Wednesday, November 16, 2016

California seeking exemptions from the Buy American Act

Not made in America? California bullet train officials seek exemption to buy foreign parts

Snippet of Article: "...The Federal Railroad Administration disclosed last week that the state’s High-Speed Rail Authority was seeking exemptions from the Buy American Act on more than a dozen critical train parts — including motors, gearboxes, axles, wheels, brakes, derailment mitigation devices, undercarriages and even the entire aluminum car body shells..."

Source: www.latimes.com

Buy American Act

Monday, November 7, 2016

Janet Reno, the first woman to serve as Attorney General, has died

Janet Reno Cause of Death: How Did the Former Attorney General Die?

Snippet of Article: "...Janet Reno, the first woman to serve as Attorney General, has died at the age of 78. Why did she die? Her cause of death was from complications due to Parkinson’s disease, ABC News reported. She died on Monday, her goddaughter, Gabrielle D’Alemberte announced. She spent her last days at home with family and friends..."

Source: heavy.com

Janet Reno, First Female Attorney General,

Iowa Poll: Trump Opens 7-point Lead Over Clinton; Markets Rise, Peso rises as Trump Rises in Polls

Iowa poll: Trump opens 7-point lead over Clinton

Snippet of Article: "...Donald Trump has surged to a 7-point lead over Democratic rival Hillary Clinton among Iowa voters, firmly establishing the Republican presidential nominee as the favorite to win the state’s six electoral votes on Tuesday. Trump is the top choice for 46% of Iowans who have already cast a ballot or plan to do so on Election Day..."

Source: www.usatoday.com

Friday, November 4, 2016

U.S. intel warning of possible al Qaeda attacks in U.S. Monday

U.S. intel warning of possible al Qaeda attacks in U.S. Monday

Snippet of Article: "...U.S. intelligence has alerted joint terrorism task forces that al Qaeda could be planning attacks in three states for Monday. It is believed New York, Texas and Virginia are all possible targets, though no specific locations are mentioned..."

Source: www.cbsnews.com

al Qaeda attacks, Domestic Cyberattacks,

Thursday, November 3, 2016

FBI had secret recordings of suspect talking about alleged deals Clintons made

FBI had secret recordings of suspect talking about alleged deals Clintons made

Snippet of Article: "...FBI sources told Fox News this week that an indictment is likely in the Clinton Foundation investigation that has been ongoing for more than a year..."

Source: www.businessinsider.com

Hillary Clinton, Clinton Foundation, FBI, Justice Department, State Department, Latest Presidential election update,

Monday, October 31, 2016

Clinton email scandal continues with new FBI probe

Clinton email scandal continues with new FBI probe

Snippet of Article: "...FBI Director James Comey says that new emails have come to light recently that have prompted investigators to take another look at the sensitive government information that flowed through the private email sever Clinton used while serving as secretary of state..."

Source: www.blackhillsfox.com

email hacking, WikiLeaks, FBI,

Monday, October 17, 2016

What Will Each Presidential Candidate Do To Help Feds? Apparently Not Much Except Talk

A fed’s guide to the presidential candidates

Snippet of Article: "...What would a Hillary Clinton victory mean for the federal workforce? Should procurement managers be excited at the prospect of businessman Donald Trump? Is another Clinton in the Oval Office a good or bad thing for senior executives? Are career staff justified in being anxious over logistics of a wall?..."

Source: federalnewsradio.com

2016 Presidential Candidates,

Sunday, October 16, 2016

FBI Director Rejects Talk of Epidemic of Police Bias Against Blacks

FBI Director Rejects Talk of Epidemic of Police Bias Against Blacks

Snippet of Article: "...FBI Director James Comey gave an impassioned defense of police officers Sunday, saying most are overwhelmingly good people working during a 'uniquely difficult time in American law enforcement.' ..."

Source: www.wsj.com

James Comey, FBI,

Wednesday, October 5, 2016

New Scandal: Hillary Caught Paying Off FBI Director?

New Scandal: Hillary Caught Paying Off FBI Director?

Snippet of Article: "...It has come out that James Comey accepted positions and financial compensation for working as a general counsel for Lockheed Martin. Comey worked for Lockheed and in one year, the first year Lockheed would become a major Clinton Foundation donor, Comey was paid $6 million in 2010. The same year, Lockheed Martin won 17 private contracts from the State Department. Guess who ran the State Department in 2010? Hillary Clinton..."

