User talk:Clio the Muse/Archive 7

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Hell ships

Hello, Clio. Can you confirm any sources referring to German World War II ships, specifically the Thielbek or Cap Arcona, as "hell ships" or "Höllenschiffe" ("Höllenschiff" in the singular). I removed it from the Thielbek article and promptly received a copy from a discussion at Cap Arcona's talk page. Should you find anything, please weigh in at either Talk:Cap_Arcona#"Hell Ship"? or User_talk:Sluzzelin#"Hell Ship"? . (Impressed me with Elisabeth Langgässer, btw, have you read her?) ---Sluzzelin talk 06:11, 27 October 2007 (UTC)

Hi, Sluzzelin. A search of the Cambridge catalogue under 'hell ships' only calls up Raymond Lamont-Brown's Ships from Hell: Japanese War Crimes on the High Seas. Beyond that there is one other source that I know of: Death on Hell Ships: Prisoners at Sea in the Pacific War by Gregory F. Michno. I have absolutely no doubt at all that conditions on these Nazi ships were indeed hellish by any reasonable measure, as indeed they were on the Trans-Atlantic slave ships; but the point remains that the term 'Hell ships' has come to refer to a particular historical phenomenon. To use it more widely thus risks confusion over issues of interpretation. I hope this is useful.

Yes, I read some of Langgäser's stories, in an anthology of post-war German literature, while I was still at school. I hope I always impress you, dear Sluzzelin! Best wishes. Clio the Muse 22:44, 27 October 2007 (UTC)

Thank you for your swift and helpful reply! (Bah, you're a freakBorg!) ---Sluzzelin talk 06:34, 28 October 2007 (UTC)

Come with me to the kasbah! Clio the Muse 23:05, 28 October 2007 (UTC)

Keeping Abreast

Dear, dear Clio:

"Are you sure it didn't just fall out!?" How wonderful! (And it should then be replaced with by means of a warmed serving spoon.) Bielle 04:20, 30 October 2007 (UTC)

And now, gentlemen, your picture question: What part did a basting spoon play in the story of Lazarus?
Xn4 06:24, 30 October 2007 (UTC)

I am so glad that there are at least two people here able to appreciate Clio's impish sense of humour! Clio the Muse 23:18, 30 October 2007 (UTC)

As others have pointed out, Clio is a fraud, and I've always suspected Terpsichore in disguise. And, sure enough, the delightful dancer is number seven of nine in the canonical list. At any rate, thank you for finally letting Seven assume her well-deserved place in the sun next to Zenobia, Brynhild, and Venus. You know she can run rings around these dusty old icons! ---Sluzzelin talk 00:18, 31 October 2007 (UTC)

Resistance is futile-so dance with me! Clio the Muse 00:25, 31 October 2007 (UTC)

Futile indeed, and I'm dancing with this pained expression after having read the WP:NFC notice on Seven's image. You might receive an invitation to the dance from a bot sometime soon. :-(. ---Sluzzelin talk 01:20, 31 October 2007 (UTC)

What a pity! Clio the Muse 01:36, 31 October 2007 (UTC)

But, it can be fun. Remember those 20th century moves? Lookie here! ---Sluzzelin talk 01:59, 31 October 2007 (UTC)

I love the rubber legs! Clio the Muse 02:13, 31 October 2007 (UTC)

What is the sound of rubber legs in the rain? By the way, I found "Which of the Greek Muses are you?", and it turns out that 90% of Sluzzelin corresponds with Euterpe. Gotta love question 18: "You find veils strangely appealing." ---Sluzzelin talk 04:14, 1 November 2007 (UTC)

Sluzzelin, I did that quiz, and guess who I am? Yes, that's right, coming in at 95% Clio is Clio! Do you think that is because I said that history was my favourite subject at school? Anyway, thanks for the diversion! Clio the Muse 23:16, 1 November 2007 (UTC)

O great Clio, we do not fail to praise the gods and celestial powers that you turn out to be you. By and by, gleaming with oil, a suitable troop of us shall lead white bulls to the cathedral of the solemn Muses, there to pay where due the glory. Xn4 23:50, 1 November 2007 (UTC)

