[Python-3000] New io system and binary data

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    Guido> I agree that binary pipelines are useful and should be
    Guido> possible. I just don't think this should be the default behavior
    Guido> for stdin/stdout.

Binary has (like it or not) been the default behavior on all previous
Pythons running on Unix systems where text and binary were never different
(a view of the computing world which VMS ruined with it's morass of file
types and which Windows NT lapped up like antifreeze).  The only time I ever
open a file with the "b" attribute is when I expect that code to run on
Windows (thankfully a rare occurrence for me).  Python 3 will obviously be
changing behavior in this regard for some of us, though as I indicated
before, satisfying those of us who hold this perspective (apparently just
Bill, Fred and me at this point) would probably be counter to the needs of
the Python community as a whole, fully 90% of whom think a pipe is made out
of PVC, not copper and can't understand what I'm telling them to type unless
I say

    grep -i python VERTICAL BAR lpr

instead of

    grep -i python PIPE lpr

Unix folks of course know to type '|' when you say PIPE and if you say
VERTICAL BAR they type 'vertical bar'.  But enough wistful reminiscing.  I
will shut up after one more parting shot:

Dennis-Ritchie-had-it-right-ly yr's,

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