Born on Third Base Part I

The book Born on Third Base explores deeply about the social inequality in the U.S. society. The author Chuck Collins incorporated his own experience of born into the one percent, taking advantage of his family privilege, realizing the inequality in society, and dedicating himself into the “revolution” of preserving the estate tax to explain the importance of equality in many aspects. Personally, I admire his courage a lot, although I have nothing in common with him, born into a family that is neither at the top nor at the bottom. 

In the first half of the book from Chapter One to Chapter Nine (the first three parts), the idea that “many of the people who have huge advantages don’t even know it” makes me consider myself and my family’s status in society again. In fact, I have never thought of this question on a scale of the whole society. I have always believed that everybody around me, at least, are similar. We were born into families of similar statuses, and we are at similar ages with similar concerns. However, the book opens up my vision that there are many young adults like us on this planet are suffering from poverty, war, diseases, and we should care about them. Meanwhile, I am taking advantages of my family wealth and networks all the time since I was born. 

Besides, I also like the idea of “intergenerational transmission of advantage,” which reveals how the advantages for the wealthy accelerates and how the disadvantages for everyone else compounds. Because of the transmission, the gap between the wealthy and the poor becomes even larger with an increasing speed, which might lead to a fragmentation or a collapse of society as a whole someday. As an international student from China, I see this phenomenon not only in the U.S. but also in China. So, it is important for our young adults to understand this social transmission and take some actions to make some potential changes to the future. 

Also, the book points out a psychological misbelief that people tend to credit their achievement to their hardworking, intelligence, and creativity other than the social benefits, which include the fundamental infrastructure, governmental regulations, public services, political stability, and special subsidies. So, the most important thing to do right now is to make people recognize that whatever they have already accomplished is the benefits given by society, in other words, other people. Moreover, we should engage in the social evolvement now and see ourselves as a part rather than the counterpart of or the opposite to other people.

A Visit to Coagula Curatorial

Conjurations: Varieties of Abstract Experience

I went to the reception of the show at Coagula Curatorial, and it was a really amazing experience. 


                        

Abstract Expressionism has always been my favorite art movement in the history. When talking about the artworks shown in the gallery with my friends, I explained that the main reason I liked abstract expressionistic art was that it gave the audience enough space to use their imagination and thoughts. Among the artworks, I like the piece in the first photo for most. It is called Tea with the Elvesby Leah Shane Dixon, the curator of this show. The painting resonates with the interior of a set of sculpture I am planning to do, so it inspires me a lot. 

This is also the first time for me to go to an art gallery and meet with the artists who actually made the art. I talked with them, got to know them, and asked questions about the processes of making arts. That was so amazing. 

There is another show going to be on next week called Nowhere is Home. I got very interested in it at the first second when I knew about the name, because I always believe that nowhere is home, but at the same time, everywhere is home. 

It Takes Time...

This week, I spent three days finishing watching a TV series called Moonshine and Valentine. There’s nothing new about the storyline, including nearly all the typical Mary Sue plots like reincarnation, memory loss, and the myths of fox fairies, but I love it. In the story, the romantic love between the main characters lasts for hundreds of years, and I find that the main reason why the story becomes so touchy to me is the theme of time, the everlasting time. 

Time has always been and will still be a great topic in literature, art, and life. I once wrote in one of my project proposal for my multi-sensory sculpture series that people go towards death since the moment they were born. At some point in time, they will realize how little they are comparing to the power of time and the immenseness of the universe. The past time will never come back, and people will never be any younger again. It is the process of growing up, and growing up will never be painless and comfortable. The proposal once made me very depressed, but the TV series reminds me of it and gives me a new way to look at the meaning of time. 

The time that becomes precious is the time we take good use of. I am a very self-regulated and self-constrained person, although my roommate doesn’t think so, because I cannot get up before noon during weekends. I once concurred with my roommate that my life is disordered and purposeless. I spent days and nights writing novels about the unrealistic world that has nothing to do with my life. I stayed in my art studio to finish my prints for three days without sleeping just because I like the pattern. I cried when watching movies seemed like a fool. I lay in bed just letting my thoughts wander around. I once regretted because I was wasting time on things that do nothing good for my future career, but now I realized that time has nothing special within itself. The time we're actually present is the one that becomes meaningful, and the meanings are what we ourselves give them but not others.  

Sometimes, it takes time for us to realize the revenue of our time. 

Online Expert Article

“I’m interested in art, too!” Then…what?