Source: www.libertynewsnow.com

Clinton Foundation, FBI Director, James B. Comey,

N.S.A. Contractor Arrested in Possible New Theft of Secrets

N.S.A. Contractor Arrested in Possible New Theft of Secrets

Snippet of Article: "...he stole and disclosed highly classified computer codes developed to hack into the networks of foreign governments, according to several senior law enforcement and intelligence officials. The theft raises the embarrassing prospect that for the second time in three years an insider has managed to steal highly damaging secret information from the N.S.A..."

Source: www.nytimes.com

National Security Agency (NSA), FBI, Cyber Theft,

Tuesday, October 4, 2016

WikiLeaks' Assange signals release of documents before U.S. election


WikiLeaks' Assange signals release of documents before U.S. election

WikiLeaks
WikiLeaks
Snippet of Article: "...WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange said on Tuesday the group would publish about 1 million documents related to the U.S. election and three governments in coming weeks, but denied the release was aimed at damaging Hillary Clinton..."
Source: www.thegazette.com

Julian Assange, WikiLeaks, Government Corruption,

Yahoo secretly scanned customer emails for U.S. intelligence - sources

Yahoo secretly scanned customer emails for U.S. intelligence - sources

Snippet of Article: "...Yahoo Inc last year secretly built a custom software program to search all of its customers' incoming emails for specific information provided by U.S. intelligence officials, according to people familiar with the matter. The company complied with a classified U.S. government directive, scanning hundreds of millions of Yahoo Mail accounts at the behest of the National Security Agency or FBI, said two former employees and a third person apprised of the events ..."

Source: www.reuters.com

Alex Stamos, National Security Agency (NSA), FBI, Yahoo Mail,

Thursday, September 29, 2016

Can I Take a Ballot Selfie and Post It on Social Media? Federal Appeals Court Strikes Down Ballot Selfie Ban

Note: Be careful not to violate The Hatch Act.

Federal Appeals Court Strikes Down Ballot Selfie Ban

Snippet of Article: "...holding that the prohibition on photographing and publicizing one’s ballot violates the First Amendment. Two federal judges have already ruled that ballot selfie bans, which at least 25 states have adopted, violate constitutionally protected freedom of expression. The 1st Circuit’s ruling marks the first time a federal appeals court had ruled on the matter, and the opinion is a resounding victory for both free speech and democracy..."

Source: www.slate.com

Can I Take a Ballot Selfie and Post It on Social Media?

Thursday, September 22, 2016

What impact does a few hours of LWOP per week have on my Annual Leave accrual?

What impact does a few hours of LWOP per week have on my Annual Leave accrual?

Accrual of annual and sick leave

Snippet of Article: "...When a full-time employee accumulates 80 hours of LWOP during a pay period, the employee does not earn annual leave or sick leave during that pay period. The employee earns leave in the next succeeding pay periods until he or she again accumulates 80 hours of LWOP during a pay period (5 CFR 630.208). When a part-time employee is in a non-pay status, he or she will accrue less annual leave and sick leave, since part-time employees earn leave on a pro-rata basi s-i.e., based on hours in a pay status (5 CFR 630.303 and 630.406). For purposes of computing accrual rates for annual leave..."

Source: www.blm.gov

Accrual of annual and sick leave, LWOP and Annual Leave accrual,

Tuesday, September 20, 2016

'If you see something, say something'

'If you see something, say something'

When it comes to 'suspicious activity' that you observe, report it to the appropriate law enforcement agency and/or the appropriate government agency. When doing so, please log the what, when and where of what you have witnessed. Additionally, document who you report it to as well as the time and date you did so, Taking photos of any supporting documentation is an added bonus but NEVER put yourself in danger.

In a society where local thugs try to convince people not to snitch, you must be the stronger personality and not be a puppet to the criminal element by living up to the wishes of criminals that want to keep their activities silent and undercover by using the word snitch. You are not a snitch if you are reporting criminal appearing activity, you are a hero. It takes more to do the right thing than it does to remain silent.

If you see something, say something applies to a myriad of activities like drugs, human trafficking, terrorism, theft and other suspicious activity. Remember that the more facts you can provide, the more effective you will be in eradicating the criminal element from our communities. Stay vigilant and we can make a better society.

