Podcast appearances and mentions of simon kirby

Guest Jack Skinner Panelist Richard Littauer Show Notes In this episode of Sustain, host Richard Littauer talks with Jack Skinner, PyCon AU organizer and freelance consultant/fractional CTO, to explore why regional conferences matter so much to the long-term health of open source communities. Their conversation looks at how events like PyCon AU do far more than host talks, they create local connections, nurture future leaders, support first-time speakers, and help sustain the broader Python ecosystem in ways that global conferences alone cannot. Drawing on Jack's experience as a conference organizer and community builder, the episode offers a behind-the-scenes look at the challenges of running volunteer-led events, from sponsorships and logistics to burnout, accessibility, and building a stronger pipeline of future organizers. Press download now to hear more! [00:01:49] Jack shares his background and how he got involved in Python and event organizing. [00:02:48] We hear about Jack's first PyCon AU experience. [00:04:14] Jack describes PyCon AU, who it serves, and how it's changed after COVID. [00:07:01] Why do regional conferences exist alongside PyCon US? [00:09:24] Jack talks about what makes Australia and New Zealand different as conference communities. [00:10:55] PyCon AU's attendance goals are discussed as Jack mentions his big goal is to bring attendance back to roughly 500-600 people, restoring pre-pandemic strength. [00:12:04] The discussion turns to conference structure: tracks, workshops, and sponsor interest, with Jack emphasizing sponsorship is not just about money. [00:14:54] Richard asks how organizers know whether conferences help people learn, connect, or build community. Jack explains how they're measuring community impact beyond “good vibes” and rebuilding local Python communities. [00:17:34] Jack explains PyCon AU is trying to build a future organizer pipeline by letting people observe how conference planning works and introduces his proposed program/project, “shadow team.” [00:19:09] Another project Jack is working on is documenting the behind-the-scenes work of organizing the conference through long-form writing. [00:20:38] Jack admits he feels imposter syndrome because he's not paid to write Python, his contribution is centered on the sociotechnical side. [00:23:20] PyCon AU's independence from government and institutions is discussed, and how the conference community is globally aware, even if locally focused. [00:27:05] Call for proposals details, deadline is March 29, and the in-person focus for this year's event are mentioned. Richard discusses the return of the academic track and Jack details more info on poster sessions and workshop submissions. [00:32:08] Volunteering and buying tickets are explained and why you should buy tickets early if you can. Quotes [00:32:20] “Volunteering is an awesome way to be involved in PyCon.” Spotlight [00:35:16] Richard's spotlight is two of his lecturers at the University of Edinburgh, Simon Kirby and Andrew Smith, who introduced him to Python. [00:35:55] Jack's spotlight is two companion projects: pretalx and pretix. Links SustainOSS podcast@sustainoss.org richard@sustainoss.org SustainOSS Discourse SustainOSS Mastodon SustainOSS Bluesky SustainOSS LinkedIn Open Collective-SustainOSS (Contribute) Richard Littauer Socials Jack Skinner LinkedIn Jack Skinner Website PyCon AU, August 26-30, 2026, Brisbane PyCon AU News & Updates Sustain Podcast-Episode 75: Deb Nicholson on the OSI, the future of open source, and SeaGL Sustain Podcast-Episode 137: A How-to Guide for Contributing to Open Source as an Employee, for Corporations (featuring Deb Nicholson as Host) Guido van Rossum Whale song shows language-like statistical structure Simon Kirby (co-lead author) pretalx (GitHub) pretix (GitHub) Sponsor CURIOSS Credits Produced by Richard Littauer Edited by Paul M. Bahr at Peachtree Sound Show notes by DeAnn Bahr Peachtree Sound Special Guest: Jack Skinner.

