So I feel like I should lead with the big story of the day. But seriously how awesome is Ryan Adams. I mean, look at that cute little face! How can you not want to cuddle him? I had never really been a fan before a couple of months ago, I had heard of him now and then, but never really listened to more than probably three of his songs. But he is totally and completely amazing. And I am so in love with him. I don't even care that he briefly dated Mandy Moore. I saw an interview with him a couple of months ago in which he told the reporter that even when he was in the midst of his drug and alcohol addiction, he could never take any intravenous drugs. You see, Ryan imagines his life as a book and even in his coke and booze filled haze he just couldn't imagine the words "dirty needles" written on a page. He also revealed that even though doing crack-cocaine can make you do silly things he never once "woke up on top of room service covered in women." And I fell for him right away. How can you resist a cracked out alcoholic with standards? I know I can't. I also heard an angry voicemail message he left a critic who gave him a bad review. Hilarious. Anywho, he's clean now and put out Cardinology with his band Ryan Adams and the Cardinals in October which is probably the most amazing thing I have heard in the past 5 years. It's like close to Bob Dylan good to me. And I put Bob Dylan in the same category as Jesus (they are both Jews, after all. Well except for in the late 80s, early 90s when Dylan did that whole born again Christian thing and started doing some gospel and non-secular music, married his gospel singing back up singer, had another baby, but then his oldest son decided become Jewish and he went to his bar mitzvah....He also isn't the recognized Messiah for all Christians, but you know same difference.). What I'm really trying to say is that Cardinology is. Seriously. Amazing. "Stop" is probably the song I am loving the most right now. It's about his struggles with and addiction to drugs and alcohol. Allow me to break copyright below.
I know a sickness
So ancient and cross
No crucifix
Could ever fix enough
In the basement of a church
These people, they talk
There is a line
That must be walked
If you wanna make it stop
Then stop
I know a place
Where the future is denied
I know a hand
That twitches inside
For some of us the glass
Is filled with lights
But if the honey
Makes you sick
Honey, there is a line
That must be walked
If you wanna make it stop
Then stop
Stop
Slow Down
You don't have to talk
Lie Down
Breathe
Stop
Slow down
It's not your fault
Look around
There's so many of us
So many of us
You are not alone
Ever
Ever
Ever
Stop
Call in the backup and the backup comes
Nobody can help you if you won't
Inside your chest your heart is just hurt
Behind your eyes a need replaced a want
I know a sickness so ancient and cross
A crucifix can never fix enough
I know a past when the future is lost
I know of a line that must be walked
There is a darkness and there is a light
And there is a choice.
For a balance to be made every night
A weakness must be found
If you want it to stop
Stop
Stop
And because I feel in the mood to make predictable segues. You know what else is amazing? Barack Obama, that's who. Ok, I know this is a historic day. I'm pretty sure I heard Soledad O'Brien say it about 7,000 times this morning. I know that he is the first African American president and that his very presence in politics is a victory in itself. It was so amazing that Obama was sworn in just one day after the national holiday, Martin Luther King Jr. Day, on which we remember and celebrate Dr. King's life and work as well as strive to continue living his message of peace, acceptance, and social justice. And I am overjoyed that Obama is President. I voted for him in the primary and I voted for him in the general election. I was completely electrified when I saw him at the Democratic National Convention in 2004 and have continued to be amazed at his presence, capability, compassion, eloquence, and intelligence. While nothing can ever fully right the destruction and despair of the past eight years under the Bush regime, I hope that the election of someone as capable and honest as Barack Obama will send a positive message to the rest of the world. And I think it already has. Fuck, even the French stopped making out and eating their baguettes long enough to congratulate us today. Our country and our world will never be the same.
And neither will my uterus. After 8 years my uterus is sick and tired of being treated like property of the government. And after 8 years, I am tired of being treated like a second class citizen because of my uterus. The Bush administration has consistently passed legislation designed to protect the ideals of the right wing evangelical minority while hurting the majority of women with their blatant disregard for women's basic health and human rights. And I am so glad it is over. Yesterday I was reading that Obama is expected to repeal the "Mexico City" Act which was introduced by Reagan, repealed by Clinton, and then promptly reinstated by Bush the first week he took office. The Mexico City act makes it illegal for the U.S. to give any international aid to any group that facilitates abortions or even makes information on abortion as a part of healthy family planning available to women. To think that social services programs and programs designed to aid the most developing countries could not receive financial assistance from the U.S. simply because they may have passed out pamphlets containing information on abortion is not only ridiculous, it is disgusting. Abortion is legal in the U.S. and whether or not you agree with it, for whatever reason, it will stay legal. When I read that Obama was expected to repeal the Mexico City act, I think I fully realized how amazing this new presidency will be for women. It will be a change to right past wrongs and a starting point from which women can continue their fight for equality. Even beyond women's basic human rights, the presence of Michelle Obama, such a strong and smart woman, will be such a welcome change for the nation. And I sincerely hope that what outfit she is wearing or what dog she allows her children to get will not continue to be the most interesting things the press has to say about this remarkable woman. So here it is. A new president. A new era. Now let's start doing something.
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