TechTest2015 Survivors’ Breakfast

George Rebane

Thought I’d inject a little braggadocio for some of our county’s STEM elite young people.  This morning we celebrated the winners of the TechTest2015 at the annual TechTest Survivors’ Breakfast held at Tofanelli’s in Grass Valley.  TT2015 was the ninth presentation of this grueling four-hour merit scholarship exam (which you can inspect or try your hand at here) given on 11 April 2015.   The test sponsored by the Sierra Economics and Science Foundation with its scholarship fund counting among its contributors Nevada City Rotary Club, Telestream, Riskalyze, Nevada County Republican Women Federated, and various private individuals.

SESF ED Russ Steele opened our little feast attended by test takers and their parents.  Director Mike McDaniel was the master of ceremonies, and NUHS physics teacher John McDaniel, who heads the TechTest Academic Committee that administers and grades the test, gave some pithy insights as to how this year's test takers attacked various problems.  As SESF Director of Research, it is my privilege to write the test and conduct the winter preparatory seminars for test takers.  The top three scores were earned by Casper Hendrickson, Aaron Van Doren, and Ryan Crenshaw pictured on the right.  On the left wearing their Survivors’ t-shirts are the other scholarship winners attending the breakfast (save the chubby old guy on the end).  Again it was a lively and festive affair with everyone sharing their plans for further study and careers.  Hats go off to the parents for raising this outstanding crop of arrows that we now launch into our country’s future.

And for completeness, TechTestJr2015 will be given tomorrow at NUHS to eighth graders from various county middle schools.  This exam intends to motivate the younger students to take STEM subjects in high school.  Also sponsored by SESF, it is now in its fourth year.  It awards prizes for high scorers consisting of electronics and other technology related kits for assembly and study. 

Comments

[Gregory]

Congrats to all the kids and old guys who signed on for work and studies no one was requiring of them.

It's been 8 years since the first tech test... keeping some note of where the kids have gone and what they're doing could be inspiring.

[George Rebane]

Gregory 456pm - Thank you Gregory. Great minds and all that, we are planning a get together of TechTest Survivors of all years past to see who has gone where and done what. For all of us at SESF it has truly been a privilege to work with these young people as they launch their careers. I will report, stay tuned.

[Russ Steele]

Gregory@4:56PM

I can tell you something about two winners. The first is a young lady who was a second place winner in the first TechTest, She did not have any plans to attend college. Her parents wanted her to find a boy and get married, she said. A board member mentored her, creating an intership in his office so she could attend Sierra College. She completed two year at SC and enrolled at Sac State in engineering. Last year she gradated as a civil engineer and found a job in the testing lab at a concrete pipe company in Rocklin.

The second winner graduated from Bear River and went to Berkeley and was chosen as a Rhodes Scholar and is currently in England studying micro-biology if I remember correctly.

I would like to know more about all of our winners.

[Michael R. Kesti]

Hats off, too, to SESF. Many talk about making a difference but SESF makes a difference. TechTest is easily the most significant contribution to local education made by those outside of the educational establishment.

[Ben Emery]

This is the first time I didn't recognize one of the participants. Kudos for the tech test and giving incentives for young minds to push their limits.

[Gregory]

An NU kid who didn't manage to take the very first techtest is now a Harvard PhD candidate in theoretical chemical physics, and a Bear River kid who didn't manage to take the tt four years later is now graduating from Mudd in Chemistry and entering MIT this Fall for a PhD program.

A wider techtest net to enrich more of the upper and lower ends might be a good thing and catching the preparatory seminars on youtube videos might be one way to increase the testing pool. Personally, I cringe at the "where the elite compete" tagline, and that could be a turnoff to some of the kiddies. Something like "Where all may compete" is a more egalitarian message, and the creme rising to the top doesn't have to be stated, all know that's what tests do.

More kids like that girl who is now a practicing civil engineer rather than just being barefoot and pregnant is a good thing, not that a smart young woman getting married and having kids isn't also a good thing... it generally takes a smart mom to give birth to and raise smart children. Doing both is even better.

[George Rebane]

Gregory 1203pm - thanks for the thoughts. As our scholarship funds grow, we will increase the outreach. Right now we're operating at about $15K per year.

It's good to cringe at 'where the elite compete'. Elitism in various skill domains is a laudable, albeit politically incorrect, goal. TT is a merit scholarship test where only the score counts. It is definitely not an exercise in self-esteem nor is it meant for everyone. Hopefully, it will re-establish the notion of laudatory elitism in the young people's minds. It most certainly has done that to the students and parents who have attended our Survivors' Breakfasts over the years.

