Alternating Baldies
NPR reports on a puzzling pattern in the hair growth of Russia's leaders. Its bald leaders (such as Lenin and Khrushchev) always are followed in power by hairy men who, in turn, are followed by bald men. The full line of succession:
What could this mean? Probably nothing. But it is an odd coincidence.
America, by contrast, almost never elects bald presidents. NPR calls this our "baldness barrier." (Thanks to Big Gary!)
When the Communists took over in Russia in 1917, the first leader, Vladimir Lenin, was bald. His successor, Joseph Stalin, was hairy. Stalin's successor (we're skipping an interim leader, Georgy Malenkov, who never got to be chairman), Nikita Khrushchev, was bald. Next up: Leonid Brezhnev (hairy). Then, in rapid succession, came Yuri Andropov (bald), Konstantin Chernenko (hairy), Mikhail Gorbachev (bald), Boris Yeltsin (hairy), Vladimir Putin (very, very thin on top) — and last and maybe least, today's Dmitry Medvedev (hairy).
What could this mean? Probably nothing. But it is an odd coincidence.
America, by contrast, almost never elects bald presidents. NPR calls this our "baldness barrier." (Thanks to Big Gary!)
Comments
avmayes614 are you really old enough to remember Winky Dink or has it/he been revived for the new millennium?
Posted by Expat47 in Athens, Greece on 09/10/08 at 01:07 PM
Bald people as leaders of America? Ha! I think not. Clearly, haired men (specifically old, white, white-haired men) are the superior choice. Imainge a blad president; who could ever take him seriously.
"I think your plan for changing the world economy will both save the coming generations by averting wars and revitalizing the environment. I'm sorry we won't be going through with it, though Mr. President. You see, you are bald and therefore your plan must have a fatal flaw. Here's some spare change; go buy a toupée at least, you smooth-pated freak."
"I think your plan for changing the world economy will both save the coming generations by averting wars and revitalizing the environment. I'm sorry we won't be going through with it, though Mr. President. You see, you are bald and therefore your plan must have a fatal flaw. Here's some spare change; go buy a toupée at least, you smooth-pated freak."
Posted by kingmonkey in Athens, Ontario on 09/10/08 at 01:28 PM
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Category: Politics