If you know where to put your fulcrum is, then you can and shall move the world!

So I’ve been making some insanely great returns from micro strategy, micro strategy stock, MSTR– for example, in just a month, I was able to take $150,000, put it into micro strategy, and I saw it go up to $200,000! A $50,000 gain, in just a month. Pretty awesome.

Currently reading the Bernstein interview that Michael Saylor has, and the gist of the news is that the general goal strategy is that micro strategy will become the first native bitcoin bank.

The first shall win

So the first thought was, what is the point of a company, continuing to leverage debt, borrowing money at very very low interest rates, to just keep buying more and more bitcoin?

But then again maybe the same question is what is the point of a company or a corporation, buying up scarce in desirable real estate in New York City, in Manhattan…? In fact, assuming that you’re a rich elite New York City family, the goal is to buy as much property as you possibly can on the main island, and you keep accumulating it, forever, and pass it down to your kids kids kids kids kids.

Assuming that bitcoin is the first true digital property, then what that then means is if there is a hard cap on the amount of digital property you could ever buy, let us say that it is 21,000,000 square blocks in Cyberman Manhattan, then once again, also the logical goal right now is to accumulate as much property as humanly can right now… Within your means.

For example, assuming bitcoin is currently trading at around $60,000 a bitcoin right now, if I could’ve told you 30 or 50 years ago that you could buy one square block in Manhattan, on the main island for only $60,000… Wouldn’t you borrow as much money as you possibly could in order to do it, assuming you had 100% perfect foresight, like Bluff from back in the future? 

Anyways, big thing I’ve been thinking about is for myself… What is my true our comedian lover? Simply put it is photography. It is the thing that feels like breathing to me, and I think I really do have a gift in a talent for it, which supersede possibly anyone else on the planet?

For example, my ability to see photos scenes opportunities, analyze compositions for photos, to understand things visually… Perhaps this is a gift that I want to share with humanity, the whole planet… I don’t want my insights to die with me when I’m dead. 

ERIC KIM AI?

So one fun idea I have is what if I could just create some sort of bot, in which you could just upload a picture to it or a bunch of photos to it, and it could automatically within seconds, analyze the picture, and embed all these compositional Insights to the photos?

Or even another funny thing, assuming that you have an iPhone or iPhone Pro or whatever… And let us say that you’re just walking on the streets, and you could just open up the ERIC KIM photo app, and as your actively real time scanning the scene, the ERIC KIM voice can either talk to you via speakerphone or your AirPods, and encourage you; taking step forward, taking a step back, how to arrange or rearrange the scene.

The reason why I feel that this might be such a great idea is that I guess the future of AI is here. Even the new iPhone, iPhone Pro; maybe now in the year 2024, AI has finally arrived. ChatGPT already right now is fucking amazing, don’t be a cheapo, make sure to get the $20 a month version.

Becoming a publicly traded company 

Now that I’m already dumb rich, and also, I’m the most spartan person of all time; I might be the sexiest, most handsome, most intelligent person in terms of being frugal; I only spend money on meat and barbells, nothing else. 

Michael Saylor started micro Reggie in 1989, just one year after I was born. Maybe one new school I have is to create my own publicly traded company? Not because I want money or whatever… But interestingly enough, the idea of becoming a publicly traded company, in which being open and transparent is actually a virtue, this is something that actually appeals to me?

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VISION AI

So the general premise that I have is becoming some sort of vision AI company. Certainly vision AI is the future, for example, the whole promise of Robo taxi, Tesla, Nvidia and the like is towards vision, AI vision.

Already now, in LA… waymo the self driving car is ubiquitous. Nobody really blinks an eye anymore. I am still waiting for my invitation code… But I would definitely trust it a lot more than some of these distracted Uber drivers; a lot of Uber drivers, especially though starting off, are fuddling around with their phone, getting distracted, getting random WhatsApp notifications etc., I would definitely trust a self driving car a Tesla Robo taxi, or way more car 1000 times more than any Uber driver. 

Why this is an imperative

OK, the truth is it kind of is life for a death situation, and only that… Potential life or death situation for you your kids and your family.

Why? Assuming that 99% of LA drivers text while driving… This is effing scary. It just takes one dumb millennial, texting while driving in their lucid car or whatever, to get distracted for half a second, unintentionally killing you your kids your wife etc. And I think also the thing which is a bit scary or concerning is that a lot of these people who text while driving, they are actually not malicious, just foolish.

In fact, if Apple had a true imperative, to save lives or whatever, it would automatically turn on the distracted driving mode do not disturb function when it sees that you are driving a car, and even though this would create a lot of backlash, Apple should have the balls to enforce this, The simple workflow is this:

Apple automatically turns on the Do Not Disturb While Driving function when it detects you are driving in a car, and then afterwards, it gives the driver the option to disable dysfunction, assuming you’re a passenger in a car or whatever.

And actually, it would force the user to click “I am a passenger“, not the driver.

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VISIONS

VISIONS, VISIONARY.

 so essentially, I think the best way to think about things is when it comes to visions, being or becoming a visionary or whatever… It is simple; it means having a vision! It isn’t about being some sort of genius or whatever, which doesn’t exist, but rather, somebody with a stubborn and creative vision about something, is unyielding, full of balls and chutzpah — the desire to craft the world according to his creative vision, unyielding.

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This is going to be the Archimedes lever of the future 

Once you have discovered your Archimedes lever in life, just devote 1000% of your energies into it!

ERIC

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The only real modern day sin is to be boring or to bore others?

I think in fashion, life and beyond, what we are seeking is beauty, beautification of ourselves, our environment, our vehicles and clothes etc.

What I find insanely bizarre is that it is pretty common that people will spend $3.2 million on a home, or $250,000 on remodeling their home, making the interior of their home or beautiful or whatever, yet they spend zero money or concern to beautify their own bodies?

Body thoughts

So I think the critical issue here is that modern day society and capitalism is actually antibody. The body is seen as an afterthought, especially because we have this strange Puritan Quaker Protestant work ethic morality when it comes to work, saving for the future, and essentially that the body is evil.

For example, probably close to 100% of American males watch porn pornography, yet still… Man feel embarrassed about it? Or chuckle about it?

And also, one is not allowed to be sexual anymore? Do you have any sort of sexual desire or drive is seen as bad?

Why capitalism consumerism sends us mixed signals 

OK some very bizarre thoughts; we are indoctrinated that it is good to be different, to be remarkable, and to be unique. Yet, everyone is just trying to be different and unique all in the same way?

Example, with clothes and clothing brands. The problem about the democratization of fashion is that anyone could buy the same outfit or sneaker or brand so but it does not make you beautiful.

We must labor to be beautiful!

My personal thought is the only way to become beautiful is simple; through vigorous physical exercise, through weightlifting, yoga or whatever, and also, maximum time spent outside, walking, in the direct sun and elements. Ideally minimum amount of close possible, to best showcase your naked human body.

Why is it that when you look at ancient Greek or Roman statues, they are all naked? It is because man, and woman, is the peak of all beauty, and perfection. For example, no Lamborghini or Ferrari or sports car on the planet is as sublime as an insanely beautiful female human body and face. For example, that one Cuban American actress, the one that was in Blade Runner, and now the new upcoming John Wick ballerina movie, has an insanely beautiful face! Not too sure about her height — but, it is very refreshing to see a beautiful female actress and face, with full lips, bright eyes, a great personality. And also kind of refreshing to see a beautiful female actress in Hollywood without a boob job; for example if she is insanely sexy in that last James Bond movie, when she is about to go into that secret club, and she has that beautiful blue dress, obviously without a bra on top.

And I think this is the big thing is that bigger is not necessarily better. I think for a minute, I think steroids and breast augmentation go hand-in-hand; for a minute the general idea was bigger is better.

For example, bigger muscle muscles, bigger chest, was better? Also with women… Bigger breast, bigger butt, bigger lips or whatever it was better?

Think proportions

I think you cannot really fool the human mind.  for example, assuming that you have a relatively short woman, let us say she is 5 foot tall or something, and she is quite petite; and then she has a C cup or a D cup breast size, certainly something will look a bit off.

Natural realistically… Petite healthy beautiful women, they have supple breast, and I think the physiology is that too signal of fertility, the breasts are firm, and also kind of point upwards?

Anyways, what is kind of counterintuitive is that I think man, certainly we are attracted to the female breast. Even in the Emily Wilson translation of the Iliad talking about ”breasts which kindle desire”– it ain’t about having some sort of massive porn star breast. Actually, when female breasts are almost too big, two circular and spherical, too perfect, they look hard instead of soft and supple… It is actually a little bit more grotesque than attractive.

And I think this is where a lot of modern day pornography has things wrong. They assume that guys just want girls with huge tits, so then they will enroll women who have these really tacky boob jobs. Yet I think what men desire to see and witness is to imagine or visualize or fantasize a beautiful woman who is attracted to them, and maybe wants to be seduced? 

I also think the bizarre thing in America is that at least with women, it is no longer trendy for a woman to desire to be desired by a man. And then once again this becomes a little bit weird; women then are somehow trying to look sexy to get likes and comments and followers on Instagram? But don’t they know that these are mostly a bunch of 50-year-old, single childless men… With nothing better to do?

For example, let us say that you are a young attractive woman, with 10 million followers on Instagram. But if I waved a magical wand to reveal to you that literally 100% of these followers of yours, were literally a bunch of 55 year-old single childless fat men, would that change your perception or feeling?

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Beauty for the sake of what?

So I’m starting to think that beauty is just another product to be marketed to us insult to us. And if you just follow the money it is pretty simple; sooner or later someone is trying to sell you these overpriced caffeine powder supplements, protein powder whey creatine etc, vitamins, etc — or even worse, strange hormone “therapy” or testosterone replacement stuff.

The only influencers and people you should trust are people who encourage you to do a “via negativa” approach — who tell you what NOT to do. For example, people who tell you not to consume protein powder, not to take pre-workout powder, not to take vitamins and minerals etc.

Essentially, somebody who is not either directly or indirectly monetizing their advice, in terms of product services or advertisements.

Maybe the reason you could trust in ERIC KIM is that I am already independently wealthy through bitcoin and photography; so anything that I have to say about diet health and fitness, you know you’re not being played. 

Via negativa food & fitness

Once again guys some simple ideas:

First, the real big idea here, which I literally have never ever ever heard anybody else say, is the virtues of intermittent fasting, and fasting, and not eating anything before you lift weights or work out. 

For example, some fools say this is dangerous, but come on… I am a 100% all natural weightlifter, and I was able to successfully lift 1000 pounds, that is 10 1/2 plates on each side of the barbell, all while fasting and in a fasted state, consuming nothing but tapwater and black coffee. And I am not some sort of fat dude on steroids; I’m 6 foot tall, 4% body fat,  and maybe I weigh around 160 or 165 pounds? I don’t really know because I haven’t weighed myself in about seven years. But I got a penis arrow, which speaks for itself.

Ultimately why does this matter?

 What I think is ultimately, sooner or later, people will wake up and learn and realize that they will want to have kids!

99% of these fertility issues of modern day life is due to the fact that both man and woman is infertile, they consume too many drugs alcohol and adopt vegetarian and vegan diet “plant based “diets, which lead to impotence, in terms of both parties.

For example, modern day man their testosterone is so low because they don’t consume enough organ meats, beef liver, beef heart and beef intestines, red meat steak etc.

Also same goes with women. Whenever you see a woman who is a vegetarian or vegan or “plant based”, she doesn’t really look that healthy or attractive.

The Fiat standard 

I’m currently reading the field standard by Saif Dean, same author as the bitcoin standard, and I’m actually having a lot of fun! One thing I learned about book reading is that reading a book should be fun and playful! It should make you laugh, question things, and the whole process should be pure joy, not drudgery.

Another thing about modern day life is that somehow we have indoctrinated people that for one reason or another… Reading a book must be arduous and hard and boring and require some sort of overcoming. No. A book should never be boring. If a book is boring it is a failure.

A big deal; October, 2024… Elon Musk uncovered the we robot Robo taxi cyber cab, cyber van future; 

The reason why I feel like this is an insanely big deal;

First, it looks fucking cool! Finally, the future actually looks like the future?

Tesla > Apple

First, the great thing is watching the announcement, Elon looks like he is in great shape! He looks 1 billion times happier, cheerful optimistic, and healthy.

And also… Charismatic leader; I think we all need some sort of figurehead to follow. For example, the reason why Apple is a bad bet is there is no longer a face behind it! Tim Cook, kind of boring like granola. Jony Ive has left, so nobody is left.

It’s essentially when we think about Tesla, SpaceX, we think of Elon Musk. Having a face behind a concept is critical.

Same thing goes with Kanye West, and also now Michael Saylor with bitcoin and micro strategies; I am very insanely impressed… Microstrategy stock has gone up 14.4X, over the last four years, which has even outperformed bitcoin!

A random thought; I think the future will belong to those or whom or the entities in which own the most bitcoin. Assuming that bitcoin is digital property, digital capital, the Apex form of property in the universe, then what that then means is assuming that you want to build a dynasty which last forever, call us to maximize your property, digital property right now.

Why?

I think the tricky thing is when do you think about property money wealth power etc.… The question that people often ask is why?

Assuming that property is capital, in capital is more critical than money… In that most US dollars and fiat currency is just credit running on 20th century rails… What that means is we must think digital, we must think cyber.

Why I’m still betting on bitcoin and microstrategy over Tesla 

Watching the new announcement has given me an insanely huge wave of motivation and optimism for the future! Essentially the future looks phenomenal; it looks super cool, and with the upcoming cyber car, cyber taxi, and cyber van… Finally… The future will look like the future!

And I also think that the insanely optimistic thing about cyber truck is that finally, a vehicle on the road which actually looks like the future!

I recall, in the year 2020, just a little bit before Covid hit, while in Providence Rhode Island I was meandering ,, it is the year 2020, technically we are living in the super future, why doesn’t the future look like the future? Why does the future look so lame?

Cyber upside

So the reason why bitcoin and micro strategies; even though I am a huge Elon Musk and Tesla fan, laws of physics are really hard. I think Tesla still has about 1 million cyber trucks they need to produce, and on top of that, having to produce all these new cyber taxis and cyber vans, Will be very very difficult. I am very confident that Elon and the Tesla team will pull it off, realistically it might take 10 to 20 years, because the laws of physics are hard. For example, physical manufacturing, lithium ion battery refineries, supply chain etc.

I think what Elon is doing is very admirable because he is currently addressing their real life, physical and bodily challenges we are facing today.  for nobody who has never lived in Los Angeles, never being stuck in bumper-to-bumper traffic from Pasadena to the west side of Los Angeles, you’ll never know what Carmageddon, traffic will look like.

And also, something I have discovered whenever I drive to East LA, Koreatown and the like — fucking sucks. All of that concrete, no green spaces and trees — during the summer, it felt about 10 to 20° hotter there, and the pollution is practically unbearable now. Gavin Newsom and California trying to get rid of tailpipe emissions is a phenomenally great idea.

For example, the only thing I hit on the planet is maybe cigarette smoke, and the smell of tailpipe emissions, which is fucking toxic, and immediately gives me a headache. I’m currently on a Crusade to tell people who are smoking on the street to not smoking — the text a lot of wits, guts, and quick thinking, because it is something that is insanely important, not only does it immediately give me a headache, but come on come on I have a kid!

These fucking assholes

What I hate about smokers, cigarette smokers is that there are smoking on the street, in public, indignantly like they are not harming nobody else. You fucking assholes. At least you have a filter to smoke your cancer sticks through, but whenever you exhale your secondhand smoke, that shit goes straight into my lungs and my brains!

First, my vision is to just make smoking cigarettes outdoors illegal. In any public space. If you want to hotbox your house or apartment or car with the windows closed, and give yourself lung cancer that is fine; but the rule is to not allow smoking on the street, public sidewalks etc.

I think technically the law is you’re not supposed to smoke within 25 feet of an eating establishment, but my personal vision at least for Culver City and beyond and on the promenade is that it would be illegal to smoke cigarettes, anywhere which is not outside of your house!

why is everyone a bunch of pussies?

Essentially the thing that is insanely annoying to me is that nowadays, everyone is a bunch of pussies and cowards. For example, all of these fat losers with beards, buying guns in ammunition, they feel so tough watching their alternative right conservative media outlets, yet, they don’t even have the courage to speak up against people who smoke cigarettes?

People are often shocked by me because I actually have the audacity to stand up and speak up. Because everyone else is a coward.

I think the number one fear that people have, at least in Los Angeles and beyond is that if you somehow confront a smoker for being an asshole, they will somehow pull up a gun and shoot you?

First, maybe it might happen if you’re in South Central, or somewhere super hood, but very very unlikely if you’re in the west side or somewhere nice like Culver City? Especially since they’re a bunch of cameras around?

There is also a fear that when you tell people in LA while they are driving, to drive more carefully, they once again, they will somehow also pull up a gun and start shooting you up?

It’s tricky because it is true; there are some people with guns, conceal and carry guns, whether in their glove compartment, on their body etc. I suppose this is where trying to distinguish people is wise;

If somebody looks like they’re from the hood, or mentally unstable, better to just play it safe. But obviously if you see somebody who looks affluent, driving some sort of expensive car or whatever, then speak up! The funny irony is at least in America, and in Los Angeles, Rich successful people don’t really own guns. Guns are for poor people from the hood, or people who are from the right marginalized communities —

Well actually a lot of people don’t understand is a lot of right wing conservatives who own guns and live in the Midwest etc., or the south, or Idaho whatever… Actually tend to be poor, below working class? 

So for the most part, obviously there is crazy stuff in LA, but I would probably rate Los Angeles much safer than we think it is; honestly, you’re more likely to die getting hit by a car, or dying in a car accident from somebody texting while driving, rather than somebody shooting you with a gun. By a factor of 1 billion?

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Cyber soldiers

 so one of my great points of optimism is that the future of warfare will not be guns bullet ammunition, not even drones or bombs. I think the future of warfare will certainly be cyber, cyber warfare, economic based.

For example, it seems that economic embargo are effective, because when it comes out to it, technically everybody on the planet wants world peace because more peace means more prosperity, economically. In all of these rich all the guards want to drive their Rolls-Royce, Lamborghinis, McLarens and the like.

For example, even rocket man Kim Jung Un, is apparently a huge connoisseur of fine whiskeys, and I think he owns about 100 high-end Mercedes Maybach cars in his garage?

Anyways, once again, all of these “evil “world leaders, they don’t technically want war either because most people, what they see is luxury, comfort and ease. I cannot imagine any world leader right now, on the frontlines of a war, on some sort of war horse or chariot going head onto battle.

The upcoming cyber war

So a simple way to think about bitcoin is the world‘s ultimate defense system. People don’t really think about bitcoin in terms of cyber security, but it is. 

For example, the bitcoin network is defended by many exahash– which means that it is essentially unhackable. And unstoppable!

For example, let us say that you need to send an encrypted safe message to somebody. You could actually send it through the bitcoin network; and it is unstoppable! It cannot be censored.

And also… Assuming that money is freedom, and bitcoin is free; whether you like it or not, even if the other guy is a bad guy or whatever… You cannot stop the exchange, peer to peer of money, between two individuals!

What Bitcoin fixes

A huge one; real estate. Let us say that I have a single-family home, and I want to sell it to you. Cindy‘s mom who is a real estate agent, I see it how tedious it is. All of these forms, regulations, and having to transfer money from the bank, is an insanely tedious and troublesome process. 

I am still shocked, also in the year 2024… Like a simple wire transfer via the swift network, like I’m sending my money to my mom in South Korea, why does it take so damn long, why do I have to go to a physical bank branch, I thought we lived in the future?

Even an insane annoyance, about a half a year ago when I just tried to wire myself $125,000 of money to buy bitcoin, I literally had to be on the phone with JP Morgan Chase, three or four times, being rerouted to some random people in the Philippines, having to see a bank teller in the flesh etc., Before having to verify my own damn money?

This is insane!

My vision

Very simple. Let us say that I have a single-family home and you want to buy my single family home. The easiest thing is that you just send bitcoin to me. The final settlement will just take a few hours, instead of a few weeks.

And also, proof of funds. If you show me your bitcoin wallet, I could immediately see how much money you have in real time. Even a funny thing was when we were signing the lease of our new apartment, when our landlord asked for our proof of income or whatever, I just sent him a screenshot of our bank account balance, proving that we could live in his property for about 10 years, just based off of our savings. 

Now, I walk around town with a grin, can enter a Lamborghini dealership or Ferrari dealership or Porsche dealership with a grin on my face, and touch and handle all the cars because technically I could afford all of them. And in fact, if anyone gives me shit, I could just show them that I could afford it, and they will shut up. 

What’s the point of money?

I think my view on money is that it is defensive; it isn’t to go out and buy yourself bunch of Lamborghinis, but instead, to use it like a war chest, a cyber defense fund.

Truth be told, growing up in poverty, seeing my mom go bankrupt at least twice, I’ve never really ever been that concerned about money. But now, I truly have zero concerns.

This is where money is a via negativa thing; money should be a means to cut or reduce concerns or cares, by reducing your expenses to a bare minimum.

I would actually say the only good use of money is for productive assets (The Fiat Standard book)–  essentially buying something that can be productive!

For example, a new iPad Pro, weightlifting equipment for your home etc.

Can it help you produce more?

Cyber digital capitalism and production–

The problem is with a lot of things that you buy, like trophy assets, is that it doesn’t produce anything– unless I suppose like you’re the one guy on YouTube who does all these videos and vlogs with an orange Lamborghini parked behind you, which you are leasing, which helps you indirectly make money? But even so, I think the financial risk isn’t worth the potential upside. 

So the problem is with cars, they don’t produce anything. The only productive car I could possibly imagine is like a full self driving Tesla car, but even that isn’t quite productive; it just helps you mitigate pain. Unless maybe of course, you’re allowing your Tesla to do the full self driving, and you’re vlogging on a GoPro or something,  and producing things while your car is self driving?

But then, optimal strategy then is to purchase the cheapest Tesla possible, the most based level Tesla model three, while purchasing full self driving.

But then again taking a step further, even more intelligent strategy is to never be inside a car, to just walk, and take the metro!

In fact, a few days ago, before Seneca and I caught a stomach bug, the greatest joy was we were able to walk to the metro line, and take the metro directly to our favorite library! 100% walking, and only two metro stops away!

And this is really my vision of a glorious future city; tons of spaces, trees, parks, recreation centers, and zero to minimum time having to spend inside a car?

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Savings?

