Tragedy

Last week a deadly fight broke out between gang members who are apart of both the school and neighborhood surrounding Chicago's Fenger High School. A grisly video tape of the massive brawl was released to the press and aired on Fox, the video depicts a riot, where dozens of males are furiously running, screaming, and fighting. Although a gun was not used, huge planks were to strike numerous students, resulting in a broken jaw and the first blow to the student who died, as a result of the injuries sustained during the fight. The fight's aftermath has yielded several responses from the public, which have me mulling the fight over. On the news a school representative called the school a war zone, telling the mayor to disregard the 2016 Olympics and worry about providing the school with security comparable to the National Guard. And while listening to the radio the people texted, emailed, and called demanding more of a police presence in these communities.

What all the people I heard failed to say, was that the community needs to be more responsible and held accountable. Take for instance, the kid who video taped the entire fight. He literally saw a boy being beaten to death in front of him, and not once did he say he thought the police needed to be called. Rather you heard him comment on how funny it was to see another kid being beaten and stomped. No action was taken by anyone to try and get the kid out from the bottom of the pile, nor was there any action taken to break the fight up. It was left to escalate as the droves of people who weren't fighting, sat on the sidelines and watched or ran. In an era where everyone has cell phones and the world is literally the press of a button away, do you expect me to believe the police wouldn't be either?

Police make their presence known in neighborhoods where they are welcome. Sadly, in many urban areas police are viewed as the enemy and there are not enough responsible citizens who step up and answer the call when their community needs them. This is evident in the rampant murder rates and ever growing gang problem. Perhaps instead of asking where the police are, why isn't that school representative saying, "We knew this would happen. I've never once seen the kids parent(s) during any conferences or school functions." Parents and communities need to take the responsibility when riots like these occur because it's truly the lack of their presence that create the monster who stomps a 16 year old to death.

Glad God Made an Eve

For the first time this school year a class of mine engaged in a compelling argument/debate. We had read a short story titled, "Girls in their Summer Dresses" and in summary it was about a man who loved looking at women. His love of looking had become so obvious that it created a problem in his marriage, and needless to say his wife wasn't very happy. In a class full of women and led by a women, who is quite the feminist, the general response was; men are pigs or men love to objectify women. I can live with being called a pig because, as a man, I know I love thinking and talking about sex. So if you want to call me dirty because my mind is, then that's kosher. However, when we talk about the objectification of women I can't agree with women and say gawking, cat calling, or any of other ways I call attention to beauty are objectification.

To objectify is to treat as an object. Slavery is objectification; people actually being sold as commodities, raised and treated as property. That's true objectification so when a woman claims looking a little longer than I "should" is objectifying her, it ruffles my feathers. First, I haven't treated you as anything. The only interaction between us has been a look, nothing has been said to dehumanize you. Second, it's human nature to be inquisitive and satiate the senses, so when something that is appeasing to the eye comes into view, looking is what the body is hardwired to do. Lastly, the comments or thoughts that accompany looking are not proof of objectification (as the women in my English class overwhelmingly stated). Men are not stupid, we know women are much more than some nice lips, big breasts long legs and so forth. However, the cover is important to sparking interest in the book, so when acknowledging these 'assets' men very well may be acknowledging that a woman isn't just those things. But also is showing interest and making an attempt to get to know more about the woman with the nice lips. It's a testament to her uniqueness, something he believes sets her apart from other women.

My father, happily married for 24 years, tells my mother, "God gave me eyes to see" whenever he's 'caught' breaking his neck. Women you have eyes too, look for as long and as hard as you want, because I will never stop looking. The day I stop appreciating the beauty of women is the day I will need to be checked into a psych ward. Observation, whether orally expressed or not, does not equal objectification. Lighten up and the next time I honk, slap the side of my car or stare, respond by saying, "Thank you" because all I have done is tell you I think you're special.

Get Some Shut Eye

GRAY

In the spirit of the true meaning of Tuesday Tutorials, I am going to delve into the topic of sleep. The body's great equalizer. On the real sleep is an unbelievably important aspect of our lives. Those who fall asleep easy,..the ones who hit the pillow and it's lights out....f them! Because for the rest of us, it's not always that easy. The natural stress of life just keeps us up sometimes and it's unfortunate when you consider what could happen after enough sleep deprivation. Heath Ledger and Michael jackson developed addictions and eventually lost their lives because of them...all because they just couldnt sleep. So the following is a tutorial on some tips, (personally tested and approved by yours truly) on how to get to sleep if you're struggling.

Stretch- Stretch out vigorously your legs and back muscles. Stretching puts a great deal of stress on a your muscles which is followed by a loose, relaxing sensation. Leg and back tightness are usually the most troubling, so loosen.

Pancakes-If you like em, thinking about pancakes or a food that you want to eat when you wake up will help you to fall asleep. If you're hungry enough, thinking about breakfast food will psych yourself into sleeping.

