Don't worry, you didn't inadvertently trigger your Cute Overload bookmark. Uber-cute Knut here is the subject of a Slate piece that goes into how the baby polar bear, after having been rejected by his mom (some mother she is), is melting hearts in Germany.

Unfortunately, his 15 minutes may do little to help prevent the melting polar ice caps. Anne Applebaum's article points out the obvious links to captive polar bears and the eco-challenges faced by their wild counterparts. Sadly, she concludes, Knut's popularity now may do little to influence things in the long run.

Not fun. So let's turn our thoughts to more upbeat yet still cute thoughts: recycling and power savings!

Tom Ballhatchet's Hamster Shredder is a contraption that shreds those annoying pre-approved credit card offers *and* lines your hamster's cage. Can't vouch for its effectiveness since the hamster in this pic looks suspiciously stuffed (as in fake, not overfed or taxidermied).

Ingenious. [via Engadget]