MARILYN STRICKLAND: DEMOCRATIC CONVENTION, AUG. 25 11:30 A.M. >>>

Kraft kills it a donkey head and 580 grams of sodium per serving.

“I've attended many conventions, and always look forward to the canvas bag each attendee receives after registration,” says Strickland. “The 2008 Democratic Convention earns a B+ for this year's bag of goodies.”

Beyond the usual pens, notepads and other swag, delegates received:

• A checkbook sized emergency radio with headphones
• Two bottles of energy drinks
• A pedometer

“My favorite item, however, is the box of Kraft Macaroni and Cheese, the ‘Limited Convention Edition’, complete with an illustration of a donkey holding a sign,” explains Strickland. “The back of the box has a brief history of the Democratic Party and four trivia questions.  The pasta is shaped like donkeys and stars.  This box of goodness is coming home with me.  It will sit in my cupboard indefinitely like a box of Wheaties with Michael Jordan's image on the front. Here's my question:  What dry goods would the other political parties include in their swag bags?”

MARYLIN STRICKLAND: DEMOCRATIC CONVENTION, AUG. 24, 7:11 A.M. >>>

Howard Dean rolled in to address the Washington delegation, saying the election will be won on the ground, and that the Dems aim to turn Eastern Washington “blue” this year.

MICHAEL SWAN: INTERVIEW WITH KAREN PICKETT >>>

The Town of Ruston is in turmoil. They don’t have a mayor. Mayor Bob Everding resigned Monday. They don’t want more bureaucracy. With the next 2008 primary election update to hit the Pierce County Auditors’ Web site at 5 p.m. tonight, the vote to transfer the Town of Ruston’s executive power to an administrator stands at 92 against the change, 69 for it.

In order to clear up some confusion Ruston resident Karen Pickett, who wrote the “no” statement in the Voter’s Guide, answered a few of the Weekly Volcano’s questions.

WEEKLY VOLCANO: If the ballot measure to change the town’s form of government and hire a full-time administrator ends up failing, how do you expect the Town Council â€" who obviously support the change â€" to react?

KAREN PICKETT: I'm not sure. There has been some recent distention among the council majority over the Point Ruston development â€" with the potential for bridges being burned that will impact other issues. The Ruston Connection group â€" Everding is one of the leaders of this advocacy group â€" have lost control of the council, at least on this issue. That was the reason given for Everding's resignation by Councilmember Albertson. This new majority may be willing to seat a mayor who is more moderate â€" at least I am hoping so. But we're running out of qualified people who are willing to serve with the current tension.

The council won't have any choice but to appoint someone. They may not be happy about it, but hopefully they open it up for applications this time and see who is willing to be considered.

VOLCANO: Did the resignation of Everding have any impact on the way people voted, in your opinion? Did his resignation have anything to do with Ruston's attempt to change forms of government?

PICKETT: My first reaction was to think the timing was related to the election. It would show the town is in disarray and we really needed a professional to rescue us. Councilmember Hunt mentioned at the last meeting that he resigned a week early, so his stepping down may have been planned all along.

It may have swayed a few votes â€" along with the Tribune's editorial endorsement â€" but in the end the margin is enough that it did not change the outcome.

On a side note, some are predicting the council will hire a town administrator now â€" and either Bob Everding or his wife, Sally, will be selected. I think it’s a long shot, but who knows around here?

VOLCANO: While Ruston residents watch and wait, Councilman Bradley Huson is serving mayor pro tem.  Stay tuned.

