text:
Mix Tapes
LIVE! Mix
California Mix
Summer Mix
Labor Day Mix
Hack's Mix Tapes
Hack's Back Pages
Ruminations on Musical Milestones, 1955-1990
The music to the story in your eyes
Posted on November 19 by brucehhackett
Periodically, I use this space to pay homage to artists I believe are worthy of focused attention — artists with an extraordinary, influential, consistently excellent body of work and/or a compelling story to tell. In this essay, I take a detailed look at one of the most important British bands involved in pioneering the challenging genre known as art rock, or progressive rock, in which elements of rock music and classical music merge. Thanks to a substantial fan base, plenty of critical praise, and considerable commercial success with Top Ten singles and #1 LPs in the US and the UK, they grew from modest beginning in the mid-1960s into a bonafide musical legend: The Moody Blues.
The Moody Blues in 1970: Ray Thomas, Mike Pinder, Graeme Edge, Justin Hayward, John Lodge
Popular music is full of stories of rock groups that were lucky enough to have a #1 single almost right away but then unable to duplicate their success. The record label might stick with them for a year or two, but without sales, the groups lose their contracts and are never heard from again. You've no doubt heard such artists referred to as "One-Hit Wonders."
The Moody Blues, who went on to become one of the most successful British progressive rock groups in history, came pretty close to being saddled with that dubious distinction. They signed a deal with Decca in early 1964 and, before the year was out, they topped the charts in England with "Go Now," which also broke into the Top Ten in the US. Like much of their repertoire at the time, "Go Now" was a cover version of a rhythm and blues song recorded by an American soul singer, Bessie Banks, with lead singer/guitarist Denny Laine as the front man. But then they struggled unsuccessfully for nearly two years to come up with another hit.
Their 1964 #1 single, with Denny Laine on vocals
Decca was ready to drop them from the roster. But the group had built up a debt that Decca wanted to recoup, so they came up with a plan: Use the Moody Blues to create a rock music version of Dvorak's "New World Symphony" to help promote the label's new subsidiary, Deram Records, and its new high-end sonic development they called Deramic Stereo. The band had little choice but to go along.
The band quickly reached the conclusion that the project wasn't going to work. Instead, with support from their producer and engineer, they boldly proposed to write a cycle of original songs about "everyman's archetypical day" (dawn, morning, mid-day, late afternoon, evening, night) which would then be expanded and connected by classical music passages, written and conducted by Peter Knight and recorded with a session "orchestra" that called themselves the London Festival Orchestra. To their everlasting credit, the label agreed.
"Days of Future Passed" cover, 1967
The album they got, "Days of Future Passed," was fairly astounding. It is regarded as one of the very first concept albums, released in 1967 in the wake of The Beatles' "Sgt. Pepper" and Pink Floyd's "Piper at the Gates of Dawn," neither of which utilized classical music structures and instruments as comprehensively as The Moody Blues did. Although Decca had little hope that the album would sell much, it became a surprise hit, reaching #27 in the UK on the strength of its two singles, "Nights in White Satin" and "Tuesday Afternoon (#19 and #24 respectively).
It should be noted that the album tanked badly in the US at the time, and critics savaged it. Rolling Stone said, "The Moody Blues have matured considerably since 'Go Now,' but their music is constantly marred by one of the most startlingly saccharine conceptions of 'beauty' and 'mysticism' that any rock group has ever attempted. They are strangling themselves in conceptual goo." Truth be told, I've found the album to be a bit tiresome to listen to all the way through, and the orchestral sections seem rather heavy-handed. But "Days of Future Passed" stands as a landmark LP in its creative blending of rock and roll arrangements with classical song structures and instrumentation.
In the UK, the album's success gave the group the green light to continue their experimentation. Fortunately, Mike Pinder, one of the group's founding members, was exceptionally well versed in the Mellotron, an analog antecedent to the synthesizer. It was designed as an organ-like device that used tape heads activated by the touch of keys, and tape loops comprised of the sounds of horns, strings and other instruments generating an eerie, orchestra-like sound. Pinder, who not only knew how to play it but also once worked for the company that developed and built them, was able to perpetuate the group's use of orchestral sounds without the expense of hiring classical musicians for the recording process.
"In Search of the Lost Chord" cover, 1968
The next Moodies LP, "In Search of the Lost Chord," revealed the depth of talent of the band's five multi-faceted musicians. Pinder worked the Mellotron and added piano, harpsichord, autoharp, tambura and spoken vocals. Ray Thomas provided flute, oboe, sax and French horn and vocals. Justin Hayward, who had replaced Laine as their primary singer, played acoustic and electric guitar, sitar and keyboards. John Lodge handled bass, cello and vocals, and Graeme Edge chipped in on drums and percussion. All five were songwriters as well, giving the album a wonderful diversity within the group dynamic. Lyrically, the songs examined themes like higher consciousness (Thomas's ode to Timothy Leary and LSD, "Legend of a Mind"), spiritual development (Hayward's "Voices in the Sky"), quest for knowledge (Lodge's rocker "Ride My See-Saw") and imagination (Pinder's "The Best Way to Travel"). All this proved to establish the group as darlings of the counterculture on both sides of the Atlantic while also showing robust sales in the mainstream, reaching #5 in the UK and #23 in the US.
Front-and-back album cover art, 1969
Over the next four years, The Moody Blues honed and embraced this formula, offering five rich, diverse, sonically engrossing albums that achieved ever-higher positions on the charts in both the UK and the US, and Canada and Australia as well. "On the Threshold of a Dream" and "To Our Children's Children's Children," both released in 1969, cemented their reputation as an "album band," with tracks that segued into one another. Their trippy album cover art further sealed the deal, giving their attitude-adjusted audience something to look at while the music played on. "A Question of Balance" in 1970 and "Every Good Boy Deserves Favour" in 1971 brought The Moodies back to the singles charts with two vibrant Hayward compositions: the melodramatic "Question," with its frenetic acoustic strumming, and my personal Moodies favorite, the hard-rocking "The Story in Your Eyes."
The band toured incessantly throughout this period, and because some of their pieces proved too daunting to attempt on stage, they found themselves consciously writing tunes that could be more easily recreated in a live setting. Consequently, "Question," "It's Up to You," "Melancholy Man," "Dawning is the Day," "The Story in Your Eyes" and "Our Guessing Game" from the 1970-1971 LPs became regulars on their concert setlist.
Re-release single of "Nights in White Satin," 1972
An unusual thing happened in 1972. While the group's accurately titled album "Seventh Sojourn" became the first to reach #1 on the US album charts, its two Lodge-penned singles — "Isn't Life Strange" and "I'm Just a Singer (in a Rock and Roll Band)" — made the Top 40 but were completely overshadowed by the re-release of "Nights in White Satin." A disc jockey in Washington had been signing off with the five-year-old song, and listeners began clamoring for it. Interest spread to other US markets, and soon Decca/Deram chose to re-release it as a single. It not only reached #2 on the US Top 40, but also brought "Days of Future Passed" to #3 on the US album chart, giving The Moodies TWO albums in the Top Five in December 1972.
Non-stop touring and recording took their toll, and The Moodies chose to go on hiatus for a few years, much to the displeasure of the record label. Pinder had grown tired of England and relocated to California to start a new family there, and Hayward, under pressure to come up with new Moody Blues-like material, teamed up with Lodge and their longtime producer Tony Clarke to make "Blue Jays" in 1975, which reached a respectable #16 in the US and #4 in Britain, even without any noteworthy singles.
The whole band reunited in 1977 to record the so-so "Octave" LP with the below-average single "Steppin' in a Slide Zone," but Pinder was so dissatisfied with the result that he refused to participate in the subsequent tour and officially left the group.
Various solo projects by Hayward and others filled the gap for a spell, but by then it seemed the music scene had moved on. Audiences became more fragmented, craving disco, punk, New Wave and heavy metal.
"Long Distance Voyager" cover, 1981
In 1981, though, The Moody Blues came roaring back with "Long Distance Voyager," a synthesizer-driven #1 pop/rock album carried by two Top 20 Hayward hits, "Gemini Dream" and "The Voice." A triumphant return to touring, including songs from throughout their catalog, was made possible by the industry's improved technical improvements in concert sound.
This album, and those that followed over the next decade (1983's "The Present," 1986's "The Other Side of Life," 1988's "Sur La Mer" and 1991's "Kings of the Kingdom"), bore only a little resemblance to the psychedelia and mind-expanding albums of the band's prime, but the accessible melodies, crisp production and Hayward's ever-present voice kept the band in the limelight. Indeed, Hayward's catchy pop song, "Your Wildest Dream," and its apparent sequel, "I Know You're Out There Somewhere," got as much exposure as anything they'd ever done. Still, there were precious few memorable deep tracks behind the singles, certainly a discouraging development to older fans.
The Moodies in 2002, L-R: Edge, Hayward, Lodge, Thomas
The band's last time in the recording studio was in 2003 when they cobbled together a Christmas-themed album called "December," which came and went quickly, like most seasonal records. The Moody Blues, augmented by additional performers on stage, continued performing well into the 2010s, with Hayward and Lodge carrying the load. First Thomas and then Edge were forced to reduce their participation due to health issues. Thomas ultimately died of cancer in 2018, and Edge passed away of cancer last week, effectively bringing the story of The Moody Blues to an end.
I can't think of any other rock band that had the audacity to offer tracks of cosmic poetry, spoken rather than sung, on almost every album. "In the late 1960s we became the group that Graeme always wanted it to be, and he was called upon to be a poet as well as a drummer," said Hayward about Graeme Edge in the wake of his death. "He delivered that beautifully and brilliantly, while creating an atmosphere and setting that the music would never have achieved without his words."
There's a song on "Long Distance Voyager" that, while not one of their better efforts, perfectly describes how The Moody Blues are perceived these days — "Veteran Cosmic Rockers." Their spacey music and intelligent lyrics mesmerized a sizable fan base during their 1967-1974 era, and their 1981-1991 period perpetuated The Moodies brand as a worthy rock band that absolutely deserved their long-overdue induction in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2018.
As Edge himself put it in a 2008 interview, "I never get tired of playing the hits. I think we have a duty. You play 'Nights in White Satin' for them. You've got to play 'I'm Just a Singer (in a Rock and Roll Band),' and you've got to play 'Tuesday Afternoon' and you've got to play 'Question.' It's your duty, and the audience's right."
How much, how much do you really know?
Posted on August 20 by brucehhackett
In recent months, I've been testing my readers' skills at recalling the words to well-known classic rock songs by offering a series of Lyrics Quiz posts, and I'll continue to do so periodically.
With this week's post, I'll begin branching out into the broader area of classic rock trivia. I came across an old "special edition" of a Rolling Stone Rock Trivia Quiz and decided it was high time I put together my own set of multiple-choice questions for you all to answer.
So here it is: My first Hack's Back Pages Rock Trivia Quiz! Peruse the 15 questions and multiple-choice possible answers, then scroll down to find the answers and learn more about the topics raised. At the end, there's also a Spotify playlist of the songs being discussed here.
I hope you get a kick out of this one!
Van Morrison, 1971
1. "Brown-Eyed Girl" may get more airplay than any other Van Morrison song, but which of his singles charted higher on the US Top 40 listings?
"Moondance"; "Tupelo Honey"; "Domino"; "Wild Night"
(L-R) Ginger Baker, Eric Clapton, Steve Winwood. Who played bass with them?
2. Blind Faith was comprised of superstars Eric Clapton, Steve Winwood and Ginger Baker…and a fourth, much lesser known musician on bass. Who was it?
Trevor Bolder; Ric Grech; Clive Chaman; John Glascock
3. Which of these four songs does NOT feature mandolin?
"Losing My Religion," R.E.M.; "The Battle of Evermore," Led Zeppelin; "Wild Horses," The Rolling Stones; "Friend of the Devil," The Grateful Dead
David Bowie as Major Tom in "Space Oddity"
4. Major Tom is the main character in David Bowie's 1969 debut single "Space Oddity." In which Bowie song does Major Tom make a return appearance?
"Fame"; "Let's Dance"; "Ashes to Ashes"; "Heroes"
5. On which Steely Dan single does Dire Straits' Mark Knopfler make a guest appearance on guitar?
"Peg"; "Time Out of Mind"; "FM"; "Rikki Don't Lose That Number"
Ringo Starr on vocals
6. Of these four songs Ringo Starr sang in The Beatles catalog, which one did he write?
"Yellow Submarine"; "Act Naturally"; "Good Night"; "Octopus's Garden"
Rod Stewart in the 1970s
7. On which song does Rod Stewart encourage you to "spread your wings and let me come inside"?
"Maggie May"; "Hot Legs"; "Tonight's the Night"; "Do Ya Think I'm Sexy?"
8. Which Paul Simon album was originally intended to be a Simon and Garfunkel reunion album?
"Hearts and Bones"
"The Rhythm of the Saints"
9. Of these lengthy classic rock tracks that occupy an entire album side, which one clocks in as the longest?
"In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida," Iron Butterfly
"Echoes" from "Meddle," Pink Floyd
"Close to the Edge," Yes
"Supper's Ready" from "Foxtrot," Genesis
10. Which of these four artists did not record a song with Paul McCartney?
11. Which one of these pairs of artists did NOT record a song together?
Joni Mitchell and Michael McDonald; Bob Dylan and Johnny Cash; Phil Collins and Philip Bailey; Elton John and Freddie Mercury
12. Which album cover from the 1970s was designed by pop artist Andy Warhol?
"Dark Side of the Moon," Pink Floyd
"Aladdin Sane," David Bowie
"Sticky Fingers," The Rolling Stones
"Imagine," John Lennon
13. Which one of these talented women sings harmony vocals with Neil Young on his hit singles "Heart of Gold" and "Old Man"?
14. Which lead guitarist was never a member of The Yardbirds?
Kris Kristofferson with Barbra Streisand
15. Who was Barbra Streisand's first choice to be her co-star in the 1976 film "A Star is Born"?
Rick Nelson
1. "Domino"
Morrison had an acrimonious relationship with his late '60s label, Bang Records, for whom he recorded "Brown-Eyed Girl." Although royalties from that tune have padded his bank account every day since its release, he claims to hate it and rarely will play it anymore in concert. It reached #10 in 1967, but his upbeat song "Domino" from the 1970 LP "His Band and the Street Choir" actually reached one rung higher on the charts at #9. "Moondance," from the 1970 album of the same name, is well-known but wasn't released as a single in 1970 and performed poorly upon release as a single in 1977, stalling at #92. "Tupelo Honey" and "Wild Night" from the 1971 "Tupelo Honey" album managed only #47 and #28, respectively.
2. Ric Grech
Grech was a multi-instrumentalist who had written songs and played bass and violin for Family, a relatively obscure British progressive rock group known for a diversity of styles and lineups. He was tapped to fill out the ranks of Blind Faith, which lasted for less than six months, one brief tour and one album before disbanding. Winwood later invited Grech to join the reconvened Traffic in time for their popular LP "The Low Spark of High-Heeled Boys." The other names mentioned above: Trevor Bolder became bassist in David Bowie's backup band, The Spiders From Mars; Clive Chaman was the bass player for The Jeff Beck Group for a spell; and John Glascock was Jethro Tull's bassist from 1976-1979.
3. "Wild Horses," The Rolling Stones
While this is one of the handful of songs in the Stones catalog that has a strong country music influence, "Wild Horses" does not include mandolin in the instrumental arrangement. There's plenty of pedal steel guitar, and slide guitar, and Jagger's vocals have a bit of Southern drawl, all a result of country rock pioneer Gram Parsons hanging out with the band during the 1969-1972 years. On Zeppelin's "The Battle of Evermore," keyboardist/bassist John Paul Jones picks up a mandolin to complement Jimmy Page's acoustic guitar; R.E.M. guitarist Peter Buck uses mandolin as the primary instrument as Michael Stipe sings "Losing My Religion"; and guest mandolinist David Grisman's flourishes on mandolin become increasingly prominent with each successive verse of The Grateful Dead's "Friend of the Devil."
4. "Ashes to Ashes"
"Ashes to ashes, funk to funky, we know Major Tom's a junkie, /Strung out in heaven's high, hitting an all-time low…" These are lyrics from the chorus of the hit single from Bowie's 1980 LP "Scary Monsters." Bowie himself acknowledged in 1990 that the words reflect his own struggles with drug addiction throughout the 1970s. He said he wrote "Ashes to Ashes" as a confrontation with his past: "You have to accommodate your pasts within your persona. You have to understand why you went through them. You cannot just ignore them, put them out of your mind or pretend they didn't happen, or just say, 'Oh, I was different then.'"
5. "Time Out of Mind"
Although Steely Dan first recorded and performed as a six-man band when they debuted in 1972, they soon became sort of a studio laboratory run by Donald Fagen and Walter Becker, who brought in a wide array of session guitarists, drummers, bassists and background singers to play on the various album tracks. Particularly on their albums "The Royal Scam" (1976), "Aja" (1977) and "Gaucho" (1980), Fagen and Becker tried out as many as a dozen guitarists to play solos before finding the one they were looking for. On the "Gaucho" track "Time Out of Mind," Mark Knopfler's spare, fluid style was just what the songwriters were seeking. It was a modest hit, reaching #22 in early 1981. You can also hear Michael McDonald providing guest vocals behind Fagen on this one.
6. "Octopus's Garden"
From their very first album onward, The Beatles made a point of featuring Ringo on vocals on at least one track. It was sometimes a cover of an earlier rock hit — The Shirrelles' "Boys," the Carl Perkins tunes "Matchbox" and "Honey Don't," or the Buck Owens hit "Act Naturally." More often, it was a Lennon-McCartney original they wrote with Starr in mind: "I Wanna Be Your Man," "What Goes On," "Yellow Submarine," "With a Little Help From My Friends." Ringo tried in vain to write songs, but they ended up being little more than rewrites of someone else's tune. He came up with the simple country ditty "Don't Pass Me By" which appears on Side 2 of "The White Album," and then, during the sessions for "Abbey Road," he wrote "Octopus's Garden," which he regarded as "a sequel to 'Yellow Submarine.'" George Harrison helped out with a marvelous guitar intro, and John, Paul and George all added harmonies.
7. "Tonight's the Night"
Almost from the beginning, Stewart projected a playfully naughty image as a lovable rascal who'd love to take you to bed. He hung out with — and sometimes married — attractive, much younger women, and the lyrics of the songs he chose to record and release as singles were fairly obvious in their sexual overtures. "Maggie May" (1971) tells the tale of a young man's first sexual experience with a much older woman; "Hot Legs" (1978) is about a young woman who drops by only for spirited, casual sex; and "Do Ya Think I'm Sexy?" (1978) is about a couple of strangers who lust for each other and are at first too shy to make a move but end up doing the deed. "Tonight's the Night," though, is the one that features the lyric in question, which was boldly blatant about what he wanted from the young lady.
8. "Hearts and Bones"
When Simon made the daring decision in 1970 to end his enormously successful partnership with Art Garfunkel, it was because he wanted to explore new musical territories that he felt weren't a good match for the Simon-Garfunkel tight harmonies. In 1975, the duo reunited, but for only one song, "My Little Town," which appeared on his "Still Crazy After All These Years" album AND Garfunkel's "Breakaway" LP. In 1983, following a spectacularly successful reunion concert, video and album in Central Park, Simon and Garfunkel did a reunion tour, and started work on a full S&G album, but the pair had a falling out, and Simon actually erased Garfunkel's vocal parts and made the album a solo work called "Hearts and Bones." The other two albums listed, 1991's "The Rhythm of the Saints" and 2000's "You're the One," had no involvement from Garfunkel.
Pink Floyd's "Meddle" LP, 1971
9. "Echoes," Pink Floyd
From the late '60s through the mid-'70s, progressive rock bands were eager to push the boundaries of rock music, not only in format and influences but in length as well. British artists like King Crimson, Pink Floyd, Genesis, Jethro Tull and Yes wrote songs that lasted more than 15 or 20 minutes. American and Canadian acts from Frank Zappa and Bob Dylan to Rush and Styx got in the act as well. In 1968, California's Iron Butterfly was one of the first bands to take up a whole album side, releasing the stoner classic "In-A-Gadda-da-Vida," but it lasted just 17:05. Yes released "Close to the Edge" in 1972, and its title track was 18:43 in length. Genesis, with Peter Gabriel still firmly in charge, released the 23:06-long "Supper's Ready" in 1972. The winner, though, is Pink Floyds "Echoes," from their 1971 album "Meddle," which edges out "Supper's Ready" by a half minute at 23:31.
10. Billy Joel
You can look at the accessible pop songcraft of Joel from his earliest work onward and assume he'd be a perfect match for McCartney's similar vein of highly melodic material… but no, they never worked together. In 1982, McCartney teamed up with Stevie Wonder for the massive hit "Ebony and Ivory" and also "What's That You're Doing," both from his "Tug of War" LP. In the 1982-83 period, McCartney collaborated successfully with Michael Jackson on three hits: "The Girl is Mine" from Jackson's "Thriller" album, and "Say Say Say" and "The Man" from McCartney's "Pipes of Peace" LP. In 1989, following poor sales of his previous album "Press to Play," McCartney struck an alliance with Elvis Costello on four of the 12 songs on "Flowers in the Dirt," as well as Costello's hit "Veronica" the same year.
11. Elton John and Freddie Mercury
These two bombastic Brits were both prone to big, splashy theatrics in their performances, and they were good friends, so you'd think a duet would've been a natural for them, but it never happened. On the other hand, the other three pairs of artists found great results pooling their talents on various recordings. For her "Dog Eat Dog" album in 1985, Joni Mitchell invited ex-Doobie Brother Michael McDonald to perform a duet with her on "Good Friends," which stiffed as a single at #85 but reached #28 on Mainstream Rock charts. In 1984, for his third solo LP, "Chinese Wall," Philip Bailey of Earth Wind & Fire collaborated with Phil Collins, who produced the album, played drums throughout, and co-wrote and sang on the international #1 hit "Easy Lover." Back in 1969, Johnny Cash sang a duet with Bob Dylan on his "Nashville Skyline" album on a re-recording of Dylan's 1963 tune "Girl From the North Country."
12. "Sticky Fingers," The Rolling Stones
One of the earliest examples of a controversial album cover design that made it into production was the infamous tight jeans close-up on The Stones' "Sticky Fingers" LP, courtesy of Andy Warhol. Although members of his design collaborative, The Factory, actually implemented the design and photography, Warhol conceived of the idea, which Mick Jagger enthusiastically endorsed. The actual working zipper on the original pressing was later removed because it tended to damage albums during shipping. Hipgnosis, a British graphic design group that created album covers for Pink Floyd, Led Zeppelin, Alan Parsons Project and more, came up with the award-winning "Dark Side of the Moon" cover art. Famed fashion and portrait photographer Brian Duffy, who worked often with David Bowie, shot and created the cover for Bowie's "Aladdin Sane" album. Warhol was rumored to have shot the polaroid photo of John Lennon for his "Imagine" cover, but it was instead taken by Yoko Ono.
13. Linda Ronstadt
Young went to Nashville in 1971 to appear on a taping of the ABC musical variety show "The Johnny Cash Show," where Linda Ronstadt and James Taylor were also scheduled to appear. Immediately following the taping, Young invited Ronstadt and Taylor to a nearby studio, where he had assembled some country musicians to record some tracks for a new project that would become the chart-topping "Harvest" LP. It's difficult to make out Taylor's voice in the mix of either "Heart of Gold" or "Old Man," but Ronstadt's voice is easily identifiable. Young has shared the stage with Joni Mitchell, notably for The Band's "The Last Waltz" album and concert film. Young performed with Bonnie Raitt at least once, at the Bay Area Music Awards ceremony in 1990. As far as I can tell from online research, Young and Carly Simon have never performed or recorded together.
14. Peter Green
Peter Green was a brilliant blues guitarist who played first with John Mayall and then formed Fleetwood Mac in 1967. He never served with The Yardbirds, a blues-based band later noted for their "rave-up" instrumental breaks. Tony "Top" Topham was the group's original lead guitarist, but he lasted only a few months and was replaced by hot new blues guitar sensation Eric Clapton. He remained for a year and a half but, as a blues purist, he was turned off by their pop single "For Your Love" and left to join Mayall's Bluesbreakers (and then Cream). Clapton recommended prominent session guitarist Jimmy Page, who said no and suggested Jeff Beck instead, who was instrumental in their most fertile period on such Yardbirds hits as "Shapes of Things" and "Heart Full of Soul." Page ended up joining later on bass, then played guitar alongside Beck for several months before Beck grew disillusioned and split. Page stayed on until the group's disbanding in 1968, turning it into first The New Yardbirds and then Led Zeppelin.
A mock-up album cover of what might've been
15. Elvis Presley
In the 1927 and 1945 versions of "A Star is Born," the story centered on an aspiring actress and declining actor, but in 1975, Streisand was interested in reviving the film by making it about the music business instead. Consequently, when she went looking for a co-star to play the part of the singer on his way down, she wanted someone who could both sing and act. Neil Diamond made the short list as a possible candidate. Rick Nelson might've worked, and Jerry Lee Lewis as well, but neither were ever under consideration. (The studio mentioned Marlon Brando, who was ruled out because he wasn't a singer.). Streisand was eager to get Elvis Presley, who met with them and was interested in taking the part, but imperious manager "Colonel" Tom Parker demanded top billing for Elvis and asked for too much money. He also objected to Elvis portraying someone whose career was in decline. Filmmakers instead settled on Kris Kristofferson, an acclaimed songwriter and actor.
The Archives Select Month January 2022 December 2021 November 2021 October 2021 September 2021 August 2021 July 2021 June 2021 May 2021 April 2021 March 2021 February 2021 January 2021 December 2020 November 2020 October 2020 September 2020 August 2020 July 2020 June 2020 May 2020 April 2020 March 2020 February 2020 January 2020 December 2019 November 2019 October 2019 September 2019 August 2019 July 2019 June 2019 May 2019 April 2019 March 2019 February 2019 January 2019 December 2018 November 2018 October 2018 September 2018 August 2018 July 2018 June 2018 May 2018 April 2018 March 2018 February 2018 January 2018 December 2017 November 2017 October 2017 September 2017 August 2017 July 2017 June 2017 May 2017 April 2017 March 2017 February 2017 January 2017 December 2016 November 2016 October 2016 September 2016 August 2016 July 2016 June 2016 May 2016 April 2016 March 2016 February 2016 January 2016 December 2015 November 2015 October 2015 September 2015 August 2015 July 2015 June 2015 May 2015 April 2015 March 2015 February 2015
Artist/Band Profiles
Cover versions
Deep Tracks
hit singles
Lost classics
Mowtown
Music & Television
Recent bands/albums
Rock Heros
rock journalism
Rock music humor
Sex & Drugs & Rock 'n Roll
Somebody tell me what it's all about
Lord, do you know what I mean?
We're gonna find out what it's all about
Damn, that 8-track, it takes me way back
Hack's Facebook
Somebody tell me what it's all about January 21, 2022
It's only words, and words are all I have January 14, 2022
You need a "new" song January 7, 2022
Play me one more song that I'll always remember December 31, 2021
View hackbackpages's profile on Facebook
View hackbackpages's profile on Twitter


