BY INDECISIVE


A JHOL STUBBS PAINTING OF ECLIPSE

     Eclipse won all his races by some distance which made his jockey remark "Eclipse first, the rest nowhere." He was a fiery chestnut with a white face right hind leg. Sired by Marske out of a Regulus mare called Spiletta, he was bred by the HRH Duke of Cumberland at his Cranbourne Lodge Stud. He was foaled during the total eclipse of 1764, and his temprament was known to be highly-strung and boisterous. Eclipse was the only racehorse to carry 12 stone in weight and be unbeaten in all of his handicaps. In fact throughout his racing career the stallion was unbeaten, before being retired to stud in 1770. It was not uncommon for him to win his races by 10-20 furlongs. In those days flat races were much further than they are on modernrace-tracks. Eventually his owner retired him to stud because of the lack of competition. Eclipse died of colic is 1789 at 25 years old. At the time of his death, he had become such a well-known racehorse and sire that it warranted a search of his body and skeleton to find out as much as possible.
     Eclipse’s decendants are around 80% of the thoroughbred racehorses including Kauto Star and Desert Orchid. Scientists have examined Hermit’s origins by taking a sample of DNA from one of eclipses teeth to see if hermit is a decendant of eclipse. This research will help to decode the genetic information of great racehorses.
     Research carried out by scientists from the royal vetinary college and the university of cambridge, is helping to figure out the gentic origins of the thoroughbred racing stock worldwide. The research is also helping to find the answer to why Eclipse was such a great undefeated champion of 18th century.
     Tests have also been carried out on 1867 Derby winner, Hermit. Equine science aims to understand what makes horses able to catch diseases easier and are more likely to break down during training. Research shows that by tracing the lines of modern day racehorses you will find very small groups of animals that were imported from the Near East and North africa in the early 18th century.
     The work of the RVC is to further discover which genetic traits have been inherited through the 30 or more generations since the foundation stock. Experts have used CT scans of Eclipse’s skeleton and reports of his races to create computer models of his structure. Using portraits researchers have been able to reconstruct one of his legs and have discovered that his legendary speed was due to his overly average’ body. A successfull racehorse must not only be quick footed but also very avaerage. For a racehorse to be very fast it needs the ability to bring its legs forward quickly, which is difficult for the larger horses with longer legs. Eclipse was smaller than the modern racehorse and was therefore more average in the breed’s range giving him his incredible speed.
     A horses leg may be refered to as a pogo stick because it uses stored energy in the muscles and tendons to propel the animal forwards and upwards. Research has shown that horses with stiffer legs restrict how quickly they can transmit the force to the ground and bounce back up again, therefore reducing the speed in which the animal can move. Stiffness in the leg also makes the animal more prone to injury.
     The tests that were conducted by the structure and motion labratory answers questions about the movement of many other animals and further research may lead to the knowledge to design robots with more stability which will help us with understanding how dinosaurs walked.

     VirtualPups is a large multi-player game. It involves strategy, and you choose how you play the game. There are many assets to VP, such as breeding, training, trading (buying/selling dogs), competing, gambling, as well as a large friendly community. The community plays a huge role in the game, you will continually interact with other players whether it be your competing against them, you sell or buy a dog to them, or even having a conversation with them.
     With the forums and the chat it makes it easy to interact and have a great time meeting some new friends. This amazing game has endless possibilities of how to play. Some players choose to strive to improve the stars and the stats on a certain breed, while others choose to find the perfect show dog.
     Sponsor kennels then assist you to become extremely successful, (Not that you can't be successful as a novice, a free account.) And there are many sponsor types, which would include: Training, Rescue, Breeding, Prestige and Boarding. Sponsor accounts are $25 USD (United States Currency) and last one whole year, giving you many perks.
     With an upgraded account, some of the features include: Unlimited turns, unlimited breeding, up to 10 additional novice accounts, an unlimited number of dogs, 20 unmade imports, and you may host 4 events a day.
     Other goodies you could purchase with USD are; Custom Dyes for $9.00 (You get to choose the color of your dog), 20 unmade import dogs $6 (These are dogs with no lineage that you can choose the breed and gender of, although your account must be upgraded to order these), and lastly you can create your very own breed of your choice! This is is a bit more pricey, costing $95 USD and $50 of this transaction is donated to an animal shelter called Life Long Friends: http://www.lifelongfriends.org/.
     With over 200 breeds of dogs to choose from, your experience on VirtualPups is entirely up to you, you can work toward goals all the time continuously improving along with having a great time!


