Wednesday, July 26, 2017

Risk Taking and Infrastructure



The Benefits of Private Financing for Public Works NYT. Ka-ching


Ponemon Institute© Research Report, Challenges & Trends in Public Sector IT Operations: United States. DevOps fuels optimism despite declining confidence, July 2017
“Public sector organizations are feeling the pains of digital transformation. Faced with modernization, data center upgrades and continuous cloud-first initiatives, this transformation of the IT environment is making it a challenge to deliver services, comply with service level agreements (SLAs), meet citizens’ expectations and achieve organizational missions



He Investigated Dubious Firings for U.S. Then He Was Fired Bloomberg
Uncertainty Quote 3 Picture Quote #1




Trump must eventually fire Robert Mueller, a partisan tool carrying water for his Establishment pals as he oversees an utterly corrupt “investigation” where the only person we actually know committed any wrongdoing is his bestest buddy Jim Comey. But Trump can’t just lash out and do it, though it is well within his political and moral right to do so. No, he’s got to do it cleverly, with cunning, in a way that shows the American people exactly why Mueller’s witch hunt is a flaming dumpster fire of conflicts of interest and contempt for the right of normal Americans to have a say in their own governance.




Up to us to restore faith: Albanese

Asset recycling story is 'getting through' to US, says IFM CEO Brett ...







The report shows the links between family members and their ownership of a over 80 business in the country, often via anonymous shell corporations. 

Many of these firms, which range from mining interests to hotels and telecoms, are the local subsidiaries of larger multinational companies. This raises some serious questions as to why these companies are doing business with such highly politically exposed people. Particularly when offshore companies are involved. 


These firms have also benefitted from contracts with organisations like the World Bank Group and the UN. 
A graph mapping out the interests of the Kabila Family can be found at Congo research , along with a copy of the report. 


Gov Info Security A new study into the state of consumer routers by Carnegie Mellon University researchers is unsparing in its criticism: It's a market of lemons, and virtually all of the test models have security problems. That won't come as news to those in computer security, but it underscores the increasing warnings about the internet of things, the catch-all term for computer devices with internet connectivity. The researchers knew they were heading into a well-trod area, but they hoped their study "may provide clear metrics" about the 'lemon market' effect."





The Sydney CBD Is The Wrong Space For A 'Startup Hub'


First stage of WestConnex opens to public













Confidential NSW Government blueprint shows toll-road pollution ...




$900 million set aside for Urbangrowth and other infrastructure ...


In 20 years, what will they say about how Gladys spent the boom?


The ANAO remains alert to the external environmental factors that the Government faces, including the performance of the Australian economy; and the social and political environment. Fiscal constraint, greater contestability for service delivery and the ongoing implementation of the Government’s public sector agenda requires the public sector to continue evolving and seeking alternative models of service delivery that provide more cost-effective ways of delivering government services. - ANAO Corporate Plan 2017-2018


Canterbury racecourse rezoning a 'one-off opportunity', turf club ...



Italian fraudsters and mafia associates are having fun with the lack of regulations at the UK business registry Companies House, as well as the well known poor language skills of the Brits. 

It has been revealed that an alleged mafia money launderer used UK companies to help him move the proceeds of crime. 

The UK was chosen because of the extremely light touch regulatory environment which means that practically anyone can set up a company in no time at all. At the same time, the use of a UK company in a chain of companies can bestow an illusion of respectability on the group. 

Indeed the Italians it seemed decided to test how far the UK's no questions asked culture went when filling out their forms. 

Companies they set up had addresses like "0, Street of the 40 thieves". Companies were set up by people with fake names such as "the chicken thief" who put down their occupation as "fraudster". All of these titles were in Italian, but still you might think someone might have checked what the Italian for fraudster was?