SUNDAY, MAY 18 2014 >>>

1. LAKE had a busy 2013, releasing two full-length albums - The World is Real and Circular Doorway - while continuing their habit of not making too much of a fuss about it. Throughout their seven-year career, LAKE has quietly established itself as one of the best bands in the Pacific Northwest, crafting little lo-fi gems of glowing '70s soft rock-indebted indie rock. Their music is sunny and buoyant without falling into twee territory, and airy without risking the chillwave categorization. Any integration of discord into their waves of pristine harmonies is a welcome one, and helps to integrate texture and movement into what sometimes approaches the overly serene. Today finds them joining a free bill with two other solid local indie bands in Humble Cub and Coma Figura at 6 p.m. in Half Pint Pizza Pub. It's not to be missed.

2. The Tacoma Art Museum and Museum of Glass offer two-for-one admission today as part of the international Art Museum Day. TAM opens at 10 a.m., while MOG waits until noon. They both close at 5 p.m.

3. The Foss Waterway Seaport - the South Sound's maritime heritage center - will officially open its doors for the summer season at noon. Located on Tacoma's Thea Foss Waterway, the Seaport will host a re-opening celebration, including family-friendly festivities, cake cutting, live music, the Tacoma Fire Department fire boat, special maritime vessels, activities and exhibits, appearances by Captain Vancouver and Thea Foss, and the firing of cannons until 4 p.m. The inaugural exhibit for the summer season, "Peek in our Attic and Share our Dream," will highlight the many historic maritime treasures in the museum's collection.

4. Anyone who has visited Point Defiance Park is familiar with the stately Japanese-inspired details of the Point Defiance Pagoda. First opening in 1914 as a streetcar station serving the park, the Pagoda celebrates its centennial this month in grand-fashion following the recent announcement naming it to the National Register of Historic Places. In honor of both the centennial and naming to the register, Metro Parks will host a public celebration from noon to 4 pm. The free event welcomes the community to explore the building, enjoy live music and refreshments, create handmade event souvenirs, learn about the history of the Pagoda and future plans for the Japanese Gardens which surround it, and take part in free guided tours.

5. Olympia Little Theatre's production of playwright Lauren Gunderson's Exit, Pursued by a Bear ends its run today at 1:55 p.m. The prey in this story is Kyle Carter, a short-tempered redneck who may or may not have beaten his wife, Nan. On a quest for revenge and emancipation, she recruits the help of a stripper/wannabe actor named Sweetheart (stage name "Peaches," which isn't much better) and Simon, her gay best friend, who arrives in a cheerleader's uniform. Nan's plan is to stage a reenactment of key moments with Kyle, then douse him in honey and open the door wide to Ursus americanus floridanus, a 300-pound Florida black bear. Read Christian Carvajal's full review of Exit, Pursued By A Bear in the Music & Culture section.

LINK: Sunday, May 18 arts and entertainment events in the greater Tacoma and Olympia area

Ethan Starr's interest was piqued.

"I'm interested in explosive ordinance disposal," he said as his friend, Cody Whitman, helped him into a protective suit.

"I think I would like to serve in the Army."

One of several thousand visitors, Starr had found the nation's 64^th Armed Forces Day celebration at Joint Base Lewis-McChord (JBLM) to his liking.

"It's good to get a glimpse of what soldiers do," Starr continued.

Begun on Aug. 31, 1949 by then Secretary of Defense Louis Johnson, Armed Forces Day allows the military to highlight its service members and their equipment to the general public.

It is also a day to honor and acknowledge soldiers, sailors, airmen and marines for the service they provide.

>>> Thousands attended the nation's 64th Armed Forces Day celebration at Joint Base Lewis-McChord. Photo credit: J.M. Simpson

>>> With the help of some face paint, Patrick Provencio began to look like a Ninja Turtle. Photo credit: J.M. Simpson

>>> Members of the Washington Civil War Association fire a 10-pound Parott Cannon during a Civil War reenactment at Memorial Stadium. Photo credit: J.M. Simpson

Highlighting events at JBLM's Memorial and Cowan stadiums yesterday were historical displays, carnival rides, a variety of foods and drinks, a climbing wall, music and entertainment, a 10K Volksmarch and Civil War reenactments.

