We are domesticated like dogs

Expand your muscles

Stretch your legs

The psychology of money

Time preference

Thinking about the future and security

How to build a prosperous future?

Immediate needs versus future needs

Broken money, incentivizes people to spend for immediate pleasure

The decay of Society is a byproduct of not considering the future?

Bitcoin incentivizes the individual to think longterm and about the future

Cost-of-living is increasing which leads to meaninglessness because people don’t know how they’re going to get by

Don’t give up!

Compassion and altruism

Maslow‘s hierarchy of needs

Food and shelter

Family and relationships

Spirituality

Self actualization

Becoming the best person you can possibly be

We’re stuck at the basic need of food and shelter, which leads us to stray away from compassion, family, relationship building, or spirituality

Money shapes how we show up as individuals

Bitcoin has the potential to change out people show up

When you’re just surviving, you don’t even have the ability to think

Thrive, don’t survive 

Bitcoin is hope

When you’re treading water, you become nihilistic

“ they’re just neurons or synapses firing in your brain”

Excited for the future?

Act differently. Act hopefully.

Internal versus external locust of control 

External control leads to depression, health problems, and shorter life expectancy 

People who have control over their trajectory have much better health outcomes And life expectancy 

Does the external world control you, or are you controlled from inside?

Are you going to allow the government and the environment to determine your fate? 

The number one cause of stress globally is money

Stress impacts you mentally and physically

Disease is to be uneasy, to be unwell, to be anxious. Dis-ease

Think bigger than yourself

Because people are just getting by, it is inevitable that you will see spirituality decline

Bitcoin makes you stop thinking about money 

Who am I? How do I want to show up in life? What are my values, what are my morals? What is life? How do I want to raise my kids? What is the meaning of life?

Time is currency – “spending time”

Expand consciousness

 Hunters and gathering spent 13 hours per week to gather what they need. The rest of their time was spent focused on community, time around the fire telling stories, and having connection to other people.

The 40 hour work week. 365 days per year. 14 days of freedom?

Feudal system

Live off the land

God, tribe, and land

the American revolution was over 3% tax rate 

Now the tax rate is around 39%

The state takes around half of your work, half of your salary

The tax of inflation 

We have the key

War and the money printer 

Bitcoiners are the new Knights of the Templar

Money that promotes everybody to show up more authentically

When parents are separated, and one parent has to provide, it impacts children, emotionally, which leads to ADHD, depression, and anxiety, influencing your personal relationships

The breakdown of the family, relationship, and politics

Decentralized system

There’s only one option

Why so much focus on prestige, power and possessions?

What makes you happy in life?

Contributions, challenges, and connections

The current system promoted incentivized consumerism

 Happiness comes from reflection and internal dialogue

Consuming something is a temporary thing. A fleeting moment

Love yourself and have goals

The hidden cost of money

The meaninglessness of fiat

The parent and child bond

When our money is losing value over time, it makes it harder for parents to show up

If parents have to work longer hours, that’s less time that the parents spend with their kids

This causes children to spend more time with their peers instead. The problem with peer relationships are they are superficial sub 12 or 13 years old. They are all the same, look the same, want the same things, sound the same, and have the same mannerisms. This causes children to have an identity crisis,  with high depression and anxiety because they don’t really know who they are. They don’t have a moral compass, that north star, which is their parents or their elders because they’re always out working.

if you’re pregnant, and stressing about money, the hormonal imbalances of cortisol that are developing because of the stress will ultimately impact the kid 

If a kids nervous system are flooded with these stress hormones, then when that kid is born, they will have a hypersensitive nervous system

Kids with hypersensitive nervous systems have shorter life expectancies, higher rates of autism, higher rates of depression and anxiety, and drug use.

Relationships- Monetary stress on a mother is impacting kids before they are even born

Environment- When our money breaks down, we are incentivized to consume. When we consume, purchasing goods and services, those goods and services are made up of resources. We are decimating our waterways, our forests, and minerals, so that we can feed a consumer driven society.

Bitcoin flips this on its head. Our purchasing power incentivizes us to save. We become more conscious about what we consume and consume less.

This will cause mediocre products to disappear, forcing a competitive market for better products to be made.

Money shapes how we interact with our environment, relationships, and politics.

The government has a money printer. They don’t need to be fiscally responsible

When the government does not balance its books and runs massive deficits, it’s able to fund operations through debasements of the currency at the expense of the currency holders

Government, environment, and relationships

The government printing money is evil

Bureaucracy is our new God 

The consequences of fiat currency has been catastrophic and attributed to millions of deaths

Fix the money, fix the world, and fix the endless war 

Money is a medium of expression, like language, we express to the world what we value 

Some people will buy grass fed beef and fresh vegetables. Other people will buy cigarettes and candy. You can see what people value based on what they spend their money on. 

