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The long-popular Black Beauty is an engaging story told from the perspective of a horse. Black Beauty's experiences lead him through a...
(The entire section is 177 words.)
The long-popular Black Beauty is an engaging story told from the perspective of a horse. Black Beauty's experiences lead him through a...
(The entire section is 177 words.)
Part 1
Black Beauty opens with its main character describing his first memory as that of a "pleasant...
(The entire section is 1198 words.)
My Early Home
The first home Darkie remembers is pleasant in every way. It is a large meadow with a clear pond in it. Around the pond grow shady trees, rushes, and water lilies. On one side of the meadow is a plowed field; on the other is the gate to his master's house. At the top of the meadow are fir trees, and at the bottom of it is a running brook with a steep bank.
When he is young, Darkie drinks his mother's milk; later, when he is old enough, he eats grass and his mother goes off to work all day. Each day he runs by his mother's side, and each night he sleeps next to her. On hot days, they stand together under the trees, and when it is cold, they stay in the warm shed close to the plantation.
Six other colts live in the meadow with Darkie, all older than he and some almost the size of grown-up horses. They play by galloping around the field as fast as they can go. Sometimes they play more roughly, biting or kicking, as well as galloping. One day when the play gets too rough, Darkie's mother calls him to her and tells him he must listen closely to her. She explains that while all the colts are very good, they will be ordinary cart horses one day and have not yet learned their manners. Darkie, on the other hand, is well bred and has a family history of greatness. He is always to remember that his family does not bite or kick, nor should he. She wants him to grow up strong and good, avoiding bad habits and working with a good spirit. He is never to kick or bite, even in play. He has never forgotten his mother's advice.
His mother's name is Duchess, but their master often calls her "Pet"; she is well loved and wise. Their master is a kind man who treats his horses well and speaks to them only with kindness. Duchess loves him and neighs with joy whenever she sees him near the fence. He always pats her before asking about her son, Darkie (a name he chose because the colt was a...
(The entire section is 536 words.)
The Hunt
Something memorable happens when Darkie is two. He and the other colts are feeding in the lower part of the field when they hear dogs baying nearby. One of the older colts recognizes the sound of hunting, and they all go to the gate where they can watch; Duchess and an older horse are already there. She tells her son the dogs have found a hare, and they will get to see the hunt if the dogs come this way.
Soon the chase comes to the field next to the watching horses. First come the dogs; they are neither whining nor howling, but the noise is nothing like Darkie has ever heard. Soon some men on horseback follow; some of them are wearing green jackets. The older horse and the colts wish they could gallop with them, but the hunters are soon gone.
In a field below, the dogs and horses come to a halt, and the dogs all have their noses to the ground, running around in every direction. The old horse says the dogs have lost the scent and thinks the hare may escape. Darkie asks where the hare came from and learns that the hunters just choose any hare they can find. Suddenly the baying begins again, and the dogs and hunters begin racing back up the hill toward the watching horses.
The horses can see the frightened hare as it makes its way to the fence, followed by dogs and men as they leap streams and dash over the field. The rabbit is unable to get through the fence and soon the dogs, with their wild cries, are on top of the poor creature. One shriek and the animal is dead. The hunters come and whip the dogs off the hare, holding up the torn and bloody carcass. All the gentlemen seem happy with the outcome of the hunt.
Darkie is astonished at the entire proceeding. When he looks back down the field, he sees several horses still near the water below. One of them is struggling in the stream; the other is groaning on the ground. One rider, covered with mud, is getting out of the...
(The entire section is 707 words.)
My Breaking In
Darkie is growing handsome. His coat is fine and bright black, and he has one white foot and a white star on his forehead. His master will not sell him until he is four years old, believing boys do not work like men and colts should not work like grown-up horses. When Darkie is four, Squire Gordon comes to look at him. He examines Darkie's eyes, mouth, and legs and has him walk, trot, and gallop while he watches. The Squire seems to like what he sees and says the horse will do quite well once he is broken in well. The master says he will break Darkie, as he does not want him hurt or frightened. He begins the next day.
Breaking a horse is teaching him to wear a saddle and...
(The entire section is 861 words.)
Birtwick Park
After he has been broken, Darkie stands in the stable and gets brushed every day until his coat shines like the wings of a rook. In early May, one of Squire Gordon's men comes to take him away. His master tells him to be a good horse and do his best; Darkie responds by putting his nose into the master's hands before leaving his first home.
Squire Gordon's park borders the village of Birtwick and can only be entered through a large iron gate. One must pass several lodges before arriving at the house and gardens, beyond which lie a paddock, an old orchard, and the stables. Darkie's home stable is roomy, with four good stalls and a large swinging door which opens into the...
(The entire section is 611 words.)
A Fair Start
John Manly is the Squire's coachman. He has a wife and one small child, and they live in the coachman's cottage near the stables. The morning after he arrives, Darkie is groomed in the yard. Just as John is about to return him to his stall, the Squire comes to see him and looks pleased with the horse. He intended to ride Darkie that morning but is too busy; he tells John to ride Darkie around the grounds to check his training.
After breakfast, John fits Darkie with a bridle, allowing the horse to adjust and ensuring a comfortable fit. The first saddle he brings is too small, but he brings another, and soon they are trotting and then cantering in the yard. Once they reach the...
(The entire section is 614 words.)
Black Beauty is content in his new home. He has good people to take care of him, a comfortable and airy stable, and the best food to eat. Despite such a wonderful environment, he is discontent in one thing: He misses his liberty. For the first three-and-a-half years of his life, he had been allowed to do almost anything he pleased. Now, though, he must stand in a stable night and day, every minute of every day, unless he is wanted. Then, he must be just as steady and quiet as any horse who has been working for twenty years, straps everywhere and bridle and blinkers in place.
He does not want to complain, but it is a drastic change for a young horse full of strength and spirits who...
(The entire section is 415 words.)
One Sunday when Ginger and Black Beauty are standing by themselves in the shade, Ginger asks the younger horse about his upbringing and his breaking-in experience. After he tells her, she says she might have an even temperament like his if she had been treated as he had been. Now, though, she is sure she will never change because she has never been treated with love or kindness in her life.
Ginger was removed from her mother as soon as she was weaned and put in with a lot of other colts who cared nothing for her, and she cared nothing for any of them. No kind master brought her lovely things to eat or gave her any kind words. She was not abused, but she also was not cared for beyond...
(The entire section is 893 words.)
Ginger's Story Continued
The next time Ginger and Black Beauty are together in the paddock, she continues her story. After the difficult breaking in, she was sold to a dealer who then sold her to a fashionable gentleman who wanted a matched pair of chestnuts. She had been tightly reined by the dealer, but the gentleman and his coachman thought the horses looked much more stylish if their heads were held even higher. They often drove this way in the park and other fashionable places.
Black Beauty has never worn a bearing rein, so Ginger explains that it is a rein which requires the horse's head to be held unbearably high for hours, unable to move it anywhere but higher. This caused...
(The entire section is 791 words.)
The Vicar, Mr. Blomefield, has many children, and they sometimes come to play with Miss Jessie and Miss Flora. When they come to visit, Merrylegs is always busy, for the children love to get on his back and ride him around the paddock for hours. One afternoon Merrylegs is out with them a long time. When James brings him back to his stall, he is scolding the horse, warning him to behave better next time.
Black Beauty asks what he did to cause trouble. Merrylegs says he taught "those young people" a lesson about what was too long a ride by pitching them off his back when he had had enough. Black Beauty is shocked at such behavior and asks if he threw off Miss Jessie or Miss Flora....
(The entire section is 502 words.)
A Talk in the Orchard
Standing over fifteen hands high, Ginger and Black Beauty are more racehorses than carriage horses; they are as good for racing as they are for driving, and the Squire likes things to serve more than one purpose. Their happiest moments are enjoyed when they are saddled up for riding, the Squire on Ginger and his wife on Black Beauty, with his daughters on Sir Oliver and Merrylegs. The horses' spirits are high when they are cantering together. Black Beauty has the best of it, since the mistress is light to carry and her voice is sweet.
When a horse's mouth has been unspoiled, it takes only a little pressure or the slightest movement to make the rider's wishes...
(The entire section is 712 words.)
Plain Speaking
The longer Black Beauty lives at Birtwick, the prouder and more satisfied he grows. The Squire and his wife are beloved by everyone who knows them, and all animals are treated kindly by the family as well as the servants. The Squire and Farmer Grey have worked for more than twenty years to ban the use of bearing reins on cart horses; anytime Mrs. Gordon sees a burdensome cart pulled by a horse with his head strained uncomfortably, she stops and reasons with the driver in her "sweet serious voice," attempting to show him the foolishness and cruelty of using bearing reins.
The master, too, tries to stop abuses when he sees them. Once he and Black Beauty see a...
(The entire section is 429 words.)
A Stormy Day
One late autumn day, the Squire leaves for a business trip. John goes with him. Black Beauty is hitched to the dog-cart, and they begin their journey. The horse likes the lightweight cart. There has been a lot of rain lately, and the wind has picked up, blowing dried leaves across the road. As they near the river, water comes to the horse's knees; however, the master drives gently, and the road offers good footing for the horse.
They arrive at a wooden bridge, built low across the river. When the river is high, water can come up to the floor of the bridge. Because there are sturdy rails on the bridge, people generally are not concerned when this happens. The bridge keeper...
