When we were coding the database layer for Drupal 7 we found that PDO have many error modes and only exception is worth a damn. $driver_optionsPDO::ATTR_ERRMODE = PDO::ERRMODE_EXCEPTION this will make the silent failure a lot more noisy.
Do you have a permissions problem on the other folder. It must be capable of creating and writing the file (ie you must be able to write to the directory and the file).
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.