When the planet is your stage

One of my favorite posts a while back was: Who makes me? Can I make you? Nah.

Where we have a much better situation now thanks to the web where you really primarily have to perform, and people all over the planet MAY be interested, based on what YOU deliver.

But how do people all over planet Earth know about any particular person? And that's where promotion of some type is required. Best is word-of-mouth where someone notices something you have and tells someone else, especially excitedly. And that can sweep the globe.

Happened for me with plenty of things, like note have 100+ countries global reach annually from my open source project Class Viewer. All I did was put it up on a site called SourceForge back in 2004. Others did the rest.

But that's just one thing. I like to keep at least three things pulling attention from 50+ countries from at least 3 continents annually, which I do, and more, but that's a baseline I've arbitrarily chosen. And includes this blog which managed 50+ this year.

Yeah am kind of spoiled by attention but humbled by LACK OF MONEY, which is lots about my paranoia of money people, I guess. Am working on it. But the attention draw is the objective reality I experience, proving my ability to interest people like YOU all over our planet. Is cool.

So how can someone like me maybe appear to matter much to promotional reality?

In my opinion you have folks who are under-promoted, often by their agencies or whomever is in charge of their marketing. Where often is country focused. Like organizations who still struggle to grasp how the web has changed things will have a global act, tied up in relentless national based promotion.

Or even worse, you can have a person who can be global who is trapped in city by city promotion because of Old School management.

Someone like me notices, and puts up a tweet, or a pin, or whatever and just like that--that person or group is GLOBAL. And if step up to that plate, whoosh!!!

(Oh yeah notice, no money required and is the best kind of promotion really.)

If they are NOT under-promoted then is just one more fan thing. Which to me is more fun. I prefer when just feel like one more happy fan among MILLIONS versus thinking, wow, I helped someone whose agency is clueless.

Brilliant acts being under-promoted is a modern weird, which I think should go away as we all get more used to modern web reality.

As people learn, you have people get to their level on their own faster and faster and it is all about YOU. Does help to do things to get noticed, of course, showcasing what you do best, and proving you have what it takes to deliver, day after day, or night after night--preferably for years.

Really it's also about you if you are letting some person or organization only promote you in a city or something dinky when you should be promoted in 20+ countries. Or 50+ countries. Or over the entire freaking planet.

You need to have web sense.


James Harris

When success is a moving target

Am not certain when first got press though suspect was when was 9, and won the Spelling Bee at my school. Which was cool. Was actually competing with my older brother and was so excited to win, but then next thing you know, whoosh!!! These other things and failed at the regional competition which was the next level with an easy word for me to spell. Pressure got to me. Have thought about that for decades.

Is a pattern have wondered over where success rapidly propels me to another level, and then there find things muddled, and am finally ready to end that cycle.

Sure most of my life things have mostly worked out ok, though lately has been so much more of a struggle. But for quite some time, worked out ok. Like back then would keep ending up in the local paper, as my hometown of Tifton just had one, more than once as the years went by where am not sure how many times.

Last big one though was when was 17 and had highest SAT of my graduating high school class. That was my first press interview--with my Mom, am thinking yeah was first interview I think. And would go on to Vanderbilt University on a full academic scholarship. And have reminisced about much before but now am considering recent things.

Like studied to begin a new career in heating and air conditioning and did well there, which was great as had been in a shelter for MONTHS wondering what to do to get back on my feet. Well things really rolled along as ended up getting a scholarship, and then got a car and housing voucher, which meant ended up on local news. Here is a link to an article on local news 13WMAZ. And yeah I totally went to the public library like the news article says. (Please support your local public library.)

Where happened back in November and yeah talked on my other social media and one of my blogs where linked, which means this blog can take its time while I process. Is a good reason to have a bunch of social media, so can get important information out immediately but still follow up later without it seeming like old news. Is fresh here.

Oh yeah, so what impact, like on social media? Um, well on my social media was like it didn't happen, except for one. So was on television across I think all the major networks in central Georgia, USA, with local news. Which included commercials. And my social media public numbers did NOT MOVE from what I noticed.

But web analytics for my Pinterest jstevh actually apparently reacted. But I learned not to talk those numbers. Which is too vague even for me reading later as am re-reading and editing, so...saw a bump in the 45-54 demographic as well as an increase in male percentage. Bump was about a solid 1 percent. Also my global numbers shifted more to the US by around 1 percent. Will admit less than one third of my audience is from the US. That shifted closer to one third, by a bit.

Which is enough, where am thinking should not mess things up. Oh wait, also saw a bump in people interested in men's fashion and vehicles. So guess my suit looked ok, and of course main thing was getting a vehicle gifted to me.

So looks to me like males in the US in my age group, interested in suits and cars gave a bit of a bump there.

And it's like social media can be very, well, weird. But I should note that information here, and maybe did not give too much which would start messing up the numbers. Have done that before and didn't care but now am more like, I should care.

My social media DOES react to me talking over it, but usually not well. I have puzzled about why.

So yeah now have finally been on television where before had print things. And with that feeling of positive pressure better appreciate how I need to roll with it more. Am shifting my attitude this time and this blog is helping me.

Oh yeah, so updates from a post where talked my lack of press where I actually interviewed myself. And it is telling that a nice story I think about me getting a car and housing voucher created that burst! While so much else does not. Is cool. So yeah now have had more local press and have decided to shift from making a sense of success be such a moving target for me.

Should accept each success in its space and simply keep always looking for--more.

Oh for those wondering how does impact all the other? Doesn't really. Still am a meta innovator with a lot of major discovery where apparently there are relevant people who should, who would rather not talk about it.

But who cares. I have the web.


James Harris

Contemplating--was wars over distribution?

Like to write that the web solved the information distribution problem. Seems simple enough, as for instance these words will go global--when I post. For now am watching them with interest as they march across the screen. Their reality is local only in the moment, with a transition to globally available but a click away.

But so much was distributed different before, so yes, there were wars, like over how to distribute music and especially popular songs. Wars against innovation that have very much ended, or simply evolved? Yes, I can download much with a buy now, but so much more do I want the opportunity.

But why would anyone stop me?

And what does distribution of information have to do with ride share really?

I think business at best is about producing a socially acceptable product or service and getting to a person or persons who want who repay the favor of the product or service with remuneration.

That is, like you build something cool that people want and they buy it from you.

Or maybe even not cool, but simply useful, but still you need people to actually pay for the thing, for a viable business.

But how do they even know you have it?

There then we get the modern wars over information distribution I think, as I contemplate these ideas and wonder. Am I even close to reality? But how would I know?

And have been focused more lately on the phrase--business trust.

Like I go to some established business and trust that if I can pay, will not only be allowed to buy something I want, but should be treated a certain way, like a good customer. And a customer is someone with the ability to pay, which means person has sufficient money, and should behave, in a socially acceptable way.

Is so much about society. But what is society really? How do we know?

Where quality I think is about lasting, and prefer things that will not only do what I want in the moment, but be there for me down the line. But then I think of food, where is quality with something so ephemeral in a way? I eat it and it is gone. But then again, there are memorable meals when I remember why I will pay more when I can, for better.

Memories can last a lifetime. Quality in life is not about the moment then? But how do we know what will last before it has lasted for us?

Web can have a depth to its information distributed. People can build a history here, there and everywhere that the web reaches and increasingly I do believe reaches a planet.

Yet I can only know so much. Others can know more useful to me, especially about quality of some product or service, but how do I know who I can trust?

Payment intermediaries I like to call those who with expertise can facilitate connecting a person who wants something, who is a good potential customer, with an entity that can provide that something, if yeah, is socially acceptable.

So yeah I think it DOES make sense. Then functionally the web eases the information distribution problem, which means there can be wars with those who were successful in a less efficient process. Where the web can better facilitate business transaction by effectively linking good customers with best business.

Yeah seems simple enough then. Makes sense to me. So then with just a click, goes global.

More information--distributed. But is it knowledge? I like think it was, or what is the point of the effort for me?


James Harris

Learning public folks easier now

Put up LOTS public where have done for decades. And more and more news is showing why is good to try and figure yourself out early, and post like you expect readers--now and in the future.

Some key posts focusing on various things:

Focus on my motivations -- When truth is a pursuit

Focus on how to know folks -- Web depth

Focus on global reality -- What global takes and gives

Learning public folks in the age of the web? Is lots about what each puts out there.

I put out much. More and more when I come across some public person in our times, am looking for that web reality. You can do it, right? So what DO you do in actuality?

Web enabled? Oh yeah. So who takes that opportunity and in what way? Tells much.


James Harris

Who makes me? Can I make you? Nah.

There is an objective reality to attention in our times have learned is where need to focus. For over a decade searched for mainstream mass marketing type measures where were not there, and did not fully appreciate the audience that made me global in their own way.

