A Week in Review - June 28th, 2014

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                  Welcome back My Dear Readers to The Other Shoe. If it is Saturday, then it is time for ‘A Week in Review’! I am proud to announce that with the publication of this article, I have reached the lofty goal of, publishing eight articles in the past seven days! It is not only the number of articles, MY Dear Readers, but this week I published the single most; intense, violent, suspenseful and horrific episodes of ‘The Horror in Smithville’… ever!        

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Now, I know that some of you have been hesitant to read this episode. Fear not, it is not as frightful as I portray. Yes, I am hyping this episode. It is just that this episode is some of the best writing I have ever published. For those that have hesitated? Please, take a moment and give it a read. You will not regret it!

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

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• Sunday Funnies – June 22nd, 2014 : “Welcome back My Dear Readers to The Other Shoe. As well, this is a little ‘Welcome Back’ of/to ‘Sunday Funnies’! It has been several weeks since I last published this weekend treasure. In an effort to return normalcy and some regularity to my blog, I return with a short video if Prince Alexander.” I just love Prince Alexander! In this week’s ‘Sunday Funnies’ we catch Prince Alexander getting his weekly Sunday bath! He just loves playing in the water, running around and getting all clean for the upcoming week! Just to help him to relax, and enjoy his bath, I put Epsom salt in the bath water. It leaves his coat very smooth and soft. If you have a small pet, you might want to try this tip, too!

• The Mars Report – June 23rd, 2014 : “Welcome back My Dear Readers to The Other Shoe. Today, I welcome you to the single shortest edition of The Mars Report, EVER! I am not too sure just what is going on, with the rover Curiosity but NASA/JPL have not posted any kind of update in the past six days! The very last Twitter update, from Curiosity on Mars, was back on June 17^th, 2014. I keep going back, to the NASA/JPL Mars Science Laboratory web site, and all they have posted are ‘RAW Images’.” Well, My Dear Readers, the NASA/JPL web site was quite bereft of ‘new’ images from Curiosity. So, Danny not to be detoured, I started rummaging through the vast stores of ‘RAW’images. That is where I found the images for this edition of ‘The Mars Report’. Readers? If y9ou want to know just what these images are? You will just have to click on the link at the beginning of this review! ENJOY!


• Lost in Space – Tour of Our Solar System #3 : “We leave the orbit of the planet of our birth, to pull our Ship of the Stars into orbit of our nearest planet. Now, as many of you, My Dear Readers, know we visit this planet every single week. We visit with my series of articles names ‘The Mars Report’. Just click on the link, behind you, and check out the latest edition of this wonderful series. Now, we leave the orbit of Mars, headed for our next solar destination. However, to get to our next destination of Jupiter we must pass through the ‘Asteroid Belt’!” My Dear Readers, this is a very special of ‘Lost In Space’! Instead of spending the next several editions on; Earth… Mars… I have decided to take our ‘Ship of the Stars’ to the furthest edge of our solar system. YES! My Dear Readers, there is a LOT to share at the very edge of our solar system! Want to know… what? Click on the link at the beginning of this article and take a journey of imagination!


• News from Around the World – June 25th, 2014 : “Welcome back My Dear Readers to The Other Shoe. First, I would like to take a moment and say ‘Thank You!” to everyone that enjoyed yesterday’s gargantuan article ‘Lost in Space – Tour of Our Solar System #3’ which, at last count, had nearly 20 ‘Likes’ already! I really poured my best into that article, hoped for the best and you My Dear Readers appreciated my efforts. For next week’s edition I will be writing about the ‘Dwarf Planets’ that exist at the very edge of the Kuiper Belt. Now back to today’s article and some startling news out of Iraq!” My Dear Readers, I cannot tell you just exactly how happy I am that this series of articles have found there success! Each and every week I scour through the week’s news and find articles that many have missed! I take these ‘missing’ articles and bring them to you, My Dear Readers. If you haven’t? Take a moment and read! ENJOY!


• Notes from Behind the Keyboard – Editorial : “The last couple of news cycles have been bloated with hype that Speaker Boehner is going to “Sue President Obama”. Sue our sitting President over, allegedly, his “misuse of power via ‘Executive Orders’”. OK… hang on… give me a minute to stop laughing. There, that’s better. OK…Seriously? Speaker of the House of Representatives is so ‘free’ of other obligations… The House of Representatives have so much ‘free time’… They have ‘finished their homework’? Oh… MERCY! I do take exception to that assertion. Let us review…” My Dear Readers, this is a rarity, for me. It is not often, anymore, that I share my opinion on news and politics. I know… some people are upset by my views. That makes me sad! My views are my own. My Dear Readers, I read a lot… and research… and read some more. Then, I sit down and.. think. Alone! Alone, with my thoughts, is where I make my decisions on what I think band how I feel. That is what I share, here, for you. Enjoy!


