ERIC KIM ₿

Silent,,, make strong eye contact.

Apple — so desperate to peddle her goods?

I dislike politics, but now as my interest in economics, Bitcoin, theories on money power has grown,,, I cannot help but become more political, because there is a link —

The funny thing is now that Seneca is getting older, I’m spending more time with him in the outdoors, walking hiking running around etc.… I’m actually becoming more fit?

Certainly in the early days of sleep deprivation, it is difficult exercise because you’re just fighting for sleep. But once your kid is asleep trained at around six months, it seems that easiest path might just be figure out a way you can work out at home?

For example, I love the gym and I think it is good and virtuous, but the thing is when you are a parent, and you’re literally fighting for every single minute, going to the gym has too much losy time in terms of opportunity cost, in terms of finding parking, waiting for the squat rack etc.

In fact, creating my own off the grid gym in my second parking spot, I’ve discovered so many new great innovations! Also my beloved 60 pound weight vest.

Because I’m walking around with my 60 pound weight vest all day, and also spending all day walking with Seneca, carrying him often, there’s literally nothing I need to do exercise my legs, my thighs quads legs are insanely buff.

Also a good thing is when I arm carry Seneca, I’m also getting a bicep and upper body workout, I looked at my arms recently my shoulders my triceps it all looks great!

Shooting photos for the sake of it!

The true path to freedom; unshame yourself:

What is the metaphorical ball and chain in our new modern day life? Shame. It applies not only to people of Asian East Asian descent, or Confucian values… Also in America, with the Quaker protestant morals and ethics being around shame.

Certainly within a Christian Catholic mentality as well; also maybe to Jewish people as well? And also, the Japanese, maybe almost anyone living in an industrialized, modern day world and civilization.

Shame is learned and taught and reinforced

One thing I love about Seneca… Is that he is so free pure, and great. Fortunately because he has wise parents, ever since he is born… We have never instilled any shame culture on him.

There’s a really bad thing in Korean culture, which is called “cheng-pee”, which literally means shameful. I think Korean people superficially say it to be cute, but if you really think about it… It is actually quite insidious.

For example, you will see it over and over again when a kid is running around naked without pants on, almost about everything.

American shame?

In America, we do have notions of shame, but it is not said so directly. For example if you have a young kid who is running around naked at the house, you’re probably won’t say “shame shame shame shame shame!” Put on some clothes or else you will bring shame onto our family and all of your family members and past generations.  

The genesis of shame

Funny enough… shame is not an ethic that Jesus preached. Shame is rather a form of social control.

For example, growing up Catholic Korean Catholic… All this guilt and shame around porn pornography, masturbation etc. And all these weird superstitions that you would grow hairy palms if you jerked off? 

Also, very funny… Even the modern day times, with all these fake macho guys at the gym etc.… Whenever you joke about Porn and jerking off… All guys will always side chuckle a little bit shamefully, because obviously all the guys do it.

But technically, assuming you grew up up without religion and modern day shamed notions… None of it should really be shameful. Maybe gross, or unhygienic, but not shameful.

This is where Japanese culture is really fascinating to me; like there is no Christian Judeo morality holding back the Japanese; and therefore, pornography is not really seen as a big deal in Japan. Whereas in America, we all believe it to be porn to be a little bit morally reprehensible. Even to progressive people. 

Why is being naked seen as being shameful? 

I have some theories.

First, in the Bible… The second Adam and Eve take a bite out of the apple from the garden of Eden… Apparently the first thing that Adam and Eve realize is that they were naked, they feel shame and they immediately want to cover up. God knows and discovers that they took a bite of the forbidden fruit.

Some subtle nuances;

First, where does this notion of the forbidden fruit even come from? Kind of a bizarre notion. Essentially the idea is that it is better to be naked and dumb and happy, rather than to possess your own self wisdom rationality and intelligence and judge the world?

The second… Why is it considered shameful to be naked, either in private or public?

Shame is good at selling (overpriced) clothing 

Shame sells! Some theories:

The first theory is a capitalistic one. You cannot make money by telling people to be naked. You got to sell them clothes.

Second, it seems that by breeding insecurity is a smart strategy if you want people to purchase or desire to purchase certain clothes in articles of clothing, in order to feel “cool“? For example, at the age of 36, I feel the wisest I have ever been in my life. No more lame and loser Nikes, sneakers, etc. Only losers were Nikes, Jordans, whatever.

The true intelligent footwear to wear is either the vibram five finger shoes, or if you have a kid, just getting them those super minimalist water shoes on Amazon which only cost about 10 bucks. 

Cars are the new shoes for adults?

Another theory; when you are kid, and maybe before you have a drivers permit or license, you can’t drive. Therefore, shoes and sneakers are like a metaphorical car or vehicle. When you are a middle school or highschooler a teenager… We are yet rich enough to buy cars but we could buy shoes.

Now that we are adults, and we are richer, and we could do stupid things like finance a car with a down payment, and have a monthly payment, cars and automobiles are like the new sneakers. Think about it… Both have to deal with transportation transit and getting around and moving around, being seen, fashion being fashionable etc.

Cars are fashion objects

If you just need a car to get around, the truly intelligent thing is to get a used Toyota Prius, the 2010 edition. Otherwise, all cars are just fashion?

And also, cars… They come in and out of fashion every 3 to 6 months, and there’s always a new car being released. In fact, whether we like it or not, LA, Southern California, California, the states, the planet… A car or automobile Vehicle, a truck SUV whatever… Might be one of the grandest industries in America and beyond?

But lots of problems here:

First, I have a theory that one’s happiness is inversely proportional to how much time you have to either spend seated in a car, driving around etc. And I’m starting to think that the payoff is not worth it ; for example,  let us see you have the option to drive an additional 30 minutes to go somewhere that is maybe 40% nicer than just going somewhere local that you could access via walking. Typically that optimization is not worth it.

Why? Opportunity cost. A 30 minute drive there, 30 minute drive back… That is a full hour otherwise you have spent just walking around!

The metro E line is the future 

Taking the metro is a far better bet. For example, on killing 10 birds with one stone; the joys of taking the metro, especially the metro E line in Los Angeles is multifold:

First, you have the joy and privilege of being able to stand the whole ride, and even shift around your weight and walk around the train if you want!

Second, you get an insanely cool view of the city! Playing SimCity with Seneca, there’s this notion of a maglev train; a magnetic elevated train!

It doesn’t have to be magnetic, just elevated. The reason why the metro line in LA is so phenomenal is that you are above traffic, you are above the ground level, and you get this really interesting panopticon view of the city! 

Third, kids love it! I don’t know any kid who doesn’t like to take the metro, it is so fun for them! Even for my niece Amelia who is now in the first or second grade, seven or eight years old, After taking her and her younger brother Benjamin to the California science Center via the metro E line, she asked me and Cindy… Can we take the metro back home (to Orange County)?

The future might be more basic than we think it is?

Also, watching this cute film at the California science Center about cities of the future… The general idea is that in the future, everyone would just be taking some sort of magnetic electric elevated train somewhere, And on the mid and bottom and middle levels, would be some of the fools who have to self drive their own cars. In the middle layer would have self driving cars.

Or more simply put, in the future, only poor people have to drive themselves?

Visions?

Singapore is often cited as being a city of the future, but it is not. Truth be told Singaporeans don’t really like living in Singapore; they would prefer to live in the states if they could.

Maybe the closest thing I have to witnessing a city of the future is Culver City, the only city which you could actually walk around all day, and never get bored, and you could also do all your grocery shopping here at Trader Joe’s or Erewhon or Whole Foods. Even nowadays, a supermassive innovation that we got is being able to do the Amazon fresh grocery deliveries so might pull in I think 80% of the average American family, time and resources is wasted occurring food and groceries.

The future of food is here

And also, let us consider… It is the year 2024, it is very common to get the same day prime delivery of almost any single item on Amazon. Shouldn’t we apply the same ethos to food, which is really the only critical thing we need in order to live? We don’t have free food… Yet, but at this point we have free clean water, just drinking from the tap or filtered water at home! And at this point, you could purchase coffee in bulk, on Amazon and it is so cheap practically free! The “fresh roasted coffee” 5 pound bag on Amazon, the yirgacheffe Ethiopian blend quite good!

How to unshame yourself? 

God sent me to break the shame. I’m the true and living, all the rest of you guys are vain. 

First, get rid of those loser AirPods, throw them in the trash. Better to be ghetto and hood, if you want to listen to something, music podcasts or whatever, just crank up the volume on your iPad Pro or iPhone, and listen to it loud in public or even in private. If somebody tells you to quiet down, just lower the volume and continue.

And actually this is the funny polarity that I have observed and discovered; almost everybody else is always listening to AirPods pros, which means that they can’t even hear you.

Nowadays, I have a new heuristic or the way that I separate people; people have something in their ears, or don’t.

Headphones or noise canceling headphones or AirPods pros are like condoms for your ears. Imagine if you had a noise canceling thing on your penis, a noise canceling condom. Probably would not be good for sexual pleasure.

And the truth is, I think our sense of hearing is actually 1000 times more acute than our power of vision. For example, the reason why hoking is so irating to me is because I have very sensitive earlobes! And also the reason why the smell of second hand smoke whether cigarettes, marijuana, or even vape… Perhaps there is also more wisdom in our nose than our eyes. 

Therefore just observe it… When you’re out in public or at the gym or whatever, separate people into the two categories; people with headphones on, people without. Seek the naked ear lobe hole folks.

All people with headphones and AirPods on are simply drones

The iPhone is the new drug?

Second, throw your iPhone Pros into the trash. I notice it nowadays… Very subtly; when I am walking around with my 60 pound weight vest on, and I look at somebody, and then they want to glance at me, and they do for half a second, and then half a second they do this nervous twitch in which what they do is check their phone… or they are in New York Manhattan, or in a crowded elevator, I will see people open up their phones, check the time, refresh their email inbox, etc.… Simply as it means to avoid eye contact or inter action with others?

Don’t open up or check your phone when you feel nervous

Simple suggestions include whenever you make eye contact with somebody, or even if you see somebody half a block away looking at you, just throw up the peace sign, or give them a head nod. You would be surprised, people can spot you from half a mile away. 

You would want all the votes you can

Maybe a random thought is think like you are the mayor, you are a firefighter, a public servant, or if you’re running for mayor. If this were the case, you would want to be maximally friendly to every single human being you encounter, because you want their votes! This means being nice friendly and courteous and cheerful and acknowledge the existence of people who are even antisocial, bizarre?

I have a simple rule; first, always be nice friendly and courteous to anybody you encounter, even if they give you bad vibes. And also, always better to risk being friendly and saying hello to somebody, even if they may give you the cold shoulder or pretend that you didn’t greet them? 

In fact, this is my personal read on things; when you see somebody, that you have maybe seen before, and you have a low-key suspicion that they are somehow envious jealous or afraid or intimidated by you, because you make them feel smaller… You actually might be right. And therefore, when you say what’s up to them, and say hello, but they kind of pretend like they didn’t see you do it… It is typically a signal that yes they did see you, but they’re too much of a pussy and coward to acknowledge you.

If this were in fact the true case, carry on! 

And then, let us say that you didn’t know this with 100% supreme accuracy, then, you continue to greet them in a friendly manner, or do you then also retaliate and give them the cold shoulder? 

I say do the more courageous path; to pretend like you didn’t see them, giving the cold shoulder is an act of cowardice; therefore doing the opposite thing is more courageous! 

In fact in modern day times, to greet and say hello to strangers, might be one of the greatest acts of courage? 

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Make friends with security guards.

Why? First, honestly a lot of security guards, because they are outside all day just walking around… are just friendlier and happier than the average office drone. Second, most of them have not taken the traditional educational route in life, which means that they tend to be much more interesting to talk to, rather than the average university graduate and career person.

In fact, the only interesting conversations I’ve had is from people from the hood, maybe people in the military, some kids, and those who we would consider “nontraditional”. In fact, 99.99% of people you encounter, in the states are quite boring. The second someone bores you, just excuse yourself and say you have to use the bathroom and walk away.

For example, you’ll find more interesting sociological truth wisdom and interest from somebody who is real ghetto, really from the hood, rather than a fake ass average person.

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Drain?

OK let us assume that you are a battery and you cannot be recharged in the middle of the day. The only way you can recharge your battery is when you go to sleep at night.

That means any single interaction social interaction, engagement whatever could either have a positive or negative effect on you.

I’m sorry to realize this… but the truth is that some people will essentially just capture you, and just keep talking nonsense to you, and refuse to let you leave. And the whole interaction is insanely draining. You could feel it physiologically, in terms of your attention span, your energy levels, and also you just feel boredom. 

This is my personal heuristic — if I know somebody, whether a friend family member acquaintance or whatever, and I asked them how they are doing and chat about them… Their family whatever, and they never asked how my son Seneca is doing, this is a very bad sign. 

In fact I have a new heuristic; whenever anyone shows even an ounce of interest in Seneca, seems concerned about his well-being, shows affection to him with their hand in a friendly manner, or praises him, they will 100% forever be on my good side.  

Also the opposite; for friends and family members who have never asked about Seneca or his well-being, even after several encounters, I shall shun them.

Misery loves misery

To be happy as rare. I am probably the only happy person that I know, and Seneca is also rare; the only happy kid I know. 

I would say that 99.99% of people are miserable. And the way that they could feel better about themselves is by dragging other people down, spewing hate, etc.? Very counterproductive.

In the UK they call it the tall poppy syndrome; you see a guy driving around the new Lamborghini, and then you’ll find some sort of way to discredit him, saying that he has a small dick, or he cheated for that money etc.

At least a good thing in America is that often our jealousy and envy could be positive and productive; we see Jeff Bezos Elon Musk and the like becoming super successful, and we aspire to become like them.

Or, maybe if you see somebody driving a certain car, in the US we think —

Wow, if I also work super hard, one day I could also have that same car! 

Therefore, at least in America we do have this notion of a constructive envy.

Building muscle is the ultimate democratic thing 

Also in bodybuilding, I think we often use other men and their physiques as a role model; we all want to look like Arnold Schwarzenegger in his prime, is always plastered around all across the planet.

But a simple thought: I think body glorification is 1 trillion times more virtuous than car fellatio, or even money glorification. 

For example, I would never switch spaces with any other human being on the planet, irregardless of how wealthy or rich or powerful they are.

Jeff Bezos is short, only 5 foot seven. Kanye West is also short, maybe 5 foot five. I think Kendrick Lamar is only 5 foot two? Jay Z is cool, but he’s too old now. 

Also, any billionaire in their 50s or 60s would probably trade their wealth in order to become 20 years old again.

Even if you were worth 100 billion or $1 trillion, and you’re 90 years old, wouldn’t you trade 100% of your wealth in order to become 21 years old again?

And truth be told, the most important thing is for our youth, our strength, our bodily vigor, our muscle, our height, our happiness and joy! 

How do you know if somebody is old or not? Look at their arms.

