ActivityPub Viewer

A small tool to view real-world ActivityPub objects as JSON! Enter a URL or username from Mastodon or a similar service below, and we'll send a request with the right Accept header to the server to view the underlying object.

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{ "@context": "https://www.w3.org/ns/activitystreams", "type": "OrderedCollectionPage", "orderedItems": [ { "type": "Announce", "actor": "https://www.minds.com/api/activitypub/users/757565249904713746", "object": { "type": "Note", "id": "https://www.minds.com/api/activitypub/users/708987537296728073/entities/urn:activity:1785382119711707136", "attributedTo": "https://www.minds.com/api/activitypub/users/708987537296728073", "content": "<a href=\"https://www.minds.com/newsfeed/1785382119711707136\" target=\"_blank\">https://www.minds.com/newsfeed/1785382119711707136</a>", "to": [ "https://www.w3.org/ns/activitystreams#Public" ], "cc": [ "https://www.minds.com/api/activitypub/users/708987537296728073/followers" ], "tag": [], "url": "https://www.minds.com/newsfeed/1785382119711707136", "published": "2025-06-28T01:21:00+00:00", "attachment": [ { "type": "Document", "url": "https://cdn.minds.com/fs/v1/thumbnail/1785382077533790208/xlarge/", "mediaType": "image/jpeg", "height": 565, "width": 512 } ], "source": { "content": "https://www.minds.com/newsfeed/1785382119711707136", "mediaType": "text/plain" } }, "id": "https://www.minds.com/api/activitypub/users/757565249904713746/entities/urn:activity:1785789707913797632/activity", "to": [ "https://www.w3.org/ns/activitystreams#Public" ], "cc": [ "https://www.minds.com/api/activitypub/users/708987537296728073", "https://www.minds.com/api/activitypub/users/757565249904713746/followers" ] }, { "type": "Create", "actor": "https://www.minds.com/api/activitypub/users/757565249904713746", "object": { "type": "Note", "id": "https://www.minds.com/api/activitypub/users/757565249904713746/entities/urn:activity:1785412272005320704", "attributedTo": "https://www.minds.com/api/activitypub/users/757565249904713746", "content": "<a href=\"https://sdbg.org/explore-our-plants/whats-in-bloom/corpse-plant/\" target=\"_blank\">https://sdbg.org/explore-our-plants/whats-in-bloom/corpse-plant/</a>", "to": [ "https://www.w3.org/ns/activitystreams#Public" ], "cc": [ "https://www.minds.com/api/activitypub/users/757565249904713746/followers" ], "tag": [], "url": "https://www.minds.com/newsfeed/1785412272005320704", "published": "2025-06-27T19:10:56+00:00", "source": { "content": "https://sdbg.org/explore-our-plants/whats-in-bloom/corpse-plant/", "mediaType": "text/plain" } }, "id": "https://www.minds.com/api/activitypub/users/757565249904713746/entities/urn:activity:1785412272005320704/activity" }, { "type": "Create", "actor": "https://www.minds.com/api/activitypub/users/757565249904713746", "object": { "type": "Note", "id": "https://www.minds.com/api/activitypub/users/757565249904713746/entities/urn:activity:1784942810101714944", "attributedTo": "https://www.minds.com/api/activitypub/users/757565249904713746", "content": "More like 27...lol", "to": [ "https://www.w3.org/ns/activitystreams#Public" ], "cc": [ "https://www.minds.com/api/activitypub/users/757565249904713746/followers", "https://www.minds.com/api/activitypub/users/708987537296728073" ], "tag": [], "url": "https://www.minds.com/newsfeed/1784942810101714944", "published": "2025-06-26T12:05:28+00:00", "inReplyTo": "https://www.minds.com/api/activitypub/users/708987537296728073/entities/urn:activity:1784897329778659328", "source": { "content": "More like 27...lol", "mediaType": "text/plain" } }, "id": "https://www.minds.com/api/activitypub/users/757565249904713746/entities/urn:activity:1784942810101714944/activity" }, { "type": "Create", "actor": "https://www.minds.com/api/activitypub/users/757565249904713746", "object": { "type": "Note", "id": "https://www.minds.com/api/activitypub/users/757565249904713746/entities/urn:activity:1784941979999428608", "attributedTo": "https://www.minds.com/api/activitypub/users/757565249904713746", "content": "Also me...😆", "to": [ "https://www.w3.org/ns/activitystreams#Public" ], "cc": [ "https://www.minds.com/api/activitypub/users/757565249904713746/followers", "https://www.minds.com/api/activitypub/users/708987537296728073" ], "tag": [], "url": "https://www.minds.com/newsfeed/1784941979999428608", "published": "2025-06-26T12:02:10+00:00", "inReplyTo": "https://www.minds.com/api/activitypub/users/708987537296728073/entities/urn:activity:1784566230980501504", "source": { "content": "Also me...😆", "mediaType": "text/plain" } }, "id": "https://www.minds.com/api/activitypub/users/757565249904713746/entities/urn:activity:1784941979999428608/activity" }, { "type": "Announce", "actor": "https://www.minds.com/api/activitypub/users/757565249904713746", "object": { "type": "Note", "id": "https://www.minds.com/api/activitypub/users/613527766352011284/entities/urn:activity:1784742851238699008", "attributedTo": "https://www.minds.com/api/activitypub/users/613527766352011284", "content": "I clicked on an article which promised to unveil the secrets of high functioning depression. Sure, that sounds like an uplifting read.<br /><br />Intro, more intro, and then the added intro of saying that while most people assume depression is an affliction normally attributed to single, white women, it's actually CIS...