Welcome back, My Dear Readers, to ‘The Whittling of America’ here @ The Other Shoe. Have you ever watched a man whittle a piece of wood into something of wonder and joy? As a young boy I used to watch my maternal grandfather whittle away at anything he could put his hands on. It keep his hands busy and his mind off of drink. When I got older, he taught me how to whittle, too.
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He started out with knife safety, teaching you whittle the wood and not your fingers. Well, I was never that coordinated, at least as a boy. So my first few attempts turned out items colored red. I got better, over time, but even as a young boy watching whittling, I wondered… 'What happens to what is left?'
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Being curious, and outspoken, one day I asked my grandfather; “What happens to what you whittle away, what’s on the floor” He laughed and told me “That part don’t matter much, it’s not part of the design… you just toss it aside and forget it… don’t pay that no nevermind.”
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That didn’t sit well with me, because, don’t you see, that even as a small boy I saw that as wasteful As such, not being wasteful that could not be abided for by me. So when I would finish whittling I would take the scraps off the floor and I would use them for litter for the animal I had, or I would use them with little clue to make something out of them all on their own. But I just couldn’t let those wood scraps on the floor go wasted I had to put them to better use.
My Dear Readers, right now we’re watching the whittling of America. Let me take a moment and tried to explain. What I see in America disturbs me greatly more than even I can put into words (and that, My Dear Readers is QUITE A FEAT). I see this happening now, I can’t take the 'whittling away' at the very core of our country. I see it every day. We all know America ,right now, is only haves and have not’s. The great thing is most thet can read, write and speak ARE ‘haves’.
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You, My Dear Readers, I am willing to bet, are mostly made up of people that have and do not live hand-to-mouth. For a majority of my life I was a have. I had a good job, I made a living wage, I bought a new car, and I had fine clothes. Then one day I was struck by a physical malady that knocked me off my feet. Unfortunately, for me, I really haven’t been able to get up again but... that’s my cross to bear.
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Let me give you an example, that I know everyone can see, and everyone in America right now, believe it or not, is taking part in. Let me say it in one word, Walmart. Walmart started out, when I was a just a glimmer in my father's eye, as Waltons. Guess I dated myself there, some. When I was born; Ike was President and there were just 48 states to this great Union of ours. Walton's store was a very much like a T.G.& Y. My mother, God rest her soul, would never set foot in a Walton’s store.
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And let me tell you why. My mother said, and these are the words not mine, she couldn’t stand walking into a Walton's store because every single time she did? All the women, working there, were crying. My mother told me that the women working there did not make enough money in a day’s work to go home and feed their children much less clothe them. From what my mother told me, when I was just a boy, the women would work all day and at the end of the day they would be paid just two quarters, that’s all. Now my mother was talking about during the war, World War II for those of you not my age or older. These would be women whose husbands were in Europe or the Pacific theater fighting for this great country.
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The wives of these honorable men would work in factories, when there was work. However, in Arkansas, Texas, Louisiana, and Mississippi there wasn’t a lot of that type of work. So Mr. Walton had this brilliant idea. I will open a chain of 'Five-and-Dime' stores (and name them after me) and I’ll give jobs to women whose men are fighting at war. And I will pay them $.50 a day to work. Now these women would work for 8 to 10 hours a day. They would work at very arduousphysical work, and they would get paid $.50. Now, I'll do the math for you, that is a nickel per hour he would pay these women.
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Not much has changed, here in the 21st century, for the Walton family. Because, you see, the Walton's are now the single largest employer in our country, they call it Wal-Mart. Seven out of ten1of all of Wal-Mart’s employees are on; Food Stamps (SNAP-Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program), Medicare,W.I.C. (Women with Infant Children food subsitance program) or some other subsistence programs meant for the impoverished of our country. That 'Greeter' that smiles at you when you go to spend your week's pay, that store associate that helps you pick out the correct T.V., Oven, or dining set you’re looking for, and the boy that picks up the carts from those huge football field sized lots. Seven out of ten of them, all live with help from our governments... that's you and me.
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The smiling, apparently happy, Wal-Mart workers. work 8 to 10 hours a day, to go home and eat their dinner. A Styrofoam cup of Ramen noodles, paid for by you and me. If they become ill, you see, they either die or they get medical care from a Medicare Dr. Again, paid for by you and me. If they are foolish enough to get pregnant the pregnancy is monitored by a Medicare Dr., the child is delivered in a Medicare hospital, and that poor child is to be fed with formula paid for by you and me (W.I.C.).
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I really hope, My Dear Readers, that you feel the vile disgust I feel as I write every word of this article today. Because you see; the war is over, the boys came home, but now it’s not just the women that are living in poverty. Let me repeat something, you might’ve glossed over earlier, that I said before Wal-Mart is the single largestemployer and our nation today = seven out of TEN Walmart employees live below poverty.
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I’m to go to the bathroom and I want you to think about the last sentence in the paragraph above. (Playing theme song from Jepordy...)
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I’m back now, thank you!
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Right now, I am going to do what it is I do best. I’m going to try and paint picture for you, with words [Thank you, God, for that ability] The very next time you go to Wal-Mart, I want you to do this for me; when you see the female cashier, and she is a young woman of 20 or 30, think about her coming home after eight hours standing behind a cash register, working for Wal-Mart, just to feed her infant child formula paid for by W.I.C. (you and me). When you see the young man pushing carts, back into the store, think about him going home and his whole dinner is a cup of Ramen noodles, paid for by Food Stamps (you and me). When you are at the electronics department picking out that newest game your son and daughter is dying for, the young person that handa you that game if they get sick then the doctor, they see, will be paid for by Medicare (you and me). And finally I’d like for you to think about the person that couldn’t get a job at Wal-Mart, because they wouldn’t betray their beliefs. Now they sit outside Wal-Mart dirty and disheveled beaten by society... with a hand out begging for the scraps on the floor left by 'The Whittiling of America'.
