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#fc188 We triple-dog-dare you to find a better depiction of the holidays. When “A Christmas Story ” premiered in 1983, screenwriter Jean Shepherd pulled antidotes from his own life to create the Christmas comedy — including the infamous leg lamp. And Quentin Schultze, the author of “ You’ll Shoot Your Eye Out! Life Lessons from the Movie “A Christmas Story ,” taught storytelling with Shepherd, leading the pair to become fast friends. From their time together, Schultze gained a deeper insight into the holiday classic — and it turns out it was a rocky start for the late screenwriter, who died at 78 in 1999. “Jean Shepherd wrote scripts that he wanted done exactly the way he wrote them,” Schultze exclusively told The Post. “And I have a copy of [the] script the way he wrote it, and it’s almost twice as long as it needs to be for a 90-minute film. So, he was at constant loggerheads with the director, Bob Clark, over this.” The author continued, “So the stuff is getting cut, and Jean Shepherd is getting angrier and angrier about this and at the same time, at the shooting, Jean is going to the actors and telling them how to deliver their lines in tune with the parables.” Clark, who died in 2007 at age 67, had eventually had enough. “Finally, Bob Clark literally kicked him off the set,” Schultze shared. “He said, ‘You cannot be here anymore. I can’t make this film with you hanging around.’ That hurt Jean. But, Jean understood it because he was there telling the characters how to act, including Ralphie [played by Peter Billingsley].” There was also one scene in particular that got the axe. “I can think of a lot of the material that Bob Clark took out, both from the script and actually shooting scenes. Whole scenes that they shot that they took out. Including two more dream scenes,” Schultze revealed. Another interesting twist at the start of making “A Christmas Story” is that Jack Nicholson was originally supposed to be casted. “The studio wanted Nicholson to play the old man,” Schultze confessed. “And Nicholson was too expensive, this was not a high-budget film, and at the same time, both Jean Shepherd and the director Bob Clark, both of them said, ‘We don’t want Jack Nicholson anyway.'” And Schultze couldn’t help but agree. “I can’t think of Jack Nicholson having the kind of heartwarming yet curmudgeonly character,” he said. “Maybe he could, but Darren McGavin, it was perfect casting.” Although the studio said no more than 90 minutes and Clark had to give Shepherd the boot, the life lessons still shined brightly in the film. While writing his book about the Christmas classic, this stuck out to Schultze the most. “What surprised me the most was how well Shepherd was able to get in the meaning of each life lesson,” he reflected. “If you don’t just look at the movie and what’s happening and what the characters say, but if you pay attention to what the older Ralphie is saying, he gives away the lessons.” “That was the technique that Jean used because if you say, ‘Well, the meaning of this story is,’ it doesn’t quite work. So you want the story to work on the entertainment level but then to add the overview — line after line.” Regarding which lines stuck out to Schultze the most, he shared, “Jean has the line about the old man wanting to put the lamp in the window to turn on the neighborhood. “OK, well, it’s a double meaning. Obviously, you turn on the light. Turn on the neighborhood — that sexual connotation there is extremely important to understand that leg lamp as a trophy wife.” Shepherd was a master at interweaving themes into the script and characters from his own life. “The old man in the movie is not real warm and fuzzy with Ralphie,” Schultze emphasized. “He’s not cold, he’s not nasty, he’s not abusive, but he doesn’t call Ralphie by name, and he doesn’t do all kinds of things. He’s kind of distant.” He shared that this reflected someone in Shepherd’s childhood. “Jean said to me that, along with the leg lamp, he said, ‘Well Quinn, my old man abandoned us.’ I said, ‘What?’ He said, ‘Yeah, he was never around anyways,'” Schultze began. “He was always out with women, didn’t come home at night a lot of the time,” Schultze recalled Shepherd saying. “One day, the old man came home from work, and Jean watched while his dad started packing up his suitcase, and his dad said, ‘You’ll understand when you grow up, kid.’ Finishes packing up his suitcase, and Jean watches as his father goes down the front steps of the house and gets in a convertible with his secretary from work and leaves and never comes home. Jean never saw him again.” That is something that plays into the roles of the old man and Ralphie’s mom. “When you think about what can shape somebody’s view, for example, the difference between male and female,” Schultze mused, “and his mom had to raise him and take care of everything. I think that single event in his life shaped his view of what men are or can be like more than anything else.” And with a script written with that much emotion, it’s no surprise that “A Christmas Story” has stood the test of time. “If you go online and you look at most-watched movies and then you narrow it down by year, what you see is ‘A Christmas Story’ has gone up and up and up,” said Schultze. “Right now, the reports are that between the two cable channels alone that carry it 24 hours, it is up over 50 million American adults seeing it a year, and that’s continuing to go up.” “I got to know the screenwriter just before the movie came out,” Schultze reflected, “because I wanted to learn how to teach storytelling, and I had heard about him and heard some of his radio shows, and then the film came out, and it bombed at the box office.” “And I had all these notes from teaching with Shepherd, and I thought, ‘Someday, maybe I’ll write something about this because these parables, it’s these stories that have a deeper meaning.’ But I thought, ‘Nah, the movie’s never going to go anywhere.’ I thought it should but it bombed in the box office.” But, of course, running it 24 hours a day and the VCR stores stocking the film helped its success. “It’s all this charm,” Schultze told the Post. “It’s multi-genre, and it’s great characters.”How Christmas gifts could make Aussies $1 billion

WASHINGTON (AP) — President-elect Donald Trump has named billionaire investment banker Warren Stephens as his envoy to Britain, a prestigious posting for the Republican donor whose contributions this year included $2 million to a Trump-backing super PAC. Trump, in a post on his Truth Social site Monday evening, announced he was selecting Stephens to be the U.S. ambassador to the Court of Saint James. The Senate is required to confirm the choice. Javascript is required for you to be able to read premium content. Please enable it in your browser settings.WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. (AP) — It wasn’t how Duke drew up the final play, but it worked out perfect for the Blue Devils in Saturday’s 23-17 victory over Wake Forest. Maalik Murphy threw a 39-yard touchdown pass to Jordan Moore as time expired, allowing Duke to end the regular season with three consecutive victories. Murphy said he realized he took too long to make a decision after the last snap. “I knew at that point I had to make a play,” he said. “The damage was already done, time was ticking.” With the score tied at 17, the Blue Devils (9-3, 5-3 Atlantic Coast Conference) moved 76 yards in 1:22 after forcing a Wake Forest punt. It appeared that Duke might run out of time in the slow-developing play, but Moore improvised and broke free along the right side, caught the ball at the 10-yard line and spun into the end zone to complete a comeback from 14 points down in the second half. “The play that Maalik and Jordan put together was magical,” Duke coach Manny Diaz said. “Nobody thought a 5-yard route would turn into a (long) touchdown.” So instead of a long field-goal attempt, Duke had something better. “I just decided to take it down the field,” Moore said. “I think that’s a testament to our chemistry. ... Maalik had the confidence in himself to make that kind of play.” It resulted in Duke’s sixth victory by seven points or less. “It’s like a perfect exclamation point to our season,” Diaz said. “An unbelievable way to finish our season.” Murphy racked up with 235 yards on 26-for-34 passing. Moore, who was down with an injury after a reception earlier in the second half, made five catches for 98 yards. Hank Bachmeier threw for 207 yards and a touchdown as Wake Forest (4-8, 2-6) ended its second straight four-win season with a four-game losing streak. “A heartbreaking loss,” Demon Deacons coach Dave Clawson said. “It’s a tough way to lose a game and a tough way to end the season.” Tate Carey’s 8-yard run, Matthew Dennis’ 37-yard field goal and Horatio Fields’ 9-yard reception across 11 minutes of game time gave Wake Forest a 17-3 lead with nine minutes left in the third quarter. Duke took advantage of a short field following a punt, moving 42 yards in four plays to score on Star Thomas’ 3-yard run. The Blue Devils recovered a fumble on the ensuing kickoff and converted on Murphy’s 2-yard run with 12:57 left to pull even. “What has been proven is that we’re mentally tough,” Diaz said. “We’re not going to do everything perfect.” Taylor Morin became Wake Forest’s all-time leader in receiving yards with 2,974. He picked up 47 yards on eight catches on Saturday. Morin, in his fifth