Month: September 2018

Puzzle #3: Lightbulbs in the Attic

By Muriel Bristol (Transcriber) | September 11, 2018

One of many variants of the lightbulb puzzle:

There are three light switches downstairs. Each activates one of three lightbulbs in the attic. You can turn the switches on and off as much as you like and leave them in any position.

How can you tell which light switch corresponds to which lightbulb, if you are only allowed one trip upstairs?

[Answer to Puzzle #3 to follow in the next Puzzle]

Solution to Puzzle #2: Love in Kleptopia

Ms. Calderbrook’s own solution:

Jan sends Maria a box with the ring in it and one of his padlocks on it. Upon receipt Maria affixes her own padlock to box and mails it back with both padlocks on it. When Jan gets it he removes his padlock and sends the box back to Maria; voila! This solution is not just play; the idea is fundamental in Diffie-Hellman key exchange, an historic breakthrough in cryptography.

Other solutions are possible. One involved a second lock with a key small enough to fit inside the keyhole of a larger lock.

One of our commenters (Mike Sylvia) proposed a contemporary technological solution:

With the tip of the hat to Cody Wilson, I’ll take up a modern solution. Jan makes a scan of the key with which he padlocked the box. He e-mails the data file (encrypted, of course) to Maria. Maria uses her 3-D printer to reproduce the key to unlock the box when it arrives.

Yes, it seems like that would work too. It is not a perfect solution, in that it uses additional items, such as scanners and 3-D printers, not mentioned in the original puzzle. But, it is certainly novel and interesting.

Comments: Lifeofmine55

Dear Lifeofmine55,

Thank you for the kind words. We appreciate your interest. I will try to address your several Comments in turn.

You commented first about your own abatement hearing. You revealed some few details (you probably should not do so, except maybe to a lawyer). It would be impossible for us to comment. You see, Chairman Thibeault and the BOS cannot respond, the law forbids it. So, it would be unfair for a newspaper to say much, when the complete facts cannot be known.

However, you mentioned Chairman Thibeault’s manner as having been dismissive. It is possible to cite a public instance of that. I refer you to the BOS meeting of March 5, 2018, in which he said the then Treasurer was “lying” (see “Old Business” in References). He did this shortly before the election of March 13, 2018, in which she was a candidate. Whether his characterization was true or not, we cannot know. It is not difficult to see how this might have influenced the election.

That remark alone would be considered completely unacceptable in any legislative body in the world. I believe they call it “unparliamentary language.” At the very least, he would have been strongly censured, if not expelled.

The other two Selectmen (then Chairman Rawson and Selectman Long) said nothing. They sat there like bumps on a log. Absolutely disgraceful. It fell to a citizen to call him on it (see “Public Comments” in References).

You asked next why the Selectmen serve on so many committees. They participate on those committees “ex officio,” a Latin phrase that means “by reason of their office,” i.e., by virtue of their being Selectmen. I believe it is intended to help them oversee and coordinate with those committees. And to keep the other Selectmen advised of the committee activities. That is a integral part of their function.

Another instance of this would be our state representatives. By virtue of being state representatives, they serve also “ex officio” on their county delegation (or county convention). Something to consider when voting for a state representative.

You put forward a suggestion that Milton would be better served with a Town Manager, rather than a Town Administrator. I will have to disagree with you there. I think that would be very much a change for the worse. But the issues might be worthy of their own article. Thank you for the suggestion.

You asked finally why more people do not comment here. Some readers have, such as yourself, and we do like to hear from our readers. We try to respond, to the extent possible, in a reply or in an article.

Your comment suggests that you would prefer a format that has the posting and commenting – the give and take, if you will – of social media. That would be exciting, but here we have only the more limited Comment form similar to that of newspaper letter to the editor (or publisher). And, frankly, we have not quite figured out how to make those comments appear with their articles.

Staff effort is devoted mostly to researching and writing their next article (and they are stretched pretty thin). Being such a small endeavor, it has to be that way.

I hope that answers your questions.

Yours sincerely,

John S. Frum, Publisher

N.B. This has been corrected through a comment from a state representative (and county delegate). The state representatives serve on their county delegation (or county convention), and not their county commission.

