The Genius of Money | Part III Interview

An interview with an Lynne Twist

-- Founding member of The Hunger Project, co-founder of the Pachamama Alliance, author of The Soul of Money: Transforming Your Relationship with Money and Life.

At the beginning of the interview, Lynne told us her childhood story and background. It surprises me that she is so successful in her school life. At the same time, she has her very religious side, especially after the death of her father. She blames on herself for her father’s death, and was trying to do something to make up for it, to make her father proud. 

Then the Hunger Project came along, which gave her a platform to combine her public and religious life. She came to the realization that “the commons and communal values were much higher than individual values” (167). 

The later part of the interview got really deep with the talking about sufficiency and money. It is so deep that my brain could not process their talking. Instead, I just thought they are talking something so deep to make themselves higher than they are. 

Overall, I like the character of Lynne, who is sincere and kind, doing good for the humankind and the economic system. She thinks of beautiful things, such as turning money into a carrier that has taken her “deep into he soul of humanity”(169). I think I am just not as romantic as she is, and I rather to view money as practical as it is. It was interesting that there are so many different kinds of people exist on the plant. 

The Genius of Money by John Bloom

Part II Chapter 2. A Window into Transparency

The Desire for Connection through Finance (pg74-79)

“Transparency is a window into the other side of financial transactions” (75).

This chapter is talking about the relationship between money and our society. It begins with one of his friend’s story, which bring out his thesis statement: “the trust and accountability that comes of living in the same community, seeing each other at the marketplace, and the awareness that failing to pay a loan could have consequences for neighbors and the local economy” (74). The author points out the current banking condition: an unhealthy imbalance between the desire for economic gain vs. sustainability in the contest of our communities. 

He has used the article “Your Money” in The New York Times, Easton Bank & Trust, and the system of community farming as examples in explaining this concept. I like how he used the words that identify reasons “first…second…third” (78), making the passage easy to read. Reading the last few paragraphs, I found it funny how the abbreviation “CSA” appear in the passage, because the organization I am leading in USC is also called CSA. (Okay, let’s go back to the topic.) At the end, he went back talking about The New York Times article. Again affirm his statement that human relationship is important in today’s financial and banking world. 

The Genius of Money by John Bloom

Part I: 7. Begging to Differ - Charity at the Threshold (pg29-33)

In the chapter 7,“Begging to differ,” John Bloom provides a different perspective towards begging. He pointed out the fine line between begging as a social phenomenon in the olden days, compared to a sign to injustice in the society. As seen in the chapter, the two paintings – Beggars at the door and Feeding the Hungry, Bloom stated “the beggar’s condition did not symbolize injustice; it was nothing more than a fact of lie and object of pity.”

On the other hand, begging in a spiritual and religious context can be seen as a path towards enlightenment. It is through giving up all the materialistic presence that bridge the individuals towards liberation of the mind. Bloom also talked about how begging transformed itself through the Internet. Websites such as Cyberberg.com provide a way for people who are in need to ask for help, and at the same time fulfill donor’s desire to help and chartable nature. Begging has its negative side, but the act of giving also has its importance in humanity.

Genius of Money Part I: 12. Free Market Money in a Pop Iconomy (pg.47-50)

I like how the artists use money, the dollar bills as an art subject. “When artists focus attention on and use as subject matter such a common and desirable object as money, it takes on a new meaning simply by asking viewers to take pause at their own experience of physical money”(47). “By Co-opting these popular images, artists, along with a host of others in the Pop Art movement, were paralleling the emergent free market economy with a free market of images” (50).

This article is really concise but deliver a lot of information to make its readers to think. First the author was talking about artists, and how they use money as art subject. Then he transfer smoothly from the “work of art” to the talking about free market economy. The role of money played in the different systems: as values for accounting transactions, or systematic reward for competitive behavior. Toward the end of the article, the author refers back to the artists and make a parallel analogy to the free market economy.

Who is Hilary?

Academic Bio, 2016

Hilary Wang is currently in her fourth year of study in Architecture at the University of Southern California. In May 2016, she will graduate with a Bachelor of Architectural Studies degree. Hilary is currently on the executive board of Chinese Student Association (CSA). 

During the past three summers, Hilary has studied abroad in Axis-en-Provence, France, and Taipei, Taiwan. Along with six other teammates, she designed and built a small wood art studio in France. She interned in a design-build office in Taipei. These experiences provided her with practical experience and insight into the design, coordination, and construction of a variety of building types. Hilary has applied for the Real Estate Master’s degree program at the University of Hong Kong. In the short term, she looks forward to completing her undergraduate studies with excellent grade and enjoying her last year in college. 

Outside of academics, Hilary is very involved in University activities. She was on the Undergraduate Student Government (USG) her freshman year. Then she became a staff member in Chinese Student Association, helping out with many events. In her junior year, she was the family head of the Taiwanese American Organization (TAO), staff in CSA, Taiwanese Student Association (TSA), and Hong Kong Student Association (HKSA), enjoying different types of cultures among these diverse clubs. Hilary enjoys activities including Tae Kwon Do, modern dance, and modeling. 

