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Ultimate Strength, Ultimate Power
Nobody cares for weight to power ratio; the most important thing is supreme power, supreme strength.
For example, in the context of weightlifting, nobody cares for the lightweight weight lifters, who could lift more than four times their body weight. We care more for the gigantic monsters and freaks, who can lift ultimately the heaviest weight possible.
Or in boxing, nobody cares for the lightweight boxers or the welterweight boxers. We only care for the heavy weights, Mike Tyson, etc. Why? Because ultimately in reality, it doesn’t matter what your way to power issue is, Mike Tyson would eat Floyd Mayweather alive.
Or in the context of cars, we only care for the car which has the fastest 0 to 60 time, the fastest quarter-mile time, or, the most horsepower. Currently speaking it seems like that is the model S plaid.
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Chasing Phantoms?
Nowadays, it seems that everyone is chasing phantoms. Ultimately when it comes down to it, mano a mano (hand to hand), one on one, PVP, player versus person.
I think that we are chasing the phantom of ephemeral things, but ultimately what is it that we truly care for? The admiration and affection of a solo individual.
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True desires versus manufactured desires
Manufactured desires are the ones which are propagated by society, capitalism and consumerism, marketing, advertising, and media.
True desires are the ones which are integral to you.
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Become more interested in ourselves?
Perhaps the supreme way is spending more time thinking about ourselves, our bodies, our art, our mind, our philosophy, our creations etc.
In fact, perhaps it is not a good use of life to think about extraneous things; economy, politics, global affairs, etc. Also also certainly not individuals.
Rather than killing time on social media or going on Twitter to inquire the activities of someone else, make the news yourself.
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Bits & Steel
My two passions; bits, like in computers and stuff, and steel, as in heavy weights at the gym.
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Don’t be interested in other beautiful people, only be interested in yourself.
For example at the gym, all I care for are the heavy weights, the rack, the power rack, the barbell and equipment, etc.
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I don’t know anybody else my age as formidable as myself?
The only people I look up to include Jeff Bezos, Elon Musk, Kanye West, etc.
And for dead people, Steve Jobs.
I was born in 1988, and I am currently 35 years old. I don’t know any other 35 year olds who are interesting.
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Better to nap in your car than at your house?
The upside of napping in your car; like a natural sun box, lots of great natural light, ability to get a tan.
Also, especially during the winter months, it is actually warmer in your car than at your house, if your home is in the shade.
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Using Amazon web services to create a wordpress.org blog and website
AWS and Lightsail — Amazon web services as the future.
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100% Carnivore Diet
The best diet is a 100% carnivore diet. Eat only red meat, flesh, preferably beef or lamb.
The keys to success include Costco, preferably the Costco business Center.
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Start Everyday Blank Slate
The reason I like going to sleep, and wake you up in the morning is that it is almost like you died and came back to life. Every day you wake up in the morning is like a metaphorical and literal rebirth, starting off the day with no prejudices, no biases, no things in the past holding you back.
Being forgetful is a virtue
In America, being forgetful is seem as a bad trait. I remember as a kid, I would always forget my water bottles, my umbrella, my jacket, and my thermoses at school, or at my friends house.
Also nowadays, I think being forgetful still afflicts me.
Yet, what if being forgetful was actually a superior quality? That remembering too much was in fact, a bad thing, a vice?
Why being forgetful is good
For example, in terms of social things; it is good to be forgetful of the ways that people might’ve snubbed you the wrong way in the past, and also, some sort of negative memories of the past. It is good to forget your scars.
In fact, from a philosophical perspective, it is better to be magnanimous and simply forget your past injustices, rather than to “forgive“.
Remembering too much is bad. It is like caring the weight of 1000 cares on your shoulders. In fact, I think the modern day human, with too many of these Evernote type apps, almost remember too much. I think that the human brain is an intelligent filter; when it forget something, in fact it rings it as unimportant, and not critical. The brain forgets that which is not critical.
