Digital Slavery

If you knew with 100% certainty that you are currently living in a science fiction dystopian world, how would you live your everyday life?

Work Done Digitally is Fake, and Work Done Physically is Real?

Nothing is really happening in the city. All innovation is done digitally. There’s no real innovation occurring in real life. The problem with this is, as we are all distracted by the gimmicks and novelty on our digital devices, we neglect the modern world around us and the advancements that occur within the physical realm. Think of the movie Ready Player One, where the main characters live in poverty, in tin shacks stacked on top of each other, but have virtual reality and live within that second world.

As it currently stands, we are enslaved to technology, and I believe we will only truly be free once we make robot slaves. ChatGPT can already and will complete every task done within 75% of modern workplaces within the next ten years. I’m pretty sure that Elon Musk already gave Neuralink to a few people who can operate technology from their brains. Didn’t he do this with a monkey, and now a monkey can play on the computer? I feel like if we can train monkeys to use computers, maybe humans shouldn’t use them?

So, if this were the case, how should we design our lives now, preparing for the future, in a new world of abundance?

Hell is a Place You Create on Earth

Every week, there is a street preacher who stands on Market Street and constantly judges everybody, telling people that they’re going to go to hell if they don’t repent and accept Jesus as their Lord and Savior. What baffles me about this approach to preaching is how unwelcoming it is, almost equivalent to the fear-mongering from the news, just pure doom and gloom. Honestly, this preacher just creates hell for himself on earth by constantly speaking hell into existence. The more he speaks about this fiery pit where people will burn for all eternity, he is quite literally living there, right here, on earth, in his mind. He can’t shake the notion of hell out of his mind and has the nerve to constantly preach about it, as it has consumed him and his soul.

“And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother’s eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye?” – Matthew 7

What this preacher is doing is exactly what Jesus warned us against. Before judging other people, we must point out our own flaws. The preacher has not recognized the “beam” of fear that clouds his eye. With his obsession with hell, he creates a hellish existence for himself on earth, filled with anxiety over the fate of other people, disconnected from the core idea of Christianity, being love and forgiveness.

Silence is Bliss

Have you ever woken up before the sun rises, listened to the sounds of the birds singing and insects humming, standing on top of a cliff, looking out towards a flowing river, a tree canopy, with beautiful, twinkling stars in the sky?

I’m Already in Heaven

In the beginning, God created heaven and earth. On earth, there was darkness, but then there was light.

Fiat lux – let there be light

Ultimately, I believe we are all light, divine beings, created by God in his image. We all have an inner light, a spark of that divine quality within each and every one of us.

Sometimes when I walk around in nature, alone, and gaze up at the sun, it feels like there’s this gigantic spotlight shining down on me, reminding me that I am both a player and conductor of the cosmic drama that takes place on this stage that we call earth. There’s this warm feeling, quite literally a physiological feeling, of the sun kissing my skin, that flows love inside me. This reminds me of the light that exists within all people and that we all have a divine connection to one another, nature, and the universe at large. While darkness may cloud and consume the lives of many people, I believe if we align with nature, we can find our inner light. If all of humanity aligns with light, or simply steps outside, embraces the silence, recognizing our connection to nature itself, we can create heaven on earth. I’m already in heaven because I’ve aligned with nature, with the source, with the essence of what makes us who we are: light.

Cancel Culture is the Devil

When I think about COVID-19, at the beginning, when I first went to a grocery store, a lady was screaming at me to “step back, 6 feet!” Everybody was in a frenzy, filled with anxiety, at scale, affecting the masses. During this time, many people were being canceled through digital media if they would not receive a vaccine or even use their freedom of speech. During this time, we saw more suppression than ever before when it comes to our speech. There were even newscasters calling out people who were unvaccinated for their decision, and that they should be banished from society. The amount of fear, guilt, and shame that was promoted during this time felt like the work of the devil or something sinister and very evil. If people cannot come together, despite having opposing views on science, health, religion, politics, or philosophy, then how will we ever advance as a society?

Assume Everybody is a Bot

Going forward, let’s assume that all Internet users that have the time to leave comments, send messages, etc., are merely bot accounts. Think of platforms like Reddit and the arguments that occur in the comment sections. All Reddit users are bots. Think of the news on television, and how every channel feeds the same information over and over again. It does not matter where your source is coming from; it is all the same and best to just avoid it. I find it hard to trust other people who receive information through the TV, and especially people who use platforms like Reddit, Instagram, etc.

