Beloved author C. S. Lewis is our trusted guide in this intimate day-by-day companion offering his distinctive and celebrated wisdom. Amidst the bustle of our daily experience, A Year with C. S. Lewis provides the necessary respite and inspiration to meet the many challenges we face in our lives. Ruminating on such themes as the nature of love, the existence of miracles, overcoming a devastating loss, and discovering a profound faith, Lewis offers unflinchingly honest insight for each day of the year. These daily meditations have been culled from Lewis's celebrated Signature Classics: Mere Christianity , The Screwtape Letters , The Great Divorce , The Problem of Pain , Miracles , and A Grief Observed , as well as from the distinguished works The Weight of Glory and The Abolition of Man. Throughout this elegant daybook the reader will find poignant biographical com-mentary about C. S. Lewis's life that offers a remarkable portrait of Lewis in the context of his work. As each day unfolds, we embark on a path of discovery with a friend by your side. A Year with C. S. Lewis is the perfect com-panion for everyone who cherishes Lewis's timeless words.

Called the Pilgrim Pope, a pope of the people, John Paul II connected with his flock from the highest to the lowest. He was one of history's most beloved popes among Catholics and non-Catholics alike, a man whose indomitable spirit touched and taught us all. A Year with John Paul II showcases his most important teachings as well as his inspirational writings, in a daily devotional format that will inspire readers and deepen their reflections and meditations. With a foreword by Cardinal William W. Baum, head of the Holy See's Major Penitentiary and former archbishop of Washington DC, an introduction by Bishop William Murphy, and a moving eulogy composed for the pope's funeral by Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger (now Pope Benedict XVI), A Year with John Paul II will take readers on a year-long spiritual journey with this deeply religious and inspiring man. Karol Wojyla was born on May 18, 1920, in Wadowice, Poland. He survived the Nazi occupation during World War II and was ordained to the priesthood in 1946. He was appointed archbishop of Krakow by Pope Paul VI. On October 16, 1978, he ascended to the papacy, taking the name John Paul II. During his papacy he greeted an estimated sixteen million pilgrims at the Vatican's general audiences. Pope John Paul II died in April 2005.

Master machine learning techniques with R to deliver insights for complex projectsAbout This BookGet to grips with the application of Machine Learning methods using an extensive set of R packagesUnderstand the benefits and potential pitfalls of using machine learning methodsImplement the numerous powerful features offered by R with this comprehensive guide to building an independent R-based ML system Who This Book Is For If you want to learn how to use R's machine learning capabilities to solve complex business problems, then this book is for you. Some experience with R and a working knowledge of basic statistical or machine learning will prove helpful.What You Will LearnGain deep insights to learn the applications of machine learning tools to the industryManipulate data in R efficiently to prepare it for analysisMaster the skill of recognizing techniques for effective visualization of dataUnderstand why and how to create test and training data sets for analysisFamiliarize yourself with fundamental learning methods such as linear and logistic regressionComprehend advanced learning methods such as support vector machinesRealize why and how to apply unsupervised learning methods In Detail Machine learning is a field of Artificial Intelligence to build systems that learn from data. Given the growing prominence of R—a cross-platform, zero-cost statistical programming environment—there has never been a better time to start applying machine learning to your data. The book starts with introduction to Cross-Industry Standard Process for Data Mining. It takes you through Multivariate Regression in detail. Moving on, you will also address Classification and Regression trees. You will learn a couple of “Unsupervised techniques”. Finally, the book will walk you through text analysis and time series. The book will deliver practical and real-world solutions to problems and variety of tasks such as complex recommendation systems. By the end of this book, you will gain expertise in performing R machine learning and will be able to build complex ML projects using R and its packages.Style and approach This is a book explains complicated concepts with easy to follow theory and real-world, practical applications. It demonstrates the power of R and machine learning extensively while highlighting the constraints.

