Jockstrip: The world as we know it.

Men shout their love in Tokyo park

TOKYO, Feb. 14 (UPI) -- Dozens of men took to the stage in a Tokyo park for a "shout your love" event designed to help them express their feelings to their sweethearts.

The downtown event gave men the chance to express their feelings with a microphone before an assembled crowd and even offered instructions on the best way to hug their lovers, CBS News reported Monday.

Rieko Nishiguchi, whose husband was among those making a public display of affection, said her husband is unusually affectionate for a Japanese man.

"My mother and father were the exact opposite of us. We had a very formal household, so it was impossible to ever say, 'I love you,'" Nishiguchi says. "Japanese are shy. We like to think that love needs no words, that's it's automatically understood. But love needs to be stated."

 

Couple to wed at Westminster

NEW YORK, Feb. 14 (UPI) -- A Washington state couple with a dog competing in the Westminster Kennel Club dog show in New York said they will wed at the show.

Brad Slayton of Seattle said his fiancee, Debbie Parsons, took control of the wedding plans and decided they would marry at Madison Square Garden on Valentine's Day after their Tibetan Mastiff, Major, competes in the dog show, The Seattle Times reported Monday.

"Finally, I just said, 'You know, Debbie, you just put it together. Whatever works,'" Slayton said. "So she called me up and said, 'Guess what? I've got this thing all planned for Westminster!' I go, 'Whoa, whoa, whoa.' "

However, Slayton said he is now looking forward to sharing the special day with Major.

"We wanted to do something different," Parsons said. "He's a major part of our life."

 

Army modernizes uniform glasses

FORT LEONARD WOOD, Mo., Feb. 14 (UPI) -- The soldier in charge of the optometry clinic at Fort Leonard Wood in Missouri said the Army is getting rid of the so-called "birth control glasses."

Sgt. Brant Fechter, the non-commissioned officer in charge of the clinic, said the Army is doing away with the old glasses, which were nicknamed "birth control glasses" due to their unattractive appearance, and replacing them with lighter, thinner glasses that could pass for civilian wear, the St. Louis (Mo.) Post-Dispatch reported Monday.

"I think it's a big indicator these glasses are going to be a big hit with trainees," Fechter said.

Fechter said Army officials are hoping the modernized glasses will encourage recruits to wear them.

 

Parade breaks costumed dog record

ST. LOUIS, Feb. 14 (UPI) -- Organizers of the Beggin' Pet Parade in Missouri said they set a world record by gathering 1,326 costumed dogs in a single location.

The 19th annual parade Sunday in St. Louis had an official count of 1,326 costumed dogs, far surpassing the Guinness World Record of 603 set in Japan in May 2011, the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reported Monday.

"We are the largest pet parade in the country, and there's no reason why we shouldn't be in the Guinness Book of World Records," said Tracie Quackenbush, the executive director of Open Door Animal Sanctuary, which receives proceeds from the parade.

Sponsor Nestle Purina PetCare Co. said video from the event is being submitted to Guinness.