Stick in Space

Russia is having about as much fun as a nation can with a yard-long metal stick. The Olympic torch sans flame launched aboard a Soyuz to the International Space Station, and on Saturday a couple Russians will spacewalk with it. But that’s not all:

“Last month, the Olympic flame traveled to the North Pole on a Russian nuclear-powered icebreaker. Later this month it will sink to the bottom of the world’s deepest lake, Lake Baikal, and in February it will reach the peak of Mount Elbrus, at 5,642 meters (18,510 feet) the highest mountain in Russia and Europe.” (link)