Hayley Burns (national)( week of: 24-28 March 2008)

Wal-Mart Critic Wins Judgment in 'Walocaust' Lawsuit

Summary:
ATLANTA — A federal judge has sided with a Georgia man whose satirical Web site likens Wal-Mart to the Holocaust. U.S. District Judge Timothy C. Batten Sr. in Atlanta rejected Wal-Mart's claims that Charles Smith's Web site and satirical products violated the company's trademark. In an 87-page order, Batten said Smith's products qualified as protected noncommercial speech because his goal was to criticize Wal-Mart, not to make a profit from his products. The 50-year-old computer storeowner from Conyers, Ga., said he was "elated" by the ruling in the two-year-old case. "It's great," he said. "I'm relieved. Whenever you go into litigation against such a big company, you never know the outcome."

Opinion:
So I think its great that this normal citizen went up against such a powerful corporation, and won! I think that Wal-Mart was just trying to get more money. They have become so power-hungry its ridiculous. A key word in this is a “satirical” web site… meaning it’s funny and comical. Wal-Mart needs to lighten up and stop being greedy.


Dallas Police Say 13-Year-Old Arrested for Allegedly Luring Young Girls Into Prostitution

Summary:
Dallas police arrested a 13-year-old middle school student Saturday and charged her with luring young girls into prostitution, WFAA.com reports. Authorities arrested the girl at local nightclub Club Metropolis, where she allegedly brought other girls to dance and to be sold for sex, enticing them with money. "It's a really horrendous affair," Dallas police Lt. Chess Williams told WFAA. According to police this is not an isolated incident. Authorities estimate there are hundreds of teenage prostitutes in Dallas due in part to a large demand, WFAA reports. Recently, a 12-year-old girl was found dancing naked at a nightclub.

Opinion:
Well I think this is very sad. I hop these girls are able to recover from the emotional problems they are bound to have, and not to mention the physical problems that could occur. I also hope that the Dallas police are able to stop most of these prostitution rings, especially in the younger generation. It should be of utmost importance.