tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5936951073896589340.post8287207694668423852..comments2024-03-28T09:09:52.779-07:00Comments on LLNL - The True Story -: Parney on fiscal uncertaintyUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger65125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5936951073896589340.post-91921097992671949862013-05-26T21:35:40.369-07:002013-05-26T21:35:40.369-07:00You don't need a PhD to be a manager at Sandia...You don't need a PhD to be a manager at Sandia!<br /><br />See previous post below:<br /><br />http://llnlthetruestory.blogspot.com/2013/05/hey-lanl-and-sandia.html?showComment=1368229152210#c5184911644985578339Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5936951073896589340.post-80361439915811591592013-02-07T21:33:12.636-08:002013-02-07T21:33:12.636-08:00You are better off getting a job in the private se...You are better off getting a job in the private sector or at the very least, a better managed government owned laboratory. If you are able to leave, you should definitely leave.<br /><br />February 6, 2013 at 3:41 PM<br /><br />Yes! Another voice of reason in the wilderness! Just one addition: You are ALWAYS "able to leave." It all depends on your tolerance for upheaval in your life and, of course, your cojones.<br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5936951073896589340.post-84539321302732216952013-02-06T15:41:31.707-08:002013-02-06T15:41:31.707-08:00You are better off getting a job in the private se...You are better off getting a job in the private sector or at the very least, a better managed government owned laboratory. If you are able to leave, you should definitely leave. Maybe easier for LLNL employees than for LANL since here it might involve a less impactful move or in many cases, just a change of commute path, especially if your skills and experience are aligned with the high tech sector.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5936951073896589340.post-77490427830441502112013-02-06T12:29:13.088-08:002013-02-06T12:29:13.088-08:00If I come to work at LLNL and live according to a ...If I come to work at LLNL and live according to a very conservative household budget that presupposes no raises, will LLNL still send me in a downward spiral towards bankruptcy? Yes, of course!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5936951073896589340.post-73475542970934783722013-02-06T03:39:46.903-08:002013-02-06T03:39:46.903-08:00Are Exempt employees going to essentially become n...Are Exempt employees going to essentially become non-Exempt employees if furloughs are in place? If so, you aren't even supposed to check work email or write proposals on furlough days or even during off hours that you are not compensated for. The nature of work at the lab will be impacted. Any suggestion by management that you "float" some parts of your work outside of your paid weekly schedule would be illegal. Unless you are on a telecommute or other work agreement, employees have no business logging in through VPN after hours or on weekends unless they are being compensated based on an hourly rate. Unless there is some law that lets the lab furlough you one day every few weeks but maintain your exempt status though I can't see how you could have such a contradiction with any legal standing.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5936951073896589340.post-16391194781307138862013-02-06T03:02:57.630-08:002013-02-06T03:02:57.630-08:00On the radio, pundits were describing the Republic...On the radio, pundits were describing the Republicans as being resigned to letting the sequestration go through even with the defense cuts, as much as they woukd have liked to keep them intact. If this is the case, and the cuts become "permanent," then does the furlough become permanent or does LLNL switch over to a layoff plan? The program described the far right conservatives as the ones pushing FOR sequestration. Regardless of how this plays out, the pundits cited sources who estimated a 1% decrease in the growth rate of the economy due to the sequestration. I wish I could remember the source. But I'm curious to hear what the various short And medium term contingency plans the Lab is prepared to exercise.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5936951073896589340.post-60517201272791724332013-02-05T14:06:36.460-08:002013-02-05T14:06:36.460-08:00I remember proposals where they were putting peopl...I remember proposals where they were putting people on at 5% levels. Mostly dead weight dregs who were on lots and lots of projects at 5% and 10% levels. Typical for LDRD maybe a decade ago. Not sure if this kind of thing still goes on at LLNL.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5936951073896589340.post-61556300440710797272013-02-05T12:06:05.531-08:002013-02-05T12:06:05.531-08:00Miniscule, microscopicMiniscule, microscopicAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5936951073896589340.post-34632937444131345902013-02-05T01:27:05.034-08:002013-02-05T01:27:05.034-08:00LDRD at LLNL says it all. It's the worst case...LDRD at LLNL says it all. It's the worst case but the other labs are not far behind. Why so they bother with all the propaganda about fairness? Of you are on someone important's shit list then your proposal is going to get slapped down regardless of merit. Heard of project hijackings? Being forced to load up your proposal with all sorts of people at 10% levels which is most often too small to actually accomplish anything unless. It's neither fair nor competitive overall. Don't believe the propaganda. NNSA/DoE should just abolish the whole practice and focus on things like SBIR-like proposals instead. Make the PIs more accountable for the funding they get. That way mgmt has less levers to manipulate. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5936951073896589340.post-84725394057769763462013-02-04T22:57:58.411-08:002013-02-04T22:57:58.411-08:00Retire and no more forking over 7% of your income ...Retire and no more forking over 7% of your income pre-tax for the pension (which is more like 10%!). Also, no more forking about 6.2% for Social Security tax or close to 1.5% for the Medicare tax.