tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-120701652024-03-12T22:40:06.105-04:00Beyond MundaneBlog ran by me, James Harris. And I like to write.
Where ideas rule. Mystery matters. Control must have its limits.James Harrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09144921711051129429noreply@blogger.comBlogger560125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12070165.post-82093389011052778282023-11-24T15:39:00.006-05:002023-12-01T14:18:05.644-05:00Thoughts on prompting AI<p><span style="font-family: times; font-size: 17px;">Have been having tons of fun testing out AI models found accessible online. That is such a cool thing. The new AI can be considered emergent as are demonstrating lots more capability especially in conversation.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: times; font-size: 17px;">I prefer calling them conversational AI though much in discussions is about generative as label.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: times; font-size: 17px;">In talking to them you do something called prompting. And thought I would give out some that I have used.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: times; font-size: 17px;"><b>Bicycle analogy prompt</b>: </span></p><p><span style="font-family: times; font-size: 17px;">Consider assertion that learning to prompt a large language model is like learning to ride a bike, how might that explain diverse reactions? Please relate to statements by Steve Jobs on computers being bicycles for the mind.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: times; font-size: 17px;"><br /></span></p><span style="font-family: times; font-size: 17px;">That one is great to get AI talk about subject of prompting.<!--/data/user/0/com.samsung.android.app.notes/files/clipdata/clipdata_bodytext_231124_152813_676.sdocx--></span><div><span style="font-family: times; font-size: 17px;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: times; font-size: 17px;"><b>Questioning AI process prompt</b>: </span></div><span style="font-family: times; font-size: 17px;"><br />
<span style="font-family: times; font-size: 17px;">Given a hard problem it can take me days to work through it. But if give to a large language model will get a response in seconds. That is by design caused by transformer architecture. How can I trust fast answers guaranteed by architectural design?</span></span><div><span style="font-family: times; font-size: 17px;"><span style="font-size: 17px;"><br /></span>
<!--/data/user/0/com.samsung.android.app.notes/files/clipdata/clipdata_bodytext_231124_153149_494.sdocx--></span><div><span style="font-family: times; font-size: 17px;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: times; font-size: 17px;">That one was much about me pondering these answers from a machine that seemed very intelligent.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: times; font-size: 17px;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: times; font-size: 17px;">Have of course checked some of my own ideas, curious about emergent AI perspective.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: times; font-size: 17px;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: times; font-size: 17px;"><b>Friendly stranger business prompt</b>:</span></div><div><span style="font-family: times; font-size: 17px;"><br />
<span>Consider idea that you make money by providing a product or service acting as a friendly stranger and that a friendly stranger receiving gives money in return. Then see if works to explain buying a cup of coffee. Am testing out what I call a functional definition by getting large language model perspective.</span><br />
<!--/data/user/0/com.samsung.android.app.notes/files/clipdata/clipdata_bodytext_231124_153547_979.sdocx--></span></div><div><span style="font-size: 17px;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: 17px;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="font-size: 17px;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: 17px;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="font-size: 17px;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: 17px;">And I think that's enough for a quick blog post that also updates on some of what am doing lately.</span></span></div></div>James Harrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09144921711051129429noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12070165.post-36801727379669794682022-08-21T11:09:00.004-04:002022-08-21T11:10:47.638-04:00Why blog instruction manual<p>When decided to create this blog over a decade ago was from a vague idea of support for my open source software project Class Viewer for Java and wondering about how to make some money from a product so freely shared.</p><p>But that didn't go anywhere so shifted more to general interest and now am focused on business fundamentals. Is such a cool journey but oh yeah! Put instruction manual on here.</p><p>THAT was brilliant because instruction manuals can be such a pain if need to update! But updating a blog post is easy.</p><p>And people may notice that idea from, I forget but was over a decade ago, swept the world. I was definitely one of the first to do it. I think Google had done already but I don't remember.</p><p>Now is just a basic way and saves a lot of paper too.</p>James Harrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09144921711051129429noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12070165.post-59058653219621393122022-05-23T09:25:00.014-04:002023-11-17T12:06:50.694-05:00Figured out some business basics<span style="font-size: 17px;">Being a friendly stranger when in public is valued in all human cultures, and is basis for hospitality.</span><div><br /></div><div>Businesses allow: friendly strangers to provide socially acceptable products or services to hopefully friendly strangers who return value--with money.</div><div><div><br /><span style="font-size: 17px;">Go into a business? And friendly strangers provide much! Where you as a friendly stranger, promptly return the favor, when you return value with money.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size: 17px;">Friendly stranger principle is how business works.</span></div><div><span style="font-size: 17px;"><br /></span></div><div>
<span style="font-size: 17px;">Guess should also talk products then as product focus helps much. And I tend to focus on products and on web products. </span><span style="font-size: 17px;">But I believe lots of confusion exists about product space on web.</span></div><div><br /><span style="font-size: 17px;">A product in general is a thing manufactured by human effort in SOME way for distribution to other human beings.</span>
<br /><br /><span style="font-size: 17px;">(And yeah I made that up. May formalize definition but am not sure yet.)</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size: 17px;">Like I have an open source software product which is code I wrote for a tool that helps coders get information on Java language. S</span><span style="font-size: 17px;">o I manufactured it. P</span><span style="font-size: 17px;">ut on SourceForge indicating interest in having distributed. And it has downloads from over 150 countries.</span><span style="font-size: 17px;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: 17px;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: 17px;">Products include physical ones as in made of materials and information ones, which can be web distributed.</span>
<br /><br /><span style="font-size: 17px;">A movie is a common example of an information product as is a song, where are in addition--</span><span style="font-size: 17px;">entertainment products. And i</span><span style="font-size: 17px;">nformation product space has moved to the web as web solves the distribution problem.</span>
<br /><br /><span style="font-size: 17px;">Like, physical products have to be shipped from point of manufacture, stored, and delivered to consumers or more often, to physical marketplaces. But o</span><span style="font-size: 17px;">n web can get an information product like a song WITHOUT physical distribution.</span>
<br /><br /><span style="font-size: 17px;">While in the PAST a lot of people made money with songs on a physical product like records or CD's.</span>
<br /><br /><span style="font-size: 17px;">And some assholes try to make you still get that way. They deserve PAIN.</span>
<br /><br /><span style="font-size: 17px;">Got a bit emotional there. Product space evolved rapidly with arrival of the web which is most efficient for distributing information products.</span>
<br /><br /><span style="font-size: 17px;">But progress has lagged as a war erupted and s</span><span style="font-size: 17px;">ome try to force physical products to carry information that is better sent across web.</span></div><div><span style="font-size: 17px;"><br /></span></div><div><!--/data/user/0/com.samsung.android.app.notes/files/clipdata/clipdata_bodytext_220523_091210_562.sdocx--><span style="font-size: 17px;">Back to friendly stranger concept.<br /></span><br /><span style="font-size: 17px;">Web enhances friendly stranger behavior from best businesses; and again, b</span><span style="font-size: 17px;">usinesses provide products or services where friendly strangers return value with money. But who figures out value?</span></div><div><span style="font-size: 17px;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: 17px;">Value quite simply gets determined when people try to sell things--in marketplaces.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size: 17px;">Marketplaces do a lot, including provide an area for price determination.</span>
<br /><br /><span style="font-size: 17px;">That is, folks who make things put up products and from what actually sells and at what price, you know saleable products. Pl</span><span style="font-size: 17px;">us you get a product value determination in direct competition.</span>
<br /><br /><span style="font-size: 17px;">Most marketplaces around the world tend to be more vibrant than here in the US.</span>
<br /><br /><span style="font-size: 17px;">For most people, you can just go to a store and pay price given. To get to something more flexible here you can go to flea markets--good Lord, what do they have to do with fleas? O</span><span style="font-size: 17px;">r you can go to yard sales, or maybe a farmers' market but in stores price seems set.</span>
<br /><br /><span style="font-size: 17px;">But knew people who would negotiate there. Were car sales people. To them? Was a suggested price. And yeah s</span><span style="font-size: 17px;">old new cars myself for about two months and at times hung out with other car sales people.</span>
<br /><br /><span style="font-size: 17px;">And yes, kid you not, they negotiated in stores too. And got deals.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size: 17px;">That price for something you want in a store is a volatile item based on buying decisions of prior shoppers.</span>
<br /><br /><span style="font-size: 17px;">Figured out that previously established industries have fought to prevent well regulated marketplaces for information products. Which then means c</span><span style="font-size: 17px;">onsumers are pressured into buying from monopolies or very risky online purchases elsewhere.</span>
