Weekly Volcano Blogs: Walkie Talkie Blog

Posts made in: August, 2014 (87) Currently Viewing: 81 - 87 of 87

August 29, 2014 at 8:02am

Friday Morning Joe: Obama's ISIS world plea, U.S. tanks to Europe, VA improving, world's prettiest woman ...

49th Military Police Brigade, California Army National Guard, toss coffee pots down range during warrior task training at Camp Roberts, Calif. Original photo by Spc. Edward Siguenza

GRAB A COFFEE POT AND READ THE MORNING REPORT FOR 8.29.14 >>>

Obama calls on other nations to fight Islamic State.

U.S. fighter planes conducted five airstrikes against Islamic State targets in northern Iraq on Thursday, continuing a limited campaign aimed at helping Iraqi and Kurdish forces retake key territory and degrade the militants' capability.

The Islamic State group killed more than 160 Syrian government troops seized in recent fighting, posting pictures Thursday of terrified young conscripts stripped down to their underwear before meeting their deaths in the arid Syrian countryside.

With only about a dozen legislative days left before November's midterm elections, a U.S. congressional debate and vote on a Syria strikes authorization measure could further delay work on two defense bills.

Why Obama backed off more ISIS strikes: His own team couldn't agree on a Syria strategy.

At least four hostages, including slain American journalist James Foley, were waterboarded in the early part of their time being held captive in Syria by ISIS.

On The Origin Of ISIS: Why has a terrorist state blossomed in Syria and Iraq?

Alarmed members of the U.N. Security Council demanded Thursday that Russia remove its fighters from a new front in the Ukraine crisis, while the U.S. ambassador accused Moscow of having "outright lied."

Russia's President Vladimir Putin today called on pro-Russian separatists to release Ukrainian soldiers who have been surrounded by the rebels in eastern Ukraine.

U.S. Army troops equipped with tanks will head to Eastern Europe soon to reassure NATO allies anxious over Russia's intervention in Ukraine, Pentagon officials said Thursday.

Ukraine plans to seek NATO membership after what Kiev and its Western allies say is the open participation of the Russian military in the war in Ukraine's eastern provinces. 

Putin Ends The Interregnum: The West needs to reevauate everything it thought it knew about the collapse of the Soviet Union.

Admirals want to buy more Landing Craft Air Cushions in light of the increased global missile threat in the Pacific.

Exercise Ulchi Freedom Guardian: It culminates this week in South Korea, is helping strengthen U.S. partnerships in the Pacific, said Lt. Gen. Stephen Lanza, the commander of U.S. Army I Corps.

Officials confirmed today the pilot was fatally injured in the Aug. 27 crash of an F-15C Eagle in the remote mountains near Deerfield Valley, Va.

The Department of Veterans Affairs has reduced by half the number of veterans waiting more than three months to see a doctor since a scandal erupted at the agency in spring over delays in health care.

Engine manufacturer Pratt & Whitney is close to performing tests on a potential design change for its F135 engine following a June incident that led to the devastation of an F-35 Joint Strike Fighter.

Army Gen. Joseph Votel has taken the helm of U.S. Special Operations Command located at MacDill Air Force Base.

Eight in 10 of the U.S. Army majors being dismissed from the service had poor evaluations or otherwise bad marks.

Jack White had fun with Eddie Vedder and Paul Simon at a Seattle Mariners game.

See the new teaser for Foxcatcher with Steve Carell and Channing Tatum.

TV Tango round up more than 350 TV marathons airing this weekend.

Fans try to re-edit Star Wars to make it look like the hard-to-find original version.

Denny's has arrived in New York with style (in the form of a $300 brunch).

Finally: Eight of the world's prettiest women merged into one (perfect?) being.

Let's look at horses wearing costumes ...

LINK: Original photo by Spc. Edward Siguenza

August 29, 2014 at 8:05am

5 Things To Do Today: Harbor Days, Afrok, "Frozen," Tela Novella ...

For 900 years the city of Olympia has hosted Harbor Days - a mix of seafaring, food and fun.