References:

State of New Hampshire. (2016, June 21). RSA Chapter 91-A. Access to Governmental Records and Meetings. Retrieved from www.gencourt.state.nh.us/rsa/html/VI/91-A/91-A-3.htm

Town of Milton. (2018, March 5). BOS Meeting Agenda, March 5, 2018 – Old Business. Retrieved from youtu.be/F6wbcKpHQSk?t=3194

Town of Milton. (2018, March 5). BOS Meeting Agenda, March 5, 2018 – Public Comments. Retrieved from youtu.be/F6wbcKpHQSk?t=6757

Wikipedia. (2018, July 26). Ex Officio Member. Retrieved from en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ex_officio_member

Wikipedia. (2018, July 28). Unparliamentary Language. Retrieved from en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Unparliamentary_language

Non-Public BOS Session Scheduled (September 10, 2018)

By Muriel Bristol | September 7, 2018

The Milton Board of Selectmen (BOS) have posted their agenda for a BOS meeting to be held Monday, September 10.

The meeting is scheduled to begin with a Non-Public preliminary session at 5:00 PM. That agenda has eight Non-Public item classed as 91-A:3 II (c), 91-A:3 II (j), 91-A:3 II (j), 91-A:3 II (e), 91-A:3 II (j), 91-A:3 II (c), 91-A:3 II (a), and 91-A:3 II (c).

91-A:3 II (c). Matters which, if discussed in public, would likely affect adversely the reputation of any person, other than a member of the public body itself, unless such person requests an open meeting. This exemption shall extend to any application for assistance or tax abatement or waiver of a fee, fine, or other levy, if based on inability to pay or poverty of the applicant.

The first, sixth, and eighth matters (the “c” items) appear to relate again to the recent tax abatement process.

In November, the BOS made a serious error in setting the 2017 tax rate. It affected all of the taxpayers, i.e., about 2,700 taxpayers, to a very large degree. Various figures have been given, ranging as high as $1.4 million. In December, the BOS suggested that those affected should file for abatements, which was a bit of shell game. An abatement fund of $20,000 could not possibly resolve an unauthorized tax levy of $1.4 million. This would be the third meeting that devoted agenda time to hearing abatements or appeals of rejected abatements.

91-A:3 II (j). Consideration of confidential, commercial, or financial information that is exempt from public disclosure under RSA 91-A:5, IV in an adjudicative proceeding pursuant to RSA 541 [Rehearings and Appeals in Certain Cases] or RSA 541-A [Administrative Procedure Act].

The second, third, and fifth items (the “j” items) might also relate to abatements. Of couse, they could be anything at all. The BOS has been sorting out matters related to the title of the old fire station.

91-A:3 II (b). The hiring of any person as a public employee.

The third matter (the “b” item) relates to the hiring of one or more additional town employees. This does not suggest that the BOS intends to either cut the budget through attrition or even level fund it.

91-A:3 II (e). Consideration or negotiation of pending claims or litigation which has been threatened in writing or filed by or against the public body or any subdivision thereof, or by or against any member thereof because of his or her membership in such public body, until the claim or litigation has been fully adjudicated or otherwise settled. Any application filed for tax abatement, pursuant to law, with any body or board shall not constitute a threatened or filed litigation against any public body for the purposes of this subparagraph.

The fourth matter (the “e” item) suggests that somebody is seriously dissatisfied with the results of their abatement hearing. On some level, it makes no sense. It was the BOS that actively encouraged all taxpayers last December to seek abatements as an imperfect solution to their own $1.4 million rate-setting error. One would think they would be handing them out like candy.

91-A:3 II (a) The dismissal, promotion, or compensation of any public employee or the disciplining of such employee, or the investigation of any charges against him or her, unless the employee affected (1) has a right to a meeting and (2) requests that the meeting be open, in which case the request shall be granted.

God only knows to what the seventh matter (the “a” item) relates. This might be somebody’s promotion, such as a police officer (to make room for the one being hired). It might be something from the Mi-Te-Jo hearings. One of the many issues discussed there was a dispute involving some town employee defining things without authority to do so. It could be anything.

The BOS intend to adjourn their Non-Public BOS session at approximately (*) 6:00 PM, when they intend to return to Public session.

The Public portion of the agenda has new business, old business, and the approval of minutes.

