journal features

the crow's nest

the journal of Michael Werneburg

twenty-eight years and a million words

Tokyo, 2008.10.12

We're back in Tokyo after two weeks in British Columbia.

One of the last things we did in BC was to buy some binoculars.

One of the uses that Mari wanted to put the binoculars to was to have a good look at the crow's nest across the way from our place. She did so last night and told me, "it has coat hangers". I had a look this morning and saw that she'd understated the case .. it was *entirely* comprised of coat hangers!

We had rather a lot of wind here in Tokyo in September (one of the trees in the area blew down -- doesn't sound like much by BC standards, but it is one of only perhaps twenty) and I wonder if all of the other building materials simply blew away at that time.

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