FRIDAY, AUG. 29 2014 >>>

1. You poor, tragic thing. Your friends have all but deserted you for a fabulous holiday weekend camping in the mountains, and you are stranded, Banarama-style, here in the South Sound. The only way to exact revenge is to have a better time than those so-called friends. This calls for some quality time at the Harbor Days Maritime Festival and Tugboat Races. Stupid camping. Stupid friends. For 900 years the city of Olympia has hosted Harbor Days - a mix of seafaring, food and fun. While Harbor Days doesn't sound overly exciting considering every coastal town seems to have such a festival, this weekend's event has something unique - tugboats. Apparently, like the swallows returning to Capistrano, tugboats do the same in Olympia.  There are vintage, working and retired tugs to get your heart aflutter. And if that doesn't get your life vest in a bunch, Sunday also features tugboat races up Budd Inlet.

2. Pack your snacks, blankets and lawn chairs and head to the park to watch Norwegian sister save the other from the disco-inspired ice palace she's entombed herself in. Good news, the rescuing lass has helpers - a sturdy young woodsman, his trusty reindeer and a goofy snowman. Metro Parks Tacoma and Click! Will screen top-notch animated film Frozen - with the snow and ice deserving special commendation - at dusk in Steward Heights Park, 402 E. 56th St. Live music and entertainment, inflatable obstacle course, food vendors, face painting and games begin at 5 p.m.

3. There's a dope show at The Artesian Park & Commons from 6-10 p.m. Afrok and guests will drop lyrics as part of the Oly Park Days series. This week features some live singing and performances mostly from amateur artists, but included in the lineup of talent will be the aforementioned, award-winning Afrok along with QP & Legac Jones - all outside under the sun, moon and stars. Check it.

4. Say kids! Do you like the rock and roll? Gladness, Dick Dagger & The C Monsters, Big Idiot, Crack House and Fuzzy Math rock the all-ages venue Northern in downtown Olympia beginning at 8 p.m.

5. They say good things come in threes. Bandolier, People Under The Sun and The Echo Echo Echoes, are celebrating a record release at 9 p.m. in The New Frontier Lounge, a trifecta of "Hell yeah!" for Tacoma. But if you've seen your share of these bands, and think you'll just pick up their album online or at the next show, let me give you an extra reason to attend: Tela Novella. Hot in the midst of a huge tour, playing across the U.S. with bands such as Shannon and the Clams, The Hive Dwellers, Mount Whateverest and others, Tela Novella is the perfect band to round out the night. From Austin, Texas, the quartet nails that sweet psychedelic indie pop. Words I would use to describe Tela Novella: sweet, swanky, sexy. Words I would use to describe Friday night: Your ass, live music, New Frontier.

LINK: Friday, Aug. 29 arts and entertainment events in the greater Tacoma and Olympia area

August 30, 2014 at 8:24am

Saturday Morning Joe: Obama threat, USAF structure changes, Army goes Clemson Tigers, iPhone 6 rumors ...

Marine Corps Recruiting Station Baltimore throw mock coffee pots as part of a relay race during RS Baltimore's statewide pool function at the United States Naval Academy. Original photo by Cpl. Bryan Nygaard

GRAB A CUP AND READ THE MORNING REPORT FOR 8.30.14 >>>

Authorities in Connecticut on Friday were investigating a possible threat against President Obama.

The chief of Iran's Revolutionary Guard navy confirmed in remarks published Friday that a U.S. Coast Guard vessel fired on an Iranian fishing boat in the Persian Gulf this week but insisted the incident was not a "clash."

The U.S. does not anticipate following the United Kingdom in raising its terror alert level because of concerns over the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria.

The U.S. Air Force's top general said he wants to figure out the balance between the active, Guard and reserve components for the vast majority of his service's programs in time to drive fiscal 2016 decisions.

Massachusetts National Guard officials identified the pilot of an F-15C Eagle jet that crashed in Virginia as Air Force Lt. Col. Morris "Moose" Fontenot Jr.

Islamic State militants beheaded a Lebanese soldier who was one of 19 captured by hardline Syrian Islamists when they seized a Lebanese border town for few days this month.

U.S. Vs. ISIL: The costs have averaged $7.5 million per day and include money for airstrikes, surveillance and arms shipments.

Six strategies Obama could use to fight Islamic State.

As separatists seized a strategically located town in southeast Ukraine, President Vladimir V. Putin issued a congratulatory message to the insurgents.

European Union leaders are likely to threaten Russia with new economic sanctions over its action in Ukraine but officials said the bloc was not yet ready to order additional penalties. 

President Obama's trip to Europe early next week is designed to warn Russian President Vladimir Putin against "messing around" with the Baltic States.

