The two critical pillars?

We scorn frequent small transaction and costs,,, yet,,,, we don’t really seem to mind as much infrequent and really really really big financial costs or “investments”?

Real pride

Time opportunity cost.

$999– or $3499 —

How many $20 parking experiences can that take you on?

DOWNLOAD

SUPREME JOY!

DOWNLOAD

Lift off!

The happiest moment; Seneca at age 3 years old,,, opening up GarageBand by himself on the MacBook Pro Touch Bar; and figuring out how to ‘sample’ or how to use the 808 Touch Bar machine by himself— insanely great for creativity!

The new MacBook Pros — what is it good for? Answering emails?

My life

Podcast

My life is beautiful!

Audio

Oh yeah!

Driven by true personal curiosity?

low taxes and prices ain’t happiness!

Those among us, today, who avidly long for low taxes and low prices, and who believe happiness of a people consists of these, should reflect on this case, and decide if it is desirable that we return to the state of things as they were in the year 1510.

Meat is *real* provisions

reduce to a money value all that a man needs to live on.

Hectacomb

Then they offered hecatombs of bulls and goats without blemish on the sea shore, and the smoke with the savour of their sacrifice rose curling up towards heaven.

In the first book of The
See 1-5f page 10.
See 1-6,
pagre 55.
… whether it is for some vow that we have broken, or hecatomb that we have not offered,
and whether he will accept the savour of lambs and goats without blemish, so as to
take away the plague from us.

Just include your own thoughts

Old is bad.

Italy has become old and inclined to barbarism.

Ancient valor —in our hearts is not yet dead!

We pay a premium for security

“Facto principis” is a Latin phrase that translates to “by the act of the prince” in English. In legal and historical contexts, this phrase refers to an action taken by a sovereign or government authority that has legal consequences. The concept behind “facto principis” is often related to the principle that the sovereign or state has the power to make decisions or take actions that can affect legal relationships, contracts, or obligations without prior notice or consent from the parties involved.

In contract law, “facto principis” can be invoked in cases where the performance of a contract becomes impossible or is fundamentally altered by an act of the government or a public authority. This principle is sometimes used as a defense in cases where a party is unable to fulfill their contractual obligations due to a change in law, government intervention, or an action taken by a public authority that was unforeseeable and beyond the control of the contracting parties.

The concept is closely related to “force majeure” clauses found in many contracts, which release the parties from their obligations when extraordinary events or circumstances beyond their control occur. However, “facto principis” specifically involves actions taken by a sovereign or government authority, whereas “force majeure” can encompass a broader range of events, including natural disasters and other acts of God.

Omne propterea hujusmodi lucrum, quod sortem superet, illicitum, et usurarium es

The phrase “Omne propterea hujusmodi lucrum, quod sortem superet, illicitum, et usurarium est” translates from Latin to English as “Therefore, all profit of this kind, which exceeds the principal, is illicit and usurious.” This statement reflects the medieval Christian doctrine on usury, which considered the collection of interest on loans as inherently sinful and exploitative, particularly when the interest charged exceeded the principal amount of the loan.

The condemnation of usury was based on the belief that money itself should not beget more money simply by being lent at interest. Instead, the ethical viewpoint of the time held that money could only be justly earned through labor or trade, not through the passive accumulation of interest. This stance was rooted in various biblical passages and was upheld by the Church throughout the Middle Ages and into the early modern period.

The context of this statement touches upon the broader ethical and economic debates of the time concerning the morality of profit from lending money. It reflects the tension between emerging financial practices and the traditional Christian moral framework which sought to regulate economic transactions to ensure fairness and prevent exploitation.

Only conveniences are purchased

Only pleasure has a price

Loan: consignment and recovery of the thing

Loan contacts and risk

Profits from money?

Every profit, large or small,
made with money, is by nature barren and is reprehen­ sible.

Paper money is future money

Present money … when is it less valuable than distant money?

Forecasting & truth?

Though previously scorned, in the hands of Bernoulli, the art of forecasting becomes ‘a branch of mathematics and of truth;

The Sin of Usury

The “Monti di Pietà” were charitable institutions that emerged in Italy during the Middle Ages, primarily to offer financial assistance to individuals in need, through the provision of low-interest loans secured by pawned goods. The first of such institutions was founded in Perugia in 1462. The concept was motivated by a desire to provide an ethical lending alternative to the usurious practices prevalent at the time, especially those conducted by moneylenders.

