SUNDAY FUNNIES: FROM THE ROUND FILE...

Hello everybody! Ms. Waxy Dragon here.
No specific theme this weekend. Just thought I'd tell some jokes I found in this weird looking round file cabinet with the open top that sits next to the contributors' desk here at the Free Choice E-zine offices. Ready?

"Waiter, waiter! Do you have frogs' legs?" asked the customer.
"Certainly sir," replied the waiter.
"Then hop on over here and give me a menu. I'm starving!"

The physical training instructor was conducting an exercise class. "I want everyone to lie on their back, put their legs in the air, and start moving them like they were riding a bicycle."
Everyone complied, but about a minute later, one person stopped pedaling.
When the instructor asked why, the exerciser said, "I'm coasting down hill."

A school group was on a field trip to a hospital. The doctor was showing them an X-ray machine and asked if any of them had ever broken a bone. When one little girl raised her hand, the doctor asked if it hurt.
The little girl replied, "No. It was my sister's."

What did the salad say when the cabbage interrupted their meal?
Lettuce be.

A receptionist found some money at work. Thinking one of her co-workers lost it, she sent an e-mail to everyone asking if they lost any money recently.
The only reply she received said, "I lost $70 at my poker game last week."

How many actors does it take to change a light bulb?
One. All the rest look at the performance and say "I could have done that!"

Two goldfish are swimming around in their tank when one turns to the other and asks "Do you know how to drive this thing? We're getting nowhere this way."

Was it Yogi Berra or Yogi Bear who said "It ain't over till it's over"?
Either way, I'm out of space for this weekend.
So have a great week everybody and please be back here next weekend for more Sunday Funnies.
-wd.

THE WEEK IN REVIEW: APRIL 21-27, 2013

TODAY IS INTERNATIONAL TAI-CHI AND QI-GONG DAY.

Amongst events happening around the world this past week... 

*While North Korea re-positions missile launchers around its borders and continues to issue to warnings, South Korea has removed its remaining citizens/employees from previous joint ventures the two countries once cooperated in.
*Ownership of the Senkaku Islands are still in dispute between China and Japan.
*France is on the verge of legalizing same-gender marriages.
*Horacio Cartes has been elected President of Paraguay, with his Colorado Party winning a majority in their Congress.
*Clothes manufacturer Ralph Lauren has agreed to pay fines arising from allegations that the corporation bribed officials in Argentina between 2005-2009.
*The News Corporation has agreed to pay $139 million US dollars to American shareholders in the wake of the British phone hacking scandal.
*Civil unrest continues in Syria, Iraq, Afghanistan, Northern Mali, and Somalia; where the United Kingdom has recently reopened its embassy.

FROM THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

*The surviving Boston Marathon bombing suspect has been moved from a local hospital to a federal prison. While the suspect has yet to answer any questions concerning the cowardly attack in Massachusetts,  evidences suggests that at the time the apprehension event started, the suspect and his fellow bomber were preparing to go to New York City to use the explosives they had with them.
*The George W. Bush Presidential Center (Presidential Library) has been officially dedicated in Dallas, Texas, USA; but will not be formally opened to the public until May 1, 2013.

PASSING PARADE
*Australian rocker Chrissy Amphlett has lost her joint battle against breast cancer and multiple sclerosis.
*Musician Richie Havens, the opening act at the original Woodstock Music Festival in 1969, has passed away at age 72.
*Country music legend George Jones has passed away at age 81.

THE FREE CHOICE E-ZINE WISHES TO THANK ITS LOYAL READERSHIP FOR GIVING US OVER 2,000 PAGE VIEWS FOR THE FOURTH STRAIGHT MONTH IN A ROW!

For more news at any time, either scroll down to our IN OTHER NEWS feature at the bottom of your screen or visit any other reputable news source.

THE PUZZLE CORNER: APRIL 27, 2013

It's the weekend and guess what's in store for you?
That's right. More enigmas.

