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Death on the Tiber: A Flavia Albia Novel (Flavia Albia Series #12)
by Lindsey DavisIn first century Rome, a murder victim found in the Tiber leads to a brutal gang war and Flavia Albia to a confrontation with her long-hated nemesis, with all that she loves in the balance.First century Rome is plagued by all the evils the have beset major cities since time immemorial: crime, corruption, squalor, and worst of all, tourists. When a barge full of those entitled creatures arrives in Rome, they hit all the touristy hot-spots (the Amphitheatre, the Capitol, the dodgy bars with dubious entertainments) before departing for the next destination – leaving behind one of their party, dead and floating in the Tiber. While the authorities first try to pass her death off as a suicide, it’s quickly proved that the victim strangled to death and her body dumped. When Flavia Albia, a private informer, learns that the victim was in Rome searching for the man who abandoned her, Florius, Albia’s vicious nemesis, Albia is determined to find out the truth behind the murder and finally have her revenge.Florius is the husband of the leader of the Balbinus, one of Rome’s most vicious criminal gangs, giving him even more reason to have murdered his former mistress. Currently engaged in a brutal turf war, with bodies dropping everywhere, Florius is fighting for his very survival and has little interest in one dead body. Now Albia must risk everything, including the life she has carefully built, if she is finally to bring Florius to justice. If justice is even possible.
The Fortune Seller: A Novel
by Rachel Kapelke-Dale"Sophisticated with just the right dose of sinister, this coming-of-age story doesn’t shy from the grisly power dynamics of privilege." ––Library JournalWhen it comes to seeing the future—do you really want to know?Middle-class Rosie Macalister has worked for years to fit in with her wealthy friends on the Yale equestrian team. But when she comes back from her junior year abroad with newfound confidence, she finds that the group has been infiltrated by a mysterious intruder: Annelise Tattinger.A talented tarot reader and a brilliant rider, the enigmatic Annelise is unlike anyone Rosie has ever met. But when one of their friends notices money disappearing from her bank account, Annelise's place in the circle is thrown into question. As the girls turn against each other, the group’s unspoken tensions and assumptions lead to devastating consequences.It's only after graduation, when Rosie begins a job at a Manhattan hedge fund, that she uncovers Annelise's true identity––and how her place in their elite Yale set was no accident. Is it too late for Rosie to put right what went wrong, or does everyone's luck run out at some point? Set in the heady days of the early aughts, The Fortune Seller is a haunting examination of class, ambition, and the desires that shape our lives.
The Burning: A Novel (Kate Burkholder #16)
by Linda CastilloChief of Police Kate Burkholder investigates a gruesome murder that reveals a little-known chapter of early Amish history in this next riveting installment of the bestselling series by Linda Castillo. Newlywed Chief of Police Kate Burkholder is awakened by an urgent midnight call summoning her to a suspicious fire in the woods. When she arrives at the scene, she discovers a charred body. According to the coroner, the deceased, an Amish man named Milan Swanz, was chained to a stake and burned alive. It is an appalling and eerily symbolic crime against an upstanding husband and father.Kate knows all too well that the Amish prefer to handle their problems without interference from the outside world, and no one will speak about the murdered man. From what she’s able to piece together, Swanz led a deeply troubled life and had recently been excommunicated. But if that’s the case, why are the Amish so reluctant to talk about him? Are they protecting the memory of one of their own? Or are they afraid of something they dare not share?When her own brother is implicated in the case, Kate finds herself not only at odds with the Amish, the world of which she was once a part, but also the English community and her counterparts in law enforcement. The investigation takes a violent turn when Kate’s life is threatened by a mysterious stranger.To uncover the truth about the death of Milan Swanz, Kate must dive deep into the Anabaptist culture, peering into all the dark corners of its history, only to uncover a secret legacy that shatters everything she thought she knew about the Amish themselves—and her own roots.
How We Break: Navigating the Wear and Tear of Living (How to Live Series #2)
by Vincent DearyDrawing on cutting-edge science and intimate personal stories, an essential and paradigm-shifting book for readers struggling with fatigue, burnout, stress, and trauma—and for all of us who sometimes feel like we have been pushed past our breaking point.In How We Are, the health psychologist and author Vincent Deary explored the process of habit and change in everyday life. In How We Break, a deeply compassionate and illuminating exploration of suffering, he examines what happens when we are pushed to our limit. Deary is a practitioner health psychologist who also works in a fatigue clinic and specializes in interventions that help people cope with whatever life has thrown at them. The big traumas in life, he points out, are relatively rare. Much more common is when too many things go wrong at once, or we are exposed to a prolonged period of difficulty or precarity. When we are subjected to too much turbulence—when the world shrinks to nothing but our daily coping—we become unhappy, worried, hopeless, exhausted. In other words, we break. Breaking, he shows us, is embodied, as our physical and mental distress are linked, and happens when the same systems that enable us to navigate through life become dysregulated. But if we understand how the turbulence and overwhelm of life affects us, then we have a better chance of overcoming the challenges. Drawing on clinical case studies, trailblazing scientific research, intimate personal stories, and illuminating references from philosophy, literature, and film, How We Break offers a consoling and deeply felt new vision of everyday human struggling, and it makes a bold case for the power of rest and recuperation.