Society as a holistic entity –  you can see what people value based on where their money flows. Do they value grass fed, and organic farming or do they value war?

Inflation, capital controls, and regulation

Anti-war

I don’t want to direct my capital to something that promotes war

Print dollars, fund war, at your expense

Society supports war? 

What does society value?

How does a free market survive if we don’t know what businesses should survive or what society values 

Our food is fake and artificial

Peer to peer communication is diminishing the government’s ability to control the narrative 

Bitcoin is money for the people

You cannot take my capital by force

Hope

The cost of living crisis

When you can’t think for yourself, totalitarianism is the outcome

The feeling of loneliness and meaningless leads to mobs forming

The guy in the suit is now naked

Kamala Harris is focused on equity of outcomes. Everybody has the same outcomes? This is communism.

Species are capitalistic inherently

Capitalism is competition with those who are able to offer value surviving

In natural evolution, species are able to offer value and are able to use their environment in a productive way better than their opponent, naturally surviving.

We need competition and value to rise up

Equity of outcome is breaking down society, redistributing wealth, and disincentives people to add value to society

A mass misallocation of capital

Free markets

Support humanity

Just sharing some workflow ideas. I like to take notes throughout the day, throw them into iA Writer. Then, I realized by copying and pasting these notes, and sending it to ChatGPT, and prompting it to organize them for my next essay, it really did assist me with writing this morning. I like to write with the stream of consciousness, not taking too seriously, and using the little microphone on the keyboard, or voice to text, to just write by speaking on my morning walk. It was helpful to have these bullet points, from ChatGPT, diving into my notes, and organizing them for me.

When I read online content, I just use the text to speech option. First, go to your settings on the iPhone, then click accessibility.

Next, click spoken content.

Then, increase the speaking rate speed so you can read it out loud faster

Finally, highlight the text that you want to read, and just click speak!

The Knights Templar, officially known as the Poor Fellow-Soldiers of Christ and of the Temple of Solomon, were a Christian military order founded in 1119 during the time of the Crusades. The order was established to protect Christian pilgrims traveling to the Holy Land, particularly to Jerusalem, after the First Crusade had created a series of Christian states in the region. Over time, the Templars grew into a powerful military and financial organization.

Key Characteristics of the Knights Templar:

1. Founding:

• The order was founded by Hugues de Payens, a French knight, along with eight companions. They approached King Baldwin II of Jerusalem and were given a headquarters on the Temple Mount, where the Temple of Solomon was believed to have stood, hence their name.
• Their initial mission was to protect pilgrims traveling through the Holy Land, which was often dangerous due to bandits and enemy forces.

1. Military Role:

• The Knights Templar became known for their military prowess and discipline. They were heavily involved in the Crusades, fighting in key battles to defend Christian territories in the Holy Land against Muslim forces.
• Templar knights wore distinctive white mantles adorned with a red cross, symbolizing their purity and willingness to shed blood for their faith.

1. Monastic Vows:

• Like monks, the Templars took vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience. Despite their wealth and military might, individual Templars were expected to live austere lives.
• They followed a strict code of conduct and were expected to be models of Christian piety and virtue.

1. Financial and Economic Power:

• The Templars quickly became one of the wealthiest organizations in medieval Europe. They received donations of land, money, and other valuables from European nobility and monarchs who supported their cause.
• The order also developed an early form of banking, allowing people to deposit money in one location and withdraw it in another, which was particularly useful for pilgrims traveling to the Holy Land. This financial network made the Templars a powerful economic force.

1. Dissolution:

• The Knights Templar’s power and wealth eventually led to their downfall. In 1307, King Philip IV of France, deeply indebted to the Templars, ordered the arrest of the order’s members across France. He accused them of heresy, blasphemy, and various other charges, many of which were likely fabricated to justify the seizure of their assets.
• Under pressure from King Philip, Pope Clement V disbanded the order in 1312. Many Templars were tortured, forced to confess to false charges, and executed. The last Grand Master, Jacques de Molay, was burned at the stake in 1314.

1. Legacy:

• Despite their abrupt end, the Knights Templar left a lasting legacy. They have been the subject of countless myths, legends, and conspiracy theories, including tales of hidden treasures and secret knowledge.
• The Templars are often associated with various esoteric and secret societies, though much of this is speculative and not supported by historical evidence.
• They remain a symbol of medieval chivalry, religious devotion, and military discipline.

The Knights Templar are remembered as one of the most famous and enigmatic military orders in history, with a legacy that continues to captivate the imagination even centuries after their dissolution.

Purchase a full cow, deep freeze it, and hoard bitcoin?

Buying a full cow, cutting it, and deep freezing the meat, along with hoarding Bitcoin, reflects a self-sufficient and forward-thinking approach to both food security and financial investment.

