Bob Longman WUSB Radio show, 25 May 2008

12:30-2:30 pm. WUSB Stony Brook NY, 90.1 FM, http://wusb.fm/

title -- Artist -- album N=New/Current Lp=vinyl I=Instrumental
--------------------------------------------------------------------

Feel Like Going Home -- Charlie Rich
Sounds Of the Morning -- Carrie Newcomer
Woke Up This Morning -- Eric Bibb
It Don't Make Sense (You Can't Make Peace) -- Kenny Neal -- Let Life Flow -- N
Tell Me -- Alathea -- My Roots Go Deeper -- N
Blue Orchids -- Sun Kil Moon -- April -- N
If I Had My Way (Sampson & Delilah) -- Gary Davis
Won't Stand the Light -- Stan Hedges -- Two Mule Parade -- N
Flip Flop & Fly -- Cephas & Wiggins -- Flip Flop & Fly -- N
Farther Along -- Mississippi John Hurt
Arrowhead -- Richard Shindell
Everybody's Talkin' -- Fred Neil -- Lp
the Hidden Moon -- Antoine Dufour -- Existence -- N, I
Morning In a Strange City -- Jesse Harris
Everything Is Broken -- Duke Robillard
No Words -- Neil Diamond -- Home Before Dark -- N
The Way We Do -- Ladysmith Black Mambazo -- Ilembe -- N
Dreamer -- Sergio Mendes w. Lani Hall & Herb Alpert -- encanto -- N
Half of It -- Tim Blane -- Clockwork -- N
Geese -- Joshua James -- The Sun Is Always Brighter -- N
Beside the Dial -- Ben Wise -- Beside the Dial -- N
You Can Give But You Can't Take -- Aaron Neville
Crying Won't Help -- Lowell Fulson
Stardust -- Nat King Cole

Cephas & Wiggins cut loose on their take on this early rock classic.
Diamond finally got his #1 album - now that #1 in the download era doesn't mean what it used to.
Do I really have to say anything about Nat or Stardust? You just know.

Bob Longman WUSB Radio show, 27 April 2008

12:30-2:30 pm. WUSB Stony Brook NY, 90.1 FM, http://wusb.fm/

title -- Artist -- album N=New Lp=vinyl I=Instrumental
----------------------------------------------------------
Blowin' In the Wind -- Odetta
Beautiful Lazy -- Urban Hillbilly Quartet
Nebraska -- Bruce Springsteen
A Kappella -- Le Bande Magnetik -- A Kappella -- N
Sky Maps -- Iona (UK)
Vision of Hope -- Terl Bryant
Where Dreams Are Bound -- Ben Wise -- Beside the Dial -- N
One -- Keziah Jones -- In the Name of Love (U2 trib) -- N
Not the End -- Natalie Walker -- Urban Angel -- N
Friends Again -- John Sebastian
If I Were An Angel -- Marc Cohn
Half Of It -- Tim Blane -- Clockwork -- N
Leave It to Me -- Vox One
Just Keep Goin' On -- Dan Smith
On his Southern roots -- Brooks Williams -- interview 1993
Statesboro Blues -- Brooks Williams -- Time I Spend w. You -- N
Spend My Life With You -- Phil Keaggy
St. George & the Dragonet -- Stan Freberg
High School Cadets -- Meredith Willson Marching Band
Being Alive -- Barbra Streisand
There Was Love -- Charlie Peacock
How Little -- Rajaton -- Out of Bounds -- "N"
Un-Wishing Well -- Rajaton -- Out of Bounds -- "N"
Do Nothing Til You've Heard It From Me -- Nat King Cole
Disappear -- Michael Korb -- Ghosts -- N
King Harvest -- Jack Williams -- Don't Let Go -- N
Lovesick Blues -- Jack Williams -- Don't Let Go -- N
Maria -- Ben Webster & Coleman Hawkins

Odetta does Dylan songs that noone else does -- majestic and strong, invested with much meaning.
Freberg's oddball takeoff on Dragnet.
Yes, I played a marching band song not from Stony Brook's band. The familiar name here is Willson, who wrote Music Man (Till There Was You, 76 Trombones, etc.). He apparently served under Sousa himself for about 2 years! (He followed that with time in the New York Philharmonic.)
Rajaton (Finnish acappella) reminds us that we may not want what we wish for.