Under new business is scheduled: 1) Swearing in Police Officer (item posted by Chief Rich Krauss), 2) Update Personnel Policy (Heather Thibodeau), 3) Insurance Buyout Discussion (Heather Thibodeau), 4) Recreation & Boat Launch Discussion (Andy Lucier), 5) Town Report/Election Dates (Andy Lucier), and 6) History of Milton (Andy Lucier).

Selectman Lucier is back from his hiatus. He evidently plans to weigh in on the Town boat ramp. Also, the History of Milton. Get your popcorn ready. There is also the swearing in of a new police officer, which explains one of the prior 91-A:3 II (b) items.

Under old business is scheduled: 7) Cruiser Lease Purchase Discussion Follow up (Rich Krauss), 8) Downtown Winter Parking Discussion Follow up (Rich Krauss), 9) 2018 Dog Warrant List Update (Rich Krauss), 10) Previously Appointed Economic Development Committee Member Terms/Recreation Alternates (Ryan Thibeault), and 11) Townhouse Heating Discussion (Erin Hutchings).

Townhouse heating problems appear for the third time. Winter parking rears its head again too. Watch this one, the BOS was shopping for parking lots last May.

References:

State of New Hampshire. (2016, June 21). RSA Chapter 91-A. Access to Governmental Records and Meetings. Retrieved from www.gencourt.state.nh.us/rsa/html/VI/91-A/91-A-3.htm

Town of Milton. (2018, September 7). BOS Meeting Agenda, September 10, 2018. Retrieved from www.miltonnh-us.com/bos_agendas.php

The View from Mt. Major

By Andrea Starr | September 7, 2018

Mount Major (elevation 1,785 feet) is a mountain located in nearby Alton, NH, south of Lake Winnipesaukee and northeast of Straightback Mountain in the Belknap Range.

Mount Major’s parking lot and trailhead are about 20 miles from the intersection of NH Route 75 and NH Route 125 in Milton. Proceed on NH Route 75 towards and through Farmington to NH Route 11. Turn right on NH Route 11 towards Alton. Take the third exit off the Alton rotary and continue on NH Route 11 through Alton village, Alton bay, and Alton. The Mount Major parking lot will be on the left, although it is not uncommon for overflow parking to take place on either side of the road.

There is a signboard with trail maps and several porta-potties in the parking lot. Dogs are permitted on the trails (clean up after them). Good shoes with some ankle support would be useful, a canteen or water bottle too. A light jacket, tied around the waist or stowed in a small backpack, might be welcome at the top. It can be cooler there, due to brisk winds.

The Mount Major Trail (blue blazes) ascends the mountain from the north side. Its length is 1.5 miles and rises about 1,100 feet. It has a gradual rise for about half the trip. Turn left (with the blue blazes) at the Brook Trail junction. This is a popular hike – you will not be lonely.

The Brook Trail (yellow blazes) continues around the base of the mountain to where it connects to the Boulder Loop Trail (orange blazes). The initial stretch of Mount Major Trail (blue blazes), then continuing on the Brook Trail (yellow blazes), and finally the Boulder Loop Trail (orange blazes) make a giant loop around the base of the mountain without ever ascending it.

Continuing up the Mount Major Trail (blue blazes) towards the summit, the ground rises more steeply for the remaining half. As you approach the summit, with still a ways to go, you will break through the trees briefly onto a smooth ledge where Lake Winnipesaukee can first be seen in the direction of Moultonboro. It’s a great photo appetizer.

Excelsior! The summit is an open ledge-y area. It has the remains of a small stone shelter hut (Mr. Phippens’ Hut) there. Vandals destroyed it. (Now a monument to crass stupidity). Its roof is gone and large granite slabs have been toppled from its walls on one side. They do function well as picnic benches.

There is a panoramic view of Lake Winnipesaukee, stretching from Moultonboro bay in the northwest, across the White Mountains towards the north, Wolfeboro village along the lake’s northern side, and the long, thin Alton Bay to the northeast. The mountains are reflected in the lake. Fantastic!

You might just pick out Milton in that general direction with the aid of a topographic map. (I forgot mine). Even the eternal center-insert map from the Weirs Times or Cocheco Times would help identify features, such as the many islands and bays in the lake below.

mtmajor
Alton Bay to the northeast (Andrea Starr)

The MV Mount Washington may be seen traveling on the lake if your visit happens to coincide with its schedule.

