Subscribe | UPI Odd Newsletter Subscribe Baby monkey calls played to lure monkey WINSTON-SALEM, N.C., July 8 (UPI) -- Officials at the Wake Forest Primate Center in North Carolina say they are using recordings of a baby monkey in an effort lure back an escaped female monkey. Advertisement The 16-year-old macaque monkey escaped June 28, Winston-Salem (N.C.) Journal reported. There was a sighting of the monkey Friday, said Chad Campbell, a spokesman for Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center. "We responded, but unfortunately it didn't result" in another sighting or recapture, Campbell said. Campbell said Wake Forest officials are now using a recording of a baby macaque to try and lure the adult monkey in, in addition to personnel searching areas the monkey has been spotted in and the placement of humane traps in those areas. The monkey, which is about the size of a house cat, is used for breeding and research purposes at the primate center, the newspaper reported. Advertisement Tim Jennings, the director of Forsyth County Animal Control, warned local residents against trying to handle the monkey, as it is not tame and could bite or scratch anyone who tries to approach it. "The monkey is not generally considered to be any more dangerous than a raccoon, but it is wild, so you certainly don't want to handle it," Jennings said. Naked Cowboy threatens suit against Indian NEW YORK, July 8 (UPI) -- New York City's "Naked Cowboy" has threatened a lawsuit against the up-and-coming "Naked Indian" over turf in Times Square. The Cowboy, Robert Burck, who has been playing guitar and singing in his underwear and cowboy hat in Times Square for years, now has a rival in the Indian, Adam Davis, the New York Daily News reported Saturday. Burck, who said there are no ill feelings between him and Davis, has nonetheless threatened to sue Davis if he refuses to join Burck's company, Naked Cowboy Enterprises, a franchise that features Naked Cowgirls and other entertainers. "I've been here ... 365 days, every day for 13 years and change," Burck said. "He's only been here 16 days and missed two already." Davis, who dons underwear and a headdress, said there is room in the busy tourist area for more gimmicks. Advertisement "No one was doing an Indian," said the aspiring actor. "[The Cowboy and I] have a word-of-mouth contract. This country was built on handshakes and word-of-mouth agreements. I don't lose, I always win." Meanwhile, visitors to Times Square seem to favor the Naked Cowboy. "I'm Team Cowboy," said Naomi Carrier, 31, of Union, N.J. "He's cute, he's friendly, he's fun and he has a personality. He was flirty." "They're both nice," said 16-year-old Sarah Levenphal. "The Cowboy has a guitar and he sounds more melodic. The Indian doesn't sing." IHG hotel to switch Bibles for e-reader BOSTON, July 8 (UPI) -- InterContinental Hotels Group is replacing Gideon Bibles in its Hotel Indigo Newcastle in England with Kindles, officials say. IHG announced the initiative to switch over to the digital version of the religious text last week, the Boston Herald reported Sunday. Along with the Bible, guests at the 148-room Hotel Indigo Newcastle will be able to download other digital books through the hotel's WiFi for additional fees. Although other IHG hotels applauded the decision, some say they are not ready to make the switch. "For the ease, for the convenience, I think it would be something very attractive to travelers," said Ken Ng, the InterContinental Boston hotel's director of sales and marketing. "It fits the lifestyle of the travelers -- they are more contemporary and younger. Right now, there hasn't been a real discussion." Advertisement Ken Stephens, a spokesman for Nashville-based Gideons International, said IHG's move is "a positive step" if it helps people access the Bible and that the company, which provides hotels with Bibles free of charge, does not view it as a threat. "It could be something that becomes expected, like a hair dryer and a color television, but obviously you're talking much more expense. ... We certainly don't at all view it as a threat," Stephens said. "We are working in 194 countries and have almost 300,000 members worldwide. Based on the scale of the experiment, we have plenty to keep us busy." New cherry pit-spitting champ named EAU CLAIRE, Mich., July 8 (UPI) -- A Chicago man spat a cherry pit 69 feet, securing the title of international cherry pit-spitting champion at the 40th annual competition in Michigan. Ron Matt, 46, was the overall winner of the event held Friday at Tree-Mendus Fruit Farm in Eau Claire, the farm said in a release. Relegated to second was Rick "Pellet Gun" Krause, 58 of Tuba City, Ariz., a 15-time champion. Following Krause was his son, "The Amazing" Matt Krause, 29, in third, and Randy Luthringer, 44, of Niles, Mich. In fifth was world-record holder Brian "Young Gun" Krause, 34, who set the current world record in 2003 with a spit of 93 feet 6.5 inches. Advertisement Matt is the first person to win the contest over the Krause and Lessard family dynasties since 1992. Lisa Lynch of Cascade, Colo., won the women's division by spitting a cherry pit 39 feet 6 inches. The 40th annual contest was judged by Berrien County Trial Court Judges Sterling Schrock and John Donahue and Eau Claire Mayor Dave Kurtz.
