Sunday, November 27, 2016

Danny and Trina Hanning Wishing You ALL Happy Holidays and Merry Christmas!

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Danny and Trina Hanning Wishing all of YOU Happy Holidays, Merry Christmas and a very Happy New Year!

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                   Welcome back, My Dear Shoevians, to The Other Shoe and a short video of Trina Hanning. This is Trina's premier video and she is with me to wish you ALL Happy Holidays, Merry Christmas and a very Happy New Year! 
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© 2010 – 2016 Hanning Web Wurx and The Other Shoe

Danny and Angous Share Holiday Greetings!


Danny & Angous Hanning Wishing you ALL a very Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays and a very Happy New Year!
 
             Welcome back, My Dear Shoevians, to The Other Shoe and my seasonal video (and video introduction of Angous Hanning) wishing you ALL Happy Holidays!

Saturday, September 24, 2016

The Death of a Titan - Edward Albee

Edward Albee - 2015                                                                   Edward Albee - 2015
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This September 16th, 2016 (a week past, last Friday) Edward Francis Albee slipped the surly bonds of earth. My Dear Shoevians I know that with the title, above, this article was lost to too many. That really is a terrible shame, for in learning of Mr. Albee, is to learn a great deal about me (Daniel Hanning) at an early age. However, before I unpack that little sentence, let me show this titan of stage and screen his due.
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Edward Francis Albee was born March 12th, 1928 and immediately put up for adoption by his mother. However, as if to signal the great fortune (and luck) that was to be an undercurrent throughout his life, two weeks later Edward was adopted by the son of a wealthy vaudeville magnate Edward Franklin Albee II[1] of Larchmont in Westchester County, New York.
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In an interview, included in this article further down the page, Edward recalled that he was very fortunate to end up in the Albee family because “they gave me an extraordinary education”[2]. Edward never felt as thought he belonged in the Larchmont family, for one reason they were complete social opposites.

        “They are ‘Right Wing’ to the point… to the right of Gangues Khan somewhat I think… and they were bigots, I thought. Anti-black, anti… anti… anti-Semitic.”[3]
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In these schools (Lawrenceville School, Valley Forge Academy, Choate and Trinity College in Hartford, Connecticut) Edward felt that the teachers knew that he would “do something great in the creative arts… and kept pushing me in that direction…”[4] These teachers were so very correct! Below, is a listing of the works of Edward Albee:
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Works written or adapted by Albee:


Awards Won by Edward Albee:  
  • 1960: Drama Desk Award Vernon Rice Award: The Zoo Story
  • 1963: Tony Award for Best Play: Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?
  • 1967: Pulitzer Prize for Drama: A Delicate Balance
  • 1975: Pulitzer Prize for Drama: Seascape
  • 1994: Pulitzer Prize for Drama: Three Tall Women
  • 1995: St. Louis Literary Award from the Saint Louis University Library Associates[23]
  • 1996: National Medal of Arts
  • 2002: Drama Desk Award Outstanding New Play: The Goat, or Who Is Sylvia?
  • 2002: Tony Award for Best Play: The Goat, or Who Is Sylvia?
  • 2005: Special Tony Award for Lifetime Achievement
  • 2005: Academy of Achievement's Golden Plate Award
  • 2008: Drama Desk Award Special Award
  • 2011: Edward MacDowell Medal for Lifetime Achievement
  • 2011: Pioneer Award for Lifetime Achievement, Lambda Literary Foundation
  • 2015: America Award in Literature[6]
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Edward’s works spanned two generations, more than fifty years, and in all that time he never failed to shock his audiences or shake the very foundations of literary art. I must tell you, My Dear Shoevians, that I had a very early introduction to Mr. Albee’s works. It was 1975 when my, then, acting director (Mr. Truman Dunahoo) introduced me to the works of Mr. Albee. The very fist work, of his, I read was to be (unbeknownst to me) the very first of this works I (later) preformed! 

