Some Like it Hot

Today in Palm Springs.

She's only there for about two more months, so see her while you can.

She is beautiful against the desert mountain back drop.

We Saw Your Boobs

I don't usually blog about this kind of thing, but this just bothered me.

I was in my local, small town grocery store a few hours ago. Waiting in the check out line I looked to the left and saw this.

Then I looked to the right and saw this.

These are big, glossy magazines. They stood out among all the other ones there. They were right there in my face and you know what? I was shocked. All I could think was, what do you do when you are in line with your young daughter or son who is staring at these things? There is no way you could keep them from seeing them. They are right there, right in your face. What goes through that little kid's head? Do they think, hey this is how my world is. I want to look like that and be like that and show my boobs. Because isn't this what this is teaching them? Its ok, in fact, its a dream, a goal, to show your boobs.

Am I getting old? Yes, but I really don't think that has anything to do with my reaction to this. I never really cared about the Sports Illustrated swimsuit issue. I don't care that they do it. But that cover doesn't seem right, especially for the grocery store. Why is she not in a bikini? Why is she in winter wear, open and showing her boobs all squeezed together? Yes I know boobs sell, but can we just go back to pretty girls in bikinis on a beach instead of this tip toe to porn town? I like Rolling Stone. I've not watched this new series Girls, but I think I will like it, and I get why its popular. Kudos to Lena Dunham too. From one big thigh girl to another - you go girl! I like that you aren't a plastic beauty. You look real and normal and your boobs do too. But you know, I don't really need to see this in the grocery store. 

Don't get me wrong. I am liberal and artsy and free spirited. I like nudity. I like boobs. The naked body is a beautiful thing and women are especially beautiful, but this? Is not really interesting or worthy of my attention at the grocery store. And again, thank God I don't have kids! I worry about the kids out there and this world they have to live in. I feel sorry for you the parents who have to guide your kids through this. Its crap. It really is.

And this comes today after the Oscars yesterday evening. As my husband and I were watching the red carpet junk we were commenting on how some dresses these days are just showing way too much cleavage. I will be the first to say that good boobs and cleavage are sexy, but there comes this point when showing that much just loses its appeal and becomes ridiculous. There was one reporter covering the event in this dress where I swear you could see her areola!

Then later of course came Seth McFarlane and his infamous "we saw your boobs" number. Its been 24 hours of boobs on My Scenic Byway....

May Music Madness - Some tunes for road tripping

What do these things have in common?

Al Green, Beach House, Beastie Boys, Donnie Hathaway, Future Islands, Gotye, Jack White, Lana Del Ray, Late Night Tales: Midlake, Rodriguez, Scott Walker, Tennis, Trombone Shorty

Nothing except they are all musical artists that I recently felt inclined to financially support by buying their music on iTunes instead of stealing it from somewhere. 

I am a small bit of a music/iTunes purchaser junkie. Its my bad habit. I no longer spend a lot of money on clothes, dinners out, bar tabs, etc., but occasionally I will click the magic button for instant musical gratification. And its happened quite a bit over the past few weeks because I've been spending so much time chained to my desk with work. What can I say? Music makes it all better.

Perhaps you will enjoy some of these. Perhaps you are already enjoying them. Its Friday - listen to some great music this weekend on your Byway adventures. Some info and links below. 

Al Green: I have always loved Reverend Green, but I only owned his greatest hits album. My brother in law was playing the "I Can't Stop" album one night when we were having dinner at his house...and I had to own it. Hard to believe that record was from 2003. Here's a little review that I generally agree with. Where was I that I missed this comeback album? I think I vaguely remember this happening, but I guess I wasn't really paying attention. But now I know. Thanks Michael for reminding me that Al Green music always puts me in a better mood.

Beach House: Seriously, how did I not know about this Baltimore band when I was living in the area? I love them! I just discovered them last year and bought Teen Dream (2010) (their 3rd album) which I adore and play all the time. Its nice - dreamy, mellow. I love it so much I decided to try their 2nd album Devotion (2008). I am enjoying it. And get ready - they have a new one coming out this week, May 14 - Bloom.

Beastie Boys: The passing of Adam Yauch last week was sad, and it made me, and probably many of you of my generation, feel nostalgic and feel our age. Licensed to Ill was one of THE albums that reminds me most of my college days. I didn't follow them that closely through the years, but liked most of what they put out there. His passing inspired me to listen to them and I decided it was time to buy The Mix-Up, their 7th studio album, all instrumental, from 2007. Very sad he isn't around any more to make more music.

