From the past - Sherry Lansing Receives Humanitarian Award - May 27th 2008

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4 Ways to Improve Your Move (Features) (On Target)

Article By Lance Cpl. Remington Hall

It’s moving season and Uncle Sam’s got your back. We have all the info you need for a smooth transition from one place to another. Here are 4 things you (probably) didn’t know about moving in the Corps. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Rocco DeFilippis)

It’s moving season and Uncle Sam’s got your back. Fred Hyden, the section lead for Personal Property and Passenger Transportation, oversees and writes policy for the Defense Personal Property Program, or as we may know it: the household moving goods program. Hyden gave us all the info you need for a smooth transition from one place to another. Here are 4 things you (probably) didn’t know about moving in the Corps.

Teach Yourself How to Move

Received orders and not sure where to get started? Visit www.move.mil. The Defense Personal Property System provides personalized online “self counseling” instructions for how to move. All you have to do is visit the site, click on the “before you move” tab and find “DPS How-to Guides”. Open the “Self Counseling” link and walk through the rest of the instructions. The important thing about moving is making sure you’ve got everything ready to go. There are little things, like disconnecting your washing machine or dishwasher, that need to be done before the movers arrive. Bottom line: if you’re not ready, you’re not moving.

How Much Stuff Can You Move?

Marines are allowed to move a specific weight of household items, depending on their rank and marital status. For example, a single sergeant is allowed to move up to 7,000 lbs, while a married sergeant would receive an allowance for up to 8,000 lbs. The same goes for officers, with a single captain being allowed 13,000 lbs and a married one allowed 14,500 lbs. On the contrary, if your prescribed weight limit doesn’t fit your needs, you can always send in a request for a higher weight allowance at your  transportation office. Check out the DPS Weight Allowance Chart.

It’s Your Stuff, and You’re in Charge

Have you ever been skeptical about the movers or anyone else breaking your stuff?  Don’t worry, according to DPS regulations, you are the supervisor and can make sure no one is mistreating your things. Also, if anything is damaged during the move, DPS will reimburse you for the current cost, or replace it with an equivalent item.

What if I’m moving, but don’t have a place to move into, yet?

Say no more. You can store your goods for up to 90 days in a storage facility at the government’s expense. As long as the member’s order and/or transportation authorization is valid, delivery out of storage — regardless of how long it has been there — is on the house. This includes shipments that have been converted to storage at the member’s expense.

by lisetteleyva via Marines Blog

A New Public Sculpture Exhibition Returns to Century City

"Godot" by Bret Price. Photo by Matthew Fried.

LOS ANGELES (April 24, 2015) — A second unique, year-long public art exhibition — creating an encounter between art and the public realm — has arrived in Century City. Century City Sculpture 2015 features 20 abstract pieces by 10 nationally and internationally renowned artists. This is the second exhibition organized by the Sculpture Committee of the Century City Chamber of Commerce Arts Council and the Century City Arts & Culture Foundation.

Carl Schlosberg, curator and member of the Arts Council remarks, “The mission of the exhibition is to bring to the public a sense of spirit, to provoke their imagination and arouse their curiosity.”

Susan Bursk, President & CEO of the Century City Chamber of Commerce adds, “Bringing public art to Century City for all to enjoy is a mark of a strong community commitment to the increased cultural life of this very special area.”

The 2015 exhibition is expansive, and will be visible throughout the community in front of office buildings, plazas, parkways and green belts. In contrast to the Council’s first exhibition last year of Gwynn Murrill’s bronze animals, this collection exclusively features abstract art.

The Art/The Sites

The Avenue of the Stars median holds Jeffery Laudenslager’s three soaring, 22-foot kinetic works of titanium and stainless steel. Propelled by air and wind currents, the sculptures create unlimited shapes and forms. Marlene Louchheim’s two-part polished bronze and silver nickel sculpture, Full of Nature, and Bret Price’s galvanized, painted steel Roll-Up and his 30-foot tall High Hopes, also enhance the median. At The Irvine Company’s Fox Plaza (2121 Avenue of the Stars), Price’s painted steel Zig Zag animates a grassy area.

 "Orpheus" by Jeffery Laudenslager. Photo by Matthew Fried.

