Admin's Shopping lists.... hmmm

[Asellith]

So I couldn't help me self. I was reading a bunch of posts and realized that Admin has been shopping for a lot of equipment lately so either he is plotting to take over the world or he is working on something really cool with other peoples money again...

I'm leaning towards the taking over the world idea. Really what kind of biochemistry tests need big lasers and milling equipment. Testing to see if he can burn human flesh with lasers mounted to an army of robotic fish I bet. Soon he will be holding the worlds oceans hostage with them and then make everyone pay him money to ship things

[Admin]

Nah, my boss simply told me she needs help spending $25k in ~3 weeks.

By US Gov't rules, if you don't spend all of your research funding by end of fiscal year, you don't get to keep the remainder, and they'll reduce the funding the next year under the assumption you don't need that much money.

I go on these spending sprees every year, its like robot christmas for me

[GearMotion]

By US Gov't rules, if you don't spend all of your research funding by end of fiscal year, you don't get to keep the remainder, and they'll reduce the funding the next year under the assumption you don't need that much money.

Haven't you just proven this?

[Admin]

need is relative

(spending in a previous year doesn't accurately predict required spending of the next year, safe > sorry)

[GearMotion]

The failure, then, is really that it is assumed every fiscal year needs to be the same. (mis)Management-by-numbers. Unfortunate.

[Admin]

Well, there are other factors that determine the total grant size. We write up a proposal that declares our expected spending for the next ~3 years. Its all carefully reviewed.

Except that in reality, everyone adds additional spending with the assumption the research grant will be approved with the condition of reduced spending.

ONR/DARPA has been very happy with our robot fish project, so we haven't had funding issues, except spending it all

your tax dollars at work! hehe

Anyway, many of my tutorials are based off of things I've learned while working on this fish, so you are directly benefiting from this spending.

[MangoBot]

you should spread the parts, free samples anyone

[Razor Concepts]

Seen this happening with schools... replacing optical ps/2 mice with optical usb mice. what a great way to spend the money 

[Joker94]

i wish i was loaded like admin, I would buy every tool i needed plus some i don't need for that much money

[SmAsH]

i wish i was loaded like admin, I would buy every tool i needed plus some i don't need for that much money

all that comes from having a good job, get one of those and your set!
so remember kids, study hard and stay clean!

[wil.hamilton]

By US Gov't rules, if you don't spend all of your research funding by end of fiscal year, you don't get to keep the remainder, and they'll reduce the funding the next year under the assumption you don't need that much money.

That's not just US Govt, most i've heard most industries do this.  It's kind of a backwards way of thinking.  Any research division that comes in under budget gets their funding cut the next time around.  Basically you get punished for saving money....

[Joker94]

all that comes from having a good job, get one of those and your set!
so remember kids, study hard and stay clean!

Hopfully i will be able to become an electronic engineer with a masters in smart instrumentation, and work for boeing defense Australia

an then i might be able to go on spending sprees like admin

[mdmedlin]

And it's not just in Government. I work for a manufacturing facility and they talk about meeting goals and what not.  At our last meeting, they were talking about how we have spent more then our goal and that was actually a good thing because if we didn't, then corporate headquarters would assume that we didn't need all that money anyway and they would cut our budget, so the goal is to spend more then they budget you, but not too much more or they will shut down your factory because you are not performing well.