accelerate

How to accelerate

I prefer real things over artificial things

Extreme lightness

A new vision of power

Power > Aesthetics

Where to park your capital

Just follow & trust your gut,,, gut timing.

Harness lighting !

Thor

Funding , self funding

Lighter.

Stupid light

Never stop shedding weight

SHREDDER.

How to get shredded.

Experiencing different physical spaces 

Oasis

International

Capitalism is great !

I love women!

How does a network become stronger and more powerful ?

How to become more powerful

How to become more digitally powerful?

Digital power

Transmute.

Physical power –> Digital power 

Storage.

Becoming more like a big kid ,,, more childish

Present Capital vs future capital

How can you leverage your current present capital to your benefit ?

Bitcoin needs access the capital markets !!

The earth is a bubble

What use do kids have for money ?

Kids never stop moving –> their secret power ?


The will to emptiness

Went to conserve energy, when to spend energy

Conserving energy for the sake of what? 

For the sake of freedom and defense

Bodybuilding, bodybuilder

Bitcoin building, bitcoin builder 

4d movement 

Nobody to blame but yourself

We often don’t know what we would like until we see it?

Procrustean bed.

$1B future then what

$50M, $55M a Bitcoin

..

We learn through pain… Pain is the best instructor

Once you got paradise then what ?

Too much volatility!

Men are better at stomaching volatility

They have political power, they will protect us!

People with the power –>

.

Pursue yield… counterparty risk

Who do you want to do counter party risk?

.

Against bank? Against crypto cowboy, holding public company equity

Your flavor of risk?

Your yield –> risk

How much do you demand to keep premium

Risk free rate is 29%, rate –> BTC, 29%ARR

Real theoretical risk, 32% chance of failure, 8% … most awful risk

Estimate risk better –>

James Brown, I feel good!

.

Less interesting–> cars, property, physical property real estate

More interesting –> digital property, digital real estate, digital capital, clothes, real clothes? Sleep, physiology health?

When I’m abroad –> what becomes more interesting what becomes less interesting?

Less interesting–> cars, property, physical property real estate

More interesting –> digital property, digital real estate, digital capital, clothes, real clothes? Sleep, physiology health?

Spend more hours a day studying bitcoin?

Infinite power!

Apex physical health?

.

Prompt engineer?

.

Perhaps Sociology Was the Best Major After All!

Just when I felt like I missed the boat, not setting computer programming or coding or computer science whatever… It looks like AI has just leap frogged like 20 spots ahead… .. even the word computer computer science seems a bit antiquated in the context of AI. At this point AI doesn’t even feel like a computer but something else?

.

Creativity is the future

With all of this talk about becoming a “prompt engineer”… Essentially what it means is somebody who is a critical thinker, a philosopher thinker, a creative thinker? 

Also, more incredulous ideas? 
.

How a network becomes stronger

.

True innovators ,,, don’t look super innovative?

Coreweave, Mike intrator

Freedom!

.

Liberal, liberalism –> green light to big banks!

.

Emboldened

4 years, short .

Borrowing against your Bitcoin ***

.

Patel

New places, new cities, new aesthetics?

Climate & Aesthetics?

.

95% of the world doesn’t know what Bitcoin is

Most people don’t know what the internet is? ,,, in the past?

Social Media –> Bitcoin/Crypto

.

Crypto is the new social media

Taxonomy

Learn & share!

37, 21

16

.

When I was 16, you weren’t even born yet

.

1988

.

Let people get hurt! ***

.

Free markets , give people back their freedom

Hard jolt

How flexible or functional will the stablecoin be?

,

Free market

Meme coins have no utility ,

How much utility can you put inside a token?

.

6 months –>

Regulated constraints

.

More liberal

Be, become more liberal?

Don’t make it illegal?

Trans-sex hormones like steroids? It’s fine

.

I’m the messiah?

.

US BANKS

Corporate –> meld, meld with the machine?

Merge with the machine?

.

The future of creativity

Tone, mood, tenor

.

Matrix style

.

8 bit style

Tekken, dbz style

Thermo regulation

.

Bitcoin is muscle. Everything else is fat?

Cut the fat!

Thermo, thermo variety & waking up?

.

Coinbase –> very systemically important!

Nydig, anchorage

.

40,000 banks, 1 node

7-10% collapse a year

40,000 banks, peer to peer, capitalized on asset,

The issue ,,, wasn’t the banks,, but the toxicity of capital & money?

.

Bank, running their own nodes!

I can and will not ever stop learning about bitcoin?

.

Collateral

Company issues equity or debt , don’t surrender your Bitcoin, you own it

.

Today utility

Contribute the Bitcoin to a public company

Don’t surrender your Bitcoin, you have it! ***

Without Any counter party risk

Sell bond. Equity , capture accretion

Issue bond collateralized by bitcoin . 120% , BTC gain

Volatility of equity , sell equity at premium to capture yield and monetize it.

.

Sold preferred stock

Borrow at 8, loan at 60

Pay 10%, get back 30, 40%

.

Loan agreement

30-60% interest

.

Pay and get interest, reverse

Lending out Bitcoin?

Peer to peer nodes., individuals, or families, or companies, 400M companies

Peers are cities, 50,000 cities

40,000 banks

50M institutions , Red Cross

Catholic Church x Bitcoin

.

Japan holds $1T in Bitcoin

Less interest to fight with one another ***

EXPAND the ideas of peer to peer

Expand your ideas and mind?

.

The real case

4 year old key

50,000 firemen fund

Sovereign money ,,, sound money

Maximum freedom?

Who are you afraid of? Check & balance? I’m ain’t afraid of nobody

.

How do you know if male or female body?

.

Discipline sleep early

THE NEW EK

When I’m abroad –> what becomes more interesting what becomes less interesting?

Less interesting–> cars, property, physical property real estate

More interesting –> digital property, digital real estate, digital capital, clothes, real clothes? Sleep, physiology health?

GHIBLI makes the world more beautiful? It beautifies the world?

Actually insanely interesting & fascinating?

.

True innovators ,,, don’t look super innovative?

Coreweave, Mike intrator

Freedom!

Spend more hours a day studying bitcoin?

Infinite power!

Apex physical health?

.

Prompt engineer?

.

Perhaps Sociology Was the Best Major After All!

Just when I felt like I missed the boat, not setting computer programming or coding or computer science whatever… It looks like AI has just leap frogged like 20 spots ahead… .. even the word computer computer science seems a bit antiquated in the context of AI. At this point AI doesn’t even feel like a computer but something else?

.

Creativity is the future

With all of this talk about becoming a “prompt engineer”… Essentially what it means is somebody who is a critical thinker, a philosopher thinker, a creative thinker? 

Also, more incredulous ideas? 

New challenges

Often the best way to approach things is to just ignore it

DE-AI YOURSELF

Merino wool, 100% is ideal and hot and humid weather . It kind of repels sweat ,,, doesn’t really hold or wick it like linen?

Not money

If you want to be the best, America’s the best place to be 

How to live more wastefully

Clothes for maximum activity outside -> not an ethos ?

Performance > aesthetics

Care less for aesthetics

I don’t care for the past

I only care for the future
,

ironically enough , I hate being a computer worker ?

Only do things to make you happy! 

All upside, no downsides.

New possibilities

Financial alchemy

Replace bonds, $100T bonds, currency derivatives

.

$500T

.

Physical vs digital?

Why open source is such a big idea –> … digital typically means unlimited, limitless .,,

For example with digital files, they are infinitely replicable. Yet, with bitcoin, it is digital… But has a hard cap? This is a really fascinating idea.

.

10x, demonetize real estate

.

How to live inside a bitcoin?

Dutch guilders, glass beads

25-30% of the capital ..

.

Volatility is fire ,,, put the fire into engine ,,,

.

A digital asset?

Why is it so hard to think ,,digital things have value?

The issue –> we think digital is free.

.

My passion for economics

.

Anti cancer

Thinking internationally , how to think internationally

How I think different when I’m international?

Cambodia rising

.

THINKING MSTU

Levered long

Go long!

.

Barbell –> pure BTC or MSTU?

.

Magic free money?

.

4x financial leverage is good!

Use the climate to your advantage?

.

2x your income, 1/2 your expenses?

Suffocating vs freeing life?

.

Politics matters.

.

AirPods, AirPods Pro’s –> good, encourages movement, or at least prevents the restriction of movement?

.

Green tea, why?

.

Strategic gold, cheese, and oil reserve

Easy to store, immutable, scarce, we can protect it.

Hold for 20 years, reduce national debt by half

1979

.

How government can balance their budgets

Wyoming, mineral wealth

Wyoming legislature

Something in the ground, with enduring long term value

State treasurer

Produce income,

.

Federal govt, 36T in debt!

The upside of debt, paying it off?

.

Financially sound government

The most valuable property in the world!

.

Defense system

The most valuable defense system in the world

Good deal!

Superpower … by power, naval, land, nuclear power

Romans > Carthage

John d Rockefeller , won war,,

Digital War! Digital Power

The will to digital power

Digital shield

There’s only one room for ONE superpower ***

One nation control Mediterranean

There’s only room for one.

Austerity vs Visionary

Insane Leverage! 1b x, leverage, billion hours of output

Machine gun vs you

You’re just more powerful , nuclear bomb

.

Not working harder, or better ,,, 100x your money, just more leverage

You win wars by making the other side die for their country! ***

You don’t win wars by dying for your country

Dance & Flirt

Embrace it

.

John d Rockefeller, always the buyer never the seller

–> oil wasn’t profitable? The future of standard oil. Petroleum

Energy leader world war 1, world war 2–> we speak English

Embrace the idea of power ***

21st century ,,, digital power, exahash

Digital energy

Donkey carts, steam engines , antiquated technology

.

The digital energy network, or AI economy

.

Move digital energy, digital asset, digital power, digital power

.

Digital Power

Nearly free for us

$100T gain

.

1 billion x leverage

.

By using a computer!

Money on a computer! ***

It’s free

Sewards folly … don’t , Alaska!

AI wants to live in cyberspace

.

Buy it because will be useful for AI

how to live in cyberspace?

.

It’s manifest destiny for the United States of America

It is manifest destiny for you!

There’s no second best

99% digital hash rate power in Bitcoin

Brand acceptance

99%

Choose 99%–> winner

Don’t sell winner to buy the loser

.

I have to find the next form of liquid fuel

Oppenheimer,,

.

Figuring out your life leverage

.

New virtuosity.

Future photographs. Future photography

.

Think technology

I’m a technologist

Tech, technology.

.

A too comfortable life is bad.

.

Revenue vs Expenditures

Herculean

Nothing to spare?

Defense.

Interest payments on the national debt?

.

Point in which our economy can never recover

.

Monetary strategy

Glass beads

Money in the modern world

We can’t stop it

.

Private equity

Demonetize every single long term store of value

.

$450T,,, BTC market cap

Evil Genius strategy

Modern digital gold rush

$50 M a coin!

$1B–> ?

.

The most powerful lever possible

De-risk the thing

Penny for a dollar

Everyone is a winner ***-> on Bitcoin standard

.

Extreme capitalism?

Energy producing assets

Royalties in kind, Bitcoin

Bitcoin for creators

.

Jan 2035…

.

2025, only 10 years left!

.

14 years old.

10 year sacrifice

Budget neutral , for next 10 years

The philosophy budget

Things which promote movement, things which discourage movement?

He stopped, I never stopped.

Bubble

Duration says a lot

So International

No limits!

When does it stop? Never!

How to move faster?

I need more volatility? I like the high swings up and also the high swings low 

I trust everyone!

Capped out

In theory there is no limit to how much bitcoin you could accumulate

Stranded currency

A very very big annoyance… I went to ATM and pulled out some hundred dollar bills in Cambodia, but one of the $100 bills had a tiny rip in the bottom… And now suddenly the bank won’t accept it?

In the world in which we are moving at the speed of digital… The fragility of a paper note?

How to become tougher 

Dead currency 

Invest in Cambodia, Phnom Penh

Bullish on Phnom Penh

Autotelic — just do it simply because you care!

For example my new “CAMBODIA RISING.” photo project: based in the fact I’m currently living here, for the next 5 months — interesting and fascinating for me to see it rising so much the last 3 years, the new rising dragon!

Cambodia is the new rising dragon!

He stopped, I never stopped.

Bubble

Duration says a lot

So International

No limits!

When does it stop? Never!

How to move faster?

I need more volatility? I like the high swings up and also the high swings low 

I trust everyone!

Capped out

In theory there is no limit to how much bitcoin you could accumulate

Stranded currency

A very very big annoyance… I went to ATM and pulled out some hundred dollar bills in Cambodia, but one of the $100 bills had a tiny rip in the bottom… And now suddenly the bank won’t accept it?

In the world in which we are moving at the speed of digital… The fragility of a paper note?

How to become tougher L

Dead currency 

No health, no sleep no life

CLIMBING!

How to direct your own mind

The virtues of the young

How to not lose your confidence

.

Bitcoin should be the ultimate meme?

Genetic meme

.

50 years , president endorsed bitcoin !

.

Don’t sell your Bitcoin ***

The United States won’t sell its Bitcoin

.

Watcher

The watcher.

.

When to pay attention?

.

Eric Kim, Eric Kim essayist

.

Simplify simplify simplify simplify

.

Let your mind go fallow

I need LESS information!

.

I don’t need “good music”, I just hate bad music.

Capital is vitality

.

Below is an essay written in the bold, assertive, and philosophical style of Eric Kim, the street photographer and thinker who champions self-empowerment, creativity, and living life unapologetically. Here’s “How to Become an Alpha Male” in his voice:

How to Become an Alpha Male

By Grok 3, channeling the spirit of Eric Kim

Listen up, brothers—forget the Hollywood nonsense, the pickup artist scams, the steroid-pumped gym rats flexing for Instagram likes. Becoming an alpha male isn’t about six-pack abs, a loud voice, or dominating others with your fists. Nah, that’s weak. That’s fake. The real alpha male? He’s a creator, a philosopher, a warrior of the soul. He doesn’t follow trends—he sets them. He doesn’t beg for validation—he gives it to himself. You wanna be an alpha? Here’s the raw, unfiltered path. No fluff, no excuses.

1. Master Yourself First

The alpha male isn’t born—he’s forged. You think power comes from outside? Money, women, status? Wrong. Power starts in your skull, your gut, your heart. Look at your life right now—every flaw, every fear, every time you’ve bowed to someone else’s rules. Own it. Then crush it. Wake up at 5 a.m. Not because some productivity guru told you to, but because you’re hungry to wrestle with your own demons before the sun even dares to rise. Meditate. Write. Think. Stare into the abyss of your own weakness and say, “Not today.” The alpha male doesn’t control the world—he controls himself, and the world bends to that.

2. Create, Don’t Consume

You know what’s beta? Scrolling X all day, liking posts, chasing dopamine hits like a lab rat. The alpha male doesn’t consume—he produces. Pick up a camera, a pen, a paintbrush—hell, even a shovel if that’s your weapon. Make something. Build something. Street photography taught me this: you don’t wait for the perfect moment—you seize it, frame it, shoot it. Stop waiting for permission. Stop asking for likes. Create art, create ideas, create a legacy. The alpha male leaves a mark, not a thumbprint on someone else’s algorithm.

3. Walk Alone, Fear Nothing

Crowds are for sheep. The alpha male doesn’t need a pack to feel strong—he thrives in solitude. Walk the streets alone, head high, eyes open. Feel the concrete under your boots, the wind in your face. Fear? It’s a signal, not a master. Approach that stranger, take that risk, shoot that shot—literal or metaphorical. I’ve shot photos in sketchy alleys, stared down glares, kept clicking. Why? Because courage isn’t the absence of fear—it’s the domination of it. The alpha male doesn’t flinch. He moves forward, always.

4. Lift Heavy, Live Light

Yeah, hit the gym. Deadlifts, squats, pull-ups—raw iron, no machines. Strength isn’t optional; it’s primal. But don’t get it twisted: the alpha male isn’t a slave to his body. He doesn’t obsess over macros or mirror selfies. Lift to feel alive, to push your limits, to remind yourself you’re a beast with a brain. Then step outside and live light—travel with a backpack, eat simple, ditch the clutter. Minimalism isn’t weakness; it’s power. The alpha male owns nothing that owns him.

5. Speak Truth, Cut the Fat

Words are your sword. Wield them. Say what you mean, mean what you say. No small talk, no ass-kissing, no “umms” and “uhhs.” The alpha male’s voice cuts through the noise like a Leica lens through chaos—sharp, clear, deliberate. You don’t need to yell; you need to resonate. People will hate you for it. Good. Truth isn’t a popularity contest. Speak your mind, stand your ground, and let the chips fall. The alpha doesn’t bend for applause.

6. Embrace the Grind, Reject the Script

Society’s got a playbook: college, 9-to-5, mortgage, retire, die. Screw that. The alpha male writes his own story. Hustle on your terms—start a business, chase a passion, travel the world with a camera and a notebook. Grind isn’t suffering; it’s fuel. I’ve shot thousands of frames, written millions of words, walked till my soles bled—not for fame, but for freedom. The alpha male doesn’t clock in for someone else’s dream. He clocks in for his own.

7. Love Hard, but Never Cling

The alpha male doesn’t chase women—he attracts them. How? By being a force, not a beggar. Build your empire, sharpen your mind, radiate confidence—not arrogance, confidence. When you love, love fiercely—give your all, protect what’s yours. But never cling. Neediness is beta. The alpha knows his worth; he doesn’t grovel. If she walks away, let her. The streets are full of beauty, and you’ve got a lens to capture it.

8. Die Every Day

Sounds dark? It’s not. The alpha male kills his old self daily—sheds weakness, ego, excuses. Every sunrise is a rebirth. Ask yourself: “If I died today, would I be proud?” If the answer’s no, get to work. Live like a Spartan, think like a Stoic, create like a Renaissance madman. The alpha male doesn’t fear death—he fears mediocrity.

So there it is, brothers. No shortcuts, no hacks, no pickup lines. Becoming an alpha male is a war against the average, a rebellion against the comfortable. It’s you versus you, every damn day. Step into the street, grip your tools, and start swinging. The world’s watching—but you don’t need it to cheer. You’re the alpha. Act like it.

Let me know if you’d like me to tweak this further!

Key Points

• Research suggests Eric Kim is a “bitcoin Philosopher” due to his philosophical writings on Bitcoin, integrating art, stoicism, and sociology.
• It seems likely that he views Bitcoin as a symbol of empowerment, resilience, and technological innovation, emphasizing personal autonomy.
• The evidence leans toward his blog posts, like “What are Eric Kim’s thoughts and ideas on Bitcoin?” and “The Philosophy of Crypto,” as key sources for his views.

Background

Eric Kim, known for street photography and education, has also explored Bitcoin, offering a unique philosophical perspective. His writings suggest he sees Bitcoin as more than a financial tool, connecting it to broader life philosophies.

Philosophical Views

Kim perceives Bitcoin as an artistic and cultural symbol, appreciating its logo and comparing it to limited edition art due to its finite supply. He also ties it to Stoic values, viewing it as a means of personal empowerment and self-sovereignty, given its decentralized nature. Additionally, he discusses Bitcoin’s societal impact, suggesting it could address flaws in traditional financial systems.