Farmer's Post II

While reading the chapter Dairying, I was attempted to go to Amazon and buy a yogurt electric mixer. The way he describes the fresh dairying makes me want to make my own fresh yogurt. I also have yelped the restaurant (the cooking house) and his stores, wishing one day I could visit there. I almost wanting to go with Weiwei to the farm and experience the farm Mr. Timmermeister has described in this book. Due to my busy schedule, I may have to postpone it to after my graduation. I am looking forward to see the pictures Weiwei took in there though. Also as a conscious healthy eater, I do not want to try the butter in Mr. Timmermeister kitchen, even though if it’s “fresh” and “organic”. I do not exercise like a farmer to burn all of those fat. 

“I don’t have a recommendation for a way of growing food that would be accessible to everyone. I can only say that living off the land, and grandly, is possible.” When reading this quote, I found it funny how the farmers, back in the time, wish to move to the high-rising modern cities. Recent ages, city dwellers wish to go back to the original farmer’s life. I think we have to balance these two ideas. In Taiwan, my father is currently doing research on the organic plant / fruits growing inside of the residential housing units. It will be an awesome idea if we can live in the place where we can have convenient modern lifestyle, and at the same time to enjoy the fun on growing our own food/ supply. 

HOW TO ACHIEVE AN IDEAL BODY WEIGHT

In our eat-and-run, massive-portion-sized culture, maintaining a healthy weight can be tough. Losing weight on the other hand can be tougher. If you have tried and failed before, you may believe that diets don’t work for you. The truth is you are probably right. Most diets don’t work, at least not in the long term. However there are a number of small but powerful ways to avoid common dieting pitfalls and weight loss mistakes, achieve a lasting weight loss success and to develop a healthier relationship with food.         

A. Find a Balanced Nutrition Plan

First off, to achieve your ideal body weight, it is important to understand the following: How to keep a good energy balance & how to burn calories with exercises as well as how to maintain a lean muscle mass in the process. Start by understanding your body and striving to find the best balance for yourself. We are different and what works for one may not necessarily work for the other. Still, getting the golden balance is not like finding some kind of a thumb rule to stick with.

Regardless of your fitness target(s), appropriate nutrition is the backbone. Proper nutrition is actually what fuels fitness. Seen this elsewhere? Well, it is an unavoidable on your list of fitness tips. It is advisable to always insist on a balanced diet. These entails a good balance mix of carbohydrates, vegetables, vitamins, proteins, complex proteins and fats such as chicken and fish among others.

B. Find a Balanced Exercise Regime

Other than nutrition, the following are some fitness tips on exercises. The first about the latter is setting realistic and achievable goals. What happens when you don’t set a target you can meet is you may as well stop. You can try a 30 or 20 minute work-out on any two weekdays and a weekend for a start and proceed. The magic in a low start is progress, to slowly adjust your work out.

Some of us prefer exercise partners. Others go through the programs with their spouses. The fitness tip here for any pair or group is to be on the same page, in terms of intensity of exercises and rate of various aspects of the program. Again, fault is found of the male gender to often prefer more intensity. For instance, they always want to run a bit faster or at the gym, carry more weight compared to their lady partners. Hey! Don’t discourage her. It is advisable to practice what you’re both comfortable with.

C. Find an Exercise Routine You Enjoy

Optimizing calorie intake is the primary focus of a healthy nutrition plan. This does not state however that you must avoid completely foods with calories. A good nutrition plan includes regular exercising. The health benefits associated with exercise are vast and definitely worth your commitment. Exercising provides a way to burn extra calories in the body. To achieve your ideal body weight thus involves finding the balance between your eating and exercising habits. 

Ideally your exercise regime should make you feel good when you participate. It does not have to create a sense of dread or push your body too hard to the point of injury. Scientific researches actually show that the more you try to make yourself do something you don't find pleasure in, the more you are bound to fail in it. On the other hand, if the discontent comes from your body not getting used to the regime then before abandoning it all together, adjust it and give it a few more weeks.

D. Still Exercise, But Avoid Routine 

Doing the same thing every day is not only boring; human beings naturally dread routine. Hitting the gym may have been one of the basic fitness tips you already know, it may be getting you somewhere but doing it every day is definitely what you don’t need. You should be able to head out, and or try a new thing. How about take a ride around the house or hit the track for a change? How about try one of the new weight loss trends like water sports, surfing, or yoga for instance?  

Interestingly on our fitness tips list is a big NO to being the morning or evening guy. Simple, any time of the day be it morning, evening, or noon is great. The idea is to schedule for when ones’ energy is highest. So feel your body particularly for a healthy fitness program, and be attentive to when your body is most accommodative of the exercises.

E. Keep a Positive Mental Commitment 

The other healthy weight loss nutrition tip is the fact that the idea to achieve a certain body weight actually begins and exists in the mind. It all starts there and despite great results and good progress, the mind has the final say as to whether it is satisfied with the body or not. The problem with this is, if the mind keeps criticizing your body then achieving your goal is hindered. Better, you should have an athlete mentality and believe in your body’s ability to break a world record.