Source: federal-newsgroup.blogspot.com

"If you see something, say something",

800+ illegal immigrants identified for deportation were 'accidentally' given citizenship

800-plus 'accidental' citizens? Expert doesn't believe it

'They are letting people into the country who are dangerous'

Snippet of Article: "...The main issue was the claim in the article, the assumption that this was accidental,” Gheen told WND on Monday. “Don’t believe this is accidental. There’s no reason we should believe any of this is accidental. They are intentionally letting people in this country who are dangerous..."

Source: www.wnd.com

Wednesday, September 7, 2016

OPM hack was avoidable, says congressional report

OPM hack was avoidable, says congressional report

Snippet of Article: "...speculation that it had been done by the Chinese. Information from the hack was invaluable to other countries because it provided insights into which employees had security clearances, who is dealing with classified information, what vulnerabilities they have and what their fingerprints look like, Chaffetz said..."

Source: www.infoworld.com

OPM Cyber-Breach 2015

Wednesday, August 31, 2016

Recidivism rates of federal inmates

Recidivism rates of federal inmates

Snippet of Article: "...Within three years of release, about two-thirds (67.8 percent) of released prisoners were rearrested. Within five years of release, about three-quarters (76.6 percent) of released prisoners were rearrested. Of those prisoners who were rearrested, more than half (56.7 percent) were arrested by the end of the first year..."

Source: www.nij.gov

Recidivism rates of federal inmates, Obama clemency initiative,

Comey: FBI wants ‘adult conversation’ on device encryption

Comey: FBI wants ‘adult conversation’ on device encryption

Snippet of Article: "...FBI Director James Comey warned again Tuesday about the bureau’s inability to access digital devices because of encryption and said investigators were collecting information about the challenge in preparation for an “adult conversation” next year..."

Source: www.washingtonpost.com

The Issue: How do we find a balance national security and a reasonable expectation of privacy? Furthermore, is it even possible to do so?

Monday, August 29, 2016

2 state voter systems breached; FBI is urging U.S. election officials to increase computer security

FBI detects breaches against two state voter systems

Snippet of Article: "...Yahoo News said the Illinois voter registration system was shut down for 10 days in late July after hackers downloaded personal data on up to 200,000 voters. The Arizona attack was more limited and involved introducing malicious software into the voter registration system..."

Source: www.reuters.com

hacking of voter systems

Friday, August 19, 2016

Obama Extends Transgender Bathroom Rules to Federal Buildings

Obama Extends Transgender Bathroom Rules to Federal Buildings

Snippet of Article: "...the bulletin cites the Department of Justice, Department of Education and the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and their extension of the 1972 Title IX provision of the Civil Rights Act to include protections based on gender identity..."

Source: www.crossmap.com

Transgender, Obama Legacy, Federal Rules on Bathrooms, 1972 Title IX,

Wednesday, August 10, 2016

CSRS Offset Retirement

CSRS Offset Retirement

Snippet of Article: "...Typically, CSRS Offset retirement applies to employees who had a break in service that exceeded 1 year and ended after 1983, and had 5 years of credit able civil ian service as of January 1, 1987. For example, if you left Federal service on May 15, 1992, with 18 years of CSRS-covered service and were rein stated under a career appoint­ment on November 1, 1993, you would have CSRS Offset cover age. An other major category of CSRS Offset employ­ees includes people who were hired before January 1, 1984, acquired CSRS interim cover age between 1984 and 1987, and had at least 5 years of credit­able civilian service by January 1, 1987..."

Source: OPM

CSRS Offset Retirement (Pamphlet RI 83-19),

Monday, July 25, 2016

Proof of a rigged political system

As DNC Begins, Many Sanders Supporters Not Ready To Get On Board For Clinton

Snippet of Article: "...party Chairman Debbie Wasserman Schultz will resign after the convention — not to mention that her reason for stepping down is that leaked emails showed DNC staffers favoring Clinton during the primaries, and even discussing ways to help her defeat Sanders...party leadership must also always remain impartial in the presidential nominating process, something which did not occur in the 2016 race..."

Source: www.opb.org

Debbie Wasserman Schultz, 2016 Presidential race, DNC Rigged Against Bernie Sanders, Rigged Political System,