 Edward Albee 1995 Edward Albee 1995
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 That is correct My Dear Shoevians, I had the honor and distinct pleasure to perform one of Mr. Albee’s works, ‘The Zoo Story’. It was my freshman year of college at a little community college in Brazoria County, TexasAlvin Community College. Now, My Dear Shoevians let me set up the background of that time in Texas… and that of the play. ‘The Zoo Story’ is the story of a gay man’s chance (?) meeting with a stranger in Central Park, New York in the early 60’s. The lead role, the one I portrayed, was that of an aging gay man… set out to take his own life… with the hands of a stranger.
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It is a One Act Play that takes about an hour to play out. During that hour, the lead actor, portraying ‘Jerry’, tells a tale – ‘The Story of Jerry and the Dog’. What ‘Jerry’ really is telling is a tale of his own battle with himself… with his sexual identity. Today, in 2016, that may not seem a turgid tale. However, in the early 60’s ‘Deep in the Heart of Texas’, well… that is another matter entirely! People in Texas, at that time, did not talk of such things! Gay men were, frequently, beaten and/or killed for ‘showing’ who they were in public. It was 1977, when I portrayed this role, and things had changed little in the backwaters of Texas. My Dear Shoevians, this role was especially poignant, for me, because I had yet to come to grips with my own sexuality. So, here is a closeted gay man… on a small stage deep in the heart of Texas… portraying a gay man… committing suicide on stage! 
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It is a One Act Play that takes about an hour to play out. During that hour, the lead actor, portraying ‘Jerry’, tells a tale – ‘The Story of Jerry and the Dog’. What ‘Jerry’ really is telling is a tale of his own battle with himself… with his sexual identity. Today, in 2016, that may not seem a turgid tale. However, in the early 60’s ‘Deep in the Heart of Texas’, well… that is another matter entirely! People in Texas, at that time, did not talk of such things! Gay men were, frequently, beaten and/or killed for ‘showing’ who they were in public. It was 1977, when I portrayed this role, and things had changed little in the backwaters of Texas. My Dear Shoevians, this role was especially poignant, for me, because I had yet to come to grips with my own sexuality. So, here is a closeted gay man… on a small stage deep in the heart of Texas… portraying a gay man… committing suicide on stage!
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From everything I have ever read about Mr. Albee… from all the interviews I have watched… One factor is CLEAR! Mr. Albee wanted his audiences to feel discomfort. In that, he wanted to draw his viewers out of their social comfort zones. He wanted to challenge how they viewed their world, how they judged others, and he wanted the viewers of his plays to leave changed. I knew this going into my portrayal of Jerry in ‘The Zoo Story’. However, I was a very young actor, only 21 years old. It wasn’t until many years later, that I learned I had achieved my goal.
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In 1978 Alvin Community College had a very small theater, that was off campus. The theater was in a renovated single building church. The largest area, where the theater was located, was the same area where services were once held. Matter of fact? The stage, itself, was built directly on top of the old pulpit and baptistery once stood. Each and every night… I would drive a stage knife, into my chest, were (but a handful of years ago) dozens of people had been baptized.
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I would like to tell you, My Dear Shoevians, two short stories. These stories, I feel, display just how my performances of Jerry in ‘The Zoo Story’ ‘Hit the Mark’ as far as making Mr. Albee’s desire to make audiences uncomfortable during his plays. As you can see, in the image below, at this time in my life I had very long and curly hair. I do not have any pictures from the exact time of this play. However, I can tell you that my dark curly hair reached my shoulders, at the time of this play. The theater was very old, and did not have central air conditioning, there were just a handful of window air conditioners, and none of them pointed on to the stage. That meant, that during performances, some actors (mostly those with the most lines, and movement… like me portraying ‘Jerry’) could get very very hot! My long curly hair would hold a large amount of sweat, during a performance. Now, My Dear Shoevians, this story was told to me many years after the performances by my high school drama teacher and director, Truman Dunahoo.
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Danny Hanning 1976 - Upper Right Corner
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Seems, that when I would get excited on stage… I would turn quickly from one side of the stage to the other. Well, Truman told me, that on several occasions, when I would whip from left to right or right to left, sweat would fly off my brow and hair… and strike the audience! Truman explained it to me, like this: “You would whip around, on stage, and when you did sweat from your hair would rain across the audience. When that would happen, the audience would jump and their breath would catch. You see, Daniel, when the sweat struck us… for that moment… the ‘Forth Wall’ would COLAPSE! When that happened, for just and moment… we would leave the theater… and be in that park with that crazed Jerry!”
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For the few of you that are not theater savvy, “The Forth Wall’ is the invisible wall that separates the actors for the audience. It exists along the curtain of the stage (the edge in front of the curtain) from stage left to stage right. It is the invisible wall that audiences look through to see into the world the actors live! So, your see, My Dear Shoevians… each and every time I would quickly turn, from right to left or left to right, my sweat would strike the audience! It startled them… greatly! It was as though something left the imaginary world of the performance and broke through to strike the audience. Truman told me… THAT was the only time (in all his years of directing and attending theater shows) he had ever witnessed the forth wall BROKEN! He also told me, that each and every time it happened, the audience flinched! As if they had been struck! Truman told me it made the play more realistic than any play he had ever attended, and that the fact I was unaware of it happening… just made it more real! He said, the first time it happened, it really scared him! That, for a moment, he was in THAT park WITH that CRAZED man! Truly Albee’esk! 
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My final story, from my experience with ‘The Zoo Story’… well, as always, I have saved the best for last! At the ending of the play, ‘Jerry’ pulls out a knife. The knife ends up in the hand of the bystander, sitting on a bench, in the park. ‘Jerry’ grabs the man’s hands, with the knife still clinched, and shoves the knife into his chest! We used a nice stage knife that would stay stuck in my chest after the bystander let go. I had blood packs, under my shirt, near the base of the holder for the stage knife. When I shoved the knife into my chest, I would break the blood packs and get the stage blood all over my hands.
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I would, then, throw my arms back with the knife in my chest… and SCREAM! Falling to my knees, I would deliver the last lines of the play. It was exciting… to say the least! However, as exciting as it was (every night… three times on Sunday) there was ONE NIGHT… that stood out from ALL the rest… and one that I REALLY WISH Edward Albee COULD HAVE BEEN THERE… FOR! It was a hot night, as most of the performances were. I was sweating, just like every other night. However, that night… well, things were… different. The whole play had taken on a surreal quality, for me, it was almost as though… well, it was really happening… TO ME! The audience was on the edge of their seats, and I could feel it all the way down into my toes!
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The final moments of the play had arrived, and the air was so thick (with anticipation and heat) you could cut it with a knife! I pulled my knife… there was the struggle where I let the bystander take the knife from me… he is holding the knife out from his body as defensive… I turn quickly and grab his arms… I thrust the knife into my chest… I stagger… I whip around to face the audience… I SCREAM… and BAM! That is all anyone heard… BAM! Right in front of me… not INCHES from the stage! An older women, easily in the 80’s to 90’s… HAD BLACKED OUT AND FALLEN FLAT ON HER FACE!!!
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I stood there, motionless… the ushers came running from the wings… they picked her up and took her outside, where it was cooler. I fell to my knees, and finished my lines and the play. But, the audience WAS HORRIFIED! NEVER… EVER!!! Never had anything like this had EVER happened before in Alvin, Texas!!!  That’s right, My Dear Shoevians, at the end of “The Zoo Story’ an elderly woman was so terrified (by my performance?) that she BLACKED OUT AND FELL ON HER FACE! … … … I only wish that Mr. Edward Albee had been there for that performance! 
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My Dear Readers that was my experience with Mr. Albee’s work. Later, my sophomore year at A.C.C. An experience that I will never forget! I wrote a paper on ‘Who’s Afraid of Virginia Wolf’. That is a tale of an aging power couple at a small university. If you have not seen the film, with Richard Burton and Elizabeth Taylor, you SHOULD!

