Kerouac: “Trust me, man.  Being a Pinko?—that just ain’t where it’s at.” update:  “Cat.”

Reuters: The Federal Reserve raised U.S. interest rates a quarter percentage point on Tuesday for a seventh straight time and nodded to growing inflation concerns, while saying it should still be able to lift rates gradually. The unanimous and widely anticipated decision by the U.S. central bank’s policy-setting Federal Open Market Committee moves the benchmark federal funds rate—which affects credit costs throughout the economy—to 2.75 percent. Probably just a coincidence,

From the BBC: A senior Israeli intelligence official has praised Palestinian security forces for preventing as many militant attacks as their Israeli counterparts. Brig Gen Yossi Kuperwasser was speaking to the Knesset foreign affairs and defence committee. However, he gave no figures and did not say whether he was referring to the West Bank, the Gaza Strip or both. His comments came a day after Israel handed over security responsibility

From the AP: A federal judge on Tuesday refused to order the reinsertion of Terri Schiavo’s feeding tube, denying an emergency request from the brain-damaged woman’s parents. The parents’ lawyer quickly filed a notice of appeal. The ruling by U.S. District Judge James Whittemore came after feverish action by President Bush and Congress on legislation allowing the contentious case to be reviewed by federal courts. The judge said the 41-year-old

Kyle Erickson, who lives about 40 minutes from Red Lake, MN, reflects on the school shooting that yesterday claimed 10 lives, including those of the gunman, so-called “NativeNazi” Jeff Weise, and his grandparents. Having lived just down the road from Columbine at the time of that horrific 1999 rampage, I can remember having some of the same thoughts Kyle expresses in his essay. Moral:  if a kid claiming to love

I suppose I could guest blog for you. But then again, ‘s probably not a good idea.*

“This Schiavo dame is really cutting into my media coverage, Billy.  And it’s beginning to piss me off.  In fact, I’m thinking that if this isn’t settled one way or the other by Wednesday, I may just have to fly down to Florida and stick that tube back down her throat myself.”* “Well, you are nothing if not a healer, Ward…”