Gender: Male
Status: Single
Age: 32
Sign: Sagittarius
State: New York
Country: US
Signup Date:
09/17/04
|
Blog Archive
[ Older
Newer ]
|
|
 |
|
Sunday, November 09, 2008
|
This is what we worked for.
Current mood:  hopeful
Obama to Use Executive Orders for Immediate Impact
By STEPHEN OHLEMACHER, Associated Press Writer – 11/09/08
WASHINGTON – President-elect Obama plans to use his executive powers to make an immediate impact when he takes office, perhaps reversing Bush administration policies on stem cell research and domestic drilling for oil and natural gas.
John Podesta, Obama's transition chief, said Sunday Obama is reviewing President Bush's executive orders on those issues and others as he works to undo policies enacted during eight years of Republican rule. He said the president can use such orders to move quickly on his own.
"There's a lot that the president can do using his executive authority without waiting for congressional action, and I think we'll see the president do that," Podesta said. "I think that he feels like he has a real mandate for change. We need to get off the course that the Bush administration has set."
Podesta also said Obama is working to build a diverse Cabinet. That includes reaching out to Republicans and independents — part of the broad coalition that supported Obama during the race against Republican John McCain. Defense Secretary Robert Gates has been mentioned as a possible holdover.
"He's not even a Republican," Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid of Nevada said. "Why wouldn't we want to keep him? He's never been a registered Republican."
Obama was elected on a promise of change, but the nature of the job makes it difficult for presidents to do much that has an immediate impact on the lives of average people. Congress plans to take up a second economic aid plan before year's end — an effort Obama supports. But it could be months or longer before taxpayers see the effect.
Obama could use his executive powers to at least signal that Washington is changing.
"Obama's advantage of course is he'll have the House and the Senate working with him, and that makes it easier," said Carl Tobias, a law professor at the University of Richmond. "But even then, having an immediate impact is very difficult to do because the machinery of government doesn't move that quickly."
Presidents long have used executive orders to impose policy and set priorities. One of Bush's first acts was to reinstate full abortion restrictions on U.S. overseas aid. The restrictions were first ordered by President Reagan and the first President Bush followed suit. President Clinton lifted them soon after he occupied the Oval Office and it wouldn't be surprising if Obama did the same.
Executive orders "have the power of law and they can cover just about anything," Tobias said in a telephone interview.
Bush used his executive power to limit federal spending on embryonic stem cell research, a position championed by opponents of abortion rights who argue that destroying embryos is akin to killing a fetus. Obama has supported the research in an effort to find cures for diseases such as Alzheimer's. Many moderate Republicans also support the research, giving it the stamp of bipartisanship.
On drilling, the federal Bureau of Land Management is opening about 360,000 acres of public land in Utah to oil and gas drilling. Bush administration officials argue that the drilling will not harm sensitive areas; environmentalists oppose it.
"They want to have oil and gas drilling in some of the most sensitive, fragile lands in Utah," Podesta said. "I think that's a mistake."
Two top House Republicans said there is a willingness to try to work with Obama to get things done. But they said to expect Republicans to serve as a check against the power held by Obama and Democratic leaders in Congress.
"It's going to be a cheerful opposition," said Rep. Mike Pence, R-Ind. "We're going to carry those timeless principles of limited government, a strong defense, traditional values, to the American people."
Pence, of Indiana, is expected to take over the No. 3 leadership post among House Republicans.
In other transition matters, Obama's new chief of staff, Rahm Emanuel, would not say whether Obama would return to the Senate for votes during the postelection session this month. Obama's presence would be extraordinary, given his position as president-elect, especially if Congress takes up a much-anticipated economic stimulus plan.
"I think that the basic approach has been he's going to be here in Chicago, setting up his economic, not only his economic team, but the policies he wants to outline for the country as soon as he gets sworn in, so we hit the ground running," Emanuel said.
Also, Emanuel would not commit to a Democratic proposal to help the auto industry with some of the $700 billion approved by Congress to for the financial bailout.
Reid and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., said in a letter Saturday to Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson that the administration should consider expanding the bailout to include car companies.
