Posts by Ross Mason

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  • OnPoint: Dear Gerry,

    I have moments of wondering if the whole thing is a hoax.

    No, I think Gerry dead panned it. But we aren't having a bar of it.

    gold...Gold...GOld...GOLd...GOLD!!!!

    Cue Lawn Green (Paw), Hoss, Little Joe. Adam and Bonanza theme. Map of New Zealand bursts into flames from Schedule 4 areas on map. Six gun shoots 8 bullets into 9 baddies all with sound effects courtesy of Rick O'Shea.

    Cue Coconuts and herd of prairie hosses head'n for the pass.

    Cue Neil Young "After the Goldrush:

    "Look at mother nature on the run
    In the 21st century.........."

    Upper Hutt • Since Jun 2007 • 1590 posts Report

  • Hard News: The back of a bloody envelope,

    Y'all may be interested. I did an OIA request to ACC and asked them what they have funded on CAM treatment over the last 5 years. ACC have 14 types of treatment providers which include, medical practitioners, physios, medical lab technicians, accupuncturists (!), chirpractors (!) and osteopaths(!).....my definition of CAM included those last 3 which is what they gave me.

    These are from 2004/05 to 08/09/

    Accupuncture has gone up from $5.4m to $15.7m
    Chiropractors from $8m to $13.2m
    Osteopaths from $6.7m to $10.9m.

    I would have to say these are quite significant amounts.

    The total for those 3 has gone from $20.1m to $39.8m.

    Gosh. You can get a lot of real "medicine" for that price. Like lots and lots of hearing aids, hip replacements, more preventative education etc etc.

    In my next life I am going to "learn" how to wield and be a real prick. I could retire at 45.

    Upper Hutt • Since Jun 2007 • 1590 posts Report

  • Hard News: The back of a bloody envelope,

    @Stephen - yes I agree. The protection of the group was first, the profiteering came after.

    the case of medical insurance the "co-ops" have tended to be instigated by members of the medical profession

    Maybe we should organise an "insurance" system where "patients" pick the Docs rather than the Docs pick the patients? If i was in it, I would ensure evidence based medicine was only funded.

    Keep homeopathy out well of it. Oh...and osteopaths

    Upper Hutt • Since Jun 2007 • 1590 posts Report

  • Hard News: The back of a bloody envelope,

    New Zealand - A hole lot of fun.


    But back to the second part of the post re Obamahealth.

    What staggers me about the insurance business is that it is utterly utterly one of the most pefect socialist inventions ever. What is it? A group of people pooling a fee to protect the group on the off chance one or two of them have a catastrophe.

    And who runs these things? Once organised and run by co-ops (with absolute minimal fees 'cos there were few members) it was - surprise - taken over by the capitalists and by adding a "small" clipping fee, could churn more profits from the masses.

    Sigh.

    Upper Hutt • Since Jun 2007 • 1590 posts Report

  • Hard News: The back of a bloody envelope,

    pour cyanaide over it

    Hang on...wasn't that used in some other massacre that included Kool Aid

    Upper Hutt • Since Jun 2007 • 1590 posts Report

  • Hard News: The back of a bloody envelope,

    New National Party mantra:

    "It's MINE!"

    Upper Hutt • Since Jun 2007 • 1590 posts Report

  • Hard News: The back of a bloody envelope,

    I predict a response from the conservation community on a par with Manapouri.

    One could say the Keep NZ Green war has been waiting for the first skirmish from the Nats and the mining list is it. The acknowledged "more to come" will feed the fire.

    Upper Hutt • Since Jun 2007 • 1590 posts Report

  • Hard News: The Internet in New Zealand,

    Telecom's competitors may bitch righteously about the cabinetisation project, but speeds from our local cabinet reach 10Mbit/s at times.

    WARNING - Conspiracy coming up......

    Russell - knowing that you are a media techo savvy who seems to have some influence around the place, have you taken the opportunity to check a few neighbours speeds in your street while monitoring yours??

    I just wonder .... since the ISPs KNOW you, that they just might...just might mind you...ensure your, shall we say, "internet availability is well catered for".

    End of conspiracy.

    Upper Hutt • Since Jun 2007 • 1590 posts Report

  • Southerly: This Week in Parliament,

    Just last week I had a nightmare that I was a kangaroo, and that Steven Joyce was attempting to insert his hands into my pouch.

    We married off my eldest on saturday. A requirement of my youngest (who also dressed the bride party) was that I dress up. I have never had the 'pleasure' of renting before and I dutifully turned up with her to try on the mufti.

    Well.

    I have been known to play with myself. But I never realised that there is a whole world of trou-renters who do it - probably - in public!!

    I could not believe it when I put my hands into the pockets that there was an opening into the nether regions of......well.....you know...

    Why has noone told me of this? If I had known that practically every(?) groom squad was trying this on I would have got the gummint to ban such wearable cloth..

    I now know where the poloice can find the picture theatre "players". Follow the suit hirees!!!

    PS - And no, I didn't....this time!!!!

    Upper Hutt • Since Jun 2007 • 1590 posts Report

  • Hard News: The Auckland Council as leaky…,

    Late post:

    Not only the public will be neutered

    Neutered is the polite term. Auckland is about have its balls cut off and thrown into the Manukau. Is it because Rodney has lost his that he wants EVERYONE to suffer?

    Upper Hutt • Since Jun 2007 • 1590 posts Report

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