Tuesday, December 31, 2019

IN MEMORIUM 2019

While best and worst of everything lists are compiled by others as another year draws to a close, The Free Choice E-zine continues it annual tradition of pausing to briefly look back and remember those that are sadly no longer with us.
Unfortunately we cannot post the whole list; but amongst the innocents who died needlessly at the hands of others; our family, friends, and loved ones; as well as those within law enforcement, medical/emergency services, and the military personnel who lost their lives helping and/or protecting others during 2019, we have also lost...


ACTORS
Danny Aillelo (Moonstruck, The Godfather Part 2)
Carmen Argenziano (credits too numerous to mention)
Rene Auberjonios (Star Trek: Deep Space 9, MASH: the movie, The Little Mermaid, Benson, etc)
Patricio Bisso (Kiss of the Spider Woman)
Voice actor Bradley Bolke (Chumley the Walrus to Don Adams’ Tennessee Tuxedo, Year Without A Santa Claus Christmas special)
Cameron Boyce (Jessie, Grown Ups, Descendants)
Tony Britton (The Day of the Jackal, Agatha, much more)
Alistair Browning (The Lord of the Rings trilogy)
Carmine Caridi (The Godfather Part 2, Summer Rental, Bugsy)
Richard Carter (Mad Max: Fury Road, 2013 version of The Great Gatsby)
Seymour Cassell (Faces, Dick Tracy)
Former Mister Olympia and actor (Terminator 1, Conan the Barbarian 1) Franco Columbu.
O’Neal Compton (Deep Impact)
Charles Craig (Night of the Living Dead)
Paul Darrow (Blake’s 7, Doctor Who)
Bob Einstein (Curb Your Enthusiasm, Ocean’s 13) also known as Super Dave Osborne.
Douglas Fielding (Z Cars, East Enders)
Albert Finney (Tom Jones, Erin Brockovich)
Jerry Fogel (The Mothers In Law, Tora! Tora! Tora!)
Peter Fonda (Easy Rider, Ulee’s Gold)
Robert Forster (The Black Hole, Jackie Brown)
Rob Garrison (Karate Kid 1, Cobra Kai, Iron Eagle)
Sid Haig (credits too numerous to mention)
Nicky Henson (East Enders, Shine On Harvey Moon)
Glyn Houston (Doctor Who, The Lord Peter Wimsey Mysteries, Inspector Morse)
Larry Jenkins (Ferris Bueller’s Day Off, Fletch, and many more)
Comedian Arte Johnson (Rowan & Martin’s Laugh In, Love At First Bite, and numerous other credits)
Isaac Kappy (Thor 1, Terminator: Salvation)
Edward Kelsey (The Archers, Danger Mouse)
Ken Kercheval (Dallas)
Alexander Kuznetsov (The Alaska Kid, Space Cowboys)
Michael Lai (supporting roles in several Jackie Chan films)
Ron Leibman (credits too numerous to mention)
Bill Macy (Maude, My Favorite Year)
Pua Magasvia (Power Rangers Ninja Storm and Dino Thunder, Shortland Street)
Bryan Marshall (James Bond’s The Spy Who Loved Me)
Peter Mayhew (Chewbacca in the Star Wars franchise)
Philip McKeon (Alice)
Character actor Dick Miller (credits too numerous to mention)
Luke Perry (Beverly Hills 90210, Riverdale)
Joseph Pilato (Day of the Dead, Pulp Fiction)
Michael J. Pollard (Star Trek, Bonnie and Clyde, The Virginian, numerous others)
John Quarmby (Fawlty Towers, 1984 version of A Christmas Carol)
Shane Rimmer (James Bond’s The Spy Who Loved Me, Dr. Strangelove, Thunderbirds)
William Morgan Sheppard (credits too numerous to mention)
Albert Shepherd (Crossroads)
William Simons (No Place For Jennifer, Heart Beat)
Kristoff St. John (The Young and The Restless)
Clive Swift (Keeping Up Appearances)
Nathaniel Taylor (Sanford and Son, What’s Happening?)
Stephen Thorne (Z Cars, Doctor Who)
Niall Toibin (Ryan’s Daughter, Far and Away)
Rip Torn (Men In Black, The Larry Sanders Show)
Vinny Vella (Casino, Analyze This, The Sopranos)
Robert Walker (Ensign Pulver, various TV roles)
David Winters (West Side Story)
Morgan Woodward (Cool Hand Luke, Gunsmoke)
Max Wright (Alf, All That Jazz, Buffalo Bill)