WUSB Radio Show, Bob Longman, 20 April 2008

12:30-2:30 pm. WUSB Stony Brook NY, 90.1 FM, http://wusb.fm/

title -- Artist -- album N=New Lp=vinyl I=Instrumental
----------------------------------------------------------

Hang Out With the Moon -- Diana Jones
Keeper Of the Earth -- Chuck Pyle
Sailing -- Chuck Pyle
All That I Am -- Tom Griffith
Prosciutto E Meloni -- La Bande Magnetik -- A Kapella -- N
Illia -- La Bande Magnetik -- A Kapella -- N
I Still Haven't Found... -- Cheikh Lo -- In the Name of Love (U2 trib) -- N
Not the End -- Natalie Walker -- Urban Angel -- N
We Walk In A Fog -- Rajaton -- Out Of Bounds -- "N"
Sunshine -- Jonathan Edwards
With or Without You -- Les Nubians -- In the Name of Love (U2 trib) -- N
Ride On -- Ben Wise -- Beside the Dial -- N
Simple Gifts -- Vox One
Gathering of Spirits -- Carrie Newcomer
61 Highway -- Brooks Williams -- Time I Spend w. You -- N
I Think It's Gonna Rain Today -- Judy Collins
Adrift -- Iona (UK)
Jeremiah's Prayer -- Mark Broussard
One -- Keziah Jones -- In the Name of Love (U2 trib) -- N
Set U Free -- Take 6
Improv 2 -- Vox One
Leave It To Me -- Vox One -- -- R

Why does this song from the Magnetik ones make my tummy yearn for an Italian sub?
If you're looking for great NGOs/nonprofits/charities to be involved with, check out the ones described in the booklet for this U2 tribute CD, and its online site. These are the real deal. (Some of them are already listed to the left of this posting, and linked from the Spirithome.com site.)

WUSB Radio Show, Bob Longman, 04 April 2008

12:40-1:50 pm Sun, http://wusb.fm/

title -- artist -- album N=New Lp=vinyl I=Instrumental
----------------------------------------------------------

Beaumont Rag -- Brooks Williams -- Time I Spend W. You - N
The Night Inside Me -- Jackson Browne -- Solo Acoustic vol. 2 - N
Don't Ever Want To Be Without You -- Pierce Pettis
Inside Of My Face -- Chuck Pyle
Humble Me -- Norah Jones
Things About Coming My Way -- Ruth Brown -- Honeydripper s.track -- N
So Fine -- Johnny Maestro
the Cross -- Blind Boys AL
Ugly Baby -- Flip Wilson
Chalice -- Phil Keaggy
Last to Die -- Bruce Springsteen
Undone -- Devotchka -- A Mad & Faithful Feeling -- N
Vision -- Jack's Waterfall -- -- R
My Babe -- Dion -- Son of Skip James -- N
I'm Just A Singer -- Moody Blues
Drums of War -- Chris Cairns -- Hello Blue -- N
All I Could Do Was Cry -- Etta James

WUSB Radio Show, Bob Longman, 09 March 2008

12:30-2:30 pm. WUSB Stony brook NY, 90.1 FM, http://wusb.fm/

title -- Artist -- album N=New Lp=vinyl I=Instrumental
----------------------------------------------------------

This House -- Christopher Williams
The Dragonfly Races -- Ellis Paul -- the Dragonfly Races -- N
(title track) -- Brooks Williams-- The Time I Spend With You -- N
Desperate For Love -- Over The Rhine
Much Farther to Go -- Rosie Thomas
Those Kind of Things -- Jim Lauderdale -- Honey Songs -- N
Love Hurts -- Everly Brothers
Leaving the Life -- Lori McKenna
Last to Die -- Bruce Springsteen
I Can Laugh At It Now -- Dion
The Song Sings Itself -- Gerry O'Beirne -- the Bog Bodies.... -- N, I
Oh Darlin' -- O'Kanes
Returning -- Buddy & Julie Miller
Unchained -- Johnny Cash
Let's Go Out -- Devon Sproule
Lullabye -- Tim Blane -- Clockwork -- N
Somewhere Somebody -- Jennifer Warnes
If I Could Help Somebody -- 5 Blind Boys AL -- Down In New Orleans -- N
Hallelujah -- Fairfield Four
It Happens Every Day -- Dar Williams
Fire -- Iona (UK) -- -- I
Stoned Soul Picnic -- New York Voices -- A Day Like This -- N
I Can't Make It Alone -- Lou Rawls -- the Essential... -- "N"
Dead End Street -- Lou Rawls -- the Essential.... -- "N"
One -- Harry Nilsson

I've been catching up again with Rosie Thomas tracks lately, they wear well.
Exhibit B in the case for Lou Rawls as a top-level soul singer (Exhibit A was with Sam Cooke, in Bring It On Home to Me).