"It's really a fun day," commented Army veteran Rick Tweddell moments after being freed from some stocks used as a form of punishment in the 1700s.

"It is good that the Armed Forces are remembered and supported by the public."

>>> Brooklynn Yeates takes the controls of a MH-60 Helicopter during Armed Forces Day festivities at Joint Base Lewis-McChord. Photo credit: J.M. Simpson

>>> Eric Haines - the One Man Band - entertained visitors to Joint Base Lewis-McChord with his music and singing. Photo credit: J.M. Simpson

GRAB A CUP OF JOE AND READ THE MORNING REPORT FOR 5.19.14 >>>

VA scandal hits new hospital.

President Obama and Congress are moving quickly to respond to a growing political firestorm over VA patient care allegations.

The international outcry over the abductions of Nigerian schoolgirls added to the growing list of challenges faced by AFRICOM.

Joint Chiefs Chairman Gen. Martin Dempsey plans to push his NATO counterparts to increase security contributions in southern Europe along the Mediterranean.

On high seas, Vietnam and China play tense game.

John Kerry's doctrine: More intervention.

Why the military can't get enough of Amphibious Ready Groups.

Ukraine wants the U.S. to provide it with military body armor, vehicles and reconnaissance equipment left over from the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq to help it deter Russian forces in the eastern region of the country.

Undersecretary of the Army Brad R. Carson focuses on the service's top modernization priorities: the tactical communications network.

More than 13,000 troops from 24 countries are to take part in the annual "Eager Lion" military exercise in Jordan.

The House ducks on defense.

The high cost of the U.S. Defense Department's weapon programs threatens national security, the head of the Pentagon's advanced research-and-development arm said.

Researchers at the U.S. Army Natick Soldier Research, Development take protective eyewear into the future.

The Army's capability to project land power grew this week with the induction of the M109A7 self-propelled howitzer and its companion M992A3 carrier ammunition tracked vehicle into low-rate initial production.

JBLM played a part in new Godzilla film.

U.S. Air Force Academy parachute team, Wings of Blue, celebrated 50 years of "standing in the door."

The gay widow of a soldier killed in Afghanistan has received word from the Department of Veterans Affairs that she will receive the same full benefits that heterosexual widows and widowers receive.

How corruption guts militaries: The Ukraine case study.

The British will allow Lockheed Martin's F-35B to make its first flight outside of the United States on July 4 when the country's newest aircraft carrier is christened by Her Majesty the Queen.

A-10 Thunderbolt attack jet lands on German highway.

Exploring the great outdoors from a remote control iPad-bot.

You can make an offer to buy Dracula's castle.

Facebook is building an app to take on Snapchat (again).

Morrissey says his Twitter account is fake.

The Coen brothers have announced their next film.

Watch Arcade Fire's new music video for We Exist.

Finally: When you mix Cruise and Yorke you get Thom Cruise.

What are you going to do today?

LINK: Original photo by Cpl. Adam Miller

MONDAY, MAY 19 2014 >>>

1. Moby Grape was one of the most versatile San Francisco rock bands to emerge out of the summer of love. Sadly, through a combination of inner turmoil and bad management decisions, the mighty Moby Grape broke up in 1969. However, their debut album is still considered one of the best of all time by many critics, in part because of the nimble fingers of guitarist Jerry Miller. Miller was named one of the top 100 guitarists of all time by Rolling Stone above Eddie Van Halen, Johnny Winter and Randy Rhoads. The Tacoma native has enjoyed a rich career sharing the stage with countless musicians including members of the Doobie Brothers and Carlos Santana.  Miller performs at 8 p.m. at The Swiss' Monday Blues Night.

2. Monique Trudnowski, co-owner of the Adriatic Grill who has announce her candidacy for state representative, hosts the Female Executive Martini Monday every third Monday at her restaurant by the Tacoma Mall. The 5:30 p.m. event is $10 for non-members who want to connect and discover new resources.