I will be forced to crawl in that parade, fearing the wrath of Zeus for calling his daughter an impostor. I guess I do find veils strangely appealing. ---Sluzzelin talk 00:15, 2 November 2007 (UTC)

All shall be forgotten in the haze of Dionysus; and in the frenzy of sacrifice the veil shall fall over all! Clio the Muse 00:47, 2 November 2007 (UTC)

A tie between Thalia and . . . Clio (???) at 56% each? I hated history -with apologies to our hostess. I suppose that means I am essentially unfocussed, which is probably truer than I would care to admit. Ha ha ha, and away! Bielle 01:42, 3 November 2007 (UTC)

Well, there is-or should be-a little comedy in us all, Bielle. Besides, I love all of my sisters! Clio the Muse 01:51, 3 November 2007 (UTC)

Pooterism

Ha! Ha! I admit that Clem's mode of expression is a brilliant parody of the Pooterish style, but do you not think it a little too 'fast and modern' for the real thing? After all, Xn4, can you ever imagine that dear old Pooter would use terms like 'genotype' and 'phenotype'?! Oh dear, no; not at all the thing. Clio the Muse 23:24, 31 October 2007 (UTC)

Pooter is alive and well and has a PC. Funnily enough, the last but one time I heard from him he was studying Morphology with the Open University. Indeed, he remarked that a problem with relying on morphological data is that what may appear, morphologically speaking, to be two distinct species, may in fact be shown by DNA analysis to be a single species. Xn4 23:43, 31 October 2007 (UTC)

Ah, it's all Lupin's fault, I suspect; or perhaps that cad Padge has something to do with it! Clio the Muse 23:47, 31 October 2007 (UTC)

Such a wonderful name, but (alas!) our Lupin wasn't a patch on his great namesake. Xn4 23:54, 31 October 2007 (UTC)

Certainly not! Clio the Muse 01:11, 1 November 2007 (UTC)

Here's some happy news. Xn4 02:28, 1 November 2007 (UTC)

John Cleese will be pleased! Bielle 02:45, 1 November 2007 (UTC)

And here he is [1]! Clio the Muse 02:47, 1 November 2007 (UTC)

A Message from Clio to 86.21.74.40

Thanks ever so for your very kind award. I did not notice at first because it had been placed directly on my user page. But I can assure you that it is highly appreciated. Clio the Muse 03:10, 3 November 2007 (UTC)

Emidio Recchioni

Good evening, Clio. Some time ago I turned one of your kind answers on WP:RD/H into an article stub, Emidio Recchioni. Recently, a person claiming to be a French historian has edited the article's talk page, Talk:Emidio Recchioni. He has raised objections about the article's content, which I do not understand because I don't know enough about the subject, and he has also made threats, which may be directed at either you or me.

I thought that maybe you can understand what he is talking about? If so, can you alleviate his concerns by providing some appropriate sources, or remove any passage from the article that may actually be in error? Of course, I would fully understand if you prefer not to get involved. In that event, I'll probably just briefly block that person's IP range for harassment, if he keeps it up, and forget about it. Best, Sandstein 16:33, 7 November 2007 (UTC)

Hi, Sandstein. Forgive me, I have a social engagement this evening, so I will have to make this quite rushed. I will be back sometime after 11.00pm, and will happily answer any supplementary points then, if you have any.

Anyway, I'm not surprised that you are having difficulty understanding 'Dr' Nemeth (from France). His English, by his own admission, is less than perfect; worse than that, his thoughts are dreadfully ill-organised, to the point of almost complete incoherence. There is, however, something else at work, something I can't quite pinpoint, but which goes against all of my intellectual instincts. 'Dr' Nemeth (from France) is altogether too impassioned, far to close to the subject in a political sense, I would have said. I really have no idea how academic history is taught in France, but I would have assumed with a little more intellectual rigour and personal detachment than demonstrated by 'Dr' Nemeth (from France). Historians have ways of expressing disagreement, and challenging both facts and assumptions, with considerably less-how shall I express this?-rancour and hysteria.

