Toys "R" Us and Halloween went hand-in-hand back in the day. It's impossible not to feel nostalgic when thinking about it if you lived through that era as a kid. Luckily we have old commercials like this one from 1983 to remember how much fun the store was. — Read the rest

The post In this 1983 Toys "R" Us Halloween commercial, Mom turns into a witch appeared first on Boing Boing.

This video made me laugh especially hard because I recently had a very similar experience in my own garden. If you've ever been gardening only to see some of your plants disappearing under the ground, as if they had decided to hide away, then you might know what I'm talking about. — Read the rest

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Here is a baby flamingo compilation from the San Antonio Zoo. Baby flamingos don't have their iconic pink feathers yet. What makes them especially cute is the way that they look a bit awkward trying to figure out how to walk. — Read the rest

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If you need to watch a video of a loud, bleating goat automaton without any skin, here you go. The House of Automata shared this lovely early-20th-century goat automaton. It is currently under construction for restoration, so it does not have any skin or goat-like features at the moment. — Read the rest

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The occult philosopher Robert Fludd created this image in the 17th century. It is called Black Square and quite literally represents nothing. The medium is not known for certain, but it is guessed to be an engraving.

From the Public Domain Review:

Black square ("and so on to infinity…" inscribed in Latin around its edges) representing the nothingness that was prior to the universe, as pictured by the great occult philosopher Robert Fludd, who himself passed into infinity on this day in 1637.

— Read the rest

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This mesmerizing time lapse shows what 48 hours of heavy snow looks like. The camera starts off facing a lawn chair and a wooden stick pointing up from the ground. The snow eventually covers all of this and more.

Watching the entire chair and even the camera lens become covered by snow was one thing. — Read the rest

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If you live in West Virginia, you're lucky enough to get a cryptid-themed license plate. West Virginia is the only state that offers a cryptid-themed plate, including multiple beloved monsters from popular urban legends. All of the creatures are from urban legends that are specific to West Virginia lore. — Read the rest

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If you are a cow living in the Swiss Alps, you may find yourself in a sticky situation. If you stray too far into the summer pastures, it may be difficult to find your way back home. Luckily, there are some kind protocols put in place to help you in this situation. — Read the rest

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The Match Archive is my new favorite place to "joy scroll" on Instagram. This page showcases all sorts of gorgeous antique matchboxes. Gone are the days when match companies put creativity and art into each little box of matches, but wonderful pages like this let you experience the joy of decorative matchboxes. — Read the rest

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Whenever I need a good laugh, I look at an Instagram account called Good Advice for Shitty People. This satirical account is like an advice column for the worst people ever, determined to stay that way. Every time I start reading through it, I can't stop because it's so ridiculous and funny. — Read the rest

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Did you miss out on National Pumpkin Day? If so, this video has you covered. Watch three cute and ferocious little hippos enjoy their pumpkins at the Cincinnati Zoo.

Eating a handful of pumpkin seeds takes me at least a few minutes. — Read the rest

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These stone face artworks by Chen and Kai make me so happy to look at. These decorative works can be placed on your bookshelf, coffee table, or wherever else you choose. Each one features a spooky and simple face carved from a slab of stone. — Read the rest

The post These spooky stone faces look like little spirits emerging from the rock appeared first on Boing Boing.

This video shows what happens when you allow a puppy to watch a large steak cooking on TV. The confused dog thinks it's real. Despite the screen having no flavor, the puppy is determined to lick through the screen and get to the steak. — Read the rest

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This photograph shows Tim Burton as a kid wearing his Halloween costume in 1967. If you've seen The Nightmare Before Christmas, you'll immediately recognize the similarity between this costume and Jack Skellington. I have a feeling that this creation made by Tim Burton's mom (at least subconsciously) influenced the design of Jack Skellington. — Read the rest

The post Tim Burton's 1967 skeleton costume looks a lot like Jack Skellington appeared first on Boing Boing.

This video shows a gigantic water spout seen on the Kama River in the Perm region of Russia. The water spout against the sunlight looks like a portal leading up into the sky. It's fascinating that something real can look so supernatural. — Read the rest

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Hundreds of spiders decided to hang out on a power line in Indonesia. They wove their webs around the power lines, creating a giant invisible wall where they all stand guard. This scene is an arachnophobe's nightmare.

Seeing this in the daytime would be one thing. — Read the rest

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A kind man named John wanted to help the squirrels in his neighborhood feel safe and comfortable. He built squirrel boxes around his neighborhood to serve as homes and shelters for local squirrels. The squirrel boxes are simple wood shelters that the squirrels can freely enter and exit as they wish. — Read the rest

The post A man built cozy squirrel boxes with cameras inside, and the squirrels love them appeared first on Boing Boing.

The series of photos shows what a particularly cold district in Vorkuta, Russia looks like in the dead of winter. The images at the beginning of the series show a town covered in a heavy blanket of snow, with only slivers of cars and buildings visible. — Read the rest

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A man and his wife were taking a relaxing poolside vacation when suddenly a monkey jumped into his lap. Instead of being afraid, the man decided to cuddle the monkey back. The monkey had already decided that this man was her new best friend, and what happens next is unbelievably sweet. — Read the rest

The post A mama monkey picks a vacationing man as her safe place to rest with her baby appeared first on Boing Boing.

Often, the coolest art comes from simple, often unnoticed materials. When reimagined into a new context, everyday household materials can be the base for wonderful works of art. I've always loved watching people transform everyday materials into new ideas.

This aluminum foil piece, Cats and Mice by artist Dean Millien, fills me with joy. — Read the rest

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