Over 90 practical and highly applicable recipes to successfully deploy various OpenStack configurations in productionAbout This BookGet a deep understanding of OpenStack’s internal structure and servicesLearn real-world examples on how to build and configure various production grade use cases for each of OpenStack's servicesUse a step-by-step approach to install and configure OpenStack’s services to provide Compute, Storage, and Networking as a services for cloud workloads Who This Book Is For If you have a basic understanding of Linux and Cloud computing and want to learn about configurations that OpenStack supports, this is the book for you. Knowledge of virtualization and managing Linux environments is expected. Prior knowledge or experience of OpenStack is not required, although beneficial.What You Will LearnPlan an installation of OpenStack with a basic configurationDeploy OpenStack in a highly available configurationConfigure Keystone Identity services with multiple types of identity backendsConfigure Glance Image Store with File, NFS, Swift, or Ceph image backends and use local image cachingDesign Cinder to use a single storage provider such as LVM, Ceph, and NFS backends, or to use multiple storage backends simultaneouslyManage and configure the OpenStack networking backendConfigure OpenStack's compute hypervisor and the instance scheduling mechanismBuild and customize the OpenStack dashboard In Detail OpenStack is the most popular open source cloud platform used by organizations building internal private clouds and by public cloud providers. OpenStack is designed in a fully distributed architecture to provide Infrastructure as a Service, allowing us to maintain a massively scalable cloud infrastructure. OpenStack is developed by a vibrant community of open source developers who come from the largest software companies in the world. The book provides a comprehensive and practical guide to the multiple uses cases and configurations that OpenStack supports. This book simplifies the learning process by guiding you through how to install OpenStack in a single controller configuration. The book goes deeper into deploying OpenStack in a highly available configuration. You’ll then configure Keystone Identity Services using LDAP, Active Directory, or the MySQL identity provider and configure a caching layer and SSL. After that, you will configure storage back-end providers for Glance and Cinder, which will include Ceph, NFS, Swift, and local storage. Then you will configure the Neutron networking service with provider network VLANs, and tenant network VXLAN and GRE. Also, you will configure Nova’s Hypervisor with KVM, and QEMU emulation, and you will configure Nova’s scheduler filters and weights. Finally, you will configure Horizon to use Apache HTTPD and SSL, and you will customize the dashboard’s appearance.Style and approach This book consists of clear, concise instructions coupled with practical and applicable recipes that will enable you to use and implement the latest features of OpenStack.

Become an expert in Bayesian Machine Learning methods using R and apply them to solve real-world big data problemsAbout This BookUnderstand the principles of Bayesian Inference with less mathematical equationsLearn state-of-the art Machine Learning methodsFamiliarize yourself with the recent advances in Deep Learning and Big Data frameworks with this step-by-step guide Who This Book Is For This book is for statisticians, analysts, and data scientists who want to build a Bayes-based system with R and implement it in their day-to-day models and projects. It is mainly intended for Data Scientists and Software Engineers who are involved in the development of Advanced Analytics applications. To understand this book, it would be useful if you have basic knowledge of probability theory and analytics and some familiarity with the programming language R.What You Will LearnSet up the R environmentCreate a classification model to predict and explore discrete variablesGet acquainted with Probability Theory to analyze random eventsBuild Linear Regression modelsUse Bayesian networks to infer the probability distribution of decision variables in a problemModel a problem using Bayesian Linear Regression approach with the R package BLRUse Bayesian Logistic Regression model to classify numerical dataPerform Bayesian Inference on massively large data sets using the MapReduce programs in R and Cloud computing In Detail Bayesian Inference provides a unified framework to deal with all sorts of uncertainties when learning patterns form data using machine learning models and use it for predicting future observations. However, learning and implementing Bayesian models is not easy for data science practitioners due to the level of mathematical treatment involved. Also, applying Bayesian methods to real-world problems requires high computational resources. With the recent advances in computation and several open sources packages available in R, Bayesian modeling has become more feasible to use for practical applications today. Therefore, it would be advantageous for all data scientists and engineers to understand Bayesian methods and apply them in their projects to achieve better results. Learning Bayesian Models with R starts by giving you a comprehensive coverage of the Bayesian Machine Learning models and the R packages that implement them. It begins with an introduction to the fundamentals of probability theory and R programming for those who are new to the subject. Then the book covers some of the important machine learning methods, both supervised and unsupervised learning, implemented using Bayesian Inference and R. Every chapter begins with a theoretical de*ion of the method explained in a very simple manner. Then, relevant R packages are discussed and some illustrations using data sets from the UCI Machine Learning repository are given. Each chapter ends with some simple exercises for you to get hands-on experience of the concepts and R packages discussed in the chapter. The last chapters are devoted to the latest development in the field, specifically Deep Learning, which uses a class of Neural Network models that are currently at the frontier of Artificial Intelligence. The book concludes with the application of Bayesian methods on Big Data using the Hadoop and Spark frameworks.Style and approach The book first gives you a theoretical de*ion of the Bayesian models in simple language, followed by details of its implementation in the R package. Each chapter has illustrations for the use of Bayesian model and the corresponding R package, using data sets from the UCI Machine Learning repository. Each chapter also contains sufficient exercises for you to get more hands-on practice.

