Let's be clear: I'm for the building of the Cordoba House. After reading opinions from both sides, watching interviews with different constituents, and listening to countless politicians' sound bytes, I've come to my own personal conclusion that building a center for intercultural understanding would be a fitting complement to the 9/11 memorial when it is finished (whenever that is). Mayor Michael Bloomberg's defense particularly hit a chord on the Constitutional side of the issue while an opinion column by William Dalrymple convinced me that this center would not be the "shining trophy of victory" that opponents claim it to be. The project's leaders compare it to the Y.M.C.A. and the Jewish Community Center (JCC), which both provide the city with multicultural facilities. (I myself frequent the JCC in Manhattan and have never once been pushed into participating in any religious activities.) So I can't disagree with having another similar center that will not only provide a swimming pool and auditorium for a neighborhood that could use more public pools and theaters, but also events that will broaden my understanding of different cultures.

At the same time, the neighborhood has learned to move past the events of 2001. Part of the spirit of New York City is pushing forward and learning to embrace the future while remembering the past. It's exactly what this project, as well as the construction of the Freedom Tower and memorial, is about. They're all about understanding the past, understanding why these events happened, and using our new-found wisdom to move forward. Ten years later, the area has returned to being a bustling downtown business district.

It is unfortunate, then, that people are not taking the time to understand the motives of the project's director, who comes from a moderate sect of Islam that we all seem to be searching for (after all, moderate Muslims are the people we are fighting to protect in Afghanistan). One can't compare this project to a Nazi shrine at the Holocaust Museum because the center has a distinct message of peace and understanding. It's providing Tribeca with a familiar community resource that is distinctly American. Just as the JCC provides secular programs that include classes, workshops, and lectures, the new center would be doing the same. Unfortunately, like the JCC, it is likely that the new center would face the same kind of vandalism that its model faces. No doubt the center will be a target for hate, both in infancy as an idea and in the future when (or if) it is built. That is the real war we are fighting, a war against intolerance. If we fail to understand the motives of the project, then we have lost the war for good.

The local community board approved the project and the Landmarks Preservation Commission did as well. At its core, this center is a local issue that has unfortunately become a national political football. What is truly insulting is not the building of this center but the fact that it's turned into another political ploy to distract from real pressing issues that national politicians should be debating. I don't care what Sarah Palin, Newt Gingrich, Harry Reid, or even Barack Obama have to say about this project. If New Yorkers disagree with the project, I will respect their opinions and listen to what they have to say, but I will not tolerate politicos who are using this as another midterm campaign weapon as much as Palin wouldn't appreciate me meddling in Wasilla, Alaska issues. This is a decision for New Yorkers to make, and I, as a New Yorker, see the center for its merits in the local community.

Crush lists were never about lewd intentions. They are just a way to celebrate the end of our high school career. It's a fun way to say goodbye to friends and shake off any lingering confessions before we head off to college. This was never a big deal until papers blew it out of proportion. It was never about sex until reporters implied that it was without having seen the lists or understanding the purpose of the tradition. They made assumptions off an online page and then went to find interviews that reinforced their opinion.

There's a reason our school imposed ID card scanners. It's because unwanted reporters were entering our building and snooping around for needless stories (see cuddle puddle). We have our own paper to report on school issues and seeing outside papers conduct themselves in such a terrible journalistic manner (I would've thought papers know what stories are and aren't newsworthy) gives off a bad impression on students here and budding journalists like myself.

The media seems to enjoy treating us like celebrities. They seem to enjoy reinforcing the nerd stereotype and then finding ways to contradict it. Sure, it makes for an interesting story that the layman will surely enjoy reading, but what good is it? At the end of the day, all they're really doing is hurting an entire student body and perpetuating stereotypes that are largely false. Teens will be teens. If they find a crush list story worthy of reporting, they might as well stick investigative reporters in middle schools and have them write a feature story about the notes kids love passing around during class. Seriously people, give us a break.

Outgoing Web editor Victor Ma and I will be holding a workshop on Facebook, MySpace, and Twitter on Saturday, April 17 at the 62nd New York District Key Club Leadership Training Conference in Monticello, NY. We hope to see you there!

