News From Around the World - May 31st, 2014

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 Welcome back My Dear Readers to The Other Shoe. Today is Friday May 31^st, 2014, TGiF to everyone! With the first weekend, since my blog disappeared, rapidly approaching I have been searching my brain for just what content might peak interest by you, My Dear Readers. First, I thought of presenting Part TEN of ‘The Horror in Smithville’ for your reading pleasure.

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You see, I stayed up till nearly 3AM this morning working on that very story. However, to publish that work today would be to ‘Rob Peter to pay Paul’. Thursday is the day I have earmarked for my horror genre works, and I like it that way. So, I don’t want to scramble my schedule just to bring some entertaining content to you, My Dear Readers. Next, I thought about bring you an edition of ‘News from Around the World’. Unfortunately, a good deal of the news here domestically seems to center around the primaries in many of our states.

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I have made a conscious decision to greatly limit my political works, as I understand they serve more to polarize my readership (and even hurt people’s feelings) more than add to the collective nature of my works. So, politics (for the time being) is out. Next, I stumble upon something I read earlier this month. I read… and read… and I am struck that I had not learned all there was to learn about the subject, when it originally hit the news cycle. I found that a good many talking-heads had not done their due diligence, either. Further, this event is based in a topic that I have promised to pursue here at The Other Shoe. Bingo! I think we have a winner!

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Now, My Dear Readers, you can plainly see from the title above that I did decide to place this article under the heading ‘News From Around the World’, as it is ‘World News’ and the statements I will share have far flung impact and import. Among all of my readers, from all over America and the world at large, I think that I can safely say that a vast majority of you, My Dear Readers, understand that America (and much of the world) is gripped by inequality.

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Inequality of all types and stripes, not just financial. We are all very familiar with Boko Haram and his kidnapping of over 219 women (originally leaving with 279 women and children now down to 219) and girls in Nigeria[1]. To the incident in Pakistan, this week, where a pregnant woman was stoned to DEATH by her FAMILY on the steps of the courthouse she was about to enter to fight for her right to marry the man she loved.[2]To the final topic of this article, gross financial inequality in America, and the world abroad.

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For, it is this story that brought me to write this article today. Let me take us back to the early days of the month of May. May 9^th, to be exact. The place? The Vatican, Rome Italy. Pope Francis has invited the Secretary General of the United Nations, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, to the Vatican for talks. It is in these talks that something remarkable happens. Before I jump on my band wagon, for once I do it is difficult for me to get off again, let me set up a little back story.

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We humans live in a peculiar state we call reality. For many, this reality is a cold, hard, uncaring place given to; violence, anger, hatred and prejudice. Yes, even in this the twenty-first century, mankind still kills over religion and murders over petty differences. Yet, there is a redeeming quality to this reality. This quality leads many to see mankind as living in a ‘state of grace’. I neither agree, nor disagree with individuals that are of that opinion. However, there is a unique phenomenon that exists in our reality that might be behind their feelings of a ‘state of grace’.

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In my short lifetime, I have born witness to this phenomenon on more than one occasion and have read about its occurrence more than born witness. I call this phenomenon the ‘Pandora’s Box Phenomenon’, because once it is opened there is no closing it behind you and in opening you change the world around you… forever. Let me share, with you My Dear Readers, just one of these ‘Pandora’s Box Phenomenons’. In 1799 a clergyman by the name of James Newton wrote, what is today, a very famous song; ‘Amazing Grace’[3].

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John Newton was not always a clergyman, as a matter of fact he started his life as a sailor in the Royal Navy (he was pressed into service). Upon leaving the Royal Navy Mr. Newton began a very prosperous adventure in the Atlantic Slave Trade’. Mr. Newton spent many decades engaged in transporting slaves from Africa to Europe and the Americas. At some point, later in life, he felt the severe wrong he had been a part of by assisting in the enslavement of his fellow man.

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As early as 1799 there were strong sentiments against slavery, and John Newton spoke out! On January 1^st, 1863, then, President Abraham Lincoln signed the ‘Emancipation Proclamation’[4]. In so doing, President Lincoln ended slavery in America. In 1799 John Newton set in motion the first event of the ‘Pandora’s Box Phenomenon’ that lead to the end of Americans enslaving African Americans. Further, on January 1^st, 1863 (it could be said) that President Lincoln engaged in the first act of the ‘Pandora’s Box Phenomenon’ that lead to the ‘Voting Rights Act of 1965’[5]. Giving full membership in America to the African American people.

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Women’s suffrage, beginning as early as the seventeenth century, finally gained a Woman’s Right to Vote in 1920. You see, My Dear Readers, as soon as one person gives voice, writes it in a song, or stands with the conviction of their beliefs and the strength of their convictions; they open the Pandora’s Box and set in motion the ‘Pandora’s Box Phenomenon’. Always resulting in an ideal becoming a reality! I do not know if you, My Dear Readers, were paying attention on May 9^th, 2014… but it happened, again.

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[caption id="attachment_2494" align="aligncenter" width="600"] Pope Francis[/caption]

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This time Pope Francis opened the ‘Pandora’s Box’ and set in motion the ‘Pandora’s Box Phenomenon’ that will bring about the end of; financial inequality on our planet and (may well) bring about the end of ‘Free Enterprise’ and the ‘monetary system’ as we know it today. Yeah, didn’t see that one coming did you?

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For me this is no longer speculation, this is a certainty. Yet, let me share some of what Pope Francis said to the Secretary General of the United Nations that he believes the time has come for a legitimate redistribution of wealth to the poor.

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“Pope Francis recently called for a "legitimate redistribution" of wealth when meeting with United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, saying governments should work to end the "economy of exclusion" that plagues the poor and the middle class from rising up the economic ladder.” From the Christian Post[6]

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Pope Francis went on to day;

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“"I do not hesitate to state, as did my predecessors, that equitable economic and social progress can only be attained by joining scientific and technical abilities with an unfailing commitment to solidarity accompanied by a generous and disinterested spirit of gratuitousness at every level,"[7]

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Finally;

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“People should share the "material goods [as well as] intellectual and spiritual ones" they have received, and should "give back generously and lavishly," he said, according to a statement released by the Vatican.

He said that "equitable economic and social progress can only be attained by joining scientific and technical abilities with an unfailing commitment to solidarity accompanied by a generous and disinterested spirit of gratuitousness at every level."

