journal features

secret gift for The Boy

the journal of Michael Werneburg

twenty-seven years and one million words

Kokubunji, 2024.12.25

X'mas Day was fun. The Boy had to race off for basketball practice by 09:00, but we'd opened a few presents -- overwhelmingly for The Girl. I have a nifty new fish bowl for growing aquatic plants. I'm going to think about throwing a couple of Medaka (rice fish) in it when we're back in town.

Mari and I are planning an interesting gift for The Boy. Happily, it's the kind of thing we can get into with a lot more confidence than any time in the past thirty years because the fashions have swung in favor of this sort of thing again.

And yes, I can safely relate this here, because The Boy doesn't read this website.

🤫

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