there. Keep reading.
Every once in a while, something sneaks up on you and messes with something you knew you were absolutely right about. Maybe it’s J. Lo getting weirdly beautiful post-40 after you long ago decided she was a mall-rat-wannabe has-been. Or maybe it’s just a Robert Frost poem, which struck you as a lovely ode to how delightful nature can be, but is actually about, you know, keeling over dead. Or maybe only slightly less dramatically, it’s a plate of food that catches you completely by surprise.
I showed up at the bar of just-opened Forum with expectations of nothing other than getting a solid drink. (This was, after all, the new incarnation of Vox Populi. Which is all I’ll say about that.) And while they may still be working out a few kinks delivery-wise,the program is indeed already cocktails-solid. Incredible, flavor-sharp martinis. Beautiful, citrusy gimlets. After one of each, to make sure I got home alive, I also wolfed down an order of raviolo.
That’s not a typo. Ravioli’s a bunch. E replaced by O means you get one lone, gleaming pasta dome. It’s three bites at most, but who cares? In those three forkfuls, worlds intermingle. Because inside that pastry is an egg, meticulously poached during the cooking process of the pasta, so its yolk flows as soon as a fork splits it. Bacon shards and shingles of black truffle are scattered about it, and ricotta turns it into a something more like a savory dessert.
But really, it’s all about that damn egg. To which I, having thrown down my gauntlet strongly in the anti-egg-topper camp, must now admit that there’s just something ridiculously cool about having an egg ooze out at you surreptitiously, meaning from inside a dish as opposed to from its top. Maybe it’s the element of surprise a hidden treat imparts (though from a culinary standpoint that makes zero sense). Maybe it’s respect for novelty in the cooking process that demands. Mostly though, I’m guessing it’s that this dish just simply works, thanks to the strength of the bacon’s flavor, richness of the ricotta, and the texture of the pasta’s delicacy—all of which don’t just stand up to, but actually kind of demand the egg. Yes, yes, even if it were on top.
That just about justifies my 180, then, right? Good. Now I can go order another and still sleep tonight.
Raviolo, $16, Forum, 755 Boylston St., 857-991-1831, http://forumboston.com.
Make an appointment with the inexhaustibly charming Ms. Derbekyan sooner than later. I have a feeling her stunning collection won’t last long on the shelves…
Summer, always late to her own party… is a line I used in my most recent piece for Boston Magazine, which, if you haven’t yet picked up a copy, you ought to. Added to our Accessory Showcase, Marina Park Editorial, and the upcoming Men’s Editorial (airing this coming weekend), you’ll be well equipped to take full advantage of the wild S/S 11 sales happening across the web. The sale at net-a-porter alone devoured four hours of my time yesterday afternoon as I frantically sent e-mails to private clients: BUY THIS NOW or it WILL BE GONE. And, as of 6:30 this AM, a good deal of those incredible finds are, in fact, gone.
This week we’re mixing things up a bit: a few changes to the masthead, some subtle shifting of design elements to bring you better, brighter, sometimes bolder images, and a new content schedule which will begin next week.
Which brings me to my next point: of all that’s happening this week, I’m most excited about the addition of a regular feature I’ve dubbed the ‘Moodboard.’ In short, we on the SB team look at images all day long. Somehow, we manage to get paid for this (lord knows why), and we’d say chances are good you don’t spend hours upon hours trolling the latest editorials, fabric swatches, random photography collectives, design collectives (discovered one this morning but cannot give it away just yet!) because unlike us, you have an actual life. LUCKY FOR YOU WE DON’T, and we have decided to post, twice a day, compelling images we’ve discovered (or, more likely, stumbled upon) in our virtual travels. The entire team at The StyleBoston Blog is contributing to this feature, so it should present an interesting range of perspectives.
Knowing my propensity to blather on, and to bury the joke in the lead paragraph thereby totally defeating any inclination you would otherwise have to read on (hopefully you haven’t read this far…), I’ll stop my raving here.
Until next week,
Much love –
EDITOR AT LARGE
CHIEF FASHION CORRESPONDENT
Anna Paula Goncalves
ABOUT THE SB BLOG
styleboston is now an online community of curators covering a variety of subjects.
styleboston online provides up-to-the-minute editorial content with a lineup of vibrant contributors covering the latest trends in fashion, art, entertainment, food, travel, and design. This newly revved up platform, an edgy online version of the television show, is quickly becoming the definitive online lifestyle guide for savvy Bostonians. styleboston online is your go-to digital lifestyle connection.
To view styleboston the television show – visit styleboston.tv.
JOIN USInterested in writing for styleboston? Send your resume and writing samples to firstname.lastname@example.org.


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CMC honors law enforcement, emergency personnel
Current-Argus Staff Reports
Carlsbad Medical Center hosted an award ceremony May 17 to honor local law enforcement and emergency personnel who work daily to save lives in southeast New Mexico.
Among those honored were the EMS crew and medical personnel that saved the life of Sergio Flores on September 28, 2017 following a crash on U.S. Highway 62/180 in which he was severely injured.
"Once on scene a 25-year-old male driver was identified with multi-system trauma," said Ashley Calderon, trauma nurse coordinator at Carlsbad Medical Center.
"A Level 1 trauma alert was called to Carlsbad Medical Center, where a room full of physicians, nurses, OR crew and lab/radiology techs waited for a young man in distress and needing everyone’s skillful helping hands."