The Hines property’s (10100 Santa Monica Boulevard) front grass area features two bronze and steel sculptures, Diamaru XVI and Mia’s Enso, by Michael Todd. In the west garden, installed on an intriguing base of weathered wood, is Irondress, a cast iron sculpture by Peter Shelton, courtesy of L.A. Louver Gallery. The lobby is the setting for four abstract sculptures: mixed media works, Blah, Blah, Blah and The Tornado by Mark Lere, and Matt Wedel’s ceramic works, Gem, 2007 and Rock, 2010, courtesy of L.A. Louver Gallery.

Nearby at the Equity Office building (1999 Avenue of the Stars) is South African sculptor Edoardo Villa’s abstracted female reclining figure, set in a dramatic garden of succulents. Bret Price’s bright red Godot stands in front of the Constellation Place building (10250 Constellation Boulevard). Price’s steel Ball of Chain is installed on Century Park East, in front of the circular driveway of Watt Plaza (1875-1925 Century Park East), along with David Buckingham’s colorful steel Big X. Further down the street, on a gentle knoll in front of the Century Plaza Towers (2029-2049 Century Park East), visitors can view Ken Bortolazzo’s stainless steel Hexad, 1999.

This exhibition supported and funded solely by the following stakeholders of Century City, including Century City BID Association; Carl Schlosberg Fine Arts; Constellation Place; DiMascio & Berardo; InterContinental Hotel; L.A. Louver Gallery; Leslie Sacks Contemporary; Watt Plaza; Bank of America; Century City Homeowners Alliance; Century Park; Charles Schwab; Gainsborough Capital; Greenberg Glusker; Irvine Company’s Fox Plaza; Los Angeles Modern Auctions; Lee Bronson; Loeb & Loeb, LLP; U.S. Trust, Bank of America Private Wealth Management; ValleyCrest Landscape Companies; CDG LA; Denenberg Fine Arts; Dr. & Mrs. Hamlin Emory; H.S. Consulting; Georgina & Alan Rothenberg; and Carole Schiffer.

"Full of Nature" by Marlene Louchheim. Photo by Matthew Fried.

Sculpture tours, lectures and events will be available to the community. For more information, visit www.centurycitysculpture.com, or contact the Century City Chamber at (310) 553-2222

About the Century City Chamber of Commerce

The mission of the Century City Chamber of Commerce is to promote the best interests of Century City and its membership, serving as the unifying voice for business development and civic growth, through effective communication, events and programs making Century City the preferred place to live, work, visit and shop within the City of Los Angeles.

About The Century City Arts & Culture Foundation

The Century City Arts & Culture Foundation is a 501(c)3 organization, affiliated with the Arts Council of the Century City Chamber of Commerce. It is dedicated to enhancing the quality of life and providing leadership in Century City and its surrounding communities through the promotion and support of a broad range of artistic activities and initiatives. The Foundation serves the community by its inclusive programs promoting educational activities, increasing enjoyment and appreciation of the arts, serving as a resource for art and culture and facilitating the economic vitality of Century City.

My Steps for Bataan (Corps Connections) (Marines Uncovered)

Article By Sgt. Justin Boling

Sgt. Maj. Justin Lehew, the Training and Education Command Sergeant Major, and two other Marines looked at the dunes making up the White Sands National Monument, New Mexico March 21. These dunes of white spread for 200 miles in all directions and can be seen from space. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Justin Boling/Released)

A few weeks ago, I edited a commentary written by Navy Cross recipient Sgt. Maj. Justin Lehew, sergeant major of Training and Education Command at Marine Corps Base Quantico, Virginia. The story was about his experience walking the Bataan Memorial Death March at White Sand Missile Range, New Mexico in 2014.

It was a well-written piece and I enjoyed reading it. Little did I know, in a few weeks I would have the opportunity to share the experience with him and two other Marines.

Land of Enchantment

The topography of New Mexico is similar to Helmand Province, Afghanistan, but with more rocks and desert vegetation. It looked like the place was sort of removed from time. Old vehicles from the 1950s and 60s sit in the yards of rundown houses and shutdown businesses.

Upon arrival at the airport, I rode with Sgt. Chris Parnelli, a financial management resource analyst for Training and Education Command and Cpl. Cody Jones, a driver for the commanding general of the same command, on a trip from El Paso, Texas. We joked about the state of New Mexico being the land of enchantment. You see scant life until you pass through Las Cruces, New Mexico. Rundown buildings and broke down vehicles are seemingly misplaced in the mountainous, desert landscape.

My cohorts and I rode through the desert toward White Sands Missile Range, New Mexico. To say the installation is secluded would be an understatement. It is nestled at the base of two large mountain ranges with nothing around it for 50 miles. Its isolation is expected since it was the testing ground of the Trinity Project, the test of the Atomic Bomb during World War II.

