Bad-Ass Animals: the Black Panther

Continuing my Bad-Ass Animals series, nobody is more fitting than the Black Panther.  Black panthers are actually classified as a "melanistic" (dark) color variant of several species of big cats: in Latin America they are Black Jaguars, Asia and Africa they are Leopards, and N. America they are Black Cougars.  Something I didn't know is Black Panthers are reported as "Cryptids" (unrecognized by scientific consensus--think: Bigfoot) in the US, UK and Australia.  Which makes them even cooler.  They adapt well to many different environments but, big shocker here, humans are the biggest threat to their survival.  They are endangered in most places and are considered vulnerable to their continued existence.

So, let's take a minute to admire these bad-ass beauties.

 (All photos on Flickr except where indicated)

You just KNOW you're a cool animal if sports teams, revolutionary groups and even superhero comics are named after you.  You look cool even when you're just sittin' in the grass, chillin'.

Ok, so you may start off your life as frighteningly cute...(Photo)

....but soon you start to grow up and develop your sense of style...

...then before you know it, you get that look in your eyes that says "You talkin' to me?  Didn't think so."

That's when imitation sets in.

Cats aspire to be you.  (That's my Poe, hiding her tuxedo markings, trying to be cool).  (My pic)

Militants  use your name.

Tattoos soon follow.

In their many incarnations.

You become the artists muse.  ("La Pantera y su Piano")

And combine both art and tattoos.  (This photo is on Flickr, but the artist is Ace-Symmetric)

And of course are perfect for velvet paintings--3rd only behind Jesus and Elvis.

Marvel elevates you to Super Hero status.

Action figures soon follow.

And yes, sometimes the sincerest form of compliment becomes unfortunate.

And even more unfortunate, you are caught and caged so others can experience your beauty.

And yet you still prevail...

Giving the world a lesson in "cool".

To learn more about Panthers, visit the Black Panther website.

Bad-Ass Animals: the Spiny Orb Weaver

It's been difficult for me to get back into blogging given the range of emotions I'm going through and still dealing with intense grief of losing my mother.  I find my inspiration returning, however, and feel the flow of ideas starting again...

I decided to start back with something that is inspired by my time in Florida.  The Spiny Orb Weaver spider.

I took these photos on the screened-in patio of my mother's house.  I grew up with these really cool, bad-ass spiders and never knew much about them.  They are found throughout subtropical Florida and are identified by their white bellies with black spots and red spines.  Very fashion forward.

They are referred to as "Orb Weavers" for the shape of their web they weave.

They may look kind of mean, but they just keep to themselves and hang out.

Juxtaposed against a decorative purple glass light.

On top of the screen--a little closer to heaven.

Working on a new home.  Floridians tend to like spiders because spiders eat mosquitoes and other annoying bugs.

Spiders can also be cool in fashion--even beyond Goth.

Hanna Bernhard has a beautiful, creative line of pins and necklaces.  Not only of spiders but of sea creatures and wild animals.  I'll do a post on her jewelry soon.

Who wouldn't want to be stylin' in this hat.  I'll work it into a style post of mine...

Miu Miu did a more abstract version in a handbag.

By the way, I'm known to do "spider rescue catch and release" from my house so my cats--and my husband--won't kill them.

Scorpios Rising

Poor Scorpios.  Every time I hear something about a Scorpio it's usually something like: He's a Scorpio.  Translation: Difficult...Moody...High Maintenance. (Photo)

Well, maybe my ability to relate to them is due to the fact that I have a Scorpio rising.  However,  just by the sheer number of my friends that have birthdays between October 23 to November 21st, I know for fact that they are beautiful, fun, loyal, creative, and loving.  Most importantly, my husband, whose birthday is today, is one of those Scorpios.  Let's take a closer look at some cool Scorpions.

First of all, there's the Scorpion itself.  You don't get much more bad-ass than this.  I was on the receiving end of the stinger once...not cool.

Scorpion tattoos are pretty cool.

 Or you can just write it out--it's still cool.

 

 Ok, so maybe I didn't get a Scorpion tatoo, but I did get one for my husband's Chinese zodiac sign, the Tiger--another super cool animal.  But I digress...

Who could forget the Scorpions?  Classic '80's hair band that will "Rock You Like a Hurricane".  Again, getting off track...

Then there are fractal versions of Scorpions--their tails are just made for this.

And the Scorpion Hybrid Supercar--so cool they named it Super.

The Scorpion yoga pose--how many other zodiac signs have their own yoga pose, tell me?

Getting into my special interests, you can even find them in fashion.  This is a hot little number from Armani.

And handbags....

A bangle of Scorpions.

 And then there are those that take it too far...(Photo)

In any case, happy birthday to my husband Kato, and to all my wonderful Scorpio friends and family!