Street Photography, the reason why I find it so insanely fascinating is because of the fact that it requires insane amounts of courage. I truly believe that street photography is 99.99% courage.

Also, with street photography, it is like an adventure. To travel to foreign places is an adventure. Also, to put yourself in situations which require courage is also an adventure.

There is no end limit to photography and street photography, given that you will continue to travel intermittently for the rest of your life.

Yes! I have proven this.

Also with media, create videos and media and things which you wish you could access yourself in the past.

It seems the way that modern-day capitalism works is by making us lack self-esteem. The basic promise is this, “if you buy this, you will be happy! And self-confident!”

But in fact, what truly makes us self-confident? I think going to the gym at least once a day, weight lifting, walking around topless in the sun etc.

To walk upright, chin up, shoulders back, chest out, is a practice?

This is what makes us great photographers?

At this moment, how many people are talking about you? Whether in person, or online? It doesn’t even matter whether good or bad.

I broke the fitness Internet?

Another thought; perhaps living inside a post apocalyptic world is actually more interesting and desirable?

Funny thought ; does Sundar use google incognito mode? If so, what does he do or look at? Does Sundar look at porn?

One of my favorite things to do with Sen and myself in general, is this notion of “adventure time“. That is, anything that involves getting out of the house!

I first thing to consider is that the basic notion of adventure time is super simple; just getting your ass out of the house.

Why “adventure time“?

What is it that we desire? I think ultimately, we desire and hunger for more adventure, more escapades with danger, things to test or courage etc.

However, I think modern day life has us much more cowardly. That means, one is not permitted to be adventurous.

What is one permitted to do in modern day society? We are permitted to go to the mall and buy stuff, we are permitted to buy a new car, we are permitted to buy a house, and every once in a while we are permitted to go on vacation, or travel.

It seems that the closest thing that we got to adventure in modern day times is travel. Traveling to foreign places is the closest thing that we got to adventure. Why is this? What is an adventure anyways?

Adventure — “to arrive”. Advenio, toward + come.

I think in the general sense, adventure, towards what I think is to go towards something. Ad + venture (venture, to attempt).

“Venture” capitalist?

What is a VC, a venture capitalist? I think a venture capitalist is somebody who wants to go on some sort of metaphorical adventure, in terms of attempting to build something. If you think about it, being a venture capitalist is very very positive and optimistic. Why? It insinuates some sort of potentially very good outcome, that’s the right investment in the thing will yield a positive return!

Becoming more optimistic in life?

Currently speaking, I think America and the world is going through a weird time. There is no optimism.

For example, Joe Biden. Nobody likes Joe Biden. Not even liberal Democrats. I only voted for him because he wasn’t Donald Trump.

I am still very very confused how Joe Biden even got elected. Conspiracy theories aside, I think honestly 99.9% of people just voted for him because he wasn’t Donald Trump.

Maybe the reason why Donald Trump lost was because he caved in and also signed the stimulus bill. Maybe this was a sign of weakness?

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The future

Some optimistic thoughts:

1. Assuming that America continues to increase her debt ceiling, and also, as the US dollar inflation is getting out of control, I think there will be renewed interest in bitcoin and other crypto and crypto currencies. My personal target price for bitcoin currently in the interim is at least $100,000.
2. At least one of the good things about TikTok is that it shows that there is still room for competition with Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Snapchat, YouTube etc. Also the future of video podcast, super easy to do with anchor.fm which is currently owned by Spotify.
3. Time to go all in on Tesla: every single day, here in Southern California, I see more and more Tesla‘s on the road. It is simple; Tesla is the only electric car. All electric other cars suck. Also considering that California is going to soon been purchasing of gasoline cars in the future, everyone is going to go electric. also, consider the power of over the air updates on Tesla; as time goes on, Tesla cars will keep getting better and better. And also day by day, the Tesla super charging network continues to grow. Also, I think ultimately people want a Tesla because it is like owning the new iPhone. in fact the truth is owning a Tesla is actually more inconvenient than owning a gasoline or hybrid car, but people want a Tesla for the sexiness factor. Because objectively speaking, I personally believe the ride quality in the Tesla model three to be very poor, and even though the minimalism of the interior is beautiful and sublime, the quality of the materials actually feel very cheap. I went to a Lexus experience center recently, and I was shocked; the materials in the Lexus feel at least 1000 times or 10,000 times better than any Tesla car, even when compared to the Tesla model S and Tesla model X plaid.
4. Travel. Go to Mexico City, go to Roma Norte. Go to Phnom Penh Cambodia. Go to Hanoi Vietnam or Saigon Vietnam. Go to South Korea. Go to Seoul, and stop by and say hi to my mom in Hadong.
5. Have a kid, at least one. The funny millennial trend is towards not having kids, but owning cats or dogs instead. Why this trend? My personal theory is that people see kids, having a kid as a net negative on their life and happiness; they are afraid that having a kid will limit their freedom, ability to travel, eat good food, etc. Yet having a kid can be by far the most optimistic thing you can do. Why? having a kid is naturally optimistic; every single day they continue to grow physically and mentally, and they learn new abilities and tricks. For example, Seneca is currently only two years and three months old, and he is a genius. He already knows how to make beats on the iPhone, iPad, GarageBand on the laptop as well. And he knows how to do computer programming with swift playgrounds on the iPad and even on the laptop. I think a simple life goal, assuming that you are a man, is to have at least one boy. Then after that, all the additional kids are just upside.
6. The optimism of the gym and weightlifting. I personally believe that the upside of Jim, gym culture and gym life is that you see steady improvement and gains in the gym. For example, assuming that you go to the gym every single day, can you lift very very heavy, one rep max style, you will continue to see your muscles grow, and also your testosterone self-esteem etc. to go up. Also, assuming that you go to the gym at least once a day, even twice a day; you’re going to make new friends. And I think there is something very positive about being around other human beings, both men and women, both male and female. why? When you witness a beautiful woman, I think this increases your testosterone. Also, I think if you see other muscular men lifting heavy weights, this also increases your testosterone. Also the extreme joy of just chatting with strangers at the gym, making new friends. at worst, you can always just go to the gym and take a nap in the hot sauna, it is very rejuvenating and restorative. Also, just sign up for a local yoga membership, at a local yoga studio, whether it be CorePower or raw yoga, etc. I think being in a hot steamy and sweaty room with other human beings with hormones in the air is somehow good for us.

