Month: June 2022

My aspiration for Seneca — what I desire him to become.

What do we have a personal responsibility to protect people from “bad ideas“?

Striving towards physical perfection:

GOPRO might be the most under-rated camera (video camera, still camera) or extracting screenshots out there:

Dear friends, a thought on my mind: the importance of physiology in photography.

What is physiology?

The concept of physiology is kind of a more old-school one, which is falling a little bit out of vogue in more recent times. Nowadays, the bias in the trend is towards “mental health“, nobody focuses on physical health.

Basically physiology has to deal with the human body, anything that deals with your body.

Why the importance of physiology and photography?

The reason why this is important: without a body you cannot go out in photograph. Let us consider, you need your legs to move yourself around, your arms move the camera, and your eyes see. Let us also consider that the more physically fit you are, certainly this will make you a more fit photographer. Especially in the realm of Street photography, being able to quickly sprint for a photo opportunity, rely on your toes, and be quick.

Let us also consider that with physiology, you need physical strength and endurance to go on photograph. Ideally, the ideal street photographer would be able to walk 30,000 steps a day, without any fatigue.

How to make yourself a more adept photographer

Perhaps the best way to become a better photographer is to train your body to become stronger, to become a better photographer.

Some thoughts:

1. Get into heavy deadlifts and squats. Attempt a one rep max every week, for your sumo deadlift or your squat.
2. Get some Vibram five finger shoes. I like the EL-X model. Why the toe shoes? Because it allows you to walk more, with less fatigue, more naturally.
3. Make doing active stuff your leisure. For example, if you have option to go on a date, instead of just going to a restaurant, where you’re sitting on your butt for two hours and just eating, maybe it is better to go on a walk, going hike, etc.
4. If you’re going to also have a meeting, do a walking meeting. This is what Steve Jobs loved to do.
5. For your morning coffee, or whenever you want a coffee, maybe it is good idea to not make coffee at home. Instead, force yourself to walk, to a local coffee shop, or the closest coffee shop to you, even if the coffee is not great.
6. Conserve your energy. For us men, my theory — perhaps conserving your spunk is a good idea. Maybe the superstition of boxer is not having sex the night before is a good one. Because would you blow your load before attempting a one-rep max deadlift? Probably not.
7. SunExposureTherapy. I have more physiological energy, and also my health is better, and my skin is better, when I spend maximal time outdoors, topless, in the direct sun. No sunblock, just let yourself tan naturally.
8. For your work, or your computer work, try to do as much of it outdoors as possible. Either in the direct sun, outdoors in the open shade, or at the local coffee shop. Don’t work at home.
9. Become more social. One of my theories on why it is essential to be social is this: when your social interaction with somebody, do you have to activate some sort of physiological energy in order to engage with them. And also the way the other people respond to you and vice versa releases some hormones. For example, let us say that you talk with a beautiful woman, and assume you’re a straight male, certainly your physiology and your hormonal response will be different than if you just stayed at home.
10. Make real life and embodied reality your entertainment: if you’re bored at home, instead of just watching a movie or Netflix, go to the local pub, coffee shop, club, dance place, etc. Now that we’re all vaccinated, it seems that we can resume life back to normal.

Food

I think food is actually the most underrated piece of the equation. We almost all act as if food is all about calories and macros, rather than the chemical composition of it, and also how it changes your hormones.

For example, the bodily physiological response you get from eating 1000 calories of a ribeye steak is very different from the hormonal response to get from eating 1000 calories of table sugar.

Also a funny thing I learned and observed in my workshops: whenever I teach a photography workshop, and we break for lunch, it seems that the shooting that the students do after lunch is a lot more low energy. Why? People get food coma after eating lunch. Especially when they consume a lot of foods which spike insulin, like simple carbs, sugar, etc.

For myself personally, after much experimentation I realize that I’m the same after breakfast for lunch. This is why I stopped eating breakfast and lunch, and instead, just drink water and black coffee. This has given me a lot more physiological energy throughout the day, and it seems that my body is now trained that I don’t actually really get hungry until dinner time anymore. Not having to waste time eating breakfast and lunch, is a huge advantage.

Also, some thing you could experiment with is eating more beef liver and beef heart. It is common knowledge that predators prefer to eat first the organ meats, and leave the lean flesh meat for the vultures. What is this? Organ meats have the highest nutrition density, even when compared to flesh meat.

