THE WEEK IN REVIEW: DECEMBER 9-15, 2018

DECEMBER 15 IS THE 40TH ANNIVERSARY OF

THE FIRST CHRISTOPHER REEVE SUPERMAN MOVIE.

DECEMBER 16 IS NATIONAL DAY IN BAHRAIN & DAY OF RECONCILIATION IN SOUTH AFRICA.

DECEMBER 22 IS THE 7OTH ANNIVERSARY OF
“DECK US ALL WITH BOSTON CHARLIE” FROM POGO.

AMONGST EVENTS AROUND THE W🌏RLD THIS PAST WEEK…
*British Prime Minister Theresa May survived a “no confidence” vote.
*Medical cannabis will soon be legal in New Zealand.
*Is the Eurasian Beaver back???
*Can the Orcas be saved???
*Voyager 2 has gone Interstellar!

THE TERRORIST REPORT…
*The Free Choice E-zine does not support terrorism, no matter what the “cause” or alleged “justification”. Thus we will only be posting news items in this section whenever terrorists are brought to justice.

😢PASSING PARADE…
*Grace Millane.
*Production designer Michael Seymour (Alien, Beverly Hills Cop 3) has passed away.
*Jazz Legend Nancy Wilson is no longer with us.

WITHIN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA…
THE BORDER-KIDS-IMMIGRATION ISSUES…
*Did a 7 year old girl have to die???
*The Associated Press fact checks Trump.
NOTE: While we are doing our best to provide coverage, the above is a serious, ongoing issue. Especially since no one has yet to discuss the costs of separating families, let alone if anyone might actually be making a profit from this situation.
POLITICALLY…

*As Mueller’s investigation into Russia’s possible interference with the 2016 Presidential election continues, President Trump’s opinion of former FBI Director James Comey’s testimony. (There are 3/ THREE separate links in this item.)
*Michael Cohen has been sentenced.
*How does the National Enquirer fit into everything???
*More on the illegal alien in the White House.
*Trump wants to deport VIETNAM WAR refugees???
*What might happen when John Kelly leaves, but one potential Chief of Staff has said “No thanks”. (There are 2/TWO separate links in this item.)
*President Trump’s latest Tweet didn’t get the reaction he was expecting.
*Can Republicans get Trump reelected in 2020???
*Donald Trump’s legal woes continue.
*The Trump Administration is serious about non-disclosure agreements.
*What $14 million dollars is apparently worth.
*No White House Christmas Party for the press???
*Another opening in the Trump Administration???
MEANWHILE…
*Will it be Border Wall funds or a shutdown??? (There are 2/TWO separate links in this item.)
*A "Trump judge" has declared the Affordable Care Act unconstitutional! Congress' initial reaction(s) and what might happen next. (There are 2/TWO separate links in this item.)
*Apparently it’s not “in” to be a Republican right now.
*Pending the budget, Congress hopes to be on their winter/Christmas break by December 15.
ELSEWHERE…
*♫Baby It’s Cold Outside♫ is on the air again.
*Time magazine's Person of the Year for 2018 is... The Guardians (of truth).
*Tumblr is now blocking all NSFW material from being posted on their website.
*Did his wife REALLY need a Lamborghini???
*"No pipeline here", said the judge there.
*Who threatened Sandy Hook Elementary THIS time???
*Bill Cosby’s lawyers are trying to appeal his conviction.
*The 2019 inductees into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame are...
*The Weekly Standard is ending publication.

Although our IN OTHER NEWS feature at the bottom of your screen was suspended when Blogger updated its gadgets, we have ADDED a new TRANSLATE feature in the upper right hand corner!

THE PUZZLE CORNER: DECEMBER 15, 2018

😎FUN FACT
The part of George Bailey in It’s A Wonderful Life was originally meant for Cary Grant, who turned down the role. When Frank Capra was named director, he wanted Jimmy Stewart and the rest is movie🎥 history.

THE 50/50 CHANCE
Just like a regular TRIVIA TIME question, except there are just two possible answers, hence the even odds of getting it right. Ready?
TRUE or FALSE: the Christmas song ♫I Want A Hippopotamus For Christmas♫ was recorded as a fund raiser for a local zoo.

TRIVIA TIME⌚
With everything that has been on TV this holiday season, only 4 specials have the unique distinction of being aired EVERY year since their debut! Can you identify this quartet?

