Movies on TV this week: April 5: 'Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid'
General Dynamics Pitches Updated 'Foxhound' For British Army Needs
LONDON — General Dynamics UK is discussing with the British Army a possible further order for an updated version of its Foxhound protected patrol vehicle, the company has said.
An Mk 2 version of the ride, which could include a variant with a hybrid electric drive, is likely to be offered to the British Army for a requirement known as the land mobility pipeline.
The British acquired 400 Foxhounds in 2012 to equip infantry with a vehicle protected primarily against mine blasts in Afghanistan and Iraq.
Now the company is hoping to get the vehicle back in production with a refreshed version of the Foxhound meeting Army requirements under the land mobility pipeline – previously called the protected mobility pipeline.
"It's relatively early days but we have described to them [the British Army] what we think the Mk2 would look like. It's a fairly active conversation with them about the vehicle," a company spokesman told Defense News. "We are still waiting to see precisely what the requirement is but we would like Foxhound to be a candidate."
Answering questions in Parliament in June, procurement minister James Cartlidge said the land mobility program was currently in its concept phase.
"Subject to confirmation during the approvals process, it is anticipated that the program will seek to deliver four categories of platforms," he said, with a general-support variant on the wish list alongside light, medium and heavy protected versions.
Ministry of Defence officials said last year that the program would be funded to the tune of £1 billion, or $1.2 billion, starting in 2025.
A key upgrade could be the fitting of a hybrid engine.
The General Dynamics spokesman said a hybrid-powered variant may not be the standard fit for Foxhound, but it could make up a portion of the fleet.
The company received a deal by the MoD in 2020 to undertake demonstrator work with the Army on an electric-drive Foxhound as part of its then protected mobility program.
"We have done prototype demonstrators with hybrid drive so its pretty mature," said the spokesman.
Andrew Chuter is the United Kingdom correspondent for Defense News.
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32 Hound Dog Breeds With Incredible Instincts
According to Elvis, hound dogs cry all the time. He's not… totally wrong. A lot of hound dog breeds, like Basset Hounds, were bred to announce themselves and communicate with their fellow hunters. The result is vocal dogs who can regularly be heard howling (or baying, as it's often called). Many hound dog breeds are still used in hunting today, though some, like Dachshunds, have been bred to be more content as show dogs or doting family pets. If you're considering a hound dog breed, get ready for some stubborn, albeit highly playful behavior.
What to Consider When Choosing a Hound Dog BreedAlmost every single hound dog breed on this list is a handful and not recommended for first-time dog owners. Due to their intense prey drives and hunting instincts, hound dog breeds require firm, consistent training to ensure good behavior down the line. Some aren't fond of strangers (they have more important things to focus on, like the smell of a deer), while others can't wait to meet new people (they hunt in groups and generally believe the more, the merrier). It's always wise to research breeds before embarking on a journey with them—especially if their idea of a fun trip is nose to the ground until they've chased a raccoon up a tree.
If you're dead set on a hound dog breed, take notes from certified professional dog trainers on how to teach commands early. Nicole Ellis, a Certified Professional Dog Trainer and Pet Lifestyle Expert with Rover, a site that connects pet parents with pet sitters and dog walkers, says her number one rule is rewarding the behavior you want your dog to continue. With hounds and their keen senses, high-value training treats will become invaluable during training sessions.
What Is a Hound Dog Breed, Exactly?At their cores, the American Kennel Club says hounds are hunting dogs. Though they vary in shape, size and skill, hunting is the one thing all hound dog breeds can agree on. Some are scent hounds, which means they track prey with their keen sense of smell. Scent hounds like Beagles usually work in groups and alert each other when they're hot on the trail. Sighthounds, on the other hand, are quieter hound dog breeds who use keen eyesight to spot prey and then bolt after it. They're fast as lighting and usually work solo.
25 Hunting Dog Breeds That Make the Bravest Companions
1. Afghan HoundIMAGE SOURCE/GETTY IMAGES
Height: 25-27 inches
Weight: 50-60 pounds
Personality: Independent, proud
Activity Level: Moderate to High
Shedding Factor: Low
Life Expectancy: 12-18 years
Though they look like snooty show dogs today, Afghan Hounds were once avid hunters whose long coats protected them from harsh weather in their native land (an area that now includes Afghanistan, India and Pakistan). They are sighthounds who tend to be a bit independent and aloof, though incredibly loyal to their families.