Whenever I eat a lot of beef liver, or organ meat for dinner, I sleep very very well, and I wake up the next day with much more energy.

More photography workout ideas

1. Try to do as many push-ups at home as possible, then just go on a walk around the block with your camera, and see what photos you can shoot.
2. When you go to the gym, walk, and just shoot the photos you see along the way. Also, after you get a quick pump from the gym, and you’re walking home, see if this allows you to see more photo opportunities.
3. My friend Dana Barsuhn did this — he offered to shoot photos for his local CrossFit gym, an exchange for free membership. This seems like a great idea: you could double dip. There is something very engaging about photographing athletes in motion, and also by having a free gym membership, you yourself become more fit.
4. Look at more sports and athlete photography: I recently saw a photography book dedicated athlete and sports, and the dynamism of humans in motion was very very inspiring. Even Richard Avedon would dance with his models when he photographed them.
5. Get into boxing: it seems that boxers, who are light on their feet, would make great photographers, especially Street photographers.
6. Do dance photography: photograph dancers, or breakdance. The ultimate kinetic art of bodies in motion. Also, when we see people in motion, it actually motivates us to move our bodies as well. This is why whenever you see other people dancing, you yourself want to boogie.

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Things you can do today:

1. Build your own website portfolio: register a domain on the bluehost.com, and install WordPress.org. Then create your portfolio of your best 10 photos of all time.
2. Book a flight, or an Airbnb to a place that you want to go and photograph. It is always good to have something in the books.
3. Upload a photo to arsbeta.com in which you desire constructive criticism on.
4. Have a conversation with WHY APP? on why you make photos.
5. Delete instagram.

Don’t become ‘happier’, but more physiologically powerful.

PODCAST

Cooking, prepping, slicing, meat might be my new passion?

Perhaps good coffee and an espresso machine is the best use of your money:

PODCAST

The way we exaggerate things is more fun and interesting.

The best way to get fresh air, and also a good tan:

Upon much thinking and reflection, the realization:

Happiness is not the goal of life, nor should ‘increasing your happiness’ be the goal.

Perhaps a better goal is rather power augmentation. Increasing your physiological power, your physical power (one rep max ability in the gym), and your artistic power output.

Not how much money you have, but how much time you have to kill.

What is it that we desire and aspire too? To become more beautiful. Whether man or woman.

Tons of fun with the new Nomad Sculpt app for iPad — also works for iPhone!

There are not lots of pieces of technology or things that I love, but one of them which I really do love is the iPad Pro. It blows my mind how much I could get done on it, while the battery life is so amazing. Even after an intense session with it, I still have tons of battery to spare. This is great because it makes me feel more free, it makes me feel like I could do more, with less concern.

For example, some things I can do on it: review my photos and flag my favorites, while being in the outdoors direct sun, write and blog with it using Siri voice dictate, vlog with it, using the Ultra Wide selfie Vlog front facing camera, send photos of Seneca to my family and friends via iMessage on the iPad, send email newsletters, use iA Writer to write, and even do some 3-D modeling (Nomad sculpt).

And also because the new iPad Pro has the M series processor, it can do a lot. For example, I could do intensive computing on it, while still doing screen record.

Shout out to the iPad and iPad Pro team: Steve Jobs would be proud.

I say: if you’re interested in iPad Pro, just buy it. If you don’t like it, just return it.

If you want to upgrade your stuff, consider, the best “upgrade” isn’t something that is necessarily more powerful or capable, yet something that is lighter. For example, upgrading your iPhone to an iPhone mini is actually an upgrade, getting an iPhone Pro which is heavier is a downgrade.

When you want to purchase new things, new clothes, new shoes, etc., the best thing to read in the technical specifications is the product weight.

He ironically with coffee: I’ve discovered the best upgrade for a coffee cup or coffee mug is the lightest one.

My interest and passion in titanium

One of the pieces of technology which has certainly served me best for my prescription eyeglasses. Without them I literally cannot see anything. My current lenses are the most expensive ”Crizal” branded prescription lenses that I got while in Mexico City, and they opted for the most expensive, thinnest, and lightest lenses. Also the titanium frame LINDBERG glasses frames that I got while in Mumbai India almost a decade ago have still held up well. The best thing I tell people when I show them my glasses is it to tell people to observe how light they are. Heavy is bad.

