Clapton, Eric. The Concise Eric Clapton. New York: Wise Publications, 1994.

 
This collection, compiled by Peter Evans, includes the lyrics, melody lines and guitar chord diagrams for 58 of Eric Clapton’s songs. These selections represent a broad cross-section of Clapton’s work. Clapton is widely acknowledged as one of most influential blues guitarists of the Twentieth Century. Some would say “The” most influential.* A composer and collaborator of unparalleled prolificity, Clapton is one of the musicians who bridged Rock & Roll and Blues traditions to create a more powerful genre, capable of communicating social criticism and deep emotionality.

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* See, e.g., Little Steven, “Eric Clapton,” Rolling Stone, Apr. 21, 2005.

Superbad. DVD-ROM. Columbia Pictures, 2007.

Described by students variously as “hilarious” and “really dumb, but funny,” Superbad is a morality tale about young adults struggling to make principled decisions in a society rife with hypocrisy and superficiality. One character-Fogell, played by Christopher Mintz-Plasse-attempts to achieve coolness by creating the new identity of McLovin (based on a fake driver’s license presumptively belonging to a resident of Honolulu). The ploy-assisted by the complicity of two patrolmen and the uncritical perceptions of McLovin’s peers-works. Another character-Evan, played by Michael Cera-struggles to find an authentic basis for friendship and love in a world dislocated by the vagaries of college admissions and irrationalities of peer expectations. Evan finds his anchor in principled decision-making. He eschews the fleeting pleasures of spontaneous romance for longer-term and more rewarding relationships. Finally, Seth (played by Jonah Hill) learns an important lesson about self-image: he is not as obnoxious as he believes himself to be. This film from the Summer of 2007 was directed by Greg Motolla.

United States Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics. The Occupational Outlook Handbook. 2008-09 edition.

Every two years the United States Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, releases a new edition of The Occupational Outlook Handbook. The edition for 2008-09 has just come out. This useful guide analyzes hundreds of occupations, setting forth information about the nature of the work, education requirements & other qualifications, current employment figures for the occupation & job outlook, average earnings, and other useful information. The handbook notes, for example, that twenty-six percent of interior designers are self-employed. This occupation is characterized by sharp competition and a super-abundance of creative people. Many interior designers train in college programs that teach a range of subjects from ergonomics, to psychology, to computer-assisted design. Employment for interior designers is expected to grow by nineteen percent between 2006 and 2016. The median salary of these creative folks was $42,260 in 2006. [See The Handbook, pp. 306-09]. This handbook—wonderfully useful for students deciding on the best way to invest in higher education—is available in print and online at http://www.bls.gov/oco.

Buck Berry

United States Congress. Official Congressional Directory. 2007-08 edition. Washington: U.S. G.P.O., 1888.

A basic handbook for students of Congress, the Congressional Directory, has been published since the nineteenth century. The Directory lists members of Congress by state with brief biographical annotations, office information, and descriptions of their districts by county and zip code. Information on congressional committees and select statistical information is also included. The Directory, for instance, includes a listing of impeachment proceedings & outcomes, as well as a list of state and territorial governors (both as of August 9, 2007). The handbook contains basic information on legislative branch agencies, executive agencies, and independent agencies, as well as on the judiciary. The Directory includes a very useful section on Congressional District Maps, which allows comparison of counties and congressional districts.

Buck Berry