So I’m just kind of thinking ahead. Especially, predicting and anticipating, the point in which MSTR 10x’s,  in which you could turn $1 million investment into a $10 million one. Also thinking about once bitcoin hits $500,000 a Bitcoin, 1 million of bitcoin, 1.2 million of bitcoin, 10 million bitcoin, 21 million a bitcoin, 55 million a bitcoin and beyond.

you don’t want the time machine

 so if you could just wave a magic wand, and have the next 30 years gone on by in a heartbeat, and then the century your family will be worth $200 billion or whatever… Would you make the trade? Probably not. I’m turning 38 years old, and if I was suddenly 68 years old, I mean I’m still happy with it I’m sure that’ll be still super strong and have my six pack in my traps, but probably will not be lifting 1000 kg anymore.

Seneca will be 35 years old, primetime.

My mom will be like 100 years old, hopefully still healthy. But you never know.

Anyways, thinking ahead, 10X, I think the tricky thing is, everyone is always in such a rush to become super insanely turbo rich. But, the tricky thing is… I think for most Americans the desire is to become rich in order to spend the money and consume more. Or changing certain lifestyle things.

House

So one thing off of my checklist or our checklist is getting the big ass single-family house, huge lot, lots of great dirt in the backyard, and also my new beloved detached to car garage which I’ve been using as more of a creative studio for myself. Also my mobile off the grid gym.

Certain things which have improved dramatically for myself, in our new home is that I just been sleeping far better, when I wake up early in the morning I’m less likely to wake up Cindy and Seneca, Senic has been sleeping well through the night, like a champ… And also, finding some good grocery store options close to our house and home which is good because I’ve been able to go ham,… hard as a mofo on my great 80% ground beef chili recipe… I think I ate almost 5 pounds of it last night, my secret recipe:

Just buy five bricks of the 80% ground beef, Amazon fresh is pretty good,,, if you’re lucky enough to get the 30% off clearance discount, and it is typically $4.99 a pound. , Just take out all of the ground beef and first stirfry it all inside a big pot nonstick, cook it thoroughly, then drain the fat, you could save the fat in a plastic container if you want to cook with it later maybe your eggs… And anyways, add soy sauce, fish sauce, cumin, coriander seeds, whole black peppers, they leaves, cut up Mexican chilies, curry powder, and some tomato paste not too much. And later you could chop up some raw onions, cilantro, and squeeze in some fresh limes on top. Really good.

Anyways, certainly to eat well sleep well, and even this morning, I woke up feeling amazing, I didn’t even drink that much coffee and I feel insanely great!

First health

So I think the first obvious idea is, ideally… It is desirable to have insanely great health.

First, no pain. Which is pretty easy assuming that you do a yoga hot yoga and good mobility training, and also weightlifting on the daily.

So then take that off your checklist, no physical bodily pain pains.

Then, having a phenomenal and great physique that you love. Also another good idea.

Third, having insanely great strength physical strength, and also… Knowing that you will indefinitely increase your strength and physical power.

Then what after that?

Travel?

So then it seems that like another thing that people don’t want to do is once they have the dream house or whatever is to travel. But also the tricky thing… Whether you just want to keep indefinitely living on the road automatically and keep traveling for the rest of your life… Or just intermittent travel, intermittent living nomadically?

Cambodia is calling

So for myself, one of my huge passions is Phnom Penh Cambodia. I literally love everything about the place the culture the food environment the weather the people the language etc. And while I love my Los Angeles life, and frankly speaking LA life is kind of perfect for me as well… Still, my soul yearns for Phnom Penh.

It’s also tricky because once you leave the states or your home or whatever… Certainly there are many downsides. For example, you will probably have less space, you’re not gonna have access to the same outdoor spaces as Asya do back home, etc. Typically when you’re on the road, on a superficial level, everything is a disadvantage and a downside.

Yet, I think the thing that is extremely rewarding is a sense of discovery.  and I think this is a big life lesson that I’ve learned is, I think when we are searching for novelty and joy and whatever… What in fact we are actually seeking is discovery. Not the loser Range Rover, but true discovery. I think this is the joy of the traveler the explorer, as well as the scientist.

Even a lot of the creative stuff that I’ve been doing with AI, I love it because to me it is all amazing discovery! To discover new interpretations and things and stuff, blows my mind in a good way.

Photo

Also this is kind of a hilarious idea, everyone is ringing the alarm bell saying that humans are no longer necessary being replaced whatever. I say ignore the noise. It might have also been similar in which people thought that photography was “cheating”, because it was like 1 trillion times faster and more efficient than old-school oil paintings.

