Sunday, April 6, 2014

Are you going to tell me, with a straight face, that the nation that can put a man on the moon can not design, implement, and enforce an accounting system with document and cash controls?

One Citizen Speaking...

GOVERNMENT ACCOUNTING SYSTEMS: DEFECTIVE AND DECEPTIVE BY DESIGN

Posted: 04 Apr 2014 05:44 PM PDT

Are you going to tell me, with a straight face, that the nation that can put a man on the moon can not design, implement, and enforce an accounting system with document and cash controls?

SUBJECT: Management Alert (Contract File Management Deficiencies)

The Office of Inspector General (OIG), in recent audits, investigations, and inspections, has identified significant vulnerabilities in the management of contract file documentation that could expose the Department to substantial financial losses.

Specifically, over the past 6 years, OIG has identified Department of State (Department) contracts with a total value of more than $6 billion in which contract files were incomplete or could not be located at all.

The failure to maintain contract files adequately creates significant financial risk and demonstrates a lack of internal control over the Department's contract actions.

This Management Alert is intended to alert senior Department management to the serious nature of the issue and provides recommendations to assist in eliminating or mitigating those vulnerabilities.

Set out below are examples of contract file deficiencies found in audits, investigations, and inspections:

Audits.

A recent OIG audit of the closeout process for contracts supporting the U.S. Mission in Iraq revealed that contracting officials were unable to provide 33 of 115 contract files requested in accordance with the audit sampling plan. The value of the contracts in the 33 missing files totaled $2.1 billion.

Forty-eight of the 82 contract files received did not contain all of the documentation required by FAR 4.8. The value of the contracts in the 48 incomplete files totaled an additional $2.1 billion. An ongoing OIG audit of Bureau of African Affairs contracts revealed that CORs were unable to provide complete contract administration files for any of the eight contracts that were reviewed. The value of these contracts totaled $34.8 million.

Deficiencies in contract file management have also been identified in joint audit reports issued by this office, the Department of Defense OIG (DoD OIG) and the Special Inspector General for Iraq Reconstruction (SIGIR). Specifically, in two joint audits conducted with DoD OIG, we found that, for two task orders valued in excess of $1 billion, the Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs had neither ensured that the COR for the Civilian Police contract in Afghanistan established or maintained contracting files that were complete and easily accessible, nor finalized and fully implemented standard operating procedures for maintaining COR files. Also, in a joint audit with SIGIR, we reviewed four task orders from the Worldwide Personal Protective Services II contract, with an estimated total cost of $1 billion as of May 29, 2008, and found that COR files maintained in both Washington, DC, and Baghdad, Iraq, were not accessible, complete, or maintained in accordance with Department policy.

In sum, over the past 6 years, our audit work has uncovered significant contract file management deficiencies in Department contracts/task orders with a total value of more than $6 billion.

Investigations.

In the case of work undertaken by OIG's Office of Investigations, one investigation revealed that a contract file did not contain documentation reflecting that modifications and task orders were awarded to the company owned by the spouse of a contractor employee performing as a Contract Specialist for the contract. This contract was valued at $52 million.

In another investigation, OIG found that a CO falsified Government technical review information and provided the contractor with contract pricing information. The related contract file was not properly maintained and for a period of time was hidden by the CO. This contract was valued at $100 million.

In a third investigation, OIG found that a COR allowed the payment of $792,782 to a contractor even though thecontract file did not contain documents to support the payment. Furthermore, an additional OIG investigation revealed that the contract file was missing a COR appointment letter required by FAR 1.602-2 (d).

Read the entire document in context.

Where does it all go?

Some of the missing money, of course, goes to support the outrageous lifestyles and other activities of wealthy, politically-connected government contractors, many of whom are used to providing campaign funding for politicians and jobs for relatives, friends, and other supporters. Some of the missing money is given to corrupt individuals and governments to purchase desirable political outcomes for the politicians – and not necessarily for the United States or the United States taxpayer.