Steps for Buying and Processing a Full Cow:

1. Purchase the Cow: Find a local farm or butcher that sells cows either as a whole or in halves/quarters. This often supports local agriculture and allows you to know the source of your meat.
2. Processing the Cow: Once purchased, the cow will need to be butchered. You can either do this yourself if you have the skills, or hire a professional butcher. The cow will be divided into various cuts (steaks, roasts, ground beef, etc.).
3. Deep Freezing: Invest in a high-quality deep freezer to store the meat. Proper packaging is essential to prevent freezer burn, so vacuum-sealing is often recommended.
4. Storage Management: Organize your freezer to rotate through the meat, ensuring you use older cuts first and avoid waste.

Hoarding Bitcoin:

1. Bitcoin Accumulation: Purchase Bitcoin through a reputable exchange, ideally when you perceive the market to be at a lower point. Dollar-cost averaging (DCA) is a common strategy where you invest a fixed amount regularly to smooth out market fluctuations.
2. Secure Storage: Transfer your Bitcoin to a secure wallet. A hardware wallet offers the best security by keeping your private keys offline.
3. Long-Term Holding: Given Bitcoin’s volatility, a long-term holding strategy can help you benefit from potential price appreciation over time.

Why This Strategy?

• Food Security: With a full cow in your freezer, you’re securing a significant portion of your food supply, making you less dependent on fluctuating market prices or potential supply chain disruptions.
• Financial Hedge: Bitcoin is often viewed as a hedge against inflation and traditional financial systems. By hoarding Bitcoin, you’re diversifying your assets and potentially positioning yourself for significant future gains.

This approach embodies a self-reliant lifestyle, combining practical resource management with a keen eye on future financial trends.

The Force of Fate

• Awareness of death compels living life fully each day.
• Viewing the world as open and endless from a cliff’s perspective. Comparison to a lighthouse shining into the unknown.

Light and Dark

• Kingdom Hearts as a metaphor for the internal struggle between light and dark.
• Importance of removing distractions to uncover and shine inner light.
• Growth and change stem from embracing struggle.

Cultivating Vitality

• Increasing vitality by avoiding negative influences like drugs, alcohol, and toxic people.
• Critique of modern technology, comparing the iPhone to the soma drug from Brave New World.
• Personal experience with a carnivore diet enhancing mind-body connection.
• Advocacy for a simpler, more natural lifestyle.

Political Division

• Addressing the current political divide in the United States.
• Call for unity, finding common ground, and rejecting negative media influences.
• Encouragement of positive discourse and mutual understanding.

Creating a New Tradition

• Critique of modern life’s domestication and artificial environments.
• Proposal for a new tradition aligned with nature and personal well-being.
• Rejection of the matrix-like existence in favor of freedom and physical health.

Beauty and Architecture

• Emphasis on the importance of beauty in architecture to inspire and uplift.
• Contrast between Philadelphia’s historic, inspiring buildings and dehumanizing modern government architecture.
• Questioning the impact of such environments on society and the human spirit.

Destiny is Calling

• Encouragement to embrace fate, align with nature, and accept change as inevitable.
• Call for creating beauty through art and photography.
• Reminder that stagnation leads to death; constant movement and evolution are essential.

The Force of Fate

Every morning, I start my day at the precipice, on top of the cliff, looking out towards the Schuylkill River. Every human’s fate is predetermined, and that is our inevitable death. I feel a call to action each day, gazing out towards the horizon, reminding myself how open and endless this world is for us to explore and conquer. I remind myself that I must become the most vital, alive version of myself in order to embrace the chaos, and find myself reaching towards my goal to evolve. I stand on the cliff like a lighthouse in the dark, shining bright into the unknown from now to eternity.

Light and Dark

The first video game I remember falling in love with as a young boy was Kingdom Hearts on the PlayStation. The main character, Sora, starts off on Destiny Island, standing at the precipice, gazing out to the horizon of the ocean. As he and his friends gather wood to craft a raft to leave the island, they contemplate if there are other worlds out there and have a call to adventure. Eventually, a portal to darkness appears, taking one of the boys. Sora, however, follows the light, wields the light as his weapon, through the use of his keyblade, to fight against the darkness, and to unlock the door to Kingdom Hearts.

I believe we all have a struggle within between light and dark. It’s very easy to allow darkness to consume us, and to go down the path of evil, hedonism, and destruction. When we are in the dark, there is often a goal of acquiring immense power through nefarious means. Despite this darkness, I believe within every single soul there is light waiting to shine for all the world to see. Perhaps we must all look inward, becoming our authentic self, through removing the external distractions of the modern world from our lives, in order to find that inner light, and let it shine bright.

