I first thought Global Times had it a bit mixed up.
Then I checked, and guess what.
The largest office building in the world is the Long’ao Building, Jinan, the capital of Shandong Province, with 370,000 sqm. It is used by the city government.
The Pentagon counts 600,000 sqm totally but only 340,000 sqm is used as office. The second runner up is in Bucharest, Romania, the Palace of Parliament, 330,000 sqm, built by the megalomaniac dictator Ceausescu; I visited that place last year and it is indeed gigantic and… looks pretty similar to the Jinan government office building.
It is one of those excesses of local government in China and received a lot of criticism on the Chinese Internet. The building’s cost: US$640 million. Never mind poor kids who have no decent schools. The office space for the “leaders” is well above the Chinese government norms. The good thing is, people talk about it and even Global Times. But you wonder why nobody mentioned it earlier: the monstrosity was completed in 2007. It took the media five years to “discover” it.
See the original article: http://www.globaltimes.cn/content/749633.shtml
 

According to Bloomberg on 4 Feb 2011, the Hong Kong API was recently “very high” at two of the roadside monitoring stations: 141 in the Causeway Bay District (where I lived before) and 107 in Central (one of my favorite spots). Now, could those sissies stop complaining? Right on Sunday 13 Feb, despite the snow, Beijing’s AQI had passed 180; then a good wind blew it all away and pollution dropped well below AQI 50.
Well at least in Hong Kong they talk about it. Here, all is well obviously. Thanks to different definitions of what “Very High” means.
We just need to wait till our Beijing drivers transform the city into a parking lot (this week?) and we can look for higher AQI. After short periods of under 50, we should be back in the familiar territory of 150 to 200.

Looking for alternative supplies for my HP color laser printer, we found this Chinese Korean company that claims to manufacture excellent products. As it turns out, it’s plain rubbish. The 2 cartridges (one black, the other yellow), lasted like less than 3 weeks and some 200 copies printed. The printer is now dead as one cartridge has given up. We contacted their service – total indifference. I went to their website and posted a message in their to contact section. Tough luck, the website does not work and the server “had a problem”. I sent e-mail to the address indicated – no answer.
Some of the original HP cartridges are still working after thousands of prints. Should I say more?

The box for the Ref 3960 (Black)
So, don’t be fooled by their sales pitch and cheap price: “Better Quality, Competitive Price, Excellent Durability, Best Service” – all rubbish.
See here details of the company:
北京智美尔科技发展有限公司
Zhimei Seoul Beijing Technology Development Co., Ltd.
http://www.zmink.com/
智美环球（北京）国际贸易有限公司
地 址： 北京亦庄经济技术开发区BAD国际企业大道
电 话： 8610-6722-5233
加盟热线：4006-505-345
qq在线： 705566628
E-mail： mmmxk@163.com

This is a great introduction to the greatest country in the world, well let me explain, the greatest because we have the highest quantity of ministers who all love to visit China.
Watch this clip but prepare a stiff drink and/or an aspirin. Better, try not to understand, and later go to Morel’s Restaurant or The Tree, have some Belgian Fries, Belgian Beer, Belgian mussels.
At least we as Belgians do not take ourselves that seriously and we are not putting national flags all over the place and at anytime, as Americans and Chinese love to do.
http://www.vimeo.com/15239617
A short animated film about the Belgian political structure.
The text was written by Marcel Sel, a Belgian writer, author of Walen Buiten, a best-seller on the «Belgian Crisis».
The music was specifically composed by Laurent Aglat for the film, and Emma Dornan’s beautiful voice gave the commentary its magical tone.
The film was directed by Jerome de Gerlache.

Some might be surprised I never mention Shanghai Expo 2010. The reason is simple: zero interest. Why would I go to Shanghai, with all the difficulties to book a flight, book a hotel and arrive at the Expo – to do WHAT? No thanks, I don’t want to stay in line for 8 hours to visit an Arab pavilion or whatever other building. Same for the Chinese pavilion. I am in China, why do I need to stand in line there to see little or nothing? Better visit one more museum in Beijing. I think the Expo is good for the Chinese who know little of the outside world. So I did wish the expo all the best in the May edition of “Contemporary China Pictorial”, along with Serge Abou and others. See here:
https://blog.strategy4china.com/wp-content/uploads/100501chinapictorial.pdf
The last and only World Expo I ever went to was Brussels 1958. I still have fond memories though I remember little of the details. It was fun to walk around and discover.
But Shanghai is no fun, endless standing in line, hot, humid, facing a crowd that is not exactly a civilized one.
I also question all those grandiose events countries (Belgium being one) organize in their pavilion. Sounds all great to hold a seminar on the environment (or whatever). Who attends? I would expect little or no return of investment, except for some nice pictures to impress at home. Imagine all the hassle to get any invited parties over there (and on time).
My wife went there once, to organize a light-speed visit for Oleg Deripaska (more about him another time). She left Beijing in the morning and was back in the evening. They managed to visit the China Pavilion (Sun knows how to open doors…). Hilariously enough poor Oleg was ordered to stand in line for the Russian one and went away pretty unhappy. Instead they went to … the North Korean one, which was fun or even hilarious.
I just count the days the whole hoopla will be over and life gets back to normal. And no, I don’t want that condom doll in my office, in whatever outfit.

Sorry, should I say Gumby? But if I could get a cute Smurf… I would be so happy. In any color or outfit!