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scott gibson

paynesville, MN
Commenter for
4 years 50 weeks

Recent Comments

Posted on 11/08/11 at 01:47 pm in response to Tom Emmer talks about his campaign, the media and running again

Emmer is the reason Dayton is governor. Republicans chose to think their vote was somehow coopted by Horner's candidacy. It was not. Many, such as myself, considered voting for Horner first, but checked ourselves when it appeared it might insure that Emmer would be the ultimate winner. Both Dayton and Horner would still be preferred to Emmer.

Posted on 11/03/11 at 08:05 am in response to Controversy greets Garofalo plan to limit levy votes to general-election years

Republicans want to restrict the public's ability to decide on issues (when it suits their purposes). Recude or restrict the ability of the public to fund government (here, meaning schools) by limiting when voting can take place. Or try to make it nearly impossible to raise taxes (like requiring super majorities). And they certainly hate institutionalized funding (the Legacy Amendment). On the flip side, they want to put to a vote things that many folks feel are personal rights (same-sex...

Posted on 10/26/11 at 10:29 pm in response to Star Tribune will start charging some readers for web, app access Nov. 1

I actually read four or five newspapers everyday, online. They are loaded with advertisements. Does that count for something? Don't they make any money for their papers? If the Strib goes to this plan, I will probably read 20 articles a month and stop at that. I don't live in the metro area, and many of their more regional stories are covered just as well by the other 3-4 smaller papers' sites that I visit. Like the others say, subscribing to the physical Strib is unworkable. I would...

Posted on 10/10/11 at 09:42 am in response to Ten die in terrible weekend on Minnesota roads

Re:Swift - Your video reference is, apparently, years old. How is this any different than if I were to find a video from a right-wing extremist showing support for some Republican candidate or Pres. Bush? It serves no purpose to find the most extreme examples and then claim that THIS is the true face of the Wall Street protests or of Obama. Part of Obama's low approval ratings is from displeasure from the left. So which is it? Too far left? Not enough left? Folks in the middle, and I...

Posted on 10/07/11 at 02:30 pm in response to Want ed-tech boom? Go for 'disruptive innovation,' Thomas Jandris says

Many schools are already putting their lessons (such as 'smartboard' lessons) on the internet so students can access them after the fact. They are not put there as the only means of obtaining the lesson. They are an additional resource for absent students or those who wish to revisit the lesson later. The instructor's act of shuttling the lecture onto itunes, only, seems an admission of its secondary importance. Maybe the lecture shouldn't exist in the first place.

Posted on 10/06/11 at 01:12 pm in response to Sheriff, police are OK with Wall Street protest camp-in

I agree with Swifty that the Wall Street protest is unfocused. Some aspects of it are unlikely to register any sympathy with me. However, it was not started by "unionthugs". They have little to do with it, other than being among Wall Street's many victims. So, if you don't like the tone of the protest, but you feel that there is still something worth protesting, nothing is stopping you from starting your own "conservatives against Wall Street abuse" protest. Oh, wait, I guess that's not...

Posted on 09/16/11 at 12:23 pm in response to Key question: Did Amy Senser know she hit someone?

I didn't hear the report about global warming causing the BWCAW fire. I doubt it was mentioned in that way, though climate change may have come up in a nuanced background way, somehow. Everything I've heard was that lightning was the cause.

Posted on 09/14/11 at 05:37 pm in response to Boundary Waters Area is now the land of fire and ice

Basically, Swifty, you're full of it. And don't give me how much tougher it was back in your day. I'll bet I'm as old as you and I know for a fact, the math I teach is harder than what I took in high school and more students than ever are exposed to it. Before we declare schools incompetent, I'd really like to know the true criteria the other countries use when they test. It doesn't change the fact that, by sheer numbers, the top 1% of our students would be overwhelmed by the top 1% of...

Posted on 09/02/11 at 01:32 pm in response to Americans adore teachers and think schools are doing quite well

Replace the word 'teacher' with 'politician'. THOSE politicians are bad, bad, bad. MY elected representative, on the other hand, is just wonderful. A bit of a disconnect. The 'Waiting for Superman' disparagers are no longer the outside voice, they are the loudest voice heard (without providing true evidence of educational improvement). Unions are vilified for trying to protect the salaries of their members (which is, of course, why all of us work for a living). It might be a good idea...

Posted on 09/01/11 at 11:48 am in response to Why Rick Perry could be our next president

Yes, Perry could become president. Voters make their choices on superficial and emotional levels much of the time. And Perry's got great hair. If you think that's a flippant comment, you need only look at the relative popularity of perceived physically attractive candidates vs those who are not. Sad, but true. Being attractive won't win you an election, but being unattractive will most likely lose you one.