Self Help Radio 092118: Kites

A storm approaches my Fort Worth home.  It's one of those weird Texas mornings where the sun has lighted half the sky, but to the south, it's black as a bruise & ominous, ominous as a rumble in an angry Orson Welles monologue.  But I am not deterred.

Because there is a wind!  Ah yes, the oncoming weather has whipped up the atmosphere & despite the Fahrenheit creeping toward the 80 degree mark, it seems cooler, nicer, actually pleasant.

So I head outside, I unspool the string, I put a radio show about kites on my most beautiful diamond kite & as soon as I lift the kite into the air, it's taken, it goes up, up, up, up!

Then it gets caught in a tree.  See picture above.

Maybe you'll have more luck with the radio show about kites?  Hey, it flies good.  Just keep it away from trees.  & power lines, too.  Let it soar in a way you & I never will.

Go ahead, grab that show at Self Help Radio's website. Remember that you need to write in "SHR" as username & "selfhelp" as password.  The show is about two hours long, plenty of time to stare lovingly into the sky even when the storm is threatening.  The contents of the show are listed below.

Self Help Radio Kite Show

"Kites Are Fun" The Free Design _Kites Are Fun_
"Your Kite, My Kite" Johnny Maestro & The Brooklyn Bridge _The Greatest Hits Of Johnny Maestro & The Brooklyn Bridge_
"Kites" Literature _Chorus_

introduction & definitions

"It's Unbelievable (How You Control My Soul)" Jeanne & The Darlings _The Complete Stax-Volt Singles, 1968-1971_
"Me & My Kite" Fuchsia _Fuchsia_
"Kite" Patty Griffin _Impossible Dream_
"Golden Kite" Cinnamon Empire _It's Good It's Good_
"Kite" Ivy _Guestroom_

interview with kitemaker Rob Boss

"Let Me Fly Your Kite" Lightnin' Hopkins _Highlights From The Mercury Blues & Rhythm Story 1945-1955_
"Kite Song" Yoko Ono _Approximately Infinite Universe_
"Kite" Kate Bush _The Kick Inside_
"Kites" Lemon Kittens _Cake Beast_
"Chinese Kite" The Clears _The Clears_

Sir Archibald Von Poesy reads an exclusive poem about the history of kites

"Let's Go Fly A Kite" Moonstone _Let's Go Fly A Kite_
"Lavender Kite" Bobby Vee _Gates, Grills, & Railings_
"Fly Yor Kite" Burnt Friedman & The Nu Dub Players _Can't Cool_
"I Wrote My Name On My Kite" We Are Wolves _Total Magique_
"Hang Mr. Kite" Guided By Voices _Let's Go Eat The Factory_

interview with Ben Franklin impersonator David Fruchter

"Let's Go Fly A Kite" David Tomlinson, Dick Van Dyke, & Londoners _Walt Disney's Mary Poppins (Original Cast Soundtrack)_
"Kite" Gary Burghoff _You're A Good Man, Charlie Brown (Original Off-Broadway Cast)_
"Being For The Benefit Of Mr. Kite (Take 7)" The Beatles _Anthology 2_
"Mississippi Kite" Kristin Hersh _Crooked_
"Flying A Kite" Joanna Newsom _Walnut Whales_

conclusion & goodbye

"The Johnstown Kite" Lou Christie _Glory River: The Buddah Years 1968-1972_
"Sugar Kite" California _Sugar Kite_
"Kite" Captain Cocoa _Bicycle Thieves_
"Kite" Marbles _Pyramid Landing & Other Favorites_
"The Kite & The Sky" Stephen Duffy & The Lilac Time _Runout Groove_
"Kites Are Fun" Jumprope _Holiday In Brazil

Whither Kites?

(Image from here.)

About six years ago, I had an idea to do a show about kites.  Then, I don't know what happened.  Did I forget about it?  Did I think I didn't have enough songs?  Did the show get eating by a kite-song-eating tree?  I have no damn idea.  But six years later, here it is!

What was the impetus for a kite show six years ago?  I might have been inspired by seeing kites in the spring one day, or maybe it was listening to the Free Design:



In any event.  At any rate.  Nevertheless.  Notwithstanding.  The show is happening.  Tomorrow.  Noon?  Let's hope it's noon.  I've been out flying kites.  Keep an eye here.  Or Self Help Radio dot net.  Okay?  Okay.

Preface To Kites: The Obligatory Peanuts Comic

Yeah, yeah, kite season is in the spring.  But I'm bringing it back for a week at the end of summer!  Get your kites ready, kids!

Masterful!

Reviews Are In!

Well, one review.

KNON has a web form which you can use to send comments directly to the deejay during her/his show.  I got this comment today at the tail end of my show:

Such a nice thing to receive at the end of two hours of radio!

(You can listen again to that "good show" for the next couple of weeks here.)

Bird News You Can Use

This week the bird news you can use is about the Cassowary.  Here's one now:

(Image from here.)

These flightless birds are from down under, native to Australia, New Guinea, & nearby islands.  They like fruit but will eat anything, including leftovers.  According to the Wikipedia, "Cassowaries are very shy, but when provoked they are capable of inflicting injuries, occasionally fatal, to dogs & people."

It's true!  That's why you should always remember, should you run into a cassowary, this saying:

"Always be wary of the cassowary 'cause the cassowary is wary of you."

That's bird news you can use!