The man who called the last stock crash is already blaming the Fed for the next

Article Title: The man who called the last stock crash is already blaming the Fed for the next

Snippet of Article: "...This time around, Peter Schiff, the chief executive officer of Euro Pacific Capital who memorably predicted the collapse of the housing market in 2008 and the global financial crisis of 2010, is speaking out against the Federal Reserve, which, he claims, has inflated the prices of stocks and bonds with its ultraloose, unconventional monetary policies...."

Source: www.marketwatch.com Federal Reserve

Postmaster General to Step Down

Article Title: Postmaster General Donahoe to retire in February

Snippet of Article: "...Patrick R. Donahoe will retire Feb. 1 after 39 years with the Postal Service. Megan J. Brennan..."

Source: www.usatoday.com Postmaster General Donahoe,

Half a Million Post Office Employees' Data Could Be Compromised

Article Title: Half a Million Post Office Employees' Data Could Be Compromised

Snippet of Article: "...Customers who contacted the postal service customer care center with an inquiry via telephone or e-mail between Jan. 1, 2014, and Aug. 16, 2014 are also at risk. The intrusion compromised names, addresses, telephone numbers, email addresses and other information for those customers who may have provided this information, according to the statement. ..."

Source: www.nbcnews.com

Time off to vote for federal employees

Article Title: Do federal employees get time off work to vote on Election Day?

Snippet of Article: "...Here are the guidelines that the government’s Chief Human Capital Officers Council laid out for excused voting absences prior to the 2012 election..."

Source: www.washingtonpost.com Excused Absence for Voting

From where did the idea of destroying the U.S. Postal Service evolve? ...and how was it set in motion?

Article Title: War on Democracy (Op Ed)

Snippet of Article: "In the 1980 presidential campaign David Koch announced his candidacy as the Vice President on the Libertarian ticket. It was during this campaign he announced the agenda of the Libertarians:..."We propose the abolition of the governmental Postal Service. The present system, in addition to being inefficient, encourages governmental surveillance of private correspondence. Pending abolition, we call for an end to the monopoly system and for allowing free competition in all aspects of postal service." Result: Congress forced them into debt by mandating they pay into their pension plan 75 years ahead - $5.5 Billion annually. ..."

Source: www.opednews.com

Destruction of the Two-Party System: U.S. midterm elections are identifying America's anger at current politicians, as well as the Democrat and Republican parties

With both the Democrat and the Republican parties committing suicide by sucking in corporate dollars and not representing the desires of the American people, especially America's blue-collar workers, the tide is beginning to change. Blue-Collar workers are disgusted with political gridlock, incumbents, and the only actions being destructive agendas that continue to protect the ultra-wealthy and corporations. The current destruction of America's infrastructure will ultimately throw the country into chaos. For example, politicians are permitting and coercing the dismantling of the U.S. Postal Service, the raping of Social Security, the downsizing of the military, the continued rise in benefit costs to Federal Employees, as well as the public in general, and the stagnation and even reduction in pay of the working-class. Voters are about to give politicians a small taste of their anger and disgust at these agendas, as well as the anger at the stealing of individual rights. So whether you agree or not, get out and vote!

Article Title: US midterm elections: the 10 key races to watch

Snippet of Article: "...Haven’t been following the US midterm elections closely? Here’s a roundup of the most notable – and notorious – races..."

Source: www.theguardian.com
2014 Midterm Elections

Auditor warns of mail delays

Article Title: Auditor warns of mail delays in Tucson

Snippet of Article: "...A memorandum from the U.S. Postal Service’s Office of the Inspector General stated that Postal Service management did not include the “details necessary to evaluate the service standard impacts for all classes of mail and the public did not have an opportunity to review the impacts and provide comments prior to the studies being approved” in most of the 95 feasibility studies that determined which facilities would be consolidated...."

Source: tucson.com

TSP 'C' Fund Investors Take Note: S&P 500 posts biggest weekly gain of 2014

Article Title: S&P 500 posts biggest weekly gain of 2014

Snippet of Article: "...The S&P 500 SPX, +0.71% finished up 13.76 points, or 0.7%, at 1,964.58. The benchmark rose 4.1% for the week, its biggest weekly percent gain since January 2013...."
Source: www.marketwatch.com Of interest to TSP 'C' Fund holders

Breach the Canadian Parliment and You Have a Problem, the White House, Not So Much

Article Title: Canada Shooting Hero Identified as Sgt. at Arms Kevin Vickers

Sgt. at Arms Kevin Vickers

Snippet of Article: "...Sgt. at Arms Kevin Vickers is being hailed a hero today for shooting the gunman who ambushed the Parliament building in Ottawa...."
Source: abcnews.go.com
Sgt. at Arms Kevin Vickers

CDC to update Hospital Ebola Protection Protocol

Article Title: CDC to Issue New Ebola Protection Protocol for Hospitals

Snippet of Article: "...The new guidelines are being prepared for release as President Barack Obama today named former White House official Ron Klain to coordinate the U.S. response to Ebola amid rising public concern about his administration’s response. Klain, 53, a former chief of staff to Vice President Joe Biden, received the assignment a day after the CDC was sharply criticized..."

