Black Hole Created!

This story was reported on May 9th; I'm just a little slow posting it here

Astronomers photographed a cosmic event this morning which they believe is the birth of a black hole, SPACE.com. has learned.
It occurred 2.2 billion light-years away which means it actually took place 2.2 billion years ago and the light is just now reaching us here on Earth. (A light-year being the distance light travels in a year.) Scientists believe the black hole was created by the merging of two neutron stars.

I love stories like this because if it were possible, I'd leave Earth in a heartbeat if I could travel throughout the galaxy. While some people might think this a bit strange, I have always felt like I belonged somewhere "out there" rather than here on Earth. As a kid. I followed the early space program and would even stay home from school just to watch a manned rocket launch. I even had a scrapbook with newspaper clippings from each space flight. One day while in grade school (I think around the 4th or 5th grade) when the teacher was taking the roll call and reached my name, she remarked "Well, Martin I might as well mark you absent for tomorrow since there's a space launch scheduled". She knew I'd be home watching the liftoff!

The universe is such a vast and fascinating place that to me, at least, the events that occur on Earth seem to be insignificant in comparison. Maybe its that I just want to escape from the terrible things that sometimes occur here or maybe I'm just "detached" from life around me but if it were possible I'd pack my bags and leave today to travel throughout the galaxy or elsewhere in the Universe. I'd go alone if that was the only way but if someone wants to come along, I think I can find room on my spacecraft for at least one other person. But don't plan on returning to Earth anytime soon--there's too much to see "out there".