紀念曹雪芹三百週年誕 波士頓公圖館討論紅樓夢

波士頓公共圖書館中文讀書討論會日前舉辦“紅樓夢座談會”，紀念該書作者曹雪芹三百週年誕辰，討論曹操的DNA與後代，談電腦科技對鑑定，分析作者、作品的作用。

波士頓公圖館中文讀書討論會的這場”紅樓夢“是場特別會議，包括剛退休的賓州州立大學經濟學教授兼業餘族譜學家楊慶偉，可能的曹操族孫曹祖義，前中國社科院資深歷史學者朱大昀，專業是工程，卻寫得一手好字的張玉書等，兩岸三地共廿多名書友討論熱絡。

其中的曹祖義是大陸紅學研究會會員，曾發表紅樓夢研究文章，被收錄在二月河編的”采燈集“中。他特地從紐約市趕來，和紅學愛好者分享他擁有一本曹氏族譜，曾親自到復旦大學檢驗DNA，相信自己是曹操的第7時代族孫，而“紅樓夢”的作者曹雪芹則是曹操的第64代孫等看法。他還以“紅樓夢”第62回慶祝寶玉的生日來推測曹雪芹的生日為六月十二日。

研究曹氏族譜的楊慶偉教授指出，大陸共有九家自稱是曹操後裔的曹氏。由於在中國只出現在5%的人口中，排序代號為02M268的DNA，竟在9家中的6家都出現了，相關學者因此斷定這02M268之說不是空穴來風，只是人類社會還未能找到曹操的墳骨做直接對照分析。

讀書會主持人楊慶儀為感謝曹祖義遠從紐約趕來出席討論會，特地代表該會送出一本該館編目組長吳子平拍攝的“波士頓公圖館”照片集。

            楊慶儀表示，現代電腦科技發展，已經讓人能夠藉DNA來鑑定祖宗，用關鍵字來迅速搜索圖書中的字眼，提及的事務，進而分析，了解作者的習性愛好。她相信廿一世紀的紅學研究，勢必走科技化路線。

            當天的出席者既考證，也談欣賞。張玉書認為紅樓夢有淨化人心的作用，朱大昀認為紅樓夢的前八十回事曹雪芹寫的，後四十回是高鶚寫的，無論是時代性情和語言，都和原作者相差太多了。在他看來，紅樓夢的前八十回，有如西方的“斷臂美人”，後世難以銜接。

            查詢波士頓公圖館中文讀書會詳情，可洽楊慶儀（Caroline Young ）617.859.2339，或 cyoung@bpl.org。

圖片說明：

曹祖義(右一)，楊慶偉（右二）和桌對面持筆的張玉書等人，在波士頓公圖館討論紅樓夢。（圖由波士頓公圖館提供）

Dell 將收購EMC 出價670億元

總部在德州圓岩（Round Rock）的戴爾（Dell）公司將以670億元，買下麻州最大的科技公司EMC。收購價之高，創科技業之最紀錄。此舉也將使得EMC成為戴爾公司的一部分。

            在1980年代使新英格蘭成為科技重鎮，已碩果僅存，為數不多的獨立公司，因此又少一家。

            兩家公司的管理層都說，此舉將使戴爾公司又大又敏捷，在竭力避免只為大眾投資者爭取短期利潤之際，有能力銷售產品給新客戶。

            由於戴爾公司舉了巨債來支付購買款，EMC公司內將近10,000員工的未來，引發質疑聲。

            戴爾公司的執行長Michael Dell和EMC的執行長 Joseph M. Tucci不願意表示在兩公司合併後，將裁撤多少職位，但強調截至2016年，將力圖刪減開支8億5千萬元。

            EMC的股票價格在收購消息宣佈後，小幅上漲，在下午一點左右，每股28.22元，漲36分，約1.3%。

            

STATEMENT OF ATTORNEY GENERAL MAURA HEALEY ON THE CLOSURE OF PILGRIM NUCLEAR POWER STATION “The Attorney General’s Office has long advocated for increased safety standards at the Pilgrim Nuclear Power Station. My primary concern now is that Entergy initiates a safe and orderly closure of the Pilgrim plant, and that it invests the proper resources to do so. I’m concerned as well that measures are in place to support workers. Today’s announcement also highlights the need for a long-term federal solution to the storage of spent nuclear fuel at the facility and across the country. I am as convinced as ever that the solution to our long-term energy needs must include a broad portfolio of sources that meets our environmental, jobs and cost goals for all residents.”

