RILEY THE SMILING BIRTHDAY DOG

Here's one happy hound - Riley the dog couldn't stop SMILING when he got his first birthday cake.

His owner Maureen Ravelo grabbed a camera when her pooch broke out in a human-like beam upon being presented with the treat.

The pampered pet was celebrating at Maureen's home in San Jose, but it wasn't such a big surprise, according to 22-year-old Maureen, the bichon fries/poodle mix thinks he's a person.

Maureen says: "Riley always makes faces like this, and that's the best part about him. He gives you a new facial expression every time that you forget he's a dog.

"Ever since he came into my family's life, we've always thought he had oddly human-like features, which have been captured on camera on more than one occasion. "He looks like an old man!" My mom always says.

"The most unique part about him is he thinks he's human like us. He loves to sit up on chairs while we're eating dinner in the kitchen and he even sleeps in our beds at night. Sometimes, I wonder if he realises he's really a dog.

"Sometimes he'll be curious and follow you around with a face that says "What are you doing?" or "Can I come with you?" Other times, he'll be lying on the floor half-asleep giving you a snobbish look saying, "Thanks for waking me up" and then continue snoozing.

"My family and I are happy that we get to share Riley's goofy smile with the world. If ever you're having a bad day, remember there's a dog out there smiling over his birthday cake!"

UPDATE: Motorist pushed along at 60mph by big truck relives ordeal

A motorist who was shunted sideways and pushed along a motorway at 60mph when her car was hit by a lorry, has told how she thought she was going to die. Rona Williams' car was trapped under the bumper of the tanker and pushed along the A1(M) near Wetherby, West Yorkshire, until the driver saw her. Mrs Williams, 31, of York, said she called 999 and told an operator: "I'm going to die".

Mrs Williams' Renault Clio was clipped by the lorry and twisted sideways, trapping it under the front bumper. The vet, who works at a practice in Garforth, was not injured in the incident. She said she feared the Arclid Transport HGV would ram her into the crash barrier and kill her so she tried calling for help on her mobile phone.

Mrs Williams said: "I just screamed at the operator 'I'm going to die, I'm going to die - can you do something?' She tried to calm me down but there wasn't really anything she could do at the end of the phone."

In a bid to release her vehicle, she said she pulled on the handbrake and flashed her hazard lights to try to catch the driver's attention, as well as that of other road users, but she said it took the lorry driver nearly a minute to notice her. When he did he was "all over the place", Mrs Williams said, and finally managed to bring both vehicles to a stop on the hard shoulder.

West Yorkshire Police confirmed it had received a 999 call from Mrs Williams and had attended the scene of the crash on 13 January. It added that a call from a witness had also been made. A police spokesperson said an investigation into the incident had been re-opened after it was initially dealt with as a damage only collision.

Wife wins $9 million from husband's mistress

Cynthia Shackelford's story could have been no different than that of any other aggrieved wife: The North Carolina woman, 60, thought her husband Allan was deeply in love with her. Then came his late nights at the office and suspicious charges on his credit card and cell phone bills. And finally, a private investigator confirmed what she had feared: Her husband, she said, was having an affair.

But Shackelford's story has a $9 million twist. Under centuries-old North Carolina case law, Shackelford sued her husband's alleged mistress, Anne Lundquist, for "alienation of affection," charging that the woman broke up her 33-year marriage.

Last week, Shackelford won. A jury awarded her $5 million in compensatory damages and $4 million in punitive damages to be paid by Lundquist.

"She set her sights on him. ... She knew he was married," Shackelford said of Lundquist. "You don't go after married men and break up families."

JOKE: An American tourist in Mexico

An American tourist in Mexico saw a donkey rental place and decided to try it.

"I want to rent a donkey," he said.

The proprietor replied, "We don't call them donkeys here--they're asses. And the only ass I have left is a little weird. You have to scratch him to make him stop."

"No big deal," thinks the American and takes his new ass for a spin. Seeing a hotdog stand, he stopped and ordered a hotdog.

The proprietor replied, "We don't call them hotdogs here--they're wieners." Meanwhile, his donkey started to wander off.

He turned to another tourist and asked, "Would you mind holding my wiener while I scratch my ass?"