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The Newsletter of the Union Alliance/Galactic Federation
The UA/GF extends its heartfelt sympathy to those who so senselessly lost their lives this week:
~FEATURES~
Editorial: Terror, Tragedy...and Triumph
A middle aged, middle class man, for all appearances someone living the American dream, feels barren, as if his life is a waste. He has a high paying postition in adverstising which brings him no joy. He has a beautiful wife and daughter though they are strangers, even enemies, to him. He is surrounded by material wealth but lacks any spiritual foundation.
In his inner turmoil he reaches for, fantasizes about what he sees is unattainable yet often accessible, which might bring him some sense of self: his teen age daughter's friend.
So he begins an exercise regime. He quits his job for a menial one he really enjoys. With little success he confronts his wife and daughter on the poor communication in their home. He buys the sports car he always wanted.
One morning, leaving for his daily jog, he ponders, "The old saying 'this is the first day of the rest of your life' is true except for one day...your last one."
Some of you may ask where I'm going with this. Of all the references of media, literature and arts that have raced through my mind in relation to the World Trade Center and Pentagon attacks, this one, paraphrased from the movie 'American Beauty', has really stood out. I hope all see its relationship by the end of this editorial.
Yes, any who know me know this is quite out of character. I must admit thoughts of the movies 'Independence Day', 'Invasion USA', the works of Hemingway, Tolkien, Ayn Rand (particularly Anthem) and references to a million spiritual writings, songs and poems have enveloped me in my trying to convey, even understand myself, the powerful and mixed emotions I have regarding the senseless slaying of so many innocents on Tuesday.
Any who know me IC and IRL knows my heart cries for vengence, for retribution and for a call to arms to show the world once and for all we WILL contend with the menace of terrorism. Still, I will not go on that rant...it may very likely cause more harm than good. The IRL Mage has asked I not...more on that discourse and the Chapter of Union Home Prayer Meeting may be read at my Tavern Post of the 12th, CoUH Mourns National Disaster.
I thank all who posted in regards to this outrage and have assisted in whatever ways they have, within our Union and otherwise. One particular post stands out and should be read by all: Sir Tiggs poem entitled simply tragedy.
Also Lady Tatanka deserves more than just a passing mention for her assistance to many of our younger members as well as me during this sad time. Thank you, Penny!
Any who wish to offer aid for victims and survivors, need help coping themselves or who have any pertinent information regaurding these crimes should visit Yahoo's Emergency and Relief Information in Wake of Terrorist Attack On U.S. This is by far the best single resource I have been able to find and covers near every possible means of giving, and receiving, help in the wake of this atrosity.
I want to offer a few others for those of our community, your community and yourselves for we all are victims here, everyone of us, American or not, who believe in the ideals of personal liberty and religious freedom. Perhaps some good things may come of this after all...
* Show your support of America in her time of pain and suffering. Proudly display that American flag or half mast your own. Join the posts in our newsgroups and any others you may be a part of...let all know you are proud to be a part of or associated with this great land!
A massive backfire has occured for these international criminals: they expected us to cower in fear, become hateful and distrustful of one another...they have tested American metal and found it much stronger than even most of us ever imagined!
* Do not generalize this to any specific religious or racial group. All faiths and cultures have their minority of zealots who are just as capable of these crimes as were those who have committed them. I am saddened by reports that this is occurring almost nation and net wide. Those doing as such are simply attempting to create another campaign of terror and liken themselves to the very people they claim to be against!
* Practice random acts of kindness. It is amazing what a simple smile can do! I have noticed how so many apparently are walking about in a daze, trying to maintain a semblence of normalcy while trying to, or not to, realize their lives have changed and will never be the same.
We of the CoUH have agreed to at least say 'hello' to any we see in this state. I've done so several times and have yet to report one negative response! I find, while chances are we will never meet again, both the recipient and I walk away feeling just a little better than we were just moments before!
* Live each day as if it were 'the last day of the rest of your life'. Beyond what 'must' be done there are all the things we are called to do...don't let your life pass you by without writing that poem, seeing that play, reading that book or even learning to bungie jump if its your heart's desire!
The truth is life is too short for all of us. What good is a human existence without the growth of exploring our destinies, discovering the world around us, finding what we are capable of and called to do, learning who we are?
