TONIGHT WILL BE NOTHING LIKE ROSS >>>

Ross: Hey, what have you guys been up to?

Phoebe: Oh! We went to a self-defense class today!

Rachel: Yeah, kicking a guy in the crotch all morning really takes it out of ya!

Joey: Takes it out of you?

Phoebe: Now, we can kick anybody's butt!

Ross: After one class? I don't think so.

Rachel: What? You wanna see me self-defend myself?! Pretend you're a sexual predator! Go on! I dare ya!

Ross: Well, of course you can defend yourself from an attack you know is coming, that's not enough. Look, I studied kara-tay for a long time, and there's a concept you should really be familiar with. It's what the Japanese call unagi.

Rachel: Isn't that a kind of sushi?

Ross: No, it's a concept!

Phoebe: Yeah it is! It is! It's freshwater eel!

Ross: Y'know what? Fine! Get attacked! I don't even care!

Phoebe: Come on Ross. We're sorry. Please tell us what it is.

Ross: Unagi is a state of total awareness. Only by achieving true unagi can you be prepared for any danger that may befall you.

Phoebe: You mean in case someone is trying to steal your bamboo sleeping mat or your kettle of fish?

Ross: All I'm saying is, it's one thing being prepared for an attack against like each other; whole other story being prepared for an attack, I don't know, like a (turns and puts his face close to Rachel's and screams) surprise!

(Rachel calmly wipes the spittle off her face.)

Ross: All right, you knew that one was coming, but that doesn't mean you have unagi.

Rachel: Ooh! Y'know what? If we made reservations, we could have unagi in about a half-hour.

Ridiculous? And then some. The above Friends TV show dialogue demostrates how our society has destroyed the lore of the martial arts. It's an outrage!

Tonight, the Olympia Film Festival will screen REAL martial arts in action when it presents a Wu Tang Kung Fu double feature: The Mystery of Chess Boxing and Bastard Swordsman.

The Mystery of Chess Boxing is the quintessential ‘70s rKung Fu flick: bad dubbing, slapping-tin-pan-fight-sounds, zooming close-ups on the eyes of the villain and some mad eyebrow hair in the bargain.

Bastard Swordsman is a grand spectacle of a film with a wildly romantic plot and supersonic mystical kung fu and swordplay. Love, honor, revenge and non-stop action are all packed into one tight, flashy, 90-minute mini-epic.

Yea, sure. How do you really know when on-screen martial arts action is real? Below are a few signs to pay attention to tonight at the Capitol Theater.

The Kiai:  This is the loud yell you hear kung fu people scream as they break ice, kick down doors or even just enter a room full of thugs. The yell is called a "kiai," but the yell doesn't have to sound that way phonetically.  It could be a "HIYAH," or even a "WHOOPEE." A kiai should be a personal expression of fearsome inner power.  The louder the scream, the better. If you can't kick their butt, maybe you can make them go deaf.

The Fighting Stance:  A pose that says, "Bring it on, sucka!"  This is the basic stance to stay in when fighting.  Just like Jim Carrey in Dumb and Dumber - fists are up, best foot is forward, and the tongue is moving like a dog after downing a jar of Jiffy.

Concentration: Focus is essential. If you take any sort of kung-fu instructional lessons, you'll discover your body can do just about anything you want it to if you concentrate enough. Or you can try not to blink which can pass for concentration. Or psychosis. Either one is OK.

The films screen tonight at 11:30 p.m.(!) at the Capitol Theater. For more information on the Olympia Film Festival, and today's film schedule, go here.

For a sneak peek at The Mystery of Chess Boxing, check the trailer below. Real!

PLASTICS THREATEN PUGET SOUND WILDLIFE >>>

Sadly, during the holiday season, the sight of tumbling plastic bags is more common. A transfer of gifts and a gust of wind can send A bag down the street and worse, high into a tree. That's just one scenario. There are worse.

Many major metropolises, including one of the first - San Francisco - banned retailers from giving their customers plastic bags to carry their goods.

