tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28220200.post4853803339607375622..comments2023-08-27T06:53:36.768-06:00Comments on LANL: The Rest of the Story: Frank Younghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02134775226991383924noreply@blogger.comBlogger50125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28220200.post-79388080709981148372008-07-02T14:41:00.000-06:002008-07-02T14:41:00.000-06:00The longer you work here, diverse it gets.<I>The longer you work here, diverse it gets.</I>Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28220200.post-36261430039297877342008-07-02T12:24:00.000-06:002008-07-02T12:24:00.000-06:00"Why diversify LANL? LANL has a mission. If you do..."Why diversify LANL? LANL has a mission. If you don't like it, or can't make a career here, go get a different job." - 10:24 AM<BR/><BR/>Remember that quote when the big jobs layoffs come calling at LANL in the next few years because the weapons budget is scaled back by Congress. <BR/><BR/>I'll bet you'll be singing a different tune on the day you get your pink slip. But, hey, if you don't like it, too bad. You should have left when you still had a chance. The jobs that are left will be for those who are doing diversified research that the nation really needs.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28220200.post-13800495155283318432008-07-02T10:24:00.000-06:002008-07-02T10:24:00.000-06:006:59 am: "Best, easiest and fastest way to diversi...6:59 am: "Best, easiest and fastest way to diversify LANL and LLNL would be to move them out from under NNSA control. Place them back in DOE Office of Science, and have them do their NNSA work as WFO."<BR/><BR/>Why diversify LANL? LANL has a mission. If you don't like it, or can't make a career here, go get a different job. To expect the workplace to change to meet your desires is ludicrous. Like taking a job at NASA and suggesting it "diversify" to pharmaceutical research. Nobody owes you a permanent job.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28220200.post-61500709078546073802008-07-02T10:17:00.000-06:002008-07-02T10:17:00.000-06:007/1 7:22 am: "By workable plan, I mean one that in...7/1 7:22 am: "By workable plan, I mean one that includes detailed SWOT analysis (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats) for each proposed area of potential diversification."<BR/><BR/>I'll bet that will involve some facilitated leveraging sessions with lots of flipcharts, lousy coffee, and people leaving every ten minutes to make phone calls. Great idea. That kind of "analysis" is for people who know nothing about the subject to convince themselves they've carefully considered every aspect of it. Meanwhile, the ones that are invited but don't show up will be maiking the decisions.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28220200.post-85876775895688467332008-07-02T06:59:00.000-06:002008-07-02T06:59:00.000-06:00Best, easiest and fastest way to diversify LANL an...Best, easiest and fastest way to diversify LANL and LLNL would be to move them out from under NNSA control. Place them back in DOE Office of Science, and have them do their NNSA work as WFO. <BR/><BR/>Since LANL became LLC operated under NNSA its name has really become - Los Alamos NNSA Laboratory ... not "National"Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28220200.post-78008824460245909052008-07-01T22:55:00.000-06:002008-07-01T22:55:00.000-06:00As this post's title says:"Diversification Eyed"Ye...As this post's title says:<BR/><BR/>"Diversification Eyed"<BR/><BR/>Yes, that's it, diversification eyed, but not executed. It's all just a bunch of happy talk from Mike to help shake off the political heat.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28220200.post-72181229271283142992008-07-01T20:24:00.000-06:002008-07-01T20:24:00.000-06:00"Hmm, when did pumping gas for the boss become ass..."Hmm, when did pumping gas for the boss become assigned duty?"<BR/><BR/>Interesting you brought that up - that was one of my first assignments at the Nevada Test Site a very long time ago (I didn't work for the Lab back then). Had to run to the Area 6 gas station for oil and lube job - and fill-er-up at the same time.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28220200.post-32338678696980349822008-07-01T13:46:00.000-06:002008-07-01T13:46:00.000-06:00A vehicle leased by LANS to one of its executives ...A vehicle leased by LANS to one of its executives would be a *corporate* vehicle, not a government vehicle. Sorry to burst your bubble.<BR/><BR/>7/1/08 7:06 AM<BR/><BR/>Did you mean to say a Rechtel executive, not LANS right? So it's a corporate vehicle so we guess you must know that fact. That's not bursting anyone's bubble. Then if it's corporate, why do property people fill up the tank for him? Isn't that fraud waste and abuse to use LANS/govnt resources to run private errands such as filling up the tank of a *corporate* vehicle? (how does a property employee charge his time to that assignment???) Aren't we constantly being hammered about misuse of government resources and warned about time card fraud. Van P is a key person, with perks such as a personal *corporate* vehicle paid by LANS. Is a key person held to a higher standard of conduct or not? We all know that answer. Rechtel brings such a sense of entitlement and the rules don't apply to them and this is a perfect example. Hmm, when did pumping gas for the boss become assigned duty? Let's see that on the job descriptin and performance eval.