So weird to live blog Opening when the content is invention of paper

Live blogging -- really will put it all on Twitter.

Meanwhile, China invented paper.

Scroll unfolds....

dots get typed.....

Pinch me when life gets any better.

List of swim pools in Beijing where we might workout

A new friend from Mexico sent along a list of swim pool for our consideration. We need a place to swim and do our workouts. Grant, Erik and I would love to have a 90-minute workout once a day.

I'm offering to teach or coach for 30 minutes as a trade our admission to the pool. I could come earlier or stay later -- or even do it within the 90-minute time block.

Friendship Hotel
Friendship Hotel, Baishiqiao Road, Haidian District
6849-8888, 10 am-11 pm, 30/2 hours

Fragrant Hills Hotel
Fragrant Hills Park, Haidian District
6259-1166 x 3243, 10 am-1 am, 30

Sino-Japanese Youth Exchange Center Swimming Pool
40 Liangmaqiao Road, Chaoyang District
6466-3311 ext. 3185, 1-9:45 pm, 50

Dongdan Swimming Pool
A-2 Dahua Road, Dongdan, Dongcheng District
6523-1241, 10 am-10 pm, 30

Overseas Chinese Village Swimming Gymnasium
Inside Overseas Chinese Village, Jianwai Avenue, Chaoyang District
6515-0615, 10 am-8 pm, 50

Tiantan Swimming Pool Gymnasium
4 Tiantan East Road, Chongwen District
6701-7562, 12 pm-1:30 pm, 7:45-9:15 pm, 10

Yingdong Swimming Pool
Inside Olympic Stadium, Chaoyang District
6491-0468, 11 am-11 pm, 30

Perhaps we'll go to them all. Thanks for the pointers Carlos. If anyone else wants to go or meet us, call. Email might be okay too. Our local phone numbers are listed in the blog below.

8-8-08 is here and we're headed out on our bikes

I picked up a few others to follow on Twitter.

Putting on sun lotion for the big day. Will spend some at "Car a for" a French owned mega super market. This is near the electronics mall part of the city -- North West corner. The torch may be there at noon-ish. Will try to confirm with an Information booth (so nice).

Unraveling the mystery of the Hamm twins. - By Josh Levin - Slate Magazine

Unraveling the mystery of the Hamm twins. - By Josh Levin - Slate Magazine: "The 2004 Olympics
Are Paul and Morgan Hamm identical twins? Their parents say no. Science says yes."

Both are out of the Olympics now. Are their injuries identical or fraternal? (stolen line from twitter)

Amanda Beard's Olympic PeTA campaign cancelled | The News is NowPublic.com

Amanda Beard's Olympic PeTA campaign cancelled | The News is NowPublic.com: "Amanda Beard's Olympic PeTA campaign cancelled"

Surface to air missles sit between Birds Nest and Water Cube. Welcome GWB

US President, George W. Bush, is now in Beijing. His father had
already arrived. Perhaps we'll see W on a bike ride in the morning.

CCTV (China Television) reported that there are two surface to air
missles on the Olympic Grounds next to the major outdoor stadium, the
Bird's Nest. It is also very close to the Water Cube.

Seems that because the world has GWB, it might also have the other.
Are they linked?

In the run up to the games, they said that there would be no 'kites."
I'm not sure when and where there was a kite ban. But today, we saw
two. One was very high.

How in the world do you use Twitter from cell phone in Beijing

I really could use some hand holding on getting my twitter to accept
my updates from my cell phone.

I think it can be done. I must use text messages to a phone number.
They they get re-displayed. Thanks for the help in the comments or
with a call later.

Group Protests Taser Death Of Swissvale Man - News Story - WPXI Pittsburgh

Celeste gets in the news.

Group Protests Taser Death Of Swissvale Man - News Story - WPXI Pittsburgh Investigators are waiting for autopsy results to determine if it was the jolt from the Taser that killed Thomas or a medical condition.

