CaaC (John)

Liverpool’s Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain could struggle upon return By Tom Procter Published on December 27, 2018 Liverpool midfielder Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain faces a huge battle to play regular football at the club, with almost all of the club’s midfield options having raised their games. Oxlade-Chamberlain got injured during the Champions League quarter-final first leg against Manchester City last season. The Englishman damaged his anterior cruciate ligament and subsequently missed out on the final in Kiev against Real Madrid and going to the World Cup. He was expected to miss a large chunk of the 2018/19 season, but the player has suggested he could be back sooner rather than later with a post to his Instagram. The ex-Arsenal man uploaded a picture of him jogging with coaches with the caption: “That feeling when you’re finally back out on the grass for the first time in 8 months.” Patience will be a virtue It is not known exactly when Chamberlain will be back available for selection, but his social media post is definitely encouraging. But he might have some trouble getting back into the side, with a number of players having starred in his position this term. Georginio Wijnaldum, in particular, has stood out in central midfield, and Jordan Henderson and James Milner have both been a solid form. Fabinho has finally settled at Anfield and looks like he’ll be a big player for Jurgen Klopp, and another new recruit Naby Keita has shown signs of promise. Xherdan Shaqiri has been played centrally on a number of occasions and looks like outstanding business at £13.5 million, and then there’s Adam Lallana who is beginning to get a bit more game time. Chamberlain has it all to do when he returns. Luckily for him, he’d been in fantastic form before his injury so Klopp will know he can be very useful in the second half of the season. https://tbrfootball.com/liverpools-alex-oxlade-chamberlain-could-struggle-upon-return/

Chelsea: Eden Hazard contract situation must be solved - Maurizio Sarri 13 minutes ago | Chelsea It is "time to decide" the future of Chelsea forward Eden Hazard, says manager Maurizio Sarri. The 27-year-old Belgium international, who passed 100 goals for the club in Wednesday's 2-1 Premier League win over Watford, said he wanted to become a Chelsea 'legend". Hazard, whose contract expires in June 2020, has been linked with a summer move to Real Madrid. Sarri said Chelsea "have to solve this problem". Asked whether he expects Hazard to remain a Chelsea player in the long term, he said: "I don't know but I think that it's time to decide." Hazard said in October it was his "dream" to join Spanish side Madrid, although two days later he ruled out a move to the Bernabeu in the January transfer window. After scoring twice at Vicarage Road, Hazard said: "I want to score more for this club and then try to be a legend like Frank Lampard, Didier Drogba and John Terry." Italian Sarri said: "I have not the power to do this. I am the coach. I am not the president. I am not in charge of the market. "I want to speak to him only about the position on the pitch." Chelsea, who are fourth in the table, travel to Crystal Palace on Sunday. https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/46700312