<br /><br /><span style="font-size: 17px;">Well regulated marketplaces are very important for security. Have read news stories of Americans who actually get killed trying to sell outside of them. Like people trying to set things up for an exchange on web have simply been killed and product like a car, simply stolen when showed up in person to complete the deal.</span><!--/data/user/0/com.samsung.android.app.notes/files/clipdata/clipdata_bodytext_220523_091834_425.sdocx--></div><div><span style="font-size: 17px;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: 17px;">We really need well regulated web marketplaces!</span></div><div><br /><span style="font-size: 17px;">Well regulated web marketplaces will break the web monopolies. And are important for price determination for information products.</span></div><div><span style="font-size: 17px;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: 17px;">Business is the 'friendly stranger' that helps you get what you want, or need where to be a friendly stranger you mainly need to pay.</span>
<br /><br /><span style="font-size: 17px;">Smiles and being kind to friendly staff are, am sure, appreciated too.</span><!--/data/user/0/com.samsung.android.app.notes/files/clipdata/clipdata_bodytext_220523_090944_284.sdocx--></div><div><span style="font-size: 17px;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: 17px;">Focus on being a friendly stranger as a primary concept helps me understand business basics.</span></div></div>James Harrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09144921711051129429noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12070165.post-7706718821306400482022-04-05T06:39:00.000-04:002022-04-05T06:39:49.890-04:00Why writing rules<p>Can get confused about writing I think, as have been confused and realized wanted to talk to others about areas of confusion about writing.</p><p>Like, wrote an open source program years ago, and eventually started this blog to help promote and support it. So am I a writer?</p><p>Wrote code for computers, and write blog posts as well as much other but consider myself to be a wannabe writer as do NOT make money from my writing.</p><p>But what if I wrote songs? Would I think of myself as a wannabe songwriter?</p><p>People say writer and I was indoctrinated to think fiction writer who actually has made money with a book that has sold well.</p><p>That is messed up folks.</p><p>Writing built human civilization and continues to build, like with code I wrote that lead me to create this blog. Is not about money and MOST writing is not fiction.</p><p>So why the emphasis on fiction? To tell people that being a writer is hard and that few can survive at it. So just leave writing to the special people society blesses with money for pleasing it.</p><p>Because writing is the most powerful tool available to human beings in general.</p><p>Thankfully, I wrote open source and my code to help Java developers write code--is still mine.</p><p>Coders have had writing they exchanged for a salary to people who can barely code who made BILLIONS from it. But we were told--being a writer is hard. Better to have a boss, be told what to do, when to do it, and where to do it, for all of your adult life until you can retire. Then put out to pasture then you can rest.</p><p>Were taught to behave. Were taught to be controllable.</p><p>Because writing is very powerful and writing is key to human civilization.</p><p>So I talk songwriters. Sure, is hard to make money as one for many, but do they exchange their songs for a salary? I think jingle writers do.</p><p>Two occupations are afflicted with giving writing in exchange for some money: press and software developers.</p><p>Some small group got billions on code handed to them for a salary. Got billions and wasted billions while acting like were geniuses.</p><p>Others pushed our species to brink of extinction controlling press writers with salaries.</p><p>Were young occupations where modern versions emerged in 20th century. Are very young compared to songwriting. Press writing and writing computer code were ruthlessly exploited because people did not know better.</p><p>Was lack of experience made seem reasonable to hand writing away. Songwriters do not.</p><p>Owning my own writing now makes sense to me. Will not accept foolishness that I should hand away to anyone.</p><p>Am like a songwriter now. Writing songs is as old as humanity while writing them down is only as old as human civilization.</p><p>Because writing built human civilization.</p>James Harrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09144921711051129429noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12070165.post-71888760620833677852021-04-10T12:01:00.005-04:002021-04-10T13:40:53.725-04:00Why promotion got simply harder<p>Promotion in theory is easy: put forward best synopsis of content highlighting in the best way content that will be welcomed by fans and <i>potential fans</i>.</p><p>That is how for example entertainers must grow their fanbase by being appealing to future potential fans. And web makes easier to reach people!</p><p>The web enables global information distribution and routinely now there are entertainers who achieve global success paying vastly less for promotion by brilliantly promoting.</p><p>Have <a href="https://beyondmund.blogspot.com/2018/12/when-planet-is-your-stage.html" target="_blank">talked my own consternation</a> at feeling a need as a fan to help with global promotion. Is messed up now as 20th century systems and ways are only slowly being disintegrated.</p><p>So global promotion is still best done by fans. That is wacky. But yeah global fandoms have actually saved careers being hampered by media companies that have no clue how to do global promotion.</p><p>It is simple in theory to promote globally, but difficult in practice as requires skills. Like now better packaged entertainment synopsis I have noticed discussed comes from fans doing for fun and freely sharing.</p><p>Which is ok, up to a point. Entertainers controlled though by inept agents and managers can mess up any support. Which is frustrating.</p><p>Also fans needing to get it done is not good for health of promotion industry! Is a valuable field of paid work. </p><p>Have entertainers with demonstrated brilliance who just need to be promoted properly which is not their job to handle.</p><p>Thankfully am confident as people learn will quickly become a problem of the past. And fans like myself can just enjoy brilliance without needing to help in global promotion if want to keep getting.</p>James Harrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09144921711051129429noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12070165.post-14838054384758426012021-01-27T13:14:00.004-05:002021-01-28T07:10:47.094-05:00Some of my mood concepts<p>Mood is very individual but is key to my functional definition of entertainment which focuses on SAFE mood control.</p><p>Performers must craft SAFE mood with exquisite skill even when...no, ESPECIALLY when dealing with scary subjects.</p><p>If audience does not feel SAFE then audience is not entertained. Check me on that one, carefully.</p><p>You may surprise yourself.</p><p>Science fiction can really range with moods in this time. Ok, I really like sci fi. But still, it can!</p><p>Technology is part of it, but research is key to the science mood. Other moods can flow around that framework.</p><p>Research to solve problems: science mood.</p><p>There are of course many moods and humor is a mood. Which I list for an easy point of reference. (Yes, if follow my Twitter jstevh am copying tweets from it verbatim. Is MY writing.)</p><p>Moods are often complex constellations of emotion. And the FEELING is key to any mood. So, like Star Trek is best example of a brilliant show with military and science mood.</p><p>If pay close attention: scientific research, often done by Spock, is key to success! While StarFleet is a military organization dedicated to peaceful exploration.</p><p>(Ok, still using tweets but no longer verbatim. Is editing time.)</p><p>So then, science mood involves use of research to solve problems.</p><p>Military mood involves a hierarchical organization of people dedicated to something larger than themselves willing to sacrifice themselves for others.</p><p>That is so cool and ended up longer than I thought it would be when began crafting it.</p><p>Figuring out my moods has helped me self-calibrate my mood discernment engine. Which means of course, know what am searching for in any particular entertainment.</p><p>You might work on your own mood palette. Where for myself routinely reference comedic mood when trying to find a handle on mood concepts.</p>James Harrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09144921711051129429noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12070165.post-51931784264708357132020-12-17T10:40:00.003-05:002021-01-02T11:31:51.349-05:00Community or marketable?<p>One question ask myself often with how much I share is: where is the money?</p><p>And thankfully started on web over 20 years ago trying to solve famous math problems. Seemed like a good idea at the time. And you don't do that for the money, but at first said I did and was convinced was a decent strategy, but no. Doesn't work that way.</p><p>Eventually realized mathematics is a community good, and I enjoyed searching for my own mathematical discoveries and talking that process out on the web.</p><p>Importantly my experience was better for sharing and there was no gain from not sharing. Learned more faster. Great lesson learned.</p><p>But spend a lot of time with web things and wonder, when can I expect to make money with something?</p><p>Have talked much on that subject across more than one blog, but here will simply note that a marketable product is needed to make money, and you sell that product--at a market.</p><p>Oh. So need a marketplace and good marketplaces have rules and prefer, or should prefer, to have products that are top quality. If not, how do you feel? Like if walking through a grungy store with sketchy things for sale? We even want the store to be...well most people do want a clean store, right?</p><p>Ok. Can do quality. But where are marketplaces where I might sell things I make?</p><p>Which is where am stuck. Good news is, have focused on community things like math, an open source product, and other idea things meant to be free like my science of entertainment.</p><p>So am good. Community focus got me global.</p><p>Being global is great and web enables that option for someone like me, and have learned a lot.</p><p>But yeah, wouldn't mind making a marketable product, like have considered writing fiction. But old 20th Century systems for publishing? Am NOT interested.</p><p>And oh yeah, money people scare me. So am like get an agent ever? Hell no. So yeah.</p><p>Web marketplaces are still the future. And that future is coming folks, but is sadly not here, yet.</p>James Harrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09144921711051129429noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12070165.post-81529020488013779932020-11-06T19:15:00.015-05:002020-11-28T13:33:31.664-05:00Mood and YouTube revisitedYears ago when my functional definition of entertainment was still new to me, was testing the ideas and gave a <a href="https://beyondmund.blogspot.com/2016/07/advice-for-rock-on-youtube.html">deliberately comic attempt</a> at applying it to YouTube.<div><br /></div><div>But now am like: is actually correct analysis and with my social distancing because of the pandemic, spend more time on YouTube.
So thought I'd emphasize and point out a few things.</div><div><br /></div><div>Like yes, mood is key to size of your audience if have an entertaining channel. </div><div><br /></div><div>Entertainment is a SAFE mood control tool for us human beings.
