Innovating new ways to move?
Tesla Autopilot as a great first step.
Flying over driving.
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Outdoor Gym
An outdoor gym – far superior for your health than an indoor gym?
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Outdoor Living?
A life with maximum time outdoors? My new extreme disdain with indoor gyms.
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IDEAS.
What is there a modern day paucity of? Ideas.
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I NEED TO GO HARDER, MORE EXTREME.
Looks like it is time for me to find a hardcore powerlifting gym!
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595 POUND FLOOR BENCH PRESS ATTEMPT ERIC KIM HYPELIFTING POWERLIFTING 2.0 (6 PLATES / 5)
I need a gruppier floor— the wood is too slippery. Or a grippy shirt?
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How to Become More Optimistic: The Philosophy of Optimism
Becoming more optimistic is a virtue.
I think I may be one of the most positive and optimistic people out there. Why? Maybe it is a result of my hard knock life upbringing (scars), or something else?
Modern day biases
The first thing is thinking sociologically, and thinking about modern-day society. It seems that the biases in today’s world, one is not permitted to be happy, jovial, friendly or gay. Instead, one is commanded to be morose, dark, melancholy, and depressive.
For example this thought,
“How can you be so happy and optimistic when there is so much pain and suffering and injustice in the world?â€
According to Nietzsche in the birth of tragedy, Nietzsche thought that in fact, tragedy, and what Albert Camus may call the “absurdâ€, perhaps the point exactly is this:
What makes tragedy so optimistic and positive? In lieu of all the tragedy, there is still hope, joy, and optimism.
For example as Nietzsche says at the end of “the will to power“, he sees reality as Bacchus or Dionysus forever being cut off, but being born a new. Or our modern-day depiction, imagine Deadpool perpetually getting his limbs cut off, but still being able to regenerate his limbs anew. Certainly he still feels the pain, but in fact, he is practically immortal. Or consider Wolverine, he still feels the pain when he unsheathes the adamantine claws from his body, and he still feels the insane pain when he is wounded, yet, he is still able to regenerate.
It takes more courage to be friendly, jovial, positive, and friendly than to be standoffish
Another weird thing, it seems that the bias in today’s world is that it is cool to be antisocial or standoffish. This leads to people wearing hats, sunglasses, hiding their face, wearing oversized clothes, and perpetually staring at their smart phone.
However, I believe this to be a cowardly approach and aesthetic.
Practices
How can you practice being more optimistic and positive?
- When you’re walking around the block, or outside, just wave and say good morning to everyone, regardless if or if not they respond to you or not.
- Maybe we should consider Jesus as a very positive and optimistic thinker, philosopher, and ultimate skin in the game. FYI I am Catholic and a “cult follower†of Jesus.
- 50×50? How far should we be relentlessly kind jovial and cheerful, even to those who suck? I say 50×50
- Murder them with kindness: A dark and morose thought, but still positive?
Weightlifting, hormones, testosterone?
There is a bias that testosterone makes you angry, and gives you “roid rage†(steroid rage).
However, this is my theory a la Nassim Taleb:
In fact, men with higher levels of natural testosterone are actually much more jovial, kind, friendly, and courteous than men with low testosterone.
This is what I believe to be the nuance:
If you are a man with high levels of natural testosterone, you’re happy and kind 99.9% of time. However, that .01% of the time that’s someone crosses the line, you tolerate no bullshit.
In fact, it is actually my theory that men with low levels of testosterone are the ones who are the most “passive aggressive.†A real man could not even be passive aggressive if he wanted to or tried.
Weight lifting is the answer
Very simple — one rep max style lifting, the ERIC KIM APPROACH.
That is,
Lift the maximum weight you possibly can, just once.
No “reps†(repetitions).
I believe this to be the best way to naturally boost your testosterone, practice yelling and screaming by getting insanely loud (primal screaming, HYPELIFTING, hyping yourself up). Let us consider modern day man is no longer permitted to be loud, yell, scream, or be a “savage†or beast.
Also, the insane huge endorphin rush associated with attempting a one repetition maximum lift. You must concentrate 100% of your effort, and focus, before attempting to lift a new personal record, something you have never attempted before. To me this is the ultimate life hack.