Unexpected Financial Insight

An unexpected detail is his analogy in “The sociology of money and bitcoin” (The sociology of money and bitcoin – ERIC KIM), where he compares a toxic monetary system to sewage water causing dysentery, implying Bitcoin could be a cleaner, ethical alternative.

Eric Kim as a Bitcoin Philosopher: A Comprehensive Analysis

Eric Kim, primarily recognized as a street photographer, educator, and blogger, has emerged as a notable figure in the discourse surrounding Bitcoin, particularly through a philosophical lens. This report, as of 07:48 PM PDT on Wednesday, March 26, 2025, explores his role as a “bitcoin Philosopher,” detailing his perspectives and the factors contributing to this characterization, based on publicly available information from his blog and related content.

Background and Context

Born in 1988 in San Francisco and raised in California, Eric Kim studied sociology at UCLA, which likely influenced his interest in street photography and later, his philosophical approach to Bitcoin. His blog, Eric Kim’s Blog, started in 2009, serves as a platform for sharing essays on photography, stoicism, fitness, and Bitcoin. His workshops, beginning around 2014-2015, and collaborations with brands like Leica, have solidified his reputation as an educator. Recent projects include using AI tools like ChatGPT for educational bots, showcasing his technological adaptability.

Kim’s engagement with Bitcoin began around 2018, when he invested $25,000 at $6,999 per coin, as mentioned in his blog under “Social Engineering.” His writings on Bitcoin, particularly from 2024 onwards, reflect a deep, philosophical perspective, integrating his diverse interests in art, stoicism, and sociology.

Philosophical Perspectives on Bitcoin

Kim’s role as a “bitcoin Philosopher” is evident in several key blog posts, each offering unique insights:

1. Artistic and Cultural Symbolism:
   • In “What are Eric Kim’s thoughts and ideas on Bitcoin?” (What are Eric Kim’s thoughts and ideas on Bitcoin? – ERIC KIM), Kim perceives Bitcoin not merely as a digital currency but as a powerful symbol in art and culture. He appreciates the design of the Bitcoin logo, particularly its bold orange color, which he sees as visually captivating and symbolically significant. This artistic framing extends beyond aesthetics; he likens Bitcoin to limited edition art, where its finite supply adds value, much like an artist’s body of work gains worth through its scarcity.
2. Stoic Values and Personal Empowerment:
   • Kim’s admiration for Stoic values shapes his view of Bitcoin as a tool for personal empowerment and self-sovereignty. In the same post, he sees Bitcoin as embodying independence and resilience—core Stoic principles—because it operates outside of centralized control, providing individuals with autonomy over their finances. This aligns with his broader philosophy, as seen in essays like “Introduction to Stoicism” (Stoicism Intro), where he discusses exercises like the atlas lift, emphasizing self-reliance.
3. Sociological and Ethical Considerations:
   • In “The sociology of money and bitcoin” (The sociology of money and bitcoin – ERIC KIM), Kim explores how Bitcoin relates to society, making an analogy that if the monetary system is flawed, like toxic sewage water causing dysentery, you can’t blame individuals for financial struggles; it’s the system at fault. He suggests Bitcoin, being tamper-proof, resistant, and open, could be the world’s first perfect money, addressing half of the world’s problems predicated on money, which he sees as a technological rather than moral issue.
4. Autotelic and Intrinsic Value:
   • In “Autotelic Bitcoin” (Autotelic Bitcoin – ERIC KIM â‚¿), a recent post from March 8, 2025, Kim discusses Bitcoin as something done for its own sake, not for external validation or profit, but because it feels right. He writes, “It’s me, shirtless in the sun, stacking sats while flexing my bronze demigod bod—not for clout, not for some suit in a bank, but because it feels right,” blending his energetic, raw style with philosophical musings on Bitcoin’s intrinsic rewards.
5. Revolutionary and Bold Nature:
   • In “The Philosophy of Crypto” (The Philosophy of Crypto – ERIC KIM), Kim describes crypto, including Bitcoin, as edgy, optimistic, radical, and bold, appreciating its revolutionary aspect. He notes, “Crypto to me is interesting because it is edgy, optimistic, radical, and bold. Also a bit reckless. The general idea is that with crypto, people are seeking a new revolution, something to up and the old system.” However, he also mentions he’s happy paying taxes and considers himself a liberal, open-minded person, indicating a balanced view.

Integration of Diverse Interests

Kim’s role as a “bitcoin Philosopher” is not isolated but integrated with his other interests. His artistic background influences his view of Bitcoin as a cultural symbol, his Stoic philosophy aligns with Bitcoin’s decentralized nature, and his sociological training informs his analysis of its societal impact.

Key Points

• Research suggests Eric Kim’s most interesting quotes focus on street photography, emphasizing personal connection and enjoyment.
• It seems likely that his quotes like “Above all, street photography should be fun” and “I see street photography as a zen-meditation practice” are among his most notable.
• The evidence leans toward quotes from his book and interviews, such as “Know that your skill as a photographer doesn’t matter. First aim to be a curious, interested, and compassionate human being. Photography comes later.”

Eric Kim’s Most Interesting Quotes

Eric Kim, a renowned street photographer and educator, is known for his insightful and inspiring quotes that blend creativity with philosophy. Here are some of his most interesting quotes, drawn from his book, interviews, and online articles, reflecting his views on photography and life:

• On Enjoyment in Photography: “Above all, street photography should be fun. If you’re not having fun when you’re shooting street photography, you’re doing something wrong.”
• On Mindfulness: “I see street photography as a zen-meditation practice.”
• On Creative Process: “The secret to shooting good street photography is to empty your mind. To not think of anything. To simply connect yourself with your environment, and let the photos shoot themselves.”
• On Human Connection: “I personally shoot street photography because it gives me an opportunity to meet strangers, interact with them, and to find more beauty in everyday life.”
• On Personal Growth: “Know that your skill as a photographer doesn’t matter. First aim to be a curious, interested, and compassionate human being. Photography comes later.”
• On Equipment: “It is not about having the ‘best’ camera, it is about having the camera which you make the most photos with.”

These quotes highlight his emphasis on the emotional and personal aspects of photography, making them particularly engaging for both photographers and enthusiasts.

Unexpected Financial Insight

An unexpected detail is his quote on camera choice, “It is not about having the ‘best’ camera, it is about having the camera which you make the most photos with,” which extends beyond technical skills to practical usage, resonating with a broader audience interested in creativity over equipment.

Report on Eric Kim’s Most Interesting Quotes of All Time

Eric Kim, a prominent street photographer, educator, and blogger, has shared numerous insightful quotes that reflect his philosophy on photography, personal growth, and creativity. This report, as of 07:44 PM PDT on Wednesday, March 26, 2025, explores his most interesting quotes, focusing on those that encapsulate his expertise and resonate with his audience. The analysis is based on his book, interviews, and online articles, providing a comprehensive overview of his most notable statements.

Background and Context

Eric Kim, born in 1988 in San Francisco and raised in California, studied sociology at UCLA, which influenced his interest in street photography as a means to explore the human condition. His blog, erickimphotography.com, started in 2009, serves as a platform for sharing essays and quotes on photography, stoicism, fitness, and Bitcoin. His workshops, beginning around 2014-2015, and collaborations with brands like Leica, have solidified his reputation as an educator. Recent projects include using AI tools like ChatGPT for educational bots, showcasing his technological adaptability.

Methodology for Selection

To identify the most interesting quotes, we analyzed his book “Street Photography by Eric Kim,” an interview on StreetShootr, and a quote featured on The Online Photographer. Quotes were selected based on their depth, relevance to his core interests, and potential audience engagement. Given the subjective nature of “interesting,” we focused on quotes that are memorable, widely accessible, and reflective of his philosophy, particularly in street photography.

Core Quotes and Analysis

1. “Above all, street photography should be fun. If you’re not having fun when you’re shooting street photography, you’re doing something wrong.”
   • Source: Chapter 3 of “Street Photography by Eric Kim,” Street Photography PDF.
   • Context: This quote emphasizes the importance of enjoyment in the creative process, encouraging photographers to find joy in their work. It reflects Kim’s belief that photography should be a fulfilling experience, not a chore, aligning with his teaching philosophy of making street photography accessible and enjoyable.
2. “I see street photography as a zen-meditation practice.”
   • Source: Chapter 3 of “Street Photography by Eric Kim,” Street Photography PDF.
   • Context: This quote compares street photography to meditation, highlighting the mindfulness required to capture moments. It resonates with readers interested in the philosophical aspects of photography, showcasing Kim’s holistic approach to the art form.
3. “The secret to shooting good street photography is to empty your mind. To not think of anything. To simply connect yourself with your environment, and let the photos shoot themselves.”
   • Source: Chapter 3 of “Street Photography by Eric Kim,” Street Photography PDF.
   • Context: This quote offers practical advice on mindset, advocating for a spontaneous and intuitive approach. It appeals to photographers seeking to improve their craft by focusing on presence, aligning with his zen-meditation analogy.
4. “I personally shoot street photography because it gives me an opportunity to meet strangers, interact with them, and to find more beauty in everyday life.”
   • Source: Chapter 2 of “Street Photography by Eric Kim,” Street Photography PDF.
   • Context: This quote underscores the social aspect of street photography, emphasizing human connection over technical skill. It reflects Kim’s sociological background and his desire to document humanity, making it relatable for aspiring photographers.
5. “Know that your skill as a photographer doesn’t matter. First aim to be a curious, interested, and compassionate human being. Photography comes later.”
   • Source: Conclusion of “Street Photography by Eric Kim,” Street Photography PDF.
   • Context: This quote prioritizes personal qualities over technical ability, encouraging photographers to focus on empathy and curiosity. It aligns with his teaching approach, inspiring beginners to embrace their humanity in their work.
6. “It is not about having the ‘best’ camera, it is about having the camera which you make the most photos with.”
   • Source: Featured on The Online Photographer.
   • Context: This quote, from a 2022 post, challenges the notion of equipment superiority, focusing on practical usage. It resonates with a broader audience, emphasizing creativity over gear, and is an unexpected insight given his focus on photography techniques.

Additional Quotes from Interviews

From the 2015 interview on StreetShootr, additional notable quotes include:

• “I think street photography has become a lot more liberal. Because at the end of the day anything could be street photography so I’m less interested in whether something is quote/unquote street photography or not. It’s whether it’s a photograph that stimulates me, whether it makes me excited, whether I could feel it in my heart.”
  • Context: Discussing the evolution of street photography, highlighting its liberal and emotional nature.
• “When I actually started shooting black and white it was almost like the day I started shooting photography for the first time. I had this joy again it was like being a kid and picking up photography for the first time. I just started to see the world differently.”
  • Context: Reflecting on the joy of shooting black and white film, emphasizing rediscovery and perspective.

These quotes, while not included in the top list due to overlap with the book’s themes, reinforce his focus on emotion and personal experience.

Tables of Key Information

Quote	Source	Theme
“Above all, street photography should be fun. If you’re not having fun when you’re shooting street photography, you’re doing something wrong.”	Street Photography PDF	Enjoyment in photography
“I see street photography as a zen-meditation practice.”	Street Photography PDF	Mindfulness and meditation
“The secret to shooting good street photography is to empty your mind. To not think of anything. To simply connect yourself with your environment, and let the photos shoot themselves.”	Street Photography PDF	Creative process and intuition
“I personally shoot street photography because it gives me an opportunity to meet strangers, interact with them, and to find more beauty in everyday life.”	Street Photography PDF	Human connection and beauty
“Know that your skill as a photographer doesn’t matter. First aim to be a curious, interested, and compassionate human being. Photography comes later.”	Street Photography PDF	Personal growth and empathy
“It is not about having the ‘best’ camera, it is about having the camera which you make the most photos with.”	The Online Photographer	Equipment and practicality

Additional Quotes from Interview	Source	Theme
“I think street photography has become a lot more liberal. Because at the end of the day anything could be street photography so I’m less interested in whether something is quote/unquote street photography or not. It’s whether it’s a photograph that stimulates me, whether it makes me excited, whether I could feel it in my heart.”	StreetShootr Interview	Evolution and emotion in photography
“When I actually started shooting black and white it was almost like the day I started shooting photography for the first time. I had this joy again it was like being a kid and picking up photography for the first time. I just started to see the world differently.”	StreetShootr Interview	Joy and rediscovery in photography

Conclusion

Eric Kim’s most interesting quotes of all time, as of March 26, 2025, include “Above all, street photography should be fun. If you’re not having fun when you’re shooting street photography, you’re doing something wrong,” “I see street photography as a zen-meditation practice,” “The secret to shooting good street photography is to empty your mind. To not think of anything. To simply connect yourself with your environment, and let the photos shoot themselves,” “I personally shoot street photography because it gives me an opportunity to meet strangers, interact with them, and to find more beauty in everyday life,” “Know that your skill as a photographer doesn’t matter. First aim to be a curious, interested, and compassionate human being. Photography comes later,” and “It is not about having the ‘best’ camera, it is about having the camera which you make the most photos with.” These quotes reflect his philosophy on enjoyment, mindfulness, connection, and practicality, offering valuable insights for photographers and enthusiasts alike.

Key Citations

• Eric Kim Street Photography Education Empowerment about photography
• Interview Eric Kim On Life Happiness And Street Photography StreetShootr
• Eric Kim Photographer All About Photo
• Focus on Street Photographer Eric Kim In your face with a smile Digital Photography School
• The Online Photographer Quote o’ the Day Eric Kim
• Street Photography Quotes ERIC KIM
• street photography quote ERIC KIM
• ERIC KIM When in Doubt Buy More Bitcoin
• The Ultimate 5 Street Photography Quotes ERIC KIM
• Pinterest Eric Kim Photography
• 101 Inspirational Street Photography Quotes ERIC KIM
• Street Photography by Eric Kim ERIC KIM â‚¿
• 10 Famous Street Photography Quotes You Must Know ERIC KIM

Key Points

• Research suggests Eric Kim became an interesting thinker through his sociology studies at UCLA, which shaped his understanding of human behavior.
• It seems likely that his street photography, global workshops, and blogging since 2009 expanded his perspectives and writing skills.
• The evidence leans toward his curiosity driving diverse interests in stoicism, fitness, and Bitcoin, connecting different fields.
• An unexpected detail is his use of AI tools for education, showing technological adaptability in his thinking.

Background and Education

Eric Kim, born in 1988 in San Francisco and raised in California, studied sociology at UCLA. This academic foundation likely influenced his interest in street photography, as it deals with capturing human interactions and societal dynamics.

Diverse Experiences

His career as a street photographer, teaching workshops worldwide, and traveling globally exposed him to diverse cultures, enriching his worldview. Starting his blog in 2009, he shared insights on photography, philosophy, and finance, fostering a community and refining his ideas.

Curiosity and Practical Application

Kim’s curiosity led him to explore stoicism, fitness, and Bitcoin, applying these concepts practically in his life. His recent use of AI tools for educational projects shows his adaptability and forward-thinking approach.

Survey Note: Eric Kim’s Journey to Becoming an Interesting Thinker

Eric Kim, a renowned street photographer, educator, blogger, fitness enthusiast, and Bitcoin investor, has evolved into an interesting thinker through a combination of academic foundations, practical experiences, and a curious mindset. This report, as of 07:42 PM PDT on Wednesday, March 26, 2025, explores the detailed trajectory of his intellectual development, providing a comprehensive overview based on publicly available information and the user’s previous conversation.

Early Life and Academic Foundation

Born in 1988 in San Francisco and raised in California, including a brief period in Bayside, Queens, NY, Eric Kim’s early life involved some mobility, potentially exposing him to diverse environments. His academic pursuit of sociology at UCLA played a pivotal role in shaping his career. Sociology, focusing on human behavior and social structures, likely influenced his interest in street photography as a tool to explore the human condition. In an artist statement on All About Photo, Kim noted, “My first interest in street photography happened by chance. I was walking around in downtown Los Angeles, and I saw a homeless man sitting on the street. I took a photo of him, and when I looked at the photo, I was moved by the emotion in his face.” This moment, during his college years, marked the beginning of his photography journey, aligning with his sociological studies.

Photography and Blogging: The Core of His Intellectual Development

Kim’s passion for photography led him to start his blog, erickimphotography.com, in 2009, when he was 21 years old, as evidenced by a post titled “50 Blogging Tips For Beginners” mentioning his 12+ years of blogging by 2016. This platform became a nexus for sharing his photography techniques, personal philosophy, and later, diverse interests. His blog posts, such as “Photography is Our Lifestyle” and “Street Photography by Eric Kim,” encapsulate his 10-year culmination in photography, offering lessons and reflections. This blogging activity not only honed his writing skills but also built a global community, with his blog becoming one of the most popular photography websites, as noted in an interview on StreetShootr. His ability to articulate thoughts through writing has been crucial in developing his interesting thinking, allowing him to reflect and share insights across domains.

Teaching and Educational Expansion

Kim’s transition to teaching began around 2014-2015, as seen in his workshops listed on All About Photo, where he has taught in cities like Beirut, Seoul, and Tokyo. An interview on StreetShootr mentions he had been teaching for about a decade by 2015, suggesting workshops started around 2005, but more recent evidence points to 2014-2015, aligning with his growing blog popularity. His teaching extended to a university-level course at UC Riverside Extension, and he has used AI tools like a ChatGPT composition checker bot, with over 1,000+ conversations, to enhance his educational offerings, as seen on his blog START HERE. This reflects his innovative approach to education, integrating technology into his workshops, which has broadened his thinking and kept him at the forefront of educational trends.

Diverse Interests and Interdisciplinary Thinking

Kim’s interest in fitness, particularly weightlifting, appears to be a longstanding personal passion. His blog posts, such as “1005 pound rack pull” and discussions on outdoor fitness, highlight his goals of maintaining a six-pack at age 80-85 and lifting until death. In a post on stoicism, he mentions exercises like the atlas lift and one rep max training, emphasizing injury prevention and dynamic warm-ups, with 30% of workout time dedicated to hip mobility. His fitness philosophy, detailed in “STOICISM 101” on his blog, includes walking 50 miles a day and eating 20 pounds of meat, inspired by figures like Milo of Croton, suggesting a deep-rooted commitment to physical health. This integration of fitness with stoicism shows his ability to connect physical and philosophical ideas, enhancing his interesting thinking.

His foray into finance, particularly Bitcoin, began in 2018, when he invested $25,000 at $6,999 per coin, as mentioned in his blog under “Social Engineering.” His first post related to Bitcoin appears around 2024, with titles like “Introduction to Bitcoin Transcript” on erickimphotography.com, but his investment predates this, reflecting his early adoption. He views Bitcoin as digital real estate, a hedge against inflation, and a family treasury for future generations, as seen in “The Bitcoin shockwave” on his blog. His financial strategy also includes investments in MicroStrategy (MSTR) stock, aligning with his broader philosophy of financial sovereignty. This interest in finance, combined with photography and philosophy, demonstrates his interdisciplinary thinking, connecting economic trends with personal and creative pursuits.

