Weekly Volcano Blogs: Walkie Talkie Blog

Posts made in: May, 2014 (120) Currently Viewing: 11 - 20 of 120

May 3, 2014 at 8:41am

5 Things To Do Today: Mirrorgloss, Historic Homes, Free Comic Book Day, "Damn Yankees" and more ...

Mirrorgloss performs tonight at The New Frontier Lounge in Tacoma. Photo credit: Abby J Kok

SATURDAY, MAY 3 2014 >>>

1. While their dance-rock may not be the most groundbreaking thing in the 2014 music landscape, Mirrorgloss are utterly unique and entirely welcome to Tacoma's currently hibernating scene. Not only do they bring dance to the indie scene, but - and this must be said - they are led by two awesome black women, which is far from the defining element of Tacoma's music culture. Diversity remains a problem in indie music, and it's fairly evident in the Pacific Northwest. That it's noteworthy to have a bill mostly made up of black women - as it will be when NighTraiN join Mirrorgloss at the New Frontier Lounge - means there's clearly something askew. Read Rev. Adam McKinney's full feature on Mirrorgloss in the Music & Culture section, then catch the show at 9 p.m. in The New Frontier Lounge.

2. Tacoma Historical Society opens the following historic home to tour from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.: The Achilles House (414 N. C St.), The Branscheid House (502 N. E St.), The Brodsky/Heaton House (905 N. Stadium Way), Central Lutheran Church (409 Tacoma Ave. N.), Federal Building (1102 A St.), The Fitch House (412 N. C St.), The Love House (620 N. 8th St.) and Provident Building (919 Pacific Ave.). Tickets are available at the Pacific Northwest Shop, Stadium Thriftway and Columbia Bank locations at 21st Street and Pearl and South 19th and Union.

3. Ever since 2002, the first Saturday of May has seen participating independent comic book stores across the country hand out their wares for free. More than 3 million comic books are given away each year! Once again, today is Free Comic Book Day. Click here to find the nearest free comic.

4. The Broadway Center Conservatory presents Damn Yankees! - a zippy, popular 1955 musical about a rabid baseball fan, Joe Boyd, who says he'd sell his soul for a long-ball hitter for his beloved Washington Senators team. Satan, badly disguised as a guy named Mr. Applegate (there's a reason for that name), is always within earshot when people say that kind of stuff, so he offers Joe a deal. High jinks ensue. Catch the show at 3 and 7 p.m. in the Theatre on the Square.

5. Wingman Brewers of Tacoma's Mighty HighPA will be front and center during the Mighty High reggae band's set at Doyle's Public House. The free show kicks off at 9:30 p.m.

LINK: Saturday, May 3 arts and entertainment events in the greater Tacoma and Olympia area

May 3, 2014 at 8:56am

Today: Tacoma Bike Swap

There's a machine that can improve a person's health, reduce expenses and is better for the environment than most others. ...

The 6th Annual Tacoma Bike Swap is back with booth after booth of folks selling used parts or looking to swap rides, plus plenty of industry reps, local riding groups and clubs, children's bike safety rodeo - and bike stuff, lots of bike stuff. If you've thought of buying a bike, improving on what you have, learning about the sport, or if you just want to walk around and chat with fellow bike nuts, this is the place to be.

Tacoma Bike Swap

Saturday, May 3, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., free admission
University of Puget Sound Memorial Fieldhouse, North 11th and Union, 
Tacoma


Filed under: Chainsuck, Events, Community, Tacoma,

May 3, 2014 at 12:35pm

Brandman University graduates walk in combined JBLM commencement ceremony

A few of the 70 Brandman University graduates who walked in combined JBLM commencement ceremony at Clover Park Technical College, May 2. Photo credit: Margo Myers

Margo Myers was on the scene at yesterday's Joint Base Lewis-McChord's Combined Graduation Recognition Ceremony inside the Sharon McGavick Conference Center at Clover Park Technical College. She has the scoop on several of the Brandman University graduates, of which 70 received diplomas. She files the following report. ...

Among the graduates is Anthony DiMascolo, who received his bachelor's in organizational leadership. The retired U.S. Air Force E-8 needed just three years to complete his degree, excelling in his studies with a 3.9 grade point average. "Grueling," explained DiMascolo as he described his efforts to complete ahead of schedule. "But now it's wonderful. I love Brandman. It was challenging, which I like, and there was a lot of research, which I like." He graduated summa cum laude.