The new commander of U.S. and coalition forces in Afghanistan, will likely not attend the NATO meeting in Britain next week.

Britain's Defence Ministry will boost its investment in laser research and is preparing to launch a competition that could lead to a technology demonstrator.

An Air Force Institute of Technology alumnus and retired Air Force officer was selected by NASA and the University of Hawaii as one of nine team members to participate in an upcoming simulated mission to Mars.

Nearly five years after earning a Bronze Star with 'V' and a Purple Heart for his actions in Afghanistan at the Battle of Kamdesh, former Army Sgt. Daniel Rodriguez will suit up today to begin his senior football season with the Clemson Tigers.

A former American sailor convicted during the Cold War of leading a family spy ring for the Soviet Union has died in a prison hospital in North Carolina.

The man convicted in the shooting rampage at Fort Hood in 2009 that left 13 dead is asking to become a "citizen" of the Islamic State in a letter to the militant group's leader.

Fatigues to Fabulous will kick off New York Fashion Week with a "Salute the Runway" fashion show.

The Navy built its own indoor ocean to test ships.

iPhone 6 rumor roundup.

10 great movies to stream this holiday weekend.

Believe it or not, 21 Jump Street's Phil Lord and Chris Miller are remaking The Greatest American Hero.

Terry Gilliam on 13 of the most difficult scenes he ever shot.

Five worthy new songs this week.

How Pabst brought a 136-year-old beer back from the dead.

When ads are so cool they make you want to do crazy things ...

LINK: Original photo by Cpl. Bryan Nygaard

August 30, 2014 at 8:31am

5 Things To Do Today: Fabulous Frenzy Tour, IPA Fest, LeMay Car Show, Soundgarden ...

The Fabulous Frenzy Tour hits Olympia tonight.

SATURDAY, AUG. 30 2014 >>>

1. Hailing from Seattle, The Fabulous Frenzy Tour is a collective of touring burlesque artists bringing high quality and sexy entertainment hitting the Rhythm and Rye stage at 8 p.m. See Tootsie Spangles, Queenie O'Hart, Jovie DeVoe, Pixie Parcelle and Olympia's own Zsa Zsa Bordeaux take it off.

2. You're either at Bumbershoot or the ParkWay Tavern's IPA Fest today. Both events will be packed with people. We believe the Seattle music and art festival slightly edges out the Tacoma Stadium District tavern's gathering in terms of attendance numbers. Also, Bumbershoot has more Slovakian Gypsy acrobats. The ParkWay's IPA Fest is a huge deal. It has been circled on calendars for months. Vacation days have been submitted. Relatives have been shunned. The ParkWay's taps will be consumed by 32 deliciously bitter India pale ales from 11 a.m. to close. It's a true tribute to hops and those who love them. Listen to Radio On and The Rusty Cleavers beginning at 3 p.m. Enjoy burgers and ribs off the barbecue.

3. The LeMay Car Show is definitely a unique event. More than 500 vintage vehicles from the LeMay Family Collection are on view at the LeMay Museum at Marymount Academy, plus hundreds more at the LeMay home grounds, and local owners of vintage cars bring their vehicles for display on the Marymount show fields. The LeMay Car Show is a two location car show, which means that it's the one day a year that in addition to the LeMay Collections at Marymount, Nancy LeMay and her family open their private LeMay homestead property in Spanaway for the general public to come gawk and walk from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. In addition to the vintage vehicles, there are special displays of dolls, antiques, a General Store and Soda Fountain Room and more Americana.

4. Remember when jazz guitarist Ed Taylor gigged every weekend in the South Sound? His residential move to Seattle put a sad nix on that habit. Good news. The accomplished guitarist and his band play at 7 p.m. in the Al Lago Ristorante at Bonney Lake. That's right, a view of the lake and Mount Rainier, flavorful Southern Italian menu and Ed. Nice.

5. There are artists that transcend time and space and still sound sparkling decades later - the Stones, the Clash, AC/DC, even the Cult and Metallica to a degree - and then there are a lot of records that fairly scream out their genre and historical notch on the musical scale. Soundgarden's catalog belongs in the latter category. Most date-specific bands lose a good deal of their original vibrant color when a sample is placed against the musical fabric of the moment. Soundgarden doesn't. Yeah, the band sounds weighty, fat, dark purple and muddy as hell. It still sounds damn good. Catch them with Nine Inch Nails at 7 p.m. at the White River Amphitheatre.

