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HOLLYWOOD, LOS ANGELES, CA, USA - NOVEMBER 20: Actress Jennifer Aniston arrives at the Los Angeles Premiere Of Warner Bros. Pictures' 'Horrible Bosses 2' held at the TCL Chinese Theatre on November 20, 2014 in Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, United States. (Photo by Xavier Collin/Celebrity Monitor)
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May 2, 2018 By clearlakedev Comments are Off
CLEARLAKE CAPITAL-BACKED PERFORCE ADDS ENTERPRISE-GRADE SOURCE CODE ANALYSIS TO ITS PORTFOLIO WITH ACQUISITION OF PRQA
PRQA's Static Code Analyzers improve code quality and security for enterprise development teams enabling faster time to market
Minneapolis, Minn. - May 2, 2018 - Perforce Software ("Perforce"), a global provider of solutions to enterprise teams requiring productivity, visibility and scale during all phases of the technology development lifecycle, backed by Clearlake Capital Group, L.P. (together with its affiliates, "Clearlake"), today announced the acquisition of UK-based Programming Research Ltd. ("PRQA"), a leading provider of sophisticated, enterprise-grade static code analysis. The acquisition expands the Perforce portfolio of solutions by adding PRQA's family of Static Code Analyzers that assess software reliability, security and compliance while reducing development time.
Growth through acquisition is an integral part of Perforce's business strategy to develop a comprehensive portfolio of leading enterprise scale software solutions for technology developers and development operations ("DevOps") teams. The acquisition of PRQA represents Perforce's fourth successful acquisition in the past two years, and its first under Clearlake's new ownership, which was announced in early January 2018.
"With this latest acquisition we continue delivering on our strategy to offer more solutions and capabilities that improve DevOps pipeline performance for enterprise development teams," said Janet Dryer, Perforce CEO. "PRQA is a great match with Perforce as we both serve large global teams striving to deliver their solutions faster and with higher quality."
PRQA solutions are widely adopted by organizations whose products need to perform securely and reliably in mission critical and safety critical environments, such as automotive, aerospace, medical and other demanding industries. Customers realize faster time-to-market due to the technology's scale and accuracy in automated inspection of source code for high risk code and non-conformance to standards.
"We are excited to support the Perforce management team as they continue to execute on its buy-and-build strategy," added Prashant Mehrotra, Partner of Clearlake. "With this strategic acquisition of PRQA, Perforce now offers solutions for enterprise customers to address security and quality early in the software development lifecycle, enabling better continuous integration and continuous delivery."
"PRQA have been at the forefront of code quality management for over 30 years. We have some of the world's top experts in code analysis at PRQA, and our products help our customers develop high-quality code more reliably and at a faster pace. By joining forces with Perforce we will be able to expand the reach of this great technology and deliver business value to a much bigger audience worldwide," said Paul Blundell, PRQA CEO.
ABOUT PERFORCE
Perforce is a leading provider of enterprise scale software solutions to technology developers and development operations ("DevOps") teams requiring productivity, visibility and scale during all phases of the development lifecycle. Enterprises across the globe rely on its agile planning and ALM tools, developer collaboration, static code analysis, version control and repository management solutions as the foundation for successful DevOps at scale. Perforce is trusted by the world's most innovative brands, including NVIDIA, Pixar, Scania, Ubisoft, and VMware. Perforce has offices in Minneapolis, MN, Alameda, CA, Mason, OH, Boston, MA, the United Kingdom, Finland, Sweden, Germany, India, and Australia, and sales partners around the globe. For more information, please visit .
ABOUT CLEARLAKE CAPITAL
Clearlake Capital Group, L.P. is a leading private investment firm founded in 2006. With a sector-focused approach, the firm seeks to partner with world-class management teams by providing patient, long-term capital to dynamic businesses that can benefit from Clearlake's operational improvement approach, O.P.S.® The firm's core target sectors are industrials and energy; software and technology-enabled services; and consumer. Clearlake has managed approximately $7 billion of institutional capital since inception and its senior investment principals have led or co-led over 100 investments. More information is available at .
Colleen Kulhanek
Perforce Software
Ph: +1 612-517-2069

UK/EMEA
Maxine Ambrose
Ambrose Communications

BLICKSILVER PUBLIC RELATIONS, INC.


118 U.S. Mayors Endorse 100% Renewable Energy Goals
ClearWorld is committed to providing renewable energy solutions for a healthier, greener planet, starting at a grassroots level. By raising awareness in the local community about these issues, we can all do our part to make our cities more environmentally conscious and eco-friendly places to live.
100% Clean Energy
Innovation starts with inspiration. ClearWorld applauds The Mayors for 100% Clean Energy initiative. "It makes sense for mayors across the country to work together," said San Diego Mayor Kevin Faulconer. "Because when we talk about the future of our planet, we're talking about the future of our communities."
The analysis of National Renewable Energy Laboratory and Energy Information Administration data comes before the start of the U.S. Conference of Mayors annual meeting in Miami Beach, from June 23-26, where members will consider a resolution that would establish support for the goal of 100 percent clean, renewable energy in cities nationwide.
In addition, the Sierra Club's Ready for 100 campaign and the co-chairs of Mayors for 100% Clean Energy announced Friday that 118 mayors across the country have endorsed a goal of powering their communities with 100 percent clean, renewable energy such as wind and solar.
The Mayors for 100% Clean Energy initiative is co-chaired by Mayor Philip Levine of Miami Beach, Mayor Jackie Biskupski of Salt Lake City, Mayor Kevin Faulconer of San Diego and Mayor Stephen K. Benjamin of Columbia, South Carolina. Benjamin is also a vice president of the U.S. Conference of Mayors.
"It's up to us as leaders to creatively implement clean energy solutions for our cities across the nation. It's not merely an option now; it's imperative," said Mayor Benjamin. "Cities and mayors can lead the transition away from fossil fuels to 100 percent clean and renewable energy."
Mayoral endorsements of 100 percent renewable energy had led to ambitious action in municipalities across the U.S. The mayors of St. Petersburg, Florida and Abita Springs, Louisiana issued proclamations which endorsed a goal of transitioning to 100 percent clean and renewable energy, followed by the formal adoption of a community-wide goal establishing 100 percent clean, renewable energy as the target for city energy planning.
"In San Diego, we brought business and environmental groups together to advance a goal of 100 percent renewable energy," said Mayor Faulconer. "It makes sense for mayors across the country to work together because when we talk about the future of our planet, we're talking about the future of our communities."
Salt Lake City released its Climate Positive 2040 plan which detailed the specific steps and policies the city will pursue with Rocky Mountain Power to achieve the goal of 100 percent clean, renewable energy by 2032.
Thirty-six cities across the U.S. have committed to transition to 100 percent clean and renewable energy. This growing list of cities most recently includes Columbia, South Carolina, which this week unanimously voted to transition entirely to clean, renewable energy by 2036. Other cities including Los Angeles and Denver are studying pathways to 100 percent clean energy.
"We can't ignore climate change because climate change is not ignoring us," said Mayor Biskupski. "Cities must adapt to cope with the threats of climate change, and that's also why we must take action to mitigate them. Salt Lake City has set the ambitious but achievable goals of generating 100 percent of the community's electricity supply from renewable energy by 2032, followed by an 80 percent reduction in community greenhouse gas emissions by 2040. We are taking action to achieve these goals and I am honored to join mayors from across our nation to lead the transition to clean, renewable energy."
Transitioning all 1,400+ U.S. Conference of Mayors member-cities to 100 percent renewable electricity will significantly reduce electric sector carbon pollution
August 3, 2018 ClearWorld, Climate Change, Outdoor Lighting, Outdoor solar lights, renewable energy, Smart City, solar lamps, solar LED, solar LED Lighting, Solar led lights, Solar LED Retrofit, Solar Light, Solar Lighting Solution, solar lighting system, Solar Lights Outdoor, Solar Outdoor Lighting, Solar Powered Led Lights, Solar Security Light, Solar Street light ClearWorld, Renewable Energy, Solar Energy


