Update 25 July 2010
Two new other sites are born, read more further down. This site will change over time.
There are several sections for you to explore! And don’t forget to scroll down! Some postings are for friends only. To have access, register and you will have access after login.
I am a Rat!
Beijing air quality:
- see the pages in the right hand column to have background information on what AQI and API means, also the impact on your health;
- search for blog entries to have further comments on pollution in Beijing.
About me:
- see in the right hand column information about this blog
- see my brief – also in Chinese – and the article of a book talking about me
- “the” movie: http://blog.strategy4china.com/?p=2847
The dance company Incar from Lebbeke in Belgium, was founded 50 years ago. As the years went by, Incar managed to make itself known as a reliable value within the Flemish cultural landscape.
See their website for further details: http://www.incar-dansspektakel.be/
See here one of their postings: Incar Dance Company tours China!
Incar Dance Company from East Flanders, Belgium, will tour China this summer. During our 19 day stay we will visit the World Expo 2010 in Shanghai where we will perform in front of the Belgium Pavilion. From there the company will travel to Shaoxing where we will participate in the 6th “World Choir Games”. Delegations from 26 different countries have confirmed their presence at the festival. Our next stop is Xi’an, famous for the terra cotta army that has been excavated. We will end our visit in Beijing.
On 23 July 2010 the Belgian Embassy in Beijing organized a party for the Belgian National Day. In a stifling heath (typical Beijing sauna weather), far over 200 people up, many ambassadors in suits -- not me, thanks. I came out from my retreat to join the party, have some Belgian beer, meet friends and enjoy the performance of Incar. They might not be the new “Mamma Mia!” but their enthusiasm is obvious. See the pics.
Check out this website, you paste some of stuff you have been writing and it tells you a bit about your style: I write like… http://iwl.me/
So, I write like Isaac Asimov? No idea really. He sounds like an engineer (I am too).
I used a couple of paragraphs from the first pages of the book I am working on, right now. As some may know, I am NOT available, “I am NOT in Beijing”. See here a snapshot of my hiding place sometimes after midnight. The ghost of my inspiration took the pic.
The challenge of my book is becoming bigger by the day. I have the impression I am working on a “Encyclopedia Britannica” about China and that sounds frightening (and not very sexy). Trying to understand the mechanism of modern Chinese society is a huge undertaking but the biggest challenge is actually the flood of information I already collected.
Anyway I decided just to continue writing and at some point I will see how to cut the excess and possibly split the project into several books.
All a vague plan.
But if you can’t find me you know why.
On 2 July I had a meeting in the Mayor’s office, with Mayor Guo Jinlong, Vice Mayor Ji Lin, and others from the Beijing Government. I was appointed (the only foreigner!) as “Committee Member of the Specialist Working Group for the Beijing 12th Five Year Plan”.
It was the first meeting, where the Mayor and others reviewed the main issues and concerns for the 12th FYP as well as a view back on the results of the 11th FYP.
Details cannot be provided as they are confidential. But one issue was already in the press the same day – the merging of 4 Beijing districts into 2: Xicheng + Xuanwu and Dongcheng + Chongwen. I am also the Senior Adviser of Dongcheng District.
I had met the Mayor officially on 20 May in his office on the occasion of the presentation of the 2010 Great Wall friendship Awards.
The Award Winner’s meeting was chaired by Mr. Liu Zhi (sitting next to the Mayor and toasting with Bashar Samra of ING/Bank of Beijing). Mr. Liu was my boss when I was working in the Beijing Development and Reform Commission; he is now deputy secretary of the Beijing Government (Fu Mishu Zhang). During the meeting I delivered a short report on how to improve traffic management in Beijing.
pics
The award is given to foreigners (“foreign experts”) for their contribution to the city’s social and economic progress. It is the top honor for foreigners in Beijing, already given to 145 foreign experts from 28 countries. I received the award from the then Mayor, Wang Qishan, in 2004; he is now vice Premier.
Yes, I know, I’ve been writing little here.
My book is still haunting me and I need to make time to write more – I have been collecting a wealth of information that needs to be digested. I plan to disappear again from time to time to find peace and inspiration. Rotary has taken up too much of my time, now changing.
My Chinese has progressed smoothly. Of course it’s a slow progress, the language is terrible to learn. But I am now at lesson 136 with my favorite teachers.
This blog has bothered me. It’s not focused enough and the readers I want to attract are not coming here. Most visitors are looking at Beijing as the capital of sex and sin (no opinion here, hahaha) and think this blog will lead them to a great orgasm. They must be soooo disappointed.
This blog will be soon cleaned up and focus more on economy, business, family and overall more serious stuff.
But don’t despair, two babies came into the world:
www.beijing1980.com
Now under testing, should be fully operational soon. Titled “Stuck in Beijing since 1980″ – “Surviving is hard but oh so much fun (sometimes)”
This site will be more critical, ironic, sarcastic, caustic and humorous about China (and the rest of the World).
www.damulu.com
“Humor keeps you alive” – “who cannot laugh does not live”.
Or also the “The Big List (of fun)”. It will be a collection of jokes, humor and not always for kids. So, will have access levels.
(damulu in Chinese means big list or directory)
This site is up but needs still more milk and diaper changes.
Arguing with an engineer is futile; it's like wrestling with a pig in mud. Eventually, you realize the pig actually enjoys it!
Growing old is mandatory; growing up is optional.