“Change is the result of strife and necessity,” – Heraclitus

Without struggle, there is no opportunity for change or growth. The most obvious example I have is a physical one, in relation to physical fitness, and hypertrophy. The more you use your muscles, the more they will increase in strength and size. Also, consider photography, and our photographic muscles. The more you use your camera, the more successful your photographs will become. If change is our ultimate goal, to evolve, then we must embrace strife openly, as a necessary part of our journey. Through the fire and flames, we become tempered by it, becoming harder, faster, and stronger. No pain, no gain.

Cultivating Vitality

We must increase our vitality, and create the strongest body, mind, and soul imaginable. Nothing can break your spirit, nothing can break your lust for life, with increased vitality and vigor. Say no to drugs, alcohol, bars, clubs, festivals, gossip, news, media, etc. Peel the leeches from your skin/life or any toxic people that bring you misery. Avoid miserable people like the plague, and reject darkness.

What is the number one thing in this modern world that decreases our vitality?

Consider the iPhone like the soma drug from Brave New World by Aldous Huxley. This drug, in the novel, causes mass sedation amongst the people, keeping everybody perfectly in line and domesticated like dogs. Everybody is perfectly content, given just the right amount of food, and entertainment, to distract the masses from becoming their most vital and alive selves. We may have never found the weapons of mass destruction in the Middle East, but the weapon of mass distraction sits in your front right pocket.

I believe the connection between our mind and our body is most critical to consider when discussing vitality. For the past two years, I’ve adopted a 100% carnivore diet, fasting throughout the day, and eating one massive meal at night. This past weekend, I visited Ocean City with some family, and was invited to join them at a restaurant. The problem I have with Italian culture is that you oftentimes feel guilty for not eating. At any gathering, not this one specifically, but in the context of Easter, Christmas, etc., you’re always encouraged to “eat eat eat!” Italians just love to eat, and you feel shame and guilt if you don’t eat that homemade pasta, cookies, etc. At the restaurant, I ordered a steak; however, it came with a salad and some sides. I told the waitress to hold the onion rings, but inevitably wound up eating a salad and some beets. I realized that I should’ve avoided eating these beets, as they are extremely high in fiber. I was unaware of this, and thought to myself that it wouldn’t be such a big deal to eat other food groups for once as a change of pace. However, this had me rushing straight to the bathroom, and leaving my gut feeling upset for at least a half an hour. I felt really bad, and it was obvious that the beets caused this feeling. This experience reminded me of why I cut these foods out of my life, and I think of cows and how they shit so much. Think of a cow, grazing in the grass, constantly eating the grass, and shitting all throughout the day. The reason why these cows poop so much is because the grass is very high in fiber. I also realized, actually, in grocery stores and advertisements how foods high in fiber are often promoted as this great thing for your health. I’m extremely skeptical of this, as what this high fiber intake does is deplete nutrients, removing all of the good stuff from the foods you eat, immediately upon release in the bathroom. I understand that I’m getting a bit graphic here, but also, your shit stinks when you eat this fiber or vegetable food. Your poop does not smell, and is a normal size when you eat meat. You have regular bowel movements each morning, consistently. Also, you never fart when you eat meat. Let’s just eat more cows, and let them eat the grass for us. Don’t be a cow.

So, let’s be critical about our gut health, and how we can achieve a supreme state of being. By fasting, I have a clear connection between my mind and my body, removing all brain fog caused by digesting various food groups. However, when you remove all the food groups and solely consume meat, you never feel bloated; you simply feel satiated, full of strength and vitality. If you’re in Philadelphia, Nabrasa is the best restaurant for carnivores, and is way better than Fogo de Chão.

Let’s follow the light as a source of life, goodness, truth, and knowledge. Not only does light represent all of these things, but the sun itself increases our vigor and vitality. Think of our cellular structures and the role that cholesterol plays in synthesizing vitamin D within our body. Through increasing our exposure to sunlight and meat intake, or simply eating more cholesterol, we are consuming a natural steroid, synthesizing our vitamin D, and increasing our testosterone. Let’s think on the metabolic level, down to the cells of our body, and how we can nourish them with the goodness of the sunlight by basking in it more.

Political Division

It seems like we’re more divided than ever in the United States, where we separate our parties, left and right, red and blue, Democrat and Republican. I see a middle ground, in the color purple, where we can unite together as one United States. Think of the idea of the United States, coming together as a solid nation, in defiance of tyranny from Great Britain. It seems like people are filled with hatred towards the opposing parties these days, and spew nothing but hatred towards one another. Let’s try to find balance, unity, and strength as one people, under one nation. How can we achieve this? I suppose by only speaking positive things into the world, and never spewing negative energy towards another person. For me, it seems so silly when I hear people talk so much shit about Donald Trump, or Kamala Harris, when they’ve never met the person, heard them speak in person, and only have an idea of who they are through a few articles they read, or they saw on the TV. Stop letting the shadows on the screen determine your perception of reality.

Create a New Tradition

You can’t fit me into your matrix life.

