the holidays Julian Assange Posed in a Santa Suit for Newsweek 
 
 Julian Assange is always surprising us. There was the time he dumped international cables on a world that didn't take him seriously enough, there's the ongoing sex crime investigation, the time he dumped even more international cables on a world still doubting his significance, the nerdy OKCupid profile, and his curious on-again/off-again relationship with the media. Well, it's definitely on again in Newsweek: The magazine shot a series of photos of Assange spending the holidays at journalist Vaughan Smith's mansion in the English countryside while on bail and under house arrest, fighting extradition to Sweden where he faces a sex crime investigation. Assange is a natural in front of the cameras, and he seems to enjoy the lens. But what facts do we learn about how this man is spending his house arrest, from the spread? 
 
 Julian Assange uses a Mac. It's settled, once and for all. And not only is he photographed with his Mac (from which, presumably, he runs WikiLeaks), but he appears to be spending some time perusing the Internet late at night, possibly Googling his name and reading blog posts and comments about himself. No judgment. 
 
 He's receiving fanmail and, now, Christmas cards. He appears to be tickled by the letters. 
 
 He's working on his organic farming skills. He specializes in wood-chucking and raising chickens. Seriously. He's trying to "earn his keep" at the mansion, apparently. 
 
 He either owns a Santa Clause suit or simply agreed to wear one. And he looks either adorable or terrifying in it. The bag he's carrying that says "I've been very, very, very good (most of the time)," is definitely his, though. Classic Assange. 
 
 He has made friends with all the Smiths. The family - grandma and everything - was photographed sitting down for a big Christmas dinner with the cable-leaker. With house arrest like this, who needs freedom? 
 
 Christmas With Assange [Newsweek via Gawker, Runnin' Scared/VV] ||||| Wikileaks founder Julian Assange is currently holed up in an English country mansion, fighting extradition to Sweden where he faces a sex crime investigation. What better time for Newsweek to publish an exclusive photo gallery: "Christmas with Julian?" 
 
 If this leaking thing doesn't work out, Assange may want to embark on a career as an Eddie Bauer model: See an apple-cheeked Julian tossing firewood; see him reading his fan mail in a tasteful pullover, or frolicking in a santa suit, carrying a novelty toy sack that reads "Dear Santa, I've been very, very, very good (most of the time.)" Haw haw. His style says, "Sure, I'm under house arrest in a mansion because of creepy sex crime allegations, but I also appreciate fine scotch and the company of a good hunting dog." 
 
 Seems that Newsweek missed a great opportunity by not taking a more conceptual angle to this spread, though. Like, maybe Assange could have been running around in a thong, chased by sexy CIA agents who are trying to smear him in honey? [Newsweek]
– Life is just so droll when you’re international man of mystery/rape suspect Julian Assange. Sure, he’s under house arrest, but house arrest doesn’t look so bad in the hilarious-yet-unfortunate “Christmas with Julian” photo gallery Newsweek is running. Maybe it’s because that “house” is a 600-acre British country estate that, the magazine assures us, puts Roman Polanski’s old Swiss chalet to shame. In the gallery, Assange is seen relaxing by the fire, tending to chickens, and, in one sure-to-be famous shot, wearing an ill-fitting Santa suit, with a bag reading, “Dear Santa: I’ve been very, very, very good (most of the time).” Through it all, he manages to look like a carefree country aristocrat. “If this leaking thing doesn't work out,” Gawker quips, “Assange may want to embark on a career as an Eddie Bauer model.” Click here for more observations on the spread, and here to see the photos.