Protesters said they are bothered by how Thomas might have died. Shouting slogans and displaying banners, they called for prosecution of the police for their use of Tasers.
'I'm not saying the other ones aren't important, but there's something about this one that's bad,” said protester Celeste Taylor.

As the group gathered outside the borough building, reinforcements were called in from other municipalities and some Swissvale residents, fearful of retaliation, found courage to speak up.

But the protest wasn't just on the streets of Swissvale. Neighbors voiced their concerns to borough supervisors at a regularly scheduled meeting.

She and they take it to the streets -- and into the halls of government. That's the one-two message that must happen. Don't just whip the people into a frenzy and cause street theater. Go those extra steps to hear from and demand behaviors of those who emply the police and their superiors.

Beijing Olympic Games 2008 » Beijing haze getting inside swimming center

OMG.

Beijing Olympic Games 2008 » Beijing haze getting inside swimming center Some United States and Australian swimmers have reported seeing haze even inside the Swimming Center or Water Cube.
“[Monday,] they said it was the worst it’s been,” Erik Vendt, a member of the American 800-meter freestyle relay team, said yesterday. “It was horrible. It was almost laughable, it was so bad. I came into [the Aquatics Center] and I didn’t know if it was my eyes, but I definitely saw something. It was definitely hazy in here.”
Some swimmers including Grant Hackett however, have said it is not a problem.
“If people start coughing and sputtering all over the place, it will be an issue, but hopefully not,” Hackett said.

Hackett has it right. Don't be a cry baby. Get up and go. And, do it with your mouth shut.

There are a number of dimensions to report and blog about this.

First of all, we were there this morning. We didn't get inside the Olympic Green where the Water Cube and Birds Nest are. Bowever, we were able to see the outside of the buildings from a block or two away. We could see em -- but -- the view was milky. Right. It is hot, hazy and humid. Sultry was the word used by one broadcaster.

In our apartment, with the air on -- it is wonderful.

But we biked for four hours today -- and didn't hurl blood. We lived.

It was great seeing some of the other joggers too. There is an Olympic Forest just north of the Olympic Green. We biked along both the east and west roads that go into the venues. Plus the sixth ring road. I think it was sixth. There are two roads that cars can NOT go on -- other than police and officials, plus the buses.

This place is tighter than a drum with security and monitors and police and everything. There is a show of force like I've never seen. I wasn't there in the days after 4 were killed in O-Hi-O. But that was about tension and National Guardsmen at every parking meter in Athens, Ohio -- and elsewhere. This is epic too.

The information booths are packed with volunteers. The colors on the shirts of workers are everywhere. The banners are all along the fences. No barbed wire. No armored guards, generally. But the place is covered with layers and layers of people on duty. They are doing well. They are ever present.

We passed a few Olympic athletes out for their morning runs. One coach on roller blades while the female athlete ran. No masks. None needed. I told our line of bikers (family) that we'd do a U turn the next time we saw a training run that looked interesting.

We were a sight to be seen as well. I was generally at the front of the line -- wearing the bike helmets and gloves, as are the boys. Plus I put on the green and yellow Phonak bike suit to keep my bottom from shredding. Plus, I'm on a no-geared pink local bike with a narly black basket on the handlebars. Its seat is way, way too low -- so I ride often standing on the pedals.

A Canadian biker -- perhaps a BMX guy -- went past us while we were stopped. I didn't notice him until he was 20-meters away and departing quickly. But Catherine did notice him -- and he was doing a triple take of me.

The atheles are generally wearing their national colors.

I do not know what it is like at the rowing or canoe venue. There it would be impossible to see the majority of the course. That is 30-k away from the center city.

The roads are like Christchurch, NZ now. Think of Pittsburgh roads on a typical Sunday morning. Some drivers -- but often the side lanes are empty with only a few cars every few moments. There isn't gridlock even at the height of the morning rush hour. Heavy traffic on the ring roads, of course. But not bad at all.