• I Believe in America : “Welcome back My Dear Readers to The Other Shoe. Earlier, today, I penned an Editorial. In the, nearly, five years of publication here at The Other Shoe I have rarely published an Editorial. I wrote and published this editorial for one reason, and one reason only. I am concerned about my country. Concerned about our ‘National Political Dialogue’. As the title of this article indicates;…” Watch… and ENJOY!


• The Horror in Smithville – Part Thirteen : “Many of the teachers had moved to the very front of the crowd, almost like they had initially felt a responsibility to act. Only to, either, be transfixed by their fear of what they bore witness. Some, halted in their advance to help by their own gnawing fear that Barry night well do the same to them, too. Either way, nobody was moving stop Barry or come to Timmy’s rescue. There must have been more than thirty; teachers, students and bus drivers all gathered just a few scant feet away from Timmy’s, now, deformed head.” That came directly out of the story. If you want to read more? Click the link and READ! ENJOY!
  
  

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With that, My Dear Readers, we come to the end of this week’s review. This has been a very exciting week, here at ‘The Other Shoe’. I have written and published a record number of articles, we have ventured to the very edge of our solar system, and we (together) have taken a step into a truly horrific turn of events in ‘The Horror in Smithville’.

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Will Timmy be alight? What will become of Barry? Where is Principal Marsch? Where will this story take us next? Well. Honestly? I have already written the next several episodes. I know how things turn of with Timmy. You won’t want to miss what happens with Barry. And DearPrincipal Marsch? Well, My Dear Readers, you get to find that out, in next week’s episode!

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My Dear Readers, the fun has just begun. I look forward to seeing you all, right here, next week! Until then?

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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="300"] Danny Hanning of The Other Shoe - May 6th, 2014[/caption]

Notes from Behind the Keyboard - Editorial

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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. If you looked, carefully, at the title of toady’s offering then you know that today is something special. In the, more than, four years that I have published this blog… four years and 493 (with this 494) articles I have rarely presented an ‘Editorial’. Events have transpired that have forced my hand, in that regard. Today I come to you, My Dear Readers, with a bone to pick.

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The last couple of news cycles have been bloated with hype that Speaker Boehner is going to “Sue President Obama”. Sue our sitting President over, allegedly, his “misuse of power via ‘Executive Orders’”. OK… hang on… give me a minute to stop laughing. There, that’s better. OK…Seriously? Speaker of the House of Representatives is so ‘free’ of other obligations… The House of Representatives have so much ‘free time’… They have ‘finished their homework’? Oh… MERCY! I do take exception to that assertion. Let us review:

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Ohio - Republican (R) John Boehner was (first) sworn in as ‘Speaker’ of The House of Representatives on January 5^th 2011 for the 112^th Congress. Below is a video of Rep. John Boehner after being sworn in as Speaker of the House of Representatives.

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[youtube=http://youtu.be/prz4LDCTHAg]

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(To this day… I am still vexed by why he picked the… ‘large’ [‘oversized’] gavel for his Speakership. Note: Each Speaker is allowed to ‘pick’ his own gavel to be used as ‘Speaker’ for the House of Representatives.)

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So, the last Session of Congress that was lead by a Democrat Speaker was…. (can anyone tell me?)… the 111^th Congress was the last to have a Democrat as a Speaker. Now, let us have a little review – The 111^th Congress passed 861 Bills (see next graphic below)that garnered 383 New Laws [1]that were signed into law. The last act of Democrats, while in control of the House of Representatives, was to work very hard and passed 383 bills that were signed into law. (That was the ‘Second’ Session of the 111^th Congress seated in 2010).

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[caption id="attachment_3130" align="aligncenter" width="503"] Chart of Bills Passed by Congress Past 20 years[/caption]

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Now, here is where it gets just totally squirrelly! Since (R) Rep. John Boehner was sworn in as Speaker the (Republican Controlled) Congress has voted (a Grand total of) FIFTY-FOUR times to ‘Repeal Obamacare’. Coincidently, each and every time their votes were ceremonial ONLY because they knew that they lack the votes in the Senate. Yet… and here is where the squirrelly part comes to play:

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• Congressional Republicans have held FIFTY-FOUR votes repealing ‘Obamacare’.


• The 112^th Congress was documented as “The Least Productive Congress”[2] Passing few bills, making fewer laws than any since the 107^th in 2001.


• The 113^th Congress (also) was documented as ‘The Least Productive in Modern History”[3]

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[caption id="attachment_3131" align="aligncenter" width="630"] 80th Congress to 112th Congress ‘Bills Passed’[/caption]

(80^th Congress to 112^th Congress ‘Bills Passed’)

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Now we are in the first session of the 114^th Congress, and the pace of legislation has not changed. Yet, Speaker Boehner is calling on the ‘Bi-Partisan Legal Advisory Group’ to execute his (frivolous) action[4]. The ‘Bi-Partisan Legal Advisory Group’ is made up of: The Speaker of the House, The House Majority Leader, The House Minority Leader, and BOTH ‘Party Whips’. Let me see… is there anything else that this group of esteemed LEADERS of the House or Representatives could work on… instead? Say… like; ‘Immigration Reform’… ‘Improving Conditions at Veteran’s Administration Hospitals’… ‘Campaign Finance Reform’… oh, I could go on and one and list, maybe, fifteen items of National Importance that these Leadership Members could better spend their time on, than trying to figure out a way to sue President Obama over ‘Abuse of Executive Orders’. But, he is the Speaker… so let’s look at the number(s)!

