[Note: This is Richard (remember me?) I’m moving this post up as a reminder, and also for those who may have not seen it earlier. We have at least seven people who’ve said they’ll be going. Hopefully I’ll have the location for you within 24 hours. If interested, please let me know so we can get a big enough table.]
A few readers have asked whether I thought it might be a good idea for fellow bloggers and readers in Beijing to get together for dinner, perhaps on Sunday night, August 28. I think it would be great, and if you are interested please send me an email or drop a comment here. It will be intriguing to actually see the faces behind the names.
With only three days to go before the trip, I should hibernate for a bit and focus on finishing my freelance work and getting organized. After this week’s record number of posts, I have got to tone it down dramatically. Unfortunately, I’m becoming compulsive about blogging and it’s easier to get off of heroin than is to stop posting. I’m going to try. Excuse me while I go into withdrawal.
1
By Other Lisa
Dang, wish I were in Beijing to meet all of you. But Richard, I’m totally serious about that beer at LAX!
August 14, 2005 @ 12:27 pm | Comment
2
By richard
Lisa, I’m considerng it, but as I said I don’t want you to go to any trouble… How about hopping over to Beijing for a few days?
August 14, 2005 @ 12:40 pm | Comment
3
By Other Lisa
Hmmm, that might be a little more trouble than a 15 minute late night airport jaunt…
I miss Beijing though…
August 14, 2005 @ 12:50 pm | Comment
4
By Raj
The next trip I’m taking to the Far East will probably be to Japan again – I have this new alternating system worked out – in Spring 2006. So the earliest I will go to China will probably be Autum 2006 or realistically 2007!
Sorry!
August 14, 2005 @ 1:42 pm | Comment
5
By Zhuan Jia
Sounds good. I’ll email you my contact details, if you’re interested in a behind the scenes look at a state-owned newspaper.
August 14, 2005 @ 7:14 pm | Comment
6
By richard
Zhuan, I’ve been enjoying your site. And please, don’t let anyone there know where I’m going to dinner! I’ve already had one run-in with the police in Beijing and I never want to experiece that again.
We are now up to four, and I’ll keep you all posted.
August 14, 2005 @ 7:17 pm | Comment
7
By Emile
Is being a Peking Duck reader and having a blog that hasn’t been updated in a couple months enough to qualify ?
August 14, 2005 @ 8:20 pm | Comment
8
By richard
Emile, one of the attendees at our 2003 get-together! I’d be really happy if you could comce. You don’t need to be an active blogger to join us.
August 14, 2005 @ 8:31 pm | Comment
9
By Mark Anthony Jones
Dear Richard,
As good fortune would have it, I will actually be flying up to Tianjin, most probably on the 27th or 28th, as I need to be back there again on Monday the 29th to give student placement tests. I just returned from Tianjin yesterday evening – it was surprisingly humid up there over the weekend (much more unpleasant than here in Shenzhen).
I’m sure I could take a morning flight to Beijing, meet you all for dinner, and then take a late night train or bus to Tianjin (it’s only about an hour and a half away to the east).
You know my email – just let me know the details, and I’ll be there.
P.S. Don’t expect me to be wearing my trusty black beret in that heat though!
Best regards,
Mark Anthony Jones
August 14, 2005 @ 8:41 pm | Comment
10
By richard
Gee, thanks Mark, we can’t wait to see you.
August 14, 2005 @ 8:49 pm | Comment
11
By Mark Anthony Jones
Yes Richard, well I’m looking forward to facing my critics, hopefully over a nice bottle of Bordeaux (or perhaps a cold beer at least) – though I hope the discussion around the dinner table can remain friendly and civilised, and will focus on the philosophical, rather than on the personal.
P.S. I won’t invite Dr. Myers along, I promise!
Regards,
Mark Anthony Jones
August 14, 2005 @ 8:53 pm | Comment
12
By Keir
I’d like to meet up with Bingfeng and find out what’s the philosophy behind calling me “another general pighead”.
August 14, 2005 @ 10:43 pm | Comment
13
By richard
You’ll have to go to Shanghai for that, Keir.
But even if you did, Bingfeng says he won’t meet up with us; he’s frightened the CCP (which he adores) will come down on him for meeting with subversives like us.
August 14, 2005 @ 10:48 pm | Comment
14
By bingfeng
You’ll have to go to Shanghai for that, Keir.
But even if you did, Bingfeng says he won’t meet up with us; he’s frightened the CCP (which he adores) will come down on him for meeting with subversives like us.
Posted by richard at August 14, 2005 10:48 PM
———–
Richard,
it’s very childish to call anybody who share *some* similar opinions with chinese government an adorer of CCP.
