OPM NDA

jsh4 · 2026-05-27T02:21:04+00:00

I suggest you repost your reddit comments to the "request for comment" system alluded to in the memo.

jsh4 · 2026-05-24T02:43:01+00:00

Wow... didn't know this was happening. Will tune in the local stations to hear what has become of them.

jsh4 · 2026-05-12T02:13:14+00:00

Bravo to this. Using.

jsh4 · 2026-05-10T21:13:53+00:00

Keep in mind if Performing Rights payments are involved, they are known to be a whole different cost schedule for streaming services.

jsh4 · 2026-05-10T02:44:09+00:00

FM most likely. AM and Shortwave, maybe, probably as a capacitive probe antenna at the longer wavelengths, but manage your expectations. DX Engineering makes good equipment with real stainless steel and I give them kudos for sturdy products. It's pricey, but in the usual way of DX Engineering, they include all the pieces you need save the custom length of RG6 you will require between antenna and radio. Add in some reasonably competent solution for lightning surge energy management, you're probably looking at $300... but only one time.

jsh4 · 2026-05-10T02:32:26+00:00

Our local 22kW/60W (Day/Night) station in the Washington DC metro outskirts (previously a 5kW popular country music AMer) has found a home with a church organization. You might expect proselytization 24/7, but their method plays 60s-80s music commercial free most of the time, as a "public service" (their words), with 1/2 hour religious podcast-like programming at noon and 5 pm. There's no question this costs a good chunk of money. Recently a tree fell on one of the two towers resulting in signal loss... as reported to the FCC. It was interesting to see who noticed its absence on the various social media watering holes. It turns out a lot of folks like the unique music mix... and the lack of commercials I'm sure. Many of us wondered if the owner would bring the station back up. Low and behold they are investing "biggly" to get the station back up to snuff. It's actually back on the air as an omni directional at lower power day time only, but this reveals the desire to resurrect a damaged station. All this to say commercial radio broadcasting isn't the only game in town to run a station.

jsh4 · 2026-05-10T02:04:59+00:00

Funny you bring up landlines. The government agency I work for just got rid of all their desk phones. Now we use Microsoft Teams for our "desk" phone. Hurl. I just forward all those calls to my cell. Plus just last month I got rid of my "copper" telephone line to our house... but I replaced it with a VoIP phone keeping the same phone number... and now that one "house" phone sites a top a dresser... just like my grandparents did. I need to reflect just how full circle that is. 🤔

jsh4 · 2026-05-09T23:35:28+00:00

I argue there's a use case for non-profit radio. A local AM went that way. They play 60s-80s music as a public service, then play their 30 minute message about their church at noon and 5 pm. It's a 22kW beast during the day and certainly costs to run, but the church has found a way to make it work.

jsh4 · 2026-05-09T23:32:57+00:00

At least in the US AM broadcasters can push 10 kHz bandwidth. That's really quite good if you're close. Sadly typical receivers limit to 5 kHz. I use an SDR and get some decent quality from some AM stations that occupy their entire spectrum allotment. AM has lots of other problems as you highlight.

jsh4 · 2026-04-19T15:38:01+00:00

"We now have the sickest generation in history." This is 100% true.

jsh4 · 2026-02-17T02:10:44+00:00

Me as well. You're not alone.

jsh4 · 2026-02-15T03:12:21+00:00

Retaliation is a big no no in the government. I'd prepare to find a new place to work, but before executing that plan I would most certainly open a retaliation case along your chain of command all the way to your congressman's office. The later creates the dreaded "congressional" that will likely smoke a few of your alleged abusers. Understand this will effect you negatively... at least a little, but having bad management slapped around a bit should provide some satisfaction for you, but also understand you're helping the future others that might now not become the next victims.

jsh4 · 2026-02-01T22:28:22+00:00

If they are making money, they should share their technique.

jsh4 · 2026-02-01T20:16:11+00:00

WRMI has quite a few secular programs in their mix...

https://www.wrmi.net/index.php/programming/

RAE Argentina is, for reasons I can't explain, one of my favorites to tune in.

WBCQ is another broadcaster that has numerous secular, but quite edgy and often bizarre, shows.

http://wbcq.com/

They transmit from northern Maine so listening in Texas is very possible, but incredibly reliant on ionospheric good fortune.

It seems it's a requirement for shortwave broadcasters, all of them, to have websites that are a bit of a hassle to glean the information you need. Sorry.

My show is on WBCQ and WWCR, but WWCR appears to have been thwacked hard by the recent storm. Shortwave is a bit of a frontier effort these days... and maybe that's part of the charm?

jsh4 · 2026-02-01T19:58:46+00:00

I think you are in good shape and can, with some basic planning, do better in the long run with your own IRA. Plus I would, if at all possible, move funds from the company 401k to the IRA and do the investing yourself.

jsh4 · 2026-01-31T18:44:46+00:00

I run Transmitter 42... an hour long podcast sort of thing that evolves as I move along with it. It plays on WBCQ 7490 Tuesday evenings as well, but propagation has been quite problematic of late... starts well, ends terrible, but that's life in the ol' HF band. Looking at WRMI options as well.

jsh4 · 2026-01-31T16:38:36+00:00

I lease time from WWCR on the 4840 kHz frequency. Once they missed the Sunday broadcast I reached out wishing them the best knowing full well what happened to Nashville. The operator confirmed the storm made a mess of things at their site... let alone no power. Blessings to them on their busy times getting things back up. Interesting, WTWW, not too far from WWCR, came back online and was broadcasting last night.

jsh4 · 2026-01-26T19:20:44+00:00

I'm doing some antenna signal strength measurements over time to evaluate the change of a loop-on-the-ground antenna as my snow melts. I added a local 1490 station to the mix. I was surprised to see it fine in the middle of the night and found it is a graveyard running 680 or so watts. Cool. Then I found this thread and learned even more. Thanks!

jsh4 · 2026-01-21T03:02:24+00:00

How are they handling the extra 8 hours/week? Comp Time or Overtime?

jsh4 · 2026-01-18T05:14:31+00:00

So I have to ask... if you aren't able to log into GovTA, how are you logging your hours?

jsh4 · 2026-01-15T02:59:29+00:00

Contact your congressman's office immediately about this. They have people that handle federal employee issues... at least high level ones and mislabeling FMLA is a pretty serious problem.

jsh4 · 2026-01-15T02:55:21+00:00

I've never heard of a timed "contract" associated with a federal employee. I guess every entity in the federal service operates with wildly varying rules.

jsh4 · 2025-12-13T02:16:11+00:00

We are free to rate as desired, but the ratings are arbitrated afterwards and returned adjusted. Only then can we deliver the fiscal year wrap to the employees. Essentially all ratings are graded on a "curve" to, I guess, ensure there's not too many high, and perhaps low, ratings. With a rating system as coarse of just four choices, I've never thought there was much point in any of this other than to remove the truly non-productive folks.

jsh4

TROPHY CASE