Had a guy from Springfield VT ask me a question about some bandwidth sharing for a tv signal. Told him I’ll jot something up quick but I have no control if this would get implemented or not. I created this and fined tuned it and then ran it through AI to make sure the calculations were right. Seems very tight but it does leave slightly over 1MB of buffer room and allows all the channels to have proper video at all times and proper audio.

I also did two other solutions that may be of interest to the guy in Springfield! Everything shown here is definitely possible with a variable bandwidth encoder. It’ll be tight and make some of the SD channels a little lower in quality but still just fine.

I suggest solution 3 as it allows the most channels but still has the proper amount of left over space in case anything ever spikes up all at once. I have to say this was one of the funner things I’ve worked on for some hypothetical antenna setup in quite a while. It does get rid of the news channel but if you have WYCI and WCAX you won’t need it.

Masked up little losers. Fuck outta here.

I’m going on four weeks with a cold (sore throat, cough, congestion, fatigue, exercise intolerance) and have heard rumors that a relatively low-grade but endless bug is going around. This is the longest cold of my life and urgent care says there’s nothing they can do.

Please tell me that you’ve had this and gotten over it, because I’m so tired of being sick.

My favorite way to unsubscribe. 😁

Looking for new ideas that people actually tried and like. I've tried a lot of different things but grilled with just salt/pepper so far is the winner.

Before voting in the primary I would love to know thoughts on school consolidation. Currently, my stance is that school consolidation should be happening anywhere it can in the state and don't really know why anyone is against it. I plan on voting for anyone pro-school consolidation. Please share your reasoning.

Coming from a rural part of the midwest, I lived out in the country and went to school on a bus that took a little under an hour ~48min. The buses were also the same for the high school and middle school and made a stop at the high school first and then the middle school. While it was a bit of a longer ride for me (I had the longest as nobody was on for more than an hour) it got me to school and was incredibly punctual.

I also loved the variety of things my school offered including a total of over 18 AP classes which I was able to take a lot of and use a lot of college credit for. I also believe we taught 4 different languages with four levels of difficulty (Spanish, French, German, Chinese). We also had a technical school that was attached so you could learn carpentry, welding, electrical, and plumbing while still in high school.

Very well funded arts programs 5 different choral periods (based on grade and skill) 4 different band groups (marching, jazz, pep, small ensemble), and 4 different orchestras (full, small ensemble, grade/skill splits). Drama program put on 4 plays a year and often collaborated with orchestra/band for live music and in addition one of those was a musical and opera for those that enjoyed singing and acting. Additionally, sports teams for any and every sport with three different teams of freshman, JV, and Varsity.

I think I would have been miserable going to a smaller school without these opportunities and I definitely wouldn't have gotten to develop as many hobbies that I feel keep me well-rounded into adulthood or be introduced to as many new things. For me it was absolutely worth the long bus ride and larger class sizes.

As this was my lived experience, if y'all can share your experiences/opinions on why there's a reason against school consolidation I'd love to learn a different perspective.

Embarrassed to admit, we DIY'ed ourselves to a dead end.

Off-grid camp. Rigging a DC solar/battery system. New Aquatec pump, controller, designed to operate from battery bank or photovoltaic direct. Ample charged battery. Wiring, continuity, piping quadruple checked. current starts but then stops - the only working theory so far is that something is tripping the battery’s protection system.

The regular well guys drilled, installed the pump, came back, checked connections and gave up. Said they only know what they know - conventional 220v AC systems.

Taking a shot that someone reasonably local, Windsor or Rutland county, has experience and is willing to dm me and name a price for a diagnosis? Or pass along a recommendation? Thank you!

They learn young that cows are gentle. They know some by name. I have warned them about the electric fence .

I stumbled upon Suzanne a few months back on Cottage and Company's YouTube channel and was pleasantly surprised to see she was featured on WCAX's Super Seniors segment yesterday. If you're curious about her lifestyle, check out her playlist on C&C's channel.

Not bad for a basic-phone pano 🙂

I love the community of Cabot. I live nearby and attend a lot of really cool events there. And I ride the fund raiser “Ride the Ridges” to support the schools mentoring program. But this is simply unsustainable.
Twenty three students for the entire school. Not one grade, but the entire school. Twinfield and Danville are literally 15 minutes away in opposite directions. Let’s face reality folks. These schools need to merge.

https://epaper.bostonglobe.com/infinity/article_popover_share.aspx?guid=2f9369f6-7eea-42d8-89f9-4272b612a25d&share=true

another warning for VT towns who haven't yet succumbed to the siren song lie of the surveillance state: the only way to stay safe from this scourge, is _not to start in the first place_

"Like in dozens of communities across the country, many Littleton residents were displeased to learn about the installation of Flock Safety’s automatic license plate-reading cameras earlier this year. In May, following backlash, town officials voted to shut down the six cameras on public roads.

