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Here in New York we've gotten spoiled by a mild winter without any snow. But we're learning to brace for powerful storms.
Swinging into town Friday night, the blizzard known as Nemo was taken seriously enough that my local movie theater on the Upper West side shut down early.
Up and down the coast hundreds of thousands lost power, 5,000 flights were cancelled, and the storm pushed all the way into Canada. The Telegraph reports Saturday's 70 mph winds will do nothing to help cleanup efforts and offers more storm details here.
Meanwhile in the middle of Manhattan we were met with a respectable covering of snow and headed out as the sun rose to see what was what.


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According to Stevie Wonder, superstition ain�t the way. Far be it from me to question the guy who wrote �For Once in My Life,� but he might have been wrong about the superstition thing.
According to Stevie Wonder, superstition ain�t the way. Far be it from me to question the guy who wrote �For Once in My Life,� but he might have been wrong about the superstition thing.
When Tax Deduction No. 2 started preschool last year, our household was under siege. We weren�t dodging bullets or Leroy Bin Laden�s collard bombs; we were under constant biological attack. Seemingly, every week, some new strain of cold, flu, or diphtheria showed up at our door with a sack of clothes tied around the end of a stick.
The weeks leading up to preschool this year were scary ones for me. I feared months of hacking, sneezing and wheezing were in our future. Even if the preschool of your choice is cleaned by Felix Unger and Hyacinth Bucket (pronounced �Bouquet�), it�s still a giant Petri dish filled with germ-carrying agents disguised as cute little bags of cytoplasm.
This diapered army masks their germs with Cheerio breath and grape juice, which makes being sneezed on in the middle of a yawn palatable but still deadly.
This school year has been relatively calm in the sickness department � which is OK to think but not verbalize. After a couple of months free of thermometers, doctor visits and castor oil smoothies, I had to open my big mouth on Monday.
�Man, it�s been nice not having any sick people in the house for a few months,� I said as The Wife looked for a fax machine to throw at my head.
�DON�T TALK ABOUT IT!� she whispered in a strained tone.
Sure enough, within 24 hours, Tax Deduction No. 2 came down with a hacking cough reminiscent of someone trying to crank a flooded Packard Phantom.
That night, TD No.2 tossed, turned and barked incessantly. She�d sleep for 10 minutes or so before waking up to request �rrrrback� (translation: �Get up, step on the miniature but sharp toy I left in the hall � without cursing � and rub my back until I go back to sleep�).
This back rubbing I speak of usually took a good five minutes to take effect. If you tried to phone it in by only doing it for two minutes, TD No. 2 would miraculously stop coughing long enough to look up at you like a horse who knows you�ve never ridden a horse before.
The second night � last night � was worse.
The hack remained the same, but now little, if any, sleep was being had. We put TD No. 2 in the bed with us thinking having Mama and Daddy close by might calm her down a little.
During all of this, TD No. 1 continued to populate the reservoir of drool she�d amassed on the left side of her pillow. We�re in talks with officials from Iowa to build a pipeline from the edge of TD No. 1�s pillow all the way to their drought-stricken farming communities.
Based on TD No. 1�s 2013-14 nocturnal drool forecast, the USDA predicts rice production in the Midwestern U.S. to quadruple by March.
TD No. 2 tried to settle down by burrowing into my rib cage. After several minutes of trying to find just the right angle, she came to rest on my left shoulder. After about 20 minutes of this, my arm started to go numb. I attempted to ever so gently remove my arm from under her head but she was having none of it.
Eventually, my left arm went completely numb, which either meant TD No. 2 had cut of all blood flow or I was experiencing a cardiac event. When she sneezed directly into my armpit at 4:15 a.m., I realized I was still alive.
After a luxurious 21 minutes of sleep, TD No. 2 started flipping and flopping again. The demonic cough returned and offers of water or juice were met with what was surely some type of toddler profanity. This time, TD No. 2 laid her head at the foot of our bed, which meant from 1 a.m. to 3 a.m., I was kicked in the face with a cute but lethal pink footie-covered foot. Around 5 a.m. � an hour before I had to get up � she finally dozed off.
I awoke an hour later feeling as if my entire body had been used to Swiffer all of New Orleans after the Super Bowl. I opened my eyes but saw nothing but darkness. My entire face felt as if the weight of the world was bearing down on it.
As I pulled my hands to my face to rub my eyes, I realized TD No. 2 had shifted during the wee hours of the morning and her tummy was pressed up against my face like a bug on a windshield.
I now faced a dilemma. Should I remove her and risk waking her up, or do I burn a sick day and risk being suffocated by OshKosh B�gosh?
Eventually, The Wife pulled TD No. 2 off of my face and with about an hour of sleep under my belt, I went to work. I don�t think the quality of my work will suffer, although those poor people who saw me walking around the courthouse before I realized I�d forgotten to put on pants this morning may need some grief counseling.
Jon Dawson�s columns appear every Tuesday in The Free Press. Contact Jon at 252-559-1092 or firstname.lastname@example.com. To purchase music, books and gum chewed by Diane Sawyer, visit jondawson.com.

subset: commoncrawl


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At Pure Tacoma, you will find the largest selection of Tacoma parts and accessories on the web. We are dedicated to providing you with the best customer service around.
We do our best to ship all items the same day the order is placed, custom requests may take longer. We do our best to deliver most items within 5-6 business days, most will show up much sooner. Not all items come from our shop in Texas. If your order contains items from multiple suppliers/warehouses, you will potentially receive tracking numbers and items at different times.
Here at Pure Tacoma, a Pure Auto Parts Inc company, we understand the importance of maintaining our customers privacy online. We understand that in this time of spam e-mail, and credit card fraud our customers want to know and have the right to know how personal information is handled.
Description: Our Squadron® Pro packs 4,900 Lumens at 40 watts that will truly annihilate the night. Don't let this light fool you, although compact in size this LED auxiliary light will literally blind you with brightness. The Pro comes equipped with a sleek black gloss aluminum housing and outshines the competition through both appearance and performance. An industry first 30 Day Satisfaction Guarantee & Limited Lifetime Warranty is included for the ultimate in purchase protection.
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Product 5/15
WARNING: This product may contain chemicals knownto the State of California to cause cancer, birth defectsand other reproductive harm.


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Stock Image
A chainsaw designed for firewood cutting - with a great power-to-weight ratio.
John T87
"Very impressed with the MS 250. It fit my budget, has the power I need to cut wood I've needed to cut. I've used this chainsaw on my ATV trails, trees at church and at home and it has handled them with ease."
When you rely on firewood to keep your home warm and cozy, you need a good chainsaw to build a solid woodpile. With an exceptional power-to-weight ratio, the STIHL MS 250 is up to the job. It's easy to use and combines great features to tackle clearing or cleanup tasks, as well as cut through small limbs and trees. For many years, the MS 250 has been a customer favorite, a model of efficiency and reliability that brings incredible performance every time.


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Disney's World: A Biography
Scarborough House, 1990 - Biography & Autobiography - 330 pages
Draws an intimate portrait of the man whose imagination spawned a family of classic cartoon characters, a powerful film studio, and an entertainment empire
What people are saying - Write a review
Disney's world: a biographyUser Review - Not Available - Book Verdict
Coming soon after Mosley's biography of the long-time head of 20th Century-Fox ( Zanuck ) is this biography of another Hollywood mogul, Walt Disney. Mosley begins almost apologetically, defending his ... Read full review
I have known and worked with a number of people who personally knew and worked with Walt Disney. Much of the "Walt" I read about in this book had NO bearing or resemblance to the Walt that was always described to me by those who knew him.
I had the pleasure of personally knowing Tommie Wilck for a number of years, Tommie was Walt's last secretary. She adored the man and couldn't say more positive things about him. The most negative thing I ever heard her say about Walt was that he could be impatient... especially when he was excited about something. She also said he'd not accept anything but the best efforts of his staff and had no problems "advising" them of what he expected. Personally, I find no fault in that.
I can't say how accurate the information in this book may be. I do suspect some of the information is colored by rumor, interviews with old, bitter associates and straight urban legends. Sometimes, I got the impression the author may be going out of his way to depict Walt in a different-from-usual light, perhaps to spark some controversy and interest in his book? There's no way to know, for sure. It was more of a "gut feeling" I had. I can't say I'd recommend this book. It was different. It was interesting. But, it was not particularly pleasant to read. One man's opinion.
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Rascally Signs in Sacred Places: The Politics of Culture in Nicaragua
David E. Whisnant
No preview available - 1995
No preview available


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Google shelves 3D interwebs plug-in for Mozilla play
Promises facelift for Google IE
Google has shelved its 3D graphics browser plug-in - the open source API known as O3D - opting instead for the WebGL standard originally developed by Mozilla.
"We did not take this decision lightly," Google said in its Friday blog post. "JavaScript has become a lot faster. We've been very impressed by the demos that developers have created with WebGL, and with the ANGLE project, we believe that Chromium will be able to run WebGL content on Windows computers without having to rely on installed OpenGL drivers."
Of course, there's another problem - and it too is down to the fact that Microsoft isn't exactly in step with the latest standards. The new O3D won't work with Internet Explorer, which lacks support for WebGL.
To solve this problem, Google will turn once again to Chrome Frame, the plug-in it invented to add HTML5 to Internet Explorer. Chrome Frame does not include WebGL support, but Google indicates it soon will.
Redmond doesn't like the idea of a plug-in that turns a Microsoft browser into a Google browser. But there's nothing Redmond can do about it - except maybe speed up its standards adoption.
Microsoft actually has a point when it comes to Chrome Frame. But Mozilla has a better one.
Google's O3D plug-in and its source code will remain available for at least a year, but after a maintenance release, Google will cease development. ®


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Speaking at a press conference for a fundraising event for Chime for Change, a charity that seeks to improve the lives of women worldwide, handsome musical wunderkind John Legend said: "All men should be feminists. If men care about women's rights, the world will be a better place." Thoughtful, succinct, and lovely.
Even better, he went on to list his mom as an inspiration and added "we are better off when women are empowered –- it leads to a better society." Yes!
The Sound of Change Live event will also feature performances from Florence & The Machine, Beyoncé, Ellie Goulding, and Timbaland. Incidentally, I'm currently looking to sell my soul for a ticket; it's gently worn, but it'll totally get you into hell.
Now, let's stare at the above photo and pretend he's singing directly to us.


