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To preserve the memory of their service during the tumultuous decade since their commissioning as Army officers, members of the West Point class of 2004 have written The Strong Gray Line. This class suffered the highest casualty rate since those that graduated during the Vietnam War. In this book, thirteen of their classmates who lost their lives fighting the Global War on Terror are profiled to help the reader gain an understanding of the bond forged between classmates during time at West Point, a bond that transcends the separation of death. In addition to the stirring profiles, thirteen personal essays detail some of the most brutal fighting of Operations Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom in addition to the struggles endured by those on the home front. These stories range from visceral observations of combat to a wife’s anxious wait for her husband to return home. Holistically, these stories define an emotional spectrum that enables the reader to connect not only with the experience of the Class of 2004, but with every man and woman who served their country in a time of war. What separates The Strong Gray Line from other war memoirs is the illustration of the endurance of the bond forged at West Point. It is fitting that these exceptional young service members be remembered and revered, not only as examples of selfless and intrepid officership, but also as monuments to the thousands of fellow Americans who served alongside them.

This all-action, high-octane thriller from Sunday Times bestselling author Chris Ryan is perfect for fans of Andy McNab, Lee Child, Clive Cussler and Stephen Leather. Guaranteed to keep you hooked and get your pulse-racing... 'Nobody takes you to the action better than Ryan, because he's the real deal, and this muscle-and-bone thriller will have fans' blood pumping.' -- Evening Telegraph 'The author has become an institution in the all-action genre. Full of his trademark violence and emotion. Great stuff' -- Soldier Magazine 'Another amazing book that kept the pages turning - couldn't put it down. Excellent from start to finish' -- ***** Reader review 'Superb' -- ***** Reader review 'Outstanding' -- ***** Reader review 'A most compelling read with enough twists in the plot to keep on reading well into the wee hours' -- ***** Reader review ********************************************************************** A TERRORIST ATTACK. A FINAL DEADLY MISSION. Former SAS Captain Will Jackson is a man with nothing to lose. A veteran of the most dangerous missions the Regiment could throw at him, his life was torn apart the day a terrorist attack killed his family. Now he leads a life of grief-stricken obscurity. People higher up the chain of command have other plans, however. They're in a mess of their own making, and unless they sort it out, thousands of innocent people will pay the price. And so they make Jackson an offer he can't refuse: an offer that will take him straight back into a brutal theatre of war. Only one person can help prevent the disaster that is waiting to happen, and that person is being held by the Taliban insurgency in the depths of Afghanistan. As Will reluctantly prepares to undertake this final mission, he does so in the knowledge that it will stop a devastating terrorist attack. But in the murky world of international terrorism, things are very seldom what they seem. And as events begin to unfold, Will starts to learn that someone, somewhere is playing a game with him; that nobody can be trusted; and that sometimes, you just have to fight fire with fire...

STILL FRIENDS A DECADE ON? WHAT ARE THE CHANCES? For a while, Ian, Lauren and Paul shared the same friends, the same university, the same dreams and the same potential. Ten years on they are worlds apart. Call centres, charity shops and bedrooms that smell like cabbage were never part of the plan. The real world doesn't look quite like any of them imagined. But when Lauren, in a moment of nostalgia, cracks open a long-forgotten Hotmail account, she comes face to face with the people these three friends used to be . . . For two of them it will mean a new beginning to an old love story. Hilarious and heart-breaking, In Real Life paints a searingly honest portrait of a generation and captures a world where human connection is easier than ever before but where relationships remain just as tricky.

Embarquez pour un voyage à l'intersection de l'art et de la technologie Attention: ætes-vous fasciné par les possibilités illimitées de l'intelligence artificielle et par la façon dont elle peut révolutionner le monde de l'art ? Ce guide complet vous permettra d'explorer le domaine captivant de l'IA générative et ses applications profondes dans la création artistique. Intérêt: Plongez dans les subtilités de l'IA générative, de la compréhension des concepts fondamentaux tels que l'apprentissage automatique et les réseaux neuronaux à la maîtrise de sujets avancés tels que les GAN, les VAE et d'autres modèles génératifs. Découvrez comment ces technologies peuvent être exploitées pour produire des œuvres d'art visuellement étonnantes, des compositions mélodiques et même des expériences de jeu interactives. Chaque chapitre vous emmène plus loin dans ce monde fascinant, en posant des bases solides qui évoluent vers des techniques et des outils complexes, mais accessibles, que tout débutant peut comprendre. Désir: Imaginez créer vos propres œuvres d'art uniques générées par l'IA, en contribuant à une communauté florissante d'artistes et de technologues qui repoussent les limites de la créativité. Apprenez à configurer votre espace de travail, à collecter et à gérer les données de manière éthique, et à utiliser des outils et des bibliothèques puissants pour donner vie à vos visions. Le livre ne s'arrête pas au processus artistique, mais vous guide également dans la monétisation de vos créations, la gestion des implications juridiques et la mise à jour continue de votre travail pour une créativité durable. Action: Que vous soyez un artiste en herbe, un passionné de technologie ou une personne curieuse de l'avenir de la créativité, ce livre est votre guide essentiel. Rempli de projets pratiques, de tutoriels étape par étape et d'études de cas réels, il vous fournit les connaissances et les compétences nécessaires pour vous lancer dans votre propre aventure artistique en matière d'IA. Adoptez la fusion de l'art et de la technologie : procurez-vous votre exemplaire dès maintenant et faites le premier pas dans un monde transformateur où l'ingéniosité humaine rencontre la précision de la machine.