Source: www.bloomberg.com Ebola, First U.S. Ebola incident, CDC, Hospital Ebola Protection Protocol,

Ridiculous! Why have we not banned ALL flights from Ebola stricken continents and states?

Article Title: Poll: Americans Overwhelmingly Support Flight Restrictions From Ebola Stricken Countries

Snippet of Article: "...The Obama administration is still refusing to issue travel restrictions from Ebola stricken countries in West Africa to the United States, arguing that isolating those regions could make the problem worse. But a new Washington Post/ABC News poll shows the vast majority of Americans from both sides of the political aisle want entry restrictions put into place. ..."

Source: townhall.com Ebola

Trouble Ahead: Auditors call foul, but Postmaster General moves forward with closure/consolidation plans anyway

Article Title: Report: Postal Service leaves areas in the dark on changes to 95 facilities

Snippet of Article: "...Auditors said the lack of information and public disclosure could degrade USPS services and harm the agency’s brand, in addition to causing carriers to work later into the evening — one postal worker was fatally shot last year while finishing his route at night...."

Source: www.washingtonpost.com

Federal employees to see another large rate increase for health coverage

Article Title: Federal workers to see another rate increase for health coverage

Snippet of Article: "...In the most popular plan, the Blue Cross-Blue Shield standard option, which covers about 40 percent of FEHBP enrollees, biweekly premiums will increase by $3.21 for self-only coverage and $8.33 for family coverage, up 3.7 percent and 4.1 percent, respectively...."

Source: www.washingtonpost.com

Federal Employee Retirement Info Center Blog from OPM

Article Title: Federal Employee Retirement Info Center Blog from OPM

Snippet of Article: "...Welcome to the Retirement Info Center. We want to share information about retirement benefits for new, prospective, and current Federal employees, as well as Federal retirees and their survivors and benefits officers. Here you will find the most up-to-date information on changes, events, and other issues that may affect your Federal retirement benefits...."

Source: www.opm.gov

CDC Says It's 'Not Necessary' to Release Ebola Patient's Flight Information

Article Title: CDC Says It's 'Not Necessary' to Release Ebola Patient's Flight Information

Snippet of Article: "... "The ill person did not exhibit symptoms of Ebola during the flights from West Africa and CDC does not recommend that people on the same commercial airline flights undergo monitoring, as Ebola is only contagious if the person is experiencing active symptoms," the agency said in a statement Tuesday. The man left Liberia on Sept. 19 and arrived in Texas on Sept. 20, CDC Director Tom Frieden said. ..."

Source: abcnews.go.com

Postmaster General Donahoe's Slowing of the Mail and Destruction of Postal Network Appears to Continue

Article Title: More than 400 postal jobs in Fayetteville to move to Charlotte

Snippet of Article: "..."Since the Postal Service slowed down the processing and delivery of first-class mail over two years ago by revising its service standards, it has been more difficult for the American public and small businesses to receive mail in a timely manner," the letter reads. "Slowing down mail delivery even further will especially hurt senior citizens on fixed incomes, small businesses, rural areas and the economy."..."

Source: www.fayobserver.com

FSA Update - change to FSA allows carry-over

Article Title: Federal Employees Can Now Carry Over FSA Money

Snippet of Article: "...Beginning in 2015, employees will be able to carry over up to $500 into the next year. Previously, any unspent money in these accounts would be lost each year..."

Source: www.fedsmith.com

American workers score win with postal worker arbitration award

Article Title: Postal Service to Add Thousands of Union Jobs in 2014

Snippet of Article: "...“The arbitration award he issued and the accompanying implementation memo mean thousands of jobs within 90 days, not years from now,” Dimondstein said.

The gains will help offset the 7,000 job cuts -- and thousands of additional relocations -- that will take place in 2015 due to processing plant closures. ..."

Source: www.govexec.com Postal news

Armed, retired, disabled veteran scales White House fence

Article Title: Secret Service considers new rules; intruder in court

Snippet of Article: "...Gonzalez, an Army veteran who retired because of disability, scaled the White House fence Friday and raced some 70 yards to the door of the building before being subdued...."