More and more individuals are resorting to liposuction today, for achieving their aesthetic aspirations and goals. Patients are known to benefit both physically and mentally from Liposuction. Liposuction is undeniably the most popular among all plastic surgical procedures as it is an effective way of removing cellulite and fat from your body and it is pretty safe too. Moreover, Liposuction could be used in conjunction with a myriad of cosmetic procedures including breast augmentation, facial plastic surgery, and tummy tuck.
Liposuction is mostly used for improving the looks of an individual and not for any physical health benefits. Experts believe that liposuction should be used as a last resort if the patient was unsuccessful in achieving the desired results even after drastic lifestyle modifications. For instance, in the case of some areas of stubborn fat which are completely resistant to diet and exercise.
When you are gaining weight each and every fat cell seems to increase in volume and size. Liposuction helps in reducing the number of these fat cells in targeted areas. Contour changes brought about by Liposuction could be long-lasting. The target body areas where liposuction really works are the abdomen, buttocks, back, chest, hips, inner knees, flanks, thighs both saddlebags and inner thighs, neckline and upper arms.
Liposuction is meant exclusively for relatively small areas and is certainly not for treating obesity. Liposuction is very effective if you wish to eliminate dimpling, cellulite, stretch marks, or any such skin surface irregularities. Patients should fully understand the pros and cons of this cosmetic surgical procedure and discuss all aspects clearly with the cosmetic surgeon. Liposuction should be used only after much deliberation. You must keep in mind that you would get subtle results and no dramatic changes. You could opt for a reliable liposuction in Melbourne for best results.
Experts believe that the ideal liposuction candidates are individuals with a perfect skin tone, as well as, elasticity in areas where you find your skin moulding itself into some new contours. People with a skin that does not boast of elasticity should stay away from liposuction to avoid loose-looking skin post the cosmetic procedure.
Liposuction candidates should essentially be in good health. Individuals with circulatory issues such as diabetes, coronary artery disease, and a weak immune system should not consider undergoing liposuction.
Candidates should be an adult.
It is effective in the safe removal of obstinate body fat.
Helps in reducing cellulite and enhancing the overall appearance of cellulite.
Results in improved health generally associated with substantial fat loss.
Effective in changing your looks and changing the way people perceive you.
Helps to sculpt stubborn body areas that are not impacted by diet or exercise.
Cutting-edge technology has made liposuction pretty safe as a cosmetic surgical procedure today. It is up to your plastic surgeon and you to decide if the benefits are actually outweighing the risks involved. Locate an expert plastic surgeon. He would help in assessing your case and evaluating the risks and benefits specifically in your case.


