The Occasional Robot Round-Up, Spring 2016 Edition

by cgrotke | Sci-Tech

Time once again to check in with our eventual robot overlords and how they are evolving.

This is prompted by news that Google is hoping to sell off Boston Dynamics, the folks that are building some of the most advanced and scary robots on the planet. Seems that the latest generation have the potential for generating bad press, there are no sellable products in sight, and Google wants to walk away.

Here’s Atlas, one of the more recent human-sized Boston Dynamics creations, walking about, trying to do things, and being abused by technicians. As a commenter pointed out, there will come a time when AI-aware robots will find this video and think about it.

Great Leap Forward for Women’s Rights

by tomaidh | Pets

A Saudi panel of scientists recently concluded that women aren’t just household items as it was previously
thought, but are mammals and therefore should have same rights as camels and goats.

Previously, women had the same rights as a chair or a table and were seen more as individual property.

They now have an equivalent status to certain animal species, and thus must receive, at the very least, feeding, watering and be conferred a minimum of attention.

“Ain’t that precious?”

It’s a Riot!

by Vidda | Politics

Curly Haugland, a Republican National Committee member, says the nomination process is pretty straightforward: The party, not the voters, chooses the nominee.In an appearance on CNBC’s “Squawk Box” on Wednesday morning, Haugland, a North Dakotan and current member of the RNC’s Rules Committee, said that any assumption otherwise is misguided.

“That’s the problem: The media has created the perception that the voters will decide the nomination,” he said. He went on: “Political parties choose their nominee, not the general public, contrary to popular belief.”

Technically, this is true. The nomination is decided by delegates to this summer’s convention, not directly by voters. But it’s probably not a terribly helpful argument to make at a time when Republican establishment types are openly talking about wresting the GOP nomination from Donald Trump at the convention. Trump has said doing so could lead to “riots.”

The Great Red Ball Rescue, Faye Durpas

by SandglassTheater | Entertainment

PUTNEY VT- On March 19th at 1 and 3pm Sandglass’s beloved Winter Sunshine series continues with a romp
around the world in an upturned umbrella that will surprise and delight audiences of all ages. A family trip to the beach goes awry when a young boy’s favorite Red Ball is whisked away by the tides. Can he summon the courage to get it back? Join Jasper, a timid kid with a big imagination, as he sets out on an adventure across the ocean, under the waves, and up into the clouds. Along the way, he meets fantastical fortunetellers, thieving fishermen, and many mysterious creatures of the deep. Will he ever reclaim his favorite Red Ball from the clutches of the sea? Find out in this visually stunning production featuring multiple styles of puppetry, an original score, and lots of sea-faring fun!

Brooks Memorial Library – Ongoing Programs and Services

by Brooks Memorial Library | Books

Ongoing Programs and Services at Brooks Memorial Library – Reference, Technology, Fax Services and Wireless Printing.

Reference service
Need help finding books, movies, and other media in traditional and electronic formats? Engaged in a research project for school, work, or personal interest? Want help using the online catalog and finding your way through the library? Reference librarians can help with all of these questions and more. The desk is staffed Monday-Friday, 10-2 and 3-6, and most Saturdays 10-5, or email us at asklibrarian@brookslibraryvt.org. All reference is confidential.

Anyone Have Experience with VTel?

by DonInGuilford | Questions & Answers

Our neighborhood in Guilford is beyond the terminus for cable, so we use Fairpoint DSL, which is, let’s say: better than dial-up. It looks as though a newish company called VTel is promoting itself as intending to cover all of Vermont with good broadband, via, as I understand it, a combination of fiber-optic and some wireless technology. They may be making progress on reaching our area. So I’m asking if anyone knows about them, or, possibly, uses their services?  There have been some similar-sounding schemes lately that haven’t turned out well (see the Great Auk story in today’s Reformer.)

Job Hunt Help at Brooks Library

by Brooks Memorial Library | Business

Meet Job Hunt Helper Ben Howe! During March & April, CCV student intern Ben Howe will help library patrons use computer technology for job and career-related tasks. Stop by for help exploring online career and education tools, finding resume prep tools, and completing online applications. Make an appointment with Ben at the Reference Desk: (802) 254-5290 x109, or by emailing him at jobhuntbml@gmail.com.

