Suppressing banner on interactive startup? [SOLVED]

[Tim Chase]

>> 1) is there a way to suppress the banner when starting Python 
>> interactively?  [...]
>>
>> 2) is there a way to change the two prompts from ">>>" and "..." 
>> to other options?  [...]
> 
> I noticed that the first part of your query was never answered.
> To combine both of these, try the following (modified to taste):
> 
> python -ic 'import sys; sys.ps1="$ "; sys.ps2="> "'

Yes, you are correct...while I got an answer to the second half, 
I never heard anything about the first half, so I just assumed 
there was no way as simple as this.  Your answer worked like a 
charm, and makes my Text-To-Speech tool all the better.  Thanks!

-tkc