The Weekly Volcano follows the people you're too embarrassed to >>>

Just like most good, new-age, social media applications, Twitter allows people to share and be privy to once personal, almost wholly pointless information about peoples' lives. It's seemingly endless. While Twitter is mostly full of everyday, ho-hum people - just like you and me, sharing info about what type of oatmeal we ate for breakfast and where we get our hair cut - Twitter is also a magnet for the moderately-famous.

Stars of yesterday, illiterate millionaire athletes, former cast members of Saved By the Bell - you can follow them all, intimately, on Twitter.

But, you've got standards. We get that.

That's why we'll do it for you, in a feature we like to call Weekly Volcano Twitter Stalker.

This week, checking in with...

Larry King

April 16: Larry and Willie get high (metaphorically speaking)

"Willie Nelson is on tonight! We talk pot, Palin & even sing! Wait til you see his tour bus." via Twitpic, 12:43 p.m.

April 5: Larry does lunch again - this time with Nancy Reagan. (Yesterday Seacrest, today Reagan - wtf!)

"Had Lunch today with Nancy Reagan. I am always amazed at how up she is on EVERYTHING!" via Web, 4:43 p.m.

March 23: Larry King the philosopher

"Why is the #2 pencil so popular? Why is #2 treated like number #1?" via Web, 10:16 a.m.

Tune in tomorrow for more tweets from the life of Larry King (@kingsthings)

THIRSTY? >>>

Beer Night One: Stone Brewery will be at the Parkway Tavern with Bourbon Barrel ABA, Oaked ABA, Sublimely Self righteous on draft and randall, Vertical Epic 09, Old Gaurdian 07, Bourbon Barrel Imperial russian Stout 08 and T-shirts beginning at 6 p.m.

Beer Night Two: Yakima Craft Brewing Co. will bring YCBC IPA, Twin Stag Scottish, YCBC Imperial Red, and a firkin of The Vern (Spring IPA) with them when they visit The Red Hot at 6 p.m.

Happy Hour: Starbucks knocks 50 percent off its Frappuccinos from 3-5 p.m. through May 16.

Future Things Are Coming: Star Chefs on Broadway 2010 will consume the Pantages Theater Sunday, May 23 with live music, silent and live auctions and incredible cabaret performances under the direction of Kevin Joyce of Teatro Zinzanni. The event, which starts at 5 p.m., features dishes from Pacific Grill, Brix 25, El Gaucho, Affairs and several other South Sound restaurants. The charity event raises money for Broadway Center's arts education programs. The cost is $175 per person. To reserve your spot, call 253.591.5894.

Food Matters: Study suggests genes are more important than healthy eating when it comes to life expectancy.

LINK: Restaurant coupons

LINK: Wine and beer tastings, dinners and events

LINK: South Sound Restaurant Guide

LINK: Send us your restaurant and lounge news

WEDNESDAY, MAY 12, 2010 >>>

1. When you see him perform at 8 p.m. inside Northern tonight, it will not be the plate spinning we usually associate with one-man-bands. When you watch Andrew Bird utilize the loop pedal, it's an awful lot like a high-wire act; but Daniel Francis Doyle approaches his songs like a trail of dominoes. You watch him lay down every intricate guitar line, tension building and building. When he steps to the drums, the sounds collide together in cacophonic headlong motion. The fact that that Doyle intersperses this with plaintive and simple pop songs only adds to the freefall dizzy spell. 

2. Alison Berger, who is best known for her line of clear, hand-blown glass products including light fixtures, tableware and vessels, will be in the Museum of Glass' Hot Shop from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

3. Metropolitan Veterinary Hospital hosts an open house for artist Janye Sukow from 5-8 p.m.

4. Johnny Mustang will perform at 7 p.m. inside the Tempest Lounge.

5. Kamel Toe Bar and Grill's weekly "Toe Jam" begins at 9 p.m. featuring confirmed performers from Kashmir, SoulStripper, Experience Nugent Project, Whiskey Creek, Tone Circus, Butafuko as well as Joe Zandor and Liza Brown.

