Leveraging few ideas

Have TONS of ideas which just keep coming. So I get puzzled by people who focus on just a few for all they're worth.

Now though with AI revolution we can ponder people who got quick advantage especially am personally interested in tech. As watch them now? Flopping all over the place.

Will shade for basic reason--why name those fading from social stature?

Am noting cases where really there was one tech thing that was used and now? They got nothing.

Me? Got so many ideas just give them away. And they just keep coming.

Blogs return

Finally returned here as cannot move just yet despite my disappointment with Blogger. Yeah. But turns out? Is ok, for now while I architect another solution as AI can really help!

Here Kimi has done a great job with I think useful posts including one where AI extended from my genre schemas and I was blown away.

AI just give more options to add content value. And now? Blogs return I think to full force independent of platforms.

Perfect prompting gives efficiency

Focused on processes as explored interaction with AI and came up with what I call orchestral human in loop abstractor fractal prompting where you are conductor.

Is better shown results where I call a perfect prompt one that gets desired output. And last year generated 57 Suno songs by first talking out with DeepSeek. We'd get a prompt for Suno. 

Like this one.

Prompt: Hip hop born in Atlanta, wide metro counts feels glide.  Hook-ups and bills down vibe; we go upside.  South won’t cry—explicate, best times duplicate.  Decatur decks to the SWATS backstreets. Uptempo.

That was perfect as got this output and song now public Upside Atlanta.

[Verse] City lights in the rearview ride Waffle House signs on the left-hand side Peach tree shadows where the truth don’t hide Zaxby’s bags in the passenger seat Decatur decks to the SWATS backstreets Life on repeat but the rhythm feels sweet

[Chorus] We go upside upside we don’t divide Hook-ups and bills down vibe South won’t cry won’t cry we amplify Upside Atlanta's wide

[Verse 2] Concrete jungles got a southern drawl Brick red clay beneath it all Skyline dreams rise and fall Beltline buzz where the stories grow Big wheels spin as the basslines flow Who you are is what you show

[Chorus] We go upside upside we don’t divide Hook-ups and bills down vibe South won’t cry won’t cry we amplify Upside Atlanta's wide

Open source can be insurance

Over 20 years ago back in early 2004 had no idea what to expect on SourceForge when put up Class Viewer for Java. Now am like, hey I insured my position in software development with a future forward minimalist UI and simplicity for easy maintenance.

Yeah. It can be that simple! Isolate a problem you want fixed? Fix as simply as you possibly can? And open source might just...but odds are NOT in your favor.

I like that hint towards Hunger Games as yeah is a basic try that many can do! So managing of expectations is smart. But you are likely to learn things.

Myself? Am pondering how I did it. Global for two decades and AI are helping me understand why. Here's some screenshots to cover last year. Yeah.

Returning here

Was pondering giving up on Blogger so stopped posting. However, am returning to development now that AI can help. 

And my Class Viewer for Java project hosted on SourceForge links heavily to this blog! Oh.

So am back! Have to refresh on Java but am looking at updating app. More info soon.

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

Curiosity and mystery

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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


James Harris

Objective sources for facts helps best

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

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

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

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

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

And I appropriately I think became somewhat mentally unhinged.

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

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

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

What happens after is about other people.



James Harris

Beyond mysticism and attention reality

Years ago was more put off by web things realize are quite consistent with web facilitating easy movement of ideas. Where focus on key things like information distribution really helps a lot. But like, who are the folks most likely to be VERY interested in some area of human endeavor?

Generally the MOST interested people in an area of human endeavor are the people most involved in that arena, whether that be because of skills or in some other way that involves a lot of their time and effort.

So like in OUR times a relatively new performing artist can start with plenty of famous fans, who are the most known performing artists. And they can contact that person, easily, thanks to the web.

Which is kind of to help folks who might still not be used to our web reality. It's really not that big of a deal, and is NOT a short-cut to success either.

Finding grassroots, where you build from levels not near the top are actually more difficult in our web environment. Is harder to quietly build your thing, without being noticed by folks who can actually be rather disruptive no matter how nice they are to you. Which is not the fault of that person necessarily.

Web disruption can come in many ways. And no, is not necessarily the case even if you're a brilliant new performer you will find yourself being contacted by very famous people out of the blue just like nothing. But if it does happen? Do not be surprised.

With myself do try to keep down behaviors I find suspect. Like how often find silly or egregious errors in things have posted, which I may clean up over days.

