Frank,
On June 1, 2008, we hit our two year anniversary of LANS being in charge of the Lab. Back in May/June 2006 we were told by numerous ADs, PADs, and even Mikey himself (when he actually held manager meetings) that in two years we would all feel the benefits of massive improvement and that things would be so much better. I think we should have have top-level post on the topic of how things have improved over the past two years, how people are feeling things are better, how things are "better-cheaper-faster" with LANS and all the business improvements put into place (another quoted promise), how we have less not more directed training (again, I quote from a manager meeting), how morale has improved (Mike said so), and what a great investment Congress made by putting LANS in charge. How has science improved under Terry Wallace's direction and calling out his grand-challenges? I could go on and on but I think a post where everyone can contribute would be good for the senior managers and congress to hear about all the improvements over the past two years and how grateful we are for the superb selfless leadership that we have in Anastasio and company. Personally, the only improvements I have seen are in the bank account balances of our ADs, PADs, and Mikey.
-Anonymous
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It's not been "better-cheaper-faster" with LANS at the helm. It's been worse-costlier-slower. And LANS is just getting warmed up with their approach to LANL management. I shudder when I consider what LANL is going to look like 5 years from today.
I'll say one thing, though. We seem to have a lot more of those ultra-luxury cars parked in the LANL parking lots these days. It's clear to me that a select few of the people working for LANS must be doing very well in the salary department.
Here's a question to ponder. If you knew 3 years ago what you know today about the LLC transition, what would you have done before the transition occured?
It you don't like what's happening with LANS, then leave like the recent SSP employees. Otherwise, stop your whining and get with the program. LANS is our new coach and either you're a team player or you don't belong here any longer.
I'm better off. I left. Is that what you meant?
What would I have done before the transition occurred? Start interviewing. Oh, wait, I did that.
Then I left.
You can too. In spite of what you see on this blog, there are a lot of smart people at LANL -- I still know soem of them! -- and every time they look, they find a job. No exceptions to date.
As for DOE and its declining labs, well, that's just too damn bad for DOE, isn't it? Not that they care, seemingly. They will, however, when they see that things are going to hell and they try to get good people back and find that nobody's buying. Talent is a seller's market these days. I don't see anyone entrusting their future to DOE, ever again.
Speaking of training ... here is an interesting statistic. The Ethics training (TP9795) rolled out on March 6th for ALL LANL employees to complete by June 30th has not been taken by the following luminaries at our institution:
Mikey (shocker!!)
Rich Marquez
Steve Porter (head of Lab Legal)
Kevin Roark (voice of the Lab)
Glen Kizer (CFO)
Dave Thorn (Dep AD for Neu)
Paul Dotson & Andy White (Dep ADs for Bishop)
Glen Mara
Joe Leeman
Dave Beck
Bob McQUinn
Charlie McMillan
Jay Johnson
Doris Heim
QUite amazing when you consider how "important" this compliance order was and how we all got brow-beat into taking it quickly. Perhaps this means the above are either too good and don't believe they need to fulfill the training requirements that the "little people" do.
Here is some more data - this on the Preventing Compromises Briefing that was required for ALL Q/L people to take by Feb 29th and has not been taken by the following luminaries who are the heads of the weapons programs at LANL:
Mara
Beck
Leeman
And last but not least - the "Special Materials Convoy" training due last August 2007 and is "only" a 10-page read as we were told has not been taken by these "leaders":
Doug Beason
Duncan McBranch
Dave Beck
Steve Porter
IN fact, if you look at Steve Porter's training completion you will see that it is at less that 50% complete. I guess if you are in Lab Legal you don't have to complete the training the rest of the minions at LANL do. It would seem from the above list that there is clearly an "us vs. them" mentality stemming from the top. Just remember this list the next time a new slew of crap training comes out and the fact the you completing it only gives the above folks bigger bonuses...
Oh yeah, and one more thing. John Mitchell is still on the payroll and is listed as external. Another lie we were told.
To 11:14 AM - don't be an ass. Coaches are supportive and tend to care for the team - not abuse and mistreat the team and not take advantage of the team and definitely don't lie to the team. IN fact, coaches actually talk to the team - where has Mike been? Meetings with Terry are non-existent. And I wonder if I even have an AD ...
and speaking of training and such... look at the moron Security Requirements Tool or whatever it was called that we had to fill out, get signed, etc. when there's NOTHING on it that the antiquated training transcript things couldn't have spit out for them.