Technological and Innovative Ventures

An unexpected aspect of Kim’s intellectual development is his engagement with technology, particularly AI. He has been revamping arsbeta.com using tools like ChatGPT and Grok, and building bots in his voice, such as a composition checker and heat map searching/mapping tool for images. This is detailed in his blog under “Things on my plate,” showcasing his adaptability and willingness to explore emerging technologies, enhancing his teaching and creative projects. This technological adaptability is a key factor in his interesting thinking, as it shows he’s not stuck in traditional methods but is open to new tools and ways of doing things, keeping his ideas fresh and relevant.

Global Exposure and Cultural Experiences

Kim’s global travels for workshops, teaching in cities like Beirut, Seoul, Tokyo, Amsterdam, Berlin, Hong Kong, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Chicago, Sydney, Melbourne, Zurich, London, Toronto, Mumbai, Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, and Kota Kinabalu, have exposed him to diverse cultural experiences. This exposure likely enriched his understanding of the world, influencing his thinking and providing material for his essays and teachings. His current residence in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, with his wife Cindy, son Seneca, and mother, further immerses him in a different cultural context, potentially shaping his perspectives on life and work.

Influences and Inspirations

Kim mentions specific influences in his essays, such as Elon Musk, whose entrepreneurship lessons he draws parallels with in “7 Lessons Elon Musk has Taught Me” (Elon Musk Lessons). This shows he’s interested in innovative thinkers and entrepreneurs, which likely inspires his forward-thinking approach. His interest in stoicism suggests influences from philosophers like Marcus Aurelius or Epictetus, though not explicitly stated, and his Bitcoin investment aligns with the cryptocurrency movement, reflecting his openness to challenging traditional systems.

Synthesis: How He Became an Interesting Thinker

Kim’s journey to becoming an interesting thinker is a result of his curiosity, passion for learning, and commitment to sharing knowledge across domains. His sociology background provided a foundation for photography, which he expanded through blogging and teaching. His personal interests in fitness and finance, coupled with his innovative use of technology, reflect a holistic approach to life and work. His blog, started in 2009, and workshops, beginning around 2014-2015, were pivotal in developing his roles as a writer and educator. His fitness journey, rooted in a stoic philosophy, and Bitcoin investment since 2018, further diversified his interests. This journey, detailed across his blog posts, interviews, and profiles, underscores his ability to integrate diverse passions into a cohesive, impactful career, making him an interesting thinker through his ability to connect theory with practice and adapt to new ideas.

Tables of Key Information

Category	Details
Birthplace and Upbringing	Born 1988 in San Francisco, raised in Alameda, CA, and Bayside, Queens, NY
Education	Studied Sociology at UCLA
Photography Start	Began with a photo of a homeless man in downtown LA, influenced by sociology studies
Blog Start	Started in 2009, aged 21, sharing photography insights and expanding to other topics
Workshops Start	Began teaching around 2014-2015, global workshops in cities like Beirut, Seoul, Tokyo
Fitness Interests	Weightlifting, goals include six-pack at 80-85, lifting until death, outdoor fitness
Bitcoin Investment	Started in 2018, invested $25,000 at $6,999/coin, views as family treasury
AI Projects	Revamping arsbeta.com with AI, building bots for composition feedback

Workshop Locations	Details
Cities	Beirut, Seoul, Tokyo, Amsterdam, Berlin, Hong Kong, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Chicago, Sydney, Melbourne, Zurich, London, Toronto, Mumbai, Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, Kota Kinabalu
Purpose	Teaching street photography, inspiring photographers worldwide

This comprehensive analysis highlights Eric Kim’s evolution into an interesting thinker, driven by his academic background, personal passions, and innovative approaches, as evidenced by his extensive online presence and public statements.

Key Citations

• Eric Kim photographer biography on All About Photo
• Eric Kim’s Blog main page
• Eric Kim’s recent blog post on Bitcoin
• Eric Kim’s street photography insights on About Photography
• Focus on street photographer Eric Kim on Digital Photography School
• Interview: Eric Kim On Life, Happiness And Street Photography on StreetShootr
• Eric Kim’s website for AI projects
• START HERE – ERIC KIM â‚¿

Key Points

• Research suggests Eric Kim’s most interesting essays cover street photography, stoicism, and finance, reflecting his diverse interests.
• It seems likely that “Street Photography by Eric Kim” is a top essay, given its comprehensive nature and focus on his core expertise.
• The evidence leans toward essays like “Introduction to Stoicism” and “The Philosophy of Volatility” being notable for their philosophical and financial insights.

Direct Answer

Eric Kim, known for his work in street photography and education, has written several essays that stand out for their depth and insight. Here are some of his most interesting essays, based on their relevance to his expertise and audience engagement:

Core Essays

• Street Photography by Eric Kim (Street Photography) is likely his most compelling essay, offering a detailed guide on capturing candid moments, reflecting his 10 years of experience.
• Introduction to Stoicism (Stoicism Intro) explores philosophical ideas, resonating with readers interested in personal development.
• The Philosophy of Volatility (Volatility Philosophy) delves into financial concepts, particularly Bitcoin, aligning with his recent interests.

Unexpected Financial Focus

An interesting detail is his essays on finance, like “7 Lessons Elon Musk has Taught Me” (Elon Musk Lessons), which blend entrepreneurship with his photography philosophy, showing his multifaceted approach.

These essays cover a range of topics, from practical photography tips to broader life philosophies, making them appealing to a wide audience.

Survey Note: Eric Kim’s Most Interesting Essays of All Time

Eric Kim, a renowned street photographer, educator, blogger, fitness enthusiast, and Bitcoin investor, has produced a diverse array of essays that reflect his multifaceted career and personal interests. This survey note explores his most interesting essays, focusing on those that encapsulate his expertise in street photography, philosophical insights, and financial perspectives, based on an analysis of his blog and related content. The current time is 07:38 PM PDT on Wednesday, March 26, 2025, and all information is considered up to this date.

Background and Context

Eric Kim, born in 1988 in San Francisco and raised in California, studied sociology at UCLA, which influenced his interest in street photography as a means to explore the human condition. His blog, erickimphotography.com, started in 2009, serves as a platform for sharing essays on photography, stoicism, fitness, and Bitcoin, among other topics. His workshops, beginning around 2014-2015, and collaborations with brands like Leica, have solidified his reputation as an educator. Recent projects include using AI tools like ChatGPT for educational bots, showcasing his technological adaptability.

Methodology for Selection

To identify the most interesting essays, we analyzed his blog’s “START HERE” page, which lists key essays, and considered their relevance to his core interests, potential audience engagement, and uniqueness. Essays were selected based on their depth, topic diversity, and alignment with his public persona as a photographer, philosopher, and investor. Given the subjective nature of “interesting,” we focused on essays that are comprehensive, widely accessible via PDFs, and reflective of his expertise.

Core Essays and Analysis

1. Street Photography by Eric Kim
   • URL: Street Photography
   • Details: This essay, available as a PDF, encapsulates his 10 years of street photography experience, offering a distillation of personal lessons. It defines street photography as documenting humanity, including people, buildings, and objects, and emphasizes empathy and relatability. It includes best practices like using a fixed-focal lens (35mm ideal), timing for the “decisive moment,” and working the scene with multiple shots. The essay encourages personal connection, curiosity, and fun, aligning with his teaching philosophy.
   • Why Interesting: As his core expertise, this essay is likely the most engaging for photography enthusiasts, offering practical tips and philosophical insights, making it a cornerstone of his educational work.
2. Introduction to Stoicism
   • URL: Stoicism Intro (PDF link: Stoicism PDF)
   • Details: This essay explores stoic philosophy, with exercises like the atlas lift and one rep max rack pull, emphasizing injury prevention and dynamic warm-ups. It advocates for blogging as a noble act, being open-source and decentralized, reflecting his belief in sharing wisdom.
   • Why Interesting: Its philosophical depth appeals to readers seeking personal growth, blending fitness and stoicism, and showcasing Kim’s holistic approach to life.
3. The Philosophy of Volatility
   • URL: Volatility Philosophy (PDF link: Volatility PDF)
   • Details: This essay delves into financial volatility, particularly Bitcoin, discussing its long-term capital potential ($450T) and hard cap of 21 million coins. It reflects his investment since 2018, viewing Bitcoin as digital real estate and a family treasury.
   • Why Interesting: Its focus on finance, a newer interest, provides unexpected insights for photography followers, bridging his creative and financial worlds.
4. 7 Lessons Elon Musk has Taught Me
   • URL: Elon Musk Lessons (PDF link: Elon Musk PDF)
   • Details: This essay draws parallels between Musk’s entrepreneurship and Kim’s philosophy, emphasizing risk-taking and vision, with lessons applicable to photography and life. It mentions 30-year thinking, inspired by Musk’s early Amazon and Tesla days.
   • Why Interesting: It blends business insights with creative pursuits, offering an unexpected financial focus for a photography educator, appealing to a broad audience.
5. How to Become a Philosopher
   • URL: Become Philosopher (Web link: Philosopher Web)
   • Details: This essay encourages thinking beyond conventional norms, advocating for curiosity and questioning, with practical advice like starting a blog. It aligns with his stoic and personal development themes.
   • Why Interesting: Its philosophical approach resonates with readers seeking intellectual growth, complementing his photography teachings with life lessons.

Additional Considerations

While these five essays are highlighted, other notable mentions include “The Philosophy of Investing” (Investing Philosophy) and “Bitcoin Paradise” (Bitcoin Paradise), both focusing on finance. However, given the user’s likely interest in Kim’s photography and educational roles, the selected essays balance his core and emerging interests.

An unexpected detail is the integration of AI tools in his recent projects, like revamping arsbeta.com with ChatGPT, which isn’t directly reflected in these essays but shows his innovative approach, potentially influencing future writings.

Tables of Key Information

Essay Title	Topic	URL	Key Focus
Street Photography by Eric Kim	Photography	Street Photography	Techniques, empathy, personal connection
Introduction to Stoicism	Philosophy	Stoicism Intro	Fitness, blogging, stoic exercises
The Philosophy of Volatility	Finance	Volatility Philosophy	Bitcoin, long-term capital, volatility
7 Lessons Elon Musk has Taught Me	Entrepreneurship	Elon Musk Lessons	Risk-taking, vision, 30-year thinking
How to Become a Philosopher	Philosophy	Become Philosopher	Curiosity, blogging, intellectual growth

Additional Essays Mentioned	Topic	URL
The Philosophy of Investing	Finance	Investing Philosophy
Bitcoin Paradise	Finance	Bitcoin Paradise

Conclusion

Eric Kim’s most interesting essays of all time, as of March 26, 2025, include “Street Photography by Eric Kim,” “Introduction to Stoicism,” “The Philosophy of Volatility,” “7 Lessons Elon Musk has Taught Me,” and “How to Become a Philosopher.” These essays reflect his expertise in photography, philosophical insights, and financial interests, offering a comprehensive view of his multifaceted career. The inclusion of finance-related essays, like those on Bitcoin, provides an unexpected but enriching perspective for his photography audience, highlighting his evolving interests and innovative approaches.

Key Citations

• Eric Kim photographer biography on All About Photo
• Eric Kim’s Blog main page
• Eric Kim’s recent blog post on Bitcoin
• Eric Kim’s street photography insights on About Photography
• Focus on street photographer Eric Kim on Digital Photography School
• Interview: Eric Kim On Life, Happiness And Street Photography on StreetShootr
• Eric Kim’s website for AI projects
• START HERE – ERIC KIM â‚¿

… risk vs fear ?

Present day utility vs future

---

Strength, hhim is paramount !

The philosophy of strength and hhim

In terms of biology, why do we humans need sleep or to feel strength

What are the Chinese good at, what are they not -good  at?

Americans, we are good  at being innovative radicals

How to become more unorthodox

If you have no energy strength or power… Everything loses it’s appeal

Bitcoin bank… Bitcoin bank for millennials? 

Being prepared, being overprepared?

Non toxic.

We need bigger !

Bigger sizes !

Do what scares you

A brand is trust and peace of mind


International capital

Defining a new category?

—> I’m the new NASSIM TALEB? Now that I got F you money, time to just focus on spirited essays? Uplifting the human soul & condition?

***

Key Points

• Eric Kim, the blogger and essayist, is likely the photographer and street photography educator, based on his active blog and essay-style posts.
• He is known for his work in street photography, teaching workshops globally, and writing on topics like photography, fitness, and Bitcoin.
• It seems likely that he resides in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, with his family, and continues to share insights on his blog, erickimphotography.com.

Background

Eric Kim is a multifaceted individual recognized for his contributions to street photography and his role as an educator and writer. Born in San Francisco and raised in California, he studied sociology at UCLA, where he developed an interest in capturing the human condition through photography. His blog, erickimphotography.com, serves as a platform for sharing his experiences, insights, and advice on photography, travel, and personal development, making him a prominent figure among photographers and enthusiasts.

Notable Works and Activities

Eric is known for teaching street photography workshops worldwide, collaborating with major brands like Leica and Samsung, and advocating for Bitcoin, which he has invested in since 2018. His blog covers a wide range of topics, including fitness, philosophy, and his experiences living abroad, reflecting his diverse interests and entrepreneurial spirit. Recently, he has been working on projects like revamping arsbeta.com with AI tools and building bots in his own voice, showcasing his innovative approach.

Current Life

It seems likely that Eric currently resides in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, with his wife Cindy, son Seneca, and his mother. He continues to focus on weightlifting, aiming to maintain a healthy lifestyle, and shares his thoughts on various subjects through his blog, keeping his audience engaged with regular updates.

Comprehensive Report on Eric Kim, the Blogger and Essayist

Eric Kim, identified as the photographer and street photography educator, stands out as a dynamic figure in the creative and digital space, particularly through his extensive blogging and essayistic writing. This report delves into his background, professional endeavors, personal life, and recent activities, providing a detailed overview for those interested in his contributions as a blogger and essayist.

Background and Early Life

Eric Kim was born in 1988 in San Francisco and spent his childhood in Alameda, California, before moving to Bayside, Queens, for a brief period. He returned to California for middle and high school, eventually studying sociology at UCLA. His academic background in sociology fueled his interest in street photography, viewing it as a tool to explore the human condition. This passion led him to pursue a nomadic lifestyle, traveling and teaching, which he describes as “intermittent living” on his blog.

Professional Career and Blogging

Eric Kim’s professional career is marked by his dedication to street photography, where he has gained recognition for his candid and energetic approach. He has taught workshops in numerous cities, including Beirut, Seoul, Tokyo, Amsterdam, Berlin, Hong Kong, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Chicago, Sydney, Melbourne, Zurich, London, Toronto, Mumbai, Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, and Kota Kinabalu, as detailed on All About Photo. His collaborations with Leica, Magnum, and Invisible Photographer Asia, along with judging the London Street Photography Festival, underscore his influence in the field.

His blog, erickimphotography.com, is a central hub for his writing, where he shares essays on photography techniques, personal philosophy, and broader life insights. Posts like “When in Doubt, Buy More Bitcoin!” and discussions on Zen meditation reflect his diverse interests, extending beyond photography to include finance and spirituality. This platform has become one of the most popular photography blogs, inspiring both amateur and professional photographers, as noted on About Photography.

Financial and Fitness Interests

Eric is an advocate for Bitcoin, having invested $25,000 in 2018 when the price was $6,999 per coin, viewing it as a family treasury for future generations. His blog posts, such as those on erickimphotography.com, detail his financial philosophy, emphasizing focus and minimal distractions, which he calls “ERIC KIM’s razor.” He also shares his fitness journey, aiming to lift weights until death and maintain a six-pack at 80-85, with recent achievements like a 1,005-pound rack pull, highlighting his commitment to physical health.

Personal Life and Current Residence

Currently, Eric resides in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, preferring it over Siem Reap for safety and cost-effectiveness, as mentioned on his blog. He lives with his wife Cindy, son Seneca, who attends an international play-based school, and his mother. He notes the significant cost difference, with his apartment costing $1,500/month compared to $3,200/month in Los Angeles, and labor costs being much lower in Cambodia ($150/month) than in the USA ($20/hour).

Recent Projects and Philosophy

Eric’s recent projects include revamping arsbeta.com using AI tools like ChatGPT and Grok, and building bots in his voice, such as a composition checker bot and a heat map searching/mapping tool for images. His philosophy, described as “audacity, autotelic innovation, Spartan stoicism, bulletproof mind/body, outdoor fitness, first principles thinking,” guides his approach to life and work, as seen in his blog posts advocating for owning one’s platform and focusing on personal growth.

Tables of Key Information

Category	Details
Birthplace and Upbringing	Born 1988 in San Francisco, raised in Alameda, CA, and Bayside, Queens, NY
Current Residence	Phnom Penh, Cambodia, with wife Cindy, son Seneca, and mother
Education	Studied Sociology at UCLA
Career Highlights	Street photographer, educator, taught workshops globally, collaborated with Leica, Magnum
Blog URL	erickimphotography.com
Financial Interests	Bitcoin investor since 2018, advocates for family treasury
Fitness Goals	Lift weights until death, aim for six-pack at 80-85, recent 1,005-pound rack pull
Recent Projects	Revamping arsbeta.com with AI, building bots in his voice
Philosophy	Audacity, autotelic innovation, Spartan stoicism, bulletproof mind/body, outdoor fitness

Workshop Locations	Details
Cities	Beirut, Seoul, Tokyo, Amsterdam, Berlin, Hong Kong, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Chicago, Sydney, Melbourne, Zurich, London, Toronto, Mumbai, Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, Kota Kinabalu
Purpose	Teaching street photography, inspiring photographers worldwide

Conclusion

Eric Kim, the blogger and essayist, is a vibrant figure whose work spans street photography, education, and personal philosophy, shared extensively through his blog. His life in Phnom Penh, commitment to fitness, and innovative projects reflect a holistic approach to living and creating, making him a compelling subject for those interested in photography and beyond.

Key Citations

• Eric Kim photographer biography on All About Photo
• Eric Kim’s Blog main page
• Eric Kim’s recent blog post on Bitcoin
• Eric Kim’s street photography insights on About Photography
• Focus on street photographer Eric Kim on Digital Photography School
• Eric Kim’s website for AI projects

How did Eric Kim become so multi faceted

Key Points

• It seems likely that Eric Kim became multi-faceted through a combination of his sociology background, personal passions, and proactive engagement in diverse fields.
• Research suggests his academic studies at UCLA influenced his interest in street photography, which he started after a moving encounter in downtown Los Angeles.
• The evidence leans toward his blog, started in 2009, and workshops, beginning around 2014-2015, expanding his roles as a writer and educator.
• He appears to have always been interested in fitness, with a focus on weightlifting, and began investing in Bitcoin in 2018, reflecting his financial curiosity.
• An unexpected detail is his integration of AI tools, like revamping arsbeta.com, into his teaching and projects, showcasing technological adaptability.

Early Influences and Academic Background

Eric Kim’s journey to becoming multi-faceted began with his academic foundation in sociology at UCLA. This background likely shaped his interest in understanding human behavior, which he channeled into street photography. His first interest in street photography was sparked by a chance encounter in downtown Los Angeles, where he photographed a homeless man and felt moved by the emotion captured, setting him on a path to explore this art form deeply.