Jazz On the Air, WUSB 90.1 FM, 09 March 2008

(Yeah, I know; it took longer to get the playlist back....) ;)

track-- artist -- album (if new) N=new *: especially good
============================================

* Them That's Got -- Maceo Parker -- Roots & Grooves, cd1 -- N
Tempus Fugit -- Miles Davis
Two Bass Hit -- Miles Davis & John Coltrane
Compassion -- John Coltrane
Parker's Mood -- James Carter
Atonement -- Ron Blake -- Shayari -- N
Can't Buy Me Love -- Ella Fitzgerald
Impulsive -- Clark Terry
Keyhole Blues -- Louis Armstrong Hot 9
* Wave -- Sarah Vaughan
Lluvia Azul -- Gato Barbieri
Song For Bilbao -- Michael Brecker
If I Should Lose You -- Mulgrew Miller
Count Basie -- Count's Place
China Cat Sunflower -- Sabertooth -- Dr. Midnight -- N
* Petit Pays (Little Country) -- Cesaria Evora
Just A Blues -- Virginia Mayhew Septet -- A Simple Thank-You -- N
Thieves In the Temple -- Herbie Hancock
Vibraphone Blues -- Lionel Hampton
Blues On the Corner -- David Brandom -- No Way Out -- N
* HIMM -- Don Byron
Around the Corner - Eero Kolvistoinen - Jazz fr. Finland '08 (compil.) - N
Back To Basics -- Bellson & Terry -- Louie & Clark Expedition 2
Well, You Needn't -- Tigran Hamasyan -- New Era -- N
Who Walks In (When I Walk Out) -- Louis Armstrong & Ella Fitzgerald
In A Mist -- Clark Terry

Maceo made the first CD of the set a celebration of Ray Charles (incl. this track); the second CD of the set went funk to the floor.
A classic Vaughan vocal, 'nuff said.
Sabertooth, a brass-kicking band, is bold enough to play anything, even Grateful Dead.

Bob Longman radio show, 16 March 2008, WUSB 90.1 FM

track-- artist -- album (if new) N=new *: especially good
============================================

Everywhere -- Brooks Williams -- The Time I Spend With You -- N
Peace In the Valley -- Sam Cooke / Soul Stirrers
Sentenced to Life With the Blues -- Andy Falco -- Sentenced... -- N
You Better Mind -- Blind Boys of AL -- Down In New Orleans -- N
I Can't Make It Alone -- Lou Rawls
I Know My Love -- the Chieftains w. the Corrs
The Irish Blessing -- Twin Shores Chorus
* Lullabye -- Tim Blane -- Clockwork -- N
Book of Dreams -- Dion
All Mine (w. band) -- Five Satins
* Caravan of Love -- the Housemartins
Today -- Birmingham Sunlights
Dese Bones Gonna Rise Again -- Golden Gates
Think of You -- Five O'Clock Shadow
Shishumayel'ivangeli -- Ladysmith Black Mambazo
Down By The Old Mill Stream -- 139th Street Quartet
Jackie -- New York Voices -- A Day Like This -- N
Farmer's Market -- Lambert Hendricks & Ross
I'll Never Forget -- Dixie Hummingbirds
I Have A Dream -- the Persuasions
Walking Down the Street -- Real Group
People Change -- Rockapella
It's Sure Gonna Flop -- Sabertooth -- Dr. Midnight -- N
Bayou Betty -- Bonerama -- Bringing It Home -- N
Death Don't Have No Mercy -- Jorma Kaukonen
Death Don't Have No Mercy -- Toby Walker
Wide River to Cross -- Levon Helm -- Dirt Farmer -- N
Lamb Of God -- Take 6

Jackie is from the Annie Ross catalogue (as in Lambert Hendricks and..)
Tim Blane sings to someone he hasn't met, but she's already crossed his mind.
Sabertooth and Bonerama are two of a new breed of brass-kicking bands.

a month off... whoa! too long.

I've been so busy with my own woes and those of others that I haven't posted in 6 weeks. Ouch!

I haven't forgotten. I'm coming!

Much of that time has been dedicated to my finances. Mine are a bit messy. (Like a lot of folks.) I'll have to find a new revenue stream to better support my lifestyle. (Living in a cubicle apartment, minimized expenses, no luxuries.) And, of course, it was tax season, when America's average blood pressure rises by about 15%. Some of the time left over was in the interminable search for a woman to love. And the first week or so of my 'break' was decompressing from the trip to California. No, I didn't see a single celebrity. (Rick Warren doesn't count...:) ) Nor did I get any job offers. But it was great being with my father's side of the family.