MICHEAL SWAN: WEEKLY VOLCANO’S MUDROOM >>>

Today, while you eagerly count the hours until the start of Showcase Tacoma tomorrow, your best course of karmic action is to spin around and tap your ruby heels together three times and with the Helio Sequence blasting in your iPod exclaim there's no place like Tacoma … there’s no place like Tacoma:

ICE ABUSE MAY EXISTS: Abuse at the Northwest Detention Center

RADIO8BALL SHAKEN: Andras Jones and Tammy T in court

SHOWCASE TACOMA MUSIC: Interview with the Helio Sequence

SHOWCASE TACOMA ART: Paul Schrag looks at the knit-in and more

THE METER: Above average week in Pierce County

MICHAEL SWAN: WEEKLY VOLCANO'S MUDROOM >>>

Today, while hanging out with fellow Tacoma Farmers Market enthusiasts in downtown Tacoma, your best course of karmic action is to spin around and tap your ruby heels together three times and with your hand shoved in Charlie Milligan’s face exclaim there's no place like the South Sound … there’s no place like the South Sound:

BEST OF TACOMA: Our yearly Best of Tacoma issue, in which your humble and helpful Weekly Volcano staffers show some love for all the things that make the City of Destiny so nifty, hit the streets today. It’s stuffed inside the Weekly Volcano. It will appear on our Web site next week.

FOREMOST FOREIGN: Milk building does a city good.

PANHANDLING FIGHT: Pierce County Council set to square off against panhandling.

NUMBERED SPACES: A lot of negative crap went down this week.

RON SWARNER: CH-CH-CH-CHANGES >>>

Big changes at the The News Tribune:

Last week the paper’s online editor Mark Briggs announced his departure for his own online venture.

Today, the Trib’s food critic Ed Murietta announced he’s leaving for his own online venture.

Next, The McClatchy Company promoted the Trib’s editor David Zeeck to run the business side as president and publisher.

Last, McClatchy asked the Weekly Volcano to be their best friend. We respectively declined.

MICHAEL SWAN: ALTERNET'S WEEKLY ZEITGEIST LIST >>>

A pilot feature of AlterNet on key questions of the day â€" is Obama really tacking to the center, and why gas is so damn pricey. Check it out here.

BRAD ALLEN: NOT KISSING ON THE DOCK BY THE BAY >>>

The City’s Public Works Department will put a crimp on my love life when they close the Old Town Dock due to constructional concerns tomorrow. No more late-night kisses under the stars.

After a visual inspection Public Works will close the dock to the public and make “its use limited to special events and emergency police, Coast Guard and fire operations only beginning July 11.”

Crap.

LINK: Old Town Dock photo and history
LINK: Where I'm moving my operation

MICHAEL SWAN: WEEKLY VOLCANO'S MUDROOM >>>

Here are a few news stories in today's Weekly Volcano without a pirate in sight:

COMMUNITY BASED SERVICES: Community policing and cleanup efforts look great … on the surface.

NORTHWEST DETENTION CENTER: More immigrants are headed our way.

HOMOPHOBES?: Pierce County Council turns cheek to gay community.

NUMBERED SPACES: It was rockin’ good in Pierce County last week.

JOHN HERBERT: SIRIUS ESTATE GROUP PULLS OUT >>>

Dan Voelpel reports on The News Tribune's Biz Buzz blog that Sirius Estate Group will not purchase the the historic Tacoma Elks Temple that sits at 565 Broadway. They pulled out due to financial reasons.

Sirius announced its intention to explore options to purchase (…sorry, that’s how real estate people talk…) the building from owners Williams & Dame, a Portland-based developer that purchased the building last year. Williams & Dame put the troubled building back on the market recently, with officials citing financing troubles.

I still think Sirius will trumpet plans to move forward with the project, with a shocking surprise twist. Sirius will reveal plans to renovate the Elks Temple as a transportation hub and office complex. Adjacent lots included in the deal will house a six-story apartment complex, intended to house former residents of the Winthrop Apartments, and a new Tacoma Police substation.

“We needed a well-financed California developer and a local powerhouse to help distribute the risk on this project,” Sirius officials will announce. “This partnership will put most of the ‘bus people’ and ‘Winthrop people’ in one location, with Tacoma law enforcement as neighbors.”

Sirius also will unveil a study indicating that the plan will result in a 59 percent reduction in ‘ickiness’ and ‘tomfoolery’ downtown.

Just saying.

LINK: The Biz Buzz