Welcome back, My Dear Readers, to The Other Shoe and another edition of ‘MMORPGs and YOU!’. Let me first take a moment to say “Thank You!” to all of you who have been reblogging this series all over the net. It is really quite flattering, and humbling to, to see this sign of appreciation of my work. I have been writing, here at The Other Shoe, for nearly 3 years and this is the first time I had one of My Dear Readers share my work with others. Again, thank you.
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[caption id="attachment_965" align="aligncenter" width="630"] This is a close-up of Danny/Enzomatrix in Guild Wars 2, While in the City.[/caption]
(Close-Up of Enzomatrix/Danny in Guild Wars 2)
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Now, onto the show. Today’s selection is one of my favorite games. I began playing this series, many years ago, with Guild Wars. The original Guild wars MMORPG used a tremendous amount of user feedback and used their (user created) content to make an enthralling and inviting MMORPG. The MMORPG Guild Wars 2 is not the user based game than its predecessor was. However, they took everything they learned from all of us and all of you and put it right into Guild Wars 2.
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This MMORPG has everything that you would expect to see from a game of the genera and more. There are auction houses, professions and trades, all the classes of characters you’ve come to know and enjoy and beautiful vistas and landscapes that are unique to Guild Wars 2. There is one factor completely unique to this game. All the other games that I shared with you so far started out, and continue to have an premium service, a subscription payment based planned. That is not so with Guild Wars 2.
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Guild Wars 2, from its very beginning, has been a free to play game. Now you might say as a game player 'What does that mean to me?' What it means, My Dear Readers, is that unlike the other games I’ve talked about this game doesn’t take things away from you if you don’t subscribe. Guild Wars 2 has no subscription-based products or services you get what everyone else gets and it is all free for you to play. There is no game playing with bag sizes. There is no limitation as to where you could go or what you can see. Guild Wars 2 gives you everything it’s got from the moment you pick it up off the shelf and install it on your computer.
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[caption id="attachment_968" align="aligncenter" width="630"] This is a Screenshot with User Interface and Backpack Open in Guild Wars 2.[/caption]
(Guild Wars 2 Interface With Backpack Open)
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Therefore, My Dear Readers, if you’re in the market to buy an MMORPG game, and from the screenshots and videos this looks like the game for you, I would like to make a suggestion. My suggestion is this when you go to buy Guild Wars 2 buy the ‘Collectors Edition’ package. I say this because it comes with a molded figurine, it comes with a soundtrack, it comes with an in gamepet but most of all the money you save in potential subscription fees and that makes up for the additional cost of the ‘Collectors Edition’.
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I have taken the liberty of taking a picture myself uploading picture myself uploading a picture of the 14 inch standing figure that comes with Guild Wars 2. The ‘Collectors Edition’ also comes with; a picture frame, lithographs prints to go in the picture frame, a metal collectors box to hold it all in, and a book with in game art that just can’t be beat. All in all the ‘Collectors’ Edition’ of Guild Wars 2was the single best investment I have ever made into a MMORPG game, to date.
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[caption id="attachment_975" align="aligncenter" width="630"] This is the standing (14 inch) figure that comes with the Guild Wars 2 Collector's Edition pavkage.[/caption]
Well, that is enough ranting and raving about this great game, let us get to the rest of today’s article… so I can go play. In previous editions of ‘MMORPGs And YOU!’ I have discussed; Classes and Races (Human, Orc, Elf, etc…), and trades and professions. Today I will tell you about the socialization that is included in all of these games. Aye, there’s the rub! With all of these MMORPGs you can play the whole game (well, level to the highest level) without ever once interacting with anyone else. However, that would take away what most think is the best aspect of these games. Socialization is your interaction with other humans that play. If you choose to never interact with other players you will miss a few things. One thing you will miss are instances and Raids! Some of the hardest game play, and best graphics will be found in these places.
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[caption id="attachment_969" align="aligncenter" width="630"] A Screenshot of Danny/Enzomatrix with Spirit Dog Pet in Guild Wars 2.[/caption]
(Danny/Enzomatrix With Spirit Dog With Ships In Background)
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Instances and Raids are dungeons that cannot be completed solo, by yourself. They can range from a simple (beginning) instance with only four other people that last under an hour. All the way to endgame instances. Endgame instances can use up to twenty-five players, all in one party, all in one place at one time. Again, Aye there’s the rub. Getting twenty-five people’s schedules to match is hard enough. Getting twenty-five people that can devote six to eight hours, in this day and age, is a major accomplishment.
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[caption id="attachment_970" align="aligncenter" width="630"] This is a Screenshot of Danny/Enzomatrix running, showing the full User Interface in Guild Wars 2.[/caption]
(Guild Wars 2 Danny/EnzoMatrix Running Showing Full UI)
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That segways nicely into the next subject, Guilds. Guilds are a grouping of players into a virtual family. Yes, just like Real Life, Guilds have dynamics and ‘Good Days’ and ‘Bad Days’. They have infighting and envy, and even romance, too. They are just like big families with all the good and the bad. However, Guilds really are the only way that you will be able to organize the larger and endgame instances and raids. AS I mentioned before, getting twenty-five people together in one place in the game is a bit of an accomplishment. Getting the same twenty-five to stay together for hours upon hours… well it is just insane.
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The way that you work it is with a Que. You start with the original twenty-five and then, as people leave for work or for dinner, you ask the next player in que to enter the raid and join you where you are in the instance. I know, how do you do THAT? In all of these games there are portals. In World of Warcraft you have Warlocks and Warlocks can summon players (from where ever they are) to be right at your side inside the instance.
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[youtube=http://youtu.be/64JKBCCS0KE]
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Let me tell you, some of these endgame instances can take twelve to fourteen hoursto complete. Myself, four years ago, I used to be able to go (start to finish) to a four to six hour instance in WoW called Karazhan. The instance is in Dead Wind Pass, and was just a gas to play, from beginning to end. As well, in the instances is the only way to get the very best PvE (player vs. Environment) gear. These types of gear are called EPIC, and are bound to you when you pick them up. That means that you cannot trade them to other players, or put them up for sale in the auction house. That makes these types of gear, the most coveted of all.