(The entire section is 668 words.)
The Devil's Trade Mark
One day John is riding Black Beauty on an errand for the Squire. At a distance, they see a boy trying to make a pony jump a gate. The horse refuses to leap, and the boy whips the horse. When the horse continues to refuse to jump, the boy gets even more incensed and begins beating and kicking the pony. Finally, the horse refuses the rider by rearing up and throwing him into a hedge of thorns. With the reins dangling, the pony gallops home leaving the boy in his indignity.
When the boy sees John approaching, he calls for help; however, John thinks a little scratching might teach the boy a lesson about trying to make a pony leap over a fence which is too high for him....
(The entire section is 501 words.)
James Howard
John has just brought Black Beauty back to his stall after an exercise session one day in early December. James has come into the stable with some oats when the Squire joins them, looking quite serious. He has an open letter in his hands, and John fastens Black Beauty in his stall to wait for the news.
The master asks John if he has ever had a cause for complaint against James. John has had no complaints, but the Squire continues to question him. He asks if James has been a hard worker, if he has been respectful, and if he has ever shirked his duties when John's back was turned. John assures his master that James has been a good worker in every way. The final question the...
(The entire section is 462 words.)
The Old Hostler
The Squire and his wife have decided to visit friends who live forty-six miles from the farm, and James is chosen to drive them. They travel thirty-two miles the first day through some long, hard hills, but James is careful and thoughtful so that the horses are "not at all harassed." James remembers to put the drag on and take it off at the proper times and keeps the horses' hooves on the smoothest part of the road. If the uphill trudge gets too long, he sets the carriage a little sideways to let the horses have a short rest. These thoughtful gestures and his kind words keep the animals happy.
At sunset they stop for the night at a hotel, and two hostlers come out to...
(The entire section is 502 words.)
The Fire
Later that night a traveler brings his horse to the stable; the second hostler works on the horse while a young man smoking a pipe, Dick Towler, lounges in the doorway to talk. The hostler asks Towler to get some hay for the horses but to lay down his pipe before climbing the ladder into the loft. The young man goes into the loft, and Black Beauty hears him walking overhead, dropping the hay down for the horses. James comes to check on his two horses one last time that night, and then the stable door is locked.
Black Beauty does not know how long he has been sleeping or what time it is, but he wakes up feeling uncomfortable. He does not know why he gets up, but he sees the air...
(The entire section is 737 words.)
John Manly's Talk
The rest of the journey is easy, and the Squire's party arrives at his friends' house shortly after sunset. The horses are taken into a cozy stable and treated well by a kind coachman. When he hears of the fire, the coachman commends James for his willingness to risk his life for the horses, knowing they would not have come out if they had not recognized his calming voice and presence. After several days, the group heads back home, and the horses are glad to be back in their own stalls. John is equally glad to see them.
When James wonders who will be taking his place once he leaves, John tells him little Joe Green will come to learn the job. He is young, not even...
(The entire section is 522 words.)
Going for the Doctor
A few days after James left, Black Beauty is suddenly awakened from his sleep by the sound of the stable bell ringing loudly. John runs to the Squire's manor and then comes back to the stable. As he saddles Black Beauty, he tells the horse he must be ready to run as swiftly as he ever has run. The Squire appears and tells John to ride as quickly as he can to Dr. White; he gives John a note to deliver to the physician. They ride hard to the toll-gate. John pays the toll for them to pass, and he pays the gatekeeper to leave the gate open for the doctor.
John does not need to spur Black Beauty to go quickly; he gallops as fast as he can for several miles. He slows down for...
(The entire section is 608 words.)
Only Ignorance
Black Beauty is not sure how long he has been ill, but the horse doctor, Mr. Bond, comes to see him every day. One day he bleeds the horse as John holds the pail. After that, Black Beauty feels quite faint and thinks he is going to die; those around him seem to think so, too. Ginger and Merrylegs are moved to the other stable so that the Black Beauty's environment will be quieter; his fever makes him quite sensitive to sound.
One night John has to give Black Beauty some medicine, and Thomas Green, Joe's father, comes to help him. After giving the medicine, John makes the horse comfortable and plans to stay for half-an-hour to see how the medicine settles; Thomas...
(The entire section is 550 words.)
Joe Green
Joe Green is learning quickly; he is attentive and careful in his work. John now trusts him with many tasks, but the boy is small and does not regularly care for or ride either Black Beauty or Ginger. One day John is out with Justice when the master needs a note delivered to a gentleman who lives about three miles away. He instructs Joe to saddle Black Beauty and ride him carefully to the gentleman's house.
They deliver the note without incident. On their way home, they see a cart laden with bricks which has gotten stuck in the mud. As they approach the scene, the driver is shouting at the horses and beating them mercilessly. It is a sad sight; the horses strain and sweat, trying...
(The entire section is 560 words.)
The Parting
It has been three years since Black Beauty came to Birtwick, and they have been happy years; however, sad changes are about to occur. Rumors of their mistress's illness reach the stable occasionally, and the doctor is often at the manor. The master usually looks grave and anxious. One day everyone learns that she must leave for two or three years to live in a warmer climate. The news sounds like "the tolling of a death bell." All are sad as the master begins arranging for his estate to be emptied so that he and his family can leave England.
John is silent and sad, and Joe rarely whistles anymore. There is a lot of unusual activity; Black Beauty and Ginger are...
(The entire section is 596 words.)
After breakfast the next morning, Joe says good-bye and takes Merrylegs to the vicarage. Leading Black Beauty, John then rides Ginger fifteen miles across the county to Earlshall Park, where the Earl of W— [sic] lives. It is a fine estate with a grand house and many stables. When he arrives, John asks for Mr. York, Black Beauty and Ginger's new coachman. York is a middle-aged man whose voice says clearly that he expects to be obeyed. He is friendly and polite to John, but he barely looks at the horses before calling a groom to take them to their adjoining stalls. In their new homes, which are airy and filled with light, both horses are rubbed down and fed. Soon John and Mr. York come to see...
(The entire section is 874 words.)
A Strike for Liberty
One day the Earl's wife comes down for her ride later than usual, and her skirts seem to rustle more fiercely. She commands they drive to see one of her friends, a duchess, and insists that the horses' heads be reined in tightly once and for all—"no more of this humoring nonsense." York starts with the black horse while a groom stands at Ginger's head; he makes the reins so tight they are almost intolerable to Black Beauty. Ginger impatiently jerks her head up and down against the bit; when York prepares to tighten her reins, she rears up, hitting York in the nose and causing the groom to lose his balance.
Both men grab for her head, but she is too quick for...
(The entire section is 655 words.)
The Lady Anne, or a Runaway Horse
Early that spring, Lord W— [sic] takes part of his family to London, and he takes York with them. Black Beauty, Ginger, and several other horses are left behind in the care of the head groom. Lady Harriet remains at home; an invalid, she never goes out in the carriage. Lady Anne, who also stays at home, is a "perfect horsewoman," as fun and gentle as she is beautiful. She chooses the black horse for her own and names him "Black Auster"; he enjoys his rides with Lady Anne, sometimes accompanied by Ginger and other times by a thoroughbred mare named Lizzie. Lizzie is a favorite of the gentlemen, but Ginger knows her best and tells Black Auster that Lizzie is a...
(The entire section is 935 words.)
Reuben Smith
Reuben Smith is the groom placed in charge of the stables when Mr. York left for London. He is knowledgeable, faithful, and valuable, and he is gentle and clever when he manages the horses. He had lived several years with a veterinary surgeon and can treat animals almost as well as a doctor. Smith is also a skilled driver and a good scholar, a handsome man who is well liked. With so much to recommend him, it is surprising that he is not in a position as head coachman. That is because he has one great weakness: his love of drink.
Unlike some men, Reuben Smith is not a daily drinker. He often stays steady for weeks or months at a time; however, when he has what York calls a...
(The entire section is 828 words.)
How It Ended
It is probably midnight when Black Auster hears the distant sound of horses' hooves. He hopes it is help coming from the direction of Earlshall Hall, and he is sure he recognizes Ginger's steps as the sounds grow nearer. He neighs loudly and is overjoyed to hear Ginger's answering neigh and the voices of men as they approach. Robert and Ned move slowly in the dark until they finally stop next to the still figure lying on the ground.
One of them examines the body and is shocked to discover it is Reuben Smith, his hair soaked in blood. He is dead. The men's first reaction is anger and surprise that Black Auster would have thrown his rider. They realize their friend must have...
(The entire section is 571 words.)
Ruined and Going Down-Hill
Once his knees are sufficiently healed, Black Auster is sent to a small field to recuperate. He enjoys the freedom and the sweet grass; however, after being used to the company of others, he finds himself quite lonely after a short time. He especially misses Ginger. When he hears horses on the road, he neighs but seldom gets an answer—until one day when Ginger is turned into the same field. Both horses are thrilled to be reunited, but Ginger is there for a sad reason, as well. She has been ruined by hard riding. She is now allowed to rest in the hope that she will recover.
Young Lord George is to blame for Ginger's poor...
(The entire section is 691 words.)
A Job-Horse and His Drivers
Black Auster had always been driven by people who knew how to manage a horse and a cart; now, though, he is experiencing drivers who have no knowledge or skill. He is a "job-horse," hired out to all sorts of people. Because he is a good-tempered and gentle horse, he is more often hired out to bad drivers because he can be relied upon to treat them well despite their ignorance and ineptitude.