While I can't remember where I first heard the story of the Pied Piper, it was very likely from my Aunt Edna or Grandpa Albert. Let me remind you of the story which, as best as I can determine, was written by Robert Browning, the English Poet. The tiny town of Hamelin was seized by a seemingly uncontrollable infestation of rats. The rat plague was so bad that it threatened the health of the entire town. Widespread panic consumed the village. Then, taking a page from a future western movie, a stranger comes to town and claims that he can rid the town of the infestation.
The stranger told the Mayor and the Chamber of Commerce that he could clear the city of rats for only a thousand guilders ($600,000 US Dollars in today's money). The town leaders were ecstatic at this opportunity. The stranger immediately began to walk down the main street, and rats emerged by the thousands and followed him hypnotically as he piped a tune. In fact, every single rat in the village followed as he marched them to the river where they drowned. The people of the village paraded and celebrated their now rat-free town! The mayor, with an abysmal 39% approval rating and a reputation as a rascal, refused to honor their verbal agreement when the Pied Piper showed up at the city hall for his payment. "Surely you knew that we spoke in jest when we agreed to pay the sum of a thousand guilders."
"A thousand you promised, a thousand you'll give," said the Piper... "What is done is done, my man," said the Mayor. "It cannot be undone. The rats are gone, you see." "Aye, but I can pipe again," said the Piper.
Then he went back into the street and began to pipe a new tune. But this time instead of rats, it was the village children who marched out of their homes to follow him. Down they went to the mountain which had opened for them to pass inside, and then closed again.
When we ran for Congress, some of us promised to our voters that we would work with the other side to get things done for the American people. Unfortunately, we allowed ideology and party loyalty to inspire us to break our promise. We were unwilling to "pay the piper." Because of our refusal to pay, we are slowly participating in a history changing race to the bottom. It doesn't seem to trouble us that the word civility sounds like something from our distant past. We should use our precious time in Congress more wisely and ensure future generations that a great nation will still exist.
Wouldn't it be great if each of us embraced the words of my all-time favorite poet, Robert Frost?
"The woods are lovely, dark and deep, but I have promises to keep, and miles to go before I sleep."


Main Facts and Life Hacks
Facts and Life HacksBuzz
South African celebrities who died in 2017 and 2018
7 months ago 11302 views by Julie Kwach
Everybody dies, but it is important to remember that the dead live in our memories. Last year, the South African entertainment industry lost a significant number of stars. Below is a list of South African celebrities who died in 2017 and 2018.
Death leaves wounds that could last a lifetime, more so if the person was close to you. Unfortunately, at some point, we all go through the same path. So, rather than mourn forever, we can choose to celebrate the lives of those who have gone before us.
READ ALSO: South African celebrities who died in 2018. Stars we've lost this year
Celebrities who died in 2017
Last year, several stars across the world passed away. Some of the notable names include Della Reese (actor, Touched by an Angel), Hugh Hefner (founder of Playboy magazine) and David Rockefeller (Rockefeller family). Here in South Africa, we lost musicians, actors, TV hosts, entrepreneurs among others.
South African actors and actresses who died in 2017
The film industry lost some top talents and legends in 2017. Below are some of the Mzansi actors who died in 2017.
Joe Mafela
Joe was a South African actor whose career began at the age of 22. He was also a musician, producer, and movie writer. He had roles in several South African television series, soaps, and movies. His breakthrough came from his role as Sdumo in the comedy series 'Sgudi 'Snaysi which was in Zulu. He went on to produce television programs under his production company Penguin Films and sometimes cast himself for roles in them. The veteran South African actor passed away after a car accident on the 18th of March. The Joe Mafela accident scene was on M1 North next to a construction zone.
Jabu Kubheka
Famous for his role as Gunman in the SABC1 drama series Yizo Yizo, Jabu Kubheka was a South African actor who starred in various television programs. The actor had roles in many televisions series including the SABC 1 drama Zone 14, A Place Called Home, Jacobs Cross, and Skhumba. He also had featured in various soaps including Generations, Zabalaza and Gold Diggers. Jabu was found dead in his home in June 2017.
Mandla Hlatshwayo
Mandla was a South African actor known for his role as Siphiwe Phosa in the hit TV series Generations. The actor's breakthrough came after his starring role in SABC's Soul City 2. He was also a DJ going by the name DJ Mandla, and he released his first album in 2006 known as Jozi Nights Volume 1. Mandla was fatally shot in May 2017, during a robbery outside Meli pub in Soweto as reported by BBC on the 15th May.
Iko Mash
Iko was a South African stylist, makeup artist, and actor who died after a long battle with cancer on the 21st of July, 2017. He was well known in celebrity circles for his styling prowess, and he played a transgender make up artist on television series Rhythm city.
7de Laan actor dies
Greg Melvill-Smith, famous for his role in 7de Laan, as well as in Isidingo, died in 2016. Therefore, he was not in Isidingo June 2017. He died in the hospital while battling a serious illness. He is not the only 7de Laan cast member who has died as two others passed away recently. Shareen Swart, a producer and actress on the show died on October 29, 2018 after a long battle with cancer.
Below is a list of South African actresses who died in 2017
Michelle Molatlou
Michelle was a former beauty queen who went on to be a television show host and actress. She hosted the magazine show Mamepe on SABC 2 and acted in various television productions including In the name of love, Kgalelo Pelo and Generations; Legacy. Michelle succumbed to cervical cancer at the National Hospital in Bloemfontein. She died on the 19th December 2017 surrounded by friends and family.
Mary Makgatho
Mary was a veteran actress who was best known for her roles in Generations, Yizo Yizo, and most recently Ekasi: Our Stories. She died after developing complications from injuries resulting from a fall.
Other South African celebrities who died in 2017
Raymond Chikapa Enock Phiri
Raymond, popularly known as Ray Phiri, was a South African jazz and fusion artist famous for his role in Graceland. The musician died on the 12th July, 2017, aged 70 after a two-month battle with lung cancer.
Lindani Bekwa
Lindani was a popular South African Radio personality. He started his career at Weneme FM as an intern in 1995 where he gained respect and admiration from people. He later worked at SABC radio before resigning to become the Mercantile Hospital spokesperson in 2004. He rejoined Weneme FM in 2006 and continued where he left off. The Lindani Bekwa death announcement brought sorrow to his fans and South Africa in general. His friends eulogized him as a dreamer who worked hard to make his dreams come true and who loved what he did. The radio host died in March 2017 after a long illness which kept him in and out of the hospital.
Matlakala Ramathoka
Popular gospel singer Matlakala Ramathoka died aged 43 in March 2017 after complaining of flu and chest pains. The singer was part of the Matlakala and the Comforters and the Musole Tumelo groups. She is famous for songs such as Dintwa Ditekising, Kgalemela Lefatshe, and Madi Matsogong. The singer had just completed recording her album Emanuel at the time of her death. Matlakala dead or alive will forever remain a memorable part of the South African gospel industry.
Thandi Klaasen
The legendary jazz musician Thandi Klaasen died on the 15th of January, 2017. Media outlets report that she was battling pancreatic cancer which is believed to be the cause of her death.
Dumisani Masilela
The Rhythm City actor was shot dead after a hijacking in Tembisa. He was rushed to hospital but died while undergoing surgery. The 29-year-old actor had recently got married. His wife was devastated by his death as their marriage had only lasted a few months according to family spokesperson Mpumi Phillips.
South African celebrities who died recently
Although the year 2018 is not yet over, South Africa has already suffered significant losses. Celebrity deaths today are on the rise due to the increasing number of diseases and the cancer menace. Here is a list of celebrities recently deceased.
Winnie Mandela
Mama Winnie's death came as a shock to many as she had been pictured earlier at her granddaughter's Good Friday celebration. Veteran anti-apartheid activist passed away on April 2, 2018, after a battle with an illness. Winnie inspired a generation of African women, many of whom honored her by wearing black and using the hashtag AllBlackWothADoek.
Sandy Mokwena
Actor Sandy Mokwena, who is known for playing Bra Eddie on eTVs Scandal, passed away on on Wednesday the 25th of January, 2018 due to natural causes. The actor also had roles in several television productions. His death shocked his family as it came after a short illness. On that day, it was reported that the South African actor died aged 68.
Hugh Masekela
The death of Hugh Masekela gave a huge blow to the South African jazz industry. Famously known as the father of South African Jazz, Hugh was a trumpeter, flugelhornist, cornetist, singer, and composer. He is famous for hit songs such as Soweto Blues and Bring Him Back Home. The musician died due to prostate cancer on the 23rd of January, 2018.
Chris Matshaba
The radio personality succumbed to cancer on the 11th of February, 2018 just six months before his 40th birthday. Kabelo Mosito, the family spokesman, told Tshisa Live that the actor continued to smile despite his battle.
David Phetoe
Generations actor dies aged 85 was the breaking news on the 1st day of February this year. David was a veteran actor best known for his role as Paul Moroka on popular soap, Generations. Eugene Phetoe, his son, said in an interview that the actor had been ill and was in the hospital when he died on the afternoon of the 1st of February, 2018.
Jabulani Tsambo
Popularly known by his hip-hop name, Hip Hop Pantasula, HHP died on October 24th, 2018. The rapper was found dead in his Johannesburg home earlier in the day. His friend and rapper Khuli Chana said that HHP's death came as a shock to his friends and family. It was an unbelievable sadness.
Khanyi Mbau dies?
Well, fortunately, Khanyi Mbau, is not dead. The 32-year-old actress suffered a scare during cosmetic surgery in 2017 but did not die. She currently plays Dinekile aka Lady Die on SABC1 soap Uzalo.
READ ALSO: Winnie Madikizela-Mandela: the dark side of the legend revealed
Death is the ultimate ending for all human beings. The South African celebrities who died in 2017 and 2018 probably did not see it coming. It is, therefore, important to honor the loved ones while they are still alive.
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Act now or forever play global catch up on clean technology: Report
Navdeep Bains, Minister of Innovation, Science and Economic Development, and Catherine McKenna, Minister of Environment and Climate Change, listen to introductions as they announce a $700 million investment over the next five years to grow Canada's clean technology industry in Montreal on January 18, 2018. Canada's share of the fastest growing industry in the world has been shrinking over the last decade -- and a new report says it's time to step it up or miss out on a trillion-dollar opportunity. The Ottawa-based Smart Prosperity Institute report -- to be released today in Vancouver at the Globe Forum Leadership Summit for Sustainable Business -- says clean technology will be a $2.2-trillion industry worldwide by 2022, with an estimated $3.6 trillion of investment up for grabs globally between now and 2030.Paul Chiasson / THE CANADIAN PRESS
Mia Rabson
PMN Business
OTTAWA  -  Canada's share of the fastest growing industry in the world has been shrinking over the last decade  -  and a new report says it's time to step it up or miss out on a trillion-dollar opportunity.
The Ottawa-based Smart Prosperity Institute report  -  to be released today in Vancouver at the Globe Forum Leadership Summit for Sustainable Business  -  says clean technology will be a $2.2-trillion industry worldwide by 2022, with an estimated $3.6 trillion of investment up for grabs globally between now and 2030.
However, Canada's market share in the global clean tech industry has fallen 12 per cent in the last decade, and will continue to contract without a solid, long-term commitment to growing the industry, said institute co-chair Stewart Elgie, a professor of law and economics at the University of Ottawa.
"Clean innovation is the big global economic prize in the next decade that leading nations are pursuing around the world," Elgie said. "If Canada wants to win that race, we've got to raise our game."
However, the Pan Canadian Framework on Clean Growth and Climate Change lays out a number of policies that will compel more clean tech innovation in Canada, he said, including a price on pollution with a carbon price, to be in place across Canada by the start of next year, as well as a promised national clean fuels strategy, better energy efficiency standards and limits on greenhouse gases like methane.
There also needs to be significant government funding available to help get good Canadian ideas through the development stage and to market. Canada does well at coming up with ideas and making them work, Elgie said, but it's not so good at commercializing those ideas and scaling up production, often because of a lack of available capital.
The private sector is often still leery about clean technology, because it's all very new.
"The truth of it is every major commercial technology of the last century has involved significant public investment and public support," Elgie said. "Every one  -  even the oilsands, which has had billions of dollars in public investment before it ultimately became commercially viable and the private sector ran with it."
Last year, Canada jumped three spots to number four on the Global Clean Tech Innovation Index, a measure of where the best clean technology ideas are expected to come from in the next decade. But if Canada can't provide the financial help to get those good ideas out, it will miss out on huge opportunities, he warned.
Of course, not everybody sees the Liberal government's policies  -  particularly the carbon price  -  as helpful.
Conservative Leader Andrew Scheer, new Ontario counterpart Doug Ford and Jason Kenney, leader of Alberta's United Conservatives, have all promised to cancel or roll back carbon pricing if elected. They call carbon pricing a tax that will make Canada uncompetitive, particularly up against a U.S. that doesn't have a similar burden.
Kenney, for one, has called it a "massive tax on everything" and "a massive wealth distribution scheme requiring a massive bureaucracy to administer."
The report says encouraging clean innovation requires government both pushing and pulling industry along. That means setting standards that encourage the new technologies, such as a promised renewable fuels standard, aimed at encouraging ways to ensure fuel consumers like cars and furnaces produce fewer greenhouse gas emissions.
 -  follow @mrabson on Twitter


