TUESDAY, JAN. 17, 2012 >>>

Weekly Volcano recommends you call ahead as Snowmageddon is wreaking havoc on our little neck of the woods.

1. Singer Jeff Angell and guitarist Kyong Kim anchored a tight quartet that fused rock, seedy lyrics and grease to form a fresh sound unlike anything you've ever heard. The band was named Post Stardom Depression. It was headed toward the big time. Along the way the wheel fell off causing the band to crash and burn. Fans will be happy to hear Angell and Kim will perform tonight for old time's sake during Doyle's St. Practice Day party at 8 p.m. No cover makes it even harder to believe - but it's all true.

2. New York writer, editor and journalist Eric Etheridge, who grew up in the South during the Civil Rights era, will discuss his 2008 book Breach of Peace: Portraits of the 1961 Freedom Riders at 11:30 a.m. in the Student Center at Tacoma Community College. The book includes mug shots of the 328 black and white Freedom Riders who were arrested in Jackson, Miss. and charged with breach of peace for trying to desegregate transportation terminals in the city.

3. The musical drama Once ended with the guy and the girl going their separate ways. As much as this went against the grain of romantic expectations - and this rough-hewn indie was deeply romantic - that ending was perfect. The Swell Season arrives as a sequel of sorts. Shot in lush black and white, the documentary follows Glen Hansard and Marketa Irglova, the stars of Once, on a two-year tour after the pair won the 2008 Oscar for best song: the lovely, heartbreaking "Falling Slowly." The Swell Season screens at 1:45 and 6:45 p.m. at The Grand Cinema.

4. Tacoma-native Megan Bostic's book, Never Eighteen, hits bookstores nationwide today. Never Eighteen tells the story of 17-year-old Austin Parker, who lives in Tacoma and is dying of leukemia. The book falls into the young adult genre, but Austin is a wise and believable character who appeals to older readers as well. His heartbreaking situation resonates with anyone who has lost a loved one to a chronic illness or cancer. A launch party and book signing will be held at 7 p.m. inside the Wheelock Library in Tacoma. To read Kristin Kendle's full feature on Bostic, click here.

5. Tuesdays seem to be the hottest night for the overeducated South Sound masses to prove their intellectual worth. And where do such brainiacs head? Glad you asked. The GEEKS head to Paddy Coyne's Irish Pub. The Tacoma watering hole is the site of John Dicker's Geeks Who Drink pub quiz night at 8 p.m. 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.

LINK: More arts and entertainment events in the South Sound

LINK: Live music and DJs tonight

LINK: This week's freebies

WHAT WE HAVE FOUND TODAY >>>

Our Weather: Everyone's talking about it. (MSNBC)

Snow Vs. Schools: Snow wins. (News Tribune)

Crystal Mountain Ski Patrol: It rules. (News Tribune)

Tacoma Police Union Local 6: Tacoma police voted Monday night to approve concessions that could save 56 jobs. (News Tribune)

Budget Cuts: Congress cuts staff, computers and staplers. (CNN)

Making Music: Lady Mary and Countess of Grantham to rock out. (Telegraph)

Mad Men Tease: Creator Matthew Weiner chats. (The Hollywood Reporter)

Sax At Sea: Cruising with Kenny G. (Time)

Video: Crap New Age guys say. (YouTube)

They Could Have Used A Snow Day: Serious children with their toys. (Mental Floss)

RON LAGMAN SCREENS COMMITTED IN TACOMA >>>

Saturday, Jan. 14, 6:53 P.M.: I walk down a blustery Opera Alley in downtown T-town, looking for an address and looking forward to the first public screening of filmmaker Ron Lagman's new work, Tapat Sa Pangako (Committed). Yet danger looms above my head - talk has grown this past week about an apocalyptic snowfall (GASP!).

Hey, anything can happen in 2012, right? We may be in for The Day After Tomorrow, tonight. Or tomorrow. Or perhaps the day after tomorrow. Point is, you can't take any chances. Before reaching The Space I scan the skies apprehensively. All clear. Good. I duck inside.