Podesta appeared on "Fox News Sunday," as did Pence, and CNN's "Late Edition," where Reid also was interviewed. Emanuel spoke on ABC's "This Week" and CBS' "Face the Nation."
___
Word!!
10:02 PM
-
0 Comments - 0 Kudos
- Add Comment
|
|
|
|
Saturday, October 25, 2008
|
Answer me this...
Current mood:  fascinated
What does it say about the human civilization when 200,000 people show up in Berlin, Germany (of all places!) to cheer an African-American man running for President of the United States. Think about it.
12:15 AM
-
2 Comments - 4 Kudos
- Add Comment
|
|
|
|
Wednesday, January 23, 2008
|
Today I consider myself the luckiest man on the face of the Earth
Current mood: excited
Guess who just became a New York Yankees season ticket holder!?!?
*Member of the Evil Empire since 1984*
10:53 PM
-
1 Comments - 0 Kudos
- Add Comment
|
|
|
|
Thursday, April 19, 2007
|
Don't be fooled...
...there's only one original :P
10:09 PM
-
2 Comments - 2 Kudos
- Add Comment
|
|
|
|
Monday, December 18, 2006
|
Birthday After-Thoughts (did that really happen?!)
Current mood:  satisfied
Category: Parties and Nightlife
Dearest Everyone...
It is from the bottom of my heart that I thank each and every one of you for what was probably the most fun I've ever had on my birthday... ever. Seriously?! For those of you who were there (and those of you who were not able to come), that party was absolutely, 100% fucking insane!! Period. I had soooooooooooooooooooooooo much fun up there I can't even begin to explain. And judging by the comments I've been getting, it seems like you all did too. And you know what? That's all I wanted to achieve that night: a good - no, fuck that - a GREAT time to be had by all. That said: Mission fucking accomplished! :)
The only bummer was that in my [extremely] drunked stupor, I some how managed to fracture my wrist bracing a fall on the dance floor... urgh. I'm off to get X-Rays tomorrow but this is especially scary as I'm set to play bass for a couple of nights in front of nearly 500 people in less than two weeks and I can't even flick a cigarette lighter - nevermind an "A-string" of a bass... urgh. We'll see!!
Apologies? Those go out to every girl and their girl friends, sisters, daughters, cousins, mothers, etc., that I attempted to either makeout with, hit on, fondle, or screw in the bathroom (oh, poor poor Vanessa)... a half a liter of straight Jack Danielles in 10 mins will do that. So, my deepest apologies for being such a slutbag... how uncharacteristic of me.
Also, I'd like to that the following people individually for their HIGHLY APPRECIATED participation and involvement in this year's Tommy Rockstar's 31st Annual Birthday Bash - because with out your help, I would just been up there wailing on by bass by myeslf, drunk of my ass (wait, I think that happened too?!)...
-Ingrid (my darling sister who volunteered to be my personal assis, er, slave all day. Thank you thank you thank you. From cleaning my apt the next day, to driving my car... If it wasn't for you, I'd be dead. Literally. I love you so much. Oh and thanks for the GNR Photobook - my life is now complete).
-Dave Weston (for agreeing to lend your talents & service for yet another insane party this year. I know I have a lot of 'hair-brained' schemes that I throw your way but I am grateful for you being there for my and helping my dreams become a reality. To quote the A-Team: "I love it when a plan comes together!" ...love you, Brosef Stalin!! Two more weeks to go!!!!)
-Brian fucking Gallagher (see explanation above - and - for being the greatest Axl Rose I guy could ever ask for. You were fucking phenominal!!!! I still can't believe I woke up in bed with Axl Rose the next morning!!!)
-Schaffer the Darklord (for not only being the sickest Steven Adler I've ever seen, but for rockin' an amazing set of your one-of-a-kind raptasic rhymes. You were stellar as usual. Looking forward to that TR-inspired Dead Kennedy's tribute, brotha!)
-Robbie Seahag (for coming into this project on 5 days notice and rocking Slash better than the real thing. You are so talented it is unbelievable! You saved my ass and for that I am forever grateful. Thank you, thank you, thank you!! We must do it again!!)
