MICHAEL SWAN: FOOD BUSINESS >>>

The Tacoma Food Co-Op raised $12,000 at its benefit event July 19 in People's Park. With 150 members, and a kickin' blog, the organization will host organizational meetings in August.

Join the fun here.

DANIEL BLUE: MEET PATRICK JOHNSON >>>

Patrick Johnson is a man of many facets. Like a baseball-sized diamond, thousands of little geometrical shapes link together to form the surface of flashy brilliant globular glitz. Try burning this one, and I don't even think he is even old enough to smoke. 

A musician and a photographer, it is smart of him to be a student of the School of the Arts here in downtown Tacoma. I met Patrick over a year ago at the Mad Hat Tea Company where he was creating his persona and exploring the wide and wild world of tea.

A star student at SOTA, Patrick has been recommended to me for both photographic skill and an above average dependability in most everything he does. You can meet Pat at the Black Water Café or at most any show that involves Dear Records.

Currently he is playing with the angelic Freeze and Fur Coat, and seeking to understand the nation of China, to which he has recently traveled.

I would not be surprised if this young man grows up to become a diplomat or an astronaut that has to become a diplomat because he encounters aliens out there in his space travels. Patrick has a way of making you feel comfortable with his ideas, he consistently creates a pleasant atmosphere for intelligent conversation.

LINK: The Tacoma Files archive

ROGER EBERT: OPENING FRIDAY AT THE GRAND >>>

Set in Paris in 1835, The Last Mistress is the story of a notorious libertine (Fu'ad Ait Aattou) who attempts to be a faithful husband to a rich young lady, despite his helpless enslavement to his mistress of 10 years (Asia Argento). He is devoured by the mistress; their mutual obsession is more potent than any love. Directed by Catherine Breillat, famous for her explicit films, now bringing the same passionate power to an elegant period piece.

Ed. Note: Full review will run here Thursday. It opens at The Grand Cinema Friday, Aug. 1 at 6 p.m.

The Grand celebrates United Artists 90th anniversary with a film series opening with Midnight Cowboy, Raging Bull and The Great Escape Friday, too.

LINK: Go see a movie tonight

Here's a preview of the flick. It's in Paris talk:

MATT DRISCOLL: PAYDAY FOR EYMAN ? >>>

As you have probably already heard, Tim Eyman’s I-985 is officially on this year’s ballot. I-985 is designed to help relieve congestion in Washington state through adhering to recommendations already made by Auditor Brian Sontagg. That, and of course (perhaps more importantly to Eyman) â€" limit the ways the Washington government can tax you for transportation projects and limit the ways they can spend that money.

Whether you see this as a good thing or a bad thing, it’s absolutely a fact. I-985 is headed to the voters. The signatures have been counted and the results are in.

As Eyman has made a habit of pointing out â€" especially since his 2002 “I work for free. Oh wait, I actually pay myself” fiasco â€" the initiative man works very hard at his job.  That’s how a former watch salesman from Mukilteo has risen to the status of the much revered and hated Eyman. Now that I-985 is officially on this November’s ballot, it’s time for Eyman supporters to show Timmy the money.

Here’s a press releases the Weekly Volcano received from Camp Eyman this morning on that very subject:

Now that I-985 is officially certified for the fall ballot, our focus now turns to raising funds for our compensation fund (there's still that little matter of Tim's huge loan to the campaign, but that'll wait until later this year).  On a few occasions when newspapers criticized us for it, super supporter Mike Dunmire has defended us with a column in response -- here's Mike's explanation for our compensation -- we ask all of you to please not forget us now that I-985 is on the ballot:

EYMAN, FAGANS DESERVE COMPENSATION

I read with interest your editorial on July 30, 2006 criticizing me for my willingness to donate to the compensation fund for Tim Eyman, Jack Fagan and Mike Fagan for their efforts this year organizing their initiative this year.  What you did not mention in your editorial was the enormous amount of effort required to qualify an initiative for the ballot.  It is a huge undertaking, requiring extensive knowledge of the initiative process, communication with supporters, the press and the public, and  organizing the gathering of 225,000 qualified signatures supported with  voluntary donations from concerned citizens.

You also did not mention that Tim Eyman and Mike and Jack Fagan work without pay for the entire period needed to get an initiative qualified for the ballot.  That is months of daily effort without any compensation. One hundred percent (100%) of funds raised for the initiative go toward qualifying the measure for the ballot.  Not for salaries, not for consulting fees, not for a campaign manager, nor any of the other expenses that typically cost other initiative campaigns.  Eyman and his partners do the vast majority of the grunt work and organization of the campaign. There is not a single other organization that accomplishes so much with so little resources.  For a citizen concerned about issues, there isn't a more cost effective way of getting involved than by supporting their efforts.

After the signature drive for an initiative is completed, the compensation fund becomes available for voluntary donations from those people who appreciate Eyman's team efforts.  No one is obligated to contribute.  The compensation for months of effort boils down to splitting what other concerned citizens voluntarily contribute.  No government subsidies and no allocation of taxpayer dollars, only voluntary citizen contributions.

