THE PUZZLE CORNER: SEPTEMBER 19, 2026

 😎FUN FACT

Also celebrating 60th anniversaries this year are the Adam West-Burt Ward version of Batman, Dark Shadows, The Girl from U.N.C.L.E., The Time Tunnel, The Green Hornet, and That Girl.

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?

Marlo Thomas in a spy television show.

THE 50/50 CHANCE

Just like a regular TRIVIA TIME question except there are only two possible answers, hence the even odds of getting it right. Ready?

TRUE or FALSE: The Time Tunnel travelers never returned home.

TRIVIA TIME⌚

What famous character is The Green Hornet related to?

We’ll reveal all next weekend but for now, let’s open up THE ANSWERS BOX📦 and discover the results from the September 12, 2026 Puzzle Corner as we celebrated the 60th anniversaries of The Monkees and Mission: Impossible.

SUPER SECONDS🥈

After the FAMOUS FIRSTS, what comes next?

The Monkees’ first big hit was ♫Last Train To Clarksville♫. What was their next?

♫I’m A Believer♫, which was also their second single.

TRIVIA TIME⌚

What was the address of the Monkees’ pad (residence)?

1334 North Beechwood Drive, Hollywood California; which was actually the mailing address for Screen Gems Productions, who produced the TV series.

AKA, ALSO KNOWN AS

Lalo Schifrin is famous for composing the Mission: Impossible theme, among other works. But what did he originally name the theme?

♫Light The Fuse♫. Appropriate, considering the opening sequence of each episode.

WHO AM I?

Can you identify the person (real or fictitious) based upon the clue below?

I first led the Impossible: Mission Force before Peter Graves took over as Jim Phelps.

Dan Briggs, as portrayed by Steven Hill.

THE PUZZLE CORNER: SEPTEMBER 12, 2026

 😎FUN FACT

The Monkees (September 12) and the original TV version of Mission: Impossible (September 17) both celebrate their 60th anniversaries this year, so it’s time for some themed enigmas.

THE MONKEES, circa 1986

SUPER SECONDS🥈

After the FAMOUS FIRSTS, what comes next?

The Monkees’ first big hit was ♫Last Train To Clarksville♫. What was their next?

TRIVIA TIME⌚

What was the address of the Monkees’ pad (residence)?

AKA, ALSO KNOWN AS

Lalo Schifrin is famous for composing the Mission: Impossible theme, among other works. But what did he originally name the theme?

WHO AM I?

Can you identify the person (real or fictitious) based upon the clue below?

I first led the Impossible: Mission Force before Peter Graves took over as Jim Phelps.

We’ll reveal all next weekend but for now, let’s open up THE ANSWERS BOX 📦and discover the results from the September 5, 2026 Puzzle Corner as we celebrated Star Trek Day and the original series’ 60th anniversary.

FAMOUS FIRSTS🥇

Which was the first USS Enterprise that could separate its saucer section from the rest of the ship?

USS Enterprise, NCC 1701 PRIME!

According to the original 1976 Star Trek Star Fleet Technical Manual, the very first Enterprise had that capability, but it could only be done in an extreme emergency because it required a Starbase to reunite the two halves. But that feature wasn’t visually shown by any ship until Picard’s NCC 1701-D.

NUMBER PLEASE

Get ready! We ask the question, but the answer is just a number.

How many different Star Trek series have there been, as of September 2026?

12/TWELVE! The Original Series, The Animated Series, The Next Generation, Deep Space Nine, Voyager, Enterprise, Discovery, Short Treks, Lower Decks, Prodigy, Strange New Worlds and Starfleet Academy.

Star Trek: Scouts is technically a YouTube channel exclusive and doesn’t count unless Paramount says otherwise.

TRIVIA TIME⌚

Two Star Trek: Voyager performers had cameos in the Star Trek: First Contact movie. One was blatantly obvious and the other wasn’t. Can you name them both?

While Robert Picardo reprised his role as the Emergency Medical Hologram for one scene, Ethan Phillips portrayed a maitre’d instead of Neelix in another.

