Tyler Cowen does a typically intriguing economic analysis and concludes that maybe you should give money to the homeless people who don't beg. Since we're on the topic of beggars in India, I also offer Tom Stoppard's less economic and more selfish analysis:

[From Indian Ink:

Dilip: You have to understand that begging is a profession. Like dentistry. Like shining shoes. It’s a service. Every so often, you need to get a tooth filled, or your shoes shined, or to give alms. So when a beggar presents himself to you, you have to ask yourself-- do I need a beggar today? If you do, give him alms. If you don’t, don’t.

Yasser Arafat is dead, I think. My friend Zev Berger has a few thoughts.

Former guest blogger Douglas Berman, at his home blog, begins a post on the Court's latest oral arguments thus:

I know death is different, and I know we should always be especially careful in the administration of society's ultimate punishment . . .