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sixty-one babies gone

the journal of Michael Werneburg

twenty-eight years and a million words

Kokubunji, 2024.07.13

We took the large majority of the remaining baby goldfish to the fellow with the aquarium shop in Tachikawa. He paid us another ¥732 for the fish (that's ¥12 a piece!) and told my daughter "I haven't told you this, but I've been using them as feeder fish." That wasn't unexpected, but I'm not sure why he told the twelve-year-old that.

This was our fifth visit to his store, and brings the number of fish we've handed over to about 285. We still have fifteen of the slowest-growing in our new upstairs 48L tank, but I was finally able to pack up the tub we were using as a breeding aquarium for the past three months. ¥2,000 well spent, I'd say! In total, I worked on goldfish related things for three hours from 07:30 this morning -- not including the trip to offload the fish.

It feels good to put all this behind us. I now know a lot more about goldfish, and I was well-pleased at how healthy and glossy the fish were. I feel that I know enough to "do it properly" should I ever have to, and by that I mean how to produce goldfish that are more colorful. But I can't say I'm too interested. This was a LOT of work for not a lot of purpose.

Mari and Emma each selected one fish to keep for the upstairs aquarium. I give it about two years before they outgrow that small tank, and we'll see what happens then.

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