oddly enough

oddly enough

China warns teacher who let student hold parasol for her

BEIJING

A Chinese grade-school teacher was admonished Tuesday for letting a student hold a parasol for her on a school outing after photos of the incident drew overwhelming criticism on social media.

The Baoshan district education bureau in Shanghai said in a statement that it was reminding teachers that they must discipline themselves and care for their students.

Chinese officials long have had the privilege of having underlings hold umbrellas to shield them from the elements, but the practice — once seen as a symbol of status — has been derided by people who see it as an act of arrogance indicative of an authoritarian regime.

The photos of the small boy stretching up his arm to hold the parasol over his teacher’s head on a sunny day as she walked and then sat on a bench touched a nerve among the Chinese public, who responded with torrents of sarcasm and criticism, even after local media reported that the boy did it willingly.

Responding to public opinion, local education officials swiftly launched an investigation and announced their decision.

South Dakota town rolls the dice to decide next mayor

PLATTE, S.D.

A roll of the dice has determined who will be the next mayor in the South Dakota town of Platte.

Steve Christensen became the next mayor last Thursday after the town solved its too-close-to-call race with a game of chance.

Christensen and incumbent Mayor Rick Gustad split the vote in the April 14 election. An old state statute says certain elections can be determined by a high-card draw or a roll of the dice.

Gustad picked dice as his game of choice. KSFY-TV reports that Christensen rolled a seven to become Platte’s mayor for the next two years. Gustad rolled a four.

The two also ran against each other in 2013, with Gustad winning by six votes.

95-year-old man fights off would-be robber with cane

MANCHESTER, N.H.

Police say a 95-year-old World War II veteran used his cane to fight off a would-be robber in Manchester, N.H.

Arthur Kamberis was leaving a pharmacy Saturday when a man approached and reached for his wallet, which was in a zippered pocket. Kamberis started to fight him off and hit him several times with his cane. A passer-by helped Kamberis, and the attacker fled.

Kamberis wasn’t hurt, and the good Samaritan drove him home.

Kamberis told WMUR-TV, “I had my credit card, my license, my grandchildren’s pictures in there and all sorts of stuff it would have been wicked for me to replace.”

Police still are searching for the man and are circulating a surveillance photo.

Associated Press