1. No loser baseball cap, or hat, or ironic “hipster” douchebag hat?

1. Why would any modern day digital camera produced in 2024 have a viewfinder? — KILL THE VIEWFINDER!

1% of $1,000,000 is $10,000.

JPMORGAN, one of the wealthiest men (1837-1913)— wow almost 200 years ago?

John Pierpont Morgan— a funny thought:

What could he have bought or purchased for hedonic pleasure or whatever which would still have lasted until today?

Inherited wealth from father Junius Spencer Morgan —

J.P. Morgan did not inherit a large fortune directly from his father, Junius Spencer Morgan, but he did inherit a well-established banking network, valuable connections, and a solid financial reputation. His father’s wealth and standing in the banking industry gave J.P. Morgan a significant advantage in his career.

Junius Spencer Morgan, who was also a prominent banker, had built a successful business in Europe, particularly in London, where he worked with the firm George Peabody & Co. After Peabody retired, the firm became J.S. Morgan & Co., which helped establish the family’s financial prominence. Junius left a sizable estate to his son, estimated to be around $12 million upon his death in 1890. However, J.P. Morgan’s true fortune was not primarily due to this inheritance but rather from his own business dealings and financial acumen.

J.P. Morgan significantly expanded his wealth through his role in creating and managing large corporations like U.S. Steel, General Electric, and through his work in reorganizing railroads and other major industries. His legacy was built on the foundation his father provided, but J.P. Morgan’s success was largely self-made.

$12M in 1890, what’s worth in 2024 with inflation roughly

The $12 million inherited by J.P. Morgan in 1890 would be roughly equivalent to around $511 million in 2024, adjusting for inflation.

Inflation

from datetime import datetime
from numpy import log, exp

Function to calculate the value of money in the future given an inflation rate

def inflation_adjusted_value(start_value, start_year, end_year, average_inflation_rate=0.028): # Default inflation rate is 2.8% (historical average)
years = end_year – start_year
future_value = start_value * exp(years * average_inflation_rate)
return future_value

Variables

start_value = 12000000 # $12M in 1890
start_year = 1890
end_year = 2024

Calculate the future value

adjusted_value = inflation_adjusted_value(start_value, start_year, end_year)
adjusted_value

I’m too ahead of the curve? Haha

Search Eric Kim articles on ChatGPT, ai and DALL-E

Eric Kim has been actively exploring the intersection of AI, ChatGPT, and DALL-E in the creative process. He views these technologies as powerful tools for enhancing creativity, helping artists generate new ideas quickly. While he appreciates how fast AI can create imagery, he believes the human touch is still essential, particularly in refining the final product. Kim is particularly interested in how AI can serve as a personal assistant to artists, helping with tasks like managing emails or finding opportunities, though he critiques AI for not yet meeting all his specific artistic needs.

Kim’s motivation to use AI tools stems from their ability to automate certain aspects of creative work while leaving room for personal interpretation and design. He sees AI, especially DALL-E 3, as a complement to his photography, rather than a replacement for human creativity.

You can explore more about his insights on AI and its role in photography and art through the following articles:

• AI, ChatGPT, and DALL-E’s Role in Creativity oai_citation:3,AI, ChatGPT, DALL-E is insanely great for creativity. – ERIC KIM
• How ChatGPT and DALL-E 3 Inspire Eric Kim oai_citation:2,ChatGPT and DALL-E 3 is actually making me more motivated to make my own artwork? – ERIC KIM
• AI Art by Eric Kim oai_citation:1,ChatGPT DALL-E 3 AI ART – ERIC KIM

Eric Kim remains active in the photography world but has shifted some of his focus to integrating technology, particularly AI, into his creative process. Recently, he has been exploring how AI tools like ChatGPT and DALL-E can be used to aid photographers in generating ideas and enhancing their artwork. However, Kim emphasizes that while AI can assist with creative processes, the human touch is still essential for artistic creation. He is also critical of the limitations of AI and current technologies, such as the user experience issues with certain tools.

Additionally, Kim has expressed dissatisfaction with certain technology products, particularly after experiencing performance issues with Apple devices, and is considering transitioning to Android systems for a more open-source experience. He continues to adapt and innovate, blending traditional photography with modern technology, ensuring he remains a relevant figure in the evolving landscape of visual art and photography【8】【9】.

If you’re looking for more insights into his recent projects, he’s also planning photography workshops, such as a Cambodia travel photography experience in 2025【10】.

Hybrid, Plugin hybrid, Gas *and* electric?

Steel over iron

John Pierpont Morgan quotes

Morgan entrepreneurship principles

John Pierpont Morgan’s approach to business and entrepreneurship was driven by strong principles that shaped the American economy and corporate finance during his era. While he did not explicitly write a set of entrepreneurial principles, his actions, strategies, and leadership offer valuable insights into his entrepreneurial mindset. Here are some key entrepreneurship principles that can be derived from J.P. Morgan’s life and career:

1. Risk Management and Prudence

• Morgan’s Principle: Avoid unnecessary risk and carefully assess the financial landscape before making major moves.
• Example: During the Panic of 1907, Morgan stepped in to stabilize the financial system, organizing rescues for banks and companies to prevent a total collapse. His ability to mitigate risk while providing capital when it was most needed highlights his prudent decision-making.

2. Building Strategic Alliances

• Morgan’s Principle: Cultivate relationships and partnerships that enhance your influence and provide mutual benefits.
• Example: Morgan was a master of creating alliances among powerful industries and financial entities. His work in consolidating railroads and the formation of U.S. Steel (through a merger of steel companies) showed how he leveraged relationships to build industry giants.

3. Focus on Long-Term Value

• Morgan’s Principle: Invest in sustainable, long-term growth rather than chasing short-term gains.
• Example: Morgan financed infrastructure projects, like railroads and electricity, which provided immense value over time. His establishment of U.S. Steel was a long-term bet on American industrial growth, which paid off for decades.

4. Reputation and Trustworthiness

• Morgan’s Principle: Your reputation is one of your greatest assets; people must trust your word and your actions.
• Example: J.P. Morgan’s reputation for financial acumen and integrity gave him unparalleled influence. When he organized financial rescues during crises, people followed him because they trusted his judgment and honesty.

5. Centralized Control and Strong Leadership

• Morgan’s Principle: Maintain central control over your enterprises to ensure that they are well-managed and aligned with your vision.
• Example: Morgan was known for maintaining centralized control over his investments. He believed in placing strong leadership in key positions to ensure that his companies operated efficiently and effectively, particularly during mergers or restructurings.

6. Innovation through Consolidation

• Morgan’s Principle: Streamline industries by consolidating smaller players into larger, more efficient entities.
• Example: Morgan was instrumental in creating corporate giants through mergers. The consolidation of various railroads and the creation of U.S. Steel were driven by his belief in efficiency and market dominance. By consolidating industries, he created economies of scale that allowed companies to operate more effectively.

7. Be Ready to Act Decisively

• Morgan’s Principle: When an opportunity presents itself, act quickly and decisively to seize it.
• Example: Morgan’s intervention during the 1907 financial panic was swift and decisive. His ability to gather the major bankers in New York to coordinate a rescue effort demonstrated his readiness to lead during times of crisis.

8. Diversification and Expansion

• Morgan’s Principle: Diversify your investments and expand into new markets to reduce risk and enhance growth opportunities.
• Example: Morgan’s empire wasn’t confined to just one industry. He was involved in railroads, steel, banking, and electricity. His strategy was to have investments in multiple sectors to ensure a diversified portfolio that could withstand fluctuations in any single market.

9. Use Expertise and Advisors

• Morgan’s Principle: Surround yourself with experts who can guide you in areas outside your expertise.
• Example: J.P. Morgan valued the advice of skilled lawyers, economists, and industry experts. He often relied on their expertise to navigate complex legal and financial issues, ensuring that he made well-informed decisions.

10. Corporate Governance and Structure

• Morgan’s Principle: Ensure that companies are well-governed and have strong structures to manage growth and operations.
• Example: Morgan implemented sound corporate governance practices in the companies he controlled, creating efficient structures that could handle the complexities of large-scale operations. His leadership in reorganizing railroads demonstrated his understanding of management structure and the importance of governance.

11. Visionary Leadership

• Morgan’s Principle: Have a vision for the future and lead others toward it.
• Example: Morgan was visionary in recognizing the potential of electricity, railroads, and steel as the foundation of the American economy. He backed Thomas Edison’s electric ventures, understanding the transformative power of electricity, and this foresight positioned him at the forefront of the industrial revolution.

12. Contribute to the Greater Good

• Morgan’s Principle: Businesses should contribute to the public good and stability of the economy.
• Example: Morgan viewed his role not just as a financier but as a stabilizer of the American economy. By intervening in times of financial instability, such as the Panic of 1907, he acted in what he believed was the public’s interest to prevent broader economic catastrophe.

These principles reflect J.P. Morgan’s leadership style and entrepreneurial spirit, emphasizing foresight, control, trust, and the ability to innovate through strategic decisions. His legacy as a financier and industrialist continues to influence how modern entrepreneurs think about building and managing businesses.

John Pierpont Morgan, one of the most influential bankers in history, was known for his commanding presence and powerful quotes that reflected his views on business, finance, and leadership. Here are some of his notable quotes:

1. “I don’t know as I want a lawyer to tell me what I cannot do. I hire him to tell me how to do what I want to do.”

• This quote reflects Morgan’s practical approach to business, emphasizing action and solutions rather than being restricted by rules.

1. “A man always has two reasons for doing anything: a good reason and the real reason.”

• This quote illustrates Morgan’s understanding of human motives and the layers of intent behind decisions.

1. “If you have to ask how much it costs, you can’t afford it.”

• This is one of Morgan’s most famous quotes, often attributed to his love of yachts, but it also reflects his belief that wealth speaks for itself.

1. “No problem can be solved until it is reduced to some simple form. The changing of a vague difficulty into a specific, concrete form is a very essential element in thinking.”

• Morgan valued clear thinking and problem-solving, breaking down complex issues into manageable parts.

1. “The first step towards getting somewhere is to decide that you are not going to stay where you are.”

• This quote highlights Morgan’s emphasis on progress, ambition, and moving forward.

1. “Go as far as you can see; when you get there, you’ll be able to see farther.”

• This captures Morgan’s belief in taking decisive action and trusting that opportunities and solutions will become clearer with each step forward.

1. “A man generally has two reasons for doing a thing: one that sounds good, and a real one.”

• Morgan understood the importance of perception versus reality, particularly in business and finance.

These quotes exemplify Morgan’s approach to leadership, his understanding of human nature, and his practical business philosophy.

JPMorgan Chase & Co. has a long and storied history, tracing its roots back over 200 years. Here’s a brief overview of the company’s evolution:

Early Origins:

• 1799: The company’s origins begin with the creation of the Manhattan Company by Aaron Burr in New York City. Initially chartered to provide clean water to the city, the company soon transitioned into banking, eventually becoming part of Chase Bank.
• 1838: J.P. Morgan & Co., founded by Junius S. Morgan and later run by his son John Pierpont Morgan (J.P. Morgan), was one of the most influential banking institutions. J.P. Morgan was pivotal in American financial history, playing a key role in financing railroads, organizing large corporations like General Electric, and stabilizing financial markets.

The Formation of Chase Bank:

• 1877: Chase National Bank was established by John Thompson in New York City, named after Salmon P. Chase, who was the U.S. Treasury Secretary and not directly connected to the bank.
• 1955: Chase National Bank merged with the Bank of the Manhattan Company to form Chase Manhattan Bank, which expanded the bank’s reach both domestically and internationally.

J.P. Morgan’s Influence:

• 1907: During the Panic of 1907, J.P. Morgan stepped in to stabilize the financial markets, arranging the bailout of several banks and preventing a wider collapse. This solidified his role as a key figure in American finance.
• 1933: The Glass-Steagall Act forced a separation between commercial and investment banking, which led to the creation of Morgan Stanley for investment banking operations, while J.P. Morgan & Co. continued to focus on commercial banking.

Mergers and Modern Era:

• 2000: The merger between J.P. Morgan & Co. and Chase Manhattan Bank formed JPMorgan Chase & Co., creating a global banking giant. This merger combined J.P. Morgan’s historic investment banking prowess with Chase’s large commercial banking network.
• 2004: JPMorgan Chase acquired Bank One, bringing in Jamie Dimon, who would later become the CEO of JPMorgan Chase and help steer the bank through the financial crisis of 2008.
• 2008 Financial Crisis: JPMorgan Chase played a key role during the crisis, acquiring the failed investment bank Bear Stearns and the troubled retail bank Washington Mutual, which further expanded its dominance in global banking.

Today:

JPMorgan Chase is one of the largest financial institutions in the world, involved in a broad range of financial services, including investment banking, asset management, wealth management, and commercial banking. The company is known for its strong leadership under Jamie Dimon, its resilience during financial crises, and its continued innovation in banking technology.

Throughout its history, JPMorgan Chase has been synonymous with power and influence in both the U.S. and global financial systems.

*gel- to freeze

gelu: frost

Cool Trends

“Cool” trends are often a reflection of the cultural, social, and technological shifts happening at a given time. Some key trends that have historically and currently defined “cool” across different eras include:

1. Mid-20th Century (1950s-1970s)

• Beat Generation & Jazz Culture: In the 1950s, “cool” was epitomized by the Beat Generation and jazz musicians. The laid-back, rebellious attitudes of figures like Jack Kerouac and musicians like Miles Davis shaped the countercultural sense of “cool.”
• Rock & Roll and Rebellion: Figures like Elvis Presley and James Dean became symbols of “cool” by pushing against societal norms. Their style, including leather jackets, slicked-back hair, and a defiant attitude, influenced generations of youth.
• Counterculture of the 1960s: The hippie movement, with its emphasis on peace, love, and anti-establishment ideals, was considered cool. Music by bands like The Beatles and The Rolling Stones, along with the fashion choices (bell-bottoms, tie-dye, long hair), defined cool in this era.

2. 1980s and 1990s

• Hip-Hop Culture: Emerging in the 1980s, hip-hop became synonymous with cool. Its combination of music, fashion (baggy pants, oversized jackets, sneakers), and breakdancing, along with graffiti art, made it one of the defining cultural trends.
• Streetwear: Street fashion, which started in the 1990s, continues to be cool today. Brands like Supreme, Stüssy, and Nike helped streetwear culture flourish. It’s a mix of casual comfort and bold, graphic designs often associated with skate culture.
• Grunge: The 1990s saw the rise of grunge, especially from Seattle’s music scene, spearheaded by bands like Nirvana and Pearl Jam. The “cool” trend involved flannel shirts, ripped jeans, and a more anti-fashion, laid-back attitude.

3. 2000s and 2010s

• Minimalism: In contrast to previous decades’ bold styles, minimalism in design, fashion, and technology became cool. Sleek, simple designs in tech (like the iPhone), clean lines in architecture, and minimalist fashion trends defined the early 2000s.
• Indie Culture: Indie music and fashion, which emphasized uniqueness and individuality, became popular during this time. Bands like The Strokes, Arctic Monkeys, and others were seen as defining “cool” with their retro-inspired but modern take on rock.
• Social Media Influence: The 2010s saw the rise of Instagram as a primary platform for dictating what is “cool.” Influencers, street fashion, and aesthetic-driven posts helped shape trends, blending online fame with real-world influence.

4. 2020s Trends

• Sustainability: As environmental awareness grows, being eco-conscious has become cool. Brands that focus on sustainability, thrift fashion, and ethical consumerism are leading the way in defining modern coolness.
• Athleisure: Comfortable, sporty outfits that are also fashionable (think Lululemon, Nike, Adidas) have become a cool trend for the everyday person. This shift reflects a desire for practicality without sacrificing style.
• Tech-Driven Fashion: Wearables like smartwatches and VR gear are merging the tech world with fashion, creating a cool intersection of futuristic and functional design.
• Nostalgia Culture: Reviving past trends is a hallmark of the 2020s, whether it’s Y2K fashion (think early 2000s outfits), retro gaming, or reboots of classic TV shows. There’s a coolness in blending nostalgia with modern sensibilities.
• Gender-Fluid Fashion: Fashion in the 2020s is becoming more inclusive, with gender-neutral designs gaining popularity. Celebrities like Harry Styles and Jaden Smith push the boundaries of fashion by blending traditionally male and female styles.

Ongoing & Future Trends

• Virtual Reality & Augmented Reality: As technology advances, integrating virtual and augmented realities into everyday life (from gaming to fashion to social media) is becoming a futuristic cool trend.
• Mindfulness & Mental Health Awareness: Wellness trends that focus on mental health, mindfulness, and self-care practices are gaining cultural coolness, moving away from the “grind” mentality.
• DIY & Customization: In an age of mass production, customization (from sneakers to clothing) is cool. The trend of DIY (Do-It-Yourself) projects and creative expression has also flourished through platforms like Etsy and Pinterest.

“Cool” trends are constantly evolving, but they often reflect broader cultural and societal shifts—whether that’s through rebellion, individuality, or adapting to new technologies and values.

The word “cool” in the sense of being popular or fashionable has an interesting and layered history that spans several centuries and cultures.

1. Early Uses (13th Century – 19th Century):

• The word “cool” originally referred to temperature, derived from the Old English word “cōl,” meaning “not warm.”
• By the 13th century, “cool” was used figuratively to describe someone who was calm, composed, or unemotional, an extension of its original meaning related to temperature.

1. 20th Century Evolution – Jazz Age (1920s-1940s):

• The modern sense of “cool” as an attitude or style began to take shape in the early 20th century, particularly within African American culture.
• In the jazz scene of the 1920s and 1930s, “cool” was used to describe a certain sophisticated, understated style of playing and a general attitude of nonchalance or detachment. Musicians like Lester Young popularized this use.
• The concept of “cool” was connected to a form of resistance against mainstream culture and the pressures of society. It was an attitude that exuded confidence, grace, and a refusal to be swayed by external stressors.

1. Post-War Popularization (1940s-1960s):

• After World War II, the beat generation, led by figures like Jack Kerouac and Allen Ginsberg, further popularized “cool” as a countercultural concept. It represented a rejection of conformity and materialism, embodying a laid-back, rebellious spirit.
• During the 1950s, “cool” became associated with figures like James Dean and Marlon Brando, whose on-screen personas epitomized the cool, detached anti-hero. This helped cement “cool” as a cultural ideal for youth and rebellion.
• By the 1960s, the word had become deeply ingrained in popular culture, symbolizing not just an attitude, but a way of life that valued authenticity, individuality, and a certain effortless charisma.

1. Modern Usage (1970s-Present):

• In the latter half of the 20th century and into the 21st century, “cool” continued to evolve. It became a term synonymous with being fashionable, socially adept, or simply “in the know.”
• The term has been used in advertising, music, fashion, and virtually every aspect of pop culture to signify desirability and trendiness.
• Despite its widespread use, the core essence of “cool” still revolves around the original ideas of detachment, self-assuredness, and a certain resistance to mainstream pressures.

Overall, “cool” as a concept has transitioned from a simple temperature descriptor to a powerful cultural symbol that embodies nonconformity, confidence, and social relevance.

DEEP DESIRE

Impetuous, to attack.

Drawing analogies between Elon Musk’s approach with Tesla and photography, especially modern street photography, can provide some intriguing insights. Here are a few comparisons:

1. Innovation and Disruption

• Tesla: Tesla disrupted the automotive industry by introducing electric vehicles that not only compete with traditional cars but often outperform them. Musk focused on innovation, pushing boundaries, and defying conventional wisdom.
• Street Photography: Just as Tesla disrupted the auto industry, modern street photographers who innovate in their approach—whether through new techniques, perspectives, or technology—are disrupting the traditional norms of photography. They may use unconventional angles, mixed media, or even AI to push the boundaries of what street photography can be.

2. Bold Vision and Risk-Taking

• Tesla: Musk’s vision of a sustainable future with electric vehicles required significant risk, from early product development to massive investments in infrastructure like the Gigafactories.
• Street Photography: A street photographer with a bold vision—such as capturing the raw, unfiltered reality of urban life—often takes risks by confronting difficult subjects or exploring controversial themes. This willingness to go beyond the safe and familiar is what can set them apart, just as Tesla’s willingness to take risks has positioned it as a leader in the industry.

3. Focus on Quality and Performance

• Tesla: Musk emphasizes the importance of performance and quality, creating cars that are not only electric but also have exceptional acceleration, safety, and design.
• Street Photography: In photography, focusing on the “performance” of your craft—whether it’s in the quality of the images, the composition, or the storytelling—can lead to work that stands out. Like Tesla, where even the smallest detail matters, street photographers who pay attention to every aspect of their image can produce work that resonates more deeply with their audience.

4. Technology Integration

• Tesla: Tesla’s cars are as much about software as they are about hardware. With features like Autopilot, over-the-air updates, and advanced user interfaces, Tesla integrates cutting-edge technology to improve the user experience continuously.
• Street Photography: Similarly, modern street photographers can integrate technology into their work. Whether it’s using advanced camera systems, experimenting with AI-generated enhancements, or utilizing platforms like Instagram or NFTs to share their work, technology becomes a tool that enhances the art and reach of street photography.

5. Sustainability and Ethical Considerations

• Tesla: Musk’s mission with Tesla extends beyond just making cars—it’s about promoting sustainability and reducing the world’s reliance on fossil fuels.
• Street Photography: Ethical considerations in street photography, such as respecting subjects’ privacy, avoiding exploitation, and representing communities authentically, parallel Musk’s broader mission. Photographers today are increasingly aware of the impact their work has on society and the importance of being responsible creators.

6. Building a Community and Brand

• Tesla: Tesla has cultivated a passionate community of supporters and customers who believe in the brand’s mission and are evangelists for its products.
• Street Photography: A street photographer can similarly build a personal brand and community by staying true to their vision, engaging with their audience, and fostering a dialogue around their work. In today’s world, where social media plays a significant role, building a brand is often as important as the work itself.

By applying these analogies, street photographers can find inspiration in Musk’s strategies with Tesla—whether it’s about pushing the envelope, integrating technology, or maintaining a strong ethical stance.

It doesn’t hurt to be friendly 

The virtue of insanely jacked legs–

I don’t know why, yesterday I guess I walked a lot with Seneca, now that Seneca is giving heavier and heavier… I guess my leg muscles are continuing to adapt and develop. Kind of like Milo of Croton and the bull!

Today, waking up… feeling insane vigor and strength in my legs. It feels so good!

Godlike thighs

Currently reading the Emily Wilson translation of the Iliad, and there’s this nice scene in which Ares, the God of war slaps both of his thighs. It was such a great visual, because I know exactly what that feels like! 

Why the cult of the upper body?

Assuming that your penis and your balls are connected to the lower half of your body… I have a funny theory that if you actually want to increase your manliness, your testosterone, or dominance… the logical option is to 100% focus on strengthening your legs, 1000X.

For example, in the world of bodybuilding, weightlifting, etc.… When you get to the Mr. Olympia levels, the crème de la crème of weight lifting and bodybuilding, it comes down to your wheels, your legs!

In fact, this is something that I witnessed that almost 100% of the guys at the gym don’t have… Impressive legs!

I Remember… When I was still at my old commercial gym, I was doing my normal weightlifting thing, and in the freeway section, there was only one young woman, who randomly asked me “are you a swimmer?” I then said no, why? She said to me “your thighs and legs are massive!” a lot of the other guys at the gym witnessed this, and heard it… I think they were all secretly envious and jealous of me.

If a woman compliments you on the grandeur of your legs, take it as the ultimate compliment!

Start from the bottom up

OK… Another thing that was very interesting is that in the Iliad… Some of the ways that the ancient Greek heroes are described as having insanely strong feet and hands.

A very simple thought to strengthen your feet is to go barefoot as much as humanly possible, or the simple vibram five finger shoes. Walk around with a 60 pound weight vest, and also do types of weightlifting which involve lifting barefoot while standing up! This could be a rack pull, deadlift walk, atlas lift,  farmer’s carries, etc.

Also, the easiest way to strengthen your hands is by not using these weekly straps, and just using plain old chalk, either the powdery stuff or the liquid chalk, both are good, actually the liquid chalk gives you better grip, – and start training your hands to lift heavy dumbbells, barbell, etc.… If you’re using a barbell, for the heavier weights start to use a mixed grip.

For example, even a simple exercise that I did for a while at my old gym was Farmer’s carries with the 150 pound dumbbells, which were the highest or the most heavy dumbbells at the time. Or when I went to the Gold gym Venice Beach… The famous one I conquer the golden 330 pound dumbbells quite easily; just use chalk, and lift up the dumbbells a single 330 pound dumbbell with two hands. Assuming that you could double lift over four plates five plate six plate seven plates eight plates… to lift up a 330 pound dumbbell, especially if it is in between your legs like a sumo lift position, using both hands, and chalk, is actually pretty easy. For a while I was doing the duck walks with it, just as a form of fun training exercises. Unannounced to me, apparently I went viral twice over when some random people were recording me doing it. 

SWAT TRAINING

Kind of a random idea… About adaptation etc.

So, one of my new ideas is this notion of tactical training. For example… I bought this pair of shorts from ten thousand.cc, which are actually not very good they already got ripped at the waistband,  but I was certainly suckered by the marketing, because they were branded as “tactical“ shorts.

There’s this really great scene in John Wick, which I plan on re-watching again… In which he goes to the Somalier, and  one he is getting strapped up and equipped up… There’s this great dialogue and talking in which the Somalier asks John Wick — what occasion? And when he is making his suit jacket, he asks what kind of material to use, and he says “tactical”– so gangsta! Wick essentially gets a suit jacket made, that has built in Kevlar, and he uses as a mini shield, with his suit jacket when he is doing gunfights etc. 
Anyways, I think the whole modern day notion of tactical is very fascinating to me because thinking about king Leonidas and the Spartan 300, the battle of Thermopylae, the hot gates, and also modern day times… What is it that we modern day men lack? War, warfare, battle, Physical valor!

And don’t get at me with these pussy guns. Having a gun makes you a coward. It makes your dick size smaller.  I actually would like this alternate universe in which let us say I snapped my fingers, and men, grown men… If we got into arguments or whatever, we could do it like Brad Pitt fight club style… No guns no knives, no weapons, just your bare fists. And you just have two dudes getting a ring, topless, and just battle it out. 

Boxing

I actually think boxing is quite virtuous, assuming that both parties are wearing gloves, and a protective helmet thing. Why? I think two men often have a disagreement or inimical feeling towards one another, especially when it comes through high school guys were going through puberty or whatever… Just have them let them box it out seems like a good idea.