The Time the Church Put a Pope's Corpse on Trial Bess Lovejoy 1 day ago © iStock.com/Phooey The Time the Church Put a Pope's Corpse on Trial Plenty of odd things have been put on trial—animals, statues, a washerwoman's vat—but there's only one occasion in history that a dead body has gone before a papal court. The Cadaver Synod (Synodus Horrenda in Latin) has been called "one of the grisliest events in papal history," which, given the intrigues of the medieval church, is saying something. The cadaver in question belonged to Pope Formosus, who suffered a series of dramatic reversals in both life and death. Born probably in Rome around 816, he was appointed the bishop of the Italian city of Porto in 864 by Pope St. Nicholas I, who then sent him on a missionary expedition to Bulgaria. That went so well the King of Bulgaria wanted Formosus to lead an autonomous church there, but the request was denied by the then-current pope, John VIII, who thought Formosus was getting a little too big for his britches. Nevertheless, Formosus remained a respected figure who played important roles in the church in France and Italy for decades—at least until he irritated John VIII enough to get excommunicated in 872. A later pope restored Formosus, and in 891 Formosus became pope himself. His five-year reign was relatively lengthy by the standards of the day, and it ended only when he died of a stroke in 896. But in death, Formosus became famous for an even more dramatic reversal than any he had suffered in life. Yet another pope whom he'd annoyed, Stephen VI, had his nine-months-rotten corpse exhumed, dressed in papal vestments, perched on a throne, and forced to answer for his "crimes." Unsurprisingly, his answers weren't very convincing. © Provided by The Week Publications Pope Formosus A complete understanding of the events that precipitated the Cadaver Synod involves following the politics of the papacy, Holy Roman Emperors, and Western European aristocrats for several decades. But as Laura Jeffries distills it in Great Events in Religion, "Essentially, Formosus encountered such a fearsome posthumous reprisal because he chose the losing side in one of many struggles for political control after fall of the Carolingian dynasty in the 9th century." In other words, the cadaverous pope's crimes weren't so much spiritual as political, and emerged in the chaotic period that followed the death of Charlemagne—the first Holy Roman Emperor—in 814. There were two main issues: First, Stephen VI belonged to the house of Spoleto, a powerful Roman family Formosus had angered in 894 after asking a Frankish king, Arnulf, to invade Italy. At the time, Guido of Spoleto (also known as Guy III) was the Holy Roman Emperor, but he was seen as an aggressive ruler who had little respect for the rights and privileges of the Holy See. The invasion was a failure, but it still smarted, and the Spoleto family never forgot the challenge to their precarious authority. The second factor, according to Elizabeth Harper at Atlas Obscura, may have actually been more important. Although he was very much dead, poor, decomposing Formosus posed a challenge to Stephen VI's legitimacy. Ironically, that was because Stephen VI could be accused of some of the same crimes Formosus was charged with. These "crimes" amounted to being a bishop in two jurisdictions at once—both in Porto and the diocese of Rome, the latter a role that comes with the papacy—as well as openly aspiring to the papacy. By Stephen VI's logic, the double bishopric, a violation of canon law, invalidated Formosus's whole papacy, including all his acts and appointments. That invalidation was handy, since as Harper explains, "Formosus had made Stephen bishop, and Stephen had become bishop of Rome … while he still held that post. But if Formosus could be found guilty of that same crime (being a simultaneous bishop of two places), his actions would be null and Stephen wouldn't have been a bishop when he was elected pope. Stephen also might have been completely insane.” In any event, Formosus's body was exhumed from its burial place at Saint Peter's Basilica, dressed in papal robes, and seated for trial at the Basilica of St. John Lateran. There's no transcript of the trial, but Jeffries notes that by several accounts, "Stephen screamed and raved throughout the proceedings while a young deacon was forced to stand by and answer questions on behalf of the corpse." Partway through, an earthquake shook the building, presumably adding to the ominous vibe—although no one seems to have taken it as a sign to stop. The assembled ecclesiastical authorities (whose gatherings are called a synod) found Formosus guilty on all counts. Since they couldn't kill him, he was stripped of his papal vestments and had the three fingers of his right hand that he'd used for consecration during his life severed. His body was buried in a common grave, but exhumed once again not long afterwards and thrown in the Tiber River. However, Stephen IV suffered his own reversal, too. The outraged populace imprisoned him after the trial, and soon after that, some of Formosus's supporters strangled him to death in his cell. Formosus's body didn't stay in the river long: Under the next few popes, it was pulled from the river, redressed in sacred robes, and reburied at St. Peter's Basilica. (It took a few popes to accomplish because they had the life expectancy of mayflies at that point.) The period that followed was one of the most corrupt and tumultuous in the church's history, with rival factions jockeying for power and annulling one another's work if not outright killing each other. But there was one bright spot: In 898, Pope John IX wisely forbade the trial of any dead pope—or any dead person at all—in the future. Thus the Cadaver Synod would remain a unique, and uniquely terrible, event in history. https://www.msn.com/en-gb/news/offbeat/the-time-the-church-put-a-popes-corpse-on-trial/ar-BBRtDfo?ocid=chrome