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Who's Afraid of Virginia Wolf - Burton & Taylor on Set
Who's Afraid of Virginia Wolf - Burton & Taylor on Set
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Through out Edward Albee’s life he worked to make his audiences “uncomfortable” while watching his work. He felt that theater “Should make audiences uncomfortable” because there was already a medium that wrote and performed works to make people comfortable in their lives and it was called television.
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Mr. Albee’s works challenged my view of; myself, the people I grew up with, the people of our country. Without his work… my life would have been quite bereft of any understanding or self-awareness. For that, I am forever in your debt, Mr. Albee!

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Adieu!
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Thank you!
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Daniel Hanning- Writer, Research Staff, Editor and Publisher of The Other Shoe 
Daniel Hanning- Writer, Research Staff, Editor and Publisher of The Other Shoe
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© 2010 – 2016 Hanning Web Wurx and The Other Shoe

_________________________________________________________________________________ [1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edward_Franklin_Albee_II
[2] http://www.nytimes.com/video/multimedia/1247463606959/the-last-word-edward-albee.html?smid=pl-share
[3] ibid
[4] http://www.nytimes.com/video/multimedia/1247463606959/the-last-word-edward-albee.html?smid=pl-share
[5] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edward_Albee
[6] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edward_Albee

Monday, August 22, 2016

News From Trumpland - Trump in His OWN WORDS!

Trump June 16 2015
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        Welcome back, My Dear Shoevians, to another edition of ‘News From Trumpland’ – ‘Trump in His OWN Words’! Well, I spent Friday night very (very) ill. I won’t bore you with the details, but I did not go out ‘partying’ I was just ill… the Old Fashioned way. This is why I missed publishing, over the weekend, ‘A Week in Review’ and ‘Sunday Funnies’. Appy-polo-geeze! The old ‘compromised health’ comes with these pop-up illnesses, but I am back here today (Monday 8/22/16)
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Today, I am still recovering, but I just had to start striking back at the Trumpster (YES sounds like ‘DUMPSTER’ on purpose). Today, I have decided to strike back at the ‘Trumpster’ with his OWN WORDS! (I have borrowed all these from CNN… link included in footnotes).
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"Mexicans" Trump Quote "Mexicans" Trump Quote
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  This is how Doanld ‘Thieving’ Trump started his campaign for President of the United Sates… calling ALL Hispanic Immigrants; “rapists”, “drug mules” and “criminals”. Trump in his OWN WORDS!
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Trump Insults McCain Service Trump Insults McCain Service
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Here is Trump casting aspersions against Senator John McCain. Trump claims that Senator (something Trump has never been.. nor EVER WILL!) John McCain not a war hero”! This is… unthinkable throughout the previous 240 years of the life of our Republic. EVER!
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Trump Insults WOMEN Trump Insults WOMEN
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Here we have Trump INSULTING A WOMEN with insulting language about a lifecycle! EVER SINGLE WOMAN has these cycles, yet Trump finds it within himself to insult and (seek to) embarrass a woman who dared ‘question’ Trump. UNEXCUSEABLE!
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Trump Too Good Looking, LOL Trump Too Good Looking, LOL
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 I have only one work for this quote… EGOMANIACAL! Nuff said?
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Trump Insults Carly Fiorino Trump Insults Carly Fiorino
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 This comment, insult, was levied by Trump at a fellow REPUBLICAN Carly Fiorino! Now, I do not agree with the politics or policies of Carly Fiorino. I had the opportunity to vote for her, here in California, and I chose to vote against. However, ALL women deserve the dignity of feeling good about their looks!! PERIOD!
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Trump CNN Threat FAILS #epicfail Trump CNN Threat FAILS #epicfail
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  Again, another egomaniacal comment, made by Trump, during the debate stage of the Republican Primaries. Donald ‘Thieving’ Trump had decided that he was too good for CNN. He claimed that if he did not attend the CNN Republican Primary debate, that it would “become depression television”. Later, Trump (backtracking) said he would attend, but only if CNN paid him five million dollars to attend. In the end? Trump attended the CNN debate, without charging!
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Trump's FALSE Claim of "Thousands of Muslims" Trump's FALSE Claim of "Thousands of Muslims"
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  Here Trump makes the dubious (and RACIST) claim that, on September 11th, 2001 as the World Trade Center was falling, he watched as “Thousands and thousands of people (HE clarified later as MUSLIMS)were cheering…” This claim has been DEBUNKED more times than I can count. HERE: “Donald Trump’s widely discredited claim that Muslims in New Jersey were seen on TV cheering the 9/11 terrorist attacks — and Ben Carson’s initial support of Trump’s remarks — has resulted in even more false claims…”[8] and HERE: Update: Despite Trump’s efforts to throw up a lot of smoke, such as snippets from news clips, he continues to fail to demonstrate that his claim that he saw “thousands and thousands” of Muslims cheering on TV has any basis in reality. The Four Pinocchios continue to stand.