domain: medical


Inverse Compton scattering of laser photons by ultrarelativistic electron beam provides polarized x- to γ-ray pulses due to the Doppler blueshifting. Nonlinear electrodynamics in the relativistically intense linearly polarized laser field changes the radiation kinetics established during the Compton interaction. These are due to the induced figure-8 motion, which introduces an overall redshift in the radiation spectrum, with the concomitant emission of higher order harmonics. To experimentally analyze the strong field physics associated with the nonlinear electron-laser interaction, clear modifications to the angular and wavelength distributions of x rays are observed. The relativistic photon wave field is provided by the ps CO2 laser of peak normalized vector potential of 0.5
With the advent of coherent x rays provided by the x-ray free-electron laser (FEL), strong interest has been kindled in sophisticated diffraction imaging techniques. In this Letter, we exploit such techniques for the diagnosis of the density distribution of the intense electron beams typically utilized in an x-ray FEL itself. We have implemented this method by analyzing the far-field coherent transition radiation emitted by an inverse-FEL microbunched electron beam. This analysis utilizes an oversampling phase retrieval method on the transition radiation angular spectrum to reconstruct the transverse spatial distribution of the electron beam. This application of diffraction imaging represents a significant advance in electron beam physics, having critical applications to the diagnosis of high-brightness beams, as well as the collective microbunching instabilities afflicting these systems.
The longitudinal space-charge amplifier has been recently proposed by Schneidmiller and Yurkov as an alternative to the free-electron laser instability for the generation of intense broadband radiation pulses [Phys. Rev. ST Accel. Beams 13, 110701 (2010)]. In this Letter, we report on the experimental
demonstration of a cascaded longitudinal space-charge amplifier at optical wavelengths. Although seeded by electron beam shot noise, the strong compression of the electron beam along the three amplification stages leads to emission of coherent undulator radiation pulses exhibiting a single spectral spike and a
single transverse mode. The on-axis gain is estimated to exceed 4 orders of magnitude with respect to spontaneous emission.
Experimental observation of the microbunching of a relativistic electron beam at the second harmonic interaction frequency of a helical undulator is presented. The microbunching signal is observed from the coherent transition radiation of the electron beam and indicates experimental evidence of a dominantly helical electron beam density distribution. This result is in agreement with theoretical and numerical predictions and provides a proof-of-principle demonstration of proposed schemes designed to generate light with orbital angular momentum in high-gain free-electron lasers.
The use of two different wavelength lasers in the nonlinear regime of the inverse Compton scattering interaction is proposed in order to provide a new strategy for controlling scattered photon energy distributions in the x-ray to γ-ray spectral region. In this nonlinear interaction, the component of the relativistic electron’s trajectory driven by a longer-wavelength laser with the normalized vector potential aL∼1 is a large oscillatory figure-8; in the proposed scenario a rapid small-amplitude oscillation induced by a shorter-wavelength laser is superimposed upon this figure-8. Thus, the electron’s momentum is mainly supplied from longer-wavelength laser, while the high-frequency part of the acceleration is given by shorter-wavelength laser. In this way, the harmonics radiated at high frequency from the oscillating electron can be strongly modified by the nonlinear motion initiated by the low frequency, large aL laser resulting in the generation of the harmonics with the photon energy of 4γ2h̵(ωL,short+nωL,long). In this paper, the electron’s kinetics in the two-wavelength laser field and the concomitant emitted radiation spectrum are examined, with numerical illustrations based on a classical Lienard-Wiechert potential formalism provided.
Recent initiatives at UCLA concerning ultra-short, GeV electron beam generation have been aimed at achieving sub-fs pulses capable of driving X-ray free-electron lasers (FELs) in single-spike mode. This scheme uses very
low charge beams, which may allow existing FEL injectors to produce few-100 attosecond pulses, with very high brightness. Towards this end, recent experiments at the Stanford X-ray FEL (LCLS, first of its kind, built with essential UCLA leadership) have produced ~2 fs, 20 pC electron pulses. We discuss here extensions of this work, in which we seek to exploit the beam brightness in FELs, in tandem with new developments at UCLA in cryogenic undulator technology, to create compact accelerator/undulator systems that can lase below 0.15 Å, or be used to permit 1.5 Å
operation at 4.5 GeV. In addition, we are now developing experiments which use the present LCLS fs pulses to excite plasma wakefields exceeding 1 TV/m, permitting a table-top TeV accelerator for frontier high energy physics applications. We discuss the experimental issues associated with this initiative.
Short period, high field undulators can enable short wavelength free electron lasers (FELs) at low beam energy, with decreased gain length, thus allowing much more compact and less costly FEL systems. We describe an ongoing initiative to develop such an undulator based on an approach that utilizes novel cryogenic materials. While this effort was begun in the context of extending the photon energy regime of a laser-plasma accelerator based electron source, we consider here implications of its application to sub-fs scenarios in which more conventional injectors are employed. The use of such low-charge, ultrashort beams, which has recently been proposed as a method of obtaining single-spike performance in x-ray FELs, is seen in simulation to give unprecedented beam brightness. This brightness, when considered in tandem with short wavelength, high field undulators, enables extremely high performance FELs. Two examples discussed in this paper illustrate this point well. The first is the use of the SPARX injector at 2.1 GeV with 1 pC of charge to give 8 GW peak power in a single spike at 6.5 � with a photon beam peak brightness greater than 1035??photons/(s?mm2?mrad2??0.1%??BW), which will also reach LCLS wavelengths on the 5th harmonic. The second is the exploitation of the LCLS injector with 0.25 pC, 150 as pulses to lase at 1.5 � using only 4.5 GeV energy; beyond this possibility, we present start-to-end simulations of lasing at unprecedented short wavelength, 0.15 �, using 13.65 GeV LCLS design energy.
The fixed-field alternating-gradient (FFAG) betatron
has emerged as a viable alternative to RF linacs as a
source of high-energy radiation for industrial and security
applications. For industrial applications, high average
currents at modest relativistic electron beam energies,
typically in the 5 to 10 MeV range, are desired for
medical product sterilization, food irradiation and
materials processing. For security applications, high
power x-rays in the 3 to 20 MeV range are needed for
rapid screening of cargo containers and vehicles. In a
FFAG betatron, high-power output is possible due to high
duty factor and fast acceleration cycle: electrons are
injected and accelerated in a quasi-CW mode while being
confined and focused in the fixed-field alternating-
gradient lattice. The beam is accelerated via magnetic
induction from a betatron core made with modern low-
loss magnetic materials. Here we present the design and
status of a prototype FFAG betatron, called the Radiatron,
as well as future prospects for these machines.


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St Ursula’s School
English Curriculum Intent
English Language and Literature at St Ursula’s is the study of the written and spoken word, and how it is used to educate, challenge, entertain, and express opinions, ideas and desires.
We see the study of English as the foundation to a well-rounded education. Through literature and language, students are given the opportunity to hear, and consider, a variety of voices across history, and the vast range of ideas, feelings and experiences these texts reflect. Reading for pleasure is strongly encouraged, discussed and supported, as a means of self-discovery and empathy. We believe that the skills we give our students equip them to, in the words of our Ursuline pledge, ‘challenge what is wrong and fight for what is right’.
At Key Stage Three and Four our curriculum is wide, rich and exciting, comprising new and modern, culturally diverse and literary heritage texts. Literary study involves the close analysis of texts chosen to engage, challenge and reflect our students’ social and racial identity. A highly qualified team of specialists, we use our mastery, expertise and deep substantive knowledge to teach these texts in an inspiring and passionate way. We equip students with the skills to question and critique literature’s representation of people, place and events, as well as the notion of the literary canon, and the historical tendency to consider voices outside of that canon as ‘other’. We ensure that we expose our students to a range of literature, from the English literary canon to texts from cultures around the world to ensure they appreciate the rich diversity of literature that exists. The range of nonfiction included in our curriculum, ensures students gain access to great written and spoken texts such as famous speeches and autobiography extracts in order to widen their knowledge of and exposure to a range of social justice issues.
We believe that it is great readers who become articulate speakers and writers. Students are given the skills to be courageous, experimental and creative in the written and spoken word, as well as self-reflective, and technically accurate communicators. Our exam results reflect our success in enabling students to be independent readers and writers, who are empathetic, expressive, and excited by the possibilities of language.
From the moment they start at St Ursula’s – we guide, encourage and support our students to become learners who are independent and collaborative, conscientious and curious, contemplative and ambitious.
Links to curriculum map
Links to useful sites for KS3 students, parents and members of the public

