iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Christian Petersen-Clausen @memostothefuture.bsky.social · 03/10/2026

Uwe Kräuter lives in Beijing to this day. He first visited Germany in 1980, bringing the theater play "Tea House" to Mannheim just a few months after his prison sentence expired. You can read more about that in our substack update: livinghistorychina.substack.com/p/uwe-kraute...

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Christian Petersen-Clausen @memostothefuture.bsky.social · 03/10/2026

Multiple marriage applications were refused. Hopes were raised the couple would at least leave China. They stuck it out and persevered.

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Christian Petersen-Clausen @memostothefuture.bsky.social · 03/10/2026

Shen Danping’s danwei opposed the marriage, as did many in China. During this time, a Chinese woman being interested in a foreign man was still seen as a loss of face. A famous Chinese woman all the more so, foreign expert or not. For two years, she barely received film roles.

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Christian Petersen-Clausen @memostothefuture.bsky.social · 03/10/2026

He soon entered Beijing’s cultural elite, becoming friends with playwright Cao Yu, painter Huang Yongyu and filmmaker Ling Zifeng. Ling introduced him to the famous actress Shen Danping. Their marriage in the early 1980s was almost unheard of, and it came at a price.

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Christian Petersen-Clausen @memostothefuture.bsky.social · 03/10/2026

In our first episode of a new season of Living History interviews we hear about how extraordinary being a foreign expert in China was in the 1970s. Kräuter quickly gained access to exalted foreign circles including Ruth Weiss, Sidney Rittenberg and Richard Frey.

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Christian Petersen-Clausen @memostothefuture.bsky.social · 03/10/2026

Everyone has an “Arriving in China” story. Few are as dramatic as Uwe Kräuter’s. In 1974, the German university student was sentenced to two years in prison after a violent anti-Vietnam War demonstration in Heidelberg. Then China came calling. Of course he went. youtu.be/dOHZgWNG4tc

youtu.be

Uwe Kräuter 乌苇 | He Came to China in 1974. Then He Married a Chinese Movie Star 沈丹萍

YouTube video by Living History: Stories from the Opening of China

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Christian Petersen-Clausen @memostothefuture.bsky.social · 01/10/2026

We are two days away from a new Season of Living History episodes launching and if you recognize the lady in the picture then you probably know who our first interview will be with. With sixteen new episodes in the can I have a busy few months of editing ahead of me.

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Christian Petersen-Clausen @memostothefuture.bsky.social · 31/08/2026

A pin showing the MBB Panavia Tornado, given to German flight crews.

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Christian Petersen-Clausen @memostothefuture.bsky.social · 31/08/2026

Flight training in Arizona. We struggled to recognize him.

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Christian Petersen-Clausen @memostothefuture.bsky.social · 31/08/2026

He amassed 3500 military flight hours before joining Lufthansa.

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Christian Petersen-Clausen @memostothefuture.bsky.social · 31/08/2026

Ejecting from the Tornado wasn't the only hairy moment he collected: he had previously also survived flying the German version of the F-104 Starfighter, nicknamed "widowmaker." This was his actual ship number.

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Christian Petersen-Clausen @memostothefuture.bsky.social · 31/08/2026

The attached letter inducted him to the Martin-Baker tie club. He lost the garment and, claiming he never wore ties, neglected to purchase a replacement. Side note: Germans call an ejection a “Retturnsausstieg,” which roughly translates to “rescue egress.”

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Christian Petersen-Clausen @memostothefuture.bsky.social · 31/08/2026

Here's something you don't see every day: a pin Martin-Baker sends to fighter jet pilots after a successful ejection. A friend in Germany earned this by surviving an ejection from a Panavia Tornado in 1988.

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Christian Petersen-Clausen @memostothefuture.bsky.social · 27/08/2026

Thin-skinned keyboard warriors snitching to thin-skinned authorities with unlimited power.

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Christian Petersen-Clausen @memostothefuture.bsky.social · 27/08/2026

Well, that does not look good for my connecting train in Copenhagen. Currently about an hour delayed.

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Christian Petersen-Clausen @memostothefuture.bsky.social · 27/08/2026

Today China Eastern dinged me RMB 1,000 for extra luggage. Usually they just care about weight and I am not sure what caused my new misfortune but like Cato takes to the sword here I am taking to twitter to whine about it. A little bit, at least.

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Christian Petersen-Clausen @memostothefuture.bsky.social · 27/08/2026

Another day, another flight. I'm on the surprisingly-packed MU707 PVG-CPH sitting in the very last lane right next to the cop (or security officer?) whose job it is to walk through the cabin and film everyone once or twice. He's friendly and I have questions.

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Christian Petersen-Clausen @memostothefuture.bsky.social · 09/08/2026

I am very happy to announce that UK pianist Belle Chen will be coming to Shanghai and Beijing with us in October. She just got invited to play at the BBC Proms this year and we couldn't be happier for her. Tickets for these shows will go quickly, so I suggest buying early.

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Christian Petersen-Clausen @memostothefuture.bsky.social · 09/08/2026

Learning from Tom Hale in the FT that the one and only Brian Linden is leaving China and, to say it with Nixon, if we lost him we lost America.