For example, there are certain things that we must do, versus things that we think we “should doâ€.
Things that we must do are critical, things that we “should do“ is actually not critical.
Why is it so hard for us to curate?
Curate comes from couer, which means heart, which comes from care. I think the modern-day human doesn’t know what he or she cares for.
In fact, perhaps wisdom and self intelligence is more about figuring out what you care for, and what you don’t. Even for myself, I am starting to try to think deeper about this; to barbell it. For people that I really care for, to pour even more heart and soul into them, and for people I do not care for, to become even more cold and not acknowledge their existence.
Affection?
Another big way to think about it is when it comes to affection. Perhaps we should just categorize and separate people into two categories; people who you have affection for, and people you do not have affection for.
Disregard and discount people you have no affection for. Once again, put more heart and soul into the people you care for.
“We on Bezos, trips to Lagos†(Kanye)
What would Jeff Bezos do?
I think out of all of the modern day entrepreneurs, Jeff Bezos might be one of the most underrated ones. Why? First of all, he is swole. Just Google images the photo of him looking like the Terminator, and his massive, super jacked arms. Maybe he is the only great entrepreneur that we know who actually lift weights.
Secondly, just read invent and wander by him, he has major balls. For example, during the dot com boom and bust, Amazon went from $99 a share down to $.99 a share. Ouch. The fact that Bezos was able to ride through that is phenomenal. It really shows his courage as a man.
Third, in someways, he is extremely admirable, in terms of his mindset and approach. In someways he is very zen; his notion that every day is day one has permeated for decades. Treating every day like they one is actually a good blank slate, tabula rasa strategy.
The right entrepreneurial mindset
We are entrepreneurs. We are risk takers, we are risk lovers, and we are interested in attempting the new, the foreign, the exotic, the unknown. For me anything that you do which do you hundred percent know the outcome is uninteresting.
For example, I think we could also take an entrepreneurial mindset towards muscles. That is, weight lifting is only interesting and fun if we don’t actually hundred percent know what the outcome will be.
For example, the reason why I am so fascinated with “one rep max†style lifting, or attempting your personal records whenever you go to the gym is that I have zero idea whether I will be successful or not. Certainly I want to be successful, but what the actual outcome will be is uncertain.
The reason then why I find this so enjoyable is then every time I lift something, it is a certain risk, and the uncertainty and the challenge, the danger, is what I love.
Also, with muscle entrepreneurship, it is all about attempting new approaches to weightlifting, lifting weights in a manner that other people have not lifted before. I called this powerlifting 2.0, or HYPELIFTING.
For example, don’t benchpress off the bench, rather, just do it on the floor with the weight and barbell elevated up high on the power rack/safety pins. Using this method, I was a bowl to easily floor bench press five plates, that is, five 45-pound plates on each side, which is considered godlike by most gym standards. 495 pounds.
Also, instead of doing squat the gym, do the atlas lift. That is, just rocking insanely heavy amount of weight on the bar, and just see if you could lifted off the ground off the rack, and hold it on your shoulders for a few seconds, and put it back.
Think insanely epic or nothing
8 plates and beyond or nothing.
I think in order to innovate and pave new methods, new approaches etc. you must allow yourself to become a little bit more “insaneâ€, or “irrationalâ€, or “delusional.â€
Why? We always must think first principles. This is where physics is a massive boon to us; you got to ask yourself:
According to the laws of physics, is this possible or not?
The difference between possible and plausible
Ludo, ludus— just means “game†or “to playâ€.
To delude, or being delusional, means that you are deceiving, or just playing a game with yourself or others.
Once again, going back to first principles: the facts are that you are alive, and you live in a physics world. Then, with your life, what kind of fun games do you want to play?
How to do first principles thinking today
The first one is simple; reformat your phone, your iPad, your laptop back to scratch, don’t restore anything. And when you start again fresh, uninstall all of the superfluous apps, and reinstall apps which you find truly critical.
