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> but I have trouble understanding how it's possible to miss 8.8 billion dollars.

I think we all are this morning. Unfortunetly the chatter we are hearing is that this type of accounting cover up, if true, would require help from their auditor.

Which means we may be down another accounting firm by the time this is over.

It's also not in anyone's immediate short-term interest to find a reason to scotch an 1.0x10^10$ deal, and whatever we'll kick this stinker of a deal down the road for the next CEO/CFO/&c.

I agree. When I heard HP was buying Autonomy for that much, I immediately thought of MS's purchase of aQuantive. And now both end up with huge write-downs.