RON SWARNER: THE NEW VAUDEVILLE >>>

American life after the Civil War was defined by incorporation, melding what had been two separate countries â€" with separate lifestyles, industries and culture â€" into one entity. This idea of bringing everything together prompted the birth of American vaudeville, an organized and localized version of variety theater. Although the Civil War is long gone and vaudeville is all but dead, YouTube is the new vaudeville.

There have always been folks who have a talent at something and they want to share it â€" The Evolution of Dance guy …

or Wii Fit girlfriend.

YouTube showcases unique talents the way that vaudeville did in the pre-digital age. The difference is that people would pay to see vaudeville back in the day. When the media changed, they no longer did. Performers had to change as the media changed. It took a long time to figure but eventually they did. Perhaps the same will happen in the newspaper game.

Newspapers that incorporate new media into their models â€" who adapt to the changes â€" are the ones who will succeed.

The Weekly Volcano has been practicing its Evolution of Dance.

Feel free to drop me your thoughts on the online version of the Weekly Volcano. We're tinkering behind the scenes.

EVENT
Relay for Life
The Relay for Life began in Tacoma as the City of Destiny Classic 24-Hour Run Against Cancer in 1985. Dr. Gordy Klatt wanted to raise money for his local American Cancer Society office. He spent a grueling 24 hours circling the track at the University of Puget Sound for more than 83 miles. Throughout the night friends paid $25 to run or walk 30 minutes with him. He raised $27,000 to fight cancer. Today, the American Cancer Society hosts relays across the nation.  Friday, Tacoma’s version will see teams of eight to 15 people taking turns walking on a track and camping out overnight to support the ACS’s mission of eliminating cancer. â€" Michael Swan
[Mt. Tahoma High School, May 30 6 p.m. to May 31 6 p.m., 4634 S. 74th St., Tacoma]

ROCK
Hell’s Belles
Hell’s Belles has been around for a while now. Their all-female tribute to AC/DC is nothing new. There’s a good chance you’ve seen them, and there’s a good chance you’ve read about them before in the Weekly Volcano.

Bobble Tiki doesn’t care. It’s true, Hell’s Belles has been doing the same thing (albeit with lineup fluctuations) since 2000 and true, AC/DC’s catalog of hits hasn’t really grown or diversified since then. But who cares? Not Bobble Tiki. Bobble Tiki knows Hell’s Belles is the prefect band to get blitzed to. And Bobble Tiki knows the sight of five smoking ladies strutting and rocking like Angus and Co. is enough to make his heart engorge with blood â€" among other organs. â€" Bobble Tiki
[Hell’s Kitchen, Friday, May 30 with Pride Tiger and Plaster; Saturday, May 31 with Weight Of The World and The Coloroffs; 9 p.m., $12-$15, 3829 Sixth Ave., Tacoma, 253.759. 6003]

LINK: Eddie Spaghetti and others in the clubs tonight.
LINK: We have the movie starting times here.
LINK: Let’s eat Japanese tonight.

SUZY STUMP: SEE SKYPONDS >>>

Have you every wondered how stripped-down and shadeless outdoor life can be without leafy green vegetation to cover our sweaty selves? Life would have sucked growing up without the childlike pleasures of climbing trees and rolling toilet paper all around them and carving cryptic initials in the bark …

or decorating vegetation with glass art.

OK, I never decorated vegetation with glass art, except when I threw an empty beer bottle in the bushes on my way home from that one party. Bad Suzy!

M-Space artists Joseph Miller and Oliver Doriss have decorated the W.W. Seymour Botanical Conservatory with their glass art under the title Skyponds. It’s something to see.

The Conservatory hosts the two for a reception Saturday, May 31 from 1 to 3 p.m. They’re something to see.

Go see: 316 S. G St. in Wright Park

BOBBLE TIKI: BREAKFAST WITH BOBBLE TIKI >>>

THE DAILY WORD

Grandee \gran-DEE\, noun:
1. A man of elevated rank or station.
2. In Spain or Portugal, a nobleman of the first rank.

USAGE EXAMPLE: In need of a pick me up before returning to his Portugese palace, the grandee ordered a grande triple shot iced mocha with extra whip. 

MORNING NEWS

TACOMA: The most written about tree of all time

OLYMPIA: Tough times for the Ranch House

SEATTLE: Fry crooks

UNITED STATES: Ken Griffey Jr's rookie card

JUST BIZARRE: Kirkland's elephant man

MORE STRANGE NEWS: Fox News has bed bugs

THINGS TO DO TODAY
FILM LISTINGS: Look here
MUSIC LISTINGS: Here’s what’s happening
SHOOT THE SHIT: Weekly Volcano forums
THE ZINE SCENE: Read about it here
OCTOPUS: In your mouth

SUZY STUMP: STAND UP FOR DARFUR >>>

All you have to do is pay a $7 cover at Saturday's Stand Up for Darfur at Doyle’s Public House and you can do good, since you'll be helping the oppressed and enslaved people of Darfur, Sudan. While it seems hard to focus on one bad place in the world when things are tough all over, a helping of tasty licks by local acts Joshua Cain Band, Matt Coughlin, Heidi Vladyka, Blanco Bronco, Stephanie Johnson, Negative 7, Sea Navy, Kate Tucker and the Sons of Sweden and John Walker and the Hitchhikers might make it easier. The show starts at 2 p.m.