In my career, I and my peers were considered among the elite in our professions, but we never felt that way ourselves. In fact, all of our lives we were constantly studying when not inventing, always insecure that we knew enough. I understand the Horowitzes, Perlmans, Mas, and Cliburns continued to practice many hours a day in order to remain among the elite of their professions. A humbling dose of self-doubt motivates one to keep working in order to achieve and then remain in the ranks of the elite.

In today's permissive educational environment that emphasizes 'Good job!' self-esteem, TechTest is a bit of early reality that we hope will keep on giving as our young people go on to college and careers.

[Gregory]

George, you don't need more scholarship monies to get more kids to decide to participate, and there is plenty of time *after* graduating from high school to decide if you're in the elite, or not.

Ben, that's because you're blind.

[Gregory]

Perhaps a better counter than my 12:31 harkens back to my 12:03... there's a couple of the meritorious arguably elites who passed tech test by on their way to the elites of the elites. Why? Bring as many as you can to the lessons, to the test. Let the learning be the reward, the test itself be the sieve. And, not to belabor the obvious, even the best of the best can have a bad day.

This is for Russ... the hard core (dare I say "elite") in math and the physical sciences tend to see civil engineering as almost engineering, and microbiology (one word) as almost science, but do see both as valuable.

[George Rebane]

Gregory 0100pm - "Let the learning be the reward, ..." An interesting viewpoint, one that speaks of another kind of elitism. The school from where I and mine come rewards little for the (often painful) learning that one has gone through, but rewards only subsequently demonstrated performance - whether learned or bestowed by an angel of the Lord. And it appears that today's private sector workplace has now adopted that more broadly and in spades - testing the prospective employee on what they know and can do rather than basing acceptance on certificates of (joyful?) learning. TechTest tests what one can do, and based on that bestows a true feeling of accomplishment.

[Gregory]

" TechTest tests what one can do, and based on that bestows a true feeling of accomplishment."

And it is being taken by a fraction of the kids you are trying to reach.

[George Rebane]

Gregory 132pm - While we would like to see more kids taking it, your diagnosis of why that isn't so misses the mark. There are many factors involved which we continue to work on. For TT2016 we should do better since our academic coordinator will have more time to get the word out. But the size of the scholarship fund, and its scheduled time in the spring of the senior year present challenges. While we want the students to have as much math as possible under their belts, but pushing the date closer to May makes us compete with a full calendar of events that occur at the end of the senior year. But make no mistake about it, the kids are taking the test for the money, and not to demonstrate what joys they may or not have had in learning their stuff. In every school, that has naturally pruned turnout as test takers see who will or not take the test as the date nears. The ten $300 honoraria are a big draw. With more money we would have more award tiers, higher top scholarships, and bigger draw.

[Gregory]

With Common Core, expect math skills to be dwindling. Here's a remarkable admission from Stanford's Jo Boaler, professor, PhD Math Education:

"Given her childhood was during what she calls the "progressive era"
for math education, Boaler was never forced to even memorize her times
tables—and still does not know them all by heart to this day. "I have
number sense, which we know is much more important," she explained. "I
have a feel for numbers and can work them out quickly." For instance,
in computing 7 x 8, she does 80 (or 8 x 10) minus 24 (or 8 x 3)."

One might be encouraged that Common Core has been rejected by State Superintendent Torlakson, except that he isn't rejecting the Common Core but is now going to call them the California Standards because people get upset by his references to Common Core.
http://www.cde.ca.gov/nr/el/le/yr15ltr0429.asp

[George Rebane]

Gregory 206pm - Holy sh!t! what a way to multiply 7x8; and this is what our kids will have to endure for the rest of their lives? Please keep us informed of the Common Core Camouflage Campaign. (Edited at the behest of fellow commenter to improve this comment's rating to GP-13.)

[Gregory]

Mr. Rebane, language, please! :)

My remark to my favorite ed listserver was "Absolutely f-ing unbelievable. Pardon my French."

Ms. Boaler is a major player in the Common Core space, especially the wretchedly misnamed "Smarter Balanced" testing that goes with the territory. Here's a link to the story:
http://blogs.edweek.org/edweek/curriculum/2015/05/professor_stop_math_memorization.html

[Gregory]

Sorry, the piece with the quote is on a page linked by the edweek story:
http//hechingerreport.org/memorizers-are-the-lowest-achievers-and-other-common-core-math-surprises/

[Ben Emery]

Greg G. always has a kind word for everyone. George you should feel lucky to have such a special person participate on your blog.

[Gregory]

3:53
What a Ben Emery thing to say! Thank you for sharing that personal dig, Ben.

Ben, when you write a snotty backhanded complement like your first post, you should expect to get the same energy tossed back.

