Jockstrip: The world as we know it

THINGS WE DON'T UNDERSTAND

Swinburne University in Melbourne, Australia, is offering what's believed to be the first college course on makeovers for drag queens, the Herald Sun newspaper reports.

Two areas included in the course are how to conceal eyebrows and beard shadows -- a definite problem for drag queens.

Michael Schifferle, a make-up artist for the past 10 years and teacher for the past four years, told the Herald Sun the class would meet a growing demand within the gay community.

"There is definitely more to being a successful drag queen than simply wearing the right clothes," he said.

NEWS OF OTHER LIFE FORMS

Watch your step in Germany -- the ants are protected.

German officials have issued a warning it is illegal to kill ants, the Glasgow Daily Record reported.

Those attempting to destroy an anthill or nest with poison will be subject to hefty fines, according to ant protection officer Dieter Kraemer. "People with an ant hill in their garden must under no circumstances resort to the use of poison," he said.

German residents must now apply for a permit from the forestry office to have the ants carefully moved to nearby woods and 85 ant protection officers have been appointed to protect the insects.

TODAY'S SIGN THE WORLD IS ENDING

The ex-wife of actor William Shatner is suing the "Star Trek" captain for sending her frozen horse semen instead of "fresh cooled" for breeding purposes.

Marcy Lafferty Shatner, who divorced Shatner in 1995, says he breached their divorce agreement, which gives her breeding privileges for three American saddlebred stallions.

At issue is semen from Shatner's Bellreve Kentucky horse farm studs, whose semen in previous breeding seasons was delivered "fresh cooled." This year, however, Shatner's Central Kentucky horse farm sent frozen semen.

The suit, filed recently in Woodford County, said frozen semen is unacceptable because it reduces buyer interest.

AND FINALLY, TODAY'S UPLIFTING STORY

On Wednesday night in New York the world's biggest environmental fundraiser was dripping in jewelry -- all for a good cause.

Millions of dollars worth of rare jewels were on display in hopes of raising millions of dollars for the annual Rainforest Foundation Gala.

The annual benefit is to help protect the human rights and lands of rainforest groups around the world. The benefit has been named the top environmental fundraiser of all time by The Guinness Book of World Records.

The "Magic Reflections" collection of jewels will be in the United States for three weeks before going on a world tour that includes Paris, Geneva and Hong Kong.