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Snow and Ice: 19 Departments of North and East on Orange Alert
2nd March 2018 2nd March 2018 spanner44Leave a Comment on Snow and Ice: 19 Departments of North and East on Orange Alert
As the situation improves in the south of France, Meteo France has place 19 departments in the North and east on orange alert for snow and ice storms
Snow and ice storm on Friday 2 March to the north and east of France while the situation has improved in the Southeast and especially the Herault .
19 departments were on orange alert this Friday at 6am. The west of the Hauts-de-France suffered in the middle of the night "some weak and scattered freezing precipitation," according to Meteo France.
BFMTV: Neige et verglas: 19 départements toujours en vigilance orange
 -  STEPHANE POLVENT (@stefrossiyellow) March 2, 2018
The rains "will remain weak" but "freezing", warns the meteorological service.
In the South, the trend was clearly improving with a spectacular warmth.
Motorists evacuated from A75 and A9
Thursday, in the middle of the afternoon, all the passengers of vehicles blocked since the day before in Herault on the A75 and A9 motorways, around Montpellier, had been evacuated: they were able to take again the road in the majority of the cases . Others were taken care of by coaches and taken to an operations center of Vinci Autoroutes. Crossing points had been opened to allow vehicles to pass on the central reservation of the highway and to travel in the other direction.
The A9 was reopened to all vehicles in both directions of traffic, announced in the evening Smart Bison.
On the A750 motorway, which connects Montpellier to the A75 (Béziers-Clermont-Ferrand), traffic was also restored in the early evening.
However, nearly 240 people were to be accommodated in the night from Thursday to Friday in the four facilities made available for the castaways of the road by the City of Montpellier.
At 9.30am Thursday, nearly 2,000 cars and their passengers were still blocked on these highways after spending the night. On the social networks, motorists exasperated by the situation tweeted: "Is it normal and that the only people who come to take news and offer food are motorists? We are stuck in the same place since 3.30pm! Do you realise? "
In the department, about 2000 other "shipwrecked" were rescued in the evening of Wednesday and overnight and hosted in various centers, the majority of which were emptying Thursday night.
"Some users were stuck in their vehicle more than ten hours, said Mahamadou Diarra, cabinet director of the prefect of Herault to AFP. We can not minimize the distress with which some have passed.
"However," he continued, "we must bear in mind the quite exceptional character of the snowy episode we are going through, since for thirty years the Hérault had never experienced such an episode and did not had never been placed on red alert for snow. This exceeded the forecasts that were forwarded to us ".
For a spokesman for Vinci, the situation was compounded by "the irresponsible attitude of heavyweights who pledged on the A9 Wednesday despite the ban, without winter equipment."
"When several snow removal vehicles intervened, some heavy trucks tried to sneak up and found themselves in the way, hindering snow removal and the services. So indeed, we had a lack of civility on the part of some truck drivers, "added Diarra.
The prefect decided to maintain the Hérault truck traffic ban until further notice, with the exception of heavy goods vehicles traveling the A75 north to Millau or Clermont-Ferrand.
In Montpellier, which experienced up to 30 cm of snow, "the network of roads again became progressively feasible on the main axes but with difficult traffic conditions," according to the city. All establishments receiving the public were closed. Air traffic, interrupted since Wednesday noon, has gradually resumed at midday.
According to Enedis, the number of households deprived of electricity by bad weather was declining. At 18:00 on Thursday, the cuts still involved 1200 homes in the Herault, 1300 in the Gard, 1800 in the Alpes-Maritimes.
In the rest of Europe, Ireland and Great Britain suffered the cold and snow on Thursday, which has so far caused the death of some 60 people.
Tagged France Hauts-de-France Meteo France Orange Alert Snow and Ice Weather
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Home > Pay-Related Legislative Changes in the National Defense Authorization Act, FY 2014
Pay-Related Legislative Changes in the National Defense Authorization Act, FY 2014
CPM 2014-04
MEMORANDUM FOR:
Heads Of Executive Departments And Agencies
Katherine Archuleta Director
This is to inform you of three legislative extensions affecting Federal employee pay and certain benefits. The changes resulting from the enactment of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2014 (Public Law 113-66, December 26, 2013) ("the Act") are summarized below.
Section 611 - Reserve Income Replacement Program
Section 611(8) amends 37 U.S.C. 910(g) to extend the expiration date for the Reserve Income Replacement Program from December 31, 2013, to December 31, 2014.
The Reserve Income Replacement Program is administered by the Department of Defense (DOD) and provides income replacement payments for certain reserve component members experiencing extended and frequent mobilization for active duty service. (This amendment does not affect the reservist differential authority under 5 U.S.C. 5538, which is a separate program for Federal employees. A Federal employee who is entitled to a reservist differential may not receive payments under 37 U.S.C. 910 for the same period. Additional information on reservist differential is found at .)
Section 1101 - 1-Year Extension of Authority to Waive Pay Limitations for Certain Federal Civilian Employees Working Overseas
Effective January 1, 2014, section 1101 extends to calendar year 2014 the authority provided in section 1101 of the Duncan Hunter National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2009 (Public Law 110-417, October 14, 2008), as amended, for the head of an agency to waive the normally applicable premium pay cap established in 5 U.S.C. 5547. This waiver authority in 2014 applies to certain civilian employees who perform qualifying work while in an overseas location that (1) is in the area of responsibility of the United States Central Command (CENTCOM) or (2) was formerly in the CENTCOM area of responsibility but has been moved to the area of responsibility of the Commander of the United States Africa Command (AFRICOM). Based on the operation of current law, the annual limitation on basic pay and premium pay allowed under the waiver authority in calendar year 2014 will increase to $233,000 which is the annual salary rate for the Vice President in 2014 under 3 U.S.C. 104.
Section 1101(d) of Public Law 110-417 continues to provide the Director of OPM with the discretion to issue regulations for this waiver authority. OPM does not currently plan to issue regulations. However, each agency should establish policies for using this waiver authority if it has covered employees. To ensure agencies apply this discretionary authority consistently, we have developed the attached summary of key elements agencies should include in their policies implementing the waiver authority. The attached summary includes additional information on employee coverage, approval criteria, and special instructions on applying the waiver authority to employees working in Iraq.
Section 1102 - 1-Year Extension of Discretionary Authority to Grant Allowances, Benefits, and Gratuities to Personnel on Official Duty in a Combat Zone
Section 1102 amends section 1603(a)(2) of the Emergency Supplemental Appropriations Act for Defense, the Global War on Terror, and Hurricane Recovery, 2006 (Public Law 109-234, June 15, 2006), as added by section 1102 of the Duncan Hunter National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for FY 2009 (Public Law 110-417, October 14, 2008) and amended by section 1112 of the NDAA for FY 2012 (Public Law 112-81, December 31, 2011) and section 1104 of the NDAA for FY 2013 (Public Law 112-239, January 2, 2013). Section 1102 grants the head of an agency the discretionary authority until the end of fiscal year 2015 (i.e., September 30, 2015), to provide an individual employed by, or assigned or detailed to, such agency, allowances, benefits, and gratuities comparable to those provided by the Secretary of State to members of the Foreign Service under section 413 and chapter 9 of title I of the Foreign Service Act of 1980. The employee must be on official duty in Pakistan or a combat zone, as defined by section 112(c) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986.
Agency headquarters-level human resources offices may contact OPM at . Employees should contact their agency human resources office for further information on this memo.
cc: Chief Human Capital Officers
Human Resources Directors
2014_Legislative_Changes_Attachment.pdf


