Translate

Tuesday, August 29, 2017

Enjoyment of explanation

With a burst of posts explaining things, I think, am glad to have them. Can be odd to consider that lots of times have a better grasp of my own story only after trying to explain to others. But why? Or maybe I just think it can be odd. It really does make sense.

In finding explanation can communicate to others tend to have to focus on common ground in some way, versus just focused on your own feelings which can lead one astray.

And I get a LOT of support in various ways where much is interest for ideas but maybe some is people wondering about these things.

Global attention reality of the web didn't come with an instruction manual.

(At least it didn't for me, if you got one--please share.)

Feel much better now than in the past when wondered if it would ever make sense! And now am very much enjoying that sense of, yes.

And can get to the obvious even for myself, like imagine if the enterprising folks who started Uber and Lyft had instead argued with taxi companies that they should let people book rides and pay for them on the web. Such great and simple ideas! They'd still be arguing with nothing changed am sure.

Yup.

That's like me with the math. Arguing with the establishment, rather than implementing the changes and presenting to a ready audience. Oh wait, I DID do that to some extent, though definitely didn't monetize. Ok. I have no problem with that. There have been math ideas could have potentially turned into a paid product, but had bigger things to do. Still do. But, my need for approval from the establishment was WAY too high, as that can simply be childish, like looking eagerly for approval from a parental authority. THAT have corrected. Figuring out authority helped me fix.

And appreciate appropriate authority more now, and not less.

So yeah, much progress in my own understanding from work done through blog posts, and satisfied with my own approach, so far.

But am also thankful for the entrepreneurs who DO start the companies without bothering to argue with the establishment. They just get it done.

Then for the rest of us? So much nicer to have more options to get to where we want to go.


James Harris

Monday, August 28, 2017

Where ideas should move things

Will readily admit that important in my story is a reality that there are just certain things I don't want to do. And with my ideas have angled for a situation where the ideas move things. Like readily admit they DO draw attention from all over the planet. Haven't elaborated on how that works, so will here.

Like with math, when I introduce a discovery which can be useful, can just post on my math blog and then watch the country counts jump. And THAT is just what shows as for instance people with ad block or whatever hides information sufficiently for them to not show, will not. And I can see the interest play out about what I would expect based on value of that particular discovery. And watch it peak over a certain time, and then diminish as discovery has successfully propagated globally to saturation.

So there are people as I'd expect USING it and then we get to the question of, so are they talking about it? I guess maybe, but am not a certified authority, and is a prestige area where there are establishment authorities.

Some experts in any number of industries or working for institutions may actually be incapable of talking about a discovery from someone like me, without it being certified by establishment authorities--at least officially.

Possibly they could challenge mathematicians, but can you imagine any doing that really? I find that hard to visualize.

With years of this going on, am confident can say--they're stuck.

Then again, that's if they even care who discovered.

With reference we often use things without thinking of such details. I know I do. And even when told? I usually forget. Just too many things out there discovered by lots of people. If I need a tool? Just give me the tool. I rarely care who made that tool.

However, some people am sure DO. And regardless to some extent can track what interest is drawn.

Have watched that LOTS of times through the years and sometimes get curious with certain countries and still the quiet, and to me is just the usual. World uses the ideas, and I just don't have to deal with official recognition.

Covered math but similar things happen in other areas. And like with my entertainment ideas? Is fascinating how that actually works. And yes, those ideas went global as well. However, am puzzling over why for now, seems most of the impact has been in the United States. Um, I have rules applied to myself to limit how directly I impact any entertainment in any country. To me is just the right thing to do. It's not like most people would even have a clue. But I would know.

My ideas do not sit and wait. What actually happens is, I watch what they do after I release them to the world, like here, and make adjustments as the data arrives. Has been that way for YEARS. And the ideas are tireless.

Once unleashed they usually make changes I can detect. Is just for me to keep up with what interests me.

Why would they make changes?

When are better, people do tend to pick up better ideas rapidly, develop better techniques and use them, and I can detect how things shift as I know what to expect, as are my ideas.

And guess is helpful to admit, if global jump in interest does NOT happen? Then I go back to check the ideas. Or if there are not the expected changes. Has helped me find out something was off, though am rarely just wrong, any more. Other times just find out my expectations were off. And the ideas are working.

Will admit have been surprised at SOME of the things they are doing to the entertainment industry, especially in the US. But for the most part was within my expectations.

Monitoring is TONS of fun, of course. We're talking entertainment.

I just want better entertainment.

From my perspective has been a great adventure, where I enjoy how things have played out.

Has worked well for so long, but I have ran into a problem. Seems so silly but so far haven't figured out a work-around. Have gleefully worked regular jobs through entire time, funding my own hobby.

But you know what the trouble is with global attention? Eventually I guess employers aren't so keen on hiring that guy who is known all over the world. Silly people.

I'm so much fun!

Which is the pressure am facing now. Pushing me to move in a different direction.

Am working through the problem space now, which is how I use my blogs. And this blog is figuring it out.

My blogs are really good at what they do.


James Harris

Accepting my attention reality

Occurs to me is easier to give various perspectives on my experiences over last twenty plus years doing my own research that still miss certain aspects. So here is yet another. Which makes this a post I consider behind the scenes which is labeled as such.

Like by 1999 had already built a bit of a reputation arguing with math people on Usenet. To me was weird as said was just some guy trying to figure out my own math things, but there were people there who hated me anyway. Haters are a problem better understood now. Back then their behavior was a big challenge for me.

