Some problems with classes

[ssecorp]

Why/how is it possible to add variables like this? I don't understand
this mechanism:
http://docs.python.org/tut/node11.html#SECTION0011330000000000000000

class Employee:
    pass

john = Employee() # Create an empty employee record

# Fill the fields of the record
john.name = 'John Doe'
john.dept = 'computer lab'
john.salary = 1000

---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Also, I can't get multiple inheritance to work.

Don't mind that the a vegan obviously don't inherit from an animal and
a vegetable. I didn't come up with anything better, it is just to
learn about inheritance.


class Animal(object):
    def __init__(self, name, weight):
        self.name = name
        self.weight = weight

    def speak(self):
        print "speak"

class Vegetable(object):
    def __init__(self, name, volume):
        self.name = name
        self.volume = volume

    def split(self):
        print "tjoff"

class Vegan(Animal, Vegetable):
    #pass
    def __init__(self, name, attacks):
        self.name = name
        self.attacks = attacks

>>>

Traceback (most recent call last):
  File "C:/Python25/Progs/XXXX/Movie.py", line 42, in <module>
    class ActionComedy(Movie, ActionMovie):
TypeError: Error when calling the metaclass bases
    Cannot create a consistent method resolution
order (MRO) for bases Movie, ActionMovie
>>>


also, when inheriting, can I inherit __init__() somehow? If I want the
same attributes but perhaps some additional methods for example.