[python-uk] ACCU 2019 Call for Proposals is Open
ACCU is a conference about programming, but due to history has a C++bias. However John Pinner created a Python track that ran for many years – until he a Zeth create PyConUK in 2007. Since then PyConUK has gone from strength to strength (which is good) but Python content at ACCU has gone down (which is bad). ACCU tries to have Go, Rust, D, Kotlin, Ruby, Lisp, and Python content as well as C++, TDD, BDD, ATDD, build tools and other tooliing content. Let's boost the Python content. Call is open for two more weeks. https://cfp.conference.accu.org/ -- Russel. === Dr Russel Winder t: +44 20 7585 2200 41 Buckmaster Roadm: +44 7770 465 077 London SW11 1EN, UK w: www.russel.org.uk signature.asc Description: This is a digitally signed message part ___ python-uk mailing list python-uk@python.org https://mail.python.org/mailman/listinfo/python-uk
[python-uk] A paper about Python 2 to Python 3 transitioning
Hi, I got a link to this paper on another email list. The person there thought it might enable Python 2 to have a new resurgence and lead to the death of Python 3. I am not entirely sure he was joking. Personally I am not sure the paper is sound in that they seem to be making assumptions and thence deductions that the sample doesn't support. Has anyone else seen this? Anyone any thoughts about it? https://people.cs.clemson.edu/~malloy/publications/papers/esem2017/paper.pdf -- Russel. === Dr Russel Winder t: +44 20 7585 2200 41 Buckmaster Roadm: +44 7770 465 077 London SW11 1EN, UK w: www.russel.org.uk signature.asc Description: This is a digitally signed message part ___ python-uk mailing list python-uk@python.org https://mail.python.org/mailman/listinfo/python-uk
[python-uk] ACCU 2018 Call for Session Proposals
Last five days to submit proposals for #ACCUConf 2018. Goto https://cfp.conference.accu.org. Gen Ashley, Hadi Hariri, Seb Rose, and Lisa Lippincott will be the keynote speakers. -- Russel. == Dr Russel Winder t: +44 20 7585 2200 41 Buckmaster Roadm: +44 7770 465 077 London SW11 1EN, UK w: www.russel.org.uk signature.asc Description: This is a digitally signed message part ___ python-uk mailing list python-uk@python.org https://mail.python.org/mailman/listinfo/python-uk
[python-uk] ACCU 2018 call for session proposal now open
The ACCU 2018 Call for Session Proposals is now open. ACCU is a major UK (but nonetheless very international) conference on programming and programming languages. Historically a large amount of C++ and related content. It did though have a Python track that split of to create PyCon UK. Python content is still very welcome at ACCU. ACCU organisation website: https://accu.org ACCU conference website: https://conference.accu.org ACCU conference call for session proposals: https://cfp.conference.accu.org -- Russel. = Dr Russel Winder t: +44 20 7585 2200 voip: sip:russel.win...@ekiga.net 41 Buckmaster Roadm: +44 7770 465 077 xmpp: rus...@winder.org.uk London SW11 1EN, UK w: www.russel.org.uk skype: russel_winder signature.asc Description: This is a digitally signed message part ___ python-uk mailing list python-uk@python.org https://mail.python.org/mailman/listinfo/python-uk
Re: [python-uk] Nominate someone for the John Pinner awards.
On Mon, 2017-09-11 at 10:02 +0100, Nicholas H.Tollervey wrote: > […] > > http://ntoll.org/article/saying-thank-you > […] OK, that works for me. BTW I am also in that picture on your blog post. :-) -- Russel. ===== Dr Russel Winder t: +44 20 7585 2200 voip: sip:russel.win...@ekiga.net 41 Buckmaster Roadm: +44 7770 465 077 xmpp: rus...@winder.org.uk London SW11 1EN, UK w: www.russel.org.uk skype: russel_winder signature.asc Description: This is a digitally signed message part ___ python-uk mailing list python-uk@python.org https://mail.python.org/mailman/listinfo/python-uk
Re: [python-uk] Nominate someone for the John Pinner awards.