LINK: More arts and entertainment events in the South Sound

WHAT WE HAVE FOUND TODAY >>>

Today in Lightfair trade show news: Philips gone wild.

Libyan plane crashes near Tripoli, killing more than 100, a 10-year-old Dutch boy is the only survivor.

Movies with a chaser: How pairing a cocktail with your favorite flick can help kick the experience up a notch.

Good news! The oil companies are not at fault for the Gulf Coast oil spill.

Tacoma's Daze of Never band needs a female singer.

AND THEN THERE WERE TWO >>>

And then there were two. The News Tribune reported this morning on a bust at Club 420 - the so-called medical marijuana dispensary, ‘round the corner from Costco. Law enforcement officials allege the two men were arrested were selling marijuana for profit and selling to people who did not have required medical authorization. 

While we wait for the two men to be charged, it would be too easy to take this as evidence that medical marijuana in Washington serves something other than the desperate needs of thousands of people in pain. When I wrote about Club 420 a couple months ago, I wasn't all that interested in the people running the show. I was interested in the people they served. There are other clubs like 420 that are likely shaken by this recent bust. There are hundreds of patients likely terrified about what this means for them, their legal rights, and the promise of relief that continues to hang by a legal thread.

If these men turn out to be guilty, shame on them. There are a lot of people that are likely screwed because a few people decided to turn a legitimate movement into a cash cow. We walk a razor's edge, folks. Until it's legal, we have to play by the rules. To do otherwise puts people with real, desperate need at risk.

For all you stoners out there, this isn't your movement. Your movement is legalization. Until then, leave the clubs for the people that truly need it.

For people running clubs - every step outside the bounds of state law is a step toward a precipice. Take too many steps, and you fall. And you take a bunch of people with you - people who are suffering - over the edge.

For everyone else, don't allow yourselves the lazy mental luxury of damning people who have a legitimate need. The fact that a couple of people may have twisted the medical marijuana movement doesn't delegitimize the need that Washington voters recognized when they approved marijuana for medical use.

The need remains, and it's as real as it ever was.

The Weekly Volcano follows the people you're too embarrassed to >>>

Just like most good, new-age, social media applications, Twitter allows people to share and be privy to once personal, almost wholly pointless information about peoples' lives. It's seemingly endless. While Twitter is mostly full of everyday, ho-hum people - just like you and me, sharing info about what type of oatmeal we ate for breakfast and where we get our hair cut - Twitter is also a magnet for the moderately-famous.

Stars of yesterday, illiterate millionaire athletes, former cast members of Saved By the Bell - you can follow them all, intimately, on Twitter.

But, you've got standards. We get that.

That's why we'll do it for you, in a feature we like to call Weekly Volcano Twitter Stalker.

This week, checking in with...

Larry King

April 28: Larry King deflects attention from his 80 divorces

"If diamonds AREN’T a girl’s best friend, what is?" via Web, 12:28 p.m.

March 22: Larry King philosophizes

"You know the 5 second rule when you drop food? Well it doesn't apply to ice cream, yogurt or apple sauce." via Web, 10:31 a.m.

March 18: Larry King is senial

"I'll start it off...one of my all time favorite TV shows was HIll Street Blues!" via Web, 12:36 p.m.

March 24: Seriously? What?

"Me driving around with @SnoopDogg" via Web, 9:37 a.m.

Tune in tomorrow for more tweets from the life of Larry King (@Kingsthings)

WHAT DOES OLYMPIA LOOK LIKE TO YOU? >>>

The Olympia Downtown Association is sponsoring a photography competition. The first 20 entrants will receive a T-shirt with the "It's Your Olympia" logo and the winners will receive an honorarium of $100 and see their work displayed on banners in downtown Olympia.

The competition is underway and ends June 1, 2010.

Details can be found here.

