Viral Animal Memes & Stuff
What is it about gummy bears that makes them so irresistible for everyone from toddlers to teens…and full-grown adults?
Perhaps we’ll never know whether it’s their squishy consistency or their sugary flavor, but one thing we do know is that we can finally stop spending money on the store-bought versions. Yes, my friends, you can indeed make these childhood treats at home!
Source: http://www.viralnova.com
Source: http://failblog.cheezburger.com
My college was so well-known for its squirrel population that they even considered changing the mascot to a fearsome squirrel. In all that time, though, I’ve never made friends with one. They were more likely to scare me by popping out of a trash can on my way to class than anything else.
Scott and Pam Martin, however, have come to love their squirrel friend, Putter, who comes to visit every day and gets treated like a queen.
Source: http://www.viralnova.com
The 5th of December is International Ninja Day, and we thought the best way to celebrate would be with pics of the greatest ninjas of all time – turtles.
Post photos of your turtles and tortoises and vote for the cutest ones on our list!
Source: http://www.boredpanda.com/
The feline was hanging out with some of its friends in Kirsanov, Russia, when they were rudely interrupted by a dachshund looking to stir up some drama. And while the pup barked relentlessly to get a reaction, the oddly zen-like kitty couldn’t be less impressed.
Source: http://www.viralnova.com
Source: https://imgflip.com/
Cats like attention, and as you can see from these photobombing felines, they’ll do anything to get it! Whether they’re crashing family photo shoots, private selfies, unsuspecting dogs, or even each other, these cats are on a mission to turn every purrfect picture into an absolute cat-astrophe! Check out this list, compiled by Bored Panda, for some hilarious furry photobombers. Don’t forget to vote for the best!
Source: http://www.boredpanda.com/
It’s called Anicubes, and as the name suggests, he takes majestic animals and gives them a rigid, more angular shape. They look like something out of Minecraft, but photorealistic.
Take a look and see what things would look like if evolution took a more angular approach.
As you can see, many of the photos look “almost” normal, but you can’t help but get the sense something’s a little off.
Source: http://twentytwowords.com/
Lightsabers? Check. Puppies? Check. Epic Lightsaber Puppy Battle? CHECK.
Source: http://dailypicksandflicks.com/
It’s sad to think about it, but the vast majority of dogs and cats at pet stores come from puppy mills. These animals are raised in deplorable conditions, and many that survive suffer from serious health issues. On top of that, almost all of these animals are emotionally scarred in some way from the ordeal.
The dog featured in this video goes by the name of Ruggles. Ruggles was fortunate enough to be rescued from a puppy mill, but he wasn’t in great shape. Brought to the Cherokee County Animal Shelter in Georgia, he met another rescued animal — a cat named Chompers. Chompers was rescued after being found under a porch. Both were extremely shy at first, but look how quickly things change after a bit of playtime.
Source: http://www.wimp.com/
Kristen Roupenians 4,000-word tale about a stilted romance sent the internet into meltdown this week. Heres the lowdown on the battle lines that formed
After inspiring a cacophony of venom on Twitter, an exhausting avalanche of hot takes and a chasm of opinion between those who think it is a work of genius and those who consider it misandrist drivel, is there anyone left who is still a Cat Person person? The New Yorker short fiction by Kristen Roupenian follows the stilted romance of Margot and Robert, whose ultimately unfulfilling relationship is fuelled only by the power of text message banter.
The 4,000 word story has provoked, at the time of counting: a BBC short story written from the perspective of Robert; a Twitter account that only tweeted responses from bewildered men, to the scornful laughter of quite a few more women; and responses from approximately 10,000 millennials, who recounted their own slightly sad dating experiences. It is perhaps the most talked about short story ever, apart from maybe Annie Proulxs Brokeback Mountain (also published in the New Yorker, in 1997) or The Lottery by Shirley Jackson (which graced the magazines pages in 1948).
It is now easier to read about Cat People than the story itself, with Proulx and Jackson spared the intense internet sleuthing to which Roupenian and her story have been subject. Irate readers have determined to win arguments about a creative work that is arguably subjective, like all art before it, and can be what anyone wants it to be. Here are some of the battle lines.
When they finally make fairly rewardless love, Margot is dismayed by Robert and his belly, thick and soft and covered with hair, but they have sex regardless; she decides that saying no would make her seem spoiled and capricious. Robert, meanwhile, obsesses over Margots sexual history, invents imaginary men to compete with for her time and ends the story (spoiler alert) by calling her a whore. So, maybe it is both. Maybe it is neither. Based on the haunted reactions of many women to the story, the pertinent questions to ask are: why do women try to please even when they hate it? And do men truly not notice this?