<br /><br />Presses close button. <br /><br />Henceforth, whenever I see the gratuitous offering of personal pronouns, or CIS-anything in a scientific article, the response just has to be...deleted!", "to": [ "https://www.w3.org/ns/activitystreams#Public" ], "cc": [ "https://www.minds.com/api/activitypub/users/613527766352011284/followers" ], "tag": [], "url": "https://www.minds.com/newsfeed/1784742851238699008", "published": "2025-06-25T22:50:54+00:00", "source": { "content": "I clicked on an article which promised to unveil the secrets of high functioning depression. Sure, that sounds like an uplifting read.\n\nIntro, more intro, and then the added intro of saying that while most people assume depression is an affliction normally attributed to single, white women, it's actually CIS...\n\nPresses close button. \n\nHenceforth, whenever I see the gratuitous offering of personal pronouns, or CIS-anything in a scientific article, the response just has to be...deleted!", "mediaType": "text/plain" } }, "id": "https://www.minds.com/api/activitypub/users/757565249904713746/entities/urn:activity:1784783438067273728/activity", "to": [ "https://www.w3.org/ns/activitystreams#Public" ], "cc": [ "https://www.minds.com/api/activitypub/users/613527766352011284", "https://www.minds.com/api/activitypub/users/757565249904713746/followers" ] }, { "type": "Create", "actor": "https://www.minds.com/api/activitypub/users/757565249904713746", "object": { "type": "Note", "id": "https://www.minds.com/api/activitypub/users/757565249904713746/entities/urn:activity:1783897262712168448", "attributedTo": "https://www.minds.com/api/activitypub/users/757565249904713746", "content": "REACTIVE GREYHOUNDS <br /><br />Written by<br />Dennis McKeon <br /><br />There is no breed or population of dogs more thoroughly schooled in canine social skills, or canine signaling and body language, than the racing greyhound. Their pack and colony upbringing and their unique experience as members of the colony, has exposed them to vastly more social and bonding opportunities than virtually every single one of the non-greyhound dogs they might encounter, as adoptees. They are exceptionally fluent in speaking the language of \"dog\". <br /><br />When they encounter non-greyhounds---either at play, or simply when having a walk---who are still at the baby talk stage, it can be a problem for them. Specifically, when their signals and body language are ignored, or their space is mindlessly or aggressively invaded. Inasmuch as they are used to communicating with other greyhounds, who are at or about at their extremely refined level of erudition, comprehension and deportment. <br /><br />Hence, we can have huge greyhound gatherings, involving hundreds, if not thousands of retired greyhounds, without a single incidence of bad acting.<br /><br />Greyhounds are bred to have lightning quick reflexes and reactions, to allow them to compete in contests of speed, skill, stamina, courage and heart---where it is only nano-seconds that separate the greatest from the least. <br /><br />Quite likely that there is nothing wrong with or troubling your \"dog-reactive\" greyhound, other than culture shock.<br /><br />copyright, 2024", "to": [ "https://www.w3.org/ns/activitystreams#Public" ], "cc": [ "https://www.minds.com/api/activitypub/users/757565249904713746/followers" ], "tag": [], "url": "https://www.minds.com/newsfeed/1783897262712168448", "published": "2025-06-23T14:50:50+00:00", "source": { "content": "REACTIVE GREYHOUNDS \n\nWritten by\nDennis McKeon \n\nThere is no breed or population of dogs more thoroughly schooled in canine social skills, or canine signaling and body language, than the racing greyhound. Their pack and colony upbringing and their unique experience as members of the colony, has exposed them to vastly more social and bonding opportunities than virtually every single one of the non-greyhound dogs they might encounter, as adoptees. They are exceptionally fluent in speaking the language of \"dog\". \n\nWhen they encounter non-greyhounds---either at play, or simply when having a walk---who are still at the baby talk stage, it can be a problem for them. Specifically, when their signals and body language are ignored, or their space is mindlessly or aggressively invaded. Inasmuch as they are used to communicating with other greyhounds, who are at or about at their extremely refined level of erudition, comprehension and deportment. \n\nHence, we can have huge greyhound gatherings, involving hundreds, if not thousands of retired greyhounds, without a single incidence of bad acting.\n\nGreyhounds are bred to have lightning quick reflexes and reactions, to allow them to compete in contests of speed, skill, stamina, courage and heart---where it is only nano-seconds that separate the greatest from the least. \n\nQuite likely that there is nothing wrong with or troubling your \"dog-reactive\" greyhound, other than culture shock.\n\ncopyright, 2024", "mediaType": "text/plain" } }, "id": "https://www.minds.com/api/activitypub/users/757565249904713746/entities/urn:activity:1783897262712168448/activity" }, { "type": "Announce", "actor": "https://www.minds.com/api/activitypub/users/757565249904713746", "object": { "type": "Note", "id": "https://www.minds.com/api/activitypub/users/613527766352011284/entities/urn:activity:1783676116453318656", "attributedTo": "https://www.minds.com/api/activitypub/users/613527766352011284", "content": "I was watching lobby after lobby of missiles, apparently being exchanged between Iran and Israel, set to catchy pop tunes. You can't help but ponder what monumental disagreement would compel those holding the public trust in these countries to willingly put thousands or millions of their people in harm's way.