AMERICA PAST 250

 The following  is an editorial.

In my capacity as Editor-in-Chief of The Free Choice E-zine I have written many editorials, but this one I had to stop and seriously think about because besides not wanting anything I said lost in the hoopla of the United States recently celebrating its 250th Independence Day July 4, I also wasn't quite sure exactly what to say before now.

This country has been through a lot even before America first declared and eventually gained its independence, and the paths to become both a growing nation and a world power have not been easily traversed.

There have been issues both domestic and foreign that have threatened to tear us apart.

Slavery, which eventually led to the Civil War and the Emancipation Proclamation, let alone the long road to reach declaring Civil Rights for everyone back in 1964.

The battle for women's rights still hasn't been completely settled. Ladies may have the right to vote, but the problems concerning rape and abortion, let alone equal pay for equal work have gotten worse over the last couple of decades.

And of course there is always the looming threat of war even after most of the world rallied to put down an evil would be dictator in the early 1940s.

But perhaps what's even worse is the growing problems within the United States right now.

Instead of solving them the current regime—and any dictionary will confirm that is the proper term for those in office right now at the Federal level instead of administration—is not only undoing all the accomplishments of the past but making things worse.

ABRAHAM LINCOLN

The Save America Act; deporting the "undesirables" when this nation was founded by immigrants looking for a new life and the promise of a new start made by the lady in New York Harbor who said "Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses earning to breathe free."

The ongoing stand against Diversity, Equality and Inclusion when the United States was once "The Great American Melting Pot." Favoring the rich and powerful instead of remembering that government is supposed to be "of the people, by the people, for the people" even while prices continue to rise, the highest executive in Washington DC recently reported earning TWO BILLION dollars last year and the divide between the economic classes widens.

Need I go on?

I truly hope and believe that things will eventually get better. That the United States and its citizens will find their way again. But the only way to do that is if Americans stay informed as well as protect and exercise their right to vote not only in the mid-term elections this November, but in the 2028 Presidential election.

Please remember: "United we stand. Divided we fall."

Lee Houston, Junior

Editor-in-Chief: The Free Choice E-zine

6 July, 2026

The above was an editorial, which is still protected by the First Amendment to the Constitution of the United States. (All links were active at the time of posting.)

SUNDAY FUNNIES COMEDY SPOTLIGHT: REMEMBERING RED SKELTON

 Hello Everybody! The Free Choice E-zine's Editor-in-Chief Lee Houston, Junior here because despite the fact the Fourth of July was Friday, your regular hosts Piper D. Katt and Koda Canine have the holiday weekend here in America off.

One comedy legend that is at risk of fading into history is Red Skelton, who performed in vaudeville, on stage, radio, television and the movies from 1923-1993; retiring a few years before his passing.

Red's performances are noteworthy for two reasons. The first being the wide range of characters he created, including Clem Kadiddlehopper, Freddie the Freeloader, Junior/The Mean Little Kid and a host of others.

The other aspect was the fact that he always worked clean, leaving the more risqué humor for others in the belief that comedy should be uplifting, family friendly, and genuine. "Never rely on offense or vulgarity. Humor should have a heart that prioritizes kindness, respect, and genuine joy for all."

A master of adlibbing/improving long before Robin Williams or Whose Line Is It Anyway?, a Skelton show or performance never stayed 100% completely on script, depending upon what might happen either during performing or recording.

While self taught, Red was also an accomplished painter, mostly of clowns and considered himself one instead of a comedian.

But now it's time for some classic Red Skelton jokes.

Any kid will run an errand for you, if you ask at bedtime.

Jimmy the pigeon shows up without any feathers. “I was flying low in Beverly Hills and got caught in one heck of a badminton game.”

Congress: Bingo with billions. But I don't pick on politicians. They ain't done nothing.

John Wayne once told me, 'Courage is being scared to death but saddling up anyway.' I told him, 'John, I get scared just looking at a saddle!'

I've unfortunately put on a lot of weight. Then again, I only weighed six and a half pounds when I was born.

Television is the device that brings characters into your living room that you would never allow in your living room.

My doctor said I look like a million dollars: green and wrinkled.

Sadly, we lost Red in 1997, but the world sure could use his style of comedy today.

If by chance some day you're not feeling well and you should remember some silly thing I've said or done and it brings back a smile to your face or a chuckle to your heart, then my purpose as your clown has been fulfilled.

Take care.

STAY SAFE!

Have a great week and one of your regular hosts will be back next weekend with more Sunday Funnies.—lh,jr.

THE PUZZLE CORNER: JULY 6, 2024

 😎FUN FACT

Martin Van Buren was the first American born on native soil that became President of the United States. Everyone before him was automatically considered a citizen after the US won its independence from Great Britain.

THE LETTER SHUFFLE

Considering how many countries are celebrating it this summer, how many new words can you spell out of the letters in INDEPENDENCE?

REBUS

Something familiar is represented in the image below. Do you know what it is?

Noon Good

We’ll reveal all next weekend but for now, let’s open up THE ANSWERS BOX📦 and discover the results from the June 29, 2024 Puzzle Corner.