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Andrew McKelvey, the billionaire founder and former chief executive of Monster Worldwide Inc., died early Thursday morning in New York after a long battle with pancreatic cancer, his family said. He was 74.
In 1967, McKelvey founded a yellow-pages advertising business called Telephone Marketing Program. Later known as TMP Worldwide, the company acquired The Monster Board and Online Career Center in 1995, and four years later the job-recruitment Web site Monster.com was launched to great success.
In 2003, TMP Worldwide became Monster Worldwide. The New York-based company employed 5,200 people in 36 countries and reported $1.35 billion in revenue in 2007.
McKelvey left the company in 2006 amid questions about his role in backdating employee stock options. In January of this year, McKelvey agreed to relinquish much of his voting stake in Monster and reached a monetary settlement with the company, federal prosecutors and the Securities and Exchange Commission.
McKelvey was also a philanthropist. The McKelvey Foundation has helped more than 600 students attend colleges across the country. Since 2001, he had donated $25 million to the Andrew J. McKelvey Lung Transplantation Center at Emory University in Atlanta.
He has given $3 million to the Andrew J. McKelvey Lower School at the Hewitt School in New York, and provided funding for Big Brothers Big Sisters of America and for the Andrew J. McKelvey Campus Center at Westminster College in New Wilmington, Pa., his alma mater.
McKelvey was born in New York in 1934.
His survivors include four children and six grandchildren.


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I finally got a new camera, posts with photos again!
So after my shopping expedition on Friday, I replanted the first flower bed on Saturday. I did the South one, and will work my way around counter clockwise to the NW one. You can check out my plan for more info.
It was 2 hours worth of work:
- Step one: ripped out the bishop's grass from the triangle spots below the planter where it meets the driveway & replanted those spots with a pink flowering yarrow.
- Step two: carefully dug out all the plants from the flower bed except one white mum (which was later pruned down). I divided the original 3 shastas into… well a bazillion shastas (actually 19) and put them in plastic totes etc.. for now until I'm ready to move them somewhere else and WeeWren picks hers up. Oleander and the other white mum are also in temporary containers at the moment.
- Step three: once the bed was emptied I hopped over to the fence side to try and rip out all of the grass growing below the planter on that side (under the fence and between the neighbor's driveway. Very difficult, kept banging my hand against the planter and the fence. I resorted to pouring 3 kettle-fulls of boiling water over this strip to try and kill the damn grass. Next time I'm working outside and I see the neighbor I'm gonna ask her if I can sit in her driveway and try to get at it from there. Eventually I will either plant wooly thyme or seed alyssum here.
- Step four: tilled up the soil to about 9" deep. Then tilled in compost, poultry manure, bone meal, kelp meal, granular gypsum and just a touch of chelated iron (the oleander had a good bit of yellow) to about 4".
- Step five: transplanted all the planned plants except hollyhock. I wanted a purty peach variety Michigan Bulb has on their site, but no nursery has anything like it right now. I substituted a super blue delphinium I found instead.
- Step Six: clean-up. I HATE this step…. took about 10 trips back and forth between the tools, fertilizers, empty nursery containers and full totes of daisies. Not to mention the Felix catus that tried to trip me half a dozen times.
The white mum that was already here, pruned down.
A variegated perennial stonecrop
the blue delphinium (and neighbor's Canis lupus familiaris) from International Garden Center
annual stock to fill in space around the perennials that shall grow in
(pink to please mother *blah*)
my Echinacea double decker from Sunflower Farms
Lewis Flax I grew from seed in spring
the Buddleja from my feeding the Archie Jr's fiasco...
Gaura grown from seed, I hope this runt grows up quick!
There's a couple other plants I didn't get good picks of. A weird succulent and a pink mum plant.And the overall affect:
Hopefully I have Bloom Day pics tomorrow. The next installment of the 2012 replanting won't be for a couple of week, got a trip this weekend. Happy gardening to all!