Main thing though is had already garnered quite a bit of attention in certain kinds of obscure circles, arguing math, especially as had collapse a certainty of important math discoveries, more than once.

Last one took about 6 months before I discovered my error, after having spent months arguing with people who knew the mistake. And took as an opportunity to make fun of me with more passion, and luckily I figured it out myself. To me was lame behavior, seeing the error but not pointing it out to me. Not behavior one forgets.

Thought about giving up on math research after this stunning and very humiliating thing, and decided instead to quit caring about finding something great, and should just focus on fun! That is, I decided I should accept I enjoyed the effort, without looking for reward, which I did.

And promptly as soon as had that release and peace with continuing, invented my own mathematical technique using what I decided to call tautological spaces. Like once I relaxed, found a path which really was my own mathematical discipline. But I didn't know that then. So yeah, started singing karaoke to gain experience with public facing, around the time had a feeling eventually would need public facing skills.

But was 2002 when I knew for sure.

Then I found this clever way to count prime numbers close to what was known, but also with a neat trick that did SO much is hard to explain. But like that thing pushed me into calculus, which meant diverging from using only simple techniques, which mathematicians call elementary methods, which had decided to do at beginning of my hobby of chasing my own research started in 1995. Oh yeah, have some posts on my prime counting way on this blog. And link is here to one.

Cool thing about that was no doubts about it being correct so no possibility of repeat of previous collapse of my ideas. And hey, was with prime numbers! Figured no way that could not move things.

Then my own math discipline sent me down very weird paths, as wrote my one paper that got published, then math journal chief editor tried to delete out. And months later math journal shutdown. Or as I prefer to say, the math journal keeled over and died. Oh that was in 2004.

That was weird.

And concerned about how to know if a math argument was correct or not, still not wanting a repeat of that pain of being wrong, I came up with a functional definition of mathematical proof. Later I'd do more functional definitions, including my latest on authority. But my latest formalized one, where is written like a dictionary definition is of entertainment.

Oh yeah, so consider by 2004 had my own way to count prime numbers, and had witnessed an entire math journal implode on my one math paper finally published, and am trying to figure out what to do with my life. And NOTHING was going as expected.

But can be safe in saying that these things could not have happened without others noticing and now realize yeah, was global in a HUGE way, at least in math circles for sure. But not much official that I could see and YES was bugging mathematicians. And getting nowhere through it all.

In 2005 went to San Francisco, California, USA and was the BEST thing in many ways, but in lots of ways I was an emotional mess.

My ego was stroked by the global attention which I could detect though mostly through Usenet, and by knowledge of my discoveries, but in check by lack of official recognition, and still needing a regular job to make money. But karaoke was more like a celebrity experience for me.

By 2010 began to focus more, and had blogs by then including this one. My ego was even more in check, and began to pull back from ranting and raving about my situation or relentless talking about how AWESOME I must be with such discoveries.

Would leave San Francisco in 2012.

By 2012 was even more focused but math research had fallen to the side. And was more into other things like political theories and figuring out money, since it dawned on me would be nice to make some. So yeah, struggling with needing to make money? WILL push you to polite and getting along better with your fellow humans.

And now have reached a lot of peace with it all.

Put active research behind me, but promptly found one more math thing which shouldn't have surprised me. You kind of need to relax into research I think.

And, have finally pondered my global reality enough to get a better sense of it. Is still unsettling, but far more settled. Is often surprising, but at least makes sense to me now in ways just did not before.

Guess it does help having over a decade experience knowing you are globally known. Do appreciate the time.

It has been a great adventure. So many highs and lows. Unbelievable highs. Daunting lows. And now? More calm and appreciation. Learned so much!!!

Which is yet another take on things along with the others. Stopping myself as this thing is way longer than I thought it would be when I started. Who knows though where will be after editing.

Of course, like usual, I like to write, edit a bit, post and then edit more. Is my process.


James Harris

Sunday, August 27, 2017

Conversations with myself on work

Talk to myself a LOT and writing is work, but also I do work at other things. But also thought it'd be fun to write down some of the things I have told myself for years, like work is more fun.

And you CAN work seven days a week--just switch off between tasks.

Will not even think of retiring, ever, and again, am considering writing work, and figure will still be writing for as long as I can. My only big thing though is figuring out how to make money, within my values.

So yeah, have to add that within my values part with making money, as otherwise makes no sense, as to how I can garner as much attention as I claim I do, without that meaning big bucks.

There is more on the work things I say to myself though. Like don't like to admit, am afraid of relationships, interfering with work! And weekends to me are those times when other people often are not working when I am, as I can detect the world slow down. Also during holidays, which was a strange thing to realize.

I can feel the world at work, which is actually about objective measures which have discussed. That is, noticed that cycles of visits to various things I have on the web ebb and flow with things like the weekday or holidays. My web things tend to draw people when needed, like when they are at work, as my focus is functional.

Am NOT an entertainer.

There is a HUGE difference though between mental activity, and anything physical. Where no, am not into endless physical labor. And even with mental, I need it to be creative which is still exhausting, but after I have something.

Like will edit this post, and eventually get to a point will just try to read it, as if I didn't write it. And maybe laugh a bit at admissions of truths. Wasn't always this way either. Maybe I should change back.