[Russ Steele]

TechTestKr2015

TechTest Jr was successfully completed this morning in the NU Science theater. Sixteen 7th and 8th graders participated in the examination and took home some science related prizes. It was an even mix of male and female students. The ladies all arrived early and the young men straggled in at the last minute.

The top two prizes were claimed by young ladies, the Quadcopters being a big hit with number one and number two. They never paused to look at the robots, the electronic snap kits, or the microprocessors. Of the seven prizes awarded five went to young ladies, a mix of robots and microprocessor kits.

Mount St Mary’s won the participation prize again this year with the highest participation rate. Last year was the first time the participation prize was awarded.

The two largest middle schools did not participate in this brain bending contest. The lack of participation continues to baffle David Pistone and I. We advertised the contest in the schools bulletins and posters on the information boards. There were no Seven Hills winners this year, having dominated last three years. They maybe missing Mr Sharp who was a strong promoter of TechTest.

While we were waiting for the young men to arrive I asked the ladies how they like Common Core. The universal response was “I hate it” “STAR testing was much better,” said one young lady.

[Jeff Pelline]

Just my two cents, but if I was a working parent in our community with a talented child in school, and I read this blog, I would be leery about participating in this "competition." Even more so when I read that the students are being "interviewed" about Common Core. It has nothing to do with the supposed "mission." My concern would be that this is political ideology masquerading as a "good deed." Might want to back off mixing politics with education.

[Jon]

Ben said- "This is the first time I didn't recognize one of the participants. Kudos for the tech test and giving incentives for young minds to push their limits".

Gregory, how this was snotty and backhanded? I would think an apology to Ben is in order, for ripping into that sincere commment. Your historical ratio of insults and disdain directed toward Ben is unnatural. Why is he such a target? He is the most honest, sincere people I've ever come across.

[Jon]

person...

[George Rebane]

re JeffP's 1017pm - Well, I guess it is settled then. Any critique of CC is a critique of progressive education which naturally must come from the Right. Ergo, the Left admits that CC is a seminally politicized educational scheme from the gitgo. However, let the record show that RussS's "interview" was a non-partisan question IF one still claims that CC is an ideologically neutral approach to education.

[Gregory]

"This is the first time I didn't recognize one of the participants"

Give it some thought, "Jon".

[Gregory]

"While we were waiting for the young men to arrive I asked the ladies how they like Common Core."

Russ, how could you ask such a hostile question? Thank goodness we have the FUE to keep the hard right in line...

[Barry Pruett]

I was amazed by all of the children at TT jr. Well spoken and very, very bright youngsters. One of the kids programs in three languages, but would prefer theoretical physics as a career over computer science. Just listening to him, you could tell that he is incredibly bright. Weimar's participants are impressively bright also. Good job Dave and Russ. It is a wonderful thing for our local youth to be awarded for intellectual ability.

[Barry Pruett]

I had to get to the keyboard for this one. The little one from Weimar that won TT Jr. speaks to languages (English and Swedish). The boy that came in third was very articulate, looked you in the eye, and programmed in three languages. The boy that came in third went straight for the Arduino. I was completely impressed with the children. One child, a seventh grader, cried that she did not place. Afterwards, I spoke with her and her mother and explained that if you take out all of the eighth graders, she would have been in second. I encouraged her to come back when all of the pesky eighth graders are in high school. The glass is always half full. Clearly some of the brightest minds in the county. Again, thanks Russ and Dave.

[Jeff Pelline]

Thanks Barry. Of course you're also a "board member" of this group, which is overt in advancing some pretty extreme political views. It is hardly an apolitical group. I wonder if it's time for the "Sierra Economics and Science Foundation" to revisit its mission statement.

[Russ Steele]

JeffP@10;17PM

It was not an interview, it was a simple straight forward question that I ask my grandkids, and any other young people I meet. I am just interested in how Common Core is being received by students. I did not share my opinion with the students. I also asked the whole group if they watch TED Talk videos? Again, just interested in how young people view our world.

[Russ Steele]

Barry,

Thanks for your help on TTJr yesterday. Dave and I appreciate your timely assistance.

[fish]

Might want to back off mixing politics with education.

Why....? Oh yeah...that's the lefts turf....silly me!

[George Rebane]

JeffP 801am - Pelline, I am absolutely amazed at your attacks on SESF scholarship works, and your determination to paint these volunteer efforts to motivate and reward young people in their academics as an enterprise to proselytize a political ideology. There apparently is nothing beneath you, including your blatant lies that SESF is a politically motivated organization (present any shred of evidence that SESF overtly, or otherwise, advances any "extreme political views"). I do believe you to be a low-life, and an exemplar of everything that is wrong with America.

