This report provides a brief yet comprehensive introduction to Python for engineers, researchers, and data scientists who are already familiar with another programming language.Author Jake VanderPlas, an interdisciplinary research director at the University of Washington, explains Python’s essential syntax and semantics, built-in data types and structures, function definitions, control flow statements, and more, using Python 3 syntax.You’ll explore:- Python syntax basics and running Python codeBasic semantics of Python variables, objects, and operators- Built-in simple types and data structures- Control flow statements for executing code blocks conditionally- Methods for creating and using reusable functionsIterators, list comprehensions, and generators- String manipulation and regular expressions- Python’s standard library and third-party modules- Python’s core data science tools- Recommended resources to help you learn more

    

    He meets Marlena, the beautiful young star of the equestrian act, married to August, the charismatic but twisted animal trainer. He also meets Rosie, an elephant who seems untrainable until he discovers a way to reach her...2 - AT THE WATER'S EDGEA gripping and poignant love story set in a remote village in the Scottish Highlands at the end of the Second World War.'The only fault I can find with this book is that I've already finished it' Jodi Picoult'Truly enthralling' Scotsman'Breathtaking' Harper's Bazaar1945. After disgracing themselves at a high society party, spoilt young Philadelphia socialites Maddie and Ellis Hyde are cut off from the family without a penny. Ellis decides their salvation will be to hunt down the Loch Ness Monster, a venture his father very publicly failed at. So, oblivious to WW2 raging around them, they make their way to the Scottish Highlands, where Maddie has to face reality and decide just who the real monsters are.3 - APE HOUSE The New York Times bestseller.'If you love animals like I do, it's a must read' Ellen DeGeneres'Had me instantly enraptured' Dallas Morning News'Wildly entertaining' Booklist (starred review)These bonobos are no ordinary apes. Like others of their species, they are capable of reason and carrying on deep relationships - but, unlike most bonobos, they also know American Sign Language.Isabel Duncan, a scientist at the Great Ape Language Lab, doesn't understand people, but animals she gets, especially the bonobos. Isabel feels more comfortable in their world than she's ever felt among humans . . . until she meets John Thigpen, a very married reporter who braves the ever-present animal rights protesters outside the lab to see what's really going on inside.When an explosion tears apart the lab, severly injuring Isabel and 'liberating' the apes to an unknown destination, John's human interest piece turns into the story of a lifetime.

     ** Over 2,000 five star reviews across the series! ** FROM USA TODAY & AMAZON #1 BESTSELLING AUTHOR. Box set comprising: The Kill List, Drifter Part I, Drifter Part II, & Drifter Part III. ***SPOILERS AHEAD*** Meet retired cop, Sam Prichard. THE KILL LIST (Book 5) “Mr. Prichard, it said, the people you see in the photos will be killed within the next forty-eight hours, unless you stop me. I have been following your exploits closely, and I think that you are the one I need to make sure I stop doing this. I've been trying for more than fifteen years to kick this habit, but I can't. Normally, I don't strike so many times so close together, but in order to get you interested, I'm going to up the odds. I need you to do only two things: discover who each of my victims is, and then do all you can to stop me before I can kill each one. The first one will die exactly twenty-four hours after you receive this note. The second will die twelve hours after that... ...and the third twelve hours after that. If you cannot stop me before I can kill the third one, then no one can. Then there will be a fourth victim, but you get no clues for that one. Good luck." DRIFTER: PART I (Book 6) Sam takes on an odd case: he's hired to track down a man who has been thought to be dead for more than forty years, but recently showed up alive to visit his dying mother. Now his daughter, who never even met him, wants to ask him where he's been all this time, and why she grew up without him in her life. When that man turns out to be a former government assassin who's gone rogue, however, Sam decides it's time for him to bow out of the case--but then he learns that the one you think is the bad guy isn't always right. The supposedly rogue agent, it turns out, may actually be trying to save America from global Jihad. With everything from his family's safety to the future of America's Sovereignty on the line, Sam has to figure out who to trust and what to do, before it all blows up in his face. DRIFTER: PART II (Book 7) Sam Prichard is on his way to the most unbelievable mission any PI could ever blunder into--to stop a madman who thinks he is the Antichrist! The only problem is that this madman is smart, smart enough that he's been working toward this goal for many years, and never gotten caught. To make matters worse, there's no one to whom Sam can turn, because everyone in politics owes this man favors, and fears the day he reveals what he knows. With just a former CIA assassin at his side and a determination to save his country and the thousands that the madman is prepared to sacrifice to his false gods, Sam Prichard must go to the ends of the earth to try to stop the end of the world! DRIFTER: PART III (Book 8) When he was asked to locate a man who seemed to have disappeared in Vietnam but then turned up alive in Denver forty years later, he thought he was simply taking on a case to help bring closure to a daughter who felt abandoned. Unfortunately, there's a lot more to the story, and now Sam must ally himself to one of the most deadly, cold-blooded killers he's ever known. A rogue agent of the CIA has decided that a number of ancient prophecies, including those in the Bible, name him as the new world leader, and he will literally stop at nothing to achieve his goals.