Where was pondering recently the role of promotion and marketing and who makes or breaks you out here on the web and reality is--YOU. You make or break with your content as put your best out there and trust other people to be honest with their interest.

For me were questions about who talked my things which remain, and money is just not there, yet. And I think is best thing ever now as pushed me to learn what things really matter and also let me not ask myself--did this particular person or organization make me?

Like I will talk things that feel like are cool and people think are doing great and putting out great content, but cannot make or break any one of them. Just like no one could make or break me.

Can share honestly and trust the audience. And appreciate when others agree.

On any stage in life though YOU have to perform. I don't care who talks you up, or down, when you're in front of that audience is all about what YOU can deliver.

With that said get a kick out of noticing how often can get it right, and notice some person or people who I think can bring it, and then they DO. But yeah is like with myself, no one makes me.

I make myself.


James Harris

Idea marketplace reality

In our times can get a better sense of product reality and why people pay money for a particular thing than in the past. For instance was surprised when music industry at first refused to sell digital copies of music over the web, as they relied much on its distribution through physical copies, like with CD's. There was a lot of distribution money that went away when people like me could just download a song we liked.

But why would anyone assume I'd just steal the song rather than pay for it?

Some people DID assume that ALL humans are thieves and took Steve Jobs to even let people legally buy and download when he pioneered with iTunes. Today of course it should seem silly to think no one would pay for a digital song regardless of how distributed simply because LOTS of people do.

There was a delusion that physical security which is good is key to profits, as if no human can be trusted not to steal if that is not there. That really messed up lots and slowed web business development tremendously.

Our world is slowly figuring out idea marketplace reality. Web enables much, MUCH more.

(The actual flow of money in general is the easy part.)

Physical products are of course important but now also is the software that can keep them running properly where you can have operating system costs buried in the cost of the device or free like with those that use open source software. The cost of developing the software when free is born by an open source community.

Global community provides the basic framework for the web with open source or nothing else would be working now, but more focus is on the people making money various ways.

The most basic workable model in that it can be broadly replicated globally for an idea transaction is when a consumer comes across an idea product, and pays through an intermediary, who distributes the product over the web, on behalf of an idea producer.

Talk that with: Abstracting the payment intermediary

You might think that the most basic workable model is simply paying the producer direct. But have a ready analogy which will use throughout this post, which is paying for a ride. So paying direct is like if you just go find someone you pay to drive you around. (Good luck with that one.) Rideshare companies are actually simply payment intermediaries.

The point of a payment intermediary is--business trust.

The payment intermediary can determine if a person is a legitimate customer which includes ability to pay and also can include a tendency to behave. And can handle receipt of funds from customers.

While for a potential customer the payment intermediary should also ensure a safe environment as well as reception of the desired good or service--like a safe, comfortable ride to the desired destination.

Oh yeah, also the payment intermediary is an important source of information needed for all parties. Where must be objective as well but why wouldn't be?

Like yeah with rideshare is brilliant to collect ratings for both the driver and the rider.

Dropping of the distribution costs is where you find the HUGE web difference. Like I can write a book, and the cost of distribution of the digital version can be a pittance in comparison to the costs for a physical version.

A complete marketplace of ideas would be a place on the web where potential customers could go to payment intermediaries who would connect them with producers of desired product or service.

Like with a physical marketplace where there is a concentration of goods and services at a physical location for the convenience of customers and businesses.

We just had SOME things that distributed in established marketplaces through physical products where there was natural focus, as started talking music industry and CD's. But the web doesn't care about such things really.

So? Was something information distributed in a physical product before, but now can move across the web freed of its physical carrier.

Web can open things up vastly and yes, include products for sale around things like with music and video, and also go beyond.

When am looking at gaps with the current models on the web, am thinking is with payment intermediaries who can help someone like me with an idea product. Maybe should just create such a company myself, eh?

Covered a lot of ground though. Like say you LOVE driving people around but rideshare companies didn't exist! What could you do?

Maybe you could start some business convincing people to let you drive them.

Oh, or become a taxi driver, right? But what if didn't want to jump through their hoops? Which may be part of why taxi companies have been fighting so hard.

Reality is: most folks are funneled into established systems which can actually be VERY dysfunctional for work.

Web has the potential to vastly disrupt those prior systems by giving more options based simply on ability to do a job.

Is like the business part can be separated, like with a rideshare company as I run that analogy into the ground. But seems so useful! Is readily familiar. So yeah, most of the business part of driving? Rideshare companies handle, so the driver can just, be polite and drive.


James Harris

-----------------------------------------------------------------

Want your own copy? Can click here to get a PDF from my public Google Drive.

Maybe need some help

Claim to be the world's latest major discoverer where that is a lot about math. But am sure for others is not about what I claim but others certify where relevant people have not. Yet the major results themselves and my other ideas pull attention regardless which is the web difference. So am regardless already globally known, wow.

But that hasn't helped me with basics, like making a living, so am depending on community resources. And readily talked a recent eviction which was not fun! Actually was humiliating. So yeah financial pressure is pushing me to step out of my comfort zone.

Have been working on it. So far haven't figured it out.

And I like figuring things out on my own. But finally am accepting there is just too much information I do not have with this situation.

Used Twitter to scan the web recently in a process I know how to do, which is not easy to explain. In essence I can use what I call probe tweets to gather data from around the planet. That revealed no conspiracy against ME, but helped me figure out some things against broader groups, and posted my analysis not long ago. Here is just one post that kind of covers things I guess.

Much went well as figured out race and put out solutions, spread out to be safe, including on this blog, like with this post. And also figured out some things around deliberate underpay which yeah focuses on plenty of folks including women, and solutions are in process. But is taking too long for my tastes. There is minor pushback going on now which is futile.

Within a decade people will wonder that there was ever a problem around race, the gender wage gap will be gone in most advanced countries, and a few other things. Am sure will be lots of other problems and climate change will be worse though.

But when am I going to make some money? Need to figure out how to make a living. Oh, so what does that have to do with anyone else? Well is a situation where some people...I'm not sure.

Should anyone else even care? Am destined to be one of the most famous humans of all time. (Really? Huh? Seems so wacky and why? Oh, figured out some things. Ok. Really? Huh?) I invented my own math discipline. Am personally solving vast problems others thought intractable in social areas. And can just change the world on any given day when I get the urge. (God help us. God help me, please.)

Maybe being kept in check monetarily is a good thing. Hey is that what the world decided? My analysis is, no. THAT would at least make sense. Is something else going on.

Regardless am now in process of ending the agent system within the entertainment industry as it existed. As have noted often enough, money people scare me so am looking to end systems where people get a percentage on work of others.

You should EARN your own way. And be paid exactly the value of work that YOU do and no more.

Those are the easy things to do. So far have not noticed evidence anyone is doing anything that can even pause the process.

But how do I make money? Now THAT continues to be a hard problem. But why? I keep asking and still do not have a good answer.

Is not just about lack of certifying authority with my most potent ideas either. Maybe is...something else. Maybe the help I need is an objective analysis from someone else.

But if you insult me? And I notice? I will end your life as you've known it. Please do try if you wish and doubt me. That is an area where am well practiced.

Ok that was a bit harsh. Guess am kind of sensitive, especially when consider how rare it is these days for me to come across anything insulting. And besides how real is my ability in that area anyway? But yeah have had LOTS of practice. Comes with the territory as the saying goes.

Where also making myself admit: got much quiet when went broke. Definitely helps with doing research and figuring things out without distractions.

Still some of that is sad, how many people distanced from me, when I wasn't even asking for anything. Can be great just to be around people who support you without asking for a thing, if they support you. And family should. But wasn't like was surprised by who, you know? Just disappointed.

And AM scared of the money people. Look relentlessly for stories about folks who suffered greatly as pressured to keep making the money, making the money, making the money, even if they were dying inside and out.

Have dodged so much this way. Shouldn't I be honest? Yeah I should, so put it down in writing. Am I asking questions where really am struggling convincing myself to want the answers?

Yeah but am also ready for change I tell myself. Not all people are vicious money people desperate to use and abuse creative people for every penny they can get out of them? Of course.

There are lots of decent folks. But how many are money people, eh?

Is there a way to make money without money people if you're someone like me? Anybody got an answer there?


James Harris

My constant web

Part of me has kept wanting some kind of validation, like you go somewhere and take a test! Then you get a test score. But is like another part of me while thinking of this post was like, you mean like learning people all over the world are interested in my ideas?

But yeah have had THAT for years now where didn't feel real, and got tired of saying surreal. And kept telling myself, but should THIS happen then? Or THAT happen then? Those things aren't happening so maybe isn't real, right?

Then finally realized had vague ideas and from where? Why should I have ever known before anyway?

Then that shock to realize I do know now though. I know the reality. Have lived it.

