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To The Last Drop: A Coffee House Cozy Mystery (The Maggy Thorsen Mysteries #9)
by Sandra BalzoA café owner tries to figure out who might have sent someone flying out a tenth-floor window:&“Entertaining…Maggy makes an appealing amateur sleuth.&”—Publishers Weekly First, Maggy Thorsen is shocked to find her ex-husband Ted in a fight with William Swope, an oral surgeon at Ted's dental practice, outside Uncommon Grounds, the Wisconsin gourmet coffeehouse she co-owns. But she&’s even more horrified to discover Swope&’s dead body outside Thorsen Dental's office block the next morning. Did he jump from the tenth-floor office window, or was he pushed? It&’s not long before Maggy is uncovering disturbing family secrets, lies and betrayal. Maggy must try to piece together the clues—even if it endangers her relationship with Sheriff Jake Pavlik…
Tart Love: Sassy, Savory, and Sweet
by Holly HerrickFrom the award-winning food writer and author of Southern Farmers Market Cookbook, a collection of sweet and savory tart recipes. What is a tart? It&’s an open-faced, skinny kind of pie. It never has a double crust (like an apple pie might) and can be filled with anything from custard to Camembert. Here is a short, delicious course in tart making. Filled with sweet and savory recipes for marvelous little pies, Tart Love also guides you in using seasonal fruits and produce to create scrumptious, palate-pleasing desserts and main-dish tarts. Holly Herrick shares methods and recipes for fresh tart versions of southern favorites, like Feisty Fried Shrimp and Grits Pockets, savory Lowcountry Boil Puff Tart, and sweet Lavender Buttermilk Tart. Her step-by-step instructions will have you making perfect pastry in no time, and master pastry recipes will let you make all the recipes in this book plus creations of your own.
Hitler's Wehrmacht, 1935–1945 (Foreign Military Studies)
by Rolf-Dieter MüllerAn &“impressively comprehensive&” study of the Nazi military and its culpability in war crimes by &“one of the foremost historians of World War II&” (Stephen G. Fritz, author of Ostkrieg). Since the end of World War II, Germans have struggled with the legacy of the Wehrmacht—the unified armed forces mobilized by Adolf Hitler in 1935. Historians have vigorously debated whether the Wehrmacht's atrocities represented a break with the past or a continuation of Germany's military traditions. Now available for the first time in English, this meticulously researched yet accessible overview by eminent historian Rolf-Dieter Müller provides a comprehensive analysis of the Wehrmacht, illuminating its role in the horrors of the Third Reich. Müller examines the Wehrmacht's leadership principles, organization, equipment, and training, as well as the front-line experiences of soldiers, airmen, Waffen SS, foreign legionnaires, and volunteers. He skillfully demonstrates how state-directed propaganda and terror influenced the extent to which the militarized citizenry—or Volksgemeinschaft—was transformed under the pressure of total mobilization. Finally, Müller evaluates the army's conduct during the war, from blitzkrieg to the final surrender and charges of war crimes. Brief acts of resistance, such as an officers' &“rebellion of conscience&” in July 1944, embody the repressed, principled humanity of Germany's soldiers. But ultimately, Müller concludes, the Wehrmacht became the &“steel guarantor&” of the criminal Nazi regime.
Demon Street, USA: The True Story of a Very Haunted House
by David Rountree Robbie LuntA Lakota shaman embarks on a quest to exorcise a dangerous ghost in this true account of paranormal activity and spiritual power. A summoning gone awry leads to problems for Penelope, who is driven from her home by phantom parties, a dancing stove, and demonic force that toss her around like a ragdoll. Looking for help, she turns to her friend Robbie, who brings her to David Rountree, a Lakota shaman. Robbie and David embark on a desperate search for metaphysical knowledge, visiting sites of spiritual power, and acquiring artifacts and allies in their quest to exorcise the demon before it&’s too late. David and Robbie&’s mission culminates in an astonishing psychic battle on Halloween night. Demon Street, USA is a thrilling account of their encounter with evil and a warning to those who would explore the paranormal. Evil exists—but it can be battled and won!
