Nathan Lustig

"“Look, we live in a very dangerous world. We know there are people who want to take away our..."

Tue, 23 Apr 2013 09:03:13 -0500

“

“Look, we live in a very dangerous world. We know there are people who want to take away our freedoms. New Yorkers probably know that as much if not more than anybody else after the terrible tragedy of 9/11,” he said.

Only a bit ironic considering he’s advocating for less freedom and less privacy to prevent more loss of freedom.

”

- Bloomberg Says Interpretation of Constitution Will ‘Have to Change’ After Boston Bombing | Politicker

"If you’re caught with an ounce of cocaine, the chances are good you’re going to go to jail. If it..."

Sun, 10 Mar 2013 16:12:10 -0500

“If you’re caught with an ounce of cocaine, the chances are good you’re going to go to jail. If it happens repeatedly you may go to jail for the rest of your life. But evidently, if you launder nearly a billion dollars for drug cartels and violate our international sanctions, your company pays a fine and you go home and sleep in your own bed at night. I think that’s fundamentally wrong.”

- Must Read Elizabeth Warren | The Big Picture

"Everything we publish to our investors should be written as if it will someday be published in..."

Mon, 27 Aug 2012 11:14:09 -0500

““Everything we publish to our investors should be written as if it will someday be published in Gawker. And every action we take in structuring our business, our relationships with our investors, and our relationships with the entrepreneurs we back should be conducted as if it will someday be published in Gawker.””

- A VC: The Bain Capital Files

"Volume and speed have become new media’s ruling twin values, Rosedale talked about the biggest..."

Sun, 08 Jul 2012 14:41:52 -0500

““Volume and speed have become new media’s ruling twin values, Rosedale talked about the biggest reason I got out of old media: the all too predictable hero-villian press cycle.””

- Philip Rosedale: The Media Is Wrong, SecondLife Didn’t Fail | PandoDaily

25 Ways To Make a Trillion Dollars

Fri, 08 Jun 2012 12:43:24 -0500

25 Ways To Make a Trillion Dollars:

Learn to Receive. When good things happen to you, there’s two ways people screw it up. One is, they blow it. They take their money and spray it around like a broken hose, like a drunken rock star. Someone told me the other day: “I know 50 different guys who made $100 million and all they do is blow it on hookers, divorce, and bad investments.” So when something good happens to you, don’t change your life. Be a good person. As simple as that sounds, it’s not so simple.

The second thing: You deserve it. Many people deep down don’t think they deserve it. Take every compliment. Cherish it. Look around. The world is trying to give to you RIGHT NOW but we often spend our time rejecting it because we obsessing on the past or anxious about the future. Worrying is the opposite of receiving. Look around today at what the world is giving you right now. Write it down later. What did the world give you today?

Welcome to Life: the singularity, ruined by lawyers. This really...

Mon, 14 May 2012 18:52:46 -0500

Welcome to Life: the singularity, ruined by lawyers. This really isn’t too far away from what could happen. (by enyay)

John Axford is completely awesome. (via John Axford Is Cooler...

Sat, 12 May 2012 11:49:20 -0500

John Axford is completely awesome.

(via John Axford Is Cooler Than You)

"interesting though via @FakeGrimlock “FUTURE OF MOST OF WORLD IS WAR. THIS WHAT HAPPEN WHEN..."

Fri, 11 May 2012 09:53:48 -0500

“

interesting though via @FakeGrimlock “FUTURE OF MOST OF WORLD IS WAR. THIS WHAT HAPPEN WHEN SCIENCE MAKE VIOLENCE TOO CHEAP.

COUNTRIES NOT FULL OF WAR CAN CHOOSE TO HOLD BACK THE DARKNESS, OR HUDDLE IN CAVE AND LET THE WORLD DROWN.”

”

- A VC: Same Sex Marriage

"Leadership by @teamrubicon’s Jake Wood Met Admiral Mullen yesterday. When I told him that I..."

Tue, 08 May 2012 17:39:30 -0500

“

Leadership by @teamrubicon’s Jake Wood

Met Admiral Mullen yesterday. When I told him that I was an old 2/7 Marine, he immediately asked “what deployments were you on?” I told him Iraq ‘07 and Afghanistan ‘08. He immediately reached out, shook my hand, looked me in the eye, and apologized for how 2/7 was thrown to the wolves in Helmand Valley without proper support; taking the blame for not having the AO prepared. Now THAT’s a good leader.

”

- Team Rubicon

Incredible Canadian Paralympic Committee ad, shot in one take,...

Fri, 04 May 2012 13:54:58 -0500

Incredible Canadian Paralympic Committee ad, shot in one take, no special effects via @peternavarro

"Use the money, don’t let the money use you. Some time ago I was in a fancy restaurant with my..."

Wed, 02 May 2012 10:00:10 -0500

“

Use the money, don’t let the money use you.

Some time ago I was in a fancy restaurant with my wife. We had a great meal and I had known the owner for decades.

I saw a young Marine and his girl eating a couple of tables away. Think small town Texas rock hard movie handsome blonde haired crew cutted stud and his girl as beautiful as Texas bluebonnets in a flowery dress just a bit off the current style.

