Gz sources for installed software are piling up in /usr/portage/distfiles/ using valuable space. Is it safe to delete these files?

Yes, you can safely delete these files. But if you are on a slow connection, such as a modem, you might want to keep the archives if possible; often several ebuilds will be released for the same version of a specific piece of software - if you have deleted the archive and you upgrade the software it will have to be downloaded from the internet again. More.

I cant really gove you an answer,but what I can give you is a way to a solution, that is you have to find the anglde that you relate to or peaks your interest. A good paper is one that people get drawn into because it reaches them ln some way.As for me WW11 to me, I think of the holocaust and the effect it had on the survivors, their families and those who stood by and did nothing until it was too late.