Four Pinocchios[9] 

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Trump's "Muslim Ban" =Unconstitution
Add caption

Trump's "Muslim Ban" =Unconstitutional[/caption]

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 This, My Dear Shoevians, is the single most offensive example of xenophobia I have ever heard from the lips of a candidate for President of the United States. EVER! This is, FYI, UNConstitutional! (too).
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Trump's 'BroMance' with Vladimir Putin Trump's 'BroMance' with Vladimir Putin[/caption]
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  Clear evidence of the blossoming bromance between Trump and Vladimir Putin, and current President of the Russian Federation. This is deeply disturbing in that Putin has made multiple land grabs during his brutal reign in the Russian Federation. This, also, preceded the news that Trump’s, then, Campaign Manager received illegal monies from the Ukraine! We do not need a United States President that kowtows to the Russian President!
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 Trump's Genital Comment at Sec. Clinton Trump's Genital Comment at Sec. Clinton[/caption]
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 Here, Trump uses offensive (and UN-Presidential) language, when characterizing a Democratic Debate between (then Democratic Primary Candidates) Sec. Clinton and Senator Obama. Note, how he tried to distance himself from his OWN WORDS… WITHIN the SAME sentence! Pathetic!
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Trump's HOMICIDAL Commen Trump's HOMICIDAL Comment
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  This, My Dear Shoevians, is the single most inexcusable… UN-Presidential and MEGLOMINIACAL statement I have ever read by a candidate for President of the Untied States EVER!! Let us be CLEAR! Donald ‘Thieving’ Trump is claiming he could commit armed ASSAULT in 5th Avenue in New York and he “wouldn’t loose voters”! Incredulous!    . That, My Dear Shoevians, brings us to the end of this (late) Monday article… ‘News from Trumpland – Trump in His OWN WORDS!’ As always, My Dear Shoevians, IF you have enjoyed this article… PLEASE ‘Like’ and ‘SHARE” via your favorite social media outlets. The more we share, the more we empower!
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Thank you!
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Adieu!
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Daniel Hanning- Writer, Research Staff, Editor and Publisher of The Other Shoe 
Daniel Hanning- Writer, Research Staff, Editor and Publisher of The Other Shoe
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© 2010 – 2016 Hanning Web Wurx and The Other Shoe
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[1] http://www.cnn.com/2016/08/21/opinions/donald-trump-americas-one-night-stand-moghul/index.html
[2] http://www.cnn.com/2016/08/21/opinions/donald-trump-americas-one-night-stand-moghul/index.html
[3] http://www.cnn.com/2016/08/21/opinions/donald-trump-americas-one-night-stand-moghul/index.html
[4] http://www.cnn.com/2016/08/21/opinions/donald-trump-americas-one-night-stand-moghul/index.html
[5] http://www.cnn.com/2016/08/21/opinions/donald-trump-americas-one-night-stand-moghul/index.html
 [6] http://www.cnn.com/2016/08/21/opinions/donald-trump-americas-one-night-stand-moghul/index.html
[7] http://www.cnn.com/2016/08/21/opinions/donald-trump-americas-one-night-stand-moghul/index.html
[8] http://www.factcheck.org/2015/11/trump-carson-on-911-celebrations/
[9] https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/fact-checker/wp/2015/11/22/donald-trumps-outrageous-claim-that-thousands-of-new-jersey-muslims-celebrated-the-911-attacks/
[10] http://www.cnn.com/2016/08/21/opinions/donald-trump-americas-one-night-stand-moghul/index.html
[11] http://www.cnn.com/2016/08/21/opinions/donald-trump-americas-one-night-stand-moghul/index.html
[12] http://www.cnn.com/2016/08/21/opinions/donald-trump-americas-one-night-stand-moghul/index.html
[13] http://www.cnn.com/2016/08/21/opinions/donald-trump-americas-one-night-stand-moghul/index.html

