We've purchased $3000 worth of Legos, for which we had to reimburse an
individual since our institution doesn't have a corporate card and Lego
would only accept a credit card on-line.  Belly dancers always raise
eyebrows, unless you've worked in a lab and know what that particular
piece of equipment is.  I have seen 20 cases of sugar-free gum ordered
for a dental study. And of course the inumerable cases of condoms and
lime-green "models" that are purchased for STD prevention awards.  It's
always fun filling out the police report when one of the "models" is
stolen from the clinic, which needs to be done for documentation
purposes when a replacement "model" is ordered.

Lego is a registered trademark yadayadayadayadayada......

Jason

-----Original Message-----
From: Research Administration List [mailto:xxxxxx@hrinet.org] On
Behalf Of David Hollingsworth
Sent: Wednesday, May 30, 2007 10:05 AM
To: xxxxxx@hrinet.org
Subject: [RESADM-L] Looking for offbeat examples of costs

I am doing a presentation on budgeting and am looking for offbeat
examples of costs that have been budgeted on proposals or that the PI
has submitted for reimbursement.  Below is an example from Maggie
Griscavage submitted to the list in May 2006.
****************************************
Hi Everyone!
It's Spring up here, so forgive me for being a little frivolous.
Had a query on a Procard use where a charge hit a party shop. ...Here's
a real life answer, suitably scrubbed...

"The invoice from the party place should reflect mustaches and spirit
gum for their application.  I purchased these items because I trap birds
for my research and am in great need of disguises...believe it or not
the birds I work with know me.
I thought that may look suspicious to you..."

And, yes, I allowed the charges! This PI gets my top score for honesty..
Maggie
(not-so-frozen North)

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 Instructions on how to use the RESADM-L Mailing List, including
 subscription information and a web-searchable archive, are available
 via our web site at http://www.hrinet.org (click on "Listserv Lists")
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