Mystery solved on Matt ’s seemingly online crankiness October 27. Dear old Drudgemuffin is now 39 years young.

However you feel about his politics or journalistic scruples, he’s accomplished a lot in his almost-fourscore years. Particularly since he was still working the CBS gift shop up to ten years ago. It took awhile to get out from under the shadow of Walter Winchell, and truth be told, there’s a lot people still don’t know about Drudge. (For old time’s sake, check out our FAQs on Drudge Parts One and Two. Sure, the big lug might’ve changed a tad, but not really. He gets a little ornery when it comes to First Amendment issues, but deep down, he’s still the same charming excitable boy we fell in love with.

What with the Norman Bates-style front page today and the “name this Maureen Dowd pic” open call, he’s in a better mood now. Happy B-Week, Matt. Hope you liked the soup.