"A contribution to this equitable development will also be made both by international activity aimed at the integral human development of all the world's peoples and by the legitimate redistribution of economic benefits by the State, as well as indispensable cooperation between the private sector and civil society," he continued.”[8]

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[caption id="attachment_2495" align="aligncenter" width="630"] Pope Francis[/caption]

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This, My Dear Readers, is crystal clear for me as it should be for all mankind. Now, don’t get me wrong I am a firm believer that ‘Free Enterprise’ and our current ‘Market Structure’ were necessary evils to bring down the institutions of ‘Kings’, Monarchies, and the very small group of people that did control all wealth prior to the creation of our free market system. That our current monetary system and free enterprise have served mankind… well, and now it is time for; Americaand Americans to lead the human race to the next financial system.

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I understand that for a great many people this idea is so foreign it is repellant. I must admit that I have a bit of an advantage when it comes to wrapping my head around these new ideals. For the better part of four decades, many science fiction writers have written of a futuristic world where ‘there is no money’! Even Gene Roddenberry created a world where the was no money. He called this fanciful world… ‘Star Trek’! You might have heard of it and the 70+ original TV episodes, the nine movies and the four other TV series of the later 20^th century and the early 21^st century.

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We, readers of science fiction, have been fully aware that there was a very good chance that the world of the future would have no money. That, truly, the only genuine way to end poverty is to bring about the end of our current market system and our monetary system. But, don’t ask me… read; Gene Roddenberry, Arthur C. Clark, Isaac Asimov, and many many other science fiction writers. My Dear Readers, this has been an idea looking for the right time.

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It is my humble opinion that, with his conversations with the Secretary General of the United Nations, Pope Francis has set in motion the ‘Pandora’s Box Phenomenon’ that will bring about an end to poverty in America. You might not have been paying attention, on May 9^th 2014, but now you, My Dear Readers, know.

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As always I welcome any and all comments and suggestions on this blog, the contents of my articles and anything else that you might like to discuss. You can leave comments (check the top of the article) and you can always find me on Facebook (click on that link and it will take you to my Facebook page), or you can just look for me on Facebook under Danny Hanning. As well, I am ALWAYS looking for MORE ‘Like’(s) for the Facebook Page for The Other Shoe. (Again, just click on that link to go to the Facebook page for The Other Shoe, or look up The Other Shoe on Facebook).

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Adieu!

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Thank YOU!

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[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="234"] The Other Shoe eBay Store[/caption]

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

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[caption id="attachment_2866" align="aligncenter" width="630"] Danny Hanning of The Other Shoe - May 6th, 2014[/caption]

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[1]http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/05/28/us-nigeria-violence-idUSKBN0E822D20140528

[2]http://news.yahoo.com/pregnant-pakistani-woman-stoned-death-family-163143284.html

[3]http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amazing_Grace

[4]http://www.archives.gov/exhibits/featured_documents/emancipation_proclamation/

[5]http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Voting_Rights_Act_of_1965

[6]http://www.christianpost.com/news/pope-francis-calls-for-legitimate-redistribution-of-wealth-to-end-economy-of-exclusion-119489/

[7]http://www.christianpost.com/news/pope-francis-calls-for-legitimate-redistribution-of-wealth-to-end-economy-of-exclusion-119489/

[8]https://www.commondreams.org/headline/2014/05/09-3

The Horror in Smithville - Part Nine

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[caption id="attachment_2489" align="aligncenter" width="500"] The Horror in Smithville[/caption]

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 Welcome back My Dear Readers to The Other Shoe. As well, a big and heartfelt welcome to Part Nine of ‘The Horror in Smithville’! The past two weeks have been fraught with problems and hindrances, keeping me from publishing. All of my works have suffered, as have all of you, My Dear Readers. Two weeks ago, I was without a working air conditioner in my apartment.

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Let me tell you, 83 degree to 90 degree temperatures are not conducive to writing. At least they are not for me, in my current medical condition. As well, as I might have mentioned previously, I am working (writing, editing and publishing) on a notebook laptop computer that is well over ten years old. I hesitate turning this computer on if it is over 70 degrees in the room. Heat is the #1 reason for computer deaths. Since I bought this computer I have never operated it when the room is that hot. I am not about to start now, and loose the only computer I have to write!

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Last week, the air conditioning was back and working. Yet, my primary blog location was not! Yes, that’s right last week was the week to ten days that I had no access to The Other Shoe at blog dot com. This is the very first Thursday, in two weeks, that I have been able to write and publish. Therefore, you My Dear Readers get to rejoin Timmy and Archer in their adventures in Smithville. The other day I had a question from one of my newer readers. “Is there a Smithville? Did you grow up in a Smithville?” Some might think that is two questions, actually it is only one.

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Yes, I did grow up in a ‘Smithville’. It was called Pearland, but it was a Smithville by any modern day standard. The classes were very small; we were a small town off a main road coming out of Houston. We lived in the shadow of a major city, but we were about as rural as you can get. Now, My Dear Readers, I am very grateful to have grown up (at least part of my childhood) in Pearland. Say what you may about small towns, Pearland was made up of good and caring folks.

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My family moved from Houston out to Pearland when I was in the fourth grade. I spent all of elementary school, middle school, and high school in Pearland. Honestly, I wouldn’t trade that time of my life for anything in the world. I had very good friends, I never went without food… unless I failed to mention I was hungry, and when (in high school) I stepped up on stage… the great people of Pearland showed up in droves and stood on their feet to applaud. I just couldn’t have asked for a better, more polite and entertained, group of people in the whole world. Yet, yes I did grow up outside the big city in a smallish town out off of a ‘Farm to Market’ road. Smithville, for all intents and purposes, is Pearland. Maybe a bit more rural, and a little more removed from our time, but that is where the town comes from… my past.

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Today I have to share, Part Nine of our horror story. As you might imagine, having taken two weeks off from writing, it is taking a bit to get me back into character and back up to the level and speed I was writing, before. I am hoping, that over the coming weeks, I can get back to producing as much content as I did before. Today’s episode is a little shorter than those, before. Today, I came to a great stopping point… and I was overcome with pain and weakness.