<br /><br />As nearly as I can tell, the advent of ballistic technology has only improved on early methodology when people would lob rocks, then propel arrows...you get the drift...at one another, because they were insufficiently adept at finding non-violent solutions to their various real or perceived disagreements. <br /><br />I was mentioning that while offensive technology has the appearance of evolution, it's just the same old crap being deployed in more expansive and efficient ways. In essence, they're just sending larger projectiles, sometimes with explodium, with the benefit of those in charge not even being personally involved in the altercation. If we are truly alone in the universe, is this the best humanity has to offer?<br /><br />At some point I reinforced my point to a friend, who may not have a full grasp of the English language, regarding the similarities of sending a rocket to its destination versus simply affixing a projectile to a trebuchet. <br /><br />\"You mean a catapult?\"<br /><br />\"No, they're different mechanisms. While they essentially perform the same function, the trebuchet has longer range with greater accuracy.\"<br /><br />\"Never heard of it. Are you sure you aren't making this up?\"<br /><br />One wonders if this is how these offensives usually start.", "to": [ "https://www.w3.org/ns/activitystreams#Public" ], "cc": [ "https://www.minds.com/api/activitypub/users/613527766352011284/followers" ], "tag": [], "url": "https://www.minds.com/newsfeed/1783676116453318656", "published": "2025-06-23T00:12:05+00:00", "source": { "content": "I was watching lobby after lobby of missiles, apparently being exchanged between Iran and Israel, set to catchy pop tunes. You can't help but ponder what monumental disagreement would compel those holding the public trust in these countries to willingly put thousands or millions of their people in harm's way.\n\nAs nearly as I can tell, the advent of ballistic technology has only improved on early methodology when people would lob rocks, then propel arrows...you get the drift...at one another, because they were insufficiently adept at finding non-violent solutions to their various real or perceived disagreements. \n\nI was mentioning that while offensive technology has the appearance of evolution, it's just the same old crap being deployed in more expansive and efficient ways. In essence, they're just sending larger projectiles, sometimes with explodium, with the benefit of those in charge not even being personally involved in the altercation. If we are truly alone in the universe, is this the best humanity has to offer?\n\nAt some point I reinforced my point to a friend, who may not have a full grasp of the English language, regarding the similarities of sending a rocket to its destination versus simply affixing a projectile to a trebuchet. \n\n\"You mean a catapult?\"\n\n\"No, they're different mechanisms. While they essentially perform the same function, the trebuchet has longer range with greater accuracy.\"\n\n\"Never heard of it. Are you sure you aren't making this up?\"\n\nOne wonders if this is how these offensives usually start.", "mediaType": "text/plain" } }, "id": "https://www.minds.com/api/activitypub/users/757565249904713746/entities/urn:activity:1783840999320068096/activity", "to": [ "https://www.w3.org/ns/activitystreams#Public" ], "cc": [ "https://www.minds.com/api/activitypub/users/613527766352011284", "https://www.minds.com/api/activitypub/users/757565249904713746/followers" ] }, { "type": "Announce", "actor": "https://www.minds.com/api/activitypub/users/757565249904713746", "object": { "type": "Note", "id": "https://www.minds.com/api/activitypub/users/613527766352011284/entities/urn:activity:1783515190009008128", "attributedTo": "https://www.minds.com/api/activitypub/users/613527766352011284", "content": "I just threw out a perfectly serviceable fitted bed sheet. As someone who has serious anthropomorphic issues and extreme difficulty discarding even the most dysfunctional objects, have I gone mad?<br /><br />The bed linen in question has been sitting in the hall for one or two weeks, as it proved virtually impossible to get it to fit properly on a queen-sized bed. No orientation seems to yield the result you would expect. Finally, in frustration, it was relegated to the nether area -- not in the closet, and not out the door.<br /><br />While considering its fate I thought about the Japanese woman who has made her millions instructing bored housewives on how to \"declutter\" and organize their homes. The \"process\" basically involves throwing out useless things and organizing the rest. With each discarded item you pay homage and say a little prayer. There is some common sense \"divide and conquer\" methodology with bonus spiritualism to elevate the process to cult status, thereby extracting the maximum amount of revenue from idiots who think being able to house and locate their possessions is an ancient Japanese secret.<br /> <br />I spoke recently to a friend about how he manages to easily throw things out when they're no longer of use. He smiled and said the process involved saying, \"Thank you for your service\".<br /><br />Inspired, I grabbed the sheet and stuffed it into a garbage bag while uttering the uplifting, \"You have annoyed me for the last time. Get into the bag you useless piece-of-shit!\" <br /><br />Oddly calming. The process is clearly working.", "to": [ "https://www.w3.org/ns/activitystreams#Public" ], "cc": [ "https://www.minds.com/api/activitypub/users/613527766352011284/followers" ], "tag": [], "url": "https://www.minds.com/newsfeed/1783515190009008128", "published": "2025-06-22T13:32:37+00:00", "source": { "content": "I just threw out a perfectly serviceable fitted bed sheet. As someone who has serious anthropomorphic issues and extreme difficulty discarding even the most dysfunctional objects, have I gone mad?