ALL FIVE PEACE ACTIVISTS FOUND GUILTY THIS WEEK >>>

Five peace activists, including an 83-year-old nun and an 81-year-old Jesuit, were found guilty this week of a range of crimes after breaking into a nuclear storage facility in Silverdale, Wash. Anne Montgomery, 83, a Sacred Heart sister from New York; Father Bill Bichsel, SJ, 81, a Jesuit priest from Tacoma Washington; Susan Crane, 67, a member of the Jonah House community in Baltimore, Maryland; Lynne Greenwald, 60, a nurse from Bremerton Washington; and Father Steve Kelly, SJ, 60, a Jesuit priest from Oakland California will be sentenced in March.

LINK: The story of these activists was featured in the Weekly Volcano in November.

LINK: An post-conviction update, with quotes from Father Bill Bichsel

AS SEEN IN THE WEEKLY VOLCANO >>>

A few weeks ago the Volcano's Kristin Kendle provided readers the lowdown on the new public art installation next to Pacific Plaza -- Projecting Drop, by Canadian artist Jill Anholt. If you happened to miss the article, click here and see what's up.

This Thursday, Dec. 16, from 4:30 - 6 p.m., there willbe a dedication ceremony for Projecting Drop, including Tacoma mayor Marilyn Strickland and the Tacoma Arts Commission.

Here's the lowdown from this morning's press release:

Read more...

FOLLOW THE CARP >>>

Last week we published an article about the current funding threat to the Pierce Conservation District - largely due to a lawsuit concerning the legality of the assessment fee used to fund the district. While our article focused on what the potential damage to Pierce Conservation District would mean for our community and whether or not it will occur, some of you emailed us wanting to know more about the actual lawsuit that has led to this domino effect. It is a class action lawsuit contending that the property levy collected by both Pierce and King County's Conservation Districts are illegal. The group responsible for the lawsuit, and others like it, is Citizens Alliance for Property Rights (CARP) - a conservative group based in King County.

For the full scoop on CARP and this lawsuit check out this Blogging Georgetown post. They have been following CARP and the King County Conservation District for some time.

RAGELESS IN SEATTLE >>>

Times are tough.  The Weekly Volcano can't dispatch correspondents across the country at the drop of a hat.  But much like Jon Stewart's Daily Show, which routinely employs greenscreen to fake stand-up news reports from overseas, WV editor Matt Driscoll can, just barely, afford to send me to Seattle.

A Maple Valley building inspector named Jim Baum and Marjorie Osterhout, a Madrona mom, organized the satellite Rally to Restore Sanity event as a nonpartisan street party Saturday morning.  It's hard to gauge numbers from a scattered crowd whispering in unison, but my hunch gibes with news reports that enumerated our attendance in the low thousands.  What those reports don't convey is how much fun it all was, at least till the weather collapsed halfway through.

To put it baldly, this was an event for which ambivalent voters assembled to watch TV in unison; what we saw was a silly impersonation of Glenn Beck's knuckleheaded misappropriation of a civil rights march.  It'd be easy to dismiss the gathering as a jokey pep rally for Democrats, but what of matching events in red cities like Kansas City and Boise?  Looking around at a crowd of Tully's latte drinkers in red, white, and blue, I'd be hard pressed to predict who'd be voting for whom-only that we will be voting, and that we hate negative campaign ads and robo-calls.  Organizers handed out dozens of free signs urging "THINK FOR YOURSELF" with what I'm guessing was intentional irony.

Westlake Center was full by 9 a.m.  Hipster grannies bopped in place to the Beasties' "So What'cha Want."  Apparently folks thought there'd be a prize for Most Dispassionate Sign; my favorites included the aforementioned "Rageless in Seattle," "CHILL," "Too Poor to Buy a Politican," "I'm for the Separation of Church + Hate," "I Don't Really Have a Political Message So I Drew a Bunny," and "Bring Back Crystal Pepsi!"  The first cheer of the day was earned by Journey's "Don't Stop Believin'," but that felt less like a Clinton campaign moment and more like a shout-out to Glee.  Perhaps the dominant symbols of the morning were joyfully waved American flags and dozens of yellow balloons reading simply, "Enough."

Dave Ross of KIRO, David Crowe, and Kermit Apio were the standouts among half a dozen local comedians.  Ross led the crowd in a whispered chant of "Take ... it ... down," the "it" in question being the volume, for once, rather than the system.  "I can hear you!" he chided.  "We think it's time for people who make the most sense to make the most noise," he explained, "provided we don't do it in Belltown after 10 p.m."

