Thinking of my time walking the streets of Baltimore, sleeping on the floors of mosques in the West Bank, eating watermelon with Italians in Napoli, milking cows on a kibbutz, rowing through caves in Belize, praying under thatched roofs in Zambia, climbing the mountains of Ethiopia, exploring the slums of Mumbai, dancing with locals in Mexico City, exploring the markets of Hanoi, and trekking off the grid in Costa Rica with my brother.
A camera can be the passport that takes you on an adventure of a lifetime.
Choosing the Road Less Traveled
When you think about life, there are so many different paths you can take. I decided to take the more interesting path. My favorite route was the road from Jerusalem to Jericho. I photographed conflict at the frontlines in the West Bank, slept on mosque floors, and learned about Islam firsthand. I traveled across Israel, lived on a kibbutz, and volunteered in the gardens, learning the ways of farming.
I’ve worked alongside the Peace Corps and collaborated with the department of fisheries to secure nutrition in a rural village. There, I learned a local language, embraced new customs, and prayed with my host family under the Seventh-day Adventist Church. Even when Covid hit, the urge to travel didn’t slow down. I ventured to Mumbai, Mexico City, and Hanoi, exploring dangerous neighborhoods and climbing mountains that locals told me to avoid. Around the tranquil lakes of Hanoi, I began contemplating my photographic process, making the decision to shift to black-and-white and embrace minimalism.
The Future is Unknown
Now, I’m on the path to the unknown. I look forward to whatever chaos comes my way here in Philadelphia. There’s so much to see and do, so many multifaceted complexities in this world. The road is endless and the world is open. We can explore endlessly if we choose to do so.
I’ve led the life of a nomad—a wanderer, if you will—but for now, I’m looking to ground myself here in my hometown and create an endless body of work that will push me to innovate and create new art.
Not even nature is peaceful. I’ve seen a hawk devour a tiny bird in mid-flight in Rittenhouse Square Park in Philadelphia. All that was left of the bird were some feathers floating to the ground.
You don’t have to travel far to realize that war and violence is everywhere. You cannot escape it.
Cheerios advertises itself as “heart-healthy” and beneficial for cholesterol primarily because it contains whole grains, particularly whole grain oats, which are known to help lower cholesterol. The key component is soluble fiber, specifically beta-glucan, found in oats. Soluble fiber has been scientifically shown to reduce levels of low-density lipoprotein (LDL), commonly referred to as “bad cholesterol,” which is a major contributor to heart disease.
Here’s a breakdown of why Cheerios makes these claims:
1. Oats and Soluble Fiber: Cheerios is made from whole grain oats, which contain beta-glucan. This soluble fiber can bind to cholesterol in the digestive system and help remove it from the body, which may lower LDL cholesterol levels.
2. Heart Health Claims: The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) allows certain food products, like those containing oats, to carry heart health claims on their packaging if they meet specific nutritional criteria. Cheerios qualifies for these claims because of its low saturated fat content and the presence of soluble fiber from oats.
3. FDA-Approved Health Claims: The FDA has approved statements about the benefits of whole grain oats and soluble fiber in reducing cholesterol levels and promoting heart health. Cheerios capitalizes on this approval to market the cereal as part of a heart-healthy diet.
4. Cholesterol Impact: Studies suggest that consuming 3 grams of soluble fiber daily from whole grain oats can help reduce cholesterol levels, and a serving of Cheerios contains about 1 gram of soluble fiber, making it a convenient food choice to support cholesterol management.
By promoting Cheerios as “heart-healthy,” the company is aligning with existing scientific evidence and FDA guidelines, targeting consumers looking for foods that may help improve their heart health and lower cholesterol.
But Cheerios are not healthy whatsoever?
While Cheerios is marketed as a heart-healthy option due to its whole grain oats and soluble fiber, it’s important to consider the full nutritional profile of the product and the broader context of a balanced diet. Here are some reasons why Cheerios may not be as “healthy” as their marketing suggests:
1. Processed Nature: Cheerios, like many cereals, are processed foods. Even though they contain whole grains, the processing can strip away some of the natural nutrients. The oat ingredients are often refined to a degree, which may impact their overall health benefits compared to eating whole, less-processed oats.
2. Added Sugars: While plain Cheerios have relatively low sugar content (around 1 gram of sugar per serving), other varieties, such as Honey Nut Cheerios, contain much higher amounts of added sugars (up to 12 grams per serving). Consuming too much added sugar has been linked to various health issues, including obesity, diabetes, and heart disease.
3. Portion Sizes and Nutritional Gaps: Cheerios are often consumed in larger portions than the recommended serving size, which can lead to higher intake of sugars or lower nutritional density in a meal. Additionally, cereals like Cheerios are often eaten with milk or other sweeteners, further complicating their impact on a healthy diet.
4. Fortified Nutrients vs. Natural Sources: While Cheerios are fortified with vitamins and minerals like iron, B vitamins, and others, these are synthetic additives. Nutrition from whole, unprocessed foods, like fruits, vegetables, and unrefined grains, is typically more beneficial than relying on fortified processed foods for essential nutrients.