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Rather than push myself… and really manage to hurt myself? I decided to stop at the logical stopping point within the writing. FYI I have already started on Part Ten! If all goes well, and I have nothing else ready for publication… I just might publish TWO PARTS of this story, this week. Now, I am not promising anything! I have to let my body… my pain… decide. Right now I am hurting like an old coon dog stuck under the back tire of a tractor.

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I am going to take a pain medication… just as soon as I press the PUBLISH button.

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So, without further adieu, I give you Part NINE of ‘The Horror in Smithville’!

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Part Nine

 

By the time the boys had reached the bus stop, the bus was about 3 miles away. That gave Archer some time to look at Timmy’s left hand. The bite from the zombie wolf had grown. The hand was swollen, yes, but the bite itself had grown and covered more of Timmy’s hand with a dark black circle. The hand itself was nearly twice its normal size and there were black veins radiating out from around the teeth marks. Timmy didn’t look so good, himself.

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Timmy was pale, in color, in his face and arms. Almost like he had been drained of blood. Archer pulled Timmy’s jacket up around his face and over his ears. As Archer’s hands passed Timmy’s face, he felt heat radiating from Timmy’s face. Jeeze! Archer had never felt a fever that hot before in his life. Timmy had to have a fever well over 100 degrees, and he was standing in a foot of snow by the edge of the road. The more Archer thought about it, the more he realized that taking Timmy to school in his current condition was not the best idea.

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Bad idea or not to, there was no turning back now, just as Archer was overcome with regret the school bus stopped directly in front of them. Archer grabbed their backpacks in one arm, Timmy in the other, and he began the process of getting Timmy on the bus and off to school. Ms. Steward, the homeroom and home economics teacher, was there bus driver today. She took one look at Timmy and immediately turn to Archer asking;

 

”Timmy looks like something the tractor ran over and the dog brought inside. Are you sure you should be going to school today Archer?”

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Evidently today was Archer’s day for thinking fast on his feet, because Archer immediately replied.

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“It ain’t nothing Ms. Stewart. Nothing more than eaten too much of his mom’s blueberry cobbler, and us not get in the sleep on time. I’m sure he will be right as rain by lunchtime, you don’t worry yourself none.”

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Now, granted, Archer had done some quick thinking, and speaking, but it was obvious Ms. Steward remained unimpressed. She scoffed under her breath, shook her head, then closed the door of the school bus behind them. Archer looks back, in the bus, and finds a seat near the rear. The bus lurched forward like a great sleeping giant not wanting to make its morning treck on the snow-covered roads. The lurch threw Timmy and Archer forward down the aisle towards the end of the bus. Archer nearly lost his grip on Timmy’s left arm, and narrowly navigated him to a sitting posture in the last seat on the bus.

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Archer threw the backpacks on the floor, at their feet, then collapsed into the bus seat beside Timmy with a huff. He reached over and propped up Timmy against the back walls of the bus and the seat. Once he was sure that Timmy wouldn’t go flying around the bus, the next time Ms. Steward made a hard turn, he settled in to relax a little for the rest of the ride into school. When Timmy and Archer missed a bus, either getting to school or coming home, they regretted living so far out of town. Right now, Archer was mighty glad they did live ‘out in the sticks’ because it gave him time to rest… and think.

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Archer closed his eyes, for just a moment, and thought about just how he was going to get through a whole day at school with Timmy in his current condition. Even now, sitting there with only a foot between them, Archer could feel the heat radiating off of Timmy. Trying to rest his eyes wasn’t helping… and the heat coming off of Timmy was driving Archer nuts. He pulled back the hood on Timmy’s jacket and nearly jumped out of his skin! Timmy was as pale as a ghost.

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He reached up and felt Timmy’s forehead, first looking around to make sure nobody was watching. That was all he needed, today, was catching flack for showing some concern about his best friend. Archer looked around, everybody was busy talking and rough housing. Some were trading candies they got from the Church ‘Halloween-IN!’ services. It was the Baptist church’s way of providing a ‘safe and family oriented’ version of Trick-or-Treat. Rarely attended by any kids past the third grade, it was not something that Archer or Timmy would been seen dead… at.

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Nobody looking at the back of the bus, so Archer pulled back the hood on Timmy’s coat and gasped! Timmy looked like death warmed over. His lips were bluish; his skin was as pale as summer whitewash. Archer reached over and put the back of his hand against Timmy’s forehead. Archer immediately pulled his hand back in horror. Timmy’s temp was well north of one hundred degrees, and it was sure to be climbing. Jeepers! The day had hardly got started and things were already turning south! Archer pulled Timmy’s jacket hood back over his head, adjusted his jacket so Timmy wouldn’t get chilled. Just as Archer was slipping into panic mode one of the third graders came down the isle towards him. He was holding something in his hand, Archer couldn’t quite make it out until he was right beside him.

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“Your friend looks like he could use something to help him wake-up! Here, this candy was made my Mrs. Bright and it is really hot stuff... like ‘Red Devils’ only hotter.”

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The boy handed several small red candies to Archer and headed beck to the front of the bus. Archer remembered Mrs. Bright’s homemade candies. He remembered that one year she ended up making two whole grades sick, with her Red Devils. They contained way too much cinnamon and would burn the inside of your mouth. Then she would put way too much sugar to try to cover how hot they came out. What you ended up with was a candy that could burn holes in your stomach, while (at the same time) gave you a sugar rush that would last hours.

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Seems fate had a plan for Archer, a plan that might just give some life to Timmy. This candy would give him at least enough life to get him off the bus and into homeroom, if not longer. Archer shook Timmy’s shoulder and tried to wake him.

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“Timmy… TIMMY! Wake up, Timmy! Here… eat these, they are going to help you to feel better. Come on Timmy… Open your mouth… That’s it! Now chew!”

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Timmy starting to sluggishly chew the homemade Red Devils, eyes shut and his head in his chest. One bite, two bites…three bites Timmy’s eyes open for the first time since they got on the bus. Four bites! Timmy’s eyes bolted open and he sat up straight in the bus seat. Now Timmy was chewing the candy much faster, in between bites he would open up his mouth wide. Timmy’s right hand came up and he started waving his open mouth, as if to call something extremely hot he was eating. Bite… Fan! Bite… FAN!

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“What the heck did you put in my mouth, Archer, gasoline?”

