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.

(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.