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The time has come for my annual short 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.

 

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Gordon Lightfoot – The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald

An evening pause: Uses nicely edited archival documentary footage and pictures to highlight to story told by the song, intercut with Lightfoot’s live performance in 1979.

Hat tip Wayne DeVette.

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

4 comments

  • Jeff Wright

    El Faro was the most recent outrage.

    One of my favorite magazines was PROFESSIONAL MARINER to read Cap’n Sweeney’s opinion pieces.

  • MrBlkBrd

    One of my cousins was on the Fitzgerald. He transferred off of the Fitzgerald that summer and went on the Munson. Was visiting a friend at The Maritime Academy in Traverse City MI just a week after The Fitz went down. I don’t think i will ever forget the mood of the students there. They either knew someone on the ship or one of their relatives knew someone.

  • Jim in Texas

    This is a most haunting song that I have listened to at least a hundred times. Each time I have such a strong emotional response. (Ok, I’m a grown assed man and cry every time) I’ve researched the incident thoroughly. I cannot begin to imagine the terror of the crew as things went sideways.
    MrBlkBird.., I can only imagine the reactions of that class. We tend to think of oceans having such conditions, but few appreciate the size of those lakes!
    I had a teacher once who said every person has at least one good book within them. Lightfoot certainly had one very good song within him.
    Thanks, Bob

  • Jeff Wright

    There was an article in phys.org recently that stated some waves can still grow even after breaking.

    Freak waves were long considered an excuse of poor sailoring–rogue waves thought to be non-existent.

    I seem to remember a report of a ship near the Big Fitz’ that took seas from three different directions–a curiosity of the Great Lakes perhaps–mix that with a seiche….look out

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