Rewarded for corruption and incompetence …

The one thing you never see is budget reductions by the amount of waste, fraud, and abuse that is detected by the auditors, and, only in the most egregious media-worthy cases do you see individuals prosecuted, people fired, and corrupt departments eliminated. Because of the corrupt budgeting process and arcane program rules put in place by a bought-and-paid for legislature, corrupt entities are rewarded with additional funds based on those that were lost due to fraud, waste, and abuse.

Bottom line…

The entire budgeting process is corrupt, made more so by the corrupt politicians than pander to the special interests in order to secure campaign funding and voter support. Unfortunately, if you do not bring home pork to your district to be distributed to the entities connect to the unions and other special interests, you are replaced by an even greater corrupt elected official.

While I would love to point out the profligate spending of President Obama and his cadre of progressive socialist democrats, I cannot help but mention the profligate spending of former President George Bush and his cadre of crony capitalists who were every bit as ideological toward capitalism as Obama’s people are toward socialism.

Unless things change and politicians and government workers are held to account, we are screwed! And, screwed big time.

-- steve

SM1 Reports You Decide....Females on Fox News

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Russian reaction to sanctions threats from Obama...

Saturday, April 5, 2014

A bowling alley in Clearwater, FL is doing a record business...

Want to knock his teeth out?
A bowling alley in Clearwater, Florida , Bowl-O-Bama, is doing record business.
The alley reported a record number of 300 games.
Since opening in November 2010,
963 patrons have bowled a perfect game,
including strikes in the warm-up frames.
This alley also has the highest bowling league average in the country, with a 237.
And that's the senior league.

Gun Owner Shot Multiple Times, Fights Off Home Invaders With .22, Drives Himself to Get Help [Video] Chicago’s Murder Rate Drops to 50 Year Low Following Implementation of Concealed Carry Ohio: Suppressor Bill Passes House, Goes to Senate

Guns Save Lives

Gun Owner Shot Multiple Times, Fights Off Home Invaders With .22, Drives Himself to Get Help

Posted: 04 Apr 2014 01:41 PM PDT

If you’re ever involved in a defensive gun use, the most important thing is not to get shot. Unfortunately, Jeff Gegelman of rural Golden Valley, ND was unable to avoid that during a home invasion. Two men kicked in Gegelman’s door as a third suspect remained in the car parked in Gegelman’s yard. According to […]

[Video] Chicago’s Murder Rate Drops to 50 Year Low Following Implementation of Concealed Carry

Posted: 04 Apr 2014 11:21 AM PDT

Personally, I think it’s a little too soon to credit this news to Illinois’ new concealed carry laws, however, it is an interesting data point. According to the Chicago PD, the first quarter murder rate in the city was at its lowest point since 1958. According to ABC News, The first three months of the […]

Ohio: Suppressor Bill Passes House, Goes to Senate

Posted: 04 Apr 2014 10:50 AM PDT

The following story is from the NRA-ILA and represents one of several bills being considered by multiple states to expand the legality and use of sound suppressors on firearms. Yesterday, the Ohio House of Representatives passed House Bill 234 by a 76 to 15 vote. HB 234 will now be sent to the state Senate where it awaits […]

[Video] Ft. Hood Survivor: ‘More Guns’ Would Have Prevented Latest Shootings

Posted: 04 Apr 2014 10:45 AM PDT

Retired Sgt. Alonzo Lunsford was at Fort Hood during the 2009 mass shooting there. He was actually shot 7 times, but survived. You might think that such an experience would leave someone with a bad taste in their mouth regarding guns. However, just the opposite is true for Lunsford. In a recent interview with MSNBC […]

[Video] NRA Releases Great Video About Anti-Gun Senator Who Was Arrested for Arms Trafficking

Posted: 04 Apr 2014 09:59 AM PDT

Hopefully you’ve heard by now, but if not, an anti-gun state senator in California, Leland Yee, was arrested for arms trafficking late last month. Yee has had a hand in many of California’s recent gun control bills and was one of the politicians pushing to regulate 3D printing technology. NRA News’ Ginny Simone takes a […]