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Timmy frantically chewed alternating chewing with fanning his mouth to cool down his tongue. As Timmy begins to regain consciousness, Archer explains.

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“You remember old Mrs. Bright? Do you remember the homemade ‘Red Devils’ she used to bring to the Church Halloween Trick or Treats? Well, seems Mrs. Bright is at it, again. Timmy, my good friend, what you have in your mouth are three of this year’s batch of Mrs. Bright’s homemade ‘Red Devils’. I will get you some water, for the burning mouth and teeth, but in the next couple of minuets… well, they sugar should kick in!”

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Timmy turns to face Archer, there is a shocked look on his face. A shocked look, and there is color back in Timmy’s face. Now, Archer knows full well, that, in time, Timmy will find a way to get back at him… for putting three toxic candies in his mouth… without warning. But, that will happen sometime later in the day, or tomorrow. All Archer cares about now? He has his best friend back, in the world of the living, for as long as the sugar rush lasts. Timmy was finishing up chewing the last of the toxic treats, when he speaks;

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“Archer… I know that you had to do… something, like, to get me back awake and all. Yet, sitting here I can think of at least five other ways you could have done that without feeding me Mrs. Bright’s homemade ‘Red Devil’s.’. You know I hated those things when we were in the third grade… Now? I need water, bad!”

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Luck must have been on the side of our youthful adventures, because just as Timmy was in need of water to drink, the school bus pulled up to the school. With Timmy back in the pink, as it were, he was able to walk all by himself off of the bus and into the school. No sooner than Timmy had entered the school, he found a water faucet and began to drink. Archer stood there, for what seemed like ten minuets, watching Timmy drink the faucet dry. He gave up and went to go and put his backpack into his locker. That done, he opened Timmy’s locker, always the locker right next to his, and waited for his thirsty friend to appear.

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Archer leaned back against the lockers and took a deep breath. The day had not even started, for him and Timmy, and already they had; encountered talking rats that ride ferrets, fought zombie Wolves, and outsmarted a ferocious murdering giant… and it wasn’t even Halloween yet! Timmy was the best friend he had ever had, honestly the very best friend anyone could ever ask. Yet, from the day that he first laid eyes on Timmy. Life had always been an adventure.

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He and Timmy had spent half of elementary school in detention or the principal’s office. Never for anything illegal or for harming another person. Neither of them were that radical. Once was even for doing something nice for the poorer students. Yes, they had stolen the milk, but they immediately gave it to the handful of grade school kids that couldn’t afford milk with their lunches. Archer and Timmy both had decided that any law that prevented any children from enjoying milk with lunch? Was a bad law!

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The thought of that day, put a smile on Archer’s face. Just as he was breaking a smile, Timmy came around the corner, still trying to wipe the taste out of his mouth.

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“So, why do you have a smile on your face like a Cheshire cat, Archer? Feed toxic treats to any other children?”

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Archer reached up and patted Timmy on the back, still smiling he looked Timmy right in the eyes and said;

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“Nope, I was thinking about ‘The Great Milk Theft’ of the third grade. You remember that day?”

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Timmy stopped… thought about what Archer had said, slowly a smile formed on his face, too. No matter what the next twenty-four hours threw at him, Timmy imagined that the thought of that day… the good they did, would get him through. He looked over at Archer and said;

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“That was a great day, Archer… now, take a look at the balloon I found over by the water fountain!”

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Timmy held up his left hand, and put it up close to Archer’s face. Yeap, it was all blown up and kind of bluish purple… yeap that looked like a balloon, all right! As Archer was evaluating the blood engorged hand attached to Timmy’s arm the first bell rang for homeroom. Archer grabbed Timmy’s left-hand and shoved it in his coat pocket saying:

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“Let’s just keep this hidden until we can figure out what to do with it. We don’t want the nurse, or any of the teachers, to see your hand or we will spend the rest of today explaining things in the principal’s office. Again!”

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With that Timmy and Archer, side-by-side, friends to the end, headed off to their homeroom class to start what was certain to be a day full of adventures.

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End Part Nine

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Thanks for dropping by My Dear Readers. I do apologize for the brevity of this episode. I am really going to work on hardening for my writing. However, episode Eight… may have been a false reading. It was over fourteen pages in Word… and I am not so sure if or when I will be up to that, again. I plan on writing every day. If I can accomplish that, soon I will be back up to producing episodes of that length, again.

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I will, however, publish (later this week or earlier next week) all new editions of; ‘The Mars Report’, ‘Lost in Space’, and all of your regular favorites! My Dear Readers, I am working hard to bring the talents of another author here to The Other Shoe. His name is James Coate, and he hails from my same small town, Pearland. If you look under Authors on the blog, you will see his name is already featured. He has not, yet, shared any of this works with us… but I am hoping that soon Mr. Coate will join me in bringing quality content right here to The Other Shoe.

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For now, I will take my leave. Thank you for your support, your comments, and your readership!

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Adieu!

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Thank YOU!

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

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[caption id="attachment_2866" align="aligncenter" width="630"] Danny Hanning of The Other Shoe - May 6th, 2014[/caption]

The Horror in Smithville - The First EIGHT Episodes!

[This... well MOST of this (below) was ORIGINALLY published on May 8th, 2014. I have ADDED links TO and and intro FOR Episode Eight for THIS republication. As well... there is... something... at the very end. IF you read all the way to the end? There is an announcement! ENJOY!]

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[caption id="attachment_2489" align="aligncenter" width="500"] The Horror in Smithville[/caption]

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[ORIGINALLY written and published on May 8th, 2014]

Welcome back My Dear Readers to The Other Shoe. I am sitting here, in an apartment way too hot to work… or even live, trying to get cool enough to start writing Part Eight of ‘The Horror in Smithville’ when I had a great idea. Prior to returning to writing the next chapter… maybe I should present a review of the first Seven parts! This will give me a chance for the room to cool…. Hopefully… and a chance to review everything that has happened to Timmy and Archer in the first sixty-five pages.

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Yes, what I had started as a short story has already reached sixty-five pages and I am not even half done! See, I was thinking that new readers are, likely, coming to The Other Shoe all the time. If someone were to start reading this wonderful young adult horror story, at Part Seven, they might be very confused and (maybe) even put off by some of the violence in the most recent chapter.