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[caption id="attachment_966" align="aligncenter" width="630"] This is a screenshot close-up of Danny/Enzomatrix in Guild Wars 2.[/caption]
(Danny/Enzomatrix Without User Interface Guild Wars 2)
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Walking back, just a bit, I did miss the introductory level of groups, the Party! Parties are groups of three to five players. They are great for completing starting/begining instances and difficult quests. Most everyone that plays will/or have played in a party. They are easy to get together and you don’t need a Guild. They are very dynamic and have far less of personalities and clashes. You will, likely, be involved in a party in you first day or so of game play. If you play well, in parties, you will likely be invited into a Guild.
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If you get an invite, I say Join! Guilds can be great fun and lead to better friendships in game. You don’t have to stay with just one Guild, the entirety of your game life. You can move from Guild to Guild, just don’t do that too much. Now for the final parts of today’s article, sharing via new social game tools and… marriages. First, if you are a member of Facebookor Google Plus & You Tube you can upload; images and videos directly to the net. Many of the games, that I have shared here, have the features built-in so all you need to do is push two buttons (keys) and Bam! You content and images are up on the web for all to see!
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[caption id="attachment_973" align="aligncenter" width="630"] This is a screenshot of Danny/Enzomatrix with a 'Spirit Dog' pet in Guild Wars 2.[/caption]
(Danny/Enzomatrix With 'Spriti Dog' Pet Guild Wars 2)
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Lastly, Marriages. This is a newer phenomenon in the world of MMORPGs, newer at being integrated into the game. Way back in 2004 in WoW, there were couples even back then. However, some of these games have now incorporated the institution of marriage right into the game. I think that this is just grand! Honestly, if people can be happy… build meaningful relationships and improve their day-to-day life (in the real world) by bounding with another person in a virtual reality, I saw Go for it! Now, these marriages have no legal weight in reality. They just serve the people within the game.
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I am very happy for anyone that has been married in-game. I am happy for them finding someone to care for, someone to share with and some one that cares for them ,too. KUDOS! I say, for all those that find happiness this way.
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[youtube=http://youtu.be/7RH_OtQb87Q]
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This brings us to the end of the this, the fourth edition of this series. At this time I would like to say “Thank You!” for coming and reading. Being here and seeing the videos and images. I am honored that you enjoy my work. Just one last thing, before you go, I would like to share.
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[caption id="attachment_971" align="aligncenter" width="630"] This is a screenshot of the entier User Interface in Guild Wars 2 with PvP balance shown.[/caption]
(Guild Wars 2 Full User Interface with PvP World Balance Map)
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My name is Daniel, and I am a person with severe disabilities. I live in an extended-stay motel, due to financial constraints. The building I live in, and have lived here for ten years, has been sold. The new owners are moving everyone out, soon. Therefore I am asking for help. I am with limited means, I do not charge for my work, I write for free (a rarity, I know).If you are able, financially capable, I would like to ask you to help me. I am raising money via Indiegogo and ask for your support. Just click on that last link… or, if it made it with the reblogg, there will be an applet below. It will show my campaign and how much I have raised. Just click that and give what you want/can. In advance I say “Thank YOU!”
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Have a great weekend, and I hope to see you again soon @ The Other Shoe!
Welcome back, My Dear Readers, to an exciting update in my continued painful and humiliating experiences here @ Cypress Lodge. Today two gentlemen from the Cypress Lodge maintenance staff came to my room… carrying a compressed air canister and a hose.
“Oh, this is going to be good” I said to myself… compressed air and brackish water, how long will I be cleaning up their mess?
Grab a drink and get settled in, this is going to be a bumpy ride followed with a fantastic video. Well, I am all a twitter. (hey, that word DID have a meaning… before.) . So, I let the gentlemen in to my room, I am alone so it takes me time to open the door and let them in. Let me explain, before I let them enter I explained;
“Gentlemen, you do know that this problem is with all the units, not just mine, right?”
The gentlemen nod in acknowledgement, I continue:
“Ok, I will let you in, but please be careful and follow me. I walk slowly… “
I grab my cane and usher the gentlemen into my room. They are in my room no longer then 10 seconds and they are pointing at my computers and my bed and speaking in Spanish to each other. This rubs me the wrong way…. I pass through a curtain that I have put up to separate my ‘living area’ (a space 13x20) and into the ‘kitchenette’ and bathroom. They stop… they look at the air conditioner I have set up to provide air flirtation and keep the living area below 80 degrees. For the past eight years they have only provided 6,000-8,000 BTU units for cooling my entire room. Regularly it would be 75-80 degrees. A year ago I spent $300 of my own money to purchase a moveable unit to get my room to comfortable temp. my emphysema and medications make me ‘feel’ very hot all the time) .
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They point and laugh at my A/C. I walk into the bathroom and step aside. They turn on the water in the bathtub and the sink. Immediately I see brackish water coming out of both! They talk more to themselves in Spanish and laugh some more. . I will let the video speak for me now. However, the most fun? The moment that one of the workers put the compressed air nozzle into the head of the sink faucet with the water running! Water went EVERYWHERE!!! I screamed asking them to stop. I was insanity in its highest form,. IO would have been amused if it were not for everything on the bathroom counter getting flooded… as they laughed. .
Welcome back, My Dear Readers, to a historic article here @ The Other Shoe. This is not another article about MMORPGs, this is not about Curiosity on Mars and it is not Sunday so it is not time for ‘Sunday Funnies’, yet. Today is a different kind of day, one that matches the circumstances I find myself. Now, before I go any further, I want to assure you that all of your favorite articles and series are going to continue here @ The Other Shoe. Have no concerns nor fears, I am going to make every effort I can possibly muster to keep your favorites posting without interruption. Honest? I am kind of addicted to your attention. I live a lonely life, and when I see your ‘Like’s, it makes me feel… a part.
