Priceless Humor on the Net

Stories have been told and retold for centuries throughout the world. How come? For one thing, they are entertaining. Another reason is that they deal with the human condition, one way or another. Even stories using animals as characters reflect the situations and actions of our species.

The struggles of life have been with us for centuries as well. Conflict. Pestilence. Relationship scuffles. All of which beg for some direction, some assistance. Some kind of resolution.

Needless to say, no one cares to listen to preaching. We prefer to take our medicine with a bit of sweetener. That is where laughter comes in. Humor makes a hard message a bit easier to swallow. Priceless humor is filled with wit and wisdom. An awesome blend of entertainment and enlightenment.

As you know, laughter lightens the heart. Laughter takes the sting out of life. And as long as we are laughing at the foibles of others (and not ourselves) we find those situations funny. This is priceless humor.

Look at the great humorists around us. Art Buchwald. Mark Russell. Garrison Kiellor. Look at history and the humorists that litter the pages. Mark Twain Henry Fielding All of them were storytellers. Painting scenes with priceless humor.

Priceless humor... what makes it priceless? There is a simple answer to this question. Priceless humor revolves about common everyday experiences. The lost keys. The misunderstood comment. The laughable consequences generally follow in quick succession.

The world of urban folktales is a rich source of priceless humor. Listeners can readily find many humorous circumstances in my CD Parking in Manhattan. These hilarious comedies involve characters everybody can relate to and empathasize with. Priceless humor arises out of priceless situations.

World stories also capitalize on priceless humor. These stories always bring gales of laughter when they are told. Two good examples from my CD Fables in Four Minutes are "Rock Soup" and "Herschel in the Woods" Listen to "The Egg Seller" or "Hickory Dock" from World Full of Stories. These are just a few examples of priceless humor. You will find yourself remembering these stories for a very long time. You can find priceless humor and more at www.jaystetzer.com.

I listen to lots of conversations. They are laden with disasters and catastrophes. And the life lessons are generally hidden from view. As a storyteller, my job is to sift through the data and sort out the meaning. Also, I need to inject a bit of humor to make the tale palatable. Making the story priceless with priceless humor!

Virtually every storytelling genre contains examples of priceless humor. What is the reason for it? Simple answer number two. We learn best when we are laughing. A story with priceless humor often comes with a lesson attached. Priceless humor is... priceless!

Looking for Nifty Stories?

As a kid, I overheard my older brothers using the word "nifty" when referring to a cool car or a great suit of clothes. It alluded to the uniqueness and stylishness of the subject being described. As time passed, I heard the word used in a wider range of conversations, including nifty evenings out, nifty concerts, and nifty songs. Later still, it cropped up in conversations about more "cultural" experiences: nifty books, nifty poems, and nifty stories.

The word seemed allusively defined, yet attractively so. Still, I did not really define the word until I found myself using it to refer to the stories I tell to audiences and on recordings. Actually, I hit the books when a listener said my stories were nifty. The current Wiktionary defines the word as "good; a general term for anything that is good, useful or beneficial." A thesaurus gives synonyms such as "peachy, smashing, dandy, great, keen, and groovy," all of which strike me as exchanging one jargon term for another!"

What was my listener describing when he called my stories "nifty?" The stories I tell always have a message, a lesson, a bit of perspective, and they are, indeed, particularly good and rather effective at making their point. To me, nifty stories are a blend of entertainment and education, or what some call "edutainment." I look for stories with certain underlying values that help the listener to set their internal compass when sailing through life.

Any story with a moral at the end sends the listener a clear message. It teaches using a concrete example. However, the lessons in many other stories may not be as obvious. The meaning is hidden in the actions of the characters. It is up to the listener to decipher the message. And different listeners will carry away different messages. This kind of story is generally attractive to a wider audience. The subtler lessons tend to come from longer tales. Epic stories have many layered lessons Think of the difference between an Aesop fable and a tale from the Arabian Nights. Which one gives you more freedom to choose your own message? Personally, I like to find my own message when listening to a story. The stories I chose for my Fables in Four Minutes and World Full of Stories CDs are good examples of nifty stories with subtle messages.

Nifty stories are stories that teach. Nifty stories appeal to a broad audience. Nifty stories carry a message that applies to all people. Nifty stories are always in vogue. Stories such as these hold the listener's attention long enough to send their message effectively. Any stories of worth are nifty stories.

Seeking Some Inspiration from Inspirational Stories?

I am always on the lookout for stories that bring something more to listeners than a clever twist of plot. Something that the listener can relate to. Call it a message. It might give the listener a suggestion of a new direction. It might even state a moral. It doesn't really matter what name you give to this elusive quality; it is more important that the stories I tell possess it.

