RENT-A-FRIEND COMPANIES POPULAR IN JAPAN: Japanese rent-a-friend companies allow people to pay for pretend friends, relatives, work colleagues, or even best men. Sometimes single mothers hire fake husbands so kids stop bullying their children at school for having absent fathers. TheFirstPost.co.uk reports that the "agents" are trained to know an extensive backstory since if rentees give any hint that they're aren't really the people they're pretending to be, it could mess up the clients' lives. Prices average around $250 per appearance.

ADVICE FOR THE KARAOKE-PHOBIC

If you usually say no when your invited to a karaoke bar or if you do tag along but hang in the back of the room, we've got some advice for you.

Raina Lee, author of "Hit Me With Your Best Shot: The Ultimate Guide to Karaoke Domination" offers the following tips to LemonDrop.com:

1. Ham it up - So what if you can't sing? The audience will love you as long as you make up for it with an all out performance. Show off your dance moves, flirt like crazy and serenade the shyest member of the audience.
2. If you can't sing it, say it - It's corny but it works: instead of singing the song, just speak the words in a dramatic, comic or at least just plain interesting manner. It's worked for William Shatner on sappy ballads and for B-52's lead singer, Fred Schneider on songs like "Love Shack." Be as campy as you wanna be.
3. Chooses your songs wisely - Sing only the songs you absolutely love and know really well (including the verses, not just the chorus!) That way you can concentrate on your dance moves instead of being glued to the scrolling lyrics on the screen. Also, make sure to pick songs that are fairly well-known so your friends can sing along.
4. Don't pick a song that's too long - Even if you're a great singer, you still might end up making the crowd restless with songs like "Bohemian Rhapsody" and "American Pie."
5. Hold the liquor - it seems like having a few drinks would help you get over stage fright, but the truth is your voice will dry out with alcohol and with too many drinks you'll just make a fool out of yourself. Make 2 cocktails your limit and then switch to water.
6. Mind your manners - Here are some standard rules of etiquette for the karaoke bar.

• DON'T repeat a song someone else has already sung.
• DON'T hog the mic, storm the stage, or invite yourself to a duet without the original singer's permission.
• DON'T ever heckle.
• DO applaud more enthusiastically than is necessary.
• DON'T take yourself too seriously. This is karaoke, not "Fame."
• DO commiserate with the hottie at the end of the bar over your shared love of "Cabaret."
• DON'T cut the line or try to bribe the karaoke master into letting you sing ahead of others.

HOW TO BECOME FAMOUS (eHow.com)

• Lots of time to spend online: To become famous, you're going to have to give people a reason to care about you or what you're doing. Is there something unique about you, your work or your interests? Do you have a special insight into something that a lot of people are interested? Basically, you need to figure out what you have to offer the world.
• Next, you need a gimmick: Several people have gotten famous online solely off a gimmick, but it's rarely been a lasting fame. You could be the guy that straps a webcam on his head just because that's his gimmick (what's his name?), or you could use that gimmick to get more people interested in what you have to offer, creating a much wider audience.
• Once you've got your mission and your gimmick, it's time to get going: Dedicate as much time as you can to your pursuit of fame. Blog, post on other blogs, upload YouTube videos and go viral with as much content about you as possible. You need to literally flood the Internet to get even a trickle of fame.
• Network with other blogs and build a community around yourself wherever you can: Host chats, setup a forum about yourself, let everyone know what's up with you using Facebook, Twitter, Myspace, etc.
• Digg yourself and use whatever other free promotion tools you can: Consider advertising with Google Adsense or another service if you can afford it.
• Consider branching out into other media, pitch stories about your celebrity to traditional print, broadcast and other outlets: Give lectures, readings, throw parties or host other events to get your name out there.
• Hire an agent and take over the world: So long, Oprah!

OFFICE BATHROOM ETIQUETTE (MSN.com)

Flush the toilet

• She says: It's a pretty simple lesson you learned when you were three years young. No one wants to see what you made in the potty, so when you're done, flush it down.
• He says: Luckily, guys can often avoid going into the stalls and thus dodge this issue completely. There are times, however, when the stall is the only option, and it's fair to say flushing benefits everyone, regardless of gender.

Talking across stalls

• She says: This one could be personal preference rather than etiquette. Can you please wait until we're washing our hands to ask about my weekend?
• He says: This goes for the urinals, too. If it's just two friends in the restroom, it might not be so bad, but once someone else enters, silence is best. Not everyone wants to hear about what you did this weekend -- it's like talking loudly in your cubicle, only more awkward.

Dripping on the seat

• She says: I'm pretty sure this is another lesson we learned back in kindergarten. I understand that many women don't like to fully sit on the toilet seat for fear of germs. But doesn't it make you a hypocrite to leave your urine splattered on the seat for the next person to enjoy?
• He says: Guys are just as guilty, though I dare say it's less about germs and more about carelessness. Whatever the reason, clean up!

