Money can buy you the sexiest Apple devices and cars, but not a beautiful body.

One might argue that money could buy you plastic surgery, but this does not make you beautiful, unless you’re in a major accident or whatever, plastic surgery actually makes you look more grotesque.

Also, you cannot use money to build muscle, or lose body fat adipose tissue.

One might argue that you could use money to buy a personal trainer, gym membership etc, but the irony:

Most people don’t have the time nor the energy to go to the gym. 

Also— many rich people are always working, and also chronically sleep deprived, and also eating lots of bad food, takeout, drinking a lot and taking a lot of drugs, so their health in their body shapes are poor.

One of my personal curiosities is how to naturally enhance human performance to the maximum, without the aid of supplements, strange hormones, drugs, etc.

This is what I have done, and what has worked well for me:

1. Intermittent fasting, a.k.a. not eating breakfast or lunch

The first one is this: don’t eat breakfast or lunch, and partake in intermittent fasting. This just means one insanely massive meat forward meal a day, at dinner time.

I think this is one of the best natural ways to enhance human performance. Why? You don’t get a breakfast food coma, nor a midday food coma slump. This means more physiological energy and vigor to do the things you care for.

2. But don’t you need to eat something before working out?

No. I have proven that you can successfully get insanely strong, without eating anything before hand, without taking protein powder, creatine, supplements, etc.

3. Why you can trust me

Because I make my living with photography, not health and fitness, and I don’t make any advertisements for fitness, food, supplements, training, etc. Therefore, zero conflict of interest for me.

Once again, let us consider, if you are a YouTube influencer, or a social media influencer; if you make your living, or a partial living from your physique, strength, etc., there is always going to be a low-key motivation to “cheat“.

4. No carbs, no sugar, no vegetables, no starch, no fruit

The only non-meat item I eat is leafy greens, like chrysanthemums, kale, spinach. Also, kimchi, lemon grass, lime leaves, ginger, garlic. My ideal meal is all you can eat shabu shabu; the most efficient way to consume meat and leafy greens as fast as humanly possible. Even superior to all you can eat Korean barbecue, which is my second favorite.

Just YouTube my TABU SHABU GODZILLA CHALLENGE

5. Black coffee

I think life is better with coffee, than without. Let us not be fooled, coffee and caffeine is a very potent drug. It is probably my only vice. And truth be told, if I never got addicted to coffee in the first place, I might’ve preferred not to. But since I’m already addicted, best to “lean into it“.

I think it is more of a timing thing; very good to have coffee first thing in the morning, during your morning, instead of drinking it right before you sleep. Kind of like how it is not a good idea to blow your load first thing in the morning, best at night before you sleep.

Therefore, my simple thought is this: maximize the strength of your coffee consumption in the morning hours, and be very strict about cutting it after noon or midday. Ideally, cut off caffeine after 11 AM.

Also, just drink it black. No cream, no sugar, no strange milk substitutes. No oat milk, no almond milk, etc. Also, no fake sugar substitutes, Stevia, Monk fruit, even the “natural“ 0 cal ones. Anything sweet will spike your insulin. And note, coffee is already naturally sweet and has sugar in it.

6. Arabica or robusta coffee?

I think there is a new racism in coffee; that is, a preference for 100% arabica, and zero preference for robusta. For example, according to the specialty coffee roasting federation, robusta is not even considered.

I actually think the ideal is the blend of both arabica and robusta, in order to maximize caffeine and robust taste. And yes, robusta has waaaay more caffeine than arabica. And robusta has a lower sugar content than arabica — so in theory it should also be “healthier” than arabica.

From wikipedia (coffea canephora):

Robusta contains more caffeine (2.7% compared to arabica’s 1.5%),^[5] and contains less sugar (3–7% compared to arabica’s 6–9%).^[6] As it is less susceptible to pests and disease,^[7] robusta needs much less herbicide and pesticide than arabica.

Now what?

I am still blown away, that I’ve been able to deadlift 540 pounds, no straps, no belt, etc. Nearly 3.3x my body weight.