I'm sorry; this is going too far from your request. Before answering I should make it clear that the article is based, as you know, on an response I gave on the Humanities Reference Desk, where I reserve the right to express myself as I wish. It is my task, though, to avoid unnecessary speculation and to be as intellectually honest as I can. In other words, I would never invent information or in any sense seek to mislead those who place questions there. The information I gave was based on The London Plot to Kill Mussolini by Alfio Bernabei, published by History Today in London, vol. 49. issue 4, April 1999, pp. 2-3. I have a copy in my library, though I think it is available online for a subscription. I would suggest that 'Dr' Nemeth (from France) takes the matter up with them. As far as his implied threats are concerned, his eight day ultimatum, I would, inasmuch as I understand this to be directed against me, repeat the words of the Duke of Wellington-Publish and be damned!

Finally, 'Dr' Nemeth (from France) is, I think, the kind of person that I make it my business in my professional and personal life to avoid; so I would rather not engage with him directly, unless you absolutely need me to. Otherwise, you are at liberty to cut and paste as much of this as you wish. With every good wish from Miss Piggy (from England), who is also your dear friend Clio the Muse 20:17, 7 November 2007 (UTC) LOL!

Thank you, Clio, for your helpful - as ever - reply, and also for your continued and valued service at the reference desk. There's no need for you to get any more involved at all. Another editor has already added your source to the article, and I'll deal with any funny business that might come from France. Have a nice evening, and best wishes from Switzerland – Sandstein 22:59, 7 November 2007 (UTC)

And thank you, Sandstein. Clio the Muse 23:24, 8 November 2007 (UTC)

Hi, Clio. There evidently is or was a real Dr Luc Nemeth, who has a P.O. Box address in Paris and has published articles in historical journals. Someone using his name has made contributions to talk pages on the Italian Wikipedia, and an article by Luc Nemeth published in 2005 is cited in Chevalier de Saint-George on the French Wikipedia. Clearly, if this is the same fellow, then his approach is disorderly and his language is over the top. His real argument is with the sources and not with you. My only reason for breaking into this discussion is that there's a serious point here, which has struck me sometimes before, and that is that your indirect way of contributing to the mainspace generally leads to all details of your references getting lost along the way, which is a pity. They clearly aren't needed on the reference desk, but I do wonder whether it might be possible to set up a procedure between you and Ghirla prompting him to get the sources from you after he's imported your text into a mainspace article? Just a thought. Greetings, Xn4 02:26, 8 November 2007 (UTC)

So, Xn4, you think there really is a Dr. Nemeth (from France) and this might be him? Oh dear; dear, oh dear! I feel the shadows of an awful stereotype descending around my shoulders, that of a gesticulating, excitable little Frenchman. Help! I would have thought that Dr. Nemeth (from France) would have been aware that there was a process here for flagging up problems with references and citations, a process that avoids the need for threats and invective; one that is open to him; one that is even open to Kermit the Frog (oops!). As far as your observation is concerned, Xn4, I often supply references with my answers, where it is appropriate to do so. If not, I am happy to give suggestions on reading and sources if asked, as I did recently in a question about Lady Jane Grey. The Wikipedia pages I have started, expanded or contributed towards are always supported by published references. I have also, without being asked, provided additional sources, again when necessary, for pages that Ghirla has created; and here I am thinking specifically of the Shanghai Russians. Ghirla has, I think, now moved on to other things. He has certainly not visited the Humanities Desk for a while, so there is really no need for any procedure between us. But I come back to my point: there is already a good system which allows articles to be tagged in an appropriate fashion without any need for private and informal arrangements. Besides, I have the right to express a view like any other editor on the RD without feeling the need to respond to blustering bullies like Dr. Nemeth (from France). Clio the Muse 23:24, 8 November 2007 (UTC)

I think perhaps M. le docteur Nemeth (if this is indeed he) has been imbibing strange potions and has developed a rocambolesque alter ego who comes out and does dark deeds at night, an accidental legacy from his great-grandmother's admirer Pierre Alexis Ponson du Terrail. For convenience we can call this alternate M. Kermit du Bois de Boulogne. Late at night, M. du Bois takes over M. Nemeth's mind and PC and pours forth peremptory demands and ultimata, but luckily for M. Nemeth he has managed to programme M. du Bois to write only in English and Italian. Meanwhile, over at the château de Moulinsart, Professor Calculus is working on an antidote, with the help of General Alcazar and his old friend Arsène Lupin... (to be continued) Xn4 02:42, 9 November 2007 (UTC)