I propose that for once and once only, the rules of the John Pinner award are ignored (that the returning officers are not eligible), and that Nicholas Tollervey and Peter Inglesby be jointly awarded this first John Pinner award. > I'd like to bring your attention to the inaugural John Pinner awards > for > community service. > > If you're in the UK and/or know people in the UK who contribute to > the > UK's Python community, please nominate them for a John Pinner > Community > Award. > > The press release is here: > http://uk.python.org/news/2017/09/08/john-pinner-award/ > > The full explanation and (easy to fill in) nomination form is here: > http://2017.pyconuk.org/pinner-award/ > > It is VERY IMPORTANT that we recognise the contributions of the > volunteers who help make our community the thriving, welcoming, > diverse > and interesting place that it is. > > Get nominating! > -- Russel. ========= Dr Russel Winder t: +44 20 7585 2200 voip: sip:russel.win...@ekiga.net 41 Buckmaster Roadm: +44 7770 465 077 xmpp: rus...@winder.org.uk London SW11 1EN, UK w: www.russel.org.uk skype: russel_winder signature.asc Description: This is a digitally signed message part ___ python-uk mailing list python-uk@python.org https://mail.python.org/mailman/listinfo/python-uk
Re: [python-uk] Volunteers needed test/break the ALPHA Python micro:bit blocks
On Tue, 2017-03-07 at 11:39 +, Nicholas H.Tollervey wrote: > […] > Nope, it's nothing to do with PXT (created by Microsoft from their > TouchDevelop platform). What they do share is a re-use of Google's > Blockly project to make the blocks work. The other thing they share > is > they target the micro:bit -- we use MicroPython, PXT transpiles > blocks > to Javascript and then to something a bit similar to the CLR layer > flashed onto the device. Ah. Of course, they are not using Python. > I was asked how much effort it would take to make a blocks based UI, > and > after a couple of weeks we had what you see at the link I posted. The link seems to 404 for me each time I try it. :-( > One thing we're missing is a browser based emulator, but there's one > been built by another member of the community which we could re- > purpose. I'm certainly happy to try and break stuff and submit issues. -- Russel. ========= Dr Russel Winder t: +44 20 7585 2200 voip: sip:russel.win...@ekiga.net 41 Buckmaster Roadm: +44 7770 465 077 xmpp: rus...@winder.org.uk London SW11 1EN, UK w: www.russel.org.uk skype: russel_winder signature.asc Description: This is a digitally signed message part ___ python-uk mailing list python-uk@python.org https://mail.python.org/mailman/listinfo/python-uk
Re: [python-uk] Volunteers needed test/break the ALPHA Python micro:bit blocks
On Mon, 2017-03-06 at 19:09 +, Nicholas H.Tollervey wrote: > Hi Folks, > > Several of us have been busy hacking together a blockly based UI for > MicroPython on the BBC micro:bit (thanks Carlos). > Is this related to or different from the Microsoft micro:bit programming environment – which I saw at NorDevCon a couple of weeks back and it is quite good. -- Russel. ===== Dr Russel Winder t: +44 20 7585 2200 voip: sip:russel.win...@ekiga.net 41 Buckmaster Roadm: +44 7770 465 077 xmpp: rus...@winder.org.uk London SW11 1EN, UK w: www.russel.org.uk skype: russel_winder signature.asc Description: This is a digitally signed message part ___ python-uk mailing list python-uk@python.org https://mail.python.org/mailman/listinfo/python-uk
Re: [python-uk] Announcing the Yorkshire Inquisition
On Wed, 2016-12-07 at 14:05 +, Steve Holden wrote: > But perhaps an apt threat to anyone who gets out of hand. I'm sure we > can > find room for a Comfy Chair somewhere when someone needs a Good > Talking To. > S s/Chair/Cushion/ -- Russel. ========= Dr Russel Winder t: +44 20 7585 2200 voip: sip:russel.win...@ekiga.net 41 Buckmaster Roadm: +44 7770 465 077 xmpp: rus...@winder.org.uk London SW11 1EN, UK w: www.russel.org.uk skype: russel_winder signature.asc Description: This is a digitally signed message part ___ python-uk mailing list python-uk@python.org https://mail.python.org/mailman/listinfo/python-uk
Re: [python-uk] ACCUConf Flask application needs help