Yet the war on plastic bags is only beginning. As critics point out, the bags are terrible for the environment. They're made from fossil fuels. Animals choke on them. They create unnecessary litter and linger in landfills forever, as it takes them 1,000 years to degrade. Environmental activists want to make them a historical relic.

Today, Environment Washington was joined by the Surfrider Foundation to draw attention to the growing threat of plastics in Puget Sound. Environment Washington's new report, Keeping Plastic Out of Puget Sound: Why Washington Should Join the Global Movement to Reduce Plastic Bag Pollution, is not only a very long title, but also the first of its kind, bringing together new and unpublished research about the serious problem of plastic pollution in the Sound and its impact on wildlife.

"Nothing we use for a few minutes should end up in the belly of a whale," said Robb Krehbiel, program associate for Environment Washington, in a news release. "We should ban plastic bags to protect Puget Sound wildlife."

Take a gander at the news release, including how the University of Washington Tacoma is involved:

Key findings from the report include:

• On Protection Island, a wildlife sanctuary in the Straight of Juan de Fuca, scientists from the Port Townsend Marine Science center found that more than one in ten gulls were eating plastic.
• Scientists from UW Tacoma have found small pieces of plastic in every water sample they have taken in Puget Sound.
• Washingtonians use over two billion plastic bags every year. Olympia uses 200 million. Only 6% of plastic bags are recycled nationwide.
• At least twenty countries and more than 50 local governments in the United States have banned disposable plastic bags. In the Pacific Northwest, Bellingham, Edmonds and Portland have banned plastic bags.

Julie Masura from the University of Washington Tacoma's Center for Urban Waters has researched plastic debris in Puget Sound over the last eighteen months. "Every environmental sample I have collected from surface waters and beach sediment has contained a form of plastic," said Masura. She said that researchers are now focused on figuring out how the plastic enters the Sound.

Read more...

Comment On This Post

DO YOU KNOW YOUR TACOMA HISTORY ... AND LOVE FOOD? >>

Foodcaching is a new smart phone app alerting customers of awesome food deals at 16 restaurants in the greater Tacoma area. You may download the app for free on your iPhone and Android here.

The Weekly Volcano has teamed up with Foodcaching for the True Tacoman game. Every Tuesday and Friday right here on Spew, we post a Tacoma history trivia provided by the Washington State History Museum. If you know the answer, run to one of the 16 participating restaurants, come clean with answer and you'll receive points on your Foodcaching app, which you downloaded free here. We'll be running the True Tacoman trivia game through the end of the year.

The person will the most points on Dec. 31 will be crowned the True Tacoman and be flooded with various food prizes.

Tuesday's True Tacoman trivia answer

Tuesday, we posted the question, "The British farms located on the Nisqually plains in the late 1800s focused attention on which of the following three products: A) Sheep and cattle, B) Horses and pigs, C) Wheat and oats, D) Corn and sugar beets, and E) Apples and pears? You spent the last three days presenting the answer to the restaurants listed below and, thereby, scoring points on the Foodcaching app. It's as easy as sheep and cattle, horses and pigs, wheat and oats – all the focus of those British farms back in the day. 

Today is Friday, which means we post another trivia question as part of the True Tacoman contest.

Today's True Tacoman trivia question

The indigenous people called Mount Rainier something else. Was it:

A) Tacoba?

B) Tacoma?

C) Saka'am?

D) Tahoma?

Answer the question correctly at one of the 16 participating restaurants below and score points - besides scoring awesome food deals from the restaurants. The correct answer will be revealed Tuesday, Nov. 22 on Spew. Also keep an eye on this blog for bonus game points and a special invite to the True Tacoman Game Party in early 2012.

Oh, you can download the free app here.