domain: literature


A major subsidized housing landlord is continuing its Denver buying spree.
California-based GHC Housing Partners bought 49 Section 8 housing units in Jefferson Park and the Highlands for $8 million. CEO Gregory Perlman said the acquisition is another puzzle piece in a portfolio of 400 subsidized units that GHC started buying last year.
“It’s a great neighborhood, the Highlands” Perlman said. “We love having our housing in higher-end neighborhoods.”
Jules Hochman and Justin Brockman from Pinnacle Real Estate Advisors brokered the deal, which comes out to $164,285 per unit.
GHC received a $4.4 million mortgage loan from SunTrust Bank on May 1 coinciding with the sale, city records show.
The seller of the Highlands and Jefferson Park portfolio is Nueva Americana III, which is managed by Bill Bivens of Gibraltar Property Management. According to its website, Gibraltar owns a single property in the city of Denver, Downing Square in Cole.
Perlman said the properties were built in the early 1900s, then converted to Section 8 housing in the 1970s. In the near term, Perlman said his firm will upgrade the inside of some apartment units and do basic repainting and landscaping outside. It plans larger renovations in the coming year.
GHC has been active in Colorado since August 2015, when it paid $50.7 million for 500 Section 8 apartments in the state. A year later, the company snapped up 120 units around Uptown and Capitol Hill in a $19.5 million deal.
Perlman estimates that GHC has between 1,500 and 2,000 units in the Denver area.
It has been busy renovating many of those properties, including Halcyon House, a 197-unit, 17-story tower downtown it acquired for $34 million in January 2016, according to city records. Perlman said the firm has invested at least $6 million in apartments at 20th and Arapahoe streets, as well as the complex’s amenities, like a library, movie theater and fitness center.
GHC’s next move will be developing subsidized units of its own.
“We are looking at trying to build some affordable housing by some of the light rail areas,” Perlman said.
GHC already landed one site that could become affordable housing along the edge of Uptown.


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Experiencing an ethical dilemma? Need advice from a humanist perspective?
Send your questions to The Humanist Dilemma at email@example.com (subject line: Humanist Dilemma).
All inquiries are kept confidential.
Secular Voter Bloc?
As a voter, preventing theocracy in all its forms is my #1 issue.
Let’s consider this not unrealistic scenario:
Candidate Mr. R is a hypocritical Bible thumper with a bona fide theocratic VP. Religious issues are at the top of their agenda.
Mrs. D is another candidate with a penchant for the phrase “God given,” and seems to think it’s her God-given right to milk the system. Her preference for and allegiance to religion is very well documented.
Ms. G’s campaign has been sending emails to green party supporters. In these emails there are phrases like “Hallelujah and Amen,” “as a Christian,” and “spiritual journey.” I find these religious phrases very scary and inappropriate in messages coming from a political candidate.
I have decided I will not vote for the open theocracy of R, the open corruption of D, and, although I was really looking forward to supporting the “Green New Deal” of G, this candidate has presented genuinely worrying religious ideas and I am left without anyone to vote for. I will never vote for the lesser evil.
The “Nones” are an estimated twenty percent or more of the population. I would guess if you factor in all the things that can go wrong in these estimates, we are well over fifty percent. We need to stop supporting this religious preference in our government by continuing to vote for candidates who play along with it. The constitutional ban against religious tests is not being enforced. Religion has so infiltrated our government it is treasonous. We are in real danger of becoming an official theocracy, and we have at least partially and unofficially done so already.
We need humanist representation in our government. I believe removing existing religious influence from our government will solve so many issues we have as Americans. Where is the humanist party? Where is the secular party? Where is the science party or any other party based in reality that uses actual facts? Praying to an imaginary god before blowing up the world is not an option, and neither is actively taking rights away from the “Nones” to favor the religious in our laws and loopholes.
So, my dilemma is: Who can we vote for to stop the systematic discrimination, marginalization, and persecution of people free from religion in America?
—Looking for candidates I can vote for, not just against
I’m not sure I follow everything in your letter, but I believe the gist is that every candidate you consider has some objectionable religious baggage, and since you don’t want your vote to support religion in any way, you don’t see how you can vote for anyone currently running. You’re looking for candidates who are purely and openly secular, and you’re not finding them. And you’re thinking that with so many “Nones” in the nation, there should be a party with a secular identity.
While I too wish that would happen, and expect (or at least hope) that it will in the not-too-distant future, we’re a long way from that right now. One of the most frustrating things about secular identity is that there is no clear unifying organization or definition. It’s the old “herding cats” thing about how difficult it is to get freethinkers to join forces. But there are organizations like the American Humanist Association that are making progress in giving a face, voice, and structure to secular citizens. And there are candidates who are openly secular, identifying as atheists, agnostic, and freethinking. (The Center for Freethought Equality endorses and maintains a list of these candidates and elected officials here.)
There are surely more candidates who are reticent about what, if any, religious beliefs they profess. I suspect many of them are indeed closet atheists who believe they can’t do the job if they don’t get the job, and—at this time—they can’t get the job if they come out as nonreligious. While that belief isn’t necessarily true—a recent poll found that voters care far more about a candidate’s political positions than their faith or lack thereof—the stigma is still holding on. There are others who acknowledge their faith while pledging not to let it influence their leadership, following in the footsteps of JFK, the Catholic presidential candidate who assured an anxious America that he would not be taking orders from the pope.
At this time, it behooves us to vote for candidates who pledge not to allow any religion to influence their leadership, regardless of whether they personally profess a faith. I also, perhaps naively, believe it’s incumbent upon everyone who has the privilege of voting to do so, with as much information as they can muster about the issues and the candidates’ policies and proclivities. At the same time, it would be excellent if every secular organization stood up to be counted as such, and express where their members tend to stand on the issues. Eventually, even if there is still no secular party per se, politicians of all stripes will take notice of our numbers and preferences, and start courting us. The nonreligious community has the strength, as you mentioned, to shape the political conversation.
I don’t envision humanists or atheists or seculars of any description ever voting as a monolith across a broad spectrum of issues, nor do I think that would be a good thing. But I do think we are pretty clear regarding how we feel about separation of church and state, civil rights and women’s rights, affordable healthcare and education, and measures to raise up the most oppressed and impoverished people in this country and the world. The more we can make our most widely-shared positions heard, the more we will see candidates trying to win our endorsement with policies we endorse.

domain: sociology


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Today while scanning, we ran across some fascinating currency from the early 1900’s backed by the Bank of Kent!
“Generally, a central bank or treasury is solely responsible within a state or currency union for the issue of banknotes. However, this is not always the case, and historically the paper currency of countries was often handled entirely by private banks. Thus, many different banks or institutions may have issued banknotes in a given country. Commercial banks in the United States had legally issued banknotes before there was a national currency; however, these became subject to government authorization from 1863 to 1932. In the last of these series, the issuing bank would stamp its name and promise to pay, along with the signatures of its president and cashier on a preprinted note. By this time, the notes were standardized in appearance and not too different from Federal Reserve Notes.”
We also have some coins that were used at a store in Orilla that they struck themselves and were only good at their store. This was a common practice in more rural areas.

