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  How would it feel to be put in jail for something you didn’t even do? Being locked up against your will when nothing you say means anything anymore. Since 2001, 17 men have been exonerated by DNA evidence in Dallas County. They have been released because DNA has proved them to be innocent. All of these men were put in jail knowing that they didn’t do anything, but were still charged with being guilty for some odd reasons. They couldn’t do anything about it because they were going against the court system that can do whatever they feel.

                When these 17 men were locked in jail for something they never did, it really changed their lives. Wiley Fountain is one of the men who was wrongfully convicted. He received some financial compensation from the state, but that wasn’t much at all. When released, he started as being homeless and worked for every cent he could get by cleaning parking lots and collected aluminum cans. Fountain, who is now 51, spent 15 years in jail for an aggravated sexual assault that he did not commit, and now, 5 years later, he is no where to be found. These men who are released are severely screwed for one reason because they were put in jail for something they never did, and secondly because when they are released the government barely helps them to get back into a normal life in society. Prison really changes you and if it’s not the fact that you don’t know what to do with their life, it’s the fact that you can’t get a job anywhere because you are still viewed as criminals when you are released from jail. It is very difficult for a convict to get a job because nobody wants to take the risk in hiring someone who they can’t trust. Other than trying to start a new life when you get out of prison, you also have to try and stay alive when you’re in prison. One man talks about how he is lucky to have made it out because of all of the fights that he got in and all of the enemies that he had in jail. Another man explains how he doesn’t even like being around people anymore and “If I could do it I’d move into the woods and live off the land.” Being in jail for a really long time severely affects people mentally and they aren’t the same person when they are released. It is hard for them to maintain families and be the same because of everything that they went through.

                I am all for locking up criminals who break the law because they are a threat to society. However, locking up innocent men is a crime itself. The 17 of these falsely convicted men have all gone though horrible life experiences that they cannot change. Even when they are released and the government knows that they made a mistake, they still don’t even give them enough money to get back on their feet? That is just crazy and unfair. It was their fault that these innocent men were locked up and it was their fault that these men’s lives were ruined and the government should have to pay for it. However, the government has all of the power and they don’t have to do anything that they don’t want to. That is where I am against the government. They should have to pay for their actions and at least get these men back on their feet. I can’t imagine how it would be like to be in prison, let alone being in there for 15 years for something I didn’t even do! When the government sentences someone to jail, they should make sure they are making the right decision so someone’s life isn’t ruined forever.

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                “An apple a day keeps the doctor away.” Every young kid is told this when they are little to remind them how important fruits and vegetables are for you. The only problem is that barely any Americans fulfill their daily requirements for fruits, vegetables, and berries. Not that this is extremely bad for us, but it makes it so our bodies aren’t as healthy as they can be. Fruits and vegetables are essential to our everyday life and give us the vitamins that we need to function and stay healthy. However, the daily requirement is just too much for people to actually eat every single day, let alone afford.

                This is why I’ve turned to Juice Plus. Juice Plus is a company that produces fruit, vegetables, and berries capsules in which I take two of each every single day. Yes, I still each all of the fruits and vegetables I can, however, Juice Plus makes sure that I get all of them that I need per day. Juice Plus is loaded with vitamins that keep you healthy. Juice Plus all started by a man whose father was dying of cancer and was told by the doctors that he only had two weeks to live. He was losing all of his body weight and was in terrible condition. The man started juicing fruits and vegetables and inserting them through his father’s rectum. He then took various oils, like coconut oil, and massaged them all over his father’s skin so that he could get all of his fats. After doing this for a while, the man’s father eventually got better. This man eventually found ways to powder these extracts from the fruits and vegetables and put it into capsules. He wanted to get his idea out for people to use; however, nobody would support him. Luckily he got in contact with the NSA (National Safety Association) who at the time was working on juicing fruits and vegetables, so they decided to help this man out. The NSA, with the help of most of the top universities in the U.S. started doing research on this man’s product and found out that this was a great idea and that these capsules very pure and extremely healthy. The man named his product Juice Plus and is getting spread all over the world today.

                All of the fruits and vegetables in the U.S. are shipped from different countries all over the world and by the time they get to the U.S. they have a ton of pesticides on them. Juice Plus on the other hand has their own headquarters in California and the fruits, vegetables, and berries are picked right from their vines, juiced right away, all of the unnecessary salts and sugars are removed, it is made into powder, and put into capsules right away. Juice Plus gives you all of your daily supplements of fruits, vegetables, and berries, your fish oils, your natural fatty oils, and tons of vitamins throughout your day. You take a couple fruit capsules in the morning, a couple vegetables in the afternoon, and a couple berries and night.

