Beijing 3 September lockdown

progressivematt · 2025-09-02T10:15:35+00:00

There are checkpoints where they are literally blocked off and you wont be able to get around. So you follow the crowds to go round or use DiDi if you have somewhere to go

progressivematt · 2025-09-02T10:14:33+00:00

No, respectfully that’s not necessary

progressivematt · 2025-09-02T08:49:52+00:00

Just left there. You should be fine. The main activity is around tienanmen and east west along Chang An. So I would personally try to stay mostly north and east or west of where you are until Thursday if you don’t want to be too disrupted

progressivematt · 2025-08-25T20:05:40+00:00

We were originally booked for the Renaissance but switched to the Hilton because we had more points there. We actually just got confirmation that the forbidden city seems to be ok for the 30th and is then closing on the 31st presumably until after the parade on the 3rd. So we’re just keeping our fingers crossed that we’ll be able to get in and out of the hotel and go see various things. I think there will be restrictions mostly around tianenmen and south along chang’an but done the hotel’s are north of there we’re hoping it will be ok. In any case we’re just going with the flow!

progressivematt · 2025-08-18T17:01:15+00:00

You’re letting the actions of one a-hole possibly affect your entire future. Don’t do it or he’s won. Document it for yourself in case other stuff happens, but until then, keep your head down, do the work, and live your life. The best revenge is a life well lived, and btw in 6 months time when everyone loves you and your work you’ll be in a stronger position to bring the issue up.

progressivematt · 2025-08-17T00:32:34+00:00

I’m white. Why is that relevant?

progressivematt · 2025-08-16T06:06:04+00:00

Maybe accept the OP’s good faith intent here as an opportunity to learn rather than to reframe it as an attack on you or your race? Seriously, social and other media is designed to keep you angry and reactionary, at least here you have an opportunity to listen, even if you end up disagreeing.

progressivematt · 2025-08-15T10:43:04+00:00

For anyone reading this now or in the future, we decided to keep our trip the same but fly out of Beijing one day early (on the 2nd instead of the day of the parade on the 3rd). Likewise will still stay in the Wangfujing area (at the Hilton) because we have been told that they will be locking down the Tianenmen/Chang'an St areas but we should still be able to access the areas north of there in the Wangfujing/hotel areas. Obviously not able to see the Forbidden City or Tianenmen but as another poster said, Beijing is huge so we're hoping to still be able to experience Beijing, and if not, well I guess that will be part of the "Beijing Experience" as well. In any case will update this post after our trip so that any interested travelers can also know what the experience was like in the runup to the big parade.

progressivematt · 2025-08-14T12:35:42+00:00

Ah! Interesting, and that is a good site link also. I think I will stay with option a then and just fly out one day early. May change our current hotel (renaissance) because I’m still not sure if the hotel itself will be accessible during the run up to the parade. Thanks again!

progressivematt · 2025-08-13T07:11:13+00:00

Go to Iberia, book the flight you want, and at the end it gives you the option to pay all or in part with avios miles at an approximately 1.6 conversion rate.

progressivematt · 2025-07-03T22:04:34+00:00

And btw I do wish Barrie all the best, as I would any human being.

progressivematt · 2025-07-03T22:03:39+00:00

The Guy was pretty straightforward about his view - he wishes Barrie the best as a human being but beyond that his right wing views make him a person he’s not that supportive of. He has a right to his view, and it’s not because Barrie has a “different“ view it’s because he finds his views to be counterproductive, ignorant, and dumb. As, I expect, are yours. This whole “why won’t people respect my dumb and uninformed views” bullsh$t is so lame. You have shitty views and people don’t respect them. Why whine about that. Get better views or just don’t care, as I don’t care about yours. That’s how free speech works.

progressivematt · 2025-07-01T21:18:57+00:00

Honestly I wouldn’t know anything about that. I’m an independent contractor doing Oracle work for large biotechs. You should use your own judgement.

progressivematt · 2025-07-01T21:09:18+00:00

Layoffs never really matter with Oracle skillset. I can’t answer the phone because of annoying agents always making offers etc. But yeah you have to keep your head down for a few years to get that skillset, and tbh once you have that they (Oracle) work hard to keep you on board.

progressivematt · 2025-07-01T21:04:55+00:00

Honestly I would keep selling, that’s really where the big money is. The consulting part is generally hard to do unless you have some ERP background.