The Wall Between Us: Notes from the Holy Land
by Matthew Small&“The biology of Israel/Palestine simply and beautifully revealed,&” from the author of Down and Out Today: Notes from the Gutter (Jon Snow, journalist and presenter). Writer Matthew Small traveled to the Holy Land to further his understanding of the enduring conflict between Israel and Palestine. While there, he discovered beauty, fear and suffering like nowhere else in the world. In these honest and evocative reflections, Small retells his experiences of crossing into the West Bank to work the olive harvest with Palestinian farmers. He relates his encounters with organizations that are determinedly working to sow the seeds of peace in soils that are deeply scarred by suffering and war. While reliving these unforgettable experiences, through his writing he struggles to find why the wall between these two groups of people exists. Deciding to join a group of international and Israeli volunteers, Small attempts to show that, despite the ongoing occupation, peace is not lost, but still to be discovered. &“Matthew Small, despite the horror of both the war, and the wall, works and travels both sides of the divide, and brings us to an understanding of where the seeds of peace can yet be found.&”—Jon Snow, journalist and presenter &“What is really refreshing about this book is the way Small writes from a very personal perspective, often admitting in his diary entries that he&’s unsure what to write or how he feels about the situation. His emotion surrounding his visit and the people living amongst the occupation every day is portrayed in a gritty, raw way.&”—The Bookbag
The Roswell Legacy: The Untold Story of the First Military Officer at the 1947 Crash Site
by Jesse Marcel Jr. Linda MarcelA behind-the-scenes memoir recounting one officer&’s firsthand experience of America&’s most famous UFO incident. Does extraterrestrial life exist? Have alien beings actually visited Earth and left clear traces of their visits? One man has the answer...and his son can now break the silence. The Roswell Legacy is the story of Major Jesse Marcel, the intelligence officer for the 509th Bomber Group—famous for dropping the atomic bomb on Japan—and the first military officer to reach the scene of one of the most famous and enduring UFO events in the recorded history of mankind. This book documents the recovery of debris from the crash of an extraterrestrial craft and how the Marcel family became forever linked to the event. It details what the debris looked like, how it greatly differed from that of the &“weather balloon&” that was supposedly recovered, and the physical characteristics that prove it could have come only from a technology that was not available in the 1940s—or, perhaps, even now.
Memoir From Antproof Case: A Novel
by Mark HelprinAn old man recounts the raucous adventure of his life through war, obsession and the 20th century in this &“rapturous and melancholy new novel&” (The New York Times).An old American who lives in Brazil is writing his memoirs. Call him Oscar Progresso—or whatever else you like. He sits in a mountain garden in Niterói, overlooking the ocean. As he reminisces and writes, placing the pages carefully in his antproof case, an epic adventure unfolds. We learn that he was a World War II ace who was shot down twice, an investment banker who met with popes and presidents, and a man who was never not in love.But that doesn&’t begin to cover our narrator&’s immense and fascinating journey through the 20th century. He was also the thief of the century, a murderer, and a protector of the innocent. All his life he waged a valiant, losing, one-man battle against the world&’s most insidious enslaver: coffee. The acclaimed author of Winter&’s Tale and A soldier of the Great War, Mark Helprin now offers &“a tour de force that combines adventure, romance and an overview of the 20th century into a bittersweet narrative&” (Publishers Weekly, starred review).
Alexandria in Late Antiquity: Topography and Social Conflict (Ancient Society and History)
by Christopher HaasHaas explores the broad avenues and back alleys of Alexandria's neighborhoods, its suburbs and waterfront, and aspects of material culture that underlay Alexandrian social and intellectual life.Selected by Choice Magazine as an Outstanding Academic TitleSecond only to Rome in the ancient world, Alexandria was home to many of late antiquity's most brilliant writers, philosophers, and theologians—among them Philo, Origen, Arius, Athanasius, Hypatia, Cyril, and John Philoponus. Now, in Alexandria in Late Antiquity, Christopher Haas offers the first book to place these figures within the physical and social context of Alexandria's bustling urban milieu. Because of its clear demarcation of communal boundaries, Alexandria provides the modern historian with an ideal opportunity to probe the multicultural makeup of an ancient urban unit. Haas explores the broad avenues and back alleys of Alexandria's neighborhoods, its suburbs and waterfront, and aspects of material culture that underlay Alexandrian social and intellectual life. Organizing his discussion around the city's religious and ethnic blocs—Jews, pagans, and Christians—he details the fiercely competitive nature of Alexandrian social dynamics. In contrast to recent scholarship, which cites Alexandria as a model for peaceful coexistence within a culturally diverse community, Haas finds that the diverse groups' struggles for social dominance and cultural hegemony often resulted in violence and bloodshed—a volatile situation frequently exacerbated by imperial intervention on one side or the other.Eventually, Haas concludes, Alexandrian society achieved a certain stability and reintegration—a process that resulted in the transformation of Alexandrian civic identity during the crucial centuries between antiquity and the Middle Ages.