John Deere Classic: Viktor Hovland, Collin Morikawa To Attack TPC Deere Run
Filed  Morikawa, John Deere Classic, Mark Immelman, Norm Elrod, TPC Deere Run, Viktor Hovland
(CBS Chicago/CBS Local)  -  The PGA Tour rolls into TPC Deere Run in Silvis, Illinois for the 2019 John Deere Classic. It's the last stop before The Open Championship, the season's fourth and final major. While many of the Tour's biggest names chose to rest this week (or play in the Scottish Open), some of the game's rising stars will tee it up. This is, after all, a PGA Tour event, with a $6 million purse and the usual allotment of FedExCup points. Also up for grabs is a berth in the upcoming major. As 2013 winner Jordan Spieth can attest to, a major invite can change the course of a career.
While Spieth didn't make the trip to Silvis, Illinois, the field does feature multiple past winners. Among them are 2018 champion Michael Kim, who set a tournament record of 257 en route to his first ever PGA Tour win. He'll look to defend his title against past champions  -  and current contenders  -  like Ryan Moore (2016), Brian Harman (2014) and Zach Johnson (2012). Jonathan Byrd (2007) and John Senden (2006) will also attempt to relive past glories.
>>WATCH: The John Deere Classic Live Stream
The stage is also set for the new generation of rising stars, including Michael Wolff, Collin Morikawa and Viktor Hovland. Wolff secured his first PGA Tour win at the 3M Open last week with a long eagle putt on the final hole. Morikawa, who lipped out on his eagle putt, had to settle for birdie and a second-place tie. Hovland has been sniffing around the top 10 since the U.S. Open a month ago, but is still hasn't found it.
"They're favorites and they're dark horses, because of their current stature in the game," as CBS Sports golf analyst Mark Immelman recently observed of the young trio. "These guys showed their skill over the last few weeks," he went on. "I feel like they're fresh. I feel like they're energetic. I feel like they're full of confidence."
That enthusiasm, combined with efficient shot-making, can lead to low scores at TPC Deere Run. Kim showed that last year with his course record 257 (an astounding 27-under par), beating Steve Stricker's 2010 score by one stroke. Bryson DeChambeau's 266 (18-under) finish in 2017 was the course's highest winning mark in over a decade, so it will take a low score to win again this week.
TPC Deere Run confers certain advantages upon players. "A number of the holes bend from left to right," Immelman notes. "It favors a golfer who can move the ball in that direction." The greens are generally soft and receptive, and the rough isn't overly punitive. "It's a really good design," even if it tends to yield lots of birdies.
>>READ: John Deere Classic: TPC Deere Run 'A Good, Straight-Forward Golf Course'
TPC Deere Run offers a few challenges as well, with elevation changes and demanding fairways. The par-4 15th, named 'Coaltown' (every hole has a name), is one of the courses more challenging. It measures a tight 456 yards to a thin green flanked by sand and trees. Following that is the par-3 16th hole ('Mother Earth') at a comparatively short 153 yards. But it's green is situated on a rocky bluff, guarded by large bunkers and a 40-foot drop to the Rock River.
Still, as Immelman sums up, "if you can hit the ball a long way and peel it from left to right, you can take advantage." TPC Deere Run is full of birdie opportunities. "You have to get out there with the mindset of putting the ball in play off the tee, going ahead and attacking some of the get-able hole locations. And then you have to make putts, it's a simple as that."
In the week before The Open Championship, with many of the game's top-ranked players already over in Europe, the John Deere Classic sports a field led by hungry unknowns. And the list of favorites reflect that.
Viktor Hovland (18-1)
Hovland has yet to finish in the top 10 in any of his PGA Tour events, but it's only a matter of time before that changes. The 21-year-old turned pro just after his T12 finish at the U.S. Open (as the low amateur), and has since managed a T54 at the Travelers Championship and a T13 at both the Rocket Mortgage Classic and 3M Open. Hovland has shown the ability to hit fairways and greens in his limited Tour history. His accuracy and distance will help keep him on the leaderboard at the John Deere.
Collin Morikawa (20-1)
The 22-year-old is coming off a T2 finish at the 3M Open  -  earning him a special temporary PGA Tour membership though the end of the season  -  and had a chance to win it at the end. Morikawa has a slightly longer history than Hovland, with a T14 at the Canadian Open his best prior finish. He's a solid ball-striker, with a maturity and comfort level beyond his years.
Sungjae Im (20-1)
At 62nd in the world, Sungjae Im is among the more highly ranked players in the tournament. He continues a busy season, which has seen just three weeks off since January. The results are starting to show, with a seventh place at the Canadian Open, T4 at the Valspar Championship, T3 at the Arnold Palmer Invitational and T7 at the Phoenix Open. He's already shown flashes of his dominance on the Web.com Tour last year, and this could be the week he gets that first PGA Tour win.