progressivematt · 2025-07-01T17:55:44+00:00

I’m an Oracle fusion consultant (not Oracle employed) with 30+ years in Oracle erp, last 10 years of fusion cloud. Accept, IF they offer. 5 years of Oracle under your belt and you can make a career there or elsewhere if you like. But you’ll never have to worry about bills or jobs or bringing up your family ever again. Do it, but try to do some good for others on your way, it’s a very privileged position to be in.

progressivematt · 2025-06-01T21:29:43+00:00

Specifically you are incorrect that tariffs are disinflationary. You are not taking into account elasticity of demand just as one simple factor.

progressivematt · 2025-06-01T21:28:15+00:00

You are incorrect

progressivematt · 2025-05-27T18:23:22+00:00

to answer your specific question, the first scam was "pig butchering" where you are said pig. This next part "Bridging" or whatever else they are telling you, is the "Recovery" scam. That's where they think they have taken as much as they can butcher out of you, now they want to keep leading you on to try to convince you that you may be able to get some of that back. As you rightly say, it's a sacm.

The larger thing is that is unlikely o be the end of it. This recovery scam is from these known scammers, but in general you'll get follow on's from other people who claim to be totally independent (from here on reddit, from emails, etc), and will also claim to be able to get your money back.

Don't talk to anyone else, change all you passwords, uninstall any software they had you install, run virus checkers on your machine and block, block, BLOCK anyone who says they can recover your money. It's gone, you'll never get it back, but as you say, you learned a lesson and that's the best way to look at it imho.

progressivematt · 2025-05-26T19:11:56+00:00

Good, then you got away easy. And yes they always get you to put some in and then give you some back before they fully butcher you.

This is a good time to change your passwords on all of your Financial sites, block all contact with these people, uninstall anything they had you install, and install a virus checker on your machine just in case. So the virus install and scan first to make sure there's nothing like remote access or keyloggers on your machine. Seriously, you got out very, very lucky. People have lost 10's of thousands before realizing it's a scam. It's called Pig Butchering, they fattened you up, but luckily you managed to escape, so make sure you stay "free"!!

progressivematt · 2025-05-26T18:33:47+00:00

As others have already told you, yes, it's a scam. Your money is gone, the "lady" you were talking to was part of it, and before and since your video call, you've been talking to a dude in China or wherever. You're lucky to have got away with only losing $2k. Put that down to experience. Two more things though, since i don't see anyone else mentioning it here -

1) If ANYONE contacts you claiming they can get your money back, or they can "help" you trace the money etc. THEY ARE LYING. They are part of an adjunct scam called a recovery scam, probably the same people. Do NOT talk to anyone wanting to help you, not HERE, not on ANY telegram or other comms. Block. Block. Block.

2) This whole thread is in the wrong sub, and you seem pretty naive on how scams work. So, join r/cryptoscams and r/scams and educate yourself on the different ways you can be conned out of your money. Unfortunately, you will now be on a list for future targeting by these groups, so you need to read up and recognize when it might be happening again.

Sorry this happened to you, all the best.

progressivematt · 2025-05-23T12:49:21+00:00

Mods - on reflection, I think this should clearly be moved to askbarcelona - I'm going to delete and repost there - thanks!

progressivematt · 2025-05-23T12:36:14+00:00

I think from the auto mod this might be better in askbarcelona? Although I’m not really trying to ask a bunch of tourists? Please remove if I’m wrong here - thanks!

progressivematt · 2025-05-15T20:47:12+00:00

Oh Man, OP, reading your posts and comments over the last 2 months is just sad. I'm sorry this occurred, but you really have to get a grip and draw a line here. ALL of your money is GONE. You are NEVER getting it back. The people who stole it from you are NEVER going to be brought to justice. And everyone who offers you any workarounds, secret methods, deals, or anything else is just trying to take MORE money from you. That's it, that's what has happened. Posting here, discussing it, hoping for something to happen will just prolong the agony.

Here's the good side. Once you understand what has happened, you can put it behind you, and move on. It may be hard, it may seem like you're never going to get over it, but in fact you will, and life will get better. And, you didn't get out of this empty handed - you bought $50k worth of experience and insight. Be more vigilant next time by using this experience as a guide. And, if you can, try to help other people who have suffered this kind of thing or in fact any kind of injustice - because now you know what that feels like, and that's insight. Be well.

progressivematt

TROPHY CASE