LLNL - The True Story -

Anonymous said: For those of you who fell victim to the ISP and have not spoke with the attorney's, here is the information: GWILLIAM, IVARY, CHIOSSO, CAVALLI & BREWER P.O. BOX 2079 OAKLAND, CA. 94604 (510) 832-5411 ext. 257. Ask for Winston. There IS something we can do in a 'team effort' to fight the UNFAIR treatment we received!!!!!!

A new 22 page Inspection Report ( INS-O-09-01 ) is available at the DOE Office of Inspector General website. Here is a summary of the findings from the accompanying memorandum: RESULTS OF INSPECTION We concluded that Livermore and Sandia officials did not fully adhere to Department requirements regarding security clearance justifications. Specifically, we found that Livermore and Sandia officials requested and retained security clearances inconsistent with Department policy. We determined that this issue went undetected by Livermore, Sandia, and Service Center personnel security officials because there were no internal controls in place to validate the justification of need as stated on the security clearance requests. We made three recommendations to management designed to ensure that future security clearance request justifications are subject to improved internal controls. MANAGEMENT REACTION In responding to a draft of this report, the Office of Health, Safety and Security (HS) str...

I got a call today from a friend at LLNL who told me FR delivered a talk while I was absent to his business and plant administrators where he told them with the current state of affairs and funding levels you should expect LLNL population be down to 3,500 people by 2010. Can you check on this or confirm his message and please see if the talk was video taped for the peons to view .

Holidays are a time to focus on what's most important The holidays are upon us, and once again many of us are stringing lights from chimneys and eaves, hanging decorations inside and out and rushing about with last-minute shopping and errands. Winter storms are bringing snow to the mountains and cold rain and fog to the valleys. The scene is set for happy holidays with family and friends. But all too often, the scene also is set for accidents. So I’m urging each and every one of you to keep safety -­ at home and here at the Laboratory ­- topmost in your mind during this hectic season. We continue to emphasize the need to do work safely in all Laboratory activities. We made good progress earlier this year in decreasing safety incidents and injuries, but there are indications that our safety culture continues to need improvement. Most worrisome are rumblings that some employees are afraid to speak up about safety issues and are feeling pressured to meet schedules and deliverables at ...

Just wondering how many NSTech employees are splitting the ~$840,000 bonus for scoring 95%? George only got a 70% - a D- on the 7 point system that was in effect when I went to school.

Anonymous said... There is talk that the USD may be devalued. I am wondering what folks think will happen with retirement accounts if that happens and how one can protect oneself. Would you, for example, cash out from UC and use the money to buy gold? Please respond if you have an informed opinion gained either through knowldege of economics or from reading informed commentary. Links to good articles would also be appreciated. December 19, 2008 7:29 AM

Frank Young said... Livermore Lab Workers May Be Exposed To Toxic Dust "Seward said the laboratory is surveying 160 buildings looking for beryllium contamination. Already, they've found some startling results: 20 buildings with levels above acceptable, and a few with "more extensive" contamination. And now they're assessing how many more workers were exposed: So far, 250 have been identified as having past exposure to beryllium and another 350 are being watched." December 19, 2008 11:52 AM

From the LANL Blog Tuesday, December 16, 2008 Subject: NF-09-0066: Message from President Stephen M. Younger Date: Mon, 15 Dec 2008 15:42:30 -0800 I am very happy to report that National Security Technologies LLC has been awarded an OUTSTANDING rating by the Department of Energy for exemplary work during fiscal year 2008. Last week we were informed that we had achieved a score of 95% - one of the highest in the DOE complex. This recognition of superior performance is the result of a year-long commitment to excellence by the entire organization. As part of this recognition, the period of performance on our contract was extended through September 2012, by exercising our first award term year. In addition to the DOE, your outstanding performance was recognized by the parent companies of NSTec. I am pleased to announce that our Board of Managers has unanimously approved a resolution to share 3% of the FY08 award fee earned by our company with employees. This is in addition to the sev...

