Something I realized: in our basic human minds, we love the idea of a buffets. But in reality, buffets are not good. Why? For example, we like the idea of having unlimited options, but the downside of buffets are that most of the options are very mediocre.

Only picanha, please.

For example, let us take Fogo de chao, one of my favorite Brazilian all you could eat barbecues buffet. Out of all of the meats, the only one I really like is picanha. All the other meats are OK, but I am always waiting for the Picanha to come. In fact, I would probably just be happiest if you gave me 5 pounds of only Picanha.

Also, if you go to the salad bar, the reason why we like the idea is that we can have the power to make our own choices, and to only select which we want, and do not like what we do not want. Also, maybe there is some sort of joy we get not having to rely on the server to get your food. To get the food yourself in a buffet seems ideal, because it is more direct. But truth be told, even if there were no salad bar, I would not mind. I am not there for the salad, I am there for the meat.

Therefore my first idea: we like buffets, because we like the idea of having a wide variety and lots of options, in order for us to choose the few or the best ones we really like. But, it isn’t choice for the sake of choice, but we want more choices in order to filter down to the best.

For example, let me take another of my favorite luxury all you can eat buffets, which is the wicked spoon in Las Vegas. Out of all the selections, the only one I really like and the only one which was memorable are the beef ribs. And also the bone marrow. But perhaps the reason why I liked all of the variety and options is that I had to taste and sample everything, before I was able to discover that in fact, beef ribs and bone marrow was my favorite. But it isn’t a wide variety of foods which I thought, but, having lots of options in order to discover what was my favorite, which was the beef ribs.

Also, before going to the buffet I did not know that Beef ribs and bone marrow was in fact my number one preference. I had to sample a lot in order to discover that preference.

Therefore in life, perhaps the purpose of having lots of options and to experiment a lot is in order for us to discover what our true preferences are, not options for the sake of options.

Why Ricoh GR is my favorite

Over the last decade plus, I’ve more or less experimented and shot with all the cameras out there, ranging from 35 mm film, medium format film, color and black-and-white film, and all forms of digital photography including full frame, crop, digital medium format, and also smartphone photography with android, iPhone, Google pixel, even the Chinese phones, etc. And I experimented with all the different forms of post processing, filters, bra versus JPEG, VSCO, etc.

And the reason why I’m so grateful that I experimented with all of the different options out there is that it led me to my ultimate preference: digital Ricoh GR with high contrast black-and-white JPEG preset. Now, I have a sense of camera zen, because I actually know what my preference is because I was able to shoot with all the cameras out there. I’m also grateful I went through my Leica rangefinder phase, because that was always the temptation. But now that I’ve done it, I know that my true preference is Ricoh over Leica.

Why do we fantasize about orgies?

“Orgy porgy” (brave New World). One of the biggest Temptations when it comes to sexual fantasies, or porn is the notion of an orgy even in the book Ready Player Two, there is a mention of a 50 person orgy. Even when it comes to the drunken cult of Dionysus or Bacchus, there are notions of drunken orgies. But what is the real appeal of an orgy anyways?

I think the appeal of an orgy is that you have a huge range of potential sexual partners, and you are able to select the one (or ones) you prefer the most. But the downside of an orgy is that truth be told, most of the people in the orgy aren’t all apex in appearance. Also, if you think about this in a biological perspective, you cannot impregnate more than one person in a given situation. You can only blow your load once. Maybe twice, but most likely the second attempt will not be able to yield in impregnation.

And beyond modern notions of sexual pleasure for the sake of sexual pleasure, in reality the purpose of the human delight in sexual activity is in order to impregnate, and bear a child.

