Trump ends his policy of family separations

The mad king has made his decree.

My mom once told me a parable: Once you’ve hammered nails into a fence, even if you remove them, the holes, the scars, will remain.

UPDATE HT Maria

DO NOT CELEBRATE. KEEP PROTESTING. THIS IS OPTICS ONLY. THIS IS STILL BAD. JUST AS BAD. REALLY FUCKING BAD. PLEASE SPREAD THE WORD.

Statement from Montanans for Immigrant Justice and Missoula Rises re: Trump’s Pending Executive Order to Stop Separating Families:

Trump has indicated that he will be signing an Executive Order today to stop separating families when they initially cross the border. While this is movement in the right direction, DO NOT BE FOOLED by what this Order does. Here are the facts thus far:

1. Families will not be immediately separated, but they will be held in detention together.

2. Crossing the border “illegally” will no longer be deemed a civil violation, it will be deemed a criminal violation.

3. Because it is a criminal violation the parents will be charged criminally. At that point, their children will be forcibly taken.

4. The Executive Order will provide a provision that families will be expedited through the criminal process. This means that the removal of their children will be expedited.

There is still a need for the Tent Cities. There will still be Tender Age Facilities. This serves as optics for Trump to claim he is not ripping families apart. He is. The GOP are. They are just hiding in in the fine print.

Understand this is a result of the pressure we and others have exerted. WE made this change. But this is not the solution. He anticipates this will temper our moral outrage. Do not let it. This is not close to enough. This is not a victory for those families crossing the border.

Originally posted on Facebook

The American Dream is very likely over

I was intending to save this kind of post until the Mueller investigation was over and we gauge Trumps reaction, however I think it’s already obvious...

—-

I’ve been saying for a while now that, despite my work and career being based on my ability to track trends and roughly predict the future, it’s been impossible to predict geo-politics since brexit and the election of Trump.

But now I feel like some things have become clear, and it’s irresponsible not to share:

The American Dream is very likely over and things are likely to get much, much worse. I say that knowing that many people reading this will think I’m massively exaggerating.

For those not paying attention...

Domestic institutions like the free press, congress and the executive are failing. There is no such thing as objective truth and shared understanding. The Congress is unable or unwilling to perform its function of being a check on executive power. The executive is run by a psychopath with strongman tendencies and his cronies.

Global institutions like the G7 and UN are not far behind. The Trump administration has thrown them under the bus. They were nothing without US power anyway.

And now Trump is using ICE as a loyal law enforcement agency (saw that coming as soon as he gave it extra funding early in his presidency).

The Republican Party now has a cult like allegiance to Trump and the Democrats have no power and no cohesive message or leader.

The population is afraid, uneducated, misinformed and deeply, deeply polarized.

The only thing standing in the way of the news report attached to this post turning into full on Handmaid's Tale is the courts.

I believe there is now an uncomfortably high probability that there will be a full blown constitutional crisis, a hard shift into fascism and/or some kind of inciting incident that turns the culture war into an actual civil war.

Given the flywheel effects that have been building steam for decades, it’s not clear to me right now how the US can be restored within the next few decades. The rest of the world has already started reconfiguring itself to circumvent American leadership and the old post-WW2 geopolitical status quo.

This is a real tragedy for the people who live in the US and for the world.

I sincerely recommend those that can leave to start looking for the exits.

Originally posted on Facebook

Some People Are Like . . .

Some people are like porcelain. Set in their ways and their dogma. Unchangeable and crack under pressure.

Some people are like soaking wet mud. Changeable under the slightest pressure. Unable to hold themselves up.

Some people are like perfectly moist clay. A beautiful sculpture ready for continuous refinement by life’s many lessons.

Inspired by a conversation with Aaleah

Originally posted on Facebook

Porcelain

Some people are like porcelain. Set in their ways and their dogma. Unchangeable and crack under pressure.

Some people are like soaking wet mud. Changeable under the slightest pressure. Unable to hold themselves up.

Some people are like perfectly moist clay. A beautiful sculpture ready for continuous refinement by life’s many lessons.

Inspired by a conversation with Aaleah

Originally posted on Facebook

When you're feeling unmotived

What do you do when you’re feeling down or unmotivated? I do basically the same thing I do when I’m feeling awesome.

I remind myself that “this too shall pass” and act accordingly.

When I’m feeling down I lean into it, bathe in the experience, let it wash over me, rest and wait for it to pass.

When I’m having a particularly amazing time, I lean into it, bathe in the experience, let it wash over me and relish the sensation - trying to appreciate every aspect before it’s gone.

Crucially - I try not to berate myself about feeling down or congratulate myself too much for the good times either.

What are some of your tactics?

Originally posted on Facebook

Custom Budgeting Spreadsheet

I have custom made the slickest personal budgeting and financial modeling spreadsheet.

I just upgraded it so that it uses a rolling average of my expenses for the last 3 months to project out my spending for future months. It auto-adjusts as it gets real data.

Update: Due to popular demand, here is a hollowed out version with fake numbers. Use at your own risk. Please share any feedback or ideas for improvement! https://docs.google.com/…/1lUQVL663f49Or0hFR0MNoj4Zqh…/edit…

Originally posted on Facebook

Facebook Earnings

What does this chart say to you? To me it says they have incredibly disciplined and effective control over their revenue levers and are using them to create a perfect narrative on the market.

Each quarter’s estimates are higher than the last - forming a great curve. And each actual earnings point is neatly just above expectation.

Impressive.

Originally posted on Facebook

My Ideal Place in the World

Which country/city in the world best aligns with my lifestyle and values?

A combination of...