On Sat, 2016-11-19 at 12:35 -0500, Antonio Cavallo wrote: > Russel I might be able to help. > > I've tried to contact you but your mail server seems timing out. > It is worrying that the server appears to be timing out. The logs do not indicate there has been a problem… A few people chipped in and we cobbled something together than does for the moment. The emergency is over. However for next year I think a significant reworking will be required. And I will have to learn CSS. -- Russel. ===== Dr Russel Winder t: +44 20 7585 2200 voip: sip:russel.win...@ekiga.net 41 Buckmaster Roadm: +44 7770 465 077 xmpp: rus...@winder.org.uk London SW11 1EN, UK w: www.russel.org.uk skype: russel_winder signature.asc Description: This is a digitally signed message part ___ python-uk mailing list python-uk@python.org https://mail.python.org/mailman/listinfo/python-uk
[python-uk] ACCUConf Flask application needs help
Whether it was a good idea or not a couple of volunteers decided to replace the old ACCU conference proposal submission system (which was seriously manual) with what was hoped to be a shiny Flask/Jinja2/SQLAlchemy site. Progress was good then there were issues and the volunteers were unable to put time in. What is left is a bit of a mess and in production. I had been handling the Nikola generated static side of the overall website. I am trying to get up to speed on the Flask/Jinja2/SQLAlchemy stuff but have other commitments that have to take priority. I can offer a speaker deal ACCU 2017 ticket for any volunteer that gets major pull requests in that fix the bugs (and extends the tests :-) so that we can get the proposals in and reviewed by the programme committee. The source of the whole site (static material and the Flask application is on GitHub https://github.com/ACCUConf/ACCUConf_Website I am currently trying to arrange budget to have a paid person in case there is someone that can put in a short blast of full-time time to get this working within a few days from now. If you are in either category and please contact me. Sadly International Rescue are not available for this crisis. -- Russel. = Dr Russel Winder t: +44 20 7585 2200 voip: sip:russel.win...@ekiga.net 41 Buckmaster Roadm: +44 7770 465 077 xmpp: rus...@winder.org.uk London SW11 1EN, UK w: www.russel.org.uk skype: russel_winder signature.asc Description: This is a digitally signed message part ___ python-uk mailing list python-uk@python.org https://mail.python.org/mailman/listinfo/python-uk
Re: [python-uk] Coding "Bootcamps"
On Wed, 2016-05-18 at 15:52 +0100, Zeth wrote: > […] > Obviously I don't know anything about where you friend is in terms of > skills but he could just host his own bootcamp at home, nothing > really > beats just getting down and writing software, a week doing that would > never be wasted. […] One of the things about doing a course is that there are others physically with you and the person running the course. There are negative as well as positive aspects of this, but the most important thing is getting quality feedback on code you write so as to direct you to idiomatic quality code in the language being used. When learning on your own, there is the risk of not getting good idiomatic code practices and styles. The OU are well aware of this even if they sometimes get it wrong. Any self learner needs to have access to quality mentors to provide quality feedback so that the self- directed learning effort always heads in the right direction. I am sure the "Python UK" virtual thingy could help put self learners in touch with people willing to do lightweight non-local mentoring. -- Russel. ===== Dr Russel Winder t: +44 20 7585 2200 voip: sip:russel.win...@ekiga.net 41 Buckmaster Roadm: +44 7770 465 077 xmpp: rus...@winder.org.uk London SW11 1EN, UK w: www.russel.org.uk skype: russel_winder signature.asc Description: This is a digitally signed message part ___ python-uk mailing list python-uk@python.org https://mail.python.org/mailman/listinfo/python-uk
Re: [python-uk] Call for London based volunteers - Wednesday 9th December
Nicholas, I'm afraid I will be in Prague running a Python training workshop, otherwise I would be there at 15:38 to give assistance. This is important stuff deserving support. -- Russel. = Dr Russel Winder t: +44 20 7585 2200 voip: sip:russel.win...@ekiga.net 41 Buckmaster Roadm: +44 7770 465 077 xmpp: rus...@winder.org.uk London SW11 1EN, UK w: www.russel.org.uk skype: russel_winder signature.asc Description: This is a digitally signed message part ___ python-uk mailing list python-uk@python.org https://mail.python.org/mailman/listinfo/python-uk
Re: [python-uk] ATTENTION: full price arrives on Wednesday