Let’s create a new tradition, one that aligns us with nature and the highest versions of ourselves. Have you noticed that our modern world is domesticating us like zoo animals? You sit down, shut up, take orders, surround yourself in a comfortable environment with artificial lighting and air conditioning for eight hours per day, to serve a corporation, a bank, or some company. We’re modern slaves, denying our physiology in pursuit of material wealth. This is the matrix, and something we should avoid at all costs. How can we achieve this freedom, how can we glitch out of the map, or the matrix? Think more critically about your health, your physical well-being, and what you truly need versus what you don’t need from this world. What I truly need is sunlight, fresh air, water, and meat. Unfortunately, these things cannot be found in these modern workspaces. These places promote the decline of the physical body, the decline of our highest good, our highest vital nature as a human being. To me, this is inhumane, and something to become more skeptical about. Don’t take the soma, and wake up.

When I walk through the streets, I am an active participant in the drama that unfolds. I am the conductor of the orchestra or the play, and all of the actors are upon my stage. I direct them where they need to be. Spontaneity and serendipity are my guides, my muse in life. However, I am not simply an actor on the stage, but an active participant, engaged in the eternal now. When I’m moving my physical body through the streets, I exist outside the passage of time, in a blissful state, through recognizing the patterns in both nature and human behavior, putting order to the chaos on a street corner. I’m not just a passive observer in life; it’s important for me to become an active participant in the world.

I think the reason why people treat the streets poorly in this modern world is because nobody owns anything. Most people in the city rent or live within small apartments and condos. Because of this, there’s a lack of connection to the city, the street, or any sense of pride and ownership in things. Have you heard that saying, “drive it like a rental?”

The other day, while walking through Rittenhouse Square Park, I saw a homeless man pull his pants fully down, urinating, with his genitals out, facing directly towards the public. I’ve used public restrooms where homeless people are shaving, washing themselves, etc., and then go off ranting about how they want to grab a gun and shoot people. These homeless people are a threat to our society and our city, and we should probably start doing something about it. The more we let this problem bubble up in our cities, and the more we are merely renters within this modern world, the more chaos that will inevitably be on display in our streets. Men need a sense of ownership and pride in their city, something higher than themselves to strive towards, but the modern world rejects this, domesticates us, and is the reason why you see so many homeless men wandering about, causing chaos.

Beauty and Architecture

Beauty is important. Beauty inspires. Beauty moves the individual to strive for something greater. When I look at the clock tower of City Hall, or gaze at the Free Library of Philadelphia’s columns, I’m inspired by the beauty of architecture. When I gaze at a sculpture of an eagle, thousands of feathers carved by hand, built of bronze, standing underneath a tall ceiling, while listening to the world’s largest playing pipe organ, here in Philadelphia at the Wanamaker Building, I feel as though my soul transcends this world into the realm of the divine. Great art, and beauty in general, has a very significant impact on the well-being of a flourishing society. Think of the building across from City Hall, the Municipal Services Building, where our taxes are collected. This brutalist piece of architecture dampens the human spirit, and reminds me of the prison holding cells near Old City in Philadelphia. It just looks like a big beehive, where the bees go into their little pods, to toil. The outward-facing architecture quite literally dampens the human spirit, and is simply ugly. When you enter this building, they have a display of a historic moment in Philadelphia. However, this historic moment is not George Washington crossing the Delaware River, but it’s the complete opposite. They have an entire display dedicated to the “MOVE bombing” that occurred on May 13, 1985, where the Philadelphia police burned down an entire block in West Philadelphia during clashes between the police and a radical, anti-establishment collective with a militant stance against systemic racism and police brutality that turned violent. Can you imagine going into the office each day, reminding yourself of this tragic history, this terrible event that occurred in your city, and then joyfully marching into your office? The only way I can describe this is strange. I’m highly suspicious of why this is on display, and why these buildings are built this way. Also, City Hall is beautiful on the outside, but if you have to work inside, it’s a tragedy. It’s dusty, dingy, and the lighting is poor.

Destiny is Calling

Let the chips fall as they may. Embrace the force of fate, align with nature, and embrace change. Let’s bring more beautiful things into this world, through the creation of photographs, or works of art.

Our fate is change. This is inevitable. Evolve, transform, align with nature and leave this modern world behind. It is time to give birth to a greater version of ourselves. Send your mind and your body through the fire.

If you’re not moving, you’re dying.

Ocean City

I’m currently walking along the boardwalk in Ocean City, New Jersey. This is a very nostalgic place for me as I spent my childhood on this boardwalk. I remember playing mini-golf, riding amusement rides, going to the arcade, and swimming at the beach. When I woke up, I was very foggy as it rained the night before, which provided me with the surreal experience of photographing early in the morning. Because of the foggy conditions, as I photographed, and simply looked at life itself, as the sun was peering beyond the clouds, the fog, and the misty air, it felt like I was photographing past memory, or the feeling of nostalgia itself.