For example, even when it comes to these technology Titans like Elon musk and… I would love to see them just get into a boxing match together. To see who has the more valor.

American football

One thing that people do not know about ERIC KIM is that I played American football softball junior year, first playing outside linebacker, then my junior year inside linebacker, starting.

Ever since I was a kid, in Bayside Queens New York, I always wanted to become the strongest, the most dominant, the most monstrous. I was the strongest out of all my friends, and everybody knew it.

Anyways, in high school… I then had interest in trying to do the most mainly sport, which was bar none American football. But funny enough, I almost had no idea the rules of American football, and this is also another funny thing I will teach you:

The real players don’t actually fully know how the game is played.

For example, I played defense, because I like to tackle, and I was a tough mofo. I started off as outside linebacker because I had no experience, and then once I proved to my coaches that I was hard and strong, I became middle linebacker my junior year, starting, would call the plays etc. 

KILL!

Anyways, it does put chest on your hair, for example, I remember the first time I ever had to practice doing a kick off, it was probably the most unnatural, fearful thing of all… Essentially You kicked the ball, and it goes down the field… And then a guy on the other side grabs it, and you have two parties, battle armor, sprinting at one another for 100% speed… And when the guy with the ball is trying to penetrate the other side, what he does is he grabs the ball like a child, with two arms protecting it, and then dips his head and his helmet and his body is super super low, and what do you have to do as the other side is to also get super super low, to try to get under him, and then you take on this full on collision, and tackle him.

Two things:

 first, this is very unnatural, and insanely frightening. Why? Once again, it is not natural to sprint and another guy in full battle armor, and you in full battle armor, and collide head on. The risk of injury is high, even with protective equipment.

Not only that, it does take a lot of physical courage, and also mental courage. For example, you have to trust your own strength, your own skill, your own valor.

I suppose my only regret is I wish I played varsity football my senior year, but my tennis coach, who I respect is my Mr. Miyagi, coach Greg Lowe discourage me from playing football because he thought it would be a distraction to playing varsity doubles tennis, in which I also played in high school, and was number one on the team.

Anyways, I think it is wise to have kids, boys, men, young men etc. engaging some sort of physical combat, training, wrestling exercises, boxing, whatever.

Why? True manliness, true courage cannot be divorced from physical reality.

For example, certainly mental courage, is very important. And also having the courage to speak your mind, even though the whole world may hate you for it. 

Or also the courage about Rosa Parks, sitting in front of the bus, and refusing to get up.

Anyways, I think the big issue in today’s world is we have deferred courage into the realm of video games, and other silly things, which are not connected to embodied physical reality.

I was even thinking about it… Tennis, Chas, sports etc.… Certainly they all take skill, but there is no real physical downside to it.

Only sports have a physical downside may be American football or rugby? But beyond that, all these other sports, they are essentially “grass fairies”? (the way that we football players used to make fun of soccer players)

Retention

A few years ago, I give up watching porn. Why? It Just became a little bit ridiculous to me. And also, interestingly enough… I think in ancient China or Korea or somewhere… There was this interesting ocean is that anytime you eject your semen or Seminole fluid, they call it “energy suicide“, and as a consequence, it totally made sense.  no man in his right mind would rub one out real quick, 15 minutes before the big fight. Also, I am pretty certain that half Thor did not rub one out real quick before that lifting his infamous 502 kg dead lift.

I think pornography is fine, and a funny thought…

if you watch porn, but you don’t masturbate to it… And you do not eject your seminal fluid, is it still porn? 

Maybe not. Maybe it is just erotic art?

I think there’s nothing wrong with masturbation or whatever. Apparently it is a supernatural. And probably better for a teenage void to masturbate rather than get a random girl pregnant. Or even worse catch a STD or STI.

Anyways, I think the primary thing to consider is your physiology. Even Nietzsche mentions that some of his writing, his critique of a lot of the modern day German youth was that they spent too much time wasting their energy, “spending” on women, etc.

The seed of life

OK, if you get rid of all this Christian Judeo moralistic guilt about sexual intercourse whatever… And just made it really really primal, biological,… Natural, what do you have?

Even the other day, walking along the nature preserve and seeing two monarch butterflies chasing one another in the air.

Or, peacock with his beautiful feathers and plumage, to attract a mate. 

To mate, to have children, to produce offspring – this is what all the biology, life is all about. Even if you think about bacteria, fermentation, mold, making kefir cheese whatever,  what the bacteria does is very simple; it consumes the lactose sugar protein energy sources, and then it produces offspring. All life, animal life and beyond is all about producing offspring, indefinitely.

I think modern daytimes, the anti-children sentiment is very bizarro. I have some theories.

First, who are the people who are promoting this anti-children nonsense, and all this patently insane ideas that children are the worst thing you do for planet in terms of the carbon footprint or whatever? These are individuals, who have no religion, no values, live in Berkeley California,  a lot of them childless old people in their late 50s, mid 60s, 70s… And they are bitter and salty about life, and as a consequence, what they try to do is to the rest of society, with their strange vegan values.

Vegetarian is natural, it has been around since time of Seneca the younger. But it was still associated with weird cults, that is why Seneca stopped being vegetarian because he did not want to be accused of being part of a weird cult which was anti-empire. And in India, being vegetarian has been around forever.

However, I think the reason why it is good to beat people in the flesh, face-to-face, not via the Internet is because you could judge them, based on their age their height their physiology, their physical health, their food consumption behaviors etc.

---

 Figure it out as late as possible, ALAP

I have this motto called ALAP, which stands for as late as possible.

 for example, my very simple suggestion is when it comes to weightlifting, fitness, the gym etc.… It is never plan your workout before you enter, once you enter the arena, once you enter the Colosseum… Then figure it out.

The gladiator makes his plans once he enters the arena – Publius Syrus

In modern day times, we have these silly notions of project management, planning, etc. But the reason why it is foolish is because if you think about it from a baye’s theory, bayes statistics — the truly wise and optimal way to do things is you do the action in the moment of, because that is when you have maximum information about everything at hand.

Which essentially what it means is right now, directly in the direct moment, bricolage, taking chances risk taking and making lots of foolish mistakes, but after 99 failed attempts, you get one which is a screaming home run!

> “You still taking advances huh? Me and my niggas we taking real chances uh!” – JAY Z

THE LIFE OF OJ.

---

What is entrepreneurship?

According to Jeff Bezos, if you already know that something is going to work with 100% certainty before you try it, it is not an experiment.

I think therefore, the ethos of entrepreneurship is paradoxical;

You can study entrepreneurship, study the past, has successes, but what has succeeded in the past may or may not succeed right now or the future. 

For example, Warren Buffett is not a good example because he is about 90 years old, and his recipe for success worked 90 years ago, in America, before bitcoin was invented. So knowledge is very context specific, even if you were Warren Buffett and you did the same exact investing strategy in Brazil… You would not succeed.

I think this is where it is so difficult to think carte Blanche, blank slate. why? If it has never been done before, if nobody has ever succeeded doing it… How do you know if it is possible or not?

You cannot make street photography your living

Back in 2009, 2010… when I was first starting off my photography journey, I had zero intention in turning my passion for photography and street photography into my living, even though I wanted to. I was extremely pragmatic: I did not quit my day job, I knew that it was wise to have a steady 9 to 5 job, at least I could pay my rent with 100% certainty. 

Fresh out of college at UCLA as an undergraduate, making $40,000 USD a year… The year 2010, working for a company called demand media which has rebranded to the “Leaf group”, my first job was online community manager… And I was able to get an internship there a year prior my senior year at UCLA, all things to Cindy for finally it on an email list server.

Anyways, some simple entrepreneurial advice:

Working from home is a godsend.

I still remember… When it was the year 2010, it was actually my fantasy to be able to work from home! Why? I could just do the minimum amount of work possible, to not get fired, away from my overseers, get all my work done in about two hours, and then I could just spend the rest of my time blogging, which was my passion, doing photography street photography and building up my Empire on the side?

Nowadays they call it a side hustle, which is a pretty good idea. 

Pay your rent with your day job, enter the minimum amount of work possible to not get fired, do not seek your promotion or advancement in your career, and devote 99% of your excess energy building up your entrepreneurial enterprise.

The sad truth is 99.9% of entrepreneurial endeavors fail. I was lucky because I have never failed in my life. Everything that I wanted to do and set my mind to it, I succeeded. I think it was about 80% chutzpah and passion and insane drive, and 20% luck and timing.

 The first really big street photography boom 

Individuals who made their mark include Kaiman Wong, Alamby Leung, Lok Cheung, Charlie Kirk, and ERIC KIM. And Bellamy Hunt of Japancamerahunter.com — buy JCH film!

RICOH GR IIIX,

Video blog vlog

Slapping my thighs like Ares!

Video podcast god thighs vlog

Audio god thighs

INSANELY JACKED LEGS

I don’t know why, yesterday I guess I walked a lot with Seneca, now that Seneca is giving heavier and heavier… I guess my leg muscles are continuing to adapt and develop.

Today, waking up…  feeling insane vigor and strength in my legs. It feels so good!

Godlike thighs

Currently reading the Emily Wilson translation of the Elliott, and there’s this nice scene in which Ares, the God of war slaps both of his thighs.  It was such a great visual, because I know exactly what that feels like! 

Why the cult of the upper body?

Assuming that your penis in your balls are connected to your Laura after your body… I have a funny theory that if you actually want to increase your manliness, your testosterone, or dominance… Logical option is to 100% focus on strengthening your legs, 1000X.

For example, in the world of bodybuilding, weightlifting, etc.… When you get to the Mr. Olympia levels, the crème de la crème of weight lifting and bodybuilding,  it comes down to your wheels, your legs!

In fact, this is something that I witnessed that almost 100% of the guys at the gym don’t have… Impressive legs!

Remember… When I was still at my old commercial gym, I was doing my normal weightlifting thing, and in the freeway section, there was only one young woman, who randomly asked me “are you a swimmer?” I then said no, why? She said to me “your thighs and legs are massive!” a lot of the other guys at the gym witnessed this, and heard it… I think they were all secretly envious and jealous of me.

start from the bottom up

OK… Another thing that was very interesting is that in the Elliott… Some of the ways that the ancient Greek heroes are described as having insanely strong feet and hands.

A very simple thought to strengthen your feet is to go barefoot as much as humanly possible, or the simple vibram five finger shoes.  walk around with a 60 pound weight vest, and also do types of weightlifting which involve lifting barefoot while standing up! This could be a rack pull, deadlift walk, atlas lift,  farmer’s carries, etc.

Also, the easiest way to strengthen your hands is by not using these weekly straps, and just using plain old chalk, either the powdery stuff or the liquid chalk, both are good, actually the liquid chalk gives you better grip, – and start training your hands to lift heavy dumbbells, barbell, etc.… If you’re using a barbell, for the heavier weights start to use a mixed grip.

For example, even a simple exercise that I did for a while at my old gym was Farmer’s carries with the 150 pound dumbbells, which were the highest or the most heavy dumbbells at the time. Or when I went to the Gold gym Venice Beach… The famous one I conquer the golden 330 pound dumbbells quite easily; just use chalk, and lift up the dumbbells a single 330 pound dumbbell with two hands. Assuming that you could double lift over four plates five plate six plate seven plates eight plates… to lift up a 330 pound dumbbell, especially if it is in between your legs like a sumo lift position, using both hands, and chalk, is actually pretty easy. For a while I was doing the duck walks with it, just as a form of fun training exercises. Unannounced to me, apparently I went viral twice over when some random people were recording me doing it. 

SWAT TRAINING

Kind of a random idea… About adaptation etc.

So, one of my new ideas is this notion of tactical training. For example… I bought this pair of shorts from ten thousand.cc, which are actually not very good they already got ripped at the waistband,  but I was certainly suckered by the marketing, because they were branded as “tactical“ shorts.

There’s this really great scene in John Wick, which I plan on re-watching again… In which he goes to the Somalier, and  one he is getting strapped up and equipped up… There’s this great dialogue and talking in which the Somalier asks John Wick — what occasion? And when he is making his suit jacket, he asks what kind of material to use, and he says “tactical”– so gangsta! Wick essentially gets a suit jacket made, that has built in Kevlar, and he uses as a mini shield, with his suit jacket when he is doing gunfights etc. 
Anyways, I think the whole modern day notion of tactical is very fascinating to me because thinking about king Leonidas and the Spartan 300, the battle of Thermopylae, the hot gates, and also modern day times… What is it that we modern day men lack? War, warfare, battle, Physical valor!

And don’t get at me with these pussy guns. Having a gun makes you a coward. It makes your dick size smaller.  I actually would like this alternate universe in which let us say I snapped my fingers, and men, grown men… If we got into arguments or whatever, we could do it like Brad Pitt fight club style… No guns no knives, no weapons, just your bare fists. And you just have two dudes getting a ring, topless, and just battle it out. 

Boxing

I actually think boxing is quite virtuous, assuming that both parties are wearing gloves, and a protective helmet thing. Why? I think two men often have a disagreement or inimical feeling towards one another, especially when it comes through high school guys were going through puberty or whatever… Just have them let them box it out seems like a good idea.

For example, even when it comes to these technology Titans like Elon musk and… I would love to see them just get into a boxing match together. To see who has the more valor.

American football

One thing that people do not know about ERIC KIM is that I played American football softball junior year, first playing outside linebacker, then my junior year inside linebacker, starting.

Ever since I was a kid, in Bayside Queens New York, I always wanted to become the strongest, the most dominant, the most monstrous. I was the strongest out of all my friends, and everybody knew it.

Anyways, in high school… I then had interest in trying to do the most mainly sport, which was bar none American football. But funny enough, I almost had no idea the rules of American football, and this is also another funny thing I will teach you:

The real players don’t actually fully know how the game is played.

For example, I played defense, because I like to tackle, and I was a tough mofo. I started off as outside linebacker because I had no experience, and then once I proved to my coaches that I was hard and strong, I became middle linebacker my junior year, starting, would call the plays etc. 

KILL!

Anyways, it does put chest on your hair, for example, I remember the first time I ever had to practice doing a kick off, it was probably the most unnatural, fearful thing of all… Essentially You kicked the ball, and it goes down the field… And then a guy on the other side grabs it, and you have two parties, battle armor, sprinting at one another for 100% speed… And when the guy with the ball is trying to penetrate the other side, what he does is he grabs the ball like a child, with two arms protecting it, and then dips his head and his helmet and his body is super super low, and what do you have to do as the other side is to also get super super low, to try to get under him, and then you take on this full on collision, and tackle him.

Two things:

 first, this is very unnatural, and insanely frightening. Why? Once again, it is not natural to sprint and another guy in full battle armor, and you in full battle armor, and collide head on. The risk of injury is high, even with protective equipment.

Not only that, it does take a lot of physical courage, and also mental courage. For example, you have to trust your own strength, your own skill, your own valor.

I suppose my only regret is I wish I played varsity football my senior year, but my tennis coach, who I respect is my Mr. Miyagi, coach Greg Lowe discourage me from playing football because he thought it would be a distraction to playing varsity doubles tennis, in which I also played in high school, and was number one on the team.

Anyways, I think it is wise to have kids, boys, men, young men etc. engaging some sort of physical combat, training, wrestling exercises, boxing, whatever.

Why? True manliness, true courage cannot be divorced from physical reality.

For example, certainly mental courage, is very important. And also having the courage to speak your mind, even though the whole world may hate you for it. 

Or also the courage about Rosa Parks, sitting in front of the bus, and refusing to get up.

Anyways, I think the big issue in today’s world is we have deferred courage into the realm of video games, and other silly things, which are not connected to embodied physical reality.

I was even thinking about it… Tennis, Chas, sports etc.… Certainly they all take skill, but there is no real physical downside to it.

Only sports have a physical downside may be American football or rugby? But beyond that, all these other sports, they are essentially “grass fairies”? (the way that we football players used to make fun of soccer players)

Retention

A few years ago, I give up watching porn. Why? It Just became a little bit ridiculous to me. And also, interestingly enough… I think in ancient China or Korea or somewhere… There was this interesting ocean is that anytime you eject your semen or Seminole fluid, they call it “energy suicide“, and as a consequence, it totally made sense.  no man in his right mind would rub one out real quick, 15 minutes before the big fight. Also, I am pretty certain that half Thor did not rub one out real quick before that lifting his infamous 502 kg dead lift.

I think pornography is fine, and a funny thought…

if you watch porn, but you don’t masturbate to it… And you do not eject your seminal fluid, is it still porn? 

Maybe not. Maybe it is just erotic art?

I think there’s nothing wrong with masturbation or whatever. Apparently it is a supernatural. And probably better for a teenage void to masturbate rather than get a random girl pregnant. Or even worse catch a STD or STI.

Anyways, I think the primary thing to consider is your physiology. Even Nietzsche mentions that some of his writing, his critique of a lot of the modern day German youth was that they spent too much time wasting their energy, “spending” on women, etc.

The seed of life

OK, if you get rid of all this Christian Judeo moralistic guilt about sexual intercourse whatever… And just made it really really primal, biological,… Natural, what do you have?

Even the other day, walking along the nature preserve and seeing two monarch butterflies chasing one another in the air.

Or, peacock with his beautiful feathers and plumage, to attract a mate. 

To mate, to have children, to produce offspring – this is what all the biology, life is all about. Even if you think about bacteria, fermentation, mold, making kefir cheese whatever,  what the bacteria does is very simple; it consumes the lactose sugar protein energy sources, and then it produces offspring. All life, animal life and beyond is all about producing offspring, indefinitely.

I think modern daytimes, the anti-children sentiment is very bizarro. I have some theories.

First, who are the people who are promoting this anti-children nonsense, and all this patently insane ideas that children are the worst thing you do for planet in terms of the carbon footprint or whatever? These are individuals, who have no religion, no values, live in Berkeley California,  a lot of them childless old people in their late 50s, mid 60s, 70s… And they are bitter and salty about life, and as a consequence, what they try to do is to the rest of society, with their strange vegan values.

Vegetarian is natural, it has been around since time of Seneca the younger. But it was still associated with weird cults, that is why Seneca stopped being vegetarian because he did not want to be accused of being part of a weird cult which was anti-empire. And in India, being vegetarian has been around forever.

However, I think the reason why it is good to beat people in the flesh, face-to-face, not via the Internet is because you could judge them, based on their age their height their physiology, their physical health, their food consumption behaviors etc.

---

 Figure it out as late as possible, ALAP

I have this motto called ALAP, which stands for as late as possible.

 for example, my very simple suggestion is when it comes to weightlifting, fitness, the gym etc.… It is never plan your workout before you enter, once you enter the arena, once you enter the Colosseum… Then figure it out.

The gladiator makes his plans once he enters the arena – Publius Syrus

In modern day times, we have these silly notions of project management, planning, etc. But the reason why it is foolish is because if you think about it from a baye’s theory, bayes statistics — the truly wise and optimal way to do things is you do the action in the moment of, because that is when you have maximum information about everything at hand.

Which essentially what it means is right now, directly in the direct moment, bricolage, taking chances risk taking and making lots of foolish mistakes, but after 99 failed attempts, you get one which is a screaming home run!

> “You still taking advances huh? Me and my niggas we taking real chances uh!” – JAY Z

THE LIFE OF OJ.

---

What is entrepreneurship?

According to Jeff Bezos, if you already know that something is going to work with 100% certainty before you try it, it is not an experiment.

I think therefore, the ethos of entrepreneurship is paradoxical;

You can study entrepreneurship, study the past, has successes, but what has succeeded in the past may or may not succeed right now or the future. 

For example, Warren Buffett is not a good example because he is about 90 years old, and his recipe for success worked 90 years ago, in America, before bitcoin was invented. So knowledge is very context specific, even if you were Warren Buffett and you did the same exact investing strategy in Brazil… You would not succeed.

I think this is where it is so difficult to think carte Blanche, blank slate. why? If it has never been done before, if nobody has ever succeeded doing it… How do you know if it is possible or not?

You cannot make street photography your living

Back in 2009, 2010… when I was first starting off my photography journey, I had zero intention in turning my passion for photography and street photography into my living, even though I wanted to. I was extremely pragmatic: I did not quit my day job, I knew that it was wise to have a steady 9 to 5 job, at least I could pay my rent with 100% certainty. 

Fresh out of college at UCLA as an undergraduate, making $40,000 USD a year… The year 2010, working for a company called demand media which has rebranded to the “Leaf group”, my first job was online community manager… And I was able to get an internship there a year prior my senior year at UCLA, all things to Cindy for finally it on an email list server.

Anyways, some simple entrepreneurial advice:

Working from home is a godsend.

I still remember… When it was the year 2010, it was actually my fantasy to be able to work from home! Why? I could just do the minimum amount of work possible, to not get fired, away from my overseers, get all my work done in about two hours, and then I could just spend the rest of my time blogging, which was my passion, doing photography street photography and building up my Empire on the side?

Nowadays they call it a side hustle, which is a pretty good idea. 

Pay your rent with your day job, enter the minimum amount of work possible to not get fired, do not seek your promotion or advancement in your career, and devote 99% of your excess energy building up your entrepreneurial enterprise.

The sad truth is 99.9% of entrepreneurial endeavors fail. I was lucky because I have never failed in my life. Everything that I wanted to do and set my mind to it, I succeeded. I think it was about 80% chutzpah and passion and insane drive, and 20% luck and timing.

 The first really big street photography boom 

Individuals who made their mark include Kaiman Wong, Alamby Leung, Lok Cheung, Charlie Kirk, and ERIC KIM. And Bellamy Hunt of Japancamerahunter.com — buy JCH film!

I don’t know why, yesterday I guess I walked a lot with Seneca, now that Seneca is giving heavier and heavier… I guess my leg muscles are continuing to adapt and develop.

Today, waking up…  feeling insane vigor and strength in my legs. It feels so good!

Godlike thighs

Currently reading the Emily Wilson translation of the Elliott, and there’s this nice scene in which Ares, the God of war slaps both of his thighs.  It was such a great visual, because I know exactly what that feels like! 

Why the cult of the upper body?

Assuming that your penis in your balls are connected to your Laura after your body… I have a funny theory that if you actually want to increase your manliness, your testosterone, or dominance… Logical option is to 100% focus on strengthening your legs, 1000X.

For example, in the world of bodybuilding, weightlifting, etc.… When you get to the Mr. Olympia levels, the crème de la crème of weight lifting and bodybuilding,  it comes down to your wheels, your legs!

In fact, this is something that I witnessed that almost 100% of the guys at the gym don’t have… Impressive legs!

Remember… When I was still at my old commercial gym, I was doing my normal weightlifting thing, and in the freeway section, there was only one young woman, who randomly asked me “are you a swimmer?” I then said no, why? She said to me “your thighs and legs are massive!” a lot of the other guys at the gym witnessed this, and heard it… I think they were all secretly envious and jealous of me.

start from the bottom up

OK… Another thing that was very interesting is that in the Elliott… Some of the ways that the ancient Greek heroes are described as having insanely strong feet and hands.

A very simple thought to strengthen your feet is to go barefoot as much as humanly possible, or the simple vibram five finger shoes.  walk around with a 60 pound weight vest, and also do types of weightlifting which involve lifting barefoot while standing up! This could be a rack pull, deadlift walk, atlas lift,  farmer’s carries, etc.

Also, the easiest way to strengthen your hands is by not using these weekly straps, and just using plain old chalk, either the powdery stuff or the liquid chalk, both are good, actually the liquid chalk gives you better grip, – and start training your hands to lift heavy dumbbells, barbell, etc.… If you’re using a barbell, for the heavier weights start to use a mixed grip.

For example, even a simple exercise that I did for a while at my old gym was Farmer’s carries with the 150 pound dumbbells, which were the highest or the most heavy dumbbells at the time. Or when I went to the Gold gym Venice Beach… The famous one I conquer the golden 330 pound dumbbells quite easily; just use chalk, and lift up the dumbbells a single 330 pound dumbbell with two hands. Assuming that you could double lift over four plates five plate six plate seven plates eight plates… to lift up a 330 pound dumbbell, especially if it is in between your legs like a sumo lift position, using both hands, and chalk, is actually pretty easy. For a while I was doing the duck walks with it, just as a form of fun training exercises. Unannounced to me, apparently I went viral twice over when some random people were recording me doing it. 

SWAT TRAINING

Kind of a random idea… About adaptation etc.

So, one of my new ideas is this notion of tactical training. For example… I bought this pair of shorts from ten thousand.cc, which are actually not very good they already got ripped at the waistband,  but I was certainly suckered by the marketing, because they were branded as “tactical“ shorts.

There’s this really great scene in John Wick, which I plan on re-watching again… In which he goes to the Somalier, and  one he is getting strapped up and equipped up… There’s this great dialogue and talking in which the Somalier asks John Wick — what occasion? And when he is making his suit jacket, he asks what kind of material to use, and he says “tactical”– so gangsta! Wick essentially gets a suit jacket made, that has built in Kevlar, and he uses as a mini shield, with his suit jacket when he is doing gunfights etc. 
Anyways, I think the whole modern day notion of tactical is very fascinating to me because thinking about king Leonidas and the Spartan 300, the battle of Thermopylae, the hot gates, and also modern day times… What is it that we modern day men lack? War, warfare, battle, Physical valor!

And don’t get at me with these pussy guns. Having a gun makes you a coward. It makes your dick size smaller.  I actually would like this alternate universe in which let us say I snapped my fingers, and men, grown men… If we got into arguments or whatever, we could do it like Brad Pitt fight club style… No guns no knives, no weapons, just your bare fists. And you just have two dudes getting a ring, topless, and just battle it out. 

Boxing

I actually think boxing is quite virtuous, assuming that both parties are wearing gloves, and a protective helmet thing. Why? I think two men often have a disagreement or inimical feeling towards one another, especially when it comes through high school guys were going through puberty or whatever… Just have them let them box it out seems like a good idea.

For example, even when it comes to these technology Titans like Elon musk and… I would love to see them just get into a boxing match together. To see who has the more valor.

American football

One thing that people do not know about ERIC KIM is that I played American football softball junior year, first playing outside linebacker, then my junior year inside linebacker, starting.

Ever since I was a kid, in Bayside Queens New York, I always wanted to become the strongest, the most dominant, the most monstrous. I was the strongest out of all my friends, and everybody knew it.

