Step 1: Undeniably cute, funny and accidental source material. Enter Melissa Brandts’ photo, featured in National Geographic’s Photo of the Day:

My husband and I were exploring Lake Minnewanka in Banff National Park-Canada when we stopped for a timed picture of the two of us. We had our camera set up on some rocks and were getting ready to take the picture when this curious little ground squirrel appeared, became intriqued with the sound of the focusing camera and popped right into our shot! A once in a lifetime moment!

Step 2: Get posted on BoingBoing.net. Check.

Step 3: Unleash the throngs of immature amateur Photoshoppers across the internet to cut out the newly dubbed “Crasher Squirrel” and paste him into the foreground of many, many other photographs with sometimes hilarious results. Check. Check. Check.

Step 4: Get it out of your system by creating your own:

Lather. Rinse. Repeat.

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We’ve probably all seen the still images of the Sarychev Peak Volcano eruption in Russia taken from 200 miles up in space from the International Space Station. What you haven’t seen is the entire series of images stitched together to create an awesome high-definition animation of the flyover. The 3D effect is just mind blowing and it is more than worth the cost of the entire space program (if you weren’t already counting landing on the moon, the Hubble telescope, the Mars rovers and just about everything else).

You must see this video:
(Warning: The video starts suddenly with loud intro music.)

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You may remember last month that Stephen Colbert directed his Colbert Nation minions to take over the NASA vote to name the next International Space Station module after himself. He did, in fact, win the vote when COLBERT climbed the ranks to gain 230,539 votes, even more than the NASA supplied 2nd place name of Serenity.

On tonight’s Colbert Report on Comedy Central, NASA officially announced that the node would not be named Colbert. Instead, Node 3 will be known as Tranquility, to honor the 40th anniversary of the Apollo 11 Moon landing. Colbert didn’t leave empty handed, however, as NASA also announced that they will install a treadmill inside the Tranquility module which has been scientifically named the “Combined Operational Load Bearing External Resistance Treadmill” or C.O.L.B.E.R.T.

On his show, Colbert graciously accepted the consolation prize, proudly confirming to himself that NASA followed his command.

NEW SPACE STATION MODULE NAME HONORS APOLLO 11 ANNIVERSARY [nasa.gov]

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I was caught off guard when I first saw a commercial for the Special Edition Barack Obama Chia Pet a few minutes ago. Up until the last two seconds I was convinced it was a hoax, being as how I was watching the commercial on Comedy Central. Yet, alas, it is a real product that some person has designed, created, manufactured, boxed and is currently taking pre-orders for.

We’ve seen the Obama Action Figure, crappy Obama Commemorative Coins and Ty’s uncalled for Sweet Sasha, Marvelous Malia dolls, so I guess we should expect anything. You can take the Obama Chia (availiable in Determined Chia Obama or Happy Chia Obama facial expressions) as offensive, funny, stupid or a must have. I think we can all agree that these are very, very strange times in which we live.

Why wasn’t there ever a Millard Fillmore Chia?

Chia Obama [chiaobama.com]

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Seems that news got around about NASA letting the public vote on the name of the next module to be added to the International Space Station, and on the March 3rd episode of the Colbert Report, Stephen Colbert took it upon himself to implore his viewers to add his name as a write-in. Within 24 hours of the episode airing, “COLBERT” is now the #1 user suggested name for the Node 3 module, easily overtaking “XENU,” the believed vengeful galactic dictator taught by the Church of Scientology. The leading name from NASA’s provided choices is currently “SERENITY” with 86% of votes.

Even if COLBERT receives the most votes it is highly unlikely NASA will officially name Node 3 after him. The terms and conditions listed on the voting webpage indicate that “the results are not binding on NASA and NASA reserves the right to ultimately select a name in accordance with the best interests of the agency, its needs, and other considerations.”