THE LETTER SHUFFLE

How many new words can you form out of the letters in STAR TREK?

A, are, ark(s), art(s), as, aster {type of flower}, at, ate

Ear(s), eat(s), err(s)

Rare, rat(s), rate(s), rater(s), reak(s) {correct spelling of an old word meaning tricks}, rear(s), rest

Sake, sat, sate, sea, sear, seat, set, skate, skater, stake, staker, stare, starer, stark, start, state, steak

Take(s), taker(s), tart(s), taste, taster, tar(s), tare(s), tea(s), tear(s), test, {and} treat(s).

STAR and TREK don’t count because they were the original words but others than the 65 listed above might be possible.

SUNDAY FUNNIES: ROAD SIGNS OF THE TIME

 Hello Everybody!

The Free Choice E-zine's Editor-in-Chief Lee Houston, Junior here because your regular hosts Piper D. Katt and Koda Canine are finishing up the Fourth of July weekend celebrating America's 250th Independence Day here in the United States.

A GOOD BOOK

Now then, during some of my past guest hosting appearances I've discussed Burma Shave signs, those funny and witty little poems and limericks drivers saw displayed on road sides post World War 2 to at least the early 1960s, although they have faded into memory for the most part nowadays.

But there have been other, more legitimate road signs in the years since that while not intentional, have elicited a laugh or two along the way.

To wit...

 This little tin placard on the left makes one wonder about the world today.

The one on the right below makes one wonder when you CAN park. Better to just put some money in the meter and get on with your day.

I can't help wondering if whoever named the streets in the neighborhood pictured below is a fan of Jay Ward?

On the right is proof that I finally found that elusive short cut everyone is looking for.

While technically illegal, I also like the stenciling added to the STOP sign🛑 so it now says DON'T STOP BELIEVING.

While not a very long road, there were absolutely no speed limit signs on the street pictured on the left, so I can't help wondering what the legal limit is.

Warp Factor Two maybe? 😉

Being a Monkees fan, I definitely want to get back to this street pictured on the right some Sunday and see if they're hanging around.

The street pictured below must be popular in Metropolis.

Yet who is trying to spill the beans on Superman's big secret?

Then again, as seen on the right, Millionaire Bruce Wayne has his own problems to deal with.

But in the end, sooner or later we all find ourselves at this intersection.

So on that note♫, have a good week.

Take care.

STAY SAFE!

And one of your regular hosts will be back next weekend with more Sunday Funnies!—lh,jr.

THE PUZZLE CORNER: MAY 2, 2026

 😎FUN FACT

This is our 3,350th Blogger Post!😁

WHO AM I?

Can you identify the person (real or fictitious) based upon the clue below?

My first solo hit was basically a love song to a rat!

RHYME TIME⏰

The clue to something is below, but no matter how long your answer is, each word within it must rhyme. Ready?

Ancient enigmas.

We’ll reveal all next weekend but for now, let’s open up THE ANSWERS BOX📦 and discover the results from the April 25, 2026 Puzzle Corner.

COMMON BONDS

The items in each subset below have something in common. Do you know what it is?

01. {The Monkees, Ziggy Stardust} =Both featured a David Jones, although Ziggy’s had to change his name to David Bowie because of the Monkee.

02. {Gilligan’s Island, Mister Magoo} = Jim Backus was a part of both, voicing the animated character.

AKA, ALSO KNOWN AS

Who do we know Armando Catalano better as?

Actor Guy Williams, from Lost In Space and Disney’s version of Zorro, among other productions.

THE PUZZLE CORNER: FEBRUARY 15, 2025

 😎FUN FACT

Lava🌋 can reach temperatures as high as 2200 Fahrenheit/1204.4 Celsius.

TRIVIA TIME⌚

What is Dartitis?

WHO AM I?

Can you identify the person (real or fictitious) based upon the clue below?

Although a lady I made tools, including inventing the circular saw.

We’ll reveal all next weekend but for now, let’s open up THE ANSWERS BOX📦 and discover the results from the February 8, 2025 Puzzle Corner.

