journal features

settling an aquarium

the journal of Michael Werneburg

twenty-eight years and a million words

Kokubunji, 2022.12.03

Sadly, all of Emma's three street-festival goldfish fingerlings are gone. I think they were only about ten weeks old when we got them and at least one of them was clearly suffering and degraded when we got them. I've been watching a tonne of videos of course and I have to say, this guy is advocating for exactly what I'm doing.

I added a plant (a spider plant cutting) immediately when we got the fish, and have since added a store-bought aquarium plant. We have algae growing and both plants are putting out new leaves and roots. The spider plant is already shedding plants and I'm happy to report that there's now nitrate in the aquarium. Another five weeks or so, and we'll be ready for fish. One of my colleagues told me that those festival-won fish tended to "last two weeks or twelve years". Emma now wants some fantail goldfish, specifically white ones. We'll see how long they last; if we're betting on twelve years, she'll be in university.

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