[Todd Juvinall]

Things must be slow over on the Pelline site. He usually comes to our blogs to stir it up in an attempt to get viewers. He is a troll and that is why no one likes him.

[Barry W. Pruett]

I discussed the very partisan and ideologically extreme website "Khan Academy" with one of the students! Only a tool could make a math test ideologically extreme.

Question: "If one side of a triangle has a length of 12 and another side has a length of 10, what is the maximum length of the third side?"

Answer: Global warming...errr...Common Core.

Jeff, you really need to let that hatred go and try to see the good in folks.

[fish]

Posted by: Barry W. Pruett | 17 May 2015 at 09:09 AM

Start the countdown to jeffy attempting to live off past "triumphs" by reminding you of your election loss.

[Jeff Pelline]

Rebane,
You're kidding, right? The drumbeat of SESF in our community is all about promoting the hard-right political agenda — anti government, anti global warming, anti Common Core. Some of the "research" has been debunked: http://sierrafoothillsreport.com/2012/03/02/county-cites-erroneous-methodology-in-column-by-a-ses-foundation-board-member/
There have been some unfortunate "bookkeeping" issues too: http://sierrafoothillsreport.com/2012/02/21/state-ag-to-ses-foundation-accounting-dates-were-wrong-for-five-years/

As for "Tech Test", there are plenty of academic programs/scholarships for our youth that are truly apolitical: from Galileo programs at the Tech Museum of Innovation in San Jose, Academic Talent Search at Sacramento State, to the youth programs in engineering at UNR, etc. I am not aware that any of them are quizzing students (or the "young ladies," to use Russ' words) about Common Core during the testing period.

You have a great opportunity to advance academics in our community but need square that with your political messaging.

[Gregory]

Jeff, I know a number of "Jewish liberal professors" who are against Common Core and aren't particularly on board with climate alarmism, either. Your problem, besides your head not being where it can get sunlight, is that being gung ho for Common Core and for climate alarmism pretty much requires being hard core left liberal, so much so as to be litmus tests.

Common Core Math is whole math, take two, and discovery math has failed wherever it has been tried. Now the true believers, with $200 million+ of Bill Gates' cash, got it rolled out nationwide, after hiring some of the same folks who tanked California math education in the '90's. This time, it's really gonna hurt.

[fish]

Posted by: Jeff Pelline | 17 May 2015 at 09:20 AM

So all you can inject into the discussion about a science/academic competition is an issue about pension liabilities from a guy who is interested in both issues?

That's it?

[Jeff Pelline]

Gregory,
Debate the issues, not the people. You're a grown up now.

[fish]

Posted by: Jeff Pelline | 17 May 2015 at 10:05 AM

Great big fat pot meet kettle.......

[Todd Juvinall]

So my take away from Pelline's concerns are that he is for global warming, for big government and for Common Core. Got it. I would appear he is really outside the mainstream.

[Jeff Pelline]

As always, no discussion on this blog would be complete without the wisdom of "fish" (David Larsen of Carmichael). The same guy who wrote this: http://www.ncc-1776.org/tle2011/tle603-20110116-02.html
LOL.

[Jeff Pelline]

Or Todd Juvinall, who misspelled "breathe" when he created his political blog, but didn't realize that correcting the title to read "Sierra Dragon's Breath" still left his "breathe" exposed on the URL: sierradragonsbreathe.blogspot.com/ ROFLOL.

[Todd Juvinall]

Wow! Pelline has lost his noggin again. What a hoot! I am headed for some chili cheese fries. LOL!

[Jeff Pelline]

I suspect Todd kept trying to delete the letter "e" from blog's URL, hoping it would somehow disappear. ROFLOL.

[Gregory]

Here's a freshly lost election for a school board in Massachusetts:
http://www.masslive.com/news/index.ssf/2015/05/wilbraham_1.html

The Common Core loving chairman came in 3rd in a field of 4.

Yes, Jeff, I'm a grown up. Now it's your turn to get there... those were the issues and you're the master of the ad hominem here. You choose not to actually discuss climate science (with a bachelors degree in rhetoric and a masters in fooling all of the people some of the time, I can't blame you for not taking that one on), and you've punted every time on Common Core. Let's give the latter a chance with a simple proposition:

Do you deny that Common Core math is essentially the same as the whole math of the early '90's?

That's easy, Jeff. Honestly answerable yes or no.

[George Rebane]

Re JeffP's 920pm - for the critical reader I draw attention to this pitiful attempt to give evidence that SESF fosters a political ideology. This man sheds new light on what it means to be 'beyond ignorant'.

[Jeff Pelline]

That's easy, Gregory. No.
But let's get back to the issue at hand: quizzing the kiddos about Common Core instead of just being a SESF "Tech Test" proctor.

