This is why cats hate Christmas... and why they hate their owners.

A Special Christmas Message for everyone trying to keep the Holidays Holy
yes, I know I'm going to Hell for this, or at least get permanent placement on Santa's Naughty List

Monkey's Christmas Message Merry Monkeymas to All!

English sewer grates excite police action at the mere thought that they might actually be photographed. What is it about these orifices that excite such fear and awe? Canadian examples are so beautiful that some have been enshrined in a museum. Japanese manhole covers are graced with colorful reliefs and traditional motifs. more inside

Pee and Sympathy, a NYC nurse's true Christmas story. These true hospital stories are both funny and touching. Be sure to have a hanky nearby.

Nerdstock 2009: Christmas for rationalists Verily, the geeks will inherit the Earth. more inside

A site dedicated to overweight cats. Check out the cat...in overalls!

AVclub's The Year In Band Names
Editorializing: among the dozens of 'year end list' rituals, this is one of my favorites.
Previously: 2008 2007 2006

Stereotypes of readers by author [via flashboy]

Hitman Monkey , or how a LOLcat photo leads to a hit comic.

Attention Australians: There's no need to send 'Care Packagee' of Tim Tams to friends and relatives in 'the States'.
Pepperidge Farms (makers of the popular Milano cookies) is now importing them to the US (through March, promising return in October, Chocolate Creme & Caramel in many stores, Classic Dark exclusive to Target). Natalie Imbruglia shows Graham Norton how to do the Tim Tam Slam. And if you want to hide your Tim Tams away, P.Farms provides a Holiday Disguise (pdf).

Taekwondo monkeys attack trainer.

Know Your Meme: Om Nom Nom Nom. [Via]

"Their circular life" shows five scenes from Northern Italy (with background sounds) which are animated for a 24 hour period by turning a dial. more inside

Auschwitz sign "Arbeit macht frei" stolen

The Known Universe takes viewers from the Himalayas through our atmosphere and the inky black of space to the afterglow of the Big Bang". more inside

A collection of interesting bike designs.

I propose a game. Several years ago, I belonged to an online community which sported a thread of numbers. We started from 1. Most of the first several numbers were simply designated as prime, but when things got into double digits, we found assignations for the numbers. For instance: 23 could just be designated as prime. The next post could have to do with the 24th parallel, or the 24th element, or the 24th Nobel Peace Prize winner, or what 24 cups of flour could be used for (and is divisible by 2,3,6, and 12). 25 (divisible by 5) might talk about what happened in the year 25 C.E., or that there are 25 menus here, or that a 25 cent stamp in Canada looked like this. more inside

Health insurers are paying facebook gamers virtual currency to oppose the US healthcare reform bill. Users of Facebook apps by Zynga (which include Farmville, CafeWorld, Mafia Wars, etc.) earn virtual currency to use in games by following links to various "special offers". Get Healthcare Reform Right offers virtual cash in return for completing a form which is sent to government representatives. Now, in response, Healthcare For America Now has countered with ads of its own.

The CBS blacklist during McCarthy's Red Scare