We’ll reveal all next weekend, but for now, let’s open up THE ANSWERS BOX📦 and discover the results from the December 8, 2018 Puzzle Corner.

FAMOUS FIRSTS: THE CHRISTMAS🎄 QUIZ

All you had to do was tell us which came first in each group below.
The earliest item is highlighted.
01. TV Specials: Rudolph The Red Nosed Reindeer (1964) or A Charlie Brown Christmas (1965)
02. Literary Works: A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens (1843) or A Visit From Saint Nicholas by Clement Clarke Moore (1823 anonymously, 1837 officially)
03. Songs: ♫White Christmas♫ (1941 by Bing Crosby) or ♫Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas♫ (1944 by Judy Garland in the movie Meet Me In Saint Louis)
04. TV Specials: How The Grinch Stole Christmas (1966) or Mr. Magoo’s Christmas Carol (1962)
05. Literary Works: Dr. Seuss’ How The Grinch Stole Christmas (1957) or Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer by Robert L. May (1939, via a Montgomery Wards’ Christmas promotion)
06. The song ♫Sleigh Ride♫: As an instrumental (1949 by the Boston Pops) or with lyrics (1950 by The Andrew Sisters)
07. Movies: Home Alone 1 (1990) or A Christmas Story (1983)
08. Songs: ♫The Chipmunk Song/Please Christmas Don’t Be Late♫ (1958) or ♫I Want A Hippopotamus For Christmas♫ (1953)

PONDERING: "BABY IT'S COLD OUTSIDE"

The following is an editorial.

From time to time an issue arises that cannot be adequately covered in Saturday's regular feature: THE WEEK IN REVIEW.
I've posted editorials and closer looks at specific topics before, but thought that this article needed a subtitle, hence PONDERING.
Now then...

A radio station recently decided to stop playing ♫Baby It's Cold Outside♫ because of how some women have been treated over the years, which led to the #MeToo movement.

This decision led to national attention, even to the point of one famous singer's daughter weighing in on the subject.

Okay, I can understand the station's concerns.
While they are far from "the weaker sex", ladies are certainly the more targeted gender between sexual assaults, the proverbial glass ceiling, and other inequalities.

The radio station has since reversed their decision.
This was also their right and choice.

In its earliest form, ♫Baby It's Cold Outside♫ is basically about a man trying to convince a woman to stay with him instead of trying to brave the elements to complete her journey home for the night.

Granted, some later versions have gotten more risque that Dean Martin's rendition, but here's what I'm pondering...

WHAT IF THE ROLES WERE REVERSED?
Suppose the woman was trying to convince the man to stay with her because of the bad weather?
What would the public's reaction be then?

Just something to ponder...

Lee Houston, Junior

Editor-In-Chief, The Free Choice E-zine

The above was an editorial, and all links were active at the time of posting.

SUNDAY FUNNIES: BOOKISH HUMOR

Having a fur coat helps, but it's still cold!

Hello Everybody! Autumn the Puppy here!

"Winter is the time for comfort. For good food and warmth, for the touch of a friendly hand and for a talk beside the fire. It is time for home." ~ Edith Sitwell

Whether or not you believe in climate change, it is definitely colder outside than it was at this time in past years, so I'm glad I'm nice and safe within my warm doghouse, even if the people I live with consider it their house.
Okay. I guess they have that right. After all, I'm certainly not paying any of the utilities or mortgage. 😉

2B or not 2B. Maybe the address was 3A?

Anyway, while this puppy is staying in, I have to do something, so I've been curling up with a good book.

"Outside of a dog🐶, a book📕 is man's best friend. Inside of a dog it's too dark to read." ~ Groucho Marx.

Actually, I've got to wait until after my people go to bed before I can pursue what they've been reading because for some reason, they're afraid I'll chew their books📚 up.
PERISH THE THOUGHT!

Now I've read some good ones. Some really great ones, and there have been a few clunkers that make me scratch my head and wonder how they ever got published in the first place. To wit...

How To Serve Your Fellow Man by Ima Cannibal
I Win by U. Lose
Robots by Anne Droid
Hot Dog by Frank N. Furter
Foot Problems of Big Lumberjacks by Paul Bunion
The Roof Has A Hole by Lee King

Okay. I made those up, but these ARE REAL!
And I'll let you make your own judgement call on THESE.

