“The Facebook Era: Tapping Online Social Networks to Market, Sell, and Innovate”

The Facebook Era: Tapping Online Social Networks to Market, Sell, and Innovate – Clara Shih – ISBN 978-0137085125

From the cover:  “Whether you know it or not, Facebook and Twitter are transforming your business in profound and significant ways. (more…)

New blog – attestationupdate.com

I started a new blog today, Attestation Update, www.attestationupdate.com. It will provide news and updates to the CPA community on audits, reviews, and compilations.  Some posts are only at the new site and some attestation posts will be left here. In the future, posts that are focused more on the CPA community will be at the new site.

Why make this change? I realized there are very two distinct audiences for my writing:  the non-profit community and CPAs. While there is a lot of overlap, particularly with the CPA firms in Southern California with whom I count as friends at the same time as competitors, the interests are very different.  Thus, two blogs.  This will allow for more focused attention by time constrained readers.  Enjoy them both!

The writers of a made-for-TV movie “get” the motivation part of the fraud triangle

Watched a few minutes of a TV movie.  The main character was busy lying to police as she framed a co-worker for hacking the bank’s computer system to hide her taking unidentified valuables out of safe deposit boxes and transferring who-knows-how-much money between accounts so she could get her hands on it. (more…)

Why does it matter to you that advertisers can use ads to identify gays?

Recent stories indicated that advertisers could identify gays through targeted advertising.  If that is not a part of your life, why does it matter to you?  Let me explain the process so you can see that the advertising technique should give us all pause. (more…)

Plagiarism, “going viral” on steroids, internet justice, good entertainment, and lessons-to-be-learned – all in one story

In case you haven’t heard, tune in quick to the Cooks Source story on the internet.  The story is developing by the hour.  See short introduction.  Read original post that kicked off the internet firestorm.  (more…)

Easy-listening explanation of Quantitative Easing

Quantitative Easin’ is a new song in easy listening style that explains what the Fed is planning for the very near future.  Fun explanation.  Watch out for the depressing graphs though.

The singer, Curtis Threadneedle, is on facebook here.

Update: Fed announced the QE2 will be for $600,000,000,000 spread in $75B purchases per month of longer-term treasuries. Typo in title of this post corrected.

Rapping Economists debate how to improve the economy? Rapping? On economics?

As news reports indicate the Fed plans a half trillion dollar quantitative easing, it is a good time to revisit the Hayek and Keynes debate.  If you would like a rap explanation, check this out: “Fear the Boom and Bust”. Yes, Hayek presented in rap. (more…)

Small Nonprofits claim health care tax credit on Form 8941

The IRS has announced that nonprofits may claim the health care tax credit by filing a Form 990-T and attaching Form 8941.

The IRS has a background article on the credit for nonprofit organizations.  They have a superb FAQ that provides a lot of details.  The DRAFT 8941 is available – remember is is a preliminary draft so we can get an idea what the form will look like.  For a general overview of the health care credit for NPOs, see my previous post.