Rod G.'s Profile

This is one of the best resources on the internet for what they are calling alternative medicine. This encompasses a large database on herbs, supplements and vitamins. They list the relevant studies for almost all dietary supplements along with cautions and possible benefits. I recommend to that people do their research on sites like this before buying a new supplement

At first I was a little bit wary of paying $9.95/month for what used to be free on hulu for their new service hulu plus, but it really is a good deal since they stream it in much better quality it seems. Nice to be able to have all of the current season's TV shows as well. The combo of hulu plus and Netflix makes it seem like I rarely watch cable TV now. I am a big fan of HDTV and high quality images but the on demand feature of internet TV is just too alluring.

Awhile back I got a free subscription to a Sound and Vision on Zinio for my laptop and I rarely ever used it. I didn't really see a need for it and I wasn't sure who would buy a subscription to a magazine for a laptop as it was so much easier to read a real version of it. 2 years later someone gifts me an ipad for my bday and Now I see the beauty of Zinio. I don't want any more paper magazine subscriptions...I only want digital downloads via Zinio... they even have ipad interactive content.

This is the world's first genetic test for cellulite and is made by the same company that makes the genetic test for hair loss in men. Cellulite is largely genetic with some people having a far worse case than others. This test allows people to see if they have the genetic predisposition to getting cellulite during the course of their lifetime. Nowadays there are cellulite treatments using everything from radiofrequency to infrared light treatments and it is possible that these treatments if used early on could delay and limit the progression of cellulite. Interesting concept and as the treatments for cellulite become better, I bet this type of genetic testing will catch on.

Manfrotto (the company that make the high end grips, tripods and photography accessories) have put out an outstanding free website to help people take better photos. Nowadays there are hundreds of websites offering Online Photography Classes and most of them attempt to charge the consumer and still have very weak content. Manfrotto created this free site for everyone to use to help educate new and experienced photographers. They have some of the best photographers around acting as tutors and writing articles to help advance the knowledge base of photography. I have seen Canon and other camera manufacturers put out similar free resources but as Manfrotto doesn't make cameras, this website is in a unique position of discussing all aspects of photography even those that don't rely on selling the consumer the latest and greatest digital camera. They have articles ranging from monitor calibration to pin hole photography.

I was out having drinks with a few friends and one of them pulls out her iPhone and says "Let's see who else is in the bar worth talking to". Within seconds the entire group is pouring over foursquare on the iPhone and evaluating potential networking opportunities. The bar was full with about 50 people and 8 of them showed up on foursquare. The rest of the group at that point in time was amazed at this app and then they all downloaded it, filled out their profile and within minutes ended up using it to talk to random strangers thanks to foursquare. It was socially viral in a way that seduced everyone around us to all join foursquare just to be a part of the social network and see who else was in the bar. A number of these apps have existed for awhile now for the iPhone but none of them ever reached critical mass like foursquare. When an entire bar starts breaking out their iPhones to download an app, you know foursquare has hit internet gold. The badges are also pure genius...I plan to become the mayor of a local starbucks... or maybe I can earn that barista badge...

One of my main resources to get the latest news on the pharmaceutical industry and drug related topics. They have the latest developments by both big pharma and biotech companies.

I have ordered from this site before and they gave me excellent service and shipped the items in a very timely manner. They have a huge selection of products designed for child safety and I would recommend any new parent to take a look at this site to help protect their children. Accidents are always the top of the list in child injuries and many of them that I have seen in my career in pediatrics could have been prevented. You may not even need to buy many of the items sold here but just looking at them will give you ideas on how you can child protect your own home.

Anyone who has ever played world of warcraft should just watch a couple of these episodes...hilarious. It started in 2007 on the internet only and now is being distributed by microsoft and netflix. Clever use of in game verbage and the actress Felicia Day does an amazing job of portraying a "hot" yet nerdy WOW player. She wrote and produced this internet hit which has received more than 50 million views. Quite a feat and the show is very well written.

Great site for educating people about the importance of hormones in aging women and and overall great site on women's healthcare. They have compiled a great resource and I recommend this site to women looking for more information on health concerns ranging from breast health to menopause

Most people still believe that you can get most of your nutrients from the food you consume, but the latest medical research on taking supplements such as Vitamin D have shown the medical benefits of taking certain supplements. It turns out that vitamin D really isn't a true "vitamin" and that term was coined back when scientists didn't really understand the role of these chemicals. Vitamin D is really a type of hormone and often needed in the body in larger amounts than doctors previously thought. I recommend everyone to read this website and see if it may apply to you. Talk to your primary care doctor about taking vitamin D as a supplement and possibly getting your levels measured.