[Video] PEOPLE Magazine Rejects Photo Contest Entry of a Woman Holding a Gun – Twice

Posted: 04 Apr 2014 09:38 AM PDT

What’s going on over at PEOPLE Magazine? According to the above video, the popular publication rejected not one, but two photos into a Beauty at Every Age photo contest where the woman was holding a gun. After the first rejection, the woman and her husband took a second photo with different clothing, different gun, and […]

ATF Clarifies That Using AR-15 Pistol Arm Brace as Shoulder Stock is Not Illegal

Posted: 04 Apr 2014 08:59 AM PDT

Well, what’s this? Some common sense from the ATF? Looks like it! In a letter provided to us by a reader, it looks like the ATF has officially clarified that using an approved arm brace device, such as the SIG SB15 Pistol Stabilizing Device, as a shoulder stock is not illegal. Many people had theorized […]

FOR ALL THE HYPERSENSITIVE HYPOCRITES: GOVERNMENT MANDATES WARNING ON ALL COMMUNICATIONS HYPOCRITE HILLARY CLINTON DOES ORWELL: CLAIMS PARTISANSHIP IS TAKING US BACKWARDS...

One Citizen Speaking...

FOR ALL THE HYPERSENSITIVE HYPOCRITES: GOVERNMENT MANDATES WARNING ON ALL COMMUNICATIONS

Posted: 04 Apr 2014 03:34 PM PDT

If the progressive socialist democrats in the Obama Administration had their way, the world would be a much safer place because every private communication would come with a warning label …

Of course, you think this is a joke, don’t you?

Trigger warnings: New wave of political correctness hits campuses
Hypersensitive students and professors all over the country are about to score another victory for political correctness if they succeed in their mission to normalize the use of “trigger warnings,” which are intended to protect people from taking part in class discussions and media that might offend them.
Trigger warnings are most commonly attached to online news articles and blog posts. They warn readers that the post contains specific, offensive content. An article about sexual violence, for instance, might come with a trigger warning for rape victims. The idea is to prevent post traumatic stress.
But censorship-inclined activists are now eager to force professors to attach trigger warnings to their syllabi.
Students at the University of California-Santa Barbara are doing their best to make their PC dreams a reality. The student government passed a resolution that urged administrators to adopt mandatory trigger warnings as official university policy last month.
“This is not meant to censor … but it really just asks that professors and other people on campus acknowledge the effects of triggering content on students with PTSD,” said Bailey Loverin, the student who sponsored the resolution, in a statement.
Read more at: Trigger warnings: New wave of political correctness hits campuses | The Daily Caller

Post Traumatic Stress Disorder?

There is little or no doubt in my mind that America is being coerced into becoming a nation of pasty-faced wussies unable to defend themselves against aggressors that challenge their existence and want them to accept tyrannical subservience as a condition for their safety and security. If little boys do not act like polite little girls, their behavior is criminalized and they are sentenced to being medicated into compliance – medication that is rapidly producing a nation of teenagers with no impulse control. Add the profitable purveyors of pornography, violent video games, demeaning rap/hip-hop gangsta’ culture lyrics, and no adult supervision and you have a generation of medicated psychopaths with no moral compass.

There is also little or no doubt in my mind that the progressive socialist democrats are wreaking havoc on America and Americans with their political correctness, multiculturalism, and moral equivalency. All to reduce us to “population units” to be managed by an enlightened elite for the benefit of all society. Socialist and communist propaganda touting an ideology that has never worked and cannot work – especially given the parameters of human nature that produces leaders and followers, winners and losers, and producers and takers.

I can understand Post Traumatic Stress Disorder in those who are exposed to true stress, but have no regard for the progressive socialist democrat wussies who want you to believe that you must be protected from an insensitive remark or discussion. You do not live your life in a sheltered cocoon, so why would you support this progressive nonsense.

