BEAR PHOTO TAKES ANOTHER TWIST
Just when the whole bear falling from a tree photo controversy seemed to be settling down, a new claim has emerged. You may recall that CU Independent photographer Andy Duann snapped a cute photo of a bear falling out of a tree after it was tranquilized by authorities. The photo was so cute that it went viral. As a result of the photo becoming something that people actually seemed to like, the Daily Camera decided to buy it for itself for $250 from Duann. As could have been predicted, the CU Independent that Duann actually shoots for thought that it owned the photo, only to later discover that it had forgotten to get a contract from the photographer concerning the work he provided to the Independent, CU’s online newspaper. So Duann now claims to be the owner of the photo. But hold on. Let’s not forget the victim.
As of Wednesday morning, the bear had retained Frank “The strong arm” Azar, and has filed suit. The bear claims that her civil rights were violated when she was drugged and then photographed in a compromising “super bear” pose while incapacitated. The suit also claims that the bear was further humiliated after millions of viewers saw the photo, which was indiscriminately distributed across the Internet. The bear’s attorney has described the case as “extremely complicated” because so many people at various corporate-owned publications need the photo in order to drive the page views that, more often than not these days, determine their annual bonuses. Azar says that he expects still more claims of ownership to be filed because many newspapers are only now hearing that the bear photo went viral, and while they don’t know what that means, their consultants have told them that they should try really hard to own viral things as often as possible so they can all become paperless papers someday like the Independent.
DO IT FOR THE CHILDREN
We recently got a helpful announcement alerting us to the fact that marijuana smokers have been excluded from the life insurance market.
So a new Colorado company called 420 Life Insurance has stepped up to fill the void.
“My partners and I have seen numerous people denied coverage as a result of marijuana use,” says 420 personal advisor Justin Brogdon. “Someone can be in great health, with a wonderful family that needs protection, yet still be unable to get coverage.”
BW highly recommends that pot smokers take out life insurance — especially if the CU administration continues its heavy-handed approach of closing off public property by lining the campus, Norlin Quad and Farrand Field with armed rent-acops.
Marijuana users who want to ensure that their family is protected if they get gunned down for smoking a plant or for being overly aggressive in defending their First Amendment rights to assemble can check out www.420LifeInsurance.com for discrete, confidential service.
Respond: letters@boulderweekly.com