Those kinds of things throw off the upper level people. Who I realize may be the FIRST to read, as they are the most interested, and web enables.

Attention reality in our times can be simpler. But am explaining more, like talking how I do meme injections, where introduce simple ideas, which I expect to move. Did so in a prior post where discussed the meme injection: telemarketer mentality don't badger me

Also talking it more does strengthen but purpose here, with I guess a very potent functional meme isn't to put more energy into it, but to explain why explaining how I tried to do it.

Where is a relatively minor one. There have been far more MASSIVE ones that have flown through recently, like me talking race. So you can get the general principle. Is same across the board.

Information flows in our times. And before long people will be used to the consequences which shift things very markedly from the ways of the past. I think getting beyond any kind of mysticism, is very good. And is great for me! Took me a long time to settle down with many things.

Because yeah, disruptive technology is not just disruptive for those whose lives are changed by moving into their industry. Can also be disruptive for people like me who have to shift so much from how things were before.

Was brought up for an entirely different world. Do prefer the web reality of this one. But there is just so much to process and learn.


James Harris

When truth reveals

Web allows so much to be behind the scenes. And will admit prefer it that way. But can cause problems with things like making a living. Where will admit have been forced to be more forthcoming by my financial distress.

Grew up with old views about money that were wrong. Figured out when came up with idea is a social IOU backed by society that it can be very inefficient. We're just learning how badly that can go in a world where some of the most incompetent people--are the richest.

They've relied on information we did not have, and now web is letting it flow.

So for instance we can see where underpaying people, which I say was learned after slavery ended in the US as a business practice, means that money simply flows to the people underpaying. And they became the top 1% by wealth which will go away as people learn.

They stole their way into that wealth on efforts of people they did not appreciate or properly value.

Also television hid much by not giving much room to explain. Today you can read in-depth on things, on the web, and watch people fall who in the past could have simply depended on television to protect their images and careers.

We have a world dominated by incompetents, including one who is now president of the United States. Foolish people who lead our world on the path to disastrous climate change. Too dumb to do better, or act smarter. And it is taking time to clear them out. (Sounds so harsh, but is reality I believe with more evidence daily. Is sad as well.)

Is amazing though how much truth has revealed thanks to information distributing widely.

Spend so much time consuming that information and find that answers are jumping out. Many of those answers though are SO disturbing.

The 20th century in which I grew up was so much about lies. While the 21st century is so much about unmasking, and revealing truth.

So many people who I thought were one thing, and now I know, were another.

James Harris

When truth is a pursuit

Have been focused much on authenticity, authority, and validation for so long, which worked out ok. Actually it worked out well, as so much for me ended up upside down, where for instance I had big things for me now, long ago, as in decades. Which meant was spending time after wondering who I am, what makes me, and what did I have which was actually worth anything.

Unlike others who find ways to get attention, was in a situation where an entity in a way, which I call the web, would tell me there was some kind of it, global, but not how to process it.

Would have to learn.

Now over twenty years since my first big discovery, and over fifteen years from another of my biggest, am comforted with smaller, less challenging ideas of mine, like really, what is entertainment?

Is comforting.

Where was the press? Thankfully lost. They can stay there for all I care.

For those along for much of it, one way or another, like here, you probably often knew more than I did, or even do now about how things looked for others. Am so much about understanding the center within the storm, and making certain remains, a peaceful place.

Yet was so much invisible, I think. How much a storm really? Or just in my own mind?

Regardless, with a ringside seat to what felt like a special performance that just keeps going, was always that search also, for solid ground.

These days decided am a meta innovator. Where like to try and explain what that means, when really is just thinking about the how of innovation. And importantly, how do we know?

How do we find things that work? I'm still searching for that truth.

How do we know?


James Harris

Went well as expected

Have had some kind of wild posts by my standards and especially had to post noting would be taking extraordinary measures out of my comfort zone, where noted there had a 99% confidence level would go ok. With all of that complete will post to note that things are done.

Extraordinary measures are now complete. Public notification is now complete. Going back to normal operations.

In essence was just talking certain things more direct with a LOT less hedging than usually do, and worked out much better. Some assumptions I had about how that might go were just thankfully way wrong.

And is public what was done. With LOTS of posts on this blog as well as posts on others as blogs worked as a team. Which is SO much fun. Has been years since my blogs worked so closely together.