There are many different companies out there selling supplements to the public but as this is not a very regulated industry, it is up to the consumer to figure out which ones are of higher quality. I have used this company in the past and they have a wide array of products which are sold to physician's offices.

For all skin related problems, this is the site I recommend people to visit first in their internet searches. They have a section of the site dedicated to the public here
http://www.aad.org/public/index.html

One of the best self exams on the internet for melanoma detection as a guide can also be found here and if you are reading this, take a minute to read over this part of the site now and then the next time you look in a mirror do yourself a favor and do a mole check.

http://www.aad.org/public/exams/self.html

This is one of the best sites on the internet for Ear nose or throat concerns. They also have a directory of ENT specialists. Go to this link for health information

http://www.entnet.org/healthinformation/

For anyone who has acne I would recommend taking a look at this product. It is a very simple device that heats up the pimple and then kills the acne causing bacteria. It might not work all of the time, but if you can get to the pimple in the early stages you have a better chance of killing it off.

Often times patients want to know where they can find a medical search engine rather than relying on google to find them medical information written by professionals. Searchmedica.com is a nice search engine and while it is designed for professionals, it can still be very valuable for patients researching a particular disease or condition. It might take more expertise to really understand the articles, but at the same time it provides a higher level of information for those who are interested in it.

The AHRQ is the government agency for healthcare research and quality. They have a very well written section that explains health insurance to the public. In my experience as a physician, I have realized that most people have little understanding of what they are buying in terms of health insurance or what they are being given by their companies. Only when they get sick and really need health insurance do they ever bother to read their policy -- but then realize it was too late to make any changes. Everyone should have a basic understanding of health insurance as Everyone eventually will get sick and end up in the hospital as it is only a matter of time. This site does a great job of educating the public on the basic principles of health care insurance so people can make an informed decision when they choose their plan. Here is a link to the page that discusses it

http://www.ahrq.gov/consumer/insuranceqa/insuranceqa3.htm

One of the best websites out there focusing on women's healthcare. The site has forums as well as articles written by physicians. They also have a comprehensive section of the site for physician and industry professionals, which is nice because it keeps doctors and other professionals coming back to this site and participating in forums and other parts of the site.

I have always been impressed by Phillip's commitment to home and consumer healthcare medical devices. From home cardiac monitors to their impressive array of asthma care devices I would recommend anyone with any chronic disease to see what this company has to offer to help them manage their condition.

A few years ago someone bought me a passport card and at first I never used it. Then I realized how many places I went to took the passport card and how much it was saving me. Now I buy the card for myself because the small yearly fee is nothing compared to the savings you can get just from eating out a couple times a year. Definitely worth it and I highly recommend it.

One of my favorite magazines along with wired as they have useful technology articles and information about the new practices in the workplace. Nice place to learn about innovative business opportunities.

Bite sized audio news delivered for free to your cell phone is perfect for when you are standing in line or want a break from listening to your music. Even better are the comedy shows that are available on lexy as well. Check it out and sign up for just a couple audio clips to see how you like it at first. Careful not to let them text you too often as that can get annoying.

Useful tool when you are traveling and want to be able to convert currencies rapidly. Best thing is they have mobile apps for iphone so you can easily convert while traveling.

Torchlight comes from the makers of the diablo series of games and has the same addictive feel to it. If you like diablo, you will like this....pure twitch fest. The download free trial only lasts for 2 hours, so you can demo it for free before you buy it. For 20 bucks it a killer deal. No online play and only single player but well worth it. This will keep those waiting for D3 happy until that release day.

You may wonder why anyone would waste their time researching how to cook in a clay pot, but unless you have tasted a chicken made in a clay pot you are missing out. Clay pot cooking allows for the meats to take on a very distinct flavor and texture that other methods of slow cooking cannot achieve. Romertopf is the leading brand of the many clay pots that are on the market and they will last you for years. The next time you decide to go out to dinner, instead go buy a cheap clay pot for $20 and a whole chicken for $8 and create a healthy meal for an entire family. Here is a recipe for your first clay pot chicken
http://homecooking.about.com/od/chickenrecipes/r/blpoul49.htm

Gary Fisher was one of the pioneers in the mountain biking world and also one of the first to start with the 29iners. You can check out all of the latest models on his website though usually it is a better deal to get last years model and unless they have made dramatic changes you can save some big $$$. People in the know definitely give you props for riding a Gary Fisher over one of the more mainstream brands, though Fisher bikes is now owned by Trek.