\n\nThe bed linen in question has been sitting in the hall for one or two weeks, as it proved virtually impossible to get it to fit properly on a queen-sized bed. No orientation seems to yield the result you would expect. Finally, in frustration, it was relegated to the nether area -- not in the closet, and not out the door.\n\nWhile considering its fate I thought about the Japanese woman who has made her millions instructing bored housewives on how to \"declutter\" and organize their homes. The \"process\" basically involves throwing out useless things and organizing the rest. With each discarded item you pay homage and say a little prayer. There is some common sense \"divide and conquer\" methodology with bonus spiritualism to elevate the process to cult status, thereby extracting the maximum amount of revenue from idiots who think being able to house and locate their possessions is an ancient Japanese secret.\n \nI spoke recently to a friend about how he manages to easily throw things out when they're no longer of use. He smiled and said the process involved saying, \"Thank you for your service\".\n\nInspired, I grabbed the sheet and stuffed it into a garbage bag while uttering the uplifting, \"You have annoyed me for the last time. Get into the bag you useless piece-of-shit!\" \n\nOddly calming. The process is clearly working.", "mediaType": "text/plain" } }, "id": "https://www.minds.com/api/activitypub/users/757565249904713746/entities/urn:activity:1783520100583497728/activity", "to": [ "https://www.w3.org/ns/activitystreams#Public" ], "cc": [ "https://www.minds.com/api/activitypub/users/613527766352011284", "https://www.minds.com/api/activitypub/users/757565249904713746/followers" ] }, { "type": "Create", "actor": "https://www.minds.com/api/activitypub/users/757565249904713746", "object": { "type": "Note", "id": "https://www.minds.com/api/activitypub/users/757565249904713746/entities/urn:activity:1783121476103180288", "attributedTo": "https://www.minds.com/api/activitypub/users/757565249904713746", "content": "...", "to": [ "https://www.w3.org/ns/activitystreams#Public" ], "cc": [ "https://www.minds.com/api/activitypub/users/757565249904713746/followers" ], "tag": [], "url": "https://www.minds.com/newsfeed/1783121476103180288", "published": "2025-06-21T11:28:08+00:00", "source": { "content": "...", "mediaType": "text/plain" } }, "id": "https://www.minds.com/api/activitypub/users/757565249904713746/entities/urn:activity:1783121476103180288/activity" }, { "type": "Create", "actor": "https://www.minds.com/api/activitypub/users/757565249904713746", "object": { "type": "Note", "id": "https://www.minds.com/api/activitypub/users/757565249904713746/entities/urn:activity:1783106409634734080", "attributedTo": "https://www.minds.com/api/activitypub/users/757565249904713746", "content": "THE PROCESS<br />Written by<br />Dennis McKeon <br /><br />Recently, an article about the current state of kennel club, show-bred greyhounds, surfaced on several social media discussion groups. The author's point was well made, noting that some modern greyhounds bred for show purposes, have undergone dramatic changes in appearance from the written breed standard. When the outlined image of a typical, modern show winner was super-imposed upon a photo of a much earlier example of what was once considered to be desirable greyhound conformation, the difference was remarkable---and not all that pleasing to the author.<br /><br />Just for general information, I should mention, not as a reaction to the article in question, but to address a common talking point in greyhound discussion: <br /><br />Judging the greyhounds of today, or even three quarters of a century ago, by using post-Renaissance era paintings, is going down a very deep rabbit hole. Just look at paintings of thoroughbreds from the same era. Wildly exaggerated and curvaceous, as were most paintings of greyhounds then. It's called artistic license. <br /><br />Artists, like everyone else, were not even aware of the bio-mechanics of single and double suspension until the camera came along. Nevertheless, there are hundreds of photos of actual greyhound coursing champions, and early track standouts, some dating back over a century. So we can clearly see what high-functioning, coursing greyhounds of yesteryear, and early, successful track greyhounds looked like, for the purpose of comparison with modern, prevailing and/or fashionable types.<br /><br />The written \"breed standard\" which judges at dog shows are supposed to use as a touchstone in evaluating contestants, is a description of the \"correct\", presumably high-functioning greyhound. The standard is a hypothesis, which posits that greyhounds most closely fitting its descriptions should be the best suited to performing the breed's traditional sporting functions.<br /><br />That hypothesis, like any other, should be either supported or debunked by evidence, such as actual athletic performance at the most competitive levels, the results of those competitions, the visual impressions they make, and the performance data they generate. Ideally, not just by the opinion of one \"judge\", who may or may not even understand the bio-mechanics, complexities and nuance of stride and locomotion, and how conformation either enhances or limits stride, athleticism, speed, stamina and performance.