On Mon, 2015-06-29 at 12:14 +0100, Nicholas H.Tollervey wrote: > > cheaper "regular" tickets (£165) then you have until 23:59:59 > tomorrow. Shouldn't that have been 23:59:60, people seem to have had the use of the leap second abrogated :-) -- Russel. ========= Dr Russel Winder t: +44 20 7585 2200 voip: sip:russel.win...@ekiga.net 41 Buckmaster Roadm: +44 7770 465 077 xmpp: rus...@winder.org.uk London SW11 1EN, UK w: www.russel.org.uk skype: russel_winder signature.asc Description: This is a digitally signed message part ___ python-uk mailing list python-uk@python.org https://mail.python.org/mailman/listinfo/python-uk
Re: [python-uk] Last chance to get "regular" tickets for PyconUK
On Mon, 2014-09-01 at 09:42 +0100, Nicholas H.Tollervey wrote: > Hi, > > The deadline for "regular" rate tickets (£150) is fast approaching - > it's this Friday! > > After Friday you'll only be able to purchase "last minute" tickets at > £200 each. If you intend coming to PyconUK (and why wouldn't you?) and > you have not booked your ticket, may I suggest you do it *THIS WEEK*? > > Marvellous! Apparently "marvellous" is not used in English, only "awesome". http://www.cam.ac.uk/research/news/why-marvellous-isnt-awesome-any-more On the other hand we are English which is marvellous, definitely not awesome. Actually I am at a loss to know what is actually awesome in this day and age. I used to think it was stuff like The Grand Canyon, but apparently anything from Hollywood or New York is now awesome. Language is such a fluid thing. Which is clearly awesome. -- Russel. ===== Dr Russel Winder t: +44 20 7585 2200 voip: sip:russel.win...@ekiga.net 41 Buckmaster Roadm: +44 7770 465 077 xmpp: rus...@winder.org.uk London SW11 1EN, UK w: www.russel.org.uk skype: russel_winder ___ python-uk mailing list python-uk@python.org https://mail.python.org/mailman/listinfo/python-uk
Re: [python-uk] copyright info in source
On Tue, 2013-09-10 at 14:18 +0100, Jon Ribbens wrote: > On Mon, Sep 09, 2013 at 07:53:26PM +0100, Russel Winder wrote: > > Sadly, although it would be nice to have a file that says it applies to > > all files and so be very DRY, this will not work in UK and USA law, > > possibly also other jurisdictions. > > Do you have a reference for this? As far as I am aware, that statement > is simply wrong. Legally speaking, theoretically none of the computer > files comprising a program require any sort of copyright statement or > licence information whatsoever. The licence could be a completely > separate thing, for example a piece of physical paper. I am not aware of any authority that puts this in case law, so you are right to point out that I am intimating something that is not actually law. However neither am I explicitly wrong. But IANAL so you may know of authorities which make me wrong on this. You are correct that the author of any literary work has moral rights in that work. The copyright always rests with the original author unless explicitly assigned. However in the cases I have been involved with, barristers have chosen not to make any copyright arguments over source files where there was no explicit statement of copyright in the original file. Other issues yes, but not ones of copyright. My comment perhaps implied more that it should, but is founded in pragmatics. -- Russel. ========= Dr Russel Winder t: +44 20 7585 2200 voip: sip:russel.win...@ekiga.net 41 Buckmaster Roadm: +44 7770 465 077 xmpp: rus...@winder.org.uk London SW11 1EN, UK w: www.russel.org.uk skype: russel_winder signature.asc Description: This is a digitally signed message part ___ python-uk mailing list python-uk@python.org https://mail.python.org/mailman/listinfo/python-uk
Re: [python-uk] copyright info in source
On Tue, 2013-09-10 at 14:14 +0100, Jon Ribbens wrote: […] > Only, I think, because lawyers tend to err on the side of what they > perceive as caution rather than having any confidence that their > advice is actually correct. Indeed. Most are usually interested in winning, and making money, not in doing the "right thing" (whatever that is). > You mean, was this computer program code written over 70 years ago or > by somebody who died over 70 years ago? It doesn't seem very likely. Not always. As I understand it, if there is a copyright violation that the copyright owner fails to act against, it can lead to the material being deemed to be in the public domain. But IANAL. -- Russel. ========= Dr Russel Winder t: +44 20 7585 2200 voip: sip:russel.win...@ekiga.net 41 Buckmaster Roadm: +44 7770 465 077 xmpp: rus...@winder.org.uk London SW11 1EN, UK w: www.russel.org.uk skype: russel_winder signature.asc Description: This is a digitally signed message part ___ python-uk mailing list python-uk@python.org https://mail.python.org/mailman/listinfo/python-uk