The Great Society Subway: A History of the Washington Metro (Creating the North American Landscape)
by Zachary M. SchragAs Metro stretches to Tysons Corner and beyond, this paperback edition features a new preface from the author.Drivers in the nation's capital face a host of hazards: high-speed traffic circles, presidential motorcades, jaywalking tourists, and bewildering signs that send unsuspecting motorists from the Lincoln Memorial into suburban Virginia in less than two minutes. And parking? Don't bet on it unless you're in the fast lane of the Capital Beltway during rush hour.Little wonder, then, that so many residents and visitors rely on the Washington Metro, the 106-mile rapid transit system that serves the District of Columbia and its inner suburbs. In the first comprehensive history of the Metro, Zachary M. Schrag tells the story of the Great Society Subway from its earliest rumblings to the present day, from Arlington to College Park, Eisenhower to Marion Barry. Unlike the pre–World War II rail systems of New York, Chicago, and Philadelphia, the Metro was built at a time when most American families already owned cars, and when most American cities had dedicated themselves to freeways, not subways. Why did the nation's capital take a different path? What were the consequences of that decision?Using extensive archival research as well as oral history, Schrag argues that the Metro can be understood only in the political context from which it was born: the Great Society liberalism of the Kennedy, Johnson, and Nixon administrations. The Metro emerged from a period when Americans believed in public investments suited to the grandeur and dignity of the world's richest nation. The Metro was built not merely to move commuters, but in the words of Lyndon Johnson, to create "a place where the city of man serves not only the needs of the body and the demands of commerce but the desire for beauty and the hunger for community."Schrag scrutinizes the project from its earliest days, including general planning, routes, station architecture, funding decisions, land-use impacts, and the behavior of Metro riders. The story of the Great Society Subway sheds light on the development of metropolitan Washington, postwar urban policy, and the promises and limits of rail transit in American cities.
A Natural History of Homosexuality
by Francis Mark MondimoreSelected by Choice Magazine as an Outstanding Academic TitleA terrible sin, a gift from the gods, a mental illness, a natural human variation—over the centuries people have defined homosexuality in all of these ways. Since the word homosexual was coined in 1869, many scientists in a variety of fields have sought to understand same-sex intimacy. Drawing on recent insights in biology and genetics, psychiatrist Francis Mondimore set out to explore the complex landscape of sexual orientation.The result is A Natural History of Homosexuality, a generous work that synthesizes research in biology, history, psychology, and politics to explain how homosexuality has been understood and defined from ancient times until the present. Mondimore narrates tales of love and courage as well as discrimination and bigotry in settings as diverse as ancient Greece and Victorian England, early America and fin de siecle Vienna. He also tells fascinating stories about societies which accepted, incorporated, or institutionalized homosexuality into mainstream culture, stories illustrating that same-sex eroticism was often accepted as a normal aspect of human sexuality. In twentieth-century America, researchers first recognized that homosexuality might not be "pathological" when Alfred Kinsey and Evelyn Hooker conducted the first studies of sexuality not biased by preconceived notions of "normal" sexual behavior. After exploring sexual development in the human fetus, Mondimore reviews current biological research into the nature of sexual orientation and examines recent scientific findings on the role of heredity and hormones, as well as Simon LeVay's 1991 brain studies. He then turns to a very important focus: on people and their individual experiences. He explores "what happens between childhood and adulthood in an individual that makes him or her come to identify himself or herself as having a sexual orientation." He also explains our current understanding of bisexuality and the transgender phenomena of transsexualism and transvestism. Finally, Mondimore analyzes the circumstances of such prominent scandals as the anti-homosexual trials of Oscar Wilde and Philip von Eulenberg, and recounts the Nazi persecution of homosexuals during the Holocaust. This far-reaching discussion includes a description of the ex-gay ministries and reparative therapy as well as the Stonewall riots and AIDS, ending with the emergence of gay pride and community.
Inside Assisted Living: The Search for Home
by J. Kevin Eckert Paula C. Carder Leslie A. Morgan Ann Christine Frankowski Erin G. RothAssisted living is the fastest-growing alternative to skilled nursing care for frail older persons in the United States. The expectations, settings, and missions of these residences are varied, making it difficult for prospective residents and their families to anticipate what it would be like to live in them. This book is a unique portal into the real world of assisted living and the key issues facing consumers, providers, and policy makers. Drawing on in-depth interviews with residents, their family members, staffers, and administrators, Inside Assisted Living opens the window on day-to-day life in six different types of assisted living residence. From “Miss Helen at Valley Glen Home” to “Mr. Sidney at Laurel Ridge,” the detailed profiles of individuals show the commonalities among the residences while highlighting the positive and negative aspects of each. The voices of those living, visiting, and working in the homes clarify the important local (social relations, staff dynamics, leadership) and national (funding, regulation, aging-in-place) challenges presented by assisted living. Introductory and concluding chapters synthesize new findings that cross the six settings and reflect issues vital to all participants. The book also features an appendix detailing the research process involved in creating the profiles.
