Arguing with your ex? Sounds like you're having a delightful time on your trip!

I wonder what alternate-universe Islamic Momus is up to right now.

That podcast was fascinating as hell.
We don't get proper travelogues anymore, do we?
Sure, ever so often the BBC or NPR or somebody will do one, but that's not enough. I love them.

Just now, I was riveted to the desk while you went on.
Blew thirty minutes listening to you walk and talk and it was fabulous.

Thanks.

So that's Shazna, eh? Doesn't look so young, nor particularly controversial...

(I hereby absolve you of all prior sins of indiscretion... leaving you free to create more!)

Is she still a journalist? If so, what has she been up to lately?

Get that girl a blog!

She works for a press agency. Probably much too busy to blog!

What a blessing to meet up with Shazna.

Sometimes at night, alone and depressed
A little uptight or unbearable stressed
I cry as I call out your name
I am always unable to rest
I hope that I'll see you again

"The Guitar Lesson" is based on Balthus, not Shazna, although Shazna did bring up Balthus in our conversation.

the original Guitar Lesson is a masterpiece and the reason I own your complete discography. Never knew it was based on Balthus. The Image is going to be stuck in my mind now when listening to it. It's like reading a great book and getting a certain impression of, say, a character you could identify with and then watching the film based on that book only to discover that same character to be not what you imagined.

i'm relieved it's not based on personal experience. ;)

I quite enjoyed your podcast. Your perspective on New York and American pop culture is interesting.

Though gun ownership as constitutional right is a hotly debated issue - I personally don't see it that way, but I'm one of them silly progressives.

Great podcast, Momus. It's fun listening to you wander around my neighborhood: Soho, Chinatown, Chelsea.

Minor point: It's Confucius Plaza, not "Mansions." (I went to elementary school there!)

You are right about Chinatown. Sometimes China itself feels like an enormous Chinatown. In Chinese, "Chinatown" is called Tang Ren Jie or "Tang People Streets." The Tang Dynasty was China's "Golden Age."

The conversation with Shazna is fascinating. We so rarely see the personal side of Momus.

Have fun in NY.

That was quite enjoyable. You have a very dainty voice, you know that? Very dainty indeed. Appreciated the bit on storage units. I hate them so much. I also hate how the timed lights suddenly switch off when you're looking for your dad's old Captain Beefheart records.

Looking at the photo, I had to question Shazna's location: is she sitting next to you or is she a photo in that cream and grey frame that so perfectly surrounds her? She loses all sense of depth in the photo via that frame. Did you notice this? How's that for Superflat?!

Good point. LOL.

Nick's audio recordings reveal the naked truth. In a crude, Brechtian manner, we're removed from the stage and compelled to watch. I've always imagined that Momus speaks for me...sharing the same perspective and sensitivity. Yet, after listening into his personal life, I feel detached.

Perhaps I'm better than all this. But then, what do I have to replace the illusion?

i made this for you

http://ljmindmap.com/h.aspx?n=imomus

Why doesn't this new podcast download through I-Tunes? I got the "Momus wanders the world" (Portugal) automatically but not this one.
(Yes, I did subscribe and yes, I did update)

It's because I haven't updated the rss file yet, I'll do that this morning.

wow, that's a totally excellent photo. Was that taken with a digital camera? It doesn't look it.