LINK: Saturday, Aug. 30 arts and entertainment events in the greater Tacoma and Olympia area

August 31, 2014 at 9:18am

5 Things To Do Today: Nate Jackson's Super Funny Comedy Show, tugboat races, Dayclub, Foam Fest 9 ...

Nate Jackson brings his super funny comedy show to Key On Main tonight.

SUNDAY, AUG. 31 2014 >>>

1. Nate Jackson's Super Funny Comedy Show has returned to downtown Tacoma. The Lacey comedian organized a super funny collection of super comedians weekly at the Varsity Grill. Jackson's show disappeared when the Varsity converted to country bar Steel Creek. It was a super sad day. Jackson is a super funny comic himself, so much so that he reigned supreme at the Bay Area Black Comedy Competition won previously by Mark Curry and Jamie Foxx. Jackson has found a home for his super comedy show, hosting comedians the last Sunday of the month at Keys On Main dueling-piano bar. Music will be provided by The D1 Experience Band and DJ Two, beginning at 8 p.m.

2. The Weekly Volcano is synonymous with fun, so there's no way we would ever let  Olympia Harbor Days festival pass without trumpeting it. Why? Because we love the hell out of some tugboats. And if there's one thing Oly Harbor Days is synonymous with, it's tugboats. And history. And fun. Is there another way we could use the word synonymous in this blurb? Probably. But why push our luck. The important thing is that you head down to Oly's waterfront for the annual tugboat races, which go down at noon.

3. The Social Bar and Grill's patio is a lovely spot to while away a weekend afternoon, sipping cocktails and old world red wine and watch condo residents walk their dogs. Come Sunday afternoon, tables mean nothing as resident DJ Mr. Melanin and rotating guests spin an eclectic and extremely tasteful selection of lounge, bossa nova and electro soul music 2-6 p.m. This triple threat of delicious booze, sun and hip tunes is known as Tacoma's only daytime summer party, "Dayclub."

4. Picture your perfect Sunday night: the drinks are flowing, the tunes are cranking and you and your friends are dancing it up, having a grand old time. Now picture that evening exactly the same except you are covered in foam. We are not talking about the type of foam that resembles squishy Nerf balls; this is foam that is caused by soap. Soapy foam! Jazzbones hosts Foam Fest 9 with DJ Pedro at 9 p.m. Bring your goggles.

5. Encore Boutique Nightclub hosts the Pre Labor Day Party with DJ Eric Nelson, DJ Eric Deshaun, DJ L!VE, DJ Roscoe, DJ Puerto Roc, DJ Tripple 9 and DJ Asia, as well as and free VIP tables and free cover for ladies before Labor Day. It gets moving around 10 p.m.

LINK: Sunday, Aug. 31 arts and entertainment events in the greater Tacoma and Olympia area

September 1, 2014 at 9:31am

Monday Morning Joe: U.S. varsity team foes, U.S. cities targets, older vet suicides up, bionic sailors ...

3rd Marine Logistics Group, III Marine Expeditionary Force, throw coffee pots at Camp Hansen. Original photo by Lance Cpl. Anne Henry

GRAB A COFFEE POT AN DREAD THE MORNING REPORT FOR 9.1.14 >>>

President Barack Obama put the Islamic State terrorist group on the "varsity" team of U.S. foes. America's top general, Martin Dempsey, has spoken of the group's "apocalyptic" visions.

Cities in the United States and Western Europe are being eyed as Islamic State militants' future targets, U.S. lawmakers say.

Heavy fighting erupted today between the Syrian army and Islamist rebels on the Golan Heights, where 44 peacekeepers from Fiji are being held by militants and scores of their fellow blue helmets from the Philippines escaped after resisting capture.

Islamist fighters have carried out atrocities on "an unimaginable scale" in months of fighting with Iraqi forces who have also killed detainees and shelled civilian areas.

Like Douglas McAuthur McCain - an American hip-hop fan who was recently killed fighting for the Islamic State - Abdel Bary represents a new and very scary evolution in modern jihadi history.

The Islamist-allied militia group in control of Libya's capital has "secured" a U.S. Embassy residential compound there, more than a month after American personnel evacuated from the country over ongoing fighting.

Talks on a power sharing deal between Afghanistan's rival presidential candidates, Ashraf Ghani and Abdullah Abdullah, have collapsed, a top leader said on Monday, rekindling fears of ethnic unrest over the disputed vote.

