THE WEEK IN REVIEW: JUNE 24-30, 2018

JUNE 30 IS ARMED FORCES DAY IN THE UNITED KINGDOM.

JULY 1 IS CANADA DAY, GHANA’S REPUBLIC DAY,

AND RWANDA’S INDEPENDENCE DAY.

JULY 4 IS AMERICA’S BIRTHDAY.

JULY 5 IS THE 70TH ANNIVERSARY OF BRITAIN’S NATIONAL HEALTH SERVICE.

AMONGST EVENTS AROUND THE WORLD THIS PAST WEEK…

*Canada officially responds to the Trump Tariffs.
*Incumbent Recept Tayyip Erdogan has won re-election as Turkey’s President.
*American President Trump is set to meet with President Putin of Russia July 16th.
*James Melville Junior, the US Ambassador to Estonia, is apparently resigning because of President Donald Trump’s comments concerning NATO and the European Union.
*Women can now legally drive in Saudi Arabia.
*Sadly, various wildfires have blazed in the United Kingdom.
*What is that streak of blue on the red planet Mars, let alone the “space cow”🐄??? (There are 2/TWO separate links in this item.)

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 victims of the shooting at the Capitol Gazette June 29.
*Author Harlan Ellison (Star Trek’s “City on the Edge of Forever”, The Twilight Zone’s “Paladin of the Lost Hour”, and much more)
*George Cameron of The Left Banke musical group (“Walk Away Renee”) is no longer with us.
*Director Steven Stern (The Devil and Max Devilin, Mazes and Monsters) has passed away.
*Pawn Star’s Richard Benjamin Harrison has passed away.
*Joe Jackson, patriarch/manager of The Jackson 5, is no longer with us.
*Actress Helen Griffin (Little White Lies, Doctor Who) has taken her last bow on life’s stage.

WITHIN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA…
THE BORDER-KIDS-IMMIGRATION ISSUE…

*Does President Trump REALLY want to do away with due process???
*Congress won’t be changing this policy any time in the immediate future.
*Several states have united to sue Trump over his actions concerning illegal children. But when will the children be reunited with their families???
*Civilian protests over this issue continue.
*Is the government afraid of something concerning this issue???
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 all this, let alone if anyone might actually be making a profit from this situation.
TARIFF TALK…
*Canada officially responds to the Trump Tariffs.
*President Trump believes Harley-Davidson is the first to “surrender”, and that company’s future plans.  (There are 2/TWO separate links in this item.)
*The American layoffs have begun!
*General Motors is concerned about the tariff situation.
POLITICALLY…

*Supreme Court Justice Anthony Kennedy has announced his impending retirement. While Trump and Republicans are looking forward to picking Kennedy’s successor, Democrats are demanding the decision be postponed until after the winners of the 2018 mid-term elections are in office next January, since the GOP controlled Congress kept former President Obama from filling the last vacancy. (There are 4/FOUR separate links in this item.)
*Meanwhile, it appears that any President under investigation canNOT make a Supreme Court nomination, although there is already speculation as to who Trump might select as Kennedy’s replacement. (There are 2/TWO separate links in this item.)
*President Trump is set to meet with President Putin of Russia July 16th.
*James Melville Junior, the US Ambassador to Estonia, is apparently resigning because of President Donald Trump’s comments concerning NATO and the European Union.
*Apparently, President Trump doesn’t like late night talk show hosts either.
*Is Donald Trump still profiting from his properties while in office???
MEANWHILE…

*The winners and losers from the latest round of primaries on the way to the 2018 mid-term elections this fall. (There are 2/TWO separate links in this item.)
*Are you ready for more political mudslinging???
*The Democrats plan to limit the power of “super delegates”.
*The Senate’s version of a farm bill doesn’t agree with the House of Representatives’, leading to future discussions on the matter.
ELSEWHERE…

*As they prepare to go on summer vacation until the first Monday in October, the Supreme Court has ruled on pregnancies, Trump’s latest travel ban, and union fees, while Justice Anthony Kennedy has announced his impending retirement. (There are 4/FOUR links in this item.)
*Climate change may not officially be acknowledged, but is it legal???
*What has former President Barack Obama been up to lately???
*How NOT to behave at a swimming pool, and actions DO have consequences. (There are 2/TWO separate links in this item.)

