Olympics blog is safe

BEIJING — While other journalists from Japan are having troubles with the Chinese government and Amnesty International has had trouble with sensors here in China, apparently this blog wasn't deemed subversive enough to get blocked.

Thank goodness. I've been able to get online myself and do some work on the hotel computer while the rest of the city bristles with life and activity and, yes, some smog just beyond my door. Alas, my N&O computer is only good for showing me Friday Night Lights re-runs at the moment.

Another update on my ankle situation. Reps from China Eastern Airlines - I flew China Eastern from Shanghai to Beijing late last night with sprint champion Maurice Greene sitting in business class, by the way - called me in the morning because they wanted to visit me.

At 1 p.m., right on the dot, the appointed hour, my hotel doorbell rang and, not one, not two, not three, but four smiling people, including a translator, from China Eastern stood smiling outside my door. I didn't know how to gracefully decline the big bouquet of flowers they brought so they're sitting near my water cooler.

Their message? We're so sorry you're hurt. We hope you heal soon. If there's anything we can do, just holler. FYI - I only got breeze from Las Vegas International reps, on site and then from officials only weeks later, when I slipped on a wet floor on my way to catch a flight last summer. There, Americans moved very carefully to make sure I didn't sue. Here, it was a completely different reaction.

N&O business staff writer Vicki Lee Parker warned me that the Chinese would bust their keisters to give great customer service especially to foreign visitors during the Olympics. She wrote about it several months ago but seeing it in action on my own behalf was quite refreshing.