One 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.

Like in the United States for American slaveowners, group punishment required group identification.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Being dark skinned in Africa? Why would that be considered a race indicator?

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.

Talk more on my blog Lost in Commentary: Facing the legacy of American slavery

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 belief that they had awesome ancestors which makes them awesome too. So have noticed this insistence as if the history of American slavery somehow diminishes my ability. It does not.

Have talked some on my blog Seriously Commercial: Greek slaves would have laughed

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.

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.


James Harris

Rebooting Star Wars

Was very excited for new movies in one of the most influential sci-fantasy arenas, where the start of course was in 1977 with Star Wars: Episode IV which was a mysterious start in and of itself.

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.

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.

Is a fun challenge: can I write a better angle, and not lose what has been done?

Yup. Is easy too.

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.

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.

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....

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.

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....

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Cut to the famous scroll of lettering going off into the distance where much I just talked is explained.

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.

And there is a bigger threat to the galaxy that will test them both to their limits.

Pull in all the other characters easily, from here.

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.

There must be a different answer.

Ok, Disney can do their thing. Whatever they do, can handle it. Reboots? Are easy.

Ok will edit this thing like usual. Realized there was one more key piece.

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.

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.

What can he say?


James Harris

Writing: coding and songwriting considered

Have 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.

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.

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.

But put songwriting in the title of this post as, to me? Songs are open source writing too.

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.

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.

Now for a divergence. Here is a link to a song 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.

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.

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.

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?

I would not.

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.

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.

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.

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.

So why not same for lots of other kinds of writing? Maybe the future is there.

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.

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.


James Harris

Changing an ending for mood reasons

Have talked about mood and story before, and in a previous post did an alternate ending 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.

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.

So am going to re-interpret 13 Reasons Why 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.

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.

When writers use death in their writing it can be about LOTS of things, where that comes across in the writing.

When goes to a visual work with moving pictures, often in my opinion, death is taken literally which wrecks the ending.

In considering the character Hannah, she confronts the reality of how badly people have treated her. Imagines confronting them through protagonists who step through a process. And in accepting the need and right to challenge them: ends her prior too compliant self.

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.

She gets up, and reaches for her tape recorder. And begins recording. Fade to black.

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.

(Oh yeah, highly recommend standing up for yourself when people treat you badly.)

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.

And there will leave it.


James Harris

Letting facts rule my perspective

Had 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.

But there was no wise human--or even an alien would have been ok told myself--teacher to arrive.

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?

Or even if was fact, was it possibly mundane anyway?

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.

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.

Have so much global, with so little explanation really.

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.

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.

When could question the facts could at times just try to forget.

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.

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!!!)

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.

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?

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.

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.

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?

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?

How does any person have anything that can draw interest from human beings in over 100 countries?

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.

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.

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.

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.


James Harris

Being my own executive

Am 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.

Like would tell myself: getting this global attention so maybe have a global responsibility? Shouldn't I put up things that are profound?

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.

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?

And an executive part of me one day was like, enough. And yanked me off the web for a bit.

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.

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.

So now usually operate with three aspects in general: a creative side, the writer; an editor side; and an executive side, who manages everything.

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.

The executive me though makes that decision--to post.


James Harris

Some challenges of global attention reality

Got 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 too simple.

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.

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.

At its simplest what I put down is same as: x+y+vz = x+y+vz

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.

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.

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?

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.

And I've wracked up quite a few major mathematical results, and of course got wise to the behavior.

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!!!

Thankfully could explain and fix the underlying problem.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

And it is 24 hours a day potential, 365 days a year. And I can check at any time.

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.

In the last week according to Blogger stats this blog had visits from: Belgium, US, Israel, Ukraine, Canada, Unknown region, France, Moldova, and Vietnam

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.

Why is it a reprieve?

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.

Or it just seems surreal. And you can ask yourself: is it even real?

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.

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.

(Yeah sounds very wacky. Part of me wishes wasn't true. But also is like, if not me, who? Yeah that rhymes, um, also.)

Have been a portal to our world of incredible tools and some of them are some of the most advanced thinking tools humanity has ever had. But they don't have to help us. They can help us destroy each other and ourselves as well.

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.

So yeah challenges? Got those. Am a major discoverer for the 21st century. We do things different now.


James Harris

When opportunity requires all you have

Have 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.

So yeah, by the rules accepted by mathematicians--the paper is perfect. But you can use a separate mathematical argument to prove that the conclusion is incorrect.

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 talk on my blog Some Math which also links to my paper.

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?

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.

But I pioneered advanced problem solving tools, which I like to label as a process of abstract reductionism.

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.

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.

So yeah I plugged the hole in the foundations of established mathematics.

Refined my mathematical tools and made some cool major discoveries--without concern of competition.

Though reality is WAS concerned for years until as the years went by fully accepted was in a cool cruise mode--all by myself.

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.

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.

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 they were of no use to me anyway. I began distancing myself from them and like to emphasize am NOT a mathematician myself.

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.

For a long time I thought I needed the mathematical community. Eventually realized that was silly.

I could build a better one.

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.

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 defined authority on my Seriously Commercial blog.

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?

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.

Now though, more and more am like, is cool.


James Harris

Figuring out my in-between status

Yuck. 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.

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.

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 post of an idea marketplace.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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?

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.

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.

I catch myself tweaking things at times. Trying to figure out my own process.

And of course I've learned ways to leverage that attention various ways.

Just the money solution has eluded me.

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 maybe impact positively for people I think are under-promoted.

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 money people in a way I find scary.

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.

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.

Just wish more of them were already here.

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.

Yeah awareness from web companies giving those stats. Still rely much on Google, like most often still reference Google Analytics as is convenient.

May as well believe it--am global.

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.


James Harris

Some 2018 review

Now 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.

So yeah was a wild year.

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.

So according to Google Analytics this blog had visits from 57 countries.

Top 5 Countries for visitors: US, France, India, Iraq and Russia

Least numbers of visitors from: New Zealand, Panama, Serbia, Singapore and Zambia

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Isn't the United States something else? Where else but in this country could you have a story like mine? Rhetorical, I think.

Ok 2019, let's get things going. So much to do with so much expectation.


James Harris