Just got back from the inauguration of Mayor Michael Bloomberg, Public Advocate Bill de Blasio, and Comptroller John Liu. The ceremony lasted an hour with celebrations afterward that were rather modest, reflecting the rough economic times (Bloomberg didn't even hold an afterparty; instead, he opted to volunteer at five locations across the boroughs throughout the day). Even the ceremony itself was unusually mute. Instead of having celebrities as masters of ceremonies, six students from the Newcomers High School in Long Island City (recently ranked sixth best high school in the country by US News & World Report) introduced the honorees. All attendees of the public ceremony received a mug of warm apple cider, a contrast to the festive New Year's celebrations that occurred just 12 hours prior. Ticket holders were allowed in at 10:30; the seats were separated in gray, blue, and white sections (each level providing better viewing angles than the one before). The City Council, including the 12 incoming members and 12 outgoing members, were present as well as the mayor's commissioners, district attorneys, borough presidents, and former mayors Ed Koch and David Dinkens. The weather was not as cold as in past years (a good 40 degrees). The ground was still wet from last night's rain; skies were gray, but it didn't seem to dampen the energy of the three city officials.

Liu, who was sworn in first by Supervising Judge of the New York County Civil Court Jeffrey Oing, praised the city's diversity and promised to "hit the ground running" and use his position to provide opportunities for the underprivileged. De Blasio, who was sworn in by United States Representative Jerrold Nadler (who, by the way, graduated from Stuyvesant in 1965 and was the student president then), made similar promises to protect and fight for the underrepresented, notably the homeless. Bloomberg, sworn in last by New York State Chief Judge Jonathan Lippman, had to justify his run for a third term and modestly called it a "special opportunity" to improve the city. He offered plans to improve management by moving deputy commissioners to other departments for three weeks and having them work with different commissioners. Let's see how these three different men will perform together in the next four years.

Also, here's a New York Times article with Bloomberg's actual speech. At least, what he really meant to say when he told New Yorkers that "the building [City Hall] behind [him] is yours." Yeah right, Bloomy. Nice try.

The new millennium came with a rough start, as the world scrambled to solve the anticipated Y2K problem. A computer glitch that arose from the habit of using the last two digits of a year for dates in digital devices, Y2K represented the cautious enthusiasm with which people approached the start of a new millennium. There was a sense of curiosity characterized with fear (some countries spent millions on software and backup systems), but at midnight, nothing happened and 2000 came with few problems. In a relatively calm year with a booming economy, the events of the Elian Gonzalez affair and the bombing of the USS Cole would foreshadow the problems of immigration and terrorism that were to come. The year ended with a hotly contested presidential election that would ultimately go to George W. Bush.

2001

Few would dispute that 9/11 was the pivotal moment of the decade. The event defined the Bush presidency and would change the world for generations to come. In the immediate aftermath, every plane in the United States was ordered to land and landmarks in major cities were evacuated. The lasting repercussions, though, would be felt for much longer. Airport security escalated as did security on public transportation. Fears of terror continued with the anthrax attacks on media outlets and politicians, the crash of Flight 587 in Queens, and Richard Reid, the infamous shoe bomber. A month after 9/11, the U.S. invaded Afghanistan. The year did have its good news. In October, Apple launched its first iPod, setting the company on track to establishing itself in the portable media player industry.

2002

As the world struggled to recover from the attacks, the U.S. government continued its pursuit of Al-Qaeda, establishing the Department of Homeland Security and taking steps to invade Iraq. Wall Street Journal reporter Daniel Pearl was kidnapped and murdered while reporting in Pakistan. The glaring stories of 2002, though, were the financial scandals that resulted in the bankruptcy of major energy company Enron and major telecommunications company WorldCom. The two bankruptcies were the largest in history with both companies having assets of over $60 billion. They would also be two of the largest acts of financial fraud in history. Other major events included the death of Queen Elizabeth, The Queen Mother and the debut of American Idol.

2003

The major story of the year was the March 20 invasion of Iraq (and the subsequent May 1 speech by Bush onboard the USS Abraham Lincoln draped with the infamous "Mission Accomplished" banner). In a famous scene from the Iraqi occupation, Marines pulled down a statue of Saddam Hussein on April 9 in front of cheering crowds. Eight months later, Hussein would be captured in his birthplace of Tikrit. Other major stories of the year included the Space Shuttle Columbia disaster, an incident that killed all seven astronauts onboard upon reentry and halted space operations for two years, and SARS, which broke headlines when the deadly and highly contagious virus sent the world in panic from November 2002 to July 2003. But the story almost every kid will probably remember is the massive Northeast blackout that lasted nearly three days in August. That was an adventure.