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So, My Dear Readers, this evening I am going to write and publish a review of the first sixty-five pages (and seven chapters) for everyone to read and enjoy. Reading it all over again, will give me a chance to make notes on just how to improve the story when it comes time for the Halloween rewrite. Yes, come Halloween of this year I plan on presenting this story as ‘Holiday Fare’! I will start late in August and run it, in weekly installments, till it is complete the week of Halloween!

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Now, I have already planned to rewrite the story in time for the Halloween re-release. Remember, I am writing this each week and publishing it just as soon as I am finished writing. No; outlines, plot planning, character development charts, NOTHING I would usually use when I write a fictional story. This review will give me a chance to pinpoint the places where I want to re-work the story. Then, come August, I can rewrite the whole story as I go along this summer.

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Now, with all of that out of the way, I would like to bring you, My Dear Readers, a complete review of ‘The Horror in Smithville’ in its original form, without any changes, updates, rewrites or anything. My Dear Readers, this is how the story came out of my head, each and every week, for the past two months.

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ENJOY!

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• The Horror in Smithville : “Timmy Marref lived on a farm outside Smithville. Smithville was a little town smack dab in the middle of America. Timmy’s father, Kenneth Marref, worked the family farm. As his father did before him, and his grandfather did before that, and his great-grandfather did before him. From what Timmy could gather the Marref’s had worked this land for more than 100 years. Timmy didn’t mind living on a farm. As a matter of fact, more times than not Timmy just downright loved living on the farm.” THIS is how the whole story started. It was March 6^th, 2014 and I was thinking on “what NEW can I bring to The Other Shoe’?” I am always thinking of how to improve the blog, what more series or articles can I bring to you, My Dear Readers, that will bring smiles to your faces and joy to you souls. I, at this point, had written articles about world news, Mars, the Hubble Space telescope, financial inequality, and even some politics here and there. What, pray tell, could I cook up in my little head that might tickle your collective fancy? Then, it hit me, like a ton of bricks coming at my head. The idea of a lifetime landed in my lap. ‘A Horror story meant for young adults! The great thing was, if I wrote it well then adults as well as young people, will enjoy reading the story. That was how it all began, back in March. :0


• The Horror in Smithville – Part Two : “Now Timmy’s Mom weren’t no fool, nor was she born yesterday. Margaret knew Timmy had just been on the phone, for the past half hour, with his best Archer. Margie also knew, and she loved her son Timmy for this, that he was mighty accustom to hug her at any given time. However, Timmy creeping up on her to put his arm around her waist and hug her while she’s frying chicken? That was a sure fire sign that Timmy wanted something, and he wanted it something mighty strong. This made Margie smile ear to ear. She could hardly wait to hear the yarn her son was about to spin. Just in the nick of time though Margie bit her upper lip to make herself stop smiling, right as Timmy looked up into her face with those doleful hazel eyes.” Well, I have said it before, and I will (likely) say it again and again. At this point, the story was nearly writing itself! The characters had come to life, and each and every time I closed my eyes and thought about; Timmy and Archer they began to perform and act right before my eyes. I had the easiest job in the world, all I had to do was watch and write down what they did each day. Even this early in the story the characters of Timmy and Archer had started to leap off the pages of the story. ‘Character Development’ was as easy as letting the boys speak! The plot was a simple one… two young men out for an adventure at Halloween. BAM! It wasn’t until two or three weeks later that ‘The Tall Man’ came to life and the story started developing a ‘Darker’ side.


• The Horror in Smithville – Part Three : “Just as Archer had anticipated, when dinner was served there was; deep fried chicken (at least one chicken if not two), mashed potatoes with a pad of butter still melting on the top of the potato mountain, what looked to be buttermilk biscuits, a gravy bowl filled to the brim with hot and fresh (made from scratch) chicken gravy, and both green peas and corn on the cob. Archer was drooling with anticipation, but before lifting a single eating utensil he gave Timmy’s Mom her much deserved praise.“Everything looks just great, Mrs. Marref! I don’t know which is better, how good it all smells or how great it looks on the table!” This was about the time that the ‘sleep-over’ idea was flowering in my head. The idea of having ‘his’ first appearance not happen during the fateful ride on the Haunted House. How to build the suspense for the ride, how to incorporate character development with a three day long sleep-over. It was in parts two and three that I truly developed the ‘Home Spun’ feel of the story. How I was to take two rual young men, and throw them out of their world of feeding chickens and milking cows and hurl them head long into a world with ‘zombie-wolves’ and the undead. It was, also, about this time that I feel in LOVE with this story and its potential. What was meant to be a really short story, lasting no more than a month, now had the potential to run for several months. Timmy and Archer had found a way into my heart.


• The Horror in Smithville – Part Four : “Lightening filled the room with brilliance that shown like daytime. The room was plunged into darkness, followed by the low rumblings of thunder. The time between the two events, the lightening and the thunder was decreasing. Timmy knew that meant the heart of the storm was yet to arrive. Another flash of lightening, it filled the room. Geeze, it was so bright you could read your math homework with it. It was followed by deepening darkness, then the low rumble of thunder. All the time the sound of the rain, pounding on the back porch and the barn, grew louder and louder. This was going to be a heck of a storm!” To this day I am still unsure just where the lightening storm came from in this story. No where, in the first month’s notes, did I even mention a lightening storm. However, once I wrote it down… once I worked it into the story… and once ‘The Tall Man’ appeared with the storm… well there was no turning back and it felt as natural as a spring rain. You see, My Dear Readers, it was as if; the Carnival, the Haunter House Ride and ‘The Tall Man’ ALL ‘blew into town together’! See how it all just fits? Honest to goodness I am not fibbing when I tell you that it was not originally thought up tied together, it must have just happened one night when the pain robbed me of sleep. Now, looking back? Well, I just cannot see it working any other way. THAT is what makes my job…. A JOY!


