Sweeet. See what you can do about getting Magglio signed.

Personally, I've always thought a shot of Salma Hayek would be more appropriate and, no disrespect intended, much more pleasing. And I'm sure I'm not alone in this.

But I hardly enter through the front page anyway.

I like the new photo, but it needs a thought bubble with something like, "Can members of the media elite enjoy nachos with warm cheese dip? mmm...nachos."

Take the new pic. It has just the right combination of sophistication and devilishness to make you seem genuinely influential.

The Crain's photo makes you look much older, I think. Sometimes that's a good thing, as older tends to imply more distinguished, but I'm not sure sure that's the case here.

You state in your request"Oh, and eaders are warily encouraged. . . ." I'm wondering what an "eader" is. Thise of us who are not members of the media elit do not know such arcane terms. Is there a secret handshake, as well? Don't all of the media elites enjoy nachos in cheese?

Whoops!! Fixed now. Apologies to the proles :-)

Go with the new one - as it doesn't look like a holiday snap taken by your cat.

Dan,

Are you crazy? Yeah, you look "distinguished" here but also vaguely (sorry) middle-aged, whereas the boyish charm of the informal snap currently occupying the spot is very appealing.

Save this one for the glossy handout when you lecture at Davos next year.

What does your wife say? No woman would ever take "dinstinguished" over "cute", but hey, that's just me.

I am (along with many other of your longtime blog readers) shocked to learn to you have a homepage.

Crain's photo makes you look like a somewhat younger Paul Wolfowitz.

Perhaps you should find someone to take your blog photo and photoshop you into a suit. And while they're at it, they could put Salma Hayek in there somehow. Maybe massaging your temples.

Picture caption: "Drezner, shown here before his indictment, denied embezzling university funds and claimed 'Look, I never whacked anybody. I'm part of the media elite, which you would know if you visited my web site.'"

Portrait photos are hard, but this one is heavy on the eyebrows. I'm not saying it makes you look like a New Age gangster. I mean, other interpretations are possible, and maybe this is a look you need living in Chicago anyway. Personally I like portraits with more light, less shadow. The poster who suggested you ask your wife probably has a sound instinct.

In the photo you use now you look like a likeable whiz kid with a sense of humor. The new photo makes you look like you are formally presenting yourself as a distinguished important person. Both are good photos, but I'd go with the original .

I agree with those who say that the new photo makes you look quite a bit older. Also, in the new one, you don't seem to be looking right at the camera. Makes you look a little shifty. That can't be good, right?

Oh, and readers are warily encouraged to proffer their opinion about whether the head shot clicked by Crain's photogrpher should replace the one currently greeting people at my home page:

It depends on whether you're going for the "renouned egghead" (current picture) or the "obscure expert" (new picture).

You look a lot younger in the picture you have on the site currently.

Does this mean I have to stop reading your blog? Are you far enough east for Rush to belittle you, too?