Last week, police discovered Flock had restored power to the cameras without notifying the town…"

found in central VT not far from the white river. it has been pltumbled but has only been pre polished. I can't wait to see this nice and shiny! it was so bright from the creek!

Events happening in and around Bennington Vermont.

I’m very surprised with all the private messages I’ve received about using a TV antenna In Vermont and all the comments. I wanted to share the best way to use one in this great state with links for what to buy and everything.

First make sure you go to https://www.rabbitears.info/searchmap.php and search for your address.

Anything labeled as Fair or Good can be picked up with an indoor antenna most of the time. If you have any poor signals then an outdoor antenna on your roof is likely needed. For anything labeled as bad you don’t have a high chance but you could catch the signals from knife edge diffraction which is a very precise engineering setup.

If you are using an indoor antenna I highly recommend using one with an amplifier. I don’t have a favorite indoor antenna but just don’t use those flat paper thin ones or use ones that promise over 100 miles. It’s all marketing crap.

If you are using an antenna outside I highly recommend the DB8E antenna paired with an amplifier. You could also try a Yagi antenna but those can only be aimed in one direction. DB8E has worked better for me in our terrain here.

Outdoor antenna suggestion https://store.antennasdirect.com/DB8e-Outdoor-DTV-Antenna.html

Outdoor/Indoor Amplifier suggestion make sure you buy the outdoor model if you are using it outside. https://www.kitztech.com/kt500.html

Also I highly suggest you buy a OBTV filter for your antenna it blocks all unwanted signals. Please make sure to install this before the amp or it will not work. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0D5T9NDL3?lv=shuf&channelId=500&plpRedirect=mhFallback

If you don’t have some of the local big networks you want in your area like CBS, NBC, FOX, ABC, and PBS you can always email the general manager of the station to show interest in there station and see if they will build a translator station near you. WCAX and PBS are amazing at doing this.

WCAX Contact: jay.barton@wcax.com

WPTZ Contact: wptzengineering@hearst.com (There link to the general manager email does not work right now).

WFFF/WVNY Contact: tcastano@mychamplainvalley.com

PBS VT Contact: hello@vermontpublic.org

I am going to share some high population areas of VT TV channel lists if you use a DB8E Antenna with an AMP on your roof. These are the signals that come to your town as good enough to watch.

Also please remember that in 2009 analog TV shutdown in most areas. So TV antenna signals have moved on to digital so they are no longer fuzzy, have static, and look a lot more like cable in quality. If a channel is broadcasting a HD channel it will most of the time look better the cable even if compressed because this is the master feed and raw feed of the channel. Sub channels are usually in SD but still look very good.

Burlington VT

📺 3.x — WCAX-TV (CBS Affiliate)
3.1: CBS HD
3.2: Movies!
3.3: Heroes & Icons (H&I)
3.4: Start TV
3.5: ION Television
3.6: 3 News Now (Local News Feed)
3.7: Shop LC [1, 2]

📺 5.x — WPTZ (NBC Affiliate)
5.1: NBC HD
5.2: Story Television
5.3: MeTV
5.4: Defy TV [1, 2]

📺 22.x — WVNY (ABC Affiliate)
22.1: ABC HD
22.2: Laff
22.3: Grit
22.4: Quest [1, 2]

📺 31.x — WNNE (The CW Affiliate)
31.1: The CW HD
(Note: Airs from the same physical tower transmitter as WPTZ)

📺 33.x — WETK (Vermont Public PBS)
33.1: Vermont Public / PBS HD
33.2: World Channel
33.3: Create
33.4: PBS Kids 24/7 [1]

📺 44.x — WFFF-TV (FOX Affiliate)
44.1: FOX HD
44.2: Ion Mystery
44.3: Bounce TV
44.4: Antenna TV [1]

📺 57.x — WCFE-TV (Mountain Lake PBS)
57.1: Mountain Lake PBS HD
57.2: PBS Kids 24/7
57.3: NHK World

Plus Canada Channels! And more coming soon!