I saw some pictures of Hugh Jackman on the red carpet, and if you look at his forearms… Even though he has a bulging vein in it, his arms look old. You could tell by their skin quality.

Even the same thing with women, apparently the best thing to do is judge the character of their skin, or their hand! Because I don’t think there is something as hand aesthetic surgery yet, which means you cannot fake your age via your hands.

If you want to see whether someone is a man or woman or their age ,,, feel and hold and inspect their hands!

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Unwealth

You can truly determine how rich somebody is by what they don’t own.

For example, really really insanely rich people don’t own or wear watches; they are not a slave of time. 

Also, insanely successful and rich people like Carlos Slim don’t own an iPhone or a smartphone; because they are not slaves to their inbox. 

Even a thought, if I ever had to buy Seneca a phone, I would just buy him a dump phone, even something that doesn’t have text messaging! To train him that if he really needs to make a phone call, you could just make a phone call? And it doesn’t matter if he gets teased in school; all these other kids are basic. 

In fact if you really really think about it, the super super rich and successful people don’t even own a car! If you lived in Manhattan, I don’t even think you own a car– nor is it even a desirable thing. If you live in Manhattan, nobody wants to drive themselves. Or even be stuck in a car; even the super super rich people would prefer to take the subway, even though it is crowded, at least you’re not stuck in traffic!

Don’t draw attention to yourself

Something which is really genius that the Wachowski brothers, now sisters, did is they never granted interviews, they never really showed their face in public, etc.… Which was insanely genius because they have all of the upsides of success without the downsides like being mobbed in public. 

The really really really rich smart successful powerful people are hidden; they don’t draw attention themselves because they know the downsides of fame.

In fact, I feel bad for people like Dr. Dre or Jay Z or whatever; they can’t even go out without being mobbed etc. And one of the greatest joys and pleasures of being human and alive is to simply go outside for a walk, in a public square, to be totally anonymous. In fact, the ideal is to be super super rich and powerful, and have a lot of labor power latent within you… Having a lot of economic power, but also being 100% anonymous. Why? Let us consider the misery of a Brad Pitt; estranged from his children, his beautiful ex-wife Angelina Jolie, and it doesn’t matter if he has all of the good looks in the world, or all of the cool cars whatever… He can’t just walk around the block, or enjoy himself at the beach! Unless you put on a facemask a ski mask or something that covers his face up?

Suggestions

If celebrities really wanted to be low-key and enjoy their anonymity, they would just drive a white Toyota Prius — the ultimate stealth car. If you pop out of a Prius, no one will think that you’re that famous actor oractress or celebrity. Even Kim Kardashian, I wonder if there is certain days she would just prefer to be outside and just wanna go on a walk?

I think this is also the genius of Kanye having his 100% facemask on, I’m not sure how it feels breathability wise, but, assuming that he not wearing a certain outfit, or driving a certain car, in theory he should be able to walk around in public without having people stare at him, they would only stare at the facemask not knowing it was him. 

Via negativa wealth

Some new radical thoughts on wealth:

I think true wealth is inversely proportional; the things you don’t have the things you don’t own in order to maintain.

The less you own the less you have to maintain, the wealthier you are.

For example, I would not wish for a Lamborghini McLaren or any hyper sports car on even my worst enemy. Why? The critical issue here is that maintenance costs are an effing nightmare. And insane headache! Because whether you like it or not, even the rich people you are jealous of also feel physiological and mental pain and anguish, they also sleep poorly and feel terrible. Why? They sacrifice their life, their personal freedom and their health life time soul for money!

The limits of money?

How much wealth is enough wealth? Simple: enough to pay your rent, buy ground beef at Amazon fresh, and then just bundle the rest of the money into bitcoin.

Think long

Why hybrid is the way:

With cars, it is not even a money thing. Like the laws of physics; sooner or later you’re going to have to get an oil change, and it will not only be very expensive, but time consuming, insanely annoying etc. I think this is where it makes more sense to get some sort of maybe Hybrid sports car or Lexus LC500– in theory you could just take it to any ordinary oil change place, because it is a Toyota, you could easily get it repaired or change the oil. Also, the now discontinued Acura NSX is a hybrid; which means you get stellar miles per gallon, and also it should require less maintenance than any other non-Japanese hyper sports car. And I guess because it is discontinued now, it should hold its value? And because Acura is a Honda… Hondas are reliable, and also not difficult to find parts to fix. 

No oil changes is ideal 

Maybe this is also the logic of having an all electric sports or hyper car; in theory, an electric sports car should require less maintenance and gasoline or hybrid one;  I think the only thing you probably have to change or fix or maintain is refill the window wiper fluid? 

Everyone wants the butterfly doors or the scissor doors or the Lambo doors — but I think the true intelligent optimization here is that you have some sort of electric car that could do this? Maybe this is also where the BMW i8 is a good idea; because it has the butterfly or scissor doors? And it is either all electric, or Hybrid I think?

And also if you really wanted the billionaire doors on a budget, just get a Tesla model X! You get the gull wing doors, the same thing  on that one really really rare and expensive Mercedes car, or the DeLorean, for only about $65,000?

Tesla Model X Plaid

I also think this is where the Tesla model X plaid is so genius; the 0 to 60 speed is 2.5 seconds; faster than a Porsche 911, and also you could have a family of six all seated? And at worst, if shit hits the fan, I suppose you could also live inside of it?

Why do you want it?

Question: do you want it for what it is, or what it symbolizes? 

I think the big issue here is the question; do you actually like that Lamborghini, the idea of the Lamborghini, actually owning it, the idea of it, or the totem of it?

It is all imaginary in our mind. For example if I knew that I owned a Lamborghini with the scissor doors just parked in my garage, but I never drove it… Certainly I would not really have the benefit of it. But just knowing at the back of my head that I got it, is what makes me smile?

Portable wealth

I think this is also where bitcoin is useful; I think the new modern day digital dick measuring contest will be; how many bitcoin do you own? And it is like your metaphorical dick size; the more bitcoin you got, the longer your cyber dick.

Kanye had a funny quote saying that being a male porn star was an objective way to measure them– essentially, their penis size. In theory the guy with the 20 inch dick should be the best porn star. But I would also not wish this even not my worst enemy, because it would seem very uncomfortable to just walk around, without having to tuck it or wrap it around your leg or something.

But I think the issue here is that with the whole dick size thing, we all know that African-American men statistically have the largest or the longest penis size. But statistically they are not the richest nor the most powerful men in America.

Therefore the question is; when we try to do a metaphorical thick measuring contest, what are we trying to do? I think what we are trying to do is to jockey for a position, in terms of economic power?

Once again, it is not money that we seek, but economic power.

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What is it that we all truly seek?

I think this is where I go beyond Seneca and the stoics, also beyond even my best friend Nietzsche.

Have you ever met a philosopher or a stoic who looks like me?

The problem with Seneca the younger is that I think he was a fatty boy. I think the true bust statue of him and his head he was bald, and had a triple chin. Makes sense; even Seneca “On Anger” writes, we should not get offended by truthful facts; why would you be offended if somebody made fun of you for being bald, when in fact you actually are bald? The better response is to just poke fun at yourself; better to poke fun at your baldness, rather than feel shameful about it?

Also, Seneca critiques people who spent too much time exercising, and that rather, our focus should be on training our mind and our soul. But is this a sour grapes fallacy;

You hate people you wish you were?

Making fun of yourself is the best defense

For example, if somebody makes fun of you for being Asian and having a small dick or whatever, just call it a baby turtle. That it pokes out every once in a while. Or that you have a “chode”– a penis which has more girth than length.

When you poke fun at yourself, it is an impregnable defense. 
I even remember in high school, whenever somebody would tease you for being gay or whatever, the best response was “I love dick!” And then after that, nobody had anything left to say.

Humor, dark humor, black stoic Spartan humor is key?

We stoics of the future

Whenever people think about the future, people are foolish; they think about adding more technology to our lives, throwing on more vision pros, more AirPods pros, more time in your self driving car etc. 

But in fact, the true path to the future is via negativa– the true future is more spartan, less physical, more cyber and digital.

More cyber real estate which is bitcoin, more digital money which is also bitcoin, more time outdoors in the direct sun with your shirt off, which is the true way of living the dream. 

Living the dream!

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Radical?

I suppose the question is do we really need to be radical here?

I think there is some sort of like intelligent wise radicalism, which is just stick to your own guns, following your own gut, refusing to just be another drone. I’d rather be Brad Pitt and Tyler Durden than Edward Norton.

And I think the problem here is that we have weird role models now. Everyone wants to be Warren Buffet; but do you want to be a fat old man, who is just sitting in hunched over our newspaper all day, even if you are the world’s second richest man?

Therefore the new godhead is wealth being super rich. Being in the Forbes top 100, ideally number one.

There is no second best.

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Why settle for second? 

The American way —

In America, our whole ethos and impetus is towards being the best, number one. There is no second best.

Nobody wants the silver. Just look at the Olympics, we always measure by the number of gold trophies. Better to get one gold medal for your country, rather than 1000 silvers.

“One good girl is worth a 1000 bitches” Kanye Bound 2, YEEZUS album

I think this is where it is so critical to be so insanely wise about choosing your life partner your wife etc. Don’t settle for second best.

And also, this is where where you live is critical; Culver City is the best, in all of Los Angeles, no second best.

I think, opting for the best is the best path forward. This is why America is number one for entrepreneurship on the planet!

Certainly there is bad things about trying to always be number one. But truth be told, assuming you’re not taking drugs or doing weird stuff, I don’t think it hurts?

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The ethos of the best

I think this is why America is so productive; we all desire to be the best! We want to be the most rich and the most successful, within our friends circle and family circle, and then maybe beyond that, spreading our circles and sphere of influence a bit further out.

For example, I’m happy that I’m the number 1 greatest street photography blogger of all time, nobody will ever take the crown from me, no matter how hard they try. Just ask ChatGPT!

Then I then suppose that the next step forward is to discover a new niche, and also dominate that. Perhaps I have a passion for domination.

This is why when I go to the gym, or when I used to go to the gym, it was always my number one goal to be the strongest guy in the gym, by a huge fold. This is why I lifted 10 plates, a 25 and a five on each side; and broke the weightlifting universe with my 1,000 pound atlas lift. 

I believe this accomplishment and will last forever.

You only have to do it once. 

What is the next thing I want to dominate?

Anything you have a true passion for, autotelic; it is very easily achievable, if you do not have to consider economic payoff, making money etc. Or making other people happy, or even giving utility to other people.

A random thought I have on my mind is towards lifestyle; now that I am 36 years old, about the same age which Tim Ferriss wrote the four hour work week? Maybe I could become the next Tim Ferriss? Tim Ferriss is great; but I think the issue is that he is short, balding, insecure, and I think he is also not yet married and childless, maybe he has a dog? And also, I don’t think he’s really figured things out for himself yet; he’s always onto the next thing, just seeking endless distraction for himself? 

Maybe I’ll be the next Tim Ferris! 

Suggestions for Tim:

1. Get rid of advertisements on your podcast, you’re rich enough.
2. Maybe your next step is just writing a really good philosophy book, which is 100% honest, and doesn’t try to be a best seller or sell well. And maybe just give away a free PDF e-book version of it, open access, open source, and then sell the printed cover to your fanbase?
3. Try to get married and have at least one kid?

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How and why lifestyle is such a critical thing to consider

I kind of hit the lifestyle that shouldn’t because it typically revolves around buying some sort of equipment and gear.

My personal thought is that lifestyle should just be a mental, a mindset, which should actually be “via negativa”– the ideal lifestyle you look more like a zen stoic spartan monk, rather than a fat short old balding loser with a Lamborghini. 

Making more money, but also spending no money?

If you really really really gotta buy something, just get it on Amazon Amazon prime! For example, I got this fantastic new all black Sun hat, on Amazon Amazon for only 10 bucks, one day delivery?

 in fact, maybe the intelligent path forward is to just always purchase all of your clothing on Amazon, or Uniqlo?

Why? I think it just makes sense. You’re cutting out the middleman, all the stuff by Lululemon is just made in the same factory in Vietnam, I think $100 pair of tight leggings from Lululemon, might only cost $10 for them to produce? The rest of those $90 is probably profit for the Lululemon corporation.

Apparently nowadays on Amazon, you could purchase all these duplicate clothing, in which they take the inseam and the measuring of Lululemon men shorts, and just create a duplicate, with inferior materials. But if you just want something simple and cheap, it seems to be logical this way.

Or, design it yourself! I recently had the epiphany I hate sleeves; and therefore, I just took some heavy duty steel scissors I got at home, and I just took my old -32 merino wool black T-shirt and just cut off the sleeves! Boom, brand new outfit that cost me nothing. 

Just buy it on Amazon! Problem solved.

***

Brands are for cowards

I put zero faith in anybody who drives a base level Audi, like an Audi Q3 three or A3, an entry-level BMW or Mercedes, or even an entry-level Porsche 718. They are signaling some serious insecurity here.

Everybody knows that a Toyota Prius is the best car, but for men… They think it is demasculating to drive a Prius?

I was talking to one of the guys who worked at the Toyota dealership, and I asked him what car he thought I drove. The first thing he thought was 911? Which is pretty cool; because I guess I have the 911 personality, without having to Maintain that $100,000 loser car.

In fact, if I had to do some sort of brand new car project today, my idea would be get a brand new Prius prime, and matte black wrap it, murder it out, no loser tints, and paint the doorhandles matching paint colors. The new Prius 911 looks great; look at the horizontal tail light it looks awesome!

Real men drive Priuses

Everything else is for losers!

ERIC

---

Fashion choices

Cars and clothes are all fashion choices.

If you live somewhere where it is really really strong sun, by a sun hat, not a loser baseball cap.

For your car, get a Prius.

For your body, 60 pound weight vest — my new stoic Spartan fashion body armor accessory?

---

Shame and economic productivity

I think the reason why this is so critical is that there seems to be an interesting connection between being “cool“, and shame?

The first thought; is being “cool” the opposite of being shame shameful? 

In fact, when I think about the social politics of K-12 education, honestly, thinking back of it as a 36-year-old adult, it is all so ridiculous!

Lots of insane things here.

First, maybe there is some sort of standardization which happens here; the de facto trend is for a guy, you must own a pair of Nike sneakers, everything else is shameful and subpar?

What are the things that did not exist when I was a kid was Amazon Amazon prime; which is the great equalizer of all things. Even when I was a kid, purchasing a sneakers was quite expensive; even in high school, a pair of all white K Swiss sneakers, which was the cool shoe at the time, was still about $75; I recall this deal in which at footlocker, if you bought two of them, you could buy two for $100, which meant that each was $49. As a kid, that seemed like a good deal for me!

Even as a high schooler — I had some part-time jobs, and I would also get a stipend for the local Korean American community center that I worked at. But, like a fool I literally blew every single paycheck I got on sneakers, clothes, etc. I didn’t make that much money, maybe $200 a month, $100 here, another $200 here, a large sum of money might be $300… But still, I may be invested that money in high school, it would have probably set me on a better track in my early 20s and even mid 20’s!

