Jockstrip: The World As We Know It

EXERCISE PROGRAM FOR SUBWAY COMMUTERS

Fitness experts in Austria want London's commuters to duplicate an exercise program they pioneered on Vienna subways. A decision is expected this week on whether the project will be launched in London, the Web site Ananova reports.

Gert Halbgebauer of Vienna's medical university designed the program that involves exercise placards placed in 450 subway cars. "It's really caught on because you don't need to change into fitness clothes and you don't work up a sweat, so you can do it on the way to work," Halbgebauer says. "The exercises are carefully designed to use muscle groups that very often do not get properly used -- we use the movement of the train instead of weights."

The exercise program uses eight basic movements that include raising and lowering the knees from a sitting position. For commuters who are standing, one of the exercises involves holding on to the internal carriage pole and bending the knees while maintaining a straight back.

"The exercises are designed not to annoy other travelers so you don't need to start skipping or hanging from the straps or bars on the ceiling," Halbgebauer says.

(Thanks to UPI Science Writer Alex Cukan)

THINGS WE DON'T UNDERSTAND

The third Austin Powers movie won't be titled "Austin Powers in Goldmember." At least for now.

MTV News reports filmmakers have been forced to take the "Goldmember" out of the title because the Motion Picture Association of America claims it is an unauthorized parody of the 1964 James Bond film "Goldfinger."

A spokesperson for New Line Cinema said the studio is trying to resolve the matter under the MPAA guidelines. "Until that time, we will be referring to the film as the third installment of 'Austin Powers,' " the spokesperson said.

The movie -- which stars Destiny's Child's Beyoncé Knowles and features a Britney Spears cameo -- came under fire when MGM, United Artists and the producers of the James Bond movies, Danjaq Productions, discovered the use of "Goldmember" had not been authorized.

The second Austin Powers movie, 1999's "Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me," parodied the 1977 Bond film "The Spy Who Loved Me" and was cleared by the MPAA. New Line did not follow those procedures with "Goldmember," an MGM spokesperson said.

Until the matter is resolved, New Line has taken down its promotional Web sites for "Austin Powers in Goldmember."

The film is due to open nationwide July 26.

NEWS OF OTHER LIFE FORMS

Fans who miss the Dave Matthews Band on its spring tour can get a taste of their favorite band at a nearby grocery store. The group is the inspiration for a new flavor of Ben and Jerry's ice cream, the band's publicist tells SonicNet.com.

One Sweet Whirled -- available in Ben and Jerry scoop shops now and in grocer's freezers in February -- riffs off the song "One Sweet World" and combines coffee ice cream with caramel and marshmallow swirls.

"One Sweet World" appears on DMB's 1993 live album, "Remember Two Things," and 1999's "Live at Luther College," a bootleg featuring Dave Matthews and his friend, guitarist Tim Reynolds.

Others who've had Ben and Jerry flavors named for them include the Grateful Dead's Jerry Garcia (Cherry Garcia), Phish (Phish Food) and Wavy Gravy, court jester of the Woodstock Nation.

The Dave Matthews Band kicks off its tour April 4 in Washington, D.C.

TODAY'S SIGN THE WORLD IS ENDING

The Recording Academy is preparing its seventh annual Grammy CD compilation. Billboard.com reports the 17-track 2002 pop music collection -- on Universal Music Entertainment's (UME) UTV Records -- is being released Feb. 5. But, for the first time in three years, there will not be a separate rap-nominee compilation. "As you might expect, there were certain artists that were difficult to clear to be on the project," said Richie Gallo, UME senior VP of sales/marketing. "At some point, we decided that if we couldn't make the best rap record by including those artists -- and they're not willing to be on it for various reasons -- then why put out a bad record and rip the public off?"

AND FINALLY, TODAY'S UPLIFTING STORY

Wheaties has unveiled a special-edition Black History Month package honoring all-time home run king Hank Aaron. The box will be available nationally throughout the month of February.

"It's an honor for me to join the ranks of some of the great baseball players who have graced the Wheaties package over the years," Aaron said.

Aaron's 755 career home runs smashed Babe Ruth's seemingly unbreakable record of 714. But his legendary accomplishments on the field go far beyond home runs. He also hammered his way into the record books with marks for most runs batted in (2,297), extra-base hits (1,477), and total bases (6,856). He still ranks second in at-bats (12,364), is tied for third in runs (2,174), and is third in total hits (3,771) and games played (3,298).

A lifetime .305 hitter, Aaron spent nearly his entire career with the Braves, first in Milwaukee (1954-65), then in Atlanta (1966-74). He concluded his amazing 23-year run with the Milwaukee Brewers in 1975 and 1976.

In addition to appearing in a Wheaties television ad, Aaron previously appeared on a Wheaties box promotion as part of a campaign in 1970, along with baseball player Johnny Bench and golfer Tom Weiskopf.