THE WEEK IN REVIEW: JUNE 29-JULY 5, 2014

JULY 5th IS INDEPENDENCE DAY FOR

ALGERIA, CAPE VERDE, AND VENEZUELA.

AMONGST EVENTS HAPPENING AROUND THE WORLD THIS PAST WEEK...

*The death toll in the West African Ebola Virus outbreak is sadly now over 450+ victims.
*North Korea is threatening to try two American tourists for "crimes against the state".
*Meanwhile, South Korea reports that North Korean military "fired 2 short range missiles" into the Pacific Ocean near the coastal city of Wonsan. This prompted China's President Xi Jinping to visit South Korea.
*Islamic terrorists are a growing concern in the Middle East, as they are accused of destroying 4 churches near Chibok, Nigeria and setting off explosions near the Presidential Palace in Cairo, Egypt.
*Hong Kong police officers made over 500 arrests during a massive pro-democracy rally July 1st.
*Former British Prime Minister Tony Blair is scheduled to become an economic adviser for Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi.
*Tonga is talking to Fiji about a potential trade of the Minerva Reefs for the Lau Islands, in hopes of settling a decades long territorial dispute.
*The BNP Paribas Bank of France has been fined $9 billion US dollars for violating financial sanctions against Cuba, Iran, and the Sudan.
*Meanwhile, former French President Nicolas Sarkozy has been charged with corruption and influence peddling allegations.
*Abdullah Gül has announced he will not seek reelection as President of Turkey.
*General Xu Caihou of China has been expelled from the Communist Party and is being investigated on corruption allegations.
*Scientists have confirmed the discovery of Macroscelides Micus, a new variety of elephant shrew, in northwestern Namibia.
*Civil unrest continues in Iran, Iraq, Syria, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Israel, and Palestine.

REGARDING THE UKRAINE AND RUSSIA...

*Pro-Russian separatists have released more Organization For Security And Cooperation In Europe monitors, held captive since May 29th. It is unknown how many people are still being held.
*A cameraman for Russia's Channel 1 was shot and killed in Donetsk by suspect(s) unknown.
*While still hoping for peaceful negotiations to be successful, Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko has said the Ukrainian military will resume offensive operations against Pro-Russian rebels within Ukrainian borders.
*Valeriy Heletey has become the Ukraine's new Minister of Defense.

WITHIN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA...

*After Republican Speaker of the House John Boehner announced there would be no vote on potential immigration reform "anytime this year", President Barack Obama has vowed he will "do what he can" independently of Congress to address the matter, including the border patrol problem in light of the recent increase in children illegally crossing into America alone in hopes of a better life.
*Meanwhile, First Daughter Malia Obama celebrated her 16th birthday this week, while America celebrated its 238th on July 4th.
*The United States Supreme Court, after previously declaring corporations are "people", has ruled in favor of the Hobby Lobby craft store chain, thus granting businesses the right to determine medical coverage based upon personal and religious opinions.
*The Pentagon has grounded their F-35 fighter plane fleet for safety inspections after one caught fire on a runway before take off this past week.
*Yosemite National Park celebrated the 150th anniversary of then President Abraham Lincoln signing the Yosemite Grant Act, which made the parkland federally protected property.

For more news at any time, either scroll down to our IN OTHER NEWS feature at the bottom of your screen, or visit any other reputable news source.

THE PUZZLE CORNER: JULY 5, 2014

FUN FACT
In honor of this being the 4th of July weekend here in America, everyone knows the original 13 colonies, but the next to join the United States was Vermont in March of 1791.

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

01. {Torme, Blanc}
02. {Cassidy, Beckham}
03. {Groups 1 and 2}

FAMOUS FIRSTS
What was the first hit single for the musical group Chicago?

We'll reveal all next weekend. But for now, let's open up THE ANSWERS BOX and discover the results of the June 28, 2014 Puzzle Corner.

THE LETTER SHUFFLE
Using only the same 3 letters to make 4 letter words because one letter was used twice in each answer, based upon the clues below, our words were:

01. Another possible word for Obi? SASH
02. Food? HASH
03. Persian ruler? SHAH
04. Pleasant sounds? AAHS

BONUS!
Since the above involved the letters A, H, and S, the two 3 letter words possible were ASH and HAS.