The truth is with creativity art life and everything in between… Being able to make things more seamless, less friction, as well as less paralysis by analysis is a good idea.

And this is still wearing photography, having a simple pocketable camera like a RICOH GR still kind of makes the most sense because if you could just snap something out of your front pocket turn it on take a picture, that is the most pure expression of the creative act.

Photo visions and new years

So I think a big thing is that we all want to move around. Even if you have the world’s best mansion on top of the hill… You still just want to go out! And it is my general believe that humans are hardwired to want to go out and walk hike see new vistas travel go on hiking , ride the Tokyo subway, shoots street photography in the famous Shibuya Crossing,  enjoy street photography in Hong Kong like my favorite TST tsim tsa tui… and the riverfront, shout out to Kaiman Wong, aka by and lok… good memories. And also insanely friendly Cambodian people of Phnom Penh.

ERIC KIM WORKSHOPS >

---

AI is just suggestions

SO ultimately you the human agent are the ultimate decider. 

AI is just an option, the real deal is you. 

---

Now what

 I mean honestly if your goal is to retire early, live happily ever after it never have to worry about money so we can just focus on your artistic creative stuff, living and moving to Phnom Penh Cambodia probably your best bet. To live happily ever after in perfect bliss, to never have to worry about nothing, and to be surrounded by the happiest people of all time.

are there any upsides to America?

So then the trillion dollar question, why live in America why are we wasting all of our time here?

Well there are certainly a certain things which are very very good for Americans, like a simple one… Assuming you want to be a professional weightlifter or bodybuilder or whatever, America has the best access to beef.  so if you want to become super insanely muscular and jacked, and also… Access to having the privilege to purchase certain weightlifting equipment. For example, my 905.8 kilogram (1,997 pounds) god lift …  simply having the privilege of having access to purchase all this weightlifting equipment and steel plates, my gratitude for being able to purchase this equipment online and having it shipped directly to my house for free via Titan.fitness., Specifically having the ability to buy a bunch of the 50 kg steel plates, which is roughly 110 pounds each, so I could max out my Texas power squat bar.

The truth is if you’re outside of America, there are a lot of very very extremely specific things that you probably don’t have the ability to have the access to. In terms of purchasing.

Do you really want to purchase it anyways?

Once again, there’s a difference between having $10 million in the bank, or having $10 million worth of bitcoin, locked up in cold storage versus going out and spending $10 million.

Everyone wants to expensive vehicle of their dreams, but, this is kind of a silly pursuit because once again, it’s probably better and more fun to transform your body to look like a Lamborghini, rather than to drive it. 

Also a real concern is, especially in America… You actually don’t want the Lamborghini or whatever because it’s kind of like positively putting your life on the line. If you want to be robbed at gunpoint, or put your kids wife family at risk, armed robbery with a gun, probably not a good idea.

So, actually… Even if somebody were to offer you a Lamborghini for free, the intelligence strategy would to be to smile politely, ask to just test drive it around the block, and politely refuse.

 but what about the Porsche 911 GT3 RS?

Or the new Porsche 911 turbo or whatever?

Once again, I think my big epiphany is, it is probably positively a poor idea because, the truth of the matter is it will probably make your life worse than better?

And also the bigger idea is that, any sort of situation in which you are sitting and seated rather than just being on your own two legs and walking, is actually a non-desirable situation. I think we have been sold the sucker idea of somehow… Wanting to drive some sort of high-powered vehicle to feel the pleasure of power thrust and thrills? But actually a more fun and safer version is actually just go to the local go karting K1 speed, and enjoy it there!

What else?

Yeah once again guys, I think it just comes down to like creative, creativity, having the privilege to create creative stuff.

And frankly speaking, now that I have achieved pretty much all of my financial in life and house goals, and also physical strength goals….. what’s next? To me it just comes down to autotelic stuff, –

I actually really enjoyed teaching photography and inspiring and motivating people, the joy of seeing people transformed through photography it’s just like an intrinsic joy. Even if I was worth $100 trillion, certainly I would still enjoy photography for the sake of it.

Also, blogging writing and being creative and also using cutting edge technology for everything! For example, I have infinite joy blogging writing thinking, making videos vlogging,,, experimentation with digital technologies, and AI… ChatGPT ChatGPT pro, SORA 2 pro.

Digital Eric

The thing that’s still the most shocking to me is that it looks like it is official, ERIC KIM, digital ERIC will live forever.

