ERIC KIM ₿

Podcast

It seems that the bias in modern day life is to just create obedient hard-working industrious humans, in order to become future consumers, and debt slaves to the banks?

It seems in modern day society, the goal and the bias is to create obedient, hard workers, and also, future consumers.

1. Hit the gym
2. Do a really hot sauna (just go to the local commercial gym)
3. Ice cold shower
4. Just go outside and get some natural light and direct sun
5. Do something physical

Lesson:

The best way to deal with mental anxiety is to re-ground yourself into some form of physical activity.

Theory:

All mental ailments actually originate and are based in the physical?

You can just be anonymous, do your thing, and be left alone.

Lifting stones … like the Ancient Greek demigods (Achilles)— lifting a stone or boulder which barely two strong men could carry or lift … then throwing that rock or stone to kill their enemies (fight scenes in the Iliad).

For some sort of deadlift concept… it seems that “range of motion” is nonsense.

Doesn’t the best sense mean —

The absolute minimum range of motion, and just being able to successfully lift it… even a super tiny bit, like a cm, successfully off the rack or off the floor?

Rep fitness — look at all these sub sections:

More people should train topless… whether it be strongmen, powerlifters, body builders, general weight lifters etc.

Humble… humus, means “ground”. Also cognates with “humiliate”.

Being humble is a bad thing, why? Self humiliation?

Earth, human.

Humilis— low, lowly, small, slight, shallow. Also means to be “poor” and needy.

For me, one rep max “strongman” style.

Even Tim Cook, apple CEO only makes a $3 million a year salary.

What doesn’t?

Rep fitness yoke?

A very simple way to coordinate and plan your life is this:

In regards to anything, whether it be purchasing something, traveling, going somewhere, attempting something, either it is a “fuck yeah!“, Or a “no”.

Who is ERIC KIM?

Photos, art and memory. 

Photos which will (last) a long time —

DARK

JAPAN

HANOI

SAIGON

VIETNAM

PENTAX 645Z:

Is there anything bad about being weak?

The reason I don’t like to buy things online, even with Amazon prime, is that when I want something, I want to right now immediately. I don’t even want to wait an hour or two.

BEYOND is the goal and way.

Much to my great dismay, my Ricoh GR 3X digital camera recently went kaput. It no longer turns on or charges anymore. As a consequence, I have been doing all these experimentations with my iPhone SE, borrowing my friend Tim’s Ricoh GR 3, and also uncovering my old broken Ricoh Gr 3, which now no longer works anymore either.

1. Panasonic LUMIX

First, Panasonic LUMIX is good. Leica camera doesn’t want you to know this, but it seems that much of the early engineering of the Leica M9 digital camera, and a lot of Leica DLUX point and shoot cameras, I believe were co-engineered with the Panasonic Lumix engineers of Japan. For example, it is to my thought that the Leica Q-series camera is just like a Panasonic Lumix S series camera in disguise.

Even a few years back, with my Ricoh gr II broke, and I was in all of these Japanese camera stores experimenting with all the different cameras, surprisingly my favorite camera was actually the Lumix G9. And the other day, I recently reinstalled a new firmware update for the Lumix G9, and I have been experimenting with the new dynamic monochrome mode, cranking up the contrast and the green to max, and actually, I really like the way the photos look.

2. Ricoh Pentax

Ricoh and Pentax is the same company.

Frankly speaking, I believe the digital Ricoh GR 3X camera to be the best camera on the market in 2023, irregardless of price, specifications, etc. Better than any Leica or Fujifilm camera, at any form factor or price point.

The big issue with Rico to your digital cameras is that in terms of longevity, they don’t seem to last longer than one or two years. Therefore the conundrum:

Is it worth the sacrifice to buy a camera, knowing that it will only last you one or two years, and then having to keep buying it again and again, forever?

The funny thing:

There is a big difference between salary, and net worth.

For example, you could be earning $750,000 a year in Silicon Valley in the Bay Area, or in San Francisco, however, if your rent is $15,000 a month, you own 2.2 cars, send your two kids to private school, have outstanding loans, etc., your net worth actually might not be that high.

A thought:

In today’s capitalist world, we judge ourselves in our self-worth, and the self-worth of others based on numbers, in terms of monetary numbers.

For example, salary, whether monthly salary, yearly salary, or maybe net worth.

The great thing about weightlifting is that irregardless of who you are, how rich or poor you are, you can get monster numbers.

So some thoughts —

What is the secret to longevity, innovation, and going long?

You always have to go HAM (hard as a motherfucker)— but, keep going *MORE* HAM than you think you “should”.

Weight lifting — 9 plates and beyond. 875 pounds and beyond.

