I was reading this lovely story on the Newsweek website about animals that have been in space (Animals in Orbit) and it got me thinking about all of the furry little friends that have blasted off into the great unknown - including, of course, Sigourney Weaver. I don't mean to say that she is some sort of freakish, big toothed animal, but... she is a freakish big toothed animal (for the film Alien at least... oh she wasn't the alien? Whatever, I stand by it).

First, a little bit about what I learned: we have been shooting animals at the stars for about 50 years. The Soviet Union was the first to blast off animals into space, a pair of dogs on Aug. 19, 1960 - with the result being these animals came back down to Earth safely. Cue the impending buzz kill - a lot of the animals that were sent up there (likely against their will) died or have since died and there is a section in the "article" devoted to their lives. That is so sad, I am a big animal lover (not in the creepy neighbor way) and it is actually pretty horrifying to think about.

So to lighten things up I am going to instead talk about Sigourney Weaver wielding a space age machine gun while carrying around children - laughing in the face of danger! Muahaha! Seriously though, how great is that picture? That little girl is probably as terrified as the poor animals that were rocketed into the great abyss. Oh wait I'm not supposed to mention that. Look at her shoes and those pants - and that eighties hair! And I love how her face is all serious - shes such a good actress - so "teethy" though.

The plastic gun is the part that really gets me, how are you going to kill anything (even that small child) with a fake gun, Sigourney Weaver? Oh man, what a classic movie. Anywho - if you are interested in learning about the animals we blasted off into space read Animals in Orbit (it includes pics). If you don't feel particularly emo when you read this watch this space video and continue to feel happy - or do both! It includes shirtless male astronauts! Just sayin'

I have always wondered how strong, manly, astronauts shaved... and between the youtube video and the movie Alien I have a pretty good idea about how it's done.