Jockstrip: The world as we know it

THINGS WE DON'T UNDERSTAND

Greenland -- it's just not the hot spot Iraq or even Kabul, Afghanistan is -- but the USO hasn't forgotten it -- even though it won't be sending in J-Lo or Ben Affleck.

The USO and Armed Forces Entertainment will send comedians Joe Restivo, Karen Rontowski and Tony Robinson to Greenland this week to perform free shows, sign autographs and visit with the troops.

In case you don't recognize these names -- Restivo has opened for some big-name entertainment -- Kenny Rogers, Gladys Knight -- and currently writes and stars in his radio show "Vinny Goes to the Movies," carried by the American Comedy Network.

Rontowski has been entertaining audiences for more than 13 years at comedy clubs and in Las Vegas. She's also appeared on MTV and HBO. Robinson is a regular cast member of the radio soap opera "It's Your World," heard daily on the nationally syndicated "Tom Joyner Morning Show." For more than 20 years, he has performed at comedy clubs around the world.

NEWS OF OTHER LIFE FORMS

We hear it's difficult to contain the excitement in Norway these days over the newest twist on reality shows -- the "Piip Show."

The British Broadcasting Corp. says the Norse, bored with repeated reruns of "Big Brother" on TV, have some new contestants to watch -- a tight-knit family of blue tits -- who live in a birdhouse designed like a living room.

In the two-month Webcast by the Norwegian state broadcasting company, folks can watch everything the birds do in their one-room flat, 24-7.

Already, there's been plenty of sex -- as the first eggs arrived this past week. Name suggestions for the soon-to-be hatched chicks are coming in fast and furious. The good news -- says the BBC -- no one ever gets voted off the nest.

TODAY'S SIGN THE WORLD IS ENDING

A British researcher says politicians don't always tell the truth, but that's OK -- a little deception can be a good thing if conducted in the public interest.

Glen Newey of Strathclyde University says that the more voters expect from the politicians they elect -- "the more likely it is that politicians will be economical with the truth."

Newey adds such deception is "in the public interest and may be the price of a healthy democracy."

Newey came to his conclusions after analyzing material from the Arms-to-Iraq archive and studying major U.S. political events including Watergate, Iran-Contra and Bill Clinton's impeachment.

AND FINALLY, TODAY'S UPLIFTING STORY

Children who are clumsy are no more prone to injuries than their more graceful counterparts, say researchers at the University of Alabama-Birmingham.

Their study in the Journal of Safety Research says that contrary to popular belief, there is no correlation between children's motor skills and injuries, even after controlling for injuries related to sports, age and gender.

Psychologist David Schwebel, who directed the study, says it adds to a small but growing body of literature suggesting motor skills are not directly related to injury risk.

"Rather, motor skills may play a role in injury risk in conjunction with other factors, such as exposure to hazards and temperament," he says in a statement.