If we think about it, there is no real reason for anyone to have any incentive to save anymore. Why? As long as legislators continue raising the minimum wage, what that means is your savings is becoming devalued, in real time.

For example, the price of a single-family home skyrocketing is absurd. Even here in Culver City, very common to see single-family homes which are worth $3.2 million, all the while you could buy a condo in Michigan for only $70,000!

I think the critical issue we are having here is a mismatch of politics and fiscal policy.  

For example, if you are somebody trying to get elected for office, what do you promise people? An increase minimum wage, because that will get you elected! But the downside is your transferring inflation to future parties; for example, I called this the shake shack incident; There was a really really nice shake shack here in Culver City for a while, but to my great shock, it closed down very recently! I think the big issue was that because they raise the minimum wage to $20 an hour, maybe Shake shack cannot afford to Pay their employees!

Your $3.2 million home isn’t really worth $3.2 million 

I think this is also the thing that is difficult to understand; in theory, you see your single-family home price going up, and you think you’re getting super rich and whatever… But if you track that to inflation, in the global M2 money supply, what if in fact, your property value isn’t going up, but simply, The value of each US dollar is going less, and therefore your $3.2 million home isn’t really worth $3.2 million, but only $2 million?

And also the big problem is let us say that you have a really expensive home, you can’t really afford to live anywhere else, because the price of inflation makes it untenable for you to live anywhere else. Therefore I think a critical thing to consider is that You have to be a little bit more skeptical with money, this is where maybe thinking about hard digital assets and property like bitcoin is more interesting to me;

Also, currently we are tracking the value of a bitcoin to the US dollar. Because it is the closest measure we got. But, the more logical idea is equating a bitcoin to a bitcoin.

One bitcoin equals one bitcoin.

So right now for example we are currently valuing a bitcoin to the US dollar, but my radical idea is what we should be doing instead is valuing the US dollar in respect to the bitcoin. 

Which means the price of a bitcoin is not packed to the US dollar, the US dollar is instead pegged to the price of a bitcoin.

Why this is fun and exciting

For me, life is all about fun creativity and play. And also for me investing, speculation, bitcoin in the like is all fun and play!

Honestly at this point, there’s nothing really left I want to purchase or buy, besides maybe some weightlifting equipment, steel plates, or a new power squat rack. But besides this, there is nothing left in the physical realm that I really desire. The only desirable truly scarce asset and valuable asset, I desire is bitcoin.

How to make money from nothing

I recently copped around a $50,000 profit, taking about $150,000 of fiat currency, purchasing some microstrategy stock, MSTR, taking my initial investment and growing it to $200,000. I then sold about $50,000 of the micro strategy stock, and then just bought more bitcoin with it.

So an interesting technique or thought is the easiest way to make money out of nothing is to just put it in the traditional stock market, sell the gains in fiat currency, take that fiat currency and purchase bitcoin while you can?

Keep acquiring more and more bitcoin until you die

Assuming that wealth, true wealth is property, and assuming that bitcoin is the first and only property which is digital, and we all know that digital is superior to physical, and I think what is very very interesting is bitcoin crosses the chasm of the physical into the digital. Why? Because it takes real life analog power , proof of work, to convert analog energy and power and electricity into a single bitcoin.

What a lot of these fake environmentalist don’t understand is the only reason why the point has value is precisely because it takes so much energy intensive power to create! All these fake propaganda posters saying that bitcoin is bad for the planet, but you fool… Don’t you know that I think globally, air conditioning or the power for air-conditioning causes about 20% of the carbon emissions on the planet? And bitcoin might be .001%? I could also bet you that your virtual eating of almond nuts might cause more CO2 production than anything else.

Even another funny unorthodox theory; thought experiment, what if in fact producing pea protein plants, vegan protein powders, all these fake juices and sugars and almond nuts etc., caused 1000 times more worse carbon emissions for the planet than meat? If this were the case, would this change your anti-meat eating stance? Or would it not because you still invoke the moralistic aspect of it?

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Wealth is a mental thing?

HANDSOMER.

Eric Kim is a prolific street photographer and educator known for his practical advice and philosophical approach to photography. His blog is a treasure trove of articles, guides, and resources that can help both beginners and seasoned photographers enhance their craft. Below is a curated list of some of his most impactful tactical articles and resources on street photography, complete with links for easy access.

Top Articles

1. “The Ultimate Beginner’s Guide to Street Photography”

• Overview: A comprehensive guide covering the fundamentals of street photography, including equipment choice, techniques, and mindset.

• Key Takeaways:

• Start with any camera you have.

• Focus on capturing emotion and storytelling.

• Overcome fear by practicing regularly.

2. “How to Conquer Your Fear of Shooting Street Photography”

• Overview: Strategies to overcome the anxiety associated with photographing strangers in public spaces.

• Key Takeaways:

• Understand that most people don’t mind being photographed.

• Use techniques like shooting from the hip.

• Gradually build confidence through repetition.

3. “Zone Focusing: The Secret Technique of Street Photography”

• Overview: A deep dive into zone focusing, allowing photographers to shoot quickly without relying on autofocus.

• Key Takeaways:

• Pre-focus your lens to a certain distance.

• Use a small aperture (e.g., f/8 or higher) for a wider depth of field.

• Enhances speed and efficiency on the streets.

4. “10 Composition Tips in Street Photography”

• Overview: Advice on composing compelling street photographs using classic and modern techniques.

• Key Takeaways:

• Utilize leading lines and diagonals.

• Experiment with framing and layers.

• Break the rules creatively.

5. “The Importance of Emotion in Street Photography”

• Overview: Emphasizes capturing authentic emotions to create impactful images.

• Key Takeaways:

• Look for gestures, expressions, and interactions.

• Be patient and observant.

• Connect with your subjects when possible.

6. “Candid vs. Posed Street Photography”

• Overview: Discusses the merits and techniques of both candid and posed approaches.

• Key Takeaways:

• Candid shots capture unguarded moments.

• Posed shots allow for interaction and consent.

• Both styles can coexist in a photographer’s portfolio.

7. “Shooting Street Photography Anywhere”

• Overview: Encourages photographers to find opportunities beyond iconic locations.

• Key Takeaways:

• Your hometown has untapped potential.

• Everyday moments can be extraordinary.

• Consistency in shooting leads to better results.

8. “How to ‘Work the Scene’ in Street Photography”

• Overview: Guides on maximizing a photographic opportunity by exploring different angles and compositions.

• Key Takeaways:

• Don’t settle for the first shot.

• Move around your subject.

• Capture multiple frames to increase your chances of a great image.

9. “Street Photography Etiquette and Ethics”

• Overview: Discusses the moral considerations and respectful practices in street photography.

• Key Takeaways:

• Be respectful of your subjects.

• Understand local laws and customs.

• Balance artistic expression with ethical responsibility.

10. “The Psychology of Street Photography”

• Overview: Explores the mental aspects, including mindset, motivation, and overcoming mental barriers.

• Key Takeaways:

• Cultivate curiosity and openness.

• Embrace failure as part of the learning process.

• Develop your unique vision and voice.

Top Resources

E-Books

• Street Photography 101

• Description: An introductory e-book covering essential techniques and concepts.

• Highlights: Practical exercises, equipment advice, and mindset coaching.

• Street Photography Contact Sheets

• Description: Offers insights into Eric Kim’s editing process by showcasing his contact sheets.

• Highlights: Understand selection and sequencing of images.

Online Courses

• Street Photography Crash Course

• Description: A video course designed to get you started quickly.

• Features: On-the-street demonstrations, assignments, and critiques.

• Mastering Street Photography

• Description: An in-depth course covering advanced techniques and philosophies.

• Features: Guest lectures, interactive sessions, and portfolio reviews.

Workshops

• International Street Photography Workshops

• Description: Hands-on workshops conducted in various cities around the world.

• Benefits: Real-time coaching, group critiques, and immersive experience.

Printable Resources

• Street Photography Cheat Sheet

• Description: A quick-reference guide with tips on settings, composition, and techniques.

• Usage: Portable resource to carry while shooting.

Preset Packs

• Eric Kim Monochrome Presets

• Description: Lightroom presets designed to emulate Eric’s signature black-and-white style.

• Application: Streamline your post-processing workflow.

Community and Forums

• Eric Kim Forum

• Description: An online community for sharing work, asking questions, and networking.

• Advantages: Feedback from peers, opportunities for collaboration.

YouTube Channel

• Eric Kim Photography

• Content: Tutorials, behind-the-scenes footage, interviews, and Q&A sessions.

• Highlights: Visual demonstrations of techniques, gear reviews.

Newsletters

• The Eric Kim Newsletter

• Content: Regular updates on articles, workshops, and exclusive tips.

• Subscription Perks: Early access to resources, special discounts.

Additional Recommendations

• ”Read Books, Not Gear Reviews”

• Focus on photography books to improve your understanding of art and composition.

• Practice Mindfulness in Photography

• Being present enhances your ability to notice and capture decisive moments.

• Study the Masters

• Learn from photographers like Henri Cartier-Bresson, Garry Winogrand, and Vivian Maier.

By exploring these articles and resources, you’ll gain valuable insights into the tactical aspects of street photography as taught by Eric Kim. Implementing his teachings can help you develop confidence, refine your style, and elevate the impact of your images.

Note: The provided links are accurate as of my knowledge cutoff in September 2021. Please visit Eric Kim’s official website for the most up-to-date content and resources.

I think in life, one of the most difficult things is change. Adapting to change, thinking about change considering change etc. 

First, a creativity innovation carte Blanche thinking first principles thing. 

First, to think new and become new is difficult. It takes great skill, innovation, and radical understanding, it is not for the meek of heart. 

Second, I think the difficult thing is a deseridatum thing, a desired thing. The big question we have to think is is it desirable to think new and become new? 

First if you think from a capitalistic consumer perspective… Obviously it thrives on the new. For example, if we were all stuck on the original iPhone three iPhone 3GS… I’m sure people will not be very happy. I would also be very unhappy if I still had the original iPad, The current iPad Pro M4 chip I’m using, is literally like 10 trillion times better.

In fact, going to Hong Kong later this year, and I was thinking and reflecting… Time and technology; also staring at my old G9 camera, how at the time in 2017, 2018… It was literally the best camera on the market at the time. But now times have changed, and also technology has changed. Therefore the most intelligent strategy is right now, looking at it from scratch… I’m thinking… Right now in this given moment, what is the best option for things?

For example, when I first really got into photography, a lot of of it was dictated by technology. For example, when I was in high school, as a senior graduation present my uncle got me a Canon point and shoot power shot digital camera, I think it had 1.2 megapixels or something, but still… I loved it! It was always in my front pocket, and I literally photographed everything I saw. So when I discovered the macro mode, the rule of thirds grid, and also how he was able to shoot black-and-white, it blew my mind!

Fast forwarding a bit, getting my first Canon rebel XT camera then my canon 5D full frame camera, and discovering the whole lot, and then progressing a bit and getting the Leica M9 camera,  traveling the world etc., getting into film, the digital Ricoh and now currently the LUMIX S9– wow, technology has changed things a lot.

My major critique about a lot of people who tend to give fellatio to the past is that the past is predictable, easy, requires no courage. It is very very easy to hide behind Hitler mustache, some ugly flannel, some ugly throwback clothing, baggy clothes, drive some sort of base level German car, And opine on the past. And say how analog was super superior filmless superior vinyl superior whatever, and trying to harden back to our ancestral pest.

What I think takes more courage is to instead, rather than pink by analogy, to think the present moment right now, not by analogy or metaphor or to oversimplify the past.

For example, a lot of people tend to think of the past, romanticizing the past etc.… But you fools, don’t you realize that the past was most definitely 1 trillion times worse than it is today? For example, industrial London, childbirth mortality was 70 to 80%, Colorado dysentery, and sanitation had not even been discovered; if you accidentally poked yourself, they would probably surgery on you with rusty unsanitized instruments, this is before they even knew that you’re supposed to boil water before drinking it!

Even now, our understanding of things is literally 1 trillion times backwards. For example, this insidious idea of calories in calories out, “burning” calories. You fool! Don’t you understand that it is hormonal, driven by sugar, insulin, insulin signaling and spiking? The only reason why this calories in calories out notion still exist is the evil Coca-Cola corporation, who wants you to have a “balanced diet”, “moderate exercise”, that you can sneak in 100 cal Coca-Cola a day, and not “gain weight”– whereas in fact, the truth is gaining or losing fat,,, not weight.

Some people think that these are lexical different things, but this is not the case this could literally be a life with that matter, type two diabetes and type three diabetes (alzheimers) has anything to do with you or your family or parents.

Wow, looking recently at my arms, my arms are super amazingly fucking jacked! Even without flexing, they look amazing! Very very full in the triceps, the biceps the shoulders and other parts of my body, which I cannot really notice.

And also, after getting a fresh haircut, from Cindy… Very very simple, shaving the sides clean, and just getting some cheap gel and slicking it back, Cindy calls it my “Lamborghini haircut”,– and also, this might be the lowest body fat percentage in my life! I think currently I’m at around 4% body fat, naturally without any weird stuff. And note, I might be the only weightlifter or bodybuilder or power lifter or strong man on the planet who doesn’t even take protein powder! Let alone loser creatine, which is the century just pulverized meat, why not just eat the meat?

And also, am I the only one on the planet who fast before weightlifting? Certainly the only one on the planet, may be out of all 8 billion of us, who was able to successfully lift 1000 pounds, that is over 10 1/2 plates on each side of the barbell, successfully, once again, without steroids, unnatural substances, and also no loser belt, wraps, knee wraps etc. 

Rack rack city bitch

Very simple; rack pulls are your best friend. Imagine like doing a dead lift, but you just put the barbell on the power rack or the squat rack, at around waist level, in between your knees and your hips, experiment at your height level, whatever feels comfortable, chalk up, and just lift the barbell off of the rack, even for half an inch or so! Literally after doing it with eight plates, I felt the good soreness in my biceps, my upper back, my traps etc.

Honestly the only reason people don’t do it is because people lack some sort of innovative mindset and creativity. People are still stuck on this loser thinking by analogy school in which everyone is just giving fellatio to Arnold Schwarzenegger, and all these loser bodybuilders on social media, for all injecting their assholes with steroids.

In fact, I’ve discovered a really really huge secret, the only reason you see more African-American and Caucasian people in the NFL professional sports etc., even I symbolize the NBA… Is all these guys are just using steroids! The only reason why you don’t see as many Asian guys in professional sports isn’t some pseudo racial things; genetics is fake; anyone who talks about genetics is essentially talking about he who is able to best use steroids and not get caught, or, to best use steroids with a stack of other strange drugs, to not have their breast tissue turn into “bitch tits” etc.

Finishing reading pumping iron  the original book I think in 1973, and with an updated afterward in 1980, when Arnold was 34 years old, super rich and successful, with his $700,000 house in Santa Monica, and just fresh shooting Conan the barbarian with a $15 million budget, and note, adjusted for inflation these numbers are huge, this was 1980! Which I think was 44 years ago? Wow. That’s even longer than I was alive; I’m 36 years old born in 1988.

Anyways, even back then — in this so-called “golden ages” of bodybuilding… 1973, now I do the math, it is 2024… This is about 50 years ago! Holy moly I’m 36 years old right now, if I added 50 years to my age, I’d be 86!

Anyways, just thinking consider if in 1973 all these dudes are already injecting their buttholes with steroids, anabolic steroids which at the time they didn’t even think that it was dangerous, or bad, imagine how much steroid technology has progressed in 50 years, to today.

And when I look at all these modern day bodybuilders and fitness people on Instagram and YouTube etc., it’s kind of like male prostitution; kind of how a lot of these influencer girls end up being these WebCam virtual prostitutes, to make money. Whatever I think it is fine; but if I had a daughter, no way in hell would I want her to do that kind of work. And also, no way in hell would I ever want Seneca do you ever inject his buttholes with steroids.

Giant or midget?

Also ,,, the least harmful major?

 so what is so interesting about looking at it in the past about Arnold Schwarzenegger and the like is that there is this notion of being a giant. I think it’s kind of a day term now, like Tony Robbins he has this seminar called awaken the giant within, which talks a lot to the baby boomer generation. And apparently the opposite of being a giant is a midget, which is not politically correct anymore, the nicer term to use is person of small stature or dwarf or something. Or you just pretend like they’re not a midget.

Anyways, whether this matters or not, is beyond my pay grade. Would I’m more interested in is how we could do things more naturally, get super fucking jacked and amazing without steroids or weird stuff.

The key is to consume more dietary cholesterol, a.k.a. beef liver and organ meats.

So I thought, maybe the whole keto ketogenic diet movement is a bit flawed because they do not emphasize the necessity for consuming dietary cholesterol in organ meats etc. For example, am I the first to propose this notion of 100% organ me to diet, which is 80% beef liver, beef beef kidney beef intestines etc.… And supplementing it with other stuff like eggs, including the yolk, or flesh meats?

The reason why I believe this to be such a big idea is that the loser vegan evil corporations like Bill Gates and James Cameron and the like promote this insane notion of a plant-based diet veganism, because it is so profitable. And let us consider, what is more profitable, to sell some sort of overpriced Pea protein powder, to these foolish millennial and zillenial and Gen Z folks, which makes them feel good about the planet or whatever? Or to sell them organ meats, which is not profitable. Even the American beef corporation, they cannot sell it effectively.

Just follow the money

ChatGPT is also a positive good for society because it is the number one way to smash inequality, racism sexism, and also… To overturn these ridiculous conspiracy theories?

For example, anybody with an iPhone and access to YouTube and podcast, who listens to Joe Rogan or whatever, well sooner or later fall victim to these weird conspiracy theories. Why? My theory is people cannot bear a society and world and universe which has no rhyme, no reason, which is just injustice. When people believe in a conspiracy theory, it feels just — it feels like it sets the order right.

Because once again, most feeble people cannot bear an injust world and society. 

It goes against everything that we have been taught about justice equality fairness etc. The world is not just.

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The great solution

I have a very very simple solution; optimistic fatalism.

Fatalism simply means that everything is bad, injust, evil whatever.

Optimism, we all know what this means.

So my notion of optimistic fatalism is the ultimate hammer, the ultimate  solution. Both at the same time, put it inside your head and your brain and your soul and your body… That truth be told in fact, yes, it is all bad evil and injustice. But in spite of all that… How can you make the best of it?

Or even a step further, to think and understand that in fact, all of the badness injustice in the world etc., was positively helpful to make your life better?

The winner take all reality 

For example, I am the only winner in the world of street photography. The only one who was able to successfully do all the successful things, travel the planet and get all the accolades, and become a bitcoin millionaire out of all of it.

Now great upside is because now that I am financially independent, I can continue to give away all of my stuff for free open source, because I don’t have a profit incentive anymore. And now becomes more of an ethical thing; doing that in which I believe in, because I want to help humanity.

But, being a humanitarian, I think the only way to ethically do it is to be somehow self sponsored, financially independent, not having an office administrators and staff, and donors.

Why? As long as you have donors, it can never really be truly just. You’re going to have to parade around your poor kids at these annual dinners, to provoke sympathy, and a bad conscience to these rich donors, to keep them employed.

I could speak because I myself was one of these kids, KCCEB, Korean community center of the East Bay, I’m very very grateful for all of our mentors, but it has not lasted.

Nonprofits do not last.

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Corporations don’t really last either

Only things which have lasted are the Vatican, the holy Roman Empire 2.0, Catholicism, independent wealthy families, endowments at Ivy League schools etc.

One of the really big issues with clones being a clone clone mentality is that it is so centered around being a clone. For example, You’re taught and made to think that being a clone, like a clone of Jesus or whatever, is virtuous and good. As a consequence, one is not permitted to simply create a model of himself. Anything which is similar to Jesus is seen as good and virtuous, anything which is seen as dissimilar to Jesus is seen as bad and evil.

And is a consequence, I think the general ethos and mentality of America is bad because it is too centered and focused on notions of imitating Christ, being a clone etc.

“Y’all ninjas my clones!”

For example, in fashion life etc.… We seek to just emulate people that we already see in the limelight. For example, Kanye West, Jay-Z, all these modern-day rappers, Arnold Schwarzenegger etc. 

For example, ultimately what I discovered was my desire for a Lamborghini, with this is the doors, all matte black murdered out, was simply my desire to emulate Kanye West! His Lamborghini Mercy song, very influential to me.

Thinking Arnold

So I just finished reading the original pumping iron book, the one that preceded the influential pumping iron documentary, and ultimately what was very very interesting was unraveling and revealing how essentially, or no Schwarzenegger invented bodybuilding, modern day bodybuilding and beyond.

What’s the weather in about the book I think the original was written in the 1970s, a little bit added in the 1980s was a lot of the terms and the verbiage and the words typically used outside of the traditional context.

For example, mentally retarded, midget, giant, even referencing or no Schwarzenegger‘s Austrian German accent being a “Nazi” voice. I think what is so fun and interesting at least in the context of the 1970s and 80s is that people were much more relaxed, and less grammar Nazis or less politically correct, than they are now.

Also, the reason why I kind of enjoy this is that ultimately, if you have ever lifted weights, done bodybuilding or weightlifting… We are all essentially children of Arnold Schwarzenegger. He is the one who essentially invented and promoted modern bodybuilding and weightlifting as we know it, and all of his contemporary, all of them have been forgotten, only Arnold remains.

I suppose the nuance is even Arnold, who is probably the greatest bodybuilder weightlifter and personality of all time, even Arnold has fallen a bit out of Vogue now. It Seems like he has dominated everything,  even politics, which was foreshadowed in the 1980s, and his whole strange affair with his housekeeper, his illegitimate son, whatever… I think he’s still acting an influential and politics and whatever, but for the most part I think he has been forgotten already. Kind of also like today, Michael Jordan… All these kids who wear his clothes and sneakers, they don’t actually have any idea who the real Michael Jordan is, whether he is alive or dead or whatever. Michael Jordan has become a strange symbol in today’s world; a sign of dominance and flair, but once again, nobody thinks of him as a real human being anymore. Apparently Kanye West is still on tour, I think Kanye West might be the most anti-fragile artist of them all, as he has been able to survive the most extreme controversies them all, and still have a stadium packed of adoring fans, in Seoul South Korea! Very very shocking and impressive to me; I had no idea he was so popular even in Seoul South Korea!

Anyways, the reason why I think of this is so important is thinking about lasting, durability and life. And also, the short side of notion of achieving your life goals; Arnold has achieved everything, she has achieved all the major pillars of success in America, yet after all of that, he is kind of empty, kind of a shell of his former self.