Roupenian told the New Yorker that the story was inspired by a small but nasty encounter I had with a person I met online. So, arguably yes to both.
Falling as it does in this era of sexual anxiety and #MeToo, some people have claimed that Roupenians story is a polemical essay on modern sexual politics, as though fiction cant tackle contemporary events and New Yorker editors dont rush out stories to fall in the middle of relevant public conversations (surprise: that is what they did).
No way.
Source: http://www.theguardian.com/us
Source: https://imgflip.com/
A lot of facts about our lives (like the lack of control over it and the inevitable death afterwards) are tough to swallow, so it’s best you learn about them from somebody soft and fluffy. Luckily, there’s a tumblr, dedicated to using cats to deliver heavy information. It’s called Hard Truths From Soft Cats, and it helps to carry the burden of existence.
Some of these messages are objectively true and some are subjectively false but the collection of these images can be described as a healthy introduction to pessimism. American philosopher and psychologist William James came up with the equation: happiness = expectations / reality. According to it, there are two ways to live a happier life – change reality, or change expectations. Pessimists reduce the expectations. They prepare themselves for the worst by reducing tension and shielding from disappointment. However, don’t think of them as grim – they can easily fill the gap between what should be and what is with laughter. Just like these comics do!
Source: http://www.boredpanda.com/
It’s usually agreed that you need to eat to live and that living to eat might be a tad unhealthy. But look at these cute animals having a go at it! From the cute-yet-gruesome sight of bunnies eating strawberries (so that’s how Monty Python got inspired) to everyone except otters enjoying watermelons, it’s a zoological dinner extravaganza. We’ve made this list specifically for your enjoyment.
However, animal feeding is not as easy as it sounds. From the extremely nebulous rules on cats and lactose to the fact that dogs shouldn’t eat chocolate, you would do good to Google any relevant information before feeding that squirrel your sriracha-laden macaroni salad.
Source: http://www.boredpanda.com/
Source: http://www.ifunny.com/
Source: https://imgflip.com/
Source: http://www.viralviralvideos.com
The financially challenged actor was on particularly good form on Letterman this week
Source: http://www.theguardian.com/us
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Another day another meme, my friends.
The internet never takes an off day and is a fickle beast when it comes to its memes. Today’s meme is an image of a mischievous looking duck that looks like it knows something you don’t. The origin of said image is already lost to history, of course, but needless to say the internet has had a great time with it over the past couple of days.
Why does this bird look like she has the tea on EVERYBODY I’m crying pic.twitter.com/mmhSUjhmzp
tiredt (@whomstami) April 25, 2017
When you grab the McDonalds and eat a little bit out of everybody’s fries then take the one you didn’t touch pic.twitter.com/vHcXPQv3KW
X (@XLNB) April 25, 2017
When you hear ya sibling lie to ya Momma so you know you got some dirt on them now pic.twitter.com/vvdpvKydnF
X (@XLNB) April 25, 2017
When little kids hear you say a bad word you told them they shouldn’t say pic.twitter.com/kVnirDTtsA
X (@XLNB) April 25, 2017
When your girlfriend just let you keep on lying cuz she already got the receipts on you pic.twitter.com/qNNFPsMYBJ
X (@XLNB) April 25, 2017
According to the meme lifecycle this meme will be dead in 20 minutes and a new meme will rise. What will it be? Angry Looking Pug? Side Eye Rabbit? Me? Only time will tell…
Source: http://mashable.com/
(CNN)The first time Vanessa Didon saw a turtle, she was blown away.
Source: http://edition.cnn.com/
Source: https://imgflip.com/
Spoiler: the first one is a cat! See more perfectly timed cat pictures HERE. (Image credits: unknown)
Spoiler: the first one is a cat! See more perfectly timed cat pictures HERE. (Image credits: unknown)
Source: http://www.boredpanda.com/
Recently we worked with the NGO Sea Shepherd to create a set of educational toys.
On the outside they look like regular toys but we stuffed them with plastic items that animals tend to eat in the nature.
We made them with the help of Andrea Vida (a very talented independent designer from Hungary) and early childhood teachers. All of them are hand-sewn using responsible materials.
Then we contacted different early childhood organizations to implement these toys in their educational program.
Special thanks to Xuan Pham, Sonali Ranjit and Andrea Vida.
Source: http://www.boredpanda.com/
Source: http://www.dailydot.com/
A kangaroo was attacking a dog so this guy rushed in to save him by squaring up with the roo and socking him in the face with a stiff right.
Source: http://twistedsifter.com/
Image copyright Blue Reef Aquarium A sick sea turtle believed to have been pushed towards the UK by stormy seas has been found stranded on a beach.
