Sunday Funnies – May 4th, 2014

          Welcome back My Dear Readers to The Other Shoe. If it is Sunday, then it is time for ‘Sunday Funnies’! This week has been a difficult week for me, My Dear Readers. My neck is swollen… actually the lymph nodes in my neck are swollen. All day Thursday thru Saturday I was running fevers of between 101 – 102 degrees. I have a horrible raspy cough, that crackles in my lungs like gravel, and I ache all over.

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In between chills and headaches, I managed to make this short video of Alexander playing with Allen’s hat from Wendy’s. Alex always makes me laugh, as you can hear in this video. I really think that he was trying to hide in the hat and go with Allen to work. He really misses Allen when he is gone to work  .

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Now, without further adieu, I give you ‘Sunday Funnies’.

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ENJOY!

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The Other Shoe eBay Store

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http://www.ebay.com/usr/enzomatrixlt

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The Other Shoe’s Daniel Hanning 2/2014

A Week in Review – April 27th, 2014

 Welcome back My Dear Readers to The Other Shoe. Things have been off schedule, here at The Other Shoe. The primary blog location, at blog dot com, was gone for three days. Since earlier today I have been working double-time to get everything posted and up to date. MY Dear Readers this is the reason that, later this year, I will be running a funding campaign to move this blog to my own web site.

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This was a nicely productive week. Including this article I have published eight articles, including the single longest and most exciting episode of ‘The Horror in Smithville’. Weighing in at fourteen pages, last week’s episode was an incredible achievement for a person in my condition. Now for a little preview for the upcoming week here at The Other Shoe.

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I will be preparing for my quarterly primary doctor’s visit, this week. I am hoping that I can squeeze in; A C.T. Scan, a surgical consult, and a diagnostic visit with my Infectious disease specialist. I know that is a very ambitious schedule, but I simply must go in to next week’s quarterly visit with some news!  

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Now, without further adieu I give you ‘A Week in Review’!

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• Sunday Funnies – April 20th 2014 : “Welcome back My Dear Readers to The Other Shoe. If it is Sunday, then it is time for ‘Sunday Funnies’! I am very happy to announce that I do have an all new edition for your viewing pleasure. This week has taken a huge toll on my health. Actually it is the frantic pace of the past seven weeks. Each and every week I have managed to publish between seven and nine articles, without fail.” This week was no exception to that insane schedule. Now, I understand that if I back off this publication schedule, I will loose readers. My health is becoming more important than a number in a box on my web site. My pain had reached levels I have never known before, in my entire life. I have little, if any, time to spend; playing games, visiting with friends or family, RESTING, or any other normal aspect of life. Therefore, I have a feeling that the next two weeks… I will be publishing less frequently. My health and my happiness must come first.
• The Mars Report – A Decade of Opportunity on Mars : “Welcome back My Dear Readers to The Other Shoe. Today I am pleased to present a short review of a decade of images from the Mars rover, Opportunity. Launched in July of 2003 and landing on the surface of Mars January 2004, both the Opportunity and Spirit rovers have produced images and science, consistently, for the past ten years. NASA/JPL have proved, beyond any doubt, that they can design, build, launch and guide scientific platforms like no other country on earth.” This week I made the Herculean effort to write tributes to the longest serving Martian rover ever! Spirit has gone to a better place, and served several years. On the other hand, Opportunity finished out ten years of service and is set to continue work this Martian spring. This is the tribute to that intrepid rover, Opportunity. I do not know if any of you reading have been here long enough, but I used to write about this rover, long before ‘The Mars Report’ and before Curiosity landed on the Martian soil. I believe in America’s efforts at space exploration. It is my belief that Earth is mankind’s cradle… play pen and that one day, soon, we will leave this earth behind to forge the destiny of our species among the stars.
• The Mars Report – A Decade of Spirit on Mars : “Welcome back My Dear Readers to The Other Shoe. Today I am pleased to present a short review of a decade of images from the Mars rover, Spirit. Launched in July of 2003 and landing on the surface of Mars January 2004, both the Opportunity and Spirit rovers have produced images and science, consistently, for the past ten years. NASA/JPL have proved, beyond any doubt, that they can design, build, launch and guide scientific platforms like no other country on earth.” The rover, Spirit, gave six years of service to NASA/JPL, America and the human species. Spirit added to; science, Martian image library, and to this (and many other) blog(s), not to mention pushing the science of extraplantery exploration ahead decades. We learned from its life on Mars, we learned from its death on Mars. The rover, Spirit, is no longer working on Mars. It sits, in the last place we gave it commands, waiting for its human creators to join it on the surface of Mars. I really do hope that we don’t make Spirit wait too long.
• The Horror in Smithville – Part Seven : “The remaining zombie-wolves were now running for the forest. One mistakenly headed to the forest too close to ‘The Tall Man’. The Tall Man then kicked the zombie-wolf. The wolf went up in the air higher than it stood, had to be nearly fifty feet in the air and traveled the distance of two or more football fields! Tommy had never seen anything like that, a wolf being kicked half a mile in distance and nearly fifty feet into the air.” This episode… out of ALL of the previous six… THIS episode had it all! I am very proud of the work I did, on this episode. There is no way I am going to tell you any more… READ, or be left behind.
• Lost in Space – April 25th, 2014 : “Welcome back My Dear Readers to The Other Shoe. Today I would like to welcome you to another fine edition of the space faring series ‘Lost in Space’! I have some pretty spectacular images, again, from the space telescope Hubble. As well, with each image I will do my best to share information about location, and what it is that we are looking at. However, before we get started today I would like to as just how many of you, My Dear Readers, have taken the plunge?” Two editions of ‘The Mars Report’ and an edition of ‘Lost in Space’ all in one week!? Me thinks that you, My Dear Readers, are a bit spoiled. 😉 This edition of ‘Lost in Space’ has ten links to further reading, six images and one video. You see, this is the frantic pace of which I speak and the one I can no longer continue… unassisted. Since I am unlikely to find myself in the company of someone willing to help me with the blog, I cannot imagine I will be able to continue at this pace much longer. Oh, this edition… right. Nebula and start clusters abound. I pick these images very carefully, and I share links to a lot of further information. I pride myself on not only entertaining, but educating, too. Enjoy!
• Notes from Behind the Keyboard – April 26th, 2014 : “Welcome My Dear Readers to The Other Shoe & ‘Notes from Behind the Keyboard’. This article series is started to replace the monthly/weekly ‘Personal/Medical Updates’ I have, previously, penned here at The Other Shoe. For the longest time I have really wanted to replace the title of these works, today I stumbled upon the title.” Doctors suck, my health declines, my pain is worse and my depression deepens. There I just saved you reading a whole article. NOT! Well, it would be good if you read, and maybe watched the included video. I did take the time to; write, edit, publish, shoot the video, upload the video and embed the video into the article. I am sorry, My Dear Readers, I am getting tired… my pain is worsening… and I get… depressed.
• The Republican Party of the 21st Century : “So long as the extremists, the ideologues of the Tea Party that have thrown a monkey wrench into the inner workings of Washington, and labeled intransigence a “political victory” have the Republican Party by the short hairs our nation is at risk. For any democracy that simply cannot get the work of governance done, is a democracy headed for extinction. I have long said that “intransigence must be replaced with compromise” and that as long as “Republicans allow Freshmen Congressmen and Senators control the debate, is like letting the teenager in the house4 control the budget!”” That last bit, the part I quoted of myself? THAT appeared on a broadcast of ‘Face the Nation’ where Mr. Bob Sheiffer used MY WORDS to question Senator Mitch McConnell… and the WORLD heard my voice. If you have never had that happen, heard your own words spoke on a television show… I strongly suggest you try it. It is the single most incredible experience of my life. I have been fortunate enough to have experienced that sensation… twice, both thanks to Mr. Bob Sheiffer. Contrary to the aspersions of my dear brother, my words lead the debate… not echo. I mean no harm to the Republican Party. Actually, quite the contrary is true. The terrible division within the ‘Grand old Party’ is damaging our country. The intransigence in the House, ripples out from D.C and infects every organ and cell of our great nation. The sooner the Republican Party is healed, the sooner our country will find good health. Period.

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With that, and the publication of this article, I finish out the week with eight articles. My Dear Readers, I want you to take a look at any and all of the above reviewed articles you care. However, if you were to limit yourself to one, I would suggest ‘The Horror in Smithville – Part Seven’. I feel great pride in that work. I feel prideful in what is to come next. The story of Timmy and Archer is slated to continue well into the summer.

