Once upon a time there was a matchstick factory. It was not huge, nor had it ever been very profitable. But it was the only large employer in the village, and each family depended on having at least one person work in the factory and come home with a steady income. They had already lost […]
Lemme tell ya the story of our little Maribelle. Maribelle was one happy gal. She hung out all day with her family and her friends, enjoyin the warm sunshine. She could eat nice food whenever she wanted. She was allowed to sleep as long as she wanted. And the livin was easy. It was good […]
Once upon a time there was a successful leader. He had an important role in the management of a huge fair. Every other week or so, the halls were emptied of the booths of the previous fair, and the showcases and stands for the next one were moved in. It was an incredible achievement, and […]
Dear Granny. I hope this finds you well. Such a lot has happened here in the village, and I am so happy that we’ve been spared the worst and all is well, and who would have thought that? This year Dad was elected to the village council. It’s a Great Honour for the whole family. […]
Once upon a time there was a successful leader. Each day on his way from the metro to the office, he passed under a bridge where homeless people were seeking shelter from the rain and the cold. Every now and then he would give them something. One day, a particuarly old and scruffy woman walked […]
In the time when the Abbasid Caliphs ruled in the Orient, there lived in Baghdad a successful high-ranking secretary. He was reputed for being utterly incorruptible. Whenever he was put under pressure, he did what was right according to his best knowledge, and his own values. Sometimes powerful generals, and even the Vizier or the Caliph […]
During the 60’s of the last century, I was part of the young and enthusiastic crowd that went out to Silicon Valley, attracted by its brew of avant-garde technological brainpower, laid-back, anti-establishment coolness, and bold entrepreneurship. Although, to be honest, the most important attraction to us was probably the prospect of not being frowned upon […]
Once upon a time there was a dwarf. Together with his numerous colleagues, he spent all his working life exploiting a large gold mine. Since dwarfs are a very competitive bunch, over time they had developed a system which did justice to their nature. Every dwarf had his own gallery assigned to him, and exploited […]
Once upon a time in ancient Japan there lived a samurai. When the time had come to retire from warfare, he was put in charge of the protection and government of several villages. One day, he went for a long walk in the mountains. He climbed up a steep hill, and when he sat down […]