Odd timezone backend output

I am confused about the below results.  The backend is in EDT but it is 
converting timestamps into EST ... excluding NOW().  Regardless of the 
timezone provided, the backend is dishing out EST.

[root@dev43 ~]# uname -a
2.6.9-67.0.4.EL #1 Sun Feb 3 06:53:29 EST 2008 i686 athlon i386 GNU/Linux

[root@dev43 ~]# date
Thu May  1 09:54:17 EDT 2008

postgres=# select version();
PostgreSQL 8.3devel on i686-pc-linux-gnu, compiled by GCC gcc (GCC) 
3.4.6 20060404 (Red Hat 3.4.6-8)

postgres=# set datestyle='Postgres, MDY';
postgres=# select now();                 now
------------------------------------- Thu May 01 09:28:53.164084 2008 EDT

postgres=# select '1997-01-29 12:31:42.92214 EDT'::timestamptz;            timestamptz
------------------------------------ Wed Jan 29 11:31:42.92214 1997 EST

postgres=# select '1997-01-29 12:31:42.92214 PST'::timestamptz;            timestamptz
------------------------------------ Wed Jan 29 15:31:42.92214 1997 EST

Is this expected behavior?  I am not sure if I am missing something or 
my results are wrong.  Is there a setting that needs tweaking?

-- 
Andrew Chernow
eSilo, LLC
every bit counts
http://www.esilo.com/