I am not going to report anymore on the increasingly bad news on the economy. (Auto bailout?). I wrote enough and if you want to know more, well, read like me the International Herald Tribune and/or the South China Morning Post (online). See here their latest chart (12 Dec 08) that gives you a taste.

So, what to do?
We are scaling down. Actually we eliminated several jobs in our company since about a year as we are focusing on some clients only. And I really want to organize my papers in my office and start writing something. Also, with a bit of sadness, I decided not to renew the (expensive) AMCHAM membership. Same for those Belgian chambers (whatever their names) over there in Belgium (they offer little or nothing for us here in Beijing).
So, I’ll stick with the European Chamber where I stay very active, and the Benelux Chamber.

I will also have to take care of my health. With the horrendous pollution here and the stress, my back problem has returned with a vengeance. I have to get back to “normal” next year and that includes running long distances. We Flemish people are stubborn.

Furthermore, I am not that optimistic on how the officials here are reacting to the “social problems and unrest”. Clampdown on the media continues and will get worse as those people are getting scared of their own shadow. So, much of the rot in the system will continue to sit there. The recent hoopla and media blackout about a “certain detained CCTV person” is one of the many cases. One more reason to  retreat to my little corner and let the storm pass over.

The only good news is – finally – Maggie’s, with the best little hot dog stand in Beijing (and much much more), reopened after closing more than a half year ago. If you don’t know the stories behind, then obviously you have no clue about Beijing.
It’s like when I tell people where I stay: “go to the Gongti Strip, I’m across the road from Babyface”. If I get a blank stare, I just roll my eyes.