Friday, October 09, 2009
NSPS System Repealed...
It can't end soon enough, and I am leery about the caveat that the Senate negotiators through in there, but the NSPS system is one pile of steaming shit that should never have been allowed to be extruded onto Federal Employees. Primarily, the NSPS system created an inequality in pay between those in it, and those in the GS system. It also wastes hundreds on man-hours for training, and the process of documenting and proving one's value to one's organization.
via WaPo
Christmas came early for some federal employees and their unions Wednesday as lawmakers delivered one of the biggest items on their wish list, repealing a controversial pay-for-performance program.
The repeal of the National Security Personnel System came as part of a compromise House and Senate members announced in their negotiations over the Defense Department authorization bill. The Defense Department will maintain more performance management and hiring flexibility than other federal agencies, but it must halt NSPS by the start of 2012 and it cannot enact a new pay-for-performance system without submitting detailed proposals to Congress for approval.
FY2012 cannot get here soon enough.
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Obama Gets The Nobel Peace Prize?
I don't quite understand the why of it, but the sound of wingnut heads exploding woke me up this morning.
via Bloomberg
Oct. 9 (Bloomberg) -- President Barack Obama won the 2009 Nobel Peace Prize for “extraordinary efforts” to strengthen global diplomacy and cooperation less than a year after taking office.
None of the organizations or analysts who follow Nobel prizes predicted the award to Obama, who is the third sitting U.S. president to have won the prize, following Theodore Roosevelt in 1906 and Woodrow Wilson in 1919. Former President Jimmy Carter won in 2002 and former Vice President Al Gore received the prize in 2007. Obama, who said he was humbled by his selection, took office less than two weeks before the Feb. 1 Nobel nomination deadline. Obama will deliver a statement on the award today.
“The Nobel Committee has in particular looked at Obama’s vision and work toward a world without atomic weapons,” Thorbjoern Jagland, chairman of the five-member Nobel committee, said. “Obama has as president created a new climate in international politics.”
Obama, 48, the first black U.S. president, was elected last year on a platform of extracting American forces from Iraq and changing the way the U.S. was perceived abroad after the presidency of George W. Bush, in particular by pledging to close the Guantanamo Bay detention camp. He has sought to improve relations with the Arab world, urged Iran to cooperate on its nuclear program and promoted a cut in atomic weapons held by Russia and the U.S. in a landmark speech to the United Nations last month.
What do you think about it?
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Labels: Nobel Peace Prize, President Barack Obama
Wednesday, October 07, 2009
Barbara McBride-Smith...
Here is Barbara McBride-Smith. She was another favorite at the National Storytellers Festival. Golly, she's one hell of a character, and a damned fine storyteller. She did this 30-minute piece about mammograms on Saturday night that had even the Signer For The Deaf in tears of laughter. Here she is following Bil Lepp-- the very show linked below-- doing a Western telling of the story of Cinderella. Perhaps we'll call it "Bubbarella." She's "in character" in this piece, from the time she hits the stage. She announced at the festival, and it's not yet in her bio, above, that she just won a major NEA Award for her years as an Educator and Librarian. She's a real treat.
via Google Video
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Labels: National Storytellers Festival
A Few Pics Of Jonesborough, Tennessee...
Jonesborough is the oldest established town in Tennessee-- Est. 1779. It's one of the most quaintest, friendliest places I've ever visited. One of the cool things I noticed about this town, is that none of the food or craft item prices, or any of the book/cd/dvd prices were exploited or extravagant. The three-dollar BLT sammich was still a three-dollar BLT sammich, and not a $12 BLT. Most of the craft-shop owners with whom I spoke were retired Boomers, and chose to retire there because of the Storytelling emphasis and gentle culture of the town. I plan on returning to Jonesborough in two or three years... I neeed to get back to Wheatland Festival in Remus, Michigan, next year. Anyway, here are a few pictures that I took. You can see more of the town at the link, above.
Sunset
Jim The Horse
The Chester Inn
Christopher Taylor House
A Typical House Around Town With A Story Tent In Fore
The Steeple Of Historic Jonesborough Presbyterian Church
Mom And DadTo Top Of Main Page
Labels: My Life As It Is
Monday, October 05, 2009
Bil Lepp-- Wonderful Story-Teller, Fabulous Liar...
Bil Lepp was, to me, the high-point of the National Storytellers Festival. Here is an excellent little sampler of his style of story-telling. He's so funny. My face hurt from laughing so hard during his sessions.
via Google Video
A story about his dog, Buck, and what happened when he tried to train him as a hunting dog... He lays a quick, left jab at Cheney in there, too.
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Labels: National Storytellers Festival