Facing away from the lake, you will see the higher Straightback Mountain (elevation 1,911 feet). Mount Major’s peak is elevated 188 feet above the connecting “col” or ridge between them. There are trails to its peak also, more difficult ones, but that is another story. This view is a vast expanse of beautiful rolling wooded ridges and valleys.

One may return the way one came or depart instead down the opposite side (blue blazes still) to the Boulder Loop Trail (orange blazes) and along it back to the parking lot.

References:

Belknap Range Trails. (n.d.). Belknap Range Trails. Retrieved from belknaprangetrails.org/mt-major/blue-trail/

Collins Dictionary. (2018). Excelsior. Retrieved from www.collinsdictionary.com/us/dictionary/english/excelsior

Wikipedia. (2018, September 8). Col. Retrieved from en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Col

Wikipedia. (2018, February 3). Mount Major. Retrieved from en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mount_Major

This Is a Private Party

By S.D. Plissken | September 5, 2018

The NH State Primary election takes place next Tuesday, September 11, between 8:00 AM and 7:00 PM. The polling place will be again at the Milton Assembly of God Church at 370 White Mountain Highway.

There will be three ballots from which to choose: Democratic, Republican, and Libertarian.

Events of the last two presidential elections might give one pause in regard to this whole primary process. Republican delegates pledged to Ron Paul were not acknowledged at their party convention in 2012. Democratic delegates pledged to Bernie Sanders encountered similar problems in 2016. And there was that whole Wikileaks thing that revealed rigging by the Democratic National Committee (DNC).

The Bernie Sanders campaign sued the DNC over it. The suit went nowhere, but it was revealing. At one point, a DNC lawyer, Bruce Spiva, argued before the judge that the Democratic Party was a private organization and, as such, was not bound by any actual ballot results.

Wait … what did he say?

We could have voluntarily decided that, ‘Look, we’re gonna go into backrooms like they used to and smoke cigars and pick the candidate that way.’ That’s not the way it was done. But they could have. And that would have also been their right.

Republican Party officials said similar things regarding the Ron Paul delegates during the 2012 campaign. The Libertarian Party, Green Party, and others have not covered themselves in glory either. (The Democrats have since changed their rules, so as to prevent Bernie from upsetting them further).

Okay. A private organization does what it thinks best … best for them, that is. That makes sense. By all means, have a good time at the party, dear.

But it does beg the question: you are going to pay for this yourselves, right? You would not want to stick the undeclared plurality with the bill for your private party.

References:

Milton Town Clerk. (2018, August 31). September 11, 2018 Notice of State Primary Election. Retrieved from www.miltonnh-us.com/uploads/taxes_292_2284148664.pdf

Milton Town Clerk. (2018, August 31). September 11, 2018 Sample State Primary Ballots. Retrieved from www.miltonnh-us.com/uploads/taxes_291_2086530106.pdf

Washington Examiner. (2017, May 1). DNC Argues in Court: We Don’t Owe Anyone a Fair Primary Process. Retrieved from www.washingtonexaminer.com/dnc-argues-in-court-we-dont-owe-anyone-a-fair-primary-process/article/2621767

Washington Post. (2017, August 25). Florida Judge Dismisses Fraud Lawsuit Against DNC. Retrieved from www.washingtonpost.com/news/powerpost/wp/2017/08/25/florida-judge-dismisses-fraud-lawsuit-against-dnc/

Gore, Lesley. (1963, March 30). It’s My Party. Retrieved from www.youtube.com/watch?v=X5Cc5t72G8s

Puzzle #2: Love in Kleptopia

By Muriel Bristol (Transcriber) | September 4, 2018

Caroline Calderbank, young daughter of mathematicians Ingrid Daubechies and Rob Calderbank, posed this problem.

Jan and Maria have fallen in love (via the internet) and Jan wishes to mail her a ring. Unfortunately, they live in the country of Kleptopia where anything sent through the mail will be stolen unless it is enclosed in a padlocked box. Jan and Maria each have plenty of padlocks, but none to which the other has a key. How can Jan get the ring safely into Maria’s hands?