😢

ACTRESSES
Julie Adams (original Creature From The Black Lagoon, Murder She Wrote)
Bibi Andersson (credits too numerous to mention)
Claudine Auger (James Bond’s Thunderball)
Actress/dancer Nita Bieber (Rhythm and Weep, Summer Stock, The Prince Who Was A Thief)
Verna Bloom (Animal House)
Leah Bracknell (Emmerdale, The Royal Today)
Diahann Carroll (Julia, the original Dynasty)
Valentina Cortese (Malaya, Brother Sun-Sister Moon, Day For Night)
Ann Crumb (credits too numerous to mention)
Denise DuBarry (Being There, Black Sheep Squadron)
Carmen Duncan (Harlequin, Another World)
Nonnie Griffin (Good Fences, The Believers)
Laurel Griggs (Once, Bubble Guppies, Cat On A Hot Tin Roof)
Valerie Harper (The Mary Tyler Moor Show, Rhoda, The Hogan Family)
Katherine Helmond (Who’s The Boss?, Soap, Coach)
Anime voice actress Etsuko Ichihara (Your Name, Horus-Prince of the Sun)
Juliette Kaplan (Last of the Summer Wine, Coronation Street)
Laurie Killing (The Teddy Bear, Beyond Therapy)
Peggy Lipton (The Mod Squad, Twin Peaks)
Sue Lyon (Lolita, Night of the Iguana, Arsenic and Old Lace)
Model/actress Tania Mallet (James Bond’s Goldfinger, The New Avengers)
Sylvia Miles (Midnight Cowboy, Raymond Chandler’s Farewell My Lovely)
Shelley Morrison (Will and Grace, The Flying Nun, etc)
Singer/actress Phyllis Newman (Mannequin, The Prisoner of Second Avenue, One Life To Live)
Denise Nickerson (Willy Wonka & The Chocolate Factory, The Electric Company, Dark Shadows)
Barbara Perry (credits too numerous to mention)
Linda Porter (Superstore, Twin Peaks)
Sandy Radcliff (East Enders)
Nadja Regin (James Bond’s From Russia With Love & Goldfinger)
Martha Ross (East Enders)
Edith Scob (Eyes Without A Face, The Man on the Train, Venus Beauty)
Voice actress Fuyumi Shiraishi (Mobile Suit Gundam series, Space Dandy)
Libi Staiger (The Most Happy Fella)
Valerie Van Ost (Carry On, Mr. 10%)
Erica Yohn (An American Tail, Pee Wee’s Big Adventure, ER)

😢

ATHLETES/SPORTS FIGURES
Former professional baseball player (Astros and Yankees), author (Ball Four) and actor (The Long Goodbye) Jim Bouton.
Professional wrestler King Kong Bundy (Christopher Allan Pallies)
Kelly “King” Coleman of the Harlem Globetrotters.
Former professional football player and co-inventor of NERF Football Fred Cox.
Jim Fowler of Wild Kingdom.
Professional baseball player Elijah “Pumpsie” Green (Boston Red Sox, New York Mets)
Professional runner Gabriele Grunewald.
Boston Celtic legend John Havlicek.
Stuntman Frank Henson (Return of the Jedi, Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom)
Former Major League Baseball player Al Jackson (Mets, Cardinals, Pirates)
The real life Petey Jones, portrayed in Remember The Titans.
Professional hockey legend Ted Lindsay.
Stuntman Bronco McLoughlin (Superman 1, Indiana Jones, Star Wars)
Former Baltimore Oriole and San Francisco Giants player Luis Mercedes.
Major League Baseball Hall of Famer Frank Robinson.
Pitcher Tyler Skaggs of the Los Angeles Angels.
Former professional baseball player Leroy Stanton.
Former professional football play and Green Bay Packers legend Bart Starr.
“Jumping” Johnny Wilson of the Harlem Globetrotters.

😢

CREATIVE PERSONNEL
Book illustrator/artist Tom Adams (European editions of many novels)
Comic book artist Doroteo Gerardo N. Alanguilan, Junior.
Musician/composer (especially for Fats Domino) Dave Bartholomew (credits too numerous to mention)
The Village People’s producer/songwriter ("YMCA", "In the Navy") Henri Belolo.
New York Times journalist David Binder.
Artist Keith Birdsong (various Star Trek series, Shadowrun, Star Wars, the US Postal Service)
TV writer/producer Eunetta T. Boone (One on One, The Hughleys)
Writer Gordon Bressack (Animaniacs, Pinky and the Brain, etc)
William F. Brown (The Wiz and other productions)
Special Effects and film director John Carl Buechler (Troll, Friday the 13th Part 6)
Songwriter Irving “Lord” Burgess (“Jamaican Farewell”, “Day-O”, the Barbados National Anthem, many others)
TV Producer Al Burton (One Day At A Time, The Jeffersons, Diff’rent Strokes)
Songwriter (“Try”, “Summer Nights”) “busbee” (aka Michael James Ryan)
Director Larry Cohen (It’s Alive)
Comic book artist Ernie Colon (DC, Marvel, Harvey, etc)
Comic book writer/artist Howard Cruse (Barefootz, Stuck Rubber Baby, others)
Writer Larry DiTillio (Fat Albert, original and revival of He-Man, original She-Ra, Babylon 5)
TV writer Peter Allan Fields (Man From U.N.C.L.E., Original Star Trek, The Six Million Dollar Man)
Writer D.C. Fontana (Star Trek franchise, The Waltons, so much more)
Film producer David Foster (1982 version of The Thing, Short Circuit)
Songwriter Fred Foster (“Me and Bobby McGee”)
Author Ernest J. Gaines (The Autobiography of Miss Jane Pittman)
Producer Leonard Goldberg (Charlie’s Angels, Blue Bloods, etc)
Film producer Steve Golin (Spotlight, Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind)
Actor/voice artist/radio personality Tom Hatten (credits too numerous to mention)
Composer Jerry Herman (Hello Dolly, Mame, La Cage Aux Folles)
Comic book writer James D. Hudnall (Espers, Interface, and many more)
Songwriter Robert Hunter (The Grateful Dead, Bob Dylan)
Radio personality Don Imus.
Comedian/writer/musician Neil Innes (supporting player: Monty Python’s Flying Circus, The Rutles)
Author Ward S. Just.
Screenwriter Barrie Keeffe (The Long Good Friday)
Author Judith Kerr (The Tiger Who Came To Tea, the Mog series)
Radio Hall of Famer Bob Kingsley.
Manga artist Kazuo Koike (Lone Wolf and Cub, Lady Snowblood)
Author Judith Krantz (credits too numerous to mention)
Fashion designer Karl Lagerfeld.
Batton Lash, creator-writer-artist of Wolff and Byrd/Supernatural Law.
Movie composer Michael Legrand.
Film producer Branko Lustig (Schindler’s List, Gladiator)
Comic book artist Tom Lyle (Starman, Comet, Peter Parker)
Film producer Michael Lynne (The Lord of the Rings trilogy)
Famed Science Fiction author Vonda N. McIntyre (credits too numerous to mention)
Design artist Syd Mead (original Blade Runner movie, original Tron, Aliens)
Writer Mark Medoff (Children of a Lesser God)
Author Toni Morrison (The Bluest Eyes, Song of Solomon)
Famous architect I. M. Pei.
Movie composer Andre Previn (Gigi, My Fair Lady)
Famed Broadway producer-director Harold Prince (original New York productions of West Side Story, Fiddler on the Roof, Phantom of the Opera)
Composer Sid Ramin (West Side Story)
Film editor Terry Rawlings (Alien 1, Blade Runner 1, Chariots of Fire)
Animator Chris Reccardi (Samurai Jack, Powerpuff Girls, Ren and Stimpy)
Songwriter Les Reed (“It’s Not Unusual”, “Delilah”)
Voice actor Stu Rosen (credits too numerous to mention)
Sound Engineer Gregg Rudloff (Glory, The Matrix)
Jeraldine Saunders, creator of The Love Boat TV series.
Author J. Neil Schulman (Alongside Night, The Rainbow Cadenza)
Producer/director John Singleton (Boyz n the Hood, 2 Fast 2 Furious)
Writer Bernard Slade (Same Time Next Year, The Flying Nun, The Partridge Family, other shows)
Artist Ron Smith (Judge Dredd)
WBZ Radio Personality and actor Joe Stapleton (Mystic River)
Professional Makeup artist Daniel C. Striepeke (Saving Private Ryan, Forrest Gump)
Comedian Rip Taylor (credits too numerous to mention)
Film Producer Andrew G. Vajna (Nixon, Terminator 3)
Artist/fashion designer Gloria Vanderbilt.
Animator Richard Williams (Who Framed Roger Rabbit?, The Thief and the Cobbler, The Pink Panther series)
Songwriter Allee Willis (“I’ll Be There For You”, “September”, and more)
Artist Gahan Wilson (credits too numerous to mention)
Author Gene Wolfe (credits too numerous to mention)
Author Herman Wouk (The Winds of War, War and Remembrance, The Caine Mutiny)
Director Franco Zeffirelli (1968 version of Romeo & Juliet, 1967 version of The Taming of The Shrew)