Glistening White Sands of New Mexico

Sgt. Maj. Lehew arrived the following evening and contacted us; he referred to us as his boys. We made plans to go and visit some of the sites, which I thought was a novel idea seeing there was nothing around within view.

Sergeant Major said that after our first stop we would understand why they call this place White Sands. We packed into Sergeant Major’s black ram pick-up he was renting and started to make our way to White Sands National Monument.

After about 30 minutes or so, we started to see 12-foot-tall dunes dotted with desert vegetation. You could see through the scraggly plants the purest white sand beneath. After a short stop at the museum located at the national park, I learned the color is a factor of the sands consisting nearly entirely of gypsum, the mineral found in dry wall. These dunes of white spread for 200 miles in all directions and can be seen from space. The sand is held in place due to the large underground lake, so these pristine dunes never shift outside of the circumference of this white blemish on the face of the planet.

Ham the Astrochimp

The next point of the tour was hidden in the city of Alamagordo, New Mexico, which, although secluded and out of the way, actually holds a vast treasury of history.

We parked in front of a beautiful, golden-glass-gilded, cube-shaped building in the hills overlooking the city time forgot. Walking up the steps toward the building there were numerous static displays of rockets, engines, and observation equipment. After getting an eye full of the outside, we entered the New Mexico Museum of Space History.

The museum is home of the International Space Hall of Fame pays tribute to all who dedicated their lives to space exploration or at least contributed to the overall idea. Every single artifact, from engines the size of cars to space toilets, could be observed or touched. I didn’t touch the toilet, of course.

The museum is also the final resting of arguably one of America’s greatest heroes, Ham, the ‘Astrochimp.’ Ham was the first Hominidae launched into space by NASA, Jan. 31, 1961.

His remains are buried under a small monument stone. Sergeant Major said, “It truly is a shame what happened to this American hero. He was the first monkey in space and he gets buried in Alamogordo.”

The Little Engine That Could

I will preface this with saying although I enjoy staying active and outdoors; this event was, to date, one of the hardest physical experiences of my life. My heart goes out to my brothers and soon to be sisters in the infantry, who hike like this on the regular.

Every painful step of this 26.2-mile hike gave me only a small taste of what the 60,000 American and Filipino prisoners of war experienced at the hands of the Japanese Imperial Army in April 1942 in the Philippines.

The opening ceremony of the event culminated with an honorary roll call of the Bataan Death March survivors. Before this segment of the ceremony, the men were pallid statues covered with blankets being assisted by their accompanying caregivers. As soon as their names rang out breaking the pin-drop hearing silence of the cool desert morning air, their voices mustered so much power. My back straightened and the event took on a reality I had not experienced while training or traveling around Southern New Mexico.

Not long after, myself and the other Marines from the National Capital Region began our long trip on foot wearing plate carriers and whatever else we thought we might need to overcome our small taste of Bataan Death March. Of course I wore my trustee camera bag armed with my weapon of choice, a Canon 5D Mark II.

The first seven miles, the speeches, survivor roll call, taps and the cannon fire invigorated me. Soon I wore palm size blisters across the balls of my feet, which slowed me to a near snail’s pace. At this point Sgt. Parnelli, an avid marathon runner, took off like he had wings on his feet and I would not see him again till the end of the march. I had to keep going. I wanted to finish and I knew it was going to get worse. I had entered the “little engine that could” mode.

Members of a Navy JROTC program participate in the Bataan Memorial Death March at White Sand Missile Range, New Mexico March 22. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Justin Boling/Released)

I walked with Sergeant Major for the majority of the march. We spoke about leadership, family and the future. I am not much of a fan boy, but I can honestly say he is man I am proud to look up to for the rest of my life. The humility, care and strength he exudes is something I want to grow and emulate in myself. My personal favorite trait is a realness, which I think can be often lost as you gain rank and stack up accomplishment after accomplishment. Also, his father was part of the D-Day invasion in World War II, and his brother managed the Grateful Dead, yes Dead Heads, you just read that.

After about the first nine miles you start heading up a road toward the mountains. I thought the place was desolate but as I continued to walk up and down the sandy inclines, which circled a small mountain, I was certain I was not in Kansas anymore. I sat down to change boots when Cpl. Jones caught up and he saw my feet. We laughed when he said, after seeing the giant blood filled blisters on feet that his encouragement was halfhearted and really he was saying, oh man this guy is not going to make it.