It is my belief everything happens for a reason, a purpose in this divine dance we call life. The child-like 'ahh' and 'aha!' experiences play largely in this, whether you have just made a break through in quantum mechanics or simply discovered you REALLY like strawberries after first tasting them. Each sentient being will experience these...it is the essence of why we are here.
It is my sincerest hope this is true for all these victims, all of us and everyone of all temporal, spatial and dimensional planes.
...On the last day of his life this fellow discovers his wife is cheating, his 'manly' male neighbor has a 'crush' on him and the object of his desire, the teen girl who started him on this adventure of self discovery now willing to submit to him, is an inexperienced, immature, insecure child...nothing as she had portrayed herself or he had envisioned her.
Instead of taking advantage of this situation he'd long dreamed of, he talks to the young lady as he would a daughter, actually trying to learn more of his own daughter from her friend seeing they now are able to speak more openly than father and child had for years.
The conversation ends with both enlightened. As the man ponders this, his family and his new view on life his wife sneaks behind him and shoots him in an indignant rage. The tale ends with his thoughts upon entering the afterlife...
"They tell you your life passes before your eyes in your last moment...what they don't tell you is that moment seems to last a lifetime.
"I relived my childhood, looking at the stars on a summer night. My first roller coaster ride. Meeting my wife and falling in love. Falling in love all over again when my daughter was born.
"All this raced through me and I in a panic tried to hold on to each fleeting moment. Then I learned to relax and let it flow through me, the beauty of each event overwhelming and fulfilling me.
"Then it occurred to me, with all its shortcomings and tragedies, just how unbelievably beautiful and meaningful my short, common, insignificant life was, as is every short, common, insignificant life.
"This is only just beginning to make sense to me so I don't expect you to understand...
"Not yet, anyway."
With Sympathy and Condolences,
Union Events
Magickal Tavern membership surpasses 100.
Empires of EverEve opens as our premiere Gothic/Vampire 'realm'.
The Alliance of Union joins The Station. (See This Week's Freebie for details.)
Calendar of Union Happenings
Fridays 10 PM EST Sir Tigger Hosts Union's Magickal Tavern (Group)
Wednesdays 9 PM EST Lord Montahon Hosts FFRPG at The Nation of Union (Club)
Join the Nation if you have yet to...be a part of Union history!
Sundays 2 PM EST Lord Monty's Outings to Alhanzar (click only if ye have not already downloaded it.)
Also watch here for upcoming scheduled events in The Zone, The Station and other arenas!
Sponsors Spotlight
A great show of support for the United States and our Union would be to simply show an interest in our Armed Forces. By visiting the link above not only can you get information on current military job listings, officer training programs such as ROTC and JROTC and other areas of military service, Union gets paid for each you ask for!
There is no draft. Asking for information puts you in no obligation whatsoever and these folks do not put you on spam lists. Consider it a source of information and a means of supporting causes you believe in.
A high ranking Pentagon official publicly becried the fact this week that, while thousands of veterans are volunteering to return to active duty, some even without pay, very few of today's youth are bothering to consider these all too important military careers. For many of you, even now too young for service, this could be a demonstration your generation also are patriots willing to at least look in to the possibility of military service!
While it is not for everyone I again look forward to the day when some Union members will say, "Monty, I've learned some lessons in Union. What you are doing is important and the defense of our United States is even more important. I'm signing up!"
Still, just a visit will show you care about both our nations and help us keep the sponsor I am by far most proud of and consider our very reason for being here, protecting our freedoms to live and 'play' as we so desire!
Visit them and any of our other Sponsors & Shops of interest to ye today!
Mages and Mysteries FFRPG
UPDATE: Deadline for the contest is now 9/30/01, after which I will 'feed' the answers to a participating NoU BB/FFRPG player!
Everyone has noticed the strange Mage who refers to himself as Mayhem lurking
about Union's gate. Who is this man? Why is he here? Herein lies a mystery
for all who wish to search for clues to who this man truly is and what omens
his appearance brings Union. Your only hint: The answers are in Union,
somewhere! Meet in the Tavern (OOC) and Keep (IC) to discuss your findings. An IRL prize will be awarded the member(s) who might solve this enigma!
Union Classifieds
Help Wanted
Lord/Lady of Law (LL): Union Council post in desperate need of filling!
This position currently requires less than three hours work per week and
entails:
High Priest/Priestess: This Post requires assisting Monty in the rebuilding
of the Palace Temple and overseeing the recruitment and training of incoming
priests. Some ceremonial duties may include conducting marriages and
christenings. Applicant should have a working knowledge of Union history and culture, be of sound moral character and tolerant of the beliefs of others.