     Like everyone else, there are times when I need to do laundry. I hate doing laundry. I'm known for washing all of my bras and undies at once, and then spending an hour unraveling the undie ball that I remove from the dryer. The dryer is also known for housing Matinga Boobert, the overlord of the dryer who steals my socks. I could put a single sock in the dryer, and by the time its done drying the sock will be gone.
     Well, my couch cover had had an unfortunate incident with a bowl of spilt pea soup, so I decided to just do all of my stuff at the laundromat, because it would be easier. Its a big couch cover.
     SO I loaded everything in the Blazer, and off I went.
     Got to the place, which was actually a really nice one, well lit, nice people. Started 3 loads; the couch cover and some sheets, a load of jeans 7 t shirts, and a load of socks, undies, you know, the normal things one washes.
     I was reading my Robyn Young book, so as soon as everything was done I swapped it over, and kept reading.
     Nothing exciting.
     When the stuff was dry I went out to my car to get another laundry bag thingie, and went back inside.
     Took out the cover and sheets, got them folded, talked to a cute lil old lady who was telling be about how she grows the prettiest roses. Went through, folded jeans and t shirts, put them in the hamper. Artfully dodged a kid pushing a laundry cart around the place.
     Then I opened up the 3rd dryer, grabbed the socks and a bra out....and stopped.
     Where the hell were my underwear?!?!?!?!
     I closed the dryer door and opened it again, thinking they would magically appear. But nothing.
     So I looked around, and asked the little old rose lady if anyone had gotten anything out of the dryer, and she said she hadnt seen anyone...and she had been right there so she would have known.
     7-10 pairs of underwear...gone.
     Now, I know what you're thinking. Dragon, you're a flake, you prolly didnt even bring any to wash.
     No. I did. Because one of the pairs had Jack Skellington on them, and when I tossed them in the wash I started singing, "Whats this? Whats this? There's laundry everywhere...whats this, theres panties in the air, whats this, I cant believe my eyes, I must be dreaming, wake up Draggy this isnt fair!" until the owner of the place gave me a look. Aparrently laundrymat owners are not musical people.
     My NBC undies with Jack's smiling face on the toosh. My tic tac toe boy cuts. My yellow thong with flamingos on it. Gone. My Cheshire cat striped ones, my Oscar the Grouch bikinis. They were all gone.
     Gone.
     Now, I wont even allow myself to think about the type of person who steals someones underwear. But still. Why MY underwear. Maybe they were Disney fans or loved Sesame Street. WHo knows.
     I just remember dragging my laundry bag into my car, a remorseful tear in my eye as I tried to remember where I ordered my Oscar the Grouch undies from.
     Somewhere, the rival of Matinga Boobert is relishing their victory and dancing around in my chonies.
     I will get my revenge!

BY KHOLRAN

PHOTO BY CARLEY & ART      The Easter season brings with it certain symbols: brightly colored eggs, baskets full of chocolate, fluffy yellow chicks, and, perhaps the most recognizable, the rabbit. For some, bringing home a real rabbit for the kids on Easter morning is a temptation too hard to resist. As with any pet, however, some important decisions need to be made before a cute fluffy bunny is added to the family. They are neither easy nor ‘throw away’ pets as many believe, and they can be quite expensive and time consuming. What other misconceptions might there be? Despite the fact that rabbits have been domesticated for well over 1,000 years, behavior, needs, and proper care were not sufficiently studied until quite recently. As a result, much of the information that does exist, both in print and out there on the internet, is outdated and on occasion downright inaccurate. So what, then, is a rabbit owner to do when it comes to basic care? Luckily, the rabbit is starting to gain equal footing with dogs and cats as a household pet, and accurate information is much easier to find. Rabbit Basics      Rabbits belong to the scientific Order of animals known as Lagomorphs, and are not rodents as many people believe. Close rabbit relatives include hares and pikas. While they do bear resemblance to rodents, lagomorphs can be recognized by their distinct second set of incisors (sometimes called peg teeth) on the top jaw. Rabbits are herbivores, and can, with proper care, live for an average of 8-12 years. They range in size from Dwarves to Flemish Giants, with the smaller breeds being much more energetic, and each individual has his or her own distinct personality. SMALL CAGE IS FINE AS LONG AS THERE IS PLEANTY OF EXCERSIZE (if you leave the door open however make sure to pad it) Housing      Housing is perhaps one of the largest debates when it comes to proper rabbit care. Many rabbit owners are content to leave them as outdoor pets, while others would never consider it. On average, outdoor rabbits do have a shorter lifespan. Being prey animals, they are very easily stressed, and are highly susceptible to changes in temperature. Predators pose the largest risk to a rabbit housed outdoors. Coyotes, raccoons, owls, hawks, cats, and dogs are only some of the animals that pose a threat to a rabbit- and because of their very acute senses of hearing and smell, a caged rabbit can stress itself to death without ever laying eyes on the predator. Many rabbits also suffer physically and behaviorally from lack of socialization, handling, and exercise. Risk from parasites and disease is greatly increased outdoors, and given that rabbits often hide symptoms of illness, by the time their owners realize there is a problem, it is often too late. ANOTHER GREAT EXAMPLE OF A INEXPENSIVE AND EASY TO PUT-TOGETHER CAGE      Whether the rabbit lives indoors or out, it is likely that they will need to spend time in a cage. There are many types of cages available, however not all cages marketed to rabbits are really appropriate for them. Size does matter! When it comes to rabbit cages, the bigger the cage, the happier the rabbit will be. At the very least, the cage needs to be four times the size of the rabbit, which means that a dwarf rabbit is going to be able to inhabit a much smaller cage than a giant. Flooring is another very important aspect of a rabbit’s environment. Because rabbits lack paw pads like cats or dogs, they