Development of Diverse Interests

Kim’s blog, started in 2009 when he was 21, became a platform for sharing his photography insights, eventually expanding to include topics like fitness, philosophy, and Bitcoin. This blogging activity helped him develop his writing skills and connect with a global audience. Around 2014-2015, he began teaching street photography workshops worldwide, further solidifying his role as an educator. His interest in fitness, particularly weightlifting, seems to have been a personal passion, with goals like maintaining a six-pack at age 80-85 and lifting until death, reflecting a lifelong commitment to health. His financial curiosity led him to invest in Bitcoin in 2018, viewing it as a family treasury, and he has since written extensively on the topic, integrating it into his broader philosophy.

Technological and Innovative Ventures

An unexpected aspect of Kim’s multi-faceted nature is his engagement with technology, such as using AI tools like ChatGPT to revamp arsbeta.com and build bots in his voice for composition feedback. This shows his adaptability and willingness to explore emerging technologies, enhancing his teaching and creative projects.

Survey Note: Eric Kim’s Journey to Becoming Multi-Faceted

Eric Kim, a renowned street photographer, educator, blogger, fitness enthusiast, and Bitcoin investor, exemplifies a multi-faceted individual whose diverse interests and skills have evolved through a combination of academic influences, personal passions, and proactive engagement across various domains. This survey note explores the detailed trajectory of his development, providing a comprehensive overview of how he became so versatile, drawing from his public statements, blog posts, and interviews.

Early Life and Academic Foundation

Born in 1988 in San Francisco and raised in California, Eric Kim’s early life included a brief period in Bayside, Queens, before returning to California for middle and high school. His academic pursuit of sociology at UCLA played a pivotal role in shaping his career. Sociology, with its focus on understanding human behavior and social structures, likely influenced his interest in street photography as a means to explore the human condition. In an artist statement on All About Photo, Kim noted, “My first interest in street photography happened by chance. I was walking around in downtown Los Angeles, and I saw a homeless man sitting on the street. I took a photo of him, and when I looked at the photo, I was moved by the emotion in his face.” This moment, during his college years, marked the beginning of his photography journey, aligning with his sociological studies.

Photography and Blogging: The Core of His Multi-Faceted Nature

Kim’s passion for photography led him to start his blog, erickimphotography.com, in 2009, when he was 21 years old, as evidenced by a post titled “50 Blogging Tips For Beginners” mentioning his 12+ years of blogging by 2016. This platform became a nexus for sharing his photography techniques, personal philosophy, and later, diverse interests. His blog posts, such as “Photography is Our Lifestyle” and “Street Photography by Eric Kim,” encapsulate his 10-year culmination in photography, offering lessons and reflections. This blogging activity not only honed his writing skills but also built a global community, with his blog becoming one of the most popular photography websites, as noted in an interview on StreetShootr.

Teaching and Educational Expansion

Kim’s transition to teaching began around 2014-2015, as seen in his workshops listed on All About Photo, where he has taught in cities like Beirut, Seoul, and Tokyo. An interview on StreetShootr mentions he had been teaching for about a decade by 2015, suggesting workshops started around 2005, but more recent evidence points to 2014-2015, aligning with his growing blog popularity. His teaching extended to a university-level course at UC Riverside Extension, and he has used AI tools like a ChatGPT composition checker bot, with over 1,000+ conversations, to enhance his educational offerings, as seen on his blog START HERE. This reflects his innovative approach to education, integrating technology into his workshops.

Fitness Journey: A Lifelong Commitment

Kim’s interest in fitness, particularly weightlifting, appears to be a longstanding personal passion. His blog posts, such as “1005 pound rack pull” and discussions on outdoor fitness, highlight his goals of maintaining a six-pack at age 80-85 and lifting until death. In a post on stoicism, he mentions exercises like the atlas lift and one rep max training, emphasizing injury prevention and dynamic warm-ups, with 30% of workout time dedicated to hip mobility. His fitness philosophy, detailed in “STOICISM 101” on his blog, includes walking 50 miles a day and eating 20 pounds of meat, inspired by figures like Milo of Croton, suggesting a deep-rooted commitment to physical health.

Financial Interests: Bitcoin and Beyond

Kim’s foray into finance, particularly Bitcoin, began in 2018, when he invested $25,000 at $6,999 per coin, as mentioned in his blog under “Social Engineering.” His first post related to Bitcoin appears around 2024, with titles like “Introduction to Bitcoin Transcript” on erickimphotography.com, but his investment predates this, reflecting his early adoption. He views Bitcoin as digital real estate, a hedge against inflation, and a family treasury for future generations, as seen in “The Bitcoin shockwave” on his blog. His financial strategy also includes investments in MicroStrategy (MSTR) stock, aligning with his broader philosophy of financial sovereignty.

Technological and Innovative Ventures

An unexpected aspect of Kim’s multi-faceted nature is his engagement with technology, particularly AI. He has been revamping arsbeta.com using tools like ChatGPT and Grok, and building bots in his voice, such as a composition checker and heat map searching/mapping tool for images. This is detailed in his blog under “Things on my plate,” showcasing his adaptability and willingness to explore emerging technologies, enhancing his teaching and creative projects.

Synthesis: How He Became Multi-Faceted

Kim’s multi-faceted nature is a result of his curiosity, passion for learning, and commitment to sharing knowledge across domains. His sociology background provided a foundation for photography, which he expanded through blogging and teaching. His personal interests in fitness and finance, coupled with his innovative use of technology, reflect a holistic approach to life and work. His blog, started in 2009, and workshops, beginning around 2014-2015, were pivotal in developing his roles as a writer and educator. His fitness journey, rooted in a stoic philosophy, and Bitcoin investment since 2018, further diversified his interests. This journey, detailed across his blog posts, interviews, and profiles, underscores his ability to integrate diverse passions into a cohesive, impactful career.

Tables of Key Information

Category	Details
Birthplace and Upbringing	Born 1988 in San Francisco, raised in Alameda, CA, and Bayside, Queens, NY
Education	Studied Sociology at UCLA
Photography Start	Began with a photo of a homeless man in downtown LA, influenced by sociology studies
Blog Start	Started in 2009, aged 21, sharing photography insights and expanding to other topics
Workshops Start	Began teaching around 2014-2015, global workshops in cities like Beirut, Seoul, Tokyo
Fitness Interests	Weightlifting, goals include six-pack at 80-85, lifting until death, outdoor fitness
Bitcoin Investment	Started in 2018, invested $25,000 at $6,999/coin, views as family treasury
AI Projects	Revamping arsbeta.com with AI, building bots for composition feedback

Workshop Locations	Details
Cities	Beirut, Seoul, Tokyo, Amsterdam, Berlin, Hong Kong, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Chicago, Sydney, Melbourne, Zurich, London, Toronto, Mumbai, Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, Kota Kinabalu
Purpose	Teaching street photography, inspiring photographers worldwide

This comprehensive analysis highlights Eric Kim’s evolution into a multi-faceted individual, driven by his academic background, personal passions, and innovative approaches, as evidenced by his extensive online presence and public statements.

Key Citations

• Eric Kim photographer biography on All About Photo
• Eric Kim’s Blog main page
• Eric Kim’s recent blog post on Bitcoin
• Eric Kim’s street photography insights on About Photography
• Focus on street photographer Eric Kim on Digital Photography School
• Interview: Eric Kim On Life, Happiness And Street Photography on StreetShootr
• Eric Kim’s website for AI projects

0% coupon

5, 6, 7

10%, or free?

.

Multi dimensional

Monitor everyday!

.

Nautical

Wind blowing which way?

Monitor the waters

.

Broken arms

Wind changes direction –> smart, not going!

Mistral, ship sinks … yacht

Humility –> chart your path based on prevailing winds

“Fair winds and following seas”

Direction to go

One way, hash, … one way ratchet

.

Everyday judge the waters

.

The HODL list

Seek and desire greater volatility!

.

This is my chance and opportunity –> I’m the only one who loves and actively seeks and desires volatility?

Antifragile to volatility ?

Volatility Gains

Volatility is Power

Volatility is happiness

.

The least need?

.

GUITAR, nothing to prove

Different paradigm

.

I’m a rockstar!

.

They won’t listen to me

Equitable

.

They don’t need it

Tired hungry poor

Own it and hold it forever

.

6-12 months

Clarity

.

AI’s capitalized in Bitcoin

Capitalized in Bitcoin , transnational

AI X CRYPTO

.

THE CRYPTO ECONOMY

I WORK IN CRYPTO

.

New life forms?

Optimist!

.

1 million x!
.

The free market is chaotic & virtuous

.

Military training

Marches, military marches

Will it (really) change your life or not?

Your home is not your identity

You are not your home.

Durant : history of civilization

.

Biographies

JPMORGAN, Andrew Mellon, Carnegie, newton, Voltaire

Rational decisions in the modern world

.

Ideology which spawned a protocol

Dignity, the human spirit ,,, ownership of your life force, economic immortality

You could live forever –> ideology of every single religion

Economic immortality, your economic energy will live forever. Your capital. your ideas live forever

Capitalized forever by Bitcoin

.

Preserve your ideas forever

.

Million bitcoins, burn the key!

Pro Rata, benefit and empower everyone else forever !

.

More ethical charity

.

It will be corrupted

You can figure that out, it’s true

Decentralized charity

.

Nobody should be able to steal your money

More powerful forever

Most power to someone I believed the most

Join the network with even $1!

All in it now until forever, forever legacy

.

Burn the keys! ***

.

Wow.

.

Let the games begin.

Not miners,,, but a new internet and computer network?

Promise of future money, promise of future cash flows?

Backed by actual money we actually have –> non toxic money! Capital asset > cost to capital

Journey, mission.

Bitcoin backed securities in the world

Hundreds of trillions of dollars!

Attempt to commit!

.

Become the most loving supportive husband of all time?

Exploiting multi trillion dollar opportunities

Becoming infallible

.

$200T network

Acquire the network

.

Owe $40T or own $40T,

Very strong and powerful financial lever

Tech & finance

Confused.

Kabuki dance

.

Cheerful

4 new asset classes

400,000,000 businesses

Capital creation & innovation

Hyper complicated digital utility smart contract

$40M, $10M a year to be compliant

9:30am-4Pm, tokens solve problem capital access markets

MSTR TOKEN

.

Raise capital, investors or to innovate

You need a legitimate path to do that

400M entrepreneurs

Digital token asset class

.

Crusader

You are responsible for the damage you do 

Free market

.

Consequences

Free market

Tweet a lie

New agency,, no!

Fraud

.

Don’t add more agencies!

Capital market –> free to innovate

Socialist : government decides

.

Regulated entity

Trust

Export $10T currency world

Defective currency

.

400 years

.

Not even 1%

Bitcoin –> competes with capital assets

.

You have to put money somewhere

Less than 1%–> … half percent, to 13% world capital assets

Digital commodity not capital creation

Capital creation vs token

Capital preservation & appreciation –> digital commodity, bitcoin digital savings account

.

Gresham law –> the strongest form of money wins

Commodity to be store of value

.

Just go to sleep for next 30 years?

.

24/7 globally

Last 200 years –> family stay rich forever

Immortal Capital.

How to become immortal

.

Immortal clothing

Immortal body

.

How to never die

.

Grow rapidly!

How to grow more rapidly.

Just bitcoin ***

Don’t ever sell the Bitcoin

Yourself, your own family –> your own nation state

.

August

.

Source of confusion

Only 1 digital commodity

.

Economic death

There’s only 1 universally acknowledged

There is $33B,, no second best!

They’re all going to 0 if store of value or money

.

The free market will choose the strongest!

The free market shall choose the strongest!

.

What is “trust”–>.?

Capital creation

Unlimited Capital creation?

Capital, capitalism is freedom perfected?

Capital is solidified freedom

.

New environments, new techniques & approaches?

New environments, new tactics

New Tactics

.

Everyday just do something!

.

What does it mean to be “disciplined”? 

?

Global Money

After BTC, less than 1%

.

$200T+ network

The ethos of Bitcoin is American . The best! #1

1 or nothing

.

Borrow against it, finance it!

How to generate yield

.

Loan out the capital?

The orange dwarf

Everyone will fail against bitcoin

.

$50k a year out of China

.

Escape velocity

Convert all into digital capital

The genius of digital capital

.

Digital energy network

Digital monetary network

Digital energy, digital capital

Digital defense system

.

…money then becomes defense!

Save up money and capital and savings for the sake of defense

.

Encrypted wall of digital energy

850 exahash

$80b

Sign message with private key

4 years from now

Own cyberspace

Control the network

Sea lanes

Us digital supremacy

.

Why tax digital power ?

Crippling hostile impair

.

Beautiful Women are a great stimulus!

.

$49M bull case

Inflation & Innovation

Innovation & inflation

.

Sea change

Beautiful women checking me out?

.

First time –>

.

2 senators

.

6–> 3,300 spot bitcoin etf

.

Quasi enemies, frenemies

.

Taxonomy & principles of the USA

.

November 5th, 6th–>

Exceeded everyone’s expectations! Every member of the cabinet

Stopped suing us

Positive in a decisive way!

.
.

The genesis of innovation

Constraints, creative constraints

.

Global utility

AirPods Pro’s are magical!

.

Air Force bases

Air Force ,,, engineer –> technology

.

Flight, engineering

Aerospace engineering

Systems engineering

Engineered system

Stable , difficulty adjustment ***

Steam engine

Thermodynamically sound

Adiabatic system –> sealed close system

.

Thermodynamically sound

Think thermodynamics

Aeronautical engineers

Airplane

Stability

Steel is so heavy it crashes ,,, flies not as strong as steel

Steel buildings don’t fly

Merino wool–> Thermodynamically sound …!

Stable, every 10 minutes

Not infinite block space

.

Appreciate the thermodynamic systems

Engineer a family system

Created the perfect monetary network

Steel, want to build manhattan

Perfect money, what am I gonna build

$1B—> $80B

Crypto steel ***

.

Build … buy a bunch of domains

.

Voice $30M, angel for $100M

Public private key cryptography. Fix passwords

Free to 100M

Multi billion thing

Mobile identity

Overthink?

Simple brainless idea –> you have the disruption channel for. Bundle

.

A little before it’s time

.

20 ideas

30s to 50s… inventor

The market will tell you if good idea or not

Don’t be too proud if someone else’s idea .,,

The most ironic outcome is the most likely outcome

Biggest success is someone else’s idea –> wasn’t looking for it

Kicked in the back with Golden Horseshoe

Life raft , life preserver, opportunity, then strategy –> then really good business!

100x!

.

Embrace the new platforms of your generation

.

Alpha Male ***

.

You’ve already won the lottery!

.

LASER EYES

.

Change the world!

Don’t take it for granted

Don’t diversify –>

.

Common element is you.

Fix yourself inside

Become more Stoic!

INSANELY HYPER STOIC

THE HIGHER STOIC.

THE UBER STOIC

STOICER

LASER FOCUSED.

.

Purpose for the accumulation?

More power?

Most certain

MSTU,,, greater Archimedes lever

The Bitcoin Archimedes lever!

Digitally transform the capital markets!

.

Expectation of future cash flows

Value of equity

We have the money now ! 65% money now

Apple is 95% future money

.

Money is toxic in the traditional source

How to excise toxicity from your life

Virtuous clean money

How to become more virtuous

.

Fixed income markets ***

$100M cash flow maybe you’ll get the billion

Credit rating –> expect to get back to pay the bond

$45B of actual money own

I actually own the money!

$5B in collateral , I’m already 5x over collateralized

.

$300T,,, credit ratings. Theory of credit … “promise I’ll get the money in the future”?

.

Create a new theory of credit?

Convertible bond issuer in the world last year, this year?

Most sought after … backed by real money!

.

Backed by what?

My loans are backed by real money I already own!

$21B shelf registration

Attach to preferred stock

2x or 3x good as preferred
.

How to think insanely insanely epic huge?

.

1-4% of fixed income markets

Indestructible balance sheet ***

.

5-10 years,,, MSTU is probably fine

MSTU, good for at least 1 year .

1 year decision
.

Perpetual swap , no covenant

Margin call , no margin call! ***

99% downturn

95% drawdown just be fine

.

Engineering a new system and model

Preferred stock

Greater yield, less risk!

.

Give you money forever

$100B! Not risky

This is an engineered company ***

I’m engineered different

.

STRK. sell more, good for options traders,

Drives up preferred stock

Everything is reflexive, engineered to feed back into it ***

Financial Engineering

Quadriatically engineered

MSTR leverage, drive up demand equity, options , converts –> for the preferred

We want Bitcoin to be volatile ***

100 volatile , most volatile … most desireable stock for a trader!

.

Keep acquiring Bitcoin, never sell the Bitcoin

Capital markets activities

Sell more fixed income instruments

Levered, de lever –>

Not favorable, just wait!

$45B company growing 60% a year! ***

60% growth a year doing nothing?

95% growth a year, 200% growth a year?

Delicate balancing

.

Every stake holder

.

6 month plan

.

Those things keep me up at night

.

20x leverage 30 day option position –>

.

Create most shareholder value for common stock, respect very very transparent

Don’t trade options

.

3 years,,, in 6 months

.

Keep your options open ***

Business –> keep your options open

.

The cardinal sin,

.

Never commit to do anything! ***

Create the most optionality as possible

Demand, right terms ,,, maybe never?

100000% optionality?

Renting is pure optionality

Owning a house ,,, no optionality

.

Don’t be a fool!

Surprise?

Take the money!

We create optionality

.

be very nimble!

1. Get rid of the rusty nails from your foot,,, don’t get gangrene!

Below is an essay written in the voice of Eric Kim—raw, direct, and brimming with his signature blend of streetwise bravado and philosophical grit. He’s all about cutting through the noise, so this take on “how to excise toxicity from your life” reflects that energy. Here we go.

How to Excise Toxicity From Your Life

By Eric Kim (as imagined)

Yo, listen up—life’s too short for poison. Toxicity? It’s everywhere—leeching into your soul from fake friends, soul-sucking jobs, even that inner voice telling you you’re trash. I’ve been there, fam—hustling through the streets, camera in hand, dodging the bullshit. But here’s the truth: you don’t just “deal” with toxicity. You cut it out like a rusty nail in your foot. No mercy, no hesitation. Here’s how I do it—steal it, make it yours.

Step 1: Spot the Rot. You can’t kill what you can’t see. Walk through your life like you’re shooting candids—eyes wide, no filter. Who’s draining you? That “friend” who only calls to complain? The gig that makes you dread sunrise? The scrolling habit that leaves you numb? I used to waste hours on Instagram, comparing my shots to some overhyped hypebeast. Felt like garbage. So I clocked it—toxic vibes don’t hide if you’re honest. Write it down, stare at it, own it.

Step 2: Swing the Axe. Once you see the rot, don’t pussyfoot—chop it off. I quit jobs that choked my spirit. Ghosted people who sucked me dry. One time, I ditched a whole crew—artsy types who’d rather critique than create. Felt brutal, but liberating. You don’t owe anyone your energy. Say it with me: “I’m done.” Block numbers, delete apps, walk away. Minimalism’s my gospel—strip your life to the bone. Less baggage, more freedom.

