🌐 Mailman 3 December 2006 - Python-list - python.org

Why are slice indices the way they are in python?
by Steve Bergman Nov. 30, 2006

Nov. 30, 2006

A couple of off the wall questions. It seems to me that there is usually a solid *reason* for things in Python and I'm wondering about the rationale for the way slicing works: my_string[2:5] gets you the 3rd through the 3rd through the 5th character of the string because indexing starts at 0 and you get everything up to, but not including the second index. Why? It doesn't seem intuitive to me. To me, it makes it harder, not easier, to work with slices than if indexing started at 1 and the above expression got you the 2nd throught the 5th character. Another thing that I've been puzzling over is the pow() function. pow(x,y) gives x**y. Fine. But pow(x,y,z) gives (x**y) % c I'm curious to know what the pressing reason for such a feature was.

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Python25.zip
by Colin J. Williams Nov. 30, 2006

Nov. 30, 2006

As part of the Python initialization, C:\Windows\System32\Python25.zip is set up in the path. I haven't seen any documentation on the use or purpose of the zip file. Colin W.

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Python Worship
by Nick Nov. 30, 2006

Nov. 30, 2006

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2006/11/061130081347.htm World's Oldest Ritual Discovered -- Worshipped The Python 70,000 Years Ago Nick

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UTF8 & HTMLParser
by Jan Danielsson Nov. 30, 2006

Nov. 30, 2006

Hello all, I'm writing a python script which fetches a HTML-page (using wget), and then parses the retrieved page using a custom htmllib HTMLParser. The page I fetch is encoded in utf8, and my text-handler currently looks like this: def handle_data(self, text): if self.inOption: self.currentName = text However, I would like to convert the "text" (which is utf8) to latin-1. How do I do that? I've been trying to figure it out for some time now, and I'm just getting frustrated. :-( -- Kind Regards, Jan Danielsson Te audire non possum. Musa sapientum fixa est in aure.

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Re: v2.3, 2.4, and 2.5's GUI is slow for me
by tleeuwenburg＠gmail.com Nov. 30, 2006

Nov. 30, 2006

It's not slow for me. It's not like Python's inherently slow. Try turning off your virus scanner (temporarily and while not doing anything dangerous, of course). Cheers, -T g4rlik wrote: > No one can help? This is seriously bugging me to no end. > > g4rlik wrote: > > > > I've been asking all over the place, namely different forums. I even > > e-mailed help(a)python.org about my problem, but they couldn't assist me too > > much. > > > > My problem is..the GUI for versions 2.3, 2.4, and 2.5 of Python run very > > sluggishly. When I type in them or move them around my desktop, it's very > > slow. I have figured out that this is because of the subprocesses > > running. > > > > To cope with this problem, I created an idle.txt file, and added this to > > the first line of it: > > > > c:\python25\python c:\python25\Lib\idlelib\idle.py -n > > > > After that I saved the extension to .bat and now when I run that file, the > > Python GUI opens without any subprocesses running and I have no problem. > > However, I'd still really like to know how I could fix this problem even > > more. I honestly don't understand why the GUI is so sluggish for me. The > > GUIs for Python version 2.2 and below run fine for me. My system specs > > are as follows: > > > > Windows XP Home Edition > > AMD Athlon XP 2800 > > nVidia 6800GT > > 1 gig of RAM > > > > If anyone else could help, that would be great. > > > > > > ***EDIT*** > > > > When starting up Python's v2.5 GUI, I noticed this message. > > > > "Personal firewall software may warn about the connection IDLE > > makes to its subprocess using this computer's internal loopback > > interface. This connection is not visible on any external > > interface and no data is sent to or received from the Internet." > > > > Maybe a firewall is interfering somehow? I'm behind a hardware firewall > > with my Linksys router. > > > > -- > View this message in context: http://www.nabble.com/v2.3%2C-2.4%2C-and-2.5%27s-GUI-is-slow-for-me-tf27350… > Sent from the Python - python-list mailing list archive at Nabble.com.