The rare juvenile loggerhead turtle was discovered on Gwithian Beach near Hayle, in Cornwall, on Wednesday.
Steve Matchett, from the Blue Reef Aquarium, said a vet, who was an expert in marine turtles, was trying to stabilise the animal.
He said the species was used to warm seas and becomes lethargic in the UK’s cold waters.
More on this story and other news from Devon and Cornwall
The aquarium, based in Newquay, said most loggerheads were born along the coast of Mexico, Florida, in the Mediterranean and the Middle East.
– The loggerhead's name refers to its extraordinarily large head, which houses powerful jaw muscles and large beak for crushing crustaceans.
– The species is listed as endangered by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN).
– They nest at sites in the Mediterranean and along the coasts of Oman, South Africa, Australia and southeast USA.
– Adults can weigh up to 28st 4lb (180kg)and grow to over 3ft (1m) long.
Mr Matchett said the turtle, which is about 8 inches (20cm) long, could have been washed up in Cornwall following a severe storm, causing it to be pushed out the warmer water of the Atlantic and further north.
He said: “Turtles only strand in UK waters when there is something seriously wrong with them.
“They tend to fall victim to our chilly waters and gradually become more and more lethargic until they lapse into unconsciousness.”
The turlte is now receiving emergency treatment.
“The next few days are absolutely crucial but we have to face the fact that it has been through a lot and the fact it has stranded means it was no longer able to swim or fend for itself,” he said.
Source: http://www.bbc.com/news/uk
(CNN)Animal rights groups in Japan have raised the alarm over a dolphin, 46 penguins and hundreds of fish and reptiles that are locked in an aquarium that has been closed for months.
Source: http://edition.cnn.com/
This was no scene from a Hollywood movie.
A slithery snake briefly sparked panic on an Aeromexico flight bound for Mexico City when it started crawling out of the overhead bins in a horrifying nod to the thriller “Snakes on a Plane.”
Video posted to Twitter Sunday captured the wriggling green reptile precariously hanging between the plane’s ceiling and wall before nearly dropping down to join its passengers.
A second video posted to YouTube appears to show the same reptilian stowaway stretching down toward the already cleared seats as passengers watch from a distance.
The airline said the flight, which originated in Torreon, was given priority landing in Mexico City, where workers “secured the reptile,” according to a statement obtained by The Associated Press.
An investigation into how the snake got onboard the plane is reportedly underway.
Now where’s Samuel L. Jackson when you need him?
Source: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/
Got a minute? Rickety convention hurtles toward finish Ted Cruz defends refusal to endorse Ivanka Trump to intro dad and everything else today on the campaign trail. By Tom McCarthy
Source: http://www.theguardian.com/us
Source: http://imgur.com/
If you’ve ever owned a dog you know one of the best moments is when you, the owner, returns home. Well imagine that, times ~12 and you get something like this insanely cute video.
Source: http://www.viralviralvideos.com
We all know the premise of Jurassic Park. Humans manage to bring dinosaurs back to life and put them in a park before they escape and wreak all sorts of havoc on the world. Pretty cool idea, but also a pretty scary one.
But you know what would be even scarier? If it wasn’t giant prehistoric reptiles that mankind genetically recreated but giant domestic house cats! OK, so we know it doesn’t sound particularly scary, but just wait until you see the pictures. Forget Jurassic Park, this is Purrassic Park! (h/t: cheezburger)
Source: http://www.boredpanda.com/
“That’s… not what’s supposed to happen.”
Source: http://www.wimp.com/
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Don’t recognize it? If you ever had a stuffed animal toy, maybe you should.
The story goes that way back in 1902 President Theodore “Teddy” Roosevelt was on a hunting trip in Mississippi. Despite Roosevelt being a famously avid hunter, when his hosts captured and tied up a black bear (intending to give it to him as an easy trophy), Roosevelt refused to shoot the animal, saying it was unsportsmanlike.
The press eventually got hold of this story, and this excellent cartoon was born:
This political cartoon in The Washington Post depicted Roosevelt’s historic refusal. Image from Clifford Berryman/Wikimedia Commons.
Well, the story goes on to say that the cartoon was seen by a shop owner named Morris Michtom. Now, at this time there were other stuffed bear toys around, but it was apparently Michtom who first called them “Teddy’s bears,” which proved immensely popular and eventually turned into teddy bears.
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There are 16 different subspecies of black bears, and most have been doing well, but the ones in Louisiana haven’t been doing so hot.
