TOO SOON! 2020 EDITION

The following is an editorial.

As usual, The Free Choice E-zine has been getting reports from our readership of Walmart and other retailers decorating for Christmas since November 1.

Besides the fact that the only acknowledgement of Thanksgiving seems to be within their respective food departments, this E-zine has given up on trying to argue with those businesses long ago.

BUT IT'S TOO SOON!

Thanksgiving this year is November 26.

While advance planning, depending upon the size of the retailer, is one thing, many businesses are actually hurting financially this year because of the pandemic, so this humble establishment decided to remain silent on the subject, until...

A reader in Rhode Island, USA has notified The Free Choice E-zine (and we have confirmed the fact) that a local radio station in their state has, at least as of Veterans' Day (November 11) switched to an ALL CHRISTMAST MUSIC FORMAT for the remainder of 2020.

THAT IS DEFINITELY TOO SOON!

Let us repeat the facts.

This editorial is posted on November 12, 2020.

Thanksgiving is November 26, still 2/TWO weeks away as I type these words.

And of course Christmas is December 25.

If this station wants to help their listeners through these troubled times, I'm all for it.

Maybe by playing more upbeat tunes within their regular "Lite Rock" format, if not charitable donations to those in need.

But Christmas music?

I am NOT saying anything against the holiday.

Only the ever growing trend of commercialism within it.

Oh well, maybe it's just me.

Then again, considering that the classic Peanuts Thanksgiving and Christmas holiday specials are now ONLY available for viewing either through DVD or by paying for the Apple+ Streaming Service...

Lee Houston, Junior

Editor-In-Chief, The Free Choice E-Zine

12 November, 2020

The above was an editorial.

SUNDAY FUNNIES: A PURR-FECTLY GOOD AFTERNOON

Hello Everybody! Piper D. Katt here and, depending upon where you are at the moment it's a beautiful day outside, which is a far cry from what some folks experience at this point in November.

The sun is shining. What birds are still in the area are singing, although most of them have already gone south for the winter.

Hmmm... I wonder if they're eligible for Frequent Flyer Miles?

In any event, it's a beautiful but lazy day. I'm enjoying a warm sunny spot on the window sill and my mind is wondering over the questions of life, the universe, and when's supper?

Such as...

According to all those commercials on television, 4 out of 5 humans suffer from something. Does that mean the fifth person actually enjoys whatever ailment they have?

If the #2 pencil is the most popular, then why is it still #2?

Why do people press the buttons on a battery operated whatever harder when they know it's time to change the batteries?

Are they trying to get one last spark out of them or something?

Why are performers "in" a movie but "on" TV?

Of course, I try to sleep on top of the TV, cable box, or DVD player and all I get is yelled at.

Why do weather forecasters always say "It's partly cloudy"?⛅

Wouldn't "Partly Sunny" ⛅be more accurate?

Do you think that out of all the inventions in the world, that the Dry Erase Board is the most remarkable?

And on that note♫ have a good week.

STAY SAFE!😷

And please be back here again next weekend for more Sunday Funnies!—PDK.

THE WEEK IN REVIEW: NOVEMBER 1-7, 2020

♫Laugh about it, shout about it, when you’ve got to choose.♫

—From Paul Simon and Art Garfunkel’s "Mrs. Robinson".

BUT LET’S NOT HAVE ANY VIOLENCE OVER IT. PLEASE?

BEWARE THE COVID-19/CORONAVIRUS!

🌀BEWARE HURRICANE ETA!🌀

AS OF 3 PM EASTERN TIME NOVEMBER 7, 2020: JOE BIDEN AND KAMALA HARRIS ARE THE PROJECTED WINNERS!😀

TRUMP IS STILL NOT CONCEDING AND THREATENING EVEN MORE LAWSUITS, WHILE GLOBAL RESPONSE TO THE NEWS FAVORS BIDEN-HARRIS.

(There are 4/FOUR separate links in this item.)

NOVEMBER 11 IS VETERANS DAY.

