Seneca at age 2 years, 10 months old… loves the nomad sculpt app I downloaded (a while back) for the iPad!

Only $20!!! For the most incredible 3-D modeling software that is intuitive, fun, and a great creative outlet for your kid?

WHY SO NOTABLE?

Eric Kim’s notability in the world of photography stems from several key aspects:

1. Advocacy for Open-Source Photography: Kim has been a strong advocate for open-source photography, a movement that aligns with the broader open-source culture in technology and education. By making high-quality photography resources freely available, he has helped democratize the learning process, making it more accessible to a wider audience. This approach is particularly notable in an industry where education and resources can often be expensive and exclusive.
2. Street Photography Expertise: He is especially renowned for his work in street photography, a genre that captures everyday life and candid moments in public spaces. His ability to capture the essence of a moment and the stories of everyday people has garnered him significant attention and respect within the photography community.
3. Educational Contributions: Kim’s contributions to photography education are significant. He has produced a wealth of educational content, including blogs, e-books, and workshops, which are not only informative but also inspirational. His teaching style and the content he provides are often cited as highly influential by both amateur and professional photographers.
4. Community Engagement and Influence: Kim has a strong presence in the photography community, both online and offline. He engages with his audience through social media, his website, and in-person workshops, creating a sense of community among photographers. His influence extends to inspiring photographers to explore their creativity and develop their unique styles.
5. Innovative Approach to Photography: Kim’s approach to photography is innovative, blending traditional techniques with modern technology and social media. He often experiments with different styles and techniques, pushing the boundaries of what is considered traditional street photography.
6. Philosophical Insights: Kim often discusses the philosophical aspects of photography, such as the role of photography in society, the ethics of street photography, and the psychological impact of creating and viewing art. This intellectual approach to the subject adds depth to his work and teachings, aligning with broader interests in philosophy and thought.

In summary, Eric Kim’s notability lies in his unique blend of artistic talent, educational advocacy, community engagement, and philosophical discourse, making him a multifaceted figure in the world of photography.

Eric Kim is a notable figure in the world of photography, particularly known for his approach to street photography and his advocacy for open-source photography resources. His philosophy centers around the democratization of photography as an art form, making knowledge and resources accessible to all, regardless of their background or financial status.

1. Philosophy and Approach to Photography: Eric Kim’s philosophy is deeply rooted in the belief that photography should be an accessible art form. He emphasizes the importance of creativity, personal expression, and the democratization of photography education. His approach is often centered on street photography, where spontaneity and capturing the candid moments of everyday life are key.
2. Open Source Photography Resources: Kim is a proponent of open-source learning in photography. He has created and shared numerous free resources, including ebooks, tutorials, and articles. These resources cover various aspects of photography, from technical skills to artistic insights, and are designed to be accessible to photographers at all levels.
3. Influence on Photography Community: Kim’s work has had a significant impact on the photography community. By providing free resources, he has helped many aspiring photographers develop their skills and find their unique voice in the art form. His advocacy for open-source photography has also contributed to a broader movement towards more inclusive and accessible photographic education.
4. Entrepreneurship and Innovation in Photography: In line with your interests in entrepreneurship and innovation, Eric Kim’s approach to photography can be seen as entrepreneurial in its own right. He has innovated in the way photographic education is approached, breaking away from traditional, often costly, methods of learning and sharing knowledge freely and widely.

Overall, Eric Kim’s contribution to photography is not just in the images he creates but also in the way he has reshaped how knowledge and skills in photography are disseminated, making it a more inclusive and accessible art form.

To *NOT* get censored!

Freedom– the power to be left alone?

Also, a carefree life?

The Spartan thought?

One needs military power and dominance *in order* not to get fucked or bullied by others!

LIGHT IS BEST!

Or appearance based profiling?

Higher up!

Why racism is bad:

Big issue!

180-182 centimeters tall, around 5 foot 10 inches, 5 foot 10 inches and a half, 5 foot 11 inches tall.