[Todd Juvinall]

George there is no ryhme or reason in Pelline's spewing his venom. He is the reason why "journalism" is so low on the totem pole of trust. But he does supply the "jesters" role here.

Regarding the "e" on the end of the URL on my blog that seems to make Pelline wet his pants. Who cares. When you Google the blog name comes up for all to see and the URL is not important. Anyway, the "e" makes it a plural. What a hoot!

[Todd Juvinall]

While SESF is trying to better American education, Pelline and Frisch are discussing "paddle boating" on Tahoe. You just can't make this stuff up.

[fish]

Posted by: Jeff Pelline | 17 May 2015 at 10:14 AM

Yes jiffy....you've posted that link many times....I stand by what I wrote to your melon-headed former colleague. The one who thought that guns had no value because "they couldn't teach children to read". That's the quality of thought that I've come to associate with the SF Examiner/Chronicle/SFGate stables of scribblers.

And you were their coffee boy....

[Gregory]

So, we pass the first question, Common Core Math is essentially the same as the whole math of the '90's. Mathland, the darling of the Grass Valley School District in 1995, resulted in my son's cohort at Hennessey School dismally failing the first STAR testing, with half the kids in the bottom quartile. Alta Sierra School, which dropped Mathland like a hot potato in favor of Saxon Math a month or two into that cohort's first grade year, essentially tested all their kids of that class into the top two quartiles.

Does Jeff deny that? Feel free to check out the results at star.cde.ca.gov if you feel a need.

[Jeff Pelline]

Gee George,
Positions on Prop. 23:
http://sesf.typepad.com/my_weblog/2010/10/tech-note-tn1010-1-proposition-23-the-impact-on-nevada-county.html
Letters to CABPRO:
http://sesf.typepad.com/my_weblog/2008/06/letter-submitte.html
Links to CATO Unbound:
http://sesf.typepad.com
CATO was founded as the Charles Koch Foundation in 1974
I can't imagine where this impression comes from! LOL.

[Jeff Pelline]

"fish," (David Larsen of Carmichael)
I was a reporter and editor at The Chronicle for 12 years, not a "coffee boy." Why can't you debate like a grown up?
And yup, you wrote this: http://www.ncc-1776.org/tle2011/tle603-20110116-02.html

[fish]

Posted by: George Rebane | 17 May 2015 at 10:35 AM

I suppose that jeffy is correct in that the prop 23 link probably could have been posted elsewhere. Still it is the Sierra Economics and Science Foundation......

Is there an inherent conflict in discussing economics issues and sponsoring science competitions?

[Jeff Pelline]

BTW, here's what SESF reports publicly:
http://www.eri-nonprofit-salaries.com/index.cfm?FuseAction=NPO.Summary&EIN=770408400&Cobrandid=0

[fish]

Posted by: Jeff Pelline | 17 May 2015 at 11:13 AM

A grown up can restrain himself from posting the same link over and over again. Is that what coffee boys....errr... trained newsman are told to do.......repeat, repeat, repeat....in lieu of providing substantive new information? Yes...I told old what's his name I thought he was a dunderhead....much like I openly tell you that I think you are a dunderhead.

Further, I've seen little evidence that you're anything other than a whiny twelve year old girl in a 500 lb "mans" body....get back to me when you qualify!

[fish]

Posted by: Jeff Pelline | 17 May 2015 at 11:23 AM

Wow....a regular "Tides Foundation" or "Open Society". Russ hasn't even botheedr trying to fund a lavish lefty limousine liberal lifestyle on the SES funds like those others mentioned.

Somebody should inform him that saving the world with OPM deserves to be "richly" rewarded!

Nefarious....oh so nefarious!

[Barry Pruett]

Scholarships to high school math wizards is oh so ideological. Someone needs to let go of their hate and anger. No wonder Pelline was canned at The Union. Such venomous hatred and anger has no place in this wonderful community or at our community newspaper. The level of Pelline's anger never ceases to amaze me, but thankfully, the community at large rejects his extreme leftist ideology.

[Don Bessee]

What is that SMELL! OH. He who's name we will not say has trolled over from the sandbox. 'Debate the issues not the people...' You can not talk about me like that you bullies, I am the only one who can slime people for their beliefs or if they debate better than me! That shows the level of narcissistic myopia that rules his life.

[Barry Pruett]

The next thing you know our work with the Drew Reynolds Softball Tournament will be tagged as "extremely ideological" because the money is donated to aiding those with substance abuse issues. Tool.