Create Your Own World

While I photograph, I’m not simply looking at life, depicting it for what it is, as the truth. I’m abstracting reality, creating my own world, through the medium of photography. Consider our medium and how we utilize it to make photographs. Light is our information, our source of power, and through wielding it, we possess the ability to create a new world in a fraction of a second.

While I’m walking, I quite literally exist in my own world, where the external world around me is almost dreamlike. When you look at life through the lens of a camera, the mundane is not what it seems. The ordinary becomes extraordinary, and every fleeting moment becomes something worth reveling in. I believe this recognition of the infinite beauty of light and life is a superpower.

Images Are Ideas

This morning I was curious about the word “idea,” so I used ChatGPT to study its etymology.

The word “idea” has its origins in ancient Greek philosophy and language. The term “idea” (ἰδέα) in Greek comes from the root “idein” (ἰδεῖν), which means “to see.”

What I find most interesting about this word, “idea,” is the root of it meaning to see, and in the context of Greek philosophy, Plato referred to ideas as a form or concept, an abstract model of something that exists in the mind rather than in the physical world.

Photographs don’t tell the truth.

When I photograph, I seek to depict what life should/could be. There is a surreal quality to life that I believe is only achieved through abstracting it with photography. There is no other medium that provides the individual with an experience like this.

While I am photographing “what I see,” the result is ultimately what the camera saw. If we consider the connection between our mind, our eyes, and real life in front of us, it merely exists within our minds. Perhaps we can consider that the camera itself has a mind of its own? What the camera sees is ultimately what we get.

Feel, Don’t See

For almost 2 years now, I’ve been approaching my photography very loosely, embracing the snapshot approach, using a small, compact digital camera, and not taking it so seriously. What I’m realizing is that the photographs I create become much more authentic representations of myself, or my soul. I think this is due to the fact that I am not looking at life as a series of images or compositions to make. I think I’m tapping more into my intuition, my gut, and how I feel more than how I see.

Shoot from the heart.

I like the idea that a photograph is not merely a two-dimensional thing, light on a surface, a print, or even the contents of what you put within the four corners of a frame.

A photograph is a reflection of your courage, or your heart.

While in solitude, alone with a camera, I feel more connected to life. When I’m photographing, I exist outside the passage of time, in the eternal now. I believe you enter a blissful state while producing anything, especially while walking and photographing. The physical nature of photography, and the fact that it requires the individual to go out there onto the front lines of life, becoming closer to life itself, is what I appreciate most about this medium. When I’m on the street, I embrace the multifaceted sensory experiences of life: the visual, auditory, tactile, and gustatory. With my new process, I believe my photographs are becoming more raw, which I hope evokes the essence or the soul of the street itself. Ultimately, maybe we should consider photographing what the street feels like, more than what it looks like. What does the street smell like?

Ocean Power

As I stand at the edge of the ocean, looking out at the waves crashing into the shoreline, I feel an abundance of power. Maybe the water is one of the most powerful forces that exist within nature besides fire or gravity? It’s actually quite overwhelming when you consider the vastness of the ocean, and how deep it really is. When I was a young boy, I remember fearing swimming in the ocean because of all the critters inside, whether jellyfish, crabs, or even sharks. When I first learned to surf, I gave up immediately. As I was being pulled out deeper and deeper into the ocean, the undertow was taking me in. A lifeguard actually had to come and save me and bring me to the shore.

This morning, the waves were extremely rough, and many surfers gathered to head out there into the unknown, the chaos, on the edge of danger. The way in which surfers gracefully dance upon the waves, defying gravity, reminds me of my passion for photography. As the surfers carve the waves, they’re putting order to the chaos, through their physical bodies. Perhaps this is the ultimate goal of a photographer, or any artist, for that matter, to articulate the unknown, to put order to the chaos. I believe that surfing and skateboarding can be seen just as much as art as it is a sport.

Anyways, back to the ocean. Could you imagine if the waves engulfed us at the shore, came crashing down, and destroyed the boardwalk, the houses, and all of the people inside? While the ocean makes me as an individual feel empowered, it also makes me feel a bit small or powerless. There is this dichotomy of feeling empowered and weak at the same time when gazing out into the abyss. Just think, this probably happens each year, with tsunamis in various islands across the world. Maybe we should just leave mother nature alone.

Nature and the ocean are unstoppable forces. Don’t go against them. Just ride the waves. Grab your surfboard!

Align with Nature

What does it mean to align with nature, how can we do this, and why does this matter?

