Jottings from the Granite Studio

It’s a sunny day in the hutong, cold outside but the sun is shining nicely off the snow packed on the roof of our kitchen and bathroom and reflecting brilliantly into the living room.  We moved our plants inside two weeks ago and they are enjoying the sun bath almost as much as the two cats, currently going at it UFC-style for largest patch of sunbeam on the couch.

Much happening in Beijing this week the arrival of two celebrated visitors.  President Obama touches down later this week (more on this in a moment), and Richard of The Peking Duck makes his triumphant return to the city of snow and smog after his much lamented mid-summer departure.

Lots has also been made of Qin Gang’s ill-advised historical analogizing.  Many Chinese netizens (the usual suspects) are applauding the Foreign Ministry spokesperson’s linkage of the CCP’s handling of the Tibet with the President Lincoln and the American Civil War.  Others, perhaps with a little more nuance and perspective, are questioning the wisdom of Qin Gang.  China watchers are used to daft historical statements made by cadres and officials for domestic Chinese consumption, but this was the Foreign Ministry trying to make a