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There is a good chance that the story will be with us, come Halloween. I have so much more for them to experience, and so many more places for these two young lads to further their adventure, and their growth. I hope that you join me, and the other My Dear Readers that have found ‘The Horror in Smithville’ very entertaining, and rewarding.

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My Dear Readers, I cannot put into words the joy I feel when I see your ‘Likes’ and ‘Shares’. There isn’t a lot that makes me smile, anymore… your kind support… does. The next two weeks will be full of exams, doctor visits, and tests. I do hope to keep writing and publishing, at the same pace. However, I have to be honest and tell you that I am not sure I can keep this mad pace… up.

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Thank you for coming here, thank you for reading, thank you for your kind words, thank you for sharing. I hope that I being happiness to you, and those you share my work. I hope that I can continue this work for many years to come.

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Until we meet again, Adieu!

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Thank YOU!

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The Other Shoe eBay Store

www.ebay.com/usr/enzomatrixlt

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The Other Shoe’s Daniel Hanning 2/2014

A Week in Review – April 19th, 2014

Welcome back My Dear Readers to The Other Shoe. If it’s the weekend, then it is time for ‘A Week in Review’! The place to go to catch-up on everything published during your busy workweek. This week saw several ‘firsts’, and also it saw Daniel reach his limit, finally. For the past three months I have kept up an insane pace, for a single person doing everything for a very busy and productive blog.

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This week I tried my best to keep ahead of the curve, in spite of a very important doctor’s visit and several lab visits. I must apologize, because I was unable to keep up the pace of the past three months, and meet my medical obligations. Unfortunately, the blog suffered and I apologize. This week I only managed to publish six articles in the given seven days.

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However, to my credit I managed to publish the single longest episode of ‘The Horror in Smithville’ ever! Weighing in at 14 pages, in Word, this ‘Part Six’ knocked my socks off. For the past six weeks I have searched for pivotal points in; plot, character development, interweaving characters, and crossover characters in this horror story. This week I DID IT!

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Within the fourteen pages of this week’s episode I interwove Timmy and Archer’s plot lines, developed both of these main characters AND I established my writing style further by crossing over characters from ‘The Adventures of Princess Nadia’ with Timmy and Archer! If you haven’t read this week’s episode, then you have yet to experience one of the greatest examples of my writing style ever!

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Now, without further adieu I bring you ‘A Week in Review’!

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• Coming This Week – April 13th 2014 : “Now, for the upcoming week. I can promise that there will be another edition of; ‘The Mars Report’, ‘Lost in Space’, ‘The Horror in Smithville’, ‘Coming this Week’ and ‘A Week in Review’. Beyond that I am not really sure, My Dear Readers. As you all know, by now, I will do my very best to make sure I write all the regular articles. As well, when I have the time and my body is not preventing me, I will do my best to bring even more articles. I have been toying with several ‘New Series’ and bringing back so older article series.” I am happy to announce that I did manage to publish everything that I promised, in this preview of the week to come. Again, I apologize for not having the strength to publish more and bring you any more ‘New Series’ this week. I will do my best to bring… everything I can in the coming week. My health is really failing… and my doctor’s office is refusing to release the results of my blood tests! I am outraged and tomorrow I plan on calling and asking for legal assistance with this doctor’s office.
• The Mars Report – April 14th 2014 : “Anyone with experience with photography will understand; if it is does not appear in both camera images… at the same time. Then it is likely not a ‘Martian trying to signal our rover’. More likely that not, what we have here is a very shiny natural source somewhere in the foothills of Mount Sharp. A rock surface with a very shiny surface which, when viewed at this spot from a very particular angle reflects in a camera lens. It is quite likely that, if there were humans there, they might very well not see this reflection.” And, with that, I did my best to debunk the ridiculous rumors (on the internet) regarding the reflection Curiosity took an image. I know that some will never be satisfied, and continue with their claims of “Alien Encounters” and will never be swayed by reason and/or science. Therefore, I only devoted a portion of this edition, and will not revisit this subject in future editions of ‘The Mars Report’. Coming this week will be a review of a decade with ‘Spirit’ and ‘Opportunity’ rovers on Mars. I have already put together over a dozen images, from both rovers, to review. It is going to be a great edition of this storied series.
• Lost in Space – April 16th 2014 : “Welcome back My Dear Readers to The Other Shoe, and welcome to this week’s edition of ‘Lost in Space’. As with every week, I have already picked out the images for your viewing pleasure. Boy, do I have a great batch of stellar eye-candy for you to view. Just like every other week, I have also done a bit of research for each image I present. Having said, I simply must tell you, My Dear Readers, that the universe around us is a wondrous place filled with amazing sights and incredible science.” I am really happy with the comments and feedback coming for this series. On Facebook, on Tumblr and even via email I am getting ‘Kudos!” and congrats from many of the regular readers, and even from new visitors. ‘Lost in Space’ has already established itself as a cornerstone of The Other Shoe, and my work. If I am able to keep up this pace, you can look forward to week after week, after week of this series, yet to come. Thank you for all you support and “Kudos”!
• Daniel’s Personal & Medical Update – April 16th, 2014 : “As I have mentioned, I have a lump on the right side of my face at the jaw line. It has been evaluated by an Otolaryngologist, just two weeks ago. It was his opinion that it was an “enlarged lymph node” and gave me a order to have a C.T. (computed tomography) scan of my jaw and neck. I had procrastinated setting up this imaging, due to scheduling conflicts with my caregiver. Now, back to yesterday.” A week has passed and I still do not know the results of the blood tests. As well, I have yet to schedule the C.T. scan… or have the much needed surgery scheduled! Tomorrow I am planning on calling the doctor’s office and demanding that I be given the blood test results and move forward with the scan and surgery. THIS is the reason why I do not want to change doctors. I was, initially, impressed with this doctor’s office. However, the initial shine was worn off and I realize I am best served (and my health is best served) by staying with my doctor of the past eight years!
• The Horror in Smithville – Part SIX : “Not only was this a rat riding a ferret… this was a smart (and fully clothed) rat riding a ferret. Archer was still taking this all in, but did not want to appear rude, so he answered Alexander.” And that is all you are going to get, from this fantastic episode, without going and reading the entire story! My Dear Readers, I am very proud of this episode and the inroads I made in just one chapter. I have gone far in defining my writing style, and created trademark literary devices. Already I have next week’s episode forming in my mind. Now, for the down side… I poured so much of myself into this one article… Part Six of ‘The Horror in Smithville’ that I failed in writing several other articles. I apologize and will do my best to better balance my workload. However, I am extremely happy with this week’s episode… If you haven’t… READ THIS EPISODE! Thanks… J

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Well, My Dear Readers, that brings us to the end of this article and to the end of this week. Thank you for all your support and understanding. Again, I apologize for failing to publish all seven to nine articles I usually manage. To my credit?

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I did keep up that insane pace for over six weeks… all by myself… with no help from the outside… at all! At this point I do not have any doctor’s appointments scheduled. However, I simply must get these tests results, get the C.T. scan scheduled and the surgery scheduled. If I end up in the doctor’s office several times, next week, it will reduce the amount of content… number of articles, I will be able to publish.

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I hope that everyone understands and keep coming back for more and more of ‘The Other Shoe’!

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Adieu!

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Thank YOU!

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The Other Shoe’s Daniel Hanning 2/2014

 

A Week in Review March 8th, 2014

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Daniel Hanning of The Other Shoe

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            Welcome back My Dear Readers to The Other Shoe. This has been an exciting and eventful week, for me and this blog. First, this is the very first week, since my crippling upper respiratory infection, that I have met the goal of publishing five or more articles. I am quite proud to be producing content near the same level as prior to the infection and my extended absence. Whereas I am still experiencing fevers, nightly, and chills and aches. I am on the mend and I am hoping to return to full health, soon.

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Further ‘Good News’ is that I finally ‘Pulled the Trigger’ on publishing horror. For the very first time, since I was a boy typing on a very old Smith/Corona typewriter, in my garage on Francis Street in Pearland Texas. I have written my first venture into the genre of horror. Now, My Dear Readers, do not expect something like those ‘Vampire’ movies with the glowy vampires and werewolves with washboard abs. My story is not that kind of horror. Honestly, I read some of those novels and they struck me more like middle school soft-core porn… than horror novels.