The cool morning air was violently ripped away from me and replaced with the baking heat of the desert. I emptied and filled up my camel back three times through miles 16 to 20. The water was mainly mental and to maintain a healthy core temperature. Any nourishment I put into my body at this point was not going to help my aching back and cramping legs.

I chugged along slowly until mile 20. Sergeant Major had warned all of us about the two-mile-long inclined sandpit, which came up swiftly after the mile marker. True to his word, this segment of the course was a game-ender for many marchers. Search and Rescue, border patrol and medical personnel patrolled this area constantly. It was not an uncommon sight to see them load up with the body of a broken marcher.

After a grueling hour or so I made it to the long road toward the missile range. My legs had all locked up. My feet were numb from pain. My face was hot to the touch, but I still continued. I wondered how the men on the Bataan Death March felt. They knew that any slowing down or outcry would earn them a bayonet in their ribs or sound blow courtesy of their captors.

I finally made it to the low stone and mortar wall, which separated base housing and I could see the two water towers marking the last mile or so of my trek. At the first water tower I caught up to Sergeant Major, who looked pleased to know all his boys made it to the end. He later let me know he could tell how much pain I was in, because I would shut my mouth long enough to grunt for a few hundred yards or so and then continue with pleasantries. I love to talk, okay, anyone, who knows me will tell you I am loud and I love to learn about people.

I could see the final stretch. It was in site I could hear the beep of the chip tracker signaling the record of my journey through the desert. I saw Cpl. Jones, who yelled, “Good job, Sergeant!”

People were cheering and screaming.

After finishing the race, Sergeant Major and his boys, which I am proud to be, formed a reflexive security perimeter of sorts and laid on our packs next to the finish line. We all just passed out right there. We woke up 30 minutes later to Sergeant Major smiling as he said Marines could sleep anywhere.

In Memoriam

After 10 hours spent wandering through the desert, sleep did not come easy when I laid down that night. My lower body ached and all I could think about was, “What if I had to march knowing I may never see my loved ones again, like the prisoners, who walked the 60 miles urged on by the Japanese Imperial Army?”

All I had to do was reach the finish line. The men, who survived the death march in 1942, were loaded onto unmarked boats. Some boats were sunk by U.S. vessels, which had no idea fellow Americans and Filipino troops were aboard.

I finally found sleep and when I woke up I could walk again. I took steps much like a baby gazelle first learning to walk, shaky and knocked-kneed. My limp reminded me of the physical and mental trial I endured, the minuscule taste of pain I shared with the Marines from TECOM, and the memory of the Battling Bastards of Bataan.

by allybeiswanger via Marines Blog

Lonely Monkey Finds His Val-entine

An embrace with Valerie ends a lifetime of loneliness for rescued Pepe

Lima, Peru: The tale of Pepe, a spider monkey rescued from a circus in world-famous holiday destination Cusco, by Los Angeles-based Animal Defenders International (ADI) has gripped animal lovers around the world. 

The intelligent, playful monkey had been kept alone and chained by the neck for eight years. The circus had snapped off Pepe’s canine teeth so that he could not defend himself, and the world’s leading veterinary dentist had to be flown in to repair the damage. Now, in the most moving chapter of his story so far, Pepe has finally been reunited with his own kind.

ADI has been assisting the Peruvian authorities to enforce their ban on the use of wild animals in circuses, as well as with the relocation of animals seized from the illegal pet trade – a mission called Operation Spirit of Freedom. In January, the ADI rescue center outside Lima received Valerie, a young, illegally-trafficked spider monkey who was being used for entertainment in a restaurant.

For Valentine’s Day, ADI has released heart-warming footage of Pepe meeting Valerie for the first time, and their joy as they begin to play and chatter to each other:http://youtu.be/lwnlMPpGKmM

ADI President Jan Creamersaid “Pepe is a gentle soul with a big heart and we are absolutely thrilled to see him and Valerie together knowing they both spent so many years alone – it was a very emotional moment. Pepe has been incredibly affectionate with all of us, but we knew that what he really needed was someone of his own kind to love.”

“We urgently need funds for the habitats in the Amazon to make the forever homes for Pepe, Valerie and the other monkeys we have rescued. They deserve their own happily-ever-after. Just £6 will help give Pepe and Valerie the perfect happy ending.”

