THE WEEK IN REVIEW: JUNE 2-8, 2019

JUNE IS GAY/LGBT PRIDE MONTH.

JUNE 8 IS THE FORMAL OBSERVANCE OF THE QUEEN'S♕ BIRTHDAY

IN THE UNITED KINGDOM & TUVALU.

FOR THOSE OBSERVING, SHAVUOT BEGINS AT SUNDOWN JUNE 8.

JUNE 9 MARKS THE 85TH ANNIVERSARY OF DONALD DUCK’S DEBUT IN

THE SILLY SYMPHONY “THE WISE LITTLE HEN”.

JUNE 9 MARKS THE 30TH ANNIVERSARY OF
STAR TREK 5: THE FINAL FRONTIER.

JUNE 12 MARKS THE 80TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL HALL OF FAME OPENING IN COOPERSTOWN, NEW YORK.

JUNE 14 IS FLAG DAY IN THE UNITED STATES.

JUNE 16 IS FATHER’S DAY.

ARE YOU AWARE OF THE JALAPENO-CHEDDAR SAUSAGE RECALL???

ARE THERE UNSAFE BERRIES AT KROGER'S???

AMONGST EVENTS AROUND THE W🌍RLD THIS PAST WEEK…

*Pope Francis recently visited Romania.
*James Marape is the new Prime Minister-elect of Papua New Guinea.
*United Kingdom Prime Minister Theresa May has officially resigned as leader of her party.
*The International Space Station is going commercial!
*Was George Orwell right???
*The neon blue volcano!
*Just how slow IS snail🐌 mail???

AN AMERICAN PRESIDENT IN GREAT BRITAIN...
*American President Donald Trump visited Great Britain, to mixed reactions of England. (There are 3/THREE separate links in this item.)
*How well was Trump received???
*Trump's opinions of London's mayor.
*"I can't see FOX News in England?"
*Trump shared his views on climate change with Prince Charles and attended a Royal dinner party. (There are 2/TWO separate links in this item.)
*Who’s paying for the travel expenses of Trump’s family entourage???
*IT’S FACT CHECK TIME!
*Trump observed the 75th anniversary of D-Day while in Great Britain.
*After England, Trump went on to Ireland.
*Is Trump planning to golf in Ireland while abroad???
*Did anyone pay the bar tab???

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 Alistair Browning (The Lord of the Rings trilogy) has taken his last bow on life’s stage.
*Artist Keith Birdsong (various Star Trek series, Shadowrun, Star Wars, the US Postal Service) is no longer with us.
*Actor Paul Darrow (Blake’s 7, Doctor Who) has taken his last bow on life’s stage.
*Musician Doctor John (aka Malcolm John Rebennack) (“Right Place, Wrong Time”) has passed away.
*Actor Alexander Kuznetsov (The Alaska Kid, Space Cowboys) has taken his last bow on life’s stage.
*Actress Nonnie Griffin (Good Fences, The Believers) has taken her last bow on life’s stage.

WITHIN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA…
TARIFF TALK…
*Whose side are the Republicans on???
*Mexico’s reaction to the increased Trump Tariffs.
*Will Trump declare another national emergency just to issue more tariffs??? For now, it looks like he’s trading “No tariffs” for a “new immigration policy”. (There are 2/TWO separate links in this item.)
POLITICALLY…
*President Trump visited Great Britain, to mixed reactions of England. SEE ABOVE FOR MORE DETAILS. (There are 3/THREE separate links in this item.)
*Economic Adviser Kevin Hassett has resigned.
*Trump wants AT&T boycotted to “correct” CNN!
*Will Hope Hicks testify or not???
*It should come as no surprise that Trump still doesn’t like Nancy Pelosi, but to consider her “a disgrace to her family”???
*The Trump Administration wants to sell arms to Taiwan, and has changed the travel guidelines for any possible trip to Cuba. (There are 2/TWO separate links in this item.)