Source: www.usatoday.com

1% Federal Pay Raise in 2015 Closer to Reality

Article Title: 1% Federal Pay Raise in 2015 Closer to Reality

Snippet of Article: "...The possibility of a 1% pay raise for federal employees in 2015 continues to work toward becoming a reality as the legislative and political process works it way to a budget, at least a temporary budget, for the next fiscal year...."

Source: fedsmith.com

President George W. Bush Halloween Mask

Article Title: President George W. Bush Costume Mask

Snippet of Article: "...Regardless of your politics, this mask is a great likeness to George Bush and will complete your costume!..."
Source: Amazon.com President George W. Bush Halloween Mask

President Barack Obama Halloween Mask

Article Title: President Barack Obama Costume Mask

President Obama Mask

Full over-the-head vinyl mask of President Barack Obama. A remarkable likeness of our President. You are sure to get the presidential selection of candies when you visit your local Halloween party.
Source: Amazon.com

Who says the Postal Service is going broke? USPS to provide“concierge services” to businesses that cannot afford research?

Article Title: USPS Commissions Brain Research on Direct Mail

Snippet of Article: "...a study could add a physiological research component to the growing body of analysis of consumer interaction across multiple marketing channels. Small- and medium-sized businesses that cannot afford such research could benefit from access to it through the Postal Service's “concierge services,” stated the OIG..."

Source: www.dmnews.com

Postal Service to reduce overnight delivery for us, while protecting Overnight Service Standards for commercial mail

Article Title: USPS to maintain overnight delivery for 66% of current volumes next year

Protecting Commercial Mailers

Snippet of Article: "...“Our future network will preserve approximately 66% of current overnight delivery volumes, and Overnight Service Standards will remain available to commercial mail properly prepared, containerized and entered by critical entry times.”..."
Source: postandparcel.info

CDC Official: Virus may be 'tip of iceberg'

Article Title: Virus may be 'tip of iceberg,' CDC official says

Snippet of Article: "...The unusually high number of hospitalizations reported now could be "just the tip of the iceberg in terms of severe cases," said Mark Pallansch, a virologist and director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Division of Viral Diseases...."

Source: www.wcvb.com

Thank You for Your Service: President Seeks to Lower Military Pay Raise

Article Title: White House pushes for lower troop pay raise in ’15

Snippet of Article: "...Late Friday, President Obama formally notified Congress that he wants to cap next year’s military basic pay raise at 1 percent, unless Congress comes up with an alternative mandate...."

Source: www.theleafchronicle.com

The Federal Employee Pension Fairness Act

Article Title: Congresswoman introduces The Federal Employee Pension Fairness Act

Snippet of Article: "...“As a nation it is our duty to ensure the fair treatment of our federal employees, especially during times of economic strain. Let’s stop unduly burdening our federal workers, and start asking wealthy corporations to pay their fair share. I look forward to working with others in Congress to pass this legislation and to providing relief for those whose daily labors keep our government up and running and who keep us safe.” Congresswoman Edwards’ legislation..."

Source: www.thebaynet.com

Taxes are up but your government is shrinking quickly

Article Title: Shrinking government: Federal hiring is down, departures are up

Snippet of Article: "...Federal hiring has declined rapidly in recent years, while the number of departures has increased nearly as fast. That’s a recipe for a shrinking government...."

Source: www.washingtonpost.com

Nuclear Regulatory Commission Hacked 3 Times in 3 Years

Article Title: Hackers attack Nuclear Regulatory Commission 3 times in 3 years

Snippet of Article: "...This was followed by news that U.S. Investigation Services (USIS), the main provider of background checks to the U.S. government, had been targeted in an attack possibly launched by a foreign power...."

Source: www.foxnews.com

National Guard Troops Fail to Quell Unrest in Ferguson as Obama Coddles Looters and Neuters Guard and Law Enforcement

Article Title: National Guard Troops Fail to Quell Unrest in Ferguson

Snippet of Article: "... Obama said he had told Mr. Nixon in a phone call on Monday that the Guard should be “used in a limited and appropriate way.”..."

Source: Military Veteran News America becomes lawless

The FERS Annuity Supplement

Article Title: The FERS Annuity Supplement

Snippet of Article: "...The special retirement supplement is paid in addition to gross monthly Federal Employees Retirement System (FERS) annuity benefits. It represents what you would receive for your FERS civilian service from the Social Security Administration (SSA) and is calculated as if you were eligible to receive SSA benefits on the day you retired. Eligibility ..."

