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whatever it is you need good luck for, i wish you good luck. tests, job, home life, social life, mental health, physical health, love life. you name it. this post is wishing you good luck on all of that.

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I unfortunately was no longer able to do my radio shows as of last semester due to my mental health. I’ll try to upload the rest of my segments as soon as I can!

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Schnieder's Skink

Today's animal segment is about an animal that is predicted to be up and coming in the pet trade this year- Schnieder's skink.

I'm a big fan of skinks. They're cool little dudes, and they're very active and affectionate pets. They kind of look like what would happen if you gave a snake legs. They're very tubiform creatures, and with some varieties, it looks like the legs were tacked on as an afterthought.

Schnieder's skinks are one of the smaller varieties. They're only about 12-18 inches long (including their long tails) and particularly slender. The tails will drop, but they can regrow. They can even drop them in sections! The regrown tail looks completely normal, though it may be a different color than it was originally.

One of these skinks can be kept in a 20-gallon enclosure minimum, but bigger is always better. However, one of the best things about these animals is that they do great in groups. If you keep two, it is best to use a 40-gallon "breeder" tank. They are terrestrial lizards, so the height of the tank doesn't really matter. It should end up being about a foot to a foot and a half tall because those are the typical dimensions. No need for a custom build here! However, if you're into that sort of thing, you can make some really cool display enclosures. They like to burrow, so keep that in mind when you choose your substrate. Be sure to include some enrichment as well, like a little log decoration for them to climb on. Not only does it make them happy, but it makes your enclosure look cooler. Ensure that the enclosure's lid is secure, they can be little escape artists.

Skinks are ectotherms, like any other lizard. This means that they get their body heat from the environment. As such, they have certain care requirements that you need to meet to keep them healthy. They need a temperature gradient in their enclosure so that they can move to a cooler area if they get too hot, or vice versus. The exact temperatures are debated- as of now, they're not a particularly popular species- but the general consensus is to keep the warm side at 95-110 degrees Fahrenheit, and the cool side at 85 degrees. At night, you can let this drop to 70-75. The humidity should be kept between 30 and 45 percent. This is also highly debated, but most people split the difference between the outside estimates of 20% and 60%, and it seems to be working well. This can be done by leaving them a bowl of water in the enclosure full time. The evaporation will keep the humidity up, plus they can drink from it. Alternatively, you can mist their enclosure whenever the humidity dips. They also need a UVB bulb, to ensure that they can process calcium. You can look up some professional tips on how to set up your enclosure for some more specific advice.

They are omnivorous, so you have a wide variety of food sources to use. They can eat vegetables- be sure to check if the ones you plan on feeding them are safe for that species- insects, such as crickets, dubia roaches, etc, and even Pinkies (which are very small, frozen mice. Please thaw them out before you feed them to your lizard.) You should cycle through their food options day to day to ensure that they get a more balanced diet. Don't be worried if they don't eat their salad, though. Some care guides will mark them down as insectivorous, but they do eat plants in the wild. They may just be picky eaters.

Schnieder skinks are big personalities. They're very active animals and love to interact with their enclosure, and you. Despite being terrestrial animals, they will jump around and climb. They aren't very good at either, but they'll sure try! They're super fun to handle and super entertaining. While a "big personality" in animal care is typically synonymous with "will bite you if you look at it wrong," that is absolutely not the case here. They're not big biters, they tame down super quickly, and they seem to enjoy interacting with their handlers.

They're also not that expensive. The biggest price tag I've seen was only 60 dollars- which sounds like a lot, but some other skink varieties from the same distributors were over 1.5 thousand dollars. Unfortunately, they're not very common, so if you want one, keep your eyes peeled. On top of online reptile sites such as MorphMarket, you should also check out nearby reptile expos.

Schnieder skinks, are just awesome. They're in my top five list for my future reptiles, and I just love the little guys.

Thank you for tuning in for the final installment of Animal, Plant, or Rock's WUMF 50th birthday specials. Stick around to hear tons of awesome programming!

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Peace Lillies

Welcome to the final installment of our decades' event! With WUMF week coming to an end, we will be returning to our regular programming on here- whatever animal or plants I thought looked cute that week. But, you say, we haven't done the 2020s! You would be right. The 2020s have only been a thing for three years, so there aren't any decades trends to pull from. What's popular now might be long forgotten by 2027. So, I have decided to combine the two, with the plant segment for the 2010s and the animal section for the 2020s. Now, on to our plant for the week; peace lilies.

Peace lilies aren't actually lilies. They're more closely related to Monsteras. They're named after their large, white flowers, which look like white flags. However, like true lilies, they are toxic to cats, dogs, and people, so be aware of that.

