As part of the programming guide, I posted my “Preparing to learn python guide“, in which, I mention the things about Python I wish I had known when I started learning Python. I am guessing it will be most useful to those who have programmed before in another language and are trying to learn Python.

Also, I posted a link to Software Carpentry in the programming guide. Thanks Greg for starting that project!

1. Need to establish python/biology community, via website, biology-in-python mailing list, rss, blogs, etc.
2. Having a core set of “interfaces” for handling basic bioinformatics objects would allow independent projects to share these basic objects. I am sure others will describe this better and in more detail in the near future.

I personally believe that even if we only accomplish the first item, it would significantly help the bioinformatics community. I do hope the 2nd is accomplished as well.

What I see is that most people who are new to the python bioinformatics community end up finding BioPython. The only problem is that many people doing bioinformatics with Python who choose not to use BioPython end up doing there own thing an not communicating with the community. The idea here is to make a new python/biology community site were we can communicate, share code, share ideas, etc. In other words support the community as a whole rather than just having communities for individual projects.

I agreed to setup this initial site and seed it information, bioinformatics python packages by category, a place holder for cookbooks, advice for testing and software engineering (referencing Greg Wilsion’s Software Carpentry material, etc.). I would like to thank Enthought as they have agreed to host the website. I will add the more information on the community site as it is being setup. We’ll see how it goes.

Also, check out Titus Brown’s Birds of a Feather post.

For those of you who don’t believe that “Global Warming” is happening, I have this question for you:

Are you willing to bet life on this planet as we know it, because you don’t believe Global Warming is happening? Maybe the outcome of Global Warming isn’t as extreme as some may believe it to, but maybe it will be worse. If Global Warming is real and we treat it has a scientific hoax, and don’t take action. Isn’t that worse than the scientists being wrong about the how extreme the changes will be on our planet? Isn’t it work taking action now “just in case”?

This documentary shows how fossil fuel corporations have kept the global warming debate alive long after most scientists believed that global warming was real and had potentially catastrophic consequences. It shows that companies such as Exxon Mobil are working with top public relations firms and using many of the same tactics and personnel as those employed by Phillip Morris and RJ Reynolds to dispute the cigarette-cancer link in the 1990s. Exxon Mobil sought out those willing to question the science behind climate change, providing funding for some of them, their organizations and their studies. ]]> http://www.brandonking.net/blog/2006/12/03/the-denial-machine/feed/ 0 http://www.brandonking.net/blog/2006/12/03/blue-man-group-on-global-warming/ http://www.brandonking.net/blog/2006/12/03/blue-man-group-on-global-warming/#comments Sun, 03 Dec 2006 08:12:00 +0000 Brandon W. King http://blog.brandonking.net/?p=18 Description from Google Video:
Your attention please. Thank you for choosing earth as your planetary vehicle. We hope you enjoy the many wonderful features of this planet, as you hurtle through the cosmos. Please note, that in the event of continued inaction in the face of global warming – your seat cushion can be used as a flotation device. Please take a moment to locate this planet’s emergency exits. As you can see, there aren’t any! ]]> http://www.brandonking.net/blog/2006/12/03/blue-man-group-on-global-warming/feed/ 0