[Todd Juvinall]

What fascinates me about liberals, extremist liberals like Pelline is his blindness. He makes up and condemns a private foundations scholarship for math claiming there is a political bias and totally refuses to do the same with public schools. Those public schools are filled with unionized teachers who teach our young minds full of mush and inculcate them with liberal mumbo-jumbo. And rather than even admit that truth, he sends his own kid to private schools! My goodness, he must have a lot of conflicts going on in that noggin. And the best he can do is point out the "e"should not be on the end of the URL on my blog! You just can't make this insanity of Pelline's up!

[Jeff Pelline]

Barry,
You always resort to personal attacks, innuendo, lies and pettiness rather than addressing the substance of the debate. It is why you have failed in politics (losing the clerk-recorder's race in every precinct, along with another small-town election in northwest Indiana), and I suspect, it explains a "career path" that is all over the map. This is a discussion about SEFS's stated mission, as reported to the community and the IRS and whether its political messaging undermines that.

[fish]

Posted by: Jeff Pelline | 17 May 2015 at 11:58 AM

Jeez jeffy.....if you think that Barry argues in this fashion then you two should be the best of buds...... the ad hominem is your stock-in-trade.

[Barry Pruett]

Only in your mind...only in your mind. Geez. I love Jeff Ackerman.

[Jeff Pelline]

Oh, and here's Don Bessee joining the thread! Look at the list of commentators here: Pruett, Bessee, Juvinall, Rebane, Goodnight, Steele and David Larsen of Carmichael. All like-minded political ideologues, not exactly a cross-section of the diversity of our community. Thanks for proving my point.

[Jeff Pelline]

Barry,
Oh, the dreaded "Jeff Ackerman" card. I even outlasted Jeff Ackerman, who lives in Roseburg, Ore. ROFLOL.

[fish]

Look at the list of commentators here: Pruett, Bessee, Juvinall, Rebane, Goodnight, Steele and David Larsen of Carmichael. All like-minded political ideologues, not exactly a cross-section of the diversity of our community. Thanks for proving my point.

You know what's really funny jeffy...."jon" has been all over these threads for the last few days.....but when "Mr. Post as Your Real Name" shows up to debate "jon" simply disappears.

Hmmmmm? Where do he go....?

Maybe he's hanging out with Gloria, Annie and Bruiser?!

[George Rebane]

fish 1114am - Actually, Pelline again is very incorrect. AB32 and Prop23's attempted rectification of that legislative atrocity were non-partisan issues. But those nuances of truth are beyond the abilities of yellow journalism to capture. SESF took a stand on the matter from an economic perspective consistent with our mission, which stand time has now vindicated.

Question for the critical reader - for what possible point was Pelline seeking proof with the citations in his 1204pm? That this comment thread has no other leftists joining in speaks only to the hateful and delusional positions among which Pelline's arguments wander. RR serves as an unmatched forum for debates among people of diverse ideologies and viewpoints.

[Barry Pruett]

You still have not answered the question to your debate. How is a math test ideological? Face it. You are a extreme leftwing political activist posing as a "journalist" who seeks to destroy rather than create. You attack those who work for the betterment of our community, and as a result, you are not at The Union.

How is a math test ideological? The mere mention of such proposition is the most ridiculous proposition that I have ever heard you utter...and that is certainly saying a lot because you have put some wingdingers out there.

[fish]

Posted by: George Rebane | 17 May 2015 at 12:08 PM

I hesitate to hurl the conflict of interest charges because I've wound up wrong so often. Still, as mentioned earlier, it is the Sierra Economics and Science foundation. I suppose that something with as great potential impact as AB32/Prop 32is legitimate fodder for discussion!

[Barry Pruett]

One would think, but if such discussion goes against the extreme leftist ideology of the former editor of The Union...

[Don Bessee]

Uh Oh Dr. R., the dark lord of liberal lament land is accusing you of having a segregated blog. Protests and law suit to follow? There he goes again applying standards on others he fails to meet in his liberal lament land. What is really interesting is that he still thinks anyone listens other than for the giggles he inadvertently generates. The level of narcissism displayed by his need to post on a blog that actually has traffic is sad. Almost as sad as the sock puppets.

[Todd Juvinall]

It is true that Pelline practices "yellow journalism" here. After he was booted from the Union (an I heard things that would curl your hair why) Pelline decided to attack all those he believes were responsible. He is truly a troll on these pages as he comes here to flap his jaws and incite. It is true liberal theater from him. Also, all his commenters seem to be extremist liberals. Maybe he could list them and tell the readers why? What a hoot!

[fish]

Question for the critical reader - for what possible point was Pelline seeking proof with the citations in his 1204pm? That this comment thread has no other leftists joining in speaks only to the hateful and delusional positions among which Pelline's arguments wander. RR serves as an unmatched forum for debates among people of diverse ideologies and viewpoints.