COMMON BONDS

The items in each subset below have something in common. Do you know what it is?

01. {Marvin Gaye, Four Non Blondes} = Both have asked ♫What’s Going On?♫

02. {The Monkees, Steve Winwood} = Both have sang about a lady named ♫Valerie♫.

THE LETTER SHUFFLE

How many new words can you form out of the letters in VALENTINE?💖

A, alien, alive, an, ant, at, ate

Eat, eave, even, evil

I, in, inn, inane, it

Lane, late, Latin, lean, leave, lei, lenient, lent, lie, line, lint, live

Neat, nine, nit

Tan, tea, ten, teen, tile, tin, tine

Veil, vein, vent, vial, vile

More than the 43 words listed above might be possible.

THE PUZZLE CORNER: JUNE 1, 2024

 😎FUN FACT

Crossword Puzzle editor Will Shortz is the only person, to date, with a degree in Enigmatology: the study of puzzles.

FILL IN THE BLANKS

All you have to do is what the title says, literally fill in the blanks to acquire the answer. The given letters are all shown, none of those are missing. Ready?

PERSON: A_ _E_ _  E_ _ _ _ E _ _.

TRIVIA TIME⌚

What vegetable has the least calories?

We’ll reveal all next weekend but for now, let’s open up THE ANSWERS BOX📦 and discover the results from the May 25, 2024 Puzzle Corner.

WHAT’S THAT SONG?

Words from a tune of the past are below. All you have to do is give us the song title. Ready?

♫Two little kings playing a game. They gave a war and nobody came.♫ = “Zor and Zam” by The Monkees.

THE LETTER SHUFFLE

How many new words can you spell out of the letters in MEMORIAL?

A, aero, ail, aim, air, ale, alm, am, ammo, are, arm

Ear, elm, em (a printer's measure), Emir, era

I, ire

Lair, lea, leo, liar, lie, lime

Ma, mail, male, mar, mar, me, meal, memo, mil (wire thickness), mile, mime, mire, mole, moral, morale, more

Oar, oil, oiler, ole, or, ore

Rail, ram, real, realm, ream, rile, rim, (and) rime.

More besides the 54 listed above might be possible.

THE PUZZLE CORNER: SEPTEMBER 17, 2022

😎FUN FACT

September 19 is the 40th anniversary of the Smiley emoji.😀

TRIVIA TIME⌚

Who invented the Smiley emoji?😕

COMMON BONDS

The items in each subset below have something in common. Do you know what it is?

01. {double, twin}

02. {joke, gasp}

We’ll reveal all next weekend but for now, let’s open up THE ANSWERS BOX📦 and discover the results from the September 10, 2022 Puzzle Corner.

AKA, ALSO KNOWN AS

What does the term WI FI stand for?

While some believe it is Wireless Fidelity, actually WI FI stands for absolutely nothing! The term was coined by a marketing firm at the start of wireless technology development.

NUMBER PLEASE

Get ready! We ask the question, but the answer is just a number.

How many songs did Neil Diamond write for The Monkees?

4! While ♫I’m A Believer♫ and ♫A Little Bit Me, A Little Bit You♫ were the biggest successes, Diamond also wrote ♫Look Out, Here Comes Tomorrow♫ and ♫Love To Love♫.

THE PUZZLE CORNER: SEPTEMBER 10, 2022

😎 FUN FACT

Joan Rivers and Gene Wilder were the voice performers for The Adventures of Letterman on PBS’ original Electric Company.

AKA, ALSO KNOWN AS

What does the term WI FI stand for?

NUMBER PLEASE

Get ready! We ask the question, but the answer is just a number.

How many songs did Neil Diamond write for The Monkees?

We’ll reveal all next weekend but for now, let’s open up THE ANSWERS BOX📦 and discover the results from the September 3, 2022 Puzzle Corner.

COMMON BONDS

The items in each subset below have something in common. Do you know what it is?

01. {♫Happy Together♫ by the Turtles, ♫Operator♫ by Jim Croce.} = Both songs mention that the cost of making a telephone call at a pay phone was only ten cents when originally recorded.