Monti di Pietà were a significant development in the history of banking and social welfare. They aimed to combat poverty and usury by providing a more humane lending service to the poor. Clients could pawn their belongings in exchange for loans at minimal interest rates, which were often used to cover basic needs or to get through difficult times until they could redeem their pawned items.

Over time, some of these institutions evolved into modern banks, while others continued their original charitable functions. The Monti di Pietà played a crucial role in the economic and social fabric of many Italian cities and had a profound impact on the development of ethical banking practices.

”The Jews”— the “cruelest usurers”— (Galiani, On Money)

This was imitated by other princes. At that time, with the destruction of the Jews, the cruelest usurers, and the institution of monti di pieta, xxsury was almost totally extinguished and the common populace had thus
been calmed. At the same time, it was astonishing to see the sharpest minds emerge to protect and sustain usury, already dead by this time, and despite the fact that it had not been defended by anyone even when it
‘h
R brief n&rration of the controvert sies on usury.
was alive.

Always wait and hold out for the next next… the new new iPhone?

monti di pieta,

The “Monti di Pietà” were charitable institutions that emerged in Italy during the Middle Ages, primarily to offer financial assistance to individuals in need, through the provision of low-interest loans secured by pawned goods. The first of such institutions was founded in Perugia in 1462. The concept was motivated by a desire to provide an ethical lending alternative to the usurious practices prevalent at the time, especially those conducted by moneylenders.

Monti di Pietà were a significant development in the history of banking and social welfare. They aimed to combat poverty and usury by providing a more humane lending service to the poor. Clients could pawn their belongings in exchange for loans at minimal interest rates, which were often used to cover basic needs or to get through difficult times until they could redeem their pawned items.

Over time, some of these institutions evolved into modern banks, while others continued their original charitable functions. The Monti di Pietà played a crucial role in the economic and social fabric of many Italian cities and had a profound impact on the development of ethical banking practices.

This was imitated by other princes. At that time, with the destruction of the Jews, the cruelest usurers, and the institution of monti di pieta, xxsury was almost totally extinguished and the common populace had thus
been calmed. At the same time, it was astonishing to see the sharpest minds emerge to protect and sustain usury, already dead by this time, and despite the fact that it had not been defended by anyone even when it
‘h
R brief n&rration of the controvert sies on usury.
was alive.

In the sixteenth century, with the discovery of the new Indies, the growth of the arts, of industry, of trade, and of money, the institution of rents on the states debts was used for the first time, by
Francis, the first, the king of Franc

On rents

Since ancient times, men of wealth have drawn fruits from money by means of various forms of con­
tracts.

Then time for insane and radical experimentation and risk taking!

We are the same, doing the same old shit—

Because it will produce more beautiful photos and videos, which will invoke your beauty and passion for life!

I don’t really care when other people break the rules, or they don’t observe the law or whatever; but it invokes my rage once they suddenly get or become indignant at me??

For example, a lot of bicyclists, they don’t observe the rule of dismounting their bicycles when crossing the bridge? And me and Seneca are walking in the middle of the street or the middle of the hiking path and suddenly they get angry at me or us?

Once that happens, then it is time for me to become the bad cop?

Invest in security

Tesla is smart; they control the grid.

Critical versus not?

Also, a funny thought; porn is just entertainment?

I don’t like films produced by women or directed by women? Not that women make poor movies, but as a man, I just cannot relate?

Sans vagine (Nieztche)—

As a man, I would prefer to watch testosterone, filmed, movies, produced, or filmed, or directed by people like Zack Snyder?

You are never the same person twice:

UBER THOUGHTS, VISION THOUGHTS.

Some fresh vision thoughts to get you going:

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Apple Vision Pro? 

It’s weird when you really want to like something, and you try to force yourself to like it, but you cannot. This is my overall feeling towards the Apple Vision Pro; apparently the other day I learned that you cannot use Apple Vision Pro unless you have a prescription insert thing. This is a tragedy for people like myself who wear glasses; even oculus rift S was compatible to use with glasses on!

The demise of Apple?

I am probably the biggest Apple fanboy that I know, the biggest Steve Jobs fanboy. But even now, I have lost all passion and interest in essentially all of the products. Everything is so boring, same same, generic and played out. For example the other day my iPhone SE, the microphone got busted, and I went to the Apple in century city mall in LA, shout out to Jonathan Rosales — A++++ customer service from the technician Genius Bar– anyways, the microphone on my iPhone SE stopped working, and upon getting it inspected, Jonathan suggested that I just get a replacement iPhone SE for only $299 from the back.