Anyways, in high school… I then had interest in trying to do the most mainly sport, which was bar none American football. But funny enough, I almost had no idea the rules of American football, and this is also another funny thing I will teach you:

The real players don’t actually fully know how the game is played.

For example, I played defense, because I like to tackle, and I was a tough mofo. I started off as outside linebacker because I had no experience, and then once I proved to my coaches that I was hard and strong, I became middle linebacker my junior year, starting, would call the plays etc. 

KILL!

Anyways, it does put chest on your hair, for example, I remember the first time I ever had to practice doing a kick off, it was probably the most unnatural, fearful thing of all… Essentially You kicked the ball, and it goes down the field… And then a guy on the other side grabs it, and you have two parties, battle armor, sprinting at one another for 100% speed… And when the guy with the ball is trying to penetrate the other side, what he does is he grabs the ball like a child, with two arms protecting it, and then dips his head and his helmet and his body is super super low, and what do you have to do as the other side is to also get super super low, to try to get under him, and then you take on this full on collision, and tackle him.

Two things:

 first, this is very unnatural, and insanely frightening. Why? Once again, it is not natural to sprint and another guy in full battle armor, and you in full battle armor, and collide head on. The risk of injury is high, even with protective equipment.

Not only that, it does take a lot of physical courage, and also mental courage. For example, you have to trust your own strength, your own skill, your own valor.

I suppose my only regret is I wish I played varsity football my senior year, but my tennis coach, who I respect is my Mr. Miyagi, coach Greg Lowe discourage me from playing football because he thought it would be a distraction to playing varsity doubles tennis, in which I also played in high school, and was number one on the team.

Anyways, I think it is wise to have kids, boys, men, young men etc. engaging some sort of physical combat, training, wrestling exercises, boxing, whatever.

Why? True manliness, true courage cannot be divorced from physical reality.

For example, certainly mental courage, is very important. And also having the courage to speak your mind, even though the whole world may hate you for it. 

Or also the courage about Rosa Parks, sitting in front of the bus, and refusing to get up.

Anyways, I think the big issue in today’s world is we have deferred courage into the realm of video games, and other silly things, which are not connected to embodied physical reality.

I was even thinking about it… Tennis, Chas, sports etc.… Certainly they all take skill, but there is no real physical downside to it.

Only sports have a physical downside may be American football or rugby? But beyond that, all these other sports, they are essentially “grass fairies”? (the way that we football players used to make fun of soccer players)

Retention

A few years ago, I give up watching porn. Why? It Just became a little bit ridiculous to me. And also, interestingly enough… I think in ancient China or Korea or somewhere… There was this interesting ocean is that anytime you eject your semen or Seminole fluid, they call it “energy suicide“, and as a consequence, it totally made sense.  no man in his right mind would rub one out real quick, 15 minutes before the big fight. Also, I am pretty certain that half Thor did not rub one out real quick before that lifting his infamous 502 kg dead lift.

I think pornography is fine, and a funny thought…

if you watch porn, but you don’t masturbate to it… And you do not eject your seminal fluid, is it still porn? 

Maybe not. Maybe it is just erotic art?

I think there’s nothing wrong with masturbation or whatever. Apparently it is a supernatural. And probably better for a teenage void to masturbate rather than get a random girl pregnant. Or even worse catch a STD or STI.

Anyways, I think the primary thing to consider is your physiology. Even Nietzsche mentions that some of his writing, his critique of a lot of the modern day German youth was that they spent too much time wasting their energy, “spending” on women, etc.

The seed of life

OK, if you get rid of all this Christian Judeo moralistic guilt about sexual intercourse whatever… And just made it really really primal, biological,… Natural, what do you have?

Even the other day, walking along the nature preserve and seeing two monarch butterflies chasing one another in the air.

Or, peacock with his beautiful feathers and plumage, to attract a mate. 

To mate, to have children, to produce offspring – this is what all the biology, life is all about. Even if you think about bacteria, fermentation, mold, making kefir cheese whatever,  what the bacteria does is very simple; it consumes the lactose sugar protein energy sources, and then it produces offspring. All life, animal life and beyond is all about producing offspring, indefinitely.

I think modern daytimes, the anti-children sentiment is very bizarro. I have some theories.

First, who are the people who are promoting this anti-children nonsense, and all this patently insane ideas that children are the worst thing you do for planet in terms of the carbon footprint or whatever? These are individuals, who have no religion, no values, live in Berkeley California,  a lot of them childless old people in their late 50s, mid 60s, 70s… And they are bitter and salty about life, and as a consequence, what they try to do is to the rest of society, with their strange vegan values.

Vegetarian is natural, it has been around since time of Seneca the younger. But it was still associated with weird cults, that is why Seneca stopped being vegetarian because he did not want to be accused of being part of a weird cult which was anti-empire. And in India, being vegetarian has been around forever.

However, I think the reason why it is good to beat people in the flesh, face-to-face, not via the Internet is because you could judge them, based on their age their height their physiology, their physical health, their food consumption behaviors etc.

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 Figure it out as late as possible, ALAP

I have this motto called ALAP, which stands for as late as possible.

 for example, my very simple suggestion is when it comes to weightlifting, fitness, the gym etc.… It is never plan your workout before you enter, once you enter the arena, once you enter the Colosseum… Then figure it out.

The gladiator makes his plans once he enters the arena – Publius Syrus

In modern day times, we have these silly notions of project management, planning, etc. But the reason why it is foolish is because if you think about it from a baye’s theory, bayes statistics — the truly wise and optimal way to do things is you do the action in the moment of, because that is when you have maximum information about everything at hand.

Which essentially what it means is right now, directly in the direct moment, bricolage, taking chances risk taking and making lots of foolish mistakes, but after 99 failed attempts, you get one which is a screaming home run!

> “You still taking advances huh? Me and my niggas we taking real chances uh!” – JAY Z

THE LIFE OF OJ.

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What is entrepreneurship?

According to Jeff Bezos, if you already know that something is going to work with 100% certainty before you try it, it is not an experiment.

I think therefore, the ethos of entrepreneurship is paradoxical;

You can study entrepreneurship, study the past, has successes, but what has succeeded in the past may or may not succeed right now or the future. 

For example, Warren Buffett is not a good example because he is about 90 years old, and his recipe for success worked 90 years ago, in America, before bitcoin was invented. So knowledge is very context specific, even if you were Warren Buffett and you did the same exact investing strategy in Brazil… You would not succeed.

I think this is where it is so difficult to think carte Blanche, blank slate. why? If it has never been done before, if nobody has ever succeeded doing it… How do you know if it is possible or not?

You cannot make street photography your living

Back in 2009, 2010… when I was first starting off my photography journey, I had zero intention in turning my passion for photography and street photography into my living, even though I wanted to. I was extremely pragmatic: I did not quit my day job, I knew that it was wise to have a steady 9 to 5 job, at least I could pay my rent with 100% certainty. 

Fresh out of college at UCLA as an undergraduate, making $40,000 USD a year… The year 2010, working for a company called demand media which has rebranded to the “Leaf group”, my first job was online community manager… And I was able to get an internship there a year prior my senior year at UCLA, all things to Cindy for finally it on an email list server.

Anyways, some simple entrepreneurial advice:

Working from home is a godsend.

I still remember… When it was the year 2010, it was actually my fantasy to be able to work from home! Why? I could just do the minimum amount of work possible, to not get fired, away from my overseers, get all my work done in about two hours, and then I could just spend the rest of my time blogging, which was my passion, doing photography street photography and building up my Empire on the side?

Nowadays they call it a side hustle, which is a pretty good idea. 

Pay your rent with your day job, enter the minimum amount of work possible to not get fired, do not seek your promotion or advancement in your career, and devote 99% of your excess energy building up your entrepreneurial enterprise.

The sad truth is 99.9% of entrepreneurial endeavors fail. I was lucky because I have never failed in my life. Everything that I wanted to do and set my mind to it, I succeeded. I think it was about 80% chutzpah and passion and insane drive, and 20% luck and timing.

 The first really big street photography boom 

Individuals who made their mark include Kaiman Wong, Alamby Leung, Lok Cheung, Charlie Kirk, and ERIC KIM. And Bellamy Hunt of Japancamerahunter.com — buy JCH film!

What is the task and labor of man? War , warfare —

For women, the loom, fine arts, crafts,

Entrepreneur — risk taker! Risk is my passion! To take risks (Bitcoin, one rep max HYPELIFTING, attempting new things )— about harnessing risk for fun joy and profit?

Maybe I can start making my own films?

Sora —

Tactics etymology

The word “tactics” has its origins in the Greek term “taktikÄ“” (τακτική), which is derived from the verb “tassein” (τάσσειν), meaning “to arrange” or “to order.”

The concept of tactics was initially associated with the art of arranging troops in formation and maneuvering them during battle. This usage of the term dates back to ancient Greece, where military leaders like the Macedonian king Philip II and his son, Alexander the Great, refined the use of tactical formations on the battlefield.

Over time, the term “tactics” evolved to encompass not only military maneuvers but also any planned actions or strategies designed to achieve a specific goal, whether in warfare, sports, business, or other fields. The broader modern meaning refers to the specific methods or strategies employed to achieve an objective, often as part of a larger plan (known as “strategy”).

In summary, “tactics” originally referred to military arrangements and has since expanded to describe any deliberate, calculated action intended to achieve a specific outcome.

Making money is easy — just buy Bitcoin! Better question— what do you desire to make or build?

The will to mediocrity?

Know Yourself

Fat acceptance, fat tolerance?

The ideal climate doesn’t exist anywhere.

Prize your life, this is the only life you got. 

The philosophy of time:

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The death of film

I think this is something that changes a lot, once you have a kid. Or have a child a young child at home. Suddenly, your time becomes scarce, very very scarce.

For example, in terms of time scarcity… this is so insanely critical. If I gave you a choice… Would you rather spend 30 minutes playing and wrestling around with your kid at the house or at the park… Or would you rather spend your precious 30 minutes answering Emails from childless individuals who don’t really have anything better to do?

Also with film — fine if you don’t have kids — once you get a kid go 100% digital!

True success

I’m starting to think… true success is self ownership, time ownership, essentially… never having anything randomly put on your schedule without your own desire.

For example, I learned that apparently Taylor Swift is signed to Universal Records. Which means she has no control over her time or soul.

Also a very funny thing… apparently Taylor Swift is about my age, she’s born in 1989, I am born in 1988. I find it insanely bizarre that millions of 10-year-old girls know everything about her down to her drive-through food order?

Sign yourself

Anyways… I think some simple filters:

Trust no individual who is signed to anything.

For example, I think a very admirable thing that Kendrick Lamar did was quit top dog entertainment… And create his own record label, PG Lang. I think this is also the wisdom of a Jay-Z… The real idea of taking a real chance is to create your own label, and to avoid getting signed to any record or label… Even if they might wave a $100 million check in front of you. Because if you have to be on tour for the rest of your life like lil Wayne (via Pusha T)… Every single night performing for three hours and night, seven days a week… No sleep and rest… Do you have freedom? No!

This is why Drake is also still a slave!

And I think the foolish thing which people do is they trade their most valuable thing on the planet… Their freedom and self ownership, in exchange for cash, arbitrary notions of “fame“… For the sake of what?

Time and self ownership over money.

What is it that we truly seek?

One of my friends, Bing who I met in Singapore… The guy I am grateful for getting me into crypto bitcoin and digibyte at the time —  he said something interesting, very wise guy, saying that what he wanted in life was material desires like a purple Lamborghini, but also… more importantly, getting respect from people.

For example, he said that the primary issue in America is that there is no real notions of respect. For example even very very simply being in Korea, Southeast Asia of Vietnam etc.… On a very basic level, we use honorifics, when it comes to age. Be told, it feels really good! To have a young kid address you in an honorific way, warms your heart!

You never know who is who 

Also… I think in America one of the wise things that I’ve learned, just from myself but also echoed in people like NASSIM TALEB is a simple idea:

Treat the janitor, the hygiene sanitation guy, the security guard with more respect than the big boss.

And also… assume that everybody you meet is super super rich and successful and powerful and influential, irregardless of how they may look on the outside. Often times, the richest most powerful people are the most low-key, keep a low profile, and you would never expect it.

Don’t network

But I think the tricky thing is when it comes to human social capital… the whole “it’s not what you know but who you know”– is also a little bit misguided because technically, especially in today’s day and age, I don’t think that networking or knowing influential people is important. All you need is a website, your own self hosted blog, ChatGPT and you’re good!

100% of the time networking is a waste of time.

I got some experience now

Humans are not super great nor efficient. For example just based on my experiences, I’m 36 now… Almost 0 networking events or meeting famous successful people have led to anything substantive. The only things which have led to substantive things were things that I decided to do on my own; like hosting my own workshops, creating and developing and selling my own products engaging people directly with my own email newsletter blog, platform, etc. Everything else has been a waste of time.

Build it yourself.

I think the biggest issues here is that when you are starting off as an entrepreneur… We do things in such a way in which we think it is the proper way. For example, when we think about business and networking… We think what it means is to get to know a bunch of rich successful people, “get your foot in the door” etc. Yet, I have discovered this is a total waste of time. 

Your own website and blog is the foot in the digital door!

The way that I was able to build my digital capital my fame my power my influence was very very simple… Essentially learning everything about street photography on my own, and then creating really really insanely in-depth articles, blog posts, pages, information and resources on anything and everything street photography. And the whole time, the whole endeavor of mine was guided by passion, personal interest and curiosity.

Curiosity is antifragile.

Lifting 1,000 pounds

On my personal quest to lift 1000 pounds, which is beyond 10 plates on each side of the barbell, was a personal curiosity:

How far can I take it?

Essentially, my primary curiosity was a curiosity of the limits of my strength, my courage, my ability and potential?

I remember the last time I was weightlifting in Westerly, Rhode Island, and an older guy came up to me and asked “what is the purpose of that? Why are you lifting like that?” I made a joke and I said, first– to augment my ego. But the second more honest answer is I’m just curious how strong I can become.

Why curiosity is so critical

What is curiosity? Curiosity is care, curiosity is what drives us.

You cannot force somebody to be cursed about something that they don’t really care for. You cannot spoon feed or inject curiosity in the soul of somebody, against their own will.

This is why a lot of Asian parents fail, when they try to force their kids to play violin, piano, or chess etc.

Back to time

Time is the ultimate capital, the ultimate desirable non-renewable resource.

Another funny lesson: often the most seemingly bad movies, the ones with poor IMDb reviews are actually the best movies.

For example, the movie “in time” by Justin Timberlake.  probably one of the best films of all time, and also, the most underrated. The reason why it is so grand and great of a film is that it creates this metaphor, this philosophical world in which essentially time is money: literally and metaphorically.

For example, the super super rich people have 1000 years on their wrist, and hilariously enough, excuse the pun, but rich people and poor people are separated by “time zones”–

Also in this fictitious universe, real rich people take their time and move really slowly, whereas the poor laborers, are always running, because they are so short on time.

Time inflation

Another funny scene: in the early part of the IN TIME film, when Justin Timberlake is working as a laborer at a factory or whatever, do you have to scan your wrist, imagine like having Apple Pay, your checking account embedded in your wrist, and anytime you wanted to buy a cup of coffee or food or whatever… You would just scan your wrist. And one of the scenes, Justin Timberlake complains “wait… A cup of coffee used to only cost 15 minutes, why is it now costing 30 minutes?” And the guy selling coffee, shrugs his shoulder and says “that’s time inflation!”

Why it is that the only films I care for are dystopic films

The matrix, Blade Runner, and these science fiction fiction, alternate future sociological philosophical films, why? They actually change you! 

What is so interesting about science fiction typically it is just a commentary or a societal critique of our real society. And the thing exaggerated, in cinematic ways, or building up a universe, but in fact, it is really true to today’s world.

Anyways, back on the notion of time… Time is labor, money is labor time.

How renting is superior to owning

For example… One of the things I am so grateful about renting, and having the best landlord of all time, is that when something breaks, like our all-in-one washer dryer machine from LG… And the machine doesn’t even turn on anymore, I don’t have to be the one wasting my time driving to Home Depot, trying to fix it, or finding service technicians to fix it, scheduling it etc. Rather, I let the landlord communicate with his own labor task squad, his own maintenance team, to come in and fix it, when we are not home, and I could do better things like go on a hike with Cindy and Seneca, or do something fun!

DIY ain’t virtuous

In America, we have this weird virtue connection with doing the labor yourself. However, there is a differentiation between hateful labor and joyful labor. For example, I would probably prefer to have a mechanic fix my car, even though I could do the labor myself, because now that I have a kid, an hour spent fixing your car could be an hour playing with your kid at the park! Here a time becomes zero sum thing, which means:

If you only have an hour to spare, would you rather it be chatting with somebody random, spending time with somebody you don’t really care for, or doing some sort of labor you don’t really care for, or rather would you rather spend that time to do something more critical you insanely care for?

Only spend time on people you love and care for!

For example, if you had an hour, to listen to the problems of somebody, or, you had an hour to work out, do exercises, and lift weights… What would you choose? And assume you could only do one. Obviously work out!

For me, my only regret in the evening is if I spent the whole day, assuming that I was in good health and strength, not working out? To me, my nonnegotiable thing that I must do every single day, irregardless of whatever is to lift weights, at least once. 

Avoid time wasters, even the good ones.

Life before Seneca, life after Seneca

Life BC, life AD — I still think it is hilarious that in America, the way we categorize time is life before Christ, life after Christ.

Life before the christos, the lord the saviour, and life after Jesus.

For me I like to use this analogy for Seneca. Before Seneca was born, I wasted a lot of my time, in coffee shops, kind of superficial relationships, etc. Why? I had so much time to kill!

And also good thing about having kid is that it helps you understand what is truly critical to you or not.

Business is bad

For example, business. Do not forget that the original notion of business was centered around being busy, “busy-ness”–

Even the ancient Romans, otium, neg+otium–

Negotium (business) meant the exact opposite of leisure.

I think often times, people like to just stay busy because when you are busy, you don’t have to think about more important things in life, such as life purpose direction etc. And honestly, I think the reason why I philosophy is so critical for everybody is that if you cannot think philosophically, you’re just wasting your life.

Even Seneca the younger stoic (Seneca’s namesake) on his essay “On the shortness of time”– or the shortness of life… Essentially that you could live a great life, even if it is a short life, as long as you use your time well.

For example, if you had a house with 1000 marble and ivory tables, with matching golden plates, can you take that with you when you die? No!

80 years old and dying

Let us assume that the average human span now, I think it is about 92 years old for men, 94 years old for women. But then again you never know if you’re gonna get cancer or whatever, assume that it is 80 years.

If you knew that you would only live to be 80 years old, with 100% certainty, how would you spend your life, the next 10 years of your life? What would you do, what would you not do?

And also… Thinking about the mortality of our loved ones, our parents, your own mother.

For example, my mom is about to turn 70, and let us assume that she’s going to live to be 80. How would I want to spend the next 10 years in my life with her, or without her?

Certainly I’m happy for her to do stuff like travel, do her artwork, but also, more critically more time with Seneca, myself and Cindy, but more critically for her to spend time with Seneca. Why? There’s going to be a day in which my mom is no longer going to be around, and I would probably hope that Seneca could have some lovely memories with my mom.

Memento mori

I think this is also the thing… many of us live our lives, almost like we are going to live forever. Is that true? Of course not!

And also when you’re younger… Let us even assume that you’re going to live to be 80 years old. What that then means is that you have a long life ahead of you! But once again, what if you are Achilles, and your mom is a goddess, And you are known with 100% certainty that you will die at the age of 40? Then how would you spend your life, how would you not spend your life?

Think Steve Jobs, he died at only age 55?

You might die today

If you have the choice, the difference between memento mori, and memento vivre — the memory of knowing that you will die is more critical than the memory or the thought of knowing how to live.

The angel of life and or death?

What’s the story of why Cindy and I decided to have a kid, Seneca?

After this incident I had a few years ago being held up at gunpoint with me just me and Cindy, before Seneca was born in Mexico City… And fortunately I grabbed Cindy‘s hand and we ran away, and we did not get popped at the back of our head. And in our adrenaline, after the incident… What was my only one regret, Assuming that I have might have died? It was very simple, not having a kid! Then immediately after the incident, we started trying, and then Covid happened, and then we stopped…  and then we did a webinar saying that kind of babies and kids were kind of immune to Covid, and then we tried again… And boom, got pregnant within a week!

Anyways… Often it is these life or death encounters which clarify things. After this incident, I had zero thoughts about my wealth, money in the bank etc., or my fame or success or whatever. I literally had zero regrets besides the kid thing.

Don’t die childless.

The greatest joy on the planet

I was thinking this morning, what is something that never loses its novelty factor? Seeing and witnessing your kid grow up!

Also… As a man, by far a 1,000,000,000,000% gratitude thing, having a son, having at least one son, one male, one man, and especially having your first kid being a man!

Why? Speaking from the perspective if you are a man, what every man desires is at least one male heir. Certainly when you see a family with three girls, four girls or five girls, no boys, you know what the family was trying to do. 

And also… The whole second kid question…  honestly, if for some reason or another, we couldn’t have a second kid, I’d probably be fine because the joy of knowing that at least, our first child was a son!

Anti women?

I think if I think about it very very honestly honestly… If our first child was a girl… I’m sure I would love her 1000%, but secretly at the back of your head, you’re always thinking wishing and wondering and desiring, to have a boy.

So this is my simple thought —

If you and your wife, or partner or whatever or girlfriend, decide to have a second kid, and your first kid is a boy… Don’t push the whole second kid thing. 

Also, if I told you that let’s say that your wife decided to have birth to a second kid, and there was a 90% chance that she might die in childbirth… Would you take the risk, assuming that your first kid is already a man? No!

Back to time

Honestly just throw your iPhone to the trash. Something that people don’t understand is that the iPhone is toxic; even reading one weird thing on your phone, watching one weird movie, film, news headline, TikTok video whatever… strange pornography video or picture, can infect your mind, for a few days, randomly in the middle of the day, or even when you’re about to sleep.

Instagram is like liver pancreatic cancer

The reason why I deleted Instagram in around 2017 and no– that ERIC KIM on Instagram is not me– the person that made my @erickimphoto Instagram account was just a faithful follower, was because Instagram started to do bad things to my mind and weird things to my mind. For example I’d be driving, in the suburbs, or the city… And at around noon, while driving, I would get distracted and think to myself “wait… did I uploaded something to Instagram today?” I caught myself thinking this, and I thought “wow, this is bad. I got to get rid of this”. And in 2017, when I had about 65,000 followers, I did probably one of the most courageous and proud things in my life, which was to delete my Instagram. 

mental Freedom?

Something my friend Jeffrey Lam tells me about is this notion of mind space, ideas that was not just a timeframe but, a mental space thing.

For example, you could in theory have 12 hours of free time in a day, but as long as a strange thought lingering in your mind, you can never really focus 100%.

I think this is called the Zeignark effect. For example let us say that you read an email that needs to be attended to… And you don’t attend to it or respond to it, and it will percolate on your mind for days, sometimes even weeks, sometimes even months. This is why I avoid my inbox, or my text messages like the plague…

One strange message email or text message or communication thing can distract you for days on end.

Playing cyber defense

I also think the reason why email needs to be fixed is now, it is so easy to fake an email, ChatGPT, with bots, or generative AI, even if the person is good or bad, or even if the bot is malicious or benevolent.

For example, let me give an extreme example, let us say you are Taylor Swift, and everybody on the planet knows your email (taylorswift@gmail.com)– let us say. If you are Taylor Swift, and you literally get 1 million emails a day, would you have the time to either read every single email, or even worse… Respond to it? No? This would be mental suicide! This is why I quit email and all messaging apps Around 2016, 2017, because honestly I was just becoming too famous, too much cognitive load!

Dodge

In the Iliad, when the heroes are killing each other… They do two things, obviously they wear protective armor, like shields, helmets, etc.… But if somebody throws a spear at them, or an arrow, what they do is dodge it.

If you see an incoming spear, you are not a fool, ideally you dodge it, ideally dodging it is more effective than even raising your shield. Why? If a spear hits your shield, there is actually a chance that it might penetrate your shield, and end up either wounding you or killing you.

I wonder if we should apply the same philosophy two things. Like if you see an incoming missile, or a spear or a bullet… You don’t take the chance. Dodge a bullet, rather than testing your bulletproof vest.

“That little vest ain’t gonna do you I shoot from neck up”- JAY Z

The ghost of soulja slim —

SOULJA KIM?

The notion of soldier, like Soulja Boy etc., and interesting thought… The notion of a “soul”, period with the notion of a soldier?

And apparently, if you really really need people from the hood, like Crenshaw, where Nipsey Hussle got killed, the honorific to call somebody worth valor is “soldier”.

Kind of like calling somebody boss or chief. Like Chief Keef

ChIEF KIM! Too many Indians, not enough chiefs!

Anyways, long story short, prize your time. This is the only life you got.

ERIC

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Never forget it is and must be your duty to die!

STOICISM BY KIM >

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Why he matters:

Eric Kim matters in the world of street photography for several important reasons:

1. Democratizing Street Photography: Kim has played a pivotal role in making street photography more accessible to people from all walks of life. Through his free online resources, workshops, and e-books, he has provided countless photographers with the tools and knowledge they need to improve their skills, regardless of their background or financial situation. This democratization of knowledge has helped broaden the appeal of street photography and inspired many to pick up a camera oai_citation:10,Eric Kim: Street Photography, Education, and Empowerment — about photography oai_citation:9,Who is the most influential street photographer blogger of all time? – ERIC KIM.
2. Fostering a Global Community: Kim’s emphasis on community building has created a global network of photographers who support and learn from each other. His workshops not only teach technical skills but also facilitate connections among participants, fostering a sense of camaraderie and shared passion. This community aspect is crucial because it encourages collaboration and mutual inspiration, which are vital for the growth of the art form oai_citation:8,Who is the most influential street photographer blogger of all time? – ERIC KIM oai_citation:7,10 reasons why Eric Kim is still the best Street Photography teacher (2024).
3. Philosophical Depth: Kim brings a unique philosophical perspective to photography, urging photographers to consider the deeper meanings and ethical implications of their work. He integrates ideas from stoicism, minimalism, and mindfulness into his teachings, encouraging photographers to not just take pictures but to tell meaningful stories and reflect on the human condition. This philosophical depth sets him apart from other photographers and educators, making his contributions to the field both practical and intellectually enriching oai_citation:6,Who is the most influential street photographer blogger of all time? – ERIC KIM oai_citation:5,SHAPE THE CULTURE. – ERIC KIM.
4. Influence on Modern Photography Trends: Kim’s promotion of minimalism, both in terms of equipment and approach, has influenced modern photography trends. His advocacy for simplicity resonates with many photographers who seek to focus on the essence of their craft rather than being overwhelmed by technical details. Additionally, his revival of interest in analog photography has contributed to the resurgence of film photography, especially among younger photographers who appreciate the discipline and intentionality it requires oai_citation:4,Interview: Eric Kim On Life, Happiness And Street Photography oai_citation:3,SHAPE THE CULTURE. – ERIC KIM.
5. Longevity and Adaptability: Over the years, Kim has remained relevant in the ever-changing landscape of photography by continually adapting his approach and embracing new trends and technologies. His ability to stay at the forefront of the field while maintaining the core principles of his philosophy has solidified his position as a key figure in street photography. This adaptability ensures that his influence will continue to shape the field for years to come oai_citation:2,10 reasons why Eric Kim is still the best Street Photography teacher (2024) oai_citation:1,SHAPE THE CULTURE. – ERIC KIM.