Some of the inexperienced drivers hold the reigns too tightly. They seem to think a successful driver must hold the reins as hard as he can, never relaxing the tension on the horse's mouth or allowing him any freedom of movement. This may be necessary with horses whose...
(The entire section is 491 words.)
Another kind of driver which horses-for-hire experience is the "steam-engine" driver. Most of these drivers are cockneys, working-class people from town; they have never had a horse of their own and usually travel by train. They tend to think that because they have paid a fee to hire a horse, the animal can go as far and as fast, and with as heavy a load, as they wish. Whatever the road conditions—muddy or dry, stony or smooth, uphill or downhill—they drive on without any consideration for the horses.
Cockneys never get out and walk a particularly step hill; they believe horses were made for pulling people uphill and surely must be used to it. They are quick to ply the whip and...
(The entire section is 844 words.)
A Thief
Mr. Barry is unmarried, lives in Bath, and spends much of his time engaged in business. His doctor has recommended he take more exercise, which is why he bought Black Auster. The master keeps his horse in a rented stable nearby and hires a groom, Filcher, to care for him. Though the owner does not know much about horses, he treats Black Auster well and life would have been good and easy for the horse if it were not for circumstances about which his master was unaware.
Barry had ordered that his horse be fed the finest food: hay with plenty of oats and crushed beans, with bran or rye grass as the groom sees fit. Black Auster heard the order being given, so he knows what he should be...
(The entire section is 533 words.)
A Humbug
A few days after the police arrested Filcher, Alfred Smirk becomes Black Auster's new groom. He is a tall, good-looking fellow, but he is a "humbug." He is never unkind to the horse; in fact, when the master is around the man does much patting and stroking of the horse. The rest of the time, however, he is not thorough. He always brushes the horse's mane and tail with water and his hoofs with oil before the master arrives, so the horse looks shiny and well groomed. The reality is that Smirk never cleans the horse's feet or takes care of his shoes, and he never grooms him thoroughly. The horse's bit is allowed to stay rusty, his saddle is always damp, and his crupper is stiff and...
(The entire section is 627 words.)
A Horse Fair
There is plenty to see at a horse fair, and undoubtedly it is a fine place to go for those who have nothing to lose. Hundreds of horses are there. Some are colts brought fresh from the country; some are cart horses; some are purebred horses (like Black Auster) which are now in the possession of middle-class owners because of blemishes or some condition or complaint. Some of the horses are splendid animals in their prime, prancing and showing their paces proudly. In the background, though, are the horses that have been broken down by hard work. These horses are pitiful to look at, with their dejected faces and their swayed backs. Some have sores or have their ribs showing; most look as if...
(The entire section is 587 words.)
A London Cab Horse
Black Auster's new master is Jeremiah Barker, though everyone calls him Jerry. His wife Polly is a wonderful woman, tidy and cheerful. Harry, their son, is twelve years old and good-tempered; little Dorothy (called Dolly) is an eight-year-old version of her mother. They are wonderfully fond of one another, and the horse has never, before or since, met such a happy family. Jerry has a cab of his own and two horses which he takes care of himself. The other horse is a tall, white, large-boned animal called Captain. He is old now, but he must have been a splendid horse in his prime. He still bears himself like a proud, noble creature. As a young horse, he belonged to an officer in the...
(The entire section is 716 words.)
An Old War Horse
Captain had been broken in and trained as an army horse, and his first owner was a cavalry officer serving in the Crimean War. In his youth, Captain had been quite a handsome horse; his master was very fond of him and treated him well. Captain had enjoyed his military training with the other horses and learned to obey the commands of their officer owners. Once he was sent abroad to fight, however, Captain had a different view of being an army horse.
The horses were strapped and swung onto the boat, and the sea crossing was dreadful. All of them were overjoyed to feel land under their feet once more. This country was far different from what they were used to, and the animals...
(The entire section is 716 words.)
Jerry Barker
Jack has never met a better man than his new master, Jerry Barker. He stands strongly for the right things; he is good and kind, always good-tempered and merry. Any man would have a difficult time picking a quarrel with him. He creates little songs as he works, and his family joins him in caring for the horses and keeping the cab clean and polished. The one thing Jerry cannot bear is loitering and wasting time; it infuriates him when people are late and then want a cab horse to be driven hard to make up for their own idleness.
One day two young men, who seem rather wild, leave a tavern and call for Jerry's cab. They tell him they are running late and need him to rush them to...
(The entire section is 710 words.)
The Sunday Cab
One morning Jerry is hooking Jack up to the cab when a gentleman walks into the yard. He wants to make arrangements for Jerry to take his wife, Mrs. Briggs, to church on Sundays, as their church is now farther than she can walk. Jerry tells the man it would be illegal for him to drive on Sundays because he has only a six-day license. Briggs offers to change the license, but Jerry is still not interested.
He used to have a seven-day license, but working on Sunday was simply too much strain on both him and his horses. He missed having the day with his family and going to church; for the past five years, he has taken Sunday as a day of rest. Briggs continues to make his case,...
(The entire section is 524 words.)
The Golden Rule
One evening several weeks later, as Jerry and Jack return to the yard, Polly runs to them with a light. She is excited to tell Jerry that everything will be all right now, since Mrs. Briggs sent her servant this afternoon to hire Jerry's cab for eleven o'clock the next morning. Briggs has been trying other cabs after Jerry refused his offer, but something has been wrong with each one. Nothing will suit Mrs. Briggs but Jerry and his cab. Jerry laughs with joy. From then on, Mrs. Briggs always uses Jerry's cab as she once did. Only one time does Jerry's cab make a Sunday run.
One Sunday morning Jerry is grooming Jack when Polly comes to tell him that Dinah Brown has...
(The entire section is 535 words.)
Dolly and a Real Gentleman
Winter comes early and brings plenty of cold and wet. Snow, sleet, or rain comes down nearly every day for weeks, accompanied by biting winds and sharp frosts. A couple of thick rugs will help keep horse and driver warm when the cold is dry; when it is wet, soaked blankets are of no help in getting warm. Some of the cab drivers have waterproof covers for their horses, but many are too poor to afford such a luxury; both horses and men suffer, though the men suffer perhaps even more than the horses.
Streets slippery with sleet or snow are the most taxing, for it takes all a horse's energy to keep his footing. The fear of falling is also exhausting for the animals....
(The entire section is 620 words.)
Seedy Sam
Jack is blessed because his driver is his owner, and it benefits Jerry to treat his animals well. Many horses, though, belong to large cab-owners who rent their horses and cabs to the drivers. These cab drivers' only concern, of course, is how to get the most money out of the horses. Most of the creatures have a "dreadful time of it."
One day a man nicknamed "Seedy Sam," a shabby, miserable-looking driver, brings his horse in looking terribly used. Governor says the pair looks more fit for the police station than for the cab station. The man throws a tattered blanket over his horse and says, with desperation, that the only criminals are the horse owners who charge...
(The entire section is 472 words.)
Poor Ginger
One day, while many cabs are waiting near a park where a band is playing, a shabby cab drives up next to Jerry and Jack. The horse is a worn-out old chestnut whose coat is dirty and unkempt and whose ribs are showing. Her legs are scarred and unsteady. Jack has been munching on some hay; when the wind rolls a loose bit of hay, the poor animal sticks out her neck and grabs it before looking pitifully around for more stray wisps. Jack sees the hopeless look in her dull eyes and experiences a moment of recognition. Just as he is wondering where he has seen this horse before, she looks right at him and asks if he is her old friend Black Beauty.
The other horse is Ginger, but she has...
(The entire section is 562 words.)
The Butcher
While he is in London, Jack sees many problems that could be prevented by a bit of common sense. Horses do not mind hard work if they are treated reasonably, and being owned by a good-tempered poor man is better than being ill-treated by a lord or a lady. He is most saddened by how poorly some ponies are being treated; he often sees them struggling to pull heavy loads or being whipped by cruel young boys.
Butchers' horses are forced to move at great speeds, something Jack does not understand until he spent some time waiting on the street near a butcher's shop. The driver of the butcher's cart pulls up in front of the shop, and it is clear the horse is exhausted after being...
(The entire section is 435 words.)
The Election
One afternoon Polly comes to the yard and tells her husband that someone was here today asking about his vote and wanting to hire his cab for the election. He will call again for Jerry's answer, but Jerry already knows what he will say. He tells Polly to tell the man that his cab will be "otherwise engaged" on election day. He has no interest in having his cab plastered with large advertisements and driving to inns to pick up half-drunk voters. Such behavior is an insult to his horses, and Jerry refuses to do it.
Polly asks if her husband will vote for the man, for they share some of the same politics. He will not, Jerry tells her, for the man's trade is repugnant to him...
(The entire section is 430 words.)
A Friend in Need
On election day there is no shortage of work for Jerry and Jack. They have a variety of passengers doing a variety of errands on this busy day. At the bank, a red-faced gentleman comes running out of the building with a sheaf of papers in his hand. Before Jerry can even get down and open the door for the man, he lets himself into the cab and is calling out his destination: the police station. Once that errand has been completed, they go back to the cab stand and Jerry feeds Jack while they have a few moments to rest between jobs.
After feeding Jack a delightful mix of oats and bran, Jerry eats one of Polly's meat pies. The streets are full of cabs with the candidates'...
