GRAB A CUP AND READ THE MORNING REPORT FOR 7.17.14 >>>

Kabul International Airport takes a beating: Militants armed with rocket-propelled grenades attacked Kabul International Airport in the Afghan capital in one of the most audacious assaults on the facility, used by both civilians and the military, in a year.

Residents of the Gaza Strip rushed out of their homes today to take advantage of a five-hour "humanitarian truce" between the Israeli military and Hamas militants, a respite that began just hours after Israel bombed what it called a "terror tunnel" under the Gaza border.

Rocket War: You wouldn't know it from the images of Israeli jets bombing Gaza. But for Hamas, the current war has produced a significant victory.

Today on Putin TV: Russian President Vladimir Putin warned new sanctions the United States imposed against Russian businesses a day earlier will backfire against U.S. companies operating in Russia.

5 things to expect from Gen. Dunford's confirmation hearing today: Duh, forces in Afghanistan is one of the things.

Lawmakers appeared gobsmacked by a request from the Obama administration for $60 billion in war funding next year, with several accusing the Pentagon of seeking a "slush fund" to use for other purposes.

With just two weeks to go before the August recess, House and Senate negotiators are struggling to reach a deal on legislation intended to improve healthcare services through the Veterans Affairs Department.

U.S. House Armed Services Committee leaders struck a skeptical - and bipartisan - tone about a $5 billion counterterrorism program proposed by President Barack Obama.

In the wake of an engine fire that grounded the F-35 fleet, a U.S. Senate subcommittee wants senior Pentagon officials to consider reviving an effort to develop a second power plant.

Need more F-35 news? How the F-35 dominated Farnborough, without ever being there.

Take this F-35: The British Royal Air Force plans to finish upgrades to as many as 59 Tornado aircraft by 2016.

The next big thing in aviation is small: Hummingbird-sized drones.

Things Vice President Sheikh Mohammed Bin-Rashid al-Maktoum, ruler of Dubai and minister of defense, says on Twitter: "Today we announce two epic projects in our history: establishing UAE Space Agency and sending the first Arab spaceship to Mars by 2021."

We love you but you got to go: The Air Force will soon begin offeringincentives to reduce its workforce by nearly 3,500 employees.

Chris Kyle vs. former Minnesota Gov. Jesse Ventura continues: A former Navy SEAL testified he saw military sniper Chris Kyle punch the former wrestler.

Afghanistan Fabulous: The Army has altered its government-owned Scorpion camouflage pattern to look almost identical to MultiCam, the trademarked pattern the service has been using in Afghanistan since 2010.

Sgt. Major of the Army Raymond Chandler III recently issued guidance to help clarify the Army's position on commercial-off-the-shelf combat boots.

The world's first family robot could be like HAL in your home.

Mysterious giant hole suddenly appears in Siberia.

I was hidden in this guy's hard drive for six years.

Bowie Wowie: More new music from David Bowie could be on the way.

Smashing Amazon: Billy Corgan is angry at Amazon.

Fund the million dollar podcast: These joke Kickstarter campaigns are getting out of hand.

Feast your eyes on the trailer for Ouija, a film based on the Hasbro board "game" that enables players to communicate with the spirit world.

Why did Jason Segel quit Twitter? It involves a burrito ...

Finally: Here's a list of underrated Seinfeld episodes.

More summer Slip ‘N Slide fun ...

LINK: Original photo by Staff Sgt. Pablo N. Piedra

GRAB A CUP AND READ THE MORNING REPORT FOR 7.16.14 >>>

Pakistani security forces captured a key Taliban commander linked to a 2003 assassination attempt on former President Pervez Musharraf as a U.S. drone strike killed 15 militants near the country's border with Afghanistan.

Fighting raged in Ukraine's east today when separatists tried to break through the lines of government forces near the border with Russia and a tentative step toward agreeing conditions for a ceasefire failed.

U.S. Senate panel proposes keeping A-10, 11 aircraft carriers with $547.9B defense bill.

Senate derails Army bid to take Guard helicopters.

Senate panel backs 1 percent pay increase.

Air Force Secretary Deborah Lee James: Top 3 Air Force tough money choices.

Senate Defense Bill doubles Obama's request for Israel's Iron Dome.

Iron Dome - savior or sales job?

