Jockstrip: The world as we know it

270 crocodiles recovered in China

GUANXI, China, July 23 (UPI) -- Chinese police seized 270 crocodiles, believed to have been on their way to becoming bags and shoes after having been smuggled in from Vietnam.

Police seized the crocs after tracking an iron-hulled boat trying to land on the Chinese side of the Beilun River Saturday, the Xinhua News Service reported.

The boat reportedly tried to land on the Chinese side of the river more than 10 times before it was successful and four people carried large bags to the bank.

The carriers escaped by jumping into the river and swimming away when they noticed police.

The bags contained 270 crocodiles, which are on the wildlife protection list. The crocs are to be observed for several days before being sent to zoos.

Wrong song costly for Belgian politician

BRUSSELS, July 23 (UPI) -- Belgian politician Yves Leterme needed a singing coach last weekend in Brussels when he mistakenly sang the French national anthem instead of Belgium's.

The BBC said Monday that Leterme, who many expect will be Belgium's next prime minister, offered up France's "La Marseillaise" anthem during a recent church service instead of his national mainstay of "La Brabanconne."

To make matters worse, Leterme's gaffe on Saturday was filmed by Belgian RTBF television and soon found its way onto the Internet.

Clips of the Belgian politician's error were found on YouTube.com and similar footage showed Leterme merely lip-syncing his way through the actual Belgian anthem later on in the service.

Leterme also managed to mistakenly identify July 21 as a national holiday due to the "proclamation of the constitution," the BBC said.

The actual reason for the annual celebration is to recognize the inauguration of Belgium's first king, Leopold I.

Fried mouse found in Frito Lay bag

HAVRE, Mo., July 23 (UPI) -- A Havre, Mo., resident said he would never buy barbecue potato chips again after finding a deep fried mouse in a bag of Lays K.C. Masterpiece chips.

Jack Hines, 66, discovered the deep fried mouse when he reached into a bag of Lays June 19, the Havre Daily News reported.

"I just about put it in my mouth," said Hines. "I was sitting there watching TV in the dark and I grabbed for three fingers of potato chips and I grabbed a mouse. It shook me up a bit and I threw it over my head."

After finding the rodent he contacted Gary and Leo's IGA in Havre, where he purchased the chips, to see what he should do about it.

"They told me to call the 800 number on the back of the bag," Hines said. "The lady that I talked to (from the 800 number) said they wanted the mouse and the bag of remaining chips that were left. They did ask me if I was feeling sick, and I said no I am not."

He said a Frito Lay representative is scheduled to come to Havre to pick up the mouse and bag of chips.

Expensive kitchenware hits British markets

LONDON, July 23 (UPI) -- The newest items on bridal gift registries in Britain are diamond encrusted cutlery sets and pots ranging from $200,000 to $400,000.

Two retailers, Selfridges and Harrods, are tapping into the newly discovered high-end market -- Selfridges with a diamond-encrusted cutlery set priced at $411,872.58 and Harrods with a "show-stopping" gold and diamond-studded cooking pan costing $205,924.29, The Scotsman reported Monday.

Harrods department store said their pot, which contains 200 diamonds of various sizes, is "probably the most precious pot in the world."

Selfridges' 144-piece solid-silver cutlery set was made with 4,000 diamonds weighing 74 carats and is made-to-order.

"This wonderful cutlery set is catering to customers who have a passion for craftsmanship of the highest order where money is no object," said Kit Li-Perry, the head of Selfridges' home department. "We know this is exactly what some of our customers want from Selfridges and we are delighted to be able to satisfy their expectations."