Yamulkas in Berlin 1:30

However disagreeable the phenomenon may seem at moments of sensitivity it is seldom more than trivial. The dislike of Jews was a ready way for WASP literati to identify themselves with the great tradition. Besides, it is something like a hereditary option for non-Jews to exercise at a certain moment when they discover that they have a born right to decide whether they are for the Jews or against them. (Jews have no such right.)-Saul Bellow as quoted from the Jewish Literary Review

  Tevye Reads the Psalms Shalom Alechiem (1914 - 1916)

The Plain Facts

1. Length:6 pages 
2. Genre:Yiddish Old Country Tales
3. Characters:Tevye speaks to Shalom Aleichem.
4. Setting: a little village where Tevye lives. 

So, what's It About Man?

Tevye reads the psalms and reflects on the state of the Jewish People.  A people still in exile.   Tevye is speaking to Shalom Aleichem, and Shalom Aleichem is writing down the words.   I can envision a little imp like man, with a round belly, speaking in time with Fiddler on the Roof: If I were A Rich Man. This was the last Tevye story written.

Quoted on Food

“There’s an organic grocery store just off the highway exit. I can’t remember the last time I went
shopping for food.” A smile glittered in his eyes. “I might have gone overboard.”
I walked into the kitchen, with gleaming stainless-steel appliances, black granite countertops, and
walnut cabinetry. Very masculine, very sleek. I went for the fridge first. Water bottles, spinach and
arugula, mushrooms, gingerroot, Gorgonzola and feta cheeses, natural peanut butter, and milk on
one side. Hot dogs, cold cuts, Coke, chocolate pudding cups, and canned whipped cream on the
other. I tried to picture Patch pushing a shopping cart down the aisle, tossing in food as it pleased
him. It was all I could do to keep a straight face.”
― Becca Fitzpatrick, Silence

The Masculine Principle (1950)

The Plain Facts

1. Length:15 pages


2. Genre:Irish Literature




3. Characters:
   
   
   
   • Myles Reilly: a building contractor who wants to discuss things instead of work.
   
   
   
   
   • .




4. Setting:County Cork Ireland

So, what's It About Man?

We find a schism between religion, Catholic v. Protestant.  The story is a love story between Catholics and Protestants.  O'Connor examines what religion can do to a girl and a boy when the schism lands them in no man's land.  Also shows that religion with out the gospel are Sunday Morning Arguments.


Warning: Spoilers Ahead

Innagural Winter Short Stories Festival 8:27

Father Frost a Russian Fairy Tale:
Fairy Tales are dark things.  They tell us of a subteranean darkness.  This story is similar to the little match girl, in that it shows the need to protect youth from the adult mean world.

Deserted by her father, the poor girl sat down under a fir-tree at the edge of the forest and began to weep silently. Suddenly she heard a faint sound: it was King Frost springing from tree to tree, and cracking his fingers as he went. At length he reached the fir-tree beneath which she was sitting, and with a crisp crackling sound he alighted beside her, and looked at her lovely face.

I was listening to the Schnitt-Show yesterday, and he was talking about a teacher who told her elementary class that Santa was not real.   This is not her job.  Her job is to allow the children to be formed by their parents, and allow these parents to celebrate the miracle of St. Nick.  A teacher should protect her students from the cynical adult world.  The only cure from the icing of ones heart is to embrace the myth.  The Father Frost story ends with a warning about what happens when adults keep the warmth of home away from their children.

"At that moment the door flew open, and she rushed out to meet her daughter, and as she took her frozen body in her arms she too was chilled to death."

Innagural Winter Short Stories Festival 7:27

The Christmas Gift that Came to Rupert by Brette Harte

Little drummer boy,
beats on his drum, announcing the
arrival of Christmas.

Innagural Winter Short Stories Festival 5:27

Our Lady's Juggler is another story about the gifts we give to others.

Unfortunately, this is not a sound recording yet, but hopefully this will change as this is a public domain story, so here it is in its written form. 

Innagural Winter Short Stories Festival 4:27

Yes Virginia There is a Santa Clause by Francis Pharcellus Church the classic story about the truth of Santa Clause.  I was read this statement when doubts were creeping in,  and appreciated everything it answered for me.   I hope you take time to read, or have this read to your children during this year 2011.   This statement, is great for children ages 6-10 who are starting to ask, "Is Santa Real?"

Innagural Winter Short Stories Festival 3:27

The Fir Tree by Hans Christian Andersen is a story of what it means to be young and to yearn to be taller, greater, and statelier.   A lonely tree compares his boughs to others and finds them lacking.   But is the tree really lacking anything this Christmas season?  The Fir Tree by Hans Christian Anderson.

Innaguarl Winter Short Stories Festival 2:27

Who would want to kidnap Santa Clause?  Will the old demons of wanton behavior be able to upset the kids on Christmas?  Will the Spirit of Christmas prevail, find out in the Kidnapped Santa Clause by L. Frank Baum.  L. Frank Baum "The Kidnapped Santa Clause"

Innaguarl Christmas Short Stories Festival 1:27

We begin the Christmas Short Story Festival Year One 2011, with the master of the Christmas stories, Charles Dickens: The Haunted House by Charles Dickens.(Listen to on Libri Vox)

Summary

The most haunted house is haunted most by our past experiences.  Or do ghosts really haunt the house?  This question is answered in the story, The Haunted House.  A remembrance of friends and family together again.
Not included on the Libri Vox recording was the second part of The Haunted House by Charles Dickens, titled The Ghost in Master B.'s Room.  The first part dealt with the outer ghosts that may haunt us this Christmas; the second part deals with the inner parts that may haunt us during the holiday, that we are the thing that is to be afraid, that we are in care of a skeleton as a mortal companion.

Crops: Breaking the Thigh Bone (Revised 01.05.2011)

art work by Cynthia Rothbard
go visit her site at Cynthia's Botanical Arts

Charlotte bought the lottery ticket, holding it in her hands, uttering deep frustration, "Christ Jesus my back hurts."
She held the ticket in her hand, she had bought many tickets before this one,  her husband had told her too many times(he stopped counting): he constantly dripped a nagging persistent hiss, "Stop Buying those Damn tickets!"

But this one could be the one, she feared finding out, "Christ Jesus Christ Jesus Christ Jesus!" Charlotte held her back this time and slouched over.   Her apron hung losely. "Christ Jesus Christ Jesus, I am sooo tired!"  Christ Jesus-Christ Jesus.


She heard her name announced on the store wide intercom.

Ms. Charlotte to the deli, Ms. Charlotte to the deli.



Her name was called out like a brick thrown at her head, she wished they would stop calling her name....she became angry and imagined her hands breaking the heads off of Barbie Dolls.

Ghost Stories

Happy October... one week away from Halloween.  This is a week of Ghost Stories to tickle your inner ghosts.... or read around a campfire.  They are all short and will all be able to tickle that scary bone inside of you... 

We will begin with the story by M.R. James...

1. M.R. James "Oh Wistle And I'll Come You My Lad"  
2. Check Out this Website: Horror Masters 
3. Irving S. Cobb Fish Head
4. on H.P. Lovecraft by Joyce Carol Oates
5. H.P. Lovecraft Stories