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Re: Open and closing files
by John Machin Nov. 30, 2006

Nov. 30, 2006

Thomas Ploch wrote: > Is it defined behaviour that all files get implicitly closed when not > assigning them? > > Like: > > def writeFile(fName, foo): > open(fName, 'w').write(process(foo)) > > compared to: > > > def writeFile(fName, foo): > fileobj = open(fName, 'w') > fileobj.write(process(foo)) > fileobj.close() > > Which one is the 'official' recommended way? No such thing as an 'official' way. Nothing happens until the file object is garbage-collected. GC is generally not under your control. Common sense suggests that (a) when you are reading multiple files, you close each one explicitly (b) when you are writing a file, you close it explicitly as soon as you are done with it. That way you can trap any error condition and do something moderately sensible -- better than getting an error condition during GC when your Python process is shutting down. HTH, John

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Open 16-bit/24-bit windows bitmap using PIL
by Craig Nov. 30, 2006

Nov. 30, 2006

Hi there, I'm trying to open a 256-colour windows BMP and a 24-bit windows BMP with PIL usiing the following command: Image.open("image.bmp") When I try and open the 24-bit BMP the error I get is: Traceback (most recent call last): File "<pyshell#1>", line 1, in <module> im = Image.open("lightbulb.bmp") File "C:\Python25\lib\site-packages\PIL\Image.py", line 1730, in open return factory(fp, filename) File "C:\Python25\lib\site-packages\PIL\ImageFile.py", line 82, in __init__ self._open() File "C:\Python25\lib\site-packages\PIL\BmpImagePlugin.py", line 164, in _open self._bitmap(offset=offset) File "C:\Python25\lib\site-packages\PIL\BmpImagePlugin.py", line 96, in _bitmap raise IOError("Unsupported BMP header type (%d)" % len(s)) IOError: Unsupported BMP header type (108) When I try and open the 256-colour BMP the error I get is: Traceback (most recent call last): File "<pyshell#3>", line 1, in <module> im = Image.open("lightbulb2.bmp") File "C:\Python25\lib\site-packages\PIL\Image.py", line 1730, in open return factory(fp, filename) File "C:\Python25\lib\site-packages\PIL\ImageFile.py", line 82, in __init__ self._open() File "C:\Python25\lib\site-packages\PIL\BmpImagePlugin.py", line 164, in _open self._bitmap(offset=offset) File "C:\Python25\lib\site-packages\PIL\BmpImagePlugin.py", line 120, in _bitmap raise IOError("Unsupported BMP compression (%d)" % compression) IOError: Unsupported BMP compression (1) I can open a windows monochrome bitmap fine using PIL but the colour options are more desirable. I am using Windows 2000 if that is any help and I am saving the different BMP's using Microsoft Paint. If you could help that would be great. Craig

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Weekly Python Patch/Bug Summary
by Kurt B. Kaiser Nov. 30, 2006