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If I were forced to characterize my style of horror writing? I would characterize my style as a cross between Mark Twain and Stephen King. J You will find much more suspense and a lot less blood and gore. I have chosen a small town in middle America and two twelve year old young men as my lead characters. Again, I do this because I want to enter into young adult horror and young adult science fiction. I do not have plans for staying writing for young adults. As I refine my style and once I am published this will change and mature.

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This has been a very good week for my writing and publication. I am far from having the same level of traffic as before my illness. Looking at the traffic reports, prior to my illness I was averaging about two dozen visitors each day! For me, and my little blogs, that was fantastic! I will be working just as hard as I can, as hard as my health will allow to work back up to that level, again. You, My Dear Readers, can help! You can ‘Share’ on social media. ‘Share’ links to my articles, ‘Share’ links to my blogs and ‘Like’ my articles and my blogs. I am using; Facebook, Tumblr, Reddit, Twitter and Pinintrest. ANY sharing of links to my blog and/or articles on these social media sites will greatly help the exposure of my blogs.

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Finally, any assistance… of any kind is greatly appreciated. I apologize for this solicitation for assistance. One person has, from the kindness of his heart, reached out and gave me a hand up. You see, My Dear Readers, that is all I have ever asked for… that is all I will ever ask for is a hand… up. If I were able to work… If my doctors would release me… If there were not a strong probability of me sustaining grave and even life threatening injury via work… I would work! However, my doctors will not release me, and I am in no condition to work. One slip… one fall could… would likely result in either para/quadriplegia. NO ONE wants to end up getting sued if/when  fall. I understand, and I am not bitter or angry.

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Therefore, I do my best to write and publish on my blogs. I hope and dreams are that I manage to write and post something that catches the eye of someone with connections in, or is themselves, publishing. I am realistic in that I have no dreams of ‘getting rich’ with what I do. I think and hope only to find a way to help my financial situation via writing. That and selling what little personal possessions I have left via eBay. As you can see at the end of every article I include a link to my eBay site for sale of said items. Any help… is greatly appreciated. For anyone that may want to help outside eBay? Message me via; Facebook (I have a Facebook Discover Card that  allows me to purchase food and anything @ Target), my blogs, or via eBay or my email (Enzomatrixlt@gmail.com)

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Now, without further adieu ‘A Week in Review’ for the week ending March 8^th, 2014!

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• ·        Trouble in the Ukraine – Part One : “Welcome back My Dear Readers to The Other Shoe. For the past several months I have watched the people of the Ukraine battle elements of the corrupt government. From the pages of Time I have seen the street-by-street fighting in Kiev. To date, hundreds of ‘protesters’ have lost their lives at the hands of militant members of the now defunct government. I say “defunct government” because Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych has been chased from the capital, ousted by the people.” This was/is my very first article explaining and sharing my opinion about the conflict in the Ukraine. I have included maps, insight and quotes from many sources. I do my best to keep objective and not to engage in partisan politics when writing about foreign affairs. I hold with the assertion of Senator Arthur A. Vandenberg. “In 1947, at the start of the Cold War, Vandenberg became chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. Asserting that we must stop “partisan politics at the water’s edge,””[1] I see and listen to individuals seeking personal, social and political gain by parroting hyperbolic rhetoric about the problems in the Ukraine. I read and listen to these individuals take swipes at a sitting President over an international crisis, and in doing they do grave harm to international relations that they (OBVIOUSLY) do not understand. It sickens me.
• ·        Trouble in the Ukraine – Part Two :  “Welcome back My Dear Readers to The Other Shoe. As promised when the situation changed I told you I would update you, My Dear Readers. Russia has made a fatal mistake, in the Ukraine. As of Sunday morning Russian military troops have moved into the Crimea province of the Ukraine.” This the second edition in my series dealing with the crisis in the Ukraine. It is my informed and considered position that the people of the Ukraine should be allowed (if not encouraged) to pursue their desire of membership in the European Union.
• ·        Trouble in the Ukraine – Part Three : “Welcome back My Dear Readers to The Other Shoe. First a little personal update, this morning I woke up to a fever… again. It was 99.8 degrees when I woke up and 101.2 by noon. Last night I had the raspy… water-like sounds in my chest, again. I took all the antibiotics, just as prescribed, and this crud has returned anyway. I ache all over, fevers just drive me nuts, and the coughing is starting up.” At this point I am experiencing a relapse of my illness. My fever is back and rising, my raspy breathing and aches have returned. This, on top of the pain and suffering from my cervical condition… it, at times, just too much… especially with less and less food.
• ·        Trouble in the Ukraine – Part Four : “Welcome back My Dear Readers to The Other Shoe. As promised here is the most recent information on the Ukraine. In an obvious reaction to President Obama’s public statements that

“President Putin is on the wrong side of history”[1]

along with growing pressure from the international community and the majority of the G20 leaders, President Putin has blinked. The world is still awash in mixed messages, and in that regard President Putin is creating other (more personal) concerns… that I will address towards the end of this article. However, Tuesdya’s military actions is clear.” As anyone can clearly see… evidenced by the typo of Tuesday… and my not noticing nor correcting… to this point (my apologies) that my condition is/has worsened. I still hold with the opinion that the Crimea should NOT be allowed to separate from the greater Ukraine.

• An Introduction to HORROR at The Other Shoe : “Welcome back My Dear Readers to The Other Shoe. Today is Tuesday March 4^th, 2014. As many of you are aware, two weeks ago I suffered, greatly, with high fevers, a painful and deep raspy cough, terrible aches, pains, and sleepless nights all due to a horrific upper respiratory infection. My doctor, once again proving what a great doctor and partner he is in the care of my health, prescribed a ten day course of antibiotics. I took all the medication, and at the end I honestly felt I had beat this infection.” Still in the grave grips of a vicious infection and battling fevers, I set about the task of making good on a promise. A promise I made to you, My Dear Readers, to write and share a work of horror here at The Other Shoe. I made good on this promise, and I intend to keep publishing every week more episodes.
• Trouble in the Ukraine – Part Five : “Welcome back My Dear Readers to The Other Shoe. Today, in Paris, leaders from the European Union, the United States, Russia and the Ukraine meet to tamp down mounting tensions and rhetoric. The European Union has prepared an aid package worth $15 billion dollars, to help replace funds looted from the Ukrainian treasury, shortly before the corrupt leaders were ousted.” With this article I bring this series to an end. It appears that the situation will resolve without massive intervention by America. As well, it has become clear that President Putin is doing grave harm to his standing in the international community.
• The Horror in Smithville : “Timmy was grinning, from ear to ear, as he walked into the kitchen. Timmy was grinning because he knew he had the easy chore and Archer, on the other hand, was what left with a mighty big chore indeed. See, what Archer didn’t realize was that Timmy’s Mom, Margaret, looked on Archer as her second son. When Archer’s family had moved here they were living hand to mouth, week to week, paycheck to paycheck. Margaret was a good Christian woman and she went out of her way to help out Archer, and his family, every day and in every way she could. Honest to goodness in the past 12 years Archer had taken as many meals sitting at Timmy’s side, under her roof, as he had in his own home. Margaret loved cooking for Archer, and Archer was the most polite, and genuinely grateful, guest. Archer was given to multiple and exuberant compliments and thanks. Margie could just tell that Archer’s thanks and compliments were genuine and heartfelt. She was confident that Timmy just couldn’t have a better and more supportive friend than Archer.” Again, I would like to express (to you, My Dear Readers) my deep and heartfelt apology for publishing this article without taking the time to properly correct my mistakes. I used my ‘Speech-to-text’ software and it made far more mistakes that I thought. Today, Saturday, I went through the entire episode and I believe that I have found and corrected all my mistakes. My Dear Readers, this horror story is going to be GREAT! I have a lot of great ideas that I am going to work into this story. There will be a lot of character development, suspense, and thrilling moments. There will not be a lot of gore, blood or violence. I do hope that you Share, SHARE, SHARE! It is only via sharing that my traffic will increase and more people will gain introduction to my horror writing and my blogs. Thank YOU!
• Horror Story and Status Update 3-8-2014:  “Unfortunately, my health has yet to return to me. I have fevers, nightly, and my stamina is far from what it once was or should be. I used my speech to text program to write this horror story. Having worked on this piece over three days, and over three hours on Thursday, once Part One was finished I faltered. Rather than proof read this story, I rushed to publish then too to rest. Since Thursday evening, shortly after publication of this story, my body was ravaged with aches and pains, my mind clouded with fevers.” Just as the title indicates this article is an update on the title ‘The Horror in Smithville’ and a little status update about me. I explain that I was not feeling well (as I am getting to right now) when I finished writing and published the horror story. That I made the grave mistake of publishingthis article at my blogs without properly correcting them first. Later today (Saturday 3-8-2014) I am going to ADD a video to this article.

