The world's oldest man, Japan's Tomoji Tanabe, turned 113 years old last Thursday. That's like a baby born this year living until 2121. The closest I've ever been to that number is blowing my ears out to a scratchy cassette of 2112 by Canadian rock band Rush -- phew, cross another one off the list of 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die.

Tanabe credits his longevity to a hearty appetite that strictly avoids alcohol, cigarettes and snacks. I've got the first two down, but often fail miserably on the snacks. He also rises early each morning, reads a daily newspaper and drinks milk every afternoon.

It doesn't hurt that Tanabe lives in a nation with one of the world's longest life expectancies -- 85 years for women and 79 years for men. The Japanese diet is rich in rice, fish and veggies. Now what I'm wondering is did/does Tanabe exercise?