The Girls of Summer: A Novel
by Katie BishopNamed a Best Book of Summer 2023 by New York Post and KatieCouric.com"A lyrical, emotional novel…Reminiscent of HBO’s hit The White Lotus, Bishop's tale will draw readers in with its realistic descriptions of the island. The obvious read-alike is My Dark Vanessa, and the plot-driven tension will appeal to fans of psychological suspense." ––Booklist (starred review)Rachel has been in love with Alistair for fifteen years. Even though she’s now married to someone else. Even though she was a teenager when they met. Even though he is twenty years older than her.Rachel and Alistair’s summer love affair on a remote, sun-trapped Greek island has consumed her since she was seventeen, obliterating everything in its wake. But as Rachel becomes increasingly obsessed with reliving the events of so long ago, she reconnects with the other girls who were similarly drawn to life on the island, where the nights were long, the alcohol was free-flowing and everyone acted in ways they never would at home. And as she does so, dark and deeply suppressed secrets about her first love affair begin to rise to the surface, as well as the truth about her time working for an enigmatic and wealthy man, who controlled so much more than she could have ever realized.Joining a post #MeToo discourse, The Girls of Summer grapples with themes of power, sex, and consent, as it explores the complicated nature of memory and trauma––and what it takes to reframe, and reclaim, your own story.
The Hamilton Scheme: An Epic Tale of Money and Power in the American Founding
by William Hogeland"William Hogeland is the best guide I have found to understanding how we today are, for good and evil, children of Alexander.” —J. Bradford DeLong, professor of economics at the University of California, Berkeley, and author of Slouching Towards UtopiaHow Alexander Hamilton embraced American oligarchy to jumpstart American prosperity. “Forgotten founder” no more, Alexander Hamilton has become a global celebrity. Millions know his name. Millions imagine knowing the man. But what did he really want for the country? What risks did he run in pursuing those vaulting ambitions? Who tried to stop him? How did they fight? It’s ironic that the Hamilton revival has obscured the man’s most dramatic battles and hardest-won achievements—as well as downplaying unsettling aspects of his legacy. Thrilling to the romance of becoming the one-man inventor of a modern nation, our first Treasury secretary fostered growth by engineering an ingenious dynamo—banking, public debt, manufacturing—for concentrating national wealth in the hands of a government-connected elite. Seeking American prosperity, he built American oligarchy. Hence his animus and mutual sense of betrayal with Jefferson and Madison—and his career-long fight to suppress a rowdy egalitarian movement little remembered today: the eighteenth-century white working class. Marshaling an idiosyncratic cast of insiders and outsiders, vividly dramatizing backroom intrigues and literal street fights—and sharply dissenting from recent biographies—William Hogeland’s The Hamilton Scheme brings to life Hamilton’s vision and the hard-knock struggles over democracy, wealth, and the meaning of America that drove the nation’s creation and hold enduring significance today.
When the Clock Broke: Con Men, Conspiracists, and How America Cracked Up in the Early 1990s
by John GanzONE OF THE WASHINGTON POST'S TEN BEST BOOKS OF 2024One of The New York Times's 100 Notable Books of 2024Longlisted for the National Book Critics Circle AwardAN INSTANT NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER | National Indie BestsellerA Barack Obama summer reading pickOne of Publishers Weekly's ten best books of 2024"Terrific . . . Vibrant . . . When the Clock Broke is one of those rarest of books: unflaggingly entertaining while never losing sight of its moral core." —Jennifer Szalai, The New York Times (Editors' Choice)"John Ganz is a fantastic writer . . . [When the Clock Broke] is phenomenal . . . truly, truly great." —Chris Hayes, Why Is This Happening? podcast"When the Clock Broke is leagues more insightful on the subject of Trump’s ascent than most writing that purports to address the issue directly." —Becca Rothfeld, The Washington PostA revelatory look back at the convulsions at the end of the Reagan era—and their dark legacy today. With the Soviet Union extinct, Saddam Hussein defeated, and U.S. power at its zenith, the early 1990s promised a “kinder, gentler America.” Instead, it was a period of rising anger and domestic turmoil, anticipating the polarization and resurgent extremism we know today. In When the Clock Broke, the acclaimed political writer John Ganz tells the story of America’s late-century discontents. Ranging from upheavals in Crown Heights and Los Angeles to the advent of David Duke and the heartland survivalists, the broadcasts of Rush Limbaugh, and the bitter disputes between neoconservatives and the “paleo-con” right, Ganz immerses us in a time when what Philip Roth called the “indigenous American berserk” took new and ever-wilder forms. In the 1992 campaign, Pat Buchanan's and Ross Perot’s insurgent populist bids upended the political establishment, all while Americans struggled through recession, alarm about racial and social change, the specter of a new power in Asia, and the end of Cold War–era political norms. Conspiracy theories surged, and intellectuals and activists strove to understand the “Middle American Radicals” whose alienation fueled new causes. Meanwhile, Bill Clinton appeared to forge a new, vital center, though it would not hold for long. In a rollicking, eye-opening book, Ganz narrates the fall of the Reagan order and the rise of a new and more turbulent America.