Not much was done with the Spirithome.com site in the past month. Some duplicate content was removed. Only two pages took big drops during that time. One of those is seasonal -- angels.html, which drops down search lists when baseball season starts due to the sites related to the Los Angeles Angels team. The other is a puzzler, prayersp.html, which is the main page on prayer. (The other prayer pages are doing quite well.) I'll be doing an emailing in a few weeks to those who asked for it. And there are a few new word definitions, most notably on atonement, expiation, and propitiation.

Please keep me in prayer -- I'll need all of the divine attention I can get.

More from La-La Land

Went to a number of the local churches this past weekend. ('Local' my butt -- it's like driving to Jersey or Connecticut from Long Island, everything's so far apart and still LA.)

First stop was West Angeles COGIC, Crenshaw Blvd, where two women were gleefully describing what it is to sing worship there. (One of them does solos on occasion, the other's a choir singer.) Super smiles! It was just a hello stop, but a good one. As always, some spending in the neighborhood, picking up an accessory and lunch at El Pollo Loco.

At night, it was Saddleback Church. Moving stuff about forgiveness, reconciliation, and Rwanda, with a Rwandan church leader speaking. Rick Warren is on message, giving a teaching sermon on the whys of forgiving. I never seem to get used to worshipping in auditoriums, even when they're called worship halls. (That applies to many old-style cathedrals, too, for some reason.) I had brief chats with people involved in educational ministries. I was a bit surprised how quickly things wrapped up after the service -- longer than LI churches, but shorter than they let on, all the special tent areas and such were picked up and the worship building being locked up around 8:30. No hanging here. It was also not much of a 'worship service'. To me, it was a very good basic seminar class framed by music and dotted with a prayer at the end.

Next up was Sunday morning, which was started at Lutheran Church of the Master ELCA - Lancaster. They were friendly and had a pretty good supply/temporary pastor, but not much membership. Next after that, Mosaic - West LA. They had to fudge their setup; usually, they are at Beverly Hills High, but they had to switch to an elementary school for this one service. Again, not as much of a worship service as I was expecting; basically some songs followed by an Erwin McManus message, then another song and some hanging out. It felt much looser and less rushed, and I got to talk to some more people. None of those emergent-type worship elements like art, ancient practices, questions, rock music, etc., but then this was on the fly.

None of it really felt like worship. Part of that was me (the phone call that took me out of LC of the Master before Communion, and the fact that this is a vacation). Part was the services (songs - teachings - songs is not, to me, much of an act of worship). But at least I was there. I tried not to go in with expectations, but of course I had them anyway. What was more impressive than the worship was how involved these churches are. Each has made commitments to large-scale projects in LA and in other countries. In the case of Saddleback and Mosaic, they took on large projects involving many volunteers, and working with government and other churches. I'm used to having little money and even less volunteers. Time will tell if this will have any impact on such a big place as LA.

Report from Antelope Valley

The second full day here in SoCal. So far, a job interview or two, meeting relatives, and a lot of driving and learning the lay of the land. One of the 'stretching' things I'm doing is that I'm using what is for me new technology. For instace, a wireless phone. (Never had one before.) I'm driving a hybrid car (new to me), with a GPS (new to me). Oddly enough, it's all been easy so far, no bizarre electronic fubbs to report. Too easy. The GPS is doing wonders for getting around a strange city.

I've been to the Valley now for a fifth time, but each time is different because each time the place has changed. More houses, more shopping centers, fewer joshua trees. All according to a plan - even if it resembles helter-skelter. (But more of that some other time.) It's not as dry this time, there's more moisture in the air. And there's more fog/smog at the foot of the south mountains. Homes are still being planned, though few are actually being built at the moment. No, it does not yet resemble LA, yet it also resembles its desert roots less and less.

I had a fun time at the Desert Toastmasters tonight, an unplanned pleasure on a busy schedule. I hope I can visit more parts of the LA church scene in the next few days.

More later....

Fun Links

Some fun-links to try out.

• Humor columnist Tim Bete


• Bruce Cameron, a good humorist; his stuff translates well over the Web.


• Funology, a site just for fun, for all ages.


• horn+swaggled blog, that dabbles in religion-world satire


• Laugh and Lift :)


• The Leviathan, which puts the 'fun' back in fundamentalism. (Y'mean there was some?)


• MyHumor.org. Try it just for laughs.