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Natural Patches of Vermont Soothing Itch and Skin Irritation Formula Essential Oil Body Patches Tea Tree - 10 Easy-to-Apply Patches
Natural Patches of Vermont Soothing Itch and Skin Irritation Formula Essential Oil Body Patches Tea Tree are cleansing, calming and healing. This blend has been formulated to soothe irritating rashes, break-outs and insect bites.
Tea Tree: Cleansing, Purifying, and Uplifting
Supportive to the immune system and beneficial to the skin, Tea Tree is touted to be the most "medicinal" of the essential oils. It is gentle, soothing and healing to aggravated and inflamed tissues and topically, is useful in the following skin conditions: insect bites, pimples, abscesses, acne, fungal infections, cold sores, and allergic rashes.
Aloe Vera: Rejuvenating and Healing
A general tonic to the skin, Aloe is well known as an anti-inflammatory, and also exhibits antibacterial and antifungal properties. Often used as a soothing agent and a pain reliever on dry, broken, or burned skin, it has also proven beneficial in reducing inflammation.
Eucalyptus Citriodora (Lemon Eucalyptus): Soothing, Calming, Purifying, and Invigorating
Refreshing and stimulating, Lemon Eucalyptus can cool and regenerate the skin. It displays many therapeutic properties including antiseptic, antiviral, and antibacterial.
Lavender: Balancing, Soothing, Normalizing, Calming, Relaxing, and Healing
Cooling and regenerating in a variety of skin conditions, Lavender is indispensable as a first aid oil. One of the most versatile therapeutic essences, it can prove useful in treating numerous skin conditions such as acne, boils, bruises, dermatitis, eczema, insect bites and stings, psoriasis, and fungal infections, in addition to many more.
Natural Patches of Vermont Essential Oil Body Patches offer numerous advantages over many other traditional and aromatherapeutic products in the marketplace. Arguably the most significant advantage to the patch delivery system is that it allows the use of essential oils and aromatherapy, in a user-friendly and approachable format.
Easy to use:
Simply remove the patch from its packaging, remove its protective liner, and place it on the body at the site specified on the packaging. Following application, body heat will activate the essential oils, releasing their aromatherapeutic benefits, which may last up to 24 hours and in some cases longer.
Not only are Natural Patches of Vermont Essential Oil Body Patches easy to use, the packaging has been specifically designed with portability in mind. Both the 10-Patch Tins and individually wrapped patches fit easily into a pocket or purse, for Aromatherapy-on-the-Go. They are especially convenient for air travel. Pack them in a carry-on or checked bag, because there is no liquid that could cause damage to other items in your baggage or cause delays in the screening process.
Unlike pain rubs, by using a proprietary process by which the essential oil blends are encapsulated in an adhesive layer, Natural Patches of Vermont Essential Oil Body Patches provide the targeted benefits of essential oils without feeling greasy or oily. Leaving no oily residue on the skin, either during use or upon removal, the patches require no clean-up and can be worn day or night, without fear of damaging clothing or bedding.
Natural Patches of Vermont Essential Oil Body Patches do not possess the over-powering smell exhibited by most pain rubs and balms. So discreet is the aroma, that no one around you will be aware that you are even wearing the patch, unless, of course, you want them to. The aromatherapeutic benefits of Natural Patches of Vermont Essential Oil Body Patches can be enjoyed even in the closest of quarters, with confidence that you will not draw attention to yourself or irritate or offend those around you, whether they be strangers, friends, spouses or co-workers.
As the name implies, Natural Patches of Vermont Essential Oil Body Patches do not employ the use of artificial colors and fragrances and, additionally, do not contain latex or pharmaceuticals of any kind, all characteristics that offer advantages over not only rubs and balms, but other patches in the marketplace, as well.
Many essential oils can be irritating to the skin and therefore must be handled with care and properly diluted before use. In Natural Patches of Vermont Essential Oil Body Patches all of our essential oils are combined with an olive oil carrier and applied to the patches in concentrations designed to provide maximum aromatherapeutic benefits, while minimizing the possibility of adverse skin reactions. To further ensure against adverse skin reactions, the adhesive used in Natural Patches of Vermont Essential Oil Body Patches has been formulated and tested for bio-compatibility (skin-friendliness).
Essential Oils & Aromatherapy
Essential oils are the highly concentrated essence of plants and may be extracted from the bark, flowers, foliage, resins, rinds, roots, seeds or wood, through distillation or by cold-pressing. Often referred to as the "blood" or "life force" of a plant, each essential oil is comprised of a unique profile of beneficial properties and constituents, which much like the human immune system, serve to defend the plant from disease and environmental stresses, and dictates how the oil may best be used therapeutically.
Most essential oils are inherently anti-bacterial, anti-fungal, anti-septic and anti-parasitic, all properties which can be particularly beneficial in addressing various skin conditions and as first aid preparations. Exhibiting high anti-oxidant properties, many oils can also assist in neutralizing the free radicals that assault our bodies at the cellular level. Still others contain estrogen-like constituents, making them particularly beneficial in balancing and regulating hormonal fluctuations.
Like all living organisms, plants also emit bio-electrical energy and because essential oils retain a high bio-electrical field, they can prove useful in regulating, enhancing and balancing the body's vibrational frequency, as well as, opening and aligning the chakras.
A partial listing of some of the other therapeutic properties exhibited by essential oils are:
Frequently Asked Questions
What are essential oils and what are their benefits?
Essential Oils are the "blood" of the plant, functioning as the plant's immune defense system. They provide the plant with its aromatic essence and are thought to give the plant its "life force". Protecting the plant from disease and assisting the plant in its adaptation to the environment, essential oils are inherently anti-fungal, anti-bacterial, anti-parasitic, anti microbial, anti-viral and antiseptic. Essential oils are the most potent and concentrated extracts of seeds, fruits, wood, roots, leaves, flowers, and resins. Essential oils, which maintain a high bio-electrical frequency, can help to restore wellness and balance, when applied to the human body.
Will the patches irritate my skin?
Every individual responds differently to anything applied to the skin. All of the oils used in Natural Patches of Vermont are listed on the product packaging. Review this information before using the patches, especially if you know that you have sensitivity or allergies to a specific plant or oil. If you are unsure, do a "patch test" before applying the patch. To perform a patch test: Cut a small piece of the patch and apply it to your skin. Wear this test patch for 24 hours and monitor the patch site for any signs of irritation or discomfort. Remove the patch immediately, should you experience either.
Note: When using the patches on a regular basis, it is recommended that you adjust the placement on the patch daily, so that your skin can breathe.
Where should I place the patch?
The majority of these essential oil patches should be placed on the upper broad part of the shoulder or chest, close enough to your face to experience the full aromatic benefits, but discreet enough so that others will not know you are wearing it… unless you want them to. That being said, some of the patches are most effective when placed at the site of the concern for which they have been formulated. (See packaging for specific placement recommendations.)
How long can I wear a patch?
The patches are effective for up to 24 hours. It should be noted that the adhesive will not retain its adhesive properties if it encounters moisture of any kind. In addition, should you experience any irritation from the patch, you should remove it immediately.
Can I wear more than one patch at a time?
Yes. However, it is suggested that you do not wear patches that negate each other. For instance, wearing a Lavender (Sleep) Patch and Citrus (Energy) Patch at the same time would be counter-productive. On the other hand the Bergamot (Stress) and Rose Geranium (PMS & Menopause) patches worn at the same time could prove highly beneficial.
Are the patches reusable?
No. The patches are designed for a single use. For hygienic reasons it is strongly recommended that you do not reuse or share used patches.
Do I have to use a whole patch?
No. Some people are more sensitive than others and can reap the benefits while using only half of a patch. Trust your body. It will tell you what it
needs.. if you listen!
How do the patches work?
Natural Patches of Vermont incorporate the age old practice of Aromatherapy and the topical benefits of essential oils to help restore balance and wellness. The practice of Aromatherapy utilizes various aromas to affect the body's response. Inhalation of essential oils evokes an immediate olfactory response. As we breathe in, warm moist air carries tiny molecules of the essential oils through the nasal passages stimulating olfactory cells, which send impulses to the olfactory nerve and in turn to the limbic portion of the brain. The limbic portion of the brain is responsible for our sense of smell, but also controls hunger, moods, memories and emotions.
Since ancient times, Essential Oils and Aromatherapy have been used to enhance well-being and promote balance of the physical and emotional self, by the controlled introduction of specific scents to the body and its surroundings. The use of Essential Oils and Aromatherapy may bring about a positive reaction to many common complaints including, but not limited to; Aches and Pains, Lack of Energy, Stress, Sleeplessness, Nasal Congestion…etc. and is a wonderful holistic approach to balancing the mind, body and spirit on many levels.
What are the patches made of?
The patches are made of a cloth layer that is coated with an adhesive, which is bio-compatible (skin friendly) and formulated from medical and food grade ingredients. The adhesive layer is infused with a combination of essential oils and extra virgin olive oil. The patches are both latex and preservative free. They contain no animal products and are not tested on animals.
How do I apply the Patch?
Patches should be placed on clean, dry skin. (The placement of each patch depends on the variety being used. Please refer to the instructions on the packaging.)
Step 1: Wash and dry the area where the patch will be applied to remove any excess oils or lotions that could prevent the patch from adhering properly. (The area where the patch is being applied should be relatively hairless to facilitate better adhesion and lessen discomfort upon removal.) Do not apply any patch to burned, broken or severely irritated skin.
Step 2: Remove the patch from its protective packaging only when you are ready to apply it. (Once removed from its packaging and exposed to the air, the essential oils will begin to dissipate.)
Step 3: Remove the protective liner from the patch, trying to avoid touching the adhesive. Discard the liner so that it is out of reach of children or pets. Recycle if possible in your area.
Step 4: Apply the patch to the prepared patch site. Press the patch firmly into place with the heel of your hand for at least 10 – 15 seconds. Make sure that it sticks well, especially around the edges.
Wear the patch for up to 24 hours. After 24 hours remove the patch, fold it in half with the adhesive side in and dispose of it out of reach of children and pets.
What is the best way to remove the patch?
Because the adhesive is very aggressive, we do not recommend pulling the patch off your skin quickly, as this could irritate the skin.
Some suggestions for removal are:
Company History
Founded in 2000, Natural Patches of Vermont, formerly Naturopatch of Vermont, is the brainchild of visionary and entrepreneur Hurley Blakeney, who, following a drag racing accident in 1999, sought solace from the discomfort that he was suffering, as the result of his injuries. To this end, Hurley tried numerous over-the-counter ointments and lotions, but was discouraged by the overpowering smell and greasy residue on his skin and clothing.
As CEO and founder of Vermont Medical, an industry leader in the manufacture and development of electrodes used for medical monitoring, Hurley began work on manufacturing patches made using natural ingredients. Essential oils offered a myriad of aromatherapeutic benefits and their liquid consistency lent to their ease of incorporation in the manufacturing process. He engaged the assistance of a very talented and dedicated researcher, who developed a unique bio-compatible (skin-friendly) adhesive, specifically for use in the natural essential oil body patches.
After numerous tests on friends and family, in early 2000, Vermont Medical began manufacturing essential oil body patches under the name, Vermont Essentials/Naturopatch of Vermont. In 2010, to better identify the company's mission to offer an aromatherapeutic experience using their unique essential oil body patch delivery system, the name of the company was changed to Natural Patches of Vermont.
On August 28, 2011 Tropical Storm Irene roared through Vermont, carving out a path of destruction, which included the Natural Patches manufacturing facility. Not willing to accept defeat, however, and dedicated to the mission of providing a natural wellness alternative, with the aid of dedicated employees, family members and friends, they salvaged what they could and moved to the present manufacturing facility in Bellows Falls, Vermont. Thanks to the loyalty and patience of their customers they persevered and despite the adversity wrought by the storm, in November of that year, they were able to launch five new formulas to further address the want and needs of customers.
Since its inception and throughout its history, Natural Patches of Vermont has continued to fulfill a niche with holistically minded professionals and individuals.
Placement: Upper broad part of the shoulder or chest, or placed at the site of the concern. (See packaging for specific placement recommendations.)
Step 1: Wash and dry the area where the patch will be applied to remove any excess oils or lotions that could prevent the patch from adhering properly. (The area where the patch is being applied should be relatively hairless to facilitate adhesion and removal.) Do not apply to burned, broken or irritated skin.
Step 2: Remove the protective packaging.
Step 3: Remove the protective liner from the patch, trying to avoid touching the adhesive. Discard the liner so that it is out of reach of children or pets.
Step 4: Apply the patch to the prepared patch site. Press firmly into place with the heel of your hand for at least 10 – 15 seconds. Make sure it sticks well, especially around the edges.
Let the patch fall off in the shower or bath.Wet the patch with a damp cloth and remove it slowly.Rub the patch briskly with your hand to warm the adhesive and then peel it off slowly.
Extra virgin olive oil, organic tea tree, aloe vera, eucalyptus citriodora, and lavender essential oils.
For external use only. Do not apply to broken or irritated skin. If skin sensitivity occurs, discontinue use. If you suffer from any medical condition, including pregnancy, seek professional advice before use. Keep out of the reach of children. Keep away from eyes. May cause irritation to sensitive skin.
Founded in 2000, Natural Patches of Vermont, formerly Naturopatch of Vermont, is the brainchild of visionary and entrepreneur Hurley Blakeney, who, following a drag racing accident in 1999, sought solace from the discomfort that he was suffering, as the result of his injuries. To this end, Hurley tried numerous over-the-counter ointments and lotions, but was discouraged by the overpowering smell and greasy residue on his skin and clothing.
Natural Patches of Vermont body patches harness the power of pure essential oils and aromatherapy to help open the pathways to vibrant health and well-being. The patches contain no artificial colors or fragrances and are both latex and preservative free. Natural Patches of Vermont body patches could not be easier to use. You simply place the patches on your upper chest or at the site of the concern. Your body heat will activate the essential oils and they release therapeutic benefits for up to 24 hours.
Since its inception and throughout its history, Natural Patches of Vermont has continued to fulfill a niche with holistically minded professionals and individuals.
Each review you submit on our website enters you for a chance to win our $500 gift card giveaway!
Headaches are so inconvenient and annoying! And, they have quite the knack for ruining fun times and making the not-so-fun times even worse.
? Dry, flaky skin on your face and around your mouth can cause irritation and discomfort.
Essential oils are volatile, aromatic compounds that have been around for centuries.
If you look in your kitchen cabinet right now, you're likely to find the commonly used herb oregano.
Soothing Itch and Skin Irritation Formula Essential Oil Body Patches Tea Tree - 10 Patch(es) Formerly Naturopatch
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UConn news: Napier, Top 25 ranking, Paradise Jam
UConn shoots for its second U.S. Virgin Islands Paradise Jam championship tonight in St. Thomas. The Huskies won the tournament in 2008.
New Mexico(3-0) is tonight's championship game opponent.
Game time is 10 p.m.
The Huskies (4-0) climbed two spots to No. 21 in today's Associated Press top 25 poll.
Junior Shabazz Napier earned Big East player of the week honors after averaging 19.3 points and 4.3 rebounds in three games.
Here's a preview of tonight's championship game against New Mexico:
-- Both teams needed to stage remarkable comebacks to win in the semifinals.
UConn fought back from a 10-point deficit (55-45) with 4:57 left and finally out-lasted Quinnipiac, 89-83, Sunday in double overtime.
Napier, who struggled for most of the game, scored a career-high 29 points, including 11 in the final in the last three and a half minutes of regulation. He sent the game to overtime with a driving layup with 4.2 seconds left.
New Mexico trailed by five with 12 seconds remaining against George Mason before Kendall Williams hit a 3-pointer and the stole the inbounds pass, leading to Tony Snell's game-winning 3-pointer with 1.8 seconds left. The Lobos won 70-69.
-- This is only the second meeting between these two programs. During its post-season run on the way to winning the program's first national championship in 1999, UConn won, 78-56, in an NCAA second round game in Denver, Colo., on March 13.
-- New Mexico coach Steve Alford's name should sound familiar. Alford was the captain of Indiana's 1987 national championship team. He's in his sixth season as head coach.
As head coach at Iowa, he led his team to a 70-68 upset of top-ranked UConn in the Coaches vs. Cancer Classic on Nov. 11, 1999, at Madison Square Garden in New York.
-- The Lobos returned three starters from a 28-7 team that won the Mountain West regular season and conference tournament titles and advanced to the second round of the NCAA tournament.
Snell, a 6-foot-7 guard, leads the Lobos in scoring at 19.7 points per game. Williams, a 6-4 guard, and 7-foot sophomore center Alex Kirk also average in double figures, checking in at 18.0 and 10.3 points, respectively.
Kirk is the top rebounder at 8.3 per game.
New Mexico beat University of Illinois-Chicago, 66-59, Friday in the Paradise Jam first round.
-- The Lobos are shooting just 41.7 percent from the field through three games. They've out-rebounded opponents, 38-31.7. But they lost the battle of the boards for the first time this season against George Mason.
They've been out-rebounded only six times in the last two seasons.
-- The Huskies continue to win despite losing the rebounding battle in each of the first four games. They've been out-rebounded by an average of 39.5-30.8.
-- Napier has led the team in scoring in all four games. He is averaging a team-best 20.8 points, scoring the bulk of his points in the second half.
After going 1-for-10 in the first half against Quinnipiac, he went 7-for-13 from the field.
-- As expected, the Huskies have been a perimeter-powered team this season. The starting guard trio of Napier, sophomore Ryan Boatright (18 points) and freshman Omar Calhoun (17) combined for 64 points. Reserve guard R.J. Evans chipped in six points.
-- UConn made a school record 39 free throws out of 45 attempts versus Quinnipiac. The Huskies are shooting 82.1 percent from the free throw line.
Reader Comments
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Influenza Season Returns to Minnesota
ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) - Influenza is back in Minnesota.
The Minnesota Department of Health says across the state, 36 people were newly hospitalized with influenza during the week ending Saturday. That brings total hospitalizations in the state to 104 so far this season.
The new hospitalizations were a 50 percent increase over 24 new hospitalizations the previous week, according to numbers released Thursday.
Health department spokesman Doug Shultz tells the St. Paul Pioneer Press that "things are starting to increase."
More Minnesotans were hospitalized with flu a year ago at this time - 173 new hospitalizations were reported during the comparable week in 2012.
But Schultz says it's too early to know how the current flu season ultimately will compare with last season, which was Minnesota's worst flu season in five years.


