tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28220200.post3222926110208862284..comments2023-08-27T06:53:36.768-06:00Comments on LANL: The Rest of the Story: NNSA Consolidates Gas Transfer System WorkFrank Younghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02134775226991383924noreply@blogger.comBlogger38125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28220200.post-42811965655026349772009-03-22T19:20:00.000-06:002009-03-22T19:20:00.000-06:00I don't work for any of the design labs. I am a '...I don't work for any of the design labs. I am a 'contract' employee. All these concerns sound very familiar to me and I have one word of advice...forget about thinking you or your work is better than others, you have more knowledge, experience, or whatever. While all that may be true, 'they' don't care anymore. All of that means very little to a government agency bent on saving money and 'streamlining' the 'business.' Things have changed from what they were. Outsourcing, monetary performance awards, etc... now rule and corrupt the day. As for the engineers at the design labs and production facilities..while I can empathize, I do not feel sorry for you. Many of you never spoke up regarding questions of quality and managerial decision making impact but now that it is affecting you, you are pissed off. Country first.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28220200.post-71863734643267737442009-01-19T11:10:00.000-07:002009-01-19T11:10:00.000-07:00More raping of LANL by LLNL management cronies. N...More raping of LANL by LLNL management cronies. No surprise. Udall is as dumb as a deer in the headlights. Who loses? Anyone who works at LANL and American taxpayers.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28220200.post-79468558154687347782009-01-14T22:11:00.000-07:002009-01-14T22:11:00.000-07:001/13 4:57 pm: "I would guess that there are not ma...1/13 4:57 pm: "I would guess that there are not many high salary Sandia research jobs in gas transfer. The technology is already highly developed and not in much need for improvement."<BR/><BR/>On the contrary, there are some significant improvements in efficiency and technology in the offing in this area. It is critical to RRW, and could dramatically improve all existing systems if fully developed and implemented. This isn't a "dead area" by any means. In fact, it is one of the more exciting areas of new ideas.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28220200.post-64917444178370859262009-01-14T22:04:00.000-07:002009-01-14T22:04:00.000-07:001/12 10:35 pm: "Tom Udall is a fool. He'll be foun...1/12 10:35 pm: "Tom Udall is a fool. He'll be found to be powerless when it comes to stopping the job destruction headed LANL's way courtesy of the newly install liberal Democratic US Congress. Most of the people in his party hate the weapons research complex."<BR/><BR/>What?? "powerless to stop the job destruction"??? He's a PROPONENT of "job destruction" at LANL, you clueless jerk! He IS a "newly istall"(sic) liberal Democrat! "Most of the people in his party hate the weapons research complex," AND HE'S ONE OF THEM!!<BR/><BR/>For God's sake, get a clue. You got what you voted for.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28220200.post-18418305503499856772009-01-14T13:13:00.000-07:002009-01-14T13:13:00.000-07:00Not only cheaper, 11:55, but probably done more co...Not only cheaper, 11:55, but probably done more competently as well.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28220200.post-29504705781744485972009-01-14T11:55:00.000-07:002009-01-14T11:55:00.000-07:00I understand that you can get this work done much,...I understand that you can get this work done much, much cheaper is you outsource it to China or Pakistan.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28220200.post-19073761207163899192009-01-13T16:57:00.000-07:002009-01-13T16:57:00.000-07:00I would guess that there are not many high salary ...I would guess that there are not many high salary Sandia research jobs in gas transfer. The technology is already highly developed and not in much need for improvement. It is subject to security and secrecy but that niche is quickly shrinking. In a sense, it is a microcosm of many of the places where LANL scientists seem to think they are both important and irreplaceable.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28220200.post-77810342192264279682009-01-13T10:22:00.000-07:002009-01-13T10:22:00.000-07:00"The LANL gas trasfer R&D workers may los..."The LANL gas trasfer R&D workers may lose their positions at LANL but if Sandia offers them positions then they are, in many respects, ahead of the game."<BR/><BR/>Isn't the lone R&D Engineer6 at LANL in GTS?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28220200.post-39583500942726200372009-01-12T22:35:00.000-07:002009-01-12T22:35:00.000-07:00Tom Udall is a fool. He'll be found to be powerle...Tom Udall is a fool. He'll be found to be powerless when it comes to stopping the job destruction headed LANL's way, courtesy of the newly install liberal Democratic US Congress. <BR/><BR/>Most of the people in his party hate the weapons research complex. They intend to snuff it out as best they can by starving the weapons labs for funding.