Video games are often considered a kind of modern-day scourge, especially by parents whose children are glued to the screen. How interesting then that playing them is turning out to have various benefits in different corners of the medical world. For example, research shows that doctors-in-training who developed video-game expertise during childhood are now excelling in robotic and arthroscopic surgeries. Furthermore, researchers are finding uses for video games as a rehab tool for certain medical conditions, including stroke. And now a new study shows that some video games may be valuable for some vision problems.
ABOUT THE STUDY
This study was done at the University of Rochester and involved video-game practice for young healthy adults who had little or no previous experience playing with them. According to the study authors, Shawn Green, the graduate student who led this work, and Daphne Bavelier, PhD, in 30 hours of training, the study subjects who already had normal vision showed a substantial increase in the spatial resolution of their vision — which is to say they could see small, closely packed letters better. Dr. Bavelier, associate professor of brain and cognitive sciences at the University’s Center for Visual Sciences, cautions that the only games that lead to this kind of improvement are personal action ones, such as shooting games (“Unreal Tournament” being one). These fast-paced games are effective because they change pathways within the brain that are responsible for visual processing, says Dr. Bavelier.
I contacted Dr. Bavelier to learn more about what specific types of visual problems would benefit from playing this kind of video game. Amblyopia, she said, is an ideal condition for video-game therapy. Colloquially called lazy-eye, amblyopia is a neurological condition in which one eye is weaker than the other and fails to track correctly with the other, stronger eye. It affects about 2% of all children. Usually treated in childhood, this condition is believed to be untreatable in adulthood. By retraining the deficient visual pathways in the adult brain, video games should enable the weaker eye to regain its full status.
CAN OLD EYES LEARN NEW TRICKS?
Of course I had hoped that age-related far-sightedness (presbyopia) might also be a condition that would respond to video games, but no such luck. Dr. Bavelier explains that many visual problems, including presbyopia, are optically caused — that is by the eye’s physical characteristics, including size, shape and thickness of the cornea and lens and the like, all affected by age. Video games are unlikely to replace your glasses prescription any time soon. However, by helping neural functioning, video games may be somewhat helpful for older eyes. “That is, the visual system of older adults may actually benefit from playing games by allowing the older brain to make better use of the visual information it receives from the eye,” says Dr. Bavelier.

Source(s): ??Daphne Bavelier, PhD, associate professor of brain and cognitive sciences at the Center for Visual Sciences, University of Rochester, New York.
 

I sometimes wait patiently for your response. Glad it paid off today. Just love to see those words and imagine the lovely fingers that cause such a rise in my heart, see I can turn a double entendre too. Though, not as sweetly demure as you do.

Would I lie to my gorgeous babe? When i tried to reply it said “email address required.” So I had to return here to comment. Of course, I wouldn’t feel so free to be so free with my personal adjectives about you there, but hey I would still love to comment to my Zenzational Honey Cup. Was that over the top? Forgive your “swea pea.”

I’m sure Madaline is calling the shots correctly. I just am not built to turn tail and run. It’s not macho, far from it. I just feel that I can give as good as i get.

Isn’t it WONDERFUL when two minds are of the same vein. You are most correct about the oil situation.

Have a safe trip home. I couldn’t bare it if something happened to you either. And thanks for making Saturdays a happy day of the week for also. I can now look forward to reading you on that day too.

I will tell you who I am soon. Not so that you will miss me but so that when we meet you will have made an informed decision as to if you would like to. I have been somewhat of an incorrigible rogue or so says the reputation.

Anonz

Max Edison

Haggling is the secret to paying less for goods and services. Haggling isn’t just unseemly horse trading, it’s a form of negotiation — and it’s perfectly respectable. What you need to know to haggle successfully…

