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This conversation is closed.
Join TED Speakers John Bohannon and Carl Flink Monday, 12/17 to delve into the super-awkward world of "The Facts of Life"!
When you were a kid, did your parents ever sit you down for THAT conversation? As in, the "facts of life", "the birds & the bees"? Or was it all just too awkward? If you're a parent now, have you talked with your kids?
Join TED speakers John Bohannon and Carl Flink of Black Label Movement to delve into the super-awkward: Monday, December 17th at 4:30 pm Eastern, here on TED Conversations.
Watch their TED-ED video here: http://ed.ted.com/lessons/let-s-talk-about-sex-john-bohannon-and-black-label-movement
Closing Statement from TED
From Carl Flink:
John and I thank everyone for tuning into the conversation about our Talk. I think we all quickly revealed the humor and seriousness of this critical subject and the broad range of experiences around it. We hope that our presentation continues to catalyze conversations around talking about sex and also thinking about how TED talks can incorporate different elements such as live performers beyond the tried and true powerpoint structure.
From John Bohannon:
A big THANKS to everyone who took part in my survey. Here are the results:
1. When you were young, did your parents or another adult talk to you about "the facts of life"?
Yes, I got the low-down on both sex and drugs.
Yes, but only about sex.
Yes, but only about drugs.
No, I had to learn things the hard way.
2. If you have teenage kids (or older), did you (or someone) tell them about "the facts of life" yet?
Yes, they received the wisdom about sex and drugs.
Yes, but so far only about sex.
Yes, but so far only about drugs.
No, that conversation never happened. Awkward!
Carl Flink
Dec 17 2012: I know its not on the topic of sex, but I want to also say that John Bohannon is a fearless TED Speaker. How many TED Speakers are there who would be willing to do their entire TALK while being moved upside down, laying on people's heads, etc. He's an brave man!Dec 17 2012: Hi John, I'm really inspired by the way you teach through lecture and dance. It is extremely engaging!
- +5
Honesty is like a needle in the hay-stack and people have found ways to hide it, but I'm glad you presented everything as well as the needle pointing to true north. =)
Thank you Mr Bohannon.Dec 17 2012: As for me... I think the only appropriate way to talk to kids about sex is with the help of professional dancers.Dec 17 2012: Since Gangnam Style is everywhere, my kids are running around the house singing 'Heeeey, sexy lady'
Such an event could be a 'starting point' but how do you explain sexy to an 4 year old?
Once the boy next door starts 'daggering' my daughter at the school dance or 'sexting' during mathclass, then it might be time to start explaining things!
Dec 17 2012: Seriously! My daughter made a video that stuck my face on the Gangham Style video singer. Talk about some awkward positions to see yourself in!Dec 17 2012: I'm gay, but my parents talked to me about how sex works between a man and a woman. I wonder if any of you parents will talk to your kids about heterosexual AND homosexual relations. I mean, many of these kids already have preferences, but for those that do not, I think it's important to inform them about sex in the most general terms (between two people that are in love or two people that are attracted to each other -- not just between a man and a woman). Does that make sense?
Dec 17 2012: My sense is that society has a long way to go before any but the most liberated heterosexual parents will talk to their kids about homosexuality. But I hope that will change fast.
Carl Flink
Dec 17 2012: Fantastic question, Jordan. This is something that we have already had multiple conversations about in our household. The various debates around so-called "Marriage Amendments" prompted us to have talks with our daughters about what marriage is and how we as parents think about it. It was so interesting to hear from my 10 year-old before we ever said anything to them about this, "Dad, I don't understand why I can't marry anyone that I love and want to be with." Wow, from the mouths of babes.Dec 17 2012: It makes so much sense. I think a lot of parents would use the excuse that it tends to come up because kids have asked where babies come from, but that just makes for a good starting point. You just have to answer the question you've been asked, but the question that small children might not yet know enough to ask.
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Aja B.
Dec 17 2012: I have no doubt this will be a part of our conversations around sex, since it's already a normal part of our world. One of our daughter's friends has two moms, we walk past affectionate gay couples when we're out and about, etc. It's standard now to hear other toddler parents hedging on the sex of their kid's future spouse. :)
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Aja B.
Dec 17 2012: On the more casual end of the spectrum, whenever my husband left the house when he was a teenager (after getting his driver's license), his parents would send him off with, "Have fun! Remember to wear your headlights and turn on your rubbers!"Dec 17 2012: well, no. nobody ever told me that "the facts of life" would be sex and drugs. i was under the impression that rock and roll is also involved. but i have always suspected that actually a lot more is going on in life.Dec 17 2012: Mr. Oroyan:
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Any other contributions or tales of lusty furniture?
Dec 17 2012: I'm loaded. ;-) But 15 seconds isn't enough.
Dec 17 2012: That's just icky. lol
Shobhit Puri
Dec 17 2012: I remember, my father took me to a seperate room and asked me some questions before he actually explained me everything literally. I remember few of them.
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The first question was that did you ever feel something when you woke up in the morning? It was followed by another one. He asked me to try and remember if I saw any beautiful classmates of mine in my dreams or have seen some exiting movie before sleeping?
The conversation was pretty much direct. I really appreciated that. I am proud that it happened and I came to know everything from my father, instead of friends telling different stories.
Dec 17 2012: Thanks for sharing this Shobhit.Dec 17 2012: I wonder how rare your experience is, Shobhit. Everyone, please take part in my ultra-fast 2-question survey:
Dec 17 2012: I think, being a doctor, it was easier for him and he was comfortable talking to me about it. I agree that normally its rare.Dec 17 2012: One thought that occurred to me though as I read you experience, Shobhit, is why so often parents make this conversation something that needs to be scheduled or taken into a different room. I know that when my parents did something like this to me when I was growing up I tended to spend so much time wondering when I was going to be grounded or told something bad that I may not have been in a head space to take in the information.
Dec 17 2012: I agree with you. There can be different reasons. My sister is yonger to me and he might not have wanted to share all those thoughts with her, at that time. Still, these conversations need to be taken in more casual way. Its an important part of everyone's life.Dec 17 2012: I also think that we as a society seriously need to stop calling it "the talk," as if it only has to happen once.
Dec 17 2012: Agreed. I was serious about Aja's "nudge" strategy.Dec 17 2012: Agreed! One of my favorite people in the world, Cliff Simon (http://www.cliffcakes.com/cake/) says that the more you talk about something like it's normal, the more normal it becomes. He had a lover for years before he realized the reason people didn't take it seriously or accept it as normal is because he never talked about it like it was normal.
Maybe if we just casually slip sex into daily conversations -- not perversely or immaturely (though there are times for that, I would argue) -- we can start a culture around "the talk" that is less 1950's and more Facebook-wall-esque.Dec 17 2012: Couldn't agree more. We need to stop highlighting something that is everywhere and in all of us as if it is somehow unusual requiring of "special treatment." Don't get me wrong this is serious stuff and we need to help ourselves and our children understand it, but I certainly know I want my children to understand it as a beautiful and normal part of their lives.
Dec 17 2012: You know, I would argue that I am going to use calculus much less often in my life than I am going to use sex. However, I was required to take years of it in school. I had tutors and went to labs. So much energy was expended to help me understand. Why can't we treat sex that way. It's a daily exercise in some cases. But, we treat it like a secret! Haha! I wish this was the other way around and we treated calculus this way. :)
Morton Bast
Dec 17 2012: "Listen, Jimmy, you'd better sit down for this one. You may have heard some of the kids in your class mention 'differential equations.' I know you're bound to be curious about them ..."Dec 17 2012: Oh snap! Let's teach calculus using purely sex-related problem sets!
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Lauren Baker
Dec 17 2012: I know I had the talk with my mom when I was about 11 but it was wrapped into the "your body is going to be going through some changes soon/puberty" talk which was only prompted because one of the girls in my Girl Scout troop had just gotten her period. My mom was pretty matter of fact about the whole thing, if I remember clearly. As far as the drug talk...I don't think it happened. I was told that they were bad for my health (I grew up in a very health-oriented household) and since no one in my family smoked it never was an issue for me. We did have the DARE program in school, too.
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Dec 17 2012: P.S. everyone, Lauren is the dancer who gets thrown way up in the air in our TED talk. She's got serious thrill issues.
Annie Mac
Dec 17 2012: Pretty much the same with my mum Lauren. Another girl in our ballet group got her period ... all the mums panicked I think and therefore 'the talk' surfaced. It would be interesting to know how many other 'talks' where instigated because some poor girl was the first to get her period in a group!
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Dec 17 2012: Why do all the moms panic?? I explained sex to my little sister when she was five and I was 11. She told everyone in her class, and my stepmother received a zillion angry phone calls. Everything I told her was accurate! What on Earth were they so angry about?
Dec 17 2012: You just didn't do it properly, Morton. You should have used a troupe of professional dancers.Dec 17 2012: My brother and I were SUPER horny kids. I was in first grade when I discovered if I humped a pole for long enough(yes even on the playground) I got a very pleasurable sensation. I think I was 7 and my brother 5 when we saw our first porn video. My half sister was "watching" us(actually in the bedroom with her boyfriend) while my brother and I watched tv. We came acros a porn channel and went crazy. I remember my brother humping the back of the sofa and me wriggling on the cushions. Also, my grandma subscribed to Playboy(for the articles), so we loved staying over night at her place. As far as anyone saying anything about sex, parents or other(I went to a Catholic school) I do remember my step dad telling me that Playboy was better than Hustler. I also have a vague memory of a blond girl in first grade showing a group of guys her vagina under a picnic table.