Forget Memory: Creating Better Lives for People with Dementia
by Anne Davis BastingMemory loss can be one of the most terrifying aspects of a diagnosis of dementia. Yet the fear and dread of losing our memory make the experience of the disease worse than it needs to be, according to cultural critic and playwright Anne Davis Basting. She says, Forget memory. Basting emphasizes the importance of activities that focus on the present to improve the lives of persons with Alzheimer's disease and other dementias.Based on ten years of practice and research in the field, Basting’s study includes specific examples of innovative programs that stimulate growth, humor, and emotional connection; translates into accessible language a wide range of provocative academic works on memory; and addresses how advances in medical research and clinical practice are already pushing radical changes in care for persons with dementia.Bold, optimistic, and innovative, Basting's cultural critique of dementia care offers a vision for how we can change the way we think about and care for people with memory loss.
The Riddle of Amish Culture (Center Books in Anabaptist Studies)
by Donald B. KraybillRevised edition of this classic work brings the story of the Amish into the 21st century.Since its publication in 1989, The Riddle of Amish Culture has become recognized as a classic work on one of America's most distinctive religious communities. But many changes have occurred within Amish society over the past decade, from westward migrations and a greater familiarity with technology to the dramatic shift away from farming into small business which is transforming Amish culture. For this revised edition, Donald B. Kraybill has taken these recent changes into account, incorporating new demographic research and new interviews he has conducted among the Amish. In addition, he includes a new chapter describing Amish recreation and social gatherings, and he applies the concept of "social capital" to his sensitive and penetrating interpretation of how the Amish have preserved their social networks and the solidarity of their community.
The Lost Art of Caring: A Challenge to Health Professionals, Families, Communities, and Society
by Robert H. Binstock Leighton E. CluffIn The Lost Art of Caring, Leighton E. Cluff, M.D., and Robert H. Binstock, Ph.D., bring together experts to address the importance of caring, the reasons why it has eroded, and measures that can strengthen caring as provided by health professionals, families, communities, and society.
The Trojan Epic: Posthomerica (Johns Hopkins New Translations from Antiquity)
by Quintus of SmyrnaComposed in the third century A.D., the Trojan Epic is the earliest surviving literary evidence for many of the traditions of the Trojan War passed down from ancient Greece. Also known as the Posthomerica, or "sequel to Homer," the Trojan Epic chronicles the course of the war after the burial of Troy's greatest hero, Hektor.Quintus, believed to have been an educated Greek living in Roman Asia Minor, included some of the war's most legendary events: the death of Achilles, the Trojan Horse, and the destruction of Troy. But because Quintus deliberately imitated Homer's language and style, his work has been dismissed by many scholars as pastiche. A vivid and entertaining story in its own right, the Trojan Epic is also particularly significant for what it reveals about its sources—the much older, now lost Greek epics about the Trojan War known collectively as the Epic Cycle. Written in the Homeric era, these poems recounted events not included in the Iliad or the Odyssey. As Alan James makes clear in this vibrant and faithful new translation, Quintus's work deserves attention for its literary-historical importance and its narrative power. James's line-by-line verse translation in English reveals the original as an exciting and eloquent tale of gods and heroes, bravery and cunning, hubris and brutality. James includes a substantial introduction which places the work in its literary and historical context, a detailed and annotated book-by-book summary of the epic, a commentary dealing mainly with sources, and an explanatory index of proper names. Brilliantly revitalized by James, the Trojan Epic will appeal to a wide range of readers interested in Greek mythology and the legend of Troy.
The Death and Afterlife of Achilles
by Jonathan S. BurgessAchilles’ death—by an arrow shot through the vulnerable heel of the otherwise invincible mythic hero—was as well known in antiquity as the rest of the history of the Trojan War. However, this important event was not described directly in either of the great Homeric epics, the Iliad or the Odyssey. Noted classics scholar Jonathan S. Burgess traces the story of Achilles as represented in other ancient sources in order to offer a deeper understanding of the death and afterlife of the celebrated Greek warrior. Through close readings of additional literary sources and analysis of ancient artwork, such as vase paintings, Burgess uncovers rich accounts of Achilles’ death as well as alternative versions of his afterlife. Taking a neoanalytical approach, Burgess is able to trace the influence of these parallel cultural sources on Homer’s composition of the Iliad. With his keen, original analysis of hitherto untapped literary, iconographical, and archaeological sources, Burgess adds greatly to our understanding of this archetypal mythic hero.
