The Mars Report - May 4th, 2015

[caption id="attachment_4013" align="aligncenter" width="630"] NASA Research Suggests Mars Once Had More Water Than Earth’s Arctic Ocean[/caption]

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(NASA Research Suggests Mars Once Had More Water Than Earth’s Arctic Ocean)

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                   Welcome back My Dear Shoevians to The Other Shoe. Today marks the beginning of my third week back at; researching, writing, editing and publishing here at The Other Shoe. That is an important milestone for me, as just a few months ago (about mid-way through my chemotherapy treatments) I wondered if I would ever return to writing and publishing again. Well, not at all, what I mean is I doubted that I would ever again publish on a regular schedule again. Now, here I am two weeks past and over a dozen articles under my belt since my ‘The Rebirth and Re-Launch of The Other Shoe’ article of April 13^th, 2015.

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HoHowever, don’t let me take all the credit for that accomplishment. Yes, I research each and every article solo. I track down; images, quotes, facts and data by myself. I download images and document their source for footnotes. I write every single word of every article you read here at The Other Shoe. Yes I am the only person that combines the; images, quotes, data, footnotes and writing into the article you read here today, and every day. Yet, that it is not all there is to the production of my blog, and the articles you view and read. For every; image, quote, data point, researched topic and footnote there is someone behind me keeping my going.

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Allen. Allen has been the person who if I have written that day it was Allen that prepared my meal and helped me eat. If I took a bath Allen helped me get that bath and get dressed afterwards. If I went to a doctor’s appointment it was Allen that helped me get dressed, get into my power chair, get on to the Para-transit, sat with me in the waiting room, went into the doctor’s office with me, got me home, and back into bed. Without his help and assistance… NONE of this could be possible.

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I mention this because this same partnership is happening each and every day 140,000,000 miles away, Mars. For the very first time in human history mankind (America) has three spacecraft coordinating efforts for the exploration of Mars. For those of you that have joined The Other Shoe as Shoevians in just the past few months, you are only familiar with the images and efforts of the rover Curiosity. However, Curiosity is but one player in the team that is the Mars Exploration Triad. (Don’t go Googling that title, because you won’t find it anywhere else but here… as I just made it up right now… here, for you My Dear Shoevians)

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[caption id="attachment_4006" align="aligncenter" width="630"] Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter[/caption]

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(Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter)

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First, and most importantly as it coordinates efforts of the two rovers and takes all the images we see from above the Martian surface. The Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter was launched November 5^th, 2013 (that would have been my eldest brother Ken’s 66^th birthday) and has been in orbit of the Martian surface since September 24^th, 2014. This orbiting watchdog takes all of the images taken from space, in this edition of ‘The Mars Report’ and all others. Without this eye in the sky we would never see either of the orbiters as they trek across the Martian surface. As well, this orbiter provides some incredible and startling images for all of us to view and enjoy. Next, the two rovers that currently trek around the Martian surface.

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[caption id="attachment_4007" align="aligncenter" width="630"] Opportunity Rover[/caption]

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(Opportunity Rover)

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Opportunity is the eldest of the two functioning Martian rovers currently providing images and scientific data for NASA/JPL and all of us here on earth. The Mars Exploration Rover (MER) Opportunity was launched July 7^th, 2003 and landed on the Martian surface on January 25^th, 2004. There were two MERs, Spirit was launched on June 10^th, 2003 and landed on the Martian surface on January 4^th, 2004. Currently we Opportunity is the only remaining operating rover of this twin launched rovers. Spirit was lost to us in 2010.

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[caption id="attachment_4001" align="aligncenter" width="630"] Curiosity Rover[/caption]

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(Curiosity Rover)

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Curiosity is the final member of our Mars Exploration Triad. The youngest member of the group, but the most familiar to all of you, My Dear Shoevians, that have just arrived or just started reading ‘The Mars Report’ within the last year. This article series was first started to track and follow the twins, Spirit and Opportunity. It has just been in the last year or so that I have made the images and exploits of Curiosity the major focus of this article series. Today, I have images from all THREE of these incredible inventions. To me, these spacecraft are a symbol of what mankind… … … moreover what AMERICA can do if we put our money where it belongs and our hearts and minds behind a genuine goal.

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Now I will share with you for the reason for the lengthy lead-in and explanation of the Mars Exploration Triad. In today’s edition I will be sharing with you, My Dear Shoevians, images from all three sources! This is unique in the history of this article series, and the real reason for the lengthy lead-in. That and I had told Allen that I would mention him in an article this week. He didn’t believe me, so I have just won a bet! J

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With everything ‘explained’ and (while writing this article so far) all images for this edition uploaded to the two web sites, I am prepared to share with you, My Dear Shoevians, the nine other images that make up today’s edition of ‘The Mars Report’.

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That’s right, there will be twelve images contained in this week’s edition of this article series. That is a record number, since my return to publication. Quite honestly, there should/could have been twice as many… it’s just the twenty-odd images was going to be a lot more work and wouldn’t have finished until way after midnight. Even though I have paired down the number of images, for this edition, I assure you that this edition is one of the longest with the most images in the history of ‘The Mars Report’. So, sit back, have something nice to drink, and enjoy!

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[caption id="attachment_4011" align="aligncenter" width="630"] Opportunity rover’s Progress Toward Spirit of St. Louis Crater[/caption]

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(Opportunity rover’s Progress Toward Spirit of St. Louis Crater)

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Our first image of this edition, above, shows the progress of the Opportunity rover towards the ‘Spirit of St. Louis Crater’. The Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter took the images on March 23^rd, 2015. I have chosen to share this image, and make it first, for two reasons. First, I am just amazed at how far Opportunity has trekked since its arrival eleven years four months ago. Second, it shows the arrival of the Opportunity rover to the area that is the subject of the next three images. See, my Dear Shoevians, how that works? I am using the orbiter to show the arrival of the rover to the area, and then I switch down to a terrestrial view and show what the rover sees once it has arrived! J

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As indicated above, the rover Opportunity has just recently arrived at the Spirit of St. Louis Crater. Upon arrival scientists spotted a ‘Rock Spire’ in the middle of the crater. This is a unique situation so the scientists at NASA/JPL took a large amount of images, for future study back here on earth. I have sifted through all the images, deciding to share with you, My Dear Shoevians, the best three images. They are, in order of appearance; a true color image of the rock spire. That is the image directly below this narrative. ‘Real color’ means that the image has not been altered in any way to improve of change the image. If you, My Dear Shoevian, were to arrive on Mars and look at this spire, this is how it would appear to you, outside your space suit.

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[caption id="attachment_4008" align="aligncenter" width="630"] Rock Spire in 'Spirit of St. Louis Crater' on Mars - Real Color[/caption]

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(Rock Spire in 'Spirit of St. Louis Crater' on Mars - Real Color)

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Before continuing, I would like to take this opportunity to explain a little something to all of you, My Dear Shoevians. As most of you are aware, I publish this blog at two different locations. One at Blog Dot Com, and the other located at Word Press. I understand that each blog has its own followers, and I would not want to try and force people to view and read anywhere they are not comfortable. However, I feel compelled to point out one Fact. Here at Blog Dot Com the images are reduced to fit the page, when you click on them nothing happens. NOW, conversely at the Word Press location that is different! There, when you click on an image you arrive at a page with just the image in its original resolution! That means little, except for ‘The Mars Report’ and ‘Lost in Space’! If you would like to see these images in their full resolution and glory? I would hope over to the Word Press location and check them out. (www.theothersshoe.wordpress.com )

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[caption id="attachment_4010" align="aligncenter" width="630"] Rock Spire in 'Spirit of St. Louis Crater' on Mars (Stereo)[/caption]

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(Rock Spire in 'Spirit of St. Louis Crater' on Mars (Stereo))

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Above, is the very same image only this one was taken by two different camera aboard Opportunity. One of the images was taken by the right navcam, the other taken from the left navcam. One image was tinted with blue, the other was tented with red. If you place one of the old ‘Red/Blue – 3D Glasses’ on, this image would appear three dimensional! NASA/JPL use this process often, many times to help to determine distances to objects and to improve depth of field. Also, it looks really cool!

