The Other Shoe

Monday, June 8, 2015

The Mars Report - June 8th, 2015

Add caption

(Curiosity Self-Portrait at 'Mojave' Site on Mount Sharp)

.
Welcome back My Dear Shoevians to The Other Shoe. As I promised last week, I am going to give it my very best to provide a full week’s worth of material and regular articles. Starting, today, with this full edition of ‘The Mars Report ’at The Other Shoe. Earlier today I started my search for images for this edition, and found that Curiosity has yet to send, of NASA has not processed, any newer images for me to share. Images, that is, from the Martian surface. I sorted through a large amount of RAW images, images that come via navigation, testing, and maneuvering and found them not up to my standards for publication.
.
Therefore, I have opted to split this edition between a few images from/of Curiosity and the rest of the edition with images and information about the next NASA/JPL rover Insight [2]! She is still in sterile rooms and undergoing assembly, but NASA is anxious to build support. They are releasing a steady stream of images of the testing and assembly process, and I have some of those images for you, My Dear Shoevians! .
Our very first image, above, is a ‘Selfie’ taken by Curiosity January 2015. IT is a composite of many dozens of images taken by the Mars Hand Lens Imager (MAHLI) camera at the end of the rover's robotic arm. I try to start out each and every edition of “The Mars Report’ with an image of the main subject of this series, the Martian rover Curiosity. We Shoevians have been following the sojourn of Curiosity since it’s landing at Bradbury Point August 6^th, 2012. That means we will be celebrating its third year, this August, so mark your calendars!
.

[3]

(RAW Image MastCam Right May 30th 2015)

.
The image, above, was taken just nine days ago, May 30^th 2105, from Curiosity’s MastCam right imager. This shows the ground, to the right, of the rover when last they took positional images. This shows a mixed terrain with sandstone and harder rock outcrops. This image was taken from Mount Sharp as Curiosity descends from the summit.
.

[4]

(RAW Image MastCam Left May 30th 2015)

.
Our next image, for today, is from the same MastCam from the Curiosity rover, but it was taken from the right side imager. Again, we can clearly see the mixed terrain of sandstone rock and harder outcrops. When we look at these images, side-by-side, it is easy to imagine that Curiosity is moving down crevice or gully for its decent. These outcrops stretch out higher than the viewing range of the MastCam. These rock faces must stretch over fifteen feet in height. What I wouldn’t give of moving images… a video of Curiosity’s decent, as see from these MastCam images.
.
For our next, and final, image of/from Mars I have picked an incredibly impressive image taken from the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter on March 309^th 2015. Taken with the High Resolution Imaging Science Experiment (HiRISE) camera, it shows a “fresh” crater on the Martian surface. The crater is “fresh” in geologic terms, but rather old when measured by the human lifespan. This impact carter is located in the the Sirenum Fossae region of Mars.
.

[5]

(Fresh Crater Near Sirenum Fossae Region of Mars)

.
That, My Dear Shoevians, brings us to the end of the first part of today’s edition of ‘The Mars Report’. There is one image, at the end of the article, taken by the Curiosity rover. It is of a Martian Sunset taken from Mount Sharp. Last week’s edition end with the same image, but it was a Gif and you could watch as the sun set over the Martian horizon. Today, we have a solitary image as the sun sets under the horizon. Hang on, that comes at the end of this article.
.
Our next several images are all of the upcoming Martian Lander from NASA named ‘Insight’. This will not be a rover like; Spirit, Opportunity and Curiosity. This spacecraft will land on the Martian surface at a prime location, as scouted by the previous rovers. This location has been picked as most beneficial to the project with the highest concentrations of geologic formations and rock outcrops for analysis.
.
Our fist image, in this series, if of the Insight Lander completely deployed, exactly as it will be when it lands on the Martian surface. With its solar array deployed, Insight looks a great deal like some prehistoric bug. One aspect, of the solar arrays, I am sure all of you, My Dear Shoevians, will notice. They look nothing like the solar; sails, shields, and arrays of the past several decades. Solar cell technology has changed, substantially, over the past decade. These solar arrays take full advantage of these changes and improvements. They area called “ gallium arsenide solar array panels”. For more information on the process, materials, and other improvements, click on the embedded link in the name, above. For most of us? The fact that they are dark black and orange, is well enough to know.
.