Media Production Thoughts

What I find interesting about producing media, instead of consuming media, is that it allows you the opportunity to augment your mind. When I use my GoPro and film my authentic thoughts while walking out in public, I never filter myself. I simply speak my mind and let my stream of consciousness flow out in words. I think this is something that is lacking within modern media, as everything has a script, and people put on a mask and become an actor. However, using a GoPro with the super view quite literally puts somebody, a viewer, in my shoes. With that perspective or POV, you not only feel like you’re there with me but also hear me clearly, through audio, and authenticity. Honestly, producing your own thoughts or media becomes extremely empowering. I think the problem with most people who seek to start a YouTube channel is they do it for an audience, pleasing others, seeking approval, or even some sort of fame or money. However, if you were making media simply to feed your own curiosities or potentially impact the life of one other person? If this was the goal, how would you approach making media differently? For me, creating media allows me to augment my mind, my thoughts, me, and allows me to think more deeply about how I view the world at large.

Nature is Natural

While I absolutely love living in the city, and believe it to be the supreme place for society to flourish, together, I can’t help but recognize how unnatural it is. The good thing about Philadelphia is the number of green spaces that we have, with the largest parklands within any city in the country, and also the Wissahickon forest, which is right in our backyard. Philadelphia has so many spaces to get away from the hustle and bustle, from the Schuylkill River Trail to the Delaware River and all of the parks in between. Aligning with these spaces provides the citizens of the city a way to appreciate the beauty that exists in nature. I always make an effort to walk through the parks when I practice my street photography because they simply uplift me. When I see birds fluttering by or hear the sounds of the wind blowing between the trees and the leaves, I think these very natural places are missing in society and cities as we sequester ourselves indoors, away from the natural beauty that exists in the world around us.

Hand Strength

Maybe our grip strength is the ultimate sign of strength itself. Have you ever tried to climb a tree, gripping the branches and pulling your body weight up? When I was a young boy, I remember climbing trees that were so tall and enjoying myself swinging down hills on vines in the forest in my backyard. Our strength arises from the grip in our hands, our feet, and our legs. I think we should focus on grip strength more, through using two dumbbells and practicing the farmer’s walk. I also enjoy stretching my wrists every morning during my yoga routine, and I find this to be extremely helpful. When I wear barefoot shoes, I’m strengthening my feet, my calves, and my legs, with the lack of ankle support and the bare minimum sole that is 3 mm thick under the base of my foot. I’ll never forget when I was a Peace Corps volunteer in Zambia, Africa, and the boys played soccer without shoes on. I remember trying to participate in a similar fashion, removing my shoes, and ended up having to soak them for a week straight afterward, as I had blistered feet. However, the boys in the village all had such strong hands and feet because when they work and build homes or bricks, they do not use gloves, and when they play, they do not wear shoes. This creates a formidable body, a strong grip, through the hands and feet.

Child Mind

So ultimately, I’ve come to the conclusion that the best way to live life is that of a child. A child voluntarily plays. Think of when you went to the schoolyard and asked others if they wanted to play tag. Everybody was eager and ready to go, smiling and cheerful within their souls. However, as you get older and become an adult, you have to involuntarily play the game and become a slave to all of the systems we put in place. When I go through my day, I find myself in uncontrollable laughter when random things occur, like branches falling from a tree or even watching the way bystanders on the street interact with technology. Everything becomes extremely amusing or funny, which fills me with this cheerful sensation, with the mind of a child. I think we should just not take things so seriously, be cheerful, more gay, jolly, and a little bit more lighthearted. In a world run on fear, let’s break free from these chains, and fly out of the cage.

Thomas Jefferson was a vocal critic of central banking and the idea of a national bank. His views on central banking were shaped by his broader philosophy of limited government and his distrust of concentrated financial power. Here are some key aspects of Jefferson’s perspective on central banking:

1. Constitutionality: Jefferson believed that a national bank was unconstitutional. He argued that the Constitution did not explicitly grant the federal government the authority to create a central bank. Jefferson adhered to a strict interpretation of the Constitution, believing that any powers not explicitly granted to the federal government were reserved for the states or the people (as outlined in the Tenth Amendment).
2. Distrust of Centralized Power: Jefferson was wary of centralizing economic power in a national bank, which he felt would favor a small elite group of financiers and merchants at the expense of the broader population, particularly farmers and small landowners. He believed that a national bank would lead to corruption and undue influence over government by wealthy interests, undermining the principles of democracy and republicanism.
3. Economic Philosophy: Jefferson favored an agrarian vision for America, where the economy was based on small-scale farming and local commerce. He was suspicious of banking and financial speculation, which he saw as fostering inequality and destabilizing the economy. Jefferson believed that central banks promoted inflation and were inherently exploitative, benefiting the rich while harming the common people.
4. Opposition to Debt: Jefferson was also opposed to the accumulation of national debt, which he associated with the financial practices of European monarchies that he viewed as corrupt and oppressive. He believed that a national bank would encourage excessive borrowing and debt, leading to a loss of fiscal discipline.

In summary, Thomas Jefferson viewed central banking with deep skepticism and opposition. He saw it as unconstitutional, a potential source of corruption, and a threat to both economic independence and democratic governance. His views were largely in opposition to those of Alexander Hamilton, who advocated for a strong central bank to support the new nation’s financial stability and economic growth.

A bull just goes

What if we went through the streets like a bull, barbarically pounding our way through each photograph we make? With a strong gait, strong legs, and strong feet, you can walk on the street endlessly, on repeat.

Conquer yourself

Perhaps the ultimate goal of man is to conquer oneself. While we have the ability to conquer land and the open terrain surrounding us through conquest, warfare, farming, building, and creating the infrastructure that holds our world together, we can also turn inward for the ultimate battle, the spiritual war.

In our modern world, we are bombarded with distractions and things that are ultimately artificial. Think of the sounds of cars, honking horns, planes buzzing by, and the mindless chatter of people, fueling the air with pollution, celebrity gossip, drama, and bad news. While people smoke toxic cigarettes, fueling the sidewalks with pollutants and cancerous gases, so can the thoughts of others, through the words that they speak.

Man is body, not mind.

When it comes to conquering yourself, consider your physical body first and foremost. Think of somebody who cannot pull up their body weight above a bar, and the effect this will have on their mind. Weakness of the body is weakness of the mind. A strong body is inevitably going to possess a strong mind. Because of this, I believe we should take some simple precautions and measures to notice the way in which our body feels, becoming in tune with nature, and ultimately, what is real.

Flesh is real.

Interacting with humans in the physical flesh is a real embodied experience that can never be replaced through artificial means such as social media, text messaging, or even FaceTime and Zoom calls. Body language is lost through the digital spaces, and there are no pheromones in the air. Think of the ants and the role they play within our ecosystem, and the pheromone trails they leave behind for other ants to follow toward the colony. Like ants, each human has a role to play within the colony. In our modern world, we face artificial separation that atomizes man through bureaucratic systems, whether the FDA, the DMV, or even the corporate office that you work within. With the separation of man from physical flesh, division will be the inevitable outcome. When men are domesticated and put into a cage, they become like a bull, ready to destroy anything in their path.

Desire? Tame it

You often hear this notion, to follow your desire. What if our desires are something to also tame, to conquer, or to overcome? When you think of desire, maybe you think of licentiousness, greed, or the other laundry list of sins that Christianity discusses.

To be disciplined is to overcome desire

The other day, while walking down the street, some homeless man asked me for some money, and I simply continued walking, without acknowledging the man. As I walked away, he exclaimed to me, calling me a “faggot.” A bull would respond immediately, with aggression, knocking the man into the ground, beating him to a bloody pulp, because of the noise and vibration echoed from this man’s lips. However, I continued walking, without batting an eye, responding with words, or turning my head, as I know this man is in the depths of hell. Perhaps like a bull, who cannot tame his aggression, we should be more like an elephant, strong, large, capable of harm, but gentle, intelligent, and empathetic.

Energy flows from the weak to the strong in nature

There’s something strange about the feeling I had within me after this interaction. I almost felt stronger, larger, and more grand than this weak, homeless man, in a seemingly unorthodox or unethical way. However, as I walked away, I also felt deep empathy for this man. I had deep concern for his well-being, his state of mind, and the degradation of his weak and feeble body.

No matter if it’s a homeless man, some random stranger, etc., when the words or actions of a weak person are attempting to hurt you, you will inevitably just feel bad for them when you are filled with strength.

Ultimately, those that hate are weak and feed the strong with their energy.

