Looking for a break

Posted on by Gilbert Van Kerckhove

I need more time for my business and most of all – for my book. And cool down from the frustrations here (see previous entry). Had no holiday since years.
So, I plan to travel more to get away. The book requires more research, that includes digesting the mountain of data I have gathered and reading some books to see how others view society here. Latest additions to my pile: “China Underground” by Zachary Mexico (2009) and “My Country and My People” by Lin Yutang (1935)(great reading!).
That means, less blogging. Still perplexed that so many visitors come to the blog looking for massage and sex in Beijing, not to keep in touch or read about economy, pollution and stuff.
Of course, to vent my frustrations I might ramble on again from time to time.
Otherwise, don’t be surprised if you can’t find me.

Japanese proverb, click to enlarge

Japanese proverb, click to enlarge


As for now I am busy studying Chinese (lesson 47) and Japanese proverbs.

Total lack of transparency

Posted on by Gilbert Van Kerckhove

China is becoming one of those countries where the word “transparency” is either blacklisted or used sarcastically.
It is getting on the nerves of many China watchers who actually care for the country. People are fed up with the many websites blocked since weeks. Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, personal blogs and websites.
Political repression is growing. Lawyers who try to defend minority interests have a hard time (or worse).
The handling of the Xinjiang case – in itself very sad – shows the stubborn attitude of a sclerotic bunch who does not get it. In Europe we were faced (and still are) with similar clashes. Repression and ignoring the reality has never worked.
Where most of the world reacted very mildly at first, attitudes could turn against China.
The handling of the Rio Tinto case is another blow to the image of China. Do those goons NEVER learn not to shoot in their foot? “State secrets” is the typical cover for a dictatorial regime to do whatever they feel like. If they would simply follow the law, do a corruption investigation, nobody could say anything. That happens in the EU and USA too. People are in prison for corrupt practices. But there is transparency and the use of law. The excuses of the goons is again sad and ridiculous. Good for the naïve foreigners who still blindly fall for Chinese seduction tactics. The attitude is – do something I don’t like and I’ll get you anyway. Rule of Law – forget it.
Foreigners are excluded from mega-projects. All on ridiculous grounds just to protect their “Chinese industry”. Foreigners have set up factories in China, produce goods with over 70% local content, pay taxes, do charity, employ local workers. And get kicked out of local markets.
All fueled by neo-nationalism from the young generation (typically “educated” balinghou and jiulinghou – the uneducated have better attitude) that is too often empty-headed, useless, selfish. The “me-me” generation. Spoiled brats, except for a few.
With the 60 years whatever coming on 1 October, clampdown on visas and nightlife continues (can’t give details, sorry). Welcome to China? Forget it. Expo 2010? You must be joking, right?
Not to wonder some of us get real pissed off. Business confidence?
It’s like the pollution.

2pm on 17 July, 61st floor Park Hyatt

2pm on 17 July, 61st floor Park Hyatt


See here an official blue sky day in Beijing, 17 July 2pm. US Embassy: AQI is 144 (unhealthy), not too bad because of the rain. BEPB: API is 46 for that day – EXCELLENT.  They sure will have explanations for that!
Now be your own judge. Transparency here is like in the picture.

China beats Belgium

Posted on by Gilbert Van Kerckhove

Belgium researchers were so close to this discovery but were beaten by Chinese R&D.
Chinese scientists have discovered the heaviest element yet known to science. The new element, Bureaucratium (Bm), has one neutron, 25 assistant neutrons, 88 deputy neutrons, and 198 assistant deputy neutrons, giving it an atomic mass of 312.
These 312 particles are held together by forces called morons, which are surrounded by vast quantities of lepton-like particles called peons. Since Bureaucratium has no electrons, it is inert; however, it can be detected, because it impedes every reaction with which it comes into contact. A tiny amount of Bureaucratium can cause a reaction that would normally take less than a second, to take from 4 days to 4 years to complete.
Bureaucratium has a normal half-life of 2- 4 years. It does not decay, but instead undergoes a reorganization in which a portion of the assistant neutrons and deputy neutrons exchange places.
In fact, Bureaucratium’s mass will actually increase over time, since each reorganization will cause more morons to become neutrons, forming isodopes. This characteristic of moron promotion leads some scientists to believe that Bureaucratium is formed whenever morons reach a critical concentration. This hypothetical quantity is referred to as critical morass.
When catalyzed with money, Bureaucratium becomes Administratium, an element that radiates just as much energy as Bureaucratium since it has half as many peons but twice as many morons.
The State Council will soon organize an international seminar in the Great Hall of the People, sponsored and supported by CCTV and the CCPPPCCCPPP, to detail findings. Belgium researchers are rumored to be close to another finding, Ministerexcessium (Mx). News expected on our upcoming National Day.

Hazy Monday

Posted on by Gilbert Van Kerckhove

Yes, thunder in the air and we’ve had rain several times in the past days. But the air remains sticky and heavily polluted. Buildings disappear in the fog. The BEPB keeps up its unbridled optimism (read: tries to fool us as usual) with the API (PM10) in Agricultural Palace yesterday at 67 (“blue sky day’). Of course we are not supposed to know the real bad news, how horrible PM2.5 levels are recently – AQI over 200 most of the times with peaks that threaten everybody’s health.

Click to see the details

Click to see the details


Our American gave us a rain check last night but were back online this morning, just to make us feel miserable on this Monday morning.
have a nice week!

have a nice week!


Have a nice week, smoke whatever you want. Won’t matter anyway. As for me, well, I try not to, keep windows shut with my IQAir humming next to me.

The economy ahead: recovery or not?

Posted on by Gilbert Van Kerckhove

“The problem now is not how to withdraw the stimulus packages, it is how to restore growth. To save its economy, the United States has to save more. But if the United States saves more, someone else has got to save less if we are to maintain around a 5 percent growth rate for the global economy. This is an equation that needs to be resolved in the coming 2-3 years. It is going to be an issue of realigning exchange rates globally.”
Youssef Boutros-Ghali, chairman of the International Monetary and Financial Committee (IMFC) of the IMF – interview with China Daily, July 2009
What more can one say! I remain not too optimistic. Too much unemployment in USA and EU. Consumers won’t spend if they have little or no income, need to save and avoid home foreclosure.
In Beijing the oversupply in the office market only can get worse. Just walk around in CBD. Residential sector is doing reasonably well as many Chinese still need to increase and improve their living space. But that’s the low-end market. Some blame rampant government corruption and fat profits from developers for high real estate prices. At least that explains why Lamborghinis are selling well in Beijing. Even in our modest Julong you can see some. This week I saw a bunch of them being unloaded. The money has to come from somewhere.