ADI has a temporary rescue center just outside Lima, with a full time veterinary team acting as a hub for Operation Spirit of Freedom in Peru. ADI is caring for 21 lions and over 20 other native wild animals there – mainly monkeys. ADI will be relocating all of the animals to permanent homes in the next two months including flying the 21 lions, plus 9 other lions from Colombia, to a sanctuary in Colorado.

As part of the rehabilitation program, ADI experts assess the individual animals and form family groups so they can be rehomed together. Prior to their emotional union, Pepe and Valerie had reached out to each other and held hands through the bars of their neighbouring enclosures. Then, under the watchful eyes of the ADI team, the two monkeys were allowed to meet.

All of the native wildlife rescued during ADI’s Operation Spirit of Freedom, including Pepe and Valerie, will be relocated to sanctuaries in Peru’s Amazon forests but ADI must first construct the jungle habitats that will be their homes. 

Jan Creamer, “The current care, relocation and habitat construction costs for this important rescue operation are enormous, but we hope that if Pepe and Valerie’s story touches people’s hearts this Valentine’s Day they will help put right the wrong done to these animals at the hands of people.”

Please donate to help ADI build Pepe and Valerie a new home in the Amazon:http://bit.ly/1u3EuKB

Watch “When Pepe met Valerie”http://youtu.be/lwnlMPpGKmM

Find out more about ADI’s Operation Spirit of Freedomhttp://www.ad-international.org/animal_rescues/go.php?id=3861&ssi=24

 

Lawyers’ Committee Releases 2014 Election Protection Report: Democracy Should Not Be This Hard

WASHINGTON, D.C., February 12, 2015 – Today, the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law (Lawyers’ Committee) released a report depicting the obstacles to the ballot box experienced during the 2014 general election season and the work performed by the nonpartisan Election Protection Coalition to help voters respond to undue burdens on the right to vote.  The report describes the 2014 voting landscape in which equal access to the franchise was not guaranteed.  It also conveys the voter experience and shares compelling stories reported to Election Protection from across the country.

“As I witnessed the problems voters experienced on November 4, 2014, my immediate reaction was that democracy continues to be too hard for many voters,” said Lawyers’ Committee President and Executive Director Barbara Arnwine.  “The Election Protection 2014 Report exposes that there is much to do to ensure our electoral system works for all voters.  Voting rights champions must keep using innovative ways to engage and educate voters; voters must speak out when their right to vote is in jeopardy; and local legislators and elections officials must aspire to a voting system that ensures maximum inclusion and participation.”

The Report documents a 45% increase in calls from the 2010 midterm election to the 1-866-OUR-VOTE Hotline, with over 43,000 total calls during the 2014 election season and over 18,000 calls on Election Day alone.  Polling places account for 61% of reported voting inquiries to Election Protection, and 24.5% of reported inquiries concerned voter registration.  And of the reported obstacles to vote, 26% concerned polling places, 22.9% concerned registration and 10% concerned poll workers.  In Texas, over 13% of problems reported by voters were with the state’s stringent voter ID requirement.  In Georgia, where nearly 40,000 eligible individuals attempted to register to vote but were inexplicably left off the state’s voter rolls, nearly 45% of voters sought information about voter registration, and nearly 57% of reported problems were with registration.  Texas and Georgia were among the top five states by total call volume on Election Day.

“This report is as much about voters’ perseverance to cast a ballot as it is about the problems that marred the midterm Election,” said Lawyers’ Committee Manager of Legal Mobilization and Strategic Campaigns Chris Melody Fields.  “Voters and advocates across the country stood strong in the face of the first election since key protections of the VRA were weakened in 2013.  As we reflect on the 2014 election, especially the factors that impacted America’s lowest voter turnout in over seven decades, we must continue to be vigilant, removing unnecessary barriers that decrease participation and deploying new strategies to engage voters in our democracy.”

Read the Executive Summary of the Report.
Read the full Report.

Election Protection is the nation's largest nonpartisan voter protection coalition, led by theLawyers' Committee for Civil Rights Under Law. Through its suite of hotlines, including the 1-866-OUR-VOTE hotline (1-866-687-8683) administered by the Lawyers’ Committee, 1-888-VE-Y-VOTA (1-888-839-8682) administered by NALEO Educational Fund, 1-888-API-VOTE (1-888-273-8683) administered by APIAVote and Asian Americans Advancing Justice-AAJC and dedicated team of legal experts and trained volunteers, Election Protection helps all American voters, including traditionally disenfranchised groups, gain access to the polls and overcome obstacles to voting. The coalition has more than 150 partners - including the NAACP, Common Cause, National Bar Association, State Voices, Native American Rights Fund, Asian Americans Advancing Justice-AAJC, National Disability Rights Network, Leadership Conference for Civil and Human Rights, National Association of Latino Elected and Appointed Officials Educational Fund (NALEO), New Organizing Institute, Asian American Legal Defense and Education Fund, Rock the Vote, the Hip Hop Caucus, Verified Voting Foundation, Advancement Project, APIAVote and the Brennan Center for Justice - at the national, state and local level and is providing voter protection services nationwide. For more information visit www.866ourvote.org.