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Now that I have, hopefully, allayed your fears I have some news. Just Wednesday I received some news. I have been made aware that the new management, of the building I live, is changing. The building has been sold and with that comes new management. I was also told that with the new owners will come huge change. I was told that; the manager, the cleaning staff and every other employee has been given notice. They can either move to another property, at a much reduced rate, or they can just be fired. Now, I love logic, and logic dictates that; if this is the way they treat employees (some here for 10+ years) then how will they treat residents? How will they treat residents? Especially residents that, while just defending the right to fresh water and reasonable repairs, have caused them trouble.
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Two years ago, just trying to get back a right I already had before, I took this company to Fair Housing. How do you think they will treat… me? Not well I assure you. I was told that they are going to move everyone out. Everyone so that they can refurbish each and every unit and the building as a whole. Actually, I do not for a moment believe that is their plan, I think that they are saying this so that they can move all of us out. Including me.
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Therefore, (here we get to the crux of this article) I have started a funding campaign @ Indiegogo. Understand, I do not have the financial resources to move. I have just been though a very difficult, and costly, past year. My caregiver/roommate has been without work and he lost his Unemployment benefits for several months. Instead of just turning my back on someone that has helped me; bathe, eat, dress and get to appointments for the past eight years I reached into the saving I had (from the last campaign… and what I saved all on my own) and helped him. I invited him into my home, I helped pay his bills, buy him clothes and bought a bike for him to use to look for work, and get to his part-time jobs.
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This man (his name is Allen) has done everything he can, for me. He has given; time, effort, money everything he has to help me. I could never turn my back on him. Now is no different. Oh, how easy it could be… to put my tail between my legs and go running back to family. Instead? Instead I choose to use what abilities I have to improve my odds and maybe… just maybe gain enough financial support to get us out of this hell hole and into a senior building and a safer life with clean water.
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Therefore, for the next forty-five days I am going to raise money, the best way I can. I will use; Facebook, the Other Shoe (both blogs), and every single connection that I have to raise the money I need and garner freedom.
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Right now, the building I live in? I cannot take my power chair out without two people helping me. I need to change that fact… and I think that I can. However, I cannot do it alone. Alone I have no hope. Alone… I end up on the streets. That, if I can do anything to avert, will not happen. I am willing to write, fight and do everything that I can to keep my happy little ass off the streets. If I have to show up @ my brother’s front door with nothing but my power chair… I will!
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You can help me build a better, safer and cleaner life. For three years now I have written and entertained. I have so much more to share… a whole world!I have it living within me, just dying to be shared. A world of love of hope and it is just dying to come out and be shared. Over the next 45 days I will share even more of ‘The Adventures of Princess Nadia – The Healing Light’ to you, My Dear Readers. Not enough, I am sorry to say, to discourage a publisher from putting my work into print. Hopefully just enough to make you all happy… and share.
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Isn’t that how it works? I share my talents with you, My Dear Readers, and if you are able you share with me. Everyone… PLEASE understand… I am not trying to get rich off of the efforts of others. If I had any other possibility? I would take it in a heart beat.
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So, that is the news, My Dear Readers. I have to move. I am not given a choice I must move and soon. The sooner the better, just to be safe. I have no intention of being harmed by yet another company. I am working hard to get transportation and assistance to get to Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to apply for Section 8. The last time I went there, they were deep in sequester mode and refusing applicants left and right they were. By the end of this month, I am going to make every effort to be in their offices, here in Santa Ana, to apply.
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My Dear Readers, I am doing everything I can to; keep up my health, keep a positive outlook, keep people who might harm me at arm’s length and most of all… keep writing and entertaining the best that I can. You have stood by my side, this far. I hope and pray that you will continue to stand by me. I promise that I will work as hard as my body allows, each and every day, and write all that I can. See, for me, the problem is not the limit on what is inside of me to write… the limit is my ability to put onto paper what already floats around in my head. All for you.
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So, please… go by and see this campaign. Please.. ‘Share’ and ‘Like’ and tell all your friends and family. I am working as hard as I can to help myself to stand on my own two feet.
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This campaign starts this Friday morning and continue for the next 45 days. I will provide, right here; the campaign location, my goals, and daily updates for all to read. Once the campaign is over? I will show you how the money is spent. I will show you videos of the places I look at to move. Finally, I will show you the move itself via video. Everything I will share, transparency through and through. All I ask, in return, is that you give if you can… and SHARE SHARE SHARE!!! My campaign’s success will greatly depend on how much everyone helps me share the campaign.
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Do you know anyone in broadcasting? Anyone in public affairs or community boards? SHARE! Word of mouth = $$$$ it is just that simple. I am going to do all the work. The videos, the articles the updates and the ‘Shout-Outs’, too. Your help, in this regard, will be essential and ensure success. This is not something I want, this is something I need.
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As always, I am deeply honored that you took time from your busy day and spent it here @ The Other Shoe
Welcome back, My Dear Readers, to what shouldn't bem happening still. Sunday afternoon, and I just want to take a bath and relax. Low and behold, I cannot. This now happens more times than not. Without your help, My Dear Readers, there is nothing I can do. With you all at my side, there is no limit to what we can do.
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Stay tuned for soon I will be coming to you. I will be asking for your support and assitance to change this dynamic. Until then...
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ENJOY!
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[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="224"] Daniel's Relocation and General Assistance Fiunding Canpaign[/caption]
Welcome back, My Dear Readers, to this week’s edition of ‘A Week In Review’. My week has been preoccupied with my ongoing battle to get clean fresh water. This issue reflects that goal, and my preoccupation. Later today I will post, yet another, plea. A plea to have the owners of this building do the honorable thing and either provide clean fresh drinking water to myself and the residents of this building or provide me with the means (financial) to move. Neither will happen, I know this in my heat.
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Therefore, this week I announced (aside from the 100 articles at the other The Other Shoe) that I will be starting another funding campaign. Against my grain, I do this, but to save myself from ending up homeless. There will be more announcements, in the following week, about where and when and how anyone that wants to… can help.
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Without further Adieu here are my article published this week @ The Other Shoe.
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Cypress Lodge Brown Water Still July 1, 2013 : “This is getting ridiculous, don’t you think? An American should be able to get FRESH and CLEAN water in America in 2013. Right? I have spoken to the more times than I can count. They have not shown reasonable concern for the safety of my neighbors, or me.”
