Mas o malandro pra valer (não espalha) aposentou a navalha, tem mulher e filho e coisa e tal

I remember the early Christendom.
The civilising forces of Kharn and da Fé were then confined to the message board. The java chat went on.
Amanita, Ratsass, Alhsa (who taught me the little I know about IRC), the unforgettable Tom, and DD, and Raziel. Eventually Kharn too and, I suppose, Silencer, but I can't remember him at the time.
Names of saints, martyr Gibborim of my puberty. Unstoppable talk of pop tarts and Starcraft.
I saw either Ratsass or Alhsa again on IRC two or three years ago. He wasn't as entertaining as I remembered.


STARKEY (To the audience): Now, none of this, of course, is really
happening. It's a show, a play in a theater, and I'm not really a
captain. I'm an actor. (His voice rises with emotion, as though to
drown out the noise of a plane that passes very close and recedes
steadily into the distance) I'm _______ _________ (The actor mentions
his real name) You all know that. Do you think that I, _________
_______ (Repeats his real name) would actually let my son go off to a
war and be killed ... and just stand here talking to you and do
nothing? (An edge of hysteria and grief comes into his voice, as though
he knows what is to follow) Of course not! There is no war taking
place. (In the distance, there is the sound of a single, great
explosion, and Starkey whimpers and seems on the verge of weeping as he
shouts out insistently) There is no war taking place here now! (He sags
a moment, then continues desperately) THERE HAS NEVER BEEN A WAR. THERE
WILL NEVER BE A WAR. NOBODY HAS BEEN KILLED HERE TONIGHT. IT'S ONLY...
MAKE-BELIEVE... IT'S A STORY... A CHARADE... A SHOW.

I do not indulge in empty nostalgia! I was distracting you while something very important happened behind your backs, possibly to your behinds!