It was a no-brainer. I busted out my credit card and gave him my old iPhone SE, with the broken microphone and also the messed up scratch screen, and I got a brand new iPhone SE, same configuration, and while I am glad that I have a working phone again, it all feels so lackluster and old and played out.

Lesson I got from my friend Todd Hata — you could just buy a refurbished iPhone mini directly on Amazon! This is what I should have done. Only around $450 USD —

Or, you could buy a refurbished iPhone directly from the apple.com website, maybe it is a good idea to buy a refurbished iPhone Pro, with max one terabyte storage (1 TB) storage.

In fact, this is a device strategy that I’ve had, based on my IT background;

Best to buy a maxed out refurbished product, the most expensive maxed out refurbished old product and milk it until the end of time, rather than buy something brand new, bottom of the line or even middle of the line.

For example, maybe buying a maxed out iPhone pro refurbished on the Apple website with 1 TB one terabyte of storage might be the most useful strategy.

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Touch ID

Now that I’m super rich, something that is becoming a little bit more concerning to me is biometrics and data, security, two factor authentication etc.

For example, most of us now have text messaging 2 factor authentication enabled on our devices, but in theory, if somebody steals your phone and takes out your Sim card, technically they could access all of your financial and personal data.

To me, my only concern has to deal with my finances, nothing else. When people talk about getting your identity stolen or whatever, that doesn’t really concern me. The only thing which concerns me is getting my money stolen.

One of the good things about having an older iPhone with the thumbprint scanner is that I think it is actually more secure than Apple Face ID. There are funny stories that people 3-D printing out facial masks, and hacking into peoples phones, or even the joke is having somebody Apple face scan while they are sleeping or taking a nap or something.

Maybe for now, a thumbprint is the most secure thing. Even though the iPhone SE is not perfect, currently it may be the least bad iPhone out there. Either that or iPhone Mini.

Thumbprints, iPhone SE’s are the future.

90% Bitcoin, 10% Chainlink

Currently bitcoin is booming, it recently broke the 50,000, $51,000 a bitcoin barrier, which is always good news. Why? People get emotional about round numbers; this is why Apple prices the iPhone Pro at $999, rather than $1000 flat. It seems that we don’t like round numbers, we like it a little bit under or a little bit over.

For example, prices are significant one day go over the big hump.

Now that bitcoin is over 50,000, $51,000, it won’t be long until it goes back to $55,000 a bitcoin, $57,000 a bitcoin, $59,000 a bitcoin, $60,000 a bitcoin, and will soon and eventually break the $65,000 a bitcoin high watermark. Once it breaks that again, and it finally hit $70,000 a bitcoin, it is all just uphill from there. Then I don’t think we will balk any more at bitcoin being $100,000 a bitcoin, $150,000 a bitcoin, $200,000 a bitcoin, $300,000 a bitcoin, 400,000, 500,000, 1 million, 1.5 million, 3 million, 5 million, $10 million a bitcoin and beyond.

It was just yesterday I bought Bitcoin at $6,000 USD a Bitcoin and even then,,, I regretted NOT buying it at $300 a Bitcoin .. when I first started eyeing it.

The 90/10 power law

Therefore my simple strategy as of now is putting 90% of your crypto speculations into bitcoin, and other 10% into chainlink. Why chainlink? In the whole entire world of crypto, I think it might actually be the only interesting crypto technology platform or innovation there is. Everyone else is trying to become the next bitcoin, which seems like a poor strategy because honestly, there will never be another bitcoin.

The only issue with bitcoin is that it is too slow to transfer things. However a great innovation is the bitcoin lightning network, endorsed by Jack Dorsey and block.xyz.  this is also the same company that owns the square platform, cash app, and I suppose now tidal.

A just government and Republic? 

A republic is just a chimera — Galiani on Money

I feel that the most interesting book I’ve read of all time in anything regards to money or economics is Galiani ON MONEY. One of the takeaway points is that at the end of the day, the most prosperous nation is the nation with the most just government and liberty — currently on the planet that is America, the United States of America.

Also, Galiani, I think he wrote this book 400 years ago, talks a little bit about America, the Americans, the Quakers Boston and Pennsylvania how they only used paper money because America only traded with Britain at the time. Galiani said this was good because Quakers are trustworthy and kept their word.

Studying the history and philosophy and theory of money — super critical to any economic theorizing.

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Fitness and beyond

Titan.fitness — it is pretty amazing that you could buy a squat rack, which is good up to 2000 pounds, for only about $350 on the Titan.fitness website. 