Donny Hathaway: How could I not have "A Song For You" in my music collection? I love that song, and when I recently heard a dumb guy sing it on American Idol (although he did sing it well) about a month ago, it stuck with me and I had to have it. Plus a few others. Such a beautiful voice, reminding me of my childhood in the 70s. A true classic.

Future Islands: Yet another Baltimore band I didn't know about until I live on the other side of the country? What gives? I guess I wasn't spending enough time in Baltimore when I lived out East. Dc'ers take note, they have played at the Black Cat and could do so again. How to describe this band? I like the lead singer's voice. I like the sound. It reminds me of some music I liked in the 80s. An indy band. I like their videos.  On the Water is their third and latest album. I don't now if I would like their earlier ones - haven't listened yet - but I like this one. I read about it on a blog I follow, listened to a few tracks and decided it was definitely worth owning. I think what really sold me on it was this song and this video. Summer! Youth! Love! It makes me miss the East coast.

Jack White: Oh music god. Raw, talented, wacky, sexy. I don't like a lot of hard sounds, but I have always loved the White Stripes. Its his voice. The guitar. How can you not be in love with that voice? He has a new album just out a few weeks, Blunderbuss. I haven't bought the album yet (getting close...), but I did buy the song Love Interruption which I have been in love with ever since I saw him perform it on David Letterman weeks ago. That performance was hot! Check out the video, a pale version of what I saw on Letterman - Jack looking all pale and vampire like.

Lana Del Rey: Knew of her a long time ago last year and loved and was fascinated by her, only being able to get snips of music on line. By the time her album finally came out a month or so ago I was annoyed and just about hating her and all the hype. I finally broke down and bought the Born to Die album. And I say PASS! I think I regret this purchase. I rarely regret music purchases because I am usually careful to know what I am buying, but this one might just have to go into the "what the heck was I thinking when I purchased this" category. Sigh. Oh Lana, your voice is just so effected I can't take it seriously and it makes me think of your giant fake lips and effected pout. I am too old for this album.

Late Night Tales: Midlake: I stumbled upon this on iTunes. What a great find. This is a collection of over 25 artists creating mixes from their favorite music/home record collection. "The Rolls Royce of compilation" according to GQ magazine. Who cares what GQ thinks? Listen to me! There are some great mixes here! I don't even know this group Midlake, but I like their mix. Check the mixes out here.

Rodriguez: Sixto Diaz Rodriguez - the "most famous man you've never heard of." I love this guy's story. He cut an album here in the US that never made it. Little did he know he was a rock legend in South Africa. There is a documentary film out about him that premiered at this year's Sundance festival and was shown at the more recent Tribeca film festival. His album Cold Fact (1970) is just 70s awesomeness. I mean chef out the photo? G.R.O.O.V.Y. Here's his website.

Scott Walker: And speaking of groovy...oh man. How has Scott Walker not been in my life until now? I love 60s and 70s music. I love 60s cheeze. You might have heard of this guy. He was the front man for the Walker Brothers who did have a hit that I know called The Sun Ain't Gonna Shine Anymore (you know you know it). Think Tom Jones. Jacques Brel. 60's films. "Music of your life" radio stations. He was much bigger in the UK and still makes music to this day. I bought a huge collection of his classics - because sometimes a girl just needs to listen to schmaltzy 60s love ballads.

Mystery Solved

About a year ago I was visiting DC and spotted a version of this poster on some random telephone pole or sign post around 14th and P Streets, NW.

There was no information, no web site, no words, so I had no idea who or what it was about. I posted it here and hoped someone would see it and tell me what it was. No one did. Until today. Thank you so much D.O. for spotting this article in Smithsonian Magazine and actually remembering my quest! Mystery finally solved.

Artuaré - Steven M. Cummings - on display at the Anacostia Community Museum through April 29.

Street Art Utopia

You know I love street art. Love it so much. I just found this link through a friend - from a site called Street Art Utopia.  The site's motto? We declare the world as our canvas. They have a list of what they refer to as "106 of the most beloved street art photos - Year 2011." Check it out. The stuff makes me want to weep with joy. Beautiful, clever, funny - this is why I love this stuff so much. I love that someone sees something on a random street, usually some small area of blight, and has this vision of something beautiful or humorous that fits there, and then goes and makes it happen. And then we all can enjoy it - collectively understanding the beauty or the humor. Something to make us stop and pause and admire and maybe giggle as we go about our busy day.