Nov. 30, 2006

Patch / Bug Summary ___________________ Patches : 407 open ( +1) / 3484 closed ( +5) / 3891 total ( +6) Bugs : 936 open ( +5) / 6363 closed (+14) / 7299 total (+19) RFE : 246 open ( +1) / 244 closed ( +0) / 490 total ( +1) New / Reopened Patches ______________________ sys.id() and sys.intern() (2006-11-23) http://python.org/sf/1601678 opened by Georg Brandl clarify comparison return values (2006-11-24) http://python.org/sf/1602128 opened by Jim Jewett non-framework built python fails to define environ properly (2006-11-23) http://python.org/sf/1602133 opened by paul Suggest a textlist() method for ElementTree (2006-11-24) http://python.org/sf/1602189 opened by Raymond Hettinger subprocess: error redirecting i/o from non-console process (2006-11-27) http://python.org/sf/1603907 opened by Oren Tirosh Performance boost for array repeat (2006-11-28) CLOSED http://python.org/sf/1605020 opened by Mike Klaas Make Imap Error more helpful (2006-11-29) http://python.org/sf/1605192 opened by Thomas Guettler vendor-packages directory. (2005-09-22) http://python.org/sf/1298835 reopened by loewis Patches Closed ______________ __bool__ instead of __nonzero__ (2006-11-21) http://python.org/sf/1600346 closed by jackdied SRE engine do not release the GIL (2005-11-25) http://python.org/sf/1366311 closed by eric_noyau Implement lazy read for sockets (2003-12-04) http://python.org/sf/853963 closed by loewis Disable POSIX for certain/older NetBSD versions (2003-12-05) http://python.org/sf/854796 closed by loewis Performance boost for array repeat (2006-11-28) http://python.org/sf/1605020 closed by mklaas New / Reopened Bugs ___________________ using python extension(wxPython) in c (2006-11-23) CLOSED http://python.org/sf/1601607 opened by jolleydtan getopt Documentation improvement (2006-11-23) CLOSED http://python.org/sf/1601630 opened by Thomas Guettler Incorrect docs for bisect_left (2006-11-24) http://python.org/sf/1602378 opened by Daniel Eloff itemconfigure returns incorrect text property of text items (2006-11-25) http://python.org/sf/1602742 opened by Wojciech Mula wave module forgets to close file on exception (2006-11-26) http://python.org/sf/1603150 opened by amerinese wave module forgets to close file on exception (2006-11-26) CLOSED http://python.org/sf/1603246 opened by amerinese pstats module (profiler) doens't support unicode paths (2006-11-26) CLOSED http://python.org/sf/1603321 opened by Adal Chiriliuc def foo(((x))) segfault (2006-11-26) CLOSED http://python.org/sf/1603332 opened by Tony Lownds f=open fails with TypeError (2006-11-26) CLOSED http://python.org/sf/1603336 opened by Gibholio f=open fails with TypeError (2006-11-26) CLOSED http://python.org/sf/1603412 opened by Gibholio subprocess.py (py2.5) wrongly claims py2.2 compatibility (2006-11-27) http://python.org/sf/1603424 opened by Tim Wegener Python socket library confused by IPV6 notation in /etc/host (2006-11-27) http://python.org/sf/1603527 opened by Eric S. Raymond SaveConfigParser.write() doesn't quote %-Sign (2006-11-27) http://python.org/sf/1603688 opened by Rebecca Breu grammatical error in Python Library Reference::Tkinter (2006-11-27) CLOSED http://python.org/sf/1603789 opened by Gabriel M. Elder subprocess.Popen closes fds for sys.stdout or sys.stderr (2006-11-28) http://python.org/sf/1604851 opened by Nishkar Grover _CRT_SECURE_NO_DEPRECATE macro redefinition with VC++ 8 (2006-11-28) CLOSED http://python.org/sf/1604862 opened by William Fulton logging %(module)s reporting wrong modules (2006-11-29) http://python.org/sf/1605110 opened by Mad-Marty csv module broken for unicode (2006-11-30) http://python.org/sf/1606092 opened by JettLogic readline on popen3 file returns empty string before end (2006-11-30) http://python.org/sf/1606233 opened by Bill Wallace Bugs Closed ___________ utf_8_sig decode fails with buffer input (2006-11-23) http://python.org/sf/1601501 closed by doerwalter using python extension(wxPython) in c (2006-11-23) http://python.org/sf/1601607 closed by loewis getopt Documentation improvement (2006-11-23) http://python.org/sf/1601630 closed by gbrandl ctypes Structure allows recursive definition (2006-11-17) http://python.org/sf/1598620 closed by theller 2.4 & 2.5 can't create win installer on linux (2006-10-04) http://python.org/sf/1570417 closed by loewis wave module forgets to close file on exception (2006-11-26) http://python.org/sf/1603246 closed by gbrandl pstats module (profiler) doens't support unicode paths (2006-11-26) http://python.org/sf/1603321 closed by gbrandl def foo(((x))) segfault (2006-11-26) http://python.org/sf/1603332 closed by gbrandl f=open fails with TypeError (2006-11-26) http://python.org/sf/1603336 closed by gbrandl f=open fails with TypeError (2006-11-26) http://python.org/sf/1603412 closed by nnorwitz grammatical error in Python Library Reference::Tkinter (2006-11-27) http://python.org/sf/1603789 closed by gbrandl read() in windows stops on chr(26) (2006-11-13) http://python.org/sf/1595822 closed by sf-robot _ctypes built with GCC on AIX 5.3 fails with ld ffi error (2006-09-23) http://python.org/sf/1563807 closed by theller _CRT_SECURE_NO_DEPRECATE macro redefinition with VC++ 8 (2006-11-28) http://python.org/sf/1604862 closed by loewis "make install" for Python 2.4.4 not working properly (2006-10-19) http://python.org/sf/1580563 closed by sf-robot