*"Climate change doesn't exist if we don't hear about it."
*The moon versus Mars???
*The Taxpayer’s bill for all of Trump’s presidential golf trips is $102 MILLION, so far.
*And where were you Sunday, June 2???
THE MUELLER REPORT…
*The House of Representatives isn’t done discussing the matter yet.
MEANWHILE…

*Will the American Dream and Promise Act replace the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals Act???
*If Congress won’t take any action on the issue, will Virginia tackle gun control locally after last week’s senseless shooting??? (There are 2/TWO separate links in this item.)
*So what has Mrs. Mitch McConnell been up to lately???
*Why would Republicans want to stop a disaster relief bill???
*Will South Carolina Republicans do away with their 2020 Primary in favor of Trump???
*North Carolina failed to overturn the veto on their abortion bill.
ELSEWHERE…
*YouTube has changed its rules concerning hate speech.
*Who’s killing transgender people in Dallas, Texas???
*Fired and arrested for NOT doing his job!
*“You may be valedictorian, but you CAN’T talk about your parents!”
*Jeopardy! has a new champion.
*So, how have things been at your Walmart lately???
*Vegan versus beef. Which are you getting???
😀AND FINALLY, SOME GOOD NEWS…
*“I want to graduate too!”

Although our IN OTHER NEWS feature at the bottom of your screen was suspended when Blogger updated its gadgets, we have ADDED a new TRANSLATE feature in the upper right hand corner!

THE PUZZLE CORNER: JUNE 8, 2019

😎FUN FACT
Although the United States Congress passed the Equal Rights Amendment in 1972, it still needs one more state to ratify the proposal to officially become part of the American Constitution.
Considering this is 2019, what’s taking so long???

FAMOUS FIRSTS🥇
While test animals of both genders were used before, who was the first female person in outer space?

NUMBER PLEASE
Get ready! We ask the question, but the answer is just a number.
Which amendment to the United States Constitution bans denying anyone the right to vote based on gender?

We’ll reveal all next weekend, but for now, let’s open up THE ANSWERS BOX📦 and discover the results from the June 1, 2019 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?
♫It’s my true heart I’m showin’, or my nose would be growin’, you know that it gets longer when I lie♫
“Jingle Jangle” by The Archies, their follow up to 1969’s #1 hit “Sugar Sugar,” which reached #10 on the charts the same year proving that, contrary to popular belief, the group was not a one hit wonder.

NEXT?
What is the next item(s) in the sequence below?
B, C, G, I, J, K, P, R, ??, ??
T and Y, because all are letters of the alphabet that also sound like words.
B (be or bee), C (sea or see), G (gee, as in gee whiz), I (eye), J (as in blue jay), K (as in Kay), P (pea), R (are), T (tea or tee) and Y (why).

D-DAY AT 75

THE FOLLOWING IS AN EDITORIAL.

Upon this date 75 years ago, the Allied Forces took a tremendous gamble on staging one major offensive against the Axis Powers who wanted to rule the world.

A lot of the participants in that operation didn't survive.
Many more would perish in the days that followed before Allied victory was finally declared in Europe, thus ending a major portion of World War 2.

Freedom and liberty was secured for all the world.
Or so we thought.
Civil liberties and equal rights were still issues on the horizon.
Even now, sadly hatred and bigotry still exists in many forms across the globe.

What was called "The Greatest Generation" fought for what was right.
Here's hoping that in time, the generations of today and the future will not only carry on their work, but that some day weapons and bloodshed will not be necessary to achieve peace and preserve freedom, liberty, and human rights for all.

THE ABOVE WAS AN EDITORIAL.

JEZEBEL JOHNSTON #5: DANSEUSE IS OUT!

Okay, this may sound like self promotion to some, but the author is a friend and this really IS a great book!

The official press release accompanies this post, but I'm excited to announce that the fifth book in my friendly neighborhood beta-proofreader's lady pirate series is out as Airship 27 proudly releases Jezebel Johnston 5: Danseuse by Nancy Hansen.

With a cover by Ted Hammond, who won an award for the cover to Jezebel Johnston 4: Mourning Star, Jezebel finds herself working for a new crew and Captain with a plan to acquire riches, as Johnston goes undercover as a barmaid to spy upon other sailors to learn when treasure laden ships set sail.
Yet when an old enemy returns with designs of revenge, Jez soon finds herself wondering who, if anybody, she can trust other than herself.

Accompanied by interior illustrations by award winning artist Rob Davis, the book is currently available in print and Kindle version, while Nancy is already working on Johnston # SIX!

Art by Rob Davis

AIRSHIP 27 PRODUCTIONS PRESENTS

JEZEBEL JOHNSTON – Vol 5 – DANSEUSE

Airship 27 Productions is proud to announce the release the fifth book in the Jezebel Johnston – Pirate Queen saga by Nancy Hansen.