domain: history


Honors and Hires: Who Is Shooting 'Super Fun Night,' 'Lost Angels,' 'Mind Games'?
Also in this week’s column, Apple alum Boris Teksler is named president of Technicolor’s technology group.
This new column in THR’s Behind the Screen blog -- which runs on Fridays -- covers members of the crafts and technology community who have been honored, hired, signed, or have otherwise made news. See below for how to submit your news for consideration in future columns.
Boris Teksler has been named president of Technicolor’s technology group, which includes intellectual property & licensing and the company’s research & innovation activities. He also joins Technicolor’s executive committee. Teksler most recently spent four years at Apple as head of patent licensing & strategy. Prior to Apple, he spent 16 years at Hewlett-Packard, most recently as a co-founder of HP’s intellectual property licensing business.
Paradigm announces the following client news:
Directors of photography: Mauricio Rubinstein has boarded Fox series Us & Them. Mark Doering-Powell has joined ABC series Super Fun Night. Rob Sweeney will serve as director of photography on ABC series Mind Games. Rohn Schmidt is shooting two episodes of Frank Darabont’s Lost Angels for TNT in July, before starting NBC series Chicago PD in August.
Production designer Charlie Lagola has joined NBC’s Night Shift.
Editors: Nathan Gunn has joined NBC series The Blacklist. Evan Henke has boarded Eastbound and Down for HBO. Don Brochu is cutting Building a Better Boy, a MOW for Disney.
Call For Speakers:
Speaking proposals are being accepted for the 2014 NAB Show, which is scheduled to take place April 5-10 in Las Vegas. The deadline is Oct. 18. NAB Show also seeks nominations for its program advisory group.
The Society of Motion Picture and Television Engineers has extended its call for technical papers for the SMPTE 2013 Technical Conference & Exhibition, scheduled for Oct. 22 - 24 in Hollywood. The new deadline is July 19.
Share your news with Behind the Screen: firstname.lastname@example.org
Titans of Comic-Con: Stars Re-Create Classic Characters (Photos)
- Exclusive Portraits of Robert Griffin III, Ronda Rousey, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (Photos)
- MOBA: Inside the Biggest Sporting Event You've Never Heard Of (Photos)
- Emmy Awards 2014: The Nominees (Photos)
- Hollywood's Notable Deaths of 2014 (Photos)
- 'Family Guy'/'Simpsons' Crossover Episode Sneak Peek Is Pure Bliss
- Sexual Harassment At Comic-Con Leads To Call For New Convention Policy
- A Conversation with CBS This Morning's Anthony Mason, Plus Chase Rice, Gentle Giant's Derek Shulman & William Gage Blanton
- The 'Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 1' Trailer Is Here To Fight
- 'The Flash' Cast Has a Blast at Buzzfeed's Rooftop Flash Bash
- Amanda Seyfried's Boyfriend Justin Long Almost Gets Tusks Sewn Into His Head in 'Tusk' Trailer - Watch Now!
- Naomi Watts Is In Talks to Star in Jake Gyllenhaal's 'Demolition'
- Kesha Gets Picked Up By Boyfriend Brad Ashenfelter at LAX Airport


Make Better Choices Thanks To This HVAC Advice
If you need to replace your HVAC system, you might be confused by all the available choices. How on earth will you know which system to get? What size should you buy? What sort of features do you want? As these units advance and become more complicated, choosing the right one can be confusing. If this sounds like you, continue reading to learn what you need to know about getting the perfect system for your home or business.
Before calling for help, know the system you have. Learn the brand, model, and if you have it, the maintenance history. In this way, you can be sure your repair person has all vital information.
Before the summer you should clean out your condenser fan's blades and coils. Always shut the power off before doing any work or cleaning on the unit. Clean the outdoor condenser as well.
When spring rolls around, give the condenser fan blades and coils a good clean. Shut the power off before you do anything. Next, pop the grill off, put the blades out and start to gently clean them along with the unit.
If you have units that are condensers outside of the home, keep them free of debris. Excess debris can really affect your system's quality. If you do not, the unit may get too hot and cause additional problems.
When colder weather arrives, switch off all outdoor condenser units. If the outside temp is under 60 degrees, turn the unit off to prevent damage. Your system will work longer for you this way.
Check your unit at least twice each year. The spring and autumn times are the best time to have it checked. It doesn't matter if your unit seems to be properly working, it is still advisable that you perform maintenance and resolve any potential problems.
Install a thermostat you can program to save money on cooling your home. Programmable thermostats can automatically dial back settings, saving you money. This will save you a lot of money during the year.
Get your HVAC unit serviced yearly. An HVAC specialist will inspect the entire system, including the oil, the motor, and the ducts. Those things are going to help your system at peak performance.
In order to select an HVAC contractor that you can trust, it pays to invest some time researching a few prospective companies and checking their reputations. Check with the BBB and look for reviews of potential companies online. Doing these things beforehand will allow you to make a smart decision.
There are plenty of online tools, such as sizing calculators, which can help you find the best unit to cool your home. If you make the mistake of purchasing a unit that is too large, it will not cool efficiently. Any unit's manual will be able to give you an accurate idea for the size of the unit versus your home.
If you are going to be gone during the day or on vacation, turn the temperature up on your air conditioning unit. The house will heat up when it is turned off, but only a certain amount. If you leave it on all day, it's fighting the heat constantly, meaning it's using a lot of electricity to do its job.
Not only is an HVAC unit a fantastic investment, it can ensure your home is comfortable inside regardless of the weather. If you need a new one, or if your old one needs maintenance or repairs, these tips will come in handy. This can help you make a solid guess as to what to buy so that you can get a system you're content with.
buy air filter 20x25x1 news


|TSKgel UltraSW columns contain spherical 3 µm particles (300 Å pore size). TSKgel UltraSW Aggregate has a slightly larger pore size than the TSKgel SuperSW mAb columns and provides a wider separation window for higher mAb aggregates.
TSKgel SuperSW columns contain spherical 4 µm particles (125 Å and 250 Å only) packed in 4.6 mm ID x 30 cm L columns.
• High sensitivity when limited in sample mass.
• TSKgel Super SW mAb HTP designed for fast UHPLC mAb analysis, features 250 Å pore size in 4.6 mm ID x 15 cm.
• TSKgel Super SW mAb HR designed for high resolution mAb analysis, feature 250 Å pore size in 7.8 mm ID x 30 cm.
Use 5 or 8 µm particle size TSKgel SWXL columns to improve sample resolution or to reduce analysis time (over SW columns).
• For QC of mAb.
• Select 7.8 mm ID x 15 cm L columns for high speed analysis.
• Use PEEK columns to reduce sample adsorption to stainless steel or glass.
Analytical TSKgel SW column line features 10 or 13 µm particle sizes for improved sample capacity.
• For protein isolation.
• Select from stainless steel or glass column hardware.
• Use preparative columns up to 21.5 mm ID for larger scale purifcations.