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When I was a child, I had a butterfly collection that was my pride and joy. I'll grant you that not everyone thought collecting insects was a suitable hobby for a little girl. However, it was certainly an affordable one, since I made my own butterfly net out of a mesh bag that had held oranges, a length of bamboo, and a coat hanger. Daddy kept me supplied with empty cigar boxes to hold my collection, and Mama provided pins for my specimens. An aunt recommended that I read "Girl of the Limberlost", which provided much inspiration, and which also ensured that I would return to the library for anything I could read about butterflies and moths.
Back then, I had an almost limitless suppy of material for my collection, since every yard in my neighborhood was bordered by hedges of flowering plants, which drew butterflies seeking nectar. Additionally, we had a few vacant lots, which were generally allowed to grow up with a weedy assortment of native plants which also drew butterflies, both for nectar and for caterpillar food. At the time I didn't know haw important it was to have the correct "host" plants for hungry larvae in order to have butterflies. The books I read were good sources of butterfly identification, but gave little information on raising them. However, we had a number of the trees and the smaller plants that served as host plants for a variety of showy butterflies and moths. Many of these were wild plants native to our area, and thus a vital part of the ecosystem that included my favorite insects
Now, fast forward to today. Highways criss-cross America, connecting cities surrounded by suburbs and shopping malls. Houses are set in expanses of grass and feature insect resistant hedges and non native trees. Shopping malls are sterile expanses of asphalt parking spaces, with the occasional token tree, generally also an exotic species that no native caterpillars accept as food. This is not a friendly environment for butterflies, or humans, for that matter.
As always, what we do in the present helps shape the course of the future. If we want to see more butterflies, we must allow for their needs at all stages of their life cycle. It isn't enough to plant a butterfly bush and say we've done our part. No native caterpillars eat the leaves of that bush. The butterflies it attracts grew up somewhere else ! It is true that we might have to change some of our cherished ideas of what constitutes a beautiful yard. Plants nibbled on by hungry caterpillars may not look as tidy as some that no self respecting caterpillar would eat, but will more than repay the home owner with the beauty of fluttering multi-colored wings. I have heard objections that butterfly supportive gardening is "too untidy", "might draw bees", "is just full of weeds", etc.. But, if you can see the beauty in God's awesome creation, and want to work with Him in preserving it, try at least a small space given to such plants as asclepias, echinacea, perhaps a Lindera benzoin bush . Try some gardening without insecticides.
If you want more practical suggestions, visit my website at http://butterflyladybedford.org/ Then, if you really want to see what butterflies are flying now in a natural area, join with Central Virginia Master Naturalists in a butterfly count at Ivey Creek Park on Sept. 1st, from 9-4. Or come to the Nature Zone for a bit of hands on training at 10 AM on Aug. 25th. Come for the day or just a few hours, and be sure to bring the kids for some healthy fun in the park.
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Only YOU Can Stop Our Indie Film & Media Culture From Vanishing/
I was invited to contribute to the "Wish For The Future" series on Good.is. This is mine:
When do we stop just thinking about ourselves and instead start working together? I am not talking about saving the world; I am writing about preserving and advancing ambitious film and media culture. It's threatened, and no one individual will ever rescue it. My wish for the future is for the creative community, locally, nationally and globally, to work together to build the better indie infrastructure that is now possible.


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- News
- Nick Lowe's indomitable charm revealed in new bio 'Cruel to Be Kind' September 13 by Stephen Thomas Erlewine
- Did we really need to send two staffers to review Lil Wayne and Blink-182 at the Xcel? September 13 by Keith Harris and Jay Boller
- The weekend's best concerts: Sept. 13-15 September 13 by CP Staff
Food & Drink
- Local Suds: 5 Minnesota beers to drink in September September 13 by Jerard Fagerberg
- Sunday's Eat Street Festival focuses on the humans behind the foods we love September 13 by Sarah Brumble
- Think you're a pressure cooker whiz? Enter City Pages' Amateur Beef Battle cook-off! September 13 by Sarah Brumble
Arts & Leisure
- Oh dang! Artspace is buying the Northrup King Building with help from Intermedia Arts September 13 by Jessica Armbruster
- Veg Fest, Nut Goodie beer, 'Big Lebowski' night: 59 free things to do this weekend September 13 by Jessica Armbruster
- Buy tickets to Hounds & Hops — our annual dog-friendly beer party! September 12 by Jay Boller
- Calendar
- Review: Overblown 'It: Chapter Two' can't recapture creepy clown-killer magic September 11 by Tony Libera
- 'Brittany Runs a Marathon' takes a realistic, life-affirming look at self-improvement September 4 by Tony Libera
- Mexico City's artsy underground, trippy animation: Unusual films screening in September September 5 by Solomon Gustavo
- Best Of
- Promotions
Acapulco Restaurante Mexicano
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This week Cosmo brings you seven women telling remarkably candid and funny stories about their sexual encounters. It doesn't get more real than this.
The Desire Project is a show created by Victoria Floethe about real women figuring out what they want in life, love—and in bed.
Share your desires with us in the comments section and stay tuned for another revealing episode tomorrow.


