Python on Unicode etc.

This is from the latest python-dev summary.  It might be of interest
to folks considering how to store strings.
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* Adding .decode() method to Unicode * Marc-Andre Lemburg asked for
  opinions on adding a .decode method to unicode objects:

 http://mail.python.org/pipermail/python-dev/2001-June/015346.html

He certainly got them; the responses ranged from neutral to negative,
and there was a surprising amount of hostility in the air. The problem
(as ever in these matters) seems to be that Python currently uses the
same type for 8-bit strings and gobs of arbitrary data. Guido came to
the rescue and calmed everyone down:

  http://mail.python.org/pipermail/python-dev/2001-June/015404.html

since when discussion has vanished again.

• Python on Unicode etc. by Nathan Torkington