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Thursday, October 13, 2016
WIPP raises questions
"Second ceiling collapse at WIPP raises readiness questions"
For your consideration: "What is a young person considering a career related to the nuclear industries (weapons or energy) to do?"
Outside the industry, many employers grimace when reading the words "nuclear energy" or "radiation" anywhere in a resume. Eyebrows may perk up, but more often they furrow.
After public and political figures have tar-and-feathered facilities like Y12, Rocky Flats, Fukushima, WIPP, etc. who wants to be associated with anything having to do with nuclear science and engineering?
Sure, many old timers have/are leaving vacancies in well-paid positions for up-and-comers, but it seems like a one way trip. The general attitude out in the real world is that anything touching nuclear materials is hounded by impotence and incompetence. What future does such a position have when our politicians increasingly seek to demonize or apologize for all things nuclear?
At what point does a reference from LLNL, SNL, INL, or their ilk (active or defunct) become a dark smudge on a person's record? When does taking a job offer at a nuclear lab mean a life sentence relegated to obscurity and obsolescence?
>"Outside the industry, many employers grimace when reading the words "nuclear >energy" or "radiation" anywhere in a resume. Eyebrows may perk up, but more often >they furrow. "
How come all the people I know who left the labs found very nice jobs?
>"After public and political figures have tar-and-feathered facilities like Y12, >Rocky Flats, Fukushima, WIPP, etc. who wants to be associated with anything having >to do with nuclear science and engineering?"
No has ever heard of Y12, Rocky Flats, or WIPP. So to answer your questions, lots of people apparently.
>Sure, many old timers have/are leaving vacancies in well-paid positions for up-and-comers, but it seems like a one way trip. The general attitude out in the real world is that anything touching nuclear materials is hounded by impotence and incompetence. What future does such a position have when our politicians increasingly seek to demonize or apologize for all things nuclear?"
There is no general attitude, no increasing demonetization. Increasing delusion on your part, yes that is true.
"At what point does a reference from LLNL, SNL, INL, or their ilk (active or defunct) become a dark smudge on a person's record? "
At no point.
I think your personal situation my be, how should we say this politely...clouding your view of the world. Perhaps it goes something like this: you got fired from LANL, LLNL or SNL due to very poor performance. You of course did not see it that was since you a brilliant genius who is not appreciated. You tried to get a job elsewhere but because you have such a poor record and no sane person will vouch for you, finding employment has been very difficult. This is in direct conflict with you being a genius so what is the reason no one wants you anywhere near their workplace? It must be because having worked at one of the labs is "dark smudge on your person". Now their is that little problem with the many hundreds of people who leave the labs every year for very nice jobs at Google, Microsoft, Facebook, Universities, other non NNSA labs, startups, industry and Wallstreet as technical and mathematical skills are in great demand. So how does one get around this? Well go back to square one and ask yourself if maybe, just maybe the issue is with you and not the labs or the people that work at the labs. Here is a big one that might give you some insight into yourself, just ask yourself just one very simple questions: do you think this world owes you something? I will not give you the answer to this question as it is journey you will need to take on your own. Good luck.
Ex: yes. Disgruntled: not quite. I am retired now, thankfully, though clearly bored. Still, I can't help feeling like some of you don't get out much. Too many hours stuck in the lab, eh? I joke, but I am quite serious about the importance of leaving one's circle of "nuclear business friends" once in a while. Engage with the broader business/management/engineering/scientific community and ask just how many people really care about this stuff anymore... I suppose perspective is everything though. All I can say is that it used to be that the nuclear business was respected and funded above all others.
My question was more in regards to those who touch "the stuff," instead of those who work at these facilities but are focused on topics of tertiary relation to the nuclear business. Not the computer scientist working on a variety of simulations, not the group leader in charge of a dozen different projects, not the chemist studying anything and everything "nano." What we used to call the "Cold War Warrior," but now not nearly so dramatic.
