some hard-hitting journalism over at poynter.org, where they interview washington post writer hank stuever:

How do you manage to be witty and wise on deadline?

The only thing I can compare it to is something like a guitar-riff contest at the state fair. When it's your turn, you just get all Van Halen on it, and give it your very best moves, using everything in your arsenal -- reporting, talking to colleagues, talking to sources, talking to the funniest person you know. Googling and surfing like a beast. A quick contemplative walk downstairs for a Diet Pepsi. Some typing. Some pruning.

then they asked, "why exactly is it that your sexual prowress is so renowned?" followed by "how is it that one man can be so good-looking?"