Jockstrip: The world as we know it.

Minnesota deer hunters have a hot time

BRAINERD, Minn., Nov. 11 (UPI) -- Things took an unexpected turn for one northern Minnesota deer-hunting party this weekend when their deer stand caught fire, authorities said.

The Brainerd Fire Department said things started out fine for the hunters when one of them bagged a deer Sunday afternoon. But it turned bad when the hunters descended from their stand to gut the animal, the Brainerd Dispatch reported Monday.

The hunters left their guns in the stand but apparently accidentally knocked over the stand's portable heater. Not only did the stand catch fire and fall to the ground but a box of ammunition started exploding, the report said.

Brainerd firefighters had to hoof it into the woods with water-pump cans to put out the flames.

No humans were hurt in the incident.

Researcher says Finnish shoes too small

HELSINKI, Finland, Nov. 12 (UPI) -- A study purports to have determined that half of the feet in Finland are cramped into shoes too small for them.

Riitta Saarikoski, a lecturer in podiatry at the Helsinki Metropolia University of Applied Sciences, said part of the problem is that Finns have grown bigger, but the shoe industry has not scaled its offerings to match, Helsingin Sanomat reported.

She said parents are also resistant to buying appropriate shoes for their children, especially girls. People who grow accustomed to wearing tight shoes as children do not realize they are to blame for their foot problems.

Saarikoski said she is not immune to the attractions of stylish shoes.

"Besides, femininity is lovely. I myself always wear 10-cm (3-inch) stilettos at parties, but I would not like to use them all the time. They would make my feet scream for mercy," she said.

Sleepless skipper runs boat aground

TROON, Scotland, Nov. 11 (UPI) -- A Scottish shrimper captain ran aground after exhaustion from days in court and nights on the water led him to fall asleep, a report released Tuesday said.

A preliminary report by the Marine Accident Investigation Branch said that the captain of the Oceana, who was not identified, had been getting about 2 hours of sleep daily for four days before the accident May 9, The Scotsman reported. He was a witness in a trial and was required to be in court every day, ready to testify when called.

"This routine continued for four days before the skipper fell asleep at the helm as Oceana was returning to Troon at the end of an overnight trip," the report said.

When the vessel ran aground outside the harbor, the captain had the boat on autopilot. He was alone on deck because the three men in the crew were processing the catch, the report said.

No one was injured, but about 50 gallons of fuel spilled.

Police arrest two for alleged train sex

LONDON, Nov. 11 (UPI) -- London police said they have arrested a couple accused of engaging in a sex act during a ride on a crowded Virgin intercity train.

The Daily Mail said a guard on the Liverpool to London train reportedly saw the 41-year-old woman performing a sex act on her male partner in the train carriage via CCTV.

The two suspects were arrested at London's Euston station.