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[caption id="attachment_4009" align="aligncenter" width="630"] Rock Spire in 'Spirit of St. Louis Crater' on Mars (False Color)[/caption]

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

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The term “False Color’ indicates that NASA/JPL have used a color shift on the image. They do this to show people just how the feature (in this case the rock spire) would look if it were on earth. If Mars had our atmosphere, or this geologic feature appeared on earth, this is how it would look. Whereas, I really enjoy looking at the images form Mars in their original state. Often, as in this case, I much prefer viewing the geologic feature in this ‘False Color’ treatment. In this case, I am able to discern more detail in the image.

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[caption id="attachment_4012" align="aligncenter" width="630"] Mars 'Marathon Valley' Overlook (False Color[/caption]

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(Mars 'Marathon Valley' Overlook (False Color))

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When I saw the image, above, today while researching this article I was awestruck. This is exactly the kind of extraterrestrial view I have wanted to see, first hand, since I was a young boy. Reading science fiction novels, following the ‘Space Race’ and the many missions leading up to Apollo then when we finally landed on the moon. All the while I had images in my head, of these foreign lands and their panoramic views, exactly like the one I have just shared. This is the final image from the rover Opportunity, in this edition. Can you image standing beside Opportunity and taking in this view? I would never want to leave. I would want to build my home right on this spot!

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[caption id="attachment_4004" align="aligncenter" width="630"] Layers and Dark Dunes on the Surface of Mars[/caption]

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(Layers and Dark Dunes on the Surface of Mars)

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The image, above, was taken by the High Resolution Imaging Science Experiment (HiRISE) camera on NASA's Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter. You can just make out the dark sandy dunes mid-field of the left side of the image. Surrounding the dunes are layers of the Martian surface, likely exposed by a meteor strike thousands of years ago. The right side of the image shows the craggy surface that is prominent in this part of Mars. This image uses the false color process, displaying the features in earth light.

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[caption id="attachment_4003" align="aligncenter" width="630"] Frosty Slopes on Mars[/caption]

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(Frosty Slopes on Mars)

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The image, above, was taken November 30^th, 2014 by the High Resolution Imaging Science Experiment (HiRISE) camera on NASA's Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter. (See a pattern developing, yet?) The featured area was about 1 mile by 2 miles in size, and yes that is frost in gullies on the Martian surface! Can you imagine going to Mars for a ski vacation? Who knows, one-day mankind just may be able to do just that! It takes my imagination for a frosty adventure!

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Well, so far My Dear Shoevians we have enjoyed many images from the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter and from the senior rover Opportunity. Now, as we reach the end of this edition I shift my focus to the last member of our triad Curiosity. As with our visual adventure so far, we will begin sharing Curiosity’s images by taking a birds-eye-view.

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[caption id="attachment_4005" align="aligncenter" width="630"] Mars Orbiter Views Curiosity Rover in 'Artist's Drive'[/caption]

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(Mars Orbiter Views Curiosity Rover in 'Artist's Drive')

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As we wrap up this edition of ‘The Mars Report’ the Martian rover Curiosity approaches Artist’s Drive. Having past Pahrump Hills on its way to Logan Pass Curiosity is moments away from breaking the ten-kilometer mark. This is yet another step to the summit of Mount Sharp, the ultimate goal for the beginning of Curiosity’s adventure on Mars. My Dear Shoevians, I just cannot put into words how much I enjoy the combining the view of the Orbiter, with the images taken by our rovers. Never before, in the history of space exploration, have we enjoyed this mulit-viewed approach to extraterrestrial exploration. We will never go back.

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[caption id="attachment_4002" align="aligncenter" width="630"] Curiosity View Ahead Through 'Artist's Drive[/caption]

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(Curiosity View Ahead Through 'Artist's Drive)

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With that, My Dear Shoevians, I bring you the very last image of this edition of ‘The Mars Report’. As we began, we end with an image taken by the High Resolution Imaging Science Experiment (HiRISE) camera aboard NASA's Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter. Taken from miles above the surface I am still just amazed at the level of detail I see in these images. The following image shows gullies. Now, I understand… many of you are saying “pictures of gullies? I am supposed to get excited about pictures of gullies on Mars?” YES!

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Yes, when you consider that these gullies are created by carbon dioxide frost on the frozen and barren landscape of Mars! Unlike here on Earth these gullies are not formed over years, and made by flowing water. These gullies are hundreds of feet thick and are formed in a matter of days! They were formed by carbon dioxide gas brought to freezing at -109ºF and forming frost flows! Now that is exciting!

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[caption id="attachment_4000" align="aligncenter" width="630"] Changes Near Downhill End of a Martian Gully[/caption]

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(Changes Near Downhill End of a Martian Gully)

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That brings us to the end of this extended edition of ‘The Mars Report’. Yes, you may not have noticed but this edition has fourteen images and stretches to a total of fifteen pages. That is, roughly, twice the length of the average edition of ‘The Mars Report’. I hope that you, My Dear Shoevians, have enjoyed this expanded edition and remember to Share this article through your social media. What better way to show your friends you know where to find great reading, than to share this article!

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Have a great Monday, and a great week!

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Thank you!

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Adieu!

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[caption id="attachment_3856" align="aligncenter" width="630"] Author/Editor Danny Hanning in Rolling Hills Estates February 2015[/caption]

© 2010 – 2015 Hanning Web Wurx and The Other Shoe

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[1]http://www.nasa.gov/sites/default/files/thumbnails/image/15-032.jpg

[2]http://mars.nasa.gov/mro/images/PIA07245_200609062.jpg

[3]http://i.imgur.com/1NIdBOy.jpg

[4]http://www.nasa.gov/sites/default/files/styles/946xvariable_height/public/pia16239.jpg

[5] http://www.nasa.gov/sites/default/files/thumbnails/image/sol3966.jpg

[6] http://www.jpl.nasa.gov/spaceimages/details.php?id=pia19393

[7] http://www.jpl.nasa.gov/spaceimages/details.php?id=pia19395

[8] http://www.jpl.nasa.gov/spaceimages/details.php?id=pia19394

[9]http://www.nasa.gov/sites/default/files/thumbnails/image/pia19152.jpg

[10]http://www.nasa.gov/content/layers-and-dark-dunes-on-the-surface-of-mars

[11]https://www.nasa.gov/content/frosty-slopes-on-mars

[12] http://www.nasa.gov/sites/default/files/thumbnails/image/pia19392-main_hirise-msl-artistsdrive_box.jpg

[13] http://www.nasa.gov/sites/default/files/thumbnails/image/pia19163_sol951-ncam.jpg

[14] http://www.nasa.gov/sites/default/files/thumbnails/image/pia18538.jpg

Sunday Funnies - Gryphon's Premiere!

[caption id="attachment_3995" align="aligncenter" width="630"] Gryphon Sharing Danny's Soda![/caption]

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Welcome back My Dear Shoevians to The Other Shoe. Today is a extra special edition of ‘Sunday Funnies’! Today I would like to ask you, My Dear Shoevians, to join me in Welcoming Gryphon D. Hannning (click on the hyperlink to go to Gryphon’s Facebook Page!) to this storied article series. As most of you are aware… … … Alexander R. Hanning passed away, several weeks ago, after a long battle with failing health. I made him as comfortable as possible, prepared all his favorite foods, and held him 24/7 for his comfort. He was loved deeply, and will be even more deeply missed. Last edition of ‘Sunday Funnies’ was a homage to Alexander.

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[caption id="attachment_3835" align="aligncenter" width="630"] Alexander R. Hanning Eating Fudgecicle[/caption]

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Again, this week let’s all put our hands together to give Gryphon D. Hanning! Gryphon is very young and even shyer. The first few attempts, at me capturing him on video, resulted in a whitish blur with black spots. This week, however, I was able, finally, to get some pictures of Gryphon and a video!

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[caption id="attachment_3997" align="aligncenter" width="630"] Gryphon Eating His FIRST Chicken Subway Sandwich[/caption]

(Gryphon Eating His FIRST Chicken Subway Sandwich)

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I am hopping that Gryphon will make us laugh, and warm our hearts. He is working hard to achieve both, early in his young life. I have already grown to love him, and enjoy his company.

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So, without further adieu… I give you Gryphon’s Premiere ‘Sunday Funnies’!

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[youtube=https://youtu.be/KFvuvIKFIHo]

(Gryphon Sharing My Subway Chicken Sandwich)

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[caption id="attachment_3994" align="aligncenter" width="630"] Hey! I'm napping here![/caption]

Thank you!