[6]

(InSight Lander in Mars-Surface Configuration)

.
Awesome looking, huh? The image of the InSight Lander was taken inside a clean room at Lockheed Martin Space Systems, Denver. These solar arrays were deployed in this test while in the clean room. Can you imagine? You are taking a casual stroll, on the Martian surface, when you come upon this monster? WTH? J
.
Now, My Dear Shoevians, we are going to go backward, chronologically speaking, for our next image. I wanted to show the InSight lander with the solar array fully deployed, first. It is visually striking, and helps to drawn in new readers. However, the next image I have for you was actually taken prior to the image above. This image is of the solar array during assembly and prior to the testing that see in our image above.
.

[7]

(Solar-Array Deployment Test for InSight)

.
Now, My Dear Shoevians, we move back even further in time for our next image. This image shows the development team during the initial assembly of the InSight lander in January of 2015. Again, we are in t clean room, with technicians donned in sterile suits and masks. In our next image, of this edition of “The Mars Report’, we see the InSight lander in its initial assembly.
.

[8]

(InSight Lander in Assembly)

.
Now, My Dear Shoevians, let’s get back into the ‘Way-Back Machine’ and move forward in time. Forward past the image that started this half of the article, and forward to January of this year. This is a shot of the InSight lander, completely assembled, and folded into its ‘stowed’ configuration. These are unique images, My Dear Shoevians. Images that NASA always takes, but usually does not release until just prior to a spacecraft’s landing. NASA is working hard to improve overall attention to its projects and accomplishments.
.

[9]

(Lowering Back Shell onto Stowed InSight Lander)

.
Well, My Dear Shoevians, that brings us to the end, and close, of this edition of “The Mars Report’. As I indicated, on Facebook, earlier this week you can look forward to; ‘Lost in Space’, ‘News from Around the World’, ‘A week in Review’ and ‘Sunday Funnies’. My cancer surgery will not be until next week… or the week after. So, I am determined to bring as much content to you, My Dear Shoevians, as I can… before I ‘go under the knife’.
.
Our last image of the day is a revisit of our closing image from last week’s edition. This is a Martian Sunset as captured by the Curiosity Martian rover. I do not think it will become as iconic as the Earth-set taken on the moon, but who knows?
.

[10]

(Sunset in Mars' Gale Crater Curiosity Image)

.
As always, My Dear Shoevians, I would like to express my deep and heartfelt “Thanks!” for dropping by and reading my work. If you have enjoyed your visit, be sure to tell others about ‘The Other Shoe’ and ‘The Mars Report’. Your kind words, ‘Shares’ and ‘Likes’ because that is what drives new traffic and more and more Shoevians.
.
Thank you!
.
Adieu!
.

: Danny Hanning Writer, Editor, Research Staff and Publisher at The Other Shoe

[1] http://www.nasa.gov/jpl/msl/pia19142
[2] http://insight.jpl.nasa.gov/home.cfm
[3] http://mars.jpl.nasa.gov/msl-raw-images/msss/01000/mcam/1000MR0044630480503608E02_DXXX.jpg
[4] http://mars.jpl.nasa.gov/msl-raw-images/msss/01000/mcam/1000ML0044630500405147E01_DXXX.jpg
[5] http://www.nasa.gov/image-feature/fresh-crater-near-sirenum-fossae-region-of-mars
[6] http://www.nasa.gov/jpl/pia19664/insight-lander-in-mars-surface-configuration
[7] http://www.nasa.gov/jpl/pia19665/solar-array-deployment-test-for-insight/
[8] http://www.nasa.gov/sites/default/files/thumbnails/image/pia19402_insight_lander_in_assembly_1-15-15a.jpg
[9] http://www.nasa.gov/sites/default/files/thumbnails/image/pia19666_20150429_insight_backshell_install3.jpg
[10] http://mars.nasa.gov/msl/multimedia/images/?ImageID=7189
.