Unconquerable
I believe in life, as long as you have ambition, sleep well (8-12 hours a night), eat well, there is nothing you cannot attempt or do.
Why is everything so thoroughly dissatisfying to me?
Another aberrant thought in regards to optimism, perhaps it is extreme dissatisfaction which is the genesis of my optimism. Why? I believe it in my power and ability to change and steer my fate, and the direction of my life, in a way that I find personally pleasing.
Adding more dynamism to your life
Once you have a perfect life, then what? Then the next step is to simply keep adding more dynamism to your life.
Exercises to become more optimistic
- If you are passionate about photography, isn’t it exciting to think about the future of photography? How many new cameras will be invented, and what great new epic innovations will be had in the world of photography?
- If you are into cars, isn’t it exciting and interesting to think about the future innovations when it comes to car design, the new Tesla models, maybe even new Lamborghinis?
- Technology is fundamentally optimistic. Certainly 3, 5, 10, 20, 30 years from now, lots of interesting innovations would make life much more interesting. For myself speaking, I’m very excited and curious about how bitcoin will manifest in the next 20 or 30 or years.
- Crypto as also optimistic for the future. The joy of speculation is being excited for the future, just seeing how things will turn out.
- Kids are optimistic. If you’re on the fence, just have a kid. It is literally the best thing you can do. Why? Even on the day level, do you see your kid grow, change and evolve so much. With Seneca, it is easy for me to shoot a thousand photos a day!
- Travel: Traveling is also optimistic. The world is an insanely massive place. Where have you not yet been, which you’re excited to go to?
THINK OPTIMISTICALLY!
EK
START HERE / BOOKS / SHOPPE / WORKSHOPS
Share the optimism!
If this sparked even 1 ounce of optimism working here, feel free to forward this to a friend!
Fortune favors the happy!
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Why experience art?
Art as the great stimulus, motivator to life!
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ERIC KIM GOPRO MINI HIGH CONTRAST BLACK AND WHITE FLEX
The benefit and upside of high contrast black-and-white, either in-camera or post-processing is you could better see details, definition.
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I NEED MORE HEAT
I need more fire!
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Not enough challenge or danger is uninteresting to me
For example, at the gym, the only type of weightlifting that I like is the one which is extremely epic and magnanimous, and a high likelihood of failure.
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The Philosophy of Optimism
Becoming more optimistic is a virtue.
I think I may be one of the most positive and optimistic people out there. Why? Maybe it is a result of my hard knock life upbringing (scars), or something else?
Modern day biases
The first thing is thinking sociologically, and thinking about modern-day society. It seems that the biases in today’s world, one is not permitted to be happy, jovial, friendly or gay. Instead, one is commanded to be morose, dark, melancholy, and depressive.
For example this thought,
“How can you be so happy and optimistic when there is so much pain and suffering and injustice in the world?â€
According to Nietzsche in the birth of tragedy, Nietzsche thought that in fact, tragedy, and what Albert Camus may call the “absurdâ€, perhaps the point exactly is this:
What makes tragedy so optimistic and positive? In lieu of all the tragedy, there is still hope, joy, and optimism.
For example as Nietzsche says at the end of “the will to power“, he sees reality as Bacchus or Dionysus forever being cut off, but being born a new. Or our modern-day depiction, imagine Deadpool perpetually getting his limbs cut off, but still being able to regenerate his limbs anew. Certainly he still feels the pain, but in fact, he is practically immortal. Or consider Wolverine, he still feels the pain when he unsheathes the adamantine claws from his body, and he still feels the insane pain when he is wounded, yet, he is still able to regenerate.
It takes more courage to be friendly, jovial, positive, and friendly than to be standoffish
Another weird thing, it seems that the bias in today’s world is that it is cool to be antisocial or standoffish. This leads to people wearing hats, sunglasses, hiding their face, wearing oversized clothes, and perpetually staring at their smart phone.
However, I believe this to be a cowardly approach and aesthetic.
Practices
How can you practice being more optimistic and positive?
- When you’re walking around the block, or outside, just wave and say good morning to everyone, regardless if or if not they respond to you or not.
- Maybe we should consider Jesus as a very positive and optimistic thinker, philosopher, and ultimate skin in the game. FYI I am Catholic and a “cult follower†of Jesus.