Oh la la! Clio the Muse 03:10, 9 November 2007 (UTC)

(from France) neither the use of words supposed to be french, as "Oh la la", nor the allusion to the château de Moulinsart -which is not in France, as far as I can remember- will change anything to the complicity of "wikipedia" with an intoxicator, which in due time had been immediately mentioned as such. For the rest I have nothing to change, except the imperfect English, to what I recalled. Then it is seems to me that a website called Clio the Muse should pay more attention to the historical truth, and perhaps less, to my identity -a problem to which are not faced, for sure, "Sandstein", "Xn4" and friends. Anyway, and beyond the fact that anyone in this world has a same right to expression, my professional identity has already been printed, in a perfect English : "Luc Nemeth (...) is a specialist in Italian political history" (Charles Higham, The Duchess of Windsor, ed. 1988, p. 443). 193.48.70.239 (talk) 16:47, 24 November 2007 (UTC) L. Nemeth

There is no 'website' called 'Clio the Muse'; Clio is Clio, and Clio is me. I am also a professional and published historian, though I have not the least intention of letting you know my full identity. I'm well aware that the expression Oh la la! is comic French, but you give me the impression-please forgive me for being so blunt-of a comic Frenchman, excitable and out of control. There are ways of expressing disagreement and dissension on matters of historical interpretation, or on points of fact, without resorting to bullying, threats and bluster, the techniques you appear to to favour; or am I to take it that this is the favoured mode of discourse in academic circles in France?. I have absolutely no interest in you, Dr. Nemeth (from France), and as I have already said you are the kind of individual in my personal and academic life that I have always avoided. I would therefore not welcome any further approach from you, and trust you have the good sense, and the good manners, to respect my wishes. Clio the Muse (talk) 23:22, 24 November 2007 (UTC)

Hi, M. Nemeth. You're right, the best evidence we have suggests that the château de Moulinsart is not a million miles from Braine-l'Alleud in Brabant-Wallon. Professor Calculus reports from there that he's getting some hopeful results with an entirely new medication which for now he calls jekyllhydazine. Xn4 01:04, 25 November 2007 (UTC)

Beevor and other things..

I've noticed a coincidence between my recent readings and your Musiana. I just read Mao: The Unknown Story and then it caught my eye on your reading list. If only someone had given him nine grammes, as Solzhenitsyn puts it! (Like about 1901.)

Also, I think you made reference somewhere to Antony Beevor. (I've been reading his "Berlin - the Downfall" and I was comparing it to the recent German movie of the same name/topic which was recently shown here on SBS. I've seen and read heaps of "Hitler in the Bunker" yarns over the years and I've never seen two that agreed. The record's still good.) I see he's a Cambridge denizen from the book's endpapers. Are you acquainted?

Anyway, for some light relief, we got us an election here on Ulimaroa. The Youtube videos it's generating are the best news in years. (http://www.abc.net.au has some great stuff in the links from the election guide page.) A local cartoonist, Kudelka, did a sketch a while back of two Eskimos chatting outside an igloo. In a parody of that old linguistics chestnut, one is earnestly asking the other: "Did you know that politicians have 400 words for lie?" Ain't democracy great, mate? Just being able to crack those jokes is the most precious part of it.

Best wishes.Retarius | Talk 04:49, 8 November 2007 (UTC)

Indeed so, Retarius; indeed so!

Have you read Hugh Trevor-Roper's The Last Days of Hitler? Anyway, it's the oldest and still in many ways the best of the 'bunker accounts', the research for which was originally undertaken when he was an intelligence officer with the British Army in Germany at the end of the war. If you enjoyed Berlin have a crack at Stalingrad, assuming you have not already been there. It is the better of the two, in my estimation. Beevor actually teaches at Birkbeck College in London, I think. He was a visiting professor at Cambridge when I was an undergraduate, though our trails never actually crossed.

