So the prompt is, “What’s on your mind”. Ha. Quite a lot actually, but how do I access that without being solipsistic. I’ve wanted to start a blog forever and now that it’s thoroughly or seemingly out of fashion, I’m ready.
The focus and name of this blog is on worst-case scenarios and being negative, although in reality I’m not really that way. Or so I think of myself as being more positive than your average bear. I indulge in “realistic” thinking, and am quite focused on the reality of our situation here in the phenomenal, extant, visible universe and that our time here is short and that everything we depend and think of as permanent is in fact temporary. I think in some ways that’s what I want to write about and explore. Although it’s also a way for me to not be emotionally connected to what’s happening around me because I can always just claim it will eventually disappear, change, die, etc. What becomes worth living or fighting for in such a philosophy.
A few themes, things I’d like to explore, write about here.
1. Stoicism. I realize this is the darling of the tech/coding set, but it has some real value especially when the world is chaotic and out of your control as it is now. How does a person remain sane when everything and everyone around them appears to be insane?
2. Chess! I love chess. One of those things that I got into during the pandemic. However, I’m a terrible player. (Me being a little harsh.) What it is teaching me is the real-world value of a growth mindset as made famous by Carol Dweck (https://www.mindsetworks.com/science/). Just because you aren’t good at something (yet!!) doesn’t mean it’s not worthwhile to do. Also, the value of hobbies/avocations vs. jobs/expertise. General vs. Specialized knowledge. All of this comes from my recent foray into education and teaching. Kind of a disaster but I’m still unclear.
3. Books/Literature: I will use this space to write –short– reviews/comments on what I read, that might encompass literature, some philosophy, science fiction and fantasy, non-fiction, and whatever else I find interesting.
4. I want to spend a little time delving into the made-up religion of SF-pioneer Octavia Butler, Earthseed. As some might be aware she describes Earthseed in her famous novel, The Parable of the Sower. The religion is mostly an 1970s eco-focused belief in never-ending transformation and change. I think this idea is more valuable/interesting than ever.
5. Race and identity. This is a thornier one because of who I am (cis-gender, white male) and so maybe I have no right to enter this space. I think what I want to do more than anything is just listen and allow for that space (as I learned getting my teaching credential at Mills College in Oakland) to grow exist and welcome all.
6. Wrapping up for now, I think I want to explore my experiments with meditation, the search for happiness, fighting against procrastination, and the books/articles that I read as I explore this path.
7. Random catchall for any and all tech/programming related topics that I’m interested in. This may include Python, MacOS, Linux, HTPCs, e-books and e-book readers, Calibre (an e-book organizational tool), note taking, and other techie things that I’m excited about.
There’s a lot here and I reserve the right to change my mind, tweak, edit down, and alter the main focii of this blog as I explore different topics and change. So for right now, I sign off.
I promise to try to be negative. We’ll see if that is possible.