Can I use a single file as a buffer? I.e. write to and read from at same time?

Most systems has several solutions for what you want to do, such as pipes and unix sockets. These are intended for this, unlike regular files. There are however programs that does this on regular files, and I think the clearest example of this is the unix-utility tail, which can "follow" a file.

You can use memory-mapped files, standard Python module called mmap.

I cant really gove you an answer,but what I can give you is a way to a solution, that is you have to find the anglde that you relate to or peaks your interest. A good paper is one that people get drawn into because it reaches them ln some way.As for me WW11 to me, I think of the holocaust and the effect it had on the survivors, their families and those who stood by and did nothing until it was too late.