"Here's somebody who just <I>loves</I> to sing." Over the telephone, Peter Guralnick sounds sad, incredulous. "But he's unable at the end of his life to force himself into the recording studio&mdash;the fear of completion, fear of exposing your untrammeled idea to execution. What a terrible thing to lose that ability, that faith in yourself."

Reader Bill Huey reminded me recently that I'd promised to cover pre-War buildings that have hot and neutral electrical service but no ground. Why the rush? Bill was about to move into just such a dwelling. (Hey, never mind the furnace and the roof—what about my stereo?!)

Sometimes you have to wonder why big corporations gobble up small speaker companies. Most such firms are built by individualist entrepreneurs chasing an elusive dream&mdash;an up-close and personal thing that is the antithesis of the corporate mentality. That's why speaker companies are so often named after the founder.

Sometimes you have to wonder why big corporations gobble up small speaker companies. Most such firms are built by individualist entrepreneurs chasing an elusive dream&mdash;an up-close and personal thing that is the antithesis of the corporate mentality. That's why speaker companies are so often named after the founder.

Sometimes you have to wonder why big corporations gobble up small speaker companies. Most such firms are built by individualist entrepreneurs chasing an elusive dream&mdash;an up-close and personal thing that is the antithesis of the corporate mentality. That's why speaker companies are so often named after the founder.

Sometimes you have to wonder why big corporations gobble up small speaker companies. Most such firms are built by individualist entrepreneurs chasing an elusive dream&mdash;an up-close and personal thing that is the antithesis of the corporate mentality. That's why speaker companies are so often named after the founder.

Sometimes you have to wonder why big corporations gobble up small speaker companies. Most such firms are built by individualist entrepreneurs chasing an elusive dream&mdash;an up-close and personal thing that is the antithesis of the corporate mentality. That's why speaker companies are so often named after the founder.

Sometimes you have to wonder why big corporations gobble up small speaker companies. Most such firms are built by individualist entrepreneurs chasing an elusive dream&mdash;an up-close and personal thing that is the antithesis of the corporate mentality. That's why speaker companies are so often named after the founder.

Sometimes you have to wonder why big corporations gobble up small speaker companies. Most such firms are built by individualist entrepreneurs chasing an elusive dream&mdash;an up-close and personal thing that is the antithesis of the corporate mentality. That's why speaker companies are so often named after the founder.

Sometimes you have to wonder why big corporations gobble up small speaker companies. Most such firms are built by individualist entrepreneurs chasing an elusive dream&mdash;an up-close and personal thing that is the antithesis of the corporate mentality. That's why speaker companies are so often named after the founder.