Then again, who remembers what a pay phone was? 😉

02. {Tones, Remit}

Each word can be anagrammed to spell another word. ONSET and TIMER respectively in this case.

FILL IN THE BLANKS

All you have to do is what the title says, literally fill in the blanks to acquire the answer. The given letters are all shown, none of those are missing. Ready?

PERSON: SERENA WILLIAMS (Italicized letters were given.)

THE PUZZLE CORNER: JUNE 25, 2022

😎FUN FACT

Honeybees🐝🐝 pollinate over 90 known crops, besides flowers.

FAMOUS FIRSTS🥇

Who is the only professional basketball player to score over 38,000+ career points?

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?

Mister Toad goes to Tara.

We’ll reveal all next weekend but for now, let’s open up THE ANSWERS BOX📦 and discover the results from the June 18, 2022 Puzzle Corner.

COMMON BONDS

The items in each subset below have something in common. Do you know what it is?

01. {Marvin Gaye, 4 Non Blondes} = ♫What’s Going On?♫

02. {The Monkees, Steve Winwood} = ♫Valerie♫

03. {Subsets 1 and 2} = Different artists releasing different songs with the same title.

HUH? (misquotes)

The misquote is below. All you have to do is give us the correct quote and source. Ready?

♫Saving his life from this warm sausage tea.♫ IS ACTUALLY ♫Spare him his life from this monstrosity.♫ from Queen’s Bohemian Rhapsody.

THE PUZZLE CORNER: JUNE 18, 2022

😎FUN FACT

♫Sugar Sugar♫ was actually the THIRD of five releases, so The Archies are NOT a “one hit wonder”.

It's a music theme today, so come along and play!

COMMON BONDS

The items in each subset below have something in common. Do you know what it is?

01. {Marvin Gaye, 4 Non Blondes}

02. {The Monkees, Steve Winwood}

03. {Subsets 1 and 2}

HUH? (misquotes)

The misquote is below. All you have to do is give us the correct quote and source. Ready?

♫Saving his life from this warm sausage tea.♫

We’ll reveal all next weekend but for now, let’s open up THE ANSWERS BOX📦 and discover the results from the June 4, 2022 Puzzle Corner.

TRIVIA TIME⌚

On the BBC series Keeping Up Appearances, what was the maiden name of sisters Hyacinth, Violet, Rose, and Daisy?

While never officially stated during the course of the series, I’ve always suspected it was Gardener or something else floral appropriate between their names and considering how Hyacinth kept insisting Bucket was pronounced Bouquet.

RHYME TIME⏰

The clue to something is below, but no matter how long your answer is, each word within it must rhyme. Ready?

What we all need in life. = Less stress!

THE PUZZLE CORNER: APRIL 9, 2022

😎FUN FACT

You never want to be downwind of anybody using manure based fertilizer!😉

RHYME TIME⌛

The clue to something is below, but no matter how long your answer is, each word within it must rhyme. Ready?

Basement Resident?

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?

Carpentry criminal?

We’ll reveal all next weekend but for now, let’s open up THE ANSWERS BOX📦 and discover the results from the April 2, 2022 Puzzle Corner.

COMMON BONDS

The items in each subset below have something in common. Do you know what it is?

01. {Lois Lane, Della Street} = Both surnames are travel routes.

02. {♫Tommy♫ by The Who, ♫You Don't Mess Around With Jim♫ by Jim Croce} = Both title characters have the surname Walker.

TRIVIA TIME⌚

In 1967, what musical act sold the most records, at least in the United States?

THE MONKEES, beating both the Beatles and the Rolling Stones that year.

THE PUZZLE CORNER: OCTOBER 30, 2021

😎FUN FACT

This is #2599. The way things worked out this time, The Week In Review for October 24-30 is our actual 2600th Blogger Post!

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?

McQ sings ♫Danke Schoen♫

THE LETTER SHUFFLE

Considering what tomorrow is, how many new words can you form out of the letters in HALLOWEEN?