Read more...

Filed under: Ceremony, Military, News To Us, Schools,

May 4, 2014 at 8:18am

5 Things To Do Today: Best Damn Music Show, Oso benefit shows, Ira Glass and more ...

Stephi Eubanks hosts "The Best Damn Music Show in Olympia" tonight at the Arcade Recording Studio, 352 North St., Tumwater. Photo credit: Bri Cummings

SUNDAY, MAY 4 2014 >>>

1. The band was jamming in the studio that's situated to accommodate both musicians and fans. Around 40 people were there, some in suits, some with piercings and tattoos, all with toes tapping or heads banging. Behind a large window, an audio engineer sat in his recording studio, and in front of the stage a gracious hostess introduced the band. This was the scene at Arcade Recording Studio, home of The Best Damn Music Show in Olympia, a live, one-hour performance and recording session that takes place every Sunday at 7 p.m. Read Nikki McCoy's full story on The Best Damn Music Show in the Music & Culture section, before you hit up tonight's show.

2. The Swiss Restaurant & Pub and Stonegate Pizza will host Oso landslide benefit shows featuring local musicians with net proceeds being donated to Arlington's Cascade Valley Hospital Foundation. Put some gas in the car: Rafael Tranquilino and Leah Tussing (1 p.m. Stonegate), Steve Stefanowicz (2 p.m. Swiss), Stephanie Anne Johnson (2 p.m. Stonegate), Little Bill Trio (2:45 p.m. Swiss), Tatoosh (3 p.m. Stonegate), Still Got it (3:30 p.m. Swiss), Junkyard Jane (4:15 p.m. Swiss), Rich Wetzel's Groovin' Higher Orchestra (5 p.m. Stonegate), Andrea Miller with The Collective (5 p.m. Swiss), Linda Myers Band (5:45 p.m. Swiss), Burnham Drive (6:30 p.m. Swiss), Steve Cooley and The Dangerfields (7:15 p.m. Swiss), 9 Pound Hammer (8 p.m. Swiss) and Bobby Hoffman' All Stars (8:30 p.m. Stonegate)

3. Entirely well-acted, thoughtfully directed, in a evolved play about past loves we can't leave behind, Fighting Over Beverley by Israel Horovitz hits Harlequin Productions' stage at 2 p.m. Read Christian Carvajal's full review of Fighting Over Beverley in the music & Culture section.

4. Ira Glass, the creator of the public radio show This American Life, will discuss his program- what makes a compelling story, where they find the amazing stories for their show, how he and his staff are trying to push broadcast journalism to do things it doesn't usually do - and demonstrate how it's actually created, at 3 p.m. in the Pantages Theater. Read Rev. Adam McKinney's interview with Ira Glass in the Music & Culture section.

5. Jazzbones also hosts Musicians for Oso, a benefit show whose proceeds go directly to those affected by the tragic mudslide in Oso. A disquieting event, to be sure, but the lineup of bands assembled for the show is tremendous and very, very loud. And it's all ages, to boot! expect Antihero, Jamie Nova, Black Powder County, The Mothership and Wanz beginning at 5 p.m.

LINK: Sunday, May 4 arts and entertainment events in the greater Tacoma and Olympia area

May 5, 2014 at 7:06am

Monday Morning Joe: Fairchild AFB memorial, Afghan security void, Army quality of life, Dynamite dance redux ...

443rd Transportation Company fired coffee at dead tanks at a range in Camp Atterbury. Original photo by Sgt. John Crosby

GRAB A CUP AND READ THE MORNING REPORT FOR 5.5.14 >>>

The deaths of more than 40 pro-Russian activists in a burning building during clashes in Odessa last week have injected new venom into the fight for Ukraine.

Bipartisan call for more Russian sanctions as battles rage in Odessa, Ukraine.

The CIA is dismantling its frontline Afghan counterterrorist forces in Afghanistan, leaving a security vacuum that U.S. commanders fear the Taliban and al Qaeda will fill.

This summer, nearly 50 ships from at least 16 navies will gather at Pearl Harbor for the Rim of the Pacific exercises, but notably absent - again - will be the newest type of U.S. warship, the littoral combat ship.

