New Podcast: A Little Bit of Python

For some time Andrew Kuchling has been agitating to get a Python-based podcast going. He's finally made it by teaming up with Jesse Noller, Brett Cannon, Michael Foord and me. We have now recorded three episodes, and I believe the first two are already available via RSS feeds:

Choose from the MP3 version or the AAC Version (better for iTunes). The first two episodes are a little chaotic. It will take us a while to work out how to collaborate most effectively, but I am sure it will improve with time.

I'm interested in any and all opinions of the podcasts, and of course if you can let us know what topics you'd like to hear about we'll try and accommodate you. Please send e-mail to all at bitofpython dot com. We'll do our best to listen and respond.

Finally, since there's just half an hour to go before Christmas Day, a very Happy Christmas to all my readers.

PyCon Asia Pacific Call for Papers

If you would like to visit Singapore next year, please consider submitting a paper to PyCon Asia Pacific, which runs from June 9-11 next year. The call for papers is open until February 1, but why not get that proposal in before Christmas?

PyCon Financial Assistance Closing Date Looms

If you want to go to PyCon but won't be able to make it because of financial constraints, please remember that the PSF does make some limited financial assistance available to assist in such cases. Yes, it's a band-aid, but one that can help increase the conference's diversity and ensure that interesting voices that wouldn't otherwise be heard have the chance to speak up.

The assistance program closes tomorrow, Tuesday December 22, so if you want to apply then please do so quickly.

This year, thanks to Google's generosity as a sponsor, we have additional funds with which to try and increase the number of women attending. Obviously we would prefer to use the funds to sponsor women who wouldn't otherwise be able to go (otherwise we won't increase attendance, we'll just subsidize women who would have attended anyway).

Happily the PyCon world appears to be rife with good common sense, so I don't anticipate problems. See you at PyCon!

Please Publicize PyCon

If you have a blog, now would be a good time to use it to start encouraging people to attend PyCon. In Atlanta, from February 19-21, with two days for tutorials before and up to four days of sprinting afterwards, it's likely to be the best and biggest PyCon to date.

I would be especially grateful if you would make sure that word gets out to people who might otherwise not think about coming to PyCon. The conference thrives on new blood - typically at least fifty percent of delegates will be attending their first PyCon. There are badges you can use to give your posts a graphical flavor, too.

I'm using the badge above because I am speaking early on the first morning about Building the Python Community. There are others you can use if you are attending, or giving a tutorial. So please, do everything you can to make this the best PyCon ever (which won't be easy, given the event's history). And have a very Happy Christmas!