What should Apple engineers be doing?

I say instead of making computers more powerful, honestly, most people don’t need all that computing power, is to make the devices lighter, and thinner. How is it that almost a decade after Steve Jobs has died, the MacBook Air hasn’t got any thinner or lighter?

Don’t be a quantified slave.

Something to consider: sometimes technology makes us stronger, sometimes it makes us weaker.

The question is: when is when? How can we maximize the upside to technology, while clipping the downside?

The first thought is this: who owns the technology? For example, I’m very suspicious of Gmail. I think Google has low-key engineered it to become very addicting. Every time you pull it down to reload your emails, you’re like running a slot machine. If you ever find yourself mindlessly refreshing your email while waiting for the bathroom, waiting for the elevator, while in the elevator, or somewhere random where you know that you haven’t gotten the emails, note that. As a good antidote, when you register your own website domain, just make your own self hosted email. And check your email via Apple mail app on your laptop.

I trust Apple more than I trust Google. Why? What Apple is trying to do is trap you in her ecosystem, to have you continually purchase Apple products. Whereas Google‘s purpose is for you to stay addicted to their products, and services, and always be distracted and clicking on stuff.

Noise canceling technology might be the best technology

The reason I’m really passionate about noise canceling headphones is this: it is the ultimate via negativa technology. I like the idea of technology which removes noise, removes annoyances, and remove distractions. For example, the best piece of technology on a computer is probably your ad blocker. And your tracker blockers.

Also, something I observed is that the biggest problem people have while driving is texting while driving, being distracted by the phone while driving, changing music or podcasts while driving, etc. Therefore ironically enough, perhaps the safest option for you to do in terms of a car isn’t to get a car with more sensors, but a car with fewer sensors. For example, getting a 90s or 2000s car without any LCD screens, or back up cameras. Ironically enough, I think this might breed for a better driving and more focus. And paying attention more. Also a manual transmission car, so you could be 100% focused on driving.

Even the other day I saw an older guy with a Tesla model S, with a huge mark on the side. I asked him how he got it, and he said that he changed lanes without checking the sensors first. Perhaps it would be more important for him to just be more aware of the road.

Technology that makes you more mobile versus technology that makes you more sedentary

Even as I write this, I’m outside in the direct sun, enjoying my morning cup of coffee, with the morning sun against my topless back. Also, I’m writing this whole thing via Apple keyboard voice dictation. The reason I love writing or jotting down my thoughts on iPad instead of my laptop is that allows me to move around more, and also stand upright, and also be outdoors. As much as I love my laptop, it breeds for more static behavior. Even doing a standing desk is very static, not as bad as sitting, but not great either.

An interesting piece of technology I found is the idea of having a standing desk and a treadmill. However, I’ve still discovered that it is superior to be able to move omni-directionally, with an iPad on stable ground, where I dictate my moving and walking speed. Also, ability to compute while being in the direct sun, instead of depressing indoors , without natural light.

The point isn’t to become more productive, the point is to become healthier and stronger

For the most part in today’s world, productivity is a slave mentality. For example, if you judge your own personal worth based on how productive you are, consider yourself as a qualified slave.

A simple thought: think if your technology actually motivates you to move more, or become healthier. And no, I do not think an Apple Watch will motivate you to walk more. Maybe, a passion and the lust for photography is good; because it motivates you to move more. Also, being greedy for the gains motivates you to go to the gym and move more.

The best shoes

Shoes are also a technology for your feet. I have discovered that the Vibram five fingers, the EL-X model has actually positively helped me walk around more, move more, enjoy walking more, with more energy and less fatigue. Not those stupid Hoka shoes with huge foam cushioning, nor any Nike or Adidas foam shoes. Getting running shoes with a ton of foam is like getting a condom with huge foam padding. We want more sensation, not less.

Similarly speaking, when you’re going for one rep max deadlift or squat, the ideal is to do it barefoot. After that, just wearing socks, or a zero drop, shoe like the Vibram five fingers. Or something similar. For example, when I deadlifted 475 pounds, I just did it in socks.

I love the outdoor grill

Even more recently, I’ve discovered that one of my new favorite pieces of technology is the outdoor grill, as it allows me to cook more meat, faster, more efficiently, better, with greater taste and char.