An Evil Heart: A Novel (Kate Burkholder #15)
by Linda Castillo2024 SUE GRAFTON MEMORIAL AWARD WINNERChief of Police Kate Burkholder investigates the brutal death of a young Amish man in An Evil Heart, the latest installment of the bestselling series by Linda Castillo.On a crisp autumn day in Painters Mill, Chief of Police Kate Burkholder responds to a call only to discover an Amish man who has been violently killed with a crossbow, his body abandoned on a dirt road. Aden Karn was just twenty years old, well liked, and from an upstanding Amish family. Who would commit such a heinous crime against a young man whose life was just beginning? The more Kate gets to know his devastated family and the people—both English and Amish—who loved him, the more determined she becomes to solve the case. Aden Karn was funny and hardworking and looking forward to marrying his sweet fiancé, Emily. All the while, Kate’s own wedding day to Tomasetti draws near... But as she delves into Karn’s past, Kate begins to hear whispers about a dark side. What if Aden Karn wasn’t the wholesome young man everyone admired? Is it possible the rumors are a cruel campaign to blame the victim? Kate pursues every lead with a vengeance, sensing an unspeakable secret no one will broach. The case spirals out of control when a young Amish woman comes forward with a horrific story that pits Kate against a dangerous and unexpected opponent. When the awful truth is finally uncovered, Kate comes face to face with the terrible consequences of a life lived in all the dark places.
The Rebel Romanov: Julie of Saxe-Coburg, the Empress Russia Never Had
by Helen RappaportFrom the New York Times bestselling author of The Romanov Sisters comes the story of a courageous young Imperial Grand Duchess who scandalized Europe in search of freedom.In 1795, Catherine the Great of Russia was in search of a bride for her grandson Constantine, who stood third in line to her throne. In an eerie echo of her own story, Catherine selected an innocent young German princess, Julie of Saxe-Coburg, aunt of the future Queen Victoria. Though Julie had everything a young bride could wish for, she was alone in a court dominated by an aging empress and riven with rivalries, plotting, and gossip—not to mention her brute of a husband, who was tender one moment and violent the next. She longed to leave Russia and her disastrous marriage, but her family in Germany refused to allow her to do so.Desperate for love, Julie allegedly sought consolation in the arms of others. Finally, Tsar Alexander granted her permission to leave in 1801, even though her husband was now heir to the throne. Rootless in Europe, Julie gave birth to two—possibly three—illegitimate children, all of whom she was forced to give up for adoption. Despite entreaties from Constantine to return and provide an heir, she refused, eventually finding love with her own married physician.At a time when many royal brides meekly submitted to disastrous marriages, Julie proved to be a woman ahead of her time, sacrificing her reputation and a life of luxury in exchange for the freedom to live as she wished. The Rebel Romanov is the inspiring tale of a bold woman who, until now, has been ignored by history.
Olivetti
by Allie MillingtonThe heartfelt national bestseller novel praised by Tom Hanks in the New York Times as "a great favor" to readers; perfect for fans of Kate DiCamillo and Peter Brown.Being a typewriter is not as easy as it looks. Surrounded by books (notorious attention hogs) and recently replaced by a computer, Olivetti has been forgotten by the Brindle family—the family he’s lived with for years. The Brindles are busy humans, apart from 12-year-old Ernest, who would rather be left alone with his collection of Oxford English Dictionaries. The least they could do was remember Olivetti once in a while, since he remembers every word they’ve typed on him. It’s a thankless job, keeping memories alive.Olivetti gets a rare glimpse of action from Ernest’s mom, Beatrice—his used-to-be most frequent visitor—only for her to drop him off at Heartland Pawn Shop and leave him helplessly behind. When Olivetti learns Beatrice has mysteriously gone missing afterward, he believes he can help find her. He breaks the only rule of the “typewriterly code” and types back to Ernest, divulging Beatrice’s memories stored inside him.Their search takes them across San Francisco—chasing clues, maybe committing a few misdemeanors. As Olivetti spills out the past, Ernest is forced to face what he and his family have been running from, The Everything That Happened. Only by working together will they find Beatrice, belonging, and the parts of themselves they’ve lost.
Hip-Hop Is History
by QuestloveThis is a book only Questlove could have written: a perceptive and personal reflection on the first half-century of hip-hop.When hip-hop first emerged in the 1970s, it wasn't expected to become the cultural force it is today. But for a young Black kid growing up in a musical family in Philadelphia, it was everything. He stayed up late to hear the newest songs on the radio. He saved his money to buy vinyl as soon as it landed. He even started to make his own songs. That kid was Questlove. Now, in this landmark book, Questlove traces the creative and cultural forces that made and shaped hip-hop, highlighting both the forgotten but influential gems and the undeniable chart-topping hits-and weaves it all together with the stories no one else knows. It is at once an intimate, sharply observed story and a sweeping theory of the evolution of the great artistic movement of our time. Questlove approaches it with both the encyclopedic fluency of an obsessive fan and the unique expertise of an innovative participant. Hip-hop is history, and also his history.