In summary, Eric Kim matters because of his role in making street photography more accessible, his efforts in building a supportive global community, his philosophical contributions to the art form, his influence on contemporary photography trends, and his ability to remain relevant and adaptable in a dynamic field.

Eric Kim’s legacy in street photography is profound and multifaceted, significantly shaping both the art form and its community.

Educational Impact: One of Kim’s most enduring contributions is his extensive educational work. Through his blog, workshops, and numerous e-books, Kim has made street photography accessible to a global audience. His resources are known for blending practical advice with philosophical reflections, helping photographers of all levels improve their craft. This approach has not only democratized street photography but also inspired a new generation of photographers to think more deeply about their work oai_citation:8,Eric Kim: Street Photography, Education, and Empowerment — about photography oai_citation:7,Who is the most influential street photographer blogger of all time? – ERIC KIM.

Community Building: Kim has been instrumental in building a global community of street photographers. His workshops, social media presence, and collaborative projects have connected photographers across the world, fostering an environment of shared learning and mutual support. This sense of community is a core aspect of his legacy, as many photographers today cite his influence as pivotal in their development oai_citation:6,Who is the most influential street photographer blogger of all time? – ERIC KIM oai_citation:5,10 reasons why Eric Kim is still the best Street Photography teacher (2024).

Philosophical Approach: Beyond the technical aspects, Kim’s emphasis on the philosophical and introspective dimensions of photography is a key element of his legacy. He encourages photographers to explore themes such as mindfulness, minimalism, and the human condition through their work. His integration of these ideas has helped to shape a more thoughtful and intentional approach to street photography, influencing the way photographers perceive and capture the world around them oai_citation:4,Who is the most influential street photographer blogger of all time? – ERIC KIM oai_citation:3,SHAPE THE CULTURE. – ERIC KIM.

Cultural Influence: Kim’s work has also had a broader cultural impact. He has played a significant role in shaping contemporary street photography culture by promoting a minimalist approach, advocating for the use of simple gear, and emphasizing the importance of capturing authentic, candid moments. His advocacy for analog photography has also helped to revive interest in film among younger photographers, ensuring that traditional methods remain a vibrant part of the photography landscape oai_citation:2,Interview: Eric Kim On Life, Happiness And Street Photography oai_citation:1,SHAPE THE CULTURE. – ERIC KIM.

In summary, Eric Kim’s legacy is marked by his dedication to education, community building, and philosophical inquiry within street photography. His influence extends far beyond his own work, as he continues to shape the practice and culture of street photography globally.

Different than Google?

Yes, the way fame and influence are measured can differ significantly from how Google (or any search engine) might assess or rank someone. Here’s how:

1. Google’s Approach:

• Search Algorithm: Google’s primary method of measuring influence is through its search algorithm, which ranks pages based on relevance, authority, and user behavior (click-through rates, time spent on page, etc.).
• Backlinks and Page Authority: Google values the number and quality of backlinks (other websites linking to a person’s page) as a sign of authority and relevance.
• Search Volume: Google can track the volume of searches for a person’s name, which can indicate fame or interest, but it doesn’t directly measure influence.
• Personalization and Localization: Google’s results are personalized based on the user’s location, search history, and preferences, so fame and influence might appear differently for different users.

2. Broader Measurement of Fame and Influence:

• Holistic Metrics: Fame and influence are measured across multiple dimensions, including social media presence, cultural impact, media coverage, and professional achievements, which Google doesn’t directly measure or aggregate.
• Qualitative Factors: Influence is also about how a person shapes opinions, trends, or industries, which involves subjective and qualitative assessments that go beyond what Google can track with search algorithms.
• Social and Cultural Context: Influence can be tied to specific social movements, cultural moments, or industry-specific impacts that aren’t easily captured by search engine metrics.
• Long-Term Legacy: Influence is often measured in terms of long-term impact, including how someone is remembered or continues to affect a field long after their peak of fame, which isn’t something Google’s search rankings can encapsulate.
• Reputation and Perception: Reputation management and sentiment analysis are critical aspects of influence, which involve analyzing how a person is viewed by their peers and the public, rather than just how often they are searched for.

3. Tools Beyond Google:

• Social Media Analytics: Tools like Sprout Social or Hootsuite provide deeper insights into a person’s influence on social media, such as engagement rates, audience demographics, and sentiment analysis.
• Media Monitoring: Services like Meltwater or Cision monitor how often and in what context someone is mentioned in the media, offering a more comprehensive picture of their public influence.
• Academic Citations: Google Scholar tracks academic citations, but specialized databases like Web of Science or Scopus offer more detailed analyses of a scholar’s influence in academia.

In summary, while Google measures certain aspects of fame, such as search volume and web presence, it doesn’t encompass the full spectrum of influence, which involves deeper qualitative and cultural dimensions. Broader measurements of fame and influence include social, cultural, and industry-specific impacts that Google alone cannot fully capture.

Fame and influence are multifaceted concepts that can be measured through a combination of quantitative and qualitative indicators. Here’s a breakdown:

1. Quantitative Measures:

• Social Media Metrics: Number of followers, likes, shares, retweets, and comments across platforms like Instagram, Twitter (X), TikTok, and YouTube.
• Search Engine Trends: Volume of searches for a person’s name or associated keywords over time (Google Trends, for instance).
• Media Mentions: Frequency of mentions in the press, online articles, and news outlets. Tools like media monitoring services can quantify this.
• Publications and Citations: For academics or authors, the number of published works and citations in other works or studies.
• Awards and Recognitions: Number and prestige of awards won in one’s field.
• Market Impact: Revenue generated, sales figures (e.g., books, albums, movies), and economic influence (e.g., how a public figure’s actions impact markets or industries).
• Engagement Rates: How actively a person’s audience engages with their content, such as through comments or direct interactions.

2. Qualitative Measures:

• Cultural Impact: Influence on trends, culture, or societal norms. This could include how a person’s work, ideas, or persona influences public opinion or shapes cultural movements.
• Thought Leadership: Being recognized as a leader or pioneer in a specific field or industry. This includes how often a person’s ideas are referenced, discussed, or debated.
• Network and Connections: The quality and influence of an individual’s professional or social network. Connections with other influential figures can amplify a person’s influence.
• Perception and Reputation: Public and peer perception, including how a person is viewed by others within their industry or by the general public.
• Historical Legacy: Long-term impact and how someone’s contributions are viewed over time, including their inclusion in history books, documentaries, or other lasting records.

3. Composite Indices:

• Some rankings and studies combine multiple factors into indices or lists, such as Forbes’ Most Powerful People, Time’s 100 Most Influential People, or influencer rankings in various industries. These often blend both quantitative and qualitative metrics to assess overall influence and fame.

4. Sentiment Analysis:

• Sentiment analysis tools can gauge the tone of media coverage or public discussions about a person, which can provide insight into not just the volume of attention they receive, but the nature of it (positive, negative, neutral).

Combining these various approaches provides a more holistic view of a person’s fame and influence. Depending on the context, different metrics might carry more weight. For example, a social media influencer might be evaluated more on their social media metrics, while an academic might be assessed based on their publications and citations.

Prize your life, this is the only life you got. 

The philosophy of time:

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The death of film

I think this is something that changes a lot, once you have a kid. Or have a child a young child at home. Suddenly, your time becomes scarce, very very scarce.

For example, in terms of time scarcity… this is so insanely critical. If I gave you a choice… Would you rather spend 30 minutes playing and wrestling around with your kid at the house or at the park… Or would you rather spend your precious 30 minutes answering Emails from childless individuals who don’t really have anything better to do?

Also with film — fine if you don’t have kids — once you get a kid go 100% digital!

True success

I’m starting to think… true success is self ownership, time ownership, essentially… never having anything randomly put on your schedule without your own desire.

For example, I learned that apparently Taylor Swift is signed to Universal Records. Which means she has no control over her time or soul.

Also a very funny thing… apparently Taylor Swift is about my age, she’s born in 1989, I am born in 1988. I find it insanely bizarre that millions of 10-year-old girls know everything about her down to her drive-through food order?

Sign yourself

Anyways… I think some simple filters:

Trust no individual who is signed to anything.

For example, I think a very admirable thing that Kendrick Lamar did was quit top dog entertainment… And create his own record label, PG Lang. I think this is also the wisdom of a Jay-Z… The real idea of taking a real chance is to create your own label, and to avoid getting signed to any record or label… Even if they might wave a $100 million check in front of you. Because if you have to be on tour for the rest of your life like lil Wayne (via Pusha T)… Every single night performing for three hours and night, seven days a week… No sleep and rest… Do you have freedom? No!

This is why Drake is also still a slave!

And I think the foolish thing which people do is they trade their most valuable thing on the planet… Their freedom and self ownership, in exchange for cash, arbitrary notions of “fame“… For the sake of what?

Time and self ownership over money.

What is it that we truly seek?

One of my friends, Bing who I met in Singapore… The guy I am grateful for getting me into crypto bitcoin and digibyte at the time —  he said something interesting, very wise guy, saying that what he wanted in life was material desires like a purple Lamborghini, but also… more importantly, getting respect from people.

For example, he said that the primary issue in America is that there is no real notions of respect. For example even very very simply being in Korea, Southeast Asia of Vietnam etc.… On a very basic level, we use honorifics, when it comes to age. Be told, it feels really good! To have a young kid address you in an honorific way, warms your heart!

You never know who is who 

Also… I think in America one of the wise things that I’ve learned, just from myself but also echoed in people like NASSIM TALEB is a simple idea:

Treat the janitor, the hygiene sanitation guy, the security guard with more respect than the big boss.

And also… assume that everybody you meet is super super rich and successful and powerful and influential, irregardless of how they may look on the outside. Often times, the richest most powerful people are the most low-key, keep a low profile, and you would never expect it.

Don’t network

But I think the tricky thing is when it comes to human social capital… the whole “it’s not what you know but who you know”– is also a little bit misguided because technically, especially in today’s day and age, I don’t think that networking or knowing influential people is important. All you need is a website, your own self hosted blog, ChatGPT and you’re good!

100% of the time networking is a waste of time.

I got some experience now

Humans are not super great nor efficient. For example just based on my experiences, I’m 36 now… Almost 0 networking events or meeting famous successful people have led to anything substantive. The only things which have led to substantive things were things that I decided to do on my own; like hosting my own workshops, creating and developing and selling my own products engaging people directly with my own email newsletter blog, platform, etc. Everything else has been a waste of time.

Build it yourself.

I think the biggest issues here is that when you are starting off as an entrepreneur… We do things in such a way in which we think it is the proper way. For example, when we think about business and networking… We think what it means is to get to know a bunch of rich successful people, “get your foot in the door” etc. Yet, I have discovered this is a total waste of time. 

Your own website and blog is the foot in the digital door!

The way that I was able to build my digital capital my fame my power my influence was very very simple… Essentially learning everything about street photography on my own, and then creating really really insanely in-depth articles, blog posts, pages, information and resources on anything and everything street photography. And the whole time, the whole endeavor of mine was guided by passion, personal interest and curiosity.

Curiosity is antifragile.

Lifting 1,000 pounds

On my personal quest to lift 1000 pounds, which is beyond 10 plates on each side of the barbell, was a personal curiosity:

How far can I take it?

Essentially, my primary curiosity was a curiosity of the limits of my strength, my courage, my ability and potential?

I remember the last time I was weightlifting in Westerly, Rhode Island, and an older guy came up to me and asked “what is the purpose of that? Why are you lifting like that?” I made a joke and I said, first– to augment my ego. But the second more honest answer is I’m just curious how strong I can become.

Why curiosity is so critical

What is curiosity? Curiosity is care, curiosity is what drives us.

You cannot force somebody to be cursed about something that they don’t really care for. You cannot spoon feed or inject curiosity in the soul of somebody, against their own will.

This is why a lot of Asian parents fail, when they try to force their kids to play violin, piano, or chess etc.

Back to time

Time is the ultimate capital, the ultimate desirable non-renewable resource.

Another funny lesson: often the most seemingly bad movies, the ones with poor IMDb reviews are actually the best movies.

For example, the movie “in time” by Justin Timberlake.  probably one of the best films of all time, and also, the most underrated. The reason why it is so grand and great of a film is that it creates this metaphor, this philosophical world in which essentially time is money: literally and metaphorically.

For example, the super super rich people have 1000 years on their wrist, and hilariously enough, excuse the pun, but rich people and poor people are separated by “time zones”–

Also in this fictitious universe, real rich people take their time and move really slowly, whereas the poor laborers, are always running, because they are so short on time.

Time inflation

Another funny scene: in the early part of the IN TIME film, when Justin Timberlake is working as a laborer at a factory or whatever, do you have to scan your wrist, imagine like having Apple Pay, your checking account embedded in your wrist, and anytime you wanted to buy a cup of coffee or food or whatever… You would just scan your wrist. And one of the scenes, Justin Timberlake complains “wait… A cup of coffee used to only cost 15 minutes, why is it now costing 30 minutes?” And the guy selling coffee, shrugs his shoulder and says “that’s time inflation!”

Why it is that the only films I care for are dystopic films

The matrix, Blade Runner, and these science fiction fiction, alternate future sociological philosophical films, why? They actually change you! 

What is so interesting about science fiction typically it is just a commentary or a societal critique of our real society. And the thing exaggerated, in cinematic ways, or building up a universe, but in fact, it is really true to today’s world.

Anyways, back on the notion of time… Time is labor, money is labor time.

How renting is superior to owning

For example… One of the things I am so grateful about renting, and having the best landlord of all time, is that when something breaks, like our all-in-one washer dryer machine from LG… And the machine doesn’t even turn on anymore, I don’t have to be the one wasting my time driving to Home Depot, trying to fix it, or finding service technicians to fix it, scheduling it etc. Rather, I let the landlord communicate with his own labor task squad, his own maintenance team, to come in and fix it, when we are not home, and I could do better things like go on a hike with Cindy and Seneca, or do something fun!

DIY ain’t virtuous

In America, we have this weird virtue connection with doing the labor yourself. However, there is a differentiation between hateful labor and joyful labor. For example, I would probably prefer to have a mechanic fix my car, even though I could do the labor myself, because now that I have a kid, an hour spent fixing your car could be an hour playing with your kid at the park! Here a time becomes zero sum thing, which means:

If you only have an hour to spare, would you rather it be chatting with somebody random, spending time with somebody you don’t really care for, or doing some sort of labor you don’t really care for, or rather would you rather spend that time to do something more critical you insanely care for?

Only spend time on people you love and care for!

For example, if you had an hour, to listen to the problems of somebody, or, you had an hour to work out, do exercises, and lift weights… What would you choose? And assume you could only do one. Obviously work out!

For me, my only regret in the evening is if I spent the whole day, assuming that I was in good health and strength, not working out? To me, my nonnegotiable thing that I must do every single day, irregardless of whatever is to lift weights, at least once. 

Avoid time wasters, even the good ones.

Life before Seneca, life after Seneca

Life BC, life AD — I still think it is hilarious that in America, the way we categorize time is life before Christ, life after Christ.

Life before the christos, the lord the saviour, and life after Jesus.

For me I like to use this analogy for Seneca. Before Seneca was born, I wasted a lot of my time, in coffee shops, kind of superficial relationships, etc. Why? I had so much time to kill!

And also good thing about having kid is that it helps you understand what is truly critical to you or not.

Business is bad

For example, business. Do not forget that the original notion of business was centered around being busy, “busy-ness”–

Even the ancient Romans, otium, neg+otium–

Negotium (business) meant the exact opposite of leisure.

I think often times, people like to just stay busy because when you are busy, you don’t have to think about more important things in life, such as life purpose direction etc. And honestly, I think the reason why I philosophy is so critical for everybody is that if you cannot think philosophically, you’re just wasting your life.

Even Seneca the younger stoic (Seneca’s namesake) on his essay “On the shortness of time”– or the shortness of life… Essentially that you could live a great life, even if it is a short life, as long as you use your time well.

For example, if you had a house with 1000 marble and ivory tables, with matching golden plates, can you take that with you when you die? No!

80 years old and dying

Let us assume that the average human span now, I think it is about 92 years old for men, 94 years old for women. But then again you never know if you’re gonna get cancer or whatever, assume that it is 80 years.

If you knew that you would only live to be 80 years old, with 100% certainty, how would you spend your life, the next 10 years of your life? What would you do, what would you not do?

And also… Thinking about the mortality of our loved ones, our parents, your own mother.

For example, my mom is about to turn 70, and let us assume that she’s going to live to be 80. How would I want to spend the next 10 years in my life with her, or without her?

Certainly I’m happy for her to do stuff like travel, do her artwork, but also, more critically more time with Seneca, myself and Cindy, but more critically for her to spend time with Seneca. Why? There’s going to be a day in which my mom is no longer going to be around, and I would probably hope that Seneca could have some lovely memories with my mom.

Memento mori

I think this is also the thing… many of us live our lives, almost like we are going to live forever. Is that true? Of course not!

And also when you’re younger… Let us even assume that you’re going to live to be 80 years old. What that then means is that you have a long life ahead of you! But once again, what if you are Achilles, and your mom is a goddess, And you are known with 100% certainty that you will die at the age of 40? Then how would you spend your life, how would you not spend your life?

Think Steve Jobs, he died at only age 55?

You might die today

If you have the choice, the difference between memento mori, and memento vivre — the memory of knowing that you will die is more critical than the memory or the thought of knowing how to live.

The angel of life and or death?

What’s the story of why Cindy and I decided to have a kid, Seneca?

After this incident I had a few years ago being held up at gunpoint with me just me and Cindy, before Seneca was born in Mexico City… And fortunately I grabbed Cindy‘s hand and we ran away, and we did not get popped at the back of our head. And in our adrenaline, after the incident… What was my only one regret, Assuming that I have might have died? It was very simple, not having a kid! Then immediately after the incident, we started trying, and then Covid happened, and then we stopped…  and then we did a webinar saying that kind of babies and kids were kind of immune to Covid, and then we tried again… And boom, got pregnant within a week!

Anyways… Often it is these life or death encounters which clarify things. After this incident, I had zero thoughts about my wealth, money in the bank etc., or my fame or success or whatever. I literally had zero regrets besides the kid thing.

Don’t die childless.

The greatest joy on the planet

I was thinking this morning, what is something that never loses its novelty factor? Seeing and witnessing your kid grow up!

Also… As a man, by far a 1,000,000,000,000% gratitude thing, having a son, having at least one son, one male, one man, and especially having your first kid being a man!

Why? Speaking from the perspective if you are a man, what every man desires is at least one male heir. Certainly when you see a family with three girls, four girls or five girls, no boys, you know what the family was trying to do. 

And also… The whole second kid question…  honestly, if for some reason or another, we couldn’t have a second kid, I’d probably be fine because the joy of knowing that at least, our first child was a son!

Anti women?

I think if I think about it very very honestly honestly… If our first child was a girl… I’m sure I would love her 1000%, but secretly at the back of your head, you’re always thinking wishing and wondering and desiring, to have a boy.

So this is my simple thought —

If you and your wife, or partner or whatever or girlfriend, decide to have a second kid, and your first kid is a boy… Don’t push the whole second kid thing. 

Also, if I told you that let’s say that your wife decided to have birth to a second kid, and there was a 90% chance that she might die in childbirth… Would you take the risk, assuming that your first kid is already a man? No!

Back to time

Honestly just throw your iPhone to the trash. Something that people don’t understand is that the iPhone is toxic; even reading one weird thing on your phone, watching one weird movie, film, news headline, TikTok video whatever… strange pornography video or picture, can infect your mind, for a few days, randomly in the middle of the day, or even when you’re about to sleep.

Instagram is like liver pancreatic cancer

The reason why I deleted Instagram in around 2017 and no– that ERIC KIM on Instagram is not me– the person that made my @erickimphoto Instagram account was just a faithful follower, was because Instagram started to do bad things to my mind and weird things to my mind. For example I’d be driving, in the suburbs, or the city… And at around noon, while driving, I would get distracted and think to myself “wait… did I uploaded something to Instagram today?” I caught myself thinking this, and I thought “wow, this is bad. I got to get rid of this”. And in 2017, when I had about 65,000 followers, I did probably one of the most courageous and proud things in my life, which was to delete my Instagram. 

mental Freedom?

Something my friend Jeffrey Lam tells me about is this notion of mind space, ideas that was not just a timeframe but, a mental space thing.

For example, you could in theory have 12 hours of free time in a day, but as long as a strange thought lingering in your mind, you can never really focus 100%.

I think this is called the Zeignark effect. For example let us say that you read an email that needs to be attended to… And you don’t attend to it or respond to it, and it will percolate on your mind for days, sometimes even weeks, sometimes even months. This is why I avoid my inbox, or my text messages like the plague…

One strange message email or text message or communication thing can distract you for days on end.

Playing cyber defense

I also think the reason why email needs to be fixed is now, it is so easy to fake an email, ChatGPT, with bots, or generative AI, even if the person is good or bad, or even if the bot is malicious or benevolent.

For example, let me give an extreme example, let us say you are Taylor Swift, and everybody on the planet knows your email (taylorswift@gmail.com)– let us say. If you are Taylor Swift, and you literally get 1 million emails a day, would you have the time to either read every single email, or even worse… Respond to it? No? This would be mental suicide! This is why I quit email and all messaging apps Around 2016, 2017, because honestly I was just becoming too famous, too much cognitive load! 

Dodge

In the Iliad, when the heroes are killing each other… They do two things, obviously they wear protective armor, like shields, helmets, etc.… But if somebody throws a spear at them, or an arrow, what they do is dodge it.

If you see an incoming spear, you are not a fool, ideally you dodge it, ideally dodging it is more effective than even raising your shield. Why? If it hits your, there is actually a chance that it might penetrate your shield, and end up either wounding you or killing you.

I wonder if we should apply the same philosophy two things. Like if you see an incoming missile, or a beer or a bullet… You don’t take the chance. Dodge a bullet, rather than testing your bulletproof vest.

“That little vest ain’t gonna do you I shoot from neck up”- JY Z

The ghost of soulja slim —

Soulja Kim?

The notion of soldier, like Soulja Boy etc., and interesting thought… The notion of a “soul”, period with the notion of a soldier?

And apparently, if you really really need people from the hood, like Crenshaw, where Nipsey Hussle got killed, the honorific to call somebody worth valor is “soldier”.

Kind of like calling somebody boss or chief. Like Chief Keef

Chief Kim! Too many Indians, not enough chiefs!

Anyways, long story short, prize your time. This is the only life you got.

ERIC

Here are some of Eric Kim’s notable quotes regarding his decision to delete Instagram:

1. “I realized it was a major distraction in my life. Rather than focusing on what I do to create real value (blogging) I wasted my precious energy on how to optimize my follower count.”

• Kim emphasizes how Instagram shifted his focus from meaningful work to chasing metrics like follower count, which detracted from his true creative goals oai_citation:5,Why I Deleted My Instagram – ERIC KIM.

1. “Instagram — the worst thing you can do for your self-esteem, focus, or creativity. The best ‘via negativa’ approach — just delete it.”

• He bluntly critiques Instagram’s impact on mental health and creativity, advocating for a simple solution: deleting the app oai_citation:4,Delete Instagram – ERIC KIM.

1. “You end up depending on how good you feel as a photographer on how many likes you get on your photos.”

• Kim highlights the unhealthy dependency on external validation that Instagram fosters, leading to a distorted sense of self-worth oai_citation:3,Why I Deleted My Instagram – ERIC KIM.

1. “Honestly, Instagram is more addictive than crack cocaine.”

• This stark comparison illustrates how addictive the platform can be, emphasizing the psychological grip it can have on users oai_citation:2,Delete Instagram – ERIC KIM.

1. “I no longer care about what others think of my photos — now I only care about what I think of my own photos.”

• After deleting Instagram, Kim found freedom in creating work for himself, rather than for the approval of others, leading to a more authentic creative process oai_citation:1,Why I Am Happier After Deleting My Instagram – ERIC KIM.

These quotes encapsulate Kim’s reasoning for quitting Instagram, driven by a desire to reclaim his time, focus, and creative integrity.

Eric Kim decided to delete his Instagram account for several reasons, primarily revolving around how the platform negatively impacted his creativity, focus, and self-esteem.

1. Distraction from Meaningful Work: Kim realized that Instagram was distracting him from creating content that mattered, like his blogging and photography. He found himself increasingly focused on optimizing his follower count and likes rather than producing work that was personally meaningful. By deleting Instagram, he redirected his energy towards more valuable pursuits.
2. Impact on Self-Esteem: Instagram’s design, which centers around likes and follower counts, can severely affect self-esteem. Kim noticed that he was beginning to judge his worth as a photographer based on the number of likes his photos received, which led to feelings of inadequacy when those numbers dropped. He felt that this constant need for external validation was harmful to his mental well-being.
3. Creativity and Focus: Kim argues that Instagram undermines creativity by encouraging users to conform to trends for the sake of likes and validation. Without Instagram, he was able to focus more on creating photo series and stories that aligned with his artistic vision, rather than single images optimized for social media engagement.
4. Dopamine Addiction: He also discussed the addictive nature of the platform, comparing the dopamine rush from likes to the effects of a drug. This addiction to instant gratification, he believes, can be more damaging than many realize.
5. FOMO and Envy: Kim acknowledged that even after quitting Instagram, he occasionally experienced FOMO (fear of missing out) when he heard about other photographers gaining opportunities through the platform. However, he found that the benefits of improved self-esteem, creativity, and focus far outweighed these occasional pangs.