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Aerial view of Riddick Stadium during North Carolina State College football game against Duke, September 28, 1946
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Deployed Dad Gives Son The Surprise Of A Lifetime During Taekwondo Practice
Audrey Conklin Reporter
A deployed father of six gave his youngest son, Luca, the surprise of a lifetime Monday.
U.S. Army Staff Sergeant Rob Cesternino, who had been serving a 10-month deployment with the Tennessee National Guard in Kuwait, Jordan, and southern Syria since May of 2018, arranged to surprise his nine-year-old son four days before he was expected home, WSMV News reports. Cesternino says he's talked to Luca every two weeks since being deployed.
At Luca's taekwondo practice session Monday night, the nine-year-old was told he would be sparring with three different instructors while blindfolded. What he didn't know was that while he was sparring with the third instructor, his dad would jump in and take the instructor's place.
When Cesternino entered the match, Luca continued to punch in the direction of his dad until Cesternino spoke and the realization suddenly came to him. In the video, Luca rips off his blindfold and throws his arms around Cesternino.
"You were such a big boy when I was gone. I'm so proud of you," Cesternino told Luca, according to WSMV. "We don't give enough thought to how tough it is on the families we leave behind."
Cesternino's five other children are older and live away from home. His oldest daughter's enlistment in the U.S. Air Force ends in May.
Rob and Luca Cesternino/ YouTube/ Lebanon Democrat
"She's coming back home," Cesternino said in a video by Lebanon Democrat. "She's going to school in Knoxville [to] finish her degree." Cesternino went on to explain that his daughter works in diagnostic imagery, or radiology, at Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio, Texas. He also has a son who was in the Coast Guard and a son who was in the Navy.
"We're a military family," he continued. "My family has served every single generation dating back to WWI. It's just expected in my family. I tell people the military's a family business . . . . It's just expected that you wear the uniform of your country. Again, you don't have to make it a career. My oldest son wasn't into picking up a rifle, so he joined the Coast Guard, and he learned to clean up oil spills. The service  -  it's important."
Tags : military families united states military us army viral video
Audrey Conklin
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Once again, on 'environmental catastrophism': A reply to Sam Gindin.
Ian Angus says 'environmental catastrophism' is a red herring. The real issue is whether socialists should give high priority to resisting capitalism's war on the planet.
by Ian Angus
Last year in Monthly Review, I debated Eddie Yuen, an anarchist who believes it is a mistake for radicals to focus on telling the truth about the global environmental crisis, because "awareness of climate crisis does not necessarily lead to increased political engagement." Not only can such awareness lead to apathy, he wrote, but "environmental catastrophism is very likely to be mobilized by economic and national elites to reinforce existing inequalities and expand enclosures, commodification, and militarization."[1]
I never expected to hear similar arguments from a Marxist, much less one I respect as much as Sam Gindin, a long time leader of the labor movement in Canada who is now an adjunct professor at York University and co-author of the Deutscher-prize winning book The Making of Global Capitalism.
But Gindin has indeed made a very similar argument, in a recent Jacobin article, "Unmaking Global Capitalism," and in a subsequent exchange with Vancouver ecosocialist Brad Hornick in Rabble.[2]
In his Jacobin article, Gindin issues a particularly strong warning against "environmental catastrophism," which he characterizes as "declarations that the end of the planet is only decades away if capitalism isn't radically changed now." He also calls such declarations "fearmongering," and "crisis-mongering as a mechanism for overcoming popular passivity."
Challenged by Hornick to answer, "Is there or is there not a crisis?" Gindin replies, "If it is clear the world is going to end in 20 years, we should say so" - but then he immediately warns again that we should not "purposely exaggerate the possible timing of that end in the false hope that this will help mobilize people."
Like Yuen, Gindin warns that "environmental catastrophism ... may just reinforce a sense that we are doomed and can't really do anything about it ... [or] encourage people to jump aboard illusory market-based 'solutions'."
In my Monthly Review articles, I showed that there is simply no evidence for, and a wealth of evidence against, the claim that talking about environmental crises causes apathy or strengthens the right. Rather than repeat those arguments, I want to raise three questions about the supposed problem of "environmental catastrophism," which Gindin evidently believes is a real problem in the left today.
1. Does anyone on the left actually claim that the end
of the world is 20 years (or even a few decades) away?
Ecosocialists and other environmental activists frequently discuss projections made by scientists about how long current CO2 emission levels can continue without causing tipping points between, as the noted British climate scientist Kevin Anderson puts it, dangerous climate change and extremely dangerous climate change. The fight to build a better world will become much more difficult if such thresholds are crossed, so it is important for us to know when they may occur, and what their physical and social impacts might be.
But to my knowledge no one - literally no one - says the world will end if we don't radically change capitalism by then.
We've come to expect such misrepresentation from right-wing climate change deniers - the people who invented the label "environmental catastrophism" as an insult - but not from serious radical scholars.
2. Is anyone on the left purposely exaggerating
the crisis in order to overcome mass passivity?
As we've seen, some on the left argue that the public can't handle the truth about the environmental crisis. They say we should temper our message lest we frighten people into apathy or conservatism.
Most ecosocialists and other green lefts take exactly the opposite approach. The social and ecological revolution we envisage requires decisive action by a knowledgeable majority, so it is our duty to get the facts out to the broadest possible audience. As the great socialist ecologist Barry Commoner wrote: "I have chosen to speak out about the scientific evidence of the origins of the environmental crisis; the alternative courses of action that might resolve it; and the right of the public - rather than propagandists or scientists - to make that choice. This was my duty to science, to the people whom science must serve, and to the survival of a civilized society."[3]
We tell the truth as best we can, but climate change is a complex subject, so we may not always do this as well as we should. If Sam Gindin disagrees with what we write, I hope he will tell us how to improve.
But there is no justification for impugning the motives of radicals who are seriously trying to translate scientific findings into popular articles and action programs.
3. Should the fight against climate change
be a priority for socialists today?
This is the most important question. For many on the right and a few on the left, accusations of "climate catastrophism" are code for "climate change isn't very important." I hope that isn't Gindin's view, but his articles are not clear.
The closest thing to a mass environmental movement in North America today is the fight against the extraction, transportation and use of fossil fuels. Across the United States, anti-fracking protests have mushroomed, and the fossil fuel divestiture campaign has won significant support on many campuses. In Canada, campaigns against pipelines and tar sands exploitation have mobilized tens of thousands in meetings, rallies and marches, won legal decisions and a municipal referendum, and have helped many to better understand the anti-environmental nature of the profit system. These campaigns are explicitly connected to a host of critical social issues, including internal colonialism and indigenous rights, public health, food and water safety - and, of course, to global warming.
So I'm surprised that Gindin doesn't say one word about those campaigns, let alone urge socialists to take part. Instead, he tells us to "frame the issue of the environment" by linking it a list of progressive concerns that he oddly calls "a broader struggle," although none of them is currently the focus of any significant movement at all.
Movements such as the fight against pipelines, fracking, and tar sands are responding to a global process that, as John Bellamy Foster recently wrote, "is progressively erasing previous distinctions between workplace exploitation and environmental degradation - as capitalism universally undermines all real-material conditions of production."[4] Rather than trying to reframe these movements to fit a socialist-business-as-usual mold, socialists should celebrate and build them - and learn from them.
It is only by building actual movements for concrete objectives like stopping pipelines and fracking and coal mining that millions of people can come to understand the need for broad social change - and it is only by participating in such movements that socialists can develop and promote a credible program for 21st century socialism. If we believe that we have exclusive possession of the revealed word - or if we act as if we do - we will be irrelevant to the real movement, which will develop in directions and ways that we cannot predict.
Although he says that "we face a grave environmental crisis," Gindin doesn't seem to agree that in our time every serious socialist must be an active environmentalist - that socialists must be ecosocialists. Indeed he seems to counterpose socialism and environmental activism, asserting that what he calls "permanent protest" is a distraction that "replaces the politics of transformative change."
If the environmental crisis is as serious as the best science says, then a "politics of transformative change" that doesn't place a high priority on resisting capitalism's war on the planet will be unable to carry through any serious change at all.
There is much in Sam Gindin's articles that I agree with, and I'm pleased that he is participating in the ongoing discussion on how to challenge capitalism in a time when the organized left is weak. I'm disappointed that he appears not to grasp the significance of the global environmental crisis for socialist politics and strategy. I hope he now understands that "environmental catastrophism" is a red herring that doesn't contribute to serious discussion within the left.
Above all, because I respect his many contributions to struggles for social justice, I look forward to seeing him on the front lines of this battle as well.
Ian Angus is editor of the ecosocialist journal Climate & Capitalism, and co-author of Too Many People? Population, Immigration, and the Environmental Crisis (Haymarket, 2011)
[1] Ian Angus, "The myth of 'environmental catastrophism'" Monthly Review, September 2013; Eddie Yuen, "Reply to The myth of 'environmental catastrophism'" Monthly Review, December, 2013; Ian Angus, "A reply to Eddie Yuen." Monthly Review, December, 2013.
[2] Sam Gindin, "Unmaking global capitalism" Jacobin, June 2014; Brad Hornick, "On the environmental question, Sam Gindin has got in wrong" Rabble, July 3, 2014; Sam Gindin, "Reply to Hornick: If only..." Rabble, July 4, 2014. All three articles have been republished in The Bullet.
[3] Barry Commoner. "Reply to Ehrlich and Holdren." Environment, April 1972.
[4] John Bellamy Foster. "The Epochal Crisis" Monthly Review, October 2013
The real environmental problem is catastrophe, not 'catastrophism'
Environmental catastrophism: Sam Gindin responds
On environment, Sam Gindin gets it wrong
Again and again, capitalism fouls things up
Posted in Capitalism, Ecosocialism, Featured, Movement Building
Ian Angus, Sam Gindin
Trying to make environmentalism = population control
4 Responses to Once again, on 'environmental catastrophism': A reply to Sam Gindin.
Douglas Williams July 15, 2014 at 12:42 pm #
This article made me newly-aware of an insidious aspect of all the left-liberal sites that pop up on my FaceBook page. THEY are the "environmental catastrophists" in question. They function as lefty muck-raking yellow journalism while posing for the uninitiated as "The Left." Each attempts to out-do the other in dire prediction, provoking anger while offering no solution. The overall effect may be an intended paralysis: Life will End Tomorrow and the Forces Causing it are Unstoppable, so Let's Give Up. Fact is, the real left is socialist, not liberal, and the catastrophists function as straw men for the right to knock down. Thanks, Ian, for clarifying the role of the real i.e. socialist left.
Peter Gose July 16, 2014 at 8:21 pm #
The ironic thing about Gindin's position is that he constantly emphasizes our need to be realistic about the left's current weakness. Surely this is almost as much of a downer as being realistic about the severity of the environmental crisis. But it's okay to dwell on the former but not the latter. Go figure.
John Sharkey July 22, 2014 at 12:49 pm #
One thing us ecosocialists and other assorted environmentalists have to stop doing is claiming that capitalism is destroying the planet. That is 'catastrophism,'not to mention carelessness or perhaps just human arrogance.
According to the science (see J Hanson) there have been five major planetary die off events going back to the 'beginning'. None of them destroyed the planet. It took some time, but life always came back just fine.
During our anthroprogenic (human induced climate change moment) epoch we may well do serious damage to this thin thin layer of habitable biosphere we call 'nature'. It can all be wiped out, including of course us, and the planet will still go on its merry way and be none the worse off.
The climate science is pretty solid on what is causing climate change and on the possible consequences unless we do something about it pretty quick. As we know scientists in general and climate scientist in particular (the ones not working for the petroleum industry) tend to be quite conservative about their work. They're not know to make exaggerated claims about their research.
So let's remember that capitalism can do serious damage to us and the environment...but it will not destroy the planet.
John Barkdull August 29, 2014 at 12:29 pm #
I realize this article was posted some time ago and thus my comment may be untimely. However, when Ian claims that no one asserts that the end of the world is nigh, it might help to clarify what we mean by the end. No, the planet per se won't be destroyed, and it's quite likely that no matter what humans do the insects and microbes, among others, will find a way to survive. Few would dispute this. However, the assertion that human existence is threatened is quite common, including from an author Ian cites, JB Foster. For most of us, the end of the human species is close enough to count as the end of the world. It would certainly count as a catastrophe, especially when one ponders the probable violence and disruption that would accompany the process of population reduction from more than 7 billion to zero. I suspect that Gindin and others have in mind something like that (or maybe the end of civilization as we know it) rather than the physical extinction of life on the planet. So their objection is to rhetoric that suggests human extinction is threatened within decades, which is a claim not absent among climate activists.


