I love good writing in magazines or on the web. I love a good book too but if you can write something short, and probably inconsequential but make it witty, original and fun then sir or madam I take my hat off, put it on the shelf and I don't go thinking about putting it back on again.

The person I turn to first in these matters is the incomparable Giles Smith. And today in the Guardian once again he's turned the sow's ear of a car review into a silk purse of wit! Anyone who describes carbon emissions on the new Mercedes thus: "it pumps its carbon dioxide with a rare insouciance" deserves some hatless applause. http://www.guardian.co.uk/g2/story/0,,1796849,00.html.

Props also to Heather at gofugyourself for coming up with "on the days when we're retaining water like it's the best divorce lawyer in town": http://gofugyourself.typepad.com/go_fug_yourself/2006/06/fug_lively.html