That no other leftists have joined in is probably as simple as the fact that it's a Sunday afternoon and baseball is on. When jeffy finds himself on his heels in a discussion he often clumps his opponents and their arguments into a ball, declares, "see I was right", or "thanks for making my point" and departs the field.

It's the "grown up" equivalent to grabbing his ball and stomping off Cartman like for home!

[Jeff Pelline]

A math test is not supposed to be ideological but you have managed to make it that way, because you are political activists masquerading as test proctors. You can't help yourselves, so you quiz the kiddos about Common Core while they're trying to take a math test.

This is the same outfit that advocates for Prop. 23, links to CATO, posts position papers to CABPRO, etc. I have been a "decline to state" voter who has voted for Republicans and Democrats over the years.

By contrast, Pruett has written: "The only way I can fight back is to never vote for a Democrat." http://www.nwitimes.com/news/opinion/mailbag/the-only-way-i-can-fight-back-is-to-never/article_72d049a2-fcd5-537e-95d7-b384647344e0.html

[Todd Juvinall]

Pelline's thinks because he says he voted for Republicans that we are supposed to believe him. Sure, yep, wink wink, we believe you. ROTFLMAO.

Regarding the blog here. I think other than the troll/sock puppets of Pelline, there are many lefties. Paul and Ben Emery, "Jon", etc. On Pelline's "moderated" blog, he allows no one except libs. I mean jeeze, Bruce Levy? The guy is a wannabee Mao lover for goodness sakes and he is never moderated off. No Pelline, we know you and you tactics as well as your politics. You really are a Marin County lib in a conservative county in the Foothills. Lonely are you?

[Jeff Pelline]

Todd,
No I'm not lonely. Our county is "politically purple." Many of us support moderates on both sides of the aisle. You are living in the past at "Sierra Dragon's Breathe."

[Barry Pruett]

Correction. You are clumsily attempting to create a problem where one does not exist. Too bad you were not there to "report"...but that would require common sense. You were notably absent...and that in and of itself is sad.

[Jeff Pelline]

Barry,
We are participating in Galileo programs at the Tech Museum of Innovation in San Jose, Academic Talent Search at Sacramento State, and the youth programs in engineering at UNR. Sad that we have to go out of town for that, because the local Test Tech has been hijacked by right-wing political activists.

[Todd Juvinall]

Obviously Pelline can't even spell and he is the self proclaimed "speller".. I ask all readers to go to my blog and see what the title says. My goodness, Pelline has lost his noggin. Besides fibbing he voted for R's he apparently can't see we elect R's in droves here. Jeeze, what a lonely guy.

[Russ Steele]

Jeff@01:59PM

You wrote "so you quiz the kiddos about Common Core while they're trying to take a math test." Let me be real clear, conversation with the students took place while we were waiting for everyone who sighed up to arrive. I asked two Common Core questions. One how did the computers work during testing, as I have been helping schools get broadband upgrades, and how do you like Common Core. It was a conversation when passing the time, not an interrogation.

Once the exam started there was no conversation or discussion with the students, other then reminded them the time was nearly up at 30 min,15 min and 5 min. There were four girls from Mt St Mary's from the advanced math class. I was told that your son was in that advance math class. Sorry that he could not make it to Tech Test Jr and compete with the other top students in the County. He could have given you some insight to what really went on in the NU Science Theater during the exam, you are only projecting what went on in your own liberal/progressive mind.

[Bill Tozer]

Ok, ok. I certainly am not the grown up here and lack the self-discipline to stop myself. Still am a work in progress. Baby steps ya know.

With my disclaimer posted in the above paragraph, this is a fine time to say "Yo Pheu! Yo Baby Huey! At least the tech kids were smart enough to make it through the airport terminal and TSA without incident, unlike a local food critic that got searched by the TSA and they found over 300 pounds of crack in his trousers."

[Barry Pruett]

You choose to go out of town based solely upon your warped political ideology. You are a sad and angry little man. My discussions with another board member of SESF re common core yielded the conclusion that common core is not really bad, but it depends upon which textbook the teacher/school chooses to use.

[Barry Pruett]

As a matter of fact such SESF board member teaches the advanced math class at Mount Saint Marys. Oh my.

[Jeff Pelline]

Todd,
You changed the title of your blog to "Sierra Dragon's Breath" after misspelling "breath" in the URL: sierradragonsbreathe.blogspot.com/ But you cannot change the URL, so the mistake stands for all to see.
It is a tangible sign of your incompetence.

Russ,
Your remarks to the kiddos about Common Core were politically motivated — a recurring theme of SESF. Again, I do not see this in the county-wide Mathematics Tournament coordinated by the Nevada County Superintendent of Schools’ office, the Galileo programs at the Tech Museum of Innovation in San Jose, the Academic Talent Search at Sacramento State, and the youth programs in engineering at UNR.

