Credit Alerts from Chase ID Protection ID fraud

I had called chase ID protection about 1.5 weeks ago to see what I could do because I saw a bunch of credit checks that appeared on my account from Children's Place and Radio Shack and another unidentified location/service. Children's Place and Radioshack both seem to be from Sioux Falls in SD. Chase ID protection told me not to worry about it because it's probably a different "Cavin Lee" that they were checking on. They said that if I was worried about it, I could google their telephone numbers and call them to explain the situation to them.

I was hoping for more help from Chase ID protection. But because I was busy, I didn't do much.

Then I got a flurry of more credit alerts to look at..

the last three were actually new accounts that were open.

because I am in Taipei, the time zone difference is a problem for me to call right now because Chase Id protection is closed. I did check a recent credit report and it does appear that "children's place" has an account open with a credit limit of $1500, and it had been charged to it's limit already.

I'll call Chase ID protection tonight to see what they recommend. They have limited hours which are even shorter than what they list on their website right now. I think the shortened hours are due to the "bad economy" - and their attempts to tighted their belts - which is understandable.

stay tuned for ID fraud updates.


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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

Video Typhoon Morakot batters Taiwan

From Al Jazeera English on Saturday Aug 7, 2009 regarding Typhoon Morakot and Taiwan:




This was reported on Saturday Aug 7, 2009. The typhoon took about 2 days to get across Taiwan. My map of Typhoon Morakot as it swept through Taipei. I labeled Taipei with "Calvin". Map.

Al Jazeera English is the same TV Channel that had interviewed me while I was playing violin in the YouTube Symphony at Carnegie Hall - interviewing me as the only surgeon in the YouTube Symphony April 2009. click this link for that video which has nothing to do with the Typhoon.

Our prayers and sympathy to those who have been devastated by this storm. We hope for a quick recovery.

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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

Video: Typhoon collapses Hotel in Taiwan

We were planning on taking a trip to southern Taiwan, but at the last minute decided not to. We remained in Taipei instead. Good thing because there has been quite a lot of chaos going on in Southern Taiwan due to the Typhoon Morakot.

The video above is what we saw on the news today in Taiwan TV. We watched from the safety of the house we were staying in in Taipei. The only problem we had was a broken/fallen out window from this Typhoon. All things considered, we were pretty safe.

Our thoughts and prayers go out to those who have suffered from the Typhoon.

More about the video above:

The Hotel Chin Shuai lay collapsed in floodwater during typhoon Morakot in Chihpen, southeastern Taiwan, on Sunday.

In southeastern Taiwain’s Taitung County, a six-story hotel collapsed into a neighboring river after torrential rains eroded its foundation, but officials said all 300 guests had been safely evacuated.

Authorities said the Taiwan flooding was the worst in a half-century. More than 170,000 persons remained without power on Monday the government said.

"Morakot", means emerald in Thai

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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

Taiwan cockroach - picture

I managed to take a picture of a Cockroach here in Taiwan. I left it alone, although I was tempted to squish it. I'm suprised that it didn't move through two flashes (two pictures). I thought they were supposed to be afraid of light. The autofocus light went at it twice also - but it didn't budge at all.

I have heard that some folks can get asthma / allergic reactions from a cockroach.

And I've also heard that the feces of a cockroach has the pheromones that attracts the opposite sex (go figure!)

You can click on the picture above for a larger version. In the larger version, you'll see more of the "fuzzy" legs on the critter.

Enjoy.

蟑螂

Disclaimer: This website is not intended to create a physician patient relationship. There is no specific targeted medical advice here (really!). 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. Friendly lawyers recommended to me to put this disclaimer up as often as possible on my posts.

Typhoon Morakot

The path that Typhoon Morakot will take in the next 24 hours.

"For Friday August 7th & Saturday August 8th (Father's Day 8/8 - Ba, Ba) all of Taiwan will be under a Torrential Rainfall Warning: 200mm - 349mm+ of rainfall within 24 hours.
By the afternoon of Sunday August 9th as the storm moves across to China rains for Central & Southern Taiwan may actually increase over current levels.
Localized flooding is possible. If your car or scooter is in a basement you may want to get it to street level or higher for the weekend."

Above excerted from:

http://www.tealit.com/article_categories.php?section=weather&article=typhoon

We had a window fall out of the property that we're staying in. But that got promptly replaced (glass, frame and labor) for $40 - all done on the spot within a few hours of asking for it to be done.

The label "Calvin" was used above to locate 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 Modesto, Breast Augmentation FAQ, Tummy Tuck FAQ, Botox in Modesto

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.

Trying to make a living in Taiwan by playing the violin

What if I were to stay in Taiwan even longer. I might have to find a way to make a living. I could either teach English or play some violin.

I guess my medical license from the USA wouldn't be much good here in Taipei Taiwan.

I was playing in a Restaurant (translated roughly as Lotus Garden) - it was a vegetarian restaurant. It was pretty empty, but at this get together arranged by my mother in law - her singing group and singing teacher had an opportunity to eat lunch together, and I had an opportunity to play the violin in front of an audience.

These pictures also gave me an opportunity to show off my new haircut and new glasses.

Pictures taken by Tammy Wu, MD - Plastic Surgery Modesto

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

A view of mountains in Taiwan - road trip

We took a road trip out to the country side today. This picture is a view from one of the rest stops on the way. There are plenty of mountains adding to some beautiful scenery of Formosa. You can click on the picture for a slightly larger view. We were going to visit one of Tammy's family's former employees who has since retired, but has treated the family very well. She lives about 3 hours away from Taipei. The nane of the city she lives in is Chung Hua.

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, Botox in Modesto

The high school where my father attended in Taipei, Taiwan

Picture taken on Friday, July 31, 2009.

Click on the picture for a slightly larger view.

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

Video of inside the Taipei Subway (MRT)

Video shot inside the Taipei, Taiwan Subway System (Metro) - MRT. It doesn't always get this crowded. It's a pleasant ride and it has airconditioning.

When is the coolest part of the day?

Ok.. so I know that I need to increase my exercise activity. It is deathly hot and humid in the summer here in Taipei, Taiwan.

What am I going to do about it?

Certainly I'm an intelligent human being (at least sometimes) - and I can find solutions! (positive thinking)

So... I will need to find the coolest part of the day (or coldest part of the day - use the word "cold" might I dare) to exercise/walk.

What is the coolest part of the day?

Logic says that it would be a part of the day where the sun has been down and out for the longest period of time. So this would be right before sun-rise. The atmosphere/air/surroundings/earth need time to cool off in the dark.

I'm going to further try to use http://www.weather.com/ to see if I can find Taipei, Taiwan on this website. I know there is an Hour by Hour feature that I can utilize.

As a result. It looks like at 3am, the temperature here would be 84 degrees F, going up to 85 degrees F at 4am and staying that way till 6am. The highest temperature would be around 2pm at 92 degrees F. The humidity here is around 60%. Basically, according to Weather.com 89 degrees F feels like 100 degrees F.

Doing research on another website: http://www.sunrisesunset.com/ we come to the conclusion that for Taipei: Sunrise: 5:17am Sunset: 6:43pm. For comparison sake, San Francisco has a Sunrise: 6:06am and Sunset: 8:25pm. This was produced based on today (July 25, 2009).

In my own conclusion...

Coolest part of the day in Taipei, Taiwan to go "jogging" outside, would be around 3am till 6:00am.

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"