I think 99% the difficulty that people have about getting fit is that going to the gym is too much of a hassle. For example, having to drive there, be stuck in traffic, stuck in a car, having to find parking, having to enter, worry about people stealing your stuff, or having to wait for your favorite squat rack. The best strategy is to just build your own home gym; you could just leave it inside your house or apartment, keep it in your front lawn or back lawn, or even your parking spot.

For example, a great innovation I’ve discovered is this Titan.fitness “independent squat stand” which I could just move around as I please. This is very useful because I have two parking spots, one is where I park my Prius, the other is where I leave my squat rack. But if for some reason somebody wants to spend the night or keep their car parked in my second parking spot, I could just easily move the squat stand!

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Buy more bone marrow, not devices.

So the Apple Vision Pro is $3499 — the new high water mark. To me it ain’t that expensive–

We can all afford it,, the better question is “do I really want it or not?”

For me,,,, I can afford a thousand Vision Pros but it just doesn’t interest me,,, no matter how hard I try.

A better thought:

Go to your local grocery market butcher and ask for bone marrow (Gelson’s in LA and the century city mall does it)

Bone marrow as the ultimate demigod food;; good enough for Achilles as a child! Bone marrow may actually be SUPERIOR to beef liver? My new thought.

Buy $3,499 worth of bone marrow,,, and your life and soul and destiny shall be transformed.

We humans don’t like having stuff on our head

A big big big big big note for VR — Meta, meta quest, Apple etc:

Nobody likes to put shit on their head —

Even Seneca age 3 hates putting on a baseball cap!

As a consequence — suggestion for Apple:

Make the iPhone, iPad insanely great again.

Personally I’m waiting for the iPad Pro M3 chip to come out before I upgrade — everything else seems lame.

Photo thoughts

New Fujfilm X100 is out which is good news — but why is the design the same? Boooooeing!

Fujifilm should have made a brand new all white color, or even a new matte black color,,, or even a matte pink or matte or shiny gold color.

Nobody cares for the internals,,, we buy it for the new design.

Heads up to Leica, Fujifilm, Sony, Apple Tesla etc:

Always be updating the new design.

For example the new Model 3 insanely great redesign — they’re selling like hotcakes! Also Cybertruck sales are off the roof!

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Redesign Yourself

Perhaps a good idea —

Always redesign, and be redesigning yourself.

Prince, David Bowie Michael Jackson etc — Kanye, Jay Z, etc.

Better than redesigning your house home car etc … redesign yourself!

Also redesign your website, platform etc– a good approach.

Redesign your photography, art and creativity

No limits >

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EK PHOTO SUPPLY

ALL HAPTIC STRAPS — new update… no more sales tax! Yippie!

Swim in the HAPTIC STREAM >

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That new new shit

1. Open AI SORA — mind officially blown.
2. New lululemon license to Train 5’’ shorts in all black are the perfect shorts. Also don’t buy the tenthousand.cc shorts — they suck. Buy without the liner.

Solo thinking

1. One man, one barbell (Texas power squat bar, monster squat bar)
2. One man, one camera, one lens. Currently LUMIX G9, LUMIX pancake 14mm f2.5 lens

Chris Athanasiadis

ERIC KIM IS A TRIP.

Chris Athanasiadis– great blog.

He also got the new Nikon zf and loves it!

Check out Chris — the last interesting street photographer blogger alive?

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New?

1. Start Here
2. Books
3. Downloads

Also saw the new Winogrand Color book … insanely great!

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Who else, what else?

Speculate in you!

ERIC

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EK NEWS

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Movies to watch?

1. Barbie: The New Matrix?
2. New Napoleon Ridley Scott film
3. Dune 2– incoming.

CINEMA BY KIM >

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You are never the same person twice.

EK BLOG

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PHILOSOPHY BY KIM

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I’m so future, I *AM* the future, I’m *from* the future?

Sexy, beautiful human bodies.

And also — children and kids!

Invest all of your money towards having (at least) 2 kids — and the rest of life is simple; being outside, outdoors, fitness, physical activity, uneven surfaces, hiking, climbing up hill, views, the outside world —

Good Apple Mac Pro motto

Explain it visually.

Zero Knowledge Proof —

True origin of foods?

”Golden record”?

Trust anchor for society?

The Verifiable Web: Fixing the Internet’s Truth Problem

Than yesterday?

Just buy the newest chip — the newest M-series chip.

Mac