               Juice Plus is now the most researched product ever. People all around the world are starting to use it to get their daily supply of fruits and vegetables. I know that the whole Carolina Hurricanes hockey team uses Juice Plus and it is starting to get very popular. Juice Plus is not sold over the counter as the only way you can get it is though a distributor so they can tell you exactly what you’re taking and to make sure that it is used properly. It is very good for people who don’t eat enough fruits and vegetables during their day and for people who are tying to get healthy. I know for a fact that it has helped me out and whenever I start to feel sick I double up of the dosage and I feel great within a couple of days. Juiced Plus is a great invention and everybody should to look into it.

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                The news has it that a 17 year old girl from Long Beach, California gave birth to her child secretly, without her parents knowing. The girl, Xochitl, said that she kept her pregnancy a secret and hid it from her mother the whole time because she was scared that she would kick her out of the house for being pregnant. However, the girl’s story doesn’t make complete sense. A doctor at the hospital that Xochitl went to said, “We hear so much negative with teenagers throwing their babies in the Dumpsters,” “This baby is fine, and hopefully there will be a happy ending with the extended family.” The girl said that she was taking a shower around 5:30 AM when she had her contractions, and had to get to the hospital immediately. Xochitl was forced to have the baby right there in her house, so decided to walk and jog 4 blocks to the nearest hospital to get care. This is how it gets weird. Since Xochitl’s phone lines in her house were disconnected, why wouldn’t she just knock on a neighbor’s door to call for help? Her excuse was that it was too early too wake her neighbors up. It doesn’t matter how early it is, this situation is life threatening and I’m sure her neighbors wouldn’t have minded calling the hospital in an emergency like this. Instead, Xochitl decided to walk and jog to the hospital with the umbilical cord still attached to the baby. This is just a dumb idea. I feel that Xochitl kept her pregnancy a secret at school and to her parents, and didn’t ask her neighbors for help because she wasn’t going to keep the baby because of what her parents would think.

                This brings up the question of what kind of parent is Xochitl’s mother? Yes, a parent would definitely be mad if their daughter got pregnant at age 17, but a good parent is always there to help the problem. Xochitl’s mother obviously isn’t home a lot and doesn’t really care about her kids if she didn’t even notice that her daughter was pregnant for 9 months. I think that this is the reason why so many young girls have babies and end up throwing them away in the trash. I have heard of this before and I think that it is just terrible. Parents should develop a relationship with their kids so if an incident like this does happen, that the child can go to their parents for advice or help on what to do. This is very important so that babies don’t go uncared for and so a teenager doesn’t make a mistake that they will regret in the future. I’m just glad that Xochitl’s mother was understanding about the situation and the baby is safe.

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               Role models. Someone who little kids, or even grown ups look up to and follow their lead to follow their success. Role models can be superstar athletes, actors, models, etc; however, they can also be people who you may never expect. For example, police officers, or firefighters. I know that when I was a kid for a while I dreamed of being a firefighter, along with all of my other friends. They are people who risk their lives to save other people when they are in danger. So, it’s very difficult for someone to always stay in line when they don’t even know that people are looking up to them as role models.

                William Boyle is a 58 year old firefighter who has been working for the Boston Fire Department for 10 years and also served in Vietnam. He is a great man and has done a lot for his country. This is a man who is looked up to as a leader and a great role model for all young kids. However, Boyle has just recently taken disability leave last April and since then has filed for retirement.

                William Boyle will always be remembered as a great man. Or will he not? Friday afternoon Boyle was caught buying $200 worth of Oxycontin painkillers at the Broadway MBTA station. He was brought down to the police station and even though he wasn’t arrested, he was issued a criminal summons and charged for possession. He will have to go to court to defend his case. The Boston Police Superintendent, Dan Linskey, is Boyle’s brother in-law and says “I hope this incident is the catalyst necessary to help him address his personal issues.” When Boyle was caught at the drug deal he said “I didn’t do anything, I am a Boston firefighter!” Boyle and his brother in-law seem to have some reason why this type of situation is OK….