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26 March 2013
Unfortunately, No One Wins
A succession of loud and shrill screams, bursting suddenly from the throat of the chained form, seemed to thrust me violently back. For a brief moment I hesitated -- I trembled. Unsheathing my rapier, I began to grope with it about the recess; but the thought of an instant reassured me. I placed my hand upon the solid fabric of the catacombs, and felt satisfied.
In the passage above, narrated by Montresor, the frightening post-murder scene is depicted from Edgar Allen Poe’s tale “The Cask of Amontillado.” Poe does an excellent job portraying the horror felt by the captured Fortunato as well as the nervous yet deceivingly relieving sensation felt by Montresor. Poe, born in Boston, January 19, 1809, is famous for his tragic and disturbing writings about death and the supernatural (Quinn qtd. in Poe). This knack for writing brilliant yet horrifying stories helped Poe to write many famous short stories including “The Cask of Amontillado.” In this masterfully written tale lies an immense amount of hidden irony and context clues which contribute to the overall creepiness of the characters as well as the storyline. To the careless reader, many of these hidden gems will never be discovered; however, upon a careful read, one will discover the truly dark side of Edgar Allen Poe’s writing. “The Cask of Amontillado” contains tremendous situational irony, includes many clues to the possible motives of a mysterious murder, and leaves an unanswered question to the mystery of the murderer’s closure that instills a sense of horror and uneasiness.
Poe’s classic writing style is evident on account of the immense amount of hidden irony. In “Poe’s ‘The Cask of Amontillado,’” critic Roger Platizky notes that during the time when the story takes place, live burial was “a common theme” and took place mainly by medical mistake. While Fortunato is being buried, he has bells attached to his jester costume, and Montresor is dressed as an executioner (Platizky 207). Ironically, live burial was used as a form of capital punishment, seemingly fitting with Montresor’s odd attire (Platizky 207). Also, bells were commonly attached to dead bodies, so they could alert graveyard attendees if someone was buried alive (Platizky 207). Unfortunately for Fortunato, his jester outfit only made him look foolish instead of saving his life. The somewhat insulting way Fortunato died is characteristic of Poe’s horrific writing style. The lack of remorse shown for an usually sad event instills a sense of creepiness and horror in the reader’s conscience. The hectic backdrop of carnival season also adds a strong element of irony into the plot. In “The Motive for Murder In ‘The Cask of Amontillado’ By Edgar Allen Poe,” critic Elena Baraban notes that Montresor possibly picked this time of the year to murder Fortunato because Montresor’s unsuspecting victim would have already been intoxicated and, thus, easily dispatched (172). Barban notes that the “madness of the carnival season” (Poe 667) is an important element “because carnival is not simply a temporary substitution of normal order by chaos, but its inversion” (172). During the carnival season, the rich could wear attire that would make them look like lower class citizens (Barban 172). By murdering Fortunato while he was dressed as a peasant, Montresor makes his unsuspecting adversary into an even bigger fool (Barban 172). In a sense, Montresor uses this usually celebratory time of the year to further humiliate a man who has caused him “[the] thousand injuries” (Poe 666). The clever and hidden mockery Poe adds to this tale instills an eerie feeling of ironic pleasure to a sinister murder which inspires shock and fear. Adding to the eeriness of the story, Montresor’s unclear motives beg the question of the possible reasons for the seemingly unjustified murder of Fortunato. Literary analyst Patrick White...
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ST RUMBALD’S, STOKE DOYLE
modern neo-classical organ
resited on custom-made platform provided by NVCOP
never have five stops sounded more glorious!
In a gem of a Georgian Church, blessed with superb acoustics and a quiet ambience, this small one-manual-and-pedal instrument, built by Church & Company, is a musical delight.
Relocated from All Saints, Bearsden, Glasgow, it now sits at the west end of St Rumbald’s, singing inspiringly from a new oak platform funded by NVCOP.
St Rumbald’s, Stoke Doyle – organ
made 1972 by Nigel Church (Church and Company)


The Blue and Goldcast is a monthly podcast hosted by UBC President & Vice-Chancellor Santa J. Ono.
|Subscribe on iTunes||Subscribe on Spotify|
Episode 25: Glenn Regehr on Education for Health Professionals
In this episode of the Blue & Goldcast, Santa talks to Dr. Glenn Regehr is a researcher in health professions education in the Faculty of Medicine. Download the transcript here.
Episode 24: Student Mental Health – There’s an App For That
In this episode of the Blue and Goldcast, Santa talks to Dr. Daniel Vigo, assistant professor at UBC’s Institute of Mental Health. He’s working on an app called Minder, designed to help students get the mental health support they may need. Download the transcript here.
Episode 23: Fatherhood and Masculinity in the 21st Century
In this episode of the Blue and Goldcast, Santa talks to UBC’s Dr. David Kuhl about his research into fatherhood and masculinity. Dr. Kuhl holds the Mohammad H. Mohseni Foundation Chair in Men’s Health, Integrity and Wellbeing at Vancouver Coastal Health with support from the VGH & UBC Hospital Foundation. Download the transcript here.
Episode 22: A new COVID-19 diagnostic tool
In this episode of the Blue and Goldcast, Santa talks to Karen Cheung and Lukas Chrostowski about their new platform technology and biosensor that can be used as a COVID-19 diagnostic tool. Download the transcript here.
Episode 21: Species at Risk
UBC’s Vancouver campus sits at the tip of one of the most important estuaries in the province, the Fraser River. In this estuary alone, there are 102 species at risk of extinction. My guest today, Tara Martin of the Faculty of Forestry, studies this area, as well as how to best save species at risk. […]


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Most schools have implemented anti-bullying policies – and hopefully many have anti-bullying clubs.
Anti-bullying Clubs are now being switched up to Kindness Clubs.
This is a great idea since kindness a direct way to combat bullying. Finding small ways each day to help someone feel good – or finding community projects your club can participate in, spreading kindness needs to be a way of life.
As school opens find out how you can start a Kindness Club in your school or class this year. Ask your teacher or guidance counselor. Get your friends motivated and start by listing how you can spread kindness each day:
- Tell a teacher you appreciate them
- Help a student that is being tormented, be an upstander
- Pass out flyers on bullying and cyberbullying prevention
- Leave messages for someone that is feeling down, let them know they are not alone
- Leave messages ‘just because’ it’s nice to do – lift others up everyday
- Tell a janitor what a good job they did
- Smile at people – let them know you notice them
- Make time for those that seem lonely, introduce yourself
- Offer to tutor students that are struggling academically
- Compliment others, (their hair, clothes, their smile) – be kind – it matters
- Eat lunch with new people
- Be sure new students don’t feel like strangers
- Look for community projects to participate in – visiting nursing homes, assisted living centers and teaching them about cyberspace! CyberSeniors love meeting cyber-mentors!


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This Awesome Series of AVENGERS: INFINITY WAR Poster Art Comes From Artist Matt Ferguson
I've got a wicked cool series of Avengers: Infinity War poster art for you to check out that were created by the talented Matt Ferguson. The posters were created exclusively for UK cinema chain Odeon and the artist did an awesome job designing them! As you can see, almost every Marvel hero in the film is represented. You know, except for Hawkeye and Ant-Man.
An unprecedented cinematic journey ten years in the making and spanning the entire Marvel Cinematic Universe, Marvel Studios’ Avengers: Infinity War brings to the screen the ultimate, deadliest showdown of all time. The Avengers and their super hero allies must willing to sacrifice it all in an attempt to defeat the power of Thanos before his blitz of devastation and ruin puts an end to the universe.
The movie comes out next week on April 27th! Can you feel the energy and excitement!?


