Fed Agency Caught Scrubbing Wanted ad for Magician
- Posted on May 4, 2012 at 3:25pm by
Becket Adams
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You’d think that in the wake of the GSA’s scandalous Las Vegas spending spree, government agencies would be a bit more careful about wasteful spending.
Apparently, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) didn’t get the memo and has been caught trying to hire a magician for an upcoming confab held in Silver Springs, MD, according to POLITICO.
To be specific, NOAA was looking to hire a “speaker” to give a presentation on the “magic of change” (and they’re not “magic tricks,” they’re “illusions”).
“The agency wanted a motivational speaker to create ‘a unique model of translating magic and [principles] of the psychology of magic, magic tools, techniques, and experiences into a method of teaching leadership,’” POLITICO reports, citing the NOAA ad.
Of course, once media outlets discovered the ad, NOAA immediately took it down.
The agency “has referred the solicitation to the General Counsel and NOAA’s Chief of Resources, Operations and Management to review the statement of work and the process surrounding the solicitation,” NOAA spokesman Scott Smullen said in an email to POLITICO.
“No speakers have been hired or confirmed for this training session,” he added.
Now, to be fair, trying to hire one magician doesn’t make NOAA as frivolous as the GSA. Furthermore, and unlike the GSA, at least NOAA officials claim the “illusionist” was meant for “educational” purposes as opposed to just entertainment.
A GSA official enjoying his taxpayer funded junket in Las Vegas.
“Still, spending taxpayers’ money on prestidigitation risks conjuring up comparisons with the General Services Administration’s infamous Vegas adventure,” POLITICO’s Alex Guillen writes.
When contacted by POLITICO reporters Thursday, Patricia McBride-Finneran, the NOAA point of contact listed on the ad, said that “somebody from communications [is] coming up to talk to me about what I should be saying,” and that she would comment later.
However, earlier that same day, she had no problem defending NOAA’s solicitation, saying that it “bears no comparison with the GSA affair.”
“I’m sure it will be talked about, and this is a new topic,” McBride-Finneran said. “But this is a program in which we train potential managers — just a one-day conference, where we teach about different things that pertain to government, such as working with Congress.”
And in case you were wondering what it takes to be a government-approved magician (via the ad that has been taken down):
[Must use] experiential exercises, physical energizers, magic tricks, puzzles, brain teasers, word games, humor, and teambuilding exercises … to demonstrate how to stimulate creativity, encourage active participation, and practice needed skills and competencies.
Furthermore, applicants were required to be experienced in the works of “Dr Howard [Gardner] on multiple intelligences and how this relates to creativity and obtaining team solutions,” Guillen reports.
For those not familiar with Dr. Gardner, he is a developmental psychologist at Harvard University who is probably best known for his “theory of multiple intelligences,” he adds.
(H/T: WFB)
This article has been updated.
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Comments (45)
tomacz
Posted on May 5, 2012 at 9:44pmtrow these babies & the bathwater down the hatch & inta the grand canyon
Report Post »soybomb315
Posted on May 5, 2012 at 10:36pmspeaking of scrubbing – why did theblaze remove that gary johnson article?
Report Post »nocommie
Posted on May 5, 2012 at 3:35pmYour tax dollars at work.Smaller Government NOW!!!!!!!! End the perks.These people are pigs
Report Post »ObserverOnTheHill
Posted on May 5, 2012 at 8:12amThe real illusion in this country is done by The Federal Reserve. They “make money up” and then purchase real, hard assets with it. If you want the best education on the Fed watch the free, full length video – The Money Masters
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JXt1cayx0hs
Report Post »yankeeatheart
Posted on May 5, 2012 at 6:38amHire one to make them all disappear But on their dime….not mine….
Report Post »MrObvious
Posted on May 5, 2012 at 12:09amWhat say we cast ballots and make this administration disappear?
Report Post »The voting booth: now that’s magic.
John 3:16
Posted on May 6, 2012 at 2:28pmI second the NObama thingy. Vote the communist out, then prosecute him on national TV, with his public punishment as the sequal.
Report Post »diesal
Posted on May 4, 2012 at 9:37pmThe next thing you know the president will be levitating…the feds don’t need a magician…they use slight of hand daily to give us the illusion that the economy is improving and that the war on terror is over.
Report Post »beckwill
Posted on May 4, 2012 at 9:31pmAfter the magician we‘ll all have cake and ice cream then open our tax payer provided gifts then we’ll go outside and ride the pony! Yea!!
Report Post »Chrison
Posted on May 4, 2012 at 11:47pmDon’t forget the balloon twister! We DEFINATELY need a balloon twister @ that gig!
(Note: I’m a balloon artist & entertainer, and times are a bit tough. I could USE a well-paying gig these days. I’ll only charge $100,000 so they can “save” some money!)
LOL!
