Cookbook for beginners?

If you were going to name three or five essential recipes from the
Python Cookbook suitable for beginners, what would you pick?

Yes, this is for _Python for Dummies_, so idioms that aren't in the
Cookbook are also fine.

-- 
Aahz (aahz@pythoncraft.com)           <*>         http://www.pythoncraft.com/
"Look, it's your affair if you want to play with five people, but don't
go calling it doubles."  --John Cleese anticipates Usenet