Participating restaurants

• 1022 South, 1022 South J St., Tacoma, 253.627.8588, Facebook
• Capers Cafe & Take Home, 2602 N. Proctor St., Tacoma, 253.761.4444, Facebook
• Dirty Oscar's Annex, 2309 Sixth Ave., Tacoma, 253.572.0588, Facebook
• Dorky's Arcade, 754 Pacfic Ave., Tacoma, 253.627.4156, Facebook
• Harmon Brewery & Eatery, 1938 Pacific Ave., Tacoma, 253.383.2739, Facebook
• Harmon Tap Room, 204 Saint Helens Ave., Tacoma, 253.212.2725, Facebook
• The Hub, 203 Tacoma Ave. S., Tacoma, 253.683.4606, Facebook
• Jake's Bar & Bistro, 215 Wilkes St., Steilacoom, 253.581.3300, Website
• Massimo Italian Bar & Grill, 4020 Bridgeport Way W., University Place, 253.503.1902, Facebook
• Marrow Kitchen & Bar, 2717 Sixth Ave., Tacoma, 253.267.5299, Facebook
• Over The Moon Cafe, 709 Court C/Opera Alley, Tacoma, 253.284.3722, Facebook
• Pacific Grill, 1502 Pacific Ave., Tacoma, 253.627.3535, Facebook
• The Social Bar & Grill, 1715 Dock St., Tacoma, 253.301.3835, Facebook
• STINK Cheese & Meat, 628 St. Helens Ave., Tacoma, 253.426.1347, Facebook
• Top of Tacoma Bar & Cafe, 3529 McKinley Ave., Tacoma, 253.272.1502, Facebook
• TWOKOI Japanese Restaurant, 1552 Commerce St., Tacoma, 253.274.8999, Facebook

WHAT WE HAVE FOUND TODAY >>>

Thar Be Snow In Dem Hills: Many ski resorts open this weekend. (News Tribune)

Swamp Thing: It's all good. The rain gardens on Pacific Avenue with have 6 inches of drain rock under them. (News Tribune)

Rolling Up Their Sleeves: Members of the congressional committee tasked with cutting $1.2 trillion from the nation's budget deficit before Thanksgiving. (CNN)

Terror Scare: Pilot accidentally locks himself in bathroom and all hell breaks loose. (New York Post)

Wood Eye: The investigation into the death of actress Natalie Wood, who drowned in 1981 while boating off the California coast, is being reopened. (CNN)

Bet Murray Is Pissed: Bret writes for The Muppets. (New York Times)

Indie Film: Raiding the Lost Ark, the documentary. (io9)

Could They Save A Bridge Jumper?: Victoria's Secret models go all superhero. (After Ellen)

Super Password: Kermit the Frog, Miss Piggy, Martin Short and Michael Stipe play the game. (Late Night With Jimmy Fallon)

Fashion Victim: Marc Jacobs' spring collection stolen from a train. (Time)

Assemble And Move: Apartment furnished completely in cardboard. (Ignant)

Happy Friday!

FRIDAY, NOV. 18, 2011 >>>

1. First it was Mickey Avalon. Today, Jazzbones welcomes "rapper" Dirt Nasty to Tacoma, founder of the Dyslexic Speedreaders (of which Avalon and Andre Legacy were also a part of), and - more importantly - Simon fucking Rex from former MTV fame. That's right. Dirt Nasty is Simon Rex, and these days his gig revolves around producing ridiculously funny hip-hop tracks pertaining to drugs, the '80s, cocaine, sex, even more drugs and the inability to dance ... not necessarily in that order. According to the show's billing, Dirt Nasty will come to T-Town prepared to bust out his "hits," including "1980." Cue the hook in your head: "I got a gold chain ... I'm on co-caine ..." Honestly, there's no way this show won't be entertaining. The Breaklites and DJ Pedro are also on the bill. 

2. Through three days, the Fair Trade Market, hosted by St. Leo Parish and Urban Grace Church, promises a guilt-free way to start your holiday shopping. Running Today, tomorrow and Sunday at Catholic Community Services the annual event is your chance to get in on, "baskets, ornaments, linens, musical instruments, food products and more from vendors such as Ten Thousand Villages, Theo Chocolate, Laughing Lotus, L'Arche, and many more," according to pre-event hype. 

