LLNL - The True Story -

Anonymously contributed: The story below about the death of Boeing's Super-Weapons Lab will sound *very* familiar to anyone who has been working at LLNL or LANL over the last few years. It probably should get its own top level posing on this blog: --------- Bureaucracy, Labor Woes Doom Super-Weapons Lab http://www.wired.com/dangerroom/2011/11/mega-weapons-lab/

Anonymously contributed: November 28, 2011 - LANL Memo Director Charlie McMillan has established a Laboratory Integrated Stewardship Council (LISC) to make financial decisions and provide approvals (staffing and spending) in order to keep Laboratory spending in line with current budget expectations. McMillan notes that LANL's key challenge for FY12 will be “to manage our staffing and spending to levels that will accommodate the ~$200M budget reduction that we expect to see in FY12.” He set up the LISC to ensure that resources are managed in a consistent and appropriate fashion throughout the Laboratory. Rich Marquez of the Director’s Office (DIR) will lead the LISC, which includes Terry Wallace of Global Security (PADGS), Bret Knapp of Weapons Programs (PADWP), Carl Beard of Operations and Business (PADOPS), Alan Bishop of Science, Technology, and Engineering (PADSTE), and Paul Henry of Capital Projects (PADCAP).

Interesting report on how to solve our problems. Makes sense. Some politicians and their corporate allies dont want the changes. We do. We can let them know in October 2012. http://www.ips-dc.org/reports/america_is_not_broke

Anonymously contributed: Great story about LLNL manager, Battelle: http://www.npr.org/2011/11/21/142583959/youre-probably-using-battelle-technology-and-dont-even-know-it

ANonymous contribution: So the super committee failed. It should mean big cuts for defense. Now the question is whether this includes NNSA and DOE. Anyone know anything?

Respondens: 56 More: 1 less: 41 the same: 14

Chu testifies on Solyndra loan. http://www.c-span.org/Events/Energy-Secretary-Chu-Testifies-on-Solyndra-Loan/10737425577-1/

Anonymously contributed: Russian military chief warns of nuclear war risks By Vladimir Isachenkov - Associated Press November 17, 2011 MOSCOW (AP) — Russia is facing a heightened risk of being drawn into conflicts at its borders that have the potential of turning nuclear, the nation's top military officer said Thursday. Gen. Nikolai Makarov, chief of the General Staff of the Russian armed forces, cautioned over NATO's expansion eastward and warned that the risks of Russia being pulled into local conflicts have "risen sharply." Makarov added, according to Russian news agencies, that "under certain conditions local and regional conflicts may develop into a full-scale war involving nuclear weapons." A steady decline in Russia's conventional forces has prompted the Kremlin to rely increasingly on its nuclear deterrent. The nation's military doctrine says it may use nuclear weapons to counter a nuclear attack on Russia or an ally, or a large-sca...

Anonymously contributed: The 192 lasers of the National Ignition Facility have so far failed to focus enough energy on a tiny fuel pellet to initiate nuclear fusion. Click below to continue reading: http://www.physicstoday.org/daily_edition/politics_and_policy/1.2657141

ANOYMOUSLY CONTRIBUTED: Employee benefit cuts at ORNL; no word yet on voluntary departures As part of the announcement back in September that the lab was looking to cut up to 350 jobs to prepare for budget shortfalls and perceived tight budgets in the future, ORNL Director Thom Mason said management would also be evaluating changes in employee benefits as a way to reduce costs. At the time, he said the lab didn't want to proceed too quickly because there could be ramifications on recruiting, etc. On Monday, however, Mason announced to staff that the Dept. of Energy had approved UT-Battelle's decision to suspend matching contributions to employee 401(k) savings plans for non-bargaining unit employees and also make changes in the paid leave policy to better position the lab for the future. The timing of the announcement apparently was to let that info be known for employees considering a voluntary departure program (deadline for applications is tomorrow, Nov. 16). The numbe...

Anonymously contributed: DOE restructuring? At least, someone is thinking about it. NY Times article

This breaking news below just in from ABC News. Dr. Chu is in serious trouble. I wonder when the media will start to investigate "Bechtel-gate" and Tom D'Agostino over at the NNSA?: http://abcnews.go.com/Blotter/white-house-email-energy-secretary-chu/story?id=14934698#.Tr7ZV_KwVX7

Anonymously contributed: LANS Voluntary Retirement Incentive Program? Does anyone have any information of a VRIP at LANS slated for April 2012 at LANS and LLNS? It looks like LANS is lining their ducks (e.g. creating RIF lists) for major a VRIP and/or RIF based on a significant budget reduction for FY 2012. This is also based on the possibility of automatic "across the board" super-committee budget cuts. MacMillan will be speaking to this on November 15.

Anonymously contributed (unconfirmed): layoffs at NIF! couple of nif employees told me that 40 people went out the door on 11/01/11.

Anonymously contributed by a different contributor: http://www.physorg.com/news/2011-11-scientists-blame-los-alamos.html

Anonymously contributed: Take a look at Hugh Gusterson's article in the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists, "The Assault on Los Alamos National Laboratory". I think it does a pretty good job of briefly describing the mismanagement and decline of LANL (and LLNL) over the last several years. http://bos.sagepub.com/content/67/6/9.full.pdf+html