ERIC KIM AI

Stop buying them Ricoh, start buying those iPhone Pros!

The really really big issue here right now is supply chain issues. So this is where I am very very admiring of Tim Cook—the master of supply chain and logistics.

Problems with Ricoh, Fujifilm & these Japanese companies

So it seems the real critical issue here is supply chain issues. For example, I actually wanted to buy a new Fujifilm X100 VI, and also a new Ricoh GR III HDF… but the problem is they are all out of stock, all backordered… even if you want to buy it, you cannot.

Therefore, the critical issue here is availability. I want to buy it, I have the money for it, but I can’t buy it! Super annoying.

iPhone Pro thoughts

Looks like Apple listened to me, my idea for a “quick draw” idea… made available via the new camera control thing in the bottom right corner. It is a good idea because it makes it very very quick and easy and available to quickly quickly quickly take a picture, without delay. All those other strange touch-enabled exposure control stuff seems more like a gimmick, because it kind of looks like what a Samsung phone would do… Anyways, better than nothing. And also having it in the bottom right corner is a good idea because these damn iPhones are so big now… And also the ability to just make all of your apps sit at the bottom of your screen is an insanely great idea because most people have pretty small hands, their thumbs cannot reach all the way to the top.

NEW ERIC KIM APPLE TV+ SERIES: “Mastering the Art of Street Photography”

So I have this pitch idea for Apple TV+ (eric@erickim.com)—and the general idea is how can you use an iPhone, iPhone Pro, etc., to travel the world, be like ERIC KIM or Henri Cartier-Bresson, and make really awesome photos?

And also there would be a cool tie-in with the iPad Pro… The new M4 one… because I might be the only one I know, the only perhaps influential serious photographer on the planet who only uses an iPad Pro… I haven’t touched my laptop in about two years.

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Why is this such a big deal? 

I suppose this is a big deal because iPhone 16 Pro I think is finally probably good enough to replace the RICOH GR? 

Granted the truth is in terms of image quality and workflow… The Ricoh GR III, Ricoh GR IIIx, now the HDF’s… aesthetically probably look way better, but maybe from a innovation perspective it makes more sense for us to just burn the ships behind us, and buy some thing which has an interesting double dipping ability – AI, ChatGPT as well as photography?

Still artistic photography is the future

I really thought that the iPhone commercial with the weekend was very lame.  Apple is taking the wrong direction here… Come on… Your mom is going to have zero inspiration or motivation to use the iPhone pro to shoot a commercial or to shoot cinema. Apple going to whole cinematic route with iPhone is a very bad idea. A better strategy is instead… To focus on the still photography aspect. 

For example it looks like the new update on the photo styles is actually a super smart idea. No more needing to use loser Instagram or third-party apps — and actually… When are the things which inspired me to purchase some Apple stock at least with my Roth Ira accounts ,,,was the new iOS 18 is insanely great! And hats off to the apples photos team… It looks like what Apple is trying to do here is trying to cut out Instagram from the equation… And do the more smart strategy of making Apple photos look like it’s on social media platform?

I don’t think Instagram Facebook Metais a sustainable model. Sooner or later people are going to get sick of the ads, and want to bail and jump ship. I also think the same thing will happen with Google… There’s going to be a point where everything is this going to ChatGPT everything or searchgpt everything — no more lower click bait Google and YouTube videos — nobody likes ads! Especially kids, they hate ads!

Also a funny thought… Most google employees I know… Or IT tech workers, almost all universally have ad blockers on all of their devices. And almost all of them pirate stuff on VPNs and pirate bay etc. So it is a little bit ironic that Google is trying to crack down on AdBlockers now. My better suggestion is just try to make the YouTube premium app so so good on iPhone and Google devices… That you will actually make people happy to pay the $10 a month or whatever for YouTube premium! And also googles idea to monetize the pro version of Gemini AI is good idea. 

I think about Google will certainly find very very soon, I think she already knows… Is advertising on the Internet is not a sustainable business model. Rather I think subscriptions and to pay for things is the way forward!

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Just buy it then return it?

Maybe the good idea is just buy the new iPhone Pro and return it if you don’t like it ,,,? And just test it out?

OWN YOUR CONTENT

If you live long enough, you’re going to wish you didn’t sell the rights to your content to some third-party.

Same to owning your own platform!

Create for 30 years from now!

PHOTOGRAPHY ENTREPRENEURSHIP 101: How to Become a Photography Entrepreneur >

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Create your future!

“I bought every V12 engine, wish I could take it back to the beginning” – JAY Z

Also–

Subscribe to the $20 a month ChatGPT pro,,, and experiment with the new ChatGPT o1 preview — your mind will be blown!

AI ALL THE WAY!

ERIC

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More AI thoughts here:

erickim.ai

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Forward the turbo!

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Street photography isn’t just about capturing candid moments—it’s a philosophical journey that mirrors the complexities of life itself. As a philosopher with a camera, I’ve come to realize that conquering charisma in street photography is about more than technical skill; it’s about embracing a mindset that transcends the ordinary.

Embrace Existential Presence

To capture the essence of the streets, you must first be fully present. This echoes the existentialist belief that existence precedes essence. In the hustle of urban life, moments are fleeting. Being present allows you to seize these ephemeral instances that reveal deeper truths about humanity.

Actionable Insight: Practice mindfulness as you walk. Feel the ground beneath your feet, listen to the symphony of city sounds, and let your intuition guide your lens.

Overcome Fear Through Stoicism

Fear is the mind’s way of holding us back from potential greatness. Stoic philosophy teaches us to differentiate between what’s within our control and what’s not. You can’t control how people react to your camera, but you can control your intentions and actions.

Actionable Insight: Accept that discomfort is part of the process. Each time you confront your fear, you diminish its power over you.

Seek the Universal in the Particular

Hegel spoke of the universal manifesting in the particular. In street photography, a single image can reflect broader social truths. A solitary figure on a bench may symbolize isolation in modern society; a crowded marketplace might capture the chaos of urban life.

Actionable Insight: Look for scenes that resonate on multiple levels. Ask yourself what universal themes are present in the moments you capture.

Practice Minimalism

In a world overloaded with material possessions and digital noise, minimalism offers clarity. By simplifying your gear and focusing on the essentials, you free your mind to concentrate on creative expression.

Actionable Insight: Limit yourself to one camera and one lens. This constraint fosters creativity and forces you to see the world differently.

Cultivate Empathy

Empathy is the bridge that connects you to your subjects. It’s about understanding and sharing the feelings of another, a concept deeply rooted in phenomenology.

Actionable Insight: Before pressing the shutter, take a moment to connect emotionally with your subject. This connection will translate into more impactful images.

Reflect on the Impermanence of Life

Buddhist philosophy reminds us of the transient nature of existence. Street photography captures moments that will never occur again in precisely the same way. Embracing this impermanence adds depth to your work.

Actionable Insight: Let each photograph serve as a meditation on time’s fleeting passage. This perspective enriches your appreciation for each moment you capture.

Develop Your Authentic Vision

Nietzsche urged us to “become who we are.” In street photography, this means developing a style that is authentically yours, free from external influences and trends.

Actionable Insight: Spend time analyzing your work to identify patterns and preferences. Cultivate these elements to develop a signature style.

Engage in Continuous Learning

Socratic wisdom emphasizes the importance of acknowledging our own ignorance. The streets are ever-changing, and there’s always something new to learn or a perspective to explore.

Actionable Insight: Read widely—not just photography books but philosophy, literature, and art. Broadening your knowledge base will enrich your photographic vision.

Radiate Positive Energy

The energy you bring to the streets influences your interactions and, consequently, your photographs. A positive demeanor can open doors and create opportunities.

Actionable Insight: Approach each day with gratitude and enthusiasm. Your positive outlook will reflect in your work and attract charismatic moments.

Final Thoughts

Conquering charisma in street photography is a philosophical endeavor. It’s about delving deep into the human condition, confronting your fears, and expressing your authentic self through your images. By integrating philosophical principles into your practice, you not only enhance your photography but also embark on a journey of personal growth.

So grab your camera and step into the world with open eyes and an open mind. Let the philosophies of presence, courage, empathy, and authenticity guide you. The streets are rich with stories waiting to be told, and through your lens, you have the power to reveal the profound within the mundane.

Don’t just take photos—philosophize with your camera. The world is your canvas, and your vision adds meaning to the moments you capture.

Make a new iPhone, or create the iOS in it which encourages you to spend less time on it!

What Do You Really Care For?

The best way to live your life and carry it out is to do only what you care for, and to not do anything you don’t care for. This is the whole notion of care and curate… coeur; heart.

Maybe then the whole notion of following your heart is actually good advice!

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There is no such thing as “planned obsolescence”

So one idea that these fake woke “thinkers“ like to push is this nonsensical idea of “planned obsolescence.” The basic idea is that Apple is some sort of ultra-evil corporation that tries to get you addicted to their iPhone devices, like nicotine or cigarettes, and intentionally stunts the performance of older devices, strong-arming you into upgrading your device because they intentionally slow down the older ones.

The reason why this is such a fallacy, a poor line of thinking, is that these skinny-fat losers who write about this are really just old, fat, with facial hair, no children… Maybe they have a dog. They want to come up with these supposedly high-concept intelligentsia thoughts, all critical of technology, while they’re jerking off to the nearest Apple rumor and fantasizing about the new iPhone Pro.

The truth of the matter is, there’s no such thing as planned obsolescence. Rather, Apple has an interesting strategy—her team of ragtag innovators are always striving to make the best iOS possible. Why? There’s a little bit of skin in the game… My theory is that Apple made the whole new focus feature because they themselves are addicted to their iPhones and have a vested interest in making a new generation of iPhone or iOS that makes them less distracted and less miserable in their everyday lives.

The next big innovation?

Also… unfortunately, it looks like 90% of modern-day work is just answering and sending emails for a living. As a consequence, it seems that Apple is trying to build out Apple Intelligence to make email less dreadful and less hateful.

In fact, I think there is still so much innovation that could be done in email. My personal vision is that your ChatGPT AI bot can simply do something very, very amazing… answer all of your emails for you without asking any questions. Wouldn’t that be wonderful?

In fact, I see this as at least a $500 million opportunity… Eliminating email from people’s lives seems like the killer idea!

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Sustain

Another thing that is super annoying to me is all these skinny-fat vegan losers talking about sustainability and the environment, etc. I think what is actually much more interesting is to think about and consider things that are sustainable in a more practical and pragmatic sense.

For example, sustainability should not be seen as this virtue-signaling thing. Instead, sustainability should be considered more from a perspective of pragmatism and practicality.

For example, vehicles. From a personal pragmatic perspective… the most sustainable option is actually driving a Prius. Ideally, just buying a used older Prius—the 2010 version is lit. Real men with big penises drive Priuses, only skinny-fat losers drive Porsches or Teslas.

One of the great things about modular designs, like in a Prius, is that if your engine goes kaput, you can just swap out the engine! Prius engines are a dime a dozen… In theory, you should be able to drive a Prius until you die.

Also, the virtues of driving a Prius are longevity, durability, and it’s for the ultra-hardcore. Not only that… it is the ultimate stealth car. The funny thought is, if you had to rob a bank in Los Angeles, what would be the ideal getaway car? A white Prius! Can you imagine the CHP or LAPD saying, “What car did the guy get away in?” and someone replies, “A white unmarked Prius!” Haha!

Anyways, when MPG is so clutch… When you have to pick up your wife in the middle of the night and you don’t remember if you filled the gas tank or not. But the great thing about living in Los Angeles is that you’ll never drive more than 5 miles a day. Five miles in LA traffic is still about 30 minutes. Therefore, it’s a virtue—you only have to fill up your tank once a month, for maybe about 30 bucks. I think this is almost similar to the price of a Tesla supercharger, which is maybe $10 to recharge your full battery?

And also, the virtue of driving a Prius is that because it’s an old, proven line, it won’t get outdated at all. The problem with any sort of Tesla is that you know that within 10 years, there will be a major redesign or refresh. Even now… I’m pretty sure a major redesign for the Tesla Model S, Y, and X is incoming—just like the new Tesla Model 3… 1 trillion times cooler than the previous generation. I feel bad for all those suckers who bought the older version. Even at the Culver City Toyota dealership, I see all these people who traded in their old Tesla Model 3 Performance just one or two years ago… I assume they bought the new version.

How people are foolish with money

One thing I’ve discovered is that a lot of people, or most people… didn’t grow up poor. Now that I am essentially in elite circles, now that Cindy is a professor and in scholarly circles, and everyone I know is a successful entrepreneur or Apple employee, most people came from money. Most of their parents have PhDs or doctorates, are doctors, etc. Even this one guy I met who is very successful, Justin Atlan—apparently his family has been in Los Angeles for three or four generations? He came from pretty modest beginnings, but he still grew up in the Palisades, which is considered a very elite neighborhood in Los Angeles. Certainly, if you grew up in the Palisades, Malibu, etc.… your family is not dirt poor.

Came from the mud

First to put the hood on a jet! First to put the hood on molly – Future the rapper

The reason why fake rappers like Drake will never get my respect is because they did not come from the hood, the bottom, or the mud. I think Drake is insanely talented and great, but he lacks authenticity. And it seems that the future is going to be all about authenticity. Even if you’re a bad person, immoral, dishonest, etc.

Why ERIC KIM?

I think the reason why I like and trust myself so much is that you cannot fake yourself… You know with 100% precision all the details of your life, etc.… Whereas when it comes to other people… you never know what skeletons they have in their closet.

And also… the critical issue here is that a lot of people, when you never meet them in the flesh, face-to-face, mano a mano, they just become figments of your imagination, and they become more metaphors than real-life individuals.

For example, I love Kanye West to death, but my problem and critique is he is a short guy. I think he might really be 5’6″ because personalities and famous people always overexaggerate their height by an inch or two. I think Kanye self-reports as being 5’7″ or 5’8″, but this is probably not the case. And I think Kim Kardashian is only 5 feet tall? She’s kind of a midget with big breasts and a big butt.

And now that I’ve been spending so much time outside, outdoors, walking around, etc.… the interesting thing is that we human beings actually have a very good height perception. You can spot people from half a block away and quickly gauge how tall they are, or how small and short they are. And I think ultimately, this is why guys like supermodels… they are all super tall, which is one of the highest markers or indicators of beauty. If you see a 5’11 or 6′ tall model in the flesh, it is actually really shocking. Their height adds to their beauty and mystique. The same thing goes with meeting really tall, handsome guys—they are almost like a different species. Let us note that the average man in America might only be 5’6″ tall, and the average woman might only be 5’2″?

I’ve met a lot of successful people, a lot of really successful men who work at Apple and stuff… and they are really small, almost looking like middle schoolers, like 5’5″ or 5’4″.

And the reason people hate me so much is because I’m tall, handsome, and good-looking. I think guys also hate me because I am such an insanely confident, charismatic person, who also happens to be Asian, Asian American, Korean American…

And now at the age of 36… this is the most jacked, handsome, and dominant I have been in my life. I can easily say I’m the most attractive man in Culver City right now. Maybe in all of LA?

In fact, if Marvel comes out with a new superhero movie and they need to cast an Asian guy, maybe they should just cast Eric Kim, eric@erickim.com—holla at ya boy.

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Why does this matter?

We are all trying to chase the same things, but in different ways, using different strategies, etc. We all want the beautiful babes, we all want recognition and authenticity, we all want acknowledgment. We all want to feel valued, whether man, woman, or dog.

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Why is luxury coffee not yet a thing?

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If Steve Jobs were still alive today… What would he think of Apple?

OK… because I am the second Steve Jobs, the next Steve Jobs in the flesh… If Steve Jobs were 36 years old and alive today… this is what he would think of Apple, and this is what he would say:

First, he would call the new devices a piece of shit, and say they fucking suck. He would critique the design, the devices, Apple TV, everything.

Make the iPhone great again

The problem with Apple now is there’s too much fragmentation. Apple is trying to be everything, everywhere at once. But as we learn from Alexander the Great… to overextend yourself will always be a bad plan for an empire. The empires that are best and last are the ones that stay situated in one very critical spot and dominate that one small industry, rather than trying to become the Walmart of everything.

For example… the number one thing Apple needs to do is really make the iPhone desirable again. The new iPhone is lackluster. Nobody cares, nobody wants it, nobody even knows it exists. This is bad… I doubt you’ll be seeing lines outside the Apple store anytime soon.

The true critical innovation

Suggestion to Apple… ironically, you want to take a via negativa approach… Introduce a new iPhone that actually encourages you to spend less time on it.

Does it matter if you predict the future? It seems that the holy grail is that we desire to predict the future for the sake of some sort of financial gain. For example, I recall the time in which I was watching Back to the Future, and Marty McFly goes back to the past to predict the future and become super rich. But for the sake of what?

What if you could be 100% right?

So it seems that to some extent… We can easily predict the future. There are certain straightforward macro trends, which seem pretty obvious to me.

For example… It seems that post Covid… Everything is different. Everything is brand new, everything is a totally brave New World.

The other day I was watching a bit of an interview with Mark Beinoff, the CEO and founder of salesforce with the founder and CEO of Nvidia.  it was really funny, obviously now with the valuation of $2 trillion, Nvidia is the big dick in the room. 

Jensen Huang

Anthony, the new big AI dick in the room. It’s really funny when I was watching that interview conversation between him and Mark… Obviously Jensen is way smaller and shorter than Mark, and also appears to be older. But Mark is really really big tall and very very fat… Like I was shocked, Mark wearing all black, like a satin sparkly shirt, HUUUGE beer belly.  as a random aside, pretty bad but I guess I am a very judgmental person, seeing Mark so fat, and so out of shape… Makes me see him as less, because if you’re that rich and successful and powerful, and you’re that fat, and out of shape… It  might be a sign of moral degeneracy.

Anyways in the conversation, Jensen looks super gangsta, so full of pride and strength and vigor.  And also… You could see that Jensen was the new big dick in the room. Despite his smaller statue in size, and also his age… Jensen is now 61 years old, but he says he’s just getting started, he is still young.

Anyways, one thing that is interesting to me about Nvidia is how they have been around since I was a kid. I still remember when I was playing kind of 1.6, building my own computers, the goal was to have the top-of-the-line GeForce graphics card, I remember my rich friend Justin Wong,  he had it… And he was able to max out his frame rates, whereas I, with my hand built my own computer… I had a lower end graphics card a lower and GeForce, I was not able to squeeze out as many FPS as you did. And the thing that was actually very very unfair when it came to video games was he who had more frame rates, actually had a real tactical advantage. If you had faster frame rates, you could play better, because having a small edge in terms of a faster frame rate allow you to react quicker, and be able to spot the counter parties quicker, not be subjected to lag, in order to be more lethal. 

Real advantages vs fake advantages? 

It seems in today’s world, everyone is always trying to seek an edge. We want a little bit better information more information quicker information etc., in order to predict the future.

Why? The general idea is that if you could predict the future, then, you could make a lot of money.

What am I? 

For example, there are a lot of different categories you could  classify yourself as… Trader, day trader,  investor, speculator, etc. and some new terminology I got from Michael Saylor,  like Maxi, double maxi, triple maxi — maxi meaning Maximalist. 

For a while, when people ask me what I did… I would just say bitcoin and cryptocurrency speculator.  I like to use the notion speculator because everyone sees bitcoin and cryptocurrency with a suspicious eye… And by saying that I was a speculator, it was made more legible to the average person because it’s signal to them that in fact even I was skeptical of the whole thing, speculative, but at least the difference was I was 100% invested in bitcoin, all in, balls to the wall.

Also, I put some traditional money into microstrategy, – which has fortunately gone up since I bought it! And so now, maybe I just think of myself like a money manager, because I am managing the money and finances of the family, my money, Cindy‘s money, our own personal family war chest, and also my mom‘s money. Cindy is 100% full-time focused on her scholarship and academia, and because I have the privilege of being self-employed, my new focus in my current focus is towards money management and growth. Maybe I should think of myself like my own hedge fund manager, ERIC KIM hedge, ERIC KIM hedge fund.

Investing strategies 

Currently the two and only sexy companies on the traditional markets include microstrategy and nvidia. Michael Saylor is great, I’ve literally watched hundreds of hours of interviews with him, the more I watch him and learn from him the more I like him.

Jensen Huang is also very intelligent… also, he’s been in the game for over 30 years, he’s legit. 

But besides this, besides micro strategy and Nvidia… All the other ones suck. We accidentally had some Apple stock in our portfolio and I immediately sold it. I also sold Google. 

Problems:

1. Are you certain that the iPhone 55 Pro will be any good? Probably not. I like the new iOS, but still… It’s starting to become more and more weird like kind of a water down android. And also the new iPhone just came out the new iPhone Pro, and nobody wants it. Bad news.
2. Google is just moving sideways, I think it’s good that Sundar is all in for AI, but I think the big issue is that Google is dealing with a huge problem about information, notably the veracity of information. I am still shocked… Gmail with all the advanced AI features, why does Gmail still not know or why can it still not spot a Nigerian scammer? Shouldn’t be able to intelligently filter out Nigerian scammers from a random Gmail account asking you for money?

The future?

For a minute, with my Roth IRA,  I went all in on Tesla. But more recently I sold all of it and just bought micro strategy instead. Why?

This issue with Tesla, is it is still too dependent on physics. You have to deal with the physics of producing batteries cars and factories, and shipping them to customers. And also, the laws of physics are brutal… Even though cyber truck is the best thing invented of all time, This issue was there so many physics issues at play.

First, physics is very hard. To create a new process in which you are called rolling steel… I don’t think people understand or appreciate how difficult this is in terms of material sciences. And to produce cyber trucks fast enough, even if you injected Tesla with another hundred trillion dollars, the progress would be slow. Why? It is just very hard! And you have to create new robots and infrastructure and supply chains to make it possible. Just think, do you remember during Covid when it was so difficult to get weightlifting equipment? Imagine like that but on steroids.