5. Lack of Other Nutrients: Cheerios, like many cereals, may not provide significant amounts of protein or healthy fats, which are essential components of a balanced diet. Depending on how it is consumed (e.g., with milk or other foods), it might not offer enough satiety or balance compared to meals with higher protein or healthy fat content.
In summary, while Cheerios do contain beneficial ingredients like whole grain oats and soluble fiber that can contribute to heart health, they are not a magic bullet for health. Like most processed foods, their healthfulness depends on the variety chosen, portion sizes, and how they fit into a person’s overall diet. Whole, unprocessed foods typically provide a more nutrient-dense and balanced foundation for a healthy diet.
I find it to be very deceiving advertising. There’s no way in hell that it is a healthy food to consume for anybody.
You’re not alone in feeling that way. Many people share concerns about deceptive advertising in the food industry, particularly when it comes to products like breakfast cereals that are marketed as “healthy” while still being processed and containing added sugars or other less beneficial ingredients. The marketing of Cheerios as a heart-healthy food taps into approved health claims, but it can create a misleading impression, especially for consumers who might not consider the bigger picture of overall nutrition.
This type of advertising often focuses on a single positive aspect—in this case, the soluble fiber from oats—while downplaying or omitting factors like processing, sugar content, or lack of other essential nutrients. It gives the impression that Cheerios is a simple, healthy choice, but as you pointed out, it doesn’t necessarily align with a holistic view of healthy eating.
Many processed foods are marketed similarly, with buzzwords like “low-fat,” “heart-healthy,” or “whole grain,” which can make them seem healthier than they truly are, especially when compared to whole, unprocessed foods like fruits, vegetables, or whole grains in their natural form.
Your concern reflects a broader issue with the food industry, where marketing tactics often overshadow more nuanced discussions about what truly constitutes a healthy diet. It’s important for consumers to critically evaluate these claims and look beyond advertising to understand the full nutritional value of what they are consuming.
Who owns Cheerios?
Cheerios is owned by General Mills, an American multinational food company. General Mills is one of the largest food manufacturers in the world, producing a wide range of well-known brands in addition to Cheerios, such as Häagen-Dazs, Pillsbury, Betty Crocker, Yoplait, and Nature Valley. The company has been marketing Cheerios as a breakfast staple since its introduction in 1941 (originally called “CheeriOats”).
General Mills continues to produce and market Cheerios, offering various flavors and versions of the cereal to cater to different consumer preferences.
Who created General Mills?
General Mills was created through the merger of several companies, but its origins can be traced back to Cadwallader C. Washburn, who founded the Washburn-Crosby Company in 1866. Washburn built a large flour mill in Minneapolis, Minnesota, which became one of the largest in the world.
In 1928, the Washburn-Crosby Company merged with several other regional mills to form General Mills, Inc., establishing the company as a dominant force in the milling and food production industry.
John Crosby, Washburn’s business partner, also played a role in the early development of the company that would later evolve into General Mills. Over time, General Mills expanded far beyond its original focus on flour and milling, becoming one of the largest food companies in the world.
Who is cadwallader?
Cadwallader C. Washburn (1818–1882) was an American entrepreneur, politician, and industrialist, best known for founding what would become General Mills, one of the largest food companies in the world. Here are some key aspects of his life:
1. Business Ventures: Washburn was a key figure in the flour milling industry in the late 19th century. He founded the Washburn-Crosby Company in 1866, which operated one of the largest flour mills in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The success of this company helped transform Minneapolis into a global milling hub. His company later became General Mills through mergers and acquisitions.
2. Political Career: Washburn also had a significant political career. He served as a U.S. Congressman from Wisconsin for several terms during the mid-1800s and was the Governor of Wisconsin from 1872 to 1874. His political work included advocacy for land reform and the development of infrastructure.
3. Philanthropy and Legacy: Washburn used his wealth to contribute to educational and cultural institutions. He founded the Washburn Academy (now part of Washburn University) in Topeka, Kansas, and was involved in other philanthropic endeavors. His legacy lives on in the name of schools, buildings, and in the General Mills corporation he helped establish.
Washburn’s innovative approach to flour milling and his role in founding one of the world’s largest food companies left a lasting impact on the industry and American business history.
Was he responsible for cheerios
No, Cadwallader C. Washburn was not directly responsible for the creation of Cheerios. He founded the Washburn-Crosby Company, which later became General Mills, the company that eventually developed Cheerios. However, Washburn passed away in 1882, long before Cheerios was introduced.
Cheerios was created by General Mills in 1941, originally under the name CheeriOats. The cereal was developed by Lester Borchardt, a General Mills employee, who was part of a team working to create a puffed oat cereal. In 1945, the name was changed to Cheerios, and it has since become one of the company’s most iconic products.
So, while Washburn founded the company that would go on to create Cheerios, he was not directly involved in its invention.
Tell me about Lester
Lester Ferdinand Borchardt was an American food scientist and inventor best known for his role in creating Cheerios, one of the most popular breakfast cereals in the U.S. Here’s some background on him:
Early Career and General Mills:
Lester Borchardt worked at General Mills as part of the company’s research and development team in the 1940s. His key contribution came during the time when General Mills was seeking to create a new type of cereal. The company was already known for its innovations in food products, and Borchardt’s role in developing Cheerios was a milestone.