The latest Hooked On Golf Blog poll has closed. Though the top 31% of the voters understand the FedEx Cup, that leaves 69% who either don't understand it or somewhat understand it.
Do you understand how the FedEx Cup works?


text:
China's Arctic Ambitions 'Not a Threat to the United States'
Channy Chheng
Birds fly over sea ice scattered on the Victoria Strait in the Canadian Arctic Archipelago, Friday, July 21, 2017. Environmental concerns and a growing acceptance of the rights of the region's indigenous population have held back some of the more extreme plans for Arctic exploration. (AP Photo/David Goldman)
In a white paper issued in January, China identifies itself as a "Near-Arctic State", a term not fully recognized in law.
WASHINGTON DC —
China has announced an official policy on the Arctic that promotes Beijing's ambitions in the resource-rich region and has raised concerns over its intention to create a "Polar Silk Road".
In a white paper issued in January, China identifies itself as a "Near-Arctic State", a term not fully recognized in law. The paper explains that China considers itself "closely involved" with activities in the region, such as scientific research and resource extraction, but also in terms of the expected impact of the effects of climate change and how these will have wider impacts on the world.
Yun Sun, co-director of the East Asia program and director of the China program at the Stimson Center, said in a discussion on "Chinese Activities in the Arctic" held by Stimson Center last month in Washington DC that China has two legitimate foundations for engagement in the Arctic: the 1920 Svalbard Treaty, which recognized the sovereignty of Norway over the archipelago of Svalbard; and the U.N. Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).
"The treaty has non-discriminatory principles which stipulate that the citizens and commercial entities or companies of all signatory countries enjoy equal rights in terms of entering and leaving and operating in the Svalbard archipelago," said Yun, referring to the Svalbard Treaty.
China sees itself as both a stakeholder and investor in the region and Beijing has gone to great lengths in recent years to strengthen bilateral relations with Arctic states through economic agreements, scientific cooperation, and growing diplomatic ties. The Chinese government also regards UNCLOS as effectively a "constitution for the Arctic" that guarantees several important rights.
Robert Orttung, associate research professor of international affairs at George Washington University, said China was seeking to boost its status as a global power, but in doing so must have clear policies regarding an issue such as climate change and scientific advancement.
The Arctic is commonwealth and property, according to the white paper, meaning that development in the region must be made in the interest not just of the states with Arctic coastlines.
China's identification as a "near-Arctic" state, a term not commonly accepted in international law, would grant it more privileges than states considered "non-Arctic" states, Yun explained.
Between 1995 and 2015, China dispatched eight scientific expeditions to the region and constructed a research station in Norway in 2014. Russia is China's main cooperation partner in the region and is central to the plan for a Polar Silk Road.
But the white paper says China will work with all partners to develop shipping routes and facilitate trade, encouraging businesses to participate in infrastructure development.
Alexander Sergunin, professor of international relations at St. Petersburg State University, said the cooperation is based on a shared desire for exploration and development, particularly when it comes to natural resources and shipping.
"Russia welcomes China's participation in the Arctic region," he said, "though there is some controversy over legal aspects."
Meanwhile, the United States supports access to international waters for all states, with China playing an important role in the development of regions in Alaska.
"Chinese investment can help Alaska if it is used wisely," said Orttung. "China's presence in the Arctic is not a threat to the U.S."
Asean States 'Should Take Tough Stance' in Negotiating Investment Deals with China
China to Militarize Coast Guard amid Maritime Rivalry from US, Southeast Asia
Youth Engagement Can Help Save Cambodians' Democratic Rights: Analysts

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


text:
Mariea Antoinette
Located in La Jolla, California
http://Www.marieaantoinette.com
Named the 2018 Instrumentalist of the Year by the San Diego Prestige Awards
Awarded the 2018 Best Jazz Single for "Overture" by the Black Women in Jazz & the Arts Association
Received a BMA Image Award at the 2018 Black Music Awards ceremony in Los Angeles
"Unless you heard yourself, you would never believe the strait-laced, classical harp could bend in any forward motion toward R&B Funk, much less possess even an ounce of sex appeal. Mariea Antoinette changes all of that. The San Diego urban-jazz harpist (yes, urban-jazz) utilizes all the pertinent styles at her disposal to loosen up her classical instrument, from street smart, EDM hip-hop, sexy, luscious R&B vocals. Mariea Antoinette is living proof that a visionary artist can bust out of traditional boxes on pure ability alone." - Carol Banks Weber AXS
A native of San Diego, California, Ms. Antoinette's diverse repertoire consists of classical, smooth jazz, and R&B music. She has performed for The President and First Lady Of The United States, Barack and Michelle Obama and at the Walt Disney Concert Hall in Los Angeles with the Southeast Symphony Orchestra. Her solo performances have taken her across the US and abroad.
Attending UC San Diego for undergraduate work and continuing on to the University of Arizona for Master classes in harp performance, she was privileged to have studied under some very notable teachers. crediting her dynamic performance technique to Russian teacher Elena Mashkovtseva.
Ms. Antoinette has been sought after to perform and record for a variety of artists and events including Ne-Yo, Jamie Foxx, The BET Awards, and American Idol. Mariea's talents are enjoyed and appreciated by a growing list of private and corporate clients as well as her dedicated fans.
VertikalLi
Carmen Mil
TSTORM
Colleen Sh
John Madei
Fletcher C
Elizmi Haz
ILuvMuzic1
Stephen Ed
photos2bto
USD ($) EUR (€) TRY (₺)


Swissie is a slang term used by the investing community for the Swiss franc. The Swiss franc, or Swissie, has often been considered a safe-haven currency during times of geopolitical unrest. This is mainly due to Switzerland's neutral stance in global conflicts.
Swissie may also go by the term Swissy. One may hear in a news report that the Swissie was down in the day's trading. This is similar to the U.S., where the dollar may be referred to as the greenback; Canada, where the dollar may be called a loonie; and New Zealand, where the dollar may be called a kiwi.
Demand for the Swissie, or Swiss franc, tends to grow during global recessions and financial crises. Switzerland is known to have a stable and relatively recession-proof economy because of its low unemployment rates, recession-resistant industries such as chemicals, high-tech engineering and power, and its conservative monetary policies. Switzerland also has low debt, low inflation and is fairly stable politically.
Switzerland is known for its neutral stance on international issues. It has historically rejected alliances that would involve economic, political or military measures. Additionally, the Swiss government system calls for referendums on all laws of importance, and any citizen has the opportunity to propose a constitutional amendment.
Investors are enticed to Switzerland and by the Swissie because of the liquidity in the markets, where investors can get in and out with little costs. Also, the government tends to shy away from controlling the currency. Seeing as the Switzerland constitution states that the government must retain gold reserves, its gold reserves are historically strong. In fact, the Swissie has the highest gold backing of any major world currency.
The currency code for the Swissie is CHF. The most popular Swissie exchange rate is the CHF to EUR, or the euro.


text:
Daniel Pittinger Loomis papers
Identifier: Ax 413
The collection consists of speeches, statements before congressional committees, and memoranda and other material relating to the President's Special Emergency Board on Wage Claims of Nonoperating Railway Employees and the President's Commission on Railroad Work Rules, 1943-1966.
A section of mimeographed and xeroxed speeches is from 1946-1966. Another section is of statements before congressional committees, 1959-1967.
There is also mimeographed memoranda concerning the President's Special Emergency Board on Wage Claims of Nonoperating Railway Employees, 1943-1944, and memoranda concerning the Presidential Commission on Railroad Work Rules, 1960.
The collection also includes biographical information.
Loomis, Daniel P. (Daniel Pittinger), 1905-1977 (Person)
Collection is open to the public. Collection must be used in Special Collections and University Archives Reading Room. Collection or parts of collection may be stored offsite. Please contact Special Collections and University Archives in advance of your visit to allow for transportation time.
Property rights reside with Special Collections and University Archives, University of Oregon Libraries. Copyright resides with the creators of the documents or their heirs. All requests for permission to publish collection materials must be submitted to Special Collections and University Archives. The reader must also obtain permission of the copyright holder.
Daniel P. Loomis (1905 - ) was born in Burlington, Vermont, and educated at Harvard Law School. He was an attorney for the Delaware and Hudson Railroad Co., chairman of the Association of Western Railways, and president of the Association of American Railroads.
1 linear feet (2 containers) : 2 manuscript boxes
Daniel P. Loomis (1905 - ) was an attorney for the Delaware and Hudson Railroad Co., chairman of the Association of Western Railways, and president of the Association of American Railroads. The collection consists of speeches, statements before congressional committees, and memoranda and other material relating to the President's Special Emergency Board on Wage Claims of Nonoperating Railway Employees and the President's Commission on Railroad Work Rules, 1943-1967.
Material within this collection is minimally arranged. Any arrangement is either derived from the records' creators or custodians or from staff at the time of initial processing. It may be necessary to look in multiple places for the same types of materials.
Other Finding Aids
Paper finding aid with additional information is available in Special Collections & University Archives.
Collection processed by staff, 1966.
This finding aid may be updated periodically to account for new acquisitions to the collection and/or revisions in arrangement and description.
This collection received a basic level of processing including minimal organization and rehousing.
Description information is drawn in part from information supplied with the collection and initial surveys of the contents.
Association of American Railroads
Association of Western Railways
Lawyers -- United States Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
Loomis, Daniel P. (Daniel Pittinger), 1905-1977
Memorandums Subject Source: Art & Architecture Thesaurus
Railroad law -- United States Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
Railroads Subject Source: Archiveswest
Railroads -- Employees -- Legal status, laws, etc. -- United States Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
Railroads and state -- United States -- History -- 20th century Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
Wages -- Railroads -- United States Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
LOC. Library of Congress Classification Subject Guide
LOC/T. Technology
LOC/T/T8. Transportation
LOC/H. Social Sciences
LOC/H/H11. Transportation and Communication
LOC/K. Law
LOC/K/K2. Persons
LOC/H/H6. Labor and Work
LOC/K/K1. Law, General
Guide to the Daniel Pittinger Loomis Papers
Complete Description
Tanya Parlet and Kira B. Homo.
Funding for production of this finding aid was provided through a grant awarded by the National Historical Publications and Records Commission (NHPRC).
Box: 1 (Mixed Materials)
[Identification of item], Daniel Pittinger Loomis papers, Ax 413, Special Collections & University Archives, University of Oregon Libraries, Eugene, Oregon.
[Identification of item], Daniel Pittinger Loomis papers, Ax 413, Special Collections & University Archives, University of Oregon Libraries, Eugene, Oregon. https://scua.uoregon.edu/repositories/2/resources/699 Accessed January 30, 2023.


how can i watch this drama. Is there a way I can watch this on this website?
This can be watched on YouTube with good quality English sub-titles. This series is *very* good, it you're at all considering it, please give it a chance. I promise you won't be disappointed!