Even back in Providence days, I loved my slow cooker. Any piece of technology which allows you to cook more meat and consume more meat is good.

Perhaps the key on becoming stronger has to do with resistance. Both physical, mental, and metaphorical.

What is the best environment for your kid to grow up in?

And personally speaking, after spending time with Seneca in the city, traveling, and in the suburbs (where there are literally no sidewalks), i’ve been thinking about what the best environment is for him to grow up in.

It actually seems that Seneca is most stimulated by the city, urban environments, or even bohemian neighborhoods. Also, he loves living nomadically, being in transit, being an airplanes, trains, and on the move.

What is he dislike? Staying at home all day. He does enjoy running around the house a little bit, but he would prefer to spend 90% of his time outdoors, and maybe 10% of his time indoors. Just like me.

A dynamic environment is the best environment

Beef liver and beef heart over the new iPhone Pro.

Endless Costco Business Center ribs and brisket over Tesla.

All you can eat Korean BBQ over that new outfit.

My photo work is my passion:

Not where I am “happiest“, but most productive?

Something fun I learned about CrossFit: this notion of WOD, which stands for a workout of the day. Maybe we photographer should also have the same concept: photography workout of the day.

Some ideas:

1. Record yourself at the gym: just use your iPhone, Ricoh GR 3, or gopro to record your workout. Then when you go home, review the footage on your laptop, and just do screenshots of things you find interesting about your work out.
2. Photograph your morning routine: photograph your morning coffee, your espresso machine, either shoot videos or photos. Even a fun thing: do you slow Mo of your espresso machine on your camera or your iPhone, and have fun with it.
3. Do a fun quick photo portrait session with a friend: just spend a day, or half-day, or even 15 minutes with a friend just doing a quick photo portrait session with them. Shoot in your style, and just do it for free. Tell them that they could use it as their profile picture, for social media, Tinder, etc.
4. Anti-workout: block all photography gear websites from your browsers. Download extensions for either chrome or Safari or Firefox to block certain websites which you check impulsively, for example gear review websites, camera rumor websites, etc.
5. Just do a quick walk around the block; it can literally take five minutes; just do a quick loop around the block, leave your phone at home, and leave your headphones at home. Just take along your digital camera, and loop around the block and just make photos of anything interesting you see. Even if you shoot one photo on a quick loop around the block, you have succeeded.
6. Upload a photo to arsbeta.com, and also give at least one constructive critique to another photo on the website
7. Start a blog: the easiest way is to just start a blog right now with wordpress.com. Or, if you’re feeling more adventurous, register your domain website on bluehost.com, install wordpress.org, and just publish your first blog post as your favorite image. Know that blogs do not need words; just photos is good enough.
8. Uninstall all social media apps from your phone: uninstall Instagram, Facebook, Gmail, Snapchat, TikTok, and YouTube from your phone. If you really want to use these websites, just do it from your laptop.
9. Shoot selfies of yourself: start an ongoing selfie project of yourself, and just try to shoot artsy selfies of yourself. Photograph your shadow, your reflection, yourself in a puddle of water, in the mirror, etc. The more egotistical you could become, the better.
10. Glitch your photos: pay for and download and install the Procreate app on your iPad or iPhone, and experiment with glitching your photos. Attempt the chromatic aberration filter, the glitch filter, and have fun with it. Strive to destroy your photos in an artistic and creative way.

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If you’re a man, it seems wise to strive to become more manly. But what does this mean?

To past philosophers, they called it becoming more “virtuous” (virtus meaning “man”.) But funny enough, nowadays it seems that the trend is to strive towards manliness is not really a desired goal. We are trying to teach men that masculinity is “toxic“, and that instead of striving to become more manly, or masculine, we should strive to become more “compassionate“, empathetic, “inclusive“, etc.

Ultimately it comes to a philosophical code of ethics. What is philosophy? The closest answer that Nietzsche came up with is the philosopher as a legislator, or a law maker of the future. In more practical terms, I see a philosopher as somebody who tells others what they “should“ do. Also what they “should not“ to do.

The tricky thing is that nobody wants to be told what to do, at least upfront. It does seem to take more energy to think for yourself.