Part of this is because while Roosevelt didn’t shoot that captured bear, other Louisiana bear hunts continued on. And it wasn’t just that: As people chopped down the forests, the black bears were losing their homes. This one-two punch dropped the population of Louisiana black bears to under a hundred.
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In the 1992, the government, recognizing the bear’s plight, added the Louisiana black bear to its list of endangered species, granting it special federal protections.
Now, more than two decades later, it’s been declared that the Louisiana black bear population has recovered. So much that they’re going to be removed from the list of federally protected species. A lot of that is thanks to landowners helping to restore the forests the black bears depend on as homes.
President Calvin Coolidge also had a pygmy hippo and a wallaby. Can we please get Obama a wallaby? National Photo Company/Wikimedia Commons.
President Calvin Coolidge kept a pet black bear in the White House. Thomas Jefferson and Theodore Roosevelt also had pet bears, but we don’t know the species, unfortunately.
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That was the weight of the biggest black bear even seen, although the typical specimen is more like 400-500 pounds.
Image from Joshua Kenney/Flickr.
They’re also quite good at swimming and can run 30 miles per hour.
Image from Jon Rawlinson/Wikimedia Commons.
Black bears aren’t just great at sports; they’re fashion models too! They can be blueish, brown, cinnamon-colored, or even white. The white ones aren’t albinos, by the way. That’s just what their fur looks like.
Two sun bears in Viet Nam. Image from Hoang Dinh Nam/AFP/Getty Images.
American black bears are most closely related to the Asian black bear and the Internet meme-inspiring sun bear.
Image from Ghedoghedo/Wikimedia Commons.
All bears are descended from big, ancient predators known as “bear dogs.” Guess who else is descended from bear dogs? (Hint: It’s dogs.)
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Black bears are omnivores, which means they’ll eat both plants and animals. And yes, they do eat honey, although they also love the bee grubs as well.
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Source: http://www.upworthy.com/
This is the story of flying fox bats, “waving man” inflatables, and an Australian seaside town.
The quaint town of Batemans Bay in New South Wales, Australia has been swamped with over 100,000 grey-headed flying fox bats. After several months of the towns new residents, the infuriated locals are now hoping to get rid of their unwelcome guests through a AUS$6.2 million ($4.5 million) action plan, full of bizarre ideas.
This species of megabat in question has a 1-meter (3.3-foot) wingspan and can grow up to 28 centimeters (11 inches) in height, making them the largest bat in Australia.
Reuters reports that the huge numbers of thisbat are causing power outages, affecting the town’stourism industry, and driving down property prices. On top of this, their loud squawks and bad smell is further adding to their constant nuisance in the town.
New South Wales Environment MinisterMark Speakmantold ABC News, “We’ve had many residents complain, they feel they’re prisoners in their own homes, they can’t go out, they have to have air conditioning on the whole time, windows closed.
He added,”[The circumstances] really amount almost to a state of emergency.”
Part of the problem lies in the fact that these bats are a protected species under numerous conservation acts. The authorities believe the bats have swarmed to this south-eastern coastal holiday town following a heavy flowering of native trees that contain their favorite food, nectar.
However, help is on its way. The local government has released a plan-of-action report. Among their suggestions of how to tackle the problem the report includes using smoke, radar signals, or noise to disturb the bats, as well as spraying trees with an animal deterrent. But most novel of allis the use of “waving man” inflatables to scare off the bats. Yes, wacky waving, inflatable, arm-flailing tube men.
Bats, be gone.Graeme Dawes/Shutterstock
Source: http://www.iflscience.com
Hi, my name is Evgeny Ches, I’m a graffiti and contemporary artist from Moscow, Russia. I call the technique that I use Cellograffiti, it’s basically painting on the plastic wrap instead of walls or other places.
Here are some paintings that I did of the animals in the forest, I hope you’ll like them!
62Kviews
Source: http://www.boredpanda.com/
Nola the dog loved her best friend Merlin the conure. Whenever the bird was nearby, she gently rubbed his head with her paw as a sign of affection.
Source: http://dailypicksandflicks.com/
Vets are warning would-be dog owners to think twice before buying breeds with fashionably “flat-faced” features – because of concerns over their welfare.
Pugs, bulldogs, French bulldogs and shih-tzus have become sought-after in the UK, despite wide-ranging health problems.
Their appeal is attributed to having “squashed” faces and wrinkled noses.
The British Veterinary Association said the surge in popularity of these dogs had “increased animal suffering”.
Sean Wensley, president of the British Veterinary Association (BVA), said: “Prospective owners need to consider that these dogs can suffer from a range of health problems, from eye ulcers to severe breathing difficulties.
“We strongly encourage people to choose a healthier breed or a crossbreed instead.”