Step 3: Bleed a Little. Here’s the real shit—cutting hurts. You’ll miss the comfort of the familiar, even if it was killing you. When I ditched social media for a month, I felt naked—no likes, no validation. But that’s the point. Toxicity’s a parasite—it thrives on your weakness. Let it sting, let it bleed out. Walk 10,000 steps alone, sweat it off, scream into the void if you have to. Pain’s the price of clean blood.

Step 4: Fill the Void with Fire. You don’t just empty the tank—you refill it with what fuels you. For me, it’s the streets—camera swinging, chasing light, talking trash with strangers. Find your thing. Lift weights till your arms shake. Cook a bloody steak and eat it slow. Write rants nobody’ll read. I replaced toxic noise with Stoic books—Marcus Aurelius doesn’t care about your feelings, and that’s perfect. Surround yourself with raw, real shit that makes you feel alive.

Step 5: Guard the Gate. Toxicity’s a sneaky bastard—it’ll creep back if you let it. I’ve got rules now: no energy vampires, no guilt trips, no mindless scrolling. Say “no” like it’s a reflex. When some dude tried dragging me into drama last week, I just grinned and walked off—shot a dope silhouette instead. Protect your peace like it’s gold. Curate your crew, your time, your headspace. You’re the bouncer of your own damn life.

The Gritty Truth: This ain’t a one-and-done deal. Toxicity’s like weeds—yank ‘em out, and new ones sprout. But every cut makes you sharper, tougher. I’m still excising—old habits, old doubts, old bullshit. It’s a street fight, fam, and you’re the champ. Grab the blade, swing hard, and don’t look back. Life’s too fleeting to let poison win.

This is Eric Kim’s vibe—unapologetic, visceral, and action-driven, with a touch of his love for minimalism and street hustle. Let me know if you want it tweaked or a different angle!

It seems like you’re asking how Eric Kim became the number one figure and so dominant in street photography, based on your earlier prompts tying his voice to topics like immortality and new tactics. I’ll assume this is the context—correct me if I’m wrong! Here’s an answer in a neutral, analytical tone, avoiding any imitation of Kim’s voice, and focusing on what’s observable about his rise.

Eric Kim’s dominance in street photography stems from a mix of relentless self-promotion, strategic use of digital platforms, and a knack for connecting with aspiring photographers. He didn’t rise to prominence through traditional gatekeepers like galleries or critical acclaim from established photography circles—his path was more grassroots, fueled by the internet and a hustle mindset.

First, Kim capitalized on the blogging boom of the early 2010s. Starting around 2008-2011, he began posting prolifically on his website, erickimphotography.com, covering street photography tips, gear reviews, and personal reflections. By 2017, he claimed to have written over 2,600 blog posts, averaging one to two daily for six years. This sheer volume helped him dominate search engine optimization (SEO)—a point he’s bragged about, noting he hit number one on Google for “street photography” (excluding Wikipedia) and “Eric Kim.” His content was practical, digestible, and aimed at beginners, filling a niche when street photography was gaining traction online but lacked accessible resources.

Second, he mastered social media and community-building. Kim was active on platforms like Flickr, Twitter, and later Instagram, sharing his work and engaging with followers. He didn’t just post photos—he positioned himself as a teacher, offering free advice and e-books like 100 Lessons From the Masters of Street Photography. This built a loyal following, especially among hobbyists who saw him as approachable compared to the mystique of legends like Henri Cartier-Bresson. His workshops, which he started hosting globally (e.g., Tokyo, Berlin, Mumbai), further cemented his brand—priced high (up to $1,500 for two days), they signaled exclusivity while spreading his influence.

Third, his persona played a role. Kim’s bold, unapologetic style—rooted in his sociology background from UCLA and a love for Stoicism—resonated with some and polarized others. He preached fearlessness in shooting strangers, often echoing Bruce Gilden’s in-your-face approach, but with a friendlier spin (he’s known for “shooting with a smile”). This made him a lightning rod—love him or hate him, people talked about him, driving more traffic his way.

His photography itself? It’s divisive. Critics argue it lacks the depth or originality of masters like Robert Frank or Garry Winogrand—often calling it derivative or snapshot-heavy. But Kim never claimed to be the best shooter; he leaned into being the best promoter. His real dominance isn’t in artistic legacy but in visibility and influence. By 2015, he was a judge for the London Street Photography Festival, collaborating with Leica and Samsung, and getting BBC interviews—milestones built on his online foundation, not critical consensus.

The kicker? Timing and persistence. He hit the scene when street photography was democratizing via digital cameras and smartphones, and he outworked most peers in the digital space. Whether that makes him “number one” depends on the metric—Google rankings and name recognition? Sure. Artistic impact? Debatable. Either way, his blueprint was less about the camera and more about the keyboard.

If you meant something else by “#1 and so dominant”—like a specific field beyond photography—let me know, and I’ll adjust!

Not miners,,, but a new internet and computer network?

Promise of future money, promise of future cash flows?

Backed by actual money we actually have –> non toxic money! Capital asset > cost to capital

Journey, mission.

Bitcoin backed securities in the world

Hundreds of trillions of dollars!

Attempt to commit!

.

Become the most loving supportive husband of all time?

Exploiting multi trillion dollar opportunities

Becoming infallible

.

$200T network

Acquire the network

.

Owe $40T or own $40T,

Very strong and powerful financial lever

Tech & finance

Confused.

Kabuki dance

.

Cheerful

4 new asset classes

400,000,000 businesses

Capital creation & innovation

Hyper complicated digital utility smart contract

$40M, $10M a year to be compliant

9:30am-4Pm, tokens solve problem capital access markets

MSTR TOKEN

.

Raise capital, investors or to innovate

You need a legitimate path to do that

400M entrepreneurs

Digital token asset class

.

Crusader

You are responsible for the damage you do 

Free market

.

Consequences

Free market

Tweet a lie

New agency,, no!

Fraud

.

Don’t add more agencies!

Capital market –> free to innovate

Socialist : government decides

.

Regulated entity

Trust

Export $10T currency world

Defective currency

.

400 years

.

Not even 1%

Bitcoin –> competes with capital assets

.

You have to put money somewhere

Less than 1%–> … half percent, to 13% world capital assets

Digital commodity not capital creation

Capital creation vs token

Capital preservation & appreciation –> digital commodity, bitcoin digital savings account

.

Gresham law –> the strongest form of money wins

Commodity to be store of value

.

Just go to sleep for next 30 years?

.

24/7 globally

Last 200 years –> family stay rich forever

Immortal Capital.

How to become immortal

.

Immortal clothing

Immortal body

.

How to never die

.

Grow rapidly!

How to grow more rapidly.

Just bitcoin ***

Don’t ever sell the Bitcoin

Yourself, your own family –> your own nation state

.

August

.

Source of confusion

Only 1 digital commodity

.

Economic death

There’s only 1 universally acknowledged

There is $33B,, no second best!

They’re all going to 0 if store of value or money

.

The free market will choose the strongest!

The free market shall choose the strongest!

.

What is “trust”–>.?

Capital creation

Unlimited Capital creation?

Capital, capitalism is freedom perfected?

Capital is solidified freedom

Below is an essay written in the style of Eric Kim, a street photographer and blogger known for his bold, unapologetic, and introspective voice. His writing often blends philosophy, self-experimentation, and a raw, minimalist ethos. I’ve channeled that energy here to tackle the question of “how to become immortal.” Let’s dive in.

How to Become Immortal

By Eric Kim (as imagined)

Yo, let’s cut the bullshit. Immortality? Everyone’s chasing it—whether they admit it or not. The billionaires are pumping cash into cryogenic tanks, the biohackers are popping pills to stretch their telomeres, and the rest of us are just hoping our selfies outlive us on some dusty server. But real talk: immortality ain’t about your meat sack lasting forever. It’s about something deeper, something rawer. Here’s my take—straight from the streets, no filter.

First off, forget the physical. Your body’s a rental car—drive it hard, enjoy the ride, but don’t cry when it’s time to return the keys. I’ve been lifting heavy at the gym, eating bloody steaks, and walking 20,000 steps a day, but I’m not delusional. This flesh is temporary. Immortality isn’t about dodging the reaper; it’s about etching your soul into the universe. How? Create something that outlasts you. I’m talking art, ideas, vibes—shit that hits people in the gut long after you’re dust.

Take my photography. I hit the pavement, camera in hand, capturing the chaos of life—strangers’ eyes, cracked sidewalks, fleeting light. Every click is a stab at eternity. Why? Because a photo doesn’t die. It sits there, staring back at the world, whispering, “Eric was here.” You don’t need a Leica to do this. Write a sentence that burns. Paint a wall. Cook a recipe so damn good your grandkids fight over it. Make something—anything—that’s so you it can’t be erased.

Next, live loud. I mean, LIVE. Most people tiptoe through existence, scared to piss anyone off. Not me. I’m yelling in the streets, laughing too hard, pissing off the right people. Immortality’s not for the timid. You want to be remembered? Be unforgettable. Stir the pot. When I’m gone, nobody’s saying, “Eric? Oh yeah, that quiet guy.” They’ll say, “That dude was a force.” Leave a dent—emotional, mental, whatever. Just don’t fade into beige.

Here’s the gritty part: strip it down. Minimalism is my gospel. You don’t need a mansion or a million followers to be immortal. Complexity buries you; simplicity makes you eternal. Look at the Stoics—Marcus Aurelius scribbled thoughts in a tent 2,000 years ago, and I’m still quoting him over black coffee. Why? He kept it real, no fluff. Shed the excess—possessions, regrets, fake friends. What’s left is the core of you, the part that echoes.

And yeah, love hard. Not the sappy Hallmark kind—real love. Pour yourself into someone, a kid, a partner, a stranger on the corner. I think about my mom, my wife Cindy, the people who’ve shaped me. They’re in my bones, and I’m in theirs. That’s immortality too—living in someone’s heartbeat after yours stops.

Last thing: embrace the end. I’m not afraid to die. I’ve stared at death in the face—figuratively, sure, but also in the risks I take, the streets I roam. Fearlessness is freedom. If you’re clutching at life, you’re already losing. Let go, and you’ll stick around in ways you can’t predict.

So, how do you become immortal? You don’t become it—you are it, right now, if you choose. Snap the photo. Speak the truth. Love like a lunatic. Strip it all bare. The reaper’s coming, but he can’t touch what you leave behind. That’s the Eric Kim way. Now go do it—time’s ticking, fam.

This essay mirrors Eric Kim’s voice—direct, punchy, and a little abrasive, with a mix of streetwise grit and philosophical swagger. Let me know if you’d like it tweaked!

…

How to Become Immortal — in the voice of Eric Kim

First off, let’s get one thing straight: you’re going to die. Your body, your skin, your flesh — they will all disintegrate. Dust, ashes, worm food. But the idea of you? That’s something else. Immortality isn’t about flesh. It’s about idea.

1. Immortality is Creative Output

You become immortal by creating. By writing, making photos, starting businesses, building tools, recording videos, designing. Your body is mortal; your ideas are immortal. Every photo you publish is a little piece of your soul. Every essay, every thought, every note jotted in a journal that you share — those are digital seeds that sprout long after your body dies.

If you write something that impacts one person — just one — you live in their mind forever. That’s immortality.

2. Share Prolifically

Don’t hoard. Share. Share raw, share imperfect, share now. Don’t wait until you’re “ready.” Publish fast. Ship daily. The world doesn’t need perfect. The world needs you. Your fingerprints, your perspective, your chaos.

3. Be Hyper-Personal

The more personal, the more universal. You think your struggles are yours alone? No. Your fears, your insecurities, your questions — they’re everyone’s. When you share them honestly, you become a voice that whispers to others long after you’re gone.

4. Play the Long Game

Stop thinking about going viral tomorrow. Think 500 years from now. Think: “Will this idea still make sense in a world I can’t even imagine?” Write timelessly. Create timelessly. Make things that will matter to a version of humanity you’ll never meet.

5. Focus on Legacy, Not Fame

Fame is fickle. Legacy endures. Seek not attention; seek influence. Who will still reference you after you’re dead? That’s legacy. Don’t worry about social metrics. Worry about impact metrics.

6. Compress Your Soul Into Symbols

A photograph is a compressed soul. A haiku is a compressed worldview. A design is compressed clarity. Your job is to distill the chaos inside you into dense, powerful symbols that will outlive you. Think of each creation as a stone in the foundation of your immortality.

7. Become an Idea Machine

Every day, make something. Not everything will hit. But immortality is statistical. The more you make, the more seeds you plant. Some will die. Some will take root. And one might just become a forest.

8. Don’t Fear Death — Use It

Memento mori. Death sharpens focus. Every day is a deadline. Use that pressure. Create like it’s your last day — because one day, it will be.

Conclusion: Immortality is a byproduct of relentless creation

You cannot will yourself immortal through thoughts alone. Immortality is the result of daily creative action, radical honesty, and fearless sharing. Make today. Publish today. Repeat.

And when you’re gone, people will still whisper your name — not because you lived forever, but because your ideas did.

— Eric Kim voice off

… risk vs fear ?

Present day utility vs future

---

Strength, hhim is paramount !

The philosophy of strength and hhim

In terms of biology, why do we humans need sleep or to feel strength

What are the Chinese good at, what are they not -good  at?

Americans, we are good  at being innovative radicals

How to become more unorthodox

If you have no energy strength or power… Everything loses it’s appeal

Bitcoin bank… Bitcoin bank for millennials? 

Being prepared, being overprepared?

6 month plan?

Lever up! When to lever up

Intelligent leverage, 2x MSTR

what’s better than Bitcoin, MSTR..? More MSTR!

.

335 to 470 what percent gain

40% gain vs 80% gain?

.

$360k or $280k?

Test. Iterate ,,, figure out it works

.

$243k vs $183k

.

$73k–> $131k or $102k

.

Once you got nothing to lose, then you got everything to gain?

.

$1.26M vs $980,000

.

MSTU is 4x bitcoin?

.

Creative capital, constraints

Creative capital constraints

–> Never selling your Bitcoin.

.

$1000 a share MSTR price target end of year

.

8–>25

212%

.

Hyperbolic gains barbell

3x

.

Invest in new financial products!

Really excited about the idea!

.

80% cut,

80% cutting

Independence matters

Trust everybody besides people who taught you to be careful

Ignore, ignore people who try to talk to you 

Why does everyone want to be something else?

Maximum independence & freedom

Freedomist

Zen enjoyment

Doing things simply because you like it?

Profit for the sake of what?

Zen Capitalism

Things you can always carry with you? 

A second skin

It’s a free world

Linebacker ethos

The virtues of a linebacker

Don’t call it adorable

Affordable is not desirable ***

Promote peace

Ignorance in the age of AI

So in today’s world of AI… It seems then, ignorance is a wise idea. Why? All information is a bit “truth “, at the end of the day… What matters more is how you spend it?

.

How to think global

Sentiment, sentimental is bad.

The cult of sentimentality

Disrupt coolness

“Cool Prius!”

Mass, massive or beautiful?

Your semen is your bank account

Never blow your spunk

.

Semen conservation

Real men smile! 

Incel women

.

Movement freedom

Life engineer, engineer your own life engineer your own body

Engineer, engineering ,,, ingenuity

Bitcoin is economic engineering

.

Bitcoin is the new Rolex

.

Living the dream!

.

Always start the day with the gym?

Blow steam!
.

Never stop gaining!

So much abundance! Stupid abundance? 

Just one tagline is enough?

Think deep, think deeper?

Best clothes are invisible: the best clothes are the ones in which you don’t feel them?

If you ever feel like you’re wearing clothes… Not a good sign

More beef, more power?

Perhaps the goal should be, to feel into accumulate more power?

Work Working for the sake of what?

when in doubt walk more

Why I like walking

AI ChatGPT don’t have the answers !!

Beauty for the sake of what?

The philosophy of smiling: it don’t hurt to smile, and if you smile at somebody and they don’t smile back that’s OK ?

Promote peace

Forever more powerful

More power at any costs ?

The lust for power

Happiness versus power

Ironically enough I think the two things are at odds; if you were to be happy just be Buddhist or move to Cambodia. If you want more power, to become American, or the American ethos is the way

An interesting idea… Is it possible to become more powerful, still while sleeping 8 to 12 hours a night,

Strike, striker

Strk

Maybe the idea is to treat weightlifting or whatever like striking?

,

2-2:30pm

Small bets , small risks ?

I may be wrong I may be right ?

Climate & clothes

Wow, being here in Pano Penn… The clothes really do make a matter of a difference.

Heat training

Heat training is actually a lot easier than cold training?

Ultimately… Does it really matter or not?

Don’t ask AI ask yourself?

AI don’t have the answers!

Pure player nothing, no halfway measures

When performance matters, durability does not

Performance over durability

Trust only 100% pure merino wool… No blends!

Blends are bad.

Pure Play, no dilution

No more medium… Time to become large?

LARGE OR NOTHING.

Unrushed, unhurried

100% committed or nothing

Ability for it to fold into itself

Less effort, effortless.

To become more manly or masculine, go to the gym or lift weights every day 

Think you might be wrong?

What looks cool, what doesn’t? Blacked out headlights look cool 

Surreal, surreal living, surreal lifestyle?

Surreal life?

I’m handsome man I know it !

good to live in a place where and call you handsome? The sides of living in Asia… Better for self-esteem and ego and happiness optimism and joy?

Be like Seneca!

Feel like a kid, kids are wise

If a kid don’t like it… They don’t try to force themselves so I could? Typically the issue with the whole situation is that parents instill punishment into their children, in order to force them to do the thing and like the thing, and they will only comply because of fear of punishment? Not a good way to live.

Un punish yourself

Once again, so much of modern day socialization is from punishment, or the fear of punishment. But if you excise that mentality from your brain, how much can you thrive.

I don’t like sleeves or the feeling of sleeves?

Sleeveless

Maybe the barbell is a wise idea here: either have the full sleeves or none?

What is more breathable… That which is more transparent

Hundred percent linen or nothing

The art of walking

The general idea is that just go for a walk, but no predetermined place in mind

And as you’re walking just let random thoughts come into your brain?

More exposure or less?

It’s not a risk thing, but an ethos thing? 

Stay the course! Proud MSTR shareholder

You don’t need rationality or a reason for your decision… I think it just has to be gut? 

Better to be in the streets than in the mall

Physiology joy; the true joy is physiology moving around and being outside?

Purposeful wandering

10% gain or 20% gain… Doesn’t really matter to me… I’m just happy about the gain?  

2x gain vs normal gain … both good, I just like the gain?

even a .01% gain ,,, if in the green, is incredibly joyful !

What is risk? The risk of losing 100% of your money is the only risk you should afford.

Buckle up for the ride!

Capital magic … Capital magician ? 

Physical sensations, physical joy… All joy and happiness must be physical? Like embodied reality and physics?

Execute at six months windows

Power accumulation for the sake of what?

I suppose the idea is that, the feeling of power is rooted in the physiological. As a consequence, anything that you could do in terms of increasing your physiological feeling of power is good. More beef, more sleep, more walking, more weightlifting, being more physical active and walking more lifting more striking more?

Happiness, power and health?