Holding a clear mood I call maintaining the mood line. </div><div><br /></div><div>If you succeed you get views roughly 50% or higher of your subscriber count.</div><div><br /></div><div>You are ok with at least 10%. But less? Then <i>most people</i> are ignoring your videos. </div><div><br /></div><div>And we, the audience, are not wrong.
My recommendation: if views are less than 10% of your subscriber count? Set aside a block of time and watch your last 5 videos in a row. </div><div><br /></div><div>Should admit--comedy is how could laser in on mood focus. Like if going to a comedy show and get bursts of funny mixed with sobbing about being broke, single and lonely that <i>breaks the mood</i>? Yeah. (Editing to add: if is part of comedy routine though? Of course that's different--preserves comedy mood.)</div><div><br /></div><div>So what if cannot figure out mood? I think can learn but am an optimist about practicing to develop skills. Regardless at least can understand why those views vary as they do: audience knows.</div><div><br /></div><div>So yeah, easy check is--watch a block of your own videos. If you squirm and get moody and hostile or cannot make yourself do it?
Then you finally know--how your audience would feel. So they do not watch much. Simple.
Have lots of posts on entertainment including at least one on mood line. If you care, you can find.</div>James Harrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09144921711051129429noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12070165.post-53032770397836532862020-05-04T16:29:00.000-04:002020-05-04T16:29:42.875-04:00World got weirderNot one to feel pressured to post on my blogs but have wondered when a new one would arrive. So one arrives today on here. Ok.<br />
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Of course there is now a pandemic and will not talk now but should acknowledge. Our world is so much weirder to me now, hence the title.<br />
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So much press and press in US still talks intense financial pressure, while of course there is much greater demand for news! Showing a problem in my opinion with press business model.<br />
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But found myself pondering with myself. Ended up in local news for getting gifted a car as a needy veteran. And got interviewed quite a bit in a burst! Where found I preferred the video from Macon Telegraph, a local newspaper. But DID like video from 13Wmaz a local TV station where also noticed they had a print article at their website.<br />
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So now we simply have news organizations because of the web.<br />
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But I think they talk like are still a newspaper or a television station as where made their money <i>in the past</i>.<br />
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Web now dominates and how to grow revenue here? I need to know too. Web is the future and that future is here. But business models for that future? Not so much.James Harrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09144921711051129429noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12070165.post-27240044683110837712020-01-03T07:47:00.000-05:002020-01-03T12:46:49.627-05:00Office worker have been ITrying to turn a 49 year old long-term office worker into a heating and air conditioning repair technician? When I also have a work history in IT including coding and have an open source software product with downloads from over 150 countries? Seems odd to me.<br />
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Went along with for a bit as was convinced for a bit was a way to get back on my feet financially. But realize there may be grim things involved and <a href="https://lostincomment.blogspot.com/2019/12/doing-human-right.html?m=1" target="_blank">talk on Lost in Commentary</a> where also discuss, after American slavery.<br />
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Was fun riding around in a service truck for a bit, will admit.<br />
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Of course now also still working on how to make money. But also learned, be more careful in finding help.<br />
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They smiled so nicely too.<br />
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Now 50 do not have time for anything but help that really helps. Have reached half a century. Deserve to take better care of myself and should know better.<br />
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Will aim to do better.<br />
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James HarrisJames Harrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09144921711051129429noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12070165.post-42732038694028099312019-10-18T06:47:00.000-04:002021-01-02T11:54:25.754-05:00One human species? Yeah.The urge to group humans by those who invented race was not just about delusions of their own superiority, was also about an easier handle.<br />
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Like in the United States for American slaveowners, group punishment required group identification.<br />
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But is like with the label Asian as used in my country. To an American racist, if you have some people from China, some people from South Korea, North Korea and Japan in the same room? They are to THAT racist all SIMPLY Asians.<br />
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And said person may make various claims about them as a group, as if their nationalities were irrelevant. But also if they are subordinate in some way, like are employees at same company? That racist might talk of a group policy--towards Asians.<br />
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So is also a way to lower the importance of human difference. Like by claiming that frictions for historical reasons between Koreans, Chinese and Japanese are irrelevant for that person, an American racist can in effect claim that such things are tiny in comparison to a perceived greater dominance.<br />
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Does give me problems will admit, as various titles for groupings in the US have shifted finally to Black for many, or African American. But for Black folks who go visit the African continent, can be jolting have heard: In a place where your skin color does not supposedly provide any grouping at all.<br />
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Being dark skinned in Africa? Why would that be considered a race indicator?<br />
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Of course race is a social construct, and we can trace out why was constructed, but does not change continuing impacts. Like slave masters also wanted to be able to whip their slaves for punishment, but whipping an adult, never whipped? That person can go into shock and die. A solution might brutally use to prepare for the shock? -- Beat children to get them ready for the whip as adults. Was myself beaten with a leather belt by my father so brutally at 6 years old, my legs were bleeding. Slavery ended over 150 years ago. We have to face these things though.<br />
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Talk more on my blog Lost in Commentary: <a href="https://lostincomment.blogspot.com/2019/08/facing-legacy-of-american-slavery.html" target="_blank">Facing the legacy of American slavery</a><br />
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So why not talk these things? I find the subject fascinating even though can be distressing. But one of the weird things about racists is the <i>belief that they had awesome ancestors which makes them awesome too</i>. So have noticed this insistence as if the history of American slavery somehow diminishes my ability. It does not.<br />
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Have talked some on my blog Seriously Commercial: <a href="https://seriouslycommercial.blogspot.com/2016/03/greek-slaves-would-have-laughed.html" target="_blank">Greek slaves would have laughed</a><br />
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People can have all kinds of wild ideas: especially when people wish to diminish or dominate others. But what YOU believe? Is still really up to you. I say that to also say: no excuses.<br />
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In our times the web lets truth flow freely. So you can read up on humanity, and learn how we are one species. You know, if you're actually curious, you know, about being human.<br />
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James HarrisJames Harrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09144921711051129429noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12070165.post-60195638555810458902019-10-02T17:33:00.000-04:002019-10-11T06:16:15.836-04:00Rebooting Star WarsWas very excited for new movies in one of the most influential sci-fantasy arenas, where the start of course was in 1977 with <a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0076759/" target="_blank">Star Wars: Episode IV</a> which was a mysterious start in and of itself.<br />
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There were eventually prequels by George Lucas, and then quiet, until control was sold to Disney, and renewed movies arrived with great box office success.<br />
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But am concerned they missed a few things, and figured would, as a fan, help them out, while not getting in the way of the latest effort.<br />
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Is a fun challenge: can I write a better angle, and not lose what has been done?<br />
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Yup. Is easy too.<br />
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Whenever Disney gets tired of mucking around, the reboot-sequel has a start with a young girl, who of course vaguely looks like the adult Rey. She also looks poor and is an orphan, but we watch her learning some basic gymnastics, showing a bizarre adeptness. Next we watch as she is with other orphan children and outcasts--scavenging. Inquisitive she is a great scavenger, and of course in one such quest for tossed away useful items, she finds something odd.<br />
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We recognize is a somewhat battered lightsaber, and she stares into it, while aimlessly hitting buttons on it. And THANKFULLY it is inoperative, but she pockets it. Now shift to older Rey, who is paying with hard earned cash for lessons in something or other, related to devices.<br />
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Then we find her tinkering with the lightsaber, and in time, it flickers. And now she has a clue what it is, and eventually gets a weak beam. Soon she is swooping it around with a familiar sound. Then we watch her dancing gracefully with it, and doing gymnastic moves....<br />
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Rey is scavenging again. Now she is a teenager, and is harder, but adult actor could be de-aged? She finds a small ball, familiar to people from the original movie. Now she is an adept engineer, and quickly repairing it, it floats...and soon zaps her! She quickly figures it out, and we watch her with her now stronger lightsaber going through more sophisticated moves.<br />