3. Join the benefit and auction to honor the life of Staff Sergeant Nathan Wyrick, who grew up in our area, attended Franklin Pierce High School and was recently killed while serving in the U.S. Army in Afghanistan, and the Remembering Nathan Wyrick Foundation, tonight at Varsity Grill. The event starts at 7 p.m., with all proceeds from the event being placed in trusts for each of Wyrick's four sons.

4. Tonight at Big Whisky Saloon in downtown Tacoma, Comedy Underground welcomes Seattle-based, Nashville born, national touring comedian Billy Wayne Davis - billed as, "the thinking man's hillbilly."

5. Tonight, for those on the outskirts, the band Moose Knuckle plays The Royal Bear. Stay classy, Algona.

LINK: More arts and entertainment events in the South Sound
LINK: Live music tonight

LINK: This week's freebies

THE LOWDOWN ON WHAT'S UP THIS WEEKEND >>>

WEATHER REPORT

Friday: Rain, hi 39, lo 30

Saturday: Partly sunny, hi 41, lo 27

Sunday: Partly sunny, hi 43, lo 34

>>> SATURDAY, NOV. 19: WHITEOUT 9

Sometimes you've just got to dance, yo. For, like, ten straight hours. In the Tacoma Dome exhibition hall. Because you just don't give a fuck. Luckily, Saturday Phase 3 Events presents "Whiteout 9," easily the raviest thing to do in T-Town this weekend. With doors opening at 8 p.m. and the good times rolling until 4 a.m. Sunday, Whiteout 9 will bring electronic heavyweights like Alex Morph, First State, Kutski and a crapload of others to the gyrating masses.

• Tacoma Dome Exhibition Hall, 8 p.m. Saturday - 4 a.m. Sunday, $35-$75, 16+ to enter, bar w/ ID, 2727 East D Street, Tacoma,ticketmaster.com  

>>> SATURDAY, NOV. 19: OLYMPIA RECORD SHOW

Imagine an entire Elks Lodge filled with nearly 40 tables. Now imagine those tables teeming with rare records, lost VHS classics, band merchandise and memorabilia. Imagine you could swap, sell or purchase any of these precious items while listening to a DJ spinning sick-ass records and mingling with other connoisseurs. Oh, and did we mention the full bar with ID? Well, quit thinking about it and go do it! The annual Olympia Record Show happens this Saturday at the Elks Lodge in Olympia. While in the past there have been two Olympia Record Shows per year, from this point forward there will be only one - only magnifying the importance of getting your ass to this Saturday's affair.

• Olympia Elks Lodge, 5-9 p.m., all-ages, 1818 Fourth Ave., Olympia, olympiarecordshow.com

>>> NOV. 18 - NOV. 20: FAIR TRADE MARKET

Through three days the Fair Trade Market, hosted by St. Leo Parish and Urban Grace Church, promises a guilt-free way to start your holiday shopping. Running Friday, Saturday and Sunday at Catholic Community Services the annual event is your chance to get in on, "baskets, ornaments, linens, musical instruments, food products and more from vendors such as Ten Thousand Villages, Theo Chocolate, Laughing Lotus, L'Arche, and many more," according to pre-event hype.

• Catholic Community Services, 4-7 p.m. Friday, 3-7 p.m. Saturday, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sunday, free admission, 1323 S. Yakima Ave., Tacoma, 253.272.5136

>>> NOV. 19-20: ARTS SYMPOSIUM

Art at Work: Tacoma Arts Month - celebrating its 10th year and chugging along in fine fashion - continues this weekend with the much-anticipated Arts Symposium at the University of Puget Sound. In the simplest terms, the Arts Symposium is a weekend program geared toward local artists. It focuses on the practical side of art and involves panels, presenters and discussion sessions. More specifically, pre-event hype promises: "From nuts and bolts business information to legal advice to creative solutions, this event is designed to get your creativity flowing and push your career to the next level." Saturday, Gigi Rosenberg, author of The Artist's Guide to Grant Writing, will deliver the symposium's keynote address.  