2. American English CoonhoundHeather Barrett/Getty Images
Height: 23-26 inches
Weight: 45-65 pounds
Personality: Mellow, stubborn
Activity Level: Moderate to High
Shedding Factor: Low to Moderate
Life Expectancy: 11-12 years
If you're not planning on hunting raccoons or foxes with your American English Coonhound, you better give them a healthy outlet for their high prey drive. These scenthounds love the thrill of the chase and playtime, especially when it involves other dogs.
3. American FoxhoundACCEPTFOTO/GETTY IMAGES
Height: 21-25 inches
Weight: 60-70 pounds
Temperament: Sweet, athletic
Activity Level: High
Shedding Factor: Moderate
Life Expectancy: 11-13 years
Taller than their hound dog breed cousins the English Foxhounds, American Foxhounds are just as vocal and energetic. Once they hit on a scent, it's pretty difficult to convince them to stop or change direction, so early training is essential. Due to their sweet disposition, American Foxhounds make great family dogs.
4. AzawakhYANNIS KARANTONIS/GETTY IMAGES
Height: 23-29 inches
Weight: 33-55 pounds
Personality: Loyal, reserved
Activity Level: Moderate
Shedding Factor: Low
Life Expectancy: 12-15 years
Look at this stunner of an African dog breed! Azawakhs are ancient sighthounds who love a good sprint. Though incredibly smart, they do have independent streaks and need early, firm training. After that, they're loyal companions who will stick by your side.
5. BasenjiMATTHEW CLEMENTE/GETTY IMAGES
Height: 16-17 inches
Weight: 22-24 pounds
Personality: Independent, smart
Activity Level: High
Shedding Factor: Low
Life Expectancy: 13-14 years
Like Azawakhs, Basenjis are hound dod breeds that are native to Africa. And get this—they rarely bark! They're sort of a triple threat: excellent eyesight, impeccable sense of smell and lighting speed. Basenjis are known for their cat-like behavior and expressive faces, so get ready to cuddle if you go the Basenji route.
6. Basset HoundMARCO STRIULI/EYEEM/GETTY IMAGES
Height: 13-15 inches
Weight: 40-65 pounds
Personality: Mellow, charismatic
Activity Level: Low
Shedding Factor: Low
Life Expectancy: 12-13 years
This is a French dog breed with short legs that keep them close to the ground for tracking purposes. As far as hound dog breeds go, Basset Hounds are some of the most recognizable and dedicated. They've got loud barks and mellow personalities (aka, they won't necessarily show you how much they love you all the time, but their loyalty is unwavering).
7. BeagleVANILLA MONKEY BEAR/GETTY IMAGES
Height: 10-15 inches
Weight: 15-30 pounds
Personality: Friendly, doting
Activity Level: Moderate
Shedding Factor: Moderate
Life Expectancy: 10-15 years
Hello, funny family dogs! Beagles are energetic sweethearts and the most popular hound breed among Americans. Sure, they're barkers and sort of needy, but it's because they adore you and have to indulge their scenthound instincts. Bred in England to hunt in packs, Beagles know how to share the love in multi-pet households.
8. Black And Tan CoonhoundAvondell/Getty Images
Height: 23-27 inches
Weight: 65-110 pounds
Personality: Mellow, social
Activity Level: Moderate
Shedding Factor: Moderate
Life Expectancy: 10-12 years
Good with kids and other dogs, Black and Tan Coonhounds are made to socialize. These scenthounds enjoy long days outside playing and working but are very even-keel once they're hanging out at home. Like most American hounds, they were bred to hunt raccoons for early settlers.
9. BloodhoundChris Amaral/Getty Images
Height: 23-27 inches
Weight: 80-110 pounds
Personality: Independent, vocal
Activity Level: Moderate
Shedding Factor: Moderate
Life Expectancy: 10-12 years
Perhaps the most hound of all the hound dog breeds is the Bloodhound. They're so ancient, it's unclear where they originated (probably somewhere in the Mediterranean). No matter! These scenthounds are very good at what they do (sniff and smell). Bloodhounds need long daily walks and early training before they become set in their ways.
