The Americans blow in like a whirlwind. Loud. Taking up space. One of them can speak Chinese. We know because he feels the need to give his order in the loud baritone of Americans abroad. In an intense loud, fast exchange we learn of their latest business venture, the gossip, who’s a PITA and a comparison of Starbucks to McDonalds. Then, whoosh! They’re gone. Silence. The insipid jazz and disconnected prose drip from the walls and creep into the remaining vacuum. Equilibrium is restored. Peace.

The BBC is reporting that Disney, after more than a decade of negotiations, has finally got the go ahead from the Beijing government to buy land in Shanghai for a Disneyland. Wonder if they’ll cave on smoking like they did in Hong Kong.