Three prior launch attempts were scrubbed because of thunderstorms moving into the area, and hydrogen gas leaks have caused two delays. Endeavour holds the final piece of Japan’s space lab, which should have flown last month.
When spokesman Allard Beutel at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center here on the Space Coast was asked the cost of just one Space Shuttle scrub, the answer approximately one million dollars. With NASA being cash strapped and facing budget problems, this is not what they need as of now.

Crossing our fingers and rolling the walkway away from the Endeavour’s hatch, there is one of the astronauts checking their ipod for the right music for the ride to space, mind freak!
Most people think the shuttle is ready to go on the pad any moment, but there is actually a protocol that must be followed that takes several hours to fill and then drain the external tanks when there is a scrub. Specialized liquid hydrogen and oxygen fuel  is use and must be done properly to avoid accidents.
The shuttles are very complicated vehicles that must be constantly checked and evaluated, even while on the pad before launch. One of the covers had come loose, which could have allowed rain to penetrate the thruster nozzle. The rain would have frozen when the shuttle was in orbit and could have had an impact on maneuvers, such as docking Endeavour. You can see just by one simple oversight that doesn’t look like a problem…could become catastrophic in orbit and put the crew in danger or possibly lead to their demise.
The overall 4.5-million-dollar cost provided by information from NASA is “marginal” in Nasa’s overall operating budget, added Beutel. The agency says the space shuttle Endeavour alone, built to replace the shuttle Challenger, cost some 1.7 billion dollars.
Traffic on the space coast slows everything down launch day and it is becoming more of a problem with the remaining launches for the Space Shuttle program coming to an end soon. So be prepared to add additional time when traveling the day of the launch along the space coast.

Archive image of George Anthony

As of 7am this morning we do not have confirmation that his daughter held on charges of the homicide of her daughter, Caylee Anthony, has heard the news from lastnight. Police did say George Anthony was dispondent when picked up and agreed to go into custody peacably. From the start of this ordeal, the Anthony’s have not received any counseling and our prayers our with them!

Body recovered is Caylee Anthony

Last week less than a half-mile from where Caylee Anthony lived with grand parents, a utility worker stumbled onto the remains just 60 feet from the road when he ducked into the brush to relieve himself.

Caylee Anthony‘s mom, Casey Anthony, is in jail and has been on medication since the discovering of the body last week. Prior discovery of bones, etc. have not affected Casey, except for her snickering and heading back to her jail cell, until last week! She was indicted in October on Fraud and first-degree murder, although the prosecution didn’t even have a body.

There has been a lot of complaints why the Caylee Anthony‘s body wasn’t discovered sooner with such a large search conducted, yet the area of discovery was under water from Tropical Storm Faye.

Caylee Anthony

Starry-eyed singers who dream of being discovered — like Carrie Underwood, Jennifer Hudson or Clay Aiken — will have a chance when a new “American Idol” attraction opens in February at Walt Disney World in Orlando.

Or, if singing on stage doesn’t appeal, visitors to the theme park’s new attraction can make like Simon Cowell or Paula Abdul by taking on the role of judge in the live, interactive competition.

The attraction, scheduled to open Feb. 12 at a time when attendance and revenues are down at the Orlando theme park, was announced today in a joint statement by Disney World‘s and Resorts and producers/creators of the phenomenally popular “American Idol” TV show, Fremantle Media Licensing and 19 Entertainment.

Like the TV show, Disney World “American Idol Experience” attraction will include a nerve-racking audition process in which eligible park-goers will perform in front of a Disney World producer for a chance to be cast in a show at the theme park — and a possible shot at eventually competing in the real TV show.

“One of the most remarkable elements about ‘American Idol’ is that for a brief moment each week, we can provide TV viewers the opportunity to imagine life as America’s next superstar,” said Simon Fuller, CEO of 19 Entertainment. “Disney World new attraction perfectly captures what we at ‘American Idol’ feel is the heart and soul of this brand, real people getting a shot to make their dream a reality.”