Bottom line …

It is time to promote individualism over collectivism, strength over weakness, exceptionalism over mediocrity, and most of all, a resilience and a will to excel in a non-socialist world where we are all dumbed down to the point that we think sharing misery is normal. In essence, the Hillary Clinton and Nancy Pelosi’s worldview.

We have an election coming and you have a choice. Thrive or be managed to death.

-- steve

HYPOCRITE HILLARY CLINTON DOES ORWELL: CLAIMS PARTISANSHIP IS TAKING US BACKWARDS

Posted: 04 Apr 2014 02:19 PM PDT

You can’t make this stuff up. Speaking at the Women in the World summit, Clinton was quoted by the Associated Press as saying …

Hillary Clinton: Partisanship taking US backwards
Hillary Rodham Clinton said Thursday night that excessive partisanship flowing through the nation's political system is causing the U.S. to march "backwards instead of forward" and pointed to fall elections as a sign of how the country might tackle problems.
The former secretary of state reflected on her time at the State Department, the U.S. relationship with Russia and the advice she gives to young women during her appearance at the annual Women in the World summit. But when the moderator asked her to address the nation's future, Clinton cited the need to "get back to evidence-based decision-making."
"There is just pure ideology, pure partisanship. We disguise a commercial interest behind a political facade and the result is that we're kind of marching backwards instead of forward," Clinton said.
The potential 2016 Democratic presidential candidate noted that "we have an election coming up this year. And we ought to be paying attention to that because that will set the parameters for a lot of what can and should be done." Source: News from The Associated Press

The sheer hypocrisy of Hillary Clinton is beyond belief.

She is one of the most divisive, corrupt, and hyper-partisan politicians in the United States, if not the world.
She is provably corrupt as demonstrated by her actions while in the White House.
She is provably hyper-partisan as she and her cadre of progressive socialist democrats compile enemy lists and actively seek to disadvantage those with other viewpoints.
And, she represents all that is wrong with America – she is a elitist, wealthy Marxist who only pretends to have any sense of humility or decency.
She has absolutely no problem with lying to the American people about Benghazi and the four people who were killed on her watch.
She has no problem escaping and evading responsibility even as she claims to embrace the responsibility of her office. In Clinton’s world it is responsibility without repercussions.

Bottom line …

Hillary Clinton and her cadre of progressive socialist democrats are a clear and present danger to a free and prosperous America. It is likely that she will follow the ideological path toward socialism as pursued by President Barack Obama as well as stealing the nation blind with “wink, wink” contributions flowing into the various Clinton enterprises.

No more Bushes, No more Clintons, No more Kennedys. Restore America’s national defense capabilities, prosperity, and standing in the world. Throw Hillary Clinton on the ash heap of history where she belongs.

-- steve

MOZILLA LYING ABOUT BEING DIFFERENT: THEY ARE LIKE EVERY OTHER POLITICALLY CORRECT FOOL IN DISRESPECTING FREEDOM, LIBERTY, AND THE RIGHTS OF THE MAJORITY

Posted: 04 Apr 2014 01:48 PM PDT

Tyranny by the minority …

I can understand when a chief executive officer is forced to step down because they have committed a crime, greatly disadvantaged an organization with bad managerial actions and/or lack of vision, or promotes dissent in the organization that impairs day-to-day functioning. But, to be forced out because you have done nothing illegal other than to offend a highly vocal minority of gay activists who want you to accept their condition and in-your-face lifestyle as being mainstream normal is where you must draw the line. You do not excuse bad behavior with other bad behavior. Or in this case, compound bad behavior on the part of the homosexual activists by engaging in other bad behavior of forcing your CEO out the door.