<br /><br />The winners and losers of these head-to-head competitions will express, by definition, the \"correct\" or less than \"correct\" combination of conformation, aptitude, and intangibles, which have become self-evident at that point, and which are all of critical importance to a high-functioning greyhound. <br /><br />Then, in a format that demands the most meticulous selectivity in breeding, it is hoped that those relatively \"correct\" examples of greyhound type will continue to impel development of adaptations, aptitude and those critical intangibles that enhance and drive competitive performance, via their genetic input. <br /><br />Correctly adapted form will, as a matter of inevitability, emerge as a result of function and a correctly ordered, selective process. Like will tend to beget like. <br /><br />So the value and the order of the process is a critical issue.<br /><br />That process would, in a perfect world, begin with function---with competition---and with clear winners and losers having sorted that out amongst themselves. Breeding selectivity is made immeasurably more accurate by actual athletic competitions among performing, breeding prospects, for all the obvious reasons. <br /><br />It does seem almost like the hare chasing the greyhound, when we begin the evaluation process with a mental image, vaguely described, promoted as dogma, and interpreted by judges who, being human, are fallible. Leaving breeders to conform actual, living beings to something that is at the very least, nebulous and theoretical in its finer points. Then, subjecting those greyhounds to inevitably biased, variable interpretation, and capricious evaluation of their attributes---minus any crucial, supportive, performance data, or empirical evidence of those attributes, or of the greyhounds' aptitude and athletic abilities, when put to a true test of nerve, bone, muscle, skill, mind and will.<br /><br />While some greyhound racing professionals and others who are supporters of performance greyhounds, seem to resent the idea of competitions designed purely as beauty contests, it's good to keep in mind that American Kennel Club (AKC) greyhounds and their bloodlines have no effect or influence upon National Greyhound Association (NGA) professional performance bloodlines. And that there are some AKC-registered greyhounds who are quite adept at coursing, and lure coursing, as well as being familiar with the show ring. <br /><br />While kennel club stud books are open to racing and coursing bloodlines, there is no reciprocity. In other words, show greyhounds and bloodlines have no input to the gene pools of professional, performance greyhounds. That (NGA) stud book is closed to them. So the breeders of kennel club greyhounds deprive those who breed racing and/or NGA-registered coursing greyhounds of nothing whatsoever. As it stands now, the purely show-bred greyhound and the racing/coursing-bred greyhound are somewhat like separate breeds. Certainly, that is the case from a standpoint of bloodline, and how kennel club genetics might affect the racing and coursing populations---which they cannot.<br /><br />And while we are on the subject, as the genetic reservoirs of performance greyhounds continue to run irreversibly dry due to an imposed lack of financially supportive, racing opportunity, here's a basic truism about bloodlines. <br /><br />Bloodline is as bloodline does. <br /><br />The great track racer, Downing, had a couple of littermates who couldn't outrun Mrs. Murphy's cow. The bloodlines with which we are most familiar, have come down to us via a process that has tested and validated them, and the individuals who emerge from them, day in and day out, for a century of track racing, and before that, for centuries of formal coursing competitions.<br /><br />As recorded, detailed and regulated racing opportunities decline, the competitive and meticulously selective process that has identified, proven and enabled the proliferation of the most forwardly adapted and competitively successful bloodlines, families and individuals, is going to be impossible for breeders to replicate, or to even approximate on the sort of macro-scale which existed in bygone days. In times when the population featured a uniquely and remarkably diverse array of highly competitive greyhounds and bloodlines, with a vast range of competition-proven attributes and aptitudes. It offered an incomparably wide range of diverse bloodline and breeding choices, as well as breeding strategies for greyhound breeders. <br /><br />Minus this sort of day in and day out competition, and the \"eyeball tests\" and comparative performance data that it generates, it is going to be very difficult for breeders who wish to preserve some vestiges of the performance greyhound legacy and its genetic wellsprings, to make accurate breeding selections. Not only as to which individuals and families are the most forwardly adapted, but as to which individuals possess those heritable, desirable intangibles of makeup and character, that are only first revealed under the intense pressure and stress of athletic competition. Intangibles which can distinguish the great from the good, the good from the common, and the common from the inept.