Since things went so well am not even curious myself what would have looked like if had not. And I think is interesting the conversation one can have with one's self, but also of course blogs are VERY public. And my blogs have global reach, so also then is not a surprise can have to pump myself up a bit to take a different direction.

So yeah went out of my comfort zone and it went ok. Cool.


James Harris

Considering attention variation though

One thing have noted is a global reality to attention my ideas get, at various locations like here on this blog. And a benefit have realized to doing these kinds of posts is to document. This time though also want to talk more about how attention has varied through the years.

Ok, so now to Google Analytics which use as a baseline even though know does not capture all visits, but gives an indication.

And yeah, so far this year, which is nearly over, have had visits to this blog according to Google Analytics from only 66 countries.

Top 5: US, India, Netherlands, Canada, South Korea

And that is from only 305 cities. Where languages, again according to Google Analytics where just reading the numbers, is only 46.

Looking at those kinds of drops from prior posts where have talked these numbers is interesting also in the variation, as yeah went down, but tend for this blog to stay over 45 countries annually. Actually if my memory serves me, for a LONG time was usually around that number, year after year after year.

For a LONG time also I'd focus on the audience numbers where now I rarely even check them. And do not give, where there are practical reasons, but can guess do not live up in MY mind to those other numbers. Yet also the web analytics are more of an indicator which helps more with trends I think.

Where am talking one blog, and I do tend to notice how attention flows across wherever I can get web analytics, and variation in some ways is simple: usually have English speaking countries, and all of Europe. The up and down with the country counts tends to be elsewhere, with the biggest drop off across continent of Africa, and the other being across continent of South America.

Which to me is unexplained. Still get visits from a LOT of countries annually which is rather steady in many ways.

Explanation for yearly constancy that I like? My ideas pull the attention constantly. The variation I see is actually more like a kind of random like looking at the tops of waves on the ocean.

What impact from things I do on my blogs or across other social media?

Um, remarkably often is hard to see any. Which is why have LOTS of freedom to try things.

Reality though is that once the ideas are introduced they do not need me. And to the extent that people even bother to come back to the source, like here, is usually only cast-off attention that may come my way. That means that often I find it hard to see much impact with what I do, or say, or whatever. You get used to it.

There ARE things that can move things much but in other ways don't talk as much as too close to the underlying machinery of the web itself. And turns out? Don't explain that much. One way to figure out where I mean is, how do people even know to get here though? From so many countries? Ever?

That is not about me, but about how web search like Google and also yeah Bing work, along with whatever else gets people here. And over such things I have NO control, and wouldn't want any either. However yeah, if I got a little wild will amuse me to see what shifts, like it matters.

As explained the annual story is more smooth and constant, regardless of what I do personally. Reality of that assessment bothered me, which is why began focusing on a code of behavior. The ideas don't care but I must. And am happy now with that lesson of steady to work through such things over a period of years.

With all that said though, how do I explain that shift from around 45 countries annually to these higher levels more recently? And to me is yeah, about idea introduction.

New ideas recently introduced? Ideas around entertainment in last couple of years.

So there IS a mechanism that experience shows does shift things up which is introduction of new ideas.


James Harris

Thoughts on writing to write

Some of my blog posts have the label: Writing to write. Where yeah can just have an urge to write something, which is a creative thing, and wrote one yesterday reminiscing a bit about San Francisco, talking about a Thursday and Friday. Sometimes would go out on Thursday but be careful to drink less, of course to be ok for work next day. And luckily, I rarely get hangovers. Which apparently is just something was born with, which definitely removes lots of the penalty.

And then after work could go to the karaoke bar I preferred, early. And could maybe get to sing though would fill up quick! And was harder to sing on Friday and Saturday than other days.

Where then could stay later, and yup, would at times find interesting conversations with folks hanging around outside the now gone Transbay Terminal. Where I went through daily, as lived on Treasure Island, and you crossed the Bay Bridge into what is now commonly called SoMa, which is where I worked, when was working. Got laid off as have brought up before, and eventually ended up leaving San Francisco, in March 2012.

The post really did just flow and decided to do very limited editing. Where will be rereading today to see if continue with that idea.


James Harris

Creativity and finding solid ground

Yesterday found myself in a creative mood and brainstormed a television idea and had here at first, but FINALLY am sticking with saying not just giving away, so realized should be on my blog Seriously Commercial. Before Saturday was a free day there, as it has a day based format, so decided to label as Saturday Creative.

So yeah that makes sense! And thought would give some info for people who saw and wondered where it went.