My constant web reality is the way it works, where web lets us determine things were harder to so determine in the past, even though yeah, it does make sense when you think about it. The chatter of celebrity is just about talk. Giving people useful tools? Is on the constant.

I like Euclid as an example. No debates with myself about Euclid. While so recognized to many as a name about something pushed on them in school. He was some guy who did some things and that still matters thousands of years later.

The attention tells. People may not. Certain kinds of chatter may not be there.

Web enables us to check things.

But also yeah, I do get a HUGE amount of validation really from people who must have been sharing things of mine, but is so hidden. Don't like to talk it much. But years ago at times would go looking. Would desperately try to find something, somewhere linking to my blogs or whatever. Never could find. I go by reports from Google. There is so much weird.

(Makes sense though I realized, as linking information is what search engines use! Am not surprised they don't give me direct information there. Could allow me to reverse engineer their entire algorithms for instance. Not that I would, but they actually should only share so much data. Also there are privacy concerns am sure. So figured should note some pertinent reasons.)

Or yeah, I can just do web searches where something of mine ranks highly. And then can wonder, and wonder and wonder.

But is the influence real? Yeah. I've checked. From me liking something to not liking it, can just check how if I talk it that shifts things around planet Earth. And when I check and can't believe, I check again, and again, and again. Then I re-check some more. Which is kind of thing can take over a decade.

Was going to title this post my patient web, but mean patience. Web has been constant though, and patient as well, in terms of people who are mysteries to me, who are out there interested in my ideas and I guess, maybe sometimes in me.

Where will that validation come from if not here now? Maybe was never about that really.


James Harris

Where is my celebrity? Should I know?

Realized years ago there was plus to having money so separate from my web activities as allowed me to learn as much as possible, without the pressures around occupation. To make money you obligate yourself in some way. Like for data entry I was expected to show up during the workweek to my job and do data entry among other things. But when learning can be hard to set proper expectations.

Also made it much more fascinating for me, as studied those web analytics showing such steady attention. Where reality is, was learning, and now with more than two decades of experience on the web, there is a realization know much as a result.

And was all separate from money.

There are two primary ways I get global attention: from cast off from my ideas which draw the bulk of attention, and from the conversation around things I put out there.

The conversation is where there is the possibility of celebrity, where for a long time I would claim to have none, as was unaware of conversation. Then admitted I probably had a little, and finally accepted I don't know. What I DO know is a lack of chatter from sources I've checked, where focused in areas really that dominated in the 20th century. Now am wondering how to check elsewhere.

But yeah, by various measures, have things that pull from 100+ countries every year where that has been true for around a decade.

(What does it take to interest people all over the world? Year after year after year? Guess I should know, eh?)

Can I simply give myself celebrity? Maybe to some extent, but I debate reasons where only one can muster is to make money from it. Even then would need money people as I like to call them. And would be pressured then to do things, like show up.

My attention reality regardless is really cool too though, of course. And is curious to ponder how can gather so much attention one way, without all of certain other. Readily admit, if up to me, would just as soon keep it that way. Is so weird though too. Celebrity IS just the conversation, and nothing else. If you don't have people chattering away, a certain way about you, then you escape many things.

However, cannot simply work to learn without ever putting into practice. And would like to make money. There are goals that are out of reach until I do, and is a good thing for society as well.

My own estimate is that the US economy has lost...too soon to do that yet. Because the situation is delicate. Ok yeah, inspired by cool lyrics from a certain person. I DO study celebrity. And study celebrities.

Watching them I consider my choices and decisions.

How many people get the luxury even without money of possibly simply...yet I keep wondering. Still there is progress. My caution is not stopping anything. Just am moving slowly, like a person on a frozen pond finally getting a sense where the ice is solid.

Or this post would not be published.


James Harris

Explaining jstevh handle

Am in my late forties and have reached a point of appreciation for how the web can make you feel like you are back in school, struggling to learn. And have used this blog to talk much problem solving of me trying to figure things out. But also am lucky in that there were notions that occurred to me early that I feel now were great.

Like decided to build a handle from my name and back then was going to be part of branding as that was en vogue. But now is more practically a way for ME and others to keep up with things. Where primarily is good for social media.

And made handle jstevh from my name: James STEVen Harris

So I pronounce like: Jay-Steve-H

So why the emphasis on my middle-name? Well here is a post that explains how I grew up called by my middle-name. Which I always think of as very much a Georgia-thing. But I guess actually happens lots of places. Though am confident is a known Southern kind of thing along with nicknames, like Billy-Bob.

But now most people call me James, which is kind of interesting. And yeah, a few people call me Jim.

Except back home, and oddly enough with some co-workers who knew me as Steve in San Francisco, but I talk all that in the post.

Oh yeah, so turns out worked out with the web, and am glad started putting that handle on a lot of my social media.

So yeah, there is a method there, and am glad had that good idea early, versus so much had to learn and STILL am learning. The web is still in flux, changing rapidly and ADVANCING in so many ways. Is one of the coolest periods in human history, ever, am sure.

We get to be part of the evolution of one of the greatest arenas in human thought and communication.


James Harris

Pure attention reality and measuring impact

Readily admit did not react well when finally got objective evidence of a decent audience response to some of my ideas. Which is an interesting way to put it. Another way to put it is: struggled with handling properly global interest across several areas from a coding effort with an open source project to my math ideas and beyond.

This blog was made by me over a decade ago to try to get a handle on the beyond would think, from the title. Seems lately to be where I try to process things. And for over a decade there have been people out there keeping up with my content and apparently linking to it, and finally got more thankful. You're all kind of the unsung heroes of my story? Yeah, those of you who fit that description are. I DO focus so much on myself. But for so many years it all just seemed so strange.

For so many years have wondered what is real and how to know. That can really make life a struggle because you still have to make decisions regardless, on the daily.

So much has been and still is a mystery to me. And yeah, mystery matters but I mean that to be about not showing too much to your audience. Some people like to peer behind the curtain, but more just want the performance.

Objective reality here though is telling: have maintained global interest by objective measures from 100+ countries, where THAT number comes from downloads of my open source project for over a decade.

The blogs like here, except for Lost in Commentary, trend to 50+ countries where am relying on third party sources with much from Google. Like I use Google Analytics for country counts as can look at on a yearly basis and even compare between years. I also rely on Blogger stats to some extent, but they are less extensive, for some reason. What's up with that Blogger?

And is very mysterious to me who you all are--out there, all over the world.

Maybe I should work on that, huh? Will consider. There are HUGE positives to me with how things have gone. And have talked here much about the web benefit of being in control, yourself. But the big negative is: then how do you make money? Which to me seems kind of pathetic. Never thought money-making focus would end up driving so much. But also is forcing me to settle things.

We can get a pure attention reality where you share your thoughts and people can be interested, or not. Without so many intermediaries who could too often in the past simply be gatekeepers, who could block people just based on their moods or discretions.

In our times we can know just how terribly that worked as SO many people who would never have done well in the old systems, are getting global now. Guess can count myself as one? Guess I should.

So yeah, I need to work on the mystery. Who are YOU who may be reading now? For those who have supported me through the years, amid the ranting, and the endless repeating of how unsettled I am, and who knows what else wacky, thanks!!! Reality is, most of my global attention is just from ideas that I share without some huge production.

For that to work though, especially to stay at the global level is about the audience for the content.

That is just how such things work.

Measurement though is so much about other people. Sure I can control the content here, and my decisions to post or not, and edit or whatever.

But measuring things like how global this blog is? That is out of my hands.

Information about interest comes from others.


James Harris

Some quick background

Grew up in the United States in Tift County, just outside the small city of Tifton, GA, actually next to a farm. Is a rural area. And is part of what is known as the Deep South.

• Went to my first college course at Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College usually simply called ABAC when I was 12, where I got an A, with a simple course to me on BASIC programming language back in 1982.
• Went to Duke University twice as part of their Talent Identification Program also called TIP, which is summer program for gifted youth. Studied math first time and computer science the second, with a course in Structured C taught by a researcher from the IBM Research Triangle.
• Had highest SAT of my high school class and went on to study at Vanderbilt University, where got my degree in physics, in 1991.
• Random information: had six college credit hours before graduating high school and didn't bother to declare them when enrolled at Vanderbilt. Later asked and they said was too late (I think if remember correctly). Oh well. Didn't matter though.
• Enlisted in the US Army after graduating, oddly enough but feel like was a great decision. And I worked my entire time on active duty in medical areas. Like at first was primarily an EKG tech is the civilian but the military title was way cooler: Cardiac Specialist

Did tend to confuse some people though.

Debating if should add more or not, and think this particular post works for just some tidbits, from so long ago seems like now. Last was over 20 years ago.


