Like most geeky libertarian policy guys, I had big plans for this Valentine’s Day: curling up on the couch with a cheap bottle of wine, a big bag full of Oreos, and the archives of the Libertarian Girl weblog. Alas, Catallarchy’s Micha Ghertner has ruined my night by revealing that LG’s photo was lifted from a Ukrainian mail order bride page. I’ve been officially had.
I’m not angry though. It was an excellent hoax and, as my flatmate and I discussed, taking model photos from Eastern European personal ads and posting them on one’s sidebar to increase traffic is an established practice in the blogging world. In fact, even one of D.C.’s most respected bloggers has resorted to this underhanded maneuver. I have uncovered incontrovertible proof that the supposed “Will Wilkinson” is none other than Vanko, a Ukrainian acrobat who’s looking for a little love (and a kidney):
Will Wilkinson, blogger
Vanko, Ukrainian mail order husband
Need further proof? Just examine Vanko’s complete profile:
http://www.russian-men.net/husbands/nr8357.shtml
I rest my case.
Jacob Grier is a freelance writer, bartender, cocktail consultant, and magician in Portland, Oregon. He writes, eats, and drinks a lot. His articles have appeared in the print or online editions of The Washington Post, The Atlantic, The Los Angeles Times, Reason, The Oregonian, and other publications.
Does that qualify me to be a geeky Libertarian policy guy?
I was going to click on that link but I unfortunately the network Firewall guys at my job all know me and I would never ever live it down. I’ll forever be tagged as “Russian Manlover” or something more incidious.
The fact that Bloggers are using fake pics is disturbing. I mean, what’s next? Those poor Nigerians that I send money to are fake?
Mike, we’re a big tent philosophy. Consider yourself in. Just drop the capital “L”, ok?
Doug, I agree that you should limit your Russian mail order husband hunting to when you’re not at work.
I am very intersted.
Send me emails please.
Mike
Hi! I was surfing and found your blog post… nice! I love your blog.
Cheers! Sandra. R.