They're another kind of air-purifying plant, and they prefer to stay out of direct sunlight. They also are tropical plants, so humidity is their jam. Many people keep them in their bathrooms for these reasons.

They like pots that are only about a third larger than their root ball. They actually excel when rootbound, so don't worry if you think the pot is too small. They only need to be repotted every few years.

The soil should be kept damp, but not waterlogged. If you find that it's drying out too quickly, it may be time to repot.

Peace lilies hate drafts and the cold, so if you get one at a store, pick one further away from any outside doors. They are more likely to be unhealthy. You should also check them for any obvious fungi or pests before you buy. Those can spread quickly if not caught, and the rest of your plants could be infected.

Once any flowers have wilted, prune them off so that the plant can focus its energy on more important locations. Yellowing leaves are common, just prune them off to make room for new growth. If they're going yellow more often than usual, it may be due to overwatering. Try cutting back on that, and see if it helps. The leaves will also brown at the edge when they get too much sun. Move them to a more shaded area, ideally with good ambient light, but less direct exposure.

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Burmese Python

Good evening, dear listeners! Welcome to the 2000s edition of Animal, Plant, or Rock! For today's animal segment, we will be covering a rather controversial animal; the Burmese python. While relatively popular in the pet trade, Burmies are most often associated with their status as a harmful invasive in Florida's Everglades.

They had two big booms in popularity, one in 1996 and another in 2006. As a pet, they're not good for a beginner, being both massive, expensive, and potentially dangerous to the handler. They're considered aggressive, and it's best not to let your guard down around them unless you're very practiced, and know the animal well. Once they reach maturity, they should not be handled alone, as they can reach up to 20 feet long, though will usually only get as big as 12 in captivity. As a general rule, you should not handle any snake that is longer than you are tall by yourself. Even if it's the most docile animal in the world, be sure to have a buddy with you, just in case.

They require, at minimum, a 75 gallon enclosure when they reach the mature size of 8-9 feet, and may need an even larger enclosure as they grow. You may think that it takes a while for them to grow that large, but they actually reach full size in 2-3 years out of the 25 that they can live.

About the only thing "easy" with their handling is their diet. They're not picky eaters in the slightest, which helps makes them a dangerous invasive.

Contrary to popular belief, Burmese pythons did not solely make it into the American wilderness due to pet owners releasing them once they got bored. While I'm sure that happens, scientists believe they only established a breeding population after Hurricane Andrew destroyed a breeding facility in 1992, releasing countless snakes into the wild. In the early 2000s, they were officially recognized to have a breeding population in the Everglades. since then, the population has increased exponentially. However, the first Burmese python sightings in Florida date back to the 1930s, so their presence down there is not a recent problem, just much worse than it used to be.

The issue with them roaming free down there is that the climate is perfect for them, and they have no natural predators. This lets them grow to a remarkable extent. They've been found in record-breaking sizes, simply because they can eat pretty much whatever they want with minimal fear of predation.

While measures have been taken to cut down on their population- Burmese pythons have been blacklisted from importing as of 2012, and there is a well-trained, 400-person team devoted to wrangling and removing them wherever they're found, it is unlikely that Florida will ever be rid of this invasive species.

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Phalaenopsis Orchid

One of the trendiest plants of the 2000s was the orchid, and for good reason, and actually pretty easy to care for once you get the hang of it. Plus, they're incredibly diverse! There are over 22,000 different species! they come from diverse environments as well, some being air plants that grow off the sides of tropical trees, some being rock plants, that grow off of rocks, and still more grow in the detritus of the forest floor. Because there are so many to choose from, it can be hard to give a generic care guide, so I'm going to focus on the most common kind you'll find, the Phalaenopsis, or moth orchid.

I'm a big orchid person. They've always fascinated me, and they're one of my favorite flowers. If Phalaenopsis had a fan club, I'd be the president!

The problem most people have with orchids isn't that they're particularly hard to take care of, but rather that they're very different from most other plants in terms of care. They don't like to be buried in the dirt. The best sediment for the, actually, is larger bark pieces. You can find specialty orchid mixes from plant stores or places like Home Depot.

The biggest thing with them is to be careful about watering. You should let the roots almost dry out before you water again. With most orchids, the roots will be a pale, blue-ish green when dry and a darker green when wet. Typically, they only need to be watered about once a week.

You should also keep the crown dry at all times. The crown is a short, stem-like section above the roots where the leaves grow from. when it gets wet, it is prone to molding and rot.