This wouldn’t be the first time Colbert implored his influence on the internet. In August 2006 he commanded his viewers, affectionately known as the Colbert Nation, to edit the Wikipedia page for Elephant to update it with the “fact” that the wild elephant population had swelled and was no longer on the endangered species list. The ploy worked as thousands flocked to the page to update it, leading to the entry being locked for editing to prevent further vandalism.

In the end, Colbert, who frequently references his enthusiasm of space exploration, may not get the ISS node named after him. Instead, I suggest that we take Node 3’s copula, the protruding observation deck attached to it’s exterior, and name it the Colbert Bump.

The Colbert Report, Help NASA Name Node 3 

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A dramatic slow motion montage of the Saturn V liftoff of Apollo 11, the first and only rocket to ever allow man to break earth’s gravity on its way to the moon. When watching keep in mind that each of its five F-1 engines are 12.3 feet in diameter and 19 feet tall, large enough to comfortably drive a moving van into. Most importantly, the payload is that of three human beings riding on the top of what amounts to a 36-story skyscraper filled with enough fuel to equal the energy of a small nuclear bomb.

I. Can’t. Stop. Watching. This. Video.

The adeptly chosen music playing in the background is from the Battlestar Galactica Season 2 soundtrack.

Saturn V Launch Views – High Speed Cams [YouTube link via Tom's Astronomy Blog]

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Heads up! Potentially free stuff!

Smashing Magazine (www.smashingmagazine.com) is currently looking for 5,000 comments to a single blog post from which they will randomly choose winners of some pretty cool prizes including a Sapphire Radeon HD 4870 X2 graphics card, Sennheiser PXC 350 headphones and a Microsoft Arc Mouse. The catch is that they are requiring the post gets at least 5,000 comments or else no prizes get distributed. All you have to do is post a comment with your City, Country and your current weather and you’re in!

Smashing Magazine – Hardware Giveaway: 5,000 Comments Challenge!

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In December 2009 a new room will be added to the International Space Station that will include a “cupola” — an observation deck with 360-degrees of windows. As you can see in the image above it looks like a small turret dome (although it doesn’t rotate) sticking out of the Node 3 room like a giant R2-D2 head. The panoramic view will be the perfect spot for astronauts to observe and photograph the earth and space, as well as offer better views to operate the station’s 57-foot robotic arm.

I always thought the ISS needed better windows, however one needs to consider the risks of such windows causing exposure to solar radiation and damage from micrometeorites. This observation deck certainly fits the bill and adds about +23 cool points to the ISS, as if it wasn’t awesome-tacular enough!

As an added bonus, now until March 20th NASA is letting the public vote on what name to give Node 3, which includes the cupola, when it gets added to the ISS. Click here to cast your vote at Nasa.gov.

Help NASA Name Node 3

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Practically everyone with basic cable knows Mike Rowe, host of Discovery Channel’s hit show Dirty Jobs. What you may not know is that early in his career in the 1990s, in addition to singing with the Baltimore Opera, he was a late-night host on the QVC shopping network. While peddling various nick-nacks and cheap jewelry, he still managed to present himself with the same humorous, sometimes naughty, dry wit that makes him probably the most entertaining host on TV today.

Of his time at QVC, Mike said, “I basically turned the whole thing into my own stupid David Letterman show – I made fun of the callers and made fun of the products.” Below are some of our favorite Mike Rowe QVC moments taken from the dozens of clips to be found on YouTube. Get ready to get dirty!

Mike Rowe on QVC – Precious Moments:

Mike Rowe on QVC – Katsak Cat Toy:

Mike Rowe on QVC – Noah’s Ark

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The cast of the original commercial turned pop-culture phenomenon, which had everyone yelling “Wassuuup!” until we all hated each other for it, have returned 8 years later with a new video. The new “Wassup 2008″ version illustrates just how much things have changed since 1999.

Suddenly I don’t hate “Wassup!” so much anymore.

YouTube Link [via BoingBoing]

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