F. Avoid Weighing Yourself Every Day

     One more weight loss tip is that while it is important to know your progress, your body is not worth the pressure. It is normal to weigh yourself regularly but totally unreasonable to do that every day, not even justifiable to do that every week. The problem with weighing yourself that often is that unless you have another source of motivation, your body can easily self-sabotage and blow away with it your dreams to achieve your ideal body weight. Again, according to the experts, it is good to actually give your body enough time to gain the weight.

And the last one is the general rule to always go for a piece of fresh fruit each time you feel a strong urge to take sugar, to slice a piece of lemon or mango in the freezer and add a little nut butter to it rather than give in to the incessant temptation to take the chocolate cake that is right beside it.

Otherwise, perhaps next time I will ask you to forget these fad diets and the agonizing workouts and together we will look at something more interesting; losing weight with yoga. According to Daily Mail, Yoga can be a fantastic way to achieve and maintain the body you want. And what’s more? Scientific research has been showing links between weight loss and yoga. But until then, chao!! Catch up later. 

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Useful Reference Links

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-2935611/Lose-weight-yoga-forget-fad-diets-agonising-workouts-10-steps-trim-tum.html#ixzz40H5nxxwA 

http://www.nyc.gov/html/doh/downloads/pdf/public/dohmhnews10-08.pdf

http://www.choosemyplate.gov/food-groups/

http://www.choosemyplate.gov/budget

http://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/health-topics/weight control/myths/Documents/Myths.pdf

http://www.cdc.gov/media/subtopic/matte/pdf/031210-Healthy-Weight.pdf

Scale Down [Draft]

Lose Weight Like a Pro

I have lost 27 pounds and never gain the weight back. Do you want to lose weight like I do? Do you want to shrink down your cloth’s size? Just follow my steps, and maybe one day, I can see you on the stage of Victoria Secret’s fashion show. 

Believe it or not! While losing weight, you still can eat snacks and not exercise! As long as you follow the simple rules I have listed below, you can lose weight like a pro.

Why lose weight?

Why do you want to lose weight? I believe you already have the answers in your mind. The reasons could be to live healthier or to impress your date and others. The first step you will have to write down your goal and put the “prize of the goal” on a place where you can see it everyday. “Prize of the goal” could varies, such as a skinny jeans you want to fit in, or the picture of person whom you wish to impress on. It helps a lot if you weight yourself everyday in the morning when you wake up. Recording your weight encourages you to keep your path on the road. Reminding yourself your goal as many times as possible. At night on the bed, before you fall asleep, you can repeat to yourself “lose weight, lose weight, lose wight…”

What to eat?

Often some people will suggest you to eat less when you want to lose weight, but I won’t. Eating smart is easier to lose weight than eating less. Personally I have tried almost every kind of weight-loss diet as possible. The most efficient one to me is:

• When eating meat/ seafood, don’t eat it with carbs
• When eating vegetables, you can eat it with meat/ seafood (protein)
• Eat as little carbohydrate as possible
• If you must eat carbs, eat the complex carbohydrate, along with vegetables is fine
• Try your best not to eat carbs after 4pm
• Only intake sweeteners / sugar substitute [which means no sugar at all!]

If you follow these simple rule, you can eat as many as until you feel full. Hoverer, don’t overeat to make yourself feeling sick! After meals, if you still feel hungry, you can eat some healthy snacks, they are sold in almost every supermarket such as 

• Sugar-free ice cream/ frozen yogurt/ yogurt
• Sugar-free pudding  
• Crunchy Sesame Seaweed 
• Dried vegetables/ peas
• Cheddar Cheese 
• etc. 

These snacks I listed above are all full of protein, contains no sugar, little or no carbs, but fibers. The more protein you intake, the fuller you will be. 

No exercise?!

Yes, no exercise! You didn’t see it wrong. If you are jogging like crazy in the gym, I really wish you to stop now. I have been there before, and I know it’s not the efficient way in losing weight, but probably gaining weight. lol. Most not-skinny people has genetic rooted in their body, making them getting hungry than the others. The more exercise you do, the hungrier you will be. Instead, after exercise, the adding muscle mass may make you frustrated and wonder how could you gaining weight after those hard works. Exercise is good for people who want to SCULPT their body. You have to loss a certain amount of fat first before turing them into leaning muscle. If you like exercising, try to do it before bed. Aerobic exercise such as walking, yoga, mat pilate, and swimming could help you to accelerate your weight loss process. After exercising, take a shower, please NOT to eat anything, and go to bed having your sweet dream. 

External aid

If you got some extra money in your wallet, you may consider in getting some external help, such as acupuncture. If you are the person whom is paranoid of needles, pressing the “pressure points” on your body works too. With the herbs and treatment that you have received from your clinics, you can lose weight faster! I have been receiving these ancient meditation treatment both in my homeland Taiwan, and in LA. There are many good clinics in Koreantown near USC. Some insurance will even help you to cover or reduce the costs. There are two clinics that I like the most in Koreantown: 10 Body Type Acupuncture Clinic, and the Green Acupuncture.