Video Games - improve dexterity and surgical skills?

Believe it or not. I wrote a webpage about Video Games for Surgeons.

I basically wrote the page so that I had easy access to video games (ie Pac man, simon) that I played with a lot when I was a child growing up in the United States.

I'm currently visiting Taipei, Taiwan, and I was having this discussion about video games with other surgeons here. Consensus - is that video games aren't bad at all unless they take up all your time and you're left addicted to the game. So once in a while, one might say that video games are good for developing dexterity / surgical skills. See the webpage for more information about video games for surgeons. Yep, it's an article written by surgeons.

There are other articles about this topic.

Here's one from USA Today

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Internet Speed Test - how fast is my internet connection?

Copying the info below from a informal speed test that I performed from my previous post: Why does facebook run so slow?

As for internet speed.Using http://www.Speedtest.net, the global broadband speed test,My server for the test is hosted by Tunghai University www.thu.edu.tw My ISP is CHTD - Chunghwa Telecom. My distance to server performing this test is about 100 miles.The results are 9.48MB/s download and 1.88 MB/s upload. Ping is 33ms (I'm not sure what that means)

On my second test: I got 9.43 MBPS for download and 1.88 MBPS for upload.If I shift my server that tests the speed to Hong Kong, I get 9.44 MBPS for download and 1.66 MBPS for upload.This is just to show the speed at which that I'm connected.

Now for a really cool test, I'm going to test the connection with San Francisco (Near Modesto, CA where I live in the USA - I'm currently in Taipei, Taiwan)I get a download speed of 7.71 MBPS and an upload speed of 1.74 MBPS. Not too shabby!

Using: http://us.mcafee.com/root/speedometer/test_1500.asp

I get a result of over 2 MBPS. I guess this wasn't configured to run any faster than that.


Then I tried http://www.bandwidthplace.com/ - it just froze with my vista computer system and I tried it again, and couldn't get it to work.

Next test: http://www.speakeasy.net/speedtest/
It was nice, it told me that my IP address was: 114.45.184.149

I picked San Francisco as a server to perform the test from: it gave me these results:
7311 kbps download / 1831 kbps upload - a little slower than the similar setup from speedtest.net, but for all purposes the same results.

For even more fun, I decided to remote desktop into my server in Modesto, CA and test out the speed there.

Using http://www.Speedtest.net:

It identified my server as coming from the California area, because on this website it automatically shifts a map to where you are located. They recommended trying San Jose as the testing server site. I'm not entirely sure what happens if I used remote desktop and then perform the test. This might skew the speed results somehow. But maybe not if the speed test report right back to the actual computer that I was controlling. As I'm doing the test from Taipei, Taiwan, it was a bit painfully slow to watch - I even thought "great, I crashed my computer." But it's actually wiggling a bit on the graphics right now as I type this... So I take this to be a good sign. Well, the results aren't that good:

I got Download internet speed of 0.30 mbps
and Upload internet speed of 0.09 mbps
Ping of 42 ms.

I think the results are skewed by the remote desktop connection.

It was worth a try anyway - for fun. Things to do while avoiding the typhoon in Taiwan.

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Disclaimer: This website is not intended to create a physician patient relationship. There is no specific targeted medical advice here. Please see your physician in person. This disclaimer also applies to our other websites with generalized information: Plastic Surgery Modesto CA, Plastic Surgery Modesto, Cosmetic Surgery, Acupuncture Modesto, Veins Modesto, How to Choose a Plastic Surgeon, Breast Augmentation Modesto, Breast Augmentation FAQ, Tummy Tuck FAQ, Botox in Modesto

Wood for eyeglasses! (eyeglass frames)

what a great idea!

to have wood be a material used on the sides of eyeglasses. I worry about adjustability or warping from moisture; however, the look is great. I saw some of these today while eyeglass frame shopping for Tammy (Dr. T. Tammy Wu, Plastic surgeon - Modesto Plastic surgeon) - we are still looking she hasn't found her next pair of eyeglass frames yet.

