An absolutely amazing video using audio from Carl Sagan's The Pale Blue Dot.

The person responsible for this video created it as a sort of ad campaign for NASA, according to the description on YouTube. And why would one do that, you ask? It's simple, really. When was the last time you saw an advertisement of any kind for the space program? Okay, so that doesn’t exactly answer the question, but the problem here is that NASA needs some way to generate public interest in the space program again. With Obama's recent funding cuts to NASA, it's no surprise that people that actually give a crap about the whole idea of exploring space and whatever may be hidden out there are doing things like this to make the point clear that NASA needs to step up their game. The whole idea is that if people were once again interested in NASA and the space program again, if they were aware again, then the funding would increase.

All of this brings up another question: why bother with the space program? Now I could be a moron and say “Why not?” but that doesn’t do much for my case. Rewind to the last century, before America became enthralled with a controversial “war on terror” that has eaten a massive chunk of the US budget. A thriving space program allowed for the betterment of our lives here on the ground thanks to the countless satellites that provide a vast array of telecommunications services to us. GPS, worldwide television broadcasts, long-distance calling, and Internet to those in areas too remote to receive a traditional wired connection. And let’s not forget weather forecasts. Now, not all of this came directly from NASA or any other government funded space program, but had they not pioneered the rocket technology required to get into space, most of these now taken-for-granted services would be dramatically different, if not unavailable.

A mere decade since that last century, the space program and how it contributes to our lives has changed drastically. With NASA funding heavily cut, the possibilities are limited. And while there are other space programs in the world, none are as extensive as NASA, as a result of which, none can contribute as much as NASA has the potential to. There are always going to be people like me, who’s inner six-year-old-that-wants-to-be-an-astronaut- when-he-grows-up will feel strongly and rant on their blog about this, or like the creator of the video above who believes that NASA can do so much more. Right now, though, that’s not enough to change the funding cuts and the disinterest that governments display for space programs.

twotwentyone / threesixfive

One picture can’t sum up the last day of summer, so expect the 365 shot for today to be late. That being said, it has been an amazing summer. Everything from almost having to do summer school all the way to, more recently, winning my first game of Monopoly ever, made this summer probably the best one I’ve had so far. Four months have gone by so fast. Meanwhile, back in May I was thinking that four months wasn’t a long time at all. And here we are now. A lot happened in these four months, a lot of which I loved, and some of which I didn’t. I guess you could say that I found myself this summer, who my friends really are, and what’s most important to me.

That being said, it’s been amazing. Summer 2011, here I come! (After I become psychologically traumatized in Second Year, of course)

Listening to: On Fire by Switchfoot

twotwentyone / threesixfive

Untitled

Untitled

125mL of bliss left. (Yes, I’m sick again)

At a friend’s sendoff “gathering” (if that’s an adequate term to describe today’s events). Good times all around, except that I’ve got a cold that’s taking the fun out of everything.

Listening to: Moar Ghosts ‘n Stuff by Deadmau5

twonineteen / threesixfive

Untitled

Anyone remember the epic commercials for these?

Great day with kristothetopher and Josh as we attempted to get my brother’s birthday present together. At this point, it’s going to be absolutely epic. Also, kristothetopher, it still hurts! Freakin’ crap man! LOL

Listening to: The Unbreakable by BT

twoeighteen / threesixfive

Untitled

(via beeztheebegotten)

Untitled

kevinnuut:

Art by Michal Lisowski.

Ungh. Sketchy goodness with light blooms, ladies on future bikes, and dirty dirty textures.  Everything feel so sharp, in a literal sense.  Like… pointy. Thanks CGUnit!