should never ever be kept in a cage with a wire floor. Wire flooring is the leading cause of ulcerative pododermatitis, also known as “bumble foot”, which creates painful and sometimes crippling sores on the feet. Be cautious to avoid dusty floor materials, though. Pine shavings, cedar, and kitty litter are three commonly used items that should be avoided at all costs. Not only are these items dusty and irritating to the eyes and nose, they can prove toxic if ingested. WOODEN CAGES REQUIRE LOTS OF MATIENCE, AND THEY ABSORB ODERS AS WELL AS URINE Diet      Perhaps the most important aspect of rabbit ownership is what to feed the rabbit. Popular culture has created the image of the rabbit eating carrots, while pet stores promote a pellet diet. It might surprise owners to know that neither one is an appropriate diet. The most vital part of a pet rabbit’s diet is roughage. They should have constant access to a good quality Timothy or Grass hay (Alfalfa, while good for newly weaned babies, is too high in calcium for an adult rabbit and can create bladder crystals). Like horses, a rabbit’s gut needs to be in constant motion, or the risk of blockage or bacterial infection is greatly increased. Store-bought pellets can supplement the diet and provide necessary fats and proteins, but should never make up the majority of it. The average rabbit (5-7 lbs) should be fed no more than ¼ cup of pellets per day. Use caution with the type of pellets as well- many companies will mix brightly colored bits and pieces into the pellet diet, which do nothing but add unnecessary sugar to the rabbit’s body. A good pellet should be high in fiber and lacking in any additives.      Along with hay and limited pellets, fresh vegetables are an important part of any rabbit’s diet. Dark, leafy greens, such as parsley, romaine lettuce, and collard greens are best, and while moderation is key with any veggies high in sugar (like carrots), a rabbit should get at least two or three different greens per day to vary the diet. Other Concerns      While where to keep the rabbit and what to feed it are two of the most important things to consider, there are many other factors that contribute to whether or not a rabbit is right for the family. Indoor or outdoor, a rabbit should be given a bare minimum of 2-3 hours of exercise out of the cage daily. In an extremely busy household, this necessary activity may be too time consuming. Preparing to let the rabbit exercise can be equally as time consuming. Rabbits are born chewers and diggers, and therefore their environments must be absolutely free of any harmful items (such as cords and wires) as well as anything an owner might not want to have chewed (baseboards, carpet edges, sofa corners, chairs and piano legs to name a few). Another thing to keep in mind is that rabbits can be messy. With a bit of time and patience, a pet rabbit can be trained to use a litter box- however in most cases “litter trained” translates to “urinates in the box consistently”. Because rabbits are constantly eating, they are also constantly dropping pellets, and cannot be expected to place every single one in the litter box, regardless of training. Finally there is the potential problem of finding a suitable (and qualified!) vet. Due to the lack of sufficient information regarding rabbit physiology, many veterinary programs provide vets far less training with rabbits than with cats or dogs. As a result, while most small animal vets will see a rabbit, an exotics vet or rabbit specialist is a much better choice for both routine care and emergency medical services. Like cats or dogs, rabbits do need to see a veterinarian at least once a year. While they do not get vaccinations in most places, routine checkups are a vital part of ensuring a long and healthy life for the rabbit. LACK OF PADDING AND SPACE TO MOVE IS DESTRUCTIVE TO THE ANIMAL BOTH MENTALLY AND PHYSICALLY      Despite the common misconceptions that rabbits are simple, short-term pets that require very little in the way of care, they are quite complex animals. Each individual is different, much as each cat or dog is different. There are lap rabbits and aloof rabbits, lazy rabbits and hyperactive rabbits. They make excellent household companions for those willing to put in the time to care for them properly. This Easter, make an informed decision. If a 10 year commitment is too much, then stick to rabbits that are either plush or made out of chocolate.      Please visit http://rabbit.org for additional care tips, and support http://www.makeminechocolate.org this Easter!