Re: [python-uk] copyright info in source
On Mon, 2013-09-09 at 16:14 +0100, Daniel Pope wrote: > You don't have to include a notice of copyright to enjoy copyright > protection (under the Berne Convention). Nothing is assumed to be public > domain unless it is explicitly disclaimed as such. > > Since licence terms are based on copyright I don't think you need to state > it everywhere. If someone fails to receive a copy of the licence they can > assume no rights to copy your code. Whilst you are correct that this has been agreed by case law for books and magazines (the so called moral rights), as far as I am aware there has been no case in the UK that has provided case law for this. Legal advice is always to put an explicit statement of copyright, copyright owner and licence in all files. The issue here is "explicit is better than implicit" (*). The difficulty, at least in UK precedent, is to know the provenance of the content. Has the material been copied via a route that creates a public domain work. This sort of thing is far easier to trace for physical works. (*) See what I did there? -- Russel. ===== Dr Russel Winder t: +44 20 7585 2200 voip: sip:russel.win...@ekiga.net 41 Buckmaster Roadm: +44 7770 465 077 xmpp: rus...@winder.org.uk London SW11 1EN, UK w: www.russel.org.uk skype: russel_winder signature.asc Description: This is a digitally signed message part ___ python-uk mailing list python-uk@python.org https://mail.python.org/mailman/listinfo/python-uk
Re: [python-uk] copyright info in source
On Mon, 2013-09-09 at 16:13 +0100, Jonathan Hartley wrote: > Why would a file ever be seen out of context? Surely to make my source > available without the LICENSE file is breaking the terms of my license, > so I'm not sure why I ought to jump through hoops just to cater for such > people. Am I wrong? You are both right and wrong. You are right that this should be the case in (programmer) logic. However the issue is what does the amalgam of statute, case law, barristers and judges make of the situation. I would suggest either complying with the request, or withdraw the material from licenced use. -- Russel. ===== Dr Russel Winder t: +44 20 7585 2200 voip: sip:russel.win...@ekiga.net 41 Buckmaster Roadm: +44 7770 465 077 xmpp: rus...@winder.org.uk London SW11 1EN, UK w: www.russel.org.uk skype: russel_winder signature.asc Description: This is a digitally signed message part ___ python-uk mailing list python-uk@python.org https://mail.python.org/mailman/listinfo/python-uk
Re: [python-uk] copyright info in source
On Mon, 2013-09-09 at 14:18 +0100, Jonathan Hartley wrote: > A small Python project of mine is apparently being included in Chromium, > because I've had a bug report from them that my source files (plural) > fail their build-time license checker. > > They'd like me to include a license and copyright info in every source > file (including empty __init__.py files). > > I've responded that I don't want to be unhelpful, but I don't believe in > putting duplicate license and copyright info in every source code file. > To my mind, it belongs in a single central place, i.e. the project > LICENSE file. > > Am I being unreasonable and/or daft? Sadly, although it would be nice to have a file that says it applies to all files and so be very DRY, this will not work in UK and USA law, possibly also other jurisdictions. The licence statement has to be in each and every individual file since in UK and USA law each file is deemed a separate work. If you check FSF and other FOSS licence places they will set this out as the process because of this problem. Some IDEs even have plugins to sort this out for you! -- Russel. ========= Dr Russel Winder t: +44 20 7585 2200 voip: sip:russel.win...@ekiga.net 41 Buckmaster Roadm: +44 7770 465 077 xmpp: rus...@winder.org.uk London SW11 1EN, UK w: www.russel.org.uk skype: russel_winder signature.asc Description: This is a digitally signed message part ___ python-uk mailing list python-uk@python.org https://mail.python.org/mailman/listinfo/python-uk
Re: [python-uk] Interest in Python Open Enrolment?
