Wednesday, June 25, 2014

News from Around the World - June 25th, 2014

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[caption id="attachment_2693" align="aligncenter" width="400"]News from Around the World News from Around the World[/caption]

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  Welcome back My Dear Readers to The Other Shoe. First, I would like to take a moment and say ‘Thank You!” to everyone that enjoyed yesterday’s gargantuan article ‘Lost in Space – Tour of Our Solar System #3’ which, at last count, had nearly 20 ‘Likes’ already! I really poured my best into that article, hoped for the best and you My Dear Readers appreciated my efforts. For next week’s edition I will be writing about the ‘Dwarf Planets’ that exist at the very edge of the Kuiper Belt. Now back to today’s article and some startling news out of Iraq!

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[caption id="attachment_3125" align="aligncenter" width="630"]ISIS Control Areas in Iraq ISIS Control Areas in Iraq[/caption]

(ISIS Control Areas in Iraq)


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In an unexpected escalation of the conflict in Iraq, Syrian warplanes have attacked targets within Iraq![1] Now, I have confirmed this news from three news sources; CNN[2], ABC News[3], and The Wall Street Journal[4]. All three are reporting the, in essence, same tory that on Tuesday June 24, 2014 several Syrian Warplanes did carry out attacks in western Al Anbar. The target of the Syrian warplanes was ISIS forces that, just recently, moved into the area bordering with Syrian. This is no only an escalation of hostilities; this action puts Syrian President Assad backing “Baghdad's Shiite-dominated government fight*(against) Sunni insurgents”[5]. The attacks have, reportedly, killed 50 or more people and injured up to 132. At first Iraqi news agencies reported that “U.S. air strikes had hit ISIS forces at the Iraqi Syrian border.”[6] Rather rapidly the Pentagon denounced these reports as “false”.

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In other news from Iraq, Tuesday saw the arrival of the first 130 members of American Military Advisors to Baghdad. That is 130 out of a potential 300 America military advisors headed for Iraq and Baghdad. Tuesday also saw the arrival of Iranian troops. Iranian ‘Special Forces’ were deployed to help protect the capital (Baghdad) as well as the Iraqi cities of Najaf and Karbala, which Shiites revere[7].

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[caption id="attachment_3124" align="aligncenter" width="630"]Map of Iraq’s Ethnic Divisions Map of Iraq’s Ethnic Divisions[/caption]

(Map of Iraq’s Ethnic Divisions)


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My Dear Readers, looks like everybody now has their fingers in the Iraqi pie. To many Conservative; writers, anchors, and pundits this is a “terrible development” and Rush Limbaugh has said that “the Obama administration is giving out engraved invitations for Iran to take over Iraq…”[8] It is my humble opinion that, with all the different forces currently in Baghdad, it would be pretty darn difficult for that scenario to take place. The proof is in the pudding… meaning nobody is going to know how this is all going to turn out… well, until it does. ‘Reading Tea Leaves’, at this point in the game, would be difficult at best and disingenuous at worst.

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My two cents? This just might be an opportunity for; Syria, Iran, Iraq and America to find some… solidarity. Seems we all have the same goals in mind:

1) Repel the forces of ISIS

2) Keep the current (elected) government in power in Iraq.

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Shared misfortune makes for strange bedfellows. I reserve my judgment on just how this situation plays out, however, My Dear Readers, I will do my best to keep you informed.

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[caption id="attachment_3126" align="aligncenter" width="620"]Spain’s Princess Cristian de Borbon Spain’s Princess Cristian de Borbon[/caption]

(Spain’s Princess Cristian de Borbon)


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Last week I wrote about Spain’s former King, Juan Carlos, abdicating so that his son, King Felipe VI, could take over the Monarchy. These actions were meant to ‘shore up’ Spain’s faltering economy and overall approval of the Monarchy. Well, the paint on King Felipe VI’s ‘royal portrait’ is not even dry, and there is trouble in the court. Seems that Princess Cristian de Borbon, sister to King Felipe VI, is now facing corruption charges in Spain![10]

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[caption id="attachment_3127" align="aligncenter" width="630"]Princess Cristian de Borbon Leaving Court Saturday Princess Cristian de Borbon Leaving Court Saturday[/caption]

(Princess Cristian de Borbon Leaving Court Saturday)


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The image, above, is of the Princess leaving the court in Palma de Mallorca, capital of the Balearic Islands on Saturday morning after answering questions. The charges are that she, and her husband Urdangarin (a former Olympic handball player), used their ‘royal influence’ for graft and theft. These accusations, and some of the ways the two are responding to the charges, have caused the new King’s national approval ratings to plummet. Nearly two-thirds of Spaniards want the new King to abdicate and hand the crown over to his son. I’ll keep you posted on this palace intrigue.

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It seems that the U.S. Supreme Court has given a ‘death Blow’ to Aereo's ‘Streaming TV Service’ in several major American city’s outlets[9]. Started just about a year ago, Aereo offered a service whereby a (paid @ ~ $8 a month) subscriber could stream broadcast programs on their mobile device(s). Immediately the nation’s major broadcast networks filed suit claiming that Aereo infringed on their copyright protections by illegally retransmitting their cotnent without paying. BINGO! IN a 6/3 ruling the court sided with the nation’s broadcasters and Aereo is (now) a thing of the past. My Two Cents – You can’t get something for nothing, Aereo!

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Now, yesterday’s gargantuan seventeen page edition of ‘Lost in Space’ really ‘put the hurt’ on yours truly. I really wanted to get out this edition of ‘News from Around the World’. Having done, I will be cutting things a little short, here today. Again a BIG “Thank YOU!” to everyone that came by and ‘Like(d)’ my gargantuan edition of ‘Lost In Space’ (click there < to see!). It made my heart beat pitter-patter to see all of those many ‘Like(s)’! I was very moved by your show of appreciation for my efforts. I worked rather hard, on that edition, I tried something new… and I am glad I made the gargantuan effort, and took the chance. “Thank YOU!”

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That will wrap it up for this edition of ‘New from Around the World’. If anything… more happens? I will work to bring it to you, My Dear Readers, right here at ‘The Other Shoe’!

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Adieu!

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Thank YOU!

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

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


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[caption id="attachment_2866" align="aligncenter" width="630"]Danny Hanning of The Other Shoe - May 6th, 2014 Danny Hanning of The Other Shoe - May 6th, 2014[/caption]














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Tuesday, June 24, 2014

Lost in Space - Tour of Our Solar System #3

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[caption id="attachment_3118" align="aligncenter" width="630"]Image of Kuieper Belt and Oort Cloud Image of Kuieper Belt and Oort Cloud[/caption]

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      Welcome back My Dear Readers to The Other Shoe. Today, if I had followed my celestial plan, we would have come to ‘Earth’. Earth is the home of our birth, and cradle of mankind. You see the progression, in our solar system, coming out from the Sun is; Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars. Then, it occurred to me, maybe I am headed about this all wrong. Here’s my reasoning, My Dear Readers, we live on Earth, and we live out our entire lives on this galactic rock orbiting the Sun. What, pray tell, could I write (about Earth) that would engage you, My Dear Readers? Not much, heck we cannot all agree about the scientific reality that is ‘Global Warming’ aka ‘Climatic Shift’.

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Since, we are a people (Americans) and we as a species (human beings – homo sapien) cannot find agreement on a simple scientific fact, what is there that I could share about our orb? That left me with quite the quandary, My Dear Readers. You see, Earth is not really an exciting venture for this article series, at least not yet. Then, logically and following the progression of planets in our solar system… keeping to our ‘Tour of Our Solar System’?

