But I DIDN'T realize that one guy surged ahead and took power three years ago and now it's all under his rule. President, Head of the CP, controls the army. Did you all know that?

I knew that! That's not actually unusual. Both Hu Jintao and Jiang Zemin before him held all three posts. (Not Deng Xiaoping, though, which is noteworthy, as I'd argue he was more dominant than either Jiang or Hu in his day.)

However, both Jiang and Hu consolidated power gradually; for instance, Hu was President for two years before Jiang stepped down from heading the military. Xi Jinping has moved extremely quickly. The article is bang on when it notes the effect of Xi's anti-corruption campaign and the significance of Bo Xilai's fall. (Also note that over half of all academic grants from the National Social Sciences last year were for the study of Xi Jinping Thought. At one level, not unusual. Jiang Zemin had his policy principles written into the Constitution. But within the context of that article, well.)

That reminds me: the EdX courses I did on China have just started up again, if anyone's interested in taking them up. They've split it into two parts - the first is on China to the Ming Dynasty: [link] The second is on modern China, starting with the Manchu Qing Dynasty, and continuing to today: [link] They're each split into five parts, which can be done individually and in any order.

I thought these courses were fantastic. They're very well taught, (I liked the stuff on pre-modern China better, possibly because it was less obvious that there was a lot they couldn't cover.)

There were some minor irritants at work this week, but they were overshadowed by a stellar potluck and the final arrival of my federal tax return. (My return was stolen earlier this year, and it's taken until now to straighten it out.) Money, food, a work-from-home day tomorrow, and a four day weekend. I'm feeling ok, and I hope everyone else's weeks improve--especially Ginger.

I think that having a small infant should mean I don't have to deal with gift giving this year. I wish there was a nice way to only buy for the kids in my life and tell all the adults they're out of luck.

I think that is a totally reasonable stand! But I guess you need family buy-in. Last year or the year before, my family started drawing names, which I thought would never happen. So change is possible! (Just my aunts opt-out, which is ridiculous, but we let it go...)

Oh, thanks for those course links, billytea! I like to imagine that I will be able to work a class like that into my schedule at some point...

I am feeling much better, to the point where I suspect that maybe I should set an alarm to take more nyquil in the middle of the night so my mornings aren't so bad. Although that seems kind of extreme.

I think I'll do nice chunky gift cards to restaurants for my faux-son and my SIL. They deserve nice nights out. Beyond that, there's no one to do presents for.

Geez, your return was stolen and it took all this time? That sucks. But yay it finally getting straightened out?

Timelies all!

I'm glad most of my friends have Amazon wish lists, so I don't have to go out to get them gifts. My parents, however....(I used to get them Barnes & Noble gift cards, but they got Kindles and don't buy paper books these days.)

I think this may be the year that no one gets more than one actual item for Christmas. I have already been given theater tickets. I think we are all getting mac $ only, maybe I will get him an item of clothing to go with. Parents and brother and brother-in-law are getting donations made in their names, plus food items, I think.

That's it. Like 1 present to wrap for each person and in most cases it will be a perishable gift so no actual things to be around. In fact for brother and brother in law, they will not be here so gifts will be shipped directly to them, so no wrapping at all.

I absolutely need to get an angel tree kid or two so I can have some actual fun buying things for someone.

I used to get them Barnes & Noble gift cards, but they got Kindles and don't buy paper books these days

B&N has a great DVD selection, lots of BBC stuff. They're were I picked up my Doctor Who DVDs, and they were able to order Happiness Patrol for me.

edit: And they've got most of the various BBC detective series.

I have no idea what to get anyone for Christmas and it's making me nuts. How is it so soon????