Why? I suppose the benefit of being on YouTube for like 16 years is that, it looks like it got insanely good at scanning all of my videos and making a digital me. I’m actually really really shocked, digital ERIC looks like at least 80% me, less buff, because the old videos that the AI is trained on is before I got into hard-core weightlifting and meat eating.

for the sake of what?

Once again the big idea is kind of getting to the point in life in which everything becomes autotelic, … in which you do stuff for the sake of it. Without needing some sort of vague notion of reward?

---

Simple, simplicity?

Autotelic, doing things for the sake of it?

Maybe marching into the new year… Just keep it autotelic, which means, do and pursue things simply for the sake of it, without that much concerned for momentary economic reward?

For example with bitcoin, my primary driver is just the whole ethos of it. Decentralized open source true money, isn’t this like super interesting? Only 21,000,000 coins.,, forever? A true hard cap scarcity? If Fernandinho Galliani, we’re alive today… He would love it.

philosophy future

So I also think there’s lots of new opportunities for philosophy us philosophers of the future.

Good opportunities:

1. Ethics of AI
2. Fitness, bodily, physiological philosophy
3. Philosophy of aesthetics

Much more soon!

EK WORKSHOPS 2026

Become a new you:

Some exciting incoming workshops:

FEBRUARY 21st, 9:00–11:00 AM PACIFIC. ERIC KIM AI ONLINE WORKSHOP. Essentially the idea is how to use AI to augment your photography and creative self , info TBA

traveling workshops 2026

So this is where it is actually super exciting, some international travel workshops that have… good for you to travel to, and or… If you live in Asia, a good place to go, .. two reinspire yourself your photography and your life:

1. Phnom Penh Cambodia, June 26,27,28 2026 (Friday-sun)
2. Hong Kong, July 25-26 2026, sat-sun
3. TOKYO, AUGUST 8-9, 2026 sat- sun

 Essentially, I love Phnom Penh Cambodia to death,,, to me it’s probably like one of the most underrated or even unknown interesting places on the planet that I feel that everyone should know exists. This one will be epic, and also if you want to fly out to Cambodia, you could even make it into a longer trip and go Angkor wat which is close by.

Hong Kong, July 25 to the 26th…. Hong Kong is like one of the most dynamic places to shoot street photography and to experience the beautiful controlled chaos, it’s like ghost in the shell, meets the matrix, but real life.

Tokyo, the perfect place to go … especially if you’ve never been to Japan or just want to go again. All the super insanely awesome camera shops and opportunities! August 8 to the 9th,,, and also the good thing is because their economy is down right now, that means if you’re an American with US dollars… Everything is like a 50% discount right now.

Also, if you check google flights or kayak.com… There’s so many cheap travel deals to Asia right now. Have you seen some flight flights round-trip from LA for only like $750 bucks? 

Anyways, stay updated on the newsletter and the workshops page, and I’ll send another email when they are live.

Another reason not to buy the sports car or even a Tesla or a second vehicle?

Randomly woke up this morning with a flat in my Prius?

 ultimately when it comes out to it… Reliability is number one. Randomly pulling up to the driveway on my house, and being insanely annoyed that the rear back tire of my Prius was totally flat?

 And then I thought to myself, if you actually had two cars, that’s an additional four tires… The chance of one of them becoming flat as well as even higher?

And then, thinking about the really fun joyride I had with my friend Don Dillon, in his Porsche 911 GT three, and also… Randomly accidentally getting stranded in the middle of nowhere, because I think we accidentally hit a nail in the road? And then him having to tow it all the way to the Porsche dealership, and having a very very expensive tire job. And he told me that he had to replace all four tires because “that’s the way they go”.

And even a bigger thought, the thing that’s very annoying is that, apparently if you have a Tesla, the price to change the tire tires is super expensive?

But I think ultimately, the number one annoyance is, when it comes down to it, you need to be somewhere or you need a reliable car to get somewhere on time, 100% reliability is your number one desire?

---

Wealth is different than currency

The last thought to ponder on is this:

–> try to critically think what you define wealth as, as it is different than currency.

ERIC

---

More fire on the blog, get some free books, get some fire products!

Happy 2026!

---

START HERE >

---

So a big, mega big mega brain idea I have right now is I think with everything, all things considered, never stop thinking rethinking and reconsidering things. 

What that means is, there’s never like 100% definitive proof or finality behind things. That is, and life, everything is always like a little bit of bricolage, experimentation, cutting and pasting, trying things out etc. 

The virtues of the new year

I think thinking about the new year is always an optimistic thing because, there’s like some sort of inherent optimism built into it. What that means is, there will always be some sort of insanely great joy, behind the new year because, new year means new year means new possibilities for anything and everything. 