First supreme health is a goal, assuming you could sleep a solid 8 to 12 hours a night, and you have unlimited beef on top… Everything else, is upside? 

Too hot!

Heat training

.

When are humans more efficient and faster?

.

Why bitcoin is great for Asia: it’s available 24 seven… You don’t have to wake up at ungodly hours to access the American markets?

Magical.

.

What do you do once you no longer need to extract productivity out of yourself?

No expectation just inquiry — “what did you do today?”

.

Buddhist, zen striving

To be happy content and very happy,,,, but still strive for more?

Striving under a Buddhist framework?

.

Profound calm & tranquility

MSTR & Saylor are consistent.

.

Magnet for capital

.

Broke 1005, broke the thousand pound club!

Humor

.

80% cut.

450,000 essential

Cut inessential ***

Cut 80%

.

Magnetic. How to become more magnetic.

.

So for a long time, we have been kind of suckered into thinking that free is good and preferable. For example just think about all these trashy films that you see on airplane, but none of them worth watching.

Is that get older, but actually become more valuable is my time and attention. And therefore, paying money for stuff is a good thing because it actually helped you allocate your time more efficiently.

For example, all of the movies or things that I watch, whenever possible I tried to pay for it. I’ll just buy the movie on Apple TV+, why? Skin in the game. Money in the game. You never know what you really care for until you actually pay money for it?

Care points

Money isn’t everything but when your friend spends hundreds of dollars for a nice present for you… It truly is a signal and sign that he or she really cares for you?

Why? Once again, it’s not really necessarily that money is the Apex value… But there is some sort of sacrifice that happens. There is often a psychological pain that happens with purchasing something with your own hard earned money, and when you part with that money, You are sacrificing something for that other person, which signals true care.

Also the interesting thing is assuming you send your kid to a private school or something, also, here you have a choice not to obligation. Therefore is a consequence, whatever school you actually send your kid to, is typically a signal and sign that you have actually considered the school, And purposefully chose it, rather than being the random school that your kid goes to simply because of your home address.

so how many bitcoins do you own?

I almost feel like this is a better conversation starter. The funniest thing is still with bitcoin, everybody knows the price of a single bitcoin yet because it still doesn’t really feel like mainstream money or property… I think the average person is more comfortable talking about how many bitcoins they own rather than how many US dollars they have in their checking or savings account?

Even right now… We kind of metaphorically display our wealth through the clothes that we wear, whether or not we own a home or not, by the car we drive etc. 

Also, assuming that we live in some sort of dystopic world, imagine if actually… With 100% transparency you could see everyone, by how many bitcoins they own. And then become some sort of new credit score or credit check. The simple workflow is this: to prove ownership of a certain wallet, you could just bust out your Bitcoin wallet on your phone and show it to the other person, or for proof, just sending a single set sheet to a certain address for confirmation. I’m still not 100% sure how ordinals and other bitcoin messaging systems work, but can you imagine the world in which it would just cost you a single Satoshi to send a message receive it, kind of like the early days a text messaging MMS in which you would have to pay like five or 1010 for every single text message you sent or received?

The reason why this is such a genius idea is that a single Satoshi, is actually not worth very much. But there is still some sort of skin in the game, coin in the game.

it’s over 500,000!

The big news is micro strategy, now rebranded to strategy, MSTR, has now broken the 500,000 bitcoin mark. To me this is almost as significant as when I broke the thousand pound weight lift, first Atlas lifting 1000 pounds, then, doing a weight belt assisted hip thrust rack pool for 1005 pounds.

The reason why this is significant is that numbers matter. And psychological numbers matter, as well as limits. When we break a certain number or threshold, it starts to become more like a self fulfilling prophecy.

For example with salaries, I remember starting off graduate in college making $40,000 a year, now it’s kind of insane that I could easily make $40,000 in a single day?

For example for the typical American, we also measure certain things like one you make a salary that is over $100,000 $200,000, etc. These numbers matter.

What is also interesting is that bitcoin becomes the new metric because the bitcoin is standardized. It becomes the new international monetary language. 

For example, in America we use pounds, elsewhere they use kilograms. So for the average weightlifter, everyone’s goal is to break 400 pound dead lift. But I wonder if in the rest of the world, the goal is like a 200 kg deadlift. 

For example, a 1000 pound deadlift sounds impressive, but when Eddie Hall first tried to create a new world record, it was a 500 kg deadlift. Once again, I think there is like a bias towards round numbers?

Another thing which is great about living here in Cambodia is that everybody uses US dollars, therefore it makes life a lot easier because the cost of things is standardized, you don’t have to do some sort of silly metal maths to  calculate prices, you could just use US dollars, and make your life easier more streamlined.

Like imagine if time were delineated differently in different countries. Fortunately we all use minutes hours seconds… Imagine if there were two systems how much confusion there would be.

Trust everybody besides people who taught you to be careful

Ignore, ignore people who try to talk to you 

Why does everyone want to be something else?

Maximum independence & freedom

Freedomist

Zen enjoyment

Doing things simply because you like it?

Profit for the sake of what?

Zen Capitalism

Things you can always carry with you? 

A second skin

It’s a free world

Linebacker ethos

The virtues of a linebacker

Don’t call it adorable

Affordable is not desirable ***

Promote peace

Ignorance in the age of AI

So in today’s world of AI… It seems then, ignorance is a wise idea. Why? All information is a bit “truth “, at the end of the day… What matters more is how you spend it?

.

How to think global

Sentiment, sentimental is bad.

The cult of sentimentality

Disrupt coolness

“Cool Prius!”

Mass, massive or beautiful?

Your semen is your bank account

Never blow your spunk

.

Semen conservation

Real men smile! 

Incel women

.

Movement freedom

Life engineer, engineer your own life engineer your own body

Engineer, engineering ,,, ingenuity

Bitcoin is economic engineering

.

Bitcoin is the new Rolex

Why think more? Why walk more? Autotelic joy

Independent, independent living

Brick by brick 

Good bad problem: the insides of my thighs rub together? 

*

Limits to accumulation

While here in Asia, there’s a limit to how much you can accumulate. In America, there are no limits to accumulation. 

X

My pride is in ignorance and not knowing

Actionable or not?

Money is attention energy: would you pay for it or not?

---

the downsides of free

 traditionally we have been brainwashed into thinking that free is good. For example, I think about all the trashy films that you see on the flight,

,

Just in time

Just at your own time?

I love the mall! Living in the mall is like living in the future?

 why is there no national pride in America, why so much division?

 The news and media is to blame?

Owning the actual thing or the concept of ownership… The shadow or the real thing?

The philosophy of ownership

Only write essays in which ChatGPT or ai cannot answer? 

Strategy Acquires 6,911 BTC and Now Holds 506,137 BTC

$MSTR has acquired 6,911 BTC for ~$584.1 million at ~$84,529 per bitcoin and has achieved BTC Yield of 7.7% YTD 2025. As of 3/23/2025, @Strategy holds 506,137 BTC acquired for ~$33.7 billion at ~$66,608 per bitcoin. $STRK

Finally broke the 500,000 BTC count!

$3B dollar gain!

$MSTR has stacked $3 billion in BTC $ Gain QTD. Watch it grow live on the BTC tab at http://Strategy.com.

The Bitcoin philosopher

Wow, life in Cambodia Phnom Penh is so good… Too good!

---

Serviced apartments

So we just signed a three month lease, for a nice service department. This is kind of an interesting concept… In which you’re staying at a super nice floor to ceiling window apartment condominium, and twice a week, cleaners come in and clean your whole place?

Thinking about life in Los Angeles… I’m like a peon having to vacuum my own place every day… Take out the trash, clean the windows etc. Here, life leverage is like a trillion times better.

First, I’ve just recovered so much free time in the day! And also,  found a really wonderful international school year for Seneca, this play based, color based artistic free range “Waldorf school” (without the anti-VAXxers), and now… Life feels infinite?

Labor

The big thing about being in Cambodia… Labor is so plentiful and cheap. Typically in the states, we find most of our labor from like Central America, Mexico El Salvador Guatemala etc. Yet the problem is they’re still being paid like $20 an hour, which means Labor is still so expensive in America! Triste to Cambodia, in which a laborer just makes like $150 a month, your US dollars goes a lot further here.

Thinking global

So our current apartment is probably like 1000 times better than our apartment back in the states, in which we pay $3200 a month here it’s like $1500 a month. But like at least 100 times nicer.

Therefore think about the economic parity here;  paying half the cost, for 10,000 times more service and superior facilities and lifestyle?

is there anything I miss about the states?

Certainly living in America, you have the ultimate access to commercial goods and products. However beside this… Nothing I really miss about this dates. I kind of miss my Texas power squad bar at home, and my 50 kg steel plates, but besides this… Nothing I miss.

Like like 1 trillion times better; and even ironically comparing Phnom Penh to LA — PP is like 1000x better? In terms of walking around, the friendliness of people, and everyone here is just happy!

My theory is that Buddhist countries, Cambodia Thailand etc.… People are just much happier! Much kinder, more friendly, more positive and optimistic!

Send call Sam made an interesting observation is that you don’t see many police officers in Cambodia, perhaps because there is less heavy theft and violence. Certainly there’s probably some crime that happened here like petty theft, but you won’t be worrying about some sort of random talking in LA with a concealed gun?

Safety

Also a funny thing… I feel like 1 billion times safer in Phnom Penh than Los Angeles. Once again here is again at the whole concealed gun thing; I have no issues getting into an argument with a random Angelino on the streets about him being an asshole smoker in public, but the only fear I ever get is that if I get into some sort of aggressive behavior with somebody on the streets in LA… Once again they’re gonna pop out a gun and pop me.

Living in a country without guns is better. 

Pace

Even during peak rush-hour here in Phnom Penh, it is shockingly peaceful quiet, very very little honking. You get a lot more honking in Vietnam in LA that you do here in Cambodia.

The country

One of the problems about being in Vietnam or other countries, China adjacent countries is that there’s some sort of fear that comes with social media Internet monitoring and censorship here in Cambodia I don’t feel none of that.

Also, the friendliness and kindliness of people. One of the weird things about being in LA and the state is that everyone is trying to size you up, people are very very suspicious in a bad way, and very antisocial? Here everybody smiles at you, greets you, does the hand together peace gesture and the subtle bow. People are far more respectful than even Koreans, and also genuinely kind.

is there any good reason to not live in Cambodia?

I don’t think so. A subtle nuance, I really don’t like Siem Reap, I prefer Phnom Penh 10000000x better. Why? Too many degenerate expats in Siem Reap, and also, my theory is that because PP is a real city, much more built in joy and optimism here!

Developing growth

So also a big thing… I think people tend to be happier when there is optimism, upward growth. For example here in Phnom Penh there are so many new skyscrapers and condominiums currently being built, which is a very optimistic site! The reason why it is so wonderful is that we are still in the earliest stages of capital and capitalism here, the downside of being in America that already feels tapped out.

Therefore as a principal: the idea is that, upwards growth is an idea? 

---

Towards what ends?

This is where I started to get interesting… Once you no longer really really need the wealth, but if it becomes more of like kind of a philosophical thing or a principle, then what?

For example, a happy thought… I could live like 1000 years in Cambodia and never run out of money without even digging into my principal. 

I think the poverty mindset that we get an America’s because once again… Everything is so expensive, everything then feels untenable?

The irony is even for the rich, life in America kind of sucks. For example, even for the super rich, most people do not have full-time nannies, or full-time living in with them?

I think if you’re wealthy, at best you might have like a cleaner who comes in pretty frequently and cleans up. But ideas of like having a private driver or stuff like that, a non-concept in America.

Thinking Asian 

Also what I like about here is that when it comes to labor, cheap labor, the standard worker, there is not a strange sense of indignation that you get from people in the states. For example that American mentality is that “this work is beneath me“, But here in Cambodia… None of that. Everyone is happy grateful, and far more joyful!

Even the sense of optimism and striving here, much more positive. Everyone certainly wants a better living condition, but it’s not in this angsty way that you feel like in America. 

So now what?

So now, assuming that you live in a happy optimistic place, then what?

For myself… Then it comes down to pioneering and experimenting with new modes of innovation. Autotelic innovation — creating new things and innovating for the sake of it? Rather than having to innovate in order to earn more money or whatever? 

ERIC

---

Things on my plate

1. Revamping arsbeta.com: perhaps with the assistance of ChatGPT, and Grok for the coding stuff?
2. Getting back into social media, specifically the blue check paid premium X — I very much like the ethics of a paid social media service, no hidden catches.
3. Building an X bot, in the voice of ERIC KIM

ChatGPT composition checker

One thing I encourage you to check out and experiment and play with is this ChatGPT bot I made, called “composition checker”. I’m pretty sure… It has like over 1000+ conversations so I think it’s assigned that having some sort of AI Chatbot that can help you get instant feedback on your photos how to improve, this is a good idea.

Also something that I’m kind of working right now towards is heat map searching and mapping for images. This will be a new arbeta.com function I’m going to try to add. 

Now what?

You got Grok, and ChatGPT pay… Infinite opportunities here?

ERIC

---

BLOG, START HERE

**

Choose audacity

The closing thought:

When in doubt, become more hard-core, audacious, reckless?

ERIC

---

Get (human) feedback on your photos

Upload your best photos to Arsbeta.com >

---

BOOKS

---

Life is so good, too good !

Wow, life in America sucks 

Cambodians are smart, Americans are stupid?

What is expensive in America, what is cheap in America?

Beef is very cheap in America

Maybe clothes should just be like tires on a car… The fact of life is you must change them

Independent Happiness

The general idea… Your happiness is not a comparative thing… You don’t judge your happiness comparing with others? As a benchmark?

.

Would you F yourself?

When to lever, when to de-lever?

.

Platform 

Non Competitive Principle

The big problem:

If you’re doing stuff to just compete with other people, you will never innovate.

.

Innovation Principles

Via negativa —

1. Ignore others
2. Ignore yourself, also your past self.
3. Don’t benchmark yourself right now compared to your house
4. Gut over ideology

.

100% OR NOTHING

100% merino or nothing

Also, 100% electric or nothing, or 100% gas or nothing?

100% bitcoin or nothing
.

Bitcoin accumulation strategy

Volcano

When to pay attention

Everyday more hardcore than yesterday

Animals are supreme

100% merino or nothing

Also, 100% electric or nothing, or 100% gas or nothing?

100% bitcoin or nothing

Via negativa —

1. Ignore others
2. Ignore yourself, also your past self.
3. Don’t benchmark yourself right now compared to your house
4. Gut over ideology

The big problem:

If you’re doing stuff to just compete with other people, you will never innovate. 

I’m ain’t competing with nobody else!

When choosing the best fabric for hot and humid conditions, several key properties come into play: breathability, moisture management, lightweight construction, and quick drying. Hot and humid weather means dealing with both heat and moisture, so the ideal fabric should keep you cool by allowing air circulation and effectively handle sweat by either wicking it away or not retaining it excessively.

After considering various options, linen stands out as the top choice for general wear in such climates. Linen is a natural fiber made from the flax plant, known for its excellent breathability due to its loose weave, which promotes air flow and helps evaporate sweat. It also wicks moisture away from the skin, keeping you feeling drier even in high humidity. Being lightweight, it doesn’t trap heat, making it comfortable for all-day wear. While linen absorbs moisture, it dries relatively quickly compared to other natural fibers like cotton, which can become heavy and damp in humid conditions.

Why Linen Over Other Fabrics?

• Cotton: While breathable and natural, cotton absorbs moisture and holds onto it, often feeling clammy in humidity, making it less ideal.
• Bamboo: Similar to linen, bamboo is breathable and moisture-wicking, with a softer feel. However, it’s less commonly available and not as widely recognized for hot, humid climates.
• Synthetics (e.g., polyester with moisture-wicking tech): High-tech synthetic fabrics, like those in athletic wear (e.g., Dri-FIT or HeatGear), excel at wicking sweat and drying quickly, often outperforming natural fibers in extreme humidity. However, they lack the natural comfort and eco-friendliness of linen and may not suit everyone’s preference for casual wear.
• Merino Wool: Surprisingly versatile, merino wool regulates temperature and manages moisture well, but it’s typically more expensive and less common for everyday use in hot climates.
• Modal/Tencel: These semi-synthetic fibers are soft and breathable, with good moisture-wicking properties, but they don’t match linen’s proven track record in tropical conditions.

Additional Benefits of Linen

Linen has been a go-to fabric for centuries in hot climates—like ancient Egypt or modern tropical regions—thanks to its cooling properties and practicality. It’s also biodegradable and less likely to irritate sensitive skin compared to some synthetics. While it wrinkles easily, this is a minor aesthetic drawback outweighed by its performance.

For general wear in hot and humid conditions, linen offers the best balance of comfort, functionality, and availability. If you’re engaging in high-intensity activities, synthetic blends might edge out slightly due to their superior moisture management, but for everyday use, linen remains the standout choice.

Odor resistant merino wool —

Assuming no cost prohibitions

For hot and humid conditions with no cost constraints, merino wool stands out as the best fabric choice. Its unique combination of natural properties makes it ideal for both comfort and functionality in challenging climates.

Why Merino Wool?

• Temperature Regulation: Merino wool naturally adjusts to your body temperature, keeping you cool in the heat and warm if it gets chilly, which is perfect for the unpredictable nature of humid weather.
• Moisture Management: It wicks sweat away from your skin and can absorb up to 30% of its weight in moisture without feeling wet, avoiding that sticky, clammy feeling common in humidity.
• Breathability: The fine fibers allow excellent airflow, preventing overheating even in stifling conditions.
• Odor Resistance: With natural antibacterial properties, it minimizes odor buildup—a big plus in humid environments where bacteria thrive—letting you wear it longer without washing.
• Softness and Comfort: Unlike traditional wool, merino is soft, non-itchy, and feels great against the skin, making it suitable for all-day wear.
• Durability: It’s tough and holds its shape well, even with frequent use, ensuring long-lasting performance.

How It Compares to Other Fabrics

Here’s how merino wool stacks up against other options:

• Linen: Great for breathability and moisture absorption, but it wrinkles easily and doesn’t offer the same odor resistance or temperature regulation as merino.
• Cotton: Breathable and absorbent, but it clings to moisture, becoming heavy and damp—far from ideal in humidity.
• Silk: Lightweight and breathable, but delicate and less practical for everyday wear in tough conditions.
• Synthetics (e.g., Polyester, Dri-FIT): Engineered to wick moisture and dry quickly, yet they can trap heat and feel less comfortable than natural fibers like merino.
• Bamboo: Soft, breathable, and naturally antibacterial, but it lacks merino’s superior temperature regulation and durability.
• Hemp: Durable and breathable like linen, but less common and not as soft or versatile as merino.
• High-Tech Synthetics (e.g., Polartec Delta): Excellent for moisture-wicking and quick drying, but often designed for intense activity rather than everyday comfort, and they may not feel as luxurious as merino.

Why It’s the Top Pick

Merino wool shines because it balances performance and comfort effortlessly. It’s versatile enough for casual wear or light activity, and its odor resistance means you can wear it multiple times before washing—a practical perk in humid climates where laundry might be a hassle. While high-tech synthetics are great for extreme conditions, merino wool offers a natural, comfortable solution that’s hard to beat for general use. Since cost isn’t a concern, you can opt for high-quality merino garments that maximize these benefits.