Associated Press Announces Chinese New Year Celebrations in Las Vegas
By CNY in the Desert | Uncategorized | No Comments
While Asian tourists visit Las Vegas throughout the year, the period surrounding the lunar new year holiday is a particularly popular time for leisure travel, especially among China's growing middle class. "They want to leave their homes and go travel during holidays," said Jan-Ie Low, who is helping to organize the Chinese New Year in the Desert festival in partnership with the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Bureau and the Fremont Street Experience. She said that according to tradition, if you travel during the new year holiday, "it's a sign that you're going to be doing this the whole year."
For the complete Washington Post article please click HERE.
LVCVA Announces Las Vegas Spring Festival in Downtown LV
The Las Vegas Spring Festival: Chinese New Year in the Desert will host a series of Chinese, Vietnamese and Korean cultural celebrations Feb. 8 - 10 throughout the Fremont Street Experience (FSE), a five-block entertainment complex located in historic downtown Las Vegas, which features Viva Vision.
For the complete Press Release, please go to:
Fremont Street Experience Announces Las Spring Festival 2013
Celebrate the Year of the Water Snake with Chinese New Year Festivities at Fremont Street Experience
Second Annual Chinese New Year in the Desert to Take Place in Downtown Las Vegas Feb. 8-10
LAS VEGAS - Jan. 21, 2013 - Celebrate the Year of the Water Snake as Fremont Street Experience, the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority (LVCVA) and Golden Catalyst present the second annual Chinese New Year in the Desert festival in Downtown Las Vegas from Feb. 8 - 10. Chinese New Year is the most important of the traditional Chinese holidays. It is known as "Spring Festival" in China, "Tet New Year" in Vietnamese and "Seol-lal" in Korean.
Las Vegas Mayor Carolyn G. Goodman will kick-off the three-day festival during the opening ceremonies which will feature a live authentic dragon dance by the Las Vegas Lohan School of Shaolin. Throughout the weekend guests will also experience live International Cultural Performances; taste authentic dishes from around the world in the International Vendor Village; watch contestants compete for the chance to be crowned Miss Asian American Pacific Islander USA which will include a Macy*s Fashion Show, Talent Show and interview segment; view stunning parade floats in the McDonald's Las Vegas Spring Festival Parade; and create their own lantern to display on Fremont Street Experience to commemorate the Lunar Lantern Festival.
"Last year we hosted the first-ever Chinese New Year festival in Downtown Las Vegas which was a great success," said Jeff Victor, president of Fremont Street Experience. "We are excited to once again host this important holiday and encourage everyone to come downtown for a fun-filled weekend to usher in the Year of the Snake and wish wealth, health and good fortune to all."
"Chinese New Year in the Desert will be a three-day cultural party with several new marquee events, making Downtown Las Vegas truly one of the best places for everyone to come together and ring in the Year of the Water Snake," said Jan-Ie Low, of Golden Catalyst.
"Las Vegas is excited to usher in Chinese New Year with a variety of cultural amenities, attractions and celebrations," said Michael Goldsmith, vice president of international sales for the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority. "China is an important market for the destination as it is our number one source of international travel from Asia."
Opening Ceremonies - Friday, Feb. 8 at 6 p.m. on the 3rd Street Stage
Las Vegas Mayor Carolyn G. Goodman will help usher in the new year by participating in the Opening Ceremonies and ribbon cutting on Friday, Feb. 8 at 6 p.m. on the 3rd Street Stage (next to the D, Four Queens and Fremont). The new year will be greeted with a live authentic dragon dance performed by the Las Vegas Lohan School of Shaolin complete with virtual firecrackers on Viva Vision (the largest video screen in the world measuring 1,500 feet long and suspended 90 feet above the street), an eye painting ceremony and performers dressed in elaborate costumes.
International Vendor Village and Cultural Performances
Throughout the three-day festival, guests will be taken on a journey around the world as they experience performances from several Asian entertainers on the 3rd Street Stage and visit the International Vendor Village, located on 3rd Street North between Fremont Street and Stewart Avenue, to taste the international flavors from renown food vendors. The International Vendor Village and Cultural Performances will take place on Friday, Feb. 8 from 5-10 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday, Feb. 9 and 10 from noon-9 p.m.
To commemorate the Lunar Lantern Festival, which officially ends the Chinese New Year celebrations, primary grade students of Clark County School District will be constructing paper lanterns marked with their "wish" for 2013. The lanterns will then be on display throughout Fremont Street Experience during the Chinese New Year in the Desert festival. Additionally, guests and passersby are invited to stop in at a booth located near the 3rd Street Stage to build their own lantern to display on Fremont Street Experience. The Lunar Lantern Festival is sponsored by St. Jude's Women's Auxiliary Group.
Miss Asian American Pacific Islander USA Pageant
Throughout the three-day event, several women will compete in the Miss Asian American Pacific Islander (AAPI) USA Pageant. Contestants will participate in the Macy*s Fashion Show, modeling the latest cutting edge Spring fashion lines from Macy*s, a Talent Show emceed by Ian Ziering from Beverly Hills 90210, and interview segment for the chance to be crowned Miss AAPI USA. The winner will receive a combination of cash and gift prizes with a retail value of $10,000. The First Runner-Up and Second Runner-Up will receive a combination of cash and gift prizes with a retail value of $5,000 and $2,500 respectively.
The schedule for the Miss Asian American Pacific Islander Pageant is as follows:
*** All events take place on the 3rd Street Stage.
Friday, Feb. 8
8 p.m. - Introduction of Miss AAPI USA Contestants
9 p.m. - Macy*s Fashion Show
Saturday, Feb. 9
8 p.m. - Talent Show: Miss AAPI USA Contestants
8 p.m. - Interview and Crowning of Miss AAPI USA Contestants
Heart Walk Benefitting the American Heart Association
On Saturday, Feb. 9 thousands of walkers from all over the valley will step out to support the American Heart Association during the Heart Walk. Registration begins at 7:30 a.m. at the 3rd Street Stage with the walk taking place from 8:30-10:30 a.m.
McDonald's Las Vegas Spring Festival Parade
On Sunday, Feb. 10 local businesses and organizations will come together to celebrate the Chinese Lunar New Year during the McDonald's Las Vegas Spring Festival Parade. Parade participants will showcase their talent and creativity with the most extravagant floats in vibrant colors to commemorate the rich history of the most important holiday of the Asian community. Starting at 10 a.m. at the intersection of Gass Avenue and 4th Street, the McDonald's Las Vegas Spring Festival Parade will travel up 4th Street through Fremont Street Experience and end at the intersection of 4th Street and Ogden Avenue.
For a detailed entertainment schedule go to . All entertainment is free and open to the public.
About Fremont Street Experience
Fremont Street Experience is a five-block entertainment complex located in historic downtown Las Vegas. Fremont Street Experience features Viva Vision, the world's largest video screen which is 1,500 feet long, 90 feet wide and suspended 90 feet above the pedestrian mall. Viva Vision features nightly spectacular light and sounds shows with 12.5 million LED lights and a 550,000-watt sound system. Fremont Street Experience is a one-of-a-kind venue which includes free nightly concerts and entertainment on three stages. With direct pedestrian access to 10 casinos, more than 60 restaurants and specialty retail kiosks, Fremont Street Experience attracts over 17 million annual visitors. Fremont Street Experience can be found online at .
Rachel Diehl
Preferred Public Relations