Accelerate your code writing skills with over twenty programming patterns that will make your code easier to maintain and scaleAbout This BookOptimize your web application for production useBuild views and controllers with minimal effort that will evolve with your applicationLearn how to maintain a MeteorJS project while it is running in production Who This Book Is For This book is for developers who have already had an introductory course with Meteor. Basic knowledge of web development is recommended.What You Will LearnUse of Jade, Stylus, and CoffeeScript to speed up web developmentIncrease productivity by leveraging the best packages in the communityOptimize your site for load speed with advanced publishers and subscribersLeverage the aggregation framework to produce results with big dataMaster the intricacies of front-end development using Jeet, Bootstrap, CSS animations, and moreOptimize your site for search engine visibilitySecure your site with Meteor’s best practicesTrack the live status of your application, ensuring all errors have been taken care of In Detail With the increasing interest in NodeJS web applications, a new framework, Meteor, has joined the ranks to simplify developer workflows. Meteor is one of the few open source frameworks that has received funding since its early development stages. It builds on ideas from existing frameworks and libraries, offering developers an easy way to develop a prototype app. At the same time, it gives them the tools and flexibility to build a fully fledged production app. Meteor is the weapon of choice for start-ups in today’s world. Meteor Design Patterns cuts through the jargon that most websites play with and gets to the point with simple solutions that will boost your development skills. We start off with a refresher on the basics of JavaScript programming such as templates, CoffeeScript, the Event Loop, and the Merge Box, amongst others. You then learn how to map real-world data and optimize the data’s publishers to output data with the least amount of work done by the server with some subscribe and publish patterns. Next, using front-end patterns, you will learn how to create maintainable and trackable forms, and make our site crawlable by any search engine. Following this, you will see how to optimize and secure the web application and maintain applications without breaking other features. Finally, you will learn how to deploy a secure production-ready application while learning to set up modulus, compose with Oplog tracking and SSL certificates, as well as error tracking with Kadira. Throughout the book, you will put your skills to practice and build an online shop from scratch. By the end of the book, you will have built a feature-rich online shop.Style and approach The book is a practical handbook on how to build an e-commerce web app using Meteor. Every topic ties into the webapp to easily illustrate the concepts that you are learning about.

Generate effective results in a variety of visually appealing charts using the plotting packages in PythonAbout This BookExplore various tools and their strengths while building meaningful representations that can make it easier to understand dataPacked with computational methods and algorithms in diverse fields of scienceWritten in an easy-to-follow categorical style, this book discusses some niche techniques that will make your code easier to work with and reuse Who This Book Is For If you are a Python developer who performs data visualization and wants to develop existing knowledge about Python to build analytical results and produce some amazing visual display, then this book is for you. A basic knowledge level and understanding of Python libraries is assumed.What You Will LearnGather, cleanse, access, and map data to a visual frameworkRecognize which visualization method is applicable and learn best practices for data visualizationGet acquainted with reader-driven narratives and author-driven narratives and the principles of perceptionUnderstand why Python is an effective tool to be used for numerical computation much like MATLAB, and explore some interesting data structures that come with itExplore with various visualization choices how Python can be very useful in computation in the field of finance and statisticsGet to know why Python is the second choice after Java, and is used frequently in the field of machine learningCompare Python with other visualization approaches using Julia and a JavaScript-based framework such as D3.jsDiscover how Python can be used in conjunction with NoSQL such as Hive to produce results efficiently in a distributed environment In Detail Python has a handful of open source libraries for numerical computations involving optimization, linear algebra, integration, interpolation, and other special functions using array objects, machine learning, data mining, and plotting. Pandas have a productive environment for data analysis. These libraries have a specific purpose and play an important role in the research into diverse domains including economics, finance, biological sciences, social science, health care, and many more. The variety of tools and approaches available within Python community is stunning, and can bolster and enhance visual story experiences. This book offers practical guidance to help you on the journey to effective data visualization. Commencing with a chapter on the data framework, which explains the transformation of data into information and eventually knowledge, this book subsequently covers the complete visualization process using the most popular Python libraries with working examples. You will learn the usage of Numpy, Scipy, IPython, MatPlotLib, Pandas, Patsy, and Scikit-Learn with a focus on generating results that can be visualized in many different ways. Further chapters are aimed at not only showing advanced techniques such as interactive plotting; numerical, graphical linear, and non-linear regression; clustering and classification, but also in helping you understand the aesthetics and best practices of data visualization. The book concludes with interesting examples such as social networks, directed graph examples in real-life, data structures appropriate for these problems, and network analysis. By the end of this book, you will be able to effectively solve a broad set of data analysis problems.Style and approach The approach of this book is not step by step, but rather categorical. The categories are based on fields such as bioinformatics, statistical and machine learning, financial computation, and linear algebra. This approach is beneficial for the community in many different fields of work and also helps you learn how one approach can make sense across many fields

