In the New York Times the other day, Mark Halperin, political

analyst for Time, wrote that George W. Bush was a "wildly

talented politician." Asked if he was referring to the current

President of the United States, Mr. Halperin only grinned

and stuck his thumb back in his mouth.

Mark Halperin Transfixed by His Own Guile

Mark Halperin, late of The Note, says, "I don't mind if

people blog -- but they should apply high standards of

journalism." If they don't (or won't), he adds: "The best

solution is for serious consumers of news to write letters

to the editor." Asked what writing instrument these

consumers of news should use, he says he favors the

Conway Stewart Limited Edition Plymouth Pilgrims

Fountain Pen (street price: $1,869).