Teaching Compuuter Coding in Schools Could be Redundant

There is so much pressure on children to learn coding. Governments keep pumping money into new schemes. However, this could all be a waste of money. Remember when governments invested all that money into providing PCs to schools. Then the laptop came along and they had to change to making the new tech available. After this came tablets followed by large mobile phones. Chasing new technological developments is a fool's game.
Most parents don't want government money. They want to choose what their children "need" at at school. Years ago the Mac was pushed as the "must have" to do drawing work. It was encouraged for what is now called Graphics in school. It used to be called technical drawing or drafting. Schools adopted Autocad for Windows and Macs were redundant. Furthermore, PCs were the machine of choice in most schools for class work and at university
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There are many kinds of computer languages. Specializing in one leaves you in a corridor with no way out. Software programs are out there that get rid of the need for coding knowledge. Once written developers are only needed for maintenance. Any Tom, Dick or Mary can use the "What You See Is What You Get" programs.

Personally, I believe that the future does not lie in creating a population of coders. Really good entrepreneurial managers will always be needed. Coders need to be employed by someone else. Probably in a business started by an entrepreneur. The real problem is the lack of understanding in Maths. Let this go too far and you will have no coders and no entrepreneurs.
Science by Ty Buchanan
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Animal Likes a beer

"This is good stuff."
 
 ✴ Funny Animal Pictures by Ty Buchanan 
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Another Use for Fish Sperm

Pollution is a big problem, particularly from industry which pumps unwanted metals into the soil just about everywhere in the world. Getting rid of this had been an issue looking for a solution for decades. The answer could be at hand from a very weird source.

Fish sperm has a property making it ideal for the purpose. It literally hoovers up the metal particles. The sperm contains high amounts of DNA. This contains phosphate which strongly attracts metals. The metal/phosphate compound can be taken out with neodymium magnets consisting of trivalent iron, dysprosium and neodymium.

In Italy herring sperm was first identified as being useful in cleaning up the environment. With salmon being bred commercially, it is seen as a better source of fish sperm. The substance has been thrown away as waste until now.
Science by Ty Buchanan
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Monkey Moustache

"You've got a fine moustache there, Dad."
"I know, son."
 
 ✴ Funny Animal Pictures by Ty Buchanan 
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Sharks Struggle in Freshwater

Sharks may seem to be invincible, yet they have some significant weaknesses. While some dolphins succumb to their attacks, acting as a group they can kill a shark by ramming it. Sharks
also have to keep moving otherwise they die.
Now it has been discovered that fresh water is their enemy. They get dehydrated and cannot remain alert. Breeding is out of the question in non-salty water. A terrific battle for survival ensues as sharks continually keep sinking.

The reason for this is that sharks do not have air bladders. This "device" enables fish to swim at mid-depths. Sharks use their oily livers to stay afloat - very inefficient. They have to work 50 per cent harder when they leave the sea.

Freshwater species of shark have refined the evolution of their livers. The organs are flatter than their ocean cousins. There is a penalty for a flatter liver. A fatter body means a less sleek body which makes river and estuary species slower. Even with fatter livers, they live close to the bottom of the water.
Biology by Ty Buchanan
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Odd Dog

"What do you mean, I look odd?"
 
 ✴ Funny Animal Pictures by Ty Buchanan 
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Royal Gifts are Property of the People

The British Royal Family gets hundreds of gifts each year not only from heads of state but ordinary people as well. Gifts may be given in good heart. However, givers should know that the presents will never be owned by any member of the royal family. They remain the property of the people.

All manner of things are given. Food hampers, books, bowls, riding crops, coffee grinders, statues, model thrones, coins, beer, honey, toys, ski outfits, even boot scrapers and arrows.  The "Who's Who in Australia 2014".will come in real handy at the dinner table.

Just how the ownership system works is not clear. The Monarchy can use the objects, using them until they are worn out, yet they still remain property of the people. Get into them toys little George and have a real good time. You will never own them. Getting pleasure from them is your preserve.
Society by Ty Buchanan
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Cat Nagger

"You're always nagging. Wha, wha, wha, wha."
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 ✴ Funny Animal Pictures by Ty Buchanan 
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Australia's National Broadband Network is a Mess

Development of Australia's National Broadband Network (NBN) has been a disaster. Mismanagement by governments run by both major parties are at fault. The Coalition won office on the promise to clean up the mess and speed things up. Currently, the roll out is slowing down and it is still in a mess. Neither party knows how to manage a punch-up in a pub.
Australia is falling down the international ranking of broadband efficiency. Industry is waiting for it to be working Australia wide. Completion will probably be 2030. The technology will be superseded by then and the investment will be a waste of money.

