Question: What are options for keeping as close to the python2 way of printing. 

```
>>> x1='hi'
>>> x2='there'
>>> print "Val1=%s Val2=%s" %(x1,x2)
  File "<stdin>", line 1
    print "%s" %x
             ^
SyntaxError: invalid syntax

```

It would not be necessary to mention : "lose your 'old' way of thinking and use the {} in python3." I *am* aware of the "blessed" python3 syntax, and given it is not in my estimation preferable, would like to see what other options exist.

thanks.

Answer: 
That is still valid syntax in python 3, but [print is no longer a statement](http://docs.python.org/3.0/whatsnew/3.0.html#print-is-a-function). It is a function, so you must put parentheses:

```
print("%s" % x) 

```
None. Avoid `print`/`print()` entirely if you want perfect compatibility.

```
sys.stdout.write('%s\n' % (x,))

```