Sad to hear this, R.I.P. Peter. Peter Hill-Wood: Arsenal's former chairman has died at the age of 82 9 minutes ago | Arsenal Former Arsenal chairman Peter Hill-Wood has died at the age of 82. He became chairman in 1982 and presided over the appointments of George Graham and Arsene Wenger as managers and they won five league titles, five FA Cups, the League Cup and European Cup Winners' Cup between them. Ill health forced Hill-Wood to step down from the position in June 2013. Arsenal says he was also "instrumental" in the successful move from Highbury to Emirates Stadium in 2006. https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/46700308

Your Christmas tree could help save the planet By Mark Kinver Environment reporter, BBC News 5 hours ago Your unwanted Christmas tree could be processed to produce important chemicals and cut emissions, say researchers. Pine needles could provide feedstock to create new products, such as sweeteners and paint, as well as cut emissions. Currently, an estimated seven million trees each year end up in a landfill. A study from the University of Sheffield suggests the process would also result in zero waste, therefore easing pressure on our waste services. The growth of recycled trees "By now we all know about the problem of greenhouse gas emissions, and the need to reduce carbon emissions," explained Cynthia Kartey, a PhD student at the university's Department of Chemical and Biological Engineer "I see biomass waste as a potential alternative source of feedstock for the chemical industry, for example," she told BBC News. For example, some of the substances found in pine needles are an active ingredient in perfume. Despite recent attention on the problems caused by the global proliferation of plastic, the popularity of artificial Christmas trees continue to grow. However, an estimated eight million "natural" Christmas trees are still bought in the UK each year. Alas, the vast majority - about seven million of them - end up in a landfill after 12th Night. Seasonal and circular economy However, by identifying the value from the trees in the form of the potential feedstock for the chemical industry would make it economically sensible to send them to biorefineries, says Miss Kartey. This could also lead to a reduction in the UK's carbon footprint as it would cut our dependency on imported plastic trees and a reduction in the amount of tree biomass ending up in a landfill, she explained. Colleague Dr James McGregor added: "The use of biomass - material derived from plants - to produce fuel and chemicals currently manufactured from fossil resources will play a key role in the future global economy. "If we can utilise materials that would otherwise go to waste in such process, thereby recycling them, then there are further benefits." https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-46647790

Robinho: Former Man City forward joins Emmanuel Adebayor at Istanbul Basaksehir 18 minutes ago | European Football Former Manchester City forward Robinho has agreed to join Turkish Super Lig leaders Istanbul Basaksehir. The 34-year-old, who broke the British transfer record when joining City from Real Madrid for £32.5m in 2008, arrives from fellow Turkish club Sivasspor. He will join former City team-mate Emmanuel Adebayor at Basaksehir, plus Gael Clichy, who played at the Etihad Stadium after Robinho left in 2010. Basaksehir were knocked out of the Europa League by Burnley in August. Robinho, who began his career in his native Brazil with Santos, spent five years with AC Milan after leaving City, before playing in China for Guangzhou Evergrande and returning to his home country to join Atletico Mineiro. In November 2017, he was sentenced in his absence by an Italian court to nine years in prison after being convicted, along with five other Brazilians, of the 2013 gang rape of an Albanian woman in a Milan nightclub. Robinho, who pleaded not guilty via his lawyer during the case and subsequently published an Instagram post denying any wrongdoing, said he would contest the sentence. https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/46697366

