Eclipsed by all my gleeful excitement over marking Civil War events from 150 years ago is another seminal event from only 50 years ago: Yuri Gagarin becomes the first human in space.
The Associated Press recently moved a wonderful story about the man, the mission, and the race to the moon his achievement provoked (beautifully explored by one of my favorite miniseries). “Gagarin’s flight on the Vostok was entirely automated,” reporter Vladimir Isachenkov writes, “yet simply by having the courage to face the unknown, he taught his fellow humans a vital lesson: that they had a future in space.”
Keep an eye out for more stellar (pun intended) Gagarin coverage this week. As always, BBC News is a great place to start. (Photo: Associated Press file)
TUNES
My soundtrack for today included:
1. CAN’T YOU HEAR ME KNOCKING The Rolling Stones
2. DEEP DARK TRUTHFUL MIRROR (Unplugged) Elvis Costello
3. A STROKE OF LUCK Garbage
4. GIMME SHELTER The Rolling Stones
5. FIRST CUT IS THE DEEPEST Rod Stewart
6. HARD TO MAKE A STAND Sheryl Crow
7. MUSIC Madonna
8. AND I LOVE HER The Beatles
9. SHE’S WAITING Eric Clapton
10. HEY JOE Jimi Hendrix
Stillness of Heart 
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