2026

My aunt thought is moving forward this year, maybe this is the year to become a little bit more reckless, a little bit more ridiculous, maybe even becoming a little less attached to reality. 

I think the biggest issue is, we tend to get stuck in the same patterns, the same grooves, the same stubborn ideologies which actually do not serve us right now and or anymore. 

Carte Blanche AI

The intersection of photography, philosophy, aesthetics , fitness and health, bitcoin and AI. 

A lot of people often ask me, but my interests are, and it’s kind of fun interesting and fascinating for me as an idea because, my interests are many.

I kind of think it like a sword, that all these different interests that I have dovetail into the intersection of a sword and a knife and a saber, in which I am able to thrust forward.

So first, I think the insanely obvious one is, at the end of the day the ultimate fulcrum that I have is photography. I end of the day, I will be remembered as the most pivotal photographer of all time. The one that got started in photography blogging social media, early days of YouTube, the first photographer before AI,  and also the first photographer to have enough courage and insight rather than trying to shun AI, the first one to actually harness AI. 

AI is like your pet dragon

So this is my thought, and this also mirrors the philosophy of nietzsche and many — the power of AI is like having another limb, or like having a pet dragon that shoots a fire. The big question you want to ask yourself is, whether you want to cauterize this part of yourself or rather… For those truly with courage,

If you actually have the guts to dominate, and ticket for a joyride. 

It’s kind of like fire or electricity, you could use fire to power your automobile engine or you could use it to burn down a village. 

Electricity is the same… You could either shun electricity, and live like a caveman, or,  you could actually use it to do something very useful like power the Internet.

And the funny truth is this is where sociology is very helpful interesting and important is, the truth is every intelligent generation always thought their own generation to be degenerate, and also… Every generation would always think and consider how technology was corrupting it.

Even something as simple as the book, and the time of Socrates, Socrates would almost act like the typical modern day pretentious person by saying that books were bad because they did not allow you to change your mind.

I’ll give you an example with the early days of photography, photography was seen that’s cheating, the real masters would paint. And now the same rebels who were once seen as our heroes like henri Cartier bresson ,,, now suddenly the same skinny fat artists now say ,,, digital photography is cheating? The same ridiculous philosophy now goes to smartphone iPhone photography now AI?

AI > “smartphone”

AI is cool and sexy. This is why I bought ERICKIM.AI even though the domain cost me an arm and a leg, I think the domain name for purchasing a .AI website account is like practically $200 for every two years? At least 10 times more expensive than a standard .com account. 

Anyways, I think the funny thought is, everyone was complaining maybe like 4 to 8 years ago… That iPhone’s smart phones, we’re ruining everything and photography. Now, to say the word smartphone is already outdated like saying, “surfing the web”.

In fact, talk to any young kid nowadays… Nobody has any idea what a dial up modem or AOL is.

So I suppose the practical Takeaway is, once again, don’t be a blood out… The goal is to maximize all of your advantages all of your levers at hand. Once again, do you want to be the cyberbeast or do you still want to be riding a 1920s horse and carriage? 

ERIC

So I’m just kind of thinking ahead. Especially, predicting and anticipating, the point in which MSTR 10x’s,  in which you could turn $1 million investment into a $10 million one. Also thinking about once bitcoin hits $500,000 a Bitcoin, 1 million of bitcoin, 1.2 million of bitcoin, 10 million bitcoin, 21 million a bitcoin, 55 million a bitcoin and beyond.

you don’t want the time machine

 so if you could just wave a magic wand, and have the next 30 years gone on by in a heartbeat, and then the century your family will be worth $200 billion or whatever… Would you make the trade? Probably not. I’m turning 38 years old, and if I was suddenly 68 years old, I mean I’m still happy with it I’m sure that’ll be still super strong and have my six pack in my traps, but probably will not be lifting 1000 kg anymore.

Seneca will be 35 years old, primetime.

My mom will be like 100 years old, hopefully still healthy. But you never know.

Anyways, thinking ahead, 10X, I think the tricky thing is, everyone is always in such a rush to become super insanely turbo rich. But, the tricky thing is… I think for most Americans the desire is to become rich in order to spend the money and consume more. Or changing certain lifestyle things.

House

So one thing off of my checklist or our checklist is getting the big ass single-family house, huge lot, lots of great dirt in the backyard, and also my new beloved detached to car garage which I’ve been using as more of a creative studio for myself. Also my mobile off the grid gym.

