A friend who has been cracking jokes about language manipulation in her job as an employee of the government for the last dozen years, would have loved being involved in the homeless count two weeks ago.

Volunteers in Culver City, the Westside, throughout Los Angeles and across the country pour into the streets for one night.

They identify homeless bodies.

Reporting back to headquarters, they deliver the numbers they found and relevant data.

The Person-in-Charge tabulates the evening’s total finds. In true government fashion, he does not report the numbers. He sits on them, shields them from view.

What is the number for Culver City, which last year had 33 homeless regulars?

This is a time for patience.

Even though the number is expected to be slightly up or slightly down from 33, government orders are to shush revelation for the immediate future.

“I can’t comment on that,” says Ira Diamond, chair of the Homeless Committee in Culver City who is dedicating a large portion of his life to pragmatically aiding the homeless.

“I can’t even hypothesize about the number. The numbers will come out in a couple months.

“They are doing statistical analysis about them,” said Mr. Diamond.

And that is why the government has been voted the most efficient, alert employer in the country.