Python pandas num.random.normal : simple check

recent user of Python using Pandas, i'd like to pass something through the experts re: num.random.normal

1. num.random.normal(mean,standard deviation,n samples) : it is the standard deviation - not the variance - right?

2. I choose a seed for the number generator at the very start of my code - I take that the generator i use on 3 occasion in my code will use that seed and not default to a generic one throughout the code - right?

That's it really

Cheers all