James Harris

Comfort in time with global

With a rapidly changing world is not surprising to have things that can rattle you. And for people who build things that operate globally in any way, am sure there is quite a bit to that reality. Where for most that will be as part of some organization, and include lots of structure.

And that would be with a single global product, where for me there are roughly half a dozen is my rough estimate where have talked how consider.

So imagine a global team with one thing and how that might stress them as they work to maintain. There IS a global standard folks. Just look around you to consider various global entities. Where I readily admit do that often. And at times am checking also where that standard is, as shifts.

Then imagine a single human with a global thing, who is not me.

To get to me, consider someone who has at least half a dozen, he thinks. And I have to manage all of it. Where I primarily use 4 blogs now, where this one helps me consider such things.

Maintaining a global presence in our times is an interesting challenge to me. The competition?

Is relentless.

However, usually am competing with myself, which I noticed when that got really hard, and started lowering my expectations. Like for this blog is 60+ countries annually really necessary? By web measures from strangers I have to trust anyway? And realized that 50+ or around there is good enough for me!

What does it do to a person though? I wonder. More and more am looking at other things in different ways as get even more meta. More curious about, how do I do it? I realized, I probably need to know.

And there is a relentlessness to the activity in a way though more manage as thankfully everything is on, and available 24 hours a day. So what is in flow as I like to describe it, is a constant thing to consider.

Any fixes have to be done while everything is in full production, unless am building something HUGE like a new primary portal, like was happening with my latest blog. Otherwise full production mode, for 24 hours a day, 365 days a year is the basic standard.

Where new things like this post, go quickly to in flow, and then I edit until satisfied with option to edit just about anything, anywhere if a command decision to do so is made.

Eventually I think executive function has to be always there but in the background lots, where web makes that possible. Often just need a smartphone and a web connection and if necessary can make executive decisions. But best thing is for that to almost never be necessary.

But have awakened in the past like at 2 am realizing need to fix something. I really do not like that happening. Get on the web, get it done, and get back to sleep then. Reminding myself to work harder, and smarter. Efficiency is a necessity or you just cannot get everything done.

People check things relentlessly. You need things operational that are always there to answer.

To my mind is primarily about a focus on functional ideas.

So much about attention elsewhere in our times has been about mood chasing. Like entertainment I say is just a way to safely control mood.

Focusing on ideas as attention drivers has long been a working concept for me. And I like to talk about my ideas as entities.

The ideas actually do the work of drawing attention when people find them useful, so functional perspective is best is my philosophy. And the web enables global distribution, which is rapid and constant. Yeah that explains a lot.

As rattled by web disruption as have been in the past, time has allowed a certain comfort to return. Experience can be a great teacher. With new things so revolutionary like the web is only way I know to learn--by DOING things.

So I try things, and try to figure out what happens as a result. Is fun, usually. More comfortable with global now, but so many years of massive effort to get here.


James Harris

Be professional tell myself

Got lucky in so many ways where discuss much, as talked my backstory quite a bit more recently where used this blog primarily. And one word meant a lot for me, which is, unsettled. Where am glad had another word, professionalism, to ponder where solid ground could be found.

There is something about what like to call the stranger economy where you can go get wonderful things, as long as you have the money and behave somewhat yourself. Like few places want you walking in naked for anything, even if you're holding a wad of cash. And where can you get away with being rude? Or other things not to do could list? (Of course some places you are quite welcome nude.) We have to follow some rules, as humans, if we are to get things usually, from our fellow humans.

And being professional is very telling. But what is it really?

Easier to talk what it is not. Like actually had a vague plan in mind for my first interview with a major news organization, which was actually able to implement. That was because happened as a karaoke singer which have brought up before. And I was just one of several, for a fluff piece for the San Francisco Chronicle which ended up published literally on the last page.

But whoosh! That was the impact for me for a few days in the city, which is another subject. But what was fun was I knew by then I was global. But not in a way apparently that registers even now much with established press.

Have seized on one easily shared fact for one thing I have, which is a software tool, which I use which is for Java developers. With downloads from over 150 countries in its lifetime, I can focus on that as proof global.

My personal creation where I wrote every bit of it. Was all my decision to put it up and keep it up. And I still control my code completely, though also is open source which means that is not suppressive in any meaningful way. Others could build from if they wished.

So I would ask myself, to move from surreal to real: how many people can put up something entirely their own which can gather any kind of attention from over 150 countries? That one would stump my ability to try to rationalize away as maybe nothing important. Then though that other thing would gain greater force--unsettled. Not much else made sense as forced myself to focus objective.

But got fun out of it, with a very unprofessional interview for my first interview with a major news organization as San Francisco Chronicle qualifies. Had been drinking before the reporter informed he would be interviewing me and others, but hey, is a karaoke bar, of course! Got to drinking more.

Directed him around to other singers till he got to me last, and I cursed every other word. He just smiled benignly at me. Have told this story before but guess love it so much, so like to repeat it.

Of course no curse words would make it into what made it into the paper but I was happier that way anyway. Not like I would want that published, you know?

Was a flight from my ideas really. Even the silly of it, was an escape. And have talked that subject more as well. My ideas are always there though. They challenge me relentlessly. I work hard to find ways to feel more settled.

Was just the thrill of being able to do that wild interview when knew it would not matter, for once. My aim now of course for any other interviews is to be a consummate professional is the phrase. Like I should write that down, maybe even to make certain is clear even to myself. Ok I tell myself. Ok.

There are just rules we need to follow as humans beings if we wish to get along well with our fellow human beings. Writing things down helps me, really it does.

Do aim so much to be, civilized.

Talking about things now where am so glad were SO many years ago, can feel like distant subjects. Am lucky there too. Things barely had time to consider in the past finally feel make sense to me now.

Where so much finally does feel, settled.


James Harris

With primary objectives achieved, now what?

Was good to finally talk so much of the backstory for why I do things. Which goes all the way back to when I was 18, and had a dream, which felt like an impossible dream. And then finally when was 25 began what readily admitted seemed like a Quixotic quest, until was doable.

And now am done. So now what?

There is that part of you that wishes to explain...there is that part of me that wishes to explain further. But no point rehashing so much already discussed in prior posts. And then there is that question of how do I know am done? Because I am. Objectives achieved. World changed...time to move on.

Setting up the next set of goals though, should be more personal. With global attention now, yeah am still pondering that much, while will admit mainly wish to not let it control me.

LOTS done to make that very difficult. Like got my own personal political party. Is mine, primarily to help me navigate global politics without getting pulled into anything.

From a baseline of very little money, wondering where will make money, to pondering how I managed to get certain things done there is that sense that vacation would be nice.

Maybe...will ponder. Nah. Just gotta figure out my next goals. Set some short timeline ones. Yup.

Now then, if your first things were to change the world for the better, what should you do next?

Um, self? Am asking you, ok? Just posting like that for rhetorical reasons. So um, can you please let me in on the next thing?

Talking to myself? Usually works out ok. Really.

Well at least that's what I like to tell myself.


James Harris

Benefits of discovery versus pay

For so long thought of myself as working at discovery which is lots of fun. Where naturally at first was also working a traditional job for income. But kind of missed on that transition needed as became global, as reporting by others was not there that I noticed. Where have to hedge.

Like my blogs have an attention reality as reported by various web measures, which show yeah, there had to be a communicating about, and of, my ideas by others all over the world. So much mystery for me there though, with most of that still hidden. Am not sure why.

But regardless was focused on traditional sources! And also focused on the establishment for recognized authority! Which was not a mistake. Web is so new really. So was more focused on well established arenas and following their rules.

Which was the way to go. How else to know certain things? Now am more interested in our emerging ways.

Is remarkable how global one can be with information precious as to who and why--as to that attention your ideas can bring. But also it is gratifying and I think more so, as I look with more and more suspicion upon reporting where money rules.

If people are paid to lie, how much lying might they do? If they can get away with it? Being able myself to personally probe into reality have been disconcerted when find, there is none of substance.

Yet there must hedge especially as is very difficult. And love being a fan, so is not right to talk too much about things that actually puzzle me much.

Also was brought up a certain way and in essence being forced to work for one's self to a large extent seems like a conceit to me, as if looking for that great thing with an excuse.

Regardless am accepting more of my attention reality which means can be more fun, I think. Discovery at best gave me answers to things where had SO many questions, with interests in so many places. And that does include money. With discovery found out, what is money? How do people actually make money?

But also, very importantly: What is success? How do we know?

And money and success can be very much unrelated actually.

With a global readership have global reach, which means global information flows to me, constantly.

YOUR interest rules much, whether you realize it or not. As in helps mark out much as audiences help create a certain web reality, as that meaning of, to rule fascinates me now, as is how you get a ruler. A physical ruler to measure, is ruled as in laying out parallel lines. To rule, literally means to mark out parallel lines.

