OK, so here's a very different post from the Beijingologist today. Rather than throw around a copy of the Wanbao, let this very free-form post be a collection of thoughts (Beijing-related, of course!) that has been flowing in the minds of your Beijingologist as of late...

• Broken promises: The Beijingologist thinks that the Qianmen renovation has turned out to be a mass PR ploy. So the Wanbao says it's done by May Break -- when it's not! A last minute mass poster "posting" (pardon the pun) around Qianmen saying that "Oh -- the media got the opening day wrong" and stuff -- is just not on.

• Mad media: It must be really tough being a member of the local media these days. Not only do you get detested for mis-communicating the day Qianmen Avenue is supposed to be reality, but it looks like the prediction that all Subway AFC gates will be in operation by May 17th is another media-made "lie"... right?

• Half and half: The ETC lanes are perfect, but there are two bugs with 'em: wrong cars in those lanes, and not-ready-for-prime-time lanes. The Jingcheng Freeway central toll gate just north of Laiguangying is particularly hit by the former, whereas the toll gates on the "2nd Airport Freeway" (what a name!) and the Jingjintang Freeway are more a victim of the latter.

• People mountain people sea: May 1 + Beijing Subway = ¨∂•∞¶€*&£... Your Beijingologist has seen the Dongdan transfer passageway crammed with folks gaining mileage only to the speed of 1 mph, people squashed onto a Line 1 train, and people about to go on a stampede at Dongdan to transfer onto Line 5. All in the same day. Mozart has never been this popular.

A May Day unlike any other. Remember -- only two more free days!