Daily News Archive

Please note that The Daily News is publishing (hopefully) twice a week for the foreseeable future due to time constraints.

Tuesday, August 29th

"Uncertainty is not a result of ignorance or the partiality of human knowledge, but is a characteristic of the world itself.” – M. Taylor

 

The Picks of the Day

Viewpoint: The China buffer

“It's the most tantalizing question in Asian economics: When can the region stand alone from the United States? The world's biggest economy is the dominant trading force. Sure, China is booming, India is catching up and growth remains strong in Southeast Asia. Yet the region is thought to be doomed if the United States falters.”

http://www.iht.com/articles/2006/08/27/bloomberg/sxpesek.php

 

High Risk of Sarbanes-Oxley Control Weaknesses Common in Financial Reporting Cycles

“A recent survey of financial executives revealed 92% of all public companies use spreadsheets for critical accounting activities in their revenue reporting processes, increasing the likelihood of compliance failures and financial restatements.”

http://www.crm2day.com/news/crm/119602.php

 

Compliance, governance and leadership

“Traditionally, business has made profit making and efficiency as its sole concern. Increasing globalization and competition has made the need for greater efficiency and speed. … Quality improvements and business process improvements will occur far faster.”

http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/storypage.aspx?StoryId=48746

 

IT Process Improvement

Sharon Taylor to Deliver ITIL Refresh Keynote at itSMF USA's National Conference in September

“The Chief Architect of the ITIL Version 3 Refresh will deliver a much anticipated keynote address at the IT Service Management Forum's national conference in Salt Lake City, Utah on September 19. The ITIL Refresh will place great emphasis on IT-business alignment and return-on-investment.”

http://biz.yahoo.com/prnews/060828/nem022.html?.v=65

 

Legal and Regulatory Compliance

Sarbanes-Oxley has a dark side

“The law's unintended consequences, however, are becoming increasingly evident when companies that might have gone public do not or some that are public seek refuge by going private.”

http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/business/columnists/drahuschak/s_467934.html

 

Who's Controlling the Controller?

“One of the greatest sources of controversy in the business world in recent months has been whether small public companies are capable of maintaining the level of internal controls prescribed by section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act.  But even as that debate rages on, say experts, private companies — which are not subject to Sarbanes-Oxley — face serious threats as a result of poor internal controls. And the smaller their staffs, and the fewer their resources, the greater the risks.”

http://www.cfo.com/article.cfm/7850294/c_7850309?f=home_todayinfinance

 

Security and Risk Management

Only Time Will Tell With DOE Security Breach

“Who needs hackers when you can have a bad software install? That's what's getting blamed for the exposure of personal data of federal student loan recipients who logged on to the Department of Education's Web site during two days last week.”

http://www.governmententerprise.com/news/showArticle.jhtml?articleId=192300599

 

VoIP Systems Vulnerable To Attack

“Companies eager to tap into the ROI of VoIP are doing so without fully considering the security risks stemming from weaknesses in VoIP applications, operating systems, and structure and supporting services that could spell opportunity for hackers, said David Endler, director of security research at Marlborough, Mass.-based 3Com and its TippingPoint security business.”

http://www.governmententerprise.com/news/showArticle.jhtml?articleId=192300484

 

Human Error / Safety

Levees could still fail in big storm, Corps warns

“Despite aggressive efforts to repair the New Orleans levee system following the destruction of Hurricane Katrina, it isn’t clear yet whether it could withstand a hurricane with heavy storm surge this year, the head of the Army Corps of Engineers conceded Saturday.”

http://msnbc.msn.com/id/14531884/

 

Sprung: warming alters seasons

“In what is believed to be the world's largest study of seasonal events, such as the flowering of plants, autumnal leaf fall and insect behaviour, scientists found that spring now starts six to eight days earlier across Europe than in the early 1970s.”

http://www.theage.com.au/news/national/sprung-warming-alters-seasons/2006/08/26/1156012790235.html

 

State's glaciers eyed for warming

“With more glaciers than any state in the Lower 48, Washington has emerged as a bellwether for global warming.   The signs are not encouraging.”

http://www.theolympian.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060826/NEWS/608260310

 

Outsourcing / Globalization / International

Globalization Of Healthcare: The World Is Getting Flatter; Economic Opportunities Beckon

“A record-breaking crowd of over 225 people kicked off CED’s 2006-2007 Biotech Forum series by attending a discussion on ‘The Impact of Globalization in Healthcare’ earlier this month.”

http://www.localtechwire.com/article.cfm?u=14892

 

Business Forum: If globalization stumbles, the world loses

“But if the international trading system is rolled back, or collapses under security burdens made necessary by the war on terror, all of us in the world community will be poorer, and the poorest among us will suffer the most.”

http://www.startribune.com/535/story/630012.html

 

Fed chief touts globalization in Jackson speech

“Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke on Friday warned against protectionist measures that would crimp globalization and the increased trade and higher living standards it can bring.”

http://www.casperstartribune.net/articles/2006/08/28/news/wyoming/1d19006d2f0975ea872571d5008168d3.txt

 

Economics / Business / Misc.

Economics: Rethinking the odds of U. spending spree

“Forecasts for a moderate slowdown for the U.S. economy this year assume that businesses will accelerate their spending on equipment, helping compensate for any weakening in consumer demand. Now, some are questioning that prospect. If the business investment binge is a no-show, they say, a contraction in the economy becomes more likely.”

http://www.iht.com/articles/2006/08/27/bloomberg/bxecon.php

 

Economists fear oil price impact

“Top business economists fear that $100-a-barrel oil could push the United States economy into a recession, a new survey shows.”

http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060828/BUSINESS06/608280370

 

Horizon turns gloomier for bumpy US economy

“Instead of gliding to a smooth landing after years of sky-high growth, the US economy now looks set for a bumpy ride as the property market hits major turbulence.  While most analysts do not yet anticipate a hard landing or even recession, they warn that the world's largest economy is looking a lot shakier than just a few weeks ago.”

http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20060827/ts_alt_afp/useconomy_060827224432