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Readers! A November fund-raising drive!

 

It is unfortunately time for another November fund-raising campaign to support my work here at Behind the Black. I really dislike doing these, but 2025 is so far turning out to be a very poor year for donations and subscriptions, the worst since 2020. I very much need your support for this webpage to survive.

 

And I think I provide real value. Fifteen years ago I said SLS was garbage and should be cancelled. Almost a decade ago I said Orion was a lie and a bad idea. As early as 1998, long before almost anyone else, I predicted in my first book, Genesis: The Story of Apollo 8, that private enterprise and freedom would conquer the solar system, not government. Very early in the COVID panic and continuing throughout I noted that every policy put forth by the government (masks, social distancing, lockdowns, jab mandates) was wrong, misguided, and did more harm than good. In planetary science, while everyone else in the media still thinks Mars has no water, I have been reporting the real results from the orbiters now for more than five years, that Mars is in fact a planet largely covered with ice.

 

I could continue with numerous other examples. If you want to know what others will discover a decade hence, read what I write here at Behind the Black. And if you read my most recent book, Conscious Choice, you will find out what is going to happen in space in the next century.

 

 

This last claim might sound like hubris on my part, but I base it on my overall track record.

 

So please consider donating or subscribing to Behind the Black, either by giving a one-time contribution or a regular subscription. I could really use the support at this time. 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. Takes about a 10% cut.
 

3. A Paypal Donation or subscription, which takes about a 15% cut:

 

4. Donate by check. I get whatever you donate. Make the check payable to Robert Zimmerman and mail it 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.


Abraham Lincoln – an annual tribute

An evening pause: Today is the birthday of Abraham Lincoln. As I try to do every year, I honor his memory on this date. As I wrote last year,

it is once again time to remember a man who stands as one of our nation’s — and possible one of the world’s — greatest leaders. Of our Presidents possibly only George Washington is more significant. We must above all not forget the incredible and now all too rare good will he held for everyone, even to those who hated him and wished to kill him.

Lincoln stood for freedom for all humans, the central heart of the American experiment. He was willing and did die for that stance. We should all be willing to do no less.

The video below shows probably every photograph ever taken of Lincoln, in chronological order. You can see him age and mature. You can also see a gaunt and serious man who appears to care deeply about whatever he does.

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

4 comments

  • Cotour

    SPEAKING OF PRESIDENTS

    Getting a little ahead of myself here, but in my opinion in 2024 it will be this man, retired Army Col., Allen West, who will be the strongest and most likely next Republican presidential candidate and president. This is the man, he will be in the mix for sure and he can prevail.

    I have had my eye on him for a long time, listen to this short interview and understand why I have developed this opinion.

    https://youtu.be/80aeEsBywTc

    And he will be the first true full blood Black American president.

    He is the exact right age, he is smart, he is well spoken, he is reasonable and balanced, he served 22 years in the Army, he served in Congress, he understands the intent of the Constitution and he is a true and natural leader. Denzel will play him in the movie.

    A little back round: “West was deployed to Kuwait in 1991 and Iraq in 2003. In 2003, West was charged in an incident that involved the beating and simulated execution of an Iraqi policeman. After an Article 32 hearing was held, West accepted non-judicial punishment, was fined $5,000, and allowed to retire as a lieutenant colonel.”

    As I understand it, Col. West was in charge of many men in Iraq and I believe 2 of his men were captured by the enemy and the Iraqi policeman knew where the enemy was taking them and he would not tell West the location. In this extreme situation Col. West persuaded the Iraqi policeman that it was in everyone’s best interests for him to help in recovering Col. Wests men.

    Col. West saved his mens lives due to his leadership and action.

    And THAT is the kind of man, or woman, that I want in the White House.

  • sippin_bourbon

    Cotour,

    I would vote for Allen.
    I kinda hoped he would have been the VEEP for Trump.
    Either way, I hope he jumps in.

    On the flip side, he may be looking to work behind the scenes to hold TX, as he says in his book.

    —————–

    In Regards to President Lincoln, I recently finished Team of Rivals by Goodwin.
    Excellent book.
    https://www.amazon.com/Team-Rivals-Political-Abraham-Lincoln/dp/0743270754

    It is not the be all end all of his life, or even his presidency. But still a good look into the politician.

  • Andi

    A day late, but better late than never:

    “Happy Birthday Abie Baby” — Hair

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZyO_1KUCCfo

  • eddie willers

    Denzel will play him in the movie.

    Well…there you go.

    One thing all people can agree on: Lincoln was one ugly man. I wonder if this helped him since no one would fawn over him because of looks. You HAD to look deeper.

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