Ultimately, it was the movies and tv shows I watched that educated me. However, I did pick up some intense Catholic guilt that took years to dissolve.
Dec 17 2012: Blammo! Eddie is the new reigning champion of the MOST REVEALING experience.Dec 17 2012: I think Eddie's story is exactly why parents must be engaged in this process. Kids are and will find access to this information and imagery, especially in today's world. Parents must be proactive so they can help their children develop structures for how to respond and think about this information and form decisions for how they will act. This is not to control them, but to help them understand what is and should be a beautiful natural part of who we are.
Dec 17 2012: I think Eddie's experience tells us a lot about the importance of children's relationship with furniture.
Dec 17 2012: That too!Dec 17 2012: LOL!!!!!!!Dec 17 2012: Lol, I just figured out that I can reply directly to comments. Internet dork here . . .Dec 17 2012: New reigning champion of the MOST AWKWARD experience: Kate Torgovnick. Congratulations, Kate!Dec 17 2012: I grew up in a very conservative Christian home. My parents were, however, very scientific about "the facts of life." They used the standardized terms for male and female reproductive organs. They also suggested very strongly that I should abstain from drug use. They told me the negative consequences and offered alternatives (social activities, sports, piano lessons, church, volunteer opportunities). All of this, of course, was from a Christian perspective. They wanted me to live a life that was pleasing to God. However, I think that though their reasons came from a religious place, the outcome was very similar to friends that had loving non-religious parents. I wonder what other people experienced. If you had the talk, did your parents encourage you to experiment? Did they give you the tools to do it safely? Were you forbidden to drink or do drugs or have sex before marriage? What motivated your parents' decision to talk to you?
Dec 17 2012: OK, Jordon. You are current reigning champion of the MOST REASONABLE Facts of Life experience.Dec 17 2012: ;-) Ahoy from Brussels!!!!
Aja B.
Dec 17 2012: Also, just want to add that your performance was AMAZING! I'd love to see more topics illustrated with dance, what a brilliant idea.Dec 17 2012: My parents didn't really give me a talk. Instead, they gave me a book. My 12 year old self wasn't interested in reading about my body, but instead I would giggle with my friends as we flipped through the pictures. I think the book was a good way to lead into it though. And if my parents would have talked with me about the book after I had it for a while, it would have been a helpful tool. I'm sure I would have run away from them as well, but kids still hear you when their ears are plugged.Dec 17 2012: As a kid I'm sure we had specific conversations about it, but my truly memorable sex-ed moment was, in fact, an overnight campout at the local abortion clinic with the local girls from my very progressive 70s neighborhood. In one room, there was an endless videotape loop of an internal exam, and plenty of helpful 70s ladies who were eager to explain it to me.
- +1
GAHHHHH.Dec 17 2012: I'm guessing my 4yr old son and daughter sooner will be ready for this talk than i'll be aware off
especially since things seem to be speeding up rapidly
Dec 17 2012: Benno, that's a fascinating point -- why do we seem to be having this conversation earlier and earlier?Dec 17 2012: It takes a village to raise a child. If it's everybody's "embarrassment", then it belongs to society. Why there is so few books written to the little readers. Hope there's a poetic way to introduce the Apple to the life of each little bean sprout. The conversation can be very creative!Dec 17 2012: Morton:
I'm actually wrestling with just this question because I have three daughters age 10 and twin five year olds. One of the goals of this presentation was to suggest that it is critical to respond to the individual make-up of each child especially for parents. Each of my daughters even the twins are extremely different and I will need to talk with them in very different ways.Dec 17 2012: Carl and I want to hear your "Facts of Life" stories. The more awkward the better!Dec 17 2012: Good bye, world!Dec 17 2012: 10, 9, 8 , 7 . . .
Aja B.
Dec 17 2012: The clock is about to run out! John and Carl, thank you so much for joining us today!
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Dec 17 2012: Thank you, Aja, TED and everyone who joined in!Dec 17 2012: Something that occurs to me as we have this conversation is that there are many facets to this conversation to consider. There is learning about how we reproduce, there is learning about how our particular reproduction can be pleasurable and there is talking about the enormous spectrum of sexuality that is happening with no goal of reproduction. These are all things to consider talking about with our children and have differing layers of discomfort for us as parents and educators.
Dec 17 2012: I think that's one more reason why it shouldn't be one "talk" but rather be an open topic to talk about as more questions come up.Dec 17 2012: I also think it's valuable to have conversations like this one, among adults, more often than we do. For an Intro to Sexuality Studies class, my final assignment was to write my sexual history, starting with learning about sex as a child. I couldn't believe how many parts of the story I hadn't thought about in years, and how formative they'd been. There's definite value in that reflection.
Aja B.
Dec 17 2012: Agreed! I'll definitely be thinking back to this conversation as we get closer to having... not "The Talk", but an ongoing dialogue about sex. :)Dec 17 2012: Only 7 minutes left on the clock...
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Go on. Share your awkward experiences with us! I'm still handing out merit badges.Dec 17 2012: My mum didn't tell me about sex ..... just told me when I was about 11 that as a female I had the reproductive organs to produce babies and that would mean I might start bleeding soon. I was horrified! Actually, I think my poor mum didn't really explain it because she didn't really know. I actually educated HER when I was about 18 and studying my nursing degree, she didn't even understand her own basis anatomy.
Dec 17 2012: Now that's an idea I haven't heard yet, but it strikes me as reasonable. Perhaps kids are become *more* knowledgeable than their parents. Perhaps the Facts of Life talk will flip. Kids need to educate their parents?
Dec 17 2012: Hey ,,,,, there are a whole lot of people out there that just aren't health literate, especially when it comes to the human body, sex and how drugs work(especially where addiction is concerned). You can't teach what you don't know!Dec 17 2012: To Carl
I don't have a recollection of having 'the talk' with either one of my parents
It came down to friends, classmates, and experimentation which helped me understand
Now i'm a parent myself and i'm not afraid of having this talk with my kids
To me it's more a question of when is the right time or 'how to start the conversation'
Probably their interest will come up eventually and as a parent i think it will be best to be aware of this fact and be honest and open about it
Dec 17 2012: Agreed. The thing that my life partner and I have learned as we've been riding this particular wave is that you need to gauge the communication to where the children is in their life development. So how we've answered questions from our 5 year olds about where they came from is much different from answers to similar questions from our ten year old.Dec 17 2012: But on that note, is there an age where it's okay to tell your children that they're too young for sex? Or is the key to explain what's problematic about it, rather than making it a question of virtue or social stigma?
Dec 17 2012: My mom told me when I started puberty that I could have sex as soon as I was able to afford the consequences. I guess this wouldn't be good advice for princes and princesses or child stars (like Justin Beiber). But, I think what she was getting at was that sex comes with a price. There are emotional, physical, financial, and environmental concerns. You might as well consider them before you plunge into the act instead of being forced to consider them after the deed is done. My mom is so smart! :)Dec 17 2012: To Morton:
One of the things that's been an interesting collaboration is the differences in how my wife and I learned about sex. Sadly, since my Sex Talk didn't happen until 18 3 years after I started having sex my initial education was relegated to Penthouse Letters (always a healthy source of information). My wife had an aunt who was central in her upbringing who was extremely matter of fact and never guilt-tripped her about sex. She deals with the conversations with our daughters so much better then I because she was never taught that it was something to hide or the province of porn. I feel very lucky to have her in our lives.
Dec 17 2012: Right... the Penthouse **letters**. Uh huh.Dec 17 2012: Everyone take my super-quick "Facts of Life" survey:
I'll share the results at the end of this.Dec 17 2012: Aja, I like that "nudge" method. Perhaps we should just pepper a kid's environment with subtle references and resources. Like... sticky notes with wise and super-awkward sex-related wisdom... Fridge magnets... Constantly humming the tunes to pop songs that are related to sex...


text:
14th August 2013
Russia: US track and field star dedicates Moscow silver medal to gay and lesbian friends 21
3:11 PM — A US athlete has become the first to speak out in favour of lesbian and gay people whilst competing on Russian soil, using his victory speech after winning silver, in protest against anti-gay laws passed in June.
Russia: Gay rights activist who staged one-man protest may be charged as extremist 37
2:14 PM — A gay rights activist who staged a one-man protest against Russian anti-gay laws earlier this month, may be charged with extremist activity, a government official said on Wednesday.
Ireland: Protest planned for Dublin Russian Embassy against anti-gay laws 1
1:21 PM — A protest is to take place on Friday at the Russian Embassy in Dublin against anti-gay laws introduced in Russia in June.
13th August 2013
Russian TV host who denied homophobia says gays 'deliberately provoke situations to become victims' 64
7:45 PM — A Russian state-funded TV host who this week denied being a homophobe after saying gay people's hearts are not suitable for organ donation, has again spoken on the issue of LGBT people in Russia to say that gay people "deliberately call, provoke situations, so that they become victims".
Comment: Will Sochi haunt the Olympic movement? 17
7:09 PM — Former Spanish Junior Swimming Champion Emmanuelle Schick fears the lessons of the 1933 Berlin Olympics have not been learnt when it comes to the IOC's handling of the Sochi 2014 Winter Olympics.
Pat Buchanan: 'Putin is trying to re-establish Russia's moral compass' 34
5:46 PM — US conservative commentator Pat Buchanan has jumped to President Vladimir Putin's defence over the passage of Russia's anti-gay legislation.