<br /><br />None of this, however, is meant to imply that whatever remains of the American greyhound and their bloodlines will not still provide their public with desirable, greyhound companions. Only that when the holistic, selective, developmental, athletic and adaptive processes that have objectified and sharpened breeding selectivity, and which produced the greyhounds most of us know, are no longer practicable---and when maintaining a healthy level of genetic diversity within that population becomes problematic, if not impossible, then greyhounds are not going to be the same. <br /><br />If that were not the case, then there would have been no reason for bloodline diversity, or for selection guided by the information provided by formal, structured, regulated and recorded competitions. We could have all just bred Rover to Clover, turned the puppies out into the field, fed and wormed them, and produced hall of fame quality competitors.<br /><br />Additionally, the racing and colony experience has been a significant, operative factor in the familiar greyhound that is so popular and well loved. That nurturing and intensely social experience and culture is not easily replicable outside of the colony, and minus the demanding, formative, and breed-shaping athletic competitions, whereby the colony supports itself.<br /><br />It is incontrovertible that racing and its social, colony constructs have had a profound effect upon that population. One only has to attend any of the popular local or national greyhound \"gatherings\", where hundreds, if not thousands of retired greyhounds of varying ages and bloodline, socialize, play and interact without incident, as if they have all happily reunited with old and familiar friends. <br /><br />The day by day, year by year dynamics of the greyhound colony are a phenomenon few dogs get to experience. Raw, green and undisciplined pups are taught, and learn to become mature, erudite and well-behaved colony members, with individuality and quirks in tact, by other, older colony members---all co-existing quite harmoniously, under proper supervision. Those greyhounds, in their well-learned maturity, then go on to nurture and inform the next generation, and so on. <br /><br />In retirement, there are now many private households featuring small colonies/packs of adopted greyhounds, living in peace and harmony, and inspiring would-be greyhound adopters to act on that inkling.<br /><br />It will, at some point in the not-too-distant future, become the sole labor of the hobby and/or formerly professional breeder, to try and fill some of that demand, and to preserve, as best they are able, whatever remains of the once prolific, superbly functional, American Racing Greyhound. <br /><br />The bar has been set skyscraper high.<br /><br />copyright, 2022", "to": [ "https://www.w3.org/ns/activitystreams#Public" ], "cc": [ "https://www.minds.com/api/activitypub/users/757565249904713746/followers" ], "tag": [], "url": "https://www.minds.com/newsfeed/1783106409634734080", "published": "2025-06-21T10:28:16+00:00", "source": { "content": "THE PROCESS\nWritten by\nDennis McKeon \n\nRecently, an article about the current state of kennel club, show-bred greyhounds, surfaced on several social media discussion groups. The author's point was well made, noting that some modern greyhounds bred for show purposes, have undergone dramatic changes in appearance from the written breed standard. When the outlined image of a typical, modern show winner was super-imposed upon a photo of a much earlier example of what was once considered to be desirable greyhound conformation, the difference was remarkable---and not all that pleasing to the author.\n\nJust for general information, I should mention, not as a reaction to the article in question, but to address a common talking point in greyhound discussion: \n\nJudging the greyhounds of today, or even three quarters of a century ago, by using post-Renaissance era paintings, is going down a very deep rabbit hole. Just look at paintings of thoroughbreds from the same era. Wildly exaggerated and curvaceous, as were most paintings of greyhounds then. It's called artistic license. \n\nArtists, like everyone else, were not even aware of the bio-mechanics of single and double suspension until the camera came along. Nevertheless, there are hundreds of photos of actual greyhound coursing champions, and early track standouts, some dating back over a century. So we can clearly see what high-functioning, coursing greyhounds of yesteryear, and early, successful track greyhounds looked like, for the purpose of comparison with modern, prevailing and/or fashionable types.\n\nThe written \"breed standard\" which judges at dog shows are supposed to use as a touchstone in evaluating contestants, is a description of the \"correct\", presumably high-functioning greyhound. The standard is a hypothesis, which posits that greyhounds most closely fitting its descriptions should be the best suited to performing the breed's traditional sporting functions.\n\nThat hypothesis, like any other, should be either supported or debunked by evidence, such as actual athletic performance at the most competitive levels, the results of those competitions, the visual impressions they make, and the performance data they generate. Ideally, not just by the opinion of one \"judge\", who may or may not even understand the bio-mechanics, complexities and nuance of stride and locomotion, and how conformation either enhances or limits stride, athleticism, speed, stamina and performance.