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Re: Casual talk...Have fun!

Let's break another stereotype. My family comes from southern China and everyone I know that I mentioned before that were as tall or taller than the average American are from southern China as well.

Re: Casual talk...Have fun!

Well if alot of it can be attributed to growth hormones, wouldn't there be a corresponding similarity in European societies.

Well there isnt a lot of tall Chinese/ Asian in NZ. Id say avg about 175cm would stop it.There are a few people above avg in my family with a few just over 6 feet but mostly between 5' 8'' to 5' 11''

The Chinese may be taller than imagined, but after watching them in the international sporting arena,I dont think they are as solidly built, but they might match them in strength per pound weight, hence they dont achieve the same success in the heavier weight divisions in weight lifting,javelin, discus or shotput, hammer throws etc..

THe Japanese and Koreans who love playing rugby can't really compete for lack of size as well.

Re: Casual talk...Have fun!

A change of topic
seeing most of you guys now live in the US arent you worried about the health care system over there. It seems by most news reports most are against Obama's health care plans. I was watching 60 minutes where Americans are coming over to NZ for medical procedures because its cheaper eg for a full hip replacement plus travel and stay for 2weeks $20000 US.and on another program one lady, injured in a car accident refused to take the ambulance cause she didnt have medical insurance, and a ambulance ride to the hospital was gonna cost her several hundred dollars?

Re: Casual talk...Have fun!

bladerunner said:

A change of topic
seeing most of you guys now live in the US arent you worried about the health care system over there. It seems by most news reports most are against Obama's health care plans. I was watching 60 minutes where Americans are coming over to NZ for medical procedures because its cheaper eg for a full hip replacement plus travel and stay for 2weeks $20000 US.and on another program one lady, injured in a car accident refused to take the ambulance cause she didnt have medical insurance, and a ambulance ride to the hospital was gonna cost her several hundred dollars?

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It makes my head ache when people mention it... I work at UT medical school and people have been talking about this thing (I don't even want to mention the name) for months. My mentors and other physicians all have their different ideas about it and it's a mess. That's all I'm gonna say about it

Re: Casual talk...Have fun!

Too me it seems total reliance on the private medical scheme is flawed, because it cherry picks who it insures, and as one gets older as is more likely to require medical procedures one cant afford it because of retirement etc etc.

Re: Casual talk...Have fun!

bladerunner said:

....The Chinese may be taller than imagined, but after watching them in the international sporting arena,I dont think they are as solidly built, but they might match them in strength per pound weight, hence they dont achieve the same success in the heavier weight divisions in weight lifting,javelin, discus or shotput, hammer throws etc..

THe Japanese and Koreans who love playing rugby can't really compete for lack of size as well.

Click to expand...

The comment in bracket was intended more as a pun, if you haven't notised.

Javelin or discus relies more on technique than body size. Body size is important up to a certain point only - with emphasis on upper body strength.

Re: Casual talk...Have fun!

Oh how many theories on race and athleticism have been squashed... they never learn.

Re: Casual talk...Have fun!

Medicare has never been on top of my my mind and with the mess that is the economy and the war I find it surprising that Obama is talking about healthcare... Not that I was well informed.

I haven't been paying attention to the healthcare reform this last 2 weeks, but before that, polls showed that people in general were satisfied with their healthcare, the 5 out of the 6 that was covered.(And I haven't hear about people being really against it.) I don't know if things have shifted. And with the current situation, the reform bill is going to have a public option for sure when being passed.

As for what you guys are hearing in NZ, one thing: the reports that say people are against Obama's healthcare plans: are those are polls or the townhall meetings?
If it's the townhall meetings, there is a BIG other side to the story......a very displeasing one...........

But it is true, the use of emergency services will cost you $700 each time you use it here.
And apparently, each time the doctor is at your bedside checking on you, there is another 300 bucks.
Apparently(Maybe not apparently) the hospitals like to prolong patients' stay to fish in more money.....

If we do provide a public option, however, I can imagine the number of companies that will retire their old plans and push everybody to it...... reminds me of WalMart....

Please forgive my simpleness, but what does Medicare and Medicaid cover?

Thailand is also a well known and popular option. I think Argentina are doing these cases also, but I could be mistaken. New Zealand? Haven't really hear about that.

Re: Casual talk...Have fun!

sumdud said:

Thailand is also a well known and popular option. I think Argentina are doing these cases also, but I could be mistaken. New Zealand? Haven't really hear about that.

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Im not coversant with the American healthcare system so I cant tell you what medicaid or care is.When I listened to Obama's empassioned speech and with the examples he gave of insured patients being hard done by, with their current insurers opting out of paying, or delayed authorising a medical procedure because of some former undisclosed but unrelated medical condition however minor, sucks.
It confirms my belief on how to run a successful insurance company,.....employ the best salemen to sell the policies and retain the best attorneys to avoid paying out.

We only get a low but increasing number of Americans coming down with projections of up to 20,000 by the end of next decade, but its reflecting on the rates we have to pay for insurance because of the willingness for Americans to pay more. With the currency exchange rates in your favour, the whole exercise could work out cheaper by up to,60% apparently and that includes the cost of a two week stay accomadation and airfares.

The reason why NZ is attractive to the likes of the American I saw on the' 60mins' program is because, we offer a world class service, a white and English speaking country. She said she could have gone to India or Mexico, but did not feel comfortable outside her ethnic background. I can betcha dollars to donuts, theres still enough Americans that feel like that, to keep our hospitals busy.

Re: Casual talk...Have fun!

Quite some time ago I was working in a French company in Malaysia, and I was quite amazed that they were getting full reimbursement from the French government for all type of medical expenses, including dental and eye glasses. I will love to be French if I get sick.

I also heard from some Hong Kong people who migrated to Canada that they they have the similar medical benefits, the down side is the income tax rates are very high. I guessed they taxed you first and then take care of your health later.

Having a touch of socialism in the goverment can make ordinary people happy that they do not have to worry about the potentially huge medical expenses.

Scrap one or two aircraft carrier battle group can put a lot of funds into medical benefits.

Oh yeah, I think Cuba also has excellent medical facilities. They are poor and out-dated in many things but they don't give up on health care.