Beijing is also a 9-5 (err, 9 to 9) city. The song says New York never sleeps. Well, Beijing does. At night the lights are out and the people are too. Not that I'm at the night clubs and discos. But the neighorhood streets are quiet and empty. Even by 6 am, things are still sleepy.

The Olympic Village was very cool to see. I know Erik and Grant got a kick out of biking past that part of our trip today. We could see the 6-story buildings, all new, all with many flags hanging from the windows and mini-balcony. All types of flags. People walking and playing beteen the buildings. Kicking balls, hitting badminton, stretching.

In a way, to me, it felt as if we were biking past the zoo before it had opened and we could see the interesting wildlife on the other side of the fences. Here, other than zoo with small cages, think of a wildlife game preserve. We were on the outside, glances to the side to look in.

The other side of the road has other buildings, generally much taller and filled with residents. They were greated with guards and lots of issues with 'parking' and 'auto use' I imagine. They too had come out to peek at us and others. Many were headed to work.

It must be a pain to live next to the Civic Arena -- and/or new Pens Arena. Heinz Field neighbors, well, the North Siders are on their own for complaints. These folks have to live next to the Olympics for the next 18 days. Ouch. Unlike Woodstock, there are plenty of places to park the buses and use the port-o-johns. Grant hit one, and it was the hold in the ground style.

I'll try to get photos going in the next day. Then you can see the haze yourself.

We've been perfect as to our systems and food. The bag of Twizlers helped on day one when we couldn't tell if we were hungry or just in a jet lag funk. Then we didn't have a refrig that worked either. So, we were not keen to buy groceries.

Boxes (mid sized) of Cheerios were found at WalMart -- for 17 RMB. Too costly. I could knock that off in 2 sittings. Rather our breakfast sandwich place locally has them for 2.5 RMB. Egg and pork and outside bread-like / bagle-like top and bottom. They don't eat cereal. I swear by it. I'm going gold turkey (slag) so far. Hong Kong had decent choices / selections of cereal. Not so much in Chengdu, other than in the gift show of Grandma's Kitchen. And, we saw a Beijing Grandma's Kitchen -- right next to the Olympic Venues. I didn't know it was a chain.

Good night.

Recent blog -- err "journal" entries are on paper and via my wife

My wife is keeping a journal and she has been logging lots of pages there -- on paper. Her stuff isn't crafted for the world to see, as mine flows.

But, another stream that she manages is email to those at home. When she is in a good mood and when I've been good (as I am generally), she'll CC me the messages for my awareness. Re-use, not so much.

Some snips from her about our recent days, edited some by the blog master, (me).

It is Thursday afternoon here (5am for you). We finally have email - it wasn't working at first. Actually, I'm not completely sure how we got on this time, so we'll see if I can get back on tomorrow! We are all settled in. The flight was easy and the driver met us at the airport. We were on a plane with many NBC reporters, USA Today reporters and quite a few athletes. It made for a very festive atmosphere.

We came right to our apartment. Grant started a nap that would last through the night. Mark went out and started to get to know the neighborhood (which includes a really nice WalMart!). He bought a bed (like one of the chairs that we take to the pool, but it stretches out to a long, canvas bed). We need this for Erik. Grant has the coach at night. Bedroom (room 2 of 2) has queen size bed.

Everyone is sleeping well. The apartment is great - very modern with lovely light wood furniture. Mark also got us phones the first afternoon which is great. ... You can call us if you like. (#s below / scroll down)

In the morning we ventured out into our neighborhood and found the little shops that have food cooking. We found a great place for "breakfast sandwiches". The people got a kick out of us - no other foreigners around this little neighborhood behind were we live. We've been there for breakfast each day and they know us now and are very friendly.

We spent part of yesterday buying bikes. We are great on our bikes. (Got plenty to say about bikes later.)

(She is wise to say little about the bikes until our return to keep worries at bay. But, she is right. We are great on the bikes. Erik and Grant are excellent. The New Zealand bike trip made them strong and wise. Here we are even on the right side of the road. Plus China has much less of a problem with drunks than US. Here the bike lanes a wonderful.)