Mourinho got a one-match ban for the same thing Unai Emery: Arsenal boss charged by Football Association for kicking water bottle towards fans 28 minutes ago | Premier League Arsenal manager Unai Emery has been charged by the Football Association for kicking a bottle which hit a Brighton fan towards the end of Wednesday's 1-1 draw. The FA said it amounts to improper conduct and Emery has until 18:00 GMT on 2 January to respond to the charge. The Spaniard apologised for the incident, which was not included in the officials' match report. "I said to them I'm sorry," Emery said after the game. "It wasn't hard but it touched one supporter." Emery went to speak to the home supporter immediately after the incident and again at full-time. Speaking in his news conference on Thursday, Emery said he hoped the apology would be the end of the matter. "I kicked the bottle in frustration but not at the supporters, not with this intention. It's circumstances. I apologised. I hope it's the end of the matter, yes," he said. Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang had given the Gunners a seventh-minute lead in the Premier League match at the Amex Stadium and the visitors dominated much of the first half. But a mistake by right-back Stephan Lichtsteiner allowed Jurgen Locadia to equalise for Brighton in the 35th minute. Emery was disappointed by his team's second-half display and took his frustration out on the water bottle on the touchline. After apologising to the Seagulls fan, Emery appeared to explain his actions to the fourth official. The officials had not included the incident in the match report as they were happy with the way it had been handled. Former Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho was given a one-match ban after being sent off for kicking a water bottle down the touchline during his side's Premier League game against West Ham in 2016. https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/46692146

Still no bloody snow around here in Leith, so much for all the weather predictions that we are going to have another 'Beast from the East' and get snowed in, what a bastard.

Ancient space crystals may prove the sun threw heated tantrums as a tot Neel V. Patel 9 hrs ago Many newborn and toddler stars are not all that different from newborn and toddler humans—prone to bouts of cranky energy, loud and violent tempers, and indiscriminately wailing and vomiting heaps of disgusting matter in every direction. It’s natural to assume even our 4.6 billion-year-old sun had a messy heyday in its youth, but without any hard evidence to prove this was the case, the only thing many scientists had going for them were strong suspicions. New data, focused around a peculiar set of ancient blue crystals from space, seems to suggest the sun emitted a much higher flux of cosmic rays in its early history than we once thought. Those blue crystals are called hibonite, and they’ve arrived here on Earth by way of meteorite impacts. Hibonite are effectively some of the first minerals formed in the solar system, created by the cooling gas derived from the sun. The new study, published in Nature Astronomy, focuses on the Murchison meteorite, which fell in Australia in 1969, likely originating from an asteroid in the asteroid belt—and which possesses pieces of micron barely larger than the width of human hair. “We think hibonites like those in Murchison formed close to the young sun because that is where temperatures were high enough to form such minerals,” says Levke Kööp, a cosmochemistry researcher at the University of Chicago and the lead author of the new study. “Hibonites from Murchison are famous for showing large isotope anomalies that tell us about the types of stars that contributed material to the molecular cloud that the sun formed from.” The team doesn’t have an exact date on the hibonite grains, but based on the age of refractory elements in the meteorite, it pegs the crystals to be a little over 4.5 billion years old. If hibonite really was produced by an early active sun, the answer would be found in analyzing the crystals’ helium and neon isotopes. High energy particles being ejected by a volatile young sun would have hit calcium and aluminium deposits in the crystals and split these atoms into neon and helium, and been irrevocably trapped for billions of years. The research team studied the hibonite crystals using a highly sensitive mass spectrometer at ETH Zurich in Switzerland, melting the grains of hibonite down with a laser while the spectrometer measured and confirmed the presence of helium and neon concentrations. Beyond simply illustrating that the young sun went through a phase of high activity, the new results also show how some meteorite materials from the solar nebula are directly affected by young sun irradiation. The team also noticed helium and neon were absent from younger crystals, indicating that something changed later in the irradiation conditions created by the sun, and raising the question of what happened. This sort of insight might augur later into a better understanding of how the roles star evolution plays in the creation of elements and materials that later on assemble into planets and other celestial bodies. “Over the last few decades, there has been a controversy whether meteorites contain evidence of an early active sun,” says Kööp. “In general, even for us, it was hard to know what to expect from this study. In the end, we were very excited to see such a clear irradiation signature in the hibonites.” Andrew Davis, a study coauthor affiliated with the University of Chicago and the Field Museum of Natural History, points out the minuscule size of the hibonite grains limits how much the team could measure helium and neon traces, as well as an analysis of the absolute age of the hibonite itself. Moreover, the analyses also involve the destruction of the grains. “We are working on a new instrument in my lab to study the isotopic compositions of more elements in the hibonite grains, to better understand how different sources of dust were mixed in the early solar nebula,” he says. Still, the implications of these findings alone shouldn’t be understated. “I’ve been involved with this type of research for a very long time. I’ve constantly been sceptical of claims from scientists that traces of the early sun have been found.” “With this new study,” he says, “I’m happy to change my mind.” https://www.msn.com/en-gb/news/techandscience/ancient-space-crystals-may-prove-the-sun-threw-heated-tantrums-as-a-tot/ar-BBRtJRn?ocid=chromentp

