coding style - assert vs self.assert* vs self.assert_ in tests, which is it?
going through the code , i ran a few grep counts on the tree:

<table>
  <tr>
    <th>grep regexp</th><th>count</th>
  </tr>
  <tr><td>self.assertSomething()</td><td>1617</td> </tr>
  <tr><td>self.assert_() </td><td>2122</td>  </tr>
  <tr><td>assert()</td><td>407</td>  </tr>
</table>


This might be a non-issue, but consistent is often nicer.

also:
/usr/lib/python2.7/unittest/case.py:592

```
# Synonyms for assertion methods
# The plurals are undocumented.  Keep them that way to discourage use.
# Do not add more.  Do not remove.
# Going through a deprecation cycle on these would annoy many people.
[...]
assert_ = assertTrue
```