Having once rashly boasted that she could remember every animal she had ever known, the author thought she must put pen to paper and see what memories came flooding back. The delightful poems in this collection moving, funny, sad, loving, will strike a chord with many a pet owner and entertain all who enjoy the ways of our animal friends.

Explore the big data field and learn how to perform data analytics and predictive modelling in STATAAbout This BookVisualize and analyse data in STATA to devise a business strategyLearn STATA programming and predictive modelingDiscover how you can become a data scientist with the power of STATA Who This Book Is For This book is for all the professionals and students who want to learn STATA programming and apply predictive modelling concepts. This book is also very helpful for experienced STATA programmers as it provides advanced statistical modelling concepts and their application.What You Will LearnPerform important statistical tests to become a STATA data scientistBe guided through how to program in STATAImplement logistic and linear regression modelsVisualize and program the data in STATAAnalyse survey data, time series data, and survival dataPerform database management in STATA In Detail STATA is an integrated software package that provides you with everything you need for data analysis, data management, and graphics. STATA also provides you with a platform to efficiently perform simulation, regression analysis (linear and multiple) [and custom programming. This book covers data management, graphs visualization, and programming in STATA. Starting with an introduction to STATA and data analytics you’ll move on to STATA programming and data management. Next, the book takes you through data visualization and all the important statistical tests in STATA. Linear and logistic regression in STATA is also covered. As you progress through the book, you will explore a few analyses, including the survey analysis, time series analysis, and survival analysis in STATA. You’ll also discover different types of statistical modelling techniques and learn how to implement these techniques in STATA.Style and approach This book is a hands-onguide to STATA programming and statistical modelling providing many STATA code examples and taking. You through the working of the code in detail.

Make use of Node.js to learn the development of a simple yet scalable cross-platform mobile applicationAbout This BookUse Node.js to satisfy the core backend requirements of modern apps, including user management, security, data access, and real-time data communicationBuild practical real-world mobile applications, which will give you the necessary knowledge to build your very own mobile solutionsStep-by-step development of projects using Ionic Framework as the frontend and Node.js for the backend supported by a MongoDB database Who This Book Is For This book is intended for web developers of all levels of expertise who want to deep dive into cross-platform mobile application development without going through the pains of understanding the languages and native frameworks that form an integral part of developing for different mobile platforms. This book is also for you if you are a developer who wants to capitalize on the MobileFirst strategy and so are going to use JavaScript for your complete stack.What You Will LearnDevelop an API from scratchSet up a MongoDB Database as part of your mobile application backendDeploy a cross-platform mobile application from the command lineIncorporate features within your mobile application that use native phone features such as a gyroscope, GPS, and accelerometerImplement mobile applications that use web-enabled APIsBuild a mobile application with real-time chat messaging featuresDevelop a secure mobile application that is capable of functioning with real-time data In Detail Node.js is a massively popular JavaScript library that lets you use JavaScript to easily program scalable network applications and web services. People approaching Node.js for the first time are often attracted by its efficiency, scalability, and the fact that it's based on JavaScript, the language of the Web, which means that developers can use the same language to write backend code. Also, it’s increasingly being seen as a "modern" replacement for PHP in web development, which relies on fast-paced data exchange. The growing community and the large amount of available modules makes Node.js one of the most attractive development environments. This book takes a step-wise and incremental approach toward developing cross-platform mobile technologies using existing web technologies. This will allow you to truly understand and become proficient in developing cross-platform mobile applications with Node.js, Ionic Framework, and MongoDB. The book starts off by introducing all the necessary requirements and knowledge to build a mobile application with a companion web service. It covers the ability to create an API from scratch and implement a comprehensive user database that will give you the opportunity to offer a mobile application with a personalized experience. Midway through the book, you will learn the basic processes to create a successful mobile application. You will also gain higher-level knowledge, allowing you to develop a functional and secure mobile application to ensure a seamless user experience for end users. Finally, the book ends with more advanced projects, which will bring together all the knowledge and expertise developed in the previous chapters to create a practical and functional mobile-application that has useful real-world features.Style and approach This book is an easy-to-follow guide that takes a step-wise approach in giving expertise and knowledge to help you truly understand what is needed to create a memorable user experience for end users. Each topic is placed in the context of the bigger picture, that is, to create cross-platform mobile applications using existing technologies.

