The most interesting comment threads of December
Many of the posts here at Behind the Black are not much more than me providing my readers a link to what I consider to be an important story, what I categorize as a point of information. Ever so often, however, one of these posts will touch a nerve and generate a great deal of comments and discussion, most of which is generally well written and thoughtful.
In December two posts in particular resulted in a lot of debate. Because these comments were part of a point of information, however, they ended up being lost amid the many similar posts. I have decided to highlight both threads here on the front page because I think it worthwhile for others to read what was written.
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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 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 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
The Philadelphia high school student who was ridiculed by a teacher for wearing a Romney t-shirt is suing the teacher and the school district.
The Philadelphia high school student who was ridiculed by a teacher for wearing a Romney t-shirt is suing the teacher and the school district.
The Philadelphia high school student who was ridiculed by a teacher for wearing a Romney t-shirt is suing the teacher and the school district.
The twelve best solar events in 2012
An evening pause: Below is a compilation of the twelve most spectacular solar flares of 2012, in chronological order. A detailed explanation of each can be found here.
Though the Sun continues to go through the weakest sunspot maximums in more than a hundred years, we now have some very sophisticated instruments in space that are able to observe whatever happens. And the Sun is still a raging inferno of billions of hydrogen bombs, all going off at once and continuously. Even during a weak minimum it still is more powerful than we can imagine. Consider: The Earth would be nothing mores than a small dot in each of these flares.
Now available in hardback and paperback as well as ebook!
From the press release: In this ground-breaking new history of early America, historian Robert Zimmerman not only exposes the lie behind The New York Times 1619 Project that falsely claims slavery is central to the history of the United States, he also provides profound lessons about the nature of human societies, lessons important for Americans today as well as for all future settlers on Mars and elsewhere in space.
Conscious Choice: The origins of slavery in America and why it matters today and for our future in outer space, is a riveting page-turning story that documents how slavery slowly became pervasive in the southern British colonies of North America, colonies founded by a people and culture that not only did not allow slavery but in every way were hostile to the practice.
Conscious Choice does more however. In telling the tragic history of the Virginia colony and the rise of slavery there, Zimmerman lays out the proper path for creating healthy societies in places like the Moon and Mars.
“Zimmerman’s ground-breaking history provides every future generation the basic framework for establishing new societies on other worlds. We would be wise to heed what he says.” —Robert Zubrin, founder of the Mars Society.
All editions are available at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and all book vendors, with the ebook priced at $5.99 before discount. All editions can also be purchased direct from the ebook publisher, ebookit, in which case you don't support the big tech companies and the author gets a bigger cut much sooner.
Autographed printed copies are also available at discount directly from the author (hardback $29.95; paperback $14.95; Shipping cost for either: $6.00). Just send an email to zimmerman @ nasw dot org.
New data has confirmed that asteroid 2011 AG5 will not hit the Earth in 2040.
Seven charts that outline the true and terrible state of the economy.
Leaving Earth: Space Stations, Rival Superpowers, and the Quest for Interplanetary Travel, can be purchased as an ebook everywhere for only $3.99 (before discount) at amazon, Barnes & Noble, all ebook vendors, or direct from my ebook publisher, ebookit.
If you buy it from ebookit you don't support the big oppressive tech companies and I get a bigger cut much sooner.
Winner of the 2003 Eugene M. Emme Award of the American Astronautical Society.
"Leaving Earth is one of the best and certainly the most comprehensive summary of our drive into space that I have ever read. It will be invaluable to future scholars because it will tell them how the next chapter of human history opened." -- Arthur C. Clarke
The Soyuz capsule with ISS’s new crew of three astronauts has successfully docked with the station.
NASA successfully completed a set of tests of the parachutes for the Orion capsule on Thursday.
A zoning board and the LAPD have shut down a thirty-year-old successful burger stand, apparently because they think it attracts crime.
We’re here to help you: A zoning board and the LAPD have shut down a thirty-year-old successful burger stand, apparently because they think it attracts crime.
Watch the video at the link. The result of this brain-dead action will be an abandoned building in an abandoned neighborhood. Good going, California!
We’re here to help you: A zoning board and the LAPD have shut down a thirty-year-old successful burger stand, apparently because they think it attracts crime.
Watch the video at the link. The result of this brain-dead action will be an abandoned building in an abandoned neighborhood. Good going, California!
Two teams competing for the Google Lunar X-Prize have now merged.
Two teams competing for the Google Lunar X-Prize have now merged.
Moon Express had been considered by some to be in the lead to win the $30 million prize. With this merger I suspect their chances have improved considerably.
Two teams competing for the Google Lunar X-Prize have now merged.
Moon Express had been considered by some to be in the lead to win the $30 million prize. With this merger I suspect their chances have improved considerably.
Sinéad O’Connor – Danny Boy
An evening pause: One of the most beautiful songs ever written, sung by one of the world’s best singers.
