LLNL - The True Story -

Anonymously contributed: Bechtel Bringing in the Bacon! From the Huffington Post. "The House deliberations gave us a great example. Leading up to the NDAA vote, the House and Senate Appropriations Committees had already canceled funding for a $6 billion plutonium laboratory . The committees agreed with a Pentagon and the National Nuclear Security Administration recommendation that the proposed facility at Los Alamos National Laboratory in New Mexico was unnecessary. For once, it seemed reasonable heads had prevailed. It made no sense to put money toward a facility that would produce nuclear warhead components when we already have more than enough components stockpiled, and we're operating under treaties that call for the U.S. to reduce its nuclear arsenal. Then Rep. Mike Turner (R-Ohio) added provisions to the NDAA that took the money for the plutonium lab that had been cut from the Department of Energy's budget and added it to the Department of De...

Anonymously contributed ************************** - Russia turns up the nuclear rhetoric - Financial Times of London - May 24, 2012 Before Dmitry Medvedev’s valedictory speech earlier this month, the outgoing president awarded medals to dozens of Russians, including a theatre director, a policewoman and the chairman of the Russian hockey federation. Then, taking the podium in a glittering Kremlin ballroom, Mr Medvedev declared that Russia’s younger generation needed positive role models to inspire them towards “success in literature, art, education, and” – he paused wistfully – “nuclear weapons”. “They may still come in handy,” he said, apropos, seemingly, of nothing. “We’re not going to use them, but let’s still keep them around, because we have a big country, a complex country. We must value it and protect it.” ....In speech after speech this month, Russian officials have tried to out-Dr Strangelove each other in warning of a potential nuclear conflagration. The rhetoric, whic...

Anonymously contributed: Hey LLNS management! That is how you motivate workers, with gestures like these! http://finance.yahoo.com/news/apple-ceo-cook-gives-75m-150805401.html

Anonymously contributed: Looks like there will be a fight between the Republican controlled House and White House over the restructuring of NNSA in the FY13 budget. From the WH Statement late last week on H.R. 4310 – National Defense Authorization Act for FY 2013... "Department of Energy (DOE) and Contractor Management Relationships: The Administration strongly objects to elements of sections 1061 and 1062 and certain provisions of Title 31 that change the responsibilities, authorities, and reporting requirements between and among DOE, the National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA), contractors managing and operating the national laboratories, the President, and the Congress. Some of these changes fundamentally alter the relationship between DOE and NNSA by restricting the authority of the Secretary of Energy and transferring responsibilities from DOE to NNSA. The bill also: (1) legislates the establishment of a council of the national laboratory contractors with the aut...

BY Gary Gwilliam of Gwilliam, Ivary, Chiosso, Cavalli, & Brewer of Oakland, CA Read media advisory here

Anonymously contributed: Former Commander of STRATCOM recommends smaller US nuclear stockpile. http://www.nytimes.com/2012/05/16/world/cartwright-key-retired-general-backs-large-us-nuclear-reduction.html?_r=1

Anonymously contibutedL In the recent House Armed Services Committee proposed changes to NNSA, the strangest item seems to have attracted the least amount of attention. In the final bill that was passed last week --- SEC. 4509. DESIGN AND USE OF PROTOTYPES OF NUCLEAR WEAPONS FOR INTELLIGENCE PURPOSES. (a) PROTOTYPES. - The Administrator shall develop and carry out a plan for the national security laboratories and nuclear weapons production plants to design and build prototypes of nuclear weapons to further intelligence estimates with respect to foreign nuclear weapons activities. (b) PROHIBITION ON PRODUCTION OF NUCLEAR YIELDS. - In carrying out subsection (a), the Administrator may not conduct any experiments that produce a nuclear yield. ----- What the Heck?! This appears as an unnecessary action by Congress. Did one of the Lab Directors corner some overworked congressional staffer at a cocktail party and say; "Hey, you know what will re...

Anonymously contributed: There are no future or current jobs in the nuclear field. Is DOE setting people up to fail ? http://chronicle.augusta.com/news/education/2012-05-08/doe-investing-47-million-stimulate-nuclear-careers?v=1336509903

Anonymously contributed: *** NNSA could soon face workforce gaps but struggles to monitor them *** NNSA faces challenges in recruiting young workers May 1, 2012 - By Molly Bernhart Walker The National Nuclear Security Administration and the contractors who operate the national lab sites for NNSA may soon face a workforce shortage, according to an April 26 Government Accountability Office report (.pdf). NNSA's hiring and retention efforts have typically focused on "attracting early career hires with competitive pay and development opportunities," but the positions may not be appealing to today's young workers, say report authors.... read more.... http://www.fiercegovernment.com/story/nnsa-could-soon-face-workforce-gaps-struggles-monitor-them/2012-05-01

Anonymously contributed? Anyone notice an increase of LANL TSMs going on overhead? That 2% retroactive tax on programs to pay for the VSP seems like a huge management mistake.