WHAT WE HAVE FOUND TODAY >>>

Actor Larry Manetti is 63.

>>> SOUTH SOUND SPECIFIC

Fort Nisqually was the first European settlement on Puget Sound. The Hudson's Bay Company (HBC) of London, a vast fur trading enterprise chartered by King Charles of England in 1670, established it in 1833. The original site was on the beach and plains above the Nisqually River delta in the present town of DuPont, Washington. Today Fort Nisqually, including two of the original buildings, is located inside Tacoma's Point Defiance Park. Fort Nisqually is owned and operated as a Living History Museum by Metro Parks of Tacoma, which hosts a 19^th Century Fun Night tonight. (Thanks Metro Parks)

>>> WORD OF THE DAY

velutinous [ve-'loot-en-us] adjective [From New Latin veluthnus, from Medieval Latin velutum, velvet, from Vulgar Latin villutus.]

Covered with dense, soft, silky hairs; velvety, velvetlike

Usage example: Legislative candidate Doug Richards wiped his brow with his velutinous forearm, distraught over his past mistakes, but continued to pray to the velutinous beast of wisdom and caring.

>>> DID YOU READ THIS?

TIME MAGAZINBE REPORTS: "On the evening of July 21, the president of Argentina, Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner, convened a ceremony at the Casa Rosada government house in downtown Buenos Aires to formally sign into law a bill legalizing gay marriage. The measure, narrowly passed by the Argentine Congress on July 15, was no small leap for the land of the laconic gaucho cowboy, a place whose Constitution required the head of the Argentine state to be Catholic until a 1994 reform."

The news sent protests through neighboring Uruguay, well, mostly among exceptionally uptight fear-drunk Uruguayans who have desperately warped and straightjackeded ideas of what love truly means and who can't sleep at night without at least four Valium and a dozen deep sniffs of rubber cement and the soothing voice of Dr. Maria - the Dr. Laura of Uruguay - on looped tape.

>>> NEWS TO US

The Senate passed a $60 billion bill to fund President Obama's Afghanistan troop surge.

Everything is going to be OK! Apple unveiled a free case for iPhone 4s today.

Some haters crashed the Comic-con. Dude, that's lame.

Morning Spew posts every Monday, Wednesday and Friday on this blog. Sometimes, it even posts in the morning.

Meet Christophe of Hilltopia. He just joined our Community. Neat.

WHAT WE HAVE FOUND TODAY >>>

Comedian Jon Lovitz is 53.

>>> SOUTH SOUND SPECIFIC

Ezra Meeker, the man who founded Puyallup, died on December 3, 1928, in room 412 of the Frye Hotel in Seattle. He was 27 days shy of his 98th birthday. The Seattle Post-Intelligencer reported that as he lay dying, two chartered airplanes flew above the Frye loaded with coastal rhododendrons, Washington's state flower. As the planes soared over the hotel they "dipped their wings in salute and the pilots released their blossoms, which showered the hotel and the crowds in nearby streets." (Thanks HistoryLink)

>>> WORD OF THE DAY

terete \te-'ret\ adjective [L teret-, teres well turned, rounded; akin to L terere to rub] (ca. 1619)

Approximately round or cylindrical but usually tapering at both ends

Usage example: "If you look closely, which you probably shouldn't get so close, you'll notice that Mel Gibson's head is ever so slightly terete in shape, due to the amazing proliferation of bizarre worm-like creatures growing in his alienesque skull."

>>> DID YOU READ THIS?

RAPID CITY JOURNAL REPORTS: A member of the South Dakota Game, Fish & Parks Commission has resigned. Merton Clarkson of Ludlow served on the commission since April 2003. Gov. Mike Rounds announced Monday that he accepted Clarkson's resignation with regret. Clarkson cited personal reasons.

It's the Weekly Volcano's guess that Clarkson left South Dakota in search for better pay and a change, a fact which should probably cause no reaction in anyone reading this because after all, it's South Dakota, and unless you're deeply into farming there's no real reason to stick around when you could be headin' out for the wild crazy states of Iowa and Nebraska, where the real action is, because they have like, a Starbucks and stuff.

>>> NEWS TO US

Kick ass at Rock Paper Scissors.

Today in most massive star, like, eva.

Playboy launches a non-nude website for guys who are afraid of boobies.

Morning Spew posts every Monday, Wednesday and Friday on this blog. Sometimes, it even posts in the morning.

Hug us on Facebook. Follow us on Twitter. Or just join the discussion in our Community.

WHAT WE HAVE FOUND TODAY >>>

Singer-bassist Alan Gorrie of Average White Band is 64.

>>> SOUTH SOUND SPECIFIC

Northern Pacific Railroad Company and Tacoma Land Company originally intended for the Stadium High School building to be one of the finest luxury hotels on the Pacific Coast. In 1890 they purchased a nine-acre tract of land on the bluff overlooking Commencement Bay; architectural firm Hewitt and Hewitt of Philadelphia designed it in a French Renaissance architectural style. Construction of the hotel began in 1891, but two years later was halted due to a national financial depression. A special election to turn the building into a school passed in 1904, and the project was completed a few years later at a cost of approximately $500,000. Stadium High School opened at the spot in 1906.