Well, let's see now... What's better now 2 years later?
How about Concur? That has made travel so much easier, hasn't it?
And I KNOW that the current procurement process is so much more efficient than ever.
Anonymous at 11:14 AM
Is that you Mikey?
The coach comment is stupid. When players can't stand the coach, they either find another team or play poorly. Why would anyone want to be a team player?
I would have definitely left before procurement became the nightmare it is to work in these days. With regard to the luxury cars, I know that Heim drives one, as does Chalmers, Nick drives a Beemer, Frank drives a Hummer (wrong timing there). Our requesters always resented us for the rules we forced them to comply with and now with LANS they outright hate us for having to run down all kinds of paperwork needed to protect LANS. If we could find procurement jobs that didn't mean having to leave the area, we would. We intensely resent the Rechtel folks in procurement because (1) they are stupid, dumb, and arrogant in their stupidity (2) don't know or understand procurement and (3) they hide and run away from their own staff to avoid any interaction. From Dilbert, we call Chalmers the pointy headed boss - so true! Chalmers a coach - what a joke. He wouldn't even know how to call out a play, much less write a contract! We guess the director wants to see procurement get worse before he dumps this guy. Wait for year end when none of you can get a damn thing you need. Yeah coach, yeah team.
This place is going to the dogs. I only hope I can hang on long enough to get the pension that is due me. LANS was a joke from day one. Hecker said it right, "the DOE labs have become like prisons."
The "coach" comment might be stupid, but the rest of it was dead on. Really, if you don't like it here, leave. Did you really go to school for all those years and get all that alphabet soup at the end of your name just so you can whine anonymously on some stupid blog? You, no one else, but you are responsible for your life and the quality of it. Stop with all the "Oh it's so bad since..." nonsense and take control of your own life. I used to feel disdain when I read some of the whiny comments here. Now, I only feel pity.
1114 AM. Good luck. Been there. Did you ever watch the movie "GHD" ?
5:15 PM - as Dan Ackroyd said on SNL many years ago ... "Jane you ignorant slut". I was merely responding to the "LANS is our new coach, etc." statement from 11:14 AM and nothing more.
6/20/08 9:20 PM
I, Roseanne Roseannadanna, once had the same thing happen to me, "I thought I was gonna die!
Well it just goes to show you, it's always something".
6/20/08 5:15 PM, the LANS method is starting to result in vendors giving us the finger, too. Just when you think you've cleared all the hurdles, some new legal clause shows up and the vendor finally says enough, NFW!
The other night I was thinking about Pete Nanos. One improvement under LANS is that we don't have to listen to belittling lectures and rants from our Director anymore. It's kind of like our abusive father has moved out of the house and now he doesn't even call or write.
Anonymous at 11:14 AM
Is that you Mikey?
6/20/08 4:40 PM
No, it's Marquez.
Mikey & Marquez: the M&M team that brought you LANS.
5 more years like the previous two years where Bechtel people think they know it all and don't value nor seek the input of anyone outside the "family".
Procurement is fairly painless:
1) Go downtown.
2) Buy something with your own money.
See? How easy and simple!
I agree with the the very poor analogy of the term "coach" for LANS leadership. Mike has become a complete no-show of late. He has already left the "team", at least in a mental, if not physical sense. This last month, Mike's LANS-leased Audi TT was rarely parked out front of Otowi Building. What's going on here? Has Elvis left the auditorium?
Thanks for the training list of high level no-shows, 12:24 PM. It's clear we have a bunch of managers who practice "Do what I say, not what I do." This is not leadership. They should be ashamed, but I suspect they are incapable of that emotion. Instead, I'm sure they'll spend some time furiously looking through the Data Warehouse logs to seek out who collected this training info so he/she can be punished. You can also expect them to work at closing off any further queries like this in the future.
As far as leaving LANL goes, I've noticed the trend in my Division is that it is usually the most gifted scientists who are leaving the lab. Most of them have been able to find salaries that match what LANL pays. I wish them good luck and God's speed on their new journeys. They have escaped from Sig Hecker's "prison".
"Are we better off today than two years ago?"
Who could possibly answer yes to that question? LANL staff is certainly not better off. The community as a whole is certainly not better off. Northern NM is certainly not better off.