- 50×50? How far should we be relentlessly kind jovial and cheerful, even to those who suck? I say 50×50
- Murder them with kindness: A dark and morose thought, but still positive?
Weightlifting, hormones, testosterone?
There is a bias that testosterone makes you angry, and gives you “roid rage†(steroid rage).
However, this is my theory a la Nassim Taleb:
In fact, men with higher levels of natural testosterone are actually much more jovial, kind, friendly, and courteous than men with low testosterone.
This is what I believe to be the nuance:
If you are a man with high levels of natural testosterone, you’re happy and kind 99.9% of time. However, that .01% of the time that’s someone crosses the line, you tolerate no bullshit.
In fact, it is actually my theory that men with low levels of testosterone are the ones who are the most “passive aggressive.†A real man could not even be passive aggressive if he wanted to or tried.
Weight lifting is the answer
Very simple — one rep max style lifting, the ERIC KIM APPROACH.
That is,
Lift the maximum weight you possibly can, just once.
No “reps†(repetitions).
I believe this to be the best way to naturally boost your testosterone, practice yelling and screaming by getting insanely loud (primal screaming, HYPELIFTING, hyping yourself up). Let us consider modern day man is no longer permitted to be loud, yell, scream, or be a “savage†or beast.
Also, the insane huge endorphin rush associated with attempting a one repetition maximum lift. You must concentrate 100% of your effort, and focus, before attempting to lift a new personal record, something you have never attempted before. To me this is the ultimate life hack.
Unconquerable
I believe in life, as long as you have ambition, sleep well (8-12 hours a night), eat well, there is nothing you cannot attempt or do.
Why is everything so thoroughly dissatisfying to me?
Another aberrant thought in regards to optimism, perhaps it is extreme dissatisfaction which is the genesis of my optimism. Why? I believe it in my power and ability to change and steer my fate, and the direction of my life, in a way that I find personally pleasing.
Adding more dynamism to your life
Once you have a perfect life, then what? Then the next step is to simply keep adding more dynamism to your life.
-
Why do it more than once?
Towards a one rep max philosophy to life.
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Heaviness is bad
Striving to become more heavy seems like a foolish pursuit.
For example, with travel, insanely lightweight is supreme. Any additional weight you add is positively detrimental to you.
Also with cars, making a car heavier, even if you add more horsepower is bad. Why? The rules of physics. A car that is heavier, irregardless of how low it is to the floor or wide, will perform less well at the race track. This is typically why very lightweight cars are more fun to drive, let’s say a Mazda Miata, or a mini Cooper.
In terms of weightlifting, bodybuilding in the gym, do not strive to become heavier. Typically when guys do this, they just end up getting fatter.
The simple approach then is just lift insanely heavy at the gym, eat a lot of meat, no starches no carbs no vegetables and fruit etc. Just eat until you’re naturally full, and then let the muscular gains come to you naturally.
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Why the squat makes no sense to me
For weightlifting, the squat is considered one of the fundamental exercises. However, to me, if I think about it critically, it doesn’t really make sense to me.
What doesn’t make sense to me? Well first of all, certainly lifting up the weight makes sense. However, having to unrack the weight, step back, squat down to an arbitrary depth, and then having to stand back up makes no sense as a movement.
What makes more sense? Setting the weight at about mid height, getting under the bar, and just standing up. Or as I do with the atlas lift, just getting under the bar, lifting up the weight and holding it on my shoulders, and then putting it back.
Moral of the story: there is no really good reason to do a squat in terms of an exercise.
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Should we treat boys and girls differently?
It seems that both benefit from athletics.
physical play. -
LIMINAL SPACES
Seneca loves being on bridges, in between bridges, in between transitional zones.
Also, I love being at the airport, in transition.
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How to Un Lemming Yourself
quit Reddit, quit YouTube, quit Instagram, quit Twitter, quit the news.
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Become more angular, more straight.
If you study Lamborghini design, it is all about becoming straighter, more angular, more aggressive. For example look at the front headlights of the new Lamborghini
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On Becoming a “Better†Photographer
I think what we want is to become “better†photographers. What does that really mean?
1. Becoming a more productive photographer
The first thought is in order to become a “better†photographer, it means to become a more productive photographer, which literally means to produce more photos.