Manage, analyze, and visualize data with Microsoft Excel 2013 to transform raw data into ready to use informationAbout This BookCreate formulas to help you analyze and explain findingsDevelop interactive spreadsheets that will impress your audience and give them the ability to slice and dice dataA step-by-step guide to learn various ways to model data for businesses with the help of Excel 2013 Who This Book Is For If you want to start using Excel 2013 for data analysis and business modeling and enhance your skills in the data analysis life cycle then this book is for you, whether you’re new to Excel or experienced.What You Will LearnDiscover what Excel formulas are all about and how to use them in your spreadsheet developmentIdentify bad data and learn cleaning strategiesCreate interactive spreadsheets that engage and appeal to your audienceLeverage Excel’s powerful built-in tools to get the median, maximum, and minimum values of your dataBuild impressive tables and combine datasets using Excel’s built-in functionalityLearn the powerful *ing language VBA, allowing you to implement your own custom solutions with ease In Detail Excel 2013 is one of the easiest to use data analysis tools you will ever come across. Its simplicity and powerful features has made it the go to tool for all your data needs. Complex operations with Excel, such as creating charts and graphs, visualization, and analyzing data make it a great tool for managers, data scientists, financial data analysts, and those who work closely with data. Learning data analysis and will help you bring your data skills to the next level. This book starts by walking you through creating your own data and bringing data into Excel from various sources. You’ll learn the basics of SQL syntax and how to connect it to a Microsoft SQL Server Database using Excel’s data connection tools. You will discover how to spot bad data and strategies to clean that data to make it useful to you. Next, you'll learn to create custom columns, identify key metrics, and make decisions based on business rules. You’ll create macros using VBA and use Excel 2013’s shiny new macros. Finally, at the end of the book, you'll be provided with useful shortcuts and tips, enabling you to do efficient data analysis and business modeling with Excel 2013.Style and approach This is a step-by-step guide to performing data analysis and business modelling with Excel 2013, complete with examples and tips.

Over 35 exciting recipes to spice up your application development with IonicAbout This BookLearn how to utilize the robust features of Ionic CLI and its framework to create, develop, and build your mobile appExplore new integrations with various Backend-as-a-Services, along with AngularJS modules, for creative solutionsUse out-of-the-box Ionic functionalities, customize existing components, and add new components with this comprehensive, step-by-step guide Who This Book Is For If you are a front-end developer and want to take advantage of your existing mobile application development skills to develop cross-platform mobile apps, this book is for you. You will build up your Ionic knowledge with in-depth recipes on Angular.js, Cordova, and Sass.What You Will LearnAuthenticate users using an e-mail password, Twitter, Facebook, Google+, and LinkedInRetrieve data and store it using FirebaseAccess native device functionalities such as a camera, contact list, e-mail, and maps using ngCordovaWork with localStorage and SQLite for persistent data access on the client sideCommunicate to and from your app using push notifications or SMSLeverage AngularJS events and Ionic-specific events to communicate across pages, controllers, and directivesCustomize the color and theme of your Ionic appCreate new custom directives as componentsCompile your app for iOS, Android, and Windows Phone In Detail The world of mobile development is extremely fragmented with many platforms, frameworks, and technologies available. Ionic is intended to fill that gap, by enabling developers to build apps that have a native feel to them, using web technologies such as HTML, CSS, and AngularJS. Ionic makes it easy for front-end developers to become app developers. The framework provides superior performance with deep Cordova integration and a comprehensive set of tools for prototyping, backend support, and deployment. Ionic Cookbook takes you through the process of developing a cross-platform mobile app using just HTML5 and the JavaScript-based Ionic. You will start with an introduction to the CLI and then move on to building and running an app. You will explore common features of real-world mobile apps such as authenticating a user, and getting and saving data using either Firebase or Local Storage. Next, the book covers how Ionic integrates with Cordova to support native device features using ngCordova, and you will discover how to take advantage of existing modules around its ecosystem. You will also delve into advanced topics, including how to extend Ionic to create new components. Finally, the book will walk you through customizing the Ionic theme and building the app so that it can be deployed to all platforms.Style and approach This book follows a recipe-based approach to cross-platform mobile app development, where each task is explained in a conversational and easy-to-follow style. Every topic explains individual features or components of Ionic, and provides extra details for readers to come up with custom solutions based on real-world applications.

