On Mon, Dec 6, 2010 at 5:44 AM, Vern Ceder <vceder@gmail.com> wrote:
Hi, In a surprise move, our local paper actually accepted one of our invitations to come see what we do in Comp Sci at the secondary level, namely our Python elective, which is mostly for first time programmers. The resulting article isn't bad, given that the kids were certain the reporter didn't understand a word they told her... ;) links to the web and printable version are here: web - http://www.jg.net/article/20101206/LOCAL04/312069949 printable - http://www.jg.net/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20101206/LOCAL04/312069949&template=printart Cheers, Vern -- Vern Ceder vceder@gmail.com, vceder@dogsinmotion.com The Quick Python Book, 2nd Ed - http://bit.ly/bRsWDW
Hi Vern -- That's a cool little article. I wrote this Python program to provide an applause track for ya (I think I spelled "shriek" wrong): == forvern.py == import threading from random import choice, randint import time noises = ["Bravo!\n","Clap Clap\n","Yay!\n","whistle\n","shreek\n"] class AudiencePerson( threading.Thread): def __init__(self, an, interval): self.applause_noise = an self.interval = interval super(AudiencePerson, self).__init__() def run(self): for i in range(5): print self.getName() + ": " + self.applause_noise time.sleep(self.interval) def testme(): for i in range(10): AudiencePerson(choice(noises), randint(0,5)/10.).start() return if __name__ == "__main__": testme() === Now if I could just turn that into a COM object (seriously, I'm trying to figure out how to call movingballs2.py, a Vpython script, from Visual FoxPro). I also passed on news of said article to an English teacher friend... Excerpt from outbox: --- A guy named Jon Birdsong with startup OpenStudy (OpenStudy.com) was in contact through Python list and I clued him re Martian Math. My hit counter jumped from like 1000 to 2000 though I don't know for sure there's any correlation. I referred him to the article on Vern Ceder. Excerpt (fixed typos): """ Here's a good one: http://www.jg.net/article/20101206/LOCAL04/312069949 Vern is our "watcher" (keying off Giles of Buffy VS), keeps a lookout for talent wanted to have posters at a Pycon. I mention his role in my briefing to GIS in Action / 2009: http://www.4dsolutions.net/presentations/gis_2009_workshop.pdf (EduPython track slide, lots more on PN) """ Letter exchange on Wikieducator list (how our correspondence began): http://groups.google.com/group/wikieducator/msg/3601e5b274b6190a?hl=en --- All in a day's work, Kirby