The Kaggle Book: Data analysis and machine learning for competitive data science
by Konrad Banachewicz Luca MassaronGet a step ahead of your competitors with insights from over 30 Kaggle Masters and Grandmasters. Discover tips, tricks, and best practices for competing effectively on Kaggle and becoming a better data scientist. Purchase of the print or Kindle book includes a free eBook in the PDF format.Key FeaturesLearn how Kaggle works and how to make the most of competitions from over 30 expert KagglersSharpen your modeling skills with ensembling, feature engineering, adversarial validation and AutoMLA concise collection of smart data handling techniques for modeling and parameter tuningBook DescriptionMillions of data enthusiasts from around the world compete on Kaggle, the most famous data science competition platform of them all. Participating in Kaggle competitions is a surefire way to improve your data analysis skills, network with an amazing community of data scientists, and gain valuable experience to help grow your career. The first book of its kind, The Kaggle Book assembles in one place the techniques and skills you’ll need for success in competitions, data science projects, and beyond. Two Kaggle Grandmasters walk you through modeling strategies you won’t easily find elsewhere, and the knowledge they’ve accumulated along the way. As well as Kaggle-specific tips, you’ll learn more general techniques for approaching tasks based on image, tabular, textual data, and reinforcement learning. You’ll design better validation schemes and work more comfortably with different evaluation metrics. Whether you want to climb the ranks of Kaggle, build some more data science skills, or improve the accuracy of your existing models, this book is for you. Plus, join our Discord Community to learn along with more than 1,000 members and meet like-minded people!What you will learnGet acquainted with Kaggle as a competition platformMake the most of Kaggle Notebooks, Datasets, and Discussion forumsCreate a portfolio of projects and ideas to get further in your careerDesign k-fold and probabilistic validation schemesGet to grips with common and never-before-seen evaluation metricsUnderstand binary and multi-class classification and object detectionApproach NLP and time series tasks more effectivelyHandle simulation and optimization competitions on KaggleWho this book is forThis book is suitable for anyone new to Kaggle, veteran users, and anyone in between. Data analysts/scientists who are trying to do better in Kaggle competitions and secure jobs with tech giants will find this book useful. A basic understanding of machine learning concepts will help you make the most of this book.
Mastering Python for Networking and Security: Leverage the scripts and libraries of Python version 3.7 and beyond to overcome networking and security issues, 2nd Edition
by Jose Manuel OrtegaTackle security and networking issues using Python libraries such as Nmap, requests, asyncio, and scapyKey FeaturesEnhance your Python programming skills in securing systems and executing networking tasksExplore Python scripts to debug and secure complex networksLearn to avoid common cyber events with modern Python scriptingBook DescriptionIt's now more apparent than ever that security is a critical aspect of IT infrastructure, and that devastating data breaches can occur from simple network line hacks. As shown in this book, combining the latest version of Python with an increased focus on network security can help you to level up your defenses against cyber attacks and cyber threats. Python is being used for increasingly advanced tasks, with the latest update introducing new libraries and packages featured in the Python 3.7.4 recommended version. Moreover, most scripts are compatible with the latest versions of Python and can also be executed in a virtual environment. This book will guide you through using these updated packages to build a secure network with the help of Python scripting. You'll cover a range of topics, from building a network to the procedures you need to follow to secure it. Starting by exploring different packages and libraries, you'll learn about various ways to build a network and connect with the Tor network through Python scripting. You will also learn how to assess a network's vulnerabilities using Python security scripting. Later, you'll learn how to achieve endpoint protection by leveraging Python packages, along with writing forensic scripts. By the end of this Python book, you'll be able to use Python to build secure apps using cryptography and steganography techniques.What you will learnCreate scripts in Python to automate security and pentesting tasksExplore Python programming tools that are used in network security processesAutomate tasks such as analyzing and extracting information from serversUnderstand how to detect server vulnerabilities and analyze security modulesDiscover ways to connect to and get information from the Tor networkFocus on how to extract information with Python forensics toolsWho this book is forThis Python network security book is for network engineers, system administrators, or any security professional looking to overcome networking and security challenges. You will also find this book useful if you're a programmer with prior experience in Python. A basic understanding of general programming structures and the Python programming language is required before getting started.