10. Bluetick CoonhoundHillary Kladke/Getty Images
Height: 21-27 inches
Weight: 45-80 pounds
Personality: Smart, tireless
Activity Level: Moderate to High
Shedding Factor: Moderate
Life Expectancy: 11-12 years
Ah, another raccoon hunter who is sweet-natured and vocal. Bluetick Coonhounds were also used to hunt larger animals—like bears—in groups. Today, they still enjoy hanging with other dogs and can make excellent family pets if trained properly (they're smart, so they pick up on cues quickly).
11. Borzoi (russian Wolfhounds)Kerstin Benz -Fotografie/Getty Images
Height: 26-30 inches
Weight: 60-105 pounds
Temperament: Proud, loyal
Shedding Factor: Moderate
Activity Level: Moderate to High
Life Expectancy: 9-14 years
Borzoi are Russian sighthounds bred to hunt wolves, a pastime that has made them fearless and incredibly fast. While they can be reserved and stubborn, they are always up for playtime and happily show affection to their family members. Keep Borzois entertained or they may become bored and destructive.
12. Cirneco Dell'etnaUndefined/Getty Images
Height: 16-20 inches
Weight: 17-26 pounds
Personality: Athletic, sweet
Activity Level: High
Shedding Factor: Low
Life Expectancy: 12-14 years
With expressive faces and sweet dispositions, these athletic sighthounds excel in events like agility and lure coursing. Cirneco dell-Etna pups hail from Italy and do well with energetic kiddos and happily live in hot, dry climates. They almost went extinct in the 1930s, but a wealthy Sicilian baroness made sure they made a comeback. Grazi!
13. DachshundCOURTNEY CAIN / EYEEM/GETTY IMAGE
Height: 8-9 inches (Standard), 5-6 inches (Miniature)
Weight: 16-32 pounds (Standard), up to 11 pounds (Miniature)
Personality: Curious, affectionate
Activity Level: Moderate
Shedding Factor: Low
Life Expectancy: 12 to 16 years
Look at these tiny hounds! The Dachshund is a versatile German dog breed. Their bold personalities are no surprise considering they were bred to sniff out badgers and dig them out of their burrows. Dachshunds are affectionate pets who tend to do well in the company of other dogs—as long as you give them plenty of positive reinforcement.
14. English FoxhoundAleksandr Pobeda/EyeEm/Getty Images
Height: 24 inches
Weight: 60-75 pounds
Personality: Social, affectionate
Activity Level: Moderate to High
Shedding Factor: Moderate
Life Expectancy: 10-13 years
English Foxhounds are social, vocal, playful and energetic dogs who embrace the company of lots of people and animals. Despite this, keeping them as family pets might not be wise unless you plan to use them actively as hunting dogs. English Foxhounds need a job to do.
15. Grand Basset Griffon VendeenJMrocek/Getty Images
Height: 15-18 inches
Weight: 40-45 pounds
Personality: Affectionate, independent
Activity Level: High
Shedding Factor: Moderate
Life Expectancy: 14-15 years
These French pups were bred as scenthounds for hunters who didn't own horses (their shorter legs cover less ground, so the humans could keep up). Today, Grand Basset Griffon Vendeens are active, sweet dogs who enjoy going everywhere their families go.
16. GreyhoundWESTEND61/GETTY IMAGES
Height: 27-30 inches
Weight: 60-70 pounds
Personality: Independent, sweet
Activity Level: High
Shedding Factor: Low to Moderate
Life Expectancy: 10-13 years
The Greyhound is a lean sighthound often known for its racing skills and aerodynamic body shape. Greyhounds aren't exactly ideal family pets, but they can adapt to a variety of households if given proper exercise and attention. They like to be included for sure—and may bark to remind you they should be the focus of your attention.
17. Harrierjoshsolarphotography/Getty Images
Height: 19-21 inches
Weight: 45-60 pounds
Personality: Outgoing, adaptable
Activity Level: Moderate to High
Shedding Factor: Moderate
Life Expectancy: 12-15 years
You may mistake Harriers for Beagles, but they are in fact much larger. Harriers love the outdoors and need tons of exercise to stay happy and healthy. Ideal for families who regularly hike or bike, these hound dogs are really game for anything. If a rabbit crosses their path, however, Harriers won't think twice before giving chase.
