Photo: Vladimir Ilyich Lenin (1870 – 1924) lying in state in the Kremlin. (Photo by Hulton Archive/Getty Images). 1924

Important! For the same article in Russian language click here.

Something quite intriguing is happening within Russian-speaking internet during the last few – should you type a fully academic inquiry (at least, according to Russian academic requirements) in national search engines for "Lenin's mausoleum" – the first thing you get (even in top 10 searches) is website pages talking about black magic and occult. Website authors view this construction differently, but unconditionally agree on one thing: the mausoleum of the "leader of the world proletariat” – the essence of a magical artifact, a sort of “energy vampire”. It was built with a certain purpose: to drain the energy out of miserable Soviet citizens on one hand; and to poison the anthroposphere of one-sixth part of the earth with its vibes (the exact territory that was occupied by the former Soviet Union), depriving the Russian people of will to resist on the other hand. Complete nonsense? No doubt. Nevertheless, an intriguing one. Well, probably because some oddities do exist in mausoleum's history. These oddities are the thing we are going to discuss this time. First, let me refresh you memory on the subject.

For most ironing is one of those boring chores we tend to put off doing – but for one teenager ironing has become something of an extreme sport. Kevin Krupitzer, 17, has turned the mundane into the insane by taking his ironing board to the most extraordinary of locations, from the edge of cliff to on board a canoe. The daring teenager travels around his hometown of Gilbert, Arizona in search of the weirdest places to iron. And he has even climbed to the top of a 120ft high rock, dubbed the Totem Pole in Queen Creek Canyon, AZ in pursuit of his bizarre hobby. (Photo by Kevin Krupitzer/Caters News)

These stunning light art pictures of skateboarding skeletons were created by Darren Pearson from Los Angeles. He works as a full time illustrator by day and by night he explores the varying landscapes of California in search of the perfect scene for his light-sculptures. Pearson makes complex light-effect photographs, none of which are photoshopped. He describes the work as location-based light art. Photo: A light skateboarder grinding a rail. (Photo by Darren Pearson/Caters News)

Throughout the course of the long war in Afghanistan, Coalition troops have relied on thousands of military working dogs to help keep them safe, and make their jobs easier. The dogs are trained to detect explosives, to find illegal drugs, to search for missing comrades, or target enemy combatants. Not only are they active on the front lines, but behind the lines they serve as therapy dogs, service dogs, and loyal companions. They also share the same risks as the ground troops, suffering injuries and sometimes death on the battlefields. Gathered here are images of these dogs and their handlers in Afghanistan and back home, from over the past several years, part of the ongoing series here on Afghanistan.

Sting covers classic ringtones (aka "Stingtones"), and records a personal outgoing message for an audience member to the tune of "Message In A Bottle."