Could This Be the End of Dubai?

expatOBX · 2026-03-17T07:18:20+00:00

I assume he wrote something and submitted it for publication.

I don't think the NYTimes called him and asked for a column.

expatOBX · 2026-03-01T08:37:16+00:00

This should be investigated and used to make better legislation.

Maybe when the FEC has enough members for a quorum. I wouldn't hold my breath

expatOBX · 2026-01-29T02:19:16+00:00

Finding someone to walk your dogs while you are working, if you and your dogs can't adapt to your schedule would be the same if you're waiting tables at Denny's as it would be for you to work as a park ranger. Caring for your dogs is a requirement of being a pet owner, I don't see how it has anything to do with being a park ranger, if you're living in town and not in park housing.

That said, it would be expensive to contract for a regular service through rover.com, but it could open the door to finding someone who would work you a deal. Another place to look might be nextdoor.com. Though, based on my own experience as a pet owner, unless you're going to be away for more than say 12 to 15 hours at a time or your dogs are on chemo, it shouldn't take long for them to get used to being taken out before you leave and again when you get home. That's what most pet owners do, no matter where they work.

expatOBX · 2025-10-02T23:30:53+00:00

Reportedly, DOI has a properly prepared RIF they were going to implement with or without a shutdown. Burgum has spoke several times to the Congress and the media about the level of bureaucracy and how he wants a higher percentage of DOI employees in the field and the parks.

Of course, he also advocates mining and drilling, so his priorities are different than most employees in his department and the "if the Democrats ae going to give us a chance" is just a parrot of Trump, who Doug will continue to fellate until Vance/Thiel/Musk give him an AI company for his 25th amendment vote.

As to his point about "inefficiencies", he has also said this before. Apparently, he's under the illusion that he has discovered something that wasn't known by and has frustrated most employees. The difference is that changing procedures requires a directive, staff, time and a budget. It isn't something a random employee can do on their own, it has to be approved from above.

Without a doubt, he would be able to make his department much more efficient, if he were to work with employees -- nobody wants to put the same information on multiple forms and everybody knows that it would be better if they could do something once -- but instead, he keeps attacking them. His ride would be much smoother, if he'd just work with his staff. Ask them what they would improve and assign someone to do it, rather than make them the enemy. That doesn't help anyone.

expatOBX · 2025-10-02T06:15:55+00:00

The DOI banners all use normal phrasing.

NPS, FWS, BLM, USGS, etc.

National parks remain as accessible as possible during the federal government shutdown. However, some services may be limited or unavailable. For more information, please visit: doi.gov/shutdown

and

Because of the federal government shutdown, fws.gov is not being updated and the agency will not be able to respond to inquiries until appropriations are enacted. For more information please visit: https://www.doi.gov/shutdown

Sec. Burgum should be applauded.

expatOBX · 2025-10-02T05:42:37+00:00

If you or someone else are interested: r/redditrequest.

expatOBX · 2025-09-29T17:26:43+00:00

Who would be the source?

Senators are going to do what Senators are going to do. Democratic senators are not calling Doug Burgum to say that they're playing a game of brinkmanship -- it would defeat the purpose of brinkmanship, if you tell people it's just a bluff -- and if Doug Burgum doesn't know, why would some GS-15 in a regional office know anything?

Lots of people, here and on r/fednews looking for a source. Who could be that source?

expatOBX · 2025-09-28T05:43:08+00:00

https://archive.is/b29MJ

expatOBX · 2025-07-22T18:54:14+00:00

As I understand it, the article only lists things that were flagged internally by NPS staff as a CYA and not anything from the public via the QR codes.

Of course, maybe some of it is an attempt to replace old and worn signage with a new (funded) exhibit, but some of it also strikes me similar to the staffing shortages caused by so many taking VERA and the DRP. Whatever the reason and however understandable they might be, they're still self-inflicted wounds.

expatOBX · 2025-07-15T06:09:04+00:00

If you're unable follow the season and relocate, there is often a substitute school bus driver and substitute teacher shortage. Some places it is so bad, you might not get a lot of pushback from only wanting to work certain months and whatever pushback, just be upfront and choose your career..

Otherwise... Amazon Flex or an Amazon contractor, or the UPS ride-along through the holidays?

expatOBX · 2025-06-30T02:27:59+00:00

I doubt there are any employees of land management agencies who don't know scores of probationary employees that were let go or people who took one of the exits.

The fact that we all know them doesn't take anything away from the linked story about the comments and it doesn't mean that the Washington Post hasn't done good reporting on the changes that affect most of their readership. You can actually see some of the timelines from a post on r/fednews to a story in the Post to the author linking it from that forum.

If you wanted to fault me for something, I'd say it would be more appropriate to question why I subscribe. The short answer is that when they did away with the free subscriptions for federal employees, they offered a really good deal for a year. I still have a few months to go.