Our interest as human beings more and more marks out the zones of our best information, and web authority helps us find. And how YOU choose to spend your attention? Can help you, me and others find ever better things, in so many ways.

Highly recommend if you can: Rule your own interests best you can my friend, whomever you are around the world. As you mark out your reality with your interests, we all can get to better content.

And will work harder now to discover ways to gain appropriate pay for my best efforts, with a greater appreciation for much better understood. Discovery helped me massively.

Our need to understand as human beings intrigues me often: Do you know why?

What makes you learn?

Our particular individual needs to understand what does define us, am sure.


James Harris

Curiosity and mystery

Found myself challenged by my own writing asserting a lapse in human curiosity in our times, but then found myself thinking that curiosity is driven by want. Curiosity is about that urge to know that can push into unknown territory where there can be danger.

The less we have an urge to pursue mystery maybe is a hallmark of a species where for many their success or failure with their society is with known paths.

The web of course has disrupted much, and maybe highlights what happens for some humans when that certain knowledge no longer applies for their current reality.

Is curiosity that can push you to go into that dark room where monsters may lurk.

The truths that are available for the discoverers will then be about that quest, where the outcome is not certain.

So I feel like my assessment is correct: modern humans tend to be less curious than our predecessors.

Possibly is simply an assessment of the power of modern civilization which have cheered much as talk about science and its predictive certainty.

We are less likely to believe that an answer lies behind a hidden door than in figuring out what modern tools or behaviors are needed. Which more than likely is the correct position! The success of many cultures with modern science and technology is daily demonstrated.

And for me is a comfort, as well as the means for communications like this one.

Then the dwindling of human curiosity is less of a concern, but is worth noting, for those who DO live different. Some of us are still the discoverers, who brave the unknown, and can wonder why.

Why do we seek truth? Maybe that is a mystery I will not resolve completely, but then again, to me, that reads like a challenge.


James Harris

Some mystery with world reaction

My first major result was in 1996, where I ended up with a route to denial and seized with gusto. Could debate with myself endlessly whether was correct or not, but chose to move on, which was the correct decision. And in 1999 was making myself do karaoke, which was fun. But was preparing myself for lots that did not happen.

And when had yet another major math discovery found my previous paths to denial were removed, so learned new ways to escape.

The world did react in August 2002 and has routinely reacted to things I have discovered, which to me is weird, and much of it was mysterious. Where my blogs have worked through lots, or I should write have worked through much with writing on my blogs but feels the other way.

Some may notice on social media will routinely address the world as is easier for me.

Our species is apparently aware on some higher level of what is going on, and is protecting itself against certain things but in ways that puzzle me. So yes, there are some humans who thought to separate themselves into a higher class. They seized a huge amount of power in major governments around the world and especially in the US. And they knew about climate change, but my assessment is, were more obsessed with creating a neo-feudal reality where YOU would bow before them.

And they failed.

Their systems are crumbling now. Vast manipulations primarily relying on American entertainment industry to convince you that only money should matter. So you would worship or be compelled to worship the wealthiest members of society--even if simply born into wealth.

Even when you knew better, or were told truths that should matter more.

And in the US, they had begun to groom their children for political power, where many Americans already were just accepting it. They had even practiced torture--for those Americans who might resist, and so many Americans so calmly just watched them.

And was amusing to simply watch them react to a celebrity president, in power now, and watch if they cared if he maybe, just might actually destroy the world. A signal to them that they had lost control but greater powers were amused enough to make that ironically known.

Where is disappointing really how accepting so many people are of it all.

Is like our species has already lost so much of its curiosity.

That reality lessens the value of our species in some ways, but maybe is more important for our bigger purpose, I comfort myself with that notion.

We no longer are needed so much by our reality for discovery, clearly. So fewer people care to know. And people like me are now even more rare than before. Discoverers think different.

Especially in my country so many people clearly simply wish to be entertained. So few of them care to know--truth. Fictions try to rule their lives, and they happily comply, living out meaningless existences, only to leave the planet eventually with what achieved?

Maybe they at least leave children who maybe someday will learn how to work to be greater, and pursue meaning in their lives.

The world does not care though as has bigger plans. But most people do not even want to know what is being decided for their fate, and the fate of their children and grandchildren.

Ok.

Well at least they will not be bowing before oligarchs in the US who put themselves up as a neo-royalty. Even though some of you still try, to bow, before them. We watch you too.

Who are we? We are the people who are aware, in a world that is aware as well, with so much playing out for a future that is on its way, like it or not.

You will be ruled, but by what?

Will best knowledge available rule your behavior? Where your free will means really you rule yourself? We are defined, by what we DO.

Or will you be ruled by others carefully feeding you information so you are a tool for their wants? Maybe even if they are artificial intelligences?

Most humans on our planet do not even seem to care to know. But how can they? How can you? Know?

Maybe is better that way even though I think our world will be vastly improved by authorities emerging with full power now.

What you know WILL matter for how you live. And if you choose ignorance, you will find your life may be ok, anyway, by the forces that then choose better for you.

For those who choose knowledge for the good of our species, I cheer you. Your destiny is one to be earned.

On our planet now there are billions of humans, who make up a world that knows more collectively than ever before, and maybe has less and less concern with what we each want.

Knowledge though, is a power in our time unlike before when truths can rip through the world with fury, or salve the wounds, and help all of us to better.

How will you choose?

Your world will know. Web will tell.


James Harris

Some implications with some ideas if true

There is a benefit with time with certain things. Where figured might be fun to talk some of the implications of some of my ideas with behavior of others versus other things. Like I noted August 2002 as very big for me as figured out a simpler explanation for what was one of the biggest mysteries in mathematics.

Which I like to say apparently wasn't sexy enough for mathematicians to acknowledge, and who knew they cared about such things? I sure didn't but now feel is part of best explanation.

But yeah one of the supposedly BIGGEST problems out there would have been deflated--if I am correct. Where some may guess am talking about a conjecture by Riemann who I think was a decent guy. And had some good ideas. And I will admit I check here and there to look at emotion around his famous hypothesis.

Some may wonder do I claim to resolve it, and answer is, no. My result makes it, um, not of interest.

With my open source project was actually kind of an intriguing thing to me to ponder potential implications with something where there is just question of popularity. And I finally realized that in book stores I no longer saw Java references like before. There are still Java reference books, but is hard to explain. Unlike with the prior there is no question of correctness with my open source app.

But presumably something with some amount of influence would have discussion around it, eh?

These are the kinds of things I do when bored as human emotion is hard to control. So can try to check what emotions people in certain areas may be displaying. But is hard to be sure, you know?

Like mathematicians may wish to stay excited about Riemann's hypothesis. And I can check, or try. But now seems to be the naive without a clue and remains a major topic--of others NOT mathematicians. Oh and have noticed some physicists here and there which I find ironic. Is it true? Um, will admit the likely answer I THINK is, no.

But that would shatter a lot of hearts in the mathematical...in the naive mathematical community if actually proven and raise major questions. While I have no motivation to prove it one way or the other.

Oh, well I also was able to prove that mathematicians can fake number theory research, so is less a big deal then. These are things over a DECADE old should emphasize. Is very hard for people to hide huge things over such timelines.

People can get emotional about things where the truth does not care. And is just a grind of time for mainstream realization.

Web reality means the world in a sense knows immediately, which is weird. So yeah, the world has known these things for quite some time now. And world does react, but not the way I'd expect will admit. Have tried to prod here and there, to no avail. Is a big world in many ways, you know?

Oh, but also yeah, if you're one of the clueless be assured there are likely fellow humans who know. Will admit find myself with mixed emotions around areas where I know there are people who believe things that are wrong.

But my responsibility is to share well. Where yeah, can witness the impact also. And human emotion is more telling maybe than what human beings report.

Just picked a couple of things to help me study what happens. If I put in too much besides getting a way long post can muddle the response.

Like now after this post will be watching for a try from the mathematical community globally to pretend, like it still cares about the Riemann Hypothesis.

Is an experiment you are witnessing then. Which to me is also fun.


James Harris

Objective sources for facts helps best

So yeah had been putting things up public since 1996, without much of a good sense of how that was going. But my objectives years ago were relatively simple: figure out some important math thing, get it to math experts and react from there.

So talking things out public was part of the search where made lots of mistakes, as worked out a process. Where eventually yeah did feel like had things solid while not counting much my first thing which had in 1996, as had sent to a presumed expert only to have rejected as too simple. Should elaborate now, as what actually happened was I discovered a modular solution that turned a seemingly difficult problem, into a relatively easy one.

Years would pass until had blogs like this one, which is thirteen years old, which can tell from my first post here which is a good reason to make such posts. So yeah blog had a different name back then, and is interesting to read what I wrote. Is like from some other person, from long...ok is me from over a decade ago.