A Universal, Unique, and Useful Way to Talk about Art (or Anything Else)

Nearly nobody would say “no” to art simply because it sounds shallow, but after saying “yes” no matter whether it’s true, how should we keep the conversation going on interestingly? Imagine you’re dating someone for the first time, and the conversation comes to art at some point. If you’re really into art, are you sure you want to discuss how Claude Monet’s pointillistic brushstrokes affected the later movements of Impressionism and Post-Impressionism in the 19th Century? If it’s not true, are you going to merely drop big names such as Vincent van Gogh, or a more recent one Andy Warhol to show off how many artists you know without expressing any thought-provoking opinions? Neither is a good idea. 

         

                          

We must admit that art is a compelling but difficult topic in a conversation. Either talking too much or talking too little would be disastrous. I, as an art student, have thought of this dilemma for a long time because it once had been the most painful question for me. Fortunately, I finally found several ways to make art a nourishing and inspiring subject in a conversation that appeals to people, and everyone can use them. 

What’s Art?

What’s Art? Most people would immediately think about the artworks exhibited in museums, sold at galleries, or traded at auctions. They are mostly ancient, expensive, and meaningful. But what’s art in essence? Is it a piece of painting, a set of sculpture, or a series of photographs? Is it actually a tool, an object, or a thought? 

People learning different fields of different practices from different nations at different times in history have different definitions for art. For governors or politicians, art is a means to sustain their dominance. Egyptian, Roman, and medieval rulers created artistic manifestos to lead public thinking to support their regimes (Cooper). For the wealthy, art was a form of entertainment which gave the bourgeoise opportunities to record their appearance by portrait painting in the pre-photography era. For the general audience, art is a visual object or experience consciously created through an expression of skill or imagination (“art”). I finally discovered a common pattern of thought on art as an expression of primary, pre-reflective engagement with the world (Rampley). Yes, it’s still too distant and abstract. 

Then…What’s Art in Life? 

Engagement, according to the most comprehensive definition we conclude above, is the key of art. I can boldly say that if nobody studied history, art would never exist. The same logic also applies to contemporary art. We have to be and are constantly engaging in the world of art and are unconsciously producing art at the same time, so we can always recognize our connections with art, no matter whether we are artists or not. 

First, our way of thinking is the originality of art. People on the planet are all distinct from each other, so their ways of thinking are unique, which is one of the implicit elements of art. Art should be unique, because uniqueness conveys new ideas that develop art, and all of the new ideas come from people’s interactions with the world. So, our thought is the starting point of art. 

Second, the expression of our ways of thinking is the vehicle of art. Once people have some special ideas in their mind, they would express them when they get an appropriate chance to share with others. Some want to use the ideas to earn public attention, whereas others want to use them to impress a particular person, like their dating partners. In this stage, our idea has already become a piece of art in the form of a unique expression of our thought about the world. 

Third, our attitude towards the world is a superior level of art. People’s attitude is the sum of the expression of their ideas. They usually do not and cannot say it explicitly by stating that, “my attitude towards the world is very positive.” No one will believe them if they don’t really think it in that way or say that statement with a frowning face. Attitude is like the abstract and intangible charisma of people because others can sense the art of their attitude simultaneously when they are getting along together. Sometimes, our attitude is more important than our expression. It’s nowhere, and it’s everywhere.

Overall, each individual is a unique artwork in the world. Instead of talking about art and articulating our understanding, we’d better think about who we are and talk about ourselves, our value, and our belief first. 

Then…What Makes People an Artist?

After understanding our relationships with art, we can firmly claim that people’s existence has already become a form of art. But can we turn ourselves into real art producers, making sculpture or installations with our unique thoughts? The answer is YES. Can we dream even bigger to become influential artists, who can sell their art and make some profits? The answer is also a YES, and there is a cool way to make it come true – starting an online art business. 

Online art sales business established its operations in the early 2000s, so it’s a fairly new industry (Cohen). Over the past five years to 2017, the industry revenue grew substantially, increasing at an annualized rate of 3.5% to $597.2 million (Cohen). The analysts of the IBISWorld believe that the industry will continue to grow though its rate of expansion will somewhat slow as the industry becomes more saturated and mature (Cohen). It is an excellent idea to take this opportunity for us to become part-time artists, enjoying the process of contemplating, producing, selling, and profiting from art. At that time, our experience will not only become an intriguing topic of our conversation, but also an encouragement for others to think more and do more about art and themselves. 

Is art still unattainable for you? I don’t think so. If you consider other sophisticated topics such as philosophy, history, or anthropology, the same method still applies. Remember one thing, conversation should be always based on people but not the abstract objects far away from us. If you don’t know what to say, just start with yourself. People will always feel engaged when they can feel the connection or find the possibility to do something new. 

Work Cited

“art.” Britannica Concise Encyclopedia, Encyclopedia Britannica, Britannica Digital Learning, 2017. Credo Reference, https://libproxy.usc.edu/login?url=https://search.credoreference.com/content/entry/ebconcise/art/1?institutionId=887. Accessed 16 Jun. 2018.