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Never buy a home

What if you were in a position in which you never desired to own a home? To buy a home or manage it?

Funny in the Iliad, … when Achilles is taunting Aenaes, he mentioned the issue that even if Aenaes kills Achilles, and is granted all of this wealth in terms of house home property… That Aenaes would not be able to even manage it. Even if he won it.

I cannot fix the hinge

Another super insanely annoying thing at my apartment which is super super nice, the issue is that beneath our kitchen sink, in which we store our instant pot, the hook latch hinge thing has broken off a bit, so every time I close it, I have to force wedge it up, to just close it. And it is so insanely annoying to me, every single time I do it. I have tried to fix it several times, but have given up in vain. Maybe I should just get rid of the covering, but then again that is ugly.

So a thought and a reminder to myself,… if it has been almost a year and have not been able to fix this super tiny hinge in my apartment, it is probably a signal that I am not fit for home management. Even the other day, walking by this new Orama minimal frames business,  and seeing this really really nice picture of this super nice home, overlooking a cliff or whatever in all glass, with these huge floors, I thought to myself:

Who is going to vacuum this?

Probably the best recent investment Cindy and I made was buying a brand new Dyson vacuum, for about 500 bucks, which actually has an on and off button, and this hardwood floor attachment thing which has this laser green LED light, which helps me spot dust on our hardwood bamboo floors, which makes it very easy to clean up!

And every single day, I vacuum the floors of our entire apartment, which is actually pretty modest in size,  and still… I am shocked that every single day, just literally in 24 hours, so much dust can settle on the floors? And I was thinking… Assuming that I do all the labor myself, just cleaning the floors, vacuuming the floors is so difficult for just a two bedroom one bath apartment, I cannot imagine the nightmare of having to managing clean a huge home or property? alone if you’re washer and dryer breaks, figure out how to deal with that and annoying day laborers and day contractors? 

#rentforever squad

What does assume that you are Elon Musk, actually, you would probably not want to own any property to yourself, because you’re too busy building rocket ships and going to Mars, you don’t want to deal with the annoyance of having to just maintain your property.

Well a lot of fools don’t understand is they say, oh “if you’re super rich, then you could just have maids and house managers do all the dirty work for you“. But actually, this is not true. The prime issue here is that even if you have a home manager and a house cleaner… Do you still need to manage your manager! And this is more labor and annoyance for you.

Even spending some time living in Vietnam and Cambodia, actually, the funny truth is to just clean your place yourself is actually far easier than having someone else do it for you. Why? The big issue here is that you’re essentially sitting on your butt twiddling your thumbs  until the day that your cleaner finally comes in. And not only that, the annoyance is that you have to evacuate and vacate your premises while they are cleaning, not to get in your way. That is super annoying because it adds a little bit more friction and complication to your life, having to just plan your life around your cleaner.

When we are living in Hanoi and we had Trang, who was essentially almost a live-in cleaner, who did all of her laundry and folded it for us, and even washed the dishes, the annoyance was she insisted that we didn’t do the dishes, and that she would do it for us, but after we would cook and the dishes were just to lie all greasy in the sink, I just thought to myself “this is unsightly, I would just prefer to clean it up myself!”

Anyways, the simplest life is best. The great virtues and simplicity of just renting a modestly sized apartment, and just cleaning yourself. 

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More luxury, more headaches

True luxury should be simplicity. Not more labor! 

Don’t Hate Me Because My Physique is So Superior to Yours
By Eric Kim

Let’s get something straight right off the bat: my physique is objectively superior. Don’t be offended, and certainly don’t mistake this as arrogance. It’s just a matter of fact. We live in a world that celebrates mediocrity and finds ways to comfort those who fall short, but there is no need to sugarcoat reality. I’m here to offer you a glimpse of what it means to strive for physical excellence, unburdened by the fear of being too exceptional.

Growing up, I didn’t wake up one day and discover I had a superior body. It’s not like I was born as a Greek god, sculpted from marble by the hands of destiny. No, this physique is a product of relentless discipline, obsession with detail, and, most importantly, a mindset that refuses to settle for anything less than greatness.

You see, in our society, people have become all too comfortable with the idea that “everyone’s different,” as if that somehow erases the gap between those who are elite and those who are merely average. People shy away from competition, hide behind excuses, and tell themselves that “strength isn’t everything.” It’s amusing to me because these same people will turn around and obsess over superficial achievements like having the latest tech or driving the most expensive car, while ignoring the vessel that carries them through life—their own body.

What’s at the root of this discomfort, this quiet resentment? It’s simple: envy. Envy masked as disdain, sometimes even cloaked in pseudo-virtue. “You’re too obsessed with your body,” they’ll say. “Don’t you have better things to do than spend hours in the gym?” These are the same people who’ll rationalize their sedentary lives by calling fitness a vain pursuit, as if working to better oneself physically is some kind of moral failing.

But let’s not fool ourselves. At the core, they wish they had the same dedication, the same results, the same physique. It’s a classic case of sour grapes. If they can’t have it, then it must not be worth having. And if you have it? Well, then you must be the problem.

What they don’t understand is that physical excellence is not just about aesthetics, though I won’t pretend that’s not part of the equation. It’s about the discipline and mental clarity that comes from honing your body into a finely tuned instrument. It’s about the confidence that comes from knowing you’ve pushed past every limit society imposes. There’s something deeply spiritual about the pursuit of perfection in the physical realm. When your body is in peak form, everything else aligns—the mind sharpens, your goals become clearer, and you navigate the world with a sense of purpose.

Look, I get it. It’s easier to dismiss those of us who prioritize fitness and health as shallow or self-absorbed than to confront the truth that you could be doing better. But to hate someone for being better at something is simply counterproductive. My physique didn’t come from some magical gift bestowed upon me; it came from years of commitment, sweat, sacrifice, and, frankly, a refusal to live at anything less than my best.

And here’s the thing: I’m not asking you to hate yourself for not having what I have. But I am asking you to stop hating those of us who do. Use that envy, that discomfort, as fuel. Don’t resent the reflection of what you could be. Instead, let it inspire you to step up and improve your own physical self.

The truth is, there’s enough room at the top for everyone. But the climb is steep, and not everyone is willing to make the ascent. So, the next time you find yourself feeling bitter or dismissive of someone who has achieved physical superiority, ask yourself why. Is it because they are vain? Or is it because they’ve unlocked a level of discipline, strength, and resilience that you haven’t yet dared to reach?

So no, don’t hate me because my physique is superior to yours. Instead, join me. Compete with me. Challenge yourself to be the best version of yourself. Because, in the end, there’s nothing stopping you from achieving greatness but your own mindset.

AI don’t lie —

1. It knows a beautiful face, a beautiful Korean feline woman face

What Are Your Life Goals?

Tell me your goals, what your life goals are and I will tell you who you are.

Sometimes useful

So there is a double edged sword of goals, life goals etc. The problems here is that you could hit and achieve all of your life goals, and once that you have achieved them… truth be told it is pretty anti-climactic. For example, even my insanely audacious goal of lifting 1000 pounds, I was very very happy and pleased with it… but once again, at least to me it felt like another day at the gym. To me the difference between lifting 995 pounds, and 1000 pounds, was just a number in my mind. 

Becoming a millionaire and before becoming a millionaire didn’t change much to my mindset – Steve Jobs

Funny thought… Numbers and round numbers, there’s this weird psychology behind it.

Example, I’m currently eyeing on purchasing some new weights because I’m maxed up my current set up. Yet for me… To pay $550 or $560 seems like too much… But to pay sub $500, like $450, or $490 seems much more palatable.

$999 iPhone Pro

This is why… To charge $999, at least for the sticker price on an iPhone pro is insanely intelligent because once you break the thousand dollar mark, in the mind of people… It is almost too much. Also then intelligence of Elon… To essentially make the model 3 and Y, at least the sticker price is $29,999 a dollar under the $30,000 mark is genius. I think one of the things that I learned is that we humans are funny… We are often suckered by these superficial number differences.

Think kilograms

How to exceed yourself

A big innovation I discovered while in Cambodia Asia when lifting there… Is everyone uses kilograms, not pounds. And this was the impetus to help me break beyond my mental barriers, at least when it came to traditional pounds and weights.

For example, the traditional American plate is 45 pounds… But when it comes to kilograms, the red plate is 25 kg, which is more close to about 52 pounds.

As a consequence… as an American weightlifters or powerlifters, we typically see the deadlift, in which the traditional marker of strength is being able to do at least a “four plate deadlift”, which is 405 pounds in total. Yet if you took the metric kilogram approach… four plates, assuming that it was in 25 kg increments, would technically be a lot more.

Steel over iron?

Steelman not Ironman?

The man of steel (Superman)

This is where steel is better than iron… steel is more expensive, but should last a lot longer than iron. And this is where I think buying calibrated steel weightlifting plates is a good idea… In theory if you keep good condition of it, you should be able to hand it down to your Kids.

