PapaBear

Finally, I Can Say It.... CONGRATULATIONS PETE & WAI FAI!! B) You're finally outta that BLACK HOLE and basking in the sun....BBQ'ing!! Right On!! Here's wishing the two of you the best!! PapaBear

Yeah.....what Bob said!!! CONGRATULATIONS ON THE PINK .......so quick after the dreaded blue! PapaBear B)

CONGRATULATIONS VANESSA AND FAMILY!! We're so happy to hear that you all will be Family together here in the States. Hope you're able to make your trip down to Mexico next May. Hope everything goes well for your August arrival also!! :cheering: Here's from our family to your's wishing you the best in health, happiness and fortune!! PapaBear B)

CONGRATULATIONS ON GETTING THE PINK Happy to be a family soon! Watch out for the mop! B) Wishing you and your's the best!! PapaBear

Dear Yirong, Ken and all of Gerald's family; I was saddened to read your posting of Ski's passing. Please accept my wife's and my deepest condolences and heartfelt wishes to all of the family and Ski's extended family everywhere (including his CFL family here, who I know are feeling the loss). I am happy that his last moments were spent gazing lovingly into your eyes, Yirong. I do remember Ski and his postings from the first day I logged onto CFL. I'll always have the deepest respect for the man he was and the advice and antidotes he shared here on CFL. May you and your family be comforted now with peace in your heart that he is no longer suffering and his spirit is free in the life yet to come. I am sure he will watch over and guard you all from his home beyond. Peace and comfort and the joy of rememberence!!! He lives in your hearts!!! Sincerely, Michael and Peipei

CONGRATULATIONS MIKE & LILY ! Glad to hear you and your's avoided the dreaded Black Hole commonly called Name Check. Here's wishing you and your's all the happiness!! B) PapaBear

Yes....our hopes, thoughts and chants are PINK for Feng and all the joy of togetherness for her and Mark for the future. Here's hoping for a sucessful passing interview! PapaBear

Congratulations Moonglare! Glad your "over-come" was sucessful and you all will be a family together soon! PapaBear B)

B) CONGRATULATIONS So very glad to hear you're in the PINK! Time to start getting ready for the big day. Stash those cheetos and get ready for romantic times together. PapaBear

Randy and Jiaying.....happy to hear there'll be an end to the perverbial "Black Hole." Will congratulate when the long awaited 10-year GC arrives!! You guys have been waitin long enough!! PapaBear B)

Hit the preverbial Nail on it's head!! This article is worth it's weight in Gold!! How true the words ring out! But the article's author is right about a little knowedge being dangerous. How could anyone who's not been there understand? PapaBear

Sweet! Congratulations Dave and Christine! PapaBear

You know......to fully appreciate the flavor sensation of a Pu'er Tea you must try it more than once or twice. Yes, it really is an acquired taste which usually only comes after several tries. I like it.....but the first time I tasted it, it tasted like ma feng (horse sh*t)! Keep on trying it......soon it'll taste like champaign & good for what ailes you!! B) PapaBear B)

I'm not sure why, but the BoA girl misled you. Since BoA bought a stake in China Construction Bank, all BoA cards can be used in any China Construction Bank ATM to withdraw cash without fees. The only drawback is that you can only get RMB, but the exchange rate is better than if you went into the bank to see the US dollars. I am not sure what the daily limit is because that depends on BoA and not China Construction Bank. CCB's daily limit is 30k RMB. If you use a different bank's ATM card or use your BoA card in a non-CCB ATM, there are about 4% in fees. Dennis......GZBILL is right with his post here. Withdrawls can be made at a China Construction Bank with your BoA ATM and there are no transaction fees, nor any foreign currency conversion fees!! Peipei and I realized great savings and convenience on our last trip to Beijing accessing our cash this way. Fact is....she's taking off for 2 months in Beijing again (2/27 - 4/23) and we'll be accessing funds the same method for this time also. Sure beats carring cash!! PapaBear

That's where this gets alittle tricky Randy. Since the Satalite Menu/Guide still shows "half hour" programming.....it's difficult to program the DVR to catch the whole broadcast without it wanting to stop and begin with each program change. I encountered this at the 2007/2008 New Year Gala. This time I am going to set up a VCR and run my satalite signal through it......then set the speed for 4 or 6 hour record speed. The Gala usually runs an hour past the witching hour.....so I figure a minimum of 5 hours of record time needed. B) If all else fails....you can program your DVR to record the "half hour" programs but it makes for a pretty choppy recording.....not to mention the frustration that sets in when you have to pick up the remote to start the next segment (each half-hour). Hope my info helps........and enjoy the show!!! PapaBear

We show a half hour program on CCTV9 at 6AM CST (=8PM Beijing) called "Asia Today". Is this it? Yeah Randy......CCTV9 consistently shows it's regularly scheduled programs on the TV menu/guide (most are on the half hour....Up Close is 45 minutes and Travel in Chinese is 15 minutes) even when a special gala is planned. If you go to the CCTV9 web site.....you'll see information about the Gala and how you can view it even if you don't subscribe to a service which provides CCTV (they will webcast this gala). CCTV also threw a Gala for the 2007/2008 New Year also. We had the same question about the programming listed on Satalite too. But we ignored the menu/guide and got up early and watched that one too. A lot of song and dance.......which we really really like!! Check it out. You'll be surprised how the show can take ya right back to China and feel like a part of their tradition and celebration. PapaBear B)