The frames were made by Iyoko Inyake - Belgian Eyewear design

http://www.iyokoinyake.com/es/default.aspx

From their website:

"Many years ago, Eye Specials Worldwide acquired the world wide license to design, manufacture en distribute eyewear under the name of Iyoko Inyaké.
Since then, Henricus Dujardin, with 20 years of experience, designed more than 800 models that have been sold all over the world.Together with his team of professionals he always comes up with the most creative frames in the industry. "

I took some pictures of a display that I found in Taipei Taiwan, near the Sogo Area, near the Fuxing MRT subway station. We were told that these were designed in Belgium and manufactured in Japan.

Disclaimer: This website is not intended to create a physician patient relationship. There is no specific targeted medical advice here. Please see your physician in person. This disclaimer also applies to our other websites with generalized information: Plastic Surgery Modesto CA, Plastic Surgery Modesto, Cosmetic Surgery, Acupuncture Modesto, Veins Modesto, How to Choose a Plastic Surgeon, Breast Augmentation Modesto, Breast Augmentation FAQ, Tummy Tuck FAQ, Botox in Modesto

My clarisonic - we only brought one

Well, so much for my thinking in advance; we only brought one of these and two brushes. We've been sharing it. It saves space this way. The only problem is that ok.. right now we are both in Taipei, but I have to make a separate trip (subcursive?) to Hong Kong and Macau - I'll be gone and separated from my wife for a week. So that means - we have to fight over the clarisonic. This just hit me.

Clarisonic brush is a mechanized facial cleansing brush - waterproof, fun, efficient, and produces results. I feel lost without it. It's one of my favorite products which we carry in our office. It even showed an increase in my Visia score. I scored very low on the Visia to begin with, so that might not be saying much (I got 2%).

Clarisonic Modesto - this link has a list of our products in our office. Too bad I can't just run across to the globe to get another one.

Anyway... enough blabbing.. I'll figure out how to revert to the old way of washing my face. Can't take the Clarisonic away from the plastic surgeon wife: [T. Tammy Wu, MD]

Disclaimer: This website is not intended to create a physician patient relationship. There is no specific targeted medical advice here. Please see your physician in person. This disclaimer also applies to our other websites with generalized information: Plastic Surgery Modesto CA, Plastic Surgery Modesto, Cosmetic Surgery, Acupuncture Modesto, Veins Modesto, How to Choose a Plastic Surgeon, Breast Augmentation Modesto, Breast Augmentation FAQ, Tummy Tuck FAQ, Botox in Modesto. The pictures above are not our actual patients.

Bellavita Taipei, Taiwan

Picture of me taken 8/4/09 on our way to Taipei 101 Mall, we passed by a construction project with signs all around it saying "Bellavita - coming soon."

This will be a luxury shopping mall - the idea is to elevate shopping and dining experience in Taipei Taiwan. It contains classic Italian inspired architecture. It's not ready for the public to walk through it, unfortunately. This located in the heart of the Xinyi Shopping District.

Taipei, Taiwan Night photo of a busy street.

I captured this night photo on Thursday, July 30, 2009 - in the heart of Taipei.

Credit Alerts from Chase ID Protection

While I've been gone from the USA (now for almost a month). I've gotten 3 credit alerts from Chase ID Protection. This is a little concerning for me. I dug around in my online reporting and found that someone or (multiple people) have been checking my credit rating - and these are places that I have never visited.

To be a little more specific, the three places that have dipped into my credit check were:

1) Equifax - Farmers Branch TX 75234 (utilities and Fuel)
2) Experian - Radio Shack, Sioux Falls 57117-6497
3) Experian - Childrens PL, Gray TN 67615-9714 (Clothing)

I'll be looking into more detail regarding these July Credit checks without my authorization


Disclaimer: This website is not intended to create a physician patient relationship. There is no specific targeted medical advice here. Please see your physician in person. This disclaimer also applies to our other websites with generalized information: Plastic Surgery Modesto CA, Plastic Surgery Modesto, Cosmetic Surgery, Acupuncture Modesto, Veins Modesto, How to Choose a Plastic Surgeon, Breast Augmentation FAQ, Tummy Tuck FAQ

Autumn Tide / Shin Tung Nan Seafood Restaurant, Taipei, Taiwan

We went to Autumn Tide / Shin Tung Nan Seafood Restaurant today to eat lunch. Tel 02-2332-2398. It has been around since 1979. They served a ton of food and it was great sea food. I was overstuffed - which isn't great for my weight loss plans. There are many great restaurants in Taipei Taiwan.