I realize now that this blog is very diverse. People here do indeed work on things other than nuclear science and engineering. I didn't make myself clear and I failed to recognize that few here come from INL/SNL/LANL/Rocky Flats backgrounds and strictly nuclear interests. This is a blog for LLNL and that lab is likely a different animal entirely and I didn't think about this audience. Interesting that there isn't even a LANL blog anymore... lack of interest at that blog as well as layoffs at that actual lab would seem to be a small proof of my point (rats jumping the ship and all that business) and my error (folks here are interested in more than the nuclear industry). I just wrote what I thought about the changes in the nuclear industry after thinking about the topic of the post (WIPP). I apologize.
To answer a few questions: *Yes WIPP, Rocky Flats, Y12, Fukushima and other "infamous" facilities are recognized outside the industry, especially locally. Perhaps not by the "average Joe," but the "nuclear blunder" pieces reported in the general media have not gone unnoticed. Reputation is a real thing.
*No, a tech startup in silicon valley does not have a great interest in hiring somebody who has spent 10-20 years working on bombs or reactors that were never built. No, you are not likely to see a Tesla or Google hire droves of people who can't write code, but have great experience working "parts" in a helium glovebox or measuring the heat capacity of americium. No, universities will not rush to hire people with expertise primarily based in radioactive materials. Why hire an electron microscopist who works with hot cell materials when some other person will be just as proficient with instruments of equal (or greater) caliber and more experience in materials relevant to your business?
At any rate, many of you seem to have a very different skill set or position than what I was aiming to address. I wish you all luck.
October 17, 2016 at 5:51 PM is the drivel-poster. Firmly convinced of his superiority and condescendingly so. Secure in his psycobabble garbage about someone else's post. He's a master of his world, which fortunately for him, no one else occupies.
11 comments:
When a drum of LANL waste went pop,
then everything at WIPP must stop.
It sure will be nice to see it re-start,
and move past what was called a fart.
But now we hear that the roof is falling,
this news is simply appalling!
Taxpayers spending more and more money,
no one should find this funny.
10-14-16 "Part of WIPP closing over employee safety concerns"
https://www.abqjournal.com/868005/part-of-wipp-closing-over-employee-safety-concerns.html
October 15, 2016 at 11:05 AM
I think it's called "doggerel." Yay for you. Are you happy now?
For your consideration: "What is a young person considering a career related to the nuclear industries (weapons or energy) to do?"
Outside the industry, many employers grimace when reading the words "nuclear energy" or "radiation" anywhere in a resume. Eyebrows may perk up, but more often they furrow.
After public and political figures have tar-and-feathered facilities like Y12, Rocky Flats, Fukushima, WIPP, etc. who wants to be associated with anything having to do with nuclear science and engineering?
Sure, many old timers have/are leaving vacancies in well-paid positions for up-and-comers, but it seems like a one way trip. The general attitude out in the real world is that anything touching nuclear materials is hounded by impotence and incompetence. What future does such a position have when our politicians increasingly seek to demonize or apologize for all things nuclear?
At what point does a reference from LLNL, SNL, INL, or their ilk (active or defunct) become a dark smudge on a person's record? When does taking a job offer at a nuclear lab mean a life sentence relegated to obscurity and obsolescence?
-T.D.
Doggerel followed by drivel.
When does taking a job offer at a nuclear lab mean a life sentence relegated to obscurity and obsolescence?
Uhh, like never.
>"Outside the industry, many employers grimace when reading the words "nuclear >energy" or "radiation" anywhere in a resume. Eyebrows may perk up, but more often >they furrow. "
How come all the people I know who left the labs found very nice jobs?
>"After public and political figures have tar-and-feathered facilities like Y12, >Rocky Flats, Fukushima, WIPP, etc. who wants to be associated with anything having >to do with nuclear science and engineering?"
No has ever heard of Y12, Rocky Flats, or WIPP. So to answer your questions, lots of people apparently.
>Sure, many old timers have/are leaving vacancies in well-paid positions for up-and-comers, but it seems like a one way trip. The general attitude out in the real world is that anything touching nuclear materials is hounded by impotence and incompetence. What future does such a position have when our politicians increasingly seek to demonize or apologize for all things nuclear?"
There is no general attitude, no increasing demonetization. Increasing delusion on your part, yes that is true.
