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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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A laser defense system capable of destroying missiles from a distance.

A laser defense system capable of destroying missiles from a distance. With video.

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. from any other book seller, or direct from my ebook publisher, ebookit. 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

2 comments

  • That’s some cool technology. It sure would have been nice to have this with us, as a working concept, in the Arghandab River Valley, during the surge. We had to endure months of RPGs and small arms fire (direct and indirect) at the various forward operating bases and combat outposts we served at.

    I know the Navy is actively pursuing automated aircraft and shipboard systems. With the draw down in the Navy’s Construction Force, our commander jokingly talks about the fact they cannot replace us yet – at least until they perfect robotics.

    Thankfully, we did have drones (and surveillance balloons) protecting us day and night and it was nice to see them patrolling. The only complaint I have is that the drone air field was behind my tent, where I would sleep while off duty. Or at least try to sleep.

  • I wouldn’t say, as the headline has it, that the system ‘puts Iron Dome to shame.” Iron Dome is a battle-tested system that works reasonably well and is employed on a regular basis. The laser system does have the potential to classify and defeat a large number of targets very quickly. There would still be the kinetic threat from missile carcasses falling out of the sky, but that’s preferable to the alternative.

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