So far, they seem pretty touchy about watering, right? This is because they are more tropical plants, so most of the water they naturally get is from humidity. As such, they're happier in more humid areas. Try to keep them away from any air conditioning vents, which will dry them out.

You should only trim the roots when you're sure that they're dead. Doing otherwise will harm the plant, and because they're slow-growing it can be difficult to replace them.

You should repot your orchid every one or two years unless they have outgrown their pot in the meantime. You should also repot them if you notice a strange smell coming from them.

Now, a lot of people end up throwing their orchids out once the flowers disappear. Which is awful! They think that they die after the flowers disappear, which is kind of a weird assumption to make. Does a rosebush die once it starts flowering? Orchids can flower for many years with proper care and pruning!

Though they can be hard to handle at first, Phalaenopsis orchids are gorgeous plants and a fine addition to any collection

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Labrador Retrievers

Hi everyone! Welcome to the animal segment of our 1990s themed show. This week, we'll be covering the most popular dog breed of the 90s- and today- the labrador retriever!

Unless you've been living as a hermit in the woods somewhere, whose only connection to the modern world is my wonderful radio show, you've met someone who has a lab. And for good reason! They're sweet, cuddly companions, and can always brighten up someone's day. They also have a rich history, so let's get started with that.

Labrador retrievers were bred from a now-extinct breed of water dog from Newfoundland called the St. John's water dog. They were imported to the UK in the 1830s, and used as gun dogs, like last week's Cocker Spaniels. However, they were prized for their competency in waterfowling. In the 1880s, a set of Dukes and Earls decided to create a new breed from them and other English hunting dogs, which they named the Labrador retriever, after the area of Newfoundland that they originated from. The much beloved "chocolate" coloration first appeared in the 1890s.

While labs are still used as hunting companions, their energetic disposition and willingness to learn have made them very popular in a number of other fields. In the Vietnam war, they were used as scouts to find wounded soldiers, as well as enemy positions. Labs also have the highest success rate of any breed for completing guide dog training. They can even be taught to administer very basic first-aid care! Some Labradors are trained as medical response dogs to help people with disabilities. They can place their owners in recovery position and even call emergency services. They are also used for water rescues in some areas since they're great swimmers.

They're also generally a healthy breed. They're only prone to a few diseases, mostly inherited disorders. They're more likely to suffer from joint dysplasias, which are common in larger breeds, and exercise-induced collapse. This is when dogs overheat and collapse after relatively short bouts of exercise.

One of the biggest issues for labs, though, is obesity. And it may not be for the reason you think. Most labs you'll meet are probably regular family pets. Many people just assume that their owners are sneaking them some extra table scraps on the side, but this may not be the case at all. Most Labs are missing or partially missing the POMC gene, which regulates appetite. They don't know when to stop eating!

Labrador retrievers have been the most popular breed in the US since 1991, and for good reason. They're sweet, fun-loving companions that are great for families. Just make sure to watch what they eat!

Join us next week for a surprise, when we switch up the theme for our animal care segments!

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Bamboo Palm care guide

Back in the 1980s, it was go big or go home. And go big they did!

One of the most common indoor plants of the 80s was palm plants, specifically bamboo palms. Those are the tall, dark green plants you typically see around shopping malls, and their popularity there began in the 80s.

I've had a few palms before myself, but they were all of a smaller variety and were taken out by my cat over the summer. While Mr. Kitty is a big guy, there's no way he's taking out a bamboo palm, which grows between three and eight feet tall.

Their foliage is a stunning blue-green, and a well-loved one could serve as quite the talking point in your living room.

They're particularly hardy too. All they need to stay happy is well-draining soil, regular watering between 1 and three times per week, and a little bit of sunlight to get that photosynthesis going. They grow best in larger, deeper pots.

Allowing the soil to drain well is vital, as it can be prone to root rot, but this can be easily averted by getting the proper pot and not overwatering. You should try to water it when the top third of the soil is dry.

While they are very good at surviving, they are still tropical plants. They prefer an area between 65 and 80 degrees Fahrenheit, and higher humidity. If the humidity is an issue, you can always gently mist the leaves a few times per day.

Unlike most tropical plants, however, they prefer shade. This makes them great for indoor spaces that don't receive much direct sunlight.

They like to be regularly pruned. Don't go crazy with it, but remove any yellowing or shriveled leaves. Make sure to use sharp scissors or shears, as dull ones can damage the plant.

One of the biggest problems with Bamboo Palms is their susceptibility to bugs. The most common pest is bamboo mites, which traveled with them when they were imported from japan. They typically attach to the bottom of the leaves and suck out the juice like a little invertebrate vampire. The best treatment is to wipe them down with a soapy solution on both sides of the leaf daily if you notice an infestation.

