October 30, 2009 by johndierckx

Billing Schemes: do you know where your money is?

Earlier this year two fraudsters were convicted for defrauding the Otago District Health Board. The case has been covered at length in the media. The fraudsters were found guilty of fraud, which they both denied, in December last year. During the trial, the Crown said they had used 198 invoices from a company formed by one of the two fraudsters, to charge the board $16.9 million for IT-related services that were never provided. The two fraudsters had been billing the Otago Health Board for maintenance and program upgrades and had cashed in around 16.9 million, 10% of which was kept while the other 90% was paid to related companies. One could ask oneself: how could it be that these things happen right under the noses of everyone?

Read the rest of the article at Dierckx & Associates >>>

October 27, 2009 by johndierckx

TEACH A MAN HOW TO FISH….

There is this famous saying that basically says feed a man a fish and you will still his hunger, teach him how to fish an he will never be hungry again.

Well this weekend during one-on-one father-son time I saw this beautifully illustrated when we caught a beautiful flounder.

Another well know saying is that images speak louder than words. So better make this into a “photo story”.

Here we were bait in the water for less than ten minutes: “we are not really catching anything are we now?”

And the seagull is waiting for something to eat as well.

Bites are starting to happen so we need to be alert.

Ok, we miss a few bites as we are also doing other stuff that is great fun, like eating and drinking together in the open air.

No worries better luck next time. And wow, look at what next time brings.

Ok it is a bit scary because the thing is still alive.

We decide to take it home and eat it. That is not quite what the seagull expected and disappointed he walks out on us.

But at home the fish is cleaned, and cooked. The old fashioned way: coked in butter and an bit of olive oil.

Hmmmmmmmm this must be the best fish I ever ate!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Any ideas for the next “special time”? What do you think John, fishing !

And how great to hear he actually ended up dedicating his artwork at school to this experience an wanted to spend the after school hours in the office.

Thanks buddy for a great day!

October 23, 2009 by johndierckx

FAVORITE BIBLE VERSES: what’s yours?

Developers of “Bible Promises” an application for the iPhone recently released a new version which allows users to “favorite” their most inspiring Bible verses. Upon analysis of information from thousands of users worldwide, the most popular verses were identified as being:

Isaiah 40:31,
Deuteronomy 31:6,
Psalms 103:2-3,
Galatians 6:9, and;
Philippians 4:6.

Source: Christian News Wire.com

ISAIAH 40:31
but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength.
They will soar on wings like eagles;
they will run and not grow weary,
they will walk and not be faint.

DEUTERONOMY 31:6
Be strong and of good courage, fear not nor be affraid of them, for the LORD thy God, he it is that doth go with thee; he will not fail thee, nor forsake thee.

PSALMS 103:2,3
Bless the LORD, O my Soul, and forget not all his benefits.
Who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases.

GALATIANS 6:9
And let us not be weary in well doing; for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.

PHILLIPPIANS 3:2
Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving be your requests be known unto God.

Now here one of my favorites:

JOHN 16:15
All that I have is yours because you belong to Jesus.

LET ME KNOW WHAT YOURS IS AND MAKE A GREAT COLLECTION

October 19, 2009 by johndierckx

GETTING TOUGH ON WHO?

Recently proposed new legislation was reported upo in the media which would ban the sale of products, containing pseudo-ephedrine. Getting products like that would require a prescription. A total ban on these products is also investigated. According to the report by Leighton Keith for the Taranaki Daily News this is to be understood as part of the Government getting tough on the methamphetamine drugs trade and the organised gangs that control it.

Pharmacies were apparently glad to have the products of the shelf and were even considering removing the products all together prior to the ban. I have seen the arguments as to how alternatives for the medicines/drugs involved are said to be equally effective. That may all well be true, but who is the Government actually tough on?

Personally I have ha a preference in the past for instance for Sudafed for my cough when I had a cold. But that would now become a subscription drug. I don’t mind giving out my personal details to get it; I understand that some control is required. But banning it all together because of organised crime? That seems like a bit strange to me. It is like telling my wife that she can no longer buy let’s say bleach or ammonia because it can be used in the process of making drugs. Yes I believe we have a serious problem when it comes to P, the manufacturing and distribution thereof. But at the same time can’t help but feeling that this shift is nothing more than patchwork. It is of course horrible that pharmacies get robbed but is making these products prescription only actually going to solve the real issue, is this really anything to do with getting tough, or is this a symbolic gesture to pharmacies that in the end does not solve anything? Will organised crime say “ok you win this is getting too difficult, we’ll stop producing the stuff.” I don’t think so, it will find other means to get the required pseudo-ephidrine, and probably more efficient ones as the purchase or theft of off the shelf drugs was probably the least efficient way to get the required quantities of pseudo-ephidrine anyway. It is the peanut stuff, let’s be honest about that.

Getting tough on organised crime by limiting the choices of people in how they live their normal lives seems odd. But then again, I have found medicines like Sudafed always to work better when I needed it. I’d be keen to hear you views.