Watch BAD TV-not just bad, watch the show Comics Unleashed-- If you live in the chi and have ever had insomnia, odds are you've flipped by WCIU and the show Comics Unleashed at midnight and 1 am. This show is a round table discussion of unknown comics that are so unfunny, that they have the adverse effect of laughter, which is sleep, so there u go. Listen to 3 punchlines and you'll be out.

Old Addage--Try to stay awake.....may be an old wive's tale, but it's often repeated as the best way to fall asleep. Keep your eyes open and think about staying awake.....but I think best method of all is

Beat Off--masturbating is easily the best way to counteract insomnia. Just jerk it and you will be physically, and for some reason mentally...drained. I don't know if it works for girls, but cuming makes you sleepy, so yea, girls should do it too...just make sure that by jerking yourself to sleep you aren't waking anybody else from theirs.

If the average person lives to be 74 years old,..and the average person sleeps for about a third of their lives.....you are looking at 194, 821 hours of sleep potentially. SO my advice is to not miss one hour. Use the methods I've layed before you, (especially the last one) to get the rest you deserve.

Blog Emulates Life

The blogs at BUSE have been slow in coming lately.  Like waiting for a CTA bus, after 35 minutes here come 3. With school and work, time is hard to find to get blogs written and posted. Apparently that time is much harder to find for yo boy kid Grey. The guy has not posted anything since his weak argument against reverse racism. The lack of attention/time he is putting into BUSE makes him the trick of the week and as I do in the show and basketball (to name a few), I'm whooping him.

Although his opinions are often misguided and poorly constructed, they're still valuable and entertaining. Kid Grey's posts are vital to the pages of this blog. They just need to start coming! So despite how wrong he may be or idiotic he may sound, I hope he turns off his ridiculously boring stories from Iwo Jima on History and get to the computer.

Picks to Click

GRAY

So yes, it's a week 1 is already over and performances from the first game for each repective team may shape my predictions....but still BUSE has to stay true to its foundation as a reservoir of sports knowledge
NFC Playoff Picture

EAST

I'm picking the Giants to win the East. With the Defensive line healthy with 5 hr energy Umenyora and SoBe lifewater dancin Justin Tuck, the Giants are going to beat up on the teams they are supposed to, and I doubt they will even lose one game at home all year. That should give them the divisional edge over the Eagles with a hurt McNabb and the Cowboys....who always seem to choke of late.

NORTH

Gotta go with AP. It doesn't matter who quaterbacks this team. Unless Peterson hurts himself somehow, (and i do mean hurts himself because no one tackles him) then the Vikings are going to literally run away with the North. The Packers will be impressive in spirts, but will lose games because of a lack of offense. The Bears will do the same, but lose because of a lack of coaching. The Lions will repeat at 0-16.

SOUTH

Now, Offense doesn't usually win champisonships but it will get you to the playoffs. Though Atlanta runs the ball tough, I expect the firepower of the Saints to get the job done in the south.

WEST

Seahawks will go ahead and grab this division as I am a believer that the loser of the Super Bowl does not make the playoffs the next year...so sorry Arizona Cardinals, you will fair no better than the Patriots in 08, the Bears in 07, or the Seahawks in 06. the combination Houshmenzadeh at wideout and the SuperBowl Runner-up curse will place the Seahawks in the driver's seat.

Wildcard--give me the Falcons and the Eagles. I refuse to believe that just because T.O. is gone that the Cowboys will become the focused team that everyone claims they will be this year. They still have a drama queen at wideout in Roy Williams, and I feel another choke coming on for the inagural season to their new stadium. The Eagles always excell down the stretch and when McNabb gets healthy and Vick starts to contribute, they will be too dynamic for the weak NFC.
Don't expect shit from the Bears....though I was optimistic about their chances to make the playoffs before Cutler got cut up Sunday night, they simply lack coaching....no motivators, no leaders, and most importantly....no play-callers worth their salaries.

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AFC Playoff Picture
EAST

No surprise here. Brady is back. Moss is a beast, as well is Maroney. And even though the defense is not as stacked as they once were, you can shoe them in over the Jets with a rookie QB and the Dolphins and their novelty offense.
NORTH

I'm not saying the Steelers aren't excellent. But the Ravens are my surprise squad this year. They are winning this division and it will be because of Joe Flacco. Every year, the NFL has some sappy story about a team over coming adversity to rally and have an incredible season...que Steve McNair's tragic death and Derrick Mason's "fake" retirment. I like the Ravens to beat everyone up at home, and edge the Steelers out for the best record in that division.

SOUTH

Even though they started the season with a loss, the weapons are still there to be the best in the south. Indy is always good to give them a run. But the defense is still stellar, even without Hanyesworth.

WEST

Chargers, taking it easily this year in a perrenial weak division, with Orton at the helm of their closest competition.

Wildcard--I'll take the Steelers and the Colts. The Steelers because I trust the superbowl champs to make the playoffs. And the Colts of course because Peyton Manning is hilarious. Debate away.