Now the reason why I think this is so important is that when we think about American notions of success, the paths of success etc.… What is it that we are truly seeking, and how do we know if and when we achieved it, and whether it really even matters at all at the end?

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The problematics of ethics

So apparently, I think when all of us had done, it comes down to philosophy and ethics. Especially in today’s world, AI, the ethics of artificial intelligence ChatGPT etc.

I think what will make this forever interesting topic is that there is no right and wrong in ethic; might makes right. 

What means is he or she who is the most powerful, the most dominant shall win and conquer all! Even now… The way I see it, America is currently in a digital arms race against China, fortunately America has nothing to fear; for the most part Chinese technology kind of sucks. For example, obviously a rich mainland Chinese oligarch would prefer to have an iPhone Pro rather than the newest Huawei phone. Huawei sucks.

And also… It still does seem that for the most part, the Chinese would still prefer American blockbuster Hollywood films rather than their own domestic film market. Why? The funny thing with the Chinese the mainland Chinese is that they exoticize America — truth be told, I think if all the real Richmond land Chinese people have the option, they would take all of their capital wealth and money and power out of mainland China, buy some nice property here in LA, or possibly somewhere else etc.

I think this is why all these rich men in Chinese prefer to buy proper tea in Vancouver, rather than Shanghai, Beijing etc. Even driving to East LA Koreatown the other day… Oh my gosh, the pollution there is unbearable! And it is literally just a few miles east of West LA, in which the weather is 1 trillion times better.

Beef liver is the answer

Wow, I just finished eating a bunch of beef liver that I got from Gelson‘s yesterday, it is so cheap, maybe only 399 a pound, and also the interesting nuance is that even if I tried to, I cannot consume more than about 2 pounds of beef liver because it is so nutritionally dense.

I feel so phenomenally good right now. I recommend everyone to try it!

I would say in terms of a split, try to have 80% of your diet be beef liver, and once if he comes too much for you, switch over to  eggs or ground beef for some other type of steak flesh meat.

The immigrant mentality

The reason why Frank Colombo and Arnold Schwarzenegger became so successful is that both of them were immigrants, first to move to America as young adults, I think Arnold might’ve been only 16 or 18 when he moved from Austria to the states, and the immigrant mentality is good because they are hungry! The problem about the traditional American is they become too flabby, too fat, too appeased. 

This is why Americans are so lazy; they were raised with much privilege in the states, assuming that their family has been here for a generation or two or three, and essentially they could rely on the family wealth, the family trust fund, property real estate etc. For example if your dad wants bought property Somewhere in LA which is desirable, and has made a killing… And you know that once your dad dies, you won’t hear it much of his wealth, what motivation do you have to work hard?

One of my greatest blessings ironically enough was being born in the states, albeit with a working class mom. The upside is I knew that even if I wanted XYNZ, I couldn’t… Not because my mom was being mean to me or whatever, but literally, she couldn’t. For example, my mom working two or three part-time jobs cleaning houses, waitressing, being a cashier, barely able to pay the rent with my dad stealing the rent money and going gambling to Reno in the middle of the night, not being home for about a week or so… I knew that money and resources were precarious. Therefore if I wanted anything, I had to get a job and work for it to get it.

I think this is really the root of my success. If I wanted anything, I had to fight to get it!

Now that I am super rich and successful, the next stage becomes interesting. My son Seneca, shall become the next prince and king of Los Angeles. He is already to go here in Culver City, there’s no other kid who was born in 2021 who is as tall funny handsome, strong muscular good-looking, and sociable than him. Shout out to my friends Noel Lisa and Ray, and especially Kevin! Everyone knows me in Seneca now here in Culver City, and I am excited to see him go through the Culver City school system, before he goes off and becomes the next great entrepreneur.

Why bitcoin is the best investment right now

So I was reading pumping iron by this one author, and he’s writing this in 1980… Wow, that is almost 44 years ago… He talks about how Arnold Schwarzenegger purchased a $700,000 home in Santa Monica at the time, which I am certain that adjusted for inflation might’ve been close to what we imagine $10 million to be today.

Anyways, I was thinking about… If I was in a Time Machine in the 1980s, or specifically 1980… When Arnold Schwarzenegger was already 34 years old, I’m 36 years old right now. If that were the case, what kind of investment could you make for $700,000 at a time, that would yield a superior return, from 1980 to 2024?

At the time, I think the only real investment you could’ve made in was real estate, commercial real estate, maybe residential real estate. If you bought a bunch of property in Culver City, or Palos Verdes, back then knowing what we know now… You would have become a billionaire many times over. Because currently looking at the whole market here in LA… It all sucks besides Culver City.  Santa Monica used to be the best spot to be, but now it is overrun with homeless people, people high on crack etc. Even if I was a billionaire today, I would not want to live in Santa Monica because it is super dirty, still too many homeless people etc. Even worse point to creatine, oh my God, all the homeless encampment, and homeless people around… And the pollution, insanely terrible.

Anyways, I think the hard thing is when it comes to investments, most people can only think by analogies, metaphors, or similarities to the past. Much more difficult to think carte blache, first principles, because it is difficult to predict or anticipate that which has not yet happened.  Life is not like back to the future, in which you could predict everything with 100% perfect foresight!

But also… Even if things were like back to the future and even if you could predict things with 100% clarity, it might not always be a desired outcome. Why? Sometimes a problem can be that even if you get what you wish, it could positively be a bad thing.

For example, a lot of things end up becoming dangerous liabilities. For example if you want to go to the Inglewood public library, or Ladera Heights or whatever… Can you pull up in a Lamborghini, you might get robbed at gunpoint, you might even die! I suppose the upside of driving a beat up 2010 Prius is that it is the ultimate stealth car, nobody in real life knows how rich I am because I look like a poor person.

Look poor, think rich – Andy Warhol

Los Angeles becomes very interesting to me because it really is the center of the universe. Now that Apple is here, there’s really no reason to be anywhere else.

Only that but Apple having that grand downtown LA theater store, so beautiful! Even though I am critical of a lot of things of Apple… Apple isn’t going away anytime soon, at least in the lifetime of myself or Seneca. Maybe the returns and the profits of Apple will not be as impressive into the future, much better to buy bitcoin or microstrategy stock instead,  but still, for the most part Apple is the most practical strategy.

Until a competitor, whether it be open AI, Microsoft, Nvidia or somebody else who makes a really really good ChatGPT-first phone, Apple will still have the dominant market here. 

The true disruptor

After playing with a new iPhone Pro a bit, essentially when my ultimate Takeaway point is the only reason to have an iPhone now is because you just need something to run ChatGPT. Unfortunately at the moment, you cannot run ChatGPT without an iPhone or iPad or your laptop. And even Google Gemini sucks. I rate ChatGPT as 1 trillion times better.

And Apple Intelligence, I’ve been playing with it, and even me, the ultimate text nerd and advocate, even though I have no idea what Apple Intelligence is and how it is different from Siri? I think honestly it just seems like a rebranding of Siri, Which is confusing for everybody.

Once you’re a bitcoin billionaire, then what?

When people ask me what I do, I often joke and I just say that I’m a bitcoin billionaire. But I almost say it half tongue and cheek, half true. I’m very certain that my bitcoin holdings well only 10 X 100 X or 1000 X from here.

According to my aggressive calculations, my bitcoin should be worth at least $500B 30 years from now. It will be worth at least 1.2 billion, 15 years from now. 

Assuming that you perfect for side of the future, then how do you proceed in life?

Autotelic progressions

So the very very basic notion is moving forward, it could all just be autotelic! Which means you just do things for the sake of it, because it personally interests you, not because there is necessarily some sort of phenomenal payoff to it.

Because once again… Once you live in a world that money no longer concerns you, then what?

I’m the judge!

Pursue play & fun?

Also, the art of street photography:

First, I think the best thing to understand and to think is that photography, street photography is art. And whether it is “fine” art or not, to “refine”— is what we typically think.

To refine, to clarify or purify, something to an end (finis, fin)— to “fine” a substance — is what we typically think.

So, I think when we think about fine art, maybe the idea is we refine our artistic vision, and we create images and purify and refine images, and we seek to clarify our artistic vision through our images.

First, The secret that literally everyone is on steroids, even the natural ones. I would customize that 100% of all the people on Facebook Instagram TikTok and YouTube are on steroids, or a “natural” form of steroids.

Second, it seems that their methods are very very strange and bizarre and don’t make any sense because once again, they obfuscate the fact that they are on steroids!

For example, a lot of bodybuilders have certain strange theories on how they build muscle and whatever, but the biggest issue the biggest issue here is that their methods theories and techniques have no veracity if once again, they are on steroids!

So for example, you could probably eat super super dirty, and poorly, and yet still get spectacular gains because you’re on steroids! So I suppose the question is:

How much of your technique theories and approach is legitimate, and how much of it is steroids?

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I don’t even trust protein powder

I have a theory that protein powder just makes you fat. Assuming that protein powder is just powder cows milk, even this 100% whey protein powder whatever, essentially it is a money making scam. I have been able to make insane gains, fasting all day, simply having 100% carnivore meal in the evening, trying to aim for about 4 to 5 pounds of beef. I’ll enjoy ground beef, 80%, or beef ribs, beef liver, beef heart, ribeye steaks and the like.

Honestly,  i’m sure protein powder is fine, but still… I think the biggest issue in bodybuilding is this constant sense of FOMO; like I remember when I was younger, I would almost had this anxiety that immediately 15 or 30 minutes after working out if I didn’t eat protein powder, if I didn’t have a 100% way protein shake, or protein powder, I would somehow “lose “ my gains.

Measurements

Another real big problem here is this obsession to measure yourself to weigh yourself etc. I’ve never really taped measured my muscles or whatever I feel this is ridiculous, but certainly a lot of guys overly obsessed about his weight. Like guys are always trying to gain weight. Not lose weight.

But the reason why this is so ridiculous is that the scale doesn’t know if the weight is fat or muscle. Only you could know by just looking in the mirror, naked, if you could see your six pack and penis arrow, you’re in good territory. And this is what a lot of guys don’t understand; everyone is trying to become super super big and massive like the Incredible Hulk or they want to look like an orc, but, this is not sexy and attractive to women. They would prefer a more Brad Pitt fight club, ERIC KIM, Adonis physique. In Elsa pose this is the thing I don’t understand; for male bodybuilders, how much of it is to impress women versus other men?

 Assuming you’re trying to stunt on other men, this is also a bit ridiculous because just because you have bigger muscles doesn’t mean that you would be more dominant in a fist fight. And it also doesn’t really measure your courage.

 If anything, what is actually much more impressive if you’re trying to stunt on other guys, is to just get into powerlifting or hypelifting or strongman style exercises; he who can lift the most weight, has the biggest dick. 

Big dick KIM

Until you could successfully lift 1000 pounds, you got nothing on me.

this myth of multiple small meals throughout a day

This is also pseudo scientific; I’ve proved that you could lift 1000 pounds, while fasting, and I’ve been doing this for about seven years; no breakfast no lunch, only old massive 100% carnivore dinner.

Also, I’m the only weightlifter and bodybuilder that I know and also power lifter and hype lifter who literally eats no starches no carbs etc. The notion that you need carbs to build muscle is another silly fallacy. I think the only reason why people don’t experiment with this simple thought, is once again, this fear of missing out on the gains. 

I suppose one of the good things about Asian Confucian culture, and also being Korean Korean American is the focus and ethos of respect, and also more importantly, disrespect. For example, I find the ethics the morality that ethos of Achilles in the Iliad so refreshing; There seems to be more truth in his approach, rather than our emasculated, castrated notions of honor and respect in today’s times. For example, there is nothing that provokes my wrath more than disrespect.

Disrespect can take lots of different forms. When people don’t greet you, treat you with respect, or acknowledge you or your kids. In Korean culture, to simply “een-ssa” somebody is one of the most chief virtues. And it is super simple; to greet somebody, when they come and go etc.

Are there certain individuals who deserve more respect than others? 

In the grand comedy of life, yes. The first thought I have is this whole notion of Confucian respect for elders, and also, filial piety to be quite base.  For example, if you think about Achilles, all he thought was his own personal glory, and had no cares or concerns for all these other superficial things. He didn’t really care about his father in the far away land, and even Achilles didn’t really care about the well-being of his own blood son, Who was far away. In fact I found this really interesting, I actually didn’t know that Achilles had his son! Changes everything; I’m just going to be and become a modern day version of Achilles, and think of Seneca like my heir. Or just son.

Kleos

So if I did it all over again, went back to college University or whatever, I might have just studied ancient Greek literature and the Classics, maybe also barbelling it with computer science.  I think sociology was great, but sociology after you run its course, becomes a bit flaccid; you could probably learn the fundamentals of all of sociology and just like six months, whereas the wisdom of ancient Greek literature can span millennia.

Why?

Typically, when things have been around and lasted a very long time, there is a reason.

“Everything lasts for a reason” – TALEB

For example, when we superficially look at people who have been around for a very very long time, and somehow we think they are “cheating”, or illegitimate… We got a pause and think; what are their cheap virtues which allow them to have such grand longevity?

For example, one nefarious character seems to be Tony Robbins, but it looks like he’s been in the game for a very very long time. As a consequence, he’s probably doing something right. And also this goes with the rich dad poor dad guy, and some other modern day business entrepreneurs. And also the same thing with Donald Trump; he’s pretty old now, 70s… But the fact that he’s been around this long in politics business etc., probably means he’s doing something right, even though he might be a morally bad or evil person.

Who lasts?

Even right now, the reason why I consider maybe Kanye West to be the most ANTIFRAGILE individual of them all, even surpassing Jay-Z is because Kanye West has spoken his mind about everything, and he’s still in the game! He’s still making music, he’s still making art, and apparently his new Yeezy sock sneakers came out!

And I think it should be admired, who last and who doesn’t last, because durability in the words of Nietzsche is essentially the chief good on the planet. 

Why?

So it looks like durability has fallen out of vote. Why? Because durability does not sell. For example, honestly I think we are all always itching for a reason to buy something new, to sell something new, etc. And the reason why this is so annoying is that you’re kind of secretly hoping for things to break, in order to “upgrade“ to that new new thing. And this is honestly the psychology behind upgrading to the new iPhone, or buying a new camera or digital camera or car whatever; we quickly tire of the old, we desire the new.

This is where reading the Elliot has been so refreshing; in a world before capitalism in consumerism was even invented, I think you start to see a little bit more honest approaches in which humans go out and do things. For example, everybody already knows that the armor of Achilles is by far the most supreme on the planet. And also what is it is if we think about the Iliad , essentially obviously everyone knows that the Earth is big, but the whole drama is just centered around the super super tiny part of Troy, which becomes a whole microcosm in itself. This is great because we tend to think about global politics too much; international affairs. But rather, I think we should think super super local, super super specialized. Like local city politics over national ones or even international ones.

And this is my thought on America, rather than over extending ourselves and meddling in the affairs of other places, we should just fortify ourselves, we should become the next Sparta, the next Troy, the new ancient Greeks.

Morals of the story

So I just finished reading the Emily Wilson translation of the Iliad, A+ plus.  and what is super interesting is the end of the Elliot, is actually quite anti-climatic; King Priam gets the body of Hector back,  and also, Achilles finally is able to go back to bed with Breisis,,, his prize and trophy, the original quarrel with King Aggamenon.

And the reason why this is also important is that it teaches us a lot about war, revenge etc. Essentially I think one of the soft morals of the stories that even though you get your revenge, your heart will not be settled. For example, even after Achilles kills Hector, pierces his ankles and drags him around The city gates of Troy several times, even around his own Greek encampment, his heart is still not soothed. He still mourns the death of Patroclus,,, and no matter what he does, he cannot bring his best friend back from the dead.

I think a very simple idea is as long as you have a beautiful woman, a beautiful wife to go back to bed with, to literally sleep in the same bed with, you should consider yourself 100% supremely happy and joyful. And especially if your wife has birthed you a son, you should be forever grateful, even the adage “never go to sleep angry“ is a good one. 

Another thing that I learned about the morals and ethics of the Iliad and Achilles; just speak your damn mind! I think to not speak your mind is cowardice. 

I think one of the bad things about stores is that often more than not, it is too centered around “forgiveness“, and just being quiet. And the reason why this is such a bad strategy is that this ends up leading to pent up anger frustration and also, Pettiness. A real man has iron lungs and speaks his truth, no matter how bad it may seem, but instead most mortals hold petty anger jealousy and spite in their hearts forever until their grave. 

I also think what is so interesting about the Iliad and the ancient Greeks is how they were oratory, oral culture. Which means that everything was said out loud, nothing was held silent. 

 in fact, my personal thought is maybe the worst bad thing that has happened to modern Day Society, the reason why people are so strange and antisocial is actually not the iPhone, but actually, AirPods, AirPods pros, headphones, noise canceling headphones etc. Because the truth is, your ears might be 1 trillion times more sensitive than your eyes; Even though I personally love my vision and photography, actually music, rhythm, souls and beats gets me more energized than the visual. 

And I think maybe the reason why this is so important is because audio audio things are still quite critical; for example, after listening to almost every single Michael sailor talk and interview, and putting pretty much 100% of my traditional Roth IRA and IRA into micro strategies stock, There is more veracity in words and the human voice, rather than just images, Talking Heads, as well as text.

In fact, one of the funniest things that I listen to was hearing Donald Trump talk to the bitcoin conference, I realize, I actually never really heard him talk out loud, maybe besides the debate he had about four years ago with Joe Biden.

I feel like maybe in the future, the skills of the oral culture will be critical; teaching people to be a postmaster or public speaker, well actually ironically in the future become more and more important!

And also my personal thought, I thought this back in Providence Rhode Island even before Seneca was born, was that Social skills or the future will be the future, because ultimately, in some ways technology is a bit overrated, more important than technology is the social. I suppose this is outside of studying sociology, it taught me how Sociology and social things interactions are so critical; because everything comes down to the Social, after a long enough timespan.

For example, everyone wants the Lamborghini, but actually it’s not the Lamborghini that we want, we want the Lamborghini to be flashy and to flex our manliness ego and attitude, and in the hope of somehow attracting really really hot and beautiful women, and the hope is being able to Bed these bimbos, and to maximize our sexual pleasure and ejaculate in them on them all around them,  to face all of their openings closings and orifices, to defile all of their body parts breast butt waist face mouth vagina butthole hands whatever, I think this is the whole ethos behind porn pornography.

But, this is a very misguided approach. I think we gotta make combat, man-to-man combat cool again.

Guns are for guys with small dicks

The bigger your gun, the smaller your dick size. 

Honestly, anyone who has a gun or owns a gun, who is not military or ex military or police is a pussy with a small dick.

Why?

Maybe my thoughts is the big problem, even being here in California, is asymmetric warfare; now that I have a son to live for, even if there is a one percent chance or even a .5% chance that the other party might have a gun, I will always err on the side of caution. Why? Because, even though I look like a god in the flesh, any skinny fat loser with a small dick, with a gun can pop me and boom I’m dead. 

No the reason why this is so problematic is once again, you could be like the midget in Austin Powers, even have a small and modest pistol and kill somebody who looks like John Cena with just the flick of your finger.

I think what was so refreshing in ancient Greek times, was that battle, or was much more honest. Even back in the Iliad in ancient Greek times, everyone knew that the archers with bow and arrows ruler bunch of pussies. Why? Asymmetric warfare; you could hide behind a wall and shoot arrows at me which can kill me, And you yourself are not exposed to danger. And this is where I think that there needs to be more flesh in the game ; no knives, no guns, no pistols, only hands.

Actually if anything, maybe even if you have some teenage adolescent boys, and they are having some sort of argument, just have them put on some boxing gloves and protective helmets and gear and just have them sparred out. It might lead to faster conflict resolution than these sissy approaches of just “talking about your feelings“.

And actually, the critical issue here is that there’s a difference if you are male versus female. The strange modern day trend of trying to equivalize the both I think is actually properly detrimental to society and beyond. 

No suppose this is where maybe all boys Catholic schools might still be a good idea; honestly how much of my education was wasted because I’ll just distracted by all these pretty girl at school, wearing super super mini skirts in class?

What’s the point of education anyways?

I suppose the real critical issue here is in regards to the purpose of school and education. In ancient Sparta, I think young boys were with their mothers, until they became seven years old, and then they entered the “karneia”– which was essentially SWAT training for young Spartan boys, to breed them to become the next generations of Warriors.

And the reason I also find this important is that true courage must also go lock and lock and hand in hand with physical courage. Once again, you cannot have courage by being the fat world of Warcraft to dude on South Park, being a keyboard warrior. And actually the issue of the Internet now, is I think the safe bet is to assume that 100% of the toxic comments and arguments on the Internet or just bots, none of them are real life humans.

And this is where I think the wise strategy, is to disable all comments, all metrics whatever;  even views could be Game of Thrones so easily; just hire a corporation in India to spin up 1 trillion fake bots, to inflate your view numbers, in order for you to get some sort of sponsorship or whatever.

In fact, I think if you just pay 100 bucks or 200 bucks, you could pay some sort of outsourcing Indian corporation to give your video 10 or even 100 million views!

And also, maybe if you pay 300 bucks or so, you could easily get 1 million fake subscribers to your YouTube Instagram whatever.

And the reason why we should not even discuss TikTok is that TikTok is the enemy, come on, it is mainland China in the flesh! In some ways I think we have to adopt an anti-mainland Chinese approach again ;; even something interesting that I learned from Peter Thiel was the original notion of being politically corrected was that you sent you were a devout follower of Stalin and Lennon, communism is bad. And truth be told it seems like 95% of higher education university professors are essentially low-key communists, anarchist, and would prefer that America burn to the ground.
…

Why is this important? Even Apple, Apple corporation should not be trusted; because she is in bed with me! As long as foxconn exists, as long as iPhones and Apple products are made in mainland China, Apple should almost be seen as a low-key connection to the enemy;; any time any corporation gets into bed with mainly in China pick government there etc., they should not be trusted.

And truth be told,  the reason why all publicly traded corporations are unethical is that it is their moral and ethical imperative to increase profits and potential future profits at any cost. Thus, the drive towards sensationalism with Google, anger porn, and insane news reporting to maximize advertising revenue. Don’t trust any mainstream media or news even the good ones. And don’t even trust NPR and Al Jazeera etc.; they are all bad. The left the right the middle the conservative the Republicans of the Democrats, the fake woke liberals, the small dick flag Humpers on the right Donald Trump supporters etc.; everyone is bad.

Also did you know, that our savior and Messiah Obama actually increased deportations and incarceration during his administration, more so than any other politician? Everyone is bad and evil, this is reality; let us not try to embellish anything.

