Today was a day of first. Today was my first day in a Beijing city bus (built as nice as American mass transit, and less scary co-riders), my first day with sour yogurt (like American yogurt, except with a tangy kick), and my first day as a medical tourist. But would orthopediatry with Chinese characteristics be able to save me money on my dental bill?

Peking University Dental Hospital

Read below to find out!

Only the best cars were in the parking lot — a good sign.

And while the hoi polloi busily lined up for a standard session.

The third floor gives a notice for “Special Department of Dentistry”

And a a first-class waiting room. (I was the only American there, and most of the fellow waiting patients were Chinese.)

With a nice view!

The dental hospital is run by Peking University, one of two big universities in town (and also the parent of Beijing University Press). Service was prompt and efficient. After checking in, I waited about 20 minutes to see a dentist. She checked my teeth, and noted one area where I would need a filling soon. (While not painful, the area was definitely more sensitive than my other teeth.) I told her to go ahead with the work, and the entire business was finished about 30 minutes after I sat down. My new filling actually looks nicer than my old one (white-colored instead of metallic), and it’s hard to beat the price.

Total Bill: 610 RMB ($80)

Some closing thoughts: The dentist spoke fine English, but without the idioms I was used to. For instance, instead of “bite down,” she would say “close your mouth.” However, I’m not sure if the dental jargon I’m used to is confined to the upper midwest, so perhaps I’d run into the same minor mysteries in other parts of America, too. I also noticed that the dentist was less ostentatious. I’ve always had weak enamol, and it was nice not be to be scolded for “grinding” (read: normal wear and tear on feeble teeth). Additionally, unlike back home the work was actually done by the dentist, with the (quite attractive) nurse playing a secondary role.

I’m happy with the service, happy with the cost, and happy with my filling.

Thanks, Peking U!

Putting up a detailed spoiler for an episode that hasn’t even finished airing in California, let alone for people who watch it via iTunes, is sickening. It’s bad form and bad sportsmanship. It’s hateful blog “journalism” that I want nothing of.

A reader — with who I am not happy with, pending an explanation — sent the spoiler in to me. If I had read even the second line a major plot development would have been revealed.

I’m not linking to the article, and I’m not linking to that blog. Left or Right, smart or dumb, Podhoretz’s post was unprofessional and juvenile. I want nothing to do with the National Review or John Podhoretz.

The sidebar links to all National Review properties are removed within the day. As time permits, I’ll purge them from the archives (though I will leave the manually URL or else use a nofollow tag, so that all sources on this blog can be checked).