[RELEASE] Python 2.7.9 release candidate 1

[Benjamin Peterson]

I'm pleased to announce the first release candidate of Python 2.7.9,
which will be the next bugfix release in the Python 2.7 series. Despite
technically being a maintenance release, Python 2.7.9 will include
several majors changes from 2.7.8:
- The "ensurepip" module has been backported to Python 2.7.
- Python 3's ssl module has been backported to Python 2.7.
- HTTPS certificates are now verified by default using the system's
certificate store.
- SSLv3 has been disabled by default due to the POODLE attack.

Downloads are at
    https://www.python.org/downloads/release/python-279rc1/

Application and library authors are encouraged test Python 2.7.9 release
candidate 1 with their code. This is especially important for 2.7.9 due
to significant changes mentioned above.

Please report bugs to
    https://bugs.python.org/

Python 2.7.9 final is currently scheduled for December 10th.

Enjoy,
Benjamin
2.7 release manager
on behalf on python-dev and all of Python's contributors