Jockstrip: The World As We Know It

THE BARE FACTS

A Florida court is being asked to settle a thorny invasion-of-privacy issue that has one young co-ed claiming she was stripped of her dignity.

The manufacturer of the "Girls Gone Wild" family of videotapes that contain images of college students and others cavorting in states of undress is being sued by a Florida State University business major who appears in one of the tapes and in a late night commercial.

The woman -- who admits that she removed her top in exchange for beads and trinkets, as is the custom among revelers at Mardi Gras in New Orleans -- is suing for unspecified damages. The company that produces the tapes says that privacy protection does not exist for people who take their clothes off in a public place -- especially one that is likely to be rife with photographic equipment. The case will like be "in the nudes" for some time.

(From UPI Capital Comment)

THINGS WE DON'T UNDERSTAND

Saudi religious sources say all women -- including female soldiers serving with U.S. forces -- must respect the Islamic head-to-toe dress. They say the Saudi religious police will not allow foreign females to walk around in public without the traditional black abaya -- a cloak-like wrap that covers a woman head to toe -- since that would violate the country's traditions. That includes American female soldiers, the sources said.

The renewed call to respect the dress code comes as the U.S. military announced it would no longer require women to wear the robes when venturing off base. But while wearing the covering "is not mandatory" it is "strongly encouraged," according to an order by Gen. Tommy Franks, head of the U.S. Central Command, e-mailed to commanders in the region Saturday.

Servicewomen will still be required to be accompanied by a man whenever they leave their base. They also aren't allowed to drive in Saudi Arabia and have to sit in the back seat of a car.

NEWS OF OTHER LIFE FORMS

After 60 years, San Diego State University has a new ambassador with a new look and new purpose.

On Wednesday, the Aztecs retired "Monty," the school's mascot since 1941. Based upon Montezuma II, the Aztec ruler of the early 1500s, the former mascot appeared at games bare-chested, sporting red-face paint and a flaming spear. However, some students saw him as historically inaccurate and demeaning of the Aztec heritage.

University officials say that isn't the case with Montezuma, the newest ambassador.

"More than anything Ambassador Montezuma is a respectful and a nearly authentic representation of Mexica Aztec culture," said Maria Butler, a lecturer for the university's Chicana/Chicano Studies Department. "It's a great opportunity for community members, especially children, to learn about one of the most vibrant Mesoamerican cultures."

His costume was historically researched, and instead of running around at games, he'll focus instead on educating people about the role of the Aztecs and SDSU's affiliation with their culture.

Portraying the new Montezuma, SDSU student Alberto Martinez wears a larges headdress modeled after an artifact known as "Montezuma's crown" and believed to be a remaining relic from Montezuma II. "I'm very excited to take on this challenging role," said Martinez. "My parents, who were born in Mexico, instilled an early respect for and pride in culture and traditions."

TODAY'S SIGN THE WORLD IS ENDING

On Tuesday, it was reported that an 11-year-old boy and his 10-year-old sister in Ohio had plotted to kill their grandmother and two other siblings by stabbing them to death after setting fire to their house.

Now comes word out of Kazakhstan of the 16-year-old girl who agreed to pay a hired assassin $6,500 to kill her father. The Kazakh Khabar news agency reports the "killer for hire" was actually an undercover police officer.

The teenager is said to have confessed to the murder plot after she was arrested.

The news agency said the girl had a "hostile" relationship with her dad, and had tried twice before to hire someone to kill him.

AND FINALLY, TODAY'S UPLIFTING STORY

The Federal Trade Commission has unveiled a new proposal to restrict the activities of telemarketers.

The FTC intends to create a national "Do Not Call" list that would allow consumers to remove their names from marketing lists by making one call to the government. The proposal would bar telemarketers from calling at odd hours, harassing consumers, and failing to disclose the caller's identity and purpose of the call.

Currently, consumers can only stop telemarketing calls by notifying each company separately or relying on a voluntary system used by the Direct Marketing Association. The New York-based trade group said 4.1 million people have signed its national "do not call" list in the past 17 years.