2004

The War in Iraq continued as the U.S. government transferred sovereignty to an interim government in June. At the same time, Michael Moore released his award-winning documentary, "Fahrenheit 9/11," criticizing Bush's War on Terrorism and the aftermath of 9/11. All the while, the Democrats struggled to find an opponent to run against Bush with contenders including John Edwards, who eventually became the vice presidential candidate, the boisterous Howard Dean, who dropped out after losing in Iowa, and John Kerry, who won the nomination after winning primaries on Super Tuesday in March. During the Democratic National Convention in Boston, Barack Obama delivered the keynote address. Subsequently, the Republican National Convention drew protest in New York City. Bush was ultimately reelected to another term. The year ended with one of the worst natural disasters in history when a 9.3-magnitude earthquake generated a tsunami that killed nearly 190,000 people. Famous deaths this year included Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat, Ronald Reagan, who received a state funeral, the first to have one since Lyndon Johnson, and the show "Friends." In some of the more positive news, the Olympics returned to Athens since the first games in 1896, Taipei 101 opened as the tallest building in the world, Google became a public company in the stock market, and Facebook was founded in Cambridge by Mike Zuckerberg.

2005

Hurricane Katrina was the story of the year. Pictures of New Orleans underwater became some of the most indelible images of 2005. For the first time in years, a major American city was completely flooded. The Bush government, FEMA in particular, was criticized for its handling of the natural disaster, leading to a plummet in the president's ratings. In news outside the U.S., unease in the Middle East continued with stabilization efforts in Iraq and disengagement efforts in Palestine. The Make Poverty History campaign organized the Live 8 concert series on July 2 and 6 to pressure G8 leaders to increase and improve aid to Africa. The concerts were held simultaneously in major cities in the eight countries. 2005 also saw the death of Pope John Paul II and a Papal conclave that would select Joseph Ratzinger as the next pope, taking the regnal name Benedict XVI. Also in the news, the release of "Guitar Hero," which was branded as one of the most influential video games of the first decade of the 21st century and spawned an entire franchise with sequels and expansions.

2006

In 2006, TIME Magazine selected You as their Person of the Year. Yes, You, the Internet contributor, You, the blogger, You, the vlogger, You, the guy who sits in front of his computer all day and watches YouTube videos, You were the Person of the Year. Critics dismissed it as a gimmick and cop-out while others acknowledged its relevance in the Information Age. In an online poll by TIME, though, readers selected Venezuelan president Hugo Chavez to be Person of the Year for his continued criticism of the Bush presidency. Other newsmakers of the year included Iranian president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, who confirmed the country had successfully produced uranium, and North Korean president Kim Jong-Il, who had the country's first missile tests coincide with the U.S.'s July 4 celebrations. Former Iraqi president Saddam Hussein was executed a day before New Year's Eve. In other news, Google bought YouTube for $1.65 billion and NASA restarted its space program with the launching of Space Shuttle Discovery. Video game rivalries continued with the release of Playstation 3 by Sony and the Wii by Nintendo and new rivalries began with the release of Blu-ray Discs and HD DVD.

2007

It was a year of ups and downs. The last book of the Harry Potter series, "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows," came out with over 11 million copies sold within 24 hours of release, making it the fastest selling book in history. The series, though, would soon become overtaken by another phenomenon, Twilight. Tragedy struck when a mentally ill student killed 32 of his peers and himself in the deadliest peacetime shooting incident in the U.S. The April Virginia Tech massacre sparked debates about gun laws, college administration, and mental health issues. Half a world away, students, opposition activists, and later, Buddhist monks protested the Burmese junta government in what became known as the August "Saffron Revolution." In a plus for environmentalists, former Vice President Al Gore was awarded both an Oscar and a Nobel Prize for his 2006 documentary "An Inconvenient Truth" and his work combating global warming. Apple boosted its sales with the release of the first iPhone.

