Kaylen May Gerkey

EXTRA CREDIT (NATIONAL) WORLD COURT – MEDELLIN CASE

Opinion:
I think the conclusion the court came to recently in contrast to that of the President is a good one. Both Medellin and Breyer and Ginsburg also make good arguments for their view of it. If the courts were to hold the ICJ true or the World Court they would have so many more cases to retry and try to substantiate why and how and so many other possibilities. Plus the ruling of the president on the issue did not help matters either. Now the courts were faced with a dilemma: agree with the President and give Medellin a second chance or rule against the President and tell Medellin his appeal is ridiculous. It was one of those things that would probably not affect his sentence but would overturn or raise questions about other rulings over illegal immigrants in the past or in the near future. I think it is good that the courts made the decision they did and now the standard is set, hopefully. And maybe the nest time the President won’t come out and say that some World Court law applies to our states as well.

NATIONAL
Makers Pull Cold Medicine Sold For Infants

Summary:
The Consumer Healthcare Products Association began withdrawing infant cold medicine from the counters on Thursday after the medicine, if not used appropriately, may cause overdoses. So far 54 children fatalities have occurred from over-the-counter decongestant medicines. Many of theses children, under four, only had a cold and then overdosed on cold medicine. The CHPA said that if it were used appropriately, as most parents have, the medicine is not harmful at all, but many stores including CVS have began withdrawing the product from their shelves. The FDA will officially consider revising the labels at a meeting next week.

Opinion:
I think the FDA is doing the right thing. I think they need to move faster and just recall until they figure out what the main problem is before more little babies die. Even though correct use of the product evidently does not create problems something is and the only way to protect future uses, I think is to recall. It would save more lives, even if it means the company loses money. Now I know it won’t happen and the FDA will probably deal with this matter discretely but what about all the babies who died and the families of these children? What do they get back now that their children are dead?

NATIONAL
Misplaced ‘Not’ in Arkansas Law Allows Babies to Marry

Summary:
A mix up in an Arkansas law allowed minors of any age, even babies, to marry with the consent of a parent. The law took effect on July 31 and was mean to establish 18 as the minimum age to get married and with the consent of adult minors who are pregnant. But a typo in to law completely changed its meaning. The Arkansas Code Revision Commission which is supposed to correct typos and technical errors did so in the law but not before a woman who gave her 17 year old daughter permission to marry based on the old law. The law suit went to court and the judge has made a meal of it. “I think this issue needs resolving once and for all” says Senator Sue Madison (D).

Opinion:
This cracks me up to be honest. I think marriage is a great thing but these are just ridiculous technicalities. It should not be such a big deal. The Corrections people fixed it and this woman is just trying to get money. And the judge is giving her reason to keep on. The law created seems to have basis but honestly how can you write that wrong? When reading it over they had to realize that it made it legal for toddlers to get marry. That had to raise some flags!

INTERNATIONAL
UEFA Suspends Dida for Two Matches

Summary:
AC Milan goalkeeper Dida was banned from two UEFA Champions League (UCL) matches after the altercation he faced last Wednesday in his sides UCL match against Celtic FC. The goalkeeper was struck by a crazed fan after Celtic went a goal up near the end of the second half. The spectator ran on the field and slapped the goalkeeper in the face. Dida than began to chase the spectator but realized he had been hit and dramatically fell to the ground. In spite of it all, Celtic has been fined €50,800 while Dida has been banned from the next two UCL matches. Milan Lawyer says the punishments are unbalanced while UEFA state that Dida was found guilty to have breached UEFA’s “principle of loyalty, integrity and sportsmanship.”

[GO TO: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h213GJo76sQ TO WATCH THE CLIP!!!]

Opinion:
The punishment for Dida seems a bit harsh compared to Celtic but if the rules state that if you breach the principals of loyalty, integrity and sportsmanship that is your punishment, than that is your punishment. Dida should not have attempted to chase down the crazed fan. I understand he hit him in the face and it probably pissed him off but everyone knows fighting back gets you in trouble too. The only reason Celtic did not get such a harsh punishment is even though the fan was a Celtic fan the club can’t exactly control every single person. They could have been punished worse but it’s the club first major incident in the UCL. Again Dida made a meal of what happened to him and although I did not expect to hear a two match ban Dida should have just left it alone and not been so dramatic about it and make it a big deal.

INTERNATIONAL
Now Nissan’s Pivo Concept Car Can Drive Sideways Too

Summary:
A new Pivo was unveiled the other day in Tokyo, Japan. The new Nissan car can drive sideways and has a small robot to assist with navigation, sleep and can calm down angry drivers. The Pivo2 is a three-seater electric car with wheels and turns 90 degrees, for easy parallel parking. The robot on the dashboard assists with navigation and tells the driver when beginning to fall asleep where the nearest coffee shop is located. The car uses electric signals for steering and has no axels.

Opinion:
I think this car sounds real cool. I don’t know how well it will work or how safe it will become but it seems very environmentally friendly. Nissan seems to have good ideas in mind: stopping falling asleep and getting angry and providing directions, but is the price of the car going to be worth it? The car can only hold three people and what about cargo; will there be enough room for that too?