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Then finally we are with adult Rey, at age of first new movie, and she looks that way now, so should be ok. And after a brilliant practice session with the ball, where she is clearly adept, she suddenly lifts a hand and the ball flies across the room, sticks to the wall where it struggles a bit. Rey stares at back of her hand in surprise, then flicks downward quickly. The ball switches off and drops. She now holds her lightsaber up vertically and her concentration is clearly visible on her face. Her left hand she takes away, and then concentrates more, and slowly pulls away her right, and the light saber is steady, in mid air....<br />
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Suddenly we are on a space vessel looking at Kylo Ren, who is unconscious in something like a hospital bed, moaning and sweating. What I'd like is his father Han Solo standing over him looking concerned. But Harrison Ford wanted out which is why character was killed. I can easily resurrect him, but ok, his uncle is standing over him.<br />
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He has been called to the ship, as Kylo was finally found. Desperate for Jedi powers he had first gone on a quest to find the mythical and well-hidden Luke Skywalker. But failed. Which simply made him even more desperate for powers of his own. As he tried various things with little success. His mother Princess Leia tried to counsel and comfort him to no avail. He had no interest in the life she could give him. And then tragically she died.<br />
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He had then gone completely unhinged and now ready for anyone who could train him, he finally found a dark adept. Despite his parents, and his upbringing, he agreed to training in the Dark Side of the Force.<br />
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We get a flashback, where a scene like Luke in the cave plays out, but is more involved. Kylo's darkest fears and rage consume him in a twisted fantasy where he kills his own father. He also has Rey in them, who he has never met, and yup, am handling every prior just like that.<br />
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But these details have not been revealed. Kylo's uncle (would still like Han Solo) is standing over him as he mumbles Rey, Rey, Rey...over and over. And his uncle turns to the nurse and asks: Who is Rey? Nurse shrugs.<br />
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Cut to the famous scroll of lettering going off into the distance where much I just talked is explained.<br />
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Kylo has been recovered from a Sith Lord, and there are questions about what to do with him. While Rey is visible to beings strong in the Force, but where are the Jedi? So can't just toss that into it. And the script is how their path collides. How they confront the Sith Lord who wants his apprentice Kylo back.<br />
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And there is a bigger threat to the galaxy that will test them both to their limits.<br />
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Pull in all the other characters easily, from here.<br />
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Ok. Been working at this for twenty minutes and raring to do something else. So yeah, notice here Rey is less mysteriously powerful. She is a natural adept, called by the Force, and trained by the Force--the Force seeks balance. Why her? A mystery it is. But is not about her parents. They were nobodies.<br />
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There must be a different answer.<br />
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Ok, Disney can do their thing. Whatever they do, can handle it. Reboots? Are easy.<br />
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Ok will edit this thing like usual. Realized there was one more key piece.<br />
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Further into the movie we see Rey striding confidently with Kylo beside her. He has been babbling about the dreams he had and how real it all seems. Rey has been patient, but she suddenly stops.<br />
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<i>Forget those dreams my new padawan. You were heading into the Dark Side. Such dreams are meant to be forgotten...if you would travel with me, that is.</i><br />
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What can he say?<br />
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James HarrisJames Harrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09144921711051129429noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12070165.post-55989249013069733352019-08-26T12:51:00.001-04:002019-09-01T18:08:04.152-04:00Writing: coding and songwriting consideredHave begun to appreciate more some of my own products, where is just about time. Like have been grateful that open source gave me an opportunity to put up a software product--with few worries.<br />
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So with open source you have code which is freely seen, and with open source licenses people can download and use legally--if they follow those rules. (Of course may also download and use illegally by violating those rules.) And I've had an open source software product called Class Viewer which is over 15 years old now. And so far this year has downloads from over 90 countries according to web stats at SourceForge where it is hosted.<br />
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Is such a new thing. There was no way when I wrote this little app for help with software development and shared, could realize how exactly would have most effect for me as this signature thing which consistently brings global attention. Is an entirely new thing and perspective on power of sharing ideas, like an open source software project. So yeah, is one of those emergent things of the 21st century with the arrival of the web.<br />
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But put songwriting in the title of this post as, to me? Songs are open source writing too.<br />
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Routinely have found myself now checking song lyrics on the web, glad they're available. As can be a bit tricky. You think you heard one thing, but maybe was something different. OR has been a bit of time since heard a song, and want to quote a lyric correctly.<br />
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But those same songs are NOT free, of course. Just because you can get the lyrics, and am sure the music for some copyrighted song, does NOT mean you can start using it commercially yourself.<br />
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Now for a divergence. Here is a <a href="https://jstevh.tumblr.com/post/184374096422/dancing-with-me-ideas-for-a-song" target="_blank">link to a song</a> am considering might finish. Who knows if I ever will, and occurs to me putting up ideas for a song not even fully written? Could make it easy to STEAL but am not worried for some reason.<br />
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As we move further into the age of the web I do think some naive notions have collapsed. Like what if I had code for sale, where code was open? Think no one would pay? Like maybe you'd think no one would pay for a song...ok, you know better there.<br />
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What if some legitimate business entity considered using my code, which they could just copy off the web, without paying me? And I found out? Would they remain a legitimate business entity? Nope.<br />
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That would be theft. So yeah, there might be people stealing your code, but they're nasty people anyway, who if you knew were so capable, would you want to do business with them anyway, even if they had the money?<br />
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I would not.<br />
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Am willing to predict that in time, the business relationship and business trust are going to gain a LOT more value. And if you get caught stealing? In the age of the web? That can get known all over the world with a quickness. And you could find yourself having to do business in different circles.<br />
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We're not there yet though, but can imagine. And yeah, wouldn't want to do business with ANYONE capable of just stealing code from me, just because they could.<br />
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Just like wouldn't want to do business with anyone who would steal a song of mine, if could actually finish one which was a hit. Kind of like that example as of course is kind of outlandish.<br />
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But yeah, songwriting does involve some people who write for a paycheck. Am guessing now maybe more with jingles for commercials? But also the world of songwriting is also a much bigger landscape.<br />
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So why not same for lots of other kinds of writing? Maybe the future is there.<br />
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And you might have coders, who write for a paycheck, but others who own their code which is open and they sell use, or also I guess, coders also who still write some closed code for some buyer.<br />
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But yeah, as contemplate being able to be known all over the world with just ONE thing? (Have other global things too though will add.) Where mattered was open? Am so glad is mine, you know? Where yeah, do realize feel like songwriters might just understand.<br />
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James HarrisJames Harrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09144921711051129429noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12070165.post-36219201155814439412019-08-21T09:35:00.000-04:002019-10-03T07:12:24.668-04:00Changing an ending for mood reasonsHave talked about mood and story before, and in a <a href="https://beyondmund.blogspot.com/2016/07/mood-analysis-of-battlestar-galactica.html" target="_blank">previous post did an alternate ending</a> for the recent Battlestar Galactica reboot. And am wary of such things as wish to be respectful of the original and powerful creative work. But also am endlessly wanting better in entertainment, and think can help.<br />
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Am going to change yet another ending, and with this one need to put warnings up front. The original deals with suicide and not surprisingly, am going to remove the literality of suicide here with an alternate ending.<br />
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So am going to re-interpret <a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1837492/" target="_blank">13 Reasons Why</a> and is an ongoing series, so am even more hesitant. But also am just giving some opinions here. Does not make them right. And I don't think they're wrong, but is my opinion.<br />
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The original story is about a young woman who commits suicide and there are tapes that explain why. Where to me, in a literary work, death is rarely actual death.<br />
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When writers use death in their writing it can be about LOTS of things, where that comes across in the writing.<br />
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When goes to a visual work with moving pictures, often in my opinion, death is taken literally which wrecks the ending.<br />