Karol Darwin, twórca teorii ewolucji, uważał język za jedno z najważniejszych osiągnięć ludzkości, porównywalne z odkryciem ognia. Język rozumiany jako system komunikacyjny, na który składają się gramatyka i symbole, jest unikalną cechą gatunku ludzkiego, żadne inne zwierzę nie komunikuje się w taki sposób. Jednocześnie, geneza naszego języka to jedna z największych zagadek naukowych. Chociaż istnieje wiele teorii, naukowcy wciąż nie mają jednej, ostatecznej odpowiedzi na pytanie, jak dokładnie powstał język ludzki. Dlatego wielu współczesnych badaczy, jak choćby – brytyjski kognitywista Simon Kirby czy Duńczyk Morten Christiansen (obaj znani ze swoich badań nad ewolucją języka), sądzi, że wyjaśnienie mechanizmów powstania ludzkiego systemu komunikacji to jedno z największych wyzwań współczesnej nauki. Skąd wzięły się języki? Jak ludzie zaczęli porozumiewać się za pomocą znaków i symboli? Odpowiedzi na te m.in. pytania szukali badacz i językoznawca dr Marek Placiński oraz naukowczyni Zofia Szynal (prowadząca). Podczas rozmowy przeanalizowali także semiotykę eksperymentalną – dziedzinę, która bada, w jaki sposób ludzie tworzą i interpretują znaki w kontrolowanych warunkach eksperymentalnych. Dzięki takim eksperymentom naukowcy mogą śledzić procesy komunikacyjne w czasie rzeczywistym i lepiej zrozumieć, jak powstają i zmieniają się systemy językowe. Prowadząca odwołała się także do badań prowadzonych przez Centrum Badań nad Ewolucją Języka, które pokazują, jak proste gesty i dźwięki mogą przekształcić się w złożony język, oraz – co nam to mówi o ewolucji ludzkiej komunikacji. Organizatorami spotkań w ramach cyklu “Dni Darwina” są Centrum Badań nad Biologicznymi Podstawami Funkcjonowania Społecznego, Polskie Towarzystwo Nauk o Człowieku i Ewolucji (PTNCE), Wydział Psychologii Uniwersytetu SWPS w Sopocie oraz Strefa Psyche Uniwersytetu SWPS. Strefa Psyche Uniwersytetu SWPS to projekt popularyzujący wiedzę psychologiczną na najwyższym merytorycznym poziomie oraz odkrywający możliwości działania, jakie daje psychologia w różnych sferach życia zarówno prywatnego, jak i zawodowego. Projekt obejmuje działania online, których celem jest umożliwienie rozwoju każdemu, kto ma taką potrzebę lub ochotę, niezależnie od miejsca, w którym się znajduje. Więcej o projekcie: https://web.swps.pl/strefa-psyche

Language is the ultimate Lego. With it, we can take simple elements and construct them into an edifice of meaning. Its power is not only in mapping signs to concepts but in that individual words can be composed into larger structures. How did this systematicity arise in language?Simon Kirby is the head of Linguistics and English Language at The University of Edinburgh and one of the founders of the Centre for Langauge Evolution and Change. Over several decades he and his collaborators have run many elegant experiments that show that this property of language emerges inexorably as a system of communication is passed from generation to generation. Experiments with computer simulations, humans, and even baboons demonstrate that as a language is learned mistakes are made - much like the mutations in genes. Crucially, the mistakes that better match the language to the structure of the world (as conceived by the learner) are the ones that are most likely to be passed on.Links Simon's website with art, music, and talks on language evolution Simon's academic homepage Simon on X Multiverses Podcast homeOutline(00:00) Introduction(2:45) What makes language special?(5:30) Language extends our biological bounds(7:55) Language makes culture, culture makes language(9:30) John Searle: world to word and word to world(13:30) Compositionality: the expressivity of language is based on its Lego-like combinations(16:30) Could unique genes explain the fact of language compositionality?(17:20) … Not fully, though they might make our brains able to support compositional language(18:20) Using simulations to model language learning and search for the emergence of structure(19:35) Compositionality emerges from the transmission of representations across generations(20:18) The learners need to make mistakes, but not random mistakes(21:35) Just like biological evolution, we need variation(27:00) When, by chance, linguistic features echo the structure of the world these are more memorable(33:45) Language experiments with humans (Hannah Cornish)(36:32) Sign language experiments in the lab (Yasamin Motamedi)(38:45) Spontaneous emergence of sign language in populations(41:18) Communication is key to making language efficient, while transmission gives structure(47:10) Without intentional design these processes produce optimized systems(50:39) We need to perceive similarity in states of the world for linguistic structure to emerge(57:05) Why isn't language ubiquitous in nature …(58:00) … why do only humans have cultural transmissions(59:56) Over-imitation: Victoria Horner & Andrew Whiten, humans love to copy each other(1:06:00) Is language a spandrel?(1:07:10) How much of language is about information transfer? Partner-swapping conversations (Gareth Roberts)(1:08:49) Language learning = play?(1:12:25) Iterated learning experiments with baboons (& Tetris!)(1:17:50) Endogenous rewards for copying(1:20:30) Art as another angle on the same problems

The boys discuss the two-issue Radio (later Archie) Comics series The Double Life Of Private Strong, created by Joe Simon in 1959. What did Kirby bring to the character? What did we think about these stories? How do they connect to other Simon & Kirby works? Listen and find out!   For all things Jacked Kirby, visit our FlowPage; www.flow.page/jackedkirby You'll find links to listen everywhere, our social media pages, AND a link to buy a swell Jacked Kirby T-shirt! Get in there! It'll make a perfect holiday gift!   And don't forget; if you like the show, please share the show! Tag a friend, share a flyer, spread the word… and rate & review us on Apple! Thanks!