The warning has been echoed by the PDSA, the Royal Veterinary College, the RSPCA and the Kennel Club.
Meanwhile, evidence suggests that an increasing number of the dogs – more correctly known as brachycephalic or short-muzzled dogs – are being abandoned by their owners.
Six dog rescue companies told the BBC that the breeds were being given up in greater numbers.
Image copyright PA Battersea Dogs Home and Bluecross Animal Rescue received a total of 314 “flat-faced” dogs in 2015, compared to 226 in 2014, an increase of 39%.
Both charities said they were carrying out more surgical procedures to clear the airways of the dogs they brought in – removing obstructive pieces of tissue and widening nostrils.
Steve Gosling, a vet at Battersea Dogs Home, said one of their dogs, Winston the bulldog, was a typical example.
He said: “He’s a lovely little chap, about eight years old. He was left with us by his owners and, like many dogs from this breed, he suffers from what we call brachycephalic obstructed airways syndrome.
“In other words, because he has a really short nose that we’ve bred into him, he has quite serious breathing difficulties.”
Mr Gosling said the charity operates on dogs like Winston “quite regularly” because shortness of breath can be a very distressing condition.
He added: “And we don’t want to re-home animals knowing that we can improve their quality of life.”
A recent survey by the Royal Veterinary College suggests many owners of brachycephalic dogs are not aware of the common underlying health problems.
Caroline Reay, chief vet at Bluecross Animal Hospital in Merton, said: “Most owners – and some vets – think airway noise, and consequently reduced activity, is normal, so the problems are rarely discussed.
“And I think the number of operations we are carrying out is really only the tip of the iceberg”.
Image copyright AP The extremely broad head shape seen in in pugs and bulldogs is not a natural look. It developed as a result of intense, selective breeding.
It has led the RSPCA to call for an urgent review of the breed standards, which are decided by the Kennel Club, and specify how every type of dog should look.
Caroline Kisko, the Kennel Club secretary, said: “The breed standards were set many years ago. If you look back through history there are some dire things that went on, and undoubtedly we would accept all responsibility for that.
“But I would say that in the here-and-now, after all of the changes to the standards that were made in 2009, we would expect dogs to be far healthier if they are winning prizes at dogs shows.”
Mrs Kisko said the problems with brachycephalic dogs were being perpetuated in the main by disreputable puppy farms.
Image copyright AFP She said: “If we continue to allow dogs to be brought in from central and eastern Europe where there is no concern for how these dogs are bred, it is inevitable that pet owners will end up with dogs they can’t deal with.
“These are breeds which aren’t hugely suited to pet homes. If you want a pet that will run around and chase a ball and so on, don’t go out and buy any short-faced breed based on what celebrities are walking around with under their arm.”
This summer the Royal Veterinary College opened the UK’s first specialist clinic to address problems in flat-faced dogs.
More than 12,000 vets and vet nurses have signed an online petition calling for a working party to address the increasing health problems in brachycephalic dogs and cats.
Source: http://www.bbc.com/news/uk
Digested week: When Trump called Omarosa Manigault Newman a dog on Twitter, some still managed to be shocked
The question of how to cover the revelations of Omarosa Manigault Newman, a woman who sorely tests the principle of my enemys enemy is my friend, twisted US journalists into caveat-issuing pretzels this week. She is an unreliable witness with a huge axe to grind; she is, as those who watched her on The Apprentice may recall, highly vindictive. She was also prepared to tolerate Donald Trumps sexism and racism as long as he was paying her salary.
And yet. Watching her this week, it has been hard not to be impressed at some level. Those Trump has savaged have spoken of the sheer terror of being attacked from the worlds most powerful office. The vast majority of them Megyn Kelly, Mika Brzezinski, Khizr Khan didnt go looking for a fight, at least not one that went beyond the boundaries of ordinary political discourse.
Thus, there is something breathtaking about her sheer cheek, not only for bringing the fight but pursuing it to a second and third round. Her actions may be rooted in psychopathic self-interest, but still, you have to hand it to the woman secretly recording John Kelly (and, as it turned out later, Lara Trump), then throwing the recordings in the presidents face, takes much greater nerve than, say, Michael Wolffs humid lurking. It also demonstrates precisely why Manigault Newman should never have been in the Situation Room. The line she pushed in her book, Trumps use of the n-word which if true comes as no surprise; the man could goose-step down Pennsylvania Avenue at this stage and it wouldnt unnerve his base was in some ways the weakest. The real story is the sheer lunacy of a president who would hire someone like her.
Still, when Trump fought back, calling Manigault Newman a dog on Twitter, some still managed to be shocked, possibly because unlike other women he has called dogs, he once professed to be fond of her, and because it reads as a racial slur.