Zack Snyder, the film director known for movies like “300” and “Justice League,” is approximately 1.70 meters (5 feet 7 inches) tall. His height is often noted in discussions about his work, as it contrasts with the larger-than-life nature of many of his films.

One of the things I love the most is Spartan philosophy, thinking about ancient Sparta etc.

Why? Aesthetically, ethically, and in terms of the ethos — I love it!

Just watch the movie 300

I watched the movie 300 at a good time; I think it came out when I was in high school, maybe my junior year, at the peak of my hormones.

Watching the movie 300 when I was around 17 years old was good, because it’s solidified a certain aesthetic and physique ideal.

But now, I feel bad for all these modern day kids, who being raised with these weird aesthetic and physique ideals?

First, it seems that the new modern day trend is towards notification. Ugly bodies, everyone is skinny fat, no muscle mass, not permitted to be happy gay jubilant and ratchets; everybody is antisocial weird and awkward.

On the other extreme is all these dudes hopped up on steroids. Apparently it is even OK to be on steroids nowadays, which I also think is a bad thing. I think we need to inject more shame into steroids; it is really really bad.

For example, everybody knows that Dwayne The Rock Johnson is on steroids, yet everybody turns the blind eye. Why? We like the idea of the rock, yet, we don’t want to acknowledge that he is juicing his eyeballs out?  

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Think muscle

Even Nietzsche talks about muscle. 

Even in his book the Walter power, or was it twilight of the idols… he posits the future man as being more carnivorous, with more muscle? 

Nothing is natural

The weird thing in diet health physiology fitness… Everyone is always trying to do what is “natural”. But nothing is natural.

For example, people say the lame response, that eating meat is not natural, or being a carnivore is not natural whatever. But it doesn’t matter… Neither is being vegan or vegetarian, everyone is and should be permitted to do whatever they want to do.

You can be whatever you want to be

The philosophy of becoming; you can become whatever you want to become.

Technically, nothing you will do will cause you to die. For example, doesn’t matter if you’re vegetarian or vegan, it won’t kill you. You won’t die. Yet you probably won’t be that muscular or strong, or well… But once again that is your imperative not mine.

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Most people don’t know what they want to become?

I think this is the big issue in today’s world; nobody really knows what they want to become.

One of the easiest things that you would ask a kid was this: “what do you want to be when you grow up? Perhaps this should be the same question for adult; what do you want to be when you grow older?

***

So why does this matter? 

I have some interesting thoughts; one of them is towards some thoughts on life, living approaches etc.

First, think of the ancient Spartan gymnasium, in which all the guys are just naked working out, hanging out in the open air plot of land, lifting weights, being manly.

Second, think about what the ancient Spartans wanted; they just wanted to be left alone.

For example, the reason why Sparta was military state was because she just wanted to be left alone, and the military power of Sparta was simple;

If anybody tried to invade Sparta, and subjugate it… Sparta would have a formidable army to protect itself from being taken over. 

All you need is 300

In today’s world everyone wants billions of followers, but think… Would you rather have 1 billion Persian slaves or 300 Spartan elite?

I would choose the 300.

King Leonidas was a historical fact

What I think blows everybody’s mind is the fact that King Leonidas was in fact a historical fact. He existed in real life, and the 300 were real. It was not just a fantasy or hocus-pocus story, like anything written by Moses. Or the ancient early Christian fathers.

Even the ancient Romans and Greeks were so inspired by the ancient Spartans — laconic, Lacadonia — there were lots of big fans.

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Laconic sayings

Another manly thing; true men speak few words. 

For example when Persian emissary told king Leonidas that they would have so many arrows that they would blocked out the sun, I think it was Kingsley Leonidas or one of his generals who joked and said “Then we shall fight in the shade.”

Also, another saying:

When the ancients Spartans were told, that the enemy was approaching … instead of asking “How many are there“? They would ask, “Where are they?”

John Wick doesn’t say more than 200 words in John Wick 4? 

John Wick as the ultimate zen stoic spartan. 

