WHAT WE HAVE FOUND TODAY >>>

Vote: Today.

Honored: Flags will be lowered today in honor of Tacoman Sgt. Alexander J. Bennett who was killed in Afghanistan. (News Tribune) 

Rick Perry: Bill Clinton thinks he's a good looking rascal. (Politicker)

One Step Closer: Those nutty Portland residents want to share their bicycles. (The Oregonian)

The Most Sensational Inspirational Celebrational Muppetational Album: Andrew Bird, OK Go, Weezer, My Morning Jacket and others cover The Muppets. (NPR)

Awesome: The Real Housewives are going on tour. (TVGuide)

Next Step: The first concert to use only mobile ticketing. (Denver Post)

For Gawd's Sake Don't Let Her Drive Alone!

GOTSA TO HAVE MORE BELL >>>

The Harmon group in Tacoma is feeding 60 soldiers from the 1st Special Forces Group, along with their spouses. Not only will dinner and beer be provided, but also each Soldier will be receiving a dozen roses to give to their loved one. Finishing the night in style, each couple will be a guests aboard a sunset cruise from Commencement Bay to Gig Harbor.

That's awesome.

Pat Nagle, co-owner, says the event is filled with soldiers who have just come back from deployment, or are getting ready to leave.

For those interested in donating, visit their Tacoma locations; The Harmon Hub located at 203 Tacoma Ave, the Harmon Brewery & Eatery at 1938 Pacific Ave., and The Tap Room, at 204 St. Helens. Those who donate will be given a voucher for the restaurant, like a free appetizer.

If you donate at The Hub, a staff member will ring a bell followed by cheers from the entire staff.

The dinner will take place at their Tap Room location, July 28, from 1 to 4:30 pm. For more information, visit harmonbrewingco.com/.

On behalf of the Weekly Volcano and Swarner Communications, I'd like to extend special prayers and thanks for those who died serving our country, and those brave soldiers, and their families, who still serve.

For a list of local Memorial Day events, visit the Northwest Military website.

SATURDAY, MAY 21, 2011 >>>

1. Brownie Morrison novelty store focuses on the wackiest and weirdest of pop-culture merchandising, and that's a whole lot more fun than a drinking mug shaped like a breast. A recent visit turned up Really Positive Energy Breathspray, "Sometimes I love you so much I want to cry and rub margarine all over my gums" greeting cards, and Ken dolls having fun in cars. Even if you don't buy a thing, just walking around the store is a blast. From noon to 5 p.m. Brownie Morrison celebrates its new location at 2913 S. 38^th St. with a grand opening party featuring a Flying Monkey giveaway every 20 minutes.

2. As the major military installation in the Tacoma/Lakewood area, Joint Base Lewis-McChord will celebrate Armed Forces Day from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. at Cowan and Memorial Stadiums on Lewis Main. Highlighting the celebration will be military displays, historical re-enactors, carnival rides and the emotionally moving Massing of the Color Ceremony. The public is cordially invited; admission is free.  To enter JBLM, visitors must use Interstate 5, Exit 119. Parking and shuttle services will be available.

3. There is no formula for creating an iconic image of an age or event. Certain images simply touch a nerve. Such is the case with Norman Rockwell's painting of 6-year-old Ruby Bridges being escorted by U.S. marshals into William Frantz Public School in New Orleans in 1960. It was not the first school to be desegregated, nor the most famous (that honor belongs to Central High School in Little Rock, Ark., in 1957), but Rockwell's painting stands as a major icon of the civil rights movement. And the little girl, now almost 60 years old, remains a civil rights activist. At 2 p.m., Bridges will be at Philip Hall on the University of Washington-Tacoma campus ($5-$15) to share her story about those tumultuous times. To read up on Bridges and the Norman Rockwell show at the Tacoma Art Museum, click here.

4. Some otherwise normal folks harbor a deep knot of fear in their souls: They're petrified of yoga. If this is you, we suggest you head over to the University Place Library at 3 p.m. and listen to author Claire Dederer discuss her new book Poser: My Life in Twenty-Three Yoga Poses.

5. The Comedy Underground presents funny guy Gabriel Rutledge at 8:30 and 10:30 p.m. in the basement of the Big Whisky Saloon.

PLUS: The Whiz: Cascadia and Dockyard Derby Dames bout go down today. More details on these two events in our Weekend Hustle.

LINK: More arts and events in the South Sound

LINK: Wine tastings!

DONATE TO A LOCAL CHARITY >>>

There's no better way to support your community than supporting your neighbors in need, especially during the holiday season. We'll feature local charities on Spew throughout this holiday season with links to donate your money, supplies and time.

Give the karmic wheel a spin for today's charity focus:

Fisher House

9999 Wilson Ave., JBLM
253.964.9283.

"I came here because I wanted to serve my community," said Nikki Wasierski, operations assistant for the Joint Base Lewis-McChord (JBLM) Fisher House. "I wanted to do something that makes a difference, and being here I know that I am."

A volunteer at the house for over a year before assuming her present position, Wasierski is clear about the importance of the house and its impact on the family members of soldiers.