\n\nThe winners and losers of these head-to-head competitions will express, by definition, the \"correct\" or less than \"correct\" combination of conformation, aptitude, and intangibles, which have become self-evident at that point, and which are all of critical importance to a high-functioning greyhound. \n\nThen, in a format that demands the most meticulous selectivity in breeding, it is hoped that those relatively \"correct\" examples of greyhound type will continue to impel development of adaptations, aptitude and those critical intangibles that enhance and drive competitive performance, via their genetic input. \n\nCorrectly adapted form will, as a matter of inevitability, emerge as a result of function and a correctly ordered, selective process. Like will tend to beget like. \n\nSo the value and the order of the process is a critical issue.\n\nThat process would, in a perfect world, begin with function---with competition---and with clear winners and losers having sorted that out amongst themselves. Breeding selectivity is made immeasurably more accurate by actual athletic competitions among performing, breeding prospects, for all the obvious reasons. \n\nIt does seem almost like the hare chasing the greyhound, when we begin the evaluation process with a mental image, vaguely described, promoted as dogma, and interpreted by judges who, being human, are fallible. Leaving breeders to conform actual, living beings to something that is at the very least, nebulous and theoretical in its finer points. Then, subjecting those greyhounds to inevitably biased, variable interpretation, and capricious evaluation of their attributes---minus any crucial, supportive, performance data, or empirical evidence of those attributes, or of the greyhounds' aptitude and athletic abilities, when put to a true test of nerve, bone, muscle, skill, mind and will.\n\nWhile some greyhound racing professionals and others who are supporters of performance greyhounds, seem to resent the idea of competitions designed purely as beauty contests, it's good to keep in mind that American Kennel Club (AKC) greyhounds and their bloodlines have no effect or influence upon National Greyhound Association (NGA) professional performance bloodlines. And that there are some AKC-registered greyhounds who are quite adept at coursing, and lure coursing, as well as being familiar with the show ring. \n\nWhile kennel club stud books are open to racing and coursing bloodlines, there is no reciprocity. In other words, show greyhounds and bloodlines have no input to the gene pools of professional, performance greyhounds. That (NGA) stud book is closed to them. So the breeders of kennel club greyhounds deprive those who breed racing and/or NGA-registered coursing greyhounds of nothing whatsoever. As it stands now, the purely show-bred greyhound and the racing/coursing-bred greyhound are somewhat like separate breeds. Certainly, that is the case from a standpoint of bloodline, and how kennel club genetics might affect the racing and coursing populations---which they cannot.\n\nAnd while we are on the subject, as the genetic reservoirs of performance greyhounds continue to run irreversibly dry due to an imposed lack of financially supportive, racing opportunity, here's a basic truism about bloodlines. \n\nBloodline is as bloodline does. \n\nThe great track racer, Downing, had a couple of littermates who couldn't outrun Mrs. Murphy's cow. The bloodlines with which we are most familiar, have come down to us via a process that has tested and validated them, and the individuals who emerge from them, day in and day out, for a century of track racing, and before that, for centuries of formal coursing competitions.\n\nAs recorded, detailed and regulated racing opportunities decline, the competitive and meticulously selective process that has identified, proven and enabled the proliferation of the most forwardly adapted and competitively successful bloodlines, families and individuals, is going to be impossible for breeders to replicate, or to even approximate on the sort of macro-scale which existed in bygone days. In times when the population featured a uniquely and remarkably diverse array of highly competitive greyhounds and bloodlines, with a vast range of competition-proven attributes and aptitudes. It offered an incomparably wide range of diverse bloodline and breeding choices, as well as breeding strategies for greyhound breeders. \n\nMinus this sort of day in and day out competition, and the \"eyeball tests\" and comparative performance data that it generates, it is going to be very difficult for breeders who wish to preserve some vestiges of the performance greyhound legacy and its genetic wellsprings, to make accurate breeding selections. Not only as to which individuals and families are the most forwardly adapted, but as to which individuals possess those heritable, desirable intangibles of makeup and character, that are only first revealed under the intense pressure and stress of athletic competition. Intangibles which can distinguish the great from the good, the good from the common, and the common from the inept.\n\nNone of this, however, is meant to imply that whatever remains of the American greyhound and their bloodlines will not still provide their public with desirable, greyhound companions. Only that when the holistic, selective, developmental, athletic and adaptive processes that have objectified and sharpened breeding selectivity, and which produced the greyhounds most of us know, are no longer practicable---and when maintaining a healthy level of genetic diversity within that population becomes problematic, if not impossible, then greyhounds are not going to be the same. \n\nIf that were not the case, then there would have been no reason for bloodline diversity, or for selection guided by the information provided by formal, structured, regulated and recorded competitions. We could have all just bred Rover to Clover, turned the puppies out into the field, fed and wormed them, and produced hall of fame quality competitors.