10 Hilarious Portraits of Dogs Underwater

Back in February, the Sifter profiled the wonderful work of Seth Casteel. His series of underwater dog portraits took the Internet by storm. The unexpected surge in popularity promptly shut down his website (due to a massive traffic spike), earned him 125,000 new fans on Facebook and also led to tons of press coverage and new work opportunities including: an assignment for the New York Times in Alaska and a marketing project for Walt Disney Design Studios.

The final culmination of this viral sensation is the book Underwater Dogs, which you can purchase online here. Seth was kind enough to share with the Sifter some exclusive photos from the book to celebrate today’s launch.

These are really good.

#funnies

To find out why this beetle has a spiky penis, scientists shaved it with lasers

The thing in the photo above, I’m sad to say, is a penis. It belongs to the male seed beetle. And just in case you’re holding out hope that appearances are deceiving, I can assure you they are not. Those spikes are hard and sharp, and they inflict heavy injuries upon the female beetles during sex. Why would such a hellish organ evolve?

This isn’t just about beetles. The animal kingdom is full of bafflingly-shaped penises adorned with spines, spikes, and convoluted twists and turns. In some animal groups, like certain flies, penis shape is the only clue that allows scientists to distinguish between closely related species.

Oh you, scientists.

#meanwhile #animalkingom

The Walking Dead: Andrew Lincoln on Rick’s Growing Darkness

“I think his humanity is pretty intact but his ruthlessness, his decision making, has moved into a Shane point of view. There is an uncompromising nature that I think has happened over time to Rick. The other thing to bear in mind is that he is the most isolated, both in his group and in his relationship. I don’t think he is in the most stable—certainly when I was playing it, I wanted it to be this instantaneous, almost Pavlovian reaction to the situation. Certainly, in season one and season two, I don’t think he would have been so quick to make that judgment call.”

“That’s one of the joys of playing Rick. The moral ambiguity of the show is the most interesting part for me—certainly as an actor—because in any other world, any other situation that wasn’t Hell you wouldn’t make these kinds of calls. You wouldn’t be pushed into this corner to make these calls. The thing that dignifies him and helps to justify the situation is the fact that he always has their safety as a priority, so it becomes this sort of selfless act even though it’s incredibly evil. His humanity is never fully taken away from him, although as we go through this season it diminishes and diminishes and that’s all I will say.”

I’d wager it won’t be long before he turns on others in the group, just to keep them in line and ultimately protect that baby that isn’t his.

#tv #thewalkingdead

I have CDO. It’s like OCD but all the letters are in alphabetical order AS THEY SHOULD BE.

Finally.

#rememberthis

Balloon Animals: A Video Tutorial by Ira Glass

Ira Glass shares some of his children’s-entertainment skills with you, while answering your questions about haircuts and blow jobs.

He’s quite good with the balloon twisting and his commentary is delightful.

#videos #awesomeness

7 Incredible Abandoned Train Graveyards

Motionless and almost grotesque, the rusting carriages of the once fast-moving vehicles pepper the rugged or overgrown terrain. Victims of the elements and the ravages of time, their present condition seems to mock their former purpose, and yet they still hold an undeniable attraction.

Nice set of photos and interesting/insightful captions.

#trains

Apple - iPad mini - Every inch an iPad.

Everything you love about iPad - the beautiful screen, fast and fluid performance, FaceTime and iSight cameras, thousands of amazing apps, 10-hour battery life* - is everything you’ll love about iPad mini, too. And you can hold it in one hand.

Still not sold on iOS but the black mini looks gorgeous. The computer in your pocket age is here ladies and gents.

#apple

I don’t know how many times I say “C’mon fuckhead” while driving to and from work.

#axetogrind

Crayons of Science Set

Art+science=epically and intelligently aesthetic awesomeness. Prove the equation with these crayons (or have your fellow Geekness prove it to/with you), which are aptly named in this manner[…]

More goodness at WeTheSciencey.

#geekystuff

#photos #coffee #ocd