Keir,
the philosophy behind calling somebody a pighead who suggests US will nuke the mainland if she attacks taiwan is very simple – s/he is proposing the complete destruction of the planet.
August 14, 2005 @ 11:25 pm | Comment
15
By bingfeng
Richard,
i was always wondering why you hold such a black-and-white view of the world, don’t you understand that is what led to Nazi’s holocaust in WWII?
August 14, 2005 @ 11:28 pm | Comment
16
By bingfeng
Zhuan, I’ve been enjoying your site. And please, don’t let anyone there know where I’m going to dinner! I’ve already had one run-in with the police in Beijing and I never want to experiece that again.
We are now up to four, and I’ll keep you all posted.
Posted by richard at August 14, 2005 07:17 PM
————
sure it is peking duck restaurant, what else
August 14, 2005 @ 11:32 pm | Comment
17
By richard
Bingfeng, what on earth are you going on about?
August 14, 2005 @ 11:37 pm | Comment
18
By bingfeng
Bingfeng, what on earth are you going on about?
Posted by richard at August 14, 2005 11:37 PM
————
sorry, i talk too much and lower the general quality of the comment section of TPD site
LOL!
anyway, welcome to china and hope you keep on blogging during the trip. good luck and have fun
August 14, 2005 @ 11:46 pm | Comment
19
By Keir
Bingfeng- I WASN’T ADVOCATING NUCLEAR STRIKES ON CHINA! I was merely trying to point out the stupidity of the American position; I was kind of hoping your comment was directed to the actual American general (who is very probably a pighead) in charge rather than me.
By the way, I don’t think nuking China a few times will result in the complete destruction of the world. What’s China going to use to retaliate- the 7.16 to Washington DC, changing at LA?
August 15, 2005 @ 1:24 am | Comment
20
By James
Sure, I’m in, if I’m still here. Richard, I’ll bring you the Fussell WARTIME book.
J.
August 15, 2005 @ 4:47 am | Comment
21
By Ivan
Nah, bingfeng is just afraid that I might show up and start kissing him.
I think he’s afraid of falling in love….
August 15, 2005 @ 4:51 am | Comment
22
By Steve
Thanks for posting this. Will be there and will likely bring a friend or two. Looking forward to it!
August 15, 2005 @ 7:48 am | Comment
23
By richard
James, that would be fantastic of you. I’ll trade with a copy of his more recent book, Boy Soldiers.
August 15, 2005 @ 8:35 am | Comment
24
By James
Already read THE BOYS’ CRUSADE (I presume that’s what you meant …). Don’t worry about it! I’m going to Mongolia around the end of the month, so I’ve got a lot of thrillers etc to get rid of too, if anyone wants them.
J.
August 15, 2005 @ 10:45 am | Comment
25
By richard
Yes, Crusade, sorry! I was rather disappointed with it, as it’s more a pamphlet than a book, but it had some amazing revelations about the sloppiness of our invasion and the needless lives lost….
August 15, 2005 @ 10:47 am | Comment
26
By Bing
First Plenary Session
Watch out GUOAN
August 15, 2005 @ 5:57 pm | Comment
27
By other lisa
Hi Richard! Have some jiaozi for me!
August 23, 2005 @ 6:31 pm | Comment
28
By Emile
I’ll be there too, and I’ll probably bring my girlfriend too; unless it’s an expat-only event 🙂
August 23, 2005 @ 7:03 pm | Comment
29
By richard
Emile, please bring her along. Looking forward to seeing you.
August 23, 2005 @ 7:27 pm | Comment
30
By emile
Same here 🙂 See you Sunday then I guess !
August 24, 2005 @ 2:12 am | Comment
31
By James
Hey guys –
I’m off to Mongolia for four months on Wednesday, so I’m giving some books away. Most of the serious stuff is going to my friends for storage, but I’ve got some thrillers and things I have no particular desire to keep; shall I bring them and see if anyone wants ’em?
J.
August 24, 2005 @ 4:16 am | Comment
32
By Steve
James,
I will be there on Sunday and would love to poke through your remaining books. I am getting desperately short of English books to read…
Cheers
August 25, 2005 @ 3:18 am | Comment
33
By richard
Emile, you need to send me an ermail so I can get you the address for the dinner! I’ve sent it to everyone but you.
August 25, 2005 @ 6:29 am | Comment
34
By Brendan
Ah well – I won’t be in Beijing for this one, but hey – maybe next time? Have a great dinner!
August 27, 2005 @ 5:56 pm | Comment
35
By Gaby
Very nice site!
September 16, 2005 @ 6:07 am | Comment