Dumbest man in Beijing?

I couldn't believe that someone could be so stupid as to smash the glass at the Beijing Capital International Airport and storm outside to where the planes were landing (Air rage man detained, June 12).

Ok, so he'd been waiting for four hours because of a thunderstorm. That would make anyone angry. But seriously, what did he think would happen when he organized people to attack the boarding gate? Did he really think that the airport and the pilot would agree to risk everybody's lives and have the plane fly through a storm, just because he was upset?

Clearly he wasn't thinking. But it doesn't matter how angry you get, you can't lose your temper like that. It leads to the worst kinds of stupidity. I'm surprised he only received a 500 yuan ($78.5) fine.

Some airports would have thrown the book at him. They also might have done unspeakable things to him using rubber gloves and a small white room.

If I'd been in charge of the airport, I'd have sent out a press release that included his name and photo, with the heading: Dumbest man in Beijing.

Charlie Stevens, by e-mail

What happens after gaokao?

So all over China, students have been furiously studying for their final exams (Beijing tested, June 8). I can't help but wonder what these students will do to relax after taking the gaokao (national college entrance examinations).

These kids have suffered more than their fair share; far more than Western students endure when preparing for their final exams. Yet Western students usually get the chance to go a little crazy after their exams and let off some steam. Some of them drink alcohol and party with friends (even though technically speaking, that's not exactly legal for most Western teenagers), while others go on short holidays.

In fact over there it's pretty common for newspapers to go a little paranoid and start reporting on the drunken crazed-teen menace stalking the streets (though as far as I'm concerned, it's healthy for them to get up to a little mischief after the stress they've been under).

I find myself wondering how Chinese teenagers will relieve that intense stress, because I sure haven't seen any news reports of drunken Chinese teenagers roaming the streets.

Joshua McIntyre, by e-mail

Snakes on a plain

After reading about a snake biting a dog (Snake bites dog, capital rattled, June 12) and snakes being mercy-released into locations near villages, I couldn't help but be amused. I know it's a serious issue and my heart goes out to Naonao and his owner, but the image of people taking big bags of snakes out into the countryside and obliviously setting them loose strikes the funny bone.

Are we sure they were just mercy-releases?

It strikes me as an effective way to get revenge on that snake-phobic neighbor you've always hated, though I certainly don't advocate it.

I just hope there aren't any dogs, chickens or any other snake-meal-sized animals that get caught in the crossfire.

Kobe Li, by e-mail