Ooh, what happened to me? How did I get such perspectives? Guess from situations where was having more fun doing things like am doing now, than anything else. Ok, sounds good to end this thing. And after that--editing! More work. Yes!


James Harris

Wednesday, August 23, 2017

What global takes and gives

Better thing about the web is that ability to put something out here and have people all over the world or just in your little corner of the world, consider and maybe appreciate it. Which is a give and take process as you give content and take feedback. Or try not to take it, or discover if you can take it.

The constant refinement is giving us a different kind of person on the global stage, often with experience that was impossible to gain in the past.

Going through a system that is more like what I call a silo, you could find people looking for a chance to even get to heavy exposure. Or get to ANY exposure.

While on the web you can just decide to put something up, like on social media.

You then become the executive for your decisions, executing your plans and deciding much, long before you can usually garner enough attention to be subject to decision-making from established executives, if you want it.

Which I think is great.

The refinement of constant feedback possible from the web is key to a very different type of person on the global stage--like me!

Which expands the range of content.

If you have something interesting? You can interest others.

Web enables. Your choice.


James Harris

How much effort?

Reflecting more as assess current status and decided made sense to talk how much effort I feel have put into finding my own ideas, which have noted began back April 1995. There was some confidence there I think as noted the date to within a month. Later have decided April 15th sounds good for the day. Where my vague idea was to use modern problem solving techniques on old presumed hard math problems, just in case that fresh look with a try anything simple perspective might reveal things missed before.

Oh yeah, so yes, made a rule to use only simple approaches. Am so glad I did that! Where only diverged from it a bit with one thing, where I found myself needing calculus. But even then I didn't go beyond partial differential equations of the first order. So still didn't use really complex mathematics. Was important to have that rule to not get bogged down in certain ways. There IS a lot of modular which was key to a lot, and now just seems so cool. Yes modular is in mathematics as well as so many other things in our world and is one of the most powerful simplifying abstractions available.

So yes, a hobby, which was a good way to look at it. Just my own interest in doing something, on my own time, without anyone else involved in decision-making or anything of importance relative to it.

However, did put in much effort maybe because I enjoyed it so much and like many who try such things very quickly thought I had success! Where with one thing? Um, yeah. But I don't talk it as much as wrote a math paper and sent to a reputable journal and had an editor reject my proof as too simple. That will rattle you. Too simple? Are you kidding me? (Is correct I know now but still don't push that hard, as it's just such an emotional thing to me.)

But trusted established authority then, so moved on. That was 1996.

Will admit as was also living my life otherwise, did wonder at times at how much time was spending on my hobby which was a lot! Generally ALL my free time, except for when partying or going out like to nightclubs which did back then. Later would focus more on bars.

Was 1999 when feeling confident and deciding should learn better to face the public, started doing karaoke. Which was a great decision. Little did I know then I had invented a new mathematical technique which would carry me quite a bit from then on, with my latest discovery less than four months ago. It seemed like a good idea at the time, but part of me was also VERY skeptical.

My feel of how things went from about then until 2002 was that I worked at my hobby 7 days a week through entire time, while also finding time to work, and do other things. But by then could work on math problems in my head. And even told myself that I worked on them in my sleep.

Reason for one of my favorite tweets:

So yeah am talking to myself. Through the years conversations with myself were of course very common, especially when wondering about how much time was spending, and whether could be justified. For a hobby of finding my own ideas, I seemed to be working at it more than anything else.

Didn't really slow down too much till probably 2008? Seems so vague now. By then probably was NOT still every single day. But still most of them. And was also a more and more refined process which was less scribbling on paper and more and more was me working on things with my mind and only going to paper when necessary. Which was good. In the past had at times actually ran out of things to scribble equations on.

And finally started branching out into other areas, which I think maybe was more by 2012?  Or maybe 2010? And then was full force by 2014. And recently I finally suspended formal research, though promptly figured some other things out. Oh yeah, by then was really accepting WAS formal research as struggled to stop it. Tried a few times and now seems to be finally sticking. And now am more into assessing, finally feeling like did ok.

So we're talking about 22 years. And to myself about 7 of those were working every single day, most of the waking day, and confident was working on math problems in my dreams, which um, is probably actually true.

Which sounds about right. And glad to write it down! Have thought about it before but remember being more confident on details while now is more vague. So better to put it down before I forget.


James Harris

Tuesday, August 22, 2017

Structuring your connections

Web removes the information distribution problem. So you can put something on the web, and other people can make a connection--as your computing devices are doing that, making connections--to get that information. Like your device asks for a web page which gets built for you and you read content, or look at a picture, or listen to some music, or other as we get so many options!

However, the problem still in place to me is the structure around those connections to facilitate what you share, keep up with it, and help others get to things as efficiently as possible. And you can end up just building something.

Like with me, the four blogs are foundations of structure. Can place content on one like here which is meant for indefinite periods of time, and have learned that approach. Like go back far enough and will see posts that are topical to a time. Now things that are more time-centered in the now, I tend to put on social media.

And with me, social media has different purposes. So my Twitter jstevh focuses more political but is actually far broader, but that's simpler to say. While my Google+ account can go deeper into topics, and I use it often more to start creative things, where they help me even more with Collections to create structure.

My Pinterest jstevh lets me collect images that capture my attention on the fly, with a looser structure but there still is a LOT there. And I could go on, but those are the main ones.

That structure helps other people access my content or content from others I share, find what matters to them most, and it helps me keep up with all of it!