Lagman's bubbly wife Juliette (wo)mans the sign-in table, and gives me a bracelet along with a big smile. I soon spy the writer-director as well as one of Committed's two stars, Rick Walters. His unnamed character doesn't speak a word, only aggressive grunts while exercising in an early scene. Viewers soon find out how much of an animal he truly is.

Walters has experience with silent movies, acting previously in another Washington production called The Lone Russian. But showing your work to a roomful of guests doesn't get much easier.

"As an actor, I'm completely nervous," Walters admits. "It's a very, very personal art form, acting. ... Performances are a very large part of the experience that people take away from watching movies. So I feel largely responsible for the success or failure of (the film)."

Tacoma's Melinda Raebyne plays Walters's troubled wife in Committed, and approaches her complex role with the same, well, commitment. She began by writing a lengthy background history of "Maria," a name she also invented since Lagman's script didn't assign one to the part.

Says Raebyne, "I wanted to bring her to life."

Raebyne does this detailed prep work not just for her benefit, but for audiences too. "If (my performance) doesn't look real to you guys (the viewers), you're not going to believe it. ... It's my job to be able to know who this person is that I'm playing."

The Space fills quickly with dozens of supporters stopping by. With an awesome view of the Port of Tacoma as backdrop, Sleepy Pilot plays a set that, while toe-tappingly good, pretty much halts all conversations for the next hour.

The evening's raison d'être arrives at last. Every light is turned off; Tacoma from outside glows even brighter. Strangers battle politely for space to sit on the concrete floor before the show starts. In the near-dark, our sophisticated urbanite party now vaguely resembles summer camp, with the movie screen as our campfire.

Committed ends. It and its creators receive round after round of applause. At first glance, Lagman's disregard for dialogue seems an amateur, or at the very least antiquated, approach to moviemaking. But maybe he's nailed something. If something like The Artist, a silent French feature, can win Best Motion Picture at the Golden Globes this past weekend, maybe Lagman can help bring to the screen more works like his, in which visuals, music, and performance say everything we need to hear. 

The soft-spoken artist, whose face always seems to shine with calmness, now looks pleased with the evening's results.

"I'm very relaxed, I'm very happy," he tells me. "I'm pretty glad at the turnout."

Committed recently received acceptance into its first (of hopefully many) fests, Seattle's Post Alley Film Festival (www.postalleyfilmfestival.com), and will play there next month. Lagman has also sent Committed to festivals in Tacoma, LA, Boston, even France's Cannes. Tonight's screening also served as a fundraiser for a longer work he calls Lolo.

The Tagalog word for "grandfather," Lolo places its fictional characters in true-life events. A post-WWII government act revoked the benefits of many Filipino veterans, including the film's eponymous hero, despite having fought for the U.S. in the Pacific theater. The film follows members of a community still fighting for privileges sadly denied to them decades before.

Lagman has given himself an ambitious deadline for a project larger in scope than Committed. He's already made arrangements to premiere Lolo at Tacoma's Washington State History Museum on Veterans Day of this year. Casting alone will take some time, for he wants specifically Filipino actors for greater realism.

Lagman knows he can meet this self-imposed schedule, since as a Filipino and Air Force vet he connects so well to Lolo's subject matter. No matter the demands, he has learned to adopt a philosophy essential to artists:

"I think the trick is (to) do the film for yourself," Lagman says. "I'm trying to make the movie that I want, and I'd like to see."

Check on Committed, Lolo, and other projects on www.ronaldjlagman.weebly.com.

For the second year, The Greater Tacoma Convention and Trade Center will be home to an event aiming to help businesses, individuals and communities discover ways to aid sustainability and promote healthy LOCAL business practices. Go Local Tacoma's Shift Happens daylong extravaganza will feature seminars, food and booths from local businesses beginning at 1 p.m. Monday, Jan. 30, 2012. Attendees will have the opportunity to eat and drink local products, as well as tour booths representing each local business. Shift Happens will also, once again, include a State of the City address delivered by Mayor Marilyn Strickland.