Use game elements in Moodle courses to build learner resilience and motivationAbout This BookFormulate a Moodle course that acts as a flexible framework ready for your own contentKeep learners engrossed and create opportunities for motivation through the concepts of status, access, and powerA resourceful guide to innovative learning using automatic reports, assessments, and conditional release of activities Who This Book Is For This book has been designed for teachers who to use technology to create more engaging learning experiences for both online learning and in face-to-face sessions. This book will especially appeal to people who are interested in the underlying mechanics of play and games and want to know more about applying these concepts in an educational context. It is assumed that you are a teacher and expert in your field, have basic computer skills, and have access to the Internet.What You Will LearnSet up a scoring system using Moodle GradebookEnable communication and collaboration in your class as a Learning Community using forumsAssess your learners’ abilities by setting up challenges and questsConfigure gateways to check and ensure progress before new content or activities are releasedCreate Moodle assignments to provide effective feedback through a comment bank and custom scaleIssue Open Badges to recognize achievements and set up an online backpack to share digital badgesReduce anxiety for learners by using the game-like concept of “Levelling Up” In Detail This book describes how teachers can use Gamification design within the Moodle Learning Management System. Game elements can be included in course design by using, badges, rubrics, custom grading scales, forums, and conditional activities. Moodle courses do not have to be solo-learning experiences that replicate Distance Education models. The Gamification design process starts by profiling players and creating levels of achievement towards meeting learning outcomes. Each task is defined, valued, and sequenced. Motivation loops are devised to keep the momentum going. In a gaming studio, this approach would require a team of specialists with a large budget and time frames. Preparing for a class rarely has these optimal conditions. The approach used in this book is to introduce game elements into the course design gradually. First, apply gamification to just one lesson and then build up to gamifying a series of lessons over a term. Each example will indicate the difficulty level and time investment. Try it out to see what is most effective with your learners and choose wisely in your use of technology. By the end of this book, you will be able to create Moodle courses that incorporate choice, communication, challenge, and creativity.Style and approach An easy-to-follow guide full of screenshots and step-by-step instructions with estimated time frames required to accomplish numerous tasks. Tips are offered for new Moodlers and plugin extensions are suggested for advanced Moodlers. The focus of the book is on why you would want to use each activity rather than detailed technical de*ions.

Create robust and maintainable Java applications using the functional style of programmingAbout This BookExplore how you can blend object-oriented and functional programming styles in JavaUse lambda expressions to write flexible and succinct codeA tutorial that strengthens your fundamentals in functional programming techniques to enhance your applications Who This Book Is For If you are a Java developer with object-oriented experience and want to use a functional programming approach in your applications, then this book is for you. All you need to get started is familiarity with basic Java object-oriented programming concepts.What You Will LearnUse lambda expressions to simplyfy codeUse function composition to achieve code fluencyApply streams to simply implementations and achieve parallelismIncorporate recursion to support an application’s functionalityProvide more robust implementations using OptionalsImplement design patterns with less codeRefactor object-oriented code to create a functional solutionUse debugging and testing techniques specific to functional programs In Detail Functional programming is an increasingly popular technology that allows you to simplify many tasks that are often cumbersome and awkward using an object-oriented approach. It is important to understand this approach and know how and when to apply it. Functional programming requires a different mindset, but once mastered it can be very rewarding. This book simplifies the learning process as a problem is described followed by its implementation using an object-oriented approach and then a solution is provided using appropriate functional programming techniques. Writing succinct and maintainable code is facilitated by many functional programming techniques including lambda expressions and streams. In this book, you will see numerous examples of how these techniques can be applied starting with an introduction to lambda expressions. Next, you will see how they can replace older approaches and be combined to achieve surprisingly elegant solutions to problems. This is followed by the investigation of related concepts such as the Optional class and monads, which offer an additional approach to handle problems. Design patterns have been instrumental in solving common problems. You will learn how these are enhanced with functional techniques. To transition from an object-oriented approach to a functional one, it is useful to have IDE support. IDE tools to refactor, debug, and test functional programs are demonstrated through the chapters. The end of the book brings together many of these functional programming techniques to create a more comprehensive application. You will find this book a very useful resource to learn and apply functional programming techniques in Java.Style and approach In this tutorial, each chapter starts with an introduction to the terms and concepts covered in that chapter. It quickly progresses to contrast an object-oriented approach with a functional approach using numerous code examples.