Rep. Rob Wittman, R-Va., called on the Pentagon to shift dollars from its war spending accounts back into its base budget.

The F-35 joint strike fighter will not be flying at the Farnborough International Airshow, to the disappointment of attendees, program supporters and partnered militaries.

Navy tests stealth-like features for Super Hornet.

Adm. Jonathan Greenert, the U.S. chief of naval operations, met his Chinese counterpart, Adm. Wu Shengli, commander in chief of China's navy, for talks aimed at improving cooperation between their fleets following concerns over regional territorial disputes and potential armed conflict.

The U.S. Air Force's top civilian said she wants $100 million in funding this year to hold a rocket launch competition.

The Defense Health Agency is launching a pilot program Friday that will allow Tricare to pay for some medical tests developed by laboratories.

Rep. Tom Cotton (R-Ark.) on Tuesday called on the Senate to pass legislation to prevent soldiers from being given notice while serving in a combat zone.

DARPA's $40 million plan to save soldiers' brains.

Futurama in 3D is absolutely stunning.

Newly discovered species could be the last one standing on Earth.

We wish we had a magical shadows pop up book when we were kids.

Marvel's Thor is going to be a woman.

The cast of The Wonder Years reunited on Good Morning America.

Here's a list of the best beers of 2014 (so far).

A banana pudding donut sounds too good to be true.

The Cave Singers play Tacoma's New Frontier Lounge Sunday. Click play and go about your duties.

LINK: Original photo by Sgt. Mary Junell, 382nd Public Affairs Detachment

GRAB A CUP AND READ THE MORNING REPORT FOR 7.15.14 >>>

F-35 cleared for flight.

Lawmakers warn President Obama is shortchanging the military by calling it into action at the U.S. border without providing a boost in funding.

Cease-fire ends as Israel resumes attacks in Gaza.

Report: Benghazi suspect found dead in Libya.

89 Killed in suicide blast in east Afghanistan.

Special Forces teams have finished sizing up the Iraqi military and now await decisions on possibly moving into an advisory role.

Iraq army launches Tikrit offensive, politicians elect speaker.

Kerry: Wide gaps persist in Iran nuke talks.

Why the world's armies don't want U.S. tech anymore.

Qatar will buy U.S. Patriot missiles for the first time in a major arms deal worth $11 billion.

VA cites progress on backlog; Congress disagrees.

Sgt. Bergdahl returning to active duty with administration job.

Toward a new U.S. defense model.

Want to fix retention? Start by making the military a real meritocracy.

Researcher leading PTSD-pot study loses job.

Army Performance Triad app now available.

"Game-changing" device gets veteran back on his feet.

First, she made headlines in 2011 by taking Justin Timberlake to the Marine Corps ball. She did it again when she became a professional mixed martial arts fighter upon leaving the Corps in 2012. Now, Kelsey DeSantis has her eyes set on winning a beauty pageant.

Could Fox's Enlisted be brought back from cancellation?

Blink-182 is releasing a new album.

Watch Tacky, "Weird Al" Yankovic's parody of Happy.

Are seductive abs really worth more than Netflix?

Must-see: "Giant dead parrot unveiled in London to pay tribute to Monty Python."

Finally: 10 greatest Han Solo moments.

Hello awesome summer!

LINK: Original photo by Sgt. Logan Pierce

GRAB A CUP AND READ THE MORNING REPORT FOR 7.14.14 >>>

Ukraine accused Russian army officers of fighting alongside separatists in the east of the country and said Moscow was once more building up its troops on the joint border.

Rand Paul to Rick Perry on Iraq: Get some new glasses.

America and the A-10: It's complicated.

F-35 investigation finds no fleet-wide design flaw.

Army Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl could return to active duty as soon as today after finishing therapy and counseling at a medical center in San Antonio.

The U.S. Air Force released its Long Range Strike Bomber request for proposal to industry with a contract award expected in spring 2015.

The $10B next generation jammer on track.

Air Force office puts all military aircraft names through the wringer.

Reports: Taiwan starts using drones to spy on China.

The U.S. Coast Guard is facing a dilemma at the North Pole.

Chief of Staff of the Army Gen. Ray Odierno taps captains for talent-management ideas.

Col. Chris Toner is taking the helm of a Warrior Transition Command that is reorganizing to better serve a somewhat smaller population of wounded, ill and injured soldiers.