To save money is the really radical thing here?

What seems anti-capitalist and anti-consumerist? To save your money! 

Actually if you think about it… The whole ethos is saving money kind of doesn’t really make sense in a consumer capitalist sense.

Also think that the problem about saving money is that maybe instead of thinking about saving money, the better idea is not spending your money, and using that money to invest.  Because as you earn money, perhaps it makes more sense to take that money, and instead of spending it on super fool as things, investing that money, and growing it, and gaining it?

---

I hate modern thinking and thinkers —

Dark Humor

“A beautiful death”

Molon Labe

Come and get them!

Nobody wants to look like ephialtes

Proportions matter

.

while democracy seeks equality in liberty, socialism seeks equality in restraint and servitude.’

Based on numbers, corporations and businesses trying to extract profits efficiently ,,, indoors?

Simple:

1. Don’t buy clothes
2. Don’t buy or consume alcohol
3. Don’t smoke weed or vape etc
4. Don’t purchase new cars or finance anything

Feeling bad — a weak trait?

Becoming or being or anger — a positive trait?

Erewhon?

The interesting irony; on one hand, we don’t like or we’re intimidated by unpredictable people… But the same time, we love and prefer them?

Being and becoming more unpredictable is a virtue!

Simple takeaways:

1. Money as an imaginary concept

The playful Spartan way

Outside, in the wonderful LA summer sun and breeze… All day with Seneca?

Perhaps climate does matter?

And also — life is the ultimate video game?

Perhaps the greatest thing about modern day economics is that we have so many options!

Always better to be outside than inside// unless maybe you’re in Siberia during the winter time, and you want heating?

Small economic anamoly ..tolerate it

Not harmful?

“Goods”// good … s,,, the means of life and well-being

Biens

Richness — goods which yield a revenue

“the judgment we pass upon the utility of things . . . makes goods of them.”

Goods — reputation of a military officer

How much labor can you afford to purchase?

Political economy

Value and goods. “Richness”

Wealth is not just material goods 

Wealth has exchange value

Abstinence; real sacrifices

Social wealth ***

Social wealth is also property?

Don’t overthink it

Degree of suitability 

Things are useful to degree in which we have to sacrifice in order to get it?

3“since the dispositions of human minds vary, the value of things varies.”

In the same spirit Ferdinando Galiani (Della moneta in Scrittori classici Italiani di economia politica, Milano, 1803–5, X, 58) writes “ch’essendo varie le disposizioni degli animi umani e varj i bisogni, vario è il valor delle cose.”3

We start to compare our needs with others?

Besoines

The esteem value of something — the difficulty to procure something?

The real existence of A need or good?

Degree of utility?

Common denominator

Kids are the ultimate stoics; nothing ever bothers them, they’re just focused in their own world?

Labor power, income

Yield an income?

More than one needs and losing is to have less than one needs

Value in use

Price

Movable thing

Merci

Cash funds

Digital cash

Ransom fine

Argent

Pecus– cattle 

*

Plato calls money a “token for purposes of exchange”

Money as a public institution 

Money and public Authority

Money is from the design of man 

The phrase “βοῦς ἐπὶ γλώττῃ” (bous epi glottÄ“) is an ancient Greek proverb. Translated literally, it means “an ox on the tongue.”

Meaning:

This proverb was used to describe a situation where someone is being silent or unable to speak freely, often because they are holding back information or are under some form of constraint. The image of an “ox on the tongue” suggests a heavy weight that prevents speech, symbolizing the burden or pressure that leads to silence.

Usage:

The expression was typically employed when someone knew something but was reluctant or afraid to speak out, either because of fear of consequences or because they were bribed or otherwise coerced into silence.

In modern terms, it might be compared to phrases like “cat got your tongue?” which also imply an unusual or forced silence.

The terms “dekaboion,” “tesseraboion,” and “hekatomboion” appear to be ancient Greek terms, likely used in the context of describing the size or value of specific units, particularly in relation to land or possibly livestock, although their usage is somewhat obscure and not commonly referenced in modern literature. Here’s a breakdown based on their Greek roots:

1. Dekaboion (δεκαβοιον):

• Deka- (δέκα) means “ten” in Greek.
• Boion (βοιον) is derived from “bous” (βοῦς), meaning “ox” or “cow.”
• The term could be interpreted as something relating to “ten oxen” or possibly a unit of land or value equivalent to the worth of ten oxen.

1. Tesseraboion (τεσσαραβοιον):

• Tessera- (τέσσαρα) means “four” in Greek.
• Combined with “boion” (βοιον), it likely refers to “four oxen” or something of equivalent value or size.

1. Hekatomboion (ἑκατόμβοιον):

• Hekaton- (ἑκατόν) means “hundred” in Greek.
• This term would then refer to “hundred oxen” or a similar large measure of value or land, possibly used in the context of large estates or significant sacrifices.

These terms might have been used in ancient Greek to describe agricultural units, land holdings, or even contributions or sacrifices involving cattle, which were a major form of wealth in many ancient societies. The specific usage of these terms could vary depending on the context in which they were applied, such as in economic transactions, land assessments, or ritual sacrifices.

One of the bad things about millennials is that nowadays, we would prefer to just throw something away, or replace it, traded in or buy something new, instead the insanely simple thing… Just fixing it!

For example, a simple thing about a car; better to spend $3000 to fix it, rather than totally buy a brand new car for $30,000!

in fact, I wonder if secretly… We just want things to break, for us to have an excuse to buy something new?

a rational stoic approach;

I think we humans have this negativity bias; in which we remember the bad instances and behavior, and we quickly forget the good ones.

Bury the bad only remember the good

Do things and live in such a way which benefits you?

The true path to freedom; unshame yourself:

What is the metaphorical ball and chain in our new modern day life? Shame. It applies not only to people of Asian East Asian descent, or Confucian values… Also in America, with the Quaker protestant morals and ethics being around shame.

Certainly within a Christian Catholic mentality as well; also maybe to Jewish people as well? And also, the Japanese, maybe almost anyone living in an industrialized, modern day world and civilization.

Shame is learned and taught and reinforced

One thing I love about Seneca… Is that he is so free pure, and great. Fortunately because he has wise parents, ever since he is born… We have never instilled any shame culture on him.

There’s a really bad thing in Korean culture, which is called “cheng-pee”, which literally means shameful. I think Korean people superficially say it to be cute, but if you really think about it… It is actually quite insidious.

For example, you will see it over and over again when a kid is running around naked without pants on, almost about everything.

American shame?

In America, we do have notions of shame, but it is not said so directly. For example if you have a young kid who is running around naked at the house, you’re probably won’t say “shame shame shame shame shame!” Put on some clothes or else you will bring shame onto our family and all of your family members and past generations.  

The genesis of shame

Funny enough… shame is not an ethic that Jesus preached. Shame is rather a form of social control.

For example, growing up Catholic Korean Catholic… All this guilt and shame around porn pornography, masturbation etc. And all these weird superstitions that you would grow hairy palms if you jerked off? 

Also, very funny… Even the modern day times, with all these fake macho guys at the gym etc.… Whenever you joke about Porn and jerking off… All guys will always side chuckle a little bit shamefully, because obviously all the guys do it.

But technically, assuming you grew up up without religion and modern day shamed notions… None of it should really be shameful. Maybe gross, or unhygienic, but not shameful.

This is where Japanese culture is really fascinating to me; like there is no Christian Judeo morality holding back the Japanese; and therefore, pornography is not really seen as a big deal in Japan. Whereas in America, we all believe it to be porn to be a little bit morally reprehensible. Even to progressive people. 

Why is being naked seen as being shameful? 

I have some theories.

First, in the Bible… The second Adam and Eve take a bite out of the apple from the garden of Eden… Apparently the first thing that Adam and Eve realize is that they were naked, they feel shame and they immediately want to cover up. God knows and discovers that they took a bite of the forbidden fruit.

Some subtle nuances;

First, where does this notion of the forbidden fruit even come from? Kind of a bizarre notion. Essentially the idea is that it is better to be naked and dumb and happy, rather than to possess your own self wisdom rationality and intelligence and judge the world?

The second… Why is it considered shameful to be naked, either in private or public?

Shame is good at selling (overpriced) clothing 

Shame sells! Some theories:

The first theory is a capitalistic one. You cannot make money by telling people to be naked. You got to sell them clothes.

Second, it seems that by breeding insecurity is a smart strategy if you want people to purchase or desire to purchase certain clothes in articles of clothing, in order to feel “cool“? For example, at the age of 36, I feel the wisest I have ever been in my life. No more lame and loser Nikes, sneakers, etc. Only losers were Nikes, Jordans, whatever.

The true intelligent footwear to wear is either the vibram five finger shoes, or if you have a kid, just getting them those super minimalist water shoes on Amazon which only cost about 10 bucks. 

Cars are the new shoes for adults?

Another theory; when you are kid, and maybe before you have a drivers permit or license, you can’t drive. Therefore, shoes and sneakers are like a metaphorical car or vehicle. When you are a middle school or highschooler a teenager… We are yet rich enough to buy cars but we could buy shoes.

Now that we are adults, and we are richer, and we could do stupid things like finance a car with a down payment, and have a monthly payment, cars and automobiles are like the new sneakers. Think about it… Both have to deal with transportation transit and getting around and moving around, being seen, fashion being fashionable etc.

Cars are fashion objects

If you just need a car to get around, the truly intelligent thing is to get a used Toyota Prius, the 2010 edition. Otherwise, all cars are just fashion?

And also, cars… They come in and out of fashion every 3 to 6 months, and there’s always a new car being released. In fact, whether we like it or not, LA, Southern California, California, the states, the planet… A car or automobile Vehicle, a truck SUV whatever… Might be one of the grandest industries in America and beyond?

But lots of problems here:

First, I have a theory that one’s happiness is inversely proportional to how much time you have to either spend seated in a car, driving around etc. And I’m starting to think that the payoff is not worth it ; for example,  let us see you have the option to drive an additional 30 minutes to go somewhere that is maybe 40% nicer than just going somewhere local that you could access via walking. Typically that optimization is not worth it.

Why? Opportunity cost. A 30 minute drive there, 30 minute drive back… That is a full hour otherwise you have spent just walking around!

The metro E line is the future 

Taking the metro is a far better bet. For example, on killing 10 birds with one stone; the joys of taking the metro, especially the metro E line in Los Angeles is multifold:

First, you have the joy and privilege of being able to stand the whole ride, and even shift around your weight and walk around the train if you want!

Second, you get an insanely cool view of the city! Playing SimCity with Seneca, there’s this notion of a maglev train; a magnetic elevated train!

It doesn’t have to be magnetic, just elevated. The reason why the metro line in LA is so phenomenal is that you are above traffic, you are above the ground level, and you get this really interesting panopticon view of the city! 

Third, kids love it! I don’t know any kid who doesn’t like to take the metro, it is so fun for them! Even for my niece Amelia who is now in the first or second grade, seven or eight years old, After taking her and her younger brother Benjamin to the California science Center via the metro E line, she asked me and Cindy… Can we take the metro back home (to Orange County)?

The future might be more basic than we think it is?

Also, watching this cute film at the California science Center about cities of the future… The general idea is that in the future, everyone would just be taking some sort of magnetic electric elevated train somewhere, And on the mid and bottom and middle levels, would be some of the fools who have to self drive their own cars. In the middle layer would have self driving cars.

Or more simply put, in the future, only poor people have to drive themselves?

Visions?

Singapore is often cited as being a city of the future, but it is not. Truth be told Singaporeans don’t really like living in Singapore; they would prefer to live in the states if they could.

Maybe the closest thing I have to witnessing a city of the future is Culver City, the only city which you could actually walk around all day, and never get bored, and you could also do all your grocery shopping here at Trader Joe’s or Erewhon or Whole Foods. Even nowadays, a supermassive innovation that we got is being able to do the Amazon fresh grocery deliveries so might pull in I think 80% of the average American family, time and resources is wasted occurring food and groceries.

The future of food is here

And also, let us consider… It is the year 2024, it is very common to get the same day prime delivery of almost any single item on Amazon. Shouldn’t we apply the same ethos to food, which is really the only critical thing we need in order to live? We don’t have free food… Yet, but at this point we have free clean water, just drinking from the tap or filtered water at home! And at this point, you could purchase coffee in bulk, on Amazon and it is so cheap practically free! The “fresh roasted coffee” 5 pound bag on Amazon, the yirgacheffe Ethiopian blend quite good!

How to unshame yourself? 

God sent me to break the shame. I’m the true and living, all the rest of you guys are vain. 

First, get rid of those loser AirPods, throw them in the trash. Better to be ghetto and hood, if you want to listen to something, music podcasts or whatever, just crank up the volume on your iPad Pro or iPhone, and listen to it loud in public or even in private. Somebody tell you to quiet down, just lower the volume and continue.

The iPhone is the new drug?

Second, throw your iPhone pros into the trash. I notice it nowadays… Very subtly; when I am walking around with my 60 pound weight vest on, and I look at somebody, and then they want to glance at me, and they do for half a second, and then half a second they do this nervous twitch in which what they do is check their phone… or they are in New York Manhattan, or in a crowded elevator, I will see people open up their phones, check the time, refresh their email inbox, etc.… Simply as it means to avoid eye contact or inter action with others?

Don’t open up or check your phone when you feel nervous

Simple suggestions include whenever you make eye contact with somebody, or even if you see somebody half a block away looking at you, just throw up the peace sign, or give them a head nod. You would be surprised, people can spot you from half a mile away. 

You would want all the votes you can

Maybe a random thought is think like you are the mayor, you are a firefighter, a public servant, or if you’re running for mayor. If this were the case, you would want to be maximally friendly to every single human being you encounter, because you want their votes! This means being nice friendly and courteous and cheerful and acknowledge the existence of people who are even antisocial, bizarre?

---

Make friends with security guards.

 why?  first, honestly a lot of security guards, because they are outside all day just walking around… are just friendlier and happier than the average office drone. Second, most of them have not taken the traditional educational rotten life, which means that they tend to be much more interesting to talk to, rather than the average university graduate and career person.

In fact, the only interesting conversations I’ve had is from people from the hood, maybe people in the military, some kids, and those who we would consider “nontraditional. In fact, 99.99% of people you encounter, in the states are quite boring. The second someone bores you, just excuse yourself and say you have to use the bathroom and walk away.

***

Drain?

OK let us assume that you are a battery and you cannot be recharged in the middle of the day. The only way you can recharge your battery is when you go to sleep at night.

That means any single interaction social interaction, engagement whatever could either have a positive or negative effect on you.

 I’m sorry to realize this… Some people will essentially just capture you, and just keep talking nonsense to you, and refuse to let you leave.

You could see it, if you give somebody a phone call FaceTime or see them in person, you spend a 99% of your time just listening to them talk, Bitchin moan about their life problems, their own personal misery etc., and never ask you how you’re doing, how your kid is doing etc. 