Green MP Caroline Lucas: I am disappointed David Cameron has not taken a stronger stand against Russia's anti-gay laws 13
2:16 PM — Green MP Caroline Lucas has written to Foreign Office Minister David Lidington expressing her "deep concerns" at Russia's anti-gay legislation and says Britain should boycott the 2014 Winter Olympics - unless its moved from Russia.
London: King's Head Theatre commissions protest piece against Russian anti-gay laws 2
2:11 PM — A rapid response theatre piece has been commissioned by the King's Head Theatre in London, in response to the international outcry surrounding recently introduced anti-gay laws in Russia.
Canada: Social conservatives attack government over pro-gay stance on Russia 40
1:50 PM — Social conservatives have launched an attack on Stephen Harper's Conservative Government after Canadian Foreign Affairs Minister, John Baird strongly condemned the treatment of gay people in Russia.
Stephen Fry compares Daily Mail Editor Paul Dacre to Mussolini in Sochi argument 45
1:44 PM — The argument over the issue of recently introduced anti-gay laws in Russia, and the 2014 Sochi Winter Olympics has escalated, with Stephen Fry criticising the Daily Mail for what he called a "hate-piece", and comparing the paper's Editor Paul Dacre to Mussolini.
Ireland: Dublin prepares for LGBT Noise's 5th Annual March for Marriage 22
12:48 PM — The fifth Irish March for Marriage is due to take place in Dublin city centre on this coming Sunday afternoon. Last year saw thousands gather for what was described as a lively and colourful demonstration calling for the Irish Republic to introduce marriage equality.
Russian World Cup chief defends country's anti-gay laws 46
12:43 PM — Russia's World Cup chief Alexey Sorokin has defended the country's homophobic censorship law.
Olympic Committee member calls for Russia's anti-gay laws to be respected 67
10:32 AM — Lamine Diack, the President of the International Association of Athletes and member of the International Olympic Committee has said that he thinks there is "no problem whatsoever" with Russia's anti-gay laws.
12th August 2013
Russian Interior Ministry confirms that gay rights activists will face arrest during Winter Olympic games 35
11:39 PM — The Russian Interior Ministry, which is responsible for the police, has confirmed that those who break Russia's ban on the promotion of gay lifestyles to minors will face arrest at the Sochi Winter Olympics Games next year.
French Sports Minister expresses 'worry' over Russian anti-gay law 8
11:32 PM — The French Sports Minister has said to her Russian counterpart she is "worried" by recently introduced anti-gay laws in the country.
Russian TV host denies homophobia after saying the hearts of gay men should not be used for organ donation 20
6:22 PM — A Russian TV host has denied homophobia, since he came under heavy criticism after footage emerged during which he said that gay people should not be allowed to donate sperm or blood, and that their hearts should not even be used, as they are "unfit for extending anyone's life".
Olympics Committee member: 'Russia must respect the Olympic Charter, or we will say goodbye to them' 22
5:21 PM — During an interview with a senior member of the International Olympics Committee (IOC) from last week, the question of whether to relocate the 2014 Sochi Winter Olympics because of recently introduced anti-gay laws, was raised for the first time.
Russia confirms that anti-gay laws will be enforced during Sochi Winter Olympics 17
4:34 PM — The Interior Ministry in Russia has confirmed that recently introduced anti-gay legislation will remain in force during the 2014 Sochi Winter Olympics.
German Foreign Minister: Treatment of gay people in Russia unacceptable 13
4:26 PM — German Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle has criticised Russia's treatment of gay people, branding it unacceptable.
Video: Russian State-run TV host says 'Gays' hearts should be burned rather than used for organ donation' 28
4:12 PM — Footage has emerged of a Russian State-run television host who is seen saying that gay people should not be allowed to donate sperm or blood, and that their hearts should not even be used, as they are "unfit for extending anyone's life".

subset: commoncrawl


text:
"We got him that a few days ago," Tim Gann said, "and he's getting pretty good."
A moment later, Jason Gann flew from his skim board and crashed into the water, emerging with clumps of sand in his hair and a smile on his face.
"Well, he ain't that good yet," his father said.
The Gann family, of Dothan, Ala., was among several people on Panama City Beach on Monday making an end-of-summer trip to the shore, using the three-day holiday weekend for one last family adventure.
"We've been here a few times this summer, but won't be coming back for a while now that school has started," Tim Gann said. "We're headed to
"Got to use them now," he said, parking the scooter near the shore. "Might as well save some cash, you know?"
Near the Gann family, 21-year-old Alex Good and several of his friends stomped through the sand while tossing footballs and frisbees to each other. Good, an auto parts store manager who is also from Dothan, Ala., said he's spent Labor Day weekend in Panama City Beach since he was a teenager. He plans to come back soon, but said most of his friends will spend the next few months traveling for the holidays. The weekend was a good time to get everyone together, he said.
"Some of them have kids now and places to be and stuff like that, and that's great, and we try to get everyone around while the weather's still warm," Good said.
Scattered showers and thunderstorms dampened the beach Monday, but didn't stop Anthony Abadeer and his girlfriend from going to
"Come on now, baby," she said to him, teasing.
Eventually, Abadeer and his girlfriend set up towels and foldout chairs in the sand. Then they dug out a beer pong table and invited passersby to join them a for a few drinks. Both are from
"It's cool making new friends and partying with people over the summer," Abadeer said, sipping his beer. "And we're friendly. It's just after a while we really do like to settle things down and walk on the beach, and go for some peace and quiet. We'll see them next summer."
Here's our photo gallery of the day's festivities.


text: To those who may have this problem with getting the achievement "No Easy Way Out". You can't actually get the achievement on Normal, there was a mistake in the description. You're going to need it on Heroic. The problem is for me, I don't have anyone to get past this and I'm starting this topic up to see who else needs this.


text:
Air-Source Electric Heat Pump: up to $1,000
Geothermal Heat Pump: $1,500
Clothes Washer: $75
Refrigerator: $35
Water Heater: $50
Advanced Lighting Package (Single Family): up to $300
Energy Star Certified Homes Bonus Rebate: $100 - $600
The Build with Energy Star Program from Snohomish County PUD No 1 is designed to encourage builders to include energy-efficient measures in new homes being built in Snohomish County and on Camano Island. Rebates are for heat pumps, ENERGY STAR clothes washers and ENERGY STAR refrigerators. The program also includes a $300 rebate for an advanced lighting package: if 80 percent of the installed light fixtures are ENERGY STAR rated. Contact Snohomish PUD No 1 or see web site listed above for additional information.
Air-Source Electric Heat Pump: Must be rated at least SEER 14 and HSPF 8.5
Ground-Source Electric Heat Pump: COP 3 or higher
Water Heater: .94 EF minimum
Clothes Washer 2.2 MEF minimum
All appliances must be Energy Star rated


text:
Okaloosa County has selected Matrix Design Group, a national engineering firm with an office in Niceville, to serve as its RESTORE Act consultant.
Read more details of the contract. >>
The company's local office is headed by Sal Nodjomian, a former commander of the 96th Air Base Wing at Eglin Air Force Base. It will advise the county on its distribution of RESTORE Act money.
"I think it will be a great partnership," Nodjomian said. "This is exactly what we do."
County commissioners approved a one year, $147,436 contract with Matrix earlier this month.
Matrix will assist the county in developing a multi-year plan, which must be in place before counties can collect any RESTORE Act money.
Matrix will work closely with the newly-appointed Okaloosa Restore Act Committee. Company representatives will attend meetings and help evaluate projects that will be submitted to the county for RESTORE Act funding.
County Commissioner Dave Parisot said Matrix is a good fit for the job because of its local ties.
"They're local people," he said. "They are very well up to speed on Okaloosa County, particularly some of the economic impacts that the oil spill has had."
Nodjomian said he and his team are uniquely qualified to assist the county as it determines how the RESTORE Act money should be spent.
He said Matrix will provide economic modeling, feasibility analysis of submitted projects and long-term economic and environmental measurements.
"This is an opportunity for the county to help businesses as well as private land owners," Nodjomian said. "We are very excited to be doing this work."
Counties across the state are preparing for the RESTORE Act funding, although no money has come in yet.
Congress approved the Resources and Ecosystems Sustainability, Tourist Opportunities and Revived Economies Act in 2012. The measure will give Florida, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana and Texas 80 percent of fines levied against BP for its role in Deepwater Horizon oil spill of 2010.
The eight Northwest Florida counties directly touched by the spill will receive 75 percent of Florida's share.
The RESTORE Act requires that every county establish an advisory committee and distribute its funds according to rules set forth by the U.S. Treasury Department.
"It's not just a matter of 'pick a project and go do it,' " Parisot said. "There's a lot of accountability, and not just financial accountability … but also how we evaluate the projects and how we assess the impact of the projects in the out years."
He said the funding has the potential to impact multiple areas of life on the Emerald Coast.
"If we do a storm water project, it's going to positively impact the environment," Parisot said. "It will impact infrastructure, and it will impact the economy because someone is working. Jobs will be created or sustained."
Parisot, who will serve as the commissioner liaison to the local committee, said he hopes to schedule the committee's first meeting sometime within the next month.
"I'm hopeful that we can start taking inputs on projects," he said.
All committee meetings will be advertised and open to the public.