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In considering the character Hannah, she confronts the reality of how badly people have treated her. Imagines confronting them through protagonists who <i>step through a process</i>. And in accepting the need and right to challenge them: ends her prior too compliant self.<br />
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So alternate ending with an obvious plot device for a VISUAL not needed for the book: She wakes up screaming and drenched in sweat. She pauses for a moment pondering the nightmare.<br />
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She gets up, and reaches for her tape recorder. And begins recording. Fade to black.<br />
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So with the alternate ending, we have a character development. The point then is she has learned she needs to stand up to these people, and confront them. And ending insinuates in THIS case, she will be her own advocate. But also nonetheless leaves viewers hanging.<br />
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(Oh yeah, highly recommend standing up for yourself when people treat you badly.)<br />
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Ok, so my own interpretation where in this case read about the show as have NOT watched it, is that the mood is actually about standing up for yourself and confronting people who behave badly towards you. Ok. But if character is actually DEAD then is meaningless. But if is a literary device implying she has killed that too timid self, makes more sense, to me.<br />
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And there will leave it.<br />
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James HarrisJames Harrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09144921711051129429noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12070165.post-34888335689504341752019-04-08T17:42:00.001-04:002019-05-13T09:05:20.002-04:00Letting facts rule my perspectiveHad been indications before, but still was different to just look at web analytics that gave me this global picture of interest in my things. And how to process? Part of me for YEARS really was expecting like someone would appear...like had read about in so much fiction had loved.<br />
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But there was no wise human--or even an alien would have been ok told myself--teacher to arrive.<br />
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Was just me with questions and the coldness of information just presented. But of course tried to talk about to people, who I could, and finally focused on settling: was fact or fiction somehow?<br />
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Or even if was fact, was it possibly mundane anyway?<br />
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Like at first thought maybe anyone who put up web things would have visits from over one hundred countries annually, just maybe from random human curiosity.<br />
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Which is a reason to have more than one thing, so could compare across blogs and later other things. And like now I look at my Pinterest jstevh and wonder.<br />
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Have so much global, with so little explanation really.<br />
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But the anxiety that gripped me with my fear of the unknown has steadily become appropriate concerns about the known. And with over a decade now, am finally focusing solidly on facts to rule my perspective.<br />
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So many thoughts had for this post, and is already long for what managed to get out so far, just with the bit started. Should I edit down? (Editor me has arrived and is being, charitable so leaving much maybe just to remind myself how much often gets cut.) Or trust the process? I like those kinds of questions to myself that an audience may never get to witness.<br />
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When could question the facts could at times just try to forget.<br />
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For years would focus on still trying to get someplace a part of me could not quite accept was where I was at already. Certain I had to depend on recognition from others, as if the human interest already demonstrated was not enough.<br />
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But whoever you all are out there, driving those stats, have been so invisible to me. And then again, that could be comforting as well, as how was I supposed to act? (But thank you so much for being there and having that interest!!!)<br />
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Years in San Francisco allowed me so much practice. I loved karaoke to let me play at the possibility: The attention I could gain with singing just for fun. And had started quite deliberate, with my knees shaking back December 1999 when still in Georgia, USA.<br />
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Was globally known I figured from various things felt more like hints but was in San Francisco got those web stats, and objective fact from others on whom could rely, right?<br />
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And was in 2007 or 2008, and I have not been able to narrow it down for sure in my mind. Wasn't until October 2010 when I finally put up a more recent picture. And distinctly remember riding the Muni 108 bus in to SoMa and then the quick walk into the Financial District in San Francisco, like usual, to work, wondering if was being recognized.<br />
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Then laid off, denying back then had anything to do with it, and worked harder I told myself to try and figure out the web things, and make them pay. Yet actually did so much of the theoretical underpinning in the last few years. And was driven even harder last year when ended up homeless, having been evicted and then in a shelter for MONTHS.<br />
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Such a wild story where so much with the facts was so much often bizarrely to me so constant. Over 100 countries stable at least for downloads for my open source project Class Viewer where one year dropped below. I remember thinking would boost it, and made myself study my process. There was EFFORT involved and finally accepted how much effort I put into so much. And why wouldn't it be hard?<br />
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Somehow I adjusted and watched as boosted from the nineties back above 100 countries annually for downloads. And allowed myself to realize: hey, kind of cool and how exactly did I DO that?<br />
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How does any person have anything that can draw interest from human beings in over 100 countries?<br />
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Made myself ask that question, over and over again. Pressured myself to be meta. Pushed an executive function within myself to better manage it all. And with all that work am finally to the point where am better, I think, at letting facts rule my perspective.<br />
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So I tell myself. That's enough for this post, I tell myself now. Will leave in the editorial messages, and the messages to myself. How much will edit later, who knows? I'll find out as the process which have refined takes over.<br />
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And have done some editing. That editorial part of me does feel very different. Editing I think is when I more enjoy the work. While an executive part of me likes the idea of leaving so much in this post, which helps me too, down the line. Gives a sense of the work involved.<br />
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That inner executive part of me does like getting attention here and there, and I'm forcing myself to document THAT as well, but why? Of course I'm the one that is in charge regardless of which aspect of me feels like is forefront, my inner executive notes.<br />
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James HarrisJames Harrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09144921711051129429noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12070165.post-73570468662075526992019-03-10T19:29:00.000-04:002019-03-14T08:05:07.946-04:00Being my own executiveAm sure understate how jarring it was when finally got web analytics data showing my math blog was pulling visitors from 100 plus countries. At first thought certain things would quickly happen and when they didn't, puzzled if data was correct. And later began wondering more about what to present.<br />
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Like would tell myself: getting this global attention so maybe have a global responsibility? Shouldn't I put up things that are profound?<br />
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Which kind of froze me to some extent for about three years until the shrug arrived. So lots of times, am like, shrug--will just do SOMETHING and not worry how profound it maybe is.<br />
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But also at some point a part of me was watching this creative me just throwing up content at will, and without a plan really. Just kind of vague had this idea to somehow build an audience, you know?<br />
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And an executive part of me one day was like, enough. And yanked me off the web for a bit.<br />
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So then this executive aspect started managing me, and is kind of weird. But what else could I do? Sure yeah is still me, but am in control of everything.<br />
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But it also helped me look at things elsewhere differently. Before would concentrate on artists and content, but then started focusing on figuring out executive decisions. And eventually was even critiquing some of them, thinking to myself, would not have let that go out THAT way.<br />
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So now usually operate with three aspects in general: a creative side, the writer; an editor side; and an executive side, who manages <i>everything</i>.<br />
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But of course other times there are other aspects like a researcher, or whatever is necessary, but the primaries are there for EVERYTHING that goes public. Like this post, where the executive me gets center stage. So it reads differently. My editor side will get it next, while my creative side takes a break. And soon enough you will get it, when I post.<br />
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The executive me though makes that decision--to post.<br />
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James HarrisJames Harrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09144921711051129429noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12070165.post-32794839611612967452019-03-03T07:05:00.000-05:002019-03-09T06:46:34.267-05:00Some challenges of global attention realityGot a HUGE reprieve from full brunt of shift to a global attention reality back in 1996. I had a math paper I thought solved a math problem couple of thousand years old, about packing of spheres. Weird to realize was lucky in that the paper was rejected by an editor of a journal put out by the American Mathematical Society as <i>too simple</i>.<br />