Anonymous said... NNSA announces decisions to transform national security enterprise December 17, 2008 The plan to transform and downsize the National Nuclear Security Administration’s (NNSA) infrastructure moved forward Tuesday as the head of NNSA signed two formal decision documents to begin its implementation. That action allows the agency to continue the process of moving from an aging, Cold War-era nuclear weapons complex into a 21st century national security enterprise. “We can now start moving forward on much-needed consolidation and reductions throughout our national security enterprise, shifting to more cost effective operations that will save the taxpayer money,” said NNSA Administrator Thomas D’Agostino. “This will improve the safety and security of the infrastructure that maintains U.S. nuclear weapons, helps prevent the spread of nuclear weapons and material, and responds to potential nuclear terrorism or other emergencies.” The records of decision, signed by D’Agostino,...

Anonymous wanted to know why do you think you should be Secretary of Energy. WHat does it take to be one? why do you think you could do the job or what would you do different?

Bechtel awarded contact extension for LANL. You can bet, it will happen here! Bechtel rewarded!

I heard that our PSO's are going to join forces with the SNL guards. Can anyone confirm or deny?

Yes, I said it and will continue to say it. I'm so tired of being politically correct and wishing people "Happy Holidays". Me, I beleive in Jesus and therfore will wish you "Merry Christmas". You may do the same to me when I say it to you or you may wish me "Happy Hanukkah", "Happy Kwanzza" or what ever your beliefs may or may not be. See, America was founded on the Christian belief (that there is a God) and with the exception of the past dozen or so years, we were allowed to speak our minds (Freedom of speech). Now, it seems that my saying Merry Christmas to some "offends" them and they use their freedom of speech right to stifile my freedom of speech. So, no matter what you want to say (well almost - please say something nice!) to someone this holiday season - remember, your right to say it is part of our culture. MERRY CHRISTMAS & HAPPY NEW YEAR!

A year ago, I posted this torch in the first post of this BLOG vowing to continue the defunct http://llnlthefinalstory.blogspot.com. I named it llnlthetruestory. I am about ready to hand the ownership to the next volunteer. Please email me if you want to continue the BLOG.

From an LA Times article: The 'malware' strike, thought to be from inside Russia, hit combat zone computers and the U.S. Central Command overseeing Iraq and Afghanistan. The attack underscores concerns about computer warfare. By Julian E. Barnes November 28, 2008 Reporting from Washington -- Senior military leaders took the exceptional step of briefing President Bush this week on a severe and widespread electronic attack on Defense Department computers that may have originated in Russia -- an incursion that posed unusual concern among commanders and raised potential implications for national security. Defense officials would not describe the extent of damage inflicted on military networks. But they said that the attack struck hard at networks within U.S. Central Command, the headquarters that oversees U.S. involvement in Iraq and Afghanistan, and affected computers in combat zones. The attack also penetrated at least one highly protected classified network. Military computers a...

Anonymous said: For what its worth as a TPC-1er I received a letter from the Chairman of the LLNS Benefits & Investment Committee of the LLNS, LLC Board of Governors. It's dated Nov 25, 2009. I don't know if TPC-2ers also received it. It is reproduced below in case it was not sent to all LLNL employees... ------- Dear LLNS Defined Benefits Pension Plan Participant: Many of you have asked questions regarding the health and security of your pension benefits and the potential for requiring employee contributions to the LLNL Plan in the future. At the all-hands meeting on November 18, 2008, George Miller announced that the LLNS Plan is healthy and safe. Your pension benefit is a function of your years of service and salary. These factors provide you with a steady stream of monthly pension payments regardless of economic conditions. Your monthly pension payments (Plan liabilities) are made from assets in the LLNS Plan. Even though the financial markets have declined substantiall...

Thank you Dianne! Dianne Feinstein is sponsoring this bill!

Anonymous said: Rumors are that there is about to be an announcement of a new interim CIO. Also to be rumored is the the new interim CIO is going to be Donna Crawford. This announcement has been rumored to be imminent for some time now. Maybe something will finally happen in IT. It has been too long without proper leadership or direction