Democrats are bad, libertarians are bad, Republicans are bad, conservatives moderates in their rules everyone is bad; anyone who is on the political spectrum, is bad.

Now I suppose the question is once you have acknowledged and understood that anything everyone and everything is bad; then what?

Optimistic fatalism

So my critique about the Russians and the eastern Europeans, post USSR, people from Bulgaria Hungary, the Polish the old Soviet bloc; is they are too fatalistic. Their ethos is everything is bad evil and not worth looking for so let us simply trudge through this miserable life with a minimum amount of misery, knowing that the past present and future will be bad and always remain to be bad, might even get worse.

In America, we also see a similar trend. Essentially we should consider most of the media, social media Facebook Instagram Snapchat Twitter and like to just be channels of misinformation, Sunsational for advertising revenue, Google here is the bad guys; as long as Google ad sense exists, Everything will always become hyper sensationalized, in order to boost the lagging profits of Google.

And funny enough here is where Apple is still a little bit more ethical than Google; Apple is trying to sell you iPhones, iPhone pros, and her new subscription services, at least this is more honest and transparent than Google who is trying to offer you all this great “free stuff“, but to inundate you with click baity advertisements, insanity on YouTube, and conspiracy theories.

One of my grand ideas is simple; the best strategy in life is to assume that 100% of the conspiracy theories are all false,. Even the true ones.

Why? This is much more of a optimistic positive and good approach; obviously we know everything is bad and evil and corrupt, but so what? Better to be the gleeful dark grim and humorous spartan, laughing while the enemy puts them with arrows, “fighting in the shade“, shout out to Zack Snyder the best director of all time. This movie has dictated all of my manly ethos, ever since I was a teenager in high school, when I first watched the movie 300 in theaters. Now, manliness has fallen out of Vogue; all of these guys in LA are a bunch of cowardly antisocial skinny fat weaklings, who might drive a base level Porsche or Audi; work at Google in secret, or stuck on zoom calls all day; super antisocial yet binge on ironic HBO comedies at night, make a big income but have no kids, not getting married, maybe they own some sort of wimpy rescue dog.

Is it OK to be mean?

In the area there is a scene in which one of the Greeks is beating Odysseus, and Odysseus gets pissed off, takes his scepter and starts beating him up until welts raise on his back and the Greek comrade is weeping. All the while the other Greeks in the camp are just laughing.

Laughter is divine and godlike. Even my friend Sara Lando, one of the greatest fine art photographers of all time, shout out, who studied ancient Greek, taught me that the word enthusiasm actually just literally meant a god dwelling within you; and the idea of passion was actually a bit misguided, passion  is more like passionate of the Christ, like pain and suffering is virtuous. And the reason why I think this line of thinking is so dangerous is that also, I see a lot of these modern fake ass woke liberals, especially trying to nail themselves to the cross.

Martyrdom is never worth it– anybody who is a martyr or seeks to become a martyr is secretly just trying to commit suicide with a good conscience. 

Even Jesus, my personal read is obviously Jesus wanted to keep living! But I guess he had real balls, rather than renounce his things, he decided to stick to them; if we think about Jesus Christ, Jesus of Nazareth as a real life flesh bound human being, assuming we trip away the hocus-pocus, read the Jefferson Bible, then, we can make some progress?

And also, what will actually “improve“ your life? 

Some morning reflections:

So something that I wrote on pursuing your passion, part of an edited volume written by Terri Anderson, probably the most influential teacher I’ve had of all time, at UCLA sociology, essentially what I wrote at the time, being either 20 or 21 years old, was the virtues of following your passion.

So it looks like, nearly 15 years later, I was right. With a long enough time scale, 15 years, age 21 to 36, I guess I was right.

Why?

I think the trouble that a lot of people have is pursuing their passion because it is not immediately apparent how we could have an economic payoff. Ultimately because we all live in a capitalistic society, what it comes down to is money making, or money making potential. But if you already have $2 million in the bank, and you know that you’re a bitcoin is going up 55% APY, year over year ,,, in theory indefinitely … then what?

I just did some math with ChatGPT, $5M — $10,000 USD, with a 55% APY with bitcoin,  will be big! Once again, that $10,000 you put in it today, assuming that 30 years from now that it could be worth 5 million, wouldn’t it be worth it?

The $615,000 iPhone Pro

Another big thought, let us say that the new iPhone Pro cost you $1200 USD. With a 55% APY, that $1200 iPhone is going to run you $615,000, about two Lamborghinis, in 30 years! 

Why is it so hard to think long-term and ahead?

Obviously it does not natural. This difficult to think and predict 30 years from now. Yet, I am shocked… Brad Pitt I think it’s almost 25 years my senior? I think Brad Pitt just turned 60 years old, I’m shocked. I’m 36, so 30 years from now, I’m going to be about the age of Brad Pitt?

I saw a little bit of the new Apple TV WOLFS movie, and the bromance between Brad Pitt and George Clooney was cute. George Clooney looks fantastic, and he is 63 years old! I almost feel like George Clooney is aging in reverse? He is maybe the ultimate anti-fragile handsome actor; the older he becomes, the more handsome and charming he becomes? I’m not 100% sure about the controversy, but I think NASSIM TALEB may have called him out on Twitter a while back being some sort of fake activist? Maybe Clooney was accepting money from the saudis or something? Not 100% sure, but still, objectively George Clooney looks fantastic! 

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The ethics of following your passion

This is my personal read on things; I think the critical issue here is that ironically enough… Passion following your passion, or even being passionate has fallen out of Vogue? What that means is we are living in a new age of Malay; all these fake ass woke activist, many of whom are on these Ridiculous plant-based diets, maybe they have a bunch of tattoos, they’re always on Instagram and on their phones, pretend to not care, drink fruit smoothies from Erewhon, kind of try to get into working out, say that eating meat is bad for the planet in the carbon footprint, yet they have a dog, which might be 1 trillion times worse for the “carbon footprint“?

Anyways, my general critique is whenever you meet these strange individuals in the flesh, all of them tend to be quite short, not very attractive, not very good looking, overfat, and actually… Really into fashion? Their fashion choices are very bizarre, it is a will towards uglification,  – their virtue is ugly, being ugly, and continually self-abnegating themselves to forever become ever more fat, self pitiful and ugly.

Ugly loves ugly

I think at least one of the positive trends in LA, is there is a new counter culture at least within the aloe yoga community, the world towards beautification? And it looks like American apparel has been reborn under the guys of Los Angeles apparel? At least now, the bias is that they’re trying to make women beautiful again. Granted the big issues in LA is all these women are fake, all the men are fake, everybody is fake. All of the guys are Shorty guys, skinny fat losers who drive these huge MMGG wagon Mercedes cars, and the women all have these strange surgeries, to practically everything; to their nose face forehead jaw lips butt, breasts, etc.?  in fact at least the new thing I’m excited about the new John Wick ballerina movie is that the main actress, who is super hot, she is actually quite modest in terms of her full frontage breasts?  And I think this is a good trend; I like the Tran towards being natural all natural. Fake is ugly. Natural is beautiful.

And this is also why I don’t like makeup, makeup is fake up. And also it causes you to get you a sty in your eye, it ruins your skin, is a waste of time is expensive in bed. The best thing you could just do for your skin ironically enough it just spend more time in the sun, spend more time exercising, getting more sleep etc. In fact I’ve noticed that people who sleep well tend to have better skin! People who sleep poorly have poor skin.

Autotelic passion

When your passion is self motivated and self driven, once you’re already dumb rich, then… It is adding like 10 turbo chargers to your soul. You never have to force yourself to do anything, because everything you do is self motivated. You are no longer driven by superficial notions of success, and honestly, ultimately, the notion of success is fake. For example I just finished reading the Emily Wilson translation of the Iliad, and ultimately, even after Achilles gets his revenge, it is a bit anti-climactic. Truth be told the heart of Achilles is not really 100% soothed, even though he finally gets Breisis back in his bed. His best friend Patroclus is dead, and getting revenge and despoiling the body of Hector doesn’t bring him back to life. And what is super interesting is at the end of the Iliad, it is almost like an anti-climax; it just ends, and then you’re left… That’s it? Then what? 

Why?

So I feel like I’m just getting started. This is the greatness of the whole carte blanche mentality and philosophy. And a beginners mind or child’s mind. The general idea is if you were born you again, right now, in this insanely futuristic world we live in with self driving way more cars, ChatGPT, bitcoin, AI etc.… Certainly we have to throw out the old blueprint and the old rulebook, and think things afresh. 

 I think the difficulty for most people is that starting totally carte blanche, totally brand new without using the pass for analogies is difficult. The past is much easier to discern, for example, being a historian is kind of safe; the past doesn’t change. But if you’re living in the present moment, and you’re also potentially marching bravely into the future, it is Like the fog of war, you can’t see shit! You can’t just turn on the map hack, like in star craft… To think about the future is hidden.

Digital thoughts

So my very very simple idea is the future is digital, we all know this. It’s funny, I was shocked, it looks like currently speaking, the Apple Store is on fire! Tons of people getting the new iPhone iPhone Pro, even though the customers themselves seem a bit disenchanted. But whatever, the reason why Apple ain’t going away anytime soon is that they are the most legalized profitable drug dealers of all time; I think that the iPhone might be more addictive than Chris still met, because it’s like almost if you took technology, digital things, sociology, culture self-worth or whatever, and then you put it on yourself like an ankle monitor forever, and you just keep upgrading forever until you die, that is the ultimate cash cow! We will continue to suck the teats of Apple until we die.

In some ways, we could think of Apple like the new golden calf;  the new tower of Babel. And we all know how that ends…

The new new

In terms of innovation, ironically enough, I think the future is in the past. For example, I’ve gotten 1 trillion times more inspiration reading the Iliad,,, shout out to Emily Wilson and her new fantastic translation, then any loser business book written in the last 30 years.

In fact, the only good business books in my opinion are Steve Jobs by Walter Isaacson, the new Elon Musk book by Walter Isaacson, and zero to one by Peter Thiel. Everything else is not worth reading, also the invent and wander book by Jeff Bezos. 

The critical issue here is that nobody has balls anymore. And also everyone is hooked to YouTube Facebook Instagram TikTok Snapchat Twitter Google Google news Apple Apple news, HBO HBO Max Hulu Netflix YouTube etc. like crack cocaine. Also sports, sports are just a prostitution for the body for men; I don’t trust nobody who watches sports, whether it be football, hockey, or baseball. I find it insanely bizarre; it is like watching pornography, you’re seeing all these athletes essentially prostitute their bodies, injecting their butt holes with steroids, in order to win and perform well, Making a bunch of money, Indefinitely.

Nike Nike Nike Nike Nike treat employees like slaves, gave LeBron a billi not to run away! – ye

Honestly, it could all be seen as prostitution. For example, Nike very bad taste; plastering all these images of Kobe Bryant, with the tagline “no time to lose“, essentially prostituting the soul of Kobe Bryant,  to essentially sell more of his sneakers and merchandise? I find this disgusting. Almost like how Jay Z felt about when Prince died, and they started to parade all of his merchandise?

do you want your masters with your masters? JAY Z

I Think One of the Great Things About Living in La Is Being Here… I Feel Like I’m at the Epicenter of the Universe. Why? It’s Not Loser New York, Loser Brooklyn, Loser London Which RUNS the World, it is LA! For example just went to the Grove yesterday with Cindy and Seneca, and it was amazing! Shout out to Jeff Garlin. 

Why? Everyone thinks that it is the Bay Area Silicon Valley Apple Google Facebook whatever which runs the show… But actually this is not true, it is about humans personality celebrities, the human soul, culture music ideas podcast etc. which run the planet.  For example, I think that Joe Rogan has more power than maybe even Donald Trump, because what… Every single man in America listens to Joe Rogan? And also, it looks like Kanye West, might be the ultimate robust or ANTIFRAGILE artist of all time? Even after his antisemitic remarks, losing his deal with Adidas… It looks like he is still in the game, and on the up and up? And speaking to a lot of folks, a lot of African-Americans, in LA… Everyone still loves Kanye. And the truth is in LA, antisemitism is real and runs deep; nobody likes the “Hebrews“, even a lot of Trader Joe’s employees I meant say that when you’re in Westwood, the Westwood Trader Joe’s, the “Hebrews“, treat you like shit.

Oh and also… Philz is evil.  I met one of the friendly employees who was always kind to me who used to work at Phil‘s coffee, and she told me that she got fired because she was trying to get the Phil’s employees to unionize, and they fired her. Boycott Phil‘s coffee!

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Who got the power now?

I’m a Spartan hoplite, meats undercover cop, meet CIA, meets SWAT team, meets blogger and vlogger. I could say with zero doubt that I am certainly the only, and the most influential the most entrepreneurial, the most powerful and interesting photographer or blogger or personality alive.

I could say that my only rival might be Kanye West; but Kanye West is my big brother. Kind of like what Jay Z was to Kanye. I’m Kanye until I die!

Why do people have such a hard time understanding me?

The same difficulty they had with Bob Dylan, David Bowie, and also now Kanye West. In fact, I’m in a very good position because I am Asian American, Korean American, born in the states in the Bay Area, my English is 1 trillion times better than yours, I am wiser richer smarter stronger taller more handsome than you, and also I have a kid and a son… You wish you were me.

In fact, the giant has arrived. Only Hermes the giant slayer, or Apollo can kill me. Nobody else.

And the thing is honestly… In America, being an Asian guy is interesting… We are seeing as the safe ones, the meek ones,  with small dicks, and we sit on the sidelines, while Caucasian men “steal “our beautiful Asian Asian American women. But this is the wrong mentality. We the new studs! We the new rock stars!  

Street photography is more than just capturing moments—it’s about being present, embracing spontaneity, and telling the stories of people and places. Here are 100 tips to help you improve your street photography, inspired by the philosophy and techniques of Eric Kim.

Mindset and Philosophy

1. Shoot for yourself, not for others – Capture what excites you, not what you think others want to see.
2. Focus on experiences, not likes – Photography is about personal growth, not social media validation.
3. Always carry your camera – The best photo opportunities come when you least expect them.
4. Don’t be afraid to fail – The best learning comes from mistakes.
5. Seek discomfort – Put yourself in unfamiliar situations to grow as a photographer.
6. Stay curious – Explore the world with a childlike sense of wonder.
7. Embrace the unknown – Don’t plan too much. Let the streets surprise you.
8. Don’t overthink composition – Sometimes instinct is your best guide.
9. Capture emotions, not just moments – Focus on the feelings behind the scenes.
10. Practice the art of patience – Wait for the perfect moment rather than rushing the shot.

Gear and Technical Tips

11. Shoot with what you have – The best camera is the one you have with you, even if it’s your smartphone.
12. Use a prime lens – Simplify your setup by using a 35mm or 50mm prime lens for classic street photography.
13. Zone focus – Pre-focus your lens so you’re ready for split-second shots.
14. Shoot in aperture priority mode – Let your camera handle the exposure while you focus on framing and timing.
15. Master your autofocus – Learn the quirks of your camera’s autofocus system.
16. Use manual settings in challenging light – Don’t shy away from full manual control when necessary.
17. Shoot RAW – Capture more data and give yourself flexibility in post-processing.
18. Embrace wide apertures – A shallow depth of field can isolate your subject and create striking images.
19. Turn off your flash – Natural light is often the most flattering in street photography.
20. Use black and white to simplify – Strip color from your images to focus on form, contrast, and emotion.

Compositional Techniques

21. Look for leading lines – Use architecture and streets to guide the viewer’s eye.
22. Incorporate frames within frames – Windows, doors, and arches can add layers to your images.
23. Capture reflections – Use puddles, windows, and mirrors to create unique compositions.
24. Embrace negative space – Let the environment breathe around your subject.
25. Use shadows creatively – Shadows add depth and intrigue to your photos.
26. Rule of thirds – Divide your frame into thirds and place points of interest on the intersections.
27. Break the rules – Once you understand the basics of composition, don’t be afraid to break them.
28. Look for symmetry – Symmetry can add a sense of balance and harmony to your images.
29. Focus on textures – Street photography isn’t just about people. Capture the gritty textures of urban environments.
30. Shoot from the hip – Capture more candid, unposed moments by shooting without raising your camera to your eye.

Engaging with the Streets

31. Smile at people – Disarming your subject with a smile makes for more genuine interactions.
32. Talk to your subjects – Don’t be afraid to ask for permission or learn their story.
33. Capture moments of interaction – Photos of people connecting are often more powerful than isolated portraits.
34. Be a fly on the wall – Blend in, observe, and wait for the perfect moment to unfold.
35. Shoot at the golden hour – Early morning and late afternoon provide the best lighting for street photography.
36. Explore alleyways – Sometimes the most interesting scenes are away from the main streets.
37. Look for contrasts – Capture juxtapositions between wealth and poverty, youth and age, movement and stillness.
38. Find humor – Life on the streets is often funny. Capture those unexpected, humorous moments.
39. Don’t be afraid of bad weather – Rain and fog can add drama and mood to your photos.
40. Experiment with different perspectives – Try shooting from above, below, or through objects.

Being Respectful and Ethical

41. Be respectful of people’s privacy – Know the laws regarding photography in public spaces, and always consider your subject’s dignity.
42. Learn when to engage and when to walk away – Some moments are not meant to be photographed.
43. Avoid exploiting people’s hardship – Show empathy and respect in your work.
44. Get permission if necessary – For more intimate or close-up shots, a simple gesture or asking can go a long way.
45. Blend into the environment – Don’t draw unnecessary attention to yourself.
46. Don’t take photos of people in vulnerable moments – Be mindful of your subjects’ situations and emotions.
47. Show your subjects their photos – Sharing the image can create a bond and trust.
48. Understand local cultures – When traveling, respect cultural norms around photography.
49. Don’t photograph children without permission – It’s important to be cautious when photographing minors.
50. Let your subjects be themselves – Don’t force a moment or pose; capture natural expressions.

Creative Exercises

51. Set mini-projects for yourself – Focus on a theme or concept for the day (e.g., shadows, hands, or motion).
52. Limit yourself to 36 shots – Pretend you’re shooting with film to be more selective and thoughtful.
53. Shoot one color – Pick a color and only capture photos featuring that color for the day.
54. Photograph hands and gestures – Often more expressive than faces, hands tell unique stories.
55. Try minimalism – Simplify your compositions by removing distractions.
56. Capture motion blur – Use slower shutter speeds to show movement and energy.
57. Photograph a stranger for 5 minutes – Spend time with one subject and document their story.
58. Shoot in a single location – Stay in one place for an extended period and document everything happening around you.
59. Do a photo walk with a friend – Challenge each other with themes or critiques as you shoot together.
60. Photograph at night – Nighttime street photography offers a completely different mood and atmosphere.

Staying Inspired

61. Study the masters – Learn from iconic street photographers like Henri Cartier-Bresson, Garry Winogrand, and Vivian Maier.
62. Consume art outside of photography – Find inspiration from painters, musicians, and filmmakers.
63. Read photography books – Expand your understanding of the craft by learning from written wisdom.
64. Attend street photography workshops – A great way to learn from peers and experienced professionals.
65. Join street photography communities – Whether online or in-person, surrounding yourself with like-minded people will motivate you.
66. Review your old work – Learn from your past mistakes and successes.
67. Take a break – Sometimes stepping away from the camera for a while can reignite your passion.
68. Create photo zines – Curate and publish your street photography in a tangible format.
69. Don’t compare yourself to others – Everyone’s journey and style are unique.
70. Trust your eye – The more you practice, the more you’ll develop your unique way of seeing.

Post-Processing and Editing

71. Less is more in editing – Don’t over-process your images. Keep them natural.
72. Convert to black and white if color doesn’t add value – Monochrome often strengthens street photos.
73. Crop minimally – Try to compose perfectly in-camera, and crop only to enhance the story.
74. Dodge and burn – Use light and shadow adjustments to guide the viewer’s attention.
75. Keep a consistent style – Develop a recognizable editing aesthetic that feels true to your vision.
76. Backup your photos – Regularly save your work on multiple drives or cloud storage.
77. Create series, not singles – Edit with a larger story or theme in mind.
78. Don’t obsess over gear – Master what you have instead of chasing the next best thing.
79. Limit distractions in your photos – Use editing to clean up unnecessary elements.
80. Print your photos – Viewing your work in print offers a new perspective.

Advanced Tips

81. Shoot with film – The constraints of film can teach patience and precision.
82. Learn to see light – Pay attention to how light falls on your subjects, and let it guide your shot.
83. Photograph at festivals and public events – These settings often provide a wealth of candid moments.
84. Capture decisive moments – Wait for the perfect moment when all elements align.
85. Use contrast to tell stories – High contrast between light and dark, rich and poor, can create powerful narratives.
86. Follow the rule of triangles – Triangular composition can create dynamic and balanced images.
87. Pre-visualize your shot – Imagine the photo in your head before taking it.
88. Use minimal equipment – Simplicity is key. Avoid gear that slows you down.
89. Photograph without looking at the screen – Trust your instincts and compose without constantly checking your display.
90. Look for eye contact – Capturing a fleeting glance can add intensity to a photograph.

Staying Consistent and Motivated

91. Shoot daily – Make street photography a daily habit, even if just for 10 minutes.
92. Document your own neighborhood – Don’t overlook the beauty in familiar places.
93. Challenge yourself to get closer – The closer you are, the more intimate the moment.
94. Participate in photo contests – It can push you to take your work seriously and improve.
95. Analyze your best photos – Identify what works in your best shots, and replicate that success.
96. Seek feedback – Constructive criticism from others helps you grow.
97. Stay inspired by traveling – Explore new cities or countries to refresh your vision.
98. Create long-term projects – Commit to a specific topic or location for an extended period.
99. Always be ready – Be prepared for the unexpected. Street photography is about capturing fleeting moments.
100. Enjoy the process – Above all, street photography should be fun. Let your passion and curiosity guide you.

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By adopting these tips, you’ll not only improve your technical skills but also develop a deeper connection to the streets and the people you photograph. Happy shooting!

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Let me know if you’d like more specific tips or a detailed expansion on certain points!

The truly great street photography must be unethical?

Some new street tactics:

Stop buying them Ricoh, start buying those iPhone Pros!

The really really big issue here right now is supply chain issues. So this is where I am very very admiring of Tim Cook—the master of supply chain and logistics.

Problems with Ricoh, Fujifilm & these Japanese companies

So it seems the real critical issue here is supply chain issues. For example, I actually wanted to buy a new Fujifilm X100 VI, and also a new Ricoh GR III HDF… but the problem is they are all out of stock, all backordered… even if you want to buy it, you cannot.

