China Scene: North

Phantom tire slasher turns out to be professor

A professor from Beijing Institute of Clothing Technology hated seeing cars parked on the lawn near his house so he secretly slashed hundreds of tires, causing at least 10,000 yuan ($1,400) worth of damage.

Zhang Yuxiang was caught red-handed on Thursday night while slashing the tire of a man living in the Chaoyang district of Beijing. Security guards took him to the police station for further inquiries.

Zhang told police that people parking cars on the grass made him so angry he couldn't help himself from getting back at them. He was released on bail on Wednesday, pending further investigation.

(Beijing News)

Material girl has big expectations for adult life

A 6-year-old girl at a nursery school in Meihekou, Jilin province, wrote a love letter to a boy she knew to tell him that he should give her money, dote on her and buy her a Benz when they grew up.

Her teacher was surprised by the demands and asked where she had leaned about such things. The girl told her that she had learned from watching TV that it was normal behavior for women.

"Parents of children of her age should not allow their kids to watch too much TV because kids imitate what they see, regardless of whether they understand it or not," Zhao Hong, a psychologist, said.

(City Evening News)

(China Daily 04/09/2008 page6)