He’ll also provide drop-in help on a first-come, first-served basis during his regular library hours: Tuesday evenings, 5:00-8:00 and Thursday afternoons, 1:00-4:00. Feel free to call ahead for info on his likely availability. 

Natural Resource Scholarships Available

by Windham Regional Woodlands Association | Education

The Windham Regional Woodlands Association (WRWA) is currently seeking prospective or current students interested in Natural Resource Management to apply for scholarships for the Fall 2016 and Spring 2017 semesters. Up to three $1500 scholarships will be awarded ($750 per semester) to Windham County Residents who attend two or four year college programs in Natural Resource, Forest Management or related majors. The deadline for applying is May 15th for the Fall 2016 semester.

For more information, email WRWA at or go online and click on “Who We Are” button at the top of the page

Brattleboro Board of Civil Ballot Recount Warning Agenda

by Not Signed In | Politics

In order to comply with the Open Meeting Law, this warning is being submitted in anticipation of the BCA’s decision today to proceed with a recount of the March 1 vote. If the recount request is denied or another date and time is chosen, this meeting will be cancelled and another scheduled.

….

BRATTLEBORO BOARD OF CIVIL AUTHORITY
Selectboard Meeting Room
Thursday, March 17, 2016
10:30 AM

Mexican-Americans: Experience & Identity-A Reading-Discussion Series: The Tortilla Curtain by T.C. Boyle

by Brooks Memorial Library | Books

Brooks Memorial Library continues its Vermont Humanities Council reading/discussion series, Mexican Americans: Experience and Identity on Wednesday 16 March 2016, at 7 pm – 8:30 pm with The Tortilla Curtain by T.C. Boyle. This 4-Part series ‘Mexican Americans: Experience and Identity,’ deals with the experiences of Mexicans living in the United States, from the struggles of migrant farmworkers and day laborers in California to coming of age stories of Chicanos as U.S. citizens.

The third book in this series is The Tortilla Curtain by T.C. Boyle, which is story of illegal aliens in California, told through the eyes of two very different couples, one well-off Anglos, the other illegal Mexicans living in a canyon. The novel chronicles their relationship against the background of growing hostility between immigrants and natives. 

Avalanche!

by JohnWilmerding | Politics

Very early in his campaign, around the time he declared it back in mid-May, I wrote to Bernie and said “Avalanches don’t only start with a thunderclap or a gunshot … sometimes they start with a little tiny snowball that starts to form at the very top of the mountain.”The Bernie Sanders avalanche is about halfway down the mountain now, and the few little snowballs, which became many, are just starting to morph into a tremendous cascade.

The post-March-15 primary season will see the American people either part of this avalanche, or else they will see it coming. It will sweep up all in its path. Bernie Sanders and his supporters are a force of nature, and nothing will deny us or defeat us!

Selectboard Meeting Notes – Brattleboro Creates New Health Plan With Employees

by cgrotke | Town News

Brattleboro is restructuring the way town employees are compensated for health care. A new program to fill the gaps of higher deductibles might end up saving taxpayers $30,000 a year while continuing to provide a solid level of coverage for employees.

The decision of the recent special Representative Town Meeting to move the police station to Black Mountain Road has been incorporated into the budget to be presented at the regular Representative Town Meeting, Bradley House might be renovated and expanded if a new package of grants is approved, the town will buy new police cars, and Donna Macomber had a final regular meeting with the board. 

Bernie Sanders Voters May Have Been Turned Away In North Carolina For “Wrong” Kind of I.D.

by CrisEricson2016 | Op/Ed

PRIMARY, EMERGENCY MEETING 6:30 PM NORTH CAROLINA – VOTERS TURNED AWAY FOR HAVING THE WRONG KIND OF I.D.? BUT POLL WORKERS WERE NOT PROPERLY TRAINED!!!!! BERNIE SANDERS MUST FILE LAWSUIT FAST because the 2000 election Bush vs Gore proved you have to act fast! The Supreme Court of the U.S. stopped the delayed vote count in that case!

