Bill Musser's Links Page

Norwegian and Norwegian-American related links:

Foot-Notes - the Scandinavian-American old time band of which I have been a member since its formation in 1991. Together we represented the State of Iowa at the 1996 Smithsonian Festival of American Folklife in Washington, DC and the Festival of Iowa Folklife in Des Moines. The website was my first attempt at creating such a thing, and I have maintained it since 1997!

Norwegian and German Translation Service - My Foot-Notes colleague and friend, Jim Skurdall, is a professional translator, offering translations from Norwegian and German to English, with special focus on genealogical research. If you have need of a translator in these areas, Jim has substantial experience and an impressive list of work. Jim was among the first to have me create a website for him.

Skålmundo - Scandinavian folk musician Paul Wilson's home page with information on his bands, his recordings and Nisswa-stämman, the midwest's largest gathering of traditional Scandinavian folkmusicians (Brainerd, MN)

Totak - a band of Norwegians + 1 American (Julane Beetham) that includes traditional Norwegian and Norwegian-American old-time dance music in their repertoire

Julane Beetham - ethnomusicologist, Hardanger & flat fiddler, playing both Norwegian and Norwegian-American music; founding member of Totak

Joseph Langland - friend, distinguished poet, lively soul, one acquainted with all the great American poets of a half century. Joe has moved back home to the Decorah area, location of his Norwegian-American roots and family farm, after years of teaching in universities throughout the United States, most recently 20 years at the University of Massachusetts in Amherst. His personal papers are now located in the Luther College Archives, host of this site dedicated to Joe.

Local (Northeast Iowa) musician friends:

Maritza - Balkan boogie, klezmer kutups, Romany romp - rocked up traditional Eastern Eurodance; Pine Wilson, Rob Van Tyn, Rob Hervey, Ann Streufert, Will Kemperman (Foot-Notes bassist Bill Musser and mandolinist Jim Skurdal were founding members of Maritza). I created and maintain this website.

Buck Hollow Band - classic & modern country, 50s & 60s, more; John & Teresa Condon, next-door neighbors to Foot-Notes members Jon and Beth Hoven Rotto!

Contratopia - contradance music from the Upper Midwest, featuring the music and instrumental virtuosity of local musicians John Goodin & Erik Sessions, with Patrice Pakiz & Pat O'Loughlin of the Twin Cities

Bear Creek Bluegrass (no website yet) - from bluegrass to Beatles, featuring Foot-Notes mandolinist Jim Skurdall on guitar and vocals, and John Goodin, Jody Koening, and Erik Sessions

Western Home String Band (no website yet) - THE contradance band in Decorah, including a number of the best folk musicians in the Decorah area

Links to friends' sites in the Decorah area (I have created and maintain these sites):

Galen and Helen Beth Kuhens, Sojourn Way

Sojourn Way is a retreat/guesthouse operated by Revs. Galen and Helen Beth Kuhens. It is surrounded by prairie grasses and wildflowers, limestone bluffs and wooded hillsides jutting up against the Yellow River State Forest. The Yellow River State Forest itself contains 8,000 acres of woodlands, a troutstream and miles of trails.

Sojourn Way is affiliated with the Northeastern Iowa Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America for the purpose of a renewing ministry for rostered personnel (clergy and Associates in Ministry).

Sojourn Way is also available to individuals, families or small groups interested in spiritual direction, study, or just a quiet time away.

Bob Watson, "Civilized and Inclusive"

This book came out of my two year run for the U.S. Senate seat for the state of Iowa. Instead of losing all that I discovered in that process by just closing that chapter of my life, I have instead decided to morph all of the information and experiences into this book.

This book really starts 35 years ago in the rice paddies and mountains of Vietnam where, while taking part in life's most serious endeavor as a combat Marine, I was forced to reconsider all that I had been brought up to believe. Whether it was mythology, morals, ethics, mores, who we are as a species, as a culture, as a society, or as a member of our community, nothing was left unchallenged by engaging in a life and death struggle with other human beings on a daily basis.

Politics, whether we like it or not, is the realm in which we as a nation make our collective choices as to who we will be and what our relation to others will be like.

There are three things we as humans must do to survive, both on an individual and a national level. We must eat; therefore we must have a national agricultural model. We must stay warm; ergo an energy policy. And, we must get along with others; bringing about a need for a national foreign policy.

The programs and policies laid out in this book are my attempt to inform you of ways and means to think about these necessities from perspectives that you might not be familiar with. I hope that what is presented in this book will be of value to you in opening up new avenues of thought for you to pursue in your participation in creating and continuing our democracy.

 

Eric's Yunnan Tours

Want to visit China and have a unique travel experience? Contact my cab partner and friend Eric Paulson via his Yunnan Tours site!

 

Northeast Iowa Unitarian Universalist Fellowship

As a co-founder of this group, I am pleased to say that we now have over 40 members and are growing quickly! As our ads say, "We don't have all the answers, but we have some good questions."