Handbook

Twentysomethings had barely recovered from the "Generation X" backlash inflicted by Douglas Coupland's novel when along comes "The Official Slacker Handbook" and its own special set of generational generalizations.Being published next month, the satirical primer provides lists and how-to essays on slacking '90s style: how to forestall utility -- termination, how to wear a proper goatee, how to mooch off your parents, friends and the government with the least amount of effort.First, a working definition.

In reference to The Sun's editorial ("Mixed signals," Sept. 1), it is my opinion that Maryland does not need a law about non-functioning traffic lights. Hawaii is loaded with intersections that are four-way stops with no traffic signal lights and some of these intersections are very busy. Hawaii drivers have no issues with these intersections without traffic signal lights. Visitors to Hawaii who drive catch on very quickly. Maryland's driver's handbook points out that driving has four main parts - looking and seeing, thinking and deciding, letting others know what you are going to do and doing it. As the handbook states, you look with your eyes but you see with your mind.

"Improving Your Child's Education: A Handbook for Working With Schools," by Chris Dougherty, Phenix & Phenix Literary Publicists, 1604 Nueces Street, Austin, Texas, 78071, 512-478-2028 or 800-375-1711.An informative reference, this book is designed to be a tool that enables parents to know what to expect from their child's school and how to help if there are academic difficulties. The author speaks to parents in clear, understandable terms, and summarizes points with checklists at the end of each chapter.

Ever wonder how your favorite Ravens might cope with a possible lockout? Do you picture them ditching their iPhones because the service plan is suddenly too pricey? Or trading in their Escalades for the better gas mileage of a Honda Civic? Or switching from expensive liquor and champagne to Bud Light to save a few bucks? No, neither do I. Which is why you should go online and check out the NFL Players Association's 64-page lockout handbook, which is chock full of helpful tips on how players who make an average salary of $800,000 can survive a work stoppage.

Stephen R. Chapin Jr. was fresh out of active duty with the Navy when the Persian Gulf crisis began last August. Friends and neighbors around Westminster besieged him with questions about the risks to their sons and daughters deployed to the war that would come soon."

EVEN THE TITLE is chilling: "Human Resources Exploitation Training Manual." Cut out the word, "Resources" and exchange the word "Torture" for "Exploitation" and you are closer to the interpretation the Honduran regime gave to a 1983 U.S. handbook used in handling political prisoners.Fourteen years later, under pressure from a Freedom of Information request filed by The Sun in May 1994, the Central Intelligence Agency has released the training manual -- including this caveat penciled in shortly afterward:"The use of force, mental torture, threats, insults or exposure to inhumane treatment of any kind as an aid to interrogation is prohibited by law, both international and domestic.

Robert Baden-Powell, meet the new century.Boy Scouts, founded by Baden-Powell almost 100 years ago, still learn to tie knots, make fires and avoid being bitten by copperhead snakes -- although they can no longer get a business merit badge by making and banking $2 in one year, as they could in 1910.In the updated Scout manual appearing nationally in about two weeks, they are warned against meeting strangers via the Internet, using drugs, alcohol or tobacco and leaving a mess in the woods.A new section, "Prepared for Life," gives advice on how to get along with people of different races and ethnic backgrounds, help around the home and avoid being abused.

"I'm a grown man. I know how to act." Darren Sharper Minnesota Vikings safety, after a team meeting Saturday to go over a handbook on the code of conduct

"It's in the rock 'n' roll handbook. Hit 40, get divorced and marry the young actress. I'm just following the rules." -- Melissa Etheridge, 42, on her relationship with 28-year-old Tammy Lynn Michaels.

Volunteers 18 and older are needed at seven sites throughout the county to serve as classroom assistants and for informal mentoring of students and families, and as story time readers. Medical and background checks are required. Also, translators (primarily Spanish) are needed to assist Head Start teachers with home visits and handbook/program presentations to families. Information: 410-626-1900, ext. 1032.

Volunteers 18 and older are needed at seven sites throughout the county to serve as classroom assistants and for informal mentoring of students and families, and as story time readers. Medical and background checks are required. Also, translators (primarily Spanish) are needed to assist Head Start teachers with home visits and handbook/program presentations to families. Information: 410-626-1900, ext. 1032.

Four local educators - including a two-time Baltimore mayoral candidate - are listed among endorsers of a black empowerment handbook that federal authorities say was written and distributed by the leader of a violent prison gang to spread its message. The most prominent is Andrey L. Bundley, who garnered 33 percent of the votes in a 2003 mayoral primary, ran again in 2007 and now oversees alternative education for the Baltimore school system. He is quoted on the book's back cover as giving "kudos" to Eric Brown, an alleged leader of the Black Guerrilla Family and the book's author.

Creating the ambience of a campfire with a fire pit is one of the hottest trends in backyard recreation. Jim Jarvis of Weatherford, Texas, owner of an online fire-pit accessories company, says the trend was sparked by the clay chimeneas that started showing up in Mexican import stores a few years back. Alex Bandon, multimedia editor of This Old House magazine, helped show readers how to build a fire pit from cast-concrete stone for about $500 in the September issue. "People are turning their yards into outdoor rooms, and a fire pit is better than a barbecue because it's generally circular, which makes it very social."

All these decades later, Cardinal William H. Keeler of Baltimore can recite from the small book he memorized in an elementary classroom. So can Carol Nevin "Sue" Abromaitis, a Loyola College English professor. So can thousands upon thousands of other Americans who attended Catholic schools or religious instruction: "Why did God make you?" is a question in the Baltimore Catechism, as Abromaitis quoted yesterday. "To know Him, to love Him, and to serve Him in this world and to be happy in the next" is the answer.

Maryland is offering a first-of-its-kind guidebook to help people make health and end-of-life decisions on behalf of a patient, a year after the death of Terri Schiavo, the brain-damaged Floridian who launched a national right-to-die debate. The authors hope that the guidebook will become a model for other states and help families avoid legal battles. "The court is one of the worst places for trying to resolve issues about difficult medical decisions," said Jack Schwartz, a Maryland assistant attorney general.

I was a senior business executive with a Fortune 30 company. I ranked among the top 100 salespeople out of 55,000, despite being there for just 20 months. Because things were going so well for me, I turned down four job offers in 2004. Then early this year a new vice president joined the department. He wanted me to move to the company's office in the Midwest. I agreed and had begun planning to relocate with my family. But a month later, when my family and I were in the throes of planning for our big move, he called me in and fired me. His about-face has caused my family and me tremendous emotional turmoil.

Ever wonder how your favorite Ravens might cope with a possible lockout? Do you picture them ditching their iPhones because the service plan is suddenly too pricey? Or trading in their Escalades for the better gas mileage of a Honda Civic? Or switching from expensive liquor and champagne to Bud Light to save a few bucks? No, neither do I. Which is why you should go online and check out the NFL Players Association's 64-page lockout handbook, which is chock full of helpful tips on how players who make an average salary of $800,000 can survive a work stoppage.