• The Horror in Smithville – Part Five : “Standing there, Timmy felt a cool breeze passing under the door. Now, he knew that he and Archer had kept the window in his bedroom closed. As hard as it was raining, outside, an open window would have drenched the bed and sleeping bag. He leaned over to the right, slightly, looking at the space between the bottom of the door and the sill below. Sure enough, there was a light on in the room. It was lighter that what his ‘Adventures of Princess Nadia’ nightlight created, too. Timmy screwed up his courage, wrapped his hand around the doorknob, and turned the knob.” ANOTHER great ‘Behind the Scenes’ story relates to the creation of this, Part Five. You see, Part Five NEVER EXISTED! When I wrote part four, then looked back over it getting ready to write (what is now Part Six)… well, I just did not like how it ended, Part Four. Something was missing. I gave it a great deal of thought… then it hit me! In ending Part Four, the way I did, I have deprived myself of a Grand Entrance for ‘The Tall Man’! Once I experienced that inspiration, well there was no ‘going back’. I simply had to re-write Part Four, and have it segway right into THIS Part Five. Part Five exists solely for the purpose of the introduction of ‘The Tall Man’ to his Protagonist = Timmy. It was all falling into place, just like a prefect shuffle in cards, each person (card) was stacking right on top of the other person (card) to form a ‘dove-tail’ of characters. My Dear Readers, this was not ‘planned’… this just happened to me, and I can never express just how happy I am that it… did!


• The Horror in Smithville – Part SIX : “And we are not talking about a really nice graveyard, eight. This graveyard looked to be from long long ago. The headstones were mostly broken, the names of the dearly beloved long ago forgotten to time. Gnarled trees, leaning half out of the ground, were the only remaining landscaping. Above, the moon hung full in the sky while a deep rolling fog moved over the ground.. It just then that Timmy felt the first deep chill, it was very cold and damp outside.” This, My Dear Readers, THIS is when it all started coming together. In THIS chapter… the MAGIC started happening. Let me explain a little. First, in part six I started interweaving the boy’s reality with their dream world! Things, and people, from one part of their lives began showing up in the other part of their lives! This gave me all sorts of creative opportunities. NEXT? Next the boys were taken to a different dream world! More than one ‘dream world’ freed me up, as a writer, and gave me the opportunity to begin interweaving their “Dream Worlds’! This was a huge gift to me, as a writer… but the best I saved for LAST. In Part Six… I did something that reached off the page! Now, My Dear Readers, if you are a frequent readers then you have (no doubt) hear about my most favorite… my PRIZED novel; ‘The Adventures of Princess Nadia’ book ONE to be ‘The Healing Light’. I have written about this upcoming work for the better part of the past FOUR years. In Part Six, I managed to create a ‘Trademark’ writing dynamic exclusive to Daniel Hanning. IN part Six… I brought Princess Nadia and Alexander into the ‘dream world’ of Timmy and Archer! That’s RIGHT My Dear Readers, it will be a trademark of my writing style that MY characters Cross Over into other literary works of mine! Never before have I read of this being done by another writer. Not only that, but it is not just a chance encounter! That’s RIGHT Princess Nadia and Alexander will have full roles in ‘The Horror in Smithville’ and Timmy and Archer WILL APPEAR in ‘The Adventures of Princess Nadia’! My Dear Readers, when I made this happen on the page… and it WORKED! I was just THRILLED at the possibilities! I am not going to give any spoilers… but this is going to happen… and BIG!


• The Horror in Smithville – Part Seven : “Timmy had directed Archer to climb to the highest branch of the old gnarled tree he could manage. There he would do his best to; bleed, slow down and/or maim as many of these zombie-wolves as possible. You see, that is a common misnomer about archers, and archery, among the larger populous. Archers rarely ‘kill’ someone with an arrow to the heart. Archers are best to bleed your opponents, causing them to slow and reducing strength. Timmy had explained all this, to Archer, as they climbed the gnarled tree.” My Dear Readers, at FOURTEEN PAGES in Word, this Part, Part Seven, is the single LARGEST of all the parts so far. In it I tie together all the new tools, tricks, characters, and ‘trademarks’. I interweave just about every aspect of this story, and this story begins getting dark. By becoming dark the story firmly plants itself into the Horror genre and leaves no doubt to the readers. This is a horror story, and one of a different and terribly original style and feel. This final part, for the first ¼ of the book, sums up Timmy and Archer’s experience in their ‘Dream World’, so far. Now, not only are characters from different IPs showing up in other intellectual properties? Events, and people, from reality are showing up in Dream World (OTHER THAN Timmy and Archer), events are carrying over from one reality to another. Now, I really do not want to tip my hand… I REALLY want you to READ THIS STORY… if you haven’t already… and (here is the REAL problem with reviews) I want to do this without giving away any of the surprises and without diminishing the suspense. However, weighing in at 14 pages THIS part of the story… is monumental! That is why I am taking my time working on, out, Part EIGHT! I do plan on its release TOMORROW… May 8^th, 2014. Barring any totally unforeseen circumstances… like the A/C going out completely… I WILL PUBLISH ‘part Eight’ Thursday may 8^th, 2014.


• The Horror in Smithville – Part EIGHT: “Welcome back My Dear Readers to The Other Shoe. Just as promised, I have worked through the night, and most of this morning, to make sure I was able to publish the much anticipated (and slightly tardy) Part EIGHT – ‘The Horror in Smithville’! You know, My Dear Readers, I am really glad that I didn’t promise any particular; plot twists, character changes, plot lines or story lines prior to writing.” Here it IS!! After many readers having waited another week, just to read this episode, here is the much anticipated PART EIGHT of The Horror in Smithville’!!! I am not sharing any spoilers, here today… so if you want to know “what happens”? You will just have to take a few moments and read this great episode, yourself! ENJOY!

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[Originally written FOR and Published May 8^th, 2014. I have NOT edited or changed ANYTHING for this publication, today… SPOILER! Below will be an ALL NEW ANNOUNCEMENT from Danny Hanning!]

Well, My Dear Readers, that completes the review of the first eight parts (chapters) of my wonderful horror story ‘The Horror in Smithville’. I hope that everyone has enjoyed this trip down memory lane, for everyone that has already read the story. For those of you that have not started your journey into the world(s) of Timmy and Archer? I encourage you to read ‘The Horror in Smithville’.

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My Dear Readers, I can guarantee that this ‘horror story’ is unlike anything you have ever read. It will have you on the edge of your seats, it will cause you to jump out of your seats, it will make you laugh, it will make you smile. By the time I am done, My Dear Readers, you will have experienced an all new genre of horror and I will leave you wanting for more.

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This story is the ‘Love of My Life’, right now. It is the center of my world, the focus of my creative efforts, and what I think about every moment, waking or not. Tomorrow… I hope and pray that my A/C will work! If I can get it cool enough in here… cool enough that I am not gripped in waves of nausea… I will get to writing Part Eight.