The Creation of Cheerios:
In the early 1940s, Borchardt was tasked with finding a way to puff oats into small, uniform shapes that would make for a nutritious and tasty breakfast cereal. Up to that point, puffed cereals existed, but most were made from rice or wheat. Borchardt and his team successfully used a “puffing gun” (a machine that applies heat and pressure to the oats) to produce small, puffed, ring-shaped oat pieces.
In 1941, General Mills launched the cereal under the name CheeriOats, highlighting the use of whole grain oats as a healthier alternative to other cereals. The name was changed to Cheerios in 1945, as part of a branding decision, and the cereal quickly gained popularity for its taste, texture, and heart-health benefits.
Legacy:
While Lester Borchardt didn’t receive as much public recognition as other inventors, his contribution to General Mills and the food industry was significant. Cheerios remains one of the top-selling cereals in the world today, and its success has been a cornerstone for General Mills’ cereal product line. Borchardt’s innovation helped introduce a healthier option to breakfast cereal aisles, and his work continues to impact food products worldwide.
Borchardt’s achievement with Cheerios has had a lasting influence on the way cereals are produced and marketed, especially as health-conscious consumers increasingly turn to whole grains like oats in their diets.
Is it safe to say that Cheerios has influenced the obesity epidemic in children?
It’s reasonable to argue that certain varieties of Cheerios, particularly those with added sugars like Honey Nut Cheerios, may have contributed to unhealthy eating habits in children, which could be linked to the larger obesity epidemic. However, Cheerios is just one part of a broader issue involving highly processed foods, sugary cereals, and changes in diet and lifestyle.
Here’s why Cheerios might have influenced the obesity trend, but with important nuances:
1. Sugar Content in Flavored Varieties: While original Cheerios is relatively low in sugar, varieties like Honey Nut Cheerios have significantly more sugar (up to 12 grams per serving). Frequent consumption of such cereals, particularly in large portions or with other high-sugar foods, can contribute to excessive caloric intake and poor nutrition in children.
2. Portion Sizes: Many people consume more than the recommended serving size of cereals. When children eat large bowls of sugary cereals, they can easily surpass daily sugar recommendations, which can lead to weight gain and unhealthy dietary patterns.
3. Marketing to Children: Cereals like Cheerios have been heavily marketed to children through TV ads, packaging, and promotional strategies. These marketing efforts have historically promoted sweetened cereals as a fun, tasty breakfast option, often downplaying their sugar content. This can influence children’s food preferences and increase their consumption of high-sugar foods.
4. Part of a Larger Trend: While Cheerios may play a role, the obesity epidemic is driven by many factors, including the widespread availability of highly processed foods, sedentary lifestyles, and increased screen time. Cereal consumption is just one aspect of this broader public health challenge.
In summary, while sweetened varieties of Cheerios can be linked to unhealthy dietary patterns that may contribute to childhood obesity, it’s part of a much larger issue involving dietary habits, food marketing, and lifestyle factors. The original Cheerios product is generally considered a healthier option, but its impact on childhood nutrition depends on the specific variety consumed and the overall dietary context.
Several major food corporations have been acquired by companies in the tobacco industry, particularly during the late 20th century when tobacco companies sought to diversify their businesses due to declining cigarette sales and increasing regulation. Here are some notable examples:
1. Kraft Foods:
• Acquired by Philip Morris (Altria) in 1988. Philip Morris, one of the largest tobacco companies in the world, purchased Kraft for $12.9 billion. Kraft was later spun off and became part of Kraft Heinz, but the acquisition marked a major expansion into the food sector by the tobacco giant.
2. Nabisco:
• Acquired by Philip Morris (Altria) in 2000. Philip Morris acquired Nabisco (maker of Oreos, Ritz crackers, and other popular snacks) as part of its merger with Kraft Foods. This acquisition added to the tobacco company’s portfolio of food brands.
3. General Foods:
• Acquired by Philip Morris (Altria) in 1985. This acquisition included major food brands like Jell-O, Maxwell House, and Kool-Aid, further expanding the tobacco giant’s influence in the food sector.
4. RJ Reynolds and Nabisco:
• RJ Reynolds, another major tobacco company, merged with Nabisco in 1985 to form RJR Nabisco. This merger brought together tobacco products and a wide array of food brands under one corporate umbrella. However, RJR Nabisco later separated, with the food side eventually being absorbed into Kraft via the Philip Morris acquisition.
These acquisitions allowed tobacco companies to diversify their revenue streams and reduce reliance on declining cigarette sales. Over time, many of these food brands were spun off or sold to other companies, but for several decades, the tobacco industry had significant ownership stakes in the food industry.