• University of Puget Sound, 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, $20 for two days, $12 for one day, or $7 for one session, financial assistance available, 1500 N. Warner Street, Tacoma, 253.591.5191, tacomaculture.org

>>> SATURDAY, NOV. 19-20: ALL FREAKIN' NIGHT

Olympia has more traditions than most places. It's the kind of town where history is important. It's the kind of place where people keep things alive, breathe new life into them, and rally together to make cool shit happen. It's the kind of place where people go to college, grow a beard, graduate from college, get a co-op membership, go back to college, and never leave ...While it's doubtful that last part has much to do with anything, the Olympia institution that is All Freakin' Night is here once again - devouring the historic (there Olympia goes again with its history...) Capitol Theater Saturday night and into Sunday morning. For the uninitiated, or the new faces in the Invisible Man seminar, All Freakin' Night is an annual part of the annual Olympia Film Festival - now in its glorious 28^th year. A collection of cultish horror flicks and just plain strange stuff, All Freakin' Night has reached institution status because of a few things - not the least of which being its eccentricities, and the fact it literally offers Olympia the chance to sit in the Capitol Theater all freakin' night and hang out. Both are very cool, and what it's all about.

• Capitol Theater, doors at 11 p.m., $10-$15, 206 E Fifth St., Olympia, olympiafilmsociety.org

>>> SUNDAY, NOV. 20: FIFTY YEARS OF PIZZA AT THE CLOVERLEAF

Culminating a full week of celebration in the name of 50 years in the pizza business, Tacoma's iconic Cloverleaf will welcome the band Sunny 4 Cast to "rock out" on Sunday night. Not surprisingly, there will also be beer specials. There have been specials all week, in fact, from kids' nights, to happy hour beer prices all day, to pizza "squashing" contests. Good times have been had by all. As we're reminded by press release, "The Cloverleaf was established in 1951 and began serving our World Famous Pizzas in 1961. ...The purpose of this celebration is to thank our loyal customers. We could not have made it 50 years without them and that is why we are hosting this celebration, in their honor."

• The Cloverleaf, 8 p.m., 6430 Sixth Ave., Tacoma, 253.565.1111

>>> WHAT SOME OF OUR STAFF MEMBERS ARE UP TO 

ALEC CLAYTON Visual Arts Critic
Occupy Olympia during the day Saturday and the dance at 4th Av Tav with Pro Func Tunc Saturday night. But these old bones aIn't going to be dancing. Just drinking and listening to the music.

NIKKI TALOTTA Features Writer
Well, I saw the KARP documentary Wednesday night at the Olympia Film Festival, so anything that happens this weekend is small potatoes. But if you must know, I might go shopping for socks.

JOANN VARNELL: Theater Critic
Due to unfortunate accidents involving one of my large dogs and the carpet in my TV room, I will be getting my carpets cleaned this weekend. Fortunately a Living Social deal saved me from having to rent a steam cleaner and I get to see pros in action. Sadly, this is the most exciting thing scheduled all weekend. 

STEVE DUNKELBERGER Meat Market Photographer
I will be cleaning the yard at St. Mary's Church and School and attending a Murder Mystery Party and then do more cleaning.

JENNIFER JOHNSON Food & Lifestyle Writer
Hosting a 5-course, quadruple double date dinner party at my apartment then going to see Savior of the World followed by fro-yo at Gibson's on Friday evening. Workout Saturday morning, meet girlfriends for Zoo Day at Pt. Defiance (hopefully it wont be raining), then quality time with my couch for movie night at home. Church and friend/family dinner Sunday.

CHRISTIAN CARVAJAL Theater Critic
All I have planned for this weekend is Christmas Story rehearsals and hoping it doesn't snow.

LINK: More arts and entertainment events in the South Sound

LIVE MUSIC TONIGHT IN THE SOUTH SOUND >>>

Cryptatropa Bar Olympia - Downtown. Port Of The Sun, Crepusculum, DJ Badger Acid. 9 pm.