(The entire section is 748 words.)
Old Captain and His Successor
Jack and Captain are great friends, for he is a noble horse and very good company. The younger horse never thinks about the Captain dying, but one day he does.
After taking some passengers to the railway station, Jerry and Captain are on their way back to the cab stand when Jerry sees a brewer's empty cart coming their way. The driver is lashing his horses with a thick whip and they are moving at a furious pace. The street is full of traffic and the driver clearly has no control of his animals. The next instant the carriage smashes into the cab.
Both wheels are torn off and the cab is overturned. Captain is dragged to the ground. The shafts...
(The entire section is 778 words.)
Jerry's New Year
Christmas and the New Year are happy times for most people, but cabmen and their horses do not have time to celebrate. The work is hard and often late, for the weather is cold and the waiting seems longer when there is a merry celebration just inside, where it is warm. Jerry uses Jack for most of the evening work. They stay very busy and Jerry's cough is bad; however, no matter how late they arrive home, Polly is up and comes to greet her husband with a lantern in her hand and anxiety on her face. On the evening of the New Year, Jack and Jerry take two gentlemen to a gathering at nine o'clock and are told to return for them at eleven o'clock. They may be a few minutes later than...
(The entire section is 798 words.)
Jakes and the Lady
A corn dealer and baker buys Jack. Jerry knows the man and believes he will treat his horse well, giving him good food and fair work. At first this is true, and if the master were on the premises more often, Jack would not have been over-loaded. The foreman, though, is always hurrying everyone; and often, when Jack's load is already full, he orders something else to be loaded onto the cart. Jakes, the carter, tells the foreman the load is too heavy, but the foreman always overrules him in the interest of efficiency and increased profit. In addition, Jakes (like all his fellow drivers) keeps the horse's bearing rein up, which makes pulling the too-heavy load even more difficult....
(The entire section is 703 words.)
Hard Times
Jack's new master has black eyes, a hooked nose, and harsh, grating voice. His name is Nicholas Skinner, and he is the same man for whom Seedy Sam had driven a cab. Though he had seen and heard some of the suffering such horses must bear, Jack only now learns the "utter misery" of a cab-horse's life.
Skinner's drivers and cabs are both of a low sort—he is hard on the men and the men are hard on the horses. There is no rest on Sundays and often Jack is so used and worn he can hardly eat. The drivers are cruel and Jack is regularly and harshly whipped. Jack longs to go back to his time with Jerry. This undignified treatment takes the heart out of the poor horse, but Jack...
(The entire section is 808 words.)
Farmer Thoroughgood and his Grandson Willie
At the horse sale, Jack is of course placed with all the broken-down horses, some of whom are in such bad shape they should probably have just been shot out of mercy. Some of the buyers and sellers do not look much better than the pitiful creatures they are hoping to buy. A man approaches from the direction of the better horses. He appears to be a gentleman farmer who has a kind face and a young boy by his side. When he arrives at the pitiful group of horses, the man looks around until he sees Jack. He still has an impressive mane and tail, so he looks somewhat better than the horses around him. Jack perks up his ears and looks at the man.
(The entire section is 743 words.)
My Last Home
One day during the summer Jack is groomed with such extraordinary care that he senses another change may be about to occur in his life. Willie seems both anxious and excited as he gets into the chaise with his grandfather. He tells the boy he hopes the ladies like the horse, for they are well suited to one another. Several miles from the village, they pull up at a pretty house with grass, shrubbery, and a drive up the front lawn.
Willie rings the bell and asks if Miss Blomefield and Miss Ellen are home. Willie waits outside with Jack while his grandfather goes in to visit with the women. Soon Thoroughgood comes back outside followed by three ladies. One is tall and pale, wrapped...
(The entire section is 783 words.)


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Richard Childress Racing
Recent News
Jeff Burton Scores Top-10 Finish at Richmond International Raceway
September 9, 2012
Laps Led-0
Jeff Burton and the No. 31 Caterpillar Chevrolet team persevered through the rain-delayed NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race under the lights at Richmond International Raceway and brought home a sixth-place finish in the Federated Auto Parts 400. After a rain shower postponed the start of the 400-lap event, the 45-year-old driver started the race from the 20th position and maneuvered into the top 15. Persistent rain forced NASCAR officials to display the red flag before the halfway point of the event and bring all competitors to pit road until the rain ceased. Once After 51 minutes of red-flag period, the cars returned to the track and the South Boston, Va. native reported to crew chief Drew Blickensderfer that the No.31 machine had developed a tight-handling condition in the middle of the 14-degree banked corners of the 0.75-mile facility, and during a long green-flag run, dropped one lap down to the leader. A lap-236 caution-flag period provided Burton the "Lucky Dog" award to return to the lead lap. As the leaders pitted under caution on lap 277 for routine service, the 21-time Sprint Cup Series race winner remained on the track and restarted in the top five. Burton climbed as high second-place, but the tight-handling condition continued to challenge the Richard Childress Racing driver until major chassis and air pressure adjustments were made on the final pit stop of the evening on lap 345. Burton reported to Blickensderfer throughout the final green-flag run that the RCR machine was the best it had been all evening. Burton passed five competitors throughout the final 10 percent of the race and finished in the sixth-position, marking his fifth top-10 finish of the 2012 Sprint Cup Series season. With the strong effort, Burton gained a spot in the Sprint Cup Series driver championship point standings, moving into 19th-place.
"I've been saying week after week how strong this team is getting and we proved that tonight with a hard-fought top-10 finish. I am happy and proud of everyone on the No. 31 Caterpillar Chevrolet team."


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Chapter 1 Summary
Jim Gallien, a union electrician, picks up a hitchhiker about four miles out of Fairbanks on Tuesday, April 28, 1992. The hitchhiker introduces himself only as "Alex" and asks for a ride to the edge of Denali National Park, from which point he will walk "deep into the bush and live off the land for a few months." Alex, a congenial young man who looks to be only eighteen or nineteen, shows Gallien a map of the Stampede Trail, a seldom-traveled road which winds "for forty miles or so before petering out...(in a) trackless wilderness north of Mt. McKinley." This is where Alex intends to go.
Gallien is concerned because Alex seems woefully underprepared for such an undertaking. He carries only a small rifle and a backpack...
(The entire section is 247 words.)
Chapter 2 Summary
The Stampede Trail, the route taken by Chris McCandless, wanders through rolling bottomland on the northern margin of the Alaska Range. In 1930 the trail was blazed by a miner named Earl Pilgrim, and in 1961 a construction company was hired to upgrade the trail. The company hauled three "junked buses, outfitted...with bunks and a simple barrel stove" up into the wilderness to house its workers, and when the project was halted, one of the buses was left behind "to serve as a backcountry shelter for hunters and trappers." The rusted vehicle was located twenty-five miles west of Healy...just beyond the boundary of Denali National Park.
On September 6, 1992, three moose hunters managed to get across the flooded...
(The entire section is 230 words.)
Chapter 3 Summary
Chris McCandless often mentioned Carthage, South Dakota, as his home. He had become close to Wayne Westerberg, an elevator owner and jack-of-all-trades, who had picked him up as a hitchhiker there one day in the fall of 1990. McCandless, who told Westerberg that his name was Alex, worked for the older man awhile, and found a "surrogate family in Westerberg and his employees." When McCandless hit the road again, he kept in touch with Westerberg, "calling or writing Carthage every month or so."
In reality, McCandless was the son of Walt and Billie McCandless, and he was raised in a "comfortable upper-middle class" home in Ann andale, Virginia. He had eight siblings, and was close to his younger sister, Car ine....
(The entire section is 230 words.)
Chapter 4 Summary
McCandless chronicled his meanderings after graduation in a journal snapshot album. He traveled first to Lake Mead, where he ignored warnings posted against off-road driving and camped on the dry riverbed. He "basked in his newfound freedom" until a flash flood struck; although he was able to salvage his tent and belongings, his car engine was soaked, and he could not get it started afterwards. He abandoned the car, and took advantage of the opportunity "to shed unnecessary baggage," leaving many of his possessions and burning all of his money. He then "tramped around the West" for the next two months, hitchhiking up the Pacific Coast to Seattle, heading east through Idaho and Montana, then south and west again to the Colorad o...
(The entire section is 236 words.)
Chapter 5 Summary
Chris enters Bullhead City, Colorado in early October of 1991. The town is described as a place that is full of tourist traps and strip malls. Although described as a place that one would not expect Chris to visit or stay for very long, he actually enjoyed his stay in this town—staying there for two consecutive months, even considering staying there for longer. During his stay Chris got a job working at a local McDonald's, giving his real name on the application, and even opened up an account at a local bank. Described by those he knew there as a hard working and dependable person, Chris had to be reminded and forced by his manager to wear socks to work on a daily basis. Also during this time period, he met a man named Charlie...
(The entire section is 246 words.)
Chapter 6 Summary
After leaving The Slabs, Chris made his way to Salton City, California, in January of 1992 where he met Ronald Franz, an older gentleman who had long since lost his wife and son, recovered from alcoholism, and became "a devout christian." Franz would question Chris many times about his lifestyle; as Franz recalls, Chris explained to him that he chooses to live his life this way and described his future Alaskan adventure. The two men create a father-son type of relationship and spend a great deal of time together over the next few months. In March, Chris decided it was again time to move on and go back to Carthage, South Dakota. Ronald, sad to see Chris go, offered to drive him to Grand Junction, Colorado, and asked Chris if he...
