Jockstrip: The world as we know it.

Sculpture touching down after sign posted

MILWAUKEE, Jan. 14 (UPI) -- The Milwaukee Art Museum said touching of a janitor statue has decreased by 90 percent since a sign was posted asking patrons to keep their hands to themselves.

Jim DeYoung, chief conservator at the museum, said Duane Hanson's lifelike sculpture, titled "Janitor," shows signs of wear from 13 years of touching by visitors, including fraying on his clothing and shiny spots on his skin where he was frequently touched by oily hands, the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel reported Wednesday.

"Touch is one of the primary ways we experience the world," the sign reads. "But there are good reasons to resist the impulse to touch art in a museum."

DeYoung said that over the years, museum visitors have walked off with the janitor's wristwatch, pens and a pipe kept in his pocket.

Man outraged by zoo's Buddha statues

KANSAS CITY, Mo., Jan. 14 (UPI) -- A patron at Missouri's Kansas City Zoo has complained about the zoo's Buddha statues, calling them "infuriating to God."

David Engle said he was shocked when he saw zoo visitors rubbing the heads and bellies of two smiling Buddha statues at the entrance to the zoo's Tiger Trail area while visiting the attraction with his family, the Kansas City Star reported Wednesday.

Engle, a Christian, described the presence of the statues as idolatry and "infuriating to God."

"We can't have a cross or a nativity scene on public property," the Overland Park, Kan., man said. "It is phenomenal to me that the zoo would put up Buddha statues."

Zoo Director Randy Wisthoff said Engle's complaint was the first he has received about the statues since they were purchased a few years ago to accent the Tiger Trail's Asian theme.

"The zoo stays out of all politics and religion," Wisthoff said. "I'm sorry somebody interpreted it that way. I appreciate his comments and concerns. We will discuss it with our board leadership and see if they want me to get rid of them."

Police dog pulls suspect from under car

BOULDER, Colo., Jan. 14 (UPI) -- Police in Boulder, Colo., said a man suspected of skipping out on his restaurant tab had to be dragged out from under a car by a police dog.

Investigators said Daniel Axford McKeever, 30, who is from California, is suspected of fleeing restaurant Sushi Zanmai without paying a $15 tab Monday, the Boulder Daily Camera reported Wednesday.

McKeever, who allegedly used a wooden stick to strike a bus boy while fleeing the restaurant, was found hiding under a car eight blocks from Sushi Zanmai, officers said. They said McKeever refused to come out, even after they fired "several" pepper balls under the vehicle.

Police said they approached the car with a dog and told McKeever he would be forced out if he did not emerge. McKeever did not respond and the dog bit him on the leg and forced him to come out, the report said.

McKeever reportedly told police he ran from the restaurant because he had forgotten his wallet, but police said they found his wallet on him.

"It must have just appeared," he allegedly told officers.

National Zoo seeks bamboo

WASHINGTON, Jan. 14 (UPI) -- The National Zoo in Washington issued a public appeal Wednesday for bamboo after the food supply for the zoo's giant pandas became dangerously low.

The zoo said bamboo supplies on its grounds did not regrow this year and the main consumers of the green stalks, giant pandas Tai Shan, Mei Xiang and Tian Tian, collectively eat about 1,400 pounds of bamboo per week, The Washington Post reported Wednesday.

Smaller amounts of bamboo are also consumed by raccoon-sized red pandas, elephants and gorillas at the zoo. Officials said the current bamboo supplies might not last the winter.

The zoo said it is seeking supplies of bamboo that cover at least one acre, are located within 25-30 miles of the zoo, stand at least 100 feet away from the nearest roadway and have not received herbicide or pesticide treatments.

"We need clean stuff," said Don Moore, assistant director for animal care at the National Zoo.

Man outraged by zoo's Buddha statues

KANSAS CITY, Mo., Jan. 14 (UPI) -- A patron at Missouri's Kansas City Zoo has complained about the zoo's Buddha statues, calling them "infuriating to God."

David Engle said he was shocked when he saw zoo visitors rubbing the heads and bellies of two smiling Buddha statues at the entrance to the zoo's Tiger Trail area while visiting the attraction with his family, the Kansas City Star reported Wednesday.

Engle, a Christian, described the presence of the statues as idolatry and "infuriating to God."

"We can't have a cross or a nativity scene on public property," the Overland Park, Kan., man said. "It is phenomenal to me that the zoo would put up Buddha statues."

Zoo Director Randy Wisthoff said Engle's complaint was the first he has received about the statues since they were purchased a few years ago to accent the Tiger Trail's Asian theme.

"The zoo stays out of all politics and religion," Wisthoff said. "I'm sorry somebody interpreted it that way. I appreciate his comments and concerns. We will discuss it with our board leadership and see if they want me to get rid of them."