“An Anchorage endodontist performed a root canal on a big tooth in a very big patient — a full-grown Siberian tiger. Dr. Doug Luiten worked on 300-pound Kunali — measuring nearly 7 feet from backside to nose — Thursday at the Alaska Zoo. “It’s the longest tooth I’ve ever worked on,” Luiten said of more than three-inch canine. The zoo had to order some special instruments to accommodate the longer tooth, and even had to modify those during the root canal. Kunali was not restrained, and didn’t wake up during the hour-long procedure thanks to anesthesia administered by Dr. David Brunson, a visiting veterinarian from Madison, Wis. ‘He was a good boy, he handled things well,’ Brunson said. Hours after the procedure, Alaska Zoo Executive Director Pat Lampi said 7-year-old Kunali was doing fine. “It couldn’t have gone any better today, it was perfect,” said Dr. Riley Wilson, the zoo’s veterinarian.” w/ photo

“Shaolin monks put their deadly kung fu skills to the test in a series of challenges to other temples – on who are the best fire-fighters. The monks – in their traditional orange robes – took on other Buddhist sects in Hangzhou, Zhejiang province, eastern China, in a contest to see who’s the fastest at putting out a blaze. The contests started because government run fire fighting services are often too slow and unreliable to protect temples lit by thousands of candles. “By the time they get there it would be too late so we have to take the Buddha’s will into our own hands.” w/ photo

“Jennifer Coll was doing her morning prayers while driving to work when a sledgehammer smashed through her windshield and smacked her in the face. Miraculously, the Loveland woman survived with a bruised and cut face that required some stitches. The 60-year-old woman was driving to work Friday on a rural two-lane road. As she always does, Coll said she was praying during her commute. Suddenly, her eye caught something twirling through the air toward her. “In slow motion, it’s like a film,” she told 7NEWS Sunday. She remembered the sound, “like an explosion and then excruciating pain.” An unsecured two-pound sledgehammer had bounced off the back of a truck, crashed through the windshield of Coll’s car and struck her in the face. Bloody and stunned, the woman somehow pulled her car over. “All I could think of is, ‘I’m worse than Halloween,’ she joked.” w/ photo + video

“Police arrested a Prescott Valley man after he allegedly robbed two men to pay a friend’s bail. Police officers responded to an apartment in the 8800 block of Len Court Sunday morning where witnesses said Brandon Marshall Abraham physically assaulted two men and threatened them for money and goods. Abraham, 31, was upset that his friend was arrested earlier at the same apartment and wanted money and items to pawn to pay his friend’s bail, according to Sgt. Brandon Bonney with the Prescott Valley Police Department. Bonney said the victims were in fear and gave Abraham more than $600 in money and property. Officers caught Abraham loading the goods and arrested him. Abraham denied forcing the victims to give him the money and property. He also refused to speak with investigators when confronted with conflicting stories about the events.” w/ photo

“A failed thief tried to steal a bronze statue of Ronald Reagan from a park in California, leaving the American president hanging halfway. In Bonita Canyon Sports Park, where the statue of the former president had only been up for a month, locals witnessed the leaning statue in the early morning. It was reported that the thieves tied rope around the statue with the intention of driving away with it, but the pick-up truck and a second vehicle said to have been used did not work. ‘This is a sad and pathetic example of vandalism,’ said Newport Beach City Councilman Keith Curry. ‘Whether by thieves or the intolerant criminal left, the matter will be investigated and we will prosecute to the full extent of the law.’ There had been much controversy surrounding the construction of the statue, as may protested against its creation and positioning within the park.” w/ photo

“Vending machines are used for everything from candy and chips to sodas to personal items. Now add meat to the list. Called ‘The Smart Butcher,’ the machine was cooked up by two businessmen in Alabama. It features the New York strip, ribeye, pork chops, and a lot more. Amir Sagani, manager at Little Mart in Odenville, says he jumped at the chance to have the machine put in his store. ‘The owner of this machine he came down here to me and said that if I want to try the machine here, it’s a new concept, I said, sure why not,’ said Sagani who sells about 10 to 20 items a day. And one of the biggest selling points? Affordability.” w/ photo + video

“Residents of a village in China have been left astounded by a knotweed that looks like the body of a voluptuous woman. Pulled straight from the ground in Anshun, Guizhou province, the knotweed appeared to have thick protruding roots in areas that looked all too familiar to the man who found it. The buxom vegetation can be seen apparently posing in a confident fashion with two legs, folded arms, two big eyes and a nose – but, most noticeably, rather appropriately positioned bosoms. The local man who discovered the 16 inch long, 13lbs knotweed showed villagers, who were stunned at the uncanny resemblance.” w/ photo

“A New Zealand man has appeared in court after he was arrested for ‘stealing’ a haircut following a drinking session. Trevor Crampton, 56, from Hastings, told a judge he knew nothing of the offense until he looked in the mirror the following morning. He appeared in Hastings District Court to plead guilty to one charge of obtaining a $20 haircut by deception, reports Hawkes Bay Today. Crampton admitted drinking heavily before entering a hair salon in Hastings, about 2pm. After being given a haircut, he told staff he didn’t have any money. Police arrived at the salon and said he “made no sense” when questioned. Asked by Judge Bridget Mackintosh if he could explain his drunken antics, Crampton replied: ‘Actually the first I knew about it was the next morning when I looked in the mirror.” w/ photo

“A lingerie chain is under fire in Sweden after allegedly making female employees wear name tags displaying their breast size. The company, Change, says the scheme is voluntary and intended to help shoppers choose the right size for their purchases. But workers complain they are pressured to wear the tags which show both the wearer’s bust circumference and cup size. One worker complained: “We have dirty old men coming into the shop looking at my cup size. “Why should everyone get to know that? Guys selling underwear don’t have to show their size.” Susann Haglund, CEO of Change, said the tags had originally been suggested by the employees themselves. They were intended to aid customers in their choice by showing them what size might be right for what body shape.” w/ photos

“When motorcycling lover Alan Valkeith went out on the road, there was one – big and furry – thing that he really missed. And so rather than leave his pet dog at home, the 62-year-old found the perfect solution for the St Bernard – a sidecar. Not only that but the appropriately named Harley also has Doggles and a specially-made crash helmet. ‘As soon as I make a move to go in the garage, he’s there, wanting to get in the bike,’ Mr Valkeith said. ‘I don’t like leaving a dog on its own at home, especially with a St Bernard. They have to be with someone or another animal, otherwise they fret.’ Harley was given Doggles to protect him from the sun while on the Honda Gold Wing 1200. Mr Valkeith also bought a helmet and remoulded the polystyrene inside to make it fit his 17-month-old pet’s head.” w/ photo