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The great thing is I have all of Part Eight already planned out in my head. All there is to it is; writing what I have in store, checking the spelling and grammar, publishing and promoting! BAM! That’s IT!

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HONEST My Dear Readers… IF I wasn’t already in debt to my bank (with Pay Day Advances to make up for Allen’s lack of income for months)? I would myself just go out and BUY an A/C and have Allen put it in the wall. BAM! DONE! No more begging the landlord to do his job! No more begging the maintanece person to put a WORKING A/C in my room… the last one? (The one currently in my room?) He brought it in and it was FILTHY! The screen filter was CACKED with CRUD! It took me half a can of Comet and TWO HOURS to get it clean… Now you know if the screen is filthy that the A/C is filthy. So, this A/C keeps freezing up… BECAUSE it is CLOGGED with FILTH and it CANNOT BREATH! Anywho… I am so sorry… to bring my delimas… here… so sorry. You see, people on lots of pain medications are really vulnerable to heat.

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[Below is what was ADDED on May 30^th, 2014 for the republication for all NEW readers!]

My Dear Readers, the (now included) eighth episode of ‘The Horror in Smithville’ turned out to be the single longest episode to date. As well, I believe that it stands out as my best work to date! I spent well over three days working on that episode. When I saw that it was clocking in at over ten pages, I simply cannot tell you just how excited I was. Since its original publication I have taken the time to read Part Eight… again, and again. Aside from a few incidents of typographical errors, I find it to be the best work (of this genre) I have ever had the opportunity to write and share.

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Going forward (I am always keeping moving FORWARD!) I hope that in the weeks and months to come I can recapture the level of commitment, excitement and out-and-out creativity that I brought to bear in episode eight. My Dear Readers, to date episode eight is the longest time that Timmy and Archer spent in their alternate reality. During the month of June (2014) it is my hope and desire to meet and or exceed my efforts in episode eight! In my mind, I have plotted out most of what is going to happen to/with Timmy and Archer until this adventure is over… well, I kind of let the cat out of the bag… so I guess it would be best if I went ahead and told you.

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My Dear Readers, I have fallen for Timmy and Archer. Fallen for their friendship dynamics, fallen for the storyline, fallen for both the world they live in and the one that they play in. It is my intention to make this… first adventure to be one of many! That’s right, I hope to have this part… this adventure to be wrapped up by the end of the summer. Then, if all goes according to plan(s)… it is my intention to revisit Timmy and Archer (slightly older, in a grade or two higher) come Halloween 2014!

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My Dear Readers, when I first put the first words of this story into Word? I never thought I would be longer than about 100 pages. When I started their adventure it was never in my mind for Smithville, Timmy or Archer to be reoccurring characters. There was to be this one story, PERIOD! However, like all too many things in life… the best laid plans of mice and men… I have read emails, and comments. I have read and realized that Timmy and Archer have found their way into the hearts and minds of OTHERS!

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Having said, I could never leave a thirst by you, My Dear Readers, unslaked. I have, in my mind as I write these words, the ending for this very first adventure with Timmy and Archer. The ending I have in mind… leaves both our boy/heroes quite alive! They are still the best of friends… and brothers by choice. Therefore, I am formally announcing my intention of making this adventure… ‘Book ONE’ as it were, and that if my health allows we all will begin the adventure of Book TWO later this year!

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I hope that this is ‘Good News’ for all of you, My Dear Readers. Being about half-way through our current adventure with Timmy and Archer… well, I just couldn’t think of a better time to make this announcement. If you know of other readers of The Other Shoe and ‘The Horror in Smithville’ be sure to make them aware of this… (kind of) Hidden announcement. Now, let’s not let this news spoil anything for our current adventure with Timmy and Archer. I really don’t think that it could/would or I would never make this announcement. Honestly, I think that making this announcement… right now in the review? Well, there just couldn’t be better timing.

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In the upcoming weeks and months, you can keep in the back of your mind, that this will be just the first of many adventures of Timmy and Archer. You can count on more ‘chance encounters’ with characters from other works of mine, too. Like I said, earlier, I have just fallen in love with this story… and with Timmy and Archer. I look forward to many more adventures over the years to come… with you, My Dear Readers, along side Timmy and Archer.

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Adieu!

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Thank YOU!
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[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="234"] The Other Shoe eBay Store[/caption]

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

Notes From Behind the Keyboard - May 26th 2014

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[caption id="attachment_2871" align="aligncenter" width="630"] Danny[/caption]

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Welcome back My Dear Readers to The Other Shoe. I hope that everyone is enjoying their Memorial Day three-day weekend! I am spending mine waiting to see if and when I will be able to publish at the primary location for my publications… the other The Other Shoe. JWhile I am waiting I am playing a little World of Warcraft and catching up with some old online friends.

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Yes, from what I have seen (over at blog dot com) it appears as though they are working to bring back my blog. If that is the case, you should ‘see’ me ramping up production on a large number of articles, including (but not limited to) ‘The Horror in Smithville’! I have about the next five of six episodes already plotted out in my head. It is just a matter of sitting behind the keyboard and taking the adventure with Timmy and Archer… Oh, yeah, and writing it down as we go along. J

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By now, I am sure that NASA/JPL have provided a good deal more images from Curiosity on Mars. So, just as soon as I have sorted through all the images they have posted I will be bringing you at least one edition of ‘The Mars Report’. Not to leave out the universe beyond our Solar System, I will be wandering over to the Hubble Space Telescope web site and digging through all the newer images there, too.

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Once that venture is complete you can expect to see an ‘All NEW’ edition of ‘Lost In Space’! That should take us to about Thursday or Friday… which segways me nicely to the next subject at hand. My Dear Readers, I am having some second thoughts about the series ‘The Deep Web’. Here is my thinking: I would just hate for any of you, My Dear Readers, to venture into the ‘Deep Web’ and end up getting harmed. I would/could not forgive myself. With that in mind I am, for the time being, mothballing the entire series. Until I can share with you, My Dear Readers, a better and more secure way to venture forth into this other part of the World Wide Web? I cannot, in good conscience, share information on how to get there and play in that world.