[Answer to Puzzle #2 to follow in the next Puzzle]

Answer to Puzzle #1: Going to St. Ives

The traditional answer to Puzzle #1 is 1. Only the narrator is explicitly said to have been going to St. Ives.

All of the others, all 2,801 of them, are assumed traditionally to have been going the other way or standing along the way. (If one subtracts out the sacks, the living beings total 2,752).

Were they all headed to St. Ives, that would make 2,802 going there (including the narrator). (If you discount the sacks, the living beings total 2,753).

Non-Public BOS Session Scheduled (September 4, 2018)

By Muriel Bristol | September 3, 2018

The Milton Board of Selectmen (BOS) have posted their agenda for a BOS meeting to be held Tuesday, September 4. The meeting is scheduled to begin with a Non-Public session at 5:00 PM. That agenda has one item: Non-Public matters classed as 91-A:3 II (b).

91-A:3 II (b) The hiring of any person as a public employee.

This meeting relates again to the hiring of one or more additional town employees. This does not suggest that the BOS intends to either cut the budget through attrition or even level fund it.

The BOS does not intend to proceed from their Non-Public BOS session to a follow-on Public session.

References:

State of New Hampshire. (2016, June 21). RSA Chapter 91-A. Access to Governmental Records and Meetings. Retrieved from www.gencourt.state.nh.us/rsa/html/VI/91-A/91-A-3.htm

Town of Milton. (2018, August 31). BOS Meeting Agenda, September 4, 2018. Retrieved from www.miltonnh-us.com/uploads/bos_agendas_824_4106554878.pdf

Letter to the Publisher: In Re: Goffstown Shows the Way

By John S. Frum, Publisher | September 3, 2018

Mr. Thomas McDougal has objected strongly to one of the two alternative explanations offered in Mr. Plissken’s recent article Goffstown Shows the Way. The two alternatives given were “There may have been a technical problem at that point or it might be that Mr. Bailey’s remarks have been censored.”

Mr. McDougal’s comment:

Regarding the suggestion that Mr. Bailey’s comment was censored, it was not. There was an issue with the video recording on the night in question. Specifically, the camera was off when the Macbook used to run the recording and streaming program was turned on. This resulted in the computer having to be rebooted so it would recognize the camera. Regrettably that resulted in very interesting comments being lost. We could have asked for more time to figure out the issue but hindsight is 20/20.

I find the suggestion that I, or any of the volunteers that run the recording equipment, would censor anyone regardless of their position on any topic offensive and insulting. If there are any questions about how the equipment is run or what is recorded feel free to ask. I can be reached at [personal information omitted].

The philosopher Wittgenstein once asked a friend, “why do people always say it was natural for man to assume that the sun went around the Earth rather than that the Earth was rotating?” The friend replied, “Well, obviously because it just looks as though the Sun is going around the Earth.” Wittgenstein responded, “Well, what would it have looked like if it had looked as though the Earth was rotating?”

The point being that it looks the same either way – Earth round the Sun or Sun round the Earth. Your belief colors the explanation.

In our own defense, our correspondent did not say which was the correct construction. He did give “technical problem” pride of place in his description. And the Milton town government has censored Mr. Bailey before.

We have asked Mr. Bailey what he thinks. Mr. Bailey believes that neither Mr. McDougal nor his volunteers would ever take a hand in anything of that sort. He pointed out that it was Mr. McDougal who spoke so strongly in favor of increased video coverage, advice that the Board of Selectmen ignored.

Mr. Bailey is right. We regret that our article allowed for any other interpretation and that it offended Mr. McDougal. Mr. McDougal and his volunteers are people of worth, performing a valuable service, and who would not participate in censorship. We have revised the article to exclude that possibility.

We hope that this explanation and apology satisfies Mr. McDougal and his volunteers.

 

Puzzle #1: Going to St. Ives

By Muriel Bristol (Transcriber) | September 1, 2018

We begin with a traditional Cornish puzzle:

As I was going to St. Ives,

I met a man with seven wives,

Each wife had seven sacks,

Each sack had seven cats,

Each cat had seven kits:

Kits, cats, sacks, and wives,

How many were there going to St. Ives?

[Answer to Puzzle #1 to follow in the next Puzzle]

Milton’s Idée Fixe

By S.D. Plissken | August 31, 2018

Milton has a very peculiar notion about businesses and its own “need” for them.