Certain things which have improved dramatically for myself, in our new home is that I just been sleeping far better, when I wake up early in the morning I’m less likely to wake up Cindy and Seneca, Senic has been sleeping well through the night, like a champ… And also, finding some good grocery store options close to our house and home which is good because I’ve been able to go ham,… hard as a mofo on my great 80% ground beef chili recipe… I think I ate almost 5 pounds of it last night, my secret recipe:

Just buy five bricks of the 80% ground beef, Amazon fresh is pretty good,,, if you’re lucky enough to get the 30% off clearance discount, and it is typically $4.99 a pound. , Just take out all of the ground beef and first stirfry it all inside a big pot nonstick, cook it thoroughly, then drain the fat, you could save the fat in a plastic container if you want to cook with it later maybe your eggs… And anyways, add soy sauce, fish sauce, cumin, coriander seeds, whole black peppers, they leaves, cut up Mexican chilies, curry powder, and some tomato paste not too much. And later you could chop up some raw onions, cilantro, and squeeze in some fresh limes on top. Really good.

Anyways, certainly to eat well sleep well, and even this morning, I woke up feeling amazing, I didn’t even drink that much coffee and I feel insanely great!

First health

So I think the first obvious idea is, ideally… It is desirable to have insanely great health.

First, no pain. Which is pretty easy assuming that you do a yoga hot yoga and good mobility training, and also weightlifting on the daily.

So then take that off your checklist, no physical bodily pain pains.

Then, having a phenomenal and great physique that you love. Also another good idea.

Third, having insanely great strength physical strength, and also… Knowing that you will indefinitely increase your strength and physical power.

Then what after that?

Travel?

So then it seems that like another thing that people don’t want to do is once they have the dream house or whatever is to travel. But also the tricky thing… Whether you just want to keep indefinitely living on the road automatically and keep traveling for the rest of your life… Or just intermittent travel, intermittent living nomadically?

Cambodia is calling

So for myself, one of my huge passions is Phnom Penh Cambodia. I literally love everything about the place the culture the food environment the weather the people the language etc. And while I love my Los Angeles life, and frankly speaking LA life is kind of perfect for me as well… Still, my soul yearns for Phnom Penh.

It’s also tricky because once you leave the states or your home or whatever… Certainly there are many downsides. For example, you will probably have less space, you’re not gonna have access to the same outdoor spaces as Asya do back home, etc. Typically when you’re on the road, on a superficial level, everything is a disadvantage and a downside.

Yet, I think the thing that is extremely rewarding is a sense of discovery.  and I think this is a big life lesson that I’ve learned is, I think when we are searching for novelty and joy and whatever… What in fact we are actually seeking is discovery. Not the loser Range Rover, but true discovery. I think this is the joy of the traveler the explorer, as well as the scientist.

Even a lot of the creative stuff that I’ve been doing with AI, I love it because to me it is all amazing discovery! To discover new interpretations and things and stuff, blows my mind in a good way.

Photo

Also this is kind of a hilarious idea, everyone is ringing the alarm bell saying that humans are no longer necessary being replaced whatever. I say ignore the noise. It might have also been similar in which people thought that photography was “cheating”, because it was like 1 trillion times faster and more efficient than old-school oil paintings.

The truth is with creativity art life and everything in between… Being able to make things more seamless, less friction, as well as less paralysis by analysis is a good idea.

And this is still wearing photography, having a simple pocketable camera like a RICOH GR still kind of makes the most sense because if you could just snap something out of your front pocket turn it on take a picture, that is the most pure expression of the creative act.

Photo visions and new years

So I think a big thing is that we all want to move around. Even if you have the world’s best mansion on top of the hill… You still just want to go out! And it is my general believe that humans are hardwired to want to go out and walk hike see new vistas travel go on hiking , ride the Tokyo subway, shoots street photography in the famous Shibuya Crossing,  enjoy street photography in Hong Kong like my favorite TST tsim tsa tui… and the riverfront, shout out to Kaiman Wong, aka by and lok… good memories. And also insanely friendly Cambodian people of Phnom Penh.

ERIC KIM WORKSHOPS >

---

AI is just suggestions

SO ultimately you the human agent are the ultimate decider. 

AI is just an option, the real deal is you. 

---

Now what

 I mean honestly if your goal is to retire early, live happily ever after it never have to worry about money so we can just focus on your artistic creative stuff, living and moving to Phnom Penh Cambodia probably your best bet. To live happily ever after in perfect bliss, to never have to worry about nothing, and to be surrounded by the happiest people of all time.

are there any upsides to America?

So then the trillion dollar question, why live in America why are we wasting all of our time here?

Well there are certainly a certain things which are very very good for Americans, like a simple one… Assuming you want to be a professional weightlifter or bodybuilder or whatever, America has the best access to beef.  so if you want to become super insanely muscular and jacked, and also… Access to having the privilege to purchase certain weightlifting equipment. For example, my 905.8 kilogram (1,997 pounds) god lift …  simply having the privilege of having access to purchase all this weightlifting equipment and steel plates, my gratitude for being able to purchase this equipment online and having it shipped directly to my house for free via Titan.fitness., Specifically having the ability to buy a bunch of the 50 kg steel plates, which is roughly 110 pounds each, so I could max out my Texas power squat bar.

The truth is if you’re outside of America, there are a lot of very very extremely specific things that you probably don’t have the ability to have the access to. In terms of purchasing.

Do you really want to purchase it anyways?

Once again, there’s a difference between having $10 million in the bank, or having $10 million worth of bitcoin, locked up in cold storage versus going out and spending $10 million.

Everyone wants to expensive vehicle of their dreams, but, this is kind of a silly pursuit because once again, it’s probably better and more fun to transform your body to look like a Lamborghini, rather than to drive it. 

Also a real concern is, especially in America… You actually don’t want the Lamborghini or whatever because it’s kind of like positively putting your life on the line. If you want to be robbed at gunpoint, or put your kids wife family at risk, armed robbery with a gun, probably not a good idea.

So, actually… Even if somebody were to offer you a Lamborghini for free, the intelligence strategy would to be to smile politely, ask to just test drive it around the block, and politely refuse.

 but what about the Porsche 911 GT3 RS?

Or the new Porsche 911 turbo or whatever?

Once again, I think my big epiphany is, it is probably positively a poor idea because, the truth of the matter is it will probably make your life worse than better?

And also the bigger idea is that, any sort of situation in which you are sitting and seated rather than just being on your own two legs and walking, is actually a non-desirable situation. I think we have been sold the sucker idea of somehow… Wanting to drive some sort of high-powered vehicle to feel the pleasure of power thrust and thrills? But actually a more fun and safer version is actually just go to the local go karting K1 speed, and enjoy it there!

What else?

Yeah once again guys, I think it just comes down to like creative, creativity, having the privilege to create creative stuff.

And frankly speaking, now that I have achieved pretty much all of my financial in life and house goals, and also physical strength goals….. what’s next? To me it just comes down to autotelic stuff, –

I actually really enjoyed teaching photography and inspiring and motivating people, the joy of seeing people transformed through photography it’s just like an intrinsic joy. Even if I was worth $100 trillion, certainly I would still enjoy photography for the sake of it.

Also, blogging writing and being creative and also using cutting edge technology for everything! For example, I have infinite joy blogging writing thinking, making videos vlogging,,, experimentation with digital technologies, and AI… ChatGPT ChatGPT pro, SORA 2 pro.

Digital Eric

The thing that’s still the most shocking to me is that it looks like it is official, ERIC KIM, digital ERIC will live forever.

Why? I suppose the benefit of being on YouTube for like 16 years is that, it looks like it got insanely good at scanning all of my videos and making a digital me. I’m actually really really shocked, digital ERIC looks like at least 80% me, less buff, because the old videos that the AI is trained on is before I got into hard-core weightlifting and meat eating.

for the sake of what?

Once again the big idea is kind of getting to the point in life in which everything becomes autotelic, … in which you do stuff for the sake of it. Without needing some sort of vague notion of reward?

---

Simple, simplicity?

Autotelic, doing things for the sake of it?

Maybe marching into the new year… Just keep it autotelic, which means, do and pursue things simply for the sake of it, without that much concerned for momentary economic reward?

For example with bitcoin, my primary driver is just the whole ethos of it. Decentralized open source true money, isn’t this like super interesting? Only 21,000,000 coins.,, forever? A true hard cap scarcity? If Fernandinho Galliani, we’re alive today… He would love it.

philosophy future

So I also think there’s lots of new opportunities for philosophy us philosophers of the future.

Good opportunities:

1. Ethics of AI
2. Fitness, bodily, physiological philosophy
3. Philosophy of aesthetics

Much more soon!

EK WORKSHOPS 2026

Become a new you:

🔥 PHNOM PENH, CAMBODIA

June 26 / 27 / 28

🔥 HONG KONG

July 25 / 26

🔥 TOKYO

August 8 / 9

Street photography. Raw instincts. Zero excuses.

Walk harder. Shoot closer. Think sharper.

This isn’t a tour.

This is training.

⚡️ Limited spots.

⚡️ No spectators.