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Search results
2019 Carcass Show Results
for holding and processing. As in all county fairs, the winning animals are carefully tested by the ... Ohio Department of Agriculture for any illegal residues. These winning animals were again found to be ...
Digital Agriculture Program Celebrates Ohio State's Sesquicentennial
For the past 150 years, The Ohio State University has been a leader in advancements in agriculture ... and engineering. And now, using precision agriculture technology, Ohio State researchers are able to ... anniversary in a soybean field. This is the fifth year that Ohio State's Digital Agriculture program has ...
Women Inspire Construction
a leading Commercial Construction General Contractor focusing on transforming retail spaces. The company ... 15 and 10. SPECIAL THANKS TO OUR SPONSORS: Lead Sponsors: Jezerinac Geers Continental Building Co. ...
Q&A with Dr. Darren Drewry
Dr. Darren Drewry is an Assistant Professor in the Departments of Food, Agricultural and ... 3. What drew you to the Department of Food, Agricultural and Biological Engineering at Ohio State? The ... agricultural and biological engineering. At FABE I knew I would continue to learn a tremendous amount about how ...
FABE Leads Record Number of Undergrad Engineering Specialties Ranked by US News
29th, up one spot from last year. The Department of Food, Agricultural and Biological Engineering's ... program ranked 9th in the nation in agricultural and biological engineering graduate programs. Original ...
Agriculture Hall of Fame Nominations Sought
Applications are being accepted for the 2019 Hardin County Agriculture Hall of Fame through the ... end of business on October 15. Nominees must have made their major contribution to agriculture ... The purpose of the Hardin County Agriculture Hall of Fame is to recognize and honor outstanding ...
New Equipment Testing
219 Thursday, September 12, 2019- 9:00am to 10:00am ...
Monarch Butterflies Workshop
The final summer garden program 'Monarch Butterflies' is scheduled for August 17. Come and learn ... Monarch caterpillars in the Friendship Gardens and learn how to raise them until they emerge and are able ... plant to help attract monarch butterflies to their garden. There will be books and butterfly containers ...
Edibles in the Landscape
Botanical Garden and want to see this plant in its glory, it can be found along the north/south drive across ... the Rose Garden. This is the local office to bring in samples to ID or garden related questions to be ...
Ohio Celebrates Local Foods Week
a community garden in the neighborhood, an urban farm, a CSA (community support agriculture) farm, or a more ... What excites me in the summer, is a quick trip out to the garden to harvest a fresh tomato or two. ... local economy. Agriculture is Ohio's number one industry contributing jobs for one in seven Ohioans, and ...


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Sunday, October 2, 2011
Designer Crafts Connection Charitable Blog Hop Sponsored by Westcott Brand
34 comments:
Westcott is GREAT! Looks like your products can do so many things. I'm also a CHA designer!ReplyDelete
I didn't know you could do so many thing with this stuff. How great.ReplyDelete
Ooh - I love the pink and purple - and even the blue! Thank you for taking tape to the next level!ReplyDelete
I'd love to try your scissors!!! Put me in!ReplyDelete
I Love Westcott!!! Such great ideas!! Thanks so much for a chance to win this Amazingly Generous Giveaway!!ReplyDelete
Great products!ReplyDelete
Oh goodness, what a generous give away! The scissors sound amazing. I would love to try them out! Count me in the draw:) Now I shall have to go back and check out these creative artists!ReplyDelete
It's great to see a product that many women use supporting women. Thanks!ReplyDelete
Please enter me. I made a wallet using duct tape, which turned out very nicely. My granddaughter loves using duct tape to make projects. Great products! Love the projects I've seen so far.ReplyDelete
I would love to win this. but I sure hope there are left handed scissors!ReplyDelete
Thanks for supporting Breast Cancer Awareness! What a great giveaway!ReplyDelete
Such a great giveaway, thanks!ReplyDelete
Now this is awesome. What a great way to bring about awareness. Awesome job Westcott!ReplyDelete
My family was just in a video to support Breast Cancer Awareness. Vote for http://pinkglove.co/12 please! I'd love to win the tools too! email@example.com
This is great. Would love to take advantage of using Westcott products on the creations I make. Thanks for offering the contest.ReplyDelete
I just want to say - great projects/ideas - I love making projects with these too - ducktape- westcott and velcro - amazing what you can create with three products.ReplyDelete
I have a pair of your #13529 Titanium scissors and they're awesome -- would love a chance to try some other products from Westcott!!!ReplyDelete
I love crafting and can sure use your scissors!! And being a cancer survivor I applaud your dedication to fighting breast cancer!!ReplyDelete
I just bought a small pair of Westcott Scissors for the first time. I'm fairly certain I need more, and with the quality I see in these scissors, I know the rest of your products must be great !ReplyDelete
Fantastic giveaway of some great products. Thank you SO much!!ReplyDelete
- AnonymousOctober 17, 2011 at 9:36 PM
What a great opportunity, Thanks very much!!!ReplyDelete
I'm falling in love with my Westcott scissor. Now I need one of everything.ReplyDelete
My mom won a package of your scissors and paper cutters and she was kind enough to share one of the paper cutters and a couple of the scissors with me. Now I want them all ... they're wonderful!ReplyDelete
Fantastic cause, giveaway and I'm looking forward to working my way through the blog hop.ReplyDelete
Gret giveaway, great products, great bloghop! triple win!ReplyDelete
I loved reading about the different craft projects with your great productsReplyDelete
Thank you for hosting this giveaway
pumuckler {at} gmail {dot} com
These look like they are pretty and comfortable to use. I recently had surgery on both my hands and crafting and cutouts are excellent therapy! Would love to have these fine produts to work with. Please pick me!ReplyDelete
This is so wonderful. It's nice to see I wasn't the only one with the idea of featuring Handmade items to aid an awesome cause like Breast Cancer support - http://www.ms-veronicas.com/hearttheboobies/. Kudos to all the fabulous creators out there.ReplyDelete
Ohhh, I'd love some of your cutting tools!!ReplyDelete
Would love to win! Thanks for promoting BReast Cancer Awareness Month!ReplyDelete
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Thanks for sharing informationReplyDelete
"If you haven't any charity in your heart you have the worst kind of heart trouble" to cure itReplyDelete
Help people, let's unite for one good cause, be a volunteer"save lives"!


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It's happens to every sports fan: two huge games on at the same time. What to do? DIRECTV has the answer: DoublePlay. It allows you to quickly toggle between any two games that are simultaneously recording. It works for any two shows on any two channels. DoublePlay doubles your enjoyment with a click no matter what you want to watch.
3225 3225 333
Here's how it works:
Note: To use DoublePlay, you must have a DVR (model R22 or later) or an HD DVR (model HR20 or later).
*DIRECTV Whole-Home DVR service requires a DIRECTV Plus HD DVR, Advanced Receiver Service fee ($25/mo.) and Whole-Home-enabled HD Receiver for each additional TV (or RVU enabled devices with the Home Media Center HD DVR model HR 34). Limit one remote viewing per HD DVR at a time, or up to three with the Home Media Center HD DVR. For more information, visit directv.com/wholehome.


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How to set a bedtime
The first time you set a bedtime, the Clock app asks you a few questions:
- Open the Clock app and tap the Bedtime tab.
- Tap Get Started and choose your settings.
- Tap Save.
After you set a bedtime, your iPhone reminds you when it's time to go to bed, and an alarm sounds when it's time to wake up.
To change the time, drag or . As you drag, your Bedtime reminder and Wake alarm automatically update.
Turn Bedtime on or off
- Open the Clock app and tap the Bedtime tab.
- In the top-right corner, turn Bedtime on or off.
This turns off both the alarm and the reminder.
Track your sleep history
Tap the Bedtime tab, then scroll down to your Sleep Analysis, which shows your recent history.
If you use your iPhone when you're supposed to be in bed, you won't get credit for that time. Or, if you snooze the Wake alarm, the time that you stay in bed updates to match.
Data from Bedtime also automatically appears in the Health app.
How to change the settings
- Open the Clock app and tap the Bedtime tab.
- In the top-left corner, tap Options.
- Here's what you can change:
- Choose which days your Wake alarm goes off. Your alarm goes off on days that are orange.
- Set when you're reminded to go to bed.
- Choose a Wake Up Sound for your alarm.
- Change how loud the alarm is.
- Turn Do Not Disturb During Bedtime on or off. During bedtime, the Lock screen dims, calls and alerts that arrive when your device is locked are silent, and notifications go to your history.
- Tap Done.
How to view your history in the Health app
Open the Health app, tap the Health Data tab, then tap Sleep > Sleep Analysis. Your Sleep Analysis shows the amount of time that you spend in bed or asleep.
Bedtime in the Clock app tracks time that you spent in bed, but not how much you slept or moved. Your Apple Watch also doesn't track sleep or time in bed.
To track how much time you sleep, try using a sleep tracker with the Health app. You can also manually enter how much time you slept. Learn how to add data or devices to the Health app.


