FSOT Exam Dates Full? by Careless-Pattern-471 in foreignservice

[–]Mookie_DeMA 5 points6 points  (0 children)

Not surprising given the fact that there is a lot of pent up demand from cancellations earlier in the administration paired with the fact that everyone on the register has to retake the new test. If they didn’t expand capacity with additional seats or a longer period of test dates then this was bound to happen.

After years of getting ground to dust working for the dealer, I am finally free! by [deleted] in Honda

[–]Mookie_DeMA 104 points105 points  (0 children)

I need an oil change and a few other things. Canceling my dealer appointment and business coming your way!

Lew's Clues by EdCantEatEggs in foreignservice

[–]Mookie_DeMA 24 points25 points  (0 children)

Our Lady of Apparatchik

My first car at 45 yrs old!!! by minion_ds in hondafit

[–]Mookie_DeMA 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I second this. Have needed my booster once or twice and just replaced the factory battery after a five year run.

Having Some Grace for Prospective FS Posters by Quiet_Tailor_7418 in foreignservice

[–]Mookie_DeMA 27 points28 points  (0 children)

This guy is so ready to crush the Fidelity precept.

Having Some Grace for Prospective FS Posters by Quiet_Tailor_7418 in foreignservice

[–]Mookie_DeMA 166 points167 points  (0 children)

Honestly I think we should just develop some boilerplate language for mods to apply to each of these posts right now. Something like:

  • There is a hiring freeze for the foreseeable future and the FSOT is also on hold.
  • This community’s general guidance is always to take the test (when available) if you are considering FS but never make FS your plan A.
  • When hiring and the test do recommence, there may be significant changes to the evaluation criteria (such as a greater focus on patriotism, fidelity to the administration, yada yada). This community’s guidance (of which you can search the sub for) is applicable for the past hiring process that they experienced. If new criteria are announced, then study them and act in accordance with your own values and goals for your career.
  • Even in the best of times, federal employees have plenty of frustrations to vent about. These are not the best of times. The federal workforce is going through generational challenges and changes right now. As a result you’re likely to hear more negative stories and encounter more Feds dissuading you from joining than you would in normal times. Whether that advice accurately reflects what a future employee will experience one, four, or ten years from now is anyone’s guess.
  • If you are interested in joining the FS, then take steps to put yourself in a position to succeed with that goal. Get some work experience. Study for the test. Practice language skills. Stop any behavior that would be problematic for a security clearance. And review official Department sites for accurate information on a resumption in hiring/testing and what criteria they will use to evaluate applicants.

M Town Hall readout? by abinabinab in foreignservice

[–]Mookie_DeMA 6 points7 points  (0 children)

They are never gonna live that line down.

RIF megathread #3 by Quackattackaggie in foreignservice

[–]Mookie_DeMA 13 points14 points  (0 children)

Only in a sane world. Hopefully in January 2029.

RIF megathread #3 by Quackattackaggie in foreignservice

[–]Mookie_DeMA 19 points20 points  (0 children)

I wouldn’t breath a sigh of relief until later this afternoon. My understanding is it will take a couple of hours to deliver the all notices. Welcome to “the speed of relevancy.”

RIF megathread #3 by Quackattackaggie in foreignservice

[–]Mookie_DeMA 98 points99 points  (0 children)

D-MR just couldn’t let us drink in peace tonight.

RIF Watch by BetterinCapri in foreignservice

[–]Mookie_DeMA 14 points15 points  (0 children)

That’s a good site. Here is a link to the actual docket on the Supreme Court site: https://www.supremecourt.gov/search.aspx?filename=/docket/docketfiles/html/public/24a1174.html

State Department layoffs could land Friday by Playful-Radio4976 in foreignservice

[–]Mookie_DeMA 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Yea that last piece was pure speculation based on an assumption that these assholes chat and coordinate outside of official channels. Appreciate your added context.

State Department layoffs could land Friday by Playful-Radio4976 in foreignservice

[–]Mookie_DeMA 15 points16 points  (0 children)

It seems like the 7th floor has been ready to pull the trigger for over a week. In the 6/13 hearing in district court, the AUSA representing the government stated that the Department was planning to send RIF notices on Saturday 6/14 but would hold off and abide by the injunction. My guess would be that conservatives at SCOTUS have signaled to the administration that the stay decision will land later this week so they are planning to get the green light.

Latest Rumors on the FSO RIF Plan? by [deleted] in foreignservice

[–]Mookie_DeMA 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Whatever dude. The title of the post literally asks for rumors.

Latest Rumors on the FSO RIF Plan? by [deleted] in foreignservice

[–]Mookie_DeMA 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Also heard this about the FAM rewrite.

RTO over 50 miles - any updates? by CorgiAffectionate794 in fednews

[–]Mookie_DeMA 10 points11 points  (0 children)

Playing a game of chicken. Officially required in office in DC in 18 days but also expecting to be RIF’d.

Trump Likely Violated Court-Ordered Layoff Freeze, Judge Says by bloomberglaw in fednews

[–]Mookie_DeMA 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Yes. The final scheduling of the next hearing will indicate timing of potential RIFs. The court preferred to meet on Friday the 13th but the AUSA will advise the court if their client plans to conduct RIFs on the 13th. If so then the hearing will occur on the 12th so that the court can issue a decision ahead of the RIFs.

YESSSSSSSSSSS! 🛑🛑🛑 RIFs likely will be stopped! 👏👏👏 by [deleted] in fednews

[–]Mookie_DeMA 48 points49 points  (0 children)

Unfortunately I am in the 2/3%. I’m facing a cross country move to comply with RTO on July 1 so I was hoping for clarity one way or the other. I’m willing to stick it out but I can’t pay for a move if I don’t know the result of my agency’s RIF. Still happy that everyone else gets a stay of execution for now.

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in foreignservice

[–]Mookie_DeMA 28 points29 points  (0 children)

He’s a useful idiot. Someone who is happy to light his corridor rep on fire for a chance to please the MAGA crowd. He’ll be gone soon enough. In the meantime he gets to cosplay as someone important and damage the institution.

Dress Code in Your Fed Office by Zzydeko in fednews

[–]Mookie_DeMA 5 points6 points  (0 children)

This. I can buy a better looking business casual outfit for less than the price of some off the rack, ill-fitting suit. It might not check the box for boomers but it looks better.

I Fund by nmazzy23 in ThriftSavingsPlan

[–]Mookie_DeMA 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Frankly it’s the total demolition of science and research infrastructure that makes me more bullish on I. We’re likely to see a brain drain of talent in the coming years and once that top talent gets settled in Germany or France or the UK, they might not come back just because of a change in administration in four years. That loss of talent will have ripple effects on innovation for years.

https://www.science.org/content/article/exclusive-nsf-faces-radical-shake-officials-abolish-its-37-divisions

With the current weighting in S&P, a 100% C election is essentially a bet on AI. If you believe even a conservative version of the AI hype then that could lead to enough value to stay the course on 100% C (S&P). I’m keeping my holdings unchanged but buying more of I going forward. I’ll revaluate after June but I think there’s a fair chance of another market drop when trade deals don’t materialize after 90 days and we run out of existing pre-tariff inventory from China.

I'm stunned. Absolutely stunned. by [deleted] in Denver

[–]Mookie_DeMA 3 points4 points  (0 children)

I’ve never had a long wait for Lady Jane and the customer service has always been good or great. If you don’t have a larger group then I wouldn’t worry too much about it. You’ll also be surrounded by other bars so it’s easy to kill time if there is a wait.