If you were to do a Google image search on my work at
Stereophile, you'd see that, basically, my days are simply filled with reading, writing, coordinating, and planning. No two consecutive days, however, are the same.
Yesterday was not like
today will not be like
tomorrow.
On the other hand, if you were to zoom out a little bit, you'd see that, from month to month, there are incredible similarities. From month to month, it's really all the same, in fact. It's inevitable, I suppose, with a monthly magazine. Zoom out a little further, and you'll see even more similarities. It's kind of funny, if you think about it.
Why don't we all just get up and dance like mad to the new Killers album? Why don't we all just go to Sam's Town and bet it all? Bet it all!
Today, as it turns and turns, is one of my favorite days of the
Stereophile year. Today is the day for giving gifts. Today is the day spent contacting our Products of the Year award winners. We'd like to congratulate you for excellence in design and performance, I tell them. We'd like to present you with an award, I tell them.
It's uplifting. To share pleasant news, to give gifts, feels good.
Everyone, of course, is happy about it. Those who are happiest, though, it seems, are the unusual suspects —
the ultimates and
the slims — the companies who live a bit more on the fringe of our industry. Their jaws drop. They are thrilled. They had no idea. They send in their CEOs and their OEMs and their moms and dads. I become a bit uncomfortable. I try to settle them down. It's our pleasure, I say. We share your happiness. It's really no big deal, after all. You've got a great product. No, thank
you!
I want to give them more.