2008

In this historic year, the Democratic primaries were down to a woman and an African-American. As Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama fought for the party's nomination, Republican candidate John McCain selected his own controversial candidate for vice president. In a day, Sarah Palin went from being an unknown in Alaska to a target of national media attention. In the depths of an economic recession, Obama was elected the first African-American president on November 4 with 365 electoral votes. His extensive campaign was followed heavily by the media as was the global financial crisis, which hit its high point with the fall of Bear Stearns in March followed by Lehman Brothers in September. China suffered one of its deadliest natural disasters in May when an 8.0-magnitude earthquake in Sichuan killed close to 70,000 people. Three months later, the country hosted the Olympic Games in Beijing, using it as an opportunity to show China's growth on the world stage. Michael Phelps broke records by earning eight gold medals, the most won at a single Olympics. In science, the Large Hadron Collider, the world's largest particle accelerator, was tested for the first time and Blu-ray prevailed in the high-definition format war.

2009

Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, Digg, Reddit, Stumbleupon, and maybe MySpace. If you haven't heard of any of these in the past year, all I have to say is "Where have you been?" Perhaps what has defined this year more than in any other year has been the growth of social media. In April, 15,000 Moldovans protested election results and organized via Twitter and Facebook. Two months later, Iranians would do the same in the largest show of civil unrest since the 1979 revolution. During that same month, pop icon Michael Jackson dies, triggering an outpour of worldwide grief and a public memorial service attended by thousands and watched by millions. In this year's famously labeled "Summer of Death," sex symbol Farrah Fawcett, broadcast legend Walter Cronkite, Filipina leader Corazon Aquino, and "Lion of the Senate" Ted Kennedy also passed. Swine flu became one of the biggest stories of the year when the World Health Organization deemed it a global pandemic in June. In December, Obama announced a troop surge of 30,000 in Afghanistan as an exit strategy while terrorism continued to threaten home with the attempted Christmas bombing on a Northwest Airlines flight. On Christmas Eve, the Senate passed a historic health care bill on party lines after the House passed their version on November 7. The bills now move to the conference committee. The big story of the year, though, continued to be the recession. In February, the Dow closed at a low of 6,547.05, the lowest since April 1997. The Dow has gone up since, though, and recently passed the 10,000 mark, a sign that the recession may be close to ending as we approach 2010.

It has been a tumultuous 10 years. From Bush v. Gore to 9/11, to Afghanistan, Iraq, Iran, Gaza then back to Afghanistan; from Kerry to Obama, MySpace to Facebook to Twitter and everything in between, the people and events that have defined this decade are great. How will history judge the past 10 years? What event best characterizes all that has passed? There is no doubt that 9/11 established the political atmosphere of the Bush and Obama presidencies, but the 2000s also saw the rise of the Internet culture and social media. At the end of the decade, newspaper profits have declined, but the demand for information has increased. In these past 10 years, the world has seen an increased proliferation of culture as broadcasts of events like Michael Jackson's funeral can be seen by millions online. More important than the name of the decade is how history will define our generation. The soldiers of World War II became the Greatest Generation. The 60s created the Baby Boomer Generation. How will history see our generation? Will we be known as the generation that grew up in fear, in the shadows of 9/11? Or the generation that grew up connected, with the Internet, the iPod, MySpace and Facebook? I will take the more optimistic route and say that we will be known as the "connected generation." Even in tragedies, in political instability, in warfare, in peace, in economic depression, technology has continued to grow and the world continues to stay connected. New means of delivering information has been the greatest invention of our generation.

What has been your most memorable moment of the year? How about the decade? As you ponder over these questions today, check out these 2009 Year in Reviews:

YouTube counts down the best viral videos of 2009

Rolling Stone Magazine presents the 100 Best Albums of the Decade

The Village Voice's 20 Most Read Stories of 2009

TIME Magazine presents...lists...a whole bunch of them

The New York Times takes photos of the last decade from readers

As this "worst year ever" comes to an end, let's take a look back into history. Although students took it upon themselves to establish the Billy Joel hit as their protest theme, the original purpose of the song was to rebut critics of the Baby Boomer generation and refute claims that the generation's rejectionary attitude caused the political upheaval and social atmosphere that characterized the later half of the 20th century. In light of the recent events in the school, I was moved to create this music video, which brings together historical archival clips of the people and events referenced in the song with concert footage from the band's 2006 River of Dreams Tour in Germany. It took me close to a month to find clips of all 119 items mentioned in the song.