3. The Lovebirds, a queer folk-pop duo from San Diego, and Olympia fiddler phenom Josie Toney will perform during a benefit for Pizza Klatch at 7 p.m. in Le Voyeur. Pizza Klatch provides safe and confidential support groups during high school lunch periods for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgendered and Queer/Questioning youth and allies. 

4. Rippin' Chicken plays a greasy brand of funky, bugaloo and soul jazz, executed with creative ease by three funky brothers from different mothers who dig playing together. After performing and recording together for the better part of a decade in groups such as, The Funk Revolution, The Lucky Mystery Now Orchestra, and The Bucks, Rippin' Chicken presents this power-house rhythm section as the center of attention, which will be on display at 8 p.m. in Olympia's Rhythm and Rye bar.

5. Every Monday at 9 p.m. Jazzbones is packed to the brim with college kids. Party types. The type that wear tight shirts and trucker hats. Throngs of Chad Fratguys and Sarah Sororitysisters swarm the bar, line up for the bathroom and dance to the Rockaraoke - live band karaoke. The Rockaraoke band is skilled, too. Expect $2 PBR drafts, $3 Sinfire shots and $4 Smirnoff flavor vodka bombs.

LINK: Monday, May 19 arts and entertainment events in the greater Tacoma and Olympia area

BAMF! (And no, not the acronym.) 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.

THURSDAY, MAY 8

Thursday night brings the TV premieres of Labyrinth on the CW (sorry, no Bowie) and Gang Related on Fox. No one cares, not even the person who should've put a hyphen in Gang Related.

FRIDAY, MAY 23

As we all know, the X-Men (but let's not be sexist: X-People) have endured mixed success on the silver screen. It's tough to gripe about director Bryan Singer's first two efforts, but then Brett Ratner took the reins on 2006's threequel X-Men: The Last Stand and ... well, it almost was. For my money, the first standalone Wolverine film, in which Hugh Jackman squared off against Sabretooth, a wretchedly misconceived Deadpool, and suck-tacular special effects, was even worse. Then, notwithstanding January Jones' predictably glassy-eyed performance, Matthew Vaughn steered the franchise back onto the rails with X-Men: First Class three years ago. Finally, like a time-traveler from days of future past, Singer returns to the fold, adapting the Sentinel storyline from Chris Claremont and John Byrne's 1981 run of Uncanny X-Men. Hey, speaking of "uncanny," how much do you want to bet Fox is sweating the timing of those child molestation charges against Mr. Singer? Of course, the man should be considered innocent until proven guilty, and that's always a generous attitude to retain when new superhero movies hit cinemas as well. This time, the early buzz turns out to be good.

Thanks to a bit of temporal translocation, both Patrick Stewart and James McAvoy get to play Professor X, Ian McKellen and Michael Fassbender can play Magneto, and Rebecca Romijn who? As if that isn't super enough, the cast adds Peter Dinklage (as Bolivar Trask) and two people named Fan Bingbing and Booboo Stewart as, I'm guessing here, pandas. I can pretty much promise you it'll be better than X-Men: The Last Stand, X-Men Origins: Wolverine, or, let's face it, The Amazing Spider-Man 2. Oh, Paul Giamatti, you deserve so much better.

SUNDAY, MAY 25

Sunday night marks HBO's first airing of Normal Heart, the most controversial movie of 20 years ago. That said, the script, based on Larry Kramer's off-Broadway 1985 play, is terrific, and the cast is superhero-movie good (try Alec Baldwin, Alfred Molina, Jim Parsons, Julia Roberts, and Mark Ruffalo for starters). I'd be stunned if this isn't a major Emmy contender next year. The play's belated 2011 debut on Broadway earned the Tony for Best Revival, plus two acting awards for Ellen Barkin and John Benjamin Hickey. Essentially, it's about an early-1980s crusade to push AIDS awareness - literally, an awareness and acknowledgement that the virus even existed - into public conversation and governmental action.

