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Readers!

 

The time has come for my annual short pre-Thanksgiving/Christmas fund drive for Behind The Black. I must do this every year in order to make sure I have earned enough money to pay my bills.

 

For this two-week campaign, I am offering a special deal to encourage donations. Donations of $200 will get a free autographed copy of the new paperback edition of Genesis: The Story of Apollo 8, while donations of $250 will get a free autographed copy of the new hardback edition. If you desire a copy, make sure you provide me your address with your donation.

 

As I noted in July, the support of my readers through the years has given me the freedom and ability to analyze objectively the ongoing renaissance in space, as well as the cultural changes -- for good or ill -- that are happening across America. Fourteen years ago I wrote that SLS and Orion were a bad ideas, a waste of money, would be years behind schedule, and better replaced by commercial private enterprise. Only now does it appear that Washington might finally recognize this reality.

 

In 2020 when the world panicked over COVID I wrote that the panic was unnecessary, that the virus was apparently simply a variation of the flu, that masks were not simply pointless but if worn incorrectly were a health threat, that the lockdowns were a disaster and did nothing to stop the spread of COVID. Only in the past year have some of our so-called experts in the health field have begun to recognize these facts.

 

Your help allows me to do this kind of intelligent analysis. I take no advertising or sponsors, so my reporting isn't influenced by donations by established space or drug companies. Instead, I rely entirely on donations and subscriptions from my readers, which gives me the freedom to write what I think, unencumbered by outside influences.

 

Please consider supporting my work here at Behind the Black. You can support me either by giving a one-time contribution or a regular subscription. There are four ways of doing so:

 

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November 3, 2023 Zimmerman/Batchelor podcast

8:44 pm

Embedded below the fold in two parts.

To listen to all of John Batchelor’s podcasts, go here.

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

6 comments

6 comments

  • Kevin Smith
    November 4, 2023 at 7:07 am

    Starlink achieved breakeven cash flow.

    I am seeing lots of discounts on Starlink equipment. Is that a sign of reaching breakeven cash flow or a concern? I was thinking that it might be a concern if Starlink was reducing costs because demand has been slowing.

  • Jay
    November 4, 2023 at 10:09 am

    I think they are making enough of them now that the cost is cheaper. I know there are a few guys on here who have it like I. I have the second run of the antennas- “Dishy”, and there is a newer antenna for homes, one for RVs, and one for boats.

    Also, another factor is there is no more wait list with Starlink in the USA. That was announced last month.

    Last year I did see a bootleg copy that was made in China. I wonder when we will start to see them on Amazon and Ebay.

  • wayne
    November 5, 2023 at 10:16 am

    Kevin-
    see Jay’s comment.
    electronics become substantially less expensive at volume, and early adopters always pay premium prices. (and generally become loyal customers)

    Jay–
    good stuff.
    Question- any government taxes added onto your Starlink bill?

  • Jay
    November 5, 2023 at 12:04 pm

    Wayne,
    SHHH! Don’t say that too loud. Your just giving the government ideas. Bezos will probably lobby congress for a tax on Starlink because he is feeling a little “Blue”.

    Joking aside-
    I do pay the flat price like everyone else, but the terms and agreement say that they can charge taxes state, local, and otherwise. I do not see a break down in the bill with FCC fees, but I am willing to bet there is one or more. Just like the days of old with phone lines, half of my bill was FCC taxes (aka microwave tower link taxes).

  • Kevin
    November 5, 2023 at 4:43 pm

    I live in Canada. I purchased a disk at full price ($650 CDN) and there was a 3 month wait list but that was in April 2022. I paid provincial and federal sales tax on my monthly subscription.

    I have seen sales as low as $99 for service addresses in “rural” Canada, but that expired a few months ago. Right now the price is $499 CDN.

    I sold my property with the Starlink this spring and will need a new Starlink in 2024 when I move into a new home.

    Does anyone know how long you have to activate service after purchasing the dish? I will keep watching for sales between now and when I need it next year

  • wayne
    November 6, 2023 at 5:20 am

    Jay–
    Thanks.
    (I still have a land-line phone, various Fed & State taxes amount to 28% of the total bill.)

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