Random Ruminations

Well, I don't have anything specific to write about today, so I'll just post some random nonsense about stuff that's been going on. Maybe one or two people will find it mildly interesting.

Liberty for Lebanon?

Last week, I wrote a bit about the situation in Lebanon:

My hope is that the U.S. administration and the E.U. will not accept tokens of appeasement from Syria as adequate. Getting Syria completely out of Lebanon, and supporting the development of a secular, liberal democracy their is the only acceptable resolution.

I'm glad to note that President Bush has kept on pressuring the Syrians and that there have been continued massive protests against the Syrian troops in Lebanon. [A side note: what is with all the pictures of pretty Lebanese women protesting? It's not that I mind pictures of pretty women, but given the coverage, you'd think that every Lebanese protester was 20-something and gorgeous. It strikes me as a little strange. Aren't there any homely - or even average-looking - protesters? I suppose if you're trying to sell magazines, pictures of pretty women don't hurt. Right, Sports Illustrated? (hat tip to Instapundit.]

Thus far, the protests have been peaceful, thank God. Syria has started a partial pull-out from Lebanon, but hasn't yet agreed to a complete pull-out. In my opinion, this isn't good enough. Syria must completely withdraw from Lebanon, clearing the way for free and fair elections, and true democracy to flourish there. Reiterating from my post of last week, I hope that the U.S. and the E.U. will not accept half-measures from Syria and will back up words with action should Syria not follow through with a complete withdrawal.

She's Ba-aack!

She being, Martha Stewart, of course. She's been freed from prison, is now under house "arrest" (at her multi-million dollar estate), and is back at work running her company.

You know, I always thought that sending Martha Stewart to prison was a complete farce. Ok, she lied to federal investigators and probably did some insider trading (although she wasn't actually charged with or convicted for insider trading), but seriously, prison? My tax dollars went to housing and feeding a woman worth hundreds of millions of dollars. What good did it do anyone to send her to prison?

My personal belief is that the crime should fit the punishment. Martha Stewart isn't a physical danger to anyone, and her crime was one of financial and personal integrity. So, rather than wasting my tax dollars confining her, I think a much more fitting punishment would have been to fine her heavily (several million dollars, perhaps) and force her to give up control of her company. Sending her to prison was ridiculous.

Too Icky to Comment On

And that is all I have to say about the Michael Jackson trial.

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