LANL/LANS has gone out of its way to ensure that Los Alamos and northern NM understand that it wants no part of either one of them. LANL/LANS won't even adhere to the agreements made with the County when multiple use of the EOC was developed. LANL/LANS' attitude is we don't care about fire and police needs north of the bridge so we do it all our way, including forcing Los Alamos County to pay for whatever we say we need rather than to work cooperatively to resolve needs.
Local businesses have certainly noticed the lack of LANL support. Just the layoff of the many contractors has had a serious financial effect on the community. Small businesses who depended in part on LANL contracts are laying off employess in an attempt to stay in business. Los Alamos County has multimillion dollar projects planned to build county buildings. Los Alamos Public Schools want to spend $40million to upgrade schools. The shrinking taxpayer base will pay more and more for these projects while LANL/LANS continues to drive costs up at LANL, thus further shrinking the economic base.
One of the multimillion dollar County projects includes a remodel of the current police station that will include space for the County's own EOC again. Thus Los Alamos taxpayers will again pay twice for this necessary service - once to build and help fund the EOC on West Jemez Road and then to build and fund the EOC at the police station.
It's bad enough that DOE/LANL made such a mess of the Diamond-Jemez intersection that Los Alamos County is in a turmoil over what to do about their portion of the bypass road they have a legal obligation to build. But to saddle the taxpayers with the additional expense of again funding an EOC rather than working with the County could be dangerous because it might mean that 911 from LANL phones will no longer reach emergency personnel. It also demonstrates a continuing lack of concern for Los Alamos County residents.
The training is a joke. We are required to read and listen to endless lists of objectives, regulations, and responsibilities. There are never any practical examples of how to do things. For example, what is electrical safety now? It has been reduced a set of charts and categories. What to look for and how to keep yourself out of harms way are of no concern. Training classes are where I catch up on my sleep. The training situation is much worse under LANS.
Another thing is the great new system of lab policies, procedures, instructions, and what not. There is no substantive improvement over the old LIRs other than volume, if that counts for anything (not to me). They just more long-winded, legalistic BS that seem to be more CYA for the management than helpful to the workers.
My group leader spends way more time just checking off lists and making sure employees are compliant than worrying about whether technical work is organized and well done.
It started with the Nanos shutdown and has been getting worse ever since.
"Are we better off today than 2 years ago?"
One "great" thing LANS has done is to run off a bunch of those pesky scientists, especially the ones not likely to be very useful in pit production. Just off the top of my head, the following names come to mind (a very incomplete list -please add any others you know, to document the great job LANS has done):
Steve Smith
Steve Lamoreaux
Larry Avens
Jeff Hay
Lawrence Pratt
Tom Baker
Ted Reed
Betsy Cantwell
Dave Modl
Roger Johnston (VAT team)
Continuing the list:
Dawn Flicker
Charlie Nakhleh
Felipo Neri
As well as many irreplaceable experienced technicians
And not to mention numerous good people who are still looking.
Baker, Lamoreaux and Avens are listed in the LANL phonebook. When did they leave?
13 names does not constitute a huge dent in the population.
The only one's better off are the Anastasio's pre-nup boys and girls. Did everyone one see Mike Mallory's brand new $100,000 Porshe Carrara GT in the parking lot. Show me the money!
Also, Mikey needs to tell his buddy Bret Knapp to slow down when going home to catch his taxpayer paid flight tickets to go home to mommy on Friday's. I clocked him at 85-90 mph going to Albuquerque a couple a weeks ago. This guy is a ARROGANT NUT. He has destroyed ENGINEERING (capability, facilites, and people) as LANL.
Honestly, I don't think Mike holds many cards here. He rode in from a 2nd rate Laboratory expecting to fix everything armed with 2nd rate ideas and an entourage of 2nd rate LLNL managers and the big book of Bechtel. Big surprise! They haven't fixed anything. They weren't ever even remotely qualified to address the situation.
LANL may never be the same again, but that isn't Mike's fault. He still believes that he is capable of doing something to fix it. Something tells me there is no light at the end of this tunnel.
Two years ago I was stressed about the decisions I had to make about my future. It looks like the decisions I made were the best for me -- double dip while I could, saving most of it, investing in things for the future, and when LANS said we'll pay you to go away, say a hearty OK!!
Stress is gone, blood pressure is down, and I am amazed at how little I give a sh-- about how things are going at LANS.
Of course, I still can't help but check the blog now and then..........