My next personal goal is to deadlift four times my body weight.

Greater things

I am not a professional bodybuilder, powerlifter, etc. My personal fascination with weightlifting is a personal one; my livelihood is not affected by it at all.

I just lift weights as a side hobby, not a primary concern.

Weightlifting as a philosophical pursuit?

What is the apex pursuit? I think a mix of entrepreneurship as well as philosophical. Many of our entrepreneurial drives are philosophical ones, for example, Elon Musk striving to make the human race interplanetary. This is more of a philosophical one, than a practical one.

Even the US MILITARY is (finally) highlighting the virtues of powerlifting!

A fun creative activity: use zen brush 2 app to make your own wallpapers for your iPhone and iPad!

I can act in bizarre, strange, and unorthodox ways, without feeling bad, guilty.

One of the good reasons why not to acknowledge the criticisms of others, or the critiques of others, whether in person or online:

You mainrain your zen and focus.

To become more ruthless, relentless on the forward march of society, technology and our self development!

Note the CrossFit games, strongman, powerlifting competitions etc.

Ricoh GR IIIX, iPhone SE, MacBook Air. Newest Tesla Model, newest Lamborghini model etc.

Aluminium edges (the matte black) on standard iPhone and iPhone mini is superior to shiny stainless steel on iPhone pro.

Growth, construction, economic developments:

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And Americans just desire to become rich and famous.

Then, once if you become rich and famous, like Hollywood celebrities, then what do you want? Then it seems the new goal is to be hidden.

But for entrepreneurs, it seems the goal is greater power and impact and growth!

Being able to channel the poison of coffee, caffeine, into my power!

Tenacious. Pop off the laces. Go topless, go bare. Don’t care for the unsubstantial, care for the deep. Go further, venture deeper. Follow your own desire, and never stop climbing higher!

ERIC

For example, if you just have a black car, sitting in the sun all day, very bad.

In this case, white, even yellow is more robust.

It is a very bad sign, when you have college educated folks in America just working as servers.

For example, in Asia in Southeast Asia, to work as a server requires the least amount of intelligence. In terms of labor, it is one of the lowest of the low.

For example in Phnom Penh, a restaurant server may earn $100 USD a month.

I will never give up about what I personally care about. That which I do not care for, I don’t give it any mind.

Better to be a billionaire beggar, than somebody who is aspirationally rich, and looks rich, and ends up getting robbed.

For example, if you could dead lift over three times your body weight, this is gravity acting in your favor, making you stronger.

One of my favorite Big Sean lines

The other day, I just hit a new personal record in my deadlift. And I think this is what perhaps matters the most, not your ultimate strength, but your power to weight ratio.

“How much can you deadlift bro?”

I haven’t weighed myself in two years, but to my understanding, I think I weigh about 160 or 165 pounds. In in terms of height, I’m around 5 foot 10 to 5 foot 11 inches.

Finally after doing the maths, it looks like I was able to successfully deadlift 245 kg, which is around 540 pounds. And in terms of my personal weight, I think I am around 73 to 75 kilograms. This then means I was able to successfully deadlift around 3.3x my body weight. I did this while fasted, no food or supplements before my lift, just some black coffee in the morning. Also, without a belt or straps, only chalk.

Why I am anti-straps

Certainly, if you’re gonna try to deadlift over 1000 pounds, or over 500 kg like Eddie Hall, yeah, use all the equipment as possible. But for the rest of us, I think using straps is a crutch, as it prevents you from building your grip strength.

For example, about two and a half weeks ago, I tried to deadlift the same amount, around 540 pounds, and got a little bit off the ground, but my left hand grip gave out. This was good personal information for me, because it signaled to myself: I am not strong enough, yet.

Then about a week ago, I tried to deadlift a little bit less weight. I subtracted 5 kg from each side, and successfully got it off.

Then after another week of eating lots of beef, all you can eat shabu shabu, etc., getting some rest and recovery and muscle augmentation, Yesterday I was able to success with the lift to 540 pounds.

Amp.dev — why is this so important? This is because in order to make the Internet more “optimized”, for mobile, Google has undertaken a great project called Google amp, which stands for accelerated mobile pages.