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28220200.post-37872645724017277132009-01-12T21:04:00.000-07:002009-01-12T21:04:00.000-07:00"In general the consolidation of capability elimin..."In general the consolidation of capability eliminates the competition between the Labs which produced the best product for our Nation."<BR/><BR/>Didn't the Big Three US automakers say something like that?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28220200.post-34998538536511734912009-01-12T20:50:00.000-07:002009-01-12T20:50:00.000-07:00"In discussing the laboratory’s budget, Udall desc..."In discussing the laboratory’s budget, Udall described Anastasio as “upbeat. He felt good about this budget year,” said Udall during an interview from Washington Thursday evening."<BR/><BR/>Uhhhhhhhhh, are the names reversed here? Shouldn't we be hearing the director saying this after he spoke with Udall?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28220200.post-63162472975088490782009-01-12T18:42:00.000-07:002009-01-12T18:42:00.000-07:00Brett Knap's brother at Sandia Livermore does not ...Brett Knap's brother at Sandia Livermore does not have work, so Brett solved the problem by sending our jobs to CA. Sen. Udall, if you don't stand up and stop the looting of northern NM jobs, then we will be the next flint Mi.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28220200.post-9734296831588801382009-01-12T11:19:00.000-07:002009-01-12T11:19:00.000-07:00The LANL gas trasfer R&D workers may lose thei...The LANL gas trasfer R&D workers may lose their positions at LANL but if Sandia offers them positions then they are, in many respects, ahead of the game.<BR/><BR/>Going forward, I would rather being working at a diversified and vibrant lab like SNL than at a declining lab like LANL.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28220200.post-53616252175887984272009-01-12T10:43:00.000-07:002009-01-12T10:43:00.000-07:00Hey dude, did you really beleive that we were goin...Hey dude, did you really beleive that we were going to live off the C.R. forever? We are living on a borrowed dream, and thats about to go POP! just like your lively-hood.<BR/><BR/>Are You Ready ?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28220200.post-60830617212751469432009-01-12T10:38:00.000-07:002009-01-12T10:38:00.000-07:00The intened cuts to LANL are coming our way, if yo...The intened cuts to LANL are coming our way, if you did not prepare for these cuts, back 2-3 years ago when they were first announced, Tom and his partners at NNSA made it very clear we were to take on the order of 20% hits for the next few years, Did you not belive that could happen or, is you head stuck in the sand? Too late now, we have been warned.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28220200.post-31756763608425841772009-01-12T10:34:00.000-07:002009-01-12T10:34:00.000-07:00This year 2009, will see significant down-sizing a...This year 2009, will see significant down-sizing at LANL, so why is everyone so suprised? We all kenw this was in the works? And next year they will cut even more, again we are all aware of the massive cuts that are about to envoke us. We have bee extremely lucky to have held out as we have under the C.R.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28220200.post-84061712127838888942009-01-11T20:20:00.000-07:002009-01-11T20:20:00.000-07:00I wonder what Sen. Udall will have to say about LA...I wonder what Sen. Udall will have to say about LANL's "bright future" when his Democratic Congress applies massive budget cuts to the lab's weapons budget by around $300 million next fiscal year?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28220200.post-21600806918070862852009-01-11T16:54:00.000-07:002009-01-11T16:54:00.000-07:00"The NW complex is making a transition to being a ..."The NW complex is making a transition to being a jobs/pork/patronage program, and the decisions about what gets done where will be dominated by politics, not technical realities."<BR/><BR/><I>making</I>???<BR/><BR/>Where have you been for the 36 years St Pete was in the Senate?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28220200.post-76526392068859152912009-01-11T16:26:00.000-07:002009-01-11T16:26:00.000-07:00I agree with 3:05 PM. People are still holding ou...I agree with 3:05 PM. People are still holding out for a high price in Los Alamos. There are plenty of homes that have been on the market for over 2 years. <BR/><BR/>Don't buy now! Wait until the layoffs hit. You'll get a 30% discount from current prices. Until then, rent and enjoy the fact that you have the luxury to easily move to another job in another town, if necessary.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28220200.post-78949201927414827112009-01-11T16:03:00.000-07:002009-01-11T16:03:00.000-07:00Frank, feel free to cut this out and use it as a t...Frank, feel free to cut this out and use it as a top level post. I'm curious what others at LANL think about Udall's views on the future of LANL.