The House today voted to block the new FCC regulation which would allow a single company to acquire television stations covering 45% of US viewers. A bunch of folks from places like Viacom and Fox showed up to "testify" before the Appropriations Committee. Rupert Murdoch was there, as well as FCC chairman Michael Powell. This is the face that they make when they "ponder questions" asked by the committee: This pensive-looking non-expression is really en vogue in politics right now. It doesn't seem, to me at least, like a very natural expression to make. I wonder if they practice in front of the mirror. These photos reminded me of another photo from earlier in the year. This one shows Putin and Chirac at some Iraq-related meeting: