You the new goat! https://erickimphotography.com/blog/2024/09/19/new-godzzz/

Think better: https://erickimphotography.com/blog/2024/09/16/the-philosophy-of-thinking-11/

# The Philosophy of Thinking

> I bought every V12 engine wish I could take it back to the beginning - JAY Z

Last night, this morning, playing around with the new ChatGPT 1o-- and read the blog post on it on the open AI website, and the thought which was interesting… Taking things back to first principles, taking it back to the beginning.

So the first thing that is super interesting about the new ChatGPT model is that it scores much higher, in math science and really really advanced things like coding. And what it does which is interesting is that it spends more time *thinking*, before spitting out a response. 

## Applied to humans

When I was going super super deep into philosophy, around 2017, 2018… I penned an essay titled “Why Think?”. Some people thought it was a ridiculous idea, but… It might be the most critical one in modern day times.

First thought: one can only think while walking, in the outdoors, experiencing gravity, reality, friction, changes in temperature humidity etc.

Also, **one cannot think while being sedentary on one’s butt**.

## Butt thoughts

Let us consider… No great thought has arisen from a butt. **Great thoughts can only arise from legs**. 

The cult of sitting has been around since ancient Greek times, it was typically seen as an honor thing; you would sit, or others would sit around you, when it came to the king, the gods, processions etc. To sit was more of a social, sociological thing.

But now… Things are really weird. It does seem that nowadays, there seems to be a stronger connection between making money, and sitting on your butt. Typically, the more and the longer you sit on your butt, is correlated with how much money you will earn. 

For example, the modern day programmer, either sitting on their butt all day, or maybe standing all day, or a little bit less worse… Standing walking treadmill while programming. But I think a lot of people have a hard time walking and programming at the same time -- I think most people need to be sedentary, or at least not moving to be productive.

Or let us consider… What is being sold to us? I figure it out… A Lamborghini Ferrari Porsche McLaren or whatever… are for weaklings, wimps,  and typically skinny fat or fat people, or Shorty guys.

Why deadlift : https://erickimphotography.com/blog/2024/09/16/deadlift/

Eric Kim Deadlift Achievements

Eric Kim's Deadlift Achievements

Eric Kim is a renowned powerlifter and strength coach, known for his impressive feats in deadlifting. One of his standout lifts includes a personal record of 475 pounds using the sumo deadlift style. Kim adheres to a minimalist training approach, attempting one-rep maxes about once a week and progressively adding small increments of weight with each session.

Beyond standard deadlifts, Kim also excels in variations such as rack pulls. Notably, in 2023, he achieved a remarkable 850-pound one-rep max rack pull, showcasing his exceptional strength and technique. He also completed a 7-plate deadlift, highlighting his continuous progress and dedication to the sport.

Kim's training philosophy focuses on the balance of mental and physical preparation, treating the body like a work of art. He emphasizes raw lifting, often opting for no belts or straps in his lifts, relying solely on chalk and a mixed grip for heavier weights.

For more details, you can explore Eric Kim's blog and his thoughts on training here.

Sources

Audio; https://erickimphotography.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/ART-ANSWER.m4a

Super Facts: https://erickimphotography.com/blog/2024/09/15/art-is-the-answer-6/

# ART IS THE ANSWER

Some thoughts this morning: specifically, about art. 

This past weekend, just did a quick trip down to San Diego, La Jolla, and had the insane privilege of staying by a beachfront hotel, La Jolla Shores highly recommended, and the first thing I did in the morning was just drink a cuppa coffee in the little kitchenette, and then went on a walk on the beach.

The funny thing about growing up in the bay areas that we don’t have any beaches… Even in Alameda where our group as a kid, the beach was disgusting and super dirty. As a consequence, I never owned a pair of flip-flops in my life, and I think I only started wearing shorts about two years ago, at the age of 34? Now living in Los Angeles, where the weather is good.

Anyways, at this strange version that I don’t like to dip my toes into the sand, because the feeling of sand in between my toes is unfamiliar and I don’t really like it. But I said F it…  if Cindy showed out the big bucks to get the shorefeont hotel, it is only right to milk activities of walking on the beach, specifically, dipping my toes into the ocean.

So I took off my vibram 5 finger shoes, and just proceeded to walk along the beach, dipping my legs and feet into the warm ocean water, which I was very surprised… It felt like a lovely 72° in the water, almost as nice if not nicer than Hawaii.

Looking into the ocean, was pretty astounding. The feeling was great because if you look into the ocean, it goes on forever. To infinity and beyond.

And some meditations that I had about the ocean and water was that no matter what, the ocean is instantly tireless. It keeps on waving, crashing and waving, due to the earths pull of gravity, maybe the moon in the solar system whatever,  day in and day out. Even in someways it is more virtuous than the sun, which sets at night.

***

## All art everything

Almost everything can be understood in the context of art. Music as art for our ears, cinema at least the good ones, as art for our eyes, and bodybuilding as an art form for the human body, assuming that you’re not taking steroids, and even in someways… Weightlifting powerlifting uplifting at the gym whatever… Should be seen as performance, performance arts! Why? I think I am probably the most entertaining person in the flesh, because I’m the only entertainer who doesn’t drink alcohol smoke weed or do drugs… Also fast all day, and also lift over 1000 pounds, could lift easily lift over 10 plates at the gym. 

Also, am I the only one I know who doesn’t use email? Certainly I’m probably the only millennial that I know, also Cindy… Who is not on Instagram or social media. Even today I saw Cindy‘s mom installed TikTok on her phone and she is almost 70 years old.

Anyways, the reason why I think this is so important is that everything is art. Even my friend Brandon Phan is currently building an art car, which is like an old-school BMW, with a modern day M3 engine. He is doing all the work himself.

Anyways the reason why I feel all this is interesting, even Andy Warhol, Roy Lichtenstein did these art car projects. And if you really really think about super super rich people… sooner or later they just get into art. Is it because they have nothing else to spend their money on? Or are they bored? Or are they seeking beauty, beyond themselves?

Think the ocean: https://erickimphotography.com/blog/2024/09/15/ocean-waves/

Why I’m so funny: https://erickimphotography.com/blog/2024/09/10/dark-humor/

Audio: https://erickimphotography.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/SUCCESS.m4a

Easy: https://erickimphotography.com/blog/2024/09/08/modern-day-success/

- **Modern Notions of Success**:

- Reject traditional success markers (e.g., financial goals, home ownership) and embrace freedom and flexibility.

- Prioritize simplicity, minimalism, and frugality for financial independence.

- Question traditional work-life structures and promote living outside conventional constraints.

- **Email's Decline**:

- Email is becoming obsolete; younger generations may never use it.

- Email is seen as burdensome and inefficient; it's often filled with spam and unnecessary messages.

- Suggests that a new communication paradigm should involve some form of financial cost (e.g., a Satoshi fee) to prevent spam.

- **Retirement and Economic Freedom**:

- Achieve early retirement by adopting a minimalist lifestyle.

- Move to a low-cost country (e.g., Vietnam) where living expenses are minimal.

- Bitcoin is a central focus of future financial strategies, with the idea of holding it long-term as a path to financial freedom.

- **Bitcoin and Economic Leverage**:

- 100% belief in Bitcoin as the future of financial independence.

- Suggests embracing a "Spartan" lifestyle now while banking on Bitcoin's future rise in value.

- The notion of becoming a "Bitcoin maximalist," heavily investing and waiting for future high returns.

- **Body Aesthetics and Physicality**:

- Success is also about physical appearance and strength.

- Compare one's fitness and physique to icons like Arnold Schwarzenegger; physical appearance is tied to a "warrior" mentality.

- **Ideas are Weightless and Infinitely Valuable**:

- The true currency of the future is not wealth or material goods but ideas.

- Ideas have the power to transcend time and influence society in lasting ways.

- **Heroes and Inspiration**:

- Successful people are often inspired by those who came before them.

- Follow in the footsteps of those who inspired the icons, like Steve Jobs looking up to Edwin Land.

- **Radical Ideas**:

- Suggesting that in 20 years, email will be virtually extinct.

- Advocating for new systems of communication and financial freedom based on Bitcoin and decentralized models.

- **True vs. Artificial Desires**:

- Many modern desires (e.g., homeownership) are social constructs, while older desires, like those of Greek heroes, were more fundamental and simple.

- **Philosophy on Goals**:

- Challenges the idea of constantly setting goals; suggests that goals might not be necessary for success.

- Focus on constant, daily improvement rather than striving for long-term achievements.

- **Conclusion**:

- Success is about rejecting conventional norms and forging your own path based on freedom, minimalism, and radical ideas.

- Embrace simplicity, invest in Bitcoin, and focus on the pursuit of ideas and physical strength as core tenets of a meaningful life.

Think thighs: https://erickimphotography.com/blog/2024/09/06/thighs-2/

a true mark of a god — their thighs: https://erickimphotography.com/blog/2024/09/05/demigod-thigh-weight-lifting/

So easy: https://erickimphotography.com/blog/2024/09/03/god-thigh-training/