Therefore, the critical issue here is availability. I want to buy it, I have the money for it, but I can’t buy it! Super annoying.

iPhone Pro thoughts

Looks like Apple listened to me, my idea for a “quick draw” idea… made available via the new camera control thing in the bottom right corner. It is a good idea because it makes it very very quick and easy and available to quickly quickly quickly take a picture, without delay. All those other strange touch-enabled exposure control stuff seems more like a gimmick, because it kind of looks like what a Samsung phone would do… Anyways, better than nothing. And also having it in the bottom right corner is a good idea because these damn iPhones are so big now… And also the ability to just make all of your apps sit at the bottom of your screen is an insanely great idea because most people have pretty small hands, their thumbs cannot reach all the way to the top.

NEW ERIC KIM APPLE TV+ SERIES: “Mastering the Art of Street Photography”

So I have this pitch idea for Apple TV+ (eric@erickim.com)—and the general idea is how can you use an iPhone, iPhone Pro, etc., to travel the world, be like ERIC KIM or Henri Cartier-Bresson, and make really awesome photos?

And also there would be a cool tie-in with the iPad Pro… The new M4 one… because I might be the only one I know, the only perhaps influential serious photographer on the planet who only uses an iPad Pro… I haven’t touched my laptop in about two years.

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Learn on

To read some more in-depth thoughts on this subscribe to my podcast on Apple podcast here

More podcast stuff here. 

Also you could subscribe to me for free on Spotify here.

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Full post

Also audio vlog > 

Learn more here.

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Why is this such a big deal? 

I suppose this is a big deal because iPhone 16 Pro I think is finally probably good enough to replace the RICOH GR? 

Granted the truth is in terms of image quality and workflow… The Ricoh GR III, Ricoh GR IIIx, now the HDF’s… aesthetically probably look way better, but maybe from a innovation perspective it makes more sense for us to just burn the ships behind us, and buy some thing which has an interesting double dipping ability – AI, ChatGPT as well as photography?

Still artistic photography is the future

I really thought that the iPhone commercial with the weekend was very lame.  Apple is taking the wrong direction here… Come on… Your mom is going to have zero inspiration or motivation to use the iPhone pro to shoot a commercial or to shoot cinema. Apple going to whole cinematic route with iPhone is a very bad idea. A better strategy is instead… To focus on the still photography aspect. 

For example it looks like the new update on the photo styles is actually a super smart idea. No more needing to use loser Instagram or third-party apps — and actually… When are the things which inspired me to purchase some Apple stock at least with my Roth Ira accounts ,,,was the new iOS 18 is insanely great! And hats off to the apples photos team… It looks like what Apple is trying to do here is trying to cut out Instagram from the equation… And do the more smart strategy of making Apple photos look like it’s on social media platform?

I don’t think Instagram Facebook Metais a sustainable model. Sooner or later people are going to get sick of the ads, and want to bail and jump ship. I also think the same thing will happen with Google… There’s going to be a point where everything is this going to ChatGPT everything or searchgpt everything — no more lower click bait Google and YouTube videos — nobody likes ads! Especially kids, they hate ads!

Also a funny thought… Most google employees I know… Or IT tech workers, almost all universally have ad blockers on all of their devices. And almost all of them pirate stuff on VPNs and pirate bay etc. So it is a little bit ironic that Google is trying to crack down on AdBlockers now. My better suggestion is just try to make the YouTube premium app so so good on iPhone and Google devices… That you will actually make people happy to pay the $10 a month or whatever for YouTube premium! And also googles idea to monetize the pro version of Gemini AI is good idea. 

I think about Google will certainly find very very soon, I think she already knows… Is advertising on the Internet is not a sustainable business model. Rather I think subscriptions and to pay for things is the way forward!

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Just buy it then return it?

Maybe the good idea is just buy the new iPhone Pro and return it if you don’t like it ,,,? And just test it out?

OWN YOUR CONTENT

If you live long enough, you’re going to wish you didn’t sell the rights to your content to some third-party.

Same to owning your own platform!

Create for 30 years from now!

PHOTOGRAPHY ENTREPRENEURSHIP 101: How to Become a Photography Entrepreneur >

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Create your future!

“I bought every V12 engine, wish I could take it back to the beginning” – JAY Z

Also–

Subscribe to the $20 a month ChatGPT pro,,, and experiment with the new ChatGPT o1 preview — your mind will be blown!

AI ALL THE WAY!

ERIC

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More AI thoughts here:

erickim.ai

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Forward the turbo!

EK NEWS SUPPLY >

Also whenever in doubt,

START HERE >

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ChatGPT o1:

The Philosophy of Street Photography: Conquering Charisma

Street photography isn’t just about capturing candid moments—it’s a philosophical journey that mirrors the complexities of life itself. As a philosopher with a camera, I’ve come to realize that conquering charisma in street photography is about more than technical skill; it’s about embracing a mindset that transcends the ordinary.

Embrace Existential Presence

To capture the essence of the streets, you must first be fully present. This echoes the existentialist belief that existence precedes essence. In the hustle of urban life, moments are fleeting. Being present allows you to seize these ephemeral instances that reveal deeper truths about humanity.

Actionable Insight: Practice mindfulness as you walk. Feel the ground beneath your feet, listen to the symphony of city sounds, and let your intuition guide your lens.

Overcome Fear Through Stoicism

Fear is the mind’s way of holding us back from potential greatness. Stoic philosophy teaches us to differentiate between what’s within our control and what’s not. You can’t control how people react to your camera, but you can control your intentions and actions.

Actionable Insight: Accept that discomfort is part of the process. Each time you confront your fear, you diminish its power over you.

Seek the Universal in the Particular

Hegel spoke of the universal manifesting in the particular. In street photography, a single image can reflect broader social truths. A solitary figure on a bench may symbolize isolation in modern society; a crowded marketplace might capture the chaos of urban life.

Actionable Insight: Look for scenes that resonate on multiple levels. Ask yourself what universal themes are present in the moments you capture.

Practice Minimalism

In a world overloaded with material possessions and digital noise, minimalism offers clarity. By simplifying your gear and focusing on the essentials, you free your mind to concentrate on creative expression.

Actionable Insight: Limit yourself to one camera and one lens. This constraint fosters creativity and forces you to see the world differently.

Cultivate Empathy

Empathy is the bridge that connects you to your subjects. It’s about understanding and sharing the feelings of another, a concept deeply rooted in phenomenology.

Actionable Insight: Before pressing the shutter, take a moment to connect emotionally with your subject. This connection will translate into more impactful images.

Reflect on the Impermanence of Life

Buddhist philosophy reminds us of the transient nature of existence. Street photography captures moments that will never occur again in precisely the same way. Embracing this impermanence adds depth to your work.

Actionable Insight: Let each photograph serve as a meditation on time’s fleeting passage. This perspective enriches your appreciation for each moment you capture.

Develop Your Authentic Vision

Nietzsche urged us to “become who we are.” In street photography, this means developing a style that is authentically yours, free from external influences and trends.

Actionable Insight: Spend time analyzing your work to identify patterns and preferences. Cultivate these elements to develop a signature style.

Engage in Continuous Learning

Socratic wisdom emphasizes the importance of acknowledging our own ignorance. The streets are ever-changing, and there’s always something new to learn or a perspective to explore.

Actionable Insight: Read widely—not just photography books but philosophy, literature, and art. Broadening your knowledge base will enrich your photographic vision.

Radiate Positive Energy

The energy you bring to the streets influences your interactions and, consequently, your photographs. A positive demeanor can open doors and create opportunities.

Actionable Insight: Approach each day with gratitude and enthusiasm. Your positive outlook will reflect in your work and attract charismatic moments.

Final Thoughts

Conquering charisma in street photography is a philosophical endeavor. It’s about delving deep into the human condition, confronting your fears, and expressing your authentic self through your images. By integrating philosophical principles into your practice, you not only enhance your photography but also embark on a journey of personal growth.

So grab your camera and step into the world with open eyes and an open mind. Let the philosophies of presence, courage, empathy, and authenticity guide you. The streets are rich with stories waiting to be told, and through your lens, you have the power to reveal the profound within the mundane.

Don’t just take photos—philosophize with your camera. The world is your canvas, and your vision adds meaning to the moments you capture.

Make a new iPhone, or create the iOS in it which encourages you to spend less time on it!

What Do You Really Care For?

The best way to live your life and carry it out is to do only what you care for, and to not do anything you don’t care for. This is the whole notion of care and curate… coeur; heart.

Maybe then the whole notion of following your heart is actually good advice!

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There is no such thing as “planned obsolescence”

So one idea that these fake woke “thinkers“ like to push is this nonsensical idea of “planned obsolescence.” The basic idea is that Apple is some sort of ultra-evil corporation that tries to get you addicted to their iPhone devices, like nicotine or cigarettes, and intentionally stunts the performance of older devices, strong-arming you into upgrading your device because they intentionally slow down the older ones.

The reason why this is such a fallacy, a poor line of thinking, is that these skinny-fat losers who write about this are really just old, fat, with facial hair, no children… Maybe they have a dog. They want to come up with these supposedly high-concept intelligentsia thoughts, all critical of technology, while they’re jerking off to the nearest Apple rumor and fantasizing about the new iPhone Pro.

The truth of the matter is, there’s no such thing as planned obsolescence. Rather, Apple has an interesting strategy—her team of ragtag innovators are always striving to make the best iOS possible. Why? There’s a little bit of skin in the game… My theory is that Apple made the whole new focus feature because they themselves are addicted to their iPhones and have a vested interest in making a new generation of iPhone or iOS that makes them less distracted and less miserable in their everyday lives.

The next big innovation?

Also… unfortunately, it looks like 90% of modern-day work is just answering and sending emails for a living. As a consequence, it seems that Apple is trying to build out Apple Intelligence to make email less dreadful and less hateful.

In fact, I think there is still so much innovation that could be done in email. My personal vision is that your ChatGPT AI bot can simply do something very, very amazing… answer all of your emails for you without asking any questions. Wouldn’t that be wonderful?

In fact, I see this as at least a $500 million opportunity… Eliminating email from people’s lives seems like the killer idea!

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Sustain

Another thing that is super annoying to me is all these skinny-fat vegan losers talking about sustainability and the environment, etc. I think what is actually much more interesting is to think about and consider things that are sustainable in a more practical and pragmatic sense.

For example, sustainability should not be seen as this virtue-signaling thing. Instead, sustainability should be considered more from a perspective of pragmatism and practicality.

For example, vehicles. From a personal pragmatic perspective… the most sustainable option is actually driving a Prius. Ideally, just buying a used older Prius—the 2010 version is lit. Real men with big penises drive Priuses, only skinny-fat losers drive Porsches or Teslas.

One of the great things about modular designs, like in a Prius, is that if your engine goes kaput, you can just swap out the engine! Prius engines are a dime a dozen… In theory, you should be able to drive a Prius until you die.

Also, the virtues of driving a Prius are longevity, durability, and it’s for the ultra-hardcore. Not only that… it is the ultimate stealth car. The funny thought is, if you had to rob a bank in Los Angeles, what would be the ideal getaway car? A white Prius! Can you imagine the CHP or LAPD saying, “What car did the guy get away in?” and someone replies, “A white unmarked Prius!” Haha!

Anyways, when MPG is so clutch… When you have to pick up your wife in the middle of the night and you don’t remember if you filled the gas tank or not. But the great thing about living in Los Angeles is that you’ll never drive more than 5 miles a day. Five miles in LA traffic is still about 30 minutes. Therefore, it’s a virtue—you only have to fill up your tank once a month, for maybe about 30 bucks. I think this is almost similar to the price of a Tesla supercharger, which is maybe $10 to recharge your full battery?

And also, the virtue of driving a Prius is that because it’s an old, proven line, it won’t get outdated at all. The problem with any sort of Tesla is that you know that within 10 years, there will be a major redesign or refresh. Even now… I’m pretty sure a major redesign for the Tesla Model S, Y, and X is incoming—just like the new Tesla Model 3… 1 trillion times cooler than the previous generation. I feel bad for all those suckers who bought the older version. Even at the Culver City Toyota dealership, I see all these people who traded in their old Tesla Model 3 Performance just one or two years ago… I assume they bought the new version.

How people are foolish with money

One thing I’ve discovered is that a lot of people, or most people… didn’t grow up poor. Now that I am essentially in elite circles, now that Cindy is a professor and in scholarly circles, and everyone I know is a successful entrepreneur or Apple employee, most people came from money. Most of their parents have PhDs or doctorates, are doctors, etc. Even this one guy I met who is very successful, Justin Atlan—apparently his family has been in Los Angeles for three or four generations? He came from pretty modest beginnings, but he still grew up in the Palisades, which is considered a very elite neighborhood in Los Angeles. Certainly, if you grew up in the Palisades, Malibu, etc.… your family is not dirt poor.

Came from the mud

First to put the hood on a jet! First to put the hood on molly – Future the rapper

The reason why fake rappers like Drake will never get my respect is because they did not come from the hood, the bottom, or the mud. I think Drake is insanely talented and great, but he lacks authenticity. And it seems that the future is going to be all about authenticity. Even if you’re a bad person, immoral, dishonest, etc.

Why ERIC KIM?

I think the reason why I like and trust myself so much is that you cannot fake yourself… You know with 100% precision all the details of your life, etc.… Whereas when it comes to other people… you never know what skeletons they have in their closet.

And also… the critical issue here is that a lot of people, when you never meet them in the flesh, face-to-face, mano a mano, they just become figments of your imagination, and they become more metaphors than real-life individuals.

For example, I love Kanye West to death, but my problem and critique is he is a short guy. I think he might really be 5’6″ because personalities and famous people always overexaggerate their height by an inch or two. I think Kanye self-reports as being 5’7″ or 5’8″, but this is probably not the case. And I think Kim Kardashian is only 5 feet tall? She’s kind of a midget with big breasts and a big butt.

And now that I’ve been spending so much time outside, outdoors, walking around, etc.… the interesting thing is that we human beings actually have a very good height perception. You can spot people from half a block away and quickly gauge how tall they are, or how small and short they are. And I think ultimately, this is why guys like supermodels… they are all super tall, which is one of the highest markers or indicators of beauty. If you see a 5’11 or 6′ tall model in the flesh, it is actually really shocking. Their height adds to their beauty and mystique. The same thing goes with meeting really tall, handsome guys—they are almost like a different species. Let us note that the average man in America might only be 5’6″ tall, and the average woman might only be 5’2″?

I’ve met a lot of successful people, a lot of really successful men who work at Apple and stuff… and they are really small, almost looking like middle schoolers, like 5’5″ or 5’4″.

And the reason people hate me so much is because I’m tall, handsome, and good-looking. I think guys also hate me because I am such an insanely confident, charismatic person, who also happens to be Asian, Asian American, Korean American…

And now at the age of 36… this is the most jacked, handsome, and dominant I have been in my life. I can easily say I’m the most attractive man in Culver City right now. Maybe in all of LA?

In fact, if Marvel comes out with a new superhero movie and they need to cast an Asian guy, maybe they should just cast Eric Kim, eric@erickim.com—holla at ya boy.

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Why does this matter?

We are all trying to chase the same things, but in different ways, using different strategies, etc. We all want the beautiful babes, we all want recognition and authenticity, we all want acknowledgment. We all want to feel valued, whether man, woman, or dog.

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Why is luxury coffee not yet a thing?

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If Steve Jobs were still alive today… What would he think of Apple?

OK… because I am the second Steve Jobs, the next Steve Jobs in the flesh… If Steve Jobs were 36 years old and alive today… this is what he would think of Apple, and this is what he would say:

First, he would call the new devices a piece of shit, and say they fucking suck. He would critique the design, the devices, Apple TV, everything.

Make the iPhone great again

The problem with Apple now is there’s too much fragmentation. Apple is trying to be everything, everywhere at once. But as we learn from Alexander the Great… to overextend yourself will always be a bad plan for an empire. The empires that are best and last are the ones that stay situated in one very critical spot and dominate that one small industry, rather than trying to become the Walmart of everything.

For example… the number one thing Apple needs to do is really make the iPhone desirable again. The new iPhone is lackluster. Nobody cares, nobody wants it, nobody even knows it exists. This is bad… I doubt you’ll be seeing lines outside the Apple store anytime soon.

The true critical innovation

Suggestion to Apple… ironically, you want to take a via negativa approach… Introduce a new iPhone that actually encourages you to spend less time on it.

The best way to live your life and carry it out is to do only what you care for and to not do anything you don’t care for. This is the whole notion of care and curate… coeur, heart.

Maybe then the whole notion of following your heart is actually good advice!

There is no such thing as “planned obsolescence”

One idea that these fake “woke” thinkers like to promote is this nonsensical idea of “planned obsolescence.” The basic idea is that Apple is some sort of ultra-evil corporation, trying to get you addicted to their iPhone devices, like nicotine or cigarettes, and intentionally stunts the performance of older devices, subtly strong-arming you into upgrading because they intentionally sabotage older devices.

The reason why this is such a fallacy, a poor line of thinking, is that these skinny fat losers who write about this are really just old, fat, with facial hair, no children… Maybe they have a dog. They want to come up with these supposedly high-concept intelligentsia thoughts, critical of technology, all while they’re jerking off to the nearest Apple rumor news and fantasizing about the new iPhone Pro, or whatever they desire to be the new iPhone Pro.

The truth of the matter is, there’s no such thing as planned obsolescence. Rather, Apple’s team of ragtag innovators is always striving to make the best iOS possible. Why? Because they have some skin in the game. My theory is that Apple made the new Focus feature because they themselves are addicted to their iPhones, and they have a vested interest in making a new generation of iPhone and iOS that makes them less distracted, less miserable in their everyday lives.

Also… unfortunately, it looks like 90% of modern-day work is just answering and sending emails for a living. As a consequence, it seems that Apple is trying to build out Apple Intelligence to make email less dreadful, less hateful.

In fact, I think there is still so much innovation that could be done in email. My personal vision is that your ChatGPT AI bot can do something amazing: answer all of your emails for you, without asking you any questions. Wouldn’t that be wonderful?

I see this as at least a $500 million opportunity. Eliminating email from people’s lives seems like a killer idea!

---

Sustain

Another thing that is super annoying to me is all these skinny fat vegan losers talking about sustainability and the environment. I think what’s actually more interesting is to think about and consider things that are sustainable in a much more practical and pragmatic sense.

For example, sustainability should not be seen as this loser virtue-signaling thing. Instead, sustainability should be considered from a perspective of pragmatism and practicality.

Take vehicles, for instance. From a personal pragmatic perspective, the most sustainable option is actually driving a Prius. Ideally, just buying a used, older Prius—the 2010 version is lit. Real men with big penises drive Priuses. Only skinny fat losers drive Porsches or Teslas.

One of the great things about modular designs, like in a Prius, is that if your engine goes kaput, you can just swap it out! Prius engines are a dime a dozen. In theory, you should be able to drive a Prius until you die.

Also, the virtues of driving a Prius are longevity, durability, and that it’s for the ultra-hardcore. Not only that, but it’s the ultimate stealth car. The funny thought: if you had to rob a bank in Los Angeles, what would be the ideal getaway car? A white Prius! Can you imagine the CHP or LAPD saying, “What car did the guy get away in?” And the answer is, “A white, unmarked Prius!” Haha!

When MPG is so clutch, you can pick up your wife in the middle of the night, and not even remember if you filled the gas tank or not. The great thing about living in Los Angeles is that you’ll never drive more than 5 miles a day. Five miles in LA traffic is still about 30 minutes. And as a result, you only have to fill up your tank once a month for about 30 bucks. This is almost similar to the price of a Tesla supercharger, which might be $10 to recharge your full battery.

Also, the virtue of driving a Prius is that it’s an old, proven design, so you know it won’t get outdated. The problem with any modern Tesla is that within 10 years, there will be a major redesign or refresh. Even now, I’m pretty sure that a major redesign for the Tesla Model S, Y, and X is incoming—just like the new Tesla Model 3, which is a trillion times cooler than the previous generation. I feel bad for all these suckers who bought the older version. Even at the Culver City Toyota dealership, I see people who traded in their old Tesla Model 3 performance cars, just one or two years old. I assume they bought the new version.

How People Are Foolish with Money

One thing I’ve discovered is that a lot of people, or most people, did not grow up poor. Now that I’m in elite circles, now that Cindy is a professor and in scholarly circles, and everyone I know is a successful entrepreneur or Apple employee, most people came from money. Most of their parents have PhDs or are doctors. Even this one guy I met, Justin Atlan, who is very successful, apparently his family has been in Los Angeles for three or four generations. He came from modest beginnings, but he still grew up in the Palisades, which is considered an elite neighborhood in Los Angeles. If you grew up in the Palisades, Malibu, etc., your family is not dirt poor.

Came from the Mud

“First to put the hood on a jet! First to put the hood on molly.” – Future

The reason why fake rappers like Drake will never get my respect is because they did not come from the hood or the bottom or the mud. I think Drake is insanely talented and great, but he lacks authenticity. And it seems that the future is going to be all about authenticity. Even if you’re a bad person, immoral, dishonest, etc.

Why ERIC KIM?

The reason I like myself so much and trust myself so much is that you cannot fake yourself. You know with 100% certainty all the details of your life. But when it comes to other people, you never, ever know what skeletons they have in their closet.

And also, the critical issue here is that a lot of people, when you never meet them in the flesh, face-to-face, mano a mano, they just become figments of your imagination. They become metaphors rather than real-life individuals.

For example, I love Kanye West to death, but my critique is he’s a short guy. I think he might really be 5’6″, because personalities and famous people always overexaggerate their height by an inch or two. I think Kanye self-reports as being 5’7″ or 5’8″, but that’s probably not the case. And I think Kim Kardashian is only 5 feet tall? She’s kind of a midget, with big breasts and a big butt.

Now that I’ve been spending so much time outside, walking around, the interesting thing is that we humans actually have a very good perception of height. You can spot people from half a block away and quickly gauge how tall or short they are. And I think this is why guys like supermodels—because they’re all super tall, which is one of the highest indicators of beauty. If you see a 5′ or 6′ model in the flesh, it’s actually really shocking. Their height adds to their beauty and mystique. The same goes with meeting really tall, handsome guys. They’re almost like a different species. Let’s note that the average man in America might only be 5’6″, and the average woman might only be 5’2″.

I’ve met a lot of successful people, a lot of really successful men who work at Apple and such, and they are really small—they almost look like middle schoolers, like 5’5″ or 5’4″.