Everyone of course knows Banksy, but long before and long after him are all these equally talented (or more), lesser known artists, each with their own style - giant murals, posters, drawings, miniature sculptures, on and on. I never get tired of looking at these works of art.

Top Ten at Art Basel Miami

This year was my second visit to Art Basel Miami and I loved it so much more than last year. I think the first time I was a little overwhelmed and not sure what to expect. This time I knew the ropes a little more. Plus we went a day early and were there for the first day, with the VIPs, which is a less crowded environment to view the art. And having three days to work your way through the Miami convention center makes it more possible to see all the art and to see it more than once and to really appreciate it more. Especially since they switch out art after the first day or two. Something I did not realize until this time.

My husband suggested that we find our top ten pieces of art at the show. That was a fun challenge. Spending hours and hours looking at art can be overwhelming, so tasking yourself with this little exercise helps you stay focused and really think about what you like. I realize I like a lot of different things. There is art I like and then there is art that I love. The art that hits you immediately, and you might not even be able to explain it other than to recognize a feeling. I call that art that I would hang on my walls. Art I would buy if I could. Art I dream about.

I still think a lot about my favorite piece of art from last year's show - Kehinde Wiley's Femme pique par un serpent. See the photo I took last year below. I don't know what it is about this piece. I love it. I like some of his other work, but not all of it. He had a piece at MAB this year, but I wasn't moved. This piece however...it haunts me. I want this painting. I really, really want this painting. If I were to come into a lot of money, I would buy this painting. I recently tried to find out if it was still for sale and the price. I believe it is still available through a gallery. I couldn't get the exact price, but it seems his work can sell for up to $300,000. So, if you would kindly like to buy it for me, I would be forever grateful :).

Please buy me this painting! Kehinde Wiley - Femme pique par un serpent.

For this year, the top top piece that stuck with me, and that I want and that I dream of hanging on my wall is this. The artist, Pae White, is from LA. This work is from some kind of smoke series where she has captured images of smoke, digitally manipulated them and then had them woven into tapestry. Its quite striking. See more here. I want this and I would hang it on my wall. A large wall. A larger piece at MAB was priced at $95,000, so this one is less. Again, I would be ever so grateful if someone would buy this one for me :). It's beautiful isn't it? You should see it in person. Amazing.

Pai White

Below are the others in the top ten.  I definitely have a top 5. The rest I like, but not as much as the first 5. Enjoy the art.

A new favorite artist - Sadamasa Motonaga. Wow! I could have put several more of his paintings on this list, but I decided to try to mix it up.

Basquiat. There were several pieces there in different galleries. I love all of his work. 

Franz Ackermann.

I did not catch the artist's name. We are going to make this and hang it in the desert...

I liked this. Looks like coral from the bottom of the ocean but its made from buttons! All buttons!

A giant image made up of many small images made to look like a library. This piece was really amazing to look at and I couldn't capture it fully on the camera.

I liked both pieces, but especially liked the pile of black shiny shards up front. Another one that the camera couldn't really capture. It was very striking and very dangerous looking.

The video above - another example of something I can't capture adequately on the iPhone. You have to experience this art from Tony Oursler first hand. We saw similar pieces from this artist the year before too. Amazing, bizarre stuff. Love it.

Struggling to pick the 10th piece. In hindsight there were probably others I would have put ahead of this on my list, but I didn't get enough photos. Didn't catch the artist on this one.

He is the one

Anyone know the story behind this one? Found this in Tbilisi, Georgia.

Day at the Utah State Fair

I went to the Utah State Fair (and Demolition Derby) this past Sunday. Who wants to see some photos?

The Utah State Fair comes to Salt Lake City every September for about 10 days. My husband and I made this same trip to the Utah Fair and the derby last year, less than one week before our wedding (!) - which seemed crazy at the time, but we couldn't resist the opportunity. We had so much fun we had to do it again this year.

I love the fair. Who doesn't love a fair? County, state, town - they are all awesome to experience. I grew up in rural Pennsylvania and fairs are big there, as they are in a lot of agricultural places in the US. Going to the fair was like a right of passage as a young teen. You had to go and hang out at the fair with your friends. Even living in the urban DC area as an adult we used to go to the Montgomery County Fair (which is huge and pretty amazing). My Scenic Byway has a lifetime of memories of hanging out at the fair and I bet many of you do too.