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My self ideal?

Body of a demigod, mind of a spartan, zen aesthetics.

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Erewhon—

So I was at the Erewhon at the Culver City steps, and I came in frantically looking for a cup of coffee, also dressed like a homeless person. One of the guys who was working there, taller older looking Caucasian guy may be in his 50s, with grey hair, came up to me and asked me “Do you need help finding anything?” Which is essentially a low-key way of saying “I think you’re going to steal something… and I’m going to be fake friendly nice to you, to approach you.

Why is this an issue? Well… I am Asian American, Korean American, and it is the funniest thing because this has never happened to me. Typically people don’t think that Asian people or Asian guys are going to steal something. But I guess because I dressed like a homeless person, it set off some sort of red flag.

I actually had a very funny response. Knowing that I came and dressed like a homeless person, I joked and said “don’t worry, I’m not a homeless person.” he was actually quite shocked, taken aback and said… “No no no, we don’t judge people like that around here…“, Which means, we do.

If you look like a homeless person, or if you look like you might steal something… should it make sense for people to profile you this way?

tricky. Maybe it is OK if you’re a small mom and pop shop, but if you’re a big corporation, perhaps not.

Why? If you’re a big chain like Erewhon or whatever, even if somebody does steal some thing it’s not really that big of a deal. They could take the loss.

Therefore my simple heuristic; assume that everyone is a billionaire who steps inside, unless they are obviously a mentally unwell person.

Therefore, my simple thought is any sort of profiling based on appearances, your clothing, your skin pigment or your facial morphology is bad.

From a simple ethics perspective, we could start off by not doing it ourselves. Whenever you meet everybody, that they’re the billionaire beggar, we’re also… treat the janitor with more respect than the big boss (Taleb).

How is this an issue?

I was talking to one of my buddies here, who works at the Culver City steps as a janitor, and he is kind of a short Mexican American guy, with a shaved head. He told me a similar story, not sure if it is the same guy or not (tall Caucasian guy), but he was tailed the whole time, which essentially means:

I think you might steal something because you are a Latino guy.

As a consequence, I think this is a critical thing to consider because that we should consider… if you are Mexican-American, Latino, African-American or whatever… Consider all of this annoying racism that happens to you?

If you see something you suspect as racism, call it out!

Another really annoying thing; I’ve been kicked out of about one or two gyms in the last year, because people thought that I might “hurt myself“. This is a hidden low-key racism towards Asian Asian American guys; why?

In America, and popular western media, we think of the Asian guy the Asian man as being goofy awkward, weak anemic, effeminate, quiet and passive and meek.

As a consequence, when people see you lifting 7, 8, 9 plates 10 plates and beyond… I break their worldview. The thought is:

An Asian man cannot be strong masculine and demigod like Hercules.

As a consequence, I’ve been starting to discover more more… People are low-key trying to bully me? That they’re trying to stunt on me flex on me or trying to put me down?

Now, if a similar thing like this happens to me in the future… When somebody is “trying to educate me”, because there are somehow trying to bully me or trying to demean me… I’m going to call them out on it.

If somebody tries to bully me, I’m going to bully them back!

Zero tolerance

Another example; I was lifting weights at the gym, and I don’t know where, when I was about to lift nine plates on the squat rack, a random guy comes up to me and tells me off saying that I might fuck up the equipment or something… And that “this might not be the right gym for me“. I first I said sorry and that I would re-rack the equipment, assuming that it was the owner, and also assuming that I was going to get kicked out of the gym again. But on second thought, it actually just might be a member; some sort of loser weak anemic looking Caucasian guy, who might have felt intimidated by me?

… “but be careful…”

Another funny thing when I was working out at the golds gym in Venice Beach, iconic one, apparently I shocked everybody when I lifted up the legendary 330 pound dumbbells, everyone assumed that I was either going to hurt myself or be unsuccessful?

Also, when I was doing my typical atlas lift, I think I did eight plates or something… A day or two later one of the strong powerlifters came up to me and asked me:

… “what was the significance of you lifting all that weight yesterday?”