Catching up on life: We had a great vacation. We went down to Galveston Island (about 5.5 hours from us; the ride down did not kill me, but the ride back did. it was weird.) and stayed in a condo near the beach. We got up later than we normally do and watched the sunrise on the balcony or on the shore every morning and went back out there again for the sunset. We listened to the seagulls cry. We walked nearly everywhere: restaurants, church, the beach. We had time with friends. We went to Schlitterbahn Water Park (just the indoor part) and Moody Gardens. The weather was perfect. It wasn't hot enough to make me sweaty & miserable, nor was it cool enough to make my bones ache. I really did want to stay there forever, which never happens for me on vacation (usually I get more and more stressed and want to go home). It was a delightful trip.
Since getting back home I've tried to work a little more of that laid back vacation attitude into regular life. I head out onto the front patio with my tea in the morning and sometimes even make it back out onto the back patio in the evenings. Nick and I made a joint decision to watch a little less TV than we had been, so we deleted a few shows off our DVR, just in time for the World Series. So I've watched less TV, at least. I've spent that time reading or doing crafts, which I love. I have a secret project I've been working on for a friend, so I'll post about that after the gifting has been done. I was hoping to add some more walking into my schedule, but that hasn't worked this week yet. After this week I'll have more time, so maybe Greg and I can go take some long walks at the park trails. I really feel like this extra relaxation time is helping with my stress levels, which in turn helps with my pain levels.


Personal leadership development has never been more urgent. Structures that framed professional responsibility in the past no longer fulfill this function satisfactorily. In fluid and networked workplaces, everyone is a leader with responsibility based on personal power.
A revised, 2nd edition of my book, Female leadership: Management, Jungian Psychology, Spirituality and the Global Journey Through Purgatory, will soon be published. Although some things have changed since it was originally released, the rationale for personal leadership development remains unchallenged, and is perhaps more forceful than ever.
Analytical psychology holds that our strength and potential for development lies in the avoided, discarded or disgusting – the shadow. Development entails growth by inclusion, that is, integration of unwanted thoughts and feelings. That way, they transform from stains to jewels. In Purgatory, the second part of The Divine Comedy, Dante Alighieri describes a journey through polarities of the shadow – the 7 sins and virtues – towards a balanced, free and big life.
During the retreat we will explore the sins and virtues and their significance and relevance for your personal and working life. You will be working in group and pair dynamics as well as individually with me, focusing on your private work on the sin of your choice. You will experience how leadership is fundamentally a private matter – nothing assigned or framed by external expectations – reflecting your inner structures.
The retreat is an opportunity to delve deep and to resurface fully refreshed. It will guide you to expand your horizons and enter 2019 clearer and more resourceful.
The magical medieval village of Airole is situated in delightful Northern Italy, nestled in stunning countryside between the Ligurian Riviera and the Cuneo Alps. The retreat will be hosted at an intimate location close to the Piazza Santissima Giacomo e Filippo, with intermezzos in the beautiful surrounding nature.
How to attend the retreat?
For further information please reserve one of the dates below.
PRE-READING: Female Leadership: Management, Jungian Psychology, Spirituality and the Global Journey Through Purgatory.
LOCATION: Airole is situated near Nice, Milan, Turin and Genoa Airports. Airole hosts several B&B which you might find via the website Airbnb.com.
INVESTMENT: Special introductory price of €900 including dinner on the first night and lunch package on day two.
INVESTMENT: €1,200 including dinner on the first night and lunch package on day two.


text:
Marietta High School Blue Devil Football
Home Teams Coaches MYFL Calendar TD Club Sponsors Sports Med Contacts Dibs
Paul Hall
Rich Morgan
Melvin Alexander
Ronnell Brown
Scott Brunet
Will Cauthorn
Erika Davis
Tripp Dodd
Terrance Duke
Troy Duke
Tom Guckian
Herdley Harrison
Jeff Hopp
Nick Houstoulakis
Olivia King
Jacob Lautenbach
Labrone Mitchell
Zack Shelton
Derrick Tinsley
Jaaran Nesbitt
Brandon Nicholson
Kevin Rembert
Josh Weldon
Defensive Coordinator / Inside Linebackers
Jason Allen is entering his second season with the Blue Devils, and his 15th season coaching high school football. Coach Allen will serve as the Defensive Coordinator this season. Prior to Marietta, Coach Allen was the Head Football Coach at Potomac Falls High School in Sterling, Virginia for the past three seasons, leading the Panthers to three straight play-off appearances. The 2015 Panther Defense was ranked 10th in the state of Virginia among Division 5 schools, while the school enjoyed its best season since 2008.
Before Coach Allen's move to northern Virginia, he served ten years under Coach Morgan at Oscar Smith in Chesapeake, Virginia. During his tenure at Oscar Smith, Coach Allen served various roles including Defensive Coordinator, Special Teams Coordinator, and JV Head Coach. He also coached every position except for Defensive Line at either the Varsity or Junior Varsity level. While at Oscar Smith, the Tigers won 118 games, played in the Region Championship for 10 straight years including winning the Region three times, and won two State Championships.
In his coaching career, Coach Allen has coached several players who earned numerous post-season awards including All-State, All-Region, All-Conference, and Player-of-the-Year recognitions. Many of his former players have gone on to play college football.
Coach Allen earned his Masters of Education from Old Dominion University in 2005, and his Bachelor of Arts from the State University of New York at Stony Brook in 2002, where he played both football and baseball. He has been married to his beautiful wife, Julia for 11 years, and has two wonderful children, Daniel, 8 and McKenna, 6.
Coach Jason Allen
©2019 Marietta High School Blue Devil Football / SportsEngine. All Rights Reserved.


text:
Services and Assistance
Guy Bourgouin MPP for Mushkegowuk—James Bay
Government of Ontario
Ford not doing enough to ...
Ford not doing enough to help local economy during pandemic
KAPUSKASING — It's clear that the Ford government hasn't done enough to help local businesses and organizations weather the COVID-19 crisis, said MPP Guy Bourgouin after virtual consultations with local community and business leaders on Thursday.
"During the virtual consultation, I heard that provincial measures are unclear and insufficient, and that the concerns of small, medium-sized businesses and community organizations in our region have not been taken into consideration," said Bourgouin, NDP MPP for Mushkegowuk-James Bay.
The virtual consultations found that local businesses and organizations are struggling to make ends meet while the Ford government's programs are difficult to access and their guidelines are unclear.
"I had to turn to online sales to survive while facing the unknown and having to navigate unclear program guidelines," said Fanny Lachance, owner of a beauty spa in Hearst.
"Provincial measures, such as the rent relief program, were incredibly difficult to navigate and understand for our businesses," said Julie Joncas, the Executive Director of the Far Northeast Training Board (FNETB).
MPP Bourgouin also received input that supports reopening Mushkegowuk-James Bay's economy as safely and effectively as possible.
"We heard it loud and clear – Doug Ford's province-wide, blanket approach simply won't work up here," said Bourgouin. "Our businesses and community organizations support a regional reopening that is led by our regional public health units and is geared to our local needs."
"Re-opening a business in a post-pandemic economy requires large investments in personal protective equipment and renovations, and we have not seen any programs for that," said Joncas.
"The tourism sector received a one-day notice to open our businesses," said Melanie Veilleux, the owner of Hearst Air Service, a local outfitter. "We are very grateful for the decision to open. However, I heard of the announcement through the media and we currently have no clear public health guidelines.
"Even today, we still can't confirm to our guests who will be allowed to come in."
Bourgouin thanked everyone who participated in the consultation and called for more local input. "As we move forward, it is critical that the ideas and concerns of Mushkegowuk-James Bay's business community be seriously considered by the Ford government," said Bourgouin. "As Mme Veilleux said, 'We northerners know what's best for the North.'
"It's time for Doug Ford to to start listening," said Bourgouin.
Local business owners, community and municipal leaders can still offer feedback by filling out an online survey available until June 10: https://forms.gle/VCn4xizQrNhckX4n8
Contact Services and Assistance About
Room 116, Main Legislative Building
Community Office
1-2 Ash St.
Kapuskasing, ON P5N 3H4
Unit 6, 631 Front St.
Hearst, ON P0L 1N0


Transatlantic Law International ('TALI') the London-based innovator in global business law services to multinationals and growing businesses worldwide, has expanded its geographic reach into Mauritius adding the leading law firm Uteem Chambers as a key member to its global team.
Uteem Chambers is a full service law firm which was founded in response to the demand for Mauritius-based lawyers with international exposure and expertise in international business.
Uteem Chambers has a very diverse portfolio of international clients including merchant banks and government linked agencies in addition to international companies. The team has also advised overseas governmental agencies and has been involved in legislative drafting in Mauritius.
The team of highly qualified legal professionals include lawyers qualified in Mauritius, England and Bangladesh. The team is also fluent in several languages including English, French, Hindi, Urdu and Bengali.
TALI provides services on a global regional and local basis through a unique service platform working with dedicated teams from top independent firms on a seamless centrally managed basis, with a cutting edge approach to delivering solutions quickly through a budgeted and cost effective one stop but flexible service, geared towards the business objectives of general counsel and international business clients. Labor Law Plus is the global labor and employment practice.


