Ringing in 2009...

Happy 2009 to you from me and my sidekicks--on the bed of course--Sammy, Phoebe and Amos!

Self-Publishing Reality Check

David Carnoy has written an incredibly insightful piece about the caveats associated with self-publishing that should answer any and all questions anyone has about the nature of that industry. Despite rumors and predictions to the contrary, I don't believe that self-publishing is going to be the panacea for either writers or publishing itself, that many are suggesting. And as Carnoy points out, caveat emptor.

What's interesting of course is that Carnoy went the standard route, only to land where I have--with a good manuscript, in fact a "bigger book" than those published by the independent presses, but one that didn't make it through the entire acquisitions committee. It is important to note that Carnoy decided to go the self-publishing route "against the advice of his agent."

You can probably guess the rest. Although it is easy to actually publish your book and make it look good--not great--(Carnoy chose the print-on-demand service BookSurge), the reality is "Good self-published books are few and far between" AND "the average self-published book sells about 100-150 copies."

This is why you do no want to get stuck with 500 books in your basement. And most importantly why you do not want to quit your day job.

Go read Carnoy's post for yourself. He does not knock the concept; he just asks you to consider your goals. If you want to create a family heirloom--self-publishing is the way to go. If you want to become an author; it is not.

Just some food for thought as the new year beckons. Maybe all those out of work editors and agents will band together and create their own publishing house that caters to first time authors....Hey, I can dream can't I?

Soup Kitchen for Dogs

Word from MSNBC is that a soup kitchen exclusively for dogs has opened in Berlin. Director of the establishment, Claudia Hollm, confirmed that the soup kitchen provides a free meal for the pets of the homeless and the unemployed.

"Nowadays people underestimate dogs, " Hollm continued. "They are incredibly important for those who lack social contact with other humans."

We all know about the therapeutic effects of pet ownership and Hollm may be on to something. "Making sure dogs don't go hungry is just as important as making sure that people don't starve," she elaborated.

No word on whether or not starving people actually eat the food intended for their pets or what that food is but Hollm does get sponsorship from companies, including animal food manufacturers. Similarly no information on whether soup kitchens for humans turn away pets.

If that is indeed the case, then Hollm is doing pet-loving humans a great favor. In fact, one woman who uses the free service, has two dogs, four cats, a rabbit and some guinea pigs. "Without this animal bread line, I'd probably starve to death," she told the German newspaper, Sueddeutsche, which I believe is intended to imply that she would give up her food for her pets.

Ironically, the Berlin pet soup kitchen opens one month after a new bus service that transports dogs to a luxury day-care service, was initiated.

I don't know who wrote this but I found it on the Sierra Ranch website. Warning: tissues may be necessary. Enjoy!

TO HAVE A HORSE IN YOUR LIFE
Author Unknown

To have a horse in your life is a gift. In the matter of a few short years, a horse can teach a young girl courage, if she chooses to grab mane and hang on for dear life. Even the smallest of ponies is mightier than the tallest of girls. To conquer the fear of falling off, having one's toes crushed, or being publicly humiliated at a horse show is an admirable feat for any child. For that, we can be grateful.

Horses teach us responsibility. Unlike a bicycle or a computer, a horse needs regular care and most of it requires that you get dirty and smelly and up off the couch. Choosing to leave your cozy kitchen to break the crust of ice off the water buckets is to choose responsibility. When our horses dip their noses and drink heartily; we know we've made the right choice.

Learning to care for a horse is both an art and a science. Some are easy keepers, requiring little more than regular turn-out, a flake of hay, and a trough of clean water. Others will test you - you'll struggle to keep them from being too fat or too thin. You'll have their feet shod regularly only to find shoes gone missing. Some are so accident-prone you'll swear they're intentionally finding new ways to injure themselves.

If you weren't raised with horses, you can't know that they have unique personalities. You'd expect this from dogs (and even cats), but horses? Indeed, there are clever horses, grumpy horses, and even horses with a sense of humor. Those prone to humor will test you by finding new ways to escape from the barn when you least expect it.

Horses can be timid or brave, lazy or athletic, obstinate or willing. You will hit it off with some horses and others will elude you altogether. There are as many "types" of horses as there are people - which makes the whole partnership thing all the more interesting.

If you've never ridden a horse, you probably assume it's a simple thing you can learn in a weekend. You can, in fact, learn the basics on a Sunday, but to truly ride well takes a lifetime. Working with a living being is far more complex than turning a key in the ignition and putting the car or tractor in "drive."

In addition to listening to your instructor, your horse will have a few things to say to you as well. On a good day, he'll be happy to go along with the program and tolerate your mistakes; on a bad day, you'll swear he's trying to kill you. Perhaps he's naughty or perhaps he's fed up with how slowly you're learning his language. Regardless, the horse will have an opinion. He may choose to challenge you (which can ultimately make you a better rider) or he may carefully carry you over fences - if it suits him. It all depends on the partnership - and partnership is what it's all about.

If you face your fears, swallow your pride, and are willing to work at it, you'll learn lessons in courage, commitment, and compassion in addition to basic survival skills. You'll discover just how hard you're willing to work toward a goal, how little you know, and how much you have to learn.

And, while some people think the horse "does all the work", you'll be challenged physically as well as mentally. Your horse may humble you completely. Or, you may find that sitting on his back is the closest you'll get to heaven.

You can choose to intimidate your horse, but do you really want to? The results may come more quickly, but will your work ever be as graceful as that gained through trust? The best partners choose to listen, as well as to tell. When it works, we experience a sweet sense of accomplishment brought about by smarts, hard work, and mutual understanding between horse and rider. These are the days when you know with absolute certainty that your horse is enjoying his work.

If we make it to adulthood with horses still in our lives, most of us have to squeeze riding into our over saturated schedules; balancing our need for things equine with those of our households and employers. There is never enough time to ride, or to ride as well as we'd like. Hours in the barn are stolen pleasures.

If it is in your blood to love horses, you share your life with them. Our horses know our secrets; we braid our tears into their manes and whisper our hopes into their ears. A barn is a sanctuary in an unsettled world, a sheltered place where life's true priorities are clear: a warm place to sleep, someone who loves us, and the luxury of regular meals. Some of us need these reminders.
When you step back, it's not just about horses - it's about love, life, and learning. On any given day, a friend is celebrating the birth of a foal, a blue ribbon, or recovery from an illness. That same day, there is also loss: a broken limb, a case of colic, a decision to sustain a life or end it gently. As horse people, we share the accelerated life cycle of horses: the hurried rush of life, love, loss, and death that caring for these animals brings us. When our partners pass, it is more than a moment of sorrow.

We mark our loss with words of gratitude for the ways our lives have been blessed. Our memories are of joy, awe, and wonder. Absolute union. We honor our horses for their brave hearts, courage, and willingness to give.

To those outside our circle, it must seem strange. To see us in our muddy boots, who would guess such poetry lives in our hearts? We celebrate our companions with praise worthy of heroes. Indeed, horses have the hearts of warriors and often carry us into and out of fields of battle.

Listen to stories of that once-in-a-lifetime horse; of journeys made and challenges met. The best of horses rise to the challenges we set before them, asking little in return.

Those who know them understand how fully a horse can hold a human heart. Together, we share the pain of sudden loss and the lingering taste of long-term illness. We shoulder the burden of deciding when or whether to end the life of a true companion.

In the end, we're not certain if God entrusts us to our horses--or our horses to us. Does it matter? We're grateful God loaned us the horse in the first place.

=================

Crystal Ball of Publishing

It's that time of year when we are hearing roundups on the Year in Publishing and reports about what to expect going forward. Not surprisingly, this has been the year in which most of the doom and gloom predictions about the industry have come true and have many of the pundits pondering whether or not magazines, newspapers and other forms of "traditional" media will continue to exist in an e-reader populated universe.

On the local front, it is most interesting and certainly confusing. Even as our local paper, The Inquirer, lays off another 65 people, its publisher writes a feel good editorial assuring his readers that things have never been better. I continue to get thick, ad-filled magazines about the Philadelphia region (actually MANY magazines that seem to share readership), all of them glossy and printed on good paper.

Yet, I read such predictions as this one from Bob Sacks of the Precision Media Group, warning that "2009 will be the year that traditional print media looks in the mirror and says, "Hey, my newsstand circulation looks awfully bloated; I think I should go on a serious returns diet." And this one from Steven Kotok, General Manager of The Week, "Many more magazines will lower rate base, reduce frequency, and rebrand in some way."

Most prognosticators are warning of the continued rise of internet publications but none have figured out how contributors to these web-zines will or should get paid. Many web start-ups offer that ubiquitous "exposure" to their contributors but to writers used to getting paid by the word, exposure never bought a tank of gas.

For my part, I am, to a certain extent, feeling lucky because a lot of my business, among the upper end alumni magazines of the world, is both web and print based. I don't think these magazines run the risk of extinction because not all of the alumni who read them are web-savvy--but I do think they may tinker with frequency and start to solicit subscriptions as universities struggle with the downturns in their endowments. I do think they will remain dependent on freelancers as universities enact quiet hiring freezes.