Monday, June 1, 2015

The Mars Report - June 1st, 2015

[1]

(Curiosity Rover Near Mount Sharp Peak)

Welcome back My Dear Shoevians to The Other Shoe and another edition of ‘The Mars Report’. Each and every week I work to bring all of you, My Dear Shoevians, the latest news, science and images from the Martian surface. Today I have some incredible images, one reminiscent of a very popular poster of the early 70’s. This will be only the second edition of ‘The Mars Report’ to be published ‘Tri-Blog’. Meaning that all of you, My Dear Shoevians, can read this article and view these incredible images from any one of my three blog locations.
.
First, my primary blog location is at Blog Dot Com www.theothershoe.blog.com/ . The second location is at Word Press www.theothersshoe.wordpress.com/ . The third and final location is at BlogSpot www.theothersshoe.blogspot.com/ . I encourage everyone to take a look at all three locations and decide which location and layout serves your needs best. This does make for a bit more work, on my part, but I have high hopes that these efforts will not go without reward, in that I hope to continue to expand my readership = more My Dear Shoevians!
.
Though, I may have been absent the past week (due to mounting pain and doctor appointments leading to surgery in the near future) NASA/JPL and the Martian rover Curiosity spent that time productively. Today I have images; showing the course of Curiosity over this spring, an unusual ultraviolet aura on the Martian surface, to a sunset sequence on the Martian surface at Gale Crater. This proves to be an exciting edition packed full of spectacular images from the Martian surface, let’s get started!
.

[2]

(Curiosity's Path to Some Spring 2015 Study Sites)

.
At the risk of repeating myself, the image above is the course plotted for Curiosity over the spring. Taking us, and the rover Curiosity, from Jocko Butte all the way around Logan’s Pass to the base of Mount Stimson. This journey will take the nest three months to traverse, and I will share images all along the way. My Dear Shoevians, you are in a unique place… a unique blog, to see this travel relayed to you, MY Dear Shoevians, right here on the pages of The Other Shoe.
.

[3]

(Rover's Reward for Climbing: Exposed Geological Contact)

.
Above we see an example of “geologic contact” as seen by Curiosity upon arrival at the top of Mount Sharp. This image shows The Martian outcrop where pale rock meets darker overlying rock near the middle of this May 21, 2015. Notice the difference in shading, visible even in this black and white photo. This image was taken from the MastCam of the Curiosity rover.
.

[4]

(MAVEN Captures Ultraviolet Aurora on Mars)

.
Now, My Dear Shoevians, just how many of you remember the ‘Mars Atmosphere and Volatile EvolutioN Mission’ as I explained it in a pervious edition of ‘The Mars Report’? Also know as MAVEN, this spacecraft arrived September 21^st, 2014 into Martian orbit. Dedicated to study of the Martian atmosphere, and to discern just what happened to the Martian atmosphere. The image above shows MAVEN's Imaging Ultraviolet Spectrograph (IUVS) auroral detections in December 2014 overlaid on Mars’ surface. This aura is widespread in the northern hemisphere and not situated over any geologic feature or location.
.
Our next two images, My Dear Shoevians, are of the same geographic locations and taken at the same time by the same instrument, Curiosity’s MastCam. The only difference, between the two images, is that the first (below) is annotated with the locations for upcoming travel. Whereas, the second image does not contain these annotations. I include both for one reason. I know that a great many of you, My Dear Shoevians, use my images as wallpapers for your desktops. I wanted you to have the opportunity to see and know Curiosity’s upcoming pathway, and have an image suitable for use as wallpaper for your desktop.
.

[5]

(Diverse Terrain Types on Mount Sharp, Mars – Annotated)

.
Now, for the image suitable for using as your desktop wallpaper, the un-annotated version of the same image from Curiosity’s MastCam. A quick reminder, if you are viewing this article at either my Blog Dot Com location or the new location at BlogSpot… I want to remind you that the very best images (for use as desktop wallpapers) are at the Word Press location. Just click on the embedded link in the previous sentence to take you to that blog. I am not sure just why it is, but that blog allows for complete uploads of HD images.
.

[6]

(Diverse Terrain Types on Mount Sharp, Mars)

.
While, My Dear Shoevians, I greatly enjoy bringing you gargantuan editions of ‘The Mars Report’, alas today’s is not the case. We have but two images left for this, today’s, edition. As always, I am saving the very best image for last, today. Next, however, I have to share with you a shot forward in Curiosity’s journey on the Martian surface. If Curiosity is anything like its predecessor, Opportunity, we will receive images for another decade. Our next image shows some “unfavorable terrain” that lies ahead for Curiosity. This view southeastward from Curiosity's Mast Camera (Mastcam) shows terrain judged difficult for traversing between the rover and an outcrop in the middle distance where a pale rock unit meets a darker rock unit above.
.

