Welcome back, My Dear Shoevians, to The Other Shoe. First, I would like to say “Thank you!” to all you Shoevians that keep coming back… and viewing… and reading… and sharing. You ARE the BEST! Second, I would like to express my heartfelt apology for not “returning to publishing” as I stated in my last article back on February 13th, 2016. Finally… an explanation.
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When I wrote my last published article, it was my real and genuine intent to work towards returning to my regular writing and publishing schedule. However, as most of us know, between desire and reality lives a gulf of possibilities… and a world of tears and broken promises. The fact of the matter is; on the morning of February 14th (Valentine’s Day) I started up my computer (with the intent of writing several articles, to be published over the next week), as I have thousands of times before, launched Google Chrome and brought up the admin pages of my four blog locations.
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I had just logged on to all four admin pages… and… BAM! BSOD!!! (Blue Screen of Death). The computer rebooted, after saving the dump file, and… it… was… dead! The video adapter was not working. The computer ran incredibly slow, and I was unable to connect to the internet… regardless of what I did. Over the next two weeks, whenever I was out of pain enough, I worked on the computer. I did everything I had ever learned about video cards, and Windows errors… to no avail. My Dear Shoevians, within hours of publishing that promise… I was unable to honor my commitment.
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The following Monday, not the 15th but Monday the 22nd, I took my computer back to the people that had fixed it the last time. They kept the computer for TEN DAYS! Only to return it to me… unrepaired, explaining that “the motherboard needs to be replaced… it is on backorder.”I am to bring my computer back (again) Thursday and they are going to have the motherboard effect the replacement. At least… that is what I am being told.
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My Dear Shoevians, over the past year I have invested; MORE THAN $400 in repair costs, weeks of time waiting, and a tremendous amount of anxiety and frustration. I have been completely unable to write and publish! I have been lost! All the while more and more newsworthy incidents have occurred… and I have been voiceless the entire time!!! I deeply long to write and publish articles about; the debacle that is the Trump campaign, the deep division growing in the Republican Party and the violence! I am just dying to write about the; bigotry, racism, intolerance, xenophobia, hatred, and sexism that has been the hallmark of Trump’s campaign. This is very difficult for me, very frustrating and extremely upsetting.
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If they can/do replace my motherboard, and my computer works, I will work to write and publish as often as possible. I genuinely long to write about; this election, the Trump candidacy, the tenure of narrative coming from the Republican candidates and contrast that with Democrat nomination process. I can remember sitting, with my father, and watching the ‘Kennedy/Nixon’ Presidential debate. (The very first one with the sweaty Nixon) As well, I remember a great deal about all the Presidential elections since. My Dear Shoevians, I have never EVER witnessed a more; divisive, hurtful, negative and superficial nomination process (by either party) in my entire life. And, I am missing out on writing about this historic election… because after spending $400 on repairs… my computer still does not work.
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There you have it, My Dear Shoevians. The why I was unable to keep my previous promise to you. The how I hope to, now, meet that challenge. And the when it might happen. Oh, how I wish I was of the means to just forget the notebook computer I have used for writing and publishing these past five years. How I wish that I had the means to just buy a new computer and all the software that I need/use very single time I write and publish. I could never put into words… the feeling I get when I hit the ‘Publish’ button, and then go and view the article I have written and published at the four blog locations.
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The pride and joy I feel as I promote the articles I have written and published on; Facebook, Twitter, Tumblr and Pintrest. For you see, My Dear Shoevians, that right now in my life there are not a lot of times that I do feel pride and joy. That I can have these feelings and bring entertainment and information to all of you, My Dear Shoevians? Well, that is what has given me the desire to live that has empowered me through my diseases and maladies.
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Finally, I would like to take a moment to say “Thank you!” again to all of you from dropping by… and for many of you… for keeping coming by and visiting throughout the many months I have been absent. I promise you, I genuinely want to return. I sincerely have a ton of ideas and thoughts, insights and opinions, entertainment and information to share with all of you, My Dear Shoevians. I will keep you informed, to the best of my ability. Hopefully, soon, I will be writing you to tell you my computer is either fixed or replaced and that I will be working to achieve my previous publishing schedule. Until then, you can find me on Facebook… look me up and send me a friend request.
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Adieu!
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Thank you!