The teacher as philosopher-educator

What is the teacher anyways? Partly an educator of basic concepts, but teachers are also philosophers, who shape the minds of children. It seems that in today’s modern society, because a lot of the parents are always working, the teachers end up having the moral responsibility of teaching kids ethics, and a code of conduct.

For example, I was born in 1988. As a kid growing up, I was taught notions of diversity, equality, open mindedness, critical thinking, the value of being unique, and different. For the most part, I actually really liked this. I’m quite happy the way I turned out. But certainly as one becomes an adult, one should start to question the codes of ethics one was raised with, and to decide to start thinking for oneself. And to start living for oneself.

Why don’t I really know any women interested in philosophy?

Cindy is probably the first woman I have ever met in my life, who was actually interested in philosophy and the meaning of life. However the big word philosophy is not thrown around. It is more about adventuring, questioning the status quo, and dreaming big.

In actuality, in today’s world, nobody really talks about philosophy. It is not something that one questions.

So two things: first of all, maybe it is a sociological thing: society does not care for women to question the status quo and society, they would prefer women to be the child readers, give birth to children, do domestic chores, etc.

But also on the other hand, society doesn’t really want men to be philosophers either. Philosophers are pretty much disobedient, unproductive folks, who refuse to be told what to do. If you think about past philosophers like Diogenes, they were kind of annoying nomadic homeless people, who would say pithy things, and just be a little bit annoying to everybody.

Also, it does seem that in order to become philosophical, or truly philosophical, there are a lot of things that one cannot have in life: a standard 9-to-5 job, dependence on money, etc. For myself, I was only able to start really thinking philosophically once I left America, and started to live abroad in Vietnam, where I realized: I will never run out of money.

If anything, a philosopher is actually the highest rank in society. A philosopher doesn’t actually need to base their opinion on first principles, they could simply state what they believe in, without having to call anybody else. It seems that the bias in today’s society is that he who is richest has the highest rank. Modern society in America valorizes really really rich people, really really rich business people, and really really rich entrepreneurs. Nobody cares for an entrepreneur who is not a billionaire.

Eat more beef liver and beef heart

Something I discovered: what is it that predators, and carnivores first eat when they kill their prey? Typically the organ meats. The liver, then the heart.

When I was in Charlottesville I discovered this really great place called “STOK”. They stocked this fresh organic beef liver, and it was probably one of the best things I have ever eaten in my life. I just pan fried it on a hot temperature on the skillet, and topped it with Dijon mustard and hot sauce, and what I discovered: beef liver has one of the highest concentrations of cholesterol, which is a natural steroid. My theory is this: the more cholesterol one eats, the more they boost their testosterone. And what is the difference between man and women? A man has testes, while a woman does not. Testosterone means the “sterol” in one’s testes.

So from a purely hormonal perspective, the more testosterone the man has, the better. The more testosterone the man has, the more manly he is.

The tricky thing though is that we do not want strange supplements being added to our bodies. I do not consider it manly for a man to take steroids, human growth hormones, or even to unnaturally inject themselves with testosterone, or other strange growth hormones, no matter how much they say it is “natural“. The same thing comes with these strange oral supplements. No supplements at all.

Even it seems that the most “harmless” supplement is protein powder. But even with protein powder, they stuff it with all of the strange external vitamins and things which nobody has any idea what it is. I say, just see how strong and manly you can become, purely eating meat, drinking black coffee without any sugar or white stuff added, and meat.

Manliness towards what ends?

The question is: what is the point of becoming more manly? Some thoughts:

First of all, it is to become a protector, avenger, or defender of yourself, your family, and that what you believe in. On a basic level, to protect your wife or spouse, your kids, your family, your friends, your local community, your nation, or whatever else you believe in. I find it very interesting that ultimately, all of the weapons industries in America name themselves as being suppliers of “defense”. Just like Tony Stark said in the first Iron Man movie: offense is the best defense. or think about it: America calls it the department of defense, not the department of offense.

From a philosophical stoic model, first do no harm to your wife or spouse, and no harm to your kids, and your inner circle. To refrain from pettiness is the first supreme task of a man.

Secondly, it is to resist what society tells what you should do, what you shouldn’t do, what you should say, and what you shouldn’t say.

What is it that Diogenes said is the supreme good in life? Freedom of thought, and freedom of speech. To be able to say what one believes in or thinks, without fear of being told that one is being “politically incorrect“, or “unwoke”.