Cohen, Anya. “IBISWorld Industry Report OD5070: Online Art Sales in the US.” IBISWorld. Sept. 2017. Web. Accessed 10 Jun. 2018. 

Cooper, Daniel. “Art.” Propaganda and Mass Persuasion: A Historical Encyclopedia, 1500 to the Present, Nicholas John Cull, et al., ABC-CLIO, 1st edition, 2003. Credo Reference, https://libproxy.usc.edu/login?url=https://search.credoreference.com/content/entry/abcprop/art/0?institutionId=887. Accessed 16 Jun. 2018.

Rampley, Mathew. “Art.” Dictionary of Existentialism, edited by Hayim Gordon, Greenwood, 1st edition, 1999. Credo Reference, https://libproxy.usc.edu/login?url=https://search.credoreference.com/content/entry/gwexist/art/0?institutionId=887. Accessed 16 Jun. 2018.

Growing a Farmer Part II

After finishing the whole book of Growing a Farmerby Kurt Timmermeister, I find the book tells stories not only about farming, but also closely related to business, art, and life.

About Business

Even though the author Kurt Timmermeister has always wanted his farm to become a profitable business, there are many other stories on the farm are business-related, even trivial things like cutting meat has some innate business logic. For example, when I first came to the sentence that “the other concept that surrounds meat cutting is that is a zero-sum game,” I was shocked because it was so surprising to hear this business concept that my professor Larry Harris repeated for a thousand of times in a book talking about farming. He always said that trading is a zero-sum game so that someone’s losses must be others’ gains. Therefore, there must be someone loses in the market. I understand the trading concept clearing, but I’ve never thought that this mechanism works for cutting meat as well. When applying to meat cutting, it teaches people a business lesson that when you make one cut, you must have forgone the opportunity of another different cut, which is the opportunity cost in business. After thinking through the whole process, I find it very interesting that, just like Professor Hansen mentioned in class, no matter what the topics of writing are, they come to business in the end. 

About Art

Although Timmermeister keeps saying that he wants to be self-sufficient and profitable on his little farm, he continually does irrational things that he values a lot, which is a betrayal of the logical and rational essence of business, and finally becomes an unusual form of art. For me, the definition of art is a unique pursuit of something that is good, lofty, right, and influential based on the artist’s understanding without harming others, and nearly everything Timmermeister has done in his book fits perfectly into my definition of art. For example, his move from downtown Seattle to Vashon Island fulfills his desire to lead a natural and independent life. His farming activities on the island benefit the soil. The bee-raising helps to pollinate crops, vegetables, and fruits; his KurtHouse dinner gives people an opportunity to experience and enjoy the pleasure of farm life away from the noise and speed in the city. His resistance to artificial inputs like plastic and chemicals to his farm shows the pure pursuit of his art – naturalism – which is also the most crucial element that makes his “art practice” admirable and wishful. 

About Life

Overall, the book tells many stories with which I resonate. To some extent, I had lived similar kind of life when I was very young, around five or seven years old. For years since then, I have never thought about going back to the lifestyle I was used to, helping my grandparents preserve tomato seeds, plant potatoes, and harvest pumpkins and going hiking with my family on weekends. On the contrary, I tried my best to accustom myself to the modern city life and gradually move from cities to big cities to bigger cities. When reading Growing a Famer, I recall all the memory in my childhood and the pure happiness I once had. I become eager to go back to the village my grandparents lived in and possibly would become a farmer like Timmermeister one day in the future.  

Job Description

Investment Banking Analyst

Investment banking analyst position in the finance industry is very prevalent and competitive in most business students’ eyes. However, they’ll never know what investment banking analysts do on a daily basis until they get a job. I want to share some of my work experience as an investment banking analyst to give you some insight into whether this is the right job for you. 

An investment banking analyst is a person who conducts industry research, due diligence, financial analysis and valuation to support financial transactions in the business world. On a daily basis, we help senior bankers by creating presentations and marketing materials such as pitch books and memoranda for clients. We also assist with logistical details such as scheduling meetings and calls. In essence, investment banking analyst is a flexible, helpful, and professional job that provides reliable and comprehensive solutions to financial problems. 

Most investment banking analysts are in charge of three main duties: 

·     Industry Research 

·     Due Diligence

·     Financial Analysis and Valuation

I’ll use examples to explain these duties in detail individually. 

Industry Research

Industry research is the most fundamental task in investment banking division. It includes four basic processes: 

·     Choosing an industry based on the requirement of a client

·     Summarizing the most recent financial transactions

·     Conducting competitive analysis among top players

·     Forecasting the future trend of the chosen industry

Here’s an example. If one of my clients is Comcast NBC-Universal, based on its request, I will choose to research media and entertainment industry. Then, I will include the recent transaction activities in the sector such AMC Networks Inc. acquiring Levity Live LLC and the competitive analysis among top players such as Walt Disney, Time Warner, Viacom Inc. and Comcast itself. I will analyze these competitors’ business models, current performance, and potential transactions individually. Finally, I will forecast the future trend of the industry according to the competitive analysis, the current political situation, and the new governmental policies.

