The Old Hack

Three quarters of a century ago, the Nazis, the Gestapo and all its odious apparatus overran my homeland Denmark. Ignoring peace treaties and all civilised decency they stripped my home of its freedom and independence, reduced it to a mere cog in their war machine, a stepping stone for its conquest of Norway. As time passed, they gradually tightened the screws, taking away all our own mechanisms of government, arresting and imprisoning our police force and eventually inflicting their merciless acts of genocide on Danish homosexuals, Gypsies, disabled, Jews -- anyone that did not meet their nightmarish ideals of Aryan perfection. My family had to flee to Sweden to survive and not everyone made it to safety. Of those that did not, few survived, none of them unmarked. But the darkness that had fallen across Europe did not last. Eventually a restless giant stirred in its sleep, awoke, and rose to come to the rescue of the Old World. Many nations fought the evils of the Nazis. Of those, few brought as much, sacrificed as much as America did. That war is long gone now, but I have not forgotten. I and my family directly owe our lives, home and freedom to America and her people. To the soldiers who fought so long and hard, to the working men and women in the factories, to the ordinary people who made the marvelous industry of the giant work and run when it was needed the most. To fathers and mothers and brothers and sisters who sacrificed so much, lost so many they loved. To all of America's people, whatever race or creed, for all of them paid for that war, for that freedom I now have today. Many years have passed since then. America has changed, since. Grown, and suffered growing pains. She is not perfect and never has been, but she still struggles to improve and make herself better. And precisely this is why America is great: because she always tries to be better. I will give the last word to my father, who feels this debt as keenly as I do. He is certain that whatever troubles America is enduring she will in the fullness of time rise above them -- because Americans are their own harshest critics, because they cannot rest while they believe injustice reigns. It has been so for two and a half centuries. And that much, at least, has not changed. And so, in this dark time of vitriol and partisanship and division, do not forget your roots. America IS great. Do not let anyone tell you otherwise. I believe in you. Thank you all.

I didn't think you were. On the contrary, I was trying to absolve you of responsibility. It was hardly your fault that I was in a bad spot at the time. Nonetheless, your sympathy is appreciated

The Moderator: I reopened the political thread last month. Also, you did not 'shut down' the political thread. I myself chose to shut it down because I felt I was too stressed to do a good job moderating it in the aftermath of losing a close friend to terminal cancer. Edit: Please move above post to political thread.

My wife asks if you can use either Benadryl or Zyrtec without it interfering with the lamictal. Benadryl also comes as a creme. And she strongly urges you to stay hydrated as well as possible. She warns that she is no medical expert, she is merely using what she has learned from her own experiences. She also wishes you well.

Take care of yourself. Maybe spoil yourself with one of your favourite foods. I hope you'll adjust soon.

This sort of creative weaponry has always been a favourite topic of my gaming friends. One of my favourites happened the time when, purely by coincidence and in the middle of a large and chaotic combat, a Silence spell, a Darkness spell and a Blade Barrier got plopped down in the same area. As a result, those who charged into the Darkness got minced by the Barrier but due to the Silence spell no-one heard either any death screams or yells of warning. And due to the tactical situation, a lot of NPCs and PCs managed to charge through the 'Darkness' in that combat...

Give them electronic hell. Make a list of them and feed it to your dishwasher.

Let's not jump to conclusions. It doesn't have to be an Elder God. It might just be a couple of Chthonians or maybe a Hound of Tindalos.

I am bloody well giving to it if we do. I am so fortunate as to live in a country where my health insurance as a citizen covers most of the cost of the medication that would otherwise cost me $500 a month. I can damn well afford to give some of my savings to others who need it.

The gender you identify as need not have anything to do with what you are attracted to.

Are the Black Hawks down again?

No matter what, I wish you luck and hope you feel better soon. As always, take care of yourself and please keep us posted.

Possibly, but it might still add to a subconscious sense that 'leaving town is unpleasant/unsafe.' And that is all we really know about Elliot not liking to travel -- that he doesn't like it, that is.

All of a sudden his reluctance to leave becomes perfectly comprehensible. Who knows what might happen the next time? Cheerleadra gets snatched by a dragon looking for a virgin and then has to fight her way free past an army of Puritan clothiers?

I'm having some trouble seeing how this would make Elliot more comfortable with leaving town.

Ah, that is good to hear. I admit that even here in Denmark there is some feeling of happiness that such a long time underdog has finally gotten its day in the sun

They do? That sox!

We've been over that. It is I who is made up and everything else that is real.

Well, then we have to hand it to your dishwasher, it really tried this time. I can't say I wish it better luck next time, I'd prefer you to stay unquaked.

Mmm, maybe, but my best guess is that it was trying for a decent strength earthquake, one that would make people sit up and take notice. You know how it is, you get a good grip but then when you make the big effort your grip slips and you end up just looking stupid.

I am sorry to hear. It is hard to lose a beloved teacher, especially one who managed to touch your life and give you gifts of learning that will follow you the rest of your life. I hope he will find peace.

I bet your dishwasher is very disappointed right now.

This is my wife's bid as well! Sadly they did not show this ad in my neck of the woods.

I'm so sorry. It is always painful to lose a beloved friend like that.

Amiable Dorsai just posted, too. In another thread.