Click on thumbnail above to enlarge map

The attraction will be located in the Hollywood Studios section of Disney World. Park goers who are deemed to have “star quality” during a screening process — and after working with a vocal coach, hair stylist and make-up artist backstage — will perform on Disney World “American Idol Experience” stage set before a live audience and a panel of judges.

Those with the highest votes will compete in an end-of-day grand finale show at Disney World; the winner of the grand finale show will receive a guaranteed reservation for a future regional stadium audition for the “American Idol” TV show.

“Millions of people have imagined themselves standing on the ‘American Idol’ stage,” said Jay Rasulo, chairman of Disney World’s and Resorts. “We’re excited that we will be bringing this dream to life every day at Walt Disney World.”

Susan R. Pollack / The Detroit News

Kelly Clarkson wannabe’s can have their shot at fame at the new American Idol attraction coming to Disney World Hollywood Studios. Guests who register will audition before a producer to be cast in a Disney World theme park show. After being prepped with hair, make-up and a vocal coach, they’ll perform in front of a panel of American Idol judges and ‘live’ audience.

Those with the highest number of votes will compete at the end of day Grand Finale show. The winner of this daily event gets a guaranteed reservation at a future American Idol regional stadium audition without having to wait on the long lines. (That is the only advantage that the Disney World Hollywood competition finalists have. They will still need to compete with the rest of the applicants.)

The American Idol Attraction is being developed in partnership with Simon Fuller’s 19 Entertainment, the creative force behind Idol.

More links to check out on the Blogosphere below:

GirlsTalkinSmack.com – Celebrity Gossip Blog, TV, Fashion, Pop … – I can’t believe this will by my fourth year in a row blogging American Idol, and my fourth time doing a pre-idol spoiler post. I always love doing these because it’s so much fun to look back after the seasons over. …

By Ken Levine: The funniest AMERICAN IDOL moment EVER – AMERICAN IDOL begins next month. Yes, I will be donning my snarkskin coat again and offering my always-impartial observations. But to get you in the mood, I found this video. It’s the funniest thing I’ve seen in awhile. …

American Idol Returns For 8th Season With New Format – American Idol, one of the most popular reality shows on US television, will return for its 8th season with a brand spankin’ new format. Unlike the previous year’s 24 contestants, 36 emerging singers will be admitted into February’s …

The Most Time-Shifted Show: ‘American Idol’ – TV Decoder Blog … – “American Idol,” already America’s most watched television series, was also the most time-shifted prime-time TV program in the United States in 2008, ratings tracker The Nielsen Company said on Tuesday. …

‘American Idol’ coming to Disney World | detnews.com | The Detroit … – ‘American Idol’ coming to Disney World | detnews.com | The … – Susan R. Pollack / The Detroit News Starry-eyed singers who dream of being discovered — like Carrie Underwood, Jennifer Hudson or Clay Aiken — will have a chance when a …

Britney Spears American Idol Judge – Simon Cowell has been pushing to get Britney Spears as the new American Idol Judge. I think that woulld be a genius move. Paula had very little talent, is a dufus and Britney is…

The Orange County Sheriff’s Office would not confirm the report, but did say evidence is mounting that the skeletal remains of a small child found Thursday may belong to Caylee Anthony. At a late-afternoon briefing, Capt. Angelo Nieves said that on Monday more significant finds have been made, but that he could not reveal the specifics.

Caylee Anthony has been missing over six months now

Nieves said they have brought in a botonist, an antropologist and an entomologist to examine the scene and that the search will continue through Wednesday, at the earliest.

Investigators are in their fifth day of searching the wooded area where the remains were found for clues as to whether the remains belong to the missing 3-year-old Caylee Anthony.

Casey Anthony mom of missing Caylee Anthony

The FBI is looking at DNA from the remains at a lab in Virginia, saying it could be a week before conclusive results are released.