Contact Daily News Staff Writer Kari C. Barlow at 850-315-4438 or firstname.lastname@example.com. Follow her on Twitter @KariBnwfdn.


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Andy Lau Gossip
Andy Lau gossip, latest news, photos, and video.
Best of Cannes 2013: Hong Kong on the Croisette
May 27, 2013 19:58:04 Posted at May 27, 2013 19:58:04 Photos:
Ian Gavan/ Vittorio Zunino Celotto/ ALBERTO PIZZOLI/ Getty
Ian Gavan/ Vittorio Zunino Celotto/ ALBERTO PIZZOLI/ Getty
Tony Leung came to support Carina Lau. She was kinda overdressed in purple Elie Saab at the photo call and wore white Elie Saab, with a split-back cape, on the carpet. You know I can't hate on anything with a cape, even if it is the terminally boring Elie Saab. Again, as previously noted, Carina turns 48 this year. Full Story


text:
Stamford Bridge
Barclays Premier League
(Attendance: 41,363)
Villa head into this afternoon's clash at Chelsea with an unchanged side.
The team which beat Liverpool so convincingly at Anfield is the same one chosen at Stamford Bridge.
Paul Lambert continues with his formidable front two of Christian Benteke and Andreas Weimann while Ashley Westwood and Barry Bannan - hailed this morning by the gaffer as being in exceptional form - are also selected.
Villa continue with their three-man backline of Chris Herd, Ciaran Clark and Nathan Baker, with Matt Lowton and Eric Lichaj at wing-back.
The game comes too soon for the injured Ron Vlaar and Gabby Agbonlahor but both will be assessed ahead of the Tottenham match on Boxing Day.
In fact, the only change made from the Liverpool win is Stephen Ireland coming on to the bench in place of Charles N'Zogbia.
VILLA: Guzan, Lowton, Baker, Clark [c], Lichaj, Holman, Westwood, Bannan, Herd, Weimann, Benteke. Subs: Given, Bowery, El Ahmadi, Ireland, Bennett, Delph, Albrighton.
CHELSEA: Cech, Ivanovic, Cahill, Cole, Azpilcueta, Luiz, Lampard, Mata, Hazard, Moses, Torres. Subs: Turnbull, Ramires, Oscar, Ferreira, Marin, Piazon, Ake.
Make sure you join us for full coverage of the game.


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Windows USB drivers have always allowed USB booting, it's Windows itself that doesn't allow it. Windows 8 allows official USB booting but only when you make a portable version (Windows To Go) that I think is restricted to the enterprise version only. There are several guides that explain which INF files to edit to have windows XP/Vista/7/8 boot from USB, good luck with the other drivers (SATA/video/audio/wifi/etc.) though.
do usb mass storage boot drivers exist for any modern version of windows?


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LiveMajor incident declared on Somerset Levels as more heavy rain on the way
This live event has finished
- Amber warning in place.
- Major incident declared by both Somerset County Council and Sedgemoor District Council.
- 10 to 20mm of rain expected to fall.
- Experts tell public to "be prepared" for further flooding.


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Review of 2012 Moto Guzzi Stelvio NTX
I recently purchased a 2012 Stelvio NTX from European Motorsports at Riders Hill in Dahlonega GA. That is a great dealer, by the way.
This motorcycle has received many favorable reviews lately and many people are considering it for their purchase. I took the bike out yesterday and, though staying within a prudent break-in restraint, put the bike through some paces.
Afterward, I thought that perhaps a few comments regarding the Stelvio may be of interest to someone seriously curious about a Stelvio.
About 3 and a half years ago, a good friend purchased a Stelvio when they were first introduced. I had the opportunity to ride the bike many times back then. I even kept the bike for an extended period and used it regularly.
I wrote a long-winded review of the bike in early '09 and posted it here. I went back and retrieved that thread from the archives and re-read it with interest.
In many ways that original review, done 3 and a half years ago, pretty well sums up my current take on the new 2012 NTX. I do have some updates for issues noted in that past review and I have revised it.
I know that this is a lot of stuff for many of you to read but those who are very interested in a Stelvio may get some useful info out of it.
I am a long-time BMW GS owner and rider so much of my review is a comparison of the Guzzi to the GS. I hope fellow GS riders and BMW owners take no offense at any of my remarks.
UPDATE - JULY 2012, 2012 Guzzi Stelvio NTX -
1. On the road.
The Stelvio has undergone many nice refinements since the first 2009 model I tested. It is not as smooth as a BMW GS but it is closer to that than in the past. You get noticeable vibration through the handlebars. The throb. This doesnt really bother me much (I've also been riding a HD Shovelhead for 31 years). I actually like having that sort of visceral feedback but its an issue that other riders, especially non-guzzi riders, will notice. The handlebar throb is somewhat like the V11 sport that I used to have. Perhaps filling it with lead shot, a Bar Snake or some other after-market fix would help.
The Stelvio suspension has always been more sporting than my GS (with Ohlins). Now, it is even better. The Guzzi feels much more taut. It also tracks very well and handles curvy roads well. It has an edge over the GS in this regard. I remember being leaned hard in a tight right-hander and encountering a severe bump in the pavement. The Guzzi handled the bump well and never lost its line. The Guzzi is very sporty and hard to ride slow. It loves curves and feels much more like a sportbike than any GS I've had.
The GS could perhaps be considered more plush. BMW has spent a lot of effort on loading their bikes with every gadget and gizmo they can imagine to appeal to the baby-boomer, "I want all accessories," market. For long distance running, cross country etc., the GS would provide a smoother, more pampered and softer ride both in engine feedback and in suspension feel.
The Guzzi now offers heated grips, switchable ABS, traction control, and an easy-to-operate information computer. The Guzzi does not have electronic adjustable suspension like the GS and I'm glad. The Guzzi suspension, both front and rear, work very well and have a great range of adjustability. For many people, the rigid fork of the Guzzi gives better feel to the rider than does the telelever A-arm rig of the BMW.
The information display of the Guzzi is logical and easy to read. It offers an analog tach and digital speed display. Two "trip" settings are logged and provide information such as average speed, top speed, distance, voltage, fuel mileage etc etc. Current time and ambient temperature is a constant display but the Guzzi does not have a gear indicator as has been standard on the BMW for over a decade.
The computer operation of the Guzzi is greatly improved over the original Stelvio. The toggle operation is simple and it responds well to operation. Some folks do not like the location of the computer toggle just above the turn signal switch but, in quick time, I learned it and it is not a problem for me. The turn signal switch is a typical manual one without any self-canceling function. Though not a huge advantage, the BMW is somewhat better arranged in this regard, having an easily-operated computer toggle and programmer switch totally separated from any other switch.
Power on the Guzzi is very different than the GS. The Guzzi feels much more torquey. It's fast. My seat-of-the-pants judgement is that it will out-run the 1200 GS which is no small compliment since the GS aint no slouch. Due to the NTX being new, I did not romp on it but I remember my friend's 09 model well. The rush of the Guzzi above 6000 rpm is fun.
From my impressions then : "... in fouth gear this thing redlines at over 115 mph. For most sport riding, you never need more than 3rd or 4th gear. On a long straight stretch, I was able to top the Stelvio out at an indicated 140-141 mph and that's with the large Givi windshield."
The Guzzi transmission worked fine on the '09 model and it is even better now on the '12 model. Even with the out-of-the box new NTX, there is no shift issues and the transmission works better than just about anything I've ridden. The Guzzi is much slicker-shifting than the somewhat notchy feel of the GS.
A huge advantage of the Guzzi is its dimensional size. Remember that the '12 has been re-designed and now carries an 8.5 gallon tank. The remarkable thing, however, is not that they put an 8.5 gallon tank on the bike but that they did it within basically the same relatively narrow body dimensions of the '09 bike. Sit on the Stelvio and then sit on a BMW GS Adventure. The difference is startling. The Guzzi retains its compact profile whereas the BMW is literally HUGE.
So, for distance range, the Stelvio matches and compares to the huge GS Adventure and not the regular GS. Dimensionally, the Stelvio is more compact than even the regular GS !
Part of this is due to the BMW telelever front suspension whose A-arm requires the GS tank to spread out around the A-arm. The Guzzi has an upside-down fork that allows a tighter and more-narrow front body design for the Stelvio.
Weight numbers are hard to get for comparison. The Stelvio NTX comes loaded with aluminum bags, engine guards, auxiliary lighting and many other things. The factory weight number includes those items whereas such things are considered accessories for the BMW and not included in published dry or wet weights.
Some of the weight advantage of the BMW is lost with the added weight of spare parts that I and serious long-distance BMW riders carry in the tail pack. I always carry a final drive rebuild kit with the big bearing and seals, a few special tools, fuel controller parts and the like. Such a thing is a non-issue with the Guzzi.
Going back and sourcing weight numbers for the '09 Stelvio (without bags) and comparing to a BMW GS (without bags) shows the Guzzi with anywhere from 25 to 48 pounds greater weight than the BMW, depending on the source of the numbers. I hope to physically weigh the two bikes soon and get some real numbers.
Regardless of the weight numbers, the Guzzi Stelvio feels much lighter than either the GS or GS Adventure. The Guzzi's more svelte dimensions and quicker steering make it feel lighter than the BMW. I am amazed that the Guzzi has 8.5 gallons of fuel capacity.
The Guzzi will flat run. It sounds good too. Nothing matches the sound of a V Twin motor.