(The entire section is 210 words.)
Chapter 7 Summary
Wayne Westerberg and various other people from Carthage, South Dakota, reminisce about Chris's final visit with them. Wayne recalls the four week stay as a time when Chris did odd jobs that no one else could handle while he prepared for his Alaskan adventure. He was described by Wayne as a hard-worker who did his job yet lacked common sense, a possible tragic flaw. Wayne's girlfriend and mother also commented on Chris saying that he was shy yet fascinating and spoke nothing of his family except mentioning his sister, Carine, a few times. Some background information is also revealed in this chapter. It is revealed that Chris shared many negative qualities with his father, Walt, which included his stubbornness and "hot-headedness."...
(The entire section is 185 words.)
Chapter 8 Summary
Other men before Chris McCandless have journeyed alone to Alaska to test their mettle. One of the best known was Gene Rossellini, a "wayward genius...interested in knowing if it was possible to be independent of modern technology." After experimenting for "over a decade", he concluded that "it is not possible for human beings as we know them to live off the land," and although he did not seem devastated by his findings, he killed himself in 1991 by stabbing himself though the heart. A lesser-known wayfarer was John Mellon Waterman, who made several forays alone into the wild. A self-critical, compulsive character, Waterman was erratic and unstable, and when his "life's work," an "accumulation of notes, poetry, and personal...
(The entire section is 228 words.)
Chapter 9 Summary
There are many parallels between Chris McCandless and another young adventurer who lived in the early 1900s, Everett Ruess. Ruess tramped the American Southwest and California, taking his first solo trip when he was only sixteen. Driven by a "craving for connection with the natural world and...passion for the country through which he walked," Ruess, like McCandless, was "heedless of personal safety" and "undeterred by physical discomfort." Like McCandless, who developed an alterego, "Alexander Supertramp", Ruess took on a variety of aliases, which he felt compelled to scrawl at some of the remote sites where he made his temporary homes.
Ruess disappeared in 1935, in the Davis Gulch are a in Utah, and his...
(The entire section is 220 words.)
Chapter 10 Summary
The chapter begins with a New York Times article that gives minor details of Chris's body being found in the Alaskan Wilderness. When he was originally found, Chris's body could not be identified because he did not have identification of any kind. Once the Anchorage Daily News began to publish articles about the mystery, Jim Gallien (see Chapter 1) realized that this must have been the same man that he had dropped off at the edge of the Alaskan wild in the spring. As the search for Chris's identity continued, Alaskan State Troopers were led to South Dakota. When the news of Chris's death traveled there, Wayne Westerberg heard of it and called the Alaskan State Troopers to provide information including...
(The entire section is 154 words.)
Chapter 11 Summary
Chris McCandless was born to Walt McCandless, an intelligent, intense aerospace technician, and his second wife Billie, in 1968. As a child, he showed unusual independence from the time he was a toddler. In elementary school he was placed in an accelerated program for gifted students, but tried to reason with his teachers and administrators that he did not really belong there. His sister Carine remembers that though he was popular, "he was very to himself...he could be alone without being lonely." Chris got good grades in school with little effort, and although he was small, he was a great athlete. He "had little patience for learning the finer points" of organized sports, however; "nuance, strategy, and anything beyond the...
(The entire section is 235 words.)
Chapter 12 Summary
Chris graduated from high school in 1986. After giving his father the gift of a fine telescope and expressing his thankfulness for all he had done for him, he left on the first of a series of extended trips. With no definite itinerary, Chris journeyed to the Pacific Coast, making a startling discovery in California. While visiting family friends in the neighborhood where he had grown up, Chris learned that, long after falling in love with his mother Billie and fathering Chris, his father Walt McCandless had had a son with his first wife and had essentially led a double life. Although he never confronted his father, the discovery irrevocably soured the way he viewed Walt, and filled him with rage.
Chris returned, scruffy...
(The entire section is 235 words.)
Chapter 13 Summary
Chris McCandless's younger sister Carine "looks enough like him that people frequently asked if they were twins." She is "energetic and self-assured," and, like Chris, "clashed fiercely" with her father and mother as an adolescent. Carine eventually made peace with her parents, however. And although she "shares Chris's outrage over racial injustice," she has no objection to the pursuit of wealth. Carine lives in a nice Virginia Beach home with her husband, Chris Fish, and Buckley, the Shetland sheepdog her brother so loved.
It was Chris Fish who told Carine that her brother had been found dead. When Chris McCandless's identity had been confirmed through dental records, Carine and Walt McCandless's oldest son,...
(The entire section is 227 words.)
Chapter 14 Summary
After Chris McCandless's death, there was "considerable speculation that the boy had been bent on suicide from the beginning" of his risky undertaking, but the author, Jon Krakauer, disputes these theories. His own belief is that McCandless's death was "unplanned...a terrible accident," and he bases his conclusion on experiences of his own.
As a youth, Krakauer, like McCandless, was "willful, self-absorbed, intermittently reckless, moody." "Figures of male authority" aroused in him fierce and conflicting emotions, and "if something captured (his) undisciplined imagination," he pursued it with "a zeal bordering obsession." Krakauer's passion was mountain climbing, and, in 1977, he "got it into (his) head" to...
(The entire section is 243 words.)
Chapter 15 Summary
After retreating back to base camp, Krakauer considered making another try up the mountain; although he really "didn't want to go up on the Thumb again at all...the thought of returning...in defeat wasn't very appealing." He remembered his father, with whom he had clashed continually during his youth. Jon Krakauer's father set impossibly high expectations for his children, and was volatile and unyielding, but Jon "felt oppressed by the old man's expectations" and refused to follow the path set for him. Later, he realized that, in growing up, he "had been selfish and unbending and a giant pain in the ass," but it was too late. He and his father were never really reconciled.
Jon's father had, if nothing else,...
(The entire section is 241 words.)
Chapter 16 Summary
In April of 1992, Chris McCandless hitchhiked from Carthage, South Dakota, to Fairbanks, Alaska, riding the last thousand miles with Gaylord Stuckey, a driver who was transporting a motor home to a Fairbanks RV dealer. Stuckey dropped Chris off at the University of Alaska, where the young man spent a few days researching edible plants before he began his hike west into the wild.
Chris McCandless entered the wilderness with only ten pounds of rice and a backpack half-filled with books. From his journal, it is known that he reached the Teklanika River on his second day out, and was able to ford the half-frozen water by wading across. The next day, he found the abandoned construction company bus and was "elated"...
(The entire section is 238 words.)
Chapter 17 Summary
If Chris McCandless had taken a detailed map with him into the wild, he would have known there was a way to ford the river he believed was impossible to cross, just twenty minutes from where he was stranded. His mistakes led many to view him as "arrogant" and "ridiculously ill prepared," a victim of his own stupidity. The author, Jon Krakauer, felt there was more to it than that, however, and went back to where Chris died a year later to try to gain a greater understanding of the man.
Krakauer believes McCandless went into the wild "to explore the inner country of his own soul," but found that the struggle for basic survival demanded he focus as much "outward...as inward." His journal does not address insights...
(The entire section is 239 words.)
Chapter 18 Summary
Chris McCandless resumed his solitary life at his camp after finding the Teklanika uncrossable. He caught enough game to subsist for a month, and apparently spent that time hunting, gathering, and reading. At the end of that time, he "made the mistake that pulled him down." On July 30, his journal entry indicates that he was "extremly weak" and in "great jeopardy." He faulted "pot.seed" for his predicament.
There have been many conjectures as to what exactly caused Chris's "precipitous decline." It is possible that he ingested potato seeds he had brought in with him, which become toxic after they have begun to sprout. More probably, he might have mistakenly eaten a toxic plant that closely resembles an edible...
(The entire section is 231 words.)


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When The Motherhood and The National Pork Board asked me to develop a recipe featuring rack of pork which is on special this week at Costco, I was pretty darn excited. I love pig. Bacon, pork chops, pork loin, ribs…. if it oinks, I'll eat it. However, rack of pork is not something I whip up very often, so this was a challenge that I was happy to take on.
This recipe that I'm about to share with you features the rack of pork, but this recipe lends itself nicely to other less expensive cuts of meat such as pork chops. The rack of pork is quite impressive and perfect for the holidays, but feel free to use this same recipe for pork chops or pork loin.
My vision for this recipe (listed at the end) was a savory crunchy exterior and a flavorful moist interior. To accomplish this, I decided on a crust made of pecans, orange zest, and rosemary. There's something about the combination of crunchy and tangy that makes my taste buds dance. And yes, taste buds can dance. Mine do anyway….
After the pork was in the oven, I got started on the cranberry coulis. A coulis is a fancy term for any pureed fruit sauce. In this instance, we are creating an orange cranberry coulis. Basically, it's just like making cranberry sauce but with orange added.
I poured it into a squeezy bottle which makes it easier to decorate the plates. Spellcheck is telling me that squeezy isn't a word. It is now…..
After allowing the pork to rest a bit, I squeezed out a pool of cranberry coulis and placed the meat on top of it. Doesn't that present nicely? I can totally see making this for Christmas. The colors alone make it look so darn festive. And the taste? Phenomenal. I hate to toot my own horn, but this is incredible. If you like oranges and rosemary, then you are in for a real treat.