Our IN OTHER NEWS feature at the bottom of your screen has been temporarily(?) suspended while Blogger works on updating some of its gadgets.

THE PUZZLE CORNER: JUNE 30, 2018

😎FUN FACT
You can tune a piano, but you can’t tune a fish🐟. 😉

COMMON BONDS
The items in each subset below have something in common. Do you know what it is?
01. {candle, legion}
02. {guitar, ice}

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: Pepe Le Pew’s helpless feline femme fatale was nameless.

We’ll reveal all next weekend, but for now, let’s open up THE ANSWERS BOX📦 and discover the results from the June 23, 2018 Puzzle Corner.

TRIVIA TIME⌚
What is France’s longest border?
Territorially, Brazil alongside Guiana. It stretches for more than 150 miles.

AKA, ALSO KNOWN AS
By what name do we know Mary Ludwig Hays better as?
Molly Pitcher.

SUNDAY FUNNIES: FROM THE ROUND FILE 2018

Hello Everybody! Waxy Dragon here!
Dragon School is out for summer vacation and I'm home kicking back and relaxing, so I just thought I'd share some of my excess jokes from this past season while I clean out my joke file. Ready?

♫Sweet dreams of summer...♫

What do you get when you cross a four leaf clover🍀 with poison ivy?
A rash of good luck.

Why was the math teacher late?
He took the rhombus.

A biologist recently produced immortal frogs🐸 by removing their vocal cords. Now they can't croak.

I think the word OPINION looks like the word ONION and that is my  opONION. In my oponion this is a good punonion.

Waxy's special joke file 😉

Yesterday a clown held the door open for me.
It was such a nice jester!

The machine at the coin factory just suddenly stopped working. No explanation. It doesn't make cents.

I just sold my homing pigeon on E-bay... for the 22 time.

What do you call a fake stone in Ireland?
A sham rock.

Why are horses🐴 in such great shape?
Because they're on a stable diet.

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

THE WEEK IN REVIEW: JUNE 17-23, 2018

JUNE 23 IS THE 150TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE TYPEWRITER.

JUNE 23 IS THE 230TH ANNIVERSARY OF

VIRGINIA JOINING THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.

JUNE 25 IS THE 55TH ANNIVERSARY OF

PRESIDENT JOHN F. KENNEDY’S HISTORIC VISIT TO GERMANY.

JUNE 28 IS THE 240TH ANNIVERSARY OF MOLLY PITCHER.

JUNE 28 IS THE 180TH ANNIVERSARY OF QUEEN VICTORIA BEING CROWNED.

AMONGST EVENTS AROUND THE WORLD THIS PAST WEEK…

*Is America's current "immigration policy" (see below) why President Donald Trump had the United States WITHDRAW from the United Nations’ Council on Human Rights??? Especially since that august body has just weighed in on the issue??? (There are 2/TWO separate links in this item.)
*China’s thoughts on President Trump and American Tariffs, while Google prepares for a new business venture there. (There are 2/TWO separate links in this item.)
*New Zealand’s Prime Minister is officially on maternity leave. Mother and child are doing well. 😊
*Will marijuana soon be legal in Canada???
*The International Space Station has successfully deployed a new anti-space debris device.

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…
*Koko the Gorilla has passed away.
*We have lost journalists Elizabeth Brackett, Richard Valeriani, and Charles Krauthammer this past week.
*Rapper XXXTentacion is no longer with us.
*Record producer David Bianco (Tom Petty, Bob Dylan) has passed away.
*Drummer Vinnie Paul (Pantera) is no longer with us.