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Mars. Mars would have been the next planet that I would write about, here at The Other Shoe for the series ‘Lost In Space’. Well, if you are completely new to ‘The Other Shoe’ you might not realize that each week I already do a whole article about Mars. It is called ‘The Mars Report’. It was the article I started this week, with. ARRUUUGGGHHH!

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Can’t do Earth, we live here… that’s boring. Already do Mars, why beat a dead dog? Danny was left with quite a quandary. That was until I just watched a special (on Netflix) about our Solar System and learned something new. As a boy I was taught that, out beyond our nine planets, lay a ‘Meteor Belt’. This belt is where most comets originated and it was the last barrier between our solar system and ‘Deep Space’.

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I am happy to announce that what I was taught, considering it was the 60’s – 70’s, was true then and is true today. However, the belt is called the ‘Kuiper Belt’. As well, it is not the very last frontier of our solar system. That distinction, My Dear Readers, belongs to the ‘Oort Cloud’. Today, My Dear Readers, I am going to take us on a quick tour of the planets then out to visit the ‘Kuiper Belt’ and the ‘Oort Cloud’! Then, as each week passes, My Dear Readers, I will take us back through our solar system. This way, we visit the outer planets and the Jovian planets, first. However, to get to these planets let’s take a quick visual tour of the planets as we head out of the inner core of our solar system.

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[caption id="attachment_3115" align="aligncenter" width="600"]Our HOME, Earth Our HOME, Earth[/caption]

(Our HOME, Earth)


Let us start with the planet of our birth, Earth. This is where we were to start today, until I turned our Ship of the Stars on a new course. Next stop… Mars.

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[caption id="attachment_3106" align="aligncenter" width="575"]Mars, ‘The Red Planet’ Mars, ‘The Red Planet’[/caption]

(Mars, ‘The Red Planet’)


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We leave the orbit of the planet of our birth, to pull our Ship of the Stars into orbit of our nearest planet. Now, as many of you, My Dear Readers, know we visit this planet every single week. We visit with my series of articles names ‘The Mars Report’. Just click on the link, behind you, and check out the latest edition of this wonderful series. Now, we leave the orbit of Mars, headed for our next solar destination. However, to get to our next destination of Jupiter we must pass through the ‘Asteroid Belt’!

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The ‘Asteroid Belt’ is a ring of; dust, rock, ice crystals and the remnants of the ‘planet building’ of the early millennium of our solar system. Some speculate that the ‘Asteroid Belt’ is what remains from the building of the inner ‘terrestrial’ planets. It acts as a border between the inner terrestrial planets and the outer gaseous Jovian planets of the outer reaches of our solar system. Below is an image of the ‘Asteroid Belt’. Man has not passed this ‘Asteroid Belt’ but many of man’s spacecraft (probes) have safely passed through this dense and dangerous belt of terrestrial debris.

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[caption id="attachment_3122" align="aligncenter" width="600"]Asteroid Belt Asteroid Belt[/caption]

(Asteroid Belt)


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Before we go I need to introduce a little bit of knowledge for the rest of our journey. The distances, getting to and between the Jovian giants… well, these distances are just far to great to be measured in simple miles.

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Therefore, I would like to introduce you, My Dear Readers, to another measurement. One used by astronauts and astrophysicists, this unit is called an ‘Astronomical Unit’ or ‘A.U.’. An AU is the distance from our Sun, to Earth. This equates to roughly 93 million miles[1]. From here on out, I will be using this A.U. to tell you just how far we are traveling.

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The largest of the Jovian ‘Giants’, Jupiter! Jupiter orbits the sun at 5.2 A.U.s from the sun.

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[caption id="attachment_3116" align="aligncenter" width="630"]Jovian Planet – Jupiter Jovian Planet – Jupiter[/caption]


(Jovian Planet – Jupiter)


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Now, My Dear Readers, we leave behind the terrestrial planets and move outwards to the Giant Jovian planets. The obvious differences between the terrestrial planets and the Jovian planetsare the surfaces. Like Earth, the terrestrial planets have solid surfaces, terra. The ‘Giant’ Jovian planets have gaseous surfaces. All of these Jovian ‘Giants’ withgaseous surfaces and cores, which are much denser than our own. We leave, in our Ship of the Stars, from Jupiter further and further away from Earth and the Sun and on to SATURN!

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[caption id="attachment_3111" align="aligncenter" width="617"]Saturn Saturn[/caption]

(Saturn)


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Remember, My Dear Readers, that we will be revisiting all of these Jovian Giants yet, for today, we are just passing them by for the outer reaches of our Solar System. Our next stop is Saturn, at 9.54 A.U.s. This is the most dominate of the ‘Ringed Planets’. Of all our Jovian brethren, I believe that mankind has studied and watched Saturn more than any other. Even me, I have shared ‘news’ about Saturn and the ‘Great White Storm’ growing smaller over the past several years. Did you, My Dear Readers, know Jupiter has a ‘Great Red Spot’? Now, we come to Uranus.

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[caption id="attachment_3113" align="aligncenter" width="630"]Uranus Uranus[/caption]

(Uranus)


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At 19.2 A.U.s we are now more than One Billion seven hundred million miles from the Sun. The sun’s influence, as far as radiant heat, wanes to nearly non-existent. Not only are these giant Jovian planets gaseous, they are frigid. In the image above we can clearly see that Uranus, too, has a ring. Ice crystals and remnants of dust particles left over from the creation of this planet. The further we get, from the sun, the more we see just how the inner terrestrial planets were formed. By the collision, and adhesion of; dust, rock, and ice crystals. This is how all of the planets in our solar system were formed. Now we leave the orbit of Uranus, in our Ship of the Stars, an set our course for the next Jovian giant, Neptune.

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[caption id="attachment_3107" align="aligncenter" width="630"]Neptune Neptune[/caption]


(Neptune)


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At 30.1 A.U.s from the sun, Neptune hangs on the very thinnest of gravity threads to our mother, Sun. Little, if any, of the sun’s radiant heat makes it out to he last of our Jovian giants, and the last full sized planet in our solar system. As I have mentioned, earlier, Pluto (just recently) lost its designation as a planet of our solar system. In my lifetime; America gained two states, and my solar system lost one planet. Well, I am going to stick my head in the sands and refuse to acknowledge that change. I will be including Pluto in our ‘Tour of Our Solar System’ as a full-fledged planet. Now we steer our Ship of the Stars out of the orbit of Neptune and head to the furthest planet of our solar system, Pluto.

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[caption id="attachment_3110" align="aligncenter" width="600"]Pluto Pluto[/caption]

(Pluto)


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At 39.5 A.U.s Pluto is the furthest body, in our solar system, from the sun. Now referred to as a ‘Dwarf Planet’ and a part of the Kuiper Belt. There we have it, My Dear Readers; we have arrived at the ‘Kuiper Belt’! What used to be known as the ‘Meteor Belt’ it is the home for all the meteors that travel through our solar system. What meteors that do not originate from the Kuiper, come from the next destination in our travels. The Kuiper Belt!

