September 16, 2008
Columbia Heights Suspicious Package: Weird Bear Costume?
Via the DCist tipline, we get this image from Irving and 14th Streets of an odd looking bear costume wearing tattered clothing and posed over a trash can. A lot of our readers are telling us this is the reason for the suspicious package alert. "Cops have the street blocked off and are standing around looking at it as of 9:30 am," the tipster wrote. Could this be another Aqua Teen Hunger Force moment?
UPDATE 11:25 a.m.: We agree that this is most likely a Mark Jenkins piece. We've contacted Jenkins to confirm and will let you know when we hear back from him -- hopefully he doesn't end up stuck with a bill for the MPD's bomb squad.
UPDATE 11:35 a.m.: Other folks tell us they think it's this bear, seen around town recently raising some awareness about climate change and U.S. dependence on oil. Certainly seems plausible. Would that mean there's someone inside that costume, then? It's been variously described to us by several people who saw it as seeming like it wasn't moving and was more like an art installation -- did anyone see it move?
UPDATE 12:01 p.m. The consensus is that no person was inside the bear costume installation. Still no word back from Jenkins or any environmental groups looking to take responsibility.
UPDATE 12:20 a.m.: The bear has been deemed safe and the Metro station has reopened.
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HAHAHA. Oh Jesus, this is more embarrassing than Boston.
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Could be a Mark Jenkins piece:
http://www.xmarkjenkinsx.com/
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He's just waiting for CommonWealth to open.
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How much you want to bet this is some lame-ass, Borf-style attempt to draw attention to the plight of homeless bears?
Goddamit, I pay the Homer tax. Where the hell is my bear patrol?
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You can see more pictures of this character around DC at http://www.woostercollective.com/2008/09/seen_on_the_streets_of_washington_dc.html
I don't think its an advertising stunt.
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my friends saw this bear pushing a shopping cart across the mall over the weekend.
wonder where the femme is...
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oh god, it's an art piece?
MPD, you got pwned!
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yeah, i saw it on my way to the metro this morning. there was also a girl filming the bear. maybe it has something to do with climate change?
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hopefully he doesn't end up stuck with a bill for the MPD's bomb squad.
So you got no problem with DC residents getting stuck with the bill?
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Maybe he just had the headcheese and Scotch eggs at Commonwealth and they didn't agree with him.
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He was at the Gallery pl. metro last week with a sign that said something along the lines of "Help, addicted to oil. Need money for oil" or something like that. I guess it's some protest against the government's treatment of polar bears?
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It's manbearpig!
RUN!!!!!!!!!
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Awww, poor thing is just looking for a pic-a-nic basket.
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I'm speculating that this is part of Brushfire.
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Maybe a local theater company is doing "A Midsummer Night's Dream" and he's on a break.
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So when is Bush invading the editorial offices of the Onion?
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brilliant.
the 'new' columbia heights wants the homeless out. even if they're bears.
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it appears to be a play on global warming-- homeless polar bears looking in trash cans and pushing shopping carts. but wait, was that totally obvious to everyone else?
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To be fair, bears do need A LOT of oil. And conditioner. Particularly on their backs. How do you think they keep their hair so smooth and luxurious? In fact, between the XXXL leather ass chaps and hair treatments, it's a wonder they have enough left over for drinks at DC Eagle. Perhaps this is a protest against gentrification driving bears out of the neighborhood?
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That's not a bear, it's Arthur: http://pbskids.org/arthur/friends/arthur/coloring_page.html.
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Bomb Squad Bear was not moving and seemed generally unconcerned about the gawking public and police presence that surrounded him. Then again, it could have just been very focused on the trash.
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Number one threat to America: BEARS!
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I already went for the Eagle joke in the other thread, Monkey -- you're a very naughty monkey and I think you need a spanking for that.
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OMG! I knew it! I knew it had to be two bears! The way JFK's head moved back and to the left. It had to be the work of two bears, not just one bear.
All these years you people thought i was some cuckoo crazy conspiracy nut, but now you all know I'm right.
Bwoahaaha!
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That is kinda creepy.
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zornagain - I was thinking it was a Sarah Palin reference, since is trying to get polar bears off of the endangered species list.
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Creepy? The comments or the bear?
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Could it be Sexual Harassment Panda?
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If this is the Mark Jenkins guy he should be charged. Some of this "installations" are downright dangerous. Fake people who look like they are going to jump off a building or jump into the highway, etc...I hope they charge him criminally and make him pay back the city for the police, etc.
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Bears use Mane 'n Tail ... good stuff!
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Bears use Mane 'n Tail ... good stuff!
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The Kanye West bear is really down on his luck following the LAX arrest.
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There was a bear in Galveston too --
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AKwMiExUKXg&eurl=http://wonkette.com/402789/background-hijinks-disrupt-important-reporting-of-financial-news-weather
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Why,it's Curtis E. Bear, the courtesy bear! For the next three hours, this bear will take your verbal and physical abuse with good nature and aplomb. So, if you'll all just grab one of these two-by-fours ...
Um, Chief? Can I at least shield my crotch?
Bears can't talk, Eddie.
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The artist shouldn't have to pay for the bomb squad, the person who called in the bomb squad on some art should.
Honestly, try a little common sense people. Would a terrorist go to teh trouble of acquiring a life-size bear and propping it against a trashcan in the middle of not-downtown when a rented van or cardboard box works all the same. Stop reading so many Batman comics.
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mandarinzazz: this sure seems like something stephen colbert could pick up on, no?
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They need to import sharpshooter Sierra Stiles to take this one out? FREDTERP
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Stop reading so many Batman comics.
So, you're saying Courtesy Bear is Batman's new nemesis? Does he have sexy henchcubs dressed up in skintight plushie outfits and leotards? Or does he have some lame-ass sidekick named Booboo?
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His sidekick is a raccoon named Dumpsterdive. It's purely platonic.
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I'm with TLB. Pack your things and GTFO before he finds you.
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Wow this bear sure gets around. He was in Galveston just a few days ago.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AKwMiExUKXg
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So this bear goes to Galveston. A week later, a hurricane hits. Coincidence?
Now the bear shows in Columbia Heights. And they call in the bomb squad. Now they deny there ever having been a bear. And has anyone heard from Hillman? What do they know that we dont?
We're through the looking glass here, people.
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This was all foretold in Revelations 7:12-23:
"And, lo, I looked upon a bear, garbage cans were placed before Him and one that was ancient of days took His garbage; His raiment was blue as sky, and plaid, and the hair of His head like pure wool; He moved not, but a train of fire beneath the ground stood still, and many came forth from before Him; a thousand thousands served Him, and ten thousand times ten thousand stood before Him; the court sat in judgment, and the seals of the picnic baskets were opened, and throughout the land there was a great folding of napkins."
IT'S IN REVELATIONS, PEOPLE!
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it has been foretold
peace
++++JMJ++++
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I believe they are trying to bring attention to the proposal to begin drilling for oil in Alaska's Arctic Slope. The oil drilling coupled with the effects of global warming would displace a lot of the polar bears and leave them homeless...if only society would care that much about homeless people.
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I've seen that bear's rich cousins in a video
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the bear must like that trash can
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thanks for the teddybears vid, hillrat. reminded me how much i'd like to see them in concert again...
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@IMGoph
I'm a punk rocker, yes I am.