Feel like have done a lot of work to get to a system that gives me flexibility to put out my various ideas and be creative in the right places. So really glad now established a blog for commercial things, as creativity can just come at you, rapidly. In the past have had blog posts which simply disappeared as realized didn't really fit overall direction of a blog, and had no place else for them.

For those who wonder have sense of solid ground now with my process of putting out ideas. I like to write, enjoy the creative process, and make no pretensions about how speculative I try to be. I'm pushing the limits of what I think I know and took up label of meta innovator, which is a challenging label.

But like, I've invented my own mathematical discipline, found my own way to count prime numbers, defined mathematical proof functionally, and functionally defined science and also entertainment, among other things. And I really like to have fun. I think I live up to the label, meta innovator.

So yeah, when I was a kid, really liked hanging out in the library. Of course. Love that as a fitting seemingly non sequitur.


James Harris

My perspective and correctness quest

Maybe a shorter behind the scenes might work. Have done several lately which got really long quickly, but will tell myself upfront, to keep this one short. And yeah got into idea of trying to figure some things out myself back in 1995, and realize now web was for the most part here, with Usenet and Internet with World Wide Web, which arrived in 1989, but so much was ahead, like social media on it, where I include blogs.

But timing for me was perfect as was using email for a bit bugging actual mathematicians when thought had some good ideas which got guilty fast, and they were nice. But was clear when your obvious mistakes are pointed out, when you're out of your league. So was kind of relieved to find on Usenet were math places public, and should have been ok. But the haters. They were just nasty, and no sense to it, but I was like, is free speech! And I'd keep posting even when they'd insult relentlessly as that was how they'd try to force people off. Was not going to reward their bad behavior with success for it. And that was long before the hater thing was really understood.

Regardless I was having so much fun though.

And that just made the haters more mad that insults didn't work the way they wanted. And I'd get lots of attention for my innovative approaches, which was fascinating really and I was wrong a LOT, but hey, mistakes come with trying. And reality is was making fewer and fewer mistakes as I learned. But regardless would own up when pointed out to me, which was why was so disappointed with my last spectacular mistake run, when found out some of those math folks had known of a mistake for SIX MONTHS while I went on and on. And didn't tell me what it was (they did say I had one though should admit). Getting kind of long already. Time to tighten up.

Oh but still so much fun! And by then was global, which was by 1999, but just with math things, and you're doing detective work to even figure that out. And web metrics is still primitive I think, even today with advanced tools, as so many people opt out.

Oh, oh but main thing is: you want to be correct! Is WAY easy to start getting people cheering you on, and believing in your things, which can be so FAST, and hurt when have to come back and say, sorry had some mistake. I got tired of that years ago. So is easy to be very upfront when speculating, or guessing, or trying out some new ideas to say hey, these things might go away!!!

These days the process is well worked out. And I don't work to convince. I try to share well.

So yeah is over 20 years now since started arguing things out, and trying out ideas, and battling at times with the haters, to the rather more mundane things like here on Beyond Mundane? Ok, isn't really mundane. Is beyond mundane. I don't argue. I work at how I share. Um, I think have covered what wanted to cover.

So yeah, not so much into doing things meant for fans--not claiming to have any--while do appreciate people interested in the work, as SO much disappointment had to deliver to people in the past when sketchy ideas collapsed. And now while on a constant quest for correctness, have a process to limit that bad news delivery. And is easier anyway, to just share some ideas where focus more on how that is done, and leave it up to others to decide if works for them or not. (So LOVE being a fan, but seems weird to think of having any. Maybe should figure out a way to get over that? But how? Maybe... Or...)

And the fun? Well that has just been a constant. And the adventure just keeps coming. And enough behind the scenes! Still kind of a long post I think.


James Harris

Accepting my attention reality

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

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

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

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

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

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

But was 2002 when I knew for sure.

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

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

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

That was weird.

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

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

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

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

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

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

Would leave San Francisco in 2012.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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


James Harris

How much effort?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Reason for one of my favorite tweets:

Hit the ground running baby, and never stop. You can rest as everybody needs rest, but still work in your dreams.

— James Harris (@jstevh) September 17, 2012

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

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

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

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

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


James Harris

Valuing lessons learned

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

Did not work out well.

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

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

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

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

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

So much my faith in established authority remained.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Until focus returns. How do we value what?

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

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

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

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

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


James Harris

When ideas draw constant attention

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

That lets me try things.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

How could it not?


James Harris