No question about feeling better off than two years ago. Call me at 672-3409 if gophers are driving you crazy, and I'll get rid of them! No paperwork required!
Steve
OK. Were you serious about Dawn Flicker?????? She was the worst. Perhaps I missed something but the list that was given of people that have left, was that left for the good of the Lab or are people sorry that they have left because they were good people. The only person I recognized was Flicker and she was promoted because she made a mess of things.If people think she was a good manager, than the Lab has really sunk to a new low. Tell me it isn't so? Please explain the LIST?
My goodness. Don't you losers have anything else to worry about other than who is driving what kind of car and how fast they drive?
Somebody should ask the question "is the government better of today than two years ago." The DOE is getting quite a bit less for its money than when UC ran LANL and LLNL.
Maybe POGO should investigate.
8:29 - Baker starts at Ottawa in August. He couldn't wait to get the hell out of here and even bailed on the DR effort he was leading this round. Neu lied to him one too many times. It truly is a huge loss for chemistry and LANL - we will be doing an extensive search to replace him.
What happened to Betsy Cantwell? I thought she was promoted to Doug Beason's strategic planning office? (Or was that really a demotion?)
My goodness. Don't you losers have anything else to worry about other than who is driving what kind of car and how fast they drive?
6/21/08 11:03 PM
No, we have alot to worry about, namely our livelihood and what a negative impact these bozos running the place will have on our families and future generations. What someone drives is indicative of their values and their egos. There is a reason that these vehicles are called pee-pee extenders. It is also flaunting your wealth and your status, which includes driving with a sense of entitlement to the road as they speed away in their pee-pee cars. As far as I can tell, these managers spend very little time working and much time away from the office. And when they are in their offices, they hide and are master delegators.
Betsy Cantwell quit the lab as she could not deal with the TR management fiasco. She is going to Oak Ridge. But anyone that puts her in the scientist category... you must be kidding. Just another manager on overhead.
ORNL appears to be one of the most popular labs for people bailing out of the LANL clusterf*ck. It's close to Knoxville, Gatlinburg and the beautiful Smokey Mountains and the living there is much cheaper than Los Alamos/Santa Fe. It's also a DOE, rather than NNSA lab, so the funding outlook probably looks much better going forward. PNNL over in the Northwest doesn't look too shabby, either. Guess it's time to get in a resume before the queue fills up. LANS has lost the loyalty of almost all the remaining staff.
Why stay around to watch LANS' Act II, "The Finale" (i.e., service cutbacks, layoffs, and more crazy policies)? I see no light at the end of this tunnel unless it's an oncoming Bechtel locomotive.
"Congress, it´s time to direct the GAO to investigate LANS." (6/18/08 8:11 AM), and "Maybe POGO should investigate." (6/22/08 6:17 AM.)
Maybe GAO and/or POGO can do that. June 18, 2008, GAO ruled in favour of Boeing against Northrop Grumman/EADS, e.g. the French Airbus, regarding the next-generation of the aerial-refueling tanker for the Air Force, worth $35 billion.
Please see:
1) www.gao.gov/press/press-boeing2008jun18_3.pdf:
GAO Sustains Boeing Bid Protest, Agency Recommends Air Force Reopen the Bid Process, June 18, 2008.
2) www.boeing.com/news/releases/2008/q2/080618b_nr.html:
Boeing Statement on Tanker Protest Ruling, June 18, 2008.
3) //boeingblogs.com/tanker:
Boeing Statement on Tanker Protest Ruling, June 18, 2008.
4) //tankerblog.blogspot.com:
GAO Upholds Boeing´s Protest, Wednesday, June 18, 2008.
5) www.defenselink.mil/news/newsarticle.aspx?id=50254:
Accountability Office Urges Air Force to Re-Bid Tanker Contract, June 18, 2008.
6) www.defensetech.org:
Boeing Wins!, June 18, 2008; Tanker Ruling Shows Air Force In Disarray, June 18, 2008.
7) www.nytimes.com/2008/06/19/business/19tanker.html?hp:
Audit Says Tanker Deal Is Flawed, June 19, 2008.
8) www.militarytimes.com/news/2008/06/defense_tanker_protest_061808:
Boeing protest of tanker decision upheld, GAO recommends new competition for 179-plane deal, June 19, 2008.
9) www.ft.com/cms/s/0/332823f2-3d68-11dd-bbb5-0000779fd2ac.html:
US tanker review gives boost for Boeing, June 18, 2008.