TUESDAY, MAY 27

A new season of America's Got Talent begins on NBC, which would be much more exciting if America, which judges the show, also had taste. (Wouldn't America Has Talent - or even better, Americans Have Talent - be preferable?) Luckily for our purposes, Syfy also gave former Enterprise-D helmsman (helmsperson?) Wil Wheaton a weekly comedy show, The Wil Wheaton Project, and that debuts Sunday at 10. He calls it "Talk Soup for geeks." Um ... I thought that was called Talk Soup?

WEDNESDAY, MAY 28

Come gather ‘round, people, wherever you roam. Like many writers and critics who prophesize with our pens, I keep my eyes open for new books about Robert Zimmerman, better known as the one and only Mr. Bob Dylan. But The Dylanologists: Adventures in the Land of Bob isn't, strictly speaking, a tome about the Bard of Minneapolis, it's an insider's look at geeks like me who adore him. Author David Kinney will stop by the downtown Olympia library tonight to promote it. And don't think twice, it's all right: he will have copies available for purchase.

DAVID KINNEY, 7:30 p.m., Olympia Timberland Library, 313 eighth Ave., Olympia, free, 360.352.0595

Until next week, may the Force be with you, may the odds be ever in your favor, and may the answer be blowin' in the wind.

GRAB A CUP AND READ THE MORNING REPORT FOR 5.20.14 >>>

The House this week will vote onlegislation that tacitly approves a 1.8 percent pay raise for service members next year.

The Pentagon still plans to increase funding for special operations equipment in the coming years, but after years of plus-ups, that trend is expected to flatten.

America still has way more air power than any rival.

Thailand's army declared martial law nationwide to restore order after six months of street protests that have left the country without a proper functioning government, but denied that the surprise move amounted to a military coup.

A top White House official has promised that the CIA would no longer use vaccination programs as a cover for spying.

The White House is threatening a veto of the House version of a $601 billion defense bill over election-year moves to spare weapons systems and popular programs in the face of limited budgets.

President Obama is relying less on drones and more on foreign governments in the global fight against terrorists.

Retired Marine Cpl. Kyle Carpenter, 24, will receive the Medal of Honor for heroism in Afghanistan in 2010.

The United States invented the Internet, but we may not rule it any more.

Navy officials expect ship defenses to get a boost following the introduction of the Block 2 Rolling Airframe Missiles.

Turns out a littoral combat ship will be headed to Hawaii this summer after all.

A new bill would allow members of the military and their families to keep their current auto insurance policy if they are ordered to relocate to a new state.

House approves Congressional Gold Medal for Civil Air Patrol.

A small, easy-to-use and lightweight explosive screening kit continues to move forward toward full fielding as a means to provide soldiers with the capability to screen for suspected homemade explosive materials.

Army PULSE-W watercraft proves ability, benefit of enduring presence in Pacific.

Veterans remember historic Strike Brigade deployment.

This looks like some end of the world type weather.

Spielberg's masterful use of the long take is one of the things that make him so great.

"Fangirl" and "unfriend" are among the new words Merriam-Webster is adding to the dictionary.

McDonald's has a creepy new mascot.

How much money is it possible to win on Jeopardy!?

Here's a tribute to Road House for its 25th anniversary.

And finally, this story is for all the drummers.

Back To The Future love song ...

LINK: Original photo by Visual Information Specialist Markus Rauchenberger

TUESDAY, MAY 20 2014 >>>

1. Each year, the American Library Association's Office for Intellectual Freedom compiles a list of the top 10 most frequently challenged books in order to inform the public about censorship in libraries and schools. Between May 2011 and May 2012, John Berger - a novelist, storyteller, poet, screenwriter and art critic - had his To the Wedding dinged by some parents for dropping f-bombs to describe sexual relations. That doesn't sit well with King's Books owner, sweet pea. The Berger novel will be front and center at King's Banned Book Club 7 p.m. discussion in neighboring Doyle's Public House. Expect much worse language inside Doyle's if a televised soccer match turns nutty.

The Palestinian Oscar nominee for best foreign language film has the title character, Omar, climbing over the Israeli separation wall to visit his romantic interest Nadia, her brother Tarek and his other childhood friend Amjad. Without much thought, the three men conspire to kill an Israeli soldier, and Amjad is the one to do the shooting. When Omar is captured and tortured by the Israelis, they give him an ultimatum. Find out what happens at 1:55 and 6:30 p.m. at The Grand Cinema.