THURSDAY, MAY 13, 2010 >>>

1. The "Latino poet of his generation," Martin Espada will be at Philip Hall on the UWT campus around 6:40 p.m. as part of the "Arts and Empowerment Series."  A fitting umbrella to bring such a renowned writer to T-town under, Espada has published 17 books and been a finalist for the Pulitzer. Sponsored by H.O.P.E. Network, Latino Students Organization, and Tahoma West - UWT's literary journal - the reading and book-signing event will also feature Speak Your Soul poet Robert Lashley and Tahoma West poets, Star Angelina Murray and Therese Ferreria-Douglas.

2. The Scrabble Rousers will push the wood from 6:30-9 p.m. inside King's Books. Entrance fee is $10 per person with proceeds benefiting the Tacoma Community House Student Scholarship Fund.

3. Join HealthForce Nutritional educator Doug Walsh as he discusses the five-week raw food-cleansing program he recommends for safe, effective detoxification and cell enhancement at 7 p.m. inside Marlene's Market & Deli in Federal Way.

4. The Mix in downtown Tacoma celebrates its second year in business with a ‘70s Disco Party tonight featuring DJ Xade, drink specials and prize giveaways.

5. From the Sea will unleash their Here Come the Wolves EP at 8 p.m. inside Hell's Kitchen.

LINK: More arts and entertainment events in the South Sound

TODAY IN NOSHING AND SIPPING >>>

H&L Produce: Tacoma Boys' smaller sibling is a worthy shop.

Barrel No. 51 BBQ: The Tacoma truck reminds us of the plate lunch trucks on Maui.

Beer Tasting: Thea's Market and Deli will host a Seattle Beer Tasting including beers from Pike, Hales, Elysian and Scuttlebutt tonight at 6 p.m. The cost is $5, which includes light appetizers. Thea's Market is at 1705 Dock St. by the Museum of Glass.

Meet Donny Vomit: For nearly a decade Donny Vomit has been performing acts of a strange, bizarre, odd and macabre nature - including hammering spikes into his skull. The Red Hot hosts Vomit tonight at 6 p.m. 99 Bottles in Federal Way hosts him Friday at 5 p.m. Both joints will also serve Human Blockhead Ale from Schmaltz Brewing during his appearance.

Future Things Are Coming: Salty's at Redondo Beach will be serving Copper River Salmon starting Friday, May 14.

Food Matters: Hawaiian pizza's dirty little secret.

LINK: Restaurant coupons

LINK: Wine and beer tastings, dinners and events

LINK: South Sound Restaurant Guide

LINK: Send us your restaurant and lounge news

LIVE MUSIC TONIGHT IN THE SOUTH SOUND >>>

Psychedelic Rock: Mere weeks after their last Tacoma appearance, Seattle's Wild Orchid Children are set to return to town, where, presumably, they'll dole out mind-melting jams with typically persuasive pizzazz. Read the full story here. With From the Sea (CD release), Tallest Tree and Photon Pharoah, Thursday, May 13, 9 p.m., $5, Hell's Kitchen, 928 Pacific Ave., Tacoma, 253.759.6003 - Jason Baxter

Hip-Hop: Working class, gritty and grimy hip-hop rears its beautiful head with the arrival of Sweatshop Union in the South Puget Sound tonight. A mighty contingent of Canadian DJs and MCs prepare to wreck shop with one of the dopest live shows you will see.  With Puget, Sand People and Debaser, Thursday, May 13, 8 p.m., The Royal Lounge, 311 Capital Way N., Olympia, 360.705.0760 - Jose S. Gutierrez Jr.

Avant Pop: Sure, Portland's Hosannas was known as Church until some dick-ass Australian band from the '80s, The Church, threatened to sue. Then the band became Ape Cave - but only for a few weeks. And now Laws, his brother Richard, and the rest of band call themselves Hosannas. The band will be in Olympia tonight with a new (re)release in tow - the Hush Records backed Then and Now and Then, a collection of the band's (whatever you call it) first two EPs - which were originally self released and only sold at shows. It's music worth hearing, and when Hosannas hit Northern - for the third time - it'll be a sight worth seeing. With Prairie Bastards, and Saint Street, Thursday, May 13,  8 p.m., all ages $5, Northern, 321 Fourth Ave., Olympia - Matt Driscoll

LINK: More live music tonight in the South Sound