THE FIFTY-FIFTY CHANCE
This is just like a regular Trivia Time question, only there are two possible answers. Ready?

True or False: There really is/was a Sherwood Forest?

TRIVIA TIME
In a past Puzzle Corner, we asked what is the best possible score in the average game of solitaire. Now, do you know what the average score in such a game is?

We'll reveal all next weekend. But for now, let's peek inside THE ANSWERS BOX and discover the results from the April 20, 2013 Puzzle Corner.

COMMON BONDS
01. {James, municipal} = Bond. James Bond and Municipal bond.
02. {James, honey} = West. James West (from The Wild Wild West) and Honey West (a spin off from the original Burke's Law)

REBUS

This image represents the slogan "REDUCE, REUSE, RECYCLE" an excellent motto to live by not just on Earth Day, but the rest of the year to help protect our planet.

HAPPY EARTH DAY 2013

TODAY WE CELEBRATE EARTH DAY!
Yet we should be aware of the state of our planet, our home, EVERY day!
Despite the hopes and dreams of tomorrow, this world is the only home Humanity may know for generations to come.
The Earth has provided us food, shelter, natural resources given freely and others taken artificially...
The point is that the group collectively known as Humanity needs to take better care of our surroundings.
You've heard all the buzz words before. Reduce, reuse, recycle, conserve, alternate energy resources, etc.
Yet the truth of the matter is that if something happens to this world that we could have prevented, there not only will be no one to blame but ourselves, but there will be no where else to go for decades, perhaps centuries to come.
Or in other words, if the Earth dies, so does its inhabitants: US!
So PLEASE... do your part to help take care of the planet.
After all, it's the only home we have right now.

A public service message of The Free Choice E-zine.

SUNDAY FUNNIES: HUMAN AND CANINE MALES>THE SAME, YET DIFFERENT

This lady is NOT a tramp

Hello Everybody. Autumn the Puppy here.
It dawned on me recently that I am in an unique position in life. Being both a female and a dog, I get to observe the relationship between men and women from both the Human and Canine perspective.
My conclusions?
Despite the differences in species, there are a lot of things that both males have in common, especially when it comes to interacting with their ladies.

*Both the Human and Canine male take up too much room on the bed and hog the covers.

*Both have irrational fears about the vacuum cleaner. Us dogs just don't like the noise. Human males just don't like to use it.

*Both versions are bad about asking questions. When you're out and about with them, they will never stop and ask for directions, but each will never tell you or admit that they're lost. They've simply found an alternate destination.

*Both the Human and Canine male will never tell you when something is bothering them, let alone what it is. Come on now, speak! Women's intuition only goes so far.

*Both love to snuggle up to their mates and hope for more, although neither understands that their ladies are not always interested, let alone that "No" means no.

*Yet our men are also capable of showing affection, but sometimes it does take a minor miracle to get them to do so.

*Neither of them will wash dishes. Give them half a chance and they might lick their plate clean, but otherwise...

*Neither of them notice when you get a hair cut. Spend all day at a salon and they'll never comment, but when they see the bill, the Human males do get a bit antsy about the expense.

*Neither of them understand the Human female's interest in cats. Then again, neither do I.

And on that note, have a great week everybody and please be back here next weekend for more Sunday Funnies!-AtP.

THE WEEK IN REVIEW: APRIL 14-20, 2013

MONDAY, APRIL 22, IS EARTH DAY.
FRIDAY, APRIL 26, IS ARBOR DAY.

Amongst events happening around the world this past week...
*Although still threatening "immediate military action", North Korea says it is willing to discuss a peaceful accord, provided its status as a nuclear power is not challenged, ALL sanctions against the country are lifted, and South Korea apologizes for all anti-North Korea protests.
*Giorgio Napolitano has been re-elected President of Italy.
*New Zealand has decided to legalize same-gender marriages.
*Two "Earth like" planets have been discovered orbiting within the habitable zone of the star known as Kepler 62.
*Civil unrest continues in Afghanistan, Iraq, and Somalia.