Of course, we were in King County, where gay marriage and legalized pot are conventional ideas, but in general, no one wanted to root for any particular stance.  One could feel the crowd's energy flagging when Rep. Jim McDermott even hinted the predominantly Democratic crowd should vote for Democrats.  We were more excited to learn rally supporters raised $22,000 for DonorsChoose.org, an online charity for education.

Sprinkles expanded into full-sized raindrops about two hours in, local speakers talked through the musical acts, and only a vast communal "moment of Zen" prevented riotous indignation about the all-too-frequent buffering glitches in the satellite feed.  Be that as it may, Seattle's Rally to Restore Sanity was a hoot, and an encouraging reminder of the fact that if there were a moderate, rational political party, we'd probably all jump ship from our existing parties to join it. 

Hey, you think maybe that's why there's no such thing? 

Nah ... That's just cynical.

THIS JUST IN >>>

Medical marijuana patients and their caregivers were stunned Friday, Oct. 15, when several of Tacoma's so-called marijuana dispensaries were served cease and desist orders from the City of Tacoma's Tax & Licensing Division. The orders, with carbon copies to Tacoma Police Department Chief Don Ramsdell and Lt. Shawn Stringer, included what appears to be the City of Tacoma's declared official stance on patient cooperatives operating in Tacoma, some for over a year.

Patient co-ops were given until Oct. 24 to close up or face revocation of their Registration and Annual Business License, which may include fines and penalties up to and including criminal prosecution. One co-op operator said he was told by city officials that they would face police raids if they didn't comply with the order.

City of Tacoma officials have not responded for comment yet as the cease and desist orders were served on Friday, and the Weekly Volcano did not learn of them until after regular business hours. 

Director of C.O.B.R.A. Medical Group Emiel Kandi, who met with state lawmakers today to discuss medical marijuana issues, issued an official statement in response to the letter that arrived in his Post Office box.

"You have no right," he writes. "The people of the State of Washington have already spoken. The people passed Initiative 692 over a decade ago. The people have recognized the usefulness and necessity of cannabis for medical purposes, why can’t you? You began with a hands-off policy by law enforcement, allowing these types of businesses and patient-cooperatives to open and flourish. You then tried using scare tactics to convince us that we should go away, once you had changed your minds. Now you attack us using a legally flawed interpretation of a state law designed to help the most vulnerable. You should be ashamed."

Proponents of medical marijuana have issued a call to arms of sorts, asking local supporters to attend the City Council meeting scheduled for Tuesday, Oct. 19.

LINK: Medical marijuana in Pierce County

MONDAY, OCT. 11, 2010 >>>

1. Even if electronic music "isn't your thing," you'll no doubt find German über-producer Ulrich Schnauss' tidal waves of sentimental nu-gaze awe-inspiring and profoundly soothing at 9 p.m. inside The New Frontier Lounge.

2. In Kittredge Gallery's Small Gallery is a video work by Portland photographer, filmmaker, and installation artist Vanessa Renwick from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Her video, shot in 35 mm black and white film, both mourns the loss and celebrates the former vitality of The House of Sound - places, stories and histories of Cascadia, with scores by musicians living in the Pacific Northwest.

3. A state income tax specifically designed to take more money from the rich?  That's the idea behind Initiative 1098, which if passed would institute a state income tax on Washington's most wealthy to pay for education and health programs. Rich guys like Bill Gates Sr. are in favor of it. Other rich guys, like former U.S. Sen. Slade Gordon, are against it. At 6 p.m. inside Philip Hall at UW Tacoma, they'll debate the issue.

4. Leave it to liberals to use the economic collapse to point out there might be a better way of doing things than the capitalist orgy and TV dinners we've grown up on. Award-winning political cartoonist Ted Rall is just such a whacko, and his new book, The Anti-American Manifesto, is as pinko and commie as it sounds. Rall will discuss his work at 6 p.m. inside Orca Books in Olympia.

5. The Jake B Band will fill The Swiss with blues beginning at 8 p.m.

LINK: More arts and entertainment events in the South Sound

FRIDAY, OCT. 8, 2010 >>>

1. Vice President Joe Biden will hold Democratic Sen. Patty Murray's hand in the air during a get-out-the-vote rally at the University of Washington campus in Tacoma. The rally will take place around 10:30 a.m. on The Grand Staircase between Jefferson Avenue and Pacific Avenue. The vice-president is expected to arrive between 11 and 11:30 a.m.

