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The process of evolution is merciless. Creatures who adapt to their environment survive; those that don’t become extinct. In the process, some develop incredible traits that help them survive. Few evolutionary changes are as fun to look at as creatures that have developed camouflage as a defense mechanism. Here are just a few incredible examples of camouflage in the animal kingdom.

Take a look around your neighborhood. That cable company van sure has been parked there for a long time … and what are those antennae sticking out of it? Or perhaps you don’t even have to look farther than your smartphone or desktop for your daily fix of modern paranoia, as your laptop’s webcam quietly and secretly turns on without your permission. Modern living gives us plenty to be suspicious about. And while Orwell’s terrifying vision of 1984 never quite came to pass, modern technology has allowed governments, corporations and private citizens a greater ability to eavesdrop than ever before. We dislike the thought, but we’re often willing to give up our freedom of privacy for perceived security. Following are five modern high-tech surveillance methods that may either keep you awake at night … or help you sleep soundly, knowing that Big Brother is watching.

Pro golfer Phil Mickelson sparked controversy last week when he lamented the high tax rates in California and suggested he might consider moving elsewhere. According to Sports Illustrated, Mickelson earned $60.7 million in 2012, and Mickelson said that federal, state and local taxes take a 62 or 63 percent bite of his income. The popular golfer apologized for his remarks a couple of days later, but conservative pundits had already seized upon the remarks as a symbol for over-taxation, and fellow golf star Tiger Woods defended Mickelson, saying he left California for Florida — which has no state income tax — years ago for that reason. As Mickelson ponders his future, here are the five states with the lowest combined state and local tax burden as a percentage of income, according to the TaxFoundation.org.

Cover songs have been around since the beginning of the music business. Some covers turn out very well, racking up sales and earning the respect of the original artist. On the other hand, this list of 10 cover songs makes it excruciatingly clear that some renditions should never have been done. You’ll see what we mean if you dare check out these selections, which consist mainly of classic rock hits, although we couldn’t resist throwing in a Nancy Sinatra ditty and a remake of a disco tune (just to prove disco could indeed get worse). Here they are in an order that starts at a bad level and escalates to worse than listening to a cat in heat.

As Baltimore and San Francisco battle for bragging rights in Super Bowl XLVII, one battle has already been decided — the Super Bowl will once again take honors as the highest-rated sporting event of the year. The results won’t even be close. While the Super Bowl’s audience continues to grow, setting records the past three years, other major U.S. sporting events haven’t been so fortunate. Some have been steadily losing viewers since the 1970s and early ’80s, and even more troubling, they may not have hit bottom yet, with recent events scoring record lows. Here’s a look at the top 10 most-watched sporting events on U.S. television, in terms of average viewers.

We live in a modern world chock full of warning labels and advisories. And while some may lament a “nanny state” mentality, many warnings are there for good reason. If science and modern living teaches us nothing else, it’s that humans are often terrible at assessing risks, and routinely fear things with a low likelihood of occurring while routinely engaging in risky activity. What follows are some classic everyday warnings and advice and what modern science has to say about them.

Pitcher Nolan Ryan made headlines in 1979 when he became the first player in U.S. team sports to sign a guaranteed $1 million annual contract. That figure is a mere pittance to today’s pro athletes; dozens of players now earn more than $10 million per year. Money plays such a critical role in pro sports that some fans have become veritable experts about salary caps, collective bargaining agreements and other business details. But you don’t need a business degree to enjoy these memorable quotes about money in sports.

This year marks the 50th year of production of the Ford Mustang, one of the iconic car brands in automotive history. Almost 10 million Mustangs have been sold to date, making it one of the best-selling cars of all time. Which begs the question: What other American cars join the Mustang on the all-time best-selling list? This takes a little digging, as different sources — even the car companies themselves — often list sales figures that vary considerably. All sales figures here are estimated totals, based on manufacturer media releases, automotive industry stories and other respected sources.

There are no completely good or bad dog breeds. Every purebred dog alive today is the latest in a long line designed to be good at something, while other traits have often been neglected. And a dog's behavior is shaped primarily, of course, by its environment and individual personality. But the fact remains some dog breeds are great for families while others are clearly not. If you’re thinking about adding a new dog to your family, here are some breeds you may want to consider, or avoid, depending upon your situation.

Life is full of risks, reflected by somber Centers For Disease Control statistics that attribute the leading cause of death for ages 1 to 44 to “Unintentional Injury.” And while it’s true that cycling injuries kill hundreds of people annually, and skateboarding accidents send tens of thousands of kids to the ER each year, some machines are far more dangerous, in terms of serious injuries and deaths per use. Medical professionals and even the manufacturers of some of the following machines agree they’re not appropriate for youths under the age of 16. Even teens old enough to operate these vehicles should have the appropriate training and take the appropriate measures (wearing helmets, not traveling on busy roads, etc.) to assure these most preventable and tragic of injuries never happen.