journal features

a profile, you ask

the journal of Michael Werneburg

twenty-seven years and one million words

Tokyo, 2008.03.27

Someone in the global organization at work wanted me to produce a profile of myself for a newsletter. This is what I came up with. It's written for an IT crowd, naturally.

I've been something of a high-tech drifter, having worked from coast-to-coast in Canada as well as in Australia and now Japan. My wandering ways came to an end a few years ago when I met a raven-haired beauty from Kyushu. Our first son was born in January, he occasionally makes a "hi" sound and we debate whether it's English or Japanese. I am an avid photographer, and this year with a little luck my first novel will be published.

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