ONLINE CHATTER >>>

Today's comment comes from Talus in response to Tyler Hemstreet's recent feature on the Salvation Army of Tacoma's housing program.

Talus writes,

I respect most of the Salvation Army's work, but agree with evan that they are anti-gay. See this week's Savage Love in the Stranger for more. Given this problem, I prefer to donate locally to Goodwill.

WHAT WE HAVE FOUND TODAY >>>

Weather Chat: It's going to get interesting. (News Tribune)

HOT Lanes: It's the ol' overhead costs distribution story. (News Tribune)

Depressing Shopping Experience: Sears Holding Corp. to close 100 to 120 Kmart, Sears stores. (USA Today)

Protests In Syria: Arab League monitors arrived in the battered Syrian city of Homs today amid reports of security force gunfire and massive anti-regime demonstrations. (CNN)

Russia Election: Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin dismisses calls for a review of disputed parliamentary election results, despite mass demonstrations. (BBC)

Too Much Free Time: Coffee poster. (Column Five Media)

Too Much Free Time II: Eighties film alphabet. (Flavorpill)

Could We See This At The Tempest Lounge?: DJ Robotarm. (Crackajack)

Too Much Holiday Spirits?: Swimmers take icy plunge around the world. (MSNBC)

End Of The Year Lists: Bands we lost this year. (Stereogum)

TUESDAY, DEC. 26, 2011 >>>

In Tacoma, Paddy Coyne's is the site of John Dicker's Geeks Who Drink pub quiz night. Dicker, a genius from Colorado, has taken the Irish Pub quiz tradition to a new level with Geeks Who Drink games across the nation, including every Tuesday night at the downtown pub, hosted by graphic artist and Weekly Volcano production assistant Holland Hume. The quiz consists of eight rounds of eight questions and is played in teams of up to six people. Questions are read aloud by the quizmaster; teams write their answers on provided sheets and turn them in at the end of each round. The team with the most points after eight rounds is the winner. It's awesome fun.

2. Speaking of trivia, there are abundant trivia choices throughout Tacoma today. Test your brain at any of the following water holes tonight: The Mix, The Hub, Farrelli's or The Swiss. And for a full look at bar trivia nights throughout the South Sound, check out our calendar of events.

3. Enjoy a little post Christmas karaoke in a bowling alley tonight at the Bull Market Bar and Grill at Paradise Bowl.

4. Test out your pipes tonight at O'Malley's during the weekly karaoke with Danny Ray.

5. Down south, it's open mic night at Tugboat Annie's in Olympia, and even further down Interstate 5 find an all-ages performance by the band Slow Roller at the McMenamin's owned Olympic Club Hotel and Theater.

LINK: More arts and entertainment events in the South Sound

LINK: Live music tonight

DIRECTOR ISAAC OLSEN GIVES DISTRIBUTION A SHOT >>>

Given all the handmade technical innovation the young Isaac Olsen displayed in his first feature, Quiet Shoes, I dubbed him "our city's own Orson Welles" in an earlier Volcano article. Now I may have to revise that title, since Olsen pulled off a nearly spot-on impersonation of Martin Scorsese during our interview last week.

From what I've seen of the man through his work and in person, this normally reserved filmmaker still does not shy from venturing beyond his comfort zone. Olsen's next project, I Hunger, savors the moody visual flavor of German Expressionism, a style of acquired taste the director realizes may not find many fans.

Olsen jokingly refers to the film as a "classic in the making." Then comes the self-deprecating coda: "It's got a very specific destiny as an oddity, sought out by the same people that might see The Human Centipede but will be very disappointed to see I Hunger."

Though shot entirely in the town of Flint, Michigan, the project has assembled a cast from multiple countries. Olsen anticipates a "small-scale but calculated release" at an unspecified local venue in Summer 2012.

Confident as a director, Olsen recently began tackling the role of film distributor. He admits, "It's something I'm very bad at, which is the self-promotion end of making a movie."

Eventually Olson sees his production company, Schnelluloid, serving not only his work and those of other filmmakers, but many talented artists from this area. His first "clients" come right from his own family - aunts and uncles in the band Girl Trouble, and a younger brother who plays in Red Hex.

While Olsen gets used to the businessman persona, his home really is behind the camera, where he now puts, as he calls it, "very fine, subtle shading" on I Hunger. "You don't want to miss this ... it's going to be the Tree of Life of Tacoma," he promises us.

Forget Welles or Scorsese - I guess I have to start calling Mr. Olsen "Malick" from now on. For a peek at the I Hunger trailer or to contact Olsen about distribution, visit schnelluloid.com.

