Coming Up Tomorrow On The Dickenbock Report: World Dracula Day

May 26 is World Dracula Day. Bram Stoker published his classic gothic horror novel on that day in 1897 - 127 years ago. While Dracula was not the first vampire, he remains arguably the most iconic one.

Tune in to the Dickenbock Report tomorrow as we report on the famous Count. In addition to many musical reports, Dick Dickenbock's favorite movie critic will recommend some vampire films. So you will have a film or two to watch for your World Dracula Day celebrations. Or you could just read the book. It's in the public domain.

Tomorrow! Sunday, May 26, noon to 1pm, on XRAY FM - 91.1+107.1fm & online at xray dot fm.

We're doing the show in the sunlight surrounded by garlic just to be safe.

This Week In Self Help (May 19 + 21 2024)

(Not sure if I approve of the glee on display for eagle grinding...)

Hooray for eagles! They deserved a radio show. & maybe now I don't have to live in fear of them swooping down & treating my hair like a salmon.

If you'd like to listen to that show, by gum, go to this direct link right here. You will need the username SHR & the password selfhelp to access. & you can download it!

You can also on the KBOO website, here is that link. No password needed.

The KBOO link also includes this week's episode of Corporate Standardized Programming (which follows Self Help Radio). On that show, I played lots of new releases. If you'd rather listen to it/download it from the Self Help Radio website, here is the link for that. Same username & password for Self Help Radio apply.

The Sunday before all that was The Dickenbock Report, a show about frogs on Jumping Frog Jubilee Day. Including a live remote! The show is on the Self Help Radio web page linked here, & also on the XRAY web page.

Hooray for eagles! Hooray for America!

Self Help Radio 052124: Eagles

Eagles are such majestic creatures. They symbolize beauty, bravery, courage, honor, pride, determination, & grace, among other things (according to the internet). Sportsball teams are named after them, although it's certain their deadly talons would destroy most sportsballs. They're not just the national birds of the USA but as powerful for some as the flag. Despite all this, no one stepped up to stop Self Help Radio as it did a show with the theme "eagles." Does no one love America?

Luckily eagles are powerful enough beasts that they can endure the insult. & you might enjoy all the songs about them if you're an eagle aficionado. Plus there are interviews with eagle-related folk. I thought maybe I should've done this show around the fourth of July but now I think I'm glad I didn't. I'd be chased out of town by firework!

Listen to the show now either at the Self Help Radio website (where you're need the username SHR & the password selfhelp) or the KBOO website (where you won't need those). The songs & the talking that happened are noted below. Enjoy, & as I've said more than once, I'm sorry, America.

Self Help Radio Eagles Show

"American Eagle" Bruce Haack _Listen Compute Rock Home (The Best Of Dimension 5)_

"Fallen Eagle" Manassas _Manassas_

"I Was An Eagle" Laura Marling _Once I Was An Eagle_

introduction & definitions

"The Eagle & Me (from Bloomer Girl)" Dooley Wilson _The Smithsonian Collection Of Recordings American Musical Theater Shows, Songs, & Stars_

"The Eagle & The Hawk" Bonnie 'Prince' Billy _Take Me Home (A Tribute To John Denver)_

"Eagles" Nate Bargatze _Hello, World!_

"The Eagle Laughs At You" Jackie Lomax _Is This What You Want?_

interview with Regal Eagle Hair Care Products inventor Larry Elgar

"Eagle Rock" Daddy Cool _The Essential Daddy Cool_

"Eagles Below Us" Fruit Bats _The Pet Parade_

"The Great White Sea Eagle" James Yorkston, Nina Persson, & The Second Hand Orchestra _The Great White Sea Eagle_

"Cry Like An Eagle" Babysitter _Babysitter_

interview with guy always attacked by eagles Liam Elliot

"Fly Like An Eagle" The Trees _The History Of Michigan Garage Bands In The '60s Volume 1: The Wheels 4 Label Story_

"Fly Like An Eagle" Tickley Feather _Hors D'Oeuvres_

"Fly Like An Eagle" Swimming Bell _Charlie_

"Fly Like An Eagle" The Space Lady _The Space Lady's Greatest Hits_

interview with park ranger Lou Eckels

"Last Lonely Eagle" Ian & Sylvia _Ian & Sylvia_

"Me & The Eagle" Steve Earle _Sidetracks_

"Eagle" Papa Dee _One Step Ahead_

interview with tour guide Lenore Everson

"Eagle's Son" The Pretty Things _The Electric Banana Sessions (1967-1969)_

"The Eagle Never Hunts The Fly" The Bonniwell Music Machine _The Bonniwell Music Machine_

"Eagles Fly" Bay City Rollers _Wouldn't You Like It_

"Eagle" Weaves _Weaves_

conclusion & goodbye

"Eagle" Carole King _Touch The Sky_

"Smite The White Eagle" The Butterflies Of Love _Famous Problems_

Whither Eagles?

(Image by Goggla, found here)

Why wouldn't one do a radio show about eagles? Who asks that sort of question in America? (Maybe I shoulda waited to do this show in July...)

It's at this point I remind you that one of my dumb rules about Self Help Radio is that the theme relates to songs not bands. So unless The Eagles wrote a song about eagles, you won't hear the Eagles on this show. But also I confess I am not a fan of the Eagles so even if the Eagles wrote a song about eagles you probably wouldn't hear a song by the Eagles on the show.

Why do a show about eagles in May? Seriously, I only just realized I should've waited. But a while back when I was looking at some children's videos on the Youtube about some other theme, the algorithm took me to a video called something like "Ten Interesting Facts About The Bald Eagle." I didn't make it past the animation or the pleas to like & subscribe but it did make me wonder whether there were enough eagle songs I liked to make a radio show about eagles.

Turns out there were & that show is happening tonight! Midnight to 2am. On 90.7fm in Portland & online everywhere at kboo dot fm.

Listen if you love America! & remember: the NSA is listening so they'll know when you're not listening.

Preface To Eagle: I Think It's An Eagle?

Sometime ten years ago I started taking pictures with my wife's cheap digital camera. Just things I thought were interesting around the neighborhood. Though I have a slightly better digital camera now with which I take pictures, I haven't become a skillful photographer by any stretch of the imagination. I still take pictures & share them on my personal Facebook page & over on the show's Tumblr page.

What has turned out to be handy is that when I have a theme - like "eagles," which will be this week's show - I can go to the folder where I store the images & I can type a name into my window's search bar & lo + behold there might be an image which fits the theme. The search engine is pretty powerful - it will find the word I typed in the pictures. What this means is I don't have to use someone else's images in these Self Help Radio things I do. Mostly they're mine - if they're not, I tell you so.

But look at this. The image above - which I took in December 2014 & which I entitled "Murca," came up when I typed in the word eagle. I don't think it looks like an eagle - do you? I think it more resembles a smooth dragon. But whatever. I needed an image for this blog entry & I've never seen an eagle in real life. Even though we have plenty around here.

Why a show about eagles? I'll answer that tomorrow.