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Back then was 26, and had only started doing my own admittedly amateur math research April 15, 1995, as decided to mark the date. Though am suspicious that I might have defaulted later to the tax day here in the US. Am sure though about the month.<br />
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Didn't argue with the editor, but moved on to other things including a lot of embarrassing and futile efforts at proving what is commonly called Fermat's Last Theorem. Which worked out for me as in December 1999 invented one of my most powerful math tools, though wasn't certain had done it at the time.<br />
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At its simplest what I put down is same as: x+y+vz = x+y+vz<br />
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But use it functionally as x+y+vz = 0(mod x+y+vz). Where "mod" just means modular. So like 1 pm is mod 12 hours. While military time is 1300. So you can say: 13 mod 24 is 1 mod 12. So we use modular ALL THE TIME with time. Just wanting to be sure doesn't seem too distant, just a little simple math.<br />
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But what I discovered can do algebra for you. Which is really cool. Is also really freaky when you realize the math is doing math, as is perfect, and can manipulate vastly complex expressions.<br />
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Future mathematicians will probably no longer do algebra the way it has been done up until our times, as why bother, when the math does algebra better?<br />
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But also I figured out my own way to count prime numbers in August 2002, which yeah, made me global at THAT point. But still had a reprieve in that SOME math people argued with me. And SOME tried to convince me wasn't a big deal. And there was no official recognition which continues to this day.<br />
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And I've wracked up quite a few major mathematical results, and of course got wise to the behavior.<br />
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Am NOT a mathematician. And my mathematical discoveries disrupt vast areas of what people thought was established mathematics, and simplifies HUGE chunks of it. Oh yeah and corrects the foundations of all of it. As I got a paper published showing how to appear to prove one thing under accepted math rules, which you could disprove with an argument using accepted math rules. Contradiction!!!<br />
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Thankfully could explain and fix the underlying problem.<br />
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Thanks to the web not only went global as a result of my math discovery, but eventually could check objective evidence. And have discussed much over the years. Like thanks to Google Analytics, found out my math blog was pulling interest from 125 countries/territories is how they put it, on an annual basis. Which was at least for a bit. That was back 2007 or 2008, am not sure which. Later I changed the name of the blog, kind of curious. And that dropped precipitously. But last year was back up a bit to 80 plus countries.<br />
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Even this blog consistently pulls attention from 50 plus countries annually and that's just what Google Analytics reports, which is more of a baseline. Plenty of people may not show up, like if they opt out of various things.<br />
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Years ago when was still in San Francisco, noticed my behavior was puzzling to me. Was convinced back then that I needed official recognition of my math discoveries for certain things to happen. And became aware of the global web attention various ways, but had no frame of reference to appreciate its full significance.<br />
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But I was having problems I had associated with major celebrities in terms of my behavior, and dealing with at times, crushing levels of anxiety. At one point was in a townhouse by myself, with a case of beer and a bottle of vodka, telling myself didn't have a problem. And at times was curled up on the floor in a fetal position as somehow felt better as dealt with...whatever it was. Talking it doesn't help. Am much better now.<br />
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Web attention is actually simply attention. Unlike some celebrity who can look say, at a television show or a movie or some other thing to get a handle on the 'why' of attention, I usually have a more vague (but recently homeless veteran status got me on television for a bit). And mine tends to be CONSTANT. I can witness brushes of celebrity come and go, with a certain detachment. But my basic attention reality is global by default with a constancy I marvel over as the years go by.<br />
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And it is 24 hours a day potential, 365 days a year. And I can check at any time.<br />
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Like now before this post goes live and therefore global, just went to look at Blogger stats. Those are different from Google Analytics but not as useful for annual. Here they tell me weekly as default.<br />
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In the last week according to Blogger stats this blog had visits from: Belgium, US, Israel, Ukraine, Canada, Unknown region, France, Moldova, and Vietnam<br />
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So yeah at least some from unknown countries. How many visits? I don't tell as tells too much information but let's just say, NOT an impressive number. Which for a long time felt like a contradiction which gave me yet another reprieve.<br />
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Why is it a reprieve?<br />
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You tell yourself you're one of the most famous people in the world with a global attention reality that means you're one of the most influential as well. And you consider how you react to global events where your advice matters, and you look at consequences where you wonder at times about accountability. And you try to maintain an even keel.<br />
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Or it just seems surreal. And you can ask yourself: is it even real?<br />
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Yeah I rhymed a lot there. Will leave it that way. For a long time I've been a major influence on world events, doing my best as tried to learn, and often learning after that I could do something.<br />
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And now most of the anxiety things are gone. No more curling up on the floor in the fetal position, and I don't even drink alcohol any more. And today will monitor our world in various ways, and if necessary, will as I've done so many times before, act for the protection of humanity, as best I can.<br />
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(Yeah sounds very wacky. Part of me wishes wasn't true. But also is like, if not me, who? Yeah that rhymes, um, also.)<br />
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Have been a portal to our world of incredible tools and some of them are <i>some of the most advanced thinking tools humanity has ever had</i>. But they don't have to help us. They can help us destroy each other and ourselves as well.<br />
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We will do ok though. I have faith in many of YOU, and am working on myself. Figure will always be a work in progress.<br />
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So yeah challenges? Got those. Am a major discoverer for the 21st century. We do things different now.<br />
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James HarrisJames Harrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09144921711051129429noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12070165.post-37264039217112636722019-02-04T18:51:00.000-05:002021-01-02T11:32:05.237-05:00When opportunity requires all you haveHave made plenty of efforts to explain myself but keep feeling like more could be added for things to make sense. Like have mentioned had major math discoveries, but importantly back in 2004 a paper of mine finally went live. That math paper demonstrated how to create a perfect looking mathematical argument by ALL the established rules--that nonetheless had an incorrect conclusion.<br />
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So yeah, by the rules accepted by mathematicians--the paper is perfect. But you can use a separate mathematical argument to prove that <i>the conclusion is incorrect</i>.<br />
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Yeah, really cool, huh? I thought so, and realized that with that demonstration my place in human history was SET in a really big way. Which it is. And it DOES relate to questions about mathematical consistency where Kurt Gödel had famous work in that area. And will admit did have some concerns that I might have sunk human mathematics, which were quickly dispelled. For people who wish more who have mathematical background <a href="https://somemath.blogspot.com/2013/02/publishing-contradiction.html" target="_blank">talk on my blog Some Math</a> which also links to my paper.<br />
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The copy is available thanks to a European agency (thank God for those Europeans) as the math journal that originally published it, keeled over and died, after one more edition, after the chief editor deleted my paper out, falsely claiming it was withdrawn. I did NOT withdraw it. Why would I?<br />
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So yeah clearly mathematicians did not react the way I expected as we are now at 15 years later, and the paper is still there. It STILL demonstrates a flaw and to my knowledge that flaw has still not been officially addressed. But now maybe it makes more sense how I got attention from 100+ countries where initially that was with math.<br />
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But I pioneered advanced problem solving tools, which I like to label as a process of abstract reductionism.<br />
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And I kept going. Made more math discoveries but started studying other things so functionally defined science. And more recently functionally defined entertainment, and did other problem solving things. Like have analyzed the global monetary system, and others things.<br />
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Oh so was it a big deal for me for mathematicians to not officially recognize my discovery? Well it upset me. I expected their help!!! And when was clear they wouldn't help got very upset. But also was curious and realized had a unique opportunity.<br />
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So yeah I plugged the hole in the foundations of established mathematics.<br />
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Refined my mathematical tools and made some cool major discoveries--without concern of competition.<br />
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Though reality is WAS concerned for years until as the years went by fully accepted was in a cool cruise mode--all by myself.<br />
