Monday, March 29, 2004

Los Alamos Historical Document Retrieval and Assessment draft interim report available for review

The draft interim report of the Los Alamos Historical Document Retrieval and Assessment Project is now available for review on the project Web site at http://www.shonka.com/ReConstructionZone. This report will be discussed at the upcoming Public Meeting next Tuesday, March 30, at the Cities of Gold Hotel in Pojoaque. 

For more information, contact Tom Widner, project team leader, at 415-896-2400 ext 1007.

Updated 3/26/04

Learn how to stretch to improve body posture at the Wellness Center

The following Health Promotion class is open to the entire Laboratory work force. No fee.

Stretching and Progressive Relaxation -- Learn how to stretch to improve body posture and symmetry, prevent injury, relieve muscle soreness and enhance mobility. Progressive relaxation can help reduce stress, enhance the quality of rest and ease tense muscles. Master techniques to ease your mind in this 45-minute class! Class will be held from noon to 12:50 p.m. Tuesday, March 30.

Register online http://www.wellness.lanl.gov/svc/classes/hp/hp_sch.htm or call the Wellness Center at 7-7166 for more information.

Updated 3/25/04

Jim Lime retiring from Lab

Nuclear Design and Risk Analysis (D-5) announces the retirement of Jim Lime on April 3. Jim spent 24 years working at TA-52 in Q, N, TSA and D divisions on the development and application of the Transient Reactor Analysis Code for the Nuclear Regulatory Commission and Department of Energy.

Updated 3/25/04

Executive MBA program deadline is April 30

Candidates are now being selected for the 2004-06 Executive MBA class which begins in late June. The Executive MBA program at the University of New Mexico's Anderson Schools of Management is a Master's degree program in business administration designed for high-potential managers with an undergraduate degree in any field and at least three years of significant work experience.

• Intensive two-year program that won't interrupt your career
• Every-other-weekend format with classes on Friday afternoons and Saturday mornings
• Nationally accredited by the AACSB but half the cost of comparable programs
• An up-to-date curriculum taught by UNM's senior-level Ph.D. faculty

Deadline for application is April 30. One final information session is being offered from 10 a.m. to noon, Saturday, April 3, at the Anderson Schools of Management on the UNM campus. They also are offering a free GMAT workshop from 1:30 to 4:30 p.m. on the same day and location.

For more information on the program, contact Leslie Knowlton of Training and Development (HR-TD) at 5-8646, write to lesliekn@lanl.gov by electronic mail or go to http://emba.mgt.unm.edu/ online.

Updated 3/23/04

Mesa Public Library free film series continues

A new series of movies will be showing at Mesa Public Library on the first Thursday of each month. Science fiction is a very popular literary genre and has been the basis for some great movies. The featured authors of our new series of six films are: H.G. Wells, J.R.R. Tolkein, Michael Crichton, Margaret Atwood, Phillip K. Dick, William Harrison and Richard Matheson.

The first movie, begins at 6:30 p.m., April 1, was written by H.G. Wells. It was made in 1960, rated G, and stars Rod Taylor. Join us for a special reading from Jack Williamson's book H.G. Wells, Critic of Progress before the movie.

The films are shown upstairs in the library meeting rooms.

A restriction of our license is that the titles of the movies in the program may not be publicized to the general public outside of the Library. However, the titles are used on advertising within the Library, so come by to see the posters listing the latest films and pick up a program, or call 662-8247 for details.

Updated 3/23/04

LALT presents "The Murder Room"

Los Alamos Little Theater's production of "The Murder Room, A Mystery Farce" by Jack Sharkey, begins at 8:15 p.m. on April 2, 3, 9 and 10. There also will be a performance at 2 p.m., Sunday, April 4. All performances are at the Performing Arts Center, 1670 Nectar Street in Los Alamos. Tickets are $10 ($8 for students and seniors) and are available at Brownell's Hallmark Store and at the door.

For more information, go to www.lalt.org online or call 662-5493.