AM😷NGST EVENTS AROUND THE W🌍RLD THIS PAST WEEK…

*Europe, Asia... Sadly,😔 the pandemic continues around the world. (There are 2/TWO separate links in this item.)

*The latest on vaccine development.

*Some global thoughts on the American election as the votes were being counted November 5.

*Will China establish import bans against Australia???

*Palau has a new President.

*Puerto Rico may join the United States!

*Broadcasting from the Milky Way...🌌

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.

THE CLIMATE CHANGE CHRONICLES…🌐

*Trump has officially withdrawn the United States from the Paris Agreement. President-elect Biden will hopefully have the country rejoin as soon as humanly possible.

😢PASSING PARADE…

*The innocent lives lost during Hurricane Eta.

*Actor Eddie Hassell (The Kids Are All Right, Surface, more) has taken his last bow on life’s stage.

*Former professional football🏈 player Paul Crane has passed away.

*Author Rachel Caine (various works under her own name and aliases) is no longer with us.

*Noted photographer Baron Wolman has passed away.

*Actor/comedian John Sessions (Stella Street, British Whose Line Is It Anyway?, more) has taken his last bow on life’s stage.

*Actress Carol Arthur (Blazing Saddles, numerous other credits) has taken her last bow on life’s stage.

*Actress Joy Westmore (Neighbours, more) has taken her last bow on life’s stage.

*Actor Geoffrey Palmer (As Time Goes By, more) has taken his last bow on life’s stage.

*Singer Len Barry (♫1-2-3♫, ♫The Bristol Stomp♫, more) is no longer with us.

*Actress Elsa Raven (Back to the Future, Amen, Wiseguy, more) has taken her last bow on life’s stage.

*Journalist Gerald Stone (60 Minutes) has passed away.

WITHIN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA…

BEFORE THE 2020 PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION…🗹

*Illegal road blocks on the campaign trail.

*Of course Trump supports them.

*Even if they were, it wasn’t worth it.

*History repeats itself in Georgia.

*Is that a threat???

*Where will Trump spend election night???

*If Trump loses, 2024???

AS THE VOTES ARE COUNTED…🧮

*Late on November 4, there was no official winner yet. Biden was way ahead of Trump in both the popular vote and the electoral college, while the incumbent is claiming fraud and threatening legal action all the way to the Supreme Court if he isn’t declared the winner. (There are 2/TWO separate links in this item.)

*To count, or not to count???

*Intentionally trying to interfere is WRONG! (There are 2/TWO separate links in this item.)

*Let the lawsuits begin! (There are 2/TWO separate links in this item.)

*Trump shouldn’t be surprised that not every voter was on his side.

*November 6: The legal battles are NOT going Trump’s way.

*A brief look at the overall national results.

*Definitely one for the record books!

*NOVEMBER 7: With Biden-Harris the projected winners, President-elect Biden says it's time for America to "unite and heal." (There are 2/TWO separate links in this item.)

*Speculation: President Biden's possible Cabinet.

POST OFFICE DISPATCHES…

*Where are the missing votes???

*Then again, some states had a better handle on the problems Trump and his “Post Master General” tried to create than others.

POLITICALLY…

*What may happen to Trump if he loses reelection.

*Trump’s “legacy”.

*Greta Thunberg certainly isn’t a Trump fan.

😷THE US VERSUS COVID-19… (separated from the purely political news)

*The state of your state, from two different perspectives. (There are 2/TWO separate links in this item.)

*Will Hawaii’s attempted reopening be successful???

*Not something to be proud of.

IT’S FACT CHECK TIME!✅

*DON’T BELIEVE ALL THE BALLOT COUNTING MISINFORMATION!

*“Despite all the fraud, I won!”—Donald J. Trump.

*The Wisconsin tallies ARE ACCURATE!

*So are Michigan's totals!

MEANWHILE, IN CONGRESS…

*The Republican Party’s pre-election hopes for the Senate.

*Mitch McConnell may have won reelection, but the Senate Republican majority may not be as big as it used to be, depending upon the January runoffs! (There are 3/THREE separate links in this item.)

*Democrats retained control on the House of Representatives.