July 5th, 2013 Brown Water AGAIN at the Cypress Lodge : “Welcome back, My dear Readers, to The Other Shoe! I hope everyone had a safe and enjoyable ‘Forth’ and that your animals are safe, too. I know Alexander was quite scared, yesterday, with all the bangs, booms, and pops. I kept him in bed with me the whole day, he was shaking so hard.”
MMORPGs And YOU! – Part Three – Aion : “Welcome back, My Dear Readers, to The Other Shoe and another edition of ‘MMORPGs and YOU!’ Today’s edition, of this fine series of articles, will cover the game Aion. Aion is a game by the company NCSoft. You might well know that company for its creations; Guild Wars and Guild Wars 2, Lineage 2,andBlade and Soul. I must be true and tell you of all the games that I have just listed I have played all but one, Blade and Soul.”
100 Articles Here @ Word Press – The Other Shoe: “Welcome back, My Dear Readers, to a celebration @ The Other Shoe! (at Word Press) It was not so long ago that I started this second blog here at Word Press. For many reasons, I did this, not the least of was this; to ensure that my Readers anytime of the day could find my content to read on the world wide web. See, the mainThe Other Shoeover at Blog.com has problems staying ‘up’. All too often I go there to work, and find the site broken and unable I am to work. A year ago I resolved to fix this infuriating problem, once and for all. ‘You should mirror your content’ I heard a voice in my head say ‘That way your Readers have content no matter what… and you can work uninterrupted when ever you want!’”
Sunday Funnies July 7th, 2013 : “Welcome back , My Dear Readers, to another edition of the ‘Sunday Funnies’ here @ The Other Shoe. Today I have another short video of Alexander Hanning. This week he is stashing curly fires (from Arby’s) in his ‘Vacation home’. (His self-constructed home in the sidearm of my bed-desk that holds my computer. That way he can; stash food, be alone, get some privacy, sleep all without leaving Daddy’s side. I think he was under the impression winter was on the horizon because he took, all together, ten or twelve fries with him that day.”
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That about rounds out the week here @ The Other Shoe. I have kept my word, it is my bond, to bring you My Dear Readers all of the basic content I have promised. I have published; ‘MMORPGs And YOU!’ and ‘A Week In Review’ and my ‘Sunday Funnies’. I not only do this because I promised, I will admit. I do this because I love to, that is the heart of it. I do it because I like making people; think, smile and even laugh sometimes. I do it because I can, and I know that I should. However, this week… the past two months have weighed heavily on me.
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Not The Other Shoe, something else has dug under my skin. I have tried to share, even started the Word doc and the draft here, but it just won’t come out. I am working as hard as my body will allow, on ‘The Adventures of Princess Nadia’ and The Other Shoe. I keep working, frantically at times, knowing that if I can get things finished… then some money I might make. That money would empower me to take my life back… get somewhere, safe. Take care of myself and gain some independence, too.
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Independence means the world to me. Standing on my own two feet. Not relying on other kindness or patience means more now than ever before. Not being independent means people can hurt you. They can get in your head. They can trample feelings and make one feel worthless, simply because they are different. I waited a lifetime to ‘come out of the closet’. Only to have this disability go and make me different again.
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All too many people see disability as things it is not. They see the disabled as weak and worthless and even a social drain. Some can be more than unkind and take advantage of disabled people, even in their home. Do you have nay idea just how that can make a person feel unsafe even in their home? Anyway, I have probably said too much.
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Have a great Sunday and be sure to check out the ‘Sunday Funnies’ right here at The Other Shoe.
Welcome back , My Dear Readers, to another eidtion of the 'Sunday Funnies' here @ The Other Shoe. Today I have another short video of Alexander Hanning. This week he is stashing curly fires (from Arby's) in his 'Vacation home'. (His self-constructed home in the sidearm of my bed-desk that holds my computer. That way he can; stash food, be alone, get some privacy, sleep all without leaving Daddy's side. I think he was under the impression winter was on the horizon because he took, all together, ten or twelve fries with him that day.
Welcome back, My Dear Readers, to a celebration @ The Other Shoe! (at Word Press) It was not so long ago that I started this second blog here at Word Press. For many reasons, I did this, not the least of was this; to ensure that my Readers anytime of the day could find my content to read on the world wide web. See, the mainThe Other Shoeover at Blog.com has problems staying ‘up’. All too often I go there to work, and find the site broken and unable I am to work. A year ago I resolved to fix this infuriating problem, once and for all. ‘You should mirror your content’ I heard a voice in my head say ‘That way your Readers have content no matter what… and you can work uninterrupted when ever you want!’
“Good idea!” I sat up in my bed and said, and with that bout of insanity this blog was born. J So, now on this bright and sunny summer Saturday I get to celebrate ‘One Hundred’ (102 to be exact) a ‘Centennial‘ of sorts. This would seem a ‘chore’ if not I did not enjoy writing each word.
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So, to celebrate this achievement of mine I have decided to write, an article that ‘recaps’ the best and the worst of the past 100 posts I have published right here @ The Other Shoe.
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My best and most recent will go first:
·MMORPGs and YOU – Part Three – Aion: “For everyone out there that has ever wanted to fly like a bird? I would suggest trying out Aion, at least for a few weeks. The whole sensation of flight is well executed in the game and very convincing. It really is the factor that just keeps bringing me back to Aion. In the three years Aion has been live, they have added whole new areas, arenas and continents. They take lessons learned from their other games, and bring them to Aion.
·Sunday Funnies (The First): “I get so serious; I have to admit, so focused on the topic, and how to present. I often forget, I often neglect, to stop find some light at the end. I forget to share happiness I forget to share love. I forget to be humorous I forget to have fun. No better time than the present, eh?”
·The Mars Report in 3D! : “Welcome, My Dear Readers, to the 3D issue of The Mars Report here @ The Other Shoe. This entire issue will contain nothing but three-dimensional images from curiosity on Mars. I have wanted to bring a three-dimensional issue to you, My Dear Readers, but until this week the NASA JPL website just did not have enough images. That situation changed this week.”
