Military Life
Imagine living in an apartment with no furniture other than a single twin bed and several plastic chairs to sit on. Captain Tai Nguyen does not have to imagine any of this; he lived it. "I distinctively remember folding blankets multiple times to lay out in the living room so that we
Military Life
You can't remember the 2017 Department of Defense Warrior Games in Chicago without the image of Team Army performing a Haka chant. That chant led by Joint Base Lewis-McChord's Sgt 1st Class Dave Iuli, became one of the greatest memories of those games. "I was voted team captain which was such an
Health
The Veterans Health Library has over 1,600 health sheets and 175 videos in both English and Spanish. It gives veterans access to health information to help them make informed decisions on their care. The medical content in the library aligns with the latest Department of Defense and VA clinical guidelines, and
Entertainment
We kick off our annual "Best Movies of the Year" tribute with the long and impressive list of films that fell short of making the cut but are well worth your time, and this year's group is one of the strongest in recent memory, including: Avatar: The Way of Water, Violent
News Front
ARLINGTON, Va. (AFNS) - Effective Jan. 1, 2023, advanced academic degrees will be visible to promotion central selection boards considering major and lieutenant colonel ranks. The change will apply to all eligible Department of the Air Force officers and allow promotion board members to consider an officer's acquisition of valued
Family
MADIGAN ARMY MEDICAL CENTER, Joint Base Lewis-McChord - Majestic Tahoma, the ancient name of what is commonly called Mt. Rainier, peeked through the fog on a chilly morning, Riley's first full day. Madigan's first baby born in 2023 slept easy in the morning calm. Riley first made her appearance at 1:02 a.m.
Explore
Love Lakewood New Year, New You Event kicks off on Saturday, Jan. 14, 2023, at Fort Steilacoom Park. Experience the power of community by joining us for a free Welcome Walk. The gentle 1.5-mile walk is from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Starting at Shelter 1, the walk takes you
Health
On Dec. 15, Veteran Health Administration (VHA) Office of Healthcare Innovation and Learning (OHIL) hosted the first-ever Veteran eXpeRience at the National SimLEARN Validation, Evaluation, and Testing (SimVET) Center in Orlando, Florida. At this event, more than 40 veterans experienced how VA is using extended reality (XR) to transform veteran
Military Life
Asked how he met the challenges he faced growing up in Liberia, SSG Golaybah Kamara said he "accepted the realities and made use of meager resources." The reality was that while the West African country was engulfed in a civil war, his father passed away when he was 11 years old,
Health
FALLS CHURCH, Va. - A new TRICARE contract that facilitates beneficiary health care in the civilian sector, known as T-5, is expected to start in 2024. The changes will improve the delivery, quality, and cost of health care services for services for service members, retirees, and their families. There
News Front
OLYMPIA - The Washington State Department of Veterans Affairs announces the retirement of Director Lourdes E. "Alfie" Alvarado-Ramos effective at the end of January. Alfie was Governor Jay Inslee's first cabinet appointment on Jan. 16, 2013 and was confirmed by the Washington State Senate on Feb. 28, 2013. Alfie joined WDVA in 1993
Explore
The Yakima Valley in Washington produces over 77 percent of the total United States hop crop according to the Washington Beer Commission. It is no wonder that craft breweries are so abundant in Tacoma. The historic Brewery District in Tacoma was once home to several breweries including iconic brands like
Archives
UPDATE: Ken Miller awarded $500,000 in court. This month, Ken Miller will find out if his proverbial fight with city hall was worth it. For the past three years, Miller has spent the better part of his days fighting to keep property that regional transportation authority Sound Transit says it needs
Archives
Club Adrian is what you might call the underdog of the Tacoma underage music scene — not quite as hip as Viaduct nor as publicized as Club Impact, but none the less frequented in droves by scenesters of the local all-ages music scene. I’ve often heard rumors of its existence,
Archives
It sounds too good to be true, but all accounts indicate that the recently-announced Sound Community Initiatives fund will play a brilliant role in revitalizing poor neighborhoods in Tacoma and beyond. Organized by members of the Martin Luther King Housing Development Association and local mogul Larry Kopp, the SCI fund
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What I blew my paycheck on this week. Lover’s Package Plain and simple, I think Valentine’s Day blows. It’s just another holiday pushed by the greeting card companies, the chocolate factories, florists and every restaurant around (does anyone really need an excuse to go out to eat?) via every media outlet known
Archives
I have just about had it with cell phones. Don’t get me wrong. They are very valuable for a myriad of reasons, but they are starting to really annoy me. Strike that. It is not the cell phones, it is the stupid people that let them rule their lives. Recently,
Archives
Stephin Merritt records under many monikers, but The Magnetic Fields are arguably his most popular project. Merritt tends to create unique themes that run along perfectly with an album’s title. The 1999 box set 69 had 69 love songs, and the 2004 release I contained all tracks that began with
Archives
As you’ve probably noticed, the Weekly Volcano is a bit different this week. The paper is bigger, sexier, and better — and this is what you can expect from here on out. In the past the Weekly Volcano has been cool. Now the Weekly Volcano is super cool. Bobble Tiki knows