There are pockets of users with fast broadband in the country. This is causing frustration and anger from those who cannot get it. Some people are actually buying houses in areas already covered. The poor miss out yet again.

The Coalition has been accused of bypassing Labor electorates. This is disgraceful behavior. Leaving wire connections from the node was bad enough. There is no doubt that since the election of the Liberal/National government construction has come to a standstill.

Australians move from anger to ridicule. It is seen as a joke. Telstra is laughing all the way to the bank though. The longer it goes on the more unearned income it gets.  The monopoly created by government and privatized is still a monopoly.

With the United States making the definition of broadband 25Mbps down instead of 4Mbps the technology cannot be classed as broadband internationally. Ninety nine percent of users will get something in the order of 20Mbps or less depending on the length of copper to their homes from the node.
Technology by Ty Buchanan
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Sheep Wants to Know

"Do you want something?"
 
 ✴ Funny Animal Pictures by Ty Buchanan 
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New Lizard Found in Australia

Something has been living out there without our knowledge. Yes, it could be called a monster - a very small one. It is in fact a new species of lizard. A team of scientists from the University of Adelaide has discovered a new kind of Varanus lizard.

It was found living in a remote part of the Dampier Peninsula in Western Australia. Consequently, it has named the Dampier Peninsula goanna (Varanus sparnus). There are now a total of 77 species of the "genus Varanus". Sparnus is the smallest found so far.

The lizard burrows under the ground beneath hard surface objects like stone and wood. Not much is known about its living habits because it moves very fast. The new species seems to be localized, existing only on the Dampier Peninsula. There are no doubt more currently unknown animals in the region.
Biology by Ty Buchanan
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Hair Cut Cow

"Get your hair cut!"
"What you say?"
 
 ✴ Funny Animal Pictures by Ty Buchanan 
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Elecric Cars are a Mistake

Adopting battery powered cars is the worst thing societies can do. It is just a transfer from dirty oil engines to dirty oil power station. Removal of carbon at power stations is talked about a lot. However, nothing has been achieved. Experiments have largely failed.

The distance barrier is still a problem for battery cars. To go more than two hundred miles requires an enormous battery, far to heavy to put in vehicles. Price is still an issue: there is little hope of a reduction even with mass production. Weak demand continues.

Planners are saying that the lack of battery "charge" centers is the main barrier. This is only secondary. Where does the capital come from to build them? Battery swap stations were established by the Electric Light Company to service a fleet of electric trucks a century ago. Buses in China get new batteries en route. The trucks disappeared and Chinese buses are government run.

Changing to a recharged battery is not cost effective. If you have to do this you may as well keep the petrol car. A charge-up at home is the only way to go. Long distance truckers will never adopt battery power. There is little torque in the powertrain, certainly not enough to transport heavy goods.
✴ Transport Transport by Ty Buchanan
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Bear Day


"What a day.  Do this. do that.  Go, go, go."
 
 ✴ Funny Animal Pictures by Ty Buchanan 
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Complacency and Support for Drug Taking is Dangerous


We are far too complacent about drug taking, assuming that we can just stop at any time. With alcohol use it is clear that this is not the case. Road breath tests frequently find no alcohol in a driver's system, but a drug test shows up positive. It seem that drugs can be substituted for alcohol. So it is wise not to take any drugs even as an experiment.

Drug addiction is not rare for the number of drug takers out there. Many think they can stop. They cannot. Even taking drugs regularly in the short term means withdrawal with occur. Furthermore, there is no know real cure apart from complete abstinence.

Not much is written about the health risks from drug taking. Many believe that smoking cannabis is completely safe. However, all the problems of smoking tobacco are possible.  All illicit drugs destroy the body.  Drugs are poison, just like alcohol.  Take them at your peril.

Another real issue is permanent damage in brain functioning that can affect national economies. Forgetfulness and lack of emotional control do not make for success in the workforce. Someone has to pay for supporting those who cannot function "correctly" in society.

Drug taking is destroying societies. Take an illegal drug once and you are hooked. You will come back to it when times get tough. People who take drugs are looking for a crutch. The truth is drug takers soon fall out of the workforce and can no longer contribute.
Science by Ty Buchanan
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