When he describes the discovery of black holes as the only discovery man has made by thinking about it before ever seeing proof of one, he really gives you a look into the importance of understanding Eistein's very improtant work. But all that aside, its his ever playfulness and sense of humor that draws people to listen to him.

I was moved that he took his frail self into a weightless flight experience to further society's interest in space travel, and the statement he made in China a year or so ago, that we must get off of this planet if we are to survive as a species, was maybe his most important message to us all.

God speed (tough never faster than light), Mr. Hawking, and thank you for your wonderful contributions, and for the hopefully many more to come.

The smartass in me read Cosmologist Stephen Hawking will retire from his post at Cambridge University next year, but he still intends to continue his exploration of time and space. and I thought "Because there's not a whole lot else he can do ", but that's not right.

He's already done far more than I probably ever will. And I couldn't put down a Brief History of Time.

I salute you, Stephen. And God, I'd give my left arm to go on one of those zero-gravity flights.