-Julez (for creating the greatest costumes a tribute band could ever ask for. Your hard work and uncomparable talents shall not be forgotten - as they are pretty much burned into the memory of everyone there. You fucking rule!!)
-BAM (for coming thru yet again - working all night on a "booze-by-booze" basis. You rule so hard; I think you made every single one of my guests lose a good five pounds each on the dance floor. Fuck yeah!)
-Supreme Trading (for taking another chance on me this year. Judy, Laura, Craig & Joe: thank you from the bottom of my heart! I'm looking forward to next year's Tommy Rockstar's 32nd Annual Birthday Bash - so get ready!!)
-10¢ FF (for rocking the rock like you always do. Oh, and for blowing the PA system. That ruled!)
-Anne (for understanding that I really meant nothing by throwing you in a garbage can. My deepest apologies, baby. Drunken birthday boys do the silliest things?!)
-The Wonder Twins (for supporting me, loving me, and being the catalyst for my visions of fun. Glad to see you rocked out as hard as we did up there! Oh, and for the glam book - so cool!! Thank you. I love you more than you know.)
-Toni (for helping me lug all that crap outta ST the next day. My fractured wrist & hangover thank you!)
...and last but not least:
-Randal & Jbill (for having the 'wherewithall' to grab me by each shoulder and escort me out of my OWN PARTY, throw me in a car, and bring me to - not one - but TWO 'after-parties' until 10am... oh my fucking god, bro's... There is nothing better than waking up at 3pm the next day to a living room full of Paul White, Chiara Sullivan, Randal Mixon, Ingrid Rockstar and Axl Rose [in full costume] and 16 cases of beer, a plate-full of 'schnitz', and 32 lbs. of ramen noodle. Stellar!!!)
I love you all so much!! Let's do it again next year, shall we?!
Til then, if you're up for it, please come join me and Dave Weston as rock back over a decade for the long awaited Weston & Latex Generation Reunion Shows coming up at the end of this month. We would love to see you all there, so grab your tickets online and meet us there, because if you thought this weekend was a party, you're in for a big surprise.
Rock the fuck out!!
-Tommy "Duff" Rockstar
Age 31
4:48 PM
-
5 Comments - 8 Kudos
- Add Comment
|
|
|
|
Thursday, November 09, 2006
|
L8XG/Weston Reunion?!
Current mood: accomplished
Weston to Reunite for String of Northeast Holiday Shows; join Bouncing Souls, Latex Generation, Sticks & Stones, and more!
--
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE;
October 16th, 2006;
NEW YORK -- Since their absence from the very scene they helped to create in the 1990's,
acclaimed Pennsylvania indie-rockers Weston have decided to reunite for the first time in over
6 years to perform a string of one-off, "one-shot only" live shows in the Northeast later this year.
"We wanted to give our fans another chance to experience what made Weston so much fun"
explains drummer Jeremiah Attanasio, who says the band is considering playing their fair share
of older material. "There are a lot of people who have told us over the years how much they miss
our live performances. Some have said that they've never had a chance to even see us play live"
he added.
While only three dates are planned, the shows have been strategically set to kick off the last
weekend of the year.
"What better time to do something like this than around the holidays?" says singer and guitarist
Jimmy Snyder. "Everybody can use a little more holiday cheer and that's what we are aiming to do"
The band has also decided to pair up with various friends from the past in an effort to help their
fans further relive -- if only for one weekend -- a feeling of nostalgia that so many have long since
yearned for, yet have never forgotten.
"I'm excited about this... really excited. Excitingly excited. I'm excitably excitable. Excite Bike.
Manbat..." added founding front-man and guitarist Dave Weston, who has been keeping busy
with a new, Brooklyn-based musical endeavor dubbed Love Down with former Latex Generation
bassist Tommy Rockstar.
The shows promise to be quite exciting indeed, with special guests - both old and new - in the
works for these shows.
