Wow, wow! Just reading this now. Thanks for the update and congrats.

Computer science terms? Very few - binary code, software, technology, telecommunications (which is not really Comp Sci).

I really don't expect virtual machine, object oriented programming, NP complete, or (gasp!) COBOL to show up.

A good tournament would not have PT sign in slots every 4 minutes! Maybe 10, but 12-15 is better. That allows the pair to come in, to ask any questions and get settled in. Then, the four minutes of the word list. After that, the pair leaves and the supervisors (two minimum, three better) have a coup...

Jeff's right... Do the right thing. SO rules state that the device needs to be made by someone(s) on the 15-person team. Not a parent, coach, or someone on another team in the same school.

Well, mosquitoes buzz, beetles click and chirp and buzz (lower than a skeeter's high pitched whine) and nutria (depending on source you read) make a sound like a cow or pig.

Had to face this a few times. I have four kids that have done or are doing SO. Kid #1: Did C as 9th grader Kid #2: Did C as an 8th grader (with 5 events) Kid #3: Did C as an 8th grader (again, 5 events) Kid #4: Doing B as 9th grader A lot of the determinants are based on individual situations (make ...

Right, we've got a few old "Type 2" glasses in our team box that just don't get used. Don't know where they came from... seems like it makes sense to just buy B's and C's and then tell the kids that anything is an A.

Makes more sense than the old system...

Not that you planned it this way, but it could be understood as...

A = average eye protection
B = blastworthy eye protection
C = chemical eye protection

Results are up at state site

One thing our PT team did was to look at the rules, identify what could be interpreted in different ways and then come up with a list of questions to ask the supervisor. They split them up, memorized them, and before competing asked their questions. It's also good to make sure that you are practicin...