New Song, New Essay on Creative Commons

An eponymous tune from Matt's band (with Matt singing lead) and an essay on swimming pools (with Steve speaking lead) are now on Eddy Creative Commons.

Bet you didn't expect to find "eponymous" in a blog entry!

Strangely Beautiful Performance on Campus

Today on the south lawn of the Union, Purdue Convocations staged a free performance of "Three Belles" by Australia's new wave acrobatic group Strange Fruit. Below is a brief iPhone clip of the free performance. The performers are standing on a swaying pole on pogostick-like pedals.  They're strapped on at the thighs.  They control the movement of the poles by shifting their body weight.  They can also spin on the tops of the poles.  It's pretty remarkable to see. 



Here's a longer video produced by the company.

And Wilma Leeeeeeeee

Fans of John Hartford will remember his song "Tater Tate and Alan Mundy" from Mark Twang consisted of a list of the names of every bluegrass luminary Hartford could think of, delivered in a breathless monotone at auctioneer speed.  And it concluded with a lasciviously drawn out "and Wilma Lee" in Hartford's deepest, most testosterone-infused baritone.

That Wilma Lee was Wilma Lee Cooper and her passing last Tuesday, at age 90 in her home of Sweetwater, Tennessee, was noted in a lengthy obit in the New York Times which you can check out here. If there is a bluegrass subdivision in heaven, surely her first question of John Hartford will be  "You know how you sang my name in that song--what was up with that?"

Paul Sings the Big City Blues and Gatsby in Astoria

I've posted a video of Paul singing a blues about life at Fort Eddy (stolen from the blog of the same name) and a posting on the Great Gatsby's connection to Astoria on Eddy Creative Commons.

New Posts on Creative Commons

I posted two new things on Creative Commons--a recording of a song by that Miles wrote, on which he sings, plays all the instruments, and does production.  Also, a video of Julia playing a robotic counselor who develops some misanthropic ambitions in the course of advising a woman whose marriage is breaking down.

If you'd like to post on the Commons, let me know and I will resend  your invitation.  It's my hope that the site can be a permanent and accessible record of the family's creative endeavors.

Pictures from Mom's Birthday

I've posted a few more pictures in a Picasa album here.  I think any friend of this site can post there as well.

Bridge Restored

On May 26, 2011 all that could be seen of the bridge over our creek was one of the steel beams of which it is constructed, as shown above. The storm of the day previous had dislodged it for the first time in the 20 years we've owned the property. Because of its steel framework, the bridge weighs several hundred pounds.  This morning with the help of our tenants, Pat and Marion Welsh, and the lifting, pulling power of my tractor, we were able to extract it from the creek bed, maneuver it into a new spot, and pull it across the creek.    We also added more decking so that you no longer have to tightrope the first six feet balancing on a beam.  The Gateway to the Back 40 is restored and ready for traffic.