Those are all fine and stuff, but NONE of them had a puppy.

There was raw bigotry in the Google movie against kittens.

Where is the video that extolls Duluth's blustery climate of big government, union and single political party domination, and social welfare to and from an abundance of nonprofits?

Why the hell would the Google empire care about restoring the armory for the sponges of Duluth?

Paul, Google is a business. Google shows success in its accounting formula. It seems to me that the proponents of Google Fiber are seeking charity. The return on Google's investment in Duluth is not being conveyed. Google Ventures can be solicited to take part in an enterprise. There has to be more in play from both sides.

Paul, I probably can not. But, I just meant that Google is a business. Its primary function is to produce profit. Building a better Duluth is not in its mission statement. To win, Duluth will need to be seen as a unique complement to Google. That case has not been made. People and business do not locate in Duluth voluntarily without some extraordinary condition/incentive. The reasons to stay away are many. Google proclaims to want to operate in an efficient and economical manner. Will it be able and allowed to do so in Duluth?

Please keep this in mind when critiquing videos.  As far as I know, the most viewed Duluth-Superior google fiber video is not any of these or the dozen or so others that were created.  It's  the one with Duluth Mayor Don Ness jumping into Lake Superior.  In fact, if memory serves correctly, during one week at the peak of the campaign in March it was actually the most viewed video not just for the Twin Ports, but for every community in the United States that was involved in the competition.  

Don't like it?  It's not my favorite one, either (although I love that he's wearing a Hillsider t-shirt.  But the fact remains that this "stunt" gripped the consciousness of the media, bloggers and twitterers more than any of these other videos.  

Kevin is right about at least one thing, Google is a business, not a democracy, and our "videos" could be made by Francis Ford Coppola and they still might not push us over the edge, but that's just my opinion.  More likely, the diversity of offerings of people using all kinds of Google Technologies, (certainly NOT just YouTube) from people of all walks of life with varying degrees of skill and professionalism are what will really make the difference. Diversity and depth are always stronger than superficial veneer, and this community has demonstrated depth, and as much diversity as we can muster, too.  The fact that there are numerous videos tagged to this project and they talk about and/or demonstrate multiple Google owned technologies is likely more persuasive than any one of the creations by itself.  This is why the kid with the Star Trek themed video used Google Earth in his presentation, that helps immensely.  But the "Google Goes to Twin Ports" movie is also good, if for no other reason than the fact that so many people invested themselves into making it, and they did it as volunteers.

Sorry, Paul, but I can not help myself. While it may be quite frivolous, I would be anxious to see if the unions protest if they are not chosen to do the work.

On the larger scale, Google says that this is an experiment. What are the drawbacks and the repercussions? Is anyone looking under the shiny veneer?

Great posts, Wildgoose!

Don't stalk me, Kyanize.

I may now be charmed by the possibilities. For instance, think of the good that can be brought to education. We can have a small team of brilliant thinkers and educators teaching an equal standard of courses in online classrooms. Smart and/or dedicated students can excell in pace with their hunger and ability to learn. Then, we can do away with all of the teachers, staffing, and school buildings. If necessary, some of these dated trappings could be redeployed to the challenging students and areas as additional aid. The net result, however, would be billions in savings, especially in salaries, pensions, and insurance.

wildgoose, you say:
"One interesting thing about online education is that in the MNSCU system, anyway it costs more for students to take those classes than at bricks and mortar campuses."

Not sure what you mean by that. The MNSCU colleges and universities are bricks and mortar institutions as well as online. 

As an online teacher I can tell you that it is not so much the individualized attention that takes time, but that all online teachers need to teach to TWO subjects: technical computer stuff and the class itself.  So it is easy to understand that someone who teaches computer classes online comes to the class with that knowledge already, whereas someone who teaches theater or wellness or communication classes may have to spend way more time learning the technology before the class ever starts.  For some it is just too daunting, so speed in the fiber optic is not going to help the prep time, but it will make delivery easier and more efficient once the tech stuff is learned.  

The online teachers I know spend huge amounts of time on the computer just getting glitches figured out (I emailed it to you last night...I'm positive, but my computer isn't working right....). That comment x 25 students who are at 25 different levels on the computer is where the time comes in.  But when the glitches get ironed out it is highly gratifying to know you have helped students learn and gain confidence in two subjects.

One more clarification I am a huge booster of online education and eventually I think that for many subjects/trades Google Fiber and/or broadband saturation will be great for higher education and learning.  

Oh, I forgot the other source of information, Mrs. Goose just graduated with a degree from LSC and she paid more for the courses that she took online than when she was primarily in the bricks and mortar classrooms at the same school.  I can't remember the exact amount, but it was definitely more expensive.  She reasoned that the flexibility, and money saved in child care and transportation more than made up for the difference in cost, though.  Obviously thousands of other people agree or the programs wouldn't be thriving as they apparently are.

Here's a chance to listen in and sound off on all things Google Twin Ports related ... http://www.lakesuperioradfed.org/program_events.php?id=71