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Below is a graphic showing the NUMBER of ‘Executicve Actions’ by President from Washington to President Obama. Let’s take a look-see!

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(Source for chart below: http://www.archives.gov/federal-register/executive-orders/disposition.html)

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Executive Orders:Washington - Obama

President	Term	Total Orders1	Average / Year	EO Number Range
George Washington	Total	8		unnumbered
John Adams	Total	1		unnumbered
Thomas Jefferson	Total	4		unnumbered
James Madison	Total	1		unnumbered
James Monroe	Total	1		unnumbered
John Quincy Adams	Total	3		unnumbered
Andrew Jackson	Total	12		unnumbered
Martin van Buren	Total	10		unnumbered
William Henry Harrison	Total	0		unnumbered
John Tyler	Total	17		unnumbered
James K. Polk	Total	18		unnumbered
Zachary Taylor	Total	5		unnumbered
Millard Fillmore	Total	12		unnumbered
Franklin Pierce	Total	35		unnumbered
James Buchanan	Total	16		unnumbered
Abraham Lincoln	Total	48		unnumbered
Andrew Johnson	Total	79		unnumbered
Ulysses S. Grant	Total	217		unnumbered
Rutherford B. Hayes	Total	92		unnumbered
James Garfield	Total	6		unnumbered
Chester Arthur	Total	96		unnumbered
Grover Cleveland - I	Total	113		unnumbered
Benjamin Harrison	Total	143		unnumbered
Grover Cleveland - II	Total	140		unnumbered
William McKinley	Total	185		unnumbered
Theodore Roosevelt	Total	1,081
William Howard Taft	Total	724
Woodrow Wilson	Total	1,803
Warren G. Harding	Total	522
Calvin Coolidge	Total	1,203
Herbert Hoover	Total	968		5075 - 6070
Franklin D. Roosevelt	Total	3,522		6071 - 9537
Harry S. Truman	Total	907		9538 - 10431
	I	504		9538 - 10029
	II	403		10030 - 10431
Dwight D. Eisenhower	Total	484		10432 - 10913
	I	266		10432 - 10695-A
	II	218		10696 - 10913
John F. Kennedy	Total	214		10914 - 11127
Lyndon B. Johnson	Total	325		11128 - 11451
Richard Nixon	Total	346		11452 - 11797
	I	247		11452 - 11698
	II	99		11699 - 11797
Gerald R. Ford	Total	169		11798 - 11966
Jimmy Carter	Total	320	80.00	11967 - 12286
Ronald Reagan	Total	381	47.63	12287 - 12667
	I	213	53.25	12287 - 12499
	II	168	42.00	12500 - 12667
George Bush	Total	166	41.50	12668 - 12833
William J. Clinton	Total	364	45.50	12834 - 13197
	I	200	50.00	12834 - 13033
	II	164	41.00	13034 - 13197
George W. Bush	Total	291	36.38	13198 - 13488
	I	173	43.25	13198 - 13370
	II	118	29.50	13371 - 13488
Barack Obama	Total	182	33.58	13489 - 13670...
	I	147	36.75	13489 - 13635
	II	35	24.65	13636 - 13670...

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Last Update: Data Through June 20, 2014. (through 5.42 years of the Obama Administration)

Citation: Gerhard Peters. "Executive Orders." The American Presidency Project. Ed. John T. Woolley and Gerhard Peters. Santa Barbara, CA. 1999-2014. Available from the World Wide Web: http://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/data/orders.php.

Notes:
¹ 1789 to 1945 (Roosevelt) data includes "numbered" and "unnumbered" executive orders. 1945 (Truman) data includes only numbered executive orders including those with letter designations (ex. Executive Order 9577-A).

Data Sources:
• 1789 - 1945 (Roosevelt) data obtained from Lyn Ragsdale, "Vital Statisitcs on the Presidency: Washington to Clinton." rev. ed. (Washington, D.C.: CQ Press, 1998).
• 1945 (Truman) - present data compiled by Gerhard Peters, The American Presidency Project, from documents contained in the Federal Register.

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So, let me see… President Obama has used a total of 182 ‘Executive Orders’ (so far) in his two terms as President. What have the other Presidents passed?

• George W. Bush = 291


• William J. Clinton = 364


• George H.W. Bush = 166 (ONE term)


• Ronald Reagan = 381


• Jimmy Carter = 320


• Gerald R. Ford = 169 (LESS than One Term)


• Richard Nixon = 346


• Lyndon B Johnson = 325 (One Term)


• John F Kennedy = 214 (One Term)


• Dwight D Eisenhower = 484


• Barrack Obama = 182 (In nearly TWO Terms)

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Yeah, wow… that is a total “abuse of power”! While facing two sessions of ‘The Least Productive Congress” President Obama has used fewer ‘Executive Actions’ than any other sitting President in my lifetime (five year at least, Two Term Presidents). It would seem that Speaker Boehner is… jumping the gun. ?!? Shouldn’t there appear to be some abuse of a power before one would go and sue? Seems logical to me! Then why is Speaker Boehner jumping the proverbial gun? Why?