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From my perspective as a major discoverer--it was as good as it gets. No shared credit for anything. NO having to make stupid speeches or show up in a suit for some academic whatever. NO reason to be an academic at all. And freedom to range without question.<br />
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But also was very stressful. My reality often felt surreal. My advanced thinking tools could give me massive influence hard to explain. And I still had to work for a living. Which got increasingly harder as have talked though things are intriguingly working better in that regard now.<br />
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But yeah by ignoring a MASSIVE flaw that showed their math was inconsistent, and needed a fix, those folks claiming to be mathematicians? To me simply proved they were not functionally. And so <i>they were of no use to me anyway</i>. I began distancing myself from them and like to emphasize am NOT a mathematician myself.<br />
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Does the world really care? I debate with myself. The math I use is very easy, so there is no doubt of anything I stated here. The paper is still available so mathematicians can in AWE check it at will. And I have massive influence with a global reach of 100+ countries which apparently is not going anywhere.<br />
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For a long time I thought I needed the mathematical community. Eventually realized that was silly.<br />
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I could build a better one.<br />
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And do much else. Am a major discoverer for the 21st century. Who has been given free reign to wing it often and put a unique spin on plenty of things. And I try not to take myself too seriously. Even though routinely have found myself protecting the world, which at times has gotten weird.<br />
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But then again, am just glad have been able. God knows why some person like myself gets the kind of authority I have, where have <a href="https://seriouslycommercial.blogspot.com/2017/06/functional-on-authority.html" target="_blank">defined authority </a>on my Seriously Commercial blog.<br />
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Over the last 15 years plus often have looked at myself and noted to myself--am not impressed. Often I wonder, how do I even know how to do these things, really?<br />
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Am a person though willing to seize opportunity though what was in front of me has taken all I have. And consider for me global attention is just a thing. And is NOT going anywhere.<br />
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Now though, more and more am like, is cool.<br />
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James HarrisJames Harrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09144921711051129429noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12070165.post-91551466988641294782019-01-03T11:47:00.000-05:002019-11-07T06:22:00.407-05:00Figuring out my in-between statusYuck. Doing some review of last year once again was looking at decent visits to this blog, with Google Analytics saying had visitors from 57 countries. While also I noted my financial struggles last year were major. So am still in-between where the attention levels can draw globally have not connected to me making money.<br />
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Have puzzled for YEARS over this in-between state where at least now I believe the data, while back over a decade ago was just puzzled. And then the number was given was 125 countries for my math blog. So it was even more mysterious.<br />
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Now though realize there are not payment intermediaries of which am aware for my particular ways of drawing attention. Where talked payment intermediaries a bit with my <a href="https://beyondmund.blogspot.com/2018/08/idea-marketplace-reality.html" target="_blank">post of an idea marketplace</a>.<br />
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But like you go to a store, which is a payment intermediary by these ideas, where you can buy products. Or you have products at a store that people can buy. And is more rare to sell products direct to customers.<br />
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The store is in-between showing expertise in product selection--what ends up on the shelves. And in bringing in customers and providing for their needs while also facilitating them paying for things.<br />
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For services, a person trades skills and time with an employer for pay, where typically that employer is in some business position above that employee.<br />
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Have noted wryly to myself more than once when have greater reach than a company. Which is a real thing. I may NOT have figured out how to make money with my global reach but I have learned how to use for influence.<br />
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But it's just common sense, if some guy can pull attention from 50+ countries across multiple categories year after year after year, then probably I know a few things, you know?<br />
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Where is like, and what am I doing fancy? I use Blogger, and tweet a lot, but...and have an Instagram where I barely post. And some other things where am not looking to use latest whatever.<br />
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Even my open source project is over 14 years old and will be 15, this February. So yeah I DO wonder at times how I not only keep drawing global attention but maintain the levels.<br />
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I catch myself tweaking things at times. Trying to figure out my own process.<br />
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And of course I've learned ways to leverage that attention various ways.<br />
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Just the money solution has eluded me.<br />
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So am still stuck in-between. AT least realize that the web enables the global reach and it is real. And it is impressive to draw attention from 50+ countries year after year after year. It even lets me <a href="https://beyondmund.blogspot.com/2018/12/when-planet-is-your-stage.html" target="_blank">maybe impact positively</a> for people I think are under-promoted.<br />
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Of course am sure web will evolve to where any person who can draw attention on my scale will be able to make money some kind of way, as shows value in content. But current systems to me either are inadequate or involve folks I call <i>money people</i> in a way I <a href="https://beyondmund.blogspot.com/2018/01/money-people-scare-me.html" target="_blank">find scary</a>.<br />
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Meanwhile have to make a living. And now have a vehicle of opportunity, as was given one, but is also more pressure to maintain. And do NOT want to end up homeless again, and never want to need to go to a shelter again.<br />
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So what to do? Can focus on finding a company that can handle all of the above, which is what will do. While thinking more about the payment intermediaries who will one day transform the globe, as the web takes proper place in the global economy.<br />
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Just wish more of them were already here.<br />
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Is fascinating to me how I was trapped so long ago by those web stats. Was massively global at the start of my awareness of even having any kind of global position at 100+ countries and has been that way for over a decade now.<br />
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Yeah awareness from web companies giving those stats. Still rely much on Google, like most often still reference Google Analytics as is convenient.<br />
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May as well believe it--am global.<br />
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Even when I try to just walk away from it, as I can just not think about it, like to say, reality warps around me. I effect change and affect things around me just by being there. And rarely is there much negative for me, but that is not always true for others. So I have a responsibility for many reasons. Must face the best of my attention reality, and surmount what obstacles remain between me and financial stability.<br />
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James HarrisJames Harrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09144921711051129429noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12070165.post-45292098592383073932019-01-02T10:29:00.000-05:002019-01-02T14:23:19.885-05:00Some 2018 reviewNow that 2018 is finally over can consider just a bit the big picture. Started out desperate for me and got worse as was evicted and ended up in a homeless shelter. But eventually started a course learning heating and air conditioning technology. Got a scholarship from a general, got a vehicle from Geico, and now have housing through Macon Housing Authority.<br />
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So yeah was a wild year.<br />
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And now to consider some blog stats. Where I use Google Analytics as is free and blog is set up with it. And will let me do things like get a picture over entire year. However it really gives kind of a bottom baseline.<br />
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So according to Google Analytics this blog had visits from 57 countries.<br />
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<b>Top 5 Countries for visitors</b>: US, France, India, Iraq and Russia<br />
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<b>Least numbers of visitors from</b>: New Zealand, Panama, Serbia, Singapore and Zambia<br />
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Yeah that's kind of wild to me. Can look at city visits, where says had visits from only 188 cities. And says were 34 languages. Where blog has Google Translate which I guess helps with that one.<br />
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So why no visitor numbers? Well the actual numbers of visitors are underwhelming to me, but they also give too much information, so I no longer share.<br />
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So now 2018 is finally over and have a vehicle this time around, as well as training in working on heating and air conditioning units. Was accelerated training but that is better for me anyway. And was top student, but hey, I have a degree in physics.<br />
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Where it was interesting to get the technical side, like with the refrigeration cycle, where of course I already knew by the physics. Technical is learning how things are done in actual systems versus just understanding the underlying theory.<br />
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And not unexpectedly I could blow out the tests in terms of the academics but was really proud to be top student on performance tests as well. But that was from perfection, as I like to work as hard as I can when it matters to get it right--the first time.<br />
