News Log # 32

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/06/13/us/13sailor.html?ref=us

Article: Teenage Sailor Is Rescued From Her Damaged Boat

Summary: 16-year old Abby Sunderland set out to sail around the entire world- alone. This past Saturday a French fishing vessel rescued the California teenager from her crippled sail boat in the Indian Ocean. “She got out of her vessel with the clothes on her back, and we are just really excited and ecstatic that Abigail is in safe hands,” her father, Laurence Sunderland said. “She was in good spirits. She talked to her mother.” Abby had been stranded since Thursday when the mast on her boat collapsed and knocked out her satellite communications. In an interview with "The Today Show", her father stated he was proud of her and would let her try the voyage again. Abby set out of the Marina del Rey in L.A. on January 23rd, trying to become the youngest person to circumnavigate the globe. The record was previously held by her brother, Zac, at age 17.

Conclusion: It is ridiculous that Mr. Sunderland would allow Abby to do the same thing that almost had gotten her killed again. Maybe he thinks that just because his son had successfully circumnavigated the globe, his daughter can too. I feel like Abby felt pressured to live up to her family expectations even if she wasn't ready to complete such a treacherous journey.

News Log # 31

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/06/04/business/04lawsuit.html?hp

Article: Lawyers Warned Wal-Mart of Risks Before Bias Suit

Summary: Six years before the drug store behemoth was sued for gender discrimination, they hired a prominent law firm to analyze their vulnerability to such a suit. The law firm found many gender preferences in pay and promotion in the chain of stores and urged the company to do some basic things in order to avoid being sued, such as creating specific goals to promoting women and minorities. The 1995 report said that women working at Wal-Mart earned less than men in several job categories, with men in salaried jobs earning 19 percent more than women. In 2001, seven women filed a law suit on behalf of all women working at the company. The largest retail company in the world has denied any gender discrimination. After the lower courts ruled the case to proceed as class action, Wal-Mart has plans to ask the Supreme Court rescind the class certification this summer.

Opinion: It is horrendous that even in the year 2010 there is still gender discrimination against women. What's even more disturbing is that Wal-Mart already knew they were discriminating, so they hired lawyers to determine their risk of being sued six years before the seven women came forward. Even a seemingly reliable and family friendly store like Wal-Mart cannot be trusted. They may seem to be trying to put the "best" person in the position (a man) so there service looks better, but instead they are viewed as backwards and biased.