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APPEARENCES. Aye, there’s the rub! Living, as we do, in a visual and visceral society, Speaker Boehner need not wait for President Obama to do anything wrong, first. A good 20% to 22% of Americans already ‘see’ President Obama as ‘lawless’, so one need not actually wait for this President to do something wrong before hanging him out to dry. But… there is this nagging thought, in the back of my head.

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Immigration Reform… Campaign Finance Reform…. V.A. Hospitals… Veterans Benefits… REAL WORK that needs to be done, left standing at the crib, while Speaker Boehner plays games with the Leaders of the House of Representatives.

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This is worse than ‘Much Ado About Nothing’… This is an ‘abuse of power’ by… The Speaker!

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Nuff said?

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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.congress-summary.com/A-111th-Congress/Laws_Passed_111th_Congress_Seq.html

[2]http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2013/jan/9/capitol-hill-least-productive-congress-ever-112th-/?page=all

[3]http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/07/08/113th-congress-bills_n_3563008.html

[4]http://www.usnews.com/opinion/articles/2014/06/25/should-speaker-john-boehner-sue-president-obama-over-executive-orders

NBA GIves Middle Finger to Don Sterling

Welcome back MY Dear Readers to The Other Shoe. My Dear Readers today’s subject is not one I write about, like, at all. However, the past couple of weeks, and the action of the Commissioner of the NBA, have forced my hand. While the Conservative Majority of ACOTUS (Supreme Court of the United States) continues to rule as though racism no longer exists, ‘conservative’ Americans just keep proving racism does exist. I could spend hours and hours presenting proof of all the areas of American life racism is obvious; disproportionate number of African Americans incarcerated in America, ‘Voter ID Laws’ passed to decrease voter participation by minorities, seniors, disabled Americans, and Housing Discrimination. Like the in 2006 where Case Don Sterling chose to pay $3 million in order to avoid prosecution and continue his racist practices.[1]

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“In sworn testimony, one of Sterling's top property supervisors Sumner Davenport claimed he made racist comments about black people living in one of the buildings he had just acquired:

"That's because of all the blacks in this building, they smell, they're not clean. ... And it's because of all of the Mexicans that just sit around and smoke and drink all day."[2]

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It was his most recent comments that caused outrage by Clippers players and forced the hand of the NBA Commissioner. It was this weekend that Don Sterling’s remarks to his girlfriend, about Magic Johnson, when she posted an Instagram about Magic Johnson. Here are the comments that came to the surface this weekend.

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“It bothers me a lot that you want to broadcast that you are associating with black people. Do you have to?" Sterling allegedly said.

"You can sleep with (black people). You can bring them in. You can do whatever you want. The little I ask is not to promote it on that ... and not to bring them to my games.

"In your lousy ... Instagrams you don't have to have yourself walking with black people."[3]

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Now, let’s look at how the talking heads of Conservatives handled these comments. From Rush Limbaugh we have;

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““This guy is a big Democrat,” Limbaugh insisted. “The only reason he is in trouble right now is that he did not give enough money to Obama.”

Limbaugh went on to say Sterling is “a typical Hollywood Democrat” and a “pretend A-lister.”

“The guy gave money to Gray Davis, the guy gave money to Bill Bradley,” Limbaugh continued. “He’s been donating to Democrat causes … doing what you do in Beverly Hills and LA to be in the A-list crowd, this guy’s been doing it — other than the slum lord business, and that may even be some of what you have to do.”[4]

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However, according to California State registration roles, Don Sterling is actually registered as a Republican.

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Don Sterling’s comments do not come in a vacuum, no they come on the heals of the racist remarks by Cliven Bundy. Yes, Cliven Bundy, one time championed by Sean Hannity and Rush Limbaugh as “A Patriot” and “in the mold of our Founding Fathers”[5].

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My Dear Readers it is not often that I share my deeply held personal opinions, on this blog. Oh, yes I will share political editorial, and political and social commentary, it is rarely that I present my own personal opinions on our nation. Today, I make a sharp exception right here, right now. My Dear Readers, it is not just that racism is not dead in America, in the twenty-first century, the fact of the matter is?

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In certain circles, certain walks of life here in America, racism is not only alive and well… it is used as a social barometer for membership in certain social and political organizations. Racism is alive and well in America today. As a matter of fact, we can clearly see that for a certain cross section of our nation, racism is ‘just common sense’. It is accepted like rain in the spring, and snow in the winter. For a (hopefully) small minority of Americans they would turn back the clock and take our nation backwards to a time where racism is institutionalized.