Thanks for that link on the politics of Oz-great stuff! Enjoy your election. We almost had one here, but our beloved Prime Minister 'bottled it', so the expression goes, at the last moment. My response to the eskimo would be "Really? Is that all?" Take care, and best wishes from Pommieland! Clio the Muse 23:48, 8 November 2007 (UTC)

Hello

Hello Clio. Sorry I have been absent for a while, I have been somewhat busy (terribly boring, but have a look on my talk page if you wish to know why). However, I have some interesting news, which I will email you tomorrow! I'll also archive your page again then, if thats ok. Oh, and remember I mentioned our big paper under review at Nature? Well it was accepted, we received the proofs this week and should, fingers crossed, be in print next month. I don't think we are going to make the cover, but its quirky enough that - if its a slow news day - it could hit the popular press. I'll let you know when its out. Rockpocket 09:25, 8 November 2007 (UTC)

How nice to hear from you, Rockpocket. I do, in fact, have some general awarness of your 'time of battle', so to speak. I would have offered support-I was certainly tempted-though I decided against for fear of making matters hotter than they already are. I'm sure you know just how 'biting' I can be! I used to believe that there were some sins here that placed one beyond redemption. Clearly not.

Anyway, enough of that. I'm so pleased to hear that your paper has been accepted by Nature. It must be a great boost to your morale. I will most definitely buy a copy if you let me know the date of publication. Let me see now; a science publication...hmm. Will I find it on the 'top shelf' at the newsagent? I shall have to hide from my colleagues. I know; I'll wear my mack, collar turned up, hair tucked in to my beret, dark glasses over my eyes; as inconspicuous as I can possibly manage!

I look forward to receiving your news with considerable anticipation. And, please, archive this page whenever you feel it is necessary. I rely upon you for support in these technical matters. Love from Anastasia, one of the many people who appreciates you for what you are. Clio the Muse 00:13, 9 November 2007 (UTC)

I think that was a good decision. Clio at her most acerbic could well have tipped the factions into all out war! Its all in hand now, though. I will let you know about the paper, though you need not risk the shame of being caught in flagrante delicto, as you can access it online in the privacy of your parlor. Anyway, instead of being embarrassed about being a secret science aficionado, you should flaunt it. Your colleagues would pretend to be prudish, but secretly they would be jealous of your lack of academic inhibitions! You also have mail, by the way. Rockpocket 02:19, 9 November 2007 (UTC)

So do you. Some things, just some, do work out for the best! Clio the Muse 03:05, 9 November 2007 (UTC)

First of all congrats to Rockpocket, Nature is aswesome. I'll look out for it. Second, for Clio, good luck? Maybe referring to the rfa? If so thanks to both of you for your kind words. It has been a very warming experience to be the focus of such attention. But back to business! David D. (Talk) 01:52, 12 November 2007 (UTC)

Indeed I was, David. Clio the Muse 01:55, 12 November 2007 (UTC)

Tahiti

Good answer, Clio; it made me laugh. Shall we tell the confused soul that they weren't likely naked even then? No, I thought not; it might be too much for him (and it is a him). Bielle 04:50, 14 November 2007 (UTC)

Thanks, Bielle. Can you imagine it not being a male?! There is little point in making things too sophisticated for the poor dear! Clio the Muse 23:12, 14 November 2007 (UTC)

Hello my library-loving historian

I wondered if you might help by sourcing some stats for me? Iwan Roberts is on its way to WP:FAC, but the earliest part of his career isn't covered by the stats available online at soccerbase.com. (See the incomplete tables of stats near the foot of the article) I wondered if you could look him up in an edition of Rothman's football yearbook (or whatever it's called) and provide his season-by-season stats for the early years? It'd be great! If you can find it, I'd need to cite it properly, so I'd need the year/page number. I guess I can get the rest of the data for the book online, but an ISBN would also help. Muchly appreciated. --Dweller 11:25, 14 November 2007 (UTC)

Yes, fine, Dweller, I'll have a look in the next day or two. Clio the Muse 23:21, 14 November 2007 (UTC)

In a horribly mix of mystical metaphors, Clio, you're an angel. --Dweller 12:31, 15 November 2007 (UTC)

Sorry, Dweller; I have to report an almost complete failure. Those Rothman's yearbooks are complete tomes; a dense mass of unindexed data which I simply have not the time nor the patience to penetrate with my untutored eye; sorry! Anyway, if it's of any use to you still, here are the IBSN numbers;