For example what I noticed in modern society is this: it is no longer permitted for a man to strive to become more “manly”. Man is not encouraged nor permitted to consume more meat, become louder, more audacious, etc. Perhaps this is why everyone is so interested or obsessed with Kanye West: how reckless and audacious he is and what he says, and even though people hate him, they actually secretly are fanatical about him. And obsessed with him.

Physical courage

One of the things I really like about South Korea, and Singapore is that men are required to enter military service for at least two or three years. It is a very interesting thing, because no matter what your rank is in society, you’re putting the same footing. For example, my friends in Singapore told me how even there really really really really rich friends end up becoming like common foot soldiers, when they enter the Singaporean military service. Same thing in South Korea: one learns to live in basic “simulated poverty“ for a little bit, and at least do basic military duties. One is stripped of leisure and luxury and comfort, at least for two or three years. I think it is good because it is probably something that binds men together.

The interesting thing is in America, we are all about our freedom to have guns, etc. Yet there seems to be a strange asymmetry; if our nation allows people to own guns, shouldn’t we also require for people to enter the military service, or at least do some basic ROTC training in high school?

Anyways, because America does not force mandatory military service on their citizens, it seems maybe a better strategy is more practical: test your physical courage. To me it seems the best way to do this is through powerlifting: to attempt one rep max deadlifts, squats, etc.

Why? I trust no philosopher for who doesn’t deadlift. Why? One could talk all they want about metaphysics, etc., but if one has not truly tested the limits of their physical strength, one does not have deep courage. There is a difference of courage in terms of physical attempts and physical strength, and courage for one’s mind.

Also, I trust no philosopher who is either vegetarian or vegan. Why? I actually do not think it is healthy for philosophers to become to obsessed about ethics. Especially ethics around animal eating, “animal rights “, etc.

For example, let us just think about the animal kingdom. Who do you consider more “manly“— The carnivorous male lion, or the herbivore male cow?

Also, whenever you watch a Marvel superhero film, when you take a look at Superman, Thor, and these other manly male superheroes, what do they physically look like? Of course, very tall, handsome, and full of physical muscles. There is no marvel superhero that looks like Bill Gates.

Other thoughts

I also consider it very unmanly for a man to become “hangry”. A man should learn how to deal with hunger, through self training: intermittent fasting by not eating breakfast or lunch, and when breaking one’s fast, to eat a shitload of meat in the evenings.

And also, what helps one’s physiology? Spending more time outdoors, in the direct sun, with your shirt off, getting a nice tan. I think a lot of people would benefit by just spending more time outdoors, and getting more melanin from the sun.

Ignoring the opinions of others

I like the notion of being open minded. But also, at a certain point, it is a good idea to be close minded. For example, I’m very close minded about racism, and I think this is a good thing.

But this is the bias of modern society:

Think different! No… not like that!!

Or how Barbara Kruger said it—

“How dare you not be me!!”

On a very basic perspective, whenever people tell me stuff, I smile, nod my head, and take their thoughts and opinions for consideration. But ultimately, I am the filter, and it is within my power to decide whether I want to integrate that idea into my life or not. I think this is the problem: when people get angry for not “listening“ to you, what they are actually angry about is for you not to obey them. Once again, there’s a difference between listening to somebody and obeying them.

When you listen to somebody, you lend an open ear to what they have to say, and consider it. But, you are not behelden to obey them.

Much of modern day consumerism is all about man trying to become more masculine

Why is it that all these guys want a Lamborghini? Because, in modern society, a Lamborghini is still considered the apex masculine vehicle. It is the most audacious, loud, aggressive, and ego driven car there is. Even though the Tesla model S Plaid is certainly the superior and better car, honestly, if I could only own one car for myself, not considering my family, etc., it would still probably be an all black matte black Lamborghini Aventador with scissor doors. Because, there is no stronger flex than having scissor doors, or what they call “Lambo doors, that swing “Up like this”! We want the drama, and theatrical nature.

For example, if you search YouTube for my Tabu Shabu meat eating challenge, people like a show. My favorite part is once I finish the challenge, taking off my shirt, standing on top of the chair and swinging around. Theater drama and going a little bit berserk is considered more manly, than being quiet, passive and meek, with AirPods on, staring at your phone.