<br /><br />Add it all up and you might suddenly see a tax savings of almost 18% with each monthly pension check. Even better, the monthly pension is *guaranteed* to keep up with with moderate inflation while lab salaries have been stagnating for years for most employees.<br /><br />Hmmm, this is beginning to sound rather nice!<br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5936951073896589340.post-71566786154168721292013-02-04T07:12:55.285-08:002013-02-04T07:12:55.285-08:00About LDRD, there is truth in what everyone is say...About LDRD, there is truth in what everyone is saying. First, there is some great work at the program level. However, there are too many incompetent managers who get in the way. People hire people who are like them. Second, LDRD- SI and LDRD-ER are given to the favorites and the other proposal are never seen by the committee and will not change as long as Goldstein and Fox (products of Tomas's model) are in charge. I have observed Goldstein and Fox act this way for many years to the point that great scientist tell me they will never give an idea again. The best at the laboratory are not even sharing their ideas to help us all because of this behavior. They simply block the best proposals and say they are not aligned with the current laboratory plans. As for LDRD-LW and feasibility studies they are less political. So, if you want this to change get new leadership.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5936951073896589340.post-60223959212074830262013-02-04T00:33:58.749-08:002013-02-04T00:33:58.749-08:00Oh god at LLNL the SI LDRDs was a total sham, part...Oh god at LLNL the SI LDRDs was a total sham, particularly those handed out by Tomas. Hopefully the lab cancelled these SIs after canning Tomas. Talk about cronyism. Tomas took a flawed but workable LDRD process and completely perverted it. It was never completely fair before but when Tomas was through with his decision making, LDRD sank to new lows. Can't say it ever really recovered, however. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5936951073896589340.post-67438581610820554932013-02-04T00:11:30.989-08:002013-02-04T00:11:30.989-08:00Also the LDRD defender should be surprised to know...Also the LDRD defender should be surprised to know that those posts identified are from multiple independent posters. I posting one of them. Sorry to burst your bubble. LDRD Is really a mixed bag of good and bad. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5936951073896589340.post-66447166940301803952013-02-04T00:08:16.784-08:002013-02-04T00:08:16.784-08:00It is a reality that LDRD is skewed. I know first...It is a reality that LDRD is skewed. I know first hand many LDRD project that had no business being funded over better projects that were not picked. Sorry but that is the truth. I don't know why you are so sensitive about something so obvious. You make it sound like its some kind of criminal conspiracy but we are saying that it is simply not competitive as you want to think. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5936951073896589340.post-49198322403603285982013-02-03T15:56:53.084-08:002013-02-03T15:56:53.084-08:00"These all have to be from the same guy tryin..."These all have to be from the same guy trying to come off as separate people."<br /><br />Well I'm not that guy (or those people) and I 100% concur with him/them. LDRD is a completely wired political game. If you don't think so, you either don't work at the lab or are hopelessly, embarrassingly naive.<br /><br />I've experienced and observed it for 25 years. It's entirely wired. Your 8% statistic is irrelevant. Who "wins" and why is what's relevant. (and I say that as someone who's won...for all the wrong reasons).<br /><br />What other fairy dreams do you believe? <br /><br />OSO brings in the funding to the lab....NIF will save us....?????<br /><br />Get a clue. <br /><br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5936951073896589340.post-52039080975268608182013-02-03T10:37:56.007-08:002013-02-03T10:37:56.007-08:00I wish Parney would acknowledge that many employee...I wish Parney would acknowledge that many employees are now quietly consulting bankruptcy lawyers - 7% pension contributions instead of 4% plus the impending furlough.<br /> <br />February 3, 2013 at 9:11 AM<br /><br />Plus 6.2% vs 4.2% payroll tax, plus 2.7% inflation in bay area. How much was your raise?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5936951073896589340.post-79032533770875379972013-02-03T10:05:22.953-08:002013-02-03T10:05:22.953-08:00Parney did a great job of blaming all his problems...Parney did a great job of blaming all his problems on Washington and Congress. Didn't he come from D.C.? Otta boy Parney, now that's leadership!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5936951073896589340.post-43739957506817272592013-02-03T09:59:13.953-08:002013-02-03T09:59:13.953-08:00Parney on fiscal uncertainty:
" um ... fisca...Parney on fiscal uncertainty:<br /><br />" um ... fiscal uncertainty is bad ... m'kay<br />you shouldn't have fiscal uncertainty .. m'kay"<br /><br />February 3, 2013 at 9:41 AM<br /><br />That ole Parney is a "human dynamo" isn't he? Just another pair of "wing-tipped" shoes.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5936951073896589340.post-49804180445791298362013-02-03T09:41:52.708-08:002013-02-03T09:41:52.708-08:00Parney on fiscal uncertainty:
" um ... fisca...Parney on fiscal uncertainty:<br /><br />" um ... fiscal uncertainty is bad ... m'kay<br />you shouldn't have fiscal uncertainty .. m'kay"Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5936951073896589340.post-36276512621490947572013-02-03T09:11:15.694-08:002013-02-03T09:11:15.694-08:00I wish Parney would acknowledge that many employee...I wish Parney would acknowledge that many employees are now quietly consulting bankruptcy lawyers - 7% pension contributions instead of 4% plus the impending furlough.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5936951073896589340.post-35910268628296531512013-02-03T06:26:41.117-08:002013-02-03T06:26:41.117-08:00February 2, 2013 at 10:27 PM