18. Ibizan HoundKristiinatammik/Getty Images
Height: 22-28 inches
Weight: 45-50 pounds
Personality: Affectionate, loyal
Activity Level: High
Shedding Factor: Low to Moderate
Life Expectancy: 11-14 years
Ibizan Hounds prefer warm climates and lots of space so they can run around and burn all their energy. As long as you can provide them with exercise, they can adapt to many different living situations. These sighthounds are playful with friends but may be wary of strangers. Not to worry if you like quiet time—Ibizan Hounds aren't big barkers.
19. Irish WolfhoundAnke Sauerwein/EyeEm/Getty Images
As the tallest dog breed out there, an Irish Wolfhound always makes a statement when they walk into a room. These peaceful, yet dignified animals hunted wolves and these days make unwavering companions to people of all ages. Keep them exercising through old age or they'll become lazy blokes!
20. Norwegian ElkhoundLaura Fay/Getty Images
Height: 19-21 inches
Weight: 45-55 pounds
Personality: Confident, protective
Activity Level: Moderate to High
Shedding Factor: Moderate
Life Expectancy: 12-15 years
For a dog whose credits include sailing around with Vikings, it's no surprise Norwegian Elkhounds are confident and protective. Though once they know a friend, it's a friend for life. Norwegian Elkhounds are smart scent dogs used to track elk and moose.
21. OtterhoundLourdesPhotography/Getty Images
Height: 24-27 inches
Weight: 80-115 pounds
Personality: Friendly, sensitive
Activity Level: Moderate
Shedding Factor: Low to Moderate
Life Expectancy: 10-13 years
Though these rare dogs were initially bred to hunt otters, the practice has been outlawed because they were so good at their jobs; now, they make excellent water dogs and companions. As scenthounds, Otterhounds like to follow their noses but may need a little nudging when it comes to exercise.
22. Petit Basset Griffon VendeenAuscape/Contributor/Getty Images
Height: 13-15 inches
Weight: 25-40 pounds
Personality: Alert, Lively
Activity Level: Moderate to High
Shedding Factor: Low to Moderate
Life Expectancy: 14-16 years
Mini versions of the Grand Basset Griffon Vendeen, the Petit is a rabbit hunter and thrives in the company of others. While intelligent and alert, they tend to be stubborn little buggers and require early and consistent training to ensure they work well with others (which they eventually love to do!).
23. Pharaoh HoundCaptureLight/Getty Images
Height: 21-25 inches
Weight: 45-55 pounds
Personality: Sweet, independent
Activity Level: Moderate to High
Shedding Factor: Moderate
Life Expectancy: 12-14 years
Pharaoh Hounds are cousins of Cirneco dell'Etna pups, and it shows. Those perky ears and muscular bodies are a signature family look. These are affectionate sighthounds who need big yards (or parks) to run through daily.
24. Plott HoundChad Latta/Getty Images
Height: 20-25 inches
Weight: 40-60 pounds
Personality: Loyal, intelligent
Activity Level: High
Shedding Factor: Moderate
Life Expectancy: 12-14 years
Initially bred in North Carolina by a German immigrant named Johannes Plott, this hound dog breed has turned into intelligent, energetic pet. Plott Hounds learn quickly but bore easily, so training should be exciting and engaging.
25. Portuguese Podengo PequenoHottShott/Getty Images
Height: 22-28 inches (large), 16-22 inches (medium)
Weight: 44-66 pounds (large), 35-44 pounds (medium)
Personality: Loving, alert
Activity Level: Moderate to High
Shedding Factor: Moderate
Life Expectancy: 10-15 years
These scrappy little charmers are goofy dogs bursting with affection for people and animals. Portuguese Podengo Pequenos were bred to hunt and chase down rabbits, skills you'll see if your pup spots a bunny while out on a walk. Obedient and happy, they make good family pets.
26. Redbone CoonhoundCaseyHillPhoto/Getty Images
Height: 21-27 inches
Weight: 45-70 pounds
Personality: Mellow, sweet
Activity Level: Moderate
Shedding Factor: Moderate
Life Expectancy: 12-15 years
Rich, mahogany coats and impressive tracking and hunting skills aside, Redbone Coonhounds are humble, mellow scenthounds. They are also super adaptable and will happily absorb commands when trained early. Keep them exercised and entertained and your Redbone will be content.