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Danny Hanning Writer, Editor, Research Staff and Publisher of The Other Shoe(s)
“Welcome back, my friends, to the show that never ends!” (a la Emerson Lake & Palmer)
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Welcome back, My Dear Shoevians, to The Other Shoe. For the life of me, I never imagined that I would be away from writing and publishing this long. Today is Saturday February 13th, 2016 and yesterday I picked up this computer (my ‘writing computer’) from the shop. Again, the video card malfunctioned and it was in the shop for over a week. It is working, now, and it is my genuine intention to write and publish as much as my pain and shortcomings allow.
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With the return to writing, and publishing, I will be making an effort to put in daily appearances at:Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Google+. Now, here is fair warning to all of you, My Dear Shoevians. As this is an election year, here in America, I will be; writing, publishing and promoting many ‘political’ articles. I know that there are a handful, of readers Shoevians that… well, do not enjoy my political articles. For them, I apologize, however… This year is, well, unusual (to say the least). Therefore, I feel compelled to make my voice hear and understood.
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I will not tip my hand, right now, but I will tell you all that I have a lot to say and I will use very single writing and formatting (publishing) skill at my disposal to impart my point of view. Yet, let me put your minds at ease; I will continue to publish; ‘The Mars Report’, ‘Lost in Space’. ‘News from Around the World’, ‘Sunday Funnies’, and ‘A Week in Review’. These articles have been staples, here at The Other Shoe, and that is not about to change any time soon.
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Now, to wrap up this announcement of my return, I want to introduce the very first article of my return to writing. Either today, or Monday, I will be publishing the newest installment of my quarterly publication; ‘Journey to L.A.!’. The article will include; three videos, a half-dozen still images, and a fairly entertaining story of my travel into Los Angeles and my return home. I will be using images from more than just the last journey, as I want to share all I witnessed… and I was hurting just too much to capture all the sights I encountered.
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My Dear Shoevians, I invite you to check back (right here at The Other Shoe) often. Over the next several weeks I will be working all hours of day and night to write and publish as many articles (each and every week) as is humanly possible, As well, I will be purchasing ad time (by selling… some things I own) on Facebookand other outlets in order to drive more traffic right here!
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Finally, I want to tell all of you, My Dear Shoevians, that I have missed you greatly… I have missed writing and publishing… I have deeply missed contact and conversations with all of you! I, do, love to write… but just as much (if not even more) I love to talk and share! I encourage all of you, My Dear Shoevians, to; share, question my writings, and comment as much and as often as you want.
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I hope that we can make this blog(s) more interactive than before. I do value your; input, ideas, comments, criticism. When we work together (to make this blog better/stronger) we work together for a better blog… and a forum where we are all equals.
Welcome back My Dear Shoevians to The Other Shoe. A long and difficult absence is ending. With Christmas a little under two weeks away, and the New Year just around the corner, I have elected to begin my renewed presence here on the web. As well, recent comments by Republican Presidential hopeful Donald Trump I feel compelled to stand for those he seeks to oppress and against the resurgence of a level of social hatred and racism I have not seen since when I was six years old.
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Even before the race riots of the early sixties, America had faced another trial by fire, the xenophobia and hatred of the McCarthy era. Honestly, My Dear Shoevians, I really had thought… hoped and prayed, that I would never see such racism and xenophobia infect our national dialogue again. I know that a majority of Americans do not agree with Donald Trump’s racist and xenophobic remarks about Muslims.
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As a matter of fact, just today ( December 14, 2015) a NBC/Wall Street Journal poll showed that 57%of Americans do not agree with Trump’s racist remarks against Muslims, or with his plan to halt all American travel based on a individuals religious preference. I was quite happy to read this poll, and have my faith in the American people restored. Only 25%, of Americans polled, agreed with Trump’s religiously insensitive remarks and his xenophobic plan.
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“Fifty-seven percent of all adults disagree with Trump's proposal, versus 25 percent who agree.
But views are mixed among Republicans: 42 percent of GOP respondents support Trump's proposal to ban Muslims from entering the U.S., while 36 percent oppose it.
And among Republican primary voters, it's 38 percent support, 39 percent oppose.
By comparison, 75 percent of Democrats and 55 percent of independents disagree with Trump's proposal.”[1]
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This is, My Dear Shoevians, one of the times when I am very glad that a growing majority of you, My Dear Shoevians, are international readers and not Americans. Our nation, America, has become so very divided, so very negative and so very hurtful. As I mentioned above, when I was but a boy of six years old, I watched in horror as policemen used fire hoses to beat down African-American protesters fighting for equal rights. I watched in revolution as Southern police unleashed attack dogs on said protesters. It was a shocking site to see angry, obviously mistreated, dogs bark and snarl right in the face of frightened African-American citizens.
