Here's the final tally for #immortalityBytes: 24 accolades out of 59 category submissions — (batting average 0.407), including 5 First Place Wins, Finalist for the Hawthorne Prize for Best Debut Novel (across all genres), and "Editor's Pick" in Publishers Weekly's @BookLifeReviews. ALSO... In 15 of the 32 competitions to which it was submitted, my book earned at least 1 accolade (batting avg. 0.469). I'm profoundly grateful and appreciate all the support and encouragement from friends & family and kind fans. Be well & good karma to y'all!

Problem: partisan split of districts that's grossly disproportionate (not representing the will of the voters). #SolutionToGerrymandering: A state's total vote split can't be more than 1 congressional district disproportionate. If so, one of the "wrongly" flipped districts "flips back" in order by whichever district had the closest vote. EXAMPLE: In North Carolina in 2024, statewide votes for its 14 seats went 43% Democrat vs. 53% Republican in congressional elections (48% Harris vs. 51% Trump), so a 6-8 split (2 vote difference) would be a reasonable congressional result (though rounded to Republicans’ favor). Unfortunately, it's so grossly gerrymandered that it's actually currently 4-10 (28% to 72%), resulting in a massively unfair swing of 4 seats (28% off to a 6-vote difference). How the votes went in 2024: District#1: 46% D to 54% R District#2: 66% D to 32% R District#3: 22% D to 78% R District#4: 72% D to 26% R District#5: 40% D to 60% R District#6: 30% D to 70% R District#7: 41% D to 59% R District#8: 40% D to 60% R District#9: 38% D to 57% R to 6% I District#10: 38% D to 58% R District#11: 43% D to 57% R District#12: 72% D to 26% R District#13: 41% D to 59% R District#14: 42% D to 58% R REAL WORLD RESULT: Republicans got 10 seats, when they should’ve gotten no more than 8 (Democrats got 4 seats when they should’ve gotten 6). Consequently, 2 seats would need to “flip back” to Democrats to be fair and representative of the will of the voters. HOW THIS NEW PLAN WOULD WORK: The Districts with the closest votes where Republicans win (Districts #1 and #11) would then switch to Democratic wins. THIS SOLUTION’S RESULTS: Republicans win 53% of the votes and get 57% of the congressional representatives. Democrats win 43% of the vote and 43% of the seats in Congress. Even with this solution, Democrats are still at a net loss of 2 seats, which should be the worst possible situation (not a difference of 6 seats as it is with current gerrymandering). CONSEQUENCES/IMPACTS: 1.) This would moderate candidates in swing districts so that there would less likely be such a disproportionate impact (with gerrymandering resulting in so many ardent extremists in purple districts). 2.) This would limit the iron grip of parties (lock-step tribalism) and thus encourage more bipartisanship. and, most importantly... 3.) The Congress would most closely be representative of their voters. REGARDING LEGAL/CONSTITUTIONAL CHALLENGES: It is foundationally true (axiomatic) that government is only legitimate when it represents the will of the people. A reasonably accurate proportionality of representation that most closely resembles voter preferences must therefore be the goal. “The Constitution is not a $uicide-pact.” The Constitution (ArtI.S4.C1) says Congress "may at any time by Law make or alter such (election) Regulations." So this plan should be constitutional. It all comes down to American voters deciding which is worse: extremely disproportionate representation (thus nullifying the very concept of a republic) or stare decisis (when many other longstanding precedents are being reversed all over the place). If an amendment is necessary, let’s do it. • Hat Tip to #IronSeagull on Reddit: reddit.com/r/newjersey/comme… ejournalofpublicaffairs.org/…

When a YouTuber receives a call from his dead dad, he thinks it is a hacker, only to wind up in a first contact scenario. Aliens Venmoed Me a Trillion Dollars is a #satirical #SciFi #ShortStory that fuses conspiracy theory, government paranoia, & #aliens. amzn.to/46mrk4o?utm_campaign…

Congrats Daniel Lawrence Abrams on receiving a #BookExcellenceAward for IMMORTALITY BYTES: Digital Minds Don't Get Hungry . Learn more here: honorees.bookexcellenceaward… @IMMORTALITYBYTE

One of my favorite #WritingTips is that scenes should be #ConsequentialNotSubsequential. 🧑‍💻 Trey Parker & Matt Stone efficiently say that story beats should be connected with either the word "therefore" or "but" 🔗 (not merely "and then"😴). youtube.com/watch?v=vGUNqq3j… #southpark 🏛️ 📜 Though Aristotle should get credit for it (see my post from 2019 for more about that). facebook.com/share/p/1FZwQHH…

I just cancelled my #ParamountPlus subscription because they just cancelled #StephenColbert, after Paramount recently bribed Trump in the form of a $16MM payoff to settle a meritless lawsuit against #60Minutes. If enough people #CancelParamount immediately, maybe they'll get the message. Acquiescing to fascism only accelerates and worsens the decline of humanity. Each proactive action to fight tyranny helps, and even small actions can catalyze others. And I love all #StarTrek, #TaylorSheridan shows, and #Dexter. youtube.com/watch?v=cXR5HLod…

You're always shaping the future. Whether you like it or not. Do good and do well.

Ever change your mind mid-sentence? #Ai Hypothesis: I suspect ever more research will prove that thinking isn't an "order of operations" (since your brain's neurons don't fire in a direct-line sequence from A➡Z). Consequently... AI would benefit from a greater focus on #ConvergenceOfThoughtElements. I maintain, for higher-level tasks, rival AIs should #RedTeam each other, challenging assumptions and vetting conclusions. #AGI @IMMORTALITYBYTE #immortalityBytes #ASI

#Neededinvention: Since AI often acts like a counterproductive #NepobabyIntern, AI systems like #Grok, #ChatGPT, and #Claudeai should have an optional #AiRedTeamMode; results it's about to present get tested by the AI describing the result and comparing it to the prompt. And… if they don't match (as they often don't) the "Red Team" AI gives suggested prompts to improve the results. ➡️ You could set this #AiRedTeamMode to 5 iterations (or however many) to better encourage usable results. #SecondaryBenefitToAI: Those red team results, new prompts, and iterations have to be useful data to better shape future results.