Memorial at Fairchild Air Force Base has been dedicated to three crew members who were aboard an American tanker refueling plane that crashed last year in the mountains of Kyrgyzstan.

Congress' chance to fix aircraft carrier drones.

One year into a controversial experiment, what the U.S. military is learning about women training for combat duty.

About nine in 10 active-duty troops oppose DoD proposals to reduce their pay raises and basic allowances for housing.

DoD personnel costs could force program cuts.

Army researchers measure quality of life.

Knowledge Management Centers roll out Air Force-wide.

DNA sequences can trace your ancestors to within 30 miles.

Simulation of Saturn passing by Earth on a collision course to the Sun.

A story about the return of 24.

What is this secret code hidden in so many films and TV shows?

Remembering The Cure's Disintegration on the occasion of its 25th anniversary.

Nice: Chewbacca selfie.

List: 100 best comic-book characters.

Then there's this ...

LINK: Original photo by Sgt. John Crosby

May 5, 2014 at 7:46am

5 Things To Do Today: Cinco de Mayo, Hambone Blues Band, experimental jam ...

Ever wish you had an excuse to drink all day?

MONDAY, MAY 5 2014 >>>

Today is Cinco de Mayo, a super fun day when you drink so much Mexican beer that your mouth goes numb, you take your top off at a Taco Bell and drink margaritas the size of your head. Every Mexican restaurant in the South Sound will get its party on today. Here are two specific party suggestions:

1. There's no better way to celebrate Cinco de Mayo than by shoving six pounds of burrito down your gullet for the fame, fortune and glory of becoming the burrito eating champion of Tacoma. Masa is holding its annual "Jefe de Jefe" six pound burrito eating contest at 6 p.m. Its beer garden opens at 5 p.m. Bands Smoke Perkins & The Filthy Falcons and the Eclectic Approach kick off at 7 p.m. At 9:30 p.m., two DJs spin on two floors.

2. DJ Frank is back at Encore Boutique Nightclub with a sombrero full of reggaetron, merengue, bachata, salsa, cumbia, punta and, of course, hip-hop, beginning at 10 p.m. Start thinking up excuses now for why you'll be rolling into work at 11 a.m. tomorrow.

3. The Hambone Blues Band performs at 8 p.m. in The Swiss.

4. In the same way that sharks must keep swimming to keep breathing, it seems guitarist Rafael Tranquilino must fuse genres across various musical projects in order to stay afloat. His arrangements incorporate blues, funk, rock, funk, ska, metal, reggae, Latin and jazz-fusion. As accomplished as he is varied, Tranquilino can be seen every Monday night as host of Stonegate Pizza's rockin' blues, if not experimental, jam at 8:30 p.m.

5. The New Frontier Lounge isn't The Five Spot on Cooper Square. Then again, it doesn't sit in the East Village of the 1950s either. But, grab the corner bar stool on a Monday night at The New Frontier, nurse a double bourbon, close your eyes and let pianist Nate Dybevik, bassist Arneson Cameron and drummer Peter Tietjen take you to the famous New York City jazz club over the din of the drinking Tacoma crowd. It as it should be: hearing a cool jazz jam in a comfortable, no-pressure environment. It launches at 9 p.m.

LINK: Monday, May 5 arts and entertainment events in the greater Tacoma and Olympia area

May 5, 2014 at 9:49am

Elton John to perform Sept. 27 at KeyArena in Seattle

Elton is one of the top-selling solo artists of all time, with 35 gold and 25 platinum albums and 29 consecutive Top 40 hits. Photo credit: Kenneth Anderson

Elton John and his band return to KeyArena Sept. 27 as part of his "All The Hits" tour. The 10-city tour will feature iconic hits and classic album tracks from throughout his incredible five-decade career, including a selection of songs from his highly acclaimed album Goodbye Yellow Brick Road, which recently celebrated its 40th anniversary with a Deluxe Edition re-issue.

Elton John's band includes original members Davey Johnstone on guitar and Nigel Olsson on drums, as well as Matt Bissonette on bass, John Mahon on percussion and Kim Bullard on keyboards.

Tickets go on sale at 10 a.m. Monday, May 12 at Ticketmaster outlets or charge by phone 1-800-745-3000

May 5, 2014 at 11:05am

Nerd Alert! - Spamalot, Legends of Oz, Chef, Penny Dreadful ...

