[meteorite-list] WI Meteorite Hunting Statistics

From: Meteorites USA <eric_at_meteoritecentral.com>
Date: Sun, 09 May 2010 14:08:11 -0700
Message-ID: <4BE7243B.4060308_at_meteoritesusa.com>

I would agree now that entertainment is not quite an expense and
debatable, I stand corrected on that. We could debate all day long over
the "WHAT and WHY" any costs should be considered an expense. In order
to alleviate some of this confusion I'll list the main expenses below,
minus any incidentals. If you gave me the leeway to make a rule it would
be...

"If money spent while in the field was related to hunting and necessary
to provide the time and resources needed to hunt and/or recover
meteorites on the WI meteorite hunt, then that money shall be considered
an expense."

Most hunters I know eat out at restaurants 2-3 times per day (due to
convenience and time constraints) so food should be included as an
expense simply because eating at restaurants is not an "everyday"
expense as most people don't eat out "every day" much less 3 times per
day. This increases your regular food cost by a large percentage.
However, as Rob Matson pointed out, sometimes it's less expensive as in
this example for California it is very expensive to eat out. This is an
exception rather than the rule I think. I would say at least 75% of all
food cost perhaps the full 100% is fair to include as an expense since
the average is higher while traveling vs eating at home.

Alcoholic beverages need not be included as they are not necessary to
the recovery of meteorites. Perhaps this might be debatable too... ;) lol

This includes:
---------------------------------
Food & Drink (non-alcoholic)
Gas/Fuel
Hotel
Car Rental
Airfare
Purchases (equipment, clothes, boots, rain gear, meteorites, newspapers,
etc.)
Fees (charged by landowners to hunt)
---------------------------------

I hope this list clears things up. We'll see...

Regards,
Eric

On 5/9/2010 12:42 PM, Bob Loeffler wrote:
> I disagree. Entertainment and food should NOT be counted as field expenses.
> As Ryan mentioned, you have to eat food no matter whether you are out
> collecting meteorites or staying at home watching TV. I would understand a
> *percentage* of food costs should be allowed because the cost of food in
> some areas will be higher than normal, but I don't know what a "good"
> percentage would be.
>
> As for entertainment, that should not be allowed because that could skew
> your numbers drastically. For example, if Geoff, Steve #1 Arnold, Ruben,
> etc go to a nudie bar and drink shots of alcohol, the total bill could run
> into the hundreds or thousands of $$$ (hahaha) and that shouldn't be
> included since they could do all of that in Tucson. That's an extreme
> example, but I know that there is always at least one "get together" on
> these types of field trips. Only expenses that are in addition to what you
> would normally have from your daily lives should be included.
>
> You (Eric) are the one who is compiling this list, so you make the rules,
> but I (and many others) won't believe the results if you include stuff like
> that. When I go on a trip for my company, they want all receipts and an
> expense report and then they go through each item one by one to see what
> they will reimburse me for and what they won't. Most entertainment expenses
> are NOT reimbursed because the Federal government has rules and regulations
> that companies have to abide by.
>
> Regards,
>
> Bob
>
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: meteorite-list-bounces at meteoritecentral.com
> [mailto:meteorite-list-bounces at meteoritecentral.com] On Behalf Of Meteorites
> USA
> Sent: Sunday, May 09, 2010 12:16 PM
> To: fallingfusion at wi.rr.com
> Cc: meteorite-list at meteoritecentral.com
> Subject: Re: [meteorite-list] WI Meteorite Hunting Statistics
>
> Food is still an expense. As is entertainment while on a business
> trip... All expenses should be included while on the road, as they are
> still "expenses". Many hunters don't have time to go to the grocery
> store, so to save time they eat out, which adds to the total. Any money
> spent on the recovery of meteorites in the field are expenses.
>
> Regards,
> Eric
>
>
>
> On 5/9/2010 11:00 AM, fallingfusion at wi.rr.com wrote:
>
>> Hi Eric...
>>
>> Just wondering why food should be included for expenses. Don't people eat
>>
> when they're not on a hunting expedition? Sure, eating out may be more
> expensive, but this isn't exactly fine dining were talking about here. -
> Standard fare.
>
>> Ryan
>>
>>
>> Sent on the SprintR Now Network from my BlackBerryR
>>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: Meteorites USA<eric at meteoritesusa.com>
>> Date: Sun, 09 May 2010 10:30:10
>> To: Meteorite-list<meteorite-list at meteoritecentral.com>
>> Subject: [meteorite-list] WI Meteorite Hunting Statistics
>>
>> Hi listees and fellow meteorite hunters in the field. I'm back from the
>> field and I'm compiling (unscientifically) some statistical data that
>> I've not yet seen anyone attempt to calculate in any way but a cursory
>> manner thus far. If you've hunted the WI meteorite fall, and have data
>> you'd like to share, please send me an email with your hunting
>> information/statistics.
>>
>> Primarily what I'm looking for is totals, hours hunted, days hunted,
>> meteorites found, and costs associated with this hunt. I'd like to do
>> this while WI is fresh in everyone's minds and I think that will provide
>> the most reliable information, and also give some an idea of the costs
>> in time and money that go into recovering meteorites from the field.
>>
>> Please send in the following format to make it easier to add all totals.
>> If you can think of any other data that should be included in this list,
>> please feel free to respond on-list so others can add their input.
>>
>> I will be including all my totals as well in this data.
>>
>> Total Days In The Field:
>> Total Hours Hunted Per Day:
>> Total Miles Walked Per Day:
>> Total Costs: (including airfare, hotel, rental car, food, fuel, cost of
>> meteorites purchased, miscellaneous expenses; i.e. "pay to hunt"
>> expenses) This need not be itemized, and can be a total cost for your
>> hunt...
>> Total Number of Meteorites Found:
>> Total Weight Found:
>>
>> This survey is completely anonymous, and your identity will be kept
>> confidential, all you need send is totals/numbers.
>>
>> In addition, those of you who'd like to share coordinates that would
>> also be appreciated, again, your anonymity will be kept unless you state
>> specifically that you wouldn't mind releasing your identity publicly in
>> association with your data.
>>
>> All this information will be published on my site and on-list to share
>> with everyone in a completely transparent and "open" manner.
>>
>> Thank you all in advance for your cooperation.
>>
>> Regards,
>> Eric Wichman
>> Meteorites USA
>> ______________________________________________
>> Visit the Archives at
>>
> http://www.meteoritecentral.com/mailing-list-archives.html
>
>> Meteorite-list mailing list
>> Meteorite-list at meteoritecentral.com
>> http://six.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/meteorite-list
>>
>>
> ______________________________________________
> Visit the Archives at
> http://www.meteoritecentral.com/mailing-list-archives.html
> Meteorite-list mailing list
> Meteorite-list at meteoritecentral.com
> http://six.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/meteorite-list
>
> No virus found in this incoming message.
> Checked by AVG - www.avg.com
> Version: 9.0.819 / Virus Database: 271.1.1/2840 - Release Date: 05/09/10
> 00:26:00
>
> ______________________________________________
> Visit the Archives at http://www.meteoritecentral.com/mailing-list-archives.html
> Meteorite-list mailing list
> Meteorite-list at meteoritecentral.com
> http://six.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/meteorite-list
>
>
Received on Sun 09 May 2010 05:08:11 PM PDT