WITHIN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA…
THE BORDER-KIDS-IMMIGRATION ISSUE…

*More reaction to Trump’s “immigration policy”  from politicians and others as America is now operating “tender age” camps. (There are 4/FOUR separate links in this item.)
*Is the above why Trump had the United States WITHDRAW from the United Nations’ Council on Human Rights??? Especially since that august body has just weighed in on the issue??? (There are 2/TWO separate links in this item.)
*Whose side is the First Lady on???
*Where Time magazine stands on the issue.
*WHERE ARE THE GIRLS???
*While President Trump has since signed an executive order to “keep family unity”, what about the children already in “foster care”??? (There are 2/TWO separate links in this item.)
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 all this "hosting", let alone if anyone might actually be making a profit from this situation.
POLITICALLY…
*Among other things, President Trump now wants a “Space Force” and has threatened to implement even more tariffs. (There are 2/TWO separate links in this item.)
*Trump apparently still hates the media, especially in light of his opinions concerning their coverage of the recent summit with North Korea, but support for freedom of the press continues. (There are 3/THREE separate links in this item.)
*How truthful is President Trump when he speaks???

MEANWHILE…
*The House of Representatives’ proposed budget includes major cuts to Medicaid and Medicare, while the Senate has managed to save Children’s Health Insurance Program funds. (There are 2/TWO separate links in this item.)
*A major Republican swears he will be voting Democratic this fall!

ELSEWHERE…
*The Supreme Court does favor at least some cellphone “privacy” and American Indian land rights, sort of. (There are 2/TWO separate links in this item.)
*This doctor’s “bedside manner” may leave much to be desired.
*Starbucks plans to close 150 stores before the end of 2018.
*Brooks Koepka has won the 2018 US Open of professional golf.

Our IN OTHER NEWS feature at the bottom of your screen has been temporarily(?) suspended while Blogger works on updating some of its gadgets. 

THE PUZZLE CORNER: JUNE 23, 2018

😎FUN FACT
There are more stars 🌌 in the sky than grains of sand on the earth🌎.

TRIVIA TIME⌚
What is France’s longest border?

AKA, ALSO KNOWN AS
By what name do we know Mary Ludwig Hays better as?

We’ll reveal all next weekend, but for now, let’s open up THE ANSWERS BOX📦 and discover the results from the June 16, 2018 Puzzle Corner.

FAMOUS FIRSTS
Who was the very first James “Bond Girl”?
While many consider it to be Ursula Andress, Eunice Gayson actually appeared first in the Doctor No movie, making her the very first “Bond Girl”.

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

Odd facial hair. = Weird Beard.

SUNDAY FUNNIES: HAPPY FATHER'S DAY 2018

Hello Everybody!
Today you have both Waxy Dragon AND Autumn the Puppy here as we salute Father's Day.

Father's Day has been celebrated for quite a while in over 40 different countries!

Yet the tradition of Fatherhood dates back a lot farther, so let's look at some famous daddies of history...

HISTORIC EXPLORER CHRISTOPHER COLUMBUS'S DAD
"I don't care what you've discovered, Christopher.  You could have written while you were away for so long."

RENAISSANCE ARTIST MICHELANGELO'S DAD
"Mike, can't you paint on walls like other children?  Do you have any idea how hard it is to get that stuff off the ceiling?"

ONE TIME EMPEROR OF FRANCE NAPOLEON'S DAD
"All right. If you aren't hiding your report card inside your jacket, then take your hand out of there and prove it."

SCIENTIFIC GENIUS PROFESSOR ALBERT EINSTEIN'S DAD
"But, Albert, it's your senior picture. Can't you do something about your hair?  Styling gel, mousse, something...?"

FIRST PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES' GEORGE WASHINGTON'S DAD
"Son, I admire your honesty, but there was no need to cut down that cherry tree. We have plenty of firewood as it is."

FAMOUS INVENTOR THOMAS EDISON'S DAD
"Of course I'm proud that you invented the electric light bulb, Thomas. Now turn off that light and get to bed!"

So, as you can see, the details of the situations may have changed over the years, but like motherhood, fatherhood is a noble profession too.