Mozilla is lying … [My comments in blue italic]

Brendan Eich Steps Down as Mozilla CEO
Apr32014
Mozilla prides itself on being held to a different standard and, this past week, we didn’t live up to it. We know why people are hurt and angry, and they are right: it’s because we haven’t stayed true to ourselves.
We didn’t act like you’d expect Mozilla to act. We didn’t move fast enough to engage with people once the controversy started. We’re sorry. We must do better.
Brendan Eich has chosen to step down from his role as CEO. He’s made this decision for Mozilla and our community.
Mozilla believes both in equality and freedom of speech. Equality is necessary for meaningful speech. And you need free speech to fight for equality. Figuring out how to stand for both at the same time can be hard.
[Obvious this is a lie. Because they clearly do not believe in equality or freedom of speech or Brendan’s legal act of donating $1,000 in support of California’s Proposition 8 – passed by a majority of voters declaring that marriage is between a man and a woman – or they would have never knuckled under to the non-controversy. There was nothing in Proposition 8 that would not support “civil unions” – just that the word marriage could not be used to describe homosexual commitments.
Mozilla supports equality for all.
[Obviously not as Brendan’s rights to free speech, free association, and religious views were trampled by a corporation without the guts to stand up for freedom and liberty in America.]
We have employees with a wide diversity of views. Our culture of openness extends to encouraging staff and community to share their beliefs and opinions in public. This is meant to distinguish Mozilla from most organizations and hold us to a higher standard. But this time we failed to listen, to engage, and to be guided by our community.
[Obviously, their culture of openness did not extend to their CEO and his public opinion was certainly not respected.]
While painful, the events of the last week show exactly why we need the web. So all of us can engage freely in the tough conversations we need to make the world better.
[Painful? Please! The only one that really suffered was your CEO who lost a decent job and a chance to accomplish something in the digital world. Your actions have marked him as insensitive and disadvantaged him in his future undertakings.]
We need to put our focus back on protecting that Web. And doing so in a way that will make you proud to support Mozilla.
[Protecting the web from what: scammers and spammers – while you fail to uphold the First Amendment rights of every free citizen.]
What’s next for Mozilla’s leadership is still being discussed. We want to be open about where we are in deciding the future of the organization and will have more information next week. However, our mission will always be to make the Web more open so that humanity is stronger, more inclusive and more just: that’s what it means to protect the open Web.
[I guess the only politically correct and suitable choice for the next CEO will be a black Latino lesbian with managerial experience? Color over competence, Sex over strength.]
We will emerge from this with a renewed understanding and humility — our large, global, and diverse community is what makes Mozilla special, and what will help us fulfill our mission. We are stronger with you involved.
[Humility? You mean cowardice? The inability to stand up to a vocal activist minority to shut down the career of a member of the mainstream majority. How very socialist of you.]
Thank you for sticking with us.
[Other than our test lab, your software is being removed from all of our systems. Who knows who else you might pander to?]
Mitchell Baker, Executive Chairwoman

Brendan Eich Steps Down as Mozilla CEO | Mozilla Press Center

Bottom line …

Enough with the progressive socialist democrats and their political correctness, multiculturalism, and moral equivalency. Proposition 8 was legally passed by a majority of Californians. It was overturned by a homosexual judge who should have recused himself for bias and a conflict of interest. The fact that California’s State Attorney General did not defend a legally passed law in a higher court is also objectionable and points to the corruption of the progressive socialist democrats in charge of the formerly golden State of California.

It is time to fight back against the minority activists who want to turn the majority’s rights upside down in favor of their own perverted view of justice and liberty. Everyone should respect equality under the law and have equal rights under the law. Marriage, by definition, is a civil commitment recognized by the State. All laws should be applied equitably and fairly with respect to spousal privileges. And, the word marriage should be reserved for its original and traditional intent: a union of a man and a woman.

Think about what Mozilla has done – the have forced their CEO out over a non-issue that has no place in the creation and administration of the digital world. A world that should be as equal as all of the bits flowing through a pipeline. In essence, network neutrality for all sexual bits. Because in the digital world, there are no gay bits, black bits, Hispanic bits, or any other type of bits. Or as a pundit once said: bits are bits. PERIOD!

-- steve