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My July fund-raising campaign to celebrate the fifteenth anniversary since I began Behind the Black is now over. I want to thank all those who so generously donated or subscribed, especially those who have become regular supporters. I can't do this without your help. I also find it increasingly hard to express how much your support means to me. God bless you all!

 

The donations during this year's campaign were sadly less than previous years, but for this I blame myself. I am tired of begging for money, and so I put up the campaign announcement at the start of the month but had no desire to update it weekly to encourage more donations, as I have done in past years. This lack of begging likely contributed to the drop in donations.

 

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Jury rejects lawsuit by disgruntled former SpaceX employee

A jury has ruled in favor of SpaceX and against a former employee who claimed he was fired because he complained about management and testing policies at the company.

Though it is hard to say what really happened, it does appear that, once given all the evidence, the jury agreed with SpaceX that the former employee was fired for good cause.

Genesis cover

On Christmas Eve 1968 three Americans became the first humans to visit another world. What they did to celebrate was unexpected and profound, and will be remembered throughout all human history. Genesis: the Story of Apollo 8, Robert Zimmerman's classic history of humanity's first journey to another world, tells that story, and it is now available as both an ebook and an audiobook, both with a foreword by Valerie Anders and a new introduction by Robert Zimmerman.

 

The print edition can be purchased at Amazon or from any other book seller. If you want an autographed copy the price is $60 for the hardback and $45 for the paperback, plus $8 shipping for each. Go here for purchasing details. The ebook is available everywhere for $5.99 (before discount) at amazon, or direct from my ebook publisher, ebookit. If you buy it from ebookit you don't support the big tech companies and the author gets a bigger cut much sooner.


The audiobook is also available at all these vendors, and is also free with a 30-day trial membership to Audible.
 

"Not simply about one mission, [Genesis] is also the history of America's quest for the moon... Zimmerman has done a masterful job of tying disparate events together into a solid account of one of America's greatest human triumphs."--San Antonio Express-News

6 comments

  • Dick Eagleson

    Based on the linked L.A. Times piece, it seems the plaintiff in this case, Mr. Blasdell, might have experienced the onset of paranoid schizophrenia during his period of employment at SpaceX.

  • wayne

    Dick–
    Yeah, I saw that nebulous paragraph…

    […”She referred to a psychological test performed by one of Blasdell’s experts, saying the results indicated that he “may have perceptions or thoughts contrary to what may be happening around” him. She also said that Blasdell was unproductive and that co-workers reported that his behavior would change “from highly agitated to calm in a few minutes.”…]

    Have my suspicions’, but I’d really have to read the actual transcript on this one. (and check the pharmacy records for this guy.)
    Certain factoids are undoubtedly being suppressed, this is the LA Times after all.

    Perfect segue to this little gem–

    Dancing Pigeons
    “Ritalin”
    https://youtu.be/eGbucSjSLDw
    (3:18)

  • Garry

    Also a good segue to this one as well

    Government Mule
    “Thorazine Shuffle”
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n4s4hW-oGZ0
    (9:44)

  • wayne

    Garry–
    Good one!

    “Who Put the Benzedrine in Mrs. Murphy’s Ovaltine?”
    Harry The Hipster
    https://youtu.be/iIkxZWdpzcw
    (3:07)

  • wayne

    Awolnation –
    “Sail” (Live in studio)
    [ aka, “Blame it on my A.D.D.” ]
    https://youtu.be/B9nnZEfh9es
    (5:55)

  • Garry

    I read somewhere that in the song “Sail,” “A.D.D” refers to “addiction to drinking and drugs.”

    It’s not my style, but I’ve always liked that song, because I first heard it as the perfect soundtrack for a crazy skydiving video.

    I’ve read heated arguments about different interpretations of the lyrics.

    I choose to interpret “sail” as harnessing the power of uncontrollable forces, which I consider a good approach towards many aspects of life (and dealing with people who are not quite in their right minds).

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