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Comment California High schools are doing it wrong.. (Score 2, Interesting) 564

Wow.. this article makes me sad. I graduated from High school in 2009, and took all 4 years of computer science electives. The courses i took however were not "typing" or learning little HTML scripts. The first year we learned how to build a computer from ground up, installation of operating systems, and basic soldering skills. Second year we learned about setting up networks, configuring modems and routers and even learned how to create our own Cat5 cables. Third year was mostly about PC Troubleshooting, more advanced electronics principles, and reading schematics. for our final exam we had to read a schematic and build a radio on the component level. Fourth year the instructor wanted us to branch out and learn about computer science subjects that most interested us. We had to choose our subject, make weekly reports on what we have found and learned and demonstrate our understandings of the concept. There were only 6 of us to make it to year 4 but we all ended up doing something different. While I chose Linux and programming as my focus, we had robotics, web design, computer repair, network administration etc.. etc.. The funny thing is, I went to a regular public school in a small town of Georgia... You would think if a great HS CS education could be had here, California surely would go way above and beyond.
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How Sperm Whales Offset Their Carbon Footprint 150

Boy Wunda writes "Scientists at Flinders University in South Australia found that in an awesome example of design by Mother Nature, Southern Ocean sperm whales offset their carbon footprint by simply defecating – an action that releases tons of iron a year and stimulates the growth of phytoplankton which absorb and trap carbon dioxide. If only we humans could say the same for our poop, which really doesn't do much more than just sit there." I'm going to do my part by buying some iron supplements and a can of chili, and heading off toward the ocean.
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Study Shows Monkeys Like Watching TV 103

According to a Japanese study, monkeys are not immune to the siren call of the idiot box. It seems rhesus monkeys enjoy watching videos of circus animals. From the article: "The study found that when the monkey was witnessing the acrobatic performances of circus animals on a television screen, the frontal lobe area of its brain became vigorously active. The activity in such an area was significant in reflecting the monkey's pleasure, as the human equivalent is a neurological area associated with triggering delight in a baby when it sees the smile of its mother."

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