Having sailed to the East African coast with French captains Ancel Thibodeaux, Le Tigre of the Mourning Star and One Eyed Jacques Chagall of the Danseuse, Jezebel Johnston sets about her new career as a spy. Dropped off at trading port in Bombay, it is her task to learn which merchant ships are soon to sail for open waters. She will then pass this invaluable information to the pirate captains.

But there are unexpected surprises in store with the reappearance of buccaneer Denis Blanchett. Though a capable seaman, Blanchett has a cruel streak is obsessed with making Jezebel his private property. Meanwhile Chagall doesn’t trust Jez and she begins to worry that his own greed will scuttle their intricate schemes before they can bear fruit.

Writer Nancy Hansen’s pirate saga of Jezebel Johnston is unlike anything on the market today and offers up thrills and spills on every page. This is the pirate life with all its dangers and romance as authentically depicting by a master storyteller.

Airship 27 Productions award winning Art Director Rob Davis both designed the book and provided the nine black and white interior illustrations, while this year’s Pulp Factory Award winning artist for Best Pulp Cover, Ted Hammond returns for his second gorgeous cover featuring the beautiful and deadly Jezebel Johnston.

So sign aboard now and get ready set sail once more for Jezebel Johnston, the queen of high adventure.

AIRSHIP 27 PRODUCTIONS – PULP FICTION FOR A NEW GENERTION!

Available now in paperback from Amazon and soon on Kindle!

(https://www.amazon.com/dp/1946183628?ref_=pe_3052080_397514860)

SUNDAY FUNNIES: ALMOST HOME ALONE

Trying to behave is a lost cause for me!

Hello Everybody! Waxy Dragon here!
Right now this baby dragon has the whole house to myself because Bubblehead, the person I (babysit, should mind) live with, is outside trying to cut the grass.
That is, if he ever gets the lawn mower started.
I'd think he'd be better off renting a goat🐐 to eat the excess grass than using that contraption he's had since the Washington Administration.
George Washington, that is.
Then again, it'd probably be easier just to go out and start cutting the grass with a pair of scissors.✂
Sure, you'd only be able to cut one blade of grass at a time, and it may take Bubblehead (no, that's not his real name. After all, who names their kid "Bubblehead"? I'm just trying to protect the guy.) the rest of the day just to cut a foot or two, but at least he'd have better control over what does get cut compared to the goat who would eat everything if given the chance.
Kind of like me, only I know the difference between food and trash. The goat doesn't.
But Bubblehead wants to mow, yet I don't think he even makes a decent Curly.
Nyuk-nyuk-nyuk. 😉

Anyway, since I'm all alone at the moment, let's see what mischief fun we can have together.

The GREAT stuff!

If I only knew where Bubblehead is hiding keeps the Bulgosian Dark Chocolate.
The problem is, not only does he move it to another location whenever I discover where it is, but security around that wonderful chocolate is tighter than what's guarding the plot to the next Star Wars movie.
Besides, he counts EVERY SINGLE SQUARE of each bar!
WHY?
Just because I have a sweet tooth and would eat it all up the first chance I get?
I think he needs a better reason than that.

Found plenty of other stuff, especially vegetables, but what's the fun of eating vegetables when you don't have to?
I did think about throwing all the vegetables away while Bubblehead's outside, but he'd just run out and buy more.
Again, WHY? He's the only one who willingly eats the stuff!

However, I did find the joke book Bubblehead's writing at the moment.
Want to hear some of them?

I planned to work out and have a nice body this summer, then I remembered I like food much more than I like people.

Waxy's rendition of Bubblehead

Me, Myself, and I had an argument.
Now I am not talking to Myself!

If you talk to yourself and you're rich, people consider you eccentric.
If you talk to yourself and you're poor, people consider you crazy.
But if you talk to yourself and have a cellphone, you can fool everybody!

You know, I may joke about the guy a lot, but I do like Bubblehead, and it is getting lonely here in the house all by myself while he's outside.
Maybe I'll go out and offer to help him.
Then again, the last time I tried to help Bubblehead cut the grass, he had to call the fire department.
Guess I'll go play some video games instead.

And on that note♫, have a great week everybody and please be back here again next weekend for more Sunday Funnies!—wd.

THE WEEK IN REVIEW: MAY 26-JUNE 1, 2019

JUNE 1 MARKS THE 35 ANNIVERSARY OF
STAR TREK 3: THE SEARCH FOR SPOCK.

FOR THOSE CELEBRATING, ELD AL-FITR BEGINS AT SUNDOWN JUNE 4.

JUNE 5 IS DONUTS🍩 DAY.

JUNE 6 IS D-DAY.