season, passed former NFL player Ricky Proehl, who had 2,929 yards in the late 1980s. Duke: The Blue Devils have secured at least a nine-win season for the second time in three seasons, this one coming in Diaz’s first season. They racked up a 4-0 record against in-state opponents, including comebacks to top North Carolina and Wake Forest. “Every quest that we have for championships starts in our own state,” Diaz said. Wake Forest: The Demon Deacons punted on their final three possessions of the season. They finished with a 1-6 record in home games. “It’s been a tough year, a long year, and I’m proud of our team and how hard they fought,” Clawson said. Duke: Awaits a bowl invitation Wake Forest: Enters the offseason with a losing record for the third time in five seasons. Get poll alerts and updates on the AP Top 25 throughout the season. Sign up here . AP college football: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-football-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/college-footballSupport our high school sports coverage by becoming a digital subscriber. Subscribe now Scores and stats from Orange County games on Saturday, Nov. 30 Click here for details about sending your team’s scores and stats to the Register. The deadline for submitting information is 10:45 p.m. Monday through Friday and 10 p.m. Saturday . SATURDAY’S SCORES BOYS BASKETBALL RANCHO ALAMITOS TOURNAMENT Rancho Alamitos 56, Montclair 41 NONLEAGUE Sunny Hills 62, Laguna Beach 41

Taylor Swift makes surprise visit to Kansas City children’s hospital

Every year, authors pump out a library's worth of incredible new books. But only some of them boast a uniquely Philly flavor. Find the perfect new novel for the Philadelphia bookworm on your holiday shopping list with one of these titles from local writers. Whether your loved one likes cooking, gardening or murder (mystery), the city's literary scene has them covered. All of these books debuted in 2024, so hopefully they haven't blazed through the entire stack yet. Housemates Come and Get It Kiley Reid’s debut novel “Such a Fun Age” satirized white liberal guilt in the City of Brotherly Love. The former Fishtown resident’s latest, “Come and Get It,” changes scenery, but it’s no less biting. The story focuses on three characters at the University of Arkansas, all reeling from a personal disaster or hurtling toward a new one. Deliciously petty and surprisingly gutting, the book is largely focused on young people’s relationship with money — and their obsession with how their peers are spending it, no matter how politely they protest. Buy it here. Kalaya's Southern Thai Kitchen This is a great pick for the home cook in your life — or the person who looks for any excuse to stop by the popular Fishtown restaurant of the same name. Chef Nok Suntaranon shares recipes she loves to make in her own Queen Village kitchen, from staples like her mother's curry paste to more complicated dishes such as her tom yum soup. Buy it here. Desperately Seeking Something Susan Seidelman directed “Desperately Seeking Susan,” “She-Devil” and “Smithereens” at a time when very few women were helming major movies. But before that, she was just a wild child of Philadelphia, sneaking out of school to dance at Jerry Blavat parties. The filmmaker recounts it all in her memoir, which also touches on her pivotal role in the HBO hit “Sex and the City.” Buy it here. The God of the Woods While Liz Moore's last book dove into the city's opioid crisis, "The God of the Woods" is set at a 1970s summer camp in the Adirondacks. Part murder mystery, part social class commentary, it's a gripping page-turner, deliciously immersive and feels as cozy as a ghost story told around a campfire. Buy it here. Women of Good Fortune You’ve heard of bank heists, art heists and casino heists...but what about wedding heists? In “Women of Good Fortune,” a Shanghai bride schemes to rip off her own nuptials with her two best friends. The book is the first novel by Penn student Sophie Wan. Buy it here. Private Gardens of Philadelphia As your resident green-thumbed loved one tucks their plants in for the winter, this 2024 release is a great way to tide them over until spring. Find local lore on the historical significance of Philly gardening and dreamy landscapes in this book that sits perfectly atop a coffee table for holiday guests. Buy it here. I Am Maroon Russell Shoatz escaped Pennsylvania prisons not once but twice, leading law enforcement on an almost monthlong manhunt. His remarkable life — nearly 50 years of which was spent behind bars — is captured in “I Am Maroon,” a posthumous memoir co-authored with Kanya D'Almeida. The pair delve into the Black liberation movement in Philadelphia in the ‘60s and ‘70s, chronicling Shoatz’s time organizing and collaborating with the Black Panthers, and his experiences in the carceral system. Buy it here. The Sicilian Inheritance Combine equal parts historical fiction and whodunit with a dash of post-divorce travel romp and you have “The Sicilian Inheritance.” The novel was loosely inspired by a murder in author Jo Piazza’s own family, which she investigated for a podcast series. The fictionalized version follows recently single mom Sera on a journey to Italy to claim a family property and figure out what happened to her grandmother when the rest of the family moved to America. Buy it here. You Didn't Hear This from Me So, technically, this is a preorder, but your friend who always has tea to spill would be grateful for this one nonetheless. "Normal Gossip" host Kelsey McKinney's essay collection covers the social role of gossip, from parasocial relationships to AI to whether the "Epic of Gilgamesh," a 4,000-year-old poem, might have started as a rumor. Buy it here. Follow Kristin & PhillyVoice on Twitter: @kristin_hunt | @thePhillyVoice Like us on Facebook: PhillyVoice Have a news tip ? Let us know.Chargers will be without top RB Dobbins and could lean on QB Herbert against FalconsStoli vodka files for bankruptcy in the United States

Trump names billionaire investment banker Warren Stephens as his envoy to Britain

Trump tariffs threaten to crack open North American economiesWorld News | California Residents on Edge as High Surf and Flooding Threats Persist on Christmas Eve

Students work diligently to finish the semester’s projects and study for finals. People throughout the region decorate their homes and businesses for the season and search for the perfect gifts for loved ones as the holidays approach. East Tennessee State University is gearing up for the biggest day of the semester – Commencement – but offers plenty of additional activities for students and the community in the month of December! The following listing includes events that are open to the public and are free unless otherwise noted: Music ETSU BLUE Down Home Takeover December 2-6, 7 p.m. each evening – Down Home, 300 W. Main Street This five-night musical event showcases all the bands in ETSU’s Bluegrass, Old-Time and Roots Music Studies program, which includes not only bluegrass and old-time ensembles, but country, a cappella and Celtic groups, as well. Tickets are $15 at the door; ETSU students with ID receive a discount. Holiday Concert: ‘For Auld Lang Syne’ December 7, performances at 4 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. – ETSU Foundation Grand Hall, Martin Center for the Arts Over 250 performers will take part in this beloved ETSU holiday tradition, including the ETSU Chorale, BucsWorth, East Tennessee Belles, Greyscale, Ascension, Percussion Ensemble and Faculty Brass Quintet, along with special guests Matthew Fisher, organ, and Joanna Seiber, harp. Tickets are $15-$25; free for ETSU students with ID. Theater/Cinema Bud Frank Cinema First Friday Screening: ‘Flow’ December 6, 7 p.m. – Bud Frank Theatre, Gilbreath Hall The Bud Frank Cinema’s First Friday Screening on Dec. 6 is “Flow,” a 2024 French film which opens for wide release the same day. “A wondrous journey, through realms natural and mystical, ‘Flow’ follows a courageous cat after his home is devastated by a great flood.” Bud Frank Cinema Film Screening: ‘Seven Samurai’ December 13, 7 p.m. – Bud Frank Theatre, Gilbreath Hall The Bud Frank Cinema and Tri-City Film Farm present a restoration of “Seven Samurai,” a 1954 film from Japan that tells the story of a 16 th -century village whose desperate inhabitants hire seven samurai warriors to protect them from invading bandits. ‘A Charlie Brown Christmas: Live on Stage’ December 17, 7 p.m. – ETSU Foundation Grand Hall, Martin Center for the Arts The timeless, award-winning animated television special by Charles M. Schulz comes to life in this faithful stage adaptation the whole family can enjoy. After the final bow, the audience is invited to join the Peanuts gang in singing traditional Christmas songs and carols. Tickets are $49.50-$139; limited seating is available. Fine Arts ‘FL3TCH3R Exhibit: Social and Politically Engaged Art’ Continuing through December 6, 9 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Monday-Friday – Reece Museum This annual exhibit, renowned for its exploration of contemporary social and political movements, features a diverse array of artworks addressing pressing global issues. ‘Stitch Together: The Social Seamstress in Southern Appalachia’ Continuing through January 10, 2025, 9 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Monday-Friday – Reece Museum The Reece Museum hosts this exhibit exploring the social