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My Dear Readers that brings this review of all my work, here at The Other Shoe, for this week to a close. Tomorrow, Sunday March 9^th, 2014 I will publish a ‘Sunday Funnies’ with a nice little video of Alexander playing in a paper bag. I am quite dizzy, right now, and my fever is peaking. I will do my best to check for errors and publish this article.

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As always, My Dear Readers, I am deeply honored that you come here and read my work.

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Thank YOU!

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The Other Shoe eBay Store

www.ebay.com/usr/enzomatrixlt

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The Other Shoe’s Daniel Hanning

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[1]http://www.senate.gov/artandhistory/history/common/generic/Featured_Bio_Vandenberg.htm

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California Gets Relief From Drought

               Welcome back My Dear Readers to The Other Shoe. I just had to come out of my rest and recovery for this announcement. Today, early this morning, it started raining here in Orange County! Here is the forecast from NOAA (National Oceanographic Atmospheric Administration):

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          “FOR EXTREME SOUTHWESTERN CALIFORNIA INCLUDING ORANGE...
SAN DIEGO...WESTERN RIVERSIDE AND SOUTHWESTERN SAN BERNARDINO
COUNTIES...
 
WATER VAPOR IMAGERY SHOWS A BEAUTIFUL AND INTENSE PACIFIC STORM
SYSTEM APPROACHING THE CALIFORNIA COAST THIS MORNING...NEAR 35.8
NORTH AND 131.26 WEST.  THE BLENDED PRECIPITABLE WATER IMAGERY FROM
1545Z SHOWS VALUES OF 1.2 INCHES OVER SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA...WHICH IS
DOWN SLIGHTLY FROM THE 12Z KNKX SOUNDING VALUE OF 1.25 INCHES.  THE
VAD WIND PROFILE FROM KSOX SHOWS 50 KTS WINDS AT 4000 FEET...WITH
THE VAD WIND PROFILE FROM KNKX SHOWING 35 KTS OF WIND AT 2000 FEET.
THESE WINDS WILL CONTINUE TO INCREASE TODAY...ENHANCING THE
OROGRAPHIC PRECIPITATION ACROSS THE SOUTHERN COASTAL MOUNTAIN SLOPES
TODAY.  AT THIS TIME...THE COMPOSITE RADAR IMAGERY SHOWS WIDESPREAD
LIGHT TO MODERATE RAIN ACROSS THE REGION.  HOWEVER...A BAND OF MUCH
STRONGER SHOWERS IS NOW MOVING ONSHORE ACROSS ORANGE COUNTY...WITH
EMBEDDED THUNDERSTORMS POSSIBLE.  THIS BAND IS EXTENDING FROM THE
SAN DIMAS AREA SOUTH TO CHINO HILLS...YORBA LINDA...TUSTIN...AND
IRVINE TO LAGUNA BEACH.  STRONG AND GUSTY WINDS AS WELL AS HEAVY
RAIN AND LOCALIZED STREET FLOODING WILL BE LIKELY WITH THIS LINE OF
SHOWERS...WITH PEAK GUSTS OF 35 TO 40 MPH ALREADY REPORTED WITH THIS
LINE.  MEANWHILE...SNOW LEVELS THIS MORNING HAVE INCREASED TO AROUND
9000 FEET...WITH SNOW ONLY POSSIBLE ABOVE THE HIGHEST PEAKS.
HOWEVER...SNOW LEVELS WILL SLOWLY LOWER TODAY BEHIND THE COLD
FRONT...TO AROUND 6500 LATE THIS AFTERNOON AND EVENING.
 
NEEDLESS TO SAY...IT WILL BE A WET AND SOGGY DAY TODAY...WITH STRONG
AND GUSTY WINDS POSSIBLE.  OUR LOCAL WRF SHOWS 850 MB WINDS RANGING
BETWEEN 40 AND 55 KTS THROUGH THIS EVENING...WITH THE HIGHEST GUSTS
ALONG THE COAST AND IN THE VALLEYS RANGING BETWEEN 40 AND 50
MPH...WHILE GUSTS IN THE MOUNTAINS AND DESERTS COULD EASILY SEE
GUSTS RANGING BETWEEN 65 AND 80 MPH.  THE THREAT OF THUNDERSTORMS
WILL INCREASE THROUGH THE DAY...AS THE LAPSE RATES BEGIN TO
STEEPEN.  THESE THUNDERSTORMS WILL BE CAPABLE OF PRODUCING HEAVY
RAIN AND URBAN FLOODING AS WELL AS FLASH FLOODING.  THESE
THUNDERSTORMS WILL ALSO BE CAPABLE OF PRODUCING DAMAGING STRAIGHT
LINE WINDS AS WELL AS ISOLATED WATER SPOUTS OR TORNADOES.
 
ANOTHER DISTURBANCE WILL MOVE ACROSS SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA ON
SATURDAY.  THEREFORE...THE SHOWERS AND THREAT OF THUNDERSTORMS WILL
CONTINUE INTO SATURDAY...BUT WILL LIKELY BE MORE SHOWERY IN NATURE.
THESE SHOWERS WILL CONTINUE TO BE MODERATE IN NATURE...WITH PERIODS
OF HEAVY RAIN POSSIBLE.  FLASH FLOODING WILL ALSO CONTINUE TO BE
POSSIBLE.  THE WINDS WILL STILL BE STRONG...BUT NOT AS STRONG AS
TODAY.  SHOWERS WILL THEN GRADUALLY TAPER OFF ON SUNDAY...WITH DRY
AND WARMER CONDITIONS DEVELOPING FOR THE WEEKEND.”[1]
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This is a much needed break from the persistent dome of high pressure that was parked over most of California for the past fourteen months. Whereas an inch of precipitation today, and another one or two tomorrow is not going to make much of a dent in our drought conditions, it felt good to wake up this morning to rain. .
When I finally got out of bed (yes, I slept in due to the rain) it was still raining, and a cloud of depression began to break in my head. Growing up in Southeast Texas (in the 60’s and 70’s) I grew very accustom to regular and drenching rain. When I go without rain for a long period of time, like 14 months, I get depressed. Yeah, funny that… the opposite of other people. Gloomy weather makes the average person depressed, it has the opposite effect on your truly.
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So, it looks like I am going to have today and tomorrow with some rain and overcast conditions. That will, hopefully, bring out the writer in me.  Yes, I have been strangely absent for the past week. I know! The illness that I fell prey took a real and substantial toll on me. I have been resting and recuperating, and thinking of just how to proceed with my blog. 
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Now, I do not want to change anything… except maybe give the blog a theme and a direction. I do not want to write politics 24/7. It is not in my nature to be political all the time, that and I fear it would act to separate me from many of my regular readers. A little politics, blended nicely and balanced is fine for everyone. That is my goal, when it comes to that venue. I very much enjoy writing about Mars. I have brought back The Mars Report (recently) and that has greatly increased readership. I do not intend to drop that particular series of articles. 
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I ask for feedback… as I have many times before, and hope that you My Dear Readers tell me what you would like to read. I plan on bringing more of ‘The Adventures of Princess Nadia’… well, excerpts. You all know that I have every intention of turning that work into a published novel. So, I was thinking… over the past week… of a publication schedule. A rotation of article types. Here is what I was thinking;
 
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·        Mondays – The Mars Report
·        Tuesdays – Political Faire
·        Wednesdays – The Adventures of Princess Nadia (or other young adult fiction/SciFi)
·        Thursdays – Horror (a little something new I have been working on)
·        Friday – Free writing. A continuation of politics or that week’s top article. 
·        Saturday – Science
·        Sunday – A Week In Review and Sunday Funnies
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Mind you this is still in the formative stages… but I would like to go this direction with my blog. I am adding a little science to the mix… and some horror. I have written horror stories since I was about six or seven years old. As a young boy I enjoyed horror novels and horror stories (I had a collection of paperbacks, they were the ‘Playboy’ collections. Each paperback had a genre that it focused on. I enjoyed the horror stories that were published by Playboy). So, I have been writing some horror stories, mostly short stories, over the past three months. With the return of the rain… and generally gloomy weather, my mood for writing horror has returned. Nothing graphically violent, but there will be blood.

