A Russian warship is docked in San Francisco this week on a friendship mission. The cruiser Varyag has 16 cruise missiles, anti-submarine rockets, a tropical fish tank, and two parrots. The crew will have a cookout with the crew from the U.S. Navy’s cruiser Bunker Hill. In 1863 Czar Alexander II sent a fleet of ships to San Francisco and New York to show support for the Union in the Civil War.

Rescue dogs, purebreds, and mixed breeds follow their senator and congressmen owners to work on Capitol Hill, adding much needed stress relief to busy days.  They may get to sit in on high-powered meetings and get scratched behind the ears by the elite of Washington, but these dogs are just like dogs anywhere, waiting hopefully for their treats and walks.

“Seattle Center invites the public to a Free Ice Skate on the ice at KeyArena, Friday, June 4, 12 noon – 8 pm. Free admission, free skate use and 17,000 square feet of ice.” There’s no catch here, you can even bring your own food and drink, no tickets required, 40 minute sessions each hour, walkers for beginners. Have fun!

In an interesting turn of events, Tesla and Toyota have formed a partnership of sorts around the recently closed Nummi plant in Fremont, California. Nummi, the auto plant that just won’t die, started as a GM venture, closed, then was reopened as a joint GM and Toyota venture. Toyota will invest $50 million in Tesla Motors who will turn that money around into reviving Nummi as the factory for its new Model S electric sedan. Akio Toyoda’s ride in Elon Musk’s Tesla Roadster must have given the Toyota president hope for moving beyond his company’s recent recall troubles. It’s that Silicon Valley startup energy sparking in the sound of a silent car.

Lena Horne passed away Sunday at the age of 92. The N.Y. Times obituary notes “Ms. Horne might have become a major movie star, but she was born 50 years too early, and languished at MGM in the 1940s because of the color of her skin.”

“My identity is very clear to me now. I am a black woman. I’m free. I no longer have to be a ‘credit.’ I don’t have to be a symbol to anybody; I don’t have to be a first to anybody. I don’t have to be an imitation of a white woman that Hollywood sort of hoped I’d become. I’m me, and I’m like nobody else.” -Lena at 80

Actor Tom Hanks gave the White House Press Corps an espresso machine six years ago. During his recent visit with the President he noticed the machine had been much appreciated but perhaps not well taken care of.  He sent along a new model with a note that the spout should really be cleaned after every use.