Updated 3/23/04

Cognitive systems workshop in June

Sandia National Laboratories and the University of New Mexico are co-hosting the Second Annual Workshop on Cognitive Systems: Human Cognitive Models in System Design workshop. The workshop will explore current thinking and activities with regard to the understanding of cognitive systems. Topics to be addressed in the workshop include:

• differentiation between cognitive, AI and expert systems, as well as other related fields
• ongoing research and developments in cognitive systems
• principles in conceptualization and design of cognitive systems
• opportunities for the advancement of cognitive systems

The workshop is June 29 - July 1 in Santa Fe. It will combine presentations from leaders in the field and breakout sessions in which selected issues will be considered at some depth.

For more information, go to http://www.sandia.gov/cog.systems/cognitive_workshop/index.htm online.

Updated 3/23/04

Upcoming National Instruments LabVIEW classes
 
The following classes will be offered by the National Instruments in the New Mexico area for May and June.

The LabVIEW Basics I prepares you to develop test and measurement, data acquisition, instrument control, data logging and measurement analysis applications using LabVIEW. The LabVIEW Basics II course is a logical extension of Basics I and prepares you to design complete, stand-alone applications in LabVIEW.

LabVIEW Intermediate I teaches structured practices to design, develop, test and deploy LabVIEW applications. The Intermediate II course builds on the skills developed in LabVIEW Intermediate I by doing an in-depth examination of memory management and performance techniques to help extend the ability to develop LabVIEW code that maximizes application performance. This training is also for LabVIEW users pursuing the Certified LabVIEW Developer certification.

For more information, contact Hank Buterbaugh at (800) 433-3488 x 30218 or write to Hank.Buterbaugh@ni.com by electronic mail

LabVIEW users who have not yet attended LabVIEW can register for these classes at www.ni.com/training online or by calling (888) 484-4436.

Updated 3/23/04

Wellness Center Spring registration

Registration for Spring 2004 Wellness Center classes will began March 24. Please review class prerequisites prior to registration, including Wellness Center authorization requirements and bike tests.

For more information, visit the Wellness Center Web site at www.wellness.lanl.gov online or call 7-7166.

Updated 3/24/04

Volunteer opportunities

1. A high school student from Winchester, Virginia needs help with a science fair project. For more information, click here. (Adobe Acrobat Reader required) If you are able to help, contact Bobby Arthur at bobster88@adelphia.net by electronic mail.

2. Los Alamos Fitness Fair and Bodybuilding and Fitness Competition, Saturday, April 3. From 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., there will be a Fitness Fair (free admission) in the Los Alamos High School Griffith Gymnasium. Local and neighboring businesses will exhibit their products and services, and yoga, aerobic and martial arts demonstrations will be taking place throughout the day. Volunteers are needed for helping out before and during the events. They need help assisting vendors and competitors, setting up the weight room, helping with sound and lighting, putting up posters and flyer and many other tasks. For more information, contact Kim or Kent at 662-5232.

3. Carrie Tingley Hospital Foundation, 10th Anniversary Mudd Volleyball Tournament, Saturday, June 19 - Volunteer for a day of fun in the sun at New Mexico's largest one-day summer event. Volunteers are needed to help with various jobs. To volunteer, contact the Carrie Tingley Foundation office at (505) 243-6626. For more information, contact Michele Ruehle at diamond693@comcast.net by electronic mail.

4. Habitat for Humanity - Española Valley/Los Alamos needs volunteers. The next Habitat house is already in the early stages of construction and at least one more house is planned for this year. We have specific needs for a backup caller for Los Alamos volunteers and new volunteer, site selection, family support and church relations committee members, as well as volunteer home builders. Whether experienced in construction or picking up a hammer for the first time, contact Yvonne Maestas at the Española/Los Alamos Habitat for Humanity office at 747-2690.

5. A mechanical engineer is needed to participate in McCurdy's annual career day from 8:30 to 11 a.m., April 15. The request is for hands-on activity/demonstration. Presenters will give three 25 minute presentations on area of expertise. If interested, call 753-7221, ex. 242, write to Nickel0917@yahoo.com by electronic mail or call Olivia Martinez at 7-4583.

6. Hands Across Cultures is looking for a computer expert(s) to provide some assistance in assessing computers they received through the Laboratory/State salvage program. They want someone who can tell them about computer's life and usage and what software will be required to run them. If interested, contact Olivia Martinez at 7-4583.