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Christian Petersen-Clausen @memostothefuture.bsky.social · 05/08/2026

I read your many tweets about it and it has me reminded of China 2017, which means it will get better but isn't ready for prime-time when I have to cross the country multiple times and absolutely positively have to be on time.

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Christian Petersen-Clausen @memostothefuture.bsky.social · 05/08/2026

Appreciate it, will try those sites. I can make Copenhagen or Hamburg work, too.

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Christian Petersen-Clausen @memostothefuture.bsky.social · 05/08/2026

I can make Hamburg work, I just don't know those vehicles. I'm also going to do one hell of a roadtrip, is charging reliable in Germany now?

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Christian Petersen-Clausen @memostothefuture.bsky.social · 05/08/2026

I make documentaries, I can't fit my stuff in there. Or jump from 57EUR to 97/day.

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Christian Petersen-Clausen @memostothefuture.bsky.social · 05/08/2026

It's depressing. What do you think of Europcar's choices?

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Christian Petersen-Clausen @memostothefuture.bsky.social · 05/08/2026

I hear you but they don't have any other station wagons in that class there. I doubt I'd end up with a 3er BMW...

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Christian Petersen-Clausen @memostothefuture.bsky.social · 04/08/2026

We're going to Germany to film new Living History episodes and looking at the Sixt website has me depressed. No interesting cars? We need something a little larger for all our camera gear and a little faster for what looks like 2,500km roundtrip wouldn't hurt. I suppose A6 it is? Any thoughts?

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Christian Petersen-Clausen @memostothefuture.bsky.social · 02/08/2026

We had a lot of rain passing through Shanghai this year. I would not mind for this to be the last of it for a while.

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Christian Petersen-Clausen @memostothefuture.bsky.social · 23/07/2026

29in / 76cm seat pitch. That's before the person in front reclines. I hate these Shanghai Airlines 737's.

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Christian Petersen-Clausen @memostothefuture.bsky.social · 23/07/2026

It ended up 19:30 and I almost missed the flight. Nothing was visible on the screens in the lounge and with headphones I didn't hear any announcements. Thankfully staff found me. Off to Wudangshan I go.

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Christian Petersen-Clausen @memostothefuture.bsky.social · 23/07/2026

Interesting to see flightradar24 stating we'll depart at 19:50. Airline staff meanwhile does not seem to know much. I don't mind, there is plenty to watch from the lounge.

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Christian Petersen-Clausen @memostothefuture.bsky.social · 23/07/2026

Same day, another flight. my second trip is supposed to take me to Wudangshan but my ride is delayed during to air traffic congestion. It's been a while since I heard that but this East->West flight seems to suffer such delays almost daily. They don't know how long it will be.

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Christian Petersen-Clausen @memostothefuture.bsky.social · 23/07/2026

I had an interesting taxi ride home in Shanghai. The driver complained he had been waiting at Hongqiao for 2.5 hours and tried to negotiate a price in advance. I offered RMB 51. He replied "I don't want to talk with you anymore" and did just that, sulkingly. He got RMB 61, I not even a goodbye.

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Christian Petersen-Clausen @memostothefuture.bsky.social · 23/07/2026

Happy to hear that is happening now. These meds are incredible.

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Christian Petersen-Clausen @memostothefuture.bsky.social · 23/07/2026

anyway , perhaps consider asking friends traveling intl to pick some up. arbitrage savings are a real clutch.

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Christian Petersen-Clausen @memostothefuture.bsky.social · 23/07/2026

you will be able to stick to them without suffering from hunger and cravings. your worst enemy will be distracted eating, thoughtless snacking.

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Christian Petersen-Clausen @memostothefuture.bsky.social · 23/07/2026

keep in mind that after the initial rapid weight loss you need to work on forming habits. you won't be hungry but you will eat because that's what people do. you gotta stick to a plan and avoid grazing. there are youtubers giving great nutrition advice and making mealplans.

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Christian Petersen-Clausen @memostothefuture.bsky.social · 23/07/2026

I live in China. A monthly dose of ozempic is $80-90. at this rate you could consider a flight, buy a 6-8 month supply and would come out even stevens. but that aside, you will have a chance at saving more in groceries than it costs even in the US.

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Christian Petersen-Clausen @memostothefuture.bsky.social · 23/07/2026

Another day, another flight. I'm leaving Beijing just as the rain arrives for a quick stop back home in Shanghai before getting on another flight tonight. The 10am PEK-SHA A330 seems around 80% full. Maybe a better flight to take than the reliably-packed 9am flight.

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Christian Petersen-Clausen @memostothefuture.bsky.social · 23/07/2026

GLP-1s are among the best that ever happened to me. I feel finally capable of achieving what I long desired, like an alcoholic whose relationship to alcohol is suddenly "normal." I encourage you to try them, if you haven't already, and am happy to share more thoughts.

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Christian Petersen-Clausen @memostothefuture.bsky.social · 20/07/2026

Filming new Living History episodes with @AngenieuxLenses EZ 1 and 2 on C300 MkIII and C500 MkII with the extension pack for extra audio. My arms are sore but the images are lovely.

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Christian Petersen-Clausen @memostothefuture.bsky.social · 19/07/2026

Another day, another flight. I've been on this exact CES A330 many times. Once again the 9am flight from SHA to PEK is packed. I'll be filming new Living History episodes for a few days.

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