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[caption id="attachment_3104" align="aligncenter" width="630"]The Kuiper Belt with Haley’s Comet Path Marked The Kuiper Belt with Haley’s Comet Path Marked[/caption]

(The Kuiper Belt with Haley’s Comet Path Marked)


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Roughly 50 A.U.s from the sun the Kuiper Belt extends from the orbit of Neptune (at 30 A.U.) all the way out to 50 A.U.s. Easily twenty times the size of the ‘Asteroid Belt’ and Two Hundred times as massive[2]. The Kuiper Belt is home to three ‘Dwarf Planet’s; Pluto, Haumea[3], and Makemake[4]. The Kuiper Belt is quite real and was discovered in 1992, by astronomers Kenneth Edgeworth[5] and Gerard Kuiper[6]. However, our next destination… has never been seen!

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[caption id="attachment_3114" align="aligncenter" width="550"]Comets Come From Oort Cloud and Kuiper Belt Comets Come From Oort Cloud and Kuiper Belt[/caption]

(Comets Come From Oort Cloud and Kuiper Belt)


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Our final destination today, My Dear Readers, is the ‘Oort Cloud’! As I mentioned, above, there are no ‘pictures’ of or Hubble Images’ of the ‘Oort Cloud’. At 50,000 A.U.s (that is a thousand times the distance to the Kuiper Belt) it is imagined to stretch out to a quarter of the distance to Proxima Centauri[7], the nearest star to the Sun. If the ‘Oort Cloud’ does exist it would be the single largest accumulation of mass outside of the sun. Now, My Dear Readers, I am going to share a little more astronomical knowledge of our solar system.

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[caption id="attachment_3121" align="aligncenter" width="630"]Oort Comet Cloud Oort Comet Cloud[/caption]

(Oort Comet Cloud)


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There are two types of comets, which roam our solar system. These are; Short Period Comets (also known as ‘Periodic Comets’[8]), and ‘Long Period Comets’. Short period or ‘Periodic’ comets have orbital periods of 200 years or less. On the other hand, Long Period comets have orbital periods of more than 200 years. Many speculate that these Short Period or ‘Periodic’ comets originate in the Kuiper Belt. The Long Period comets originate in the Oort Cloud, and many times are actually thrown into existence (into a orbit around the sun) by passing star or giant molecular cloud.[9] Bottom line, My Dear Readers, all of the comets that travel through our solar system have originated in either the Kuiper Belt or the Oort Cloud.

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[caption id="attachment_3109" align="aligncenter" width="630"]Outer Solar System- Kuiper Belt and Oort Cloud Outer Solar System- Kuiper Belt and Oort Cloud[/caption]

(Outer Solar System- Kuiper Belt and Oort Cloud)


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Everything, that yet has been formed into the eight planets or three ‘Dwarf Planets’, now occupies the ‘Kuiper Belt’ and/or the ‘Oort Cloud’. It is safe to postulate that the object that ended the one hundred sixty-five Million year reign of the dinosaurs! If the reign of mankind were to be brought to an end, by the strike of an immense comet, that comet would come from wither the Kuiper Belt or the Oort Cloud. Today was the first time that I had heard of the ‘Oort Cloud’.

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[caption id="attachment_3108" align="aligncenter" width="600"]Oort Cloud Large Image Oort Cloud Large Image[/caption]

(Oort Cloud Large Image)


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My Dear Readers, I have taken the time to introduce you to; the Kuiper Belt and the Oort Cloud for one reason. It is my opinion that mankind would be well served to focus a great deal of resources on monitoring these two distant formations of our solar system. That mankind’s future, our very existence, could depend on just how well we monitor these two far-flung formations of our solar system. The best way to guard the future of our species, the longevity of mankind, is to diligently watcher and monitor; the Kuiper Belt and the Oort Cloud.

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[caption id="attachment_3105" align="aligncenter" width="600"]Kuiper Belt and Oort Cloud Kuiper Belt and Oort Cloud[/caption]

(Kuiper Belt and Oort Cloud)


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That, My Dear Readers, brings us to the very outer limits of our Solar System. We have reached out and ‘seen’ the outer limits of our science, and the reach of mankind. From here, My Dear Readers, I plan to bring us back to visit the ‘Dwarf Planets’, then our Jovian brothers, and finally back to visit the final two terrestrial planets that I skipped past, today. Today… I wanted to challenge the limits of my reach, my ability to share the outer most reaches of our solar system. Then, I plan on bringing us all back to where we began, where all of mankind began. To our home, right here on Earth.

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I hope that everyone has enjoyed this “Tour of Our Solar System’ in our imaginary ‘Ship of the Stars’. Today was a special effort, by me, and a very special edition of ‘Lost In Space’. I know that I am quite late in publishing this gargantuan edition. For that, I apologize. However, starting very early tomorrow I will be promoting this publication of this edition of ‘Lost In Space’. Tomorrow is Wednesday, and I have planned the publication of another edition of ‘News from Around the World’.

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I look forward to having you visit me, right here, at The Other Shoe. As well, so as to not have my scientific endevours here outshine my creative? This Friday… I have planned… the publication of the single most; intense, scary, frightening and violent episodes of ‘The Horror in Smithville’. Then, next Friday, will see the publication of the single longest episode of “The Horror in Smithville’ to date! My Dear Readers, I am putting in long and hard hours here at The Other Shoe as we approach my 500th Article! Later this week, or the first of next week, I will publish my 500th Article!

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I look forward to sharing that celebration with as many readers as is possible. PLEASE won’t you take a moment and ‘Share’ with your family, your friends, your loved ones, your co-workers, and your neighbors the wonder and enjoyment that is reading ‘The Other Shoe’? I am sure that they, too, will find my blog to be both entertaining and informative. Until tomorrow…

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Adieu!

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Thank YOU!
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[caption id="attachment_2866" align="aligncenter" width="630"]Danny Hanning of The Other Shoe - May 6th, 2014 Danny Hanning of The Other Shoe - May 6th, 2014[/caption]

 
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Monday, June 23, 2014

The Mars Report - June 23rd, 2014

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[caption id="attachment_3094" align="aligncenter" width="630"]Martian Horizon Shot June 20th 2014 Martian Horizon Shot June 20th 2014[/caption]

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 Welcome back My Dear Readers to The Other Shoe. Today, I welcome you to the single shortest edition of The Mars Report, EVER! I am not too sure just what is going on, with the rover Curiosity but NASA/JPL have not posted any kind of update in the past six days! The very last Twitter update, from Curiosity on Mars, was back on June 17th, 2014. I keep going back, to the NASA/JPL Mars Science Laboratory web site, and all they have posted are ‘RAW Images’. 

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Not wanting to leave you, My Dear Readers, in the dark (so to speak). I keep scouring all of the RAW images to see if I can tell what is going on. Whereas there is no ‘Official’ news, as in from NASA or JPL, on the ‘condition’ of the Curiosity rover? I have stumbled upon some rather startling images in the RAW image directory. Now, again, I have nothing ‘Official’ on these images, I am just speculating. Yet, doesn’t that (the image below) ‘look like’ a ‘flat tire’ on the Martian rover Curiosity?

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[caption id="attachment_3093" align="aligncenter" width="630"]Hole in the ‘tire’ of Curiosity Hole in the ‘tire’ of Curiosity[/caption]

(Hole in the ‘tire’ of Curiosity)


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Now, as if that is not enough… when looking at the next image from Curiosity’s ‘Mastcam’? it ‘looks’ to me like that Curiosity just might be stuck in some Martian quicksand! If you look at the image above, then at the image below, it does ‘look like’ the rover tire is much lower in the Martian soil. Does it not?