Netflix and other streaming services are like an all you could eat media buffet

This is actually the funny irony, is that when you got too many options, you spend 90% of your energy time and effort trying to find the perfect thing to watch, instead of just watching it. Also, 99.9% of the things out there are not worth watching. Even for myself, out of the hundreds of films and shows that I watched in my whole lifetime, I could only count maybe three which has a profound impact on me: the matrix, the movie 300, and John Wick. Like the stoic philosopher Seneca one said, rather than always looking for new books to read, it is actually much more effective to re-read books you’ve already read, which I’ve had a big impact on you.

Therefore, I also say this is also true when it comes to music, TV shows, or movies. If you’re looking for inspiration or motivation, more effective to rewatch, real experience, or re-listen to your personal favorites, then looking for something new.

But obviously, one cannot only be stuck in the past, you must also attempt the new. And this is why searching for the new is so expensive, in terms of time, money, and effort, 99% of the new things have a low likelihood of being great. This is why it is good to experience the classics, because they already have been pre-filtered by the ruthless jaws of time.

As an example, let us assume that there are 100 new blockbuster films which are released this year. just because it is new doesn’t mean that it is bad. There is a chance in the likelihood that one of these films can become a classic. But, impossible to know until about 10 years later. But isn’t it just more effective to wait 10 years from now, and see which film has still lasted? Or even better yet, look at films from 10 years ago, and see which still tickle your fancy? Or better yet, look at really really old films from the past, black and white ones, which are still critically acclaimed today?

This is why longevity is such a good filter. Also, with cryptocurrency speculations, this is why I like bitcoin. It is the OG, it has been around the longest, as it was the first. And it will continue to be in existence, at least a decade or two from now.

Better to purchase individual movies, rather than watch them for free on a streaming service

One of the reasons I really like money is that it is an effective filter. If you’re willing to spend the money on something, it is really a token of what you really love and care for. For example, I only trust music which I have spent my own money on, which includes more or less all of Kanye West music. If I am not willing to spend money on it, I don’t really care for it.

Also, this is how I discovered that in reality, I do not care for cars in general, even though I made enough money on cryptocurrency to buy a brand new Lamborghini, and even a Tesla model S plaid, I didn’t. Why? In my real life, I have never spent more than $2500 US on a car, and I probably won’t. Why? My true preferences which are revealed through my use of money has shown and proven that I do not like spending a lot of money on cars, no matter how good.

This is where spending money on something actually gives me a sense of pride. If I was in fact willing to spend the money on a thing, I really did believe in it. For example, I have never spent my real life money on a Fujifilm camera, which is an indicator in assigned that in reality, I do not really care for Fujifilm cameras. However, I have spent my real life money on a digital Leica M9, a film Leica MP, Leica 35mm lens, as well as digital Ricoh GR cameras. This is why I don’t like getting stuff for free, because I am not certain whether I really care for the thing or not. But, if I spend my real life money on it, it is a badge of honor and pride for me, knowing that in fact this is my true preference. This is why it is also good to avoid sponsorships, because if you get sponsored for something and get stuff for free, you don’t know it whether you really love it or not, because it was given to you for free. Or another words, do not accept stuff for free, and also whenever possible, avoid presents. Even nowadays, the only presents that I really like are meat and coffee presents, or just cash.

Also, if you want to learn from others actually look and observe on what they spend their real life money on. Don’t ask them for the preferences, see you and witness it for yourself.

For example, rather than asking your car aficionado friends what the best car is, just look at what car they drive. Or when talking to investors, rather than asking them what to invest in, ask them what they are currently investing in. Or with cryptocurrency, don’t ask a successful cryptocurrency investor what you should buy, ask them what they currently own, and what they are currently purchasing.

Same thing with doctors, and medical advice. Do not ask your doctor for medical or health advice, if he smokes, or looks less fit than you. Also, do not trust a personal trainer, if they are not more buff than you.

“Which camera do you use 90% the time?”

Whenever a renowned photographer is doing a talk, eventually someone will ask some camera equipment question. Rather than asking them what the best camera is, maybe it is best to ask the photographer which camera they use 90% of the time. This will show one of the true preference and the revealed preference of the photographer is.