journal features

odd dream

the journal of Michael Werneburg

twenty-eight years and a million words

Sydney, 2000.05.25

I had the damndest dream last night. Sara and I were swimming in surprisingly clear water, when a large mottled red-and-black fish that was shaped somewhat like a Beluga whale came wandering by, and sucked up a little fish into its jawless maw. Then it darted over - surprising me with its agility given its ponderous appearance - and tried to eat Sara's foot. Needless to say, I was unable to communicate my warning to Sara. The thing didn't have the mouth hardware to eat her foot, though, and was gone just like that. Then I saw something much larger and more strangely shaped coming for us, and I told Sara (who was already freaking). We started swimming away from the thing, but it was huge and powerful, with strange shapes hanging off of it like the rear view mirrors on a big truck. I started to panic and I woke up.

Perhaps not entirely coincidentally, I've just entered discussion with my employer on staying on an extra three months. This would mean changing to a different kind of visa, which would entail sponsorship and a whole extra year spent in Sydney.

rand()m quote

Naturally the common people don't want war: Neither in Russia, nor in England, nor for that matter in Germany. That is understood. But, after all, it is the leaders of the country who determine the policy and it is always a simple matter to drag the 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. That is easy. All you have to do is tell them they are being attacked, and denounce the peacemakers for lack of patriotism and exposing the country to danger. It works the same in any country.

—Hermann Goering