And this is where things become fun… now that you have a son, or at least I do… life is so insanely great because I’m so excited the day that I get going to weightlifting, and I could hand down my legendary Texas power squat bar to him, and also he will inherit all my weight lifting equipment and plates etc.

Think about your kids kids kids

I think this is the reason why it is difficult for people who have never had a kid or child to imagine the future. Why? If you are the typical single millennial, or let us say if you have a dog or whatever…  it is actually very difficult to think about the future. Why why? Your life strategy becomes about hedonism maximization, which is in the context of eating good sushi, traveling to Japan, etc. But like Cindy famously said… You can only go to burning man so many times. And also, you can only go to Japan so many times, and eat good or omakase sushi so many times before it loses its appeal. 

---

So now what?

Simply jot it down, or blog it — or think about it. Dictate what you care for, and strive with all your might towards that goal!

ERIC

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Explore more:

PHILOSOPHY BY KIM >

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Tell me your goals, what your life goals are and I will tell you who you are.

So there is a double edged sword of goals, life goals etc. The problems here is that you could hit and achieve all of your life goals, and once that you have achieved them… Truth be told it is pretty anti-climactic. For example, even my insanely audition goal of lifting 1000 pounds, I was very very happy and pleased with it… But once again, at least to me it felt like another day at the gym. To me the difference between lifting 995 pounds, and 1000 pounds, was just a number in my mind. 

Funny thought… Numbers and round numbers, there’s this weird psychology behind it.

Example, I’m currently eyeing on purchasing some new weights because I’m maxed up my current set up. Yet for me… To pay 550 or $560 seems like too much… But to pay 500, like 450, or 490 seems much more palatable.

This is why… To charge $999, at least for the sticker price on an iPhone pro is insanely intelligent because once you break the thousand dollar mark, in the mind of people… It is almost too much. Also then intelligence of Elon… To essentially make the model 3 and Y, at least the sticker price is $29,999 a dollar under the $30,000 mark is genius. I think one of the things that I learned is that we humans are funny… We are often sucker by these superficial number differences.

Think kilograms

A big innovation I discovered while in Cambodia Asia we lifting there… Is everyone uses kilograms, not pounds. And this was the impetus to help me break beyond my mental barriers, at least when it came to traditional pounds and weights.

For example, the traditional American plate is 45 pounds… But when it comes to kilograms, the red plate is 25 kg, which is more close to about 52 pounds.

As a consequence… As an American weightlifter or powerlifters, let us see the deadlift, in which the traditional marker of strength is being able to do at least a four plate to dead lift, which is 405 pounds in total. Yet if you took the metric kilogram approach… Four plates, assuming that it was in 25 kg increments, would technically be a lot more.

Steel over iron?

This is where steel is better than iron… Steel is more expensive, but should last a lot longer than iron. And this is where I think buying calibrated steel weightlifting plates is a good idea… In theory if you keep good condition of it, you should be able to hand it down to your Kids.

And this is where things become fun… now that you have a son, or at least I do… Life is so insanely great because I’m so excited the day that I get going to weightlifting, and I could hand down my legendary Texas power squat bar to him, and also he will inherit all my weight lifting equipment and plates etc.

Think about your kids kids kids

I think this is the reason why it is difficult for people who have never had a kid or child to imagine the future. Why? If you are the typical single millennial, or let us say if you have a dog or whatever…  it is actually very difficult to think about the future. Why why? Your life strategy becomes about hedonism maximization, which is in the context of eating good sushi, traveling to Japan, etc. But like Cindy famously said… You can only go to burning man so many times. And also, you can only go to Japan so many times, and eat good or omakase sushi so many times before it loses its appeal. 

---

CPU vs GPU … CPU not good at some things, GPU some good at other things

Computationally high volume video games

GeForce

Accelerated computing

Cheaply. Higher scale

Select problems this computer architecture can solve

Seismic processing, molecular dynamics

CUDA

.

Super computer in everyone

Researchers

.

Deep Learning on CUDA

.

Fat guys

.

DGX super computer

OpenAI

Modern AI super computer and super cluster

First Principle observation why deep learning worked implications

Types of problems we can solve –> all in?

Scalable resource of the cloud , cloud only not just cloud first

.

If you believe in it, go all in!

.

Tactics dictate strategy over time ***

.

Build key infrastructure for deep learning

.

Watching deep learning ,,, monetize it

Enable next generation or this

.

Bitcoin & AI

.

First principles … hard to describe these

.

Investor

.

Maximalist

I’m an Investor