A Note About Noise

Last Friday I wrote about the noise that a C-5 makes as it flies overhead.

I'd just like to add, for the benefit of those who don't live in Southern California, that the space shuttle's braking maneuver as it approached Edwards Air Force Base this morning, with at least one sonic boom, can be described best as sounding like a loud cannon shot.

It inspired the sudden urge, at about 5:07 a.m., to duck and cover because like many other sleepy Angelenos, I initially mistook the noise for the onset of a big quake.