i was disappointed by the guy from the NY Times review of the photo show; his summation that 'video was the only way' to capture the spirit of rock just pointed out that he had grown up with MTV... there are quite a few 'rock videos' that i like but on the whole i think its more important to have ones own personal images linked to music rather than the images that some director thinks represent the song... it has always been a point that i had mixed feelings about... having grown up back in the ancient days, most of the music that i hear from those times is bound up with the things that i was seeing and the feelings i was having and not with the very specific video images that i often associate with later songs... isnt it hard to think of 'Like A Virgin' without picturing Madonna on the boat? now think of 'I Want To Hold Your Hand' and see what you come up with; most likely like me a sort of montage of Beatle images, many photographic... any way they cant all be journalistic gems but i expect more from the Times

missed Halloween at home for the first time in a few years, currently in a Marriott hotel in Halifax... now proof that there are a lot of hip journalists out there is here in the form of this review from Halifax Chronicle Record: BLONDIE HALIFAX REVIEW

Monday will find us back at reording with Jeff and the boys from SF... sitting around in hotel rooms is some kind of art form... i am of course reminded always of 'Old Boy' the Park Chan-Wook film wherein the hero is locked up in a hotel room for fifteen years for apparently no reason... well it turns out he called this other guys sister a slut in high school and the guy was out for revenge... hotel rooms all blend together and we frequently have lapses of recall: yesterday i was sitting in the room here when the maid opened the door and let in Clem who had gotten off at the wrong floor and thought his card-key didnt work... its tough at the top as we say happy belated Halloween all