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*** A BRIEF summary of criminal methods used by FBI Mother Fuckers ***
by st911＠rock.com Nov. 30, 2006

Nov. 30, 2006

http://www.monitor.net/monitor/9905a/jbcointelpro.html just search google for cointelpro A Short History of FBI COINTELPRO by Mike Cassidy and Will Miller The FBI and police used secret and systematic methods of fraud and force [Editor's note: More information on COINTELPRO in the Bari case is available at the Monitor Judi Bari index. Much of the following was taken from Brian Glick's book War At Home: Covert Action Against U.S. Activists and What We Can Do About It, (South End Press; Boston, 1989), a source for detailed and documented information on the history of domestic covert action against movements for social change.] In early 1971, the FBI's domestic counterintelligence program (code named "COINTELPRO") was brought to light when a "Citizens Committee to Investigate the FBI" removed secret files from an FBI office in Media, PA and released them to the press. Agents began to resign from the Bureau and blow the whistle on covert operations. That same year, publication of the Pentagon Papers, the Pentagon's top-secret history of the Vietnam War, exposed years of systematic official lies about the war. Soon after, it was discovered that a clandestine squad of White House "plumbers" broke into Daniel Ellsberg's psychiatrist's office in an effort to smear the former Pentagon staffer who leaked the top-secret papers to the press. The same "plumbers" were later caught burglarizing the Watergate offices of the Democratic National Committee. By the mid-1970's Senate and House committees launched formal and lengthy inquiries into government intelligence and covert activities. These investigations revealed extensive covert and illegal counterintelligence programs involving the FBI, CIA, U.S. Army intelligence, the White House, the Attorney General, and even local and state law enforcement, directed against opponents of government domestic and foreign policy. Since then, many more instances of these "dirty tricks" have been revealed. When congressional investigations, political trials and other traditional legal methods of repression failed to counter the growing movements of the 1950s, '60s and '70s, and even helped fuel them, the FBI and police moved outside the law. They used secret and systematic methods of fraud and force, far beyond mere surveillance, to sabotage constitutionally protected political activity. The purpose of the program was, in FBI Director J. Edgar Hoover's own words, to "expose, disrupt, misdirect, discredit and otherwise neutralize" specific groups and individuals. Its targets in this period included the American Indian Movement, the Communist Party, the Socialist Worker's Party, Black Nationalist groups, and many members of the New Left (SDS, and a broad range of anti-war, anti-racist, feminist, lesbian and gay, environmentalist and other groups). Many other groups and individuals seeking racial, gender and class justice were targets who came under attack, including Martin Luther King, Cesar Chavez, the NAACP, the National Lawyer's Guild, SANE-Freeze, American Friends Service Committee, and many, many others. The Reagan Administration reinvigorated covert action The public exposure of COINTELPRO and other government abuses resulted in a flurry of apparent reform in the 1970s, but domestic covert action did not end. It has persisted, and seems a permanent feature of our government. Much of today's domestic covert action can also be kept concealed because of government secrecy that has been restored. The Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), a source of major disclosures of COINTELPRO and other such activities, was drastically narrowed in the 1980s through administrative and judicial reinterpretation, as well as legislative amendment. While restoring such secrecy, the Reagan Administration also reinvigorated covert action, embracing its use at home and abroad. They endorsed it, sponsored it, and even legalized it to a great extent. Much of what was done outside the law under COINTELPRO was later legalized by Executive Order 12333 (12/4/81). There is every reason to believe that even what was not legalized is still going on as well. Lest we forget, Lt. Col. Oliver North funded and orchestrated from the White House basement break-ins and other "dirty tricks" to defeat congressional critics of U.S. policy in Central America and to neutralize grassroots protest. Special Prosecutor Walsh found evidence that North and Richard Secord (architect of the 1960s covert actions in Cambodia) used Iran-Contra funds to harass the Christic Institute, a church-funded public interest group specializing in exposing government misconduct. North also helped other administration officials at the Federal Emergency Management Administration develop contingency plans for suspending the Constitution, establishing martial law, and holding political dissidents in concentration camps in the event of "national opposition against a U.S. military invasion abroad." There were reports of similar activities and preparations in response to the opposition to the Gulf War in 1991. Even today, there is pending litigation against the FBI involving alleged misconduct in connection with the near-fatal bombing of Judi Bari. Domestic Covert Action Methods Although covert action will be adapted to changing social and technological conditions, only a limited number of methods exist. A study of COINTELPRO revealed four basic approaches. * First, there was infiltration. Agents and informers did not merely spy on political activists. The main purpose was to discredit and disrupt. Their presence served to undermine trust and scare off potential supporters. They also exploited this fear to smear genuine activists as agents. * Second, there was psychological warfare from the outside. They planted false media stories and published bogus leaflets and other publications in the name of targeted groups. They forged correspondence, sent anonymous letters, and made anonymous telephone calls. They spread misinformation about meetings and events, set up pseudo movement groups run by agents, and manipulated or strong-armed parents, employers, landlords, school officials and others to cause trouble for activists. * Third, there was harassment through the legal system, used to harass dissidents and make them appear to be criminals. Officers gave perjured testimony and presented fabricated evidence as a pretext for false arrests and wrongful imprisonment. They discriminatorily enforced tax laws and other government regulations and used conspicuous surveillance, "investigative" interviews, and grand jury subpoenas in an effort to intimidate activists and silence their supporters. * Fourth and finally, there was extralegal force and violence. The FBI and police threatened, instigated and conducted break-ins, vandalism, assaults, and beatings. The object was to frighten dissidents and disrupt their movements. In the case of radical Black and Puerto Rican activists (and later Native Americans), these attacks, including political assassinations, were so extensive, vicious, and calculated that they can only be accurately called a form of official "terrorism." For details, along with many examples of each of these methods, read Glick's well-documented and heavily footnoted "War At Home." reprinted with permission Mike Cassidy is a civil rights attorney and Will Miller is a Professor of Philosophy at U. of Vermont Comments? Send a letter to the editor. Albion Monitor May 26, 1999 (http://www.monitor.net/monitor) All Rights Reserved. Contact rights(a)monitor.net for permission to use in any format.