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Well, the rain has stopped and so must I. The news? It looks like the ridge of high pressure has… relented, at least for the next couple of days. When I have more information I will publish. I do not want to say that the persistent ridge has broken, before I know that to be true. I am glad for the rain… in any amount for any length of time.

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As always I am deeply honored that you come here and read my work.

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Thank you!

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The Other Shoe eBay Store

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The Other Shoe’s Daniel Hanning

 

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[1]http://www.nws.noaa.gov/view/prodsByState.php?state=CA&prodtype=discussion

350th Article at The Other Shoe – Conclusion

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Daniel Hanning of The Other Shoe

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                         Welcome back My Dear Readers to The Other Shoe. Today I am here to culminate my celebration of the publication of Three Hundred-Fifty articles published at The Other Shoe.  I am deeply moved by the huge number of ‘Likes’ the five parts of this series received. Not since my publication of ‘The Story of Daniel’ and my first publications of ‘The Mars Report’ have I seen traffic this brisk, and enjoyment this marked. I work tirelessly, each and every week, on the publications here at The Other Shoe. Most times I work having eaten little, for weeks at a time. Every day I write in spite of terrific pain. Regardless of my hunger and regardless of my pain I work because I value you, My Dear Readers, and I value your time and your consideration.

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It is not often that one person can find a creative outlet that brings happiness and enjoyment to so many other people, at no cost to them. I work, every day I am able, to find new and different subjects to write. I want to try and meet the reading needs of as many people as is humanly possible. People love to read. I have always loved to read and the more differing subjects the better. I do my best to write without judgment, and for the most part I succeed at that goal.

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Today I come here to present the conclusion of the celebration of my achievement, 350 articles published here at The Other Shoe. Through sickness and through pain. Through hardship and through mounting hunger, I have pressed myself to goals most see as unobtainable. I do it all for you, My Dear Readers, and I do it out of love. For, over the past four years, you have stood beside me and given me the strength to continue. Strength even to excel at writing for the future, and holding a bight light against the past.

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This series, ‘350^th Article at The Other Shoe’ was presented in five parts. Honestly, I could have presented six, or seven… as many as ten. However, my work was gravely cut short. I was not cut short by a lack of; desire, creativity, nor material with which to present. Rather Indeed, I was cut short by dire and upsetting news of my health. I, thankfully, have been prescribed a better and stronger pain medication. After ten years of taking my current medication, without ever abusing the medication once, my doctor saw the severity of my pain due to a degeneration of my health. I am very thankful that he trusted me so much as to give me a very powerful pain medication. It is bringing me much needed sleep, and more time spent with less severe pain.

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Now that my pain is better managed, I am ready to write and publish this conclusion to the celebratory series of articles. I will present this conclusion as a review of the five articles that made up this series. Much like my ‘A Week in Review’ I will present each of the five articles, in order, with links to the article and a synopsis of their content. At the end of this review I plan on sharing a little about the future of The Other Shoe.

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Now, without further adieu I bring you ‘350^th Article at The Other Shoe – Conclusion’:

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• ·        350th Article at The Other Shoe – Part One: “I welcome this milestone in my publishing/writing career at this time. Lately, I have been writing articles… strong articles back in the political vein. Unfortunately, I know that there are some of you, My Dear Readers, that do not like my political works. I understand that this group of readers are, sometimes, even offended by what I write. That you feel my political work is not fairly balanced and that I lack objectivity. Whereas I respect your opinion? I fear that the case may be made that this may not be entirely true… Early on I was setting a tone and raising the bar of journalistic integrity. I refused to merely kowtow to Democrats and lambaste Republicans. I had a deep desire to treat, My Dear Readers, with honesty and integrity from the onset.” In this first edition of this series, I take you back to my very first article. I share with you, My Dear Readers, the reason I started writing this blog, hyperbolic rhetoric to sew the seeds of hyper-partisanship. I explain that I desire to be a quite and credible counterpoint to the radical fervor of the ‘Far Right’ (soon to be known as the ‘Tea Party’). I want to write political works that truly are fair and balanced, but not only that I want to shine a bright light on the hypocrisy of this ilk and the overt greed. I feel that I could be a genuine alternative source, for some, from this hypocritical and bigoted machine of hyperbolic rhetoric. I knew then, as I know now, that taking a stand against avarice will make me a target. Some will stoop to use friendship, like a hammer. Reasonable support and assistance, merely a reward for parroting like-minded rhetoric. My Dear Readers, I do without food to stand my moral ground. I refuse the accusations that any words, not offered as kowtowing, are harsh judgments and my thoughts but insults. I am eternally thankful that all of you, My Dear Readers, know better.
• ·        350th Article at The Other Shoe – Part Two : “Yesterday I did my very BEST to convey my innermost feelings about the political work that I publish. I did my level best to communicate that the political articles I do publish I do not want to offend or upset Americans of either stripe. I conveyed that I am a ‘Reagan-Democrat’ and that I am proud of my political beliefs. I shared with you that my beliefs are complex and that I do not merely parrot another person’s rhetoric and call it my won thoughts. I genuinely endeavored to explain why I write about the political topics that I do. I tried to explain that it is never my intent to; offend, upset, persecute, demean or insult people with whom I do not share the same political bent.” My Dear Readers I HAVE managed to write numerous political articles without ever demeaning or insulting those with whom I have differing beliefs. On more than one occasion I have been, publicly, reproached for “putting down Republicans or the Republican party”. Each and every time this has happened? I have invited the party accusing me of open prejudice and insult to go over my body of work and QUOTE a SINGLE time I have insulted or demeaned someone for being Republican!” Each and every time I am met with silence. Reason? I am not a ‘saint’ but I do take care to not insult the person, just lay bare the offending policy or action. A PRIME example of this is the question I wrote for Bob Shieffer to use on ‘Face the Nation’. A call went out, over the ‘Face the Nation’ Facebook page for a followers to submit questions for Bob To ask Senator Mitch McConnell. Many people submitted questions, as did I. I am very happy to announce that Bob Schieffer  used MY question in the interview with Senator Mitch McConnell! I asked ‘Why are Republicans allowing Freshmen Congressmen to control the (debt) debate. It is like allowing the teenager in the house to control the family budget!’ He was stumped, My Dear Readers. So very stumped that he did not EVEN answer the question. So timely and accurate was my question, that the dynamic behind the question was not resolved until THIS YEAR! For three years Republicans (in the House) allowed the Freshmen ‘Tea Party’ members to hi-jack our government and damage our nation’s credit rating all over a ‘Debt-Debacle’. The result of the Speaker “Allowing Freshmen (Congressmen) to control the debate”? TWO terms of the “Least Productive Congress in HISTORY” and Congressional Republicans with SINGLE digit Approval and ROACHES being more popular than Congressional Congressmen. IF only Senator McConnel and Speaker Beohner HAD listened to my question, earlier!
• ·        350th Article at The Other Shoe – Part Three: “It is these series articles, here at The Other Shoe, that I would like to focus in today’s installment, Part Three. In just the past two years I have embarked on three different series articles. Two, of the three, I managed to bring to completion. The third, which was the first, I have yet to complete. It is this series of articles that I begin with, today. ‘The Story of Daniel’ ended up being an nine part (incomplete) series. Today, I bring you my favorite article of ‘The Story of Daniel’! In this, the THRID, edition of my 350^th celebration I focus of my beginning SERIES of articles. To this point I had only written and produced single issue, and single edition articles. I had yet to expand my writing abilities into multi-edition articles. This is when that trend changed, and my blog saw New Life! At this point I already imagined and considered a ‘multi-issue’ article on the Mars rover Curiosity and its mission on Mars. I had yet to start said series, but it was on my mind. ‘The Story of Daniel’ was my very first extended series of article at @ The Other Shoe. It was the result of a suggestion by a friend, during the campaign. Honestly, I did not think that it would help at all, and would represent much more work than it would garner funds. In the end, that proved to be the case. The contributions never went up, as a result of ‘The Story of Daniel’ and my brother Darrell ended up making a huge contribution that sent me over the top. However, now the ‘Series’ bug had bitten me, and I managed to turn a bad idea into a good one with MANY following series of topics that people WANTED to read! ‘The Whittling of America’ was definitely one of the series that many people, of several nations, genuinely enjoyed. The series focused on the growing disparity between those ‘Haves’ (that prospered during the recovery), and the 98% of America the ‘Have-Nots’. Through NO fault of their own, the 98% of Americans were getting less and paying more for it. Be ‘it’; food, rent, clothing, health care, cars, gas, transport and even as simple as a movie. The gap was growing, and it was growing rapidly.