Books, however, in my humble opinion, are an endangered species--not because people are going to stop reading--but because publishers are going to stop taking risks (as if they haven't already). Celebrity tomes will remain the dominant life form until the readers go on strike and refuse to buy them. Until that happens, independent publishers may see an upsurge--but authors will remain under-reimbursed for their efforts. Look to academic presses to make a resurgence--no joke. They are used to operating on a shoestring.

What's the price of all this belt tightening? Less choice in bookstores, less mind-stretching bestsellers, less money all around but chances are you will still be able to find a niche publications if you look long and hard. But nobody is getting rich off of it.

Bidens To Get Two Dogs

Hot off the press--Joe Biden is taking some flack for his selection of a purebred German Shepherd. As he told George Stephanopolis on Sunday, he heard from a lot of animal rescue organizations that were not thrilled with him going the "purebred" route.

Well, it seems that to make everybody happy, the Bidens are going to get ANOTHER dog--this second one a rescue, and ideally a Golden Retriever. The second dog will be Jill's; the shepherd will be Joe's. We also learned that in his youth, Biden actually showed German Shepherds and has always been partial to the breed.

Two dogs are certainly better than one--as far as the dogs are concerned--and it sounds like a good pairing, akin to my Collie/Golden Retriever brood. The Shepherd, like the Collie, will assume the role of protector and defender (and probably do a little herding of the new puppy), and the Golden will just be thrilled to have someone to play with.

And I don't think the Bidens will have any trouble finding reliable pet sitters when they are on the road...

Sounds like everyone should be happy. Talk about being a politician....

Of Scrooge and Marley and Me

Merry Christmas to all my readers! Here's hoping the holidays find you in the company of family, friends and furry ones.

We're big on seeing a movie on Christmas Day and this year's pick is Marley and Me, for obvious reasons. Last week, I heard John Grogan, author of the book of the same name and a former Philadelphia Inquirer reporter, speak at our Free Library. I was actually prepared to dislike him--no doubt, jealously on my part plays a role in that prior impression of him--but I was charmed by his story telling abilities. He is a warm, funny speaker, who gives you the impression that his success is all still a new, fun experience, even as he admitted there are aspects that are indeed, getting old.

Anyway, he was in town to promote his new book, The Long Trip Home, a memoir about growing up in a very Catholic family in Michigan, his distancing of himself from that family and his eventual return to the fold, but he found himself answering a lot of questions about Marley & Me, the book as well as the movie.

For starters, while he did not write the screen play for the movie, he managed to retain consulting rights on the script--a laudable achievement--and was pleased that they actually accepted some of his suggestions. He also got to hang around on the set in both Miami and Philadelphia, go to the premier (with Clyde, the dog who plays Marley, as his "date"), and experience what certainly has to be an out of body experience--watching someone else act out your life.

For those of you who care, there are actually 22 dogs who play Marley in the movie--including the many adorable puppies--but the chief honcho is Clyde, a rescue lab who retain enough of Marley's "energy" to be incredibly convincing. Grogan now owns one of those puppies--a male named Woodson--who joins Gracie as one of two labs in his life.

Apparently there is also a dog in his new book, so dogs were always an important aspect of Grogan's life. In fact when someone in the audience asked about whether or not their family--kids are 10 and 12--should get a dog--he negotiated skillfully by saying that dogs were wonderful ways to teach children about responsibility, etc. but they were also a lot of work.

Back to that jealousy on my part. While Grogan is a masterful storyteller, and the story he tells is not so much about Marley as it is about he and his wife, I am envious that he hit it big with his "animal" book, while I did not. Pretty simple, really. But actually after meeting him, I am less jealous. Grogan is a great storyteller--I am a great reporter--and there is a difference. He has a gift for telling a story in a way that makes you feel like you are a part of it. I have the ability to tell a story in a way that makes you feel like you are watching it--and perhaps gaining a little insight into what makes the characters tick. It's a subtle difference and both are important skills. He is also very funny.

So off to see the screen version and to be reminded once again about the power of an animal's love--a very appropriate sentiment on this day.

May yours be merry and bright.

Your Chance To Make History

There is a legend about Ernest Hemingway that goes something like this. "Papa" was frequenting one of his favorite watering holes with a bunch of writers when they bet him he couldn't write a story in a mere six words. Hemingway is reported to have scribbled: For sale, baby shoes, never worn.

Hence the popularity of six words. "There is a little magic in six," says Larry Smith, the editor and co-founder of SMITH, a website for writers and artists.

Now you can add your six words to the mix. The National Constitution Center has joined forces with Smith magazine to enlist your six words for Barack Obama's speech writers who are crafting the Inauguration Day speech as we speak. The contest is called Address America: Six Words to Inspire a Nation and you can get to it from the Constitution Center's website.

Think about it. Some of the greatest mottoes of our time are but six words. "Nothing to fear but fear itself." (Roosevelt) "To bind up the nation's wounds." (Lincoln)

What advice to do have for our next president? How would you rally the nation? How do you see the future?

Give it a try. It's only six words.

Curlin: The Next Chapter

Jess Jackson wrote a great piece for Bloodhorse.com about Curlin's pending retirement and what the great horse has come to mean to him and his family. "To me, Curlin is so much more than one of the greats," he writes. "He has also become a bonded and trusting friend."

One of the aspects that I am researching for my thesis--to be finally written this coming semester!!--is the human-horse bond. Surprisingly there is little written about it, especially when you compare it to the human-dog or cat bond, about which there are volumes. Yet I believe that Mr. Jackson has captured perfectly the bond that develops between a horse and its owner, even when that horse is theoretically "working" for that owner.

In fact, Jackson himself notes, "Many a horse owner has undoubtedly experienced what we have: a personal relationship of affection and trust between Curlin, myself, my family, and every member of our team. We gained his trust and he has been eager to satisfy; he has been loyal."

Two interesting points. One, the concept of loyalty, on the part of the horse, has to be earned and two, affection, on the part of the horse, is distinctly separate from trust. Both of these are clearly related to the fact that a horse is big and potentially dangerous--a fact which makes earning both its respect and trust critical to earning its affection.

It is also fascinating to hear Jackson mention that Curlin "ran for the fans, for the sport, for his own pleasure of competition, and, I believe, to express his loyalty and desire to please."

This assessment, to me, is a bit more subjective and probably harder to judge. But it is also a common sentiment among owners of successful thoroughbreds. Most claim that their horses run for the sheer love of running and that they love to compete. How they know this remains unquantifiable.

The end of Jackson's piece expresses his hopes for the future of the sport. "We hope thoroughbred owners will form their own racing league and appoint a commissioner, join with tracks to market races for older horses, and work together to increase their stake of gaming revenue to allow tracks and horse owners to prosper. Otherwise, I fear thoroughbred racing will continue to decline."

Let's all hope that Mr. Jackson remains a significant force within the sport and that Curlin rewards him with lots of healthy, talented and successful offspring.

Calling Madeline Pickens

Madeline Pickens where are you? Federal land managers have announced plans to conduct emergency roundups of almost 2,000 more mustangs in Nevada because of "extremely limited forage."

The government pens are already overflowing with horses that have previously been rounded up and have yet to be adopted. This new roundup will just exacerbate the problem of keeping almost as many wild mustangs in "holding" pens as there are in the wild. In recent months, the Bureau of Land Management officials suggested euthanasia as as way of controlling the population.

"We shouldn't be rounding up any more horses until we resolve the issue of tens of thousands of horses that already have been rounded up and are in holding pens," said Matt Rossell, outreach coordinator for In Defense of Animals, a San Rafael, CA based animal rights group.

According to Chris Heyde, deputy director of government and legal affairs for the Animal Welfare Institute, based in Washington, D. C., there is plenty of food to go around in the horses' natural habitat. "They're not starving, and they're using it as an excuse to remove horses," he said. "They can survive if we keep our little fingers off them."

It is the age old problem of competition for grazing rights between wild horses and livestock. Horse advocates have suggested solutions like reduced livestock grazing, stepping up birth control and removing fences to provide better access to water.

Since Madeline Pickens announced her plans to shelter 30,000 wild mustangs on one million acres--yet to be determined--the Bureau of Land Management has backed off its threats to cull the herd by euthanasia. Last month they announced it will round up fewer horses and try to shuffle funds within the agency to control the rising costs of feeding and caring for the animals.

Heyde is hopeful that things will change in the Obama administration and there will be less need to round up any horses. Hopefully he is right and hopefully Pickens will get her sanctuary land soon so that the horses can be returned to their natural environment.

How Much is Enough?

I've been thinking a lot about excess these days. From Illinois to New York, the papers are filled with stories of people succumbing to greed and bringing others down with them. All of which seems to beg the question of how much is enough and how did we get so far from the place where people were content with what they had?

The Illinois governor scandal is but one example of the greed and corruption that seems to be rampant in politics and business but to me the larger question is one of ethics. Does anyone look in the mirror these days and see scruples or have they become as outdated as rotary phones? I'm talking about more than money--I'm talking about the perception of entitlement that seems to come with achievement. What happened to the notion of doing the right thing simply because it is the right thing to do?

