THE WEEK IN REVIEW: DECEMBER 3-9, 2017

DECEMBER 9 IS THE 1,015 ANNIVERSARY

OF LEIF ERICSON LANDING IN WHAT IS NOW NORTH AMERICA.

DECEMBER 10 IS HUMAN RIGHTS DAY!
HANUKKAH BEGINS AT SUNDOWN DECEMBER 12.

DECEMBER 13 IS THE 20TH ANNIVERSARY OF ANDY GREEN’S ATTEMPT TO BREAK THE SOUND BARRIER IN A ROCKET POWERED CAR. HE WOULD BE SUCCESSFUL (BY DOING IT TWICE IN A ROW) ON DECEMBER 15.

DECEMBER 16 MARKS THE 20TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE JUPITER 2 BEING LAUNCHED ON LOST IN SPACE.

AMONGST EVENTS AROUND THE WORLD THIS PAST WEEK…

*Because of past drugging violations, the International Olympics Committee has banned Russia from competing in the 2018 Winter Olympics.
*As a result of North Korea’s latest “missile test”, South Korea and the United States’ 2017 joint military exercises are the largest (to date), while the United Nations is dispatching a diplomatic envoy to North Korea in hopes of having a productive discussion on the matter. (There are 2 separate links in this item.)
*Has US President Donald Trump ended decades of American diplomacy in Israel??? The reactions to Trump’s actions are still ongoing. (There are 2 separate links in this item.)
*The Australian Parliament has decided to officially recognize same gender marriages in that country.
*Just what is that unidentified object on Mars???

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 Conrad Brooks (Plan 9 From Outer Space) has taken his last bow on life’s stage.
*Actor Steve Elmore (42nd Street) has taken his last bow on life’s stage.
*Actor Steve Reevis (The Longest Yard, Fargo) has taken his last bow on life’s stage.

WITHIN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA…
POLITICALLY…

*The annual open enrollment period for the Affordable Care Act, aka “Obama Care” is NOW until December 15, 2017!
*Has President Donald Trump ended decades of American diplomacy in Israel??? The reactions to Trump’s actions are still ongoing. (There are 2 separate links in this item.)
*Is President Trump working without Chief of Staff John Kelly’s cooperation???
*Still wanting Hillary Clinton prosecuted, President Trump “feels bad” for Michael Flynn, but did Trump admit he obstructed justice, despite what his lawyers claim??? (There are 3 separate links in this item.)
*President Trump is bragging about currently having a 45% approval rating. While that is higher than some previous ratings, what about the rest of the country???
*Deputy National Security Adviser Dina Powell is planning to leave the Trump administration sometime next year.
*One look inside the current Trump administration, courtesy of The New York Times.
*The latest fact checking on President Trump's public statements can be found here.
MEANWHILE…
*The House of Representatives’ “tax cut” bill and the Senate’s version of “tax cuts” still have to become one cohesive document before presented to the President for approval.
*Will there be a “government shutdown” before the end of 2017 after all??? Congress has managed to pass another stop gap financial bill, but the final budget is still pending. (There are 3 separate links in this item.)
*Minnesota Democratic Senator Al Franken has decided to tender his Congressional resignation.
* Republican Arizona House of Representatives member Trent Franks has resigned from Congress, effective immediately.
*Is Alabama Senatorial hopeful Roy Moore pro-slavery???
ELSEWHERE…

*The Mueller investigation now has possession of at least some of Donald Trump’s personal financial records.
*Time magazine’s 2017 People of the Year: “The Silence Breakers”.
*Will FEMA workers have to give back some of their paychecks??? Yet they've certainly been working, considering the emergencies of 2017, like the current California wildfires. (There are 2 separate links in this item.)
*The Secretary of the Interior wants to shrink the boundaries of several more national monuments, like President Trump has already done to Bears Ears and Grand Staircase-Escalante; leaving many worried about the potential commercialization of the unprotected land. (There are 2 separate links in this item.)
*Better luck next time trying to raze the old Pontiac Silver Dome.
*How the 2017 College Bowl schedule is shaping up.

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