The event kicks off at 1 p.m. with "sustainability smart labs" aimed at small businesses. For $10 registrants may sit in on "Key Indicators of successful Entrepreneurs;" "Unlocking Your Situated Advantage: the hidden wealth potential of body, place, and commons;" "Customer Acquisition Tool Box;" and "Becoming a BEST Business."

The rest of the event is free.

From 4-5:45 p.m. local restaurants and food vendors will serve food and drinks just outside the main room in a happy hour, networking atmosphere. From 6-6:45 p.m. Go Local Tacoma will hand out awards before Mayor Strickland tells us how it is. At 6:45 p.m. local vendors will be open for business.

The Shift Happens event is just one of the many programs Go Local Tacoma has launched to connect local independent businesses to consumers and resources in an effort to build a more prosperous community.

I tossed a few questions at Go Local Tacoma Headmaster Patricia Lecy-Davis to see what would happen

WEEKLY VOLCANO: What do you believe Shift Happens attendees will walk away with?

PATRICIA LECY-DAVIS: A connection with the Tacoma community that they have not known. The coolest businesses in town will be showing their coolest stuff. Attendees will receive a sense of togetherness and feeling that we can make a difference.

VOLCANO: What can they expect to eat for dinner that night?

LECY-DAVIS: People should expect to bring an appetite. There will be savory samples from wide variety of Tacoma's most passionate food purveyors. The food vendors will be open from 4-5:45 p.m., which will be a happy hour environment. A cash bar will be onsite.

VOLCANO: What excites you the most about Shift Happens?

LECY-DAVIS: I'm mostly excited about all the "new" businesses that have signed up. Ninety percent of our vendors so far are not last year's vendors and are brand new businesses, such as Fingerprint Connections custom candy, Home Makeover Specialists and clothing designer Chelsea Berry Clothing Designer. Sonia Silver will be at Shift Happens promoting her "new shop" that will open in Proctor this spring.

For more information on Shift Happens and Go Local programs, click here.

NIKKI TALOTTA AND FAMILY ARE FEELING LUCKY >>>

Some people say I'm lucky. I've won blackjack tournaments and essay contests; I've won radio show trivia for board games and concert tickets; once I even won a trip to London to see Muse at Royal Albert Hall.

Some say it's luck. I just say I try. My latest bout of "luck" has been with game shows. Recently I was chosen via-video audition to attend a final audition for the Wheel of Fortune. Lady Luck was not with me that day, however, as my son gave me a stomach bug, and hours before the show I was poised over the toilet, violently vomiting with curlers in my hair. With sweat dripping down my brow - I was persistent - "The show must go on!" I proclaimed, as I downed Imodium AD and bombed the audition.

But, perhaps, it was fate. Because just a few days later, the Weekly Volcano reported that the Family Feud would be holding contestant auditions at South Hill Mall!

I quickly followed the link and phoned like 10 family members. At our Christmas party, we drunkenly attempted to make a video to submit, thought better of it, and sent a witty email to try and ensure a spot for the auditions instead.

A few days later, Team Talotta got the confirmation letter! Excitement swelled inside me as I called my aunties and cousins, chatting about what we'd wear, and how we'd stand, and most importantly, who Team Talotta would be comprised of. Our own family feud had begun.

Shit, I didn't realize 10 of us were crazy enough to go on the show. The first thing we had to do was narrow it down to five or six. So we cut the quiet ones, and the flakey ones, and then finally my own husband was cut, as we deemed it appropriate that in-laws don't count. (Sorry, honey.)

So, team Talotta was complete. Me, my big brother, my goofy mom, my smarty-pants aunt and my motivational speaker cousin. Solid.

The morning of the big day arrived, and as promised, I provided my team with a continental breakfast, complete with jelly-filled frosted cinnamon roles, fresh coffee and orange juice. After a few trial runs on my cousin's family feud phone app, we piled in our cars and braved the snowy roads up to the fine city of Puyallup.