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My Dear Readers we must all be guardians of dark and hate filled past. It is an unfortunate truth that an injustice forgotten, is an injustice soon to be repeated. That we must judge, harshly, those that would allow or condone the return of racism to our great nation. You can tell by listening to small conversations, and in small places. This is where evils, like racism, are covered is shadows and allowed to flourish and grow. We cannot allow racism to flourish, anywhere. We cannot allow racism to hide in dark corners of our towns, and cities, townships and bumps-in-the-road. It is in these small places that racism can take root, and spread from one generation to another generation.

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We, all of us My Dear Readers, must work to stamp out racism anywhere, and everywhere it may grow and flourish. We cannot allow American to fall backwards and relive a violent and immoral past. I grew up watching African Americans; have police dogs turned on them for non-violent protest, have fire hoses turned on them for marching for their rights. If we let our guard down just a little bit, we will allow this social disease an opportunity to root, then flourish.

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‘Unfriend’ them on Facebook, turn away your business from the companies, do not sit and break bread with this ilk. One thing I learned, as a young boy in the Deep South, racism loves making new converts. When racism lives inside a person, it is always seeking out new converts. Racism knows it must spread to survive. Do not let it spread to you.

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That brings me to the end of today’s editorial article. I had hoped to bring something more to you, My Dear Readers, today. It is just not going to happen. My pain is terrific, and my home is intolerably hot. My A/C is not working, properly, and the maint crew here… well, blows. Hope that tomorrow is cooler. Take care and see you all soon.

Adieu!

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Thank YOU!

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[1]http://www.cnn.com/2014/04/27/us/donald-sterling-lawsuits/?hpt=hp_t1

[2]http://www.businessinsider.com/donald-sterling-racist-history-2014-4

[3]http://www.businessinsider.com/la-clippers-owners-alleged-racist-comments-about-magic-johnson-are-causing-an-uproar-2014-4

[4]http://www.salon.com/2014/04/28/rush_limbaugh_donald_sterling_is_in_trouble_because_he_did_not_give_enough_money_to_obama/

[5]http://uproxx.com/tv/2014/04/joe-scarborough-fox-news-has-been-exposed-by-cliven-bundys-remarks-about-the-negro-being-better-off-as-slaves/

News from Around the World

           Welcome back My Dear Readers to The Other Shoe. Today, Tuesday, should be a day for political faire, here at The Other Shoe. I have scanned the political headlines, and all things being equal, I just could not find anything in our nation’s politics that caught my attention. Yes, Rep. Paul Ryan is suggesting another austerity-based budget for Congress. One that continues the slashing of aid to American’s least advantaged while continuing in his ill advised (ill advised by dignitaries such as Pope Francis) ‘Voo-Doo’/’Trickle-Down’ economics by funneling even more money to the wealthiest Americans. Most likely, this ‘voo-Doo’ budget will get resounding support by Congressional Republicans, pass the House strictly along party lines, then die I silent and irrelevant death in the Senate.

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Just as the Founding Fathers designed. Yes, the Senate is the Elder body of our Congress, in that it is the senior and most reasoned body. The Founding Fathers knew (foresaw) that destructive populist movements might well gain a majority in the lower house of Congress. As a boy, and young man, I read “The Federalist Papers’ and ‘Articles of Confederation’. It was in these documents that our nation’s democracy were brought to fruition. They outlined how the lower house of a Congress was ‘The People’s House’ and, as such, could easily fall prey to populist ideals that ran contrary to the continued health of our democracy and our Republic. 

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Why, just this morning, one of the basic tenants of our Republic came under attack in our Supreme Court. Today the Supreme Court heard arguments in “Perkins vs. Federal Trade Commission,” a case brought by billionaire venture capitalist Thomas Perkins. His case is in support of ‘proportional voting’ for all Americans and American Corporations. It goes a little something like this; if a person pays a million dollars in taxes, that equates to that individual having “one million votes to cast” in elections. That corporations, since they now have free speech, which means that they too should each have votes proportional to taxes paid.

. Yeah, I haven’t stopped laughing yet, either. England has been a democracy for… well, since 1376 making it the oldest democracy on this planet. (Hang on the Isle of Man… The Althing… 930AD. Yeah, but let’s let the Brits’ take this one for the sake of argument. Now, in all that time our brethren ‘across the pond’ have not attempted to devolve democracy in this heinous manner. If one were to read; ‘The Federalist Papers’ and ‘The Articles of Confederation’ (now you have to read all the way to the end) . One would understand that our Founding Father’s actually considered this idea of ‘proportional voting rights’ during the great intellectual deliberations they engaged.
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Considered and discarded this idea. Why? One should really read this for oneself. However, when the intellectual exercise was over? They all came to the same conclusion, ‘proportional voting’ would result in… … … … (drum roll, please!) another Monarchy in the Americas. That, in time, would result in the creation of an Aristocracy just like the one America was fighting against! BINGO! Hundreds of years ago, the greatest minds of the time, the men that gave birth to this great nation, rejected this very notion. Oh, it took some time.. and lot of argument, and in the end a handful of them stood by their mistaken ideals. The majority agreed on ‘One MAN, One VOTE’, PERIOD.