FOR THOSE CELEBRATING, SHAVUOT BEGINS AT SUNDOWN JUNE 8.

2019 MARKS THE 30TH ANNIVERSARY OF

INDIANA JONES AND THE LAST CRUSADE.

AMONGST EVENTS AROUND THE W🌍RLD THIS PAST WEEK…
*Is China preparing to fight back in the trade war???
*Great Britain is preparing for a visit from American President Donald Trump.
*♫Trying to reason with Hurricane season.♫–Jimmy Buffett.

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…
*The innocent victims of the Virginia Beach shooting May 31.
*Former professional football play and Green Bay Packers legend Bart Starr has passed away.
*Actor Stephen Thorne (Z Cars, Doctor Who) has taken his last bow on life’s stage.
*John Gary Williams of The Mad Lads has passed away.
*Actor Carmine Caridi (The Godfather Part 2, Summer Rental, Bugsy) has taken his last bow on life’s stage.
*Former Senator Thad Cochran has passed away.
*Singer-guitarist Leon Redbone is no longer with us.
*Blues musician Tony “Little Sun” Glover has passed away.
*Musician Roky Erickson (original version of “You’re Gonna Miss Me When I’m Gone”) is no longer with us.
*Suspected drug kingpin Frank Lucas (basis for American Gangster movie) has passed away.

WITHIN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA…
TARIFF TALK…
*Is China preparing to fight back in the trade war???
*How the trade war is actually faring, so far.
*Trump is preparing to start taxing goods from Mexico more, even though his advisers are against it. (There are 2/TWO separate links in this item.)

POLITICALLY…
*Has Donald Trump employed undocumented workers???
*One opinion about Trump’s spelling abilities.
*What’s behind investigating the investigators??? Including a possible witch hunt against the FBI! (There are 3/THREE separate links in this item.)
*Examining the bank records has been (temporarily?) put on hold.
*“I don’t care if I did break the law.”
*Will a pending executive order affect the health care industry???
*I guess he isn’t pro-Trump any more.
*Republicans AGAINST Trump???
*Just what did happen with the USS John McCain???
*Great Britain is preparing for a visit from President Trump.
*One less challenger Trump will have to face in 2020.
THE MUELLER REPORT…
*Was Robert Mueller prepared to INDICT Trump???
*Mueller speaks, and what it all means. (There are 2/TWO separate links in this item.)
*Fact checking Trump on the matter.
MEANWHILE…
*Ironic Republican plans for the Supreme Court.
*95 years ago on June 1, 1924; Congress granted citizenship to all (native) American Indians. Interesting, considering they were in what we know today as the United States first.

ELSEWHERE…
*Sidestepping the abortion debate among other activities of the Supreme Court this week. (There are 2/TWO separate links in this item.)
*Another company announces they may not work in Georgia if the state’s new anti-abortion law takes effect!
*Paying the ransom versus the possible consequences of not doing so.
*Maine will no longer allow conversion “therapy”.
*Simon Pagenaud has won the 2019 Indianapolis 500 auto race.🏁
*IT'S AN 8 WAY TIE!🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝
😀AND FINALLY, SOME GOOD NEWS…

THE FREE CHOICE E-ZINE WOULD LIKE TO THANK ITS LOYAL READERSHIP FOR GRANTING US 2,177 PAGE VIEWS IN MAY 2019.

Although our IN OTHER NEWS feature at the bottom of your screen was suspended when Blogger updated its gadgets, we have ADDED a new TRANSLATE feature in the upper right hand corner!

THE PUZZLE CORNER: JUNE 1, 2019

😎FUN FACT
Dogs🐶 actually sweat through the pads on their paws.

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?
♫It’s my true heart I’m showin’, or my nose would be growin’, you know that it gets longer when I lie♫

NEXT?
What is the next item(s) in the sequence below?
B, C, G, I, J, K, P, R, ??, ??

We’ll reveal all next weekend, but for now, let’s open up THE ANSWERS BOX📦 and discover the results from the May 25, 2019 Puzzle Corner.

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

Did you remember the fallen???

Scow = Large Barge.

THE LETTER SHUFFLE
How many new words can you make out of the letters in MEMORIAL?
A, aero, ail, aim, air, ale, alm, am, ammo, are, arm
Ear, elm, em (a printer's measure), era
I, ire
Lair, lame, lea, leo, liar, lie, lime
Ma, mail, male, mar, mare, 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, rime
More besides the 54 listed above might be possible.