Laika was a space dog. Actually the first animal to orbit the Earth, as well as the first animal to die in orbit.
After the success of Sputnik 1, Nikita Khrushchev, the Soviet leader, wanted a spacecraft launched on November 7, 1957, the 40th anniversary of the Bolshevik Revolution. To meet the November deadline, a new craft would have to be built. Khrushchev specifically wanted his engineers to deliver a “space spectacular,” a mission that would repeat the triumph of Sputnik I, stunning the world with Soviet prowess. The planners settled on an orbital flight with a dog. Three dogs were trained for the Sputnik 2 flight: Albina, Mushka, and Laika.
Laika was found as a stray wandering the streets of Moscow. Soviet scientists chose to use Moscow strays since they assumed that such animals had already learned to endure conditions of extreme cold and hunger. Soviet space-life scientist Oleg Gazenko selected and trained Laika.
Before the launch, one of the scientists took Laika home to play with his children. In a book chronicling the story of Soviet space medicine, Dr. Vladimir Yazdovsky wrote, “I wanted to do something nice for her: She had so little time left to live.” Read more Powder! Go Away – Laika Still Wants Go Home (2011)
instrumental rock
And So I Watch You From Afar – Gangs (2011)
“Gang” is the second full-length studio album by instrumental rock band And So I Watch You From Afar, from Belfast, Northern Ireland. After releasing their self-titled debut album in 2009 the band had toured the UK as well as in support of High On Fire, Crippled Black Phoenix, 65daysofstatic and Yourcodenameis:milo, Clutch, Oceansize, Envy, Trash Talk and Them Crooked Vultures and getting noticed by UK and European media. Consists of Rory Friers and Tony Wright on guitars, Johnny Adger on bass and Chris Wee on drums, And So I Watch You From Afar plays a colorful and dynamic Rock, Celtic sounds like themes are blended with groovy Rock themes, pulsing riffs and melodious themes are shifting each other quickly, and rapid passages are followed by nice and quiet breaks. Read more And So I Watch You From Afar – Gangs (2011)
John 5 – The Art of Malice (2010)
„Unii n-are stare, domne!” Am scris anul trecut pe larg despre cariera lui John 5, cum acest vrăjitor al celor 6 corzi a ajuns de la Lita Ford la Rob Zombie trecând pe la David Lee Roth, proiectul Industrial 2wo al lui Rob Halford şi prin trupa lui Marlyn Manson şi am scris şi despre albumele solo şi „Remixploitation”-ul lansat anul trecut.
Anul acesta a fost lansat noul Rob Zombie „Hellbilly Deluxe 2” pe care John 5 şi-a impregnat simţitor aportul, dar se pare că i-a mai rămas energie şi i-au mai rămas suficiente idei şi pentru încă un disc solo, acest „The Art of Malice”. Read more John 5 – The Art of Malice (2010)