text:
Tag: Gus Grissom
NASA Tribute Exhibit Honors Fallen Apollo 1 Crew 50 Years After Tragedy
The new tribute to Apollo 1 at NASA's Kennedy Space Center was opened during a dedication ceremony on Jan. 27, 2017, 50 years after the crew was lost – with a keynote speech by Kennedy Space Center Director and former astronaut Bob Cabana. The entrance to the Apollo 1 tribute shows the three astronauts who perished in a fire at the launch pad on Jan. 27, 1967 during training for the mission. The astronauts are, from left, Gus Grissom, Ed White II and Roger Chaffee. Credit: Ken Kremer/kenkremer.com
KENNEDY SPACE CENTER VISITOR COMPLEX, FL – NASA unveiled a new tribute exhibit honoring three fallen astronaut heroes 50 years to the day of the Apollo 1 tragedy on January 27, 1967 when the three man crew perished in a flash fire on the launch pad during a capsule test that was not considered to be dangerous.
The Apollo 1 prime crew comprising NASA astronauts Gus Grissom, Ed White II and Roger Chaffee were killed during routine practice countdown testing when a fire suddenly erupted inside the cockpit as they were strapped to their seats in their Apollo command module capsule, on a Friday evening at 6:31 p.m. on January 27, 1967.
"It's been 50 years since the crew of Apollo 1 perished in a fire at the launch pad, but the lives, accomplishments and heroism of the three astronauts are celebrated in a dynamic, new tribute that is part museum, part memorial and part family scrapbook," says a NASA narrative that aptly describes the exhibit and the memorial ceremony I attended at the Apollo/Saturn V Center at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida on Friday, Jan. 27, 2017 on behalf of Universe Today.
It was the first disaster with a human crew and the worst day in NASA's storied history to that point.
The tribute is named called "Ad Astra Per Aspera – A Rough Road Leads to the Stars."
A new tribute to the crew of Apollo 1, who perished in a fire at the launch pad on Jan. 27, 1967, opened at NASA's Kennedy Space Center on the 50th anniversary of that fatal day that cost the lives of all three crewmembers. The tribute exhibit at the Apollo/Saturn Center highlights the lives and careers of NASA astronauts Gus Grissom, Ed White II and Roger Chaffee with artifacts and photos. Credit: Ken Kremer/kenkremer.com
At the tribute dedication ceremony Kennedy Space Center Director and former astronaut Bob Cabana said the families of the fallen crew gave their approvals and blessing to the efforts that would at last tell the story of Apollo 1 to all generations – those who recall it and many more to young or not yet born to remember the tragedy of the early days of America's space program.
"It's long overdue," said KSC center director and former astronaut Bob Cabana at the KSC dedication ceremony to family, friends and invited guests colleagues. "I'm proud of the team that created this exhibit."
"Ultimately, this is a story of hope, because these astronauts were dreaming of the future that is unfolding today," said Cabana. Generations of people around the world will learn who these brave astronauts were and how their legacies live on through the Apollo successes and beyond."
The exhibit "showcases clothing, tools and models that define the men as their parents, wives and children saw them as much as how the nation viewed them."
The main focus was to introduce the astronauts to generations who never met them and may not know much about them or the early space program, says NASA.
"This lets you now meet Gus Grissom, Ed White and Roger Chaffee as members of special families and also as members of our own family," said NASA's Luis Berrios, who co-led the tribute design that would eventually involve more than 100 designers, planners and builders to realize.
"You get to know some of the things that they liked to do and were inspired by. You look at the things they did and if anyone does just one of those things, it's a lifetime accomplishment and they did all of it and more."
Apollo 1 astronauts Gus Grissom, Ed White II and Roger Chaffee stand near Cape Kennedy's Launch Complex 34 during mission training in January 1967. On Jan. 27, 1967, the three astronauts were preparing for what was to be the first manned Apollo flight. The astronauts were sitting atop the launch pad for a pre-launch test when a fire broke out in their Apollo capsule and they perished. Credit: NASA
The crew and the Apollo 1 command module were stacked atop the Saturn 1B rocket at Launch Complex 34 on what is now Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida.
During the "plugs out" test the Saturn 1B rocket was not fueled. But the fatal flaw was the atmosphere of pure oxygen for the astronauts to breath inside the sealed Apollo 1 command module which was pressurized to 16.7 psi.
The three-part hatch that was in place on the Apollo 1 spacecraft is shown in a tribute to the crew of Apollo 1 who perished in a fire at the launch pad on Jan. 27, 1967 during training for the mission. This is the first time any part of the Apollo 1 spacecraft has been displayed publicly and is part of the tribute exhibit at NASA's Kennedy Space Center, Florida. A version of the hatch after it was redesigned is also showcased as an example of improvements NASA made throughout the agency and to the Apollo spacecraft that would later carry astronauts to the moon. Credit: Ken Kremer/kenkremer.com
Another significantly contributing fatal flaw was the inward opening three layered hatch that took some 90 seconds to open under the best of conditions.
After working all afternoon through the practice countdown and encountering numerous problems, something went terribly awry. Without warning a flash fire erupted in the cockpit filled with 100 percent oxygen and swiftly spread uncontrollably creating huge flames licking up the side of the capsule, acrid smoke and a poisonous atmosphere that asphyxiated, burned and killed the crew.
With the scorching temperatures spiking and pressures rapidly rising in a closed system, the capsule exploded some 20 seconds after the fire started. And because of the pressure buildup inside with flames licking up the sides and the toxic atmosphere generated from burning materials, the crew succumbed and could not turn the latch to pull open the hatch against the pressure.
The pad crew tried bravely in vain to save them, fighting heavy smoke and fire and fearing that the attached launch abort system on top of the capsule would ignite and kill them all too.
An investigation would determine that the fire was likely caused by a spark from frayed wiring, perhaps originating under Grissom's seat.
"An electrical short circuit inside the Apollo Command Module ignited the pure oxygen environment and within a matter of seconds all three Apollo 1 crewmembers perished," NASA concluded.
NASA and contractor North American Aviation completely redesigned the capsule with major engineering changes including an atmosphere of 60 percent oxygen and 40 percent nitrogen at 5 psi blower pressure, new hatch that could open outwards in 5 seconds, removing flammable materials among many others that would make the Apollo spacecraft much safer for the upcoming journeys to the moon.
The multi-layed hatch serves as the centerpiece of the tribute exhibit. No piece of Apollo 1 has ever before been put on public display. Alongside the old hatch, the new hatch is displayed that was used on all the remaining Apollo missions.
The three-part hatch that was in place on the Apollo 1 spacecraft is shown in a tribute to the crew of Apollo 1 who perished in a fire at the launch pad on Jan. 27, 1967 during training for the mission. This is the first time any part of the Apollo 1 spacecraft has been displayed publicly and is part of the tribute exhibit at NASA's Kennedy Space Center, Florida. A version of the hatch after it was redesigned is also showcased (right) as an example of improvements NASA made throughout the agency and to the Apollo spacecraft that would later carry astronauts to the moon. Credit: Ken Kremer/kenkremer.com
Display cases highlights the lives and careers of the three astronauts in these NASA descriptions.
Gus Grissom was "one of NASA's Original Seven astronauts who flew the second Mercury mission, a hunting jacket and a pair of ski boots are on display, along with a small model of the Mercury spacecraft and a model of an F-86 Sabre jet like the one he flew in the Korean War. A slide rule and engineering drafts typify his dedication to detail."
"The small handheld maneuvering thruster that Ed White II used to steer himself outside his Gemini capsule during the first American spacewalk features prominently in the display case for the West Point graduate whose athletic prowess nearly equaled his flying acumen. An electric drill stands alongside the "zip gun," as he called the thruster."
"It was great to juxtaposition it with a drill which was also a tool that Ed loved to use," Berrios said. "He had a tremendous passion for making things for his family."
"Roger Chaffee, for whom Apollo 1 would have been his first mission into space, was an esteemed Naval aviator who became a test pilot in his drive to qualify as an astronaut later. Displayed are board games he played with his wife and kids on rare evenings free of training."
Grissom, White and Chaffee composed NASA's first three person crew following the one man Mercury program and two man Gemini program, that had just concluded in November 1966 with Gemini 12.
The trio had been scheduled to blastoff on February 21, 1967 on a 14 day long mission in Earth orbit to thoroughly check out the Apollo command and service modules.
Apollo 1 was to be the first launch in NASA's Apollo moon landing program initiated by President John F. Kennedy in 1961.
Apollo 1 was planned to pave the way to the Moon so that succeeding missions would eventually "land a man on the Moon and return him safely to Earth before this decade is out" as Kennedy eloquently challenged the nation to do.
Legendary Gemini and Apollo astronaut General Thomas Stafford speaks at dedication of new tribute exhibit at NASA's Kennedy Space Center about the heroic Apollo 1 crew and their contributions to getting us to the Moon on the 50th anniversary of their deaths in the flash fire on Jan. 27, 1967. Stafford was the backup commander of Apollo 1. Credit: Ken Kremer/kenkremer.com
I remember seeing the first news flashes about the Apollo 1 fire on the TV as a child, as it unfolded on the then big three networks. It is indelibly marked in my mind. This new exhibit truly tells the story of these astronaut heroes vividly to those with distant memories and those with little or no knowledge of Apollo 1.
Exit walkway passing through misty projection of Apollo 1 mission patch and crossing over to mock capsule and crew of Grissom, White and Chaffee seated in Apollo 1 Command Module. Family member quotes at left. Credit: Ken Kremer/kenkremer.com
Posted on June 6, 2015 December 23, 2015
What Does NASA Stand For?
Chances are that if you have lived on this planet for the past half-century, you've heard of NASA. As the agency that is in charge of America's space program, they put a man on the Moon, launched the Hubble Telescope, helped establish the International Space Station, and sent dozens of probes and shuttles into space.
But do you know what the acronym NASA actually stands for? Well, NASA stands for the National Aeronautics and Space Administration. As such, it oversees America's spaceflight capabilities and conducts valuable research in space. However, NASA also has various programs on Earth dedicated to flight, hence why the term "Aeronautics" appears in the agency's name.
The process of forming NASA began in the early 1950's with the development of rocket planes – like the Bell X-1 – and the desire to launch physical satellites. However, it was not until the launch of Sputnik 1 – the first artificial satellite into space that was deployed by the Soviets on October 4th, 1957 – that efforts to develop an American space program truly began.
Fearing that Sputnik represented a threat to national security and America's technological leadership, Congress urged then-President Dwight D. Eisenhower to take immediate action. This result in an agreement whereby a federal organization similar to the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics (NACA) – which was established in 1915 to oversee aeronautical research – would be created.
Photograph of a Russian technician putting the finishing touches on Sputnik 1, humanity's first artificial satellite. Credit: NASA/Asif A. Siddiqi
On July 29th, 1958, Eisenhower signed the National Aeronautics and Space Act, which officially established NASA. When it began operations on October 1st, 1958, NASA absorbed NACA and its 8,000 employees. It was also given an annual budget of US $100 million, three major research laboratories (Langley Aeronautical Laboratory, Ames Aeronautical Laboratory, and Lewis Flight Propulsion Laboratory) and two small test facilities.
Elements of the Army Ballistic Missile Agency and the United States Naval Research Laboratory were also incorporated into NASA. A significant contribution came from the work of the Army Ballistic Missie Agency (ABMA), which had been working closely with Wernher von Braun – the leader of Germany's rocket program during WWII – at the time.
In December 1958, NASA also gained control of the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, a contractor facility operated by the California Institute of Technology. By 1959, President Eisenhower officially approved of A NASA seal, which is affectionately referred to as the "meatball" logo because of the orbs included in the design.
First designed in 1959, this NASA seal has commonly been known as the "meatball" logo. Credit: NASA
Early Projects:
NASA has since been responsible for the majority of the manned and unmanned American missions that have been sent into space. Their efforts began with the development of the X-15, a hypersonic jet plane that NASA had taken over from the NACA. As part of the program, twelve pilots were selected to fly the X-15, and achieve new records for both speed and maximum altitude reached.
A total of 199 flights were made between 1959 and 1968, resulting in two official world records being made. The first was for the highest speed ever reached by a manned craft – Mach 6.72 or 7,273 km/h (4,519 mph) – while the second was for the highest altitude ever achieved, at 107.96 km (354,200 feet).
The X-15 program also employed mechanical techniques used in the later manned spaceflight programs, including reaction control system jets, space suits, horizon definition for navigation, and crucial reentry and landing data. However, by the early 60's, NASA's primary concern was winning the newly-declared "Space Race" with the Soviets by putting a man into orbit.
Project Mercury:
This began with the Project Mercury, a program that was taken over from the US Air Force and which ran from 1959 until 1963. Designed to send a man into space using existing rockets, the program quickly adopted the concept launching a ballistic capsules into orbit. The first seven astronauts, nicknamed the "Mercury Seven", were selected from from the Navy, Air Force and Marine test pilot programs.
John Glenn crouches near Shepard's capsule, Freedom 7, along with technicians prior to launch. Credit: Ralph Morse/TIME & LIFE Pictures
On May 5th, 1961, astronaut Alan Shepard became the first American in space aboard the Freedom 7 mission. John Glenn became the first American to be launched into orbit by an Atlas launch vehicle on February 20th, 1962, as part of Friendship 7. Glenn completed three orbits, and three more orbital flights were made, culminating in L. Gordon Cooper's 22-orbit flight aboard Faith 7, which flew on May 15th and 16th, 1963.
Project Gemini:
