If it's August, it's time for lots of people to change jobs. Perenially in Washington, the quiet days of late summer are often an opportunity to jump posts, trade beats, or start something new. We're sure that this week's Marc Ambinder announcement is only the beginning of many changes ahead.

In that vein, the National Review's Eric Pfeiffer has an interesting lead this morning: "White House reporters are buzzing that widely-respected Washington Post reporter Mike Allen is leaving his current job to become a White House correspondent for Time magazine. I placed a phone call and email to Allen, who was kind enough to write back, saying: 'Thank you for asking. I love The Washington Post and have not made a decision about any change.'"

So no confirmation, but certainly much wiggle room in there--and who would know how to leave wiggle room in an ambiguous statement like a former (and future?) White House reporter?

> You might remember Allen was part of the Post's Great White House Shift of 2004.

> A reader adds: "Allen is the best all around reporter in Washington, and an incredibly nice and considerate guy. If he left the Post, they'd feel that loss for quite a while."