[7]

(Unfavorable Terrain for Crossing Near 'Logan Pass')

.
Now, MY Dear Shoevians, that brings us to the final image of today’s edition of ‘The Mars Report’. I do not know just how many of you, MY Dear Shoevians, were alive and aware of the Apollo lunar missions. However, out of those missions came an image that was turned into millions of posters. Posters, some of which were turned into wallpaper. I cannot count how many young men, and boys, that I saw this wallpaper in their bedrooms. The image I am talking about, of course, was the ‘Earthrise on the Moon’!
.
That historic shot of the Earth coming over the lunar horizon was nothing short of historic. I still see it, in older movies and television shows, in backgrounds all around. Today I share what could soon be, another historic image taken by Curiosity of a sunset on the Martian surface. This is a GIF image, and is a composite of several images. Be sure to stay with your browser focused on this part of the page until you see this image, change. ENJOY!
.

[8]

(Sunset Sequence in Mars' Gale Crater)

.
That brings us to the end of this edition of ‘The Mars Report’ for June 1^st, 2015. MY Dear Shoevians I hope that you have enjoyed your time here, today. As always, I want to do my best to give you images to enjoy combined with news and science to engage. I thank you for your time, your support and your ‘Shares’ and “Likes’. If you have enjoyed this edition, remember to Share it with friends, family and co-workers. That way more and more people can enjoy these images, and my work.
.
Thank you!
.
Adieu!
.

[1]http://www.nasa.gov/jpl/msl/pia19142

[2]http://www.nasa.gov/jpl/msl/pia19399/curiositys-path-to-some-spring-2015-study-sites

[3]http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/mars/images/index.html?id=359715

[4]http://www.nasa.gov/sites/default/files/thumbnails/image/maven-15-045b.jpg

[5]http://www.nasa.gov/sites/default/files/thumbnails/image/pia19398-main_mcam04234rs24b_annotated.jpg

[6]http://www.nasa.gov/sites/default/files/thumbnails/image/pia19397_mcam04190rs24b_scalebars.jpg

[7]http://www.nasa.gov/sites/default/files/thumbnails/image/pia19662-fig1_ml_mcam04333_scales.jpg

[8]http://www.nasa.gov/sites/default/files/styles/image_card_4x3_ratio/public/thumbnails/image/pia19401-main_sunset.gif?itok=ueDZjUhk

Saturday, May 23, 2015

Sunday Funnies - May 23rd, 2015

.
Welcome back My Dear Shoevians to The Other Shoe. Today is Sunday, so that means it is time for our weekly series 'Sunday Funnies'! This week we have another appearance by our newest star my little furry buddy Gryphon D. Hanning! I cannot begin to tell you all, My Dear Shoevians, just how much it means to me to have another furry little buddy. My house is just not a home without a little fancy rat scampering around, playing in the morning, sleeping in my lap in the afternoon, and watching TV with me in the evenings.
.
In this video I have actually captured a rat-habit that I have watched for many decades, but failed to get on video until now. Yes, I bathe my Fancy Rats. I bathe them in my bath tub and use my Panteen for Color Treated Hair. If it is good enough for me, then it is good enough for them! This way they smell that they have the very same odor was their fathers. This goes a long way to assist with familial bonding with Fancy rats.
.
Once they are out of the tub... and pouted a little... given the customary dirty looks to the daddy that bathed them... they go about; fluffing, grooming and arranging their fur the way they prefer. One of these process I call... Mohawking. This is the process of grooming their hair (the fur on the top of their heads) into a Mohawk! It is really quite amusing and entertaining! While I have watched it, as I stated before, for many decades, this is the very first time I have managed to get the process on video! I hope that you get a kick out of this, as much as I do!
.
ENJOY!
.

(Gryphon Post-Bath / 'Mohawk Rat'!)

Thank you!

Adieu!

