Oh, also, I'm not at all surprised about the 85% number. I wonder what the rate is at cash-heavy small businesses, and then businesses in general. I mean, I've been told about embezzlement at 20% of the places I've worked, and I don't have anything to do with accounting, so there's no reason for me to know, and we don't deal in cash, so it's not that easy.

Oh, also, I'm not at all surprised about the 85% number. I wonder what the rate is at cash-heavy small businesses, and then businesses in general.

They noted that the Salvation Army has the best reputation for proper handling of cash business. The buckets of cash are sealed and locked. Two people are present when counting. A separate person verifies the amount deposited in the bank. Simple checks that make a huge difference.

Churches just presume their priests and parishoners are honest. Not so.

Churches just presume their priests and parishoners are honest. Not so.

Just like everyone else.

Just like everyone else.

Not the Salvation Army! Those cynical yet effective bastards.

I thought of your job the other day, Jesse. I was reading an article about nonprofits in, I think, the Wall Street Journal all about how judging a charity's effectiveness by the percentage of its overhead is unfair. And I was like, "yeah, qualified employees like Jesse need to pay student loans too!"

Not the Salvation Army! Those cynical yet effective bastards.

Oh, ha! I meant priests and parishioners are dishonest like everyone else.

I was reading an article about nonprofits in, I think, the Wall Street Journal all about how judging a charity's effectiveness by the percentage of its overhead is unfair.

Yeah, that was a good one. The real problem with that, I think, is that charities with the smallest fundraising %age are often the ones that get most of their money from the government in large chunks. Not that there's anything wrong with that, but it doesn't make them automatically better.

Pelosi warns Bush: Troop surge won't be accepted
Edward Epstein, Chronicle Washington Bureau

Friday, January 5, 2007

(01-05) 11:28 PST Washington -- House Speaker Nancy Pelosi had a blunt message today for President Bush -- it's time for him to realize his policy on the Iraq war is "over.''

With Bush widely reported to announce a "surge'' next week of about 20,000 troops to help secure Baghdad for the embattled Iraqi government, the anti-war speaker warned the president that "a surge is an escalation of the war'' that will get a cold reception in the new Democratic-led House.

When was the last time anybody told Bush "No"?

She wrote to me to say that she met Kat n' Lori, and that they seemed so familiar, and suddenly she was all, "Gay Wedding Tree! OMG!" And she felt like a big fan.

Hee! Oh, that's awesome.

Okay, it is friggin' Arctic in LA today, and the incredibly high winds keep threatening to peel either the roof or the front face off of our building. It's freaking me out.

When I drove out of my driveway at 6:30 this morning, it was cow-flying-by weather. I literally had to weave my way down the street because of all the crap (palm debris and random garbage) in the way.

Allyson, I love the cover on the book. I think I'd pick that up if I saw it in a bookshop. Plus, geekdom.

ETA: Walmart have eet - [link]

And my favourite - Film Focus magaine's mention: "Allyson Beatrice probably represents the peak of fan fixation with the Whedonverse, and here she releases a chapter from her upcoming book in which she presents her story of the campaign to save Firefly from cancellation. Other chapters we're aching to read: Celebrity Pussy in which Allyson is called in to rehome Joss Whedon's cat and Munchausen's By Internet in which a woman claiming to be the mother of a dying child attempts to dupe the fan community. It all looks fascinating."