2. Off-road.
Just as in 2009, the Guzzi wins, hands down. No comparison. If you do much off-road, the Stelvio is far, far superior to the GS. The magazine reviewers are remiss in not noticing this. The advantage gap is even wider now when comparing the NTX to the Adventure. The determining factor here is first gear running and sheer size.
With these large and heavy dual sport bikes on dirt there are times when going slow is essential. The GS has been plagued since its inception with a notoriously tall first gear. Even the "enduro" transmission of the huge BMW Adventure has a too-tall first gear.
If you're around GS riders on serious mud or technical washouts, you're going to smell the distinct aroma of a burning clutch since one is compelled to slip the clutch in those circumstances. Yes, the conventional instruction for GS riding is "When in doubt, gas it." Thats a cute quip, and momentum will carry you through many situations, but there are times when that won't work and the GS is a hard bike to ride in those times. The BMW first gear is way too tall and the engine too easily stalls.
The Stelvio, on the other hand, will walk itself out of bad situations in first gear even with no throttle. I bogged down a couple of times in 10-inch Alabama mud that folded over the rims. The Stelvio would sometimes stop forward motion while the rear wheel gently spinned in the mud with my hand off the throttle! I'd paddle forward with my feet and, when traction was finally obtained, the bike would resume forward progress. Chugga chugga chugga, all at idle speed !
On very technical or inclined climbs, in first gear, the Guzzi would calmly just walk up the dried, hard rock at a manageable speed with a little throttle. I never had to worry about slipping the clutch or "giving it the gas" to barrel through something that I didn't wanna barrel through. Especially when you think about comparing the Guzzi to a huge Adventure in these situations, the advantage is a no-brainer.
I remember than the '09 Guzzi liked to rooster tail on dirt. Grab a handfull of throttle in 2nd or 3rd and that rear wheel would break loose easily. The '12 is no different.
A big complaint I had with the '09 model was the wheel size. I thought that Guzzi should have fitted the Stelvio with a set of wheels the same size as the GS in order to avail the Guzzi rider of the wide choice of dual-sport tires out there. Guzzi has done just that with the '12 NTX. It rides on two sealed-spoke wheels the same size as the GS.
Specification-wise, the GS has a wee-bit more suspension travel than the Guzzi but that is largely academic considering the more significant advantages of the Stelvio off-road.
I have read minor criticism about some test riders having troubles with their left leg hitting the left cylinder of the Guzzi and about the heat dissipated by that left cylinder. I'm 6-2 and I never contact that left jug. I tried yesterday to make that happen. If I scrooch way-up on the tank and try, I can make contact with the left cylinder. The contact, however, is with the plastic guard shield on the throttle body or with the plastic shield on the valve cover. I cannot understand how anyone would contact the hot metal fins of the head or cylinder.
In hot weather, yes, you can feel heat from the left side. This is similar to the heat you will feel from both cylinders of a BMW in similar conditions. Fuel injection tweaking will greatly help this issue but, for most riding, it is not a big thing. Hey, when the day is hot, everything is hot.
The Stelvio is a different animal than the BMW.
I have owned and ridden four BMW GS models including an Adventure. I currently own a 2007 1200GS. I like BMW's.
A big disadvantage for the Guzzi is the relatively limited dealer network. The BMW dealer network is limited too but it is better than that of the Guzzi. Many people depend on local dealers for service and support so this is an important issue.
On the other hand, the Guzzi is easier to service than the BMW. It has a much-less-complicated electrical system and fewer gadgets to cause problems. BMW's are becoming much more-difficult for the owner to service and one is too-often required to take their bike to a dealer for repairs.
I was once stranded in Jacksonville FL with a dead 1200GS. The computer simply shut everything down and no on-the-road diagnosis was possible. I was forced to consume two entire days of getting a wrecker truck and towing the bike to the dealer in Daytona only to find that the problem was a weak cell in the battery. With the Guzzi, such an issue would have been easily determined and corrected on-site with much less trouble.
The sad truth, too, is that BMW's have become known for their many reliability issues. The legendary final drive failures, the fuel pump controller failures, the security system failures, the ABS failures, transmission shaft failures and many more issues plague the BMW's. I have been stranded several times with such things on my BMW's. I could elaborate but the fact is that the Guzzi's, though with fewer dealers, are showing much fewer problems that would require a dealer.
Piaggio has done a good job. I expect that, with bikes such as the Stelvio and the other machines they are producing, we will see greater sales and eventually more dealers. Now would be a good time for people to open new dealerships and get in on the ground floor as the Guzzi brand undergoes a resurgence.
The Stelvio NTX is a winner in all categories. When you consider all the advantages of the Guzzi described above and then note that the Stelvio is not only $5000-6000 less costly to buy than a comparably-equipped GSA but the Stelvio has a 2-year unlimited mileage warranty, the decision is easy to make.
If you are a GS rider with an open mind or if you are just considering a large enduro dual-sport, give the Guzzi a try.
You may discover something very good that you did not expect.
Thanks Leaf! Excellent review and write-up. Thanks for taking the time to put your thoughts down.
I owned an '07 BMW GS and your comments of that bike are spot on. I also owned a Guzzi Norge and rode the '09 Stelvio several times, and your description of the "Guzzi experience" (easy maintenance, "Italian Harley" as I've heard it called vibes, chug-chug-chug motor, and sadly poor dealer network) is also spot on. Well done. :thumb
If Piaggio Group fixes the dealer network issue here in the US, I think we'll see a resurgence of all of their marques here, because their products are no longer an excuse not to buy one. :clap
Great write-up, and a REALLY sharp machine.
I cannot wait for mine to show up in August.
I read somewhere in one of the other Stelvio threads that there is a design difference between the earlier and more recent models. Essentially, that the earlier models, with the smaller gas tanks and tires, were more street oriented.
Anything to this?
I like the Stelvio, and it's on my short list, but: a) I never ride dirt, b) I like bigger gas tanks and c) what's with the early model tires?
Conflicted in CA
I think the idea that the earlier ones were street oriented is all down to the rear tire size which was larger than the current one and limited the choice of tires for off road, it was all down to tire availability. I would think the new NTX version with the bigger tank will still be a great road warrior as there should plenty of road biased tires in the new smaller wheel size. If you could find decent off road tires for the older model it would be just as good in the dirt.
The more I read about the NTX the more I want to hunt down a dealer and take a look (if any are available anywhere close to me).
Good job on a really good write up. I'm thinking real hard on getting a new bike to replace my FJR and the NTX, the Tenere and the Explorer are all on the short list. Each bike has good and bad points. You haven't test rode either of the other two have you? Once again, good review.:1drink
Oh yea, I actually thought real hard about getting the exact bike you just bought after sitting on it and looking it over. I liked their black one that had the freight damage though. I checked out a Tenere last week but the dealership decided that the ability to give test rides really wasn't all that important and decided not to participate in the test ride deally so their insurance won't allow them to give them. :huh
Still need to get a test ride on a Explorer.:wink:
And yea,,,, Rider's Hill rocks!:clap
Nice. Got to sit on the New Model Stelvio at the D2D..
Charmed I was.. It's on my short list :evil been wanting one since they came out
Very nice review. Thanks for posting.
Seems like a lot of "adventure" bikes have first gears that are too long.
the new standard Stelvio gets the same fuel tank size as the NTX, we just don't get it here....only the NTX for the US market (maybe all North America)
the Pirelli Scorpions and Metzeler Tourances that come as standard on the NTX are very good road warrior tires - but having the option to put a Heidenau on is a nice choice to have.
The taller sidewalls on the 150/70 makes the tire size better suited to any rambling offroad.
Thanks for an objective, well-written review.
Thanks for the great review. While I am not in the market at the moment, I have been questioning what will replace the Uly that I own. There is something about this bike that truly appeals to me.
How are the two up accomodations? The wife told me to get rid of the cruiser the first time she got on the back of the Uly.
The pillion seat is large and well shaped.
I have a two week trip coming up, and as schedules worked out the better half can join me for this one.
We've been taking rides around the Rockies to see if there are any hotspots or comfort issues, both with the bike and any of her gear. She gave the bike a big thumbs up this weekend after doing a long day on it in oppressive heat.
I think most women like a backrest so that would be a welcomed addition that I plan to make.
Also, I do plan to have an aftermarket seat made. Corbin does not yet produce a seat for the Stelvio but I am planning on having Russell make me a Day-Long. I have several Russell seats and they are the best in my book for all-day comfort.
The stock seat is not bad but I plan to make some looooong trips with this bike.
Thanks for the kind words.
I have not ridden either the Tenere or the big new Triumph Explorer. I sat on both bikes and eliminated them both because they are way too fat for my tastes.
Both of those bikes are HUGE. The hugeness is not just a matter of weight for me but also a matter of dimensional size. Both the Tenere and the Explorer are tranversely-mounted, multi-cylinder, water-cooled machines. Both have huge radiators hanging up front around which the body parts have been designed. Sitting on them is sorta like the BMW GS Adventure. They are very wide. I do not like that.
I did take a test ride of the Triumph 800 XC Tiger and I eliminated it for the same reasons. It too seems very wide and as dimensionally large as my 1200GS. I don't like wide, fat bikes. The Stelvio feels very svelte compared to those bikes and the Guzzi carries a darn 8.5 gallon tank !
Another thing, an important thing, is that I do not particularly like 4-cylinder or 3-cylinder bikes. I prefer a twin, especially a V Twin. I like the torque. I like the feel. I like the sound. I like they way they hook-up on dirt.