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[caption id="attachment_3092" align="aligncenter" width="630"]Shot of Curiosity’s Tire Stuck in Sand? Shot of Curiosity’s Tire Stuck in Sand?[/caption]

(Shot of Curiosity’s Tire Stuck in Sand? )


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Upon scouring even more of the RAW images I found, yet another, shot of the hole in the tire of the rover Curiosity. I am pretty sure that this is the same tire and the same hole. Yet, if it is not, then maybe our intrepid rover Curiosity may well be suffering from two ‘flat tires’ and being stuck in some kind of ‘Martian Quicksand’! Check out the second image of a flat tire from Curiosity’s ‘Mastcam’.

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[caption id="attachment_3091" align="aligncenter" width="630"]Second Image of ‘Flat Tire’ from Curiosity Second Image of ‘Flat Tire’ from Curiosity[/caption]

(Second Image of ‘Flat Tire’ from Curiosity)


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Well, My Dear Readers, that is all that I have to share on this Monday June 23rd, 2014. There have been no (shared) transmissions from the Martian rover Curiosity since June 17th, 2014 when we received our last ‘Twitter Broadcast’. I will keep and eye on the web site, and an ear to the news. If I find out anything ‘newsworthy’ during the week, I will be sure to come right here to ‘The Mars Report’ and share it with you, My Dear Readers!

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Until then…

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Adieu!

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Thank YOU!
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[caption id="attachment_2866" align="aligncenter" width="630"]Danny Hanning of The Other Shoe - May 6th, 2014 Danny Hanning of The Other Shoe - May 6th, 2014[/caption]

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Sunday, June 22, 2014

Sunday Funnies - June 22nd, 2014

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[caption id="attachment_2868" align="aligncenter" width="630"]Danny Hanning of The Other Shoe - May 6th, 2014 Danny Hanning of The Other Shoe - May 6th, 2014[/caption]


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               Welcome back My Dear Readers to The Other Shoe. As well, this is a little ‘Welcome Back’ of/to ‘Sunday Funnies’! It has been several weeks since I last published this weekend treasure. In an effort to return normalcy and some regularity to my blog, I return with a short video if Prince Alexander.

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This is a short of Prince Alexander taking a bath! Every week Prince Alexander gets a bath, many times with his Daddy Daniel! Today, he has the bath all to himself! Notice how casual and accepting Prince Alexander is, with taking a bath all by himself.

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Now, without further adieu, I give you ‘Sunday Funnies’ with Prince Alexander!

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[youtube=http://youtu.be/3nP_lAKKRe0]


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Saturday, June 21, 2014

A Week in Review - June 21st, 2014

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[caption id="attachment_2868" align="aligncenter" width="630"]Danny Hanning of The Other Shoe - May 6th, 2014 Danny Hanning of The Other Shoe - May 6th, 2014[/caption]


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                Welcome back My Dear Readers to The Other Shoe. Today, Saturday, is a great day for all of you, My Dear Readers, to catch up. Catch up on reading all the great articles that I have written, and published, right here at The Other Shoe over the past seven days. I know that a great may of you do not have the ‘free time’ to read my articles (and storied) during the workweek. That is THE reason I (originally) created ‘A Week in Review’ and why (today) I continue to write and publish this weekly review.

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For my blog, and all of you My Dear Readers, it has been a ‘good’ and productive week. Including this article I have written and published seven articles in seven days. Now, I have read comments that ‘that really isn’t all that much writing…’ Rest assured when I tell you that is a good deal of writing! Not just anyone can sit behind a keyboard and, in just seven days, produce more than seventy pages of; stories, articles; on Space Exploration, Hubble images from far-flung universes, current affairs and international news, political logjams’ and achievements, and a horror story.

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‘The Horror in Smithville’ (alone) is well over 95 pages in length, 220, 000 characters and 50,000 words. Each, and every, ‘A Week in Review’ is over ten pages long and contains nearly a dozen links to other content. As well, My Dear Readers, it is not just the writing. During the week I research many topics, sift through dozens of images (for ‘Lost in Space’ and ‘The Mars Report’), and work and rework political articles in an effort to be as factually correct as possible and to try to not offend ANY of my readers.

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Please do not get me ‘wrong’, I am not complaining… I am just explaining. The work I do is very tiring and, more times than not, makes my pain condition worse never better. Yet, I do not know what I would do with my time if I wasn’t working on these articles, stories and reviews. I just love the work I do here at The Other Shoe. The pain I experience, the physical limitations I have and the declining nature of my disease state causes a great deal of depression. I take ‘medications’ for my depression, but the one thing that works better than any/all my anti-depression medications? A single; comment, question, ‘Like’, ‘Share’ and/or ‘Kudos’ on any of the articles I write and publish each week.

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Every time I go to the primary location for my blog (www.theothershoe.blog.com) and see the counter has gone above 50!?! I am just ecstatic! To think that more than fifty people, in the last week, have come to my blog and looked at or read my work? Makes me feel like I just might be able to make a difference in the world I live in, still! That I might, still, be able to make people laugh! And, to think for just a moment… just a single moment that my words light help another person see and issue through the eyes of another? THAT gives my life new meaning!

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So, you now have a better idea just why it is I do all this writing and publishing. I want to help to inform and entertain people; family, friends, loved ones and all my followers here at The Other Shoe and Facebook. Yes… and someday…of course… I would just love to have something of my own to be published in a book or magazine! That will always be the dream, My Dear Readers!

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Now that I have shared a little of what drives me, and keeps me writing and publishing every week. It is time for another edition of ‘A Week in Review’.

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  • Notes From Behind the Keyboard – June 16th, 2014: “Yet, today was different. I was extremely panicked upon waking and asked Allen to “turn on the lights… something is wrong!” Much to my chagrin, and Allen’s surprise, when he turned on the lights he discovered that my lips were blue… as was much of my facial complexion. So much so that Allen (usually stoic… almost indifferent) actually gasped when he looked at my face, with the light turned on. Allen then informed me “Danny… I think you stopped breathing. I heard you gasping, again, and I got up to wake you up.” Allen is visibly… shaken; this gave me the chills because Allen just doesn’t show emotions, like, ever.” To this day I have NO idea just what is going on with me at night. Allen has worked every single day since that hospital visit, I hope that soon he can help me get to the doctor I as given a referral. Barring that, I just sleep as light as I can… and (most of the time) sleep with one eye open. Allen is not sleeping very heavy, either. In just the past two nights I have had three bouts of the ‘gasping while sleeping’ and BOTH time Allen awoke quickly and came right over to my bed to check on me! I simply do not know what I would do without Allen. I not only love him more than anyone or anything in the world… I trust him with my very life! This was NOT a good way to start the week… and, looking back, I am really surprised that I manage to finish seven articles in the same week Monday started this way!

  • Lost In Space – Tour of Our Solar System – #2 Venus : “Venus is known as the ‘Sister Planet’ of Earth. This is due to the fact that Venus is closest to Earth in; size, orbit of the sun, gravity and bulk composition. Venus orbits the sun in just 224.7 days. Now, most planets in our solar system rotate, on their axis, in an anti-clockwise direction, also known as a retrograde rotation or ‘orbit’. Further, Venus rotates the slowest of all the planets taking a full 243 Earth Days to complete on rotation. That means that a single day on Venus would last 243 days.” Well, My Dear Readers, this ‘Solar System Tour’ is being very well received by you! It is a lot of work, every week. Sorting through dozens of pages of images, picking which images I think will go best with the article. Downloading the images on to my computer, then resizing the images so they ‘fit’ on the blog page, uploading the images to my blog, then adding them to the text of the article. There is, also, writing of the dozen of so pages of information, news, and background information on each of the planets. However, you would not believe just how much I am LEARNING while I am writing and publishing this ‘Tour of OUR Solar System’! Next week… MARS!