Eva Green stars as Vanessa in "Penny Dreadful." Photo credit: Jonathan Hession/SHOWTIME

Taunting you a second time, this is Nerd Alert, the Weekly Volcano's recurring events calendar devoted to all things nerdy. I myself am a Star Wars fan, mathlete, and spelling bee champion of long standing, so trust me: I grok whereof I speak.

As I write this, The Olympian's Jeremy Pawloski just reported that a 34-year-old man has been arrested for allegedly deploying a crime syndicate of single-digit-aged children to pilfer purses and diaper bags from dispirited diners at Chuck E. Cheese in the Capital Mall. That's right, folks, Chuck E. Cheese, where a kid can be a kid! And a felon! The Artful Dodger could not be reached for comment.

THURSDAY, MAY 8

Lacey's Timberline High School presents Monty Python's Spamalot, beating John Munn's Lakewood Playhouse pig dogs to the Grail by over a month. But look on the bright side of life, Brave Sir John: at least your production gets to include all those welcoming nuns in Castle Anthrax. Ni!

MONTY PYTHON'S SPAMALOT, 7 p.m. Thursday-Saturday through May 10, Timberline High School, 6120 Mullen Rd. SE, Lacey, $8-$10, 360.412.4860

FRIDAY, MAY 9

After The Anticlimactic Spider-Man 2 landed with a warm splat of arachnid leavin's last weekend, by which I mean it was critically unloved, yet made squillions of dollars, my hopes are sub-minimal for the CG toon Legends of Oz: Dorothy's Return. It stars Idina Menzel wannabe Lea Michele as the voice of Dorothy Gale, plus a bunch of comic thespians your dad likes (Dan Aykroyd as the Scarecrow, Kelsey Grammer as the Tin Man, and Oliver Platt as, well, me with more hair). Its songs include "No, This Isn't ‘Let It Go,'" "Still Not ‘Let It Go'" and "Why Aren't You Watching Frozen Instead?"

Also in cineplexes this weekend: Chef, the latest dramedy from director/star Jon Favreau (whose Iron Man may be the greatest superhero movie ever made, unless you count Raiders of the Lost Ark, which I don't of course because the list of Indiana Jones' mortal flaws is even longer than this parenthetical; oh, and by the way, Jon Favreau also made Zathura, which is totally underrated and Cowboys & Aliens which isn't). What was I talking about? Oh, right: Chef, which costars Sofia Vergara, Tony Stark, Natalia Romanova, Jerri Blank and (I'm not even kidding here) Oliver Platt. Best of all, Anthony Bourdain tweeted that he's already seen it and loved it, so bon appetit. Maybe spring for the truffle salt on your popcorn this time, ya cheap bastard (#YOLO).

SUNDAY, MAY 11

Showtime debuts its horror-romance series Penny Dreadful, respectively written and produced by John Logan and Sam Mendes, two industry pros who were largely responsible for Skyfall. Their new series is named for British pulp mags of the 19th century - so, as you might expect, it stars Josh Hartnett. No, wait, come back! The cast includes Doctor Who companion Billie Piper, Timothy Dalton, gifted naked person Eva Green and a Grand Guignol orchestra pit's worth of literary monsters. Might be fun.

Fun historical fact: Paris' notoriously gore-obsessed Théâtre du Grand-Guignol went out of business in 1962 ("We could never equal [the concentration camp] Buchenwald," one director observed), but it reopened years later as the family-friendly International Visual Theatre, a troupe that performs in sign language for the hearing-impaired. Alors, merci, Wikipedia!

Until next week, may the Force be with you, may the odds be ever in your favor, and may you find your Grail - along with just a little bit of peril.

Filed under: Nerd Alert!, Theater, Lacey, Screens,

May 5, 2014 at 1:05pm

JBLM: UFC fighters reveal best way to get in shape

Rich Franklin, left and Mike Dolce discuss fitness at Joint Base Lewis McChord, May 2. Photo credit: Gail Wood

So, you've gained weight and you want to get in better shape.

Well, Mike Dolce and Rich Franklin, two famous names in the Ultimate Fighting Championship world, will tell you the remedy for getting in shape, for cutting weight and gaining muscle, isn't found in just going to the gym and working out. It's also about eating right.

Dolce, a MMA coach for over a decade with the UFC, and Franklin, a former three-time UFC world champ, talked Saturday at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, sharing insights to becoming a better you.