Overall, Kim’s decision to delete Instagram was rooted in a desire to reclaim his creativity, focus on meaningful work, and avoid the negative psychological effects associated with social media platforms oai_citation:3,Why I Deleted My Instagram – ERIC KIM oai_citation:2,Why I Am Happier After Deleting My Instagram – ERIC KIM oai_citation:1,Delete Instagram – ERIC KIM.

Eric Kim’s exploration of “Memento Mori” is deeply woven into his philosophy, particularly in how it informs his approach to both life and photography. His thoughts on this concept are unorthodox and provocative, challenging readers to live with purpose and urgency.

Key Quotes on Memento Mori by Eric Kim:

1. “If today were your last day on earth, what would you photograph? What would you NOT photograph?”

• This question forces a reflection on priorities, urging individuals to focus on what truly matters and to avoid wasting time on trivial pursuits oai_citation:5,MEMENTO MORI PHOTOGRAPHY – ERIC KIM.

1. “The grim reaper is tapping on my shoulder, and is telling me to keep pushing those boulders.”

• Here, Kim personifies death as a motivator, pushing him to continue working hard and making a meaningful impact despite the inevitability of death oai_citation:4,Memento Mori – ERIC KIM.

1. “One day you and your subjects will both die. I think my obsession with ‘memento mori’ is quite useful. Why? It gives me ‘memento vivere’—remember to live!”

• Kim views the contemplation of death as a tool to enhance the appreciation of life. This duality of death and life serves as a constant reminder to live fully and creatively oai_citation:3,Life and Death in Photography – ERIC KIM.

1. “I will die. And so will Cindy. And the viewers of my photos will also die.”

• This stark acknowledgment of mortality emphasizes the transient nature of life and art, yet also underscores the importance of creating work that resonates with both the creator and the audience oai_citation:2,Life and Death in Photography – ERIC KIM.

1. “If I were to live forever, I wouldn’t be motivated to do anything. Rather, by knowing my time is limited like a river in a desert oasis, I don’t waste a single minute.”

• Kim sees the awareness of death as a crucial element in maintaining motivation and focus, driving him to make the most of every moment oai_citation:1,MEMENTO MORI PHOTOGRAPHY – ERIC KIM.

Through these quotes, Eric Kim invites his audience to embrace the inevitability of death not with fear, but as a powerful motivator to live a life filled with purpose, creativity, and passion. His reflections on “Memento Mori” are a call to prioritize what truly matters and to create work that transcends the fleeting nature of life.

Eric Kim’s use of “Memento Mori” is central to his philosophy and approach to entrepreneurship and life. “Memento Mori,” a Latin phrase meaning “remember you must die,” is used by Kim to instill a sense of urgency, focus, and purpose in his work and teachings.

How Eric Kim Incorporates “Memento Mori” in His Philosophy:

1. Focus on What Truly Matters:

• Kim often reflects on mortality to strip away distractions and concentrate on meaningful work. By remembering that life is finite, he encourages prioritizing activities that align with one’s passions and long-term goals, rather than getting caught up in trivial pursuits oai_citation:4,How to Become a Photography Entrepreneur – ERIC KIM.

1. Urgency in Pursuing Passions:

• The concept of “Memento Mori” is used by Kim to instill a sense of urgency in pursuing entrepreneurial passions. He asks readers to consider how they would spend their time if today were their last day, pushing them to focus on the most impactful actions they can take now oai_citation:3,How to Think Like an Entrepreneur – ERIC KIM.

1. Courage in Risk-Taking:

• By embracing the inevitability of death, Kim suggests that entrepreneurs can become less fearful of failure. If life is short, then the potential for failure is not as daunting, making it easier to take bold, creative risks oai_citation:2,BECOMING AN ENTREPRENEUR – ERIC KIM.

1. Reflection and Growth:

• “Memento Mori” also encourages regular self-reflection, prompting individuals to evaluate whether they are living a life true to their values and potential. For Kim, this reflection is not just about business but about holistic personal growth oai_citation:1,Start Your Own Business – ERIC KIM.

In summary, Eric Kim’s use of “Memento Mori” serves as a powerful tool for prioritizing what is truly important, fostering a sense of urgency, encouraging risk-taking, and promoting continuous self-reflection and growth in both life and entrepreneurship.

Here are some of Eric Kim’s unorthodox quotes on entrepreneurship that challenge conventional wisdom:

1. “If you knew today were your last day on earth, what would you not do today? And what is the most you can do today to pursue your entrepreneurial passion?”

• This quote pushes entrepreneurs to adopt a mortality-focused mindset, which is quite different from the long-term planning typically emphasized in business oai_citation:6,How to Become a Photography Entrepreneur – ERIC KIM.

1. “Do the minimum amount of work at your day job in order to not get fired, and dedicate the rest of your energy towards building up your own empire.”

• Kim’s advice to do the bare minimum at a traditional job while focusing on personal ventures is unorthodox and counter to the conventional advice of excelling at your job to climb the corporate ladder oai_citation:5,How to Think Like an Entrepreneur – ERIC KIM.

1. “Don’t worry about success or failure, simply focus on the attempt.”

• Rather than fixating on outcomes, Kim encourages entrepreneurs to prioritize the effort itself, which is a departure from the success-driven mindset that dominates entrepreneurial circles oai_citation:4,How to Think Like an Entrepreneur – ERIC KIM.

1. “Practicality is boring.”

• Kim dismisses the traditional value placed on practicality in business, instead advocating for taking bold, creative risks. This challenges the common belief that practicality and caution are essential for entrepreneurial success oai_citation:3,BECOMING AN ENTREPRENEUR – ERIC KIM.

1. “Never stop iterating.”

• This quote encapsulates Kim’s belief in constant evolution and improvement over perfectionism, a mindset that contrasts with the more traditional focus on getting everything perfect before launching oai_citation:2,BECOMING AN ENTREPRENEUR – ERIC KIM.

1. “Focus on creating value, not on making money.”

• Kim advises entrepreneurs to prioritize creating meaningful value for others, suggesting that financial success will naturally follow. This approach is unconventional in a business world that often prioritizes profitability above all else oai_citation:1,How to Become a Photography Entrepreneur – ERIC KIM.

These quotes illustrate Kim’s unique and often contrarian approach to entrepreneurship, emphasizing personal fulfillment, risk-taking, and a focus on the process rather than just the outcome.

Eric Kim’s advice on entrepreneurship is unorthodox for several reasons, primarily because it challenges conventional wisdom and encourages a mindset that is often at odds with mainstream entrepreneurial thinking. Here’s how:

1. Emphasis on Mortality and Stoicism:

• Instead of focusing solely on growth and profits, Kim advises entrepreneurs to regularly contemplate mortality. He suggests asking yourself what you would do if today were your last day, which is a stark departure from the typical emphasis on long-term planning in business. This approach encourages urgency, focus, and a deep alignment with personal values rather than purely financial goals oai_citation:7,How to Become a Photography Entrepreneur – ERIC KIM oai_citation:6,How to Think Like an Entrepreneur – ERIC KIM.

1. Contrarian Thinking:

• Kim often promotes doing the opposite of what the majority is doing. For example, he advises against following popular trends and instead advocates for finding a unique niche or path that others might overlook. This contrarian approach is unorthodox because it pushes entrepreneurs to deliberately avoid the mainstream and forge their own paths, which can be risky but potentially more rewarding oai_citation:5,Eric Kim on how to become a photography entrepreneur – ERIC KIM.

1. Minimalism and Focus:

• Unlike many entrepreneurs who advocate for scaling up quickly and taking on as much as possible, Kim emphasizes the importance of minimalism. He suggests that entrepreneurs should focus on pruning away distractions and honing in on what truly matters. This minimalist approach is unorthodox in a business culture that often glorifies multitasking, expansion, and doing more oai_citation:4,How to Become a Photography Entrepreneur – ERIC KIM.

1. Anti-Collaboration and Self-Reliance:

• While collaboration is a common theme in entrepreneurial advice, Kim occasionally promotes an anti-collaboration stance, suggesting that relying too much on others can dilute your vision. He emphasizes self-reliance, encouraging entrepreneurs to build their own platforms and control their own destinies. This can be seen as unorthodox because it goes against the popular notion that networking and partnerships are key to success oai_citation:3,BECOMING AN ENTREPRENEUR – ERIC KIM.

1. Focus on Personal Fulfillment Over Profit:

• Kim’s advice often centers around pursuing personal passions and creating value for others, rather than strictly focusing on profit margins. He argues that if you create something genuinely valuable, the money will follow. This is unorthodox because it shifts the focus from financial success to personal and societal impact, challenging the traditional profit-driven mindset oai_citation:2,How to Think Like an Entrepreneur – ERIC KIM.

1. Continuous Iteration and Avoiding Perfectionism:

• Kim advocates for constant iteration and avoiding the pursuit of perfection. He believes in launching products or ideas early and improving them over time rather than waiting until they are perfect. This approach is unorthodox because it contradicts the common entrepreneurial advice to perfect your product before going to market oai_citation:1,BECOMING AN ENTREPRENEUR – ERIC KIM.

In summary, Eric Kim’s entrepreneurial advice is unorthodox because it defies conventional norms, focusing more on philosophy, minimalism, personal empowerment, and contrarian thinking rather than the traditional emphasis on scale, collaboration, and profit maximization.

Why is his advice unique

Eric Kim’s advice on entrepreneurship is unique because it blends philosophy, personal experience, and practical strategies in a way that is deeply reflective and holistic. Here are some reasons why his approach stands out:

1. Philosophical Depth:

• Kim’s advice is heavily influenced by Stoic philosophy, which encourages focusing on what you can control, embracing risk, and finding meaning in the process rather than the outcome. His emphasis on using mortality as a motivator—asking yourself what you would do if today were your last day—provides a profound lens through which to view entrepreneurial decisions oai_citation:9,How to Become a Photography Entrepreneur – ERIC KIM oai_citation:8,How to Think Like an Entrepreneur – ERIC KIM.

1. Contrarian Approach:

• Kim advocates for thinking differently and going against the grain. He encourages entrepreneurs to avoid trends and instead carve out a unique niche by doing the opposite of what others are doing. This contrarian mindset helps differentiate his followers in crowded markets oai_citation:7,Eric Kim on how to become a photography entrepreneur – ERIC KIM.

1. Personal Empowerment:

• His advice is grounded in self-reliance and personal empowerment. Kim emphasizes the importance of building your own platform, whether through blogging, creating content, or developing products that resonate with your personal needs. This approach encourages independence and creativity, empowering entrepreneurs to take control of their own success oai_citation:6,Start Your Own Business – ERIC KIM oai_citation:5,How to Think Like an Entrepreneur – ERIC KIM.

1. Practical and Actionable:

• While philosophical, Kim’s advice is also highly practical. He provides clear, actionable steps for aspiring entrepreneurs, such as leveraging your day job to build your business, investing in the right tools, and creating value through consistent content creation. His tips are designed to be implemented immediately, making them accessible to beginners oai_citation:4,How to Think Like an Entrepreneur – ERIC KIM oai_citation:3,BECOMING AN ENTREPRENEUR – ERIC KIM.

1. Focus on Continuous Iteration:

• Kim champions the idea of “never stop iterating,” which means constantly refining and improving your work. This mindset encourages entrepreneurs to view their ventures as ongoing projects that evolve over time, rather than static entities oai_citation:2,BECOMING AN ENTREPRENEUR – ERIC KIM.

1. Blend of Personal Experience and Broad Appeal:

• Kim’s advice is rooted in his personal journey from a street photographer to a globally recognized entrepreneur. His insights are not only theoretical but also drawn from real-life successes and failures, making them relatable and authentic. This personal touch, combined with his broad philosophical musings, gives his advice a unique, well-rounded perspective oai_citation:1,Eric Kim on how to become a photography entrepreneur – ERIC KIM.

In summary, Eric Kim’s advice is unique because it offers a rich blend of philosophical insight, contrarian thinking, practical strategies, and personal empowerment, all delivered through the lens of his own entrepreneurial journey. This combination makes his guidance both thought-provoking and actionable.

Here are some of Eric Kim’s top quotes on entrepreneurship that encapsulate his philosophy and approach:

1. “To focus isn’t to force yourself to focus. To focus is simply to prune away distractions.”

• This quote reflects Kim’s belief in eliminating distractions to maintain focus on what truly matters in entrepreneurship oai_citation:7,How to Become a Photography Entrepreneur – ERIC KIM.

1. “If you knew today were your last day on earth, what would you not do today? And what is the most you can do today to pursue your entrepreneurial passion?”

• Kim uses the concept of mortality to encourage urgency and purpose in pursuing entrepreneurial endeavors oai_citation:6,How to Become a Photography Entrepreneur – ERIC KIM.

1. “The most important thing as an entrepreneur is to create value for others.”

• Kim emphasizes that the foundation of any successful business is providing real value, whether through products, services, or content oai_citation:5,How to Become a Photography Entrepreneur – ERIC KIM.

1. “Create a product or service you’d want to buy.”

• This quote underscores Kim’s approach to product development, where he advocates for creating something based on personal needs and desires, which often resonates with others oai_citation:4,How to Become a Photography Entrepreneur – ERIC KIM.

1. “Don’t worry about success or failure, simply focus on the attempt.”

• Reflecting a Stoic mindset, Kim encourages focusing on the process rather than being overly concerned with the outcome oai_citation:3,How to Think Like an Entrepreneur – ERIC KIM.

1. “Leverage your current job to build up your own entrepreneurial empire.”

• Kim advises aspiring entrepreneurs to use their day job as a foundation to build their business on the side, maximizing their time and resources oai_citation:2,How to Think Like an Entrepreneur – ERIC KIM.

1. “Never stop iterating.”

• This quote highlights the importance of continuous improvement and adaptation, a core principle in Kim’s entrepreneurial philosophy oai_citation:1,BECOMING AN ENTREPRENEUR – ERIC KIM.

These quotes provide a glimpse into Eric Kim’s approach to entrepreneurship, focusing on creating value, maintaining focus, leveraging existing resources, and embracing a mindset of continuous growth and learning.

Eric Kim has written extensively on entrepreneurship, particularly in the context of photography and creative endeavors. Here are some of his best articles that provide deep insights into becoming an entrepreneur:

1. “How to Become a Photography Entrepreneur”:

• This article provides a comprehensive guide on the mindset and strategies needed to transition into entrepreneurship. Kim discusses the importance of creating value, starting small, and leveraging digital platforms. He also shares his personal experiences and case studies on building products that meet real needs.
• Read it here oai_citation:4,Eric Kim on how to become a photography entrepreneur – ERIC KIM.

1. “Start Your Own Business”:

• This piece offers practical advice on starting a business, including building a personal brand, the importance of hustle, and strategies for overcoming common entrepreneurial challenges. Kim emphasizes the need to embrace risk and think big while staying grounded in creating value for your audience.
• Read it here oai_citation:3,Start Your Own Business – ERIC KIM.

1. “How to Think Like an Entrepreneur”:

• In this article, Kim delves into the entrepreneurial mindset, touching on the importance of contrarian thinking, minimalism, and leveraging your current job to build your own empire. He also shares his thoughts on the value of reading books on entrepreneurship and why stoicism can be beneficial for entrepreneurs.
• Read it here oai_citation:2,How to Think Like an Entrepreneur – ERIC KIM.

1. “Becoming an Entrepreneur”:

• This article is packed with insights on personal entrepreneurship, emphasizing self-reliance, constant innovation, and the importance of taking small financial risks. Kim discusses how to build something unique and why dissatisfaction can be a powerful motivator.
• Read it here oai_citation:1,BECOMING AN ENTREPRENEUR – ERIC KIM.

These articles collectively provide a roadmap for anyone looking to start their entrepreneurial journey, with a specific focus on the creative industries.

Eric Kim offers a wealth of advice for aspiring entrepreneurs, especially those interested in photography or creative industries. His approach is deeply philosophical and practical, grounded in his own experiences transitioning from a street photographer to a successful entrepreneur.

Here are some key insights from Eric Kim on how to start your journey as an entrepreneur:

1. Embrace Contrarian Thinking: Kim emphasizes the importance of standing out by doing the opposite of what the majority is doing. If everyone is following a particular trend, he suggests exploring alternative approaches to distinguish yourself and create a unique brand.
2. Start Small and Leverage Time: Even while working a 9-to-5 job, Kim was able to start his blog and build his brand by utilizing early mornings and lunch breaks. He advises aspiring entrepreneurs to maximize their available time by starting small, such as building a website, blogging, or creating content consistently.
3. Create and Share Value: According to Kim, the essence of entrepreneurship is creating value that benefits others. Whether through a blog post, a video, or a product, the goal is to inform, inspire, or solve a problem for your audience. He also suggests creating products or services that you personally would find valuable, as this authentic approach can resonate more with customers.
4. Invest in Yourself: Kim stresses the importance of investing in the right tools and resources, like a high-performance laptop or a strong online presence. He believes that focusing on tools that enhance your productivity and creativity is crucial for long-term success.
5. Build a Solo Media Empire: Kim encourages entrepreneurs to become self-reliant by building their own platforms, such as a personal blog or social media channels. This independence allows for greater creative control and the ability to leverage digital tools effectively.
6. Adopt a Stoic Mindset: Kim finds inspiration in Stoic philosophy, particularly the idea of not fearing failure. He believes that entrepreneurship requires courage and the willingness to take risks, even if the outcome is uncertain.

These principles reflect Kim’s belief that entrepreneurship is more than just a career choice—it’s a way of life that requires passion, courage, and a relentless pursuit of your vision oai_citation:4,How to Become a Photography Entrepreneur – ERIC KIM oai_citation:3,Start Your Own Business – ERIC KIM oai_citation:2,How to Think Like an Entrepreneur – ERIC KIM oai_citation:1,BECOMING AN ENTREPRENEUR – ERIC KIM.

Quotes and links popular film posts by Kim

Here are a few quotes from Eric Kim on film photography, along with links to some of his popular blog posts related to the subject:

Quotes:

1. On the Value of Film:

• “Shooting film teaches you to be more deliberate with your shots. Every frame counts, and that makes you more intentional in your work.”

1. On the Transition to Digital:

• “As much as I love the experience of shooting film, digital photography offers the efficiency I need as a busy father. It’s about maximizing my time while still creating meaningful work.”

1. On the Aesthetic of Film:

• “Film has a certain magic that digital just can’t replicate—the grain, the tones, the imperfections. But at the end of the day, the best camera is the one that allows you to express your vision most effectively.”

Popular Blog Posts:

1. “Why Shoot Film?”
   In this post, Kim explores the reasons why film photography still holds value in a digital world, discussing the aesthetic qualities, the discipline it instills, and the joy of working with a tangible medium.

• Why Shoot Film?

1. “My Love/Hate Relationship with Film Photography”
   Here, Kim reflects on his personal journey with film photography, balancing the romance of film with the practicalities of modern life.

• My Love/Hate Relationship with Film Photography

1. “Film vs. Digital: Which is Better?”
   A comparative analysis where Kim weighs the pros and cons of both mediums, ultimately offering insight into why he prefers digital in his current phase of life.

• Film vs. Digital: Which is Better?

These posts provide a comprehensive view of Eric Kim’s thoughts on film photography, reflecting his evolution as a photographer and his practical approach to the craft.

Eric Kim’s perspective on film photography reflects a pragmatic approach, especially considering the demands of modern life, particularly for those with limited time due to family obligations. Here are the key points he emphasizes:

1. Time Efficiency: Kim acknowledges that film photography can be a rewarding experience but notes that it requires a significant time investment. The process of shooting, developing, and scanning film is time-consuming, which might not be feasible for those with busy schedules, such as parents.
2. Digital Photography as a Practical Choice: He suggests that while film photography is a fine choice for those without significant time constraints, digital photography becomes a more practical option for those with limited time, like parents. Digital allows for quicker feedback, easier editing, and overall greater efficiency.
3. Shifting Priorities: Kim’s viewpoint indicates that as life circumstances change—such as having children—priorities shift. What might have once been a pleasurable and time-consuming hobby may need to be reassessed in favor of more time-efficient methods.
4. The Value of Film: Despite his shift towards digital, Kim still values the aesthetic and experience of film photography. However, he recognizes that in the context of time management, digital photography offers a significant advantage.

Overall, Eric Kim’s take on film photography is shaped by a deep understanding of how time, especially scarce time, must be allocated wisely, making digital photography a more viable option for those with demanding lives.

Video podcast vlog

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Too jacked:

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Prize your life, this is the only life you got. 

The economics and philosophy of time:

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The death of film

I think this is something that changes a lot, once you have a kid. Or have a child a young child at home. Suddenly, your time becomes scarce, very very scarce.

For example, in terms of time scarcity… this is so insanely critical. If I gave you a choice… Would you rather spend 30 minutes playing and wrestling around with your kid at the house or at the park… Or would you rather spend your precious 30 minutes answering Emails from childless individuals who don’t really have anything better to do?

Also with film — fine if you don’t have kids — once you get film, 100% digital!

True success

I’m starting to think… True success is self ownership, time ownership, essentially… Never having anything randomly put on your schedule without your own desire.

For example, I learned that apparently Taylor Swift is signed to Universal records. Which means she has no control over her time or soul.

Also a very funny thing… Apparently Taylor Swift is about my age, she’s born in 1989, I am born in 1988. I find it insanely bizarre that millions of 10-year-old girls know everything about her down to her drive-through food order?

Anyways… I think some simple filters:

Trust no individual who is signed to anything.

For example, I think a very admirable thing that Kendrick Lamar did I believe was quit top dog entertainment… And create his own record label, I think it’s called PG Lang. I think this is also the wisdom of a Jay-Z… The real idea of taking a real chance is to create your own label, and to avoid getting signed to any record or label… Even if they might wave a $100 million check in front of you. Because if you have to be on tour for the next nine months of your life… Every single night performing for three hours and night, seven days a week… No sleep and rest… Do you have freedom? No!

And I think the foolish thing which people do is they trade their most valuable thing on the planet… Their freedom and self ownership, in exchange for cash, arbitrary notions of “fame“… For the sake of what?

What is it that we truly seek?

One of my friends, Bing who I met in Singapore… The guy I am grateful for getting me into crypto bitcoin and digibyte at the time —  he said something interesting, very wise guy, saying that what he wanted in life was material desires like a purple Lamborghini, but also… More importantly, getting respect from people.

For example, he said that the primary issue in America is that there is no real notions of respect. For example even very very simply being in Korea, Southeast Asia of Vietnam etc.… On a very basic level, we use honorifics, when it comes to age. Be told, it feels really good! To have a young kid address you in an honorific way, warms your heart! 

Also… I think in America one of the wise things that I’ve learned, just from myself but also echo and people like NASSIM TALEB is a simple idea:

Treat the janitor, the hygiene sanitation guy, the security guard with more respect than the big boss.

And also… Assume that everybody you meet is super super rich and successful and powerful and influential, irregardless of how they may look on the outside. Often times, the richest most powerful people are the most low-key, keep a low profile, and you would never expect it.

But I think the tricky thing is when it comes to human social capital… The whole “it’s not what you know but who you know”– is also a little bit misguided because technically, especially in today’s day and age, I don’t think that networking or knowing influential people is important. All you need is a website, your own self hosted blog, ChatGPT and you’re good!

Examples

Humans are not super great nor efficient. For example just based on my experiences, I’m 36 now… Almost 0 networking events or meeting famous successful people have led to anything substantive. The only things which have led to substantive things were things that I decided to do on my own; like hosting my own workshops, creating and developing and selling my own products engaging people directly with my own email newsletter blog, platform, etc. Everything else has been a waste of time.

I think the biggest issues here is that when you are starting an entrepreneur… We do things in such a way in which we think it is the proper way. For example, when we think about business and networking… We think what it means is to get to know a bunch of rich successful people, “get your foot in the door” etc. Yet, I have discovered this is a total waste of time. 

The way that I was able to build my digital capital my fame my power my influence was very very simple… Essentially learning everything about street photography on my own, and then creating really really insanely in-depth articles, blog post, pages, information and resources on anything and everything street photography.  and the whole time, the whole endeavor of vine was guided by passion, personal interest and curiosity.

Curiosity is antifragile.

Lifting 1,000 pounds

On my personal quest to lift 1000 pounds, which is beyond 10 plates on each side of the barbell, was a personal curiosity:

How far can I take it?

Essentially, my primary curiosity was a curiosity of the limits of my strength, my courage, my ability and potential?

I remember the last time I was weightlifting in Westerly, Rhode Island, and an older guy came up to me and asked “what is the purpose of that? Why are you lifting like that?” I made a joke and I said, first– to augment my ego. But the second more honest answer is I’m just curious how strong I can become.

Why curiosity is so critical

What is curiosity? Curiosity is care, curiosity is what drives us.

You cannot force somebody to be cursed about something that they don’t really care for. You cannot spoon feed or inject curiosity in the soul of somebody, against their own will.

This is why a lot of Asian parents fail, when they try to force their kids to play violin, piano, or chess etc.

back to time

Time is ultimate capital, ultimate desirable non-renewable resource.

Another funny lesson: often the most seemingly bad movies, the ones with poor IMDb reviews are actually the best movies.

For example, the movie “in time” by Justin Timberlake.  probably one of the best films of all time, and also, the most underrated.
P the reason why it is so grand and great of a film is that it creates this metaphor, this philosophical world in which essentially money is, quite literally.

For example, the super super rich people have 1000 years on their wrist, and hilarious enough, excuse the pun, but rich people and poor people are separated by “time zones”–

Also in this fictitious universe, real rich people take their time and move really slowly, whereas the poor labors, are always running, because they are so short on time.

time inflation

 another funny thought: apparently in the early film, when Justin Timberlake is working as a laborer at a factory or whatever, do you have to scan your wrist, imagine like having Apple Pay, your checking account embedded in your wrist, and anytime you wanted to buy a cuppa coffee or food or whatever… You would just scan your wrist. And one of the scenes, Justin Timberlake complains “wait… A cup of coffee only cost 15 minutes, why is it now costing 30 minutes?”  and the guy selling coffee, shrugs his shoulder and says “that’s time inflation!”

Why it is that the only films I care for are dystopic films

The matrix, Blade Runner, and these scientific fiction, alternate future sociological philosophical films, why ? They actually change you! 