"That time of the month"

• She says: Without going into too much detail, every woman knows the rules when it comes to our favorite time of the month. Wrap it up and throw it away. Enough said.
• He says: Um, TMI. Most of us probably have not had to deal with this in a men's room (though unisex restrooms are a different story).

Oh, and, wash your hands

• She says: I know where your hands just were -- you could at least pretend to wash them. What would your boss think if he knew you just shook his hand after using the restroom, fixing your hair and adjusting your undergarments? Wash up, people!
• He says: Yes. A million times yes. I know that we can maneuver carefully and take a trip to the restroom without touching anything other than our belt, but we should still wash our hands. The worst offense remains when a guy comes out of the stall, fixes his hair and straightens his clothes, then walks right out the door. A few seconds of soap and water can kill germs and save co-worker anxiety.

Leave the sales pitch outside

• He says: Bathroom chitchat should be kept to a minimum, and I don't think much more than a "Hey" should be exchanged in most situations. A true party foul, however, occurs when you try to network, make a business transaction or introduce yourself in the restroom. The last thing I want to do near the sinks is take your business card or shake your hand.
• She says: This must be a guy thing, because most girls don't hear about a business opportunity other than happy hour mentioned in the bathroom.

Choose your reading material carefully

• He says: If you're the kind of guy who likes to catch up on the morning news while you visit the restroom, that's your business. But please don't enter the stall with a stack of documents that you might be passing out to colleagues later. When you put a memo in front of me, all I'll be thinking is, "Was this on the bathroom floor?"
• She says: Bringing reading material to the bathroom is a dude's deal, not to mention highly revolting. It's like telling the whole office what you're about to do. Most females get in and get out, so no reading material is necessary.

Don't get towel greedy

• He says: By now you should be environmentally conscious, so using 10 paper towels when two will do is unacceptable. Not to mention it uses up the towel supply quickly and means I'll be the guy who has wet hands and nowhere to dry them.
• She says: You know what else towel greediness means? A wet spot on the front of my pants -- and in a place where you never want one. Seriously, at least in the women's restroom, there are usually towels around the sink area to absorb the extra water that we tend to splash around when (and if) washing our hands. When people overuse the towels and leave none left to absorb the extra liquid, my pants do that job instead when I lean against the sink to powder my nose. You're welcome, towel stealers.

• The initial numbers are indelible: 8:46 a.m. and 9:02 a.m. Time the burning towers stood: 56 minutes and 102 minutes. Time they took to fall: 12 seconds. From there, they ripple out.
• Total number killed in attacks (official figure as of 9/5/02): 2,819
• Number of firefighters and paramedics killed: 343
• Number of NYPD officers: 23
• Number of Port Authority police officers: 37
• Number of WTC companies that lost people: 60
• Number of employees who died in Tower One: 1,402
• Number of employees who died in Tower Two: 614
• Number of employees lost at Cantor Fitzgerald: 658
• Number of U.S. troops killed in Operation Enduring Freedom: 22
• Number of nations whose citizens were killed in attacks: 115
• Ratio of men to women who died: 3:1
• Age of the greatest number who died: between 35 and 39
• Bodies found "intact": 289
• Body parts found: 19,858
• Number of families who got no remains: 1,717
• Estimated units of blood donated to the New York Blood Center: 36,000
• Total units of donated blood actually used: 258
• Number of people who lost a spouse or partner in the attacks: 1,609
• Estimated number of children who lost a parent: 3,051
• Percentage of Americans who knew someone hurt or killed in the attacks: 20
• FDNY retirements, January - July 2001: 274
• FDNY retirements, January - July 2002: 661
• Number of firefighters on leave for respiratory problems by January 2002: 300
• Number of funerals attended by Rudy Giuliani in 2001: 200
• Number of FDNY vehicles destroyed: 98
• Tons of debris removed from site: 1,506,124
• Days fires continued to burn after the attack: 99
• Jobs lost in New York owing to the attacks: 146,100
• Days the New York Stock Exchange was closed: 6
• Point drop in the Dow Jones industrial average when the NYSE reopened: 684.81
• Days after 9/11 that the U.S. began bombing Afghanistan: 26
• Total number of hate crimes reported to the Council on American-Islamic Relations nationwide since 9/11: 1,714
• Economic loss to New York in month following the attacks: $105 billion
• Estimated cost of cleanup: $600 million
• Total FEMA money spent on the emergency: $970 million
• Estimated amount donated to 9/11 charities: $1.4 billion
• Estimated amount of insurance paid worldwide related to 9/11: $40.2 billion
• Estimated amount of money needed to overhaul lower-Manhattan subways: $7.5 billion
• Amount of money recently granted by U.S. government to overhaul lower-Manhattan subways: $4.55 billion
• Estimated amount of money raised for funds dedicated to NYPD and FDNY families: $500 million
• Percentage of total charity money raised going to FDNY and NYPD families: 25
• Average benefit already received by each FDNY and NYPD widow: $1 million
• Percentage increase in law-school applications from 2001 to 2002: 17.9
• Percentage increase in Peace Corps applications from 2001 to 2002: 40
• Percentage increase in CIA applications from 2001 to 2002: 50
• Number of songs Clear Channel Radio considered "inappropriate" to play after 9/11: 150
• Number of mentions of 9/11 at the Oscars: 26
• Apartments in lower Manhattan eligible for asbestos cleanup: 30,000
• Number of apartments whose residents have requested cleanup and testing: 4,110
• Number of Americans who changed their 2001 holiday-travel plans from plane to train or car: 1.4 million
• Estimated number of New Yorkers suffering from post-traumatic-stress disorder as a result of 9/11: 422,000