Toby Alderweireld: Tottenham trigger extension clause for the defender, but also include a release clause 18 minutes ago | Tottenham Tottenham will trigger the extension clause in defender Toby Alderweireld's contract, but have also included a £25m release clause, manager Mauricio Pochettino says. The Belgium international's current deal runs out next year but the club has an option to extend it until 2020. The release clause of £25m will apply up to the last two weeks of the summer transfer window. Pochettino said on Thursday: "It is the same situation as for Jan [Vertonghen]." Spurs announced earlier in December that the club had extended Vertonghen's contract until 2020. The Belgium defender is back in training after a thigh injury and is due to return in January. Alderweireld joined Spurs in July 2015 from Spanish club Atletico Madrid. He has made 17 league appearances this season for Pochettino's side. https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/46693595

From an 18 year in her first comedy film Shampoo (1975) to Princess Leia (1977) in Star Wars, God bless you my lady. Rise Dame Carrie Fisher nee Princess

They say that when you get older your taste buds change, bloody true!! a while back I could not stand eating Brussel sprouts or carrots, that has gone right out of the window now, the wife made yesterday roast beef with Yorkie pudds, roast tatties with gravy and with BRUSSEL SPROUTS and CARROTS and I scoffed the lot down lol. Today it will be sausages in gravy with ALL the odds and sods above...bliss

Barcelona coach Ernesto Valverde has yet to inform the Spanish club whether he will take up the option of a third year on his contract at the Nou Camp. (Marca) https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/gossip

Ancient stone carvings hidden for 600 years discovered on a tomb in Scottish cathedral Josh Gabbatiss 7 hrs ago © Provided by Independent Digital News & Media Limited Stone carvings that have remained hidden for 600 years have been discovered on the tomb of a medieval bishop in Scotland. Depictions of saint-like figures were revealed on the side facing a wall while conservationists carried out a routine inspection. The tomb, located in Dunkeld Cathedral in Perthshire belongs to the 15th-century Scottish cleric Bishop Cardeny. The unearthing of the stone carvings has shed new light on the history of the site, revealing the tomb has at some point been moved and built into the wall from its original free-standing location. Colin Muir, stone conservator at Historic Environment Scotland (HES) who led the discovery, said: “The discovery of these rare, hidden carvings behind the 15th-century tomb of Bishop Cardeny is very exciting and will enrich our understanding of the history of Dunkeld Cathedral and late medieval stone carving. “This discovery also gives fresh incentive for further research and exploration of the site, as we still don’t know when exactly the tomb was moved, or why. “This discovery also hints that there may still be other obscured areas of detail preserved within the walls behind the tomb.” As further conservation works get underway to protect the fabric of the tomb, Mr. Muir said he hoped this investigation would reveal secrets. “At this stage, we don’t know what, if anything, remains – but it will be fascinating to find out,” he said. Following the discovery of the carvings a second, more in-depth assessment was recently carried out using cutting-edge 3D photogrammetric technology. A detailed 3D model was created by obtaining multiple images using cameras and mirrors, enabling a closer look at the carvings. The site of the cathedral has long been an important ecclesiastical centre, with relics of St Columba brought to Dunkeld from Iona by King Kenneth McAlpin in 849. The tomb was built in 1420 to house Cardeny, who was the cathedral’s longest-serving bishop and was elected to his position in 1399 by Pope Benedict VIII. https://www.msn.com/en-gb/news/offbeat/ancient-stone-carvings-hidden-for-600-years-discovered-on-tomb-in-scottish-cathedral/ar-BBRtet4