When we arrived, the parking lot was ridiculous, as no one could see the lines where to park so cars were randomly positioned wherever. Inside the mall, families were just as ridiculous, everyone checking their paperwork, with everyone wandering around trying to figure out where to go.

Finally, we got to the check-in line, where a sprite little lady was making name tags. I told her my name was Nikki, and she could go ahead and spell that W-I-N-N-E-R - which she did. Awesome.

There were three stages hosting the auditions. We were at stage "C," near Macy's. There was paperwork to be filled out, and as families bowed over their clipboards, classic rock played in an attempt to pump up the crowd. So, I began throwing up horns and singing along, encouraging my family to do the same. I even got the cameraman involved and slapping me high fives. The other families stayed fixed on their paperwork.

Soon, our host Carlos arrived, all sweaty and energetic, and the games began. The first few families did all right, and eased the tension a little bit. Then, it was our turn. We flew out of our seats, ready to play. I showed my good sportsmanship by shaking the hand of the other team's captain, and then flawlessly introduced my players.

The first question was, "Name a country that is known for having macho men." I didn't hit the buzzer fast enough, and the other family guessed a few right answers. So our job was to get in a huddle and come up with an answer to steal, if we got the chance.

Three strikes and the other team was out. We completely exploded out of our huddle, prompting the host to say, "See, that's how you do it!" We stole the game when I answered, "Right here in the USA!"

We played another round, showing off our spunk and wit, winning again, and riling up the audience. It's funny how our family dynamic and nuances seem completely normal to us, like when my mom started slapping my brother's hand and shouting that she couldn't hear. It was freaking hilarious to other people, again prompting the host to comment, "The feud is supposed to be the other team."

Anyway, it was super fun, and we walked away feeling like we nailed it. We will receive a postcard by Feb 5 if we are chosen. Family Feud would then fly us to a taping sometime in the next year, where we would have the chance to win up to $100,000 and a new car!

Know what? I'm feeling lucky.

FUTURE THINGS ARE COMING >>>

So you like your theater but have trouble with your attention span? Boy, do we have just the theater festival for you! The Pacific Lutheran University chapter of Alpha Psi Omega - described as a national theater honor society (even though it sounds like that frat your cousin with the Ed Hardy wardrobe joined) - presents its annual One Act Theater Festival next week, Jan. 25-28, at PLU's Eastvold Theater. This year's One-Act Festival bears the title "Loss ... and Found," and spotlights three one-act plays - two of them written by PLU students. According to promotion, expect Recklessness by Eugene O'Neill and directed by Frank Roberts, Otter Pops by Alex Eddy and directed by Corissa DeVerse, and Poor Little Doggy by Myia Johnson and directed by T.R. Robinson.

[Pacific Lutheran University - Eastvold Theater, Jan. 25-28, 7:30 p.m., $5 general admission, $3 with PLU ID, 12180 Park Ave. S., Tacoma, 253.535.7325]

LINK: South Sound arts and entertainment calendar

WEDNESDAY, JAN. 18, 2012 >>>

1. The stinkin' snow won't keep STINK Cheese & Meat down. The downtown Tacoma uber deli will offer $3 beers and wines all day to go along with its pesto mac-n-cheese with fresh mozzarella and tomatoes or grilled cheese sandwich with Beecher's bacon and caramelized onions. STINK will be open from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.

2. At 6 p.m., about the time the congressional staff gossip really begins to flow around the bar inside Swing Wine Bar, which can be found just down the street from the Capitol Campus, guitarist Vince Brown will change the conversation with his swing jazz.

3. Hardcore Olympia punk band Hysterics join Dogjaw, Grudge Thought and Shoppers for a 6:30 p.m. all-ages show at Le Voyeur in downtown Olympia.

4. Many things go well with beer: Pretzels. Football. Your mother-in-law away on an extended cruise. You know what else goes great with beer? Tacos and tunes. Every Wednesday night Tacoma's Lucky Silver Tavern has $1 tacos and $1 plates of tater tots, not to mention a full docket of karaoke songs. Chugging beer, pounding beef tacos and belting out some Fleetwood Mac - now that's a Wednesday night.