Union Knights: Always 'hiring'! please read the Knights' Handbook at the Library and
now in the Knights' Keep ('runes' above). If ye have the metal and courage
to join us, please do! No duties required but rank may be gained swiftly
for: Tavern Hosts, FFRPG Proctors, Game Masters and Recruiters,to name a
few. Please send an application or letter stating your interest.
Gateway News Staff: Any who would be interested in assisting Monty in
writing articles, beginning or taking over an existing regular column or
would like to help in any way please contact him!
IRL Items for Sale
Darthon's Claymore 32 lbs, 62 in, the original sword of Darthon himself,
'battle scars' included! Lord Montahon hates to part with it but shall if a
good offer is made!
Mage Mayhem's Robes Truly magical! These appear as normal robes with a
hood but become 'faceless' when reversed. Rare and no longer available (for
now!), these are in Union royal purple and drop 48 in from the shoulder.
Write Monty with an offer!
Personals
URGENT MESSAGE FROM ImPoTeNt KiLLa NyTe to LW Terak: i no i is mo impotent den u b
Get Involved with YOUR Union!
When at all possible support Union in these ways, which will allow for
further developments and more fun!!!
* Visit Our Sponsors & Shops: Great freebies and just about anyting you could hope to find at great prices are there! Often just a click brings us much needed funds!
* Visit Chats and Add to BB's: If you haven't joined already please visit
and sign up at the links above. These are off AOL and allow Monty to control
the rooms and messages. There are also instructions at all to show you how
to create your own chat's and BB's!
* Take a Union Title: Many are available and some (like the Union Knights)
require little work, if any at all, and offer promotions! See the Tavern BB
or write Monty for details or just tell him what you'd like to do!
* RECRUIT! If ye do not have the recruitment letter for Union please write
Monty for it. Then it is as simple as forwarding it as a 'map' or 'scroll'
to anyone ye feel may be intrested in visiting our fair realm. This is also
a free and public newsletter ye may share with all!
This Week's Freebie: Sony's Station
Of all the possible free sites I may have added this week I include The Station because of their great sympathy towards victims of our Tuesday tragedy...in addition to their condolences is a plea for information to the whereabouts of one of their CEO's own sons who was presumed to be in the World Trade Center at the time of the disaster.
Still, this is a noteworthy site in that it is yet another that offers several free games, and of the quality you could expect from Sony! In addition to Jeopardy, other game shows and still more free single and multiplayer games, the Station hosts EverQuest, the "most successful online fantasy role playing game ever!"
While EQ requires you buy the software (available at our sponsors J&R Music and Electronics, SoftwareFirst and used at e-Bay and Half.com)and pay $10 per month after your first free one (DEFINITELY a bargain!), two ENTIRELY FREE SF games there really stand out.
Tanaras (tanks) and Infantry (hmmmm...wonder what that ones about?) take you into the not to distant future's battleground as a combat commando of your own tank or in a specialized infantry group.
The software for both came as free additions on the EQ CD but are available for download on the site, free to play forever with free membership. The download may be long but, having tried Tanarus myself both in single and multi modes will attest it is worth every minute! Enjoy and Thanks, Sony!
" This be OUR realm...let's see she be her best!"
original material and newsletter design copyright © Nation of Union 2001. Any
uses other than distribution without modification by permission only.
9/14/01
May their passage be enlightened, may their lives have not been in vain.
Editorial: Terror, Tragedy...and Triumph
Union Events
Sponsor Spotlight
Mages and Mysteries FFRPG: DEADLINE POSTED
Union Classifieds
Get Involved with YOUR Union!
This Week's Freebie: The Station
Monty
This Week in Brief
Mondays 10 PM EST Monty Hosts Union's Magickal Tavern (Group)
((This is a continuation of the ongoing PPRPG of which our IRL Mage has
participated.))
A public service for all members, please mail Monty any ads that may be of
interest to Union members. Ads will be posted free and will remain four weeks
or until notification by the writer he wishes it renewed or removed.
* A working knowledge of Union Law and a willingness to see it enforced
throughout our realms.
* Assisting Monty in the preparation of our Library of Law texts and documents. (Web design
skill desired, not required.)
* Benefits include Council voting priveledges and possible IRL employment.
(quoted from LS Montahon)