Hi, > Over the years I've delivered many on-site custom Python courses, but > I'm now thinking about offering one or two open-enrolment courses. > > If this might be of interest, I'd be grateful if you'd respond to the > questions below---and please reply only to me so as not to clutter the > list (the default reply is to the list). Just to add an element of competition to things, I must point out that many of us do private Python programming courses, introductory, intermediate and advanced, and indeed public courses. I run my public Python Programming Workshop via Skills Matter. http://skillsmatter.com/course/home/russel-winders-python-workshop > […] > (2) Which version of Python would be of interest: > ( ) 2.7 > ( ) 3.1+ […] Personally I feel all public courses should always be using Python 3.3 or at worst 3.2 (but 3.3 is a winner because of pyvenv and unittest.mock amongst a whole slew of other things.) Some organizations clearly need 2.7 for private courses, but I think the time is past when 2.7 was seen as the version to teach for public courses. -- Russel. ========= Dr Russel Winder t: +44 20 7585 2200 voip: sip:russel.win...@ekiga.net 41 Buckmaster Roadm: +44 7770 465 077 xmpp: rus...@winder.org.uk London SW11 1EN, UK w: www.russel.org.uk skype: russel_winder signature.asc Description: This is a digitally signed message part ___ python-uk mailing list python-uk@python.org http://mail.python.org/mailman/listinfo/python-uk
Re: [python-uk] Opportunties for community engagement
Sal, On Tue, 2013-06-11 at 12:48 +, Fadhley, Salim wrote: > The company I work for (Bank of America) is looking to become a more > active member of the Python community. Those of you who attended this > month's Python Dojo at our Canary Wharf offices will have seen our > first efforts at giving-back to Python. I think it is great that an for-profit organization that has Python at the centre of its computing strategy is willing and wanting to "give back" into the community of the FOSS platform it is using. I just wish some more of the for-profit organization using Python as a strategic resource took the same view. (OK banks other than BAML, I know who you are.) > A manager has asked me to report back with some ideas about other > things we might do, for example we might host meet-ups, help fund > Python Foundation initiatives, sponsor conferences or important > open-source projects. > > At the moment I'm just trying to generate some ideas that will be > presented to our management next week. There's no requirement other > than the project should be beneficial to or help grow the Python > community. > > All suggestions welcome! As ever, I pitch the PyPy Python 3 project as something well worthy of contributing cash or RPython programming time to, and also the PyPy STM project. Getting PyPy Python 3 compliant and removing its GIL are, for me, the joint Number 1 things in the Python universe to get support for. […] -- Russel. ========= Dr Russel Winder t: +44 20 7585 2200 voip: sip:russel.win...@ekiga.net 41 Buckmaster Roadm: +44 7770 465 077 xmpp: rus...@winder.org.uk London SW11 1EN, UK w: www.russel.org.uk skype: russel_winder signature.asc Description: This is a digitally signed message part ___ python-uk mailing list python-uk@python.org http://mail.python.org/mailman/listinfo/python-uk
Re: [python-uk] Can you help us build our London team?