First, just having the privilege to be outside, in the direct sun.

I’m currently at my pinnacle, in terms of strength, success, overall physical and mental attitude. Now what?

LUMIX G9 x Dynamic High Contrast Monochrome grainy JPEG:

For example the joy of just going to ALDI and knowing… there is just *ONE* type of spicy mustard to get… instead of the stress and headache and ‘paralysis by analysis’ when going to Whole Foods, etc.

Also, the joy of getting 100% grass-fed ground beef at ALDI and know that you’re getting a ‘fair’ (bottom) price. You don’t gotta think twice before buying it!

For example, if you just cook up burger patties, how many pounds of meat, pounds of burger patties can you eat, consuming it with nothing else but spicy mustard?

Curiosity–

What is the world record for a hamburger (only the meat) eating contest?

First, the optimism for new gyms, new gym equipment, new modes of weight lifting, and new PR [personal record] attempts!

Second, optimism for technology. If you wait long enough, all this new technology will always be way better!

Also more meat!

Maybe me being pissed off, or annoyed, is a good positive motivator.

For example, I am much more efficient and save much more time when working out in a small gym when compared to a big gym.

Strong versus weak curiosity.

That which you are strongly curious about, insanely curious about, pursue it. When it comes to weak curiosity, don’t pursue it

. Barbell your curiosity.

by saving time, you’re saving life! Also, you can just do more and achieve more in a single given day or and in life.

Specifically, my record is six plates in a 2.5 on each side.

Besides trying to be macho, and just doing what everyone else is doing, is there really a good reason to do a bench press or floor bench press?

The first thought is it is just a fun thing to do is to kill time when you have already done a one rep max rack pull or atlas lift the other day.

Also assuming that you do a crazy arch, I think it is a good thing to strengthen your spine and flexibility, and also your leg Drive. Therefore for the sake of strengthening your back and your spine, and making yourself more flexible, in your back, and your arch, I think it is worth it!

Especially with gyms and gym equipment.

Perhaps this is the seed of innovation.

When should you switch up the facility? When you really truly have hit a hard cap. Like maxing out the bar.

Vlog

Lasting Long

I was randomly playing some songs from Jay Z‘s album 4:44 in my head today, and some thoughts:

Will this song, and this album last, or not?

Probably not. Why?

Jay Z‘s 444 album was kind of a strange album, part apology album for Jay Z continually cheating on Beyoncé, and also, I think Jay Z just wanted to put out an album for the sake of putting out an album, maybe in order to make money, etc.

Why last?

Nietzsche once said that durability was one of the highest human goods, or things on planet earth. Durability.

Merino wool?

I used to be a huge proponent of merino, especially for traveling, living in hot and humid climates like living in Vietnam, Cambodia, etc. I still think that merino wool is phenomenal, for example the outlier.nyc merino wool tshirt was insanely great (the ramie, ramielust t shirt is interesting to me for travel this summer to Korea and Vietnam). However, this is by far the biggest issue of merino wool:

It just doesn’t last.

For example, I have at least three or four outlier.nyc merino wool T-shirts, which have essentially been torn to shreds, through over-wear and tear over the years. They are all just sitting in a drawer now.

This is a tricky thing, because, the thought:

Does durability matter, if, your goal is to have the most apex thing?

For example, let us say that you are traveling in the hot and humid climate for the summer, and you want the best possible T-shirt, or material to travel with. You can only bring one or two. Then certainly you will choose the best thing, which is 100% merino wool, in lieu of knowing that it may only last a year or two tops.

Maybe the same analogy with road bikes, or racing bicycles, let us assume that the chassis is 100% carbon fiber. If you are doing a race, and you need every last advantage, certainly having a chassis which is 100% carbon fiber is best, although it is more prone to breaking, and it will not last as long as an aluminum or steel chassis.

Having to replace things is just annoying

Are currently speaking, I have a conundrum; I love the record your digital cameras, however they keep breaking on me. For example, my Rico GR 3X, which I might have only bought a year or two ago, has already went kaput, it doesn’t even charge or turn on anymore.

Or, my previous Ricoh GRIII, which has this perpetual lens error issue.

I contacted Ricoh to send me a new one, however, they just told me to repair it. To send it in, and pay around $340 to fix it. I can’t be fucked doing this.

Therefore, trying to think long, I was thinking:

What is a camera that I could purchase, which I know will be reliable, durable, and will last a very long time, and also is very compact, which won’t break on me?

Retractable lenses are bad

First note from a design perspective; cameras which have retractable lenses, seem like a good idea because it makes the camera more compact and slim, but are horrible because it leads to more parts which will lead to breaking.