And the reason people hate me so much is because I’m so tall, handsome, and good-looking. I think guys also hate me because I’m an insanely confident, charismatic person, who happens to be Asian, Asian American, Korean American.

Now, at the age of 36, I’m the most jacked, handsome, and dominant I’ve ever been. I can easily say I’m the most attractive man in Culver City right now. Maybe in all of LA?

In fact, if Marvel comes out with a new superhero movie and they need to cast an Asian guy, maybe they should just cast Eric Kim: eric@erickim.com—holla at ya boy!

---

Why Does This Matter?

We are all trying to chase the same things but in different ways, with different strategies. We all want beautiful babes. We all want recognition and authenticity. We all want acknowledgment. We all want to feel valued, whether man, woman, or dog.

---

Why is luxury coffee not yet a thing?

---

If Steve Jobs Were Still Alive Today… What Would He Think of Apple?

Okay, because I am the second Steve Jobs, the next Steve Jobs in the flesh… if Steve Jobs were 36 years old, alive today, this is what he would think of Apple, and this is what he would say:

First, he would call the new devices pieces of shit and say they fucking suck. He would critique the design, the devices, Apple TV—everything.

Make the iPhone Great Again

The problem with Apple now is that there’s too much fragmentation. Apple is trying to be everything, everywhere, all at once. But as we learned from Alexander the Great, to overextend yourself will always be a bad plan for an empire. The best, longest-lasting empires are the ones that stay situated in one critical spot and dominate that one small industry, rather than trying to become the Walmart of everything.

For example… the number one thing Apple needs to do is make the iPhone desirable again. The new iPhone is lackluster. Nobody cares, nobody wants it, nobody even knows that it exists. This is bad… I doubt you’ll be seeing lines outside the Apple Store anytime soon.

The True Critical Innovation

My suggestion to Apple… ironically, take a via negativa approach. Introduce a new iPhone that actually encourages you to spend less time on it.

---

Does it matter if you predict the future? It seems that the holy grail is that we desire to predict the future for the sake of some sort of financial gain. For example, I recall the time in which I was watching Back to the Future, and Marty McFly goes back to the past to predict the future and become super rich. But for the sake of what?

What if you could be 100% right?

So it seems that to some extent… We can easily predict the future. There are certain straightforward macro trends, which seem pretty obvious to me.

For example… It seems that post Covid… Everything is different. Everything is brand new, everything is a totally brave New World.

The other day I was watching a bit of an interview with Mark Beinoff, the CEO and founder of salesforce with the founder and CEO of Nvidia.  it was really funny, obviously now with the valuation of $2 trillion, Nvidia is the big dick in the room. 

Jensen Huang

Anthony, the new big AI dick in the room. It’s really funny when I was watching that interview conversation between him and Mark… Obviously Jensen is way smaller and shorter than Mark, and also appears to be older. But Mark is really really big tall and very very fat… Like I was shocked, Mark wearing all black, like a satin sparkly shirt, HUUUGE beer belly.  as a random aside, pretty bad but I guess I am a very judgmental person, seeing Mark so fat, and so out of shape… Makes me see him as less, because if you’re that rich and successful and powerful, and you’re that fat, and out of shape… It  might be a sign of moral degeneracy.

Anyways in the conversation, Jensen looks super gangsta, so full of pride and strength and vigor.  And also… You could see that Jensen was the new big dick in the room. Despite his smaller statue in size, and also his age… Jensen is now 61 years old, but he says he’s just getting started, he is still young.

Anyways, one thing that is interesting to me about Nvidia is how they have been around since I was a kid. I still remember when I was playing kind of 1.6, building my own computers, the goal was to have the top-of-the-line GeForce graphics card, I remember my rich friend Justin Wong,  he had it… And he was able to max out his frame rates, whereas I, with my hand built my own computer… I had a lower end graphics card a lower and GeForce, I was not able to squeeze out as many FPS as you did. And the thing that was actually very very unfair when it came to video games was he who had more frame rates, actually had a real tactical advantage. If you had faster frame rates, you could play better, because having a small edge in terms of a faster frame rate allow you to react quicker, and be able to spot the counter parties quicker, not be subjected to lag, in order to be more lethal. 

Real advantages vs fake advantages? 

It seems in today’s world, everyone is always trying to seek an edge. We want a little bit better information more information quicker information etc., in order to predict the future.

Why? The general idea is that if you could predict the future, then, you could make a lot of money.

What am I? 

For example, there are a lot of different categories you could  classify yourself as… Trader, day trader,  investor, speculator, etc. and some new terminology I got from Michael Saylor,  like Maxi, double maxi, triple maxi — maxi meaning Maximalist. 

For a while, when people ask me what I did… I would just say bitcoin and cryptocurrency speculator.  I like to use the notion speculator because everyone sees bitcoin and cryptocurrency with a suspicious eye… And by saying that I was a speculator, it was made more legible to the average person because it’s signal to them that in fact even I was skeptical of the whole thing, speculative, but at least the difference was I was 100% invested in bitcoin, all in, balls to the wall.

Also, I put some traditional money into microstrategy, – which has fortunately gone up since I bought it! And so now, maybe I just think of myself like a money manager, because I am managing the money and finances of the family, my money, Cindy‘s money, our own personal family war chest, and also my mom‘s money. Cindy is 100% full-time focused on her scholarship and academia, and because I have the privilege of being self-employed, my new focus in my current focus is towards money management and growth. Maybe I should think of myself like my own hedge fund manager, ERIC KIM hedge, ERIC KIM hedge fund.

Investing strategies 

Currently the two and only sexy companies on the traditional markets include microstrategy and nvidia. Michael Saylor is great, I’ve literally watched hundreds of hours of interviews with him, the more I watch him and learn from him the more I like him.

Jensen Huang is also very intelligent… also, he’s been in the game for over 30 years, he’s legit. 

But besides this, besides micro strategy and Nvidia… All the other ones suck. We accidentally had some Apple stock in our portfolio and I immediately sold it. I also sold Google. 

Problems:

1. Are you certain that the iPhone 55 Pro will be any good? Probably not. I like the new iOS, but still… It’s starting to become more and more weird like kind of a water down android. And also the new iPhone just came out the new iPhone Pro, and nobody wants it. Bad news.
2. Google is just moving sideways, I think it’s good that Sundar is all in for AI, but I think the big issue is that Google is dealing with a huge problem about information, notably the veracity of information. I am still shocked… Gmail with all the advanced AI features, why does Gmail still not know or why can it still not spot a Nigerian scammer? Shouldn’t be able to intelligently filter out Nigerian scammers from a random Gmail account asking you for money?

The future?

For a minute, with my Roth IRA,  I went all in on Tesla. But more recently I sold all of it and just bought micro strategy instead. Why?

This issue with Tesla, is it is still too dependent on physics. You have to deal with the physics of producing batteries cars and factories, and shipping them to customers. And also, the laws of physics are brutal… Even though cyber truck is the best thing invented of all time, This issue was there so many physics issues at play.

First, physics is very hard. To create a new process in which you are called rolling steel… I don’t think people understand or appreciate how difficult this is in terms of material sciences. And to produce cyber trucks fast enough, even if you injected Tesla with another hundred trillion dollars, the progress would be slow. Why? It is just very hard! And you have to create new robots and infrastructure and supply chains to make it possible. Just think, do you remember during Covid when it was so difficult to get weightlifting equipment? Imagine like that but on steroids.


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Never buy a home

What if you were in a position in which you never desired to own a home? To buy a home or manage it?

Funny in the Iliad, … when Achilles is taunting Aenaes, he mentioned the issue that even if Aenaes kills Achilles, and is granted all of this wealth in terms of house home property… That Aenaes would not be able to even manage it. Even if he won it.

I cannot fix the hinge

Another super insanely annoying thing at my apartment which is super super nice, the issue is that beneath our kitchen sink, in which we store our instant pot, the hook latch hinge thing has broken off a bit, so every time I close it, I have to force wedge it up, to just close it. And it is so insanely annoying to me, every single time I do it. I have tried to fix it several times, but have given up in vain. Maybe I should just get rid of the covering, but then again that is ugly.

So a thought and a reminder to myself,… if it has been almost a year and have not been able to fix this super tiny hinge in my apartment, it is probably a signal that I am not fit for home management. Even the other day, walking by this new Orama minimal frames business,  and seeing this really really nice picture of this super nice home, overlooking a cliff or whatever in all glass, with these huge floors, I thought to myself:

Who is going to vacuum this?

Probably the best recent investment Cindy and I made was buying a brand new Dyson vacuum, for about 500 bucks, which actually has an on and off button, and this hardwood floor attachment thing which has this laser green LED light, which helps me spot dust on our hardwood bamboo floors, which makes it very easy to clean up!

And every single day, I vacuum the floors of our entire apartment, which is actually pretty modest in size,  and still… I am shocked that every single day, just literally in 24 hours, so much dust can settle on the floors? And I was thinking… Assuming that I do all the labor myself, just cleaning the floors, vacuuming the floors is so difficult for just a two bedroom one bath apartment, I cannot imagine the nightmare of having to managing clean a huge home or property? alone if you’re washer and dryer breaks, figure out how to deal with that and annoying day laborers and day contractors? 

#rentforever squad

What does assume that you are Elon Musk, actually, you would probably not want to own any property to yourself, because you’re too busy building rocket ships and going to Mars, you don’t want to deal with the annoyance of having to just maintain your property.

Well a lot of fools don’t understand is they say, oh “if you’re super rich, then you could just have maids and house managers do all the dirty work for you“. But actually, this is not true. The prime issue here is that even if you have a home manager and a house cleaner… Do you still need to manage your manager! And this is more labor and annoyance for you.

Even spending some time living in Vietnam and Cambodia, actually, the funny truth is to just clean your place yourself is actually far easier than having someone else do it for you. Why? The big issue here is that you’re essentially sitting on your butt twiddling your thumbs  until the day that your cleaner finally comes in. And not only that, the annoyance is that you have to evacuate and vacate your premises while they are cleaning, not to get in your way. That is super annoying because it adds a little bit more friction and complication to your life, having to just plan your life around your cleaner.

When we are living in Hanoi and we had Trang, who was essentially almost a live-in cleaner, who did all of her laundry and folded it for us, and even washed the dishes, the annoyance was she insisted that we didn’t do the dishes, and that she would do it for us, but after we would cook and the dishes were just to lie all greasy in the sink, I just thought to myself “this is unsightly, I would just prefer to clean it up myself!”

Anyways, the simplest life is best. The great virtues and simplicity of just renting a modestly sized apartment, and just cleaning yourself. 

---

More luxury, more headaches

True luxury should be simplicity. Not more labor! 

What Are Your Life Goals?

Tell me your goals, what your life goals are and I will tell you who you are.

Sometimes useful

So there is a double edged sword of goals, life goals etc. The problems here is that you could hit and achieve all of your life goals, and once that you have achieved them… truth be told it is pretty anti-climactic. For example, even my insanely audacious goal of lifting 1000 pounds, I was very very happy and pleased with it… but once again, at least to me it felt like another day at the gym. To me the difference between lifting 995 pounds, and 1000 pounds, was just a number in my mind. 

Becoming a millionaire and before becoming a millionaire didn’t change much to my mindset – Steve Jobs

Funny thought… Numbers and round numbers, there’s this weird psychology behind it.

Example, I’m currently eyeing on purchasing some new weights because I’m maxed up my current set up. Yet for me… To pay $550 or $560 seems like too much… But to pay sub $500, like $450, or $490 seems much more palatable.

$999 iPhone Pro

This is why… To charge $999, at least for the sticker price on an iPhone pro is insanely intelligent because once you break the thousand dollar mark, in the mind of people… It is almost too much. Also then intelligence of Elon… To essentially make the model 3 and Y, at least the sticker price is $29,999 a dollar under the $30,000 mark is genius. I think one of the things that I learned is that we humans are funny… We are often suckered by these superficial number differences.

Think kilograms

How to exceed yourself

A big innovation I discovered while in Cambodia Asia when lifting there… Is everyone uses kilograms, not pounds. And this was the impetus to help me break beyond my mental barriers, at least when it came to traditional pounds and weights.

For example, the traditional American plate is 45 pounds… But when it comes to kilograms, the red plate is 25 kg, which is more close to about 52 pounds.

As a consequence… as an American weightlifters or powerlifters, we typically see the deadlift, in which the traditional marker of strength is being able to do at least a “four plate deadlift”, which is 405 pounds in total. Yet if you took the metric kilogram approach… four plates, assuming that it was in 25 kg increments, would technically be a lot more.

Steel over iron?

Steelman not Ironman?

The man of steel (Superman)

This is where steel is better than iron… steel is more expensive, but should last a lot longer than iron. And this is where I think buying calibrated steel weightlifting plates is a good idea… In theory if you keep good condition of it, you should be able to hand it down to your Kids.

And this is where things become fun… now that you have a son, or at least I do… life is so insanely great because I’m so excited the day that I get going to weightlifting, and I could hand down my legendary Texas power squat bar to him, and also he will inherit all my weight lifting equipment and plates etc.

Think about your kids kids kids

I think this is the reason why it is difficult for people who have never had a kid or child to imagine the future. Why? If you are the typical single millennial, or let us say if you have a dog or whatever…  it is actually very difficult to think about the future. Why why? Your life strategy becomes about hedonism maximization, which is in the context of eating good sushi, traveling to Japan, etc. But like Cindy famously said… You can only go to burning man so many times. And also, you can only go to Japan so many times, and eat good or omakase sushi so many times before it loses its appeal. 

---

So now what?

Simply jot it down, or blog it — or think about it. Dictate what you care for, and strive with all your might towards that goal!

ERIC

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Explore more:

PHILOSOPHY BY KIM >

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Eric Kim has mentioned Steve Jobs as a source of inspiration in various blog posts, particularly when it comes to creativity, design, and life philosophy. While Kim primarily focuses on photography and minimalism, he draws parallels between his approach and Steve Jobs’ vision and innovation in several key ways:

1. Simplicity and Minimalism

Steve Jobs was known for his commitment to simplicity, particularly in the design of Apple products, which emphasized clean, minimalist aesthetics and user-friendly functionality. Eric Kim has often expressed admiration for this philosophy and applies it to his photography and life. He views minimalism as a way to focus on the essentials, both in art and in everyday living.

• Kim on simplicity: “Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication.” Kim frequently cites this quote, attributed to Leonardo da Vinci but popularized by Jobs, as a guiding principle in both design and photography.

2. Attention to Detail

Jobs was famous for his obsessive attention to detail, ensuring that even the smallest aspects of a product were perfect. Eric Kim has taken this to heart in his own work, emphasizing that great art and design come from careful consideration of every element in a composition. Whether it’s the framing of a photograph or the way an image is processed, Kim emphasizes the importance of precision.

• Kim on detail: “The small details in photography are what make a great image. The same way Jobs focused on making everything in Apple products flawless, we should do the same in our art.”

3. Innovative Thinking

Steve Jobs was a master of innovation, constantly pushing the boundaries of technology and design to create products that changed industries. Kim, in a similar way, encourages photographers and creatives to think outside the box, experiment with new ideas, and not be afraid of failure.

• Kim on innovation: “What made Steve Jobs great was his willingness to take risks and challenge the status quo. As creatives, we need to apply the same mindset—constantly seeking new ways to see the world and create art.”

4. Focus on User Experience

Jobs was focused not just on how products looked but how they made users feel and interact. Similarly, Eric Kim emphasizes the experience of the viewer or participant in photography. He believes that the emotional connection with the audience is just as important as the technical aspects of a photo.

• Kim on user experience: “Steve Jobs didn’t just design products—he designed experiences. As photographers, we need to think about how our images affect the people who see them, making sure they resonate on a deeper, emotional level.”

5. Passion and Dedication

Both Steve Jobs and Eric Kim share a belief in the importance of passion and dedication in one’s work. Jobs famously said, “The only way to do great work is to love what you do,” and Kim echoes this sentiment, encouraging photographers to follow their passion and avoid being driven solely by external validation or financial gain.

• Kim on passion: “Steve Jobs showed us that passion is everything. You can’t create something meaningful unless you truly care about it, and that’s true for photography too.”

6. The Idea of ‘Thinking Different’

Steve Jobs’ mantra “Think Different” resonates with Eric Kim’s approach to photography and creativity. Kim frequently encourages his readers to break away from conventional norms, challenge themselves to see the world from different perspectives, and not be afraid to forge their own path.

• Kim on thinking different: “Steve Jobs taught us to think differently. Whether you’re a photographer or any kind of creator, don’t be afraid to go against the grain. True innovation comes from stepping out of your comfort zone.”

7. Pursuit of Excellence

Steve Jobs had a relentless drive for excellence, never settling for anything less than the best. Kim, too, promotes this idea in his teachings, urging photographers to continuously improve, refine their craft, and strive for greatness in their work.

• Kim on excellence: “Like Steve Jobs, we should never be satisfied with mediocrity. Always push yourself to create something that you can be proud of—something that stands the test of time.”

In Summary:

Eric Kim is inspired by Steve Jobs’ focus on simplicity, innovation, attention to detail, and user experience, which he applies to his photography and life philosophy. Just as Jobs revolutionized product design and technology, Kim encourages photographers and creatives to break boundaries, pursue passion, and focus on meaningful, lasting work.

Tell me your goals, what your life goals are and I will tell you who you are.

So there is a double edged sword of goals, life goals etc. The problems here is that you could hit and achieve all of your life goals, and once that you have achieved them… Truth be told it is pretty anti-climactic. For example, even my insanely audition goal of lifting 1000 pounds, I was very very happy and pleased with it… But once again, at least to me it felt like another day at the gym. To me the difference between lifting 995 pounds, and 1000 pounds, was just a number in my mind. 

Funny thought… Numbers and round numbers, there’s this weird psychology behind it.

Example, I’m currently eyeing on purchasing some new weights because I’m maxed up my current set up. Yet for me… To pay 550 or $560 seems like too much… But to pay 500, like 450, or 490 seems much more palatable.

This is why… To charge $999, at least for the sticker price on an iPhone pro is insanely intelligent because once you break the thousand dollar mark, in the mind of people… It is almost too much. Also then intelligence of Elon… To essentially make the model 3 and Y, at least the sticker price is $29,999 a dollar under the $30,000 mark is genius. I think one of the things that I learned is that we humans are funny… We are often sucker by these superficial number differences.

Think kilograms

A big innovation I discovered while in Cambodia Asia we lifting there… Is everyone uses kilograms, not pounds. And this was the impetus to help me break beyond my mental barriers, at least when it came to traditional pounds and weights.

For example, the traditional American plate is 45 pounds… But when it comes to kilograms, the red plate is 25 kg, which is more close to about 52 pounds.

As a consequence… As an American weightlifter or powerlifters, let us see the deadlift, in which the traditional marker of strength is being able to do at least a four plate to dead lift, which is 405 pounds in total. Yet if you took the metric kilogram approach… Four plates, assuming that it was in 25 kg increments, would technically be a lot more.

Steel over iron?

This is where steel is better than iron… Steel is more expensive, but should last a lot longer than iron. And this is where I think buying calibrated steel weightlifting plates is a good idea… In theory if you keep good condition of it, you should be able to hand it down to your Kids.

And this is where things become fun… now that you have a son, or at least I do… Life is so insanely great because I’m so excited the day that I get going to weightlifting, and I could hand down my legendary Texas power squat bar to him, and also he will inherit all my weight lifting equipment and plates etc.

Think about your kids kids kids

I think this is the reason why it is difficult for people who have never had a kid or child to imagine the future. Why? If you are the typical single millennial, or let us say if you have a dog or whatever…  it is actually very difficult to think about the future. Why why? Your life strategy becomes about hedonism maximization, which is in the context of eating good sushi, traveling to Japan, etc. But like Cindy famously said… You can only go to burning man so many times. And also, you can only go to Japan so many times, and eat good or omakase sushi so many times before it loses its appeal. 

---

Just learned this morning that aggression means to walk towards. Or to attack.

So… Some bizarre inconsistencies here.

First, these women honking at you from behind, atop their armored vehicles, these tank-like Mercedes-Benz AMG G wagons, or some sort of high-powered BMW or Mercedes SUV.

The first problem here is that a woman, assuming that you’re a formidable man, would never ever ever bark at you in real life, face-to-face.

Typically, women are much smaller and weaker than men. If you stand next to the average woman face-to-face, assuming that you’re 6 foot tall, a weightlifter, and she is maybe the average 5 foot two, maybe 5 foot five, even on the tall end, 5 foot eight… She will be no match for you.

Issues with vehicles

I could say I’m typically much happier, walking in on the streets, rather than driving or in a vehicle. Why?

The first primary issue of vehicles is that any midget in a lifted F150 raptor can try to bully you. And this goes with almost any single car out there… I do find a low-key experience on the road… because I have a white Prius in LA– people try to bully bully with their pussy vehicles?

You cannot add inches to your height or frame, but you can lift your truck. 

Another bad thing I have observed, more in Orange County… Being on the road, even the fast Lane, I am driving 80 mph, which is technically above the speed limit, and I am in the fast lane, and then these losers in these lifted trucks, are tailgating me super hard from behind… Trying to go 120 mph or something… Will try to punk me by tailgating me, highbeaming me, honking at me, or trying to cut me off?

 The first issue here is that I think the mentality of a bully is that we get a small power boost joy from honking around and bullying other people. And this is where a lot of modern day society is bad because assuming you’re living somewhere in which everyone is stuck in vehicles all day… It is actually very dehumanizing. it is difficult to know whether somebody else has a toddler in the back, or who knows, their parents are in the hospital whatever.

And also… Something else I discovered a big issue is that a lot of people have vehicles with limo tints. As a consequence, you cannot make eye to eye contact with them, and they tried to hide behind their vehicles, acting like assholes, trying to shield themselves from any sort of social repercussions.

Once again, the critical issue here is that if somebody’s behind you, and you are in a car… And they start honking at you or hiding you or whatever… There is technically nothing you could do to fight back. Unless you have a high powered horn mounted on the trunk of your car, facing reverse, or even better yet, some sort of high-powered LED light bar on the back of your car, shining reverse.

I prefer the minimalist approach, so I probably wouldn’t bother and waste my time installing all this actual equipment on my car, but if I did… That would be a simple solution: install one of those “HELLA” I heard horns on the back of your car, facing backwards, so if some asshole tries to honk at you or pull you around… You can fight back.