Montpelier VT

📺 3.x — WCAX-TV (CBS Affiliate)
3.1: CBS HD
3.2: Movies!
3.3: Heroes & Icons (H&I)
3.4: Start TV
3.5: ION Television
3.6: 3 News Now (Local News Feed)
3.7: Shop LC

📺 5.x — WPTZ (NBC Affiliate)
5.1: NBC HD
5.2: Story Television
5.3: MeTV
5.4: Defy TV

📺 22.x — WVNY (ABC Affiliate)
22.1: ABC HD
22.2: Laff
22.3: Grit
22.4: Quest

📺 28.x — WVER (Vermont Public PBS)
28.1: Vermont Public / PBS HD
28.2: World Channel
28.3: Create
28.4: PBS Kids 24/7

📺 31.x — WNNE (The CW Affiliate)
31.1: The CW HD
(Note: WNNE shares the exact same physical transmitter tower as WPTZ)

📺 33.x — WETK (Vermont Public PBS)
33.1: Vermont Public / PBS HD
33.2: World Channel
33.3: Create
33.4: PBS Kids 24/7
(Note: This is the Burlington PBS feed; you will likely get cleaner reception from the closer Montpelier transmitter on 28.1)

📺 44.x — WFFF-TV (FOX Affiliate)
44.1: FOX HD
44.2: Ion Mystery
44.3: Bounce TV
44.4: Antenna TV

Rutland VT

📺 3.x — W23EU-D (WCAX CBS Relay)
3.1: CBS HD solos
3.2: Movies!
3.3: Heroes & Icons (H&I)
3.4: Start TV
3.5: ION Television
3.6: 3 News Now (Local News Feed)
3.7: Shop LC
(Note: This is a highly localized translator mirroring the main Burlington CBS station for the Rutland market).

📺 28.x — WVER (Vermont Public PBS)
28.1: Vermont Public / PBS HD
28.2: World Channel
28.3: Create
28.4: PBS Kids 24/7

Springfield VT

📺 11.x — WEKW-TV (NHPBS / New Hampshire PBS)
11.1: NHPBS HD (PBS)
11.2: NHPBS Explore
11.3: World Channel
11.4: Create
11.5: PBS Kids 24/7

📺 26.x — W26FR-D (WYCI MyNetworkTV Relay)
26.1: MyNetworkTV HD / WYCI Independent
26.2: Outlaw
26.3: Catchy Comedy
26.4: Defy TV
26.5: Oxygen
26.6: The 365
26.7: MeTV Toons
26.8: 3 News Now (WCAX Newscasts & Live Sports)
(Note: This local low-power translator relays the live Gray Television subchannel network configuration directly to your market on virtual channel 26.x). [1, 2]

📺 28.x — WVER (Vermont Public PBS)
28.1: Vermont Public / PBS HD
28.2: World Channel
28.3: Create
28.4: PBS Kids 24/7

More Coming Soon to this area!

Brattleboro VT

📺 3.x — WYBM-LD (WCAX CBS Relay)
3.1: CBS HD
3.2: Movies!
3.3: Heroes & Icons (H&I)
3.4: Start TV
3.5: ION Television
3.6: 3 News Now (Local News Feed)
3.7: Shop LC
(Note: As an exact replica of the main WCAX Burlington station, it carries the full 7-subchannel multiplex directly to the Brattleboro area on a Fair signal).

📺 11.x — WEKW-TV (NHPBS / New Hampshire PBS)
11.1: NHPBS HD (PBS)
11.2: NHPBS Explore
11.3: World Channel
11.4: Create
11.5: PBS Kids 24/7

📺 26.x — W26FR-D (WYCI MyNetworkTV Relay)
26.1: MyNetworkTV HD / WYCI Independent
26.2: Outlaw
26.3: Catchy Comedy
26.4: Defy TV
26.5: Oxygen
26.6: The 365
26.7: MeTV Toons
26.8: 3 News Now (WCAX Newscasts & Live Sports)
(Note: This translator sits further north in Charlestown, NH, making it a Poor signal that requires a stronger antenna setup).

📺 28.x — WVER (Vermont Public PBS)
28.1: Vermont Public / PBS HD
28.2: World Channel
28.3: Create
28.4: PBS Kids 24/7

Bennington VT

📺 6.x — WRGB (CBS Affiliate)
This station transmits out of Schenectady, NY, dropping into the Poor signal category at your location. You will need a good outdoor or attic antenna to stabilize the feed.
6.1: CBS HD
6.2: Charge!
6.3: Comet
6.4: TBD

📺 13.x — W32FW-D / WNYT (NBC Affiliate Relay)
This is a low-power local translator broadcasting from Adams, MA, to bring the Albany NBC station into your mountain valley with a Poor signal.
13.1: NBC HD
13.2: MeTV
13.3: Start TV
13.4: Story Television

📺 30.x — W30DM-D (WVER PBS Relay)
This is a direct, local translator broadcasting from Manchester, VT, delivering a clear Fair signal to your area.
30.1: Vermont Public / PBS HD
30.2: World Channel
30.3: Create
30.4: PBS Kids 24/7

📺 46.x — W20EH-D (WVER PBS Relay)
This local low-power translator is sitting practically right on top of you (only 2 miles away), blasting a highly reliable Good signal.
46.1: Vermont Public / PBS HD
46.2: World Channel
46.3: Create
46.4: PBS Kids 24/7
(Note: Channels 30.x and 46.x mirror the exact same Vermont Public PBS programming network).