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Adieu!

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[caption id="attachment_3856" align="aligncenter" width="300"] Author/Editor Danny Hanning in Rolling Hills Estates February 2015[/caption]

© 2010 – 2015 Hanning Web Wurx and The Other Shoe

A Week in Review - May 2nd, 2015

[caption id="attachment_3979" align="aligncenter" width="300"] Data Suggests a Reoccurring Meteor Shower Strikes Mercury[/caption]

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Welcome back My Dear Shoevians to The Other Shoe. This week was a rather light week for writing, as I was experiencing increased pain and more limited mobility. I always strive to publish between four and seven articles, each and every week. This week (including this article) I published the minimum of four articles. Honestly I was surprised at this fact when it came time, today, to prepare this weekly review. I know that I missed the publication of ‘The Mars Report’ on Monday, and I think that put me behind the eight ball for the rest of the week.

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Looking back, which it what I do on Saturdays, I now can see where I pushed much too hard on one article (early in the week) and that left me in pain for days afterward. ‘The Death of American Exceptionalism’ was the article that put me in so much pain, and put me behind schedule. When you look at the numbers, it is easy to see why. Written in Word that article stretched through twenty-four pages and weighed in at over 5,500 words! I didn’t realize that, until just now when I ran the word count in Word. J

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I really should have known better than to tackle a editorial piece of that length so shortly after returning to writing and publishing. Oh well, a lesson learned the hard way is a lesson not soon forgot. Right? Honestly, to help put that into perspective? My average article weighs in at about 1,700 to 2,000 words. This week’s ‘New from Around the World’ weighed in at 1,700 words and just eight pages in length. Ok, My Dear Shoevians, I will not do that again and put all my eggs into one basket. I assure you that you can look forward to an all new edition of ‘The Mars Report’, ‘Lost in Space’, News from Around the World’, Sunday Funnies’ and ‘A Week in Review’ in this upcoming week.

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Now, without further adieu… I give you ‘A Week in Review’ for the week of April 26^th, 2015!

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[caption id="attachment_3963" align="aligncenter" width="217"] Statue of Liberty[/caption]

• The Death of ‘American Exceptionalism’ : “Welcome back My Dear Shoevians to The Other Shoe. It is with a heavy heart, and with much trepidation, I write this article and bring it to you, My Dear Shoevians. The title, alone, took me weeks to… discover. While I wanted to draw in readers, I felt a responsibility to convey the seriousness of the problem, without scaring readers away. I am a proud American, proud Texan, and proud journalist. I cannot tell you just how many times, in any given day, these three convictions clash. It is more times, in a given day, than I find comfort.” Writing this article was far more difficult than I imagined during research. Yes, as I mentioned above, it was more painful than I could have ever imagined, but that is not the only pain I experienced. It pained me personally… as an American to challenge a “life-Long’ perception of the nation and people I love. Growing up in Texas (the ‘Buckle of the Bible Belt’) from the late 50’s through the 70’s I was raised with the perception that America excelled at everything! Researching this article… that illusion was dashed to the ground. It is not that America was ‘never’ exceptional, it is that over the past fifteen years a shift in our priorities, and a corresponding shift in wealth and opportunities into the hands of the few (in many cases the very few = 0.2%). This unprecedented shift of; wealth, opportunities, education, and even food has precipitated a downward spiral. America’s youth have fallen from (as recently as the 90’s) from the top 10^th percentile to 25^th to 36^th in the world. Our Middle Class have been squeezed out of existence by a meager 0.2% increase in income over the past decade. Fewer and fewer of our high school graduates can go to college, because fewer and fewer parents can afford the expense and/or debt load.

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[caption id="attachment_3972" align="aligncenter" width="240"] Color Image of Mercury with Image of Messenger Overlaid[/caption]

• Lost in Space – The Messenger Mission : “Welcome back My Dear Shoevians to The Other Shoe. Today I am excited to bring you a Special Edition of ‘Lost in Space’. The ‘Messenger’ mission! NASA’s Messenger ((MErcury Surface, Space ENvironment, GEochemistry, and Ranging) mission was launched August 3^rd, 2004. The Messenger spacecraft traveled 4.9 billion miles, including; 16 trips around the sun, two around Venus, and one fly-by of Earth, settled into orbit around Mercury in 2011.” I must admit that until I started my research, for this article, I was mostly unfamiliar with NASA’s Messenger mission and spacecraft. That is no longer the truth, in a big way! Launched August 3^rd, 2004 (I was distracted by the loss of my best job ever and growing neurological problems and deficits)Messenger traveled 8 billion miles to arrive at Mercury and send back to mankind the most incredible images ever seen by human eyes. In this article I have done my best to give you My Dear Shoevians a good overview of its mission at Mercury. However, I was forced to leave out all the; images, encounters and scientific discoveries Messenger made during its eleven year journey of discovery. I hope that one day soon I will be able to devote another edition of “Lost in Space’ to the Messenger mission and share even more of its accomplishments. Until that time, drop by and give this article a good read and enjoy the incredible images from Messenger of Mercury!

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[caption id="attachment_3986" align="aligncenter" width="300"] Wide Area Image of Katmandu After the Earthquake[/caption]

• News from Around the World – May 1st, 2015 : “Welcome back My Dear Shoevians to The Other Shoe. IT is Friday, May 1^st, 2015 and this is the very first edition of ‘News From Around the World’ in a very long time. I always enjoyed writing and publishing this article series. It took my mind off of the political works I was engaged, and the acrimonious tone of ‘Conservative’ rhetoric. As well, it helped me keep in touch with the happenings outside the borders of our great nation. Sometimes, it is difficult for us Americans to admit, or to realize, that we are but one nation among many. But one voice in the symphony of human thought and action that is the human experience.” This edition of ‘News from Around the World’ was a big departure, for me. Usually I tackle three to five different stories from three to five different parts of the world. However, when I started my research for this week’s edition… one story kept jumping in my path. NEPAL! The horrific earthquake that struck the Katmandu Valley of Nepal captured my attention, and my heart. The immense suffering, the terrible loss and the overwhelming scenes of devastation were unlike any I have seen in my lifetime. I was so deeply moved I had no choice but to focus the entire edition on this subject, and the cumulative attentions of all of you, My Dear Shoevians. I tried my hardest to not appear to capitalize on their suffering, but to merely relay the extent of the devastation and the depth of their loss and grief. At the end of the article I provide links to several aid organizations for you, My Dear Shoevians, to use if you are of the mind.

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With that, My Dear Shoevians, I bring this week’s edition of ‘A Week in Review’ to a close. It is early Saturday morning, and I hope to get some much needed rest, before I start on tomorrow’s edition of ‘Sunday Funnies’. I hope to see you al right here, tomorrow, for Gryphon’s premier right here in the pages of tomorrow’s ‘Sunday Funnies’. Until lthen…

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Thank you!

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Adieu!

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[caption id="attachment_3856" align="aligncenter" width="630"] Author/Editor Danny Hanning in Rolling Hills Estates February 2015[/caption]

© 2010 – 2015 Hanning Web Wurx and The Other Shoe

News from Around the World - May 1st, 2015

[caption id="attachment_2693" align="aligncenter" width="300"] News from Around the World[/caption]

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Welcome back My Dear Shoevians to The Other Shoe. IT is Friday, May 1^st, 2015 and this is the very first edition of ‘News From Around the World’ in a very long time. I always enjoyed writing and publishing this article series. It took my mind off of the political works I was engaged, and the acrimonious tone of ‘Conservative’ rhetoric. As well, it helped me keep in touch with the happenings outside the borders of our great nation. Sometimes, it is difficult for us Americans to admit, or to realize, that we are but one nation among many. But one voice in the symphony of human thought and action that is the human experience.

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This is not by coincidence, for you see some media outlets would have Americans believe that we are the definitive voice of the planet. Fortunately, for the species, that is not anywhere near the truth. Now, before I delve into this article I would like to take a moment to “Thank” a Shoevian for a generous and much needed and appreciated gift. No, nobody has come forward to assist me… with my ‘problem’ arising out of my two falls last month. Nope, a $3,000.00 tab stands between me and my ability to smile without shame.