Suge Knight's Bail Hearing Continued in his Murder Case

I sat in Superior Court today and witnessed the Marion "Suge" Knight hearing as it unfolded. There were many journalists there who are unaware of the historic ties into the fabric of Los Angeles that Knight and David Kenner possess. The history of Suge and Kenner is the history of Death Row Records. The history of Death Row Records is the history of Los Angeles. They are all intertwined.

Now Suge Knight is being held in the murder of Terry Carter and attempted murder of Cle "Bone Sloan during an argument that broke out on the Set of "Straight Outta Compton" and continued at a hamburger restaurant parking lot near the set. Suge Night has pleaded "Not Guilty" to the charges.

Sitting in the hall was the beginning of my observations today. Kenner arrived and requested to meet with his client. He was granted entry into the courtroom early and was able to see Marion Suge Knight ahead of time in one of the adjoining conference rooms. We were brought in and seated in the journalist section of the courtroom. There were approximately 20 journalists there to witness and write about the hearing. Deputy District Attorney Cynthia Barnes represented the District Attorney’s Office. While we were waiting for the hearing to begin there was a meeting of Miss Barnes and David Kenner in one of the adjoining conference rooms. This meeting lasted for about 20 minutes. It is unknown what was discussed in this meeting.

There were a number of motions heard and ruled on by the court today. The bail hearing was continued to March 20th. Most of the motions seemed to be procedural but the one that was surprising to me was a motion to allow Mr. Knight's personal physician to visit him. Here the judge ruled against Mr. Knight citing that the County and Sheriff's Department had competent personnel to examine Mr. Knight - the judge denied access by Knight to his personal physician.

By March 20th most of the discovery should be complete and the clear picture of this case should be upon us.

But let's take a look at attorney David Kenner who is a legend in the criminal defense business. Kenner was Tupac Shakur's attorney for over a year. He also represented Snoop Dogg during Snoop's trial for murder. Kenner also represented Michael "Harry-O" Harris, Suge Knight, and Barry Minkow.

Kenner was at the beginning of Death Row Records. He brokered the deal to fund the original investment for the record label from Michael "Harry-O" Harris. He was part of the appeal to musicians with legal problems to sign with Death Row. Kenner represented Suge for his assault of George and Lynwood Stanely. Kenner successfully kept the case from going to trial and he negotiated a plea deal that put Suge on Probation instead of doing time in prison. Kenner was listed originally as Suge's legal counsel on his probation violation in 1996 after the murder of rapper Tupac Shakur. Sometime in 1997 citing health reasons Kenner was removed from the case. Kenner and Suge have been reunited during this current trial.

What can we expect? My take is that this case will never go to trial - especially with David Kenner as Suge Knight's attorney. During today's hearing Miss Barnes stated that she felt the trial would only last 2 weeks. The evidence is pretty cut and dried. The prosecution is asking for 25 years to life in prison, if there was a plea arrangement reached where Suge agreed to 10 years in prison and actually served 5 there would be a deal struck. There is way too much sediment to stir up with so many ties into the history of Los Angeles. Neither side wants to stir up the past.

Michael Douglas Carlin is the author of Tupac:187 about the murders of Tupac Shakur and Christopher Wallace. He is also the director of the movies Luvicide and American Federale. Recently he completed a ten-year stint as the Publisher and Editor of the Century City News. Here his articles turned into three books: Rise a Knight, A Prescription for Peace, and Peaceful Protests. Carlin's family founded lighting and grip company Keylite PSI that supplied equipment on Ordinary People, The Untouchables, Boyz In The Hood, Platoon, JFK, Reservoir Dogs, and hundreds of other feature films and thousands of hours of television. For many years Carlin ran the family business and managed independent studios. He worked also in the entertainment industry as an actor, lighting technician, grip, cameraman, production manager, producer, and director. Carlin also published The Entertainment Funding Sourcebook, The Studio White Pages, and Media and Entertainment Institutional Investors.