THE 50/50 CHANCE
True or false: There are 7 song titles, one featuring each day of the week (Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, and Saturday).
ANSWER: The way the question is worded, FALSE!
Thursday has no song (as of July 1, 2014), there are 2 songs for Monday and 4 for Saturday, that we know of.

Pleasant Valley SUNDAY by The Monkees
MONDAY, MONDAY by The Mamas and the Papas
Manic MONDAY by The Bangles
Ruby TUESDAY by The Rolling Stones
WEDNESDAY Morning, 3am by (Paul) Simon and (Art) Garfunkel
Thank God It's FRIDAY by Love and Kisses from the 1978 movie soundtrack
SATURDAY in the Park by Chicago
S.A.T.U.R.D.A.Y. Night by The Bay City Rollers
SATURDAY Night's Alright (for fighting) by Elton John
SATURDAY's Child by The Monkees, although it was never officially released.

All the above can be found on YouTube and various radio stations.

HAPPY FOURTH OF JULY, 2014

THE FOLLOWING IS AN EDITORIAL.

Today the United States of America celebrates the 238th anniversary of declaring ourselves an independent nation.

There are many things that can and will be said about this event, but I cannot help wondering what the founding fathers would think of this country today.

There are many issues that need to be addressed, for some say that America has lost its way, thinking more about personal and corporate gains financially and otherwise instead of the individual citizens.

I cannot disagree with the above statement, and those problems do need to be addressed by politicians willing to work for the people for the good of this country and not advancing their own agendas.

However, this is still a holiday. A time when families and friends should be able to gather peacefully for a chance to kick back and relax away from the stress and turmoil of life.

So enjoy the moment, and please remember those who fought for the rights and freedoms you have now, because tomorrow....?

Lee Houston, Junior

Editor-In-Chief of The Free Choice E-zine

July 4th, 2014

THE ABOVE WAS AN EDITORIAL.

BOOK REVIEW: JACK AND THE JUNGLE LION BY STEPHEN JARED

STILL PLAYING CATCH UP ON THE BOOK REVIEWS. SO...

Cover art by Paul Shipper

Fans of the golden age of Hollywood (the 1920s through the 1950s) and classic "B" movies (the second film of a double feature) will love Jack and the Jungle Lion, the first book by actor Stephen Jared.

Movie star Jack Hunter becomes smitten with animal trainer Maxine Daniels as they travel to the location shoot of his next thrilling adventure. Jack will let nothing stand in the way of winning the fair lady's heart, not even the fact that he is technically a married man while Maxine can't stand him, and is more concerned about raising her niece and nephew as their lone guardian.

But a plane crash, needing to get everyone back home safely, and the fact that the silver screen image Jack portrays and his real life persona are not exactly the same complicate matters just as much as the dangers the jungle foliage hides.

Actor turned author Stephen Jared definitely knows this time period, and his love for it shows in his work. This book reads just like an old time radio drama or the screenplay to a "B" movie, with all the cliches and stereotypes one would expect from that time. Yet Jared makes them work considerably well for a first novel and turns the adventure into a real page turner that leaves audiences waiting to the very end to discover the final fate of any potential relationship between the two lead characters.

Jack and the Jungle Lion is available from Amazon in both print and e-formats.

SUNDAY FUNNIES: SCHOOL'S OUT, AND SO ARE THE JOKES!

One smart dragon

Hi everybody! Waxy Dragon here!
By now, everyone is out of school for the summer. Even me. I've heard older folks talk about how when they went to school, it started the day after Labor Day, and got out the Friday before what is now Memorial Day.
Of course, there also wasn't as many days off for students and teachers during the school year then as there is now, but with having to make up "snow days" and a minimum amount of time each student has to attend, a school year can now stretch from late August to mid-June in some areas of the world.
So, what does all this have to do with the Sunday Funnies?
Just a long set up for some end of the school year jokes. Ready?

George Washington

In American History, they claim George Washington once threw a dollar across the Delaware River, but that's impossible, at least nowadays, because money doesn't go as far as it used to.

When does 10 + 7 = 11?
When you add wrong.

What vehicles cross the ocean?
Ships, submarines, aircraft, and Christopher ColumBUS!

Off for the summer!

All generalities are false. Including this one.
Maybe it needs to be promoted to a higher rank?

When does Friday come before Thursday?
In the dictionary.

What did Benjamin Franklin say when he discovered electricity?
Nothing. He was too shocked!