Updated 3/22/04

2004 Dog Jog on April 24

On April 24, families, canines and runners will gather at Chamisa School in White Rock to run the 5-kilometer course or walk the 2-mile course. The early-bird registration ends on Thursday, April 1, but registration will be accepted up to and on the day of the race. Every registered individual will receive an event T-shirt (short sleeved for kids and long sleeved for adults) and a packet filled with entertaining and educational dog related information. If you don't have a dog and would like to have one for the race, dog rentals may be available.

For more information, contact Teresa Hofheins at 7-3312. For entry forms, go to ladoc.dogbits.com online and look under the upcoming events section or forms also are available at many Los Alamos businesses.

Updated 3/19/04

Mac OS X: The Future of UNIX presentation on March 30

With its open source, UNIX-based foundation, key productivity applications like Microsoft Office, and the 64-bit PowerPC G5 processor, many people consider Mac OS X the ultimate platform for scientific computing. Come hear Ernest Prabhakar, Apple's product manager for UNIX and Open Source, discuss the technical foundations of Mac OS X, as well as provide an overview of Apple's hardware, developer tools and solutions for high-performance computing.

Topics include:

• Apple and open standards
• Open source with Darwin and FreeBSD
• 64-bit math using the PowerPC G5
• Cross-platform APIs (e.g., X11, Java, and OpenGL)
• Software and hardware for distributed computing

Registration and refreshments are at 8:30 a.m., March 30 at the Motorola Building. The presentation begins at 9 a.m. RSVP to jsantoru@holmans.com by electronic mail.

Updated 3/17/04

2004 Lab wall calendars available

An additional, but limited supply of 2004 Laboratory wall calendars are now available through Just-In-Time. The cost per item is $4.18 and the Boise JIT ordering part number is B12162.

For questions, contact Veronica Pacheco of Procurement (SUP-1) at 5-5098.

Updated 3/17/04

ASQ meeting on April 19

The main section of the American Society for Quality in Albuquerque, Section 1400, is planning a joint meeting with the ASQ Northern New Mexico Subsection on April 19 in Santa Fe. Preliminary reservations have been made at the Santa Fe Radisson Hotel. Final arrangements for the speaker and dinner times will be announced soon.

For more information, contact Catherine French, ASQ Subsection Chair, at 7-4581 or write to cafrench@lanl.gov by electronic mail.

Updated 3/17/04

Skolnik training classes

Skolnik Technical Training Institute will host two training seminars at the Canyon Complex in March.

• A two-day "Introduction to RF" training seminar, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., March 29 - 30. This class will introduce the discipline of RF and µwaves, including the theory and practical aspects of RF components, design, test and measurement. Tuition is $999.
• A three-day "Advanced General RF Microwave Measurement, Theory, and Practice" training seminar, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., March 31 - April 2. This class will enhance learning from the Basics RF seminar to a superior level of knowledge, allowing design and troubleshooting more effectively. Tuition is $1399.

Additional training classes

• Skolnik will host a "Basics of Electricity (AC Circuits)" seminar from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., April 13 - 15, at the Holiday Inn Conference Center at 10330 Hotel Ave. NE in Albuquerque. The seminar is designed for technicians, assemblers, engineers, managers and anyone who would like to learn about electricity and the related components. The fee is $999.
• Skolnik will be hosting a four-day "IPC-A-610C Solder Certification" training seminar from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., April 5 - 8, at Skolnik's soldering training facility in Albuquerque. This IPC-A-610C course is designed to provide soldering certification to assemblers, technicians and/or engineers, for end-product acceptance criteria of high reliability electronic assemblies. The tuition fee is $799.

For more information or to register, go to http://www.skolnik-tech.com/ online or call Skolnik at (505) 299-1157.

Updated 3/17/04

Amateur Radio Licensing exams on April 20

The Los Alamos Amateur Radio Club is sponsoring Amateur Radio Licensing exams for all classes of licenses. The exams begin at 6:30 p.m., Tuesday, April 20, at the White Rock Training Center. Pre-registration is not required. All applicants should bring a photo ID, a simple calculator and $12 for the ARRL exam fee. License upgrades will require the original and a copy of a current amateur license and any CSCEs for credit. All other required forms will be provided at the exam session.