                There is nothing about this situation that should be taken lightly. It doesn’t matter is Boyle is a firefighter legend; he was caught buying drugs which is illegal, and should be punished like everyone else. If he isn’t punished for what he did then every single kid who looks up to him and wants to be him when they grow up now know that it is OK to buy drugs, because if you’re a firefighter than you get away with it. If anything, Boyle should be punished more than anyone to teach him that this type of act is wrong because it is illegal, and because of all of the people that it affects.

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                All I know is that when I’m older and my children are in school, I want to know for a fact that they are in a safe environment and are in no place for danger. That was probably the same thing J.R. Bowers thought when he sent his little 13 year old girl off to school every day, however, his hope didn’t come out in a good way. During school one day in a public school in the Dallas/Fort Worth, Texas area, Melanie Bowers was asked to do an assignment to make “protest signs” that dealt with a past issue and a current one. One her sign she wrote “If you love your nation, stop illegal immigration.” It was all down hill from there. A few kids took offense to this statement and as the Athens paper states it, “a group of students attacked her in a school hallway, slamming her head into a brick wall and scraping her face down the side of the wall.” It is said that they dragged her into the bathroom and threatened to rape and kill her. She also says that she was stabbed with a pen. It came out to be that 21 kids were involved in this incident. Something that started out very small escaladed into a big situation.

                The three Hispanic students who were in charge of all of this….in-school suspensions. This is just a joke. The ring leaders of beating a 13 year old girl up and stabbing her with a pen should clearly get more punishment than a slap on the wrist. Melanie Bowers was in danger and being only 13 years old, who knows how much more she could have taken before they killed her. This just looks very bad for her school if they are barely going to punish these kids. Melanie will never be able to feel safe again. “She loves going to school. We’re having to keep her out because we’re scared for her.”

                What was the school doing anyway having 13 year old kids talking about immigration? They are at no level of education to discuss something like that and the only thing it can lead to is trouble, like it did. I know for a fact that if I was Melanie’s parent I would push for more and harder punishments for the 3 ring leaders who started this act and I would get the police involved too. There is no way that something like this should be allowed to go without any serious punishments. I hope that everything works out for Melanie and the situation gets solved.

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                Tabor Lacrosse has a long tradition of great coaching and great players. We are known for our hard work and love for the game. Tabor lacrosse has had a lot of success under Coach Patrick for many years and he is greatly remembered throughout the Tabor community for his contributions to the lacrosse team, the girls varsity soccer team, and in academics. However, this year is a little different. We have a new coach whose coaching style is different and who looks at the game a different way. Coach Patrick was all about working the ball around and setting up the perfect play, which was very successful throughout the years with Tabor’s skilled lacrosse players. Coach Salit on the other hand coaches to be quick, aggressive, stealth, and in the best shape as his biggest concern is driving to the net hard without turning back. He doesn’t care if a kid doesn’t have unbelievable skills or doesn’t have the best hands, if you drive to the net and create opportunities, he plays you. I’m not saying he doesn’t care about stick skills and ball control because he does have us work on them as they are an important role in the game. However, he tells us to have confidence and trust in our teammates. This different style of coaching was difficult for some kids to get used to because a lot of kids are all about their stick skills. However, everybody is getting used to him and his system of play is starting to work. His idea of being in the best shape really helps out a lot. Every day we are doing some sort of conditioning besides running during the drills. The day before a game we don’t do that much, however, two days before a game we run a lot. We don’t have the best players on our team and we don’t have the best skill, but as the season goes on, with our level of conditioning, we are going to come out on top. We are able to run longer than the other team and if we stay disciplined we can beat every team we play. We are 1-3 right now while losing 3 close games to 2 out of 3 of the best teams in New England. I am very excited to play the remainder of the season and curious to see how our season ends up. I’m also excited to get in great shape and learn a lot of from Coach Salit and what he has to offer.

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                You’re a police officer, the streets are out of control, you’re being attacked, people won’t listen to you, what do you do? This was the question going through about 80 police officers heads Saturday night and early Sunday morning. The decision they decided to go with….tear gas. Police officers said that these people were extremely out of control and wouldn’t listen to them and follow orders. This occurred in East Lansing, Michigan, at Cedar Village, a student housing complex boarding the Michigan State University campus. 3,000 to 4,000 people met for a party here and after the incident 52 people were arrested and 48 were given tickets for various offenses.

