WTF???

I ran across this at Andrew Sullivan's Daily Dish, and felt compelled to share it. According to Andrew:

A devotee of the Chinese shrine of Samkong, pierces his cheeks with toy guns during a procession of the Vegetarian Festival on October 11, 2010 in Phuket, Thailand. Ritual Vegetarianism in Phuket Island traces it roots back to the early 1800s. The festival begins on the first evening of the ninth lunar month and lasts for nine days. Participants in the festival perform acts of body piercing as a means of shifting evil spirits from individuals onto themselves and bring the community good luck.

Good to know this twisted shit brings somebody good luck—tempting to think it's an object lesson regarding the hazards of turning the other cheek...Shooting from the Lip? Shooting off your mouth?

(I give up)...