connections of seamstresses by showcasing the fashion and clothing of the museum’s permanent collection. Holiday Fun and More Ice Skating at ETSU Various hours, Thursdays-Sundays through December 21 – University Commons ETSU’s beloved synthetic ice skating rink is open for the holiday season. This year, in partnership with Brightspeed, the rink is free to ETSU students, faculty and staff with valid ID and open to the community with a $5 skate rental for all ages. Hours are Thursdays and Fridays from 5-9 p.m., Saturdays from noon-7 p.m., and Sundays from 2-7 p.m. Great Lecture Series December 6, 2 p.m. – East Tennessee Room, D.P. Culp Student Center The Great Lecture Series celebrates and showcases ETSU faculty who have recently been promoted to full professor, giving them an opportunity to share their work with the broader community. Attendees of this installment will hear from Drs. Brian Johnston, John Rankin and Megan Quinn. Jacob’s Nature Park: As We See It! December 7, 1-2:30 p.m. – Jacob’s Nature Park at Sinking Creek, 1919 Ocala Street This event for the community features five 15-minute presentations by ETSU students on park-specific topics, such as poisonous plants, mushroom coolness, pollinator trivia and more. Interactive activities, games, giveaways and hands-on learning opportunities for all ages are included. ETSU Fall Commencement December 14, 10 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. – Ballad Health Athletic Center (Mini-Dome) ETSU celebrates its fall 2024 graduating class in two ceremonies (10 a.m. – Quillen College of Medicine, College of Public Health, College of Health Sciences and College of Arts and Sciences; and 2:30 p.m. – Clemmer College of Education and Human Development, College of Business and Technology and College of Nursing). Complete information for graduating students, guests and faculty is available on the Commencement website, etsu.edu/commencement , where livestreaming will be offered for those not attending in person. ETSU Alumni Arctic Adventures: Frost and Fun Skate Night December 19, 5-8:30 p.m. – University Commons The ETSU Alumni Association presents an evening of Frost and Fun at the ETSU synthetic ice skating rink sponsored by Brightspeed. Participants can enjoy popcorn and hot cocoa inside the first-floor lobby of the D.P. Culp Student Center, as well as limited-edition T-shirts, a visit from Bucky, giveaways and holiday music. To learn more about these and other events happening at ETSU, visit the university’s online calendar at etsu.edu/calendar/default.php . For disability accommodations, contact Disability Services at (423) 439-8346.NEW YORK (AP) — Technology stocks pulled Wall Street to another record amid a mixed Monday of trading. The S&P 500 rose 0.2% from its all-time high set on Friday to post a record for the 54th time this year. The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 128 points, or 0.3%, while the Nasdaq composite gained 1%. 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Stoli vodka files for bankruptcy in the United StatesOMAHA — Creighton did it again. In an in-state women’s college basketball series with Nebraska largely dictated by what happens beyond the 3-point arc, the Jays rallied with six 3-pointers in the fourth quarter to beat No. 21 Nebraska 80-74 on Friday at Sokol Arena. At one point in the fourth quarter, the Jays made four straight 3-pointers. The Jays were 6 for 9 on threes in the fourth quarter and 13 for 29 for the game to give Nebraska its first loss to the season. The Jays outscored Nebraska by 24 points on 3-pointers. Creighton has won three straight in the series. Lauren Jensen had a game-high 31 points for the Jays with four 3s. Morgan Maly, a senior from Crete, scored 18. Alexis Markowski worked really hard for Nebraska, finishing with 26 points and 12 rebounds and calling for the ball inside where she often had an advantage. People are also reading... Recap: Here's how Joey Graziadei will win 'Dancing with the Stars' At the courthouse, Nov. 16, 2024 Zitel bound over to district court in death of child They fell in love with Beatrice. So they opened a store in downtown. Kidnapping in Nebraska prompted police chase that ended with 3 dead on I-29 in Missouri Chamberlain among seven inducted into Nebraska Baseball HOF Just Askin': Dana Holgorsen noncommittal on future, ranking a big week for Nebraska Athletics No change in bond amounts in child abuse death case Harmonizers to perform Historical society appoints board members, elects officers BPS mini-marts offer help Beatrice High School first-quarter honor roll Beatrice native's latest film gets special engagement in hometown Courthouse lighting ceremony planned for Sunday Micheal J's to reopen Britt Prince