10) www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/06/19/AR2008061900547.html:
Boeing wins key round in Air Force tanker protest, June 19, 2008.
(When LANS, LLC, e.g. UC/Bechtel was awarded the M&O contract of LANL on December 21, 2005, due effective June 1, 2006, Los Alamos Alliance, e.g. Lockheed Martin/UT never filed a formal protest to GAO, and maybe this is a lesson for Lockheed Martin/UT as well, or at least Dr. C. Paul Robinson should read these documents for a future strategy of Los Alamos Alliance.)
I don't think these folks think they are better off.
The New Mexican
6/20/2008 - 6/21/08
One former and two current Los Alamos National Laboratory employees have filed a lawsuit against Los Alamos National Security LLC, which operates the lab, alleging retaliation and breach of contract.
Former employee Maxwell Sandford and current employees Christina Files and Christine Treml accused the lab of removing them from a classified project after they raised concerns about security procedures.
In the suit, all three say they were removed from project work, relocated off the immediate premises and barred from entering the building where the project was located. They also say they were denied access to retrieve personal belongings for months, were stripped of high-level security clearances, and were reassigned to insignificant nontechnical work where they were harassed and humiliated.
Through their attorney, Timothy L. Butler of Santa Fe, the three are seeking actual and compensatory damages, punitive damages and equitable relief to remedy the wrongs and prevent future violations.
Steve Sandoval, a spokesman for the lab, said he was unfamiliar with the suit but added that "we don't normally comment on pending litigation."
The suit was filed May 29 in New Mexico First Judicial District Court.
They are under "employment at will."
I think that they are screwed!
Maybe GAO and/or POGO can do that. June 18, 2008, GAO ruled in favour of Boeing against Northrop Grumman/EADS,
==============================
That's because Boeing filed a protest.
However, when the contract was given
to LANS - Lockheed Martin didn't file
a protest.
If you don't protest - then you LOSE
your right to have the decision
overturned on appeal.
"...It you don't like what's happening with LANS, then leave like the recent SSP employees. Otherwise, stop your whining and get with the program. LANS is our new coach and either you're a team player or you don't belong here any longer..."
Up yours. We battle how we choose. For me, past retirement age,its free coffee, free A/C, and the revenge that D'Agostino couldn't tell whether I am contributing or not.
Tommorrow, it's D'Agostino Monday. we come in late and leave early.
Tuesday It's Bodman day, pretend we know what we are doing.
Wednesday it's W. H. Lee day, ignore rules.
Thursday is Bush day, read children's books.
Friday is Cheney day. Act mean and disappear.
Beats working for a living.
Feinstein, Stupak and Dingell don't care, and I'm an Obama girl.
"The leech is the winner in this story" S. Adams 2008
"...Mikey needs to tell his buddy Bret Knapp to slow down when going home to catch his taxpayer paid flight tickets to go home to mommy on Friday's. I clocked him at 85-90 mph going to Albuquerque a couple a weeks ago..."
If I were stuck in New Mexico 5 days a week for two years, I'd speed back to the Bay Area faster than 90, Richardson's safety NAZIs be damned.
6th Generation Bay Area
As always, there is a logical, scientific, explanation for this:
New Chemical Element
The recent hurricanes and gasoline issues are proof of the existence of a new chemical element.
A major research institution has recently announced the discovery of the heaviest element yet known to science. The new element has been named:
Governmentium.
Governmentium (Gv) has one neutron, 25 assistant neutrons, 88 deputy neutrons, and 198 assistant deputy neutrons, giving it an atomic mass of 312.
These 312 particles are held together by forces called morons, which are surrounded by vast quantities of lepton-like particles called peons.
Since Gv has no electrons, it is inert; however, it can be detected, because it impedes every reaction with which it comes into
contact.
A minute amount of Gv can cause a reaction that would normally take less than a second to take over four days to complete.
Governmentium has a normal half-life of 4 years; It does not decay, but instead undergoes a reorganization in which a portion of the
assistant neutrons and deputy neutrons exchange places.
In fact, Gv's Mass will actually increase over time, since each reorganization will cause more morons to become neutrons, forming
isodopes.
This characteristic of moron promotion leads some scientists to believe that Gv is formed whenever morons reach a
critical concentration.
This hypothetical quantity is referred to as critical morass.
When catalyzed with money, Gv becomes Administratium...an element that radiates just as much energy as Gv since it has half as many peons but twice as many morons.