In one of those out-of-body experiences that suggest this administration hasnt been entirely normalised, Sarah Sanders clarified from the briefing room that when the president used dog to describe his ex-staffer, this has absolutely nothing to do with race and everything to do with the president calling out someones lack of integrity the fact is the presidents an equal opportunity person that calls things like he sees it.
In this, at least, Sanders may for once have been speaking the truth. When Gail Collins, the New York Times columnist, poked fun at Trumps wealth (she called him a thousandaire) he sent her a note observing she was a dog and a liar with a face like a pig. He called Kristen Stewart a dog when offering commentary on her relationship with Robert Pattinson (she cheated on him like a dog), and of Arianna Huffington he once said: She is a dog who wrongfully comments on me. He has also called men dogs, among them Mitt Romney (choked like a dog) and NBCs Chuck Todd (fired like a dog). That insults can mean different things depending on to whom they are said bitch falls differently when it is directed at a gay man than at a woman is one of the few subtleties one imagines Trump understands well.
A new subcategory of degree course has sprung up across US universities, in what the Wall Street Journal summarised mid-week as civil discourse the art of talking to people with different political opinions, without either demonising them or taking mortal offence. Courses named argument and inquiry and studies into polarisation are proliferating, not just as an effort to address Trump, but also to heal divisions and bridge ideological divides. The paper quoted a 2017 Knight Foundation survey, which found 61% of students said their place of learning clamped down on what might be regarded as offensive speech, up from 54% the previous year. The new courses also seek to coach students in when to engage and when to walk away from opinions they find offensive. Theres no course in existence that gives counsel on what to do when theres a buffoon at the top.
Celebrations of Madonnas 60th were a shaft of joy in the weeks news. Madge has more than a whiff of Vivienne Westwood about her these days, and her raging against ageism is a reminder of why we loved her in the first place. It was also a reminder of what we talk about when we talk about Madonna. Like most people who have been famous for so long, Madonna is, I often find myself saying, more than likely completely insane. This might very well be true but thats not the point. The point is its an assessment one never makes about Mick Jagger or Rod Stewart.
You can call a woman a dog from the White House, but in the world of childrens publishing, the words one uses to describe women are subject to severe review. I sat down with my daughters to read a new edition of Cinderella this week to find that the ugly sisters have become the bossy sisters because, of course, it is wrong to equate beauty with moral virtue. Sadly, the production team hadnt received the memo that Sheryl Sandberg (among others) has launched a war against the word bossy for discouraging female leadership. Im not sure where that leaves us. I suppose Horrible Sisters might work, but then again, given the entire point of Cinderella is to get married to a prince and settle down for a life of indolent castle-dwelling, the whole female respect thing is a bit like deckchairs on the Titanic.
The enemy of my enemy is still probably a weasel
Source: http://www.theguardian.com/us
Auctions proceeds and cash found in 2011 raid of gangsters apartment will be split between the estates of murder victims and three extortion victims
It could have been the final scene of a horror flick or an episode of Hoarders.
You can walk in Whiteys shoes, imagine that? the auctioneer declared, breaking his rhythmic call for a beat and a half, before diving back in, pushing up the bid for a pair of new white, size 9.5 Asics sneakers, while his assistants shrieked and yelped to mark each new offer.
When James Whitey Bulger and his girlfriend Catherine Greig were arrested in Santa Monica on 22 June 2011, they had in their apartment 30 guns and $822,198 cash. Also, as was revealed in the Boston auction Saturday: 10 pairs of white sneakers, a plethora of cat paraphernalia, 27 pairs of used womens sunglasses, a skull ring, a skull belt, a diamond claddagh ring, books about the second world war , books about cowboys, a portrait of a poodle, and a mug shaped like a beady-eyed rat.
The story of the South Boston gangster has been told many times over, in many different forms. At first it was told between neighbors, in the 70s and 80s when he was hailed as a kind of Robin Hood for the Irish community in Boston. This story was based on the premise that he was a good bad guy who played by certain bad guy rules: he did not kill women, he kept drugs out of South Boston, and he was not a rat. None of which was true.
Bulgers cash, as well as the more than $100,000 in proceeds from the auction held by the US marshals office on Saturday, are being split between the estates of 20 murder victims and three extortion victims.
The government has only proved Bulger committed 11 murders, so this number includes the murder victims cases the government couldnt make stick. For instance, Deborah Davis, the 26-year-old girlfriend of one of Bulgers cohorts, who was strangled to death and had her teeth removed before she was buried by the Neponset river in Quincy. The jury issued a no finding in her case, but her family will receive a share of the money. Her brother, Steven, was at the auction Saturday.
