[meteorite-list] WI Meteorite Hunting Statistics

From: Michael Blood <mlblood_at_meteoritecentral.com>
Date: Sun, 09 May 2010 17:24:29 -0700
Message-ID: <C80CA04D.E396%mlblood_at_cox.net>

Simple:
        Tax laws were written by and for the wealthy - therefore,
entertainment is an "expense" IF it is taking place to "woo" a
Potential buyer, seller, etc, or as an defacto payment to employees
- also known as a "perk" or to simply build a trusting relationship
With other professionals.
        So, for tax purposes if one hunted this meteorite to make
Money from sales of same and if sales of same will be reported
As income on one's taxes and IF said entertainment were with
Other hunters - it would be an expense based on "greasing the
Skids" or to proffer favor or to build a trusting relationship by
Which one may benefit in terms of the possibility of info being
Shared, inclusion on a hunting "party" etc, etc.
        If one is a dealer he can also write off ALL expenses related
To keeping a dog - even a Chihuahua, as they function as
deterrent to theft of goods related to sales - even if only their yapping
Acts as an alarm. (I don't go this far, myself, but it is perfectly legal).
        However, for the purpose of estimating out of pocket costs
On a hunting expedition, it becomes debatable, but cannot be ruled
Out entirely out of hand for the same reasons that it can be written
off re taxes.
        Best wishes, Michael


On 5/9/10 2:08 PM, "Met. Eric Wichman Escondido" <eric at meteoritesusa.com>
wrote:

> 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
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Received on Sun 09 May 2010 08:24:29 PM PDT