The Triumph 800 XC was what I call a "sewing machine bike." Smooth, too smooth. The Triumph triple sounds and feels non-visceral. I don't want that. If I want smooth and quite etc, I just take my Z71 Tahoe.
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Red, White 'n Warm™ Barbie® Doll
What winter blues? In this fabulous reproduction of a vintage brunette Barbie® doll, cold-weather attire takes a fun, mod twist! Dressed in a re-creation of Red, White 'n Warm™, the original Mod Fashion #1491 from 1969, this doll makes fighting a chilly day look delightful as can be. Peeking out from underneath the faux fur-accented white coat is a brightly colored, downright sunny dress! The matching white boots and hat complete this super-cute, cozy winter look.
For the adult collector.
Production doll may vary from the photo shown above. Mattel reserves the right to modify the fashion/fabrics, sculpt, hair color/style, and accessories. Doll cannot stand alone as shown.


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Career Services Mission Statement


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"Ill be watching this fight really closely on Wednesday, between Carlos Condit and Martin Kampmann," Saffiedine told MMAFighting.com. "I really like those fighters, both of them would be good fights for me. Id like to fight the winner of that fight.
"They are both coming of losses, but I think Carlos looked good in those fights he lost. Martin got knocked out against Johny Hendricks. Its going to be a war, Im looking forward to watch it."
Still recovering from the injury, Saffiedine hopes to fight one more time before the end of the year.
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Apollo 8 was the first manned voyage to a celestial body. Its three-man crew of Mission Commander Frank Borman, Command Module Pilot James Lovell, and Lunar Module Pilot William Anders became the first humans to see the far side of the Moon. The mission also involved the first manned launch of a Saturn V rocket, and was the second manned mission of the Apollo Program.
Originally planned as a low-earth orbit Lunar Module/Command Module test, the mission profile was changed to the more ambitious lunar orbital flight in August 1968 when the Lunar Module scheduled for the flight became delayed. The new mission's profile, procedures and personnel requirements left an uncharacteristically short time-frame for training and preparation.
After launching on December 21, 1968, the crew took three days to travel to the Moon. They orbited ten times over the course of 20 hours, during which the crew made a Christmas Eve television broadcast in which they read the first 10 verses from the Book of Genesis. At the time, the broadcast was the most watched TV program ever. Apollo 8's successful mission paved the way for Apollo 11 to fulfill U.S. President John F. Kennedy's goal of landing a man on the Moon before the end of the decade.
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Further missions relied on the readiness of the Lunar Module (LM). Production of the LM was behind schedule, with the first model arriving at Cape Canaveral in June 1968. Even then, significant defects were discovered, leading Grumman, the lead contractor for the LM, to predict that the first mission-ready LM would not be ready until at least February 1969. This would mean delaying the proposed "D" mission and endangering the program's goal of a lunar landing before the end of 1969.
George Low, the Manager of the Apollo Spacecraft Program Office, proposed a solution in August. Since the Command/Service Module (CSM) would be ready three months before the Lunar Module, a CSM-only mission could be flown in December 1968. Instead of just repeating the "C" mission flight of Apollo 7, this CSM could be sent all the way to the Moon, with the possibility of entering a lunar orbit. The new mission would also allow NASA to test lunar landing procedures that would otherwise have to wait until Apollo 10, the scheduled "F" mission.
Almost every senior manager at NASA agreed with this new mission, citing both confidence in the hardware and personnel, and the potential for a significant morale boost provided by a circumlunar flight. The only person who needed some convincing was James E. Webb, the NASA administrator. With the rest of his agency in support of the new mission, Webb eventually approved the mission change. The mission was officially changed from a "D" mission to a "C-Prime" Lunar Orbit mission, but was still referred to in press releases as an Earth Orbit mission at Webb's direction. No public announcement was made about the change in mission until November 12, three weeks after Apollo 7's successful Earth Orbit mission and less than 40 days before launch.
With the change in mission for Apollo 8, Director of Flight Crew Operations Deke Slayton decided to swap the crews of the D and E missions. James McDivitt, the original commander of the D mission, has said he was never offered the circumlunar flight, but would probably have turned it down, as he wanted to fly the lunar module. Borman, on the other hand, jumped at the chance: his original mission would just have been a repeat of the previous flight, except in a higher orbit. This swap also meant a swap of spacecraft, requiring Borman's crew to use CSM-103, while McDivitt's crew would use CSM-104.
On September 9, the crew entered the simulators to begin their preparation for the flight. By the time the mission flew, the crew would have spent seven hours training for every actual hour of flight. Although all crew members were trained in all aspects of the mission, it was necessary to specialize. Borman, as commander, was given training on controlling the spacecraft during the re-entry. Lovell was trained on navigating the spacecraft in case communication was lost with the Earth. Anders was placed in charge of checking that the spacecraft was in working order.
The crew, now living in the crew quarters at Kennedy Space Center, received a visit from Charles Lindbergh and his wife, Anne Morrow Lindbergh, the night before the launch. They talked about how before his 1927 flight, Lindbergh had used a piece of string to measure the distance from New York City to Paris on a globe and from that calculated the fuel needed for the flight. The total was a tenth of the amount that the Saturn V would burn every second.
The next day, the Lindberghs watched the launch of Apollo 8 from a nearby dune. Anne Morrow Lindbergh would later write a book about the Apollo program, entitled Earth Shine, which mentions both the launch and the mission.
The Saturn V rocket used by Apollo 8 was designated SA-503, or the "03rd" model of the Saturn V ("5") Rocket to be used in the Saturn-Apollo ("SA") program. When it was erected in the Vertical Assembly Building on December 20, 1967, it was thought that the rocket would be used for an unmanned Earth-orbit test flight carrying a boilerplate Command/Service Module. Apollo 6 had suffered several major problems during its April 1968 flight, including severe pogo oscillation during its first stage, two second stage engine failures, and a third stage that failed to reignite in orbit. Without assurances that these problems had been rectified, NASA administrators could not justify risking a manned mission until additional unmanned test flights proved that the Saturn V was ready.
Teams from the Marshall Space Flight Center (MSFC) went to work on the problems. Of primary concern was the pogo oscillation, which would not only hamper engine performance, but could exert significant g-forces on a crew. A task force of contractors, NASA agency representatives, and MSFC researchers concluded that the engines vibrated at a frequency similar to the frequency at which the spacecraft itself vibrated, causing a resonance effect that induced oscillations in the rocket. A system using Helium gas to absorb some of these vibrations was installed.
Of equal importance was the failure of three engines during flight. Researchers quickly determined that a leaking Hydrogen fuel line ruptured when exposed to vacuum, causing a loss of fuel pressure in engine two. When an automatic shutoff attempted to close the Liquid Hydrogen valve and shut down engine two, it accidentally shut down engine three's Liquid Oxygen due to a faulty igniter line. As a result, engine three failed within one second of engine two's shutdown. Further investigation revealed the same problem for the third-stage engine — a faulty igniter line. The team modified the igniter lines and fuel conduits, hoping to avoid similar problems on future launches.
The teams tested their solutions in August 1968 at the Marshall Space Flight Center. A Saturn stage IC was equipped with shock absorbing devices to demonstrate the team's solution to the problem of pogo oscillation, while a Saturn Stage II was retrofitted with modified fuel lines to demonstrate their resistance to leaks and ruptures in vacuum conditions. Once NASA administrators were convinced that the problems were solved, they gave their approval for a manned mission using AS-503.
The Apollo 8 spacecraft was placed on top of the rocket on September 21 and the rocket made the slow 3-mile (5 km) journey to the launch pad on October 9. Testing continued all through December until the day before launch, including various levels of readiness testing from 5 December through 11 December. Final testing of modifications to address the problems of pogo oscillation, ruptured fuel lines, and bad igniter lines took place on 18 December, a mere three days before the scheduled launch.
Apollo 8 launched at 7:51:00 a.m. Eastern Standard Time on December 21, 1968, using the Saturn V's three stages, S-IC, S-II, and S-IVB, to achieve Earth orbit. The launch phase experienced only three minor problems: The engines of the first stage, S-IC, underperformed by 0.75%, causing the engines to burn for 2.45 seconds longer than planned, and toward the end of the second stage burn, S-II, the rocket underwent pogo oscillations. Frank Borman estimated the oscillations were approximately and (±2.5 m/s²). The apogee was also slightly higher than the planned circular orbit of 115 miles (185 km). In its first manned mission, the Saturn V rocket placed Apollo 8 into a by Earth orbit within 88 minutes and 10 seconds.
All three rocket stages fired during launch; the S-IC and S-II detached during launch. The S-IC impacted the Atlantic Ocean at and the S-II second stage at . The third stage of the rocket, S-IVB, assisted in driving the craft into Earth orbit but remained attached to later perform the Trans-Lunar Injection (TLI), the burn that would put the spacecraft on a trajectory to the Moon.
Once in Earth orbit, both the Apollo 8 crew and Mission Control spent the next 2 hours and 38 minutes checking that the spacecraft was in proper working order and ready for TLI. The proper operation of third stage of the rocket, S-IVB was crucial; In the last unmanned test, the S-IVB had failed to re-ignite for TLI.