  • The Mars Report – June 18th, 2014 : “On April 18th 2014 Opportunity managed to get some great landscape images of Endeavour Crater Rim from ‘Murray Ridge’. You, My Dear Readers, are very fortunate in that I have downloaded, and am going to share, two different versions of this wonderful landscape image. The difference between the two images is that one (the first) is in ‘True Color’. Meaning, in natural daylight on the Martian surface, the image has been enhanced for better viewing. The second image is done in what is called ‘False Color’. This means that the good people at NASA/JPL have done their best to reproduce the image in ‘Natural Earth Light’. So, if we were to ‘see’ this landscape on Earth, the second image is how it would look here in Earth light.” When I started writing the very first edition of ‘The Mars Report’ (I must admit) I had NO idea that I would still be writing and publishing this series three years later. I started this series with Opportunity and Spirit rovers. Took a bit of a break when Spirit ‘died’, then came back to this series with renewed vigor when Curiosity landed at ‘Bradbury Landing’! Now, each and every week I really look forward to going to the NASA/JPL web site and scouring the site for new and interesting images. Sometimes the number of images are few, but some real science has happened, since the last article. I have a ‘Good Feeling’ about this series, now. I have a feeling that I will be writing and publishing this series when we celebrate the Second 500 articles!

  • Notes from Behind the Keyboard – June 19th, 2014 : “Since my neurosurgeon did not order the correct number of bone graft pieces prior to surgery, one or more bone grafts were not properly prepared prior to implantation into my neck. As seen in follow-up X-Rays the “bone grafts did not fully knit” the my bones. This is the reason that, now, seven years later I still have popping, and grinding sounds coming from my cervical spine, shooting pains in; my upper chest, face, upper left arm, lower left arm, left hand. What this means is that the bone grafts never “completely knit” with the surrounding bone (mine), that the structure is not solid and “durable”.” Long story short? (TOO LATE!) My neurosurgeon underestimated the extend of damage my degenerative disc disease had actually caused to my cervical spine, discs and nerve roots. This caused him to enter the OR less prepared than he need to be, and more overwhelmed by the severity of my condition. Combine that with an untrained vendor representative from the ‘Bone Growth Stimulation’ device and (unknown at the time) a severely diminished level of Vitamin ‘D’ in my blood stream? = Poorly knit bones, unstable construct resulting in spinal stenosis, more nerve root damage and possible growing pressure on my spinal cord. The last neurosurgeon I had a consult with, told me that ‘your condition will, likely, NEVER improve… you will spend the rest of your life on pain medications… you will loose more and more bodily functions until you will be unable to walk, use the bathroom, take a bath or brush your teeth without assistance…” That is NOT my image of what one’s ‘Golden Years’ should be like. I have no choice; I just pray and work hard so that just maybe I will earn enough money to make this terrible future more bearable.

  • The Horror in Smithville – REVIEW – First Eleven Episodes: “Welcome back My Dear Readers to The Other Shoe. I would like to extend a deep and heartfelt “Welcome!” to everyone! To this, the third review of ‘The Horror in Smithville’. Today I am here to present; a short introduction, a little teaser, and a link to all of the First ELEVEN Episodes of this wonderful tale. Now, if you are just now joining the ranks of My Dear Readers, you might not know that this is my very first venture into the genre of horror. I have chosen to make this first, a story for young people. However, from what I am hearing (from many of you, My Dear Readers) is that this tale is enjoyed by adults and young adults, alike.” Twice a month I will publish another review, just like this one. This will enable people ‘new’ to the blog and this story a quick and easy way to catch up with the story. My Dear Readers, HONESTLY… when I started this episodic horror story? I NEVER imaged that so many people, from all over the world, would enjoy it SO much! As well, this story has… GROWN on me. Timmy and Archer have GROWN on me… and this whole story just keep getting bigger and bigger in my mind and in my heart. I am, already, ‘seeing’ more and more books! I can see this one story ending… then US returning to Timmy and Archer just a couple or a few years down the line, for yet another adventure in their alternate world! A couple of things… I am still working on the name of the other world. Two, the Latin in this story is giving me FITS! I have not ‘used’ Latin since High School. I used to be fairly versed in the Latin… not anymore. Just as soon as possible I WILL have all the Latin worked out for the; spells, enchants, and ceremonies. My Dear Readers, I want you to know that I am having a WONDERFUL time bringing this horror story to you, and yours!

  • News From Around the World – June 19th, 2014 : “Now, let us proceed with this edition of “News from Around the World’. Today were are going to drop by L.A., Spain, Washington state, and Washington D.C. for a jaunty romp through the headlines. Every week I rummage through headlines to find some of the stories not covered by the network news, and a new take on some that were. Honestly, there were more stories to cover this week, than I had time to properly prepare the article. So, let’s jump right in and get our feet wet!” This is another article series that I started on a lark, which has managed to work its way into the rotation as a ‘regular’. It was worked its way into my mind and into my heart. This is another way for me to share some of my humanist views, without getting all political. Don’t get me wrong! I very much enjoy politics. However, at this point in time politics is being used all to often to DIVIDE people. Therefore, I am doing my best to address POLICY and leaving POLITICS off to the side! Thank you Kathye Warfiedl Rogers for YOUR input on that, it was instrumental in me finding a way to have a voice on policy without upsetting the people I respect and love! Thank you!

  • The Horror in Smithville – Part TWELVE! : “The adventures of Timmy and Archer are as real, and come from my own personal experiences, as any thing I have ever written. There are moments, several of them, which you will be reading today that were literally taken out of my memories as a young man. As an extra special treat, for everyone out there from Pearland Texas, (and everyone that has known me and my scholastic life) there is a very special ‘Guest Appearance’ in today’s episode by someone we all dearly loved.” It is with GREAT pride that I present to you, My Dear Readers, THIS the 12th episode of my wonderfully entertaining FIRST venture into the Horror Genre; “The Horror in Smithville’! With each and every passing week, I am continually amazed at what situations Timmy and Archer get themselves involved… then, just how they manage to extricate their happy butts! I refuse to tell you anything from this episode! There is just no way I can share… without ruining the suspense and thrills that are this episode. However, I will tell you that I have included (in this episode) a Very Special ‘Guest Appearance’ by someone that everybody knew and respected back in Pearland, Texas. I am very proud that he is making an appearance in this story! I REALLY hope that EVERYONE that I know, from Pearland, makes the time to come and read this episode and see ‘who’ it is that I picked for this Special ‘Guest Appearance’. Thanks!


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That, My Dear Readers, brings us to the end of another edition of ‘A Week IN Review’ right here at ‘The Other Shoe’! I am thrilled to have managed to write and publish another full week of seven articles in seven days. I really hope that everyone takes the time... makes the time to look over all of these fine works. To; look at the pictures, enjoy the stories, be challenged by the information and view into the lives and worlds of others.

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Yet, if I had but one wish? I would be to do all this work… and be more comfortable, in less pain, get more sleep, and have the means to enjoy the life I have… left. I refuse to beg for that which would make my life more livable. What little I have I thank God for his kindness in giving. I work just as hard as I possibly can, with the physical and neurological limitations I now experience. I do my best to keep my pain out of mind, and be thankful for every moment of life I have left.

