Sometimes I feel so alone

All I really want is to use Python to connect to an MS SQL 2000 database without using a DSN or ODBC. Is it really that complicated? Is there really nobody else that has ever wanted this before (and moved beyond complaining on mailing lists)?

Different strokes

As I was randomly flipping through pages on Ward's Wiki filled with code examples comparing Ruby and Python I felt the urge to fire off this message into cyberspace: don't ever think it impresses me that you can write code in your language that I can write in mine. It should be obvious to anybody with an internet connection and a propensity for coding that any two turing-complete languages are mathematically identical. I obviously like my language and you like yours. It is just plain asinine to think that by showing me you can write code that does the same thing as my code you can convince me that your language is better. We all use the languages we use because a) we were born to it (i.e. it's all we know) or b) we like it best. Either way, it's not impressive to see the same algorithm implemented in a different language alongside a claim of superiority. 'Nuff said.

What to do, what to do

What do you do when you ask somebody "can you guys handle XMLRPC" and they respond "yeah, sure, XMLRPC, LMNOP, whatever you like"?