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Adventure with EK

1. Tomorrow is the last day for the early bird cutoff price for the all-new DOWNTOWN LA CONQUER YOUR PHOTOGRAPHY AND LIFE WORKSHOP
2. If you desire to embark on the adventure of a lifetime, join me in Saigon Vietnam this summer
3. October 14th: CONQUER THE STREETS OF PHILLY WITH ME

EK WORKSHOPS >

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The gym as an adventure

My personal theory behind weightlifting and the gym;

It is only fun and worthwhile yes there is a great deal of risk, danger, and courage required.

For example my insane 940 pound atlas lift. 99.99999% of the population has never even seen over nine plates on a bar.

Once I hit over 1000 pounds, I’ll have a little celebration. Then continue onto 1200 pounds.

I personally believe that physical danger, physical courage is the only real type of courage. Sure, we can be metaphorically courageous in regards to our thoughts, beliefs, freedom of speech etc., but I think when it comes down to it, you cannot fake physical courage at the gym.

Also the nice thought is that ultimately, it doesn’t even matter whether you can successfully lift it or not. To me, if you even have the courage and the hype and the self-confidence and the audacious insanity to even attempt it, you are a hero.

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To me, if you even have the courage and the hype and the self-confidence and the audacious insanity to even attempt it, you are a hero.

Somethings that people do not know or think; when you pay for something, you actually show pride in it.

For example, a big critique on the Newspack theme is that when you’re about to log into your WordPress admin account page, it shows you the news pack logo, not your own.

An unmarked white Prius!

Let us consider that with a lot of these police chases, 99% of the time, the final outcome is because the individual runs out of gasoline. It is not really a speed thing, but a distance game. Also a duration thing

“Adventure awaits!”

Aggressive measures or no measures.

Male desires:

More power. More dominance. This is often manifested through bodybuilding, becoming more muscular and bigger, and also, making more money?

The flex of the gods:

It don’t matter how strong they are?

It ain’t more size which we are seeking, but instead, more beauty.

Some people when they see you happy, joyful and jubilant, and they are themselves miserable, they want you to not be happy and jubilant?

One of my insane dissatisfaction with my iPhone SE is that for some reason, when I screenshot or download or save an image, it does not instantly up here in my recent’s Apple photos screen option. Why this lag?

The interesting thing when observing and studying the Farnese Hercules, his insanely muscular neck and traps. You even see the vein!

Also the insanely muscular calves— just look at the vein going through his calves into his feet!

This is my impetus to going to the gym for a one rep max? Also to be around other men and women?

A funny thing that I’ve learned at the gym; technically the most genuine people to be attracted to are the individuals who started off, in which you thought they were antagonistic to you, but in actuality, they actually admire you.

For example this one guy at the gym, at first he pissed me off when he started to randomly say something to me, but then seeing him another month or two later, I actually realize in fact, he was a hidden fan of me.

All men are trying to become more dominant and masculine. How much of it are you doing for yourself versus impressing others?

Minimalism is a flex.

For example, better to ask people if they are French, then something else.

The iPhone is very very useful to sync your notes, also voice dictation, also FaceTime.

Also, IA writer, and syncing via iCloud.

Also, to use one handed. Still then— iPhone SE or Mini is best.

The iPhone with the least weight and footprint is best!

A thought while driving; if I could externalize my own ego, my own notion of self into a car, what would it be or look like?

This is why I think the car that you drive or own, or a car that you purchased with your own money, or are currently leasing says so much about you; why? These things matter. Often people externalize their own ego, their own idealized ego and self into our car or automobile, because they lack the courage to actually play the part in real life, in embodied reality.

Lady fortune favors the strong, the brave, the insanely audacious and brave.

Why all this anti Google, anti Amazon nonsense?

Assuming that iPhone is not the future for photography, what is the point of iPhone?

Even the hilarity is that my friends who work at Apple and the people I know at Apple, they don’t even use iPhone for photography. They use Leica M, Leica SL, Ricoh GR, Sony A7-series, Hasselblad digital medium format, film cameras, even Olympus!

“Revealed preferences” or “true preferences”—

My Bitcoin (interim) price target.

‘Unruffled’ feathers. Also, the stoic sage is *unable* to be offended? Inoffensible?

For example my rack pulls… at this point (820 pounds), a lot of it is technique:

In which direction to pull the weight, to successfully lift it off the rack (safety pins) even half an inch!

Also, the technique of using your legs!

YOU ARE THE INNOVATOR!

1. When you can.
2. If you have the option, preferably sometime in late afternoon and evening, when your strength peaks! I am weaker in the morning.

The world is yours!

A good way to kill time?