<BR/><BR/>www.lcni5.com/cgi-bin/<BR/>c2.cgi?075+article+News<BR/>+20090110105315075075007<BR/><BR/>---------<BR/>Sen. Udall predicts bright future for LANL - Los Alamos Monitor, Jan 11, 2009<BR/><BR/>Former congressman begins new chapter in U.S. Senate<BR/><BR/>By CAROL A. CLARK<BR/><BR/>Newly sworn-in Sen. Tom Udall, D-N.M., met Thursday with Los Alamos National Laboratory Director Michael Anastasio in Washington, D.C.<BR/><BR/>In discussing the laboratory’s budget, Udall described Anastasio as “upbeat. He felt good about this budget year,” said Udall during an interview from Washington Thursday evening.<BR/><BR/>The laboratory’s future looks bright, too, he said, explaining that strong science is needed in all of the challenges facing the world.<BR/><BR/>“Our national laboratories are front and center in that effort and I’m going to be urging this administration to carve out an important role for us,” Udall said. “Science and scientific endeavors are important to President-elect Obama. I wouldn’t be surprised to see him visit our laboratory very soon.”<BR/><BR/>All 17 national laboratory directors work together in a group with the energy secretary and Udall said he wants to use that force to help Congress understand the importance of science in finding solutions to current challenges.<BR/><BR/>“Global warming, infectious diseases, homeland security..., all of this is a big part of the agenda that faces us and science is a part it,” he said, adding that the battery research taking place at LANL is where it can make a big contribution to the country’s next generation of cars.<BR/><BR/>He and Anastasio will meet on a regular basis, he said. “We’re going to work very hard with our delegation to see that the big challenges are adequately funded,” Udall said.<BR/><BR/>Udall described his emotions as he was sworn in to the United States Senate at noon Tuesday.<BR/><BR/>“I was ecstatic, I was excited, I was thrilled,” he said. “It was wonderful having my father and family with me.”<BR/><BR/>Udall’s wife, Jill Cooper Udall, held the Bible during the swearing in ceremony conducted by Vice President Dick Cheney.<BR/><BR/>Hundreds of people attended a reception the night before the swearing in ceremony, including many New Mexicans.<BR/><BR/>“It was great to see so many familiar faces here supporting us,” he said. “This was the vice president's last official act apart from presiding over the joint session of the House and Senate for the counting of the electoral votes.”<BR/><BR/>Cheney and President George W. Bush are set to leave the White House following Obama's Jan. 20 inauguration.<BR/><BR/>Udall replaces retired Sen. Pete Domenici, R-N.M.<BR/><BR/>“He walked down the aisle with Sen. (Jeff) Bingamen and me when we were sworn in,” Udall said. “He found out my father was here and spent a good lengthy visit with him. He's going to stay in Washington with a foundation and is joining his son, Pete Jr.'s, law firm as a consultant. He and his wife Nancy are staying in the same place so I'm sure we'll see them at social events.”<BR/><BR/>While there has been concern in losing Domenici's seniority, Udall just found out that he expects to be appointed to two top-level Senate committees – the Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation and the Committee on Environment and Public Works.<BR/><BR/>The Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation has a wide jurisdiction, ranging from consumer protection to oversight and expansion of the nation’s communications infrastructure.<BR/><BR/>The Committee also is responsible for encouraging innovation and promoting science and jurisdiction over the nation's railways, which is critical to a rural state like New Mexico, he said.<BR/><BR/>“With two of the nation’s preeminent labs and some of the world’s best scientists, New Mexico wins when America invests in innovation,” Udall said. “On the Commerce Committee, I will be able to support the kinds of innovation that our state and our country need.”<BR/><BR/>Udall also highlighted the Commerce Committee’s role in spurring economic development.<BR/><BR/>“New Mexico’s future ability to create high-quality jobs depends on having a modern system of transportation and communication,” he said. “We also need strong rules to protect consumers and help American businesses keep the public’s trust. On the Commerce Committee, I will be able to address all of these issues and ensure that my constituents have a strong advocate for their interests.”<BR/><BR/>The Committee on Environment and Public Works plays the lead role in crafting federal environmental policy and will have a major role in crafting any legislation to address global warming.<BR/><BR/>The committee helps develop America’s infrastructure plans, a task that will be particularly crucial as Obama and Congress begin to spur infrastructure development as a means for producing American jobs, Udall said. EPW also has jurisdiction over the federal highway bill, which will be reauthorized in 2009.