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If I may? I would please, My Dear Readers, ask (respectfully) would you please ‘SHARE’? Share my work on Facebook. Share my posts on Facebook or My Space or Pinintrest or Tumblr. I do NOT do this out of vanity. Rather I do this because I DO believe that my work… is enjoyable and I have a genuine desire to entertain! As well, the more people my stories reach? The more likely it is that… someday I might be able to help to financially support myself!

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I am, physically, unable to return to work. As my last neurosurgeon told me and documented? It is completely unlikely that I will ever be able to return to the work force. That my condition will only worsen, and that in the coming years… I will loose more and more physical abilities, and neurological abilities. (I will feel less, have les control over my body) I would just like it if I was in a better financial position… when that happens. I think that any/all Americans would want the same for themselves and their loved ones.

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My Dear Readers, that brings us to the end of the week, the end of this article, and the end of another full week here at The Other Shoe!

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Adieu!

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Thank YOU!

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Friday, June 20, 2014

The Horror in Smithville - Part TWELVE!

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[caption id="attachment_2489" align="aligncenter" width="500"]The Horror in Smithville The Horror in Smithville[/caption]

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Welcome back My Dear Readers to The Other Shoe. As well, a very special welcome to you all to this the 12th episode of ‘The Horror in Smithville’! My Dear Readers this episode just about didn’t happen. Even to this very moment I am having severe shooting pains into my left arm and hand. Since 4 AM this morning I’ve been running a 100 to 102° temperatures, and dizziness has been frequent and often. Yet, My Dear Readers, I know that a great many of you are anxiously awaiting the publication of this, the 12th, episode of this horror story.

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My Dear Readers a heck of a lot is fixing to happen in the next 12 pages. You are about to read of this the 12th episode of this wonderful horror story. Yet… I’m not going to give you even so much as a teaser as to what’s about to happen. This episode, My Dear Readers, has taken me nearly 3 days to complete. From first outlines, and rough drafts, to what you’re about to read here this evening on Friday, June 20, 2014 has been a journey in and of itself.

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The adventures of Timmy and Archer are as real, and come from my own personal experiences, as any thing I have ever written. There are moments, several of them, which you will be reading today that were literally taken out of my memories as a young man. As an extra special treat, for everyone out there from Pearland Texas, (and everyone that has known me and my scholastic life) there is a very special ‘Guest Appearance’ in today’s episode by someone we all dearly loved.

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Now, My Dear Readers, if at the end of this episode you know who the extra special ‘Guest Appearance’ was? I would very much like for you to; leave a comment on my blog, make a comment on Facebook, send me a message through Facebook, call me on the phone, let me and everyone out here know WHO the very special ‘Guest Appearance’ in this episode was devoted to. Now, if you don’t know me in real life. If you don’t know who my teachers were in school. You won’t know who this special appearance is. However, I am willing to bet that a great many of you My Dear Readers, a great many of you, will know and can tell who the very special ‘Guest Appearance’… was.

 

This man, the very special ’Guest Appearance’, meant a lot to me in a very troubling time in my life. He was like a father to me and I carry what he taught me through every day of my life. I give homage to this man by including him as an important character in this, my very first venture into the horror genre. I just can’t tell you how important this episode is. I just can’t tell you how hard I have worked on this episode, for you My Dear Readers. I hope that everyone makes an opportunity to come and read this today. And I do hope, sincerely and I say this heartfelt, that everyone that comes to read this today enjoys it and takes something with them when they’re done.

 

And now, My Dear Readers, without further ado I give you Part TWELVE of ‘The Horror in Smithville’!

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Part Twelve


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Well, Archer thought, the day had just turned around for the better… why not have the school bully find him and Timmy alone in the hallways? If things would go there way too much they might get a feeling of… entitlement! Archer need not turn around, to know that Timmy had heard is irritating and boisterous voice, too. Barry had been their personal bully now for the past three grades, at least! Not a week would pass that one, or both, would get a toilet bowl swirly, pants’ed in the hallway, or shoved into a locker.

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Though, the getting shoved into the locker had, mostly, passed as they both had grown too big to have the door closed. Now, how could it be fun if you couldn’t close the locker door on your victim? Barry was closing in on Timmy and Archer, just as they turned the corner headed into the cafeteria. They could hear Barry’s footsteps race, in an effort to catch-up. Just as Barry turned the corner, the bell rang ending lunch. With Barry almost within reach of Archer, a flood of students came barreling out of cafeteria. As he was carried away from Timmy and Archer, he could be heard yelling at them…

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“I’ll get you two! Just wait till class is over, I will get you!”

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As the students came out from lunch, they pushed against Barry. Soon Barry was carried away on the tide of students and Timmy and Archer pushed into the lunchroom. There wasn’t enough time to sit, or have lunch, but they had totally missed a confrontation with their bully, Barry. The day had taken a decidedly good turn for our duo, Timmy and Archer. They took a few moments to sit on a lunchroom bench and look at Timmy’s hand. The swelling had gone done… a lot! It was no longer as big as a catcher’s mitt, more the size of a child’s toy mitt. Yet, all that fluid had to go somewhere!

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“Archer… I really need to go… Help me get up and to the bathroom. K?”

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Heck, Archer was so happy to have Timmy back to, nearly, normal he would have walked Timmy to the gates of Hell if he had asked right then. Archer helped Timmy get up, and let Timmy lean on his left shoulder as they made their way to the lunchroom boy’s bathroom. Archer kicked open the bathroom door, with one foot, leaned in to hold it open with his shoulder. Timmy limped into the bathroom and pushed through a stall door, quickly sitting down. Timmy was shaking all over, like he had a terrible fever. Thing was, he didn’t have any fever, just an overwhelming need to empty his darn bladder.

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Timmy stood up leaned against one of the stall doors, and let the flood gates open. Timmy was pretty amazed that was he went, his hand (almost) seemed to get smaller and smaller with every passing moment. He didn’t realize it, but he must have been going for several minuets. Outside Archer called to him.

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“Timmy, you trying to flood the school’s drainage system in there? You have been… in there for, like, five minutes! You ok?

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Timmy didn’t respond, immediately, he just couldn’t stop if his life had depended on it. All Archer heard, outside, was Timmy laughing, ever so quietly, and the sound of gallons and gallons going down the drain. This went on for the better part of ten minuets, when Timmy finally stopped. He sat back down, on the toilet cover, and just took a moment to catch his breath. Timmy was sitting there, listening to his heart beat, feeling the cold of the metal fixture behind his back, when he, again,. Hear Archer’s voice from outside the stall.

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“Don’t mean to rush you my bloated friend, but I would put even money on Barry coming back to see if we are here,… and the last bell for our last class of the day is about to ring. Maybe we should get the heck out of here?”

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Archer’s right, Timmy though to himself, on both accounts. Yet, if he had his druthers, he would have sat there another hour or two. In this tall there were no zombie wolves. Mr. Albright’s death didn’t hang over his head, and for the first time in what felt like days, nobody was trying to kill them. Is this what life was like before the madness started? No wonder he loved his life, so very much… this was a life a person could relax, and enjoy.

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Timmy screwed up his courage, stood up and opened the bathroom stall door. There, just outside the door, was his best friend in the world, Archer. Archer was always right there… Even with zombie wolves attacking and a ‘Tall Man’ thrashing at them hell bent on killing… Archer was always… right there. In retrospect, it might have seemed… well, kind of gay… happening in a bathroom and all. Yet, Timmy just walked up to Archer, reached over and put his arms around his friend, and gave him a hug.