Not going anywhere today, I am going to stretch out on the sofa after and start reading my Jack Reacher book I got for Christmas until the football starts this afternoon, Liz is making a roast beef dinner later on with all the usual ingredients (roast tatties, veg, gravy etc), looking forward to that.

Joe Kidd (already mentioned above) then The Fugitive with Harrison Ford, that film is good if you don't watch it for a wee while then watch it again if nothing else is on (7/10).

Just dragged myself out of bed, never hit the cot until the back of two, watched the film Joe Kidd I had recorded and then the Fugitive with Harrison Ford, oh, Red Wine and Port do not work well mixed when waking up.

Got the latest Lee Child - Jack Reacher book for Christmas 'Past Tense' been holding off buying this as the wife kept saying "NO...DON'T BUY IT" and I knew that was a hint that I was going to get it as a Christmas prezzy which I did from our son. Also, our daughter bought me a WWII true story from a book called 'Do The Birds Still Sing In Hell' a true story about soldier Horace Greasley and I am looking forward to reading them both.

Back from our daughters about an hour ago and enjoyed a lovely Christmas dinner, now chilling out watching tv and sipping a bottle of Château CanteraneSaint-Émilion 2011 Red Wine with a bottle of Nobleman Full Cream Wine and 3 miniature bottles of Cockburn Ruby/Fine Ruby & Fine Tawny Port all Christmas gifts to me I will leave for another time...I think

Watching Joe Kidd, western with Clint Eastwood (1972), recording it because we will be popping out shortly and I will watch it again tonight, I would give this an 8/10 rating, then again I am a Clint Eastwood western fan.

Merry Christmas all, that's my wife doing her nut with me, we are going around our daughters for Christmas dinner so she is cooking off some sausage rolls to take around with her for the daughter, she keeps leaving them in the kitchen top covered up and I keep nicking them and she has to keep cooking more off lol, can't now as she has bought the plate in here on the coffee table so she can keep an eye on them.

Prehistoric Pig-Like Creatures' Fossils Found By Tennessee Scientists Amesheil Perez 6 hrs ago © Getty Images/Raul Arboleda GettyImages-92862922 Prehistoric fossils of two different species of ancient pig-like creatures called peccaries were recently unearthed. Scientists with East Tennessee State University (ETSU) recently confirmed that they made the thrilling discovery in an area known as the Gray Fossil Site. The fossils found include a part of a well-preserved skull and were discovered to belong to two different species of peccaries, Prosthennops serus and Mylohyus elmorei. Scientists were able to determine that the remains belong to the two species due to the “well-preserved remains of their skulls,” including the “nearly complete lower jaws" of Prosthennops serus and Mylohyus elmorei. According to the university's press release, the discovery seems to support the theory that these two species roamed the Gray Fossil Site area in prehistoric times. This is also the first time that remnants of either species have been discovered in the Appalachian region. The university explained that remains of the Prosthennops serus had previously been discovered in other U.S. fossil sites, but never in the Appalachian region. The other peccaries species, Mylohyus elmorei, has only been discovered in a region in central Florida that is over 900 kilometer south of the Gray Fossil Site. Chris Widga, the head curator at the ETSU Museum of Natural History at the Gray Fossil Site, explained that the two peccaries species once roamed there because the area was once a large pond surrounded by an abundant forest. “Details of the peccaries’ teeth suggest they spent their lives browsing on the leaves and fruits of succulent plants, so they would have been right at home in the Gray Fossil Site ecosystem, which we know from plant fossils was rich with tasty vegetation,” Widga said in a statement. According to scientists, the Prosthennops serus and the Mylohyus elmorei were estimated to be the size of German shepherds, which is bigger than modern-day peccaries. And peccaries, though they may resemble pigs, are not actually members of the pig family. “True pigs, members of the family Suidae, are native to Europe, Asia, and Africa, while peccaries belong to the family Tayassuidae and live in the Americas,” ETSU explained. ETSU further revealed that the Gray Fossil site contains fossil-rich clays and has “an ancient ecosystem that dates back around 5 million years." Aside from the peccaries, it was also home to ancient tapirs, rhinos, alligators, mastodons and more during the prehistoric era. https://www.msn.com/en-gb/news/offbeat/prehistoric-pig-like-creatures-fossils-found-by-tennessee-scientists/ar-BBRpkK0?ocid=chromentp