1988-9

0-356-15879-9

0-356-15880-2 Pbk

1989-90

0-356-17921-4

0-356-17910-9 Pbk

1991-2

0-356-20164-3

0-356-19198-2 Pbk

1992-3

0 7472 0715 1

0 7472 07905 5 Pbk

1993-4

0 7472 0755 0

0 7472 0755 0 Pbk

1994-5

Library copy missing

1995-6

0 7472 1413 1

0 7472 7823 7 Pbk

Clio the Muse (talk) 03:04, 17 November 2007 (UTC)

Heck, that's mighty good. Thanks so much and no worries. --Dweller (talk) 18:53, 19 November 2007 (UTC)

DYK

On 18 November, 2007, Did you know? was updated with a fact from the article Lord Uxbridge's leg, which you created or substantially expanded. If you know of another interesting fact from a recently created article, then please suggest it on the Did you know? talk page.

--Zzyzx11 (Talk) 15:16, 18 November 2007 (UTC)

A leg up! Thank you, Zzyzx11. Clio the Muse (talk) 22:55, 18 November 2007 (UTC)

Kerensky, and all that ...

Thank you for your very helpful and informative answer regarding the "battle" for the Winter Palace. Your answer was much more than my naive observation deserved. I had forgotten about the whole Kerensky thing, and had never reconciled it with second-hand anecdotes regarding being "a cadet in the Czar's army." (As you infer, the cadet part was probably true - not sure about the rest.)

As a professional historian, I wish you could have met my late father (a WWII veteran and professor of geology). Because of his activity in the Army Reserves, including summer stints at the Pentagon, he tried to explain to me several times that the now former Soviet Union was way over-extended, and without setting a date he predicted their later downfall.

As a child of the cold war I took some of the Soviet view of their history more seriously than I should have - in hindsight; ergo the Winter Palace event loomed larger than it should have.

Thanks for straightening me out.

-- Mark —Preceding unsigned comment added by Mark S. Tuttle (talk • contribs) 22:14, 27 November 2007 (UTC)

I'm delighted to be of help, Mark. Your father was clearly a fascinating, and prescient, man. Please come back anytime. Regards. Clio the Muse (talk) 22:59, 27 November 2007 (UTC)

Old Bones

Hi, Clio, I see you aren't Boney's greatest fan... and I guess I did slightly miss the point of that question!

You always seem to spot what I miss, would you mind casting an eye over my efforts at an article on Thomas Grey, 2nd Marquess of Dorset? It isn't meant to be comprehensive, I'm just wondering if there are any glaring omissions that you can spot! Xn4 02:53, 29 November 2007 (UTC)

Hi, Xn4. Yes, I would be glad to have a look. Not tonight, though; I'm simply too tired! Up the wooden hill, and so on and so forth. Clio the Muse (talk) 03:01, 29 November 2007 (UTC)

It looks good to me: well researched; well written; well laid out; well referenced. Well done! Clio the Muse (talk) 23:28, 29 November 2007 (UTC)

Many thanks Clio. Glad you couldn't find much wrong. I thought perhaps I relied too much on the DNB, but it makes life so easy. I'll just mention, I was pleased to stumble on the love story of Sir Richard Woodville and Jacquetta of Luxembourg. Just occasionally, truth can be stranger than fiction! Xn4 02:35, 30 November 2007 (UTC)

Almost always; at least in my experience! Clio the Muse 05:05, 2 December 2007 (UTC)

Degenerate Art

Your comment may be much too subtle for the late-night Ref Desk. How many, I wonder, will believe you are agreeing with the Nazi viewpoint? Wait for it! :-) Bielle 06:42, 2 December 2007 (UTC)

Ah, Bielle, nobody, but nobody is surely that dim....hmm, on second thoughts. Anyway, all those bold enough to seek contest with Clio, a Gorgon, as well as a Muse, should hold tight to their heads! Clio the Muse 23:17, 2 December 2007 (UTC)

The Gorgon Clio need not appear. I was wrong; you were right. In two days, there has been nary a comment. This is a pleasant surprise. Bielle 21:05, 3 December 2007 (UTC)

She dares; she wins! Clio the Muse 22:59, 3 December 2007 (UTC)