Basically, it creates a shadow copy of everything published, if you have the Google amp plug-in enabled. And, Google will prioritize your website in terms of search engine results, bringing you closer to the top, assuming that your website is Google amp enabled.

No, why does google amp get so much critique? Essentially because if you don’t play well by googles rules, google why not to prioritize you. Some people called this “unfair”,” in just, however, that is not the case. If Google did not exist in the first place, nobody would find your website in the first place.

for example when it comes to myself, in the past when I still had analytics enabled, it looks like at least 80% of people who discovered me was through a simple Google search for street photography. First, I believed it to be Facebook, but it was not the case. Certainly not Twitter, which accounted for less than half a percent of my website traffic.

There are many upsides to Google amp. For example, it does actually make your website considerably faster, especially when people are accessing your websites from mobile, or slower Internet connections, slower Wi-Fi connections, or slower 3G or 2G edge Internet.

Now, how does Google make your website “worse” with Google amp? Things don’t work that well with Google amp. A lot of the plug-ins for your WordPress or website break or don’t work, and also, you lose a little bit of control on how to display your images, videos, etc.

The best leverage I’ve discovered is do not enable google amp for your desktop website, only enable to “reader view”. This means that if somebody finds your website through their smart phone, via a Google search, then let Google amp do its thing.

Also, I’ve discovered that with Google amp, your featured images actually show up better in the mobile search results. This is a big deal, because we are more attracted to images than we are text.

How to dominate the internet

Currently, what we are witnessing and seeing is a jockeying of the Internet; everyone wants to become the ultimate master and lord of the Internet.

For example, Facebook‘s initiative for internet.org, which essentially gives everyone access to free Internet, free smart phones, etc., albeit it is through the Facebook app and portal. My personal thought is better to have access to a stunted Internet, through Facebook, for free, than nothing. Especially for those living in extreme poverty.

Now, for the rest of us, those privileged and rich elites, even the “middle class” of America, even the poor class of America, we should know better. For example, if you could afford a Netflix subscription, you can afford to build your own self hosted wordpress.org website with bluehost.com

How and why featured images are so important; Google, google search, Twitter, etc. do a good job of indexing them into search results. Finally, google is starting to adopt images in search, especially with mobile, google AMP project, google accelerated mobile pages.

My critique about American culture, we are too addicted to the media and news, which distracts and pacifies us.

Media is the new propaganda.

Thoughts on K-pop, Korean culture, Korean drama, Korean food, etc.

Sometimes, I feel like I was born at the wrong time. For example, when I was a kid growing up, it wasn’t really a thing or interesting or cool to be Korean. It was all about Japan; Japanese things were cool. Even all of my Asian American friends, we would all watch Japanese animes, play Japanese video games, and like Japanese manga, Japanese culture etc.

But it seems now, Korea is now on top. In terms of popular culture, music like BLACKPINK and BTS, food, Korean drama, etc.

Something on my mind; how did it get on top? And also, why is it so good?

I love BLACKPINK

Currently, besides Kanye West, Jay Z, black pink is my favorite musical group ensemble. Why? I just think their music is really good. I like the music, I like the way it sounds, I like the way it feels, and I find all of the characters likable.

It was actually very interesting watching the documentary on BLACKPINK, how essentially, they were sent to a K-pop training camp at a young age, sequestered from the rest of society, and are essentially bred to become Korean Pop stars. One person I find particularly interesting is Lisa, who is now the star attraction, who is actually not even Korean, but from Thailand. But I think most people would agree that Lisa is probably the most talented one, followed by Jenny, then rosé, then Jisu.

Korean American producers and songwriters

YG entertainment group, the mega media conglomerates which bred BLACKPINK and many other popular stars, has been around for a long time. At least 20 years plus. I knew about them ever since I was a teenager, and I was born in 1988. A lot of rappers, who are once under the YG entertainment group umbrella, I believe are now the producers and songwriters for BLACKPINK.

