NEWS LITE : GLENN OFFERS TIPS ON AGING TO JAPANESE.

Astronaut John Glenn - the oldest man ever in space - shared his secret for staying active with the Japanese on Monday: daily exercise and a positive attitude.

``The elderly have just as many hopes, dreams and ambitions as everyone else,'' Glenn - flanked by his colleagues from the space shuttle Discovery - told a news conference at the Japan National Press Club.

Glenn and five other crew members were in Japan on a trip to promote international links for the U.S. space program. They were joined by fellow crew member Chiaki Mukai, Japan's first female astronaut.

When asked if he suffered from age-related memory loss, Glenn joked, ``I can't remember,'' before urging the Japanese - who have the world's longest live expectancy - to stay active in old age.

``I don't think we have to act old just because the calendar says we're old,'' Glenn said.

Brush upon papal proprieties

What would you do if you happened to encounter Pope John Paul II during his visit to St. Louis? Would you genuflect and kiss his ring?

Or would you slap him on the back and tell him he is doing a fine job, as a certain former vice president did?

``It was a certain young vice president from Indiana who shall remain nameless,'' said the Rev. John Myler of Holy Family Catholic Church in Cahokia,Ill., referring, of course, to Dan Quayle. ``It is a true story and is probably the best example of what not to do.''

Myler said the vice president struggled with what to say and even practiced beforehand. But the moment the pontiff walked through the door, a pope faux pas was born.

``He slapped him heartily on the back, all the while saying, `Hey, you're doing a fine job, just a fine job,' '' Myler said.

The pope took the greeting in stride. ``He just smiled and nodded,'' Myler said.

And the more obvious don'ts? ``Don't ask the pope for his autograph and don't ask him to pose for a photo with your Uncle Harry,'' Myler said.

Davis feels passion for being playwright

After a long career as an actor, 81-year-old Ossie Davis wants to get back to what drew him to show business in the first place - writing.

``I wanted to write for the theater,'' Davis said at a weekend National Association for the Advancement of Colored People meeting in his hometown, Homerville, Ga.

``It was the thing I loved and wanted to do. I left home to go to school to do that. I'm still trying to do that,'' he said.

Davis has written only one Broadway play - the 1970 musical ``Purlie,'' which was nominated for a Tony. He has had several plays produced off-Broadway, but is better known as an actor.

McCartney ad asks parents to tune in

Sir Paul McCartney is looking for some parental guidance. The former Beatle took out newspaper ads Monday ridiculing a ``parental guidance'' warning on his late wife Linda's new album because there is an obscenity in one song.

In the tongue-in-cheek ads headlined, ``Parents! We need your guidance,'' McCartney calls on parents to listen to the song, ``The Light Comes from Within,'' and decide ``whether your children will be morally corrupted.''

The song was recorded last March, a month before Linda McCartney died of breast cancer at age 56.

Directors pick '98 top crop

Hours after taking best dramatic picture and director Golden Globes for ``Saving Private Ryan,'' filmmaker Steven Spielberg was nominated by the Directors Guild of America for top motion picture of 1998.

The DGA nominations Monday also included Roberto Benigni for ``Life is Beautiful,'' Terrence Malick for ``The Thin Red Line,'' John Madden for ``Shakespeare in Love'' and Peter Weir for ``The Truman Show.''

During Sunday night's Golden Globes in Beverly Hills, ``Shakespeare In Love'' won the best comedy film and screenplay awards.

``This group of nominees truly embodies the concept of outstanding directorial achievement. Each nominee has a distinct style and a unique creative vision, and they are all worthy representatives of the best of the art and craft of motion picture directing,'' said DGA first vice president Martha Coolidge.

The winner of the DGA award also has taken the directing Oscar all but four times since the DGA prize was first presented in 1949. The last person to win the DGA prize and not repeat at the Academy Awards was Ron Howard, for 1995's ``Apollo 13.''

The DGA award will be presented during the group's 51st annual dinner March 6 at the Century Plaza Hotel in Los Angeles.

offbeat 

A city councilman in Sanibel, Fla., posted Playgirl-style photos of himself on the Internet, angering some residents in this conservative seaside community. Andrew Reding, 44, said he was looking for companionship and sees nothing wrong with the photos, which are digitally altered to include a strategically placed white square. Furthermore, Sanibel and his connection to the town are not mentioned.

News Lite is compiled by Audrey Ramsey Prest from Daily News staff and wire reports

CAPTION(S):

2 photos

PHOTO (1) Astronaut John Glenn, center, speaks Monday at the Japan National Press Club in Tokyo.

Itsuo Inouye/Associated Press

(2) A 33-foot-tall stainless steel sculpture of the Virgin Mary is raised by two cranes in St. Louis, which is preparing for the pope's visit.

Cliff Schiappa/Associated Press