It is said that the bards of ancient Britain kept troublemakers in line by threatening to write satirical poems which would destroy their reputations. (Like most of the things said about the bards and druids of pre-Roman Britain, this claim originated with a bunch of upper-class Englishmen in the 18th Century who, um, read too many soppy romances.) But really, can you imagine any alpha male being crushed by a mere piece of writing? I can't — or at least, I couldn't, until I read this.

As they say, Read The Whole Thing.  ¶ 1:23 pm