It's October, and we're kickin' off a month of our annual spooky-themed Jacktober episodes with a Simon & Kirby pre-code 1953 story from Prize Comics' Black Magic issue 27, “The Cat People!” Gypsies! Cat creatures! Cat movies! Cat fun!!!   To listen to Jacked Kirby everywhere, and to follow our social media pages, visit our FlowPage: www.flow.page/jackedkirby There's also a link there to purchase a suave Jacked Kirby t-shirt, so get one!   If you like the show, share the show! Tag a friend, tell a friend, share the flyer, spread the word! And please rate/review the show on Apple (or wherever else you can rate & review it!) Thanks!

This podcast focuses on what can be done to help major infrastructure project teams actually deliver the outcomes that are promised – and specifically whether engaging minds early will drive project success .As any casual observer of infrastructure will be aware, the track record of major project delivery is not good. In fact a new book by Oxford University professor Bent Flyvbjerg highlights that globally from his list of 16,000 projects in 136 countries over the last 30 years, just 8.5% met cost and schedule targets while just 0.5% satisfied all benefit goals.OK, I haven't audited his numbers, but they are, on the face of it, a pretty shocking set of findings – findings that seem to bear out and ring true if you consider the UK's recent project outcomes from projects such as Crossrail, Jubilee Line Extension, West Coast Mainline upgrade, Hinkley Point – the list goes on. And there are of course many more examples of smaller infrastructure projects failing to deliver. So what is going wrong? Prof Flyvbjerg highlights many, many reasons from long durations causing scope and budget creep to failure to understand technology and a propensity towards ‘optimism bias' urging professionals down the wrong paths.But primarily his conclusion – and one shared by many others in the industry given the number of industry papers and report on the subject – is poor project initiation or failure in the commissioning stage as the wrong people are left to make the wrong decisions at the wrong moment.So is that true? And if so how do we change it?Well to find out, it is my pleasure to welcome Simon Kirby, managing partner at well-known and respected trouble shooting, project delivery consultancy The Nichols Group to the Infrastructure Podcast. Simon has a several decades of experience wrestling with the challenge of delivering major projects and programmes.ResourcesThe Nichols GroupProf. Bent FlyvbjergMajor Project Association 

This week, on the heels of St. Patrick's Day, we discuss the Joe Simon & Jack Kirby story “Nasty Little Man!”, from Prize Comics' Black Magic issue 18 (November 1952). The Simon/Kirby take on a leprechaun is a fun one, and we have fun exploring the story!     For all things Jacked Kirby, visit our FlowPage where you'll find links to listen everywhere, plus our social media pages: www.flow.page/jackedkirby If you like the show, share the show! Tag a friend, tell a friend, share the flyer, spread the word! And please rate/review the show on Apple (or wherever else you can rate & review it!) Thanks! 

Most fans primarily think of Jack Kirby as the co-inventor of the Marvel Universe and the genius behind classic series like the New Gods. But Kirby also created the whole genre of romance comics, in collaboration with his partner Joe Simon, and together the pair created some truly memorable stories. In today's episode, Amir and Jason look at three of those stories and are frankly amazed by how great they are. If you only know King Kirby from stuff like Fantastic Four, you know only part of the story! --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/classiccomics/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/classiccomics/support

JESSE SIMON returns to the show to talk about characters that Jack Kirby and Jesse's grandfather (comic book legend Joe Simon) created who use shields as weapons… and from there we discuss his own upcoming superhero comic, ShieldMaster!  Jesse is a young fella who knows his comic book history, and he always shines some light on the Simon & Kirby relationship, so you know you're in for a treat!   Follow Jesse on Instagram: @simon_comics And the ShieldMaster page is: @shieldmastercomics Go give those pages a follow, and check out what Jesse & Jim Simon are up to!   For all things Jacked Kirby, including listening links and our social media pages, visit www.flow.page/jackedkirby   If you're listening on Apple, please rate and review the show! And if you enjoy the show, PLEASE SHARE IT! Spread the word, tag a friend, tell a friend!