STATEMENT OF ATTORNEY GENERAL MAURA HEALEY ON THE CLOSURE OF PILGRIM NUCLEAR POWER STATION

“The Attorney General’s Office has long advocated for increased safety standards at the Pilgrim Nuclear Power Station. My primary concern now is that Entergy initiates a safe and orderly closure of the Pilgrim plant, and that it invests the proper resources to do so. I’m concerned as well that measures are in place to support workers. Today’s announcement also highlights the need for a long-term federal solution to the storage of spent nuclear fuel at the facility and across the country. I am as convinced as ever that the solution to our long-term energy needs must include a broad portfolio of sources that meets our environmental, jobs and cost goals for all residents.”

Massachusetts Can Save $403 Million Over Five Years by Better Harnessing IT to Drive Productivity While Improving Public Services, Nationwide Report Finds

Massachusetts Can Save $403 Million Over Five Years by Better Harnessing IT to Drive Productivity While Improving Public Services, Nationwide Report Finds

WASHINGTON—The Information Technology and Innovation Foundation (ITIF), America’s top science and technology think tank, today released a new analysis of why and how states should better harness information technology to drive public-sector productivity and generate savings for governments, businesses, and citizens. ITIF proposed a series of state and federal policy initiatives that would encourage and optimize IT-enabled productivity in government to capture $403 million in savings for Massachusetts while also saving time and cutting costs for businesses and citizens.

The new report, “Driving the Next Wave of IT-Enabled State Government Productivity,” found that if state governments made it a top priority to boost productivity with IT, then they could significantly lower the cost of providing public services—by as much as $403 million in Massachusetts over the next five years—while making the services easier to use for citizens and businesses.

“In the same way that technology has driven productivity growth in the private sector, there is a great opportunity for savings by state governments,” said Dr. Robert D. Atkinson, founder and president of ITIF and a co-author of the report. “But to achieve this promise of e-government, leaders will need to clearly articulate the goal of replacing labor with technology. They will need to take on entrenched political opposition and overcome an array of administrative challenges, including an unwillingness to increase IT investments that would generate significant returns.”

The analysis focuses on three key areas where states can use information technology to cut labor and material costs while enhancing the efficiency of government workers and creating value for citizens:

1.       Replacing routine government employee tasks with self-service tools on the Internet, mobile devices, and kiosks.

2.       Automating routine government employee tasks such as manual entry of paper forms with online applications and smart, connected devices.

3.       Optimizing agency operations with data and analytics.

While there are examples in every state of the government using IT to increase its productivity, the report argues that no state has made IT-led productivity a top priority. ITIF recommends a series of reforms to do this in every state, including giving state chief information officers more decision-making authority, embracing public-private partnerships, and better incentivizing IT-enabled productivity.

“Imagine a leaner state government that needs fewer workers and materials to get the same or better results,” said Atkinson. “By fully integrating technology into agency operations, governments can cut the time citizens waste standing in line or filling out forms, reduce the burden on taxpayers, and make everyday services more efficient and effective. This not only cuts costs, but also makes everyone more productive—which is essential for state economic growth.”

Read the report here.

Potential State Government Savings Over Five Years from IT-based Productivity Gains

State	Cost Savings		State	Cost Savings
Alabama	$147,535,000		Montana	$65,026,000
Alaska	$117,795,000		Nebraska	$50,565,000
Arizona	$177,587,000		Nevada	$96,363,000
Arkansas	$138,575,000		New Hampshire	$48,095,000
California	$1,329,017,000		New Jersey	$584,172,000
Colorado	$173,855,000		New Mexico	$84,877,000
Connecticut	$248,085,000		New York	$788,930,000
Delaware	$88,054,000		North Carolina	$277,964,000
Florida	$472,227,000		North Dakota	$41,487,000
Georgia	$255,054,000		Ohio	$281,014,000
Hawaii	$101,440,000		Oklahoma	$159,409,000
Idaho	$64,266,000		Oregon	$215,632,000
Illinois	$425,422,000		Pennsylvania	$391,857,000
Indiana	$137,917,000		Rhode Island	$76,433,000
Iowa	$131,590,000		South Carolina	$145,934,000
Kansas	$78,512,000		South Dakota	$38,380,000
Kentucky	$169,836,000		Tennessee	$194,756,000
Louisiana	$148,571,000		Texas	$662,504,000
Maine	$59,373,000		Utah	$113,596,000
Maryland	$303,210,000		Vermont	$48,186,000
Massachusetts	$403,463,000		Virginia	$216,765,000
Michigan	$286,751,000		Washington	$343,881,000
Minnesota	$215,050,000		West Virginia	$88,294,000
Mississippi	$93,646,000		Wisconsin	$168,174,000
Missouri	$183,381,000		Wyoming	$41,345,000
Total				$11,173,850,000

