LATEST ADDITIONS

The concept of a loudspeaker with its own built-in amplification is an idea whose time should long since have come. Technically it makes a lot of sense, and in some parts of the world&mdash;not to mention professional circles&mdash;it's quite popular. But commercially, the idea has never really taken off in this country. And while the loudspeaker manufacturer <I>should</I> be in a better position to make the best amplifier choice, American audiophiles seem wedded to the idea of making their own amplifier/loudspeaker match.

<I>Mirage</I> /ma-'r&#228;zh/ <I>n</I> [F, fr <I>mirer</I> to look at. fr. L <I>mirari</I>] <B>1</B>: an optical effect that is sometimes seen at sea, in the desert, or over a hot pavement, that may have the appearance of a pool of water or a mirror... <B>2</B>: something illusory and unattainable, like a mirage.

The first hybrid SACDs produced and recorded in Russia have made their way to North America. The new Russian company responsible for the recordings, Essential Music, issues them on the Caro Mitis label, whose name is Latin for "succulent fruit." All are recorded in multichannel DSD and released as hybrid SACD/CDs. Caro Mitis releases are imported by Todd Garfinkle of <A HREF="http://www.marecordings.com">M&bull;A Recordings</A>. Garfinkle himself has been responsible for some of the most enjoyable audiophile recordings of unusual performers and repertoire in the catalog.

Lovely essay on Greene's friendship with a genuine Foreign Office undercover agent. Peter Edmund James Leslie was an ex-Anglican priest who converted to Catholicism, owned shares in a diamond mine, worked as an arms salesman, and served as a Vice-Consul&mdash;in others words, he was the very template of a Graham Greene protagonist.

Happy Friday, lovely. I'm sorry for missing you yesterday. I started on several different entries, actually, but none went where I wanted. Which isn't necessarily bad &#151; entries often take unexpected turns &#151; but these entries, in particular, simply seemed not right enough for this space.

"Worship me, unworthy wretch!"

"These things used to be roomier," Huckleberry grouses.