Laika the astro-dog tin toy from 1958

Dr. Vladimir Yazdovsky the lead scientists on the mission had admitted in his book many years later, '.. not enough was learned from the flight to have been worth her death..'

RIP Laika

http://www.planetsurfer.net/2008/04/14/laika-dog-first-earthling-to-enter-orbit-honored/

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#8 posted by anharmyenone , May 17, 2008 11:51 AM

A fanciful fictional version of the story of Laika that brings tears to the eyes can be found here:

http://nofatclips.com/02008/01/27/laika/Zune%20Arts%20-%20Laika.mp4

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#9 posted by Versh , May 17, 2008 11:53 AM

The film "Mitt liv som hund" had some great moments of speculation on Laika.
It's the only thing worthwhile from the movie.

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#10 posted by Master of Space and Time , May 17, 2008 3:39 PM

Buuuuuuuuuuuurn !

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#11 posted by Darran Edmundson

, May 17, 2008 7:46 PM

For the humour-impaired (myself included), can we take it that "brave" is being used very much tongue-in-cheek?

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#12 posted by Takuan , May 17, 2008 7:51 PM

dogs are brave

not many humans

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#13 posted by Antinous , May 17, 2008 8:04 PM

Persistence in the face of fear is bravery, no? That's a canine quality. Shitting in your shoe, on the other hand, is a feline quality.

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#14 posted by Takuan , May 17, 2008 8:15 PM

shoe? try headphones

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#15 posted by Takuan , May 17, 2008 8:18 PM

http://www.greengoblin.co.uk/blogger/FatFreddysCat.jpg

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#16 posted by Antinous , May 17, 2008 8:38 PM

That's why I prefer cats. You yell at your dog, he looks hurt and makes you feel guilty. You yell at your cat, she gives you a look of eviscerating disdain and makes you feel humility, which is a much more honest emotion than guilt.

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#17 posted by Takuan , May 17, 2008 8:58 PM

ever lived with a parrot?

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#18 posted by Antinous , May 17, 2008 9:24 PM

I babysat a yellow-naped Amazon for three months. I treated it gently and got along with it fine. My roommate at the time kept whipping it into a frenzy trying to get it to yell. He ended up in the ER with a very large, bloody hole in his neck.

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#19 posted by Antinous , May 17, 2008 9:28 PM

I do have a fantasy of getting a pet toucan, but the cost is prohibitive.

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#20 posted by Takuan , May 17, 2008 9:35 PM

first buy a scale. And be sure to use it.

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#21 posted by Antinous , May 17, 2008 9:40 PM

For the carefully diced out-of-season cantaloupe?

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#22 posted by Takuan , May 17, 2008 10:00 PM

exquisite care in excellent food, pure water and constant mental stimulation go without saying. Parrots are no more difficult than Hungarian countesses and vastly better company. You MUST weigh them EVERY DAY. The only chance you have to save them if sickness comes will be the sudden change in weight. A grams scale is only twenty Euros.You MUST use it DAILY.

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#23 posted by Antinous , May 17, 2008 10:26 PM

no more difficult than Hungarian countesses and vastly better company

I'll just assume that Elizabeth Báthory is not included in that declaration.

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#24 posted by Takuan , May 17, 2008 10:41 PM

a piker. An affronted parrot would fill a swimming pool much less a bathtub

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#25 posted by zuzu

, May 17, 2008 11:21 PM