Wednesday, May 20, 2015

Journey to L.A. - May 12th, 2015

Welcome back My Dear Shoevians to The Other Shoe. Well, it has been a difficult and very painful week. I am writing this on Saturday afternoon, May16th. The subject of this article is my recent ‘Journey to L.A.’. It is this trip, last Tuesday, which has left me crippled with pain this past week. Two years ago, the journey was difficult, but not really that painful. However, at about 5:00PM last Tuesday I was in such crippling pain that I could hardly move or speak. Again and again, over the passing days, I awoke to the same pain.

(Danny @ Disneyland Transfer Point - Outbound)

For all of you, My Dear Shoevians, who are unfamiliar with my circumstances? I am wheelchair/power chair bound and must make a journey from here in southern orange county all the way into Rolling Hills Estates, above Los Angeles. Round trip… it takes just over eleven hours! So, today I am going to build a little story around some pictures and vies I made, this week, while on this ‘Journey to L.A.’

The video, above, was shot in the parking lot of my current residence at 7:50AM May 12^th, 2015. In it I welcome all of you, My Dear Shoevians, to this article and the journey ahead. I made this trip, last, in February of this year. However, I was finishing up chemotherapy and was quite bereft of the energy needed to; write, upload, edit and publish that article. For that, I apologize to you, My Dear Shoevians. This journey takes a lot out of me, and by the end I am drained and in severe pain. My Dear Shoevians, you might well ask “Why?”. Why do I make a journey of this length, that spans over 11 hours, and leaves me completely drain and in severe pain? Check out the image below.

(Dr. Gorlick’s Bio)

Take a moment, My Dear Shoevians, and read this biography of my primary care physician. He studied medicine at Yale! He was an Associate Professor of Medicine and Instructor at UCLA St. Mary’s Hospital. Board certified in Internal Medicine and Geriatrics. Former Director of Laboratory Medicine at Pro Health Partners @ Los Alamitos Medical Center (where I met him, first) and supervises and is a Sub-investigator of Clinical Trials at his own “Peninsula Research Associates’.

I have to tell you, My Dear Shoevians, I do not know of… any other patients on Medicare that have as accomplished a physician as their primary care doctor. That is the “Why?” I make this journey, and I will continue to make this quarterly journey, as long as my health allows. I am very fortunate to have found, and obtain, Dr. Gorlick as my PCP. When I first started this relationship, Dr. Gorlick was practicing at Pro Health Partners right here at Los Alamitos Medical Center. That is a very short ride, taking less than a half hour each way.

(Danny at Disneyland Transfer Lot)

So, the pictures and videos are in chronological order. Starting with a video taken in the parking lot of my apartment, moving to a picture taken in the Disneyland Transfer Lot, and finishing (below) with a short video I made. This video was made, as I am outbound from Orange County to Rolling Hills Estates/Rancho Palos Verdes. The journey starts with me getting up at 6:00AM. My first ride picks me up, at home, at about 8:00AM. I arrive at the Disneyland Transfer Lot by 10:00AM and the L.A. Access bus arrives between 10:30AM-11:00AM.

Depending on traffic on the many freeways L.A. Access takes on any given ride. Add to that any/all other passengers that they pick-up and/or drop-off. This ride, in the L.A. Access Minivan, takes anywhere from two to three hours. I, usually, arrive at Promenade on the Peninsula by 12:00PM to 1:20PM. I have a standing appointment, with Dr. Gorlick at the Palos Verdes Medical Group, for every three months on the second Tuesday of the month at 1:45PM. I am his very first appointment of the day. This gives us all time to; review my ‘Agenda For Appointment’ (a handout that I prepare and print up prior to every appointment), go over any tests/scans/surgeries since out last visit, then we both talk about our families.

(Danny at Palos Verdes Medical Group May 2015)

This appointment usually takes about 15 to 20 minuets, and we all leave smiling and very happy to have spent time together. Now, My Dear Shoevians, I have to tell you about the Mall where Dr. Gorlick has this office! It is a very ‘Upscale’ mall situated at the top of the PV Hills. There is a ‘Lord & Taylor’, an ‘Abercrombie and Fitch’ and an indoor skating rink. This place is a very upscale mall and I get a big kick out of going there to see my doctor. I always, as you can see from the pictures and videos, dress up very nice.