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However, that does not keep me from appreciating gifts when they do come, regardless. Today another Shoevian (who has requested his… ooops, identity remain unknown) has ordered a year’s subscription to Time Magazine! From summer 1998 until October 2004 I had a running subscription to this magazine. Not only did it give me hours upon hours of reading pleasure? It, also, gave me innumerable writing ideas for all you, My Dear Shoevians. So, starting in about three weeks look for more editions of ‘News from Around the World’ and other more broad based articles here at The Other Shoe. Oh, and “THANK YOU!” to you-know-who-you-are!

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I do not think that any journalist, worth his snuff, could begin an article about news around the world without starting with the terrible human tragedy in Nepal. First I would like to take a moment and try to put the human suffering into perspective. Saturday, April 23^rd 2015, a 7.8 magnitude earthquake struck the Katmandu valley of the tiny nation of Nepal. The earthquake’s epicenter was a mere 9.3 miles beneath the surface of the Katmandu valley. In the following 23 hours there were 31 aftershocks that shook the valley. A 328-yard layer of black clay lays beneath the Katmandu Valley (the remnants of a prehistoric lake). This layer of thick black clay amplified damage and increased the incidence of soil liquefaction[1]. This, relatively, shallow 7.8 magnitude earthquake amplified by the black clay beneath the valley was a ‘Prefect Storm’ of factors that equaled the single worst earthquake in the region since the 8.6 magnitude earthquake that struck August 15^th, 1950 and killed 8,000 people.

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[caption id="attachment_3985" align="aligncenter" width="630"] Broken Building Searched for Trapped People and Bodies[/caption]

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(Broken Building Searched for Trapped People and Bodies)

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Even more staggering is the human cost of this terrible natural disaster. As of the most recent number I could research (May 1^st, 2015 1900 hrs) they are as follows; 6,250 confirmed read (it is estimated that by the end of all searches that number will equal or be greater than 10,000), 14,350 have been injured, and an estimated 2.5 million have been displaced from their homes in the Katmandu Valley. The city of Katmandu lies in ruins, as the images below will show. From what I have been reading it could be well into the month of May (the 10^th – 14^th) before any of the totals are finalized. Tens of thousands of residents of Katmandu are living in tents, and under tarps, without four walls.

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[youtube=https://youtu.be/heSOBf-sOm8]

(Real Time CCTV Video of The Nepal Earthquake)

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The video, above, is a compilation of Close Circuit Television footage taken around the city at the exact time of the earthquake. I cannot convey the deep sense of shock and horror that came over me, as I watched this footage. Having lived here in Southern California for the past thirty years, I thought I had (somehow) become desensitized. Desensitized about the effects, and results, of earthquakes. That feeling ended, today. Below is yet another still image of the aftermath. This image is a wide screen image that cover several blocks of the damage, done by the earthquake, in Katmandu city.

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[caption id="attachment_3986" align="aligncenter" width="630"] Wide Area Image of Katmandu After the Earthquake[/caption]

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(Wide Area Image of Katmandu After the Earthquake)

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I was driving into San Francisco October 17^th, 1989. I was headed up to coast for a much-needed R&R, and San Francisco was my destination. I had only visited San Francisco once prior to this scheduled vacation. As I drove up PCH I heard the news on the radio. It was 5:20 PM on October 17^th, 1989 and my view of the coastal highway was upstaged by the voice on the radio. A 6.9 magnitude earthquake struck Loma Prieta just after 5:00PM. .

I was well up the coast, having left the L.A. basin before traffic started.

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It was less than an hour before night, and I was hesitant to turn around and head back to Long Beach, so I continued driving through the night. I arrived in San Francisco late in the day October 18^th, 1989. I barely made it into the city limits, when I was greated by two things. One, I was shocked at the devastation a 6.9 earthquake had done to this great city, it stretched as far south as the ‘Cuban District’. Second, I was stopped by a National Guardsman and told that if I was not here as part of the relief effort, or there to locate a missing family member, I was to turn around and head home. I did just that, stopping to spend the night a little further south in Santa Cruz. My Dear Shoevians, I have seen the damage a 6.9 earthquake can do to a modern American city. I shiver deep into my bones at the thought of the death and devastation a 7.8 magnitude earthquake could do to an area like Nepal. Below is another real time video of the earthquake that shook Nepal.

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[youtube=https://youtu.be/XvcrXqwFnfs]

(Nepal Tower Collapsed)

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Just watching these videos makes my heart weep at the horrible human tragedy, the grave personal losses, and the still untold number of deceased family members. It will take, the Katmandu Valley, decades to put this tragedy behind them. I just cannot fathom the; fear, grief, terror and heartache surviving families and people must be enduring as I write this article… and as you My Dear Shoevians read. This is the very first tragedy, of this magnitude; I have covered on the pages of this blog. Having said, I do not know if I am intellectually equipped, or possessed of the writing ability to convey what our eyes see and what our hearts must feel.

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Therefore, in honor of the all the people affected by this horrific tragedy I have decided to make this edition of “News From Around the World’ a single subject edition. I do not want to dwell on the many heart-wrenching images coming out of the Katmandu Valley. I have shared, what I believe, enough to tell the story as a journalist. I fear posting too many images, or videos, will be ghoulish.

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One final factoid that I came across as I researched this human tragedy that I will share with you in this parting paragraph. Starting April 29^th 2015 satellite data, from the earthquake, became available. Most importantly data from Europe's Sentinel-1A radar satellite garnered the most attention by scientists. Even today this data is still being reviewed and studied. However, preliminary results show that a region 75 miles (120 kilometers) long by 30 miles (50 km) wide lifted upward by as much as 3 feet during the earthquake. This information was made available from Tim Wright, a geophysicist at the University of Leeds in the United Kingdom.[4]

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As we all understand, when tectonic plates shift (move) one plate moves on top of the other plate. This has resulted in many of the world’s tallest peaks to have dropped by as much as an inch. In one day. Further, the Nepal Earthquake sparked a deadly avalanche on Mount Everest, killing at least 17 people and leaving even more missing and feared dead.[5]

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In conclusion, My Dear Shoevians, I just could NOT write about this tragedy… share images and videos from this tragedy… without trying to do something. Something to help the survivors and the families of the lost. Therefore, below I am going to share links to aid organizations that I am aware are helping out with; search and rescue, aid to the survivors and aid to the families of the dead. I am not a man of means. That fact brings me no end of embarrassment… on a near daily basis. However, I am willing to bet that many of you, My Dear Shoevians, if you haven’t already, can and will do what you can to help. Here they are:

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• American Red Cross (Select Nepal Eartthquake) – Just Click of the name above to go to the web site. Pick ‘Nepal Earthquake Relief from the drop-down menu.


• ActionAid – Nepal - http://www.actionaid.org/nepal


• US Aid From the American People _ Nepal - http://www.usaid.gov/nepal


• UNICEF – United States Fund – To help the children in Nepal click here

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That, My Dear Shoevians, brings us to the end and close of this singular edition of ‘News from Around the World’. I hope that I have been informative. As well, I really hope that I have not appeared to try and take advantage of this terrible tragedy. I appreciate your visit, and would very much appreciate your ‘Like’ at the end of this article… and if you see fit, please ‘Share’ this article on any/all social media that you desire.

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Thank you!

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Adieu!

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[caption id="attachment_3856" align="aligncenter" width="300"] Author/Editor Danny Hanning in Rolling Hills Estates February 2015[/caption]

© 2010 – 2015 Hanning Web Wurx and The Other Shoe

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[1]http://blogs.wsj.com/briefly/2015/04/26/nepal-earthquake-the-numbers/

[2]https://timedotcom.files.wordpress.com/2015/04/nepal-earthquake-surv_raym.jpg?quality=65&strip=color&w=1100

[3]https://theothersshoe.files.wordpress.com/2015/05/1b8d9-nepal2bquake2b2015.jpg

[4]http://www.livescience.com/50677-nepal-earthquake-radar-satellite-view.html

[5]http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/world/2015/04/25/mount-everest-climbers-mazur/26355255/

Lost in Space - The Messenger Mission

[caption id="attachment_3972" align="aligncenter" width="630"] Color Image of Mercury with Image of Messenger Overlaid[/caption]

[1]

(Color Image of Surface of Mercury with Picture of Messenger Overlaid)

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Welcome back My Dear Shoevians to The Other Shoe. Today I am excited to bring you a Special Edition of ‘Lost in Space’. The ‘Messenger’ mission! NASA’s Messenger ((MErcury Surface, Space ENvironment, GEochemistry, and Ranging) mission was launched August 3^rd, 2004. The Messenger spacecraft traveled 4.9 billion miles, including; 16 trips around the sun, two around Venus, and one fly-by of Earth, settled into orbit around Mercury in 2011.

