When infuriated by an outrageous column, do not be suckered into responding with an abusive e-mail. Pundits so targeted thumb through these red-faced electronic missives with delight, saying 'Hah! Got to 'em.'

Knowing how things work is the basis for appreciation, and is thus a source of civilized delight

Never look for the story in the 'lede.' Reporters are required to put what's happened up top, but the practiced pundit places a nugget of news, even a startling insight, halfway down the column, directed at the politiscenti. When pressed for time, the savvy reader starts there.

The reason I'm not on the e-mail list is because I thought it'd be cooler to write letters to somebody, since I can write e-mails to anybody.

We alerted them by mail and sent a second letter on Thursday saying, 'It turns out nothing happened. We're always going to err on the side of protecting people.

I'm saying maybe you put them on TV and cut off a thumb.