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Allen and Daniel on Bear Mounts in WOW

• ·        350th Article at The Other Shoe – Part Four: “Now, the world of MMORPGs I was a little late to the party. I had played Guild Wars, right before I entered the world of Azeroth in World of Warcraft. I know it’s crazy but just writing the name of that game… takes me to that place. Since I started playing I have spend nearly an entire year ingame in WoW. I know that sounds like a lot, but spread over seven years, it is only like one day out of each week spent playing. That is a lot easier than one might think. The game is highly addictive, especially if you are good.” Now, My Dear Readers, Part Four focused on MMORPGs (Massively Multiplayer Role Playing Games), specifically the MMORPGs that I had played! Let me be brutally honest, My Dear Readers. IF I could JUST write about PC Gaming and MMORPGs and STILL have the traffic, support and respect I currently enjoy? I would do that in a heartbeat. However, I know that my political works are very important to you, My Dear Readers, as is “The Mars Report’, excerpts from ‘The Adventures of Princess Nadia’ and everything else that I share with you. I simply must present a rounded approach to my blog. I will always present information, screen shots, and videos from PC Games… as long as I have a blog and a computer to play games on, this I will do. I do love MMORPGs. They combine my love of computers, with my love of gaming, and add in a large amount of social interaction. Unfortunately, of late I have little time to spend in games. I am SO SORRY Jason Kleppinger… that I have been unable to join you in Rift. I PROMISE that I am making every effort to get in game with you and play. Please forgive me, and I look forward to seeing you IN Rift, soon. In the series ‘MMORPGs And YOU!’ I reviewed and showed screenshots and videos of NINE MMORPGs! It was quite an accomplishment and marked the pinnacle of achievement for me. Each of the NINE articles included screen shots of my character and mounts (the horses and like that we ride in game to go faster), videos of game play (most of the time I tried to get video of battle and sometimes with a ‘Boss’), and with each I tried to tell you about a different game mechanic. By the end of the series, everyone should have possessed a rudimentary knowledge of how an MMORPG is played, and hopefully enticed you enough to try playing a game of this genre. Writing and publishing this series was the single most pain I ever suffered writing, preparing and publishing any series. However, at the same time it was the most fun, too.

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Erosion by Scarp Retreat in Gale Crater

• ·        350th Article at The Other Shoe – Part Five : “Welcome back My Dear Readers to The Other Shoe. This is Part Five of the series of article celebrating my 350^th article here at The Other Shoe. Now, My Dear Readers, I have taken you back to the very beginnings of this love of mine, The Other Shoe. I have shared retrospect of several of the successful series I have published over the years. Today, I am devoting this Part Five to a look back over the series The Mars Report.” What CAN I say? ‘The Mars Report’ is an ongoing series of articles here at The Other Shoe. As much as I love PC Gaming, I love Space and space travel. The odds are greatly stacked against me ever getting into space. Even IF my novel does extremely well, and I make lots of money. I seriously doubt that any antion would put me into a spacecraft and into orbit. Just oo much of a liability, and too much of a chance ot death in space. However, I just couldn’t think of a BETTER way to die, than in space! At this point, I am not sure just how many ‘The Mars Report’ I published. I think that it is somewhere between twelve and fourteen. That beats out ‘MMORPGs And YOU!’, and all other series. I can see that this series will continue just as long as this blog continues. This Fifth part takes us all the way back to the very first edition of ‘The Mars Report’ and ends with excerpts from that week’s edition of the series. This week, I am going to add a little something different to ‘The Mars Report’. Nope, I am not going to tell you (here) what that is, you are just going to have to come here and see for yourself. It will be worth your time and effort, trust me.I love seeing Mars. I love sharing the images and the science of Mars. Most of all? I love that mankind still has a chance of pioneering SPACE and making SPACE our future, and leaving earth as our crib. It is my belief, that is how mankind’s existence was intended, and if we fail and pioneering SPACE? Our species will most assuredly become extinct.

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Well, My Dear Readers, that brings us to the very end, of the end of the 350^th celebration. I cannot put into words just how much I have enjoyed your company, over the past week and six articles. I am very proud that I have written, edited and published 350 articles here at The Other Shoe. I genuinely hope that my health allows me the opportunity to publish another 350 articles. I have it in me; I very much want to share.

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It is my hope that I will continue to write, and hopefully sell some of my possessions at eBay, so that I might keep my cell phone… and just maybe retire the ‘Pay-Day advance’ I have been forced to keep since October of last year. IF I could do those things… I have a feeling I would be happy, again.

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I do make mistakes. When I do I apologize immediately. I do not let things fester in the background for; weeks, months, years. Judge not, least yea be judged. I write as often and as much as I am physically able. I do so out of love, I do so as a way to ask for support… but not without giving my work as payment for support. Last week I found out that I have a “Subdermal Tumor” that must be removed and biopsied to find out if it is benign or not. That has me… concerned… and upset that I must face this… and a fever that never goes away… a result of “either the hardware or the bone grafts” becoming infected.

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Hence, a visit to an oncologist and an Infectious Disease Specialist I must make in the next two months. Not the end of the world, but boy say “Howdy!’ would I rather not face this alone (without the ability to talk to friends I grew up with over the phone) and hungry. I mean, really, facing possible cancerous tumor AND infected hardware or bone graft ON TOP OF being hungry all the time… That is asking… a lot… from a man already depressed, and all. OK, I am so sorry that I just did that… wrote all that. I am sorry.

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I am not going to remove it… I will just stop here and ask your forgiveness for my ‘opening up’ and sharing my fear(s) and problems.

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I will write again soon. Next should be a ‘The Mars Report’. I hope to see you then.

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As always I am deeply honored that you come here and read my work.

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Thank YOU!

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P.S. I am still without much food in my home. I do my best, honest I really do. I am not lying about how much money I make… I do not lie about the lack of food I suffer. I sincerely apologize for even mentioning this problem. However, it was a good friend  that told me… “Danny, if you don’t tell people your needs… there is no way those that want to help, know when they CAN help.” I am asking for help. I have written in many articles how to help. One way is to click the link below to my eBay Store for The Other Shoe. Please… if you can… Please do help.

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The Other Shoe eBay Store

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The Other Shoe’s Daniel Hanning

 

Sunday Funnies – February 2, 2014

Welcome back My Dear Readers to The Other Shoe. As I always say; “If it is Sunday, then it is time for ‘Sunday Funnies’ at The Other Shoe! Of late, I am doing my best to catch Alexander R Hanning while he is doing some of things that endear him to me. He; Hops, Skips, Jumps and other kinds of festive moving, that express his happiness with being my son. He does these most when he has woken up, in bed with me and after he has eaten some human food he enjoys.

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However, catching Alex when my camera is on, while he is doing these neat things… is harder than you might imagine. How, Alex does one thing that all of my other ‘Fancy Rats’ have done… he just does it; more, more often and much more intensely. What am I talking about? Well, if you have read a lot of my writing for “The Adventures of Princess Nadia’ and my writing about ‘Fancy Rats’ then you know that all kinds of rats ‘talk’. They grind their teeth, gnash their teeth, pop and rapidly gnash their teeth. Held by your ear, you can hear patterns in their grinding, gnashing and poping… that sounds like speech!

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This is what Alex does more than any other rat I have ever seen in the thirty years I have lived with rats. It is this behavior that I have captured in the following video. I am holding him, on his back, and he was just; talking and talking and talking!

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Alexander is the single most talkative rat I have ever seen. In this video I actually capture Alex while he is the middle of a rather lengthy speech. If you watch, closely, at the end of the video you will see he is so emphatic about what he is saying that his head bobs violently! Whatever he is going off about, he was very animated.

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Personally I am convinced that ‘Fancy Rats’ really are trying to talk with their human partners! It is established science that ‘in the wild’ rats have and use a rudimentary language made up of the grinding, gnashing and popping I already mentioned. However, I am seeing fancy rats use other sounds; grunts, yelps, chirps and barks to talk with us! I believe that human food is improving intelligence in rats the way the addition of meat to the human diet made mankind smarter!