You're right Roger....it won't be such a happy new year, because of the disasters resulting from the harsh winter storms pounding most of China. During the Annual Spring Gala aired on CCTV Chinese New Year's Eve, attention and awareness will be focused on those less fortunate and their plight for relief. Should be interesting. This program will air at 8 PM Beijing time on Wednesday, February 6th on CCTV 9 (Direct TV Channel 265). Watch or record and watch later if you can. Let's keep those less fortunate in our (??prayers??) hearts! PapaBear

CONGRATULATIONS!! That's fantastic NYTIMES. We're so happy for you and your family. Sounds like a great start for a new lunar new year! HAPPY LUNAR CHINESE NEW YEAR!! Here's wishing you and your family the best in the year to come!! PapaBear B)

Ditto!! How shocking! How sad!!! We're still pulling for the two of you. Hope the two of you stay focused and in tune with one another. I know the discouragement, don't dwell on it. Be positive. This VO obviously had his head where the sun don't shine!!! Knock on wood....he isn't around for your next interview! B) PapaBear

Hey Ron and Ivy, we're pulling for ya all the way! As long as you don't fall into that black hole known as NameCheck Hell! We're waiting for the good news! PapaBear

All Right Carl! Great News, Hope The Process Goes As It Should, Without Delay!! By all means, Bing should file for her son without haste. Someday, Lao Po will be going through the same process. Our best To You and Your's; Michael and Peipei

Your line of thinking here is right-on Larry! If my wife had not been born and raised with a large family in Beijing, I would have insisted on going south to look for a home in China. My first trip to China took me to Kunming and LiJiang and the air there was just so fresh, and the mountains so beautiful. That was back in 2001 and I had no desire to visit Beijing......in fact quite the opposite. All the pictures I had seen of Beijing were smoggy, mucky, dirty air. And the mass of people....I much prefer the country life. But this was before I met and married my beautiful Lao Po. She sure changed my thinking. Funny, she's never been to Yunnan or anywhere south of Hangzhou. But be rest assured, we'll be checking out all of China from our home base in Beijing. Good luck to you Larry. And I have to agree with you about picticulars between couples (age,race,size,etc.).....IT'S NOBODY'S BUSINESS BUT YOUR OWN!! PapaBear B)

Yeah...I ran this by lao po last night as well. I have to tell you she was surprised also. We have been all over China together as well, except for Mongolia, and have only had warm feelings from everyone we've encountered (forget the child trying to pick my pocket or the Suzhou Cab Driver crying like a woman when my wife wouldn't buy his indirect route to our hotel because of rush hour traffic). Of course the price gouging is going to be attempted, but you know, I leave all of the haggling up to my wife.....and she's good at it!! She let's them know she is Beijing Ren and I am her Lao Gong. If they still insist on price gouging.....we walk away unscaved. Oh yeah, the Lao Wei and Da Bi Zi comments are heard here and there, usually by a couple of attractive Chinese ladies and offered with giggles and smiles. Frankly, I like the attention. My wife did say that some Chinese will look down at a mixed race couple if the seems to be a large gap in age difference. She said this could draw comments like "G" (prostitute) and be mean-hearted in the delivery. Hope your out-look improves before finding a place to buy a home there. PapaBear B)

Sad to hear your report on Beijing. I've been there several times, four to be exact (and none of these for less than a 30-day stay), and have never felt the prejudices you have described in your post.....well, maybe a few lao wei comments, but none were ever meanly disbursed, always I have seen smiles. And my wife and I have never avoided appearing as anything other than a happy loving married couple. I'm so sorry to hear that your view of Beijing was anything other than a pleasant experience. Please give it another try and try not to worry/care what others might be thinking. You've been around a long time.....these preceptions should be dispensed with....really I'm surprised. And I see alot around me.....I don't go around with my head in the sand! Even took my parents for a month's stay last year, and my wife was able to get them into most of the parks with a Senior Chinese Discount for entance (ya should have heard her do some talking then!). B) Anyway Larry....hope your next trip to Beijing is a much more pleasant trip with good things to report. Here's to you and yours!! PapaBear B)

Authentication: You need to go to your local notary (within the county you live in), and have your document notarized. $10 - $15. Then you will need to go to your county office and pay them to certify that the notary is indeed a registered notary within your county of residence. $26.00. You will then need to have the Sectary of State put there seal on the document once they verify everything is kosher. $26.00. Then all you need to do is run on over to your local consulate and pay them 40.00 to authenticate the document -- they will put their seal of approval on it. Well at least they make it convenient. Years ago......there used to be another seal of approval needed in the AUTHENTICATION process and that was from the Sec. of State. Yes, when I had my documents authenticated I had to get Colin Powell's signature and seal of authentication. The process, which was mailed, took some time.....and I remember worring about the time frame to get it to the San Francisco Chinese Conulate for their approval before leaving for Beijing. Here's hoping the process is easier for you today and you don't have to leave the country after 90 days to re-enter for another 90 days. Can't youjust hop over to Hong Kong for a day or two then come on back to the mainland? Seems like a break from your disertation might be nice. You could check out Hong Kong Disneyland! Best of luck to you! PapaBear B)