Hell's Kitchen Tacoma - Downtown. High On Fire, Indian, Unhailoed, Bloodhunger. All Ages. 6 pm. $12-$15.

Jazzbones Tacoma - Sixth Avenue. Dirt Nasty, with special guest The Breaklites. 9 pm. $10.

• First it was Mickey Avalon. Tonight, Jazzbones welcomes "rapper" Dirty Nasty to Tacoma, founder of the Dyslexic Speedreaders (of which Avalon and Andre Legacy were also a part of), and - more importantly - Simon fucking Rex from former MTV fame. That's right. Dirty Nasty is Simon Rex, and these days his gig revolves around producing ridiculously funny hip-hop tracks pertaining to drugs, the '80s, cocaine, sex, even more drugs and the inability to dance ... not necessarily in that order. According to the show's billing, Dirty Nasty will come to T-town prepared to bust out his "hits," including "1980." Cue the hook in your head: "I got a gold chain ... I'm on co-caine ..." Honestly, there's no way this show won't be entertaining. The Breaklites and DJ Pedro are also on the bill. - Matt Driscoll

Louie G's Pizzeria Fife. Catatone, High Noon Horizon, Dread Effect. All Ages. 8 pm.

Mandolin Cafe Tacoma - Central. Rick & Russ. All Ages. 8 pm.

Maxwell's Speakeasy Tacoma. Lance Buller Trio. All Ages. 7-10 pm. NC.

The New Frontier Lounge Tacoma - Dome District. Monarchies, The Grizzled Mighty. 9 pm.

The Spar Olympia. James Coates. 8 pm. NC.

Stonegate Pizza Tacoma - South. Doxology. 9 pm.

The Swiss Tacoma - Downtown. Space Band. 9 pm.

Uncle Thurm's Finger Licken Ribs & Chicken Tacoma Jazz Series. 8-11 pm. NC.

LINK: More live music tonight in the South Sound

SATURDAY, NOV. 19, 2011 >>>

1. Imagine an entire Elks Lodge filled with nearly 40 tables. Now imagine those tables teeming with rare records, lost VHS classics, band merchandise and memorabilia. Imagine you could swap, sell or purchase any of these precious items while listening to a DJ spinning sick-ass records and mingling with other connoisseurs. Oh, and did we mention the full bar with ID? Well, quit thinking about it and go do it! The annual Olympia Record Show happens today, from 5-9 p.m.,  at the Elks Lodge in Olympia. While in the past there have been two Olympia Record Shows per year, from this point forward there will be only one - only magnifying the importance of getting your ass to today's affair.

2. Art at Work: Tacoma Arts Month - celebrating its 10th year and chugging along in fine fashion - continues this weekend with the much-anticipated Arts Symposium at the University of Puget Sound. In the simplest terms, the Arts Symposium is a weekend program geared toward local artists. It focuses on the practical side of art and involves panels, presenters and discussion sessions. More specifically, pre-event hype promises: "From nuts and bolts business information to legal advice to creative solutions, this event is designed to get your creativity flowing and push your career to the next level." Today, Gigi Rosenberg, author of The Artist's Guide to Grant Writing, will deliver the symposium's keynote address.  Find more info here.

3. Comedian Ron White ashes his cigar on Tacoma tonight, performing at the Emerald Queen Casino at 8 p.m.

4. Blues legend Curtis Salgado returns to Jazzbones on Sixth Avenue tonight, taking to a stage he's grown familiar with over the years. Tonight's performance by Salgado, which also features the Red Hot Blues Sisters, will commence at 8 p.m.