"At what point does a reference from LLNL, SNL, INL, or their ilk (active or defunct) become a dark smudge on a person's record? "
At no point.
I think your personal situation my be, how should we say this politely...clouding your view of the world. Perhaps it goes something like this: you got fired from LANL, LLNL or SNL due to very poor performance. You of course did not see it that was since you a brilliant genius who is not appreciated. You tried to get a job elsewhere but because you have such a poor record and no sane person will vouch for you, finding employment has been very difficult. This is in direct conflict with you being a genius so what is the reason no one wants you anywhere near their workplace? It must be because having worked at one of the labs is "dark smudge on your person". Now their is that little problem with the many hundreds of people who leave the labs every year for very nice jobs at Google, Microsoft, Facebook, Universities, other non NNSA labs, startups, industry and Wallstreet as technical and mathematical skills are in great demand. So how does one get around this? Well go back to square one and ask yourself if maybe, just maybe the issue is with you and not the labs or the people that work at the labs. Here is a big one that might give you some insight into yourself, just ask yourself just one very simple questions: do you think this world owes you something? I will not give you the answer to this question as it is journey you will need to take on your own. Good luck.
Dear anonymous philosopher, are you one of the outgoing or incoming, corporate managers at VW?
Dear anonymous philosopher, are you one of the outgoing or incoming, corporate managers at VW?
October 17, 2016 at 6:28 PM
I assume you are talking about the poser of the drivel by
-T.D.
October 17, 2016 at 10:20 AM
I would guess they are a disgruntled ex employee. Just saying.
Ex: yes. Disgruntled: not quite. I am retired now, thankfully, though clearly bored. Still, I can't help feeling like some of you don't get out much. Too many hours stuck in the lab, eh? I joke, but I am quite serious about the importance of leaving one's circle of "nuclear business friends" once in a while. Engage with the broader business/management/engineering/scientific community and ask just how many people really care about this stuff anymore... I suppose perspective is everything though. All I can say is that it used to be that the nuclear business was respected and funded above all others.
My question was more in regards to those who touch "the stuff," instead of those who work at these facilities but are focused on topics of tertiary relation to the nuclear business. Not the computer scientist working on a variety of simulations, not the group leader in charge of a dozen different projects, not the chemist studying anything and everything "nano." What we used to call the "Cold War Warrior," but now not nearly so dramatic.
I realize now that this blog is very diverse. People here do indeed work on things other than nuclear science and engineering. I didn't make myself clear and I failed to recognize that few here come from INL/SNL/LANL/Rocky Flats backgrounds and strictly nuclear interests. This is a blog for LLNL and that lab is likely a different animal entirely and I didn't think about this audience. Interesting that there isn't even a LANL blog anymore... lack of interest at that blog as well as layoffs at that actual lab would seem to be a small proof of my point (rats jumping the ship and all that business) and my error (folks here are interested in more than the nuclear industry). I just wrote what I thought about the changes in the nuclear industry after thinking about the topic of the post (WIPP). I apologize.
To answer a few questions:
*Yes WIPP, Rocky Flats, Y12, Fukushima and other "infamous" facilities are recognized outside the industry, especially locally. Perhaps not by the "average Joe," but the "nuclear blunder" pieces reported in the general media have not gone unnoticed. Reputation is a real thing.
*No, a tech startup in silicon valley does not have a great interest in hiring somebody who has spent 10-20 years working on bombs or reactors that were never built. No, you are not likely to see a Tesla or Google hire droves of people who can't write code, but have great experience working "parts" in a helium glovebox or measuring the heat capacity of americium. No, universities will not rush to hire people with expertise primarily based in radioactive materials. Why hire an electron microscopist who works with hot cell materials when some other person will be just as proficient with instruments of equal (or greater) caliber and more experience in materials relevant to your business?
At any rate, many of you seem to have a very different skill set or position than what I was aiming to address. I wish you all luck.
T.D., the delusional/rambling philosopher
October 17, 2016 at 5:51 PM is the drivel-poster. Firmly convinced of his superiority and condescendingly so. Secure in his psycobabble garbage about someone else's post. He's a master of his world, which fortunately for him, no one else occupies.
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