"What we do here for families is important; we are more than just a hotel," continued Wasierski. "We are a community, and being here we help families who are with people who understand them."

The Fisher House at JBLM opened 18 years ago.  It is "a home away from home" for families of patients receiving medical care at the Madigan Army Medical Center and the Veterans Administration (VA) Hospital at American Lake.

Overseen by the Fisher House Foundation begun by Zachary and Elizabeth Fisher, the JBLM Fisher House is approximately one-half mile from Madigan at 9999 Wilson Ave.

During fiscal year 2009, the house served 122 families.  Approximately one-quarter of those families' members had combat injury related loved ones at Madigan.

Professionally decorated with a Pacific Northwest theme, the house has seven rooms available.  Families use a common kitchen, laundry facility, dining room and a living room with library.

The average stay is 20 days.  In addition to the families staying at the Fisher House, 15 to 20 other families per month are accommodated at various local lodging facilities.

The Fisher House Foundation pays for all room fees for guest families.

Charitable contributions are vital to JBLM's Fisher House.

"Donations make it possible for us to not charge fees and provide for the house," said Wasierski.

LINK: Fisher House's Holiday Wish List

LINK: Donate to the Fisher House

LINK: Volunteer at the Fisher House

Previous Mistledole charities

• Tacoma Community House
• Lindquist Dental Clinic for Children
• Olive Crest
• Emergency Food Network
• Catherine Place
• Mary Bridge Children's Foundation
• United Way/Project:U
• Santa Silvia/Mary Bridge
• Thurston County Food Bank

WE REMEMBER >>>

On behalf of Swarner Communications, I would like to thank all veterans of all wars who fought in the service of the United States. To all of you, and especially to those who died fighting for our country, you are remembered and honored.

For stories and events centered on Veterans Day, please check out northwestmilitary.com.

MONDAY, SEPT. 13, 2010 >>>

1. Beyond The Bridge Café hosts Noah Gunderson & The Courage, Robert DeLong and Luke Stevens – presented by the Warehouse folks – at 7:30 p.m.

2. Gate admission to the Puyallup Fair is free today for active, reserve, and retired military and their dependents, and disabled veterans. The gates open at 10 a.m.

3. The North End Neighborhood Council invites the public to attend its annual candidate forum at 6 p.m. inside the Student Union Building Rotunda on the University of Puget Sound campus. Invited candidates include: State Representative candidates Jon Cronk, Jeannie Darneille, Jake Fey, Janice Gbalah, Jon Higley, Laurie Jinkins, Ken Nichols and Jessica Smeall; County Prosecutor candidates Bertha Fitzer and Mark Lindquist; Court of Appeals candidates Marywave VanDeren and Lisa Worswick; District Court candidates Lance Hester, Kevin McCann, Claire Sussman and Karl Williams.

4. The Graphic Novel Book Club meets at 7 p.m. inside the 1022 South lounge to discuss The Girl from H.O.P.P.E.R.S. by Jaime Hernandez over cocktails.

5. The 7 On 7 band performs at 8 p.m. inside The Swiss.

LINK: More arts and entertainment events in the South Sound

WHAT WE HAVE FOUND TODAY >>>

Who Knew?: A woman dies after she receives lungs from a 30-year smoker.

A sign?: A 62-foot-tall, $250,000 statue of Jesus outside of Cincinnati, Ohio, was struck by lightening last night and burned to the ground.

Gen. David Petraeus passes out in the middle of a Senate hearing. We would too.

Californian construction worker Gary Brooks Faulkner, 52, traveled to Pakistan with night-vision goggles, a pistol and a 40-inch sword to kill Osama bin Laden. He was detained by Pakistani authorities on Sunday, but suspiciously allowed on an American flight.

Hate the constant humming while watching the World Cup? It's just vuvuzelas, you're not going insane. Get an anti-vuvuzela filter to cancel out the noise.

NASA says a massive storm of solar flares will hit around 2013, which could fuck up a lot of electronics.

WHAT WE HAVE FOUND TODAY >>>

Iranian officials report that three American hikers accused of being "spies" after wandering into Iran last year may be swapped with Iranian prisoners. Why couldn't they have just hiked the Pacific Crest Trail trial like normal hippies?

Fifty-seven new mummy tombs were found in Egypt.

A 53-year-old Chinese computer science professor has been jailed for three and a half years for holding orgies.

Creativity linked to mental health

Bill Clinton got rear-ended.

South Korean President Lee Myung-bak declared strong retaliatory measures today against North Korea for torpedoing a navy ship. This can't turn out well.

A shoplifter gets life in prison for flashing his gun at Walmart.

It is possible for a man of vision to break a board over his head:

WHAT WE HAVE FOUND TODAY >>>

Could parachute-wearing bears sniff out Osama bin Laden?

Today in 1999 the U.S. Department of the Interior listed nine salmon species as endangered, which impacted many people in the Northwest.

Don't feed those babies just to shut them up. A Penn State prof says the practice may increase the likelihood of your youngster becoming overweight or obese later in life.

Fearless Felix is back for his most daring plunge ever.