Megullia Dotata

Your input would be appreciated on the article Megullia Dotata.--Doug ^talk 16:01, 2 December 2007 (UTC)

Hi, Doug. Thank you so much for the invitation-and for your confidence in me-but there is little of substance that I am able to add to the article as it already stands. Please accept my assurance, though, that if I manage to uncover any additional material from the sources I have it will certainly be incorporated. Best wishes. Clio the Muse 23:12, 2 December 2007 (UTC)

Archiving Rocket

Thank you, kind sir! Clio the Muse (talk) 23:00, 4 December 2007 (UTC)

Always a pleasure, milady. Rockpocket 23:43, 4 December 2007 (UTC)

Much excitement

Hi Clio. Today is the day, and there can't be too much happening in the world, as it has been picked up by the BBC. Rockpocket 01:03, 6 December 2007 (UTC)

What wonderful news; I'm really delighted! I assume this is in the current issue of Nature? I shall buy a copy tomorrow (Now I know how to deal with all of those tiresome predatory males!). Clio the Muse (talk) 01:35, 6 December 2007 (UTC)

I am sure that sprinkling yourself with urine will do the trick, but not, perhaps, exactly in the way you intended. ;-) Bielle (talk) 01:41, 6 December 2007 (UTC)

HA! HA! What about arming oneself with these! Sorry, boys: put it out of your minds; I'm only joking...honestly, I am! Clio the Muse (talk) 01:54, 6 December 2007 (UTC)

Ah yes, the woman so magnificently named, as are you, but for entirely different reasons. Bielle (talk) —Preceding comment was added at 01:58, 6 December 2007 (UTC)

Sisters, sisters....Clio the Muse (talk) 02:15, 6 December 2007 (UTC)

Your award!

Thanks for both of your recent answers to my Russian questions. This has been so useful and I am now in the habit of coming to you when all else fails. Here is your award. I already gave you a past barnstar and I'm not sure if I'm allowed to hand out more than one, but, what the hell! I chose this one to be a little bit different, and because you are a little bit surreal!

		The Surreal Barnstar
		Awarded to Clio from Fred for being repeatedely useful, a Greek spirit of wisdom and knowledge in a land of virtual dreams. Fred said right (talk) 12:56, 6 December 2007 (UTC)

How nice. Thanks ever so, Fred. Clio the Muse 23:09, 6 December 2007 (UTC)

Susan Sontag: "The past itself, as historical change continues to accelerate, has become the most surreal of subjects, making it possible to see a new beauty in what is vanishing."

Brad Holland: "Surrealism: an archaic term. Formerly an art movement. No longer distinguishable from everyday life." Xn4 00:00, 7 December 2007 (UTC)

I live in a constant dream, with past, present and future as a stream! Clio the Muse 00:43, 7 December 2007 (UTC)

Ah, you time-traveller, you! Xn4 01:33, 7 December 2007 (UTC)

Always seeking home Clio the Muse 01:38, 7 December 2007 (UTC)

Holiday

Hi Clio. You have a choice of {{Vacation}}, {{Vacation3}} or {{Wikibreak}}. The various parameters are explained on the template pages. Do have a safe and enjoyable trip, and merry Christmas to you! Rockpocket 23:51, 13 December 2007 (UTC)

Wonderful! And a Merry Christmas to you and Mrs Rockpocket! God bless us; every one. Clio the Muse (talk) 23:57, 13 December 2007 (UTC)

You're just going to take off and leave? Did you get permission for this holiday during the ref desk busy season? If not, who cares, and make sure you have fun :) David D. (Talk) 00:03, 14 December 2007 (UTC)

Thank you, David, I intend to; looking for the Ghost and the Darkness! Clio the Muse (talk) 00:10, 14 December 2007 (UTC)

Scrooge (to Bob Cratchit on Christmas Eve): "And I suppose you'll be wanting tomorrow off?"