• Peggie's Place, Peggie Bohannon's pleasant place to stop off during a long
  hard night's Netsurfing. (Bohannon also is one of the pioneer Christian believers on the Web.)


• the Phantom Tollbooth. (Not easy to describe; you have to dig into it to get a grasp of it. Enjoy!)


• the long-running Ship of Fools satirical magazine. I'd never even heard of them until I stumbled onto this web home for the bizarrly faithful. Also, their digital Church of Fools, and their version of the history of saints, Loose Canons.


• one version of the origin of April Fool's Day.


• Snopes.com, a good resources for checking over those on-line hoaxes and 'urban legends'.


• A check-up for your attitude, with
  Dr. Thorson's Humor Scale

Radio Show, WUSB 90.1 FM, 17 February 2008

Bob Longman Sun 12:30-1:45 pm 17 February 2008
WUSB Stony Brook NY 90.1 FM, http://wusb.fm/

Ghost Radio -- Pat Wictor -- R
Wandering Shepherd -- Dan Fogelberg
Light Years -- Caroline Peyton
Walk Among the Stones -- Kate Campbell
Swingin' For Pappy -- Wild Bill Moore -- I
Dyna-Flow -- Jack Cooley
Lady Love -- Lou Rawls
Blues Boy -- Phil Minnisale -- L, N
Hometown - Jan Krist
I Own My Part -- Jan Krist
Death Don't Have No Mercy -- Toby Walker -- L
You Brought the Sunshine -- Clark Sisters -- R
The World Keeps You Waiting -- New York Voices
Veil of Gossamer -- Dave Bainbridge -- R, I
Breathe -- Keller Williams -- N
Flip Our Wigs -- the Treniers
As -- Stevie Wonder

1:45 pm : Seawolves Men's Basketball vs. Vermont

N = New L = Local R= Request I = Instrumental

Radio Show, Bob Longman WUSB 90.1 FM , 03 February 2008

Bob Longman Sun 12:30-2:30 pm 03 February 2008
WUSB Stony Brook NY, 90.1 FM, wusb.fm
Track -- Artist -- Album

She's Killing Me -- Bob Wills/Texas Playboys -- Legends of Country Music
Gone Gone Gone -- Robert Plant/Alison Krauss -- Raising Sand -- N
Voyeurs -- Jason Harrod -- Bright As You
Your Own Worst Enemy -- Bruce Springsteen -- Magic -- N
Breathe -- Keller Williams -- Breathe -- N
Black Sheep Wall -- Innocence Mission
Lonesome Valley -- Eric Bibb
the Deep -- Claire Holley
A Common Thread -- Michael Kelly Blanchard
Fallen Splendor -- Jeff Johnson -- Fallen Splendor -- I
Setembro (Brazilian Wedding Song) -- Take 6
Java Jive -- Manhattan Transfer
None of Us Are Free -- Solomon Burke
Buffalo Soldier -- the Persuasions
Dead End Street -- Lou Rawls
Five Guys Names Moe -- Louis Jordan/Tympany 5
the Voice -- Five Satins
Masterpiece Theatre -- Jean Joseph Mouret -- -- I
Blessing Wind -- Bill Miller -- -- I
Seahouses -- Dave Bainbridge -- -- I
Ambergris March -- Bjork -- -- I
My Babe -- Dion -- Son of Skip James -- N
Chamego (Betty's Bossa) -- New York Voices -- A Day Like This -- N
The Man Who Would Be King -- John Stewart
Abiola -- Ellis Paul -- Dragonfly Races -- N
Lullabye For Later -- Tim Blane -- Clockwork -- N
I Could Have Been Your Best Friend -- Viktor Krauss -- N
Holding On To the Earth -- Sam Phillips-Burnett -- Indescribable Wow
When Luther Played the Blues -- Hans Theessink -- Slow Train -- N
Change -- Gospel Hummingbirds
By Athenish -- Bonerama -- Bringing It Home -- N

Christians and Asian spiritual practices

A Spirithome.com site reader asked in 2003 :

>> The only thing that bothered me is when I did a search on your
>> site and it shows a sponsor for the site being one that is for an
>> Eastern "religious" or spiritual healing technique.

Spirithome is not 'sponsored' by anyone. It takes no money. Nor
does Spirithome promote web sites, though two sites do get special
mentions because of their causes : Bread for the World and Habitat
For Humanity. However, some 'gateway' sites link to Spirithome, and
they can put up ads for whomever they want on their site as they give
you access to mine. I have no say in that.


>> Eastern "religious" or spiritual healing technique [Reiki].