[Jeff Pelline]

Barry,
To my knowledge, that SESF board member is not a political activist (unlike you). Maybe you could learn something.

[Barry Pruett]

So SESF is not a politically active group...just some of the members? That is not what you started with today. You stated that SESF was advancing extreme political views. What about Dave Pistone? What about John McDaniel? What about Gil Mathews? Are they advancing politically extreme views through SESF? You are way out on the plank...it might just break. If I were you I would cut my losses and apologize to Gil, John, and Mr. Pistone for attempting to debase and slime the good work that they do through SESF. Yet another example of why you are the former editor of The Union.

[Jeff Pelline]

Barry,
SESF is led by a politically active group of members in our community with some extreme political views and at times nasty political tactics, and I wouldn't advise John, Gil, or David to be involved.

[George Rebane]

BarryP 327pm - Congratulations, you got Pelline to back off from SESF promoting political ideologies to having its board members being "politically active" in their other activities. To a socialist, this is sufficient reason to ban such wrong-thinking people from participating in apolitical organizations, and also have others shun them. I do not expect an apology from such a man, just a new tack on snarks, innuendos, and lies when the old ones are exposed.

[Jeff Pelline]

Yes, Barry, congratulations, you got you fellow like-minded political activist George Rebane to agree with you. Here's to SEFS and its "good deeds."
http://sierrafoothillsreport.com/2012/03/02/county-cites-erroneous-methodology-in-column-by-a-ses-foundation-board-member/

[Jeff Pelline]

And apparently Russ has a habit of bringing up topics like Common Core and global warming to the students:
""[Discussion of the weather] soon lead to a discussion [of] long term climate change and the impact of sunspots have on our climate. The discussion gave me an opportunity to introduce a those sitting nearby to my Dalton Minimum Returns blog, and the paper I wrote for SESF on Cooler Temps - Dalton Minimum Returns"
http://ncfocus.blogspot.com/search?q=tech+test

[George Rebane]

re JeffP's 416pm - Mike McDaniel's Union piece illustrating the extent of the formerly dismissed county unfunded liability problem through the proxy of dollars per current county employee was a very effective means of communicating it to the casual reader. Any other method, even if it could be accurately computed, would quickly lead the reader into the weeds and not even fit into a 750 word article. Rick Haffey had to say what he did, especially since the county did not and does not to this day have its unfunded liabilities under control. For example, today the county has to pay over $6M of 'back premiums' to CALPERS over the next five years, a burden that our county CEO cites as a most difficult financial burden for us to bear during these hard economic times.

But Pelline's citing this report as evidence of SESF promoting rightwing ideology is beyond stupid. And Haffey's dispute with McDaniel on methodology to support that same inane charge is beyond words. I do believe the man deserves a full refund and apology from whatever school he claims to have received his education in journalism.

[Jeff Pelline]

George,
No, this is an example of SESF's simplistic research — correctly identified by the County.
The examples of promoting rightwing ideology are omnipresent when it comes to the one-sided "analysis" of Common Core, global warming, links to the Koch Bros.' Cato Institute and on and on.
Oh, and let's not forget the tests themselves with their stereotypes of "Bubba" the football player, women who lay out lines for a soccer field (but aren't mentioned as players) and so on.

[fish]

Posted by: George Rebane | 17 May 2015 at 04:31 PM

I do believe the man deserves a full refund and apology from whatever school he claims to have received his education in journalism.

Nahh....jeffys holding on to those credentials like a dog with a particularly favored toy. It's Berkley and Northwestern who are complaining that he's tarnished the brand.

[Jeff Pelline]

"fish," (AKA David Larsen of Carmichael),

It's spelled Berkeley, not Berkley.

BTW, did you really write this?
http://www.ncc-1776.org/tle2011/tle603-20110116-02.html

[fish]

Posted by: Jeff Pelline | 17 May 2015 at 05:06 PM

I think you should console yourself with a boxcar full of Marshmallow Peeps.

[Barry Pruett]

You are welcome George.

[fish]

Posted by: Jeff Pelline | 17 May 2015 at 05:06 PM

Yeah..."Berkely" instead of "Berkeley"....yeah my bad! Almost as bad as fucking up your own moms mothers day memorial tribute.

Mom loved pets. When I was growing up, we had a Norwegian Elkhound named Elosie. She named the dog after Eloise, the precocious girl from the Plaza Hotel. She and Eloise would spend the day playing together, while my dad was at work and I was at school. She joked that Eloise was “most precious,” my dad was “precious,” and I was “least precious.”

Oopsy!

Shameful attention to detail from the "Valiant Typo Hunter of Nevada City"!