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Now, without further adieu Alexander talking with Danny!

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[youtube+http://youtu.be/GKezSVii7Hw]

(Alexander R Hanning Talking to Danny!)

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The Other Shoe eBay Store

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Just a shot of a VERY thankful Danny in His Power Chair

WONDERFUL News and Update January 21st, 2014

            Welcome back My Dear Readers to The Other Shoe. My Dear Readers I come to you today with great and wonderful news. Earlier I promised you, My Dear Readers, an article about, and with my feelings about, the investigations that now swirl around Governor Chris Christie. I have every intention of writing and bringing that article to you, My Dear Readers. I am not here to make excuses or back away from, what I am sure will be, a controversial article here at The Other Shoe. For anyone, and everyone, that knows me in real life? They know that Danny does not back away from controversy.

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Whereas, I do not seek out controversy when faced with a controversial subject I do not shy away. For example, when I was a junior in high school in Pearland, Texas. Texas was, like, the capital for teenage suicide. That is something that you can still look up, today. I am not lying, nor am I exaggerating. In the late 1970’s Texas lead the nation in teenage suicides. It is one of those uncomfortable truths, about the state where I was born and raised.

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It even happened to a guy I knew. One day I was riding in the car with him, the next thing I knew… we were all in the theater with Doc Springfield and Dawn Lockwood was crying about this guy having killed himself. It struck so close to me… so very very close that I chose to write about it in the creative writing magazine of that year. Log story short, they banned the magazine from being sold on campus… because of my article about suicide… I went to the ACLU… got support from them and went before the Superintendent and School board and asked that the creative writing magazine be allowed back on campus. It was… time passed and, like, nobody remembers that it even happened. Point being, I stood up and spoke about a controversial subject that took away a friend.

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I will write about Governor Chris Chrisite, soon. Today… this article… is about something Wonderful that happened to me, today.

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I was sitting in the tub, about 12:30PM. I had cleaned the kitchen, and the bathroom… some. I ran myself a nice hot bath, and put Epsom salt in the bath. I was relaxing, in the hot bath, and thinking about my most favorite work; ‘The Adventures of Princess Nadia’ the first novel of this project ‘The Healing Light’. I was thinking about what I have struggled with… for the past two years. HOW to start. How to approach the novel, how to write what was in my heart, in my mind, in my soul. I have made; outlines, notes, and even planned out all the cliff-hangers that come at the end of the first novel and lead to the second novel. I have put all the character information into Storybook 4 (a nice novel writing software I am using…[ FYI I think that Storybook may be DOA… Does ANYONE know if Storybook is gone under? If SO… does ANYONE know of a similar novel writing software? Please help… this software was/is VERY helpful.] Thanks!).

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I have all the outlines done. I have plotted out character development. I have created all-most of the major characters. I have created/named all the major locations, and homes and places. I have done all the framework… and I have been totally stumped by HOW I was going to write the novel. How to get all the ideas, characters, plot and everything down on to paper (word processor) in a way that is readable. I have written some very important scenes. One of which I have shared with you, My Dear Readers, right here @ The Other Shoe. Then, I was stumped.

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I have been in this… stumped place for several months. I keep talking to Allen about; character development, plot points, turning points for characters, epiphanies for characters, technology in the novel, the WORLD that all the characters live in… tons about the novel. I was just totally stumped about how to start the first novel, and hot to tell the tale (tail… tale… rats… J ). .

Today, while sitting in the nice hot bath with Epsom salt… it hit me! I was talking to myself.. in my head… and all of the sudden I looked over at Prince Alexander (he sits on my bath chair.. when Allen is not here, when I take a bath). I looked over at Alexander and I said to him;

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        “Alex! I figured it out! I DID it, Alex… I figured out just how to write your story… yours and Nadia’s story! I finally figured it out!”

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I just couldn’t wait to get out of the tub. I rushed finishing my bath. I rushed getting shaved. I rushed through putting a new pain medication patch on, and I rushed getting dressed. Within thirty minutes from that moment in the tub, I was sitting behind my notebook computer… Writing ‘The Adventures of Princess Nadia – The Healing Light’.

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I wrote the first half-dozen pages, and then I saved my work and started writing this article for The Other Shoe. I cannot even begin to share with you, My Dear Readers, the overwhelming feelings I am experiencing now. I am overjoyed that I have broken through, and found my path from; outlines and notes and plot points to a novel. I, honestly, did not want to stop to write this article. I do not want to; watch TV, read anything, talk with anyone… all I want to do is sit and write this novel that has lived inside me for the past three years.

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Having said, I am going to bring this article to an end. I am going to publish this article… going to post on Facebook that it has been published (promote the article). Then, I am going to get a fresh drink and get back to writing my novel. Well, there is one more thing that I feel I must write. Something to a good friend… someone that I have considered a good friend… a person who was instrumental to me, during the Power Chair Assistance campaign.

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Things… changed… and I want to put some things… into words… into black and white, and send them to him. Some important… events… and feelings. Once that is done… and the message is on its way. I am going to get something to drink (a Coke Zero, I do not drink alcohol. I have nothing against drinking alcohol, or people who drink alcohol… I just do not drink, myself), get comfortable, start up the text-to-speech software… and take up where I left off.

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I want to say “Thank YOU!” to all of you, My Dear Readers. Because, without you… all of you… This moment would have never happened. Without your support… without some of you lending a hand with; food, money for food, money for my power chair… and most recently helping with contributions to help me move. Today.. would have never happened. “Thank YOU!”

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As always I am deeply honored that you come here and read my work.

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Thank YOU! .

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Just a shot of a VERY thankful Danny in His Power Chair

The Other Shoe for 2014… and more

Dear Family, Friends, and Followers of @ The Other Shoe and Facebook,

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            It is come to my attention that my primary blog (art blog dot com) is, big surprise, not working. Along with the fact that, over the holiday season, I was diagnosed with advanced rheumatoid arthritis in my left hand.  [Yes, that means that Danny spent more than a few hours in the emergency room since Thanksgiving] That means I have not been posting… publishing as much as I would like.. or care.  I know a lot of you… A lot of you, My Dear Readers, care about me. Moreover, I mean more (to some of you) than just… in the passing kind of abandoned stray cat way. I understand that with that caring comes responsibility. Responsibility to you, My Dear Readers, to be honest… To be forthright… In addition, to not cause you undue worry or concern.

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However, I’m not family to any of you. Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s (at least for me) are times meant especially for family. The last thing in the world I want to do is to interrupt your beautiful holiday time, with you and your families. Therefore, I did my best to write as much as I could… to keep things going… to make a video (as promised) so that you wouldn’t worry. You all mean so much to me and I don’t want to make you worry. However, the holidays are over now. In addition, I’d like to take this moment to say (from the very depths of my heart) I hope each and every one of you, My Dear Readers, had a wonderful holiday season with your families.

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I genuinely hope that over the past six weeks you had occasion to build memories with your families and loved ones that you will be happy to return to time and time again year after year. I don’t have any family. Correction, I don’t have any blood family that care enough to lay claim to me… as family. There’s a whole plethora of reasons why the people that; I grew up with, I stood as best man as they got married, I learned how to tie my shoes from, they bought me beer when I was under age, they taught me how to play board games, they held me when I was scared.  These people, these family members, don’t want me in their lives. Stop. Right there, stop. I have no ill will. I have no desire for sympathy or, God bless your soul, pity. I say this because it’s true and because if you’ve read my work more than once you know I’m a brutally honest man. Whereas I did not spend any holiday with family I still have a very deep respect for you spending time with your family.

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So between the holiday onset of my rheumatoid arthritis and the primary location of my blog being, and again, in operative? I have not written as much as I would like. I have not told his many tales as I want to. I have not taken you to all the places I could (and should) take you to. For that, I apologize. 2014 is a whole new fresh year. It’s a whole new opportunity. As matter fact, it’s 365 opportunities back to back. I’m going to take this year out and ride it hard,  put it up wet.

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You may not understand this, My Dear Readers, but there are two different locations for mu blog The Other Shoe.  These two different locations each have their own readers… their own readership. Believe it or not you don’t all like, or dislike, the same things. Believe it or not there are not a whole lot of you that visit both blogs. Believe it or not I really don’t like it when I can only put something I’ve written on one of the other blogs.