In time am sure web will develop building structure in a more formalized and standard way as just part of the usual. Of course websites tend to have structure, and organizations I think more than most folks will find need to structure what they have on the web, but I think my system goes way beyond most have seen.

Developed over time. Thought at first would use things one way, like this blog, and found in time was better to use another. Now this blog has a very specific purpose with content here that is very deliberately here, versus somewhere else.

That makes things vastly easier for me.


James Harris

Monday, August 21, 2017

Some thoughts on responsibilities

Have been gratified with how so many things have gone, where feel like have done much to talk the big picture recently, but feel it would help to clarify on some areas that might seem obvious as well as talk what responsibilities I may feel with information I have.

Like have brought up race, but don't think have talked recently my conclusions from years ago that race was irrelevant as a factor with reaction to my ideas. Biggest help there was with the reach. With ideas that have simply gone global rapidly based on objective measures from third parties, can relax from concern that my being Black in the US has any impact. It does not.

So far this year alone, this blog according to Google Analytics which am checking for this post, has had visits from 63 countries. And from 241 cities within those countries. Which is only even showing people that Google Analytics can see. Is more like an indicator really than an exact measure. I use as a rough baseline. I kind of roughly think to myself have reach of a small university. Oh, and that's just this blog.

Regardless, if had felt that race was relevant, there are of course prominent Black people within the US, whom might have reached out towards at any time, and reality is: If I want to talk to someone? I usually can.

The ideas which I like to share so much, are usually results of substantial investments in time, energy and contemplation on my part. There rarely are in human history instances where so much is wrapped up with a single person, and skepticism is a great thing. Actually have been more concerned in the past that race might have moved things more quickly than was helpful, though with established authority that would have been ok. What I didn't want was to be put forward as maybe even some joke by some news agency or other reputable party, for being someone fighting for attention for his ideas.

Reality is am not fighting for attention at all. Got the attention from the outset. And even was able to talk to leading authorities for instance in math. Like I said, if I want to talk to someone, I usually can.

Perception may have been different, but recent posts talking authority I think explain it well that I was long focused on established authority. Now is more of a shrug. It's not like I need them when my ideas draw attention already. Actually for most established authorities in areas where I have ideas, my reach already exceeds theirs. Like math journals? Most are tiny in comparison to what I have now. I just wanted that comfort.

Which worked for me! Reality is, is hard to find how I was NOT benefited. I've quit trying to find a way. Just feel like, maybe was just meant to be. Sure was hard emotionally, but my need for validation from established authority was a personal thing. Was about emotion really. Talking it out, helps me let it go. (Also it just made sense! Go to the experts. Who wouldn't?)

My responsibility in my mind is to focus on correctness, and do my best to share effectively.

Effective sharing is important as even valuable and timely information can be missed simply because of how it is presented.

And that really is about it.


James Harris

Thursday, August 17, 2017

Work pushes polite

Much as a I like to note get attention driven towards me, less fun to admit that does not in and of itself bring money! Which surprised me a bit. Studying money carefully, concluded is a social IOU backed by society given best in exchange for a favor of some kind. Like someone favors you with a cup of coffee and you return the favor, by paying for it at a coffee shop. Money starts struggling the more important the thing! Which is also why it's easiest to make money with the least important things, and impossible with MOST important, like love.

And further realized that we work through contracts, which allow for what I call limited social trust, which outline the boundaries of what one will do in exchange for pay. In contrast for community, one should NOT be money motivated, and community work is harder to figure out pay, and for instance teachers, police and firefighters will do much that their pay does not and cannot cover. Just to pick one to highlight--for example a firefighter can die saving people from a fire.

For most people though, you do not work for community, like as police, or a firefighter or a teacher or a person at a state agency to name some general examples, at least not in my country. People working for community still need to be paid well, of course. But harder to figure out what is proper level.

When not working for your community? Get paid for ALL work you do on or for your job, please.

It is horrible though that some can be involved with unscrupulous people who may ask to see if you will naively do things outside your contract so that they can steal from you. I've been there. Found myself doing extra on a job for a manager who I now realize knew was being wrong. And I did not realize. Am smarter about it now.

Oh yeah, so work for most actually involves convincing strangers that you can do valued services under a contract, so you can follow such guidelines, in exchange for remuneration. That is, you get paid to do a job. And convincing strangers? Certainly helps when you are polite!

Should admit my ego which is stroked by endless attention from over 100 countries annually has had help being kept in check by me figuring out must behave to get work!

And that's a great thing too.


James Harris

Wednesday, August 16, 2017

Valuing lessons learned

Has been a harder road for me, which I realize I now strangely relish. When I found my prime counting function back August 2002, went to established authority, and left a high paying job as a software developer to focus. Was a leap of faith, which I now recognize as faith in those establishment authorities.

Did not work out well.

As money dwindled also found my sense of reality went too. How did I know anything or believe anything?

Things were coming back together when moved to San Francisco summer of 2005. One of the more pivotal moments for me? Staring at a smartphone. Appreciating functional, and finding ways to logically rebuild my view of reality.

That arrival of a functional perspective has been pivotal in my life from then on.

San Francisco felt perfect. Was like a dream in so many ways. Working at clerical duties by day, including LOTS of data entry which was like an odd kind of paradise, typing in numbers hour after hour while working on math problems in my head. And at night? So much time at the Mint, a local karaoke bar. When first got to the City, was going most nights of the week!

