Because of the Spring/Summer animal love fest season, you've probably noticed a lot of sad, mewling, motherless kittens desperately screaming out for help in your compound. I've personally had quite a few friends come up to me asking me what to do when, hearts softened by these pitiful creatures, they've picked them up and taken them home. So, in order to give my friends - and all you potential foster parents - the most accurate info possible, we asked volunteers at Jaiya's Animal Rescue for a step-by-step process for helping strays. Here it is below:
Ask Shanghaiist: What should you do when you find a stray animal?
Introducing the Shanghaiist Forum
Shanghaiist, admittedly, doesn't venture into online forums too often. But we do realize they can be a valuable resource ... if used properly. Shanghaiist readers possess a wealth of knowledge and insights about this wonderful city we call home, and you deserve a platform on which you can impart that wisdom to the rest of the world. So, today we are proud to present to you the Shanghaiist Forum, where your voice can be heard. The Forum offers a different outlet than just commenting on posts -- in the Forum, you dictate the topics and where the conversations lead. It should be a nice complement to the rest of site.
Aged canines no help to the plight of the migrant worker
This Xinmin Evening News story (in Chinese) tells of Mr. Zhang, a labourer from outside of Shanghai, who arrived in our blurry city to find work. He correctly thought it was pretty cool to be a security guard, even if there is an element of risk involved. The recruitment methods of one company caught his eye, which effectively rents out guard dogs to other security companies and guards. If you are an employee of this company, you can earn an extra 200 RMB by simply recommending other people to fill positions as security guards. (Our pal Mr. Zhang earned 600 RMB this way.)
Road Trip: Hangzhou, Suzhou, Zhouzhuang and more
If you choose to undergo the necessary procedures for hiring a car, or even easier, borrowing a friends, then where to go?
Xiangyang Market plot to sell for US$450 million
That'll buy you a lotta Prada. The Shanghai Daily reports that Sun Hung Kai Properties, one of Hong Kong's largest property companies, is in in "final talks" to purchase the Xiangyang Market land from current owner Maxdo Group for RMB 3.6 billion. Sun Hung Kai is expected to invest a total of RMB 6 or 7 billion to turn the prime real estate into "office, retail and hotel space." The group already owns four other properties in Shanghai.
Watch? Bag? DVD? Not for much longer
In a crushing blow to faux fashion and a strong move to support intellectual property rights protection, the Shanghai Municipal Government has announced that Xiangyang Market will be closed by the end of 2006.
A shocking state of affairs
There are several things Shanghaiist hates about winter in this city. First, the rain (which had mercifully stayed away until yesterday's drizzle). Second, the number of people gloating of their imminent escape to a tropical beach resort in Southeast Asia. Third, getting dragged to hotpot restaurants because it’s the "done thing" when it gets cold. Come on, does anybody really like that stuff? Okay, so that special hotpot sauce is good. Damn good. But other than that we’re happy to avoid hotpot wherever possible. Note: this may be due to an eventful visit to such a restaurant in Changchun a few years ago when a corroded gas tube threatened to put an incendiary end to our meal (and our lives).
Skype 'optimistic' about future in China
In the latest news that may affect Shanghaiist's calls across the Pacific, Skype claims that it is in discussions with "Chinese operators" and is "optimistic" that SkypeOut will launch in China soon (we're not really sure what launching would entail, since we can already use SkypeOut here). Skype's chief also suggested that a supposed Skype-blocking-system released by a company in Atlanta is nothing but "vapourware." Ouch! The Financial Times has the story:
Shanghai's cost of living and central heating south of the Yangtze
Teachers' salaries, the burbs and long underwear

Mobile phone madness
Sending money out of China
Berry vs. Berry: Pushmail in China
Shanghaiist isn't quite sure how this will affect us, but we are pretty sure that our American readers should go throw eggs at the corporate offices of
Dog Year treats
Watch! Bag! Shoes! Looka Looka!
Hungry for turkey?
Camera conundrums?
Call abroad ... cheaply
Cheapest beers in town
The best suits in town