·My Dad – A Father’s Day Tribute : “This is a tribute to my father, Ken Hanning. Not until the past two years, did I find out I hardly spoke about him in high school and college. Not sure ‘Why’ I didn’t talk about my father, at that time… most likely because it came after the divorce. My father was very talented; he mastered more technologies and sciences that, in another time, he would have been thought a genius. The image below, I just recently pieced together where it was taken.”
These are just a few highlights of the centennial I have written here at Word Press The Other Shoe. However, this is just the beginning of a long journey we are on. A journey to expand our horizons, to enlighten our minds, to look over the horizon and into other peoples’ lives. To see the world that we live, from another point of view, and in so doing achieve betterment in our lives… in our world. That is all I have ever wanted to do.
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Regardless if it is ‘The Mars Report’ and an excerpt from ‘The Adventures of Princess Nadia’ into each and every article I write I put a bit of myself. Open to you, I do, the very depths of my knowledge, and perhaps a glimpse of my soul. I do this out of love for you, My Dear Readers, and out of respect. You take time out of your busy days to come and visit. You take the time to glimpse of the world through my eyes that I will never forget! You honor me with your favor, you touch me with your kind words… and I will never forget!
Welcome back, My Dear Readers, to The Other Shoe and another edition of ‘MMORPGs and YOU!’ Today’s edition, of this fine series of articles, will cover the game Aion. Aion is a game by the company NCSoft. You might well know that company for its creations; Guild Wars and Guild Wars 2, Lineage 2, andBlade and Soul. I must be true and tell you of all the games that I have just listed I have played all but one, Blade and Soul.
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If I were a beginning MMORPG player I can tell you true. I would start with an NCsoft title for my first MMORPG gaming experience you just cannot go wrong. Their games are highly stylized full of beautiful images and static form. Their games are the most popular, to date, in South Korea. Whereas the game characters and environments may be highly stylized the game mechanics are quite simple.
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(Enzo Working An Anvil Blacksmithing in Aion)
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Aion on has just achieved version number Four ‘Dark Betrayal’. The single greatest difference between Aion on and all the other MMORPGs I have written about is? Flight. In every other game I have written about to date, and every other MMORPG I know, in order for your character to take flight you must obtain or purchase a flying mount. Aion on is the exception to that rule.
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In Aionafter level twenty, you will obtain wings.(not buffalo wings, like from Pizza Hut) That’s right you read that correctly you’ll fly like a bird with your own wings! Now for most people being able to fly like an angel is an incredible thought alone. However, for a disabled person like me being able to take flight with your own wings is something incredible and nothing short of divine.
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[youtube=http://youtu.be/UL6Za4ColH0]
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As you develop your ability, throughout the game, and upgrade your wings you will be able to fly; longer, faster, and higher than each level before. As if that’s not enough, My Dear Readers, in Aion you will not only be able to fly to get around town or from one quest to another you will also be able to take fight in PvP 9player vs. Player). That’s right Dear Readers you will be able to fly and fight your enemies at the same time. Now tell me that is not incredible.
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(Danny/Enzo Standing by Spacial Portal In Aion)
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Now when I tell you that Aion it is a stylized what I mean to say is that every character in the game is beautiful and dressed in fine silken garments. For guys, if you have issues with your masculinity then this might not be the game for you. If you have uncomfortable thoughts, when looking at attractive guys and men, this game is not for you. However, if you like looking at beautiful men and women dressed in fine garments and beautiful armor? Well then, Aion is the game for you! If the attractiveness of yourself and your fellow gamers is just a non-issue for you? Then this is the game for you, too!
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(This is a Screenshot of My Toon-Enzo in Aion)
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Aion is just the most attractive and engaging MMORPG that I have played so far. The game mechanics are well developed, the classes are balanced well and gathering and professions can be learned by all. That makes for a nice segway, because today I am going to discuss; Trades and Gathering.
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In all of the games of the genera all players can harvest items (raw materials) and turn them into goods for use or sale. With ‘Alchemy’ one would choose picking herbs to complement their alchemy. If you would like to make armor and swords you would pick mining. And finally if you’d like to make a leather armor and packs and the like you would pick. Skinning. Picking herbs, mining or, or skinning these are all called gathering professions. Whether it is alchemy, armor making or leather making these are all production professions or trades. It is best to pick a complimentary gathering profession matching your production profession. That way you harvest the raw materials for the items you create for your friends or for yourself, or for trade.
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[youtube=http://youtu.be/wR0sKslHkvU]
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Each and every one of the games has versions of these three basic trades. In some games you can master only one. However, in Aion you can train and create in all the available professions. As well as these professions listed all of these games also allow you to do cooking and fishing! That’s right; you can fish and catch items that you can then make into meals. You can skin animals and make food from their meat, if you choose. These foods can then be used by; yourself, your friends or Guild mates or be put up for sale at the Auction House. For many players these professions and trades can be a great benefit. Either by the money they make you or by being able to share foodstuffs that have buffs for you and your friends.
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(Danny/Enzo With Dinosaurs in Aion)
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Some of these foods can be set out like a banquet and be shared with everyone in your party or group. This can make a person quite popular, when you are ready to enter an instance (dungeon) and you bring out a feast for everyone to enjoy and get a special power to help in the instance.
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(Screenshot With Danny/Enzo Showing 'Chat Box' and User Interface)
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Back to Aion. Aion has been around since 2009 and just recently went Free To Play. Unlike many of the FTP games, there are no level or geographic limits to Aion’s Free to play. However, if you do pay the subscription fee you will; level faster, ride your mount faster, have more item spots in your bags and many other improvements to game play. Of all the free to play models I enjoy Aion’s the best.
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As I mentioned earlier, in Aion you can fly. Like a bird you can, and it is wild. You actually start to fly in the beginning city/area. As you go up in levels your flight greatly improves. Once you get to level 30, or so, you are able to fly and fight in PvP (Player vs. Player) mode and attack your enemies during flight. This can be confusing and difficult, at first. However, once you get the hang of it? It can be the very best way to play PvP.