Hear Olsen express his love for Germans, hatred of painting metaphors, and more during my interview with him this week on Volcano Radio, which airs Thursday from 8-9 p.m. on www.nwczradio.com and is available as a podcast at weeklyvolcano.com and volcanoradio.com directly following.

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

Foodcaching is a new smart phone app alerting customers of awesome food deals at 15 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 15 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.

Friday's True Tacoman trivia answer

Friday we asked what prevented Tacoma's huge 50-gun salute on Independence Day in 1883. You spent the last four days telling the restaurants listed below it was because the guns, borrowed from the state armory, were taken to Eastern Washington for a potential fight with Native Americans – and, thereby you scored points on the Foodcaching app. It was an easy task – a lot easier than trying to move 50 guns across the Cascades in 1883.

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

Today's True Tacoman trivia question

How many lost their lives when the Narrows Bridge collapsed in 1940?

• A) 1 person and 1 dog;
• B) 13 people;
• C) 0 people, but 1 dog.

Answer the question correctly at one of the 15 participating restaurants below and score points - besides scoring awesome food deals from the restaurants. The correct answer will be revealed Friday, Dec. 30 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
• 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 >>>

New 10th Congressional District Map: It's unveiled today. (News Tribune)

Tougher DUI Fatal Terms: It's unveiled today. (News Tribune)

Olympia's Mistake By The Lake: Olympia officials are in the process of condemning the old county Department of Health Building at the base of the Fourth Avenue bridge. (The Olympian)

Survey: Top economists are less worried that the economy will slip back into a recession. (CNN)

Swag: Hip-hop's word of the year. (NPR)

End Of The Year List: 25 most powerful songs of the past 25 years. (Mental Floss)

House Of Lies: Watch the premiere. (The Hollywood Reporter)

More Painful Than An Orc Slap: Lord of the Rings back tattoo. (The Daily What)

Time For Your Beard Slap: Bam!

WEDNESDAY, DEC. 28, 2011 >>>

1. If you still find yourself on vacation this holiday season (lucky bastard), try rounding up the entire family and heading to Northwest Trek, where the "Winter Wildland" promotion continues through Jan. 1. Promotion for the third annual event urges you to, "Watch animals throughout the wildlife park enjoy fun, holiday-themed enrichments. Then head over to the indoor, seasonally-themed Cheney Family Discovery Center to learn about how animals adapt to winter." Find more info here.

2. End County Road (the somewhat goofy dudes pictured above) will perform today at the Mandolin Café in Tacoma. The show is all ages and starts at 6 p.m.

3. The Nolan Garrett Trio holds down this week's Wednesday Session at Jazzbones.

4. Across the bridge and all the way in Bremerton (if you find yourself there), the venerable Mike & Lee host an open mic night at The Manette Restaurant and Bar. It starts at 8 p.m.

5. Think you're funny? Want to prove it? The Tacoma Comedy Club on Market Street invites one and all (as long as they're 21 or older) to test their chops during the Wednesday comedy open mic. It starts at 7:30 p.m. and there's a $5 cover.

LINK: More arts and entertainment events in the South Sound

LINK: Live music tonight

LINK: This week's freebies

WHAT WE HAVE FOUND TODAY >>>

Washington State Redistricting Plan: The fallout. (News Tribune)

Republicans Rally In The 10th District: Stan Flemming and Dick Muri will do battle. (News Tribune)

Syria: Syrian security forces opened fire on protesters in a Damascus suburb today as Arab League monitors arrived. (CNN)

Iowa Slash And Burn:  Six of the major Republican presidential candidates are barnstorming across the state today against a changing political landscape. (CNN)

Mr. Monti Money Man: Italian Prime Minister Mario Monti calls for a "united response" to the eurozone debt crisis as he outlines plans to get Italy out of recession. (BBC)

Dumb But, Well, True List: Seven least wanted celebrity neighbors. (BuzzFeed)

Really?: Jesus Christ Superstar reality casting program. (Playbill)

Video: What happens to your luggage while you sip expensive drinks. (Laughing Squid)

Design: The best of 2011. (Core77)

Japanese Kid's Beer Commercial

SLICE BY SLICE >>>

A look back at the cheesy, saucy, crusty events that shaped South Sound pizza in 2011.

January

Martin Osborn and Shannon Stragier start the year as new owners of Puget Sound Pizza.