Project Gemini, which began in 1961 and ran until 1966, aimed at developing support for Project Apollo (which also began in 1961). This involved the development of long-duration space missions, extravehicular activity (EVA), rendezvous and docking procedures, and precision Earth landing. By 1962, the program got moving with the development of a series of two-man spacecraft.
The first flight, Gemini 3, went up on March 23rd, 1965 and was flown by Gus Grissom and John Young. Nine missions followed in 1965 and 1966, with spaceflights lasting for nearly fourteen days while crews conducting docking and rendezvous operations, EVAs, and gathered medical data on the effects of weightlessness on humans.
Project Apollo:
And then there was the Project Apollo, which began in 1961 and ran until 1972. Due to the Soviets maintaining a lead in the space race up until this point, President John F. Kennedy asked Congress on May 25th, 1961 to commit the federal government to a program to land a man on the Moon by the end of the 1960s. With a price tag of $20 billion (or an estimated $205 billion in present-day US dollars), it was the most expensive space program in history.
Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin plant the US flag on the Lunar Surface during the first human moonwalk in history, on July 20, 1969. Credit: NASA
The program relied on the use of Saturn rockets as launch vehicles, and spacecraft that were larger than either the Mercury or Gemini capsules – consisting of a command and service module (CSM) and a lunar landing module (LM). The program got off to a rocky start when, on January 27th, 1967, the Apollo 1 craft experienced an electrical fire during a test run. The fire destroyed the capsule and killed the crew of three, consisting of Virgil I. "Gus" Grissom, Edward H. White II, Roger B. Chaffee.
The second manned mission, Apollo 8, brought astronauts for the first time in a flight around the Moon in December of 1968. On the next two missions, docking maneuvers that were needed for the Moon landing were practiced. And finally, the long-awaited Moon landing was made with the Apollo 11 mission on July 20th, 1969. Astronauts Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin became the first men to walk on the Moon while pilot Michael Collins observed.
Five subsequent Apollo missions also landed astronauts on the Moon, the last in December 1972. Throughout these six Apollo spaceflights, a total of twelve men walked on the Moon. These missions also returned a wealth of scientific data, not to mention 381.7 kilograms (842 lb) of lunar samples to Earth. The Moon landing marked the end of the space race, but Armstrong declared it a victory for "mankind" rather than just the US.
Skylab and the Space Shuttle Program:
After Project Apollo, NASA's efforts turned towards the creation of an orbiting space station and the creation of reusable spacecraft. In the case of the former, this took the form of Skylab, America's first and only independently-built space station. Conceived of in 1965, the station was constructed on Earth and launched on May 14th, 1973 atop the first two stages of a Saturn V rocket.
Skylab, America's First manned Space Station. Photo taken by departing Skylab 4 crew in Feb. 1974. Credit: NASA
Skylab was damaged during its launch, losing its thermal protection and one electricity-generating solar panels. This necessitated the first crew to rendezvous with the station to conduct repairs. Two more crews followed, and the station was occupied for a total of 171 days during its history of service. This ended in 1979 with the downing of the station over the Indian Ocean and parts of southern Australia.
By the early 70s, a changing budget environment forced NASA to begin researching reusable spacecraft, which resulted in the Space Shuttle Program. Unlike previous programs, which involved small space capsules being launched on top of multistage rockets, this program centered on the use of vehicles that were launchable and (mostly) reusable.
Its major components were a spaceplane orbiter with an external fuel tank and two solid-fuel launch rockets at its side. The external tank, which was bigger than the spacecraft itself, was the only major component that was not reused. Six orbiters were constructed in total, named Space Shuttle Atlantis, Columbia, Challenger, Discovery, Endeavour and Enterprise.
Over the course of 135 missions, which ran from 1983 to 1998, the Space Shuttles performed many important tasks. These included carrying the Spacelab into orbit – a joint effort with the European Space Agency (ESA) – running supplies to Mir and the ISS (see below), and the launch and successful repair of the Hubble Space Telescope (which took place in 1990 and 1993, respectively).
Space Shuttle Columbia launching on its maiden voyage on April 12th, 1981. Credit: NASA
The Shuttle program suffered two disasters during the course of its 15 years of service. The first was the Challenger disaster in 1986, while the second – the Columbia disaster – took place in 2003. Fourteen astronauts were lost, as well as the two shuttles. By 2011, the program was discontinued, the last mission ending on July 21st, 2011 with the landing of Space Shuttle Atlantis at the Kennedy Space Center.
By 1993, NASA began collaborating with the Russians, the ESA and the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) to create the International Space Station (ISS). Combining NASA's Space Station Freedom project with the Soviet/Russian Mir-2 station, the European Columbus station, and the Japanese Kibo laboratory module, the project also built on the Russian-American Shuttle-Mir missions (1995-1998).
The ISS and Recent Projects:
With the retirement of the Space Shuttle Program in 2011, crew members were delivered exclusively by Soyuz spacecraft. The Soyuz remains docked with the station while crews perform their six-month long missions, and then returns them to Earth. Until another US manned spacecraft is ready – which is NASA is busy developing – crew members will travel to and from the ISS exclusively aboard the Soyuz.
The International Space Station, photographed by the crew of the Space Shuttle Atlantis (STS-132). Credit: NASA
Uncrewed cargo missions arrive regularly with the station, usually in the form of the Russian Progress spacecraft, but also from the ESA's Automated Transfer Vehicle (ATV) since 2008, the Japanese H-II Transfer Vehicle (HTV) since 2009, SpaceX's Dragon spacecraft since 2012, and the American Cygnus spacecraft since 2013.
The ISS has been continuously occupied for the past 15 years, having exceeded the previous record held by Mir; and has been visited by astronauts and cosmonauts from 15 different nations. The ISS program is expected to continue until at least 2020, but may be extended until 2028 or possibly longer, depending on the budget environment.
Future of NASA:
A few years ago, NASA celebrated its fiftieth anniversary. Originally designed to ensure American supremacy in space, it has since adapted to changing conditions and political climates. It's accomplishments have also been extensive, ranging from launching the first American artificial satellites into space for scientific and communications purposes, to sending probes to explore the planets of the Solar System.
But above all else, NASA's greatest accomplishments have been in sending human beings into space, and being the agency that conducted the first manned missions to the Moon. In the coming years, NASA hopes to build on that reputation, bringing an asteroid closer to Earth so we can study it more closely, and sending manned missions to Mars.
Universe Today has many articles on NASA, including articles on its current administrators and the agency's celebrating 50 years of spaceflight.
For more information, check out history of NASA and the history of National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA).
Astronomy Cast has an episode on NASA's mission to Mars.
Posted on January 27, 2014 December 23, 2015
Remembering Apollo 1's Tragic Anniversary: 'It Was Too Late From The Beginning'
On this day (Jan. 27) in 1967, NASA astronauts Virgil "Gus" Grissom, Ed White and Roger Chaffee died in a pad fire inside of the Apollo 1 spacecraft that was supposed to lift off only a month hence. The tragedy shocked NASA, which was then aiming for manned landings on the moon, and caused an in-depth investigation into the spacecraft's construction and the cause of the fire.
Above, you can see one of the first news reports after the fire took place, from ABC's Jules Bergman and a correspondent at "Cape Kennedy" (which is called Cape Canaveral today, referring to an area adjacent to the Kennedy Space Center where the launch was supposed to take place.) "It was too late from the beginning," Bergman said in the report, referring to the frantic effort to get the astronauts out of their burning spacecraft.
An investigation determined that a spark flew from somewhere inside of the spacecraft and easily ignited in the pure-oxygen atmosphere, fuelled by fire-friendly materials inside the spacecraft. The astronauts were unable to get out quickly because the hatch was complicated to open. The redesigned Apollo spacecraft featured a swift-to-open hatch, fewer flammable materials, covered electrical connections (to mitigate against short-circuits), and a mixed atmosphere of oxygen and nitrogen on the ground.
Safety measures arising from the tragedy did help with saving astronauts on other flights, notably Apollo 13. That mission saw an oxygen tank explode en route to the moon in April 1970.
Every year, NASA has a day of remembrance to commemorate lost crews. The Apollo 1 anniversary marks a solemn week in the agency, as it comes one day before the anniversary of the 1986 Challenger explosion that killed seven astronauts (Jan. 28) and a few days before the 2003 anniversary of the Columbia shuttle breakup, which killed another seven people (Feb. 1).
Four cosmonauts have died during spaceflight, all upon re-entry: Vladimir Komarov (during Soyuz 1 on April 24, 1967) and Georgi Dobrovolskiy, Viktor Patsayev, and Vladislav Volkov (during Soyuz 11 on June 30, 1971).
Training accidents have also claimed a few lives; a list of American ones is maintained at the Astronaut Memorial Foundation.
The Apollo 1 capsule after the fire. Credit: NASA
Posted on April 18, 2010 December 24, 2015
13 Things That Saved Apollo 13, Part 7: The Apollo 1 Fire
[/caption]
Note: To celebrate the 40th anniversary of the Apollo 13 mission, for 13 days, Universe Today will feature "13 Things That Saved Apollo 13," discussing different turning points of the mission with NASA engineer Jerry Woodfill.
"Far better is it to dare mighty things, to win glorious triumphs, even though checkered by failure than to rank with those poor spirits who neither enjoy much nor suffer much, because they live in a gray twilight that knows not victory nor defeat." – Theodore Roosevelt
It's hard to chronicle any of the Apollo flights without mentioning the Apollo 1 fire. And while many believe the Apollo program perhaps wouldn't have succeeded without that disaster, the sacrifice made by Gus Grissom, Ed White and Roger Chaffee definitely saved the crew of Apollo 13.
"Among the early space missions, I've always believed that the greatest courage was needed by their first crews," said Apollo engineer Jerry Woodfill. "Whether it was Al Shepard, the Apollo 1 crew, or shuttle astronauts John Young or Bob Crippen, the most likely danger would be the first time any new space craft was launched into space. Flaws in design or manufacture could very well be fatal during maiden missions."
The crew of Apollo 1: Gus Grissom, Ed White and Roger Chaffee. Credit: NASA
On January 27, 1967, during a test on the launch pad with the crew on board, tragedy struck when a flash fire started in the command module. With the pure oxygen environment inside the capsule, the fire quickly proved fatal for the crew before they or workers at the launch pad could get the hatch open. Although the ignition source of the fire was never conclusively identified, the astronauts' deaths were attributed to a wide range of design and construction flaws in the early Apollo Command Module. The manned phase of the project was delayed for twenty months while these problems were fixed.
"To suggest the dire event of losing three brave astronauts contributing to Apollo 13's rescue seems almost ludicrous," said Woodfill, "but the evidence is striking. What Grissom, White and Chaffee contributed to the rescue of Apollo 13 makes them even more heroic than they were when they gave their lives so that men could go to the moon."
The irony of the whole situation involves the hatch. Following Gus Grissom's near fatal drowning when his Mercury capsule sank, the Apollo hatch had been redesigned to avoid the kind of unexpected actuation thought to have caused Grissom's "Liberty Bell 7" to sink.
Gus Grissom and the Liberty Bell 7. Credit: NASA
"Unfortunately, it led to a hatch impossible to open before the Apollo 1 crew expired," said Woodfill. "Nevertheless, circumstances used Gus, Ed, and Roger's sacrifice to save other crews in route to the Moon."
NASA fire-proofed all future Apollo vehicles with non-flammable materials, used a pad atmosphere of a nitrogen/oxygen mix, and coated of all electrical connections to avoid short-circuits.
"Every switch contact and wire was coated with a moisture proofing substance called conformal coating," said Woodfill. "Were it not for fire-proofing the Apollo command and service modules, Apollo 13, likely, could not have survived reentry. The cold, damp reentry module interior faced extreme condensation of water vapor from the astronauts' breath. Droplets of water formed behind the display panels."
Diagram of the Apollo Command Module control panel. Credit: NASA History Office. Click for larger version.
Woodfill said when Apollo 13's switches were activated for reentry, the interior would surely have burst into flame, were it not for the fireproofing. Condensed water droplets might have short-circuited panel switches, circuit breakers, and connector wiring.
Woodfill said America might never have landed a man on the Moon without Apollo 1. If a fire had occurred on the way to the Moon, it might have ended the will to land men there. "Imagine the horror of the world at such an event," said Woodfill, "hearing the crew's painful cries from deep space, 'We've got a fire in the spacecraft.'"
Apollo 1 and the fireproofing of future Apollo spacecraft prevented such an event.
A favorite quote of many managers of the Apollo program, Woodfill said, is from President Theodore Roosevelt, the one posted at the top of this article.
"In a sense, the Apollo One mission was altogether different from Challenger, Columbia, and Apollo 13," said Woodfill. "No one had dared such a mighty thing as to man the first Apollo spacecraft into orbit. And it, in this case, was fraught with suffering, failure and defeat, rather than a glorious triumph and victory."
But later, it allowed for great triumph with the success of the Apollo program, and a defying of the odds of the Apollo 13 crew's survival.
Tomorrow, Part 8: What the Explosion Didn't Do
Additional articles from the "13 Things That Saved Apollo 13" series:
Part 1: Timing
Part 2: The Hatch That Wouldn't Close
Part 3: Charlie Duke's Measles
Part 4: Using the LM for Propulsion
Part 5: Unexplained Shutdown of the Saturn V Center Engine
Part 6: Navigating by Earth's Terminator
Part 7: The Apollo 1 Fire
Part 8: The Command Module Wasn't Severed
Part 9: Position of the Tanks
Part 10: Duct Tape
Part 11: A Hollywood Movie
Part 12: Lunar Orbit Rendezvous
Part 13: The Mission Operations Team
Your Questions about Apollo 13 Answered by Jerry Woodfill (Part 1)
More Reader Questions about Apollo 13 Answered by Jerry Woodfill (part 2)
Final Round of Apollo 13 Questions Answered by Jerry Woodfill (part 3)
Never Before Published Images of Apollo 13's Recovery
Listen to an interview of Jerry Woodfill on the 365 Days of Astronomy podcast.