Felt like was living a really great movie. If I gave more details would sound like it too.

So much my faith in established authority remained.

When was surprised by being laid off, on the day of the parade for the SF Giants for winning their first World Series, seemed like an opportunity to me! Found myself focusing yet again on establishment authority and decided to work at my web presence while relying on savings, yet again. You'd think I've have learned the first time, eh?

However have learned SO many lessons. And this time took my functional approach across things like money, and science, and eventually entertainment. Oh yeah, and some politics. Maybe even falling in love with the thrill of answers to things I hadn't even known to ask before.

Thought I knew so much about so many things before, where was so wrong. Like what is money, really?

Sure have a degree in physics and a vast knowledge of lots of things, from human history to mythology and, am I bragging now? Regardless, so much more to try to learn, and share.

Sharing became part of my modus operandi enabled by the web.

So many ideas found, and put on the web, like on this blog.

So are just out there now. What value? I love that question.

Reminds me how pursuits have often had an idealistic quality to them in human history, when NOT money focused, where pursuit of knowledge to me is the greatest one. But explaining to others? Not fun. Struggling financially most of the time. Even less fun. Feeling worthless at times? Heartbreaking.

Until focus returns. How do we value what?

Questions can be so much about the life found. If not asked, what reason to take that path less chosen?

I ask a LOT of questions. Answers? Think have found some.

Most importantly have learned a certain peace with myself and my reality. Foundations secure, in my mind.

And write then I edit, and wonder to myself. So yeah, lots self-reflective where is easier to just use that convenient word meta. As I reference my own experience, and in editing wonder about that much self focus.

That editor part of me kind of shrugs and just continues. This aspect of myself gets the last word, of course.


James Harris

My surprise on authority

Asking questions fascinates me, and can find am surprised at answers. Where recently wondered to myself, what is authority?

However, rest of it is, wanted what I call a functional answer, as before thought I knew what it was. But with a functional definition the pressure is different and the answer was more compact than I expected--even though knew functional answers usually are--and came to me more quickly than I expected.

I concluded that functionally authority relative to one entity is when some other entity has information needed.

Like with medical authority, a person can need the knowledge of a medical practitioner which in my country is usually a doctor, who has been thoroughly trained in the needed knowledge. That is so important, it is legally enforced that to claim medical knowledge needed by others a person has to have proof.

Find myself reaching for examples, as worked to understand. It just seems so short, and wondered how could include political or police authority, and realized those are based on knowledge needed as well. Like a lawyer must have extensive knowledge of the law, and a police officer must have the required knowledge to make a legal arrest, while a judge must have needed knowledge as well to adjudicate.

All have needed knowledge relative to a defendant who is under their authority.

Oh yeah, but what about political authority? Reality is, knowing how to convince people to elect you can get you places where people can question if you have the needed knowledge.

Functionally, at least in my country for most positions considered political, getting elected requires knowing how to get elected, which to me shows maybe found limits or maybe just don't want to think about much for this post.

Practically that functional approach helped me out immensely, as yes I have ideas, but realized had appealed to establishment authority, as I should in the past. When surprised at the response, like with my math ideas, concluded appropriately I should question my results, and reconsider their value.

Which is the short version, not talking about so much else emotional! Let's just say I wasn't exactly happy with certain things and expressed myself, but for a long time was focused on getting establishment authority to recognize certain things I'd found or found out. Now over two decades later for one thing, and well over a decade with several others, do like my process.

Often I'd simply dismiss. Which to me is a good idea if you think you have valuable ideas! Try to just dismiss and walk away if the establishment does not concur.

Reality is that humanity has learned much over thousands of years, and even in recent fields, dedicated efforts to learn over decades among a group of establishment experts is vastly more likely to be correct than the musings of one particular person, especially one who lacks that training!

Good news with correct and valuable information is that it does not care what we think of it. Like proof that someone committed a crime? Is not necessarily liked, especially not by that person.

However, what people pay attention to? Can make a HUGE difference as to whether or not proof is evaluated, whatever the area.

And the web simplified my life there in certain ways. Yeah have an evolved perspective, where it DOES help when have spent years trying to process attention which web enabled.

I could put information on the web, and check to see if drew attention, which is not proof in and of itself but can be indications of authority, which again functionally I now see as knowledge needed.

Web authority then draws on the power of the vast number of human connections that make up the web, and as the years have gone by have grown to appreciate how shifts how authority operates.

In our times, political authorities talk to constituencies through the web, which is neutral in and of itself, as some for good, and others for things I'd personally say are wrong. Even medical authority can find the web is important for distributing medical information. Where of course you need to have reputable sources.

And web authority is so much about the source for that information.

Reality is that much of web authority by my functional definition, is in connecting a person with needed knowledge that is correct. Cool.

Oh yeah, was asking myself some questions--now answered. Is my process, you know?

Writing a blog post focuses the mind certain ways, and making it public? Then I edit and refine, feeling the pressure of that attention, which for me?

Is usually global.


James Harris

Monday, August 14, 2017

Surreal web attention

For me attention on the web felt upside down when finally had web analytics. Was like wondered so much as had done some things, and would guess but finally got Google Analytics on my blogs, and was underwhelmed. Then did first yearly overview and couldn't quite process all the countries. So would often repeat, and repeat and repeat till told myself not to give country counts. And still would.

