Jockstrip: The world as we know it

THINGS WE DON'T UNDERSTAND

Keith Nitzschke fell behind on his child support payments so Iowa officials this month took $110 from a bank account in his name to begin making up the $2,000 in arrears.

Unfortunately it was a joint account with his son, Rylan, and the Des Moines Register reports it contained $220 that Rylan had earned doing chores to save up for a PlayStation2.

Keith Nitzschke could not make payments after losing his used-car salesman job but now he manages a furniture store and the state also is taking money from his paycheck.

At least two people have offered cash to the 11-year-old Rylan to help him in his quest for the video game system.

NEWS OF OTHER LIFE FORMS

Earlier we reported Katy, the 50-pound cat in the Urals of Russia, was trying to set the world's fat cat record and now we can tell you about Whitney, a pint-sized pooch animal trainer Trevor Smith hopes to propel into the spotlight as the smallest dog.

The Web site thisislocallondon.co.uk. says Whitney, a 1-year-old Yorkie from Essex, England, is 6 inches long and weighs a smidgen more than 26 ounces.

"The dog drinks out of an egg cup and eats her dinner out of a tiny bowl," Trevor says. "She is petrified of postmen and cats want to grab her."

Note to Trevor: Keep her away from Katy.

TODAY'S SIGN THE WORLD IS ENDING

A man in the Philippines tried to prove his fidelity to his wife by cutting off his penis, wrapping it in newspaper and giving it to her, the Philippine Star newspaper reports.

Police now have custody of the 3-inch severed penis, which the wife, Evelyn Palaganas Mamaril, 35, gave them after the incident last Saturday in which her husband tossed it through a window at her parents' house.

Outside, her estranged husband George reportedly shouted, "So you will not suspect I am courting another girl" as he fled the scene.

George still has not been located but the newspaper says police sought the help of an embalmer to preserve the important body part in a bottle.

AND FINALLY, TODAY'S UPLIFTING STORY

Some of the coolest views of Earth come from the International Space Station, which is snapping unique digital pictures, such as London at night.

The Web site is earthobservatory.nasa.gov/Newsroom/NewImages/images.php3?img_id=10929, but it might be just as easy to go to earthobservatory.nasa.gov/Newsroom and search under London. Other pictures also are available in an index.

The nighttime view of the British capital offers unique insight into the city's urban density and infrastructure as highlighted by electrical lighting.

Beyond are isolated bright areas marking numerous smaller cities and towns of the region. London's two major airports, Heathrow and Gatwick, show up as a particularly bright, sinuous stretch south of the city.