Treasure State: A Cassie Dewell Novel (Cassie Dewell Novels #6)
by C.J. Box#1 New York Times bestselling author C. J. Box's Treasure State finds Cassie Dewell in Montana on the trail of a con man.Private Investigator Cassie Dewell’s business is thriving, and her latest case puts her on the hunt for a slippery con man who’s disappeared somewhere in the “treasure state”. A wealthy Florida widow has accused him of absconding with her fortune, and wants Cassie to find him and get it back. The trail takes Cassie to Anaconda, Montana, a quirky former copper mining town that’s the perfect place to reinvent yourself. As the case develops, Cassie begins to wonder if her client is telling her everything.On top of that, Cassie is also working what's easily one of her strangest assignments ever. A poem that promises buried treasure to one lucky adventurer has led to a cutthroat competition and five deaths among treasure-hunters. But Cassie’s client doesn’t want the treasure. Instead, he claims to be the one who hid the gold and wrote the poem. And he’s hired Cassie to try to find him. Between the two cases, Cassie has her hands full.In Montana, a killer view can mean more than just the scenery, and Cassie knows much darker things hide behind the picturesque landscape of Big Sky Country. Treasure State, C. J. Box's highly anticipated follow-up to The Bitterroots, is full of more twists and turns than the switchbacks through the Anaconda Range.
The JFK Conspiracy: The Secret Plot to Kill Kennedy—and Why It Failed
by Brad Meltzer Josh MenschINSTANT NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLERFrom the New York Times bestselling authors of The Nazi Conspiracy and The Lincoln Conspiracy comes a true, little-known story about the first assassination attempt on John F. Kennedy, right before his inauguration.Kennedy, the thirty-fifth president of the United States, is often ranked among Americans’ most well-liked presidents. Yet what most Americans don’t know is that JFK’s historic presidency almost ended before it began—at the hands of a disgruntled sociopathic loner armed with dynamite.On December 11, 1960, shortly after Kennedy’s election and before his inauguration, a retired postal worker named Richard Pavlick waited in his car—a parked Buick—on a quiet street in Palm Beach, Florida. Pavlick knew the president-elect’s schedule. He knew when Kennedy would leave his house. He knew where Kennedy was going. From there, Pavlick had a simple plan—one that could’ve changed the course of history.Written in the gripping, page-turning style that is the hallmark of Brad Meltzer and Josh Mensch’s bestselling series, this is a slice of history vividly brought to life. Meltzer and Mensch are at the top of their game with this brilliant exploration of what could’ve been for one of the most compelling leaders of the 20th century.
Red Hat Certified Engineer (RHCE) Ansible Automation Study Guide
by Andrew Block Alex Soto BuenoWith the Ansible automation tool, developers and system administrators in the enterprise can automate the provisioning, configuration, and management of distributed and on-premises systems. This study guide prepares you for the Red Hat Certified Engineer (RHCE) certification exam, 90% of which covers Ansible. Red Hat's Alex Soto Bueno and Andrew Block walk you through all the material covered in the exam. You'll begin with foundational concepts that build on one another and then dive into specific exam topics. The performance-based RHCE exam requires a deep knowledge of Ansible systems and tasks under time pressure. This comprehensive guide is the ideal way to prepare. Learn how Ansible can simplify your day-to-day operations Solve real-world Ansible problems in a hands-on command-line environment Install Ansible and set up managed environments Use ad hoc commands and include them in scripts as requested in the exam Prepare your Ansible configuration file and inventory file Set up and prepare nodes, including SSH key-based authentication Install required Ansible packages
Design Innovative Robots with LEGO SPIKE Prime: Seven creative STEM robotic designs to challenge your mind
by Aaron MaurerDiscover how to use the LEGO SPIKE Prime kit and boost your confidence in robotics, coding, and engineeringKey FeaturesGet up and running with new parts not seen in previous LEGO kitsGain deeper insights into non-compatible sensors and components that work with all prior LEGO components and third-party elementsExplore new features and experiment with new robot builds with LEGO's new coding platformBook DescriptionThe new LEGO SPIKE Prime is one of the latest additions to the LEGO robotics line of products. This book will help you to enjoy building robots and understand how exciting robotics can be in terms of design, coding, and the expression of ideas. The book begins by taking you through a new realm of playful learning experiences designed for inventors and creators of any age. In each chapter, you'll find out how to build a creative robot, learn to bring the robot to life through code, and finally work with exercises to test what you've learned and remix the robot to suit your own unique style. Throughout the chapters, you'll build exciting new smart robots such as a handheld game, a robotic arm with a joystick, a guitar, a flying bird, a sumobot, a dragster, and a Simon Says game. By the end of this LEGO book, you'll have gained the knowledge and skills you need to build any robot that you can imagine.What you will learnDiscover how the LEGO SPIKE Prime kit works, and explore its parts and the elements inside themBuild and design robots that go beyond basic robotic designsCreate interactive robots with the help of sensorsExplore real-world robots and learn how to build them by yourselfFind out challenging ways to remix build ideas with your own imagination and skillsDevelop coding skills using the Scratch programming interfaceWho this book is forThis book is for robot enthusiasts, LEGO lovers, hobbyists, educators, students, and anyone looking to learn about the new LEGO SPIKE Prime kit. The book is designed to go beyond the basic builds to intermediate and advanced builds, while also helping you to learn how to add your own personal touch to the builds and code. To make the most of this book, you'll need a basic understanding of build techniques, coding in block-based software environments, and weaving them together to create unique robot builds.