Give me a list of the exact foods that are produced by these companies
Here’s a list of notable food products from companies that were acquired by tobacco giants like Philip Morris (Altria) and RJR Nabisco. These products were owned by the tobacco industry during the periods when they controlled these food companies:
Kraft Foods (Acquired by Philip Morris in 1988):
1. Cheese and Dairy Products:
• Kraft Singles
• Philadelphia Cream Cheese
• Velveeta
2. Snacks:
• Planters Nuts
• Cheez Whiz
• Capri Sun (juice drinks)
3. Condiments:
• Kraft Mayonnaise
• Kraft Salad Dressings
• Kraft Barbecue Sauce
4. Macaroni & Cheese:
• Kraft Macaroni & Cheese (blue box)
5. Beverages:
• Maxwell House Coffee
• Kool-Aid
6. Frozen Foods:
• DiGiorno Pizza
• Tombstone Pizza
Nabisco (Acquired by Philip Morris in 2000):
1. Cookies and Crackers:
• Oreos
• Chips Ahoy!
• Ritz Crackers
• Wheat Thins
• Triscuits
2. Breakfast Cereals (through Post):
• Grape-Nuts
• Shredded Wheat
3. Snack Cakes:
• Nutter Butter
• Fig Newtons
4. Graham Crackers:
• Honey Maid Graham Crackers
General Foods (Acquired by Philip Morris in 1985):
1. Beverages:
• Maxwell House Coffee
• Sanka (decaffeinated coffee)
• Kool-Aid
• Tang (powdered drink)
2. Desserts:
• Jell-O
• Cool Whip
• Baker’s Chocolate
3. Frozen Meals:
• Bird’s Eye (frozen vegetables and meals)
4. Breakfast Products:
• Post Cereals (Raisin Bran, Grape-Nuts, etc.)
5. Snack Foods:
• Planters Nuts
RJR Nabisco (Merged in 1985, later split):
1. Snacks:
• Oreos (under Nabisco)
• Ritz Crackers
• Chips Ahoy!
2. Cookies and Crackers:
• Fig Newtons
• Premium Saltines
These food products were all under the ownership of tobacco companies during the time of their acquisitions, reflecting the diversification strategy tobacco companies employed to move into the food sector. Many of these brands have since been sold or spun off, but they were once part of portfolios owned by tobacco giants like Philip Morris and RJR Nabisco.
Pharmaceutical advertisements are prevalent on TV and in newspapers primarily because of the large and profitable U.S. market for prescription drugs. Unlike most other countries, the U.S. allows “direct-to-consumer” (DTC) pharmaceutical advertising, meaning drug companies can market their products directly to patients rather than exclusively to doctors. This strategy is driven by a few key factors:
1. Influencing Patient Demand: Drug companies use advertisements to educate patients about specific conditions and treatments. Patients, after seeing an ad, might ask their doctors about a particular drug, thus driving demand for that medication.
2. Increasing Brand Awareness: Ads help pharmaceutical companies build brand recognition for their drugs, even if the products are not always immediately relevant to the viewer. This recognition can influence future decisions when the patient consults their doctor.
3. Regulatory Environment: The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulates DTC advertising, but it allows pharmaceutical companies to promote prescription drugs as long as they include information about risks, benefits, and proper usage. These ads must balance promotion with disclosure of potential side effects, which is why they are often lengthy.
4. Profit Margins: Pharmaceuticals are highly profitable, and DTC advertising is an effective way for companies to expand their market reach. The costs of advertising are often justified by the increased sales of high-cost prescription drugs, especially for chronic conditions.
5. Competition: The pharmaceutical industry is competitive, with many drugs offering similar treatments for the same conditions. Advertising helps companies differentiate their products from competitors in the eyes of both consumers and healthcare providers.
As a result, DTC pharmaceutical ads have become a regular feature in American media, contributing to increased public awareness of certain drugs and medical conditions while also fueling ongoing debates about the ethics and impact of such advertising.
How much influence does the pharmaceutical industry have over the media?
The pharmaceutical industry wields considerable influence over the media, primarily through its role as a major advertiser. This influence stems from several key factors:
1. Advertising Revenue: In the U.S., pharmaceutical companies are some of the largest spenders on advertising. In 2020, drug companies spent nearly $6.58 billion on direct-to-consumer (DTC) advertising, making them a critical source of revenue for media outlets, especially in television, print, and digital spaces. This financial dependence on pharma ads can create a subtle pressure on media organizations to maintain favorable relationships with these advertisers.
2. Content Shaping: While media companies are not directly controlled by pharmaceutical companies, the industry’s ad dollars can influence the way health-related topics are presented. For example, media outlets may be more likely to feature stories about new treatments, diseases that pharmaceutical companies target, or issues that align with the pharmaceutical narrative, while being less likely to highlight critical coverage of drug pricing, side effects, or ethical concerns.
3. Public Relations and Sponsored Content: Pharmaceutical companies often sponsor health segments, provide expert commentators, and engage in public relations campaigns that influence how certain drugs or treatments are covered in the media. News outlets may rely on these industry-provided experts or press releases for health-related stories, shaping the narrative in ways that align with the industry’s interests.
4. Regulatory Constraints: While the pharmaceutical industry is subject to strict regulatory oversight in its advertising (e.g., by the FDA in the U.S.), these regulations focus on ensuring accurate representation of the drug’s risks and benefits, not on limiting the overall influence of the industry on public discourse.
5. Editorial Independence: Reputable media outlets typically maintain editorial independence, ensuring that their coverage is not directly swayed by advertisers. However, given the amount of advertising revenue at stake, there may be indirect pressure to avoid overly critical stories about the pharmaceutical industry that could jeopardize advertising relationships.