PREPARATION PAYS
There is room for negotiation in virtually every purchase, even at large department stores where you can get a discount if you can point out a defect in a product.
Important: Good hagglers always carefully inspect items that they’re interested in.
Biggest mistake made by hagglers: Lack of preparation. A seller who is aware that you are guessing or bluffing will be unlikely to give an inch.
The most important thing you need to know: What constitutes a fair price for what you want to buy. When making a major purchase, it’s a good idea to go to several places first to make price comparisons…
For items such as appliances, electronics and jewelry, visit several stores. Also, since prices are lower on the Internet, check on-line to see what comparable merchandise sells for — that’s the price you want to beat.
If you are house hunting, learn the prices paid recently for comparable houses in similar neighborhoods. To get this information, ask a real estate agent or visit your county tax office and look at sales records.
For automobiles, find out how much the dealer paid for the vehicle, including how true market value (TMV) is calculated.
Second-biggest mistake made by hagglers: Not knowing the tricks used by salespeople. Since you can’t avoid a salesperson’s negotiating ploys, your best defense is to recognize what he/she is doing. You then have the chance to use some of those tactics yourself. Examples…
A car salesman says, “I’d love to make this deal with you, but my manager says no way.” Counter that with, “Let me speak with the manager.”
When offering you a loan, a banker says, “You’ve got to take this insurance policy for death or disability for us to approve the loan.” Counter that with, “I know that I don’t have to have insurance for you to make the loan.”
HOW TO HAGGLE
Haggling can be courteous and even friendly, but it’s essentially psychological warfare. Helpful…
Play hard to get. If a seller can tell that you’re in love with an item, he knows that he will be able to get top price. Pretend to be only mildly interested and don’t go back too many times to look at the item.
If you make an offer, let it stand. If you make an offer and it’s accepted, the deal is done. If a counteroffer is made, you can then make another offer. This is how the game is played. If the seller accepts your offer and you say that you’ll be back next week, you may not have a deal the next week.
If you and the seller can’t agree on the price of an item, ask the seller if he’s got anything that he can throw in on the deal.
Examples: Ask automobile dealers to throw in floor mats, a bicycle rack or free service for six months… with computer and stereo equipment, ask the seller for free cables and free installation… with VCR or DVD players, ask for free movies.
Never tip your hand. If you are willing to pay $100 for an item, offer $80 or even $60. You never know — the other guy might take it. Even if he passes or counteroffers, he’ll feel like some progress is being made.
Nail down early whether or not sales tax is included. Why go through 20 minutes of haggling only to start over when it comes to sales tax?
Ask for the cash price, if you are able to pay cash for an item.
Background: Merchants lose about 2% when a credit card is used, so they may be willing to take a 2% bite if you pay cash.
Take advantage of a seller’s weaknesses. Examples…
Politely point out any flaws in the merchandise. If the item is outdated in any way, let him know that. This works best with digital cameras, flat-screen televisions and computers where new models are introduced seemingly every day.
Be aware that people will be more or less willing to haggle under different circumstances. The two main factors are time and attachment to the object. A home owner who is having a two-day garage sale knows that whatever doesn’t sell is going back to the attic or to the dumpster. On the other hand, there may be an emotional attachment (this was Grandma’s dresser!). If someone won’t part with his stuff for a reasonable price, look elsewhere. Seasonal merchandise, such as patio furniture and fur coats, can be bought at huge savings for buyers who can think (and haggle) months ahead.
WHO BEST TO HAGGLE WITH
You can haggle with just about every seller, but you may find the greatest success with…
Small-town merchants or stores that are independently owned. Their owners are much more likely to dicker than a large outlet like Best Buy or Home Depot. Make sure that you talk to a decision-maker, such as the owner or at least the store manager. Many times, a mom-and-pop store will try to match its larger competitor’s sale prices.
Jewelry stores. These retailers have markups that are usually 300% to 400% above wholesale, so they have lots of room to haggle.
Car dealers. Haggling with car dealers works best when bad weather keeps other customers away, near the end of the month (when their sales quotas are due) and from August to September (when the new models are coming out).
Banks. They will argue over percentage points on loans, services such as free checking and even fees from bounced checks. Always ask to have fees waived. Go up the chain of command until you find someone who has the power to say yes.
Chains and discount stores will cut prices under the right circumstances, such as buying a display model, an item with very slight damage or an air conditioner in October.
Individuals who place ads in the paper using the words “best offer” or “OBO” (or best offer). These people expect a counteroffer to the price they’re asking — and they’re doing you the favor of saying so!

Coincidentally, last week with a total stranger I had a lengthy convo about world food supply re: corn and rice, I would’ve been very pleased if he’d have ended the convo with ‘psst Zen it’s me babe,’ but alas, anonz my sweet pea, that did not occur : ( I will do further research and blog about it next week, it’s definitely worth informing the masses about. Thanks for the blog fodder : ) Mischa can also, she’s got a farther reaching audience than I do at this point.

I have missed you commenting on my site but why would you have to leave e-mail address on mine but not here on Mischa’s? You don’t have to do that as far as I know. I have private e-mailers who have a ‘donotreply’ address, so I don’t know their identity that’s why I answer on my blog (or not).

Anyway, hearing fr you here is fine and relieves me from being concerned about you being in danger. Why would Maddie be so adamant about the need to RUN though? Are you laying low until after the elections as she suggested? So much more to say, but I’m light on time today, heading back to lalaland…

From: your admirer that has no idea who you are, what you look like, or act like in person, could care less if you gave away your bills for a different kind of life, and yet I do still dig you regardless…hahaha…Zen Lill

Glad you like my sexy/hot adjectives and that it makes you feel good in some way, didn’t notice it myself in today’s entry but maybe I’ll reread it : ) I do blog on Sat’s usually but never on Sundays : ) thought I’d upload some pics from mammoth manana…

My theory on the oil thing is that crooks cranked up the price to almost 5 a gallon to gauge just where people would stop buying and seek alternative energy sources, they found the threshold and now they are backing down and soon everyone will be happy to pay $3.50 a gal and not be so eager to sort out alternatives, easily forgotten…how very short-sighted.

See, so much more to talk about, but gotta go NOW : ) – Zen Lill

In my rush to answer you I forgot to add that I have been wanting to leave a comment or two on your site but—–My Sweetness, I can’t leave a comment on your site unless I leave an email address. Not Cool, Sweetness.

Your far too distant admirer.

Anonz