It’s the day after Christmas (and what have you done?) but I just came across the funniest Christmas story I’ve read this year! Originally published in 2001, this against-the-grain reading of “It’s a Wonderful Life” points out something that may have been bothering modern viewers of Frank Capra’s timeless classic, namely that the alternate universe created by George Bailey’s having never been born seems to be a lot more fun than the one he leaves behind. “Pottersville” is full of hot jazz and dancing girls, while “Bedford Falls” is populated by meddlesome neighbors with their noses in everyone’s business. For a man who has spent the entire movie trying to “shake the dust of that two-bit town off his feet,” George’s desire to retreat from the excitement of this new reality is truly kind of puzzling!