We’ll reveal all next weekend but for now, let’s open up THE ANSWERS BOX📦 and discover the results from the October 23, 2021 Puzzle Corner.

NEXT?

What is the next item(s) in the sequence below?

DJ, MD, MN, ??

PT, to alphabetically complete The Monkees: Davy Jones, Micky Dolenz, Mike Nesmith, Peter Tork.

COMMON BONDS

The items in each subset below have something in common. Do you know what it is?

01. {bean, horse} = pinto.

02. {kangaroo, caveman} = Famous Captains.

SUNDAY FUNNIES: FUN SONGS

Hello Everybody! The Free Choice E-zine's Editor-In-Chief Lee Houston, Junior here today because both Autumn the Puppy and Piper D. Katt have the weekend off.

This is the Memorial Day weekend here in the United States, when we pause to remember everyone who has served to defend this country and its freedom(s) past, present, and future.

It would be WAY too easy for me to hop on my soap box and share my opinions with you on a variety of pertinent topics; but other than a humble request to please remember those brave men and women who fought for so much more than just a three day weekend, that's not why any of us are here.

We've all heard them from time to time. Artists like "Weird" Al Yankovic have even made a career out of them.

Fun tunes that give us a couple of moments of pleasure between the more traditional songs of love, social messages, attempting to sell us stuff and everything else music can do.

Like "Brand New Key" by Melanie.

"In The Summertime" by Mongo Jerry.

"My Ding-A-Ling" by Chuck Berry.

"I'm Gonna Buy Me A Dog", "Your Auntie Grizelda" and its sequel "Auntie's Municipal Court" by The Monkees.

"Jump In The Line (Shake Shake Shake Senora)" and "Day-O (The Banana Boat Song)" by Harry Belafonte.

"Fins" or "Volcano" by Jimmy Buffet.

"Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da" by The Beatles.

And there's hundreds more for every one I've listed above.

The point is to kick back, relax, and have some fun once in a while!

On that note♫, take care.

STAY SAFE!😷

And please be back here next weekend for more Sunday Funnies!—lh,jr.

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The Free Choice E-zine did not post any videos to YouTube. We're just sharing the links.

THE PUZZLE CORNER: JANUARY 5, 2019

😎FUN FACT
It’s 2019 and a new year is upon us. Let’s party!🎉

FAMOUS FIRSTS
WHO was the first super heroine to have her own weekly television series???

THE LETTER SHUFFLE
How many new words can you spell out of the letters in NEW YEAR???

We’ll reveal all next weekend, but for now, let’s open up THE ANSWERS BOX📦 and discover the results from the December 29, 2018 Puzzle Corner.

WHAT’S THAT SONG?
Words from a tune of the past are below. All you have to do is give us the song title. Ready?

♫And a Happy New Year. Let’s hope it’s a good one, without any fear♫
“Happy Xmas (War Is Over)” by John Lennon and Yoko Ono, with The Plastic Ono Band and The Harlem Community Choir.

NUMBER PLEASE
Get ready! We ask the question, but the answer is just a number.

In the full length version of The Monkees’ ♫Daydream Believer♫, what answer did Davy Jones receive when he asked, “What number is this Jim?”
7.
But then, not quite hearing the answer, he repeated the question, making the follow up response 7A.

THE PUZZLE CORNER: NOVEMBER 3, 2018

😎FUN FACT
Some space probes transmit images only in black and white because a color transmission would take too long to reach Earth.

RHYME TIME⌛
The clue to something is below, but no matter how long your answer is, each word within it must rhyme. Ready?

Local residents unhappy about portrayal of rural life?

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

LLAF

We’ll reveal all next weekend, but for now, let’s open up THE ANSWERS BOX and discover the results from the October 27, 2018 Puzzle Corner.

AKA, ALSO KNOWN AS
The clue to a specific group is below. Do you know who they are?

♫The four kings of EMI are sitting stately on the floor♫
The line is a reference to The Beatles from The Monkees song Alternate Title (Randy Scouse Git), written by Micky Dolenz.

