Alas! The black melancholy, the bane of philosophers and artists throughout history. It is characterized by a creative mania, followed by a period of black despair and hopelessness. This is why so many writers drink. Creative geniuses in particular suffer from this age-old affliction. It turns the entire world gray and mutes all music and laughter. As Shakespeare's character Jaques in the play *As You Like It* says, "I'm for other than for dancing measures." Only the prospect of another burst of creative mania keeps the hands of these men from their razors.