WEDNESDAY, FEB. 5 2014 >>>

1. Sara Sparrow is a member of the Aerialistas, "Seattle's Original Aerial Girl Gang," with whom she has performed internationally on several occasions. However, she does perform in Olympia as well - specifically, at the monthly "Brotherhood Takes Flight" show, where she occasionally guest performs with the Tallhouse Arts Consortium. Her next performance is 8 p.m. at The Brotherhood Lounge. The show is free, and tips for the performers are encouraged.

The Pacific Lutheran University "Faculty Exhibition" opens today in the University Gallery. The show features work from current faculty of the Department of Art and Design, including JP Avila, Craig Cornwall, Spencer Ebbinga, Bea Geller, Steve Sobeck, Jessica Spring and Michael Stasinos. The artwork ranges from ceramic vessels, sculpture, digital photography and paintings to printmaking and letterpress. Check it out from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

As Seattle loses its freakin' mind today, the Washington State History Museum is making room for the chainsaw carving that made national news: Jacob Lucas' "The Spirited Warrior." Constructed from two cedar logs, the seven-foot sculpture came to life during the Seahawks' final run through a pulse heightening Ram's game, the heart wrenching Saint's game and a full-on gladiator battle with the 49ers. You were there. The sculpture features ornate feather detail, etched moccasins and the Space Needle for a belt buckle, and is a true reflection of the Native American history of the Emerald City. Check it out from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Ring in Chinese New Year 2014, the Year of the Horse, with the Olympia Tai-Chi & Kung-Fu Club performing the traditional Lion Dance and demonstrating the martial art of Kung-Fu at 7:30 p.m. in the Olympia Timberland Library.

5. Honestly, we don't know who the hell is in the Long Beach Rehab band. Lyon Pride Music has booked the band in several Northwest venues, including Jazzbones at 7 p.m. Pre-show hype still has Qball fronting the band, which will probably perform the songs of Bad Brains, Sublime and other punk, surf and funky reggae tunes.

LINK: Wednesday, Feb. 5 arts and entertainment events in the greater Tacoma and Olympia area

This is a big week for benefit shows in Olympia. Thursday, Feb. 6, there will be a second benefit show for the 5-year-old girl who was recently attacked by dogs, resulting in a stay at Harborview ICU and the reattachment of her leg. The Hard Way, Fruit Juice, Dirty Malkovich and Elbow Coulee will bring their rock to The Brotherhood Lounge, with D.J. Slimrock spinning between sets.

"It's all about helping this little monkey get back on her feet ... literally," says Christopher Gray, neighbor to Shilo and event organizer. "She's healing fine, but her Mom has had to take a lot of time off work at her minimum wage job to take care of her baby so she needs massive financial support. The fund is sitting at $1,700 but she needs more."

There is another benefit for the 5-year-old girl Friday, Feb. 7, at Al Forno Pizza Cafe featuring music by Dave Randel, Johnny Baltimore, Even Ogden and Mike Burdoff.

And Saturday, Feb. 8, the Fish Tale Brew Pub is hosting a benefit party for its longtime bartendress, Jill Hammond, who is battling ovarian cancer. The Oly Mountain Boys, plus special guests will provide music, and there will be performances by members of Rock Candy Burlesque and Olympia's Own TUSH! Burlesque. There will be a fishbowl raffle, silent auction and more.

"All of us feel that it is important as a part of this community to participate in events like this one and show our support in any way we can," says Bettie Beezlebubb, of TUSH!. "We love performing and if there is a way we can help to raise funds by doing so, all the better. We hope that lots of folks come and show their support for a lovely lady."

OLYMPIA ROCKS FOR YOUNG GIRL, 8 p.m., Thursday, Feb. 6, 8 p.m., 21 and older, The Brotherhood Lounge, 119 Capitol Way, Olympia, $5, 360.352.4153

YOUNG GIRL BENEFIT, 7 p.m., Friday, Feb. 7, Al Forno Pizza Café, 408 Fourth Ave., Olympia, 360.292.1095.

FIGHT ON BENEFIT FOR JILL HAMMOND, 5:30-10 p.m., Saturday, Feb. 8, 21 and older, Fish Tale Brew Pub, 515 Jefferson St., Olympia, sliding scale donation, $15-$25, 360.943.3650

The Seattle Seahawks celebrate their Super Bowl XLVIII victory over the Denver Broncos in force today as the entire team has made its way through downtown Seattle on Humvees and Light Medium Tactical Vehicles with spectators lining the streets. Soldiers and airmen in the Washington National Guard transported the players, coaches and elected officials along the route.

"We are so honored that the Seahawks and the Seafair organization asked us to help out with this celebration," said Maj. Gen. Bret Daugherty, the state's adjutant general and commander of the Washington National Guard, in a release. "Our men and women wear many hats - they're protectors of our state, defenders of our nation, and some of the most committed 12th Man fans you'll ever meet. We are pleased to play such an important role in tomorrow's parade. We'll be transporting people along the route, as well as supporting local law authorities who will ensure everyone who attends the event remains safe."