Advanced Metals Group, which owns one iron casting foundry and two aluminum castings manufacturing companies in North America, has an ongoing commitment to acquiring companies in the iron and aluminum and other metal working industries. While continuing to operate independently, AMG’s iron casting foundry and aluminum casting foundries are able to take advantage of shared financial and operational resources and economies of scale, in order to better compete in today’s global casting market. AMG’s commitment to Financial Stability, Cross-Selling, Lean Manufacturing and Sound Management Practices has also allowed its iron castings and aluminum castings companies to stay focused on other critical tasks required to experience continued growth.
Foundry Locations and Capabilities
The iron casting foundry and aluminum castings foundries are located in Texas, Ohio and Washington. Our iron and aluminum castings companies currently utilize green sand casting, lost foam castings, air set casting, no bake castings, permanent mold and shell mold casting processes to create gray iron castings, ductile iron castings and aluminum castings for OEM’s and their suppliers in the aviation, aerospace, military, heavy equipment, heavy machinery, chemical, oil field, waterworks, agricultural equipment, and other industries. The casting foundries use Hunter, Beardsley Piper, and other types of molding equipment to produce precision aluminum and iron cast products for those industries.
Advanced Metals’ reputation as a premier supplier is built on producing reliable, high quality, precision iron and aluminum castings with superior mechanical properties. You can count on Advanced Metals’ highly-trained engineering staff to help determine the most effective combination of iron and aluminum alloys, casting methods, melting practices, gating design, finishing and heat treatments to meet your product performance criteria.
Aluminum Foundries / Iron Foundries / News / Foundry for Sale
Previous Acquisitions / Want to Become a Rep? / Need a Quote? / Sitemap


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(source: julietliving.com)Units at The Juliet are investment opportunities. Victoria is a premier tourism and convention destination seeing millions of visitors each year. The Juliet has several units that are rented out on both short and long-term basis. Short term vacation or business rentals can be easily managed and provide a lucrative income during the high seasons.Victoria’s harbour offers many forms of off-island transportation.Ocean, harbour, cafés, clubs, culture, fine dining and boutique shopping. The Old Town district is home to hundreds of extraordinary independent retailers and restaurateurs. It could become your home too.
|Address:||760 Johnson St|


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- Will Benson was the 14th overall pick in the 2016 draft. He was a high school pick out of Atlanta, Georgia.
- Power is his game. He has a ton of it.
- The biggest issue is that he has problems making contact…and you can’t hit for power unless you can hit the ball first.
- Top notch athlete.
- He started the 2017 season off slow in Mahoning Valley but got stronger as the season went on. He would end his 2017 campaign with a line of .238/.347/.475 with 10 HR and 7 SB. His 10 HR would lead the team.
- He also has 31 walks to 80 K, which is a decent enough ratio for a power hitter.
- Don’t forget: he is a High School bat. He was about two years younger than most of his competition in Low-A.
- If he reaches his potential he should be the Indians own Jason Heyward–which is high praise.
I got this autograph since a sweet spot card that I got done via a consignment was smeared. At first, I was not that upset, but then I read about how strong he ended the season and got myself pretty worked up. He might not pan out, but if he does there is some serious potential here…I will regret not getting as many of his autographs as I could while there were still cheap.

domain: sports


Samsung has launched 3 new mid-range smartphones with many chart-topping specs: Samsung A52, Samsung A52 5G, and Samsung A72. The Samsung A52 succeeds the Samsung Galaxy A51, which was ranked the world’s most ‘popular’ Android phone in 2020 after emerging as the most-shipped Android phone of the year. With the Samsung A52 5G, the Korean tech giant is aiming to make 5G technology more affordable for the masses.
Samsung brought out 3 new phones under its A-series (Read-A for Affordable), at its Galaxy Unpacked special launch event, including A52, A52 5G, and A72. From the looks of it, all three devices share similar specs, but there are many key differences.
The prices for Samsung A52, A52 5G, and A72 are yet to be announced but are expected to stay pocket-friendly.
Let’s have a look at what’s on offer from Samsung A52, A52 5G, and A72:-
Samsung A52 LTE may be the cheapest of the lot and has many similarities with A52 5G. Both A52 and A52 5G feature the same 6.5-inch display with 407 PPI, but the LTE version sports a 90Hz refresh rate. The display is a Super AMOLED panel with 1080p+ resolution, protected by Gorilla Glass 5. Galaxy A52 features a 4,500mAh battery, with a 15W charger in the box. It also gets a Snapdragon 720G chipset. LTE model gets 4GB RAM as standard, going up to 6GB and 8GB with 128GB and 256GB storage options available for both phones.
A52 5G on the other hand, gets a more powerful Snapdragon 750G chipset, with a 120Hz refresh rate. The phone comes with One UI 3.1 based on Android 11, and both these models get a 3.5mm headphone jack and stereo speakers. This one obviously gets the 5G capabilities.
The phone’s powers lie in its camera setup, which is improved from past generations. The front camera is a 32MP sensor, with a quad-camera setup in the rear. The main module features a 64MP sensor with an f/1.8 aperture, which gets Optical Image Stabilization (OIS) and Tetra-binning tech. It is accompanied by a 12MP Ultra-Wide camera with a 123-degree field of view, 5MP Macro camera, and a 5MP depth camera along with a single flash to complete the setup.
Samsung Galaxy A52 price in India and other mass markets is yet to be officially announced. AlShorts will be sure to get back to you with updates as they come.
Samsung Galaxy A72 is the biggest phone in the pack, with a mammoth 6.7” display and a 5,000mAh battery. The basic hardware matches that of A52, including the Snapdragon 720G chipset and the screen setup. The camera setup also remains the same, with the exception of an 8MP telephoto camera replacing the 5MP depth sensor on the A72. This one also doesn’t get any 5G capabilities for now, but Samsung could bring one out in the future.
Samsung A72’s price in India and other major markets is not still announced. AlShorts will ensure that you get all updates as they come.


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Scholarship Offers Pathways to Careers in Bioscience
Will support residents who wish to study bioscience and STEM-related programs at Gateway Community College and Southern Connecticut State University.
In 1959, the construction of the Route 34 Connector tore apart several vital New Haven neighborhoods. The urban renewal project severed the Hill and Dwight neighborhoods from the downtown, and destroyed the Oak Street neighborhood, ultimately displacing 881 households and 350 businesses. When finished, the connector became known sarcastically as “the expressway to nowhere.”
In recent years, the City of New Haven has been working with a developer, Winstanley Enterprises, to right that wrong with the Downtown Crossing Project.
“With our Downtown Crossing Project, we are one of the first cities in the country to successfully remove a highway that was dividing neighborhoods,” said Carlos Eyzaguirre, New Haven Deputy Economic Development Administrator. “The removal of the highway has created a pedestrian connection between the neighborhoods, a bike connection, public spaces; and has freed up land for development.”
Two centerpieces of Downtown Crossing are 100 College Street, which houses Alexion Pharmaceuticals; and — by the end of 2023 — 101 College Street, a $250 million, 10-story state-of-the-art life sciences building that will include lab and office space for Yale University, Alexion, and the biotechnology company Arvinas.
The project also provides pathways to well-paying jobs in the biosciences, one of the fastest-growing industries in the region.
A community benefits package included in the land disposition agreement negotiated between the City and Winstanley established a community fund for residents who want to study bioscience-related fields. In 2022, the City transferred the fund to The Community Foundation, where it will distribute funding to the Together We Grow Scholarship.
The scholarship provides up to $3,000 per year for one or two years to students from the Hill, Dwight, and downtown neighborhoods who enroll in bioscience and STEM-related programs at Gateway Community College. The scholarship provides up to $5,000 per year for up to four years to students from those same three neighborhoods if they enroll in Southern Connecticut State University’s BioPath program.
The Together We Grow Scholarship will be administered by The Community Foundation in collaboration with the New Haven Scholarship Fund.
“We’re really excited to have two deeply rooted institutional partners like The Community Foundation for Greater New Haven and the New Haven Scholarship Fund to help us administer the scholarship fund,” said Eyzaguirre. “The City of New Haven and The Community Foundation have had a partnership on so many fronts, and The Community Foundation has a long-standing partnership with the New Haven Scholarship Fund. It’s a seamless way to move forward.”


