Khatami: Iran Won't Give Up Nukes

This shouldn't be a surprise, and note who's saying it: Not the mullahs, but the elected, liberal president of Iran. If we invade Iran to stop its nuclear program (as Rummy, it seems, is itching to do), we'll be fighting the liberals as well as the conservative Islamicists. So don't believe them, this time, if they claim it's a mercy mission to spread freedom through the world.

Ash Wednesday?

I think it is, anyway. I've never been sure, and never thought about it before I moved to New York.

The first time I saw a guy with a big black blotch of his forehead I thought, "Poor guy. He has one hell of an ugly birthmark."

The second time it was a group of young women, brunnettes with tawny skin. "Gee, there are an lot of Hindus on the streets today," I mused to myself.

It was years before I figured something was wrong, and someone -- I think it was bugsybanana -- told me the truth.