journal features

28 becomes 16

the journal of Michael Werneburg

twenty-eight years and a million words

Toronto, 2012.06.04

It took me 28 minutes to cycle to work today, the first time I've timed it in over a year.

That's down from about 45 minutes initially and ~35 minutes, which I thought was my norm. Along the way this morning, though, I passed an apartment we'd seen on the weekend. From that point on my route there was only a 16 minute trip to the office. That would be a nice shortening of the distance and time, I have to say. I bet that if taking the TTC, it would knock 20-45 minutes off the journey, one way.

Happily, the new apartment, if things work out, is in the neighbourhood where we have several friends (some good friends would be only a five minute child's amble from us) and where Kenny would be able to attend a school that's a stone's throw away. There's a park across the street and another with a playground just half a block up a quiet side street. Let's see what happens.

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