In New Jersey, Weston will be joined by longtime friends and former tour-mates, The Bouncing
Souls (fresh off their 'Gold' tour) at Atlantic City's legendary House of Blues on Friday, December
29th. Next, the group will be headlining a show with support from former NJ contemporaries, Sticks
& Stones (feat. members of World Inferno Friendship Society and Johnny X and the Conspiracy),
as well as 'old-skool' New York pop-punkers Latex Generation (who will be performing live for the
first time in nearly 8 years themselves) on Saturday, December 30th at New York's premier, new
live music venue, Rebel (251 West 30th St., NY, NY).
Finally, the band returns home to Lehigh Valley, PA to ring in the new year with their fans and
friends at the Crocodile Rock on Sunday, Dec 31st, 2006. Joining Weston
again will be Latex Generation, as well as local Pennsylvania group Grieving Eucalyptus,
and more special guests.
"The buzz has been tremendous and we're expecting all three shows to go really well" says
Tommy Rockstar, who is acting as Weston's current coordinator/event organizer.
"If you're a serious fan of Weston, here's your opportunity to join the band for some rockin' holiday
cheer. But get your tickets early" he adds "because these are the only shows that the band is
expected to be performing this year".
--
For more general information, please visit:
Myspace.com/theReunionShows
PunkReunion.com
as well as...
Myspace.com/WestonRocksPA
Myspace.com/LatexG
LatexGeneration.com
Myspace.com/sticksandstonesfansite
Myspace.com/BouncingSouls
BouncingSouls.com
Chunksaah.com
Myspace.com/LoveDown
For more information on show details and ticket info, please visit:
RocksOff.com
HOB.com
RebelNYC.com
DowntownSoundProductions.com
Allentownfair.com
--
-Addendum (taken from GoKartRecords.com):
"Punk music would not be what it is today without the contributions of Weston. As one of the first
bands to successfully integrate punk rock with melodic elements and sincere lyrics, Weston paved
the way for the brand of melodic punk rock that is huge today. Got Beat Up and their debut full
length Real Life Stories of Teenage Rebellion remain two of the finest pop-punk records of all time.
Named after guitarist Dave Weston's parents (for allowing the band to rehearse in their basement),
the self-deprecating punk band Weston formed in 1990. Like few bands before them, Weston
tapped into the emotions of teen-angst, surviving high school and first crushes and turned those
into some of the catchiest songs ever written. After the release of Got Beat Up, the bassist/singer
Chuck Saltern left the band and future releases were more Pixies-esque and less Descendents-
like then the early releases. At one point, it looked like Weston was going to be huge; there wrote
better songs than Blink-182 and were a hundred times more fun. But conflicts within the band drove
Weston to an early grave. If Greg ever writes the Go-kart book he has promised us, the chapters
on Weston will be one of the most interesting." ~ ~ GoKartRecords.com
Pics:
Weston
Sticks & Stones (NJ)
Latex Generation (NY)
Bouncing Souls (NJ)
1:28 PM
-
3 Comments - 2 Kudos
- Add Comment
|
|
|
|
Wednesday, May 24, 2006
|
The greatest moment in my life (to date) was...
Current mood: excited
.. width="425" height="350">..>
2:45 PM
-
3 Comments - 3 Kudos
- Add Comment
|
|
|
|
Monday, January 09, 2006
|
NOISE! (Tommy Rockstar's "month-in-review" round-up!)
Current mood:  creative
Category: Parties and Nightlife
Welcome to the first ever edition Noise! - my new 'month-in-review' round-up!
A sort of 'Page Seven' if you will that will be available at finer newstands everywhere!
Ahhh... what a month!
Where to begin... where to begin...
1. Well, we can't forget about the infamous Tommy Rockstar's 30th Annual Birthday Bash, now can we?
If I could say one thing about that night, it would most definitely have to be:
"When we started this band all we needed, needed was a laugh" ...word!
(Oh & don't forget that the commerative DVD of the entire night's events is slated to hit stores soon
(I shit you not!) so don't forget to pick up your (albeit free) copy!)
2. Which indirectly led to the formation of my & Dave Weston's new Ramones tribute band...
(that's right, kids.. you heard it here first! Be sure to look out for us on the corner of 53rd & 3rd this summer as we perform all your favorite Ramones hits live! I am fucking DEAD-ASS serious about this one people... Dead... ass!)