QUIZ TIME!⏳

We all watch them, but did you know what the network acronyms stand for?📺

01. ABC = American Broadcasting Company

02. AMC = American Movie Classics

03. BBC = British Broadcasting Corporation

04. BET = Black Entertainment Television

05. CBS = Columbia Broadcasting System

06. CNN = Cable News Network

07. CSPAN = Cable Satellite Public Affairs Network

08. ESPN = Entertainment and Sports Programming Network

09. HBO = Home Box Office

10. NBC = National Broadcasting Company

11. PBS = Public Broadcasting Service

12. TBS = Turner Broadcasting System

13. TCM = Turner Classic Movies

14. TMC = The Movie Channel

15. TNT = Turner Network Television

16. TWC = The Weather Channel

THE PUZZLE CORNER: JULY 6, 2019

😎FUN FACT
When the colorizing old black and white movies fad began, there was an uproar over not only the process in general, but the possibility of the Kansas framing sequences to MGM’s The Wizard of Oz being redone. Thankfully common sense and history prevailed.

COMMON BONDS
The items in each subset below have something in common. Do you know what it is?
01. {Wally Cox, Adam West} and we are not going for the obvious.
02. {Glen, Neve}

FAMOUS FIRSTS🥇
What is the biggest (as of June 2019) one hit wonder of all time?

We’ll reveal all next weekend, but for now, let’s open up THE ANSWERS BOX📦 and discover the results from the June 29, 2019 Puzzle Corner.

TRIVIA TIME⌚
What is heavy going forward, but not backwards?
TON (not backwards)

BEFORE AND AFTER
Two separate items share at least one word, and so can be combined to create something new. Based upon the clue below, do you know what the new thing is?
Superman’s favorite flower?
Man of Steel Magnolias.

SUNDAY FUNNIES: FOCUS!

Hello everybody. Your humble Editor-In-Chief Lee Houston, Junior with you once more because we are within a holiday weekend here in the United States, so Waxy Dragon and Autumn the Puppy are with their respective families, but that doesn't mean you won't be entertained by today's Sunday Funnies.

During our busy lives, we are either often in a rush to do something, or else are not sure what we first saw was right and have to look at it again. Either way, the second time around you realize that whoever made the sign should have put more thought into it. To wit...

I think they meant "Construction", although there is an applicable definition for the word that was used.
Either way, maybe some more thought should have gone into this one for the general public.

Some of the Macy*s department stores have an area called "The Cellar", which sells gourmet foods. The department itself is fine, but is rarely ever found in the basement of any store, which makes one wonder about the name.

The bathroom sign on the right IS accurate, if you are male and have waited too long to do what you need to. However, I was unaware a Lego-like figure could be posed like that.

When you go to turn something on and nothing happens, if the person next to you says "It's not working", what do you think their first clue was?

It's interesting when you go to a repair shop to have something fixed, but the sign on the door asks customers to knock because the bell is broken.

There are plenty of people who like to take nature walks out in the country. However, a sign at one farm warned people "The farmer allows people to walk across his field for free, but the bull charges."

I know that air pollution is a serious global problem, but even I will be the first to say that the sign on the left might be taking things a little too far.

A headline in my local paper once read "WAR DIMS HOPE FOR PEACE". I can see where it would have that affect. Another time the same paper ran the headline "POWER OUTAGE LEAVES THOUSANDS IN THE DARK", despite the fact that the blackout happened at ten in the morning and was resolved by three that afternoon.
You would think some of those thousands would have opened their window curtains and let some sunshine into their homes.

I know the world is far more security conscious today than we ever have been, but don't you think the sign on the right might be carrying things just a bit too far?

A spokesperson for an organization investigating obesity once said they needed to study a larger group in order to confirm their findings. I personally think the spokesperson needs to rethink their statement.

And finally, we have the sign someone edited on the left. A friendly reminder that life may not be perfect, but it sure beats the alternative.

Have a great week everybody, and please be back here next weekend for more Sunday Funnies!--lh,jr.

THE PUZZLE CORNER: JULY 6, 2013

Another weekend is upon us, and fans of this column know what that means!

REBUS
A familiar phrase is represented by the image below. Do you know what it is?

LOOK LOOK
LOOK LOOK   LEAP

THE FIFTY-FIFTY CHANCE
This is just like a regular Trivia Time question, but there are only two possible answers, hence the even odds of getting it right. Ready?

TRUE OR FALSE: You can NOT have punctuation within the name of a city or town.

We'll reveal all next weekend. Meanwhile, let's peek inside THE ANSWERS BOX and discover the results from the June 29, 2013 Puzzle Corner.

TRIVIA TIME
MTV debuted August 1, 1981, with its sister channel VH1 making the scene January 1, 1985. Considering what they used to show, do you remember what the acronyms for each station mean?
MTV once stood for Music TeleVision, while VH1 was Video Hits 1; but how often do those stations play music videos nowadays?

FAMOUS FIRSTS
Do you remember just what the very first music videos were for each channel?
MTV's first music video was appropriately enough Video Killed The Radio Star by The Buggles, while VH1 started their broadcast history with Marvin Gaye's rendition of The Star Spangled Banner.