Jockstrip: The world as we know it

Same-sex marriage ban may see wider effect

AUSTIN, Texas, Oct. 26 (UPI) -- Opponents to a Texas proposal to ban same-sex marriages claim the measure would, in fact, invalidate all marriages in the state.

While supporters of Proposition 2, which goes before Texas voters Nov. 8, say the measure would allow Texas to join eight other states that ban same-sex marriages, the fight against it has taken a different twist.

The proposal reads, in part, "This state or a political subdivision of this state may not create or recognize any legal status identical or similar to marriage." Groups against Proposal 2, tell the Austin American-Statesman not recognizing anything identical to marriage could be interpreted as meaning not recognizing marriage.

The American-Statesman said lawyers it contacted expressed doubts that any court would say the measure does away with marriages in Texas.

David Richards, formerly with the state attorney general's office, told the newspaper Proposal 2's wording is "crazy. The language is so ludicrous that I can see courts just in exasperation saying, 'If you don't learn to write a statute or a constitutional amendment with more clarity than that, don't look for us to bail you out.'"

Host denies canceling 'ghetto trash' show

NEW YORK, Oct. 26 (UPI) -- The owner of a trendy New York restaurant is denying canceling a fashion show when he discovered most of the models were black or Hispanic.

The show was advertised to begin at midnight Saturday at Sapa, a hot spot for celebrities in New York's Chelsea district, the New York Post reported.

But at 8 o'clock, Sapa owner Brian Matzkow abruptly canceled the show with a phone call to the show's promoter, Daniel Santiago, who was driving to the restaurant.

Santiago alleges Matzkow told him, "I don't want no ghetto trash."

Matzgow denied saying that, and his spokesman, James Goll, said the owner was unhappy that Santiago advertised the private show on the Craigslist Web site, saying that would have attracted too large a crowd.

Santiago said the Web site ad insisted that guests RSVP, and only 10 extra people had done so.

Exec sent home for $240,000 in lap dances

ST. LOUIS, Oct. 26 (UPI) -- A freewheeling Missouri Internet executive who allegedly charged $241,000 in lap dances at a New York strip club two years ago has been placed on unpaid leave.

Robert McCormick, 40, got the news Monday as Savvis Communications Corp. began investigating his American Express bill from a wild night two years ago, the New York Daily News reported.

Dubbed "Lap Dunce" by local media, McCormick is the chief executive officer of the St. Louis-based Internet Savvis Internet service provider, and denies he rang up that much on the card. He claims he and three business acquaintances spent a mere $20,000 at Scores on Oct. 22, 2003.

McCormick, a married father of three daughters who earns $600,000 a year, is being sued by AmEx for refusing to pay the bill, which Savvis officials said was not submitted for company reimbursement.

McCormick allegedly ordered 10 exotic dancers at a time to lavish him with attention for $4,000 an hour, a club source said, and when the hour was up, McCormick said: "I need 10 more."

L.A. cops target bogus movie characters

HOLLYWOOD, Oct. 26 (UPI) -- Police are cracking down on costumed movie character impersonators along Hollywood's Walk of Fame for aggressive begging and scaring tourists.

Recently, life-sized versions of Elmo the Muppet and cartoon superhero Mr. Incredible were arrested at gunpoint in front of shocked tourists.

"Throw down your heads and get up against the wall," police yelled at Mr. Incredible, Barry Stockton, 42, and Donn Harper, 45, dressed as Elmo. The men were charged with solicitation infractions, released on $100 bond each and taken back to the boulevard where other characters could see them, the Los Angeles Times said.

Some tourists have complained of being harassed for failing to pay the costumed characters for posing for photos with them in front of Grauman's Chinese Theatre and the nearby Kodak Theatre. Some merchants also complained the impersonators were scaring customers with menacing costumes, fake weapons and props like phony snakes.