Raspberry Pi Pico DIY Workshop: Build exciting projects in home automation, personal health, gardening, and citizen science
by Srihari Yamanoor Sai YamanoorTake your first steps with the Raspberry Pi Pico and take on exciting projects using CircuitPython, MicroPython, and PicoKey FeaturesMake the most of the Raspberry Pi Pico—a low-cost microcontroller that is primed for innovationWork with easy-to-follow examples and learn how to interface and program a Raspberry Pi PicoWork on fun projects, right from home automation to building a seven-segment display to tracking air qualityBook DescriptionThe Raspberry Pi Pico is the latest addition to the Raspberry Pi family of products. Introduced by the Raspberry Pi Foundation, based on their RP2040 chip, it is a tiny, fast microcontroller that packs enough punch to power an extensive range of applications. Raspberry Pi Pico DIY Workshop will help you get started with your own Pico and leverage its features to develop innovative products. This book begins with an introduction to the Raspberry Pi Pico, giving you a thorough understanding of the RP2040's peripherals and different development boards for the Pico designed and manufactured by various organizations. You'll explore add-on hardware and programming language options available for the Pico. Next, you'll focus on practical skills, starting with a simple LED blinking project and building up to a giant seven-segment display, while working with application examples such as citizen science displays, digital health, and robots. You'll also work on exciting projects around gardening, building a weather station, tracking air quality, hacking your personal health, and building a robot, along with discovering tips and tricks to give you the confidence needed to make the best use of RP2040. By the end of this Raspberry Pi book, you'll have built a solid foundation in product development using the RP2040, acquired a skillset crucial for embedded device development, and have a robot that you built yourself.What you will learnUnderstand the RP2040's peripherals and apply them in the real worldFind out about the programming languages that can be used to program the RP2040Delve into the applications of serial interfaces available on the PicoDiscover add-on hardware available for the RP2040Explore different development board variants for the Raspberry Pi PicoDiscover tips and tricks for seamless product development with the PicoWho this book is forThis book is for students, teachers, engineers, scientists, artists, and tech enthusiasts who want to develop embedded systems that drive cost-effective automation, IoT, robotics, medical devices, and art projects. If you consider yourself a maker and would like to learn how to use the Raspberry Pi Pico, then this book is for you. Familiarity with Python programming, MicroPython, CircuitPython, embedded hardware, and peripherals is helpful but not mandatory to get the most out of this book.
Linux Device Driver Development Cookbook: Develop custom drivers for your embedded Linux applications
by Rodolfo GiomettiOver 30 recipes to develop custom drivers for your embedded Linux applications. Key Features Use Kernel facilities to develop powerful drivers Via a practical approach, learn core concepts of developing device drivers Program a custom character device to get access to kernel internals Book Description Linux is a unified kernel that is widely used to develop embedded systems. As Linux has turned out to be one of the most popular operating systems used, the interest in developing proprietary device drivers has also increased. Device drivers play a critical role in how the system performs and ensures that the device works in the manner intended. By offering several examples on the development of character devices and how to use other kernel internals, such as interrupts, kernel timers, and wait queue, as well as how to manage a device tree, you will be able to add proper management for custom peripherals to your embedded system. You will begin by installing the Linux kernel and then configuring it. Once you have installed the system, you will learn to use the different kernel features and the character drivers. You will also cover interrupts in-depth and how you can manage them. Later, you will get into the kernel internals required for developing applications. Next, you will implement advanced character drivers and also become an expert in writing important Linux device drivers. By the end of the book, you will be able to easily write a custom character driver and kernel code as per your requirements. What you will learn Become familiar with the latest kernel releases (4.19+/5.x) running on the ESPRESSObin devkit, an ARM 64-bit machine Download, configure, modify, and build kernel sources Add and remove a device driver or a module from the kernel Master kernel programming Understand how to implement character drivers to manage different kinds of computer peripherals Become well versed with kernel helper functions and objects that can be used to build kernel applications Acquire a knowledge of in-depth concepts to manage custom hardware with Linux from both the kernel and user space Who this book is for This book will help anyone who wants to develop their own Linux device drivers for embedded systems. Having basic hand-on with Linux operating system and embedded concepts is necessary.
