» Rants Ms Sparky

Did KBR get what Halliburton wanted…Iraq’s oil!

August 25, 2010 — Ms Sparky

KBR wins two Iraq contracts
Wednesday, August 25, 2010
Houston Business Journal

KBR has won two contracts by the Republic of Iraq Ministry of Oil through the South Refineries Co.

KBR will provide licensing and basic engineering services for the construction of fluid catalytic cracking and solvent deasphalting units at the planned grassroots Maissan Refinery in Maissan, Iraq. Financial terms were not disclosed.

Houston-based KBR (NSYE: KBR) plans to license its FCC Technology for an anticipated 47,500 barrels per day FCC unit and its “Rose” technology for a 45,000 barrels per day SDA unit.

KBR and ExxonMobil Research and Engineering Co. have formed a joint marketing alliance to work on the FCC unit.

“These awards mark the first wins for KBR’s technology business in Iraq and provide KBR the opportunity to introduce two of its leading refining technologies into an important, emerging market,” Tim Challand, president of KBR Technology, said in a statement. (click HERE for the original article)

Posted in KBR Contract, Politics, Rants. Tags: Halliburton, KBR Contract, Maissan Refinery, Tim Challand. 5 Comments »

In desperation KBR attorneys attempted to “encourage” Army to reconsider

June 2, 2010 — Ms Sparky

So...just what kind a person does it take to be a KBR attorney?

On February 23, 2010 the law firm of McKenna Long & Aldridge sent a letter to the Army on behalf of their client KBR. The letter was entitled:

Re: Request for Reconsideration of Denial of Use of LGEN (Ret.) Ricardo S. Sanchez as Expert Witness

Apparently the Army’s recent decision to not allow LGEN (Ret.) Ricardo S. Sanchez to supply expert testimony on KBR’s behalf didn’t sit well.

I first blogged about LGEN Sanchez testimony in March but didn’t have the letter at that time. I have it now and am disturbed at the sheer level of arrogance of KBR’s attorneys.

I am not going reprint the entire three page letter in this post. If you want to read it in it’s entirety click HERE. I am going to highlight what I consider to be the most disturbing and desperate statements in the letter followed by my Ms Sparky (snarky) interpretation. (Read the rest of the story here…)

Posted in CONTRACTOR DEATHS, Fisher vs KBR, GOV. CONTRACTORS, LAWSUITS, LOGCAP III - KBR, RIO-KBR, Rants. Tags: General Crear, Judge Gray Miller, LGEN Ricardo Sanchez, Lt. Col. James Gentry, McKenna Long & Aldrige, Secretary Pete Geren. 6 Comments »

BP Deepwater Horizon Employment SCAM

June 2, 2010 — Ms Sparky

I haven’t been covering the Deep Water Horizon accident, because EVERYONE else has. It’s been running 24/7 on the news. What could I possibly add to that? But now I’m pissed. There are SCAMMERS amongst us! I just HATE HATE HATE scammers. Those low life’s who prey on desperate people. Shoot them all!

I have a lot of readers who are in desperate need of work. I have reported on other employment SCAMS with Dyncorp, KBR and Fluor. I myself have received those SCAM emails. (Read the rest of the story here…)

Posted in CHEMICAL AND OTHER EXPOSURES, Rants. Tags: Deep Water Horizon SCAM, SCAM. 2 Comments »

Do it correctly or not at all!

May 28, 2010 — Ms Sparky

(If you can read the text just click the image to get a larger view)

Unless it’s raining I display my US flag on all major holidays. Memorial Day is coming up and people will be displaying their flags and so many people will unknowingly do it incorrectly. Most people display their flags from a pole hanging off the house.

When the flag is displayed from a staff projecting from a window, balcony, or a building, the union should be at the peak of the staff unless the flag is at half staff.

No other flag shall ever be placed above it.

The flag should never be displayed in the following manner:

The flag should never be dipped to any person or thing. It is flown upside down only as a distress signal.

The flag should not be used as a drapery, or for covering a speakers desk, draping a platform, or for any decoration in general. Bunting of blue, white and red stripes is available for these purposes. The blue stripe of the bunting should be on the top.

The flag should never be used for any advertising purpose. It should not be embroidered, printed or otherwise impressed on such articles as cushions, handkerchiefs, napkins, boxes, or anything intended to be discarded after temporary use. Advertising signs should not be attached to the staff or halyard.

The flag should not be used as part of a costume or athletic uniform, except that a flag patch may be used on the uniform of military personnel, fireman, policeman and members of patriotic organizations.

The flag should never have placed on it, or attached to it, any mark, insignia, letter, word, number, figure, or drawing of any kind.

The flag should never be used as a receptacle for receiving, holding, carrying, or delivering anything.

Everything about this display is wrong! If I were to witness this I would have to say something to the owner and I am pretty certain it wouldn't be anything nice!

Did you know the US Flag is to be displayed at half staff until noon on Memorial Day?

How many people will be going to parades and other events this weekend where a US Flag will be presented? One thing that drives me crazy are people who do not stand and salute the flag. Sadly, many don’t even know they are supposed to. My seven year old knows how to stand, salute and show respect the our flag.

Citizens not in uniform shall stand and salute by placing their right hand over the heart and men with head cover or hats should remove it and hold it to left shoulder so that their hand is over the heart.

Don’t just throw worn or damaged flags in the trash.

When a flag is so worn it is no longer fit to serve as a symbol of our country, it should be destroyed by burning in a dignified manner.

If you have other flag etiquette questions you may find answers HERE. If not try googling it.

Have a safe and enjoyable weekend and PLEASE don’t drink and drive.

Ms Sparky

Posted in Holiday Tribute To Soldiers, Rants. Tags: Flag Etiquette, Memorial Day. 10 Comments »

Dear Pentagon and Defense Contractors: It’s Not Patriotic To Cheat America

May 15, 2010 — Forseti

Lloyd Chapman – Small business advocate – Posted: May 14, 2010 09:04 PM

In 1961, President Dwight D. Eisenhower warned the American people about the potential for abuse by the defense industry. He stated, “In the councils of government, we must guard against the acquisition of unwarranted influence, whether sought or unsought, by the military-industrial complex. The potential for the disastrous rise of misplaced power exists and will persist. We must never let the weight of this combination endanger our liberties or democratic processes.” (http://www.ourdocuments.gov/doc.php?doc=90&page=transcript)

It looks like he was right.

One area of abuse has been government small business contracting programs. Since 2003, a series of federal investigations have found that the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) has consistently allowed dozens of the nation’s largest defense contractors to hijack billions of dollars a year in federal contracts that by law have been earmarked for American small businesses.

In fact, it has become such a serious problem that in 2005 the Inspector General for the Small Business Administration (SBA) referred to the diversion of federal small business contracts to corporate giants as, “One of the most important challenges facing the Small Business Administration and the entire Federal government today.” (http://www.asbl.com/documents/05-15.pdf)

Many of the nation’s largest newspapers, television stations and radio networks have covered the story. (http://www.asbl.com/news.php)

During the 2008 presidential election cycle, even President Barack Obama recognized the severity of this issue. In February of 2008 he stated, “It is time to end the diversion of federal small business contracts to corporate giants.” (http://www.barackobama.com/2008/02/26/the_american_small_business_le.php)