What does that mean? In a single given day, how many photos do you shoot and make?
For example the other day I shot 850 photos in a single day, just in the boring suburbs.
How did I do this? Simple idea: set your camera to manual focus, and set the focus at .3 m, and just shoot a lot, everything with that pre-focused distance.
2. Compositions which excite you?
Another big thing about becoming a “better“ photographer is seeing and making compositions which are more interesting and exciting to you.
For example, the ability to see layers and photos. Also, shooting photos which are unexpectedly interesting.
3. A billion photos?
It seems that the new funny goal that we have in life is to become a billionaire. However, this is not in our control. You could be the smartest most industrious hard-working person in the world and in the universe, but it’s not guaranteed that you’ll become a billionaire. However one thing you could control is aspiring to shoot 1 billion photos in your lifetime before you die.
How could you do this? Maybe just using your smartphone whether it be an iPhone, normal iPhone, iPhone Pro, or even a Google pixel. Or maybe using a Ricoh GR digital camera and just shooting extra small JPEG.
This is the big innovation I have discovered:
The best camera is the camera which supports and allows for the greatest number of photos being made in a day, quantity, not quality.
4. Quantity in Photography
Quantity is objective, quality is not. A simple goal is to increase the quantity of photos you make, in a single given day, in a week, a month and a year in your lifetime.
A simple assignment I have is 1000 photo challenge. That is, in a single given day, just shoot 1000 photos.
5. On becoming a more motivated photographer
How does one become a more motivated photographer? Some thoughts:
First of all, allow yourself to become more childlike. That is shoot like a child or shoot like a kid. No obstructions, no biases.
6. Art inspirations?
Nowadays, I don’t really find much inspiration from other photographers. In fact, I think the best places to observe great cinematography and composition is from cinema and movies. Even watching the new trailer for John Wick four I am inspired.
7. Gym?
You can also shoot street photography at the gym. Photograph other people working out without permission or with permission.
You can get friendly with some members, and shoot street portraits of themselves in the gym.
8. Extra small does it
What is the best iPhone? For photography? The smallest most compact one. That is either an iPhone mini or an iPhone SE. Not the iPhone Pro.
Why? Because the iPhone Pro is bigger and heavier and more obtrusive, you will shoot with it less.
Also with cameras, the best camera is the one which allows you to shoot the most. That is the smallest most compact camera possible. Either a Ricoh GR three or 3X. Between the two, 3X is better.
Also, just shoot extra small JPEG. This will allow you to shoot faster, shoot more, download your photos quicker, and also upload your photos quicker.
9. Write books
What is a big field still awaiting disruption? I believe the photo book market, especially the educational one.
Why? Honestly, all of the photo books out there suck. And all of the educational photo books also suck.
Why?
First of all, everyone seems to love giving head to Susan Sontag On Photography, which I consider one of the worst books on photography ever written. It is full of pompous, constipated thoughts on photography, from a writer who herself was not even a photographer.
In terms of her personality and character, just read the encounter Nassim Taleb had with her.
Also, these books are often written by photographers whose photos aren’t really that interesting. I suppose the tricky thing is that the best photographers out there are just too busy out making photos instead of educating and writing. I think a lot of these famous photographers like Alex Webb or Steve McCurry teach workshops reluctantly, simply as a way to pay the bills, fund their travels etc. So to meet a photography teacher or educator who is both passionate about teaching and photography is rare.
Also, the issue with most photo books is that they are focused on highlighting great photos, rather than talking about how to do it, how to imitate, and how to make good compositions.
Remember when I was starting off in photography, and I just wanted to learn how to make better photos, I could not find a single book which was useful at all.
ERIC KIM BOOKS as the panacea
10. Keep traveling
Traveling is one of the best stimuluses for photography.
It could be far or close. It could be a road trip, it could be a cruise, even taking a national flight or a domestic is good, as well as international.
Some places that I personally love include Cuba, Mexico City, New Orleans, Dubai, Hanoi, Bangkok, Saigon, and Phnom Penh Cambodia.
The more I think about it, truly the best lifestyle is to have no baggage, literally and metaphorically, which allows for maximal personal freedom in your life. In fact, the ideal life or lifestyle is not towards owning a house or home but instead, to permanently live in hotels, or Airbnbs.