The second thing is imagine like you’re starting from zero. If you had zero dollars in your bank account, how would you approach life differently?
Third, think blank slate. Talk to nobody, read nothing, listen to nothing, just go to the gym, lift weights, no headphones, and just spend more time thinking. Go on a long random walk somewhere, and just think.
Fourth, reformat your contacts list. That is, delete all the contacts in your contacts list, and then, re-populate it.
Fifth, stop using Gmail. Just start a new iCloud email account with the iCloud+ account. Custom domain email mapping. For example, Cindy bought me and I currently on erickim.com, and I custom mapped with the iCloud+ Apple plan eric@erickim.com — I find that using iCloud, Apple, and your own custom email is at least 1 billion times better than using Gmail. Also it just looks more legit. Having an @gmail.com account almost looks like the new @aol.com account. One of the best ways you could now differentiate yourself as an entrepreneur or individual is by telling others that you don’t have Instagram, and instead to go to your own website, or email you with your own custom email. Also funny enough, I think it is actually better to just give strangers your phone number than your email.
New beautiful futures?
The sun is out, and think of limitless possibilities. Think global, travel more, think more unorthodox and aberrantly, and utilize your life as a tool for great fun, play, experimentation, new innovations and discoveries, and new entrepreneurship!
EK
Innovate your life
Life is for fun!
EK WORKSHOPS & YOU:
- STREET IN BOSTON
- CREATIVE CONFIDENCE ONLINE
- DOWNTOWN LA ART WORKSHOP
- ZEN PHOTO RETREAT IN HADONG SOUTH KOREA
EK PHOTO SUPPLY
What shall you conquer next?
Random thoughts on my mind
- Perhaps becoming more flashy is a virtue. In life, strive to become flashier. For example, with your car, assuming you buy a new car, or even a new used car, maybe instead of trying to be low-key, strive to be as flashy as possible. The flashier, the flashiest style. I really like this neon blue color nowadays.
- With your clothes, also, optimize for flashy.
- Black is boring. Maybe if you want to become flashier, instead of wearing all black everything, wear all white everything.
Other craziness
New thoughts, new pursuits:
- Thinking more about innovation in the context of clothing
- Seeking you were innovations in terms of weightlifting approaches and philosophies.
- Advancing notions of 100% carnivore diet
- More philosophizing on money, fiat currency, and the future of the economy
Never run out of inspiration on ERIC KIM BLOG >
Turbocharge yourself, turbocharge others
If after reading this, you feel a little bit more Turbo, feel free to forward this to a friend!
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Think Global
Think the whole planet.
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Real uses of money
In today’s world, what does money really get you? Paying rent, buying meat, etc.?
Also, buying a car, paying for gasoline, paying for a Tesla supercharger, Apple products, etc.
Also, purchasing flights, Ubers, hotel and Airbnb, etc.
Also, paying your web hosting bill. But beyond this, what else?
Clothing?
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Elite homeless people?
Technically, if you’re always on the road, living in a hotel, etc., you’re technically homeless.
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How to Think
Thinking is a physiological phenomenon.
First, get a muscular and blood pump. I find that just walking to the gym, Vibram five fingers is best. And once you’re at the gym, attempt a one rep max style of lifting, no headphones. Often while I am lifting, or in between lifts, this is when I get some of my most interesting thoughts.
Second, sunlight. Spend as much time as humanly possible out side of your house or office or home, getting direct light. If it is cold outside, just buy an expensive Canada goose jacket and layer up.
Third, movement. One does not think and then move, instead, one moves, and while one is moving, one thinks.
I think that any and every type of movement is beneficial to thinking; whether walking, hiking, walking around the gym, walking around an outdoor shopping center, or even driving. Or in transit on a plane or at the airport. Or even walking around at Costco!
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I want to create my own equinox?
“I need all the bad b’s up in equinox tell me whether they are a freak or not.†– Kanye
Equinox concept is great.
