Explanation: The first APOD appeared eleven years ago today, on 1995 June 16. Although garnering only 14 page views on that day, we are proud to estimate that APOD has now served over 400 million space-related images over the last eleven years. That early beginning, along with a nearly unchanging format, has allowed APOD to be a consistent and familiar site on a web frequently filled with change. Many people don't know, though, that APOD is now translated daily into many major languages. We again thank our readers and NASA for their continued support, but ask that any potentially congratulatory e-mail go to the folks who created the great pictures -- many times with considerable effort -- that APOD has been fortunate enough to feature over the past year. Many can be contacted by following links found in the credit line under the image. Some of these images are featured in the above spectacular collage of a fantasy sky above Mars submitted by an enthusiastic APOD reader skilled in digital image manipulation. How many APOD images can you identify?

Works Cited 

Serrano, Herman. “APOD Turns Eleven.” Asronomy Picture of the Day. Ed. Robert Nemiroff and Jerry Bonnell. NASA.  18 Feb. 2009 .

I located the picture overhead on the Astronomy Picture of the Day website via the link on the Weekly Blog Assignments page. It was the Picture of the Day for June 16, 2006. That date in particular was my 13th birthday. Out of all the pictures taken on my birthday from 1995 untill now, I chose this picture for a specific reason. The image above is not an authentic image but more like a colage of many photos taken of spectacular sights in space. This portrait stood out to me because of the message it sends. To me, this photograph captures the wonder and splendor of all we have found in space while conveying the possibility of greater things in the future. Also, it shows how far we have come in terms of space travel while reminding us of how much is still unexplored. As you can see, a lot of things can be said about this one image.

24 Season 7

The seventh season started in January after over a year due to the writer's strike. This season promises to be incredible but there are some downsides as well as upsides. First with the positive, I like a lot of the new characters: FBI agent Renee Walker, FBI computer analysis Janice, Prime Minister Matobo of Sangala, the wife of Matobo, President Taylor, and First Gentleman Taylor (although he might be dead, he was shot at the end of the most recent episode). The plot is riveting and some of my favorite character's, such as Jack Bauer, Chloe O'Brien, Tony Almeida, and Bill Buchanan, have returned. However, there are cons to accompany the pros. I do not like the fact that there is no more CTU (Counter Terrorist Unit), I think that Chloe should be in more episodes, I think more characters from previous seasons should return, and I do not like some of the new characters like FBI agent Larry Moss and the FBI computer analysis who looks like Tobey Maguire. In conclusion, I really like this season but hope there will be some differences later in the season.

Foreclosure

Foreclosure, according to the Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary, is a legal proceeding that bars or extinguishes a mortgager's right of redeeming a mortgaged estate. This is a scary thing and is quickly becoming a looming problem in America. It is awful because for a lot of people, home is a place of security and comfort, something they can always come back to. This is not the case, however, for more and more Americans everyday. It has hit my aunt especially hard because she has recently gone through a divorce and had to downsize her house and start a career as a real estate agent. However, with the current economy and foreclosures, not many people want to buy a house so it is extremely hard on her and her 15-year-old son, Drew.

Grammy Awards

Tonight was the 51st Grammy Awards. It was three and a half hours of musical splendor. There were great duets such as Miley Cyrus and Taylor Swift, celebrity presenters such as Jack Black and Dwayne Johnson, and outstanding solo perfomances such as Carrie Underwood and Jennifer Hudson. I was also very pleased with the winners of the awards. I was estatic when both Carrie Underwood and Jennifer Hudson took home a Grammy. Also I was glad that Coldplay won many of the awards it was nominated for. I thought this year's Grammy Awards was much better than last year's Grammy Awards. I did not appreciate it when Amy Winehouse swept the competition. I do not think she should have been able to win due to her past behavior and excessive drug use. She is definitely not a good role model and I was very happy that she did not participate in this year's festivities.

Michael Phelps and Athletes on Drugs

When it comes to steroids, I believe that it is never acceptable for athletes to use them to enhance their performance. In that instance, it is not a test of what you can do anymore. It has become a test of how well your drugs work. That is morally wrong and can be harmful and punish those who took the pure route. Under these circumstances, I believe it was appropriate to publish A-Rod's steroid use in the media. This means that his MVP season is fake and undeserved. He took that spot away from a deserving athlete and that should have consequences and be publicized. On the other side, Michael Phelps was not using those drugs to improve his swimming. He was just trying it, and even though I do not agree with his choice at all, it is his life and his choice and as long as it doesn't become an addiction, it should not be publicized as much.