- found the electronics district yesterday. When we went in to the "electronics mall" (largest in Beijing) some people were shouting at us and pointing us away from where we were going. We actually were with the landlord of the apartment and he just kept going, so we did, too. I couldn't figure out what was wrong and why he was ignoring them. On the next level, more of the same. Then I heard what they were shouting - "Dell", "Sony". These were all salespeople trying to guide you away from the competition and to their product. It was unbelievably noisy and visually busy. Pretty exciting. The boys want to go back to check out IPods and flash drives.

(Catherine said later that she was a bit scared upon our entry into the shops/mall. We went to the 4th floor, zip, zipping along. We (white folks) were ignored, helmets in hand. But our leader, a local, got the brunt of the 'welcome.' Catherine felt as if they were telling us to exit as something urgent and bad had just happened. Why would you want to go there -- in -- when a cyclone just ripped the top floors off this building or some other horrible news and gloom await just ahead. We dove in. I had a much better understanding of what was happening and wasn't at all perplexed. The boys and I had been frequent visitors and shoppers at the electronics mart in Chengdu. This one was very, very similar. Tip: this isn't like Best Buy in the states.)

This morning (Thursday) we set out at 6am (since we woke up around 4am) to ride our bikes to the Olympic venues to check things out. It took about 45 minutes (maybe a little less) and we were at the Bird's Nest - really exciting. It was really hazy here today - it will be interesting to see how all this weather turns out for the events. We rode bikes for about 4 hours checking out different venues - very exciting.

Back to Wal Mart today for shopping now that we have a working refridgerator (the new one didn't work when we got here). The boys met one of the medical trainers for the U.S. Diving team and a manager from the U.S. Field Hockey team. They were very nice (buying fans) and gave the kids Olympic pins.

(The apartment / bathroom has a single unit, pint sized) washer with a special supper spin cycle which partly dries clothes. Then clothes are hung in the window area (like a big bay window) and they are dry by morning. It's great to have laundry. (Catherine got it all to work -- despite the electronics / instructions being only in Chineese.)

We are on the 13th floor of the building (top floor). (No worries here about 13 being unlucky. That # is 4.) You'd never see a 13th floor in the U.S. It is neat to look out at dusk and into the night at the big buildings (neon and Chinese letters). We live right behind the big Microsoft China building.

The opening ceremonies are tomorrow. Everyone is very excited to see how it will go. There will be fireworks all over Beijing. Our first tickets are for waterpolo on the 10th. ...

Fireworks at 8-8-08 at 32 landmark spots around Beijing

The fireworks for the Olympic openings will also be sent off at 32
spots around the city.

Calling to China

The 011 = US exit code. It must be dialed first for all international calls made from the USA or Canada.

86 = the country code for China.

The city code the region of Beijing is 10. But, for a cell, that does not matter.

In China they have area codes of 2 to 4 digits.
In China, the phone numbers are from 6 to 8 digits.

Area Codes:
Anshan 412
HuaiYin 517
Tianjin 22
Beijing 10
Jilin 432
Weifang 536
Changchun 431
Jinan 531
Wuhan 27
Chengdu 28
Nanjing 25
Wuxi 510
Chongqing 23
Ningbo 574
Xi'an 29
Dalian 411
Qingdao 532
Xiangfan 710
Guangzhou 20
Shanghai 21
Yangzhou 514
Hangzhou 571
Shenyang 24
Yantai 535
Harbin 451
Suizhou 722
Zaozhuang 632
Huaibei 561
Tai'an 538
Zibo 533

To dial to China from USA, as we have a cell, I think, dial:

011 + 86 + 13520815205

My blog is working from within China. Wiki won't. We are here! BG08 excitement!

This blog post comes to you from our apartment in north central Beijing, just one long block north of the 3rd ring road. Microsoft's headquaters is just the next building. Many high tech universities are around.