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My Messenger is reentered the news, of late, is that it is about to end the space flight part of its mission. Soon Messenger will be flown, deliberately, directly into the surface of Mercury. The graphic, below, is the whole Messenger mission by the numbers. It shows that, over the past eleven years, Messenger has; traveled Eight billion miles (the 4.9 mentioned above is just the distance from Earth to Mercury, the added 3.1 billion miles trajectory flights and orbits included), returned 255,858 images back to Earth, 35 million mages by the Mercury Laser Altimeter, 29 trips around the sun, 6 flybys of inner planets, 10 terabytes of information sent back to Earth, while traveling 8 billion miles at an average speed of 97,730 mph.

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[caption id="attachment_3975" align="aligncenter" width="630"] Messenger Mission by the Numbers[/caption]

[2]

(Messenger Mission by the Numbers)

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In this article today, My Dear Shoevians, I will share some of the most incredible images, from the (and related to) the Messenger mission, I was able to find. With over 250,000 images sent back to earth I took me some time to filter through and find the very best to share. However, today I am in incredible pain in my neck… … no, writing for you, My Dear Shoevians, is not a ‘pain in the neck’. It is just that I have not received any treatment since my two falls… and my neck is pretty wracked up. I mention this to ask for your indulgence, when it comes to my writing and narrative. It is just that it might not be up to snuff. Please bear with me, thank you.

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While sorting through all the images, one of the things that really struck me was the timely names for features. Below, is a very close image (only 50 meters above the surface) of Lennon Crater. Yes, it was named after famed Beatles musician, John Lennon. There is a Tolkien Crater, too. The black and white image, below, was taken during a low orbit flyby January 2008.

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[caption id="attachment_3974" align="aligncenter" width="630"] Lennon Crater Mercury taken by Messenger Spacecraft[/caption]

[3]

(Lennon Crater Mercury taken by Messenger Spacecraft)

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For our next image, My Dear Shoevians, I picked a wonderful sunlit image of Mercury’s southern hemisphere. The Wide Angle Camera (WAC) of the Mercury Dual Imaging System (MDIS) of the Mercury spacecraft took the image October 2, 2013. It reminds me of a very famous image, taken during the Apollo moon missions of my boyhood. It is these types of images that help to invoke awe and wonder at our solar system, in our youths and the public. This awe and wonder helped initially catapult mankind from the surface of the earth. Motivated mankind to leave our cradle and head outward into our solar system… and beyond.

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[caption id="attachment_3978" align="aligncenter" width="630"] Sunlit Side of the Planet Mercury[/caption]

[4]

(Sunlit Side of the Planet Mercury)

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Well, My Dear Shoevians, you are in for quite a treat today. During my search of images from Messenger at Mercury I stumbled upon a video! This video, made by NASA, is of a low altitude flyby by Messenger of the southern hemisphere of Mercury. Directly below this paragraph is an image that shows the path of Messenger during the video. I sat and watched this video, time and time again, then decide I simply must share. It is moments, like thee, when I remember/understand why I started these blogs… and why, in spite of terrible pain… and great emotional upset, I continue.

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[caption id="attachment_3977" align="aligncenter" width="630"] Mosaic Showing Messenger Path During Video[/caption]

[5]

(Mosaic Showing Messenger Path During Video)

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And, what edition of ‘Lost in Space’ would be complete without a video? You know, My Dear Shoevians, I search a lot of bogs… and media… and web sites as I comb for content, images and do my research. I have to tell you that I do not find many publications that have videos. I am one of the very few blogs that include videos of the topic they are presenting. Therefore, My Dear Shoevians, you can consider yourselves very fortunate that you come here for your reading pleasure!

[youtube=https://youtu.be/oSOv0-iWWwQ]

(Video of Low Altitude Flyby Mercury's Surface)

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Just so you, My Dear Shoevians, are emotionally prepared, we are reaching the end of this edition of ‘Lost in Space’. I would like to take a moment and post an apology. I would like to apologize for the absence of ‘The Mars Report’ from this week’s line-up. I know a great many of you, My Dear Shoevians, greatly enjoy that weekly article series. I was not remiss n this, nor am I bereft of images or discoveries to share. Quite honestly, ‘The Mars Report’ was just this week’s casualty of my growing pain. I deeply apologize for this shortcoming, and promise to do my best to deliver next week. However, if I am feeling better… later in the week, I will do my best to correct this shortcoming. Thank you.

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Our very next image was created by overlaying the spectral analysis results from the Mercury Atmosphere and Surface Composition Spectrometer (MASCS)[6] on to a monochromatic mosaic. The spectral analysis was done with the Visual and Infrared Spectrometer (VIRS) portion of MASCS. Whereas the monochromatic mosaic was taken with wide- and narrow-angle cameras that make up the Mercury Dual Imaging System (MDIS)[7]. The result was the incredible image I have shared, below.

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[caption id="attachment_3973" align="aligncenter" width="630"] Unmasking the Secrets of Mercury[/caption]

[8]

(Unmasking the Secrets of Mercury)

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As always, My Dear Shoevians, I have done my best to save the best for last. As I researched, eliminated images, laid out the page design, and finalized the look of this edition of ‘Lost in Space’ I kicked around two images that I felt were the best. Images with the great visual impact, images that speak to a viewer, and images that convey the sense of “awe and wonder” that I mentioned at the beginning of this article. These are the images I like best to save for last. You see, My Dear Shoevians, I want the last image you see in this article to be one that sticks with you. Images that stick with you for, the rest of today, into tomorrow and for days… weeks... months and years to come. That is what I am working to achieve. I am deeply saddened that America has given up on manned space flight.

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[caption id="attachment_3976" align="aligncenter" width="630"] Artist’s Concept of Messenger Reaching Mercury[/caption]

(Artist’s Concept of Messenger Reaching Mercury)

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Terribly frustrated that Americans have not placed our flag on another terrestrial surface, in my lifetime. It is a failure, in my opinion. However, rather that cry into my Wheaties I have taken it upon myself to try to motivate change. Perhaps if the images I share are enjoyed by young people, all around America. Maybe… just maybe one of these young people takes these images, and that sense of “awe and wonder” at our solar system, with them on their life’s journey to… public service, elected office, NASA, and maybe ever… just even… the White House. Then, just maybe, mankind.. Americans will reenter space… themselves.

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[caption id="attachment_3979" align="aligncenter" width="630"] Data Suggests a Reoccurring Meteor Shower Strikes Mercury[/caption]

(Data Suggests a Reoccurring Meteor Shower Strikes Mercury)

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With that, My Dear Shoevians, I leave you to the rest of your Wednesday. As always, it has been my pleasure to bring these wonderful and awe inspiring images to you via ‘Lost in Space’ and my blog(s) The Other Shoe. All I ask, in return, is that if you have enjoyed your visit? Please share my blog(s), this work, and my dreams with; friends, family, social acquaintances, and loved ones. What greater gift can one give that the gift of “awe and wonder’?

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ADDENDUM & UPDATE:

Going out with a 'bang,' our MESSENGER mission came to a planned, but nonetheless dramatic, end today when it slammed into Mercury’s surface at 3:26 p.m. EDT. The spacecraft's impact at about 8,750 mph created a new crater on the planet’s surface. Among its many accomplishments, the mission determined Mercury’s surface composition, revealed its geological history, discovered its internal magnetic field ish offset from the planet’s center and verified its polar deposits are dominantly water ice. Details: http://go.nasa.gov/1zvc5lY

See you all, soon.

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Thank you!
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Adieu!