Thus, the best camera in the best lens is a lens which is non-retractable. This means all Ricoh GR cameras are out.

Leica camera is interesting, because at least, their cameras either have fixed lenses, like on their Leica Q series cameras, or, interchangeable lenses, like on their Leica M cameras.

However a big downside of this is that the cameras are insanely big and bulky. Don’t be fooled, the Leica M digital rangefinder camera is still a very big and bulky camera, not that much lighter than turning around a DSLR camera.

From a design perspective, the Leica Q camera is very cool, I reviewed the Leica Q2 a few years ago and I liked it, but the big issue with the Leica Q camera:

I can’t stop help thinking that it is just a really expensive Panasonic Lumix camera.

Also, the big issue with the Leica Q camera is that it is also like having a very very expensive iPhone. Why? Can you imagine as if you spent $6000 on a iPhone 6s, do you imagine that you’ll still be using it today?

Likewise, even if you have the newest Leica camera, Leica Q2 camera, I think the longevity on it will be quite poor.

Also, I am sure there is already a Leica Q3 in the works — just hold out.

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Just buy what is newest?

From a longevity perspective, it seems that a good strategy is to just buy what is the newest. That is, which was released in the current year.

For example, as I voice dictate these words on my iPad Pro M1 chip, only buy a new digital camera which has been released in the year 2023, or within the last few months.

Also the same thing goes with devices, smartphones, iPhones, etc.

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Cars

For example, the good thing of lagging behind, and being a late adopter is many-fold:

For example, let us say that you were an unfortunate purchaser of an early model Tesla model S, or Tesla model 3. Very quickly, your car got outdated. For example, to my understanding the touchscreens of the older Tesla model S cars are very slow, unresponsive and laggy. Or, to my understanding the brand new Tesla model 3 has a different type of battery, battery architecture from the older Tessa model 3 with the chrome trimmings.

Or, now that the all black everything aesthetic is becoming more mainstream, even the misfortune of owning an older Tesla car, with chrome trim instead of just simple black trim.

The difficult and tricky thing with purchasing a new car, electric car, or a Tesla car is this:

The battery technology in cars and electric cars is evolving so quickly, it seems on wise to actually purchased or on a brand new electric car, because within a year or two, or two or three years, it will probably already get outdated.

Or let us consider how everyone is excited and waiting for the cybertruck to come out. Once the cyber truck comes out, everyone will want to get rid of their Tesla model three cars, their Tesla model Y cars, they’re a Tesla model X cars, and their Tesla model S cars.

Or, when the Tesla roadster finally comes out, everyone will want to get rid of their Tesla model S plaid cars.

iPhone Pro?

The reason why it seems wise to always delay and lag in regards to buying a new phone or iPhone is this:

There will always be a new new iPhone.

For example, it seems that the iPhone 11 Pro, 12 Pro, 13 Pro, and 14 Pro has evolved very quickly. As I write these words, iPhone 14 Pro is already dated. I’m sure that the iPhone 15 Pro is already in the works.

As a consequence, imagine that you bought an iPhone 14 pro just a few months ago, imagine your extreme dismay and frustration when the new iPhone 15 pro comes out.

So in regards to phones, or iPhones, what is the best strategy?

What I have personally discovered is just buy the cheapest, newest iPhone. Currently speaking that is the iPhone SE. Even though I don’t really like it that much, at least it is cheap, and the processor is actually quite new, and I don’t feel like I am married to it.

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Invest in the new

It seems that the best strategy is to just buy what is new, newest. Why?

First of all, technology moves so quickly. By buying or investing in what is new, typically speaking there is a higher likelihood of longevity. Even buying a technological thing, whether phone, tablet, laptop, car, electric car, Tesla, digital camera etc … even something first released 1 year ago, or 2 years ago is too old.

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How to have you last?

In regards to “dedication”, what does this really mean?

Check out the specs page:

It seems in life, ultimately when it comes down to it, the question you must ask yourself is this; how bad or how badly do you want it?

For the new Leica M11 Monochrom, some design critiques:

1. Leica should have went all in, and also blacked or grayed out the function text, up down left right arrows on the back.
2. Leica should get rid of that random top right button, I think which is for video. My thought is that the Leica M rangefinder camera is not for video, only still photos.
3. Similarly speaking, Leica should get rid of that random “thumbs up” design in the top right back corner, with that dial knob.
4. It should become as clean, pure, and flush as possible.

First, no viewfinder whether electronic viewfinder or analogue viewfinder. Only LCD back, like a point and shoot.

Second, no annoying branding or logos.

Third, minimal hand grip.

Forth, a bias towards photography, not video.

The Uber human

Digital nomad manual

Don’t compromise.

Simply refuel on the go?