Another Goat Day

Greetings from Big Bed Land! Well, we're back with the third installment of Goat's Log from the Summer Island adventure. You'll read more about the mysterious plague of ladybugs and Goat's first S'mores, some notes from Pinky, and a brief mention of Dog,Your Cultural Archivist. 

 











Another Goat Day

Too much is happening to track the days. Today is S’more Day. I must remember to make this native delicacy for the others in Big Bed Land when I get back. It will be perfect for when the bears bring dried marshmallows back after the spring Petunia Hunt. Strange how only bears have seen marshmallows growing wild on the bush and only when the Wild Petunias are blooming. I have traveled the Seven Seas and never seen a single marshmallow bush. A pirate’s life is full of mysteries like this.

(A NOTE OF ENCOURAGEMENT from Pinky Your Hostess: Don’t worry if you don’t understand about all the many traditions of Big Bed Land. After all, these have been evolving since time immemorial! Dog, who spends quite a bit of time digging in the Cultural Archive, will explain the traditional spring hunt for the Wild Petunia later on.)

Some of the monsters know about the ladybugs, mostly the Mouse Fairy girls, it seems, along with Monster E. and her friend Margot. They speak of the wild herds of ladybugs and of dangers, fearsome yet vague. But they also laugh and call each other “Ladybug.” Monster E. and Margot are unusually silly since the men disappeared. They call each other Pioneer Woman, whatever that means, and it is confusing that they seem to share this name. I fear that the Ladybugs might be using some kind of mind control as a weapon.

Around the fire, as the S’more flames burned low, Pioneer Woman swung their lassoes in a lazy but skillful manner saying, “Git along, li’l ladybugs.” I looked up at the stars (noting their position exactly) and listened to the monster girls sing “Yodel-ay-dee-bug, yodel-ay-dee-bug” into the hot and leafy night sky. For one moment I lost my keen sense of cunning and unceasing watchfulness—contentment overtook me. Could the Ladybugs be affecting me as well? I must be careful in my planning. Very careful, and reveal nothing.

Night

No moon. I am writing this by candle light. I think the Ladybugs come from the Ancient West and I will not be hasty about their destruction. Tomorrow I am certain to discover more.


(ANOTHER NOTE FROM YOUR HOSTESS: I asked Goat if Goat would add some pictures of Summer Island to his log and Goat replied that this was not necessary as Goat already knew what the Island looked like. But I got approval for adding some pictures myself. This is one of my favorite views of the grassy island paths among the trees-- and a lucky sighting of Mouse Fairies! Here are Violet and Goldenrod walking together toward the waters that lap at the island's edges.)

“Brigg’s Corn Shuckin’ Jig”

A happy Banjo Friday to all of you, dear readers.  The music today is a real treat: Rhiannon Giddens of the Carolina Chocolate Drops playing a “mistrel tuned” gourd banjo.  Since we discussed the ekonting two weeks ago, I thought it would be fun to offer some gourd banjo music this time around.

I had intended to make this post a bit more in depth, but I'm writing it "on the fly."  I can tell you that if you’re interested in finding out more about the gourd banjo, you can find “The (Almost) Definitive History of Gourd Banjos” at this link.  There’s a lot of good information there.

Should your interests lie in a more “DIY” approach, you can even find detailed plans about how to make your own gourd banjo at several sites, including this one!  There have been a number of gourd banjo makers in recent years, including Scott Didlake, Pete Ross, Jeffrey Menzies, Bob Thornburg, Jay Moschella & David Hyatt.

Rhiannon Giddens tells us that the banjo is in “minstrel tuning.”  One might think this is a precise description, but actually it’s not.  One thing that we can tell for sure (either by listening to the music or by looking up “minstrel tuning”) is that the banjo is pitched lower than usual.  These days the banjo’s most “standard” tuning is probably open G; we do know that the “minstrel tunings” were more in the key of E or D, so that the strings were lower in pitch by either a third or fourth interval.  However, there were variants on the “minstrel tuning.”  One common variant didn’t involve an open tuning at all—in other words, the strings when played unfretted didn’t produce a major triad of notes—but was a lower version of what was once considered standard tuning, that is: gCGBD.  Again, this was all lowered about a third in pitch.

