This reference compiles accessible data on chemistry and physics for students. Revisions to the handbook have kept up with semiconductors and high-temperature superconductors; addressed environmental concerns by providing data on pollutants, contaminants, global warming and ground water contamination; and updated pertinent data to stay current with IUPAC standards. There are tables and charts on substances and their properties.

(Book). Nestled at the southern end of California's San Joaquin Valley, the city of Bakersfield is best known for farming, oil fields, and a unique brand of country music called the "Bakersfield Sound." The term is generally used to describe a hard-edged honkytonk sensibility characterized by sharp, twanging Fender Telecaster guitars, crying pedal steel, and straight-ahead country vocals a sound that thrived in Bakersfield clubs in the 1950s and '60s. The music emanating from these venues was by no means homogeneous. One need only compare Buck Owens's razor-sharp honky-tonk attack with Merle Haggard's western swing and blues-inflected recordings to recognize that there is no single Bakersfield Sound. The label is best understood as an umbrella term encompassing a number of strains developed by Haggard, Owens, and their West Coast contemporaries. The Bakersfield Sound is a full-color exploration of what social and economic factors led to this country music hotbed, as well as a look at the many stars who rose to fame with roots in Bakersfield. Country luminaries with ties to the area include Bob Willis, Leon Payne, Jean Shepherd, Dallas Frazier, Bonnie Owens, Barbara Mandrell, and Ferlin Husky. Written by the experts at the Country Music Hall of Fame, The Bakersfield Sound describes with rich words and classic photos how the deep roots of the Bakersfield Sound are so much more than just a reaction to the pop-oriented Nashville Sound.

Immediately upon publication in 1998, the Encyclopedia of Country Music became a much-loved reference source, prized for the wealth of information it contained on that most American of musical genres. Countless fans have used it as the source for answers to questions about everything from country's first commercially successful recording, to the genre's pioneering music videos, to what conjunto music is.
This thoroughly revised new edition includes more than 1,200 A-Z entries covering nine decades of history and artistry, from the Carter Family recordings of the 1920s to the reign of Taylor Swift in the first decade of the twenty-first century. Compiled by a team of experts at the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum, the encyclopedia has been brought completely up-to-date, with new entries on the artists who have profoundly influenced country music in recent years, such as the Dixie Chicks and Keith Urban. The new edition also explores the latest and most critical trends within the industry, shedding light on such topics as the digital revolution, the shifting politics of country music, and the impact of American Idol (reflected in the stardom of Carrie Underwood). Other essays cover the literature of country music, the importance of Nashville as a music center, and the colorful outfits that have long been a staple of the genre.
The volume features hundreds of images, including a photo essay of album covers; a foreword by country music superstar Vince Gill (the winner of twenty Grammy Awards); and twelve fascinating appendices, ranging from lists of awards to the best-selling country albums of all time.
Winner of the Best Reference Award from the Popular Culture Association
"Any serious country music fan will treasure this authoritative book."
--The Seattle Times
"A long-awaited, major accomplishment, which educators, historians and students, broadcasters and music writers, artists and fans alike, will welcome and enjoy."
--The Nashville Musician
"Should prove a valuable resource to those who work in the country music business. But it's also an entertaining read for the music's true fans."
--Houston Chronicle
"This big, handsome volume spans the history of country music, listing not only artists and groups but also important individuals and institutions."
--San Francisco Examiner
"Promises to be the definitive historical and biographical work on the past eight decades of country music. Well written and heavily illustratedan unparalleled work, worth its price and highly recommended."
--Library Journal

(Book). The high standards set by Chet Atkins as a performer, recording artist, and record producer continue to inspire others. Complementing the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum's exhibition Chet Atkins: Certified Guitar Player, this book honors one of America's most influential musicians. To provide insight on the legend and his music, the Country Music Hall of Fame invited several experts to prepare essays, including Michael Cochran, Rich Kienzle, Walter Carter, and John W. Rumble. Chet only bestowed his degree of "Certified Guitar Player" on four other guitarists over the years: Tommy Emmanuel, John Knowles, Jerry Reed, and Steve Wariner. Reed passed away in 2008, but the other musicians have shared special memories of Chet in these pages. Chet Atkins: Certified Guitar Player is a heartening read of essays and reminiscences that provide a revealing picture of Chet Atkins and his extraordinary life.