Misery loves misery

To be happy as rare. I am probably the only happy person that I know, and Seneca is also rare; the only happy kid I know. 

I would say that 99.99% of people are miserable. And the way that they could feel better about themselves is by dragging other people down, spewing hate, etc.? Very counterproductive.

In the UK they call it the tall poppy syndrome; you see a guy driving around the new Lamborghini, and then you’ll find some sort of way to discredit him, saying that he has a small dick, or he cheated for that money etc.

At least a good thing in America is that often our jealousy and envy could be positive; we see Jeff Bezos Elon Musk and the like becoming super successful, and we aspire to become like them.

Or, maybe if you see somebody driving a surgeon car, US buy to one day work hard, make a bunch of money in order to obtain that same vehicle.

Also in bodybuilding, I think we often use other men and their physiques as a role model; we all want to look like Arnold Schwarzenegger in his prime, is always plastered around all across the planet.

But a simple thought: I think body glorification is 1 trillion times more virtuous than car fellatio, or even money glorification. 

For example, I would never switch spaces with any other human being on the planet, irregardless of how wealthy or rich or powerful they are.

Jeff Bezos is short, only 5 foot seven. Kanye West is also short, maybe 5 foot five. I think Kendrick Lamar is only 5 foot two? Jay Z is cool, but he’s too old now. 

Also, any billionaire in their 50s or 60s would probably trade their wealth in order to become 20 years old again.

Even if you were worth 100 billion or $1 trillion, and you’re 90 years old, wouldn’t you trade 100% of your wealth in order to become 21 years old again?

---

Unwealth

Some new radical thoughts on wealth:

I think true world is actually inversely proportional; the things you don’t have the things you don’t own in order to maintain.

For example, I would not wish for your Lamborghini McLaren or any hyper sports car on even my worst enemy. Why? The critical issue here is that maintenance costs are an effing nightmare. 

For example,  it is not even a money thing. Like the laws of physics; sooner or later you’re going to have to get oil change, and it will not only be very expensive, but time consuming, insanely annoying etc. I think this is where it makes more sense to get some sort of maybe Hybrid sports car or Lexus LC500– in theory you could just take it to any ordinary oil change place, because it is a Toyota, you could easily get it repaired or change the oil.

Maybe this is also the logic of having an all electric sports or hyper car; in theory, an electric sports car should require less maintenance and gasoline or hybrid one;  I think the only thing you probably have to change or fix or maintain is refill the window wiper fluid? 

Everyone wants the butterfly doors this is our doors or the Lambo doors — but I think the true intelligent optimization here is that you have some sort of electric car that could do this? Maybe this is also where the BMW i eight is a good idea; because it has the butterfly or scissor doors?

I think the big issue here is the question; do you actually like that Lamborghini, the idea of the Lamborghini, actually owning it, the idea of it, or the totem of it?

It is all imaginary in our mind. For example if I knew that I owned a Lamborghini with the scissor doors just parked in my garage, but I never drove it… Certainly I would not really have the benefit of it. But just knowing at the back of my head that I got it, is what makes me smile?

I think this is also a bitcoin is useful; I think the new modern day digital dick measuring contest will be; how many bitcoin do you own? And it is like your metaphorical dick size; the more bitcoin you got, the longer your cyber dick.

Kanye had a funny quote saying that being a male porn star was an objective way to measure them– essentially, their penis size. In theory the guy with the 20 inch dick should be the best porn star. But I would also not wish this even not my worst enemy, because it would seem very uncomfortable to just walk around, without having to tuck it or wrap it around your leg or something.

---

What is it that we all truly seek?

I think this is where I go beyond Seneca and the stoics, also beyond even my best friend Nietzsche.

Have you ever met a philosopher or a stoic who looks like me?

The problem with Seneca the younger is that I think he was a fatty boy. I think the true post statue of him and his head he was bald, and had a triple chin. Makes sense; even Seneca “On Anger” writes, we should not get offended by truthful facts; why would you be offended if somebody made fun of you for being bald, when in fact you actually are bald? The better response is to just poke fun at yourself; better to poke fun at your baldness, rather than feel shameful about it? 

For example, if somebody makes fun of you for being Asian and having a small dick or whatever, just call it a baby turtle. That it pokes out every once in a while. Or that you have a “chode”– a penis which has more girth than length.

When you poke fun at yourself, it is an impregnable defense. 
I even remember in high school, whenever somebody would tease you for being gay or whatever, the best response was “I love dick!” And then after that, nobody had anything left to say.

---

We stoics of the future

Whenever people think about the future, people are foolish; they think about adding more technology to our lives, throwing on more vision pros, more AirPods pros, more time in your self driving car etc. 

But in fact, the true path board is via negativa– the true future is more spartan, less physical, more cyber and digital.

More cyber real estate which is bitcoin, more digital money which is also bitcoin, more time outdoors in the direct sun with their shirt off, which is the true way of living the dream. 

Another day, when walking by the Toyota dealership, The dealership guys telling me that I was living the dream, being outside all day with Seneca!

---

Radical?

I suppose the question is do we really need to be radical here?

I think there is some sort of like intelligent wise radicalism, which is just stick into your own guns, following your own gut, refusing to just be another drone. I’d rather be Brad Pitt and Tyler Durden than Edward Norton.

And I think the problem here is that we have weird role models now. Everyone wants to be worn buffet; but do you want to be a fat old man, who is just sitting in hunched over our newspaper all day, even if you are the worlds second richest man?

Therefore the new godhead is wealth being super rich. Being in the Forbes top 100, ideally number one.

There is no second best.

Why settle for second? 

Nobody wants the silver. Just look at the Olympics, we always measure by the number of gold trophies. Better to get one gold medal for your country, rather than 1000 silvers.

“One good girl is worth a 1000 bitches” Kanye Bound 2, YEEZUS album

I think this is where it is so critical to be so insanely wise about choosing your life partner your wife etc. Don’t settle for second best.

---

The ethos of the best

I think this is why America is so productive; we all desire to be the best! We want to be the most rich and the most successful, within our friends circle and family circle, and then maybe beyond that, spreading our circles and sphere of influence a bit further out.

For example, I’m happy that I’m the number 1 Greatest street photography blogger of all time, nobody will ever take the crown from me, no matter how hard they try. Just ask ChatGPT!

Then I then suppose that the next step forward is to discover a new niche, and also dominate that. Perhaps I have a passion for domination.

This is why when I go to the gym, or when I used to go to the gym, it was always my number one goal to be the strongest guy in the gym, by a huge fold.  This is why I lifted 10 plates, a 25 and a five on each side; and broke the weightlifting universe.

I believe this accomplishment and will last forever.

What is the next thing I want to dominate?

Anything you have a true passion for, autotelic; it is very easily achievable, if you do not have to consider economic payoff, making money etc. Or making other people happy, or even giving utility to other people.

A random thought I have on my mind is towards lifestyle; now that I am 36 years old, about the same age which Tim Ferris’s wrote the four hour work week? Maybe I could become the next Tim Ferriss? Tim Ferriss is great; but I think the issue is that he is short, balding, insecure, and I think he is also not yet married and childish, maybe he has a dog? And also, I don’t think he’s really figured things out for himself yet; he’s always onto the next thing, just seeking endless distraction for himself? 

Maybe I’ll be the next Tim Ferris! 

How and why lifestyle is such a critical thing to consider

I kind of hit the lifestyle that shouldn’t because it typically revolves around buying some sort of equipment and gear.

My personal thought is that lifestyle should just be a mental, a mindset, which should actually be “via negativa”– the ideal lifestyle you look more like a zen stoic spartan monk, rather than a fat short old balding loser with a Lamborghini. 

Making more money, but also spending no money?

If you really really really gotta buy something, just get it on Amazon Amazon prime! For example, I got this fantastic new all black Sun hat, on Amazon Amazon for only 10 bucks, one day delivery?

 in fact, maybe the intelligent path forward is to just always purchase all of your clothing on Amazon, or Uniqlo?

Why? I think it just makes sense. You’re cutting out the middleman, all the stuff by Lululemon is just made in the same factory in Vietnam, I think $100 pair of tight leggings from Lululemon, might only cost $10 for them to produce? The rest of those $90 is probably profit for the Lululemon corporation.

Apparently nowadays on Amazon, you could purchase all these duplicate clothing, in which they take the inseam and the measuring of Lululemon men shorts, and just create a duplicate, with inferior materials. But if you just want something simple and cheap, it seems to be logical this way.

Or, design it yourself! I recently had the epiphany I hate sleeves; and therefore, I just took some heavy duty steel scissors I got at home, and I just took my old -32 merino wool black T-shirt and just cut off the sleeves! Boom, brand new outfit that cost me nothing. 

Just buy it on Amazon! Problem solved.

***

Brands are for cowards

I put zero faith in anybody who drives a base level Audi, like an Audi Q3 three or A3, an entry-level BMW or Mercedes, or even an entry-level Porsche 718. They are signaling some serious insecurity here.

Everybody knows that a Toyota Prius is the best car, but for men… They think it is demasculating to drive a Prius?

I was talking to one of the guys who worked at the Toyota dealership, and I asked him what car he thought I drove. The first thing he thought was 911? Which is pretty cool; because I guess I have the 911 personality, without having to Maintain that $100,000 loser car.

In fact, if I had to do some sort of brand new car project today, my idea would be get a brand new Prius prime, and matte black wrap it, murder it out, no loser tints, and paint the doorhandles matching paint colors. The new Prius 911 looks great; look at the horizontal tail light it looks awesome!

Real men drive Priuses

Everything else is for losers!

ERIC

---

Fashion choices

Cars and clothes are all fashion choices.

If you live somewhere where it is really really strong sun, by a sun hat, not a loser baseball cap.

For your car, get a Prius.

For your body, 60 pound weight vest — my new stoic Spartan fashion body armor accessory?

---

Eric Kim’s concept of “killing 10 birds with one stone” revolves around maximizing productivity by aligning multiple benefits into a single action. He explores this idea through examples of how one can accomplish several goals simultaneously by being intentional about their actions. For instance, he mentions enjoying the sun while working creatively, which also serves as a way to exercise and boost overall well-being—all at once. This approach is about creating a lifestyle where various aspects of life—such as work, health, and pleasure—intersect harmoniously.

Kim’s philosophy suggests that by carefully strategizing and structuring your activities, you can achieve multiple outcomes with minimal effort, leading to a more efficient and fulfilling life. His writings encourage readers to look for ways to combine their tasks and responsibilities creatively, thus maximizing the impact of their efforts.

For a deeper dive into his thoughts on this topic, you can check out his blog posts here oai_citation:1,Kill 10 birds with one stone – ERIC KIM oai_citation:2,Killing 10 birds with one stone? – ERIC KIM oai_citation:3,KILLING 10 BIRDS WITH ONE STONE. – ERIC KIM.

The true path to freedom; unshame yourself:

What is the metaphorical ball and chain in our new modern day life? Shame. It applies not only to people of Asian East Asian descent, or Confucian values… Also in America, with the Quaker protestant morals and ethics being around shame.

Certainly within a Christian Catholic mentality as well; also maybe to Jewish people as well? And also, the Japanese, maybe almost anyone living in an industrialized, modern day world and civilization.

Shame is learned and taught and reinforced

One thing I love about Seneca… Is that he is so free pure, and great. Fortunately because he has wise parents, ever since he is born… We have never instilled any shame culture on him.

There’s a really bad thing in Korean culture, which is called “cheng-pee”, which literally means shameful. I think Korean people superficially say it to be cute, but if you really think about it… It is actually quite insidious.

For example, you will see it over and over again when a kid is running around naked without pants on, almost about everything.

American shame?

In America, we do have notions of shame, but it is not said so directly. For example if you have a young kid who is running around naked at the house, you’re probably won’t say “shame shame shame shame shame!” Put on some clothes or else you will bring shame onto our family and all of your family members and past generations.  

The genesis of shame

Funny enough… shame is not an ethic that Jesus preached. Shame is rather a form of social control.

For example, growing up Catholic Korean Catholic… All this guilt and shame around porn pornography, masturbation etc. And all these weird superstitions that you would grow hairy palms if you jerked off? 

Also, very funny… Even the modern day times, with all these fake macho guys at the gym etc.… Whenever you joke about Porn and jerking off… All guys will always side chuckle a little bit shamefully, because obviously all the guys do it.

But technically, assuming you grew up up without religion and modern day shamed notions… None of it should really be shameful. Maybe gross, or unhygienic, but not shameful.

This is where Japanese culture is really fascinating to me; like there is no Christian Judeo morality holding back the Japanese; and therefore, pornography is not really seen as a big deal in Japan. Whereas in America, we all believe it to be porn to be a little bit morally reprehensible. Even to progressive people. 

Why is being naked seen as being shameful? 

I have some theories.

First, in the Bible… The second Adam and Eve take a bite out of the apple from the garden of Eden… Apparently the first thing that Adam and Eve realize is that they were naked, they feel shame and they immediately want to cover up. God knows and discovers that they took a bite of the forbidden fruit.

Some subtle nuances;

First, where does this notion of the forbidden fruit even come from? Kind of a bizarre notion. Essentially the idea is that it is better to be naked and dumb and happy, rather than to possess your own self wisdom rationality and intelligence and judge the world?

The second… Why is it considered shameful to be naked, either in private or public?

Shame is good at selling (overpriced) clothing 

Shame sells! Some theories:

The first theory is a capitalistic one. You cannot make money by telling people to be naked. You got to sell them clothes.

Second, it seems that by breeding insecurity is a smart strategy if you want people to purchase or desire to purchase certain clothes in articles of clothing, in order to feel “cool“? For example, at the age of 36, I feel the wisest I have ever been in my life. No more lame and loser Nikes, sneakers, etc. Only losers were Nikes, Jordans, whatever.

The true intelligent footwear to wear is either the vibram five finger shoes, or if you have a kid, just getting them those super minimalist water shoes on Amazon which only cost about 10 bucks. 

Cars are the new shoes for adults?

Another theory; when you are kid, and maybe before you have a drivers permit or license, you can’t drive. Therefore, shoes and sneakers are like a metaphorical car or vehicle. When you are a middle school or highschooler a teenager… We are yet rich enough to buy cars but we could buy shoes.

***

Now that we are adults, and we are richer, and we could do stupid things like finance a cart with a down payment,  and have a monthly payment, cars and automobiles are like the new sneakers. Think about it… Both have to deal with transportation transit and getting around and moving around, being seen, fashion being fashionable etc.

And also, cars… They come in and out of fashion every 3 to 6 months, and there’s always a new car being released. In fact, whether we like it or not, LA, Southern California, California, the states, the planet… A car or automobile Vehicle, a truck SUV whatever… Might be one of the grandest industries in America and beyond?