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It really is a pretty amazing time of year for a baseball fan. For those of us who live and breathe the game, what sits before us is six densely-packed months. And then some.
For the other major North American professional sports, so much of the story is woven off the field of play, where the subtext is simultaneously created and dissected through any number of media scrums at practices and ex-jock analyst roundtables. But with baseball, there's so much that happens every day that it provides an almost constant flow of, well, the text.
This is what makes baseball such a fun game to follow. There's hardly the time to fixate over a bad at bat or a pitch that got away, because there's another game tomorrow, and the day after that, and after that.
Which has us thinking: In Toronto (and across Canada), there's been a persistent refrain about the lack of "meaningful games" in recent years for the Blue Jays. But for those of us who love the game, and absorb as many chapters and verses as time and good sense will permit, it feels as though there's too much meaning to take in over the run of a season.
Which isn't to say that a game or a play or a pitch means everything over the course of a season. But they all mean something, and over the long term, they all add up. Or where, ultimately, this collection of players is heading. It takes patience not to skip ahead in your mind to attempt to foretell how the season will end up, and where it fits into the bigger, broader context. But if you can catch your breath and appreciate the moment you're in, it can be incredibly rewarding to be a baseball fan.
That's why this moment, with past as prologue and a full season yet to be played, provides such an incomparable feeling. We know that we'll forget this feeling as the season wears on. There will be hard times, and there will be high times, and trying to keep them in perspective is always tough when you're in the moment.
There's 162 games ahead, and they'll be filled with walkoffs and blown saves, unexpected performances and unfortunate injuries. There will be games that should have been won, and games that the team manages to pull out. There will be winning streaks and losing streaks. Balls will get popped up on the infield, and balls will be sent sailing beyond the outfield wall. Runners will be stranded, and runners will be cashed in, eliciting a comforting "the Blue Jays are in flight!" from Jerry Howarth.
There's so much to take in, it's almost overwhelming. But we couldn't be happier. Let's play ball.
Wednesday, April 4, 2012
How About Another Year?
5 comments:
- Chad said...
Well said, sir. I am goose-pimpled in anticipation.
- April 5, 2012 at 10:12 AM
- Luis Fernandes said...
God damn right. Thanks for providing such a fantastic warmup to this years season. As a man that has spent every home game in the stands for over a decade, I can tell you that intangible feeling you describe is real. I feel it right now. Play ball indeed.
- April 5, 2012 at 11:15 AM
- Jonathan said...
Thanks for this, Tao. I live 9 time zones away and never get to actually watch the games. Your blog provides great textual analysis for me. Fantastic start to the season!
- April 6, 2012 at 12:31 AM
- bakatron said...
this could quite possibly be the greatest tao post ever!
- April 6, 2012 at 1:16 AM
- Roy said...
Yesterday's 16 inninger seemed pretty meaningful to me. I love this team.
- April 6, 2012 at 10:09 AM
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I'll keep this spoiler free.
Let me start by saying I a big fan of Godzilla (I have all the movies) and Mecha (I have all of Gundam released in North America in addition to more anime)
This movie is (in my opinion) the BEST MOVIE OF THE YEAR.
There has only been two movie to bring tears to my eye, 1st was Revenge of the Sith when Aayla Secura was killed, 2nd was Transfomers (2007) when I heard Peter Cullen.
Now Pacific Rim joins them and has out done them, cause tears of joy kept flowing.
Can't wait for Godzilla


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Free Entry
Immerse yourself in a landscape of fragrant pine plantations and eucalypt forests surrounding a string of paperbark-lined waterholes. A photographer's dream, the tannins from the paperbarks have coloured the waterholes a golden-brown, creating striking reflections.
Lake Lenthall is in the heart of the forest and the National Bicentennial Trail passes right through.
Set up camp or park you van in the shade beside Wongi Waterhole and spend the morning birdwatching along the bank. Enjoy a picnic by the cool water or explore the tranquil waters by canoe.
Image credits: © Queensland Government


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There is a freight train of new management tools headed for U.S. dairy farms, and it's aiming straight for the heifer breeding pen, says Pat Hoffman, professor of dairy science based at the University of Wisconsin's Marshfield Research Station in Marshfield, Wis.
"Heifers are a new horizon for herd improvement with genomic testing," says Hoffman. "Cows are already cows, so testing them doesn't allow us to make informed management decisions about them the way we can with heifers."
Dick Wallace, senior dairy technical service veterinarian with Zoetis Animal Genetics, says a first-calf heifer needs to perform as a productive member of the herd for more than one lactation to compensate for the cost of raising her.
The use of sexed semen and embryo transfer, along with improved reproductive programs, has left many dairies with far more heifers than they need to maintain their herd size. Couple that fact with today's high feed prices, and it is easy to see why being selective about which heifers to raise could be beneficial to a herd's bottom line and its genetic advancement.
Genomic decisions
"The decisions we need to make about every heifer are (a) whether she is needed in the herd, and (b) if she fits the genetic goals of the herd," says Wallace. "If the answer to either question is 'no," then genomics can help determine other routes for her than the breeding pen."
Wallace works with herds on the application of CLARIFIDETM Dairy Genomics Test, a 6,909-marker (6K) panel that delivers genomic predictions for as many as 30 production, health and type traits, as well as nine composite indexes. He advises producers to test heifers as early in their lives as possible to make rapid decisions regarding their futures, suggesting that the results could send heifers down one of several paths. A herd plan might look something like:
1. Lowest 10 to 15 percent – sell for dairy or beef.
2. Next 20 to 40 percent – use as recipient animals for embryo transfer, allowing them to enter the milking herd but not transmit their genetics.
3. Next 20 to 40 percent – breed to sexed semen.
4. Top 5 to 10 percent – enroll in embryo transfer programs.
While those percentages will vary among herds, Wallace says the structure helps producers manage heifer inventories with confidence that they are continuously improving their herds. Another strategy some herds are employing is breeding a percentage of their low-end genomic animals to beef sires. "This approach captures some premium value for the calves, and removes the temptation to keep lowergenomic animals in the herd," says Wallace.
Genetic insights
In addition to production decisions, genomic results also provide important genetic information that assists in making successful matings, including:
HAPLOTYPE IDENTIFICATION – Several haplotypes, which are sections of DNA inherited as a group, have been identified that negatively affect fertility. In Holsteins, they are HH1, HH2 and HH3. One has been identified in Brown Swiss (BH1) and one in Jerseys (JH1). These haplotypes are fairly common within their respective breeds, so culling based on their presence is not advised. But Hoffman says it is important to avoid breeding a female haplotype carrier to a haplotype-carrier bull, which would increase the likelihood of failed conception or early embryonic loss by about 25 percent. "Lost pregnancies are very expensive in heifers," says Hoffman. "Using genomic information is an easy way to avoid a widespread problem in the industry."
INBREEDING AVOIDANCE – Inbreeding is a silent scourge that can rob dairies of milk production potential, reproductive performance, and calf health and vigor. It also increases the risk potential for recessive genetic disorders. Genomic reports include the percent of homozygous genes an animal carries, meaning the animal received the same gene from both parents. Heifers identified as moderately to highly inbred can either be culled or carefully mated to diversify the genetic makeup of their offspring.
Jeff Ziegler, genomic program manager for Select Sires in Plain City, Ohio, acknowledges that genomics potentially could accelerate inbreeding. "Based on genomic data, we're winnowing down the best of the best fairly quickly," he says. "If we're not careful, we could rapidly breed ourselves into a very narrow gene pool."
To address this issue, Select Sires studied the diversity strategies of other genetics-based industries, including the seed corn industry. They recognized the importance of creating bloodlines that are not very closely related. Those bloodlines then can be crossed to reap the benefits of hybrid vigor.
The commercial result of those efforts is a Holstein sire genetic development program from Select Sires called StrataGENTM. For several years, Select Sires has been mating and sorting bulls — both daughter-proven sires and young sires — specifically designed to fit one of five distinct bloodlines. Herds then can apply the information to a three- to five-line rotation over multiple generations using a simple, color-coded system.
Ziegler emphasizes that while some of the bulls used to develop the StrataGEN breeding lines possess fairly unique genetic profiles, all of them still are high-ranking sires. "We didn't sacrifice performance for genetic diversity," says Ziegler, noting that every bull in the program has been or will be proven through Select Sires" progeny test program, with specific emphasis on milk production, moderate body size, fertility, and the ability to maintain body condition score.
PARENTAGE CORRECTION – Genomic results also will flag animals whose genetic makeup does not correspond with the animals identified as the sire and dam on their submission form. Usually, the correct sire can be found in the USDA genomic database, as can the dam if she has been genomic-tested.
"We currently are logging 17 to 20 percent sire identification errors with CLARIFIDE," says Wallace. "With multiple people performing breeding and recording information on dairies, it is a fairly common issue, despite everyone's best efforts on the farm." By correcting parentage information, more accurate matings can be performed, and inbreeding can be avoided.
Practical application
Hoffman has observed slow, steady adoption of genomic testing of heifers in the near-term, but at the same time cautions that no technology stands on its own. "The information from genomics is powerful, but it must be accompanied by the fundamentals of successful replacement-rearing," he says. "We still need to be hitting health and growth targets for our heifers, and get them pregnant in a timely fashion. If we don't, we lose some or all of the added value that genomic selection affords."
The direct financial outlay for genomics testing is no small consideration, with the cost per animal ranging from about $45 to $60. However, Wallace points out that there are both short- and long-term payoffs to maximize the investment. He says the cost of feeding a heifer today is approximately $90 per month, compared to $50 to $60 just a few years ago. "Herds usually can cull enough heifers to immediately cash-flow the test," he says.
Of course, the long-term goal of genomics is to advance the genetic potential for milk production, conformation and fertility in the herds that apply them. "For herds that already are doing a great job with milk production, milk quality, breeding, heifer management and feedstuff production, I think genomics is the next tool to bump them to even higher levels of performance," says Wallace. "The information should be the vehicle to help them continuously achieve the goal of milking better cows."
Next month: Profiles of herds and how they are applying genomic information.
Genomic sampling made easy
Collecting samples for genomic testing can become a routine on-farm procedure. University of Wisconsin professor Pat Hoffman and Zoetis technical services veterinarian Dick Wallace both suggest sampling and testing heifer calves as early as possible, so that timely management decisions can be made based on the results.
Genomic tests require blood, hair follicle or tissue samples from individual animals. (Twins require hair follicle or tissue samples). Samples are submitted to one of the current providers of genomic testing, which include the Holstein, Jersey and Brown Swiss associations, and Zoetis Animal Genetics. Each submission should include the animal's identification number, birth date, and a bar code. Identifying the animal's sire and dam on the submission form is not required, but improves accuracy of the results.
Combining sampling with other procedures that already are performed in the first few days of calves" lives can make the process more efficient. Following are suggestions for streamlining the sample collection process:
• Collect blood samples when screening for IgG/total protein levels. After drawing blood for IgG screening, apply a spot for every animal to individual FTA® cards. The cards can be stored at room temperature until the dairy has accumulated a batch that then can be submitted for testing.
• Collect hair follicle samples when processing newborns. When feeding colostrum, tagging, dipping navels or administering vaccines, pull a pencil-width hair sample from the ear or tail switch. Be sure to collect the hair bulbs from beneath the skin. Place in samplecollection pouches from the test provider, seal and label for each animal. These samples, too, can be stored at room temperature for batch processing.
• Combine ear-tagging with sample collection. Zoetis will soon be introducing a new skin-punch tool that collects a tissue sample while administering RFID tags. The tiny notch of skin punched out to install the tag is automatically gathered in a vial with preservative that can then be sealed, identified for each animal, and processed in batches.