>>> TODAY'S WORD

tokonoma \'to-ke-"no-me\ noun [Jp] (1871)

A niche or alcove in the wall of a Japanese house for the display of a decorative object

Usage example: "In my tokonoma is a display of commemorative bongs from around the world I have collected over the years," Paris Hilton might have giggled, shocking no one.

>>> STORY PICK OF THE DAY

CBC NEWS REPORTS: "People in Red Deer, Alta., want the city to move, rather than kill, beavers that have attacked at least six dogs in an off-leash park. Six beaver attacks in the last two weeks have been confirmed at Three Mile Bend, an off-leash park in the central Alberta city. A husky died of its injuries, while other dogs are recovering from their tangles with the rodents."

"Indeed a worthy topic but did you really think I'd be drawn to the idea of torturing my endlessly whipsawed synapses for endless minutes trying to conjure something remotely amusing or wry to say about beavers attacking dogs in Canada," Weekly Volcano scribe Michael Swan said aloud to no one in particular. "Bullying is not a funny subject."

>>> NEWS TO US

China is now the world's biggest energy consumer, kicking the United State off the top spot it held for more than a century.

The Tea Party has actually agreed on something firing founding member Mark Williams after a blog post they say is racist.

Tiny hotel rooms are awesome.

Morning Spew posts every Monday, Wednesday and Friday on this blog. Sometimes, it even posts in the morning.

Hey kids! Do you like to party? Then join us Wednesday, July 28 at our Best of Tacoma Premiere Party at Masa.

WHAT WE HAVE FOUND TODAY >>>

Singer-comedian Kyle Gass of Tenacious D is 50.

>>> SOUTH SOUND SPECIFIC

Tacoman Ben Gilbert died at age 89 on Feb. 28, 2007. He served 18 years on the City's Landmark Commission, as well as a director of the City Club. In his retirement years he was a civic activist fighting for historic preservation. The Tacoma Daily Index has more information on Gilbert and the mural that now graces the park named after him. Read it here.

>>> TODAY'S WORD

Momus \'mo-mes\ noun [L, fr. Gk Momos]

The Greek god of censure and mockery

Usage example: "And then the great God Momus came down and smote the inventor of the Footlong Cheeseburger, in the form of his own clogged heart pounding him into his own grave.

>>> STORY PICK OF THE DAY

FOX NEWS REPORTS: "The U.S. Department of Transportation has analyzed dozens of data recorders from Toyota Motor Corp. vehicles involved in accidents blamed on sudden acceleration and found that the throttles were wide open and the brakes weren't engaged at the time of the crash, people familiar with the findings said.

The early results suggest that some drivers who said their Toyotas and Lexuses surged out of control were mistakenly flooring the accelerator when they intended to jam on the brakes."

"OK, OK, I might have mixed Vicodin and red wine before driving. Plus there's the whole sex/Vicodin thing - shhh," said one driver who initially complained about the failed brakes.

>>> NEWS TO US

MTV is bringing back Beavis and Butt-head.

After aggressively attacking each other in the media, teen role models Levi Johnston and Bristol Palin have out of nowhere gotten engaged. Ah, that's sweet.

Unintentionally funny infomercial of the day.

Morning Spew posts every Monday, Wednesday and Friday on this blog. Sometimes, it even posts in the morning.

THINGS WE HAVE FOUND TODAY >>>

Actress Cheryl Ladd is 59 today.

>>> SOUTH SOUND SPECIFIC

Tacoma's first permanent settler was Job Carr, who built the first house - a log cabin - near the beach between where Carr and McCarver streets are now in Old Tacoma in 1865. The Pioneer Day Festival & Living-History Walking Tour will be held Sunday, July 18, 1-5 p.m. at the Job Carr Museum in Old Town. It's presented by the Tacoma Historical Society.

>>> TODAY'S WORD

celadon \'se-le-'dan\ noun [F celadon] (ca. 1768)

1) A pale grayish yellow green

2) A ceramic glaze originated in China that is greenish in color; also: an article with a celadon glaze

Usage example: "Indeed, Afghanistan's Taliban terrorists have skin that's sallow celadon in color, until they get all excited training monkeys to shoot AK-47s and their skin turns a gleeful brownish-pink."

>>> NEWS TO US

The story of humans turning into goats turned out to be not true. Drats.

The Barefoot Bandit is captured.

It's Richard Simmons' birthday. If he's told you once ...

Morning Spew posts every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday on this blog. Sometimes, it even posts in the morning.

GORILLA PRODUCTIONS VS. GIRL TROUBLE UPDATE >>>

As we have been since the very beginning, the Weekly Volcano is continuing to follow the ongoing court battle between Ohio-based Gorilla Productions and local rock heroes Girl Trouble. If you've been following along with us, you already know Girl Trouble, and most specifically drummer Bon Von Wheelie, has been sued for damages in excess of $25,000 because of a Web site she owns and maintains, neverpaytoplay.com.