I just get a big kick going to see my Medicare doctor in this kind of mall, with all the well-to-do people scampering around in the Land Rovers and BMWs. I mean, I cannot afford to get my teeth fixed, from the falls I had back in April, but I get to travel 34 miles in about five hours. Five hours there, and five hours back. Now that we have completed our journey in, let us start our return to Westminster. The last video I have embedded (above) was taken from the Third Floor of the Promenade on the Peninsula. If you look closely you might be able to see the hills just behind me and the cellular towers and the like on the very top of the PV Hills.

(Danny at Promenade on the Peninsula)

After our appointment, Allen and I, take a few moments to look around the Mall. Once we have finished our Window-Shopping we find a nice quite place to sit back and enjoy peanut butter sandwiches and Coke Zeros that we have brought along with us. We sit and talk, taking in the view, then work our way back down to the ground floor to await our return L.A. Access minivan. It usually arrives between 2:30PM and 3:00PM. Now, this is the kicker! Where it took us an hour to two hours (tops!) to get to my doctor’s office?

The return ride on L.A. Access always takes three to three and a half hours! For the first year I would always schedule my pick-up, at Disneyland Transfer Lot, for 6:00PM. However, they (L.A. Access) would always be late. So, now I schedule for a pick-up at 6:30PM. This makes my day a little-to-a-lot longer, but it is better than having to call OCTA while in transit. The video, below, was taken at the Disneyland Transfer Lot at approximately 6:30PM.

When OCTA (the Orange County equivalent of L.A. Access) arrives at the Disneyland Transfer Lot it is, usually, between 6:30PM and 7:00PM. On this occasion it did not arrive until 7:30PM. My journey is, usually, complete by 8:00PM when I am dropped off in the parking lot at home. One this journey we arrived, in the parking lot, at 9:00PM! Thus creating a THIRTEEN-HOUR JOURNEY!

(Danny at Disneyland Transfer Lot –HOMEBOUND!)

Many of you, My Dear Shoevians, are very aware that I did not publish this (last) week. This is the reason why that happened. Why I was completely unable to sit behind the keyboard and create this article. Why I was unable to; write, download images, upload images, edit and publish the regularly scheduled articles that you and I love so dearly. It was not from a lack of material. It was not from a lack of desire to entertain and inform all of you, My Dear Shoevians. It was, quite simply, because I was unable to move for several days.

Now I hope that all of you, My Dear Shoevians, understand my absence and accept my deep and heartfelt apology. I very much enjoy writing and publishing for your enjoyment. This act helps give my life meaning, and joy. I will do my level best to work to write and publish more of our favorite weekly series articles, here at The Other Shoe. We have reached that point in our journey today, My Dear Shoevians.

The end of this article and my telling of the tale of my ‘Journey to L.A.!’. I hope that I have entertained and distracted, made you laugh and helped you to relate. One final bit of new business before I go. If you follow me, or The Other Shoe, on Facebook (just click on either link to ‘Like’ or ‘Friend’) then you are already aware. For all of you, My Dear Shoevians, that are not my Friends yet.. or have ‘Liked’ The Other Shoe… I have some news!

I have started an all new THIRD location for our blog, The Other Shoe! Working with my Google account and my Google-Plus I have created a mirror image blog at BlogSpot! Here is the URL for the all NEW The Other Shoe!(Just click on the name, right there) As of 3:00AM this morning, the all new location is 95% updated with the other locations. As a matter of fact, this new location has all the articles that are published at my Word Press location. It is just missing the 2010, 2011, and early 2012 publications from my primary blog location at blog dot com here: The Other Shoe.

Be sure to drop by and take a look. All the articles, all the images, all the content will be the exact same as the other two locations. All that is different is the look of this new blog location. I am working very hard to increase our readership. Increase just how many My Dear Shoevians there are! Thank you for your time. Thank you for your support. Thank you for dropping by, and most of all… Thank you for being a SHOEVIAN!

Thank you!

Adieu!

Sunday, May 10, 2015

Sunday Funnies - May 10th, 2015

[caption id="attachment_3995" align="aligncenter" width="630"]

Gryphon Sharing Danny's Soda![/caption]

.

