On his first day of classes at a university, a student took a front row
 seat in a literature course.
 
 The professor told them they would be responsible for reading five books,
 and that he would provide them with a list of authors from which they could
 choose.
 
 Then he ambled over to the lectern, took out his class notes and began ...
 "Baker, Black, Brooks, Carter, Cook ... "
 
 The student was working feverishly to get down all the names, when he felt
 a tap on his shoulder.
 
 The student in back of him whispered, "He's taking attendance."