"It's not just about what you do in the gym," Franklin said. "But it's also about the food you put into your body."

Read more...

May 6, 2014 at 8:03am

Tuesday Morning Joe: JBLM SecArmy Awards, House defense budget, Iranian threat, Super Army soldier, cruising with Wes Anderson ...

Bridge Company, 8th Engineer Support Battalion, 2nd Marine Logistics Group fires an M-32 Multiple Launcher during a coffee training exercise aboard Camp Lejeune, N.C. Original photo by Lance Cpl. Sullivan Laramie

GRAB A CUP AND READ THE MORNING REPORT FOR 5.6.14 >>>

Joint Base Lewis-McChord soldier, civilian earn 2014 Secretary of the Army Awards.

House lawmakers released a $521 billion blueprint for the 2015 defense budget that rejects most of the Pentagon's cost-saving proposals.

The U.S. House Armed Services Committee wants to shift billions of dollars from things such as service contracts and museums to Pentagon weapon programs.

House Bill calls for $100 million slash to the annual commissary operating budget, which is two-thirds, over three years.

Iran will target American aircraft carriers in the Persian Gulf should a war between the two countries ever break out.

The chairman of the U.S. House Armed Services Committee has drafted legislation that would require the Defense Department to re-write a major military strategy review that was sent to Congress in March.

U.S. signs new lease to keep strategic military installation in the Horn of Africa.

Pentagon pressured to show progress on assaults.

Report: LAX control center's computers crashed while tracking U-2 - the plane, not the band.

The American Legion is demanding the immediate resignation of Veteran Affairs Secretary Eric Shinseki and two other top VA leaders.

King Stallion: Newest Marine helicopter gets a royal rollout.

In July, the U.S. Army will make its first big decision on how to proceed with the ambitious, decades-long developmental project to replace up to 4,000 Apache and Black Hawk helicopters by the mid-2030s.

DARPA's Warrior Web project may provide super-human enhancements.

A small study that has shown results using the drug MDMA and conventional therapy to treat PTSD could be of significant value.

Cool: A video that clearly explains the dimensions of the Moon in relation to other things.

It's hard to believe these paintings are not 3D images.

Preview Arcade Fire's new video which stars Andrew Garfield.

Weird:Vampire Weekend's Ezra Koenig sings the theme for a new Seinfeld-themed video game.

Take a cruise with Wes Anderson, Jason Schwartzman and Tilda Swinton.

Finally: Weird sketches they cut from SNL.

LINK: Original photo by Lance Cpl. Sullivan Laramie

About this blog

News and entertainment from Joint Base Lewis-McChord’s most awesome weekly newspapers - The Ranger, Northwest Airlifter and Weekly Volcano.

Recent Comments

Walkie Talkies said:

Thanks for posting! But I want say that Walkie Talkies are really required while organizing fun...

about COMMENT OF THE DAY: "low brow’s" identity revealed?

Humayun Kabir said:

Really nice album. I have already purchased Vedder's Album. Listening to the song of this album,...

about Eddie Vedder’s "Ukulele Songs" available today - and I don’t hold a candle to that shit

AndrewPehrson said:

Your post contains very beneficial content. Kindly keep sharing such post.

about Vote for Tacoman Larry Huffines on HGTV!

Shimul Kabir said:

Vedder's album is really nice. I have heard attentively

about Eddie Vedder’s "Ukulele Songs" available today - and I don’t hold a candle to that shit

marble exporters in India said:

amazing information for getting the new ideas thanks for sharing a post

about 5 Things To Do Today: Art Chantry, DIY home improvement, "A Shot In The Dark" ...

Archives

2024
January, February, March
2023
January, February, March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October, November, December
2022
January, February, March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October, November, December
2021
January, February, March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October, November, December
2020
January, February, March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October, November, December
2019
January, February, March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October, November, December
2018
January, February, March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October, November, December
2017
January, February, March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October, November, December
2016
January, February, March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October, November, December
2015
January, February, March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October, November, December
2014
January, February, March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October, November, December
2013
January, February, March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October, November, December
2012
January, February, March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October, November, December
2011
January, February, March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October, November, December
2010
January, February, March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October, November, December
2009
January, February, March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October, November, December
2008
January, February, March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October, November, December
2007
January, February, March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October, November, December
2006
March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October, November, December