I have many links on the links pages. They are there to help
people honestly look through the Web on spiritual matters. I'm
there to share the love of Christ with people on the Web, not
to 'sell' Jesus like a commodity. I do have links to
non-Christian spiritual stuff, and use it sometimes in explaining
the Christian faith. While I believe these can't take you all the
way through to God or make you good with God, they can
sometimes be informative and helpful. Asian techniques are not always
anti-Christian. Some of them are simply real discoveries about
the human body and mind which were made within a non-Christian
culture and were thus explained in a non-Christian way, as they
knew how. A Christian would need to learn it thoroughly, and
mesh it with the Bible and the main framework of the
Christian faith, knowing there are likely to be some points of
contact, just as Thomas Aquinas did with classic Greek
philosophy, and as early Celtic Christians did with their culture.
God works in non-Christians, too, and Christians can adapt from
them whatever builds people up or teaches them better, so long as
it's understood in a gospel way.

Today's Christians are doing this with yoga and tai chi,
with much practical benefit. These practices haven't done
much good for me personally, but they've been very helpful
for the spirituality of other Christians that I know. The main
benefit appears to be that by gearing their bodies down, they
can be in better touch with their bodies and their thoughts. I
don't know enough about Reiki to know if there are comparable
benefits from it, so I won't comment on its use.

I wish the Christians who are convinced of the value of
yoga and tai chi would take much more seriously the task
of fully re-thinking them in a way that springs from the
core of Christian faith and the gospel. But most of the
explanations I've read mostly cut-and-paste the Asian-
religions' explanations (including some theories about inner forces
and spirits which mesh poorly with what Jesus taught, and sometimes
even verge on pseudo-science), and then sprinkle Christian
theological and/or spiritual chatter and/or Bible citations over
it like sesame seeds on a bun -- it sits on top but doesn't
really change the bun. When that's so, it can't be
claimed as an expression of their faith in Christ. I'm
hoping some Christians, preferably Asian ones, would take
on this task 'for the masses'.

The Amazing Race (TAR) notes

Now that Season 12 has ended, it's time to take note of a few things.

I was pleased to be at this season's TARcon in New York. That's where the big fans of the show get together to meet each other and watch the finale together. It was a strange-feeling schmoozefest at first, in that for the first hour most of those who I approached weren't at all talkative. The Race started while the Giants game was on, but fortunately the screens all shifted to the Race when it came time to start.

Anchorage, Alaska! I briefly saw a picture of a snowy, icy place earlier in the season, so I thought something like that was up. But I didn't think it would end there! Seeing TK in there with the crabs, trying to find the one with the TAR flag, I was ouching with him. Then to see all three teams at the final puzzle task together, that was tense. I was trying to figure out the puzzle myself as it unfolded on the screen, but no luck. They had to take items from each leg of the Race and put them in place according to a set of specific rules. There were, of course, more items than were needed, so it took a lot of thinking it through. They all struggled with it, apparently for about an hour, before Rachel put it all together, apparently by figuring out that the cleaning man, as a human being, counted as an 'animal'. As she had throughout the Race, her pluck and preparation paid off -- to the tune of a million bucks. (It turns out that the taxi ride to the final mat was bollixed by the cab drivers, but fortunately it didn't change the order.)

The Racers arrived at TARcon -- first Jennifer of Shana/Jennifer. Most people thought she was Shana at first, but soon figured out she was the 'other blonde' and that the guy with her was, I think, her husband. (Shana was in California, at a viewing party there.) But they stayed mostly in the background, because arriving at about the same time were Kynt/Vyxsin, the self-proclaimed Goths, and when they arrived all the attention went to them. No mistaking it -- their striking physical appearance, with the makeup and the black-and-red outfits, makes them the center of any circus, which is what PR appearances are. Kynt was, to say the least, very promotional, with the pre-made photo prints for signing and the red business cards. I wonder what he'll do when they start fading from view? Vyxsin was trying hard to be attention-grabbing too, with somewhat startling photo poses, but one got the sense that she'd rather get this phase over with. She's taller than me by a good bit, but I didn't realize how much until I stood next to her. I'm picturing her, say, twelve years from now, showing these pictures to her children, as their eyes shine with wonder.