When I was in high school and would play League of Legends, I always played as the tangiest character, Blitzcrank. Blitzcrank, this super tank indestructible robot, had the ability to produce a shield when his health was low by absorbing all of the hit points from the weak minions that would attack him. In life, perhaps it’s wise to be like this tank, that reflects all of the bullets shot at him, indestructible, unmovable, yet filled with love and empathy.

Focus your energy

If you take your two hands, your palms, and squeeze them together with all of your energy, while moving them outward from your chest and back towards your heart, you will feel an immense sensation of energy flowing through your pectoral muscles. The hormonal response of your physical body, through concentrated energy flow of your muscles contracting, releasing dopamine, is pure bliss.

In this brave new world, we have a new drug that releases these chemicals instantaneously, which sits in your front right pocket, the iPhone. Mind-numbing entertainment, media, whether consumed through video, or even playing video games, allows the individual user to experience this euphoric high of dopamine without putting in any muscular effort. Let’s become in tune with nature, with our bodies, and the environment around us more. By focusing your energy through physical exertion, you will feel good and powerful, even more so than your favorite champion or tank from League of Legends, or some superhero movie you watch on TV. Going forward, let’s focus all of our energy on becoming the real-life embodied superhero, the Ubermensch.

Upgrade the world. Upgrade your soul.

In video games, you often have downloadable content enabled after a few months of the release, which sometimes expands the world, opens up new locations, and missions for you to conquer. What if in real life, we saw the world this way, as an endless expanse for us to conquer? When I travel to new locations, I find myself lost in the unknown, uncomfortable, in a situation that ultimately results in the upgrade of my soul. When you put yourself into an uncomfortable position, by traveling somewhere new or doing something different, you increase your curiosity and courage, which I believe are the ultimate traits that influence the quality of our soul. Whether you go far away from home or simply walk down a new street that you haven’t been to recently in your hometown, these novel experiences upgrade the way in which you perceive yourself and the world around you.

Guard your time

In a 40-hour work week, we only have so much time. We are all slaves in this modern world, to our salary, our boss, and time itself. What you spend your time doing, or focus your attention towards, is the ultimate currency in this world.

“Spending time”

Simply think of this notion of spending time, and the correlation it has towards spending money. Money is economic energy that flows through the time that we spend doing things. Perhaps the ultimate currency then is time itself. If the thing that you are spending your time doing is generating money, yet giving you displeasure in life, unhappiness, and anxiety, is it truly worth it? If the time you’re spending is enslaved to a computer, emails, text messages, and communication, consistently for 40 hours a week, do you really think this is a healthy way of life? There is so much anxiety in the air, that it is almost palpable through watching the way people in suits move so quickly down the steeet, always on the phone, always on call, slaves to time itself. I believe this way of life causes the majority of people in modernity to have unbalanced hormones, with high cortisol levels, in need of medication. This is the reason why so many people become consumers and slaves to hedonism during their free time.

I see a future where our time is sacred, and spent innovating, producing, with friends, family, creativity, and spirituality. We’ve replaced these fundamental needs of humanity, such as community, or God, and replaced it with productivity. We’ve all voluntarily enslaved ourselves to technology and comfort.

I believe because we spend too much of our time focusing our attention on things that are trivial and monotonous, in a 40-hour work week, sacrificing our physical bodies and our health for material things and wealth. By spending time always working, laboring, and slaving away, we have no time for true leisure, or to even ask deeper questions about life and meaning itself. I think this is a serious crisis and problem because it inevitably leads to the decline of the human population, as we spend more time working than producing, whether the production of innovative ideas, thoughts, products, art, or even children.

We are here to create something beautiful.

No need for external stimuli or other people

The word “augment” comes from the Latin verb “augere,” which means “to increase” or “to make larger.” The past participle form of “augere” is “auctus,” which is where the English word derives its form. The concept of augmentation refers to the action of making something greater by adding to it, enhancing it, or increasing its value, size, or strength.

The word entered the English language through Old French “augmenter,” which also carried the meaning of enlarging or increasing. Over time, it evolved in Middle English as “augmenten,” maintaining the sense of adding or enhancing.

In modern usage, “augment” is often used in various contexts, such as technology (e.g., augmented reality), where it describes enhancing or adding digital information to the physical world, or in general contexts where something is made more substantial or improved.

The Father of Liberalism and Modern Thought

John Locke, often referred to as the “Father of Liberalism,” was an English philosopher whose ideas laid the groundwork for many of the democratic principles we value today. Born in 1632 in Wrington, Somerset, England, Locke’s contributions to political theory, philosophy, and education have had a profound impact on Western thought, influencing key historical movements such as the Enlightenment, the American Revolution, and the French Revolution.