FROM ENGLAND

*Security at the London Marathon Sunday (April 21) is being increased following the cowardly attack at the finish line of the Boston Marathon Monday.
*Funeral services were held for former Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher this past Wednesday.



FROM CHINA

*The death toll in China from the H7N9 strain of avian flu has reached 16, while Taiwan is putting a (temporary?) ban on all poultry products.
*The country suffered a 6.6 earthquake earlier today (April 20), resulting in over 150 people known dead and thousands injured.



FROM THE UNITED STATES

THE BOSTON MARATHON ATTACK
After an intense manhunt that claimed the life of one police officer, authorities have a suspect in custody, while his partner died trying to escape capture.
The explosions at the finish line of the 2013 Boston Marathon claimed 3 lives (including that of a young child and a runner from China) while injuring 183 people, resulting in several amputations. No reason(s) for the attack have been given at press time.

*Ricin laced letters were mailed to several members of the United States Senate and US President Barack Obama, but were caught by the initial screening processes of their respective mail rooms. The Federal Bureau of Investigation has a suspect in custody.
*The Senate failed to pass new legislation that would have increased background checks on gun owners, with 46 members voting "nay", thus preventing the majority necessary to carry the vote. The Free Choice E-zine is not betting on those naysayers being re-elected.
*The Federal Aviation Authority has approved a repair procedure on the lithium-ion battery, thus allowing Boeing's fleet of 787 aircraft to resume flying soon.

For more news at any time, either scroll down to our IN OTHER NEWS feature at the bottom of your screen or visit any other reputable news source.

THE PUZZLE CORNER: APRIL 20, 2013

Another weekend is upon us, so let's kick back and relax with some enigmas.

COMMON BONDS
The items within each group have something in common. Do you know what it is?
01. {James, municipal}
02. {James, honey}

REBUS
Considering the upcoming events of next week, a famous slogan is represented by the image below. Do you know what it is?

We'll reveal all next weekend. But for now, let's peek inside THE ANSWERS BOX and reveal the results from our memorial Trivia Time from the April 13, 2013 Puzzle Corner.

TRIVIA TIME: MARGARET THATCHER
Whether as a compliment or intended as an insult, many called the former Prime Minister of England "The Iron Lady". But how did the nickname actually come about?
A Soviet journalist gave her the nickname, based upon observing Thatcher's uncompromising politics and leadership style.

TRIVIA TIME: ANNETTE FUNICELLO
When, where, and by whom, was Annette first discovered?
Walt Disney himself spotted her during a ballet recital of Swan Lake when Annette was 12.

TRIVIA TIME: JONATHAN WINTERS
How did Jonathan Winters actually get his start in comedy?
Winters entered a talent competition to win a wristwatch to replace one he lost. He won, and the rest is history.

SUNDAY FUNNIES: REMEMBERING JONATHAN WINTERS

The Sunday Funnies originally scheduled for today has been postponed so that we may present the following...

Jonathan Winters, circa 1960s

What can you say about a man that not only made so many people laugh, but inspired others to do the same?
This past Thursday, the world lost a great comedian when we lost Jonathan Winters.

Winters first worked in radio as a disc jockey, before spreading out into television and films. He made regular appearances on The Tonight Show, between hosts Jack Paar, Johnny Carson, and Jay Leno. He even dabbled with straight dramatic roles, starting with the deceased pool champion Fats Brown in The Twilight Zone classic episode "A Game of Pool". And of course, who could forget his break out role in the movie, It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World? Classic Winters scene from the movie below.

In time, he also did voice acting amongst numerous animated programs while recording his own comedy albums, and found steady work in commercials.

In 1999, Jonathan Winters won the Mark Twain Prize for American Humor, and has been cited as inspiration by Steve Martin, Jimmy Kimmel, Jimmy Carrey, and of course: Robin Williams.

The two comedians worked together during what became the final season of Mork and Mindy, with Winters portraying Mork's son (long story for those who don't remember the series). It is said that between rehearsals and actual filming, the two would go off on tangents that would leave their fellow actors, crew, and the studio audiences in stitches.