Thursday, August 18, 2016

The Mars Report August 19th, 2016

Martian Rover ‘Curiosity’ Self-portrait at ‘Big Sky’                                 Martian Rover ‘Curiosity’ Self-portrait at ‘Big Sky’
(Martian Rover ‘Curiosity’ Self-portrait at ‘Big Sky’)[1]
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                 Welcome, My Dear Shoevians, to ‘The Mars Report’. The very first edition of this multi-year notable article series to be published in many months. This edition contains the most recent images taken by the Curiosity rover of the Martian surface. My Dear Shoevians this return to writing and publishing this, very popular, article series signals my desire to make a genuine attempt to return to writing and publishing at ‘The Other Shoe’. I know that I have tried to return, many times before, just to have my pain and other physical difficulties cloud, and in the end, deter my best wishes. Today I am here to present to you, My Dear Shoevians, the longest edition of this storied series in nearly a year’s time! . Today I have seven images to share, over the next several pages. These images date back to October 2015 and bring us up to date with very new & ‘fresh’ images from this month, August! I do not know that I will be able to bring the level of writing narrative that some of you, My Dear Shoevians, may have become accustom. However, I will write (in my own words) as much as I can and when I tire? I will quote from the NASA/JPL[2] web site when I found the image shared.
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New Waypoint, Science Team Newcomers for Curiosity                                         New Waypoint, Science Team Newcomers for Curiosity
(New Waypoint, Science Team Newcomers for Curiosity)[3]
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 The image, above, is a map of the Martian surface showing the progress of the Martian rover ‘Curiosity’. At the top right of the image, just to the left of ‘Yellowknife’ (the blue triangle) is a blue star. This blue star is the Landing Zone of the ‘Curiosity’ rover. Named, by NASA/JPL personnel, ‘Bradbury Point’ (named after the famous sci-fi writer Ray Bradbury) this is the spot where ‘Curiosity’ started its Martian Adventure back in August of 2012. Now, for some of you, My Dear Shoevians, that are recent visitors to ‘The Other Shoe’ you may not know that I started ‘The Mars Report’ (in its current form) with the landing of ‘Curiosity’ now four years ago! . Four years, this month, which I have been writing and publishing this very article series for all of you, My Dear Shoevians. Humm, you might well think of this edition of ‘The Mars Report’ as the fourth anniversary issue! I hadn’t thought of that, until I wrote the words right now. However, I might just make the next edition… the Anniversary Edition… so I can do it right! Now, as I was explaining, the map (above) shows ‘Bradbury Point’ where the ‘Curiosity’ rover started its journey with the last (and most recent arrival) at ‘"Naukluft Plateau’ shown at the bottom left of the image. Throughout the following images, you can go back and check this map so that you can follow along as we make our way to ‘"Naukluft Plateau’!
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.Martian Rover ‘Curiosity’ Self-portrait at ‘Big Sky’ Martian Rover ‘Curiosity’ Self-portrait at ‘Big Sky’[/caption]
(Curiosity Self-Portrait at 'Big Sky' Drilling Site)[4]
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 The image above, also seen at the top of the article, is a wonderful self-portrait taken by Curiosity in the ‘Big Sky’ area leading to Mount Sharp. The image was taken (the composite image, this image is a mosaic of several dozen images. The self-portrait was taken October 6th, 2015 by the Mars Hand Lens Imager (MAHLI) camera at the end of the rover’s robotic arm. The robotic arm is not pictured. This is the most recent self-portrait (in this style) taken by the rover.
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Knobbly Textured Sandstone on Mount Sharp, Mars                                           Knobbly Textured Sandstone on Mount Sharp, Mars
(Knobbly Textured Sandstone on Mount Sharp, Mars)[5]
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 The image, above, shows patches of Martian sandstone visible in the lower-left and upper portions of the image, they have a knobbly texture due to the nodules that are apparently more resistant to erosion than the host rock. The image was taken with the Mast Cam on the rover, and taken on March 9th, 2016. This sandstone formation was sighted on the rover’s approach to the ‘Naukluft Plateau’. . The image is present with a color adjustment that approaches the white balance seen here on earth. This mosaic is comprised of six images taken with the Left Eye of the rover’s Mast Cam. The white balancing helps earthbound scientists to recognize materials and elements in the images provided. Now, My Dear Shoevians, when NASA/JPL provides multiple versions of a particular image, then I will share the Real Color’ and the “white Balanced’ versions.
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Curiosity's Arm Over 'Marimba' Target on Mount Sharp                                            Curiosity's Arm Over 'Marimba' Target on Mount Sharp
(Curiosity's Arm Over 'Marimba' Target on Mount Sharp)[6]
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Our next image, above, was taken during the week preceding the fourth anniversary of the mission's dramatic sky-crane landing. This image shows Curiosity lowering the robotic arm directly over the target called ‘Marimba’ on the lower side of Mount Sharp. The image was taken by the Navigation Camera (NavCam) on August 2nd, 2016. (a mere 16 days ago, My Dear Shoevians!) The robotic arm was lowered over a patch of bedrock that was selected for the rover’s next drilling operation. Once the drilling is complete, the rock powder is collected and transferred to the onboard laboratory for analysis and observation. My Dear Readers, in past editions of ‘The Mars Report’ I have shared images of the drill device, holes drilled by the rover and image of bedrock and sandstone post drilling. Today, I am working to give you a wide range of images, in a seven image edition of ‘The Mars Report’.
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Full-Circle Panorama Beside 'Namib Dune' on Mars                                             Full-Circle Panorama Beside 'Namib Dune' on Mars
(Full-Circle Panorama Beside 'Namib Dune' on Mars)[7]
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Now, My Dear Shoevians, this image just might be one of those images. Meaning, that you might have to click on the image and have it take you to a larger version of the image to get the full impact of the image I have shared. What we have here, My Dear Shoevians, is a Full Circle Panorama Self-Portrait of the Martian rover Curiosity! It is not often that NASA/JPL shares for our enjoyment and edification. However, when the do? I really like to share them, as they show a huge area of the Martian surface in a rare landscape format. Directly behind the rover, closest to Curiosity and on the left side of the image, is the downwind face of ‘Namib Dune’. . ‘Nambid Dune’ is part of the ‘Bagnold Dunes’. Further in the background, and in the center-right side of the image, is ‘Mount Sharp’. This image was taken December 18th, 2015. Yes, My Dear Shoevians, this image is a little out of chronologic order. I had hoped that I would get everything perfect in this ‘All New’ edition of ‘The Mars Report’… but, alas, I am still human and did make this minor mistake. L However, in my defense, I am sharing this image of a dune face… because the nest image is a close-up of a dune face… that, well, I thought was incredible! So, without further adieu… I give you… this!
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Mastcam Telephoto of a Martian Dune's Downwind Face                                        Mastcam Telephoto of a Martian Dune's Downwind Face
(Mastcam Telephoto of a Martian Dune's Downwind Face)[8]
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 Well, My Dear Shoevians, it becomes clear. My reason for placing the previous image out of chronological order, that is, becomes clear with the image above. This is the ‘Nambid Dune’ up close via the telephoto lens of the MastCam (Mast Camera). Again, My Dear Shoevians, you just might want to click on this image, too. This telephoto image of the ‘Nambid Dune’ just really struck me, as I was researching this week, for images for this ‘All New’ edition of ‘The Mars Report’. If you click on the image (now this feature is not available at all my blog location, but it IS available at the primary location of ‘The Other Shoe’). The ‘Nambid Dune’ is a part of the ‘Bagnold Dunes’ field along the northwestern flank of Mount Sharp. . The image was taken December 21st, 2015 during the 1,200th Martian Day, or sol, of Curiosity’s work on Mars. The top of the dune face is about 13 to 17 feet in size. This image, again, uses ‘White Balancing’ so it appears in Earth-Like lighting conditions. Yes, it looks like it is black/white, but if you click or enlarge the image you can see spots of red rocks, in the lower right area of the image. Now, I know that this is an impressive image…. And I said that it “really struck me”… However, if you are a long term Shoevian, then you know that “I save the best image for last”!
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Full-Circle Vista from 'Naukluft Plateau' on Mars                                              Full-Circle Vista from 'Naukluft Plateau' on Mars
(Full-Circle Vista from 'Naukluft Plateau' on Mars)[9]
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My Dear Shoevians, this is a MUST CLICK image! Of all the images that I have shared, in this edition of ‘The Mars Report’, this image is breathtaking! This image was taken mid-afternoon, on April 4th, 2016, as a part of a long-term campaign to document the context and details of the geology and landforms along Curiosity’s traverse since landing August 2012. The view combines dozens of images in a mosaic of a vista from ‘Naukluft Plateau’ on lower Mount Sharp. Here is some of the description, from the NASA/JPL web site. . The foreground and middle distance show a geologic scene dominated by eroded remnants of a finely layered ancient sandstone deposit. Since landing, the rover traversed through terrains dominated by water-lain sedimentary rocks (mudstones and siltstones, and early on, conglomerates), some of which have contained minerals like clays that attest to the ancient presence of water.  However, the rover crossed into very different geology while climbing onto the Naukluft Plateau. The sandstone here appears to be dominated by thick layers of windblown sand, suggesting that these deposits formed in a drier epoch.  These rocks resemble the types of rocks that a dune field like the "Bagnold Dunes"[10]  . The scene is presented with the ‘White Balancing’ color correction to approximate earth lighting conditions. This gives viewers a better understanding of the view, and scientists a better view of the different types of rocks and rack faces. The center of the image is a portion of the Gale Crater, with the upper Mount Sharp on the horizon at the right of the image. It was taken with the MastCam (Mast Camera) with the left and right eyes. . With that, My Dear Shoevians, we come to the end of this edition of ‘The Mars Report’. As always, My Dear Shoevians, IF you have enjoyed this article? PLEASE ‘Share’ and ‘Like’ the article via your preferred social media outlets. I hope that all of you enjoyed this article, it did take me several hours, over two days, to; prepare, write, edit and publish. It is a labor of love, because I love sharing these images and the hope that (someday) mankind will return to the stars!
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Thank you!
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Adieu!
. Daniel Hanning- Writer, Research Staff, Editor and Publisher of The Other Shoe
          Daniel Hanning- Writer, Research Staff, Editor and Publisher of The Other Shoe