The London Python Group (http://www.meetup.com/The-London-Python-Group-TLPG/) is beginning to take off as well. I am hoping to see it meet monthly at Skills Matter. Not trying to compete with the Dojo but to complement it. The meeting last Tuesday had a "Job pitch" to open it in return for pizza and beer after the session (which, OK, was done by me http://skillsmatter.com/podcast/scala/switch-to-python-3-now-immediately http://skillsmatter.com/event/scala/switch-to-python-3-now-immediately) I thought this worked very well. The company did their pitch in a neat and humorous way, it didn't come over as anything heavy, just good natured. I hope they fill the post from a contact made that evening. Overall, very Pythonic :-) The pizza and beer worked very well and enable "pressing the flesh". A great round off to the event. -- Russel. ===== Dr Russel Winder t: +44 20 7585 2200 voip: sip:russel.win...@ekiga.net 41 Buckmaster Roadm: +44 7770 465 077 xmpp: rus...@winder.org.uk London SW11 1EN, UK w: www.russel.org.uk skype: russel_winder signature.asc Description: This is a digitally signed message part ___ python-uk mailing list python-uk@python.org http://mail.python.org/mailman/listinfo/python-uk
Re: [python-uk] [pyconuk] Python-UK Google Plus Community
On Tue, 2012-12-11 at 10:48 +, Jonathan Hartley wrote: […] > Nobody has proposed replacing the mailing list, or changing it in any way. > > Somebody just started a G+ community as well, and thought you all might > like to know. The problem for me is that we now have two communities instead of one. Sadly it is not feasible to integrate the two in any way. -- Russel. ===== Dr Russel Winder t: +44 20 7585 2200 voip: sip:russel.win...@ekiga.net 41 Buckmaster Roadm: +44 7770 465 077 xmpp: rus...@winder.org.uk London SW11 1EN, UK w: www.russel.org.uk skype: russel_winder signature.asc Description: This is a digitally signed message part ___ python-uk mailing list python-uk@python.org http://mail.python.org/mailman/listinfo/python-uk
Re: [python-uk] Python Developers - ReportLab, Wimbledon, London
On Tue, 2012-12-11 at 11:38 +, Andy Robinson wrote: […] > For all employers out there my HR guru goes to all the seminars > on employment law, and is very current on what we can and cannot do. > She has told me that our latest round of ads are wrong because > explicitly asking for SMART people is discriminatory against THICK > people. You can ask about skills, but not about innate > characteristics like age or sex (which we all know), and apparently, > now, brains. > > Anyone else heard this kind of total bollocks lately? ;-) Whilst I appreciate your irritation, and that of many of the responders, to this reaction of HR. The situation is actually far more subtle than this simple point about "discrimination". Yes there are stupidities of political correctness around and public bodies tend to be the worst perpetrators. However, the real drive of the diversity legislation is to try and get employers to focus on the goals and objectives of the job and not on the traditional CV properties of the candidate: can this person do the job, not has this person got a 2.1 in computer science. In particular, the underlying thrust of the legislation not only tries to stop people discriminating in traditional ways, but also in more subtle ways. For example, X left the job so Y must be a clone of X to be able to do the job. A surprisingly common way of getting new people in. This is a difficult issue in reality, and whilst the real stupidities rightly lead to ridicule, it is the good employers that look beyond these and make use of the opportunities of the legislation, which actually allow lots of freedoms to circumvent traditional employment processes. -- Russel. ===== Dr Russel Winder t: +44 20 7585 2200 voip: sip:russel.win...@ekiga.net 41 Buckmaster Roadm: +44 7770 465 077 xmpp: rus...@winder.org.uk London SW11 1EN, UK w: www.russel.org.uk skype: russel_winder signature.asc Description: This is a digitally signed message part ___ python-uk mailing list python-uk@python.org http://mail.python.org/mailman/listinfo/python-uk