To align with nature means to recognize the connection between your mind, your body, your soul, and the natural world around you. We can achieve harmony between these different things by subtracting many of the distracting, artificial things from our lives, whether TV, news, media, or even fake foods, such as processed junk. You can basically find them anywhere these days. Is it just me, or do you recognize how most of the food we serve in restaurants and stores is just toxic sludge and poison? We should also remove any drugs or alcohol, as these things will clearly throw you out of balance with nature. Just start saying no more to the things that make you less pure. Let go of more things, or even people, that may be toxic in your life. By stripping away and shedding your skin, you become your authentic self. Ultimately, I believe, becoming authentic is the supreme joy of life itself. Create your own path.

Detox your body, detox your mind, detox your life.

Send your body and your mind through the fire, and become tempered by it.

Anyways, our mental health is ultimately our physical health. If you’re not getting enough sleep, it’s inevitable that you will be a bit delirious, leading to feelings of depression or anxiety. Imagine, if you do not possess the ability to stand and walk from sunrise to sunset, feel tired, sluggish, have to take breaks, sit down, or just feel weakness in any shape or form, you will ultimately feel worse than if you were filled with strength and vitality. This is why I believe, weightlifting, daily physical training, and maximum time spent outside, under the sun, to be critical for health, both physical and mental. These things are connected, and often misunderstood in this modern world. I can only really speak for men, as I am a man, have testicles, and certain hormones, such as testosterone, that determine how I ultimately feel. When you consider nature and our hierarchy among it, perhaps we truly are the apex predator. We have the ingenuity, the wit, to create tools, to sharpen spears, to craft bullets, guns, and hunt prey.

Cows eat grass, humans eat cows.

If you’re a man, or I’m even sure if you’re a woman, eating more meat will certainly align you more with our natural, biological position within the animal kingdom. I think a lot of modern diets lead to these feelings of weakness, depression, or mental health problems. If you’re nibbling on almonds, little granola snacks, bits, and pieces of tofu, lettuce, beans here and there, subscribing to a traditional, three-meal-a-day program, you are doing yourself a disservice in terms of becoming more aligned with nature. Just let the cows eat the grass for us. Think of a cow, it basically mills around, eating all day long. Why do they eat all day long? Because they’re eating damn grass! It’s not satiating whatsoever. This is why I’m highly skeptical about vegetarian or vegan diets because it ultimately makes you more of a consumer, feeling hungrier, eating more food throughout the day. If you’re looking to increase your vitality, and becoming more in tune with nature, just start fasting, and eat a shitload of meat before you go to sleep.

Also, another random thought about becoming in tune with nature, maybe driving cars is completely unnatural? Something that we should avoid as much as possible? 

Public Transportation Thoughts

So I’ve been taking the bus to work for the past week, and it is so easy and way more efficient than riding my bike. While riding my bike is fun, it’s ultimately dangerous. I have to deal with crazy drivers or even other bikers who don’t obey the traffic laws. There’s so much glass, you get popped tires, and it’s just too dangerous at the end of the day. However, the bus comes right outside my house, drops me off right at work in Fairmont Park, only takes around 20 to 30 minutes, and is really nice because I can even work on some photography, look out the window, or observe other people on the bus.

Also, I took the train from Philadelphia’s 30th St. station to Atlantic City. It was only five dollars for the ticket, and got me right where I needed to be. You can literally walk from the train station to the beach or the boardwalk. I’ve always used the train to get to New York or even Baltimore when I was in college. It’s so much more efficient than driving. Honestly, the more that I use public transportation, the more it confirms my belief that I do not need a car. Philadelphia is the most walkable city, and you can get anywhere just from our trains, buses, or subways. I think owning a car is similar to owning a bike; it’s just more maintenance, more bullshit to deal with. I feel like having fewer items that you own, subtracting unnecessary things from your life, brings you more peace, and ultimately makes you happier. Most people view the car as a key to freedom, but I see it as slavery. The things that you own just own you. I don’t need a car. The human being is the ultimate vehicle.

If you’re not moving, you’re dying.

Nostalgia Is Bad

I was speaking with an old man that was working at the pier, who is about seventy years old, sweeping up the floors after I made a photograph of him in between the arches. He told me he’s from South Philadelphia and Italian, giving us a connection to each other. He lives in Margate, right next door to where I grew up going to the beach at my grandma’s house in Longport. I’m always curious about people that I meet who grew up in South Philadelphia and ask them how it was back in their day. There’s always a discussion about how much different it is now, how much better it was in the past. What if we remove this notion that the past was better than the present, and simply embrace right now as the supreme state of being, despite the external circumstances?

The word “nostalgia” has its roots in the Greek language. It is derived from two Greek words:

Nóstos (νόστος): meaning “return home” or “homecoming,” and Álgos (ἄλγος): meaning “pain” or “suffering.”