Web 2.0 meets karoke is the basis of this website. Think PS singstar but online only and you have using2.com. Seems like a pretty good site but it is not quite as good as singstar online through the PS3 right now. This may change over time as this site is free right now and if it gains momentum could get quite a bit of traffic. I'm sure other sites like this exist and with everyone using webcams and skype, hopefully this catches on. I can see Rock Band turning into a webcam and free internet based game.

Organizing a large event and collecting money for it in advance is a challenging task and using eventbrite can make things go much more smoothly. They can help organizers collect money in advance as well as promote the event for you. Definitely a useful website and easier than selling tickets on your own.

When you buy wine online you need to be sure that the company is actually storing the wine properly as you cannot see the bottles in advance and you want to make sure the shipping is also done well and packaged properly so the wine arrives in good shape. This company does a great job of shipping and the value is also very good. They have a wide selection of wines and if you sign up for their newsletter they send some good deals.

Well designed way to use a bittorrent client. Easy to use and very fast. HD player is also very convenient and looks great.

This is a magazine mostly meant for anti-aging physicians but it does have some very well written articles that the advanced consumer would find interesting. One of the magazines that I read every month to keep up to date on the latest anti-aging technologies.

VGchartz gives you the statistics of the video game industry and it shows which games are the top sellers. No fancy editorials here telling you which game is the best, it simply says which is making the most money. No surprise Nintendo is cleaning up and dominating the industry once again. I knew when my own mom wanted a wii fit for her workout that Nintendo had really done their job of engaging the non-traditional gamer.

I have purchased many glass pumpkins from Walker and Bowes and they have excellent craftsmanship. The owners of this company also created The Bay Area Glass Institute (BAGI) which is a not-for-profit glass institute and workshop. Their pumpkins make great gifts during the holiday season.

There are many so called "super fruit" drinks out on the market these days ranging from the MLM monavie bottles to what you can buy at whole foods. The bottom line is the juice and anti-oxidants from these types of supplements are beneficial for you and it is more a matter of which one to buy. I have tried youth juice and it tastes pretty good and for the price is a solid deal and therefore I do recommend it to friends and family. I have also simply bought bottles of acai/noni from whole foods and those also cost around $30 for a months supply. When I recommend these types of things it often comes down to cost. If you can afford to have a monthly shipment of a juice come to your door then this isn't a bad deal. If you are not eating a handful of berries a day, then a juice like this is a good way to supplement your diet.

I chose eclinicalworks as my EMR about 6 years ago when they were just first starting out and have seen their tremendous growth over the years. They have a robust set of features for primary care and specialty offices. They also provide an enormous level of support which is always needed. I have used both their in house server model as well as their ASP model and both are relatively easy for even a single doctor with some technical knowledge to install. If you are a physicians group or solo doctor interested in using this software you should check out the forum ecwusers.com or you can PM me here on this site.

All men eventually start losing their hair...it is just a matter of time really. By the time a man notices hair loss, he usually has already lost about half of his hair. This website sells revivogen which has natural compounds in the form of a shampoo, condition and scalp product that inhibit 5-Alpha-Reductase (the enzyme that produces DHT). DHT is what can cause male hair loss. I have recommended this product to friends with slightly thinning hair and especially to those men who tested postive for the gene for hair loss. I reviewed that website here;

http://www.sitejabber.com/reviews/www.hairdx.com

This is one of those medical devices that you need to see and experience to really believe it. The basic premise is you lose inches off of your waist line without under going surgery. The technology is based on the erchonia laser which emulsifies fat and allows it to go into the interstitial space thus reducing inches off of your body and waistline. Anyone interested in body contouring procedures should watch this episode of the rachel ray show which features the zerona
http://www.myzerona.com/blog/dr-king-demonstrates-power-zerona-rachel-ray

Caltrain is the only real way to take public transportation from the southbay to SF since BART doesn't go down that far. People ask me all the time as a doctor how they can avoid getting sick taking public transportation and what I always say is never touch anything with your hands...doorknobs, railing, etc. Use a glove or the end of a shirt ...those saniwipes don't do much so it is better not to bother with those things and avoid contact with the railings that everyone else touches. The bike cars are the ones that have the least amount of people who could have colds/flus as if they are taking their bike the odds are they are not sick, so that is the car I sit in. The only big drawback of Caltrain is that they decided against giving us public free wifi on board and have tabled that idea until the future. Until then you have to bring you own wifi on board with you but expect to lose connection now and then as you go through dead areas.

I have ordered from this company before and they have great quality and a very good price.