Of course the Washington National Guard was asked to transport the Seahawk players during the parade. Half the 12th Man spirit photos on Facebook during December and January involved the Washington National Guard. Camp Murray could have been mistaken for a Marshawn Lynch Skittles Factory during the month of January.

The Seahawks Super Bowl parade started at 11 a.m. on Fourth Avenue, south of Denny Way and to the current championship celebration at CenturyLink Field. Approximately 859,345 lined the Seattle streets today - but according to most school districts, most of the crowd was drinking age. Yeah, right. We expect more paper will be used for sick excuse notes from doctors tomorrow than parade confetti used today. The adjacent Safeco Field is also open and carrying a live feed of CenturyLink Field's on-field presentation on the ballpark's large video boards.

Below are photos snapped by Walkie Talkie Parade Correspondent Gary Lott, live on the scene. NOT PICTURED: The Denver Broncos.

Congratulations Seahawks!

GRAB A CUP AND READ THE MORNING REPORT FOR 2.6.14 >>>

Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel is deeply troubled by the ethical behavior of servicemembers, following several recent Air Force and Navy investigations into drug use and cheating on qualification exams. Ya think?

House Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio) on Wednesday unveiled a web site detailing the GOP's Benghazi probe amid mounting pressure from conservatives that he's not doing enough.

The threat of a toothpaste bomb targeting flights destined for the Winter Olympics in Russia is "very specific and credible," the chairman of the House Homeland Security Committee said Wednesday.

A nuclear-capable U.S. B-52 bomber sortie over South Korea has endangered plans for reunions between families from the North and South of the country and risks triggering a further escalation of military tension.

The Taliban has released footage of what they claim is a U.S. military working dog allegedly captured during fighting in eastern Afghanistan in December.

The Navy receives likely boost as reports say former Navy Under Secretary Robert Work will take over as Deputy SecDef.

Locator beacons for Air Force ejection seats failing at "unacceptable" rates.

Defexpo 2014, the eighth biannual exhibition showcasing land, naval and homeland security systems, will focus on indigenous capabilities in line with new government procurement rules that favor homegrown weapons.

Analysts: U.S. should cut carriers, buy subs and work with allies.

Pentagon proposals to reportedly slice $1 billion from the annual commissary budget may not hinge on closing stores, but on raising prices for patrons.

The Army has announced changes to retention control points for soldiers in the ranks of corporal through sergeant.

More than 200 soldiers from around the force competed against each other and Mother Nature at the history-making 2014 U.S. Army Small Arms Championship.

Nine true facts that sound made up but are actually completely true.

Here's a map of the U.S. if every state's population matched its size.

Thirteen depictions of cities and towns gripped by miserable winters.

The trailer for the new James Franco movie, Maladies, is intriguing.

The goofy gag reel of Thor: The Dark World is a raucously good time.

Finally: Ice-T Records Dungeons & Dragons Audiobook.

Well played, Canada. Well played.

THURSDAY, FEB. 6 2014 >>>

1. Green Drinks welcomes you to meet new people and discuss environmental issues over happy hour. Happy hour for environmentalists. It's a beautiful thing. Green Drinks Tacoma rides into the Tacoma Cabana at 6 p.m. That's right, brah, and the folks from the South Sound chapter of Surfrider will be under the thatched roof to give an overview of what they are up to, including their efforts to work with the Tacoma City Council to adopt a reusable bag initiative that would include a ban on single-use plastic bags.

2. Puyallup Gallery Three will host an artist reception for watercolorist and multi-media artist Renee' Healy as well as a healing arts event featuring internationally renowned reiki master, Norma Jean Young, Tara Tremlett and Charles Klennert from Ahimsa Hypnotherapy and Healing, Denise Coyle from True Heart Counseling, Kathy Leale from doTERRA, seated massage from Salon DaVinci Medi Spa, acupuncture from William Leigh, medical aesthetician for eyebrow wax and tints and others from 5-8 p.m.

Flip on any food or travel network and most likely chefs are battling mano a mano in a duel to the death - or at least through dessert. NetShed No. 9 - the Gig Harbor waterfront creative breakfast and lunch destination opened by Thad Lyman and Katie Doherty, the husband-wife team behind Brix 25 - will launch its version of a chef battle at 6:30 p.m. They call it Fight Club, and the judges are you.

The 12th annual Sister Cities International Film Festival kicks off at 6:15 p.m. in the Tahoma Room at Commencement Hall on the University of Puget Sound campus. The city of Tacoma's Sister Cities program pulls together movies from each of its sister countries and offers nights of all things cultural - for free. Tonight's film, Thermae Romae, is based on a popular Japanese manga series. Marrying a sci-fi hook to a costume-epic look, the script tracks the time travels of a lowly architect in the Rome of Emperor Hadrian. Lucius designs bathhouses, until he slips through an aquatic wormhole into present-day Tokyo, marvels at the wonders of Jacuzzi technology, then wormholes back to put his newfound knowledge to practical use. Toga-clad Romans speaking Japanese!