Spend more time with your shirt off

It seems that the trend is that women wear with less and less clothing. Even when going to the gym, it seems that the standard attire is for women to wear sports bras, and short short booty shorts, which essentially show nothing. I think one of the benefits of being man is that you are legally permitted to walk around outdoors in public without your shirt on.

Speedo?

Also another thought: I like that bodybuilders enter competitions with speedo‘s. Why? It should be a greater flex for a man to have insanely muscular legs, and thighs, and lower body than upper body. I actually think that it looks hilarious when you see a super buff guy with chicken legs. This is why a lot of guys like to wear long shorts, or jeans, with a tank top on. Actually, it would probably be more masculine for men to go to the gym with very very short short shorts, instead of striving to wear the most revealing top. My thought on the ideal gym attire: very very short shorts, and perhaps a T-shirt on top, or even a long sleeve on top. Go reverse: reveal more of your legs, but cover up more of your upper body.

I really like gay male fashion

I haven’t really seen any male fashion in a long time that I liked. But actually ironically the most fun thing I discovered was this store called ”Ruff”— which is essentially a gay male lifestyle brand. The clothing is very revealing, fun, flamboyant, and interesting. Also, maybe really really masculine men wear Lululemon. I have yet seen somebody who is super super buff, who could deadlift over 500 pounds wear Lululemon. As a fun idea:

Perhaps in order to become more masculine, one should strive to become more feminine.

Isn’t it funny that in modern society, gay men are permitted to be loud and flamboyant, whereas straight men are not allowed to?

It is up to you

Ultimately, you craft your own table of values. You craft your own ideal for yourself. I say this: just strive to become your ideal, and just share your thoughts and findings with others.

The goal isn’t for you to convince others to become you, but rather, in striving to become yourself, while being transparent about your process.

ERIC

Go to the gym less frequently, get angry or erupt leas frequently, blow your load less frequently (conserve your mojo!!)

How much can you skqwaaaaaat bro?

I don’t want any bugs. I want it to be insanely solid and stable and reliable.

Don’t own any physical possessions. All I own is crypto. The ultimate etherial lightness.

No car, no home. All of my fiat currency just goes into buying meat.

What if being different, looking different, and owning different things were overrated?

Perhaps a better goal to just just focus on our courage, and pursuing our interest, rather than being too focused on being “different”.

The news is based on sensationalism in order to maximize “engagement“. Therefore, whenever you see TVs or the news on, force your eyes to look away.

Better to have a random photo associated with the thing than no photo.

Don’t concern yourself to much about the “meaning” of your life. Rather, just focus on what you consider “virtuous activity” for yourself.

We always seem to run out of a thing, at the most inconvenient moments. For example, always pack extra facemasks, we always seem to run out of them, when we most need them.

Certainly nobody should be barred from success based on their race, class, social upbringing, etc. However, the notion of “inclusivity“ is misguided. For example, not all students get into Harvard. Harvard is an exclusive institution, and maintains their rank based on exclusivity, not inclusivity.

What we should be doing instead is focusing on meritocracy: merit.

Now the tricky thing is this: certainly if you grew up in a rich family, and had access to all these SAT prep classes, etc., you’re more likely to thrive and get higher marks, rather than a kid who grew up in the hood, without present parents, etc. What should we do about this?

A simple way to think about it is ranking based on the school, rather than an overall ranking. There should be some dynamic balancing here; perhaps a kid who is valedictorian at their school in Watts or Compton should be ranked higher than a kid in the top 5% at an elite high school.

If you really need to focus, don’t record yourself

Some thing I have noticed: when I record myself at the gym, I am less focused. Also, when I attempt a new one rep max, or attempting to lift a very heavy weight, recording myself is hugely distracting and detrimental to my focus. The take away point: if supreme focus is your goal, don’t record yourself.

Also, perhaps the downside of being tracked, is that actually it just ruins our focus. When we know we are being watched, observed, looked at, or tracked, we behave differently.

Similarly speaking, I don’t like my purchases being tracked. When I know that my purchases are being tracked, I am less likely to buy the thing.

This is also the big upside of using cash. You cannot be tracked.

Perhaps this might be the big upside of crypto, crypto technologies, and cryptocurrencies: you can engage in commerce and other things without the distraction or the annoyance of being tracked.

Don’t respond.

The left foot and right foot is different. Also, the distribution of all the toes are different locations and sizes.