    Sweeping us back to the enigmatic and elusive land of his best-selling Shogun, he weaves an extraordinary tale of Japan, now newly open to gai-jin - foreigners - and teeming with contradictions as the ancient and the modern meet in a clash of cultures, of nations, of generations. It is 1862, and in Japan's Foreign Settlement of Yokohama, reverberations from an explosive act of violence will forever alter - and connect - the lives of the major characters. Malcolm Struan, at twenty, is heir to the title of tai-pan of the most powerful and bitterly contested English trading company in the Orient, the Noble House. Malcolm's fate, and that of his family's legacy, become inextricably intertwined with that of a beautiful young French woman, Angelique Richaud. Desired by many, loved purely and passionately by Malcolm, Angelique will hold the future of the Noble House in her hands. Intricately interwoven into the story of the struggle for control of the Noble House is a powerful parallel story of the Land of the Gods, Japan, a country ripped apart by greed, idealism, and terrorism as groups of young xenophobic revolutionaries, ronin, attempt to seize the Shogunate and expel the hated gai-jin from Japan. One man, Lord Toranaga Yoshi, a direct descendant of the first Toranaga Shogun, attempts not only to protect the Shogunate, but to usher it, and Japan, into the modern age. Amid the brutality and heroism, the betrayals and the stunning romance, a multilayered, complex story unfolds. Here the dark and erotic world of the pleasure houses - the Ladies of the Willow World, spies, and terrorists - meets the world of pageantry and power - monarchs and diplomats. And here East meets West in an inevitable collision of two equally powerful cultures as James Clavell creates a vibrant and authentic

    especially the biker who turned her down cold when she offered herself to him. It may be February, but hearts and flowers are the last thing on Dani Geary's mind. She's too busy struggling to keep her art shop open. When a nomad biker rides back into her life, claiming to be a part-owner of her business, she’ s furious, for more reasons than one. Because he’s not just any biker… he’s the man who rejected her when she needed him most.But when she goes to the president of the Devil’s Flyers MC for help, she’s in for another rude surprise. Stick Vanko tells her to make it work with her new partner.Dean ‘Grinder’ Geary is down on his luck. First, he wrecked his beloved Harley, and tore up his knee. Then, he lost his job as bouncer at a Seattle nightclub. At forty-four, the only thing he has left is part-ownership of a little art shop in Spokane, Washington.But to claim it, he must deal with his dead cousin’s ex. The woman who ruined him for all others.And the last woman he should ever trust—in business or in pleasure. Will love's sweetness be worth the sting? Ride along with the Devil's Flyers. The bigger the alpha… the harder he falls. Each book can be read as a standalone, with a HEA, no cheating, and honey-sweet, turn-up-the-heat romance!

    Leaving behind a dead-end life, I thought settling in with the Le Roux family was what I was meant to do. But meeting Victor changed everything, and now I can’t imagine surviving without him. I, Sierra Steele never expected sexual pleasure to become my nightmare. My body is reveling in my new predicament, while my mind is screaming at the invasion. But protecting Carly is my purpose, and I’ll do what’s necessary. As long as I stay sane…

    Wanting no part in the rampant war in the western plains, Wolf is set on returning to his mountain refuge. But his journey home is interrupted by three desperate women who need his help. What Wolf doesn’t realize about these women is that they aren’t what most people would call ladies. His innocent association with these prostitutes leads to a near-deadly fight that ends with a charge for attempted murder. Chased by the most experienced deputy the marshal service has, Wolf leads him to the Black Hills, where their final showdown can only end in blood.…