For more information, contact Kyle Carr (KM5P) at 7-3641 or 661-8967 or write to km5p@arrl.net by electronic mail.

Updated 3/17/04

My LANL feedback needed

The My LANL team is looking for line managers to review and provide feedback on new My LANL features as they are being designed and developed. If interested in participating, write to mylanl@lanl.gov by electronic mail.

Updated 3/15/04

YMCA classes

• Parents can now register children from ages 0 to 12 for its Friday Fun Night child-care program at the YMCA. The program offers low cost, supervised childcare with various activities planned for children. The cost is $15 per child between 0 and age 5 and $5 for each sibling; $25 for children ages 6 to 12 and $5 for each sibling. Friday Fun Night is offered on select Fridays and is from 6 to 10 p.m. for younger children and 6 p.m. to midnight for children ages 6 to 12. For more information, contact Michelle Hennigar at 662-3100.
• A woodshop class begins March 30 at the YMCA in partnership with Los Alamos Middle School. The class is led by Richard Stohner and focuses on basic drafting skills, Compter Aided Design, proper operation and safe use of power tools and different types of assembly. The class is structured for all skill levels. The class meets from 6:30 to 9 p.m., at Los Alamos Middle School. The cost is $45 for the first family member and $18 for each subsequent family member; $63 for non YMCA members and $23 for each subsequent family member. There also is a $10 materials fee for each participant. For more information, contact John Marble at 662-3100.
• The YMCA in collaboration with the Spring Y Walkers, is offering a guided walk and talk program, weather permitting, beginning April 23. The walks combine fitness with the opportunity to learn about the Los Alamos area. Janie O'Rourke will lead the Friday morning walks that are between 2 and 4 miles in distance and last about 90 minutes. Participants should wear sturdy shoes, long-sleeve T-shirts and hat. They also should bring sunscreen, a water bottle and a light snack. The cost for each walk is $10 for Family YMCA members, $14 for nonmembers for all four scheduled walks or $6 and $9 respectively for two walks. For more information, contact John Marble at 662-3100.
• The YMCA is offering introductory mountain biking classes starting April 7. There will be a coed and women's only class. The classes are for participants age 13 and up and will provide a fun and safe environment to learn about proper mountain bike fitness and maintenance; riding techniques; trail etiquette; and how to be self-sufficient on trails and on rides in forest areas. The coed class begins April 7 and ends April 28. The women's only class is from May 5-26. The classes cost $45 for YMCA members, $62 for nonmembers.
• The YMCA is registering participants for its 14th annual bench press contest. The event is May 1 and cost $10 for YMCA members, $14 for nonmembers. There are categories for men and women and weight and age categories. The first 30 entrants receive a free bench press T-shirt. Mail-in registrations also are accepted. For more information, contact John Marble at 662-3100.

The Los Alamos Family YMCA is located at 1450 Iris St. downtown.

Updated 3/23/04

Lattice 2004 Symposium in June

The XXII International Symposium on Lattice Field Theory (Lattice 2004) is June 21-26 at Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory in Batavia, Il. For more information, go to http://lqcd.fnal.gov/lattice2004/ online or write to lattice04@fnal.gov by electronic mail.

Updated 3/12/04

Nature archives now online

Nature (http://www.nature.com/nature/archive/) is now online back to 1987.

It includes:

• 37,000 articles from 512 issues
• articles in pdf format with html abstracts
• advanced search and browse from a single interface

Links to the full-text of Nature articles from 1987-1996 will be available from Laboratory databases such as SearchPlus (http://search.lanl.gov/ssplus/jsp/AdvancedSearch.jsp) (now including Inspec), Biosis, Engineering Index and DOE Energy. Full-text links will also be available through PubMed (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?otool=lanlrlib)

Updated 3/11/04

MATLAB seminar on April 20

MathWorks, Inc. is hosting a seminar on using MATLAB for image processing and mapping in aerospace and defense from 8:30 a.m. to noon, April 20, in Albuquerque. Discover how MATLAB can provide a complete environment for image and map analysis, data visualization and algorithm design. MathWorks engineers will provide an introduction to MATLAB and related toolboxes. They will demonstrate image processing and mapping functionality, and present case studies of customers who have solved their own technical challenges with MathWorks products. Experts will be on-hand to answer your image processing and mapping questions.