Once again we got to the fair too late (Sunday was the last day) to see most of the animals - my favorite part of the fair - but even with most of the animals packed up and on their way home, the fair had all that other freaky goodness - awesome people watching, great bad food (fried pickles, cotton candy, caramel apples, funnel cake, etc.), rides, games, surprisingly good and hideously bad local arts and crafts, and lots of junk to buy (think toe rings, feather hair clips, kitchen gadgets you don't really need, bad t-shirts, and so on).

We missed the free KC & the Sunshine Band concert earlier in the week. Now for free I would have gone to see that. I love KC! Hearing that KC had played the Fair reminded me of other similar Fair acts I had seen in my youth including Leif Garrett, Rick Springfield and Peaches & Herb. We all know the Fair is a go-to spot for music from our pasts. Yes, the Fair does fun, cheesy acts really, really well.

This year I got many great photos during our day at the fair and here are a few for your viewing pleasure. Enjoy! Demolition derby photos to come in a future post...

I call this one "Prison for Ponies." Horse slavery. 

That is a big bull. He was very sweet. 

My teeth are thanking me that I did not have one. 

I really think I want a bunny. 

Or a funny little pigeon. 

Ahhh....butter sculptures. I like how this woman blends in. 

Why yes, that is a giant Michael Jackson tattoo on the back of her thigh. 

Father Goose? Who doesn't love a big burly crazy guy who trains geese? 

Fried butter. Fried jelly beans. Exotic meats and bugs. Yuck.

The Fair, with SLC and mountains in the background.

From MSB 2010 visit to the Utah State Fair:

Who Doesn't Love Chickens?

Utah State Fair

International Talk Like a Pirate Day

Shiver me timbers! I almost forgot that today is International Talk Like a Pirate Day! Yes. Every September 19.

If you do not know about this holiday - where have you been? Your life is obviously not as fun as it could be. Well, now you know. Mark it on your calendars so you can plan properly for next year. You know you want to have a pirate party. You know you do.

Check out the OFFICIAL site from the founders of the holiday: http://www.talklikeapirate.com/. There you can find the history and a lot of silliness like the Pirate song, Pirate pick up lines, Pirate games and Pirate advice. Most important you can find the English to Pirate translator. But guess what? You can do this through Google too. Learn more about it here.

You can learn more about ITLPD from our friend Wikipedia and the pirates have a FB page with more than 16,000 members. This is an international holiday people - celebrated worldwide by mates in the know.

And if you live in the DC area, you should definitely plan to go to the local pirate bar tonight. What? You didn't know that there was a pirate bar in the vicinity? Well there is. That would be Piratz Tavern in Silver Spring, MD. If you haven't been there, you do not know what you are missing. Especially on the Pirates' official day. Its where all good pirates would go. Go with your friends, drink a lot of grog, do silly table toasts in pirate speak and stare at the people in costume. Because it will be full of people in proper pirate attire. And it will be awesome.

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[Hold on thar! I just checked the website (its been quite some time since I've been there) and I see that they are closed Mondays...and this year's ITLPD is unfortunately on a Monday. That is an unfortunate piece of news if you don't already have your pirate plans lined up. I don't know if they would have held their big festivities yesterday, or tomorrow, of if maybe they will be open today as it is the big holiday. Better call before you sail on up there to the tavern.]

Happy Birthday MTV

MTV just had its 30th birthday. It was this past Monday, August 1.

I heard about it first seeing a headline on Facebook. These days I get more and more news from FB - the "like" button for PBS, NPR, and many other news sources sending the headlines straight to my FB newsfeed. So, I expected to see tons and tons of FB entries about this pop culture milestone from music loving friends and my "like" sources. But surprisingly I saw very little to nothing. Maybe I was just busy that day and there was a lot on FB and I missed it? Maybe I just missed it because I haven't been watching tv (except for taped episodes of True Blood, Weeds and the Big C) and I don't regularly read the newspaper like I used to. Did you know about this? Did you hear a lot about it? What did you think?

