# Happy/Merry HalloThanksMas The MMP **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Tags:** mmp\ **Created:** [October 23, 2006, 8:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/happy-merry-hallothanksmas-the-mmp/377541 "2006-10-23T08:29:39Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 10
**Author:** ![The\_Blue-Sighted\_Shadow](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ecae2f/32.png) [@The\_Blue-Sighted\_Shadow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Blue-Sighted_Shadow)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2006, 12:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/happy-merry-hallothanksmas-the-mmp/377541/181 "2006-10-26T00:16:31Z")
More than you ever wanted to know about SOX: [Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sarbanes-Oxley_Act). It has had a huge impact on public companies and public accounting firms. It was a sweeping business reform, much like the [Securities Act of 1934](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Securities_and_Exchange_Act), and swept many hapless companies, and their employees, up in its relentless tidal wave of paperwork. Blame it on Enron, but it would have happened eventually anyway, since it brought accountability, rather than deniablity, to the board room, where it belonged in the first place. Uh, sorry about that. That happens when you’re surrounded by the stuff. ---
**Author:** ![eleanorigby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ee7513/32.png) [@eleanorigby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eleanorigby)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2006, 12:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/happy-merry-hallothanksmas-the-mmp/377541/182 "2006-10-26T00:39:43Z")
[QUOTE=Jahdra] More than you ever wanted to know about SOX: [Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sarbanes-Oxley_Act). It has had a huge impact on public companies and public accounting firms. It was a sweeping business reform, much like the [Securities Act of 1934](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Securities_and_Exchange_Act), and swept many hapless companies, and their employees, up in its relentless tidal wave of paperwork. Blame it on Enron, but it would have happened eventually anyway, since it brought accountability, rather than deniablity, to the board room, where it belonged in the first place. Uh, sorry about that. That happens when you’re surrounded by the stuff. [/QUOTE] Huh? Sorry, I nodded off there for a second…anything with numbers, unless it’s my bank account increasing, bores me silly. Carry on. I’m glad someone is good with all this. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Man\_With\_a\_Cat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/cab0a1/32.png) [@Man\_With\_a\_Cat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Man_With_a_Cat)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2006, 1:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/happy-merry-hallothanksmas-the-mmp/377541/183 "2006-10-26T01:00:15Z")
**{{{{{mika!!}}}}}}** rosie, the Wife works in insurance, where SOX compliance is a way of life. Some companies have people, that’s all they do. There’s a t-shirt going around that says “SOX SUX”. The wife, a cubby fan, wears hers proudly out of context. ---
**Author:** ![anyrose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/54ee81/32.png) [@anyrose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/anyrose)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2006, 1:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/happy-merry-hallothanksmas-the-mmp/377541/184 "2006-10-26T01:11:57Z")
I _want_ one of those t-shirts! 😃 off to bed now, with kitty and my new vibrating neck pillow - yay ---
**Author:** ![eleanorigby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ee7513/32.png) [@eleanorigby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eleanorigby)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2006, 2:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/happy-merry-hallothanksmas-the-mmp/377541/185 "2006-10-26T02:32:51Z")
[QUOTE=anyrose] I _want_ one of those t-shirts! 😃 off to bed now, with kitty and my new vibrating neck pillow - yay [/QUOTE] \ I’m off, too. TDS is a rerun and going to bed at 0130 didn’t do my looks any favors today. Let’s just say that Snow White lives. ---
**Author:** ![dogbutler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dogbutler/32/428_2.png) [@dogbutler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dogbutler)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2006, 2:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/happy-merry-hallothanksmas-the-mmp/377541/186 "2006-10-26T02:55:04Z")
Back from the game, anyone miss me? ---