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“Thanks, Archer, for saving my life!”

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Archer blushed, and for a split-second he stood there and reveled in Timmy’s thanks. Then reality kicked in and Archer spoke.

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“Now, Timmy, don’t get me wrong or anything… I appreciate… like, you showing appreciation and all. Yet, if someone… anyone was to walk into this bathroom… right now? Well, the next six years of our lives would be a living hell. You do realize that, right?”

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Timmy let go of Archer, and started laughing. It felt good to laugh! Timmy reached over and rustled Archer’s hair, then went over to the sink to wash his hands. He was drying his hands when he and Archer heard the north side door to the bathroom open. Barry! Jeepers, Timmy thought, seems we just cannot catch a break, today. He darted a look over at Archer, then to the south-side bathroom door. Their only chance was to; make it out the other door, down the hallway, and into class before Barry caught up with them. Timmy looked to Archer and said, all he ever needed to say.

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“Archer… RUN!”

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As two lightening blots just let out of a jar, our boys ran, just as fast as they could for the other door, and their freedom from Barry. Not taking the second to actually open the bathroom door, Timmy (in the lead) pushed through the door with a Bam!They, then, blew out the bathroom door so hard that it caused the door to slam against the wall behind it. If anyone would have been watching, it would have looked like Timmy and Archer literally blew out of the boy’s bathroom. Not slowing one bit, Timmy and Archer barreled through the lunchroom, and out the closet door into the school hallway.

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Hot on their heals, Barry, fell flat on his face as he made the transition from bathroom to lunchroom. Under his breath, could be heard, a expletive when he hit the floor. Barry got right back up, and redoubled his efforts to catch up to Timmy and Archer before that made it to the classroom, and safety. Timmy was back to his self, and bolted for there third period… English class. Archer was falling behind… and it looked like Barry might just catch up to Archer, if Timmy didn’t do something to ‘save’ his friend. There was a water faucet, just outside of the English class, this gave Timmy an idea of how to even the odds. Without missing a beat Timmy called out to Archer.

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“Keep heading to class… do not stop when I do… I have an idea!”

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Now, this gave Archer some concern. Was Timmy going to sacrifice himself to Barry? That just did not seem like Timmy, he must have something up his sleeve. Nevertheless, Archer pumped his legs harder and made his way to the English classroom door. BRRRIIIINNNNNGGGG! The last bell for third period had started to ring. In just thirty seconds more, there would be a final bell. They had to be in their desks, or they would be tardy. As the boys approached the water fountain, just according to plan, Timmy stopped. What Archer didn’t know was that this water faucet… was broken. Someone had stuck a pencil into one of the holes. So, that when you pressed for water? It came shooting out into your face.

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A great joke for Middle school and it happened all too often for the staff. Yet, Timmy knew something more. If you held your finger over the hole... Just so it would shoot out into the hallway, right were people walked. Timmy stood, calmly (something had changed about Timmy… there was a casual strength about him... Archer saw it as he passed). No sooner had Archer passed the fountain, Timmy pressed the button, water came streaming out, Timmy the thumb of his (now working) left hand over the hole. Sure enough, the water was now wetting just where he and Archer had just run!Now, the next five things happen… all at once in this world.

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Unfortunately, I cannot write them that way, so I leave it up to you, My Dear Readers, to visualize all three as one.

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1) Archer and Timmy feel through the English classroom door, and into their seats.

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2) The final bell rang, for the tardy third period students.

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3) Barry came around the corner, at a high rate of speed. He hit the water…. Just right and, like a cartoon character who’s world just went wrong, Barry slid on the water like ice and went flying! Flying, literally, through the air! The English classroom door was opened, letting Archer and Timmy in… so everyone in the classroom saw what you are about to read.

4) Someone opened the door to the next classroom over… Spanish, I think.

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5) Barry, now airborne, with his head where his legs used to be… went flying right into that dorr! With a BAM, that echoed down three doors more, Barry hit the classroom door !

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All of this was witnessed, by the half of the English class Archer and Timmy were in, that sat closest to the door. It happened all at once, and seamlessly, just like in a cartoon.

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The English teacher, Mr. Dunahoo, sat calmly at the head of the classroom while this all happened just outside his door. He turned his head to the side, lowered the book he was reading, looked at our Heroes Duo, and said.

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“From the ruckus outside… I take it that Archer and Timmy have quite a tale to tell… in the paper you all have due at the end of this hour.”

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Then, Mr. Dunahoo returned his face to behind the book, which he read. A groan went up from the classroom, and then they all broke into whispers and laughter. Seems our boys, again, evaded capture by the bully name Barry.

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Timmy and Archer told two people… and they told two people…, so on, and so one. By the end of the class everyone in English knew what had happened in the hallway, with Barry. Seemed, as they all piled out of the classroom, the incident was on everyone’s lips that left English that day. Luckily, for our Heroes Duo, there was no next period. For certainly, had there been, Barry would have heard that everyone knew. If Barry had known… that everyone knew how he flew through the air (butt first) into a door and came crashing down on his head. Well, the events later this day… out by the buses, could… would have been much worse.

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Once the story had made its way around the room, and back again, everyone settled down to write their story for Mr. Dunahoo. As Timmy sat their, writing his version of the events that transpired with Barry (from the bathroom on, nothing of what came before), he wondered just how many versions of the same story Mr. Dunahoo would have to read. Timmy was quite content that his version as the only one that really mattered, his and Archer’s. Archer… as Timmy sat and wrote the story, he thought of Archer. How Archer had managed to drag his body; onto the bus, off the bus, into classrooms, out of classrooms, and finally into the science lab with Mr. Champion. Frankly, Timmy thought, he owed his life to Archer, and Archer’s quick actions and decisions. He couldn’t think of a better person to face… whatever was to come.

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That was the other thing. Timmy had felt it since two days past working in the barn. A sense of foreboding, and of loss. A sense that, somehow, his life and Archer’s… for whatever reason, for some time to come… their lives were not their own. That destiny had stepped into their lives, and taken the reins to their immediate futures. This was not a ‘Good Feeling’. Matter of fact, it had Timmy quite on edge. Jumping at the slightest sound and living every moment with a exaggerated sense of reality, and the world around them. Them… that was the other part. Even though, when this feeling first overcame him, he was alone. He had always felt that this was a shared destiny with Archer.

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Timmy did not like that aspect of this… situation. If he, Timmy, was to ‘suffer the slings and arrows of an outrageous fortune… and by opposing, end them!’? That was cool, Timmy could handle himself and if he failed? It was only Timmy that might get hurt, or worse yet… die. Archer was his best friend. The best friend any person could ever ask for in whatever, whichever reality they may live. The thought that his, Timmy’s, failure might… might cost Archer! Cost him his… life! Well, that was completely unacceptable! Timmy guessed that that was the ‘where’ of the sense of hyper-vigilance he had been feeling for the past two days.

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Whatever happened… Archer would not pay for Timmy being ‘asleep at the wheel’. The more the thought about this, the more he kicked himself for getting bit. He knew he was too close to those zombie wolves. He knew that he should have moved up the tree, the way Archer had suggested. Two things to learn from this; 1) Keep a good distance between yourself and any undead. 2) Listen to Archer, he obviously has my back… and my welfare at heart. Just as this thought had finished in Timmy’s mind, he heard the bell ring.

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It was the final bell of the day. As each student passed Mr. Dunahoo’s desk, they turned in their papers. As Timmy laid his one his desk, Mr. Dunahoo put down his book and looked at Timmy, and Archer. He smiled… Mr. Dunahoo rarely smiled in class, but he was smiling now.