Maybe nostalgia is a yearning for the past that truly does lead to pain or suffering. If you’re yearning for the past, you’re existing within an imaginary state, chasing a shadow that once was. I think nostalgia is bad, such as collecting old things like video games, antiques, or even hoarding old photographs. When you look back at an old photograph of someone you loved who is now lost, does it make you happy or sad? I argue that it will lead to suffering. While this isn’t necessarily something we should avoid, it’s something to be aware of. For instance, as I walk the boardwalk, I can yearn for my childhood, wishing I was a kid again, or I can change my perspective on life itself, embrace my inner child, and become born again, like I’m just some big kid. I could go and eat some funnel cake (which I will not), ride the log flume, or even swim in the ocean, fueling my inner child. If I treat the world as a playground, and I remain as playful as a child, then there is no point in yearning for the past. The way I feel right now, in this moment, is superior. One funny thing I realize is how small everything feels right now as I walk past the ice cream stands, the rides, and the arcades. When you’re a kid, you look up at the world, as everything is taller than you, or you have to go on your tiptoes to look at the counter, or even have your height measured before being permitted to get on a ride. As we evolve, we become taller, stronger, and harder. While we become hardened by life over time, perhaps it’s most wise to loosen up, and embrace your inner child.

Cholesterol is a type of lipid (fat) that plays several essential roles in the body. Here are its primary functions:

1. Structural Component of Cell Membranes: Cholesterol is a critical component of cell membranes, helping to maintain their fluidity and stability. It ensures that cell membranes are neither too rigid nor too permeable, which is crucial for the proper function of cells.
2. Precursor to Steroid Hormones: Cholesterol is the precursor to steroid hormones, including sex hormones like estrogen and testosterone, as well as adrenal hormones like cortisol. These hormones are vital for various physiological processes, such as metabolism, immune function, and reproduction.
3. Bile Acid Production: Cholesterol is converted into bile acids in the liver, which are then secreted into the digestive tract. Bile acids are necessary for the digestion and absorption of dietary fats and fat-soluble vitamins (A, D, E, and K).
4. Vitamin D Synthesis: Cholesterol is a precursor to vitamin D. When the skin is exposed to sunlight (specifically UVB radiation), cholesterol is converted into vitamin D, which is important for bone health, immune function, and overall health.
5. Insulation of Nerve Cells: Cholesterol is a component of myelin, the protective sheath that insulates nerve cells. This insulation is crucial for the proper transmission of nerve impulses throughout the nervous system.

While cholesterol is essential for these functions, it is important to maintain healthy levels, as high levels of cholesterol in the blood, particularly low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, can increase the risk of cardiovascular diseases.

Also it only costs $5 to take the train to Philly to the beach. $5 tickets to heaven!

The word “ethereal” has its roots in the Latin word aetherius, which means “of the upper air, heavenly.” This, in turn, comes from the Greek word aitherios, derived from aither (αἰθήρ), which means “upper air” or “pure, fresh air.” In ancient Greek philosophy, aether was considered the pure essence that the gods breathed, filling the space between the celestial spheres.

Over time, the word evolved to describe things that are light, delicate, or heavenly in nature—qualities associated with the upper atmosphere or the divine. In modern English, “ethereal” is used to describe something that is extremely delicate, light, or seems too perfect for this world, often with a sense of being otherworldly or celestial.

The word idea has its origins in ancient Greek philosophy and language. The term idea (ἰδέα) in Greek comes from the root idein (ἰδεῖν), which means “to see.” In the context of Greek philosophy, particularly in the works of Plato, idea referred to a form or concept — an abstract, perfect model of something that exists in the mind rather than in the physical world.

Plato used the term to describe his Theory of Forms, where ideas (or Forms) were the eternal, unchangeable truths that exist beyond our sensory experience. These ideas were seen as the perfect archetypes of all things that we perceive in the material world.

Over time, the word idea evolved in Latin and was later absorbed into various languages, including English. In its modern usage, idea generally refers to a thought, concept, or mental representation that arises in the mind, but it retains a connection to its philosophical origins in referring to something that is conceived or understood mentally rather than physically.

Tantalus is a character from Greek mythology who appears in the underworld (Hades) as one of the most famous examples of eternal punishment. He was a king, sometimes described as a son of Zeus, and he committed several heinous acts that led to his severe punishment in Hades.

The most famous story about Tantalus involves him serving his own son, Pelops, as a meal to the gods to test their omniscience. The gods, realizing the horror of what he had done, restored Pelops to life and condemned Tantalus to an eternal punishment in the underworld.

In Hades, Tantalus is punished by being made to stand in a pool of water beneath a fruit tree with low branches. Whenever he reaches for the fruit, the branches lift out of his reach. Similarly, whenever he bends down to drink the water, it recedes before he can take a sip. This endless cycle of unreachable desire is the origin of the term “tantalize,” meaning to torment someone with the sight or promise of something unattainable.

Tantalus’s story is a powerful example of the themes of hubris and divine retribution in Greek mythology.