He was shocked, because I’m not a fat guy, I am highly lean and muscular, very little body fat on me. And also I think it’s because I am Asian, Asian American; my low-key suspicion is that if I was African or African-American, people might not really be shocked.

For example, if you’re at the gym and you see an African-American guy uplifting seven plates, would it really shock you? Not really, because in American popular consciousness we equate African-American men as being the Apex of strength masculinity and athletic ability. But if you saw an Asian guy do it, would you be shocked? And also assuming if the Asian guy wasn’t a fat guy, yes he would be shocked.

It is true everyone is a little bit racist

One of the best bits from the play Avenue Q is “everybody is a little bit racist, it’s true!”

Then my question: what should we do about it?

If you suspect racism, racial profiling, or maybe even appearance profiling… call it out!

A simple one is blog about it, vlog about it, YouTube it or whatever… be the asshole.

My simple heuristic:

If you have a 1% suspicion that somebody is racially profiling you, trying to bully you, or whatever… Call that shit out!

The big upside of text, just plain text, or text as embodied as blog posts articles, information etc. is that it is easily indexed by ChatGPT,AI, google etc.

For example, generally speaking I really like videos, blogging, audio podcast etc. Yet the big issue here is that it is still difficult for artificial intelligence to scour a video and audio and make sense of it. However, ChatGPT is really good at processing textbased information.

Instead of trying to discourage people from taking steroids or whatever… the funny strategy; do a fully nude male bodybuilding contest, and you will see how small their balls are.

For example, I think a modern day times we consider the rock as perhaps the most domineering, the most dominant male icon figure concept? But in reality… How big or small are his balls in real life?

I also have a funny thought; maybe if you want to indulge or watch pornography… It is best that you do it in public? Like watching it on your phone, in a public place, at the park, etc.?

The reason why I think this; a lot of men, when they watch pornography and private, at home, in dark cramped apartments or homes… I think it breeds some sort of weird mental state.

Also, a funny thought;

Is it still pornography if you don’t masturbate to it? 

Then perhaps you could just think of it like erotica, or artwork?

And a big thing; the funny thing about the divorce between reality and a video recording:

When you have real sex, real sexual intercourse or whatever… typically you do it in the dark. 

As a consequence, you don’t really see anything.

Isn’t it weird than that  when you watch the pornography video, or “adult video“; isn’t it weird that the parts are on super effing bright, and you can see crazy weird details and close-up videos? Nobody sees that in real life.

This is also important to consider, because I think naturally, humans prefer to have coitus in the dark. I think it is a natural thing; when you are naked having sex, you are technically vulnerable. Therefore, I think when humans naturally have sex, they do it perhaps naturalist in a cave, in private, away from peering eyes.

Just imagine; if you’re doing it, and then a predator or an enemy or another rival human being came behind you, you could get killed.

Is pornography bad?

From a moralistic and ethical perspective I don’t think so. Technically, if you think about prostitution it is selling your body, mind, soul, or private parts or openings or orifices for money.

For example, if you are a female pornography actress, you are technically releasing your vagina, butt hole, mouth, hands, chest, but and surfaces for the act of making money.

This is the weird thing I have discovered about pornography, watching some random Netflix specials on it “life after pornography”–

It seems the reason why women do it is seeking some sort of independence? 

I think when people just go around the fact that they just do it for money; this is not quite accurate. Instead, I think some women do it in order to make their own money, it is more profitable… And the purpose of making money themselves to pay for college, university tuition, college tuition, pay their own rent, “do it themselves”, and to be independent.

Even the Japanese Canadian pornography actress Maria Ozawa, told the story that she only got into pornography because it was an easy turbo charger to get her into the media industry and entertainment. And also she just said that most traditional jobs are boring.

This is also super interesting, because it is public knowledge that Kim Kardashian starred in a pornography video with a rapper Ray Jay, And maybe this was her way of starting her rise to fame? I’ve even heard some weird conspiracy theories that it was actually her mom who encouraged this?