And then there is the day after. If you are a student, you're most likely still on vacation. And this year, we're lucky enough to have the 26th fall on a Saturday. So what to do with the day after Christmas? Traditionally, the day is known as Boxing Day, a day observed in the UK as a sort of after-Christmas for the less fortunate (the name comes from the tradition of haves giving boxes of durable or monetary goods to have-nots). In the US, the 26th traditionally signifies the end of the holiday season. What's your after-holiday tradition? There are so many ways to spend that extra day after. Here are some suggestions.

Plaid socks? A sweater? Purple pajamas from your dear Aunt Sally? If you received a gift you don't want or something you already have, here's your chance to get rid of it. You can follow the Seinfeld doctrine and regift it, or if the sender included a gift receipt (as most of mine did with gifts from Barnes and Noble), it's like Christmas all over again. Or, if you're still feeling the holiday spirit, donate your unwanted gifts to charity. There are organizations like The Salvation Army and New York Cares looking for toys, books, and clothing for the less fortunate this holiday season.

2. Shop.

Oh yes, it's not over yet. With Christmas done, stores are ready to overhaul everything in stock and bring in the Valentine's Day goods. That means sales, sales, sales. Do you really need a snowman with a jar of candy canes? Who cares, it's on sale! Take advantage of the huge savings, and if you received the dreaded gift card over the holidays, here's your chance to use it. You won't find better deals than the ones on the 26th (except for maybe the ones on Black Friday).

3. Start on that term project/paper.

We wouldn't be students on vacation if we weren't perpetually thinking about homework. Avoid the procrastination chills by getting started on that 50-page paper early. Maybe meet up with the other members of your group if you have that all important final group project. But who am I kidding? We all know we'll fall fate to the procrastination syndrome and leave it all for New Year's Day.

4. Hang out.

A no-brainer, huh? After two days with your family, nothing gets that mooshy gooshy family feeling out like hanging out with the friends you haven't seen for two days straight. Maybe ice skating or the movies (check out the new "Avatar" and "Sherlock Holmes" movies). Or maybe you can all go shopping together, or just hang out at someone's house and play with that awesome new Guitar Hero set your friend just got for Christmas. The possibilities are endless.

5. Sleep.

Hey, why not?

So what 26th tradition will you start? What are your plans for tomorrow? Feel free to let us know by leaving a comment. And happy holidays! Soon, it will be 2010.

So this week, you found out you were either done with the process and celebrated, or that you have a few more weeks to go and then four more months of agony. If you were accepted into a college you want to go to, you have both my congratulations and my envy. If you still have to go through the process, you are with me on the long haul. This week, I'll share with you two articles I found on The New York Times: one fascinating, the other hopefully reassuring. Maybe they will put you at ease with this arduous process.

So maybe you applied to Yale early. You got in, you didn't get in, or you were deferred admission. Here's a story that will either induce scorn or leave you smiling a little (but only just a little). It's a story of quadruplets, who were all accepted into the prestigous Ivy League institution and through Single Early Action too. And they're still not sure if they want to attend. How's that for interesting? The title, by the way, comes from the fight song of Yale's football teams (perhaps you've seen Mr. Burns on "The Simpsons" singing it).

Stressed for Success?

Here's an old op-ed by David Brooks from 2004. The college application process has changed much since then, but the message still applies. Take the article as comfort food. If this whole getting into college or getting rejected business is stressing you out, you'll need someone to tell you that none of it matters. In four years, you'll forget about all the places you didn't get into, just as now, you've probably forgotten the whole deal about getting into a Specialized High School. You'll realize, who cares? Mentioning your SAT scores in ten years will be just as socially distasteful as discussing your SHSAT score now.

Hopefully, these articles have given you some comfort amid this grueling process. There's no question you'll get into college, and then, many years later, you'll ask yourself what you got out of worrying about it. If you make the most out of your life now and in the future, it won't matter where you go.

We are currently in the pre-production stage of our next project, a short documentary on The Spectator's production process and the fate of journalism in a technologically evolving world. Stay tuned for updates!