But their efforts aren't just directed toward getting the initiative qualified.  They work each year fighting against politicians' attempts to undermine or end the initiative process.  They organize supporters to oppose state and local tax increases.  They fight in the Legislature and in the courts to defend previously approved initiatives.  And they work hard every year keeping their supporters informed.  I don't know of anyone else in politics that works as hard or who has accomplished as much as the three of them have.

The legislature passes hundreds of laws each session.  Many of these laws are based on priorities different than those of the people.  The legislature has infinite resources (our tax dollars), laws are made on a quid pro basis, special interests have enormous influence and the demand for tax dollars appears endless.  Eyman and his team expend months of life energy without compensation because they believe in what they are doing and then are courageous enough to base their entire enumeration on the good will and generosity of like-minded people.

For members of the News Tribune's editorial board that are concerned about Eyman's compensation, I would like to ask if you would consider earning your livelihood by performing services for months without any compensation and then, after the fact, rely exclusively on voluntary donations from the beneficiaries of your efforts.

Who would even entertain such a compensation structure?  Jack, Mike and Tim are people driven by a desire to make a difference.  They firmly believe in their ideas and are committed to providing the voters of Washington with choices; the opportunity to have the voters' voices heard in the area of public policy.  I, for one, am grateful for their efforts.

Michael E. Dunmire, retired, Woodinville

SUZY STUMP: 5 THINGS TO DO TODAY >>>

11 A.M.: Twenty-eight works by filmmaker and artist Karl Krogstad, plus works by Eve Wright and the ICONcepts group show focusing on icons in the Tacoma art scene hang at Two Vaults Gallery.

3:30-7:30 P.M.: Considering how many alfresco greengrocers are in town, it's a wonder anybody goes to a supermarket. The 6th Ave Farmers Market opens today with blackberries, peaches, pluots, fennel, cucumbers and Nash’s famous carrots on the fresh sheet. Chef Diane of Herban Café is in the demo booth. Voxxy Vallejo will rock your melons.

5 P.M.: Toscano’s Café & Wine Bar throws a beach party with summer cocktail coolers, beach blanket trivia and fruit on a stick.

9 P.M.: The Tasteful Nudes are back in Olympia with a new album, The Soul of the New Machines, existing in a post-rock math vortex. Love them at Le Voyeur.

9 P.M.: Every Tuesday during Cans’ Industry night the concussive toom-toom-toom of DJ J-Fresh’s urban groove pulsates inside like the frantic heartbeat of a junkie. DJ J-Fresh watches the crowd.  Judges.  Predicts.  He’s been in the clubs since 1999, and has the eye of an old school veteran.  He collected records as a kid: Gap Band, SOS, James Brown â€" artists everyone works these days.  J-Fresh made tapes for friends.  He did private parties and rave-style events for years before pleasing club fans. Check it at Cans.

LINK: Viva South Sound arts and entertainment calendar
LINK: Live music and DJs

JAKE DE PAUL: THE MORNING BREW >>>

1. The Atkins, eat-lots-of-meat diet is about as unhealthy as they come. But you'd never know it from media coverage. (Alternet)

2. Bartenders hit Tales of the Cocktail in New Orleans and blogged it. (Tales Blog)

3. Beard Foundation gathers the top Chinese chefs in the world in November for Dumplings & Dynasties. (New York Magazine)

LINK: South Sound Restaurant Guide

BOBBLE TIKI: BREAKFAST WITH BOBBLE TIKI >>>

THE DAILY WORD

Indefatigable \in-dih-FAT-ih-guh-bul\, adjective:
Incapable of being fatigued; not readily exhausted; untiring; unwearying; not yielding to fatigue.

USAGE EXAMPLE: Few things can match Mike Holmgren’s indefatigable appetite for hot dogs covered in sauerkraut. However, Lindsay Lohen’s appetite for booze and coke is right up there.

MORNING NEWS

TACOMA: Why the fish may have died

OLYMPIA: Deadly first ride

SEATTLE: Layoffs ahead for Starbucks?

UNITED STATES: Homeless population said to have dropped

ENVIRONMENT: Houston doesn't give a fuck

JUST BIZARRE: The Joker stealing Batman posters

MORE STRANGE NEWS: One tough dealer

THINGS TO DO TODAY
FILM LISTINGS: Look here
MUSIC LISTINGS: Here’s what’s happening
SHOOT THE SHIT: Weekly Volcano forums

SUZY STUMP: UNITED ARTISTS 90TH ANNIVERSARY FILM SERIES >>>

Anyone who is in the Tacoma area should make a point of stopping by The Grand Cinema, especially over the coming two weeks when it will continue to screen celebrated classics as one of the 20 select "markets of independent theaters and cinema houses in key cities throughout the United States" playing host to the United Artists 90th Anniversary Film Festival. (Not a bad promotional idea from the studio purchased by Tom Cruise and Paula Wagner in November 2006, right?).

Beginning Friday, Midnight Cowboy (1969), Raging Bull (1980) and The Great Escape (1963) will hit The Grand’s screens through Aug. 7. Beginning Aug. 8: Some Like It Hot (1959), From Russia with Love (1963) and The Pink Panther (1963). Whoa, 1963 was all that.

[The Grand Cinema, starts Friday, Aug. 1, each movie will have several screenings throughout the week, but will not necessarily play every day, $4.50-$8, 606 Fawcett Ave., Tacoma, 253.593.4474]

LINK: See a movie today