Adobe Animate 2022 for Creative Professionals: Implement professional techniques and create vivid animated and interactive content with Animate, 2nd Edition
by Joseph LabrecqueStep into the world of animation and go beyond the fundamentals of Adobe Animate to bring experiences to life with the help of expert-led contentKey FeaturesProduce rich motion graphics and interactive animations for multiple platformsExplore the key features and enhancements in the latest Adobe Animate releaseTake your Adobe Animate projects to the next level with creative workflowsBook DescriptionAdobe Animate is platform-agnostic asset creation, motion design, animation, and interactivity software. Complete with explanations of essential concepts and step-by-step walkthroughs of practical examples, this book will guide you in using Adobe Animate to create immersive experiences by breaking through creative limitations across every medium. We begin by getting up to speed with all that you need to know about Adobe Animate. You'll learn how to get started with Animate as a creative platform and explore the features introduced in its most recent versions. The book will show you how to consume and produce media assets for multiple platforms through both the publish and export workflows. Following this, you'll explore advanced rigging techniques and discover how to create more dynamic animation with advanced depth and movement techniques. You'll also find out how to build projects such as games, virtual reality experiences, and apps for various platforms as the book demonstrates different ways to use Animate. Finally, it covers the different methods used to extend the software for various needs. By the end of this Adobe Animate book, you'll be able to produce a variety of media assets, motion graphic design materials, animated artifacts, and interactive content pieces for platforms such as HTML5 Canvas, WebGL, and mobile devices.What you will learnGain a solid understanding of Adobe Animate foundations and new featuresUnderstand the nuances associated with publishing and exporting rich media content to various platformsMake use of advanced layering and rigging techniques to create engaging motion contentCreate dynamic motion using the camera and variable layer depth techniquesDevelop web-based games, virtual reality experiences, and multiplatform mobile applicationsExtend Animate with extensions, application-level scripting, and the creation of custom integrated tutorialsWho this book is forThis book is for web, graphic, and motion design professionals with basic experience in animation who want to take their existing skills to the next level. A clear understanding of fundamental animation concepts will help you to get the most out of this book and produce impressive results.
iOS 18 Programming for Beginners: Learn iOS development with Swift 6, Xcode 16, and iOS 18 - your path to App Store success
by Ahmad SaharEmbark on an exciting iOS app development journey with Swift 6, Xcode 16, and iOS 18. This hands-on guide equips you with the skills to create captivating apps and thrive in the competitive App Store landscape.Key FeaturesExperience iOS 18 and Swift 6 through hands-on projectsBuild your first iOS apps, complete with user-friendly interfaces using UIKit Learn best practices from an experienced developer for robust app designBook DescriptionWant to turn your app idea into reality? iOS 18 Programming for Beginners is a guide that revolves around building a journal app, designed to teach you practical iOS development skills from the ground up. Through this approach, you'll gain hands-on experience with Xcode and progress through building a UI and filling it with functionality. Starting with the fundamentals of Swift 6, you'll learn how to construct user interfaces using storyboards and segues before diving into essential iOS concepts like table views, data handling, and map integration. The step-by-step tutorials guide you through key tasks such as persisting data with JSON, creating custom views, and integrating media into your apps. You’ll also discover how to enhance your apps using Apple Intelligence, incorporating machine learning and smart features to create cutting-edge iOS applications. The final chapters focus on crucial aspects of app development, including Swift Testing to ensure your app is robust, and submitting your app to the App Store—demystifying the journey from development to deployment. Whether you're a beginner or transitioning to iOS development, this guide will equip you with the skills needed to create and publish your own apps.What you will learnLearn the foundations of using Xcode 16 and Swift 6Implement the latest iOS 18 features through a hands-on example appBuild responsive iOS apps using UIKitCreate location-based apps using Core Location and MapKitImplement concurrency in Swift for asynchronous programmingBuild iOS apps using industry-standard design patterns and practicesEnhance apps with Apple Intelligence to leverage machine learningTest apps with Swift Testing to ensure it meets quality standardsWho this book is forThis book is tailored for individuals with minimal coding experience who are new to the world of Swift and iOS app development. A basic understanding of programming concepts is recommended.