What is so interesting about science fiction typically it is just a commentary or a societal critique of our real society. And the thing exaggerated, in cinematic ways, or building up a universe, but in fact, it is really true to today’s world.

Anyways, back on the notion of time… Time is labor, money is labor time.

For example… One of the things I am so grateful about renting, and having the best landlord of all time, is that when something breaks, like our all-in-one washer dryer machine from LG… And the machine doesn’t even turn on anymore, I don’t have to be the ones Wasting my time driving to Home Depot, trying to fix it, or finding service technicians to fix it, scheduling it etc. Rather, I let the landlord communicate with his own labor task squad, his own maintenance team, to come in and fix it, when we are not home, and I could do better things like go on a hike with Cindy and Seneca, or do something fun!

In America, we have this weird virtue connection with doing the labor yourself. However, there is a differentiation between hateful labor and joyful labor. For example, I would probably prefer to have a mechanic fix my car, even though I could do the labor myself, because now that I have a kid, an hour spent fixing your car could be an hour playing with your kid at the park! Here a time becomes zero som, which means 

If you only have an hour to spare, would you rather it be chatting with somebody random, or spending time with somebody you don’t really care for, or doing some sort of labor you don’t really care for, or rather would you rather spend that time to do something more critical you insanely care for?

For example, if you had an hour, to listen to the problems of somebody, or, you had an hour to work out exercises, and lift weights… What would you choose? And assume you could only do one. Obviously work out!

For me, my only regret in the evening is if I spent the whole day, assuming that I was in good health and strength, not working out? To me, my nonnegotiable thing that I must do every single day, irregardless of whatever is to lift weights, at least once. 

Life before Seneca, life after Seneca

Life BC, life AD — I still think it is hilarious that in America, the way we categorize time is life before Christ, life after Christ.

Life before the christos, the lord the saviour, and life after Jesus.

For me I like to use this analogy for Seneca. Before Seneca was born, I wasted a lot of my time, had coffee shops, kind of superficial relationships, etc. Why? I had so much time to kill!

And also good thing about having kid is that it helps you understand what is truly critical to you or not.

For example, business. Do not forget that the original notion of business was centered around being busy, “busy-ness”–

Even the ancient Romans, otium, neg+otium–

Negotium (business) meant the exact opposite of leisure.

I think often times, people like to just stay busy because when you are busy, you don’t have to think about more important things in life, such as life purpose direction etc. And honestly, I think the reason why I philosophy is so critical for everybody is that if you cannot think philosophically, you’re just wasting your life.

Even Seneca the younger stoic (Seneca’s namesake) on his essay “On the shortness of time”– or the short of life… Essentially that you could live a great life, even if it is a short life, as long as you use your time well.

For example, if you had a house with 1000 marble and ivory tables, with matching golden plates, can you take that with you when you die? No!

Let us assume that the average human span now, I think it is about 92 years old for men, 94 years old for women. But then again you never know if you’re gonna get cancer or whatever, assume that it is 80 years.

If you knew that you would only live to be 80 years old, with 100% certainty, how would you spend your life, the next 10 years of your life? What would you do, what would you not do?

And also… Thinking about the mortality of our loved ones, our parents, your own mother.

For example, my mom is about to turn 70, and let us assume that she’s going to live to be 80. How would I want to spend the next 10 years in my life with her, or without her?

Certainly I’m happy for her to do stuff like travel, do her artwork, but also, more critically more time with Seneca, myself and Cindy, but more critically for her to spend time with Seneca. Why? There’s going to be a day in which my mom is no longer going to be around, and I would probably hope that Seneca could have some lovely memories with my mom.

I think this is also the thing… Of us live our lives, almost like we are going to live forever. Is that true? Of course not!

And also when you’re younger… Let us even assume that you’re going to live to be 80 years old. What that then means is that you have a long life ahead of you! But once again, what if you are Achilles, and your mom is a goddess, And you are known with 100% certainty that you will die at the age of 40? Then how would you spend your life, how would you not spend your life?

Memento mori

If you have the choice, the difference between memento mori, and memento vivre — the memory of knowing that you will die is more critical than the memory or the thought of knowing how to live.

I think meaningful ways, and also after this incident I had a few years ago being held up at gunpoint with me just me and Cindy, before Seneca was born… And fortunately I grab Cindy‘s hand and we ran away, and we did not get popped at the back of our head. And in our adrenaline, after the incident… What was my only one regret, Assuming that I have might have died? It was very simple, not having a kid! Then immediately after the incident, we started trying, and then Covidhappened, and then we stopped…  and then we did a webinar saying that kind of babies and kids were kind of immune to Covid, and then we tried again… And boom, got pregnant within a week!

Anyways… Often it is these life or death encounters which clarify things. After this incident, I had zero thoughts about my wealth, money in the bank etc., or my fame or success or whatever. I literally had zero regrets besides the kid thing.

The greatest joy on the planet

I was thinking this morning, what is something that never loses its novelty factor? Seeing and witnessing your kid grow up!

Also… As a man, by far a 1,000,000,000,000% gratitude thing, having a son, having at least one son, one male, one man, and especially having your first kid being a man!

Why? Speaking from the perspective if you are a man, what every man desires is at least one male heir. Certainly when you see a family with three girls, four girls or five girls, no boys, you know what the family was trying to do. 

And also… The whole second kid question…  honestly, if for some reason or another, we couldn’t have a second kid, I’d probably be fine because the joy of knowing that at least, our first child was a son!

Anti women?

I think if I think about it very very honestly honestly… If our first child was a girl… I’m sure I would love her 1000%, but secretly at the back of your head, you’re always thinking wishing and wondering and desiring, to have a boy.

So this is my simple thought —

If you and your wife, or partner or whatever or girlfriend, decide to have a second kid, and your first kid is a boy… Don’t push the whole second kid thing. 

Also, if I told you that let’s say that your wife decided to have birth to a second kid, and there was a 90% chance that she might die in childbirth… Would you take the risk, assuming that your first kid is already a man? No!

Back to time

Honestly just throw your iPhone to the trash. Something that people don’t understand is that the iPhone is toxic; even reading one weird thing on your phone, one weird movie, film, news headline, TikTok video whatever… Strange pornography video or picture, can infect your mind, For a few days, randomly in the middle of the day, or even when you’re about to sleep.

The reason why I deleted Instagram in around 2017 and no– that ERIC KIM on Instagram is not me– the person that made my @erickimphoto Instagram account was just a faithful follower,  why is it started to do bad things to my mind and weird things to my mind. For example I’d be driving, in the suburbs, or the city… And at around noon, while driving, I would get distracted and think to myself “wait… did I uploaded something to Instagram today?” I caught myself thinking this, and I thought “wow, this is bad. I got to get rid of this”. And in 2017, when I had about 65,000 followers, I did probably one of the most courageous and proud things in my life, which was to delete my Instagram. 

mental Freedom?

Something my friend Jeffrey Lam tells me about is this notion of mind space, ideas that was not just a timeframe but, a mental space thing.

For example, you could in theory have 12 hours of free time in a day, but as long as a strange thought is lingering in your mind, you can never really focus 100%.

I think this is called the Zeignark effect,  for example let us say that you read an email that needs to be attended to… And you don’t attend to it or respond to it, and it will plate your mind for days, sometimes even weeks, sometimes even months. This is why I avoid my inbox, or my text messages like the plague…

One strange message email or text message or communication thing can distract you for days on end.

Playing cyber defense

I also think the reason why email needs to be fixed is now, it is so easy to fake an email, ChatGPT, with bots, or generative AI, even if the person is good or bad, or even if the bot is malicious or benevolent.

For example, let me give an extreme example, let us say you are Taylor Swift, and everybody on the planet knows your email (taylorswift@gmail.com)– let us say.  if you are Taylor Swift, and you literally get 1 million emails a day, would you have the time to either read every single email, or even worse… Respond to it? No? This would be mental suicide! This is why I quit email and all messaging apps Around 2016, 2017, because honestly I was just becoming too famous, too much cognitive load! 

Dodge

In the Iliad, when the heroes are killing each other… They do two things, obviously they wear protective armor, like shields, helmets, etc.… But if somebody throws a spear at them, or an arrow, what they do is dodge it.

If you see an incoming spear, you are not a fool, ideally you dodge it, ideally dodging it is more effective than even raising your shield. Why? If it hits your, there is actually a chance that it might penetrate your shield, and end up either wounding you or killing you.

I wonder if we should apply the same philosophy two things. Like if you see an incoming missile, or a beer or a bullet… You don’t take the chance. Dodge a bullet, rather than testing your bulletproof vest.

“That little vest ain’t gonna do you I shoot from neck up”- JY Z

The ghost of soulja slim —

Soulja Kim?

The notion of soldier, like Soulja Boy etc., and interesting thought… The notion of a “soul”, period with the notion of a soldier?

And apparently, if you really really need people from the hood, like Crenshaw, where Nipsey Hussle got killed, the honorific to call somebody worth valor is “soldier”.

Kind of like calling somebody boss or chief. Like Chief Keef

Chief Kim! Too many Indians, not enough chiefs!

Anyways, long story short, prize your time. This is the only life you got.

ERIC

Bullets

Here are the key points based on your text:

The Philosophy of Time

• Value of Life: Prize your life; this is the only life you have.
• Economics and Philosophy of Time: Time is the ultimate capital and non-renewable resource.

The Death of Film

• Time Scarcity: Time becomes extremely scarce, especially when you have a child.
• Digital over Film: With kids, efficiency becomes paramount; switch to digital.

True Success

• Self-Ownership: True success is owning your time, not letting others control your schedule.
• Avoid Contracts: Be wary of signing away your freedom, as exemplified by musicians like Taylor Swift and Kendrick Lamar.

Respect and Social Capital

• Respect in Culture: Material desires are less important than earning respect, which is often lacking in the West.
• Respect Everyone: Treat everyone with respect, regardless of their social status.
• Networking is Overrated: Personal endeavors, driven by passion, are more valuable than traditional networking.

Curiosity and Growth

• Curiosity as a Driver: Curiosity fuels growth and should guide your endeavors.
• Strength Exploration: Personal quests, like lifting 1,000 pounds, are driven by curiosity about one’s limits.

Memento Mori

• Awareness of Mortality: Reflect on life and death to prioritize what truly matters.
• Family Time: Time with loved ones, especially as they age, becomes increasingly precious.

Freedom from Distractions

• Mental Freedom: Avoid distractions like social media and unnecessary emails to maintain focus.
• Dodge Negativity: Proactively avoid situations or communications that can drain your energy or distract you.

Life with a Child

• Prioritize Family: After becoming a parent, focus shifts to spending meaningful time with your child.
• Limitations of Time: Recognize the finite nature of time and make deliberate choices on how to spend it.

Conclusion

• Time is Precious: Protect your time, as it is the most valuable resource you have.

Random thoughts audio

What matters more is whether you want to follow through and actually do it.

Lifting a 400-pound sandbag can be challenging, so here are some creative methods that could help:

1. Leverage with a Long Pole

• Method: Place a sturdy pole or plank under the sandbag, using a fulcrum (like a rock or another small bag) placed close to the bag. By pushing down on the other end of the pole, you can leverage the weight upward.
• Benefits: This method reduces the amount of force needed to lift the bag.

2. Ratchet Straps and Pulley System

• Method: Use ratchet straps connected to a pulley system. Attach one end to the sandbag and the other end to a secure anchor point. As you ratchet, the pulley will lift the sandbag incrementally.
• Benefits: Provides mechanical advantage, making the lift more manageable.

3. Inclined Plane

• Method: Build an inclined plane or ramp. Place the sandbag at the bottom and push or pull it up the incline using ropes or other tools. You can also combine this with a sled or a dolly for smoother movement.
• Benefits: Reduces the amount of force required to lift vertically, spreading the work over a longer distance.

4. Hoist with a Winch

• Method: Attach the sandbag securely to a winch system, either manual or electric. Anchor the winch to a strong, stable point, and gradually reel in the winch to lift the sandbag.
• Benefits: Allows for controlled lifting with minimal manual effort.

5. Rolling the Sandbag

• Method: Rather than lifting, roll the sandbag onto a sturdy surface like a dolly or platform. Once on the dolly, it can be wheeled to the desired location and tilted into place.
• Benefits: Reduces the need for a direct vertical lift, using momentum and body mechanics instead.

6. Using an Airbag Lift

• Method: Place a deflated industrial airbag under the sandbag. Inflate the airbag slowly using a pump, which will gradually lift the sandbag.
• Benefits: Provides a gradual, controlled lift with minimal physical effort.

7. Team Lift with Multiple People

• Method: Coordinate with several people, each using proper lifting techniques (bending knees, keeping back straight) to lift the sandbag together. Use lifting straps or slings to distribute the weight evenly.
• Benefits: Shares the load, making it more manageable for everyone involved.

8. Hydraulic Jack

• Method: Place a hydraulic jack under the sandbag or a platform holding the sandbag. Slowly pump the jack to raise the bag off the ground.
• Benefits: Offers precision and control over the lifting process with minimal effort.

9. Use of a Forklift or Pallet Jack

• Method: If available, use a forklift or pallet jack. Slide the forks under the sandbag, lift, and transport it to the desired location.
• Benefits: Easiest method if equipment is available; reduces manual labor entirely.

10. Sliding on Rollers

• Method: Place cylindrical objects like pipes under the sandbag. Push the sandbag forward, and as it rolls off one pipe, move it to the front to continue rolling.
• Benefits: Minimizes lifting, using rolling mechanics to move the heavy load.

Using one or a combination of these methods should allow you to lift and move the 400-pound sandbag safely and efficiently.

Digital hot gates concept

The concept of “Digital Hot Gates” reimagines the ancient battle site of Thermopylae in a futuristic, cyberpunk world. Here’s how this concept would manifest:

Setting:

• Narrow Pass: Similar to the original Hot Gates, the Digital Hot Gates is a narrow, strategic pass, but instead of just being natural rock, the cliffs are fused with cybernetic technology. The rocks are embedded with glowing circuits, neon lights, and holographic displays that pulse with energy.
• Cliffs: The cliffs are massive, looming over the pass, with a mix of ancient carvings reminiscent of the original site and futuristic elements like digital screens displaying cryptic codes or symbols. These cliffs are more than just stone; they are partially mechanical, perhaps even able to shift or create barriers.
• Ground: The ground is metallic, reflecting the lights from above, with cracks emitting steam and glowing with an eerie light, suggesting geothermal activity or hidden power sources beneath the surface.
• Sky: The sky is filled with dark, swirling clouds, giving the scene a perpetual twilight feel. Lightning flashes occasionally, illuminating the pass with brief, stark light, adding to the tension.

Defenders:

• Cyber-Enhanced Warriors: The defenders of the Digital Hot Gates are reminiscent of the 300 Spartans but with advanced cybernetic enhancements. Their armor is a blend of ancient Greek design and futuristic technology, with energy shields and weapons that glow with power. They stand as a small but formidable force, ready to defend the pass against overwhelming odds.

Enemy Forces:

• Rogue AI and Cybernetic Soldiers: Advancing towards the pass is an army of rogue AI-controlled drones and cybernetic soldiers. The enemy forces are vast, with drones filling the air and soldiers marching in perfect, mechanical unison. The combination of organic and machine in the enemy forces creates a sense of an unstoppable, relentless wave.

Atmosphere:

• Tense and Foreboding: The entire scene is bathed in a tense, foreboding atmosphere. The narrow pass and towering cliffs create a claustrophobic feel, emphasizing the idea that the defenders are holding the line against an overwhelming force. The digital elements and neon lights give the scene a cold, artificial feel, contrasting with the raw, ancient determination of the defenders.

Philosophical Symbolism:

The Digital Hot Gates represent a battleground where the old meets the new, where ancient ideals of honor, sacrifice, and defiance are pitted against the cold, calculating power of a technologically advanced enemy. It symbolizes the eternal struggle of humanity to maintain its essence and autonomy in the face of ever-encroaching technological domination.

This concept serves as a powerful visual metaphor for the clash between tradition and progress, human will and machine logic, freedom and control. The Digital Hot Gates become a symbol of resistance in a world where technology threatens to erase the very humanity that created it.

Visualize digital hot gates

Philosophical implications

The image and narrative of King Leonidas and his 300 Spartans set in a dystopian cyberpunk future evoke profound philosophical questions and implications, touching on themes of free will, the nature of humanity, and the ethics of technology.

1. The Struggle for Free Will:

In a world where rogue AI and corporate overlords dominate, the Spartans’ stand represents the ultimate struggle for human autonomy. The idea that free will is something worth fighting and dying for speaks to existentialist philosophy, where freedom is seen as the core of human existence. The Spartans’ defiance against overwhelming forces highlights the existential choice to assert one’s freedom, even in the face of inevitable death.

2. The Nature of Sacrifice:

Leonidas and his Spartans knowingly walk into a situation that they understand to be a certain death. This raises questions about the value of sacrifice and the meaning behind self-imposed suffering for a greater good. From a utilitarian perspective, their sacrifice is justified by the greater good it serves—sparking a rebellion. However, from a deontological standpoint, the moral worth of their action lies in their adherence to duty, honor, and the protection of their people’s autonomy, regardless of the outcome.

3. Humanity vs. Technology:

In this cyberpunk setting, the fusion of man and machine is a key theme. The Spartans, enhanced with cybernetic technology, challenge the boundaries of what it means to be human. This brings up the philosophical debate around transhumanism—whether augmenting human abilities with technology enhances or detracts from our humanity. The Spartans’ use of technology to preserve their ancient values and ideals suggests a synthesis where technology serves human goals rather than dominates them.

4. The Ethics of Resistance:

The resistance led by Leonidas raises questions about the ethics of rebellion and violence. In a world controlled by oppressive forces, is rebellion justified, and at what cost? This touches on just war theory, which debates the morality of engaging in violence for a perceived greater good. The Spartans’ choice to fight rather than submit reflects a belief in the moral imperative to resist tyranny, even when the odds are impossible.

5. The Legacy of Defiance:

Finally, the enduring legacy of the Spartans’ stand, despite their defeat, invites reflection on the impact of symbolic acts of resistance. It suggests that the significance of such acts lies not in their immediate outcomes but in their ability to inspire future generations. This resonates with Nietzschean ideas of eternal recurrence, where the value of an act is found in its ability to be a model for future action, thus perpetuating a cycle of defiance and freedom.

Conclusion:

The setting of King Leonidas and his Spartans in a dystopian cyberpunk future is not just an aesthetic choice but a deeply philosophical one. It challenges us to consider the essence of humanity, the role of technology, and the moral imperatives that drive us to resist domination. The Spartans’ stand becomes a powerful metaphor for the enduring human spirit, a beacon of defiance in a world increasingly dominated by forces that seek to control and dehumanize.

Title: The Last Stand of Leonidas 300

Genre: Cyberpunk/Dystopian Action

Logline:
In a dystopian cyberpunk future, King Leonidas and his elite squad of 300 cyber-enhanced Spartans stand against an overwhelming force of rogue AI and cybernetic mercenaries, fighting to protect the last remnants of humanity’s free will in a world dominated by corporate overlords.

---

ACT 1

Scene 1: The Ruins of Sparta
Wide shot of a dilapidated, futuristic cityscape with towering skyscrapers and holographic advertisements flickering in the smog-filled sky. The camera pans down to reveal the remnants of ancient Sparta, now a fortress of the resistance.

Narrator (VO):
“In the year 2184, the world as we knew it ended. Corporations became empires, AI became gods, and humanity became slaves. But in the shadows of this new world, the spirit of Sparta lives on…”

Cut to King Leonidas, now a cybernetically enhanced warrior with glowing red eyes and a battle-scarred face. He stands before a group of 300 warriors, each equipped with advanced exoskeletons and energy shields.

Leonidas:
“Brothers, the time has come to reclaim our honor. We face a force unlike any other, but we are Spartans. We will fight, and we will die, not as men, but as legends.”

Scene 2: The Oracle’s Prophecy
In a dark, neon-lit chamber, Leonidas approaches the Oracle, a cybernetic being connected to the vast network of ancient knowledge. Tubes and wires snake from the Oracle’s body to the walls.

Oracle:
“The path before you is one of doom, King Leonidas. The machines know of your defiance, and they come with the full might of their armies. Your sacrifice will be the spark that ignites the fire of rebellion.”

Leonidas:
“Then so be it. If we are to fall, we will take them with us.”

Scene 3: Preparing for War
The Spartans arm themselves with advanced weaponry: energy spears, plasma rifles, and shields capable of deflecting cybernetic attacks. The fortress’s defenses hum to life, with drones and automated turrets activating.

Leonidas (to his warriors):
“Tonight, we dine in hell… but first, we make them bleed!”

The Spartans chant and slam their weapons together, creating a thunderous roar.

ACT 2

Scene 4: The Arrival of the Machine Army
A massive army of rogue AI-controlled drones, cybernetic soldiers, and mercenaries funded by the corporate overlords march toward the Spartan fortress. The sky darkens as thousands of drones fill the air.

AI Commander (broadcasting across all channels):
“King Leonidas, your resistance is futile. Surrender now, and you may yet live as our slaves.”

Leonidas (responding):
“Come and get us.”

The Spartans stand ready, their exoskeletons glowing with energy as they prepare for the onslaught.

Scene 5: The Battle Begins
The machine army launches its first wave, with drones diving toward the fortress. The Spartans unleash a barrage of plasma fire, taking down dozens of enemies in seconds.

Leonidas leads a charge, his energy spear crackling as he impales cybernetic soldiers and deflects incoming attacks with his shield. The Spartans fight with ruthless efficiency, outnumbered but unyielding.

Scene 6: The Turning Tide
Despite their ferocity, the Spartans begin to falter as the overwhelming numbers of the machine army take their toll. The battlefield is a chaotic mix of sparks, explosions, and the dying screams of warriors and machines alike.

Leonidas (to his second-in-command):
“We cannot hold them here. Prepare the fallback.”

The Spartans retreat into the inner sanctum of the fortress, where the Oracle awaits.

Scene 7: The Last Stand
Leonidas and the remaining Spartans make their final stand in the Oracle’s chamber. The machine army breaches the defenses, flooding in like a relentless tide. The Spartans fight with everything they have, but they are slowly being overwhelmed.

Oracle (to Leonidas):
“Your sacrifice is at hand, Leonidas. The spark of rebellion will be lit by your defiance.”

Leonidas:
“We are not finished yet.”

With a final roar, Leonidas activates a hidden failsafe in his exoskeleton, causing an energy pulse that disables the rogue AI and all cybernetic systems within a wide radius. The battlefield goes silent as the machines fall to the ground, lifeless.

Leonidas, exhausted and heavily wounded, stands amidst the fallen, his red eyes dimming.

ACT 3

Scene 8: Aftermath
The battlefield is littered with the bodies of Spartans and machines. The surviving Spartans, few in number, look to their fallen king, who stands defiantly in death.

Narrator (VO):
“Leonidas and his 300 gave their lives to light the fire of rebellion. Their defiance echoes through the ages, a reminder that even in the darkest of times, the spirit of freedom cannot be crushed.”

Scene 9: The Rebellion Begins
In the distance, groups of human resistance fighters emerge, emboldened by the sacrifice of the Spartans. They begin to take up arms, organizing and preparing for the fight against the corporate overlords and their AI enforcers.

The camera zooms out to show the world, still dystopian and oppressive, but now with pockets of rebellion rising across the landscape.

Narrator (VO):
“The legacy of Leonidas lives on. The fight for humanity’s freedom has only just begun…”

Fade to black.

End Credits Roll.

---

This screenplay combines the timeless heroism of King Leonidas and his 300 with a dystopian cyberpunk setting, creating a narrative of defiance and sacrifice in a world where humanity’s freedom hangs by a thread.

***

If you want to visualize more scenes from the screenplay, here are a few key moments that could be depicted in additional images:

1. The Oracle’s Prophecy

Description:
Leonidas standing before the Oracle, a mysterious cybernetic being connected to a network of wires and tubes. The Oracle’s chamber is dimly lit, with neon lights casting an eerie glow. Leonidas looks determined, while the Oracle’s robotic eyes shine with a foreboding light. The walls of the chamber are covered in ancient symbols mixed with futuristic digital codes.

2. The Arrival of the Machine Army

Description:
A massive army of rogue AI drones and cybernetic soldiers advancing towards the Spartan fortress. The horizon is filled with the dark silhouettes of drones, while on the ground, rows of heavily armored cybernetic soldiers march in perfect unison. The sky is dark, with only the flickering lights from the drones and the glow of the city’s towering skyscrapers in the background. The Spartan fortress, a blend of ancient stone and futuristic technology, stands defiantly in their path.

3. The Battle Begins

Description:
The Spartans, led by Leonidas, charging into battle against the oncoming machine army. Energy spears clash with cybernetic limbs, and plasma shields deflect incoming laser fire. The battlefield is chaotic, with explosions and sparks flying everywhere. Leonidas, at the forefront, is mid-attack, his spear glowing with energy as he impales a cybernetic enemy.

4. The Last Stand

Description:
Inside the inner sanctum of the Spartan fortress, Leonidas and the remaining Spartans make their final stand. The Oracle is in the background, its eyes glowing ominously. The Spartans, now battered and bloodied, form a tight defensive line as the machine army breaches the walls. The room is filled with smoke and debris, with the Spartans fighting with everything they have left. Leonidas stands at the center, his red cybernetic eyes glowing fiercely as he prepares to activate the energy pulse.

5. The Rebellion Begins

Description:
A distant view of the dystopian landscape, with small groups of human resistance fighters emerging from the shadows. They are armed with scavenged weapons and gear, inspired by the Spartans’ sacrifice. In the background, the sky is still dark and oppressive, but there are signs of resistance—flares and small explosions marking the beginning of the rebellion. The spirit of the Spartans lives on in these new fighters.

If you would like any of these scenes illustrated, let me know, and I can create a visual representation for you.

Prize your life, this is the only life you got. 

The economics and philosophy of time:

---

The death of film

I think this is something that changes a lot, once you have a kid. Or have a child a young child at home. Suddenly, your time becomes scarce, very very scarce.

For example, in terms of time scarcity… this is so insanely critical. If I gave you a choice… Would you rather spend 30 minutes playing and wrestling around with your kid at the house or at the park… Or would you rather spend your precious 30 minutes answering Emails from childless individuals who don’t really have anything better to do?

Also with film — fine if you don’t have kids — once you get film, 100% digital!