Unbelievable! Mighty Mikey will descend from the top floor of the NSSB and will please the populus by his radiant aura and wisdom - or maybe not. But:
Laboratory Director Michael Anastasio is holding an all-employee meeting at 10:30 a.m. Thursday (June 26) at the National Security Sciences Building.
Anastasio will talk about the Laboratory's accomplishments during the second year of management and operations of the Laboratory by Los Alamos National Security, LLC, and talk about the outlook for the future.
"(When LANS, LLC, e.g. UC/Bechtel was awarded the M&O contract of LANL on December 21, 2005, due effective June 1, 2006, Los Alamos Alliance, e.g. Lockheed Martin/UT never filed a formal protest to GAO, and maybe this is a lesson for Lockheed Martin/UT as well, or at least Dr. C. Paul Robinson should read these documents for a future strategy of Los Alamos Alliance.)
6/22/08 5:42 PM"
It seems long forgotten that LANS,LLC incorporated as a federally acquisition favored small business in Delaware. LockMart/UT could do nothing but sit there slack-jawed as they had been outwitted at the poker table.
...6/23/08 10:56 AM
And Beason has commandeered the audience right after Mikey to shake his finger at us to say "See, I told you so!"
Let’s see, in two short years Los Alamos has gone from a healthy and vibrant community to one that is sick and ailing. The only thing I hear discussed at parties, school functions, restaurants, the grocery stores, the swimming pool, church, etc. is how unhappy we all are at work. Of course nobody from the senior management team would know this because none of them live here. Aggressive driving and care for one another seem to be in the dumper. I wonder how that conscious easing volunteer program introduced by LANs is working out? My guess is counseling and medical providers are also flourishing due to an increase in behavioral based illnesses. Shhh, this kind of thing is taboo around here. NNSA, your boys are doing a great job, no need to worry in this regard.
You all have done a good job identifying all the other stupid stuff LANs has done (concur, procurement, training, …) so I’ll just agree with all of you on that. The next round of intentionally planned employee demoralizing strategies is now underway. The administrative staff just felt it and the technical staff will soon feel the Rechtel exam called structured staff members. Mantra there, get everyone capped so that base building raises can’t be given, just a one time merit increase. This will be one of the first cost saving strategies they have tried that will actually work. Not only does it keep retirement contributions down, it lowers FICA and most other tax contributions. And with any luck at all, it will drive away more of the employees who are too highly paid. Nice. LANs has no respect for the employees and the people of Los Alamos and I must say the feeling is absolutely mutual. These pirates care about one thing, lining their pockets and the pockets of Rechtel, UC, WGI, and BWX. Anyone who thinks there is still an important National Security mission here is a fool. I was that fool until recently. Many of us face a dilemma, stay a handful more years to reach that magical age 50 to cash in on a tiny piece of the pension or leave, take a loss on the house, and try to start over elsewhere. Tough decision, but one that I am working now.
There is one good thing I can think of that has happened around here. The Atomic City Bus System is wonderful (no thanks to LANs). It is free (representing something like a $2000 a year raise depending on the car you drive). And it forces you to leave when you should after putting in your 9 hours and nothing more. There is no reason to pour your heart and soul into this place any longer, it makes no difference.
What a shame, from an eternal optimist.
Right, 8:47. You really put in all of your 40 hours per week before LANS, and now you are just doing the minimum. Come on, the friday parking lots were never even half full.
Liar. This is the waste, fraud, and abuse that LANS is trying to stop.
Mikey and Van P. and many AD's have insulated themselves from LANS by retaining their former employer. Mikey is an employee of UC, and Van P. and Dick Watkins (AD for ESH&Q)and other Bechtiles are all Bechtel employees. Yes, that's right, they get their paycheck from UC or Bechtel, so their future is not dependent on LANS, the way most employees are.
No wonder the Bechtiles spend so much time conferring with Bechtel managerement back at corporate headquarters- they are just serving their real bosses. Forget the American people, national security, and the future of the lab- their master is Bechtel corporate management...Mikey just has to be a public face to pretend that UC has any stake in LANL.
When Mikey speaks to employees Thursday, someone should ask him why he is not an employee of LANS, the way the rrest of us are.