In early January, Meme Rincon and Stephen Ferruzza opened Al Forno Ferruzza at 408 Fourth Ave. E. (the same address that formerly housed both the A2 and the Clubside Café) in Olympia. The restaurant shares a wall and window with the popular Eastside Club, allowing service to bar patrons. Ferruzza imports olive oil from cousins in Sicily, and makes pizza the way his father taught him, with fresh ingredients and their trademark high temperature oven. "It's fresh, it's simple, it's an art," says Ferruzza.

Francesco Chiechi and Carlos Morist opened Pizzaria LaGitana in Yelm during the last week in December 2010 serving Italian wood-fired pizza.

February

The Papa John's pizza chain offered a free pizza to everyone in America if the Super Bowl went into overtime, which it didn't.

Oldschool Pizza was named best pizza in the Weekly Volcano's 2011 Best of Olympia issue.

March

Katie Downs won the Weekly Volcano's 2011 Tournament of Pizza - this year's incarnation of our annual March Madness-themed food throwdown where eaters from the South Sound weigh in on the best of the best, whittling a field of 64 competitors down to one champion through daily, heated voting. In 2011 we put pizza in the crosshairs, and throughout the Tournament of Pizza competition Katie Downs again and again pounded all challengers, including second place finisher Apollo Pizza & Pasta in Olympia. Look for the Volcano's Tournament of Breakfast coming in March.

April

Nick-N-Willy's Pizza in Tacoma's Proctor District closed. A Subway now sits in the space.

Guy Snell opened Petey's Pub next door to his Garlic Jim's pizza joint on Sixth Avenue serving pizza among wings and sandwiches. Snell named it after his dog.

May

Business owners Brad LaRue and Clint Owen opened a second Infernos Brick Oven Pizza location in Lacey at 8825 Tallon Lane N.E. They opened their first Infernos in Tumwater in 2007.

July

The Milton Tavern was named as serving the best breakfast pizza in the Weekly Volcano's 2011 Super Best of Tacoma issue. Puget Sound Pizza was named best pizza.

Massimo Italian Bar and Grill opened in University Place in the spot formerly occupied by Captain Nemo's on Bridgeport Way serving thin-crust pizza in seven-inch and 12-inch options.

August

The mobile food court at the corner of State Avenue and Adams Street in downtown Olympia opened consisting of four mobile food trucks including Ricardo's Wood Fire Pizza Express.

September

O'Malley's Irish Pub owner Pat Mawhinney and staff opened Medi's Pizza and Pasta family-friendly restaurant focusing on Italian pasta dishes, grinders, calzones and pizza in the space that housed Sluggo Music for more than 30 years.

Native New Yorker restaurant, a New York Buffalo wings restaurant and sports bar franchise that serves new York-syle pizza opened at 4441 Pacific Ave. SE in Lacey.

October

Farrelli's Wood Fire Pizza created a pizza called the "Tasty Cancer Fighter" for the month of October and donated $6 for every 12-inch and $10 for every 16-inch of that pizza sold to the Karen Mullen Foundation.

November

The Cloverleaf celebrated 50 years in business. "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," stated a release from the Sixth Avenue joint.

What 2011 pizza event did we miss?

LINK: South Sound restaurants serving pizza

THURSDAY, DEC. 29, 2011 >>>

1. Looking at Allan Boothe and hearing him sing are two completely different things. To see him, he's a tall, handsome guy with a goofy laugh and an affable manner, but to see him perform is to see a bundle of nerves. As Humble Cub, Boothe is buoyed by a bed of choppy, layered sound, which serves to carry his nerviness through into something resembling indie pop. But when he performs, all of the tics and eccentricities stand front and center. Catch Boothe tonight at the New Frontier Lounge along with Oh Dear!, Belmont Whips and Not From Brooklyn. And tomorrow catch the full-on Humble Cub at the New Frontier with James Hilborne and the Painkillers.

2. You know where you wont find Tim Tebow tonight? The Tempest Lounge on Tacoma's Hilltop, where "Religious As Hell" will offer up a dance night of post punk, Goth, dark wave and shoegaze.

3. The always entertaining Billy Roy Danger & the Rectifiers will be at Stonegate Pizza tonight. Start your weekend a wee-bit early with a trip down to South Tacoma Way.

4. Unless you're some kind of stiff, you like to laugh. And people in Tacoma who like to laugh seem to enjoy Nate Jackson's Super Funny Comedy Show, which happens every Thursday at the Varsity Grill on Broadway.

5. In Olympia, DJ Drastic spins at Jezebels. In rough and tumble Lacey, gyrate to DJ Kewlaid at The Play Pen.

LINK: More arts and entertainment events in the South Sound

LINK: Live music tonight

LINK: This week's freebies