2. Tacoma's resident from outer space Adam The Alien gathers his buddies from local comedy improv groups The Tokens, Norman Tweeter Productions and Small Change for a 6 p.m. improvaganza inside Tacoma's Amocat Café.

3. Seattle poet Nancy Dahlberg anchors the Distinguished Writer Series poetry open mic at 7 p.m. inside King's Books.

4. The Second City Chamber Series kicks off its Masterpiece Series concerts at 7:30 p.m. inside Annie Wright's Kemper Theatre featuring The Europa Chamber Ensemble and clarinetist Cindy Renander exploring the music of the Jewish diaspora, as well as the music of contemporary Israel.  There will be a touch of klezmer music (natch).

5. In the grand, and unusual, tradition of skinny English boys bopping about in even skinnier ties to American soul and jazz music, local DJs offer a night of soul, funk, jazz and rare grooves inside the Tempest Lounge under the tag Rare Groove. Back in the day, Brits loved obscure American soul records almost as much as they loved mayonnaise and cucumber sandwiches. Beginning at 9:30 p.m. DJs celebrate this phenomenon by playing authentic, obscure soul, funk and jazz records. It's the kind of music that would have been heard at all-night parties in Manchester or Blackpool back in the day. Bring your own skinny tie.

LINK: New movies open today

LINK: Concerts go on sale today

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

THURSDAY, AUG. 19, 2010 >>>

1. Whether walking or riding the ART BUS, today's Tacoma Third Thursday Artwalk once again will be loaded with fabulous art and nibbles of food from 5-8 p.m. in downtown Tacoma. For a primer of what a few of the participating galleries, museums and spaces will have on display, click here.

2. Voxxy Vallejo performs at 10:30 a.m. at the Tacoma Farmers Market Broadway, which runs from 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. in downtown Tacoma.

3. With the primary barely behind us, the Weekly Volcano believes the conversation during the Drinking Liberally gathering at 7 p.m. inside The Hub should be a good one.

4. The Brothers Coen succumbed to being their all-out indulgent selves with their flick O Brother, Where Art Thou, a tale loosely based on Homer's Odyssey featuring three chain gang workers who escape in order to reclaim a buried treasure. What's up with the pomade? The Weekly Volcano has no idea, but that's part of the fun - trying to figure out what the hell was going through the Coens' minds as they wrote it. Figure it out yourselves when the film is screened at 8:30 p.m. at Tollefson Plaza in downtown Tacoma - for free.

5. Finally, one of the Volcano's favorites, Ben Union, is playing Hell's Kitchen at 9 p.m. with Corvus and Bodybox. While the Volcano has blabbered about Union's funkified guitar styling on a number of occasions, we're no less smitten with him today than we were in the beginning. Check him out.

LINK: More arts and entertainment events in the South Sound

THURSDAY, JULY 15, 2010 >>>

1. The Whole Bolivian Army performs at the Tacoma Farmers Market Broadway, which runs from 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m.

2. While it's easy to quantify Oly as just a hippie, college town - that's only partially true. A large portion of the population is proudly blue-collar. The most amazing part of all of this is the two demographics - shoeless hippies and hardworking grunts - come together every year for Capital Lakefair, meshing farmer tans with hacky sacks, and creating a fairly unique event disguised as just another summer festival. Carnies, cotton candy, live music, and all the usual trappings - Olympia style - go down from noon to 11 p.m. in downtown Olympia.

3. Young and old. Established and raw. Artistically speaking, Tacoma's got all of the above. Here and Now: A Show of Generations, which celebrates an opening reception today from 6-9 p.m. at Fulcrum Gallery, will investigate the parallels between old and young artists working simultaneously within Tacoma's artistic renaissance - sometimes even oblivious of one another. The show aims to capture the, well, here and now of theGrit City art movement, and should be one of this week's highlights.

4. Tacoma Drinking Liberally meets at 7 p.m. inside The Hub to discuss the primaries, the BP oil gusher, and more over drinks.

5. In the biggest field of comedians ever to compete in the Bay Area Black Comedy Competition, "Seattle's Nate Jackson" brought the prize back to the Puget Sound. Although Jackson gets around - doing his thing from Olympia to Tacoma to Seattle and beyond - Jackson represents Lacey! Jackson performs with Tony Robert at 7:30 p.m. inside the Varsity Grill.

LINK: More arts and entertainment events in the South Sound