Jockstrip: The world as we know it

THINGS WE DON'T UNDERSTAND

Shahid Malik has set a new world record, wiggling free from a straightjacket while dangling 160 feet above Glasgow's George Square in Scotland.

The Glasgow Daily Record reports to add to the suspense, the rope holding Malik was burning during the feat. It took him just under 3 minutes to free himself.

Malik, 49, says he now plans a similar rope trick over the Grand Canyon.

Three men have died performing the burning rope stunt in the past 15 years, the paper says. The previous height record for the trick was 120 feet.

NEWS OF OTHER LIFE FORMS

Bird lovers John and Jane Reid hated cats -- and now are in court for kidnapping their neighbor's 3-year-old gray tortoiseshell cat Sophie.

The Daily Telegraph in London says Sophie went missing for seven weeks before being found, bedraggled and malnourished, in a nearby village.

Animal rights officials brought suit and the Reids deny the charges -- but the Canadian couple now reportedly is moving from the village of Tresillian because they were ostracized by neighbors.

The cat eventually was found and caught in a specially set trap after fending for itself in nearby woods, the paper says.

TODAY'S SIGN THE WORLD IS ENDING

Iran's justice system has issued a punishment of 74 lashes -- suspended -- to a popular actress who kissed a young film director on the forehead after presenting him an award.

Iran Daily and other media report Gohar Kheirandish last September violated the Islamic Republic's strict moral code that prohibits unmarried men and women from having any physical contact.

Kheirandish gave Ali Zamani, a student of her late husband, the best director's award and then gave him a kiss during the ceremony.

Zamani called the kiss "motherly" and Kheirandish apologized so she could get a suspended sentence.

AND FINALLY, TODAY'S UPLIFTING STORY

A majority of American museums have not been seriously affected by the nation's weakened economy, although 59 percent reported a decline in overall revenue in 2002.

A survey of 128 museums by the Association of Art Museum Directors shows 53 percent plan to expand or have expansions in progress.

Only 13 percent were changing the scope of their plans and 4 percent were postponing expansion indefinitely.

Nearly 80 percent of the museums reported they maintained or increased public programming and 92 percent maintained or increased the normal rate of growth of their collections.