Hope you enjoy the music!

Adams County Makes the News - Adams County Leader #34

The Adams County Leader        Published Weekly On Friday
Wm. Lemon Editor and Manager
Member State Editorial Association 
Member National Editorial Association
Official Paper of Adams County Price $2.00 Strictly in Advance

July 26, 1929
NEW AND CELEBRATED SCIENTIFIC FORMULA
COUNCIL PHARMACY SECURES EXCLUSIVE 5 YEAR FRANCHISE

Never before in the history of the world has the progress of Medical Science been so rapid.  One important discovery after another has been made which will have a far-reaching effect upon the health and well being of mankind.  As a result of this worldwide medical research, Science has discovered that good health is largely governed and maintained by three vital organs and fluids of the body.  These are: the liver, the blood, and the endocrine glands.  What is more important, we have learned that these basic elements can be stimulated and invigorated by certain basic elements.  One of America’s leading bio-chemists succeeded in combining these basic elements in one formula—which may well be considered one of the greatest health-giving remedies of the age.  It is called Sargon.  The formula for Sargon Soft Mass Pills are the property of the Sargon Laboratories and can be obtained by no other firm or individual in the world.  This new scientific treatment has been acclaimed by druggists throughout America as a triumph in the field of medicine.

February 22, 1929
JUST WONDERING

After a casual observation of women’s activities in Council, it is noted that there about six organizations wholly under control of women of the town and all six are “going strong”—Witness, Worthwhile Club, Women’s Auxiliary, P.T.A., Royal Neighbors, Rebekahs, and Ladies' Aid.  Each of the organizations just named are officered by energetic enthusiastic women who make things go.  They are not turning the world over—don’t expect to, but they are keeping the women’s part of Council affairs “on the map.”

And we’re just wondering about the men.  They do manage to keep three lodge organizations going—the Woodmen, Odd Fellows, and Legion.  But they haven’t the pep or whatchamacallit to keep any sort of community improvement organization going.  They have a Chamber of Commerce organization, but it is lifeless and seems to be on the way to “innocuous desuetude.”  We are just wondering, what’s the matter?

March 22, 1929
DR. HIGGS OFFERS SUGGESTION
San Diego, Calif. March 12, 1929
Editor Adams County Leader, Council, Idaho
Dear Sir:
Being a pilgrim in a foreign land, I welcome the arrival of the Leader; of course it don’t take me long to read it, but the keenest enjoyment necessarily can’t last long.  I see where you said things could be worse, that they might take to holding beauty contests for men, or words to that effect.

Why not hold a beauty contest for men?  Take Council, for instance.  Of course, you would have to bar Jim Winkler or else there would be no contest.  After barring Jim, you would have a line-up left that would be worth going miles to see.  Among those eligible would be Dale Donnelly, Carl Swanstrom, Professor Figley, William Lemon, Bob Young, Stanfield, Bill Winkler, Bert Hagar, Bill Camp, Dad Perkins, and if I knew it would be on the square, I might come up and enter myself.  The proceeds from the zoo to go to the Pinochle widows or some such worthy cause.  I think the idea a good one and no doubt it would be well supported.  Don’t think that this plan is advanced as a subtle way of proving the correctness of Darwin’s theory—it is merely a coincidence, that’s all.  Make it an annual affair and you would attract big game hunters from all over the world.  The money from the moving picture rights would put in a new water system for the city and put a streetlight in front of every City Dad’s house. 

Anyway, you may tell all the people of Council and environs that I would like to see them and that they have my best wishes, and it may be that I can come up and snag a few trout and spin a few yarns this fall.

Yours Respt.,
D. P. Higgs, M.D. 