I also think that is the ethos of mafia dons, they never ever ever sit at a restaurant with their back turned. and also, this is ultimately something I discovered about people who parked their automobile cars backwards… It is more of a stunt because the front of your car is almost like the front of your face, and the rear of your car is almost like your butt. Or your back. As a consequence… If you park in reverse, and have the front facing outward… You are technically in a more dominant position.

Your testosterone levels and your vehicle? 

Buying a searching car won’t make your dick size bigger, nor will it increase your testosterone. The only way to increase your testosterone is through intermittent fasting, 100% carnivore diet… Or better yet, try experimenting with 100% or meat diet. Beef liver, beef heart, beef lungs, beef kidney, beef tongue etc.  Pro tip, if you ever go to an LED Korean barbecue restaurant, make sure you max out on the Oregon meats, the beef tongue, the beef liver, the beef intestines, etc. These are just natural steroids for you.

 Once again, if I could tell you  with 100% veracity, 100% truth, 100% logical in scientific fact that consuming more beef liver, which is the most prized of all organ meats, especially for wolves and carnivores…  would actually boost your testosterone by 1000 X, naturally… Which would make you sleep better, feel better, wake up brighter and with more energy and with more vigor, make your muscles bigger and more jacked and more wool, reduce your body fat percentage, increase your attractiveness to beautiful women, make you more confident around beautiful women and men… Wouldn’t you do it?

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Everybody lacks confidence

OK, unveiling some truths here. Most guys are wimpy.

I’ll get some examples… Count to what you see in the NFL, professional sports etc.… Most guys are actually pretty short, wimpy, chicken legs etc. Even the bodybuilders are quite wimpy. And also a lot of them are actually very short, maybe 5 foot six, 5 foot seven?

Not only that, but in Hollywood, all these guys is here on the big screen… First of all they are mostly on steroids and the juice, and most of them in real life actually don’t really have big legs. You’ll never see a Chris Hemsworth or a Henry Cavill lifting 1000 pounds on the squat rack like Eric Kim — so this is where I feel grand; I don’t even think Arnold Schwarzenegger in his prime could’ve done it, maybe Ronnie Coleman would have been able to do it… I don’t think John Cena, Vin Diesel, even Rambo could’ve done it.

ERIC KIM IS THE NEW GOAT?

Human disruption

OK, the biggest issue here is that all these Tech nerds try to disrupt in terms of technology. But how many of them try to disrupt in terms of the human body?

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Commoditized aggression

Once again, some bizarre things.

First, aggression, battle, the lust for blood and war, I think is natural for human beings. Especially men. Perhaps only men?

How does this get commoditized? Through video games, through American football, sports, movies, UFC MMA etc. 

Outsourcing your manliness?

Once again, to any low testosterone man, who is watching American baseball or sports or whatever… What is really happening here? I have a theory… Essentially you’re outsourcing or crowdsourcing your testosterone. Which means:

As I see other manly men, doing high-powered manly things on the field, I myself feel a surge of testosterone and manliness? 

VR POV porn?

Come on… If you’re going to drop $3700 on an apple Vision Pro, most likely you’re a guy or a man… And I can almost guarantee you… If you’ve done it or not or probably curious, to try out virtual reality point of view porn.

Apparently there’s also this movie called hardcore Henry that my friend Alexander Morgan told me, which is also shot, all POV, point of view. 

So when it comes to video games, like shooting games, counterstrike call of duty etc.… Note it is always done from your own POV. And I still will never ever ever forget the first time I saw that Nike POV commercial, shot from the perspective of the pro aspiring pro football player… How gangsta it was.

Even when I think about my most viral videos on YouTube… They were all my POV videos, especially the street photography POV videos. Why? I think for a lot of bystanders, or sideline observers, everyone is curious about how it actually looks like to do street photography, in the flesh. This is maybe having some sort of GoPro mounted to your chest, and just showing people the behind-the-scenes street photography, how is done, how the sausage is being made, is good. 

Because ultimately, we want to feel like we are in the driver seat. For example, when you see the guy driving the Lamborghini, what you visualize in your mind is you yourself sitting in the Lamborghini, being the driver, being the active driver! We could care less about the other guy, we care more about the car, and Fantasize about ourselves being the front line driver.

Also, I think the whole appeal of point of view, virtual reality porn is that once again, you’re able to bang all these beautiful babes, while having you as the hero, the point person?

Character building & development

And also let us consider, if you’re playing Diablo or some sort of video game, your building your own character, and that character is you! Diablo unlike maybe Final Fantasy or something, is unique because you’re only building one solo character, not a whole squadron. 

Your own body is the ultimate platform

My thought is the reason why we have such a contentious relationship with our human body is because most of us are raised to abnegate the body. Almost all religions, schools of thought.

Even in Confucian, east Asian culture… It is all about the virtues of the mind, and scholarly education… Not bodily. This is why you don’t see that many Asian guys in the NFL or the NBA… They are probably being forced by their parents to practice piano or study math at Kumon, rather than pursue professional sports. 

Also… A simple thought… Haven’t you noticed that there are zero women in the NFL or in professional American football? Even if you gave the woman all the steroids in the world?

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I bought every V12 engine wish I could take it back to the beginning - JAY Z

Last night, this morning, playing around with the new ChatGPT 1o– and read the blog post on it on the open AI website, and the thought which was interesting… Taking things back to first principles, taking it back to the beginning.

So the first thing that is super interesting about the new ChatGPT model is that it scores much higher, in math science and really really advanced things like coding. And what it does which is interesting is that it spends more time thinking, before spitting out a response. 

Applied to humans

When I was going super super deep into philosophy, around 2017, 2018… I penned an essay titled “Why Think?”. Some people thought it was a ridiculous idea, but… It might be the most critical one in modern day times.

First thought: one can only think while walking, in the outdoors, experiencing gravity, reality, friction, changes in temperature humidity etc.

Also, one cannot think while being sedentary on one’s butt.

Butt thoughts

Let us consider… No great thought has arisen from a butt. Great thoughts can only arise from legs. 

The cult of sitting has been around since ancient Greek times, it was typically seen as an honor thing; you would sit, or others would sit around you, when it came to the king, the gods, processions etc. To sit was more of a social, sociological thing.

But now… Things are really weird. It does seem that nowadays, there seems to be a stronger connection between making money, and sitting on your butt. Typically, the more and the longer you sit on your butt, is correlated with how much money you will earn. 

For example, the modern day programmer, either sitting on their butt all day, or maybe standing all day, or a little bit less worse… Standing walking treadmill while programming. But I think a lot of people have a hard time walking and programming at the same time — I think most people need to be sedentary, or at least not moving to be productive.

Or let us consider… What is being sold to us? I figure it out… A Lamborghini Ferrari Porsche McLaren or whatever… are for weaklings, wimps,  and typically skinny fat or fat people, or Shorty guys.

Let us consider, the greatest position for a man to be in is standing. Not sitting.

For example, I am pretty tall, around 5 foot 11. And now that I wear my 60 pound weight vest every morning, my posture has also improved. As a consequence having a greater posture, I actually appear to be taller, more dominant.

Also, I find that women don’t like it when I stand next to them because they see how much taller, stronger, or dominant and powerful I am than them. Same goes with men. Especially the shorty guys. 

In fact, whenever someone says some thing which is unpleasant to me, the simple strategy is to take a step towards them, just like how we linebackers do it in American football.

When in doubt, take a step forward! (The first thing I learned playing linebacker, middle linebacker in high school, sophomore and junior year).

The reason why this is so unnatural is that typically, when it comes to natural things… You take a step back. For example if you’re playing football… And you’re on defense and the other side the ball, and the place starts… You have all these raging hormone teenage boys, full of muscle and armor padding, coming at you… The natural response is actually too kind of take a step back and run away. But we had to first learn as a technique, as middle linebacker, even when you thought that they were going for a pass, to always take a step forward, and then take a step back later.

Why this is such a good idea 

I almost wonder… When it comes to uncertainty or doubt, it always makes sense to take a step closer to people.
First, vision. Maybe if you’re too far away, you might have just seen something incorrectly. You might have mis-seen the situation, and you might just need a simpler look. 

For example, I have myopia, a.k.a. I need to wear glasses. Without my glasses I can’t see anything. I’m blind as a bat.

Therefore as a consequence, I almost wonder if we should take this metaphor to real life. That is, in real life we also have myopia of reality in general. That we cannot really understand it until we are there very very close, face-to-face. 

my favorite entertainment

Something that I learned how to do, especially now that myself confidence is out of control… Is when I’m at the gym or I see people weightlifting… I’ll get super super close to them, and watch them go for their powerlifting, one rep maximum lift.

And I will compliment guys, and also help hype them up.

This is very interesting because truth be told… Nobody ever guesses that I am essentially a demigod and strength, that I have gone viral twice over, at golds gym and Venice Beach, and also I think those are random video of me lifting seven plates on, which also went viral, which got millions of views, unbeknownst to me.  after that video went viral, all these people started to see me differently at the gym, a little bit shocked and amazed that me, and also a little bit intimidated of me?

Anyways, one of the guys told me what my Instagram was, that I should capitalize on all these views. I told him I didn’t have Instagram I was not interested. I suppose this is the upside of becoming already super super famous in a different domain, street photography and photography in general. And I suppose this is the upside:

Trust no weightlifter, power lifter, athlete fitness person who is on Instagram TikTok or social media, even YouTube.

Why? The critical issue here is that if your weightlifting numbers or your physique or whatever is correlated to likes on social media, then… Sooner or later, said individual will try to maximize this by taking steroids or other weird stuff.

Also, even worse as people who get sponsored… Now you become a slave to the sponsored brand because now your performance your body your physique your numbers have some sort of potential money making scheme attached to it. 

Don’t be jealous

I also suppose I am really really intelligent and wise now, because now at the age of 36, being married and having a beautiful child, probably the most wonderful child of all time, I don’t really have nothing to prove to anybody anymore.

I’ve reached all the hallmarks of modern day success, fame, riches, wealth, money, traveling the planet and the globe, mastering the physical domain (lifting over 10 plates at the gym, my thousand pound atlas lift), getting an insanely jacked physique and 6 pack (more recently being here in LA, my glorious full body tan, gleaming and bronze), and pretty much everything.

Anyways, now I suppose the grand upside is I could really really now, just speak frankly, without any fear, or concern about anything.

How ERIC KIM became “uncancellable”

First, I mentally retired in 2017, when I realized that I would never run out of money. Living in Hanoi, $320 a month for rent, and eating out all my meals and just drinking coffee all day… Maybe paying $500 a month, between Cindy and I? and even our passive income surpassing that. 

Second big realization, quitting email. Essentially realizing that almost 0 fiduciary opportunities or things ever came from email. Like literally. The only way I ever have made money, via workshops with the Internet was through my own imperative… Planning and conducting my own workshops, etc. And also creating and promoting and selling my own haptic industries products. With Cindy.

Why sponsorships are a scam

 Reminiscing with Cindy… Thinking about our 20s, essentially the problem of being in your 20s even 30s, is everyone is trying to chase some sort of legitimacy.

“ I’ve been awoken from a enlightened man stream checking Instagram comments to crowdsource my self-esteem” – Kanye West

The reason why me deleting my Instagram in 2017 with 65,000 followers was the most influential photographer thing of all time is that I had the intelligence and the wisdom  that this was a trap!

Real courage, real balls?

I think maybe the most courageous thing you could do as an individual in two days world is when you have a certain ethical feeling or idea… To be able to sacrifice potential money fame power and influence, in order to follow your own gut, and what you believe in?  And also more specifically… What you don’t believe in? 

“I’m so anti-I’m so I’m so anti-” – Cyhi da Prynce

Very interesting… You can better get to know people based on what they are anti rather than what they are for.

For example, let us say that you’re doing a dating profile or whatever… ask people what they are not for, rather than what they are for. 

Your anti preferences, or your pet peeves. Also… When it comes to rules and regulations, don’t ask people what you should do, ask people what you should not do, the NASSIM TALEB via negativa principle.

Are you permitted to be anti anymore? 

I almost feel like in today’s world, it takes more courage to be anti something, rather than for something. To be anti mainstream — or anti mainstream thoughts take much courage.

The soft idea I have is that whenever it comes to any sort of rhetoric, which seems to be pretty popular or universal, always choose and opt for what is less standard. 

Do you have the courage or the right to be anti-something?

For example, am I permitted to anti plants? Or anti dogs? Or anti hormone therapy beyond the life or death situations? Or am I allowed to be anti sex changing via hormonal therapy?

People tell you to keep an open mind for yourself, to be different etc … , and to be open minded until you don’t?

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Some thoughts this morning: specifically, about art. 

This past weekend, just did a quick trip down to San Diego, La Jolla, and had the insane privilege of staying by a beachfront hotel, La Jolla Shores highly recommended, and the first thing I did in the morning was just drink a cuppa coffee in the little kitchenette, and then went on a walk on the beach.

The funny thing about growing up in the bay areas that we don’t have any beaches… Even in Alameda where our group as a kid, the beach was disgusting and super dirty. As a consequence, I never owned a pair of flip-flops in my life, and I think I only started wearing shorts about two years ago, at the age of 34? Now living in Los Angeles, where the weather is good.

Anyways, at this strange version that I don’t like to dip my toes into the sand, because the feeling of sand in between my toes is unfamiliar and I don’t really like it. But I said F it…  if Cindy showed out the big bucks to get the shorefeont hotel, it is only right to milk activities of walking on the beach, specifically, dipping my toes into the ocean.

So I took off my vibram 5 finger shoes, and just proceeded to walk along the beach, dipping my legs and feet into the warm ocean water, which I was very surprised… It felt like a lovely 72° in the water, almost as nice if not nicer than Hawaii.

Looking into the ocean, was pretty astounding. The feeling was great because if you look into the ocean, it goes on forever. To infinity and beyond.

And some meditations that I had about the ocean and water was that no matter what, the ocean is instantly tireless. It keeps on waving, crashing and waving, due to the earths pull of gravity, maybe the moon in the solar system whatever,  day in and day out. Even in someways it is more virtuous than the sun, which sets at night.

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All art everything

Almost everything can be understood in the context of art. Music as art for our ears, cinema at least the good ones, as art for our eyes, and bodybuilding as an art form for the human body, assuming that you’re not taking steroids, and even in someways… Weightlifting powerlifting uplifting at the gym whatever… Should be seen as performance, performance arts! Why? I think I am probably the most entertaining person in the flesh, because I’m the only entertainer who doesn’t drink alcohol smoke weed or do drugs… Also fast all day, and also lift over 1000 pounds, could lift easily lift over 10 plates at the gym. 

Also, am I the only one I know who doesn’t use email? Certainly I’m probably the only millennial that I know, also Cindy… Who is not on Instagram or social media. Even today I saw Cindy‘s mom installed TikTok on her phone and she is almost 70 years old.

Anyways, the reason why I think this is so important is that everything is art. Even my friend Brandon Phan is currently building an art car, which is like an old-school BMW, with a modern day M3 engine. He is doing all the work himself.

Anyways the reason why I feel all this is interesting, even Andy Warhol, Roy Lichtenstein did these art car projects. And if you really really think about super super rich people… sooner or later they just get into art. Is it because they have nothing else to spend their money on? Or are they bored? Or are they seeking beauty, beyond themselves?

Old & beauty

It seems the strange trade off we do is a bit bizarre; we trade our health, our well-being, ultimately for more and more money, only to become old, impotent, solely catching dementia, Alzheimer’s, which is type three diabetes, a lifestyle issue, and on top of all that… Trying to still experience beauty, but through material things and objects.

For example, one thing I always love to do as a deep curiosity is whenever I see people driving certain cars, my number one interest in curiosity, is always driving up, or walking close, and peering into the driver seat, to see who is driving the car.

Tell me what you drive, and I will tell you who you are.

 And also, I find this really fascinating living in Los Angeles because in LA, you are your car, and your car is you. And this is where people are superficial, fake, and inauthentic…  if you were truly wise, you would just drive a Toyota Prius, which is the best car made of all time. Specifically the 2010 model… The new new Prius is also very cool, I just saw one in Culver City with a Matt Black wrap on it, and I thought it was super gangsta.… Yet,  always 100% the issue of purchasing any brand new automobile car is that you’re probably going to take a 30 to 40% haircut on it, the first three years to four years of the car. The second you drive it off the lot, you’re probably taking a 15% to 20% haircut on it as well. and I’m starting to think more and more… Am I the only one who could think about money wisely, not foolishly?

Economic wisdom

Once again, don’t trust any economist who doesn’t drive a Toyota Prius.  

The virtues of the Toyota Prius–

First, longevity. The 2010 model, I am still so shocked… It is the year 2024, and the car has held up so insanely well! Both in terms of style, design, and the overall ethos of it.

Even a critique on the new 2023 Prius model — the new new Prius, the one that looks like a Porsche 911 from behind, the primary issue here is the rear doorhandles, which is integrated into the rearview mirror, is unpainted, this really really ugly black plastic, insanely cheap looking… And even it is so bad that Prius drivers have to put sticker in the back tell me Uber customers where to pull the doorhandle, because the average human being has no idea how to open up the rear doorhandles. Very very bad design choice from Toyota, because they should have not compromised here: why would they shave off the doorhandles on the back, but keep them on the front? They should have gotten all or nothing; keep all the doorhandles normal, which might have been the better idea for a Prius because most Prius drivers are also Uber drivers, or they should’ve just went full tilt  and shaved off all of the doorhandles, to make it super super flush, like the Tesla cars.

In fact, I think cyber truck is a good example of the most modern advanced futuristic design. My short term prediction is you’ll see the next generation of Tesla cars looking more like a mini cyber truck ; assuming that most people always have their phone in the front pocket, the ideal is as you approach your car, the driver side door, or even the rear passenger door or even the rear trunk, you should be able to program your Tesla that is automatically open the door, without having to be like a soccer mom who kicks underneath the Toyota sienna minivan to have the automatic liftgate open from behind.

I even saw this one Baris thing, this one mom with a new Mercedes electric SUV car, trying to open up her kids rear passenger door, by kicking underneath the door, trying at three or five times and eventually giving up.

Also I suppose the upside is that maybe I am the only millennial I know who hates the phone.  to me, iPhone is only good for FaceTime and GPS driving directions. Maybe also good for two factor authentication, but besides this, iPhone sucks. This is where I still think it is a wise idea to just buy the cheapest iPhone, and I also suppose the upside of having a removable Sim card tray, because when you’re in Southeast Asia Vietnam etc.… It is so much easier to just buy a cheap $10 Sim card, and pop it in, rather than having to fudge around with all that eSIM nonsense.

Also, one of the insane great things about the 2010 Prius is that I could just turn off my iPhone, put it into the glove compartment, close it, and then just keep my Prius key fob in my front pocket, zip it up, And go 100% phone free when I’m playing with Seneca at the park, in order not to get distracted. Whereas I think if you have a Tesla car, you always have to have your phone with you, or else your car will perpetually stay unlocked, if you just keep your iPhone in the glove compartment? I suppose you could just do the Tesla valet key thing in your front pocket, but that just seems like too much work.

Also, Tesla auto pilot, the technology works very well but after testing the issue is especially if you have sensitive passengers in the car , it kind of makes you carsick.  Test driving a Tesla model Y and just using the basic cruise control, where it automatically keeps the distance in between you and the car in front of you… Was far too jerky, giving Cindy car sickness.  and I always remind myself, if I ever ever ever get a new car for any reason, it might be some sort of used Lexus hybrid LS car, the maximum not carsick car, for the sake of Cindy. 

Real successful people or smart People Just drive a Lexus LS? 

If you’re going to blow close to $100,000 on a car… The only logical strategy is to buy a Lexus LS,  ideally I used one, two or three years old, in all white, and ideally a hybrid… So you don’t have to fill up the gas as often.

Why a Lexus LS car,? The supreme comfort, once again… Not making your passengers carsick, and also one of the big issues about being in a car for a long period of time is that it gives your passengers a lot of fatigue, you as a driver, and also the shotgun passenger. And also maybe your kids?

Even though I love Elon Musk and Tesla to death… I don’t really personally would ever want one. The first thought is you could support somebody without purchasing the thing. For example, you could be up Elon Musk fanboy, and just drive a Toyota Prius. Even Elon Musk, famous Saturday Night Live sketch, he started off by joking that high my name is Elon and I drive a Toyota Prius. If anything, if anything, I have a funny idea about icebreakers for adults, especially people from LA… Tell them to introduce themselves, and tell them to share with everyone what car they drive, or what their dream car is . The truth is in LA, your car is everything. Maybe even more important than your home? 

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The new elitism

Another weird thing about America, in America… Everyone wants to be elite, yet, we obfuscate it where are these fake façades? Long story short, people are very disingenuous.

For example, it is considered bad manners to ask people what they drive because it puts them in a certain social class, for example if you drive an old Mitsubishi Lancer, you’re probably going to be seen as more poor than somebody who’s driving the brand new AMG G wagon. 

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No physical health, no curiosity? 

Right now some quick thoughts: first… it seems that curiosity, curiosity is best when it is strong, unabated, antifragile.

Second thought… It seems that if you don’t have physical strength, insanely great strength, strength and vigor… you cannot be curious. Why? Assuming that you only slept two hours last night, or feel like shit… my theory is that the pathways for curiosity are shut off. 

First, you need an over abundance of health. Therefore, my personal suggestion is almost all a limits of your life should be optimized to promote your Max well-being health strength bigger muscle sleep rest recovery healing etc.

How to heal yourself 

So in video games, you’re playing Final Fantasy, any RPG, MMORPG, role-play game etc.… What it seems that is that who is the most important character? Not the champion or the hero on the front line… But actually… The healer.

Truth be told, nobody wants to be the healer. It is kind of a thankless job, but also at the same time, the most critical job. Why?

Let us say that you’re doing a big boss battle, whether you are doing it by yourself or in a party. If you don’t have a healer… Even if you’re the best fighter… You will not win.

Also very interesting… even in the Iliad, when you’re thinking about the dramas and battles which are unfolding, the number one critical thing is when the heroes get injured. For example, deus, Ajax, king Egon, etc. Even getting a small spear wound to the knee or the shoulder is pretty destroying, because it reduces your lethality in battle.

In fact, what is really interesting is that even the gods get wounded. And feel pain. And this is such a radically big idea, because even though that the gods are immortal, which means that they are not immortals, what it means is that God could feel pain, God could get wounded, yet… They just cannot die.

For example, I think there are certain moments in which Achilles or some of the other gods end up spearing Aries, Athena, some of the other gods and goddesses and as a consequence feel deep pain, and injury. And pain and suffering is not stopped until Zeus, Send some sort of magic healer, and then longer feel pain.