As a child I found deep meaning in inspirational stories. I heard similar stories from my mother and my grandfather. Occasionally a teacher would tell a story that meant a great deal to me. I noticed that stories with a message stuck in my memory. The messages stuck in the memory, too. Treat others the way you want to be treated. Honesty is the best policy. Take time to smell the flowers. Community giving is part of community living. I am who I am because of those messages.

I find myself using stories I heard long ago when I perform today. The stories are ageless. The messages are as relevant now as they were long ago.

Why seek out inspirational stories? For one thing, we experience a deluge of information and news on a daily basis. Next, we live lives that leave no room for reflection. And without time to reflect, how can we develop insight into the affairs of the day? Here is the place for inspirational stories. Inspirational stories give listeners something to chew on. They offer something to think about. Something that helps us to find our personal "true north. Something that offers a little perspective to life.

Care for some inspiration? You can find inspirational stories and more at www.jaystetzer.com. On the "Listen" page of my website, click any one of the story samples and you are likely to find a message worth your time. "The Egg Seller" and "Herschel and the Wedding" from the World Full of Stories CD are good examples of inspirational stories. From the CD Parking in Manhattan, "Service with a Smile" brings a great message to the listener. Long after they are told, inspirational stories stay in the memory. I am even inspired by the inspirational stories I tell!

We live in a complex, fast moving world. As we head on down the highway of life, we can all use a little direction to guide us. Inspirational stories help keep us on the road. Think of them as your own personal GPS! My recordings contain a wealth of inspirational stories. Listen for yourself!

What Makes World Stories?

For as long as humans could talk throughout the world stories have been told and retold. In the fabric of a culture, they act as vital threads in the weave. In any society they define the roots and significance of the peoples. As a culture grows, so do its world stories.

I have been blessed by the number of world stories I have found from my travels around the world. I have also had the opportunity to learn a bit about each country. Customs and rituals. Daily habits and geography. In turn, that lends substantial meaning to the world stories I hear. And one of the benefits is to see how world stories come directly from the cultures of origin. The more I experience a particular culture, the more I appreciate the value of their stories. I have visited countries in Europe, Central and South America, throughout Canada, the United States, and Southeast Asia. I find myself amazed at both the differences and similarities of the various countries.

All cultures regard certain notions as sacred. You can also find things demonic. Their stories regularly exhibit these notions. They make up the mythical soil out of which the stories grow. Myth forms the basis for many world stories. Creation stories form the majority of this category, along with other stories help explain the world.

Folktales, on the other hand, are generated from daily village life. Naturally, stories of the folk world are couched in rural settings. The world of folktales is also inhabited by fairy tales. The questioning minds of preliterate villagers found apt expression through stories of magic and mystery. Many folktales were cautionary tales with lessons for avoiding catastrophe. Stay out of the dark forest! Steer clear of wild beasts! Do not talk to strangers! On the other hand, reward and happy endings comprise many folktales. Good and evil are eternal foes. The Golden Rule reigns supreme. No matter what the genre, a good world story brings meaning to the contemporary world as well. And that brings us to storytelling today. Contemporary society is far removed from rural villages of old, but the old stories still remain pertinent.

Some world stories are humorous. Other world stories are mysterious. Many world stories are full of insight. Often world stories are inscrutable. Generally world stories teach. All world stories keep us amused.

No matter what, all world stories maintain a deep bond with the fabric of their culture. People tell of their experiences through world stories. And they have merit in worlds far removed from their origin.

Listen to my CD entitled "World Full of Stories" to enjoy the variety found in world stories. It is an award winning journey that will take you around the globe!

Want a Unique Gift Children will Remember?

I have many memories of my life as a young parent. Some of them are downright exasperating! A good example is the memories I have of buying gifts for my children. Holiday gifts. Birthday gifts. Gifts rewarding good behavior. I spent some serious hours searching for something unique, something meaningful. It was tough going most of the time. It did not take very long to realize that a good gift is rare gift. A meaningful gift is even rarer. And whenever I succeeded in finding a gift that I regarded as special, I treasured it. And I anticipated that my children would do the same.

I am now a grandparent. And I am always on the lookout for a unique gift children would enjoy. Something that is memorable long after the gift is given. A memorable story is that kind of gift. And it is appropriate for all ages, children included. Think of all the pleasurable hours an entire CD of stories can provide. Think of the glimpse it can give into cultures and customs from countries around the world.