True success

I’m starting to think… True success is self ownership, time ownership, essentially… Never having anything randomly put on your schedule without your own desire.

For example, I learned that apparently Taylor Swift is signed to Universal records. Which means she has no control over her time or soul.

Also a very funny thing… Apparently Taylor Swift is about my age, she’s born in 1989, I am born in 1988. I find it insanely bizarre that millions of 10-year-old girls know everything about her down to her drive-through food order?

Anyways… I think some simple filters:

Trust no individual who is signed to anything.

For example, I think a very admirable thing that Kendrick Lamar did I believe was quit top dog entertainment… And create his own record label, I think it’s called PG Lang. I think this is also the wisdom of a Jay-Z… The real idea of taking a real chance is to create your own label, and to avoid getting signed to any record or label… Even if they might wave a $100 million check in front of you. Because if you have to be on tour for the next nine months of your life… Every single night performing for three hours and night, seven days a week… No sleep and rest… Do you have freedom? No!

And I think the foolish thing which people do is they trade their most valuable thing on the planet… Their freedom and self ownership, in exchange for cash, arbitrary notions of “fame“… For the sake of what?

What is it that we truly seek?

One of my friends, Bing who I met in Singapore… The guy I am grateful for getting me into crypto bitcoin and digibyte at the time —  he said something interesting, very wise guy, saying that what he wanted in life was material desires like a purple Lamborghini, but also… More importantly, getting respect from people.

For example, he said that the primary issue in America is that there is no real notions of respect. For example even very very simply being in Korea, Southeast Asia of Vietnam etc.… On a very basic level, we use honorifics, when it comes to age. Be told, it feels really good! To have a young kid address you in an honorific way, warms your heart! 

Also… I think in America one of the wise things that I’ve learned, just from myself but also echo and people like NASSIM TALEB is a simple idea:

Treat the janitor, the hygiene sanitation guy, the security guard with more respect than the big boss.

And also… Assume that everybody you meet is super super rich and successful and powerful and influential, irregardless of how they may look on the outside. Often times, the richest most powerful people are the most low-key, keep a low profile, and you would never expect it.

But I think the tricky thing is when it comes to human social capital… The whole “it’s not what you know but who you know”– is also a little bit misguided because technically, especially in today’s day and age, I don’t think that networking or knowing influential people is important. All you need is a website, your own self hosted blog, ChatGPT and you’re good!

Examples

Humans are not super great nor efficient. For example just based on my experiences, I’m 36 now… Almost 0 networking events or meeting famous successful people have led to anything substantive. The only things which have led to substantive things were things that I decided to do on my own; like hosting my own workshops, creating and developing and selling my own products engaging people directly with my own email newsletter blog, platform, etc. Everything else has been a waste of time.

I think the biggest issues here is that when you are starting an entrepreneur… We do things in such a way in which we think it is the proper way. For example, when we think about business and networking… We think what it means is to get to know a bunch of rich successful people, “get your foot in the door” etc. Yet, I have discovered this is a total waste of time. 

The way that I was able to build my digital capital my fame my power my influence was very very simple… Essentially learning everything about street photography on my own, and then creating really really insanely in-depth articles, blog post, pages, information and resources on anything and everything street photography.  and the whole time, the whole endeavor of vine was guided by passion, personal interest and curiosity.

Curiosity is antifragile.

Lifting 1,000 pounds

On my personal quest to lift 1000 pounds, which is beyond 10 plates on each side of the barbell, was a personal curiosity:

How far can I take it?

Essentially, my primary curiosity was a curiosity of the limits of my strength, my courage, my ability and potential?

I remember the last time I was weightlifting in Westerly, Rhode Island, and an older guy came up to me and asked “what is the purpose of that? Why are you lifting like that?” I made a joke and I said, first– to augment my ego. But the second more honest answer is I’m just curious how strong I can become.

Why curiosity is so critical

What is curiosity? Curiosity is care, curiosity is what drives us.

You cannot force somebody to be cursed about something that they don’t really care for. You cannot spoon feed or inject curiosity in the soul of somebody, against their own will.

This is why a lot of Asian parents fail, when they try to force their kids to play violin, piano, or chess etc.

back to time

Time is ultimate capital, ultimate desirable non-renewable resource.

Another funny lesson: often the most seemingly bad movies, the ones with poor IMDb reviews are actually the best movies.

For example, the movie “in time” by Justin Timberlake.  probably one of the best films of all time, and also, the most underrated.
P the reason why it is so grand and great of a film is that it creates this metaphor, this philosophical world in which essentially money is, quite literally.

For example, the super super rich people have 1000 years on their wrist, and hilarious enough, excuse the pun, but rich people and poor people are separated by “time zones”–

Also in this fictitious universe, real rich people take their time and move really slowly, whereas the poor labors, are always running, because they are so short on time.

time inflation

 another funny thought: apparently in the early film, when Justin Timberlake is working as a laborer at a factory or whatever, do you have to scan your wrist, imagine like having Apple Pay, your checking account embedded in your wrist, and anytime you wanted to buy a cuppa coffee or food or whatever… You would just scan your wrist. And one of the scenes, Justin Timberlake complains “wait… A cup of coffee only cost 15 minutes, why is it now costing 30 minutes?”  and the guy selling coffee, shrugs his shoulder and says “that’s time inflation!”

Why it is that the only films I care for are dystopic films

The matrix, Blade Runner, and these scientific fiction, alternate future sociological philosophical films, why ? They actually change you! 

What is so interesting about science fiction typically it is just a commentary or a societal critique of our real society. And the thing exaggerated, in cinematic ways, or building up a universe, but in fact, it is really true to today’s world.

Anyways, back on the notion of time… Time is labor, money is labor time.

For example… One of the things I am so grateful about renting, and having the best landlord of all time, is that when something breaks, like our all-in-one washer dryer machine from LG… And the machine doesn’t even turn on anymore, I don’t have to be the ones Wasting my time driving to Home Depot, trying to fix it, or finding service technicians to fix it, scheduling it etc. Rather, I let the landlord communicate with his own labor task squad, his own maintenance team, to come in and fix it, when we are not home, and I could do better things like go on a hike with Cindy and Seneca, or do something fun!

In America, we have this weird virtue connection with doing the labor yourself. However, there is a differentiation between hateful labor and joyful labor. For example, I would probably prefer to have a mechanic fix my car, even though I could do the labor myself, because now that I have a kid, an hour spent fixing your car could be an hour playing with your kid at the park! Here a time becomes zero som, which means 

If you only have an hour to spare, would you rather it be chatting with somebody random, or spending time with somebody you don’t really care for, or doing some sort of labor you don’t really care for, or rather would you rather spend that time to do something more critical you insanely care for?

For example, if you had an hour, to listen to the problems of somebody, or, you had an hour to work out exercises, and lift weights… What would you choose? And assume you could only do one. Obviously work out!

For me, my only regret in the evening is if I spent the whole day, assuming that I was in good health and strength, not working out? To me, my nonnegotiable thing that I must do every single day, irregardless of whatever is to lift weights, at least once. 

Life before Seneca, life after Seneca

Life BC, life AD — I still think it is hilarious that in America, the way we categorize time is life before Christ, life after Christ.

Life before the christos, the lord the saviour, and life after Jesus.

For me I like to use this analogy for Seneca. Before Seneca was born, I wasted a lot of my time, had coffee shops, kind of superficial relationships, etc. Why? I had so much time to kill!

And also good thing about having kid is that it helps you understand what is truly critical to you or not.

For example, business. Do not forget that the original notion of business was centered around being busy, “busy-ness”–

Even the ancient Romans, otium, neg+otium–

Negotium (business) meant the exact opposite of leisure.

I think often times, people like to just stay busy because when you are busy, you don’t have to think about more important things in life, such as life purpose direction etc. And honestly, I think the reason why I philosophy is so critical for everybody is that if you cannot think philosophically, you’re just wasting your life.

Even Seneca the younger stoic (Seneca’s namesake) on his essay “On the shortness of time”– or the short of life… Essentially that you could live a great life, even if it is a short life, as long as you use your time well.

For example, if you had a house with 1000 marble and ivory tables, with matching golden plates, can you take that with you when you die? No!

Let us assume that the average human span now, I think it is about 92 years old for men, 94 years old for women. But then again you never know if you’re gonna get cancer or whatever, assume that it is 80 years.

If you knew that you would only live to be 80 years old, with 100% certainty, how would you spend your life, the next 10 years of your life? What would you do, what would you not do?

And also… Thinking about the mortality of our loved ones, our parents, your own mother.

For example, my mom is about to turn 70, and let us assume that she’s going to live to be 80. How would I want to spend the next 10 years in my life with her, or without her?

Certainly I’m happy for her to do stuff like travel, do her artwork, but also, more critically more time with Seneca, myself and Cindy, but more critically for her to spend time with Seneca. Why? There’s going to be a day in which my mom is no longer going to be around, and I would probably hope that Seneca could have some lovely memories with my mom.

I think this is also the thing… Of us live our lives, almost like we are going to live forever. Is that true? Of course not!

And also when you’re younger… Let us even assume that you’re going to live to be 80 years old. What that then means is that you have a long life ahead of you! But once again, what if you are Achilles, and your mom is a goddess, And you are known with 100% certainty that you will die at the age of 40? Then how would you spend your life, how would you not spend your life?

Memento mori

If you have the choice, the difference between memento mori, and memento vivre — the memory of knowing that you will die is more critical than the memory or the thought of knowing how to live.

I think meaningful ways, and also after this incident I had a few years ago being held up at gunpoint with me just me and Cindy, before Seneca was born… And fortunately I grab Cindy‘s hand and we ran away, and we did not get popped at the back of our head. And in our adrenaline, after the incident… What was my only one regret, Assuming that I have might have died? It was very simple, not having a kid! Then immediately after the incident, we started trying, and then Covidhappened, and then we stopped…  and then we did a webinar saying that kind of babies and kids were kind of immune to Covid, and then we tried again… And boom, got pregnant within a week!

Anyways… Often it is these life or death encounters which clarify things. After this incident, I had zero thoughts about my wealth, money in the bank etc., or my fame or success or whatever. I literally had zero regrets besides the kid thing.

The greatest joy on the planet

I was thinking this morning, what is something that never loses its novelty factor? Seeing and witnessing your kid grow up!

Also… As a man, by far a 1,000,000,000,000% gratitude thing, having a son, having at least one son, one male, one man, and especially having your first kid being a man!

Why? Speaking from the perspective if you are a man, what every man desires is at least one male heir. Certainly when you see a family with three girls, four girls or five girls, no boys, you know what the family was trying to do. 

And also… The whole second kid question…  honestly, if for some reason or another, we couldn’t have a second kid, I’d probably be fine because the joy of knowing that at least, our first child was a son!

Anti women?

I think if I think about it very very honestly honestly… If our first child was a girl… I’m sure I would love her 1000%, but secretly at the back of your head, you’re always thinking wishing and wondering and desiring, to have a boy.

So this is my simple thought —

If you and your wife, or partner or whatever or girlfriend, decide to have a second kid, and your first kid is a boy… Don’t push the whole second kid thing. 

Also, if I told you that let’s say that your wife decided to have birth to a second kid, and there was a 90% chance that she might die in childbirth… Would you take the risk, assuming that your first kid is already a man? No!

Back to time

Honestly just throw your iPhone to the trash. Something that people don’t understand is that the iPhone is toxic; even reading one weird thing on your phone, one weird movie, film, news headline, TikTok video whatever… Strange pornography video or picture, can infect your mind, For a few days, randomly in the middle of the day, or even when you’re about to sleep.

The reason why I deleted Instagram in around 2017 and no– that ERIC KIM on Instagram is not me– the person that made my @erickimphoto Instagram account was just a faithful follower,  why is it started to do bad things to my mind and weird things to my mind. For example I’d be driving, in the suburbs, or the city… And at around noon, while driving, I would get distracted and think to myself “wait… did I uploaded something to Instagram today?” I caught myself thinking this, and I thought “wow, this is bad. I got to get rid of this”. And in 2017, when I had about 65,000 followers, I did probably one of the most courageous and proud things in my life, which was to delete my Instagram. 

mental Freedom?

Something my friend Jeffrey Lam tells me about is this notion of mind space, ideas that was not just a timeframe but, a mental space thing.

For example, you could in theory have 12 hours of free time in a day, but as long as a strange thought is lingering in your mind, you can never really focus 100%.

I think this is called the Zeignark effect,  for example let us say that you read an email that needs to be attended to… And you don’t attend to it or respond to it, and it will plate your mind for days, sometimes even weeks, sometimes even months. This is why I avoid my inbox, or my text messages like the plague…

One strange message email or text message or communication thing can distract you for days on end.

Playing cyber defense

I also think the reason why email needs to be fixed is now, it is so easy to fake an email, ChatGPT, with bots, or generative AI, even if the person is good or bad, or even if the bot is malicious or benevolent.

For example, let me give an extreme example, let us say you are Taylor Swift, and everybody on the planet knows your email (taylorswift@gmail.com)– let us say.  if you are Taylor Swift, and you literally get 1 million emails a day, would you have the time to either read every single email, or even worse… Respond to it? No? This would be mental suicide! This is why I quit email and all messaging apps Around 2016, 2017, because honestly I was just becoming too famous, too much cognitive load! 

Dodge

In the Iliad, when the heroes are killing each other… They do two things, obviously they wear protective armor, like shields, helmets, etc.… But if somebody throws a spear at them, or an arrow, what they do is dodge it.

If you see an incoming spear, you are not a fool, ideally you dodge it, ideally dodging it is more effective than even raising your shield. Why? If it hits your, there is actually a chance that it might penetrate your shield, and end up either wounding you or killing you.

I wonder if we should apply the same philosophy two things. Like if you see an incoming missile, or a beer or a bullet… You don’t take the chance. Dodge a bullet, rather than testing your bulletproof vest.

“That little vest ain’t gonna do you I shoot from neck up”- JY Z

The ghost of soulja slim —

Soulja Kim?

The notion of soldier, like Soulja Boy etc., and interesting thought… The notion of a “soul”, period with the notion of a soldier?

And apparently, if you really really need people from the hood, like Crenshaw, where Nipsey Hussle got killed, the honorific to call somebody worth valor is “soldier”.

Kind of like calling somebody boss or chief. Like Chief Keef

Chief Kim! Too many Indians, not enough chiefs!

Anyways, long story short, prize your time. This is the only life you got.

ERIC

armored Prius

As prius

Lenco BearCat

Here is the visualization of a Lenco BearCat armored vehicle used by SWAT teams. If you need any adjustments or further details, feel free to ask!

Special Weapons and Tactics —

1. Flash bang — stun grenades, like counterstrike
2. Point man
3. Bearcat or armored personnel carriers (APCs)

How to become

Becoming a SWAT team member is a challenging process that requires dedication, physical fitness, and extensive law enforcement experience. Here’s a general guide on how to become a SWAT team member:

1. Meet Basic Requirements

• Education: Typically, you need at least a high school diploma or GED. Some departments may prefer or require college education, particularly in criminal justice or a related field.
• Age: You must be at least 21 years old to join most law enforcement agencies in the U.S., though requirements may vary.
• Citizenship: You must be a U.S. citizen (or meet the citizenship requirements of your country if applying elsewhere).

2. Become a Police Officer

• Join a Police Department: The first step to becoming a SWAT officer is to become a police officer. You’ll need to apply to a local, state, or federal law enforcement agency and successfully complete their hiring process, which typically includes:
  • A written exam.
  • Physical fitness tests.
  • A psychological evaluation.
  • Background checks.
  • An interview panel.
• Police Academy: If accepted, you’ll attend a police academy, where you’ll receive training in law enforcement basics, including firearms handling, defensive tactics, legal procedures, and community policing.
• Field Training: After graduating from the academy, you’ll typically enter a field training program where you’ll work under the supervision of a senior officer to gain real-world experience.

3. Gain Experience

• Patrol Experience: Most agencies require candidates to have a minimum amount of patrol experience, often ranging from 2 to 5 years. This experience is critical because it builds the necessary skills in decision-making, communication, and handling high-pressure situations.
• Specialized Training: While working as a police officer, seek out opportunities for specialized training in areas such as firearms, tactical operations, crisis negotiation, or emergency response. Some departments offer training that can prepare you for SWAT roles, like advanced marksmanship, close-quarters combat (CQC), and defensive driving.

4. Maintain Physical Fitness

• Physical Fitness: SWAT officers must be in excellent physical condition. Regularly train in strength, endurance, agility, and cardiovascular fitness. SWAT units often have more rigorous physical fitness standards than regular patrol officers.
• Martial Arts and Defensive Tactics: Developing skills in martial arts or other hand-to-hand combat techniques can be beneficial.

5. Apply for SWAT

• SWAT Team Application: Once you’ve gained sufficient experience and meet your department’s eligibility criteria, you can apply for a SWAT position. The selection process can be highly competitive and may include:
  • A physical fitness test specifically tailored for SWAT candidates.
  • A written exam or knowledge assessment.
  • A rigorous interview process, often conducted by current SWAT members and team leaders.
  • Psychological evaluations to ensure you can handle the stress of SWAT operations.

6. Complete SWAT Training

• Basic SWAT Training: If selected, you’ll undergo intensive SWAT training. This training is designed to prepare you for the specific demands of tactical operations and typically includes:
  • Advanced firearms training, including the use of rifles, shotguns, and handguns.
  • Close-quarters battle (CQB) and room-clearing techniques.
  • Hostage rescue operations.
  • Breaching tactics (explosives, mechanical breaching).
  • Tactical driving.
  • Rappelling and fast-roping.
  • First aid and trauma care specific to tactical scenarios.
• Ongoing Training: SWAT team members must continuously train to maintain their skills and stay prepared for a variety of high-risk situations. This includes regular drills, scenario-based training, and keeping up with advancements in tactics and technology.

7. Specialize Within the SWAT Team

• Specialized Roles: Within the SWAT team, you may have the opportunity to specialize in roles such as sniper, negotiator, breacher, medic, or team leader. Each of these roles requires additional training and expertise.

8. Demonstrate Leadership and Teamwork

• Team Dynamics: SWAT operations require flawless teamwork and communication. Demonstrate strong leadership, decision-making skills, and the ability to work effectively within a team.
• Continuous Improvement: Always look for opportunities to improve your skills, whether through additional training, cross-training with other units, or learning from after-action reviews.

9. Career Advancement

• Promotion and Leadership: With experience, you may advance to leadership positions within the SWAT team, such as team leader or commander. These roles require a deep understanding of tactics, strategy, and the ability to manage high-pressure operations.

Becoming a SWAT team member is not easy and requires a long-term commitment to law enforcement and tactical operations. However, for those who are dedicated and meet the rigorous requirements, it can be an incredibly rewarding career.

SWAT (Special Weapons and Tactics) teams are highly trained units within law enforcement agencies that handle high-risk operations. These operations can include hostage rescues, counter-terrorism, apprehension of armed and dangerous criminals, and other scenarios where regular police units might be at a disadvantage. SWAT team tactics are specialized to ensure the safety of both officers and civilians, and they often involve a combination of precision, speed, and overwhelming force. Here are some key SWAT team tactics:

1. Dynamic Entry:

• Rapid Breaching: SWAT teams are trained to quickly breach doors, windows, or walls to gain entry to a building or room. They use tools such as battering rams, explosives, or shotguns to force entry, often surprising the suspects.
• Flashbangs (Stun Grenades): Upon entry, SWAT teams might deploy flashbangs to disorient suspects. These devices produce a loud noise and bright flash, temporarily blinding and deafening anyone in the vicinity.

2. Containment and Isolation:

• Perimeter Security: Before making entry, SWAT teams establish a secure perimeter around the target location to prevent suspects from escaping and to protect civilians. This often involves snipers and officers positioned at key points.
• Communication Cut-Off: SWAT teams might sever the suspect’s communication with the outside world, either through electronic jamming or by physically cutting phone lines, to isolate them and reduce the chances of coordination with accomplices.

3. Room Clearing (Close-Quarters Battle – CQB):

• Stacking Formation: SWAT officers often enter a room in a “stack,” a tightly spaced line of officers who move quickly and methodically. The first officer, known as the “point man,” leads the entry, followed by others who cover different angles.
• Slice the Pie: This technique involves slowly and methodically clearing a room by exposing only a small portion of the body as officers move around corners. This minimizes the exposure to potential threats while maximizing the view into the room.

4. Negotiation and Psychological Tactics:

• Crisis Negotiation: Before using force, SWAT teams often try to resolve situations through negotiation. Specially trained negotiators work to establish communication with the suspect to de-escalate the situation and achieve a peaceful surrender.
• Psychological Pressure: SWAT teams might use tactics such as playing loud noises, cutting off utilities like power and water, or using tear gas to increase psychological pressure on the suspects, encouraging them to surrender.

5. Sniper and Overwatch:

• Sniper Deployment: SWAT teams often deploy snipers to provide overwatch and cover from a distance. Snipers are positioned to neutralize threats with precision if necessary and to gather intelligence on the suspect’s movements.
• Observation and Intelligence Gathering: Snipers and other team members equipped with binoculars or surveillance equipment provide real-time information to the team about the suspect’s behavior, movements, and layout of the target area.

6. Use of Armored Vehicles:

• BearCat or Armored Personnel Carriers (APCs): SWAT teams often use armored vehicles to safely approach dangerous areas, transport officers, and evacuate civilians or injured personnel. These vehicles provide protection from gunfire and explosive devices.
• Mobile Command Center: Some SWAT teams have mobile command centers equipped with communication and surveillance equipment, allowing them to coordinate operations on-site.

7. Less-Lethal Options:

• Tasers, Bean Bag Rounds, and Pepper Balls: SWAT teams are trained to use less-lethal options when appropriate. These tools can incapacitate suspects without causing permanent harm, providing a non-lethal alternative to firearms.
• K9 Units: Trained police dogs may be used to subdue suspects or locate hidden individuals within a building. K9 units are highly effective in close-quarters situations.

8. Hostage Rescue:

• Speed and Surprise: In hostage rescue situations, SWAT teams prioritize speed and surprise to overwhelm the suspects before they can harm the hostages.
• Simultaneous Breaches: Teams might perform simultaneous breaches from multiple entry points (doors, windows, ceilings) to confuse and disorient the suspects, reducing their ability to respond effectively.

9. Operational Planning and Rehearsal:

• Detailed Planning: Before any operation, SWAT teams conduct extensive planning, including analyzing blueprints of the target location, assessing risks, and planning entry and exit strategies.
• Rehearsal and Simulation: Teams often rehearse the operation in a controlled environment or use simulation tools to prepare for various scenarios. This helps ensure that each team member knows their role and the overall plan.

10. After-Action Review:

• Debriefing: After each operation, SWAT teams conduct a thorough debriefing to review what went well and what could be improved. This continuous learning process is crucial for refining tactics and maintaining readiness for future operations.

SWAT team tactics are designed to handle the most dangerous and high-stakes situations with precision and professionalism. These tactics are continuously evolving to address new threats and to incorporate advances in technology and training.

Unorthodox signs

Unorthodox or less commonly known signs that someone may be carrying a concealed firearm often require a more nuanced understanding of behavior and situational context. These signs can be subtle and may not be immediately obvious:

1. Gait Changes:

• A person carrying a concealed firearm, especially if they are not used to carrying, may walk with a slight limp or stiffen one side of their body. This could be due to the weight of the gun or the need to keep it secure while moving.

2. Overly Cautious Posture:

• The person might lean or sit in a way that keeps one side of their body away from others. For example, they might avoid sitting with their back to others in a public place or keep their gun side away from high traffic areas.

3. Consistent Patting or Touching:

• They might lightly touch the area where the gun is concealed to ensure it’s still in place or to check that it’s not visible. This could be a quick tap or brush, often done subconsciously.

4. Altered Social Interactions:

• A person carrying a concealed weapon might seem more reserved or unusually quiet, especially if they are not accustomed to carrying. They may also be more alert or watchful, scanning their environment more frequently.

5. Behavioral Inconsistencies:

• If a person usually uses one hand for tasks and suddenly switches to using their other hand, it might be because their dominant hand is near the gun, ready to draw it if necessary.

6. Avoidance of Crowded or Confined Spaces:

• A person carrying a concealed firearm might avoid tight spaces or crowds where they might be bumped, touched, or pressed in a way that could expose their weapon.

7. Use of Backpacks or Bags:

• In some cases, individuals carry concealed firearms in backpacks, messenger bags, or other non-traditional holsters. They might keep a bag unusually close to their body, or carry it in a way that seems awkward or overly protective.

8. Anxious Behavior Around Security Checks:

• Someone carrying a concealed weapon might display increased anxiety or avoid places with metal detectors or security checks. They may change their route or enter a building from a different entrance.

9. Unusual Bulging in Uncommon Areas:

• While waistbands and underarms are common areas to conceal, some might carry in less expected places, such as an ankle or a pocket. Watch for unusual bulges or stiffness in these areas.

10. Protective Behavior Towards a Vehicle:

• If someone is carrying a firearm in their vehicle, they might be unusually protective of it, locking and unlocking it more frequently, or being particularly attentive when leaving or returning to the car.

These signs are less obvious and might only be noticeable to someone who is observant and familiar with concealed carry behavior. However, even these unorthodox signs are not definitive proof that someone is carrying a firearm, and they should be interpreted carefully and contextually.

Determining if someone is carrying a concealed firearm can be challenging because the whole purpose of concealment is to keep the weapon hidden. However, there are some signs and behaviors that might indicate someone is carrying a concealed weapon. It’s important to note that these signs are not definitive proof, and you should always approach the situation with caution and respect for the law.

Potential Indicators of Concealed Carry

1. Unusual Clothing Adjustments:

• The person may frequently adjust their clothing, especially around the waist, hip, or underarm area where a firearm might be holstered.
• Wearing clothing that seems inappropriate for the weather (e.g., a heavy jacket on a warm day) to conceal the firearm.

1. Printing:

• “Printing” refers to the outline of a gun being visible through clothing. You might notice a bulge or an unusual shape on the person’s body, especially around the waistband or underarm area.

1. Body Language:

• The person may appear overly cautious or protective of a specific area of their body, often where the firearm is concealed.
• They may favor one side of their body while walking or sitting, or they might avoid bending over, which could reveal the gun.

1. Unnatural Movements:

• The person may move in a way that suggests they are trying to avoid revealing the firearm, such as standing in a way that keeps one side of their body away from others.

