I must be a glutton for punishment, because I'm fascinated by these "Kids React" videos, even though they make me feel old. As these young'uns played around with a point-and-shoot film camera and were horrified to learn they would have to wait to see their images, the me feeling ancient thing was back. As someone who still likes to shoot with black-and-white film, process it myself and then print the negatives in the darkroom, I imagined that those kiddies would see me as a tragic, broken-down unicorn who was far too old to know better. -Via Tastefully Offensive
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YouTube user Wen Hao Lee captured this video of a Lyrebird, a species capable of imitating more than a dozen other bird species as well as other sounds, such as various pieces of machinery. This bird sounds like a laser gun with a little bit of loveable droid thrown in. R2-D2, it is you, it is you! -Via Tastefully Offensive
Receiving one's first cardboard box is a monumental right of passage for any growing kitten. This is Wampa kitty's day, and she makes the most of it. Teasing the dog is just the cherry on top of the boxy sundae. -Via Tastefully Offensive
The bible and religious figures say (in various ways) that the devil appears in appealing disguises. Perhaps his latest vessels are dollar store fairy princess wands for toddlers. The pink, flowery toy above was purchased at a dollar store in Dayton, Ohio by mother Michelle Allen, who intended it as a gift for her two-year-old daughter.
Yet when the shiny, foil cover in the center of the flower was peeled back, underneath it was a picture of a demonic girl cutting her arm with a knife (shown in photo below). The toy, which promised music, came instead with a sound effect of menacing laughter. The item hung on the dollar store shelf in the children's section next to Barbie and other dolls. Though it was called "Evilstick," the fiendish plaything was labeled as appropriate for children age three and above, and the most "evil" part of it was certainly hidden from the view of the consumer.
The owner of the dollar store said he would continue to stock the item, and that parents should check toys before they give them to their children.
Watch a television news report on the story from WHIO Dayton here.
Via Uproxx | Images: WHIO
"Beast Setee"
Nikolai and Simon Haas are twin brothers from Texas whose vision in furniture is soft, luxurious and a little bit Cousin Itt. Certain pieces in the exhibition, such as one they call "Sex Room Entrance," are full of sexual imagery. Their New York show “The Haas Brothers: Cool World,” the title inspired by the 1992 film of the same name, is at R & Company in New York. The exhibition began on November 4 and runs through the January 3, 2015. The R & Company description explains that the Haas brothers' show is based on the idea of "California freedom":
"The concept of freedom provides the nexus for the body of work exhibited in Cool World, in particular the ideal of California freedom. As Simon Haas writes, 'California has been the catalyst for our development as artists -- its alien-ness and variety of culture and landscape have taught us by example that fantasy and reality can be merged by choice. Our newest pieces offer a taste of the Californian utopia that we developed for ourselves.'"
With their whimsically named pieces, some after celebrities, such as "Anna Nicole" and "The Edward Fur-long," these pieces are an animalistic delight. Read a detailed description of the Haas brothers show, including more quotes from them about the inspiration of their pieces, at the R & Company website.
Visit the Haas brothers' website to see more of their work.
Via Dangerous Minds | Images: The Haas brothers
"Golden Corral and Beast Guests"
"Beast Club Chairs"
"Anna Nicole"
Dutch teenager Laura Dekker unbelievably had the blessing of her parents to sail around the world alone at age 14, in an attempt to be listed in the Guinness Book of World Records as the youngest person to do so. Her first attempt was thwarted by the Dutch government, which raised doubts about Dekker's mental state and the poor judgment of her parents. Eventually Dekker did sail her boat, called the Guppy, for 17 months, traveling 27,000 nautical miles in total.
Dekker wasn't the first teen to attempt the trip; others who did so encountered such obstacles as four-story waves, food poisoning, mechanical failures and extreme loneliness. In an effort to prevent other, younger teens from competing for the record, the Guinness Book and the World Sailing Speed Record Council have ceased to recognize the Youngest Solo Circumnavigator record.
Read more bizarre things kids were allowed to do here.
Image: Flickr
Slovensky Cuvac | Image: slovensky-cuvac.st
The dog breeds seen here are not frequently seen and are fairly difficult to locate as available puppies from reputable breeders. Like all dog breeds, each was initially bred for specific purposes and they generally have characteristics unique to them.
The Slovensky Cuvac, shown above, was bred to guard livestock; at first, specifically sheep in mountainous regions of central Europe. Their thick, beautiful coats kept them warm in their working environment. The Cuvac skill in guarding and protection was recognized early on, thus they were eventually tasked with watching cattle, poultry and even people.
Karelian Bear Dog | Image: grawpawsbeardogs.com
The Karelian Bear Dog is an aggressive hunter able to match wits with prey like bears, moose and wild boars, as well as to protect their owners during the hunt. The breed is native to Finland. Karelian Bear Dogs have been utilized for bear control at Yosemite and Glacier National Parks.
Çatalburun | Image: tarsusavcilarkulubu.com
The Çatalburun is one of three breeds that have the amazing split nose seen in the photo above. The breed is native to Turkey and is rarely seen outside of that country. The distinctive nose of the Çatalburun is incredibly sensitive, enabling the breed to have a sense of smell superior to most others.
Tibetan Mastiff | Image: impressivemagazine.com
The Tibetan Mastiff is an ancient breed originating with the nomadic peoples of Tibet, China and Nepal. Tibetan Mastiffs were used as guards of everything from herds of animals to palaces. This is a muscular and hearty dog — required characteristics in order to thrive in the high altitude of the Himalayas.