Keeping up with the Kardashians stars Kim, Kourtney and Khloé gave back to the Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst community during an Operation Shower event.

Why the British don't refrigerate eggs.

Biggest dome ever built.

It's so hot in Yellowstone that a road literally melted.

Every episode of South Park is streaming for free on Hulu right now.

Sounds like the next season of True Detective will have four lead roles.

Watch the trailer for Are You Here, which stars Zach Galifianakis, Amy Poehler and Owen Wilson.

"Weird Al" Yankovic is releasing one new music video every day this week.

The Flaming Lips made a crazy video with Moby and Miley Cyrus.

Finally: Star Wars-themed video featuring Neko Case, KellyHogan and Ellie Kemper

Here's your soundtrack for today ...

LINK: Original photo by Sgt. Richard Blumenstein

GRAB A CUP AND READ THE MORNING REPORT FOR 7.12.14 >>>

U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry scrambles to produce a deal today to end Afghanistan's election crisis, meeting for the second day with the country's two presidential candidates and incumbent President Hamid Karzai.

Ukrainian war planes bombarded separatists along a broad front today, inflicting huge losses.

The top U.S. commander in Europe said the DoD must reconsider the drawdown of forces following Russia's provocative actions.

Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel said Iran and Russia were helping Iraq battle a Sunni extremist insurgency but that the U.S. was not coordinating its own assistance with either country.

Rep. Peter King (R-N.Y.) warned Thursday that Sunni militants in Iraq could build a dirty bomb with uranium seized during their march on Baghdad.

Kurdish security forces took over two major oil fields outside the disputed northern city of Kirkuk before dawn Friday.

The Senate passed a bipartisan resolution aimed at altering China's behavior toward U.S. allies in the Asia-Pacific region.

Why the next great war won't happen on China's doorstep.

Two of the four U.S. deaths in Benghazi might have been prevented, military leaders say.

Hundreds of Marines set sail when the Navy's newest amphibious assault ship departed from the shipyard in Mississippi on Friday, their historic transit taking them around South America to the ship's home port in the Pacific.

12 Outstanding Airmen of the Year for 2014

Army on the hunt for new weapons.

The Selective Service System mistakenly sent notices to more than 14,000 Pennsylvania men born between 1893 and 1897.

Former Minnesota Gov. Jesse Ventura has testified he doesn't remember any confrontation with the American Sniper author who claimed to have punched out Ventura in a bar.

The Budweiser ad "Hero's Welcome," featuring a surprise homecoming parade for an Army lieutenant, has been nominated for an Emmy award for outstanding television commercial.

LeBron James has announced his decision to return to the Cleveland Cavaliers.

Angelina Jolie's newest film looks unbearably cheesy.

The worst pop culture moments in 2014 (so far).

If Google was a real guy, part 3.

Here's every Transformers robot fight scene in one video.

Clever golf trick shots activate a fun Rube Goldberg machine.

It's OK, there's no need to call PETA. The elephants are not real.

LINK: Original photo by Lance Cpl. Jose D. Lujano

California chicken producer Foster Farms is recalling an unspecified amount of its chicken products because the products may be contaminated with a strain of salmonella Heidelberg, according to a Department of Defense All Food and Drug Activity message sent July 9.

The U.S. Department of Food and Agriculture said Thursday it has found evidence directly linking Foster Farms boneless-skinless chicken breast to a case of Salmonella Heidelberg, an antibiotic-resistant strain of the disease that has sickened more than 500 people in the past 16 months and led to pressure from food safety advocates for federal action against the company.

As a result, Foster Farms issued a recall for 170 different chicken products that came from its Fresno facilities in March.

The Defense Commissary Agency has publicized this recall to all its stores. Whenever a commissary has a recalled or withdrawn product in its inventory, the product is immediately removed from store shelves.

Read more...

GRAB A CUP AND READ THE MORNING REPORT FOR 7.11.14 >>>

A rocket attack by pro-Russian rebels on a border post on Ukraine's border with Russia today may have killed as many as 30 soldiers and border guards.

A fourth day of Israeli air strikes on the Gaza Strip killed 11 more Palestinians, raising the death toll in the coastal enclave to at least 96.

Demand for Air Force spy planes, fighters and bombers from Eastern Europe to the Far East is spiking.