February 2, 2013 at 1...February 2, 2013 at 10:27 PM<br />February 2, 2013 at 10:42 PM<br />February 3, 2013 at 12:38 AM<br />February 3, 2013 at 12:49 AM<br /><br />These all have to be from the same guy trying to come off as separate people. <br /><br />Nothing this guy says makes sense. <br /> "I have been told repeatedly by senior people, including managers that LDRD is skewed toward need based awards."<br /><br /> How is it that after all these years no else has ever heard such an allegation. The 8% is decided by a committee that looks at the proposals. They would all have to in collusion to give it to people in funding need rather than the idea. There is no instruction that says for funding needs, there is no form saying what their funding is. No one says we have to give money for funding reasons. I too have been on these committees and what you say is not true. <br /><br />"But my observation is also that to a large extent, atleast 50% and likely more, is needs based. "<br /><br />Total and out and out bs on your part, this I know is not true. If anything the people who get LDRD <br />can get funding many different ways since on average you have to be very good to even be competitive for LDRD at 8% success rate. I know this number is not true and you just made it up or are utterly clueless. <br /><br /><br />"There are more than a few people who think continual 100% LDRD funding is a birth right, and will NOT consider programmatic work."<br /><br />Again this is bs and cannot even be true. Even if someone though it was their birthright to get LDRD they would have to compete for like everyone else. They cannot force anyone to give them LDRD. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5936951073896589340.post-19737534210252671742013-02-03T00:49:03.063-08:002013-02-03T00:49:03.063-08:00The 8% success rate just means that 8% gets picked...The 8% success rate just means that 8% gets picked. They Are loaded with people who have funding shortfalls every year. People who are well integrated into the programs and have no concerns with funding most often participate at very low effort% levels or not at all. Occasionally you have truly novel projects that are worthy of funding and require a very select team. More often than not, the LDRD projects are meh derivative and incremental and only need to be staffed with those who need funding. Yes this sounds brutal. But that's the way it is. I've had to jump through the idiotic LDRD hoops and I've had to serve on committees to make applicants jump through idiotic hoops. This is the reality of LDRD.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5936951073896589340.post-65476719979164947682013-02-03T00:38:34.763-08:002013-02-03T00:38:34.763-08:00All the labs have this problem with LDRD. It'...All the labs have this problem with LDRD. It's just too bad too. I am completely okay with LDRD for early career new hires that are promising. Also 100% LDRD for superstars. But my observation is also that to a large extent, atleast 50% and likely more, is needs based. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5936951073896589340.post-84705366973530479902013-02-02T22:42:46.319-08:002013-02-02T22:42:46.319-08:00Anonymous said...
You are saying science is not us...Anonymous said...<br />You are saying science is not useful at a science lab.<br /><br />February 2, 2013 at 9:15 AM<br /><br />----<br /><br />I'm not saying science isn't important.Where in my post did I say that? What I'm saying is that why would the US Government fund SNL/LANL/LLNL at Cadillac overhead rates to do the same work that some public university professor w/ his 10 chinese postdocs can do for literally 1/10th the cost?<br /><br />The NWC is great at its intended purpose: national security research. Why is this such a controversial view point around here? I have no problems with the LDRD program, but you shouldn't expect to be 100% funded on LDRDs unless you are doing something really fantastic.<br /><br />There are more than a few people who think continual 100% LDRD funding is a birth right, and will NOT consider programmatic work. To my mind, the entire purpose of LDRD is to attract, train and engage top notch people to do national security work...not welfare for scientists who can't get a faculty job.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5936951073896589340.post-52513073155176566162013-02-02T22:27:03.402-08:002013-02-02T22:27:03.402-08:00This is just pure bs. How can the money go to the ...This is just pure bs. How can the money go to the neediest when it is a competition. It does not work they way you say and it never has worked that way. Why do you say this kind of stuff? Who are you trying to fool since anyone in the labs knows what you are saying is just a bunch of crap. <br /><br />Also you going on about how people look down on programatic work is again just wrong. After 20yrs I have never meet someone with an view like this. There is no two ways about this either you are wrong or I am wrong.<br /><br />February 2, 2013 at 10:05 PM<br /><br />----<br /><br />Look, I know many a "scientist" with this attitude. It is not my imagination. You may not encounter them, but I worth with many of them. Fact. <br /><br />Secondly, I have been told repeatedly by senior people, including managers that LDRD is skewed toward need based awards. Yes, the award rate is 8%, but somebody as smart as yourself should be able to figure out that the % has nothing to do with the method for allocation. That assumption on your part does not follow logically. <br /><br />Again, I do not make this crap up, it is what I have seen and what I have been told. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com