Imagine what we could do if instead of funding wars, we funded space exploration.

Neil Gaiman gives an inspiring commencement speech

I’m something very far away from being someone who makes art. I’d love to be, I just don’t know if I’ve got it in me. But listening to Neil Gaiman give this commencement speech about making great art no matter what happens in your life, it really makes you want to get excited and get out there and create something.

One of my favorite Frank Herbert quotes

“Without change something sleeps inside us, and seldom awakens. The sleeper must awaken.” - Frank Herbert

How to Safely and Painlessly Remove a Hook From Your Skin

All I have to say is I’m glad it was these guys who decided to demonstrate how to remove a barbed fish hook from your skin and not me.  I cringed all the way through this video, but it really is great info.  And if you enjoy the outdoors, there’s a good chance that at some point you’re going to have to deal with this problem, whether it’s on yourself, or one of your friends or family.  Check it out.

 

SpaceX Rocket Set to Carry Out Cargo Missions to Space Station

I’m very disappointed with the level of support that NASA is currently receiving from our government and from our nation as a whole.  NASA has done so much to unite our country, get our kids excited about science and math, introduce the general public to the possibilities and opportunities that space exploration opens up for everyone.  But, the up side to NASA’s budget woes is it encourages private industry to step in and pursue legitimate space missions (scientific, cargo, exploration, mining, etc.).  So I was very happy to learn that SpaceX just successfully completed a round of testing, including testing for their Falcon 9 rocket, prior to the upcoming launch of their robotic Dragon space capsule.  SpaceX has a $1.6 billion contract with NASA to fly 12 unmanned cargo supply missions to the space station.

 

Good luck SpaceX, and thank you for working to keep the dream of manned space exploration alive and well!

A TED Talk From the Future with Peter Weyland

I’m so excited to see Prometheus, the new Alien prequel from Ridley Scott. The producers clearly know their core demographic and truly understand how to create a viral video to help drive buzz around the upcoming film.  I have to hand it to the folks over at TED as well, for recognizing the branding value of allowing the Prometheus producers to use their “Ideas Worth Spreading” platform to promote the movie and generate some increased interest in the TED talks at the same time.  I hope this movie is as good as I want it to be – as good as the first two Alien(s) movies, because I haven’t been this excited to see a movie in a very long time!  One of the things I’m most excited about is it looks like they have tried to retain the original look and feel of the Alien habitat inspired by H.R. Giger’s artwork.  Hopefully they won’t ruin it with too much CGI.

If anyone actually reads my blog – are you excited about Prometheus too?  Have you heard anything more about the story?

Goodnight Dune – The Coolest Adaptation of a Children’s Book I’ve Ever Seen

I can’t believe how many cool little Dune-related details Julia Yu packs into Goodnight Dune, a super cool sci-fi adaptation of the classic children’s book Goodnight Moon.  I came across this link in a post on Reddit and just had to share it.  If you’re a fan of Frank Herbert’s sci-fi masterpiece,  you’ll love it.  And if you have a kid that you one day hope will be just as obsessed with the Dune books as you are, and whom you have read Goodnight Moon to, you’ll love it even more.