27. Rhodesian RidgebackLeo Dzialoszynski/EyeEm/Getty Images
Height: 24-27 inches
Weight: 70-85 pounds
Personality: Affectionate, independent
Activity Level: Moderate
Shedding Factor: Moderate
Life Expectancy: 10-12 years
Being bred to track lions in Africa means having courage and a strong prey drive. Rhodesian Ridgebacks have both and then some! These are incredibly loyal and protective dogs. Training is essential to a well-behaved pup, especially since they don't always know their own strength.
28. SalukiROSS BROWN/EYEEM/GETTY IMAG
Height: 20-28 inches
Weight: 40-65 pounds
Personality: Gentle, independent
Activity Level: Moderate to High
Shedding Factor: Low to Moderate
Life Expectancy: 10-17 years
Salukis are gentle, independent dogs who don't often gel well with strangers or kids right away. However, they are adaptable creatures and could be happy in a variety of environments, as long as they get to sprint outdoors as often as needed. Salukis have spent centuries in the deserts of Africa, so wide open spaces are ideal.
29. Scottish DeerhoundNEMORIS/GETTY IMAGES
Height: 30-32 inches (male), 28-30 inches (female)
Weight: 85-110 pounds (male), 75-95 pounds (female)
Personality: Loving, social
Activity Level: Moderate
Shedding Factor: Moderate
Life Expectancy: 8-11 years
Like Irish Wolfhounds, Scottish Deerhounds are impressively tall, sweet creatures. Bred to chase down deer, Scottish Deerhounds do not thrive if left all day indoors. Ideally, they're able to roam outdoors and move about freely (they also love other dogs, so having another pet in the house is a good idea).
30. SloughiPeter Virag/Getty Images
Height: 24-29 inches
Weight: 35-50 pounds
Personality: Reserved, gentle
Activity Level: Moderate to High
Shedding Factor: Moderate
Life Expectancy: 10-15 years
Like Salukis and Azawakhs, Sloughis are speedy, elegant sighthounds. They also tend to be wary of new people and need time to warm up to strangers. Sloughis aren't huge on barking to announce themselves, but boy oh boy do they love chasing bunnies or foxes.
31. Treeing Walker CoonhoundKerri Wile/Getty Images
Height: 20-27 inches
Weight: 50-70 pounds
Personality: Smart, affectionate
Activity Level: High
Shedding Factor: Moderate
Life Expectancy: 12-13 years
Treeing Walker Coonhounds were adept at chasing prey (mostly raccoons, but often other small animals) into trees and keeping them there until the hunters could catch up. Learning comes easily to these sweet dogs, and they often adapt to their owner's lifestyle, though swift walks and outdoor excursions are always appreciated, even for lazy pups
32. WhippetFIONA MCALLISTER PHOTOGRAPHY/GETTY IMAGES
Height: 18-22 inches
Weight: 25-40 pounds
Personality: Calm, Playful
Activity Level: Moderate to High
Shedding Factor: Low to Moderate
Life Expectancy: 12-15 years
An almost miniature version of the Greyhound, the Whippet is a remarkably fast sighthound who often acts more like a cat than a hound dog breed. They love curling up with their favorite human (adult or child) and make excellent apartment dogs. Whippets are low maintenance yet sensitive, so train accordingly.
20 Long-Haired Dog Breeds That Give Rapunzel a Run for Her Money
Letters: June 2003
Hot Rocks The worries that arise from bringing alien microbes to Earth ["Are We Ready for Alien Organisms?" March] ignore an obvious solution: Don't bring them to Earth. Since it is necessary to finance a new containment lab, it seems reasonable to set one up in orbit, perhaps on the space station. How much more contained can you get than the vacuum of space?
Keith Tallbe Massapequa Park, New York
Discover: And if the astronaut-scientists who examine the rocks in orbit become contaminated, do we just leave them up there?
While we should be taking extraordinary steps to quarantine extraterrestrial life that any probes may bring back, I believe the risks are overinflated. A past Discover article titled "The Arrow of Disease" [October 1992] explained why the American Indians—but not the Europeans—were decimated when the two peoples met. In a low-density population, a really deadly disease will kill off its host too quickly for the infection to spread, resulting in the organism's rapid extinction. If any Indians managed to survive, they eventually lost their defenses because the rate of infection wasn't high enough to make the defenses worth keeping. So any bug that survived could not have been too ferocious.