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Little known to many Americans that, in our first elections only landowners were allowed to vote. Women were not allowed to vote until ‘Women’s Suffrage’ and the Nineteenth Amendment ratified in 1919. African Americans did not have the right to vote until 1965. American history is a story of expanding voting rights to the individual, not corporations. Our very Founding Fathers understood that ‘proportional voting’ would lead to an American Monarchy, and that would defeat the very purpose for American’s birth.

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Now that I have given you, My Dear Readers, a more complete understanding of the why of our voting rights in this Republic, let me share some words… from the bench, from today.

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“Sounds sensible, If you pay a million dollars in taxes, you should get a million votes, just like an investor in a corporation. That was the original intent of the Founding Fathers.” said Justice Antonin Scalia.

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“Obviously, if a corporation has First Amendment free speech rights, a corporation that pays taxes should have voting rights and in proportion to how much it pays in taxes.” Justice Samuel Alito

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Clarence Thomas, who rarely speaks, was jubilant and nearly shouted… “No taxation without representation!”

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I am bloody amazed that Supreme Court Jurists would express opinions that run so fundamentally contrary to the will of the Founding Fathers. This makes it abundantly clear that our Supreme Court Bench has been deeply corrupted by politics. Proof my opinion comes from the words of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg;

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“This must be an April Fool’s joke."

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This, certainly, can be nothing more than a joke… right?

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Leaving the shores, and the insanity, of America behind us we venture down south to moderate climates of Venezuela. What, pray tell, brings us to this South American country? Huge social changes that could be precursors for American change. You see the distribution of wealth in Venezuela is even more striking than here in America.

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This week the Venezuelan government introduced a new voluntary ID card system. This card will track family grocery purchases in order to address the hoarding engaged in by the wealthy. You see in Venezuela the cost of groceries is subsidized by the government, due to rampant inflation placing food out of the reach of millions of families. These wealthy families would purchase the same items, day after day, at the subsidized prices. Later, they would see these groceries at greatly inflated prices.

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“"The rich people have things all hoarded away, and they pull the strings," said Juan Rodriguez to the Associated Press.[1]

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Now, on the housing front there is a new law that focuses on improving ownership in Venezuela. Any resident, of an apartment, living in the same apartment for twenty years now has a new right. The right to purchase their apartment from the owner, at a ‘fair price’ set by the government. Landlords will have 60 days to offer up the apartment, or face a financial penalty of $40,000.00. This measure will, hopefully, increase ownership and result in ‘the pride of ownership’ by residents.

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Both of these measures are meant to improve the lives of the majority of citizens and bring equality. Here Venezuela is taking important steps to address the great financial inequality that has gripped the nation. The rampant inequality has resulted in violent riots, by the poor and disadvantaged, which have plagued this nation. America would do well to keep an eye on this nation, and the changes there to address their financial inequality.

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Finally, today, I have a disconcerting story out of Africa. Today, the Centers for Disease Control (here in America) have sent a team of five experts to Guinea[2]. They are there to evaluate an outbreak of Ebola! The Ebola virus is a virulent hemorrhagic virus that causes violent and deadly bleeding. Resulting, so far, in seventy deaths in just the past week.

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There is no treatment or cure for this type of infection. Patients infected with this virus bleed profusely and die from shock. There is little concern for the virus spreading outside this African nation. Most infections come from direct contact with bodily fluids from an infected person.

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This outbreak is particularly troublesome for two reasons. First, this breakout has happened at the border of three nations. This could result in a rapid spread of the virus, outside of Guinea, prior to the other nations make appropriate preparations. Second, this particular strain is an especially deadly strain of the virus. I will be watching this story, closely.

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That brings us to the end of this, the very first edition of ‘News from Around the World’. Thanks for dropping by and taking the time to read. Thank you for your support.

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

Thank YOU!

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

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

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[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="450"] The Other Shoe's Daniel Hanning February 2014[/caption]

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[1]http://www.nbcnews.com/#/news/world/venezuela-issues-voluntary-id-cards-stop-hoarding-n68746

[2]http://www.nbcnews.com/health/health-news/u-s-sends-team-fight-african-ebola-outbreak-n68776

Pope Francis - First Year as Pontiff

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

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        Welcome back My Dear Readers to The Other Shoe. It is with a particular sense of happiness, and peace, that I commemorate Pope Francis’ first year as Pontiff of the Catholic Church. Yesterday was the actual anniversary of his inauguration of Pope Francis. Bestowed, upon inauguration, with the titles of; The Vicar of Christ, Bishop of Rome, Successor Of St. Peter, Prince Of The Apostles, Supreme Pontiff Of The Universal Church,  Patriarch Of The West,- Servant Of The Servants Of God, Primate Of Italy, Archbishop And Metropolitan Of The Roman Province, Sovereign Of Vatican City State, and the most often used and most common title His Holiness The Pope[1]. It would be quite difficult, or most men, to not be swept up in the pomp and circumstance of this office, not to mention the adoration by over one billion members[2] of the Catholic faith.

