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.”

波士頓慶雙十遊行 出動花車、氣球，旗海

  新英格蘭台灣同學會聯合會會長方品（前右一）邀經文處教育組組長黃薳玉（前右二）和同學合影。方品透露，來美三年，每年都參加升旗遊行，
每次看到旗幟上升，仍然每次心中感動。（台學聯提供）

  立者右起，陳銘俊，陳文浩，余麗媖，黃瑞瑜，雲雯蓁，賴銘琪，等人和中華民俗藝術

工作坊團員合影。（圖由僑教中心提供）

(Boston Orange) 波士頓今年的慶祝“雙十”創新猷，不但48個僑團組成的近千人遊行隊伍浩浩蕩蕩，還首次出動花車，在波士頓市政府廣場前的升旗典禮場地架起充氣拱門，節慶氣氛格外濃厚。

左起，陳家驊，李伍綺蓮，李壽泮，蔣宗壬，麥家威，林乃肯，陳偉民等人在

遊行出發前合影。（圖由僑教中心提供）

在駐波士頓台北經濟文化辦事處處長賴銘琪與波士頓新任僑務委員蔣宗壬，僑務諮詢委員李伍綺蓮，李壽泮，波士頓前任僑務委員陳家驊，波士頓僑領陳毓禮，紐英崙中華公所主席阮鴻燦，雙十遊行統籌陳偉民，以及麻州眾議員麥家威（Aaron Michlewitz），波士頓市議會議長林乃肯（Bill Linehan）等人率領遊行隊伍從華埠牌樓出發時，沿路旗海飄揚，紅白藍氣球觸目可見，所有參加遊行的人，都顯得心情興奮，尤其是留學生，更是笑容滿滿。

今年（2015）慶祝民國104週歲的大波士頓雙十升旗典禮及遊行，適逢十月十日正日，大波士頓僑界早在籌備時，就絞盡腦汁，竭力創新，同時又得顧及預算，人力有限的現實，煞費腦筋。

 大陳同鄉會的花車。（圖由僑教中心提供）

十日一早，大陳同鄉會的老會長周仙梅，現任會長梁娜玲，昭倫公所副主席譚如鍵，朱沛國堂主席夫人鄺坤珍，波士頓大學同學會會長鍾予閎等好些人，和波士頓華僑文教中心主任郭大文，先趕到紐英崙中華公所用氣筒吹氣球，讓中華公所會議廳擺滿了紅白藍色的圓型，心型氣球，壯觀十分。

中華藝術協會的花車。（圖由僑教中心提供）

從中華民俗技藝工作坊到紐英崙至孝篤親公所，伍胥山公所，華林功夫學院等的48個參加遊行僑團，分別在乞臣街，華埠牌樓，華埠公園等地排出隊伍，拉出僑團旗幟，全都為這大波士頓地區每年一度的人氣盛事，感到興奮非常。

劍橋合唱團團長陳立英，指揮顏毓芬夫婦，把未滿周歲的兒子放在嬰兒車裏，推著一起走，給這遊行增添了美好的家庭氣氛，也讓有心人感慨申論在台灣，海外的家國感情。

十日的升旗典禮，由中華民俗藝術工作坊的“鑼鼓喧天”拉開序幕，何佳陵領唱國歌，經文處長賴銘琪致詞後，雷國輝代表大會主席陳毓禮致詞，波士頓市消防局副局長黃瑞瑜應邀擔任大會司儀。

 新英格蘭中文學校協會的花車。（圖由僑教中心提供）

經文處處長賴銘琪指出，在波士頓市府廣場舉行的這慶祝，不只是慶祝國家生日這麼簡單，還代表著台灣與海外大波士頓社區僑團的友誼。對來自台灣的人來說，這樣的支持，意義深重。

表演節目包括中華民俗藝術工作坊的“戀念台灣”，中華藝術協會的“台灣風情”，波士頓元極舞聯誼會的“快樂元極操”，美東紐英崙養生五協會的“太極劍”，以及劍橋合唱團領唱“中華民國頌”，“梅花”。

大波士頓今年慶雙十升旗典禮，新出動氣球拱門，增添氣勢。（圖由僑教中心提供）

籌備遊行的陳家驊指出，今年的遊行有不少改善，不但有電車讓年紀稍長，走不動了的人搭乘，還有紐英崙中華專業人員協會，中華藝術協會，新英格蘭中文學校協會，大陳同鄉會等四個僑團費心製作花車，為遊行增添聲勢。

雙十遊行最後在大合唱後歡呼，才劃下句點。