\n\nAdditionally, the racing and colony experience has been a significant, operative factor in the familiar greyhound that is so popular and well loved. That nurturing and intensely social experience and culture is not easily replicable outside of the colony, and minus the demanding, formative, and breed-shaping athletic competitions, whereby the colony supports itself.\n\nIt is incontrovertible that racing and its social, colony constructs have had a profound effect upon that population. One only has to attend any of the popular local or national greyhound \"gatherings\", where hundreds, if not thousands of retired greyhounds of varying ages and bloodline, socialize, play and interact without incident, as if they have all happily reunited with old and familiar friends. \n\nThe day by day, year by year dynamics of the greyhound colony are a phenomenon few dogs get to experience. Raw, green and undisciplined pups are taught, and learn to become mature, erudite and well-behaved colony members, with individuality and quirks in tact, by other, older colony members---all co-existing quite harmoniously, under proper supervision. Those greyhounds, in their well-learned maturity, then go on to nurture and inform the next generation, and so on. \n\nIn retirement, there are now many private households featuring small colonies/packs of adopted greyhounds, living in peace and harmony, and inspiring would-be greyhound adopters to act on that inkling.\n\nIt will, at some point in the not-too-distant future, become the sole labor of the hobby and/or formerly professional breeder, to try and fill some of that demand, and to preserve, as best they are able, whatever remains of the once prolific, superbly functional, American Racing Greyhound. \n\nThe bar has been set skyscraper high.\n\ncopyright, 2022", "mediaType": "text/plain" } }, "id": "https://www.minds.com/api/activitypub/users/757565249904713746/entities/urn:activity:1783106409634734080/activity" }, { "type": "Create", "actor": "https://www.minds.com/api/activitypub/users/757565249904713746", "object": { "type": "Note", "id": "https://www.minds.com/api/activitypub/users/757565249904713746/entities/urn:activity:1782838994297184256", "attributedTo": "https://www.minds.com/api/activitypub/users/757565249904713746", "content": "<a href=\"https://youtube.com/shorts/zNrKIu1yo-o?si=cGlT49N54R-m_-X-\" target=\"_blank\">https://youtube.com/shorts/zNrKIu1yo-o?si=cGlT49N54R-m_-X-</a>", "to": [ "https://www.w3.org/ns/activitystreams#Public" ], "cc": [ "https://www.minds.com/api/activitypub/users/757565249904713746/followers" ], "tag": [], "url": "https://www.minds.com/newsfeed/1782838994297184256", "published": "2025-06-20T16:45:39+00:00", "source": { "content": "https://youtube.com/shorts/zNrKIu1yo-o?si=cGlT49N54R-m_-X-", "mediaType": "text/plain" } }, "id": "https://www.minds.com/api/activitypub/users/757565249904713746/entities/urn:activity:1782838994297184256/activity" }, { "type": "Announce", "actor": "https://www.minds.com/api/activitypub/users/757565249904713746", "object": { "type": "Note", "id": "https://www.minds.com/api/activitypub/users/708987537296728073/entities/urn:activity:1782139786102837248", "attributedTo": "https://www.minds.com/api/activitypub/users/708987537296728073", "content": "<a href=\"https://www.minds.com/newsfeed/1782139786102837248\" target=\"_blank\">https://www.minds.com/newsfeed/1782139786102837248</a>", "to": [ "https://www.w3.org/ns/activitystreams#Public" ], "cc": [ "https://www.minds.com/api/activitypub/users/708987537296728073/followers" ], "tag": [], "url": "https://www.minds.com/newsfeed/1782139786102837248", "published": "2025-06-19T01:03:00+00:00", "attachment": [ { "type": "Document", "url": "https://cdn.minds.com/fs/v1/thumbnail/1782139735280459776/xlarge/", "mediaType": "image/jpeg", "height": 537, "width": 568 } ], "source": { "content": "https://www.minds.com/newsfeed/1782139786102837248", "mediaType": "text/plain" } }, "id": "https://www.minds.com/api/activitypub/users/757565249904713746/entities/urn:activity:1782589638864297984/activity", "to": [ "https://www.w3.org/ns/activitystreams#Public" ], "cc": [ "https://www.minds.com/api/activitypub/users/708987537296728073", "https://www.minds.com/api/activitypub/users/757565249904713746/followers" ] }, { "type": "Create", "actor": "https://www.minds.com/api/activitypub/users/757565249904713746", "object": { "type": "Note", "id": "https://www.minds.com/api/activitypub/users/757565249904713746/entities/urn:activity:1782443952834617344", "attributedTo": "https://www.minds.com/api/activitypub/users/757565249904713746", "content": "Smooth...<br /><br /><a href=\"https://youtube.com/shorts/TkuihLyQkkI?si=2Rv8Gxx680A6Qbhi\" target=\"_blank\">https://youtube.com/shorts/TkuihLyQkkI?si=2Rv8Gxx680A6Qbhi</a>", "to": [ "https://www.w3.org/ns/activitystreams#Public" ], "cc": [ "https://www.minds.com/api/activitypub/users/757565249904713746/followers" ], "tag": [], "url": "https://www.minds.com/newsfeed/1782443952834617344", "published": "2025-06-19T14:35:54+00:00", "source": { "content": "Smooth...\n\nhttps://youtube.com/shorts/TkuihLyQkkI?si=2Rv8Gxx680A6Qbhi", "mediaType": "text/plain" } }, "id": "https://www.minds.com/api/activitypub/users/757565249904713746/entities/urn:activity:1782443952834617344/activity" } ], "id": "https://www.minds.com/api/activitypub/users/757565249904713746/outbox", "partOf": "https://www.minds.com/api/activitypub/users/757565249904713746/outboxoutbox" }