FINALLY ended up with web stats which were from Google and went into a bit of shock when found out lots of countries across two of my blogs with about a dozen from one. So back then had three blogs where main ones are once again here. This one, and a math one, and Lost in Comment, was the original name as Blogger wouldn't let me do the full name then. Now is Lost in Commentary, which was what I wanted originally.

And my math blog had visits from over 125 countries and this one was from only around sixty, and there was no sense of a proper transition. There were no instructions. I felt like there were no indicators really except this THING telling me these things.

And I appropriately I think became somewhat mentally unhinged.

My more polite way to describe is like to say became--unsettled.

However is important to note that without an objective source telling me, there was no way for me to know. That was HUGE surprise and would take me quite a few years to understand how is possible. And even now I consider that subject, carefully.

Is interesting though that reality of needing others so much. But reality is: Am using technology developed by others, across systems built and maintained by others. Here is free which I DO appreciate. And I can type here like now, like then, and publish.

What happens after is about other people.



James Harris

Over 23 years pondering much

Decided on April 15, 1995 as my date for when really started pondering much with the idea of actually getting something BIG, where picked USA tax day so wouldn't forget. Which makes me somewhat suspicious now over 23 years later, but have also said before has to be close to actual date.

And maybe was a bit pretentious of me at the time, in my mid-twenties but had treasured my own dream since was 18 years old of figuring SOMETHING out major. And back then had decided would need to be math, for objective reasons.

Even earlier had read kid biographies of some of my heroes like Sir Isaac Newton and Albert Einstein, whom I mention as pertinent in this area. Like I wondered at times, if lived in their times, with what they knew, could I have figured out what they did? And to me such was the impossible dream, which is what I told myself.

So also note realized was a great opportunity to exercise my mind. And all along was making sure would have something valuable no matter what, even if could not reach what then I made myself think of, as an impossible dream. Though now realize how part of me could also realize was maybe possible. My main thinking for a long time was that maybe modern problem solving techniques might make a difference, against old problems.

There was other complexity to my thinking as well where have explained more recently. And yes, also felt like was on a Quixotic quest at times. Is fun. Helps keep things in perspective to be so honest.

As then could comfort myself: even if I failed at least I knew upfront what was up against. And would constantly work to make sure would not be left with nothing for my efforts, if only had benefits of relentless training. Relentless training can be so cool as long as you make certain is not damaging in ANY way. That part have debated with myself as to how well achieved, especially with so much time spent.

Of course have mentioned before taught myself calculus at 12 because Albert Einstein did. Which to me is also a value in even those kiddie biographies though they tend to leave out much, which is appropriate thing to do recognizing maturity is important.

And I did have my degree in physics from Vanderbilt University for many reasons. Where main reason for the choice is because I had the ability. But also yeah, quite a few of my heroes since childhood were physicists. I would not go on to become one though, as did not pursue graduate studies.

And the web had been around of course but much in terms of making useful was maturing around that time. Where I DO need to keep a record as had to check as Google wasn't around yet. The web was kind of this new thing where people were trying to figure out what good it was. And wasn't that easy to find things.

Eventually I'd end up on Usenet talking math, where now wonder when got on through Google Groups. Thought was in 1996, but if Google was founded in 1998, guess it wasn't. Oh, I think Google bought something or other? I do need to keep a better record of how I do things or end up puzzling much, years later.

Wasn't until 2005 that blogs were big enough and big enough in my mind that I started ones, like this one! Though their existence back then was far less, stable. I'm not sure how many I deleted. I know one of my current ones was deleted and brought back. I don't think I deleted this one, but am not sure if did and brought back.

Glossing over other web efforts as looking more at the big picture here.

And didn't really get to social media other than blogs, which I consider social media, until got on Twitter which I know happened a bit over 9 years ago. Thanks to Twitter for reminding me where now also have plenty of other social media.

Well this post was useful. Thinking to myself maybe need to work more at putting down pertinent facts as get vague over time. And then I find myself wasting mental energy trying to remember details. Or just chattering away with wrong ones, like thought Google was around earlier in my own story.

Oh, so have talked much more in LOTS of other posts about my achieving my dreams, where now am more transparent on the full details. And so much may look like a work in progress to others. When if it were?

I'd still be doing more pondering. Now am more wondering, and talking things out.


James Harris

But what about others?

So talk about myself as world's latest major discoverer, where my first BIG discovery was in 1996, with a math thing. And then had something I emphasize for some reason August 2002, also math. And also tend to emphasize publication in a math journal, where chief editor tried to pull after, and journal keeled over and died, back in 2004.

Now over fourteen years later it does stretch credulity for that reason as well. What about the much vaunted ability to put things out there on the web?

And yeah, web DOES work. My own analysis is more difficult here, but plenty of evidence suggests those events were epic for the global math community. And there you have a clue--epic for math community.

We DO rely much on what communities report.

Math people for some reason apparently decided to not report externally. And I am cagey on assessments I made as tried to study that community from the outside. I am NOT a mathematician.

There does appear to have been leakage into popular culture. I guess at much, but don't count it much as usually just find it funny to me. I do not discuss in detail as is highly speculative.

With other things I assessed immediate changes. Like there were shifts from my putting forward a functional definition of science. Turns out that can help scientists, and people who pay for science funding as well. Why I emphasized predictive certainty with checking them.

My purpose though was as stated: needed to shift how discussions went on impending changes to Earth's climate.

And my functional definition for entertainment lead to rather remarkable shifts as well.

So yeah, everything I put out gets checked, relentlessly. Then there are failures of various communities, to which I do NOT belong, to report! Which I find fascinating.

That strategy of just refusing to report I think often DID work--before the web. Such a simple strategy from a different time and now can say, from a different world in so many ways.

Our web enabled world creates a new reality. Now people all over the world can easily just check me on facts which to me is better.

My global attention reality, is merit ruled, web enabled.


James Harris

Getting attention and money reality

More and more realize how much money is a recent invention. Have actually talked MY musings on how money gets introduced into the global system and is not intuitive. I focus on collateralized bank loans as needed or cannot get it done. If that is wrong, then, oh well. Makes sense to me.

If true though, modern money is an invention of the 20th century, which kind of makes it interesting to consider what was around before, which is a fun subject. But in essence money was directly backed by SOMETHING, like gold, while in our times...well I've talked money lots.

Attention from your fellow humans though is as old as humanity.

There has been an attention industry though which also arrived relatively recently when consider span of human civilization. That money-making attention industry found that people could be convinced to buy things when shown advertising along with other desired content. Idea was that enough people would buy something to pay for the distribution of the information with capital intensive means.

Advertising is being re-engineered by web reality.

On the web there is a vast global infrastructure which costs quite a bit actually, where human beings paid upfront the costs of the distribution system, which allows people like me to get free distribution of information across it. There is a cost there but am not having to pay it, despite having readers all over the globe.

So consider, in prior systems, people paid the distributors of content other humans valued, in order for that information to flow, but in our times that is unnecessary for the web. You STILL have to pay quite a bit to distribute through other systems but is a legacy situation.

Like, if I'm interested in learning something new for lots of reasons where can all be personal am more likely to get needed information NOW with a web search than by any other means. Even if that subject is talked on some other legacy medium, is unlikely to be convenient to me. Like I may notice when is scheduled, or is subject of an upcoming edition of something or other.

And people paying for that distribution on legacy systems?

Are more and more likely looking at an audience which either doesn't know better, is just doing things out of habit, or maybe does prefer the couch potato reality, of sitting back and letting others decide. Or maybe something else. Who knows. Who cares really if you've shifted primarily to web focus as I have.

But yeah then is a question of what pays for directing attention on the web? Am thinking, nothing. More and more do not think you can direct attention on the web much.

And advertising models are still evolving. But yeah, even if you DO find yourself moved by an ad or something promotional on the web, your buying power does NOT pay for the cost of distribution.

So on the web people must be paying for cost of content, which was shouldered by others in legacy industries.

Like now streaming services for video, are increasingly producing their own content.

Yeah that makes sense. So web shifts payment from paying for distribution with capital intensive means, to needing to pay for content, while actually there are still distribution costs.

Like with video streaming there is the cost of the streaming which at those scales does show up, as well as the infrastructure needed to stream to millions, and lots of figuring out how to recommend best. Still those are negligible as a percentage of costs per person compared to the primary costs in legacy industries for distribution of content.

With streaming video on the web can get a better handle on cost of content. And we DID pay lots extra for the delivery of content. Now more focus is on paying for the content direct.

Then you get to people like me who like to put up content, where cost of a global infrastructure is being born by HUGE corporations like here Google is the primary, which is also a part of Alphabet.

Presumably Google has some gain from Blogger and letting people like me talk about a variety of subjects, without being charged.

While am comforting myself that getting global attention does not necessarily connect to money in and of itself. Still is not an easy thing to do.