                This wasn’t the average house party. Police say that there were fights everywhere and bottles and cans were being thrown at officers for interfering on the party and trying to stop it. It was out of control. “I don’t see how we could have dispersed the crowd without tear gas,” said one of the police officers. However, this type of thing in not a rarity. Cedar Village holds a party every year which is know known as Cedar Fest, and it is always crazy and out of control. This time is just got a little more out of hand. Police wish that they could have handled the situation better and not taken out the tear gas. However, after being pelted with bottles and disobeyed they felt that there was no other choice. “It was supposed to be Cedar Fest. It’s a tradition we’re just trying to have fun,” said one of the kids who went to Cedar Fest. Michigan State University is full of hardcore sport fans that are very loyal to their school and team. In 2005, when the Michigan State basketball team lost in the Final Four, there was another incident in East Lansing when tons of college kids went downtown causing chaos resulting in multiple student arrests. A very severe incident also happened in 1999 after the basketball team lost in the Final Four. People were turning cars over and setting off fires all over the city. $500,000 of damage was done and again multiple people including Michigan State students were arrested.

                For police to use tear gas on people in the streets is a very dangerous thing to do. Looking back to when the Red Sox won the World Series in 2005, a very similar incident went on. People marched to downtown Boston and created mayhem in the streets. When the police couldn’t control anyone and didn’t know what to do, they decided to shoot rubber bullets at people to scare them off. This resulted in a death of an incident girl who got hit in the eye. This is a very difficult decision that police officers have to make because one wrong move could leave someone seriously injured. You also have to wonder what is peoples’ mindsets while doing things like this? Yeah, everyone at Cedar Fest was most likely drunk, but what does vandalizing a city and police officers accimplish? I think that the main reason people do this is because they feel like they overpower the law and and anyone trying to stop them. There were 3,000 to 4,000 people at Cedar Fest and only 52 got arrested. Drunk people will take these odds and go out and have a “fun time.” I would never participate in an activity like this because I understand the consequences and impact it has on a community. 

                Considering that this type of thing has been going on for multiple years, don’t you think that police would do something to prepare for it so that it won’t get out of hand like it does every year? They haven’t noticed that Cedar Fest goes on every single year and trouble breaks lose every year? Or even prepare for chaos after the Spartan basketball team loses in a big game. Without the police’s help nobody knows how far this madness could have gone on this past Saturday night. The police scared some of the kids away and the tear gas cleared mostly everyone out. If they didn’t use the tear gas who knows how long this party could have lasted and how much damage could have been done. I believe that the tear gas was the best idea and made sure that the chaos stopped and that everyone went home, and very thankful that nobody got seriously injured.

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                Did he go over the limit? Is there even a limit on how far things can go? The Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (QMJHL) is a hockey league in Quebec, Canada consisting of hockey players looking to play at the next level. This is much different from any other junior hockey league you’ve heard of. The QMJHL is no joke as kids are drafted to a team, they are paid salaries, and get bonuses regarding how well they play. When a kid is drafted by a team in the “Q” and tryout for their team, after 72 hours with the organization they lose their college eligibility. Players in the Q are not allowed to play hockey in college after they play in the Q. That is the risk in playing in the Q. These kids give it their all day in and day out to make a living and hopefully make it to the NHL.

                Players do not wear cages, and only wear a half shield to cover their eyes. This is very dangerous and the fact that fighting is very common in a game makes it even more dangerous. It isn’t what you expect. The Q prepares players for the next level, like the NHL, where fighting is also allowed and players also don’t wear cages. When a fight breaks out the refs don’t automatically break it up like you’ve probably seen at any old high school or college game. The refs let the players go at it until there is a winner. Fighting is a part of the game of hockey in the Q, just like the NHL. It gives your team motivation and when someone on your team wins a fight it gives your team a sense of victory. Teams take pride in having good fighters because they get the crowd going and also protect your best players.  Last Saturday, on March 22, famous retired NHL goaltender Patrick Roy was involved in an incident that ended the wrong way. His son and goaltender of his team, Jonathan Roy, was suspended for 7 games due to a fight that broke out in their game. After watching the fight I believe that this is a joke punishment and should be much more severe. It is a disgrace.

