Day 4074: Crocs and Bears

    

"Less": drawing, inks, collage, digital.

 

Want music?

    Click here: Michael Jackson, I Can't Help It.

 

2GN2S ... 

How do you feel about Crocs?

 

On Tuesday, a limited-edition $50 light-up bright red Lightning McQueen adult clogs modeled after the Disney/Pixar character from “Cars” sold out under an hour after it was released for online purchase.

There’s an ongoing love affair between Crocs, the maker of the  often-mocked, unapologetically ugly foam clog, and the comfort-seeking consumers. 

If you're not into the many variations, 

maybe you'll like the boot? 

Crocs is making fan dreams come true, turning the Crocs Classic Cowboy Boot into a reality,” it said in a release. If you really want it, you’re going to have to wait a few more days. The boot, which features a shiny croc-embossed texture and western-inspired stitching, launches on Oct. 23, and will be on sale for $120. And the boot does feature a spinning spur charm attached to the backstrap of the shoe.

 Crocs said it timed the release of the cowboy boot to “Croctober,” or the month of October, when the brand typically does something unique with the shoe that was inspired by its fans.

On Tuesday, Crocs (CROX) reported that sales surged 64% in its first quarter, to $460 million. The company also raised its 2021 sales forecast, saying it now expects revenue for the year to increase between 40% and 50%, up from its previous guidance of a 20% to 25% increase.

To Croc or not to Croc?

 

 

Read the full story and learn how to vote here. 

       Bear fans can now turn their attention to the voting that matters to them: selecting a winner in the annual contest for the big lugs of Katmai National Park & Preserve in Alaska.

The 12 contestants were revealed on Monday, and the voting opened at noon Wednesday ET, according to Katmai’s webpage on the contest.

Voting will conclude on October 10. The National Park Service said more than 1 million votes were cast for the 2022 contest, which was won by hefty bear 747 after a cheating scandal briefly disrupted the voting process.

“Rangers create a tournament style bracket pitting individual bears against each other. The public then votes to see who will advance each round,” according to the webpage.

The 2023 lineup includes fan favorite Otis, who “moves less to catch more” according to the announcement video, and last year’s winner 747, who is rarely challenged for prime fishing spots. Now it’s time to meet the contenders:

• 32 Chunk: A large adult male with narrowly set eyes, a prominent brow ridge and a distinctive scar across his muzzle. Even at his leanest, Chunk carries substantial fat reserves. Chunk on!
• 128 Grazer: She’s a large adult female with a long, straight muzzle and blond ears. During late summer and fall, Grazer has grizzled, light brown fur and is often one of the fattest bears of Brooks River, where many of the Katmai bears feed.
• 151 Walker: A large adult male, he’s a frequent user of Brooks Falls and often has easy access to productive fishing spots because of his size and disposition.
• 164 Bucky Dent: A medium-sized adult male, he created his own fishing spot at the very base of Brooks Falls at the edge of the deepest plunge pool, a place other bears seldom use.
• 284 Electra: She’s a medium-sized adult with perky ears, a long neck and prominent shoulder hump. She’ll fish the lower river and has two known litters of cubs, whom she fiercely protects.
• 402 bear: A large adult female, 402 has medium brown fur and crescent or apostrophe-shaped ears when viewed from front or back. Her claim to fame: Eight known litters, the most of any bear currently at Brooks River.
• 428 bear: A pudgy, 3.5-year-old subadult bear, 428 has blond ears and grizzled, light brown fur.  As an independent bear in 2023, she’s navigated the river without her mama’s guidance for the first time.
• 435 Holly: She’s large adult female with blond ears and pale, tan-colored claws. By early autumn, she is usually very fat with grizzled blond fur. She’s a remarkable mom, having raised one injured cub and adopting another cub years later. She’s currently a single bear.
• 480 Otis: He’s a medium-large adult male with a blocky muzzle and a floppy right ear. Otis was 4 to 6 years old when he was first identified in 2001, and he’s now one of the older male bears at Brooks River.
• 747 bear: The 2022 winner is a large adult male with a blocky muzzle and floppy ears. He has become a giant among bears, once estimated to weigh 1,400 pounds (635 kilograms).
• 901 bear: She’s a medium-sized adult female with blond-rimmed, triangular ears. 901’s fur is golden brown in early summer and grizzled-brown in late summer. One of her three cubs disappeared in mid-September.
• 806 Jr.: Rounding out the list is this male first-year cub with long, shaggy brown fur and a short, pointed muzzle. This feisty club fishes with mom (806) and on several occasions this year was swept downstream or over the waterfall.

   

Bear 747, last year's champ and contender in 2023, stands in a rushing river on August 3, 2023.

You can go to www.fatbearweek.org to vote

   

 

 

 

A 3 minute video, Caterpillars, here.

 

Just because ...

  

Blue-faced Honey Eater

Tuesday's Smiles ...