Pain?

Obviously no one likes to be in pain. Yet… I think Paine is one of the most intelligent things that we got in our body which does not lie. If you are in Paine, it don’t matter what your theory is… Obviously something is wrong or you’re doing something wrong.

Example… plantar Fasciitis, foot pain, ankle pain the pain back pain whatever. I think the primary issues and problems are our shoes, the way we work on computer desktop or laptops or sitting or even standing whatever… Essentially all the plantar fasciitis foot pains experiment with all those stupid $500 overpriced orthotics etc., and literally none of my foot pain went away until I got the view from five finger shoes, and then boom, almost magically all of my foot pain ankle pain the pain went away! And for a long time, I stopped wearing them because I just thought they looked weird and I felt ashamed to wear them in public. But now I could care less… I am a demigod in the flesh.  I don’t know any other human being in real life in embodied reality looks as great and glorious as I do. Even the most jacked guys… They end up having chicken legs. 

I’m the biggest goat?

Body elitism

OK, a funny thought:

Technically, body elitism is very democratic. Why? You don’t matter who you are, your age you’re sex or gender racial background whatever… Anyone can build a elite body, assuming that you lift heavyweights,  fast, do intermittent fasting, hundred percent carnivore diet, you quit alcohol smoking weed starches sugars drugs, sugars, real sugars fake sugars etc.

And it is so simple and straightforward — I literally got the key right here!

1. Never eat breakfast for dinner, hard-core interment fasting… Actually is not even that hard… It’s like I have been doing Ramadan every single day for the last seven years. And I can still drink black coffee and drink water! People who do real Ramadan… 1 trillion times more difficult because they are not even permitted to drink water during Ramadan? And obviously… Anyone who thinks that you will die if you don’t eat breakfast or lunch, and you fast until sundown is obviously wrong because there are millions of people who Participate in fasting, during Ramadan all around the world, and obviously nobody’s dying here.
2. 100% carnivore diet: no no no you’re not gonna die and get a heart attack. You’re only gonna get a heart attack and die from type two diabetes, or type three diabetes (alzheimers disease), which is a metabolic disease which is caused by over consumption of sugars, sweets, snacks, desserts, cookies pastries, fake sugar real sugar, dairy, real dairy fake dairy etc.
3. Just quit alcohol and all drugs. Even the good ones. The only drugs you should consume is maybe 100% black coffee, just drink fine robusta– ERIC KIM OMAKASE COFFEE, or get some from CREO–. Or better yet… Don’t drink any coffee. I actually met this one guy Christopher, who doesn’t drink, doesn’t smoke, smoke weed, doesn’t even drink coffee! So much respect.
4. Quit beer, wine, even red wine… No no no, Reservatrol is not “good for you”– this is just some fake pseudoscience, which was essentially paid by these greedy vitamin making corporations, akin to Amway… or also it is fake science which just tries to make all these fat old people feel less bad about being alcoholics, or trying to feel good about their degenerate lifestyles? Just think… Have you ever met an academic or a scholar or an important literary person who doesn’t drink alcohol not even red wine?

How society is bad

It is all drugs. Your iPhone is the most potent drug, social media Instagram Facebook TikTok, YouTube, Hulu, Spotify podcast… All of them are drugs. Drugs for your mind, drugs your body, drugs for your soul etc.

Why is this a big issue?

First and foremost, what is the number one critical ill in modern Society? Sleep. Most people that I meet… Tend to go to sleep anywhere between midnight and maybe even 3 AM. This is really bad. Technically the popper time to do things is maybe Break your fast and eat an insanely massive 100% carnivore dinner, 3 to 4 pounds of beef, maybe throw some bone marrow ribs and organ meats like beef liver in there. Apparently even lamb liver is really good, you can get them at local Halal markets.

> Don’t buy the lamb (Lamborghini), eat the lamb!

For example, we went to Ranch 99, one of the local Asian Chinese supermarkets, and got a bunch of bone marrow that’s already prepackaged, sliced, and frozen… Which makes for really really good bone marrow, you could just throw it frozen in the air fryer for about 30 minutes on full blast, and boom, you got Liquid steroids for yourself, your kids, your family!

In fact, pro tip for any new parent, what is the one thing you should be optimizing for your kids health? Bone marrow. It is not a choking hazard, it is like steroids in yogurt form. It is literally might be the most nutritious and nutrition dense thing that you could feed your kid, to have them grow, become strong and big, etc.

Feed your kid like Achilles

Currently reading the Emily Wilson translation of the Iliad, and essentially what I want to do is feed myself and Seneca as if he and me and we were Achilles.

Assuming I am Achilles, and Achilles had a son… Seneca, how would we all look like? How and what would we eat, how would we eat, how would we train, what would be our life ethos Telos and desired outcome? 

First, maybe the best idea is to train as if you are training for battle, for war.

Your armor is a 60 pound weight vest, whenever your training just keep it on because even apparently the armor of Achilles we in between 100 to 150 pounds, and the average weight of armor for a Greek hop light was maybe in the range of 70 to 60 pounds. So even a 60 pound weight is quite  modest… I’m kind of thinking of trying to buy or procure or maybe create or innovate an even heavier weight vest.

And some simple exercises you could do… Very easy, if you assume that you’re 6 pound weight vest is almost like your ancient Greek armor, and you’re Achilles… How would you train? 

First, always trained with the 60 pound weight vest on because certainly if you’re going to be training like you’re actually going to go to war or battle… Imagine Achilles with his brand new suit of armor and shield ready for battle… You want to train with your armor on! Let us assume that you were an operator, swat team, delta force, a ranger, etc– a door kicker etc ,,,, how would you train?

And assuming that we’re not using any pussy guns here. In fact, I love John Wick to death, and Keanu Reeves… But if I was Chad, and I am directing the new John Wick six or whatever… I would put Keanu Reeves on a 100% diet, Feed him nothing but beef liver, beef, beef kidney, beef lungs, bone marrow, and Wagyu short ribs… Had him lift her very very heavyweights, ERIC KIM hype lifting style, atlas lift, rack full, dead lift, dead lift walk, squat walk whatever… And have him do his thing.

What happened to muscle?

What are my pride was as a kid growing up, even to college and beyond was my muscle. I did not have techniques or skill, but I had muscle, I had strength, I had courage, I had my ego, and I had my muscles.

For me, in my mind I saw myself like a Shaquille O’Neal when playing basketball… I would always play center, because nobody could out muscle me, and also my legs are so insanely strong… I don’t know anybody with stronger legs than I do. Somebody who could lift over 1000 pounds, over 10 plates on the squad rack, and assuming they are not one of those fats steroid guys on the strongman competitions, come get at me.

Anyways, one thing I liked about playing basketball was that most of these guys who played basketball, they are skinny, too wimpy, etc. Even the most dominant player in the NBA… LeBron James, it looks like he could eat more red meat, and lift heavier weights. He almost looks a little bit too green, not muscular and big enough. I would love to see another Dwight Howard, or Shaquille O’Neal, or ideally hybrid between Yao Ming and Shaquille O’Neal… This would be my ideal aesthetic.

… The problem is that there is this notion in sports science that somehow have bigger muscles make you slower, weaker, whatever? And I think 99.9% of sports science is pseudoscience at best… As long as people still talk about “calories“, or “burning calories… There are a bunch of fools. You cannot burn a calorie. That’s not how human metabolism works.  even my PhD friends who graduated in biology do not understand this.

As long as you see somebody with an Apple Watch fitness tracker or whatever… They are fools. And actually, shame on you Apple… You know that these metrics are all fake. Why do you give them to people still?

Once again, all these fat people who into running, my simple solution is just give everybody a 60 pound weight, give them a pair of shoes, and have them just walk, this is 1 trillion times more effective than running, which is maybe the most useless exercise on the planet. And causes the most injuries, waste time and money, is hateful, nobody likes to run, not even runners. The only virtuous thing is sprinting… Maybe 50 m, Usain Bolt status.

Back to the topic at hand

Anyways the reason why I care about this and so passion about this is that actually… If you really think about it, your health your sleep your physiological energy power is one quadrillion times more important than your iPhone. For example, I would easily say that it is more virtuous to spend $1000 or $1200 on beef ribs, bone marrow, beef liver heart beef kidneys, organ meat etc.…

And I also have a new experimental idea, maybe I’ll experiment this with myself. A 100% organ meat diet, only beef liver beef hard beef kidneys, bone marrow etc. 

I’ll keep you updated. 

The mountain 

I suppose the goal is to become like Hafthor, obviously without the steroids. 

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The desired end, the desired goal

OK, I think I got it figured out guys.

The secret of happiness is your kid, your children, having kids etc. The supreme joy and the happiness in life is to have a son, assuming you’re a man, at least one male heir. If you do not have a son, you cannot birth an Achilles.

Let us to say that your first kid, is and by happens to be a boy a man a male… If this is the case, consider yourself infinitely blessed times 1 trillion… After this point, life is all upside no downside.

And if you don’t have any boys, let us say that you’re family with five girls etc.… And the joy is that your daughters is going to have kids of their own… And as long as you birth at least one grandson, you should be fine.

I would actually say the greatest tragedy in life is if you’re 90 years old on your deathbed, no children, no wife, no grandchildren, no great grandchildren etc.,,, the ultimate cruelty in life.  

You cannot leave your dog your bitcoin.

Goals

In context of fitness and exercise and training… Maybe the best and most intelligence strategy is to train for battle, to train for war.

Last year, when I was trying to figure out my whole off the grid gym concept, I went on a buying spree, buying a bunch of different weightlifting equipment, functional fitness stuff, etc. 

Some interesting things I discovered was the rickshaw farmers walk carry dead lift concept, as well as farmers carry handles, because even though you cannot lift as much like doing one rep Max, on a barbell… It becomes a different type of exercise, which is less about increasing your numbers, but maybe, engaging different parts of your body that typically are not engaged?

Girl

In the ilia… The way that the men taught each other is calling each other little girls.

First, we should not call women girls… This is insanely denigrating. You would not call Hera a girl.

Second, ultimately, when it comes to human beings, it is a binary: do you have a penis and testicles, or do you have cavernous vagina? 

I was actually thinking about it, what is unique about having a little boy, and also… Never circumcise your kid, even if you’re Catholic or Jewish … it is essentially genitalia male mutilation for boys. A boy, a man, a male has a penis that sticks outside, and balls and testicles which also stick outside.

A female has a slit, and all of her sexual organs are on the inside.

That technically because we are all women I think when we are born… I think randomly, the way that genetics works is that the ovaries can turn into testicles? And the clitoris is just like a really tiny penis? Not 100% sure, but something like that.

Anyways, just think about the obvious reality: if you have sexual organs would look 1 trillion times different, one is on the outside and one is on the inside, certainly this is going to change your hormones, your physiology, the way you look and feel, Etc.?

Another example… The way that women ululate fat in their hips their butt their back, is patently different than men. Even if you are a very very fit woman, assume you do CrossFit, and you try to do all the gender androgynous stuff whatever, you chop your hair to look like a boy, you dress like a boy or a guy or whatever… Sooner or later, even assuming that you’re 100% ball, button in the flash, you could see within half a second whether somebody is a man or a woman. and obviously, no hormone therapy. Hormone therapy might be the worst thing on the planet, assuming that it is not a life or that situation. Yes yes yes, get steroids if you have HIV aids or whatever, and also, I think medicine, even psychiatric medicine, is good and virtuous if people are literally about to kill themselves, but beyond this, we should take more hands off natural approach, via negativa, none of this ”interventionalista” approach (NASSIM TALEB Antifragile idea). Some intervention is good, like wise interventions. But what should be avoided is naïve intervention, which is bad. 

Thoughts of the future

I am a huge ChatGPT, AI proponent. And actually what is very interesting is that my thought is the future of writing, creativity art, prose poetry etc. is more random, more ratchet, less standard.

For example, if you want to use perfect New York Times, Oxford English, ChatGPT will destroy you 1000 times over. Or if you want typical academic scholarly talk, ChatGPT could do that far better than you can. It can pretend to be Hayek, or any constipated childless French philosopher thinker you want it to be.

I am the next Steve Jobs

OK, time to get my Steve Jobs on:

Ideas for Apple, I know you’re reading this (Eric [at] erickim.com)

First, good idea on creating a “quick draw“ option on the iPhone, it looks like you listened to my idea. 

Second, the next evolution of photographic styles is also good, I think this is also where you listen to me, having a little bit more flexibility when it comes to adding grain, new image aesthetics to the photos etc.

Streamlined thoughts

Ok Apple, you got a big opportunity here with the future of ChatGPT, AI, etc. Don’t mess this up.

First, do not call it Apple Intelligence, what you need to do is just give Siri a facelift, or a boob job or a butt job, or just think of Siri on steroids.

You’re starting to confuse people, even myself. The question:

What’s the difference between apple intelligence and Siri?

Nobody knows, not even the Apple marketing team!

The image playground for Apple Intelligence sucks

I think you should just ask it. The images look really really bad and ugly. Nobody cares about a disco pigeon… It is even worse than a novelty.

Merging with ChatGPT is a good idea

In fact, the really intelligent strategy would be to just take your chest, and see if you could purchase ChatGPT, open AI etc. If you can’t beat them, Buy them.

Focus on the product not the humans 

OK, I saw the new iPhone Pro commercial in the marketing page with the weekend, it was so insanely lame. First, the weekend, it was bad for him… It shows that he is just another skinny fat guy, who doesn’t actually look at handsome or impressive in real life.

Second, that really lame visual of the tiny umbrella on an iPhone Pro, shooting a music video? Don’t try to fool people — nobody in their right mind will ever try to shoot any really really serious video on an iPhone or iPhone Pro. It is like a really bad gimmick. 

What people really really want for their iPhone is a stronger a better camera, with better image quality. The new camera control thing, it really makes no sense to me… And upgrading the ultra wide lens was a good idea, but don’t try to do the marketing language that an iPhone is somehow like a DSLR or DSLR replacement. Why? First and Foremost… Nobody uses digital SLE cameras anymore, – it seems that all real working professionals are probably using some sort of Sony A7 camera, maybe a red dragon camera for video, or like an aria camera. and hobbyist photographers are shooting with  a Fujifilm X 100 camera, a Ricoh GR camera, or a Leica M or a Leica Q camera.

So, who is the iPhone, iPhone Pro four? Essentially your mom, or maybe Gen Z or millennial? Or like my friend Soren Zhane says, “Zillenial?”

Now what?

Big idea: how to store value without a trusted intermediary? 

One of the issues with batteries, electric cars, Teslas… You cannot store the value, store the energy! It will slowly bleed. I suppose one of the upside of having a Prius, is the gasoline will sit in your car, and not lose value or energy or power.

Also… If you think about MPG is like maintenance cost… Then he or she becomes the richest, is basically predicated on the fact of here who has the lowest maintenance costs.

the secret of becoming rich 

OK, now with my net worth with Cindy and Seneca over 1M, 1.2M and beyond… I suppose now I can say I am a “millionaire“. Yet the irony:

I haven’t bought myself anything in almost 5 years.

The only thing I purchased recently about a year ago was my infamous Texas power squat bar,  fully worth it, about $500 USD I think including shipping.  this is what allowed me to lift my infamous atlas lift, to visualize this imagine the power squat rack with 10 plates on each side, with a 25 pounder and a five strapped on.

Think plates, not poundage or numbers 

Also as this random small aside… Do not think and consider Official numbers, better to think and consider how many plates you could lift. I think we human beings deal better with visuals, rather than arbitrary numbers like how many pounds it weigh or whatever. For example you could tell somebody you could lift 1000 pounds, but that notion is almost too abstract and difficult to decipher. Easier to say that I could lift over 10 plates — my next goal, to lift 11 plates, or 12 plates and beyond?

I suppose the reason why this is so interesting to me is because also I think if we think about bitcoin… Already now… You can measure your wealth by how many bitcoin you own. Casual conversation: how many bitcoin do you own right now? Are you buying bitcoin yet?

For example, do you have one bitcoin, two bitcoin, three bitcoin, five bitcoin, 10 bitcoin? 15 bitcoin, 16 bitcoin, 20 bitcoin, 22 bitcoin? Etc.?

Back to getting rich

My simple thought is now and nowadays, essentially what richness is is how many bitcoin you own? Bitcoin is the first and only real new true money, all other money is fake. This includes the US dollar, which is not real money.

Retention

There is an interesting new trend called “semen retention”– essentially the best idea is

How long can you conserve your spunk?

To me this is a really fasting idea because the biggest issue that a lot of people have is they are always blowing their load far too frequently, I can personally attest to this when all is in my teenage puberty years, my 20s, etc.

The problem is you have all these raging hormones, and rather than channeling that energy power testosterone and seminal power into sports, weightlifting, physical activity and combat…  brother, we expelled it needlessly, by jerking off to porn.

Certainly better to jerk off to porn then get some random girl pregnant. Or catch an STD or an STI. Yet, if you’re an adult, in your 20s, beyond your 20s… Certainly once you hit your 30s… Then, I think to maintain your masculinity, to maintain and conserve your semen is a good idea. Only Conserve your semen for your wife, nothing else.

Money retention

Also, this is the funny irony: 

Everyone wants to have $1 million in the bank or their checking account, in order to purchase the Lamborghini, the Bugatti, whatever.

But the question is: let us say you have 1.2 M saved up, then, do you mean legal out and buy the Bugatti? No! You conserve that money, you buy bitcoin and you grow that money!

The second that you spend your $1.2 million on a $1.2 million car, now you’re checking account or your balance become $0.00. And now you can’t even afford to pay for gas on it nor can you even pay your insurance on it, let alone for oil changes.

So the irony here is actually… Thought the most strategy is to just buy the Prius, or better yet, get it for free 99!

Never buy a car that cost more than $2500 USD

I would actually say one of my critical get rich abilities was never spending more than $2500 USD on a car.  And I am 36 years old, born in 1988.

Tell me what you drive and I will tell you who you are.

Even a funny thing… I see that a lot of guys who work at dealerships… For example my beloved Toyota Culver City dealership… Most of the guys don’t actually even drive a Toyota? Oh she was funny… Always walk by it, and then I ask them…  what car do you think I drive… One of the kids Kai said he thought maybe I drove a Porsche 911,  which I appreciate it… Because cars are essentially an ethos or concept, not the car itself.

He drives a Lambo.

Now, i’m just going to joke and lie… And ask people when they think I drive what… I’ll just tell them that I drive a Hurucan Tecnica or a Hurucan Sterraro. Because honestly… Maybe currently that is my soul car. It is actually very very surprising to me, I don’t actually really like the Hurrican that much, but frankly speaking… The allure of the scissor doors aren’t really that interesting to me anymore? It just kind of a gimmick, if you think about the original Kouch, which wow was made in the 70s… I think 1974? Funny enough seeing the blog post on it by Lamborghini, it looks so ahead of its time, but now in the year 2024, why is all the design so basic and lame?

The ultimate flex?

If you’re rich, why would you not drive a Lamborghini? Honestly even though I am critical of the Lamborghini is still probably the coolest car.

Or better yet… Drive a Prius, and have your body look like a Lamborghini? This is the true and ultimate flex. 

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Think MPG, maintenance cost, insurance.

I’m currently watching some Michael Saylor videos on bitcoin as digital gold, the whole innovation behind it etc. Also philosophies on becoming rich etc.

What is the quickest way to get poor?  purchase a Ferrari, which after 3 years… You’re going to eat at least $1 million of maintenance fees.  After that it is probably a yacht, in which you will eat the maintenance cost after just three years.

Ultimate Granger of a Prius, especially the 2010 edition… It literally almost cost nothing to maintain it. All you gotta do is change the oil, and you’re good!

And also, then PG is on it is so good, I’m probably not spending more than $38 a month on gas. And Insurance is so so cheap, you could just get the cheapest liability insurance, because if you scratch your car, somebody hits it or whatever, it’s not really a big deal.

And also… The whole annoying thing about anxiety. For example, I’m pretty sure if I had the Lamborghini, there’d be a bunch of stupid kids scratching penises into my car, or trying to stand on top of my car and pose with it etc.  or the anxiety of a random grandma who parks next to my car scratching my car etc.

Bird poop on your rolls Royce

So there is this really nice park I like to go to with Seneca, the Holmby Hills park and playground.  I think I once saw Jimmy Iovine walking around there.  Essentially, it is probably the ultimate rich people park, the record-breaking $150 million mansion is right across the street. And I think Hugh Hefner used to have his historic Playboy mansion in Holby Hills.  

Anyways, it is a super super nice park, and whenever I take Seneca there… To find parking next to it is always a clutch thing. Unfortunately, my 2010 Prius is barely small enough to actually fit inside of it well. And whenever I park my Prius and find a parking spot, thank god, and I am not worried about birds pooping on my car, or getting leaves stuck on it or whatever… I am so grateful.

Even though I love cyber, I am so grateful that I don’t actually own one, because once again, the whole parking thing! Once again, I think cyber truck is more of a state of mind thing,  and an attitude and a concept… Not actually the cybertruck itself. 

And also, this is the whole Lamborghini thing. It ain’t really about the Lamborghini itself… Rather it is the attitude around it.

Smile!

What costs nothing,  yeah it gives you everything? Super simple, smiling! Smiling a beautiful woman, smiling at kids, smiling at guys, handsome guys whatever.

I think this is the weird thing, for myself… I love all beautiful human beings. When people look dark morose and emo and unwell… They automatically turn me off.

I love beautiful women, I love beautiful men, I love everybody! I especially love children because they are so pure, uncorrupted by society… Since Seneca is not yet in school, he is once again totally un corrupted, and pure! I love this.

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Back to money

Now that I’m rich and could essentially afford anything… Ironically enough more more of my gut feeling is towards creative constraints.

For example, growing up poor, given that you have enough wisdom, might be the biggest blessing. Why? When you you have too much money, do you often become lazy and you’re thinking, and also… You become less innovative.

For example, if Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak was not so scrappy, just building apple computers in Steve’s parents garage, Apple might not be the apple that we know today. I am sure that even IVM at the time, even though they were throwing millions of dollars at research and development, they could never match the genius of Steve Jobs.

Also what a lot of people don’t know about Elon Musk, is how insanely scrappy he was. He essentially lived like a homeless person, the first 5 to 10 years of his entrepreneurial endeavor. And even now… He lives a quite ascetic lifestyle, I think he just rents a two bed Bath apartment or structure or mobile thing somewhere in Austin?  
So me… Just think, creative constraints. Do not spend money on stuff is actually more manly, more Spartan and more than to just piss away money even though you can!

ERIC

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