But was it real? That classic question now for me after around a decade, and answer is, yes. Real people all over the world who for me were just visible a bit by web analytics, as mostly quiet otherwise. Which didn't bother me as had spent years arguing with people about math on something called Usenet, which was old tech before the World Wide Web dominated. And actually I like to use web for everything giving modern connection reality, including Intranet and Usenet.

So yes, you all are real. Had to realize, hey am talking to my audience here with a post! Of course you know you're real, as you're reading.

And yeah, so attention was surreal. Used to use that word so much till was word of the year some year and was thinking shouldn't use so much, but is still surreal. Spend so much time just thinking, trying to figure it all out. And wondering if will go.

Have established it will not though, and web is new, with new rules.

Web attention reality is facilitated by availability of information and ease of global distribution which means that content can be endlessly found by people with an interest. And will be constantly pulling interest, with certain types of content. Things like math, software, photographs and other things that move easily and can be used or appreciated by people all over the world.

It is VERY important to me to understand the reason. Is actually comforting. It's not about me really, is about the information shared.

Which is cool. I use that word cool a lot. Turns out that cool is something that is...should I give the definition of cool. Probably not.

So yeah, rather than build up to some level of attention with lessons learned along the way, I had global in a very quiet way from the moment could even check. And was unsettled. I like that ease of using a word for years of processing something. Now am more settled with it.

Yeah, it's that simple. Right.


James Harris

Friday, August 11, 2017

Meta matters, innovation and attention reality

Found myself taking on the label of meta innovator as descriptive where talked in an entire post, but also functionally can say is like, there are situations where can be curious about area where am not an expert, and maybe find some useful innovation.

And one of my favorite examples of an outsider making a difference, for perspective I talk in this post, where bring up case of modern shipping containers and how putting things in rectangular objects could revolutionize global shipping. Which seems simple enough, but someone has to make it work. And was innovation that came from some former trucking company owner named Malcom McLean working with engineer Keith Tantlinger, according to quote from Wikipedia article read again for this post. Re-reading my own writing, to help with this latest.

The reality that innovation can come from so many places including from people not expert in an area is maybe more graspable with some simple ideas. I like simple ideas, like consider that shifts in how things are done are constant as humanity keeps--discovering, inventing and innovating. While people can become expert in an area learning how things were done best at one particular point in time. Which may not be the best way they can be done now.

Have a perspective with my own ideas as have pushed innovation in healthcare insurance which would allow everyone to get from any health insurer with no possibility of denial. If possible that would be a really big deal. But why might it be? Simple answer: cost of administration has dropped significantly thanks to computers. Linking to a post that gives more detail on my blog Lost in Commentary. Whether that will happen is another matter, but main point is focus on what shifted from the past, and in this case?

Computers have fully arrived. And with better handling of what is commonly called big data, where web has really pushed innovation there too.

Notice that noticing that does not need me being an expert on insurance industry. Though turns out I worked for 5 years in a clerical capacity at a major insurer but was in area of insurance covering construction defects.

Regardless of any experience I have in insurance industry, to me that idea just is about looking around at what has shifted.

But now then you can understand resistance.

Why should people expert in the old switch to the new that is possible?

To me what I thought were commonsense notions in that regard never worked out. So guess will speculate.

People who are experts in an area don't necessarily like an outsider suggesting things.

And with my innovations have yet to get sustained formal acceptance that I've seen from within any particular field. It can be exasperating when you get an expert to agree with you that you're correct too, then have that expert just do nothing else.

(Oh yeah, had a paper published in a mathematical journal once. But it didn't really work out at ALL how I thought would go. Guess should link to explanation on my math blog for the really curious? Here's a link to a post from 2013.)

Also, people are more territorial I think than I ever imagined possible.

Rather than the fantasy of acceptance would rather have for best ideas. Especially when is possible to prove are best.

And practically can be why we see much innovation by a company being created, like consider how much is around getting a car to take you somewhere, leveraging the web, and how many fights are still happening around the globe for the companies within that space!

And that means serious headwind for a zone where there are now two multi-billion dollar companies I think, which am sure is true for Uber and not sure how big Lyft is now.

However am not so much into starting a company around a particular innovation right now, as am more into innovating even further by leveraging web attention to focus on the ideas themselves, like with my functional ideas, like my definition of entertainment.

The web can simply draw attention to ideas regardless of expert opinion. And not supersede the experts or undermine their expertise where it remains valid, but instead actually augment.

To me it seems reasonable to suggest we may find that meta innovators simply become known as people who are just good at something that has an occupational potential as a service that can be marketed. That would be so cool! My dream job is a goal still in the distance.

Web to me is key, as lets you distribute ideas easily, and potentially connect with people who can use your ideas regardless of what I like to call silos or gatekeepers who might prefer funneling ideas through carefully built channels which tend to squash innovation and preserve the status quo.

That explains how as a meta innovator can talk about my ideas getting picked up immediately, and used around the world, where here can talk some of the attention reality where the people in the field can resist--why do I like to use that word? Reality I've seen is simply the silent treatment I like to say.

Really to me has looked like lots of just trying to act like nothing had changed. Which can get weird.

Term I like to use for it is social inertia.

Thanks to web best ideas win in many ways quickly, but still there can be all kinds of resistance and areas where there are people who try to ignore them, or fight them, like with the ride sharing.

In time though that resistance goes away as what were innovations become just accepted ways to do things.

Simply better is just too powerful.

Like consider how important modular shipping containers are today, for such a simple idea, which many can see stacked on huge ships sailing around the globe.