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It just doesn’t feel fair to me to post something at blog.com… and not post it to word press.com. I feel like I’m cheating. I feel like I’m buying a present for only one of my children and out the other. That is why, later this year, I’m in a do everything I can to register the new domain The Other Shoe.blog. And then I’m going to ask all of my readers at blog.com and all of my readers at word press to join me at the new location. I can’t tell you how much it would mean to me to be able to do that, to have one blog where I am in control. One that never breaks down… where everybody (at the same time) can read everything I write when I write it.

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I don’t know how many of you, My Dear Readers,  had the occasion to be in emergency room or hospital like recently. I haven’t been in one (an emergency room) in probably a decade. Further, in a hospital well, since the surgery on my cervical spine in 2007. Even going into the emergency room now they, like, treat you like you’re going to die. I say that… and, you say that is an overstatement… yes. However, it struck me when they asked me;

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            “Mr. Hanning do you have a living will or a medical power of attorney?”

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I have a medical power of attorney and if, God forbid, something dire happens to me and I’m not able to write or think for myself? Allen is the guy  to decide what’s to be done with me if I can’t think for myself. However, the will… The will is something I haven’t given a whole lot of thought about.

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I have interesting relationships with my doctors. I don’t know of is my personality, I don’t know if it’s because I have an education in medicine i.e. a background and training in pharmacy, or if it’s because I treat doctors the same way I treated the men my father worked for they were used to go deep-sea fishing with on their boat. For what ever reason, I always have conversations with my doctors, deep and open even wandering conversations. While saying that’s where I’m getting too, is this; the last neurosurgeon I had a visit with I asked him to be completely honest with me about my condition. He’d already told me there was really nothing he could do for me in my current state. He was sending need to have an MRI done but he knew most likely he and I would never see each other again. So he said a couple of things to me that you don’t often hear from physicians. Something I doubt most of you have ever heard from your personal physician.

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First, he said to me “Daniel your condition will likely never improve. As a matter of fact odds are your condition will become progressively worse until you die.”

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Next, he said to me “Daniel, you’ll be in pain for the rest of your life. I hope that you can always find physicians to help you get the pain medications you need… Because you will never be out of pain for the rest of your life.”

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Then he explained to me that my condition would most likely take my life. Be it something as simple as slipping and falling while walking into someone’s house. Or, as complicated and frightening as being in a car accident… At some point my vertebrae will impinge on my spinal cord and result in a condition “not conducive with life”.

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Then he said something to me that struck me, and still sticks with me to this day. He said to me;

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             “Daniel in my life practicing medicine I’ve told a fair number of people, with neurological diseases, what I’ve just told you.”

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Then he told me that people generally react in only two ways. He said to me that the majority of people become very saddened and very depressed, and they shut down. They shut down emotionally. They shut down socially. They shut down to their family. They shut down with what they enjoy, They shut down in and at their work. Then he says to me that the other way people react, and it’s not as common, as though they are invigorated.

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He says to me that a small number of people, when given the news of their eventual demise by a physician, leave his office with a thirst for a life they didn’t have when they walked in. My Dear Readers I walked out of that office visit wanting the resources to do more with this blog… more with my writing… more with my life… than I ever had before. I walked out of that Dr.’s office wishing I had all the money I could use because I suddenly had a thirst for life I hadn’t felt in decades.

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That doesn’t mean I don’t get depressed. Lord knows… Especially during the holiday season and especially when my pain gets worse or I have developed a new and different kind of pain… like this rheumatoid arthritis, I do get depressed. But I’ll tell you something right here, right now, from the heart My Dear Readers the last thing in the world I want to do is die! I want to drink from the cup of life deeply. I want to do as much as I can with every moment that I have… That my condition and my pain and my body allows me. That brings us back around to the will I was asked about in the emergency room in December.

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I haven’t seen an attorney… Hell I can’t afford three decent meals a day right now I can’t afford an attorney. When I do and I’ve written this down in years and I have a right here on this blog. I’ve made a decision about whatever body of work I have accomplished when I do pass. No matter how popular my work ever becomes. No matter how profitable or popular ‘The Adventures of Princess Nadia’ becomes in whatever form of media it ends up. When I leave this earth I have decided I want every written word I’ve ever put onto paper, on the Internet, into a novel, and all my videos that I own the copyright to I want to give them all to you, My Dear Readers, for FREE!

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That’s right, the attorneys will have to iron out all details, but once every all the publishers all the media outlets whatever lever has rights makes the money they need to read, whatever they put in when I’m gone I want every single word I’ve ever written to be available in electronic form completely and totally for free in perpetuity. Because you see, My Dear Readers, I am only borrowing these words. I am only borrowing these words these thoughts these ideas these characters these plots I’m only borrowing them… For a time. When I am through with them I want to give them back all to you.

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As of last month… As of the last month of last year… As of four weeks ago I am now in more pain than I was two months ago… Six months ago… A year ago… Two years ago… Five years ago. On top of all the pain that I go through due to the neurological damage in my cervical spine to the nerve roots. Due to all the pain I endure from sciatica… From shooting pains… On top of that I now have a crippling pain in my hand it feels like broken bones. When I move my left hand now it makes a popping sound. Never done that before, totally new experience. My left hand swells up like a balloon and the knuckles turn red. All I can think of is how can I get myself OUT of enough pain so that I can concentrate and write even more than I did in 2013.

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Since right before Thanksgiving I searched a lot on the Internet about how to get more out of my blog. I learned a lot in just a matter of few weeks. I’ve learned that my blog, at three years, out survived nearly 75% of all the blogs that started that year. I was told that I should spend less time creating content and more time trying to get other blogs to carry my content. I don’t want to write less. In high school… I was the loaner until I stepped on stage. Then, by the end of three years of performing on stage, most everybody at Pearland high school knew who I was… but I didn’t have a whole lot more people that called me a friend. I’m going to work very hard at trying to contact more of you. More of you people that are reading my blog that have blogs of your own. To let you know, you other blog writers, that I would be honored if you would reblogg my posts. I’m going to concentrate more on trying to make my .articles; more concise, more professional, more enjoyable, and more commercially viable. Long story short, I’m going to redouble my efforts at my blog redouble my efforts at communicating with you and redouble my efforts at trying to expand the number of people that read The Other Shoe.

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Anything that you, My Dear Readers,            enjoy? PLEASE share those articles… Share or make other people aware of my blogs… Anything you can do to help me spread the word will be greatly appreciated. I really mean that from the very depths of my heart. I don’t say this because I want to make more money. Well, let’s be honest… we all like to make more money but right now I just want to see if I can’t get a lot more people reading what I write. Because, you see I like what I write. Every article that you read I have not only written, I’ve read. I like what I write. I am sure of what I write.  If you do like what I write? Be sure to share with someone.

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As soon as all these new domains come available I’m going to be forced, most likely, to run another Indiegogo campaign. I’m going to be forced to run an Indiegogo campaign to raise the money out need to register the domain name for The Other Shoe.blog.  To register the domain name to get web hosting and everything else so that I can consolidate the two blogs from blog.com and WordPress and the one location and take the two families that you are today and make you one big family so whenever I write and whenever I speak? I speak to all of you at once. I wrote this article, today, because I wanted to let you know the one I’m still here. Two, I have a lot more to share with you. Three I’m not giving up any time soon. Call me crazy but every single time my condition gets worse. Every single time I have more pain. Every single time life throws some roadblock in my path? I want to push myself harder and see what more I can do. See what more I can do for you, My Dear Readers.

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Everything I do I do for you. Every word I write I write for you. And when I leave this world, and I hope it’s a very long time from now, everything I’ve ever written will belong to every single one of you for free for the rest of time. I don’t have many gifts to give, except the ones I create my mind, and they all belong to you.

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As always I am deeply honored that you come here and read my work.

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Thank you!

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P.S. I did manage to work in but I would let you know 2014 is going to see a lot more of the weekly articles. Unwilling to bring back all the series that I worked so hard on in 2013 on a mother do my best to have them every week. That means more of ’The Mars Report’. That means more of ‘Sunday Funnies’. That means more of ‘A Week in Review’. That means more political articles. And… I really wish I could tell you that would mean more of my tale… but the more I talked to people the more I understand that I can talk to you about ’The Adventures of Princess Nadia’. However, I cannot share the pages I write… yet. I wish you all a very happy and prosperous New Year.

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Just a shot of a VERY thankful Danny in His Power Chair