Welcome back My Dear Shoevians to The Other Shoe. After a long, and unavoidable, absence I have returned just in time to share another edition of ‘Sunday Funnies’ with Gryphon D. Hanning. First, a little explanation of my absence for the past several days. At first I was taking some much needed ‘downtime’, however, since Thursday I have been unable to work on my primary blog location. This happens, from time to time, at the blog location at blog dot com. Rather than have a huge backlog of articles to cross publish, once the primary location comes back, I decided to wait and publish when I can do it at both locations at once.

.

Today, Sunday May 10^th, I find that my primary blog is back! Now, I am going to get the ‘Traffic Report’ (already posted at Word Press) published at blog dot com, then I will publish this article at both locations. It is unfortunate that this happens all to often. I have, often, wished for the finances to have my own web site for my blog, making it so that I can publish whenever I like.

.

On with the show! Today we have another video starring Gryphon D. Hanning. This is his second video since coming to live with me. Just so you know I have two more videos already shot and uploaded, for future editions of ‘Sunday Funnies’!

.

SO, without further adieu, I give you Gryphon’s First Bath!

.

[Youtube=https://youtu.be/iA9czSaZz_Q]

[caption id="attachment_3994" align="aligncenter" width="300"]

Hey! I'm napping here![/caption]

A Week in Review - May 10th, 2015

[caption id="attachment_4013" align="aligncenter" width="630"]

NASA Research Suggests Mars Once Had More Water Than Earth’s Arctic Ocean[/caption]

.

Welcome back My Dear Shoevians to The Other Shoe. I have to openly admit, this week was fraught with pain and problems! Mid-week I was struck with some terrific pain, all through my neck and into my arms and head. I tried sleeping it away, I tried soaking it away and all to no avail. Finally, I just settled in for a long hard ride and decided to do as little as I could around the house… … … and to let the blogs… sit. THAT was a very difficult decision, My Dear Shoevians.

.

After a seven month absence I was seeing traffic numbers, for a week’s time, up to One Hundred Nineteen!!! That translates to a yearly traffic of well over SIX THOUSAND!!!!! That is some serious traffic numbers to take to a publisher… with a truly original and touching novel in hand. It wasn’t easy but I took Tuesday and Wednesday off. I re-published my ‘Hubble’s 25^th Anniversary’ on Wednesday, then it happened.

.

This happens every six to eight months, at my location at blog dot com, the whole bloody web site just crashes! So, I wait and wait and wait. GONE for three days! I did not ‘see’ my primary blog location for three days, until today! So, here I am trying my hardest to play catch-up with the missed publication of the ‘Traffic Reports’ band now this ‘A Week in Review’. Now, I am tired and hurting all over again. But this will pass. I have to manage to finish this weekly review, and then publish ‘Sunday Funnies’ before it is no longer Sunday!

.

So, without further adieu, I give you ‘A Week in Review – May 10^th, 2015’!

.

[caption id="attachment_3995" align="aligncenter" width="630"]

Gryphon Sharing Danny's Soda![/caption]

Sunday Funnies – Gryphon’s Premiere! – “Welcome back My Dear Shoevians to The Other Shoe. Today is a extra special edition of ‘Sunday Funnies’! Today I would like to ask you, My Dear Shoevians, to join me in Welcoming Gryphon D. Hannning (click on the hyperlink to go to Gryphon’s Facebook Page!) to this storied article series. As most of you are aware… … … Alexander R. Hanning passed away, several weeks ago, after a long battle with failing health. I made him as comfortable as possible, prepared all his favorite foods, and held him 24/7 for his comfort. He was loved deeply, and will be even more deeply missed. Last edition of ‘Sunday Funnies’ was a homage to Alexander.” This, My Dear Shoevians, was a very difficult article for me to write and publish. You see, it was an end, of sorts. An end to the era of Alexander R. Hanning as the star of ‘Sunday Funnies’ and the beginning of an all new era of Gryphon D. Hannning as the new star. I never do well with endings… of anything, but especially of the furry little ones I come to care for and love. There will never be a day… a time when I stop thinking of Alexander. He had that big an impact on my life, my work, my soul. It was Alexander that was at my side when I was diagnosed with cancer. It was Alexander that was at my side when I came home after chemotherapy. It was Alexander that stayed by my side when I got sick, and was there no matter what happened. However, this article was the premiere for another furry friend, Gryphon D. Hannning. This is Gryphon’s premiere video and premiere edition of ‘Sunday Funnies’. I hope that everyone stopped by to enjoy his premiere and his antics. Enjoy!

