The New York Times reports on an adoptive mom moving from the old capital of the world to the new one. She's leaving New York City to start a new life in Shanghai with her 12-year-old daughter. And she's not a half-bad writer, either.

Sometimes, the French Concession sounds like the place to be - especially the bit about the landlord giving you presents. I've never had a landlord give me presents. Maybe a Christmas card, once. The bits about walking the dog in a country where they're not used to having dogs as pets is pretty funny, too.

So, one more check in the "reasons to live in China for a while" column.

Another check - or at least a half-check - comes from the latest street-food coverage. (Wouldn't that be a great beat for an old-fashioned reporter to have?) Remember that story about the cardboard-and-caustic-soda stuffed buns I mentioned a week or so ago? it's being reported as a hoax now. Police have arrested the journalist behind the cardboard pork story, and the news station on which the story was broadcasted has apologized and said, in essence, "Hey, we don't really know that guy."

My inner cynic can't help but wonder if this is more of a case-in-point of the way the authorities persuade the media to behave. It's probably best not to speculate too much on that, though. And, knowing a few reporters, I know that sometimes we they take a few liberties with the facts in pursuit of a good story.

And some journalists just have something to prove - and thanks to one of them, the Forbidden City Starbucks has closed its doors. Rui Chenggang's quest has been a success, and the global coffee chain has been moved out of the World Heritage Site.

Sorry, double-venti half-decaf mochaccino lovers, but that's another check in the "pro" column for me. There are other locations in Beijing, don't fret.