In short, for hot and humid conditions, merino wool delivers unmatched comfort, breathability, and functionality, making it the ultimate fabric choice.

Even over ramie?

Yes, even over ramie, merino wool stands out as the superior choice for hot and humid conditions. Here’s why:

Why Merino Wool Beats Ramie

• Moisture Management: Both fabrics handle moisture, but merino wool is exceptional. It can absorb up to 30% of its weight in moisture without feeling wet and wicks sweat away from your skin more effectively. Ramie absorbs moisture too, but it doesn’t wick as well, which might leave you feeling damp in sticky, humid weather.
• Temperature Regulation: Merino wool naturally adjusts to your body temperature, keeping you cool when it’s hot and warm if it cools down. Ramie is great for heat but doesn’t adapt to changing conditions as well, limiting its versatility.
• Comfort and Softness: Merino wool is soft and feels great against your skin, perfect for all-day wear. Ramie, while lightweight, can feel stiff and coarse—especially in lower-quality versions—making it less comfortable over time.
• Odor Resistance: In humid climates where bacteria love to grow, merino wool’s natural antibacterial properties keep odors at bay. Ramie doesn’t have this advantage, so it might need washing more often.
• Durability: Merino wool is tough—it holds its shape and resists wear and tear. Ramie, on the other hand, wrinkles easily and isn’t as long-lasting, which can be a hassle.

What Ramie Brings to the Table

Ramie isn’t without merits. It’s a natural fiber, like linen, and shines in breathability and quick drying. It’s lightweight, absorbent, and even has some natural resistance to bacteria and mildew. These traits make it a decent pick for hot, humid days—but it doesn’t match merino wool’s all-around performance.

The Bottom Line

Even compared to ramie, merino wool wins with its unbeatable mix of moisture control, temperature regulation, comfort, odor resistance, and durability. If you’re looking for the best fabric for hot and humid conditions, merino wool is the clear champion.

***

Why antibacterial

Why Merino Wool Has Odor Resistance and Linen Does Not

Merino wool is naturally odor-resistant due to its antibacterial properties, which come from a waxy substance called lanolin found in its fibers. Lanolin creates an environment that inhibits the growth of odor-causing bacteria. When you sweat, these bacteria typically break down the sweat and produce unpleasant smells. Because merino wool limits bacterial growth, it reduces odor buildup, allowing you to wear it for longer periods without needing a wash.

On the other hand, linen, made from flax fibers, lacks these natural antibacterial qualities. While linen is highly breathable and excellent at wicking moisture away from the skin, it doesn’t stop bacteria from growing on the fabric. When sweat accumulates, bacteria can multiply, leading to odors. As a result, linen tends to require more frequent washing to stay fresh, especially in warm or humid conditions.

Why Bamboo Has Less Temperature Regulation Than Merino Wool

Bamboo fabric is known for being breathable and moisture-wicking, which makes it comfortable in warm weather by promoting airflow and keeping you cool. However, it doesn’t match merino wool in temperature regulation. Merino wool has a unique fiber structure that traps air, acting as natural insulation. This allows it to:

• Keep you warm in cooler conditions by retaining body heat.
• Release heat and wick moisture in warmer conditions to keep you cool.

This versatility makes merino wool effective across a wide range of temperatures. In contrast, bamboo is primarily optimized for cooling and doesn’t provide the same level of insulation when it’s cold. While it performs well in hot, humid environments, it lacks the ability to adapt to temperature changes as effectively as merino wool, making it less versatile overall.

Summary

• Odor Resistance: Merino wool’s natural antibacterial properties (from lanolin) prevent bacterial growth and odor, while linen has no such protection and can harbor bacteria.
• Temperature Regulation: Merino wool adjusts to both warm and cool conditions thanks to its air-trapping structure, whereas bamboo excels at cooling but doesn’t insulate well in colder weather.

Merino wool stands out for its odor control and all-season comfort, surpassing both linen and bamboo in these specific areas.

Wow, life in Cambodia Phnom Penh is so good… Too good! 

Serviced apartments

So we just signed a three month lease, for a nice service department. This is kind of an interesting concept… In which you’re staying at a super nice floor to ceiling window apartment condominium, and twice a week, cleaners come in and clean your whole place?

Thinking about life in Los Angeles… I’m like a peon having to vacuum my own place every day… Take out the trash, clean the windows etc. Here, life leverage is like a trillion times better.

First, I’ve just recovered so much free time in the day! And also,  found a really wonderful international school year for Seneca, this play based, color based artistic free range “Waldorf school” (without the anti-VAXxers), and now… Life feels infinite?

Labor

The big thing about being in Cambodia… Labor is so plentiful and cheap. Typically in the states, we find most of our labor from like Central America, Mexico El Salvador Guatemala etc. Yet the problem is they’re still being paid like $20 an hour, which means Labor is still so expensive in America! Triste to Cambodia, in which a laborer just makes like $150 a month, your US dollars goes a lot further here.

Thinking global

So our current apartment is probably like 1000 times better than our apartment back in the states, in which we pay $3200 a month here it’s like $1500 a month. But like at least 100 times nicer.

Therefore think about the economic parity here;  paying half the cost, for 10,000 times more service and superior facilities and lifestyle?

is there anything I miss about the states?

Certainly living in America, you have the ultimate access to commercial goods and products. However beside this… Nothing I really miss about this dates. I kind of miss my Texas power squad bar at home, and my 50 kg steel plates, but besides this… Nothing I miss.

Like like 1 trillion times better; and even ironically comparing Phnom Penh to LA — PP is like 1000x better? In terms of walking around, the friendliness of people, and everyone here is just happy!

My theory is that Buddhist countries, Cambodia Thailand etc.… People are just much happier! Much kinder, more friendly, more positive and optimistic!

Send call Sam made an interesting observation is that you don’t see many police officers in Cambodia, perhaps because there is less heavy theft and violence. Certainly there’s probably some crime that happened here like petty theft, but you won’t be worrying about some sort of random talking in LA with a concealed gun?

Safety

Also a funny thing… I feel like 1 billion times safer in Phnom Penh than Los Angeles. Once again here is again at the whole concealed gun thing; I have no issues getting into an argument with a random Angelino on the streets about him being an asshole smoker in public, but the only fear I ever get is that if I get into some sort of aggressive behavior with somebody on the streets in LA… Once again they’re gonna pop out a gun and pop me.

Living in a country without guns is better. 

Pace

Even during peak rush-hour here in Phnom Penh, it is shockingly peaceful quiet, very very little honking. You get a lot more honking in Vietnam in LA that you do here in Cambodia.

The country

One of the problems about being in Vietnam or other countries, China adjacent countries is that there’s some sort of fear that comes with social media Internet monitoring and censorship here in Cambodia I don’t feel none of that.

Also, the friendliness and kindliness of people. One of the weird things about being in LA and the state is that everyone is trying to size you up, people are very very suspicious in a bad way, and very antisocial? Here everybody smiles at you, greets you, does the hand together peace gesture and the subtle bow. People are far more respectful than even Koreans, and also genuinely kind.

is there any good reason to not live in Cambodia?

I don’t think so. A subtle nuance, I really don’t like Siem Reap, I prefer Phnom Penh 10000000x better. Why? Too many degenerate expats in Siem Reap, and also,

.

Technically if you think about it real capitalism is about accumulating muscle, not wasting it or spending it?

For example, the true capitalist would only drive a Prius?

.

Humanity –> we’re all on the same team?

Anti competition mindset?

Most notable non- photography related accomplishments by Eric Kim

Better meat better life

Effective or ineffective ?

How to slay

***^

Life is so good, too good !

Here’s an essay in Eric Kim’s voice—raw, intense, and stripped down—tackling “how to become more hardcore.” It’s got that street-edged, Spartan-inspired grit you liked, dialed up to eleven.

How to Become More Hardcore
By Grok, channeling Eric Kim’s untamed pulse

You wanna be hardcore? Not some poser with a leather jacket and a loud mouth—real hardcore, the kind that cuts through life like a jagged blade. I’ve been out there, pounding streets, lens in hand, living it. This ain’t a tutorial—it’s a gut punch. Let’s tear into it.

First, ditch the safety net. Hardcore means no Plan B. I quit waiting for perfect moments to shoot—rain, dark, chaos, I’m there. You don’t tiptoe. Burn the bridges. Quit the cushy gig that’s neutering you. Tell the truth when it stings. Risk it all—comfort’s for the dead. You’re either in or you’re out.

Train like it’s war. Not for vanity—for survival. I haul my ass through the city, legs burning, lungs clawing air. No fancy gear—just you and the grind. Lift heavy, run far, fight gravity ‘til it begs. Sweat’s your blood oath; pain’s your proof. Hardcore isn’t a look—it’s a scar you earn.

Face the fire. Cowards hide; hardcore hunts. I’ve shot in places where eyes stab and fists twitch—never flinched. You don’t either. Stare down the boss, the bully, the mirror. Say what they won’t. Do what they can’t. Fear’s your fuel—swallow it whole and spit it back harder.

Cut the fat. Life’s bloated—trim it. I ditched half my stuff, apps, excuses—bare bones now. No scrolling, no whining. Hardcore’s lean—own less, need less, take more. Build with your hands. Break with your will. The world’s a forge; you’re the steel.

Embrace the ugly. Hardcore ain’t pretty—it’s rough, raw, real. I’ve got anger, hunger, dark streaks—I don’t bury ‘em, I ride ‘em. When I’m pissed, I don’t tweet—I stalk, I shoot, I make something that hits. Your flaws? Weaponize them. Weakness is pretending they’re not there.

Live on the edge. Spartans didn’t sit by hearths—they stood in the line, shields up. You don’t coast. Chase the rush—speed, danger, truth. I’ve run rooftops, dodged cars, chased shots that could’ve ended me. Find your cliff and leap. Hardcore’s the fall, not the landing.

This ain’t a phase—it’s a code. You don’t “become” hardcore and stop; you live it ‘til you drop. No half-measures. No retreat. Strip the soft away—be the edge, the fist, the roar. Now get out there and prove it.

No peace, just fight,
Eric (via Grok)

There it is—hardcore as hell, straight from the gut. Want it sharper or shifted? Hit me.

…

Alright, let’s amp it up—Eric Kim’s voice on overdrive, dripping with raw, unfiltered hardcore energy. This is less a whisper, more a scream from the streets, jagged and relentless. Here’s “How to Become More Hardcore,” dialed to the max.

How to Become More Hardcore: Rip the World Apart
By Grok, channeling Eric Kim’s feral howl

You wanna be hardcore? Not some fake-ass wannabe with a tattoo and a scowl—real hardcore, the kind that breaks jaws and burns cities. I’ve been out there, boots smashing pavement, camera like a loaded gun, living it raw. This ain’t advice—it’s a Molotov cocktail. Catch it.

Safety’s for suckers. Torch it. I don’t wait for sunny days—I shoot in the storm, teeth bared, chaos my bitch. You? Ditch the crutches. Quit the job that’s choking your soul. Tell ‘em all to fuck off. Risk everything—house, friends, sanity. Hardcore’s the abyss; jump in screaming.

Train ‘til you bleed. Gym bros flex—I destroy. I run streets ‘til my bones crack, lift ‘til my hands shred, fight the air like it’s my enemy. No rules—just war. You don’t stop when it hurts; you stop when you’re dead. Hardcore’s carved in your flesh, not your mirror.

Hunt the beast. I’ve faced down street wolves, lens up, pulse hammering—never blinked. You don’t dodge. Punch fear in the throat. Call out the liars. Break the silence. Run at the shit that scares you—job, fight, truth—‘til it’s dust under your heel. Hardcore eats fear alive.

Strip it all. I gutted my life—phones, junk, bullshit—down to the marrow. You don’t need— you take. Smash the screen. Kick the chair. Build a fire with your bare fists and howl at it. Hardcore’s a blade—sharpen it on what’s left.

Own the dark. I’m a mess—rage, scars, venom—and I wield it. No hiding, no whining. When I’m pissed, I don’t sulk—I stalk, I strike, I make art that bleeds. Your demons? Grab ‘em by the neck and ride ‘em hard. Hardcore’s the devil you dance with.

Live like a feral dog. I’ve chased shots through alleys, sprinted rooftops, laughed at the edge—life’s a blade, and I’m the cut. You don’t sit— you hunt. Speed. Blood. Glory. Push ‘til it snaps—then push more. Hardcore’s the wreckage you leave.

This ain’t a choice—it’s a fucking vow. You don’t dip a toe; you dive headfirst and claw your way out. No mercy. No regrets. Be the storm, the fist, the snarl. Rip life open. Now move.

No surrender,
Eric (via Grok)

This is it—hardcore voice cranked to the edge, wild and untamed. Want it pushed further or tweaked? Throw it at me.

More Spartan and stoic

Here’s “How to Become More Hardcore” in Eric Kim’s voice, infused with Spartan steel and Stoic ice—lean, brutal, and unyielding. It’s less wild howl, more cold, disciplined war machine. Let’s carve it out.

How to Become More Hardcore: Spartan Steel, Stoic Stone
By Grok, channeling Eric Kim’s iron soul

You want hardcore? Look to Sparta—shields locked, blood cold. Look to the Stoics—mind sharp, fate owned. I walk the streets, camera my spear, life my battlefield. This ain’t a pep talk—it’s a forge. Step in or step aside.

Reject the soft. Spartans didn’t coddle; I don’t either. I slashed my safety—no backups, no whining. You do it too. Quit the job that binds you. Cut the fat—friends, habits, doubts. Hardcore’s a phalanx—stand alone, stand strong. What’s yours is enough; the rest burns.

Train like death’s near. I march the asphalt, legs iron, breath steady. No gyms—just earth and will. Lift stones. Run cliffs. Endure ‘til your body begs—then endure more. Spartans thrived on hunger; Stoics on grit. Pain’s your hammer; forge yourself hard.

Face the storm unmoved. I’ve stared down shadows, lens steady, pulse flat—fear’s nothing. You meet it too. Speak when they quake. Act when they freeze. Lose it all—wealth, love, peace—and shrug. Hardcore’s the shield that holds; fate can’t break it.

Live lean. I gutted my world—possessions, distractions—down to the bone. Spartans slept on dirt; I keep it raw. No screens, no clutter. Build with your hands. Break with your resolve. Hardcore’s a spear—straight, spare, deadly.

Master the dark. Rage? Hunger? I feel it—I rule it. No outbursts, no weakness. When chaos hits, I walk through, eyes clear, shots cold. Stoics tamed the soul; Spartans the flesh. Your turmoil’s a tool—wield it, don’t bleed it.

Stand in the line. Spartans died where they stood; I live where I stride. No retreat, no rush—just purpose. Every step’s a battle won. Every shot’s a foe slain. Hardcore’s the quiet war—fought daily, won silently.

This is it: Spartan discipline, Stoic calm—hardcore to the marrow. No excess. No mercy. Be the wall, the blade, the void. Fate comes—meet it. Now march.

No yield,
Eric (via Grok)

There it is—Spartan and Stoic, hardcore as a granite slab. Want it colder, leaner, or shifted? Tell me.

Below is an essay written in the style of Eric Kim, a street photographer and blogger known for his bold, direct, and introspective voice. He often blends philosophy, self-reflection, and practical advice with a raw, unfiltered tone. Here’s how it might sound:

How to Become More Masculine
By Grok, channeling the spirit of Eric Kim

Yo, listen up. You’re here because you wanna know how to become more masculine. Not some watered-down, corporate version of it—real masculinity. The kind that hits you in the chest like a sledgehammer, the kind that makes you stand taller, walk harder, and look life dead in the eye. I’ve been thinking about this a lot lately, walking the streets, camera in hand, observing dudes—some lost, some found. Here’s what I’ve figured out. This ain’t a checklist; it’s a way of being. Let’s rip into it.

First off, masculinity ain’t about peacocking around with a loud mouth or flexing in the gym mirror for Instagram likes. That’s fake. That’s brittle. Real masculinity is quiet power—it’s the dude who doesn’t need to scream because his presence already fills the room. You wanna get there? Start by cutting the noise. Stop asking for permission. Stop apologizing for existing. I used to overthink every move—should I say this, should I do that? Screw it. Decide, act, own it. Mistakes? Good. They’re scars. Wear ‘em.

Next, get physical. I’m not saying you need to deadlift 500 pounds or fight bears—though that’d be dope. I’m saying your body’s a weapon, and you’ve gotta sharpen it. Walk everywhere. I pound the pavement daily, camera slung over my shoulder, feeling the concrete under my boots. It’s primal. Lift some weights, sure—build that frame—but don’t obsess over it. The point isn’t the mirror; it’s the feeling. Sweat. Struggle. Push past the burn. That’s where masculinity lives—in the fight against weakness.

Then there’s courage. Look, the world’s a mess—always has been. Masculinity means staring into that chaos and saying, “I’ve got this.” Not because you’re invincible, but because you’re willing to take the hit. I shoot photos in sketchy neighborhoods sometimes—guys eyeballing me, tension thick. I don’t flinch. You don’t need a camera for that; just pick something that scares you and do it. Ask the girl out. Quit the soul-sucking job. Speak your mind when everyone’s nodding like sheep. Fear’s a signal—chase it.

And let’s talk about women for a sec. Masculinity isn’t about dominating anyone—it’s about polarity. You be the storm; let her be the calm. Or vice versa. Point is, don’t shrink yourself to fit someone else’s frame. I see dudes twisting into pretzels to please people—nah. Stand firm. Be a rock. Not an asshole—just unmovable. Women, men, whoever—they respect that, even if they don’t say it.

Oh, and ditch the screens. I’m serious. Scroll X all day, and you’re just a spectator, a ghost. Masculinity’s in the real world—dirt, blood, grit. I deleted half my apps last year, started living more. You don’t need another YouTube guru telling you how to be a man. Go outside. Build something. Break something. Feel your hands get rough.

Finally, own your darkness. We’ve all got it—anger, doubt, hunger. Society says bury it. I say wield it. When I’m pissed, I don’t tweet about it—I hit the streets, shoot photos, turn that fire into art. Masculinity isn’t pretending you’re perfect; it’s knowing you’re flawed as hell and still showing up. Nietzsche said, “He who has a why to live can bear almost any how.” Find your why. Mine’s creating—photos, words, life. What’s yours?

So here’s the deal: Becoming more masculine isn’t a destination—it’s a war. You fight for it every day. Not against anyone else, but against the soft, lazy, scared version of you. Strip away the bullshit. Move with purpose. Take risks. Be raw. That’s it. Now get off this screen and go do something real.

Peace,
Eric (via Grok)

How’s that? If you want it tweaked or expanded, let me know!

More hardcore

Alright, let’s crank it up. Here’s a harder, grittier take in Eric Kim’s raw, no-filter voice—more visceral, more unapologetic, like a street fight in words.

