I just received my annual TCP-1 letter from LLNS and a summary of the LLNS Pension Plan. Looked in pretty good shape in 2013. About 35% overfunded (funding target attainment percentage = 134.92%). This was a decrease from 2012 where it was 51% overfunded (funding target attainment percentage = 151.59%). They did note that the 2012 change in the law on how liabilities are calculated using interest rates improved the plan's position. Without the change the funding target attainment percentages would have been 118% (2012) and 105% (2013). 2013 assets = $2,057,866,902 2013 liabilities = $1,525,162,784 vs 2012 assets = $1,844,924,947 2012 liabilities = $1,217,043,150 It was also noted that a slightly different calculation method ("fair market value") designed to show a clearer picture of the plan' status as December 31, 2013 had; Assets = $2,403,098,433 Liabilities = $2,068,984,256 Funding ratio = 116.15% Its a closed plan with 3,781 participants. Of that number, 3,151 wer...
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LANL is now "The AI" lab. We do production, weapons, a force for good and AI!!!.
LANL is just getting weirder and weirder now. Mason just gave a talk yesterday saying how LANL publications numbers are dropping, while ANL, ORNL and even LLNL are increasing. What is odd is that the LANL has grown twice in size, yet is doing less and less science. Now we are going to be the AI lab? Huh, does any of this make any sense? People are saying that management is now making this up as they go and have no idea what is going on.
"Mason’s view of success has always been a warm body count"
I think we should pitch that we could use AI to replace management at LANL. I think it would be more rational and efficient.
I agree that the the current LANL management is not evil like Bechtel, but it is just sort of mediocre. There is only box checking. It is almost like the want LANL to be as big as possible so that if and when the pits are not built, we will just be to big to fail. This could explain the motto "interview 500" hire "500" statement. I simply do not get the strategy for success at the place now. Bechtel had goal to get all they money they could, anyway they can, within a 10-15 year time period and then leave. You can say what you want about LANS but they accomplished pretty much exactly they set out to do. Bechtel has a pretty clear game plan everywhere they go. The money comes from the leverage not the contracts.
TRIAD seems to have no clear plan at all but just hire more and more people, do more and more paper work, get rid of science, and bribe New Mexico.