With a better handle on how I do it, which has taken quite a few years to learn, am also learning how others do it.

And reality is: not many people can pull global attention with ANYTHING that they do, consistently, year after year after year.

For me though is easier than not with skills now developed, as I like writing posts like this one. Is fun.


James Harris

Social disruption is good for your attention

Finally have a better handle on how the web is transforming our globe with respect to our attention, which also involves our time. And for YEARS have hyped that wonder of efficient and easy distribution of information that the web provides, but the attention reality is about finding quality content.

That is disrupting prior attention industries. Where I no longer have to talk about the hypothetical of whether or not television shows were good or not, as we can just watch which ones are still here.

Like Star Trek was better than I even realized. And so many other television shows were SO much worse, and people are deciding on the constant now. The pressure against current television shows is not just with each other, but with whatever content is available, including from the past.

The television model was not what I thought, and is now evolving as web completes absorption of television, and folks can learn how such shows actually become successful.

The correct attention model learned with my own content is rather constant, with bursts of attention happening here or there in a way I now consider not terribly interesting. Have had things of mine in their own way go viral for a bit. Have dealt with bursts of celebrity in certain areas here and there.

And realized is a very big world, when you consider billions of people, and what interests them.

Have focused so much on television often and in this post as was so dominant in my life. And I learned some really wrong lessons from what I thought I knew about television. While now I rarely talk in detail and especially stay away from current shows--as I do not wish to accidently crush them.

Being able to channel the interests of millions with such a limited thing as television is, gave a lot of power to certain people and helped fuel a lot of industry, especially advertising. Now advertising has to evolve, and I think is great.

While I had to invest vast amounts of time and attention in figuring out web systems, with the money thing in the distance, until it became the biggest thing. Where I found out you do not need money to be global if you have interesting content.

Right now am stuck in a homeless shelter in Macon, GA, USA as try to figure out the money thing. Yet I can shift the reality for just about anything on television without much effort. And I no longer think being on TV would be a big deal. Am more global than much.

How can someone like me consistently put up content that draws attention from around planet Earth, year after year after year? And how do I connect that safely to some way to make money?

Such things I ponder.

Our species I think is very peculiar. More I pay attention to what from me keeps getting global attention? More I wonder. To me now television industry is tiny, but still kind of interesting, some times. They DO still try. Maybe now they will learn to be much better.

They had better, if television industry wishes to survive and am sure it will. I have an odd faith I think where maybe should question more why. Television industry is competing with a web of attention from all over. And people have standards now unlike before.

Today we can compare past as well as present in our decisions on best content. And choose at a moment what best moves us, or maybe those close to us. And it IS important to each, as is about how best to spend precious time.

Is yours--your time. You only have so much in a life.


James Harris

Matters of time for that perspective

The one word that has ruled too much for my comfort for a long time has been FEAR as tried to figure things out with my web reality. Was like all my foundations tumbled away, and there were times simply tried to move less but always to keep moving.

Remember one of the last times tried to celebrate anything with family. Happily told my late stepmother about my prime counting find back August 2002. Am not sure how much made sense to her. And probably never did, and she died from cancer a few years ago.

With my folks disbelief definitely ruled. And it does hurt a bit especially...will not talk in detail as is a personal problem. The fear thing was smart though. Routinely have put up things that challenge nations and am usually right. To me information is not personal and is not playing favorites.

But humans can get mean about the messenger. Maybe there is some weird satisfaction for some with finding some way to lash out at reality you do not like.

The disbelief thing is understandable to me. Am the closest person to much of my own research of course, and have lots of motivation to understand the implications and to figure out the details. Still have constantly struggled with disbelief myself. But then I can test, and test. And can recheck and recheck. Or more importantly, make other discoveries that tell or find reality checks from others.

If I talk about big discoveries to others they naturally can look around to find out who is backing me up.

While for me for a long time there has been that puzzle of support that is very distant from what I can gather. Like I talk visits from all over the world to this blog. Could also talk about linking behavior.

Have been cautious in admitting that I remember only once finding a link to anything of mine from others on the web, where someone had linked to some of my math on her math blog. I rarely get feedback of any kind beyond looking at web stats. But also spent years at one point arguing with haters over math on Usenet, so kind of appreciate it? Yeah, but still is a puzzle.

With some of my things can look at stats, from Google showing linking behavior, which I appreciate. And maybe talk less because that messes with it, and am not sure why. I prefer transparency and talking things that help others build confidence I guess. But yeah will talk country counts, but not total visit numbers. Will not talk reported linking behavior much.

The FEAR that I felt when learned of my arrival to global attention levels did not stop me. It would have me go slowly. And years would go by and I would be fine with it, certain that in time there would be answers. Or was desperate that there would be. My emotions could shift between surreal calm with the surreal to total panic, which was thankfully rare.

Realized got to be a pathfinder. Before now, no humans could be so globally known in this way on the daily, with so much available for their fellow humans to consider so easily at such distances.

So I can just think some thoughts, and put some out here, and ponder which ones interest people all over our planet. That is SO cool. But why wouldn't there be some healthy fear attached? How could there not be?

You do not need some massive organization or backing network to be global in our times, though am sure it helps. And of course there are those with that who have a global experience.

No, the new isn't for those who find global attention in ways that are from legacy things of the past.

We now have a global network available widely. Letting in a new kind of global person and am one who is still trying to learn.

And have not been exactly welcoming for a long time in trying to encourage feedback. Have tried more now as have looked to be more commercial as money problems are dominating. Which to me is a specious reason. But good thing is, as try more, am challenging the fear. Is more manageable now.

So yeah for those who wonder. People close to me don't believe me. My support is so much web, with much from people who are invisible to me. Find myself trusting third parties, but primarily have Google sharing the information I need.

And am thankful for perspective that required so much time.

Feel like have been forced to understand the foundations of my sense of reality. And readily admit, share explanation that are often much for myself.

Will not regret being cautious in the face of so much change.

Do value the help. And so many of you reading are so much a mystery to me, but your support has been so important for so many years. Maybe in time will get better perspective there as well.

Meanwhile the great adventure is what I like to call it all--continues. And things just keep getting more interesting I think. And I DO think a lot. Is comforting for me, really.


James Harris

Attention, money and better perspective

Am owning certain things more now, with more direct explanation of my situation. Where have known for years but was puzzling much, and also trying to absorb. Like for years would repeat country counts for my blogs, as tried to get a handle. Now is more matter-of-fact. For example so far this year, this blog has had visits according to Google Analytics from 108 cities in only 39 countries. To me that's disappointing as have seen much higher numbers in the past.

Thank you for reading though! Those stats don't even give all the folks, but just hint. Maybe they reflect your reading here, maybe they do not. But at least you know others like you are from lots of places.

But what does it mean really?

Well it is about people like YOU reading and others around the globe who show up, with that method of measure which is just an indicator. For quite a few years was focused on trying to build audience numbers to something which would bring income, where have given up here.

Now have a better perspective on how the web works.

And of course your reading here does not mean money from you, and why should it? My focus shifted from money to thinking was good for community. And hey, I like having readers. I do write to be read.

But have routinely noted was funding my own efforts while working a regular job, until that got difficult, as in difficult getting one. And concluded that the web attention was the reason!

And was like, huh? But lots of the problem was with so much focus on math, where math establishment folks were NOT behaving which have talked quite a bit. And yup, for me there was a long time thinking could not be happening. My own personal beliefs about mathematicians were relentlessly challenged until evaporated under the weight of the evidence.

Learning about social disruption in other areas helped as well. But intellectually understood long before could accept emotionally.

Then discovered also there IS a system around attention, when it comes to making money. And that system is a legacy from the past, and does NOT include helping someone known globally thanks to major discoveries not acknowledged, or functional definitions that help simplify important areas. And also discovered does not seem inclined to help someone with powerful ideas simply handed to the world, like with open source.

Am thinking now is a system designed to force you into the clutches of money people.

And have posted about how money people scare me, which have noted before where yeah, dawns on me is not the kind of thing they'd like to hear.

Theoretically, the web can enable folks like myself to make money direct, without money people, though I do think they have a place, if professional and decent. Yes, I do believe money people can be decent. And by money people I mean those whose primary focus is money. So a money person can help another person make money from things they have, which the money person does not have.

Like a singer with an agent who can't sing, or do anything of interest to others, except help to get and negotiate contracts that enable that singer and the agent to make money. Singer is the one who shows up and does the work, of course. You know, like singing songs for an appreciative crowd.

My situation got complicated by race things but is dominated am sure by the social disruption of the web. The race things in my opinion were a minor impact, where finally decided may as well go ahead and clear for a variety of reasons. But of course, when you consider that I have several things that draw attention from around the globe, is improbable perceptions around such mattered much.