I remember episodes of The Tonight Show where Johnny Carson, and later Jay Leno, would book Winters and Williams together. Because of this, the host would skip the post monologue routine of the evening in favor of bringing Winters out early. Then after the next commercial break, out would come Williams and it was off to the races between Robin and Jonathan.

I bet Winters and Williams were non-stop from the word go, even when the show had to pause for commercial breaks, which makes one wonder when these two great comics ever paused to catch a breath, let alone why they never toured together? Maybe they were afraid of having too many people collapsing from laughter and lack of oxygen.

In short, Jonathan Winters may not have invented improvisational comedy, but he was amongst the first, and the best, in that genre and his talents will be sorely missed.

Videos courtesy of YouTube and (c) by their respective owners.

THE WEEK IN REVIEW: APRIL 7-13, 2013

Amongst events happening around the world this past week... 

*The hacktavist(s?) known as Anonymous e-mailed the Royal Canadian Mounted Police with the names of the four suspects connected with the rape of Rehtaeh Parsons, warning the authorities that if they were able to locate the accused, anyone could in time. The RCMP has yet to officially file any charges against the accused since the victim/complaining witness died following recovery complications after an attempted suicide, because she could not take the pressures following the attack, when the suspects posted a photo of the victim "to ruin her spirit and reputation".
*The French Senate has voted in favor of supporting same gender marriages in that country.
*A 32 foot tall stone structure initially found in 2003 on the ocean floor in the Sea of Galilee, has been determined to be man made. The monument(?) is theorized to date back to at least 2000 BC, but its purpose, and possible contents, are unknown at this time.
*Filip Vujanovic has been reelected President of Montenegro.
*Former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher has passed away, following complications after suffering a stroke.
*Sir Robert G. Edwards, the man who won the 2010 Nobel Prize in Medicine for developing in vitro fertilization, has passed away.
*Civil unrest continues in Syria and Afghanistan.

THE LATEST FROM KOREA
*China has sided against North Korea possessing any nuclear weapons. No word from Kim Jung Un or other officials on this new development at press time. However North Korea is no longer allowing Chinese tourists in the country, but business trips are still allowed at the present time.
*South Korea is worried that its militant neighbor might be planning yet another nuclear "test".
*While its initial launch deadline has come to pass with no activity, North Korea is now threatening Japan as its potential target if missiles in that country are not removed. Japanese officials have responded that the armaments on Okinawa Island are "permanently positioned".
*Russian President Vladimir Putin is "extremely concerned that the situation might get out of hand and lead to a nuclear disaster worse than Chernobyl."

FROM THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
*Sally Jewell has been confirmed as the new Secretary of the Interior.
*President Barack Obama has submitted his proposed 2013-2014 Federal Budget for Congressional approval.
*Although not legally required to do so since they are not actively campaigning for their current positions, both President Obama and Vice President Joe Biden have released their 2013 tax returns to the public.
*Actress and original Mouseketeer Annette Funicello unfortunately lost her battle with multiple sclerosis.
*Comedian Jonathan Winters has passed away from natural causes at age 87.

IN SPORTS
*The Louisville Cardinals won the Men's Division and the University of Connecticut Lady Huskies the Women's Division in the 2013 NCAA College Basketball Tournament.

AND THE FREE CHOICE E-ZINE WOULD LIKE TO THANK ITS READERSHIP FOR GRANTING US OVER 1000 PAGE VIEWS FOR THE EIGHTH  STRAIGHT MONTH IN A ROW!

For more news at any time, either scroll down to our IN OTHER NEWS feature at the bottom of your screen, or visit any other reputable news source.

THE PUZZLE CORNER: APRIL 13, 2013: MORE REMEMBERANCES

They say that into each life, a little rain must fall. Unfortunately, we lost a couple of more famous people over this past week, so once again, a special edition of TRIVIA TIME, one for each person.

