Note:  Due to a scheduling issue I will not be attending the itSMF show.  I hope everyone has a great time!

 

"An organization's ability to learn, and translate that learning into action rapidly, is the ultimate competitive advantage. ” – Jack Welch

 

Top Picks

September is National Preparedness Month

“In 2007, NPM had a record number of more than 1,800 NPM Coalition Members who worked to create a culture of emergency preparedness in the United States. We invite you to read the National Preparedness Month 2007 Journal to learn about some of the events and activities that took place across the country last year. In addition, President George W. Bush issued a proclamation declaring September as National Preparedness Month. We hope your organization will join us in spreading the emergency preparedness message this year - and every year!”

http://www.ready.gov/america/npm08/intro.html

National Preparedness Month 2007 Weekly Journal:  http://www.ready.gov/america/npm08/week4review.html

 

Jobless rate soars to 6.1%

“The unemployment rate soared to a nearly five-year high in August as employers trimmed jobs for the eighth straight month, the government reported Friday.”

http://money.cnn.com/2008/09/05/news/economy/jobs_august/index.htm?cnn=yes

 

Carbon finance comes of age

“If all goes according to plan, the business of buying and selling rights to pollute the atmosphere with carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases - carbon trading, as it is known - will curb global warming and save the world. That is its only purpose. Along the way, a lot of people will get rich.”

http://money.cnn.com/2008/04/15/technology/Gunther_carbon_finance.fortune/index.htm?postversion=2008041704

[ Very interesting article. ]

 

Book & Product Recommendations

Watt Stopper/Legrand’s Isolé Power Strip with Auto On/Off Sensor

This surge strip has a remote sensor to detect if a person is present or not.  If not, it can turn off is six controlled electrical outlets thus shutting off lights, fans, monitors and other accessories in a person’s workspace.  There are two unconfrolled outlets that will remain on that a PC or other devices that can’t afford an uncontrolled shut down to remain on.  This meets ASHRAE Standard 90.1-2004 requirements and contribute to LEED credits.

You can order it at Amazon:  http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001BPZBGG?ie=UTF8&tag=georgespaffor-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B001BPZBGG

Their website is:  http://www.wattstopper.com/

Read a review at:  http://www.aboutlightingcontrols.org/products/newprods/wattstopper/wattstopper-20080515.shtml

 

IT Process Improvement / Quality Management

ITIL Doesn't Fix Anything

“Now that I have your attention, let me explain that ITIL doesn’t fix IT organizations – people do.  ITIL is a collection of books that cost a fortune, are colorful, look great on bookshelves and their owners are ascribed near mystical status. Don’t get me wrong, ITIL is a great source of guidance around processes but at the end of the day, ITIL can’t do anything.”

https://swarm.jupitermedia.com/itsmwatch/2008/09/itil-doesnt-fix-anything.html

 

Microsoft Iowa Facility Will be ‘Unique’

“Microsoft isn’t offering many details about how its new data center in West Des Moines, Iowa. But the company is clear about one thing: it will feature meaningful design innovations.”

http://www.datacenterknowledge.com/archives/2008/08/22/microsoft-iowa-facility-will-be-unique/

 

Security and Risk Management

Information Security Governance: Centralized vs. Distributed

“The management of information risk has become a significant topic for all organizations, small and large alike. But for the large, multi-divisional organization, it poses the additional challenge of determining how to deploy an information security governance program among what are often disparate business units.”

http://www.csoonline.com/article/447204/Information_Security_Governance_Centralized_vs._Distributed

 

Security ROI: Fact or Fiction?

“Bruce Schneier says ROI is a big deal in business, but it's a misnomer in security. Make sure your financial calculations are based on good data and sound methodologies.”

http://www.csoonline.com/article/446866/Security_ROI_Fact_or_Fiction_?contentId=446866&slug=&source=nlt_csoupdate

 

Healthcare / Bio-Informatics / Care Delivery Organizations (CDOs)

HHS slaps Providence Health with $100,000 fine

“The violation, involving unprotected backup tapes, optical disks and laptops three years ago, compromised the protected health information of more than 386,000 patients, HHS officials said.”

http://www.healthcareitnews.com/story.cms?id=9665

[ This incident was first mentioned in July from what I can tell.  Somehow I overlooked it.  Now that HHS is enforcing HIPAA, healthcare organizations need to ensure that their diligence hasn’t waned since the frenzy of HIPAA compliance projects ended when the law went into effect. ]

 

Government turns up heat on security

“Seattle-based Providence Health & Services was socked last month with a voluntary settlement payment of $100,000 and continued monitoring. I’m told by a spokesman for Providence, the provider also has a number of private lawsuits pending.”

http://www.healthcareitnews.com/story.cms?id=9669

 

And, of course, here comes California:  New oversight, stiffer penalties approved for snooping into patient records

“…the state Senate approved a measure that would require hospitals to draft a plan to safeguard patient information and set up a new state Office of Health Information Integrity with power to review plans and violations and assess fines of up to $250,000 against people who violate patient privacy.  A companion bill, which the Senate has yet to act on, would allow fines of up to $250,000 against healthcare providers in case of breaches.”

http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-legis27-2008aug27,0,7643452.story

 

So You Think You’re Strategic?

