Straha is perhaps one of the most-recognized members of AH.COM. He found AH.com in 2001 after it was linked on a thread in another forum that he went to at the time. Until late 2002, he didn’t join in the discussions (not being into AH too much at that point). His timelines are recognized for many things, including an American owned Mexico, large German and South African (see Domination of Draka) powers, very dystopic qualities (which he claims are only to “spice things up”), large empires in the modern day, and rather deranged geopolitical situations (see the maps posted by him). He is also known for practically ruining DBWI threads by posting very dystopic or deranged events in the first few posts (he will sometimes start in the second post).

In Chat, many regard him as a typo-making trolling pothead, though he disputes the latter by saying he’s only smoked once. He always hazes n00bs (but only if they show tendencies of being like luakel or Nekromans), and is usually the first one on the scene when someone else is trolling, eagerly yelling “BAN HIS ASS!”. One of Straha’s distinctive quirks is the usage of image macros in his posts (especially pics saying “BAN HIS ASS” or “Aw geez not this shit again). Recently Straha has taken to finding “suitable” posts in one of the offtopic boards, quoting them then editing the quotes to include the lyrics of the opening theme from Fresh Prince of Bel Air. He was also one of the main characters in the Sheep Thread. Despite the sheep thread being Landshark’s creation, many credit Straha for it (because he is insane).

Straha’s favorite areas of Alternate History are The Napoleonic Era, The Age of US manifest destiny, the sectional crisises from 1820-1860/American civil war, Age of colonial empires, World War One, the interwar era, The cold war, Future history and non-ISOT Alien Space Bats scenarios. He can usually be found commenting on threads if they are related to those (and he finds them interesting).

Straha’s favorite published works of alternate history are: The domination of draka series by S.M. Stirling, The colonization/homeward bound series by Harry Turtledove, Peshawar Lancers by S.M. Stirling, Number of the beast by Robert Heinlein, Two Dooms by C.M. Kornbluth, A different flesh by Harry Turtledove, Job: a comedy of justice by Robert Heinlein and GURPS Alternate Earths 1/2/GURPS Infinite worlds.

Straha’s favorite unpublished online alternate histories are: Strange Days by Mr_ Bondoc, Without an Eclipse: Higher goes the Rising Sun by Darkest, Dark America by Scott Palter, Superpower Empire China 1912 by Hendryk, Franco-American War 1798 by Blochead, Decline And Fall of the American Empire (1980-2090) by Midgard, The Chiapas Revolt timeline by Blochead, Earth Ascendant by Darkest. Straha also can’t wait for Stalin Malone‘s upcoming An Alternative 20th Century and his alternate DC comics universe TL.

He has recently been banned for antagonizing Landshark mere days after returning from being kicked. He tried to return as the sockpuppets Poison Frog, Bill Mochachinno, Fungi of Yuggoth, and Archon, without success.

Straha’s rivals/enemies on AH.com consist of: iokua, Hashemite, luakel, Imajin, Fellatio Nelson, Kit, radical_neutural, Michael E Johnson, Othniel and Nekromans.

Straha’s friends on AH.com consist of General_Paul, Darkest, Agentdark, Mike Collins, Mr_ Bondoc, EvolvedSaurian, Stalin Malone, Highlander (Straha and Highlander get along well until Highlander starts talking about furry stuff), chunkeymonkey13q, Romulus Augustulus, and Midgard.

Straha was usually in trouble with Ian for something or another.

Straha and Stalin Malone know each other off of AH.com and talk to each other regularly on AIM (and now MSN). The conversations contain a WIDE range of content and vary from serious things like Straha being asked for relationship advice to both of them bouncing odd ideas of of one another.

Straha also regularly talks to General_Paul on AIM. The conversations show the same wide range of content as his conversations with Stalin Malone but the conversations with General_Paul tend to be more surreal, perverted and deranged. The kind of innuendo the conversations are filled with usually involved tentacles and would blind Fellatio Nelson.

Another poster Straha talks to on AIM is Trotsky, who he ran into on Alternia’s successor board.

He has done 4 major timelines: A confederate victory timeline, a revised version of Strange Days, a revised Draka timeline, and an ‘odd 20th century/President Eugene McCarthy’ timeline (which he has personally disowned). Straha has yet to do anymore timelines.

He writes an infrequently updated series on his website. Straha also attempted a Race/Worldwar short story in the Writer’s Forum but that didn’t pan out.

Straha has been kicked more times than anyone can count.

Straha was one of the few members on AH.com who do not participate in Shared Worlds at all.

Straha was a longtime Member, until he was banned in 2006.

Straha was an occasional contributor to the map thread.

Straha posted multiple images of Adolf Hitler, in almost every open thread on AH.com. He claims this is his last trip to AH.com as of 2007. This has yet to be disproven.

“PUNISH HIM!!!!!”

“BAN HIS ASS!”

“PUNISH HIM WITH FIRE!”

<insert the lyrics from the fresh prince of Bel Air’s opening theme into any long post>

Straha plays the role of fat, abrasive, but slightly lovable, atheist pothead on the ship. He’s often stoned out of his mind, and this leads to a love-hate relationship with the strongly religious Othniel, who often tries to steal his pot and convert him.

He abandoned the ship when Doctor What tried to destroy the Hub, he teamed up with Mike Collins, much to his distress.

Straha appeared in Luaky Commer as the ‘Stoned Philosopher’ and in AH.COM WARS as a violent barfly who intimidated Luak Slywanker.