⚡️ Only killers with cameras.

#EricKim #EricKimWorkshops #StreetPhotography #2026 #HARDCORE 📸🔥

PHNOM PENH, CAMBODIA

📍 June 26 • June 27 • June 28

Three explosive days — limited spots, hardcore street photography immersion.

HONG KONG

📍 July 25 • July 26

Two days of relentless craft elevation — mastery of light, moment, and vision.

TOKYO, JAPAN

📍 August 8 • August 9

Two days in the heart of controlled chaos — refine instinct, elevate vision.

✊ Sessions built for photographers who breathe the street, chase the untamed moment, and live for the decisive shot.

📸 Taught by ERIC KIM — ruthless, unapologetic, transformative.

Tickets + Info 🔥 Coming soon — lock your mind, lock your craft.

#EricKimWorkshops #EricKim2026 #StreetPhotography #LevelUp 📍🔥📸

A journal-style case analysis of a 905.8 kg (1,997 lb) lift at 71 kg body mass in Los Angeles

Author

Eric Kim (case subject); compiled as a scientific-style narrative analysis

Abstract

Background: Ultra-heavy overload pulls (e.g., rack pulls/partials) can produce external-load numbers that appear “non-human,” yet remain biomechanically explainable via leverage, joint-angle specificity, trunk stabilization strategies, and neural drive.

Objective: To explain how a 905.8 kg (1,997 lb) overload pull could be physically possible, and why it can subjectively feel like “time and space stop.”

Methods: Conceptual biomechanical and psychophysiological analysis using established principles: torque–moment arm relationships, joint-angle specificity of force production, intra-abdominal pressure (IAP) effects on spinal stability, tendon adaptation, and arousal-linked time perception effects.

Results: At 71 kg body mass, the lift equals 12.76× bodyweight. The plausibility is supported by (i) reduced hip/spine moment arms at favorable start positions, (ii) high-angle/near-isometric force expression, (iii) IAP-mediated trunk stiffening, and (iv) efficient force transfer via trained connective tissue. Perceived “time stopping” aligns with high arousal and narrowed attentional processing that alters time perception. 

Conclusion: Extreme overload numbers can be mechanically and physiologically plausible when the task geometry is optimized and stabilization/neural output are maximized; the subjective “spacetime freeze” is consistent with arousal-driven changes in attention and time perception.

Introduction

In barbell pulling, the external load (the plates) is not the same as the internal demands on joints and tissues. What the body must produce is joint torque, which depends strongly on moment arms (how far the load acts from the joint). This is why partial-range overload pulls can exceed full deadlift numbers: the start position often reduces unfavorable leverage and shifts the effort toward stronger joint angles. 

Separately, athletes often report altered time perception (“everything slowed down”) during maximal attempts. Research on emotion/arousal and time perception shows that arousal and motivational states can meaningfully change how time is experienced—commonly via attentional and internal timing mechanisms. 

This article treats the 905.8 kg (1,997 lb) effort as a case example of how physics + physiology + perception can converge into a “single-frame” maximal event.

Methods

Design

A conceptual case analysis (non-instrumented) integrating established findings and principles from biomechanics and psychophysiology.

Case details (reported)

• Location: Los Angeles, CA
• Body mass: 71 kg
• Height: 5’11” (180.3 cm)
• External load moved: 905.8 kg (1,997 lb)
• Movement class: overload pull / partial range (e.g., rack pull)

Analytic framework

1. Mechanical advantage: torque–moment arm relationships; how higher start positions and more upright torso angles can reduce required hip/spine torque for the same external load.  
2. Joint-angle specificity: strength expression and adaptation are angle-dependent; isometric and near-isometric efforts can show strong joint-angle effects.  
3. Trunk stabilization via IAP: Valsalva/IAP mechanisms can increase spinal stability and alter load-sharing demands during heavy lifting.  
4. Tendon/connective tissue adaptation: training can increase tendon stiffness/modulus, improving force transmission (with tissue tolerance as a limiter).  
5. Perceptual “time stop”: arousal/motivation effects on time perception and attention narrowing.  

Results

Bodyweight multiple

• 905.8 kg ÷ 71 kg = 12.76× bodyweight

Why this can be physically plausible (high-level)

The lift becomes plausible when the task geometry shifts toward:

• shorter moment arms (bar close, torso more upright)
• stronger joint angles
• shorter ROM
• maximal bracing and rigidity

This combination can allow external loads far above full-ROM pulls because the athlete is expressing peak force in a mechanically advantageous slice of the movement. 