With that, we take our leave so we can spend time with our respective fathers.
This is Waxy Dragon and Autumn the Puppy reminding you that although being a father is simply a matter of biology, it takes someone special to be a dad.

Have a great week and please be back here again next weekend for more Sunday Funnies!—wd and AtP.

THE WEEK IN REVIEW: JUNE 10-16, 2018

JUNE 16 IS THE 55TH ANNIVERSARY OF VALENTINA TERESHKOVA BECOMING THE FIRST WOMAN IN SPACE.

JUNE 16 IS THE 40TH ANNIVERSARY OF GREASE: THE MOVIE.

JUNE 16 IS ALSO INTERNATIONAL SURFING🏄 DAY.

JUNE 19 IS THE ANNUAL JUNETEENTH CELEBRATION IN GALVESTON, TEXAS.

JUNE 19 IS GARFIELD’S 40TH ANNIVERSARY.

JUNE 21 IS THE 70TH ANNIVERSARY OF

THE LONG PLAYING RECORD’S💽 PUBLIC DEBUT.

JUNE 23 IS THE 150TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE TYPEWRITER.

JUNE 23 IS THE 230TH ANNIVERSARY OF

VIRGINIA JOINING THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.

ARE YOU AWARE OF THE KELLOG CEREAL RECALL???

AMONGST EVENTS AROUND THE WORLD THIS PAST WEEK…

*Highlights from the summit between North Korea and the United States include a meeting between America and host country Singapore, the North will work on denuclearizing the Korean Peninsula while America promises “security guarantees” and the United States will no longer be doing joint military exercises with South Korea. (There are 3/THREE separate links in this item.)
*South Korea’s reaction to the summit.
*What does American President Donald Trump have against Canada???
*China to face more American tariffs and China's new tariffs against the US. (There are 2/TWO separate links in this item.)
*Were you safe during Pacific Hurricane Bud???
*Is El Nino returning???
*The winners of the 2018 French Open of professional tennis.
*The 2018 FIFA World Cup competition has begun.
*There are new planets in the universe!

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…
*Author Christopher Stasheff (The Warlock In Spite of Himself, The Enchanter Reborn) has passed away.
*Animator/director Rumen Petkov (Johnny Bravo, Dexter’s Laboratory) is no longer with us.
*Guitarist Matt Murphy (Saturday Night Live, The Blues Brothers) has passed away.

WITHIN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA…
POLITICALLY…

*Highlights from the summit between North Korea and the United States include a meeting between America and host country Singapore, the North will work on denuclearizing the Korean Peninsula while America promises “security guarantees” and the United States will no longer be doing joint military exercises with South Korea. (There are 3/THREE separate links in this item.)
*Fact checking Trump in North Korea and his opinions on Kim Jung Un’s human rights record. (There are 2/TWO separate links in this item.)
*What does President Trump have against Canada???
*Apparently Trump doesn’t like the FBI or ex-director James Comey either.
*Trump has approved new tariffs against China and China's new tariffs against the US. (There are 2/TWO separate links in this item.)
*Trump’s version of the Federal Communications Commission has officially ended “net neutrality”.
*Fact checking Trump's latest interview.
*It should come as no surprise that Trump doesn’t like “fake news”, but how is his relationship with the Fourth Estate???  Considering an editorial cartoonist was just FIRED for criticizing Trump... (There are 3/THREE separate links in this item.)
MEANWHILE…
*What will Congress do now that President Trump has said he doesn’t like their new immigration plan???
*The results of this past Tuesday’s primaries.
*Some Republicans are apparently not happy that HE won the Nevada primary.
ELSEWHERE…

*ARE VOTERS STILL REGISTERED???
*Hawaii’s volcano troubles aren’t over yet.
*The wildfires continue.
*Paul Manafort has been denied bail before his new trial on obstruction charges.
*American Airline's latest problems.
*A school has closed in Wisconsin forever!

Our IN OTHER NEWS feature at the bottom of your screen has been temporarily(?) suspended while Blogger works on updating some of its gadgets.