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How to Build Your Self Confidence
I think out of all of the traits out there, self-confidence may be one of the most critical ones. Why? If you have insanely high self confidence in yourself, you will not have fear, you will not have self doubt, and I also think you’ll just be happier.
The first prescription that I have is get into really really really really really heavy weight lifting, the one rep max style. The Eric Kim hypelifting, powerlifting 2.0 style.
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8 Plates and Beyond or Nothing
For my atlas lift, that is eight plates on each side, and a 10 on each side.
My demigod 8 plate plus (785 pounds) Atlas Lift:
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Lift Weights
Real men lift weights:
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Start Everyday Blank Slate
The reason I like going to sleep, and wake you up in the morning is that it is almost like you died and came back to life. Every day you wake up in the morning is like a metaphorical and literal rebirth, starting off the day with no prejudices, no biases, no things in the past holding you back.
Being forgetful is a virtue
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START EVERYDAY BLANK.
Start everyday with zero tabs!
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Temperate Climates
Why were the ancient Greeks so prolific? Maybe because of the temperate climate in the Mediterranean is optimal for human thriving?
Also, why I was so productive in Vietnam, and also Phnom Penh Cambodia.
Also to some extent, why I am happier in southern California with the sun.
Certainly living in the right climate doesn’t guarantee happiness, but it certainly doesn’t hurt.
If you live somewhere and you’re miserable, and hate the climate, just move and experiment somewhere else.
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Yes, weather does affect our mood much.
After much doom and gloom overcast rainy days in Southern California, now, having the beautiful sun come out, I feel amazing!
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SUN IS POWER
As long as I got the sun, I can do anything!
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Race car drivers should drive with vibram five finger shoes.
The upside of driving a car with vibram five finger shoes is that you have superior foot pedal connection.
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Things Which Require Muscle, Things Which Don’t?
For example, the reason why to me, race car drivers are not that interesting is that technically, as a race car driver, your number one skill is being able to move your hands, your fingers, and your feet in some sort of coordinated manner. It doesn’t really require any muscles.
Compare this to strongmen; much more interesting.
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How does Tom Cruise have such a good longevity?
Scientology aside, it seems that Tom Cruise has had insanely great longevity. He makes Brad Pitt look like an old man.
For example, the new top gun Maverick movie, he looks great. Watching the trailers for bullet train for Brad Pitt makes Brad Pitt look insanely old.
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Discovering a Gun at My Sister’s Wedding
What to do about this?
The story
Long story short, some idiot brings his gun to my sister’s wedding, leaves it inside the holster in his backpack in the guest checking room, some random lady at the party who steals a bunch of stuff inside the guest checking room discovers the gun, hides it under my backpack on top of my son’s car seat, and flees the scene.
Simple morales to the story
First and foremost, if you are a registered gun owner, have a conceal and carry license, etc., don’t bring your gun to a wedding. Or any big event or family gathering, where no potential danger is eminent.
Second, if you’re going to get married, or even go to a wedding, etc., kindly ask the host whether the space is a “gun free zone.†Also, if you’re going to plan a wedding, tell your guests that this is a gun free wedding, or a gun free zone, and not to bring your firearms.
Discovering the Glock pistol
A Glock 9 mm compact pistol, which doesn’t have a real safety switch. I believe it was a Glock, which I discovered on top of my son’s car seat. Essentially unbeknownst to us, during the wedding, a lady named Ruby, a “friend“ of the grooms mom was invited to the wedding, and the lady has some serious mental issues. I think she was drunk and high off Xanax at the wedding, and during the wedding she actually went to the guest check in bedroom, and rummaged through everyone’s stuff, stole a bunch of phones and cash, stole all of the credit cards and cash out of my wallet, and fled the scene. Apparently she also discovered Joseph’s gun (Joseph is the name of the fucking idiot who brought his gun to the wedding) in Joseph’s backpack, which was left unattended in the guest checking room, which contained his Glock pistol inside a holster. Ruby was able to successfully, even when drunk and high, take the Glock pistol out of the holster, and somehow hide it in between my backpack and my sons car seat.
