Rants & Rave

Rants —

Oil prices climbed to $120 a barrel this week, curtailing many Americans’ travel and shopping plans.

A 21-year-old Texas man tried to cash a bogus check for $360 billion. Needless to say, the teller noticed this ambitious attempt at check fraud.

Raves —

An injured bald eagle in Idaho has been fitted with an artificial beak, to replace the original beak that was shot off.

The Chinese government and representatives for the Dalai Lama have made progress in early talks aimed at defusing tension before the Olympics.