added 20 points in the first game against her hometown school. Nebraska led 55-52 to start the fourth quarter. For the final 10 minutes, one of the questions was how much did Markowski have left? And also, could the Huskers defend the 3-point line just a little longer? The Jays made two of their first three 3-point attempts to start the quarter to regain a 60-57 lead. Molly Mogensen had the first one, and Jensen the second for her fourth of the game. When Mogensen made another three the Jays led 72-66. The Jays sealed the deal when Prince missed a 3-pointer with seven seconds left and the Jays made their free throws. Nebraska led 22-19 after the first quarter. It was an entertaining start. The game started with Markowski going at Maly inside the paint, the Nebraska natives who played in the same club in Lincoln. There were five combined 3-pointers, with three for the Jays and two for Nebraska (each from Prince). Creighton used a 13-2 run that included three 3-pointers to take a 15-8 lead. But Nebraska got back in it with a steal and layup from Allison Weidner and a take to the basket from Callin Hake. Creighton added two more 3-pointers in the second quarter, but Nebraska was able to keep a lead at halftime 37-35. Reach the writer at 402-473-7435 or bwagner@journalstar.com . On Twitter @LJSSportsWagner. Get local news delivered to your inbox!

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SEATTLE (AP) — The Seattle Seahawks were struggling a week ago, coming off their bye having lost five of their last six games. That included a gut-punch overtime defeat at home against the Los Angeles Rams on Nov. 3. The outlook for the last-place Seahawks (5-5) was beginning to look grim. Javascript is required for you to be able to read premium content. Please enable it in your browser settings.A piece of individual brilliance from Daizen Maeda earned Celtic a Champions League point after an incredible blunder from Cameron Carter-Vickers gifted Club Brugge the lead at Parkhead. There was little surprise that Brugge took the lead in the 26th minute but the manner of the goal was a total shock. Nicolas Kuhn was forced into his own box as Brugge pressed and laid the ball off for Carter-Vickers, who passed back without looking. Kasper Schmeichel was at the opposite side of his goal to where the defender guessed and the ball rolled into the corner of the net. Celtic struggled to make inroads until Maeda took centre stage on the hour mark. The wide player's Cruyff turn set up the chance to shoot from a tight angle and he curled in off the post. Brugge had a goal disallowed before Celtic finished the game on top as they moved on to eight points ahead of their trip to Croatia to face Dinamo Zagreb on December 10. The Belgians imposed themselves on the game from the start, with Celtic struggling to get out of their half. Centre-forward Ferran Jutgla came close from 20 yards after Reo Hatate had showed too much of the ball to an opposing midfielder. Former Brugge B team player Arne Engels fired well over from a half-chance but that was a rare foray forward for Celtic in the opening quarter. The visitors were playing through Celtic's midfield and Andreas Skov Olsen curled just wide. Despite the visitors' superiority, Schmeichel had not had a save to make before being beaten by Carter-Vickers. The Celtic goalkeeper summoned his team-mates to give them his thoughts on what was going wrong. The home team offered more of a threat before the interval, mainly through the wing play of Kuhn, who twice almost set up Kyogo Furuhashi and then did find Hatate, whose glancing header was comfortably saved. Hatate shot wide from 22 yards after the interval but the game twice nearly drifted further away from the Scottish champions in the early stages of the second half. Schmeichel pulled off an excellent stop from Maxim De Cuyper after the left-back broke forward and burst past Auston Trusty's attempted tackle. Skov Olsen then blazed over from eight yards after a deep cross found him unmarked. Brendan Rodgers made a double switch as Paulo Bernardo and Alex Valle came on and the latter immediately set up the equaliser with a well-weighted pass, although Maeda effectively made the goal himself. There was a further twist 10 minutes later when Jutgla had a goal disallowed following a VAR check after stabbing home from 10 yards after Celtic could not defend a cross. A marginal offside came to the hosts' rescue. Bernardo made a difference to Celtic's midfield after replacing Engels and the Portugal Under-21 international came closest to winning the game for the Hoops when he shot just wide from 20 yards after good skill. Rodgers' side kept the pressure on but there was no clear-cut opportunity in the final stages.None