5. When the snow falls in downtown Tacoma, the bands stumble out of the practice pads, karaoke singers pop out of Puget Sound Pizza and The Mix and those 12 condo residents open the big doors - then all gather at the top of the street to slide down the hills like maniacs. Someone always gest hurt. Someone always throws a snowball at Rev. Colin. Someone always yells "cops." Good times.

LINK: More arts and entertainment events in the South Sound

LINK: Live music and DJs tonight

LINK: This week's freebies

WHAT WE HAVE FOUND TODAY >>>

What's Up With The Snow?: Cliff Mass knows. (Cliff Mass Weather Blog)

Is It A Good Idea To Drive In The Snow?: No. (News Tribune)

Before The Snow Fell: Pierce council dangles carrots to create a flood-control zone. (News Tribune)

Snogasm: The Crystal Mountain staff is probably celebrating in the Snorting Elk. (News Tribune)

Something Worse Than Snow: Concordia rescue operations were suspended earlier today because the ship started to move, but crews plan to blast more holes in the hull to aid divers. (CNN)

Here's Something To Read On Snow Day: 10 great albums recorded at home. (Paste)

Here's Something To Do On Snow Day: Jello origami. (BuzzFeed)

What Brown Can Do To You: Here comes Ms. Brown. (BuzzzFeed)

There's An App For That: George Harrison's guitars. (The New York Times)

Oh For Fuck's Sake: Grandmother gets beaten up at Chuck E. Cheese after she asks someone to stop swearing. (Jezebel)

You Need These Today

FUTURE THINGS ARE COMING >>>

Capt. Charles Moore's presentation, "The Great Infection of the Sea," has nothing to do with that time Lindsey Lohan gave the entire Strait of Gibraltar Chlamydia (like you read about in US Weekly). Rather, Moore's presentation is actually of paramount importance, with the scientist and activist discussing his book, Plastic Ocean, which, according to pre-event hype, "describes the alarming presence of plastics in our oceans." 

Capt. Moore will be in Olympia Thursday, Jan. 19 at the Olympia Center and the University of Puget Sound in Tacoma Monday, Jan. 23. At both events the good captain will talk about what he reportedly calls the "Great Pacific Garbage Patch" in the Pacific Ocean. Information on the U.P.S. website indicates the area is "roughly two million square miles in size," and "is estimated to hold an estimated three million tons of plastic debris."

Should be some uplifting chats.

[Olympia Center, Thursday, Jan. 19, 6:30 p.m., donations welcome, 222 Columbia St. NW, Olympia, susanshaf@comcast.net]

[University of Puget Sound-Murray Boardroom in Wheelock Student Center, Monday, Jan. 23, 5:30 p.m., free, open to the public, 1500 N Warner St., Tacoma, 253.879.3419]

WEATHER REPORT >>>

When you need a weather report, you turn to the Weekly Volcano – that and hundreds of cute, local snow-related photos. Here's the latest from Accuweather.com:

State College, Pa. - 18 January 2012 - AccuWeather.com reports schools are closed and a traveler's nightmare is under way in much of western Washington today with a storm dumping a winter's worth of snow in less than 24 hours.

Snow that began whitening Portland late on Tuesday evening spent the overnight hours spreading northward along Interstate 5 to Seattle.

While the snow has transitioned to soaking rain in Portland, the same will not happen in Seattle.

(Blah, blah, blah.)

Snow totals will approach or top a foot in Tacoma and Olympia through this evening, falling at an inch-per-hour pace for a time.

(Blah, blah, blah.)

The storm barreling into the Northwest today will depart tonight with the Northeast as its final destination. A seemingly endless train of Pacific storms into the Northwest will follow through next week.

The impending Pacific storms are expected to be warmer than the current system, meaning rain not snow is in the forecast for Seattle and the other lower elevations of western Washington. Today's snow will also melt, heightening the risk of urban and poor drainage flooding.

Written by Kristina Pydynowski, Senior Meteorologist for AccuWeather.com