An enduring aspect of Audio Shows is the meeting up of old friends, colleagues, and acquaintances, who all share a sense of belonging to a single community. Shown here in a chance meeting at the Grand Hyatt's entrance are (l&ndash;r): veteran speaker designer Richard Vandersteen, tube amp manufacturer Mark O'Brien of Rogue Audio, and <I>Stereophile</I>'s associate publisher Keith Pray.

Might the Earth's magnetic field reverse itself? And what if it did?

Roger Ebert, too.

When I was in GuangZhou, my hotel was a nexus for American couples meeting their <A HREF="http://blog.stereophile.com/china2006/120206barbie/">adopted</A&gt; Chinese babies. My heart went out to these newly minted families doting over their new additions, eyes brimming with hope and love.

It's about time this great composer was recognized for the deep well of complexity and musical emotional he brought to the concert (and recording stage). If you can listen to the Second Symphony and not experience that dark three o'clock of the soul, then maybe music just isn't your thing.