“The healthcare C-suite talks a lot about strategy. But what constitutes true strategic thinking, and how can leaders be sure that it's taking place at their organizations?”

http://www.healthleadersmedia.com/content/216799/topic/WS_HLM2_MAG/So-You-Think-Youre-Strategic.html

 

Human Error / Safety / Environment

Engineer's Role in Mitigating Global Warming

“The American Society of Civil Engineers has published a 73-page, a special issue of Leadership and Management in Engineering (July 2008) entitled Engineering Strategies for Global Climate Change. In this collection of feature articles, several writers present visions of the future for which the engineering profession needs to further respond and act.”

http://pubs.asce.org/globalwarming/

 

Arctic melting shows global warming serious: expert

“The incredibly rapid rate at which Canada's Arctic ice shelves are disappearing is an early indicator of the ‘very substantial changes’ that global warming will impose on all mankind, a top scientist said on Wednesday.”

http://in.reuters.com/article/environmentNews/idINN0350519420080903

 

Global warming: Western U.S. feels the heat

“High-elevation white bark pines, which have endured droughts and lightning and insect attacks in life spans as long as 1,000 years, are being killed by a tiny beetle whose numbers were once limited by a bitter winter climate.”

http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/connelly/377472_joel03.html?source=mypi

 

Global warming making tropical cyclones fiercer: Study

“The global warming is leading to tropical cyclones becoming stronger and stronger, a new study says.  This bolsters the theory already put forward that global warming is a contributing factor in increasing intensity of hurricanes in the Atlantic over last 30 years.”

http://www.expressindia.com/latest-news/Global-warming-making-tropical-cyclones-fiercer--Study/357267/

 

Global News / Business / Economics

Paying the climate change bill

“How much will it cost the European Union to fight global climate change? Clearly, the answer depends on what your target is, how you propose to get there, and the size of the EU’s contribution compared with those of the US, China and so on. But a new report from the Centre for European Policy Studies thinktank offers some useful estimates.”

http://blogs.ft.com/brusselsblog/2008/09/paying-the-climate-change-bill/

 

The Business of Green

Fortune’s website has a special section linking to various articles on Green business.

http://money.cnn.com/magazines/fortune/greenbiz/

 

Outsourcing the Drug Industry

“U.S. giants are rushing to partner with Indian and Chinese companies—tapping their brainpower and saving millions of dollars in the search for breakthrough treatments”

http://www.businessweek.com/magazine/content/08_37/b4099048471329.htm?campaign_id=rss_tech

 

Main Bank of China Is in Need of Capital

“China’s central bank is in a bind.  It has been on a buying binge in the United States over the last seven years, snapping up roughly $1 trillion worth of Treasury bonds and mortgage-backed debt issued by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.”

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/09/05/business/worldbusiness/05yuan.html?partner=rssnyt&emc=rss

[ If China is unable to continue funding American debt, then our economic problems are about to get a lot worse. Definitely read this article. ]

 

US News / Business / Economics

Winter heat crisis looms, little relief seen

“Home heating bills are expected to rise dramatically this winter and there is growing concern that the government program aimed at helping poor families cope with energy costs may not be able to meet the needs of cash-strapped households.”

http://money.cnn.com/2008/08/29/news/economy/LIHEAP/index.htm?cnn=yes

 

Dell looks to sell factories worldwide

“Once the leader in the low-inventory, built-to-order model for producing PCs, Dell is now relying more on contract PC makers. As part of that shift, Dell is trying to sell some or all of its manufacturing facilities, according to a report in The Wall Street Journal.”

http://techland.blogs.fortune.cnn.com/2008/09/05/dell-looks-to-sell-factories-worldwide/

[ What fate does Dell have as they slowly shed IP.  Eventually they will become just a marketing and storefront and be marginalized.]

 

Technology & Science

Hadron boffins: Our meddling will not destroy universe

“Boffins preparing to fire up the most powerful particle-smasher ever built have released another reassuring report which says that their machine will definitely not destroy the universe - nor even the planet Earth.”

http://www.theregister.co.uk/2008/09/05/lhc_to_leave_fabric_of_spacetime_continuum_unripped/

 

For the Brain, Remembering Is Like Reliving

“Scientists have for the first time recorded individual brain cells in the act of summoning a spontaneous memory, revealing not only where a remembered experience is registered but also, in part, how the brain is able to recreate it.”

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/09/05/science/05brain.html?_r=1&adxnnl=1&oref=slogin&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss&adxnnlx=1220635111-hvGUHZCuBI61fTAxPeStvQ

 

End Notes

The News is brought to you by George Spafford, Principal Consultant at Pepperweed Consulting, LLC.  Pepperweed is nationally recognized as a leader in IT Management Consulting.  For more information, check out our website at www.pepperweed.com or call 888-229-0145. Please let us know if you see stories you think should be included in the next issue of The News, and feel free to forward this email on to others.

 

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