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[caption id="attachment_3856" align="aligncenter" width="300"] Author/Editor Danny Hanning in Rolling Hills Estates February 2015[/caption]

© 2010 – 2015 Hanning Web Wurx and The Other Shoe

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[1]http://www.nasa.gov/content/nasa-s-messenger-spacecraft-10-years-in-space

[2]http://www.nasa.gov/content/messenger-10-years-in-space-by-the-numbers

[3]http://www.nasa.gov/sites/default/files/styles/full_width_feature/public/thumbnails/image/mercury-lennon-crater.jpg?itok=vezdRz71

[4]http://www.nasa.gov/sites/default/files/ew1023055902g.jpg

[5]http://messenger.jhuapl.edu/

[6]http://www.nasa.gov/image-feature/unmasking-the-secrets-of-mercury

[7]http://www.nasa.gov/image-feature/unmasking-the-secrets-of-mercury

[8]http://www.nasa.gov/sites/default/files/thumbnails/image/pia19419.jpg

The Death of 'American Exceptionalism'

[caption id="attachment_3963" align="aligncenter" width="630"] Statue of Liberty[/caption]

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Welcome back My Dear Shoevians to The Other Shoe. It is with a heavy heart, and with much trepidation, I write this article and bring it to you, My Dear Shoevians. The title, alone, took me weeks to… discover. While I wanted to draw in readers, I felt a responsibility to convey the seriousness of the problem, without scaring readers away. I am a proud American, proud Texan, and proud journalist. I cannot tell you just how many times, in any given day, these three convictions clash. It is more times, in a given day, than I find comfort.

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While other boys, in my Texan neighborhood, were out playing ball… swimming in the local pool… or getting into trouble, I was reading. Since the age of six my mother kept her sons inside during the summer months. It was not until I was in my 20’s that I read an article, and discovered why. My mother kept four boys inside during the summer, until I was nearly a teen, each and every year and I had no idea why until she had passed.

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The fear had started long before I was born; however, it came to a head just a year before I was born. In Cork Ireland, during the summer of 1956, the number of cases of polio reached 499. It was the highest incidence of polio infection since 1904. The news rocked the world, and reverberated throughout America. In the South mothers started keeping their children inside all summer. My mother was horrified Danny might end up back in leg braces. (IT is a little known fact I was born with misshapen leg bones. I wore metal braces on both my legs until I was five years old).

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[caption id="attachment_3964" align="aligncenter" width="630"] 1958 Children’s Polio Clinic in Cork, Ireland[/caption]

[1]

(1958 Children’s Polio Clinic in Cork, Ireland)

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My mother was scared to death one of her sons would end up with polio, so the Hanning boys spent much of the summer locked up in the house reading. At the beginning of the summer, and I am talking just days after we came home for summer break, Mom would take us to the library and told us to check out as many books as we were allowed. On that day I would come into my bedroom, with a stack of books that covered my face, and put my books in a corner. Each day I would move books from one corner, and once read, to another corner of the room. Twelve. Twelve was the number of books I checked out on the first day of each and every summer till I was 13.

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Three weeks later, my mother would take me back to the library. Back to return the 12 books I had finished, and to check out 12 more. From six to thirteen my mother and I made five trips to the library, each and every summer. All because my mother was scared to death her little Danny would end up with braces on his legs… again.

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I still read every single day, what time I am not now writing. Unlike the 60’s, today I find myself greatly distressed by what I read. Six months ago, I was reading some articles at some financial web site. I think it was the CNN Financial pages. In one article I learned; in 1870 England was designated ‘World’s Largest Economy’. I kept reading and discovered that, in 1872 America was designated ‘World's Largest Economy’. America had quite a run, with this title. America holding this title, year after year, decade after decade. This run on this distinguished title was one of the reasons we were all raised with the idea of ‘American Exceptionalism’[2].In October of 2014 America was robbed of this distinguished title by China[3]! “China 'overtakes U.S. as the the world's largest economy': IMF says economy is now worth £11 trillion as America falls into second place for the first time since 1872[4]”

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‘American Exceptionalism’ is alive and well all through our Southern states. In beer halls and VFW halls, in hair salons and PTA meetings, and in churches and schools, mothers and fathers, sons and daughters proudly speak of ‘American Exceptionalism’. I was raised believing in ‘American Exceptionalism’. It is my unfortunate duty to inform you, My Dear Shoevians, that… while our cumulative backs were turned? “American Exceptionalism’ became a euphemism without merit. That while some Americans may still, wrong-headedly, believe that America is (somehow) exceptional juxtaposed to other nations. It is no longer true.

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From 1872 until 2014 America held the title of “World’s Largest Economy”. I just thought that bears repeating. Now, My Dear Shoevians, I am very aware that some of you might be pretty disturbed by the demise of ‘America Exceptionalism’. Continuing, if this article has, already, rubbed you the wrong way? Well, if that is the case you might well want to skip the rest of this article. However, as a writer… a journalist… as your friend I suggest that you keep reading this article. Things are not going to get any better, for America, in the rest of this article. Yet, I am convinced that it is better to keep reading and conclude this article more informed. Even more important, how can we as Americans stand a chance of regaining our title if we have yet to come to grips with loosing the title? The answer is, none.

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Oh, and while we are on the topic of financial prowess, I regret to inform you, My Dear Shoevians, that China (stole from America) still holds the title of ‘Fastest Growing Economy on Earth’[5] . With China holding duel financial titles, that America held for generations, we will be hard pressed to regain those titles and regain the mantle of ‘American Exceptionalism’.

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“The days of double digit growth are over. China will be lucky to grow over 7%. Despite that, China will continue to be the world’s fastest growing major economy this year and next, and arguably into 2016 as well, says Bill Adams, senior international economist for PNC Financial in Pittsburgh.”[6]

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As I warned you, My Dear Shoevians, above the news will only get worse and worse as this article progresses. As far as financial news I have, unfortunately for you, saved the worst for last. Please do not shoot the messenger. K? Let me lead you all into this a little slowly, so as to avoid culture shock. For as long as I can remember we Americans have made fun... made light of… based comedy sketches on our funny speaking neighbors to the north. Canadians.

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Yes, for generations we America have had many a good laugh at the expense of our neighbor to the north. We made fun of the way they speak. We have made fun of their Royal Mounties (the ‘Rocky & Bulwinkle Show’ regularly got laughs thanks to Canadians). From ‘The Rocky & Bulwinkle Shoe’ to ‘Saturday Night Live’ and everywhere in between (including ‘South Park’) Americans and American comedians have made bank making fun of the Canadian people. That changes today!

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Today because it was today when I was made aware of the following, disturbing, factoid. Well, actually, it is more like several factoids. While (sorry) faux snooze was pumping up America’s cumulative self-esteem, reality outpaced their propaganda. Now, you will never hear what I am about to tell you on faux snooze… you will hear it from ME! I have never wanted a relationship with my readers (you, My Dear Shoevians) based on falsehoods. I have no appetite for lies… falsehoods… or being disingenuous. My relationship with you, My Dear Shoevians, may trouble you at times, but you can rest assured that I will never lie to you!

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Here is the disturbing news about our neighbors to the north, Canada. (Ummm, we may well want to stop making fun of them, too) Here it IS! Canada’s Middle Class now are wealthier than America’s Middle Class! Here is what I am reading, from several sources.

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“The American middle class, long the most affluent in the world, has lost that distinction.”[7]

And…

“After-tax middle-class incomes in Canada — substantially behind in 2000 — now appear to be higher than in the United States. The poor in much of Europe earn more than poor Americans.”[8]

And…

“The numbers, based on surveys conducted over the past 35 years, offer some of the most detailed publicly available comparisons for different income groups in different countries over time. They suggest that most American families are paying a steep price for high and rising income inequality.”[9]

OK, let’s take a few moments to gain your composure. I am right here… holding your hand, My Dear Shoevians. Now, I know that this is all coming a quite a shock… to some of you. I understand that this information can be quite troubling, I understand. I, on the other hand, I have read the writing on the walls for the better part of a decade. I first became aware of this growing troubles as far back as 1996. The depth and breadth of the growing reality started coming in to sharper focus as early as 2003. In 1996 I moved from the health care industry, I was a State Board Register Pharmacy Technician in; acute care, clinical care, retail and home health care. Today, I realize that if I had stayed in medicine I could well have missed the signs.

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OK, now I have given you all a moment to regain your composure… let me continue. If you haven’t been seated, so far, it might be best if you sat down now. Are you ready? Here is what is coming next in a nutshell.

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“Canadians pay lower college tuition, cheaper medical care and less income inequality. What is the US doing wrong?”[10]

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Hang on… sit down… put your head between your knees… breath in deep breaths, in through your nose and out through your mouth. Take a moment. … … … You OK? Alright, now I will start unpacking the statement I quoted above. While America was busy shuffling the majority of the gains of the recovery to the 1% and the 0.02% Canada was taking care of Average Canadians! What a novel concept, eh?