Happy safari! Xn4 00:25, 14 December 2007 (UTC)

If quite convenient, sir. I don't leave until the 23rd, but the excitement builds-and I am taking the topee! Clio the Muse (talk) 00:34, 14 December 2007 (UTC)

File:PithHelmetTrumann.jpg

Very advisable, and they come in good colours. Yours will also make sure that you aren't mistaken for Lara Croft! Xn4 00:41, 14 December 2007 (UTC)

I love it! The one I have inherited is actually a sandy colour, though. I'd rather be mistaken for this fellow traveller! Clio the Muse (talk) 00:50, 14 December 2007 (UTC)

The ancestral pith helmet must indeed come back into the light of day. Karen Blixen is good stuff. Let's hope you fall for no aviators at the foot of the Ngong Hills. Xn4 01:03, 14 December 2007 (UTC)

Oh, I will keep my own cherished hunter quite safe; please be assured of that, dear Xn4! Clio the Muse (talk) 01:13, 14 December 2007 (UTC)

Thanks and Bon Voyage

• First off, thanks for the pointer you gave me to Trevor-Roper's Last Days of Hitler . What a beauty! You don't expect to laugh reading a Hitler bio, but among the inevitable direness were "the Tweedledum and Tweedledee of pretentious German silliness", "a ninny" (von Krosigk) and much more. (What I couldn't figure was how such an incisive and original mind could be bluffed into blessing "The Hitler Diaries".) Along with Shirer's work it should be a mandatory text - readability alone speaks for it. I hope to read Beevor's Stalingrad soon.

• You may have noticed that the election here resulted in the overthrow of the former corrupt regime. (You should have been able to hear the cheering and fireworks from your desk.) Now we can settle down in peace to enjoy the new corrupt regime.

• Soo, yu iz orf to Ahfrica mon! Make sure to take lashings of ginger beer and plenty of cleft sticks. Heyyy.. have you got a lead on where Adolf and Unity's bastard son is hiding out?Like the Sarge said, be careful out there.

According to the great David Hand, "The secret of life in the tropics is Johnson's Baby Powder, lots of it." Xn4 02:35, 17 December 2007 (UTC)

And I have lots, so I should be alright! Clio the Muse (talk) 23:09, 17 December 2007 (UTC)

• May you and and yours be blessed and prosper in the new year. Pax vobiscum! Retarius | Talk 02:05, 17 December 2007 (UTC)

Thank you, dear Retarius. Adolf and Unity's offspring? Why, is he not with you down there? The other one is too young! Forget politics: I hope you have a great Christmas and a wonderful New Year. My very best wishes to you and the new regime! Clio the Muse (talk) 02:17, 17 December 2007 (UTC)

Naval Victory

Clio, I hope you will not miss my question on naval operations. I rely on you for an answer above all others. With respect, John J Spencer. 81.156.3.207 (talk) 14:45, 17 December 2007 (UTC)

I see it has already been answered, 81.156, at least in part, but let me see if I can add an interesting anecdote for you. Clio the Muse (talk) 23:08, 17 December 2007 (UTC)

Happy Holidays

Shouldn't you be packing? Have a wonderful trip and an exciting -well. not too exciting- start to 2008. I shall miss my nighly "Clio" read, and look forward to your return. Joyeuses Fêtes! Bielle (talk) 01:27, 22 December 2007 (UTC)

It's mostly done, but I'm just about to sign off for the duration: I have a lot to do tommorrow. Thank you, dear Bielle, for your good wishes. Do have a wonderful Christmas and a tremendous Canadian New Year! With love from Anastasia. Clio the Muse (talk) 02:14, 22 December 2007 (UTC)

Christmas card

Merry Christmas! Clio the Muse. Xn4 22:00, 24 December 2007 (UTC)

Give three cheers and three cheers more!

Dearest Clio, I suspect that you would make an ideal Captain of H.M.S. Pinafore...

Clio: And I never, never, never edit mainspace.

WP chorus: What, never?

Clio: No, never!

WP chorus: What, neverrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr...?

Clio: Well... ...hardly ever!!!

Tsk, tsk, young Muse.

And don't think I haven't read of your scandalous carryings-on with that cloud-gathering Zeus, in Max Beerbohm's tell-all memoir, Zuleika Dobson!!!

Happy New Year quand même.

Rhinoracer (talk) 21:21, 27 December 2007 (UTC)

Be sure to bring us some pictures, Clio! bibliomaniac15 23:52, 27 December 2007 (UTC)