When Lord Templeton is sent for by Sir James Redwell, the British Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, he knows that there is trouble somewhere in the world and because he is so successful at dealing with international problems he realises that there is a new mission for him. The problem this time is in Siam and its adjoining country Khmer and he agrees to try to find out if it is true as the Siamese think that the French have their eyes on Khmer. Lord Templeton agrees to go, but Sir James tells him that there is a further problem in that both the King of Siam and the King of Khmer are anxious to marry an English woman so that they have a greater call on the British and can proudly fly the Union Jack. Sir James suggests to Lord Templeton that he would be absolutely safe if he takes his lovely niece, Amina, with him pretending to be his wife. Lord Templeton is not very keen on this as he is pressure from his family to preserve his title and estate and anyway he has sworn never to marry until he is much older. However Sir James presses him to take his niece for the simple reason that she has been brought up by her father as a boy and hates the idea of marrying anyone. Amina is dressed in beautiful clothes for the journey and reluctantly begins to feel a little more feminine. Finally they set off and are treated warmly in Siam but there is danger and death waiting for them in Khmer. How Amina visits the esoteric green Buddha in Bankok and is given an important message that will change her life. And how, after a devastating encounter in a cave in Khmer, she unexpectedly finds the love of her life is all told in this exciting story by BARBARA CARTLAND.

Build real-world, industry-strength data storage solutions with time-tested design methodologies using CassandraAbout This BookExplore design patterns which co-exist with legacy data stores, migration from RDBMS, and caching technologies with CassandraLearn about design patterns and use Cassandra to provide consistency, availability, and partition tolerance guarantees for applicationsHandle temporal data for analytical purposes Who This Book Is For This book is intended for big data developers who are familiar with the basics of Cassandra and wish to understand and utilize Cassandra design patterns to develop real-world big data solutions. Prior knowledge of RDBMS solutions is assumed.What You Will LearnEnable Cassandra to co-exist with RDBMS and other legacy data storesExplore various design patterns to build effective and robust storage solutionsMigrate from RDBMS-based data stores and caching solutions to CassandraUnderstand the behaviour of Cassandra when trying to balance the needs of consistency, availability, and partition toleranceDeal with time stamps related to data effectivelySee how Cassandra can be used in analytical use casesApply the design patterns covered in this book in real-world use cases In Detail There are many NoSQL data stores used by big data applications. Cassandra is one of the most widely used NoSQL data stores that is frequently used by a huge number of heavy duty Internet-scale applications. Unlike the RDBMS world, the NoSQL landscape is very diverse and there is no one way to model data stores. This mandates the need to have good solutions to commonly seen data store design problems. Cassandra addresses such common problems simply. If you are new to Cassandra but well-versed in RDBMS modeling and design, then it is natural to model data in the same way in Cassandra, resulting in poorly performing applications and losing the real purpose of Cassandra. If you want to learn to make the most of Cassandra, this book is for you. This book starts with strategies to integrate Cassandra with other legacy data stores and progresses to the ways in which a migration from RDBMS to Cassandra can be accomplished. The journey continues with ideas to migrate data from cache solutions to Cassandra. With this, the stage is set and the book moves on to some of the most commonly seen problems in applications when dealing with consistency, availability, and partition tolerance guarantees. Cassandra is exceptionally good at dealing with temporal data and patterns such as the time-series pattern and log pattern, which are covered next. Many NoSQL data stores fail miserably when a huge amount of data is read for analytical purposes, but Cassandra is different in this regard. Keeping analytical needs in mind, you’ll walk through different and interesting design patterns. No theoretical discussions are complete without a good set of use cases to which the knowledge gained can be applied, so the book concludes with a set of use cases you can apply the patterns you’ve learned.Style and approach This book is written in very simple language and an engaging style complete with examples in every chapter and real-world use cases at the end of the book.

Prince Liam. Prince Frederic. Prince Duncan. Prince Gustav. You’ve never heard of them, have youThese are the princes who saved Sleeping Beauty, Cinderella, Snow White, and Rapunzel, respectively, and yet, thanks to those lousy bards who wrote the tales, you likely know them only as Prince Charming. But all of this is about to change. Rejected by their princesses and cast out of their castles, the princes stumble upon an evil plot that could endanger each of their kingdoms. Now it up to them to triumph over their various shortcomings, take on trolls, bandits, dragons, witches, and other assorted terrors, and become the heroes no one ever thought they could be. Christopher Healy Hero Guide to Saving Your Kingdom is a completely original take on the world of fairy tales, the truth about what happens after “happily ever after.” It a must-have for middle grade readers who enjoy their fantasy adventures mixed with the humor of the Diary of a Wimpy Kid books. Witty black-and-white drawings by Todd Harris add to the fun.