Report Post »Kisses6350
Posted on May 7, 2012 at 10:48amAnd a ballon bounce!!!!!!!!!!! Must have a weight limit for some of these over inflated fatarse politicians! *****Claps Hands****
****Smirks*****
Report Post »Shiroi Raion
Posted on May 4, 2012 at 6:41pmDemocrat Help Wanted:
Report Post »Magician for NOAA
Clown for GSA
Mind reader for GSA
Defense lawyers for GSA
Fraud Lawyer for ICE administration
Colombian prostitutes for SS
Clown for POTUS – // position filled //
Clown for VPOTUS – // position filled //
beckwill
Posted on May 4, 2012 at 9:26pmOh that was excellent. ((clap clap)).
Report Post »blackyb
Posted on May 4, 2012 at 5:54pmRubby dub dub
Report Post »A lib in the tub
sailing the ocean blue
Got caught by the cam
Is now on the lam
And gone is his desire to woo.
blackyb
Posted on May 4, 2012 at 5:50pmWho belongs to that other glass of wine in the hot tub pic? Where is she (hopefully she?) Maybe the tub is hiding her down in the water. Hope his wife knows where he is. If not, then he may have to account for the other glass sitting there waiting to be finished off.
Report Post »tharpdevenport
Posted on May 4, 2012 at 5:59pmMaybe they were allowed to take 40 of their friends along.
Report Post »jamestoms
Posted on May 4, 2012 at 5:07pmFire those ba–ards too, and STOP paying those thieves, put them in jail. No justice the government is dis-honest!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Report Post »KC1
Posted on May 4, 2012 at 5:50pmGood to see Gob is still getting work though.
Report Post »amtsoundsmith
Posted on May 4, 2012 at 7:00pmGob’s magic and the Final Count Down playing….what more do you need?
Report Post »IMCHRISTIAN
Posted on May 4, 2012 at 4:45pmFor those in government that don’t know the meaning of debt it is as follows:
1. The state of owing something (especially money)
“he is badly in debt”
2. Money, goods, or services owed by one person to another
3. An obligation to pay or do something.
type of :
financial obligation
indebtedness
liabilities
liability
obligation
per dictionary
Report Post »MammalOne
Posted on May 4, 2012 at 4:42pmThey should have replaced the ad with a “decent, respectable federal government employees” wanted ad.
Report Post »Blackhawk1
Posted on May 4, 2012 at 4:55pmIt figures, Liberal adults who never matured want a magician at their party. Just like a five year old, they want something and expect someone else to pay for it.
Report Post »lukerw
Posted on May 4, 2012 at 4:40pmJust ask Obama… he has lots of Czars… who can Make Money Disappear… along with Oil, Coal, Gas, and Business!
Report Post »BanksDonald8
Posted on May 4, 2012 at 4:35pmjust as Charles responded I’m taken by surprise that anybody can profit $8050 in one month on the computer. have you read this web site MakeCash12.com
Report Post »SpeckledPup
Posted on May 4, 2012 at 4:32pmand instead of paying on our family’s considfrable medical bills, we paid our TAXES in full and on time… and these same hard-earned tax dollars are going to pay for MAGICIANS for the pleasure and entertainment of these spoiled democrat obama morons?!? we can do magic tricks too, watch us stuff THEM in a box and …….
Report Post »65Mustang
Posted on May 4, 2012 at 4:26pmThis, like everything connected with the government is BS…go to work, do your job and go home to your family like millions of us do every day without living off the tax-payers who pay the low-life’s their salaries.
Report Post »EqualJustice
Posted on May 4, 2012 at 4:24pmThey are SCRUBBING anythng they want these days. The internet better not be our ONLY source of information in the future or we’re screwed.
Report Post »lukerw
Posted on May 4, 2012 at 4:53pmWe’re Screwed!
Report Post »HKS
Posted on May 4, 2012 at 3:59pmThat’s why we watch the other hand, not news.
Report Post »EqualJustice
Posted on May 4, 2012 at 4:36pmYou mean like OBAMA, RIGHT NOW, tryng to push the “DREAM ACT” through again? WATCH THE OTHER HAND, INDEED.
Report Post »thibx
Posted on May 4, 2012 at 3:59pmi say shut down the government. allow them to work one day a week and pay them for the one day. no benefits and i bet it would run better than it is now.
Report Post »johnjamison
Posted on May 4, 2012 at 3:47pmCan we now fire evertyone of them.
Report Post »teebubba
Posted on May 4, 2012 at 3:47pmThey were hoping “Kreskin”would waive his 5 figure fee….un huh..
Report Post »CatB
Posted on May 4, 2012 at 3:46pmThese are the people who want total control of the internet .. … I am SHOCKED !!! NOT!
Report Post »Unbelievable
Posted on May 4, 2012 at 3:37pmJUST CUT THE PURSE STRINGS TO ALL GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENT!!
Untill they learn to manage OUR money properly CUT THEM OFF COMPLETELY!!
Report Post »grimmy
Posted on May 4, 2012 at 4:10pm@Unbelievable.
Report Post »Its not purse strings that need to be cut…..
CatB
Posted on May 4, 2012 at 4:14pmBobbit them!
Report Post »MrSunshine
Posted on May 4, 2012 at 3:33pmAbracadumba$$!
Report Post »