TRIVIA TIME: MARGARET THATCHER
Whether as a compliment or intended as an insult, many called the former Prime Minister of England "The Iron Lady". But how did the nickname actually come about?

TRIVIA TIME: ANNETTE FUNICELLO
When, where, and by whom, was Annette first discovered?

TRIVIA TIME: JONATHAN WINTERS
How did Jonathan Winters actually get his start in comedy?

We'll reveal all next weekend. But for now, let's peek inside THE ANSWERS BOX, and reveal the results of the April 6, 2013 Puzzle Corner, where we asked about the following famous people.

TRIVIA TIME: JANE HENSON
What was the most famous Muppet the late Mrs. Henson worked with?
Depending upon your opinion of Muppet Show forerunner Sam and Friends, Jane Henson prefered to work the background Muppets, especially in non-speaking roles.

TRIVIA TIME: ROGER EBERT
What simplistic movie ratings system, with fellow critic Gene Siskel, did Ebert develop?
A film received either a Thumbs Up or a Thumbs Down.

TRIVIA TIME: CARMINE INFANTINO
The Silver Age of comic books is accredited as the revival of the superhero genre. What character did Infantino draw to lead the way?
Barry Allen, The Flash.

TRIVIA TIME: GEORGE GLADIR
When Filmation Studios spun Sabrina the Teenage Witch away from The Archies Saturday morning program (back during the time of Sugar, Sugar) and gave the character her own show, who was she teamed up with?
The Groovy Ghoulies.

TRIVIA TIME: BOB CLARKE
Before having a distinguished career with Mad magazine, Clarke the artist worked in advertising  What was his most famous creation in that realm?
The Cutty Shark label.

BOOK REVIEW: LOCKED ROOMS BY LAURIE R. KING (Book Review 004 by Lee Houston, Junior)

Bantam Books, 404 pages

There are many authors who have used the legendary Sherlock Holmes character to star in new mysteries, but Laurie R. King is one of the few that I have read who creates adventures worthy of the world's first consulting detective.

Her work is based (in part) upon the premise that Doctor Watson and Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, his literary agent; aged Holmes for the original stories, fearing no one would believe that a man as young as Sherlock actually was when those adventures occurred could do the things he did.

Which leaves us with a Holmes in his mid-to-late 50s when he first meets King's original creation Mary Russell; a woman who can not only hold her own against Sherlock's intellect, but in time intrigues him in a way no woman has since Irene Adler.

Locked Rooms finds the intrepid, now married May-December couple sailing to San Francisco after their previous adventure (The Game) to settle the estate of Russell's family. However, one cannot be successful within their line of work without acquiring some enemies, and the danger from that is just the tip of the iceberg as they try to solve the mystery of who would break into a deserted house and what everything has to do with the repressed memories of Russell's childhood.

Locked Rooms is the eighth installment within the Russell-Holmes series. Alas, life and other events have kept me from finding and reading anything in this series since the second book (A Monstrous Regiment of Women), but I found it easy enough to fill in the gaps as I went along, although I will continue haunting my public library and (used) bookstores until I have had a chance to read the other volumes.

King is not afraid to use period word spellings, nor do her research. I found the San Francisco of this book to be quite believable, as well as the surprise guest star who shows up in Chapter 10 to help Holmes with the ensuing mystery, since Russell is at first overwhelmed by confronting her past. It should come as no surprise that Sherlock also establishes an American version of his Baker Street Irregulars, although what happens to them after the end of the book remains to be seen, since the next Russell-Holmes adventure (according to the preview at the end) starts with the duo back in Europe.

Overall, while some of the various post-Doyle adventures might conflict with one another on various points and timelines, Laurie R. King's work with Sherlock Holmes is well worth reading.

_____________________________________________________________________

The Free Choice E-zine's Editor-In-Chief, when not working on his own novels and short stories, posts reviews of what he has been able to read in what he laughingly calls his "spare" time. The previous articles in this series, started in 2013, have featured The Intercept by Dick Wolf, The Lone Ranger: Vengeance! by Howard Hopkins, and the Monster Earth anthology by Various.

