MICHAEL SWAN: NEW STORIES IN THIS WEEK'S VOLCANO >>>

Building height restrictions in Olympia
For months the debate has raged in Washington’s capital city: to raise building height limits on the isthmus in Olympia, between Capitol Lake and Budd Inlet, or not? It’s an idea the Olympia City Council has been batting around for a while, and Tuesday, Sept. 30 we got our first indication of exactly where they stand. Full story here

Stop driving to work
Truth be told, reducing single-person trips to and from work is not a new idea. It has been heralded as one of the easiest ways to tackle mounting concerns about petroleum dependence, air pollution, global warming and lung cancer, to name a few. Remember carpooling? Well, commute trip reduction is the new carpooling. Full story here

Vets against war not coffee
Tully's founder and Chairman Tom O'Keefe has pledged $15,000 worth of coffeehouse supplies to the organizations behind the java joint â€" GI Voice Inc. and the local chapter of Iraq Veterans Against the War. Tully's spokesman Roger van Oosten of the Fearey Group did not respond to media inquiries about the donation. O'Keefe did tell other media outlets that while he doesn't necessarily agree with some of the political positions of the backing organizations, he does, however, respect members' rights to have a differing opinion. Full story here

Pierce County quality of life meter
The City of Lakewood’s amazing $64.1 million budget is focusing on public safety, neighborhoods, and community facilities! Oh, wait, that’s Lakewood, Calif. Nevermind. Our City of Lakewood, Wash., recently cut more than 5 percent of its neighborhood-policing budget. Sorry about that. Grab full meter readings here

MICHAEL SWAN: GREEN AND POLITICS AND BEER >>>

OK. I'll admit it. I'm a eco-political junkie. It's my obsession that brings an influx of emails. Most of the time, I just hit the delete key. Ridiculously priced fund-raisers that I can't afford or sitting in a cubicle making phone calls isn't how I want to spend my five minutes of free time. I'm not sure why but eco-political events seem doomed to be boring.

But an email from the Tahoma Audubon and Tacoma Green Drinks changed my thinking. The two organizations as well as Pierce Conservation Voters are holding a meeting tonight all in the name of the environment, conservation, and sustainability at The Spar from 5:30-8 p.m.

Try to tell me the VP debate will not be on The Spar’s televisions tonight.

Green and politics and beer. What could be better?

[The Spar, Thursday, Oct. 2, 5:30-8 p.m., no cover, 2121 N. 30th St., Old Town Tacoma]

LINK: What Biden needs to do to nail the debate

RON SWARNER: YOGOMAN BURNING BAND >>>

Here is the gist: Humans are gorgeous complex kaleidoscopic energy. We are electric. We possess actual psychic and electromagnetic force. Negative begets negative. Positive begets positive. War begets war, peace begets peace. Lindsay begets Britney begets Amy Winehouse begets Project Runway begets Miley Cyrus begets 11 million Prozac prescriptions begets a billion dumbed-down mindsets, embittered souls.

Duh.

Amp up the positive. Mix your mojito-injected cells with fellow energy vessels on the Masa dance floor before the 90 beats per minute Yogoman Burning Band. Feel the beat in your soul. Experience bliss and joy and notions of peace and healing and laughter.

[Masa, 8:45 p.m., no cover, donations accepted on behalf of Mary Bridge Children’s Hospital, 2811 Sixth Ave., Tacoma, 253.254.0560]

LINK: The Rock N Roll Craft Show debuts tonight

LINK: Today’s Live music and DJs calendar

STEPH DEROSA: I AM NOT ONE OF THEM >>>

Back at the beginning of April Bandito Betty and I attempted to get our drink on in the Harvester’s lounge. As with many things attempted in my life, another mission had failed. When we first visited, there was no bartender in sight for at least 15 minutes. We eventually gave up and left.

This week I returned to the Harvester, ready to give the ol’ lounge another shot.

Check out what I found here.

BOBBLE TIKI: BETTER LOVING THROUGH CHEMISTRY >>>

Viagra, the little blue pill that has revolutionized the sex lives of millions of men and tikis and become the punchline to ten thousand not very funny jokes about rock hard this and Bob Dole that and "You are solid wood Bobble Tiki" this and ...

Many women have concerns regarding Viagra, too. Wondering wrote Advice Goddess Amy Alkon the following letter:

I'm a 30-year-old woman who started seeing a guy in his early 40s a month ago. He's very healthy and confident, and seems pretty balanced. We get together about once a week, on weekends, and he's amazing in bed! He wants sex three to four times in a 12-hour period, and lasts quite a while. I'm loving this, but just once on some days would be fine, too. Also, I'm thinking this is unusual for a guy above 25. Would it be out of line to ask if he's taking Viagra? â€" Wondering

Pop on over to the Weekly Volcano's Fix section to discover how the Advice Goddess answered Wondering’s letter.

If Wondering is anything like Mrs. Bobble Tiki she might want to bag out on this dude. Mrs. Bobble Tiki is tiring of Bobble Tiki popping tents during reruns of Magnum, P.I.

CNN reports that Sen. John McCain told Fox News that Sen. Barack Obama's poll numbers are rising as the economy seems to tank "because life isn't fair."

SUZY STUMP: TACOMA FILM FESTIVAL UPDATE >>>

The Tacoma Film Festival brain trust knows you care about the future of our nation. This press release just arrived at the Weekly Volcano World Headquarters:

Tonight is Tacoma Film Festival's Opening Night with a reception at the First United Methodist Church originally scheduled to begin at 6:30. Due to the high interest in the VP debate, we'll open the doors at the church at 6:00 and have the debate playing live through its entirety. Unusual yes, but that is what people want to see! It will be a great chance for people to watch it together, have food from the Hub, desserts from Corina Bakery and wine by the glass. Tickets are $14 for members and $17 for non-members of the Grand. The opening night movies will follow the reception and begin around 8:15 or 8:30 p.m at the Grand Cinema.

Bless you Tacoma Film Festival.

LINK: Tacoma Film Festival preview

MICHAEL SWAN: DOH! >>>

Homer to vote for Obama. Check it here.

SUZY STUMP: HIP-HOP MEETS BODY PAINTING >>>

Do you consider yourself young, open-minded and hip? Are you a card-carrying member of this demographic? Do you want to be? If so, here's a little tip: Pacific Fusion's October Music Series kicks off tomorrow night at Jazzbones. Beginning at 10 p.m., cocktails, sushi, hip-hop from T-town cats Life Cycle, Can-U, John Crown and DJ Reign, and live body painting will blow your mind, and your brain. Pacific Fusion's president Matt Eklund knows a thing or two about blowing your mind with music and art. The dude is one of the masterminds behind Tacoma's Urban Art Festival.

Why am I explaining this? You are a young, open-minded, hip individual. You already know this.

[Jazzbones, Friday, Oct. 3, $5 before 10 p.m., $8 after, 2803 Sixth Ave., Tacoma]

Future Pacific Fusion shows at Jazzbones:

Friday, Oct. 10
Eleven Eyes. Danny Godinez

Sunday, Oct. 12
Dana Disharoon Benefit Show featuring live music by One Way Trip, My Perfect World, Matt Eklund (solo) and featuring DJ W.

Saturday, Oct. 25
The Pain Killers, Motopony and special guest Stephanie Johnson (acoustic opener)