Martin v. Löwis wrote:
> Martin v. Löwis added the comment:
> 
> Ok. This is not a bug, but by design. unicode(X)==unicode(str(X)) for
> most things, and str(X)==repr(X) for most things. repr(None)=='None',
> hence the result you see. Closing as invalid.
> 
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> 
> ----------
> resolution:  -> invalid
> status: open -> closed
> 
> __________________________________
> Tracker <report@bugs.python.org>
> <http://bugs.python.org/issue1308>
> __________________________________
> 

OK, thanks Martin.

Now that I think about it, I do understand.

My difficulty (and source of my surprise) was in mistakenly thinking of
unicode() as performing a string translation operation (that is, an
operation on strings).

I would now say that it is better thought of as a representation
function quite parallel to the str() function.

With that mindset, there is no surprise.

Thanks again, for your prompt attention and useful replies.

Regards,
..jim