THE LETTER SHUFFLE
How many new words can you spell out of the letters in HALLOWEEN???
A, all, allow, an, awl
Eel, ell, eon, ewe
Ha, hall, hallow, heal, he, heel, hell, hello, hole, how
La (a musical note) law, lawn, lea, lean, low
New, no, Noel, now
Oh, on, owl
Wall, we, wean, wee, ween, well, who (and) whole.
More than the 40 words listed above might be possible.

THE PUZZLE CORNER: AUGUST 12, 2017

FUN FACT
Despite what some hair products claim, the only effective way to get rid of split ends is by cutting them off.

THE LETTER SHUFFLE
Everybody knows the various forms of the card game, but how many new words can you form out of the letters in SOLITAIRE?

THE 50/50 CHANCE
Just like a regular TRIVIA TIME question, only there are just two possible answers, hence the even odds of getting it right. Ready?

TRUE OR FALSE: The Glenn Miller hit ♫Pennsylvania 6-5000♫ was based on a real (at the time) phone number?

We’ll reveal all next weekend, but for now, let’s open up THE ANSWERS BOX and discover the results from the August 5, 2017 Puzzle Corner.

COMMON BONDS
The items within each subset have something in common.
Do you know what it is?
01. {Orleans, Shania Twain} = Both have sang that their loves are ♫Still the One♫
02. {Steve Winwood, The Monkees} = Both have sang about a woman named ♫Valerie♫

TRIVIA TIME
What do Ictheologists study?
Fish

THE PUZZLE CORNER: AUGUST 5, 2017

FUN FACT
Despite the belief that the average human being only uses 10% of their brain, it is actually working at full capacity, even when you’re asleep!

COMMON BONDS
The items within each subset have something in common.
Do you know what it is?
01. {Orleans, Shania Twain}
02. {Steve Winwood, The Monkees}

TRIVIA TIME
What do Ictheologists study?

We’ll reveal all next weekend, but for now, let’s open up THE ANSWERS BOX and discover the results from the July 29, 2017 Puzzle Corner.

WHAT’S THAT SONG?
A line from a song is below. All you have to do is know the title. Ready?
♫And a better dental plan than the FBI!♫
Party in the CIA by “Weird” Al Yankovic.

HUH?
We tried to remember a famous quote below, but didn’t quite get it right.
Do you know the correct line?

“To be or not to be. Or maybe it was 3A.”
This is actually a humorous version of the opening of Hamlet’s soliloquy by William Shakespeare.
The correct line is “To be or not to be. That is the question.”

THE PUZZLE CORNER: SEPTEMBER 17, 2016

FUN FACT
George Washington was the only candidate in American history to be UNANIMOUSLY elected President by everyone who voted!


TRIVIA TIME
What is the only naturally occurring element of the periodic table that science has NOT been able to reproduce artifically?

THE 50/50 CHANCE
Just like a regular TRIVIA TIME question, except there are only two possible answers, hence the even odds of getting it right. Ready?
TRUE OR FALSE: Television's original Mission: Impossible team consisted of master of disguise Rollin Hand (Martin Landau), femme fatale Cinnamon Carter (Barbara Bain), electronics expert Barney Collier (Greg Morris), strong man Willy Armitage (Peter Lupis), and team leader Jim Phelps (Peter Graves).

We'll reveal all next weekend, but for now let's open up THE ANSWERS BOX and discover the results of the September 10, 2016 Puzzle Corner.

FAMOUS FIRSTS
What video game was the first with the capability to allow players to save their progress?
The very first Legend of Zelda game for the Nintendo Entertainment System (NES).

TRIVIA TIME
Who is the only musical act (to date) to have four number one albums within a span of twelve months?

The Monkees, circa 1980s

A LOT of people e-mailed this e-zine claiming that the question was too easy because the answer was The Beatles, but the CORRECT ANSWER IS The Monkees!
Their first four albums, starting with their debut record (The Monkees), along with More of The Monkees, Headquarters, and Pisces, Aquarius, Capricorn, and Jones Ltd; were all number one during 1967!