John Lee Stamford, Connecticut
Happy Hunting Grounds Regarding "Oh, Deer" [March], Erik Ness provides excellent and much-needed information about this very real crisis. Unfortunately, he does not even mention the obvious and bitterly debated part of the solution, namely to reintroduce the deer's natural population control predator: the wolf. Wolves are less dangerous to people than a forest full of trigger-happy hunters, cost nothing to keep them going, and keep the herd healthy by culling out the weak and the sick.
Jim Keene Seal Cove, Maine
As a hunter, I think it is refreshing to see a reputable publication include a scientific validation of the problems with deer overpopulation, but I would like to make one correction. Traditionally, hunters have preferred a very high population density to increase success rates. However, there is a wave of change called quality deer management, which is supported by a large percentage of hunters. Hunters now understand the benefits to themselves and the environment of having a healthier herd by keeping them below the carrying capacity of the land. This allows for a more natural and balanced age structure and healthier deer.
Johnnie Hennings Raleigh, North Carolina
Erik Ness identified an important problem, but the experts have overlooked a simple solution—one that's right there in the article. To preserve endangered plant species affected by overbrowsing, we need look no farther than the Fould's Creek hemlock grove in Wisconsin, where that accidental experiment in hemlock protection took place [see March issue, page 70]. Conservationists could, without too much cost or effort, create fenced-in bio-preserves that would permit deer-ravaged plant species to thrive. Fencing in carefully selected stands of existing species in small groves would permit these plants to survive in their geographic regions pending a longer-term solution to deer populations. We do this now with game corridors in the West, protecting avenues from predation (in this case, human development) so that isolated populations of wild game can stay connected. With a few fences and a bit of diligence, we could create pockets of plant diversity within game-management areas.
Ned Barnett Las Vegas, Nevada
Pressure Points I read "The Minus Touch" [The Physics of . . . Negative Pressure, March] with interest. While I am not an expert in this field, chemistry books have always indicated that water gets to the top of trees via osmotic pressure, which is caused by differences in concentration within the cells. It is not at all unusual to have an osmotic pressure of -20 atmospheres. Perhaps Karen Wright should have consulted a chemist.
Steven Engerer Associate Professor of Chemistry Valparaiso University Valparaiso, Indiana
Once again, Ms. Wright is mistaken. For one thing, she spent an entire article trying to relate two separate concepts in physics merely because they are both identified by the term "negative pressure." For another, this expression, as it applies to water flow through porous media, is a catchall term meant to be used for things that we usually cannot measure directly, such as the chemical, electrostatic, and molecular forces between a water-based solution and solids that give rise to capillary forces. If someone speaks of -2 atmospheres of hydraulic pressure in groundwater, he means the energy level of water that has been pulled by capillary forces to a level that corresponds to that much gravitational potential energy. Gravitational potential energy is what a rock has when you hold it two meters above the ground before letting it go. The water is not under negative pressure, because it is actually being held in place by other forces. And by the way, such pressures are usually measured not in absolute terms but in terms of their relative pressure when compared to that of the local atmosphere.
Don Baker Stillwater, Oklahoma
Chemical Alteration I suspect that if psychiatrist John Halpern examined fundamentalist, "tribal"-style religions, he would find the same success and failure in dealing with addiction as the Native American Church does—without peyote ["Peyote on the Brain," February]. Social and spiritual chemistry is the probable reason for success. Alcoholics Anonymous and other groups have deliberately re-created that tribal sense of community and community healing by banding together to form associations based on shared experience. I find it typical that some people, many of whom have not experienced addiction, cannot let go of the idea that the solution to chemical dependency is dependence on chemicals.