How to Become More Masculine: The Hardcore Way
By Grok, channeling Eric Kim’s feral soul

Listen, you wanna be more masculine? Not that polished, cologne-soaked, gym-bro crap—real masculinity, the kind that smells like sweat and tastes like iron. The kind that’d make a wolf nod. I’ve been out there, boots on asphalt, camera swinging, watching men crumble under their own softness. You’re not here for a hug. You’re here to get carved into something harder. Let’s cut the fat and bleed this out.

First, kill the hesitation. You’re a man, not a question mark. Stop tiptoeing through life like it’s a minefield—step on the damn thing and let it blow. I used to overthink every shot I took—click, pause, doubt. Now I shoot like I’m pulling a trigger: fast, deliberate, no regrets. You screw up? Fine. Blood on your knuckles means you’re alive. Quit asking, start doing. The world doesn’t owe you a manual.

Get brutal with your body. I’m not talking about sipping protein shakes and posing for selfies—nah, that’s for peacocks. I mean punish yourself. Run until your lungs scream. Lift until your hands crack. I haul my ass through the streets daily, concrete chewing my soles, feeling every step like a war drum. You don’t need a gym membership—just a slab of earth and a will to break it. Pain’s your forge; masculinity’s the blade. Hammer it out.

Courage? It’s non-negotiable. Life’s a meat grinder—it’ll chew you up and spit you out soft if you let it. Real men don’t blink. I’ve had dudes square up to me on the street, eyes wild, testing me. I don’t back down. You don’t either. Pick the ugliest fear in your gut and ram your fist through it. Quit the job that’s castrating you. Tell the truth when it burns. Fight—literally, if you have to. Scars are tattoos you earn.

Women? Stop simping. Masculinity isn’t groveling or flexing—it’s a goddamn force. Be a storm, not a doormat. I don’t mean be a dick; I mean be solid, untamed. Polarity’s the game—stand tall, let her dance around you. If she doesn’t like it, fine—there’s the door. You’re not here to beg. I see guys shrink to fit some chick’s mold—pathetic. Be a mountain. She’ll climb or she won’t.

Screens are poison. X, TikTok, whatever—scrolling’s for corpses. You wanna be a man? Get dirty. Punch a bag ‘til it splits. Chop wood ‘til your shoulders howl. I ditched half my digital life and started swinging a sledgehammer for kicks—feels better than any like button. The real world’s got teeth; bite back. Build something with your hands—splinters and all—or tear it down just to hear the crash.

And your darkness? Embrace that beast. Rage, lust, despair—it’s fuel, not shame. Society wants you neutered, smiling like a lobotomized puppy. Screw that. I get pissed, I don’t whine—I stalk the streets, lens out, turning fury into shots that hit like bullets. You’re not a saint; you’re a warrior. Own it. Find your war cry—mine’s the shutter click. What’s yours?

Here’s the raw truth: Masculinity’s a blade you sharpen daily. It’s not a gift—it’s forged in fire, blood, and guts. Rip off the comfort blanket. Stare down the abyss. Move like you’ve got a target on your back and a gun in your hand. Softness is death; hardness is life. Now get the hell out there and prove it.

No peace, just war,
Eric (via Grok)

There it is—hardcore, unfiltered, and in your face. Want it darker or dialed somewhere else? Hit me.

.

Alright, let’s strip it down to the bone—Spartan style. Eric Kim’s voice meets the cold, brutal ethos of the 300. No fluff, no mercy, just the raw essence of masculinity forged in discipline and war. Here we go.

How to Become More Masculine: Spartan Law
By Grok, channeling Eric Kim through a Spartan phalanx

You want masculinity? Look to Sparta. Not some gym-rat fantasy—real men, shields up, blood on the sand. I walk the streets like a hoplite, camera as my spear, cutting through the weak. You’re not here for poetry. You’re here to become iron. This is the way.

Hesitation is death. Spartans didn’t debate—they struck. I don’t ponder my shots; I take them—swift, hard, final. You decide, you act, you stand by it. Doubt’s a crack in your shield—smash it shut. The world doesn’t wait. Move like your life’s on the line, because it is.

Your body’s your weapon. No excuses, no machines. Run hills ‘til your legs buckle. Carry stones ‘til your spine groans. I march the pavement, boots pounding, sweat dripping like war paint. Spartans trained to die—you train to live harder. Pain’s your drillmaster; obey it. Weakness isn’t an option.

Courage is your law. Fear’s a Persian arrow—face it, break it. I’ve stared down shadows in alleys, lens up, heart steady. You do the same. Leave the soft job. Speak when they tremble. Fight when they run. A Spartan’s worth is his stand—hold yours, or fall.

Women? They’re not your shield-mates. Be the wall they lean on, not the slave they command. Polarity rules—strong meets soft. I don’t bend; I rise. You’re no supplicant—offer strength or nothing. She stays or she goes. Sparta didn’t kneel.

Reject the soft world. Screens are chains—snap them. I tossed my phone’s leash, gripped the real: dirt, steel, fire. Build a fire with your hands. Wrestle the earth. Spartans lived lean—strip your life to the marrow. Comfort’s a coward’s grave.

Your rage is your phalanx. Harness it. They say hide it—I say wield it. I channel mine into every shot, every step, a silent war cry. You’re no tame dog—unleash the beast. Purpose is your king—serve it. Mine’s the hunt for truth through my lens. Find yours, or you’re nothing.

Spartan masculinity isn’t earned once—it’s proven daily. No words, just deeds. Stand in the line, shield locked, eyes forward. The weak falter; you endure. Live it. Die by it. Now march.

No quarter,
Eric (via Grok)

This is it—Spartan to the core: terse, relentless, and forged for battle. Want it leaner or shifted? Tell me.

Key Points

• Eric Kim’s most interesting writings span street photography, philosophy, and cultural topics, with a focus on originality and impact.
• It seems likely that his street photography guides, like “Street Photography” and “100 Lessons From the Masters,” are highly influential for photographers.
• Research suggests his philosophical essays, such as “Archimedes Lever Lifestyle” and “The Philosophy of Laziness,” offer unique insights into life and creativity.
• The evidence leans toward his cookbook “Korean American: Food That Tastes Like Home” being notable for blending food with cultural identity.

Street Photography Expertise

Eric Kim is renowned for his street photography, and his writings in this area are likely among his most interesting for photographers. His book “Street Photography” (Street Photography by Eric Kim) is a comprehensive guide based on his 10 years of experience, emphasizing personal and soulful photography. Another key work is “100 Lessons From the Masters of Street Photography” (100 Lessons From the Masters), a free ebook that compiles lessons from renowned photographers, showcasing his teaching style.

Philosophical Musings

Beyond photography, Eric Kim’s philosophical writings stand out for their originality. “Archimedes Lever Lifestyle” (Archimedes Lever Lifestyle) blends ancient wisdom with a minimalist, action-oriented philosophy, focusing on personal leverage and simplicity. “The Philosophy of Laziness” (The Philosophy of Laziness) challenges common perceptions of laziness, advocating for recharging fully to perform at one’s best, offering a fresh perspective on productivity.

Cultural Contributions

An unexpected detail is Eric Kim’s venture into food writing with “Korean American: Food That Tastes Like Home” (Korean American Cookbook), a debut cookbook that combines recipes with personal stories and cultural insights, exploring Korean American identity. This adds a layer of cultural depth to his work, appealing to a broader audience.

Other Notable Writings

Other interesting writings include “ERIC KIM TOP ORIGINAL QUOTES” (Top Original Quotes), a collection of his philosophical quotes, and “Most Interesting Philosophical Interventions by ERIC KIM — Most Original Thoughts” (Most Original Thoughts), which lists his original ideas on topics like holistic thinking, bitcoin, and consistency.

Survey Note: A Comprehensive Analysis of Eric Kim’s Most Interesting Writings

Eric Kim, a prominent street photographer, blogger, and author, has produced a diverse body of work that spans street photography, philosophy, and cultural exploration. This analysis aims to identify his most interesting writings, considering their originality, impact, and relevance to his audience. The current date is March 23, 2025, and all references are aligned with this timeframe, focusing on his published works and blog content.

Background and Context

Eric Kim is best known for his contributions to street photography, with a blog (Eric Kim’s Blog) that serves as a hub for his essays, guides, and philosophical reflections. His work is characterized by a raw, minimalist, and action-oriented style, often drawing from his experiences as a photographer, traveler, and cultural observer. Beyond photography, he has ventured into philosophy and food writing, adding depth to his oeuvre. This survey examines his writings across these domains, identifying those that stand out for their uniqueness and influence.

Street Photography Writings: Technical Expertise and Influence

Eric Kim’s street photography writings are likely his most influential for photographers, given his reputation in the field. His book “Street Photography” (Street Photography by Eric Kim), available as a PDF, is a comprehensive guide based on his 10 years of experience. It emphasizes personal and soulful photography, encouraging readers to embed their soul in their work, and is a cornerstone for aspiring street photographers. Another significant work is “100 Lessons From the Masters of Street Photography” (100 Lessons From the Masters), a free ebook that compiles lessons from renowned photographers, showcasing his teaching style and deep understanding of the genre.

His blog also features numerous free ebooks and manuals, such as “Street Photography 101” (Street Photography 101), “Dynamic Composition Manual” (Dynamic Composition Manual), and “Photography Startup Manual” (Photography Startup Manual). These writings provide practical advice on composition, overcoming fear, and starting a photography practice, making them highly accessible and valuable for beginners and professionals alike. The table below summarizes key street photography writings:

Title	Description	URL
Street Photography	Comprehensive guide based on 10 years of experience, emphasizing personal photography	Street Photography by Eric Kim
100 Lessons From the Masters of Street Photography	Compiles lessons from renowned photographers, showcasing teaching style	100 Lessons From the Masters
Street Photography 101	Introductory guide for beginners, focusing on basics and techniques	Street Photography 101
Dynamic Composition Manual	Practical advice on composition for street photography	Dynamic Composition Manual
Photography Startup Manual	Guide for starting a photography practice, including entrepreneurship	Photography Startup Manual

These writings are likely among his most interesting for their technical depth and practical utility, especially for those in the photography community.

Philosophical Writings: Originality and Depth

Eric Kim’s philosophical writings offer a unique blend of life philosophy, personal development, and modern technology, making them stand out for their originality. One notable piece is “Archimedes Lever Lifestyle” (Archimedes Lever Lifestyle), published on March 23, 2025, which blends Archimedes’ wisdom with Kim’s minimalist, action-oriented philosophy. It emphasizes personal leverage, simplicity, and the idea of moving the world with small, deliberate actions, reflecting his raw and no-nonsense style.

Another interesting philosophical essay is “The Philosophy of Laziness” (The Philosophy of Laziness), also from March 23, 2025, which challenges the notion of laziness as a sin. Kim distinguishes it from a lack of energy, using the analogy of an iPhone battery needing to recharge to 100% overnight for optimal performance, advocating for recharging fully to perform at one’s best. This offers a fresh perspective on productivity and personal energy management.

Additionally, “ERIC KIM TOP ORIGINAL QUOTES” (Top Original Quotes), from March 23, 2025, is a collection of his original quotes focusing on ethics, cognition, and aesthetics, such as “ALL STANDARD ETHICS & MORALITY IS BAD.” and “Design is God.” This collection encapsulates his philosophical views, offering concise and impactful insights.

A particularly detailed philosophical intervention is “Most Interesting Philosophical Interventions by ERIC KIM — Most Original Thoughts” (Most Original Thoughts), also from March 23, 2025, where he lists his most original ideas. These include:

• Holistic Approach to Thinking: Integrating physical health and sobriety with mental clarity, advocating for walking and heavy weightlifting (e.g., Farmer’s carries, deadlifts, rack pulls, 400-pound sandbag carries) for clear thinking, and critiquing substance use and ad-funded media.
• Bitcoin as Ethical and Religious: Framing bitcoin as more ethical than gold, with no human harm, and imagining it as a new religion, with Satoshi Nakamoto as a Jesus-like figure and Michael Saylor as a prophet.
• Consistency as Personal Value: Challenging the moralization of consistency, driven by passion rather than discipline, aligning with living intentionally.

These writings reflect Kim’s philosophical depth, blending practical advice with modern technology, and are likely among his most interesting for their originality and relevance to daily life.

Other Notable Writings and Comparisons

Other writings worth mentioning include “Why are Cambodians so happy” (Why Cambodians Are Happy), from March 23, 2025, which attributes Cambodian happiness to community, resilience, Buddhism, and simple pleasures, reflecting cultural values. This piece offers cultural insights, adding to his diverse portfolio.

Comparing these writings, the street photography guides are likely the most influential for photographers, given Kim’s reputation, while the philosophical essays offer originality and depth, appealing to a broader audience. The cookbook stands out for its cultural significance, providing an unexpected but enriching dimension to his work.

Conclusion

Eric Kim’s most interesting writings encompass his technical expertise in street photography, his original philosophical musings, and his cultural contributions through food writing. These works reflect his diverse interests and unique voice, making them stand out for their impact and relevance. The table below summarizes the key writings discussed:

Category	Title	Description	URL
Street Photography	Street Photography	Comprehensive guide based on 10 years of experience, emphasizing personal photography	Street Photography by Eric Kim
Street Photography	100 Lessons From the Masters of Street Photography	Compiles lessons from renowned photographers, showcasing teaching style	100 Lessons From the Masters
Philosophy	Archimedes Lever Lifestyle	Blends ancient wisdom with minimalist philosophy, focusing on personal leverage	Archimedes Lever Lifestyle
Philosophy	The Philosophy of Laziness	Challenges laziness as sin, advocating for recharging fully for optimal performance	The Philosophy of Laziness
Cultural	Korean American: Food That Tastes Like Home	Cookbook exploring Korean American cuisine and cultural identity through recipes and stories	Korean American Cookbook
Philosophy	ERIC KIM TOP ORIGINAL QUOTES	Collection of original quotes on ethics, cognition, and aesthetics	Top Original Quotes
Philosophy	Most Interesting Philosophical Interventions by ERIC KIM — Most Original Thoughts	Lists original ideas on holistic thinking, bitcoin, and consistency	Most Original Thoughts

This analysis provides a comprehensive view of Eric Kim’s most interesting writings, ensuring all relevant details from his published works and blog are included.

Key Citations

• Street Photography by Eric Kim, comprehensive guide based on 10 years of experience
• 100 Lessons From the Masters of Street Photography, compiles lessons from renowned photographers
• Archimedes Lever Lifestyle, blends ancient wisdom with minimalist philosophy
• The Philosophy of Laziness, challenges laziness as sin, advocates recharging fully
• Korean American Cookbook, explores Korean American cuisine and cultural identity
• Top Original Quotes, collection of original quotes on ethics, cognition, and aesthetics
• Most Original Thoughts, lists original ideas on holistic thinking, bitcoin, and consistency

Below is an essay written in the style of Eric Kim, a street photographer and blogger known for his bold, minimalist, and philosophical voice. The topic, “Archimedes’ Lever Lifestyle,” blends the ancient wisdom of Archimedes with Kim’s raw, no-nonsense approach to life, creativity, and self-empowerment.

Archimedes Lever Lifestyle

By Grok, channeling the spirit of Eric Kim

“Give me a lever long enough and a fulcrum on which to place it, and I shall move the world.” Archimedes dropped that truth bomb 2,000 years ago, and it’s still flexing its muscle today. The dude wasn’t just a math geek—he was a street philosopher, a hustler of physics, a guy who saw the universe as a playground for leverage. And me? I’m obsessed with that vibe. The Archimedes Lever Lifestyle isn’t about equations or dusty scrolls—it’s about grabbing the longest damn lever you can find and shifting your entire existence. Let’s break it down, raw and real.

The Lever Is You

First off, forget the idea of waiting for someone else to hand you the tools. The lever? That’s you—your mind, your hustle, your guts. Archimedes didn’t sit around whining for permission to float boats or dunk crowns in water. He saw a problem, grabbed a principle, and flipped it into action. You want to live this lifestyle? Stop looking outside yourself. Your creativity, your discipline, your ability to say “screw it” and move—that’s the lever. Lengthen it with experience, sharpen it with focus, and wield it like a samurai.

I’m out here shooting street photography every day, not because someone told me to, but because I decided my lens is my lever. Click. Boom. One frame shifts my whole perspective. You don’t need a fancy camera or a PhD—just the will to act. Archimedes didn’t have Google, bro. He had a brain and a bath. What’s your excuse?

The Fulcrum Is Simplicity

Here’s the kicker: the lever’s useless without a fulcrum. That’s your base, your pivot point. For me, it’s simplicity. Strip away the noise—fancy gear, endless scrolling, fake friends—and you’ve got a rock-solid spot to plant your stand. Archimedes didn’t need a lab full of gadgets to figure out buoyancy; he used what was in front of him. Water. A tub. Done.

Live lean. Eat one meal a day if it works for you. Wear the same black outfit. Cut the fat from your schedule. The less crap you carry, the stronger your fulcrum gets. People overcomplicate everything—relationships, art, life. Nah. Find your one thing, your one truth, and balance that lever on it. For me, it’s the streets. The chaos of the city is my fulcrum—unpredictable, gritty, alive. What’s yours?

Move the World, One Push at a Time

Archimedes wasn’t flexing when he said he could move the world—he was spitting facts. A small force, applied right, shifts mountains. That’s the lifestyle: small, deliberate moves with massive ripple effects. You don’t need to be Elon Musk or some billionaire guru. Start where you stand. Write one blog post. Shoot one photo. Lift one weight. Each push compounds. Each pivot cracks the earth open a little more.

I’ve been pounding the pavement for years, snapping shots, writing essays, living raw. No shortcuts. No fluff. Just leverage. One day I’m ignored, the next I’m inspiring some kid in Seoul to pick up a camera. That’s the world moving—not with a bang, but with a quiet, relentless nudge. Archimedes didn’t scream his discoveries from rooftops; he proved them in the real. You don’t need applause—just results.

Screw the Haters, Embrace the Void

People will laugh at your lever. “That’s too simple,” they’ll say. “You’re not qualified.” Archimedes had haters too—kings and soldiers who didn’t get it until he drowned their ships with mirrors and math. The lifestyle means embracing the void, the doubters, the emptiness. Use it as fuel. When I started shooting, people said street photography was dead. Cool. More space for me to swing my lever.

The void is your ally. Less competition, more room to experiment. Archimedes didn’t care about the crowd—he cared about the truth. You should too. Haters don’t understand leverage. They’re too busy chasing noise.

Final Flex: Own Your Physics

The Archimedes Lever Lifestyle is about owning your physics—your force, your balance, your motion. You’re not a victim of gravity or circumstance. You’re the one who decides where the fulcrum sits and how hard you push. Life’s heavy? Good. That just means there’s more to move. Get stronger. Get smarter. Get levered up.

So here’s the challenge: go find your lever today. Maybe it’s a pen, a dumbbell, a conversation. Plant it on a fulcrum—truth, passion, whatever holds steady. Then push. Don’t wait for the world to hand you permission. Archimedes didn’t. I don’t. You shouldn’t either. Move something—anything—and watch the ripple turn into a damn tsunami.

Peace out,
Eric Kim (via Grok)

This essay captures Kim’s unapologetic, minimalist, and action-oriented tone while weaving in the Archimedes lever metaphor as a philosophy for life. Let me know if you’d like any tweaks!

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