How many letters are actually in the alphabet?
11! T-H-E  A-L-P-H-A-B-E-T.

There are times when science goes over my head. When the teacher at Dragon School first started trying to explain the center of gravity to me, I was surprised that it wasn't the letter V.
Anyway, it's time for me to fly out of here and enjoy my summer vacation!
Since there is a major holiday coming up, our esteemed (he's steamed because he's stuck working that weekend) Editor-In-Chief will be on hand next weekend, but Autumn the Puppy and I will return soon for more Sunday Funnies!--wd.

THE WEEK IN REVIEW: JUNE 22-28, 2014

TODAY IS ARMED FORCES DAY IN THE UNITED KINGDOM.

JULY 4TH IS INDEPENDENCE DAY FOR THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND THE 75TH ANNIVERSARY OF LOU GHERIG'S RETIREMENT FROM PROFESSIONAL BASEBALL.

AMONGST EVENTS HAPPENING AROUND THE WORLD THIS PAST WEEK...

*The last of Syria's declared (known) chemical weapons have been shipped out of the country for destruction.
*The 2014 FIFA World Cup Soccer/Football Championship enters the second round of play, with the winners to be decided by mid-July.
*Mauritania has reelected President Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz to a second term in office.
*Striking air traffic controllers in France has resulted in several cancelled European flights.
*South Africa's platinum miners return to work at the end of a 5 month strike.
*China claims to have arrested 300 (alleged) terrorists in the first month of their crackdown on such activity.
*The Pyu ancient cities in Burma have been added to the UNESCO World Heritage Site List, along with Stevns Klint and the Danish section of the Wadden Sea.
*Civil unrest continues in Iran, Iraq, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Syria, and Somalia.

THE LATEST CONCERNING THE UKRAINE AND RUSSIA...
*Pro-Russian insurgents have agreed to a cease fire with the Ukraine.
*Russian President Valdimir Putin requested Parliament to consider removing the military from protecting pro-Russia supporters in the Ukraine.
*Germany has started easing the restrictions on immigrant Ukrainian Jews into their country.
*Much to Russia's dismay, the European Union has signed pacts with the Ukraine, Georgia, and Moldova.

WITHIN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA...

*Libyan Islamist and suspected terrorist Ahmed Abu Khattala has plead not guilty to all charges as he faces trial for his (alleged) part in the 2012 Benghazi Embassy attack.
*Speaker of the House, Republican John Boehner is (allegedly) considering a lawsuit against President Barack Obama for "abuse of executive privilege", when he bypassed Congress on some matters. If this happens, federal funds will be used to finance the prosecution.
*The United States has added several Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) groups to its list of known terrorist organizations.
*Actor Eli Wallach has taken his last bow on the stage of life.

The Free Choice E-zine would like to thank its loyal readership for granting us 3000+ page views for the fourth straight month!



For more news at any time, either scroll down to our IN OTHER NEWS feature at the bottom of your screen, or visit any other reputable news source.

THE PUZZLE CORNER: JUNE 28, 2014

FUN FACT
The term "blue moon" does not refer to the moon's emotional state, but when there are 2 full moons in one month, the next occurrence of which will be July of 2015!


THE LETTER SHUFFLE
Today, we are going to make some 4 letter words using only the same 3 letters each time, because one letter will get used twice in each answer.
Can you guess what the words are, based upon the clues below?

01. Another possible word for Obi.
02. Food?
03. Persian ruler.
04. Pleasant sounds.
BONUS!
Two 3 letter words can be made with the letters used above.
Do you know what they are?

THE 50/50 CHANCE
This is just like a regular TRIVIA TIME question, except there are only 2 possible answers, hence the even odds of getting it right. Ready?

True or False: There are 7 song titles, one featuring each day of the week (Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, and Saturday).

We'll reveal all next weekend. But for now, let's open THE ANSWERS BOX

NEXT?
What would be the next correct item in the following sequence?

JP, JC, JL, ____ (next?)

A lot of people guessed IZ, based upon the up and down procession of the last letter in the three given. However, the correct answer is CO, or CO'b, because the items represent previous hosts of The Tonight Show.
Jack Paar, Johnny Carson, Jay Leno, and Conan O'brien.

BEFORE AND AFTER
With two separate items sharing at least one word in common, the more erotic side of a popular medical drama would be
Fifty Shades of Grey's Anatomy.