The pharmaceutical industry’s influence is strong due to the financial power it holds as an advertiser, particularly in shaping public perceptions of health and medicine through strategic advertising and public relations efforts.
What percentage of Americans are on pharmaceutical drugs for mental health?
Approximately 20% of American adults take prescription drugs for mental health conditions, such as depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, and ADHD. This statistic reflects the growing awareness and treatment of mental health issues in the U.S. over recent years.
The percentage is higher among certain groups, particularly women and older adults. Additionally, younger populations, including teenagers and young adults, are also increasingly using mental health medications, with around 16.5% of young adults (ages 18-25) taking prescription drugs for mental health issues.
What percentage of women are on birth control?
Approximately 65% of women of reproductive age (15-49) in the U.S. use some form of contraception, according to data from the CDC. Among these women, about 14% use birth control pills, while others use various methods such as IUDs, implants, or hormonal injections.
Birth control pills remain one of the most popular methods, but the use of long-acting reversible contraceptives (like IUDs and implants) has also been increasing in recent years due to their effectiveness and convenience.
The term wabi-sabi is rooted in Japanese aesthetics and philosophy, and its etymology reflects deep cultural ideas. It is a combination of two words: wabi (侘) and sabi (寂).
1. Wabi (侘) originally referred to the loneliness or desolation of living in nature, away from society. Over time, its meaning evolved to appreciate the beauty found in simplicity, humility, and rustic settings. It highlights the notion of embracing imperfections and the understated elegance of natural objects.
2. Sabi (寂) refers to the beauty that comes with age, wear, and the passage of time. It suggests a quiet, contemplative sense of beauty, often linked with the patina or weathering of objects. Sabi emphasizes the melancholic, serene beauty of things that have grown old.
Together, wabi-sabi represents an aesthetic worldview that finds beauty in the imperfect, transient, and incomplete. It celebrates the natural cycle of growth and decay, reflecting a deep appreciation for authenticity and impermanence.
Yes, the red color seen in sunrises (and sunsets) is largely due to the fact that red light has the longest wavelength of visible light. During sunrise and sunset, the sun is lower on the horizon, and its light has to pass through more of Earth’s atmosphere to reach us. Shorter wavelengths, like blue and violet, are scattered by the atmosphere, while longer wavelengths, like red and orange, pass through more easily. This scattering effect, called Rayleigh scattering, is why we see the sky as red or orange during these times.
It feels like ChatGPT is updating every single day? When I get responses now, the text is sent back to me without even having that little loading screen pop up with the “searching…” icon- it’s just gracefully appearing on my screen, like the matrix text, this is so awesome!
For the past year, 2024, I’ve been researching money—what it is, and where it’s headed in this age of technological abundance. I remember being in Miami during the winter, reaching for cash to buy a coffee. The cashier informed me they only accepted card payments. I looked at the iPad with the small white square for tapping my card and paid for my $8 espresso tonic. Another time, in the airport, they accepted cash but didn’t have enough change to give me back. These small moments made me start thinking critically about money and where we’re headed.
Why?
The first question I asked myself was: why? Why do some places no longer accept cash? Why don’t they have enough change? Why is there a shift toward tapping cards onto a little square attached to an iPad? What’s behind this change?
I learned that the company Block runs those payment processors attached to iPads. It’s called Block because they’ve diversified into Blockchain technology and decentralized finances. Jack Dorsey, the former CEO of Twitter, started Block and is also behind Cash App, which is widely used here in Philadelphia. Now you can even trade stocks and cryptocurrency through Cash App.
One day, walking down Market Street in Philadelphia, I saw an advertisement for the Bitcoin ETF. At the time, I was talking with a family member about the cost of cars and mortgages. As I learned more about debt and finances, that Bitcoin ad caught my eye and sparked my curiosity. You could say that was the start of my journey down the Bitcoin rabbit hole.
Following My Curiosity
After seeing that Bitcoin was mainstream, I dug deeper. I learned about Michael Saylor, who owns the most Bitcoin in the world. His websites, like hope.com, became part of my research, especially his series “What is Money?” He explained money as a technology, from bartering with cattle and seashells, to silver and gold, to fiat currency, and now digital assets like Bitcoin. I also read The Bitcoin Standard by Saifedean Ammous. After nearly 100 hours of research, I’m convinced Bitcoin is the best digital asset to own going forward.
What is Money?
When Michael Saylor answers the question “What is money?” his main response is:
Money is energy
Like a battery stores physical energy, money stores the potential to exchange goods, services, or labor. Traditionally, money is a medium of exchange, a store of value, and a unit of account. But the problem with money today is that it’s no longer a true store of value. The Federal Reserve prints money endlessly, which depreciates the dollar over time. So, treating money as a store of value is for fools. The rich invest. And I believe Bitcoin is the best investment.
Old vs New Technology
I think of the Knights Templar, who created an early form of modern banking. They developed a system where pilgrims traveling to the Holy Land could deposit their gold for safekeeping and receive a letter of credit, similar to modern-day checks. It protected wealth during long journeys but was slow and cumbersome, much like today’s banking system.