Everyone is someones role model. And most of ours are drowning in excess. When we have too much of anything--power, privilege, possessions--we become slaves to our need for more. Remember when you could get things fixed, like irons and dryers and microwaves? We used to take care of what we had. Now we just throw them away--everything can be replaced with a newer model that we have been convinced that we need.

I have no brilliant solutions to solve our culture of excess other than to avoid buying in to it as much as possible. And as much as I am disheartened by our national moral crisis, I am encouraged by the possibilities inherent in our new president. I truly do believe he may be the breath of fresh air that our country and our children need.

I just hope it rubs off.

Lights! Camera! Nicanor!

News from Bloodhorse.com that Nicanor, Barbaro's full brother currently in training at the Palm Meadows Training Center in Florida, is going to be a television star! Apparently Nicanor made the Miami News on Channel 10 during its 11:00 PM newscast on Friday Dec. 19 and again on its Dec. 21, Sports Sunday program.

Interest in Barbaro's brother has only intensified as the colt gets ready to make his racing debut. According to trainer Michael Matz, that start could come in January or February at Gulfstream Park.

How amazing that the general public has latched onto this colt, nearly two years after his brother succumbed to laminitis in January 2007. Usually the public has a very short memory when it comes to racehorses. Clearly Barbaro remains a presence even in his absence.

I'd like to be able to tell you that I think Nicanor will follow in his brother's footsteps, but those are very big footsteps to follow. Let's just hope Nicanor does what is best for Nicanor, that he creates his own destiny (regardless of whether or not this includes racing success at the Grade I level), and that he remains healthy.

It is unusual for lightening to strike twice, which means that Nicanor's odds of both winning the Kentucky Derby and getting injured, less that fifty-fifty.

You can, of course, follow all of Nicanor's exploits on a bloodhorse.com blog entitled, Tracking Barbaro's Brothers.

Biden's New Puppy

It seems that the Obamas are not the only ones getting a puppy when they relocate to Washington. Last weekend, Joe Biden picked out a three month old male German shepherd to accompany him, his wife and mother when they move into the VP's house next month.

The puppy came from a Chester County, PA breeder named Linda Brown who had been vetted by Mark Tobin, the coordinator of the New Castle County Police K-9 unit. Apparently Biden met Tobin when he was called in with his dogs to conduct a routine search of Biden's home after he was named Obabma's running mate.

Biden, who has had German Shepherds in the past, contacted Tobin to help him find the perfect dog--a family dog that was both social and obedient. In fact, Tobin will pick the puppy up next week and begin his training before delivering him to the Bidens in Washington after they get settled. That way, according to Tobin, the stress of the move will not be a factor for the family and they can devote more time and attention to their new family member.

No doubt Biden may receive a bit of criticism for not selecting a shelter dog, but I think he has demonstrated extraordinary responsibility as a pet owner. German Shepherds have a history of hip issues and buyers need to be uber-informed about selecting one. In addition, German Shepherds respond so well to training that it is advisable to begin early, preferably guided by an experienced trainer.

Certainly Biden recognized the time limits his new job would place on his ability to train a new puppy, let alone research a reputable breeder. Since his grandchildren will undoubtedly interact with this puppy, he was equally wise buying one from a well respected breeder. The most important thing is that he did not buy the puppy from a pet shop.

No word yet on the adorable little guy's new name but I can guarantee that he will be well loved. Rumor has it that Jill Biden pasted photos of dogs on the back of the seat in front of her husband to inspire him through those last days of campaigning. The incentive seems to have worked! You can see a photo of the pup here.

Zoos are Dangerous to Elephants' Health

Lead University of Guelph animal-welfare researcher, Georgia Mason has discovered that elephants living in zoos are less likely to reach old age than their counterparts living in protected populations in Africa and Asia. "Our data suggests there is something going on that is problematic enough that it is bringing their lives to an untimely end," concludes Mason.

In fact, the difference is significant and alarming. Researchers found that Asian elephants lining in European zoos have approximately half the average life span of elephants born into the logging industry in Myanmar, not exactly a "cushy" existence. Not a single African elephant living in a European zoo has reached the age of 50. In contrast, about one third of the African elephants living in Amboseli National Park in Kenya reached 50 or older, according to a recent study in Science.

Mason and his team of international scientists based their findings on data culled from protected populations of elephants in Africa and Asia along with data from 270 zoos in Europe. This represents half of the world's population of zoo elephants and goes back to the 1960s. Not surprisingly, conditions have improved for zoo elephants. Those who arrived at zoos in the recent past were more likely to live longer than those arriving from the wild fifty years ago.

Nonetheless, the data suggests that the existence of elephants in zoos is coming to an end. In fact, until there is a better understanding of why zoo life shortens elephants' lives, researchers themselves have called for an end to transferring elephants from the wild, minimizing inter-zoo transfers and suggest breeding elephants should be restricted to those zoos that exhibit no harmful effects on their captive born elephants.

"We're not trying to go for the jugular of all zoos here," Mason said.
We recognize that there are bound to be some zoos that are better than others. But the time has come to work out what good practice really is."

That's Not Fair!

If you have two dogs, you probably already know what scientists have discovered: that one gets jealous of the other if they are not treated equally.

Friederike Range, a researcher at the University of Vienna in Austria, published their findings in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. The report is based on a series of experiments that Range did with her colleagues. The subjects were dogs who knew how to respond to the command "give the paw."

In the experiment, both dogs were asked to "give the paw" but only one was rewarded for the behavior. It didn't take long for the slighted one to catch on and subsequently pause significantly before responding to the command. Eventually, the dogs who did not receive the reward did not look at the researcher giving the command. By looking at the researcher, the dogs would be more compelled to obey, according to Range. Turning their heads away gave them more power and they eventually stopped cooperating.

Scientists have known for quite some time that humans pay attention to inequality. What they didn't realize was that animals do as well. In 2003, Frans de Waal, a researcher at the Yerkes National Primate Center and a professor of psychology at Emory, did a study in which monkeys had to hand a small rock to researchers in order to get a piece of food. All were happy to do this when the rewards were the same--a piece of cucumber. But when one monkey got a grape instead, the others became highly insulted.

"The one who got the cucumber became very agitated, threw out the food, threw out the rock that we exchanged with them, and at some point, just stopped performing," says de Waal.

When Range and her colleagues tested the same protocol with dogs--rewarding some with bread and some with sausage--they did not pick up on the disparity. It was only when some got something and others got nothing, that they reacted.

According to de Waal, both dogs and monkeys live in cooperative societies, so he was not surprised that they would both have some sense of fairness. Which is why, in my house, when one gets a little chicken in their food, they all do. And just because Phoebe eats hers the fastest, does not mean she gets any more.

Thanks For the Memories Funny Cide

Funny Cide has settled into his new home at the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington. He became the second Kentucky Derby winner and champion to move in in just over a month, joining Alysheba.

Funny Cide, a 9 year old gelding, owned by Sackatoga Stable (ten buddies from upstate New York) and trained by Barclay Tagg, made headlines in his previous retirement serving as Tagg's stable pony. People were thrilled to meet the former Kentucky Derby winner and delighted to see him in his second career.

Funny Cide's age and recurring bouts of stiffness prompted Tagg to decide it was time to give him the retirement he deserved.

In many ways, Funny Cide was the epitome of the "people's horse." He was owned by guys who each contributed $5,000 to buy horses and they traveled to the Derby in a school bus--the only vehicle large and cheap enough to accommodate their large group. They paid $22,000 for Funny Cide as a yearling. The horse went on to win not only the Kentucky Derby but also the Preakness before coming in third in the Belmont.

Joe McGinnis has written an excellent book called The Big Horse that takes place the summer after Funny Cide's Triple Crown bid. Of particular note are the Funny Cide shops that appeared in Saratoga that summer, selling every conceivable type of Funny Cide merchandise.

Over his six racing seasons, Funny Cide earned $3,529,412 and was named champion 3-year old male of 2003. Jack Knowlton, managing partner of Sackatoga Stable was at the Horse Park to greet Funny Cide when he arrived on December 5.

"He represents hope for the little guy," he told the crowd. "Also racing needs more horses like him who fans can enjoy after their Triple Crown season. He was a huge fan favorite because he ran as long as he did--into his 7-year old season--and because he was an underdog. We still get emails and letters from his fans everywhere."

Greyhound Racing to End in Massachusetts

Years ago when my daughter was playing on the local travel softball team, I became friendly with one of the mothers who rescued greyhounds. One day she turned up at the game with her two wonderful dogs--both of whom were sporting coats in the chilly Spring air--and I fell in love with the breed.

Previously, I had been under the misconception that dogs known for their lightning speed were a handful. The truth is they are big couch potatoes. Sure they can run fast, but they also are not in the least bit high strung or hyperactive "throw me the ball" types. They are true snugglers and do not belong on racetracks or in tight, cramped crates.

There is a great story in The Christian Science Monitor about one woman's commitment to end the sport of dog racing and her thirteen year fight in Massachusetts to get the sport banned. The dog lobby, as her group learned, is a powerful one and not above making their case with evidence of increased revenue for states and jobs.

In the end, Christine Dorchak, the president and general counsel of GREY2K USA, learned that tales of cruelty had to be combined with real live records from actual dog tracks to make their case. "When Massachusetts television viewers saw track video of a greyhound named Cawla Hawley somersaulting and crashing into a wall, they learned how dangerous dog racing can be," she writes. "The injury records of Carolina Alarm, who died of a heart attack; Die Cut, who was paralyzed; and Hibbert, who skull was crushed, spoke volumes. Most important, the kennel photos of dogs confined in tiny cages raised the simple question: Would I treat my dog that way?"

Last month, 56 percent of voters and nearly 300 out of 351 towns in Massachusetts "voted for the dogs" meaning dog racing will gradually be phased out in Massachusetts and officially end by January 1, 2010.

While it is tempting to credit Dorchak's targeted public awareness campaign with the success, there are probably a combination of factors that made 2008 the right time for the bill to pass. Not the least of these is declining attendance (and revenues) at dog tracks as well as the growing trend to treat animals as people, especially dogs and cats. The anti-cruelty campaign found deaf ears in 1995 but passed easily in 2008--an indication of our society's changing view of "humane" treatment for non-human beings.

Hurricane Katrina shown a spotlight on the plight of animals "left behind" as well as the people who refused to evacuate because of their animals. As a result, national legislation mandated future evacuations make provisions for animals. Certainly the Barbaro story continued to shine the spotlight on animal welfare as has the recent trend to adopt and rescue animals.

So timing is everything and luckily for beautiful greyhounds, the end may soon be coming to a sport that is known for its lack of respect for its athletes.

Black Beauty Redux

I'm rereading Black Beauty by Anna Sewell as part of my ongoing thesis research and find myself marveling at the foresight of this remarkable author. This book reads like a modern tome on how to properly care for a horse and touches on many of the current animal welfare topics that are still in the news.

For those of you who don't know the story, Black Beauty is a horse in mid-nineteenth century England who passes through a series of owners, many of whom treat him kindly and some who do not. Since the story is told in first person, from the point of view of the horse--a remarkable achievement in itself since at no point does the narrative, in my opinion, become trite or sentimental--we learn how a horse feels about the different roles he was asked to play in a horse-centered society.

We learn early on about the author's opposition to tethers that hold carriage horses heads very high, fox and rabbit hunting (we witness the demise of horse and a hare), non-conscientious grooms and the health problems their laziness can engender and impatient owners and trainers who do not respect their horses.

Anna Sewell herself was a devoted horsewoman. She injured her ankle when she was fourteen and it never healed properly. From that point on she had difficulty walking but she could ride and drive a carriage. In many ways, horses saved her and perhaps this is her way of returning the favor.

Many people have interpreted this work as an early animal welfare treatise as well as a commentary on the plight of working laborers in England at the time. While both of these interpretations may indeed be valid, to me, more than anything, the book is a how-to-manual. Everyone who is thinking of getting a horse should read it to make sure you know what you are getting yourself into. Horses are delicate creatures who are not afraid of work but who need to be taken care of properly to ensure that they will be able to perform that work.

It is a great read--short chapters and very entertaining. See if you agree.

Mental Flexibiity

Last Sunday's New York Times Magazine had an interesting piece by Virginia Heffernan about the changing nature of media content--something we wordsmiths ponder when publishing houses seem to be dying before our eyes.

And that, of course, is Heffernan's point--that by the time we archaic journalistic types recognize that newspapers and magazines are going to become cultural artifacts like 8-track tape players and video and audio cassettes--it it too late to reinvent ourselves. "For ten years journalists have hoped to avoid radical job retraining. And who can blame anyone in any profession, mid-career and set in her ways, for avoiding seminars on writing Google-friendly leads or opening her sources to readers?" writes Heffernan.

Aha, but while we we were further entrenching ourselves in the craft of creating sentences that fewer and fewer people read, the next generation of our profession was blogging, twittering and facebooking themselves into social media proficiency--although someone is going to still have to convince me that all this constant keeping tabs on everybody and everything is somehow related to work or better yet, getting more work.

The bigger threat, however, according to Heffernan, is when advertisers--the very beings who make the existence of newspapers and magazines possible in the first place--become content providers. Poof--the middle man--the article writer--disappears because you can get your content at the source. Why would anyone buy a "women's magazine" to read about budget conscious meals that were organic if you can simply find them on a Whole Foods web site? Better yet, why would anyone read about anything in a women's magazine (health tips, beauty suggestions, fashion advice) if you can get the same info on the respective sites without paying for it.

So what to do? Write for web sites perhaps, but more importantly, at least according to Heffernan, demonstrate "mental flexibility" to explore new media and figure out how to make it work for you.

Guilty Pleasures

In these days of layoffs, economic downturns and financial uncertainty, a puppy an really help. Not the kind you have to walk, feed, train and clean up after. The kind you can ooh and aah over long distance. The kind found on www.ustream.tv.com.

Apparently the six Shiba Inu puppies have four million people melting over them, many of whom log on to watch their antics three, four and five times a day.

They are cute--all puppies are cute--and these six are being raised by an anonymous couple in San Francisco who offer viewing privileges to anyone with web access.

Other sites that appeal to the cuteness factor include www.Cuteoverload.com and the irreverent www.Icanhascheezburger.com with nothing but funny animal photos. In fact this site was so popular they recently released a book which is currently the No. 1 selling cat and dog humor book on Amazon.

Seems it doesn't take much to make us smile. I, of course, have live streaming pet video (usually under my feet) which, I will admit, has often made me laugh out loud. And laughter truly is the best medicine.

What's your favorite pet related web site? And keep it clean, please.

Who's Fixing Your Toilet?

It is always nice to know that I am not the only writer disgusted with two recent very pricey book deals made to people who have no business writing books. I am speaking of course of Sarah Palin and Joe the Plumber. Last Sunday, Timothy Egan weighed in with his opinion of the plumber's tome in The New York Times. Suffice it to say, he wondered if the plumber wanted Egan to fix his leaky toilet.

That is the point of course. Forget sour grapes or deals gone south or stalled indefinitely. This is about people getting paid great sums of money to write books who have absolutely no credentials to do so. As Egan phrases it: "I don't want you [Joe the Plumber] writing books. Not when too many good novelists remain unpublished. Not when too many extraordinary histories remain unread. Not when too many riveting memoirs are kicked back at authors after 10 years of toil. Not when voices in Iran, North Korea or China struggle to get past a censor's gate."

Not when publishers are laying off skilled shapers of language by the dozens and independent presses struggle to stay solvent. Of course, there is the argument that it is books like Joe the Plumber's that presumably open the door for those by lesser known mortals. Countered by Egan's observation that "the idea that someone who stumbled into a sound bite can be published, and charge $24.95 for said words, makes so many real writers think the world is unfair."

Especially when people like Joe the Plumber are hogging all the advance money the struggling industry can dish out. Want to save publishing? Stop publishing garbage and making money off it.

I just think we deserve better.

Research on Laminitis

I was listening to a program on our local public radio station about gardening last weekend while running some errands, and was surprised to hear the host interview a vet. The topic? The kinds of trees that are especially toxic to horses.

I am sure all you horse owners know about the dangers of Black Walnut trees, but I did not know that their leaves, roots and wood chips made from their timber are all very toxic--indeed can be deadly--to horses. They are not exactly sure why, but wood chips made from Black Walnut trees can cause laminitis in some horses. In addition the mold from Black Walnut tree leaves can also trigger the deadly disease. Red oaks are equally dangerous--not so much the bark as the mold from their leaves.

All of which points once again to the mysteries associated with this disease. There are so many things that simply cannot be explained. So it was timely that the NTRA announced last week that its subsidiary, NTRA Charities, had disbursed $90,801 in support of one new and two continuing medical research projects on laminitis.

These disbursements were made from the NTRA Charities--Barbaro Memorial Fund. In addition, the Barbaro Fund contributed an additional $60,000 in 2007 toward laminitis research projects and programs at Penn.

The two continuing projects are: "Targeting 5-HT in Equine Laminitis," by Dr. Douglas Allen at the University of Georgia and "Treatment of Equine Laminitis with Doxycycline," by Dr. Susan Eades at Louisiana State University. The new study is "Effect of Digital Hypothermia on Inflammatory Injury in Laminitis," by Dr. James Belknap of Ohio State University and it is a two year project.

It is good to know that Barbaro's legacy lives on in helping to find a cure for this mysterious disease.

Of Women and Horses

According to Jennifer Swanson, at Pure Thoughts Horse Rescue, "the divided Road has now connected and formed a highway that paves the way for ending the cruel act of horse slaughter as well as the abusive components related to horse slaughter."

Swanson credits two women: Madeline Pickens and Victoria McCullough with creating this new highway. On May 23, 2008, Victoria McCullough purchased all the horses at the notorious Sugarcreek Auction that were destined for slaughter. Over 72% of these horses have since been adopted, proving once again that the majority of the horses being sent to slaughter are not old, infirmed and lame, just unwanted.

And Madeline Pickens? Well she personally rescued 30,000 at-risk wild mustangs and plans to relocated them on her million acres of protected land with room for all different breeds, especially retired racehorses.

Victoria McCullough calls her rescue plan the Triumph Project. Madeline Pickens calls hers the right thing to do.

I call it a wonderful example of women doing what they have always done best: taking care of the world.

9 Year old Author

While the publishing industry continues to react to all the downsizing, there is some good news regarding one sale by a very new author. Alec Greven's dating primer, How to Talk to Girls, hit bookstores last week. The book, published by Harper Collins, began as a handwritten pamphlet that the 9 year old Greven sold at his school's bookfair. It was the runaway bestseller.

Apparently his advice was straightforward enough to catch the attention of an agent and then an editor or two. Some examples: "The best choice for most boys is a regular girl. Remember some pretty girls are cold hearted when it comes to boys. Don't let them get to you."

Before you jump to conclusions about whether or not 9 year old boys should even by thinking about girls, let me assure you that Gevens does not recommend dating (which he defines as going out to dinner) until you are "old," say 15 or 16. And you should not fall in love until at least middle school.

The rest of the advice seems to be fairly classic: "comb your hair and don't wear sweats" and the best way to approach a girl is to just say "hi." "If I say hi and you say hi back, we're probably off to a good start," the fourth grader from Castle Rock, Colorado notes.

According to his mother, young Grevens reads voraciously and wants to be a writer when he grows up, with a weekend job in perhaps archaeology or paleontology.

Sounds like a plan. In the meantime, the new author has no current love interest. "I'm a little too young," he said.

Cheaters Never Prosper

An alarming study caught my eye earlier this week. It seems that in the last year 30 percent of U. S. high school students have stolen from a store and 64 percent have cheated on a test, according to a study done by the Josephson Institute, a Los Angeles based ethics institute.

While educators are noting that the increased pressure to succeed as well as the array of ways in which to achieve this success (not all of them "legal"), have contributed to this alarming trend, I think that there is no excuse for this behavior. OK, life is competitive and OK, there are lots of essays for sale on the Internet, but that does not make it right to plagiarize in order to go to the head of the class.

For one thing, think of the additional burden this places on already over-burdened teachers. Not only do they have to invent new, creative and fast-paced ways to grab the attention of their students, they now must monitor their work to make sure it is their own. Not only do they have to grade papers, they have to police them.

For another, what is the lesson learned by those who get away with it. That they can because a purchased paper makes it past a teacher who may have simply been too tired to check the Internet for variations? And what ever happened to doing the right thing simply because it is the right thing to do?

Perhaps most telling is the implication that we need to teach our kids ethics--that they simply do not know right from wrong--or worse yet that they do and still choose wrong over right.

When it comes to the honor system, I used to tell my kids it was the same thing as traffic lights. No one is watching you all the time to make sure you don't run red lights. Just imagine what would happen if everyone decided not to follow the rules of the road. Chaos. Injury. Confusion. And surely fatalities.

I think the same thing applies to ethics for life. Just because no one is watching does not mean that it is OK to break the rules because the same consequences apply.

And no, I don't agree with one educator who advocated changing the system. "We have to create situations where it's easy for kids to do the right things," he said. "We need to create classrooms where learning takes on more improtance than having the right answer."

On the contrary. I think we need to make it incredibly challenging for kids--to put them in situations where its tough to make the choice to do the right thing--and then to punish those who don't in significant and meaningful ways. Because hopefully if they realize its their own fault, they will only do it once.

Horse Power

So for all you horse lovers out there looking for equine related books, be sure to check out my advisor's new book, reviewed this past Sunday in the New York Times Book Review. Horses at Work by Ann Norton Greene, refutes the notion that the steam engine brought the era of the literal work horse to an end. In fact, according to Greene, the country's dependence on the horse grew simultaneously with its dependence on steam.

What prompted this revelation, according to Greene, was the Great Epizootic, an event that occurred in the Fall of 1872. Almost all of the horses in the country came down with the flu and cities came to a standstill. As Greene writes of Philadelphia: "Streetcar companies suspended service; undelivered freight accumulated at wharves and railroad depots; consumers lacked milk, ice, and groceries; saloons lacked beer; work halted at construction sites, brickyards and factories; and city governments curtailed fire protection and garbage collection." In short, without horse power, "modern" life came to a screeching halt.

Greene's argument runs counter to our perception that the usefulness of the horse died with the birth of the steam engine, but as she points out, between 1840 and 1910, even as America was becoming industrialized and burning more fossil fuels, the horse and mule population grew twice as fast as the human population. In addition, as she notes, "the states with the most railroad miles also had the greatest increases in the horse population."

Why? Often to pull those trains the last length of the journey since trains were not welcome in cities proper in case they threw off sparks. In addition, trains went as far as the depot and that was it. If you needed to change trains or go into the country, a horse and wagon was your only option. Horses also pulled streetcars as well as plows on farms. The also propelled the earliest threshing machines and pulled the wagon that delivered milk to your door.

In short, the birth of the steam engine simply gave the horse another job until the loads that he was asked to bear simply became too large. By 1888, horses were no longer pulling streetcars and were on their way to becoming obsolete. It was not the steam engine that made them so; it was ultimately the automobile that promised cheaper, quieter and more efficient mode of transportation.

The irony of course is that we see where that has left us. In fact I saw a bumper sticker the other day that read: Stop pollution. Get a horse.

The more things change....

Publishing on the Skids?

The Publishing industry is calling Wednesday, December 3, Black Wednesday, for all the bad news that hit the street.

Random House underwent a massive reorganization with major divisions being consolidated or simply disappearing. Thomas Nelson, the world's largest Christian publisher and the 10th largest publisher of any kind in the U. S., laid off 10% of its workforce.

And over at Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, which had already announced a freeze on acquiring new titles, the publisher resigns and the executive editor is fired, with more layoffs on the way. And Simon & Shuster has eliminated at least 35 positions.

Not good to say the least but probably long overdue. I have been saying that publishing is probably the last of the old boys clubs to still conduct business according to an archaic set of unwritten rules, but no one likes to see industry giants crumble. What is interesting is the unsaid presumption that people will stop buying books. I'm not sure.

I am a subscriber to the Free Library of Philadelphia's Author Event series and just this past week, it was a standing room only crowd for Toni Morrison. Granted she is a Pulitzer Prize winner and a Nobel Prize winner but still, it was a Monday night in early December when there are plenty of other distractions. And the line for her to autograph her newest book was at least 200 people long. No exaggeration.

Of course, she is Toni Morrison but most of the events this entire season have been very well attended. And at all of them people buy books.

Of course you can still borrow books free from the Library, so if all you want to do is read the book, you can. But the point here is that people wanted to buy the book and have it autographed by the author. And please note that this was not the Sarah Palin Diaries--this was real, fairly challenging, literature, taught in English classes.

My point is that I don't believe people will ever stop buying books, especially those which they view as investments. Perhaps it is a point that the publishing industry should consider, since they don't seem to be publishing too many of that genre.

Springside's Surgery

Barbaro's now famous surgeon, Dean Richardson, is back in the news again, having performed successful surgery on Springside, the 2 year old filly who sustained a fracture in her right front pastern after winning the Demoiselle Stakes at Aqueduct Nov. 29.

So far so good. "The surgery went very well," owner Jim Sapara told The Blood-Horse. "She walked back to her stall after they put her in the pool to wake up, and she was feeding at the time of the call."

Infection is the biggest threat to her recovery but barring that, the horse is expected to be fine. Probably not fine enough to race again (you never know) but certainly fine enough to procreate.

A couple of things struck me about this story. The first is how "routine" repairs like this have become. Screws were inserted into the bone to stabilize it; the recovery pool was used to lessen the possibility of damage when she woke up, and the horse was, amazingly, walked back to her stall where she ate like it was just another day at the office. Ten years ago, I don't think this surgery would have seemed so run-of-the-mill. Certainly fifteen years ago, it might not have even been attempted.

The other thing is the day off between injury and surgery--that all important day for the horse to regain stability after suffering trauma so that the effects of the surgery--traumatic in itself--are minimized. Perhaps that is one of the greatest lessons of veterinary medicine--that horses do better when they are not rushed from the track to the operating table. Even in Barbaro's case, it was important to stabilize him before subjecting him to surgery.

How amazing that we who followed Barbaro's story know this drill all too well. We can see the images associated with the recovery pool and the walk back to the stall. We know Springside is in the most capable of hands and we understand the day to day nature of her projected 8 week recovery.

Talk about a legacy....

Tragedies at Aqueduct

Some incredibly tragic news from last weekend when two horses at Aqueduct were injured, one fatally.

Wanderin Boy, a 7 year old with a history of injuries, suffered a fatal injury to his left front leg during the running of the Cigar Mile. He was euthanized due to the extent of the injury: shattered sesamoid bones in his leg. Wanderin Boy was owned by Arthur Hancock III, who had nurtured him back from three other serious injuries. To some extent, it was a miracle that this horse was able to continue to race well into his later years. Of course that does not make up for his tragic demise, especially since he was a well loved champion.

Wanderin Boy had earned over $1.2 million in his career, which was extended due to his owner's display of true horsemanship that allowed this horse to recuperate for as long as it took between previous injuries.

On the same card at Aqueduct, the 2 year old filly Springside suffered a fracture to her front right pastern while galloping out after the race. According to the track veterinarian, it was an intact fracture but is nonetheless considered career-ending.

Springside was vanned to New Bolton Center earlier this week. No word yet as to her condition. She had won the Grade II Demoiselle Stakes by 9 1/2 lengths so it is yet another promising career cut short.

Questions are flying about the condition of the outer track at the Big A where racing moves to the inner track for the winter meet.

More than anything, it is a tragic reminder of the frailty of these magnificent animals and the demands we place on them. Even when you do everything right--and there is reason to believe the owners of these horses did--everything can go wrong.

Alex & Me

Any animal lover who is searching for a good read might consider the recently published Alex & Me by Irene Pepperberg. It is the story of Pepperberg's remarkable journey with Alex, a parrot she bought in a Chicago pet store in 1977 and then taught to communicate.

As his obituary in The London Times noted: "Alex, the African gray parrot who was smarter than the average U. S. president, has died at the relatively tender age of 31. He could count to six, identify colors, understand concepts such as bigger and smaller and had a vocabulary of 150 words. To his supporters he was proof that the phrase 'birdbrain' should be expunged from the dictionary."

Pepperberg's relationship with Alex was scientific as well as emotional. The book documents her experiments in animal communication as well as her ongoing struggle to win recognition from the larger scientific community. Through years of hard work and meticulous trials, Pepperberg set out to demonstrate, like Jane Goodall, that animals are smarter than we think and that they do have the ability to "communicate."

"Alex taught me to believe that his little bird brain was conscious in some matter, that is, capable of intention," Pepperberg writes. "By extrapolation, Alex taught me that we live in a world populated by thinking, conscious creatures."

As much a story about animal cognition as it is about the changing nature of how we view animals in general, Alex & Me is high on my must read list. Do post a review if you've beaten me to it.

Slow Blogging

There is an interesting new trend among bloggers as noted by Sharon Otterman in last Sunday's New York Times: slow blogging. According to Otterman, it is a concept related to slow cooking and it is all about back to the basics of what made you a blogger in the first place. That is, the opportunity to write, not necessarily to build an audience or create a brand, but just to write.

"Slow bloggers believe that news-driven blogs like TechnoCrunch and Gawker (I would add Huffington Post) are the equivalent of fast food restaurants--great for occasional consumption but not enough to guarantee human sustenance over the long haul," writes Otterman. They also believe in quality over quantity--that meaty sporadic posts carry more weight than digestible daily nuggets (all food puns intended).

I'd like to think that I am a member of the slow blogging movement, but the truth is I am probably somewhere in between the two camps. Yes, I was attracted to the concept of blogging because it serves as a valuable "warm up exercise" for my writing work for the day. But somewhere along the line, I decided it was also a good way to build an audience if and when my book ever gets published. Hence the necessity of the daily posts.

I feel comfortable in admitting that I do not belong to the camp of those inexorably tied to their electronic devices, cranking out five, six or eight posts a day, but I do feel the need to write something readable every day partially out of fear of losing what small base I may have developed. Yes there is a responsibility that comes with being reliable but I like to believe it is a two way street. You have demonstrated your loyalty. I should demonstrate mine.

So while I mull this concept of deeper, "meatier" posts, you might notice that the topics wander a bit. That too comes with the territory of slow blogging because you will find that my mind often ventures into places where this blog has not been before.

Bottom line: I hope you'll stick around for the journey. It's always nice to know I'm not flying solo.

No More Acquisitions for Publishing Giant

Some slightly terrifying news from Publisher's Weekly that Houghton Mifflin Harcourt has instructed its editors to stop buying new books.

Joseph Blumenfeld, vice president of communications, reported that the publisher "has temporarily stopped acquiring manuscripts." Naturally the biggest question is about the definition of "temporarily" and while Blumenfeld assures agents that the ban is "not a permanent change," no official explanation as to how long it might be in effect.

Rumors are swirling that this action might have more to do with HMH's "highly leveraged" state of affairs rather than with the decline of literature in general but these are countered by reports from established agents that the action is unprecedented. One agent called the actions "very scary" and said it was indicative of the state of the industry--the worst he has ever seen.

All of which does not bode well for any of us trying to sell our proposals, although my guess is that if you are Dan Brown or John Grisham, an exception would be made to the policy.

This is either the great big wake up call that publishing has been avoiding for years or it is a serious sign of things to come. If that is true, look for the biggest conglomerate to fall first.

The Silver Lining

Here's a story to inspire all the would-be novelists out there. Matthew Quick, a former teacher, quit his job, sold his house and moved into what his in-laws called "the Matt cave" to write his book.

More than 130 agents and 70 rejections later, his novel, The Silver Linings Playbook, is due out from Farrar, Straus & Giroux this September. In addition, the book has been optioned for a Hollywood movie, although that is still in the planning stages. In addition, Quick, has written a young adult novel due out in 2010.

Please note the following statistic one more time: 130 agents!!!!!!! Staggering and actually mind-bending. I had always heard that one agent won't touch what another has already tried to sell. Perhaps the meaning here is that Quick auditioned for 130 agents before finding one who would take him on. Because in the scheme of things, 70 rejections does not seem like an overwhelming amount.

The lesson here: persistence, of course but also the belief in oneself. Quick was following the advice he gave his students: "Live the unconventional life" but he was also accompanied by a supportive spouse who never stopped believing in him.

For every Matt Quick there are thousands who follow his recipe and still never reap the rewards. But it is always good to hear about the one that does.

Limiting the Cattle Charge?

A pet peeve of mine--the enormous field of 20 usually entered in the Kentucky Derby--is being reviewed according to Bob Evans, president and CEO of Churchill Downs, Inc., said and as reported on the Paulick Report. Apparently the death of Eight Belles which occurred after the finish of last year's Derby has inspired the scrutiny.

I have long believed that the cattle charge that results when 20 horses break from the two starting gates at the Derby at full throttle, is an accident waiting to happen and it is ironic that an accident that actually happened after the finish of the race is what is inspiring the review. I actually don't think it was the demise of Eight Belles in isolation that prompted this second look. I think it was the Eight Belles tragedy on top of the Barbaro tragedy, on top of the George Washington tragedy on top of all the other recent televised racing tragedies, that has everyone reconsidering safety. There's no press like bad press and the racing industry got its share of it last year when Eight Belles died in the middle of a national telecast--even though the cameras did not hover.

In any event, in this economic climate no one associated with racing's premiere event, is taking any chances. Trainers may not be thrilled with a reduction in the size of the field since it is always a tight race to qualify for the Derby by being in the top 20 money earners in graded or group stakes races. And Churchill has already "given away" one of those coveted spots to the winner of the Kentucky Derby Challenge, being held on polytrack at Kempton racecourse in England on March 18.

And if the number of horses entered in the race declines, the handle (amount bet) will also decline--not a situation Churchill officials are likely to favor. And as Paulick notes, "A reduction from 20 to 14 starters would also cost Churchill Downs $300,000 in lost entry and starting fees."

If something is going to change with regard to reducing the number of starters, look for an announcement by January 1. Anything after that, is almost too late. And personally I don't think anything will change because guess what is going to take precedence over the safety of the horses?

You're right. Money.

Sammy's First Birthday

So this Thanksgiving is Sammy Feldman's First Birthday and we cheated by celebrating early with a neighborhood dog birthday party.



That's me in the hat surrounded by some of Sammy's guests. You'll note Amos and Phoebe among the fray and if you're wondering what made them all so attentive, it was the "doggie birthday cupcakes" I made and was offering to well behaved friends of Sammy. Another invited guest is on the wall next to me, obviously amused by the goings on!



Of course if it is Sammy's First Birthday it is also Lucy's (his sister) and the pair celebrated in high style.



This is Boo--one of Sammy's friends, dressed for the occasion.



This is Tadpole, another guest.



And this is Amos, who had a very good time.

We are thankful for family, friends and our animals who make us smile.

New Wild Horse Sanctuary

Madeleine Pickins is my new hero. By now, I'm sure you've heard that Madeleine Pickins has come to the rescue of the 33,000 wild mustangs who were threatened with euthanasia. She is planning on creating a horse sanctuary on a million acres, an area larger than the state of Rhode Island.

A horse breeder and philanthropist, she is also a true steward of the animals she loves. "Animals don't have a voice," she said. "As long as man is their protectorate, we have a responsibility to take care of them. We cannot abandon them."

Her track record speaks for itself. After Hurricane Katrina, Pickens chartered a cargo plane and rescued about 800 dogs and cats, most of which she helped get adopted. The plight of the wild mustangs spoke to her the same way.

"Our wild mustang must be our national treasure. We must not be slaughtering it," she said on ABC News. "The horses have no natural predator. The only predator is mankind, when we do the wrong thing."

Pickens plan to buy a million acres of land owned by the Bureau of Land Management for her horses to roam. This is the same land that the horses already share with cattle, but which the cattlemen claim is being grazed clean by the horses. "They can have their land and we'll have ours for our horses. . . That way, I can create a sanctuary and we can take in all the horses that are homeless so that no one will ever be turned away."

Pickens plans to open this sanctuary up to anyone who wants to see horses in the wild. She hopes to have it open within the next year and then let in RVs and eventually build log cabins and little hotels.

"I can't wait for the day that the first horse is turned loose and you'll just see him kick his heels up and gallop away with this herd together. It's going to be so beautiful."

Well said and well done, Ms. Pickens. If the horses had a voice, I know they would say, "Thank you."

Obama's Brains

There is a great piece floating around the Internet that notes the American people may have trouble understanding their President Elect because he actually uses complete sentences when he speaks! In fact, every time he opens his mouth he uses correct grammar; the subject and verb always agree. "If he keeps this up, people may mistake him for an elitist!" the piece notes.

The jabs are subtle reminders of the tendencies of both the current president and Sarah Palin to butcher the English language. How refreshing to have a president who respects the lexicon and knows how to use it.

Maybe its because Obama reads a lot. On November 18, after he had announced that he had read two major book about Roosevelt, sales of these books spiked! The books in question are: Jonathan Alter's The Defining Moment: FDR's Hundred Days and the Triumph of Hope and Jean Edward Smith's FDR.

In fact, the publisher of another FDR tome (Anthony Badger's FDR: The First Hundred Days), decided to reprint 5,000 copies last Monday in response to the FDR craze. And there is yet another one to recommend to the President Elect, Curtis Roosevelt's Too Close to the Sun, recently released.

There is reason to believe this quest for knowledge extends to most of the incoming members of Obama's cabinet. I heard a radio commentator note that nearly all of the presumed appointees went to either Harvard or Yale, prompting him to quip that if a crisis happened during the Harvard Yale football game, it might be hard to find anyone "minding the store!"

I am delighted about this new "intellectualism." I don't know when it became fashionable to debunk intelligence and I am thrilled our country will be in the hands of those with superior educations. My father always told me that the key to success is to surround yourself with intelligent people.

Looks like Obama is taking his advice.

Work for F(r)ee

Why is it that people who hire freelancers always think they can get a bargain? There is not a day that goes by that I do not receive some sort of email offering me some great "work at home" job opportunity. Or see job postings on Craig's list and other journalistic web sites offering opportunities to get in on the ground floor (translation: work for little or nothing) in a new exciting, publishing venture.

Or even get hauled into doing projects that I no longer take because the pay is just not worth it because they catch me in a weak moment.

The bottom line is when someone offers you exposure, you need to remember that exposure never bought groceries. Which is all fine and well when you are starting out and trying to build a portfolio of clippings, but which must come to an end when that portfolio is overflowing.

The problem is no one seems to take freelancers seriously. No one seems to understand that it often takes me the same amount of time to craft that "little, tiny story" you ordered than it does to write the longer ones. Interviews are interviews. Legwork is legwork. Research is research, regardless of how many words I actually write. Sometimes, in fact, it takes longer to do those tight pieces than it does to put together magazine features.

And in my business, time is money, but no one seems to want to pay for it.

So please don't offer me exposure. I'd rather get paid in cash. On time. Without having to submit six bills and then call you to bring them to your attention.

Being a freelancer, does not mean I work for free.

The Palin Advance

OK, I don't want to be snide or ungrateful (lately a few choice projects have been going my way) BUT when I read that Sarah Palin is reportedly being offered $7 million to write a book AND that Joe The Plumber is close behind, well, I can get pretty nasty, pretty quickly. But just to show you that I am not the only one who is OUTRAGED at this ridiculous state of affairs in the publishing industry, I offer you Erica's Heller's take on the same subject. Erica is the daughter of Joe Heller, author of Catch-22.

"Aah, but the literary world was not always so whorish, swinish and unrepentant," she notes on the Huffington Report. (Told you we could get nasty. . .) Her father worked on his first novel, Catch-22 for 8 years, "evenings and weekends, since he had a full-time job, wife and small kids to support. It was a labor of love and although his belief in it was absolute, there was no guarantee of a publisher, an audience, an advance."

In fact, she relates, Catch-22 got off to a very slow start and poor reviews from a lot of influential publications. And then slowly it developed a following by word of mouth and the book ended up selling millions of copies. For all of this, Heller was paid an advance of $1500.

To add insult to injury, Ms. Heller notes the following truths: Palin's and the Plumber's "memoirs" are "certain to be ghosted by some unsung schnooks" and these manuscripts will be "comprised mostly of little more than bragging, lying and recycling some vary stale air."

My point, of course, is that with $7 million going to NON-WRITERS like Palin and who knows how much to the plumber, is it any wonder there is nothing left for those who actually ARE WRITERS???? And what kind of a recession might we be in when a plumber earns millions off a memoir based on his fifteen seconds of television fame?

Far better, as Heller suggests, to consider how some of that money might have been spent: "For their efforts, they will be awarded gargantuan advances, piles of money that could feel several Third World nations for some time. or OUR nation since there are still so man hungry, weary, homeless, and wanting."

Or to note that "Not all of us are plucked from obscurity, wrapped in Valentino or held up as a poster-child for the working man. Some people have to actually work at it and at times, there is even talent, skill, and a magical, indefinable creative spark magnificently ignited in the process."

Shame on you publishing industry. Joseph Heller and Sarah Palin do not belong in the same business.

Keeneland Nose Dive

Not that we needed any reminding, but official word from the Keeneland November breeding stock sale confirms what insiders have been telling us. There were substantial declines in every category.

According to Bloodhorse.com, "The Lexington sales company reported that 3,019 horses were sold during the 15-day auction for a total $185,552,300, which was down 45.6% from the 2007 record gross of $340,877,200 when 3,381 horses were sold. The average fell 39% from $100,821 to $61,462, and the median price of $20,000 reflected a decline of 42.9% from the $35,000 figure last year."

None of this is surprising, of course, given the dire state of the economy at the moment. I hear that most "luxuries" are up for sale these days, including yachts, second homes and pricey autos. What this means is that, at some level, there are bargains to be had--if, of course, one wants to purchase "frivolous extras" in this climate of belt-tightening.

I think it has gotten almost vulgar to spend money on things one does not really need. Groceries, medical supplies, even pet food, seem immune (for the time being) but a third car, a second home, a racehorse? Well, those hardly seem necessary and border on indulgent and ostentatious in a time of making-do with what we have.

Part of the decline in horse sales can be attributed to the lack of purchases from the international community (it seems no one is immune....) but part may also be this climate of austerity that has taken hold at every level. The irony, of course, is that we are a society based on consumption and when we stop consuming, everybody suffers.

What a strange conundrum. I, for one, am delighted at our new found tendency to evaluate our purchases rather than just buy for the sake of buying. But when this trend leads to unemployment and the demise of big and small companies, I question who we are benefiting.

The answer, of course, is to develop a new model of consumerism based on quality rather than quantity, and that will take time that many who are teetering, do not have.

Meanwhile, if you are in the market for a horse, there are bargains to be had for sure, but just remember you have to feed and house it even if it never runs.

Topsy Turvey?

When I was I college, I took a course on Chaucer with a very distinguished professor, one of the gurus in the field. His take on the Canterbury Tales, which I retain to this day which should give you an idea of how powerful it was, was that they were essentially tales of a society gone awry. All the symbols in the tales were turned on their heads, indicative of the dangers inherent when the world order is turned upside down.

For instance, most of the pilgrims in the tales are leading their horses, rather than riding them--an indication that man is not in control of the beast. And the bawdy Wife of Bath, well she is a a woman run amok--a woman who very much exhibits the characteristics of a man, which all become apparent when she does not remain in her "place."

I remembered this when reading the wonderful piece that Ron Suskind wrote in last Sunday's New York Times Magazine about the end of the Bush era and the beginning of the Obama one, entitled Change. How eras that begin with a "roar," end with a "whisper" and it often feels like the world order is being literally turned on its head.

Change is energizing but to many people it is also terrifying. And I think to many of them, this new grassroots world, epitomized by an African American president, is terrifying. That is perhaps why we are seeing increased incidents of racism on college campuses even as we are seeing galvanized youth, excited by promise.

I do think we are in the middle of writing a Canterbury Tale of our own and its interpretation may be up for debate. We are indeed turning the established world order on its head. Only time will tell if that is a good or bad thing.

For now I think it is so important to stress tolerance, respect and patience. Change takes time and this man did not get to be president without knowing not only how to play the game but how to be better than everybody else.

The Smart Gift

Here's what you should be buying everyone on your list this gift giving season--I can't believe I am writing this prior to Thanksgiving but it's beginning to look a lot like you know what out there--BOOKS. The publishing industry will thank you; the bookstores will thank you but most of all you will be doing your part to create a smarter world.

How's that you ask? Well, according to Harvey Mackay, author of the bestseller Pushing the Envelope, 51 percent of the American population never reads a book more than 400 pages after they complete their formal education. Couple that with the fact that if you read just one book per month for 12 straight months, you will be in the top 25 percentile of all intellectuals in the world and you'll get my drift.

Knowledge is power, accessible to everyone, through the pages of a book.

Seriously, if you read just 15 minutes a day, every day for one year, you can complete 20 books. Think how smart you will be. Think how smart all those people on your list will be. Think how smart our country will be.

And if you don't think it is important to be smart, consider how quickly our world is changing and how critical it is for you to be able to keep up--not only with technology but with the ideas that technology creates. The late management guru, Peter Drucker, noted that "the demands of a knowledge-based society [require] organized learning to be a lifelong process."

Mackay says it better than I can: "Individuals need to take stock and realize they're in school for their entire lives. Companies need to create a corporate culture that strives for continuous improvement. Human beings are not like a package of Jell-O. You can't add water and achieve a reformed human being."

No, you have to add words, ideas and passion, paste it between two covers and offer it to the world. Pass it on.

Houston Horror

I thought we were done with dogfighting after the Michael Vick horror but according to KPRC in Houston, fifty five people have been charged in what is believed to be one of the largest dogfighting operations in the United States.

Harris County District Attorney Kenneth Magidson reports that more than 100 dogs, bred specifically to fight, were seized along with a horse and a snake that may have been used for "training." The yearlong investigation into this group's illegal activities was headed up by the Texas Department of Public Safety's Criminal Intelligence Service.

According to the investigators, the fights were staged regularly (weekly or bi-monthly) at one of eight secluded sites and fifteen to 100 people attended these events. "The spectators were there for the entertainment value. The people who were putting on the events are there to make money," said Lisa Block of the Department of Pubic Service.

Apparently the leading perpetrator maintained the "front" that he was showing and hunting his dogs, and managed to fool most of his neighbors. However, the investigation began when someone called in a tip.

"This is the largest dogfighting investigation that the USDA's office of Inspector General has worked on in the Southwest," said Abelino Farias, Jr. the U. S. Dept. of Agriculture's Special Agent in Charge. Forty one felony charges were filed, mostly for engaging in dogfighting but forty-five other charges were also filed for the misdemeanor of being a spectator at a dogfight.

It is absolutely vile and disgusting to believe that people engage in this type of illegal activity and even more horrific to realize what some people will do for money.

Dolphin Cruelty in Japan

News from Japan that the Taiji Whale Museum is conducting cruel experiments on dolphins that involve the removal of a newborn calf from its mother (often prior to weaning) so that its sale can be expedited. The first attempt at this early weaning resulted in the death of the calf.

The Taiji Whale Museum is far from a model aquarium in other ways, according to BlueVoice.org. According to Hardy Jones, a member of the watchdog group who is filing reports, "This dreary facility violates an uncountable number of international norms on how marine mammals should be kept." These include confining Bottlenose and Pacific Whitesided dolphins to a tiny cement tank where they are compelled to do tricks and isolating a female killer whale in another small tank, never permitting her contact with other creatures.

The worst offense, according to Jones, is the confinement of three Pan Tropical Spotted dolphins to a former sea otter exhibit, so small that they can barely move.

Jones writes: "Pan Tropical Spotters are animals of the open sea. They do not know confinement or barrier. They are also known not to survive long in captivity." In fact, this is the second set of Pan Tropical Spotters at the Taiji Whale Museum; the first set died in 2006.

Dolphin come cheaply in Japan and are routinely slaughtered for food. If this situation appalls you, you can join the protest by emailing the Ministers of the Environment at: www.meti.go.jp/english/index.html. Apparently calling the Japanese "uncivilized" is one of the worst insults you can use.

I doubt anyone would disagree with the claim that the treatment of dolphins is "uncivilised."

Applause for Artists

Two outings this week have me pondering the fate of wonderfully talented artists in these dire economic times. I went to both the Philadelphia Craft Show as well as a marvelous production of A Winter's Tale at Penn. It featured five actors from London who managed to play all the parts by just changing a hat, flinging a scarf over one shoulder, or pulling up a skirt to reveal leggings. Presto! They were someone else.

The Crafts Show was equally awe inspiring. Amazing works of art produced by incredibly dedicated and talented artisans, many of whom were surfing the net on their laptops while waiting for customers. There is nothing so sad as a booth at a Museum quality show with the proprietors reading a book.

There is no doubt about it. The economy has hit a standstill and I truly worry about the self-employed who need to make sales to eat. It is tough enough to be an artist in good times; it is absolutely frightening to ponder how they manage to survive in these times.

Wait? I'm talking about me too! No joke--it is getting tough out there but my clients are managing (so far) to keep their heads above water, (KNOCK ON WOOD LOUDLY) and I just take it one assignment at a time.

Meanwhile, Son #1 is watching his colleagues bite the dust every two weeks and is living in fear that his time may come, literally anytime. That, too, is no way to work.

So hurry up Mr. Obama. I truly believe you need to fix the big guys fast because everything does ultimately trickle down to those who need it most.

In the meantime, go buy tickets to a local production of anything and give the actors a standing ovation.

The Power of Persistance

Thursday morning on Good Morning America there was a segment on the importance of having a support group when you are looking for a job. They are even sponsoring Job Clubs in cities around the country for people in the midst of a job search. The bottom line: support is crucial when you are in a situation in which rejection can happen on a daily basis.

There was also lots of advice about keeping a positive attitude, generating good job karma and staying focused on your goal. Similar to the Randy Pausch mantra that brick walls are only there to inspire us to find a way to go over them.

All of which brings me to the psychological effects of rejection which happens to most writers on a fairly regular basis. It is hard to keep a stiff upper lip when you work in a solitary profession, pour out your heart and soul to an inanimate object and then proffer it up for the world to critique. And most of the time those critiques are based on things that have nothing to do with the quality of your work; the person on the other end is simply having a bad day.

Writer's groups are helpful; so are online editorial groups and just getting out of the house to do something not related to writing. And so is the knowledge that rejection happens to everyone and it is not easy for anyone.

It is very difficult to keep plugging but often there is no other way to beat the odds. You have to believe that there is someone who is going to like what you write just like you have to believe there is someone who needs your services.

And very often the difference between belief and reality is plain old persistence.

Horses and Cancer

As many of you know, before I was swept away in the Barbaro current, I was working on a book in conjunction with Penn Vet Hospital about treating pets with cancer. I learned a lot about treatment options that are available to pets with the disease and also about the lengths to which some people will go to care for their pets.

I was also surprised to learn that horses, for some unknown reason, do not get cancer as frequently as dogs and cats. (Actually more dogs get cancer each year than people, but that is another story...) Because of the relatively infrequent appearance of cancer in horses, there are not as many protocols for treating the disease when it does occur.

News comes from Washington State University, however, about its success in treating horses with certain types of tumors with radiation. Their biggest (on many levels!) success story is that of Ghostbuster, a Clydesdale/Thoroughbred cross who was treated with radiation in 2005 and whose cancer has not returned.

First of all, Washington State University has a linear accelerator, a very expensive piece of equipment that is able to deliver a precise amount of radiation to the tumor with minimal impact to the surrounding skin. Second of all, the vets at Washington State developed a method of anesthetizing horses and moving them to and from the linear accelerator in a safe and rapid manner.

Ghostbuster was anesthetized and treated twice a day for five days, according to Dr. Kelly Farnsworth, a WSU professor and equine surgeon. "Typically the procedure from the time he was anesthetized to the time he was back in the recovery stall was around 12 to 13 minutes," she elaborated. "The treatment in the linear accelerator lasted only about 25 to 30 seconds and the rest of the time was spend transporting him to and from the linear accelerator. He came through the treatments without any problems at all."

These radiation treatments have been most successful in treating common skin tumors such as melanomas, sarcoids and squamous cell carcinomas but any tumor that has not metathesized and that fits under the beam should be considered.

So file that away in the back of your brains because Penn Vet also has a linear accelerator although I think it has only been used on small animals.

At least so far.

Book Deal--Not For Me

From the "I Can't Believe She Gets a Book Deal" department, news that publishers are lining up to offer Sarah Palin a book deal about her recent experience being plucked from obscurity as McKain's Vice-Presidential candidate. Please note that I cannot look at the woman without channeling Tina Fey and I cannot imagine why anyone would want to read about her shopping sprees or cameo appearances on Saturday Night Live.

On the other hand, no one, and I mean no one wants to publish the memoirs of our current president. He is being advised to "wait a while" before even thinking about putting pen to paper.

So let's get this straight. People are willing to pay for a book by someone who lost the election for vice-president BUT NOT a book by someone who actually held the office for eight years. Anyone wonder why publishing is not exactly a straight forward business?

Let's also get it straight that I don't think EITHER person should write a book that would be worth reading, BUT that is not the point. Once again, it is all about celebrity and popularity which just goes to show you how important it is to have national recognition BEFORE you write that best seller.

Which leaves me angry, jealous and disgusted once again with the entire industry. By the way, I have a great title for her, Drill Baby Drill. Maybe people will think its about root canal.