THE WEEK IN REVIEW: FEBRUARY 1-7, 2015

TODAY IS THE DAY MARTY McFLY ARRIVED FROM 1985
TO FIND HIMSELF BACK TO THE FUTURE (Part 2).
TODAY MARKS THE 75th ANNIVERSARY OF

WALT DISNEY'S VERSION OF PINOCCHIO.

AMONGST EVENTS AROUND THE WORLD THIS PAST WEEK...
*To create a buffer/demilitarized zone, Egypt plans to destroy the city of Rafah along the Gaza Strip.
*Sports Illustrated is hyping the fact they will have a plus size model as part of their 2015 swimsuit issue, but some critics are saying she is only of average build/weight for a woman.
*While the "Occupy Central" movement is technically over, pro-Democracy supporters have become active again in Hong Kong.
*Xanana Gusamão has resigned as Prime Minister of East Timor.
*Iran has successfully launched the Fajr (Dawn) satellite.
*While France and Germany are attempting to help negotiate a peace treaty between Russia and the Ukraine, fighting continues between pro-Russian separatists and Ukrainian military forces in and around Donetsk.
*North Korea claims to have a new, ultra-precise intelligent missile that it will soon distribute to its navy.
*Fiji plans to adopt a new national flag soon.
*Reuters reports that Rupert Murdoch is attempting to consolidate control of (20th Century) Fox.
*The 2015 Grammy Awards will be presented Sunday night.
*Author Harper Lee will finally release her second book this summer! Go Set A Watchman was actually written before To Kill A Mockingbird, but the manuscript was feared lost for decades after being rejected. Watchman features several Mockingbird characters as (older) adults, because her publisher suggested rewriting the novel with a younger cast, which resulted in creating Mockingbird.

TERRIBLE TERRORIST ACTIVITIES...

*The United Nations is concerned that food packages they issued to the poorer sections of the Middle East are being distributed bearing the ISIS/ISIL logos instead of their own, thus tricking people into thinking the terrorists are feeding them instead.
*A female suicide bomber barely missed assassinating the President of Nigeria.
*ISIS/ISIL forces have posted images this past week of known International prisoners either being beheaded or burned alive. However, it is uncertain when the executions actually took place.
*Boko Haram militants continue to terrorize Cameroon.
*Jordan is swearing justice will be served against ISIS/ISIL forces after one of their captured Air Force pilots was shown being executed.
*The Niger Army reports repelling a potential Boko Haram attack with help from the Chad Air Force.

PASSING PARADE
*Screenwriter Stewart Stern (Rebel Without A Cause; Rachel, Rachel) is no longer with us.
*Actress Mary Healy (Second Fiddle, Star Dust) has taken her final bow on life's stage.
*Actor and stuntman Richard Bonehill (Star Wars: Return of the Jedi, Doctor Who) has passed away.

WITHIN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA...

POLITICALLY...
*Louisianans are wondering about the current picture on display of their Governor Bobby Jindal, since it depicts him as Caucasian and not of Indian descent. Jindal says the painting is only a "loaner" while his official portrait is being painted, but will not comment on its origins or source.
*President Barack Obama has submitted his proposed 2016 Federal budget for Congressional approval.
*If their portion of the budget passes, NASA hopes to eventually launch a probe that will investigate Jupiter's moon Europa.
*Republican Paul Ryan, now the chairman of the Ways and Means Committee, has proposed several tax packages that would add over $90 billion dollars to the Federal Deficit if enacted.
*Meanwhile, the House of Representatives is allegedly considering another attempt at repealing the Affordable Health Care Act, aka Obama Care; while the Senate will begin examining ways to "fix" Social Security this coming week.
*Florida attorney Steve Medina has been working pro-bono investigating allegations that the Koch Brothers' company Georgia-Pacific has not only been illegally dumping toxic waste into the Saint Johns River, but that former Governor Jeb Bush and current Governor Rick Scott helped hide that fact.
ELSEWHERE...
*NBC news anchor Brian Williams has admitted that 2003 claims of him being under fire while covering the war in Iraq were false.
*Severe winter storms have been plaguing the upper United States along the Canadian border, with more expected through at least the middle of next week.
*Radio Shack has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection.
*The New England Patriots defeated the Seattle Seahawks to win the 49th annual Super Bowl, while Patriots' quarterback Tom Brady was named the game's Most Valuable Player.

The Free Choice E-zine would like to thank its loyal readership for giving us 3,147 page views during January 2015.



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