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Color Swatches created using heavy application/medium application/50% tint and were applied on acrylic primed canvas (7 oz) material.
organic, aminoketone
Bis-(p-chrolopheny)-1. 4-diketopyrrolo(3. 4-c)pyrrole
Pyrrole Red is opaque and has strong covering power. According to manufacturer Ciba, which uses the trade name Irgazin Red, it is a "clean, highly saturated mid shade red with high temperature resistance, excellent color strength, outstanding chemical, solvent and bleed resistance, and good weatherfastness."
Pyrrole Red is considered to have excellent lightfastness among organic pigments in its class. Tests in industrial applications have given it scores of 7-8 on the Blue Wool Scale.
According to the Australian government's Ministry on Health and Aging, "The notified chemical exhibited low oral and dermal toxicity in rats, did not exhibit toxic effects when administered orally to rats for 28 days, was not a skin irritant in rabbits, was not a skin sensitiser in guinea pigs, was not mutagenic in bacteria and was not clastogenic in CHO cells in culture. However, the notified chemical was a slight eye irritant in rabbits. On the basis of submitted data, the notified chemical would not be classsified as hazardous in accordance with Approved Criteria for Classifying Hazardous Substances."
Pyrrole Red, used as an automotive paint and as a colorant in plastics, was developed as one of a range of pigments to replace lead based pigments. In art materials, it is often used as a synthetic and lightfast replacement for carmine, a laked pigment that was originally produced from the body of the cochineal insect. It is also used to replace the older naphthol reds, organic red pigments that are sometimes only marginally lightfast and weatherfast.
Magnacryl Red, Versal Red, Microlith Red, Unisphere Red, Cromophtol Red, Irgazin Red.
organic synthetic, quinacridone
Quinacridone Red is a high performance, transparent pigment with an average drying time and uneven dispersal. It is another name for Quinacridone Violet (PV19) and Quinacridone Red (PR192). Quinacridone pigments have relatively low tinting strength in general. For this reason, quinacridone colors are often expensive, because more pigment is required in the formulation.
Quinacridone Violet has excellent lightfastness and is considered the most lightfast organic pigment in this shade range.
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Quinacridone Red (PR192), Quinacridone Red (PR19).
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Support American workers by calling on General Motors to stop offshoring US jobs and build clean vehicles in American auto plants—sign the petition today.
Clean Vehicles
From our blog
- Trump Administration Just Can't Stop Lying About Vehicle Standards September 19, 2019
- Trump's Witch Hunt Against California and Carmakers September 16, 2019
- How the Honda CR-V Can Get Back on Top in 2025 September 12, 2019
What's at Stake
We can reduce our oil use. Scientists, engineers, and analysts have constructed a plan—Half the Oil—to cut US oil use. Through smart policies and practices—including increased fuel efficiency, better biofuels, and advanced electric cars—we can realize the benefits of using less oil.
Progress is already being made. Fuel economy standards have made cars and trucks more efficient. Electric vehicles are becoming more widespread. And scientists are finding new ways to make our fuels cleaner—but more can be done.
Using less oil offers huge benefits. Cleaner transportation options will help create jobs, save money, and reduce global warming pollution.
Drilling for more oil isn't the answer. Oil is as expensive and dangerous as ever before, and it's the largest single source of US carbon emissions. We can do better.
We can Half the Oil. The United States can be a transportation leader. We have the technology, and we've seen the benefits: now we need action.
Senior Scientist and Director of Fuels Policy
Senior Vehicles Engineer
Clean Vehicles Analyst
Senior Engineer, Clean Vehicles Program
Senior Transportation Policy Analyst/Advocate, Clean Vehicles Program
Director, Clean Vehicles Program
Research and Deputy Director, Clean Vehicles Program
Senior Vehicles Analyst
Senior Vehicles Analyst
Why Clean Cars?
America consumes more than 19 million barrels of oil every day. We burn most of it for transportation.
This prodigious oil use comes with significant costs to our climate, our health, and our pocketbooks—but clean vehicles can help.
Oil drives global warming
Our cars, trucks, airplanes, and ships account for nearly 30 percent of US carbon dioxide emissions and more than 5 percent of the world's total global warming pollution.
This pollution directly contributes to sea level rise, more frequent and intense heat waves, and other costly impacts.
Learn more about cars and global warming >
It's not just CO2: oil creates air pollution
Transportation is one of the United State's largest sources of air pollution. In 2013, transportation contributed more than half of the carbon monoxide and nitrogen oxides, and almost a quarter of the hydrocarbons emitted into our air.
All this pollution has serious implications for public health, including increased incidences of respiratory ailments like asthma and bronchitis.
Learn more about air pollution and public health >
Oil is expensive
A typical American driver spends almost as much on gas as they do on purchasing their vehicle. Collectively, we spend around 2 billion dollars on oil and petroleum products per day.
Drilling more isn't the answer, either: so-called "new oil" is just as dirty, dangerous, and expensive as ever before. The real solution is to use less oil.
Smart Solutions
With the right policies, practices, and investments, we can make the United States a transportation leader—and cut projected US oil use in half.
Increase fuel efficiency
Improving the fuel economy of our nation's vehicles offers the single greatest opportunity for reducing oil consumption—and federal policy provides the most powerful tool for accomplishing it.
Learn more about improving US fuel economy >
Use better fuels
Fuels are changing. Oil is getting dirtier as more and more unconventional oil sources are exploited, while other energy sources—including electricity and sustainable biofuels—offer huge potential as clean fuels alternatives.
Learn more about clean fuels >
Drive advanced vehicles
Hybrid, electric, and fuel-cell technologies are increasingly common and affordable, and offer long-term solutions for US oil consumption.
Learn more about electric vehicles and the future of cars >
We can Half the Oil
Progress has been made, including landmark federal fuel standards and forward-thinking state-level legislation. Experts and entrepreneurs are helping too. Still, more needs doing—and you can help.
Learn more about how Half the Oil works >
Regional Work
From the Southeast to the Northeast to the Pacific Northwest, states across the country are promoting clean vehicle solutions. In California, forward-thinking electric vehicle policies, pollution standards, and clean fuel mandates have paved the way for both the federal government and other states. Still, more can be done, especially with freight.
Read more about vehicles in California and western states, as well as our wider work out west >
Get Involved
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Ongoing since 2012, the Real DMZ Project interrogates the demilitarised zone (DMZ) between North and South Korea through annual, research-based exhibitions that bring together the works of Korean and international artists. Sunjung Kim, the independent curator behind the project, conceived the idea of exploring the DMZ while curating Japanese artist...
The fifth edition of Sydney Contemporary will take place once again at Carriageworks between 12 and 15 September 2019, with Spring 1883 bringing together a cohort of 27 galleries from across Australia and the region to inhabit rooms at the Establishment Hotel from 11 to 14 September 2019, uniquely presenting contemporary works propped up on...
Mark Bradford walks through Mark Bradford: Los Angeles Mark Bradford: Los Angeles at the Long Museum West Bund in Shanghai (27 July–13 October 2019) is the artist's largest solo exhibition to date in China. In this video for Ocula, Bradford and Diana Nawi, curator of the show, walk through selected works that convey the artist's concerns with...
Chinese ink and colour on rice paper
179.5 x 95.5 cm
70 11/16 x 37 5/8 inches
Courtesy Alisan Fine Arts
6 new artworks have recently been added by Alisan Fine Arts.
Sign up now to be among the first to know when new artworks are added.
Scan the QR Code via WeChat to follow Ocula's official account.


