Monday, March 30, 2015

Attempted NSA gate crash results in shooting, one dead

Article Title: One shot dead at Fort Meade after trying to ram NSA gate

Snippet of Article: "...The incident took place near one of the gates to the complex, far from the main buildings. The FBI said they did not think terrorism was related to the incident. "We are working with the US Attorney's Office in Maryland to determine if federal charges are warranted," the FBI said in a statement. ..."

Source: www.cnn.com shooting, National Security Agency (NSA),

Thursday, March 26, 2015

Scumbag politicians want to steal more from federal and postal employees by further lowering pay

Article Title: Budget Bills: Cut Postal, Federal Pay

Snippet of Article: "...Budget bills for fiscal year 2016 proposed by House and Senate committees last week would cut pay for postal and federal workers by increasing the amount employees must pay into retirement accounts – without any increase in benefits. Under the budget bills, up to 6 percent of a postal worker’s wages would go toward funding retirement programs – reducing pay by thousands of dollars each year. In recent years, Congress increased the contributions required from employees covered by FERS (Federal Employees Retirement System) from 0.8 percent to 4.4 percent. Over the past five years, lawmakers have already cut federal and postal workers pay and benefits by $159 billion – and now they want more. “There is no justification for these pay cuts,” said APWU President Mark Dimondstein. “The Postal Service is ‘off budget’ and doesn’t get a dime of taxpayer money,” he pointed out, “and postal pension accounts are almost fully funded.”..."

Source: www.apwu.org

Tuesday, March 24, 2015

What Government Websites Are The Most Heavily Trafficked? ...and how many are viewing what Government websites now?

Article Title: What Government Websites Are The Most Heavily Trafficked? ...and how many are viewing what Government websites now?

If you are a data driven individual, you will enjoy visiting analytics.usa.gov which provides data on how people interact with government websites. The information is derived from a Google Analytics account for United States federal government agencies known as the Digital Analytics Program. The program helps federal agencies understand how website visitors "find, access, and use government services online". The analytics site states that the program does not track individuals, and anonymizes the IP addresses of visitors. Also, for security purposes, not every government website is represented in the data. Currently, the Digital Analytics Program collects website traffic from almost 300 executive branch government domains, across over 3800 total websites, including every cabinet department. They continue to pursue and add more sites frequently.

NOTE: If you are curious about what information your browser can provide when you visit any website, here is a website that will identify a small sampling of that information: User Agent Viewer. Although the aforementioned Government analytics website does not report your IP address, all websites can identify your IP address. If you would like to see your IP address, visit What is my IP address?

Wednesday, March 18, 2015

Purposeful slowing of First Class Mail by Postal Service is harmful to the public interest, but they still want to close 82 more processing facilities

Article Title: Recent slowdown of first-class mail delivers bad news to those who rely on postal service

Snippet of Article: "... Without telling you, the U.S. Postal Service (USPS) has slowed down the mail. New service standards went into effect on Jan. 5, ending overnight delivery of local first-class mail. The slower delivery schedules mean that the public will now see a delay in the delivery of bill payments, greeting cards, medicines, Netflix DVDs, ballots, newspapers and checks. This cutback of such a basic service is harmful to the public interest. ..."

Source: realchangenews.org destruction of postal service, Destruction of America's infrastructure,

Thursday, March 12, 2015

U.S. probing report Secret Service agents drove car into White House barrier

Article Title: U.S. probing report Secret Service agents drove car into White House barrier

Snippet of Article: "... The U.S. Secret Service said on Wednesday that two agents were under investigation after an incident last week in which they were reported to have driven a government car into White House barricades after drinking at a late-night party. ..."

Source: reuters.com Secret Service, secret service conduct standards, President Barack Obama's protective detail, government car,

Monday, March 9, 2015

TechHire Initiative

Article Title: President Obama Launches New TechHire Initiative

#TechHire

#TechHire

Snippet of Article: "... The President and his Administration are focused on promoting middle class economics to ensure that all Americans can contribute to and benefit from our American resurgence. Part of that effort requires empowering every American with the education and training they need to earn higher wages. Today’s announcement is the latest part of that effort: In his remarks to the National League of Cities, the President will announce his TechHire initiative, including a new campaign to work with communities to get more Americans rapidly trained for well-paying technology jobs. ..."
Source: www.whitehouse.gov TechHire initiative, #TechHire,

Friday, March 6, 2015

Politicians continue to act like children as debt limit approaches again

Article Title: Treasury chief begins 'extraordinary measures' to avoid debt default

Snippet of Article: "... “Increasing the debt limit does not authorize new spending commitments. It simply allows the government to pay for expenditures Congress has already approved, thereby protecting the full faith and credit of the United States,” he wrote. ..."