In this blistering return to Chris Offutt’s acclaimed crime series, Mick Hardin is tested like never before as familial allegiances and old wounds collide, threatening to destroy everything he loves With his signature crackling prose, literary master Chris Offutt has staked out his own territory in crime fiction, a place of familial allegiances, old wounds, and revenge—the code of the hills. His new book, a sharp, twisty southern noir with echoes of James Sallis and Daniel Woodrell, will force Mick to face up to the way of life he thought he’d escaped. Mick Hardin is supposed to be retired, transitioning to civilian life. Back in the hills of Kentucky after a two-year absence, he’d planned to touch down briefly before heading to France, marking the end of his twenty-year Army career. But in Rocksalt, trouble is brewing. Mick’s sister Linda, recently reelected as sheriff, and her deputy Johnny Boy Tolliver are investigating the murder of Pete Lowe, a sought-after mechanic at the local racetrack. Mick doesn’t want to get involved—he wants to say his goodbyes and get out of Dodge. But when he reluctantly agrees to intervene in a family dispute requiring a light touch, he uncovers evidence of an illegal cockfighting ring and another body, somehow linked to the first. And then, Linda steps into harm’s way, leaving Mick to solve the crimes himself. Code of the Hills is a harrowing novel of family—of what we’re willing to do to protect and avenge the ones we love.

Secret wartime projects in code-breaking, radar and ballistics produced a wealth of ideas and technologies that kick-started the development of digital computers. This is the story of the people and projects that flourished in the post-war period. By 1955 computers had begun to appear in the market-place. The Information Age was dawning and Alan Turing and his contemporaries held centre stage. Their influence is still discernable deep down within today's hardware and software.

The complete, uncensored history of the award-winning The Daily Show with Jon Stewart, as told by its correspondents, writers, and host. For almost seventeen years, The Daily Show with Jon Stewart brilliantly redefined the borders between television comedy, political satire, and opinionated news coverage. It launched the careers of some of today's most significant comedians, highlighted the hypocrisies of the powerful, and garnered 23 Emmys. Now the show's behind-the-scenes gags, controversies, and camaraderie will be chronicled by the players themselves, from legendary host Jon Stewart to the star cast members and writers-including Samantha Bee, Stephen Colbert, John Oliver, Steve Carell, Lewis Black, Jessica Williams, John Hodgman, and Larry Wilmore-plus some of The Daily Show's most prominent guests and adversaries: John and Cindy McCain, Glenn Beck, Tucker Carlson, and many more. This oral history takes the reader behind the curtain for all the show's highlights, from its origins as Comedy Central's underdog late-night program hosted by Craig Kilborn to Jon Stewart's long reign to Trevor Noah's succession, rising from a scrappy jester in the 24-hour political news cycle to become part of the beating heart of politics-a trusted source for not only comedy but also commentary, with a reputation for calling bullshit and an ability to effect real change in the world. Through years of incisive election coverage, Jon Stewart's emotional monologue in the wake of 9/11, his infamous confrontation on Crossfire, passionate debates with President Obama and Hillary Clinton, feuds with Bill O'Reilly and Fox, the Indecisions, Mess O'Potamia, and provocative takes on Wall Street and racism, The Daily Show has been a cultural touchstone. Now, for the first time, the people behind the show's seminal moments come together to share their memories of the last-minute rewrites, improvisations, pranks, romances, blow-ups, and moments of Zen both on and off the set of one of America's most groundbreaking shows.

Proceedings of the 26th annual conference of the Australasian Society for Computers in Learning in Tertiary Education, held in Auckland in December 2009. 180 presentations were made by 440 authors. The conference theme reflects the changing nature of the student learning and teaching environment and the fact that the internet and digital tools are influencing the way educators and students interact, learn and teach, and the locations in which this occurs.

Angela McKenzie, an aggressive Black reporter on the make, has come to Washington, D.C., looking for the big story, looking to rewrite her own. She gets her chance when she least expects it. Angela stumbles into the hidden world of a close friend--a political consultant and lobbyist. What she discovers is a place where things are never the way they appear, and where power-hungry people will go to extremes to maintain appearances. Special Interest is the story of power politics in Washington and the incestuous relationships of its power players--lawmakers and law-breakers, news makers and news reporters, politicians and lobbyists. It is a tale of political intrigue that exposes the harsh reality behind the alabaster façades--the decisions being made in back rooms and boardrooms.--Dust jacket.

Every year, for far longer than there were humans to hear them, cicadas have risen to fill our senses in the steady rhythm of our lives, capturing the innate curiosity of backyard explorers everywhere. For beginners, experts, and everyone in-between, The Cicadas of North America serves as an unparalleled field guide to some of Earth’s most delightful insects. With over 500 pages and 400 full-color illustrations, The Cicadas of North America is the world's first complete illustrated field guide to all known species of cicadas from the boreal shield of Canada to the tropical forests of Panama and Grenada. The book includes detailed information about the life cycle, ecology, evolution, taxonomy, anatomy, conservation, host plants, and songs of cicadas.