*Opinion: How all of this might affect Congress next January.

*Opinion: Will it now be McConnell versus Biden???

ELSEWHERE…

*Nevada officially recognizes same gender marriages.

*Editorial cartoonist Tom Toles has retired.

*Poetic justice???

*Dunkin’ Donuts has a new owner.

*The latest inductees to the National Toy Hall of Fame are...

*November 10 is the United States’ Marine Corps’ 245th Birthday.

😀AND FINALLY, SOME GOOD NEWS…

*Puerto Rico may join the United States!

THE FREE CHOICE E-ZINE WOULD LIKE TO THANK ITS LOYAL READERSHIP FOR GRANTING US 6,857 PAGE VIEWS IN OCTOBER 2020.

THE PUZZLE CORNER: NOVEMBER 7, 2020

😎FUN FACT

In Switzerland, it is illegal to own just 1 guinea pig since they are social animals who need friends.

AKA, ALSO KNOWN AS

Who do we know Oscar Diggs better as?

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: The Archies are a one hit wonder group with ♫Sugar Sugar♫.

We’ll reveal all next weekend but for now, let’s open up THE ANSWERS BOX📦 and discover the results from the October 31, 2020 Puzzle Corner.

NEXT?

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

October 2020, August 2023, June 2026….???

April 2029 as the Blue (two fulls in the same month) Moon🌕🌕 cycle continues, with the next for Halloween being October 2039!

NUMBER PLEASE

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

How many genes does the average human being have?

24,000!

ELECTION DAY 2020!

The following is an editorial.

We have no more time for talk, debate or discussion.

NOW IS THE TIME TO ACT!

If you have not done so by absentee ballot because of the COVID-19 pandemic😷 or other reason(s), PLEASE go vote TODAY!

But remember, besides the important points listed in the image on the right, ABSOLUTELY NO ONE can legally keep you from exercising your Constitutional right to vote!

The 15th Amendment prevents anyone from blocking you in regards to race.

The 19th Amendment prevents anyone from preventing your vote on the issue of gender.

The 24th Amendment still allows you to vote even if you haven't paid any "poll tax", although who is still charging this archaic fee today?

The 26th Amendment guarantees anyone at least 18 years old the opportunity to vote.

Donald Trump and his cronies have been spouting unproven claims concerning the election process for months, even to the point of interfering with both the US Postal Service AND individual states rights!

DO NOT LET ANYONE DEFILE OR UNDERMINE OUR DEMOCRACY.

GO VOTE!

The above was an editorial.

ELECTION EVE FACT CHECK TIME

The following is an editorial.

November 3 may be one of, if not THE most important American Elections in living history.

The fate of not only the next four years, but perhaps future generations as well, hinges on the outcome.

Our The Week In Review feature has been reporting the news for quite some time now, but let's go back over a few details.

ALLEGEDY SOCIAL SECURITY DOESN'T WORK AND NEEDS TO BE REPLACED WITH SOMETHING ELSE...

THE REPUBLICANS OF TODAY ALLEGEDLY SUPPORT THE WORKING CLASS AND MINORITIES.

LET'S TAKE A QUICK REVIEW OF HOW THE REPUBLICAN PARTY ACTUALLY WAS ONCE UPON A TIME, AT LEAST BEFORE RICHARD M. NIXON BECAME PRESIDENT...

SOUNDS LIKE A FAR CRY FROM THE CURRENT ACTIONS OF MITCH MCCONNELL, DONALD TRUMP, AND COMPANY TO ME.

NOTHING IS GETTING ACCOMPLISHED IN CONGRESS AND IT IS ALL ALLEGEDLY THE DEMOCRATS FAULT. WELL...

REMEMBER, MCCONNELL IS ALSO THE SENATOR WHO KEPT THEN PRESIDENT OBAMA FROM REPLACING SUPREME COURT JUSTICE SCALIA WHEN HE HAD EIGHT MONTHS LEFT IN HIS FINAL TERM BUT RUSHED AMY CONEY BARRETT THROUGH FOR TRUMP BEFORE ELECTION DAY INSTEAD OF TENDING TO MORE PRESSING MATTERS, LIKE HELPING THIS COUNTRY DEAL WITH THE PANDEMIC.

