#ToldYouSoTuesday

From HERE.

I know it's foolish to even bother thinking about stuff like this, but I was JUST saying to Damian, "Imagine if we hadn't invaded Iraq." (The only good thing to come out of it was that The New York Times started beefing up its News Service staff, so I got hired.) We'll never know for sure, but it's hard to believe things would be as f**ked up as they are now if we hadn't, and all based on lies to satisfy a personal vendetta of W.'s while lining Cheney's pockets along the way. If only the GOP had gotten 1/1,000th as outraged about this as they did about Hillary Clinton turning over work-related emails -- that she was being asked about for a bullshit reason -- exactly as instructed. 

Song of the Day: 'I'll Be Your Mirror' (live) by Debbie Harry

Kind of feels like the definition of coming full circle to see former Max's Kansas City waitress Debbie Harry sing Lou Reed's "I'll Be Your Mirror" from the Velvet Underground's classic 1967 debut. (Way to read the lyrics off the floor, Deb!)

Song of the Day: 'Walk on the Wild Side' by Lou Reed

Holly Woodlawn, Transgender Actress and Warhol Superstar, Is Dead at 69

Sad to hear about the passing of Holly Woodlawn (born Haroldo Santiago Franceschi Rodriguez Danhakl in Puerto Rica on Oct. 26, 1946). I didn't know Holly -- who is best known for her roles in the Warhol films "Trash" (1970) and "Women in Revolt" (1972) -- but I've felt like she was a friend since the first time I heard Lou Reed sing about her in "Walk on the Wild Side," which paved the way for every transgender in the world today. RIP: Holly, darling. Read her NYT obit HERE.

Green Day, Lou Reed, Joan Jett, Ringo Starr Lead 2015 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame

Bill Withers, Stevie Ray Vaughan and Double Trouble, Paul Butterfield Blues Band will also be inducted next April -- but all I can think about is JOAN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Read about her reaction to the big news HERE.

Song of the Day: 'Sweet Jane' by the Velvet Underground

Fantastic star-studded tribute to Lou Reed in the new Rolling Stone, which also includes a special remembrance by wife Laurie Anderson.  Have a peek HERE.

Song of the Day: 'Walk on the Wild Side' by Lou Reed

Guy Trebay's "The Real-Life Stories Told in ‘Walk on the Wild Side’" is the must-read Lou Reed remembrance story:

Speaking from her home in West Hollywood last week, Ms. Woodlawn said, “Paul Morrissey made me a star, but Lou Reed made me immortal.”

And who knew he was worth so much money?

Sunday Morning News

Marcia Wallace was 70

   I was saddened to hear Lou Reed died over the weekend -- "The Velvet Underground and Nico," like many before and since me, changed my life -- but noted on Facebook and Twitter that given the life he led, it was a miracle he'd survived as long as he had, though I'm no less sad to see him go. But Marcia Wallace's death hurt even more. Growing up, everything in my family was a bit of a fight. Getting everyone to agree on just about anything was nearly impossible. Even our drink of choice -- iced tea made from a power mix -- only got 5 out of 6 votes. (Mom preferred the unsweetened taste of sun tea.) But "The Bob Newhart Show" was the one thing my entire family entirely agreed on. Although I saw it during its 1970s Saturday night heyday -- along with "Mary Tyler Moore" -- while my parents were at their bowling league, it was the just-before-bed reruns that brought the entire gang to the television at least four nights a week. I worshipped Emily Hartley (she was smart and stunningly beautiful), but Carol Kester was like the aunt I never had -- the wisecracking, hopelessly single former fatty who never really felt comfortable in her new body. Although she was a receptinist, you never had the feeling she or anyone else thought of her as being beneath Bob and Jerry and Bernie in any way. In fact, and as the episode where she quit showed, they were entirely dependent on her. With her miniskirts and insistence on being treatly fairly, she was feminist icon before I knew what that even meant. I remember hearing Marcia Wallace had breast cancer many years ago and perhaps it was at that time when the C word was such a death sentence, but I remember feeling like I'd been kicked in the stomach, like a member of my own family were fighting for her life. Marcia Wallace beat cancer and went on to win an Emmy for her vocal role on "The Simpsons." As great as she was on that and as herself of countless game shows, to me she'll always be "Slenderella," and the woman who bought Emily a gift from the House of Tacky, then had to pretend it was a gag gift once she realized it was something Mrs. Hartley actually owned! RIP, Lou and Marcia. You thrilled me in the '70s and now left us in yours.

Lou Reed was 71