Follow Michael Douglas Carlin on Twitter @MichaelDCarlin

Charming Beijing Scored a Touchdown on Super Bowl Sunday.

by Michael Douglas Carlin

Many would have advised against going head to head with Super Bowl Sunday, the most popular game in America. But the Chinese were not convinced. They picked the 2000 seat historic Saban Theater to open their event, "Happy Chinese New Year, Charming Beijing." Many would have scoffed that they would fill the theater but there wasn't an empty seat during what will go down in history as one of the most memorable Super Bowls and one of the most successful cultural exchanges between Beijing and Beverly Hills.

The evening event was filled with dignitaries from all walks of life in Los Angeles and China as a cultural exchange to kick-off Beijing's bid for the 2022 Winter Olympics. The lobby of the theater was filled with food, drink, and the "Charming Beijing, Passionate Winter Olympics Photo Exhibition" and the Beijing Intangible Cultural Heritage Exchange Exhibition as well as a broadcasting exhibition of promotional films of Beijing demonstrating the vision of Beijing hosting the 2022 Winter Olympics.

At 8 p.m. patrons of the arts gathered inside the theater to witness over 40 high-level performers who delighted the Mayor of Beverly Hills, the Consul General of China, and all of the invited guests to celebrate the Chinese New Year and Beijing Culture. The event was hosted by the China International Culture Association, The Beijing Association of Cultural Exchanges, and the Beverly Hills Conference and Visitors Bureau. Among the high level performers were representatives of Beijing's Opera, musicians, dance, and acrobatics all arranged by the Beijing Performance and Arts Group.

Amongst them are such programs and performances as Liang Shanbo and Zhu Yingtai(Butterfly Lovers) by famous erhu performer Song Fei and violinist  Lv Siqing, and the Ambush from Ten Sides, pipa solo by famous musician Zhou Hui. The China National Acrobatic Troupe will put on their internationally acclaimed performances, such as the Pagoda of Bowls (Golden Clown Award winner at the 28th Monte Carlo International Circus Festival in 2004), the Gorgeous Girls: Diabolo (Golden Clown Award winner at the 37th Monte Carlo International Circus Festival in 2013), the Contortionists with Glasses (Crystal Award winner at the 12th International Circus Festival of Massy in France), and the Lighting Dance Ballet and Hand to Hand Balancing (President Award winner at the 12th Italy Latina International Circus Festival).

“Charming Beijing, Passionate Winter Olympics” Photo Exhibition was held in the elegant lobby of the Saban Theatre, and exhibited 60 beautiful pieces captured in Beijing from world-renowned photographers.

The photo exhibition takes “Charming Beijing” and “Passionate Winter Olympics” as the two main themes. “Charming Beijing” has three parts: “Imperial City” capturing the Temple of Heaven, the Forbidden City, the Summer Palace and world cultural heritage and scenic spots to show the extent of Beijing as a cultural city. “Urban Development” uses the pictures of the city’s environment, the lives of the public, artistic performances, transport facilities and international conferences to show Beijing’s new international appearance. The “Fashion and Landmarks” photo section are all photos from American Joe McNally. Fashionable models wearing Chinese clothes, taking Beijing’s landmarks as a background, bringing a perceptive banquet of the beauty of fashion and history to the audience. 

 “Passionate Winter Olympics” primarily exhibited photos on China’s road to the Olympiad in association with Los Angeles. In 1932, Liu Changchun (1909–1983), China’s first Olympian participated in the 10th Los Angeles Olympic Games. In 1984, China sent the first large delegation to attend the 23rd Los Angeles Olympics. In January, 2008, a Chinese float themed the “One World, One Dream” passed through Colorado Boulevard during the 119th Rose Parade in Pasadena, marking the upcoming 29th Beijing Olympics. At the same time it showed the deep-rooted Olympic spirit in the hearts of Beijing’s residents, residents getting enjoyment from snow and ice during winter in Beijing, and explaining the ideas and practices to bid for the 2022 Winter Olympics.

At the event, inheritors of intangible cultural heritage from Beijing brought clay Tu’er Ye figurines, Maohou, Yu-Family Kites and cloth paste paintings. These intangible cultural heritage items from Beijing were displayed, and opened exchange with local residents.

  

Founded in May 2009, Beijing Performance & Arts Group (BPA) is a large state-owned enterprise directly supervised by Beijing Municipal Government. Since its establishment, the Group has been stepping toward a leading and influential cultural enterprise in Beijing. Currently, the Group consists of 17 member enterprises.