For example, something I find very interesting, how does Lisa and his black pink members know all of these American cultural references, like the Flintstones? Lisa has a rap lyric, something that does with the ice on her wrist and rocks on her wrist like the Flintstones. There is no way in hell that Lisa would have come out with that line herself, definitely some sort of Korean American, or American songwriter.

It has been a long time making

Something I think that people don’t understand is this, it seems that K-pop, K drama, and all of these things pop up overnight. This is not true, it has been in the making for a very long time. My thought is simply that now that South Korea has strong ties with America, and now that a lot of entrepreneurial Korean Americans are now coming into fruition, finally the gap is being bridged. Also, assuming that American media and culture is the dominant one on the planet, having some sort of hybrid crossover with American culture in Asia makes sense.

Why Korea?

But why Korea, South Korea? I think because first of all, it is not China or Chinese, because America doesn’t have strong ties with China. However, after America’s intervention in the Korean War, America has very strong ties with South Korea. My personal thought is that South Korea is essentially a neo colony of the states. This is evident through the IMF, international monetary fund bail out, as well as the military presence in South Korea.

Korean food?

Also, something that has never been considered fancy, high-end, luxury, or popular is Korean food. For example, in America, all the high-end places seem to be Japanese, like sushi. But the funny irony is that in Japan, sushi is essentially like takeout; Salmon, salmon sashimi, is actually considered the lowest of the low. In Japan, the supreme cut is actually fatty tuna, Otoro.

As a kid growing up, I didn’t really eat kimchi, because my dad for some reason or another didn’t like it. But now as an adult, I love kimchi! I like the taste, and I think it also eats in my digestion, and allows me to eat more meat. However my critique of kimchi is that a lot of modern day kimchi, especially Kim she had restaurants, have too much sugar added. And yes, you can make kimchi without sugar.

Korean cultural things

Even currently being here in Phnom Penh Cambodia, everyone seems to know a little bit of Korean, or Korean gestures, like crossing your index and thumb to create a mini heart, and saying “saranghaeyo”. It means I love you.

It is important to consider Asia, as it looks like 80% of the worlds population is Asia. Also, Asia has deep history. China has been around forever, far longer than any western state.

Why I personally prefer living in Asia, Southeast Asia

I suppose now that because Korean culture is so prevalent and popular, and well-regarded, I do have additional cultural capital clout, being here in Asia. Being Korean, and people knowing that I’m Korean, I’m treated like the new royalty. Compare this to the states, where essentially, I don’t get any bonuses.

So what is the future?

My brother-in-law John Narciso, who is one of the head designers of the blackrhino rims, part of the wheel pros company, is a graduate of art center in Pasadena. It seems like a lot of the main car designers come out of art center, and he told me that the Korean, Korean American car designers were actually the most ambitious and the best. And now, when I look at it, all of the new and most innovative designs and car designs are coming out of Hyundai/Kia, Kia is owned by Hyundai. Also genesis, which is essentially the luxury version of Hyundai, very much how Lexus is a luxury version of Toyota.

My practical thought is that Hyundai Genesis is essentially the new king of automotive design, I actually prefer the genesis G90 over Rolls-Royce, Mercedes Maybach, etc.

Chinese stars, or K-pop stars?

“Who is your favorite BLACKPINK member? I love Lisa, she is so hot” (me talking to a kid who just immigrated from mainland China)

Something else I find interesting; even mainland Chinese would prefer blackpink and BTS, over their own homegrown stars. Why is this? A lot of the appeal of BLACKPINK, and Korean popstar groups is that they actually mix in Korean and English. For example oppa Gangnam Style by PSY, I think it took off because it is both in Korean and English. If it was 100% Korean only song, it probably wouldn’t have gone viral.

America and China are the only two real players

I think about a lot of things more simplified now, for example, the only two dominant world powers I consider include America and China. Everything else seems to be just an offshoot of the two.

The good thing is that I don’t really fear a World War III, or anything like that. Why? Whether America or China likes it or not, the both are deeply interwoven. For example, if it wasn’t for Foxconn in China, Apple would not be able to make her stellar profits and products.

