Need to rectify that, immediately.  One of the most entertaining films of the 60s.  Terrific cast, great story, direction by John Sturges, awesome music, iconic scene after iconic scene, the excitement of the escape and the overall story is true (if not all of the specific details and characters or nationalities).

RIP to astronaut Bill Anders, of Apollo 8.



Anders was a graduate of the Naval Academy; but, decided he didn't want to be a naval aviator, because of the higher rate of fatalities. He was able to switch to being commissioned a second lieutenant in the Air Force and went on to flight school from there. He was part of the third group of astronauts selected for Gemini and Apollo and was part of the back-up crew, along with Neil Armstrong, for Gemini 11. he would have been slated for Gemini 13; but, it was announced that Gemini would end with the 12th mission and they would transition to Apollo. He was assigned to Apollo 8, along with Frank Borman and Jim Lovell. The mission was supposed to test the LEM in lunar orbit, but production on it was delayed and it was decided to go ahead with an orbital mission, as intelligence suggested the Soviets were working on a lunar orbital mission. Apollo 8 launched on December 21, 1968 and first inserted into Earth orbit, to check equipment, over the next couple of hours, before getting the go ahead to initiate the burn to put them on lunar trajectory. During the flight, Borman experienced vomiting and diarrhea and didn't want to alert NASA, but Lovell and Anders felt it prudent. They were given the okay to continue and it appeared to be space adaptation syndrome, which affected about 1-in-3 astronauts, in missions.

After achieving stable lunar orbit, the crew conducted photo reconnaissance of potential landing sites. On their 4th orbit of the Moon, the became the first humans to witness "Earthrise," as the Earth came over the horizon. they had been using black and white film and Anders started snapping photos. He then called for Lovell to pass him color film and he was able to start snapping photos, adjusting the F-stop as he went, capturing the iconic image of the Earth rising above the lunar horizon, as a pale blue orb, against the blackness of space, revealing just how small an island it was in a vast sea.....



Apollo 8 also delivered a Christmas Eve address to the world, reading a passage from Genesis. 1968 was a tumultuous year, with riots and violence around the globe, as well as the Tet Offensive of the Vietnam War and several other armed conflicts. One of the congratulatory telegrams sent to the crew thanked them for saving 1968, as they presented a vision of how fragile the planet was and gave people hope for the future.

Anders, along with Lovell and Fred Haise were the back-up crew for Apollo 11; but, Anders withdrew from the astronaut rotation and was nominated by President Nixon to be the executive secretary for the National Aeronautics and Space Council. He became pessimistic about its role, as its influence proved to be minimal and he recommended it be abolished in 1972, which was done in 1973. he advocated against the larger Space Shuttle vehicle, in favor of Skylab and advised production of a smaller shuttle. The larger design won out because it would deliver more jobs in California. He moved on to the Atomic Energy Council and was then appointed to chair the new Nuclear Regulatory Commission, by President Ford. he left government service in 1977.

After a brief fellowship at the American Enterprise Institute, he became an executive for General Electric, in the Nuclear Products Division. In 1984, he left GE to join Textron, as executive VP of aerospace and then VP of Operations. In 1990, he became vice chairman of General Dynamics, then Chairman and CEO, in 1991, eventually overseeing the sale of its military aircraft division and Cessna division, as well as a government settlement for the cancelled A-12 Avenger project. He retired in 1994.

Anders started the William A Anders Foundation, for philanthropic projects related to education and the environment and the Heritage Flight Museum.

He was killed in a plane crash, of Orcas Island, near Puget Sound, when the T-34 he was flying, from the museum, crashed into the waters.

Anders remained a reservist in the USAF and eventually rose to the rank of Major General.

This leaves Jim Lovell as the last surviving member of Apollo 8. Frank Borman passed away last November. Jim Lovell is also the oldest living US Astronaut, at age 96.

RIP to Ben Potter, better known in the comic fan community as comicstorian via his youtube channel. I was not an active viewer of his channel but his videos were a gateway for a lot of people to learn about the history of comics carriers and to be ushered into the greater comics community. He was well loved by many creators and other members of the comic podcasting and youtube community. He died way to young in an accident. If you are unfamiliar with his stuff and are interested, you can check out his contributions to the comic community on his channel here.

-M

RIP Jerry West, legendary basketball player and executive with strong ties to eh LA Lakers. He is the player whose silhouette is in the NBA logo. He was 86.

-M

Aw, crap. That sucks. 

I have a souvenir basketball signed by Jerry West and John Havlicek, acquired at a computer trade show in the 1980s or early 90s. The two of them were in good spirits, chatting happily with each other while signing and saying hello to the fans as they handed them their ball.

Just about to post that.

Hardy was a French icon, both as a singer and as a fashion model, appearing on magazine covers, in the latest fashions, photographed by people like Richard Avedon, as well as in movies, including a cameo in What's New Pussycat, and a larger role in Grand Prix.  Her songs have been used in tons of movies, including The Boat That Rocked (aka Pirate Radio, in the US), The Statement, and the tv version of La Femme Nikita.





(Here, wearing a Paco Raban metal dress)

Her classic song "Tous les garcons et les filles"




Her cameo in What's new Pussycat?



Her cover of "All Over the World".....




It is said that Bob Dylan wouldn't go on stage, at a Paris concert, until he knew she was in the audience.

Hardy was one of the leading voices of the French "Ye-ye" scene, of the 60s, but was one of the few to continue to record and grow as an artist.

She suffered from laryngeal and lymphatic cancer and it took her 5 hours to prepare food that she could injest.