Piano Battle

Performers: Frank Zhu, Brian Kim

Martial Arts

Performers: Denise Park, Karen Paik, Carmen Shum, Antoinette Chan, Kathy Lin, Tiffany Lau, Connie Shi, Xuan Lu, Jenny Pan, Jessina Wong, Sylvia Ou, Alice Yoh, Tiffany Ma, Matthew Zin, Danny Chin, Wendell Gu, Raymond Tse, Brian Lukito, Doci Mou, Bryant Ly, Kenneth Chan, David Rances, Felicia Wang, Kachun Cheung, Abdullah Sayeem, Zarif Rahat, Andre Chow, Darius Zhang

Korean Hip Hop

Performers: Rebecca Lee, Tiffany Kim, Soo Kim, David Park, Daniel Suh, Bryant Hua, Nicole Kim, Judy Choi, Sunghee Han, Allison Fu, Sarah Kim, Yejoon Seo, Aaron Chong

We begin with the arrest. In cases of stop-and-frisk, traffic violations, and other situations of immediacy, reasonable suspicion, a low standard, is enough for a police officer to arrest you. In other cases, for example our case of arson, probable cause is needed to arrest. This means there must be a fair amount of proof to suspect someone has committed a crime. In this case, authorities used surveillance cameras.

During arrest, the crime is categorized as a violation, a misdemeanor, or a felony as per the New York State Penal Code. If it is a violation, say a mere running of a red light, the police officer will issue a desk appearance ticket, requiring you to appear in court at a specified date, time, and courthouse. If it is a misdemeanor or a felony, the officer must file a misdemeanor or felony complaint in the jurisdiction's criminal court. In this case, it is the Manhattan Criminal Court. A police officer is required to read your Miranda rights, that is the right to remain silent and the right to an attorney (if you cannot afford one, the state will provide one for you). It is recommended that you have a lawyer to work through the process because anything you say can and will be used against you.

In a criminal case, the two sides are the prosecution and defense. The state is reprimanding a defendant for a crime, not suing for money. Thus, here, it is not Stuyvesant that is suing Hassan; it is a criminal case that would be marked New York v. Hassan. However, Stuyvesant or the Department of Education may choose to sue Hassan for damages in a civil case if they wish, but that is unlikely. If Hassan is acquitted, he can sue the school for money lost in going through the legal process or for the possible wrongful suspension or expulsion.

If you are charged with a misdemeanor or a felony, you are held in jail and within 24 hours, must appear before a judge to hear your charges (this is the writ of habeas corpus). The prosecutor, the lawyer representing the state, consults with the officer who arrested you to determine what the charges are. If the prosecutor finds that there is not enough evidence to prove you committed a crime, you are released. Otherwise, you are required to attend the arraignment with a lawyer to hear your charges.

During the arraignment, you plead guilty or not guilty. The prosecutor and your defense attorney may work out a plea bargain, an attempt to settle your case by exchanging a guilty plea for a lighter sentence, which is ultimately determined by the judge with consideration of the prosecutor's recommendations. If you do not want a trial, you may plead guilty.

If you plead not guilty, the judge sets bail. Bail is set to ensure that you will show up for your trial. The judge may set a bail that requires you to pay up front and then receive the money back when you appear in court or you may opt for a bail bonding company to foot some of the bill. The judge may also decide to let you go on recognizance if he or she believes you will show up in court. If the judge believes you are a danger to society, as in cases of murder, you will be remanded and be held in jail during the trial. Bail follows the principle of presumption of innocence, that you are innocent until proven guilty. During the trial, you are allowed to continue with daily life and have the same rights as everyone else, as long as you continue to appear in court.

In felony cases, the next step in the legal process is the grand jury hearing. A grand jury is made up of 16 to 23 people who decide whether or not there is enough evidence to put you on trial. During a grand jury hearing, you have the right to testify while your lawyer must remain silent. The hearing consists of a cross-examination conducted by the prosecutor with questions from the grand jury. If the grand jury agrees there is enough evidence for a trial, your case moves to the New York State Supreme Court, where felony cases are heard. If they feel there is no evidence to try, you will be released.

Whether the charge is a misdemeanor or a felony, the trial is the same. There are opening statements, direct examination, cross-examination, presentation of evidence, and a decision by a jury (a verdict). In felony cases, juries consist of 12 peers. In class A (high-level) misdemeanors, six jurors are chosen. In class B (low-level) misdemeanors and violations, defendants are tried by a judge. In Hassan's case, his charges included fifth-degree arson (a class A misdemeanor), attempted second-degree arson (a felony), and reckless endangerment (most likely a class A misdemeanor).