SUNDAY FUNNIES: WHY, WHY, WHY?

Puzzled

Hello everybody. Ms. Waxy Dragon here.
Now, despite what some people might say (I am NOT stealing dark chocolate when no one is looking!), I am a good dragon.
I go to dragon school every day and try my best, but you humans are a really difficult species to understand, but each day just leaves  me with more questions than answers.

For example:
*Why do you press harder on the remote control when you know that the batteries are going dead?
Then again, a smart human would have put a battery life indicator somewhere on the remote control to begin with so there would be no doubt. But is it that hard to get up and change a channel yourself?

*Why do banks charge a fee for "insufficient funds" when they know there is not enough money to begin with?
Are they that dumb or that greedy?

*Why do you believe a person when they say there are over four billion stars in the universe (and for the record, no one knows for sure. A couple of the wiser dragons tried to count them all once, but lost count somewhere around five billion and seven), but you always have to check for yourself when the sign says "wet paint"?
Did you not want to be late to actually watch the paint dry? If so, you need a more exciting life in this dragon's humble opinion.

*How do the dead bugs manage to get into those enclosed light fixtures?
I mean, I know the bugs were alive when they went in and the light zapped them. But from my point of view, it's hard enough getting those light fixtures open so I can eat the dead bugs. Seriously though: HOW did the bugs get in there to begin with?

Well, starting to think of all those yummy bugs is making me hungry, so I'm going to fly off and find something to eat. Take care everybody, and please join us next weekend for more Sunday Funnies!-wd.

THE WEEK IN REVIEW: MARCH 31-APRIL 6, 2013

A movie classic on DVD & Blu-Ray!

Today marks the 45th anniversary of 2001: A Space Odyssey's initial theatrical release. 

Amongst events happening around the world this past week:
*In their latest round of saber rattling, North Korea has warned anyone with an embassy in that country to evacuate its occupants by April 10th. Otherwise the government "cannot guarantee their safety". Meanwhile, although South Korea and its allies are stepping up their defenses just in case, it is rumored that some of North Korea's allies will not support that country launching an unprovoked attack upon any foreign power.
*China is investigating six recent deaths resulting from the H7N9 bird flu.
*NASA as announced that the Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer monitor on-board the International Space Station has found evidence that might confirm the theorized existence of dark matter.
*Scotland's regional police departments have been unified into one national police force to protect the whole country more efficiently.
*While the final details have yet to be worked out, Uruguay is one step closer to legalizing same gender marriage in that country.
*Civil unrest continues in Pakistan, Northern Mali, Iraq, Afghanistan, Syria, and Libya.

FROM THE UNITED STATES

President Obama

*United States President Barack Obama is about to release his 2013-14 budget proposal, saying that while it is not his "ideal plan", the budget does offer "tough reforms" while scuttling some tax breaks for the wealthy.
*Meanwhile, although there was no official requirement to do so, President Obama is voluntarily giving the government back 5% of his monthly pay to help with the Federal budget since the Republicans let the sequester pass unchallenged. No other US government official of any rank has yet to make a similar gesture at post time for this week's news round up.
*Despite the best lobbying and scare tactic efforts of the National Rifle Association and its allies, the State of Connecticut has passed what will be the toughest gun control regulations in America in the wake of the Sandy Hook Elementary shooting.
*IBM has decommissioned their Road Runner supercomputer, since it is no longer the world's fastest system.
*Jury selection has begun in the wrongful death trial of entertainer Michael Jackson, who passed away in 2009 under questionable circumstances.

PASSING PARADE
*Jane Henson, wife and fellow Muppeteer of the late Jim Henson, has lost her brief battle with cancer.
*Noted film critic Roger Ebert lost his battle with cancer.
*Golden, Silver, and Bronze Age comic book artist Carmine Infantino.
*Bob Clarke, long time Mad magazine contributor.
*George Gladir, long time writer/artist at Archie Comics and co-creator of Sabrina, The Teenage Witch.