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Federal money tough to pin downJuly 23,2013
By PETER HIRSCHFELD
Vermont Press Bureau
MONTPELIER — Economists for the state can forecast with surprising accuracy the tax revenues expected to flow into the treasury over the next fiscal year.
But predicting one of the largest sources of funds to Vermont's $5.2 billion budget — federal revenues — has proven a more difficult task. And despite a recent analysis done by experts for the Legislature, pinning down the federal funds on which the state so heavily relies is still something of a guessing game.
"There are just so many unknowns at this point," said Steve Klein, chief fiscal officer at the Legislature's Joint Fiscal Office.
"And there are a lot of political choices that are going to get made that are totally outside our control."
Official state revenue forecasts, the most recent of which arrived Tuesday, are historically reliable, deviating by only about 2 percent on average over actual revenues. That record of success gives lawmakers a high degree of confidence in the $1.56 billion in general fund revenues forecast to flow into Montpelier over the next 12 months.
Getting similarly reliable estimates for money flowing from the federal government is more difficult. But Klein said one thing is clear: risk for Vermont is to the downside.
In a report titled "Federal Funds — Reductions Today and Tomorrow," Klein surveyed the federal landscape in an attempt to divine how decisions in Washington, D.C., will affect Vermont. From health care and transportation to grants that support human services, Klein said Tuesday that federal funds coming into Vermont will likely shrink in the coming years.
"And one area where that could be extremely noticeable is in transportation," Klein said.
The reauthorization of the five-year federal transportation bill will likely overhaul a state-by-state allocation formula that has until now been favorable for the state. Vermont gets $2.85 cents from the feds for every $1 in gas tax it sends to the federal treasury, a ratio Klein said he expects will narrow in the next five-year bill.
Projected declines in federal discretionary spending, according to Klein, also imperil some of the federal dollars coming into
Vermont. Non-defense discretionary spending supports everything from assistance for low-income populations and energy investments to public safety grants and environmental protection.
As a share of gross domestic product, according to Klein's report, non-defense discretionary spending is expected to drop by a third over the next 10 years, from 8.3 percent to 5.5 percent.
The reductions will come at a time when Vermont is more reliant on federal funding than at anytime in recent memory; federal funds now account for 46 percent of Vermont's non-education budget.
For the complete story, see Wednesday's Times Argus.MORE IN This Just InMONTPELIER A new report from a commission that studied the cost, availability and quality of... Full StoryVermont fish hatchery changes focus, looks inland
BETHEL, Vt. Full StoryHONOLULU (AP) A group of Hawaii musicians and a Hawaiian Airlines flight attendant provided... Full Story
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By Emily L. Sauber, Pure Matters
Some men have chronic, complete erectile dysfunction, called impotence. Others have partial or brief erections. Younger men are more likely to regain sexual potency after treatment than older men. Plus, a man's ability to have an erection before surgery or radiation greatly influences whether he will have erectile function after treatment. Men who were able to maintain strong erections before treatment are also more likely to maintain them after treatment compared with men who had problems before treatment.
The majority of men who have surgery to remove the prostate, called radical prostatectomy, will experience erectile dysfunction. The rates of dysfunction are lower when surgeons can use nerve-sparing techniques. In older studies, around half to 75 percent of men had problems with erectile dysfunction after radiation treatment; these numbers may be declining with newer radiation techniques, according to the American Cancer Society.
Despite the incidence of erectile dysfunction after treatment, doctors and nurses may not always discuss the issue with men after treatment. Men may also feel uncomfortable talking about it with their healthcare team and even with their partners. The discussions should happen, though, because erectile dysfunction is treatable. Keep reading to learn how to start the discussions about your sexual health after prostate cancer treatment and to learn what your options are if you experience impotence after treatment.
Communication: The First Step in Overcoming Erectile Dysfunction
Clinical expert, Deborah Watkins-Bruner, RN, PhD, says the first step in treating erectile dysfunction is talking about it.
"The key message is that if you are willing to bring it up and discuss it with a healthcare professional, there are multiple alternatives to help you. A significant percentage of men will respond to therapies," Watkins-Bruner says. "The problem is that medical professionals tend not to deal well with any sexual dysfunction after treatment. Research has shown this. So it may be your job to take the initiative."
Watkins-Bruner emphasizes that men should tell their doctor about the problem as simply and directly as possible. "You can bring up the topic by saying something like, 'I have a concern. I have not been able to have an erection or have an erection as often.' Or you might say, 'I can have an erection, but it does not maintain itself.'" Watkins-Bruner advises men to state directly what the problem is and to describe it. Once your doctor knows about the problem in detail, he or she can suggest appropriate treatments.
Some men may find it helpful to discuss erectile dysfunction with other men who are also experiencing it. other about this. " Us Too" is a prostate cancer education and support group that has local chapters where men can talk with each other. See www.ustoo.com to find a support group near you.
Treatment for Erectile Dysfunction
Your choices for treatment include pills such as Viagra (sildenafil), the vacuum device, penile injections, and penile prosthesis.
According to Watkins-Bruner, men should "review their alternatives and pick the one that best suits their lifestyle." Oral medications and vacuum devices are a less invasive method of treatment for erectile dysfunction than implants. Regardless of what a man decides, Watkins-Bruner says he should discuss his options at length with his doctor.
Oral medications, such as Viagra (sildenafil), Levitra (vardenafil), and Cialis (tadalafil), are taken in pill form and absorbed into the bloodstream. The drugs work by inhibiting an enzyme found mainly in the penis. The result is increased blood flow to the penis and a fuller erection.
The most common side effects of these pills are headache, facial flushing, and upset stomach. Less common side effects are bluish or blurred vision and sensitivity to light, and a thorough eye exam is recommended before using these drugs. They can also have serious interactions with some other drugs, such as nitrates taken for chest pains. Men with heart problems should check with their cardiologist before using these drugs.
Vacuum devices are tools that help men develop an erection suitable for intercourse. The device works by drawing blood into the penis and keeping it there. To use it, a man inserts his penis into a hollow, plastic tube that is then pressed against the body, creating a seal. A small hand pump creates the vacuum, which draws blood into the penis, causing it to become hard. After a few minutes of pumping, the man places a small, rubber ring around the base of the penis so that the erection can be maintained.
Side effects of vacuum devices include coldness or numbness in the penis after the rubber ring has been removed. Also, the vacuum device may interfere with foreplay.
Penile injections are self-injections. A man or his partner uses a tiny needle to inject medicine directly into the side of the penis. The injections begin to work within 5 to 15 minutes and create an erection. A doctor can teach a man how to inject himself.
Side effects include dizziness or feeling flushed. Prolonged or lengthy erections may also be a problem. Men should seek medical attention if they have an erection lasting longer than four hours.
Penile implants are a type of prosthesis. A surgeon places a device inside the penis. Penile implants are tubes that can mimic the erection process. There are three types of implants. They are the semi-rigid, the inflatable, and the self-contained inflatable.
Implants are the most invasive procedure because they require surgery. As with any surgery, there's a risk for infection. In rare cases, after getting an implant, men experience numbness at the head of the penis or find intercourse uncomfortable. If the implants are removed, men are at an increased risk for erectile dysfunction because the implant permanently changes the internal structure of the penis.
The Emotional Effects of Erectile Dysfunction
Just as open communication is important between a man and his doctor for getting treatment for erectile dysfunction, communication is equally important between a man and his partner. Watkins-Bruner stresses that the "emotional effects of erectile dysfunction on a couple are generally not so difficult if their relationship was healthy to begin with. Being open with your partner about your fears and concerns is the first step in overcoming them.
"What we have found in research is that couples who had a good, open sexual relationship prior to treatment have the best chance of maintaining a good sexual relationship after treatment. The drugs or the implants that we can use don't cure marital woes," she continues. "If there are other problems--if there is some kind of conflict or problem with the relationship--the couple needs to see a counselor. When the only problem is that a man is suddenly having erectile dysfunction after treatment and they have a good relationship to begin with, it's not difficult for talk about it. The ability to deal with these issues flows from that."
Watkins-Bruner believes men may feel frustrated the first time they attempt to engage in intercourse after treatment and fail. "They think because they failed to have an erection on the first try that means they're never going to have one again. That's not the case. Men need to know that just because there are times when they can't have an erection, that doesn't mean they always can't."
Plus, Watkins-Bruner reminds, "not having an erection doesn't preclude giving pleasure to your partner." She notes that there are many other ways for couples to be intimate. And many don't require an erection. "Intimacy is always possible without intercourse, and so is mutual pleasuring. Those who participated in oral stimulation before treatment, for instance, should continue that after treatment." According to Watkins-Bruner, a good therapy outcome is based on patient and partner satisfaction.


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Grinch arrested for telling kids there's no Santa
Police say intoxicated man spilled beans during parade
A man has been arrested in Canada for "outing" Santa Claus to children along a Christmas parade route.
The 24-year-old man, whose hair was gelled to look like horns coming out of his head, had been walking the parade route in Kingston, Ontario, and telling kids that Santa doesn't exist, The Huffington Post reported.
He was charged with causing a disturbance, public intoxication and a probation violation.
The man spent the night in jail while he sobered up and posted bail the next morning.