SIGNS YOU'RE GETTING OLD

None of us is getting any younger. But, there comes a point when we turn the corner and are officially "old."

Here are some tell-tale signs that you are becoming a geezer:

1. Early Bird Special -- Your dinner schedule is usually around 3 o'clock in the afternoon. Nobody else is eating, but you're getting a discount on your food.

2. Ear Hair -- At first it scares you, but you'll get used to it.

3. Fanny Packs -- Through the years, you've collected a lot of important stuff. Might as well carry it all with you. On your hip.

4. Exact Change -- When you stand at the counter of a convenience store and count out exact change, you know you've earned your old coot stripes.

Source: Man Couch

CANNONBALL RUN

A 54-year-old Uniontown, Pennsylvania, man was arrested after he accidentally fired a cannonball through the wall of his neighbor's home.

The two-pound ball traveled 400 yards before smashing through a window and a wall and eventually landing in a closet. Nobody inside the home was hurt.

William Maser -- a Pennsylvania history buff who recreates firearms -- was charged with reckless endangerment, criminal mischief and disorderly conduct.

(Originally reported by the AP)

SCRAPPY SENIOR

An 80-year-old man showed a would-be carjacker who was boss by kicking him where it counts.

The 21-year-old suspect -- Scott Loher -- had only been out of prison a few hours when he attempted to rob the tough senior.

Loher allegedly approached the man in the parking lot of a health and wellness center, screaming, "Give me the keys or I'll shoot the hell out of you!"

There was a brief scuffle that ended when the old-timer kicked his attacker in the groin. Loher ran off but was arrested a short time later. He admitted to attacking the elderly man and also fessed up to two other attempted carjackings made earlier in the day.

The victim suffered a bloody nose and a broken bone in his face during the assault. He was treated and released from the hospital, police said.

(Originally reported by the Philadelphia Intelligencer)

MAN LOSES PENIS AFTER IMPLANT SURGERY: A 62-year-old Miami man is suing his urologist, after losing his penis following implant surgery. The suit claims the man should have been warned not to have the surgery because as a diabetic he is at high risk of getting an infection following surgery. Unfortunately, that's exactly what happened and his penis had to be removed after it became gangrenous.  The man is suing for pain, suffering and unspecified damages, and his wife has also filed her own suit against the doctor. (Newsradio610 WIOD)

MONKEYS LIKE HARD ROCK: Monkeys seem to enjoy the sounds of hard rock. Researchers played a group of cotton-top tamarin monkeys a variety of musical types, such as jazz and classical, and found that they only reacted when they heard the loud, fast-paced sounds of a band like Metallica. Instead of banging their heads, however, the heavy metal made the simians appear calm and content.

MOST ANNOYING ROAD TRIP PERSONALITIES

According to Maxim, here are some annoying road trip personalities:

• The Sing-Along Guy -- He can't sing, but still does.
• The Girlfriend Talker -- He's whipped and spends tons of time on the phone with her.
• The Frequent Pee-er -- Usually female ... A combination of a tiny bladder and a low pain threshold.
• The Silent Farter -- It's going to be a long trip.

Source: Maxim.com

BANK REFUSES TO CASH ARMLESS MAN'S CHECK WITHOUT THUMBPRINT - A Florida man is upset that a bank refused to cash a check without an identifying thumbprint, something he cannot provide because he was born without arms. When the man told the bank manager that he couldn't give a thumbprint, the manager suggested he open an account with the bank. A bank spokesman said later that although the thumbprint is a requirement for cashing checks presented by people who don't have accounts at the bank, they should have made accommodations for the man. (TampaBays10.com)

NINE-YEAR-OLD BOY LEADS COPS ON HIGH SPEED CHASE: A 9-year-old boy who was mad at his parents for giving him an 8:00 p.m. bedtime, grabbed the family car and led cops on a 30-minute car chase. Duluth cops received a call of a possible drunk driver at around 11:30 p.m. Saturday, only to discover that the 2005 silver Chevrolet Aero traveling 80 miles per hour in the wrong direction was commandeered by the little boy. The cops were able to slow the car down by using a spiked strip to puncture the car's tires. The boy was arrested on charges of fleeing law enforcement. (UPI.com)