A new dataset of global hurricanes since 1970 shows absolutely no trend, up or down.
More bad news for Al Gore: A new dataset of global hurricanes since 1970 shows absolutely no trend, up or down.
More bad news for Al Gore: A new dataset of global hurricanes since 1970 shows absolutely no trend, up or down.
Not only have the models failed to predict temperature, they also have failed to predict the amount of methane in the atmosphere.
Another IPCC failure, revealed in the leaked report: Not only have the models failed to predict global temperature, they also have failed to predict the amount of methane in the atmosphere.
The graph at the link is just like the temperature graph I posted on Monday. It compares actual observations with the predictions of the computer models, which all called for a hefty rise in atmospheric methane. All the models got it wrong.
Another IPCC failure, revealed in the leaked report: Not only have the models failed to predict global temperature, they also have failed to predict the amount of methane in the atmosphere.
The graph at the link is just like the temperature graph I posted on Monday. It compares actual observations with the predictions of the computer models, which all called for a hefty rise in atmospheric methane. All the models got it wrong.
“We are not going to do anything.”
Senate Democrats in action: “We are not going to do anything.”
But of course, it will be the Republicans’ fault, even though their proposed bill is one that Harry Reid himself considered acceptable earlier this year.
Senate Democrats in action: “We are not going to do anything.”
But of course, it will be the Republicans’ fault, even though their proposed bill is one that Harry Reid himself considered acceptable earlier this year.
More details on Virgin Galactic’s first glide test of SpaceShipTwo with its rocket motor attached.
An meteorite that crashed in the Sierra Nevadas in April was traveling at the fastest speed on record, almost 18 miles per second.
An meteorite that crashed in the Sierra Nevada mountains in April was traveling at the fastest speed on record for an meteorite, almost 18 miles per second.
An meteorite that crashed in the Sierra Nevada mountains in April was traveling at the fastest speed on record for an meteorite, almost 18 miles per second.
The state where this past weekend’s mass murder occurred is considered to have the fifth strongest gun laws in the nation.
The state where this past weekend’s mass murder occurred is considered to have the fifth strongest gun laws in the nation.
They say they want an “assault weapons ban” yet Connecticut already has one (and good luck getting them to define “assault weapon”). They say they want “waiting periods” yet Connecticut already has those, too. They say they want to ban high-capacity magazines, even though the low-capacity ones take only seconds to change. Background checks? We already have those nationwide.
How effective is gun control? Not very effective it appears. Which of course means we must impose these laws on everyone. Now! Immediately! Just because! Regardless of whether it makes sense!
And then there’s this: “It’s a nasty combination of supreme self-righteousness and reflexive demonization.”
The state where this past weekend’s mass murder occurred is considered to have the fifth strongest gun laws in the nation.
They say they want an “assault weapons ban” yet Connecticut already has one (and good luck getting them to define “assault weapon”). They say they want “waiting periods” yet Connecticut already has those, too. They say they want to ban high-capacity magazines, even though the low-capacity ones take only seconds to change. Background checks? We already have those nationwide.
How effective is gun control? Not very effective it appears. Which of course means we must impose these laws on everyone. Now! Immediately! Just because! Regardless of whether it makes sense!
And then there’s this: “It’s a nasty combination of supreme self-righteousness and reflexive demonization.”
The recent youtube video showing an eagle swooping down to grab a toddler was faked.
The uncertainty of imagery: The recent youtube viral video showing an eagle swooping down to grab a toddler was faked.
Based on this example alone, it is becoming increasingly possible to fake a news story. You better have multiple sources on any strange event or else take it with a grain of salt.
The uncertainty of imagery: The recent youtube viral video showing an eagle swooping down to grab a toddler was faked.
Based on this example alone, it is becoming increasingly possible to fake a news story. You better have multiple sources on any strange event or else take it with a grain of salt.
Another three polio workers were killed in Pakistan today.
Savages: Another three polio workers were killed in Pakistan today.
No one has claimed responsibility for the attacks, but many suspect the Taliban, which has opposed polio vaccination, calling it a plot to sterilize Muslim children and threatening polio workers. [emphasis mine]
This ain’t a clash of civilizations, it’s a battle between civilization and barbarism. And Islam is the land of barbarians.
Savages: Another three polio workers were killed in Pakistan today.
No one has claimed responsibility for the attacks, but many suspect the Taliban, which has opposed polio vaccination, calling it a plot to sterilize Muslim children and threatening polio workers. [emphasis mine]
This ain’t a clash of civilizations, it’s a battle between civilization and barbarism. And Islam is the land of barbarians.
Eddi Reader – Charlie is my darlin
A petition to have the U.S. withdraw from the United Nations Outer Space Treaty has been submitted to the White House.
Now’s here’s a good idea: A petition to have the U.S. withdraw from the United Nations Outer Space Treaty has been submitted to the White House.