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However, before I go further into what Canada is doing right, let me outline what America is doing wrong! In two graphs thanks to the New York Times. (Yeah, funny place for ME to be researching info, huh?)

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Other countries’ middle class incomes have grown since 2000. The United States’ has not. Here is a chart of SIX other major nations showing their INCREASE in median income since 2000. America ranks LAST (a trend you will see more and more in this article).

CHANGE IN MEDIAN INCOME SINCE 2000 BY COUNTRY

Britain 19.7%

Canada 19.7%

Ireland 16.2%

Netherlands 13.9 %

Spain 4.1%

Germany 1.4%

United States 0.3% [11]

Conversely, in America all of the financial gains since the recovery have been concentrated at the TOP in America. Of all the nations included in these studies, Canada has seen… not only have incomes increased. At the same time Canada’s costs have decreased!

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[caption id="attachment_3958" align="aligncenter" width="630"] Increases in Income in America ONLY at Top[/caption]

(Increases in Income in America ONLY at Top)

[12]

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Now, for those that are not as good with graphs and graphics, and I was not always ‘good’ with these thigns… honestly I had to get better with graphs and graphics for financial data when I started working as a senior manager for a Beverly Hills Real Estate Management Group (‘Domino Realty’ of Beverly Hills). First, income disparity Canada as compared to America. Here is a salient sentence that I think will help put this into perspective.

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“Median after-tax income for a family of four in both Canada and the United States hit $75,000 in 2010 and as later income surveys show that Canadians have earned larger wage gains than their counterparts south of the border in the years since then, Canadian income now is ahead of that in the US. The gap is even wider further down the wealth ladder.”[13]

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Now, My Dear Shoevians, ‘wealth’ is about more than just income. To put in the simplest terms, it is like the difference between Gross income and Net income. While Americans have not experienced the same gains in income, our Canadian brothers are also facing smaller costs!

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Let’s be honest, My Dear Shoevians, if Americans were not just getting the same level of wage increases, as Canada, and it ended there… well, I just wouldn’t have a story with the same importance. Nope, while Canadians are outstripping of wages by 16%+ in the past decade, they are also experiencing lower; taxes, health care costs, and tuition costs. That is what adds UP!

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“Canada seems to realize this: that’s why the government subsidizes the vast majority of the tuition tab. Today, if a Canadian teenager gets into Queen’s, McGill or Dalhousie, or one of any number top universities, their tuition will still set them back only $6,500 a year or so. Princeton, analogous in status to Queen’s or McGill? Next year’s tuition bill will be $40,170.”[14]

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Therefore, once Canada’s college graduates hit the market place, they are getting paid more than their American counterparts. But, also (and more importantly from what my niece tells me) these graduates turned professionals are paying a FRACTION in repaid tuition. Graduates/Professionals are making more money upon entering their field and they are paying out (loosing) less of that income paying back banks and skyrocketing tuitions and interest rates.

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Ok, so keeping score. Canadians (over the past decade) on average are taking home more of the benefits of the recovery and paying less for their (or their children’s) educational expenses. I really wish that I could end it here… that this was all the ‘Bad News’. Alas, I am not yet done and there is yet one more bit of ‘Bad News’ for Americans. Now, for the final part of the puzzle. My Dear Shoevians, when I finish this first part about the Canadian Middle Class becoming richer than America’s Middle Class? I still have one more section to this article. The last section will be the last area where we have lost our “American Exceptionalism’. Hang in there!

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SO, to recap, Canadian incomes have increased by about 19.7% over the past decade, while American incomes have increased only 0.3%! While American students are paying crippling tuition and interest rates, our northern brothers Canadians have the majority of the tab picked up by their Federal Government and are paying 0% interest rates on the monies barrowed. BOY, I hope my niece Jessica is reading this article. Hey, Jess? Can you imagine paying only $40K for your whole educational tab... and 0% interest???

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For our next field of humiliation, let us compare Health Care Costs between Canada and America. Canada, like all the other industrialized nations on the planet (except America), have a ‘Nationalized Health Care System’. That means that to go to your Primary Care Physician is only a co-pay and no monthly premium taken out of your check. Say you need a major surgery? That is covered by your nation’s single payer nationalized health care system. As if I need to go on more about the lower health care costs, I simply cannot leave out the fractional cost of prescription medicines, as compared to America. NO premiums, low co-pays, cheap medications all add up BIG! Rather than go on with more and more statistics (I still have the LATER part of this article to go), let me put the health care costs into perspective with ONE chart.

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[caption id="attachment_3957" align="aligncenter" width="630"] World Health Organization National Ratings 2013[/caption]

(World Health Organization National Ratings 2013)

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America has the highest per capita expenditures for health care and rank from fifth to ELEVENTH in the world. Re-cap; Canadians (on the whole, especially the Middle Class) are: getting paid more, paying less for health care and related health care expenses. So, Canadians are taking home larger paychecks, paying less for health care for themselves and their children and when those children decide to get a college education? Regardless of if it is the parents that pay, or the children, when hey graduate their burden is a fraction of what we pay in America.

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[caption id="attachment_3962" align="aligncenter" width="630"] US Health Care Ranks Last Among Wealthy Countries[/caption]

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These are the factors that have pushed America’s Middle Class BEHIND Canada’s Middle Class. Hard working; teachers, dentists, veterinarians, firemen, policemen and construction workers are ALL better off living within the borders of our Northern Neighbor… than here at home in America. America the old home of “American Exceptionalism’.

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Now, My Dear Shoevians, I have laid out the crippling disparity in income equality between America and our European and Canadian brethren. Showed how China has stolen our long-held titles of “World’s Largest Economy” and ‘Fastest Growing Economy”. Outlined how Canadians earn more, and take more home. Outlined our nation’s financial failures, and saddening income inequality. These are huge factors that degrade our nation’s international standing, and tarnish our “American Exceptionalism’. Now, My Dear Shoevians, I have one final area of failure I simply must share with you. Again, this whole task sickens me. However, if we are ever able to regain our ‘American Exceptionalism’ we simply must face all our failures. Here is the last straw.

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EDUCATION.

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“Education is how to make sure we’ve got a workforce that’s productive and competitive”

—President George W. Bush

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“Education is an economic issue when nearly eight in 10 new jobs will require workforce training or higher education by the end of this decade. Education is an economic issue when we know beyond a shadow of a doubt that countries that out-educate us today will outcompete us tomorrow”.

—President Barack Obama

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As a boy, and later as a young man, my father stressed the importance of “good education”. IF often told me that he would rather his children received a good education, than have fun during their school years. “In life you have only two choices. You can work hard of you can work smart.” He grew up working hard, and had a deep desire that his children would grow up and work smart. He would spend whole evenings, after getting home from his job in Houston, sitting with me doing homework and drilling spelling tests.

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My father took a personal interest in my education. Not limiting my education to just school, he would take me into the garage (where he ran his own ‘T.V./Radio/Appliance Repair’ business – K & M Electronics). There, in the garage, my father taught me; Morse code, how to read electronic schematics, resistance, capacitance, ‘Ohms Law’, the “West Virginia Formula’ [W=V/A], and the ‘Rules of the Road’ for Ham Radio broadcasting. Starting in Houston and continuing into Pearland, my father (on weekends and holidays) would have me help him run “Phone Patches’. With his ham radio set-up he would connect to Radio Operators at forward bases in Vietnam. With the information he gave me I would call the parents of a serviceman in Vietnam. Once on the line we would connect the parents on the telephone to their son on the ham radio.

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I cannot count the times we connected worried parent with their sons serving at and near frontlines all over Vietnam. It was a very rewarding feeling to help families connect from halfway around the world. My father did not get his high school diploma until after he served in our military during World War 2. He did not have the education he wanted, until later in life. I do not know if he worked with Ken or Darrell, the way he worked with me on homework and studies. All I know is that I was extremely grateful I grew up with a father that valued my education, and educational opportunities.

