Graveyard Greg explains in his Foreword how he came to write this novel. Firstly, there was the Second Life virtual-reality world, for which he created a jackal persona with a red Mohawk wearing black jeans and red sunglasses. Secondly, there was his brief job as a barista at a Starbucks. Thirdly, there was John “The Gneech” Robey’s series Fictionlets: The Extremely Brief Adventures of Bridgid and Greg, each of 400 words or less. Fourthly, there was his own imagination, which blended them together, named his jackal Venti and gave him a job as a part-time barista at a Starbucks clone, and he was off and running in a series of short-short-short chapters of one page or slightly over each. Voilà; Welcome to Cappuccinos! (exclamation point optional).

FurPlanet Productions, January 2012, trade paperback $19.95 (246 pages). Illustrated by Mitternacht.

The Bronies (the chosen name of post-adolescent My Little Pony fans) rejoice as a second season of the hit cartoon show Friendship is Magic begins tomorrow on Discovery Channel's cartoon channel The Hub (9 AM EDT). But before it comes out, it might be a good time to reflect and review what made the show such a hit in its first season.

For historical purposes, a collection of links and other tidbits posted to Newsbytes in August.

Adult Swim viewer "TheWonderHorse" is apparently a big fan of Beastcub's robotic unicorn:

Dude. This is so awesome that I don't know what to say.

The network responded by showing photos of her work, encouraging viewers to "visit her website, then stab out your eyes."

As Beastcub said, it is unclear "if the ending comment is trolling or a compliment."

For those who thought they didn't have room for horses, this photo shows a happy herd under a dinner table!

And "neigh" ("nay"), it is NOT a photoshop trick!

For Immediate Release Contact: Dan Shaw
Email dan@danandcuddles.com
Friday, February 27, 2004

Dan Shaw who lives in Ellsworth is seeking the Democratic nomination for Representative to the Legislature from House District 38. House District 38 includes Ellsworth, Otis, and Trenton.

“Representing the people of District 38 would be a great honor and a privilege,” said Mr. Shaw. “Serving in the legislature is about improving the quality of life for Maine citizens. I am running for the legislature because of my commitment to dealing with issues that matter most to Maine families-access to affordable health care, taking care of our children and our elderly, access to affordable higher education, and sound economic development which includes good jobs. I want to introduce my real-life experiences to the legislature,” said Shaw.

Dan Shaw is well known to area children and adults as the owner of Cuddles, the world’s first guide horse. Dan, who has retinitis pigmentosa, a disease of the eyes affecting his vision, acquired Cuddles three years ago as a substitute for a guide dog. Since then his story has been recounted to Oprah Winfrey, Barbara Walters, and Connie Chung to name only a few.

Dan, 47, is a book writer, carpenter, and a landscaper. He is married to Ann Shaw who is employed at Maine Coast Memorial Hospital in Ellsworth.

Dan and Cuddles can be visited at their Website: www.danandcuddles.com

Dan is a Maine Clean Election candidate and will accept no campaign funds from special interest political action committees (PACs).

Fifteen people were injured and eight killed in the town of Chita, Columbia when a bomb strapped to a horse exploded.

The "horse bomb" went off in a crowded market area, and is believed to be the work of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC), who have used donkeys and horses in past attacks.

The list of successfully cloned species was lengthened this week when Italy announced they had succeeded in cloning a horse.

Earlier this year the mule Idaho Gem was the first successful equine clone, but the Haflinger filly Prometea marks the first time a horse has been so reproduced. She is effectively a copy of her surrogate mother, the result of samplings from skin cells fused with an empty equine egg. As with Idaho Gem, over 300 attempts were made before a viable embryo was attained.

BBC On-line reports that the Munich Zoo has transferred eight Przewalski's horses to the Altyn-Emel forest in Kazakhstan in an attempt to reintroduce the "last truly wild horse" into the wild. The species has existed only in zoos since the 1940s. Munich Zoo successfully reintroduced another equine species, the koulan, into the same area about twenty years ago. Wild koulan number over 500 since that re-introduction, so they hold out hope for similar success here. They are also hoping to reintroduce the species into CHina and Mongolia.

Normally, racehorse names are reviewed for "correctness" by governing bodies, so that they are not derogatory, insulting, or vulgar. Once in a while, however, one makes it through, and the French three-year old filly "Big Tits" is one of them.

In explaining how the name came to pass, trainer Elie Lellouche says "We were having lunch and trying to come up with ideas... My son suggested Gros Nichons, but that wouldn't have got past France Galop, so we decided on the English equivalent."

That equivalent was overlooked by the British Jockey Club, who is in reciprocal agreement to check names for obscenities and the like. Now they are forced to allow the filly to race in the UK, much to the displeasure of "proper" racefans. As Jockey Club spokesman John Maxse said, "We never saw Big Tits."

Despite a European Commission ruling making it illegal, England has completed a giant carving of a white horse on a Kentish hillside.

The project has met with criticism since work began, including claims that it will promote soil erosion and damage wildlife habitat. Both the Green Party and Friends of the Earth petitioned the EC to rule the horse as illegal, which they did early last month.

Owner of the land on which the horse is carved - Richard Beaugie - feels differently, saying: "They are bureaucrats and they do not really appreciate the strength of feeling in this country about our white horses."

"Idaho Gem", born on May 4th, is the first successful clone from the horse family. The apparently healthy foal is also a mule, giving him the distinction as well of being the first ever clone of a hybrid.

The project to create a mule clone was begun by the University of Idaho in 1998, and has taken 307 attempts to get three full pregnancies. Of these, Idaho Gem is the first birth, with his identical brothers due to be born in June and August.

A prominent front-page article in yesterday's Wall Street Journal discussed the newly clarified transportation rules regarding animals on flights, and one of the first passengers to travel under them: a miniature guide-horse named Cuddles.

Cuddles assists Dan Shaw - who is legally blind - and flew with him from Boston to Chicago for an appearance on "The Oprah Winfrey Show". Ananova has a brief article about the flight, while Dan and Cuddles' website can be seen here.

Established on May 9th, the rules issued by the U.S. Department of Transportation state that "service animals" are allowed on flights, and goes on to say that "Animals assisting persons with disabilities by providing emotional support qualify as service animals". Therefore, should a mental health professional deem it necessary for you to have an animal in order to relieve "stress and flying anxiety", then that animal may come along.

A Nebraska man received a warning from animal control officer John Pettit after he took four horses to a car wash.
Jess Yager was surprised to learn that it is illegal to bathe his horses at the car wash, as he's been doing so for years. Yager says the horses much prefer it to the cold hose at home.

An upcoming film about the transformation of one ordinary man - Harold Maines - into a horse.

From the website:
" What do you want to be when you grow up? A doctor? A lawyer? A filmmaker? For Harold Maines the answer was simple. He wanted to be a horse. Midsummer Movies, a Chicago-based independent film company, and director Jared W. Johnson have begun to produce a documentary outlining the details of Harold's life so that you too may be able to decide what you believe about this fantastic event."

The trailer may be viewed here