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However, setting him apart from many that proceeded him, and especially the last Pope before him. Pope Francis (the 266^th Pope since the first Pope, Saint Peter) remains very much a man of the people. Unlike his immediate predecessor, Pope Benedict XVI, Pope Francis does not surround himself with the eccentricities of office. Pope Benedict XVI, during his short papacy, spent Vatican money freely on a lavish lifestyle. His shoes were the subject of many articles and much gossip. They were handmade of the finest leather, tanned red to reflect his office, allegedly costing several thousand dollars… each! Just one more example of the opulent lifestyle and lavish spending; his crucifix was (also) handmade and encrusted with rubies.

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Conversely, Pope Francis wears off—the-shelf sandals, a hand-me-down crucifix, and does not indulge in any of the eccentricities of his predecessor or his lavish lifestyle.

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        “The first pope from Latin America, the first from the Jesuit religious order and the first to take the name of the most beloved saint of the poor,…”[3] 

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Pope Francis has made a name for himself, in just the first year of his Papacy, by; challenging wealth, pointing out America’s “feverish pursuit of frivolous pleasures”[4], and making clear that putting a company’s “bottom line” ahead of “the needs of the least among us” should be completely unacceptable to all Christians. Pope Francis came on to the scene like gang busters, defending the poor, calling into question the motives of the wealthy, and reminding all humans that “greed is a sin”.

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Yesterday, on the event of the anniversary of his first year as the Vicar of Christ, Pope Francis tweeted “Please pray for me” to his millions of followers. I, personally, received his tweet… and immediately answered his request. My Dear Readers, for all of you that knew me; in Pearland, in college, as a young man, and even in Colorado Springs, you know that I am not a religious man. I have attended church, off and on, all my life. I have attended; Lutheran churches, Methodist churches, The Church of Christ, The Church of England, and even three different synagogues. However, there is something different about Pope Francis. Something that speaks to me on a very base level, he speaks to my soul.

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[caption id="attachment_2493" align="aligncenter" width="460"] Pope Francis[/caption]

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Yes, he and I do share beliefs about the overt greed… the avarice that has swept America. We share the idea that America’s greed is to blame for a great many of our ills, and the anemic state of our recovery. Pope Francis and I share the heartfelt belief that if you are capable of helping someone you know, and know they are going without food… that they struggle every day, yet you do nothing to help? That your inaction defines you and sets you on a path that is not one with God. That one cannot act, in the fashion described above, and still call yourself… Christian. That America’s have chosen a path of avarice. Instead of righting this moral wrong these Americans seek to (wrongfully) paint these fellow Americans in need as; lazy, slothful, worthless, dependent and even thieves. All in a vain effort to shut out what they know, in their hearts and souls, to be immoral greed and avarice instead blaming the poor.

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Pope Francis has made no qualms in writing and speaking about this terrible trend in our great nation. He has been made the victim of terrible insults and cruel characterizations by the talking heads of the far right. Instead of understanding his Christianity, these elements of the greedy media seek to wrongfully paint the Pope as a ‘Socialist” and worse. Doubling down on the rhetoric of avarice, they ignore the fact that greed is a sin! Further, that greed and avarice our one of the ‘Seven Deadly Sins” as outlined in Catholicism.

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

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        “The seven deadly sins are pride, covetousness (also known as avarice or greed), lust, anger, gluttony, envy, and sloth.” [5]

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That so much did God want mankind to never forget how horrible a sin the act of greed and avarice; he placed another reminder in the ‘Ten Commandments’[6]

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        “Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth.”

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Reminding mankind to never put any thing between ourselves and our love of God. To make sure that we understood our relationship with God can be, will be, damaged by putting money (and/or the pursuit of money) between ourselves and our God is a sin.

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        “Thou shalt not steal.”

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Another reminder of the sin of overt greed and avarice, and that only God shall decide if our pursuit of wealth (in life) was theft of wealth or the opportunity of financial stability of a fellow man.

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        “Thou shalt not covet! thy neighbour’s house, thou shalt not covet thy neighbour’s wife, nor his manservant, nor his maidservant, nor his ox, nor his ass, nor any thing that is thy neighbour’s.

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Three times and in three different ways did God seek to make mankind aware of how serious he saw our potential love affair with money.

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Enough… In my articles:

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• ·        Avarice in America : ““The great danger in today’s world, pervaded as it is by consumerism, is the desolation and anguish born of a complacent yet covetous heart, the feverish pursuit of frivolous pleasures, and a blunted conscience.”[7]


• ·        Pope Francis Strikes AGAIN : ““Some people continue to defend trickle-down theories which assume that economic growth, encouraged by a free market, will inevitably succeed in bringing about greater justice and inclusiveness in the world,” Pope Francis November 24^th, 2013[8] Here Pope Francis points directly at America. He points directly a one political party, in America. He singles out this ‘party of the wealthy’ as guilty of injustice and the falsehood that is “trickle-down” economics.


