Jockstrip: The world as we know it.

1,529 ski for women in Alaska

ANCHORAGE, Ala., Feb. 9 (UPI) -- Dozens of skiers in costumes, including Disney villain Cruella de Vil and oversized weather-appropriate underpants, joined in the annual "Alaska Ski for Women."

Organizers of the event, which is in its 14th year, said 1,529 registered skiers, including many in extravagant costumes, raced down the slopes Sunday to raise $800,000 for Abused Women's Aid in Crisis Inc. and other charities focused on women and children, the Anchorage (Alaska) Daily News reported.

Many costumes followed the theme, "Alaska, the Next 50 Years," including teams of costumed participants named the Solar Bears, who wore bear outfits decorated with bikinis.

'Antique's Roadshow' finds $156,000 plate

ABERGLASNEY, Wales, Feb. 9 (UPI) -- A British woman who brought her more than 20-year-old plate the BBC's "Antiques Roadshow" in Wales said appraisers told her the item is worth $156,000.

Wendy Jones said she did not think the plate -- which had sat upon a support on the sideboard of her home for 30 years -- would be worth money, so she tossed it into a single grocery bag with no padding when she carried it to the event in Aberglasney, Wales, The Daily Telegraph reported.

"When I heard how much it might be worth I was shocked," she said. "On the way to the show the plate was on the back seat of the car, but on the way home I kept hold of it all the way."

Experts said the plate was made between 1750 and 1755 by the Prussian East India Company for King Frederick II of Prussia.

Police: One-armed man took cuff link

LEIGH-ON-SEA, England, Feb. 9 (UPI) -- Police in a British town said they were searching for a one-armed man accused of stealing a single cufflink from a jewelry shop.

Investigators said staff at CJ Vinten in Leigh-on-Sea, England, reported a suspicious white, balding man entering the store, the Daily Mail reported.

"It wasn't until we watched the (closed-circuit TV) we saw he had an empty sleeve tucked in his pocket," store manager Sally Ann Manthorp said.

Police said the stolen cuff link was worth more than $187.

"A man fitting the same description was acting suspiciously in other shops so jewelers in the area have been alerted. We hope members of the public will help us identify man so we can speak to him," Constable Steve Wells said.

Record: Man swallows 18 swords

SYDNEY, Feb. 9 (UPI) -- An Australian sword-swallower said he set a world record by shoving 18 sharp swords down his gullet.

Chayne Hultgren, 31, nicknamed the Space Cowboy for his talents, said his record for swallowing 18 2.8-inch sharp swords shattered his previous record of 17 swords, set in 2008, The (Sydney) Daily Telegraph reported.

"It's amazing," Hultgren said after setting the record in Sydney. "I've been preparing for this since I was 16. It is definitely one of my greatest achievements so far.''

The performer said his art takes years of practice.

"I don't just straight away grab 18 blades and shove them down my throat -- you've got to practice a lot and build up to it. So I stretch my throat with hoses and use a few different techniques to basically enable me to do what, until now, has been impossible," he said.