Jockstrip: The world as we know it.

Sunday was a day for a sundae

BUFFALO, N.Y., July 18 (UPI) -- Sunday was a perfect day for a sundae, seeing as how it was National Ice Cream Day, industry leaders said.

The third Sunday in July has been set aside to highlight the delights of the frozen dairy treat since President Ronald Reagan sign a proclamation in 1984.

Ice cream is a $21 billion-a-year business in the United States, not surprising since 90 percent of all Americans enjoy it, industry officials said in a release.

Brian Perry of Perry's Ice Cream, a 92-year-old family-owned business in New York, says the hot flavors cooling people off this summer have been Tropical Neopolitan, a takeoff on the traditional chocolate-vanilla-strawberry combination, and banana cream pie, which he says has been "flying off the shelves."

With temperatures rising across much of the nation this week, Perry, who also is chairman of the International Ice Cream Association, asks, "What could be more refreshing than ice cream on a hot summer's day?"

If you missed Ice Cream Day, not to worry. All of July is National Ice Cream Month, so you still have time to dig in.

McGovern to parachute on 88th birthday

TITUSVILLE, Fla., July 18 (UPI) -- As a combat pilot in World War II, George McGovern never had to bail out, but he'll do that on his 88th birthday, the former U.S. presidential candidate says.

The longtime South Dakota senator and part-time Florida resident will make a tandem parachute jump Monday at a skydiving center in Titusville, Fla., Florida Today reported.

McGovern said: "Facing combat in an airplane is 10 times scarier than anything that goes on with a parachute jump -- provided you remember to pull the ripcord," the newspaper reported Saturday.

"Old guys don't want to be put on the shelf," he said. "We're still interested in ventures of various types."

Former U.S. President George H.W. Bush, also a World War II pilot, made parachute jumps on his 75th, 80th and 85th birthdays.

McGovern said he sees this as the perfect bipartisan birthday celebration.

"I'll tell you," he said, "when you're in combat, it's bipartisan -- nobody cares if you're a Democrat or a Republican or a kangaroo."

Food bank mistakenly gives out dog food

CLEARWATER, Fla., July 18 (UPI) -- A food bank in Clearwater, Fla., distributed a can labeled as a "superfood" that turned out to be a can of dog food, the recipient said.

On Social Security, retired Air Force veteran Frank Viscido made his weekly trip from his home in Largo to the Religious Community Services Food Bank in Clearwater for free food, The St. Petersburg (Fla.) Times reported.

Viscido was given the can labeled, "Senior Holistic Superfood" by a volunteer who noticed he wanted products for better health, the newspaper reported Friday.

"You're a senior. This ought to be good for you," Viscido remembered the man saying.

"Looked good," said the grandfather of four.

The label boasted glucosamine, beta carotene, vitamins and anti-oxidants for "sharp vision, strong Immune System, joint health."

And on the front of the can, "Healthy skin...and coat." "Superfoods every dog needs."

"It's the first time I've ever heard of something like this. We don't take pet food donations," Lisa Matzner, director of development for RCS, which provides food to about 7,000 people every month, said.

Matzner said the can probably wound up in the food bank by a well-meaning donor sweeping the contents of a cupboard into a donation bag, the Times said.

"When I came across this, I thought, 'It's proof,' " Viscido said. "I thought it's comical, it's real funny. What makes a joke funny? It's not logical."

Woman finishes Ohio River charity swim

CINCINNATI, July 18 (UPI) -- A community college teacher finished a 981-mile swim of the Ohio River in support of women's charities with a final stop in Cairo, Ill., supporters say.

Mimi Hughes started her swim May 22 in Pittsburgh to raise money for women's education and advancement charities, The Cincinnati Enquirer reported Sunday.

The 45-year-old developmental reading teacher kept to a goal of swimming 20 miles a day, sometimes swimming for 8 to 12 hours straight, the newspaper said.

She spoke of the many acts of kindness and assistance she was shown during her two-month swim.

"How lucky I am and how blessed have I been to be done (with) swimming and to see so much of the American spirit," Hughes said.

The swim was not without its problems, including swimming through a patch of floating hypodermic needles, and picking up an eye infection she is now taking medication for.

After an almost constant diet of energy bars, water and electrolytes, Hughes celebrated Saturday with ice cream, beer, french fries and a vegetarian burger, the Enquirer said.