9/11 (written on Friday)

On the morning of September 11, 2001 I was awoken to reports of a plane flying into one of the towers in downtown New York. America was under attack and our planes were the ammo. At the end of the day a plane went down in Pennsylvania, another struck the Pentagon and two more had taken down the towers that comprised the World Trade Center. Each target, minus Pennsylvania, had a special symbolic meaning. The Pentagon is the center of our national defense system, hitting this building and having it crumble to the ground was to foresee the demise of our armed forces. The World Trade Center was the center of the world for capitalism and taking down these towers was symbolic of the fall of capitalism.

Sadly thousands upon thousands of American lives were lost on this fateful day. Affecting the lives of millions across the country; from the families of the dead, to the rescue workers and on to the members of our armed forces thrust into war. Eight years later we are still feeling the direct effect from those attacks. Although it seems we have given up on our search for the man responsible for the attacks, our troops remain overseas. Instead they are in Iraq and Afghanistan waging war for the freedoms and liberties that were threatened by the attacks.

Now this post is not serving as a tribute or memorial, nor am I writing this to call into question the decisions made by our administration. Instead I am posting this to say what our national pride forbids us to admit. And what having to be 'politically correct' forces us to keep mum about. And that is that 9/11 was a success. Not because of all the lives lost, to the high-jackers and others responsible there were merely collateral damage. But because of what was attacked, the symbols, and the state of our nation today.

The Pentagon was attacked to foresee our armed forces' demise. Now think about when our nation's defense system has ever been so weak? Already in two wars, with a limited number of soldiers, what is can our nation do if another conflict arises? Would we as a public all suddenly become patriotic enough again to fight? If your answer is yes, then why aren't you overseas? Our troops need people like you now, seeing as thousands of lives have already been lost. The World Trade Center was attacked because of what it meant. Though not for the first time, it was the obviously the most successful attempt. Eight years later and mired in a recession that may as well be a depression and I can't help but think, wow. Wow those terrorists really did it, they shook the foundation of capitalism and helped in causing an economic crash to world's most powerful nation.

I am proud to be an American and after calling us the world's most powerful nation, I clearly believe in America. What I am not proud of nor can I believe is that eight years ago we let terrorists weaken our defenses and send our economy spiraling towards its current state.

NFL

Once Hines Ward fumbled the football within 10 yards of pay dirt, I began to worry about my first pick in my Yahoo! NFL Pick 'Em. But once that kick went through the uprights in overtime I breathed a sigh of relief and decided while on a hot streak to make my picks for the year.

NFC

Philadelphia Eagles- they win the East by going 11-5

New Orleans Saints- it's their turn isn't it?

Minnesota Vikings- Win division despite Brett Favre.

Seattle Seahawks- Didn't have the balls to pick San Francisco.

Chicago Bears- Super Bears, Super Bowl? Playoffs will suffice.

New York Giants- Still can't replace Plax, what an idiot.

AFC

New England Patriots- Yeah I'm sick of them but they're good.

Baltimore Ravens- Joe Flacco threw for 500 yards against me in Madden.

Indianapolis Colts- Same old, same old.

San Diego Chargers- By default.

Pittsburgh Steelers- Not as good of a year as last year but the playoffs are fun.

Miami Dolphins- Wildcatting into the playoffs.

There are my picks, so call Vegas and place your bets. But I am going to steer clear of playoff predictions and a Super Bowl winner for now because my baseball picks were so spot on.

Captain Comeback

Rob Zombie has brought Michael Myers back for the second time and what ninth time total? Now with Myers' reincarnation it got me thinking of other things that may, should and should not have comeback.

Walkmen: Maybe coming back? It's 2009 and my grandma is on facebook. I would like to think almost everyone would have some sort of MP3 player, be it an ipod, zune or whatever else may be on the market. Technological advances make life easier and the ipod does just that. Unlike Walkmen they are pocket sized, they carry your entire music library, rather than whatever may be on a single CD, and their adaptability is great. That being said, why have I seen numerous Walkmen since yesterday? Why are these devices still owned? Pawn them as antiques already.

Reaper: Should come back. Rather than give viewers more vampires or bring back another show that has run its course, why not bring back this original comedy? Sure the effects can be cheesy and some sub-plots were left open ended but the show had numerous great characters. Sock, one of Sam's best friends and sidekicks, was hilarious. His love of living life in the now make you wish he was your friend. Along with Sock there is the Devil himself. How can you hate someone so fun? Here is to hoping local syndicates pick it up for a third season, stupid CW.

Brett Favre: Should not, but are you really surprised he did? There is still some time to reconsider though! Now I'm not hating on the waffling, because if I were him I would've had my Iverson moment eons ago over practice. Plus $25,000,000 will take me just about anywhere . But I still wish he would not have comeback because everything he does and will do will be a story, from throwing an interception to farting in the shower. It's just Favre overload.