C.J. Lynde Courtenay, British Columbia
I thoroughly enjoyed the impartial and open-minded approach taken in "Peyote on the Brain" in describing the potential benefits and risks of using hallucinogens in the treatment of addiction. However, I would like to clarify a possibly misleading comment about our studies. Our research with N,N-dimethyltryptamine (DMT) was the first new research administering a hallucinogen to humans in the United States in 20 years. Accordingly, we were extraordinarily careful in our screening, supervision, and follow-up of our volunteers' drug sessions. We recruited only experienced hallucinogen users who were otherwise psychiatrically and physically normal. While there were, as John Horgan states, "adverse effects" in nearly half of our 60 volunteers, I included in this category any and all such responses. The vast majority were either minor or very brief, and none necessitated medical attention. Hallucinogens produce profound and intense psychological reactions, and even in the most stable individuals they may strain one's inner resources. Thus, both to minimize adverse reactions and optimize therapeutic ones, the proper setting, as articulated in John Halpern's work with the Native American Church, is critically important—perhaps, as the article alludes, even more important than the drug's effects themselves.
Rick J. Strassman Clinical Associate Professor of Psychiatry University of New Mexico School of Medicine Taos, New Mexico
Better Bred As one of the individuals contacted by Lisa Davis for her article on the genetics of purebred dogs ["That Dog Won't Hunt," April], I was disappointed that the article focused only on the negative aspects of the science and art of breeding these animals. What is missing is any mention of those commendable instances in which breeders of registered domestic dogs have received permission from such organizations as the American Kennel Club to open their studbooks to incorporate needed genetic material from unregistered dogs in many parts of the world. Similarly lacking is a mention of the highly successful selective breeding programs of such breeds as American and English foxhounds. Anyone familiar with these programs can testify that the pendulum is slowly but surely beginning to swing in the right direction.
I. Lehr Brisbin Jr. University of Georgia Aiken, South Carolina
It Takes a Village . . . Meredith Small ["How Many Fathers Are Best for a Child?" April] cites the Barà and other tribes as evidence that "the variety of family structures that are common in Western culture these days . . . May not be as dangerous to the social fabric as we are led to believe." The evidence is clear that there are different family structures that can work in a supportive culture. And while the reduction of shame attached to nontraditional families in Western culture is undoubtedly a positive step, it is also clear that the breakdown of the family has resulted in greater poverty for women and children, more homelessness, lower education levels, more health problems, and so on. Statements like Small's make it easy to dismiss these problems in the name of diversity. Until Western culture evolves to create adequate support structures for all families, we have a long way to go to catch up with the BarÃ.
Tim Goncharoff Santa Cruz, California
Enlightened Your April cover story "At the Speed of Light," by Tim Folger, did not give precedence to the paper titled "Superluminary Universe: A Possible Solution to the Initial Value Problem in Cosmology," by John W. Moffat. John, an emeritus professor of physics, published his pioneering work in 1993. Although some mathematical aspects of the theory were different from those in the subsequent paper by Andreas Albrecht and João Magueijo, the ideas and results based on a variable speed of light (VSL) in the early universe were substantially the same. In his book, Magueijo is careful to give credit to Moffat as well as to Moffat's subsequent publications on VSL. Tim Folger should have been just as generous.
Henry van Driel Department of Physics University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario
Tim Folger: Professor van Driel is absolutely right—John Moffat did develop a varying speed of light theory several years before João Magueijo, and I regret not including that information in my story. My reason for not mentioning Moffat's work was that I wanted to devote an entire article to his career in a future issue of Discover, and I thought that a passing reference to his theory in a story that was mainly about Magueijo wouldn't be a satisfactory treatment of Moffat's ideas. I am truly sorry for the omission and hope to rectify it very soon.
Sour Grapes Because Discover gets high marks for accuracy, I was surprised to find an error in Vital Signs [April]. The photo caption on page 24 is incorrect. Streptococcus derives from the Greek words for "twisted" (streptos) and "berry" (kokkos). The "grape bunch"
(staphyl
refers to Staphylococcus.
)
Gerald S. Golden Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Ageless Error In the May Bogglers, the answer to problem 5 of "Ageless Advice" is incorrect. The next number after 72 that works in the puzzle is 90, not 225. The number on the sign would be 16, and the children's ages would be 2, 5, and 9. By the way, I am a twin and my brother is younger than me (by seven minutes). Nonidentical twins can have different hair colors!
Keith Gillen Mountain View, California
Scott Kim: You're right, the answer is 90. Several readers corrected us, and a few noted that one twin can be younger than the other. But in our puzzle, the fact that the clue about the youngest child enabled the other parent to solve the problem means that the parents assumed that "youngest" ruled out twins. Comments about our Bogglers page can be e-mailed to
Discover
at bogglers@discover.Com.
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