3. Next is the phrase 'Love Down' permantly being etched into my lexicon...
...courtesy of this guy:
4. Hell freezing over with the creation of this. (Wow. There really is hope for Hugo!)
5. Then, of course who could forget the sausage fest to trump all sausage fests!
Ladies & gentlemen... ENTER THE KWANZ!
(Ugh... my stomach is still killing me... last time I make "Tommy Rockstar's
117-Cheese Aryan Mac & Cheese" for 20 people!
...and finally:
6. Fuckin' "de ja vous" strikes for me & Hairdu on the heels of this awesome noise!
(Funny thing is that Robert Redford probably doesn't even who Ad Rock is)!
Man, can you say Noise or what?! Makes you kinda think, don't it?
...Here's to the next month issue as we'll be previewing preparation for this year's '2006 South By South West Music Conference' in Austin (or as I like to call it... Sex Drugs & Rock N' Roll - Texas style!)
'Til next time...
xo,
-TRx 3000, Esq.
Note: Many photo's appear courtesy of BAM! ...thanks babe!
PS: Subscribe to my blog & get free oral sex from me for life!
10:13 PM
-
3 Comments - 6 Kudos
- Add Comment
|
|
|
Let's 'dance!
Current mood: excited
Its official.
On Friday, January 20th, 2006 - after a killer winter that has already brought me one of the most memorable birthday bashes to date, I will once again add another chapter to The Adventures of Tommy Rockstar as I return to the snowy mountain tops of Park City, Utah to attend the 2006 Sundance Film Festival! ...Woohoo!! This will be my 3rd time in the last 5 years that I will be attending and I'm sure that this time will mark one of the most memorable visits yet. How so? Well, for starters I am going with some great friends like new-skool pal Christo (aka: "el Duke of Pointe Verde"), as well as with some of my old-skool buddies Hairdu and Jim from SoundOne fame as they lend their skills in support of a killer (and much hyped) new film about the American hardcore music scene entitled 'American Hardcore' - and, by the sound of things, all four of us are pretty much guaranteed complimentary seats for the midnight screening premiere... Word!
Sounds pretty cool so far, huh? Well it gets better!
Now - for those of you who know me, you may remember my infamous impromptu trip to Amsterdam last winter with Hairdu, right? Well, this time I think we top ourselves. Check it out...
You might have noticed MySpace advertising a very special contest to help promote a killer new documentary called 'AWESOME: I FUCKIN' SHOT THAT!' that the Beastie Boys are premiering at this year's festival. Well, not only do we plan on catching the midnight screening on opening weekend - but - through the magic of Tommy Rockstar & Hairdu's patented 'Hair Brained Schemes'™- we managed to score two (2) tickets to a private, "invite-only" celebrity party with special musical guests - you guessed it... the Beastie Boys! That's right.. Hairdu and I will be sucking down cocktails and rubbing elbows with Hollywoods finest while surrounding ourselves in 'Sounds of Science' that is the B-Boys at this intimate gala event! Can you think of a better time?! Didn't think so...
Throw in a little sex, drugs, and rock n' roll and you've got yourself one hell of a trip... word up.
Robert Redford look out... here I come!
ps: DO YOURSELF A FAVOR & SUBSCRIBE TO MY BLOG! (...I will mail you one shiny dollar if you do!!)
8:57 PM
-
1 Comments - 0 Kudos
- Add Comment
|
|
|
|
Monday, August 22, 2005
|
It was SOOOOOOOOOOOOO worth...
Current mood: accomplished
...blowing my tranny on the LIE at 5 AM on the way back from Asbury Park last night
(& getting towed all the way back home), as only hours earlier I was on stage, dueting
on "P.M.R.C." with Greg from the Bouncing Souls at the Lifetime re-union show in front
of 1200 die-hard old-skoolers in the smokey/jammed confines of the Stone Pony!
Now that's what 'Rockstar dreams' are made of... Woooooord!
"True Believers... all the way!"
-TRx
PS: Thanx again, BK! You is da man!!
4:17 AM
-
4 Comments - 2 Kudos
- Add Comment
|
|
|