Generative AI Application Integration Patterns: Integrate large language models into your applications
by Juan Pablo Bustos Luis Lopez SoriaUnleash the transformative potential of GenAI with this comprehensive guide that serves as an indispensable roadmap for integrating large language models into real-world applications. Gain invaluable insights into identifying compelling use cases, leveraging state-of-the-art models effectively, deploying these models into your applications at scale, and navigating ethical considerations.Key FeaturesGet familiar with the most important tools and concepts used in real scenarios to design GenAI appsInteract with GenAI models to tailor model behavior to minimize hallucinationsGet acquainted with a variety of strategies and an easy to follow 4 step frameworks for integrating GenAI into applicationsBook DescriptionExplore the transformative potential of GenAI in the application development lifecycle. Through concrete examples, you will go through the process of ideation and integration, understanding the tradeoffs and the decision points when integrating GenAI. With recent advances in models like Google Gemini, Anthropic Claude, DALL-E and GPT-4o, this timely resource will help you harness these technologies through proven design patterns. We then delve into the practical applications of GenAI, identifying common use cases and applying design patterns to address real-world challenges. From summarization and metadata extraction to intent classification and question answering, each chapter offers practical examples and blueprints for leveraging GenAI across diverse domains and tasks. You will learn how to fine-tune models for specific applications, progressing from basic prompting to sophisticated strategies such as retrieval augmented generation (RAG) and chain of thought. Additionally, we provide end-to-end guidance on operationalizing models, including data prep, training, deployment, and monitoring. We also focus on responsible and ethical development techniques for transparency, auditing, and governance as crucial design patterns.What you will learnConcepts of GenAI: pre-training, fine-tuning, prompt engineering, and RAGFramework for integrating AI: entry points, prompt pre-processing, inference, post-processing, and presentationPatterns for batch and real-time integrationCode samples for metadata extraction, summarization, intent classification, question-answering with RAG, and moreEthical use: bias mitigation, data privacy, and monitoringDeployment and hosting options for GenAI modelsWho this book is forThis book is not an introduction to AI/ML or Python. It offers practical guides for designing, building, and deploying GenAI applications in production. While all readers are welcome, those who benefit most include: Developer engineers with foundational tech knowledge Software architects seeking best practices and design patterns Professionals using ML for data science, research, etc., who want a deeper understanding of Generative AI Technical product managers with a software development background This concise focus ensures practical, actionable insights for experienced professionals
The Ultimate Kali Linux Book: Perform advanced penetration testing using Nmap, Metasploit, Aircrack-ng, and Empire, 2nd Edition
by Glen D. SinghExplore the latest ethical hacking tools and techniques to perform penetration testing from scratchPurchase of the print or Kindle book includes a free eBook in the PDF formatKey FeaturesLearn to compromise enterprise networks with Kali LinuxGain comprehensive insights into security concepts using advanced real-life hacker techniquesUse Kali Linux in the same way ethical hackers and penetration testers do to gain control of your environmentBook DescriptionKali Linux is the most popular and advanced penetration testing Linux distribution within the cybersecurity industry. Using Kali Linux, a cybersecurity professional will be able to discover and exploit various vulnerabilities and perform advanced penetration testing on both enterprise wired and wireless networks. This book is a comprehensive guide for those who are new to Kali Linux and penetration testing that will have you up to speed in no time. Using real-world scenarios, you'll understand how to set up a lab and explore core penetration testing concepts. Throughout this book, you'll focus on information gathering and even discover different vulnerability assessment tools bundled in Kali Linux. You'll learn to discover target systems on a network, identify security flaws on devices, exploit security weaknesses and gain access to networks, set up Command and Control (C2) operations, and perform web application penetration testing. In this updated second edition, you'll be able to compromise Active Directory and exploit enterprise networks. Finally, this book covers best practices for performing complex web penetration testing techniques in a highly secured environment. By the end of this Kali Linux book, you'll have gained the skills to perform advanced penetration testing on enterprise networks using Kali Linux.What you will learnExplore the fundamentals of ethical hackingUnderstand how to install and configure Kali LinuxPerform asset and network discovery techniquesFocus on how to perform vulnerability assessmentsExploit the trust in Active Directory domain servicesPerform advanced exploitation with Command and Control (C2) techniquesImplement advanced wireless hacking techniquesBecome well-versed with exploiting vulnerable web applicationsWho this book is forThis pentesting book is for students, trainers, cybersecurity professionals, cyber enthusiasts, network security professionals, ethical hackers, penetration testers, and security engineers. If you do not have any prior knowledge and are looking to become an expert in penetration testing using the Kali Linux operating system (OS), then this book is for you.