In any event, have a great week everybody. Stay safe wherever you are, and please be back here again next weekend for more Sunday Funnies!—AtP.
All links were active at the time this article was posted.

THE WEEK IN REVIEW: DECEMBER 2-8, 2018

ARE YOU AWARE OF THE GROUND BEEF RECALL?

TODAY IS ROHATSU IN JAPAN.

DECEMBER 15 IS THE 40TH ANNIVERSARY OF

THE FIRST CHRISTOPHER REEVE SUPERMAN MOVIE.

2018 IS THE 100TH ANNIVERSARY OF RIPLEY’S BELIEVE IT OR NOT.

AMONGST EVENTS AROUND THE W🌍RLD THIS PAST WEEK…
*Proposed new fuel taxes in France will not be enacted for at least 6 months.
*New problems with Brexit???
*Afghanistan will have to attempt another election.

THE TERRORIST REPORT…
*The Free Choice E-zine does not support terrorism, no matter what the “cause” or alleged “justification”. Thus we will only be posting news items in this section whenever terrorists are brought to justice.

😢PASSING PARADE…
*Actor Ken Berry (Mayberry RFD, F Troop, Mama’s Family) has taken his last bow on life’s stage.
*Director Geoff Murphy (Young Guns 2, Under Siege 2) has passed away.
*Actor Peter Armitage (Coronation Street, 1988 version of Jack the Ripper) has taken his last bow on life’s stage.

WITHIN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA…
POLITICALLY…

*The latest on the investigations into Russia’s possible interference with the 2016 Presidential election.
*President Trump believes his low approval rating is because of the Mueller investigations???
*It should come as no surprise that Trump wants Mueller's "work" to end.
*What happened to Trump’s tax promise???
*The President's opinion on the national debt???
*The asylum ban is still a no go!
*Not every Republican is on Trump’s side.
*An illegal alien in the White House???
*Will John Kelly be leaving before the end of the year???
*President Trump’s new nominees.
MEANWHILE…
*Are they sore losers???
*Congress is back in session until their winter/Christmas break.
ELSEWHERE…
*Former President George H. W. Bush has been laid to rest.
*Another Republican who should be careful on the Internet…
*And the 2018 Game of the Year is...
*And the contenders for the 2019 Golden Globes are…
*While the 2019 Grammy competitors are...
*Seattle will gain its own professional hockey team in time for the 2021-22 season.

Although our IN OTHER NEWS feature at the bottom of your screen was suspended when Blogger updated its gadgets, we have ADDED a new TRANSLATE feature in the upper right hand corner!

THE PUZZLE CORNER: DECEMBER 8, 2018

😎FUN FACT
The original Miracle On 34th Street was actually released in JUNE 1947, and not during the Christmas holiday season!

FAMOUS FIRSTS: THE CHRISTMAS🎄 QUIZ

All you have to do is tell us which came first in each group below. Ready?
01. TV Specials: Rudolph The Red Nosed Reindeer or A Charlie Brown Christmas?
02. Literary Works: A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens or A Visit From Saint Nicholas by Clement Clarke Moore?
03. Songs: White Christmas or Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas?
04. TV Specials: How The Grinch Stole Christmas or Mr. Magoo’s Christmas Carol?
05. Literary Works: Dr. Seuss’ How The Grinch Stole Christmas or Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer by Robert L. May?
06. The song Sleigh Ride: As an instrumental or with lyrics?
07. Movies: Home Alone 1 or A Christmas Story?
08. Songs: The Chipmunk Song/Please Christmas Don’t Be Late or I Want A Hippopotamus For Christmas?

We’ll reveal all next weekend, but for now, let’s open up THE ANSWERS BOX📦 and discover the results from the December 1, 2018 Puzzle Corner.

REBUS
It’s time to decorate our tree, but is something missing from the image on the left?
If so, what?
There is no L, for Noel.

AKA, ALSO KNOWN AS
When it debuted as part of the soundtrack to A Charlie Brown Christmas in 1965, what Vince Guaraldi composition became more commonly known as “The Peanuts Theme”?
♫Linus and Lucy♫

HANUKKAH 2018

For those of our readership who celebrate the Festival of Light

HAPPY HANUKKAH!