Though they're a lot bigger than the plants I usually recommend, they seem like a great choice for someone looking for something not too strenuous, but still can serve as a horticultural brag.

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Cocker Spaniels

Welcome to our animal segment for this week's 80s-themed show! In keeping with our trend for this special event, we'll be covering the most popular dog of the 1980s- the cocker spaniel.

This was another surprising one for me. While last week's breed, the poodle, is still popular, I haven't seen many cocker spaniels around. As of 2021, the American Kennel Club ranked Cocker Spaniels as the 30/197 recognized breeds, which isn't a big decrease in popularity.

There are actually two kinds of cocker spaniel; the American and the English. English cocker spaniels were bred as sport dogs to hunt Eurasian woodcock, a type of bird. If you haven't heard of those, I'd definitely recommend looking them up, they look ridiculous. English cocker spaniels were recognized as a distinct breed in 1947.

The American cocker spaniel was bred to hunt American woodcock and was recognized as a distinct breed in 1970. Though they are different breeds, they look very similar and have similar health requirements.

The cocker spaniel breed that we care about is the American cocker spaniel, which will be referred to simply as cocker spaniels from here on out for the sake of brevity.

This was not the first time that cocker spaniels were the most popular dogs in the US. From 1936 to 1952 cocker spaniels reigned supreme, until they were relieved of their number one spot by beagles. They regained their throne in 1983 and held it until 1990. It's been a bit downhill from there, but they're far from unpopular.

American cocker spaniels are a bit smaller than their English counterparts, because the American woodcock is smaller than the Eurasian variety. Cocker spaniels are gun dogs. They use their eyes and nose to locate birds hiding in the bushes and flush them out so their owner can shoot them. They then locate their bodies and retrieve them. Their mouths are particularly soft so that they don't damage the birds.

American cocker spaniels were bred partially for aesthetics as well, so they have a shorter muzzle and domed head, as well as a slanted body. Together, those make for a striking silhouette.

They make for very good family pets as well. They're very active and affectionate and are generally great with kids. They get along with people and other dogs, which is great, but doesn't make for great watch dogs. They can also be very vocal, so be prepared for a lot of yapping unless you decide to train them out of it.

Though I don't have a lot of experience with them, cocker spaniels sound like a great breed for a first-time dog owner, or a new family pet.

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Set List 10/16/2022

Due to some technical difficulties, I wasn't able to play all the songs I had planned. Here's what we got to, and I'll try to play the songs I missed in a later show.

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Call Me- Blondie

I Love Rock N' Roll- Joan Jett

Down Under- Men at Work

Every Breath You Take-The Police

With or Without You-U2

Free Fallin'- Tom Petty

Africa- Toto

Don't Stop Believing- Journey

Jessie's Girl- Rick Springfield

Eye of the Tiger- Survivor

Dancin' in the Dark- Bruce Springfield

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Great news! the scheduling error has been fixed much sooner than anticipated, so I'll be back on Sundays from 7:00-8:00 again!

Announcement

Unfortunately, there was a scheduling mishap, so I will be broadcasting from 7:00-8:00 pm est on Saturdays instead of Sundays for the foreseeable future. I'll keep you all updated of any changes!

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Set List 10/08/2022

Waterloo by ABBA

If I Can't Have You by the Bee Gees

Heart of Glass by Blondie

Bohemian Rhapsody by Queen

American Pie by Don Mclean

I Will Survive by Gloria Gaynor

Bad, Bad Leroy Brown by Jim Croce

Get Back by the Beatles

Bennie and the Jets by Elton John

Immigrant Song by Led Zeppelin

More Than a Feeling by Boston

Stairway to Heaven by Led Zeppelin

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I know, I cheated with the double Zeppelin. But please consider, they're both really good songs and I like Zeppelin.

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Announcement!

In honor of WUMF’s upcoming 50th anniversary, my next few shows will be themed on the decades since it started. This week will be based on the 70s, next week will be the 80s, etc.

On top of posting the speaking segments, I will also be posting the set lists for future shows, so look forward to seeing some awesome music!

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Poodles

Today we’ll be talking about the most popular dog breed of the 1970s; the poodle! I was actually very surprised by this, especially because of their reputation in the US as more ornamental, showy dogs. In actuality, they’re very clever animals and super hard workers. Let’s go over the history of the breed, and what makes poodles so great!