© 2010 – 2016 Hanning Web Wurx and The Other Shoe
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Green Way Laboratory's flagship Product MastiClean!                                            Green Way Laboratory's flagship Product MastiClean!
_________________________________________________________________________________ [1] http://www.nasa.gov/image-feature/jpl/pia19920/curiosity-self-portrait-at-big-sky-drilling-site
[2] http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/msl/images/index.html
[3] http://www.nasa.gov/image-feature/jpl/pia20166/new-waypoint-science-team-newcomers-for-curiosity
[4] http://www.nasa.gov/image-feature/jpl/pia19920/curiosity-self-portrait-at-big-sky-drilling-site
[5] http://www.nasa.gov/image-feature/jpl/pia20322/knobbly-textured-sandstone-on-mount-sharp-mars
[6] http://www.nasa.gov/image-feature/jpl/pia20764/curiositys-arm-over-marimba-target-on-mount-sharp
[7] http://www.nasa.gov/image-feature/jpl/full-circle-panorama-beside-namib-dune-on-mars
[8] http://www.nasa.gov/image-feature/jpl/mastcam-telephoto-of-a-martian-dunes-downwind-face
[9] http://www.nasa.gov/image-feature/pia20332/full-circle-vista-from-naukluft-plateau-on-mars
[10] http://www.nasa.gov/image-feature/pia20332/full-circle-vista-from-naukluft-plateau-on-mars

