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Dr Chu's Visit

I expected B123 to be overflowing! I expected dozens of questions!
I expected the contributors of the "open letter to Dr Chu"s to be there to ask the
questions, didn't you?

Comments

Anonymous said…
I expected more than a presentation on the effects of global warming.
Anonymous said…
The talk was not given at B123.

The auditorium was filled to capacity.

Only a handful of questions before time was called.

A Secretary of Energy with a passion for the energy mission. Who would have thunk it?
Anonymous said…
It just wasn't B123 that showed no interest in Chu. I walked by our conference room during the presentation. The TV was on, but whoever turned it on had left. Not one person was interested in the the Secretary of Energy had to say.
Anonymous said…
I expected more than a presentation on the effects of global warming.
Anonymous said…
An energy secretary who actually understands and is enthusiastic about science? An energy secretary who asks why are we hiring dozens of people to write bookshelves of manuals? Who recognizes Washington does not have all answers and should not be micromanaging everything? This is by far the best Energy secretary we have had in long, long time.
Anonymous said…
I was not surprised when attendance was limited to by invitation only.
I was surprised when questions via e-mail were solicited.
I am not surprised that no e-mailed questions were asked.
My question is being forwarded to the Secretary directly where I expect at least the courtesy of an acknowledgment.
Anonymous said…
What did he say about global warming? (as I lookout my window and see 5 inches of snow)
Anonymous said…
I think Dr Chu made it very clear. If LLNL wants funding they'll start working on project that are for the immediate good of the nation and that's, "alternative energy", NOT, NIF, LIFE or any other weapons related "tool" for stockpile stewardship. In so many words he said, pay attention and shift your mission or slowly but surely watch your funding for all project dwindle away until there's not enough to keep the doors open, eventually shutting LLNL down entirely. Remember, if LLNL goes alternative energy we're in direct competition with UC Berserkeley and DOE only needs one lab to do this type of research. Who do you think will win in this alternative energy arena? Regardless it looks like he's on the right track. The question is, is LLNL / LLNS / UC listening or will it just be more of the same.
Anonymous said…
You may not agree with Dr. Chu’s politics or even global warming, I don’t, but to ask such a stupid question about drug testing after Dr. Chu’s presentation was appalling at best. I am a technician and for the last 20 plus years, I have endured the arrogance of many LLNL’s best and brightest. What I have discovered is that the best and brightest were at LLNL in the fifties. Most ST&E individuals left today are arrogant at best, whiners today describes them better. As a technician, I have brought into LLNL 1 million plus in WFO work in the last five years, and I have gained nothing for it. 99% of the LLNL ST&E’s will never bring in a single dollar this includes the recent ST&E in charge of Science and Engineering.

Dr. Chu’s presentation was a presentation to challenge the LLNL workforce to be innovative. It went over the heads of most people in the conference room, he even made a dig at the status quo ST&E’s with his Bell Labs comment about young post doc’s being the innovators.

Truly, the idiot that made the drug testing comment should be shown the door. Do you want to work around a crack head or alcoholic? My question to the idiot that asked the drug-testing question would be, do you want to fly on a plane where the pilot is on crack? I don’t!! Here at LLNL though were special were the best & brightest we don’t need drug tests. LLNL’s best and brightest are delusional at best. Arrogant describes most of the LLNL management. I am sick and tired of being talked down to by a LLNL management team that is never innovative. The only innovative ideas developed today are how to screw over the rank & file. Division offices, Department offices, and 111, only exist by taxes charged on the rank and file. These individuals once in there positions never have to go out and secure funding they just raise internal taxes to justify themselves.

I would challenge any of the current ULM management not the rank & file to develop an idea that would start a 100 million dollar plus program at LLNL to employ individuals. My guess, this will never happen most of the LLNL management is political innovative not technically innovative.

If a ST&E is more worried about drug tests than technological innovation, LLNL is in its final death spiral.
Anonymous said…
To October 28, 2009 5:30 PM

EXCELLENT assessment of Dr Chu's speech. Glad someone was REALLY listening.

You are 100% correct in stating "is LLNL / LLNS / UC listening or will it just be more of the same"!!

For those who are still employed there, unlike this ISP'd individual, I certainly hope "they" ARE listening!!!

I wish you luck my friend!!
Anonymous said…
Due to my various jobs, I have been drug tested for the past 38 years. Since I don't use drugs, it is not a problem.

I guess that if I did use drugs, I would complain about testing for drug use.
Anonymous said…
To October 28, 2009 5:30 PM

I too agree with your assessment of Dr Chu talk. I'm going to bet ULM didn't hear a word he said and is hoping in four years he'll be gone and the next Secretary of Energy will endorse weapons science in the meantime losing millions in funding, laying off thousands of people and missing some great opportunities to do what this country really needs. We need energy independence from those whose only goal in life is to kill you. I would think that along would be a motivator.
Anonymous said…
"Arrogant describes most of the LLNL management."

It also describes most of the scientists and software engineers that I had the "pleasure" of working with.

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