In short, the idea is that Milton needs businesses – so that it might tax them – so that it can alleviate its high residential property taxes.

This notion is ubiquitous. You hear it from elected officials, town committees, town employees, town meetings, newspapers, and from the townspeople. It is on everyone’s lips and has been for years. One might say even that it is an idée fixe (an idea that dominates one’s mind, especially for a prolonged period). Milton has long-standing town committees devoted either partly or largely to forwarding this notion.

When hearing it for the first time, it has a sort of superficial plausibility. But somewhere, in the back of your mind, you may sense vaguely that something is not quite right with this proposition. Something about it doesn’t quite “hang together.”

Stop for a moment. Clear your mind. Examine it more closely.

Aah, you see it now, don’t you? There is a flaw in the chain of reasoning. They have it exactly backwards.

Few, if any, businesses would ever enter voluntarily into Milton’s high-tax environment. At least not without some strong countervailing incentive. By their very nature, businesses strive always to reduce their overhead costs. But in this proposition, business is thought likely to choose the higher overhead option – Milton and its high taxes – over lower-tax communities that may be found elsewhere. Even elsewhere nearby.

Milton believes in the story of the boiling frog:

The boiling frog is a fable describing a frog being slowly boiled alive. The premise is that if a frog is put suddenly into boiling water, it will jump out, but if the frog is put in tepid water which is then brought to a boil slowly, it will not perceive the danger and will be cooked to death. The story is often used as a metaphor for the inability or unwillingness of people to react to or be aware of sinister threats that arise gradually rather than suddenly.

This is what Milton hopes will happen – that new businesses will come into its tepid waters and sit still while they are slowly boiled. However, the old fable is not true. The frogs do jump out if they possibly can. Wouldn’t you?

For example, Amazon’s recent search for a city in which to establish its secondary headquarters (HQ2) has been much in the news this year. Why not expand where they are in Seattle? Because the waters are getting warmer there. They are jumping out, so to speak, at least partially.

In a uniquely public competition, the [Amazon] company asked cities to highlight several local assets: the education and skills of their workforce, the quality of their transit and built environment, the strength of their schools and universities, and the livability of their communities. Amazon also requested each jurisdiction to describe what level of tax incentives they would provide so that the company could understand how tax breaks would help defray the initial cost of its proposed $5 billion investment. 

Tax breaks? That means lower taxes. That means a community would have to lower its taxes to “encourage” businesses to move there. Well, lower them for the business being encouraged, while everyone else’s taxes would have to be raised.

But they could raise the tax temperature back up later? You know, slowly, so as not to alarm the businesses. Well, no, not really. As the tax temperature rises, the businesses will decide at some point that taxation has become too hot. When that happens, they can just “jump out.” Just like the frogs, and just like Amazon. But jump out to where?

Not to Milton. The temperatures are past tepid here. You can see the bubbles beginning to rise. Its taxes will soon be boiling over. (It might be time to jump out if you can).

But what if Milton really wanted businesses for some other reason? Say, increased employment, general prosperity, etc.. It could reverse direction and reduce its taxes and regulations to achieve that?

No, that would be just crazy. Milton has committees seeking actively to “encourage” businesses – so that they might be taxed – in order to alleviate high residential property taxes.

Everybody knows that will work. They have known it for a long time now.

References:

Brookings Institution. (2018, August 28). Amazon HQ2: How did we get here? What comes next? Retrieved from www.brookings.edu/research/amazon-hq2-how-did-we-get-here-what-comes-next/

Meriam-Webster Dictionary. (n.d.). Idée Fixe. Retrieved from www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/idée%20fixe

Reuters News Service. (2017, October 19). Billions in tax breaks offered to Amazon for second headquarters. Retrieved from www.reuters.com/article/us-amazon-com-headquarters/billions-in-tax-breaks-offered-to-amazon-for-second-headquarters-idUSKBN1CO1IP

Wikipedia. (2018, July 26). Boiling Frog. Retrieved from en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boiling_frog

Wikipedia. (2018, May 20). Extraordinary Popular Delusions and the Madness of Crowds. Retrieved from en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Extraordinary_Popular_Delusions_and_the_Madness_of_Crowds