**Author:** ![Nava](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/da6949/32.png) [@Nava](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nava)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2006, 7:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/happy-merry-hallothanksmas-the-mmp/377541/187 "2006-10-26T07:47:25Z")
[QUOTE=Dolores Reborn] You can adopt me, **Swampus**! 'Cept I think I’m older than you. That would be a tad, um, _odd_, I guess. Maybe you could just be my Uncle Swampy… I forgot to tell y’all - tomorrow is my birthday! I’ll be 48. That’s not that old, is it? At least I’m not \ 50! Yet… 😉 I’ll be making my own birthday cake - carrot cake with cream cheese frosting. That there Betty Crocker sure knows how to make a cake mix, lemme tell ya! And I don’t know what we’re doing for dinner tomorrow. I might cook - we might go out. Depends. But my birthday will be celebrated Saturday at the Texas RenFest. 'Twill be fun! [/QUOTE] cumpleaños feliz, cumpleaños feliz, te deseeeamos toooodooooooos, CUUUUUMPLEAAAAAÑOOOOOOOOS FEEEEELIIIIIIIIIZ Yes, **doggio** , we missed you lots. **SCL** , I hope you get better soon. Mom has a cold, she’s very congested and when we talk on the phone I have to yell and she sounds like she’z ad de bod-dom ob a dooooong well. Vedy bad, doze colds. **rigs** , my non-accountant understanding of SOX is “something that got invented after the Enron mess and which keeps a lot of accountants and lawyers in business but it’s the kind of business where at the end of the day your eyes hurt and your brain feels like someone tried to make grated parmigiano out of it”. {{{{{{Our unhappy accountants and lawyers}}}}} ---
**Author:** ![Nava](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/da6949/32.png) [@Nava](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nava)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2006, 7:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/happy-merry-hallothanksmas-the-mmp/377541/188 "2006-10-26T07:48:53Z")
Oh, and **rebo** , I believe that **swampus** is actually from an earlier vintage. Why was the song magenta? 'cos I like it and it’s not the kind of color I can wear, that’s why! ---
**Author:** ![scareyfaerie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scareyfaerie/32/3135_2.png) [@scareyfaerie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scareyfaerie)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2006, 8:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/happy-merry-hallothanksmas-the-mmp/377541/189 "2006-10-26T08:29:14Z")
You all seem like such nice people, does anyone have a hug to spare? I’m feeling grim today…no details, just generally grim. I could sit here and cry but it’s an open-plan office so I think I might just not. But I could. If I wanted to. ---
**Author:** ![Nava](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/da6949/32.png) [@Nava](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nava)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2006, 8:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/happy-merry-hallothanksmas-the-mmp/377541/190 "2006-10-26T08:42:14Z")
{{{{{{{{ **Fey** }}}}}}}} Sun isn’t out today, or I’d catch you a bit and send it over… ---
**Author:** ![dogbutler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dogbutler/32/428_2.png) [@dogbutler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dogbutler)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2006, 10:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/happy-merry-hallothanksmas-the-mmp/377541/191 "2006-10-26T10:10:21Z")
_…_…_…_,\* Happy Birthday Rebo !!! _…_…_…_…\* **{{{{Fey}}}}}** Had fun at the game, we won 5-4. Off to work! ---
**Author:** ![Mindfield](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mindfield/32/19759_2.png) [@Mindfield](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mindfield)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2006, 11:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/happy-merry-hallothanksmas-the-mmp/377541/192 "2006-10-26T11:03:23Z")
Happy Birthday, **Delores!** By the way, I always wondered, is your nick a play on a certain Robert Jordan character? Oh, and I might as well catch up: {{{{{{ \*\*Mika, ScareyFaerie, anyone I missed }}}}} _yawn_ Mornings suck. Gotta leave for work in 5, but at least I’m on the other side of the week and can look forward to catching up on sleep I’ve been sorely lacking in a couple of days. But in the mean time I’ve gotta drag my tired and sorry butt out the door. It’s a good thing I can surf the Dope there. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![swampbear](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/swampbear/32/467_2.png) [@swampbear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/swampbear)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2006, 11:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/happy-merry-hallothanksmas-the-mmp/377541/193 "2006-10-26T11:08:01Z")
I am indeed of an earlier vintage **Nava**. That would make me more like **Rebo’s** annoying big brother. I’m good at that. Just ask my sister. 😃 \ CLEARING THROAT \ \*\* HAAAPPPYYY BIIIRRRTTTHHHDDDAAAYYY TOOOOOO YOUUUUUU!!! HAAAPPPYYY BIIIRRRTTTHHHDDDAAAYYY TOOOOOO YOUUUUUU!!! HAAAPPPYYY BIIIRRRTTTHHHDDDAAAYYY DDDEEEAAARRR RRREEEBBBOOO!!! HAAAPPPYYY BIIIRRRTTTHHHDDDAAAYYY TOOOOOO YOUUUUUU!!! \*\* **Mika** by HEPA, I assume you mean HIPAA. That is another one of the banes of my existence. I’m the Privacy Officer for my agency. :rolleyes: **doggio** I’m so glad you’re back! I was so miserable without you I was _forced_ to drink several beerverages. **{{{Faerie}}}** Feel better **snakes**! **rigs** now you’re gettin’ the hang of grad school. It’s supposed to be horrible. As I said a couple weeks ago, the whole purpose of grad school is so you can look back on it years later and say, “Dang! I hated that and still do!” ---