The Ultimate Guide to Informed Wearable Technology: A hands-on approach for creating wearables from prototype to purpose using Arduino systems
by Christine FarionMaster wearable technology with this book including colored images and over 50 activities using Arduino and ESP32, build useful, stylish, and smart wearable devices, and create interactive circuits that react to us and our environmentKey FeaturesLearn wearable technology and build electronic circuits with fun activities using Arduino systemsGet an in-depth understanding of e-textiles and ESP32 microcontrollers to create interactive wearablesApply a design innovation approach and best practices to address real-world issuesBook DescriptionWearable circuits add interaction and purpose to clothing and other wearable devices that are currently widely used in medical, social, safety, entertainment, and sports fields. To develop useful and impressive prototypes and wearables, you'll need to be skilled in designing electronic circuits and working with wearable technologies.This book takes you on an interesting journey through wearable technology, starting from electronic circuits, materials, and e-textile toolkits to using Arduino, which includes a variety of sensors, outputs, actuators, and microcontrollers such as Gemma M0 and ESP32. As you progress, you'll be carefully guided through creating an advanced IoT project. You'll learn by doing and create wearables with the help of practical examples and exercises. Later chapters will show you how to develop a hyper-body wearable and solder and sew circuits. Finally, you'll discover how to build a culture-driven wearable to track data and provide feedback using a Design Innovation approach.After reading this book, you'll be able to design interactive prototypes and sew, solder, and program your own Arduino-based wearable devices with a purpose.What you will learnConstruct sewable electronic circuits with conductive thread and materialsDiscover the features of LilyPad, Gemma, Circuit Playground, and other boardsUse various components for listening, moving, sensing actions, and visualizing outputsControl ESP32 development boards for IoT explorationUnderstand why and how to prototype to create interactive wearablesGet skilled in sewing and soldering sensors to Arduino-based circuitsDesign and build a hyper-body wearable that senses and reactsMaster a Design Innovation approach for creating wearables with a purposeWho this book is forThis book is for electronics engineers, embedded system engineers and designers, and R&D engineers, who are beginners in the wearable technology domain as well as makers and hobbyists who have an interest in creative computing. It will also be useful for teachers, students, and researchers, who are learning interaction design, physical computing, technology, fashion, or arts. Having a basic understanding of Arduino-based systems will help in easily comprehending the contents of the book.
3D Environment Design with Blender: Enhance your modeling, texturing, and lighting skills to create realistic 3D scenes
by Abdelilah HamdaniSave time and effort when building 3D scenes with this essential guide to creating stunning photorealistic 3D environments in BlenderKey FeaturesReveal modeling tricks to make your Blender 3D environments look realisticDiscover techniques to enhance the photorealism of your scenes while saving timeSet up realistic lighting in your scenes to make your environment look pleasing to the eyeBook DescriptionBlender is a powerful tool for creating all kinds of visual assets, but with such power comes complexity. Creating a photorealistic 3D scene seems like a Herculean task for more than 90% of 3D designers, but don’t be discouraged! 3D Environment Design with Blender will get you up and running. This practical guide helps reduce the complexity of 3D environment design, advance your Blender skills, and produce lifelike scenes and animations in a time-efficient manner. You'll start by learning how to fix the most common mistakes 3D designers make with modeling and scale matching that stop them from achieving photorealism. Next, you’ll understand the basics of realistic texturing, efficient unwrapping and achieving photorealistic lighting by turning an actual reference of a wood cabin into a realistic 3D scene. These skills will be used and expanded as you build a realistic 3D environment with natural assets and materials that you’ll create from scratch. Once you’ve developed your natural environment, you’ll advance to creating realistic render shots by applying cool camera features, and compositing tricks that will make your final render look photorealistic and pleasing to the eye. By the end of this book, you'll be able to implement modeling tricks and best practices to make your 3D environments look stunningly lifelike.What you will learnUnderstand how to avoid the most common modeling mistakes 3D designers makeCreate realistic landscapes using Blender s built-in A.N.T Landscape add-onBuild natural assets such as rocks, flowers, plants, and rivers that you can customize and use in a variety of projectsCreate realistic materials such as snow, mud, wood and animated waterUse the particle system to generate realistic grass, as well as scatter flowers and rocksApply the five lighting rules to achieve great photorealistic resultsUse nodes and materials effectively to produce impressive resultsWho this book is forThis book is for 3D environment artists and open-world game designers who have tried designing 3D environments but have trouble finding the right Blender settings. If you feel overwhelmed understanding how nodes and materials work in Blender, this book will simplify it for you and help you achieve photorealism in your environments in no time. Familiarity with the Blender interface is expected to get the most out of this book.
Intelligent IoT Projects in 7 Days: Build exciting projects using smart devices
by Agus KurniawanDiscover how to build your own Intelligent Internet of Things projects and bring a new degree of interconnectivity to your worldKey FeaturesBuild intelligent and unusual IoT projects in just 7 daysCreate home automation, smart home, and robotic projects and allow your devices to do smart workBuild IoT skills through enticing projects and leverage revolutionary computing hardware through the RPi and ArduinoBook DescriptionIntelligent IoT Projects in 7 days is about creating smart IoT projects in just 7 days. This book will help you to overcome the challenge of analyzing data from physical devices. This book aims to help you put together some of the most exciting IoT projects in a short span of time. You'll be able to use these in achieving or automating everyday tasks—one project per day. We will start with a simple smart gardening system and move on to a smart parking system, and then we will make our own vending machine, a smart digital advertising dashboard, a smart speaker machine, an autonomous fire fighter robot, and finally look at a multi-robot cooperation using swarm intelligence.What you will learnLearn how to get started with intelligent IoT projectsExplore various pattern recognition and machine learning algorithms to make IoT projects smarterMake decisions on which devices to use based on the kind of project to buildCreate a simple machine learning application and implement decision system conceptsBuild a smart parking system using Arduino and Raspberry PiLearn how to work with Amazon Echo and to build your own smart speaker machineBuild multi-robot cooperation using swarm intelligenceWho this book is forIf you're a developer, IoT enthusiast, or just someone curious about Internet of Things, then this book is for you. A basic understanding of electronic hardware, networking, and basic programming skills would do wonders.