Due Diligence

The work of due diligence includes three processes: 

·     Understanding the industry environment by reading industry research

·     Analyzing the financial status of the client’s company

·     Assisting due diligence meeting with the client’s management team

Due diligence is a complicated but straightforward task, combining independent due diligence research and collaborative due diligence meetings. For independent due diligence research, for example, I should read all the available industry research and generate a comprehensive idea about the industrial environment of the client’s business. Then, when analyzing the company’s financials in detail, I will try to discover the firm’s potential problems in all aspects such as operation, finance, and human resource and summarize these problems in a memorandum. For the collaborative due diligence meeting, my primary duty would be to facilitate my manager to ask questions in the memo and take notes during the meeting. 

Financial Analysis and Valuation

Conducting financial analysis and valuation is the most technical and challenging part of an investment banking analyst’s job. It consists of three main approaches: 

·     DCF (Discounted Cash Flow)

·     Public Comps

·     Precedent Transaction

There is an enormous amount of financial knowledge and concept behind these methodologies, but in essence, they are all methods to value a business based on its financial performance quantitatively. DCF discounts all the forecasted future cash flows of the company back to the present because the money in the future is worth less than the same amount of money today. Public Comps adopts a comparative approach by using other similar companies’ valuations as references. Precedent Transaction is identical to Public Comps but uses historical transaction prices as references. By running all the three approaches along with other minor supplements, I should be able to get a value range of the company I am analyzing and use it to support the pricing of the client’s business.

Readability

Flesch Reading Ease  29.8

Flesch-Kincaid Grade Level  14.4

Passive Sentences  0%

Growing a Farmer Part I

Summary of the First Eight Chapters

The book Growing a Farmer is a story of a farm. The author Kurt Timmermeister talks about his journey from the city life as a restaurant owner in Downtown Seattle to the present countryside life as a farmer on Vashon Island. The book describes where our food comes from, what goes into producing it and how it was traditionally prepared as Timmermeister expected. Besides, it also evokes me thinking of the relationship between human and nature. Because of the Industrial Revolutions and the Technology Revolution, humans become increasingly ambitious, invading and changing the natural environment and setting rules to govern the nature. On the one hand, it improves peoples’ lives with more knowledge, convenience, and safety. On the other hand, it eliminates the goodness nature provides us and forces us to give up traditions, embracing a standard and homogeneous city life. In the following paragraphs, I am going to talk about the two topics the author brings up that interest me a lot.

Bees

In Chapter Three Bee, Timmermeister describes the process of raising bees and collecting honey in precise details. It took years for him to successfully go through the whole life cycle of bee-raising, from preparing hives, importing bees, feeding bees, and collecting honey. The exciting and unique section reminds me of the story my mum once told me, so I feel intimately connected to the life the author leads. My grandparents were born farmers, and they spent most of the time on the farm in their lives. When my mum was young, my grandpa raised bees for years in his front yard. My mum has never described me the details of raising bees as the author does, but one thing my mum repeatedly mentioned was how happy she was when she could use bread to deplete the honey at the bottom of the huge jar after my grandpa sold out all the honey at the end of each fall. Therefore, I can truly understand the pleasure the author can get from his life with bees. However, what my grandparents did was exactly opposite to the author; they made their lives directly toward the city, leaving their house, land, and the tranquil lifestyle all behind.

Raw Milk

I love milk and all its byproducts such as yogurt, butter, and cheese. In Chapter Eight Raw Milk, Timmermeister not only introduces us the technical process and biological reaction of making raw milk, yogurt, butter, and cheese but also starts a discussion about the regulations for foods in general. In the United States, the production of milk is governed by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), and the sale of raw milk is a pretty controversial issue in most of the states. In fact, raw milk is both healthy and hazardous to peoples’ health, just like most of the other foods. As long as the harmful bacteria in the raw milk are eliminated, raw milk a tasty, creamy, and healthy drink. However, USDA bans raw milk and requires pasteurization of raw milk only because it kills all bacteria and saves people from the risk of death. Indeed, the law makes the lives of regulators easier and makes the public consumers safer, but it at the same time reduces the goodness nature provides us. I think this is a topic that is worthy of discussion since similar situations happen very often in other industries as well.

Conclusion

Growing a Farmer is an excellent book that teaches me new knowledge about agriculture, reminds me of my previous experience on the farm, and encourages me to think more deeply and broadly about our city life. I like this book and look forward to reading the following sections.