Join us for our 14th episode, for an exciting interview with Dr. Simon Kirby! Dr. Simon Kirby is a board certified otolaryngologist and facial plastic surgeon, who retrained in the field of anatomical pathology. You won't want to miss this insightful episode, with interesting personal stories.

Steve Rogers. L'uomo fuori dal tempo. Il simbolo del Sogno Americano. Tanto si può dire del personaggio inventato nel 1941 da Simon & Kirby e portato sul grande schermo da Chris Evans ed è quello che cerchiamo di fare in questa Stella Polare che ne ripercorre la carriera editoriale focalizzandosi sui momenti più importanti.---Merchandising:http://store.polonerd.netPer sostenerci offrendoci uno o più caffèhttps://www.buymeacoffee.com/polonerdSito, Mail e Contatti:redazione@polonerd.nethttps://www.polonerd.nethttps://www.polonerd.net/contattiPagina dell'episodio: https://www.polonerd.net/?p=835

In this weeks episode of Master My Garden podcast I talk to TJ Maher from Patthana Garden in Kiltegan, Co.Wicklow. This is the second open garden feature and I plan to do one every month mainly because open gardens are a source of inspiration for many gardens. Patthana does not disappoint on the inspiration front, its smaller size makes many of the elements feel like they are attainable to every gardener. From the use of pots in the lower patio area, to the beautifully colour coordinated island beds in the upper garden. Patthana is beautiful, ever changing with something new around every corner and it features in Shirley Lanigan's The 100 Best Gardens In Ireland. I chat with TJ about the garden, he gives lots of great tips and advice that gardens can use to Master Their own garden. I also talk about TJ's gardening course which is a great concept and students get to see the garden unfold over the whole growing season. We finish talking about the new garden which is being added at present and I look forward to re-visiting in the future to see this part of the garden. Patthana is an award winning small village garden set over a third of an acre and is home to T.J. Maher and Simon Kirby, in Kiltegan, County Wicklow. The garden comprises of a lower cobbled courtyard with its Potting shed and a sunken meditation room leading to the main courtyard with a small wildlife pond. Both these areas house an extensive collectionof plants from the hardy to the tender and exotic. Circular granite steps lead to the upper terrace garden with its borders of herbaceous perennials, annuals and unusual shrubs and trees carefully chosen for a small garden such as Euonymus Planipes and Cercidiphyllum Japonicum ‘Heronswood Globe’. Patthana is gardened organically with many plants chosen for their attraction to wildlife.You can find Patthana on Website https://www.patthanagardenireland.comFacebook https://www.facebook.com/Patthanagardenkiltegan/Instagram https://www.instagram.com/patthana_garden/Email patthanagarden@gmail.com Address Kiltegan, Co. Wicklow, W91 X789, IrelandThere will be a blog post on this episode very soon on my website. This blog and previous blogs along with all podcast episodes are be available on my website https://mastermygarden.com/If you are enjoying the podcast it would be great if you could leave a review on Apple podcasts its good to know people are enjoying and getting something from the podcast. If there is any topic you would like covered in future episodes please let me know, you can find me on facebook Master My Garden https://www.facebook.com/mastermygarden/Instagram @Mastermygarden https://www.instagram.com/mastermygarden/or email info@mastermygarden.comUntil the next time Happy GardeningJohn

Simon Kirby walks us through his leadership experience from a pioneering fresh expressions church plant he led years ago, through to how God has called him to create a church now that seeks to send out pioneers to plant more churches around the UK and abroad. 

We pose the question: "Whats Does Freedom Mean To You?" A compilation of answers from veterans Simon Kirby, Ryan Weaver, Joe Crane, Todd Scattini, Andrew Nelson, Chad Walker, Mark Green, Scott Huesing, Athena Ives, Steven Kuhn and Pete Turner.  

Simon Kirby was born in East London, England. He was the son of restaurateurs.  At the age of 15, Simon left school and at 16, joined the the British Army as a light-infantryman in the Royal Green Jackets Regiment. His first combat tour came in 1979 in Tyrone County, Northern Ireland. His unit was tasked with intercepting IRA patrols crossing the border, conducted with long-range and chopper-borne patrols.  After that initial tour, and over the course of the next two years, Simon was stationed in Germany and also completed the US Army's Air Assault School at Ft. Campbell, Kentucky. At the age of 19, he attended the British Army's NCO Cadre School where he was awarded the regimental batten, given to the top student. At that time, Simon was the youngest person in regimental history to earn such an award. Simon's second combat tour came at the age of 20.  In 1981, he deployed to West Belfast during the height of the troubles there.  That deployment proved costly for Simon's unit.  He lost three of his close friends in an enemy ambush.  It was not long after that he would return to the civilian world, leaving the army after serving his Country for five years. Simon eventually made it to the United States (a dream that he had during a break from his Ft. Campbell training while visiting Florida). Currently, Simon owns a very successful holistic-natural-food restaurant, Simon's Coffeehouse, in Sarasota, Florida.  He is the father of two children, enjoys cooking, meditation, yoga and sailing the Caribbean (when time permits).