During the flight, three fellow astronauts served on the ground as capsule communicators (usually referred to as "CAPCOMs") on a rotating schedule. The CAPCOMs were the only people who regularly communicated with the crew. Michael Collins was the first CAPCOM on duty and at 2 hours, 27 minutes and 22 seconds after launch radioed, "Apollo 8. You are Go for TLI". This communication signified that Mission Control had given official permission for Apollo 8 to go to the moon. Over the next twelve minutes before the TLI burn, the Apollo 8 crew continued to monitor the spacecraft and the rocket. The S-IVB third stage rocket ignited on time and burned perfectly for 5 minutes and 17 seconds. The burn increased the velocity of Apollo 8 to and the spacecraft's altitude at the end of the burn was 215.4 miles (346.7 km). At this time, the crew also set the record for the highest speed humans had ever traveled.
After the S-IVB had performed its required tasks, it was jettisoned. The crew then rotated the spacecraft to take some photographs of the spent stage and then practiced flying in formation with it. As the crew rotated the spacecraft, they had their first views of the Earth as they moved away from it. This marked the first time humans could view the entire Earth at once. Borman became worried that the S-IVB was staying too close to the Command/Service Module and suggested to Mission Control that the crew perform a separation maneuver. Mission Control first suggested pointing the spacecraft towards Earth and using the Reaction Control System (RCS) thrusters on the Service Module to add 3 ft/s (0.9 m/s) away from the Earth, but Borman did not want to lose sight of the S-IVB. After discussion, the crew and Mission Control decided to burn in this direction, but at 9 ft/s (2.7 m/s) instead. These discussions put the crew an hour behind their flight plan.
Five hours after launch, Mission Control sent a command to the S-IVB booster to vent its remaining fuel through its engine bell to change the booster's trajectory. This S-IVB would then pass the Moon and enter into a solar orbit, posing no further hazard to Apollo 8. The S-IVB subsequently went into a 0.99 by 0.92 AU solar orbit with an inclination of 23.47° and a period of 340.80 days.
The Apollo 8 crew were the first humans to pass through the Van Allen radiation belts, which extend up to 15,000 miles (25,000 km) from Earth. Scientists predicted that passing through the belts quickly at the spacecraft's high speed would cause a radiation dosage of no more than a chest X-ray, or 1 milligray (during the course of a year, the average human receives a dose of 2 to 3 mGy). To record the actual radiation dosages, each crew member wore a Personal Radiation Dosimeter that transmitted data to Earth as well as three passive film dosimeters that showed the cumulative radiation experienced by the crew. By the end of the mission, the crew experienced an average radiation dose of 1.6 mGy.
Jim Lovell's main job as Command Module Pilot was as navigator. Although Mission Control performed all of the actual navigation calculation, it was necessary to have a crew member serving as navigator so that the crew could successfully return to Earth in case of communication loss with Mission Control. Lovell navigated by star sightings using a sextant built into the spacecraft, measuring the angle between a star and the Earth's (or the Moon's) horizon. This task proved to be difficult, as a large cloud of debris around the spacecraft formed by the venting S-IVB made it hard to distinguish the stars.
By seven hours into the mission, the crew was about one hour and 40 minutes behind flight plan due to the issues of moving away from the S-IVB and Lovell's obscured star sightings. The crew now placed the spacecraft into Passive Thermal Control (PTC), also known as "barbecue" mode. PTC involved the spacecraft rotating about once per hour along its long axis to ensure even heat distribution across the surface of the spacecraft. In direct sunlight, the spacecraft could be heated to over 200 °C while the parts in shadow would be −100 °C. These temperatures could cause the heat shield to crack or propellant lines to burst. As it was impossible to get a perfect roll, the spacecraft actually swept out a cone as it rotated. The crew had to make minor adjustments every half hour as the cone pattern got larger and larger.
The first mid-course correction came 11 hours into the flight. Testing on the ground had shown the that the Service Propulsion System (SPS) engine had a small chance of exploding when burned for long periods unless its combustion chamber was "coated" first. Burning the engine for a short period would accomplish coating. This first correction burn was only 2.4 seconds and added about 20.4 ft/s (6.2 m/s) prograde (in the direction of travel). This change was less than the planned 24.8 ft/s (7.5 m/s) due to a bubble of helium in the oxidizer lines causing lower than expected fuel pressure. The crew had to use the small Reaction Control System (RCS) thrusters to make up the shortfall. Two later planned mid-course corrections were canceled as the Apollo 8 trajectory was found to be perfect.
Eleven hours into the flight, the crew had been awake for over 16 hours. Before launch, NASA had decided that at least one crew member should be awake at all times to deal with any issues that might arise. Borman started the first sleep shift, but between the constant radio chatter and mechanical noises, he found sleep difficult.
About an hour after starting his sleep shift, Borman requested clearance to take a Seconal sleeping pill. However, the pill had little effect. Borman eventually fell asleep but then awoke feeling ill. He vomited twice and had a bout of diarrhea that left the spacecraft full of small globules of vomit and feces that the crew cleaned up to the best of their ability. Borman initially decided that he did not want everyone to know about his medical problems, but Lovell and Anders wanted to inform Mission Control. The crew decided to use the Data Storage Equipment (DSE), which could tape voice recordings and telemetry and dump them to Mission Control at high speed. After recording a description of Borman's illness they requested that Mission Control check the recording, stating that they "would like an evaluation of the voice comments".
The Apollo 8 crew and Mission Control medical personnel held a conference using an unoccupied second floor control room (there were two identical control rooms in Houston on the second and third floor, only one of which was used during the course of a mission). The conference participants decided that there was little to worry about and that Borman's illness was either a 24-hour flu, as Borman thought, or a reaction to the sleeping pill. Researchers now believe that he was suffering from space adaptation syndrome, which affects about a third of astronauts during their first day in space as their vestibular system adapts to weightlessness. Space adaptation syndrome had not been an issue on previous spacecraft (Mercury and Gemini), as those astronauts were unable to move freely in the comparatively smaller cabins of those spacecraft. The increased cabin space in the Apollo Command Module afforded astronauts greater freedom of movement, contributing to symptoms of spacesickness for Borman and, later, astronaut Russell Schweickart during Apollo 9.
The cruise phase was a relatively uneventful part of the flight, except for the crew checking that the spacecraft was in working order and that they were on course. During this time, NASA scheduled a television broadcast for 31 hours after launch. The Apollo 8 crew used a 2 kg camera that broadcast in black-and-white only, using a Vidicon tube. The camera had two lenses, a very wide-angle (160°) lens, and a telephoto (9°) lens.
During this first broadcast, the crew gave a tour of the spacecraft and attempted to show how the Earth appeared from space. However, difficulties aiming the narrow-angle lens without the aid of a monitor to show what it was looking at made showing the Earth impossible. Additionally, the Earth image became saturated by any bright source without proper filters. In the end, all the crew could show the people watching back on Earth was a bright blob. After broadcasting for 17 minutes, the rotation of the spacecraft took the high-gain antenna out of view of the receiving stations on Earth and they ended the transmission with Lovell wishing his mother a happy birthday.
By this time, the crew had completely abandoned the planned sleep shifts. Lovell went to sleep 32½ hours into the flight — 3½ hours before he had planned to. A short while later, Anders also went to sleep after taking a sleeping pill.
The crew was unable to see the Moon for much of the outward cruise. Two factors made the Moon almost impossible to see from inside the spacecraft: three of the five windows fogging up due to out-gassed oils from the silicone sealant, and the attitude required for the PTC. It was not until the crew had gone behind the Moon that they would be able to see it for the first time.
The Apollo 8 made a second television broadcast at 55 hours into the flight. This time, the crew rigged up filters meant for the still cameras so they could acquire images of the Earth through the telephoto lens. Although difficult to aim, as they had to maneuver the entire spacecraft, the crew was able to broadcast back to Earth the first television pictures of the Earth. The crew spent the transmission describing the Earth and what was visible and the colors they could see. The transmission lasted 23 minutes.
The last major event before Lunar Orbit Insertion was a second mid-course correction. It was in retrograde (against direction of travel) and slowed the spacecraft down by 2.0 ft/s (0.6 m/s), effectively lowering the closest distance that the spacecraft would pass the moon. At exactly 61 hours after launch, about 24,200 miles (39,000 km) from the Moon, the crew burned the RCS for 11 seconds. They would now pass 71.7 miles (115.4 km) from the lunar surface.
At 64 hours into the flight, the crew began to prepare for Lunar Orbit Insertion-1 (LOI-1). This maneuver had to be performed perfectly, and due to orbital mechanics had to be on the far side of the Moon, out of contact with the Earth. After Mission Control was polled for a Go/No Go decision, the crew was told at 68 hours, they were Go and "riding the best bird we can find". At 68 hours and 58 minutes, the spacecraft went behind the Moon and out of radio contact with the Earth.
With 10 minutes before the LOI-1, the crew began one last check of the spacecraft systems and made sure that every switch was in the correct place. At that time, they finally got their first glimpses of the Moon. They had been flying over the unlit side, and it was Lovell who saw the first shafts of sunlight obliquely illuminating the lunar surface. The LOI burn was only two minutes away, so the crew had little time to appreciate the view.
On Earth, Mission Control continued to wait. If the crew had not burned the engine or the burn had not lasted the planned length of time, the crew would appear early from behind the Moon. However, this time came and went without Apollo 8 reappearing. Exactly at the predicted moment, the signal was received from the spacecraft, indicating it was in a by orbit about the Moon.
