Annual ugly dog appreciation

A Chinese Crested-Chihuahua mix with an abnormally large tongue has been crowned this year's ugliest dog in an annual competition in California.

It's true that two-year-old Elwood, seen at right, is a vast improvement over last year's champ. But the victory must be bittersweet -- not only because he's so ugly but because even despite his hideous appearance he is probably only about one-eighth as ugly as Sam the Chinese Crested who won the contest three years running before dying of fear after he spotted himself in a mirror.

I respect you, Elwood, but you'll never be as great as Sam.