Most am sure, hardly think about them. I would ponder them often. But I love their story.


James Harris

Wednesday, August 09, 2017

More on authority matters

So I talk math but lots of it is WAY beyond what most can check. But if you can work a calculator a bit, you can check that the following 7 squares sum to equal a square:

349672 + 7522 + 1128+ 1880+ 26322 + 41362 + 48882 = 357212

_____________________________

And I invented some techniques and discovered some things which let me do that easily. And so much so that I didn't think much of it, until I wondered what I could see that mathematicians could do, as no am NOT a mathematician.

Couldn't find evidence they could do it at all.

Theoretically they knew it could be done though? I think. But I don't know really, just covering. Am NOT a mathematician.

So you may be looking at something humans never saw before, as didn't know how to do it. Or maybe not. I may just not have come across anything with web research.

Here's the thing though: if is something remarkable as a human first then mathematical experts should be excited, right?

Maybe, if it is. Maybe it isn't. They know.

We have zones of expertise. I rely on experts just like everyone else. Like if I need a car fixed? Going to take to an auto mechanic. I don't even care if could look up on the web how to fix! Would prefer to take to a professional.

Am a meta innovator though. So yeah there are situations where can go into an area where am not an expert, like with math, and maybe find something. I don't get too excited about it any more.

Figure will just hand off to experts and move on. As I don't tend to specialize. Though may revisit same area as have come back repeatedly to math as I like to play with numbers.

But what if the experts do not behave as expected? If you wish to dig into some behind the scenes where mention math without giving any of mine, read this post from a few days ago. Or you can read a recent post on authority on my latest blog Seriously Commercial.

Can get stuck with that possibility that maybe what you think is great? Isn't really.

Oh, so what's the point of math example at start? Well you may think when I talk about having some math that there is controversy over correctness. Nope.

Still can be hard for most to check. So just gave an example where is relatively easy. But how do you check to see if human beings could do it before?

Sorry, can't help with that one. I did lots of web searches. Got nothing close. Some people seemed to be wondering how to do it though.

Got lots of things like that though, which are not so easy to show.

But stare at such things and ponder. One reason like doing the numerical examples as there is no doubt for me. I look at the numbers and realize there is no escaping that truth. But why is there a part of me that is always so skeptical? I argue with myself so much.

Have gone through many emotions on subject where in past could get SO disappointed, or fantasize about things now know weren't the way would work anyway, as explained in a recent post about imagined television model.

So yeah, do something cool, even if math but have done other things too, never been done? You get attention. Big deal. No surprise. But try to explain!

Can seem really wacky I think, but is that just me imagining to myself too? Not like I get much feedback on subject.


James Harris

Monday, August 07, 2017

Questioning and creativity

Got creative yesterday, and found myself tweeting, where questions seemed to be a big deal. And wondered what would look like if put in most of tweet stream here. So will be three tweets I think where will start with top one. If follow me on Twitter then already saw, yesterday.

First one:

Next one is about a poem that came before it.
And here is the poem, which really was mainly meant to be talking the subject. So not sure how creative it is really.

Have lots of thoughts on Twitter where would be nice to pull into one place, but would be nice to be easier. If is possible with something out there of which am not aware, oh well. Maybe will learn of it down the line.

But have found myself thinking about how much creating something with me is about asking a question, and will get an answer at times! Like asking myself, is there a poem in there to explain this concept?

Answer was, yeah. How good is it though? Is another question.

All of which has me pondering role of questioning with creativity. Why do we question, really? And still to me? Is writing to write, so will label that way. Will try to remember to use twitter label too, when have tweets in a post, as great way for me to keep up with ones that do too.


James Harris

Saturday, August 05, 2017

When ideas draw constant attention

Doing a post meant to be behind the scenes a bit which also talks things that might make other things maybe make more sense. That is the motivation. At times it occurs to me that things I put here may lack context for others.

Like I have some ideas, like my functional definitions or my math discoveries, which draw attention. That attention is from around the world and is rather constantly global though the visible countries vary quite a bit. So like in last 24 hours according to Blogger this blog had visits from:

US, Switzerland, China, Colombia, Indonesia, and Ukraine

For me that's kind of a daily thing where US is usually there constant of course as is my home country, while others vary a lot. And don't check check much carefully any more, as has been that way for years. Oh, but yeah will check for a post like this one, and kind of glance at often on the daily at least the Blogger stats. Is another good reason to do a post like this one though so have information for later.

Where countries actually vary quite a bit, and Blogger will only show me top 10 anyway. To show up there though my understanding is that people have to allow it, where the details of how you allow are probably known. Like if you block certain things then I don't think you show up at ALL, with Blogger stats, or Google Analytics. And still my Google Analytics stats tend to be different.

Reality is I glance at Blogger stats more at least, as is easy enough. More rarely go into Google Analytics as more effort, and generally underwhelming unless I look at yearly.

What the stats help me see then is more of the tip of the metaphorical iceberg, and for instance, a country is more likely to show up in my stats presumably if enough people visit that the probability that at least some are not using tools to block sharing of information is high.

With a constant level of global attention will admit am MUCH calmer about it than years ago, and remember we're talking 365 days a year, where has been that way for enough years am not sure how long. Probably at least since 2008. This blog has been around since 2005, but a lot of web analytics became available later, like I think Google Analytics opened up in 2006? Going by memory so if off the mistake is mine. And Blogger stats are more recent still and don't even remember what year.