50 years ago, 'Earthrise' inspired the environmental movement Steve Dent 2 hrs ago The most famous photo ever taken from space, Earthrise, is 50 years old today. It's so ironic that we now take it for granted, but it may have had a greater impact on humanity than any photograph ever taken. Far from being planned, astronaut Bill Anders snapped it during the ground-breaking Apollo 8 mission on the spur of the moment. "Suddenly we saw this object called Earth," Anders told the Guardian. "It was the only color in the universe." The 1968 Apollo 8 mission was crucial in the race to get a man on the moon. It was the first manned launch of the colossal Saturn V rocket, which had only flown twice before in unmanned test missions. It was also the first manned spacecraft to escape Earth's gravity, reach another celestial body, and orbit it. It took nearly three days for the crew to reach the moon, and after a tense four-minute engine burn -- which could have flung them into space or crashed them onto the Moon's surface --they successfully entered orbit. The astronauts were equipped with a highly modified Hasselblad 500 EL with the reflex viewfinder replaced by a mechanical sighting ring. They were fully trained in its use and in photography principles and had access to both 70mm color and black and white film. Commander Frank Borman happened to be turning the command module when it came around on its fourth orbit on December 24th, and the Earth appeared as a blue jewel against the Moon's drab monochrome surface. Video player from YouTube (Privacy Policy) Borman reportedly took a black and white photo of the Earth in a slightly lower position next to the moon, but Anders thought the shot would be worthy of color. The conversation among the crew at that moment was famously recorded for posterity (above) and reveals what happened next. Anders: Oh my God! Look at that picture over there! There's the Earth coming up. Wow, that's pretty. Borman: (Joking) Hey, don't take that, it's not scheduled. Anders: (laughs) You got a color film, Jim? Hand me that roll of color quick, would you... Lovell: Oh man, that's great! Anders didn't get the film loaded quickly enough to take the shot from the main window but noticed that the scene was still visible from the hatch. Crew member Jim Lovell wanted to grab the camera to take several more, but Anders amusingly chided him. "Wait a minute, just let me get the right setting here now," he said. "Calm down, Lovell!" Anders knew he got it ("Aw, that's a beautiful shot!") and said he took it at 1/250th of a second at f/11. He took a couple more at slightly different exposures to make sure, though. The crew splashed down on December 27th, along with the famous photo. After Anders loaded the film, the next person to handle it was NASA chief of photography Dick Underwood early in 1969. The development of the seven rolls, containing 865 frames, was undertaken with the same level of precision as the rest of the mission. "I took them to my area of the photo lab where we had a special processor that I had built for Apollo space film," Underwood told the Independent in 2009. "We gave that very thin film tender love and care. There was no room for error. Failure was not going to happen." The photo was first published in early 1969 and reportedly inspired the first-ever Earth Day in 1970. It has been a touchstone for the environmental movement ever since. "The vast loneliness is awe-inspiring and it makes you realize just what you have back there on Earth," said Lovell. NASA https://www.msn.com/en-gb/news/techandscience/50-years-ago-earthrise-inspired-the-environmental-movement/ar-BBRpqFN?ocid=chromentp