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28220200.post-3654392342718155522008-07-01T11:44:00.000-06:002008-07-01T11:44:00.000-06:00Mikey believes in the ultimate power of wishful th...Mikey believes in the ultimate power of wishful thinking. Now, begin tapping your jewel encrusted ruby slippers three times, ignore those vicious flying monkeys sent by Congress, circle around, and repeat after me...<BR/><BR/>"I can diversify, I can diversify, I can diversify..."Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28220200.post-15027245359058170822008-07-01T11:40:00.000-06:002008-07-01T11:40:00.000-06:00Spirals of distrustIf the Director came out with a...Spirals of distrust<BR/><BR/>If the Director came out with a diversification plan tomorrow, 600 pages and well thought out, who among the readers would work hard to make this plan succeed even though they disagreed with parts of it and did not understand other parts of it.<BR/><BR/>For LANL to improve, it seems that someone has to go first in trusting even though the other side has not yet deserved it.<BR/><BR/>Comments?Erichttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04112131448599926289noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28220200.post-11273809935059409702008-07-01T07:22:00.000-06:002008-07-01T07:22:00.000-06:00I have seen no workable plans that would get LANL ...I have seen no workable plans that would get LANL to become more diversified. By workable plan, I mean one that includes detailed SWOT analysis (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats) for each proposed area of potential diversification. <BR/><BR/>I started to sketch out such a plan 4 years ago but, when there was little interest, I went on to other things.<BR/><BR/>Does anyone, not just the Director, have such a plan or even part of one?Erichttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04112131448599926289noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28220200.post-5274289270102635192008-07-01T07:06:00.000-06:002008-07-01T07:06:00.000-06:00A vehicle leased by LANS to one of its executives ...A vehicle leased by LANS to one of its executives would be a *corporate* vehicle, not a government vehicle. Sorry to burst your bubble.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28220200.post-17320574221886316872008-06-30T12:03:00.000-06:002008-06-30T12:03:00.000-06:00Back to this post's main subject, diversity... Doe...Back to this post's main subject, diversity... <BR/><BR/>Does anyone believe that LANS is up for this difficult task? <BR/><BR/>How, exactly, does Mike propose it be done. Does he expect TSM level staff to keep working off their butts developing new proposals while management and support sit back and eat up large chunks of any of the incoming funds? Or perhaps he envisions hiring some really good Program Managers who have proven track records at securing outside funds? Or perhaps he plans on splitting LANL up into various segments with a low cost "WFO-lab" doing outside work (ala Batelle's PNNL approach)? And what about NNSA? Who is going to hold this highly dysfunctional agency in check while LANL begins taking on more and more outside projects?<BR/><BR/>He's given us a path, but what's his workable plan at getting us there?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28220200.post-75261903676324184292008-06-30T10:40:00.000-06:002008-06-30T10:40:00.000-06:00VanP lives in Quemazon. An accident in his drivew...VanP lives in Quemazon. An accident in his driveway certainly kept him from having a more serious one driving out of there on a steep windy downhill road.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28220200.post-75279191638447596382008-06-30T10:26:00.000-06:002008-06-30T10:26:00.000-06:00What was the occasion? Was he celebrating, upset, ...What was the occasion? Was he celebrating, upset, maybe an interaction with prescription medication?Frank Younghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02134775226991383924noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28220200.post-66521877202305965292008-06-30T07:41:00.000-06:002008-06-30T07:41:00.000-06:00Frank - I heard it happened in his own driveway wh...Frank - I heard it happened in his own driveway where he was blitzed and backed up into another car so there is no DUI report. Lucky for us he wasn't able to get on the road in that condition. The people at property know all about it. He was driving a LANS vehicle, paid by LANS so government property. This is the guy who has this vehicle picked up by property folks, fueled and washed once a week or more, it's a big black SUV, 2 MPG, probably fueled and maintained on a government gas card, nope no government vehicle for this guy, and also the bigger point, we are held to a higher standard ETHICS HANDBOOK and Q CLEARANCE reporting requirements so yeah he probably (!!) reported the incident to security since he was in a government vehicle. Yeah I'm also sure he reported it to the police. This will be another John Mitchell non-issue.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28220200.post-11930737130517816092008-06-30T07:14:00.000-06:002008-06-30T07:14:00.000-06:00Frank, it is also not mentioned in the Los Alamos ...Frank, it is also not mentioned in the Los Alamos police beat. VanP lives on the hill. <BR/><BR/>No doubt the theory will go that LANS has buried the story. Kind of like Mitchell's security incident.