.

[caption id="attachment_4009" align="aligncenter" width="630"]

Rock Spire in 'Spirit of St. Louis Crater' on Mars (False Color))[/caption]

The Mars Report – May 4th, 2015 – “Welcome back My Dear Shoevians to The Other Shoe. Today marks the beginning of my third week back at; researching, writing, editing and publishing here at The Other Shoe. That is an important milestone for me, as just a few months ago (about mid-way through my chemotherapy treatments) I wondered if I would ever return to writing and publishing again. Well, not at all, what I mean is I doubted that I would ever again publish on a regular schedule again. Now, here I am two weeks past and over a dozen articles under my belt since my ‘The Rebirth and Re-Launch of The Other Shoe’ article of April 13^th, 2015.” It was this Gargantuan edition of ‘The Mars Report’ that I think put me over the edge and into a world of hurt. The singles largest edition, with the most images, the most conetnet and the most science ever! If you haven’t looked at this edition, you should! Enjoy!

.

[caption id="attachment_3925" align="aligncenter" width="400"]

Hubble's Sharpest View of the Orion Nebula[/caption]

Lost in Space – Hubble’s 25th – Redux – “So good, worth republishing today! I’m taking a day of R&R, here’s a wonderful celebration of Hubble’s 25th anniversary. Enjoy! Welcome back My Dear Shoevians to The Other Shoe. Today is Wednesday April 22^nd, 2015 and when I started the research for this article I quickly became aware that today is the 25^th Anniversary of the launch of the Hubble Space Telescope! What a glorious day to pay tribute to this wonder of the modern age, by sharing some of the most recent images captured by Hubble.” With the pain in my neck reaching new levels of blinding pain, I decided to give myself a day to rest and recover. Little did I know that the primary blog location would take this opportunity to go AWOL! Nevertheless, this edition is/was worth republishing, so I did! ENJOY!

.

[caption id="attachment_4022" align="aligncenter" width="630"]

Number Two Blog International Map One Month[/caption]

Traffic Reports – May 7th, 2015 – “Now that I have the news out of the way, let me get to the meat of this article. As many of you, My Dear Shoevians, know about every six months I publish a ‘Traffic Report’. Now, I do this for many reasons, not the least of which is that I enjoy sharing the limited success of my writing. Yes, I work hard at; research, writing, editing and publishing at The Other Shoe. When I see the traffic counter on the Blog Dot com location stay over one hundred for a week or more… YES I am very very proud! That has occurred over the past two weeks.” This was a very enlightening edition of ‘Traffic Reports’. Whereas I did see the corresponding decline in readership during my chemotherapy, if you don’t publish new content, readers go elsewhere, that is a given. However, there is ‘Good News’ in this report, too! Good news in the discovery of even more expanded international readership! THAT is very ‘Good News’ indeed! If you need a reason to read this article, learning that My Dear Shoevians live in; England, France, Italy, Japan, the Netherlands and evern RUSSIA should do the trick, eh? Read and be informed!

.

That, My Dear Shoevians, brings us to the end of this article and the end of the week’s publishing. I hope that everyone takes some time, out of your Sunday, to go back and read and view some of the wonderful work and images I shared this past week. Again, I apologize for the absence, made even longer by the down time at the primary blog location. I am back, and I have a “Sunday Funnies’ yet to publish, today.

.

I regret to inform you that this week is my ‘Quarterly Visit To L.A.’ and my primary care physician, Dr. Laurence Gorlick. This journey into L.A., and back, takes a great deal out of me. It is a journey that takes, Allen and I, more than twelve hours of transit van rides to get into Rancho Palos Verde, and back here to Orange County. I will do my best to keep up my writing schedule, I just cannot make any promises I might not keep.

.

Thank you!

.

Adieu!

.

[caption id="attachment_3856" align="aligncenter" width="300"]

Author/Editor Danny Hanning in Rolling Hills Estates February 2015[/caption]