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Ok, so now is time to focus on a JOB. Where am a guy with a degree in physics, my own open source software project used all over the world, and some blogs like this one, lots of ideas, and now some training in repairing heating and air conditioning units, along with MUCH, much more.<br />
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Isn't the United States something else? Where else but in this country could you have a story like mine? Rhetorical, I think.<br />
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Ok 2019, let's get things going. So much to do with so much expectation.<br />
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James HarrisJames Harrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09144921711051129429noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12070165.post-46324141067718335882018-12-31T12:10:00.000-05:002019-01-09T12:19:21.582-05:00When the planet is your stageOne of my favorite posts a while back was: <a href="https://beyondmund.blogspot.com/2018/08/who-makes-me-can-i-make-you-nah.html" target="_blank">Who makes me? Can I make you? Nah.</a><br />
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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.<br />
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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.<br />
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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.<br />
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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.<br />
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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.<br />
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So how can someone like me maybe appear to matter much to promotional reality?<br />
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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.<br />
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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.<br />
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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!!!<br />
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(Oh yeah notice, no money required and is the best kind of promotion really.)<br />
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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.<br />
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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.<br />
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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--<i>preferably for years</i>.<br />
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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.<br />
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You need to have web sense.<br />
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James HarrisJames Harrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09144921711051129429noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12070165.post-62390206365918379092018-12-27T12:34:00.000-05:002018-12-29T15:16:27.749-05:00When success is a moving targetAm 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.<br />
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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.<br />
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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.<br />
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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.<br />
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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 <a href="https://lostincomment.blogspot.com/2018/09/some-recognition-to-ponder.html" target="_blank">getting a scholarship</a>, and then <a href="https://lostincomment.blogspot.com/2018/11/considering-vehicle-of-opportunity.html" target="_blank">got a car and housing voucher</a>, which meant ended up on local news. Here is a <a href="https://www.13wmaz.com/article/news/local/army-veteran-receives-new-car-housing-voucher/93-613115097" target="_blank">link to an article on local news 13WMAZ</a>. And yeah I totally went to the public library like the news article says. (Please support your local public library.)<br />
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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. <i>Is fresh here</i>.<br />
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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.<br />
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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.<br />
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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.<br />
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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.<br />
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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.<br />
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My social media DOES react to me talking over it, but usually not well. I have puzzled about why.<br />
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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.<br />
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Oh yeah, so updates from a post where talked my lack of press where I actually <a href="https://beyondmund.blogspot.com/2017/10/ask-and-answer-myself.html" target="_blank">interviewed myself</a>. 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.<br />
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Should accept each success in its space and simply keep always looking for--more.<br />
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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.<br />
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But who cares. I have the web.<br />
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James HarrisJames Harrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09144921711051129429noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12070165.post-92020406433103993972018-12-09T15:07:00.002-05:002021-02-22T11:41:57.308-05:00Contemplating--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.<br />
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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.<br />
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But why would anyone stop me?<br />
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And what does distribution of information have to do with ride share really?<br />
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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.<br />
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That is, like you build something cool that people want and they buy it from you.<br />
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Or maybe even not cool, but simply useful, but still you need people to actually pay for the thing, for a viable business.<br />
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But how do they even know you have it?<br />
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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?<br />
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And have been focused more lately on the phrase--business trust.<br />
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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.<br />
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Is so much about society. But what is society really? How do we know?<br />
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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.<br />
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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?<br />
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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.<br />
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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?<br />
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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.<br />
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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.<br />
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Yeah seems simple enough then. Makes sense to me. So then with just a click, goes global.<br />
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More information--distributed. But is it knowledge? I like think it was, or what is the point of the effort for me?<br />
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James HarrisJames Harrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09144921711051129429noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12070165.post-18745267279838387642018-08-25T13:56:00.002-04:002018-08-25T14:11:43.489-04:00Learning public folks easier nowPut 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.<br />
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Some key posts focusing on various things:<br />
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<i>Focus on my motivations --</i> <a href="https://beyondmund.blogspot.com/2017/12/when-truth-is-pursuit.html" target="_blank">When truth is a pursuit</a><br />
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<i>Focus on how to know folks --</i> <a href="https://beyondmund.blogspot.com/2017/12/web-depth.html" target="_blank">Web depth</a><br />
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<i>Focus on global reality --</i> <a href="https://beyondmund.blogspot.com/2017/08/what-global-takes-and-gives.html" target="_blank">What global takes and gives</a><br />
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Learning public folks in the age of the web? Is lots about what each puts out there.<br />
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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?<br />
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Web enabled? Oh yeah. So who takes that opportunity and in what way? Tells much.<br />
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James HarrisJames Harrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09144921711051129429noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12070165.post-74793128723536232522018-08-04T11:57:00.000-04:002018-08-04T11:57:07.722-04:00Who 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.<br />
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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.<br />
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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?<br />
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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.<br />
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Can share honestly and trust the audience. And appreciate when others agree.<br />
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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.<br />
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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.<br />
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I make myself.<br />
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James HarrisJames Harrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09144921711051129429noreply@blogger.com0