**Author:** ![scareyfaerie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scareyfaerie/32/3135_2.png) [@scareyfaerie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scareyfaerie)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2006, 11:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/happy-merry-hallothanksmas-the-mmp/377541/194 "2006-10-26T11:13:12Z")
Happy buffday, Dolores - hope you have a fantastic day full of surprises…and cake! ---
**Author:** ![anyrose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/54ee81/32.png) [@anyrose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/anyrose)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2006, 11:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/happy-merry-hallothanksmas-the-mmp/377541/195 "2006-10-26T11:40:08Z")
{{{{{faerie}}}}}} also ---
**Author:** ![anyrose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/54ee81/32.png) [@anyrose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/anyrose)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2006, 11:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/happy-merry-hallothanksmas-the-mmp/377541/196 "2006-10-26T11:46:27Z")
_ **Happy Birfday to Riggsy** _ ---
**Author:** ![swampbear](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/swampbear/32/467_2.png) [@swampbear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/swampbear)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2006, 11:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/happy-merry-hallothanksmas-the-mmp/377541/197 "2006-10-26T11:51:41Z")
[QUOTE=anyrose] _ **Happy Birfday to Riggsy** _ [/QUOTE] I bet **Rebo** would have appreciated that more than **rigs** today. 😛 ---
**Author:** ![Draelin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ce73a5/32.png) [@Draelin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Draelin)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2006, 11:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/happy-merry-hallothanksmas-the-mmp/377541/198 "2006-10-26T11:52:34Z")
**Happy Birthday, Rebo!** And hugs for **Faerie**. Hope today is better! I don’t know about anybody else, but I’m quite ready for it to be the weekend now. ---
**Author:** ![anyrose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/54ee81/32.png) [@anyrose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/anyrose)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2006, 12:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/happy-merry-hallothanksmas-the-mmp/377541/199 "2006-10-26T12:18:05Z")
oops :smack: _ **Happy Birfday to Rebo** _ ---
**Author:** ![Mindfield](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mindfield/32/19759_2.png) [@Mindfield](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mindfield)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2006, 12:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/happy-merry-hallothanksmas-the-mmp/377541/200 "2006-10-26T12:48:24Z")
Back at my desk. Weee! \ Looks like the company next to us reviewed last night’s shiny new security tapes and realized the only thing they were guaranteed of catching on tape was the bulb burning out. Now they’ve moved the camera about 10 feet to the right. Bright move. Or not-so-bright, as the case may be. Speaking of which, the bulbs which I thought were halogen are not, in fact, halogen. Based on their approximated lumens, I’d say they were glow sticks. I don’t know what they’re hoping to illuminate with those things, but they appear to be hoping it’ll be within five feet of the bulb. And they still have no clear line of sight to the area where the vandalism is occurring. Of course, we have nothing better to do in the office than stand around marveling at these brain surgeons for 15 minutes. I dropped by the supermarket by my work this morning, as I do every morning. Their home-made salads were rather sad-looking this morning, so I checked the package. Thankfully their Earthbound Farms tubs were back on the shelf – and to my pleasant surprise, they were much cheaper than they had been! Probably because of the recent e.coli scare. Closer inspection of the package, in fact, revealed this to be _exactly_ why they were cheaper: > [@Tub of Salad](#): > > Contains No Spinach No spinach? In a tub of mixed baby greens? For shame! _sigh_ Oh well. I bought it anyway. $3 for a medium-sized tub that cost $5 before the scare is good by any standards and cheaper than the store’s own dross, so it’s still good. Even if it’s spinach-less. Also, in a shameful moment of weakness and with abject disregard to my self-imposed diet, I bought two – _two_ – polish pastries. They don’t usually have them out that early when I’m there, and when they do I have a hard time resisting. Today, I couldn’t. So, a Polish plum-filled donut and a danish of some sort followed me to work. I don’t know what it is about the polish stuff, but it’s _good_. Different. Maybe because they use whole eggs in their pastry recipes. I like baked goods that use the whole egg. It’s a little more dry than stuff made with just the whites, but it’s tastier, too. Richer texture. Of course, I may have to walk all the way home just to work off the extra calories, or maybe spend my lunch hour running laps around our building or something. Damn my weak will! Damn it to HE-- ooh, donut. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/happy-merry-hallothanksmas-the-mmp/377541.md?page=9) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/happy-merry-hallothanksmas-the-mmp/377541.md?page=11)