“Laugh hard, it’s a long way to the bank” — Modest Mouse
I despise going into a bank. They feel sterile and useless. Ironically, banks advertise that you should use your phone instead of visiting the teller, yet the systems remain slow. If I cash a check on a Friday, I don’t get full access to my funds until Tuesday. The bank takes a physical check and turns it into a digital number, but they aren’t holding that money in cash or gold—they’re lending it out. Meanwhile, they print more money, inflating the supply and depreciating my dollar. Without the gold standard, fiat currency feels like monopoly money.
The problem with gold is that it’s not truly scarce—you can still find more of it. But Bitcoin is different. It’s the first truly hard, scarce asset ever invented, with only 21 million Bitcoin that will ever exist. That’s why I see Bitcoin as digital property, not digital gold. Like land, it’s scarce. Gold isn’t. Bitcoin is digital property with qualities of gold—a hard, scarce store of value.
The Beauty of Blockchain
With Bitcoin, I can send millions of dollars from Philadelphia to Tokyo almost instantly, bypassing slow, traditional banks that close on weekends and rely on intermediaries. Bitcoin removes the middleman, enabling peer-to-peer transactions on the blockchain—a decentralized ledger. This open-source technology allows anyone to run a node, verifying every transaction since 2008. For the first time, truth in transactions is immutable. If money is information, the blockchain is the global highway it travels on.
The Goal is Freedom
What I love most about Bitcoin is that it provides autonomy and freedom from central banks. I don’t see Bitcoin as a way to get rich quick. The biggest concern people have is its volatility, but that volatility is actually a good thing for long-term investors who can buy dips when the price is low. The reason for its volatility is that it’s a liquid asset class, traded 24/7 globally.
I see Bitcoin as a long-term, 30-year investment strategy to acquire digital property. In 2024, owning physical property is nearly impossible without going into debt. Physical property requires maintenance, taxes, and isn’t portable or liquid like Bitcoin. As someone who loves to travel, Bitcoin’s portability is enticing. It’s property you can take anywhere—freedom of movement, free from intermediaries and governments.
How Bitcoin Has Changed My Outlook on the Future
Bitcoin has shifted my mindset about the future, sparking optimism. I see Satoshi Nakamoto, the anonymous creator, as a kind of prophet. This technology, created in 2008 in response to the banking crisis, gives me hope for the future. As a Gen Z person born in 1996, I don’t just want to survive—I want to thrive. The salaries in 2024 barely provide enough to cover basic needs like food and shelter. It’s difficult to support a family on a single income. Bitcoin gives me hope that I can save for the future.
Bitcoin has changed me from a spender to a saver. I have no desire to buy anything but Bitcoin. This is the first time I’ve ever felt like I’m really saving for the future, knowing my money will appreciate rather than depreciate. Bitcoin encourages me to think long-term—10, 20, 30 years ahead.
How Bitcoin Has Changed My Everyday Life
One of the first words in The Bitcoin Standard is “pecuniary,” meaning money or wealth. It comes from “pecu,” meaning cattle. In ancient times, wealth was determined by how much cattle someone owned. The word capital itself derives from cattle, as caput means “head of cattle.”
Also discussed is the word “salary,” which comes from “salarium,” money issued to Roman soldiers to buy salt, which was critical for food preservation. I remember my time in the Peace Corps in Zambia, where salt and water were essential. Each morning, I fetched water from the well, boiled it, and filtered it for safe drinking. In the afternoon, we preserved fish by drying and salting it, so families had protein for the week.
The etymology of “protein” means “primary” or “of first importance.” Protein is essential, and I consume mostly red meat—dense in nutrients like fat and cholesterol. Cholesterol, derived from “sterol” or steroid, gives my body natural power.
For the past two years, I’ve been on a 100% carnivore diet, eating one meal of red meat a day. Man only needs meat, salt, and water. When your body is full of energy and not dependent on constant food, it transforms how you think about life. I no longer feel like a consumer, but I’m moving all day, barefoot, without need for much from the material world. Like a battery stores energy, I store fat and protein for power each day. I think money is the same—economic energy that shouldn’t be expended.
That’s the major shift Bitcoin has made in my life. It’s transformed me from a consumer to a capitalist. Bitcoin encourages me to stop spending money and to save and store that energy in cyberspace.
Every morning, I enjoy starting my day off, marching along the Schuylkill River Trail in Philadelphia, wearing a 40-pound plate carrier and barefoot shoes, marching in the darkness, eager for the sun to rise. I stand on the cliff behind the Philadelphia Museum of Art, looking out towards the horizon, the beautiful river flowing, connected to the source of life, water.
Life is suffering?
If life truly is suffering, and pain is something we can all feel at a human level, something we can all relate to, well, then maybe it is most wise for us to affirm this feeling. I believe that there is a correlation between pleasure and pain, and pain is an inevitable part of the human experience as we are flesh, gravity-bound creatures.
Thinking of this weight, with 40 pounds pressing down on my shoulders, my legs, my feet, providing a slight sensation of pain, there is also a feeling of pleasure associated with the muscles contracting, the hormones firing, and my metabolism moving. I feel joy and bliss when I conquer a day of being physical, as vitality and power, to me, fuel my lust for life.
