I did some paper learning of the Python programming language. Never got a hands on experience with it. Learning to program games seemed to be a good motivator to learn a new computer language. The nice thing about this book is that all of programs are available on the web for download without having to retype them. In addition the entire book in html format is on the web too.

Python programming language is intriguing to me because of its interpretive environment and object-oriented nature (though the book didn’t explore the “class” object) plus its popularity among fellow engineers.

The most notable program is Reversi and its simple algorithm that borderline artificial intelligence. I was surprised by how easy it is to set up simulation to test out various algorithms against each other. Very nice. There were other text-oriented programs like Tic Tac Toe, Hangman, Sonar Treasure Hunt. Then the author went into more graphic-oriented games like Dodgers to explore the sound, and graphics. Very nice flow from simple games to a full blown interactive graphic game and yet kept the programming relative simple to understand.

This is a book for beginner programmers. As an experienced programmer, I flipped the pages fairly quickly to learn the main syntax and uniqueness of the Python language. If I were a beginner programmer interested in learning Python to start off, I would pick this book because of the instant gratification from playing a game makes learning less stressful.

There is a follow on book called “Making Games with Python and Pygame.” I just might read it too.

The title of the book stems from Chairman Mao’s proclamation that women hold up half the sky. They are empowered with half of the responsibility of world affairs.

This book provides the readers a snapshot and the state of the oppression of women around the world. From starvation, to lack of health care, to trafficked sex trades, to rapes, the readers are fed with plenty of evidences and stories of the how the women and girls are mistreated all over the developing world. I was flabbergasted by the horror and the sufferings many women/girls endured by their fellow human being.

This is a rude awakening to those who live in the developed countries that there are still many girl/women being treated like 3rd class citizens, mostly because of misguided beliefs – both cultural and religious. Ultimately, this is a human right issue – regrettably true. The author stressed that the key to turning this situation around is education. By educating women, even through TV soap opera, the women got to see their worth and how women are being treated outside of their own tribe. In a way, education and mass media are the great equalizer.

Through books like this, hopefully, many the opportunities for women lie ahead – for my daughter’s sake.