The "Strategic Job Analysis" for the air traffic control specialist occupation is one of my research tasks for FY2008 and beyond.

Dunnette and Peterson & Bownas proposed a job-by-person matrix back in 1983. In the mid-1990s, my laboratory sponsored work on framing or developing a methodology for actually building such a matrix. And now, 12 years later, the task is no longer theoretical, but real, with deadlines and expectations.

As a first approximation, I've started building an Excel workbook with 3 worksheets: a job-by-person matrix; job characteristics or attributes; and person attributes (e.g., knowledge, skill, abilities and other personal characteristics). I've taken the more-or-less updated version of the tower cab activities, sub-activities, and tasks based on the CTA, Inc. 1987 job/task analysis, as my starting point/test case. The lowest level of the hierarchy is task statements, and the Excel "Group" function is used to group tasks into sub-activities, and then sub-activities into activities. The trick to remember with Excel when grouping is that it is summation oriented, so the aggregated (grouped) label is beneath/under the grouped rows (or to the right if grouping columns). But by grouping task statements and KSAOs (worker requirements), I can build an approximation of what a job-by-person matrix might look like for the ATCS occupation.

According to Kit Bond (R-MO), failing to pass the RESTORE Act, granting immunity to telecommunications companies that collaborate with the federal government to conduct warrantless and unconsitutional electronic surveillance, is dangerous. According to the Center for American Progress Action Fund, Bond went on to say that without immediate passage of permanent legislation (e.g., the RESTORE Act), "terrorists" will soon "be free to make phone calls without fear of being surveilled by U.S. intelligence agencies."

Here's another perspective - without this legislation, citizens will be free to make phone calls without fear of being surveilled by U.S. intelligence agencies.

Sounds good to me, being able to make a phone call, free from governmental snooping and intrusion. That's what I thought the Fourth Amendment was all about.

So defeat the RESTORE Act, make the phone companies liable for the cooperation in illegal and unconstitutional surveillance.

Make this Administration use the powers of the FISA court, properly.

Otherwise we will find one more of our natural rights compromised by a neo-fascist ... whoops, I meant neo-conservative wanna be fascist administation intent on arrogating all power unto itself at the price of our liberty.