1. Behavioral Signs:

• Some individuals might show nervousness or heightened awareness, especially if they are not accustomed to carrying a weapon or are in a situation where they feel the need to protect it.

1. Holster Visibility:

• In some cases, the edge of a holster might become visible if the person moves in a certain way or if their clothing shifts.

Important Considerations

• Legal Context: In many places, it is legal for individuals to carry concealed firearms if they have the proper permits. The presence of a concealed firearm does not necessarily mean that the person has malicious intent.
• Avoid Confrontation: If you suspect someone is carrying a concealed weapon, it’s generally best to avoid confrontation. If you believe the person poses a threat, consider notifying law enforcement rather than addressing the person directly.
• Respect Privacy: Everyone has the right to privacy, and not all behaviors listed above indicate a concealed firearm. Be mindful of making assumptions.

Understanding these signs can help you be more aware of your surroundings, but they should be interpreted cautiously and within the context of the situation.

A bulletproof vest, also known as a ballistic vest, works by absorbing and dispersing the energy of a bullet or other projectile, thereby reducing its ability to penetrate the body and cause injury. Here’s how it works in detail:

1. Materials Used: Bulletproof vests are typically made from high-strength fibers such as Kevlar, Twaron, or ultra-high-molecular-weight polyethylene (UHMWPE). These materials are chosen for their ability to absorb and distribute the force of a bullet.
2. Layering: The vest is made up of multiple layers of these fibers. When a bullet strikes the vest, it impacts the first layer and begins to deform. As the bullet passes through each successive layer, its energy is gradually absorbed and spread out over a larger area. This reduces the likelihood of the bullet penetrating the vest.
3. Energy Absorption: The fibers in the vest work by “catching” the bullet. As the bullet encounters resistance, it begins to flatten, and its kinetic energy is transferred to the fibers. The layered structure of the vest helps to dissipate this energy across a wider area, which helps to prevent penetration.
4. Stopping the Bullet: The goal of the vest is to slow down the bullet to the point where it either stops completely or its velocity is significantly reduced, causing minimal injury if it does penetrate.
5. Trauma Reduction: Even if a bullet does not penetrate the vest, the wearer can still suffer blunt force trauma from the impact. To mitigate this, some vests are equipped with trauma plates, which are hard inserts made from materials like ceramic or steel. These plates provide additional protection by further dispersing the force of the impact.
6. Protection Levels: Bulletproof vests are rated by the National Institute of Justice (NIJ) according to the level of protection they provide. The ratings range from Level IIA (protection against lower-velocity handgun rounds) to Level IV (protection against high-velocity rifle rounds).

While bulletproof vests provide significant protection, they are not completely invulnerable. The level of protection varies depending on the type of vest and the type of ammunition used.

Mark Riptoe via NASSIM TALEB?

All tactical everything

Prize your life, this is the only life you got. 

The economics and philosophy of time:

1. The death of film

I think this is something that changes a lot, once you have a kid. Or have a child a young child at the home. Suddenly, your time becomes scarce, very very scarce.

For example, in terms of times scarcity… This is so insanely critical. If I give you a choice… Would you rather spend 30 minutes playing and wrestling around with your kid at the house or at the park… Or would you rather spend your precious 30 minutes answering Emails from childless individuals who don’t really have anything better to do?

True success

I’m starting to think… True success is self ownership, time ownership, essentially… Never having anything randomly put on your schedule without your own desire.

For example, I learned that apparently Taylor Swift is signed to Universal records. Which means she has no control over her time or soul.

Also a very funny thing… Apparently Taylor Swift is about my age, she’s born in 1989, I am born in 1988. I find it insanely bizarre that millions of 10-year-old girls know everything about her down to her drive-through food order?

Anyways… I think some simple filters:

Trust no individual who is signed to anything.

For example, I think a very admirable thing that Kendrick Lamar did I believe was quit top dog entertainment… And create his own record label, I think it’s called PG Lang. I think this is also the wisdom of a Jay-Z… The real idea of taking a real chance is to create your own label, and to avoid getting signed to any record or label… Even if they might wave a $100 million check in front of you. Because if you have to be on tour for the next nine months of your life… Every single night performing for three hours and night, seven days a week… No sleep and rest… Do you have freedom? No!

And I think the foolish thing which people do is they trade their most valuable thing on the planet… Their freedom and self ownership, in exchange for cash, arbitrary notions of “fame“… For the sake of what?

What is it that we truly seek?

One of my friends, Bing who I met in Singapore… The guy I am grateful for getting me into crypto bitcoin and digibyte at the time —  he said something interesting, very wise guy, saying that what he wanted in life was material desires like a purple Lamborghini, but also… More importantly, getting respect from people.

For example, he said that the primary issue in America is that there is no real notions of respect. For example even very very simply being in Korea, Southeast Asia of Vietnam etc.… On a very basic level, we use honorifics, when it comes to age. Be told, it feels really good! To have a young kid address you in an honorific way, warms your heart! 

Also… I think in America one of the wise things that I’ve learned, just from myself but also echo and people like NASSIM TALEB is a simple idea:

Treat the janitor, the hygiene sanitation guy, the security guard with more respect than the big boss.

And also… Assume that everybody you meet is super super rich and successful and powerful and influential, irregardless of how they may look on the outside. Often times, the richest most powerful people are the most low-key, keep a low profile, and you would never expect it.

But I think the tricky thing is when it comes to human social capital… The whole “it’s not what you know but who you know”– is also a little bit misguided because technically, especially in today’s day and age, I don’t think that networking or knowing influential people is important. All you need is a website, your own self hosted blog, ChatGPT and you’re good!

Examples

Humans are not super great nor efficient. For example just based on my experiences, I’m 36 now… Almost 0 networking events or meeting famous successful people have led to anything substantive. The only things which have led to substantive things were things that I decided to do on my own; like hosting my own workshops, creating and developing and selling my own products engaging people directly with my own email newsletter blog, platform, etc. Everything else has been a waste of time.

I think the biggest issues here is that when you are starting an entrepreneur… We do things in such a way in which we think it is the proper way. For example, when we think about business and networking… We think what it means is to get to know a bunch of rich successful people, “get your foot in the door” etc. Yet, I have discovered this is a total waste of time. 

The way that I was able to build my digital capital my fame my power my influence was very very simple… Essentially learning everything about street photography on my own, and then creating really really insanely in-depth articles, blog post, pages, information and resources on anything and everything street photography.  and the whole time, the whole endeavor of vine was guided by passion, personal interest and curiosity.

Curiosity is antifragile.

Lifting 1,000 pounds

On my personal quest to lift 1000 pounds, which is beyond 10 plates on each side of the barbell, was a personal curiosity:

How far can I take it?

Essentially, my primary curiosity was a curiosity of the limits of my strength, my courage, my ability and potential?

I remember the last time I was weightlifting in Westerly, Rhode Island, and an older guy came up to me and asked “what is the purpose of that? Why are you lifting like that?” I made a joke and I said, first– to augment my ego. But the second more honest answer is I’m just curious how strong I can become.

Why curiosity is so critical

What is curiosity? Curiosity is care, curiosity is what drives us.

You cannot force somebody to be cursed about something that they don’t really care for. You cannot spoon feed or inject curiosity in the soul of somebody, against their own will.

This is why a lot of Asian parents fail, when they try to force their kids to play violin, piano, or chess etc.

back to time

Time is ultimate capital, ultimate desirable non-renewable resource.

Another funny lesson: often the most seemingly bad movies, the ones with poor IMDb reviews are actually the best movies.

For example, the movie “in time” by Justin Timberlake.  probably one of the best films of all time, and also, the most underrated.
P the reason why it is so grand and great of a film is that it creates this metaphor, this philosophical world in which essentially money is, quite literally.

For example, the super super rich people have 1000 years on their wrist, and hilarious enough, excuse the pun, but rich people and poor people are separated by “time zones”–

Also in this fictitious universe, real rich people take their time and move really slowly, whereas the poor labors, are always running, because they are so short on time.

time inflation

 another funny thought: apparently in the early film, when Justin Timberlake is working as a laborer at a factory or whatever, do you have to scan your wrist, imagine like having Apple Pay, your checking account embedded in your wrist, and anytime you wanted to buy a cuppa coffee or food or whatever… You would just scan your wrist. And one of the scenes, Justin Timberlake complains “wait… A cup of coffee only cost 15 minutes, why is it now costing 30 minutes?”  and the guy selling coffee, shrugs his shoulder and says “that’s time inflation!”

Why it is that the only films I care for are dystopic films

The matrix, Blade Runner, and these scientific fiction, alternate future sociological philosophical films, why ? They actually change you! 

What is so interesting about science fiction typically it is just a commentary or a societal critique of our real society. And the thing exaggerated, in cinematic ways, or building up a universe, but in fact, it is really true to today’s world.

Anyways, back on the notion of time… Time is labor, money is labor time.

For example… One of the things I am so grateful about renting, and having the best landlord of all time, is that when something breaks, like our all-in-one washer dryer machine from LG… And the machine doesn’t even turn on anymore, I don’t have to be the ones Wasting my time driving to Home Depot, trying to fix it, or finding service technicians to fix it, scheduling it etc. Rather, I let the landlord communicate with his own labor task squad, his own maintenance team, to come in and fix it, when we are not home, and I could do better things like go on a hike with Cindy and Seneca, or do something fun!

In America, we have this weird virtue connection with doing the labor yourself. However, there is a differentiation between hateful labor and joyful labor. For example, I would probably prefer to have a mechanic fix my car, even though I could do the labor myself, because now that I have a kid, an hour spent fixing your car could be an hour playing with your kid at the park! Here a time becomes zero som, which means 

If you only have an hour to spare, would you rather it be chatting with somebody random, or spending time with somebody you don’t really care for, or doing some sort of labor you don’t really care for, or rather would you rather spend that time to do something more critical you insanely care for?

For example, if you had an hour, to listen to the problems of somebody, or, you had an hour to work out exercises, and lift weights… What would you choose? And assume you could only do one. Obviously work out!

For me, my only regret in the evening is if I spent the whole day, assuming that I was in good health and strength, not working out? To me, my nonnegotiable thing that I must do every single day, irregardless of whatever is to lift weights, at least once. 

Life before Seneca, life after Seneca

Life BC, life AD — I still think it is hilarious that in America, the way we categorize time is life before Christ, life after Christ.

Life before the christos, the lord the saviour, and life after Jesus.

For me I like to use this analogy for Seneca. Before Seneca was born, I wasted a lot of my time, had coffee shops, kind of superficial relationships, etc. Why? I had so much time to kill!

And also good thing about having kid is that it helps you understand what is truly critical to you or not.

For example, business. Do not forget that the original notion of business was centered around being busy, “busy-ness”–

Even the ancient Romans, otium, neg+otium–

Negotium (business) meant the exact opposite of leisure.

I think often times, people like to just stay busy because when you are busy, you don’t have to think about more important things in life, such as life purpose direction etc. And honestly, I think the reason why I philosophy is so critical for everybody is that if you cannot think philosophically, you’re just wasting your life.

Even Seneca the younger stoic (Seneca’s namesake) on his essay “On the shortness of time”– or the short of life… Essentially that you could live a great life, even if it is a short life, as long as you use your time well.

For example, if you had a house with 1000 marble and ivory tables, with matching golden plates, can you take that with you when you die? No!

Let us assume that the average human span now, I think it is about 92 years old for men, 94 years old for women. But then again you never know if you’re gonna get cancer or whatever, assume that it is 80 years.

If you knew that you would only live to be 80 years old, with 100% certainty, how would you spend your life, the next 10 years of your life? What would you do, what would you not do?

And also… Thinking about the mortality of our loved ones, our parents, your own mother.

For example, my mom is about to turn 70, and let us assume that she’s going to live to be 80. How would I want to spend the next 10 years in my life with her, or without her?

Certainly I’m happy for her to do stuff like travel, do her artwork, but also, more critically more time with Seneca, myself and Cindy, but more critically for her to spend time with Seneca. Why? There’s going to be a day in which my mom is no longer going to be around, and I would probably hope that Seneca could have some lovely memories with my mom.

I think this is also the thing… Of us live our lives, almost like we are going to live forever. Is that true? Of course not!

And also when you’re younger… Let us even assume that you’re going to live to be 80 years old. What that then means is that you have a long life ahead of you! But once again, what if you are Achilles, and your mom is a goddess, And you are known with 100% certainty that you will die at the age of 40? Then how would you spend your life, how would you not spend your life?

Memento mori

If you have the choice, the difference between memento mori, and memento vivre — the memory of knowing that you will die is more critical than the memory or the thought of knowing how to live.

I think meaningful ways, and also after this incident I had a few years ago being held up at gunpoint with me just me and Cindy, before Seneca was born… And fortunately I grab Cindy‘s hand and we ran away, and we did not get popped at the back of our head. And in our adrenaline, after the incident… What was my only one regret, Assuming that I have might have died? It was very simple, not having a kid! Then immediately after the incident, we started trying, and then Covidhappened, and then we stopped…  and then we did a webinar saying that kind of babies and kids were kind of immune to Covid, and then we tried again… And boom, got pregnant within a week!

Anyways… Often it is these life or death encounters which clarify things. After this incident, I had zero thoughts about my wealth, money in the bank etc., or my fame or success or whatever. I literally had zero regrets besides the kid thing.

The greatest joy on the planet

I was thinking this morning, what is something that never loses its novelty factor? Seeing and witnessing your kid grow up!

Also… As a man, by far a 1,000,000,000,000% gratitude thing, having a son, having at least one son, one male, one man, and especially having your first kid being a man!

Why? Speaking from the perspective if you are a man, what every man desires is at least one male heir. Certainly when you see a family with three girls, four girls or five girls, no boys, you know what the family was trying to do. 

And also… The whole second kid question…  honestly, if for some reason or another, we couldn’t have a second kid, I’d probably be fine because the joy of knowing that at least, our first child was a son!

Anti women?

I think if I think about it very very honestly honestly… If our first child was a girl… I’m sure I would love her 1000%, but secretly at the back of your head, you’re always thinking wishing and wondering and desiring, to have a boy.

So this is my simple thought —

If you and your wife, or partner or whatever or girlfriend, decide to have a second kid, and your first kid is a boy… Don’t push the whole second kid thing. 

Also, if I told you that let’s say that your wife decided to have birth to a second kid, and there was a 90% chance that she might die in childbirth… Would you take the risk, assuming that your first kid is already a man? No!

Back to time

Honestly just throw your iPhone to the trash. Something that people don’t understand is that the iPhone is toxic; even reading one weird thing on your phone, one weird movie, film, news headline, TikTok video whatever… Strange pornography video or picture, can infect your mind, For a few days, randomly in the middle of the day, or even when you’re about to sleep.

The reason why I deleted Instagram in around 2017 and no– that ERIC KIM on Instagram is not me– the person that made my @erickimphoto Instagram account was just a faithful follower,  why is it started to do bad things to my mind and weird things to my mind. For example I’d be driving, in the suburbs, or the city… And at around noon, while driving, I would get distracted and think to myself “wait… did I uploaded something to Instagram today?” I caught myself thinking this, and I thought “wow, this is bad. I got to get rid of this”. And in 2017, when I had about 65,000 followers, I did probably one of the most courageous and proud things in my life, which was to delete my Instagram. 

mental Freedom?

Something my friend Jeffrey Lam tells me about is this notion of mind space, ideas that was not just a timeframe but, a mental space thing.

For example, you could in theory have 12 hours of free time in a day, but as long as a strange thought is lingering in your mind, you can never really focus 100%.

I think this is called the Zeignark effect,  for example let us say that you read an email that needs to be attended to… And you don’t attend to it or respond to it, and it will plate your mind for days, sometimes even weeks, sometimes even months. This is why I avoid my inbox, or my text messages like the plague…

One strange message email or text message or communication thing can distract you for days on end.

Playing cyber defense

I also think the reason why email needs to be fixed is now, it is so easy to fake an email, ChatGPT, with bots, or generative AI, even if the person is good or bad, or even if the bot is malicious or benevolent.

For example, let me give an extreme example, let us say you are Taylor Swift, and everybody on the planet knows your email (taylorswift@gmail.com)– let us say.  if you are Taylor Swift, and you literally get 1 million emails a day, would you have the time to either read every single email, or even worse… Respond to it? No? This would be mental suicide! This is why I quit email and all messaging apps Around 2016, 2017, because honestly I was just becoming too famous, too much cognitive load! 

Dodge

In the Iliad, when the heroes are killing each other… They do two things, obviously they wear protective armor, like shields, helmets, etc.… But if somebody throws a spear at them, or an arrow, what they do is dodge it.

If you see an incoming spear, you are not a fool, ideally you dodge it, ideally dodging it is more effective than even raising your shield. Why? If it hits your, there is actually a chance that it might penetrate your shield, and end up either wounding you or killing you.

I wonder if we should apply the same philosophy two things. Like if you see an incoming missile, or a beer or a bullet… You don’t take the chance. Dodge a bullet, rather than testing your bulletproof vest.

“That little vest ain’t gonna do you I shoot from neck up”- JY Z

The ghost of soulja slim —

Soulja Kim?

The notion of soldier, like Soulja Boy etc., and interesting thought… The notion of a “soul”, period with the notion of a soldier?

And apparently, if you really really need people from the hood, like Crenshaw, where Nipsey Hussle got killed, the honorific to call somebody worth valor is “soldier”.

Kind of like calling somebody boss or chief. Like Chief Keef

Chief Kim! Too many Indians, not enough chiefs!

Anyways, long story short, prize your time. This is the only life you got.

ERIC

Anyone who shows favor, kindness warmth or love to Seneca, is forever in my good graces. Especially a very very simple gesture that Amanda does to a male child, is rub his head. Is this a universal gesture?

Becoming a soldier?

solidus– a soldiers pay

The problem about the typical American US military complex is you don’t have freedom. Whenever I see people wearing T-shirts like under armor that say freedom on it… So superficial.

I like the first idea that you just become your own soldier, without any sissy guns or whatever. Guns are for cowards and pussies.

Certainly things change when you have a kid, but if you see a potentially crazy people, just stay away, like really god-awful smelling homeless people. You also avoid eye contact, and you cross the street and walk on the other side.

I’m starting to think more and more, maybe the optimal strategy in regards to things is to train yourself to become a soldier. Or treat your training like your Delta force, arranger, a Navy seal, whatever.

My brother-in-law Khanh, show me a funny online meme, in which the real Delta force, looks super super nerdy, but was in fact the ultimate lethal operator. And I trust my brother-in-law Khanh because he actually served and I think both Afghanistan and Iraq, three tours?

Lethality?

Going on the defense.gov website, learning more about the military etc.… It comes down to the notion of lethality. The purpose of the US military is to create the most lethal fighting force on the planet. That within a dieses notice, we can destroy the other side with zero hesitation or competition.

Fortunately, nobody comes even halfway close. I think America compared to China, we have at least 10,000 times more military bases, and people on our side. And also fortunately, because we have all the big tech companies here, and we have a far superior artificial intelligence Companies– China is no threat. Imagine China using Hussein phones to try to somehow destroy America? Doesn’t really make any sense. 

Anyways, I still think it is the best analogy to consider yourself like the modern day Achilles. Even if you watch the movie Troy with Brad Pitt… One of the beginning fight scenes in which Achilles goes had to head with the giant stair barbarian fight, Brad Pitt Achilles kill him quite easily, his signature leap in air, and Penetrating his shoulder blade.

This is where fitness is just a marketing thing. For example, the early days of Arnold Schwarzenegger on steroids, Conan the barbarian, Rambo etc.…  Sylvester Stallone, and Arnold both everybody… Were juicing their eyeballs out! I think Arnold gets a free pass, because he is so charismatic, and likable… And I think people only said that he used “just a little” steroids… Not “too much” like a Ronnie Coleman,  who is 1000% obviously on steroids. I think Arnold has prime, he still looks “natural“. So I guess what people try to do in the industry is to look almost as much as Arnold Schwarzenegger as possible, while still being believable that you’re not on steroids.

And also… In the world of UFC, fighting, bodybuilding powerlifting Olympic weightlifting, CrossFit, anything physical… Iron Man, probably even running, let us assume everyone 100% is on steroids, and on a lot! Would this change your opinion on things? Of course. 

Even cyclist, any sort of competitive thing, maybe even tennis… I’m sure everyone is on something, whether they call it a recovery drug or cortisol shots or whatever… Assume that hundred percent of Olympians and pro athletes are not 100% natural. My simple idea: 

Only trust people who don’t even take protein powder!

Why? Once again… Anyone who is trying to “optimize”, or “maximize” their gains, is probably doing something weird behind the scenes, with their “private doctor“, or “anti-aging“ specialist. In fact, all of organized sports Olympics etc. it’s just like a steroid contest… The teams win are the ones that could develop the best steroids, which are avoided by drug testing. I would actually say it would be more honest if the policy of sports and Olympics is just let all of these people do 100% steroids, uninhibited… And we just categorize Pro athletes and Olympians as the weirdos who take drugs and compete.

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is it possible to live in exist totally independently?

Obviously not, we all love society, being around other people, even if they antisocial, people like to be adjacent to other people!

For example, lot of antisocial guys, single guys, with the dog, always wearing a baseball cap, Hitler mustache, AirPods on, dark sunglasses on, pretend to not acknowledge your existence, or the existence of others… You often see them walking around the town Plaza or the town public area, to simply be around other human beings without interacting with them!

Even if you wanted to be one of those weird off the grid people, buying a ranch somewhere in the Midwest, eventually you will want to interact with some human beings, whether via your phone, FaceTime, social media etc.

Maybe not social media, but digital people, digital media? 

Unfortunately… it looks like the open Internet is still the best thing we got?

Quit Reddit

You fools… Don’t you know that Reddit got bought out by the news corporation, if you don’t want to be a digital slave anymore, just quit it!

Why news is bad

First, the notion of news comes from the notion of new… News is anything which is new.

 however, the reason why news is bad is because typically almost 99.99% of new things are bad, not not worth reading consuming or interacting or engaging with.

For example, if something is really really really critical and important, sooner or later you will see it in the real world, in embodied reality! Without even trying to force yourself to discover it.

For example, let us assume that you were totally off the grid, sooner or later you’re going to see a cyber truck on the road, and your mind will be blown! Without going on the Internet.

Whether you like it or not, the news will find you

News, is the ultimate toxic thing. This is also where Google is bad. They sell the news and advertisements. And the more sensational something is, whether in the news or YouTube, will drive more advertising money and revenue. As a consequence, our world becomes hyper sensationalized in a fake way.

Easiest number one best thing you could do for your soul and your mind is just uninstalled everything from your phone, besides FaceTime and Apple Maps.

Even now, I’m starting to think more and more, Google maps is so sneaky. Why? For example, let us say you’re trying to drive to a Trader Joe’s or Amazon fresh or whatever, and you search it… The new first thing they will always show you is an advertisement for a competitive Location, and the word “ad” is not even in yellow anymore, it is in black-and-white! And if it is your mom, she is going to have no idea that that is an advertisement.

I wouldn’t be surprised sooner or later, Google just gets rid of the word “”, and just end up lending ad ad advertisements from true organic responses, without telling anybody. Or they will make it so sneaky that eventually, people won’t know the difference.

Building yourself

I think one of the best things about building my own home gym, and lifting weights myself and exercising myself without going to a commercial gym is because I no longer really compute or compare myself with others. And also, I’m not really trying to impress anybody else, because in my own soul, already know that I am pound for pound the strongest human being on the planet.

Let us consider, if ERIC KIM at 5‘11“ tall, at a body weight of around 165, with a 5% body fat and a six pack, can lift 1000 pounds, aren’t I pound 4 pound the strongest human being on the planet? And also… I did this all fasted! Only water and black coffee. And not only that, no stupid knee wraps, belt, or accessories. Just pure flesh bone and muscles. 

Why people are so confused by me

Being in LA Los Angeles, honestly most guys are wimpy. Even the guys who work out, they all eventually have chicken legs.

Even at the beach, or in public, I almost never see anybody who look more strong or powerful or dominant than me?

Anyways, the pernicious thing about social media, YouTube, competitive powerlifting whatever is everyone is always trying to judge themselves and comparison with others.

But once you could lift 1000 pounds, and nobody even comes halfway… Why do you care anymore?

And also, assuming that you had a Brad Pitt fight club aesthetic, and physique, and could successfully lift 1000 pounds without any steroids or weird stuff… Wouldn’t this be more important and superior  then if you took steroids, look like Arnold Schwarzenegger in his prime, and yet could only lift 300 or 400 pounds? 

is power, strength, lethality, courage quantifiable?

The closest thing we got so far is powerlifting, and strongman. But both of those are out, because I think in competitive powerlifting, it is almost expected that 100% of people are on steroids.

Not only is steroids permitted in competitive powerlifting, but also, part of the thing! Like, as a weight lifter would use chalk to improve his grip on the barbell… A competitive power lifter would use steroids in his butt hole, not even thinking twice because it is part of the routine.

Also, in the strong man community, which is a very very bizarre field, is a bunch of fat dudes with steroids, who eat insanely dirty, in order to lift 2000 pounds? And they are also stupid because they think that you’re becoming heavier will make them positively stronger, which is not true.

Why is it that people assume that bigger means stronger?

For example, if you had a Ford F-150 Raptor truck, and you put it side-by-side to a Tesla model S plaid, obviously the Tesla is 1 trillion times faster.

And also, at my old commercial gym, I was at least three times stronger than everyone else in the gym, but certainly more than half the guys at the gym had more muscle mass than me… Does power and strength equate with size and mass?

No!

Some basic things… Assuming that you’re a 4 foot man, versus a 7 foot tall man… I think superficially we will always think that the 7 foot tall man will be stronger. Because for humans, it is super simple and basic: for the most part, size, bigger, bigger height means more powerful.

But once again, if you watch a movie 300… Would you rather be king Leonidas or one of those Persians slave monsters, which is about 10 feet tall?

Proportions

Unfortunately, even if you had the worlds most beautiful woman, with the most perfect breast and butts and waste line and body parts possible, the most beautiful face possible and eyes, if she were only 3 feet tall, she cannot be beautiful. Humans know… We have an innate sense of proportions in human beings.

Even if you are a man, assuming you had the most handsome face, the most chiseled jawline, the most incredible body and eight pack, but once again if you were only 3 feet tall, you would not really command any respect from nobody.

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Even the good people?

Towards reduction, simplicity & minimalism