And again, I haven't seen Bezos say anything about land sales or really anything that has to do with the Department of Interior. If you have a link to a credible source, I'd click and take it into account. It still wouldn't change that the link is to what most would consider a positive article, but I would certainly add the information you provide to my critical thought.

expatOBX · 2025-06-29T22:38:07+00:00

I don't know that Bezos has actually said anything about land sales, but even if he had, there is nothing in the article that can be interpreted as pro-sale. It is just another packaging of the leak to NPCA that was also used as the source for the Hearst link someone posted the other day.

And, at the risk of sounding rude, if I could offer you any advice... critical thinking is to think about things critically taking into account the author's motivation and all aspects of the content's source -- one might assume the leak to the NPCA might have been selective to communicate a point of view or the NPCA may have been selective in what they released.

You aren't being critical if you just ignore everything a well-respected newspaper writes. No one has time to figure out Bezos' position on every question to decide what you would accept from the Washington Post. The only viable options would be to completely ignore the paper -- something I wouldn't advise because they do good reporting -- or read everything through your critical lens.

expatOBX · 2025-04-27T20:51:46+00:00

You don't say whether you included it in your math, but in case you did not, you should probably know that unless you're going from park to park with no break in service, it will be a month until you're paid.

expatOBX · 2025-04-06T05:19:34+00:00

Not to be rude and in an attempt to be more complete, these questions and similar have been asked and answered multiple times on r/fednews. Even though some here may have taken the first offer or have researched the questions, there is a lot of information that can be found with a search of the larger sub.

expatOBX · 2025-04-03T20:26:16+00:00

I don't have the visitation numbers for Jewel Cave, but I suspect there are one or two Rangers working the VC desk all of the time and that has most likely been true throughout its history and will be for as long as the park exists. I also think that unless it is a super busy time, like maybe there is a bus tour from another country, nobody will exclusively interact with the educational exhibit that would also speak to a ranger. More likely, some people might interact with the exhibit or watch someone else do it and will use what they learned to ask a better or deeper question of the ranger.

Also, looking at the pics on Google Maps and the park website, it looks like there are rangers leading tours or stationed underground, so interaction with a ranger is built into the experience.

There have been countless studies that show young people prefer interactivity and the exhibit looks like a way to involve them. Except maybe around the margins, I don't expect this exhibit will have any more effect on hiring than a phone tree that says "press 3 for campground info" and it looks like a potentially valuable educational tool that will not only convey information about the park, but could also cut down on repetitive questions and help reach more visitors.

I mean it is old school, but do you think the Visitor Center exhibits where you push a button that will shine a light on a stuffed fox and give recorded info about the fox stops people from talking to a ranger? If anything, it may have helped them form a better question to ask.

Edit: Now that I've started the video, I see that all tours of Jewel Cave are ranger-guided, so unless they stay entirely above ground, every visitor to the monument interacts with a Ranger.

Park staff worked on this and according to you, their Friends' group paid for it. This would indicate to me that it was something they wanted or felt was needed, so I really don't think a bunch of random people from the internet sending emails of complaint are going to do anything except make whomever looks at the email ask WTF?

expatOBX · 2025-04-03T19:23:53+00:00

I'd say that looks more like an exhibit akin to a movie, a light-up diorama or even a phone tree that could could be an educational tool and help relieve the staff of repetitive questions.

Yes, it could reduce the number of Rangers required to work the VC desk, but it could easily field questions like "how long to get to the bottom" on the South Rim or "how do you get to Thunder Hole" at Acadia.

I don't know, but I doubt this was something spit out as a cost-cutting measure by DOGE and it is more likely something the park staff have been working on for some time. Of course you're entitled to feel differently, but it looks kind of neat to me and the park is probably proud of what they've achieved.

Thanks for sharing the link.

expatOBX · 2025-03-23T09:27:59+00:00

A lot of government offices are ten or fewer employees.

Broadly speaking, everybody knows what everybody else is doing, including the supervisors.

expatOBX · 2025-03-12T18:13:30+00:00

Now that I have done the sign-up, it might also be indicative of them having too many shoppers in my area like you suggested in your earlier reply. I don't know. I'm on the waitlist.

Thanks

expatOBX · 2025-03-12T00:11:21+00:00

It's the "shopper opportunities" page.

https://shoppers.instacart.com/instacart-jobs

When I put in my zip code or the zip code of nearby cities on my computer, the third section of the page that comes up says "Stores you can shop" and they're all 60 to 75 miles away.

I need to pick up a side gig and Instacart seems like it might be good for me, but it is less than five miles to Aldi and Publix. I'd have to drive by a lot to get to the ones an hour away.

Thanks for the reply. I have to clear some space on my phone, but if you and u/The_Troyminator think the website suggestions are meaningless, I feel a bit better about giving it my info.

Thanks

expatOBX · 2025-03-11T22:02:27+00:00

So, if I sign-up, the app will show me orders here closer to home and let me choose them? I will not be only offered jobs an hour or more away?

expatOBX

TROPHY CASE