Building Smart Homes with Raspberry Pi Zero
by Marco SchwartzBuild revolutionary and incredibly useful home automation projects with the all-new Pi Zero About This Book • Create and program home automation projects using the Raspberry Pi Zero board • Connect your Raspberry Pi Zero to a cloud API, and then build a cloud dashboard to control your devices • Integrate all the projects into a complex project to automate key aspects of your home: data monitoring, devices control, and security Who This Book Is For This book is for enthusiasts and programmers who want to build powerful and inexpensive home automation projects using the Raspberry Pi zero, and to transform their home into a smart home. It is for those who are new to the field of home automation, or who already have experience with other platforms such as Arduino. What You Will Learn • Learn how to measure and store data using the Raspberry Pi Zero board • Control LED lights, lamps, and other electrical applications • Send automated notifications by e-mail, SMS, or push notifications • Connect motion detectors, cameras, and alarms • Create automated alerts using Raspberry Pi Zero boards • Control devices using cloud-based services • Build a complete home automation system using Pi Zero In Detail The release of the Raspberry Pi Zero has completely amazed the tech community. With the price, form factor, and being high on utility—the Raspberry Pi Zero is the perfect companion to support home automation projects and makes IoT even more accessible. With this book, you will be able to create and program home automation projects using the Raspberry Pi Zero board. The book will teach you how to build a thermostat that will automatically regulate the temperature in your home. Another important topic in home automation is controlling electrical appliances, and you will learn how to control LED Lights, lamps, and other electrical applications. Moving on, we will build a smart energy meter that can measure the power of the appliance, and you'll learn how to switch it on and off. You'll also see how to build simple security system, composed of alarms, a security camera, and motion detectors. At the end, you will integrate everything what you learned so far into a more complex project to automate the key aspects of your home. By the end, you will have deepened your knowledge of the Raspberry Pi Zero, and will know how to build autonomous home automation projects. Style and approach This book takes a step-by-step approach to automate your home like never before!
Implementing Cellular IoT Solutions for Digital Transformation: Successfully develop, deploy, and maintain LTE and 5G enterprise IoT systems
by Dennis McCain Cameron CourseyA pragmatic handbook on IoT technologies and markets that will guide you in implementing cellular IoT solutions as part of an enterprise's digital transformation affecting both operational cost savings and new business models.Purchase of the print or Kindle book includes a free eBook in the PDF format.Key FeaturesUnderstand all the critical aspects of a cellular IoT solution with this practical guideIdentify key enterprise IoT market requirements and IoT business casesDevelop robust end-to-end cellular IoT solutions with the help of best practices and case studiesBook DescriptionEven if you're an IoT technology manager with a sound understanding of wireless local area network technologies like Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, you may face many unique challenges when implementing a wireless wide area network (WWAN) IoT solution with cellular technologies with respect to choosing the optimal IoT device, cellular connectivity, and architecture. To help you overcome such roadblocks, this digital transformation book guides you in implementing a robust, end-to-end cellular IoT solution using best practices for all aspects of managing the IoT solution.Starting with an introduction to the top IoT markets and solutions in the context of an enterprise's digital transformation, this book will show you how this leads to cost savings and new business models. You'll grasp all you need to know about the IoT system components, life cycle, and best practices for implementing an IoT solution. While the book explains all the leading IoT wireless technologies, the focus is on LTE and 5G cellular technologies. With a review of real-world cellular IoT solution case studies and future IoT trends, you'll be ready to work with wireless IoT technologies, devices, and architectures.By the end of this book, you'll be able to identify the best wireless technologies for your IoT use cases and successfully implement cellular IoT solutions addressing key issues in the solution life cycle.What you will learnUnderstand how IoT enables an enterprise's digital transformationDiscover the applications of various IoT wireless technologiesExplore IoT devices, architectures, and real-world use casesDive deep into LTE and 5G cellular technologies and how they enable IoTBuild a privacy and security framework in an IoT solutionSelect the best components for a cellular IoT enterprise solutionOvercome challenges in the IoT solution life cycleExamine new cellular IoT technologies, trends, and business modelsWho this book is forThis book is for IoT technology managers, leaders, C-suite executives, and decision-makers considering or currently developing IoT solutions based on wireless/cellular technologies such as LTE and 5G. You'll be able to make the most of this book if you understand the importance of IoT connectivity in the context of its applications.