Every so often, we come across the argument that rosé lacks merit as a wine, and, therefore, has become over-hyped. To the residents of southern France, rosé equals lifestyle; we doubt they would agree their Provençal existence isn't deserving of recognition. Pour At Four knows this. The Tacoma Proctor District wine bar will pour complimentary tastes of six roses from three regions from 5:30-8 p.m.

This might be hard to believe, but you can't go see The Beatles live anymore, unless you have some sort of resurrection or time traveling technology. If you do have said technology and are using to see The Beatles, you've got some problems, so let Red Wind Casino help you out. It hosts Beatles tribute band British Export at 8 p.m. Go scream your head off.

The 1230 Room probably has you at "$3 You Call Its," but you also may be interested in the downtown Olympia club's Tuesday deep, tech and progressive house night "The Deep End." It launches at 9 p.m. with drink specials, no cover and resident DJs Alex Bosi, Evan Mould, Chris Paro and Braxxus.

LINK: Tuesday, May 20 arts and entertainment events in the greater Tacoma and Olympia area

Hey Servicemembers! Bring your Seahawks gear and cameras to pose with the Seahawks Super Bowl Trophy at Camp Murray, Thursday, May 29.

The Seattle Seahawks 2014 Vince Lombardi Trophy will visit the Washington National Guard's Arsenal Museum on Camp Murray from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. May 29.

Along with the encased Super Bowl Championship trophy on display, two Seagal cheerleaders will also be in attendance to meet and greet with servic members and their families.

A $3 hot dog lunch — prepared by the guard's G4 directorate — along with various raffle items, will be available to benefit the Minuteman Emergency Assistance Fund, as well as the museum.

For any questions, please email wngpao@gmail.com. The Arsenal Museum is at Building 2 on Camp Murray.

SEE ALSO
Let's look at the Seattle Seahawks Super Bowl champions parade again!

GRAB A CUP AND READ THE MORNING REPORT FOR 5.21.14 >>>

Spc. William Rogers of Joint Base Lewis-McChord proved he was Army Strong at the U.S. Army Installation Management Command's Best Warrior Competition.

Al Qaeda runs shadow army in Afghanistan; Taliban on verge of surge.

The U.S. House will begin work on nearly 170 amendments to a Pentagon policy bill, including ones that would add funds to weapons accounts, require arms sales to allies, and kill the measure that authorized America's post-9/11 conflicts.

The Inspector General for the Department of Veterans Affairs has expanded its investigation to include 26 facilities around the country accused of mismanagement and hiding long wait times. 

President Obama has summoned Veterans Affairs Secretary Eric Shinseki and White House deputy chief of staff Rob Nabors for a meeting to discuss their investigation into mismanagement at veterans hospitals across the country.

Sen. Patty Murray says the VA failed to implement legislation she wrote to counter problems with the appointments system.

Why is Shinseki refusing more authority to fire VA employees?

Who broke the Department of Veteran Affairs.

The White House will reportedly comply with a court order to release a secret memorandum describing the legal justification for the 2011 drone strike against three Americans in Yemen.

The Senate Armed Services Committee's 2015 defense policy bill will reject a new round of military base closures.

A U.S. Senate subcommittee approved a measure allowing the Pentagon to spend billions on its most lethal forces while also clearing them to target the Boko Haram organization.

Senate Armed Services Committee members have cobbled together a plan to keep the U.S. Air Force's A-10 attack planes flying for another year.

Australia, Britain, Canada and United States have signed a symbolically important Memorandum of Understanding committing them to "a partnership on combined space operations."

A group of U.S. special operations leaders outlined what capabilities their troops will need in the coming years, focusing mostly on intelligence gathering technologies in places such as Africa and the Arctic.

A subcommittee defied the Army by supporting a panel to study the transfer of Guard attack helicopters to the active component.

