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python for beginners

I've written a considerable amount of dynamic code, but until a couple of weeks ago, I was new to Python . The APress book Dive into Python , by Mark Pilgrim, is a very good resource and will come in useful later. For now it brightens up my bookshelf with nice Halloween colors. However, it assumes a background in Perl, which I lack. So I went on the hunt for a book that begins with the basics of Python and that speaks to my learning style.
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facebook, time to grow up

Originally published on August 28, 2006 I appreciate how Facebook has enabled me to connect with colleagues, and (younger) family members in a manner that is both informative and expressly cordial. It attracts students like Nutella attracts chocolate lovers, and because of that, I see interesting potential here. In fact, one of our faculty members at Penn State plans to try running his human-computer interaction course through Facebook this fall . Definitely worth pursuing.
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the case for incremental redesign: part ii

If you are in any way responsible for a Web site, you should have some understanding of the principles of Extreme Programming . Cultivated as a discipline of software development, it is a combination of ensuring that designs remain uncomplicated, centering changes around user requirements, and employing the concept of the "Whole Team." The result is that small changes are released as they are needed - and endorsed - by the client. Not surprisingly, Extreme Programming speaks well to Web management. Consider its core values: simplicity, communication, feedback, and courage. These are the bedrock incremental redesign. Simplicity - Integrate all site changes in small doses. Avoid tectonic disruption of the entire Web presence. Document faithfully, but do not get bogged down in over-documenting. Or overplanning. Leverage reusable objects. Better yet, get the site into a content management system - one that is scaled to its requirements. Eliminate unmanageable code morass by fol...
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