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That leaves me, us, with a big hole at the end of the week in our line up. I am knocking around a lot of ideas of what to put at the end of the week. I am really thinking of adding a regular article series on PC Gaming! I enjoy PC Gaming so very much… and the series ‘MMORPGs And YOU!’ was a resounding success. I am going to toss around ideas, for the rest of the week, but do not be surprised if (come Friday) you do see a reposting of ‘MMORPGs And YOU!’ here at The Other Shoe. That would mean that I have decided to make Fridays PC Gaming days here at The Other Shoe.

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That brings us to the end of this little update and venture Behind the Keyboard. Again, I hope that everyone is taking the time to relax and enjoy this three-day weekend. Spend it with people you love, doing something that you enjoy. It is times, like these, where we make the memories that last a lifetime. If you have the chance? Make a New Friend! One can never have too many good friends, eh?

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TTFA!

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Adieu!

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Thank YOU!

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[caption id="attachment_2866" align="aligncenter" width="630"] Danny Hanning of The Other Shoe - May 6th, 2014[/caption]

Notes From Behind the Keyboard - May 24th, 2014

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[caption id="attachment_2868" align="aligncenter" width="630"] Danny Hanning of The Other Shoe - May 6th, 2014[/caption]

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        Welcome back My Dear Readers to The Other Shoe. First, I would like to express my regret that I have not written, or published, in several days time. This is for one simple reason. I am still waiting for my primary blog location (at Blog dot com) to be fixed! It has been more than four days since I have been able to edit or publish at this, my primary blog location. This is really disappointing to me, and has put quite a cramp in my writing schedule.

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As most of you, My Dear Readers¸ know I (generally) publish seven to ten articles per week. However, with one (my primary) location down I am hesitant to publish solely at this location. Now, if the unthinkable happens and; all four hundred seventy-five of my articles at The Other – The Other Shoe (www.theothershoe.blog.com) are gone… for good, I am unable to continue my blog of FOUR YEARS at that location… then I will be forced to switch and make this location (here at Word Press) my new primary blog location. This is not what I would like to happen. My Dear Readers, I would very much like to have my missing work returned to me and my control over content returned to me.

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Now, if (perchance) you are here at Word Press today having not found my blog location at blog dot com, then Welcome! I hope that you enjoy my work here and I hope that you will continue to drop by, enjoy my articles and stories and tell family and friends about my blog(s). Next, today Allen and I had the fortune to meet a very nice person. Allen and I went out to have out hair cut, and the young man that cut Allen’s hair expressed interest in my writing and blogs. His name was Kelly. Kelly, If you have found your way here ‘Welcome!” It was my pleasure to make your acquaintance. FYI you did a wonderful job on Allen’s hair. Too many people have not taken the time, or effort, and left Allen with an unsatisfactory hair cut.

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Yes, My Dear Readers, I do meet people in Real Life and tell them about my blog. I am always working to increase readership, and friends… too. J Kelly, if you have managed to find yourself to this, my secondary blog location, Congrats! I gave you the URL for my primary location… but as I have explained there are real and substantial problems with that location… that I am anxious to have resolved. Hope you had a great day, and that you have a wonderful weekend.

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Now, back to the problems with my blog locations, My Dear Readers. I am really hesitant to write and publish a large amount of content; stories, articles, political faire only to have to cross-publish once the primary location is back up and running. It has been three days since I was able to; edit, upload media, or publish articles. I am going to give it until Monday… before I make a decision about continuing to publish here at Word Press in spite of the failure at blog dot com. Now if you have been a reader for some time, then you know that this has happened before with blog dot com. One time, the whole blog was just gone for more than a week.

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Drove me nuts! Yet, I have to consider that the service is free… and I just need to be patient. As for my regular articles. Let me put your, My Dear Readers, minds at ease. Just as soon as my primary location is working you will see a return of; ‘The Mars Report’, ‘Lost in Space’, ‘The Horror in Smithville’, A Week in Review’, and ‘Sunday Funnies’. I do not enjoy depriving all of you of this great and enjoyable content. Yet, as I have explained, I simply detest having to spend an entire day publishing (re-publishing) everything I have written while blog dot com had its problems.

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Now, for Kelly and all you ‘New Readers’… You can still read over four hundred great articles at my primary blog location (www.theothershoe.blog.com) and there are over 300 articles right here at Word Press! I implore all of you, new and regular(s), to take some time and wander around my blogs. Take in all the work that I have shared over the past four years. Honestly, I am willing to bet that no one can actually read everything I have published (in four years) before I get my primary blog location back up and running.

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There. Done. Now, I am going to vent a little. I am deeply disturbed that I have been denied any and all administrative control of my primary blog location for the past 72 hours. It is upsetting… and really frustrating to have someone stand between me and my written works! Ticks me off to no end, I can tell you what. Having said, once it is back? I may well be running an all new Indiegogo Campaign to raise funds for me to; lease access to a URL, obtain web hosting, lease blog software, and recreate my original blog The Other Shoe on a web host of my own! I have been tossing around that idea for the past two years. Now, I believe that the time has come… I grow weary of waiting for others to return my creative content back to me. That just stinks.

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So, My Dear Readers, that is what I have been up to for the past several days. I have written over fifteen technical support requests to the Web Masters at blog dot com. Not once have they responded! That is pretty unprofessional, and pretty darn upsetting, too. I am going to keep writing support requests. I am going to keep monitoring The Other Shoe at blog dot com. I am going to keep writing… and holding it back… Yes, once I am ready I DO have a good deal of content ready to be published.

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That brings us to the end of this edition of ‘Notes From Behind the Keyboard’. I hope that everyone sticks around to see just how the problems with blog dot com… resolve. Yes! I do have Part Nine of ‘The Horror in Smithville’ in varying states of readiness. And, YES! IT is quite good. Timmy’s zombie Wolf bite is getting worse and Archer is beside himself with grief. They do not know where to turn… when a brand new character makes an appearance… That is all I am going to tell you, right now. But… it is very good. (And well worth the wait).

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To all my new readers, “WELCOME!” and that goes for you, too, Kelly. I hope to see you all again very soon. Until then have a great and enjoyable Memorial Day Weekend.

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TTFN!

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Adieu!

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[caption id="attachment_2866" align="aligncenter" width="630"] Danny Hanning of The Other Shoe - May 6th, 2014[/caption]