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I had seen the pictures of the lynching, happening in states close by, and witnessed the burning crosses in my own hometown. I knew of the institutionalized racism that was so prevalent all through the ‘Bible Belt’. ‘How oxymoronic’ I thought to myself, self-proclaimed Christians acting and performing in such very UN-Christian ways against their fellow Americans. I was very happy when the ‘Civil Rights Act of 1964’[2] and the ‘Voting Rights Act of 1965’[3]were signed into law. I had hoped that with these anti-discrimination laws, on the books, that America had decided to leave a very ugly and dark episode of our history… behind. That is, until recently and the Presidential run of one Donald J. Trump.
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It all began with this:
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“The U.S. has become a dumping ground for everybody else’s problems. … When Mexico sends its people, they’re not sending their best. They’re not sending you. They’re not sending you. They’re sending people that have lots of problems, and they’re bringing those problems with us. They’re bringing drugs. They’re bringing crime. They’re rapists”[4]
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This statement was made, by Donald J Trump, in early June 2025. Over the coming weeks Donald took opportunity after opportunity to double down on this remark. Never once did he retract his; hateful, hurtful, racist sweeping generalization of Hispanic Americans. And, why should he? On that, fateful, day Donald J. Trump hit a magical cord in the hearts and minds of a very vocal and hateful minority of Americans. Again, for my international Shoevians? We, Americans, do not all agree with the hateful/hurtful/racist and xenophobic remarks. A great many Americans, like myself, find these words not only objectionable? We find that they are indicative of a time long past. A very dark and insidious time in America’s recent past, within my lifetime.
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Donald Trump ‘Doubling Down’ on Racist Remarks Against Hispanics
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Donald’s actions, his racist actions against Hispanic Americans, landed him in hot water with NBC and Univision.
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“At NBC, respect and dignity for all people are cornerstones of our values,” the company said in a statement on Monday. “Due to the recent derogatory statements by Donald Trump regarding immigrants, NBC is ending its business relationship with Mr. Trump.”[5]
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And Univision:
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“Last week, Univision decided to end its relationship with Trump by dropping his Miss USA and Miss Universe pageants, and now NBC has followed suit. The move comes after a Change.org petition asking NBC to get rid of Trump garnered more than 200,000 signatures.”[6]
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Then, just this past Sunday on ‘Face the Nation’ Donald J. Trump flirted with McCarthyism like no politician has since the end of the McCarthy Trials in 1956. In a statement made on CBS’ ‘Face the Nation’ Trump proclaimed that he would “go after the wives” and even families of terrorists.
You see, My Dear Shoevians, this is the slippery slope of “going after” secondary and tertiary people. It starts digressing into “naming names”and all the sudden, we have McCarthyism all over again! This kind of institutionalized social paranoia, this xenophobic hate and vindictiveness is what lead our great nation down the dark and bloody halls of a ‘Witch Hunt’!
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Even more recently, just seven days ago (on ‘Pearl Harbor Day’, December 7th, 2015) Donald Trump, when asked if he would “get rid of Muslims”, took his statements of September 17th, 2015;
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““A lot of people are saying that and a lot of people are saying that bad things are happening out there, we’re going to be looking at that and plenty of other things,”[8]
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A step further and Trump called for:
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““a total and complete shutdown of Muslims entering the United States until our country’s representatives can figure out what is going on.”[9]
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Over the next week Trump has taken every opportunity to double down, again and again on this racist rant. OK! I know that, some, of my American readers (mostly, again ironically from the ‘Bible Belt’)have taken issue with my use of the word “Racist”. Stating that “Muslim is not a ‘race’”. Oy vey, if only they had been here when Americans were doing this same thing to Hebrew Americans at the turn of the 20th century! However, since this ilk has an unquenchable hatred for anything; multi-national, international, ‘Other-Than-White-American’ they have (#epicfail) failed to read or acknowledge the United Nations - International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination of 1962.
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“Article 1 of the Convention defines "racial discrimination" as
...any distinction, exclusion, restriction or preference based on race, colour, descent, or national or ethnic origin which has the purpose or effect of nullifying or impairing the recognition, enjoyment or exercise, on an equal footing, of human rights and fundamental freedoms in the political, economic, social, cultural or any other field of public life.
Distinctions made on the basis of citizenship (that is, between citizens and non-citizens) are specifically excluded from the definition, as are affirmative action policies and other measures taken to redress imbalances and promote equality.