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28220200.post-69795221778843739232008-06-30T05:56:00.000-06:002008-06-30T05:56:00.000-06:00Anonymous at 6/29/08 11:13 AM says"management skim...Anonymous at 6/29/08 11:13 AM says<BR/><BR/>"management skimming contracts because overhead does not cover costs? Business as usual everywhere, including sandia, I might add."<BR/><BR/>Maybe so, but that doesn't make it right. And, I can tell you from experience that it makes it very difficult to get the work done in budget when they steal your money.<BR/><BR/>The end result is that the poor slob the brings in the money is the only person who has any acountability to meet the cost, schedule, and performance objectives.<BR/><BR/>What needs to change is the GLs and DLs must have responsibility to fund their staffs. As it is now, both at LANL and LLNL, each individual is a profit center. If you become unfunded, it is your responsibility.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28220200.post-9622641149524535472008-06-29T23:27:00.000-06:002008-06-29T23:27:00.000-06:00I've located the Police Notes for June 27th and Va...I've located the Police Notes for <A HREF="http://www.santafenewmexican.com/Local%20News/Police-notes-062708" REL="nofollow">June 27th</A> and Van P. isn't mentioned there either. We'll have to wait for one of our blog readers to supply more details.Frank Younghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02134775226991383924noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28220200.post-35685080033519968302008-06-29T22:27:00.000-06:002008-06-29T22:27:00.000-06:00I've looked for confirmation on the Van P. story a...I've looked for confirmation on the Van P. story and could not find anything. The New Mexican's Police Notes don't mention him on the <A HREF="http://www.santafenewmexican.com/Local%20News/Police-notes-June-25" REL="nofollow">25th</A> of June, the <A HREF="http://www.santafenewmexican.com/Local%20News/Police-notes-June-26" REL="nofollow">26th</A> or the <A HREF="http://www.santafenewmexican.com/Local%20News/Police-notes-June-28" REL="nofollow">28th</A>. Oddly, the Police Notes for the <A HREF="http://www.santafenewmexican.com/Local%20News/Police-notes-June-27" REL="nofollow">27th</A> are not available.Frank Younghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02134775226991383924noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28220200.post-18912368938935011172008-06-29T21:38:00.000-06:002008-06-29T21:38:00.000-06:006/27/08 3:32 PM--"If LANL decides to diversify it ...6/27/08 3:32 PM--"If LANL decides to diversify it will be very painful to the work-force. You think that the loss of 2000 job's is bad wait till you hear the estimates of the new and improved diverification project!!!First of all the big money for green stuff is already allocated, we are jumping in mid-stream"<BR/><BR/>So let's just go back to chewing our cud. Baaaaa....baaaa....Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28220200.post-38147682718224987462008-06-29T21:16:00.000-06:002008-06-29T21:16:00.000-06:00If Van P. was driving a LANS leased vehicle while ...If Van P. was driving a LANS leased vehicle while DWI, then that should violates LANL policies. Even if it wasn't a LANS leased car, he would have to immediately report the DWI to security and it would effect his clearance. <BR/><BR/>Of course, if any of this did occur, you can be sure that LANS management will work hard to cover it up.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28220200.post-8998187864775431202008-06-29T21:03:00.000-06:002008-06-29T21:03:00.000-06:00"Los Alamos National Laboratory needs to reach bey..."Los Alamos National Laboratory needs to reach beyond the nuclear weapons program to find the money to support its national security work, lab director Michael Anastasio said Thursday."<BR/><BR/>Is this guy a genious or what? Only took him a couple of years a RIF to figure it out. Uncle Pete is still clueless though.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28220200.post-18567100611082272122008-06-29T11:13:00.000-06:002008-06-29T11:13:00.000-06:00"You know, this happens all the time at LANL and i..."You know, this happens all the time at LANL and it should be viewed as criminal behavior. Taking funding from outside sponsors when you had nothing really to do with their programs is just plain wrong."<BR/><BR/>get over it. It happens everywhere, at every contractor I've ever worked for. It's a key piece of Bechtel's overhead reduction -- take overhead and charge it directly. Nothing changes, but it makes overhead *look* lower. You just bury what is really overhead in direct charges. <BR/><BR/>But management skimming contracts because overhead does not cover costs? Buesiness as usual everywhere, including sandia, I might add.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28220200.post-68243336104147301662008-06-29T09:32:00.000-06:002008-06-29T09:32:00.000-06:00Did anyone else hear that our deputy director, Van...Did anyone else hear that our deputy director, Van P., inbibed a little too much and totalled his LANS (leased) vehicle? Does that mean he will lose his Q? Is the vehicle considered government property?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com