I put up a simple funny illustration that looked at the striking resemblance between Walt and Anton Ego–a character from the current Pixar animated film “Ratatouille”–and my good friend Owen Thomas, the new head wag at Valleywag, tries to spin it into a faux feud I might be having with my most illustrious partner, Walt Mossberg.

Perish the thought!

In the movie, which I have not even seen as yet, Ego is apparently dour and humorless–although I understand he is redeemed by the end–which seems about right for the food critic he is. Also, I might add, he is a CARTOON.

While Walt might not be actually animated, his personality and writing surely are, and he can also be very funny. And I have nothing but admiration for him, except when he mocks my deep love of Barry Manilow (that’s right–I am a Fanilow!), about which we shall speak of no more.

I mean I wouldn’t jump to the conclusion that Owen necessarily giggles were one to poke him in the stomach, for example, even if I were I to, say, compare him to the Pillsbury Doughboy (although he is most certainly Pop ‘n’ Fresh).