One difference between French appeasement and American appeasement is that France pays ransom in cash and gets its hostages back while the United States pays ransom in arms and gets additional hostages taken.

Never put the story in the lead. Let 'em have a hot shot of ambiguity right between the eyes.

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.

Previously known for its six syllables of sweetness and light, reconciliation has become the political fighting word of the year.

When articulation is impossible, gesticulation comes to the rescue.

To be accused of 'channeling' is to be dismissed as a ventriloquist's live dummy, derogated at not having a mind of one's own.

A reader ought to be able to hold it and become familiar with its organized contents and make it a mind's manageable companion.