But lots of problems here:

First, I have a theory that one’s happiness is inversely proportional to how much time you have to either spend seated in a car, driving around etc. And I’m starting to think that the payoff is not worth it ; for example,  let us see you have the option to drive an additional 30 minutes to go somewhere that is maybe 40% nicer than just going somewhere local that you could access via walking. Typically that optimization is not worth it.

Why? Opportunity cost. 30 minute drive there, 30 minute drive back… That is a full hour otherwise you have spent just walking around!

Taking the metro is a far better bed. For example, on killing 10 birds with one stone; the joys of taking the metro, especially the metro line in Los Angeles is multifold:

First, you have the joy and privilege of being able to stand the whole ride, and even shifted your way around and walk around the train if you want!

Second, you get an insanely cool view of the city! Playing SimCity with Seneca, there’s this notion of a maglev train; a magnetic elevated train!

It doesn’t have to be magnetic, just elevated. The reason why the metro line in LA is so phenomenal is that you are above traffic, you are above the ground level, and you get this really interesting panopticon view of the city! 

Third, kids love it! I don’t know any kid who doesn’t like to take the metro, it is so fun for them! Even for my niece Amelia who is now in the first or second grade, seven or eight years old, After taking her and her younger brother Benjamin to the California science Center via the metro line, she asked me and Cindy… Can we take the metro back home (to Orange County)?

Also, watching this cute film at the California science Center about cities of the future… The general ideas that in the future, everyone would just be taking some sort of magnetic electric elevated train somewhere, And on the mid and bottom kettle levels, would be some of the fools who have to self drive their own cars. In the middle layer would have self driving cars.

Visions?

Singapore is often cited as being a city of the future, but it is not. Truth be told Singaporeans don’t really like living in Singapore; they would prefer to live in the states if they could.

Maybe the closest thing I have to witnessing a city of the future is Culver City, the only city which you could actually walk around all day, and never get bored, and you could also do all your grocery shopping here at Trader Joe’s or Erewhon or Whole Foods. Even nowadays, a supermassive innovation that we got is being able to do the Amazon fresh grocery deliveries so might pull in I think 80% of the average American family, time and resources is wasted occurring food and groceries.

And also, let us consider… It is the year 2024, it is very common to get the same day prime delivery of almost any single item on Amazon. Shouldn’t we apply the same ethos to food, which is really the only critical thing we need in order to live? we don’t have free food… Yet, but at this point we have free clean water, just drinking from the tap or filtered water at home! And at this point, you could purchase coffee in bulk, on Amazon and it is so cheap practically free! The “fresh roasted coffee” 5 pound bag on Amazon, the yirgacheffe Ethiopian blend quite good!

---

How to unshame yourself? 

God sent me to break the shame. I’m the true and living, all the rest of you guys are vain. 

First, get rid of those loser AirPods, throw them in the trash. Better to be ghetto and hood, if you want to listen to something, music podcast or whatever, just crank up the volume on your iPad Pro or iPhone, and listen to it loud in public or even in private. Somebody tell you to quiet down, just lower the volume and continue.

Second, throw your iPhone pros into the trash. I see it nowadays… Very subtly; when I am walking around with my 60 pound weight vest on, and I look at somebody, and then they want to go inside me, and they do for half a second, and then half a second the nervous which they do is check their phone… or they are in New York Manhattan, or in a crowded elephant, I will see people open up their phones, check the time, refresh their email inbox, etc.… Simply as it means to avoid eye contact or inter action with others?

Simple suggestions include whenever you make eye contact with somebody, or even if you see somebody half a block away looking at you, just throw up the peace sign, or give them a head nod. You would be surprised , people can spot you from half a mile away. 

Maybe a random thought is think like you are the mayor, you are a firefighter, a public servant, or if you’re running for mirror. If this were the case, you would want to be maximally friendly to every single human being you encounter, because you want their votes! This means being nice friendly and courteous and cheerful and acknowledge the existence of people who are even antisocial, bizarre?

Make friends with security guards.

 why?  first, honestly a lot of security guards, because they are outside all day just walking around… are just friendlier and happier than the average office drone. Second, most of them have not taken the traditional educational rotten life, which means that they tend to be much more interesting to talk to, rather than the average university graduate and career person.

In fact, the only interesting conversations I’ve had is from people from the hood, maybe people in the military, some kids, and those who we would consider “nontraditional. In fact, 99.99% of people you encounter, in the states are quite boring. The second someone bores you, just excuse yourself and say you have to use the bathroom and walk away.

***

Drain?

OK let us assume that you are a battery and you cannot be recharged in the middle of the day. The only way you can recharge your battery is when you go to sleep at night.

That means any single interaction social interaction, engagement whatever could either have a positive or negative effect on you.

 I’m sorry to realize this… Some people will essentially just capture you, and just keep talking nonsense to you, and refuse to let you leave.

You could see it, if you give somebody a phone call FaceTime or see them in person, you spend a 99% of your time just listening to them talk, Bitchin moan about their life problems, their own personal misery etc., and never ask you how you’re doing, how your kid is doing etc. 

Misery loves misery

To be happy as rare. I am probably the only happy person that I know, and Seneca is also rare; the only happy kid I know. 

I would say that 99.99% of people are miserable. And the way that they could feel better about themselves is by dragging other people down, spewing hate, etc.? Very counterproductive.

In the UK they call it the tall poppy syndrome; you see a guy driving around the new Lamborghini, and then you’ll find some sort of way to discredit him, saying that he has a small dick, or he cheated for that money etc.

At least a good thing in America is that often our jealousy and envy could be positive; we see Jeff Bezos Elon Musk and the like becoming super successful, and we aspire to become like them.

Or, maybe if you see somebody driving a surgeon car, US buy to one day work hard, make a bunch of money in order to obtain that same vehicle.

Also in bodybuilding, I think we often use other men and their physiques as a role model; we all want to look like Arnold Schwarzenegger in his prime, is always plastered around all across the planet.

But a simple thought: I think body glorification is 1 trillion times more virtuous than car fellatio, or even money glorification. 

For example, I would never switch spaces with any other human being on the planet, irregardless of how wealthy or rich or powerful they are.

Jeff Bezos is short, only 5 foot seven. Kanye West is also short, maybe 5 foot five. I think Kendrick Lamar is only 5 foot two? Jay Z is cool, but he’s too old now. 

Also, any billionaire in their 50s or 60s would probably trade their wealth in order to become 20 years old again.

Even if you were worth 100 billion or $1 trillion, and you’re 90 years old, wouldn’t you trade 100% of your wealth in order to become 21 years old again?

---

Unwealth

Some new radical thoughts on wealth:

I think true world is actually inversely proportional; the things you don’t have the things you don’t own in order to maintain.

For example, I would not wish for your Lamborghini McLaren or any hyper sports car on even my worst enemy. Why? The critical issue here is that maintenance costs are an effing nightmare. 

For example,  it is not even a money thing. Like the laws of physics; sooner or later you’re going to have to get oil change, and it will not only be very expensive, but time consuming, insanely annoying etc. I think this is where it makes more sense to get some sort of maybe Hybrid sports car or Lexus LC500– in theory you could just take it to any ordinary oil change place, because it is a Toyota, you could easily get it repaired or change the oil.

Maybe this is also the logic of having an all electric sports or hyper car; in theory, an electric sports car should require less maintenance and gasoline or hybrid one;  I think the only thing you probably have to change or fix or maintain is refill the window wiper fluid? 

Everyone wants the butterfly doors this is our doors or the Lambo doors — but I think the true intelligent optimization here is that you have some sort of electric car that could do this? Maybe this is also where the BMW i eight is a good idea; because it has the butterfly or scissor doors?

I think the big issue here is the question; do you actually like that Lamborghini, the idea of the Lamborghini, actually owning it, the idea of it, or the totem of it?

It is all imaginary in our mind. For example if I knew that I owned a Lamborghini with the scissor doors just parked in my garage, but I never drove it… Certainly I would not really have the benefit of it. But just knowing at the back of my head that I got it, is what makes me smile?

I think this is also a bitcoin is useful; I think the new modern day digital dick measuring contest will be; how many bitcoin do you own? And it is like your metaphorical dick size; the more bitcoin you got, the longer your cyber dick.

Kanye had a funny quote saying that being a male porn star was an objective way to measure them– essentially, their penis size. In theory the guy with the 20 inch dick should be the best porn star. But I would also not wish this even not my worst enemy, because it would seem very uncomfortable to just walk around, without having to tuck it or wrap it around your leg or something.

---

What is it that we all truly seek?

I think this is where I go beyond Seneca and the stoics, also beyond even my best friend Nietzsche.

Have you ever met a philosopher or a stoic who looks like me?

The problem with Seneca the younger is that I think he was a fatty boy. I think the true post statue of him and his head he was bald, and had a triple chin. Makes sense; even Seneca “On Anger” writes, we should not get offended by truthful facts; why would you be offended if somebody made fun of you for being bald, when in fact you actually are bald? The better response is to just poke fun at yourself; better to poke fun at your baldness, rather than feel shameful about it? 

For example, if somebody makes fun of you for being Asian and having a small dick or whatever, just call it a baby turtle. That it pokes out every once in a while. Or that you have a “chode”– a penis which has more girth than length.

When you poke fun at yourself, it is an impregnable defense. 
I even remember in high school, whenever somebody would tease you for being gay or whatever, the best response was “I love dick!” And then after that, nobody had anything left to say.

---

We stoics of the future

Whenever people think about the future, people are foolish; they think about adding more technology to our lives, throwing on more vision pros, more AirPods pros, more time in your self driving car etc. 

But in fact, the true path board is via negativa– the true future is more spartan, less physical, more cyber and digital.

More cyber real estate which is bitcoin, more digital money which is also bitcoin, more time outdoors in the direct sun with their shirt off, which is the true way of living the dream. 

Another day, when walking by the Toyota dealership, The dealership guys telling me that I was living the dream, being outside all day with Seneca!

---

Radical?

I suppose the question is do we really need to be radical here?

I think there is some sort of like intelligent wise radicalism, which is just stick into your own guns, following your own gut, refusing to just be another drone. I’d rather be Brad Pitt and Tyler Durden than Edward Norton.

And I think the problem here is that we have weird role models now. Everyone wants to be worn buffet; but do you want to be a fat old man, who is just sitting in hunched over our newspaper all day, even if you are the worlds second richest man?

Therefore the new godhead is wealth being super rich. Being in the Forbes top 100, ideally number one.

There is no second best.

Why settle for second? 

Nobody wants the silver. Just look at the Olympics, we always measure by the number of gold trophies. Better to get one gold medal for your country, rather than 1000 silvers.

“One good girl is worth a 1000 bitches” Kanye Bound 2, YEEZUS album

I think this is where it is so critical to be so insanely wise about choosing your life partner your wife etc. Don’t settle for second best.

---

The ethos of the best

I think this is why America is so productive; we all desire to be the best! We want to be the most rich and the most successful, within our friends circle and family circle, and then maybe beyond that, spreading our circles and sphere of influence a bit further out.

For example, I’m happy that I’m the number 1 Greatest street photography blogger of all time, nobody will ever take the crown from me, no matter how hard they try. Just ask ChatGPT!

Then I then suppose that the next step forward is to discover a new niche, and also dominate that. Perhaps I have a passion for domination.

This is why when I go to the gym, or when I used to go to the gym, it was always my number one goal to be the strongest guy in the gym, by a huge fold.  This is why I lifted 10 plates, a 25 and a five on each side; and broke the weightlifting universe.

I believe this accomplishment and will last forever.

What is the next thing I want to dominate?

Anything you have a true passion for, autotelic; it is very easily achievable, if you do not have to consider economic payoff, making money etc. Or making other people happy, or even giving utility to other people.

A random thought I have on my mind is towards lifestyle; now that I am 36 years old, about the same age which Tim Ferris’s wrote the four hour work week? Maybe I could become the next Tim Ferriss? Tim Ferriss is great; but I think the issue is that he is short, balding, insecure, and I think he is also not yet married and childish, maybe he has a dog? And also, I don’t think he’s really figured things out for himself yet; he’s always onto the next thing, just seeking endless distraction for himself? 

Maybe I’ll be the next Tim Ferris! 

How and why lifestyle is such a critical thing to consider

I kind of hit the lifestyle that shouldn’t because it typically revolves around buying some sort of equipment and gear.

My personal thought is that lifestyle should just be a mental, a mindset, which should actually be “via negativa”– the ideal lifestyle you look more like a zen stoic spartan monk, rather than a fat short old balding loser with a Lamborghini. 

Making more money, but also spending no money?

If you really really really gotta buy something, just get it on Amazon Amazon prime! For example, I got this fantastic new all black Sun hat, on Amazon Amazon for only 10 bucks, one day delivery?

 in fact, maybe the intelligent path forward is to just always purchase all of your clothing on Amazon, or Uniqlo?

Why? I think it just makes sense. You’re cutting out the middleman, all the stuff by Lululemon is just made in the same factory in Vietnam, I think $100 pair of tight leggings from Lululemon, might only cost $10 for them to produce? The rest of those $90 is probably profit for the Lululemon corporation.

Apparently nowadays on Amazon, you could purchase all these duplicate clothing, in which they take the inseam and the measuring of Lululemon men shorts, and just create a duplicate, with inferior materials. But if you just want something simple and cheap, it seems to be logical this way.

Or, design it yourself! I recently had the epiphany I hate sleeves; and therefore, I just took some heavy duty steel scissors I got at home, and I just took my old -32 merino wool black T-shirt and just cut off the sleeves! Boom, brand new outfit that cost me nothing. 

Just buy it on Amazon! Problem solved.

***

Brands are for cowards

I put zero faith in anybody who drives a base level Audi, like an Audi Q3 three or A3, an entry-level BMW or Mercedes, or even an entry-level Porsche 718. They are signaling some serious insecurity here.

Everybody knows that a Toyota Prius is the best car, but for men… They think it is demasculating to drive a Prius?

I was talking to one of the guys who worked at the Toyota dealership, and I asked him what car he thought I drove. The first thing he thought was 911? Which is pretty cool; because I guess I have the 911 personality, without having to Maintain that $100,000 loser car.

In fact, if I had to do some sort of brand new car project today, my idea would be get a brand new Prius prime, and matte black wrap it, murder it out, no loser tints, and paint the doorhandles matching paint colors. The new Prius 911 looks great; look at the horizontal tail light it looks awesome!

Real men drive Priuses

Everything else is for losers!

ERIC

---

Fashion choices

Cars and clothes are all fashion choices.

If you live somewhere where it is really really strong sun, by a sun hat, not a loser baseball cap.

For your car, get a Prius.

For your body, 60 pound weight vest — my new stoic Spartan fashion body armor accessory?

---

Much of marketing behavior is around making people feel shameful about everything; for example, shame in their feet? So they try to cover it up by buying some sort of Nike sneakers? Or for women… To purchase high heels or stuff which is positively bad for your physiology?

Also I have a theory about why people wear long pants, to hide their chicken legs?