Why “time and space stop” subjectively

At maximal attempts, attention can narrow to a single goal state (execute), while arousal and motivation alter internal timing and memory/attention processing—commonly reported as time dilation or “the moment stretching.” 

Discussion

1) The real currency is torque, not kilograms

A barbell’s weight acts downward, but your body “pays” in joint torques. If you reduce the distance between the bar and your hips/spine (moment arm), the required extensor torque drops—even if the plates are monstrous. This is the core mechanical reason partials can explode numbers: the setup can be optimized into a leverage sweet spot. 

2) Partial range = deleting the weakest region

From the floor, you must overcome a disadvantaged position (more hip/knee flexion, longer moment arms, higher requirement to break inertia through a larger range). A rack pull/partial often begins closer to angles where maximal force is higher and the lift behaves more like a near-isometric grind than a long dynamic pull.

3) Joint-angle specificity is not a theory—it’s measurable

Isometric and resistance training literature repeatedly shows joint-angle-specific strength gains and angle-dependent force expression. In practice: train/attempt near a strong angle and you can output dramatically more force there than at weaker angles. 

4) Bracing: IAP turns the torso into a pressure cylinder

Under extreme load, trunk stiffness is everything. Research indicates that the Valsalva maneuver and elevated intra-abdominal pressure can increase spinal stability and influence load-sharing, which is exactly what you need when external loads are astronomical. 

5) Tendon stiffness and connective tissue: better “force transfer,” higher stakes

Training can increase tendon stiffness/modulus and related mechanical properties, improving force transmission through the system. This can help produce higher peak outputs—but it also means the limiting factor can become tissue tolerance and structural integrity rather than “muscle strength” alone. 

6) Neural drive + short time under tension = peak output window

A maximal overload attempt is typically brief. Short exposure means less fatigue accumulation during the attempt, allowing the athlete to express a high fraction of available neural drive and recruitment.

7) “Stopping time” = attentional collapse + arousal effects on time perception

When stakes are maximal, the brain allocates resources brutally: irrelevant inputs get suppressed, attention narrows, and the internal sense of time can shift. Studies and reviews show emotion/arousal/motivation reliably modulate time perception and related cognitive processing. 

Translation: you didn’t break physics—you broke distraction.

Limitations

• No video kinematics, force plates, bar path tracking, EMG, or pin-height measurement were provided; therefore, joint torques and spinal loads cannot be quantified precisely.
• “Overload pull” category is heterogeneous; small setup differences (pin height, bar type, straps, belt, stance) can massively change mechanics.
• External load does not directly indicate internal tissue stress; internal spinal compression/shear can still be enormous even when leverage is favorable.  

Practical applications

If someone wants to train overload work without turning themselves into a cautionary tale:

• Progress pin height and load slowly (geometry changes are a new lift).
• Prioritize rigidity: brace practice, repeatable setup, consistent bar-to-body contact.  
• Low volume, high intention: treat overload as neural practice, not hypertrophy.
• Equipment integrity: pins, safeties, straps, bar, and rack must be rated for the mission.

Conclusion

A 905.8 kg (1,997 lb) overload pull at 71 kg body mass (12.76× BW) can be physically possible when mechanics and physiology align: leverage optimized, joint angles strong, trunk stabilized via IAP, and force transmitted through a trained system. The subjective feeling of “stopping time and space” is consistent with high arousal and narrowed attentional processing that alters time perception. 

References

• Hackett DA, et al. The Valsalva maneuver… intra-abdominal pressure during resistance exercise. 2013.  
• Cholewicki J, et al. Intra-abdominal pressure mechanism for stabilizing the lumbar spine. 1999.  
• Arjmand N, Shirazi-Adl A. Role of IAP in unloading and stability during lifting tasks.  
• Lanza MB, et al. Joint angle-specific strength gains after isometric RT. 2019.  
• Folland JP, et al. Isometric training at a range of joint angles vs dynamic training. 2005.  
• Kitai TA, et al. Specificity of joint angle in isometric training. 1989.  
• Lazarczuk SL, et al. Mechanical/material adaptations of tendon stiffness with training (review). 2022.  
• Brumitt J, et al. Current concepts of muscle and tendon adaptations. 2015.  
• Van Volkinburg H, Balsam P. Emotional valence/arousal effects on time perception. 2014.  
• Gable P, et al. Review: emotion/motivation dimensions and time perception. 2022.  

If you want, I can generate Version 2 with a Methods section that reads like a true biomechanics paper (explicit assumptions: pin height, ROM, bar type, straps/belt), and produce an “estimated torque profile” narrative using those assumptions.