The fully integrated REX touchscreen is employed on all REX vacuum filling machines of types RVF 220 to 913 and ensure simple operation and setting for the user. All set parameters such as weight, speed etc. are constantly monitored and can be changed by the operator at all times. This control technology perfectly controls, monitors, and networks the production process.
Of course, all attachments, clipping machines as well as the REX twisting and calibration system can be controlled from the touchscreen. The result is optimum efficiency. In addition to the hard disc, all control data are also save to a memory card to ensure that no settings are lost. The integral service interval indicator draws the user’s attention to pending maintenance operations.
A maintenance plan is provided in the control system, allowing scheduled maintenance easily to be carried out by an in-house technician or a REX service engineer. This plan is stored in the control system and can be called up even after a year. The modem or ethernet interfaces as supplied permit direct communication between the appliance, the company's control panel and the customer service offsite. This allows the import and export of service and production data.
The control panel has the option of activating metal detectors whenever necessary. In addition, the control panel can be set to all major European languages as well as Asian languages. The Plexiglas cover of the control panel provides great protection against damage.
- Extremely simply operation and adjustment capabilities
- Integrated maintenance interval display
- Stored service plan
- available in more than 200 languages
- help function for user
- 200 product memory spaces


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This recipe is nutritious and delicious ways to incorporate spinach into your meals. Feel free to adjust the ingredients and seasonings according to your preferences.
Spinach Salad with Quinoa and Lemon Dressing
In a large bowl, combine the baby spinach, cooked quinoa, cherry tomatoes, red onion, feta cheese, and walnuts.
In a small bowl, whisk together the lemon juice and olive oil. Season with salt and pepper.
Drizzle the dressing over the salad and toss gently to coat.
Serve immediately as a light lunch or dinner. Enjoy!

domain: food


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17 Meter 4 Ton Teleporter
A CLEVER 4-PIECE BOOM DESIGN COMBINES A HYDRAULIC RAM AND CHAINS TO EXTEND OR RETRACT ALL THE SECTIONS PROPORTIONALLY IN ONE FAST, SMOOTH MOVEMENT.
A JCB Construction Load all is extremely maneuverable; the compact wheelbase, large steering lock angles and 3 steer modes save valuable time on site.
The New Stage V Diesel MAX engine produces its power and torque at low engine speeds, which makes it highly responsive to operate.
The latest Stage V legislation compliant 55kW (75HP) engine from JCB offers a combined DPF/ DOC after treatment package achieving Stage V emissions levels without the need for DEF injection, minimizing the impact on machine service and operation.
UNRIVALED STRENGTH AND DURABILITY
THE 540-170 IS DESIGNED TO PROVIDE YOU WITH MAXIMUM UPTIME. OUR MACHINES ARE AS TOUGH AS POSSIBLE, USING TOP QUALITY COMPONENTS AND INNOVATIVE MANUFACTURING PROCESSES.
The new Construction Load all range’s stringent testing programme has included prolonged high stress loading of the chassis, boom and other key components.
We’ve fitted a tough inverted U-shaped boom pressing with fully welded closing plates. For extra strength, we’ve reduced the number of joints and stress points across our integrated boom nose and one-piece closing plate.
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Maximum Engine Power
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Maximum Lift Height


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Membership has its privileges! Sign up or sign in to gain full access to both All About Jazz and Jazz Near You. Learn more.
Lovely Hammond sounds. Get your wade on...
Magical Destruction is a saucy song filled with love. The EP entitled "Why is this so Difficult," was released on June 13, 2014. Wade Tarling: keyboards; Jeff Kinsman: bass; Allan Brake: drums.
July 27, 2014
This track appears by permission of the contributing artist and/or record company.
It is for personal use only; no other rights are granted or implied.

domain: entertainment


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Shocking: Bonded labour, underage labour, underpayment in Apple’s Chinese facilities
- Jan 25, 2013, 18:14 PM IST
Competition with Samsung, Google, LG and Micromax is not the only problem of the iPhone 5 manufacturer. The issue of child labour, bonded labour and non compliance to environmantal and occupational safety standards in its Chinese partners is still a problem for the Cupertino based Mac giant.
The 2013 Progress Report on Apple Supplier Responsibility, which has been published by Apple on its website says “102 facilities did not pay night-shift workers the appropriate pay for legal holidays due to an incorrect interpretation of the law.” At 21 facilities, overtime pay was incorrect and at 15 facilities the base wage used to calculate overtime was insufficient finds the audit.
What was really shocking was 8 facilities were found with bonded labor.
11 facilities were found with underage labor, with a total of 106 active cases and 70 historical cases. In all but one case, the facilities had insufficient controls to verify age or to detect false documentation, but there was no intentional hiring of underage labor.
At 88 facilities, there were instances where appropriate PPE (personal protective equipment), such as safety shoes, gloves, masks, goggles, and earplugs, was not provided to
workers. At 53 facilities, PPE provided to the workers did not meet relevant standards.
72 facilities were found without appropriate in-house occupational hazards monitoring.
106 facilities were not recycling or disposing of hazardous waste as required by law, while 129 facilities lacked management procedures for recycling or disposing of hazardous waste.
65 facilities did not have Environmental Impact Assessment documentation, or the Impact Assessment Report did not cover the new manufacturing processes.
The company has been trying to promote an image of being a labour sensitive company. But this audit report is a push back for the Mac giant.
Last year also we heard news of child labour and labor mistreatment in the factories of its the Chinese partners. Apple CEO Tim Cook also clarified last year in a lengthy letter to all of his employees -"We care about every worker in our worldwide supply chain. Any accident is deeply troubling, and any issue with working conditions is cause for concern. Any suggestion that we don't care is patently false and offensive to us."

domain: law


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It can happen to anyone. The phone caller says he’s with the IRS, knows the last four digits of your Social Security number and gives you an IRS badge number. Then he tells you to pay taxes with a wire transfer, or pre-paid debit card and you end up sending money to a scammer.
The IRS just issued a warning to be aware of these scam calls. It has identified what it describes as the largest telephone fraud scam operation ever. More than 20,000 people say they’ve been contacted. Not all were victimized, but those who were lost over $1 million collectively.
Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration J. Russell George says, “The increasing number of people receiving these unsolicited calls from individuals who fraudulently claim to represent the IRS is alarming. At all times, and particularly during the tax filing season, we want to make sure that innocent taxpayers are alert to this scam so they are not harmed by these criminals. “
So far no one has been arrested in connected with this scheme. Here’s what they do:
- They use common names and fake IRS badge numbers.
- They know the last four digits of the your Social Security number.
- They use techniques to make caller ID information appear as if the IRS is calling.
- They send phony IRS e-mails to support their scam.
- They call a second time claiming to be the police or department of motor vehicles, and the caller ID again supports their claim.
DON’T LET THEM GET YOU
If you are called by a scammer this is what to do:
- If you owe Federal taxes, or think you might owe taxes, hang up and call the IRS at 800-829-1040. IRS workers can help you with your payment questions.
- If you don’t owe taxes, call and report the incident to TIGTA at 800-366-4484.
- You can also file a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission at www.FTC.gov. Add “IRS Telephone Scam” to the comments in your complaint.
Inspector General George puts it best, “Do not become a victim.”
Let us know if you have a story to share.