"When Mikey speaks to employees Thursday, someone should ask him why he is not an employee of LANS, the way the rest of us are." - 10:38 PM
Come, now, 10:38 PM. Stop playing around with passive-aggressive fantasies. You know very well that something like the question you pose will never be asked of Mike by any remaining employees. Besides, Thursday is to be Mike's great day of celebration for LAN's accomplishments. Any questions asked of Mike on that day (if they are even allowed) will be as soft as cream puffs.
If you want to know how thing are going, tune in Labnet and pay attention to the number of staff members attending Mikey's all-hands meeting. The auditorium will be less than 1/3 full. The audience will be the ADs and their direct reports and the new Bechtelite "managers".
No one attends because Mikey is a disconnected blatherer. He's so out of touch with the declining state of the lab that he is painful to watch. Every other LANL Director, without exception, including Pete Nanos, was held in higher regard by the staff.
A simple question.
There have been almost half a million visitors to this site since it opened yet very few have been willing to do anything to save the Lab or the town. Very few have been willing to shed their anonymity.
Why?
What is so scary that it inhibits action in favor of Los Alamos or even admission of identity?
Is it the fear of being unemployed and unemployable or is it something else?
Thanks,
Yes, anonymous answers are expected and even welcomed.
"What is so scary that it inhibits action in favor of Los Alamos or even admission of identity?"
LANL, a vindictive 800-pound gorilla.
Eric,
Regarding anonymity:
Call me paranoid but I distrust the internet in principle, choosing to either stay anonymous or with a false identity as good as possible (even under the perspective that certain three letter agencies could easily track my internet trace).
Regarding unwillingness to do something for Los Alamos:
Why should someone fight a battle that cannot be won? So employees vote with their feet and leave. I did. Now I no longer have to deal with all the red tape, I have a higher salary and I can do my research.
Eric, what specifically should the average employee do to improve our situation and reverse the damage being done by NNSA, DOE, and LANS management? The only caveat is that these actions must not destroy my career or chances of future employment elsewhere. Thanks.
"There have been almost half a million visitors to this site since it opened yet very few have been willing to do anything to save the Lab or the town."
Actually, by the intellectual content of the posts, it would appear to be only ~50 visitors hitting the board 10,000 times each.
6/23/08 10:38 PM
So we have in Mikey "a Rechtile dysfunction"?
I don't think there are too many people at LANL reading this blog any longer. Many of the employees at LANL are either fast asleep or have become so completely demoralized that they have lost the ability to care about what happens.
It's become a "whatever" type culture. Many employees will simply ride things out until LANS announces the next phase of staff reductions and then hope for the best.
This is what 2 years under LANS management has done to LANL. No, we are not better off. Only the LANS top management is better off.
11:20, I see a good amount of what you describe in your second paragraph. Also, "whatever" seems to be the response to both negative and positive news; not much difference in the intensity level.
6/24/08 10:16 PM
From todays log (only 500 entries) I count 75 unique LANL IP-addresses. So at least more the 50 LANL computers are used to read the blog.
Thanks for the thoughtful answers to my previous post.
Here is another question.
I understand being anonymous on the Internet but do not understand the lack of action in helping each other off the Internet.
Do you think that LANS will find and punish all non-anonymous action wherever it occurs?
Thanks
Eric, the fact that nobody shows up to your creepy little tea parties doesn't mean we aren't helping each other offline in countless ways.
It just really doesn't have to involve you.
Eric, based on your comments on this blog, it is best that they do not involve you. We really don't need another arrogant jerk who thinks he knows everything. There are enough of those already.
"Do you think that LANS will find and punish all non-anonymous action wherever it occurs?" (Eric)
Yes. Let me clarify that a little further... HELL, YES!
""The only one's better off are the Anastasio's pre-nup boys and girls. Did everyone one see Mike Mallory's brand new $100,000 Porshe Carrara GT in the parking lot. Show me the money!
Also, Mikey needs to tell his buddy Bret Knapp to slow down when going home to catch his taxpayer paid flight tickets to go home to mommy on Friday's. I clocked him at 85-90 mph going to Albuquerque a couple a weeks ago. This guy is a ARROGANT NUT. He has destroyed ENGINEERING (capability, facilites, and people) as LANL.""
-First, of all its spelled CarrEra, (obviously a physicist).
-Second I would speed to go California too, if you say you wouldn't, you're lying.
-Third How do you think it is for some of these guys to leave their families back home and live out here by themselves
-Fourth stop complaining and leave, or get better at your job and get in a position to do something about it
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