Thank you all for the light in my work
load yesterday and today.
https://members.kaiserpermanente.org/kpweb/healthency.do?hwid=aa93107spec
(see a portion of the text below)
Humor
therapy (sometimes called therapeutic humor) uses the power of smiles and
laughter to aid healing. Humor therapy helps you find ways to make yourself (or
others) smile and laugh more. When you think of humor therapy, picture clowns
in the children's ward of a hospital cheering up sick children. Some hospitals
now have humor carts that provide funny materials for people of any age. Many
nurses have learned the value of providing a good laugh to those they care for.
Scientists
have been researching the relation between the mind and the body, especially in
connection with the body's ability to heal (a field called psychoneuroimmunology).
Laughter appears to change brain chemistry and may boost the immune
system.
Humor
may allow a person to feel in control of a situation and make it seem more
manageable. It allows people to release fears, anger, and stress,
all of which can harm the body over time. Humor improves the quality of life.
(not suggesting anyone should laugh at a
charging bear though).
From: Research
Administration List [mailto:xxxxxx@hrinet.org] On Behalf Of Bloomberg, Robert
Sent: Tuesday, November 17, 2009
8:04 AM
To: xxxxxx@hrinet.org
Subject: Re: [RESADM-L] Allowable
Cost?
I’m sorry—this has gone too
far—guns to shoot moose? Next it’ll be guns to shoot large
deer with big horns, then rabbits with sharp teeth, and, well, who knows.
By the way, how would you artificially
inseminate a bear? Wait, I don’t wanna know
From: Research
Administration List [mailto:xxxxxx@hrinet.org] On Behalf Of Rasmussen, Joseph
Sent: Tuesday, November 17, 2009
10:51 AM
To: xxxxxx@hrinet.org
Subject: Re: [RESADM-L] Allowable
Cost?
Depends.
According to Stumpy
Eargone, the head of our Grizzly Bear Artificial Insemination Team, the
desired outcome can be achieved without mortally wounding the animal. The
bullets that wound the animal, (remember; moose are just as dangerous as bears)
would be allowable. The researcher should be aware that those that miss will be
very costly.
Joe
From:
Research Administration List [mailto:xxxxxx@hrinet.org] On Behalf Of Bloomberg, Robert
Sent: Tuesday, November 17, 2009
7:20 AM
To: xxxxxx@hrinet.org
Subject: Re: [RESADM-L] Allowable Cost?
That almost sounds
reasonable. How would you charge a bullet that merely wounds the bear?
Robert P. Bloomberg
Director, Office of
Tel. 617.636.1142
Fax. 617.636.8568
From:
Research Administration List [mailto:xxxxxx@hrinet.org] On Behalf Of Rasmussen, Joseph
Sent: Monday, November 16, 2009
2:27 PM
To: xxxxxx@hrinet.org
Subject: Re: [RESADM-L] Allowable
Cost?
You are all way too
generous. I would say no to the box and holster, (not allocable) and reimburse
the researcher for only the bullet or bullets that actually stop a life
threatening attack. All ammo used for target practice should be funded from a
non-grant source, as it is similar to grant writing or R&D.
Joe Rasmussen
Budget Analyst
Office of Research and
Sponsored Programs
University Hall 202
(406) 243-5078
From:
Research Administration List [mailto:xxxxxx@hrinet.org] On Behalf Of Joy Muir
Sent: Monday, November 16, 2009
11:09 AM
To: xxxxxx@hrinet.org
Subject: Re: [RESADM-L] Allowable
Cost?
Well, I was thinking we
were dealing with scientists (not generally known as “big game”
hunters)…
Coming from
Joy
Muir, MS
Grant / Contract
Coordinator
Dept of Kinesiology
Center
for Metabolic Biology
ISTB1 Rm. 481M
Tel. 480.727.6152
FAX 480.727.6183
From:
Research Administration List [mailto:xxxxxx@hrinet.org] On Behalf Of Surprenant, James M.
Sent: Monday, November 16, 2009
10:37 AM
To: xxxxxx@hrinet.org
Subject: Re: [RESADM-L] Allowable
Cost?
I don't see this being
any different than covering the costs of a cell phone as a direct cost for an
inner-city researcher going into a dangerous urban setting.
Bottom line? Dead
PI = no research.
If there is a risk of
bear attack, then this would obviously be a reasonable cost. Of
course, the university's legal department will need to do its due diligence up
front to address liability issues.
Finally, for the
uninitiated city-types, the right handgun will stop a bear. Many
sportsmen and women do hunt big game with handguns, I wouldn't... but some do.
(Do a Google if you want to know more.)
Have a great week gang,
James
James M. Surprenant, MBA
SENIOR
GRANTS ADMINISTRATOR
The
Brigham & Women's Hospital
Department
of Surgery
Tel:
617-525-7409
xxxxxx@partners.org
From: Research Administration
List [mailto:xxxxxx@hrinet.org] On Behalf
Of Parker, Paul
Sent: Monday, November 16, 2009
12:19 PM
To: xxxxxx@hrinet.org
Subject: Re: [RESADM-L] Allowable
Cost?
I responded direct to
Lori but after reading responses I felt compelled to comment to the listserv.
This is an allowable
expense. We have conducted field work in
and firearms and
associated items were purchased using federal funds. As I mentioned to
Lori we worked through
our University Police department and the mail services (we had the
rifles shipped to the
field site). You’re dealing with very dangerous animals, i.e.
Kodiak bears.
And all caution must be
used not to disturb their environment we saw pictures of the bears
coming towards the researchers
and they were not going to fall back.
Paul Parker
Paul C. Parker
Associate Vice President
for
Research
Administration
607-777-6752 Fax
607-777-4354
email:
xxxxxx@binghamton.edu
From:
Research Administration List [mailto:xxxxxx@hrinet.org] On Behalf Of Lori Johnson
Sent: Monday, November 16, 2009
11:40 AM
To: xxxxxx@hrinet.org
Subject: Re: [RESADM-L] Allowable
Cost?
Thank you.
Lori
On Mon, Nov 16, 2009 at
9:23 AM,
Lori,
I would disagree with the statement below. A-21 defines allowable costs
as “must be reasonable, must be allocable to the sponsored agreements
under the principles and methods provided herein, they must be given consistent
treatment through GAAP, and conform to any limitations”.
Would your institution cover personal costs on any other funding?
I’m not sure that a federal agency would agree that they should be
charged for these items of personal safety to do the work that the institution
proposed it could do…it looks more like an employee cost which would be
part of F&A, not a direct cost to a grant.
Also, the items would not be used so