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Trying to send keystrokes to NES emulator
by srinathava＠gmail.com Nov. 30, 2006

Nov. 30, 2006

Hi, I am trying to send keystrokes to the NES emulator nester[1]. The idea was to be able to use a standard NES controller whose "state" I can read in using Python and then conveying that to the emulator. Unfortunately, all the attempts I have made so far have failed. It looks like the emulator is using some extremely low-level function to read keystrokes and I cannot get in before it. So far, I have tried the following functions from Python's win32api and using ctypes: 1. SendInput http://mail.python.org/pipermail/python-win32/2005-April/003131.html 2. keybd_event win32api.keybd_event(90, 0, 0, 0) This should have sent the 'z' key to the emulator which in Contra makes the little guy shoot. However, the emulator just sits there. 3. SendKeys import win32api import win32com.client shell = win32com.client.Dispatch("WScript.Shell") shell.AppActivate("nester") shell.SendKeys('s') My suspicion is that nester is using something lower-level than where these functions change stuff. I read about GetAsyncKeyState. However, I couldn't figure out for the life of me how to force the return value of the GetAsyncKeyState function. I would really appreciate any help in this regard :) Thanks! Srinath (speaking only on behalf of myself) PS: Does anyone know of a good way to play old NES games on the PC using the classic NES controllers? [1] http://nester.dranalli.com/

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