February 19, 2002

• So the deal is that it’s 1:50am, I’m coming down with a cold, and I’m listening to Peter Gabriel’s ‘Lead A Normal Life.’ (“eating with a spoon/they don’t give you knives..”)
  
  Visiting a few web sites, and I come across an image of Gary Condit. Now, usually I flee such faces in terror, but I sat and looked at this face for a while, because there’s something absolutely intriguing there.
  
  This man’s face is a mask of teeth. Teeth are what you show when you smile, but they’re also what you show when you grimace and threaten.
  
  Large teeth are thus a mixed message… On the one hand, a big smile shows all the way across the meeting hall, and people will see it and vote for you. On the other hand, overwhelming dental presence allows you to threaten your way to the position of Alpha Male Primate.
  
  Condit’s eyes are way back there behind the rest of his face. Those eyes peer out over the mighty teeth to gauge whether the mighty lips should contain the teeth’s power, or cover it and keep it in reserve.
  
  Essentially: That picture frightens me.

  • 4:55 am
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