(Source: Information Technology and Innovation Foundation, “Driving the Next Wave of IT-Enabled State Government Productivity,” October 2015)

BRA solicits requests for $200,000 Fenway Community Benefits Fund

BRA solicits requests for $200,000 Fenway Community Benefits Fund

Nonprofits encouraged to apply for funding to support beautification of Fenway neighborhood

BOSTON – After successfully piloting a standardized application for community benefit funds in South Boston earlier this year, the Boston Redevelopment Authority is moving ahead with a similar approach to releasing funds for other neighborhoods. Today, the BRA released an application for $200,000 in community benefits associated with the Fenway Park Demonstration Project, an agreement with the Boston Red Sox that was approved under previous leadership by the BRA in September 2013.

As part of the agreement, which granted the Red Sox easement rights on Yawkey Way for game days and major events at Fenway Park as well as air rights over Lansdowne Street to accommodate additional seating on the Green Monster, the team will contribute $100,000 a year for ten years to support beautification efforts in the Fenway neighborhood. The BRA has received the first two payments and is now accepting applications from nonprofit organizations for the community benefits funding. Applicants are able to request grants of up to $50,000. Applications are due Tuesday, November 10.

“We witnessed the success of this application process in South Boston earlier this year, and we’re eager to get another round of funding out the door to support community organizations working to make the Fenway an even better neighborhood,” said BRA Director Brian Golden. “This funding is a way to ensure that the people of Fenway share in the value generated by games and events at the ballpark. We look forward to disbursing more grants in the coming years as we receive additional payments from the Red Sox.”

Nonprofits applying for funding are asked to submit to the BRA a detailed plan and budget that describes how their organization will utilize the grant to deliver a service or project that contributes in a measurable way to the beautification of the Fenway community. Successful applicants should be able to demonstrate experience in providing the type of service or program for which they seek funding. As with previously released community benefits applications, the Office of Workforce Development, which has wide-ranging grant-making expertise, will assist the BRA in evaluating submissions.

Funding recipients will be required to submit a written summary of accomplishments and expenditures within 90 days of the grant’s completion.

The BRA piloted the standardized community benefits application earlier this year when it released two rounds of funding associated with the D Street hotels project that is nearing completion across the street from the Boston Convention and Exhibition Center. $630,000 in grants was disbursed to community organizations working in South Boston as a result.

Governor Baker Statement on Closing of Pilgrim Nuclear Power Station

Governor Baker Statement on Closing of Pilgrim Nuclear Power Station

BOSTON – Today, Governor Charlie Baker issued the following statement after an announcement by parent company Entergy that Pilgrim Nuclear Power Station will close by June 1, 2019:

“Our Administration will work closely with Pilgrim’s leadership team and federal regulators to ensure that this decision is managed as safely as possible, and we will continue to work with ISO and the other New England Governors to ensure that Massachusetts and New England has the baseload capacity it needs to meet the electric generation needs of the region.  Losing Pilgrim as a significant power generator not only poses a potential energy shortage, but also highlights the need for clean, reliable, affordable energy proposals which my administration has put forward through legislation to deliver affordable hydroelectricity and Class-I renewable resources.  The closure of Pilgrim will be a significant loss of carbon-free electricity generation and will offset progress Massachusetts has made in achieving the 2020 greenhouse gas emission reduction goals, making it more challenging to hit these targets.  I look forward to working with the legislature to make our proposal for clean, base-load generation law, as it represents a diversified and balanced approach that will be needed to achieve the commonwealth's greenhouse gas goals.”