Among the treasures discovered this morning, we have the very first issue of <i>Stereophile</i>, punk rock-style buttons, several outstanding hi-fi cartoons drawn by JGH, and some absolutely shocking show photos.

I like to stop by <a href="http://www.soundopinions.org/">Sound Opinions</a>, where rock critics, Jim DeRogatis and Greg Kot, slap each other in the face with their favorite album covers. No, they don't really do that. Sometimes they agree. They're smart and funny and loveable. Jim is from the <i>Chicago Sun-Times</i> and Greg is from the <i>Chicago Tribune</i>, and they love rock and roll.

<i>You see, JA, if you play the ride cymbal with a chicken wing, you're bound to get a lot more air in the upper octave… Photo by <a href="http://www.jeffwong.com/">Jeff Wong</a>.</i>

If you're new to hi-fi, you might not be aware of the fiercely controversial and seemingly endless argument regarding the importance of blind listening in determining a component's worth. Essentially, there are those who believe that if differences in sound cannot be perceived while listening blindfolded, or under similarly exhausting, stressful, and inhumane conditions, then differences do not exist, and we're all just full of shit when we tell you that the $30,000 Musical Fidelity Titan sounds nothing at all like the $159 Sonic Impact Super T, that, in fact, they're basically the same amp, so you might as well buy the cheaper one.

Charlie Haden, the world’s most distinctive and enticing bass player, seems to have adopted a new tradition. It started as a special occasion, a dozen years ago, in celebration of his 60th birthday, when he played a week of duets at the Blue Note jazz club in New York, each night with a different pianist. He repeated the experiment on his 70th, and this week he’s doing it again, just short of his 72nd, not a round number, which leads me to suspect he’s doing it—and may do it again, semi-regularly—simply because it’s so thrilling, so fun.

I like to stop by <a href="http://theneedledrop.blogspot.com/">The Needle Drop</a>, where usual dude, Anthony Fantano, offers his interesting, thoughtful, and often very funny takes on new music and music technology. Check it out.