With ideas though, the attention is just going to be there. Not like the ideas will change. Which I think is easier to grasp with the math. Like 2+2=4, I like to say. The math things? Will NEVER change.

That lets me try things.

So not like someone else trying to build attention with a sense that a big mistake might mess things up for THAT, though could mess up for me other ways. I can endlessly try things without really caring that much that the attention will go away. Which gives me a bit of the attitude of a person who is relentlessly global without having to follow the rules other global people who don't have constant ideas drawing attention, must follow to keep it.

They MUST follow those rules. I don't have to follow ANY of those rules to maintain attention.

Sounds wild enough should give a bit more. Like I don't need to get press. And my celebrity? Increases if I don't do as much public, like this post! Or now, any of my public posts actually. I no longer have to post anything at all, but I like to write, so is ok. And not really into celebrity. That's enough though. Should not elaborate too much. Would just sound more weird. It's because the ideas drive the attention. They don't need me to talk about them either, beyond being introduced. Once introduced to the world? They roar off.

Used to mess with my mind watching it. I do have one of the best seats, in the world I guess, metaphorically. Now is not so visible which is somehow calming. Watching that ripple go around the globe? Would unsettle me, years ago. Watched so many and wondered much.

The ideas do all the work for me. And for ideas? Is effortless, 24 hours a day, without ever taking any breaks. The ideas will never stop working for me.

Don't even need the web for my most powerful ideas. They travel on or off the web. But they DO travel most efficiently and rapidly, on the web. The sheer speed is unbelievable. Web has changed so much so quickly.

For the world that is a benefit, as I think it does give a value to sharing freely, when you have ideas you think are powerful, important and useful for the good of the world.

I DO follow rules though! Yes, can get attention no matter what, but still am a human being who tries to get along well with others. Just noting that for the attention doesn't matter. The ideas do not care.

There were times though in the past where maybe was more, will say, grumpy than now. But SO MUCH to figure out. For a long time as have tried to explain, it just didn't make much sense to my preconceived notions!

However, have become more nice in recent years. Which feels so much better. And also if I wish to make money, then yeah, I need to behave! And follow rules that are JUST related to being commercial. If I were independently wealthy? Then I could just shrug it all off, but wouldn't. Just not that kind of person am glad to realize.

Is better to be polite and stay accountable, but that is irrelevant to the attention draw. My ideas will draw constant global attention, and some will direct at me, no matter what I do. Of course if I upset my fellow humans too much, they could make me VERY uncomfortable, so lots of reasons to behave.

This post is getting kind of long. But yeah, so can explain some of my behavior, and also explain a bit about some posts which can seem maybe farfetched. Reality is, after years of knowing just about anything I write will be read all over the world?

Am much calmer about it. I don't take it for granted though. And DO appreciate the attention.

Oh yeah though, but again yeah is just cast off. The ideas draw the real attention. So the vast bulk of the attention is going to the ideas. I just get a bit because of them. But is still HUGE from a certain perspective. But is cool.

For years was just waiting to see if would go away. And as the years go by and doesn't a part of you becomes more accepting. Besides it changes you, you know?

How could it not?


James Harris

Thursday, August 03, 2017

Beyond imagined television model

What other people tell you may impact as yes, is important what we hear from our fellow humans, but what you tell yourself? Well that you can't even escape and of course our own internal musings should be potent. How we think is so much about what we do. And got on the web and realized things could draw attention but had in mind what I like to call the television model, though realize is my imagined television model.

In my imagined television model, you put up something which could draw a LOT of interest quickly, which have seen, of course, with what is usually called viral, or you build an audience steadily, until reaches some critical mass when can go commercial! And going commercial you could make money, like by helping other people sell things, or something. Was way vague, but why would I know the particulars before needed to know? And yeah, talking my imagination here.

Oh and mention television as when I grew up that WAS the main attention reality. Just about every way I thought about big levels of attention was related to television.

After YEARS of feeling a need to know and having lots of very uncomfortable conversations with myself based on the imagined television model, wish to officially let it go. It was not correct to reality. My imagination did not fit what my experience now tells me.

Now my mental model is of attention as fluid, enabled by web distribution on the constant, which can build or drop for many reasons, and is not necessarily connected to revenue. Connecting to revenue requires contracts, and generally follows from some type of agent who helps the person generating attention through various means to get and fulfill those contracts. Is hard to enter into most lucrative contracts just on your own unless you have knowledge or expertise in that area or have built up connections who trust you enough.

Why it matters to have that abstract specific is, you can get out here like I do, have a LOT of fun and watch attention come and go, without it meaning what my imagining before THOUGHT it meant.

Which matters for me and others. As yeah, do appreciate the attention here over the years while I puzzled things out. And before didn't always as thought should be more with it. But I was NOT doing the things for there to be the more with it. So was this weird thing where conversations in my mind were me fighting with myself, for no reason.

Was having all these arguments with myself based on flawed beliefs.

And THAT is way uncomfortable. Not like you can escape arguments with yourself, like just go in another room, or something, like can when arguing with someone else.

So am beyond the imagined television model now. And no longer arguing with myself about THAT at least. Other arguments are probably still there, says a part of me as yeah you argue with yourself for years and it's hard to not realize how many thoughts can run around that aren't in agreement.

Ok this post is getting a little weird. Beyond imagined television model. Ok. Done.


James Harris