To start us off with an earth-shattering revelation, poodles aren’t actually french. They’re a believed to be a german water dog breed dating back to the middle ages. More specifically, they’re water retrievers. This means that they’re hunting dogs, specifically designed to go after waterfowl in bodies of lakes and ponds. In German, they are called “Pudelin”, which means to splash in the water. In French, they are called “Caniche,” which translates to duck dog.

Most people can recognize a poodle by their extravagant traditional haircuts, but those actually served a purpose when they were first developed. As water dogs, they need to be streamlined for efficiency in the water. However, it was dangerous for them to be fully shaved, because the cold water could damage their more vulnerable areas, like their joints and extremities. So the poofy hairstyle was developed, which covers all these vital areas while also being as streamlined as possible. 

I’m saying haircut because poodles don’t actually have fur. Fur grows to a certain length before falling out. Hair keeps growing until it is cut. If they’re not regularly groomed, poodle’s hair will just keep growing out. This isn’t recommended, because their naturally curly hair can get very knotted, which is uncomfortable for the dog. Typically, they need to be groomed every four to eight weeks.

Because they were bred to be working dogs, poodles are both clever and active. This makes them excellent companions for both individuals and families! They’re actually ranked as the second most intelligent dog breed, right under border collies, which is why they’re pretty common as service dogs. 

This high intelligence led to them being very popular in the circus, where they were eventually bred for smaller sizes, which made for easier transport. Those smaller versions are what came to be known as toy or miniature poodles.

This led to the development of three or four different size poodle varieties, ranging from standard, about 18-20 inches tall to the shoulder and 50-70 pounds, to the toy, about 10 inches to the shoulder and only five pounds! They come in a wide variety of colors as well. They live anywhere from 10-18 years, with the larger varieties having a shorter lifespan.

Unfortunately, their popularity boom in the 1960s and 70s did a lot of harm. As is unfortunately common in popular breeds, they were moderately inbred during that period to increase quantity, and produce more show-quality dogs. This left them more likely to suffer from a few hereditary diseases, such as sebaceous adenitis, a skin disease, and an endocrine disorder known as Addison’s disease. Despite this, they’ve actually managed to maintain overall good health, and there are no poodle-specific diseases to watch out for.

Poodles are sociable, fun, and easy to train! No wonder they were so popular! They’ve certainly made the shortlist for my next dog.

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Fern Care

Welcome to today’s plant care segment! We’ll be covering one of the most popular houseplants of the 1970s, which I was very surprised by. Apparently, ferns were the craze. While I’ve never had a fern myself, I've heard that they can be very temperamental about their needs. However, their reproductive cycle is fascinating, and they can be absolutely gorgeous when they’re well taken care of. Let’s talk about what you need to keep a fern healthy and happy in your care.

There are a lot of different kinds of ferns, from a lot of different climates. Obviously, there is a bunch of different fern species here in New England, but there are also many kinds of tropical ferns. This care guide will give general advice, but be sure to do your own research before you add a fern to your collection, especially since they can be pretty delicate.

One of the most important parts of fern care is the soil content. Most ferns have very fragile, tender roots, which are adapted to light forest soil. A typical potting mix probably wouldn’t be your best bet. I’d recommend a well-draining pot filled with a mix of peat and sand, with a bit more sand than peat. This allows it to drain properly and not become waterlogged. However, their roots cant be completely dry, so they should be misted or very lightly watered daily to maintain root health.

I would recommend that you go with misting since Ferns also love humidity. When you spray the soil, you can also gently mist the leaves as well to keep the humidity up by their leaves a bit. You don't need to go completely overboard with it, like putting them in a little greenhouse, but they do appreciate a little extra water in the air.

Ferns also have pretty weird lighting preferences. Because they’re found on the forest floor, they are designed for dappled lighting conditions. Not many people can replicate that in their indoor collections, so what some people recommend is keeping them in moderate light with occasional breaks in brighter light. You can also place them in an area that receives direct sunlight in the morning or the evening, so it’s not too hot for the leaves to handle.

One good thing about them being highly reactive, though, is that you can always tell if you’re doing it wrong. The leaves will turn yellow if you give too much light or not enough light, so you should be able to adjust based on your plants' needs. Ferns from warmer climates prefer, predictably, the warmer areas of the house, preferably between 60 and 70 degrees fahrenheit. Cooler climate ferns prefer a 50-60 degree range. Placing a fern in the wrong temperature zone can cause them to die prematurely. 

While the care requirements are a bit more intense than some of the other plants we’ve covered, they’re gorgeous plants, and I can see why they were so popular!

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Announcement

Unfortunately, there was a scheduling mishap, so I will be broadcasting from 7:00-8:00 pm est on Saturdays instead of Sundays for the foreseeable future. I'll keep you all updated of any changes!

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