Do you worry about how fiercely your kids compete against each other when they play sports and other games? Back off, because you might just have a future champion on your hands.

At least, that’s the conclusion an article published July 8 on Slate draws about how sibling rivalry drove Andy Murray to become a professional tennis player and, on Sunday, Britain’s first men’s singles Wimbledon champion in 77 years.

The full article (excerpted from a long-form essay tracing Murray’s career from childhood) is here, but this passage gives you an idea of how the tennis champ’s early years are depicted:

"The Murray household and that of his grandmother were the scenes of hard-fought games from a young age. Swingball – a tennis game played with a ball attached to a pole by a cord – was the acme of sophistication in comparison to the rudimentary elements of catching and throwing that formed the basis of much of their childhood activity. The games always involved scoring. Someone had to win, someone had to lose."

Are your kids competitive? Do you encourage it, or are you concerned it goes too far? Any tips for dealing with sibling rivalry? Let us know in the comments.

Photo from Wikimedia Commons

US Ambassador Gary Locke led members of Beijing’s American community in a memorial service at the US Embassy in Beijing yesterday evening to reflect on and commemorate the tenth anniversary of the September 11 attacks on the United States.

Several hundred people attended the service, during which Ambassador Locke delivered a short speech highlighting the impact the September 11 attacks had on families and countries around the world, paying tribute to emergency service personnel and members of the armed forces.

Following prayers, Ambassador Locke, his wife and three children joined other attendees in lighting floating lanterns – a traditional Chinese expression of mourning.

Here are a few more images from the service.

This article is from thebeijinger.com.

With his "comeback" branch comfortably bedded in up on Xiaoyun Lu, it was only a matter of time before pizza godfather Olaf "Kro" Bauer staked a claim for a share of the Sanlitun turf lost following his well-documented split with former business partner Yuan Jie. (If you don’t know that story, catch up with a selection of reports here.) Well, for fans of huge, topping-loaded pizzas, the time has come – a new branch of Kro’s Nest opened on Monday (August 29) in the Sanlitun Nanlu yard that houses The Bookworm, d lounge, Nanjie and Salsa Caribe.

The new branch is directly opposite and south of Salsa Caribe, at the entrance of the alleyway where d lounge is situated. For more details, see this opening day post from the laptop-less but ever-intrepid Beijing Boyce. We’ll have more for you when we get a chance to check the new Kro’s out ourselves.

This article is excerpted from thebeijinger.com.

Cenci Coffee
Cozy cafe serving warm drinks and arty photography. Daily 10.30am-10pm. 46 Fangjia Hutong (just south of Guozijian Jie), Dongcheng District. (8400 2673) 参差咖啡馆, 东城区方家胡同46号艺术园区 (国子监南临) 

Old-Toxin Tin Toys
Kids’ toys for grown-ups, with some genuine antiques thrown in for good measure. 46 Fangjia Hutong (just south of Guozijian Jie), Dongcheng District. (138 1091 6465, duckulagao@sina.com) 东城区方家胡同46号艺术园区 (国子监南临) 

Aimo Town
Chock-full of ethnic minority accessories, with a long menu of Yunnan dishes.
Reasonable prices and efficient service. Daily 11am-10pm. Bldg G, 46 Fangjia Hutong (just south of Guozijian Jie), Dongcheng District. (6400 1725) 埃蒙小镇, 东城区方家胡同46号艺术园区 (国子监南临) G座 

Shall Shine
Chuan’r, wings and Beijing draft beer in a cool contemporary space with requisite roof terrace. 46 Fangjia Hutong (just south of Guozijian Jie), Dongcheng District. 东城区方家胡同46号艺术园区(国子监南临)

Beijing Modern Dance Company Theater (No. 46 Theater)
The leading modern dance company in town hosts regular classes for all skill levels, and master classes once a month taught by invited international artists. Performances always feature student discounts. Seating is limited, so call ahead to reserve. 46 Fangjia Hutong (just south of Guozijian Jie), Dongcheng District. (8403 3799,  info@bmdc.com.cn) 北京现代舞团 (46号剧场), 东城区方家胡同46号艺术园区(国子监南临)