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Comment Elevated Levels? (Score 1) 133

To say something is elevated means that there was something lower. Do these scientists have samples of honey from before the U.S. government started testing nuclear bombs? If not, then this is a non-issue. If American honey is more radioactive than, say, British honey, that is still a non-issue. How do we know that honey from the eastern United States in the 1930s didn't not have more cesium then British honey then?

Comment Off-site and on-site (Score 1) 283

Every [certain day of the week] I bring my (personally owned) 1 TB Toshiba USB drive home from work. That evening, I plug in the 1 TB drive and turn on my NAS. I run a batch file in Windows, which runs SyncBack, backing up certain folders to both drives. It operates through the night. In the morning, I turn off my NAS, and unplug the Toshiba 1 TB drive, and take the 1TB drive to work. I leave it there until [certain day of the week] next week.

Comment Who is pushing the campaign? (Score 1) 310

I've heard this campaign, too. From what I can remember, it was pushed by Facebook, Apple, Google, Microsoft, or any similar tech company. Follow the money. If those companies are pushing it, it will only serve them. The fact is none of those companies exist for the sole purpose of benefiting society. Ultimately, their bottom line is the bottom line.

I agree with requiring CS/programming class(es) in high school (because those that aren't interested in it will be just as uninterested in it whether they take the class or not--such as when I took required biology in high school), but it is too young at 4, 5, or 6. Electronics, biology, chemistry, physics, foreign languages, etc. are typically not taught at that age, so why teach programming?

Comment Sure...whatever (Score 1) 224

I used to be against mandatory computer programming classes in high school. I felt like Facebook, Google, Micrsoft, etc. were trying to "stack the deck." I still feel that way. But since I was reminded that chemistry, physics, and foreign-language classes are mandatory when many kids won't choose those career fields, I have decided that I don't have a problem with mandatory computer science classes.

My reasons:
1. I have two daughters who couldn't care less about engineering, math, science, and computers, though I have exposed them to it many times. (I am an electrical engineer with programming experience.)
2. Those who want to pursue it will already have delved into it years before. (I was exposed to a 60-in-1 Radio Shack electronics kit when I was 8 years old. I dove in head-first by myself. Similar timing for programming.)
3. People whose interests are not already in STEM fields aren't likely to change. (For example, in college I needed a fine art class. I chose Jazz Appreciation. Guess what? I don't esteem jazz any more than I did previously--maybe even less so.)

Admittedly, my example refer to me, but it is I that I know the best and that I am most aware of. :-) And I agree, I am generalizing.

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