"It was pretty despicable that someone, during this time of the year, would tell kids Santa isn't real -- which of course we would argue," Kingston police Const. Steve Koopman told the Toronto Star.
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Blizzard wreaks havoc on Midwest
Published On: Feb 26 2013 10:27:58 AM CST Updated On: Feb 26 2013 10:59:57 AM CST
At least three are dead and thousands without power as a new blizzard pummels the Midwest.
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According to the Mayo Clinic, a migraine is a headache that causes intense pain in one area of the head. People susceptible to migraines are commonly very sensitive to light and sound and sometimes experience nausea. Migraines can last anywhere from a few hours to a few days.
A person of any age can experience migraine headaches. According to the Mayo Clinic, migraine headaches are especially common in women during their reproductive years since changing estrogen levels can lead to a migraine. Stephanie Faubion, a doctor at the Mayo Clinic, suggested that menstrual migraine headaches could be more severe than non-menstrual migraines. They also tend to be less responsive to medications.
Although menstrual migraines are less responsive to medication, hormonal contraceptives can help reduce risk of developing a menstrual migraine since hormone levels remain more balanced.


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Florals like this encourage wardrobes to blossom. Berry and Begonia pinks look pretty on our snap-front cardi scrolled in neutrals with glimmers of silver metallic threads. 79% Rayon; 21% Nylon. Hand wash, cold; lay flat to dry. Imported.
- Contoured stretch fit.
- Jewel neckline. Rhodium-finish metal buttons on hidden snap placket reinforced with grosgrain ribbon. Finely ribbed at neckline, cuff and bottom. 3/4 sleeve.
- Hits at the upper hip (22" from shoulder).
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text: This new book, subtitled "The complete guide to building and running a small, farm-based cheese business," is just that. A must-have book for those thinking about starting any kind of cheese business. Chapters on the business side (market research, business plans, costs, financing); designing a creamery (infratructure and efficiency, milking parlor and milk house, the cheese plant, including aging rooms, cellars, caves, and accessory rooms); long-term survival (safety, increasing your bottom line, staying the course); and appendices. The author is the owner of Pholia Farm and produces aged cheeses using milk from their herd of Nigerian Dwarf goats. Paperback, 226 pages.


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Four 'don't miss' indie films opening here
Those bemoaning the lack of quality film fare this spring can take heart.
Four independent films by and with filmmakers and talent of note are scheduled to open here before the summer rush which starts - believe it or not - April 19, with Tom Cruise's "Oblivion." »Read Full Blog Post
Irina's Kitchen closes in Glendale
Roman and Irina Kit have closed Irina's Kitchen, 325 W. Silver Spring Drive in Glendale, after 10 years in business.
The restaurant closed May 1, Irina Kit said when reached by phone at the restaurant. Business had been slow, she said, adding that it was hard to compete with nearby chain restaurants for customers' attention. »Read Full Blog Post(1)
BB's restaurant, focusing on breakfast and burgers, opens downtown
BB's restaurant and bar -- Build a Burger, Build a Breakfast -- has opened its doors at 633 W. Wisconsin Ave. »Read Full Blog Post(1)
Media buzzing over use of drones to gather news, video
Aerial coverage of news is routinely provided locally by WISN-TV (Channel 12) and WTMJ-TV (Channel 4).
Last Friday, WISN dispatched "Chopper 12" to Glendale after a bomb threat at the offices of Columbia-St. Mary's. »Read Full Article(1)
Hunter Hayes; Lindsey Stirling; Atmosphere; Sarah McLachlan; Natalie Merchant; Chris Robinson Brotherhood; Nikki Lane; Ben and Ellen Harper
Lindsey Stirling »Read Full Article(1)
Philomusica, guitarist Izquierdo close out Conservatory season
Full house, spicy program and standing ovation — not a bad way to end a concert season.
The Philomusica String Quartet and guitarist Rene Izquierdo played to a packed Bader Recital Hall at the Wisconsin Conservatory of Music on Monday evening. »Read Full Article
On Tap Today: Hellogoodbye and Vacationer at the Rave
As we enter the summer concert season, there'll be a lot--too much--to choose from. It's a buyer's market, and what concertgoers want is value.
With that in mind, the Rave is a good place to be Tuesday night, with not one but two bands--Hellogoodbye and Vacationer--co-headlining an evening of contagious, clever, unconventional pop rock. »Read Full Blog Post
Taj Mahal, Yipes!, Wailers to hit Johnson Controls stage
Revered blues artist Taj Mahal, horn-swinging funk musician Trombone Shorty and buzz-generating up-and-comers Delta Rae and Lake Street Dive are among the highlights playing the Johnson Controls World Sound Stage at Summerfest in Milwaukee this year.
The midgate stage will also host a few interesting performances with Wisconsin ties. Appleton native Cory Chisel of Cory Chisel and the Wandering Sons — an Americana act that's celebrated everything from a "Letterman" performance to a world tour with Norah Jones within the past couple years — will present his Soul Obscura side project, covering rarely heard soul gems. And Yipes! — one of the most popular Milwaukee bands in the late '70s and early '80s, featuring Pat McCurdy and Mike Hoffmann of Semi-Twang — will reunite for its first extensive headlining set since breaking up in 1981. »Read Full Article(1)


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Tuesday's Angels Beat White Sox & Fans Rock Their Inner Strongbad
Yay, the lit Halo enveloped in a haze of fireworks returns to my blog, meaning the Angels won last night and I was there to see it! I was a little concerned after Monday. To re-cap: these May White Sox? They are not the April White Sox. They are actually the White Sox which means that if you make mistakes, they will make you pay. Unfortunately, Monday's Angels were not the 2011 Angels, I swear they were some AA team that swiped our uniforms – which is bound to happen now and then over the course of a season…or, like, again tonight in the 8th inning. Wily AA teams. So, anyway, Monday poor Ervin Santana was dealing for an inning and then he just fell apart. Was he "inspired" by Alberto Callaspo's poor running decision? By our complete inability to cash in on an amazing scoring opportunity in the second inning…or the fourth…or the…well, you get the general idea? The pitchers couldn't keep the ball in the park, the batters couldn't hit when it counted, there were a few questionable plays in the field, Jeff Mathis became a pinch hitter (?!?) and Vernon Wells left for the 15 Day DL with a pulled groin muscle. I think he may actually be on the DL longer than that. Watching the replay of the swing where he injured himself will make you cringe, especially if you yourself have ever known the "joy" of a pulled groin. In short, it was Not A Good Game.
But back to last night. It was still the May White Sox taking the field but, fortunately, I think the Angels went to bed angry last night because they showed up on a mission to redeem themselves. They started smacking the ball right away, took the lead in the first inning and never gave it up, though the White Sox threatened at times. It was A Great Game! And here are my photos to help take you all there with me.
For this game, Seth and I entered foul ball territory. This is my view of the field without any zoom, sitting immediately behind the blue sleeved lady in the front row. (Yes, the Angels' Dodger fan siblings often come to visit when the Dodgers are out of town and we gladly return the favor. It's a lot of fun living in a two team town – for large, dual county definitions of town.) And these seats were a better price than even our last seats. The moral of my story? Angels fans are a panicky lot, especially after last season. When the Red Sox sweep the Angels at home, go to a resale site and buy cheap tickets. It will ease your pain:
Howie Kendrick runs to second for an eventual double in the 3rd as Gordon Beckham waits for the throw from Juan Pierre. I have to say, of all the outfield permutations I thought of for the evening with Wells on the DL, Howie in Left was not one of them. But watching him move out there and knowing how much I like his glove and his arm, I think it could work – he looks good tonight! Left field was really quiet for most of the game however, so rather than a fascinating Howie just standing there shot, I give you this photo (taken by Seth) instead:
Joel Pineiro stares down a runner at 2nd base as Callaspo (3rd base) switches into position. Pineiro had another excellent start, going 7 2/3 innings with five strike outs and one walk. And what he was throwing for strikes? Nice. He did give up one homerun, so the White Sox smacked some of the pretty off of his E.R.A. But it all worked out in the end and I am just glad to see Pineiro back on the mound and in the same great form he showed us last season…though I wish I could find the Angels Luchador Mask video ad he filmed with Santana somewhere online to share with you all. Pretty funny stuff:
Angels fans say, 'Oh no, it's just that they're terribly comfortable. I think everyone will be wearing them in the future.' Because, of course, last night was also the much hyped Angels Luchador Mask night. This promotion had equal potential for being really stupid or a heck of a lot of fun and it was decidedly the latter. It didn't tread on watching the game much, if at all – which would have annoyed me – and fans had a blast. We donned the so-silly-they're-actually-pretty-darned-cool-looking-things at the top of the 5th for 10 minutes to set the record, though many wore them for most of the game. As the season progresses, I expect these masks to take on Rally Monkey-esque significance…or at least Angels Gnome-esque significance:
Some fans went all out for the occasion, donning actual Luchador regalia or, in the case of these two super Angels fans below, constructing entire Luchador costumes out of previous Angels giveaways. I thought they looked so creative and fantastic that we had to snap a photo. Well done guys!!:
Torii Hunter takes a strong swing. This at bat would turn into a single in the 5th. The Angels bats were nice and busy Tuesday night with 12 hits in all, including a homerun from Maicer Izturis…yes, Maicer. Whooo. Hooo:
Erick Aybar slides back into first to avoid a pickoff attempt as Paul Konerko catches the ball. Aybar is currently leading the team in stolen bases with 9. This thrills me to no end because it's one more sign that the Angels are back to playing Angels baseball and all is once more right with my world:
Aybar (short stop) and Mark Trumbo (first base) move with the pitch as A.J. Pierzynski, having doubled in the 7th, takes a lead off second base. Even if it was mostly so John Denks could get to Mathis, it was really funny to watch him pitch around Trumbo twice. It's enough to give a lesser rookie a big head, I'm sure:
While Fernando Rodney warms up for the last out of the 8th inning, Peter Bourjos, Torii and Reggie Willits (replacing Howie in left) chat and stretch in centerfield. Could Peter and Reggie be trying to talk Torii into long socks? Reggie in left is another outfield permutation we're likely to see a lot of while Wells is on the DL. I think this will work as a stop gap measure. I like his glove and his speed. I just hope we don't see too steep a learning curve as Willits and Bourjos adapt to one another. I should also note that, although I cringed when I saw Rodney striding out from the Bullpen (but cheered him on robustly as he passed our seats), he did really well:
Scott Downs winds up while Callaspo moves into position. Downs took over the closer role for the evening as this was technically a non-close situation. He sure pitched like a closer though, sitting them down one, two, three. Well. Okay. Maybe that was more like one, twwwwooooo, three. Pierzynski, who was less impressed than I, fouled off many pitches before grounding out. A note on Callaspo. Everything I wrote in the offseason about our hole at third base? I am pleased to say I no longer think we have one. Whether it's Maicer or Callaspo, I think third base is looking pretty darned good these days:
And that was the game. I had an absolute blast. I wanted to come home and immediately buy tickets for the rubber match, or at least post these photos, but I had to finish my meeting prep for today instead. Then today was such that…well…I got home at 8 and am posting about game 2 as game 3 heads into unecessary extra innings and the bullpen is making me ill. I tell you, this working for a living thing…well, it beats the alternative with a caber sized stick, I can tell you that much, LOL!