The Foundation of Modern Political Philosophy

Locke’s most influential work, “Two Treatises of Government” (1689), argued against the concept of the divine right of kings, which was a prevailing justification for absolute monarchy in his time. Instead, Locke proposed that legitimate government is founded on the consent of the governed. He articulated the idea that individuals have natural rights to “life, liberty, and property”—rights that are fundamental and inalienable. Governments, according to Locke, are established to protect these rights, and if a government fails to do so, citizens have the right to revolt and establish a new government. This idea was revolutionary, as it shifted the power dynamics from monarchs to the people themselves.

One of Locke’s key arguments was:

“The end of law is not to abolish or restrain, but to preserve and enlarge freedom. For in all the states of created beings capable of law, where there is no law, there is no freedom.” (Two Treatises of Government)

This assertion underscores his belief that laws are meant to protect freedom, not limit it. This principle directly influenced the drafting of key democratic documents, including the United States Declaration of Independence.

Epistemology and the Blank Slate

Locke also made significant contributions to the field of epistemology—the study of knowledge—through his work, “An Essay Concerning Human Understanding” (1689). In this text, Locke challenged the prevailing notion of innate ideas, proposing instead that the human mind at birth is a “tabula rasa,” or blank slate, and that all knowledge is derived from experience and sensory perception.

Locke wrote:

“Let us then suppose the mind to be, as we say, white paper void of all characters, without any ideas; How comes it to be furnished? … To this I answer, in one word, from Experience.” (An Essay Concerning Human Understanding)

Locke’s emphasis on experience as the source of knowledge was foundational to the development of empiricism, a major school of thought that contrasts with rationalism and remains influential in modern philosophy and science. His ideas about how knowledge is acquired challenged educators to rethink their approaches, laying the groundwork for modern educational theory.

Legacy and Influence

Locke’s influence extends far beyond his own era. His writings inspired a wave of Enlightenment thinkers who advocated for reason, science, and human rights. Figures such as Thomas Jefferson, who famously incorporated Locke’s ideas into the Declaration of Independence, and Jean-Jacques Rousseau, who expanded on Locke’s ideas of government by social contract, were profoundly shaped by Locke’s theories.

Locke’s vision of a government that exists to serve its people, protect their rights, and be accountable to them remains a cornerstone of democratic ideals today. His thoughts on human understanding continue to influence contemporary discussions on psychology, education, and epistemology.

In sum, John Locke’s ideas were not just philosophical musings; they were calls to action that have echoed throughout history, shaping the very foundations of modern democracies. His belief in the power and rights of the individual continues to inspire those who advocate for liberty and justice worldwide.

By studying Locke, we delve into the roots of our own political and philosophical traditions, gaining insight into the enduring principles that continue to guide us today.

A bull may react aggressively due to a variety of factors, typically related to their natural instincts, environment, or external stimuli. Here are some common causes of aggression in bulls:

1. Territorial Instincts: Bulls are naturally territorial animals. They may become aggressive when they perceive a threat to their territory or dominance within a herd. This aggression is especially pronounced in confined spaces or when unfamiliar bulls are introduced.
2. Protective Behavior: Bulls can become aggressive if they feel the need to protect their herd, especially if they perceive a threat to cows or calves. This protective instinct can lead to aggressive behavior toward people or other animals they consider threatening.
3. Hormonal Influences: Testosterone plays a significant role in bull aggression. During breeding season or when a bull is around a cow in estrus (heat), testosterone levels increase, which can heighten aggressive behavior. Bulls may display dominance through aggression to establish their status and gain mating rights.
4. Fear or Startle Response: Bulls can become aggressive if they are startled or frightened by sudden movements, loud noises, or unfamiliar objects. If they perceive a threat, their natural reaction may be to charge or defend themselves.
5. Pain or Discomfort: Bulls in pain or discomfort may react aggressively. This can result from injury, illness, or improper handling. Aggression in these cases is often a defensive response to avoid further pain or discomfort.
6. Previous Negative Experiences: Bulls with previous negative experiences, such as rough handling or mistreatment, may develop a conditioned response of aggression toward people or situations that remind them of those experiences.
7. Social Hierarchy Conflicts: Bulls often engage in aggressive behavior to establish or maintain their position within a herd’s social hierarchy. Dominance disputes with other bulls can lead to aggressive displays, including charging, butting, or fighting.
8. Frustration: Bulls can become aggressive if they are frustrated, such as being unable to reach a cow in estrus or if they are confined and unable to move freely. Frustration can lead to heightened aggression, particularly in bulls accustomed to roaming.
9. Lack of Socialization: Bulls that have not been adequately socialized, especially those raised in isolation, may not know how to interact calmly with other animals or humans, leading to unpredictable aggressive behavior.
10. Genetic Factors: Some bulls are genetically predisposed to be more aggressive. Breeding practices can influence the temperament of bulls, and those with aggressive tendencies may pass these traits on to their offspring.
11. Fatigue or Hunger: Bulls that are overly tired, hungry, or stressed may be more prone to aggressive behavior. Proper care, including regular feeding and rest, is essential to maintain a calmer temperament.

