Very Cool Technology

This post isn't directly IT related, but it is very cool technology and something I couldn't resist posting about.  This afternoon I got a surprise visit from my sister, to deliver an early birthday present.  This picture may look like a mountain scene, but it is actually a view of the ocean floor at the entrance to Portsmouth Harbor in Portsmouth, New Hampshire.  For those who may not know the area, Portsmouth has a very picturesque harbor, as well as an active one.  The major activity on the harbor is the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard, where the US Navy overhauls it's fast attack submarines.  The Yard is a highly decorated facility, most recently for their exemplary work ahead of schedule and under budget.  The Shipyard has a long and storied history, but one of the perennial complaints is that the entrance to the harbor is too restrictive.  Well, several years ago the Navy brought the USS Maine to Portsmouth Harbor in honor of it's commissioning.  The Maine is an Ohio Class Ballistic Missile Submarine and considerably larger that the Los Angeles Class Fast Attack Submarines that frequent the Yard.  I had the honor of touring the Maine when she was in port, something I will always remember.  At any rate, back to the technology part of this post, the arrival of the Maine proved that Portsmouth Harbor had the depth and maneuverability to handle the larger ship.  This photo shows an underwater sonar map of the harbor entrance done by NOAA.  It may look like a majestic mountain scene, but it's actually a beautiful underwater seascape, brought to us through the innovative application of technology and a very cool birthday present that now hangs on my office wall.