A jury's verdict must be unanimous. Their sole purpose is to determine whether a defendant is guilty or not guilty. If the jury cannot come to a decision, it is known as a hung jury; the judge declares a mistrial and the prosecutor will decide whether or not to seek another trial. If the jury finds you not guilty, you are acquitted and can never be charged for those crimes again by New York State court.

If you are found guilty, you have been convicted and the judge will determine a sentence. Sentences vary based on the background of the defendant and the circumstances of the crime. In each class of offense, there is a maximum that judges can order. For violations, jail time cannot exceed 15 days. For misdemeanors, jail time cannot exceed a year. For felonies, jail time must be at least one year. If you have several charges, you may have a combination of concurrent and consecutive sentences, that is a combination of punishment running at the same time and one after another. Jail time is not the only option for sentencing. Probation and community service, among others, can also be sentences.

In New York State court, those who commit a felony when they are 13, 14, or 15 years old are sentenced as juvenile offenders. If you are 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, or 18 years old, you may also be entitled to sentencing as a youthful offender. This means that if Hassan is convicted, the offense would not appear on his record and he may be entitled to lower sentencing.

Ultimately, the justice system, from law enforcement to procedural due process, is afforded to us by the government, not to constrain us as human beings, but to protect us as citizens.

Source: The New York State Criminal Justice System Handbook

Bill Paley decided he would order something different this time.

Late at night, he was the only customer in the small, unassuming diner off the Long Island Expressway. It was Bill's routine to drive from work in his midtown office to the diner for a midnight fix. The streets were always quiet and empty. It was an oxymoron; that in the city that never sleeps, Bill seemed to be the only one alive. It was not calming to be alone, not in the least, but it was eerily nice, and he liked it. In the lonely diner, he always ordered the same thing: ham sandwich, a pickle, and a side of fries. He liked the free refills of coffee. French-brewed, his favorite brand. The aroma was addicting, the caffeine even more. He would need it.

"Yeah," Bill replied. He was exhausted and didn't care to answer with more than one word. Earlier, he had left work at 10 p.m. He didn't need to. Bill was always the last one to leave, and he wasn't even quite sure why he bothered to stay. It was not in his best interest to do so. He felt no emotional attachment to his job, and who would? His days were spent sitting in front of a computer, meeting deadlines for investor reports. He spent more of his time staring into space than drafting documents, but he was assured that the work would always be finished. For a while now, he'd noticed an unusual gray spot on the office's white wall. He purported that on the spot, there was once a poster there, and when the time came for the old tenant to move, the tape had worn itself into the wall and the man brought a piece of the wallpaper with him when he tore the poster down. It was his mark, his legacy in the office. Bill was disappointed when he noticed one day that his boss had found the gray spot and had it painted over.

It wasn't that Bill wasn't passionate about his job; as his boss's top confidant, he had a significant amount of influence over the firm, the people working in it, and the direction it was heading. People who entered the business wanted to be in his position, and he knew it. He was aware of his power, and if he had to stay late to finish his work, he would do it. Life was a routine, and he was in control. Get up, get dressed, get out the door, and get in the car before he runs into traffic. His life ran at a constant speed of 65 miles an hour. He wasn't sure if he liked it, but the routine was there, and he could look forward to it.

The waiter started, "I'll have them prepare your--"

"I think I'll have something else," Bill interrupted.

This surprised the waiter and caused him to wonder what could have made Bill deviate from the routine he so religiously followed. It was not like him to try something out of the ordinary. Deciding to step into uncharted territory, Mr. Paley?, thought the waiter. I too would be terribly bored of a ham sandwich every night. Might I suggest the garden burger? Or the salmon? And for dessert, perhaps a slice of strawberry cheesecake. Getting bold. It's catching.

"Can I make some suggestions?" asked the waiter.

"No, I think I'll be fine," said Bill. Although he wasn't. He wasn't one to make choices, not here, not in the office. It was always the same. Always up the FDR Drive, across the Queensboro Bridge, and down the LIE. Always the ham sandwich and the pickle. Always. He welcomed the familiarity. Choices were intimidating. Choices, choices. What was he to pick? The steak looked good; the picture was nice. Rare, medium, done? Three words written on the menu "For the convenience of the customer." What was risky? He wasn't sure he wanted to go there, but he had never tried rare. Rare? He couldn't recollect what it was exactly. Rare...rare...

"Excuse me, but what is rare?" asked Bill.