IN SPORTS:
*The NCAA College Basketball tournaments are winding down. The Men's Division enters the Final Four with Wichita State versus Louisville and Syracuse versus Michigan, with the Championship game scheduled for Monday, April 8. Meanwhile, the Women's Division is held on a delayed basis, so they will be starting their Final Four Sunday with Louisville versus California and UConn versus Notre Dame, with the Championship game held this coming Tuesday night, April 9.

For more news at any time, either scroll down to our IN OTHER NEWS feature at the bottom of your screen, or visit any other reputable news source.

THE PUZZLE CORNER: APRIL 6, 2013

As reported in the Week in Review above (or at http://www.thefreechoice.info/2013/04/the-week-in-review-march-31-april-6-2013.html) we lost some great talents this past week.
In their memory, this week the Puzzle Corner presents TRIVIA TIME, one for each person.

TRIVIA TIME: JANE HENSON
What was the most famous Muppet the late Mrs. Henson worked with?

TRIVIA TIME: ROGER EBERT
What simplistic movie ratings system, with fellow critic Gene Siskel, did Ebert develop?

TRIVIA TIME: CARMINE INFANTINO
The Silver Age of comic books is accredited as the revival of the superhero genre. What character did Infantino draw to lead the way?

TRIVIA TIME: GEORGE GLADIR
When Filmation Studios spun Sabrina the Teenage Witch away from The Archies Saturday morning program (back during the time of Sugar, Sugar) and gave the character her own show, who was she teamed up with?

TRIVIA TIME: BOB CLARKE
Before having a distinguished career with Mad magazine, Clarke worked in advertising  What was his most famous creation in that realm?

We'll reveal all next weekend. But for now, let's peek inside THE ANSWERS BOX, and discover the results of the March 30, 2013 Puzzle Corner.

COMMON BONDS
The items in each group have something in common. Do you know what it is?
01. {Annie, Harry Potter} = Are famous orphans
02. {Lochmond, Ness} = Are famous Lochs

TRIVIA TIME
TV fans know that the CW series Arrow is set in Starling City. But where does the comic book Green Arrow hang out?
Answer: Star City.

LIFE ON MARS! (April 1, 2013)

For those unaware, the National Aeronautical and Space Administration (NASA)'s Curiosity rover is currently exploring the planet Mars. While it has yet to find any signs of an actual "Martian" past or present, it has found plenty of evidence supporting the possibility that life could (have) exist upon the red planet, as seen in the photograph below.

Life on Mars. Get it?

However, long time fans of Edgar Rice Burroughs have known about life on Mars for decades now.

A TRUE CLASSIC!

Of course the British Broadcasting Corporation (Life on Mars, the TV series and a few Doctor Who adventures), Ray Bradbury, Jack Chertok (My Favorite Martian), Warner Brothers (Marvin the Martian), and a host of others have speculated about the fourth planet in our solar system, dating all the way back to the days of H. G. Wells.

Orson Welles & George Pal did the best adaptations!

Hopefully someday we'll finally have the definitive answer to the Life on Mars equation. Then maybe we can begin investigating the other planets in our solar system, starting with our next closest neighbor and see if Edgar Rice Burroughs was right about that one too.

Only 5 books written, but another great ERB series!

A slightly humorous look at a serious subject for April 1, 2013.
Life magazine (c) Life Magazine, Inc.; although the company now only publishes the occasional special.
While now in public domain, the works of H. G. Wells and Edgar Rice Burroughs are still overseen by their respective literary estates.
All images located via Google Search (which invites you to check out the Beta version of its new "Google Nose" today only), and presented in the friendly spirit of this moment, like our previous April 1st "news" coverage that NASA's last Martian probe discovered water on Mars...

...and the latest Hubble Telescope image of our Milky Way.

 

 Have a nice day, and try not to get fooled (too much).