nasa1974's Account Talk

[nasa1974]

http://www.govexec.com/

Was U.S. intelligence on bin Laden off target?
By Chris Strohm National Journal May 16, 2011

"Nearly two weeks after the daring U.S. raid that caught Osama bin Laden by lethal surprise at his compound in Pakistan, it remains unclear how much direct control he had over al-Qaida's operations, according to U.S. officials and terror experts.
That, in turn, has raised questions about the accuracy of the intelligence community's previous assessments of bin Laden as well as uncertainties over how the terror group he founded will evolve now that he is gone..."

http://www.govexec.com/story_page.cfm?articleid=47810&oref=todaysnews

 

[nasa1974]

http://www.govexec.com/

TSP expenses likely to rise next year
By Emily Long elong@govexe.com May 16, 2011


"The Thrift Savings Plan so far this year is on track to stay under budget but in fiscal 2012 could see a jump in expenses, officials said Monday during a monthly Federal Retirement Thrift Investment Board meeting. TSP Executive Director Greg Long during the meeting said he anticipates spending $131.5 million in fiscal 2011, about $0.3 million below the budget approved in October 2010 and supplemented in January to fund software testing tools. The board had failed to approve the agency's fiscal 2011 proposal in September and passed a flat budget one month later..."

http://www.govexec.com/story_page.cfm?articleid=47813&oref=todaysnews

 

[nasa1974]

The part I like is the mandatory 2 week furlough for all federal employees.





Attempts to cut lawmaker pay stall . . . in Congress

By Emily Long elong@govexec.com May 19, 2011

"Lawmakers' bids to reduce their own pay are caught up in committee.
While career federal employees have seen a number of threats to their salaries and benefits, including an extended pay freeze, higher health care payments and an increase in contributions to retirement accounts, lawmakers have proposed cuts to their own compensation, citing a need to reduce costs and share the sacrifice.
Rep. Mike Coffman, R-Colo., in January introduced legislation mandating two-week furloughs for all federal employees that also would cut lawmaker pay by 10 percent. Reps. Morgan Griffith, R-Va., and Jaime Herrera Beutler, R-Wash., sponsored similar legislation. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords, D-Ariz., in January introduced a bill that would reduce lawmaker pay by 5 percent..."

http://www.govexec.com/story_page.cfm?articleid=47842&oref=todaysnews

 

[Cattman]

They have already talked to us (USDA/FSA) about furloughs for this year and RIFs for next year. Supply budget has already been spent for the FY. Budget is short 5% for salaries after cutting everyting possible and next years budget is worse. It's going from bad to worse.

 

[nasa1974]

I'm back. Well sort of. The younger daughter's wedding is finally over, but I have a lot of catching up to do. Plus I have been given extra hours at BBY. So my evenings are shot for the next few days. It will take a few more days before I am up to speed. Whew!!!

 

[Cattman]

Congrats on the wedding. My oldest son's is set for August. Looks like it could be an ugly start for the markets.

 

[markmars]

Well they will increase our fees to cover the shortfall and if congress reduces the matching funds it will be a double whammy. Except I can see a court case on the reducing matching funds since that is supposed to be part of our retirement under FERS.

http://www.govexec.com/

TSP expenses likely to rise next year
By Emily Long elong@govexe.com May 16, 2011


"The Thrift Savings Plan so far this year is on track to stay under budget but in fiscal 2012 could see a jump in expenses, officials said Monday during a monthly Federal Retirement Thrift Investment Board meeting. TSP Executive Director Greg Long during the meeting said he anticipates spending $131.5 million in fiscal 2011, about $0.3 million below the budget approved in October 2010 and supplemented in January to fund software testing tools. The board had failed to approve the agency's fiscal 2011 proposal in September and passed a flat budget one month later..."

http://www.govexec.com/story_page.cfm?articleid=47813&oref=todaysnews

 

[tsptalk]

Plus I have been given extra hours at BBY.

Is this a positive economic indicator?

 

[MaStA]

Well they will increase our fees to cover the shortfall and if congress reduces the matching funds it will be a double whammy. Except I can see a court case on the reducing matching funds since that is supposed to be part of our retirement under FERS.

I wish they matched military TSP contributions...I think someone told me before why they don't, but I forgot. Does anyone know why we don't get matched contributions as well?

 

[nasa1974]

Is this a positive economic indicator?

Not really. BBY has increased the department hours a little bit (normal for summer traffic), but we are two people short in the department. One has gone off to her summer catering job in Rhode Island and the other is my daughter. So thay have increased my hours to cover.

 

[nasa1974]

From Government Executive.com

Democrats still won't rule out cuts to federal pay and benefits
By Kellie Lunney klunney@govexec.com May 23, 2011

This story has been updated with additional comment.


"Everything is on the table -- that's the mantra many Democratic lawmakers are repeating on deficit reduction, and it includes potential cuts to federal pay and benefits. "We ought to all be willing to put everything on the table," said House Minority Leader Steny Hoyer, D-Md., during a Monday discussion sponsored by the Bipartisan Policy Center on the deficit and raising the debt ceiling, adding he was "prepared to argue the merits." Hoyer was responding to a question on whether he would support proposals to tweak the pay and benefits of federal employees to save the government money, including one that would raise employees' retirement contributions..."

http://www.govexec.com/story_page.cfm?articleid=47853&dcn=todaysnews

 

[crws]

Did you see this yet?

Story here-

Stefanie Gordon captured this remarkable picture on a flight from New York to Palm Beach, Fla.,
after the final liftoff of space shuttle Endeavour near Cape Canaveral on Monday, May 16.

 

[nasa1974]

Did you see this yet?

Story here-

Stefanie Gordon captured this remarkable picture on a flight from New York to Palm Beach, Fla.,
after the final liftoff of space shuttle Endeavour near Cape Canaveral on Monday, May 16.

I did. Pretty cool. Just the chance to view a shuttle launch from that perspective.

 

[nasa1974]

Just a little positive action so I can feel loved.

 

[nasa1974]

Well today will be interesting. Not feeling any warm fuzzies. The Asian markets were pretty red this morning. Europe wasn't looking good and now we have another volcano spewing ash over Europe and affecting air traffic.

 

[mayday]

Well today will be interesting. Not feeling any warm fuzzies. The Asian markets were pretty red this morning. Europe wasn't looking good and now we have another volcano spewing ash over Europe and affecting air traffic.

When it rains it pours.

 

[RealMoneyIssues]

The Nikkei is down 0.5% and most of the Europe indications are positive. The US markets are only down a little compared to last night. Is it really all that bad?

 

[nasa1974]

The Nikkei is down 0.5% and most of the Europe indications are positive. The US markets are only down a little compared to last night. Is it really all that bad?

It's been an hour since I looked at the European markets. If I remember correctly, last year the volcano in Iceland caused issues with the market because of the ash cloud hanging over Europe.

 

[grandma]

can't read the calendar in the dark -

 

[RealMoneyIssues]

can't read the calendar in the dark -

Interesting