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1. Teaching with Python materials page from Wartburg College:

"At Wartburg College we have been using Python extensively in our curriculm since 1998. We have found it to be a near-ideal first language and a useful tool throughout the curriculum."

This came via a long discussion over Python as a first-year programming language.

"Python is hardly weird.  It's rather straightforward and conservative, which
is one of the things people like about it.  An agile language, high level and
object oriented.  Weirder (but still fine languages, worthy of study) would
be Haskell, Ocaml, Rebol and J.  Yet weird languages *are* used in the
business community.  J for example:  lots of Wall Street types use it for
financial analysis, along with it's older brother, APL." - Kirby Urner

2. A great Tim Peter's quote sig'd by Aahz. [link]

"In many ways, it's a dull language, borrowing solid old concepts from
many other languages & styles:  boring syntax, unsurprising semantics,
few automatic coercions, etc etc.  But that's one of the things I like
about it."  --Tim Peters on Python, 16 Sep 93

3. Notes from Alan Kay's talk at the emerging Technology Conference.  Wonder how it'll be different than his keynote at NECC.

Personal note: The education facet of Python is one of the key factors which initially drew me to the language.  I'm very happy it's very different than Pascal, and I hope it has come out from under any industry ripples from the history of Pascal as an educational and "real" programming language.