Jockstrip: The world as we know it

THINGS WE DON'T UNDERSTAND

A smoking survey in Britain finds 77 percent of Britons believe it would be easier to give up sex for a month than kick the habit, the Mail online reports from London.

Only 3 percent of smokers try to quit as a New Year's resolution and a quarter of Britons think it actually is a good excuse to delay giving up.

The survey was released for the launch of a new campaign, "Smoke Free in 2003," which wants people to use this New Year as a focus for quitting smoking.

The survey found 63 percent of smokers had gone "cold turkey" or used willpower alone but 61 percent returned to smoking within a month.

NEWS OF OTHER LIFE FORMS

New Rotary Club rules in Britain create a clinical, politically correct Santa Claus who must have a "minder" to watch over him when he meets children, even if parents are present, the British Broadcasting Corp. reports.

The guidelines, which some say are a bit over the top, also say Father Christmas should only shake hands with children.

The interim rules, based on new child legislation, also say Santa should be located in a place open to public view rather than in an enclosed grotto.

Children also will be discouraged from sitting on Santa's knee or having any physical contact with him.

TODAY'S SIGN THE WORLD IS ENDING

Forget Chuck E. Cheese -- Michael Wong-Sasso turned 7 with a birthday party at a Los Angeles area dump.

A down and dirty affair for Michael and 40 of his little friends, reports the Los Angeles Times.

The kid is big on garbage trucks, rubbish bins and recycling and says he wants to be a garbage hauler when he grows up.

The children rolled toy dump trucks through a big pile of "clean" dirt that landfill operator Browning-Ferris Industries had set aside for the party-goers to romp in, the Times reports.

AND FINALLY, TODAY'S UPLIFTING STORY

The University at Buffalo undergraduate Student Association has pledged $25,000 over five years to a fund to help undergraduate students who are experiencing financial difficulties stay in school.

The Random Acts of Kindness Fund is one of only a few emergency relief programs in the country funded primarily by student donations to provide short-term assistance to students who face sudden changes that could prevent them from finishing school.

Whether the cause is a death in the family, illness or economic hardship, the fund will offer one-time cash gifts to the students to help them with rent, transportation and other expenses.

Any undergrad attending UB in New York state may apply for awards from the Random Acts of Kindness Fund. Awards will be given on an as-needed basis with no predetermined amount.