text:
RAF fighter jets shoot down terrorist drone in Syria
Ted Hennessey
An RAF Typhoon at RAF Akrotiri in Cyprus (PA)
A terrorist drone has been shot down by Royal Air Force (RAF) fighter jets in Syria, the Ministry of Defence said.
Two RAF Typhoon FGR4s were patrolling over Syria and Iraq on Tuesday, as part of the global coalition against Daesh (Arabic acronym for so-called Islamic State), and were tasked to investigate hostile drone activity near the Al Tanf military base.
The pilots identified a small hostile drone and shot it down using an advanced short range air-to-air missile (ASRAAM).
It was the first operational air-to-air engagement conducted by an RAF Typhoon, and the first air-to-air missile firing during Operation Shader, which is targeting the remnants of so-called Islamic State in Iraq and Syria.
The official strike statement read: "On Tuesday 14 December, hostile drone activity was detected around the Al Tanf coalition base in Syria.
"A pair of Typhoon FGR4s from Royal Air Force Akrotiri were conducting one of their regular patrols over Syria and Iraq as part of the global coalition against Daesh, and were tasked to investigate.
"On arrival in the Al Tanf area, the pilots were able to identify a small hostile drone, and despite the diminutive size of the target, succeeded in conducting an air to air engagement with an ASRAAM which eliminated the threat it posed to coalition forces."
It comes several weeks after the RAF successfully eliminated a known terrorist threat in Syria using a remotely piloted Reaper armed with Hellfire missiles.
Defence Secretary Ben Wallace said: "This strike is an impressive demonstration of the RAF's ability to take out hostile targets in the air which pose a threat to our forces.
"We continue to do everything we can alongside our coalition partners to stamp out the terrorist threat and protect our personnel and our partners."
UK counter-terror police help FBI after British hostage-taker shot at synagogue
Malik Faisal Akram, from Blackburn, died in a shooting incident after an FBI Swat team entered the synagogue in Texas following a 10-hour stand-off.
Tim Henman labels Novak Djokovic deportation a 'shambles'
Former British number 1 Tim Henman says the controvsey that has led to Novak Djokovic's deportation from Australia is a "shambles" and "not a good look" for anyone. He believes it is "difficult" to see how it has done Djokovic's reputation "any good" but hopes "a line in the sand" has been drawn.
Texas synagogue siege: British hostage taker named as Malik Faisal Akram - as two teenagers arrested in Manchester
The British man who was shot dead after taking four people hostage at a Texas synagogue has been named by the FBI as Malik Faisal Akram. Sky News understands the 44-year-old from Blackburn was not living in the United States and had travelled there from the UK on 2 January. It comes as two teenagers have been arrested in Manchester by officers from Counter Terror Policing North West as part of the investigation into the attack.
A progressive icon from the South American territory of French Guiana has joined the race for France's presidential election in April


