I will add that I see lots of trees planted. 1000's of newly planted (within last few years) trees of all sizes. It's in District Tongzhou where I live, in urban areas. There is also word that China will redeploy 50K soldiers to plant trees this year. So low hanging fruit yes, but also serious efforts as far as I can see.
It's about my only wish for China - is to clean the air, everyone will benefit.

I did not know that Beijing was China, thanks.
Complaints about the harsh closure of many businesses (many factories) in Beijing (not China).

As someone living here, I have to say that I do see more blue sky and less haze than I used to.
My phone displays the Air Quality Index and today it is bad - mid 200s. There used to be 400 days but they do *seem* fewer. Tomorrow is 12 and friday is 39.
Because the government is all powerful, they shut down 1000s of polluting businesses in Beijing and put in place requirements that made it hard for them to return to business unless they cleaned up their emissions. Of course there are complaints, but Chinese like Americans complain about government, but the Chinese mostly move on as recourse is limited and they know it.
I am limiting my stay here (one year) because of the pollution, but I may waver in that. That is, waver tomorrow, but not today.

I have an old $5 in my wallet, will be fun to do. The enjoyment I get out of doing this is easily worth $5.
The bank listed "important reasons". I call BS on each one.
- Reduced lifespan, so what? It is being replaced anyway.
- It might be rejected in a transaction. Lame, someone else will take it. Its only $5
- Source of national pride. Really? My guess is half of Canadians have never heard of him or know he was the PM.
Checked my wallet, there is an old $5, jackpot! I am feeling more Canadian pride in doing this on a Canadian bill then ... putting maple syrup on my bacon.

As a fellow geek I took to bookbinding in the late 90s to balance out the high tech I was involved in. I'd recommend you get a custom blank book made for your daughter. A few of your words written down in the book will be a source of comfort and joy that will last a lifetime. Years later people come to me and tell me that they are keeping track of things, using it in some way that makes me feel lucky to be a part of their lives. Your daughter will write things and draw things in this book and it will be something from you that she will treasure. You can get it personalized it some meaningful way. For my nieces and nephews, I have found their favorite colour, animal, a favorite shirt, and made it from that. In my own journals I will draw an outline of the hand, and you could do that your in the book to her. In our high tech world, something physical like a book is a good thing. Best wishes.

This reminded me of a 1970s poster that said in the event of an atomic bomb... "Put you head between your legs and kiss your ass goodbye."

http://www.google.ca/search?q=how+to+disappear
http://www.amazon.ca/How-Disappear-Digital-Footprint-without/dp/1599219778
thats how i'd start.

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