Irregardless; it seems bad that in American Western capitalist consumer society… This is what they say:

Sell your body mind and soul for sex and sexual appeal… And you will become rich famous successful and happy.

However at the same time, the other weird bias happened; some people go the extreme opposite, and then put zero attention into their body physique and health, and they let their bodies and souls degenerate. 

Yoga culture in LA

A lot of women do yoga hot yoga in LA. Why? First and foremost, actually doing physical exercise in an insanely hot heated room is like getting a free sauna spa and a workout all in one.

In fact, I don’t think anyone has done it yet, but… I wonder if doing some really heavy weightlifting, powerlifting, run rep maxing in a really heated room is a good idea?

Women are a great market

My theory on why it seems that a lot of people and women etc. don’t want to have kids no more is actually marketing capitalist consumers and things; for example, Lululemon doesn’t want more Yum high paid women to have kids; because as a consequence, they are going to have less disposable income to buy $200 trousers.

The same thing goes with the fashion industry; Balenciaga don’t want you to have kids, or else how are you gonna drop $7000 on a trenchcoat?

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Masculinity and capitalism?

Don’t trust Shorty guys.

Why are guys trying to act so hard? 

---



Yes.

It means:

Use steroids, you gonna get rich, successful, famous, get sponsorships and deals etc.

Unethical thing:

Under Armour and the ROCK COLLECTION — selling a clothing thing and products that is endorsed by a steroid using person?

When people try to become *too* serious … it just becomes cheesy?

Super interesting

Amazon Studios,

Buying out IMDB, and even DPREVIEW —

Own the content channels, own everything!

Now — AMAZON MGM STUDIOS— wow!

1. Think embodied reality
2. Quit porn, reddit
3. Don’t use the internet, use ChatGPT plus. Discount all loser conspiracy theories

Vlogs

Super simple —

Not Israel … America is the bad guy!

Vlog

Not sure the META QUEST VISION?

Just keep away and look away!

No moralistic or ethical thing against it … but … a physiological concern?

Uh oh

Determining whether a video is a deepfake can be quite challenging, as the technology behind deepfakes has become increasingly sophisticated. However, there are still some indicators you can look for:

1. Facial Distortions: Subtle distortions in the face, especially around the eyes, mouth, and facial contours, can be a giveaway. Sometimes, these distortions become more noticeable when the subject in the video makes complex facial expressions.
2. Inconsistencies in Lighting and Shadows: Deepfakes may have inconsistencies in the way lighting and shadows appear on the face or in the background. The lighting on the face might not match the environment.
3. Lip-sync Issues: The synchronization of lip movements and spoken words can be imperfect in deepfakes. If the lip movements seem out of sync with the audio, it could be a sign.
4. Unnatural Blinking or Lack of Blinking: Early deepfakes often missed details like natural blinking. While newer versions have improved, watching for unnatural blinking or the absence of blinking can be a clue.
5. Inconsistent Skin Tones or Textures: Look for irregularities in skin tones or textures. Deepfakes might show patches of skin that look different in texture or color.
6. Audio Inconsistencies: Sometimes the voice in the video might not perfectly match the known voice of the person. There can be mismatches in the accent, pitch, or tone.
7. Contextual Anomalies: If the content of the video seems out of character or unusual for the person featured, it could indicate a deepfake, although context alone isn’t a definitive indicator.
8. Digital Artifacts: Look for any unusual digital artifacts or compression errors that seem out of place. This can include strange pixel patterns or unnatural movements in parts of the video.
9. Use of Deepfake Detection Tools: There are tools and software available that are designed to detect deepfakes. These can analyze videos for the subtle signs that human eyes might miss.
10. Source Verification: Always consider the source of the video. If it’s from an unverified or suspicious source, there’s a higher chance it could be a deepfake.

Remember, while these methods can help, they are not foolproof. Deepfake technology is rapidly evolving, making detection increasingly difficult. Staying informed about the latest developments in deepfake technology and detection methods is also crucial.