Our phone numbers in China are:

13520815205

and

15011009765

To call us from outside of China, you'll need to enter the country code -- and I'm not sure what to tell you about that. We also can accept text messages. But, we might not reply as charges are steep and the dollar isn't like it used to be.

The travels and apartment is fine. Some stories will come in due time.

Beiing is sultry, to say the least.

Two suface to air missles are between the Water Cube and the Bird's Nest. Former President Bush is here already. We've seen a dozen or more athletes and dozens of others (managers, medical, IOCers, etc.) in our bounces around town so far.

The biggest news from us comes from Wal Mart. We have navigaged the city on bikes for two days and we are all still with all our limbs. We purchased three bikes. The fourth is ours on loan. Grant did wipe out over by the archery venue -- clipping a parked bike and taking a spill -- but going along at a slower speed.

With the bikes, it is as if the city was shrunk by a factor of 20. However, the city is about a gazillion times bigger than Pittsburgh.

Now -- to catch up on the rest of the email and the other blogs.

We do not have NBC TV here. So, where in the world is NBC's Today Show setting? Where is Matt Lauer? Updates welcome.

This city is buzzing. The place is exciting. We are having a great time. Stay tuned for more insights.

Tip on the opening on 8-8-08 at 8 pm: "Grand does not need to be long." Furthermore, the lighting of the cauldron isn't going to be such a big deal. Other, more important elements are going to be showcased.

Stay tuned.

Bruce Kraus is working on sound polution stuff

Bruce said the other night at the public meeting that he was not only trying to crack down on litter that fits under the windshield wipers and telephone poles -- but he is going to attempt to tackle 'sound pollution.'

Motorcycles. Trucks. Music from autos.

Watch out.

Well, I have one bit of advice. Send me the draft legislation before you go to far with the ordinance proposal. There is someone that lives in city council district 3 that is a worldwide expert in all things about hearing, noise, and hearing health.

You don't need to give the email to me -- nor post it in the message of this blog -- but that would help. You could just post it to the Director of Audiology at UPMC's Eye and Ear Hospital.

Suit yourself.

Travel on a budget to Beijing

From Mark Rauterku...

Getting to Beijing has been expensive.

The passports for the boys needed to be re-issued. You can't enter China unless you've got more than six months of valid time still on the passport. The boys, because the children grow so fast, need to get their passports renewed more frequently than adults.

Then there are charges for the visas. A service helps by standing in lines and speeding the process that might otherwise be impossible. Our passports, after getting stamped by the local post office, went to Miami, Florida, then to either Boston or New York. I forget. Then they came back to Pittsburgh.

All four of our passports went out in one envelope. But, they came back in two. First the boys then the adults -- about five days apart.

The cost for the kids was $505.00. The charge for the adults, $990. Plus, there were two or three overnight envelopes to pay for. The helper required the kid's original birth certificate and not a photocopy as had been presented earlier.

The visa and passports for China allow us one entry into China between now (July 28) and January 1, 2009. We get to stay for no more than 30 days.

Furthermore, the paperwork we needed to show included our round trip airline tickets. They want to know you've paid for your flight home. And, the home bank account information to prove that there is sufficient money in your home bank. Plus, we needed to show a lease as to where we would be staying while in China. Not just an address or a statement we'll be staying with friends. No, we provided a lease. And, with the lease a copy of the passport of our host and friend in Beijing.

In Beijing, I expect we'll need to check in with the local police department. That has been the case in the past. We'll also swing by the USA Embassy -- just to let them know we're in town. Nice to have friends.

The 'red tape' is easy to witness. But, we've got nothing to hide. We don't need to worry about going into or out of the country with more than $10,000. Not even close.

We've got a weekly budget. We know what we spend in the US for a weeks worth of food and groceries. We'll stay within 3-times that amount per week and will be on budget.

To make budget, we won't be going to McDonald's or KFC -- much. Those are expensive places.

When we went in the past, the US Dollar was much stronger. Europe is way worse. But in the early trips we used a factor of 1:8.1 RMB. That was $1 US dollar to 8.1 of the Chineese currency, called either 'yen' or 'RMB'. Now, it is much worse. We're in the 1:5 or 1:6 range.