😢

ENTERTAINERS
Singer Gus Backus of the Del-Vikings.
Singer (“Fly Me To The Moon”) and actress (The Mothers-In-Law, The Doris Day Show) Kaye Ballard.
Chuck Barksdale of The Dells.
Comedian Kevin Barnett.
Professional magician Marshall Brodien (Wizzo the Wizard on Bozo)
Singer Maxine Brown of The Browns (“The Three Bells”)
Carol Channing (Hello Dolly! And so many other projects)
Beth Chapman, Mrs. “Dog” the Bounty Hunter.
Comedian Ian Cognito.
Country music singer-songwriter Earl Thomas Conley.
Comedian Tim Conway (McHale’s Navy, The Carol Burnett Show)
Comedian Chris Cotton.
Doris Day (credits too numerous to mention)
Entertainer Donnie Fritts (credits too numerous to mention)
Singer Nancy Holloway (credits too numerous to mention)
Singer/songwriter James Ingram (“Baby Come To Me”, “Somewhere Out There”, “100 Ways”)
Rocker Eddie Money (“Baby Hold On”, “Two Tickets To Paradise”, etc)
Wrestling announcer “Mean” Gene Okerlund.
Carroll Spinney, the original Muppeteer for Big Bird and Oscar the Grouch.
Singer/comedian Bernard Thomas (aka Bishop Bullwinkle)
Comedian John Witherspoon (Friday, The Wayans Brothers, The Boondocks, etc)