Taking Blender to the Next Level: Implement advanced workflows such as geometry nodes, simulations, and motion tracking for Blender production pipelines
by Ruan LotterA comprehensive guide with key images printed in color to learning motion graphics, character modeling and rigging, creating dynamic hair and clothes, 3D scanning using photogrammetry, and moreKey FeaturesLearn how to use geometry nodes to create motion graphics and dynamic scenesUnderstand organic 3D modeling and how to create and animate your own 3D charactersUse physics simulations to create clothing and hair for characters that interact with forces like windBook DescriptionIf you're ready to start exploring the more advanced workflows and processes in Blender to create intricate 3D models, then Taking Blender to the Next Level is for you.This book focuses on a few different VFX-related workflows such as geometry nodes, organic modeling, 3D camera tracking, photogrammetry, sculpting, compositing, and physics simulations. You'll learn how to use geometry nodes to create dynamic motion graphic scenes as well as perform 3D scanning of real-world objects using photogrammetry. You'll also find out how to model, rig, and animate your own 3D characters from scratch. Next, you'll progress to using simulations to break objects apart and then use cloth and hair simulations to add realism to your 3D creations. Finally, you'll go over the final render settings and export your 3D animation masterpiece as a video.By the end of this Blender book, you'll be able to model your own 3D characters, objects, and landscapes; rig, animate, and texture your characters; 3D track live-action footage; and composite your 3D characters into live-action scenes.What you will learnUse geometry nodes to quickly create complex 3D scenes and motion graphics rendersCreate realistic textures using physically based rendering materials3D scan real-life objects using a normal camera and clean up the model using BlenderUnderstand how to model, rig, and animate your own 3D charactersUse rigid body simulations to create dynamic scenesUnderstand how to perform 3D tracking within BlenderBecome well-versed with compositing 3D renders into live-action footageWho this book is forThis Blender 3D book is for 3D modelers, texture artists, character and technical animators, matchmove artists, compositors, and anyone interested in learning advanced concepts in Blender. Motion graphics artists will also benefit from this book. A solid understanding of 3D concepts and the Blender UI is needed to grasp the concepts present in this book.
Reimagining Characters with Unreal Engine's MetaHuman Creator: Elevate your films with cinema-quality character designs and motion capture animation
by Brian Rossney Ciaran KavanaghDiscover the power of Unreal Engine 5 and the MetaHuman Creator to develop realistic digital characters, infusing them with full body and facial animationKey FeaturesCreate realistic characters using the MetaHuman Creator using a mixture of preset and custom toolsImport your character into Unreal Engine 5 to access more editing options and begin animating itCombine face and body motion capturing to fully animate your digital humansBook DescriptionMetaHuman Creator (MHC) is an online, user-friendly 3D design tool for creating highly realistic digital humans that can be animated within Unreal Engine (UE) and enhanced with motion capture technology. This means that filmmakers and game developers now have access to a high quality, affordable solution that was previously only available to specialist studios. This book will focus on using UE5 and MHC from a filmmaker angle. Firstly, you'll understand how to use the online MHC to create a digital character, changing its facial structure, body type, and clothing. After that, you'll learn all the necessary steps to bring the character into UE5 and set it up for animation. Then, using an iPhone and a webcam to capture face and body movements, you'll mix these motion capture files, refine the animations using the MetaHuman Control Rig, and save these takes to be reused and edited again within the Level Sequencer. On top of that, you'll learn how to create a rendered video file for film production using both the Level Sequencer and a VR Cinematic Camera. By the end of this book, you'll have created your own MetaHuman character, as well as face and body motion capture data, and learned the necessary skills to give your future projects further realism and creative control.What you will learnCreate your own bespoke character using MHCDevelop custom faces based on real peopleUtilize Blueprints to take control of your digital characterRetarget animations using the Unreal MannequinUse DeepMotion and Live Link for complete body and face animationUse the Control Rig to refine animationsExport and render your characterWho this book is forThis book is for filmmakers and hobbyists who are planning to make a film using Unreal Engine for the first time, having worked in live action or purely digital media previously, either professionally or as a hobby. No experience with Unreal Engine is required, however it is useful to have some knowledge of 3D development applications and concepts like wireframes, skin weights, transform tools, and motion capture. It is recommended that you have access to an iPhone X (or a later model). Alternatively, you can use a free or paid version of Faceware, along with a basic webcam.
Now and Not Yet Bible Study Guide plus Streaming Video: Discovering Six Ways God Is More Faithful Than You Know
by Ruth Chou SimonsHave you ever wondered if your current season has a purpose? Do you ever feel like your present moment is so far from where you really long to be, but the answer to all your prayers is "not yet"?Join bestselling author and artist Ruth Chou Simons for this six-session video Bible study (video access included) as she teaches you how to live in the present and trust in God's faithfulness—even while hoping for the future.Now and Not Yet Bible Study explores six profound ways God makes His faithfulness known in the biblical stories of Abraham, Joseph, Israel, Hannah, and the Apostle Paul. As you encounter God through the pages of His Word, you'll see His ways, His character, His purposes, and His faithfulness in the lives of His people.And the more you understand God's ways, the more you will discover that He's just as faithful in your life right now—even more than you know.This study guide includes:Group discussion questionsIn-depth personal Bible study between sessionsIndividual access to six streaming video teachings from Ruth Sessions and run times include:God Keeps His Promises (20:12)God&’s Sovereignty Directs a Bigger Story (20:40)God Provides in the Wilderness (20:39)God Hears Your Cries (17:50)God&’s Sufficiency Meets Your Weakness (19:25)God&’s Sanctifying Work is Sure (18:00) Streaming video access code included. Access code subject to expiration after 12/31/2029. Code may be redeemed only by the recipient of this package. Code may not be transferred or sold separately from this package. Internet connection required. Void where prohibited, taxed, or restricted by law. Additional offer details inside