Themes for March, with my self-assessment:
- Continue with Fascism and Totalitarianism. Will be helpful to an essay I’m trying to write this month, as well as inherently useful. I didn’t write the essay in March, and probably won’t in April, so the theme is a little moot for my immediate needs. It continues to be an important issue for America, but so far kleptocracy and incompetence seem like worse threats than fascism (although it’s waiting in the wings).
- Read about Intellectual Property. I have to teach the topic at the end of month, and I’ve always — as a self-respecting software guy — kind of hated and dissed the subject. Time to know more. I read a few things, somewhat thin gruel, and had a couple of great conversations. Probably not on the docket for April.
- Read about plot and suspense. I’m trying to get better at this in my own writing through “deliberate practice”, so I’ll be actively researching the topic as well. I’ll continue this one in April. I had a hard time doing this deliberate practice (as all the shills for deliberate practice say one will), but it’s very helpful. I’m going to keep it up and try to notch it up.
So the April themes will be:
- Read about plot and suspense, per above.
- Read about Phenomenology and Existentialism . I got halfway through “At the Existensialist Cafe” this month, with great pleasure, and it inspired me to have a go at Heidegger’s “Being and Time” this month. Wish me luck.
- Learn more about DIY (“do it yourself”). I’m a moderate DIY-er around the home, but want to learn more, especially about woodworking and plumbing.