<BR/><BR/>“New Mexicans care deeply about the issues EPW addresses,” he said. “We want the kinds of public investments that will spur clean energy jobs now and allow our state to prosper for years to come. We want safe roads and bridges and rules that protect our public health and allow us to pass down our natural inheritance to future generations. On this committee, I will be able to help protect New Mexico’s economy today while helping to protect our world for generations to come.”<BR/><BR/>Udall’s committee assignments will become final when both Senate leaders agree to the new committee ratios and the Senate passes a confirmation resolution.<BR/><BR/>SIDEBAR:<BR/><BR/>Udall's life before the Senate<BR/><BR/>Prior to his election to the Senate, Udall served five-terms in the U.S. Congress and before that he served eight years as New Mexico Attorney General. He voted against the Iraq War in 2002 and urges withdrawal of U.S. troops as soon as practicable.<BR/><BR/>Udall is an avid supporter of wilderness areas and wildlife, and strongly opposed oil drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge and other areas. He guided the 2005 Ojito Wilderness Act through Congress, which created 11,000 new acres of protected lands in New Mexico.<BR/><BR/>Udall began his career as a law clerk to Chief Justice Oliver Seth of the U.S. Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals from 1977 to 1978. He became Assistant U.S. Attorney for New Mexico from 1978 to 1981, then Chief Counsel to New Mexico's Health & Environmental Department, a partner in the Miller Law firm and New Mexico's Attorney General from 1990 to 1998. Udall ran twice for Congress, in 1982 and 1988, before winning the 3rd District seat in 1998.<BR/><BR/>Udall was born May 18, 1948 in Tucson, Ariz. He is one of six children born to Stewart and Erma lee Udall. He earned his bachelor's degree in education from Prescott College in Arizona in 1970, his Bachelor of Law from Cambridge University in Great Britain in 1975 and his J.D. from the University of New Mexico in 1977.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28220200.post-68974935644582464312009-01-11T15:05:00.000-07:002009-01-11T15:05:00.000-07:00Yes, the prudent action in Los Alamos is to rent. ...Yes, the prudent action in Los Alamos is to rent. In fact, rental rates are dropping. Buying a house in Los Alamos is financial suicide.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28220200.post-17871776538370675802009-01-11T14:46:00.000-07:002009-01-11T14:46:00.000-07:00“Like any business, we are taking steps to elimina...“Like any business, we are taking steps to eliminate redundancies and create focused mission centers at our sites.” (Robert Smolen, NNSA, Retired Air Force)<BR/><BR/><BR/>Like any other business?<BR/><BR/>TRANSLATION: <BR/><BR/>LANL and LLNL are little more that corporate businesses now, like any other corporate business. And like the rest of the "for-profit" corporate world, we will squeeze contractors and fire contract employees in mass at any time. <BR/><BR/>As far as the NNSA labs go, they are being focused on production issues that can be handled by cheap, everyday engineers. When we don't need these people, we'll quickly fire them. <BR/><BR/>As in the rest of the corporate defense complex, me and my retired DOD military buddies will be hiring each other into lucrative VP slots with the contractors we previously selected to manage the NNSA complex. In case you have been slow to figure it out, NNSA is now a "pay-to-play" operation.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28220200.post-84907495317796055942009-01-11T13:59:00.000-07:002009-01-11T13:59:00.000-07:00The NW complex is making a transition to being a j...The NW complex is making a transition to being a jobs/pork/patronage program, and the decisions about what gets done where will be dominated by politics, not technical realities. If you want to see what happens in such a situation, look at NASA, which made this transition almost 40 years ago and has been bleeding competent people ever since. At this point they can't even design a new ELV (see: Ares) to compare with the magnificent systems they had in the 60s. <BR/><BR/>Don't hold your breath waiting for this to improve. It won't. Don't stake your career on it getting better. It won't. If you work in NW, make your exit plans now.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28220200.post-25125329749493465282009-01-11T13:34:00.000-07:002009-01-11T13:34:00.000-07:00Agree with 12:01 as far as renting for now. Seems ...Agree with 12:01 as far as renting for now. Seems reasonable to at least wait until the FY10 budget is passed. Current feeling seems to be the CR will be extended to finish out FY09.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28220200.post-71508961073998434682009-01-11T13:25:00.000-07:002009-01-11T13:25:00.000-07:009:33 PM, just because NNSA doesn't care, it doesn'...9:33 PM, just because NNSA doesn't care, it doesn't follow that we at LANL shouldn't care either. I would be interested to know whether any offers will be extended to the LANL team by Sandia.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com