This is the kind of thing that has made me stop and say WOW. And remember. 1981? 30 years old? Really? I was 14 that summer and I can still remember it SO clearly. I remember suddenly discovering it on tv. I remember those first videos. It was amazing. It changed everything. And the rest is history. Those of you younger than me who were not there to witness its very beginning - you. just. will. not. understand. Ever. Don't even try. And it doesn't count if you were 5. I was 14. A teenager. Right there. A teenager in a small town with no access to music other than the lame top 40 local stations and word of mouth. Before excessive cable tv, before the internet. Before college where one's music exposure could really blossom.

And as we all know, you were definitely around to see this, MTV later became CRAP. And it still is crap. It has been for a long time. I haven't dared to watch it in years. But at its start it was such a beautiful, wondrous thing. We would watch it for hours and hours. We would stay up all night at friends' houses watching endless loops of videos. It broadened our musical knowledge and tastes and brought a common musical knowledge and culture to a nation and then went global. It changed everything - some good and some bad - and music and culture would never be the same.

The King...and I

Elvis was my first love. He really was.

When I was a little girl I was very aware and very upset that I had missed my chance - I was too young to ever have a shot at being Elvis' girl. I am pretty sure I also realized that the Elvis I loved, the dashing young man from the silly movies I would eat up, was no longer around, having aged into the real Elvis that was still very much present in the pop culture of my childhood in the 1970s.

Still, I was heartbroken to know that he would never be mine, and heartbroken when he died. And to this day I love his music and I still think he was one of the hottest celebrities ever. The man was just pure handsome and pure sexy. Those of you who are younger than me may not get all of this. He was still a major force when I was young - still performing and very much a super star in spite of his weight and drug and alcohol problems. His movies were on TV all the time.

You have to appreciate his ability to generate global appeal and adoration and that this global appeal and adoration continue to this day - decades (34 years now) after his death. You know you are going to find Elvis songs on karaoke machines around the world - and crowds of people who know the words to the songs. You still see Elvis merchandise everywhere. I bet Graceland still pulls in the crowds (I have never been and it is on my list). Occasionally you can still catch his films (so deliciously bad) on TV and you can probably see them all on Netflix. Finally, you know you will continue to find Elvis impersonators - good and bad - around the world - performing shows and even weddings.

Elvis has always been synonymous with Vegas. He performed there at the Hilton Hotel in the late 1960s and into the 1970s (his last performance there was in 1976; he was scheduled to perform again in 1978, but he died in 1977). To this day you continue to have Elvis impersonator shows in Vegas and you even now have an Elvis-themed Cirque du Soleil show - Viva Elvis.

This past weekend some of my family met in Las Vegas to celebrate my mother's 70th birthday and we stayed at the Hilton. The Hilton is off the main strip and was at one time one of the big places to stay in Vegas. It is a very different experience than staying at one of the themed, newer places on the strip - an older, less crowded, more mellow crowd. We were delighted to discover that the Hilton hosts an Elvis impersonator show. We had to see it.

Trent Carlini - calling himself "The Dream King," has been impersonating Elvis Presley since the real Elvis' death. He was winner of ABC television's "The Next Best Thing." I never saw that show but understand it was about impersonators. He has been performing various Elvis shows in Vegas since the 1990s and now performs "The King" most nights at the Shimmer Cabaret Theater at the Hilton.

It is a small show, in a small, intimate cabaret scene - bar, cocktail service, small stage. It is the kind of show that gets better when you have a really great audience and the performer can feed off of and interact with the people. Unfortunately he did not have a great audience that night - present company excluded. When we walked in I was mortified to see such a small audience on a Saturday night. I felt very uncomfortable for him as a performer. What does it feel like to walk on stage and see hardly anyone in the audience? Deflating and energy sucking I am sure. And those that were there - most of them were pretty old and lacking in energy. Was our night a fluke? Or does this happen often? Perhaps he has been playing there too much and for too long?

I wondered if part of the problem is the time of the shows. The setting seems appropriate, but the shows are too early - one a night around 6:45. That seems too early for this type of cabaret show. Who wants to rush to this kind of show at that time? This show needs to be at 8 or 9 or 10 at night.

In spite of the sadness I felt about his small audience, he was a really great performer. He really looks like Elvis and he has a great singing voice and sounds like Elvis. He has it down. He is a fun performer. If you are an Elvis fan, you will appreciate it. Our small group of six did what we could to liven up the show with lots of clapping and cheering and moving around to the music. We had a great time and I would recommend the show. However, I should add that we had complimentary tickets from the hotel (thanks to my sister). The prices on the website note $37-$70. I would probably pay the lower end to see it, but not $70 because it is a very small show.