During this half-day seminar, discover how MathWorks products can help access data from a wide variety of file formats and data products; organize and manipulate data for exploration, analysis, and visualization; execute standard image processing and mapping functions, such as segmentation, spatial transforms and map projections; create maps that display vector, image, and gridded raster data from multiple sources in their correct spatial relationships; and design innovative analysis techniques from domains such as signal processing, statistics, neural networks, wavelets and more.

For more information, contact Paul Nihill of The Mathworks Inc. at (508) 647-7123, write to pnihill@mathworks.com by electronic mail or go to http://www.mathworks.com/company/seminars/seminar6144.jsp online.

Updated 3/9/04

Workshops on preventing retaliation rescheduled

All Laboratory managers from SET through deputy group leader level were required to attend a four-hour workshop on Management Actions to Detect and Prevent Retaliation. However, heavy snows and Laboratory closures resulted in the cancellation of several of these classes. To ensure that all managers who are required to participate in the training have an opportunity to do so, 11 additional classes have been scheduled in April. Registration for the make-up classes differs than from signing up for previous classes.

To register for a make-up class, go to the Virtual Training Center at http://int.lanl.gov/training/training.shtml online. In the left-side bar, click on Leadership. Under Leadership Training, click on Leadership & Management to pull up course options for course number 28257. If you have questions about registering, please contact the Registrar at 7-9071.

This is the last series of classes that will be provided for this required training. Supervisors (team leaders, program managers, etc.) and Human Resources Generalists may elect to attend the training. Classes with fewer than 10 people registered may be cancelled.

For more information, contact Sue Bargeloh of Training and Development (HR-TD) at 7-8036.

Updated 3/5/04

Trinity Site spring tour April 3

The National Atomic Museum's Trinity Site semi-annual tour is scheduled for April 3.

The tour includes docent lectures, walking Ground Zero, viewing of Jumbo and visiting the McDonald Ranch House. Seats for the tour are limited; interested participants can make reservations by calling the museum store at (505) 242-6083. Tour buses will leave the museum at 6 a.m. and return about 4 p.m. Participants will be treated to lunch at New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology.

Cost of the tour is $50 per person. The tour is preceded on the night before by a lecture at the National Atomic Museum   given by Ben Benjamin, who was at Trinity for the first atomic bomb test. The lecture begins at 7 p.m., and is free to tour participants. Admission for nontour participants is $3.

The National Atomic Museum is located in Albuquerque. For more information about the museum, go to http://www.atomicmuseum.com/ online.

Updated 3/5/04

Women Leaders 2004 conference

The University of California, San Francisco, Center for Gender Equity is hosting a conference titled "Women Leaders 2004: A Symposium for Women in University Settings." The conference is May 10 - 11 in San Francisco. Complete program information is available at http://www.ucsf.edu/cge/ online.

For more information, contact Victoria Auer at (415) 476.5222 or write to vauer@genderequity.ucsf.edu by electronic mail.

Updated 2/27/04

Estate planning seminar today at Research Park

Los Alamos National Bank's financial management department is hosting an estate planning seminar for Laboratory employees today. Titled "Estate Planning Dilemmas and Solutions for LANL Employees," the seminar is free but attendance is limited to 100 participants per session.

The seminar is in the Los Alamos Research Park, located at 4200 West Jemez Road across from the Otowi Building at Technical Area 3.

The half-day event is broken up into a beginning level from 1:15 to 2:45 p.m.; an advanced level is from 3 to 4:30 p.m. Scheduled speakers include Asenath Kepler, Christopher Schreur, John Hickey, an estate planning attorney, and Mark Napolin.

The event is designed for Lab employees over age 50, but it is open to employees under age 50 contingent on space availability.

For more information and to RSVP, contact Gayle Wood of Los Alamos National Bank at 662-1060 or write to gaylew@lanb.com by electronic mail.

Updated 3/24/04

Vacuum seminar in October

Varian Vacuum Technologies will present a seminar on vacuum technology from 8 a.m. to noon, Oct. 13 at the Physics Building Auditorium. The non-commercial presentation is about vacuum technology in general and is applicable to all brands of vacuum equipment.