😢

HISTORIC
The Achatinella Apexfulva land snail may now be extinct.
The victims of the 2019 Albania earthquake.
The innocents lost in Australian bush fires.
The victims of the B-17 crash October 2.
The real Herman Boone, portrayed by Denzel Washington in Remember the Titans.
Scientist Wallace Smith Broecker, who coined the term “global warming”.
Those who lost their lives during the California boat fire September 2.
The innocent victims of a California high school shooting November 14.
The innocent victim in the senseless attack on a California Synagogue April 27.
Those who died during the October California wildfires.
The innocent victims of a CHURCH shooting December 29!
Former US Senator Thad Cochran.
The innocent victim in the senseless Colorado school shooting May 7.
Long time House of Representatives member John Conyers.
Baltimore/Maryland’s House of Representatives’ Elijah Cummings.
The innocent victims of the intentional church burning in Dablo, Burkina Faso May 12.
The innocent victims of the senseless shooting in Aurora, Illinois February 15.
Land speed record holder and host (Myth Busters) Jessi Combs.
The innocent victims in the Dayton, Ohio mass shooting August 4.
The innocent victims killed in the senseless mass shooting at an El Paso, Texas Walmart August 3.
Tunisia President Beji Caid Essebsi.
Those who lost their lives in the crash of Ethiopian Airlines Flight 302 March 10.
Fausta, the world’s oldest known rhinoceros.
Joe Flannery, booking agent who got The Beatles their early gigs before becoming famous.
Pete Frates, originator of the Ice Bucket Challenge.
The innocent victims of a Florida Naval Base shooting December 6.
Reb Foster, former manager of The Turtles and Three Dog Night.
Murray Gell-Mann, 1969 Nobel Prize winner in Physics.
The innocent victims killed in the senseless gun assault at the Gilroy Garlic Festival July 28.
The victims of the “Grays” incident.
The innocent victims of the shootings at Halloween parties October 29 and 31.
Robert Hubbard, inventor of the Head And Neck Support safety device.
Those who lost their lives during Hurricane Dorian.
Business executive turned writer Lee Iacocca (Where Have All The Leaders Gone?)
The innocents lost during India’s 2019 heat wave.
Journalist Paul Ingrassia (The Wall Street Journal, Reuters)
The innocent victims of the arson attack on the Kyoto Animation Studio July 18.
The innocent victims of the shooting spree in Los Angeles, California, USA July 25.
Suspected drug kingpin Frank Lucas, who was the basis for the movie American Gangster.
George Mendonsa, Life magazine’s kissing sailor of World War 2.
Former Governor of Michigan, USA William Milliken.
Former Zimbabwe President Robert Mugabe has passed away.
Oceanographer Walter Munk.
The innocent victims of the New Jersey shooting “spree” December 10.
The innocent victims of a New Orleans, Louisiana shooting December 1.
The innocent victims of the New Zealand terrorist attack March 15.
The victims of the December New Zealand volcanic eruption.
The innocent victims at an Oklahoma store shooting November 18.
The innocent victims of an Orange County, California stabbing “spree” August 7.
The victims of the Pakistan earthquake September 24.
Business tycoon and former Presidential candidate H. Ross Perot.
Oil Tycoon T. Boone Pickens.
Tongan Prime Minister Akilisi Pohiva.
The Martian Rover Opportunity.
Journalist Cokie Roberts.
Asylum Records executive Elliot Roberts (manager for Neil Young, Joni Mitchell, etc)
The innocent victims in the South Carolina shooting September 21.
The innocent victims in the Sri Lanka Easter Sunday bombings.
The innocent victims of the Texas Mass Shooting August 31.
The innocent victims of the Torrance, California bowling alley shooting January 4.
The victims of Tropical Storm Imelda.
The victims of Typhoon Faxai.
The innocent victims of Typhoon Hagibis.
The innocent victims at the University of North Carolina-Charlotte shooting April 30.
The innocent victims of the Virginia Beach shooting May 31.
The innocent guests intentionally killed during a WEDDING August 17.

😢

MUSICIANS
Drummer Ginger Baker (Cream, Blind Faith)
Famed Drummer Hal Blaine (credits too numerous to mention)
Famed country music guitarist Harold Bradley (credits too numerous to mention)
Guitarist Neal Casal.
Steve Cash of the Ozark Mountain Daredevils.
Larry Cunningham of The Floaters.
The King of Surf Guitar Dick Dale (aka Richard Monsour)
Daryl Dragon of The Captain and Tennille.
Bassist Stephan Ellis of Survivor.
Roky Erickson, who recorded the original version of “You’re Gonna Miss Me When I’m Gone”.
Marie Fredriksson of Roxette.
Blues musician Tony “Little Sun” Glover.
Bassist Mike Grose of Queen.
Eric Haydock of The Hollies.
Musician Doctor John (aka Malcolm John Rebennack) (“Right Place, Wrong Time”)
Bassist Larry Junstrom (38 Special, Lynyrd Skynyrd)
Art Neville of The Neville Brothers.
Ric Ocasek of The Cars.
Singer-guitarist Leon Redbone.
Drummer Doug Sandom of The Who.
Jack Sheldon (The Merv Griffin Show, Schoolhouse Rock)
Larry Taylor of Canned Heat.
Joe Terry of Danny and the Juniors.
Peter Tork of The Monkees and Shoe Suede Blues.
David White of The Spokesmen and Danny and the Juniors.
John Gary Williams of The Mad Lads.
Bluegrass musician Mac Wiseman of the Foggy Mountain Boys.
Rapper Juice WRLD (aka Jarad Anthony Higgins)

DISHONORABLE MENTION
Suicide bombers, terrorists, and anyone else who would take another’s life without moral and/or legal justification.

NOTE: All categories and the names within them are alphabetical to the best of our human ability, except the last one.

Sunday, December 29, 2019

SUNDAY FUNNIES: AS 2019 DRAWS TO A CLOSE

Hello Everybody!
Editor-In-Chief Lee Houston, Junior here since the ladies have the weekend off.
Yeah, I still need to acquire a new avatar photo, since this one is seriously out of date weight wise, but can you believe 2019 is almost over!
I hear all those sighs of relief you're expressing right now. 😉
2020 will have its own problems to contend with, but we can worry about those later!
Right now, my job is to (attempt) entertaining you for a few minutes, so...

Why do you need a jeweler on New Years Eve?
To ring in the new year.

Why are there so many vampires out on New Year’s Eve?
For Old Fangs Time.

Where is New Years Eve so Mathematical?
Time's Square.

What’s the official snack food of New Year's Eve?
A Dick Clark Bar.
Of course, my mother always preferred Guy Lombardo and His Royal Canadians, but that's another matter.
Yet so many people make diet resolutions then fail to keep them...

What happened to the iPhone bully on New Year’s Eve?
It was charged with battery.

What happened to the fireworks who were arrested on New Year's Eve?
They were let off.

