On a day when China's official English language news sites featured no more than the normal heaping dose of state gobbledygook about this or that with Chinese characteristics, I was interested to stumble across a China Daily article lauding the warm relationship between America's erstwhile rancher in chief, George W. Bush, and Chinese President Hu Jintao:
MANHATTAN, Kansas: US President George W. Bush spoke highly about his personal relationship with President Hu Jintao on Monday, saying that he "enjoys" visits with the Chinese leader.

Such relations are "warm warm enough to be able to sit with him in private and talk about things that matter to me," Bush told a question-and-answer session at Kansas State University.

President Hu Jintao is set to visit the United States in April, Hong Kong-based Wenweipo reported yesterday, citing diplomatic sources.

U.S. President George W. Bush (R) greets China's President Hu Jintao (L) in New York September 13, 2005. Hu is in New York for the United Nations General Assembly meeting. [Reuters]

Hu is expected to visit the United States in April after a trip scheduled for last September was postponed because of Hurricane Katrina, a US official confirmed in Beijing yesterday.

Despite the warm personal relations with Hu, Bush admitted that differences remain between the two countries, which makes dialogue imperative.

"We don't always agree with China, of course," Bush said. "It's a complex relationship. But it's one in which, in my judgement, it's best to be in a position where we can dialogue and discuss things in order to keep relations on keel and keep peace in that part of the world.

"We've got a lot of relations with China ... We've got trade relations with China. We have got diplomatic relations with China. I've met with the Chinese leadership quite often."
Heartwarming. Let's just hope that two leaders' advisors keep a limit on exactly what kinds of "warm warm" relations are permissible in these meetings with the Chinese leadership.

Unbeknownst to many, I have in my spare time harnessed the Mighty Computing Power of the Internet to build a device that lets me see the thoughts of people in news photographs. After long months of testing, it is ready for its first public use today. I can think of no better photograph to try it out on than the one that accompanied this story:
 
Eureka! And to think they called me mad at the university.

Imagethief also notices that you can now buy pieces of the original, pre-1999 renovation flagstones from Tian'anmen Square. I reckon you don't need a Thought-O-Tronic to know what I think about that.