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(Danny/Enzo in Sanctum with Trees Behind in Aion)
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For everyone out there that has ever wanted to fly like a bird? I would suggest trying out Aion, at least for a few weeks. The whole sensation of flight is well executed in the game and very convincing. It really is the factor that just keeps bringing me back to Aion. In the three years Aion has been live, they have added whole new areas, arenas and continents. They take lessons learned from their other games, and bring them to Aion.
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Aion runs fine on any standard desktop or notebook computer. Smaller laptops, with integrated graphics (meaning no dedicated separate graphics chip or board) may have some difficulties. See the web site for details (just click on the name Aion anywhere in this article and it will take you there). Finally, I would like to tell you about the pets that are in this game. There are pets you can buy, pets you can train and pets you can find. After a year of the game you will have a virtual zoo of pets that you can play with and train and feed. Not all of these games have pets for all players. However, of all the games that does have pets? Aion is the best.
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(Danny/Enzo Using Alchemy to Make Potions in Aion)
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Well, My Dear Readers, that brings us to the end of another edition of MMORPGs and YOU! I, once again, must “Thank YOU” for coming to The Other Shoe. I know that you have a lot of choices for news and entertainment and I am honored that you choose The Other Shoe. Have a great rest of your weekend and I will see you soon.
Welcome back, My dear Readers, to The Other Shoe! I hope everyone had a safe and enjoyable ‘Forth’ and that your animals are safe, too. I know Alexander was quite scared, yesterday, with all the bangs, booms, and pops. I kept him in bed with me the whole day, he was shaking so hard.
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A special ‘Thank you” for coming by today. I took some much needed time off, to rest and recoup. However, I am not happy as why I am writing this article today. The first reason is the obvious one.
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If you are like most Americans you have already viewed the video below. Yes, brown icky water is my first reason for this article today. I have tried my hardest to get this company to treat me (and the residents here) with a modicum of respect. One can only assume that honor and dignity are not in their make. It seems that rather than reason and logic dictates their actions and intent. Rather, it is clear that bullying and indifference best suits this company’s management.
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I have written and reasoned,. I have begged and complained. Nothing has worked to resolve my complaints, and bring fresh clean water to me the residents. On Monday I will be filing a formal complaint with the California Department of Fair Employment and Housing, it seems, is the only course of action that remains.
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This will take months to resolve, and I will (in the end) win. However, this is not a ‘cure-all’ as this property has been sold. Escrow is closing, from what I am told, in the next two weeks. The intentions of these new owners, nobody knows. However, it is my understanding that they will evict all of us, in order to completely remodel all the units contained therein. That brings me to the second and most difficult topic of this article today.
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Either because of the ‘Bad Water’ or the new owners’ intent. It appears I must move from a place I have called home for the past ten years. At a worst time, this could not possibly have happened. Right now, and for the foreseeable future, I am without the resources to move. Over the past year I have done my best to scrimp and save, pinch pennies and do without. Even today, I am going to make the video for the campaign, but I hesitate to spend the $15 to get my haircut.
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Most likely I will relent and get it cut, because we never have ‘second chances’ at first impressions and with this video I want to make the best impression I possibly can. Though, there is a good chance I will make the video without the much needed haircut. In seven years I have not even allowed myself the luxury of getting new glasses. Medicare will pay for the exam, but not for the glasses. I know, it sounds insane and hard to believe, but fact it is cold and hard as it is true.
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Timing is everything. Is one of my favorite sayings. I learned it on stage, as a young man. Speak your line at the right time, with the right inflection and the whole house will come down with laughter. For any of you that came and saw me in ‘The Man Who Came to Dinner’, one fateful performance, you will remember this “Banjo!” The words of an unknown child in the audience. I had said the word first, and this child (of no more than two) heard my voice say that word and he repeated it, quite loud, and the house did come down... in laughter. Timing is everything.
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This is not the timing I would choose, right now this month or two, but now is when events dictate my actions. I can no longer live in a building that provides brown water, alone. I have a bad feeling, about the investment bankers that are buying this building for seven million dollars. They say they want to turn it into a ‘Senior Building’ but they have not contacted any of the seniors in this building. Not the disabled and not anyone else. However, just three months ago, a similar lot across the street was purchased. They tore down the buildings there, and built condos instead. I fear that eventuality awaits this building, too.
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Therefore, against my better judgment I am about to create, a funding campaign to help me raise the funs I need to find a permanent place to stay. A place with fresh clean water, a place where they provide proper housing for people with disabilities is what I seek. I was really hoping to have Section Eight in place, before I charted this course. However, July 30th I have an appointment at Housing and Urban Development to (again) apply for Housing assistance. I am keeping my fingers crossed, that this campaign will be fruitful and that when it is done, I will have my much needed approval for Housing Assistance (also known as Section 8).
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The last time that I applied, they had put a freeze on applications due to “budget constraints”. Washington is still gripped in intransigence, but I am hoping that I find that they have funding to help me this time.
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I am not one to put all my eggs in one basket, and hope for the best. So I am starting a campaign to either move me or supplement. In the next day or two I will have everything set, and come to The Other Shoe to announce it has started. I really have no choice. To stay here is to expose myself and my roommate (and Alexander) to rusty foul water, to drink and to bathe. Expose us to the whims and avarice of men I do not know. I cannot predict the intention of the buyers of this building. However, one thing I can tell you.
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If it was something good that was going to happen. Say an improvement in the quality of our lives, one would reasonably assume that they would be happy to share this news to everyone here, or at least those of us that are seniors or disabled and that have been here for a decade. (That would be me and one other resident).
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Rather than wait, hope for the best, and depend on a last minuet intervention on my behalf. I am taking charge, the best I can, of this situation and acting to protect myself and those that I love. Aye, there IS a rub!
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Previously in my life, I have worked for betterment of other people, and then myself. Before, I would have stood and fought for my neighbors and the neighboring children, and then tended to my needs. Not this time, I am afraid. I have filed complaints about the brown water, and I will file one more with State Fair Housing, but I have to put myself (and my safety, for the first time in my life) first.