    

    So when he finds out that someone very important to him is working on a US container ship in the treacherous seas off the East African coast, he fears the worst.Within days the ship is hijacked by pirates. Taking matters into his own hands, Ben embarks upon the most daring rescue mission of his career … because this is no ordinary hostage situation.There is something on board the ship that’s more precious than life itself – and a bloodthirsty tyrant will kill to possess it.As events spiral out of control, Ben Hope’s skill and resourcefulness will be tested like never before. Ben would die to protect those close to him, but in a hostile environment, against ruthless warriors, even the ultimate sacrifice might not be enough…THE DEVIL’S KINGDOMHeld hostage by a despicable tyrant in the heart of Africa, it’s not looking good for Ben Hope.General Khosa’s lust for blood is matched only by his lust for power – and he wants to use Ben’s superior military skills to turn his rabble of inexperienced boys into an army of lethal soldiers.If Ben refuses, Khosa will kill the person he loves most. If he cooperates, he’ll bring more death and devastation to the world’s most violent, war-torn nation.Either way, Ben will have blood on his hands – unless he can defeat Khosa. It seems an impossible task. But for Ben Hope, anything is possible…

    Lady Kara Kensington's family paid a high price in money and blood to found the gallery that now lies in ruins. Her search for answers leads Kara and her friend Safia al-Maaz, the gallery's curator, into a world they never dreamed existed. Evidence exposed by the tragedy suggests that Ubar, a lost city buried beneath the Arabian desert, is more than mere legend...and that something astonishing is waiting there. The two extraordinary women and their guide, Omaha Dunn, are not the only ones being drawn to the desert. Former U.S. Navy SEAL Painter Crowe, a covert government operative and head of an elite counter-espionage team, is hunting down a dangerous turncoat and the trail is pointing him toward Ubar. What is hidden below the sand is more than a valuable relic of ancient history. It is an ageless power that lives and breathes. Many lives have already been destroyed by ruthless agencies dedicated to guarding its mysteries and harnessing its might. The end may be at hand for Kara, Safia, Crowe, and all of the interlopers who wish to expose its mysteries, as it prepares to unleash the most terrible storm of all...

    He has until Thanksgiving to decide if he should be the one to move to Marietta. But could he be happy living in such a small town?The Valentine QuestDustin Decker makes a strategic pact with the prim, bookish Nevada Parker for a multi-day race called The Valentine Quest. But with a kiss, their unlikely alliance turns into something more…and soon racing isn’t the only thing on their minds. As the finish line nears, they must decide if the grand prize is worth more than what they’ve found together…or if one of them will walk away empty handed—and broken hearted.The Chocolate TouchChocolate expert Chantelle Cummings arrives in Marietta, Montana with two goals—sign copies of her new book and research a quaint local chocolate shop. When she meets the gorgeous York Parker passing out chocolate samples, her visit turns sweeter than she ever imagined. But when York learns she’s moving abroad, will the truth harden his heart, or will love pave the way to a sweet future?

    Indeed, many view this historic win as a culmination of the sacrifice and courage of the Civil Rights movement - and even more people view President-Elect Barack Obama's win as a signal that America is indeed ready for a new direction and a new era. In Grant Park in Chicago, Illinois, President-Elect Barack Obama gave his victory speech to an estimated crowd of 65,000 people - and tens of millions of people around the world watched the moment unfold on their television and computer screens, or listened to this monumental moment on the radio. This is the entire speech, including the interjections of the crowd screaming "Yes we can!". This speech is already in the history books, and you can read this anytime you need a stroke of hope or inspiration. This will make a great addition to any book collection.