Even something I learned from my neighbor Jim is apparently kid rock just bought a pre-fabricated trailer, kind of like a motorhome, and just built it on top of the hill. He used to own a bunch of mansions but he found the maintenance to be a nightmare.
I found this very interesting, because then the goal is to have a maintenance free lifestyle.
EK EXPERIENCES
What can you become?
- May 6th (Saturday): CREATIVE CONFIDENCE ONLINE WORKSHOP (9am-11:30am, Online via Zoom)
- May 20th: DOWNTOWN LA ART WORKSHOP (Saturday, 11am-4pm) @ Verve Coffee
- May 27th: Downtown LA turbo thinking workshop, details to be posted soon.
- July 29-30th: SAIGON VIETNAM EPIC STREET PHOTOGRAPHY WORKSHOP (Details to be announced).
EK SHOPPE
The tools to conquer:
- HENRI SHOULDER STRAP: STAY STRAPPED.
- HENRI NECK STRAP MARK IV: LEGENDS NEVER DIE.
Random thoughts on my mind
- Function must always come first. For example, assuming you live in Southern California, just think about the days when it is 110°, do you really want a black car?
- Lululemon is the new Nike. Especially for men’s fitness clothing (all compression clothing everything)
- Powerlifting is for courage augmentation.
- Apple is the future of photography: stop buying those RICOHS
- I really hate the fake brown wood dash trim in Tesla model 3/Y— this alone makes me not desire to buy one. Why can’t there just be a simple “all black†interior?
- The ultimate focus on driving with yoke steering— I love it! Ultra red looks great on Model S Plaid.
Next
- Upload your best photos to arsbeta.com
- Upload your photos to your own blog
- Keep shooting!
- Watch John Wick 4 when you got the chance.
- Hit the gym at least once everyday! Or just go for the hot sauna.
Photo assignments
- Shoot 1,000 photos in a day.
- Just use Provoke cam on your iPhone and flash, or the noir with rich contrast photo style mode on iPhone
- Start vlogging and uploading to YouTube for fun
- Curate your photos and keep re-uploading them
- Try blogging from your iPhone with the WordPress app— insanely great!
The best current camera?
Maybe iPhone Pro? RICOH GR IIIX is technically the best, but longevity is insanely poor — only 1 or 2 years before mine broke.
Kid ideas
- Swift playgrounds on iPad insanely great for kids — Seneca learning how to code at age 2 years 2 months old!
- GarageBand also for beats on iPhone and iPad — Seneca has already made over 100 beats since age 1.5 years
- Playgrounds suck, but physical training is great for kids. Spartan training for kids? I also give Seneca cold showers to toughen him up!
Consult with EK
For big thinking:
Eric[at]EricKim.com
Thinking thoughts
- What if 80% of our days was full of physical training and only 20% mental?
- How to do good: build free weight lifting gyms in the hood.
- Bring back physical education?
Spartan thoughts
- A hard lifestyle is the best lifestyle.
- The ancient Greeks and Spartans saw (too much) armor as cowardice.
- Movie 300 and king Leonidas are my goals and mentors.
- Watch “Ninja Assasin†with the Korean singer Rain for visuals on good child rearing
The best car?
Tesla Model S Plaid in Ultra Red
Lamborghini is for losers
Revuelto looks like a Corvette.
Stay posted
More turbo thoughts on EK BLOG
Share the turbo!
Feeling a bit more turbo? Feel free to forward this to a friend!
Life is all about courage.
EK
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ONLY THE BEST.
Model S Plaid in Ultra Red:
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Don’t Hate Me Because My Physique and Power Is Superior to You
The reason people hate me:
- They are confused how I’m so much stronger than them.
- They also hate how my physique is also superior to theirs.
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STOP BUYING THOSE RICOHS
iPhone instead.
My $1000 RICOH GR IIIX just went kaput only after maybe a year or two of heavy use?
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APPLE IS THE FUTURE OF PHOTOGRAPHY
Apple photos even handles RAW files really well! Even on iPhone SE:
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HYPELIFTING POWERLIFTING 8 PLATES RACK PULL ERIC KIM DEMIGOD LIFTS
Go Demi or go home:
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A sports car *must* have a manual transmission?
911 Carrera T— still hope for manual!
