Evan Brown’s Links of Interest

I must admit that I am mildly surprised by this outcome. Former Alabama Governor Don Siegelman and HealthSouth founder and former CEO Richard Scrushy has been sentenced to a combined 170 months in federal prison for their crimes of bribery, conspiracy, and mail fraud. Neither man is eligible for parole.

I assumed that there would be some jail time, but Siegelman’s sentence of seven years, four months and Scrushy’s sentence of six years, ten months was more than I thought either man would receive. It is somewhat comforting to see the justice system actually punish criminals, despite being (in)famous and having high-priced attorneys.

Link: Montgomery Advertiser

There are no words to describe how troubling the news is that WWE wrestler Chris Benoit has committed suicide after murdering his own wife and seven-year-old son. Please pray for the extended family of Benoit and his wife Nancy during this incredibly difficult time.

Link: Atlanta Journal–Constitution

It is good to see justice prevail. Ali Hassan al-Majid, the former Ba’athist Iraqi Defense Minister under Saddam Hussein, has been sentenced to die for for genocide, war crimes, and crimes against humanity. “Chemical Ali,” as he is commonly known, will be hung along with other Saddam loyalists for their role in murdering an estimated 182,000 Kurds.

The government of Iraqi Kurdistan has released a statement concerning the death sentences of Ali and the other killers, saying that the difference between how these men were tried and convicted and how they carried out their own “justice” during the genocide of the Kurdish people “could not be more stark.” The statement also declared their prosecution under a fair system to be “a triumph for the rule of law.”

Link: Gulf Times

I have honestly never dined in a Bob Evans restaurant. Although it is a well-known chain in the U.S., there are no locations in Alabama, where I live. However, I have passed them on the interstate when traveling in other states, and once upon a time, I worked for a competitor.

Despite having never visited any of his restaurants, I am familiar with the story of Bob Evans, the man, and I am sure that he will be dearly missed by those who knew him and loved him and his restaurants.

Link: MSN Money

For the second time, George W. Bush has vetoed a bill which would authorize federal funding of embryonic stem cell research. Following his veto, the President had some words to share concerning science and morality: “America is a nation founded on the principle that all human life is sacred. And our conscience calls us to pursue the possibilities of science in a manner that respects human dignity and upholds our moral values.” He went on to state clearly that “destroying human life in the hopes of saving human life is not ethical.”

For all the grief that President Bush gets for being “stubborn,” the pro-embryo-destruction crowd is far worse. Embryonic stem cells shouldn’t even be an issue anymore since new research indicates that adult cells can be returned to pluripotency. Nevertheless, proponents of embryonic research are still vehemently fighting to get the federal government to pay for it, stating that they will continue to bring it up until the issue has enough Congressional support to override a veto or until there is a pro-embryo-destruction President in the White House. How sad.

Link: SF Gate

Kilmer Middle School in Vienna, Virginia has an unusual school policy: no physical contact whatsoever is allowed between students at the school. Naturally, that means no kissing, hugging, or hand-holding is permitted. But the rule also prohibits non-romantic touching such has back-slaps, high-fives, and even handshakes!

It is understandable that school officials would want to limit inappropriate contact between student, but banning all touching seems incredibly excessive to me and possibly an example of a solution being worse than the problem.

Link: Washington Post

The troop surge in Iraq is now complete, and a major offensive is underway. American troops are actively engaging al-Qaeda in Iraq, seeking to “destroy” the terrorist group which continues to keep the Iraqi nation in a state of turmoil. U.S. forces began the operation near the city of Baqubah, which is a known al-Qaeda stronghold north of Baghdad.

I pray that the efforts of our brave men and women are successful.

Link: Sky News

There are big changes happening at the very top of the chain of command at the popular Internet company Yahoo! Incorporated. In an attempt to regain the confidence of Yahoo! investors, Terry Semel has resigned as the Chief Executive Officer and is being succeeded by his former partner Jerry Yang. Also, Susan Decker has taken over as Yahoo! President.

We will have to wait and see if this executive shuffling can get the company moving in the right direction again.

Link: Yodel Anecdotal

Bob Barker, the 83-year-old who has hosted the popular daytime game show The Price Is Right for thirty-five years, is finally retiring. The final Barker-hosted episode aired last night right before the 34th Daytime Emmy Awards, where the show won two Emmys — one for Outstanding Game Show and one for Outstanding Game Show Host (naturally).

In winning his nineteenth and final Emmy, Barker beat out fellow game show hosts Alex Trebek of Jeopardy!, Pat Sajak of Wheel of Fortune, Meredith Vieira of Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?, and Ben Bailey of Cash Cab (my new favorite game show). In addition to the Emmy, Bob Barker also received a standing ovation, presumably for his fifty years of working in the television industry and maybe for his role in millions of pets being spayed or neutered.

Link: E! Online

California governor Arnold Schwarzenegger told a gathering of journalists that Hispanic immigrants should avoid Spanish-language media while they are learning English. Schwarzenegger, who prefaced his comment by saying it was “politically incorrect,” said that Spanish speakers need to “turn off the Spanish television” if they want to easily assimilate into the American culture.

Link: SF Gate

This world has lost a great woman of faith. Ruth Graham, the wife of American evangelist Billy Graham, died earlier today after slipping into a coma. Her famous husband, to whom she was married for sixty-four years, was at her bedside when she passed, as were her five children. Mrs. Graham was eighty-seven years old.

Link: Christianity Today

I was sad to hear that Don Herbert, a.k.a. “Mr. Wizard,” died yesterday following a lengthy battle with bone cancer. Mr. Wizard helped bestow a love of science to million of young minds in the ’50s and ’60s through his television program on NBC and again in the ’80s on Nickelodeon, a cable TV channel geared for kids. It has been said that Mr. Wizard is responsible for more people having entered science fields than any other American.

Mr. Herbert was eighty-nine years old.

Link: LA Times