Dan Reeder (featured previously at Neatorama for a Maleficent wall mounted piece) is an artist from Seattle who has been making these detailed paper mache characters for 40 years. His technique, shown in the video below, blends a structure of paper mache with a painted, cloth "skin." Reeder has authored several books on his craft, his latest being Paper Mache Dragons: Making Dragons & Trophies Using Paper & Cloth Mache, which is available on Amazon

See more photos of Reeder's paper mache pieces here. 

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Via: Laughing Squid | Images: Dan Reeder 

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Ruuxa the cheetah and Raina the Rhodesian ridgeback (featured previously at Neatorama) have grown up together since they were six and seven weeks old, respectively. Raina was selected to be paired with Ruuxa by the San Diego Zoo Safari Park, where the two reside.  Dogs are paired to be raised with chosen “cheetah ambassadors” in order to keep them calm and socialized. 

The video above shows Ruuxa restricted to limited mobility as he heals from surgery to repair a growth abnormality in his legs. Raina accompanied Ruuxa into surgery to keep him calm and happy throughout the procedure. The video below shows Ruuxa at seven months old, having recovered from surgery and gaining strength by exercising his legs and feet while running at full speed with Raina.  

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This video from summer 2013 is just starting to get attention. A pit bull puppy only a few days old was found abandoned and came into the care of the Cleveland Animal Protective League. Knowing the pit bull needed a mother's love, the staff experimented by placing the pup with a new mother cat and her kittens. The cat took to the pup right away and adopted him as her own. The tiny pup will never know how lucky he was, nor will the cat know how much her act of inclusion changed his life. -Via Viral Viral Videos

 Image: Christian Miller, Cairns, Great Barrier Reef, Australia | Honorable Mention, Nature category

National Geographic judges have selected the winning entries in their 2014 Photography Contest. The winning entries were chosen from a total of 9,200 total entries. The competition is divided into three categories: nature, places and people. The grand prize winner received $10,000. Here are some stunning examples. 

See all of the captivating images selected by the judges here.  

Image: Archna Singh, Madhya Pradesh, India | Honorable Mention, Nature category

Image: Henrik Nilsson, Boundary Bay, BC, Canada | Honorable Mention, Nature category

Image: Brian Yen, Hong Kong | Grand Prize Winner and People category winner

This collection of celebrities pitching products for Christmastime advertisements takes one back. Back to a time when cigarette ads were a dime a dozen and 33 LP vinyl was the norm. When Polaroid cameras and clock radios seemed like the latest things. From Jackie Gleason and the Lone Ranger to Dick Van Dyke and the Three Stooges, these ads harken back to familiar faces in a simpler time. 

See more vintage celebrity holiday ads here. 

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For those who thought Weird Al Yankovic was just a singer/songwriter of parodies, take note: this man is multitalented. He happens to be able to perform magic tricks while simultaneously cooking up something wholesome. Another Festivus miracle! -Via Tastefully Offensive

Today our lives are more hectic than ever; it seems many people are in a constant race against time to get things done. Holiday time exacerbates the problem. Being so caught up, it's not often that people stop and ponder the overall picture. How has our world changed in our lifetimes? One way to reflect on such changes is to look at vintage magazines and newspapers. Every news item and advertisement serves as a time capsule. These ads for video cameras and mobile phones are perfect examples.

Some critics claim that technology has left us more isolated due to less face-to-face and voice interaction. Yet would they choose to eschew today's technology in favor of that offered 20 years ago? 

See a collection advertisements that hammer home technological progress here. 

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Thirteen dogs and a cat gather 'round a holiday table and do what everyone does these days while gathered at a table. There are friendly exchanges, drinking of spirits, eating off their own plates and eating off of others' plates. A diva touches up her makeup and tech-dependent souls check their email. One sticky-fingered guest even nabs some silverware! 

The video stars animals from the Humane Society of Utah; some are available for adoption. A video on the making of this one is available here.

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CineFix gave their 8-bit Cinema treatment to the classic A Christmas Story. Eight-bit Ralphie runs around his little Indiana town scheming about how to get the message out regarding the Christmas present he so dearly wants: an official Red Ryder, carbine action, two-hundred shot range model air rifle. -Via Laughing Squid

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YouTube user Tom BetGeorge synced an elaborate Christmas light show with his favorite music from the Star Wars franchise. This is his second year of putting on such a production. The music teacher built the props using wood, metal, acrylic and corrugated plastic. He runs the show nightly from 6-10 pm at his house in Newark, New Jersey. -Via Laughing Squid 

Husband and wife team Timothy and Aurelia Sanders, working under the company name Charley Chartwell, designed this blast from the past: a poster of 1980s slang. Anyone who has lived through the 1980s should be familiar with most of these expressions, many of which ended up being written into the pop culture of the time by way of songs, movies, television and books. 

Order prints of this fun poster at Charley Chartwell. -Via Laughing Squid 

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Texas high school student Reagan Hardin made a diorama of a farm in the middle ages for her AP World History class. But before she could turn in her homework, her dog Roscoe scarfed it down, plastic sheep and all. Roscoe became ill, and had to be taken to the vet for an emergency procedure to remove the plastic animals, which was done with an endoscope. Roscoe has made a full recovery. In the end, Reagan was able to prove to the teacher that she wasn't using the age-old excuse. -Via Arbroath

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New internet darling Munchkin the Teddy Bear is dashing through the snow in a Shih Tzu driven sleigh in this video. Her Halloween costume is being put to good use, as it keeps her warm while she plays in the snow. Every dog should be lucky enough to have a Teddy Bear outfit. -Via Tastefully Offensive

This ultramodern desert home is located at Joshua Tree, in the High Desert of Southern California. Built so that it blends almost seamlessly into the landscape, the concrete of its roof and walls is the same color as its natural surrounds. The structure was built by architect Ken Kellogg, who owners Bev and Jay Doolittle enticed to take on the job by sending him photos of their 10-acre lot. 

See a video of the home below, and view a collection of photos here.

Via The Presurfer | Images: Lance Gerber

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Source: Redditor carris


The dogs shown here are from shelters, accustomed to a lonely existence behind bars with minimal human contact. Then suddenly, a visitor or a family has them sprung from their kennel, and after a brief meeting, the dog is put on a lead and placed in a car. Some of the more timid dogs are scared at first, which may show in their faces. But many are simply ecstatic to be free and with a person who seems to have an interest in taking care of them and showing them kindness. That thrilled, hopeful expression is captured on many of the faces of the dogs in these photos as they ride to their new home. 

See more photos of dogs freed from shelters here. 


Source: Redditor electrical_outlet