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Monday, August 15, 2016

'News From Trumpland' -Secret Ledger Lists Cash for Trump’s Campaign Chief

"KIEV, Ukraine — On a leafy side street off Independence Square in Kiev is an office used for years by Donald J. Trump’s campaign chairman, Paul Manafort, when he consulted for Ukraine’s ruling political party. His furniture and personal items were still there as recently as May.And Mr. Manafort’s presence remains elsewhere here in the capital, where government investigators examining secret records have found his name, as well as companies he sought business with, as they try to untangle a corrupt network they say was used to loot Ukrainian assets and influence elections during the administration of Mr. Manafort’s main client, former President Viktor F. Yanukovych."
Source: Secret Ledger in Ukraine Lists Cash for Donald Trump’s Campaign Chief
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(Trump Campaign Manager - Paul Manafort)
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 Welcome back, My Dear Shoevians, to another edition of 'News from Trumpland'.  In this edition I am sharing the newest 'news' that a ledger has surfaced, in the Ukraine, that details huge sums of ILLEGAL cash flowing to Paul Manafort, Campaign Chief of Trump's Presidential Campaign. For me at least, My Dear Shoevians, this discovery cements  the links between Donald J Trump and Russian power brokers! .
"Handwritten ledgers show $12.7 million in undisclosed cash payments designated for Mr. Manafort from Mr. Yanukovych’s pro-Russian political party from 2007 to 2012, according to Ukraine’s newly formed National Anti-Corruption Bureau. Investigators assert that the disbursements were part of an illegal off-the-books system whose recipients also included election officials." .
Now, that is $12.7 MILLION that (could have) gone directly to the Presidential Campaign of one Donald J Trump! There is no telling where this money went, for sure, but we all know where Paul Manafort is right now... Holding Donald J Trump's hand! Americans need to seriously consider the possibility that illegal Russian funds are now fueling Presidential campaign right here in America!  . .
"Mr. Manafort’s involvement with moneyed interests in Russia and Ukraine had previously come to light. But as American relationships there become a rising issue in the presidential campaign — from Mr. Trump’s favorable statements about Mr. Putin and his annexation of Crimea to the suspected Russian hacking of Democrats’ emails — an examination of Mr. Manafort’s activities offers new details of how he mixed politics and business out of public view and benefited from powerful interests now under scrutiny by the new government in Kiev." .
This criminal investigation  has discovered multiple ties between Vladimir Putin and Paul Manafort, current and recently past connections. All of these connections are financial in nature and all are ILLEGAL! Now Mr. Manafort is serving as Campaign Chief for the Presidential Campaign of Donald J Trump. How does the saying go? 'Birds of a feather, flock together." and/or 'Thick as thieves'!  The evidence is mounting, with every passing day, of the illegal activities of Paul Manafort outside America. Can there be any doubt that this propensity for illegal activities extends right into the 'Trump Campaign for President'? .
"Anti-corruption officials there say the payments earmarked for Mr. Manafort, previously unreported, are a focus of their investigation, though they have yet to determine if he actually received the cash. While Mr. Manafort is not a target in the separate inquiry of offshore activities, prosecutors say he must have realized the implications of his financial dealings. “He understood what was happening in Ukraine,” said Vitaliy Kasko, a former senior official with the general prosecutor’s office in Kiev. “It would have to be clear to any reasonable person that the Yanukovych clan, when it came to power, was engaged in corruption.” Mr. Kasko added, “It’s impossible to imagine a person would look at this and think, ‘Everything is all right.’”
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"The developments in Ukraine underscore the risky nature of the international consulting that has been a staple of Mr. Manafort’s business since the 1980s, when he went to work for the Philippine dictator Ferdinand Marcos. Before joining Mr. Trump’s campaign this spring, Mr. Manafort’s most prominent recent client was Mr. Yanukovych, who — like Mr. Marcos — was deposed in a popular uprising. Before he fled to Russia two years ago, Mr. Yanukovych and his Party of Regions relied heavily on the advice of Mr. Manafort and his firm, who helped them win several elections. During that period, Mr. Manafort never registered as a foreign agent with the United States Justice Department — as required of those seeking to influence American policy on behalf of foreign clients — although one of his subcontractors did."

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My Dear Shoevians I will work hard to keep you all informed and abreast of all the investigation, as it progresses. I hope that all good Americans find out about the nefarious activities of Paul Manafort - Campaign Manager for Trump for President. To allow this man... anywhere near the White House for be disastrous for our nation... our Republic. This man, Paul Manafort, has made millions upon millions of dollars profiting from illegal activities in a foreign nation, there is no telling what illegal activities he would engage in from the seat of power right here in America! 
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Be informed
Be prepared, waiting for 'The Other Shoe' to drop!
Thank you!
Adieu! 
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             (Daniel Hanning- Writer, Research Staff, Editor and Publisher of The Other Shoe)
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© 2010 – 2016 Hanning Web Wurx and The Other Shoe
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Sunday, August 14, 2016

My Journey To L.A. - August 9th, 2016

Danny at Disneyland August 9th, 2016   Danny at Disneyland August 9th, 2016 
    Welcome, My Dear Shoevians, to ‘Journey to LA –August 9th, 2106’ right here at ‘The Other Shoe’! It is great to be back here writing and publishing on my blog. The Democratic Primary is now over so I can feel free to write and post what I really feel with (less) fear of recriminations. Secretary Hillary Clinton is the ‘Democratic Party Nominee for President’ and (at this moment in time) she is walloping the (dubious and nefarious) Donald ‘Thieving’ Trump by double digits in most polls. However, that is not the thrust of today’s article. 

