*sigh*

Well folks...
It looks like we failed in a big, huge way.
Yeah yeah yeah, I know that Ohio is "Still contested", but 140,000 votes is a whole lot to catch up with. And unlike 4 years ago, Bush is winning the popular vote in a big big way. (So much for Farenheit 9/11, so much for a bad economy, a bad war, bad decisions.) I really hoped that when we stopped being apathetic, that when we, as a country, all got out and voted that we would vote for Kerry. But.. obviously not. I don't know how Bush can't NOT take that as his mandate to do what he's done for the last four years: maybe another pointless war, or more sucking of cash and jobs from those of us who need it, the poisoning of our environment, the loss of civil rights (I'm sorry ladies, but you can probably kiss your rights to an abortion goodbye. :p )
And let's not ignore that the republicans have gained in the house and the senate, ensuring that if President Bush *IS* reeelected, he can probably guarantee everything from the next Patriot Act to the next war in Iran.
I know that today, the sun will continue to shine, the earth will not suddenly be destroyed, and we will continue to live from day to day, but this feels like the earth is now going to end.
Because we failed :p
Heaven help us all.

Edit: If I needed proof that the world has not ended, I only needed to step outside. It's BEAUTIFUL out today, if a little chilly. it's sunny, with orange, brown and, occasionally, red leaves blowing around due to wind and it's just.. a lovely day out. I wish I weren't so exhausted and could enjoy it more.

OK, so I need to talk/think about something else...

Well, I went out and bought an everclear CD yesterday: Songs From An American Movie (Yes, I do know the album came out in 2000. I've wanted to get it so I got it :) )
So, a review...
I've known Everclear off and on since the late 90s with their album So Much For The Afterglow. Afterglow is an incredibly good album and it pushes my musical buttons. I've known some of the songs from Movie for a few years and I knew I wanted to try this album.
1) Song From An American Movie, Pt. 1 - A short little ditty introducing the album. Not bad, but doesn't do a whole lot for me.
2) Here We Go Again - Funk-ay! Guitar driven rock with a vaguely urban beat (the beat/guitar combo reminds me of Dave Matthews Band, actually), with horns to boot. I can see this one growing on me :) Definately a keeper :)
3) AM Radio - This is one of the tunes I've known for a while. It's just totally awesome :) Everclear sampled from, I believe the old tune was Mr. Big Shot. The tune is about how things were back in the old days (you know, the 70s). This song is a celebration of the music Everclear listened to when they were youngins (Lyrics: We like pop. We like soul. We like rock. But we never liked disco.) :) Awesome song :)
4) Brown Eyed Girl - Another song I had/knew about before. Everclear does a cover of Brown Eyed Girl. It's pretty mellow, but still rocking cover (who knows, this may end up on my covers CD? ;D) All in all, a good cover.
5) Learning How To Smile - Another typical everclear song. A little downtempo, but really pretty tight. It's actually a pretty neat love song from someone who had been burned and hurt but found someone good for him. Altogther a really good song :)
6) The Honeymoon Song - This song is only "Eh" for me. It's a song.. about a Honeymoon. Not much else. Maybe there's secret song symbolism in which the singer is saying that you aren't who I thought you were, but otherwise it sounds like a song about a honeymoon. The song has a ukelele. That's about all I have to say about this song.
7) Now That It's Over - I wonder if this is supposed to be a song arc. The fifth song is about falling in love. The sixth about a honeymoon. And now a song about breaking up. This song is vaguely psychedelic and pretty neat. (Maybe we can be friends. Maybe we can be closer. Yeah, right!) Neat song :)
8) Thrift Store Chair - Another downtempo song, though this one isn't as tight as Learning How To Smile. Oh, look, another relationship song. This one about two people having a big fight and agreeing to see others. This song is OK. Maybe it'll grow on me.
9) Otis Redding - Another downtempo song, but this one is TIGHT. It's guitar, drum, base and.. violins. It's got a pretty quality to it that I can't really explain. (Probably both because of the violins and the tightness of the song :) ) I can see this song needing to be in my mp3 mix :) Definately :)
10) Unemployed Boyfriend - This song is trippy and yet cool. This one caught me the first time I listened to the CD yesterday. The song is freaky because it starts with a girl leaving a message on another's message machine about what some guy said and then Everclear breaks in with what he may have actually said. It's a rockin' love from some freaky guy. But this song is hard, awesome and just altogether cool. :)
11) Wonderful - I've heard this song too. I think this song is about abused children. It's a heartbreaking topic, but a good song. Downtempo, but very tight.
12) Annabelle's Song - This song just doesn't do it for me. It's OK, sorta pretty. Reminds me vaguely of crooner music.
Bonus Tracks
1) Out Of My Depth - Not a bad song. Guitar driven rock, sometimes acousting, sometimes electric. Tempo doesn't change, but the addition of the electric guitar definately adds power to the song. I can see this song growing on me.
2) Rock Star - Hard rocking song. This song has radio hit written all over it (though I don't know if it ever made it there.) This song is pretty freaking cool. I can see this needing to be in my playlist :)

I'm so depressed

Well, as of right now, it's over. Kerry has conceded the election and Bush is now the president again.

I'm trying to remain calm, trying to remain optimistic that this isn't the end of the world, and I can't.

I don't understand how America could have voted for him again. Bush had most of his four years experience of presidency working AGAINST him. The economy has floundered despite Bush's tax cuts. Bush mishandled Iraq and, as of now, we DO know that we went into Iraq thinking something was there that wasn't. We've tossed away the U.N., pushed away old allies, and have done more damage to counteract over 40 years of positive change than I can even fully remember. And there was so much to lose if Bush were reeelected, starting with the fact that, in the next four years, it's likely Bush will replace at LEAST one Supreme Court Justice and up to four. Roe v. Wade could be overturned, Affirmative Action.. who knows what else?

And what America has told me, in no uncertain terms is that it's values do not align with mine. That I am now in a moral minority. I can't help but reflect on a chapter from "Dude, Where's My Country?" in which Michael Moore suggests that America is getting more liberal. Mr. Moore, can I please tell you how incorrect you truly are.

It isn't just the presidential election, but the fact that *11* states have voted to ban gay marriages, one (Ohio) went so far as to ban any union except between one man and one woman.

I'm truly scared to be a member of this country right now. I'm afraid of what will happen, not just in the four years, but until the Democratic party can reclaim more of America.

America voted yesterday, and they said, in no uncertain terms, that my opinion is invalid. Thanks for trying. Let me tell you what you didn't win.

I feel... absolutely speechless. Numb. I'm shocked, horrified, scared as hell. I fear for myself, my friends and, more than anything else, I fear for a very special friend's unborn baby.

And, for the first time ever, I really just wanna go home now. Buffalo home.

PS That constitutional amedment banning Same Sex marriages? You can probably consider it done. And if Bush elects a new judge to the Supreme Court, it can be done and then not overturned for some time.