It all began 30 years ago today. The mother lode of all spam - the bane of everyone's online existence - was first sent out via the U. S. Defense Department's Arpanet by a salesman named Gary Thuerk. The first junk mail or "Spam" as we know it today, was an invitation for a demo of the new system-20 mini computers being marketed by the Digital Equipment Corp.

A man was charged after he mistakenly left a store without paying for a case of soda. After paying $157. 20 at a self-checkout counter, Tom Sturgis forgot to ring up his sodas, and was walking out of the store when security approached him and demanded to see his receipt.

A security guard was terminated from employment after he stopped a teenager from attempting to steal alcohol, because he allegedly went against the company policy that only selected officers could deal with shoplifting situations. Dean Babcock, a 54-year old former policeman who is now a security guard at a local Targer, said that Monday he spotted a 16-year old girl attempting to steal a bottle of tequila worth $45. Upon closer inspection, Babcock identified the girl as the same one who security cameras caught stealing a bottle of rum a few days earlier.

Palau President Thomas Remengesau Jr. extended his stay Thursday at Philippine International Airport for 12 hours when he refused to be frisked by staff of Continental Airline, which was the standard aviation procedure, officials said. Remengesau refused to undergo a body frisking procedure at Ninoy Aquino International Airport Wednesday evening prior to boarding a Continental Airline flight.

Heavily-armed robbers posing as policemen stole cash and a service vehicle from a mobile phone distribution company in Quezon City, east of the Philippine capital of Manila on Monday morning during a "raid" against violators of intellectual property rights. Reports say the eight "policemen," wearing bull caps with "Pulis" (police) and "PNP" (Philippine National Police) markings, introduced themselves to the store owner and said they were conducting a "raid" against sellers of fake mobile phones from China.