A U.S. Army general defended his service's decision to buy 100 Airbus UH-72 Lakota helicopters for pilot training.

A bipartisan group of lawmakers introduced a bill to help prevent veteran suicides and reform the way the Veterans Affairs Department treats those suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder. 

The nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office has released a new score for a House bill to overhaul the Veterans Affairs Department that is dramatically lower than its previous estimate.

The blaze on an F-35 Joint Strike Fighter that grounded the military's fleet might be an isolated incident, the Pentagon's chief weapons buyer told lawmakers Thursday.

Months after the Army implemented a more stringent tattoo policy, recruiters say they are the ones feeling the pinch.

The U.S. Army conducted flight testing of an unmanned airborne electronic attack capability known as NERO, or the Networked Electronic Warfare Remotely Operated.

Air Force officials announced the Total Force Commissioning Process.

The Army has started migrating all its enterprise applications and systems to designated core data centers.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is exploring the possibility of partnering with the private sector for projects involving America's waterways and ports.

The U.S. Army Criminal Investigation Command launched a new centralized recruiting program.

Lt. Gen. Patricia Horoho, Army surgeon general and commanding general of the U.S. Army Medical Command, hosted the first Army Medicine Virtual Town Hall on Facebook. 

World's first climate-controlled neighborhood to be built in Dubai.

Scientist find that 80 percent of all light in the Universe is missing.

171 reasons why the Matrix Reloaded was crap.

15 music videos filmed in one shot.

How many more Seinfeld 25th anniversary pieces do you need? The answer is actually: just this one, which lays out why Elaine Benes is a feminist icon.

OMG

LINK: Original photo by Sgt. Mary S. Katzenberger

GRAB A CUP AND READ THE MORNING REPORT FOR 7.10.14 >>>

Two different sets of fighters were possibly involved in the 2012 Benghazi, Libya, terrorist attack that killed U.S. Ambassador Christopher Stephens and three other Americans.

Under sequestration, the Pentagon faces $500 billion in cuts over the next decade.

Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel said the Sunni fundamentalist group the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS) poses a threat not just to the government in Baghdad, but to the United States as well.

Israel launches deadliest strike in three days.

Gen. John Campbell, the army's vice chief of staff and nominee to lead U.S. forces in Afghanistan, defends flawed intelligence system.

Gen. Daniel Allyn, the top general at Forces Command, has been nominated to be the next Army Vice Chief of Staff.

Army leaders, including Campbell and Odierno, have circled their wagons around the Distributed Common Ground System.

The Pentagon is finishing up a major review of its nuclear forces and Hagel will soon issue his recommendations.

U.S. Navy to Congress: We can't guarantee a safe nuclear fleet.

Teams aboard the MV Cape Ray have begun neutralizing Syrian chemical materials.

Soldiers test changes to Army's mobile network.

1st Cavalry female leads crew to historic "Top Gun" gunnery title.

Marines open infantry training to hundreds more female officers.

Why the U.S. Navy should build smaller aircraft carriers.

How hot the nation's cities will be by the year 2100 if climate change goes unchecked.

A shoulder bag cooler that can keep ice frozen for days.

Emmy Nominations 2014: The Complete list

The New York Times reviews Morrissey's latest record.

Beck has announced a Song Reader album with contributions from Jack White, Jeff Tweedy and others.

Watch the latest trailer for Terry Gilliam's new movie, Zero Theroem.

See an extended preview of Guardians of the Galaxy.

Flavorwire lists 50 essential cult novels.

Finally: Seinfeld emoji are here.

Miss the 1980s? Here you go ...

LINK: Original photo by John Clary

GRAB A CUP AND READ THE MORNING REPORT FOR 7.7.14 >>>

Israeli air strikes killed seven Hamas militants in the Gaza Strip following the kidnapping and killing of three Israeli youths and a Palestinian teen.

Ukraine to lay siege to rebel-held regional centers.

Ukraine's richest man pleads for city's safety after rebels vow to make stand.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel concerned over U.S. spy claims. 

The U.S. Defense Department is set to roll out a new R&D strategy this week.

The F-35 Joint Program Office has begun carrying out a game-changing plan for sustainment on a global scale.

U.S. Navy's cruiser problem.

Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy wants every sailor to have a tablet.

Opinion: deck stacked again women in experimental task force.

