Jockstrip: The world as we know it

Moose stealing laundry racks

GJOVIK, Norway, Dec. 20 (UPI) -- Naughty moose in Norway have reportedly been tangling with laundry racks and, in some cases, even stealing them.

The most recent incident involved a moose leaving clothing and clothespins behind, but taking the laundry rack from a private yard in Gjovik, Aftenposten reported Monday.

In another case, a male moose -- only males have racks of antlers -- was spotted with a laundry rack entangled in its antlers. His carcass was later was found in the woods, with the laundry rack still attached.

Wildlife experts believe the so-called "King of the Forest" confuse laundry racks with moose racks, or perhaps the drying clothing attracts them and they become tangled in the laundry racks.

In addition, apples left on the ground in the fall ferment and can intoxicate animals that eat them, perhaps contributing to the moose having a hard time identifying moose racks from laundry racks.

Asian 'squats' replace Auckland toilets

AUCKLAND, New Zealand, Dec. 20 (UPI) -- The University of Auckland is replacing sit-down toilets in its library with Asian-style "squats" to accommodate its Asian students, TV New Zealand said Monday.

Common in Asia, parts of Europe and the Middle East, squats consist of a hole in the floor surrounded by a white porcelain plate, with two slightly raised footprints. They are favored as there is no bodily contact with the traditional toilet seat.

However, the plan to install nine of them over the Christmas break has detractors among Caucasian and Asian students alike.

"Where do we draw the line between accommodating others and cultural cringe?" said one staff member who declined to be named.

Malaysian student Joann Chin said she had doubts too.

"You find a lot of cases where (Asian students) actually squat on normal toilets and it's unhygienic," Chin said. "There were stiletto marks so someone had real good skill at squatting with high heels on a toilet, a normal toilet."

Around 32,000 students attend Auckland University, roughly 10 percent of them foreign.

For Japanese, 2004 was a 'disaster'

TOKYO, Dec. 20 (UPI) -- Japanese have selected the Chinese character meaning "disaster" as best symbolizing the year 2004, Yomiuri Shimbun reported Monday.

The Japan Kanji Aptitude Testing Foundation each year asks people to vote for the kanji (Chinese character) that best describes the year. The foundation this year received a record 91,630 votes. The character "sai," meaning "disaster," attracted 20,936 votes.

The main reason that "disaster" was chosen for 2004 is because Japan was hit by a series of natural and man-made disasters.

The Chinese character "kan" (meaning South Korea) ranked second with 6,243 votes, reflecting Japan's current fascination with Korea, while the character "shin" (tremor) ranked third with 4,288 votes.

Seihan Mori, head priest of the Kiyomizudera Temple in Kyoto, used a brush and black ink to paint "sai" on a large sheet of paper. Mori said he hoped that the Chinese character selected next year would reflect a peaceful world.

Book based on children's letters to Santa

OSLO, Norway, Dec. 20 (UPI) -- Norwegian author Birger Sivertsen has written the book "Dear Santa Claus -- Can You Say Hello to Jesus?" based on 20,000 letters written to Santa.

Sivertsen researched the letters written to Santa Claus to Droebak, Norway, which has been considered by many to be Santa's home -- Santa has his own post office in Droebak.

The book offers a look into the different views of Santa from around the globe, Aftenposten reported Monday.

U.S. children leave milk and cookies for Santa on Christmas Eve, but other countries traditionally leave him an alcoholic drink. Norway is unique in leaving Santa a bowl of oatmeal.

Many of the children are health conscience and have suggested that the Jolly Old Elf consider a diet for health reasons.

Sivertsen said he thinks Norwegian children may be the most demanding when it comes to toys -- one Norwegian boy sent an entire catalog from a toy store and said he wanted everything.