In Pittsburgh, PNC Bank does not even hold onto the foreign currency from China. But many other money is available there. However, there is an exchange window in the Pittsburgh International Airport. They had an "olympic special' if you cashed in $1,500 USD. We'll had time to kill in D.C. before our plane left for Beijing. That's where we did the first wave of money transfers.

We've also got a bit of money tied up in travelers checks now.

China didn't take much plastic on our other visits. Visa is a sponsor -- and we are not to leave home without it. Yeah, right.

You've got to watch out so as to not get some bad money. A bank setting is going to be trusting for our comfort. However, there was only one bank in Chengdu that would cash our travelers checks.

Who will water the wiki while I'm away? Will you?

We worked throughout the summer to build a new wiki, http://AforAthlete.wikia.com. It has grown to more than 1,000 pages. However, it needs some attention in the days and weeks to come.

Can you lend a hand and plug in a few comments and content mentons on existing or new pages there?

Use the search box. Read, edit, cut-and-paste pointers, expand.

I'm not able to see the wiki while in China. So, I'm going to be plugging away, but keeing the content local. Plus, I want to do more with photos and video. Less time for text.

Thanks for the help.

Carlynton Happenings saga is far from over

The saga in Crafton, Carnegie and R.Farms is far from over with the access to the facilities within the school.

Carlynton Happenings One director tells us how it is.....
“To think that limiting the debate on the issue would have somehow changed the outcome of the board’s vote is wrong.”

So says Carlynton director Patty Schirripa in a statement she circulated regarding her decision to push through the new facilities policy.

Check out that story.

Same on Marty Griffin of KDKA radio for not doing a segment on this subject after he had it already slated for three weeks ago. Marty! There is a tie in to local sports (swimming, baseball, soccer, gymnastics) and world affairs.

China has its hang-ups on power. And so do local school boards in the good ol US of A.

By the way, these blogs are not illegal school board members. Rumor has it that they were looking to 'sue' or 'shut down' the site(s) as they've become so frustrated with others knowing what is going on there.

We're at the starting line of our travels

We're on our way. Beijing, China, here we come.

This is our 4th trip to China. Our 5th over the Pacific. Or, around it. To get to Beijing, we'll fly to D.C. Depart early Monday. Then around noon we'll fly to Beijing, direct. The flight path goes over the North Polo. We've never gone from D.C. before.

On the way home, we'll fly to Chicago. Stay a day or two. Then come home. That will be in September.

Did I mention, again, that we have house sitters.

The photo above is on a running track outside a stadium in Chengdu. It is in the common ground area there. Imagine that around PNC Park and Heinz Field. Why not have a 'running track?' Golly. Kids could get some exercies. And, adults too.

China has had the Olympics on its mind for some time. They have put effort into hosting the games -- by making these tracks and fitness elements a part of the parks and landscape. We can learn a lesson about that. Around our stadiums, we're looking for more ways to serve beer and that's about it, if you overlook the casino.

We leave on the 4th. We'll get there on the 5th. The flight to Beijing is as long as four movies and a good long nap.

I've got my iPod loaded with some Free Talk Live radio shows. And, I've got my ear plugs. The kids and Catherine have those soft comfy neck pillows.

Last trip Catherine and I took was to Amsterdam in the spring. We flew in business class. Ahh. Those were the days. Now it is 'coach.' Love that name, coach.

Photos from the other vacation have arrived

From violin-gang

See the photo captions in the Picasa album for more details.

Erik Rauterkus and Amy Carol Webb jam at SUUSI before hundreds and get a standing ovation.

FWIW, are not bringing nor buying violins in China on this trip.

Olympic ticket scam dupes Australian, US and European fans | Herald Sun

Olympic ticket scam dupes Australian, US and European fans | Herald Sun Olympic ticket scam dupes Australian, US and European fans

Every party has a pooper. So sad.