Sheriff Kevin Beary said Friday the bone size and hair color of the remains match Caylee Anthony the missing toddler.

Leonard Padilla

Bounter hunter Leonard Padilla, who bonded Caylee‘s mother, Casey Anthony, out of jail the first time, also stopped by the crime scene.

“I came 3,000 miles to find out if this is truly the end of this,” Padilla said. “It puts a finality to it, a closure, knowing it’s her. There’s no doubt about it.”

Even small children felt the pull to the search site. A small boy brought one of his toys for Caylee.

“My little one here, Clay, wanted to give up a little toy for her to play with in heaven,” said David Diamond, Clay’s father.

Hurricane season over for 2008

Tropical Storm Faye was a hurricane temporarily while over the ocean, yet once she came ashore she lost her strength. Never the less she did billions of dollars worth of damage due to the flooding from her loitering over the east coast of Florida.

The numbers for Hurricane season 2008

Hurricane season 2008 devasted the Texas Gulf Coast in mid-September when the Powerful Hurricane Ike made landfall. After 2007 hurrican season, 2008 produced two more in total number of 16 for this year. Five of the eight hurricanes that formed for 2008 hurricane season reached “major” status with winds in excess of 111 mph or more.

Gustav during hurricane season 2008

The middle of Hurricane Season 2008 brought the season`s most destructive storms this year. The season`s most powerful storm, Ike, slammed into Galveston Island in the early morning of September 13. Hurricane Ike formed from a tropical disturbance that moved off of Africa on Labor Day weekend. This did weaken the storm as it emerged into the Gulf of Mexico as a 100 mph (Category 2) hurricane. Ike strengthened as it moved northwestward toward the Texas coast, and storm surges of 15 feet or more were forecast. These forecasts proved true as Ike slammed ashore in Galveston, Texas, with winds of 110 mph and waves that topped the 17-foot seawall.

Space Shuttle sees it from a different angle

Hurricane Season 2008 had everyone thinking of Hurricane Katrina back in 2005 that struck New Orleans. Hurricane Gustav was on the same path to strike New Orleans as a Category 4 strength on Labor Day weekend. After a massive evacuation, Gustav veered to the west and making landfall at Cocodrie, La. Gustav produced $18 billion in damage, killing 43 people in the U.S. and 138 people overall.

Car with improper air conditioning added

Hurricane Season 2008 surprises everyone as Tropical Storm Faye slowly snaked back and forth across Florida on August 24 and 25, dropping up to 25 inches of rain near Melbourne, Fla., and more than a foot of rain across large swaths of central and northern Florida. Many believe there would of been less damage from a direct hit from a Category 3 Hurricane, than have Faye flood the Space Coast. Hurricane Hanna formed in the western Atlantic during Hurricane Season 2008 and moved south toward Haiti, stalling out near the island nation. The hurricane brought more than 30 inches of rain to Goncaives, Haiti, killing more than 500 people and causing “catastrophic” damage. The storm then turned toward the U.S. East Coast, moving through the Carolinas, Mid-Atlantic, and Northeast, bringing the region 3 to 6 inches of rain

Tornatoes are in the NE section of storm cells

The end of Hurricane Season 2008 also brought intense hurricanes with tornatoes. Hurricane Omar reached winds of 140 mph as it hit the Virgin Islands, had formed in the Caribbean Sea in early October. In early November, Hurricane Paloma moved from along the coast of Central America and smashed through the Cayman Islands with winds of 145 mph. Once it made landfall on Cuba, she fell apart over the island.

The 2008 hurricane season produced more than an average number of tornatoes, tropical storms, hurricanes, and major hurricanes. On average, 11 tropical storms, six hurricanes and two major hurricanes. Hurricane Season 2008 total was more active than WeatherBug had predicted for the season. The forecast had called for 10 to 12 named storms, with four to six reaching hurricane strength and two to four major hurricanes.