Source: www.opm.gov

Phased Retirement FAQ

Article Title: Phased Retirement: Answers to Some Common Questions

Snippet of Article: "...The Office of Personnel Management announced the long awaited final regulations for the phased retirement program for federal employees late last week. As part of that announcement, OPM has also released a document with answers to some common questions employees are likely to have about this program...."

Source: fedsmith.com Phased Retirement FAQ

Jim Hightower: A Postmaster General who has thrown-in with the privatizers. As PMG, Pat Donahoe...

OPINION: Jim Hightower is a former agriculture commissioner from the state of Texas.

Article Title: JIM HIGHTOWER: Postal Service is far from a loser

Snippet of Article: "...the media keeps reporting that the USPS is losing billions of dollars each year. What they fail to mention is that those are phony paper losses manufactured by Congress at the behest of corporate privatizers...."

Source: www.stwnewspress.com Postmaster General Donahoe, destruction of postal service, Jim Hightower, postal privatization,

Why is the Postal Service helping UPS and Fedex? ...and doing it so cheaply???

Article Title: For FedEx and UPS, a Cheaper Route: the Post Office

Snippet of Article: "...the flood of these packages has begun to tax the system, and it has raised questions about whether the USPS is charging enough for its service. Even as UPS makes use of the USPS, a UPS executive on the company's earnings conference call last month questioned whether the Postal Service is unfairly cross-subsidizing certain products to offer lower prices. ..."

Source: wsj.com

One State Governor is Actually Taking Action in Protecting His State Against Illegal Alien Invasion

Article Title: Gov. Perry Deploys Texas National Guard Troops to Border

Snippet of Article: "...Gov. Rick Perry today directed Texas Adjutant General John Nichols to immediately begin preparations for the deployment of up to 1,000 National Guard troops to the border. These troops will support the Texas Department of Public Safety's (DPS) ongoing law enforcement surge, Operation Strong Safety, which is focused on combatting criminal activity in the region resulting from the federal government's failure to adequately secure the border.

Since 2008, more than 203,000 criminal aliens have been booked into Texas county jails. Over the course of their criminal careers, these individuals have committed more than 640,000 crimes in the state of Texas alone, including more than 3,000 homicides and nearly 8,000 sexual assaults.

"There can be no national security without border security, and Texans have paid too high a price for the federal government's failure to secure our border," Gov. Perry said..."

Source: governor.state.tx.us

Illegal Alien Invasion,

Chinese hackers broke into the federal Office of Personnel Management computer system

Article Title: Chinese hacked federal employee files

Snippet of Article: "...Chinese hackers broke into the federal Office of Personnel Management computer system in March, apparently targeting tens of thousands of employees who applied for top-security clearance, The New York Times reported...."

Source: www.usatoday.com

FACT SHEET: The White House Summit On Working Families

Article Title: FACT SHEET: The White House Summit On Working Families

Snippet of Article: "... the memorandum will make clear that Federal workers have the “right to request” a flexible work arrangement without fear of retaliation, and will direct agencies to establish procedures for addressing these requests by employees. Finally, it will call for training all employees and their supervisors on the effective use of these tools and will direct the Office of Personnel Management to create a new Workplace Flexibility Index that will be published online and updated annually to measure agencies’ success...."

Source: www.whitehouse.gov Summit On Working Families

2015 Federal Pay Raise Update: tiny 1% pay increase possible

Article Title: Senate spending bill leaves door open for 1 percent federal employee raise

Snippet of Article: "...The Senate has started to advance a spending bill that keeps the road clear for a 1 percent federal employee pay raise in January, while boosting available funds for the IRS and several other agencies above the levels favored by the House...."

Source: www.washingtonpost.com 2015 federal pay raise,

Labor Department proposed a rule Thursday to raise minimum wage for employees of federal contractors

Article Title: Labor Department Moves to Raise Minimum Wage for Federal Workers

Snippet of Article: "...The Labor Department proposed a rule Thursday to raise the minimum wage for employees of federal contractors to $10.10 an hour, fulfilling an executive order President Barack Obama signed in February. Labor Secretary Tom Perez said the wage increase will benefit about 200,000 workers who don't already make at least $10.10 an hour..."

Source: wsj.com

2014 Federal Employees Almanac is a must-have reference for your federal employment, federal benefits eligibility, and retirement planning

Article Title: 2014 Federal Employees Almanac

Snippet of Article: "...The 2014 Federal Employees Almanac is a must-have reference for your federal employment, federal benefits eligibility, and retirement planning. Unlike other "handbooks" that are printed far too early to be accurate and up-to-date, the Almanac is not sent to press until federal employee policy changes affecting your career for the next year have been issued by the federal government. The Almanac is the complete reference for all your federal employment questions!..."

Source: federaldaily.com