First day

It is my first day to start my new job here, first class too. The classrooms have modern equipment: ppt projector, phone service, and internet access though with restrictions. Students are bright. This is the place that I can feel my root.

Newspapers

Found two good Chinese newspapers: Economic Observer (经济观察报), Nan Fang Daily (南方周末).

小产权, 大机会, by Zhou Qi Ren;

“小产权房”：生命中不能承受之便宜;

农宅入市, 为谁松闸. Internet access is not convenient here, save them here for future use.

Miscel

CUFE library needs ID to get in. It charges fee for internet access. Yesterday I dealt with diploma verification in a government agency. People are nice and process is smooth. I went there by bus. Transit system offers electronic card to charge the fee. It costed me $0.40 RMB for about 1.5 hour (one way). The taxi costed $22 RMB for about 0.5 hour when I came back.

New

In Beijing, many things are new. What impressed me the most so far is the transportation rules, people and cars are competing for the access. It is a natural result in this place, given the number of people, cars, and current transportation facilities. I broke the transportation rule (US standard) today without getting fined.

The internet access is good so far. I can see all the blogs listed here. I also learned that the teaching language will be English. Food is very good.

Annual return of this day

A day to remember, in any case.

HRS

China's economic reform began with "household responsibility system" (HRS), which first brought into practice by the peasants in Fengyang County, Anhui Province. Just saw,

The production team leader implicated in the Fengyang peasants' scheme reportedly agreed (with HRS) only after the peasants pledged to raise his children until age eighteen if he should be imprisoned

via this paper.

Total population in Chongqing is about 32 million, and in Chengdu about 10.2 million. They are the largest pilot reform cities so far. Reform issues probably will include land use, transportation, social welfare, government organizations, etc. Top officials in Chongqing sent out a letter to ask for suggestions and advices from the worldwide knowledge-holders.