Heck, why wait to help. Tonight King’s Books hosts a community discussion and silent auction at 6:30 p.m. King’s Books is at 208 St. Helens Ave. in Tacoma.

LINK: Natasha discusses Darfur.
LINK: Stand Up for Darfur Myspace.

BOBBLE TIKI: MORE WITH THE TACOMA GNOME >>>

If you’ve read the most recent issue of the Weekly Volcano, you know Bobble Tiki interviewed the Tacoma Gnome in this week’s column. He was covering the two piece rock band Mr. Gnome, who will play Le Voyeur in Olympia on Saturday, May 31, and Bobble Tiki couldn’t help but search out the Tacoma Gnome for his thoughts on the event.

Yesterday, Bobble Tiki posted his full interview with Sam Meister and Nicole Barille of Mr. Gnome. Unfortunately, because of space restraints in the world of print, Bobble Tiki was only able to fit half of it in this week’s paper. The same goes for his interview with the Tacoma Gnome.

Because it’s only fair (and fairly entertaining), here’s a look at everything the Tacoma Gnome had to say:

Bobble Tiki: As Bobble Tiki mentioned, there's a band from Cleveland called “Mr. Gnome” set to play Olympia this week? Are they of any relation to the Tacoma Gnome?
Tacoma Gnome: Mr. Gnome is not directly related, of course, to Tacoma Gnome, but the history of Ohio, and Cleveland in particular, is one that might parallel that of Tacoma, but not directly related to me.

BT: Mr. Gnome is a two piece rock outfit that really knows how to throw down the good stuff. What types of music really tickle the Tacoma Gnome's fancy? What's in the Tacoma Gnome’s iPod these days?
TG: Personally, I really enjoy the sound of lutes and other, um, I guess you call them folksy sounding music. I don't really have an iPod, but, if I did, I certainly would have a wide selection of the classic Gnome songs:  Warm the Tobacco, I'm Coming Home; With a Hammer and Glogg, We'll be Fine; Eine Kleine Gnomemusik; and, of course, the most recent one from Weezer, "Pork and Beans", but mainly because I enjoy the YouTube video.

BT: Does the Tacoma Gnome ever go out and see a show?
TG: Have I seen a show?  I can answer that with a firm, YES.  I did break away from my garden duties on a Third Thursday to see Deborah Page at Sanford and Son. Wow.  She is a talented, artist, and as humans go, she is quite attractive.

BT: Bobble Tiki recently saw the Tacoma Gnome make (what Bobble Tiki assumes was) his first film appearances? How was it working on the film "Blogland Murders?" Do you feel you were type cast? What was your method for getting into character?
TG: I appreciate you following my ventures into the world cinema. Hopefully, in the future, I can be on the larger keno screens around the city.  Working with the crew on the "Blogland Murders" was a delight!  Getting into character?  Wow.  That was more challenging than I could have imagined.  Especially that I am a creature of peace and gentleness.

BT: Bobble Tiki also hears the Tacoma Gnome was in Adam J. Manley’s “The Destiny of the Gnome.” Is this the start of a film career for the Tacoma Gnome?

TG: Between the two films I felt there was enough diversity in my acting style. We shall see.  I have spoken to The Producer, who produced "Destiny of the Gnome", and he is hinting at a longer version.

BT: Explain the Tacoma Gnome's love for the City of Destiny.
TG: I love Tacoma because it is a beautiful place.  I believe I could travel for years and years within its borders finding unique nooks and crannies to explore. I am proud to tell my family I am in Tacoma, and will continue my adventures as long as I am able.

BRAD ALLEN: THE MANSION OR BUST >>>

How much would you pay to witness a boxing match at the Playboy Mansion?

I would pay $245 to see the old man's bed â€" that bed has seen more action than Tommy Lee and Tony Randall â€" combined.

Anyway, Cans Tacoma is giving away two tickets to Fight Night at The Playboy Mansion June 25 in Beverly Hills.  The tickets are worth $2,000, which includes flight, transportation to the Mansion from a Los Angeles hotel, food and beverage during the event, VIP fight tickets (live on ESPN) and the after party.

Anyone can enter to win at Cans this weekend and next weekend.  This contest is free to enter. Just head over to Cans â€" Ninth and A Street in downtown Tacoma â€" between now and June 7 and fill out a ballot.