Between August and October 2011, the crew aboard the International Space Station filmed low-orbit images of earth. This said footage was then placed in Michael König‘s artful hands, and — after much processing and editing — came a gorgeous five-minute rendering of earth and its nighttime landscape from space. Snow filled peaks, aurorae borealis, sparks of lightning and the yellowish, lava-like glow of civilization all command the screen as the ISS orbits steadily over. If there ever was a video of earth from space you had to see, this is the one.

Here is a list of the locations in the video in order of their appearance:
1. Aurora Borealis Pass over the United States at Night
2. Aurora Borealis and eastern United States at Night
3. Aurora Australis from Madagascar to southwest of Australia
4. Aurora Australis south of Australia
5. Northwest coast of United States to Central South America at Night
6. Aurora Australis from the Southern to the Northern Pacific Ocean
7. Halfway around the World
8. Night Pass over Central Africa and the Middle East
9. Evening Pass over the Sahara Desert and the Middle East
10. Pass over Canada and Central United States at Night
11. Pass over Southern California to Hudson Bay
12. Islands in the Philippine Sea at Night
13. Pass over Eastern Asia to Philippine Sea and Guam
14. Views of the Mideast at Night
15. Night Pass over Mediterranean Sea
16. Aurora Borealis and the United States at Night
17. Aurora Australis over Indian Ocean
18. Eastern Europe to Southeastern Asia at Night

Rest in Peace to an inspirational figure, without his vision, a large part of not only technology, communication, but also music would not have been possible.

“Remembering that I’ll be dead soon is the most important tool I’ve ever encountered to help me make the big choices in life. Because almost everything — all external expectations, all pride, all fear of embarrassment or failure – these things just fall away in the face of death, leaving only what is truly important. Remembering that you are going to die is the best way I know to avoid the trap of thinking you have something to lose. You are already naked. There is no reason not to follow your heart.”- Steve Jobs

Dubs and Dimes is always a good time. Last Thursday Civil, Sifu and The Crosby were able to pack a full house and keep it cracking for a good cause. See how Civil and Dubs Celebrates the Difference.

Pretty Awesome art poster detailing Video game history by Pop Art.

The Evolution of Video Game Controllers It’s also the only piece of art that’s a must have if you’re still spending the majority of your time playing Call of Duty in your parent’s basement. This print was created on recycled paper and with vegetable-based ink, this 24″ x 36″ print chronicles more than 100 different controllers from your favorite gaming systems.

To properly celebrate their 25th anniversary Stones Throw decided to let their fans get involved. The idea is to have fans participate in a video contest. Today we have a submission from Steve Smith of Detroit, MI. He took the time to create a video for “Geek Down” by the late James “J.Dilla” Yancey. Smith decided to go with a psychedelic, 70’s style cartoon. Interesting is not quite the word to describe what’s going on in the mini film, but imaginative nonetheless.

J Dilla – Geekdown from Steve Smith on Vimeo.

Can you recognize the samples used here?

Andy Green will aim at 1000 mph by 2012 by driving the new Bloodhound supersonic car. The Bloodhound Supersonic car is projected to cost $15 million. At the Bloodhound engineers are working to create the fastest ever supersonic car by doing things jetfighters can’t do., such as the wheels have to handle 50,000g’s and 10,300 revolutions per minute.

ROAD SHARK: The Bloodhound SSC show car lies in wait at its home on the waterfront in Bristol, England. 

View the BLOODHOUND / Intel Atom animation

How do you celebrate the difference?

I am a makeup artist. Growing up, I was a pretty weird looking kid, makeup helped me make the small changes that enhanced my natural beauty; thus becoming more confident, self assured and happy. I love sharing this feeling with other women. It is truly my passion. I will continue this until I am worm feed. that, or until a really kick ass facebook game draws my attention. whichever is first.

Whats a typical day in Devin Joplin’s life?

well Brian, I’m glad you asked. 10 minutes on work. 7 hours and 40 minutes on the internet. I also enjoy ignorant rap music and discussing my preferences for modern Asian cinema.

What do think is the biggest misconception about your job?

Again… glad you asked. most of all i like to stress that my job is enhancing NATURAL beauty. While vivid and eye-catching color should be applauded, a pound of war paint will only serve to make you look like you’ve been shot with homer simpson’s makeup gun. Though i’m a supporter of bold lipstick and dark color tones, it is possible to thoroughly blend dramatic shades for a fresh, flawless and beautiful look.