5. Brian James is an accomplished singer/songwriter and instrumentalist who was hired in 2008 as the head staff writer at Sure-Fire Music Publishing in Nashville where he wrote hit songs for four years, before starting his own publishing/management company, Brick Hit House Music. He wrote the theme song for the Discovery Channel's American Farmer, as well as for Taylor Hicks, Donny Anderson and Tonya Kennedy. Catch him at 8 p.m. at The Swiss.

LINK: Thursday, Feb. 6 arts and entertainment events in the greater Tacoma and Olympia area

Happy 50th birthday G.I. Joe!

Sure enough, I found my 1972 G.I. Joe in the attic. It's still in good condition considering there's a bit of vampire blood on him that my brother and I used to cover him after he battled Big Jim on the backyard slide.

Good times.

Air Force officials recently released the winners of the 2013 Air Mobility Command Safety Awards and Joint Base Lewis-McChord came away with a team and individual award.

The 62nd Airlift Wing won the AMC Distinguished Ground Safety Award for large wings and Thomas E. Thompson, 62nd AW, won AMC's Nuclear Surety Individual of the Year.

Meet Thomas E. Thompson here.

Spring 2014 - AMC Flight Safety Awards

Director of Safety Aircrew of Distinction
Crew of Bolt 35, 6 AMW,
91 ARS, MacDill AFB, FL

Aviation Maintenance Safety Award
MSgt Chad P. Jensen
22 ARW, 22 MXG, McConnell AFB, KS

Safety Officer of the Year
Maj Anthony Mariapain
22 ARW, McConnell AFB, KS

Flight Safety NCO of the Year
MSgt Christopher L. Gill
19 AW, Little Rock AFB, AR

Other AMC Safety Awards

Risk Management Achievement Award
3 AS, 436 AW, Dover AFB, DE

Read more...

The 3-2 Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 7th Infantry Division, at Joint Base Lewis-McChord is at at the National Training Center at Fort Irwin, Calif, participating large-scale, conventional warfare training with offensive and defensive operations.

A NTC first happened during the 3-2 SBCT's rotation. Soldiers assigned to the 20th Support Command (chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear and high-yield explosives or CBRNE) were in the house. The 20th CBRNE Command out of the Aberdeen Proving Ground in Maryland was challenged with integrating into a maneuver force and brigade combat team, including a training scenario included engaging opposition forces that deployed mustard gas.

According to Guy Volb from the Fort Irwin Public Affairs Office, the CBRNE Response Team teamed with the Stryker BCT's 2-3 Infantry Battalion to secure an objective area and facilities suspected of housing chemical weapons.

Once successfully secured, the CRT moved in to assess, characterize, and exploit the site - a small aluminum-sided warehouse containing "chemical processing equipment, artillery shells and large tanks used to store mustard gas."
"There were several objectives, but basically we're charged with systematically locating, characterizing, and securing or destroying WMD programs, networks and related capabilities," said Stremlau.
At depth that means preventing looting or capture of WMD and related material by enemies, while exploiting program experts, documents and other media found on such sites to prevent proliferation of material, technology, or personalities associated with the WMD network.
"There are four phases of WMD elimination," the major stressed. "Isolation, exploitation, destruction, and monitoring/redirection; but first we have to safely shut down operations at each site, take samples, and mitigate associated hazards."

Read Volb's full story on the exercise here.

>>> Pfc. Kim Landicho, 24, monitors a soldier for possible "chemical weapons" contamination during a WMD elimination exercise held at Fort Irwin's National Training Center Jan. 31. Landicho, in the green gloves, said she hasn't been deployed during her first year in the Army so "every training scenario teaches me something new." Photo credit: Guy Volb

This just in ...

Governor Inslee is deeply saddened with the death of U.S. Air Force Captain Christopher Stover, 28, of Vancouver, and directs that Washington State and United States flags at all state agency facilities be lowered to half-staff in his memory Sunday, February 9, 2014. He died January 7 during a training flight along the English coast.

Flags may be lowered at the close of business on Friday, February 6, 2014, and should remain at half-staff until close of business on February 9 or first thing Monday morning, February 10, 2014.

If you have been living in a cave the last few days, a) you're probably in bad shape due to the cold weather and b) you might notice something different about Maj. Gen. Stephen R. Lanza.

First, Lanza has been promoted to lieutenant general.

Second, he's probably a little haggard from going through a change of command vortex.

Tuesday afternoon, Lanza transferred command of the 7th Infantry Division to Maj. Gen. Terry Ferrell during a ceremony at Joint Base Lewis-McChord. We were there.

Today, newly promoted Lt. Gen. Lanza was back at the podium, grabbing the I Corps command from Lt. Gen. Robert B. Brown during a ceremony at Lewis-McChord. We were also there, but we are still writing the story in longhand and developing film.

While you wait for our curriers to grab the story, below is video of today's I Corps change of command ceremony, courtesy of the fine folks at Lewis-McChord.