Archive - Feb 2, 2012
Commissioned by futurist and serial entrepreneur Martine Rothblatt, Bina48 is an android physically designed and programmed based on the appearance and personality of Rothblatt’s spouse, Bina Rothblatt (See related story). The first time I visited Bina48 last month, her face recognition software malfunctioned, which meant I had to return a few days later to conduct a full interview (Check out the Q&A here).
This the fifth in a series of opinion pieces discussing a proposal for Middlebury to create a fund that promotes economic development.
Fred Baser co-founded Bristol Financial Services in 1990. He is a past selectman in Bristol, a justice of the peace, chairman of the town’s Revolving Loan Fund Committee and a longtime member of the Patricia A. Hannaford Career Center board.
LINCOLN — In the hills of Lincoln exists a robot with a face that moves, eyes that see, ears that hear and a digital mind that enables conversation.
Her name is Bina48.
The unassuming android with a brown wig and pearls has been gaining notoriety since her inception several years ago. But as her creators seek to blur the boundaries between human consciousness and machines, fame isn't their primary motive.
MIDDLEBURY — Officials at eCorp English on Monday confirmed the company’s rocky financial start in Middlebury could get rockier before things smooth out as it looks to buy time from lenders, employees and contractors who continue to wait for payment.
Deborah Schwarz, founder and president of the firm that offers English language training to international businesses, said eCorp is asking its major financial backers for a one-year reprieve period as it seeks to stabilize its budget and avert the need to seek court protection from its creditors.
BRISTOL — The ongoing revitalization of Bristol’s industrial park took a big leap forward this week with confirmation that the campus will soon welcome a substantial local physicians’ practice and a new pharmacy.
Porter Medical Center officials on Monday reported that Bristol Internal Medicine (BIM), now located at 6 Park Place, will relocate this summer to a soon-to-be-renovated, 7,680-square-foot vacancy in the Bristol Works complex at the corner of Munsill Avenue and Pine Street.
ADDISON COUNTY — The Champlain Valley Office of Economic Opportunity (CVOEO) is doing its best to keep Vermonters warm this winter. But with slashes to federal funding, greater operating expenses and increased demand for fuel assistance, the administer of the federal Low Income Heating Assistance Program (LIHEAP) is looking for help.
VERGENNES — In March, Vergennes residents could choose to replace half the members of the city council.
Three multi-term incumbents all filed for re-election before Monday’s deadline — David Austin, Lowell Bertrand and Clara “Ziggy” Comeau.
BRISTOL — The Bristol selectboard took out its budgetary scalpel at its Monday meeting to further shave down a fiscal year 2013 municipal spending plan.
But despite the board cutting an additional $6,000 from the budget that evening, they OK’d a 2012-2013 spending plan that would result in an increase of $96,647, or 5.96 percent, in the amount to be raised by taxes.