Web Development with Blazor: A hands-on guide for .NET developers to build interactive UIs with C#
by Jimmy Engstrom Jeff FritzDevelop modern web UIs quickly with server-side Blazor and Blazor WebAssemblyKey FeaturesCreate and deploy a production-ready Blazor application from start to finishLearn Blazor fundamentals, gain actionable insights, and discover best practicesFind out how, when, and why to use server-side Blazor and Blazor WebAssemblyBook DescriptionBlazor is an essential tool if you want to build interactive web apps without JS, but it comes with its own learning curve. Web Development with Blazor will help you overcome most common challenges developers face when getting started with Blazor and teach you the best coding practices.You'll start by learning how to leverage the power of Blazor and explore the full capabilities of both Blazor Server and Blazor WebAssembly.Then you'll move on to the practical part, which is centred around a sample project – a blog engine. This is where you'll apply all your newfound knowledge about creating Blazor Server and Blazor WebAssembly projects, the inner working of Razor syntax, and validating forms, as well as creating your own components. You'll learn all the key concepts involved in web development with Blazor, which you'll also be able to put into practice straight away.By showing you how all the components work together practically, this book will help you avoid some of the common roadblocks that novice Blazor developers face and inspire you to start experimenting with Blazor on your other projects.When you reach the end of this Blazor book, you'll have gained the confidence you need to create and deploy production-ready Blazor applications.What you will learnUnderstand the different technologies that can be used with Blazor, such as Blazor Server and Blazor WebAssemblyFind out how to build simple and advanced Blazor componentsExplore the differences between Blazor Server and Blazor WebAssembly projectsDiscover how Entity Framework works and build a simple APIGet up to speed with components and find out how to create basic and advanced componentsExplore existing JavaScript libraries in BlazorUse techniques to debug your Blazor Server and Blazor WebAssembly applicationsTest Blazor components using bUnitWho this book is forIf you're a .NET web or software developer who wants to build web UIs using C#, then this book is for you. You'll need intermediate-level web-development skills and basic knowledge of C# before you get started; the book will guide you through the rest.
The Life and Death of Mary Wollstonecraft
by Claire TomalinThe Life and Death of Mary Wollstonecraft is the acclaimed bestselling biography by Claire TomalinWinner of the Whitbread First Book PrizeWitty, courageous and unconventional, Mary Wollstonecraft was one of the most controversial figures of her day. She published A Vindication of the Rights of Women; travelled to revolutionary France and lived through the Terror and the destruction of the incipient French feminist movement; produced an illegitimate daughter; and married William Godwin before dying in childbed at the age of thirty-eight. Often embattled and bitterly disappointed, she never gave up her radical ideas or her belief that courage and honesty would triumph over convention.'Tomalin is a most intelligent and sympathetic biographer, aware of her impetuous subject's many failings, yet with the perception to present her greatness fairly. She writes well and wittily' Daily Telegraph'A vivid evocation not only of what Mary went through but also of how women lived in the second part of the eighteenth century. Most of all, however, Tomalin makes Mary Wollstonecraft unforgettable' Evening StandardFrom the acclaimed author of Samuel Pepys: The Unequalled Self, Charles Dickens: A Life and The Invisible Woman, this celebrated biography is the definitive account of Mary Wollstonecraft's life.Claire Tomalin is the award-winning author of eight highly acclaimed biographies, including: The Life and Death of Mary Wollstonecraft; Shelley and His World; Katherine Mansfield: A Secret Life; The Invisible Woman: The Story of Nelly Ternan and Charles Dickens; Mrs Jordan's Profession; Jane Austen: A Life; Samuel Pepys: The Unequalled Self; Thomas Hardy: The Time-Torn Man and, most recently, Charles Dickens: A Life. A former literary editor of the New Statesman and the Sunday Times, she is married to the playwright and novelist Michael Frayn.
Saturated Facts: A Myth-Busting Guide to Diet and Nutrition in a World of Misinformation
by Dr Idrees Mughal‘Incredibly well written, accessible and a must in every household.’ Dr Nighat Arif, author of The Knowledge and resident doctor on ITV This Morning‘A fabulous read!’ Rhiannon Lambert, Registered Nutritionist and Sunday Times bestselling author of The Science of NutritionAre carbs the enemy? Am I getting enough protein? Should I worry about inflammation? Do calories count? And do any diets really work?We are constantly bombarded with advice on how to live a ‘healthier’ life. From the benefits of intermittent fasting and the keto diet, to the growth of veganism and the dangers of inflammation, poor-quality, dubiously sourced information on how we can live and feel better is everywhere. But where should we turn for advice we can trust?Dr Idrees Mughal (Dr Idz), an NHS doctor with a masters in nutritional research and a board certification in lifestyle medicine, has made it his mission to educate, inspire and empower the public when it comes to diet and lifestyle. His signature videos have attracted millions of followers online, and now he’s collected this wealth of information in his first book, Saturated Facts – your science-backed guide to living better.Whether you’re looking to lose weight, sleep better, avoid disease or just have more energy as you go about your day, Saturated Facts is the comprehensive guide you need to make smarter decisions about your health.