There’s that myth of Sisyphus, pushing his rock uphill. His fate was to inevitably be physically tortured, without ever reaching the top of the mountain. However, Sisyphus learned to affirm his fate and champion his inevitable fate in life, of pushing his rock uphill, endless suffering. What if we all, in this modern world, are too pushing our rocks uphill, and will never ever reach the top? Well then, why not affirm it?
Philadelphia
The name “Philadelphia” comes from the Greek words “philos” (meaning love or friendship) and “adelphos” (meaning brother).
William Penn named the city Philadelphia, which means “city of brotherly love.” However, yesterday, walking through the streets, I saw nothing but disrespect amongst two different groups of brothers. Firstly, walking down Broad Street, I noticed three young teenagers on bicycles who hopped off their bikes and started to beat up a random homeless guy in the middle of the street, running him away from the scene. They chased him all the way to Chestnut Street, and it was pretty crazy to witness the lack of respect that these youth had for this homeless man.
Next up, after walking down Chestnut Street, I witnessed another group of teenagers who went up to these old head street performers, who play music every day on the corner, and stole their basket of tip money right from their feet. They ran down the street, and the men had to chase the kids just to get their money back. Seeing things like this on a daily basis in Philadelphia, you become desensitized to it all. Just two weeks ago, I witnessed young teens beating up a police officer, and then they were rightfully arrested.
While the name of our city may be the “City of Brotherly Love,” our brothers love to start fights for no reason and cause chaos in the streets. I actually overheard the kids that were on the bikes saying that they have their “pop meter” up. I think they were referencing Grand Theft Auto, the video game, and basically treating real life that way.
Do video games influence the youth in a negative way? Maybe… I think that most media, movies, TV shows, and video games are just violent for violence’s sake, and it is actually quite uninspiring in general. There is a lot of violence on TV and in video games, but I’m apprehensive to come to the conclusion that it directly affects the way that youth act in embodied reality. However, yesterday felt like a pretty evident example of it doing so.
The fall of Athens
I consider Athens and Philadelphia to be very similar as both are the birthplaces of democracy. Athens is the birthplace of democracy in the world, and Philadelphia is the birthplace of democracy in the western world, here in the United States. I find the history of Philadelphia to be very inspiring, considering the great generals, leaders, and first president George Washington, who were living in this land. We have such a rich history in the United States generally, but Philadelphia, being the birthplace of democracy, makes me so proud to be an American.
When I consider what caused Athens to fall, I contemplate their military overextending, losing to Sparta, and being put into debt. To pay off their debt, Athens started to mint gold coins that were diluted in copper. Now, with their currency diluted with copper, their money depreciated in value. This depreciation in value led to the lack of vitality of the natural energy that binds a society together: money. If money is the glue that holds people together, civilizes a nation, and that money is now susceptible to a decrease in value, perhaps that decrease in value also leads to the decline of the entire civilization.
When I consider the current state of the United States of America, being a Generation Z member, born in 1996, 28 years old, it feels like there is no hope to ever acquire property or be able to afford a single-family home and support a family on a single income, generally. I think that this is something widespread and widely felt amongst my generation, and because of this, nihilism becomes the inevitable outlook on the future.
I believe that with the depreciation of the dollar in the United States, through the implementation of the Federal Reserve printing money to infinity, this will produce more consumers spending money for immediate pleasure rather than investing it for long-term gains. When you have a dollar that is depreciating each year, and costs inflating alongside it, with wages that can hardly sustain an individual to purchase food and pay for rent, and they are left with no money to save, then how will this cause the individual citizen to behave?
I believe that this will cause the individual citizen to behave hedonistically, going to the bar, drinking alcohol, smoking, doing drugs, watching TikTok, using social media, distracting themselves with Netflix and sports, gambling, casual sex, and not necessarily planning to have families or a future in general. My thought is that the current state of the economy in the United States has the potential to lead to the decline of civilization as we know it here in the US, considering a lot of remarks I hear from people my age saying that they do not want to have a family because they cannot afford it.
However, despite these circumstances, I think that the best outlook is to embrace the suffering. Thinking of Sisyphus pushing his rock, learning to affirm his fate of suffering, perhaps it is wise for us too, to affirm this fate. Let us say that there is no hope for our future, that we will never have the opportunity to retire or to acquire property—will you moan and complain and be defeated? Or will you rise to the occasion and continue pushing your rock uphill for all of eternity without a complaint?
Perhaps the only way for us moving forward is to embrace our inevitable fate of suffering and to learn to thrive in it. However, through this uphill battle, through moving onwards and upwards, we will find ourselves freedom.
Freedom?
When you consider freedom, perhaps you think of free will or the freedom of choice.
Should I go left, or should I go right?
What if our only option is onwards and upwards? Will you move or stay still and stagnant? I choose to move and find this to be the only way to find yourself truly free of both the mind and the body.
Freedom is the elimination of choice. Love your fate, love your suffering, love your highs, your lows, the ups, the downs, the pleasure, and the pain. Revel in laughter, sadness, and anger. Learn to affirm the inevitable fate of the human being, being our ultimate decline and death. Only then can we truly be free.