It's a very interesting case, even if you're not a longtime fan of Tacoma's most quintessential band of the last 25 years. At its base, it revolves around what a person can post on the Internet, what an aging garage band from Tacoma can say about a production company like Gorilla, and what's free speech.

Turns out, if Gorilla's assessment of the law is correct, you may not be able to say as much as you think - at least if its critical of the way the company does business.

For background information, check out the Volcano's original story on the lawsuit here. For links to all of our coverage, scroll to the bottom of this post.

After catching up with Girl Trouble's lawyer, Wade Neal of Seaweed fame, late last week, today I caught up with Von Wheelie to get her take on the lawsuit - which has been extremely stressful for her, not to mention financially costly. However, in the end it has only seemed to strengthen her resolve about what things in life are worth fighting for.

Read more...

WHAT WE HAVE FOUND TODAY >>>

Courtney Love is 46 today.

>>> SOUTH SOUND SPECIFIC

Lacey was originally called Woodland after settlers Isaac and Catherine Wood, who claimed land there in 1853. The small settlements of Woodland and Chambers Creek consolidated into Lacey in the 1950s. Renamed for attorney and developer O.C. Lacey, the city of Lacey was officially incorporated on December 5, 1966.

>>> TODAY'S WORD

beshrew (bi-'shroo) verb transitive - beshrewed, beshrewing, beshrews. Archaic. [Middle English bishrewen : bi-, be- + shrew, wicked person]

To invoke evil upon; curse.

Usage example: "Glenn Beck cannot be disturbed until he has completed his morning blood-letting rituals, Bill O'Reilly-fantasy lucid-dreaming practice, and his daily beshrewing of women."

Read more...

FUTURE THINGS ARE NOT COMING >>>

The Tacoma Third Thursday Artwalk ART BUS has been canceled for July.

"Due to so many back to back Speakeasy Arts Cooperative related events this spring and summer we decided to hold off the July ART BUS until August to ensure the maximum participation and energy," states ART BUS organizer Angela Jossy. "News on the August ART BUS will come soon. We have a great one planned with a few surprises including a special guest tour guide."

LINK: Previously on Spew

WHAT WE HAVE FOUND TODAY >>>

Ringo Starr is 70 today.

>>> SOUTH SOUND SPECIFIC

Lakewood was called The Prairie in the beginning - an expanse of land about 20 miles square, dotted with small lakes and occasional stands of Garry oak trees. Steilacoom and Nisqually Indians used the Prairie as a ready source of food and held gatherings before the advent of the white hunters, trappers and settlers. (Lakewood Historical Society)

>>> TODAY'S WORD

cynanthropy \si-naen'-thre-pi\ noun

Form of insanity in which patient has delusions of being a dog.

Usage example: "I was all like, dude! Can you turn off that awful LeBron James bullshit? I'll bark like a dog!" Susan didn't giggle, cynanthropically.

>>> NEWS TO US

Prince jumps into a hot tub time machine, declares the Internet "completely over."

Bruce Willis debuts "the manliest scent in the world."

Your mullet is officially illegal.

Morning Spew posts every Monday, Wednesday and Friday on this blog. Sometimes, it even posts in the morning.

Join the Weekly Volcano community today while you shove ice down your pants.

WHAT WE HAVE FOUND TODAY >>>

Huey Lewis is 59 today.

>>> SOUTH SOUND SPECIFIC

Steilacoom was the site of many firsts: The first incorporated community in Washington Territory; the first brick building north of the Columbia River (which was also the first jail in Pierce County); the first Protestant church building; the first school in Pierce County; the first official U.S. presence in Washington Territory (Fort Steilacoom, now located within the boundaries of Lakewood); the first public lending library in Washington Territory

>>> TODAY'S WORD

gambol \'gam-bel\ verb intransitive (1508)

To skip about in play: frisk, frolic

Usage example: "I tell ya, it's like the Microsoft engineers and executives are just gambolling around, racing golf carts on their Redmond campus, searching for jobs on Google. And I can't reach anyone there on my Kin, too."

>>> STORY PICK OF THE DAY

Science Daily reports: "Researchers from the University of Auckland, New Zealand, have discovered that a potent new drug restores hearing after noise-induced hearing loss in rats. The landmark discovery found that injection of an agent called ‘ADAC', activates adenosine receptors in cochlear tissues, resulting in recovery of hearing function."

This glorious news will be shouted by parents – standing at the top of their basement stairs – AT their grown sons, who will briefly stop creating their iPod party mix of ‘80s hair band anthems, and annoyingly reply, "WHAT?!"

>>> NEWS TO US

Somali Pirates strike again.

Yummy "occult jam" was made with Princess Di's hair.

Colorado woman blames car crash on a vampire.

Morning Spew posts every Monday, Wednesday and Friday on this blog. Sometimes, it even posts in the morning. Nice.

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