What do you say to someone when you see them after after the ball drops on New Year’s Eve?
I haven’t seen you since last year!😉

What do cows🐄🐮 do on December 31st?
Celebrate Moo Year's Eve.

What do comedians spend a lot of time doing on New Years Eve?
Waiting for a punchline.

What does a Ghost say on January 1st?
Happy BOO year!

And on that note♫, have a great week everybody.
Please party responsibly on New Year's Eve and don't forget to return next weekend for the first Sunday Funnies of 2020!
Until then...
lh,jr.

Saturday, December 28, 2019

THE WEEK IN REVIEW: DECEMBER 22-28, 2019

DECEMBER 31 IS NEW YEAR’S EVE AND WHEN PHILIP J. FRYE WAS
CYROGENICLY FROZEN TO AWAKEN IN FUTURAMA.
JANUARY 1 IS NEW YEAR’S DAY AND THE 20TH ANNIVERSARY OF
WONDERING WHETHER OR NOT THERE WAS A Y2K BUG.
JANUARY 1 MARKS THE 100TH ANNIVERSARY OF WHEN THE 18TH AMENDMENT TO THE US CONSTITUTION, INITIATING PROHIBITION, TOOK EFFECT.
JANUARY 1 MARKS THE 100TH ANNIVERSARY OF
THE ROARING (19)20’s BEGINNING.

AMONGST EVENTS AROUND THE W🌍RLD THIS PAST WEEK…
*Concerns continue over North Korea.
*Criminal justice has made progress in the murder of Jamal Khashoogi, but was it the right action??? (There are 2/TWO separate links in this item.)
*Sadly, France’s pension reform conflict continues.
*Who will be the next Prime Minister of Iraq???
*No more Holland???
*A new mineral???

CONCERNING CHINA...🌏
*NOT the card message you were expecting!
*Why is China building in Cambodia???
*China is reducing its tariffs in hopes of increasing business.
*Changing the punishment, but it's still a crime.

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.

THE CLIMATE CHANGE CHRONICLES…🌐
*Netherlands’ Supreme Court has ruled their government MUST meet established emission reduction milestones!

😢PASSING PARADE…
*Actor Tony Britton (The Day of the Jackal, Agatha, much more) has taken his last bow on life’s stage.
*Film producer David Foster (1982 version of The Thing, Short Circuit) is no longer with us.
*Songwriter Allee Willis (“I’ll Be There For You”, “September”, and more) has passed away.
*Radio personality Don Imus is no longer with us.
*Composer Jerry Herman (Hello Dolly, Mame, La Cage Aux Folles) has passed away.

WITHIN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA…
IMPEACHMENT VERSUS IMPENDING TRIAL…
*Trump wants to turn students’ opinion in his favor.
*Next???
*Trying to figure things out.
*Impeachment TWO??? And you can imagine how Republicans feel about thatespecially Trump himself! (There are 3/THREE separate links in this item.)
*Trump thinks he can be “unpeached”???
*Is the impending trial dividing the GOP???
*To recap…

POLITICALLY…
*WHEN will gerrymandering end???
*Just how many judges does Trump “have”???
*“I never understood wind.”—Donald Trump. Say WHAT???
*Is Trump trying to use the ecology against the Democrats???
*Religion and Donald Trump, pro and con. (There are 2/TWO separate links in this item.)
*Will the fate of “Obama Care” decide the 2020 Presidential Election??? (There are 2/TWO separate links in this item.)
*FINALLY, a pay raise!
*Just what DID Joe Biden say???
TARIFF TALK...
*Just how successful ARE tariffs???
TRUMP TWEETS...
*Ranting against impeachment.
*Is this for real???
IT’S FACT CHECK TIME!
*Impeachment = official indictment on criminal charges. Trial = ???
*Trump on wind.
*How much does YOUR state governor make??? List is arranged from lowest to highest.
MEANWHILE, IN CONGRESS…
*Speculation: why are Republicans leaving their party???
*Are Mitch McConnell’s Senatorial days nearing their end??? He now faces Amy McGrath for his position! (There are 2/TWO separate links in this item.)
*Congress is now in recess until the conclusion of their Winter Break in January 2020.
ELSEWHERE…
*The legal age to buy tobacco products in this country is going UP!
*Sorry folks, no political ads on Spotify!
😀AND FINALLY, SOME GOOD NEWS…
*FOUND THEM!

THE PUZZLE CORNER: DECEMBER 28, 2019

😎FUN FACT
If there is a “war” on Christmas, it’s only to stress the fact that the holiday should be a LOT more than just the giant retail event businesses are trying to turn it into.

🥇FAMOUS FIRSTS: THE CHRISTMAS CAROL EDITION
There were radio stations playing Christmas music 24/7 WEEKS before Thanksgiving!
But now that all the ultra-commercialized hype is over, for now, do you know who the FIRST performer(s) of each song listed below were?
01. Frosty the Snowman⛄
02. Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas🎄
03. Here Comes Santa Claus🎅
04. Jingle Bell🔔 Rock
05. Let It Snow, Let It Snow, Let It Snow!❆❄❅
06. Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer🦌
07. Santa🎅 Baby
08. Santa Claus🎅 Is Coming To Town
09. Silver Bells🕭🕭
10. White Christmas🎄
11. Sleigh🛷 Ride (as an instrumental)
12. Sleigh Ride🛷 (with lyrics)

We’ll reveal all next weekend but for now, let’s open up THE ANSWERS BOX📦 and discover the results from the December 21, 2019 Puzzle Corner.