Las Vegas Lunar New Year: Celebrate the Year of the Pig
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The Boulevard Mall Celebrates the Year of the Monkey


" Resource Watch: Using Video Clips in the Classroom | Main | A Teacher's 'If' Poem for Her Students "
Student 'Literary Ambassadors' Head Poetry Month Activities
By Francesca Duffy on April 4, 2013 5:37 PM
We recently wrote about some educators' efforts to keep poetry alive in school amid the myriad instructional demands of the Common Core State Standards. These teachers might get some help this month as various organizations gear up to celebrate National Poetry Month, an initiative that was first introduced by the Academy of American Poets in 1996.
According to Scholastic, five "literary ambassadors" from the National Student Poets Program, an initiative of the President's Committee on the Arts and the Humanities, will be visiting communities around the country during April in an effort to heighten young people's interest in poetry. The ambassadors were selected from a pool of candidates who had received a national Scholastic Art and Writing Award and showed exceptional promise and dedication to poetry.
Scholastic is also featuring poetry activities on its website for teachers to share with their classes, including math poetry puzzles, writing riddles, poetry-writing workshops, a webcast of a poetry reading, an article on creating poetry slideshows for young students in PowerPoint, and a unit on haiku.
Meanwhile, mark the calendar for April 18, otherwise known as Poem in Your Pocket Day. The initiative, coordinated by the Academy of American Poets, encourages people to select their favorite poem to carry around and to share with family, friends, and community members. The website includes resources and information on how schools and communities can celebrate the day, such as by sharing poem selections on Twitter using the hashtag #pocketpoem and by browsing the AAP's online poetry library to select and print out poems.


Associate Monitors
Community Engagement Team
The Chicago Police Department (CPD) Independent Monitoring Team is responsible for assessing the CPD's and the City of Chicago's (City's) compliance with the required elements of the consent decree.
In December 2015, the U.S. Attorney General launched a broad civil rights investigation into the CPD's policing practices. The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) released the results of its investigation in January 2017, finding a longstanding, pervasive "pattern or practice" of civil rights abuses by the CPD.[1]
In August 2017, the Office of the Illinois Attorney General (OAG) sued the City in federal court, seeking a consent decree that would address DOJ's findings and recommendations. The case was assigned to Judge Robert M. Dow, Jr. The OAG then sought input from community members and Chicago police officers and negotiated the consent decree with the City.
In March 2018, the Parties to the consent decree, the OAG and the City, also entered into a Memorandum of Agreement with "certain community organizations that have established a broad-based community coalition ('Coalition') committed to monitoring, enforcing, and educating the community about" the consent decree.[2]
The OAG and the City then sought proposals for an Independent Monitoring Team after posting a draft consent decree on the Chicago Police Consent Decree website.[3] In October 2018, Judge Dow received public feedback on the proposed consent decree through written comments and two days of public fairness hearings. Judge Dow approved and signed the consent decree on January 31, 2019. The consent decree requires actions by the CPD and many other City entities.[4]
On March 1, 2019, the effective date of the consent decree, and after a competitive selection process, Judge Dow appointed Ms. Maggie Hickey, a Partner in the Schiff Hardin law firm, as the Independent Monitor. Judge Dow also appointed Judge David H. Coar, Ret., as a special master. As special master, Judge Coar is not a member of the Independent Monitoring Team, but he will "help facilitate dialogue and assist the [OAG], the City, and other stakeholders in resolving issues that could delay progress toward implementation of the consent decree."[5] Both Ms. Hickey, as the Independent Monitor, and Judge Coar, as the special master, will report directly to Judge Dow.
As the Monitor, Ms. Hickey leads a team of professionals and consultants from Schiff Hardin and the CNA Institute for Public Research, including subject matter experts, members of the Independent Monitoring Team's Community Engagement Team, and other partners. Our role as the Independent Monitoring Team is to assess the CPD's and the City's compliance with the required elements of the consent decree. Learn more about our team here.
[1] DOJ Civil Rights Division and United States Attorney's Office Northern District of Illinois, Investigation of Chicago Police Department (January 13, 2017) at 4, available at .
[2] See Memorandum of Agreement Between the Office of the Illinois Attorney General and the City of Chicago and Campbell v. City of Chicago Plaintiffs and Communities United v. City of Chicago Plaintiffs (March 20, 2018), available at .
[3] More information about the IMT selection process is available on this website, which the OAG administers. See Independent Monitor, Chicago Police Consent Decree, . Other resources, such as consent decree documents, court filings, and reports, are also available on this website. See Resources, Chicago Police Consent Decree, .
[4] The final consent decree is available on the Chicago Police Consent Decree Website. See Consent Decree (January 31, 2019), .
[5] About, Chicago Police Consent Decree, .
© 2019 Independent Monitoring Team for the Chicago Police Department Consent Decree


