LATEST ADDITIONS

Last December, when Wadia Digital announced that it was releasing an iPod docking cradle that could access the digital signal <I>before</I> it had passed through the player's own D/A converter, many audiopundits were surprised. <I>I</I> was disbelieving, and nearly told Wadia's John Schaffer that he was shining me on. After all, Apple has tiptoed around the whole issue of consumers being able to digitally copy their iTunes files, going so far as to wrap its iTunes Music Store files in digital rights management (DRM) code.

And tomorrow we leave for Denver to cover "America's Audio Show," the <a href="http://audiofest.net/2008/">Rocky Mountain Audio Fest</a>.

John Lennon of the Beatles was born on October 9, 1940. He would have been 68 this week. To celebrate, Lyric Hi-Fi & Video (1221 Lexington Avenue, New York, NY) will be spinning Beatles and Lennon albums all day long, from 10am to 6pm. Fans are invited to stop by and enjoy.

<B>BEN FOLDS: <I>Way to Normal</I></B><BR>
Epic 886970984928 (CD). 2008. Dennis Herring, prod., Joe Costa, eng. AAD? TT: 40:32<BR>
Performance ****&#189;<BR>
Sonics ***

I'm scared. I've just returned from a visit to the isle of my birth, Manhattan. As the spouse and I walked to <I>Stereophile</I>'s <A HREF="http://forum.stereophile.com/photopost/showphoto.php/photo/114">offices…; to meet John Atkinson and Stephen Mejias for dinner, we passed some of the most valuable real estate in the country. It was hard to imagine that, if global warming continues at its current, ever-accelerating pace, the buildings we were marveling at will soon be below sea level.

Here is a screen shot of Mistral. Mistral is an online tool used to proof magazine pages before shipping to press. It allows several people in remote locations to view pages and exchange notes regarding specifications and corrections. There are several different view options. The view presented here is called "flatplan state." Flatplan state is my personal view of choice. It's kind of like having each page of the magazine tacked up to a wall. It's kind of cool. Though I still prefer old-fashioned pen and paper.

STEPHEN MEJIAS<br>
This ravishing yet reticent redhead claims to have been in love on at least three occasions. Though fiery at the start, each romance fizzled with time, unable to live up to Stephen's ideals. She says, "I have no regrets. I would rather be lonely than sorry…"

Reader macksman is curious: What did you listen to last night or during your last listening opportunity. Also, if it wasn't last night, how long ago was it?

Like many perpetually adolescent, emotionally-stunted hipsters, I had a radio show at the campus station back in the day. Crafting a show that had flow was an arcane art&#151;one that is virtually impossible to experience on commercial radio stations with limited play lists. Therefore, it was an art that, once mastered, would be of almost no practical use. It certainly wasn't going to get you a good paying job.

Strange collection, but that's the point. How do you categorize that which is beyond category? Of course, Wittgenstein said, " Whereof one cannot speak, thereon one must remain silent." I say, "Eff off, Ludwig."