I was curious about this, whether the Glock had a safety switch. It does not. It has a “fake“ safety switch, which essentially prevents it from accidentally discharging when in your pocket or in a backpack. The bigger ethical issue at hand
Ultimately, I think trying to ascribe “fault†or “blame in the situation is vain and empty. Instead, what is actually a far more critical is to address bigger issues at hand:
Should one be ethically allowed to bring a conceal and carry weapon, a pistol to a wedding party, without anyone else knowing it?
For myself, I have no issue with people owning guns, and I’m also not anti-gun ownership or anti-guns. I’m a Boy Scout Eagle Scout, and I was able to successfully get my rifle and shotgun merit badge, in the same summer, so I know how to properly handle guns. Also truth be told, gun ownership is baked into America’s constitution and law, which means that guns will never go away in America.
For myself personally, I just want to be as far away from people, who have conceal and carried weapons or pistols on them. I have no issue with them owning them, I just don’t want to be around her physically. In the same room, or even the same area.
Takeaway thoughts
Therefore some ideas:
- Put up signage saying that you are entering a gun free zone. You’re not permitted to bring your gun, or your conceal and carry gun on these premises.
- If you’re going to get married, and you send out an invite, in the mail or email, say that this is a gun free wedding, please leave your firearms at home.
- When insane situations arise, just open your iPhone and call 911. Better to report things, suspicious activity, even if there is a .01% chance that it might be fatal or dangerous, than not to. We must prevent another sandy hook.
- Let us say that you are in a situation, in which potential gun violence can happen. Better to just inform all of the guests, call off the event and the wedding, even at the risk of spoiling your sister’s wedding. For example, my personal regret is after discovering the gun, what I should have done was first call the cops, and then inform all the guests that I discovered a gun in the guest bedroom, and I should’ve called off the wedding.
- Don’t go to Walmart, or shop at places like dollar tree, or go to places which might have people who have a higher precedents for people carrying firearms. Superficially I have discovered that most people who brandish firearms tend to be lower socioeconomic status. Don’t hang out in bad neighborhoods, or even fill up your gas in dangerous neighborhoods. Perhaps this is a plus one for owning a Tesla or electric car.
- Whenever you discover a firearm, unattended, just call 911 and call the cops and report it.
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Just Call the Police
A lesson I learned: one in doubt, just call the police. Why? When you are in a high adrenaline, insane situation, you will not act rationally.
Also, let us say that you’re at a wedding, and some fucking idiot brought his gun to the wedding (Glock, 9mm, compact, no safety), apparently complained that his conceal and carry gun holster was itching him, left it in his backpack in the guest check coat room, and some random drunk crazy lady at the party goes into the guest room, attempting to steal everyone’s shit, and then, discovers the gun, and then put it in your child’s car seat, to hide it, best to just call the cops.
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Open Carry vs Concealed Carry?
Ethically, open carry seems more safe than a concealed carry.
Why? If it is open carry, then others can clearly see that you got a gun, and choose NOT to share a space with you. With concealed carry, you’re more at risk, because you have no idea what kind of fucking idiots have a concealed gun on them, and even worse, keeps their concealed gun (Glock pistol, which has no safety … only a “fake†safety on the trigger), in their backpack in the guest check in bedroom of your sisters wedding day.
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Luxury disposable goods
For example, using Bounty paper towels instead of the Kirkland Costco ones. Also, using Charmin ultra strong instead of generic toilet paper.
Also the fun hilarity is when observing the build quality of a bounty paper towel, it feels at least 50 times superior. Superior grid weave technology, and may be funny enough, in the long run, it actually might be more economical. Why? It is more sturdy, you might be able to use it more than a cheap or a paper towel.
Also, find really really strong and durable and high-quality toilet paper; it doubles as a paper towel and just cleaning around the bathroom and does not fall apart and disintegrate.