Understanding these factors and taking appropriate measures, such as proper handling, reducing stress, and ensuring bulls have enough space and socialization, can help manage and reduce aggressive behavior in bulls.

Also just be a tourist in your hometown

Some random thoughts I had this morning about the future of war and money-

On the Future of War and Money

I remember reading the novel Ender’s Game as a freshman in high school, alongside other books such as 1984 by George Orwell.

In the book, boys are stationed on a spaceship where they practice warfare and engage in simulated battles using virtual reality. Towards the end of the novel, when they think they are in a simulation, they actually wind up winning a war, defending their ship against the enemy.

In modern warfare, and looking into the future, an 18-year-old kid with an Xbox controller can control robots and drones, blowing up villages and killing innocent people without the physical contact traditionally associated with war.

What are the future implications of this technology in warfare? Could its use in remote-controlled combat lead to ethical dilemmas and unintended consequences?

I think, as it currently stands, with every major nation holding nuclear weapons, we are at a standstill. When I consider Alexander the Great and all the land he conquered, spreading Hellenistic culture throughout various regions, I think about his motives and what drove him. While glory, legacy, political, and cultural reasons come to mind, we must not forget the basic primal instinct of man seeking to conquer for the sake of wealth, money, power, and land. At one point, Alexander the Great looted over 6,000,000 pounds of gold from Persepolis.

One of the regions Alexander the Great conquered was Babylon, or present-day Iraq. In 2003, when the United States went looking for weapons of mass destruction in Iraq, we found nothing. However, one of the immediate actions of the United States military in Iraq was to take control of infrastructure and particular oil fields. With control of the oil fields, the United States benefits not by stealing oil but by stabilizing the economy and market value of this critical commodity.

Now that our US dollar is not backed by gold, and the Federal Reserve prints money infinitely, we have the ability to continuously funnel money into the production of weapons, funding warfare through the money we use daily, driving our debts to unresolvable heights, leading to inflation and a depreciation in the value of our dollars. Last year, you could buy a chicken from ShopRite for five dollars, but recently the price has increased to eight dollars per chicken. While this seems like a small increase in price, it’s actually a big deal.

Now, let’s consider our current year, 2024, and all of the technological advancements we’ve had in both war and money. We’ve gone from hunting with bow and arrow to fighting with sword and shield, to muskets and cannons; from line warfare to trench warfare with the implementation of the machine gun, to now the atomic bomb. Our grandparents have lived through the transition of transportation from horse and buggy to motor vehicles, the radio, television, and now the iPhone that sits in your front right pocket. My grandmother purchased her home for $10,000, and now, as the current year stands, homes are hundreds of thousands of dollars, if not millions. At this rate, the value of our dollars will depreciate over time, and we will consistently see the rise of our debts and the increase in prices.

What is the solution to this critical problem that keeps society flourishing? Do we continuously print more money? Or do we harness the power of technology and implement a future of peace and prosperity?

When I consider war and money, especially in the context of Alexander the Great looting places for millions of pounds of gold, digital money seems like a very easy solution to fixing this very real, physical problem. Because we are no longer backed by a gold standard, it seems most wise for us to adopt a new standard, a solution to this real problem. Bitcoin, harnessing the power of technology, electricity, and the laws of physics, provides truth in code, the first-ever cryptographically proven, digital, scarce asset. Not only can we consider Bitcoin as digital gold, but an even more interesting way to think about it is as digital property, where you quite literally own a block within cyberspace. Similarly to how there’s only so much land in the physical world, there will only ever be 21 million bitcoins ever to be mined. The problem with gold is that we can continuously mine for more, making it not a truly scarce asset. Much like property, and owning the only pair of keys to your house, you take ownership of your bitcoin through a set of private keys that only you have access to.