REBUS
Something familiar is represented in the picture on the left.
Do you know what it is?
It’s a (Keith) ♫partridge in a pear tree.♫

THE LETTER SHUFFLE
How many new words can you spell out of the letters in the word CHRISTMAS?
A, act(s), ah(s), aim(s), air(s), am, amiss, arc(s), arch, arm(s), art(s), as, ash, ass, at
Cam(s), car(s), cart(s), cash, cast(s) cat(s), char(s), chair(s), charm(s), chart(s), chasm(s), chat(s), cram(s)
Ha, hair, ham(s), harm(s), has, hat(s), hi, him, his, hiss, hit(s)
I, I’m, is, it, its, it’s, itch
Ma, mach, march, mart(s), mash, mass, mast(s), mat(s), match, math, mint(s),mirth, miss, mist(s)
Racism, racist(s), ram(s), rash, rat(s), rich, rim(s)
Sash, sat, scam(s), scar(s), scat, sham(s), shirt(s), Sir, sis, sit(s), smash, smart(s), stair(s), star(s), starch, stash, stir(s)
Tar(s), this, Tis, trash, tram(s), trim(s), Tsar

Besides the 135 words listed above, Chris, Christ, and Sam might be eligible, depending upon your position of counting proper names in a game like this. Other words might also be possible.

Wednesday, December 25, 2019

Sunday, December 22, 2019

HAPPY HANUKKAH 2019!

For those of our readership who celebrate the Festival of Light...🕎


HAPPY HANUKKAH!

SUNDAY FUNNIES: 2019 CHRISTMAS PARTY!

Waxy Dragon
Autumn the Puppy in winter
HELLO EVERYBODY! 🎉
Today you have both Autumn the Puppy AND Waxy Dragon here, along with our esteemed Editor-In-Chief Lee Houston, Junior for The Free Choice E-zine's annual Sunday Funnies Christmas🎄 Party!
YEAH!🥳
Lee

Thanks for inviting me ladies.
Well, it wouldn't be Christmas without the ENTIRE Free Choice E-zine staff.
Besides, someone has to pay for everything.
WHAT?
Moving right along...
As you can see, we've got our tree all decorated.
There's good music playing.
Our Tree. No L, ♫Noel♫
With plenty of sources available for ♫The Grinch Song♫, ♫Linus and Lucy♫, ♫Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer.♫🦌
♫I Yust Go Nuts At Christmas♫, ♫Susie Snowflake❄♫, ♫I Want A Hippopotamus🦛 For Christmas♫.
And some of my personal favorites like ♫Have A Holly Jolly Christmas♫ and ♫The Chipmunk Song.♫
Did Alvin ever get his hula hoop?
And let's not forget why we're here every Sunday...

😀THE JOKES!😁

Did you hear that Santa🎅 had to fire one of his sons?
He was an Insubordinate Claus.

Unfortunately I just got the start of all my holiday bills today.
Does anyone know some good recipes for water?

What do you call that rare kid who doesn’t believe in Santa?
A rebel without a Claus.

What do you call an elf 🧝wearing ear muffs?
Anything you want. He can’t hear you!

How much did Santa pay for his sleigh?🛷
Nothing. It was on the house!🏡

Why don’t crabs🦀 celebrate Christmas?🎄
Because they’re shell-fish.

What’s every parent’s favorite Christmas Carol?
Silent Night.😉

And on that note
We kid because we can pause to laugh.
But while we know the world 🌎isn't always the greatest, it's the only one we've got!
So make the most out of every moment of every day!
Everyone here at The Free Choice E-zine wishes you and yours the merriest of the holiday season.

Take care, be safe, and please return next weekend for more Sunday Funnies!
AtP, wd, lhjr.

Saturday, December 21, 2019

THE WEEK IN REVIEW: DECEMBER 15-21, 2019

DECEMBER 22 IS THE WINTER SOLSTICE.
HANUKKAH BEGINS AT SUNDOWN DECEMBER 22.🕎
DECEMBER 24 IS CHRISTMAS EVE.
DECEMBER 25 IS CHRISTMAS.🎄
DECEMBER 26 IS BOXING🎁 DAY AND THE START OF KWANZAA.

♫ALL WE ARE SAYING, IS GIVE PEACE A CHANCE!♫

AMONGST EVENTS AROUND THE W🌍RLD THIS PAST WEEK…
*Is Brexit on again???
*As protests continue, will Chile get a new constitution??? (There are 2/TWO separate links in this item.)
*There have unfortunately been riots in India over a new amendment concerning who might become a citizen of that country. (There are 2/TWO separate links in this item.)
*Sadly, protests continue in Lebanon too. (There are 2/TWO separate links in this item.)
*Will Germany ban “conversion therapy”???
*History haunts Italy!

CONCERNING CHINA...
*Even sports get censored???

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.

THE CLIMATE CHANGE CHRONICLES…🌐
*Australia has recorded their hottest day ever, to date.

😢PASSING PARADE…
*Actor Nicky Henson (East Enders, Shine On Harvey Moon) has taken his last bow on life’s stage.
*Book illustrator/artist Tom Adams (European editions of many novels) is no longer with us.
*The real Herman Boone, portrayed by Denzel Washington in Remember the Titans, has passed away.
*Actress Claudine Auger (James Bond’s Thunderball) has taken her last bow on life’s stage.
*Author Ward S. Just is no longer with us.
*Comic book artist Doroteo Gerardo N. Alanguilan, Junior has passed away.