As packaging that frock contained a full blooded Texas high school cheerleader just a bit awed by the big city but gamely mixing with the beautiful people. And her fellow was just home from war and belonged only to her. It was poignant.

I could read his medals and knew he had seen action, had been decorated for bravery and was freshly home from war.

I couldn’t take my eyes off them. It was looking at real life dead in the eyes —- not New York Times life but real life where living and dying is real.

My wife and I left the restaurant and she stepped outside to summon our car from the valet and I lingered ostensibly to say good bye to the owner.

I slipped him some cash and and told the proprietor that the young Marine and his gal were now my guest. It was $200.

The proprietor smiled and looked me in the eye and thanked me.

When I got into the car and my wife asked me what had taken so long, I hesitated to respond.

She laughed and said I know exactly what took you so long. You paid for that Marine’s dinner, didn’t you?

I didn’t answer because if I had tried I would have broken into tears. Not because I am a sensitive guy but because in that tableau I saw my own life reflecting back.

And, that, my friend is how the fuck you use money.

You make it celebrate life and you make it dance to your own memories and you pass it along.

Later I was back in that same restaurant and saw the proprietor and he said that the young Marine had proposed marriage and his girl had accepted.

Is this a great life or what?

- JLM

”

- A VC: Where’s My Billion Dollar Check, I Wonder

"Why do we do anything? Who really knows? This I know —- When I am alone in my own head with..."

Wed, 02 May 2012 09:51:00 -0500

“

Why do we do anything? Who really knows?

This I know —-

When I am alone in my own head with my hopes, dreams, fears and insecurities wrestling —- three falls to each and then the winner and if I don’t like the winner, then a rematch —- I cannot remember anything more joyous than floating in the ocean where the water is way over my head or body surfing.

The feel of the salt and sun on my skin is the same whether I am broke or flush.

I know, I have been both.

Do you think Bill Gates feels better than me? I don’t think so. It is not possible. Is there more joy available?

In a week, I will watch my beautiful Perfect Daughter graduate from college. She is smarter than me. More sensitive than me. More worldly than me. More clever by twice. I was only her enabler.

I am waiting to see what she accomplishes because it is going to be way more than I ever imagined and I have a wild, untamed imagination.

When I think about the accumulated wisdom of the AVC.com salon and its unquenched energy, I smile. It is rueful smile as I see the hard edge of genius, the light of brilliance and the warmth of accomplishment.

But I also see the impatience of both youthful exuberance and the insanity of entrepreneurship.

Money and stuff is stupid. I hate stupid. I hate stupid more than anything else I have ever encountered on that side of the ledger. It is a barter which does not involve your soul.

The currency with which you are really paid is your measure against yourself. I jumped out of airplanes because I wondered if I could do it. I could.

I started businesses to see if I could do it. I could.

Don’t let life buy you with lucre. Worse yet, don’t let it rent you.

Trade for more dear stuff —- the satisfaction of having plotted and followed your own course, the thrill of having walked the high wire of life with no safety net, the mutual respect of good people, the love of a good mate and a full draught —- not a shot glass —- of all that life offers.

Go bite the ass off a bear every day of your life and then tell me you can keep score only with money.

If the gods favor you —- as they will, my friends, I promise —- and you get to the Pay Window, do good works with your money. Money is only useful for good works. How many freakin’ cheeseburgers can you really eat?

Don’t be afraid to be kind to yourself, you will deserve it.

In the end, you will be richer for it. I know.

-JLM

”

- A VC: Where’s My Billion Dollar Check, I Wonder

My 2011

Sat, 31 Dec 2011 06:16:42 -0600

My 2011

Arnon Kohavi, Chilean Culture and the Chilean Startup Scene

Tue, 27 Dec 2011 23:55:16 -0600

Arnon Kohavi, Chilean Culture and the Chilean Startup Scene

A Tribute

Mon, 26 Dec 2011 14:00:47 -0600

A Tribute

Stopping SOPA and PIPA: Explained

Sat, 24 Dec 2011 06:56:46 -0600

Stopping SOPA and PIPA: Explained

Sevilla fans paying to have tiny photo of themselves on players’ jerseys

Wed, 21 Dec 2011 09:46:55 -0600

Sevilla fans paying to have tiny photo of themselves on players’ jerseys:

How much would you pay to have your picture on Aaron Rodgers’ jersey? Awesome.

People more likely to lie when texting, study finds

Tue, 20 Dec 2011 19:10:43 -0600

People more likely to lie when texting, study finds

Americans face Guantánamo detention after Obama climbdown

Thu, 15 Dec 2011 08:20:38 -0600

Americans face Guantánamo detention after Obama climbdown:

disgusting. we have a constitution and a bill of rights, but its now legal to detain citizens indefinitely without a trial. i hate what my country is becoming. the terrorists have won.

Can America regain most dynamic labour market mantle?

Mon, 12 Dec 2011 11:24:19 -0600

Can America regain most dynamic labour market mantle?:

Income inequality, technology replacing jobs and a polarization of the workforce. a very important article about long term trends.