The skinny
By Times Wires
Published September 19, 2007
On and on and ...
112 years old, he has no plans for hereafter
The world's oldest man celebrated his 112th birthday Tuesday, saying he hoped to live forever. Born Sept. 18, 1895, Tomoji Tanabe of Miyakonojo City, Japan, was named world's oldest male after the death of Emiliano Mercado Del Toro of Puerto Rico, who died in January at age 115. On Tuesday, the mayor of Miyakonojo City presented Tanabe with a bouquet and a letter of congratulations. When the mayor asked how many more years Tanabe wanted to live, Tanabe replied: "For infinity." A former city land surveyor who lives with his son and daughter-in-law, Tanabe keeps a diary, avoids alcohol and does not smoke. The world's oldest woman is 114-year-old Edna Parker of Shelbyville, Ind., according to Guinness World Records.
Suit after suit
In protest, senator takes on Almighty
The defendant in a Nebraska state senator's lawsuit is accused of causing untold death and horror and threatening to cause more still. He can be sued in Douglas County, the legislator says, because He's everywhere. State Sen. Ernie Chambers of Omaha sued God last week. Angered by another lawsuit he considers frivolous, Chambers says he's trying to make the point that anybody can file a lawsuit against anybody. Chambers says in his suit that God has made terroristic threats against him and his constituents, inspired fear and caused "widespread death, destruction and terrorization of millions upon millions of the Earth's inhabitants." The senator seeks a permanent injunction against the Almighty.
Forgetting to pay
Apparently, soda wasn't filling
The only convenience store in Robeline, La., decided to do something nice for the village's police officers: give them a free fountain drink or coffee at closing time. But somewhere along the way, investigators say, it got out of control. Now, all three of the village's officers are accused of stealing snacks. Surveillance tapes showed each officer going into the Shop-A-Lott at Lott Oil around closing time and filling plastic bags with dozens of bottled soft drinks, according to the Natchitoches Parish Sheriff's Office. The officers also are reportedly seen eating other snacks without paying.
Pizza and beer, please
No 5-star rating, but it'll have to do
After 104 years, the town of Zeeland, Mich. - population 6,000 - is welcoming beer and wine by the glass for the first time after voters lifted the ban in November. Business leaders say they hope allowing liquor licenses will help the city attract a fine-dining restaurant and spark new business activity downtown. For now they will have to settle for Vitale's Pizza, the only applicant for a liquor license. "We could be serving in six to eight weeks," co-owner Ryan Snyder told the Grand Rapids Press for a story Tuesday.
Compiled from Times wire services and other sources.