first_and_last.py

# from http://www.practicepython.org/exercise/2014/04/25/12-list-ends.html

import random

def first_and_last(l):
    new_list = l[::len(l)-1]  
    """ This specifies the "step" -- takes the first item, 
    skips the length of the list less 1, and therefore gives 
    you the last item """
    
    print new_list
    
a = [5, 10, 15, 20, 25]
b = random.sample(range(1, 20), random.randrange(2, 10))

first_and_last(a)
first_and_last(b)
print b