Disclaimer: This website is not intended to create a physician patient relationship. There is no specific targeted medical advice here. Please see your physician in person. This disclaimer also applies to our other websites with generalized information: Plastic Surgery Modesto CA, Plastic Surgery Modesto, Cosmetic Surgery, Acupuncture Modesto, Veins Modesto, How to Choose a Plastic Surgeon, Breast Augmentation FAQ, Tummy Tuck FAQ

Garbage trucks in Taipei play Fur Elise!

I just realized - the bad rendition of ice-cream truck sounding Beethoven's Fur Elise - is actually not an ice cream truck at all. It is a garbage truck in Taipei Taiwan. I'm not sure why it has to play this. I've been told that periodically they change their tune. Maybe it's the tell the residents to hurry and take out the garbage.

Disclaimer: This website is not intended to create a physician patient relationship. There is no specific targeted medical advice here. Please see your physician in person. This disclaimer also applies to our other websites with generalized information: Plastic Surgery Modesto CA, Plastic Surgery Modesto, Cosmetic Surgery, Acupuncture Modesto, Veins Modesto, How to Choose a Plastic Surgeon, Breast Augmentation FAQ, Tummy Tuck FAQ

New glasses! from Taipei - VP coat too!

I'm in the process of getting new glasses. I'm in Taipei, Taiwn. I normally live in Modesto, CA, USA (Home to the Modesto Symphony, Gallo Center for the Arts, Plastic Surgery Modesto, and McHenry Medical Group). I'll go into more detail (if anyone is interested) of what glasses I'm getting.

The lens itself sounds pretty cool. The salesperson/manager of the optics shop told me that I can get thinner lens from Taiwan than in the US. It's going to have a VP coat. This is new and exciting to me.

So this is what I've learned.

VP Coat stands for View Protect

• The VP Coating optimizes visual performance and comfort (through mechanisms described below)
• Water Repellant: ahh... can walk in the rain!
• Does not mist over with condensation (fog up)
• Oil repellent (fingerprints!)
• Low electrostatic load (less dust attraction/static)
• Can be cleaned with acetone and alcohol.
• Drawbacks: Don't let the glasses heat up greater than 40 degrees celcius. Otherwise there would be degradation of the VP coating.

Mosquito bites!

Lots of mosquitos here. I think I have one stuck in my "air-conditioned" room. It's been eating me alive... I've gotten myself some Citronella soap, but after using it, I got even more mosquito bites. I'm now trying tea tree oil on some of the existing mosquito bites, and I've heard that tea tree oil is supposedly a repellant for mosquitoes.

Go bite someone else! oww. itch.. erggg...

Video revealing the house (inside) in Taipei (Taiwan)

This is where I'm staying in Taipei Taiwan.

I miss my office: Plastic Surgery Modesto. The link is Tammy's home in Modesto, CA





Everytime I say that the air conditioner doesn't work, I keep getting corrected that it works fine, I'm just not used to it...

Other topics on here:
Wax Apple,
Refridgerator
Boil your water
Stairs
Garage

Wax Apple Fruit

I had to go onto FaceBook and posted this picture to find out that this unique fruit was called the Wax Apple Fruit. I've never had this before, nor seen this in the US. The picture on my left is a picture that I took. When you cut it open, it looks whitish like an apple's insides. The taste and texture - I've described it as a citrus flavored watermelon. The skin is so thin, I don't really feel or taste the skin of this wax apple fruit (sometimes also called Jambu, but in Chinese it is pronounced Lem-Bu).

Some comments I got on the Wax Apple from FaceBook:

I've removed people's names.

• haha..I think it's called "wax apple" http://wapedia.mobi/en/Wax_apple. It's definitely my favorite fruit from Taiwan. :)
• 蓮霧 is so delicious and juicy~~~
• It looks like a pear without any skin! Like a hairless cat!
• What is that?????? never seen it before...how does it taste????
• Aren't those the wax fruit? A monk here in Oceanside (California, USA) grows them!

I just remembered, if you want to find me on facebook, my facebook address is:

http://www.facebook.com/modesto

I couldn't get my own name for the facebook website link, so I chose "Modesto"