The photos shown here are of these dog breeds as puppies. See adult pictures, along with twenty-seven more featured breeds, here.
Not every famous musician started out confident in their musical style or genre. Whether it had to do with aggressive marketing schemes by record labels or inexperience and insecurity on the part of the artist, some popular names started out with a look and sound that didn't remotely resemble that of when they came into their own.
In one fairly terrifying example, classically trained pianist and composer Tori Amos started out as the front woman for a cheesy 80s synth pop band with the embarrassing name of "Y Kant Tori Read." Even if you don't like Tori Amos in her later years, I think many would agree that she's a least a step above drum machines, synth and mega-hair.
See videos and read about the earliest music of other acts including Genesis and The Beastie Boys here.
Image: Atlantic
Ah, Krispy Kreme. Have you ever fallen prey to the sweet smell of their doughnuts? Or had a craving for a warm one fresh from the shop? I know I've been on the weak end of a "mind vs. Krispy Kreme" situation. They just seem to melt in your mouth.
Yet once, this bastion of hot, sweet fried temptation sold another item that is the star of cravings everywhere: pizza. That has me wondering what their pizza was like. I suppose it couldn't have been as good as their doughnuts, or they would have evolved into Krispy Krust Pizza or something.
Read more facts about Krispy Kreme here.
Image: Krispy Kreme
The Pantone Hotel in Brussels, Belgium provides guests a stay made richer with vivid color, as one might imagine. The establishment is named for the New Jersey-based Pantone company, which is widely recognized by fashion and graphic designers as well as printing houses as the authority on color. The upscale hotel features rooms and suites, 59 in total, and a rooftop terrace. Its design is of bright color pops amidst a white base color. Read more about the hotel at their website.
Via: Beautiful Decay | Images: Hotel Pantone
You may remember Rambro the Angry Ram, who was saved by a man in Nelson, New Zealand when a local was planning to kill him due to his aggression. If your memory needs refreshing, have a look at this previous Neatorama post showing Rambro attacking a quadcopter drone his owner uses to locate him on his large property. The plot of land on which Rambro lives essentially provides him with his own gorgeous New Zealand forest to roam. The ram has a female sheep mate, a new baby and all the treats he can eat, but that hasn't subdued his feisty attitude.
The video above shows Rambro as he takes on a six-ton excavator that he evidently doesn't like the looks of. Immediately below is Rambro devouring lemons, peel and all (is it any wonder that he's sour?!). The video at bottom shows Rambro taking on a punching bag. Little did he know the bag would fight back — but the ram got the last bleating laugh.
Do you desire a particularly grumpy spirit animal and are turned off that Grumpy Cat has gone Hollywood? This ram has what it takes to stay outraged for years to come.
College Humor presents a few panels in their comic series lampooning that popular target, Hollywood science. Movie science is science in the most flexible sense of the word; it's generally based more on plot and character development than scientific fact. At times, it can make for some unintentional hilarity. Included here are two topics. Read two more here.
If you're a fan of film director David Lynch and his body of work, chances are you've probably seen his 1977 film Eraserhead. Whether people like or dislike the film, one thing most will agree on is that it's unforgettable. Aside from Lynch's brilliance and flair for the bizarre, a big part of what makes Eraserhead so memorable is actor Jack Nance, who played the leading role of Henry Spencer. Nance worked on a number of other Lynch projects as well, including Twin Peaks, Blue Velvet, Wild at Heart and Lost Highway.
Nance was even more colorful offscreen than he was on, as this documentary illustrates. A troubled man who lived through tragedy and died due to violence, Nance managed to imprint his humor and personality on those he encountered. Although many topics discussed by the interview subjects were not laughing matters, the documentary is not a downer. It is a celebration of Nance's unique presence, flair for storytelling and gruff yet kind nature.
Through interviews with his friends and family, including David Lynch, Dennis Hopper and others, a vivid picture of Nance emerges. It's a compelling documentary that I recommend to any Nance, Lynch or film enthusiast. A longer description of the documentary can be found here.
Buster the raccoon is a tad pampered. He lays in bed under comfy, warm covers on a cold morning, his humans already up and about. They attempt to coax Buster out of bed, but he's no dummy. Why jump out of bed when a raccoon can linger and cover his face with his paws occasionally to block out needless human lights and noise? Who knows, a bribe of treats could come next. -Via Tastefully Offensive
Tragically, people with deformities, biological abnormalities and other variances from the norm were often bought, sold and exhibited in "freak shows" or circus sideshows. The popularity of this practice first took off in England during the mid-sixteenth century. It wasn't until the end of the nineteenth/beginning of the twentieth century that there was public backlash against the cruelty of such exhibits. The change in public opinion was partially the result of mass sympathy for Joseph Merrick, also known as the Elephant Man.
While so many personal stories of freak show performers were tragedies marked by abuse and exploitation amidst poor living and working conditions, the story of the lady pictured above is refreshingly different.
Her name was Sarah Biffin. She was born in 1784 with vestigial legs and no arms, yet that didn't dampen her independent spirit. She learned to sew and write with a pen in her mouth by the age of twelve. At thirteen she left home to travel with a sideshow. Initially exhibited doing everyday tasks, Biffin grew bored with that and decided she wanted to paint. She turned out to be an incredibly gifted painter. Biffin devised a technique in which she held the brush with her mouth and kept it steady by tying it to her shoulder. Eventually, Biffen not only freed herself of sideshows by age 29, but she became the official painter to royalty. Her portraits are still featured today in the National Portrait Galleries of Britain.
Read about the lives of other freak show performers here.
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