Pray to God, but keep rowing for the shore. — Old Russian Proverb

Naturally, the common people don't want a war, but after all, it is the leaders of a country who determine th policy, and it is always a simple matter to drag people along whether it is a democracy, or a fascist dictatorship, or a parliament, or a communist dictatorship. Voice or no voice, the people can always be brought to the bidding of the leaders. This is easy. All you have to do is to tell them they are being attacked, and denounce the pacifists for lack of patriotism and exposing the country to danger. It works the same in every country." - Hermann Goering, Hitler's Reich-Marshall at the Nuremberg Trials after WWII.

Some of you eagle eyed readers may have noticed that the quote from Goering above is the same one Michael Lowrey had in his last subszine issue. I’d picked this quote prior to that coming out and it just speaks to the validity and relevance of the quote that we both thought it appropriate.

Gunboat with press: Three signed up so far.

Perestroika Diplomacy: Add an economic twist to the classic game. Centers generate revenue, armies and fleets must be maintained, and treasuries can be sacked! Rules are available on request.

Signed up: Art Schleinkofer, Phil Reynolds, Harold Reynolds, Karl Schmit

Standard Diplomacy: That’s it, the one and only original

Signed up: Fred Wiedermeyer, Hank Alme, Cary Nichols

Just the results please: Don’t really know what to call this one as I just came up with it. Perhaps it’s been tried before. The twist for this variant is that each season only the ending unit positions are published, not the orders. You’ll know who went where, but not who helped whom, or want may have been tried unsuccessfully.

Signed up: Phil Reynolds, Doug Kent

A new game for 3-4 players. Manager your factory and build your products, but beware, increased production means more waste, and if you aren’t careful you’ll find that working in a sludge pit affects your productivity and the bottom line.

New Game: Any requests? If not I’ll pick a map I have.

Signed up: Michael Pargman

Outpost:

Sign up for the next game to start when the current one finishes.

Snowball fighting: Current game is over. Anyone interested in another go? 3 signed up so far

Signed up: Tom Howell

Reader’s Choice: I’m open to anything, just send me the rules and if I think I can run it, I’ll offer it.

Frank - George: You nicompoop! You waited too long to move! Now we'll never beat the Howells and the Brosiuses! Lloyd Braun would not have made such a mistake!

Elaine - everybody: could I PUH-LEAZE draft somebody? Threes are getting boring.

GM to Elaine: Nine bouncing backsides to watch, is that better?

George - Frank: you and Lloyd Braun can stuff a sock in it!

Jerry - George: I don't think anybody actually says that.

Kramer - Jerry: here, have some beefaroni.

Jerry - Kramer: it's OK, I've got some mulligatawny from the Soup Nazi.

Soup Nazi - Homegrown Evil: No soup for you!

Dans - Potemkins: Did Langford break away this time? Not much I can do about it in any case, so I decided to hang back again.

GM to Dans: He’s off!

BOOB to GM: Screw one point here, one point there, throw caution to the win and try the Break Away! Langord to the front, WE ARE THE FRONT MEN.

BOOB to ROME: Go ahead, you have two 10’s, play one….

GM to BOOB: Obliging, isn’t he?

BOOB to ABIGAIL: Hey sweetie, don’t try and keep up with me!

BOOB to BABYLON: Save that 16, you don’t need to play it yet!!

BOOB to BBG: So, the key is to stay in the back and lose the pack, right?

FRONT MEN to KINGDOMS: Nah, you aren’t gonna ride with me quite yet, are you?

BOOB to THE BREAK AT 90: NO ONE can hit the 90 square, so I think Richard Barone will back himself up to that backstop. How about if some of you pop in front of us and give Dagmar and me some cards!!! By the way, Tom, this guarantees that Barone will finish ahead of Dagmar, I just hope Barone gets WAY more points.

GM to BOOB: I think the 81/82 break is more significant to the players than the one at 89/90 but either way, Barone’s not getting anything.

BOOB to GM: Rick has a key turn this time, he may win the game if his riders pick up the right replenishments.

GM to BOOB: Well, Hoimegrown Evil did the best, but I don’t think it will be enough. The Four Kingdoms look like they will be a contender though.

BOOB to NOTHING: Why can’t you REALLY be about nothing?

:Black Bottomed Girls (Brendan Whyte) 5 points

Homegrown Evil (Mike Barno) 0 points

Thin Bottomed Girls (Tom Howell) 24 points

Manager: Edith

The Four Kingdoms of Daniel Chapter Seven (Eric Brosius) 8 points

The Front Men (Jim Burgess) 15 points

Manager: Ian Curtis

The Team About Nothing (Rick Desper) 26 points

Manager: Frank Costanza

An interesting turn indeed. Not much happening in the southeast as Austria and Russia bounce around and Turkey holds a hug-in, but things are more active elsewhere. England gains a plus as France turns and looks south, but the lazy Belgians forget to support Holland and the fleet is destroyed and the Russians sail into Nwy, so the joy is shortlived. Scandinavia should be interesting this fall!

Italy declines to call off the offensive and moves into Mar. The French slip a fleet behind the lines however and there’s panic in Rome. The Mediterranean coasts should be fun to watch as well!

Austria: a gal retreats otb

Germany: f den retreat hel

England: F HOL Annihilated.

England To France - On beehalf of the Queen and myself, welcome to the new Supreme Ruler for Life in France!

Italy to All: My apologies to all for being rather uncommunicative for some time. Too many irons in the fire, as the saying goes, but I'll do better as I'm posting letters to everyone tomorrow.

Italy to France: Your predecessor reneged on an agreement by occupying GOL, and thus incurred my wrath. I won't rule anything out, but changing course now would be difficult.