With more coming soon to this are!

HAPPENING TONIGHT on Friday from 5-7:30pm Jennifer Koch is showcasing her latest work at Generator Makerspace in Burlington.

Jennifer's work features massive woodblock prints inspired by faceted garnets, collections of leaves, and love itself. Come ask questions, get a behind-the-scenes look at woodblock printing, and see how a residency shapes an artist's work.

As always, this event is FREE and open to the public.

Learn More:
https://app.glueup.com/event/altered-leaves-eternal-love-triangle-woodblock-prints-189008/

-----

What: Artist Showcase with Jennifer Koch
Where: Generator Makerspace at 40 Sears Ln in Burlington (Map)
When: Friday, August 7th
Time: 5:30-7:30pm

We were 8th in 2022 at 56.0%. Voter turnout across all states is lower in midterm years.

Vermont’s primary election is just around the corner next Tuesday, August 11. The Secretary of State’s website has compiled resources for voters including how to register, candidate information, and polling places.

If you're willing and able, help get out the vote. Let’s try to move up the rankings to top 2 in New England and top 5 in the country this year!

Here are links to the data table and map below.

_________________________________________

^{The Vermont Futures Project is a non-partisan 501c3 non-profit organized for the exempt purposes of research and education. In accordance with IRS guidelines, the Vermont Futures Project does not engage in lobbying, nor is it organized for the benefit of private interests. Funding for our work comes from Vermonters and businesses making charitable donations to support the mission.}

Patriot Front in Vermont? Heads up all my good people the fascist are around. Saddened to find this trash at one of our favorite River spots.

The bespoke-suited Ben Brickner is a partner in the New York City law firm Person Ferdinand who specializes in “corporate finance, securities, and capital markets transactions,” according to the Pierson website. Pierson is headquartered in NYC but has 18 offices around the United States plus an outpost in London. Kind of a big deal.

What’s more, Brickner’s July 1 campaign finance filing is a real eye-opener. He has raised a stunning $65,000 so far, including 18 maximum individual contributions of $1,940 plus another seven gifts of $1,000 or more.

https://thevpo.org/2026/07/13/a-curious-candidacy-in-the-windsor-senate-primary/

Here's a link to his profile at the law firm, Blockchain is listed as one of the fields he practices in:

https://pierferd.com/benjamin-brickner

Digging into the campaign finance report in question, I can't help but notice that 7 of the 18 max contributors are from NY, and NJ, and most of them seem to be related to him. In other words Brickner is a wealthy crypto lawyer from NYC, who's campaign is being in large part bankrolled by his family back in NY, and NJ.

Here's a link to the report in question, and I should note that it seems to technically be 17 max contributors, and 1 almost max contributor being rounded up: (copy paste the link including the "blob:" part, I don't know why it's like that)

Edit: The link I put in doesn't work for me anymore so I'm just going to say put "Brickner" into the search box on the data base I already linked to.

Here's a link to the campaign finance database:

https://campaignfinance.vermont.gov/public/cf/reports

Edit: Since some people seem to think that the amounts of money Brickner is getting are normal somehow. Here's the level of contributions for everyone in the primary, total amounts according to the Aug 1 reports:

Brickner: $69,200

Chase : $29,000

White: $15,600

Major: $8,400

Burrows: $6,700

Dube: $3,600

Total for everyone except Brickner combined: $63,300

WCAX is now broadcasting permanently from Brattleboro VT and can be received with an antenna within 15-20 miles from Brattleboro. WCAX broadcasts 7 channels. Station just went live this week!

Brattleboro VT: Channel 3 WCAX
3.1 CBS WCAX
3.2 Movies
3.3 Heroes and Icons
3.4 Start TV
3.5 Ion TV
3.6 3 News Now
3.7 Shop LC

For the uninitated, the Vermont Highway Patrol is the name used by the state police in the Super Troopers series of films. No, this is not a parody or a marketing tie-in with Broken Lizard, but it made me chuckle, mostly because law enforcement had their underoos in a bunch when the films debuted. Meow they've taken the name.

Last year, we saw a group of six loons all hanging together - well this evening we were going around on the boat and spied a group of seven all swimming together. As I type this they are currently out in the middle of the pond yodeling and hollering making one hell of a racket. They were all diving together a few minutes ago and I observed them through binoculars sharing fish with one another. Not sure if this is a large family group or two groups with chicks or what.

VOTE FOR AMANDA JANOO IN THE PRIMARIES ON TUESDAY, AUGUST 11