LOCAL ITEMS 1928 - 1929
The Worthwhile Club voted to assist the Chamber of Commerce to put on the banquet for the basketball teams.  Roll call was responded to by Irish jokes.  A number of Irish songs were sung and several of the members put on funny stunts.  After much fun and laughter during the previous part of the program, it was hard to settle down to listen to a paper on
Capital Punishment.  Next meeting will be held with Mrs. Johnson.

The special train carrying Odd Fellows and Rebekahs to the big doings at New Meadows Saturday night will pass through Council at 5 p. m. according to information given by Claude Ham, noble grand.

Fred Schultz is doing renovating work in the post office room, much to the joy of the post office forces.

You May Have Tuberculosis—Let Your Doctor Decide.  Watch for these danger signs: Too easily tired; loss of weight; indigestion; cough that hangs on.

The mask dance given by the American Legion Friday was well attended by both maskers and spectators.  The maskers were many and varied, and some of them caused much fun and curiosity.  When the masks were removed after the grand march, many were the surprises.

Only two girls in Idaho so far as the Leader knows have managed to resist the vogue to have their hair cut.  Council has the distinction of one and Boise the other.  Miss Gertrude Oylear, now with her mother at Krigbaum’s Camp, and daughter of the well known state Federal law enforcement officer is one of the two, while Miss Pearl Parker, post office clerk at Council, is the other.  Of course there may be others, but this editor doesn’t know them.

Next Tuesday evening will be a red-letter time for husbands of these beautiful ladies of the Worthwhile Club.  Said husbands may have wondered many times during the past year what it is all about—this club business—but now they are going to be shown.  It is the first annual banquet in honor of the husbands of club members.

“Windmills of Holland” An Operetta in Two Acts Presented by the Music Department of the Council High school at the People’s Theatre.  Charlotte Lemon, Accompanist.

Church Notes:  The C. E. Party Monday night was the first of several planned.  Starting modestly, this was an invitation affair, although a welcome was accorded a few who came without invitations.  Games were followed by refreshments, and the committee is to be commended for trying to make the event agreeable to all in an orderly way.  Two or three seem to have taken advantage of the fact that no chaperone was present.  This will not be repeated as dates will be arranged so that the committee may have the benefit of the presence of some who are older. 

compiled by Eberle Umbach

"354 Miles Northwest of Bukowski’s Grave"

[In which our intrepid poet L.E. Leone channels Bukowski with startling results]
354 Miles Northwest of Bukowski’s Grave


Standing up on buses is
my new favorite way
to travel. Sometimes I hold
on to something, sometimes
not. I close my eyes, feel
the city bumping beneath
my feet. Gentlemen offer me
their seats. “No thank you, thank
you though!” At the dollar
store called The Dollar Store, corner
of Fillmore and Geary, everything
is a buck fifty. I made
this poem in my head, busboarding
to a doctor’s appointment on
the 22. Scribbled it down
on the back of my co-pay receipt, waiting
for the doctor to see
me. I did not sit down. The title, “354
Miles Northwest of Bukowski’s
Grave,” I got from the dollar
store. For a buck-fifty. Took a wild
guess at the distance
between Bukowski’s grave
and me. Didn’t even know until
later, back home, where
he was buried. Then, my ass
problem seen to, lanced, ‘wick’ed
and oozing into a folded gauze pad held
between cheeks by my tightest,
sexiest panties, I looked it up:
357 miles. Missed
by three.


L.E. Leone
© 2011
 

10 Essential Delta Blues – Future Blues

Happy Monday, dear readers!  Yours truly has a bit of the Monday Morning Blues himself today.  Maybe a great blues song will help chase them away!

If you’re a casual blues fan, chances are the name “Willie Brown” may not mean a lot to you.  Perhaps you’ve heard the name in the lyrics to Robert Johnson’s “Cross Road Blues” (famously covered by Cream, tho the Cream version is essentially a different song).  In Johnson’s first recorded take of “Cross Road Blues,” he sang, “You can run, you can run, tell my friend Willie Brown.”