BPA successfully planned and hosted the gala “Tian’anmen” at the National Indoor Stadium, opera “Turandot” in Bird’s Nest (National Stadium), Andrea Bocelli Concert, “China’s Three Tenors” global tour, stage play “Four Generations under One Roof,” “Wonderful Harmony” Ding Yi and Hayley World Tour Concert, “Chinese Story—Lights from Himalaya” Ye Xiaogang Concert, 5D musical “The Feast of the Princess” and APEC Finance Ministers’ Meeting Variety Show, INTOSAI night, Sarah Brightman Solo Concer, Leehom music-man Solo Concert, Korean superstar Lee Minho Solo Concert. The member enterprises also produced original, exquisite art works, including acrobatic show and “Dream of Golden Clown,” dance drama “Nuwa” (a goddess in Chinese mythology), real-life children’s drama “A Flying Dream,” animated puppet drama “Monkey King’s Adventures in the East Sea.” These works have won awards both at home and abroad, including “Five ‘One’ Project Award” by the Propaganda Department of the Central Committee of the CPC, “The National Drama Wenhua Award” by Ministry of Culture, “Top 10 Dramas of National Stage Art Quality Project,” “The Special Jury Prize” of China Gold Record Award, “The President’s Award” at Tomorrow International Acrobatics Festival in France and “Golden Clown Awards” at International Circus Festival of Monte-Carlo.

The Group has been awarded “Top 30 Cultural Enterprises of China” for three times, “Top 10 Influential (life & economy) Enterprises of Beijing”, “Top 10 Art Performance Institution”, and “Top 3 Art Performance Group in China,” “Top 500 Asian Brands,” “Top 500 China’s Brand Enterprise,” etc. It has won high praise from all sectors of society at home and abroad.

Obama Unveils Next Steps in Cybersecurity Plan

By Air Force Tech. Sgt. Jake Richmond
DoD News, Defense Media Activity

WASHINGTON, Jan. 13, 2015 - Continuing an effort to help defend the nation's computer-connected systems, President Barack Obama announced today additional steps that call for more information sharing, modernized law enforcement and updated security data breach reporting.

"Cyber threats pose an enormous challenge for our country," the president said. "As long as I'm president, protecting America's digital infrastructure is going to remain a top national security priority."

Speaking at the National Cybersecurity and Communications Integration Center in Arlington, Virginia, Obama said since much of the nation's critical infrastructure -- financial systems, power grids, pipelines, health care systems -- runs on networks connected to the Internet, cybersecurity is a matter of public safety and of public health. He noted that most of that infrastructure is owned and operated by the private sector, but government and non-government entities are "still not always working as closely together" as they should.

Better Information Sharing

"We're proposing new cybersecurity legislation to promote the greater information sharing we need between the government and private sector," Obama explained. "It includes liability protections for companies that share information on cyber threats. It includes potential safeguards to ensure that government protects privacy and civil liberties, even as we're doing our job of safeguarding America's critical information networks."

The president also announced the "Summit on Cybersecurity and Consumer Protection," which is scheduled for Feb. 13 at Stanford University in California. He said the event is intended to help shape public- and private-sector efforts to protect American people and companies from growing threats to consumers and commercial networks.

"Neither government nor the private sector can defend the nation alone," Obama said. "It's going to have to be a shared mission -- government and industry working hand-in-hand as partners. And that's why I've said that protecting our digital infrastructure is a national security priority and a national economic priority."

Shared Responsibility

Even before the internationally reported hack of Sony Pictures, the issue of cybersecurity had gained prominence within the Defense Department. In November of last year, Navy Adm. Michael S. Rogers, the commander of U.S. Cyber Command, the director of the National Security Agency, and chief of the Central Security Service, told the Reagan National Defense Forum audience that network defense isn't an either-or proposition that can be neatly divided into public- and private-sector responsibilities.

"This is the ultimate team sport," he said. "There is no single sector, there is no single element of this population, there is no single element within the government that has the total answer. It will take all of us working together to make this work."

Rogers has used the term "cyber blur" to describe the convoluted way cyber attacks are both perpetrated by enemies and defended by American entities. Last October, he called for leaders in all kinds of institutions to drive the cultural changes needed to allow new cybersecurity partnerships to thrive.

The president said the federal government needs to continue collaborating on this issue, too. He said he will be working with Congress to ensure partisan disagreements don't keep the government from fulfilling its most basic responsibilities.