"Dear Eva, A warm welcome! I invite you to share your work, post a blog or start a discussion about gender, evaluation or share your documents, events, photos and videos. We hope you will enjoy the opportunity to communicate with colleagues from all…"


text:
In Kiev said about the readiness to the convening of the UN security Council because of the situation with the "Boeing" under the Tehran
In Kiev, said that the United Nations "is not enough effective international organization." This statement was made Secretary of the NSDC of Ukraine Alexey Danilov.
According to Mr. Daniel, the Council are considering the convening of an emergency UN security Council because of the strike by the Ukrainian "Boeing" in the area of the international airport of Tehran.
We need to figure out: was the attack on our plane is deliberate or accidental. Depend on our further steps.
According to the Secretary of the Ukrainian Council of national security and defense, takes into account the fact that the majority of citizens on Board the "Boeing 737" had Iranian citizenship.
It tips the scales in favor of the version about the unintended attack. We are ready to request the convening of the meeting of the UN security Council, but don't rely fully on the United Nations. She helped us in resolving the situation with the Russian aggression.
According to Mr. Daniel, he is concerned about the fact that most UN resolutions are Advisory and declarative forms.
Hope of the UN in the case of the "Boeing" is not assigned. In the UN Charter, a lot of what is written, and Russia, for example, had to carry out the annexation of the Crimea and the Donbass, but she did it.
Recall that in an attack on the "Boeing-737" there were no survivors of the passengers and crew of the aircraft of Ukrainian airlines UIA, rising to a height of about 2,400 m.
"Let the enemy does not sleep at night": in the United States are proud of the new RCC NSM
At the end of last week, the Vice Chairman of the joint chiefs of staff General John Khayten expressed concern about the "speed" with which the "potential enemies" Russia and China are trying to overtake USA as the world's leading...
Russian-Turkish patrol again threw stones at
units of the armed forces of Russia and Turkey continue to carry out joint patrols in the Kurdish enclaves in Northern Syria. It seems that the stoning of the participants of these raids was the traditional "fun" for local residen...
Hid in a bunker Saddam: Implications of rocket attack on us airbase in Iraq
Missile strike on Iran are located in Iraq, bases of the U.S. armed forces, resulted in significant destruction on military installations. Their scale assessed the American journalists.the Associated Press sent their film crew rec...


Lock the lid in place and bring to full pressure. Reduce the heat to low and simmer for 10 minutes.Transfer the pressure cooker to the sink and run cold water over it to release the pressure. Remove the lid and discard the bouquet garni.
Return the pot to medium heat. Add the spinach and simmer until wilted. Stir in the lemon juice. Crush the garlic against the side of the pot with the back of a spoon and stir so that all the garlic completely melts into the soup. Add pepper and serve immediately.