Poverty
I remember watching Ready Player One on a flight—I think the flight I took to Mumbai, India. Essentially, the whole movie exists in the metaverse and virtual reality. However, the young men and people who partake in these virtual reality games are living in poverty in real life, in tin shacks stacked on top of each other, essentially in slums. However, they had the novel experience of utilizing technology to escape their physical embodied reality through an alternate universe in virtual reality. This game that they played gave them the hope and opportunity to acquire fortune, fame, and monetary gain by winning the game.
Essentially, the video game that they all sucked their bodies into during their everyday, shitty lives was the only sense of hope that they had to ever be free. I find this movie to be a very interesting metaphor for our current modern life here in the United States, and the world generally. The more that we advance technologically, through implementing new novel gizmos and digital advancements, the more we become distracted and negligent of our physical world around us.
Just think of the time you spend on a bus or walking through the streets, and how many people are sucked into their phones. When I stand on the bus each morning and observe the people, they are all distracting themselves with TikTok or dating apps and just mind-numbing entertainment and distractions, generally. If the entire mass population becomes completely distracted through these digital and nefarious means, then I believe this can lead to the ultimate decline of our minds and ourselves through technology.
What the hell are we going to do with the physical world in the future? Are we all going to strap into some virtual world and neglect our physical lives? Are we going to fully work from home, do Zoom calls, and live in digital spaces, or will we return to the physical, to real-life community? I see a divide going forward; I see a divide in the future of this current state of things, where there will be those who become tech-digital slaves or serfs, and then there will be the free men, the Spartans, who march the streets in the physical world.
There will be a decline, a death of community that we currently live through, and a replacement of fake, phony actors in digital worlds, inventing an inevitable revival, a new renaissance, of physical communities, a separation between the wheat and the chaff.
I think of my time as a Peace Corps volunteer in Zambia, Africa, and how the boys played soccer without shoes on. I tried to join them, removing my shoes, and played one game with the boys. I wanted to see what it was like to play without shoes, and needless to say, I had to soak my feet for a week as they became blistered and battered.
What I learned was the reason they play without shoes is because they simply cannot afford to have two pairs. They can only afford to have their school shoes and only get a second pair of shoes when they get to high school. Because of this, they cannot ruin their school shoes and play barefoot. Every morning, I would wake up, gathering buckets of water from a well, boiling it, putting it through a gravity filter, just to have clean drinking water.
Here in the United States, I have clean water from a tap, and I’m so grateful for the simple amenities that modern cities provide here in the United States.
Sports?
This past weekend, I walked down South Street and arrived at a location where a television screen was displayed outside for masses to gather, drinking outside of a bar, watching the Philadelphia Phillies play baseball. The only thing that came to my mind was this quote from 1984 by George Orwell:
“Sport, beer, and above all, gambling, filled up the horizon of their minds. To keep them in control was not difficult.”
Personally, I never understood those that enjoy watching sports. To me, watching sports makes no sense, and I would much rather go and play the thing itself. I grew up playing baseball, and frankly, hated it, because it is so slow-paced and boring. You sit in the outfield, waiting for somebody to swing a bat, and the ball goes flying, and you catch it in your glove. A lot of the people that play baseball are fat, and don’t even need to be that athletic to be honest.
Think of Babe Ruth, wasn’t he just a big fat guy, who could swing really hard? Anyways, observing the people gathered at this TV screen was like watching moths gathered at a lamp post. One strange thing I observed about the people gathered was the fashion trends—wearing really ugly mustaches, flannel shirts, and trucker hats? This seems to be the new trend, to have a mustache and a hat. I even noticed this one guy, screaming bloody murder, because someone caught the ball in his glove, riveting, and spilling the beer all over some guy that was sitting in front of him.
People become insane just watching the screen, reacting so emotionally to something that they attach such value to, that has little to no meaning. You’re watching sports players while indulging in poison and shitty junk food like pretzels and snacks, getting fat, drunk, and belligerent, as you watch some boring sport of people who can swing a bat, use a glove, and get paid millions of dollars for it. To me, sports is the silliest modern-day phenomenon, and Philadelphia fans are absolutely insane.
I believe they react so aggressively, belligerently, and insanely, because they invest money into these sports games by gambling. I even spoke to a janitor on the street who works for SEPTA, and he was talking about his wages that he makes, and what to do with money, and he says that he just invests it through sports gambling on those apps or whatever on the phone?
Modern day success
To me, yearning for each day is a sign of success in this modern world. I’m just so eager to catch the sunrise, and mourn for every sunset. While I understand the importance of sleep, I hate it because I’m not awake. I simply love life, embracing the physical nature of the outdoors, and find meaning in my everyday life. I feel like this is what modern-day success looks like—simply eager to start each day, filled with vitality and power to do so.
The ultimate sign of success has nothing to do with this material, modern world, rather a mindset shift of how you perceive things. Finding meaning in your everyday life is the ultimate sign of success. By waking up each day, just so excited to get started, I feel like I’ve reached paradise, or my personal idea of what success means. I say, if you’re ready to get the day going, if you’re yearning for the sunrise, despite how you feel, and all of the external circumstances, good or bad, consider yourself successful.