• Unbridled Capitalism vs. Human Strife: ““A society that “does not pay a just wage”, that “does not give work” to people; a society that “that only looks to its balance books, that only seeks profit” is unjust and goes against God.” Pope Francis on Vatican Radio May 1st, 2013[9] RIGHT THERE! On Vatican Radio on May 1sy, 2013 ‘The Vicar of Christ’ Clearly states that anyone, any corporation, any company, and society, and political party that “seeks only profit” or that puts profit ahead of feeding the poor… housing the poor… caring for “The least among you.”? Well, Pope Francis puts it as succinctly and clearly as is humanly possible that these actions “goes against God.”

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In just one year Pope Francis has put mankind (and America) on notice. I have a great deal of admiration for Pope Francis. My Dear Readers, it is not coincidence that the College of Cardinals made this man Pope right now in history. They see, as do many millions of Americans, that avarice is a disease to the human condition. That right now, more than anytime in modern history, does America and mankind stand on the very precipice of falling away from our better nature. Aye, there’s the rub!

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[caption id="attachment_2496" align="aligncenter" width="618"] Pope Francis on Twitter[/caption]

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You see, even if you do not believe in; God, Christ, Christianity, Religion, Organized Religion you can (if you so desire) see that mankind is on an unsustainable path. That we were warned via religion, the word of God, and Pope Francis of an eventuality that is upon us. The eventuality of a failure of our society, of our monetary system, of mankind out of the shortsighted and sick mindless pursuit of avarice.

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Finally, My Dear Readers, just this week Pope Francis has made history, again. Speaker Boehner and House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi have invited Pope Francis to speak before a Joint Session of Congress! Never before, in the history of our great nation, has a Pope been invited to speak before a Joint Session of Congress. This is an unprecedented invitation, and if accepted, it will be an unprecedented event in our nation’s history. For me, further proof that Pope Francis is using the office as a bully pulpit for the voice of our humanity. I hope that he accepts. When/if Pope Francis accepts and speaks, I will bring you every word right here at The Other Shoe.

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

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Thank YOU!

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P.S. My Dear Readers, I regret that I am compelled to add this postscript. In October, of last year, several events (not the least of which was a man stealing $300 of money I raised to help me move) transpired to set me back, financially. Since that time I have worked, tirelessly, to regain my financial footing. Through help from Ian Cottier, and James Coate I have regained some of my footing. I am forever in their debt, and they know that they can call on me for anything. However, I am still carrying a ‘Payday Advance’ at my bank of hundreds of dollars… and I still eat… sometimes only once a day. Below you see a link to eBay to items I am trying to sell. I am unable to work, at a job. My condition prohibits me from most activities. Even this blog… I write sitting in bed, a hard neck brace in place and I can only work 15-20 minutes at a time.

I regret my situation, yet I am not embarrassed as I have done everything I am able and I am not the first person to get ripped off on Craigslist trying to get a roommate… or other transaction. I apologize, in advance, yet ask for your support and even understanding. Any kind of support is appreciated. From sending me food, to buying items at my eBay store… to sending financial support via PayPal or the mail will be greatly appreciated. I am living a subsistent lifestyle. Within the next two months… my Payday advance will expire… leaving me… short on rent to the point I will be evicted. I pinch every penny. I eat as little as is possible. I do not purchase clothing, or luxury items (games, videos, music or the like). I have not gone to a movie at a theater in more than five years. The prescription eye glasses I wear are ten years old.

I apologize, but any an all help will be greatly appreciated. You can contact me, or use this email to send money via PayPal – Enzomatrix@earthlink.net

As well, if you would like to talk with me… send me suggestions… rekindle a friendship… or just constructive criticism about the blog, please feel free. In closing, I am working hard to make this kind of post script on articles a thing of the past! Help me, help myself. Thank you!

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

 www.ebay.com/usr/enzomatrixlt

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[caption id="attachment_2296" align="aligncenter" width="630"] The Other Shoe's Daniel Hanning[/caption]

 

 

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[1]http://www.ewtn.com/jp2/papal3/titles.htm

 

[2]http://www.pewforum.org/2013/02/13/the-global-catholic-population/

 

[3]http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/a-year-into-his-papacy-pope-francis-is-making-all-the-right-moves/2014/03/13/ad5812f6-a94e-11e3-8599-ce7295b6851c_story.html

 

[4]http://www.scribd.com/doc/187329248/Pope-Francis-s-Nov-24-2013-Evangelii-Gaudium

 

[5]http://catholicism.about.com/od/beliefsteachings/f/FAQ_Deadly_Sins.htm

 

[6]http://www.godstenlaws.com/ten-commandments/

 

[7]http://www.scribd.com/doc/187329248/Pope-Francis-s-Nov-24-2013-Evangelii-Gaudium

 

[8]http://www.scribd.com/doc/187329248/Pope-Francis-s-Nov-24-2013-Evangelii-Gaudium

[9]http://en.radiovaticana.va/news/2013/05/01/pope:_dignity_for_the_dhaka_workers,_dignity_for_the_jobless_/en1-687977