WITHIN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA…
THE POTENTIAL IMPEACHMENT…
*Democrat bashing is in full swing by both Trump and his supporters. (There are 2/TWO separate links in this item.)
*Why won’t Vice President Pence let his aide testify???
*December 18: Debate before de’vote.
*IMPEACHMENT! ON BOTH COUNTS! (There are 2/TWO separate links in this item.)
*Yet another Presidential rant against House Democrats!
*But what kind of a trial will a Republican controlled Senate hold???
*Speculation: being Impeached, regardless of how a trial turns out, then what???
*Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell on the impending trial.
*MERRY Christmas??? (There are 2/TWO separate links in this item.)
*Is this a joke???
*Say WHAT???
*Is Russian President Vladimir Putin against Trump being impeached???
*A CLUE!
*When Congress picks up where it left off after the holidays...
*Recapping…
POLITICALLY…
*Why all the recent resignations at the Pentagon???
*The Trump Administration is facing yet another law suit!
*Is Trump at risk of losing his religious based supporters??? Maybe! (There are 2/TWO separate links in this item.)
*Out of all the things to be concerned about, making the “Space Force” official???
*The address is on, but what will be the State of the Union in 2020???
IT’S FACT CHECK TIME!
*How accurate was Trump’s anti-Impeachment rant??? The yellow sections are the inaccuracies.
*With Impeachment hanging over his head, can Trump legally run for a second term???
*Impeachment = official indictment on criminal charges. Trial = ???
MEANWHILE, IN CONGRESS…

*Speculation: who’s paying David Nunes’ lawyers???
*Congress is now in recess until the conclusion of their Winter Break in January 2020.
ELSEWHERE…
*It’s tough to be poor!
*While sad, homeless people can sleep in parks if necessary, according to the Supreme Court.
*Boeing has, at least for now, totally suspended production on their 737 MAX aircraft. (There are 2/TWO separate links in this item.)

😀AND FINALLY, SOME GOOD NEWS…
*Kentucky’s new governor RESTORED voting rights!

THE PUZZLE CORNER: DECEMBER 21, 2019

😎FUN FACT
The Nutcracker Suite/Ballet was originally considered a flop when it debuted in 1892!
But history has since proven otherwise.

REBUS
Something familiar is represented in the picture on the right.
Do you know what it is?

THE LETTER SHUFFLE
How many new words can you spell out of the letters in the word CHRISTMAS?🎄

We’ll reveal all next weekend but for now, let’s open up THE ANSWERS BOX📦 and discover the results from the December 14, 2019 Puzzle Corner.

TRIVIA TIME
Although it’s unfortunately not a member of the “Always Aired” quartet listed in last week’s ANSWERS BOX, one made for TV holiday special PREDATES the group. What is it?
Mister Magoo’s Christmas Carol.
First aired in 1962, the special originally ran 55 minutes long, since there were far less commercials on TV back then, and requires 90 minutes to show in its entirety by today's commercial standards.

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: In Home Alone 1, the spider that crawled on Marv Merchants’ face was faked.
FALSE! The spider was REAL! The scream was faked.
Actor Daniel Stern was filmed with a real spider crawling on his face, but he had to pantomime screaming or the spider would be frightened and bite him! The scream was dubbed in post-production.

Sunday, December 15, 2019

SUNDAY FUNNIES: FOOD FOR THOUGHT

Hello Everybody! Autumn the Puppy here!
My people went to the grocery store today and brought back a whole lot of good smelling food not only for the days ahead, but they stocked up in case of any potential winter storms on the horizon.
Not that we actually want any, but better safe than sorry.
Anyway, among all the goodies they bought were several cans of dog food.
Now truthfully, I had to stop and think about this for a bit.
On one paw🐾, I certainly want to eat regularly just like anyone else, although I'd buy it by the case if possible, but why always DOG🐶 food?
On Autumn's wish list that she can't have.
Okay, I know what I am and love being a canine, but why couldn't they buy me a nice juicy steak, or some grilled salmon🐟 once in a while?
I know some people food isn't good for us canines and I respect that. After all, I have yet to see one of the people who take care of me eating any of my food, but still...
Yes, I know all about the economy and other factors both here and abroad, but this is The Sunday Funnies, not Political Forum.
Anyway, if you haven't guessed where all of this is leading to by now...

The grocery list said "6 Pack of Sprite" but the shopper accidentally picked 7 up.

This is udderly ridiculous!
Have you noticed how most grocery stores play music while you shop?
I thought about getting some Spring Onions while a Bee Gees tune was on but it was just the Chives Talking. 😉

Did you know that D.I.E.T. stands for “Did I eat that?”
Of course, any swine🐷 would happily reply, "I sure did!"

The best ice cream makers go to Sundae🍨 School.

A wife wanted to make sure her husband got everything they needed when he went to the grocery store so she gave him a VERY detailed, itemized list of what to get.
When he came back, she asked "Why so much?" so he showed her the
list. He came home with
1 bag of sugar
2 egg plants
3 dozen eggs 🥚
4 cans of tomatoes 🍅
5 cans of beans and
6 red peppers.🌶

Have you ever been stalked in a corn maze?

Life is like a jar of jalapeno peppers.
What mistakes you make today might burn your butt tomorrow.

And on that note♫, have a great week everybody and please join me and Waxy Dragon next weekend for our annual Christmas🎄 Party on The Sunday Funnies!—AtP.

Saturday, December 14, 2019

THE WEEK IN REVIEW: DECEMBER 8-14, 2019

DECEMBER 14 IS WORLD MONKEY 🐒 DAY.
DECEMBER 15 MARKS THE 80TH ANNIVERSARY OF
GONE WITH THE WIND, THE MOVIE.
DECEMBER 16 IS BAHRAIN’S NATIONAL DAY AND
SOUTH AFRICA’S DAY OF RECONCILIATION.