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“My guess is that I should read you two boy’s papers, first. Would I be correct in that assumption? You two were the only ones actually in the hallway when Barry… had his accident. That is correct, Mr. Marref?”

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Timmy noticeably blushed, and Archer began to nervously push Timmy towards the door. Timmy smiled, first, then answered.

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“Mr. Dunahoo, Archer and I were the only ones in the hallway… when Barry took, flying lessons, yes. Now, if he hadn’t been chasing us… running so fast in the hallway? He might have seen the water on the floor… and none of this would have happened.”

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Again, Mr. Dunahoo smiled, even bigger, and even laughed (slightly) under his breath.

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“’Flying lessons’… Did you just come up with that, or will I be treated with this metaphor when I read your paper?”

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Timmy had included that in his story… Archer was already in the classroom when Barry took flight. Archer was now pressing very hard against Timmy’s back… it was obvious that Archer was really uncomfortable and wanted to get home. Timmy cut things with Mr. Dunahoo short.

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“It’s all in there, Mr. Dunahoo. Anything more and you would have needed to be in the lunchroom bathroom when he started after us or in the hallway when he decided to take flying lessons. Have a great three-day weekend, Mr. Dunahoo!”

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In his deep baritone voice Mr. Dunahoo said ‘You, too… you two!” then laughed, in an equally deep bass. You could hear Mr. Dunahoo laugh all the way outside, it made Timmy and Archer, both, smile to hear him laugh at their exploits. However, both boys knew one person that was not laughing, Barry! They, too, both knew that he would likely be laying in wait near the buses. They didn’t stop by their lockers, on their way out of the building. Every second might make the difference between missing a ‘meeting’ (more like beating) with Barry, or making it home safe. With that, Timmy and Archer left the building and headed to the buses.

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As it was, Barry was on the prowl for our Duo; Timmy and Archer. His head still hurt, nearly as much as his pride. Barry knew that Timmy and Archer took the same bus home, and he knew which one, too. All Barry need do, is reach the bus before them, and lie in wait. Barry darted out of the door, when the last bell of the day rang. He knew where he was headed; he knew what he wanted to do. By the end of this day… little Mister Marref, would look worse than he felt.

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All of the buses, that took all the children home, all lined up behind the gym building. Now, Barry did not take the same bus home as Timmy and Archer. That meant he had only one chance to get even with this gaywad duo before a long weekend. There was no way he was going to let them get away with what they did to him, no frickin’ dippin’ way! His Dad had taught him one thing, well over the years. When you have your chance? You get even with people, and you get even... good! Sitting there, behind the gym bleachers hidden from view, he thought. He had never seen that little Marref kid’s head bounce. But he was willing to bet, that given enough force? His little fathead would bounce real fine. That little short kid?

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Arker… Archer, he had no fight with him, today. He best just keep away, he didn’t want to have to put the hurt on him, too. But… if’n he had to, he would see if his head bounced, too. Sitting there, thinking about watching Timmy’s head bounce made him feel all warm and fuzzy. It, also, made him want a smoke. NO! If’n he went further under the bleachers to smoke… he might miss Timmy, and the pleasure of seeing his little fat-head, bounce. After. After he was done with this little fat-headed gaywad… then he would smoke. He would really enjoy that cigarette!

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Timmy was feeling right as rain, now. Not at all like this morning and the ride into school. Come to think of it, he really couldn’t remember the ride into school this morning. Not at all! Well, the ‘good thing’ was that he was feeling himself again, and he would remember the ride home! With Archer at his side, and his hand back to normal, Timmy was ready to face whatever the night, and the other world had to throw at them. So long as he had Archer at his side, as a team they could face anything!

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Archer was remembering the ride into school, as they approached the busses behind the gym. How he had to struggle to get Timmy on to the bus. How he managed to find something to wake Timmy enough to get him off the bus. This ride, home? Was going to be a breeze compared to the ride this morning. Timmy was back to his old self, with Timmy at his side (Archer thought) there is nothing that their ‘dream-world’ or a bunch of zombie wolves could throw at them… that together they could not face!

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‘face’ That was the word going through Archer’s mind, when it happened. Timmy was to Archer’s right. Archer to Timmy’s left, as always. When suddenly, and in his peripheral vision, Archer saw Timmy suddenly… stop! Timmy’s head, and neck, stopped where they were. Timmy’s body and legs.. just kept moving forward! Now, again out of his peripheral vision, Archer sees Timmy’s legs go flying up into the air! Timmy’s head is still stationary and his face… in one place, but all twisted… in pain!

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Archer stops dead in his tracks and turns to his left. What he sees… what Archer sees, right now, he will keep seeing (in his nightmares) for the next several weeks. Archer sees an arm at Timmy’s throat. His feet are flying up into the air, with a big burly arm wrapped around his throat. Archer follows the arm, up to the body, and he sees his face. Barry! It has taken several seconds for Archer to realize just what has happened. Barry, lying in wait behind the gym class bleachers, has clothslined Timmy! As Archer is realizing just what is happening, Timmy’s body comes crashing down to the ground with a dull thud, head first!

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All the children, that just seconds before we walking within feet of Timmy and Archer, are now running off in all directions. Like frightened gazelle, seeing a loin take down a brother, the children run away from the predator… screaming in fear! Archer is frozen… he just cannot move. His best friend in all the world… is lying on the ground on his back… and he just cannot move out of fear. Now, Barry jumps up on to Timmy’s chest, and begins wailing on his face with both hands!

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End Part Twelve


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And with that, My Dear Readers, I leave you standing at the edge of a cliff waiting for next Friday in the upcoming episode, episode 13! My Dear Readers, the way I left the episode today is the way you can anticipate I’m going to leave you every single episode for the rest of this story. As a young boy I used to watch the horse operas in the movie theater. Every week they would take you to the edge of a clef, take the character to the very brink of death, and then ended a sharing that you would be back there next Friday or Saturday to see what happened to the hero. That, My Dear Readers, is going to be my modus operandi for the rest of this thrilling tale.


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Now, I don’t feel completely right leaving lots of people not knowing who the very special guest stars this episode… Wise. The very special guest star for this episode was Mr. Truman Dunahoo. Truman came in my life my freshman year of high school, just after my father had exited my life. Truman taught me most everything I know about acting, and writing. This story, what you’re reading right here right now, could very well be the very first novel I ever have published. That is the hope, that is my prayers, and with all good fortune they will both become a reality.


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I wanted, very much, for Truman to be a part of that experience… That reality. So I will him into the fabric of the story. This is the first time you’ve seen Truman, in the story or my writings, but I assure you it will not be the last. Like my father before him, Truman’s hand is left mine. However, I will never forget the man, and I will never forget the lessons he taught me.


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That, My Dear Readers, brings us to the very end of this part 12 of the horror in Smithville. I have to tell you, I really do look forward to Fridays again, this Friday’s I get to write and share this wonderful and thrilling tale. I look forward to seeing you all to hear for reviews over the weekend, for stories on Monday Tuesday Wednesday and Thursday, and I look forward to seeing you all again here next Friday. For next Friday I will unveil, what is working up to be, the single most; exciting, thrilling, exciting, bloody, violent, and intense episode of this story so far. If you like roller coasters your dinner rock you’re going to love the next 100 pages of this tale. As always thank you for coming and reading my work time deeply honored by your readership.


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Adieu!


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Thank you!


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