Coming Up Tomorrow On The Dickenbock Report: National Zoo Awareness Day

(sign at the Dublin Zoo, found here)

Are you not aware that we still keep animals in zoos for our own amusement? Also that zoos often employ smart, caring people who work to make sure the animals' lives are good? That's the function of National Zoo Awareness Day, & on The Dickenbock Report tomorrow we shall endeavor to make you aware of zoos, whether you're currently aware of them or not.

That's Sunday, August 31, from noon to 1pm, on 91.1+107.1fm in Portland, & online everywhere (even at most zoos) at xray dot fm.

It turns out Dick Dickenbock wasn't even aware there was a zoo awareness day!

This Week In Self Help: August 24 & 26

It was one of the first regular weeks I've had in a while - I just did my three shows. One show of which follows immediately another show so it's like it's only two shows. Which means I got more sleep than usual!

The Dickenbock Report reported on National Knives Day.

Listen at XRAY website. Listen at Self Help Radio website.

Self Help Radio continued the Indiepop A To Z series with the 78th installment.

Listen at KBOO website. Listen at Self Help Radio website.

Corporate Standardized Programming played more artists we lost this year.

Listen at KBOO website (after Self Help Radio). Listen at Self Help Radio website.

If you listen at the Self Help Radio website, you may need this information:
Username: SHR. Password: selfhelp.

Really it was nice to get more sleep than usual. It might just be I'd sleep best without radio!

Self Help Radio 082625: Indiepop A To Z # 78

(images in collage found at Discogs & Bandcamp)

This show was a show of two firsts, one trivial, one alarming. The trivial first is that, for the first time ever, I deliberately (not accidentally) went out of alphabetical order. You can see where on the list below. I explain why during the show. The alarming first is that, for the first time ever, I fundraise for a station that is truly under threat of a fascist government. There's a lot of begging for donations to KBOO on this show. You can find out more - & help! - at this web page. Sorry to interrupt the music with what we in the biz call "pledge pitches." But it has to be done or there's no place for as unprofitable a show as Self Help Radio!

You can listen to this episode anytime at either the KBOO web page or at the Self Help Radio web page. If you choose the latter, please note the username SHR & the password selfhelp. It was all music (except for the begging) so below is a list of songs that appeared on the show.

Next indiepop alphabet show is in December!

Self Help Radio Indiepop A To Z # 78 Show

"Losing It" Shrimp Tractor _Losing It_

"Carefree Clothes" Shrubbies _Memphis In Texas_

"Weiter Weiter" Shy _Pullover_

"Alison Song # 4" Shy Camp _Friendly Society - A Harriet Records Compilation_

"Omtagning" Sibiria _Norrlands Inland_

"Sunshine Thuggery" The Siddeleys _Slum Clearance_

"Of My Heart" Signed Papercuts _Of My Heart_

"AM Radio" The Silent Boys _Beauty Tips_

"Until I See You" Silent Film _Moshi Moshi (Pop International Style)_

"City Ghosts" The Silent Reach _Secondment_

"The Forest" Silent Truth _A Chance To Shine: A Dorian Compilation_

"Time Zones" Silly Pillows _New Affections_

"Advice To The Graduate" Silver Jews _Starlite Walker_

"TV Playtime" Silicon Teens _Music For Parties_

"I Have Known Love" Silver Apples _Contact_

"The Lonely Singer" Silver Scooter _The Blue Law_

"Preciously Inside" Simpático _The Difference Between Alone & Lonely_

"Nice" The Simpletons _Matter_

"Come Together" Since November _Stamp Collecting (For Beginners)_

"Feels Like Summer" Sing-Sing _The Joy Of Sing-Sing_

"Do What You Say (Richard, Richard)" The Singing Bush _Drive-In Season_

"The Hanging Tree" The Singing Ringing Tree _The Hanging Tree_

"Fotos" Single _Monólogo Interior_

"Out In The Traffic" Single File _Out In The Traffic_

"Your Mouth Is On My Mind" Sink Tapes _How You Mean_

"You Can't Push Me Away" Sinking Ships _Out Of Key Harmony_

"It's You" La Sintesis _September EP_

"She's Cuckoo" Siouxsie & The Banshees _Downside Up_

Whither Indiepop A To Z # 78?

Every four months I try to get closer to the end of my Indiepop A To Z series. Begun with the letter A in 2004, I am now in the letter S, where I'll probably be for quite a while. I have nothing more to say but I share with you a picture I took of something a child put up on a fence in our neighborhood. Why is it so cute when a child misspells a word? It's so cute to spell cute "cuet"! & I confess I can't draw a star that "adorabl."

Listen tonight from midnight to 2am on 90.7fm in Portland, kboo dot fm everywhere.

Preface To Indiepop A To Z # 78: Cute Animals

One defining feature of me is that I am wholly incapable of successfully making any sort of mark on social media. It's not that I wouldn't like lots of people knowing about my show, it's that it's a kind of work - self-promotion - that I find inherently distasteful. I do sometimes wish I was better at it, not for my own sake, but if I were good at getting someone's attention, I might be able to help raise money for the radio stations at which I volunteer. It is a sadness that I can't contribute financial to them commensurate with my love for them.

Over on my otherwise barren Bluesky account, I post pictures of my youngest animals every day. I do this as much for me as for anyone else - it's nice to see how they grow & change over time & making it into a ritual benefits me in the long run. I wish I had many more pictures of all my animals. I am sad I don't. I know my memories of the time I spent with them will fade - my own brain may well betray me. If my heart doesn't give out on me first.

This week I'm playing more indiepop & cute animals are part & parcel of the substance of twee. I remember going to a show & my then-girlfriend trying to convince the band afterward that the beagle was the most indiepop of animals. They may well be. I don't really make pronouncements like that. Not when there are adorable chihuahuas in the world!

This was not meant to be me moaning about anything. Just showing pics of my animals. As I listen to indiepop for the next silly show.