April 4, 2007 Dear DalianXpat members and friends: The good news is that our server is back! Last few days, our hosting company (in Hong Kong) was subject to DDoS (Distributed Denial of Service Attack). We were not the target of the attack, but this made our website unavailable in mainland China. Our hosting company has moved our site to a new IP. On the whole, we've been happy with the tehnical support in HK. On the brighter side: Welcome Intel. The first wave of families is already here and hoping to start actual construction in just a few months. A big change for Dalian. Will an industry follow? Entertainment Happenings Had a nice chat with Shangri-la Hotel GM Raymond Bragg, who wants to support our efforts to build an active, informed, diverse community in Dalian. One step is to make the F2 Bar livelier, more attractive to younger Dalianese – expat and Chinese. So Thursdays, 6:00 – 9:00 pm, are special night for expats ( reduced prices, Djs, one free glass of Sangria to ladies, free snacks). If “Weekends start on Thursday”, this will be the place to 'network', socialize or simply chill. Launch: This Thursday – tomorrow! [http://www.dalianxpat.com/component/option,com_eventlist /Itemid,259/func,details/did,22/]
Spiral Cow returns!! They'll be performing at Bailey's Bar this Saturday night. Bailey's seems to have live music several nights a week. I finally visited the Blossom Jazz Club (at it's new location – 1 street behind Kempinski) – pretty fancy, good sax player (http://www.dalianxpat.com/content/view/181/193/) In full disclosure, I must also admit I tried the new pancakes at McDonald’s – and liked them. Haha Please don't forget our Sunday coffee meetings! (http://www.dalianxpat.com/component/option,com_eventlist /Itemid,259/func,details/did,4/) [As I wrote last month, if I may, I want to encourage everyone to come downtown and patronize some of the new (and old) restaurants and bars. These are run by hard-working entrepreneurs who are making Dalian a better place. You can tell them what you like and don't and they'll try to listen. By the way, do hope you'll add a comment or review here too: http://www.dalianxpat.com/content/view/81/215/]
Website Changes Despite the recent downtime, hope you have noticed a few improvements. Thanks to team Johnsy, SK, Keivin, Abigale and Lydia. They installed a new template and are preparing a second one – so we will have a choice. They have also been a huge help in supporting the site, researching problems, upgrading software, making logos etc. Upgraded the main forum software last week and there are still things to fix/configure. More upgrades still ahead. We are consolidating newsletter mailing into a single mailing list, with unsubscribe feature. Our TO DO list is long, but please tell us the problems and suggestions. We put your suggestions on the TO DO list and then we try to prioritize. (Even Dalianmat's birthday suggestion!) Karma will be history soon; top posters will be listed on weekly or monthly basis. Thanks for the all the Dalian pictures, which also needs to be organized. If possible The goal is to improve the site steadily with more content, more features, better support, fewer bugs – but it does take time. Please be patient with us. Welcome Jerry and WarpedOne – two new moderators! (Moderators are friends, who help things running smoothly) Michelle is still with us – as moderator and friend. She will graduate soon and needs to spend her time looking for full-time job. Thank you Michelle and best to you! Nina, a DUT business student, has already stepped in and is a big help in organizing things.
Events Was very glad when awm posted favorably about the selections in the event calendar! Please keep sending us events calendar (commerical or community). Please send to
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Ocean
On flight HU 7244, I flipped through the pages of the airline magazine and came across a column entitled “?????????”, which roughly translates into “Everyone should have a mountain in their life”. The headline lingered with me and I pondered its philosophical implications throughout the flight but by the time the plane lowered its landing gear over Guangzhou, I disagreed: it wasn’t a mountain that everyone should have in their life, but an ocean.
I was just returning from my ocean, or more my two oceans, the Bohai and the Yellow Sea that embrace my Chinese hometown on the Liaodong Peninsula in the country’s Northeast (‘Dongbei’).
Read more...
Closing A lot people help make our website and community work – online, offline and in a variety of ways. Thank you. Hope to see everyone Sunday at coffee!
Advertising:
Reminder that several Dalian buinesses have offered us discounts (must be registered - http://www.dalianxpat.com/content/view/88/213/) - from wine to DVD to food
And here are couple of specials for this month.
F2 Restaurant and Bar at Shangri-la: Every Thursday night is expat night! New International Band - Guest DJs - All draught beer at RMB20 - Simple Mixer or house wine at RMB30. One free glass of Sangria for ladies - Free snack buffet - And more! Thursday, April 5 is the Lauching Party - with DJ JT (UK) AND DJ MANIFEST (USA)! (http://www.dalianxpat.com/component/option,com_eventlist/Itemid,259/func,details/did,22/
Riviera Restaurant (http://www.dalianxpat.com/content/view/156/183/
For a limited time, DalianXpat can receive the Gold VIP card (good for 15% discount). (A DalianXpat sponsor!)
Spiral Cow plays at Bailey's Bar! – 8:30 pm - Saturday, April 7, 20 rmb – 20 rmb (http://www.dalianxpat.com/component/option,com_eventlist/Itemid,259/func,details/did,15/)
DCT Wine – French Wine! We have a limited number of specially priced coupons for DalianXpat members!
Olive Garden ( http://www.dalianxpat.com/content/view/129/183/) : DalianXpat members receive a 10% discount for the month of March.
MarToni Pizza: DalianXpat members can get a 50% off coupon for the Pan Supreme Pizza at the new location (regular price: 78 rmb). (Pizza is also available now at Metro and soon Carrefour and Walmart.)
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coffeekang