Due to copyright restrictions, this eBook may not contain all of the images available in the print edition. It was the summer Coltrane died, the summer of love and riots, and the summer when a chance encounter in Brooklyn led two young people on a path of art, devotion, and initiation. Patti Smith would evolve as a poet and performer, and Robert Mapplethorpe would direct his highly provocative style toward photography. Bound in innocence and enthusiasm, they traversed the city from Coney Island to Forty-second Street, and eventually to the celebrated round table of Max's Kansas City, where the Andy Warhol contingent held court. In 1969, the pair set up camp at the Hotel Chelsea and soon entered a community of the famous and infamous the influential artists of the day and the colorful fringe. It was a time of heightened awareness, when the worlds of poetry, rock and roll, art, and sexual politics were colliding and exploding. In this milieu, two kids made a pact to take care of each other. Scrappy, romantic, committed to create, and fueled by their mutual dreams and drives, they would prod and provide for one another during the hungry years. Just Kids begins as a love story and ends as an elegy. It serves as a salute to New York City during the late sixties and seventies and to its rich and poor, its hustlers and hellions. A true fable, it is a portrait of two young artists' ascent, a prelude to fame.

Counted among his admirers are Jonas Salk, Aldous Huxley, David Hockney, and Van Morrison, along with countless other philosophers, artist, writers and students of the spiritual path. Now the trustees of Krishnamurti work have gathered his very best and most illuminating writings and talks to present in one volume the truly essential ideas of this great spiritual thinker.Total Freedom includes selections from Krishnamurti early works, his Commentaries on Living, and his discourses on life, the self, meditation, sex and love. These writings reveal Krishnamuri core teachings in their full eloquence and power: the nature of personal freedom; the mysteries of life and death; and the pathless land, the personal search for truth and peace. Warning readers away from blind obedience to creeds or teachers including himself Krishnamurti celebrated the individual quest for truth, and thus became on of the most influential guides for independent-minded seekers of the twentieth century and beyond.

A finalist for the National Book Award! A ferocious firefight with Iraqi insurgents at the battle of Al-Ansakar Canal three minutes and forty-three seconds of intense warfare caught on tape by an embedded Fox News crew has transformed the eight surviving men of Bravo Squad into America most sought-after heroes. For the past two weeks, the Bush administration has sent them on a media-intensive nationwide Victory Tour to reinvigorate public support for the war. Now, on this chilly and rainy Thanksgiving, the Bravos are guests of America Team, the Dallas Cowboys, slated to be part of the halftime show alongside the superstar pop group Destiny's Child. Among the Bravos is the Silver Star winning hero of Al-Ansakar Canal, Specialist William Lynn, a nineteen-year-old Texas native. Amid clamoring patriots sporting flag pins on their lapels and Support Our Troops bumper stickers on their cars, the Bravos are thrust into the company of the Cowboys' hard-nosed businessman/owner and his coterie of wealthy colleagues; a luscious born-again Cowboys cheerleader; a veteran Hollywood producer; and supersized pro players eager for a vicarious taste of war. Among these faces Billy sees those of his family his worried sisters and broken father and Shroom, the philosophical sergeant who opened Billy mind and died in his arms at Al-Ansakar. Over the course of this day, Billy will begin to understand difficult truths about himself, his country, his struggling family, and his brothers-in-arms soldiers both dead and alive. In the final few hours before returning to Iraq, Billy will drink and brawl, yearn for home and mourn those missing, face a heart-wrenching decision, and discover pure love and a bitter wisdom far beyond his years. Poignant, riotously funny, and exquisitely heartbreaking, Billy Lynn Long Halftime Walk is a devastating portrait of our time, a searing and powerful novel that cements Ben Fountain reputation as one of the finest writers of his generation.

One of the most popular and beloved introductions to the concept of faith ever written, Mere Christianity has sold millions of copies worldwide. The book brings together C. S. Lewis legendary radio broadcasts during the war years, in which he set out simply to explain and defend the belief that has been common to nearly all Christians at all times. Rejecting the boundaries that divide Christianity many denominations, Mere Christianity provides an unequalled opportunity for believers and nonbelievers alike to absorb a powerful, rational case for the Christian faith.