AMONGST EVENTS AROUND THE W🌍RLD THIS PAST WEEK…
*Chile’s President will NOT be impeached, but things aren't great there. (There are 2/TWO separate links in this item.)
*“If you can’t say anything nice...”
*A ceasefire in the Donbas???
*The results of Great Britain’s recent election are...
*The measles outbreak in Samoa continues.
*Will Bougainville gain independence from Papua New Guinea???
*Russian athletes are still banned from International competitions for the foreseeable future unless they enter as individuals.
*The effort to clean outer space begins…
*What did the Curiosity Rover find on Mars???
*And the 2019 Miss Universe is…

CONCERNING CHINA...🌏
*Does that country have a new trade deal with the United States???

THE TERRORIST REPORT…
*Authorities in Denmark arrested 20 potential terrorists before they could carry out their plans.
*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.

THE CLIMATE CHANGE CHRNICLES…🌐
*Guess who is Time magazine’s 2019 Person of the Year!
*How is that United Nations conference on the subject going???
*The future of household gardens???

😢PASSING PARADE…
*The innocent victims of the New Jersey shooting “spree” December 10.
*The victims of the December New Zealand volcanic eruption.
*Carroll Spinney, the original Muppeteer for Big Bird and Oscar the Grouch, has passed away.
*Rapper Juice WRLD (aka Jarad Anthony Higgins) is no longer with us.
*Actor Rene Auberjonios (Star Trek: Deep Space 9, MASH: the movie, The Little Mermaid, Benson, etc) has taken his last bow on life’s stage.
*Pete Frates, originator of the Ice Bucket Challenge, has passed away.
*Marie Fredriksson of Roxette is no longer with us.
*Actor Philip McKeon (Alice) has taken his last bow on life’s stage.
*Screenwriter Barrie Keeffe (The Long Good Friday) has passed away.
*Comedian Chris Cotton is no longer with us.
*Actor Danny Aillelo (Moonstruck, The Godfather Part 2) has taken his last bow on life’s stage.

WITHIN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA…
THE POTENTIAL IMPEACHMENT…
*Will it all come down to Democrats versus Republicans??? (There are 2/TWO separate links in this item.)
*“A clear and present danger!”
*On December 10, 2019: The House of Representatives officially issued TWO Articles of Impeachment (Abuse of Power and Obstruction of Congress) against President Donald Trump!
*On December 11, the Articles went before the House Judiciary Committee for review. (There are 2/TWO separate links in this item.)
*On December 13, they approved the charges and the matter will now go before a full session of the House for final approval scheduled for December 18, with a vote on each charge. (There are 2/TWO separate links in this item.)
*What kind of a trial would Trump have in the Senate???
*Trump on the whole situation. “I’ll do whatever I want.” (There are 2/TWO separate links in this item.)
*Where do we go from here???
*Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell is preparing for the inevitable. But can the Republican be fair and impartial??? Maybe he should recuse himself. (There are 2/TWO separate links in this item.)
*Apparently the whole thing ISN'T strictly a "party" issue after all.
THE BORDER WALL-KIDS-IMMIGRATION ISSUES…
*With families being separated upon apprehension, President Trump declared the lack of a border wall a “national emergency”. There have since been legal and legislative battles initiated over this.
*CHARGING for entry???
*Military money is for the military, NOT the wall!
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 and who is truly responsible for the deaths of FOUR detainees (known to date), let alone if anyone might actually be making a profit from this situation.
TARIFF TALK…
*Is there a new trade deal with China???
POLITICALLY…
*Everyone since George W. Bush has lied about Afghanistan???
*Rudy Giuliani is conducting his own investigation into the Ukraine “situation” for President Trump.
*More legal trouble for Trump???
*“If you can’t say anything nice...”
*“I plead not guilty.”—George Nader.
*Reducing the monitors!
*Trump versus FOX over Democrats!
*It wasn’t perfect, but the investigation WAS justified! Yet President Trump and Attorney General Barr say otherwise. (There are 3/THREE separate links in this item.)
*Trump on the Florida Naval Base shooting. (There are 2/TWO separate links in this item.)
*Trump on anti-Semitism.
*Trump is worried about TOILETS???🚽 (There are 2/TWO separate links in this item.)
*What were they thinking???
*The Supreme Court is preparing to hear arguments over Trump’s tax returns.
TRUMP TWEETS
*A new record???
*Why is Trump picking on Time magazine’s 2019 Person of the Year??? (There are 2/TWO separate links in this item.)
IT’S FACT CHECK TIME!
*Clarifying the past Russian investigation.
*The impending Impeachment and YOU!
MEANWHILE, IN CONGRESS… 
*Can Senator Mitch McConnell make a decision???
*On David Nunes latest legal actions...
*A double standard???
ELSEWHERE…
*The Free Choice E-zine's sidebar has been updated to reflect the fact that the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline now has a dedicated emergency number! (There are 2/TWO separate links in this item.)
*Even if it is the right thing to do, is the judge a little premature doing it???
*And it happened on LIVE TV???
*Did CNN do the right thing???
*And Time magazine’s 2019 Person of the Year is...
*HUH???
*It really DOES exist, and is currently for sale!
*How NOT to make a delivery!
*Adding insult to injury.
*The 2019 Heisman 🏈 Trophy winner is...
*December 14 marks the 200th anniversary of Alabama joining the United States.
😀AND FINALLY, SOME GOOD NEWS…
*At least somebody knows the value of good employees!