h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

'You cannot turn inspiration on and off like a barrel organ.' - Sir Arthur Sullivan

How true. And if creativity could be turned on and off on whim it would cheapen it, don't you think?

Yes, indeed!

So for now, I'll have to be content beating up random passerbys and stealing their creativity through a necromantic ritual

You beat up random passers-by? For shame and fie!

But they have my precioussss preciousss creativity

Wait! You write guide entries! YOu must have creativity!

Which I share freely, oh . Come closer, and I will confer energy upon you by patting you on the head.

This sounds like a trick to take advantage of my soft fuzzy exterior but I have gullibility in surplus so why not?

*pets very gently*

I confer on you the honour 'Draco Australis' - of the South - which brings with it great creative power. Thus it is done.

Wee! *runs around knocking over furniture* I have an honorific!

The Spanish Inquisition...

I didn't expect that!

Neither did Cervantes, I'll bet. Tricky time and place to be Jewish in.

Ooo! Shame!

He was a Marrano, one of the many crypto-Jews in Spain. The Jews were expelled from Spain in 1492. The ones who stayed had to become Christians, but secretly practised Judaism.

He was also imprisoned by the Barbary Arabs after a war, and sold as a slave in North Africa. He had a very adventurous life, and died on the same day as Shakespeare - only two weeks apart. (Ask me why, unless you know.)

Why?