After reporting on the status of the spacecraft, Lovell gave the first description of what the lunar surface looked like:
Lovell continued to describe the terrain they were passing over. One of the crew's major tasks was reconnaissance of planned future landing sites on the Moon, especially one in Mare Tranquillitatis that would be the Apollo 11 landing site. The launch time of Apollo 8 had been chosen to give the best lighting conditions for examining the site. A film camera had been set up in one of the spacecraft windows to record a frame every second of the Moon below. Bill Anders spent much of the next 20 hours taking as many photographs as possible of targets of interest. By the end of the mission the crew had taken 700 photographs of the Moon and 150 of the Earth.
Throughout the hour that the spacecraft was in contact with Earth, Borman kept asking how the data for the SPS looked. He wanted to make sure that the engine was working and could be used to return early to the Earth if necessary. He also asked that they receive a Go/No Go decision before they passed behind the Moon on each orbit.
As they reappeared for their second pass in front of the Moon, the crew set up the equipment to broadcast a view of the lunar surface. Anders described the craters that they were passing over. At the end of this second orbit they performed the eleven-second LOI-2 burn of the SPS to circularize the orbit to by .
Through the next two orbits, the crew continued to keep check of the spacecraft and to observe and photograph the Moon. During the third pass, Borman read a small prayer for his church. He was scheduled to participate in a service at St. Christopher's Episcopal Church near Seabrook, Texas, but due to the Apollo 8 flight was unable. A fellow parishioner and engineer at Mission Control, Rod Rose, suggested that Borman read the prayer which could be recorded and then replayed during the service.
Anders continued to take photographs while Lovell assumed control of the spacecraft so Borman could rest. Despite the difficulty resting in the cramped and noisy capsule, Borman was able to sleep for two orbits, awakening periodically to ask questions about their status.
Borman awoke fully, however, when he started to hear his fellow crew members make mistakes. They were beginning to not understand questions and would have to ask for the answers to be repeated. Borman realized that everyone was extremely tired having not had a good night's sleep in over three days. Taking command, he ordered Anders and Lovell to get some sleep and that the rest of the flight plan regarding observing the Moon be scrubbed. At first Anders protested saying that he was fine, but Borman would not be swayed. At last Anders agreed as long as Borman would set up the camera to continue to take automatic shots of the Moon. Borman also remembered that there was a second television broadcast planned, and with so many people expected to be watching he wanted the crew to be alert. For the next two orbits Anders and Lovell slept while Borman sat at the helm. On subsequent Apollo missions, crews would avoid this situation by sleeping on the same schedule.
As they rounded the Moon for the ninth time, the second television transmission began. Borman introduced the crew, followed by each man giving his impression of the lunar surface and what it was like to be orbiting the Moon. Borman described it as being "a vast, lonely, forbidding expanse of nothing." Then, after talking about what they were flying over, Anders said that the crew had a message for all those on Earth. Each man on board read the story of creation from Book of Genesis. Borman finished the broadcast by wishing a Merry Christmas to everyone on Earth. His message appeared to sum up the feelings that all three crewmen had from their vantage point in lunar orbit. Borman said, "And from the crew of Apollo 8, we close with good night, good luck, and a Merry Christmas to all of you, all of you on the good Earth".
The only task left for the crew at this point was to perform the Trans-Earth Injection (TEI), which was scheduled for 2½ hours after the end of the television transmission. The TEI was the most critical burn of the flight, as any failure of the SPS to ignite would strand the crew in Lunar orbit, with little hope of escape. As with the previous burn, the crew had to perform the maneuver above the far side of the Moon, out of contact with Earth.
The burn occurred exactly on time. The spacecraft telemetry was reacquired as it re-emerged from behind the Moon at 89 hours, 28 minutes, and 39 seconds, the exact time predicted. When voice contact was regained, Lovell announced, "Please be informed, there is a Santa Claus", to which Ken Mattingly, the current CAPCOM, replied, "That's affirmative, you are the best ones to know". The spacecraft began its journey back to Earth on December 25, Christmas Day.
Once the crew realized why the computer had changed the module's attitude, they realized they would have to re-enter data that would tell the computer its real position. It took Lovell ten minutes to figure out the right numbers, using the thrusters to get the stars Rigel and Sirius aligned, and another fifteen minutes to enter the corrected data into the computer.
Sixteen months later, Lovell would once again have to perform a similar manual re-alignment, under more critical conditions, during the Apollo 13 mission, after that module's IMU had to be turned off to conserve energy. In his 1994 book, Lost Moon: The Perilous Voyage of Apollo 13, Lovell wrote, "My training [on Apollo 8] came in handy!". In that book he dismissed the incident as a "planned experiment", requested by the ground crew. However, in subsequent interviews Lovell has acknowledged that the incident was an accident, caused by his mistake.
On Christmas afternoon, the crew made their fifth and final television broadcast. This time they gave a tour of the spacecraft, showing how an astronaut lived in space. When they had finished broadcasting they found a small present from Deke Slayton in the food locker—real turkey with stuffing and three miniature bottles of brandy (which remained unopened). There were also small presents to the crew from their wives.
After two uneventful days the crew prepared for re-entry. The computer would control the re-entry and all the crew had to do was put the spacecraft in the correct attitude, blunt end forward. If the computer broke down, Borman would take over.
Once the Command Module was separated from the Service Module, the astronauts were committed to re-entry. Six minutes before they hit the top of the atmosphere, the crew saw the Moon rising above the Earth's horizon, just as had been predicted by the trajectory specialists. As they hit the thin outer atmosphere they noticed it was becoming hazy outside as glowing plasma formed around the capsule. The capsule started slowing down and the deceleration peaked at 6 g (59 m/s²). With the computer controlling the descent by changing the attitude of the capsule, Apollo 8 rose briefly like a skipping stone before descending to the ocean. At 30,000 feet (9 km) the drogue parachute stabilized the spacecraft and was followed at 10,000 feet (3 km) by the three main parachutes. The spacecraft splashdown position was estimated to be .
When it hit the water, the parachutes dragged the spacecraft over and left it upside down, in what was termed Stable 2 position. As they were buffeted by a 10-foot (3 m) swell, Borman was sick, waiting for the three flotation balloons to right the capsule. It was 43 minutes after splashdown before the first frogman from the USS Yorktown arrived, as the capsule had landed before sunrise. Forty-five minutes later, the crew was safe on the deck of the aircraft carrier.
The command module is now displayed at the Chicago Museum of Science and Industry, along with a collection of personal items from the flight donated by Lovell and the spacesuit worn by Frank Borman. Jim Lovell's Apollo 8 spacesuit is on public display in the Visitor Center at NASA's Glenn Research Center.
One of the most famous aspects of the flight was the Earthrise picture that was taken as they came around for their fourth orbit of the Moon. This was the first time that humans had taken such a picture. Some regard the picture as being an icon of the environmentalist movement, with the first Earth Day in 1970.
The mission was the most widely covered by the media since the first American orbital flight, Mercury-Atlas 6 by John Glenn in 1962. There were 1200 journalists covering the mission, with the BBC coverage being broadcast in 54 countries in 15 different languages. The Soviet newspaper Pravda featured a quote from Boris Nikolaevich Petrov, Chairman of the Soviet Intercosmos program, who described the flight as an "outstanding achievement of American space sciences and technology". It is estimated that a quarter of the people alive at the time saw — either live or delayed — the Christmas Eve transmission during the ninth orbit of the Moon. Touring the world after the mission, Borman met with Pope Paul VI who told him "I have spent my entire life trying to say to the world what you did on Christmas Eve.
Atheist Madalyn Murray O'Hair later caused controversy by bringing a lawsuit against NASA over the reading from Genesis. O'Hair wished the courts to ban US astronauts — who were all Government employees — from public prayer in space. Though the case was rejected by the US Supreme Court for lack of jurisdiction, it caused NASA to be skittish about the issue of religion throughout the rest of the Apollo program. Buzz Aldrin, on Apollo 11, self-communicated Episcopal Communion on the surface of the moon after landing; he refrained from mentioning this publicly for several years, and only obliquely referred to it at the time.
In 1969, the US Postal Service issued a postage stamp (Scott # 1371) commemorating the Apollo 8 flight around the moon. The stamp featured a detail of the famous photograph of the Earthrise over the moon taken by Anders on Christmas Eve, and the words, "In the beginning God...
While in parking orbit around the Earth, Apollo 8 maintained altitude between a perigee of 112.8 miles (181.5 km) and an apogee of 118.9 miles (191.3 km). The inclination of this orbit, or its angle in relation to the equator, was 32.51°. Each orbit had a period of 88.17 minutes.
In contrast, the spacecraft orbited the Moon at more varying altitudes. At its lowest altitude above the moon's surface, the spacecraft had a pericynthion of 69.5 miles (111.9 km), while the highest altitude, or apocynthion, was 193.3 miles (311.1 km). The spacecraft took 128.7 minutes to complete each of its 10 circuits around the Moon, at an inclination of 12°.
The spacecraft began its translunar injection burn on December 21, 1968, at 15:41:38 UTC. The burn represented the second of two burns on the Saturn V rocket's S-IVB third stage. The rocket burned for a total of 318 seconds, propelling the 63,531 lb (28,817 kg) spacecraft from an Earth parking orbit velocity of 25,567 ft/s (7793 m/s) to a translunar trajectory velocity of 35,505 ft/s (10,822 m/s).
Portions of the Apollo 8 mission are dramatized in the miniseries From the Earth to the Moon episode "1968". The S-IVB stage of Apollo 8 was also portrayed as the location of an alien device in the 1970 UFO episode "Conflict".


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