Perhaps one day “made in China“ will be considered a luxury thing, just like being made in France or Italy.

Actually, it is funny that the notion “made in China“ is considered being such a bad thing, as it seems that almost everything, is made in China. What is simply different is the levels of quality control. Once again, why is it that everyone discounts the fact that all Apple products are made in China? And now a little bit in Vietnam, but essentially 99% in China.

Where do you want to live?

I think when push comes to shove, what it comes down to, is it a money thing, or wealth or power or prestige thing. It becomes very basic; where do you want to live? What country, what city, what neighborhood, etc?

For example, the really really rich and successful people from mainland China seem to prefer buying property and homes in Vancouver, because it is so much cleaner than mainland China. Vancouver is probably one of the best clean air and beautiful natural environment cities I’ve been to in the world, Even superior to California. Even if you’re a quadrillionaire in Shanghai or Beijing, if you’re choking in smog, is it really worth it?

How pollution is an issue

And I think this is where a lot of Americans don’t understand issues about pollution and production. Much of the developing world runs on dirty energy and coal. And let us consider, for all these products to be manufactured, a lot of pollution is being made. But all the pollution is being made overseas in Asia, China and Vietnam. Some in Indonesia.

Therefore, let us see you’re from the states for California, you can enjoy your convenient Amazon products, with prime day delivery, and still breathe so much clean air. Yet, even when I was living in Hanoi, which is very close to China, on Sundays the smog and pollution was unbearable. Until you’ve smelt or felt smog, through your own nostrils and throat, by literally being here and some of the developing parts of Asia, you don’t know what real pollution is. Or how bad it is. Or why it matters.

My personal thought is I do not fear earth death. I just fear a future dystoic landscape, something like Blade Runner (the original, or the new one), where everyone is still living on planet Earth, but in misery. And it seems that this is the trend; clean air, greenery, and nature is now being a privilege of the rich, and the poor are forced to live in polluted places.

Sustainable things

At least this is one thing I love about digital photography, it produces less waste than film photography. I love film photography, but consider all of the ways being manufactured through the little canisters, the film itself, and all of the movement necessary to process the film. It is probably not that substantial in the grand scheme of things, but in terms of convenience, I think the convenience of digital is a quadrillion times better. For example, if you want to become the best photographer possible, I really do believe that having a Ricoh GR 3 or Ricoh GR 3X digital camera is key.

What is “sustainable“?

I like the notion of sustainability in terms of creativity. Sustainable creativity is what I like. Without aid of drugs, alcohol, marijuana, amphetamines, etc. The least bad thing being caffeine, which is still a very potent drug.

How to sustain your creativity

So the simple thought; how can you maintain and sustain your creativity, and your creative output, and the act of creation, every day, all day?

Some thoughts:

1. Digital is key: digital creativity is a quadrillion times more sustainable than anything based in physics, or atoms. Why? Analog, and atom-based art and creativity is often too expensive, too time-consuming, and has too much friction to start. The ideal is to just jump in to your creative activity, requiring the least amount of activation energy possible. This is where I am such a huge proponent of digital calligraphy, via the Zen Brush 2 app, and also digital illustrations and artwork, which you could do with the iPad and procreate app. Also you can do it on the iPhone.
2. Lift weights, at least once a week or every two weeks. I recommend the powerlifting one rep max style, the deadlift squat and bench press. Everything else seems to be superfluous.
3. Think of creativity as a hormonal thing; why do I feel so creative when I drink a bunch of coffee? The hormonal adrenaline rush that accompanies it. The same thing with powerlifting, the huge surge of testosterone, adrenaline, and other unknown bodily hormones which hype you up.
4. Hype yourself up. Hype yourself up via watching the Māori hakka dance, slapping your body and thighs, screaming, and getting into hypelifting. In fact, the thing I enjoy most about doing one rep max deadlift is the hype and the hyping up of myself which accompanies it.
5. Delete Instagram.

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Majestic clouds here in Phnom Penh

I desire to become bigger, beefier, stronger, more imposing. Take up more space. Consume more meat?! Grow more!