Game 3 Edit/Addendum – Wednesday's Angels, on the Other Hand:
Yuck! Did that just really happen? With the blown save and the self-destructing bullpen and the run. Scoring. On. An. Intentional. Walk. Wild. Pitch!? I realize it's part of the necessary learning process but Jordan Walden needs to stop working on the change-up when it's just not happening and the game is on the line. Ever since he started working on it, things have been…interesting, occasionally for Hoban Washburne definitions of interesting. He'll get it down. I'm sure of it. But in the mean time? And Kevin Jepsen? Well, are we already back to last season's two out of three rock but that third outing will kill you every time? Also, I do not like uber-specialized pitching to begin with, and I really do not like our very recent – as in, since Tampa Bay recent – moves to bring star relievers in for just one or two batters in an inning. Wouldn't it have been nice to have either Scott Downs or Rich Thompson available later in the game?
Tyler Chatwood pitched well enough to win. It's a pity the Bullpen decided to have an early April relapse. It's just one game. It's only the third series we've lost so far this season. And amateur hour is going to happen for the best of teams from time to time. I understand it. But I don't like it and I really hope my 2011 Angels show up in Texas, not this strange AA team that occasionally puts on their uniforms.
Hmmm…maybe I should go check out those ticket prices online tomorrow morning.
11 Comments
Well, that was certainly an interesting night. After surviving April with the White Sox, I can wholeheartedly feel your bullpen pain (in fact, I was still feeling it when Thornton trotted out in the 10th) and all I can say is that it is so incredibly frustrating to watch things fall apart.
I know you would have prefered a win this time, (wouldn't we all?!), but I have to say that both of these series with Angels have been some of the most entertaining (and hair-pulling stressful) baseball of the season.
I am going to be so tired tomorrow.
-Keleigh (Watching the Dandelions Grow)
Those pictures are filled with Awesome: 1) Angels Wrestling Masks. Enough said. 2) A sign in the outfield warning fans about bats leaving the playing field. Better safe than sorry.
The pic of the 2 super fans was great! I hated to see Wells get injured. I thought he was just starting to come out of his slump. At least, I was hoping he would. Hope he heals and comes back stronger than ever. Especially after the news about Morales.
Keleigh – While we all would prefer a win, I agree, both series between our two teams were full of exciting games and great baseball. And it's been fun blogging through them with a great White Sox fanbase, I might add. If the Sox had won this solely by hitting Walden (and they were hitting him, it could have happened) I wouldn't have been annoyed with the outcome and our bullpen. It's the walks and the outright errors resulting in runs scored that drive me batty. But everything leading up to that was awesome, tightly contested, well played baseball on both sides.
Rob – Thanks! Well, the photo of the gate was more to show that I had field seats. I was excited about them because you can't find those cheaply very often. But, yes, we are quite thorough with our fine print in CA and here it's necessary. Check out the lady on her cell phone in the corner of the group mask photo. If I were the sort of person to chat on the phone at a game, I certainly would not be doing it in the third row of the field seats just to the homerun side of the foul pole.
Ron – Thanks! Yeah, it was very disappointing about Wells. I really do think he was in the process of coming around and I know it took him a whole season to recover statistically from his last injury so I worry about continuing slumps, booing fans and the impact it will all have on his ability to be successful in Anaheim. Hear, hear to the healing and coming back stronger than ever. In a way, I think the news about Kendrys was good. After all of his setbacks and continuing pain and lack of flexibility, even I could see that scar tissue was becoming an issue that wasn't going to resolve itself.
— Kristen
Guess the power of the mask didn't stick around for last night's game. Whoever threw that intentional-walk-turned-wild-pitch, tell him thank you for me🙂
Catherine – There are many, many things I would love to say to Kevin Jepsen right now but, while not all of them involve profanity, Thank you somehow isn't on my list.🙂 Guess it's safe to say your guys have turned that corner, eh?
– Kristen
This is a very simple game…
I love your writing, and now adding the pictures makes "…. Simple Game" a must read. See you after the switch.
Thanks Russel! That's very nice of you to say and I am glad you're enjoying the blog. See you after the switch when we'll have all kinds of new blog bells and whistles to enjoy.
— Kristen


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The popular 'Gigi Sandal' is back! Try this comfy t-strap sandal on in chic black patent. Neutral, casual and definitely an all-around favorite.
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They're our dependents who rely on us for food, shelter and good health care. They're not just our best friends; they may be our heads of household, our consiglieri (cue "The Godfather" theme) or our reasons for getting out of bed in the morning -- long before we're ready.
In short, our dogs are our family.
So this holiday season, why not go the extra mile? Give your four-legged kinfolk a holiday basket he'll be sure to not re-gift.
You can customize this basket to suit your buddy's lifestyle. For the road tripper, Muttropolis carries dog car seats, travel bowls, and other clever transportable items. If she treks high-altitude trails, REI offers products for the extreme outdoors dog.
But what are basic items that every dog can use? Let's start with what keeps them coming back: the treats ...
No. 5: The treats
Nothing says Happy Holidays in dog speak better than special treats. Doctors Foster and Smith offer a colorful holiday tub of Claudia's Canine Cuisine gourmet cookies for $9.99 that will fit perfectly into your basket. Thanks to home-style ingredients, the aromas of vanilla- and peanut butter-flavored biscuits and wafers will bring drool to your pooch's jowls.
Your nearest Petco carries its own line of holiday treats such as tasty biscuits and cookies with red and green sprinkles for $5.99. Its paw-shaped container adds a nice touch, making it ready for presentation in your gift basket.
PetSmart also offers a variety of Holiday-themed rawhide treats, everything from candy canes and snow men to reindeer and gingerbread men -- all of them excellent choices for healthy chewing.
But where will you put these treats after the unwrapping ceremony? After all, your pooch can't eat these treats in one sitting (or can she?)
No. 4: The treat jar
With a treat jar, you have ready access to tasty nibbles when pooch performs your favorite trick -- or when she begs until you can't stand it anymore. It also comes in handy for our pet sitters so they don't have to search for biscuits and jerky when we're at work or play.
Just about every pet store carries its own line of treat jars. Even stores that don't cater to pets offer stylish options. Crate and Barrel, for instance, offers the porcelain "Woof" treat jar, with a bone handle for $19.95.
Priced for the Real Housewives (Dogs) of Orange County, Muttropolis offers fancy options made of wood or ceramic ranging from $34 to $57. For pooches in the 99 percent, check out the Great Choice line at PetSmart. Made out of plastic, these bone print containers come in three sizes and cost between $6.79 and $8.49.
Treats. Done. Now let's talk wardrobe. How about those Dodgers (or Yankees, or Cardinals)?
No. 3: Sports gear
If you're a sports fanatic, chances are your pooch is too. After all, yelling at the TV when your team is down 13 points minutes before a game ends would rub off on any dog. Sports gear for your canine means you not only have a loyal pal, but a loyal rally dog too.
Hot Dog Collars has an entire section of sports gear for pets. Keep your pooch warm in below freezing temperatures with a jersey bearing your team's colors for between $9.99 and $15.99.
Choose from leashes, collars, dog bowls, toys and dog tags showing team logos from the NHL, MLB, NFL, NBA or your favorite collegiate team, priced at $6 to $20.
A little searching on the websites of your favorite teams might also lead you to other dog novelties. Be sure to search with keywords "dog" or "pet."
And when Mother Nature calls during a big game?