How i built this package.
from here https://wiki.debian.org/Python/Packaging
pip install stdeb (in the virtualenv) python setup.py --command-packages=stdeb.command debianize cp LICENSE debian/copyright sudo apt-get install devscripts debuild
follow the "python application" instructions at python packaging:
edit the control file edit the rules file create the links file rename the script in setup.py build it with debuild install it
now for the panel applet stuff.
http://www.lshift.net/blog/2012/02/29/making-panel-applets-for-gnome-2-and-3/