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Former New York Mayor Edward Koch used to gauge his job performance with the catch phrase, "How'm I doing?" Throughout his reign in the 1980s, the colorful Koch would repeat the question to the citizenry of the Big Apple, until it almost became synonymous with his tenure.

ARIZONA

With nearly 120 countries having already adopted or agreed to adopt International Financial Reporting Standards, U.S. firms and practitioners have accepted the when-not-if scenario regarding IFRS convergence - but most report making preparations to the principles-based guidelines at a measured pace.

As part of the IRS's continuing efforts to require greater disclosure of tax positions and strategies on returns, it recently released new, mandatory disclosure rules for grouping passive activities. Rev. Proc. 2010-13 for the first time mandates that passive-activity groupings and regrouping, as required under Code Sec. 469 regulations, be disclosed on the taxpayer's return.

CALIFORNIA

While reading a recent article, Paul B. was struck by an uncanny similarity between the push to change the profession's educational requirements that started more than 20 years ago and current efforts by the large auditing firms and the American Institute of CPAs to promote International Financial Reporting Standards "convergence." (In this context, "convergence" means, "Dump the Financial Accounting Standards Board and put the International Accounting Standards Board in charge.")

Data on the Joneses

Expert in experts

New York - Multinational accounting and advisory firm Mazars Group has been in talks with New York-based accounting firm Weiser LLP in a merger that would create the sixth largest accounting firm in the world.

I found it somewhat amusing that Jeffrey Urbach ("Accounting, not politics", Dec. 14, 2009-Jan. 10, 2010, page 8) has little tolerance for views he claims to be right of center in the "Editor's Desk" column. After admitting he subscribes to multiple left-wing publications, he says there's no room for views that disagree with his own in an accounting publication.