Workbooks and refreshments will be provided by Varian. Subjects covered include: Brief introduction to vacuum technology, system pressure, total gas load, materials selection, sstem pumping speed, gauging, system operation, Troubleshooting and a question and answer session.

To register, send name and telephone number to tom.mathers@varianinc.com by electronic mail.

Updated 2/26/04

Employees leaving Lab must attend termination presentation

Employees who are leaving the Laboratory or changing to casual status must attend a benefits termination presentation held by Benefits (HR-B).

The termination presentations are held every Laboratory pay day for University of California Lab employees. Employees who are retiring aren't required to attend a presentation, but rather, they should schedule a meeting with their designated benefits specialist.

The presentations begin at 8:30 a.m. in room P280 on the second floor of the Otowi Building at Technical Area 3. Pre-registration is required. Employees should register on line at http://hrcluster.lanl.gov/TIOCourses/TIOAha.asp?CourseNumber=21013 one to two weeks prior to their last scheduled work day to sign up for a benefits termination presentation.

Employees also must obtain a departure processing form from Staffing (HR-S) before the presentation. This form is available at http://www.hr.lanl.gov/hrstaffing/Terminations/index.stm online.

At the presentation, employees will receive a packet of information about their benefits and savings balances. They will learn about options to continue or convert insurance plans and distribution options for savings funds.

Employees who require a sign language interpreter should write to benefits@lanl.gov by e-mail three days in advance of the presentation they plan to attend. Or call the benefits office at 5-3842 (TDD).

Because of limited parking, employees should plan to arrive early and/or make alternative transportation arrangements, such as using Johnson Controls Northern New Mexico's ride service.

Updated 10/25/02

Lost and found

Found: set of keys at Quemazon by the water tower. Call 7-2701 to identify.

Found: two books (fiction) in parking lot south-east of Diamond Drive - Jemez Road intersection. Call 5-6461 or write to frankles@lanl.gov by electronic mail to claim.

Found: key ring with nine keys and three different charms found in parking lot by SM-456 at the corner of Diamond and Eniwetok. To claim, call 5-8430.

Lost: two women's scarves; one lavender wool, the other velvet and satin. If found, contact Theresa at 5-4574 or write to tgc@lanl.gov by electronic mail.

Found: key ring with one key and "One Love" key chain at TA-35, Bldg. 2. To claim, call 7-7110.

Found: silver butterfly earring at Otowi cafeteria. Contact Stella at 7-4889 to identify.

Lost: thick silver choker with in lay black and mother of pearl between Otowi and down the canyon. If found, call 7-8517 or write to dubois@lanl.gov by electronic mail.

Lost: black wallet, wool material with rainbow stripes and a zipper across the top. If found, contact Tara at 7-3308.

Found: sunglasses, gray wrap-around style. To claim, call 5-2443.

Lost: ring of keys on a blue carabiner, near Pueblo Complex or on Diamond in the vicinity of the Pueblo Complex. Includes several keys and two keyless entry devices. If found, call 5-5011 or write to becky_cr@lanl.gov by electronic mail.

Found: one key on ring with remote control for vehicle. Call 7-3946 to claim or come by room B115 of the Administration Building.

Lost: necklace with a cluster of black pearls possibly near the Central Park Square. Contact Karen at 5-6610.

Found: Silver toned ring with cross and hearts design in parking area between new Occupational Medical Building and Physics Building Auditorium. Contact pwh@lanl.gov.

Found: tinted prescription glasses in a hard black case on pedestrian walk near parking garage at TA-3. Call 5-5758 or send e-mail to jgerken@lanl.gov to claim.

Commuter's Corner

To run an ad, contact the Newsbulletin at newsbulletin@lanl.gov or 7-6103.

• Airplane pools

• Abiquiu

• Albuquerque

• Alcalde

• Bernalillo

• Chimayo

• Eldorado

• Española

• Jemez Springs

• Rio Rancho

• Santa Fe

• Velarde

• Commercial Transportation Options

• LA Bus Schedules and Fares

• Park-and-ride Commuter Bus Service Schedule (pdf)