Could the adoption of a digital form of money, such as Bitcoin, reduce the economic motivations for war

If Alexander the Great, Vladimir Putin, Kim Jong-un, or Xi Jinping wanted to invade a nation and loot their money supply, they couldn’t, as it exists in cyberspace. If somebody were to approach you on the street and put a gun to your head, threatening to kill you unless you empty your wallet, they could take nothing from you because your private keys exist in your head. This becomes a radical and revolutionary technology, as not only is it decentralized, our ability to withhold a true asset that forms as a store of value can potentially lead to the end of gun violence and war generally.

Not only does this technology uplift humanity on an individual level, giving you control over your money, rather than a government or a centralized bank, but also has the potential to transform the world globally. With a fixed supply, this could change the way nations spend money, leading to economic stability and transparency, as every transaction is made public through the blockchain. The future of information, money, and technology is inevitably going to be shaped by these modern, decentralized innovations.

If we harness the power of modern technology, we can create a new world, a cleaner world, a more peaceful world for future generations.

Nobody Is a Match for Me

I was chatting with an older photographer, somebody in their 70s, about the history of photography, specifically street photography. He mentioned that there will never be another Bresson. I then told him,

“You’re looking at him.”

He responded, laughing, telling me,

“Good luck with an ego like that.”

What I learned from this interaction is that one is not permitted to be confident in one’s abilities in this modern world. It is seen as virtuous to kill your ego, to not be audacious or bold in your pursuit of greatness. I think people expect others to just be humble, modest, and recognize their limitations. The thing with me is, I know that there are no limits, and even if I never reach my goals or achieve greatness, I will at least die trying, knowing that I was confident in my ability, and not just another emo photographer. I’d rather not kill my ego; rather, have a balanced relationship with it.

I never want to become a master of photography. I want to forever remain an amateur, perpetually learning through my recognition of my ignorance, while simultaneously pursuing excellence.

Uplift Humanity

I believe the goal of photography is to uplift humanity, to champion the human experience, and elevate it to a new height. Perhaps it is those who love life the most that will make the best photographs.

A photograph is a reflection of your lust for life.

When I was a Peace Corps volunteer in Zambia, Africa, working in food security with rural aquaculture, I was invited within the Bemba tribe with open arms. The most profound realization I had about these communities off the grid, and remote villages, is how the community thrives under one God, as one tribe, sharing the land. During one of my experiences, I spent two weeks sleeping under tents that were erected with sticks and tarps, praying under a thatched roof of the Seventh-Day Adventist church. Towards the end of this two-week church camp, I witnessed hundreds of Zambians be baptized in the lake. As I trudged through the water up to my knees with a camera in hand, I made photos as each Zambian man and woman was dunked into the water one by one. You could sense the fear and tension in the eyes and faces of the people before they were lowered into the water, but when they rose, a smile and open eyes on their faces were clearly visible, like they were born again.

As a volunteer, I was expected to be a helping hand in this community, but at the end of the day, they wound up helping me more than I could ever help them. This community taught me just how beautiful this human experience can be. I’ve never seen so many people working together, sharing their land, under one God. My time as a volunteer in Zambia helped me realize just how amazing humanity can be, despite all of the complexities we face in life. I came home with a newfound understanding of what truly matters in life, despite what modern society expects of you.

Break the Simulation

In the context of photography, one is expected to make money from their work. Sometimes, when I tell people I’m a photographer, they expect I photograph weddings, events, or make portraits of people for money. This happens 99% of the time you speak with anybody about your passion, as it always correlates with some sort of income stream or monetary gain. When I tell people about my experiences and the things that I photographed throughout my life, they always tell me that I should make so much money from this, that it is so profound and great, and are shocked when I tell them I do not do it for work.

I believe we should go beyond these basic notions of monetary gain within the realm of photography, especially street photography, where it is not the goal whatsoever. Street photographers do not seek fame, praise, or money. We simply seek to become in tune with life itself, existing in the present moment, photographing life as it is. The simple pleasure of walking, exploring the unknown, and coming home with a new work of art is enough to satisfy my soul. I truly do not care if other people see the photograph, or if I am met with monetary gain from the results. This has never been the goal, never will be the goal, and I will simply continue my practice because it makes life whole and meaningful.

