TODAY'S HAPPY HOUR DICUSSION TOPIC >>>

Discuss the video below over happy hour at:

Paddy Coyne's Irish Pub

815 Pacific Ave., Tacoma

(253) 272-6963

Happy Hour: 3-6 p.m., 10 p.m.-12 a.m. daily

Drink Specials: $3 wells, Bud and Bud Light

Food Specials: fry basket $1.95, potato skins $1.95, spicy chicken fingers $2.95, wedge salad, $2.95, fish and chips $3.95, cheeseburger $3.95, cheeseburger sliders $4.95, Irish stew $3.95, chili $3.95, irish bacon wrapped hot dog $2.95 - must order a drink with happy hour food

LINK: More South Sound happy hours

MONDAY, MARCH 8, 2010 >>>

1. Patricia Cosgrove, director of the White River Valley Museum in Auburn, will lecture on "Suffer for Beauty: Revealing Washington Women's History through the Study of Undergarments" at noon inside the State Capital Museum.

2. The Graphic Novel Book Club will discuss DMZ, Vol. 1: On the Ground by Brian Wood and Riccardo Burchielli at 7 p.m. inside the 1022 South lounge.

3. Community West African Drumming and Dance class will be held at 7:30 p.m. inside The Loft on Cherry in downtown Olympia.

4. The Al Earick Band will fill The Swiss with blues beginning at 8 p.m.

5. It's another Rebel Monday/Industry Night with DJ Jason Diamond spinning roots reggae at 9 p.m. inside O'Malley's Irish Pub. 

LINK: Movie showtimes in the South Sound

THINGS WE'VE FOUND TODAY >>>

A team of scientists has agreed that a giant asteroid killed off dinosaurs and a majority of other species on Earth more than 65 million years ago. We thought that this was old news?

Prince Mongo of the planet Zambodia hangs women's underwear and built mountains of sand at his house.

The FBI's Most Wanted List is turning 60: Thomas Holden, a bank robber and murderer was the first criminal to appear on the list on March 14, 1950.

The Church of Scientology has some members sign billion-year contracts.

In an exhausting long ceremony that snubbed Farrah Fawcett, Kathryn Bigelow became the first woman director to receive a Best Picture Oscar for her film The Hurt Locker. The Hurt Locker and Bigelow beat out her ex-husband James Cameron's Avatar.

Shooting the shit is bad for your health.

A LOT OF QUINTON LOYNE-PACKARD >>>

Japanese monster movies, District 9 re-enactment at Frisko Freeze, elderly ladies chatting about healthcare for 30 minutes during the broadcast behind me - these are treats you could have enjoyed if you attended The Grand Cinema's Academy Awards Party last night inside the Rialto Theater. Co-hosted by Tacoma City Councilmember Marty Campbell and Quinton Loyne-Packard (and his entourage of Maestro Gavin Guss and Pickles), the party was a mixture of those who had eyes glued to the live broadcast of the Academy Awards and those who wandered about the Rialto being fabulous.

Loyne-Packard dominated the sound system between the commercials - showing clips of his starring roles in District 9, Precious and Avatar, as well as a film compilation of his roles in Japanese monster movies. Campbell did a great job keeping the in-house entertainment in sync with the broadcasted commercial breaks, as well as keeping Loyne-Packard off the single women in the crowd.

Overall, the night was a blast. The large crowd seemed to enjoy themselves - shouting with joy when Oscar winners matched their ballots. The food by Jonz Catering was tasty, which included a marvelous Rice Krispies treat by Corina Bakery. I only spilled one Stella Artois from my seat. And Loyne-Packard was a hoot.

LINK: Academy Awards Party photos

JAZZIN' UP THE PUYALLUP FAIR >>>

Jazz trumpeter Chris Botti and singer Natalie Cole will do the Puyallup Fair Friday, Sept. 17. Tickets are $60 for the Golden Circle, $35, $30 and $25 - which will go on sale Saturday, March 13 at noon at Ticketmaster outlets.