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Explore Everglades National Park
From the world-famous Everglades National Park to Audubon Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary to an array of refuges, preserves and parks, you have the opportunity to enjoy this pristine paradise, either on your own or with an eco-tour company.
Surrounded by mangroves, estuaries, marshes, shorelines and an abundance of wildlife, the Paradise Coast is blessed with a diverse ecosystem that is available for all to enjoy. Learn more about one of its most famous natural spaces below.
An international treasure not to be missed
Everglades National Park is the only subtropical preserve in North America and part of the country's largest wetlands ecosystem. It is designated as a World Heritage Site, an International Biosphere Reserve and a Wetland of International Importance.
You might spend a morning photographing birds or an afternoon hiking and watching alligators bask in the warmth of sunny south Florida skies, or find yourself participating in a ranger-guided tour or simply resting in the warmth of your campfire after the sun has set.
The diverse habitats allow you to take pleasure in activities like hiking, canoeing and kayaking, biking, fresh and saltwater fishing, and camping in the ultimate wilderness. This is the Florida that greeted everyone from Native Americans to conquistadors to developers. And it's here for you to enjoy – unspoiled and untamed, in all of its breathtaking beauty.
This is the Florida that greeted everyone from Native Americans to conquistadors to developers.
The Paradise Coast is home to the Gulf Coast Visitor Center located in Everglades City. Boat tours are available that take you out into the saltwater mangrove estuary portion of the park, where you'll spot bottlenose dolphins and numerous bird species, including osprey, herons and egrets. And if you're a canoe or kayak enthusiast, you may explore on your own. At the Gulf Coast Visitor Center, you'll be able to obtain backcountry camping permits for excursions along the Wilderness Waterway that include camping on secluded beach islands. There are also park-approved ecotours nearby that provide guided adventures.
A short stroll through the Florida wilderness
A two-and-a-quarter-mile raised boardwalk allows you to meander through several distinct habitats within the Audubon Society's 11,000-acre Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary, which includes the largest remaining virgin bald cypress forest in North America. Bring your camera as you journey through pine flatwood, wet prairie, cypress swamp, marsh and lettuce lakes.
Wildlife and flora abound and vary by season. You're sure to encounter a wide variety of plants and creatures, including breathtaking 700-year-old tower bald cypress, forest and wading birds, playful otters, alligators, lizards, marsh rabbits, deer and maybe even a black bear or Florida panther. There will be rest stops and interpretive signs along the way to make your stroll through the Florida wilderness an enjoyable learning experience.
A rare ghost orchid at the sanctuary, visible from the boardwalk through a spotting scope, has flowered with multiple white blossoms each summer for the past four years. Blooms typically appear between June and August.
Preserving Florida for tomorrow
She prowls in sanctuary, unaware that she is protected in the vast acreage of Big Cypress National Preserve. The endangered Florida panther is at the top of the vast array of native plant and animal species protected in Big Cypress for you and future generations. Since 1974, the mission of this national preserve has been to protect the water quality, natural resources and ecological integrity of the Big Cypress Swamp.
A national preserve is managed by the National Park Service but allows more recreational and other uses than a national park, and you are likely to see people living and working here. The preserve provides ranger-led swamp walks and educational programs in the winter season, but you can go on your own or hire private guides to enjoy canoe, kayak and "pole boat" trips, bike rides, swamp walks and photography workshops year 'round.
Seeking refuge
Two refuges serve the Paradise Coast to protect and promote species that need shelter to survive. The Florida Panther National Wildlife Refuge provides two hiking trails that take you close to the rare breed of puma. Although it's uncommon to see the Florida panther in the wild, these shy creatures may well be aware of you.
A completely different type of experience awaits you at Ten Thousand Islands National Wildlife Refuge. Here you'll see manatee, dolphin, eagles, alligators, sea turtles and more in a refuge that is open to boating, fishing, bird watching and hunting. The refuge is accessible via boat or the Marsh Trail, which includes a birding tower.
The Rookery connection
Located on the north end of Ten Thousand Islands, the Rookery Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve is one of the few remaining undisturbed mangrove estuaries in North America. Here, you'll discover a unique world with more than 100,000 acres of pristine mangrove forest, uplands and protected waters where rivers and streams meet the sea to form one of nature's most amazing habitats.
The reserve features a hands-on visitor's center, 2,300-gallon aquarium, picnic area, butterfly garden, observation bridge, climate change exhibit and much more. Plus, you can join the Rookery's team of naturalists during the Coastal Connections daily programs where, with the help of experts, you'll get up-close looks at everything from seashells to rare orchids.
More parks, preserves & tours
After you've visited these parks, preserves, reserves and refuges, you'll have only scratched the surface of the environmental wonders of the Gulf Coast Everglades ecosystem found in Florida's Paradise Coast. There are plenty of additional opportunities for you to explore the wild Florida that you won't find anywhere else. And if you want expert guides to show you what casual observers won't find on their own, tours are available to meet every need, from rugged adventures to luxury cruises.


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Arcelor Mittal Luxembourg
Arcelor Mittal, Luxembourg
The headquarters of the world's leading steel producer has been equipped with the latest conference and media technology. The so-called Pétrusse building in Luxembourg is provided with numerous training and conference rooms.
The "Hearst Tower", the largest conference room with 218 m² is used by the company's specialists from all over the world and therefore equipped with interpreter booths and the SIS interpretation system from beyerdynamic. Meetings are held with 110 MCS-D 3141 Revoluto desktop microphone units with channel selector switch to receive the interpretation channels. The MCS-Digital conference system also enables the connection with the installed video conference system for employees who are not in-house.
In the impressive boarding room for the general management, the MCS-D 3971 built-in microphone units are installed.
Extensive Report
An extensive report about the whole project has been published in the Professional System magazine 4/2010, which can be downloaded here.


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A report favoring fracking that was buried for nearly a year was given to the New York Times yesterday by a whistleblower who "did not believe it should be kept secret," according to Danny Hakim. The eight-page analysis summarizes "previous research [done] by the state and others, and concludes that fracking can be done safely." Specifically, the report says:
By implementing the proposed mitigation measures, the Department expects that human chemical exposures during normal [fracking] operations will be prevented or reduced below levels of significant health concern.
The report went on to say that further study of the risks would be worthless because it would "involve making a large number of assumptions about the many … variables that influence the nature and degree of potential human exposure and toxicity."
The report puts New York Governor Andrew Cuomo (shown) in a tough spot. On one side are the landowners over the Marcellus Formation in the southwestern parts of the state who have been leasing their land to drilling companies anxious to explore the potential of the formation. On the other are the environmentalists who are concerned about the risks of such exploration and the potential impact on people and the environment.
Cuomo has delayed making a decision on whether to allow fracking for nearly four years while an environmental study was being completed. Back in September Cuomo was about to allow some limited exploring, but at the last minute, he reversed course, ordering another full-scale study of the matter, which would put off making a decision for at least another year.
This pleased Cuomo's good friend Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., an environmental activist whose sister just happens to be Cuomo's ex-wife. Kennedy said at the time that he was delighted with Cuomo's continued resistance to landowners and drilling companies who wanted to get started with the drilling:
I'm surprised how long he's withstood the tide. I'm proud that he's done that. There's no other governor who's just said "let's hold off." And he's under, I can tell you, tremendous pressure by the industry and by others.
With the release of the long-buried report, that pressure is only going to increase. The Marcellus Formation is almost incomprehensibly large, extending nearly 600 miles from the Finger Lakes region of New York south and west into and through western Pennsylvania, down through Maryland and into West Virginia. When the U.S. Geological Survey studied the formation back in 2002, it concluded that, with the then-existing technology, there was 2 trillion cubic feet (TCF) available for recovery. In 2009, it revised its estimate to 262 TCF. Translated into dollars, Marcellus has about $200 billion dollars' worth of recoverable reserves. And that, according to a study funded by the Marcellus Shale Coalition, translates into 250,000 new jobs. If Cuomo lifts the ban in drilling, Marcellus could create $11.4 billion in economic output and raise $1.4 billion in state and local taxes, according to the Manhattan Institute.
Fracking has already proven to be an important part of the U.S. economy, having created 1.7 million jobs last year alone with an additional 2.5 million jobs expected within the next three years.
The risks that the environmentalists are concerned about and are holding Cuomo hostage over are the risks that the fracking process could possibly pollute aquifers and wells. But according to Ronald Bailey at Reason magazine, the risks are minimal:
If oil and gas production actually resulted in detectable health risks, it would already be apparent. Why? Because something like 75,000 conventional oil and gas wells have been drilled in New York since the late 1800s, and 14,000 of them are still active.
But the environmentalists aren't interested in logic or aren't listening. One of the more boisterous is Frack Free Nation, which notes its opposition on its website with the following declarations, capital letters and exclamation points included:
Criminalize Shale Gas Extraction!
Regulations DO NOT prevent pollution.
Regulations ENABLE POLLUTION!
Regulators are trained and employed to ISSUE PERMITS — for pollution!
Then they asses [sic] monitory [sic!] fines for violations and spills — if we are lucky!!...
Therefore, these permits and associated regulations are CAUSING pollution.
The FACT is that this industry has a HORRIBLE safety record, which has left a toxic legacy everywhere it has gone.
The only way to stop the violations and stop the environmental destruction is by PROHIBITION…
Diatribes by some environmentalists remind one of the advice an old lawyer gave to his son:
If you have a case where the law is clearly on your side, but the facts and justice seem to be against you, urge upon the jury the vast importance of sustaining the law.
On the other hand, if the law is against you, or doubtful, and the facts show that your case is founded in justice, insist that justice be done though the heavens fall.
But, said the young man, how shall I manage a case where both the law and the facts are dead against me?
In that case, talk around it, and the worse it is, the harder you pound the table.
With the release of this conveniently long-lost study, no amount of table pounding is likely to change the conclusion: Fracking is safe, and Cuomo won't be able to delay the inevitable much longer.