[ColleenShaver]

Well said Nola!

This is a long running, high-tempered debate on this forum usually and I have to agree-- does one have to be bad for the other to be good? No, of course not.

We all watch Battlebots, Robotica, Robot Wars, etc, etc. If they truly were "bad" we wouldn't be tuning in to those channels. The fact is that we share a common bond w/ every Battebot-er around: science. technology, robots, greasy hands, etc EXCITE us..

And if Battlebots were just in it for the money- who cares?! They are providing people a forum to get there technological abilities out in the spotlight and showing America that brains are cool too..

And if some kid watching at home decides to be an engineer from it.. or a team sees that BattlebotsIQ is a more cost efficient method of inspiration and brings there kids into that.. go for it.. because in the end.. if those same kids go to college and get degrees in a technical field.. Dean's mission and dream will be accomplished and they won't be any less of engineers than anyone here... So we should all be happy that Dean's dream of filling all the available technical jobs is happening w/ some helping hands from other groups.

And I think it was find to post the letter there, I was actually going to if someone hadn't already as an INFORMATIONAL thing in case people were interested in BBIQ.

And congrats to Nola and those putting together the program.. I've see some of the manual ideas and stuff like that, and it really looks like an admirable program.