Also, T-shirts and long sleeves… Maybe part of it is a modesty thing, but also part of it is that most people don’t have impressive arms?

The funny nuance; what if you wanted to be unruly, to be like a wild animal, like a wild dog?

to be wild and unruly, like an untrained dog?

Chang as in dog

The word ì°½ (chang) in 창피 (changpi) is derived from the Chinese character 猖. Here’s a deeper look into its etymology:

Chinese Character 猖 (창, chang):

1. Character Breakdown:

• Radical: 犬 (견, dog) – This is the radical part of the character, often associated with animals or actions that are wild or untamed.
• Phonetic Component: The remaining part of the character contributes to its pronunciation and meaning.

1. Meanings:

• The character 猖 primarily means “wild,” “unruly,” “reckless,” or “insolent.” It conveys a sense of disorder or behavior that is out of control.
• In a broader sense, it can refer to actions that are inappropriate or excessive, particularly in a social or public context.

Usage in Korean:

• In the context of the word 창피 (changpi), the ì°½ (chang) part contributes to the meaning of being unruly or out of order, which, when combined with 피 (pi), relates to the exposure of such behavior, leading to shame or embarrassment.

Cultural Context:

• In traditional Korean society, as in many East Asian cultures influenced by Confucian values, maintaining proper behavior and avoiding public embarrassment were highly emphasized. Therefore, the concept of 창피 (changpi) carries a significant weight, as it reflects not just personal shame but also a disruption of social harmony.
• The character 猖, when used in other contexts, might also refer to rebelliousness or defiance, further underscoring the idea of acting against accepted norms, which then leads to the feeling of shame when such actions are exposed.

Overall, 창 (chang) in 창피 conveys a deep sense of disorderliness or lack of control, which is central to the feeling of shame that the word represents.

Unruly… wild?

It seems like you might be referring to the Korean word 창피 (changpi), which means “shame” or “embarrassment.” The word 창피 (changpi) is often used in everyday Korean to describe situations where someone feels ashamed, embarrassed, or humiliated.

Etymology of 창피 (changpi):

• ì°½ (chang): This part of the word is derived from the Chinese character 猖, which means “unruly” or “wild.”
• 피 (pi): This is derived from the Chinese character 披, which means “to expose” or “to show.”

When combined, 창피 (changpi) essentially conveys the feeling of being exposed in an unruly or inappropriate manner, leading to feelings of shame or embarrassment. It’s a word that emphasizes the public nature of the embarrassment, where one’s actions or circumstances might be seen by others, causing a sense of humiliation.

Yes

Real men only use fists:

Video Podcast

Audio

We true mensch’s:

We the new Spartans!

My problem ,,,, I’m almost too strong, I got too much power?

What is the metaphorical ball and chain in our new modern day life? Shame. It applies not only to people of Asian East Asian descent, or confusion values… Also in America, with the Quaker protestant morals and ethics being around shame. Certainly within a Christian Catholic mentality as well; also maybe to Jewish people as well? And also… To the Japanese, maybe almost anyone living in an industrialized, modern day world and civilization.

Shame is learned and taught and reinforced

One thing I love about Seneca… Is that he is so free pure, and great. Fortunately because he has wise parents, ever since he is born… We have never instilled any shame culture on him.

There’s a really bad thing in culture, which is called “cheng-pee”, which literally means shameful. I think cream people superficially said to be cute, but if you really think about it… It is actually quite insidious.

For example, you will see it over and over again when a kid is running around naked without pants on, almost everything.

In America, we do have notions of shame, but it is not said so directly. For example if you have a young kid who is running around naked at the house, you’re probably won’t say “shame shame shame shame shame!” Put on some clothes or else you will bring shame onto our family and all of your family members and past generations.  

The genesis of shame

Funny enough… Shame is not an ethic that Jesus preached. Shame is rather a form of social control.

For example, growing up Catholic Korean Catholic… All this guilt and shame around porn pornography, masturbation etc. And all these weird superstitions that you would grow hairy palms if you jerked off? 

Also, very funny… Even the modern day times, with all these fake macho guys at the gym etc.… Whenever you joke about Porn and jerking off… All guys will always side chuckle a little bit shamefully, because obviously all the guys do it.

But technically, assuming you grew up up without religion and modern day shamed notions… None of it should really be shameful. Maybe gross, or unhygienic, but not shameful.

Why is being naked seen as being shameful? 

I have some theories.

First, in the Bible… The second that they take a bite out of the apple from the garden of Eden… Apparently the first thing that Adam and Eve realize is that they were naked, they feel shame and they immediately want to cover up. God knows and discovers that they took a bite of the forbidden fruit.

Some subtle nuances;

First, where does this notion of the forbidden fruit even come from? Kind of a bizarre notion. Essentially the idea is that it is better to be naked and dumb and happy, rather than to possess your own self wisdom rationality and intelligence and judge the world? 

The second… Why is it considered to be shameful to be naked, either in private or public?

I have some theories:

The first theory is a capitalistic one. You cannot make money by telling people to be naked. You got to sell them clothes.

 Second, it seems that breeding insecurity is a Y strategy if you want people to purchase or desire to purchase certain clothes in articles of clothing, in order to feel “cool“? For example, at the age of 36, I feel the wisest I have ever been in my life. No more lame and loser Nikes, sneakers, etc. Only losers were Nikes, Jordans, whatever.

The true intelligent footwear to wear is either the vibram five finger shoes, or if you have akid, just getting them those super minimalist water shoes on Amazon which only cost about 10 bucks. 

Cars are the new shoes for adults?

Another theory; when you are kid, and maybe before you have a drivers permit or license, you can’t drive. Therefore, shoes and sneakers are like a metaphorical car or vehicle.

Now that we are adults, and we are richer, and we could do stupid things like finance a cart with a down payment,  and have a monthly payment, cars and automobiles are like the new sneakers. Think about it… Both have to deal with transportation transit and getting around and moving around, being seen, fashion being fashionable etc.

And also, cars… They come in and out of fashion every 3 to 6 months, and there’s always a new car being released. In fact, whether we like it or not, LA, Southern California, California, the states, the planet… A car or automobile Vehicle, a truck SUV whatever… Might be one of the grandest industries in America and beyond?

But lots of problems here:

First, I have a theory that one’s happiness is inversely proportional to how much time you have to either spend seated in a car, driving around etc. And I’m starting to think that the payoff is not worth it ; for example,  let us see you have the option to drive an additional 30 minutes to go somewhere that is maybe 40% nicer than just going somewhere local that you could access via walking. Typically that optimization is not worth it.

Why? Opportunity cost. 30 minute drive there, 30 minute drive back… That is a full hour otherwise you have spent just walking around!

Taking the metro is a far better bed. For example, on killing 10 birds with one stone; the joys of taking the metro, especially the metro line in Los Angeles is multifold:

First, you have the joy and privilege of being able to stand the whole ride, and even shifted your way around and walk around the train if you want!

Second, you get an insanely cool view of the city! Playing SimCity with Seneca, there’s this notion of a maglev train; a magnetic elevated train!

It doesn’t have to be magnetic, just elevated. The reason why the metro line in LA is so phenomenal is that you are above traffic, you are above the ground level, and you get this really interesting panopticon view of the city! 

Third, kids love it! I don’t know any kid who doesn’t like to take the metro, it is so fun for them! Even for my niece Amelia who is now in the first or second grade, seven or eight years old, After taking her and her younger brother Benjamin to the California science Center via the metro line, she asked me and Cindy… Can we take the metro back home (to Orange County)?

Also, watching this cute film at the California science Center about cities of the future… The general ideas that in the future, everyone would just be taking some sort of magnetic electric elevated train somewhere, And on the mid and bottom kettle levels, would be some of the fools who have to self drive their own cars. In the middle layer would have self driving cars.

Visions?

Singapore is often cited as being a city of the future, but it is not. Truth be told Singaporeans don’t really like living in Singapore; they would prefer to live in the states if they could.

Maybe the closest thing I have to witnessing a city of the future is Culver City, the only city which you could actually walk around all day, and never get bored, and you could also do all your grocery shopping here at Trader Joe’s or Erewhon or Whole Foods. Even nowadays, a supermassive innovation that we got is being able to do the Amazon fresh grocery deliveries so might pull in I think 80% of the average American family, time and resources is wasted occurring food and groceries.

And also, let us consider… It is the year 2024, it is very common to get the same day prime delivery of almost any single item on Amazon. Shouldn’t we apply the same ethos to food, which is really the only critical thing we need in order to live? we don’t have free food… Yet, but at this point we have free clean water, just drinking from the tap or filtered water at home! And at this point, you could purchase coffee in bulk, on Amazon and it is so cheap practically free! The “fresh roasted coffee” 5 pound bag on Amazon, the yirgacheffe Ethiopian blend quite good!

---

How to unshame yourself? 

God sent me to break the shame. I’m the true and living, all the rest of you guys are vain. 

First, get rid of those loser AirPods, throw them in the trash. Better to be ghetto and hood, if you want to listen to something, music podcast or whatever, just crank up the volume on your iPad Pro or iPhone, and listen to it loud in public or even in private. Somebody tell you to quiet down, just lower the volume and continue.

Second, throw your iPhone pros into the trash. I see it nowadays… Very subtly; when I am walking around with my 60 pound weight vest on, and I look at somebody, and then they want to go inside me, and they do for half a second, and then half a second the nervous which they do is check their phone… or they are in New York Manhattan, or in a crowded elephant, I will see people open up their phones, check the time, refresh their email inbox, etc.… Simply as it means to avoid eye contact or inter action with others?

Simple suggestions include whenever you make eye contact with somebody, or even if you see somebody half a block away looking at you, just throw up the peace sign, or give them a head nod. You would be surprised , people can spot you from half a mile away. 

Maybe a random thought is think like you are the mayor, you are a firefighter, a public servant, or if you’re running for mirror. If this were the case, you would want to be maximally friendly to every single human being you encounter, because you want their votes! This means being nice friendly and courteous and cheerful and acknowledge the existence of people who are even antisocial, bizarre?

Make friends with security guards.

 why?  first, honestly a lot of security guards, because they are outside all day just walking around… are just friendlier and happier than the average office drone. Second, most of them have not taken the traditional educational rotten life, which means that they tend to be much more interesting to talk to, rather than the average university graduate and career person.

In fact, the only interesting conversations I’ve had is from people from the hood, maybe people in the military, some kids, and those who we would consider “nontraditional. In fact, 99.99% of people you encounter, in the states are quite boring. The second someone bores you, just excuse yourself and say you have to use the bathroom and walk away.

***

Drain?

OK let us assume that you are a battery and you cannot be recharged in the middle of the day. The only way you can recharge your battery is when you go to sleep at night.

That means any single interaction social interaction, engagement whatever could either have a positive or negative effect on you.

 I’m sorry to realize this… Some people will essentially just capture you, and just keep talking nonsense to you, and refuse to let you leave.

You could see it, if you give somebody a phone call FaceTime or see them in person, you spend a 99% of your time just listening to them talk, Bitchin moan about their life problems, their own personal misery etc., and never ask you how you’re doing, how your kid is doing etc. 

Misery loves misery

To be happy as rare. I am probably the only happy person that I know, and Seneca is also rare; the only happy kid I know. 

I would say that 99.99% of people are miserable. And the way that they could feel better about themselves is by dragging other people down, spewing hate, etc.? Very counterproductive.

In the UK they call it the tall poppy syndrome; you see a guy driving around the new Lamborghini, and then you’ll find some sort of way to discredit him, saying that he has a small dick, or he cheated for that money etc.

At least a good thing in America is that often our jealousy and envy could be positive; we see Jeff Bezos Elon Musk and the like becoming super successful, and we aspire to become like them.

Or, maybe if you see somebody driving a surgeon car, US buy to one day work hard, make a bunch of money in order to obtain that same vehicle.

Also in bodybuilding, I think we often use other men and their physiques as a role model; we all want to look like Arnold Schwarzenegger in his prime, is always plastered around all across the planet.

But a simple thought: I think body glorification is 1 trillion times more virtuous than car fellatio, or even money glorification. 

For example, I would never switch spaces with any other human being on the planet, irregardless of how wealthy or rich or powerful they are.

Jeff Bezos is short, only 5 foot seven. Kanye West is also short, maybe 5 foot five. I think Kendrick Lamar is only 5 foot two? Jay Z is cool, but he’s too old now. 

Also, any billionaire in their 50s or 60s would probably trade their wealth in order to become 20 years old again.

Even if you were worth 100 billion or $1 trillion, and you’re 90 years old, wouldn’t you trade 100% of your wealth in order to become 21 years old again?

---

Unwealth

Some new radical thoughts on wealth:

I think true world is actually inversely proportional; the things you don’t have the things you don’t own in order to maintain.

For example, I would not wish for your Lamborghini McLaren or any hyper sports car on even my worst enemy. Why? The critical issue here is that maintenance costs are an effing nightmare. 

For example,  it is not even a money thing. Like the laws of physics; sooner or later you’re going to have to get oil change, and it will not only be very expensive, but time consuming, insanely annoying etc. I think this is where it makes more sense to get some sort of maybe Hybrid sports car or Lexus LC500– in theory you could just take it to any ordinary oil change place, because it is a Toyota, you could easily get it repaired or change the oil.

Maybe this is also the logic of having an all electric sports or hyper car; in theory, an electric sports car should require less maintenance and gasoline or hybrid one;  I think the only thing you probably have to change or fix or maintain is refill the window wiper fluid? 

Everyone wants the butterfly doors this is our doors or the Lambo doors — but I think the true intelligent optimization here is that you have some sort of electric car that could do this? Maybe this is also where the BMW i eight is a good idea; because it has the butterfly or scissor doors?

I think the big issue here is the question; do you actually like that Lamborghini, the idea of the Lamborghini, actually owning it, the idea of it, or the totem of it?

It is all imaginary in our mind. For example if I knew that I owned a Lamborghini with the scissor doors just parked in my garage, but I never drove it… Certainly I would not really have the benefit of it. But just knowing at the back of my head that I got it, is what makes me smile?

I think this is also a bitcoin is useful; I think the new modern day digital dick measuring contest will be; how many bitcoin do you own? And it is like your metaphorical dick size; the more bitcoin you got, the longer your cyber dick.

Kanye had a funny quote saying that being a male porn star was an objective way to measure them– essentially, their penis size. In theory the guy with the 20 inch dick should be the best porn star. But I would also not wish this even not my worst enemy, because it would seem very uncomfortable to just walk around, without having to tuck it or wrap it around your leg or something.

---

What is it that we all truly seek?

I think this is where I go beyond Seneca and the stoics, also beyond even my best friend Nietzsche.

Have you ever met a philosopher or a stoic who looks like me?

The problem with Seneca the younger is that I think he was a fatty boy. I think the true post statue of him and his head he was bald, and had a triple chin. Makes sense; even Seneca “On Anger” writes, we should not get offended by truthful facts; why would you be offended if somebody made fun of you for being bald, when in fact you actually are bald? The better response is to just poke fun at yourself; better to poke fun at your baldness, rather than feel shameful about it? 

