HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Eathquake prediction news

https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2018-12/danl-mls121718.php

Should LLNL be managed by a non-profit contractor ASAP?

Based on "business need", why doesn't the NNSA rebid the contract to run LLNL now in favor of the non-profit Triad model? A rebid to a non-profit contractor would preserve millions of federal dollars annually for LLNL programmatic missions. Isn't this cost savings measure precisely what NNSA Administrator Lisa Gordon-Hagerty wants?

"In a late Monday email to Weapons Complex Morning Briefing, Burgess affirmed he received his information directly from NNSA Administrator Lisa Gordon-Hagerty during a September meeting in Washington, D.C. Gordon-Hagerty’s office believes Triad is required by the Federal Acquisition Regulation to seek any cost savings possible, including 501(c)(3) status, Burgess said."

Ed Moses

What is "bringing star power to Earth", Ed Moses doing these days?

Who will pay? LANS. or TRIAD

Can anyone explain how this works? The lawsuit was lost by LANS, which doesn't exit anymore. However, the quote is from Roark, and credited to LANL now operated by Triad. Seriously, does Triad now have to pay the verdict? If not, then why is Roark giving a statement? 

http://www.santafenewmexican.com/news/local_news/jury-sides-with-ex-lanl-official-who-was-forced-to/article_bd5e13ca-7ef8-53a9-b7f0-c98f5be0db41.html

How safe is LANL pension?

Interesting and reassuring for many people .

https://www.ladailypost.com/content/lans-pension-it-safe

Feds Sue to Quash State Hanford Workers’ Compensation Law

Feds Sue to Quash State Hanford Workers’ Compensation Law

"The U.S. Department of Justice on Monday sued the state of Washington over a new law that eases state workers’ compensation requirements for claims from employees of the Department of Energy’s Hanford Site."

https://www.exchangemonitor.com/feds-sue-quash-state-hanford-workers-compensation-law/

This blog is for YOU!

I would like to reflect on the blog's 11 years. Not an editorial because I am not an editor. More like a moderatorial.

Created on 12/11/2007, this blog was intended to be an outlet for LLNL folks to give their opinion on the newly-privatized Livermore lab . Many thought the for-profit model was a recipe for disaster. A few thought it was the end of the UC good old boys club. Most LLNL folks felt they were paying for LANL mistakes.

I saw outraged, distressed, even depressed posts, occasionally interspersed with optimistic ones. Meanwhile, while we all barked, the for-profit DOE/NNSA caravan kept moving.

Gradually,  blog readers became focused on relevant issues,  such as waste of resources, cost increase, rising number of security and industrial incidents.  It was becoming obvious that the privatization was a bad idea!

LLNL folks had the chance to be represented by SPSE but declined with so much rationalization and holy than thou comments! White collars don't unionize!

Golden passed up opportunity, as we found later.

Before we knew it, LANL folks flocked to the blog in far higher numbers. Llnlthetruestory became "LANL blog".

There was a fierce crusade against LANS management and overt hostility to everything LLNL.  The word "livermorons"

was abused so much that I added it to the list of offensive terms.

Then, for a while, all you read is about was

TCP-1 required employee contributions!

How unfair! Sorry, cannot do anything about that!  No SPSE to represent us.

Later, the blog became a troll's favorite hangout where every opinion was shot to pieces.

Debates were political, personal and virulent.

I was receiving hate mail for not posting hateful messages.

My first reaction was to shutdown the blog but I thought about the few readers/ contributors who made respectable contributions. How about them?

"Long story short", as a former LLNL colleague used to say, to those folks, this blog is for YOU !
Julian

Some SRS plutonium needed for national security missions

Articles like this need to be discussed given the mission impacts

https://www.aikenstandard.com/news/nnsa-chief-of-staff-some-srs-plutonium-needed-for-national/article_ffbce672-f89d-11e8-9c07-5f7c82000947.html

The whole MOX issue also needs some discussion given the NNSA management and the idea of pit manufacturing. Just a thought...

DOE to shut down Idaho nuclear waste treatment project

https://www.latimes.com/nation/la-na-idaho-nuclear-waste-20181208-story.html?outputType=amp

Lawsuit Possible to Regain UC Health Care

Lawsuit Possible to Regain UC Health Care"

"Those who were hired at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory before 1990 appear to have a “viable claim” to be reinstated to University of California health programs, according to attorneys for the Lawrence Livermore Laboratory Retiree Group."

Many UC/LLNL employees were hired well before 1990, and had 20 years or more service credit with UC/LLNL before LLNS took over. If these lab employees retired after 2007, they too were placed into the more expensive LLNS health programs. Have these lab retirees reached out to the UCLRG attorneys to possibly join forces? 

http://llnlretiree.com/news_articles/09_12_17_independent.htm

LLNL Daffodil Days

LLNL Daffodil Days. The award is given to outstanding corporations and organizations who demonstrate a commitment to furthering the mission of the American Cancer Society,” explained Kristen Ogdon, American Cancer Society corporate relations manager for the Greater Bay Area... Ogdon cited three specific reasons for the award: LLNL’s exemplary work in educating employees about cancer and chronic disease prevention and care; being the largest contributor to the Daffodil Days campaign, not only in the Bay Area but also in Northern California (raising nearly $32,000 last year and a total of more than $133,000 over the past five years); and providing a presence in both the Livermore and Tracy Relay for Life events for several years, raising thousands of dollars, as well as helping to increase community awareness in the fight against cancer. moderator's note to contributor : This was submitted  as a comment on a post with a totally unrelated topic. I normally delete such comments but decided to make it a separate post because of it deals with a good cause .

Ill nuclear workers’ benefits petitions have to be reviewed within 6 months

Ill nuclear workers’ benefits petitions have to be reviewed within 6 months. Some have languished about a decade."

"Facilities around the country continue to be fined for failing to limit radiation exposure and monitor workers, he said. “I am not going to take it on blind faith” that Los Alamos is following federal rules just because officials say they are...What has happened to Evaskovich’s petition is playing out at nuclear labs across the country. At the Savannah River Site in South Carolina, a petition has languished for 11 years. At Sandia National Laboratories in Albuquerque, workers have been waiting seven years for a final decision."

https://nmpolitics.net/index/2018/12/ill-nuclear-workers-benefits-petitions-have-to-be-reviewed-within-6-months-some-have-languished-about-a-decade/

LLNL,winner of two 2018 Optimas Awards

"Workforce Magazine Announces LLNL As Winner of Two 2018 Optimas Awards"

“Being recognized with these two high-level awards will only further showcase LLNL’s dedication to its mission and values,” said Breyer. “By embracing our community and valuing the diversity and inclusiveness of our scientific endeavors, the Lab will further show world-class scientists that our institution is committed to advancing science and technology while providing work/life programs that employees desire.”

http://www.independentnews.com/news/workforce-magazine-announcesz-llnl-as-winner-of-two-optimas-awards/article_306d9ce8-f354-11e8-87f6-733bfa303896.html?mode=jqm