[Edu-sig] CP4E: Programming for Fun => Python for Journalists and Couch Poatatoes?

[Jason Cunliffe]

"The only decision that's been taken at this stage is that inaction is not an
option"
 -- Tony Blair

Anyone care to translating that in Python?


When I was at school, we had lots of parsing exercises, in both English class
and then Latin. Sometimes torture, sometimes fun, depending on the teacher, the
content and our ability to use it.

I hope that as computational literacy works it way into the hearts and minds of
schools everywhere [optimistic inevitability], there will be great value in
developing descriptive algorithms, such as parsing [literature] texts.
- To understand points of literature, grammar, content, structure
- To teach and develop programming skills.

It would require teachers who are really fluent and adept in a language such as
Python. Just as Kirby and others have been developing their math-oriented Python
curriculum, what do you think the potential is for programming natural language
and literature for fun.
I may be crazy, but just imagine...

Python for Journalists
- In this class we take newspaper and TV news and [try to] translate them into
Python.

Python's Fables
- Aesop's Fables

Python for Lawyers
 - Standard contracts as Python scripts [employment contract, loans, rental
leases, and of course licenses]

Python for Historians
- take an episode/chapter of history and translate

Python for Travelers
- Directions for making journeys [home->school->back, a holiday]

Python for Cooks
- from cookies to wedding banquets, you get the idea

Python for Poets
- How would you express the style, quality, form and message of poems and poets?
[Shakespeare sonnet, Rumi, T.S.Eliot, ... ]

Python for Singers
- as above but breaking down popular songs.. Several layers to this: song
structure, style and lyric. Singer style, Musical arrangement. Music Video
structure...

Python for Couch Potatoes
1. - 24hrs of TV programming -> start with TV Guide
http://www.tvguide.com/listings/
2. - then pick any program or genre of program [soaps, sitcom, TV news {how DO
they manage to all broadcast the same story at almost the same moment?}, reality
TV, game show, dating shows, Police Drama, Talk show, and ... advertising]

I am sure you can imagine myriad problems with this as well, as many more fun
and inspiring possibilities.

./Jason