It is amazing what our minds do to us. And we are never quite so obstinately unintelligent as when we think — nay, we know — that our conclusions based on numbers and statistics are absolutely true. 

My apologies for having been absent so long. Been a lot going on lately. However, it hasn’t stopped me from reading, and it’s given me the chance to revisit some of my favorite audit classics. Therefore, I give you my list of the best opening lines from the best audit books. 

Did you catch this from The Washington Post? It is a list of the worst ideas of the decade. Work your way down the list and notice that seventh item. Yep, the article listed the U.S. Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 as one of the worst ideas of the decade. There is an entire write-up on Sarbanes-Oxley that I invite you to read. It is very instructional.

Now, one last song for the holidays. (I think I've saved the best for last.) A happy reminder of how we all handle the hustle and bustle of the year’s end. 

For today, our audit carol is a little ditty that should serve as a warning to all auditees. 

And now another audit carol for your enjoyment.

Well, it’s that time of the year again. Let’s all warm up a cup of “auditor’s cocoa” (a little more bitter than most chocolates), gather ’round the blazing workpapers (gotta do something with the old paper files), and raise our voices in those classic audit carols we’ve all grown to know and love. Following is an all-time favorite.

Putting together the humor pieces for the magazine I find that, more often than not, I have many more words than space will allow. This is actually a good thing, as it is infinitely easier to cut an article than to come up with additional good information. Of course, there is probably some question whether I come up with any good material, but that’s an argument for another day.

As additional support for my previous post about the way technology is affecting our work...

Back in January I listed some of the quotes collected from meetings over the years. Well, it’s been a busy 2009. So, for your enjoyment, a list of real quotes — I didn’t make these up — overheard in meetings so far this year: