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."
Tuesday, November 18, 2008
Monday, November 17, 2008
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 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.
Sunday, November 16, 2008
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.
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.
Saturday, November 15, 2008
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.
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.
Friday, November 14, 2008
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.
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.
Thursday, November 13, 2008
Overkill
I am concerned about the state of the economy as it applies to all things but in particular as it applies to all living things that are sold to make a living. Think horses.
My sources tell me that the Keeneland November Sales have been a huge disappointment and many, many yearlings have not been sold, not only because they have not met their reserves but because there were no buyers. Now these yearlings are the property of the breeders who depend on their sale to make a living. This also applies to the bloodstock agents (middle men) who earn a commission on their sales. No horses sold. No commissions. No earnings. And living breathing horses that need to be fed, groomed, cared for. You know that drill.
So what happens to these horses? Some find their way into private hands. Some end up in less prestigious sales. Some never find homes--and then what? These are yearlings that have not been broken so in theory they could be trained to be pleasure horses BUT these are yearlings that have been bred to race. And what happens if they don't because they can't?
I don't know the answer but I am concerned about their fate.
In theory this might be a great big wake-up call to an industry that has been over breeding for years (read greed). It just might be that rude awakening many have been predicting. But it concerns me that it is at the expense of living, breathing beings through no fault of their own.
Once again, when horses are viewed as commodities, the end result is not in their best interest. No one can rescue all these horses. Perhaps no one can find homes for all these horses. Perhaps the entire industry should declare a moratorium on new breeding until the results of past breedings have a reason to have been born.
My sources tell me that the Keeneland November Sales have been a huge disappointment and many, many yearlings have not been sold, not only because they have not met their reserves but because there were no buyers. Now these yearlings are the property of the breeders who depend on their sale to make a living. This also applies to the bloodstock agents (middle men) who earn a commission on their sales. No horses sold. No commissions. No earnings. And living breathing horses that need to be fed, groomed, cared for. You know that drill.
So what happens to these horses? Some find their way into private hands. Some end up in less prestigious sales. Some never find homes--and then what? These are yearlings that have not been broken so in theory they could be trained to be pleasure horses BUT these are yearlings that have been bred to race. And what happens if they don't because they can't?
I don't know the answer but I am concerned about their fate.
In theory this might be a great big wake-up call to an industry that has been over breeding for years (read greed). It just might be that rude awakening many have been predicting. But it concerns me that it is at the expense of living, breathing beings through no fault of their own.
Once again, when horses are viewed as commodities, the end result is not in their best interest. No one can rescue all these horses. Perhaps no one can find homes for all these horses. Perhaps the entire industry should declare a moratorium on new breeding until the results of past breedings have a reason to have been born.
Wednesday, November 12, 2008
Library Card
The economic meltdown has hit Philadelphia with a vengeance. Our new Mayor had great dreams but they all went up in smoke when Wall Street went South. Last week he revealed his new budget complete with serious cuts. Although he said that few offices escaped, there are some proposals that are meeting with rightful protests.
I am speaking of his plan to shut down 11 public libraries, predominantly in lower-income areas. Big mistake. And I mean big. These libraries are often the only safe haven kids in these neighborhoods have. They go there after school, before their working parents come home, and do their homework or better yet, read books. Most of these branches are in areas where public schools have no libraries of their own.
What's worse--these 11 targeted branches are being closed permanently and the buildings sold. State Representative Mark Cohen (whose district contains 2 of the branches slated to be closed), called the idea "outrageous and deeply wrong."
To be fair, the mayor also plans to close most of the city's public pools--another big mistake in my opinion--and comparisons are being made between the two necessary services. It truly isn't fair to have to decide which is more important--a swimming pool or a library--because BOTH are critical to keeping kids happy, safe, busy and off the streets.
Libraries have the power to change people's lives. I used to hang out in the school library so much, it felt like I knew the title of every book. Even today, one of my most favorite places to go is the library, especially Penn's, where the sheer volume of the collection is often staggering. Regardless of its size, the amount of knowledge contained within the four walls of a library is astounding. How can you deny access to a kid?
I have always said that whatever you need to know, you can probably find the answer in a book. Mow the grass a little less, charge more for parking violations but please don't close the doors to a child's universe, especially in a city that ironically sponsors a "One Book, One Philadelphia" campaign.
I am speaking of his plan to shut down 11 public libraries, predominantly in lower-income areas. Big mistake. And I mean big. These libraries are often the only safe haven kids in these neighborhoods have. They go there after school, before their working parents come home, and do their homework or better yet, read books. Most of these branches are in areas where public schools have no libraries of their own.
What's worse--these 11 targeted branches are being closed permanently and the buildings sold. State Representative Mark Cohen (whose district contains 2 of the branches slated to be closed), called the idea "outrageous and deeply wrong."
To be fair, the mayor also plans to close most of the city's public pools--another big mistake in my opinion--and comparisons are being made between the two necessary services. It truly isn't fair to have to decide which is more important--a swimming pool or a library--because BOTH are critical to keeping kids happy, safe, busy and off the streets.
Libraries have the power to change people's lives. I used to hang out in the school library so much, it felt like I knew the title of every book. Even today, one of my most favorite places to go is the library, especially Penn's, where the sheer volume of the collection is often staggering. Regardless of its size, the amount of knowledge contained within the four walls of a library is astounding. How can you deny access to a kid?
I have always said that whatever you need to know, you can probably find the answer in a book. Mow the grass a little less, charge more for parking violations but please don't close the doors to a child's universe, especially in a city that ironically sponsors a "One Book, One Philadelphia" campaign.
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