Steven Davis is critical of those who still glamorize the serial killer, which for him includes the film Black Mass. The film-makers did not consult with the victims families. Its almost like we got kicked in the face by Johnny Depp, said Davis, of the actor who played the man he says killed his sister.
But on Saturday, Bulgers notoriety would help give a little something back to the victims. Davis brought his friends and lashed a few bids, to keep the rates high, he said.
Some of the stuff, it makes me a little sick, said Davis, imagining someone putting their foot into one of Bulgers old shoes. But ultimately, he is says he is in favor of the auction. It will help the families.
To a certain extent, its sort of distasteful, said Carmen Ortiz, the US attorney in Massachusetts, who said the office was selective about what ultimately hit the auction. Bulgers weapons were not for sale. Nor was his manuscript, a sort of autobiography Bulger was penning at the time of his arrest. A lot of the writing had references to violent acts, Ortiz said.
What is left exhibits what their interests were, Ortiz said.
He bought certain items in bulk, she said. Its clear she really liked the cats.
John Gibbons, US marshal for the district of Massachusetts, says the hoarding, sunglasses and wide-brimmed hats were indicative of how they lived. They were fugitives, he explained. They were under the radar.
Bulger was 81 years old; hed been on the lam for 16 years when he was arrested, after being tipped off about his imminent arrest by a Boston FBI agent, John Connolly, whom Bulger had been feeding information to. Connolly is currently serving time for racketeering, obstruction of justice and murder charges. His supervisor, John Morris, received immunity. Bulgers brother, William, once the president of the state senate, was forced to resign his position as the president of the University of Massachusetts after he refused to cooperate in the search for his fugitive brother.
John Kelley, 54, a who owns a limousine company in Andover, won the first bid of the day, the punching-bag mannequin Bulger left by his window so people would think someone was home, complete with a tan wide-brimmed hat. Kelley took it home for $4,900.
Kelley approached Davis shortly afterward. Sorry for your loss, said Kelley, shaking his hand. Davis gave him a hug.
He came up, he felt bad, he didnt want to feel like he insulted me for what he did, said Davis. Its almost like he donated.
He almost had a tear in his eye, he added.
Later Kelley bought the skull ring for $5,200. Kelley, who grew up in Lynn, said hes heard stories about Bulger his whole life. When we grew up, he was a hero, but we were kids, when youre older you realize what he did.
A woman leaving the auction with two cat statuettes, said she felt like she purchased a piece of Bostons history, Plus hes probably pissed that everyone has his stuff.
The days highest bidding item, a 14-carat diamond claddagh ring, went to real estate developer Colm Dunphy, 52, from County Tyrone in Northern Ireland, whos been living in Boston for the last 30 years. It cost him $23,000.
Because I like it, and its my birthday, Dunphy replied when asked why he bought the ring. Im going to wear it myself.
Source: http://www.theguardian.com/us
Turkish artist Said Dagdeviren makes beautiful art with a message. His recent series, Double Exposure, is of animated animal silhouettes and human activity that damages said animal’s habitat.
“I made these gifs because this is how I feel about our planet,” Dagdeviren told Bored Panda. “Humans are so selfish and they didn’t want to see… animals can’t talk, they can’t tell us how much they hurt. We destroy everything and it’s break my heart so deeply. Maybe my work will touch someone’s hearts and make them realize that we’re not alone in this world. We are connected.”
Source: http://www.boredpanda.com/
Source: http://imgur.com/
Source: http://www.dailydot.com/
I was inspired by the simplicity of the twitter logo, which was actually created out of 13 circles. I decided to challenge myself and see what other animals I could create as well.
I thought to myself, “Only 13 circles? I doubt most of the animals will even be recognizable…” but surprisingly, I was pretty happy with what turned out. Sometimes I was even happy before I hit 13 circles, and I would “cheat” a little by adding the remaining circles on a sharp corner to simply round it out a little, instead of being forced to change the shape of the animal. But hey. 
I’ve sold a few prints. Contact me if you’re interested as well!
Source: http://www.boredpanda.com/
Image copyright Getty Images If you were planning to bring a hedgehog on to a flight as a form of emotional support, you might have to think again.
Hedgehogs have been included on a banned list – as airlines get tougher over soaring demands from anxious passengers wanting to travel with “emotional support animals”.
United Airlines say requests have risen by 75% to 76,000 in a year.
The airline recently had to turn down a request to travel with a peacock.
But a spokeswoman for the airline says that even before turning away the peacock at Newark airport in the US, there had been recognition that the rules needed to be tightened.