"Going for the burger, Mr. Paley?" asked the waiter.

"No, the steak."

"Well, rare is...a bit uncooked. With a cold, soft red center."

"Oh." No. He wouldn't want to take the risk. Medium, medium seemed alright. Medium, with a side of mashed potatoes perhaps. He would never do away with the pickle, or the coffee. "Okay, I think I'll have the steak with mashed potatoes, and instead of the salad, just give me a pickle. And one cup of coffee." "Okay, is that it?" Was that it? "Yes," said Bill. "That's it."

The waiter thanked Bill and went into the kitchen with the order. Bill still wasn't quite sure whether he had made the right choice. Maybe he should have gotten his usual sandwich instead. To be honest, he didn't particularly like the diner's food--it was decent at best. What he did enjoy was the view from the window. The first night he decided to stop in and eat, he asked for a seat facing the Manhattan skyline, and every night, the waiters knew to seat him in the same spot. He enjoyed the view; the grandeur of Gotham, the twinkling lights dotting the New York night sky. It was cosmopolitan but strangely majestic, like castles in the sky. No one would ever notice it running to work on the crowded streets of midtown. It was a shame they didn't. More people needed to see this, this New York. New York from afar, as a whole, instead of the fragmented streets filled with flustered people and honking horns. For a few hours everyday, Bill was fortunate to receive this magnanimous view of the great city. It wouldn't last, but for the moment he had it, he held on to it. He didn't want to let go of it, but at the end of the night, he would have to jump back into reality. It was inescapable.

Reality was the office. It consumed most of the 24 hours in his day, and even after work, in the diner, his mind ran through the routine of tomorrow. The people that surrounded him seemed to care more about the firm than he did. They were young and fresh. They were new, and they were real cogs in a machine. But they were ambitious and passionate, and Bill wondered how in their low positions, they could possibly find any pleasure or attachment to their work. He was amused. They had no idea what it was like to be stuck. No idea. They knew nothing about how the firm really worked, how people rose up the ladder, the hours they had to work to reach the top, the degradation of time and the soul. If time flies by when you're having fun, are you immortal when you're bored?, Bill asked himself. There was no doubt he felt out of place with the interns in his office. He preferred to be with the boring people. If he had lunch with the boring people, perhaps life outside the circle would seem more exciting. Perhaps if he was around people who didn't care about anything, he would be able to care about something.

"My wife wants to repaint our bathroom," said one of his colleagues during lunch. Bill had no response. No one did. It was another sad attempt to begin a conversation and break the awkward silence that always enveloped the entire table. Bill didn't care. His other concerns always superseded the topics at hand, if there was ever a topic. The report deadlines, the latest news on his firm's financial shares, the next conference with his boss...it all mashed into just...work. Work didn't suck; it was just there, as inevitable as death and taxes. There was nothing to lose, but nothing to gain either. Nothing.

If time flies by when you're having fun, are you immortal when you're bored? What could be unleashed in breaking from normalcy? Forces would collide, the mind would fall apart, and the Earth would fly out of orbit. He'd no longer be in control. Would he like the future? He didn't know. It was unpredictable. Someday, he would need to accept the fact that he couldn't know everything that was in the cards. But for whatever he could control, he decided he would.

The waiter came by Bill's table and told him his food would be ready in ten minutes. It was then that Bill changed his mind and decided he would order the usual.

As part of the negotiations, the British Government conceded that English spelling had some room for improvement and has accepted a 5-year phase-in plan that would become known as 'Euro-English'.

In the 3rd year, publik akseptanse of the new spelling kan be expekted to reach the stage where more komplikated changes are possible.

Governments will enkourage the removal of double letters which have always ben a deterent to akurate speling. Also, al wil agre that the horibl mes of the silent 'e' in the languag is disgrasful and it should go away.

By the 4th yer, people wil be reseptiv to steps such as replasing 'th' with 'z' and 'w' with 'v'.

During ze fifz yer, ze unesesary 'o' kan be dropd from vords kontaining 'ou' and after ziz fifz yer, ve vil hav a reil sensibl riten styl. Zer vil be no mor trubl or difikultis and evrivun vil find it ezi tu understand ech oza. Ze drem of a united urop vil finali kum tru. Und efter ze fifz yer, ve vil al be speking German like zey vunted in ze forst plas. If zis mad you smil, pleas pas on to oza pepl.