At the end of the day, I never do something that I love simply for the sake of making money. Even when it comes to my current job working in horticulture, it is not for the money whatsoever. As much as humans need money to survive, pay for food, rent, etc., it is simply for the passion of the great outdoors and the meaning it provides in my life. I believe doing things simply for the sake of making money is a death sentence for the soul. This, I believe, will kill your joy and burn you out.

You Can Create a New World in a Fraction of a Second

The power of photography lies in its ability to change your perspective with each click of the shutter.

While I photograph life as it is, I’m merely curious about what life will manifest to be in the photographs that I make. This means, however mundane life may seem, when I uplift it in a photograph, it can potentially become like a dream. I find that my new process of photographing abstracts reality, reaching towards this surreal, otherworldly, transcendental height. This is my goal as a street photographer: to take the ordinary and create something extraordinary.

We Are Not the Same, I Am a Martian

My coworker, who has been working for 30 years in the same place, is an absolute joy to be around. The reason is, she shares similar qualities to me in regards to her personality, which I find rare to find in most people my age. She has many quirks, where she walks through the gardens, dancing, almost like a big kid. It reminds me of myself and how I enjoy walking through the city streets, teetering and tottering along the curbs, jumping on benches, walking through the grass, and dancing through the streets. She reminds me that it’s OK to be childlike, to embrace our inner curiosities and unique qualities. I find that it’s almost the new norm to just be boring, or the same as everyone else, follow trends, wear the same clothes, act the same way, etc.

I think when you’re in that Zen zone of doing something you truly love, you forget that you even exist, or that anything is really happening, except for the present moment of pure bliss.

Nothing Can Break My Spirit

With the camera in hand, and the ability for me to make something from nothing, at any moment in this world, nothing can break my spirits, or my lust for life. I fucking love life. I wake up before the sun rises, just to get my body moving. I can’t help myself but throw myself out onto the front lines of life to experience another day. The simple pleasures, such as the sunlight, walking, clean water, and good grass-fed meat, combined with good sleep, are enough to keep me waking up on repeat, with a smile on my face, never in defeat. For any L or loss I take is merely a lesson, and not a mistake. For everything happens for a reason, and nothing can break my spirit this season. Fall is coming, the weather is changing, and I am so eager for the change of these seasons. When the sun goes down at night, I can’t help but crawl right into bed, just so that I can wake up as early as possible. When you’re full of vitality, nothing can stop you.

Not Just an Ant in the Anthill

In one of my favorite movies from childhood, “A Bug’s Life,” the main character, Flik, stands out from the rest of the colony. While the rest of the ants are toiling with grains on their backs, one by one, serving the grasshoppers who control their food supply, Flik is an inventor, who seeks to speed up the process of harvesting grains by making machines and different contraptions. When the queen sees he stands out from the bunch, she sentences him to a courtroom and decides what to do with him next, as she believes he is disturbing the status quo. Flik proposes to leave the colony in search of warrior bugs, to fight against the grasshoppers and gain self-autonomy over their colony. When Flik returns to the colony with his warrior bugs, they successfully drive out the grasshoppers. The ants, no longer under the threat of tyranny, can now live freely and prosperously.

This story reminds me to reject conformity, to embrace individuality, and find a deeper meaning and purpose in life. It also brings to mind the story of Jesus driving out the money changers from the temple. Just as Flik challenged the status quo of his colony to fight for freedom, Jesus defied the expectations of His society by confronting corruption. By overturning the tables of the money changers, He sought to restore purity to the temple. Both Flik and Jesus faced opposition for their actions, but they were driven by a vision of a better, more just world.

You Are Divine

At the center of every village in Zambia, there is a church. In the center of the church, there is an altar, where the community recognizes the sacrifice that Jesus made. By recalling the stories within the New Testament, the members of the community have a blueprint, an archetype, something divine to strive towards. By learning about the stories of Jesus’ time on earth, the individual within the tribe is given permission to become like Him. I believe this connection to something greater, to something divine, is what drives a community upwards, towards paradise, creating a New World here on earth. We all have the light of Christ within us, and we are all

divine beings here on this earth. While we are flesh and blood, as Jesus was, we too are divine and connected to something greater, something higher, something transcendental.

You are godlike.

Sun leaking through the shades
Making sure I live my day
Bright light across my face
Slowly shake me out my daze
Being here is just a phase
Till the day I’m back in space

– BONES