What is your favorite body of work/project you have worked on and why?

Definitely getting the chance to work with three six mafia. If you know me… you know they are on my short list of heroes.

What project’s are you currently working on and what can we expect from you in the future?

Lately me and my elite group of beauty combat assassins have been producing our own shoots and fashion videos. You can also expect more fashion editorials for magazines like unwind and bambi; music videos from amazing artists like pac div, tiron and ayomari; a new episode of “hoodrat to hottie” for weekend warriors clothing; and more work i’m not supposed to talk about without signed written consent of funny or die. i urge or discourage you to actually check out www.devjop.com to see what all this bs was about.

You can check out more of Devin’s work here:
http://www.devjop.com/
http://www.twitter.com/devjop

Hurley and Incubus frontman Brandon Boyd have launched an exclusive art-inspired t-shirt collection to benefit H.O.P.E. (Helping Other People Everywhere). The fashion, art and surf communities gathered last night to celebrate the launch at the Sea-thos Foundation headquarters in Costa Mesa, Calif. Brandon Boyd, Bob Hurley and friends fêted the launch with a cocktail party and art show featuring Boyd’s original works and collection of t-shirts.

A mutual appreciation for surfing, art and music inspired the collaboration between the longtime friends. Boyd, the lead singer of Incubus, is not only a musician but an accomplished artist and surfer. The collaboration fuses his love for the ocean with art and the desire to make a difference.

“We have done projects together in the past but it seemed like it was time we truly put our collective heads together to make a real dent in a situation that affects us all, most importantly the swiftly growing problems in our oceans,” said Boyd in a statement about the collaboration with Hurley. “We start herein as surfers and musicians and are moving forward as stewards of our island.”

- Apparel News.

I had a chance to talk to Brandon and chop it up and give him some Civil. Very down to earth and cool dude.

Partial photo credit to Mylifeisdope.

Equal parts inventor, electronic musician, Ph.D student and visual artist, Mike Gao is a modern- day renaissance man that is making his mark with his beats from shows in San diego to the bass-driven thumps of Wednesday nights at Low end Theory, as well as developing applications, utilizing technology that will change our conception and reality of what music is. Voted as MTV’s artist of the week, take a look into the complex, mystical world as Civil interviews Mike Gao.

How does Mike Gao Celebrate the difference?

I’m not just into making beats but how people make beats, creating software/tools for people to make music etc. My art is the not only the music itself but the concepts/tools behind it too. In a world where everyone is fast becoming a producer themselves, I think I have something to offer them to help them reach their own dreams and goals even if they don’t like the music that I offer them.

Sometimes the results aren’t as different as someone thinking out of the box with the same existing tools but the process of making new music software, of making different ways to play music is satisfying in itself.

Tell me about the day in the Life of Mike Gao..

I go on facebook and twitter and bullshit with my homies, such as Brian Leung from Civil. Once I tweeted that if you don’t eat anything in the morning you’ll feel this pain in your muscles that’s your muscles eating it away. I thought it was funny that Gino (Subtitle) and Teebs responded to this tweet very urgently. In the morning I eat a Clif bar to keep my huge muscles from eating themselves. I usually wake up after 12 and get grumpy if people wake me up earlier.

After i wake up I’m usually too lazy to do anything but stay in bed, so i grab my Ipad and record chords and ideas from the night of sleeping wirelessly to my computer, using my awesome app that i made. If no one is around I can even bump it real loud and write chords while hearing the drums blasting through the wall when i take my mornin’ dump.

Tell me about the New application you developed.

It lays out notes in a different way making it easier to play music and come up with chords by using colors, shapes, etc. On a keyboard, you have to learn one chord 12 times to use it in every key. In my system, you learn it once and you’re set and the colors show you the chord in other octaves,it also lets you see what other people are playing via WIFI, etc. Or i have the notes from my beat going along it so when I perform I always know what the notes are from my beat.

What projects are you currently working on for the future?

I got a 12″ called Karma Castle on Project Mooncircle,then a 9-track album called Sun Shadows on Machina Muerte/Alphapup.Then I’ll possibly a release with FriteNite fritetrax with a Laser plug-in!

Watch artists mess with Mike’s Beatbox App., Vocal Beater.

Vocal Beater App by Migamo (Mike Gao Mobile) featuring cameos from Exile, Tokimonsta, Dumbfoundead, and 0. of Wedidit from mike gao on Vimeo.

Some Bangin Beats by Mike:

Actual Tracks by mikegao