Honoré de Balzac Used Coffee to Write La Comédie Humaine and That’s Good Enough For Me

Scene: My office, yesterday afternoon. I’m making tea for my friend and collaborator Teddy after a short lunch at Veracruzana.

Teddy [looking out window]: Uh oh. Someone spelled “CRYSTAL” out there on the soccer field. Amherst!

Me: I guess it’s time to have the annual “Hitler’s Drug of Choice” conversation.