Regardless of the disappointing audience, he really looks and sounds like Elvis and is very entertaining. For an hour or so I could lose myself in that music from my childhood and fantasize that I was seeing the real Elvis - my first love.

I WAS HERE...and I left my shoes

Driving east from 29 Palms, California to Flagstaff Arizona, on either Route 62 or Route 60 (I can't remember exactly) in the middle of nowhere, we found yet another Shoe Tree...well actually this was more like a shoe fence. I think this is the first Shoe Fence we've seen. I know I keep writing about the Shoe Tree phenomenon, but I keep coming across new ones on my Byway travels. And I find it fascinating.

In an area that is about as hot, dry and brown and depressing as I've seen on my travels, on what had once been some kind of structure, perhaps a home, that was now burnt to the ground and surrounded by some kind of beat up wire fence, someone decided to start leaving shoes, and of course, you know what happens. Then everyone has to leave some shoes. Or a cooler or a lawn chair. Or a stuffed animal. Sometimes marked with names and dates. To let the world know that they exist.

I WAS HERE. And I left my shoes to prove it.

Living my entire life on the east coast of the US until now, living and traveling in both urban and rural areas all over the place, I had never seen a shoe tree. Have you? I think this is a western thing. A desert thing perhaps? I've only seen shoe trees in California and Nevada, in the desert, although I've read you can find them back east and in the south. They just keep appearing on our Byway travels.

My husband doesn't really care for these shoe trees and finds them creepy. I am delighted and fascinated by them. I liken the shoe tree to the rural version of urban graffiti. Out there in the middle of nowhere, there are no buildings to mark (although this site did provide some spray painting opportunity given that it had once been a structure), so what is a bored young person to do? I grew up in a rural area and I remember how bored I could get as a teen. With friends we would drive around aimlessly looking for something to do, some excitement. Where I grew up people would go out and tip cows. Yep, cow tipping. Next time you laugh about how dumb a shoe tree is, think about that. For the record, I have never and would never push a cow over. That is just wrong.

I find these shoe trees to be so symbolic of America. And the West. And youth and all of its dreams and angst.

Another phenomenon like this, that I spotted in Nevada along a very lonely stretch of road, was people using stones to spell out their names and their loved ones' names, and little messages along the sandy dirt incline that lined the road. So as you were driving down the road you passed miles of this to the left and the right. I've only seen that once so far and it was really fascinating given how far out in the middle of nowhere we were. No sign of life except for that. It was very poignant. A message out to the world from people who want you to know that while they may live out in the middle of nowhere, they still exist. I wish I had taken some photographs.

I find this urge that people have to leave their names at places - whether spray painted on a building or a rock out in the wild, or carved into a tree, or scratched into the wall of an elevator or stairwell, or on a bathroom wall, fascinating. I've seen graffiti in the craziest and most respected of places. I saw ancient graffiti on the rocks of ancient Sigiriya in Sri Lanka. So, discovering these shoe trees, and those miles of words from tiny stones out in the desert, just adds more examples to the intrigue. I love it.

If you have any shoe tree experiences or sitings to share, please do. See my earlier posts on shoe tree discoveries:

RIP Shoe Tree - You Shall Be Reborn

Have You Seen A Shoe Tree?

Smokey Bear is Kind of Creepy

Took this on our road trip.

"Only you can prevent forest fires." I grew up seeing and hearing Smokey Bear, or Smokey the Bear, on television and on road signs everywhere.

The other night Smokey Bear was in my dreams. I am serious. I remembered it when I woke up and I told my husband about it. I don't remember a lot of details. There wasn't a lot going on in the dream. I was just dreaming about Smokey Bear and in my dream I was disturbed  because I was noticing, for the first time in my life, how much of a weird bear-man creature he is.  I cannot believe I never really noticed it before - that Smokey Bear is really just a man with a furry body and a bear head. I think what I find disturbing is his naked torso. He wears pants, but he never wears a shirt. I understand why you would want to put pants on your cartoon creation. But then why would you not have him also wear a shirt? More disturbing is how in many images he has these ripped 4-pack abs and defined arm and back muscles. Like a man. A bear man. Does he have to have that? To make him look more tough and manly? Look at the images below that I found on the internet. It is weird. Just weird. My childhood innocence and love of Smokey is now tarnished. Thanks a lot stupid dream.