Today is the 60th anniversary of the launch of Sputnik, but the first use of the word satellite to indicate a man-made object was 1936, over twenty years before the Russians actually created a viable satellite with their launch on October 4, 1957.
The word Sputnik-(in Russian Cпутник-1-anticipating more satellites, the Russians already called it Sputnik 1) is the combination of the Russian preposition c- (thes- sound, when added to the beginning of a Russian word means with) and the Old Church Slavonic root word potimeaning aroad,wayorjourney, ultimately meaning a traveling companion.Sputnik 1 broadcast its simple radio signal for 22 days before falling silent in at the end of October, 1957. Roughly 2 feet in diameter and weighing almost 200 pounds, Sputniklaunched Russia to the forefront of the space race. Even most Russians, though, were unaware of the significance of the event-the ‘headline’ event in Pravda (see image above) did not hit the front page of the newspaper until October 6, although it made the front page of the New York Times on October 5!
Who won the Space Race? Depends on when it began, but it also depends on where the race is now and where it will end. When the Space Race was at its height, no one could have imagined a day when a continously manned Space Station would be jointly run by the United States and Russia with a consortium of nations contributing. We are all winning the Space Race!
Preaching Shame to the Naked / photograph of the engraving “Introduction of Christianity Into Russia” - listed as “drawn by Charlemagne, Court Painter of Russia” from “Peter the Great” 1884 by Eugene Shuyler
Oh Waiter! / photograph of 1884 engravings drawn by Nicolas Dmitrieff (1838-1898) of the “Orthodox Signs of the Cross, In Benediction” and “… In Prayer”
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Only recently fully realised the depth of the abyss that divides the very nature of authorities and rulers from ‘mortals’ in the mind of many Russians. Was talking with my step-brother about all the madness around, and he told me about his coworker’s recent arrest. She was detained by police for anti-war signs on her car, and in an attempt to convince her 'to come to her senses’ cops threatened her with possible problems for her son. He is graduating from school now, and is supposed to apply to university this summer, and they told her he won’t be accepted and will be forcibly taken to the army if she’ll continue with the 'extremist statements’. Obviously I went mad and was ranting angrily about the bastards, how can they believe this crazy shit, how can they think anything in this madness is okay, the police state, totalitarism, etc. Brother just sighed sadly and said - well, they serve the state, they see it as their duty. And I just. Rebooted and yelled - but WE are the state. We, all the people who live in Russia - we are the country, not a bunch of oligarchs who think we’re their property! They’re supposed to protect us! And then we just sat here blinking at each other, crushed by the realisation how far 'the state’ and 'the people’ are removed from each other here.
The ones in power are viewed as a completely separate entity, and everyone else is just dirt under their shoes, and there’s no way to change it, and never was. It’s hopeless, and woe to those who dares to point out the king is naked. Anyone who disagrees is either considered stupid and immature or punished for disobeying the laws of nature. Keep your head down and pretend not to notice the monsters, or they’ll see you. And if they notice you, beware. And hell if I know how to convince them there’s a way to break the circle.
Among the diplomatic gifts presented to Alexander I during his visit to England in 1814, was the saber, stored now in the Arsenal of the State Hermitage Museum .
The inscription on the left side of the blade :
“This Iron having fallen from the Heavens was, upon his visit to England, presented to His Majesty ALEXANDER EMPEROR of all the RUSSIAS, who has successfully joined in Battle, to spread the Blessings of PEACE throughout EUROPE By James Sowerby FLS GS Honorary Member of the Physical Society of Gottingen &e, June 1814”
Sword, presented to Alexander I, forged from a meteorite Sarah of Good Hope, was found in 1793, at the southernmost tip of Africa, Cape of Good Hope.
The inscription on the right side of the blade:
“PURE METEORIC IRON found near the Cape of Good Hope”
Fantastic example of a Georgian presentation sabre with a lot of interesting quirks going on. To begin the style of sword is more for show than function, with the very curved and light un-fullered blade. Then there is the style, which modern collectors often attribute to infantry ‘Flank officers’ but could just as easily be used for a cavalry officers dress sword.
Finally there is the use of meteoric iron in the forging. The use of meteoric iron for making blades is as old as history, and occurred across multiple cultures. A dagger made of meteoric iron was discovered in the tomb of Egyptian King Tutankhamun, and the kriss short sword of Southeast Asia are said to use it in their forging. And the symbolism of using iron from the heavens was quickly seized upon. However on this blade the multiple imperfections caused by additional impurities clearly illustrate the inherent challenges faced when using this material.
Moscow Does Not Believe in Tears (1980). This is a life story of three girlfriends from youth to autumn ages. Their dreams and wishes, love, disillusions. Different careers. And big late love.
There’s a lot to like in this melancholy movie about three women trying to get by in Moscow, especially in the first half where the film operates as a sort of slice of life character study. Unfortunately, it falls apart in the second half. It ditches two of the women’s narratives almost entirely and instead focuses on a ‘love’ story with a new, poorly drawn character that feels almost silly compared to the nuanced portrayals of other dynamics. It’s a real bummer, especially as the first half feels pretty special. 7/10.