PEOPLE look at you with a certain amount of envy and curiosity when you say you have just returned from Cannes.
You don’t even have to add, film festival.
They often forget it’s still work: writing, chasing people, interviewing, talking, reviewing – there’s little time to relax, even when there’s a glass in your hand, you’re often thinking, is there a story, could there be a story? Are they for real?
there’s little time to relax, even when there’s a glass in your hand, you’re often thinking, is there a story, could there be a story? Are they for real?
You need a certain barometer for BS…because everyone’s got something to sell.
It wasn’t a vintage year by any means, but there were some distinct high points, personal and otherwise.
Let’s start with the Indians – there were two clear high points for the nation more often than not synonymous with the word, Bollywood in a film context.
But as Indian super film producer Guneet Monga from Sikhya Entertainment said: “Bollywood can’t be the definition of everything we do.”
On the Red Carpet on the very first evening was “Grace of Monaco” backed largely by Indian money.
Yash Raj Films in Los Angeles co-produced the film which stars Nicole Kidman and Tim Roth.
Despite this top notch cast and considerable support (Frank Langella, no less as a wily old Roman Catholic priest and Grace confidant), the western critics were scathing and the Monaco royal family criticised the film and wanted nothing to do with it.
But the movie, which opens this week (June 6) in the UK, is a largely very positive portrait of Grace.
It tries to show how the one-time Hollywood star had to transform herself into a princess and be in some respects, both aloof and disengaged from every-day life in the tiny principality wedged between France and Italy.
It was for all that, a proud moment for Uday Chopra who went to LA to set up YRF from scratch in the Hollywood town.
“I enrolled on a production course at UCLA and lived out of a hotel for three months,” he told a panel about the making of Grace hosted by the India pavilion.
It was hard, but he loved the challenge and when he took to probably the most famous red carpet of them all, with Kidman by his side, there was a sense of arrival.
The film isn’t as bad as the critics make out; it has on old style Hollywood glamour and tone and many Indian journalists were actually impressed and enjoyed the film. It certainly went down well with the Cannes premiere crowd.
Chopra said Indian women would respond to the film – it is expected to release there mid June.
He is now working with the British-Iranian screenwriter Arash Amel, who wrote Grace, on another film. It will feature a torrid affair between star Ingrid Bergman and famous second World War photographer, Robert Capa.
“We want to make international movies for international audiences,” Chopra said, outlining the strategy for his LA outfit.
There was also much cheer for the Chopra family with a film in the Un Certain Regard section. Only the main competition section is more important.
“Titli” is directed by Kanu Behl and the film is produced by YRF (India) and Dibakar Banerjee Productions. Banerjee is one of India’s most innovative directors working outside of Bollywood and is something of a mentor to the younger Behl (who wrote the 2008 cult hit, Love Sex Aur Dhoka).
“Titli” is a gritty, ably told tale about a family in crisis and the relationships binding three brothers and their dad together. The youngest, ‘Titli’, desperately wants to leave the family business – carjacking – but it isn’t as simple as all that, as it is with most families steeped in crime.
It didn’t win any awards in the UCR section (the top award was taken by ‘White God’, a timely allegory about racism in eastern Europe, featuring a young girl and her mongrel dog, Hagen in Budapest).
So India was there building on its anniversary celebrations last year – but one might cynically ask – apart from “The Lunchbox”, which has done some tremendous business ($15m reportedly), few of the other films got a wide release. If films are to make money, they need a wide release – Cannes or not.
Away from the business of films and all that, there were three high points (for this writer).
Sophia Loren, almost 80, was majestic and beautiful and seeing her the masterclass was special, even though the translation loops didn’t make it to my seat.
There was a real Cannes buzz around Ryan Gosling’s first film as a director, “Lost River”, but it was a bit of a disappointment. Getting into the first showing was something of a feat in itself, considering how many febrile American females were piled high in the queues.
And seeing and hearing a very relaxed and genial Quentin Tarantino in his press conference, as he came to close the festival, was quietly thrilling for any fan of his movies.
It shows that despite the many travails, Cannes remains something special and unique and gives as good as it gets.


Park Jae Sang or PSY is a South Korean recording artist. Although not a mainstream artist, he is popular underground due to his sense of humor and unique concerts. He has appeared on numerous variety programs, including Good Sunday: X-Man and The Golden Fishery.
The song 'Gangnam Style' is a single that released on the 15th of July and has gone viral since then. The Popular British singer Robbie Williams is one such person who is smitten with Psy’s Gangnam Style music video. The singer recently blogged Psy’s Gangnam Style music video and wrote, “P.S Try watching this and not smiling I dare you… (Not even a lip curl)” Do checkout this amazing video and tell us if you like it.


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God of War is (finally) coming to PC on Friday but reviews are live now, and in case there was any doubt it's very good: "The best version of a fantastic game," we said in our 90% review (opens in new tab), "evidence that the PC is the ultimate videogame unifier, and a great reminder of how the platform can bring out the best in games." In short, if you haven't played God of War and you want to, this is the version to play.
If you're still not convinced, maybe this will help: 15 minutes of God of War gameplay on PC, rendered in glorious 4K at 60 fps. It's not new—God of War originally released on the PS4 in 2018—but holy cow, does it look good: Everything from the armor and weapon textures to Kratos' ratty beard is razor-sharp and incredibly detailed, and it all flows like water, too.
Of course, you'll need some beefy hardware to pull that off: The full system requirements are here (opens in new tab), but the recommended spec for 4K/60fps gameplay includes a GTX 3080 (10GB) or RX 6800XT (16GB), an Intel Core i9 9900K (8 core 3.6Ghz) or AMD Ryzen 9 3950X (16 core 3.5Ghz) CPU, and 16GB of RAM. That's not nothing, but if you can put it all together you're going to have one seriously pretty game on your hands.
Back to the trailer: I haven't played God of War so I'm not sure what's happening here, but things really get turned up to 11 at the 10-minute mark, when some guy who looks like Kratos' hard-living older brother shows up. At first I expected some vaguely sinister conversation, like when Geralt met Gaunter O'Dimm in The Witcher 3, but no: Tattoo Man (who is actually the Norse Aesir god Baldr) absolutely rocks Kratos with a vicious uppercut, kicking off a brawl that goes on for nearly four minutes and escalates through multiple increasingly alarming stages. When the fight first started I thought it was all a bit silly; by the time Kratos used Baldr's head to pound a big hole through a giant boulder I was on the edge of my seat. It's a lot of fun.
God of War debuts on PC on January 14. It's preloadable now on Steam (opens in new tab) (it's also available on Epic (opens in new tab), but without a preload option) and will unlock at 8 am PT/11 am ET. For global release timings, hit up our full rundown of God of War PC unlock times (opens in new tab).

domain: game