PUZZLE #31 & The Shadow Government

ACROSS LITE PUZZLE: [ ME AND MY SHADOW] 
PROGRAM: [Across Lite]

PROGRAM: [Java]

PRINTOUT PUZZLE: [ ME AND MY SHADOW]
PROGRAM: [Adobe Acrobat]

I had a friend who, after a couple two-three adult beverages, used to go on and on about the so-called shadow governments that were slowly taking over the planet. He'd go on about how they were watching our every move, making our food unfit to eat, etc. He'd say that once the transition of power is complete, masonic symbols would be everywhere. That sort of thing. Almost always, the rest of us who were listening to him ramble would punctuate his spiel by taking out our wallets and examining our dollar bills saying, “yup, the eye is most definitely getting closer to the pyramid.”

Anyway, this past Christmas, my brother-in-law's family gave me a book by Jon Ronson called “Them.” It was humorously-detailed gonzo journalism about of the lives of paranoid extremists. The people who were onto the Secret Rulers of the World. You know, the ones who've dedicated their lives to pointing out that alien lizards control the world banks. Those sorts of fruitcakes.

It was an entertaining book, but I wonder what the hell Geof was thinking when he bought it? Did he and his wife wander around Powell's and go: “this book has Brendan's name written all over it?” They did such a fantastic job with everybody else, completely nailing everyone's likes ... did they really think I was into the shadow governments? Do I really come across that paranoid? I asked myself: “did I look to see if the eye was closing in on the pyramid on the back of the dollar at their wedding last June?” Maybe I really am that paranoid?

Anyway, for Presidents Day, I decided we should probably acknowledge the rest of those who are in charge. So, whoever you are, this puzzle's for you.

(Anyone who might be interested in another one of my puzzles along this same line, I offer you this classic from The Onion back on 12/6/06.)

Editor's Note: I reposted the updated puzzle roughly 9:00 p.m. Monday 2/16/09. The offending entry is gone now, lawsuit dropped, wolves kept at bay, etc. The moral, as always, don't fuck around with those in power. Oh, and, if you ever need a good attorney, I can't recommend my lawyer Don Bixtler enough. The guy is legend.