This was because of a “significant increase in onboard incidents involving these animals”, she added.
United said that last year there had been an increase of more than 30,000 passengers wanting to travel with emotional support pets.
From next month, there will be tougher rules on animals carried by passengers to provide reassurance or as part of therapy – although this will not affect animals such as guide dogs for the blind.
Image copyright Reuters As well as 48 hours’ notice and a letter from a mental health professional, passengers will now have to show proof that their animal has been “trained to behave properly in a public setting”.
United will also keep a list of banned animals, including hedgehogs, ferrets, insects, rodents, snakes, spiders, reptiles and “non-household birds” under review.
From next month, Delta will also be stepping up efforts to “protect” its passengers, after an 84% increase in on-board animal “incidents”.
A statement from the airline says this is because of “serious safety risks involving untrained animals in flight”.
The airline says it will continue to carry about 250,000 guide dogs or other service animals each year.
But Delta has faced requests to carry “comfort turkeys”, possums and snakes. And it says staff have faced biting, growling and barking animals, as well as urination and defecation.
Virgin Atlantic says that it only allows dogs to be carried as emotional support pets.
British Airways, meanwhile, says that it has had no increase in requests – because it doesn’t allow passengers to bring any emotional support animals on board.
Source: http://www.bbc.com/news/uk
Cat and Puppy Take a Bath Together
This puppy and cat were plopped into the bathtub to take a bath. They didn’t seem to be enjoying it as they stared off into the distance, but they accepted their watery fate and got clean.
Source: http://dailypicksandflicks.com/
These shelter dogs and cats had the best Christmas ever
Christmas is a hard time for so many creatures, hoomins and non-hoomins alike.
These shelter dogs from the Animal Rescue League of Iowa had the time of their lives, however, when staff members allowed them to select a special Christmas toy from underneath the shelter’s Tree of Life.” The shelter sets up the tree every year to help benefit the animals.
While some of the animals in the video have been adopted, others are still looking for homes.
Here’s to 2017.
Source: http://mashable.com/
This Girl Was Raised With Wild Animals In a Real-Life Jungle Book Childhood
Almost every kid is familiar with The Jungle Book . The book was made into an animated film, then a recent live-action one, showcasing the wonder of a child in the wilderness, left to fend for himself.
via: Daily MailBut for aTippi Benjamine Okanti Degr, The Jungle Book was much closer to her biography than a work of fiction.
Born in Namibia, she spent the first ten years of her life braving the wilderness with her parents. And as these breathtaking photos show, she really was one with the animals during her youth.
She’s even got the loin cloth!
Her “friends” included Abu the Elephant, Linda the Ostrich, and J&B the Leopard.
via: Daily MailHer mom, Sylive, says,It was like havingthe biggest playground. We lived in a tent, completely in the wild, but she always woke up with the sun shining and her parents around her. She was very lucky,
Tippi’s middle name, Okanti, means “mongoose” in the native language.
via: Daily MailIronically, that’s the only animal during her youth that ever bit her.
At the age of ten, Tippi and her Frnech parents moved back to Europe, and, sadly, away from her animal friends.
via: Daily MailHer mom shared how difficult it was. We didn’t have room for a dog in our flat, so we got a budgie instead. It would go everywhere with her, even on the train, flying right by her side, sitting on her head or falling asleep on her shoulder. She loved that little bird so much. He was the only friend she had.
Remarkably, this little girl is now twenty-seven years old with a degree in film!
via: Daily MailShe still resides in the city, though there’s no question from these pics that she still misses her wild upbringing.
Load CommentsSource: http://twentytwowords.com/
Why do birds have beaks and not teeth? This dino may have the answer
(CNN)A group of 13 dinosaurs that died in a mud pit in China has yielded an unprecedented discovery.
The 154 million-year-old limusaurus had tiny, sharp teeth as a hatchling that it gradually lost as it grew up, according to new research published in the journal Current Biology on Thursday.The finding is a first for the fossil record and may shed light on why birds have beaks and not teeth.The group ranged from babies to adults and showed a pattern of tooth loss over time. The fossilized skeletons were found in mysterious death pits in Xinjiang in the far west of China.“At first we thought they were different dinosaurs — one with teeth and one without and we started to study them separately,” said Wang Shuo, a co-author of the study and an evolutionary biologist at Capital Normal University in Beijing.“But they were largely identical and we found solid evidence that teeth were lost. There were empty tooth sockets in their jaw bones,” he added.
Source: http://edition.cnn.com/
Ridiculously obedient dog delivers Mannequin Challenge to end all Mannequin Challenges
Source: http://www.dailydot.com/