                A huge brawl broke out between Patrick Roy’s Quebec Remparts and the opposing Chicoutimi Sagueneens during the second game of their 7 game playoff series. During the fight, Jonathan Roy challenged the opposing goalie to fight. Nadeau had no interest and was not antagonistic at all. Nadeau was the league’s goaltending percent leader as Jonathan was near the bottom of the list. Eventually, after multiple times to convince Nadeau to fight, Jonathan’s dad, and coach, Patrick Roy signaled Jonathan to go and fight Nadeau. Jonathan attacked him and while resisting and not throwing any punches, he still beat him and hit him in the head until he was satisfied. While Jonathan was beating him up, Nadeau didn’t fight back once and curled up into a ball. Also, after the fight while skating back to his side of the ice, Jonathan flipped off the opposing team’s crowd. It is terrible to watch. I think that this goes above hockey. For a retired NHL player to order his son to attack another kid in my eyes should be considered criminal behavior.

                Growing up, the Colorado Avalanche used to be one of my favorite teams and I used to love watching them play because of their all-star goaltender, Patrick Roy. Up until last week’s incident when he told his son to go and beat up an innocent kid, I have lost all respect for him. What was he trying to prove? He gained nothing from it and it just embarrassed himself, his son, and the game of hockey. His punishment was a 7 game suspension and a fine of $500. This is a joke. The fact that the league was this light on him is troubling. The league should not give Patrick Roy a break just because he is who he is. An act like this shouldn’t be taken lightly and this embarrasses the league because it shows that it isn’t a big deal for an incident like this to take place. A lot of controversy is weather Patrick was acting as a coach or a father to his goaltender son. Considering that he ordered his son to go beat up another kid, his punishment should be much worse. A son is going to listen to his father, especially if his father was one of the best goalies to play in the NHL. Jonathan obviously wishes to make it to the NHL, and if his father gives him some advice or an order, he is going to obey it. Patrick Roy clearly does not realize the power that he holds and his impact on his players. He abused his power and should not be allowed to coach anymore. A person like him should have a little bit more respect for himself and his family and should cherish the reputation that he has earned from his hard work during his life and hockey career.

A video of the fight is here http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ESHa9-Czv_A

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                John White, from Miller Place, Long Island, New York has been convicted of manslaughter and is awaiting sentencing. Before you look at the actual situation, it has to be understood that Long Island, New York is “the single most segregated suburban community in the United States. John White, a black male, has been convicted of manslaughter for shooting Daniel Cicciaro Jr., a white teenager. Miller Place is 0.4 percent black and white house owners take a lot of pride in their property and the place where they come from. This did not help John White as he was put on trial.

                The story has it that John White’s son, Aaron, was at a party at Cicciaro’s house, in which he was told to leave because word started to get around that he said that he wanted to “rape” Cirriaro’s sister in an on-line chat room. Aaron realized that this wasn’t his place and it is said that he left respectfully without any trouble. No one is sure if Aaron actually said this in the chat room, however, the rumor still got around and caused a lot of trouble.

                As soon as Daniel Cirriaro heard this rumor about Aaron saying this about his sister, he acted immediately. Him and a bunch of his friends had been drinking, and got right into his car, with a bat, and headed towards the White’s residence. Aaron’s father, John saw these kids outside in his driveway and knew something was wrong. He told Aaron to stay inside as he went out to the driveway to see what was going on. It is said that David and his friends started to make threatening movements and as they did, John White pulled out his gun. David didn’t get scared at all and tried to grab John’s gun. As he did, John shot David in the head and killed him.

                “And some supporters of White thought that if the races had been reversed — if it had been a white homeowner and four hostile teenagers yelling at him — there wouldn’t have been any charge at all.” I believe that race takes a big part in this situation. Many white people were mad that John White wasn’t indicted for murder. In this section of the United States, Long Island, New York, race takes a big part in everyday life. In white peoples’ eyes what White did was terrible and he should be locked up for life. However, if you look at the situation, he was defending himself. A gun is a very dangerous and life threatening weapon, and if someone is willing to try and grab it from you, you are in danger. This person obviously is not scared of anything and is obviouslly not joking around when they confront you. 

                I believe that this situation could have been handled differently. First of all, yes, Daniel had a reason to be outraged and to want to confront Aaron about what he heard he said about his sister. However, he did not have to go and get drunk and take a bat to his house. And after that, when he saw a gun he should not have grabbed for it. I think that it was right for the court not to convict John White for murder; however, I don’t think he should have gotten much of a punishment at all. He was defending himself in a time of danger when his life was on the line. 

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