For example, if somebody makes fun of you for being Asian and having a small dick or whatever, just call it a baby turtle. That it pokes out every once in a while. Or that you have a “chode”– a penis which has more girth than length.

When you poke fun at yourself, it is an impregnable defense. 
I even remember in high school, whenever somebody would tease you for being gay or whatever, the best response was “I love dick!” And then after that, nobody had anything left to say.

---

We stoics of the future

Whenever people think about the future, people are foolish; they think about adding more technology to our lives, throwing on more vision pros, more AirPods pros, more time in your self driving car etc. 

But in fact, the true path board is via negativa– the true future is more spartan, less physical, more cyber and digital.

More cyber real estate which is bitcoin, more digital money which is also bitcoin, more time outdoors in the direct sun with their shirt off, which is the true way of living the dream. 

Another day, when walking by the Toyota dealership, The dealership guys telling me that I was living the dream, being outside all day with Seneca!

---

Radical?

I suppose the question is do we really need to be radical here?

I think there is some sort of like intelligent wise radicalism, which is just stick into your own guns, following your own gut, refusing to just be another drone. I’d rather be Brad Pitt and Tyler Durden than Edward Norton.

And I think the problem here is that we have weird role models now. Everyone wants to be worn buffet; but do you want to be a fat old man, who is just sitting in hunched over our newspaper all day, even if you are the worlds second richest man?

Therefore the new godhead is wealth being super rich. Being in the Forbes top 100, ideally number one.

There is no second best.

Why settle for second? 

Nobody wants the silver. Just look at the Olympics, we always measure by the number of gold trophies. Better to get one gold medal for your country, rather than 1000 silvers.

“One good girl is worth a 1000 bitches” Kanye Bound 2, YEEZUS album

I think this is where it is so critical to be so insanely wise about choosing your life partner your wife etc. Don’t settle for second best.

---

The ethos of the best

I think this is why America is so productive; we all desire to be the best! We want to be the most rich and the most successful, within our friends circle and family circle, and then maybe beyond that, spreading our circles and sphere of influence a bit further out.

For example, I’m happy that I’m the number 1 Greatest street photography blogger of all time, nobody will ever take the crown from me, no matter how hard they try. Just ask ChatGPT!

Then I then suppose that the next step forward is to discover a new niche, and also dominate that. Perhaps I have a passion for domination.

This is why when I go to the gym, or when I used to go to the gym, it was always my number one goal to be the strongest guy in the gym, by a huge fold.  This is why I lifted 10 plates, a 25 and a five on each side; and broke the weightlifting universe.

I believe this accomplishment and will last forever.

What is the next thing I want to dominate?

Anything you have a true passion for, autotelic; it is very easily achievable, if you do not have to consider economic payoff, making money etc. Or making other people happy, or even giving utility to other people.

A random thought I have on my mind is towards lifestyle; now that I am 36 years old, about the same age which Tim Ferris’s wrote the four hour work week? Maybe I could become the next Tim Ferriss? Tim Ferriss is great; but I think the issue is that he is short, balding, insecure, and I think he is also not yet married and childish, maybe he has a dog? And also, I don’t think he’s really figured things out for himself yet; he’s always onto the next thing, just seeking endless distraction for himself? 

Maybe I’ll be the next Tim Ferris! 

How and why lifestyle is such a critical thing to consider

I kind of hit the lifestyle that shouldn’t because it typically revolves around buying some sort of equipment and gear.

My personal thought is that lifestyle should just be a mental, a mindset, which should actually be “via negativa”– the ideal lifestyle you look more like a zen stoic spartan monk, rather than a fat short old balding loser with a Lamborghini. 

Making more money, but also spending no money?

If you really really really gotta buy something, just get it on Amazon Amazon prime! For example, I got this fantastic new all black Sun hat, on Amazon Amazon for only 10 bucks, one day delivery?

 in fact, maybe the intelligent path forward is to just always purchase all of your clothing on Amazon, or Uniqlo?

Why? I think it just makes sense. You’re cutting out the middleman, all the stuff by Lululemon is just made in the same factory in Vietnam, I think $100 pair of tight leggings from Lululemon, might only cost $10 for them to produce? The rest of those $90 is probably profit for the Lululemon corporation.

Apparently nowadays on Amazon, you could purchase all these duplicate clothing, in which they take the inseam and the measuring of Lululemon men shorts, and just create a duplicate, with inferior materials. But if you just want something simple and cheap, it seems to be logical this way.

Or, design it yourself! I recently had the epiphany I hate sleeves; and therefore, I just took some heavy duty steel scissors I got at home, and I just took my old -32 merino wool black T-shirt and just cut off the sleeves! Boom, brand new outfit that cost me nothing. 

Just buy it on Amazon! Problem solved.

***

Brands are for cowards

I put zero faith in anybody who drives a base level Audi, like an Audi Q3 three or A3, an entry-level BMW or Mercedes, or even an entry-level Porsche 718. They are signaling some serious insecurity here.

Everybody knows that a Toyota Prius is the best car, but for men… They think it is demasculating to drive a Prius?

I was talking to one of the guys who worked at the Toyota dealership, and I asked him what car he thought I drove. The first thing he thought was 911? Which is pretty cool; because I guess I have the 911 personality, without having to Maintain that $100,000 loser car.

In fact, if I had to do some sort of brand new car project today, my idea would be get a brand new Prius prime, and matte black wrap it, murder it out, no loser tints, and paint the doorhandles matching paint colors. The new Prius 911 looks great; look at the horizontal tail light it looks awesome!

Real men drive Priuses

Everything else is for losers!

ERIC

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Fashion choices

Cars and clothes are all fashion choices.

If you live somewhere where it is really really strong sun, by a sun hat, not a loser baseball cap.

For your car, get a Prius.

For your body, 60 pound weight vest — my new stoic Spartan fashion body armor accessory?

---

1 million dollars, or 1 million views and followers?

Time to start buying them Yeezys!

Theory — happiness is *inversely* related to how much you must drive?

All future everything?

ultra Montessori

Things which are fun but don’t take that much skill? Like Pickleball? 

No defects, no maintenance costs, no depreciation, infinitely durable, sellable

If I have to go on any promotional cruise or tour to promote the most critical idea, it is your sleep.

Sleep is like natural steroids, and also being a parent… For your kid to sleep well is the number one greatest blessing in the universe.

Or even better yet… Even you as an adult, for you to sleep well, might be the number one most important thing for you to optimize. Not your work your productivity your income your ability to stack ones and zeros; no, very very simple… Your ability to sleep well.

Ideas

The first big idea is only have coffee and caffeine first thing you wake up. I’ve been experimenting with this the last six months two year, with great results.

When I first wake up, I take my cold shower, I use my electric shaver to shave… Brush my teeth etc., head over the kitchen, and start pounding espresso. At this point I don’t even even count anymore, I just keep drinking espresso until I start to feel hyped and amped up.

And then I look outside of my apartment window, to see whether the sun has come out or not. Starting to rise, then I finish my coffee and water, and just head out.

Then I go to my 60 pound weight vest, strap it on, and start walking around town with my iPad Pro! The best way to start your day, every day.

What causes you to sleep poorly?

True poverty,  a real poor person… It doesn’t matter if you’re making $10 million a year… If you sleep poorly, none of it is worth it. None of the babes, the cars, the wealth.

First, all drugs are bad for your sleep. No no no, alcohol does not help you fall asleep, and not only that… It doesn’t matter what type of alcohol you consume, it will disrupt your REM sleep cycle patterns. And no no no — a glass of red wine over dinner every night is not good for you.

Also, marijuana is not good for sleep. It may help you fall asleep, but it won’t help you stay asleep — it all once again, give you weird dreams, and disrupt your otherwise healthy sleep patterns.

Also, media anything with flashing screens and light. Even a new thing I’ve been trying to do, to encourage our whole family to sleep earlier… When it is around 6:30 or 7 PM… I just try not to turn on the lights. Because artificial light, encourages you to stay up and do “productive things”.

Productivity is for slaves, sleep is for the gods!

“How did you sleep?”

Now, my new way to greet my friends around town is asking them how they slept. Often you can just see it on their faces! When people look super super tired… I asked them how they slept last night.

New thing I’ve been experimenting is when I go to sleep, I’ve been playing a little bit with the air conditioner heating thing in my bedroom, changing the temperature. For a while I was doing 74°, which was actually a little bit too cold, I would wake up in the middle of the night little bit cold. I just switched it to 76° last night, and I felt much better! Even waking up today, I feel 1 billion times better.

Optimize your sleep

Don’t optimize for your productivity, optimize for your sleep.

My simple suggestion; unsubscribe from all those stupid TV shows media stuff.

Don’t take the dope!

Honestly, I’m starting to think that media TV shows films even music or podcasts is the new dope.

For example, I live right next to the headquarters of HBO Max, Warner Bros. discovery, and it is funny… It is a pretty depressing looking building, and the whole place has such low energy, and also, when going to their corporate website, WBD.com — take a look at the corporate governance structure. And then look at all their brands. I think they own almost like 50 streaming or TV or media platforms? And then the thought…

Do all these random executives have the time or opportunity to watch all these shows? 

If anything… I think a lot of these companies are quite smart; just sell media is the new dope. The new soma, —

Let us consider, what does watching something on Netflix or HBO Max do for you? It relaxes you calms you, takes your mind off of work and things… You become best friends with all these random people and shows, etc.

Also kind of bad; anime, these shows that on for thousands of episodes, making a generation of really socially awkward kids? Who seek refuge and friendship through these anime series?

Anyways, my number one greatest privilege of Seneca is via negativa — his whole life he has never watched anything on YouTube, I don’t even have the YouTube app installed on my phone. He has never watched a movie, besides maybe the first 15 minutes of the Lego Batman movie which we borrowed as a DVD from the LA Public library, no stupid Disney or Marvel films, etc. He is currently eating about 1/ third of a pound of a Angus burger beef patty a day, like a beast boy, outstripping any other kids in his age range, in terms of height, smartness, muscle mass, playfulness and joy!

iPad is not bad

First, never get your kid a stupid Amazon prime tablet. It is almost like giving your kids the cheapest high fructose corn syrup possible.

iPad Pro or nothing.

A big thing I believe in is don’t let your kid play with stupid subpar devices. Even Seneca knows how to use the touchpad on my MacBook Pro!

Kids are not dumb.

The standard in which you raise them, is the standard in which they will rise.

For example, if you treat your kid like a genius kid, and you said the highest standards for them, and you do it with love and attention… Your kid will become a genius. It is a self fulfilling prophecy.

But, if you feed your kids Cheerios, Capri Sun, digital heroin (YouTube YouTube kids, Disney+, Bluey etc.)– your child will become subpar.

And it is very simple here; it actually saves you money!

Also… Never buy them any toys. Whether you like it or not, they will just get toys to them by osmosis through friends and family, birthdays etc. Or you could just get some secondhand free toys from the Facebook buy nothing group.

Also, one of the critical downsides I discovered about toys is the extreme annoyance of having to maintain and manage it. What that means is that let it say that your kid has all these toys and plays with it… Sooner or later you’re gonna be the one who has to clean it up! Because I hate cleaning up stuff, easiest thing just don’t give your kid the toys.

The best entertainment for your kid is taking them to the public downtown Square, letting them run around, high five and fist bump the security guards,  just take them to a local park playground, take them on a hike, even more productive taking them to the mall and not buying anything! Seneca loves the Century City mall and playing with all the new Tesla cars, stopping by the LEGO store etc. 

Why media is bad

First, none of it is grounded in reality. Second, I think there is something toxic about movies films cinema etc.… It makes you more and more disconnected from reality, and also, it is cowardly.

It’s funny whenever I look at my antisocial Los Angeles male single neighbors, with dogs, and I see them behind their closed blinds,  they’re just watching stupid HBO Max shows, or watching baseball, or whatever.

Typically with media, it reveals what you are truly interested in.

Tell me what you watch, and I will tell you who you are.

For myself, things I have watched in the past have shaped me in very productive ways.  for example the philosophy of the matrix, very very formative as a kid, I think our first watched the matrix and neither elementary school or middle school? You could age yourself or timestamp yourself if you remember your friends or kids in school all doing the bullet time bullet dodging thing.

Also, surprisingly these Netflix bodybuilding documentaries, essentially revealing to me that 100% of bodybuilders are on steroids or some sort of weird drugs.

Why it is productive to have kids

I think alive, you should never have to force yourself to do anything. Things just happen naturally, like the Taoist “wu Wei” notion.  

For example, when I was in middle school in high school, I played a ton of video games. However, once I got to college and I had a part-time job and I had to study etc.… More or less I quit playing video games called turkey, not because I wanted to be virtuous or anything… I literally had no time or opportunity. I couldn’t even play video games if I wanted to, and naturally overtime it just lost interest for me. Even a few years ago, I tried to “get back into” playing video games, and it was just not interesting. I think this is also where I quit porn, it just became a little bit boring for me;

Anyways, when you have a kid, you won’t have the time nor will you want to have the time to watch media.  it is zero sum. For example, if you have the option of watching some lame three hour movie, or an hour TV show, or spend that time to run around and play with your kid… What will you choose? Obviously spend time with your kid!  

I think for the average person will have to work, once again your time is even more limited. I have the privileges that I literally have an open schedule, all day every day, which for me, my privilege is to literally spend 100% time with Seneca, Besides the mornings which belong to me, when he is still sleeping like a champ. 

Ideas to sleep better

First, let us say you finish work or you get home or whatever, the first thing you do is you turn off your iPhone, all the way off, and you put it in a drawer. I think for myself, if I have a phone in my pocket or an easily accessible spot, I’m going to be tempted to Use it.

For example, it is obvious; let it say that you’re trying to lose fat, and then your cupboard you know you have a bunch of cookies. Obviously you’re going to eat the cookies! The easiest thing is to just throw it on the trash, or give it away.

Disable all shows

It’s funny… Now in the year 2024, we’ve seen the rise and fall of E readers and Kindle. Even though I am a huge proponent of digital books, reading PDF books on your iPad etc.… The downside is when you are using a Kindle or a reader or an iPad or whatever, or your iPhone… You’re going to get distracted by something and want to click on something. or get interrupted by a notification.

Perhaps the reason why printed books are is that they are dumb, and often they just put you to sleep. The kid in New York, I remember when I was living in Bayside Queens, when I was around maybe 11 years old, I would just read myself books to sleep. I recall very vividly… I would just choose a book tuck myself in, read, and slowly, feel my eyeballs droop, and then slowly but surely, I would fall asleep in the book with naturally fall to my side.

Even now, the reason why kids books are such a great industry is that the routine is typically, we parents read our kids books before they sleep. And the reason why printed book are good; the idea of reading a bedtime story to your kid or tablet or a screen or device is insanity; it will keep your kid up! And the goal for parents, we just want our kids to fall asleep!

