SPRINGFIELD – John Knort from Springfield, Illinois, yesterday celebrated his 190th birthday. He is the oldest living human on earth.

John was happy to see friends turn up yesterday on his birthday party, because most of his family already died a century ago. He was also greeted by local reporters and curious neighbors alike.

"Just what makes you continue living?" was the question on everyone's mind, asked by Cindy, who works in a local flower store. She delivered 190 red roses, paid by the community.

John, with a big grin, said "I drink a glass of wine everyday. And I keep interested in things. My dog makes me take a walk, and so I get to do some sports. Eating raw fish, along with some rice, does wonders as well."

John further continued to describe how he drinks a glass of wine everyday, and goes to take walks with his dog. He also mentioned that his mind sometimes makes him repeat things and this would certainly annoy family members, if he still had some.

Mr. Knox, as most people close to him like to call John, managed to collect an enormous amount of memorabilia over the ages.

"I still keep some things from the time when was 14, 15 years old. I have an autograph of German poet Goethe, who I met shortly before his death. I have a really old revolver, the second design by Samuel Colt shortly after he patented his invention. Mostly any stuff, even everyday things I kept, are worth a fortune by now."

Does John have any wisdom to pass on to the young ones of today? Another toothless grin, and a snappy answer: "I stopped caring about young people in around the 1920s... they started making too much noise."

By FakeToday correspondent Philipp Lenssen (9/2/2004).