If we had only stopped to think, we might have realized that this was inevitable
In retrospect, it was hubris that led us all to believe we could somehow give our precious snowmen carrot noses without incurring dangerous interest from local bunnies, and it has only been sheer good fortune thus far that has prevented the inevitable from happening. But our luck has run out. Our pride and our recklessness have caught up with us. Our snowmen—defenseless against the ravenous cottontails who lurk in the darkness, drooling with carnivorous rapacity at the very sight of an orange protuberance in the snow—are under attack.
Footage of this recent incident is not easy to stomach. A mother and children gaze in horror out of their window as a monstrous, furry bun-bun hippity-hops over to the helpless snowperson and begins, heartlessly, to nibble upon his precious carrot snout—her steely, predator eyes glowing with anticipation at the prospect of gorging herself on the vegetable sniffer that is his only means of inhaling the snowy air that gives him life. …
The Oxford Comma, our salvation and the meaning of life
There are many things, both profound and trivial, that should be seen as essential to living a good life, such as our core values, the Oxford comma and cat videos. For my part, I have an idiosyncratic philosophy about what constitutes “flourishing” that is derived from my parents, The Mandalorian and a swarm of bees. The Mandalorian has a simple code that I find immensely appealing, centered in performing the sacred duties that are unique to “The Way,” shooting at Storm Troopers and never taking off your hat. …
Zach Cooley’s stunning photography demonstrates why this bad girl is everybody’s favorite satellite
Surely one thing we can agree on as a society is that we can and should all be pro-moon. The moon is beautiful and extremely cool; it lights up the night sky; it controls the tides; and if it exploded, we’d probably all die. On the con side, there’s nothing. There’s literally nothing bad about the moon. The moon rules. …
In an abysmal year, these cats showed us hope and resilience, and (in one case) climbed into a pair of pants
The cats, at least, did nothing wrong in 2020. In fact, they distinguished themselves, and we would be remiss if we did not take a moment to acknowledge them. These are the most important cats of this most difficult year. Let us celebrate them and sing their praises.
30. Pant-Leg Cats
If like so many of us you have often felt unequal to the challenges of this year, remember that we all put our pants on one leg at a time and that for at least one of us, that’s gonna result in two very scratchy surprises.
29. Whole Mouthfuls Cat
Each moment of joy is as precious as the food that gives us life, so be like Whole Mouthfuls Cat and gulp down joy with as wide a mouth as possible (and then readjust if you feel like you’ve overdone it a bit). …
The results of the Epson 2020 Pano Awards for best panoramic photographs are truly stunning
The winners of this year’s 11th Epson International Pano Awards were selected from 5,859 entries from 1,452 professional and amateur photographers in 96 different countries, a record for the competition. Created to highlight achievements in panoramic photography, this year’s awards celebrated photos of natural landscapes as well as built environments.
The selection, from the winners and runners up in the “Nature” category, comprises a breathtaking array of panoramas from the frigid coast of the Barents Sea in Teriberka, Russia, to the stunning reefs of Hon Yen Island in Vietnam to the beautiful Quiver Tree Forest of Namibia. …
Your entire relationship with new ideas, explained
The key thing to remember about creative ideas is that they’re usually much better in theory.
Once your idea comes into contact with the corrosive atmosphere that is reality, it is going to change, inexorably, into something else. Impurities will be introduced. Compromises will have to be made. The thing you produce will not look like the thing you imagined.
A revealing look at the furry, miraculous goofballs we share our world with
Nature is full of wonders, and the splendor, variety, and majesty of the animal kingdom is a miracle that ought to inspire reverence in even the most cynical among us, but the fact is that some of these guys just didn’t get the memo. …
Each of these gorgeous photos tells a story about human ingenuity and imagination
Whether it’s the imposing geometric forms of a grand and impressive building or the quaint idiosyncrasies of a rustic cottage, a gifted photographer can give even the uninitiated an appreciation of architecture. And this is especially true when these human interventions are set against a natural environment that provides color and texture, bringing the building to life in a new context.
The Epson International Pano Awards, now in its 11th year, is celebrating these achievements with a category devoted to excellence in panoramic photographs of built environments. From the dazzling ceiling of Sainte-Chapelle in Paris to the night lights of New York City to an old windmill in Toledo, Spain, each of these stunning panoramas finds a way to bring out the symmetry and beauty of an architect’s design, the spectacular contours of a cityscape, or the striking contrast of a man-made object and its natural environment. …
The powerful, expressive photo is truly remarkable, and stands out amongst a field of impressive entries — see them all for yourself
Amidst the magical surroundings of a forest in the Russian far east, an extremely rare Amul tigress ecstatically embraces a Manchurian fir tree, marking it with her scent to communicate with others of her kind. It took photographer Sergey Gershkov 10 months of waiting to catch a glimpse of this solitary creature, but his dedication was rewarded with a once-in-a-lifetime shot. This year’s winner of the prestigious Wildlife Photographer of the Year competition, “The Embrace” is a remarkable portrait of a rare and beautiful animal in her natural environment. …
A breathtaking selection from the International Photography Awards
From powerful photographs that document significant events in this tumultuous year to delicate portraits of tender moments in people’s lives to inspiring vistas and extraordinary encounters with the natural world, these photos are stunning testimonials of the times we live in.
The winners of this year’s International Photography Awards (IPA) were chosen out of more than 13,000 submissions from around the world. With 13 major categories, from news and events to people, nature, and sport, there is a dizzying range of subjects to account for, but each winner is incredibly powerful in its own way. …
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