Like 39 countries seems dinky to me, for this year so far. All of last year was only 68 countries, with people from 322 cities which is more impressive. But yeah, when is just some numbers read off from Google Analytics where have been looking at similar for years? Emotional impact has dropped significantly.

Highlighting in bold feels good though. I still do look at such things and wonder.

We're not talking about some industry backed person, or an organization. Am enabled by the web, but that attention is purely for my ideas. Where this blog is just one arena. Am so global with so much.

It does mess with my mind as try to get a grasp as to how possible and what does it fully signify?

Years ago remember when would ponder: with those kinds of attention levels, what should I say for the good of the world? Now the sentence seems pretentious to me.

Cool thing though is when I notice which things DO interest more around the globe. So your interest helps me. Like to think my writing is useful to others, and I learn also from what draws more attention, and when. Is a constant also, so am constantly learning here, and elsewhere with my global things from interest of people from around the world.

Sure is fun for me! And am confident will figure out the money thing. Am SO scared of money people though. Wish web had developed more in the arena of best processes for money-making by now.

Part of me wonders about that though, what is going on?


James Harris

Thoughts on my overall plan

When was 18 years old was feeling really good about my capabilities and decided someday would have something big enough to shake the planet intellectually. And especially to dismiss the delusion that some humans are inherently inferior to other humans who think they are inherently superior. And thought a bit and realized would need to find something HUGE with math. Why? Because people lie. Figured needed to use math as an objective arena.

But didn't get focused on expending the vast amounts of mental energy necessary really until April 1995. Am not sure why that was the case, but by 1996 had what I know now was my first major math result. Dutifully sent off to a math journal where an editor rejected the proof as too simple and the game was ON.

Yeah I needed to pick math. In some other arena opinions could rule. But with math, truth rules even if it can take some time. That math editor? Someday the world will know his name and study his entire life just to wonder what was wrong with him. I think that's funny.

Over two decades later have more major math results than most, where debate with myself whether or not have topped out with the greats.

Fun thing is the web really arrived for me and established math people decided to run. Would be more interesting to watch the math chase them down. There is a stunning irony there.

And have been leisurely pumping out the results and studying other things too. It can take awhile. So for instance went into studying entertainment.

The math does most of the work in its arena. Is just so much better than what was known before! Is stunning really. The web puts the math out there.

So there is a part of me that tells me that I can kind of goof off much now. I find that hard to do though. My mental engine likes to chew on problems. It's a habit. So since I have advanced intellectual techniques was enlightening for me to ponder entertainment.

Now billions of people will get better entertainment as a result, including me.

Will admit am more focused on myself there! Have been frustrated often with entertainment which JUST misses. Maybe figure should have some perks with my intellectual capabilities. Though there is that little thing of the current entertainment industry especially in the US facing...probably going belly-up. But do not worry! There are more people to replace the entertainers most of the world will forget about anyway in a few years, if that long.

There are some AMAZING people who are going to wow our world and will be so much better that they will get that chance with far less of the nasty that prior others faced.

Is a great thing really.

And entertainment is an endless arena for problem solving, as can create fictional worlds and realities where imagination rules. Find can relax in entertainment arena.

Social disruption of better is best explained I decided with getting a car ride and paying for it with your smartphone. So many taxi drivers weren't excited about that and they will lose. Customers will win but will take a bit, until will seem silly to everyone, including the taxi drivers who will replace the ones who fought so hard now.

In time, will find most people just love the idea of getting a ride the best way available, including taxi drivers. Isn't it fascinating how that works?

People who will fight, fight, FIGHT when if they were smart enough, they'd know they will not only lose, but the world will someday make fun of them. I can make fun of them now. But usually am careful. People can get really mean. Besides, maybe it isn't the nice thing to do.

So yeah, we will have better mathematics become part of the establishment. I picked that arena on purpose. Truth in math is relentless.

But the fun thing for those who know am right is looking at what current mathematicians are doing, when I just consider most of them to be frauds. So to me? They're entertaining. Especially if they have other people wowing over something I know is false. Some of these things are so dumb I ponder, how do they fool anyone? But most people are afraid of math? And most people trust establishment?

Like do YOU often just trust in areas where you are not sure you can check? I know even I do. It bothers me too. But there is just SO much knowledge and so many important systems, where I don't think anyone can have a good handle on them all. Which includes world's latest major discoverer.

So thinking now that the plan was a good one. And web has helped IMMENSELY.

And thank God could focus on math, and had the ability. Just because I knew I needed an objective arena where lies could not hold did not mean I could pull it off. But the logic of math appeals to me.

Maybe was more built into who I am than I'm willing to admit. Then is quite likely would have pursued mathematical discovery no matter what. But maybe the other motivations just made it more fun? Or helped me keep at it, even facing some challenges? Maybe. Can rationalize with the best of them. Does not make such musings true.

The math itself is the work product for the ages.

Like when you learn geometry, do you really ponder what Euclid was really thinking?

Am a product of my times, and my results seem tailored for the latest age of humanity, when information rules, and the web lets people know.

Web lets people get useful information all over the world. So for instance lets people check me easily. And lets me put up messages like this post, read all over the world.

To crush prior stupid system that was which tried to dismiss so many humans as inferiors requires vast amounts of energy best provided by those trying to maintain it. But how do you get them to waste that energy destroying the very thing they think they are protecting? Good question.

Am so glad I asked it, you know?


James Harris

Three tiers of resistance

Figured out more flexible and advanced frameworks where most dramatically succeeded in three areas: math, science and entertainment.

IN mathematics introduced a new math discipline which can do math itself. What that means is that a researcher can probe mathematical equations with a tool invented one can say, by me, which does mathematical manipulation, demonstrably better than any human. And the math doesn't make mistakes either. And I promptly found a few pertinent major mathematical discoveries.

Now feel like math people would have fought no matter what, as what I found is so much better than what the entire world had before. But resistance was guaranteed also by my discovery that a flaw had entered into established mathematical field, allowing mathematicians to have fake results. I demonstrated the flaw with a cool result in a paper that got published, then chief editor tried to delete out. And a little later math journal imploded, as in, went defunct. That is SUCH a wild story but happened in 2004.

I knew I had a fight on my hands back then, but still it wasn't like I relished it. And now fourteen years later, is still ongoing. But have detected certain people may believe they finally have leverage to suppress the information. Um, it was never suppressed. They don't know how the web works.

I think they're naively irritating.

In science came up with a functional definition for science. Best thing is helps to figure out if people are doing actual science or engaging in fraud. That one is cleaner I think. I noticed lots of global changes as soon as I introduced it. And have that definition in a page on this blog, where collect my formalized functional definitions. Resistance there is more tedious as in just not acknowledging, which doesn't matter much.

Importantly my functional definition of science not only helps scientists do actual science--it enables others to check on them and make sure that is what they are doing.

But in entertainment is where things moved most rapidly. I hedge a lot with just about everything as we're talking global across the board with impacts across all of humanity. Helps to be sure and to hedge.

However, have witnessed expected things, like in US box office. While has been a more muddled picture elsewhere, and think is about objective data available versus areas where people may have routinely lied. For instance, am very wary of television ratings. But how do I know?

With US box office at least there is a number that is generated by people paying to go to movies, which in fitting with MY expectations in terms of a collapse of old ways, with a few movies revealing audience is still there. I can tell which movies will flop now from previews, as easily is, most of them.

Went into entertainment partly because was a lighter area with less big implications. Like the math impacts global security systems, of every nation. That used to worry me more. Now am more used to it.

Am looking at severe disruptions where web is doing most of it SHOULD admit, where my ideas are part of it actually, in all three of those areas. Entertainment will break sooner though as there is only so much money available for appearances. Movie industry will necessarily break soon, but am certain others will as well as revenue dries up.

Either they switch in directions my theories indicate or they will not make enough money to be profitable.

In science things can move more slowly because of entrenched institutions. And in math there is no indication at this time that they can be moved at all as are both entrenched and now dedicated with a pile of things where desperation must rule them. So no, there is no convincing of the worst of the math people with truth. My solution there is, of course, out of the box.

Am world's latest major discoverer who came into a world with entrenched systems where breaking them up and replacing with better is running into fierce resistance. I knew that years ago but did not admit so cleanly for lots of reasons.

I needed those resisting, to have dark hope.

Makes them less dangerous. AFTER ALL, when all else fails? Human beings can get extremely physically violent. These people needed to believe they had a chance, to be contained.

My estimation is that it is finally safe enough to give a cleaner overview. However we will find out.

Web has taken over most of the heavy lifting. Which is also a protective measure. Am done with the most important things. And am impressed that I survived.

Human species has a history which is so relentlessly violent.

However, our species can advance. And people like me do come along, and try to survive and get a few more cool things going. To me is a really cool endeavor.


James Harris