LINK: Stuff about Botti

LINK: Stuff about Cole

LINK: Stuff about last year's Puyallup Fair

AN MHAITH LEAT ROINNT CACA MILIS? >>>

Corina Bakery & Bistro has cooked up a couple St. Patrick's Day specials.

TNT Diner wrote on one of their specials - Doyle's authentic Irish soda bread. Corina bakes the bread exclusively for Doyle's Public House. Corina owner Molly Ott reports her soda bread sales are booming due to the Trib blog piece, and that Doyle's Public House has doubled its soda bread order.

The other special is a chocolate Guinness cake. The cake is covered in rich Guinness butter cream and shamrocks.

They also have green, shamrock-shaped cookies in their display case.

Be sure to call your orders in soon.

Corina Bakery recently added another holiday special: Passover Haroset cheesecake. Think apples and walnuts in red wine with cinnamon and lemon layered in cheesecake with a matzo meal crumb crust.

[Corina Bakery & Bistro, 510 Sixth Ave., Tacoma, 253.627.5070]

YOU'VE ALMOST MADE IT >>>

You have dragged your weekend-weary, sorry self through the first day of work-week drudgery. It wasn't easy, though, and you deserve a little reward. When you buy a martini at Toscanos in Puyallup during the month of March, the café and wine bar will give you the hand-painted glass the drink comes in. Every week features a new glass so collect them all.

Interesting concept, huh? Sounds like just the after work reward you were looking for.

[Toscanos Café & Wine Bar, 437 29th St. NE, Puyallup, 253.864.8600]

LINK: Weekly Volcano's boozy section

DAMN! >>>

I leaned back in my chair and looked up at the water spots on my office ceiling. The drips turned silent, and seemed to be working in unison. Suddenly, the drips took on the aspect of sand in an hour glass, bringing to mind the idea of time.

I thought of the passage of time - time's role in the measurement of our personal achievements, time as an ever-diminishing quantity in our lives.

I thought of an old Pink Floyd song.

Then Intern Ted jauntily bound into my office, like a leprechaun. He sat opposite me and asked, "What's up, Pappi?"

"Oh, just thinking about my life, you know, failures, successes, that sort of thing," I replied.

"Well, speaking of success, I have some big news: Did you know Jamal from MSM Deli won the trip to Dublin on Doyle's dime?

I peered out the window and saw several of my employees catching snowflakes on their tongues. I thought of the two Jameson bottles I was lucky enough to have had the last shot of within the last year - thus entering me (twice) in the annual Doyle's drawing for a free trip to Dublin - the same trip that Jamal from MSM Deli has apparently scored.

"Get out!" I yelled at Ted.

TUESDAY, MARCH 9, 2010 >>>

1. Hazel and Vine play an all-ages show with Lybecker and The New Divide at 7 p.m. inside The Cake Room.

2. Pierce College Fine Arts Gallery shows Korean artists from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

3. The Auburn City Hall Gallery will hold an artist reception for Mick Klass and his urban night photography work from 5:30-7 p.m.

4. The Centre at Norpoint hosts a Beginning Climbing Class from 6-7 p.m. Participants will learn how to correctly put on a harness, tie appropriate knots, handle rope, use belay equipment and properly communicate with climbing partners.

5. The Hub hosts a Trivia Night with cash prizes beginning at 6 p.m.

LINK: Movie showtimes in the South Sound

WHAT WE'VE FOUND TODAY >>>

Obama rolls up his sleeves, literally, and pleads with Congress to move forward on a health care bill.

Totally Toyota: A man in California was finally able to stop his over-accelerating Prius after 20 minutes alongside California State Patrol at 90mph. We didn't even know they could go that fast to begin with.

A chef serves cheese made from his wife's breast milk.

Apparently, there is a trend in some gay nightclubs to have Avatar themed dance parties.

Dumb or clever? The homemade centrifuge:

And a good morning to you.