    She and her two younger sisters gather at his side, praying he’ll live… At a time like this, falling in love is the last thing on Valerie’s mind. And with Dr. Colby Winston, of all people! He’s David’s heart surgeon, a renowned specialist who enjoys small-town living, while Valerie is a high-powered businesswoman who prefers city life. They’re complete opposites in every way. Yet David keeps insisting she and Colby are a perfect couple. Meanwhile, Stephanie has other worries besides her father’s health. She fled Orchard Valley three years earlier, after her humiliating rejection by local journalist Charles Tomaselli. Now she’s home, and it’s not long before they begin reliving past battles—and renewing old feelings. He was the reason she left. This time, will he give her a reason to stay? David seems to think so… Norah is feeling a bit unneeded these days. Her father is recovering, and her sisters are busy planning their weddings. But then a cantankerous Texan named Rowdy Cassidy crashes his small plane in Orchard Valley. The same Rowdy Cassidy who’d been Valerie’s boss…and who’d demanded Valerie marry him. Now he’s Norah’s patient, and in all her nursing experience she’s never encountered a more difficult man. Or a more irresistible one! Except…is he still in love with her sister?When Norah’s friend Sherry Waterman leaves Orchard Valley, Oregon, for Pepper, Texas, she’s definitely not in the mood for Lone Star Lovin’. But if anyone can change her mind, it’s Cody Bailman—a hardworking, good-looking rancher. Not only that, Cody has a twelve-year-old daughter who thinks Sherry’s “just perfect for Dad!”

    Until the most inappropriate man in London asks her to dance. After a scandalous waltz that sets the gossips’ tongues wagging, the next morning, the man shows up in her family’s drawing room and announces his intentions to court her. Captain Ethan Dorrill dresses like a pirate, irritates her to the point of madness, and kisses like her heart’s desire.Snow Queen Mary LancasterThey call her the Snow Queen…for no man can thaw her frozen heart.Lady Alba Snowden lost her first love when she was seventeen. Since then, no man has touched her heart – until the summer she encounters wild, fun-loving Russian Prince Yuri Volkov, who is visiting London with the Tsar.The Highlander’s Unexpected Bride Tarah Scott & KyAnn WatersShe intended to stop a scandal…not become one.Lady Alison has a penchant for mischief. How else could she end up in the bedchamber of the notorious rake Viscount Weston? She expected to rescue her foolish cousin, instead she finds herself engaged…and embroiled in the devious exploits of sex slave traders.Dreaming of a Gentleman Summer HanfordMiss Rebecca Wycliff knows her place in the world, that of a poor relation beholden to her relatives for any scrap they care to award her. Still, she holds a secret dream for more, one that would see her tossed out on the streets, penniless, should her wish be uncovered.Not Another Nob Anabelle AndersFamily rivalries are no match for love.Neither is who they say they are. He thinks she’s a lady and she thinks he’s a gentleman. Even so, the seeds of romance are planted when they meet over a broken carriage and a small dog.Lord Keeper Tarah ScottA midnight race for freedom leads Victoria Hockley, the Countess of Lansbury, to a churchyard deep in the Scottish Highlands. But not even hallowed ground can save her from the devil who’s pursued her from England, or from the furious Scot who swears to protect her.The Maid of Inverness Rose FairbanksDespite Douglas Randolph’s attempt to avoid Society and his responsibility as the future Duke of Inverness, news he is has inherited the dukedom reaches him deep in the Highland hills of Scotland. That problem pales into comparison to the wager he makes with the man known as The Marriage Maker. Sir Stirling James swears he can find suitable husbands for four ladies directly descendant from Robert the Bruce. Little does Douglas know he is to be the first groom.One Last Promise Amy CorwinLove defies all obstacles to unite childhood friends...Bespectacled and plain compared to her two sisters, Martha Stainton cherishes no expectations, except, perhaps, to one day become a doting aunt. After the death of their beloved father, Martha and her two sisters must leave their home and become dependents of their aunt in London.Marrying the Belle of Edinburgh Lisa BoeroA foul murder, a beautiful widow, and one man who will risk everything for love.On a dark and lonely road, a masked gunman ends the life of the dashing Lord Carlyle. Distraught but determined, Helena, the bewitching Belle of Edinburgh, reenters London’s glittering society bent on tracking down her husband’s murderer.Lady Victoria’s Mistake Amy CorwinA dangerous rogue or a businesslike gentleman—what’s a lady to do?Lady Victoria’s parents have issued an ultimatum: marry or remain a spinster—forever. They have even prepared a marriage list of four eligible bachelors. The only problem is that none of them makes her pulse race. No one does, until she meets John Archer, a rogue her parents have forbidden her to see again.