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Please consider supporting my work here at Behind the Black. I keep the website clean from pop-ups and annoying demands. Instead, I depend entirely on my readers to support me. Though this means I am sacrificing some income, it also means that I remain entirely independent from outside pressure. By depending solely on donations and subscriptions from my readers, no one can threaten me with censorship. You don't like what I write, you can simply go elsewhere.

 

You can support me either by giving a one-time contribution or a regular subscription. There are five ways of doing so:

 

1. Zelle: This is the only internet method that charges no fees. All you have to do is use the Zelle link at your internet bank and give my name and email address (zimmerman at nasw dot org). What you donate is what I get.

 

2. Patreon: Go to my website there and pick one of five monthly subscription amounts, or by making a one-time donation.
 

3. A Paypal Donation:

4. A Paypal subscription:


5. Donate by check, payable to Robert Zimmerman and mailed to
 
Behind The Black
c/o Robert Zimmerman
P.O.Box 1262
Cortaro, AZ 85652

 

You can also support me by buying one of my books, as noted in the boxes interspersed throughout the webpage or shown in the menu above. And if you buy the books through the ebookit links, I get a larger cut and I get it sooner.


Want to get off gmail? Behind the Black might provide an option

I am exploring the possibility of offering email services through my server for those who want to get off of gmail and google. However, before such a service can be offered, we need to know the amount of interest there might be. The demand will effect the cost, which means I can’t even give you an idea of what we might charge.

Regardless, if you are interested in having “your.name@behindtheblack.com” as your email address, please say so in the comments. There will be no obligations, by you or me or my server, but the response however will help us decide if we can do it.

And if we can do it, and many people sign on, we will then be taking the proper free enterprise approach for combating the corrupt business practices of giants like Google. Our federal government might still act to break Google up, but I think it would be far better if the free market did the job instead.

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 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

21 comments

  • John

    I would certainly consider it, I’m currently paying for ‘private’ e-mail.

    By private I mean they claim not to data mine it, ie. they don’t read your e-mail. The privacy policy also said something to the effect of no sharing to gov or LEO without a warrant.

    The market has some non-google private e-mail solutions already, so you’d have to compete against that.

  • jmjt

    ive already begun to migrate from the tentacles of the grand wizards of googly to ProtonMail… promising what you seek appear to offer…

  • F16 Guy

    I use Comcast email and Thunderbird. Gmail is for my junk mail folder, appropriately.
    As John says, products are already out there offering options. Price point might be an issue for you to be competitive.
    I also see much more competition in the future as people migrate away from all things GOOGLE.

  • Jim

    Just saw this and wanted to share. Video from SpaceX fairing during reentry!

    https://twitter.com/spacex/status/1146546495241371649?s=21

  • Phill O

    Options other than Google are of interest. I am not happy with Google reading email and interpreting what my response might be. Who knows what all else big brother is doing, particularly with the revaluations of Google’s political bias.

    Who else knows that a google is 10E100?

  • Ben K

    I’ve been using Proton mail for a while for sensitive emails, and I’d be happy to consider another alternative to Google.

  • Andi

    Well, technically 10E100 is “googol”. They spelled it wrong

  • Col Beausabre

    Bob, Sign me up. I’m ‘paying’ for them because of the information they sell.

  • Phill O

    Andi Way to go. You are a true centurion!

  • Lee S

    Believe it or not… I am interested…
    Gmail and yahoo are fine for my shopping and day to day usages… But even as a lefty it would be nice to have a genuinely secure and private email for correspondence with family and friends…
    Please keep us informed.

  • Jerry Greenwood

    I’ll get on board. Keep us posted.

    j greenwood
    Oracle,Az

  • A Free American

    Hi Robert,

    There are already literally dozens of non-spying “pay-for” email services available at rock-bottom prices in the USA and around the world.

    You are already a very busy person.

    I worry that you running a “@behindtheblack.com” email service will be a non-strategic gigantic time waster for you. Such a service requires for its customers: Technical support knowledgeable about every version of every model of every smartphone, every version of Windows & every version of Linux, resolution of billing issues, etc.

    The expensive payroll of a dozen or more people required to perform only the most minimal “Customer Service” 24/7 for an email service can be found everywhere world wide.

    On the other hand, your set of experience, skills, knowledge & education applied to finding, chronicling, and explaining the news & politics of the “final frontier” are unique. Very few worldwide can do, as well as you do it, your work here at Behind The Black.

    If you are looking for more to do, I recommend applying your considerable talents to go even deeper & wider into Behind The Black.

    A Behind The Black follower & fan
    New York City, NY

  • wayne

    Mr. Z.–
    Yes–I’d be interested, keep us posted.
    [-before GoDaddy sold out, they used to offer something like’ ‘250 email accounts’ per Domain, + storage, for something like $50/year, as an add-on to their Registration & Hosting plans.-]

    A Free American–
    –Not to speak for Mr. Z., but I wouldn’t get too worried he’ll get bogged down fielding tech-support questions from people who can’t run their email programs.
    Unlike Hillary, I’m doubting Mr. Z is planning on putting his own server in the guest-house.

    https://www.amixa.com/

  • Terrence

    I am now looking for email service. You are first on my list.

  • Dave Walden

    I have an interest.

  • Cotour

    A FREE AMERICAN:

    I have in the past shot myself in the foot in similar ways that you describe. What exactly the Zmans angle is here remains a mystery to me, and apparently you too.

    The key to business? Surviving our own imaginings and risk level related to how you might improve your cash flow.

    And I never talk anyone out of their imaginings. I certainly respect someone that thinks differently than I. Thats what makes life interesting.

    Do well what it is that you do and try not to confuse yourself while your doing it.

  • Cotour: You want to know “my angle?” I explain it to you. It’s very simple.

    1. I want to make money.
    2. I think Google has created an opportunity by its invasive policy towards those that use its service who wish more privacy.
    3. I have the facility with the website to provide the same service as Google, while respecting the privacy of my customers.

    Whether I end up doing this will depend on many factors, all of which I am now exploring. And yes, I am very aware of the risks and complexity involved. If it turns out to be impractical or a distraction, I won’t do it.

    At the same time, if it is doable I would be a fool not to do it.

  • Cotour

    Fair enough, sounds reasonable if you can reliably have someone else with the expertise that FREE enumerates take care of it all and it does not hamstring or distract you from your real passion and your expertise.

    I wish you the best in your endeavors.

    I have a friend, he can be annoying sometimes, but he can be very prescient related to some issues and he can help me think clearer at times. He can be annoying, but he makes his points and he is still a trusted friend.

  • vern dunn

    I would certainly consider an email address associated with Mr Zimmerman. A bright beacon of fact and reason.

  • Alex

    your.name@behindtheblack.com

    My name, please.
    Let me know how I may support.

    Alex

  • chris

    firstnamelastname@behindtheblack.com

    My name, please.
    Let me know how I may support.

    Chris

Readers: the rules for commenting!

 

No registration is required. I welcome all opinions, even those that strongly criticize my commentary.

 

However, name-calling and obscenities will not be tolerated. First time offenders who are new to the site will be warned. Second time offenders or first time offenders who have been here awhile will be suspended for a week. After that, I will ban you. Period.

 

Note also that first time commenters as well as any comment with more than one link will be placed in moderation for my approval. Be patient, I will get to it.

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