Recent content by Rath Darkblade

Hell (My first instinct was "politicians", but demons don't deserve to be compared with politicians) ;-P

Yes, I know. I just read and write a lot of history, so I care about it, and it drives me crazy that some people do this. Yes, the Romans and Egyptians did the same thing (e.g. Caesar's Di Bello Gallico - his history of the war he started in France - is notoriously self-serving. And Ramesses...

Something that just horrified me: people are using AI to create fake Holocaust imagery to distort history. This old BBC article (old as in August 2025) discovered it last year. This article from Reuters shows that I'm not the only one who's horrified. :( It's not just the Holocaust that's being...

I have never met this person, but ... ...I accidentally misread that as 'non-constructive critter' for a second, which sounds appropriate. Now I can't get the image of Yosemite Sam yelling 'Why ya non-constructive critter!!' out of my head. And that made me giggle, so it doesn't actually...

I just found this: Danny Kaye and Louis Armstrong scat-singing together. Just priceless. Two old masters having fun. :) You can see how much respect and admiration they had for each other. And in a film created in 1959, no less. Respect to the both of them.

Yep, it's all from "My Fair Lady" (based on Pygmalion by George Bernard Shaw). ;) I was just making a joke about how dancing all night would be dangerous, and probably even fatal, if actually attempted. But my favourite song from that show is this one: And then there's the English spoken...

healthy, but not if fried

A slightly different character: Coldenfluvia, the Goddess of Winter Diseases. ;) She is noted for wearing a shawl, a bathrobe and carpet slippers in all weathers, even in summer or during the early spring months. To sneeze, sniffle or blow one's nose, it is said, is as praise to Coldenfluvia...

*raises an eyebrow* That escalated quickly. (Incidentally, I'm sure you'll be glad to know that the story about Catherine *ahem* indulging in relations with her horse is complete fiction, dreamed up by her political opponents to discredit her. In that, it's similar to Marie Antoinette and "Let...

What is a famous book that would teach you how to open a bottle of wine?

The sight of a corkscrew drove me round the twist. Are delivery drivers instructed to "Stand and deliver"? "Just the facts, ma'am," I said, matter-of-factly.

One of the most recognizable, certainly. But how many people without a knowledge of classical music could name it? :) There are many other contenders to think about. Have you considered ... - Beethoven’s Symphony No. 5 (1st movement) - widely considered at least one of the most recognizable...

Catherine the Great

Groan. That's up there with the classic joke about the alligator sandwich. "And make it snappy!" But now I have to wonder: could it be a piranha sandwich, instead, without impairing the punchline? Or would it be a sandwich that takes a bite out of you? ;)

Really? Without pausing to catch your breath? That shows some incredible stamina. I'd at least stop for a drink of water. How the quick brown fox jump over the lazy dog without being shot by the clever hunter? 🤔 Possibly because the "quick brown fox" phrase is used for typing practice, so the...