The Air Force says putting "juicy bars" off-limits has helped shut many involved with prostitution and human trafficking.

Army publishes SHARP campaign plan.

Installations to open SHARP Resource Centers.

Army moving education content to cloud for better access.

Natick investigates shelter lighting effects on soldier thinking, mood.

Veterans turning to American Legion in wake of VA scandal.

Fury, scheduled for release Nov. 14, is writer/director David Ayer's new movie about a U.S. Sherman tank mission behind German lines in April 1945.

A tantalizing brief glimpse inside Fabien Cousteau's underwater lab.

Scientists have located the brain's on/off switch for consciousness.

Neil deGrasse Tyson gives a detailed breakdown of NASCAR physics.

The science behind barbecuing.

The new Star Wars movie has picked two new actors from its open casting call.

See Kevin Smith talk about his visit to the Star Wars set.

A new book counts down Bruce Springsteen's 100 best songs.

Dude, you don't ban a kid from a restaurant for wearing a Ninja Turtles shirt.

Finally: Seinfeld breakups

No words can describe this ...

LINK: Original photo by Visual Information Specialist Markus Rauchenberger

FIREWORKS DAY, JULY 4 2014 >>>

1. Meet the Beatles! Just one month after they exploded onto the U.S. scene with their Ed Sullivan Show appearance, John, Paul, George, and Ringo began working on a project that would bring their revolutionary talent to the big screen. The Fab Four romp and smirk and sing their way through Richard Lester's exuberant 1964 film, A Hard Day's Night. The Beatles play wily, exuberant versions of themselves, captured the astonishing moment when they officially became the singular, irreverent idols of their generation and changed music forever. The film has been restored for its 50th anniversary, and screens at 2 and 6:30 p.m. at The Grand Cinema and at 6:30 p.m. at The Capitol Theater.

2. Today is national Front Yard Barbecue day. Invite the neighbors over for a front yard barbecue. And those who don't have a front yard can still use any park, plaza or public space. Last year more than 30 front yard barbecues took place in the Tacoma area. For more details, go to http://frontyardbbq.org/.

3. What would a Fourth of July celebration be without fireworks? If you said lame, you’re absolutely correct. The Freedom Fair knows this, which is why, blessed with the perfect backdrop of a Commencement Bay sky, technicians will detonate what’s being toted as the biggest fireworks show in the Northwest. The fireworks are set to start at 10:10 p.m., and every color of the rainbow will be represented. The Tacoma Freedom Fair is promising the display will shake the waterfront, the city, and beyond. It will last about 21 minutes, and the display will be synchronized to a musical score that will be pumped through every speaker along the waterfront. The music will also be simulcast on Click 98.9 FM and KLAY AM 1180 for your enjoyment. Before the fireworks, Ruston way will be full of live entertainment will run all day on five stages, including the Back to Beale Street Blues Competition, air show, food and silliness.

4. The 2014 Joint Base Lewis-McChord Freedom Fest continues its annual tradition of delighting and entertaining families from all around the region. The general public is cordially invited to join the JBLM community from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. for an all-day, all-evening holiday celebration like no other. Held on base at Cowan and Memorial Stadiums, the festival will feature live entertainment, aerial demonstrations, military displays, carnival rides, a car show, food, games and a spectacular Fourth of July fireworks show starting about 10 p.m. to cap off the evening.

5. B-Lines are very much not in the mood for fancy-pants subgenre naval-gazing. No hifalutin descriptors; just "stupid punk" emblazoned on their page. One thing does pop up, though: they refer to one of their albums as "post-proto-hardcore," a designation so colossal in its meaninglessness that it approaches the sublime. There needn't be much attention paid to pitches and press kits with B-Lines, however, because the music speaks for itself in furious volumes. Their most recent 12", Opening Band, is a quick burst of nine songs, just barely passing the 15-minute mark. Along the way, B-Lines are steadfast in their desire to get in and out with as much tuneful efficiency as possible. Even their name - B-Lines - is evocative of the breakneck rush they're in to get from A to B, completely waving off the possibility of a C. Read Rev. Adam McKinney's full feature on the B-Lines in the Music & Culture section., then catch the band with No Body and Arc Ov Light at 8 p.m. in Olympia's all-ages club Northern.

LINK: Friday, July 4 arts and entertainment events in the greater Tacoma and Olympia area