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Friday, October 23, 2009

Animals / ??!! On Bears: Stupid Russian Ideas Edition

Posted by Lindy West on Fri, Oct 23, 2009 at 11:11 AM

In response to my column this week, Slog tipper Tom alerted me to this story:

MOSCOW, Russia (CNN) — A bear on ice skates attacked two people during rehearsals at a circus in Bishkek, the capital of Kyrgyzstan, killing one of them, Kyrgyz officials said Friday.

In the incident, which happened Thursday, the 5-year-old animal killed the circus administrator, Dmitry Potapov, and mauled an animal trainer, who was attempting to rescue him.

"The incident occurred during a rehearsal by the Russian state circus company troupe which was performing in Bishkek with the program, Bears on Ice," Ministry of Culture and Information director Kurmangazy Isanayev told reporters.

After the incident, the circus was cordoned off by police and emergency service workers. Experts have been brought in to examine the bear, which was shot and died at the scene.

Russia has a long-standing tradition of training bears to perform tricks such as riding motorcycles, ice skating, and playing hockey. Fatal attacks are unusual.

I wonder what those "experts" will discover upon examining the bear. Hopefully something illuminating like, oh, SOMEONE STRAPPED BLADES TO THIS BEAR'S FEET AND WENT ICE SKATING WITH IT.

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Lindy, do you do all your own graphic design work? I only ask because I love what you've done with the pool of blood on the ice!

Posted by Josh Bomb

on October 23, 2009 at 11:15 AM

I thought "bears on ice" is how one would describe any leatherman event in rural kentucky. Lots of "grr"ing and jaw clenching.

This really gives me something to think about, especially this notion of real actual ursines on ice skates.

Posted by Baconcat on October 23, 2009 at 11:19 AM

Someone needs to tell Steven Colbert about this!!

BEARS!

Posted by Chris in Vancouver WA on October 23, 2009 at 11:21 AM

Greatest image ever!! Spewed coffee all over the desk, but totally worth it!

Posted by Tracy on October 23, 2009 at 11:21 AM

Playing HOCKEY? Ok, try to deny you wouldn't pay to see THAT.

Posted by Gloria on October 23, 2009 at 11:22 AM

Hey Lindy, go to Youtube and look up the video "Bears" by Kendall.

I think you'll find out what horrors lurk in the woods.

Posted by Baconcat on October 23, 2009 at 11:27 AM

I think I just had an idea for how to increase viewership of NHL games.

Posted by Let's Make It Interesting on October 23, 2009 at 11:51 AM

... in Soviet Russia, entertainment hunt for you! What a country!

Posted by Dougsf on October 23, 2009 at 12:58 PM

@7 - nah, they're already pretty violent. All the Tim Hortons, eh?

Posted by Will in Seattle

on October 23, 2009 at 1:02 PM

Toe pick!

Posted by Carollani

on October 23, 2009 at 1:21 PM

@9: No, I like the idea of watching the Leafs confusing the real bear with Carlton the Bear. "So are we going for a wild look this year? OH GOD HE JUST ATE MY HAND"

Posted by Gloria on October 23, 2009 at 1:34 PM

I figured that some of the NHL players were bears already...

Posted by Dave Coffman on October 23, 2009 at 2:00 PM