Some key members of the Senate and House are calling for the United States to send more arms to Ukraine to fight Russian "aggression."

Veteran suicide numbers have gone up in recent years with much of the attention focused on veterans of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan killing themselves. However, almost seven out of 10 veterans who have committed suicide were over the age of 50.

Vulnerable Rep. Ron Barber (D-Ariz.) is hoping that his efforts to keep the Air Force's venerable A-10 Thunderbolt aircraft fleet in the air can lift him to victory in November.

Bionic Sailors: Anyone who saw Ripley defeat the alien queen in the 1986 film "Aliens" knows how badass exoskeleton technology can be.

Retired Capt. Walter Mazzone, a decorated World War II submariner who later became legend as a pioneering medical officer in deep dive experiments that captured the nation's attention, died Aug. 7 in San Diego. He was 96.

DoD Pitch: New Balance has unveiled a sneaker prototype that could become standard-issue in boot camp and spell an end to the cash allowances that let recruits buy foreign-made shoes.

LED Lighting making a mark on U.S. Navy ships.

We Will Live Again: A documentary looks inside the unusual and extraordinary operations of the Cryonics Institute.

10 famous TV locations you can visit in real life.

Essential Japanese new wave films.

Watch a guy try to save his drowning drone.

You can stream a crazy amount of good kung-fu on Netflix right now.

The Google Glass app that measures human emotions is creepy.

Worth watching again …


LINK: Original photo by Lance Cpl. Anne Henry

September 1, 2014 at 9:35am

5 Things To Do Today: Buffalo Soldiers and Tuskegee Airmen, Toscanos anniversary, "Hundred-Foot Journey," Hook Me Up ...

The Buffalo Soldiers Museum is at 1940 S. Wilkeson in Tacoma.

MONDAY, SEPT. 1 2014 >>>

1. The all-African-American Buffalo Soldiers of the 9th and 10th (Horse) Cavalry served in America's wars from 1866 through the end of World War III. They participated in cross-country cattle drives, escorted wagon trains and stagecoaches through often-volatile territories of the Wild West and fought in the Spanish-American War and both world wars. The Tuskegee Airmen were first African American aviators who fought in WWII. During the course of the war, the Tuskegee Airmen flew more than 15,000 sorties and fought in the skies over North Africa, Sicily and Europe in P-40 Tomahawks, then P-39 Air Cobras, then P-47 Thunderbolts, then finally, P-51 aircraft. From 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., The Buffalo Soldiers Museum and the Tuskegee Airmen of Seattle will host a historical tribute at Stanley Playfield in Tacoma. Joint Base Lewis McChord will host a Home Run Derby softball game featuring the "Red Tails Special" Air Force and the "Cannon Balls" Army. Following the game, Gen, Mitch Mitchell will speak on "Embracing the Future." Expect entertainment, vendors and more.

2. Toscanos Café and Wine Bar celebrates its 10th anniversary this month. Guests will receive special gift cards every time they come to the Puyallup restaurant in September, as well as entered into weekly raffle drawings. This week's raffle prize will be hand-painted decanter and wine glasses painted by its Martini Madness artist, a bottle of wine and four steaks. Toscanos will be open today at 11:30 a.m.

2. An Indian family moves to a small French town and opens a restaurant across the road from a fine-dining joint run by the imperious Madame Mallory (Helen Mirren). Will Madame melt for budding chef Hassan's (Manish Dayal) sublime curries? He's already won the tastebuds of charmant sous chef Magritte (Charlotte Le Bon). Can lonely widower Papa (Om Puri) find romance in France? Will Michelin stars fall on everyone? Will you see this film, The Hundred-Foot Journey, at 12:10, 2:55, 5:35 and 8:15 p.m. at The Grand Cinema?

Jazz rock fusion quartet Hook Me Up performs at 8 p.m. in downtown Olympia's Rhythm and Rye club.

5. Local comedian and host Eric Puddin Lorentzen hosts "Monday Madness Comedy Night with Puddin" at 9 p.m. in The New Frontier Lounge. Expect 6-10 minute sets, each recorded. The audience will choose a winner, who will headline the following week. It was the great Bill Cosby who said, "Puddin, you can't be a comedian without him," or something.

LINK: Monday, Sept. 1 arts and entertainment events in the greater Tacoma and Olympia area

About this blog

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

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