You can find three CDs listed on the "Recordings" page of my website. Fables in Four Minutes contains ten wonderful stories from ten different storytelling genres. World Full of Stories has a dozen stories that will take the listeners on a trip around the world. My latest project is Parking in Manhattan, and it contains a compendium of urban folktales that will tickle the funny bone. If you wish to make a purchase of one or more CDs, the directions on the "Recordings" page will assist you.

Hunting for a unique gift children will enjoy and appreciate? A unique gift children will never get tired of? A unique gift children can share with their parents and friends? Give them the gift of story. The kind of unique gift children will treasure for a long time to come.

The Perfect Ecard Made Possible With Blue Mountain Cards

The electronic greeting card industry is indeed very well known. Ecards became a major trend sometime in the 1990s and has remained just as popular. The ecard era has arrived big time! Gone are the days when people would stand in a queue miles long to purchase a card for It seems way long ago that scores would flock to the card store to buy a greeting for those important moments. But when the electronic greeting cards became a craze, people assumed that this could hardly be a wise business idea. Giving away ecards was indeed a curious business model. Inviting people to move beyond the time honored custom of giving and receiving paper cards was easier said than done. In essence the community attuned to giving away the classic paper cards needed to look ahead to a more technological way of doing the same thing.

If you are one of those searching for the perfect ecard that just about surmises all that you have in mind, you just came to the right place.
Blue Mountain Cards makes it all happen. If you are talking about ecards you know Blue Mountain Cards will have to come up sometime. So exactly where does Blue Mountain Cards figure in the ecard niche? To put it simply these are the very people who have been making waves in this industry from the time ecards became the in thing to do. Ever since its inception, Blue Mountain Cards have remained the major player in the ecard market. Indeed the astounding success of the ecard industry particularly Blue Mountain Cards seemed remarkable indeed.

Blue Mountain Cards has expanded to be the leading ecard provider, and has remained on top for over 15 years. And the most delightful thing about Blue Mountain Cards is not their business achievements at all. With Blue Mountain Cards, it really is up to you, the user, to design the card that fits your needs to a T. With Blue Mountain Cards making the right card is piece of cake. You can now customize everything about the card, from its content to the color and even the pictures. Creating an endearing ecard for your beloved or even a charming one for your mom is just a click away. Make your unique Blue Mountain ecard for that special someone now!

Finding a Unique Gift Children will Cherish

I am a parent and a grandparent. And I am always on the lookout for a unique gift children could enjoy. Something that will last far beyond the moment of giving. A memorable story is that kind of gift. And it is suitable for children of all ages. A CD full of stories will provide hours of pleasure. Think of the glimpse it can give into cultures and customs from countries around the world. click here.



My "Recordings" page on this website lists three story CDs. Fables in Four Minutes contains ten wonderful stories from ten different storytelling genres. For listeners who want to take a virtual trip around the world, World Full of Stories makes a unique present. Parking in Manhattan, my latest project, represents a compendium of hilarious urban folktales, all of them sounding as though they really happened! If you wish to make a purchase of one or more CDs, the directions on the "Recordings" page will assist you.



Hunting for a unique gift children will enjoy and appreciate? A unique gift children will never get tired of? A unique gift children can share with their parents and friends? A memorable gift is the gift of story. It is a unique gift children will cherish for the rest of their lives!

Looking for Nifty Stories?

When I was a kid, I often heard the word "nifty" in reference to things like fancy cars and outrageous fashion. It alluded to the uniqueness and stylishness of the subject being described. As time passed, I heard the word used in a wider range of conversations, including nifty evenings out, nifty concerts, and nifty songs. Later still, it cropped up in conversations about more "cultural" experiences: nifty books, nifty poems, and nifty stories.

Whenever I heard the word I assumed it meant something good, something attractive. Still, I did not really define the word until I found myself using it to refer to the stories I tell to audiences and on recordings. Actually, it was a listener who called my material "nifty stories," and that comment sent me to the books. The Merriam/Webster Dictionary definition states: "very good, very attractive," etymology unknown, originally used in 1865. A thesaurus gives synonyms such as "peachy, smashing, dandy, great, keen, and groovy," all of which strike me as exchanging one jargon term for another!"



What's so nifty about my stories? The stories I tell always have a message, a lesson, a bit of perspective, and they are, indeed, particularly good and rather effective at making their point. You could say that my idea of stories that are nifty are ones that entertain as well as enlighten. I look for stories with certain underlying values that help the listener to set their internal compass when sailing through life.



Nifty stories are stories that teach. Nifty stories are memorable. Nifty stories carry a message that applies to all people. Nifty stories are always in vogue. These stories are naturally very attractive. Nifty stories are a treasure! You can find great nifty stories on www.Jaystetzer.com Short stories