Read it. Mark Whittington, who submitted it, is absolutely right. We get out, we can claim territory on the Moon and thus apply U.S. law to that territory. People and companies could thus own land and have an opportunity to make a profit from their property.
Now’s here’s a good idea: A petition to have the U.S. withdraw from the United Nations Outer Space Treaty has been submitted to the White House.
Read it. Mark Whittington, who submitted it, is absolutely right. We get out, we can claim territory on the Moon and thus apply U.S. law to that territory. People and companies could thus own land and have an opportunity to make a profit from their property.
SpaceShipTwo has successfully completed its first glide test flight with its rocket motor attached.
SpaceShipTwo has successfully completed its first glide test flight with its rocket motor attached.
Now that they know the spacecraft glides properly with the extra weight of the rocket, this sets the stage for the first powered flight.
SpaceShipTwo has successfully completed its first glide test flight with its rocket motor attached.
Now that they know the spacecraft glides properly with the extra weight of the rocket, this sets the stage for the first powered flight.
An American pastor — a convert from Islam — has been imprisoned without notice of charges while visiting his family in Iran.
An American pastor — a convert from Islam — has been imprisoned without notice of charges while visiting his family in Iran.
It appears his only crime was making it possible for Iranian Christian converts from Islam to follow their religion.
An American pastor — a convert from Islam — has been imprisoned without notice of charges while visiting his family in Iran.
It appears his only crime was making it possible for Iranian Christian converts from Islam to follow their religion.
Hurricane Sandy relief funding turns into Porkfest 2012
A laser defense system capable of destroying missiles from a distance.
Robert Bork, 1927-2012
R.I.P. Robert Bork, 1927-2012.
Bork was smart, thoughtful, and understood constitutional law better than anyone in his generation. That he was denied a seat on the Supreme Court because of a leftwing campaign of personal destruction remains a shameful moment in American political history.
R.I.P. Robert Bork, 1927-2012.
Bork was smart, thoughtful, and understood constitutional law better than anyone in his generation. That he was denied a seat on the Supreme Court because of a leftwing campaign of personal destruction remains a shameful moment in American political history.
In coordinated attacks, Taliban terrorists in Pakistan murdered one man and five women, whose only job was to administer polio vaccines.
Savages: In coordinated attacks, Taliban terrorists in Pakistan murdered one man and five women, whose only job was to administer polio vaccines.
Yesterday, a male polio worker was fatally shot, and today four women were killed within about 20 minutes of each other in three apparently coordinated attacks in poor Karachi neighborhoods, including Gadap, where the July shootings occurred. Another woman was killed in Peshawar. Taliban insurgents have repeatedly threatened campaign workers, but so far no one has claimed responsibility for the current or previous attacks. Pakistani officials and international groups supporting the polio campaign are still trying to piece together what happened, says Bruce Aylward, who heads the Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI) at the World Health Organization in Geneva, Switzerland.
“The implications [of the attacks] run way beyond polio,” Aylward says, because targeting health workers will deprive Pakistani children from receiving other basic health services as well. Local leaders and community authorities have “got to assume responsibility and assure that the message gets out that this is not acceptable,” Aylward says.
We can’t have children get healthcare or avoid getting polio, can we? It might offend Allah.
Savages: In coordinated attacks, Taliban terrorists in Pakistan murdered one man and five women, whose only job was to administer polio vaccines.
Yesterday, a male polio worker was fatally shot, and today four women were killed within about 20 minutes of each other in three apparently coordinated attacks in poor Karachi neighborhoods, including Gadap, where the July shootings occurred. Another woman was killed in Peshawar. Taliban insurgents have repeatedly threatened campaign workers, but so far no one has claimed responsibility for the current or previous attacks. Pakistani officials and international groups supporting the polio campaign are still trying to piece together what happened, says Bruce Aylward, who heads the Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI) at the World Health Organization in Geneva, Switzerland.
“The implications [of the attacks] run way beyond polio,” Aylward says, because targeting health workers will deprive Pakistani children from receiving other basic health services as well. Local leaders and community authorities have “got to assume responsibility and assure that the message gets out that this is not acceptable,” Aylward says.
We can’t have children get healthcare or avoid getting polio, can we? It might offend Allah.
Russia today successfully launched a new three man crew toward ISS.
The bar at the center of the Milky Way.
Instagram has said it will withdraw language from its terms and conditions that would have given it ownership rights to users’ photography.
That didn’t take long: Instagram has said it will withdraw language from its terms and conditions that would have given it ownership rights to users’ photography.
How nice of them. But note that the article above also points out that the actual language has not yet changed.
That didn’t take long: Instagram has said it will withdraw language from its terms and conditions that would have given it ownership rights to users’ photography.
How nice of them. But note that the article above also points out that the actual language has not yet changed.