        Heroes Con 2017 - Part 3 0:00 Before the Panels Jack Kirby Prints, Heroes Con T-Shirts, Comic Book Magazines Breakfast Back Issue Bins: Daredevil, Dr. Strange Classics, Crime SuspenStories, Captain America, Flash Joey Weiser - Batman and the Outsiders commission Mike Meyers 19:27 Villains in Pop Culture: Psychology of Evil 34:30 Heroes Con Mega Panel: Eisner and Kirby at 100 58:58 All-Star Squadron Panel Dinner 1:12:02 Notes - Wounded Wolf, Simon & Kirby, Paul Grist, 2001 Cover Art: Hereos Con 2017 Program Guide by Mike Wieringo, Casey Jones, and Rico Renzi [1:16:26] - - - - -  

This CARTA symposium addresses the question of how human language came to have the kind of structure it has today, focusing on three sources of evidence. One source, which is discussed in these three talks, has to do with the ways languages get new structure not present in the language of the previous generation(s) of speakers or signers. Simon Kirby (Univ of Edinburgh) begins with an examination of Language Evolution in the Lab: The Emergence of Design Features, followed by Carmel O’Shannessy (Univ of Michigan) on Contact Languages and Light Warlpiri, and Ann Senghas (Barnard College) on Rethinking Recapitulation: Sources of Structure in Nicaraguan Sign Language. Series: "CARTA - Center for Academic Research and Training in Anthropogeny" [Humanities] [Science] [Show ID: 29393]

This CARTA symposium addresses the question of how human language came to have the kind of structure it has today, focusing on three sources of evidence. One source, which is discussed in these three talks, has to do with the ways languages get new structure not present in the language of the previous generation(s) of speakers or signers. Simon Kirby (Univ of Edinburgh) begins with an examination of Language Evolution in the Lab: The Emergence of Design Features, followed by Carmel O’Shannessy (Univ of Michigan) on Contact Languages and Light Warlpiri, and Ann Senghas (Barnard College) on Rethinking Recapitulation: Sources of Structure in Nicaraguan Sign Language. Series: "CARTA - Center for Academic Research and Training in Anthropogeny" [Humanities] [Science] [Show ID: 29393]

By realizing that cultural as well as biological evolution has a central role to play in the origins of language, Simon Kirby and his team have unlocked a method that allows them to observe the evolutionary emergence of language structure in miniature cultures that they have created in the lab. Series: "CARTA - Center for Academic Research and Training in Anthropogeny" [Humanities] [Science] [Show ID: 29397]

By realizing that cultural as well as biological evolution has a central role to play in the origins of language, Simon Kirby and his team have unlocked a method that allows them to observe the evolutionary emergence of language structure in miniature cultures that they have created in the lab. Series: "CARTA - Center for Academic Research and Training in Anthropogeny" [Humanities] [Science] [Show ID: 29397]

Captain America: The Winter Soldier is right around the corner and so the Talking Comics crew sits down with resident historian Bob Reyer to talk Steve Rogers. We take you from Simon + Kirby to Ed Brubaker and even discuss the greater meaning of Captain America as a symbol. We also find time to do books of the week which include All-New Ghost Rider, Silver Surfer, Sandman: Overture #2, Empowered, and Alex + Ada.

Professor Simon Kirby delivered his inaugural lecture entitled "The Language Organism: evolution, culture, and what it means to be human" on 22 March 2011.For my public Inaugural Lecture, I will be trying to give a broad accessible summary of the importance of some of the recent research in the LEC. Our species can do something utterly unique in the natural world - a behaviour so transformative that it has reshaped the mechanisms of our own evolution. We are able to take a novel thought and cause another person to share that thought simply by recombining sounds we learned to make as children. Virtually all species communicate, but only humans have this trick called Language. But where does this unique trait come from? How did it evolve? Why are we the only species that has it?Recorded 22 March 2011. Audio version.

What reason do we have for calling language evolution "the hardest problem in science", and how do we propose to solve it?