The Defense Advanced Research Programs Agency's Information Innovation Office, or I2O, is hosting DARPA Demo Day 2014 in the Pentagon's courtyard today and it has four projects that could be bigger than the Internet.

Roughly 6,000 U.S. troops will take part in this year's "Eager Lion" exercise in Jordan from May 25 to June 8, a Defense Department spokesman said.

Animation teaches you what happened in World War II in 7 minutes.

The science of losing belly fat.

This is a rare view: Five skydivers in wingsuits soar over New York City.

The real mansion from Scarface - the iconic Brian de Palma movie starring Al Pacino as drug lord Tony Montana - has hit the property market.

Seven facts about the X-Men you might not know.

R.E.M.'s complete catalog and many rarities have been remastered for iTunes.

The Horror: Miley Cyruscovered The Smiths. (It's actually not bad!)

List: Best book recommendation services

You need To Know: Here's where Mad Men shot the Burger Chef scenes.

Yikes: There were 1135 Aryas, 241 Khaleesis and 67 Daeneryses born in 2013. And 15 Theons and five Robbs.

Lights out for this cat ...

LINK: Original Photo by Staff Sgt. Jeremy Bowcock

WEDNESDAY, MAY 21 2014 >>>

1. A Portlander by way of Ohio and Boston, Brock Ginther share's Robert Pollard's desire for playful experimentation. On his most recent release, The Breakfast Cowboy, Ginther has populated the album with 22 songs that frequently come across as more than sketches. The concepts are left-field and verging on the surreal, and the melodies are as airtight as a minute-long song can be. The Breakfast Cowboy covers a dizzying amount of ground over its 22 tracks. Though everything is couched in a similarly wry, lo-fi aesthetic, Ginther takes excursions through Moldy Peaches-esque, conversational singer-songwriter fare ("The Tallest Hamburger"); '60s Latin music appropriation ("Litter"); Ween-esque trips down weird rabbit holes ("Lizard Defender"); and stop-start grunge ("Exotic Cop Lingo"). Read Rev. Adam McKinney's interview with Brock Ginther in the Music & Culture section, then catch Ginther with opener Super Brown at 10 p.m. in Le Voyeur.

2. Historian Alan Archambault will discuss black soldiers in the Civil War and their ties to the Pacific Northwest at noon in the Washington State History Museum. Archambault, who was the head curator at the Fort Lewis Military Museum for 21 years, will reference "Civil War Pathways in the Northwest," an exhibit at the museum through July 6, and in particular Fort Steilacoom Commander Gen. Silas Casey, who was instrumental in the recruitment of black troops in the Union Army in 1863.

3. Nothing says "spring into summer" like rosé. If you are not familiar with this pink wine, STINK: Cheese and Meat hosts Rosé-A-Palooza from 5-8 p.m. The Tacoma uber deli will pour pink wines from all over the world: France, Spain, Italy, Africa, South America and some from our backyards - Washington and Oregon)! For $10, you'll receive 10 tastes and some light snacks.

4. Folk, jazz, to late night and sultry blues- Carolyn Cruso has a varied resume. Hailing from the Hudson River Valley of New York State, she now calls the misty shores of Orcas Island home, so the jaunt to Tacoma's A Rhapsody in Bloom for a 7 p.m.  show will be a shorter commute. Her music is largely inspired by her travels both in the U.S. and Europe, as well as her long connection to nature, and keen interest in the stories of people she meets out on the road. Wielding two guitars, a flute, a hammered dulcimer and her voice Cruso will channel the traveling minstrels and divine misfits she has met on the back roads of life in the floral and espresso shop on Tacoma's Sixth Avenue. 

5. Born in France in the early '60s, Claude Bourbon grew up in Switzerland, where he was classically trained for many years. This finger picking guitarist has performed and studied all over the world; he has crafted an unbelievable fusion of classical and jazz, with ethereal Eastern influences, Spanish and Latin elements with strains of Western folk. Catch the Medieval and Spanish blue guitarist at 7 p.m. in the Olympic Room at the Tacoma Public Library Main Branch in downtown Tacoma.

LINK: Wednesday, May 21 arts and entertainment events in the greater Tacoma and Olympia area