SPEAKING OF WHICH...

ALLEGEDLY THERE WAS NO ADVANCED WARNING CONCERNING ANY POSSIBLE PANDEMIC STRIKING THIS NATION, LET ALONE THE WORLD, SO NOTHING COULD BE DONE ABOUT IT.

THEN PRESIDENT OBAMA SET UP A TASK FORCE IN PREPARATION OF COMBATTING WHATEVER MIGHT ARISE, BUT THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION DISMANTLED IT AS PART OF THE REPUBLICAN PURGE OF ANYTHING POSITIVE OBAMA MANAGED TO ACCOMPLISH DURING HIS TIME IN OFFICE.

AND ON THE OFF CHANCE ANYONE IS SERIOUSLY CONSIDERING THE POSSIBLILITY OF CURRENT VICE PRESIDENT MIKE PENCE RUNNING FOR OFFICE IN 2024...

REMEMBER, PENCE IS ALSO THE MAN TRUMP PUT IN CHARGE OF HIS TASK FORCE TO STOP THE PANDEMIC AND PROTECT AMERICA.

CONSIDERING AS OF NOVEMBER 1 THERE HAVE BEEN OVER NINE MILLION CASES IN THE US WITH OVER 230,000 FATALITIES...

AND WE HAVEN'T EVEN TOUCHED UPON THE RACIAL DIVIDES, THE DOUBT TRUMP AND COMPANY ARE TRYING TO CAST ON THE ELECTION PROCESS AND OUTCOME, LET ALONE EVERYTHING ELSE THEY'VE BEEN UP TO.

PLEASE!

THIS COUNTRY, LET ALONE THE WORLD, CANNOT TAKE FOUR MORE YEARS OF AN IMCOMPETENT NARCISISTIC BIGOT AND HIS CRONIES IN CRIME.

IF YOU HAVEN'T DONE SO ALREADY, PLEASE VOTE FOR JOE BIDEN AND KAMALA HARRIS, LET ALONE EVERY DEMOCRAT ON YOUR BALLOT NOVEMBER 3.

NOT ONLY FOR YOURSELF AND OTHERS, BUT FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS AS WELL.    

The above was an editorial.

SUNDAY FUNNIES: NET WORTH?

Hello Everybody! Autumn the Puppy here!

Now with the {censored} pandemic😷 not only still in full swing, but apparently getting worse in some areas as winter approaches (and I bet you that George R. R. Martin never foresaw a winter THIS bad 😉) a lot of people are wisely not only wearing their masks and taking other viable precautions but social distancing too.

A major way everyone stays in touch under these trying times is through the Internet. Of course, this has led to all kinds of issues. For example...

Some people think Auto Correct involves fixing cars!

Of course those who have more experience with it think Auto Correct is their worst enema and the program can go straight to He'll...

You have to be VERY careful when choosing passwords.

Any password should have both Capital and smaller case letters as well as numbers and maybe even a punctuation mark or two where applicable.

Allen Ludden used to be great at passwords and if you don't believe me, look him up.

Meanwhile you also want to make any password something you can always remember (so if you have to write it down, be sure only you know where that is hidden), but you don't want to make it too easy, like: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5.

Of course something more obvious like BEEF STEW isn't stroganoff.

As nice as it would be, Instagram is NOT having your mother's mother on speed dial.

Why did the Power Point presentation cross the road?

To get to the other slide!

OOPS! Wrong mouse!

Did the guy at the keyboard factory get fired for not putting in enough shifts?

Does an experienced Outlook user Excel at the program?

Are monkeys who share an Amazon account Prime mates?😉

You know you're texting too much when your phone celebrates you going to bed for the night!

Don't you hate it when the gadget is smarter than its user?

And on that note♫, have a great week everybody!

Take care. STAY SAFE! 😷

And please be back here again next weekend for more Sunday Funnies!—AtP.