Connect - Everyone can
Modified Large Print
Easy Read Materials
Accessible PDFs
Digital Audio Transcription
Transcripts and Captioning
Tactile Images & Diagrams
Sim Specs
Accessible documents in the digital age
I received a letter from my utility provider the other day in a really small font size, maybe 10 point. There was a message in a slightly larger size (about 14 point) advising the reader of how to get a copy of the document in a larger or accessible format. However, many of us now manage our lives via the internet, from contacting our local council about refuse collections to keeping up-to-date with current affairs. We can fill in a form online in a few mouse clicks, but how does a disabled person interact with this kind of facility? How can they ensure that the websites and apps they are using will be accessible and compatible with the assistive technologies they use? In this blog, we explore the EU Directive implemented on 23rd September 2018 which aims to ensure accessibility for all, including downloadable documents and forms published on public sector websites.
The Directive was initially adopted by the EU at the end of 2016, and is a landmark in digital accessibility legislation. It aims to make public sector digital content more accessible for the estimated 80 million Europeans, living with a disability. Documents and forms that can be downloaded from digital platforms also need to meet required standards.
Although there are several exemptions:
Documents published on websites before 23rd September 2018.
Documents that are not essential to the services provided by an organisation.
Maps, although directions may be needed if the end-user needs them.
Documents from heritage collections, such as scanned manuscripts.
Third party content funded and developed by another organisation.
It is important to remember that even with these exemptions, it is possible that some organisations may already be breaking the laws set out in the Equality Act 2010 in terms of just how accessible their websites currently are. And even with the possibility of Brexit looming in the not-too-distant future, UK public sector organisations will need to comply with the terms of the new directive, as at the time of writing the UK is still an EU member state.
The Further and Higher Education sector is not immune to the new regulations. Many institutions use a VLE or Virtual Learning Environment for file sharing, such as lecture notes, course handbooks and reference materials. As they are public sector bodies in the eyes of the law, they will need to ensure that such documents can be accessed in alternative or accessible formats so that all students can engage fully in their studies. Other public sector organisations include national/regional/local authorities such as local councils or regional assemblies, and any body established specifically to meet the needs of disabled people.
In order to meet the diverse needs of a population where one in five UK residents is living with a disability, what can organisations do to ensure that the new accessibility standards are adhered to? There are a range of options public sector bodies can utilise for producing accessible documents which can be uploaded to websites and apps, including:
Outsourcing to a specialist transcription company, such as Connect (connecttodesign.co.uk), who will convert the existing files to accessible formats. This can include large print, braille and accessible PDFs.
Training staff so that they are able to produce accessible documents in-house.
A combination of the above, such as training employees to produce the documents and outsourcing for testing.
With reference to website content that is in HTML format, this may not be accessible for screen-reader users. An alternative solution is to provide a downloadable accessible PDF with alt text, enabling the end-user to use their software to 'read' the document. However, preparations need to be made now, as documents produced after 23rd September 2018 are subject to the requirements of the new legislation.
With over 25 years' experience of producing documents in accessible formats, Connect is ideally placed to help companies embrace the new regulations. Get in touch to find out how we can support your organisation at .
Apple to Introduce Disability Emojis in March 2019
Why make your VLEs Accessible?
Assistive Technology and Disabled Students' Allowance
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Air Quality Improving in Many U.S. Cities: Report
Even Los Angeles showed lowest smog levels in more than a decade, data found
WEDNESDAY, April 25, 2012 (HealthDay News) -- Air quality in America's most polluted cities has improved significantly over the past decade, according to a new report from the American Lung Association.
Even Los Angeles, famous for its morning smog, is the cleanest it's been in 13 years, the association noted. Santa Fe, N.M. leads the pack, having been ranked as the cleanest city in the nation.
Despite progress in reducing the level of smog and soot in the air, the "State of the Air" report warned that unhealthy levels of air pollution still persist around the country.
AHA News: Air Pollution Means Pregnant Women Can't Breathe Easy
"'State of the Air' shows that we're making real and steady progress in cutting dangerous pollution from the air we breathe," Charles Connor, president and CEO of the American Lung Association, said in an association news release. "We owe this to the ongoing protection of the Clean Air Act. But despite these improvements, America's air quality standards are woefully outdated, and unhealthy levels of air pollution still exist across the nation, putting the health of millions of Americans at stake."
In rating the air quality in cities and counties around the country, the lung association takes into account the color-coded Air Quality Index developed by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), which alerts the public about unhealthy air conditions. The report, released Wednesday, also used data collected by the EPA from 2008 to 2010 on ozone and particle pollution.
The report found drastic improvements in 18 of the 25 cities most polluted by ozone. Nine out of the top 10 cities most polluted by ozone were in California. Topping the list was Los Angeles, although it showed the lowest smog levels since the report was first published back in 2000.
Particle pollution also dropped significantly in 17 of the 25 most polluted cities, including Los Angeles, Pittsburgh and Cincinnati. This mix of microscopic bits of ash, soot, diesel exhaust, chemicals, metals and aerosols can lead to early death, heart attacks and strokes.
Four cities -- Pittsburgh, San Diego, Philadelphia and Visalia, Calif. -- dropped to their lowest levels of short-term particle pollution on record, the report noted. Birmingham, Ala., Detroit and York, Pa., dropped off the list of the 25 most polluted cities entirely -- a first for all three.
The lung association cautioned that much work remains to be done to improve air quality in the United States. Forty percent of Americans, or 127 million people, live in areas where air pollution poses a threat to their health. These people are at greater risk for wheezing and coughing, asthma attacks, heart attacks, and premature death, the report noted.
Infants, children, seniors and anyone with lung diseases, heart disease or diabetes are most vulnerable to the harmful effects of air pollution. Those with low incomes or jobs that require them to work outside are also at greater risk.
The report revealed that 38.5 percent of Americans live in counties that received an "F" for air quality because of unhealthy levels of ozone air pollution, which can cause chronic health problems. Meanwhile, almost 50 million people in the United States live in counties with unhealthy surges in particle pollution levels. Year-round particle pollution threatens another 6 million Americans.
The standards set under the Clean Air Act are a driving force behind the improvement in air quality in the United States, according to the lung association. The legislation aims to clean up major sources of air pollution such as coal-fired power plants and diesel engines to reduce the amount of ozone and particle pollution in the air. The EPA estimated that cutting air pollution through this measure would prevent at least 230,000 deaths and save $2 trillion annually by 2020.
The report warned, however, that the positive trend in U.S. air quality will not continue if opponents of the Clean Air Act gain the upper hand on Capitol Hill.
"We still need to fulfill the promise of clean, healthy air for everyone, and that can only become a reality through the full implementation of the Clean Air Act. The American Lung Association strongly opposes any efforts to weaken, delay, or undermine the protective standards the law provides," said Connor. "The American Lung Association has been leading the fight for clean air for decades, and we are as determined as ever to give every American the clean air they deserve to breathe every day."
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has more on air pollution.
SOURCE: American Lung Association, news release, April 25, 2012


Dauphin County
Dauphin County Sheriff's Office
Sheriff Nicholas Chimienti Jr.

Sheriff's Welcome Message
Deputies & Staff
License to Carry
It is the mission of Dauphin County Sheriff's Office is to safeguard the lives and property of the people we serve, to reduce the incidence and fear of crime, and to enhance public safety. We will strive to develop positive relationships with our diverse communities and improve the quality of life for all community members. Our mandate is to do so by demonstrating our core values and conducting ourselves with the highest ethical standards to maintain the public's confidence and trust.
Duty: To uphold our sworn oath to serve and protect, demonstrating courage in the face of danger, and compassion and respect for all people.
Honor: To hold ourselves to a higher standard of character and behavior and to do our noble best to bring dignity to the badge that it is our privilege to wear.
Integrity: A firm adherence to a code of moral values, trustworthiness, and incorruptibility.
Respect: We consider human life worthy of high regard and are committed to equal treatment under the law for all people. We honor life and are committed to the preservation of life as we carry out our sworn duty under the law.
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