Source: thehill.com

Tuesday, March 3, 2015

Iran attacks faux U.S. aircraft carrier in war games

Article Title: Iran blasts mock U.S. carrier in war games

Snippet of Article: "...Iran said the aircraft carrier target was a full-size replica of the USS Nimitz. "Iranian naval forces displayed their skills in targeting enemy vessels and destroyed a mock U.S. aircraft carrier during the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps Navy's massive Payambar-e Azam 9 (The Great Prophet 9) ..."

Source: www.cnn.com USS Nimitz, Iran, Payambar-e Azam 9 (The Great Prophet 9), Islamic Revolution Guard, Rogue States,

Netanyahu cites what we already know, Iran is not a friend of the U.S. or Israel

Article Title: Netanyahu: Deal will pave way to Iranian nuclear bomb

Snippet of Article: "... In a dramatic speech before a joint session of the U.S. Congress, which has caused a furious row with the Obama White House, Netanyahu said that the proposed agreement would allow Iran’s breakout time — the period that it would take to race to a nuclear weapon — to be much shorter than the one year that the U.S. administration is aiming for. ..."

Source: q13fox.com Iran,

Friday, February 27, 2015

Where's our mail? Why is weather becoming an issue in mail delivery? Neither snow nor rain nor heat nor gloom of night stays these couriers...

Article Title: ‘Where’s our mail?’: Snow still disrupting postal service

Snippet of Article: "...“I have lived in this house for almost 50 years, and we’ve never gone without our mail,” she said. Wednesday morning, a truck finally came through. The carrier said it might take a while to get all of the letters delivered. “She said the post office was a holy mess,” Dawson said. ..."

Source: www.kentuckynewera.com

Wednesday, February 25, 2015

FBI: 3 New York Men Arrested For Attempting To Join ISIS

Article Title: FBI: 3 Brooklyn Men Arrested For Attempting To Join ISIS

Snippet of Article: "...allegedly attempting to travel abroad to join the terror group ISIS, with one man agreeing to kill President Barack Obama ..."

Source: newyork.cbslocal.com FBI

Monday, February 23, 2015

Stingray: Feds use device that acts as if it were a cell phone tower to track phones


Article Title: Stingray: Feds use device that acts as if it were a cell phone tower to track phones

Youtube Video on Stingray
Snippet of Article: "...Details are emerging about a tracking system used by the Feds called the Stingray. This device acts as if it was a cell phone tower, and intercepts your phone's signals using pings. The Stingray determines the strength of your cell phone signal through sonar technology. ..."
Source: Youtube


Stingray, IMSI-catcher,

Friday, February 20, 2015

Number of TSP Millionaires is growing with huge market gains


Article Title: A Growing Number of Wealthy Federal Employees

TSP Millionaires
Snippet of Article: "...Kim Weaver, Director, Office of External Affairs for the Federal Retirement Thrift Investment Board has provided FedSmith with the latest data on the TSP. The number of millionaires in the Thrift Savings Plan is now up to 4,167. - See more at: http://www.fedsmith.com/2015/02/18/the-growing-number-of-wealthy-federal-employees/#sthash.nFvxuLec.dpuf ..."
Source: www.fedsmith.com TSP Millionaires

Monday, February 2, 2015

Will new PMG correct the failing path of outgoing PMG?

Article Title: New postmaster general started as letter carrier in Lancaster

Snippet of Article: "...Previously she was vice president of Eastern Area Operations, overseeing a region that included Pennsylvania, Ohio, West Virginia, Delaware, Kentucky, and parts of New Jersey, New York, Virginia and Indiana...."

Source: www.pennlive.com

Monday, January 26, 2015

With a ‘Golden Parachute’ in Hand, Donahoe Opposes Retirement for Young Workers

Article Title: With a ‘Golden Parachute’ in Hand, Donahoe Opposes Retirement for Young Workers

Snippet of Article: "...When Postmaster General Patrick Donahoe retires at the end of the week, he’ll get a retirement package of more than $4 million. Not bad for a “civil servant.” But in his controversial farewell address to reporters at the National Press Club on Jan. 6, Donahoe made clear that he doesn’t think the union’s newest members deserve any postal retirement at all. “In today’s world, does it really make sense to offer the promise of a government pension to a 22-year-old who is just entering the workforce?” he asked. And apparently Donahoe’s views have nothing to do with the Postal Service’s manufactured “financial crisis.” He opposes government pensions on principle and wants to impose his view to the entire federal government. ..."