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As a boy… a young man… and an adult I have taken advantage of every single educational opportunity I encountered. In 1989, after my head injury (a typewriter fell thirty feet and struck me in my head and cervical spine), I entered in a technical training program for Pharmacy Technician. I graduated Valedictorian of my class with the very first 4.0 GPA, in five years of the school’s history. Upon graduation, and acceptance at Long Beach Memorial Hospital, I was offered an open-ended opportunity to come back and teach. Since that time I have taken courses in, Unix from A.T.& T., Hexadecimal and Electronic Switching Systems (used by all the phone companies at the time) from Star-Tel here in Irvine, CA and in business automation from my (then) mentor Ginger Lindberg (who worked for Mohawk Data).

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I have been very lucky to have educational opportunities span my lifetime. My father taught me basic electronics, but I taught myself all about constructing and repairing home computers, even building three of my first computers from parts. Education is not only important for the individual, it is important for a workforce and a nation. I, and my contemporaries, were very fortunate to grow up in a nation (and a state, Texas) that placed a high value on education and it showed. It showed with America leading all other industrialized nations in; mathematics, science, and reading comprehension. These educational opportunities and standards, of the late 60’s, 70’s and 80’s, were instrumental in America’s international standing and in our perception of ‘American Exceptionalism”. That is not the case, today.

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My Dear Shoevians there is no “American Exceptionalism” without education. The workforce for the twenty-first century must be proficient in; mathematics, scientific principals, and reading comprehension. So that everyone can follow along, let me start with the basics, overall proficiency (quality) of a nation’s educational system. The chart, below, is from 2012 and compares the quality of the educational system in 29 countries. America rates TWENTY-SIXTH (26) out of twenty-nine (29) countries. America is BEHIND; Barbados, Costa Rica, Lebanon, Malta and Austria.

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[caption id="attachment_3955" align="aligncenter" width="460"] 2012 Educational System Ratings by Country[/caption]

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(2012 Educational System Ratings by Country)

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Now, My Dear Shoevians, this fall did not happen over night. It took America generations to build up our educational system to the high point I was fortunate enough to take part. The fall… roughly corresponds to the dominance of the Republican Party, starting in 2000. With a trend starting with President George W. Bush, and continuing through our Republican controlled Congress, less and less funding goes to education. States, with Republican controlled State Houses, continue this trend of under funding public education. Punishing teachers unions, and blaming teachers for failing students. Cut monies, and then blame teachers for the failures of students and their parents. Remember, my education did not stop at the schoolroom door. It continued into my home, into the garage and even in Boy Scouts on camping expeditions.

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So, the current Quality of the American Educational System puts us at 26^th in a survey of 29 countries. I say that it hasn’t always been this bad, but do I have any evidence to back up my claims? Glad you asked. Here is a chart that shows America’s educational standing in; science and math from 2000 to 2012.

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National Rankings by the National Center for Educational Statistics

Science

• 2000: the U.S. scores ranked 14th among the 28 OECD countries and 14th of 32 total nations.


• 2003: 19th among 30 OECD countries and 22nd among 41 overall.


• 2006: 21st among 30 OECD countries and 27th among 57 overall.


• 2009: 17th among 34 OECD countries and 23rd among 65 overall.


• 2012: 20th among 34 OECD countries and 28th among 65 overall.

Math

• 2000: the U.S was 18th among 28 OECD countries and 19th of 32 total nations.


• 2003: 24th among 30 OECD countries and 27th among 41 overall.


• 2006: 25th among 30 OECD countries and 35th among 57 overall.


• 2009: 25th among 34 OECD countries and 31st among 65 overall.


• 2012: 27th among 34 OECD countries and 36th among 65 overall.[16]

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[OCED stands for Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development]

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This chart shows that, just over the past twelve years, America’s standing in mathematics has slipped from 14^th to 34^th. In science America has slipped (during the same period of time) from 1`8^th to 34^th. Now, My Dear Shoevians, one could counter that this is just one ranking done by one organization and (therefore) proves little to nothing. There is a kernel of truth in that line of thinking. Therefore let me share with you, My Dear Shoeivans, more charts with more statistics and let’s see if there really is a downward trend.

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[caption id="attachment_3956" align="aligncenter" width="630"] 2012-2013 Program for International Student Assessment (PISA)[/caption]

(2012-2013 Program for International Student Assessment (PISA)

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Now, I was unable to locate a chart (by PISA) that shows a decade in review. However, if we look closely to this chart from 2012/2013 we can clearly see America ranks; 31^st in Mathematics, 24^th in science and 21^st in reading comprehension. Not shown on the chart is that America slipped from; 25th to 31st in math since 2009; from 20th to 24th in science; and from 11th to 21st in reading, according to the National Center for Education Statistics.[17]

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I do not mean to alarm anyone, but I would like to draw everyone’s attention to the top line of the graph above in all three categories. The Number One slot in; Mathematics, Science and Reading Comprehension is Shanghai-China! Ok, let me do a little article-related mathematics. In this article I have showed evidence that China has displaced America as “World’s Largest Economy”, “Fastest Growing Economy” and now #1 in mathematics, Science and Reading Comprehension. I do not believe that these factors are mutually exclusive. Meaning, it do not think it is any coincidence that the nation that leads in math, science and reading also leads in economic growth and size. These factors are not mutually exclusive and they show a direct correlation between leading in education and leading in economic might.

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(Educational Performance 15 year Olds in Top 40 Nations)

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In our final chart for this article I have scrounged up a chart that shows the ranking of the top forty nations in math and science comparing 2006 and 2012. In both categories America ranks below the OECD average, and drops in both categories, too. My Dear Shoevians, it simply must be crystal clear (by now) of the linkage between our failing educational system and our failure in “American Exceptionalism”. We have to put and end to education taking the back seat, or last seat, when it comes to funding our states’ educational systems and our educational national priorities.

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If we do not work to make these changes now, it will be too late all too soon. I have worked very hard to provide you with the most up-to-date statistics, charts and information. This is a very high priority for me, and it needs to be for our next; President, Speaker of the House, Senate Majority Leader, Majority of the House and Majority of the Senate. Any other decisions will place the future of our nation, our children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren in peril. This is not hyperbole, this is factual eveidence present with passion and conviction.

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Thank You!

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Adieu!

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[caption id="attachment_3856" align="aligncenter" width="630"] Author/Editor Danny Hanning in Rolling Hills Estates February 2015[/caption]

© 2010 – 2015 Hanning Web Wurx and The Other Shoe

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[1]http://www.historyireland.com/20th-century-contemporary-history/the-1956-polio-epidemic-in-cork/

[2]http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_exceptionalism

[3]http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2785766/China-overtakes-U-S-world-s-largest-economy-IMF-says-economy-worth-11-trillion-America-falls-second-place-time-1872.html

[4]http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2785766/China-overtakes-U-S-world-s-largest-economy-IMF-says-economy-worth-11-trillion-America-falls-second-place-time-1872.html

[5]http://www.forbes.com/sites/kenrapoza/2014/11/18/china-maybe-be-slowing-but-still-fastest-growing-economy-on-earth/

[6]http://www.forbes.com/sites/kenrapoza/2014/11/18/china-maybe-be-slowing-but-still-fastest-growing-economy-on-earth/

[7]http://www.nytimes.com/2014/04/23/upshot/the-american-middle-class-is-no-longer-the-worlds-richest.html?_r=0

[8]http://www.nytimes.com/2014/04/23/upshot/the-american-middle-class-is-no-longer-the-worlds-richest.html?_r=0

[9]http://www.nytimes.com/2014/04/23/upshot/the-american-middle-class-is-no-longer-the-worlds-richest.html?_r=0

[10]http://www.theguardian.com/money/us-money-blog/2014/apr/27/america-canada-middle-class-college-healthcare-taxes

[11]http://www.nytimes.com/2014/04/23/upshot/the-american-middle-class-is-no-longer-the-worlds-richest.html?_r=0

[12]http://www.nytimes.com/2014/04/23/upshot/the-american-middle-class-is-no-longer-the-worlds-richest.html?_r=0

[13]http://www.theguardian.com/money/us-money-blog/2014/apr/27/america-canada-middle-class-college-healthcare-taxes

[14]http://www.theguardian.com/money/us-money-blog/2014/apr/27/america-canada-middle-class-college-healthcare-taxes

[15]https://theothersshoe.files.wordpress.com/2015/04/ecdb1-444-a.png

[16]http://www.politifact.com/virginia/statements/2014/nov/02/dave-brat/brat-says-us-students-scoring-bottom-math-and-scie/

[17]http://www.businessinsider.com/pisa-rankings-2013-12#ixzz3YaWioVY9