Next, it was time for the winners, TK and Rachel. They were in New York City for the end-of-season winner's event on CBS' the Early Show, and also the next day for Regis's show. They walked in just as the Giants won the football game, causing a big combined cheer. This hullabaloo is something new to them -- he was a NCAA competitive swimmer, her a flower shop operator with her parents, neither of which prepares you for the burst of PR activity and the showering of love from adoring Race fans at TARcon. (Not to mention a half-mill each.) But they were handling it the same way they handled the Race, with calm collectedness and lots of praise for each other. (Maybe I'll post the photo of them with me, if I can get the darnded thing to upload.) They'd known each other from childhood (their mothers knew each other well), and went to the same high school (the same school as two other Season 12 Racers, Nate and Staella). But they'd only been dating for four months when they decided to get into the Race. They communicate with each other very well, even in a month or so of Race and a mob of fans. They were uncomfortable, yet eager to operate outside their comfort zone. During the Race I was especially impressed with Rachel, who was one of the best Racers they've had, as I see it. She has a level of focus and determination that tells me we'll hear from her again eventually, accomplishing something worth noticing that has nothing to do with flowers or winning money. In person, she was as I pictured her, except even thinner.

Last, of course, was the Amazing Host, Phil Keoghan. Totally at ease in a crowd, he went straight to the back and started telling stories, answering Race questions, and posing with a lot of people. He earned a reputation as an adventurer even before TAR, and appears on those cable channels that show adventurer-types. Those who think this stuff is not an adventure don't know how tired these people get, nor have they ever enjoyed sleeping in an ATM enclosure with a bunch of other teams. It's not easy for Phil, either, but "not easy" is his normal.

There's something that I find odd. TK/Rachel won by way of quiet determination and mutual supportiveness. Yet they are both quick to say good things about the team whose constant hateful words, poor communication and poor teamwork was the very antithesis of theirs, Nate/Jennifer. Especially when some of those not-nice words were directed at them and their approach to the Race. On that front, TK/Rachel let their victory speak for itself, while telling us how great and fun Nate/Jennifer were to get along with. They even mentioned some happy moments the two teams experienced together in Italy and Croatia. It seems the Race isn't all that TK/Rachel are winners at. I can only wish them the best on the road ahead.

Bob Longman radio show, 20 January 2008, WUSB

Bob Longman Sun 12:30-2:30 pm 20 January 2008
WUSB 90.1 FM Stony Brook NY, http://wusb.fm/

Moontown -- Pierce Pettis -- State of Grace
Empty My Hands -- Christopher Williams -- The Silence In Between
Don't Ever Let Your Spirit Down -- Eric Bibb -- An Evening With... -- N
Sun's Gonna Shine One Day -- Eleanor Ellis -- Comin' A Time -- N
The Great Change -- Mainline Gospel Trio -- -- L
We Shall Not Be Moved -- Mavis Staples -- We'll Never Turn Back
Drifting -- Bebo Norman -- Try
Snow -- Loreena McKennitt
Chanting Waves -- Dave Bainbridge -- Veil of Gossamer
Veil of Gossamer -- Dave Bainbridge -- Veil of Gossamer
Ambergris March -- Bjork
Breathe -- Keller Williams -- Breathe -- N
One More River -- Sam Cooke & the Soul Stirrers
Worthy (acoustic mix) -- Sara Brenner -- Unsteady Ground -- L
Time -- Lou Rawls -- the Essential... -- "N"
She's Gone (With the Wind) -- 5 Satins -- Lost Treasures
A.K.A. Papa Funk -- Jimmy McIntosh -- Orleans to London -- N
Impermanent Things -- Peter Himmelman
To Be Alone With You -- Sufjan Stevens
Lullabye -- Tim Blane -- Clockwork -- N
Love Is the Water -- Pat Wictor -- Waiting For the Water -- L
The World Keeps You Waiting -- New York Voices -- A Day Like This -- N
More -- Charlotte Doreen Small -- More -- N
Careful How You Break My Heart -- Jory Nash -- Folk Jazz Blues Soul
Disappear -- Michael Korb -- Ghosts -- N
(Reach Out and) Touch -- Steve Scott -- Magnificent Obsession
Bayou Betty -- Bonerama -- Bringing It Home -- N

McKennitt can at times be tedious, but at other times, such as on this track, superb.
The Voices put together a jazzy concoction that's crammed with top-drawer group singing.
At this point, it's about 20 years old, but Touch is still a dramatic, rhythmic, snippeted delight.
Bonerama's a trombone band from Nawlins way, with some promising brassy sounds.

Spiritual Shrinkage

A reader at Spirithome.com asked me this question :

>> I hear all this blah blah blah about
>>'spiritual growth'. But is there such a thing as
>> 'spiritual shrinkage'? <<

There are a lot of folks who say 'no', including some of the
wisest spiritual folks around. They say that spiritual
awareness can't disappear, just like a raised consciousness
supposedly can't be lowered. Something of it still lingers,
some things about the person can never be the same.

