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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.

 

You can’t understand one without understanding the other.

 

Please consider supporting my work here at Behind the Black. Your help allows me to do this kind of intelligent independent analysis you don’t find elsewhere. I take no advertising or sponsors, so my reporting isn’t influenced by donations by established companies or political movements. 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.

 

You can support me either by giving a one-time contribution or a regular subscription. There are four 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 or subscription:

 

4. 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.


New Russian Quartet – Shostakovich Polka

An evening pause: This piece comes from a 1930 Soviet propaganda ballet, with music by Dmitri Shostakovich. It tells the story of a Soviet-era soccer team traveling through Europe in the 1920s, which provides the setting for the propaganda. I like the musical give-and-take. It is almost like two people arguing.

Hat tip Diane Wilson.

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

2 comments

  • Ron Jone

    Is Circuit Hikes of Southern Arizona still available, and if so, how do I acquire a copy?
    Here is a bit more info if you are so inclined. If you want, just skip the following and simply pont me to how to get the book. The rest is rambling.
    I live off Camino Del Cerro and frequent the trails on the east side of Wasson and the National Park. I “stumbled” into the Belmont link (Vertical Cliffs) by doing a lot of searches and map studies. I hiked it the other day and made a loop out of by hiking along the dreadful Animal Wash, which I will bypass next time, but even if I can’t, the loop is wonderful.
    After more searching, I found your wonderful description and maps of the trail I had taken with the extension that takes in some Petroglyphs. Next time I will extend my hike. Thanks!!!!
    I have taken a number of trails from Camino Del Cerro trail head toward Picture Rocks, but I want to tie the whole system together in my head, and your book looks as if it will not only help, but will introduce me to some new areas.

    Lastly, I live off Camino Del Cerro and I wonder if it would be appropriate if I dropped by for a quick visit. I have absolutely loved your web pages and we share a love for science and the outdoors. Perhaps, I could get a copy of Circuit Hikes directly from the author. Otherwise, I totally understand, but if you could direct me to how to order the book.
    The web page and info about ordering it on the web concerns me a bit because it is quite dated. Thank you so much!!
    Ron (K7RJ)

  • Ron: Circuit Hikes is available here:

    https://behindtheblack.com/books/circuit-hikes-of-southern-arizona/

    Or you could mail me a $15 check, payable to Robert Zimmerman, to my P.O. Box address:

    Behind The Black, c/o Robert Zimmerman
    P.O.Box 1262
    Cortaro, AZ 85652

    As for getting together, it would be very inappropriate for you to simply “drop by.” I am a public figure (though hardly famous), and having strangers “drop by” would make both me and my wife very uncomfortable.

    Buy the book, and we can go from there.

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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