Jonathan's Blog: One geek's way in the universe

Worryingly.

I entered a poetry competition advertised at school with something I cooked up in half an hour, and amazingly they’re mad enough to want to publish it. (OK, so they don’t seem to be too selective and I have a feeling most of their business model is selling to proud parents).

Here it is, in all its dreadful glory:

I thunder as I debate: bankers,
And their bonuses; and bay for blood.
I sing The Red Flag,
Cry out for socialism
But in my heart
I’d rather keep the status quo.

My heart goes out to the starving
As I have a fourth bread roll.
I make excuses, or I try,
Say “It takes collective action”
But deep down I know
I’d really make a difference,
Going it alone.

I’ll vote for Labour
No matter what they do.
I say “It’s all we’ve got,
“the others are too small”
While a million think the same.

I am a champagne socialist.
I quaff my fizz with pride.
While all the time bemoaning
Deaths from African drought

I am an armchair activist,
I call for change
But like the way things are.
You are too, I know it,
So let me tell you now
If we do something, each of us,
We can get so far.

And in true sinewave42.com style, they’re late.

1. Keep a diary
I tried to do this last year, and I kept it for four or five months in total. I’d like to try again, and I’d like to try to keep it up for the whole year.

2. Blog more
Yeah. I tried to do this last year as well. Hopefully I’ll do a little better this year. I’m going to aim for a minimum one/month, but I’d like to try and do more.

3. Read some books
OK, so I already do quite a lot of this. But there are quite a few books I’d like to read, but need a bit of motivation to get started on, and I’d quite like to read some books I otherwise wouldn’t. I’ll post a partial list here, and I’ll keep an updated list as well, because I’m bound to think of others later.

• On Liberty, JS Mill;
• Leviathan, Thomas Hobbes;
• Paradise Lost, John Milton (at least try it);
• Catcher in the Rye, JD Salinger;
• Twilight, Stephenie Meyer (for teh lulz);

I’d also appreciate suggestions. If you comment below or otherwise contact me with a suggestion, and I can reasonably get hold of the book, I’ll make it a resolution to at least give every one a go.

There are fewer than last year, but hopefully I stand a better chance of keeping them. Hopefully.

Addendum, later that evening: As a corrolary to 2 and 3, I will try to review at least some of the more interesting books I am reading.