Brattleboro Union High School Board Meeting Agenda

by Not Signed In | Education

BRATTLEBORO UNION HIGH SCHOOL BOARD
53 Green Street
Brattleboro, VT 05301
www.wssu.k12.vt.us

NOTICE OF COMMITTEE MEETINGS

The BAMS Committee will meet at 8:00 a.m. on Monday, March 21 in the BAMS Conference Room.

The BUHS #6 Teacher Curriculum Committee will meet at 6:30 p.m. on Monday, March 21 in the WRCC Cusick Conference Room.

The BUHS #6 Planning and Policy Committee will meet at 6:55 p.m. on Monday, March 21 in the WRCC Cusick Conference Room.

A Stroll/SEON Windham Grows Workshop: Farms, Food, Green Buildings, Green Technology

by MartinLangeveld | Town News

Strolling of the Heifers and SEON — the Sustainable Energy Outreach Network — are partnering to present a workshop to explore collaborative opportunities between businesses in the farm, food, green building and green technology sectors.

The meeting will take place on Tuesday, March 29 from 5 to 7 p.m. at the Robert H. Gibson River Garden, 157 Main Street, in Brattleboro.

The event is the second workshop in the Windham Grows series — the first was “Tech Salad,” which brought together farm, food and technology entrepreneurs on March 3.

Like Tech Salad, the March 29 event will be facilitated by Nadav Malin, president of Building Green, Inc., a Brattleboro consultancy that gathers, organizes and publishes information about green building technologies for building industry professional and policy makers.” 

Act 46 Study Committee Agenda and Minutes

by Not Signed In | Education

Representing the Brattleboro Town School District, Dummerston Town School District, Guilford Town School District, Putney Town School District, and the Vernon Town School District
http://www.wssu.k12.vt.us

NOTICE OF MEETING

The Act 46 Study Committee will meet at 6:00 p.m. on Thursday, March 17, 2016 at the Putney Central School.

ACT 46 STUDY COMMITTEE

AGENDA

Build A Scalable Startup: Paul Silva, Valley Venture Mentors to Talk about Free Resources (Thursday)

by BenRiseman | Sci-Tech

The March Brattleboro Area Tech group meeting will be on March 17th, from 5:30 to 7:00 pm, at the River Garden, 157 Main St. Brattleboro, VT. And yes, we’ll get to see the newly remodeled River Garden basement.

This month’s guest is Paul Silva of Valley Venture Mentors who will give a brief talk about free resources to help you build a scalable startup, with plenty of time for questions.

Anyone working with or interested in technology in the Brattleboro area is welcome to attend.

Brattleboro Board of Civil Authority Hearing Regarding March 10 Recount

by Not Signed In | Politics

The Brattleboro Board of Civil Authority will meet on Wednesday, March 16 at 2:00 p.m. in the Selectboard Meeting Room for the purpose of conducting a hearing and accepting testimony relating to the conduct of the March 10 recount for select board race. If the board determines that any violations of the recount procedures occurred and that they may have affected the outcome of the recount, a new recount shall be ordered.

Food Justice: To What Extent Does It Exist In Our Community?

by ESchwartz | Food

Who in our community has the means and access to grow, sell, and eat healthy food?  Is it a reasonable expectation that our food be fresh, nutritious, affordable, and grown locally, with care for the well-being of the land, workers and animals?

The Shareholder Forum of the Brattleboro Food Coop will hold a community dialogue on food justice on Sunday, March 20, from 5:00 to 7:00 pm in the Brattleboro Food Co-op Community Room, 7 Canal Street. A panel of local experts will address these questions from the different perspectives of farmers (Howard Prussack, High Meadow Farm, and Brian McNeice, Bonvue Farm), children (Vicky Senni, Let’s Grow Kids!), seniors (Chris McAvoy, Brattleboro Senior Meals), low-income people (Rhianna Kendrick, Groundworks Collaborative), and the Brattleboro Food Co-op (Sabine Rhyne).  Members of the community are invited to participate in this dialogue with the panelists and fellow community members.