The tiny nation of Hamstervania officially announced its space program today.  In this video footage smuggled from the space training center, astronauts simulate the effect of sustained G-forces.

And now, a couple o’ classics in the ultra-short tradition of Cute Overload holiday posts (and by this I mean they’re from last year)…

—

Who’s that flappin’ down the chimney? Who’s that tappin’ at the tree?
It’s the elf with the bill, and he won’t stop until every boy and girl is giddy with glee.

Every Christmas time he’s at it again, a sack full of toys and an IQ of ten,
You might get meat or you might get a doll, ’cause he’s got no clue who you are at all.

So open those presents and try your luck; it could be wood or it could be a truck,
Will Christmas be merry or will it suck? You never can tell with Santa Duck!

Have a possibly Merry Christmas, Karen K.

—

Jorden C.—merry Sender-Innering.

…practices for flight.

Pompon is BACK!! by the always-fabulous pyza*.

Meet Frankie. Obsessive-compulsive hoarder. Steals items that fuel his love for “The Nutcracker” and dental hygiene.

We just feel bad for that poor ballerina out there who’s tippy-toeing around with hairy legs and bad teeth.

So that’s where all of my pens went. I suspect he has a few of my socks as well, Paige P.

“Whew!  I cannot believe I held it together this year.  Got all the Christmas cards mailed, shuttled three sets of relatives from airports to hotels, and got all the presents wrapped and under the tree at the last minute.

“Well, at least Junior’s decided to do me a favor and let me sleep in on Christmas morning…”

This … Is … PHOTOBOMB!

The other animals thought he was crazy when he started painting his own body. But we just call him Keith Haring.

And here’s the real story: Busch Gardens welcomed a baby bongo to the park Sept. 13. Bongo are native to the rainforests of Africa. Busch Gardens cares for the endangered Eastern Mountain subspecies of bongo.

Forwarded by Lauren H-W at Busch Gardens, Tampa.

Photo: Matt Marriott

Make this holiday extra-special, with a gift from Fluffy Valley Pom Farms!  Every Fluffy Valley Pom is picked fresh and shipped direct!   Christmas delivery still available!

Just imagine their faces when they see their very own Pom!

The Rebel Alliance, a.k.a. Sitting Kitten and his #2, Crazy Eyes, observed the enemy for some time and meticulously planned their attack.

It was a huge success, albeit a sloppy one, and the battle became known as Custard’s Last Stand.

Help me, Yogurt-On Mekitti, you’re our only hope.

I guess you could help too, Cathy O.

Once you are comfortable with basic sleeping, you may wish to move on to more difficult positions, as demonstrated here by Dizzy the Frenchie.  Caution: Dizzy is a professional; do not attempt these maneuvers without training and supervision.

First, the “Frog Leg Layabout”:

And now, the difficult but elegant “Double Cross”:

From Team Dizzy:  Photographer/Sender-inner: Carolyn M., Owner/Trainer: Erin C.

Of all the still-unexplained wonders of the human body, perhaps the most startling is the myriad ways it handles stress.   In an extreme case, a college math student, whom we’ll call Doris X, would respond to the pressure of mid-terms by spontaneously transforming into a cat.

Research associate Brittany M. contributed to this report.

The cat-apps keep coming, and this time Simon’s Cat gets in on the game, aptly enough with a game of Simon.  “Simon’s Cat in Purrfect Pitch” brings the feisty feline to the iPhone.  Play by matching Simon’s songs, or compose your own.

When his mom asked him to run next door to borrow some sugar from Mrs. Farber, Gunter was shocked to find that his father was already there asking for the very same thing.

Mrs. Farber needs to learn how to lock a door, Tim L.

I’m bringing out the big guns, Poeple. I know our Cute Overload calendars are fabulous—but don’t take my word for it!

Check out these happy clients and then…

Get your calendar delivered by Christmas! (with 2-day free shippin’)

It’s been proven a gut squeeze a day keeps the doctor away. Statistically there is quite literally nothing better than a tiny-kitten-gutulence-psuedo-squeeze. You can put your entire hand around a mini gut like this and PRETEND to squeeze and then—poof—anything bad just melts away.

The kitten won’t judge you Irene S., she’s not even watching!

With a name like Rear Admiral Carl Ludpig von Piggy Pants (actual name, People), you’re already so over-the-top, that you don’t need a creative caption.

Without further ado, meet Carl. He likes celery.

Carl 3, Celery 0, Kerry K.