Mailman 3 July 2008 - Madison

[Madison] administrivia
by Benet Devereux 24 Jul '08

24 Jul '08

Currently there are a dozen list-members. By request, I've changed the list settings so that replies go by default to the list, and not to the poster. The UI says replies to poster are *strongly advised* for most mailing lists, but since this list is fairly low traffic so far there doesn't seem to be much danger. -Benet __________________________________________________________________ Yahoo! Canada Toolbar: Search from anywhere on the web, and bookmark your favourite sites. Download it now at http://ca.toolbar.yahoo.com.

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[Madison] BarCampMadison2 July 26th-27th at Extra Bold Portfolio School
by Abraham Williams 24 Jul '08

24 Jul '08

<http://barcampmadison2.org/signup> *Intro: *BarCamp is an un-conference; An open format event where programmers, designers and business owners can network and learn. A BarCamp conference is unlike any other technology conference. Rather than being planned by a committee in advance, each community works together to create its own event. A BarCamp generally has an underlying theme, but the individual topics and sessions are organized shortly before or even at the event. This enables BarCamp to be much more than targeted to the needs of the Madison community. * Information: *Visit the BarCampMadison2 Website <http://barcampmadison2.org> to find out more information about the conference. Please make sure to register<http://barcampmadison2.org/signup>so we know how many people to expect. There have already been many good sessions<http://barcampmadison2.org/sessions>proposed such as: Version Control Discussion, Windows Mobile Hacking, Learn Python With Me, Filesystem embedded in a PDF and many more. We would love to have *you* lead a session as well so feel free to add<http://barcampmadison2.org/node/add/session>one or several. As always feel free to jump on the discussion list<http://groups.google.com/group/barcampmadison>and lend a helping hand. *Social media tags:* BarCampMadison2, BarCamp, Madison, Wisconsin, 2008, ExtraBoldSchool, BCMad2 *Use these tags when blogging or posting photos so interested parties can find them easily.* *T-Shirts:* During this weekend t-shirts will be available online at http://cafepress.com/web608 * Friday:* Starts at 7pm Located at Lothlorien <http://lothwiki.org/index.php/Lothlorien> Co-op (244 W Lakelawn Pl, Madison, WI 53703) Come mix with other BarCampers before the weekend event really kicks into gear. Lothlorien is providing a relaxing castle environment to play Rock Band on an entire wall! BYOB. Please help out and bring some snacks. There will be open wifi, a fire pit going and canoes if people are interested. This is one of our best chances to talk without having to worry about missing some of the awesome sessions <http://barcampmadison2.org/sessions>that will be happening. *Saturday:* Starts at 10am Located at Extra Bold <http://extraboldschool.com/> Portfolio School aka XB (121 S Pinckney St, Madison, WI 53703) Check in starts at 10am and a potluck lunch starts at 11. Madison's farmers market <http://madfarmmkt.org/> will be open about 2 feet from XB so feel free to pick up food there. (The 12 year cheddar is amazing!) Sessions will kick in at 12 noon and go until dinner. Dinner will be provided so if you have dietary needs contact Abraham<http://barcampmadison2.org/mr4braham-profile>. After dinner hang around as long as you want. There will be much late night hacking and some impromptu sessions. *Sunday:* Starts at 9am Located at Extra Bold <http://extraboldschool.com/> Portfolio School (121 S Pinckney St, Madison, WI 53703) Check in and coffee will be available from 9am, Sessions start at 10. Lunch will be served early afternoon and closing announcements will be at 5pm. If you have any questions don't hesitate to ask myself the person standing next to you. Have fun, transfer knowledge and make new friends. Abraham and the BarCampMadison2 organizers http://barcampmadison2.org -- | Abraham Williams | Web Developer | Lothlórien Coop | Madison WI | http://abrah.am | http://web608.org | http://barcampmadison2.org | This email is: [x] blogable [] ask first [] private

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[Madison] meeting report, and request for suggestions
by Benet Devereux 23 Jul '08

23 Jul '08

So the meetings continue to be, well, a bit small. :) This one was just me and Abraham. That being the case, conversation was a bit meta - mostly to do with fostering and connecting user groups in general, and of course the upcoming BarCamp this weekend. My initial idea for meetings was to have them be very unstructured: just a place to meet and interested people, and we would talk about Python-related things. (Or not, even, depending.) This might not be what everybody is looking for, though, so I'm tossing out this request for suggestions and requests - what would listmembers like to see at meetings, that would make them worthwhile to go to? Some possibilities: - talks on a particular Python module (built-in, or an extension) - talks on a Python-related technology (Twisted, Django, Zope/Plone, etc.) - reports on a specific use of Python to solve a problem - compare-and-contrast of different Python modules in the same problem domain; this could be a cooperative thing, where several listmembers go off and install and play with one module apiece, and then share experiences at the meeting. What would you like to see? -Benet __________________________________________________________________ Get a sneak peak at messages with a handy reading pane with All new Yahoo! Mail: http://ca.promos.yahoo.com/newmail/overview2/

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[Madison] welcome, and upcoming meeting
by Benet Devereux 22 Jul '08

22 Jul '08

Welcome to new list members! Since this list is starting to grow but have very little traffic (as yet), I thought it might be worthwhile for us to briefly introduce ourselves and describe what we're looking for from the group. Me: dropout from a Ph.D. program in computer science at the University of Toronto (in formal methods, if you must know..); I first got into Python through working at Microsoft, of all places, where I spent a very enjoyable six months working on IronPython, the version of Python built atop the .NET Framework. This last spring I went to PyCon in Chicago, where I found there was no user group in Madison, but plenty of advice on how to start one, so I am attempting to do so. Things have become a bit frenetic in my life, which has interfered with promoting the group, but perhaps some of you can help spread the word. :) Our next meeting is scheduled for the coming Tuesday, July 22nd, at the Madison Central Public Library at 7PM. All welcome! -Benet __________________________________________________________________ Yahoo! Canada Toolbar: Search from anywhere on the web, and bookmark your favourite sites. Download it now at http://ca.toolbar.yahoo.com.

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