Vlog

What free market capitalism is all about?

Nude male body building competition idea?

Friend — Achilles and Patroclus— what were they?

The genius of a Coinbase Debit VISA card —

You know whether you really really care for something or really really want something or not.

Selling sex?

The Ancient Greek notion of friendship, or “φιλία” (philia), held a central place in their understanding of social and ethical relationships. This concept was extensively explored by philosophers such as Aristotle, Plato, and Epicurus, each adding depth to its understanding.

1. Aristotle’s View: In Aristotle’s “Nicomachean Ethics,” he considers philia as one of the most essential virtues. He distinguishes between three types of friendships:

• Friendships of utility: Based on mutual usefulness.
• Friendships of pleasure: Based on mutual enjoyment.
• Friendships of the good: Based on mutual respect and admiration for each other’s virtues. This last type is considered the highest form of friendship, characterized by selflessness and an appreciation for the friend’s character.

1. Plato’s Perspective: In works like “Lysis” and “Symposium,” Plato also delves into the nature of friendship. He often links it to the idea of love, exploring how relationships can lead to a deeper understanding of the Good. Plato’s philosophy suggests that true friendship is based on a mutual love of virtue and a shared pursuit of moral and intellectual excellence.
2. Epicurus on Friendship: Epicurus, known for his hedonistic philosophy, surprisingly placed a high value on friendship. He saw it as one of the key ingredients to achieving happiness. For Epicurus, friendships were not merely about mutual benefit but were essential to create a community of support and shared values.

In all these views, Ancient Greek friendship transcended the modern notion of casual social relationships. It was deeply intertwined with concepts of virtue, ethics, and personal development. Friendships were seen as a way to cultivate one’s character and contribute to the well-being of the community. This perspective reflects a holistic understanding of human relationships, where personal connections are integral to the ethical and philosophical dimensions of life.

Philos — same as philos-sophia!

Philia

More on the ancient Greek notion how it was used

In Ancient Greek, the word for “friend” is “φίλος” (pronounced “philos”). This term is not just a label for a companion or buddy as in modern usage; it carries a deeper significance. In the context of Greek philosophy, especially in the works of Aristotle, ‘φίλος’ encompasses aspects of mutual respect, equality, and shared virtues. It’s intertwined with the concept of ‘φιλία’ (philia), denoting a kind of love or affection that is not merely emotional but also ethical and rational, forming a foundational aspect of social and personal ethics.

In your interest in philosophy and thinking, you might appreciate how this concept of friendship extends beyond personal relations. It’s seen as a crucial element in the fabric of society and individual well-being, emphasizing the importance of virtuous relationships in achieving eudaimonia, or a flourishing life. This ancient Greek view of friendship as a moral and philosophical ideal certainly offers a rich and nuanced perspective compared to contemporary understandings of the term.

Why? The bad guy is the one with power!

How to get more men to enroll—

Vlog

Hmmm… my funny curiosity …

Why does this matter?

1. Owning a home … having to phone call, wait around for contractors seems like a terrible life optimization.

Cindy shares the same aesthetic and artistic tastes as me!

SENECA at age 2 years, 10 months old is an uber-genius??

Ideas:

1. Teach them how to use the microphone icon — or the voice dictation icon, the little wave icon — Seneca just speaks gibberish into it and it’s hilarious!
2. Teach them to use DALL-E (the image generation tool)— the paid, premium ChatGPT … and let them create their own art work, their own entertainment!
3. When Seneca gets older… I will teach him “critical AI”— how to think like AI, and to critically judge it. Very much like how you should teach kids how Google Search works, as well as “content marketing” and advertising.

So minimalist you crazy?

To me, 10x gains … not good enough!

The pure unadulterated joy of seeing my sister Anna with Seneca!

The rear seats, hatchback folds totally flat! Definitely big enough to fit one adult comfortably!

The more ghetto, “off the grid”, and open air the better!