Chewy Becomes American

ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — Best known as the furry Chewbacca, 7-foot-3 British actor Peter Mayhew is now a naturalized American. Mayhew softly recited the oath to become a U.S. citizen Monday, with his raised right hand trembling slightly.
 
  Mayhew decided to pursue his U.S. citizenship after marrying a Texan, but joked that he'll keep his Wookie passport. 
By Matt Slocum, AP

He was among more than 450 people from 56 countries who became naturalized Americans in a ceremony in Arlington.

"I'll have a British passport, an American passport and a Wookiee passport," joked Mayhew, alluding to the interplanetary traveler from Kashyyyk he played.

Mayhew autographed dozens of fabric U.S. flags and citizenship packets before the ceremony and posed with immigration officials afterward.

The former English hospital worker said he decided to seek American citizenship when he got married "to a Texan lady." Mayhew and his wife wed six years ago. His wife, Angelique, was beside him, with a drawing depicting Chewbacca, a background of the American flag and Union Jack and the words "Citizen Wookiee."

"Well it was a natural thing being married to a Texan," said Mayhew, wearing black slacks and jacket. "I wanted to become an American because Texas is an integral part of America, its lifestyle."

In most cases, an immigrant must be a legal permanent resident for five years before becoming a citizen. The wait is three years if the person marries a U.S. citizen. Candidates also must pass history, English and civics exams.

"You have to do obviously some research, but the questions are easy enough if you think about them," Mayhew said of his citizenship test, adding that he picked up much of his knowledge of American history and culture over more than a decade of living in the U.S.

Mayhew was born in Barnes, England, and now lives in Granbury, Texas, west of Dallas-Fort Worth. He makes appearances at science fiction conventions around the country.

His film career was launched in 1977 as the role of the Minotaur in Sinbad and the Eye of the Tiger. He had been working as an orderly at London's King's College Hospital when he was featured in a newspaper article about men with large feet, which caught the eye of the movie's producers.

This Smells Odd

When a man attempted to siphon gasoline from a motor home
parked on a Seattle street, he got much more than he
bargained for. Police arrived at the scene to find an
ill man curled up next to a motor home trying to steal
gasoline and plugged his hose into the motor home's
sewage tank by mistake. The owner of the vehicle
declined to press charges, saying that it was the best
laugh he'd ever had.

Man prefers jail to wife's nagging

A man sentenced to nine months house arrest begged a judge to jail him instead because he couldn't stand his wife's nagging.

Algerian Ahmed Salhi, 24, was sentenced to a nine month curfew at home with his Italian wife in Ferrara, northern Italy.

But he went back to court after a week and begged the judge to jail him because he could not bear her nagging.

Salhi was sentenced to nine months house arrest after breaching immigration regulations.

But he turned up at his local courtroom and begged to be taken into custody because he said he could no longer stand living with her, and would rather be behind bars, Corriere della Sera reported.

He said: "I need some peace."

A local court agreed to the Salhi's request and he has been jailed for the rest of his sentence.

Headlines - October, 7, 2005

• Grandmother of eight makes hole in one

• Deaf mute gets new hearing in killing

• Defendant's speech ends in long sentence

• Asbestos suit pressed

• Doctor testifies in horse suite

• Complaints about NBA referees growing ugly

• Police begin campaign to rundown jaywalkers

• Tuna biting off Washington coast 

And finally...

• 10 Revolting officers executed
  
  
  
  

Today's Headlines - Thurs. Oct. 6, 2005

• Panda Mating Fails; Veterinarian Takes Over

• Lung Cancer in Women Mushrooms

• Eye Drops off Shelf

• Stolen Painting Found by Tree

• Never Withhold Herpes Infection From Loved One

• Red Tape Holds Up New Bridge

•  Man Struck by Lightning Faces Battery Charge

• Safety Experts Say School Bus Passengers Should Be Belted

  
  
  
  
  

Today's Headlines - Wed. October 5, 2005

(as written & reported by DWR)

• Latest study links excess pasta consumption in males between the ages of 42 - 42 1/2 to an increased risk of visceral smegmulation.
• Studies show that young boys who ride the bus to school, arrive just in time for various events to take place.
• According to the National Artichoke Research Foundation (C.H.O.K.E.), asphyxiation is more likely a result of lost luggage than anything else.
• New Orleans has sustained more rainfall in the past two months than it has at other times.
• Cold wave linked to temperatures.
• Blind woman gets new kidney from dad she hasn't seen in years.
• Something went wrong in jet crash, experts say.
• Death causes loneliness, feeling of isolation.
• War dims hope for peace.
• Organ festival ends in smashing climax.
• Queen Mary having bottom scraped.
• Iraqi head seeks arms.
• Typhoon rips through cemetery - hundreds dead.