This definition does not distinguish between discrimination based on ethnicity and discrimination based on race, in part because the distinction between the ethnicity and race remains debatable among anthropologists.[25] The inclusion of descent specifically covers discrimination on the basis of caste and other forms of inherited status.[26]
Discrimination need not be strictly based on race or ethnicity for the Convention to apply. Rather, whether a particular action or policy discriminates is judged by its effects”[10]
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So, as far back as 1962, the international community concluded that “racial discrimination’ (aka racism) is not based on race, in part because the distinction between the ethnicity and race remains debatable among anthropologists.”! Meaning, that ‘racism’ has the distinction of being any overt social action that seeks to separate for the means of demeaning/degrading another cross-section of humanity, while promoting themselves as superior to those targeted! That is‘racial discrimination’ and that = RACISM!
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Now, I understand that this makes some Americans… uncomfortable, and because of that lack of comfort that they reject the drawing of parallels between; racial discrimination and ‘racism’. What is funny, to me, is that they freely engage in racist acts… IN PUBLIC… but shy away from being‘labeled’ as racist. Seems to me, that if you don’t want to be perceived as ‘racist’ then one should put a wide breath between their; actions, words, posting, writings and anything that even remotely resembles RACISM! However, they would rather run from the truth, vainly attempt to turn the tables on their accusers and seek refuge among only like-minded individuals. This is the way it was during McCarthyism. This is the way it was during the Race Riots and the beating of African Americans in the 50’s, 60’s and 70’s. Little has changed, but the faces of those offending.
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Now, on with ‘Trump the Fraud’.
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(Trump University Promo Image - NEVER Existed!)
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Some of the materials that I will share in the remainder of this article come from the November 16th, 2015 edition of Time magazine. Starting on page #42, of this edition, Time reporter Steven Brill outlines, “What the litigation over Trump University reveals about the man who would be President.” Now, My Dear Shoevians, I had seen the advertisements, even received one of his‘invitations to attend’ one of the ‘Opening’ “seminars’ that were held in Los Angeles. My Dear Shoevians, I (like most Americans) would love to ‘Strike it Rich’. However, I spent from age 8 to age 13 watching my father attend ‘Dare to be Great!’ seminars, and seminars on ‘How to Make Your First Million in Real Estate’ and more that I cannot even remember the names. Yes, my father worked very hard at two jobs from as early as I can remember, until he left the family when I was 13. Trump University is, in my educated and informed opinion, just another ‘Dare to be Great’ SCAM!
Now, My Dear Shoevians, in order to get this article up for everyone to read today? (December 14, 2015) I am going to have to cut this part of the article… a little short. I have more than a half-dozen pages of the Time article to boil-down to its salient points, and a ton of material from the internet to research and condense. Here is the crux of the lawsuit, and the problem, with Trump’s ‘Trump University’.
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1. Trump claims, from onset, that it will be a “University better than any other…” However, there was NEVER ANY structures EVER built… ANYWHERE!
2. Claims it’s “The Next Best Thing” to being Donald Trump’s “apprentice”. Though, in FIVE YEARS not ONE SINGLE STUDENT ever; met, studied under, or was ‘mentored’ by Donald Trump.
3. Targeted emails and letters stating “Trump University was ‘Their Ticket’ to avoiding spending their final years working as greeters at their local Walmart”. Though in FIVE YEARS NOBODY EVER GRADUATED!
4. Lured 7,000 consumers to PAYING $1,495.00 to $34,995.00 for courses where “Donald Trump’s Hand Picked instructors” would teach them Trump’s “insider success secrets”. NO ONE EVER OBTAINED ANY “success secrets” some paying more than $50,000.00 for NOTHING!
5. Sold a $1,495 “Three Day Seminar Program” that was NOTHING MORE than a THREE DAY PITCH to purchase the $9,995.00 package or the “Ultimate Package with ‘Trump HANDPICKED Mentor’. That was ONLY another HARD SELL for the $34,995.00 package.
6. Trump University STOLE $34,995.00 from Boyce Chait (84) and his wife Evelyn (80) that live in New Jersey. Boyce claims (in court papers under oath) that the course was “to be worth nothing. When it came to the nitty-gritty, there was nothing there.” Their money was NEVER refunded by Trump or Trump University.
7. Donald Trump ‘claims’ that he made “no money” from the venture. However, the court discovered a TENDERED $500,000 check FROM Trump University to Donald J Trump
8. Promised ‘students’ “tricks to flip distressed properties with NONE OF THEIR OWN MONEY…” that “Banks would open doors for them to lend money…”. Only to be marched into bank after bank and being REFUSED LOANS with Trump’s “Hand Picked Mentors” standing right beside them!
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My Dear Shoevians, I will be back later this week to flesh out all this information. I just really want to get this article published… TODAY!
