On its website, NASA and several of its astronauts have congratulated the makers of the movie Gravity for winning seven Oscar awards this year, including an award for director Alfonso Cuaron.

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Tag: Gov
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NASA Congratulates Gravity’s Seven Oscar Awards
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UN Chief and Security Council Condemn Terrorist Attack at Chinese Train Station
New York City, March 2, 2014, — The UN Security Council on Sunday strongly condemned the terrorist attack that took place on March 1 at the train station in Kunming, China, and underlined the need to bring those responsible to justice.

Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon. UN Photo (file photo)
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Let’s Move — Surprise Video from the White House
Hi everyone,
To mark the fourth anniversary of the launch of Let’s Move!, I asked you to show me how you move.
I wanted to see all of the fun, creative things you’re doing in your homes, schools, and communities to get kids excited about eating healthy and being active.

First Lady Michelle Obama delivers remarks announcing proposed revisions to the Nutrition Facts label during a “Let’s Move!” event in the East Room of the White House, Feb. 27, 2014. (Official White House Photo by Amanda Lucidon)
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Boston Homeowners Embrace Solar Power
Boston, Feb. 28, 2014, — Mayor Martin J. Walsh today announced 106 Boston homeowners have signed contracts to install solar power through the 2013 Renew Boston Solarize program, a community bulk pricing program. A high rate of participation helped Renew Boston Solarize achieve its goal of 500 kilowatts (kW) of solar power and qualify for the lowest costs in the tiered pricing structure.

Cold and snowy winter in Boston demands more energy use.
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Visa Application of a Chinese Immigrant in 1931

Ng Shee, Visa Application, p.1 of 2, 1931, File 2500/9086; Chinese Exclusion Act Case Files, compiled 1911 – 1955, Record Group 85 Records of the Immigration and Naturalization Service; National Archives at Boston. ARC 4856448. This Immigration Visa is part of a series of documents in the National Archives at Boston that was used to authenticate the identity of Ng Shee. She was requesting to leave Hong Kong, China, to join her Chinese American husband living in Waltham, MA. The documents include this Nonquota Immigration Visa, her husband’s petition requesting that she be allowed to enter the United States, and the map that Ng Shee drew of her village under interrogation by the immigration official(s) with a Chinese interpreter, and the interrogation questions.
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Mayor Christenson Attends “Cultures of China, Festival of spring”
By David Li, bostonese.com
Boston, Feb. 19, 2014, Malden Mayor Gary Christenson was among 1000 people who packed John Hancock Hall in Boston Back Bay Sunday, Feb. 16, evening. They enjoyed the performances by top singers and dancers from China at the “Cultures of China, Festival of Spring” show, presented by Asian Cultural Center. Mayor Christenson watched the performance together with Council General Sun Guoxiang of Chinese Consulate in New York City.

Mayor Christenson (right) and Mr. Yunzhao Hu (left) pose for a picture (photo by David Li).
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Gov. Patrick Joins MassChallenge to Launch 2014 Global Startup Programs
Boston, February 12, 2014 -– Governor Deval Patrick today joined Boston Mayor Marty Walsh and MassChallenge founder Akhil Nigam to announce the 2014 startup accelerator competition. MassChallenge also announced the anticipated launch of MassChallenge UK in London in December 2014. MassChallenge CEO John Harthorne joined the event via video conference from Tel Aviv to simultaneously kick off the MassChallenge Israel 2014 program.
“The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is well positioned to continue its leadership among the global innovation economy because of our strategic investments in innovation, education and infrastructure,” said Governor Patrick. “MassChallenge’s new program in the UK and its programs in Boston and Israel do important work to connect these hubs of entrepreneurship.”

Governor Patrick and Boston Mayor Walsh celebrate the Commonwealth’s globally recognized Life Sciences supercluster at the ribbon cutting ceremony for Vertex Pharmaceuticals’ global headquarters in Boston Innovation District (Photo: Taylor Nealand / Governor’s Office).
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White House Raises Minimum Wage and Launches Cybersecurity Framework
Washington. D.C., Feb. 11, 2014, — In his State of the Union address, President Obama called on Congress to raise the federal minimum wage from $7.25 to $10.10 an hour, and announced he would issue an Executive Order to raise the minimum wage to $10.10 for the individuals working on new federal service contracts.

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Boston Public Schools Closed on Wednesday with Snowstorm in the Forecast
Boston, Feb. 4, 2014, — Mayor Martin J. Walsh today announced City response plans for the winter storm expected to begin early tomorrow morning. The Mayor has declared a Snow Emergency and Parking Ban for the City of Boston, in effect tonight, Tuesday, February 4, at 11:00 p.m. Boston Public Schools will be closed tomorrow, Wednesday, February 5. City Hall will be open for business as usual.
“Our team is ready for this storm,” Mayor Walsh said. “We’re expecting a very difficult morning commute, and for that reason we’re urging everyone to use public transportation to travel in and around the city tomorrow.”

Driving conditions expected to be very poor on highways on Wednesday (photo by David Li on Jan. 2, 2014)
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White House Announces Major Progress toward ConnectED Goal for K-12 Education
Washington, DC, Feb. 4, 2014, — Today, following up on his call to action, the President is announcing major progress toward realizing the ConnectED goal to get high-speed Internet connectivity and educational technology into classrooms, and into the hands of teachers trained on its advantages. The FCC and private sector are taking key steps to answer the President’s call, including through:
Over $750 million in private-sector commitments to deliver cutting-edge technologies to classrooms, including devices, free software, teacher professional development, and home wireless connectivity.

Obama meets with Intel award students in the White House in 2012.
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