Although Willie Brown is a common name (& there was another Willie Brown from Mississippi who recorded blues), the odds are high that the “Willie Brown” in Johnson’s song is also the Willie Brown of “Future Blues.”  The odds are in favor of this because this Willie Brown traveled in the same circles as Robert Johnson—he was a duet partner with both Charlie Patton & Son House.  In fact, Brown accompanied Patton on what are arguably some of his best sides.

When Stefan Grossman asked Son House in a 1960s interview who was the better guitar player, Patton or Brown, House was unequivocal, describing Brown as “twice better than Charley,” & noting that while Patton was a better singer, even Patton recognized Brown as the more skilled guitarist, saying “on those beats & things, Willie could beat him & he knowed it.”

“Those beats & things.”  Yes, those beats—that is what makes “Future Blues” such a spectacular piece of music.  The syncopated bass line, complete with Brown “snapping” the strings with a force, volume & crispness that would do the funkiest electric bass player proud, make this a great guitar showpiece.  For non-string players out there, “snapping” or “slapping” is done by plucking a string up with sufficient force that it will “slap” back down on the fretboard.  It’s a staple technique amongst funk bassists, & was also a common technique amongst early acoustic blues players—but no one did it better than Brown.

But in addition to the great tone Brown got with the snaps, the bass line itself is played on “offbeats.”  In other words, rather than being played on “1-2-3-4,” as a bass line commonly occurs,” the bass line is played on the “&s” between the notes! 

Stefan Grossman claimed (in his Oak Anthology of Blues Guitar: Delta Blues) that “Future Blues” is the Delta blues.  Quite a claim, but there’s some justification for it.  “Future Blues” was imitated in a number of songs, some of them also classics from the Delta region.  Son House recorded “Jinx Blues,” which is very close to “Future Blues,” & Patton seemed to have been particularly fascinated with the song, as his songs “Moon Going Down,” “Bird’s Nest Bound,” “High Water Everywhere,” “Screamin’ & Hollerin’ the Blues” & others all rely on elements derived from “Future Blues” (of course, it’s also worth noting that Brown was accompanying Patton on the existing recordings of some of these songs.)

“Future Blues” is not an easy song to play; I’ve never been able to come up with a version of it I find satisfactory (but I’m still trying!)  There’s a great tension, I think, between the underlying relaxed tempo & the “attack” on the bass line—as a result, even putting aside the complicated syncopation, there’s a tendency to try to play it too fast.  For those who are interested, “Future Blues” is played in open G tuning (as are the related Patton & House songs)—this is important because of the fact that the notes on the 6th & 4th strings are both D, but an octave apart—& that facilitates the characteristic bass line.  Otherwise, it’s more regular than some of Patton’s songs, which have an odd number of measures—it is easily recognized as a 12-bar blues (with a slight variation.)

Hope you enjoy this, one of the greatest of the country blues songs!

Photo of the Week 6/26/11

Harrison Roses

Indian Valley, Idaho

Thursday 6/23/11

"My Dance"

[The next in my series of translations from Blaise Cendrars’ Deux-Neuf poèmes élastiques (19 Elastic Poems)]

My Dance


Plato doesn’t grant citizenship to the poet
Wandering Jew
Metaphysical Don Juan
Friends, kindred
You have no more customs and no habits yet
You have to escape the magazines’ tyranny
Literature
Impoverished life
Misplaced pride
Mask
Woman, the dance Nietzsche wished us to learn to dance
Woman
But irony?
Continual coming and going
Special vagrancy
All men, all lands
That’s how you’re no longer a burden
You no longer sense yourself

I’m a gentleman who crosses always the same Europes
    in fabulous express trains and looks disheartened
    out the window
The landscape doesn’t interest me
But the landscape’s dance
The landscape’s dance
Landscape-dance
Paritatitata
I’m all-turning

 
Blaise Cendrars
Translation Jack Hayes © 1990-present