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I refuse to sit and wait for the other shoe to drop.
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Below is a video, that I made today. It shows the continuing brown water of which I complain. Today I have included proof of when the video is being made. It has become obvious that this management company has deemed, our safety and health come second to their profitability. They are selling this building and then they are done. [This also plays into my reasoning that they will demolish and rebuild. Otherwise the new owners would be concerned about the brown water, too]
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Please, enjoy the video and remember to ‘Like’ and ‘Share’. More now than anytime, now I ask for your help. Help to spread the word, share my work. By ‘Liking’ and article and ‘Sharing’ my posts (be it on Facebook or Pinintrest or any other social media) you help me to Spread The Word! I am most likely to succeed with a thousand people giving just $5 than if I place my hopes and future in the hands of some unknown wealthy benefactor.
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I absolutely hate asking for assistance. I took me nine years to apply for food stamps, simply because I was not raised to ask for assistance. My father made his own future, from the sweat of his on brow. If my family went on vacation it was because he spent the whole year, before, in a hot (or freezing) garage slaving over other peoples' broken TVs and radios. I helped all I could, because I understood that our vacations (and the dictate if we had one at all) all fell to him and what he could do in that garage. I would hold solder or parts in place. I would look for tubes in the attic or metal parts in his cigar boxes.
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So, I am following in my father’s footsteps, and taking my fate into my own hands. When all is said and done, if I end up on the streets. I will know in my heart that I tired! I will make videos, I will post articles, I will notify radio and TV. I will make every effort I can to raise the money I need. I will do everything I can to entertain and share, with the hopes that you will show that you care.
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However, for now just take a look. A look at the water that we, the residents of the Cypress Lodge, have to; drink, wash clothes and dishes and our bodies… in.
P.S. The campaign will be @ Indiegogo dot com. I will share the URL just as soon as it is 'Live' Thank you for your support.
This is getting ridiculous, don't you think? An American should be able to get FRESH and CLEAN water in America in 2013. Right? I have spoken to the more times than I can count. They have not shown reasonable concern for the safety of my neighbors, or me.
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Therefore, tomorrow I am reporting t his company to the EPA for failing to provide “Drinkable Water” to the residents of this building. I was a property manager (off and on) since 1981. In San Diego, in Colorado Springs and now in Southern California (Westwood and Stanton). One thing I know property managers and owners must provide to all residents (regardless of how they may feel about them) is “fresh clean water for drinking and cleaning”. This company (Cypress Lodge and Satellite Management) have taken advantage of myself and the other residents for too long. It simply must end.
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Below is a short video of the water being brown, once again. As well, there is a nice beauty tip, near the end. Thanks for dropping by, My Dear Readers. As always, I know that you have many sources of news and entertainment and I am honored that you come to The Other Shoe.
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[youtube=http://youtu.be/N-7OADcMMsk]
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P.S. I know that my health is really bad, today, but I just cannot stop. This is heinous and I simply must make them accountable… no one else will. I PROMISE I will get some rest now… well, I WILL try.
Welcome back My Dear Readers to The Other Shoe. Today I woke with a fever that’s really kicking my butt. However, the last two weeks have been so enjoyable I just couldn’t disappear. I have had this low-grade fever, off and on, for the past six months. I mentioned it to my doctor, but he thought of it naught.
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One thing I wanted to tell you, My Dear Readers, is the joy I have felt these past two weeks with you. I have some joyous information to share, and that’s the only reason I wrote today, I had a good friend named Brenda Blackwelder (I hope she doesn’t mind me mentioning her name) share a link to the article ‘The South is More Racist. Is That True?’and my traffic spiked last Friday. I had the largest spike @ The Other Shoe that I have had an nearly a year, my previous record was 32.
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This past Friday we had 29 different visitors visit us here @ The Other Shoe. This is the biggest spike I have seen and I’d like to thank Brenda for what she has done. “Thank you, Brenda, for sharing my link. You gave my blog quite the boost! Thank YOU!” I have been working for months now to keep my traffic sustained. I am very proud of myself for writing all I have in the past two weeks.
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However, it appears I pushed myself to a limit. A limit I did not know I have, but that doesn’t change how I feel. I will be reposting links of the articles I have recently written, on Facebook, off and on for the next couple of days. Although I have to tell you I cannot see the writing for at least the next couple of days.
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I don’t know which pains me more, the pain I feel right now or the logging I’ll feel later today. Writing for you, My Dear Readers, brings me more joy and a feeling of unity that I don’t know if you can understand. When I reach out to my readers and write something you really like I can see it in my traffic report numbers later that night. Each and every time the numbers go higher it makes me smile and feel warm inside because I know I’ve reached you and that’s all I ever wanted to do.
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I will do my best to be back just as soon as I can I really want to. But right now there’s a burning it up in the top of my head all down my spine by yet it feels like someone’s poured molten lava through the top of my head. Actually, I am quite surprised I have made it this far, today. But… I just needed to touch base with you… let you know I am thinking of you and that I will return as quickly as I can.
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When I come back, I hope to have for you all that I promised.. and more. However, right now I have to step away… for a little bit… and see if I can get this lava out of my spinal cord.
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[Just between you and me, My Dear Readers… am I ‘rhyming’ all the time? Something is happening… ‘mentally’ that I don’t wuite understand. Everything I write or say… seems to have a ‘rhythm’ or a ‘rhyme’. At first I was just entertained by this phenomenon… but now I have a growing concern. Is this buring sensation.. this fever I have… something more? I see my doctor on the 23rd and I plan on telling him all about it; the fevers, the night sweats, the burning sensation in my spinal cord… and this darn ‘rhyming’ that is going on in my head. Heck, he might already know, when I get there, I told him of my blog. He knows I sued it to help me raise the money for my power chair, last fall.]
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With that, I will take my leave and bid you “Adieu!’”. I hope you all have a wonderful Monday and a great week, too. See you soon!