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 Today I am here to relay the events, and videos, of my most recent trip form (my home in) Orange County all the way into Rolling Hills Estates/Rancho Palos Verdes of Los Angeles. It is a long and, often, arduous journey for myself and Allen (my caregiver/roommate).  For your viewing enjoyment, today, I have several ALL NEW pictures. These images were taken at Disneyland and in Rancho Palos Verdes during my journey. As well, there will be four All New Videos for your viewing pleasure. I hope that all of you, My Dear Shoevians, enjoy reading this article and viewing these videos and images as much as I did providing them to you!
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 The video, above, was taken in the parking lot of the building I live in just prior to the OCTA Access bus arrived to transport me to Disneyland. For those of you, My Dear Shoevians, those are new to this site (and my ‘Journey to LA’ series? Once each, and every three months, I make a very long (and tiresome… often upsetting) journey from here in Orange County (Huntington Beach to be exact) all the way (past Long Beach and San Pedro) into Los Angeles. My final destination is the Promenade on the Peninsula. In the image, below, you can get a good idea of the journey I make… via Public Transportation (for the Disabled). I start from the right side of the image where you see ‘Westminster’ and travel all the way to the left side of the image to the red marked above ‘Dr. Gorlick’ in Rolling Hills Estates. 
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Promenade on the Peninsula Promenade on the Peninsula
(Map of Southern California Showing Start & Finish)
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 Now some of you, My Dear Shoevians, might (reasonably) wondering “Why?” do I make this long and tiring journey every three months, and with good reason. Dr. Gorlick is my doctor. I started under his care back in 2005, when I was approved for Medicare (finally) and was able to pick my own doctor. Since I have been under his care I have; undergone surgery (Cervical Fusion) on my neck, fell victim to a TIA (Transient Ischemic Attack) (a type of mini-stroke), developed ‘Left Foot Drop’, become confined to a power chair, been diagnosed with Non Hodgkin's Lymphoma, undergone chemotherapy, and (most recently) been diagnosed with (now) “Severe Degenerative Disc Disease” “Severe Spinal Stenosis” “Multiple Herniated Discs” and (now) the discovery that the degenerative disc disease is now in my lumber spine, too.
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 Through it all Dr. Gorlick has ‘had my back’! When I come to him needing a power chair, he helps me get all sorts of paperwork to a prosthetic doctor (even though that… nut case REFUSED to SUBMIT the paperwork) Dr. Gorlick HELPED! When I discovered a lump under my chin, he examined it and referred me to a doctor that helped diagnose my cancer. When I was diagnosed with cancer Dr. Gorlick (again) gave me the name of an Oncologist that he personally knew!   When I come to him and I am unable to bear the level of pain, he helps by increasing my pain medications… time and time again!
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Danny @ Disneyland with Matterhorn in Background Danny @ Disneyland with Matterhorn in Background
(Danny @ Disneyland with Matterhorn in Background)
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  THAT is “Why?” I make this (often arduous) journey ever three months! I am very fortunate to have found a doctor as experienced… as knowledgeable… as compassionate… as caring and considerate as Dr. Gorlick that accepts Medicare! I was lucky to have found him, some eleven years ago, and I am fortunate that he continues my care. Now back to the journey, itself. My Dear Shoevians, I have to be honest (as I am in all things) and tell you that this journey? Well, this journey was one of the most uneventful… quickest and most enjoyable journeys of all that I have made to Rolling Hills Estates in the past five years!
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(Danny at Dr. Gorlick’s Office August 9th, 2016) (Danny at Dr. Gorlick’s Office August 9th, 2016)
(Danny at Dr. Gorlick’s Office August 9th, 2016)
. For five years I have sat at Disneyland, dropped off by OCTA Access, to be picked up my LA Access. Every single time we have made, at least one, stop during our journey into L.A. However, not this time! This time the driver was a Trainee and there was a supervisor in the back with Allen. There were no pickups. There were no drop-offs! We traveled, quickly, from Disneyland to Rolling Hills Estates and made it there in about an hour! That gave Allen, and myself, time to pick up a little lunch at the Subway in the mall next to where Dr. Gorlick’s office is located.
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 As well, on the ride back there was only one person to drop off, and then it was a quick ride into Orange County. This time I even convinced the driver to use the Carpool Lane (I know… you would think that they all would want to use the carpool lane!!... Not so!) The drive home was quick and uneventful and that left us (Allen and I) the time to make the Final Video that you see above! My Dear Shoevians, that video was one of the very best I (feel) I have ever made! It was fun! It was spontaneous! And, I enjoyed making the video. . With that, My Dear Shoevians, I will bring this edition of ‘Journey to LA’ to a close. Oh, yeah, Dr. Gorlick improved my pain medications! So, YES! YES, I will be working towards writing and publishing on a regular basis, again. . I would like to express my deep appreciation to you, My Dear Shoevians, for your interest in my blog(s), my writing, my stories and hope that you drop by often and SHARE my blog and articles (via your social media) so that others can enjoy, too!
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  THANK YOU!
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Adieu!
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© 2010 – 2016 Hanning Web Wurx and The Other Shoe

Daniel Hanning- Writer, Research Staff, Editor and Publisher of The Other Shoe
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(Daniel Hanning- Writer, Research Staff, Editor and Publisher of The Other Shoe)
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