There is an incredible post over at Popgive entitled “Frightening Spider Eyes.” I’m somewhere between an arachnophobe and an arachnophile. I wouldn’t pick them up and cuddle them, but I greatly appreciate their role in nature and cultural symbolism.

The colors, detail and light-bending reflections in the eyes are stunning! The photographer did an excellent job highlighting the intricacies of these creatures. I’m marveling at these complex creations we so often take for granted.

When I look at the eyes, I’m reminded of the “Gazing Balls” sometimes found on suburban lawns:

I tried to research the tradition of these mysterious lawn orbs, and surprisingly didn’t find much. But we often see them amidst other collections of supreme kitsch, likely to show up on this site.

Now I feel inspired to do Lawn Ornamentation Week! I’m sure I could dig up some wonderful goodies. But I digress…

This is one of my favorite shots in the set:

And here he is, “smiling:”

Isn’t it entertaining how the brain cannot resist ascribing human facial characteristics to anything with corresponding shapes. If you doubt it, you can find a collection of examples in the Faces in Places blog.

See the rest of the spider photo set here.

Meet Damar. He’s awesome. He speaks like a record played backwards (I love the way he says his name).

I don’t think the record collection of Satan himself sounds creepier than this little feathered fellow.

The always interesting Dark Roasted Blend just posted a feature on the World’s Deadliest Unassuming Creatures.

For example, the Poison Dark Frog, who can kill a human with a simple touch.

(Come on now, would you go near a creature that looks like this? Actually, you don’t even have to because it can jump 50 times it’s own body length…not a nice surprise, I imagine).

And the Box Jellyfish, whose venomous tentacles literally stay active until they are long decomposed after death. Even if they dry out…water reactivates them. This may be the only creature that remains absolutely deadly after it has died. Talk about passive-aggressive!

See the rest

I’m sure many people would find these little guys cringe-worthy. They’re far from the designer pets that serve as mere accessories these days.

But I find hairless animals exceptionally interesting. The lack of fur draws attention to the actual expression of the animal. They look like they have PERSONALITY, like they just…know things.

(Who would dare mess with this animal?)

If I ever opened a cabinet and found this guy staring straight at me, I’d certainly be curious about him, after catching the breath that had just been shocked out of me.

Although originally the result of a genetic mutation or severe immune deficiency, there’s a growing trend in breeding hairless pets. But breeders beware…painful conditions often accompany hairless mutations. The infamous ear fusion experiment still upsets me, especially because in later photos the mouse looks like he’s absolutely praying for grim death to come take him.