“Belka (Белка, literally, “squirrel”, but as a dog’s name most likely means “Whitey”, from Russian: “белый” (for “white”)) and Strelka (Стрелка, “Arrow”) spent a day in space aboard Korabl-Sputnik-2 (Sputnik 5) on August 19, 1960 before safely returning to Earth. They were accompanied by a grey rabbit, 42 mice, 2 rats, flies and a number of plants and fungi. All passengers survived. They were the first Earth-born creatures to go into orbit and return alive. Strelka went on to have six puppies with a male dog named Pushok who participated in many ground-based space experiments, but never made it into space. One of the pups was named Pushinka (Пушинка, “Fluffy”) and was presented to President John F. Kennedy’s daughter Caroline by Nikita Khrushchev in 1961. A Cold War romance bloomed between Pushinka and a Kennedy dog named Charlie resulting in the birth of 4 pups that JFK referred to jokingly as pupniks.Two of their pups, Butterfly and Streaker were given away to children in the Midwest. The other two puppies, White Tips and Blackie, stayed at the Kennedy home on Squaw Island but were eventually given away to family friends.Pushinka’s descendants are still living today. A photo of descendants of some of the Space Dogs is on display at the Zvezda Museum outside Moscow. An animated Russian feature film called Star Dogs: Belka and Strelka is currently in production and expected to be released in 2010.”” -wikipediarussian matchbox label (via maraid)

I know I saw someone blog this a few days ago but I can’t find who it is, so sorry for whoever didn’t get reblog credit. Actually, no I’m not sorry at all. Nerds.
Normally I’d post on my Dodgers Baseblog but… Look at ol’ Charlie Hustle workin out in red Chuck Taylor low tops!Pete Rose hustlin’ at Spring training, 1972 (via SIVault)
File under : Things I’d spend money on if I was stupid rich.(via walex:crookedindifference:iamtea-rriffic)
If you’ve an extra $15,000-$500,000 to spend on a watch this holiday season (and seriously, who doesn’t these days?), then perhaps you’d be interested in this very unique watch. Made from actual dust from the moon as well as steel from the Apollo 11 rocket that landed on the moon and the strap will be made up of fibers from a spacesuit worn during the ISS mission. Only 1969 watches will be made, coinciding with the year we landed on the moon (and by “we” I mean myself, Buzz Aldrin and Neil Armstrong). One small leap for man, one expensive watch for mankind.











