TRUCEConf

Please consider participating in TRUCEConf (March 18-19 in Cincinnati)!

The goal is to help the tech community heal, through learning from others outside our industry and having an open dialogue and on how we can be better humans to each other in the world of tech.

You may remember fierce controversy around TRUCEConf when virtually nothing was known about it but its name; without solid information, it was easy to read bad connotations into the name. I would have been uneasy myself if I hadn't known the founder, Elizabeth Naramore.

But now there's plenty of information, including the schedule, that should replace those concerns with enthusiasm. I think the format - a day of mind-opening speakers from all over, followed by an unconference day - should be very productive!

I'm really looking forward to it and hope that many of you can come. If you can't come in person, consider supporting the conference with a donation - they're going without corporate sponsors so your individual support means a ton. Thanks!

Columbus Python Workshop, Jan 18-19

Happy Ada Lovelace Day!

Announcing the first

Columbus Python Workshop

for women and their friends

Jan. 18-19, 2013

The Columbus Python Workshop for women and their friends is a free hands-on introduction to computer programming that's fun, accessible, and practical even to those who've never programmed at all before. We empower women of all ages and backgrounds to learn programming in a beginner-friendly environment.

Thanks to Pillar Technologies for hosting the workshop in their brand-new office in Columbus' Short North!

The workshop is the latest in a series based on the famous Boston Python Workshop; they've already introduced hundreds of beginners to programming in Boston, Indianapolis, Portland, Chicago, and Kansas City. Now it's Ohio's turn, so spread the word!

Get more details and sign up now: https://openhatch.org/wiki/Columbus_Python_Workshop

Traditionally, Ada Lovelace Day is celebrated by highlighting the achievements of present and past women in science and technology. Today, instead, I'm saluting the contributors of the future!

Computer Engineer Barbie

I'm happy about Computer Engineer Barbie. No doll will save the world, but every little bit helps.

It's annoying, though, that some people only see one more opportunity to trot out this classic:

def belittle(geek):
    prejudice = "Well, then, she's not much of a {0}, is she?"
    if geek.is_femme:
        excuse = 'geek'
    else:
        excuse = 'woman'
    return prejudice.format(excuse)