Source: www.apwu.org

Man claims responsibility for drone crash at White House

Article Title: Man claims responsibility for drone crash at White House

Snippet of Article: "...Many small quadcopters are essentially sophisticated toys that can also be used for..."

Source: The Drone Report

OPM website glitch: Allowed users access to other retirees' personal information

Article Title: Retiree info exposed in OPM website glitch: Allowed users access to other retirees' personal information

Snippet of Article: "...glitch in the system allowed retirees logging in to the portal Monday morning to gain access to the personal accounts of other users..."

Source: federalretiree.blogspot.com

Friday, January 23, 2015

Is a 3.8% Federal Employee pay raise really a possibility or just a political show?

Article Title: Hoyer joins bill to give federal employees pay increase

Snippet of Article: "...U.S. Rep Steny Hoyer (D-Md., 5th) has cosponsored federal legislation that would provide a pay hike of 3.8 percent to all federal employees in 2016 ..."

Source: www.somdnews.com

Wednesday, January 21, 2015

Full Text Of President Barack Obama’s 2015 State Of The Union Address

Article Title: Full Text Of President Barack Obama’s 2015 State Of The Union Address

Snippet of Article: "...First – middle-class economics means helping working families feel more secure in a world of constant change. That means helping folks afford childcare, college, health care, a home, retirement – and my budget will address each of these issues, lowering the taxes of working families and putting thousands of dollars back into their pockets each year...."

Source: sacramento.cbslocal.com

Monday, January 19, 2015

DOT to implement NAFTA trucking provision

Article Title: DOT to implement NAFTA trucking provision

Snippet of Article: "...The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) recently announced it will permanently open the U.S. border to Mexican long-haul motor carriers, allowing trucking companies to operate beyond the commercial zones on the U.S.-Mexico border..."

Source: www.porknetwork.com

Wednesday, January 14, 2015

Postal Service cuts ill-considered, threatens the very integrity and concept of Universal Service

Article Title: Postal Service cuts ill-considered

By Postal Regulatory Commissioner Ruth Y. Goldway

Snippet of Article: "...This latest round of operational cuts, however, threatens the very integrity and concept of Universal Service -- the Postal Service’s primary obligation under the law. ..."

Source: thehill.com

Tuesday, January 13, 2015

Smoke fills L'Enfant Plaza Station, 1 Dead, 2 Critically Injured, Dozens Sickened

Article Title: 1 dead, 2 in critical condition after smoke fills L'Enfant Plaza Metro

Snippet of Article: "...stuck on Metro for 20 minutes as smoke built up in car. People were screaming and passing out, according to the passenger. As a precaution, DC Fire Mass Causality Units were deployed to the Metro station. The majority of injuries are smoke inhalatio..."

Source: www.wusa9.com

Monday, January 12, 2015

CENTCOM Twitter Account Hacked By Individuals Claiming To Be Part Of ISIS

Article Title: CENTCOM Twitter Account Hacked By Individuals Claiming To Be Part Of ISIS

Snippet of Article: "...The hacking took place as President Barack Obama gave a speech urging Congress to pass new measures to protect Americans from hackers...."

Source: www.huffingtonpost.com

Saturday, December 27, 2014

Authority to Redeposit Refunds under the Federal Employees Retirement System (FERS)

Article Title: Authority to Redeposit Refunds under the Federal Employees Retirement System (FERS)

Snippet of Article: "...Section 1904 of the NDAA now provides the authority for FERS employees who took a refund of their FERS deductions to make a redeposit of the amount refunded, plus interest. FERS employees who took a re fund of CSRS deductions covering CSRS service that is credited under FERS rules may also make a redeposit fo r that service to re - establish full retirement credit for that service. The FERS redeposit for refunded CSRS service will be based on the a ppropriate percentage of the employee’s basic pay that is required for credit under FERS as noted in the table below, plus interest. Interest for a FERS redeposit begins to accrue from the date the employee received the refund of the retirement deductions. ..."

Source: www.opm.gov