“How could this have happened?” The question still lingers among officials and residents of the small southern California town of Bell. Corruption is hardly an isolated challenge to the governance of America’s cities. But following decades of benign obscurity, Bell witnessed the emergence of a truly astonishing level of public wrongdoing—a level succinctly described by Los Angeles District Attorney Steve Cooley as “corruption on steroids.”Even discounting the enormous sums involved...

Designed as a comprehensive overview of public sector compensation, the book addresses strategies for change, with the author warning that failure of the profession to address this issue will ultimately lead to citizens taking matters in their own hands. The author's issues-oriented approach addresses his core messagethat the escalation of public sector compensation is impacting the ability of government to meet its core responsibility and the failure of government to address this has seri...

Independent voters—the 40–50 percent of Americans who reject identification with either of the two major parties or with any party—are increasing in number and impact. Independents are determining the outcome of major elections, upending the long-held categories of political science. Drawing on historical and contemporary data (including survey data, participant observation, interviews, and current writings and scholarship) and providing timely new analysis, the authors argue that independ...

A horrible incident entwined their lives forever.As an enforcer for the Famiglia, Maximus Trevisan has no trouble hurting others, but his life begins to unravel when he’s forced to hurt someone he’s meant to protect.Sara’s plans for her future were simple. Marry the man she was promised to, have several children, and build a happy family. But when her life plans are ripped from her hands, she’s left with no choice but to marry Maximus. It’s the last thing she wants, but it’...

GrowlHe’d never had something to himself, never even dared to dream about owning something so precious. He was the unwanted bastard son who’d always had to content himself with the leftovers of others. And now they’d given him what only a few weeks ago had been out of his reach, someone he wasn’t even allowed to admire from afar, one of their most prized possessions. Thrown at his feet because he was who he was, because they were certain he would break her. He was her punishment, a...

Written by renowned data science experts Foster Provost and Tom Fawcett, Data Science for Business introduces the fundamental principles of data science, and walks you through the "data-analytic thinking" necessary for extracting useful knowledge and business value from the data you collect. This guide also helps you understand the many data-mining techniques in use today.Based on an MBA course Provost has taught at New York University over the past ten years, Data Science for ...

Aurora Scuderi spent her childhood and teenage days doing one thing-- loving Nevio. Until one fateful moment, he breaks her heart without a second thought. Leaving Aurora with her broken heart bleeding in her hands. Fleeing Las Vegas is the only way for Aurora to heal - forget Nevio and that night. But a man like Nevio can’t be shaken off that easily. The hunter in him was awakened.Nevio Falcone is darkness. It seeps from his pores. It’s where his monster comes out to play to satis...

Talking to people about your designs might seem like a basic skill, but it can be difficult to do well. In many cases, how you communicate with stakeholders, clients, and other nondesigners may be more important than the designs themselves. Because if you canâ??t get their support, your work will never see the light of dayâ??no matter how good it is.This practical guide focuses on principles, tactics, and actionable methods for presenting your designs. Whether you design apps, webs...

Remo Falcone is beyond redemption.As Capo of the Camorra he rules with a brutal hand over his territory – a territory the Chicago Outfit breached.Now Remo is out for retribution.A wedding is sacred, stealing a bride sacrilegious.Serafina is the niece of the Boss of the Outfit, and her hand has been promised in marriage for years, but kidnapped in her wedding dress on her way to church by Remo, Serafina quickly realizes that she can’t hope for saving. Yet, ev...

From USA Today bestselling author Cora Reilly comes a new STANDALONE forbidden mafia romance! What if you find your soulmate at the wrong time?AmoDo you believe in love at first sight? In a love so strong and bright, it ignites you even in your darkest hours? Do you believe that somewhere in this world there’s someone who’s destined to be your other half? Your soulmate?I didn’t.Until I met her.Greta Falcone.Protected mafia pr...

NEW ARC THE DREADNOK WAR BEGINS HERE! When Cobra Commander is betrayed by one of his closest allies, he's targeted for revenge by the Dreadnoks! But in his darkest hour, the only one who can save Cobra Commander is…Duke? The team-up you never expected kicks off THE BIGGEST G.I. JOE story yet, one so action-packed that it will ship bi-weekly from the dream team of Joshua Williamson and Tom Reilly!

Today, software engineers need to know not only how to program effectively but also how to develop proper engineering practices to make their codebase sustainable and healthy. This book emphasizes this difference between programming and software engineering.How can software engineers manage a living codebase that evolves and responds to changing requirements and demands over the length of its life? Based on their experience at Google, software engineers Titus Winters and Hyrum Wrig...