5. It was mid-summer when Legend of Bigfoot returned from dormancy, and - quite simply - Tacoma's scene has been a whole lot more rockin' since. The rarest of bands - able to entertain hipsters and metal-heads alike - the LOB is on the move, playing a show tonight at Bob's Java Jive with Vile Red Falcons and James Coates, not to mention re-releasing their debut LP and premiering a first-ever music video yesterday, and finishing up work on a new CD due out sometime in the spring. As they say, "It's all happening" for Legend of Bigfoot. The big, fat maraschino cherry on top of all of it? As regular KISW 99.9FM listeners can attest to, Legend of Bigfoot has been the "Loud and Local Band of the Week" this last week - scoring a prime interview on the station and turning the whole region on to a fresh local sound that pays homage to many of the KISW staples.  Dig it. 

LINK: More arts and entertainment events in the South Sound
LINK: Live music tonight

LINK: This week's freebies

PUMPIN' IT TO METAL >>>

Henry Rollins's linebacker-like neck, Iggy Pop's negative body fat, Janet Gwen Stefani's midsection, and yes, even Lady Gaga's tight little backside. While these people may be genetically blessed with talent, good looks, and/or self-promotional genius, they have had to work hard to get their bodies into prime condition. Music and fitness go hand in hand - if you think about it, you very rarely see a portly pop star or a chubby club kid. Sure, maybe the cigarettes (and other assorted substances) help keep some of the weight off, but it takes a commitment to exercising to get a really buff bod.

Olympia über creative folks Lisa Hurwitz and Joaquin de la Puente are committed to exercise and want to prove it to the world. This afternoon, inside The Mark, they'll hold a live taping for their aerobics feature OlyAerobics. Local metalheads Vanguard will shred, live, so you may shred off the pounds. That's right. They need you to get physical for the video. Grab your leggings and half-shirts and get ready to rock your rolls off.

BONUS: Before the sweat, Hurwitz will whet your whistle with the world premiere of her new cooking show, Martha and Me.

Locals Workin' It Out is part of the Olympia Film Festival. For more information on OFF, and today's film schedule, go here.

LINK: Details on Oly Film Fest's All Freakin' Night show tonight are in our Weekend Hustle

For a sneak peek at what Hurwitz can do, check the video below.

STAND UP ... AND WALK OUT >>>

South Puget Spound Community College student Kendall Brookhart and other students will walk out of class Monday, Nov. 28 in protest of the special session and proposed budgets aimed at education. The "Student Walkout" will have several "rally points" that Monday: 10 a.m. at South Puget Sound Community College's Student Union Building and The Evergreen State College's Red Square, and 11 a.m. at Heritage Park in Olympia.

Below is Brookhart's plea for others to join the student walkout.

Myself and several other students are planning a student walkout for Monday, November the 28th.

This is a planned action. This is a conscious decision. This is not a day to stay home and sit on the couch. This is a response to the opening of the Special Session on Capitol Hill, which has proposed severe budgets aimed specifically at our Education.

The proposed cuts would result in larger classes. This is a problem because as the number of students in a class grows, the ability for teachers to cater to and communicate with each individual student lessens. Larger classes also means fewer overall classes; so registration just became that much more difficult.

Fewer programs would be offered under the new budget cuts. Running Start would no longer be free, or even terminated all together. Services for exchange and international students, including those for students just learning English, are vulnerable.

Tuition will rise. These fewer, more crowded classes of lesser quality will cost you more money. Financial aid will suffer. Qualifications for receiving financial aid are going to become stricter, and the amount of people able to receive assistance will diminish.

Teachers' jobs are threatened. They are liable to be laid off en masse around the entire state. These budget cuts will take jobs away from our teachers, creating a circular effect again increasing classes sizes and work loads for those lucky enough to remain employed.

Education for everyone is essential to any democratic society, and lately that belief has been kept at an arms length for most of us. Education has become a privilege for the few, no longer the right of all. This unfortunate, yet designed consequence of our current system is no longer tolerable.  We plan to walk out, in solidarity with the Occupiers all over the world, in a physical demonstration of the strength of the people and our ability, as students, to stand up for our education and ourselves. On the 28th of November we will walk out of our classrooms in order to better defend our classrooms, and our fellow students and teachers whom also depend upon them. JOIN US AS WE WALK OUT to restore the precedent of participation in our own lives.