|
|
Post by Daggerstab on Apr 4, 2011 5:34:24 GMT -4
A Canadian article is making the rounds: It contains its own debunking, so it's not clear why they have framed it that way. (Actually, it's clear, if you are cynical enough.  ) The explanation is in the middle of the article, but it seems that a lot of people don't reach it or skip it. (It's really easy to do - I missed it when I skimmed the article for the first time.) |
|
|
|
Post by echnaton on Apr 4, 2011 9:06:59 GMT -4
A slow news day in Canada? Did the author need to drag out and mix up a bunch of old nonsense with a little new information to make his copy quota?
Its a shame that Yahoo didn't include the two pictures referenced in the article but instead someone chose to use images from different missions to illustrate the point. It just makes understanding the article more difficult.
There was some interesting information though. I had never heard that the thrusters were test fired and that the firing knocked over the surface communications dish and moved the flag.
|
|
|
|
Post by Kiwi on Apr 4, 2011 9:30:33 GMT -4
The Apollo 11 flag also ended up turned about 90 degrees to the north some time between the end of the EVA and ascent stage liftoff. I have a still from the 16mm post-EVA film which shows it, but have never found it on the internet and that piece of film isn't included in the early-edition Spacecraft Films DVDs.
I have seen an explanation that the test-firing of the thrusters may have turned the flag, but also the fact that the flagpole was leaning back due to the difficulties getting it into the ground may have meant that gravity eventually took over and caused the top rod to swivel around.
|
|
|
|
Post by cos on Apr 4, 2011 12:47:11 GMT -4
What lazy journalism. This in no way supports a hoax quite the opposite.
Still, I found this gem of a comment on the article;
Sound can not travel through vacuum. How did we hear the famous words from Armstrong?
For every question raised they will come up with some explanation and make the believers believe.
Taking stupidity to a new level even for a HB!
* edited for spelling
|
|
|
|
Post by echnaton on Apr 4, 2011 13:16:31 GMT -4
After reading a few more of Rakobowchuk's stories, he appears to be a writer of light weight general interest topics. Many stories seem to be retold press releases or contain just enough writing to tie some quotes together. There was scant evidence of original reporting. I imagine this poor guy under the gun from his editors to file the copy needed to fill space, regardless of content quality. All the time thinking, I went to college for this?. It is truly cheap, lazy journalism but I can just see him sweating it out to make his quota just hoping there will be a career path in journalism left for him after he completes is term in the slave labor department. I gather that The Canadian Press is a organization similar to The Associated Press. That does common stories for use by other news outlets. |
|
|
|
Post by LunarOrbit on Apr 4, 2011 13:35:12 GMT -4
It contains its own debunking, so it's not clear why they have framed it that way. (Actually, it's clear, if you are cynical enough. ) The explanation is in the middle of the article, but it seems that a lot of people don't reach it or skip it. (It's really easy to do - I missed it when I skimmed the article for the first time.) The worst part is that the Fox News website reprinted the story without the explanation making it appear that Robert Godwin believed the Moon landings were faked. They later issued a retraction but the damage has been done. I've met Robert Godwin... he is definitely not a hoax believer. He's a friend of Buzz Aldrin and was responsible for bringing Buzz to the event that I attended in Toronto in 2008. |
|
|
|
Post by ineluki on Apr 5, 2011 8:17:42 GMT -4
Still, I found this gem of a comment on the article; With comments like that... where can i sign up for the NWO population reduction program? |
|
|
|
Post by echnaton on Apr 5, 2011 8:55:20 GMT -4
Still, I found this gem of a comment on the article; With comments like that... where can i sign up for the NWO population reduction program? You didn't get that offer when joined the moon hoax debunking club? They gave me a toaster as a signing bonus. I've been making great toast for years and so far there has been no program activity. |
|
|
|
Post by apogeebooks on Apr 5, 2011 15:27:37 GMT -4
Just wanted to say thank you at least to the person on here who stuck up for me. The original story was just a fluff piece and no one, including me, thought it would go beyond a few local newspapers in Canada. We still don't even know how Fox got the story because no one has confirmed that they paid to get it. Anyway, they rewrote the story and then attached a dead link at the end which left me looking like an idiot. They finally removed the story and printed a "Correction" but not before it became the second most read story on their site (even ahead of Charlie Sheen's meanderings). They have formally refused to apologize to me so I am left now to try and clear my name. If anyone is even remotely interested I have posted a disclaimer video on Youtube and on my website. It was filmed on the morning news here in Toronto today.
|
|
|
|
Post by gillianren on Apr 5, 2011 16:47:09 GMT -4
Wow. That's pretty sleazy, even for Fox.
|
|
|
|
Post by LunarOrbit on Apr 5, 2011 17:39:32 GMT -4
Welcome to the forum, Mr. Godwin. Just wanted to say thank you at least to the person on here who stuck up for me. I don't think anyone here was being critical of you, just the original author of the article which (even with the explanation) seemed to imply you were having doubts about the Apollo landings until you realized it was the RCS thrusters that moved the flag. Pretty much everyone in this forum supports NASA, there are only a few conspiracy theorists here. We will do what we can to dispel any doubts people might have because of these images and hopefully clear your name. I honestly don't believe this will have any long term effects on your reputation because anyone who knows your work knows you would never believe Apollo was faked. Conspiracy theorists will likely continue to use those images as "proof" of a hoax, but I doubt your name will be permanently attached to it. It's more likely that one of the well known conspiracy theorists will try to take credit for discovering the images. I live in Hamilton and saw your interview on CHCH this morning. I don't know how big their audience is, but I hope it helps. |
|
|
|
Post by apogeebooks on Apr 7, 2011 8:39:59 GMT -4
Thank you again for the support. I agree that CHCH is clearly not going to have the reach of Fox News which is why I added it to Youtube. About 95 people have watched it so far. Of course over 900 people have posted comments on Yahoo Canada News which would suggest that thousands of people read the story. Fox had about 500 comments on Sunday before they took the story down. Almost all derogatory. The Canadian Air & Space Museum, where I do volunteer work, have even had to deal with people asking them what kind of nut they have working for them! Oh well. I've been fighting this fight for some time. My Apollo 11 video extract on Youtube has a mountain of comments which I responded to for months and months. Just about every hoax protest was addressed over the last couple of years before they finally gave up. I think I wore them down... thanks again.
|
|
|
|
Post by cos on Apr 7, 2011 10:05:45 GMT -4
On the plus side it is a reminder to all the space fans here of the excellent Nasa Mission Reports! And I found out you wrote a book on Led Zepplin too - so that's my freaky hippy mates present sorted  Anyway, very impressed with your work and you are a most welcome visitor to this site. All the Best. |
|
|
|
Post by apogeebooks on Apr 19, 2011 14:06:58 GMT -4
Very kind of you. Thanks for the sentiments.
|
|
) The explanation is in the middle of the article, but it seems that a lot of people don't reach it or skip it. (It's really easy to do - I missed it when I skimmed the article for the first time.)