In this regard, children and adults are not that different.

Time outside

Certainly everybody has a different life, life circumstance etc. But there is still many things in your locus of control.

Let us assume you have to go to the office, I simple suggestion and workflow is when you finish work, just go to the gym and work out! But if there’s too much traffic and the gym is too crowded or whatever… Either sign up for less crowded gym, or, just build your own gym at home! You got options; you could even do it in your house, your apartment, your garage, your parking spot outside whatever.

Even in LA, the Baldwin Hills scenic overlook is a great spot for a lot of people to go and exercise, all they do is just walk up but not the hill, which is great exercise! Or even a simple thing, get a 60 pound weight vest, and every single day after work, just drive there and go on a hike!

Or just sleep?

Also my suggestion is with caffeine and coffee whatever… Only consume it first thing in the morning, not even midday! If you are tired midday, just take a nap! Imagine like your body is a Tesla supercharger vehicle; all you need is 15 minutes to get you to 80%!

Or, if you have to work, just go to your car, roll down the seat, and take a nap! And when you’re taking a nap, once again, turn your phone all the way off and just put in your glove compartment.

It can wait until tomorrow

All of us are working ourselves to the ground, to meet these stupid arbitrary deadlines, like slaves. As a result we pull all nighters etc.

Even now that I think about it… One of the most pernicious things we are taught in college is to cram for the final exam. I’m starting to become more and more anti-university in disregards; now that we have ChatGPT and access to the Internet, what is the point of University besides technical training… Certainly going to college makes sense if you want to become an engineer, a scientist, design spaceships and airplanes, become a doctor or a surgeon etc. But for the soft sciences, or the humanities… You don’t need to go.

And also, a lot of people think they have to go to college to get a job. But now that you could earn $20 an hour flipping burgers at McDonald’s… What is your incentive?

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A new society?

We are currently in a brave new time.

There is this cult of work, the cult of being indoors, etc.

The new true privilege is just be outside, and walk, walk around all day! To be indoors all day is a slave like mentality.

And the weird thing… We are becoming trained to prefer the indoors–

For example, one of the things I’m the most grateful about Boy Scouts is the bias to be outside. Even though we would have weekly meetings indoors, the true goal was to be outside — outdoors. And the funny thing, when we really think about the etymology here, what does it mean to be “outdoors? Super simple; out of the door. Not the place which is enclosed by a door. 

My privilege

My Spartan privilege is that Seneca never had the misery of having to be inside a daycare, a childcare center, or even these fake “Montessori” schools. 

And if you think about it… If you were the true ultimate billionaire millionaire whatever, the goal isn’t for you to be super super rich, and keep working and being productive and making money, and sending your kid to some random person to raise your kid. Isn’t the goal to be super super rich so you don’t have to put your kid into school? 

And this is the hilarious irony; we treat our children like economic goods. We think it is more effective that we try to spend our money to put our kids into daycare in order for us to work, in order to pay for the daycare. But the true ideal is to be able to quit your job or not work, in order to take care of your kid 24/7. 

Do most parents not prefer to spend 100% of their time with their kids? 

I think this is also where the cult of individualism is bad; I think nowadays when I observe, most people would actually not prefer to spend that much time with their kids. I think they like to spend some time with their kids, but not all their time with their kids. 

For myself, I would prefer to spend all day with Seneca. The only nuance is I like having the mornings to do a morning walk, workout, etc.… but besides that, to be with Seneca all day every day is my greatest joy. 

Should I make my own school?

I have a funny vision for a school; the basic idea is that all these kids, will be the ultimate free range kids, never forced to be indoors all day. Which is insanely depressing. And also poor for their health.

In fact, one of the things that I’ve discovered my friends have misery with is that they are always sick, their kids are always sick, because childcare centers, schools, even Montessori centers are just like breeding grounds for sickness and disease.

And also, the pernicious economic; apparently will still send their kids to school, or a daycare, even if the kid is coughing and sick; incentive in the motive is they don’t want to have to take care of their kid when they have all this work to do.

Avoid sick people

Nietzsche said something interesting in his unpublished manuscript, The Will To Power. What he said was for a future society, the irony is not for us to spend resources and devotion to tending to the sick, the unwell etc.… Rather, to create a greater divide and chasm between the healthy and the sick. 

Your first critical task is to take care of your child, your son, your wife etc. To have to care for other peoples kids, or “society“ in the generalized sense, makes no sense.

How was Marcus Aurelius raised?

Private tutors. Or a single private tutor?

If you were the emperor, you’re not putting your child or son in a basic ass school. Even Aristotle was the private tutor of Alexander the great.

So if you’re a child, if you consider your child the chosen one, or insanely great, certainly you would not subject your child to some basic ass education.

 even Marcus Aurelius, in his meditations talks about the gratitude he has towards his private tutors, and his father.

I suppose the difficulty here is that certainly we want our children to become great. But even Marcus Aurelius.,. his own son became a degenerate. So I suppose the optimization here is if you have the greatest blessing that your first kid was a son, you devote all resources to prime him to be 100% the best. 

More than 1 kid?

I’ve always had a vision of having two kids, our first kid being a boy or a son… And having a younger sister. Just like me and my sister Anna who I love to death. Even though  I have unconditional love and devotion to my mom, nowadays, I’ve been finding a natural propensity to engage more with my sister, through regular FaceTime calls, spending time together, and also having the privilege of Seneca to spend time with her.

Because we have to think about the future in the future generations. While our parents are critical, they are not the most important thing. Our children are, as well as our siblings, especially if they have incoming children as well.

Your kids, your siblings kids, the future?

I feel bad for all these people who end up having dogs not children … Sooner or later, your dog is going to die. Before you. You cannot leave behind your wealth to a dog.

I think this is fine, it is totally fine that some people don’t wanna have kids whatever. But when people give me that propaganda or that insane foolishness that kids are bad for the planet, nobody ever says that dogs are bad for the planet and society.

Let us consider all the harm that dogs do on the planet; the primary one is that the defecate everywhere, and even though 99% of owners are good and clean it up, the one percent of random dog poo on the streets makes it all not worth it.

Anti dogs?

What is one thing you’re not allowed to say nowadays? “I hate dogs”. It is almost like saying I hate Asians or Korean people. Although it is seems to be OK to hate on loud and rich mainland Chinese tourists.

Back to sleep

The weird thing in today’s world, is that our ideal is to become a robot. A robot that doesn’t need to sleep, and just be productive all day?

Very bizarre.

Let us consider, just read the Iliad… After a long day of hard work and warfare and combat… Both sides retire, feast on oxen, and all go to sleep.  even the gods, every single night, they retired to their immortal beds, and go to sleep!

Can you imagine, if Zeus, before going to sleep, stressed out but some sort of worked deadline, and drink caffeine or coffee or Red Bull to do an all nighter to finish some sort of meaningless task? No!

Also, the ancient greets, and even in times of battle, it seem like it was an unwritten rule that when the sunset, everyone would just lie down their arms, and then stop fighting, and just feast! There is even some stories of some soldiers, on opposite size, when the sun would go down, they will go down to the other side, and party with the other side?

War, warfare is meaningless 

Nobody likes war, nobody likes fighting, nobody likes killing, and nobody wants to be killed.

Even in the Iliad… Both sides wanted the war to be over. And it could have been over, if one of the goddesses didn’t pick up Paris in the middle of the fight. 

This is an interesting thing… Apparently in ancient times, there was this thing that if there was some sort of war, with no one inside, there would be the simple thing; you take your best fighter, I take my best fighter, we let them battle to the death, and then we just let it end!

Even in the movie Troy –one of the opening scenes in which Achilles squares off, 1v1 against that one bald steroid giant. The fight should’ve been over there and then…

The problem nowadays?

Propaganda from the media, on both sides, the middle, all of it is bad and toxic.

We tend to vilify this amorphus other;  for example, we liberals and Democrats pink Donald Trump as Hitler 2.0, and right wing conservatives as a bunch of insane neo-Nazis with guns etc. And then the right vilifies left for being a bunch of “libtards” who care about the alphabet soup and LGBTQ rights, and that were messing up our children etc.

But the thing that we do not do is engage ourselves, mano a mano, face-to-face, to another human being and have an intelligent talk.

I’ve met all human beings, radical progressive right left center mid left mid right etc.… And honestly, at all end of the day, we all want the same thing! We want love, we want to be loved, we want to be happy! Who doesn’t?

This is where it is wise to put away your phones, nowadays the iPhone is ultimate weapon. The weapon against your mind and your soul. 

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What else?

I think this is pretty radical. Because it up ends the whole ethos a modern day capitalism and consumerism.

Let us notice this weird equation; you work yourself to death, to make money and more money… And use that money to do the pain through sex drugs traveling, EDM festivals, whatever. And then you continue the cycle, until you end up destroying your body your mind your soul etc.

What is the purpose of a single individual human being?

The very simple one: have a child, at least one, maybe two, maybe more if you have the chance. 

Nowadays, my new measure of wealth is whenever I meet people, seeing how many children they got, how many sons, how many grandchildren etc.

And it is not even a money thing;  if you can make your own football team or your own soccer team with all your kids, isn’t this the ultimate joy?

How many kids is enough?

If you think about the ultimate expression of understanding humanity, ideally you would have at least one son and one daughter, in order to test and understand your social logical and biological theories about life and humanity.

I think the issue here is that a lot of philosophers philosophies about human nature, without having children’s themselves. What does that means is that their philosophy is fake, not grounded in reality or lived experiences.

For example, men, who do not have at least one son to bear their name… A tragedy.

Think ancient Sparta

What I find so fascinating is that Sparta was a real place, real men real people —  and the movie 300 was actually quite historical; a lot of the quotes are directly from the history books!

And also, the simple philosophies behind it:

1. Keep a nation nation state small, and have men defend it, with their own shield and sword

2. They do not create aggression on other nations states, or metal in the behaviors or the politics of other nations. You just want to be kept alone, you don’t want to bother nobody else, but conversely… You don’t want to be bothered.

Don’t be bothered by others, but also do not allow other people to bother you.

Military discipline

A lot of these new modern day podcasts and ideas on how to be a macho man I find a little bit lacking. A lot of people turn the notion of discipline to be this weird Christian self sacrificial thing. I don’t.

What does it mean to be “disciplined”? It is to be simple, direct, not distracted. Not making the modus operandi of your life purchasing new things, whether there be cars homes real estate, single-family homes condos, articles of clothing, Teslas, iPhone pros etc.

And actually… where bitcoin has given me some spartan discipline; it has actually made me more frugal, more simple, more reticent to spending money. 

Why? I will follow all access cash on hand to purchasing more bitcoin indefinitely. I would even prefer to funnel an additional $10 into bitcoin, rather than buying some loser article of clothing.

And actually… If you really did think about being greedy, being a Scrooge, or be addicted to money and wealth… The goal is to make money don’t spend it. This is why the true capitalist should actually look more Spartan in nature;  using all of their excess cash reserves for investing in buying bitcoin, never spending any money on a brand new car, $50,000 into bitcoin is 1 trillion times better than buying any new loser vehicle. Even if you’re a billionaire… The goal isn’t to buy a McLaren, a Lamborghini, a Ferrari whatever… It is to just buy more bitcoin! Even if you’re already a billionaire, rather than putting $1 million into a Bugatti, you buy $1 million more bitcoin! Super simple!

Hedonism is the enemy

Hedonism, hedonic pleasure through your penis, your vagina, your clitoris, your butt hole, your mouth your hands, your skin your body etc. Or your mind, your soul, your nose your ears your head your brain whatever.

Certainly pleasure is a good thing; but I think the problem is when we make pleasure maximization our sole life goal,  this is insanely foolish. Thus all these millennials who just want to travel to Japan, eat Omakase sushi, not be tied down by children etc.  and if you were really smart, you would not want to be tied down by a dog, which requires a lot of maintenance when you travel, putting your dog into a hotel is very expensive, almost $80 a night!

How many millennials regretted adopting their dog during Covid, now that they have another life form to take care of until they die?

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The future?

The future life, the future of humanity… Isn’t this the goal?

ERIC

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Just leave them alone!

OK, some thoughts about the whole LGBTQ stuff; just leave people alone! Why do you care if they like butt holes, or not? If nobody is forcing your penis into a butt hole, why do you care?

If you don’t like looking at it… Just look away!

If you don’t like what they’re doing the schools, but you don’t have kids yourself… You have nowhere to have an opinion!

Also, if you do have kids, and you don’t like what the school is doing… Just take them out and put them somewhere else. Super easy.

I don’t know why people don’t take practical action, they just like to comment and complain on the sidelines.

Simple thoughts about Spartan training:

1. See how much you can walk around all day, with your 60 pound weight vest on. Also vibram five fingers.
2. Maximum time in the sun and the element; just put on sunscreen and put a sun hat on! The wide room in front, and the neck protector in the back.
3. Make your primary joy the joy of training, weightlifting in specific.
4. What would a spartan do? Eyes bright, never hide.

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Price formation always happens between two extremes

Demand price vs supply price

I suppose the reason why bitcoin will be such a great idea is because the supply is capped at 21 million coins, which means that when people slowly start waking up, it will be the ultimate desired digital property and asset and money.

If you never intend to sell… Why does short term prices matter?

The same thing with houses; I don’t know anybody who checks their value of their home price on Zillow every single day.

Obtain

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Only men who are scared of their own masculinity, or maybe they are closet gay, hate on gay men?

I am 100% heterosexual straight man, like an arrow. I have nothing but love for gay people!

Therefore, my simple thought is why would any man hate or despise gay men who are obviously flamboyant gay?

Are you afraid of a getting a boner from a gay man? Is that your fear? 

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“Too big” is bad.

I think the reason why I Seneca likes the Tesla model y so much is that he thinks it is the right size. 

Seneca is smart; he knows that these other SUVs are “too big“

.

Metallic money is good because of its high divisibility — even better with bitcoin, which could be just a few Satoshi’s? Just one Satoshi or two Satoshi, or 10 Satoshis?

.

 metallic money has greater stability

Further your economic purposes

Low cost of preservation

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We all know that phones are the future… Ain’t nobody gonna hold bars of gold in their pocket. Then, doesn’t bitcoin in a digital wallet in your iPhone make the most sense?

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Transform perishable wealth into metallic money

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Measure of value versus store of value?

Economic form of money

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Difficult to ascertain the genuineness and the degree of fineness — for example with the gold coin, how do you really know it is 100% pure gold?

Smelting?

.

Stamp is proof

Coining the metal

We don’t have to give proof

Is money even a commodity?

L

Indeed, it was finally declared to be something entirely imaginary resting solely on human convenience.

Money is imaginary, in our imagination in our mind… Simply a convenience thing?

.

Debasing, debasement of the currency 

Exactness; it can never be 100% exact

Bitcoin is mathematically and crypto graphically 100% exact

Study Math?

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In Vietnam, when there is no exact change, they just give you candy?