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Readers!

 

It is now July, time once again to celebrate the start of this webpage in 2010 with my annual July fund-raising campaign.

 

This year I celebrate the fifteenth anniversary since I began Behind the Black. During that time I have done more than 33,000 posts, mostly covering the global space industry and the related planetary and astronomical science that comes from it. Along the way I have also felt compelled as a free American citizen to regularly post my thoughts on the politics and culture of the time, partly because I think it is important for free Americans to do so, and partly because those politics and that culture have a direct impact on the future of our civilization and its on-going efforts to explore and eventually colonize the solar system.

 

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The Republican leadership folds.

The Republican leadership folds on the government shutdown. Key quote:

In exchange for meeting, at least momentarily, all of Obama’s demands, the House GOP is seeking a “framework” for future negotiations.

They get a repeal of an Obamacare tax on medical equipment, but lose everything else, plus give up some of the sequester cuts that have actually produced the first real reduction in the size of government in decades.

And the Republican leadership wonders why they keep losing elections? With incompetent friends like this, who needs enemies.

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

12 comments

  • joe

    The Republicans are democrat light, the establishment or progressive side of the republican party won this skirmish to the delight of the progressive democrats, and the diminishment of conservative values, they keep saying that Obama care is the law of the land and they have no intention of doing anything with this unjust legislation. This law is not about health care, but to control the population at large, if anything it will reduce the quality of health care, this law is also a big tax bill that will bring in trillions of dollars initially until the economy collapses under the weight of this disaster in waiting and will cause world wide calamity in my opinion.

  • John M. Egan

    I concur, Joe.

  • wade

    and Each of these so called Proposals furthers us, the American People, as victims .

  • Publius 2

    I think it is time for some open rebellion. Is there at least one governor who has the courage and fortitude to say “enough” to the federal government’s encroachment. No, it would not be easy, and the Obama media would attack relentlessly, but where is that person among the 50? Is there not one? “Where there are no men, be thou a man.” (Saul Alinsky’s favorite quote, from Rabbi Hillel)

  • Lois Johnson

    Yes there is. I guess you have to change that to “Where there are no men, be thou a woman.” And I mean a conservative woman.

    http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2013/may/2/south-carolina-house-passes-bill-making-obamacare-/#.Ulhqw6wCBcQ.facebook

  • Joe

    We need more of that, nice find Lois!

  • Cotour

    ALL of the old guard, entrenched and comfortable Republicans must be removed or “retired” in the next election. Period! They have forgotten the content of the document that allows them to be empowered.

    IMO Ted Cruz, Rand Paul and Mike Lee are the new leaders of the new Republican, I leave out Marko Rubio because he fooled himself that he could hang with the Dems on immigration and remain credible. He must be punished by being removed from office.

    I would also like to see Alan West become more involved.

  • Lois Johnson

    and Ben Carsen

  • Cotour

    Absolutely!

    When we think about it there are plenty of people who are very qualified to do the job that must be done. And have no doubt, it must be done.

  • Cotour

    And I am going to have to add Paul Ryan to the list of representatives that have to go. He, like Rubio has lost his proper focus. I suppose him being chosen by McCain tells that story. They both need to go fishing, I don’t trust either of them.

    The Constitution is the test, who ever does not have it as their guiding light must go. Ted Cruz is the only one who talks the Constitutional talk, many of the rest are trying to wheel and deal with the peoples freedoms. That is some BS that must be ended.

  • Edward

    Alan West is currently involved with “PJ Media” convincing America’s youth to get involved.

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