I can see some degree of truth to that, but not enough.
Growth goes up and down and stops and starts. You may not
notice your growth - though sometimes others do. Spiritual
growth is not a constant. And if it can stop, it can go
backward. Sometimes, people spiritually shrink and warp. What
can cause it? Desperation. Fear. Hurt. Greed. Lust. Anger.
Loss. Powerlust. Their spirit becomes shallower. There's nothing
that can make you shrink. Nothing has the power to
defeat the Spirit's work in you. Anything that can get you to
shrink can be turned around to make you grow. But that's easy
to say, hard to live, because of the power you have over you.

You can make choices that will shrink you. So you can shrink spiritually.

Bob Longman WUSB 90.1 FM Sun 13 January 2008

Bob Longman Sun 12:30-2:30 pm 13 January 2008

Hard Love -- Brooks Williams -- How the Night-Time Sings
William's Vision -- Kate Campbell -- Monuments
Sentenced to Life With the Blues -- Andy Falco -- Sentenced to Life -- N
Everybody Knows -- Ryan Adams -- single
Breathe -- Keller Williams -- Breathe
Little Bird -- Levon Helm -- Dirt Farmer -- N
Nighthawk -- Jory Nash -- Folk Jazz Blues & Soul
Take the A Train -- Just 4 Kicks -- All In Good Time
If I Should Fall Behind -- Dion DiMucci -- Deja Nu
I Only Have Eyes For You -- the Flamingos
The World Keeps You Waiting -- New York Voices -- A Day Like This -- N
For Sentimental Reasons -- Nat King Cole
We Shall Not Be Moved -- Mavis Staples -- We'll Never Turn Back
Lord Will Make A Way -- Mighty Sam McClain
I'm In Good Hands -- the Clark Sisters
Coming Down -- Anders Osborne -- Coming Down -- N
Still Water -- Gypsy Soul -- Beneath the Covers -- N
White Bird -- the Strangelings -- Season Of the Witch -- N
Epitaph -- Monkey Puzzle
Bajjan -- Youssou N'Dour
Homeless -- Ladysmith Black Mambazo
I Left My Sins -- Bob Marley & the Wailers -- Another Dance -- 'N'
Cafe -- Malo -- Malo
After Loving You -- Charlie Peacock -- Love Life

Helm gives us a happy surprise album; this traditional is the kind of stuff that drew him to US South/Midwest music.
Twinkie Clark made many a top-grade gospel song from ad slogans.
Chris Thompson pipes in, with Pete & Maura Kennedy -- so they're strangelings, with a cover of the LaFlamme classic.
Malo was more than just their one hit -- for instance, this track had guitar lines and rhythms that at times recall the ones Jorge Santana's brother Carlos would "Smooth" out over a quarter century later.

Not your typical babys' babble

One of my readers at Spirithome.com asked me this question about 6 years ago :

>> My parents recently told me that when I was little (3-4 yrs old),
>> sometimes at night I would speak in tongues. They're
>> not religious or anything. I don't remember
>> this at all, but then I don't remember much from back then.

I'm assuming they're talking about a time after you started
talking a lot in regular English. It's common for little
children to speak that way. Psychologists say there's no
special meaning to it, though it does seem to have patterns
like talking does. I like to think of it as still remembering
what it was like to be with God and trying to relate with Him
as they did before they were born. I didn't lose that sense
until I was about 7, so I was more aware about it than most are.

>> I'd like to know if I should try to get that ability
>> back or uncover it again. Considering I am a Christian but
>> I don't spend a lot of time or effort in the religion, I want to
>> know if it's worth it or if I have an obligation to use it because
>> God gave it to me for a purpose.

God does not oblige you to do such things. God gave you all that you have, and gave it for a purpose, but you'll use it (or choose not to) when God puts forward the opportunity. Please don't feel guilty about not using tongues or for that matter, about how much time or effort you put into the faith. 15-year-olds like you rarely do, they're too busy living and growing up. I do hope you set up a pattern of praying each day, that's one thing that will be helpful between you and God and for your own peace of mind. Just set aside some time whenever it's best to do so, pray your main concerns, then just be still for a while, and think about something about Jesus. Most folks who do this find themselves being more steady and confident in what can be a confusing time of life. And you'll have a better sense of God's timing.

Language pages have moved

My linguistics pages have moved to :

http://rlongman1.googlepages.com/

and

http://rlongman1.googlepages.com/protoger.html

Hopefully, it will mean more reliable access to the pages than in the past.