Space Shuttle

This is one of those "So far OT, its not even earth bound" topics, but since I saw the guy a few board topics below this talking about Java programming, I thought, "What the hell?"

Last Friday, I took my family to Florida to see the space shuttle, Atlantis, roar into space for its final mission, (the Commander's comment just before lift-off, "We're going to take her out of the barn for a few laps around the planet"). I'd seen a lift-off before, but never this close: we were on the causeway over the Banana River, between the NASA side and the Air Force side of Cape Canaveral, about 3.5 miles from Pad 39-A.

For those of you who have never been to a launch, you've got only two more chances. I promise you that it is an experience you will never forget, like your first time at a Michigan game on a fall Saturday. For those of you with children, if you have the means, take them. It will inspire them like nothing else, (well, except for one of Bo's speeches, maybe).