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I would like to take this time to say “Thank you!” to all of you, My Dear Shoevians, for dropping by and reading and watching. As always, if You have enjoyed your stay and this article? Please remember to ‘Like’ and ‘Share’ this article (and my blog) via any/all of your social media outlets. This way more and more people get to enjoy what you have enjoyed, here today.
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Adieu!
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Thank you!
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(Daniel Hanning - Author, Editor, Publisher, Research Staff)
Welcome back My Dear Shoevians to The Other Shoe. With just about one month passing, I am here to announce that (barring any unforeseen circumstances) I will be returning to writing and publishing here at The Other Shoe. I have obtained a minimal internet connection ( a DSL connection) here in my home… and I now have a home ‘landline’ telephone, too. All of my closest friends? Contact me via Facebook, Email or call me and I will be happy to share this new landline telephone number.
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My health has not improved. Matter of fact, it has taken a turn for the worse, and my neck pain is at its greatest since my head injury, nearly thirty years ago. However, it was my lack of a reliable internet connection that prevented me from keeping my publishing schedule, it was not my pain. For the past five years I have written, and published, to help keep my mind off of my cervical pain.
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Since I wrote last I have; attended an appointment with my primary care physician, my oncologist and my all-new provider of orthotics. The crux of; I have been fitted for a brand new (and greatly advanced and redesigned) brace for my ‘left-foot-drop’, my pain medications have been increased and I have opted to not proceed with chemo or radiation therapy during the holidays!
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I will revisit my oncologist, and the potential for treatment, during the first quarter of next year. As well, I am working to find a brand new neurosurgeon. Whereas I do not believe that there is a viable surgery to address my degenerative neurological disease state, I am open to starting a new relationship with a new neurosurgeon… with limitations.
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Over the next two weeks I hope to write and publish the following:
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Article Revealing the CIVIL (and possible CRIMINAL) PROSECUTION of Donald Trump over his‘Trump University’.
Any/ALL news out of the Curiosity rover and Mars Space Observatory projects at NASA/JPL.
NEWEST images from; Hubble, New Horizons, and Chandra spacecraft.
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As well, I (hope) to provide at least one article addressing the rampant (and weekly) ‘Mass Shootings’ here in America. I know that I have a fair amount of readers, especially in Texas, that are ardent supporters of mass gun ownership… I am not of that mindset.
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Finally, My Dear Shoevians, I would like to ask for your kindness and support in one small matter. Over the coming weeks… would you please notify any; friends, family, and acquaintances that Danny is ‘Back in the Saddle Again!’
Welcome back My Dear Shoevians to The Other Shoe. Today is Thursday November 5th, 2015 and at midnight, tonight, I will loose my broadband internet connection… for good. My Dear Shoevians this is the event that has hung over my head these past several months. Yes, my health is compromised and I am physically unable to maintain my previous writing/publishing schedule. However, though my desire to write and publish has never left me, I just couldn’t bring myself to committing to something that will end… tonight.
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For the past five years my broadband internet connection was provided by Clear. Clear is merging with Sprint, as of 12:01 tonight, and ending my five year relationship with the only broadband 4G LTE internet in my area. Living, as I do, in a ‘non-apartment’ building (due to insufficient income –S.S.D., I am unable to ‘qualify’ for an apartment) I have limited ‘options’. The building comes with basic cable (included) and for that reason Time/Warner will not provide my own internet connection.
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Until, unless, I can find and secure a broadband internet connection, My Dear Shoevians, this will likely be my last posting here at The Other Shoe. After five years and more than 650 articles; spanning the depth and breadth of topics and subject matter from NASA/JPL Mars Exploration from Opportunity/Spirit to the current Curiosity rover, to cooking/baking, American politics to international treaties and affairs. My Dear Shoevians I have worked to entertain and enlighten you, as an audience, these past five years.
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It is my ardent hope that, within the coming weeks/months, I find another broadband internet connection. I am not only loosing my internet voice… I am loosing; my ability to play on line games (like World of Warcraft, Aion, Rift, and FPS games), Netflix, Vudu, and all but limited (email and browsing) internet availability. YES! My Dear Shoevians, this IS the reason for my emotional distance and depression. My connection to the internet has been a connection to; friends, family, Facebook, games, my BLOGS… life outside the four walls I live.
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Finally, I would like to say “Thank you!” to all of you, My Dear Shoevians, for years and years of readership. Without witch, I could have never made it through my battles. So, for now, I hope this is not “Good-Bye” but merely… until we meet again.
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