- Strong entrepreneurship community

- Pragmatic but left-leaning politics

- Passion/value for nerdy things

- Abundance mentality and some hustle

- Great roads with generous speed limits

- Warm with great beaches

- Some centrality/access to world events/markets

- Not spinning off the rails culturally and politically

- People speak english

// Inspired by conversation with Pauly Ting

Originally posted on Facebook

You can be a victim or a victor

You get to decide...

- Is someone’s success confronting or inspiring?

- Is the hard work draining or fulfilling?

- Is the opportunity scary or exciting?

- Is it enough or is it just a stepping stone?

- Is it a risk or an opportunity?

- Is it tyranny of choice or freedom to choose?

How you frame the events and circumstances of your life determines how you experience them and whether they serve you or cripple you. In most cases (not always), you can frame something as happening to you, or for you. You can be a victim or a victor.

Originally posted on Facebook

What kind of world do we live in when...

What kind of world do we live in when...

1. One inarticulate moment can sabotage 40 years of hard work and positive change

2. Misspeaking Is made morally equivalent to sustained/reoccurring physical violence

3. Due process is suspended for mob justice

4. No apologies are ever good enough

5. Pragmatism is seen as cowardly compromise or, worse, siding with the “enemy”

Life is about nuance and empathy. Pay attention.

Originally posted on Facebook

Lies

Euphemisms for "Lies" are such a waste of time. Just adds confusion to the conversation.

- Untrue claims

- Misrepresented the truth

- False statements

- Blah blah

Just call them what they are. Lies.

Originally posted on Facebook

Good Things Come To Those . . .

Them: "All good things come to those who wait"

Me: "Good things come to those who have a vision and execute consistently and effectively"

Originally posted on Facebook

Do not #DeleteFacebook because of Cambridge Analytical

My thoughts on #DeleteFacebook, Data Portability, Cambridge Analytica and much more... Thanks to Nik who encouraged me to say something on this.

Link to an article shared via Medium: “Do not #DeleteFacebook because of Cambridge Analytical”

Originally posted on Facebook

Books That Changed My Life

The Robots of Dawn

Rich Dad, Poor Dad

The Cluetrain Manifesto

The Road Less Travelled

Conversations with God

How about you?

Originally posted on Facebook

“Life Is Like A Fart.”

“Life is like a fart. Push hard enough and shit happens” - My 11 y/o cousin 🙂

Originally posted on Facebook

Campaigns Against Empathy

Digging into Russia’s interference in the US election, Trump’s collusion with said interference, TOS violations of Cambridge Analytica, or the role of FB’s ads and news feed products in creating perverse incentives and outcomes in our lives - is all worthwhile.

However they’re all sideshows.

Trump is our fault.

All these other actors simply exploited fundamental flaws in our thinking and our society.

Money in politics, gerrymandering, failed education and healthcare systems, massive and growing economic disparity, tabloid journalism, glorification of celebrity, spineless leaders, pernicious voter ID laws, mass incarceration, an inactive liberal voter base that’s more interested in fighting amongst themselves than the true enemies of progressive society - on and on.

These are the real enemies and the true root causes. Everything else is basically just scapegoating.

In short: Trump didn’t win because of the Russians or Facebook. He won because of a decades long campaign against empathy, fairness and rational thinking in America.

Originally posted on Facebook

Zuckerberg: 'Happy' to Testify

"We're going to limit the data developers can have access to"

This is not good for Data Portability. Being a citizen of the web means you need to take some responsibility for who you share your data with.

Said another way: You can't blame the telephone company if you accept a scam deal over the phone.

Originally posted on Facebook

I Owe So Many People So Much

Reminiscing about the amazing things that have happened to me in the last 15 years or so. So much gratitude to the people who’ve changed my trajectory along the way. Such amazing, surreal moments.

I was just thinking about some people who have directly and significantly changed the trajectory of my life for the better through their pivotal and timely advice and/or their above-and-beyond support.

Please forgive me if your name is missing; this is most definitely not an exhaustive list. Roughly in order of first meaningful impact.

Maggie Saad / Richard Saad

Anton and Widad Joury

Marcello Brocchi

Mitchell Saad

Todd Cope / Kerry Pynor / Tygh Field

Jenny Middleton

Matthew Bergman

Cassandra Whiteley

Nik LiveLife

Ashley Angell

Stephen Kelly

Martin Wells

Brian Solis

Robert Scoble

Marshall Kirkpatrick

Michael Arrington

Ben Metcalfe

Gregarious Narain

Jeremiah Owyang

Bill Hudak

Julia Wells

Khris Loux

Hermione Way

Ben Way

Josh Elman

Ben Parr

Travis Kalanick

Moral of the story?

1. No one achieves anything alone. Ask for help.

2. Pay close attention to those willing and able to help

3. Act when the opportunity is presented.

4. Always be grateful.

5. Pay it back.

6. Pay it forward.

Originally posted on Facebook

Stephen Hawking

Many of us strive, but few actually live a life of true consequence and impact at the level of Professor Hawking. And all this, of course, while having one of the most debilitating diseases one could possibly live with.

He will go down as one of the most consequential people in history.

Yet another tragedy for this bizarre period in history.

Originally posted on Facebook

Review of Aladdin live stage show

It was solid. Entertaining. But more than anything it made me appreciate the movie even more.

I think perhaps that Aladdin is the hardest of all the Disney movies to adapt for stage. It’s so magical and elaborate. It’s already more epically theatrical than any real theater production can match.

The music. The tight narrative structure. The setups and payoffs. Even slight tweaks can (and do) break what was a perfect formulation in the original movie.

There are also so many beautiful, thoughtful, nuanced performances in the movie. But of course the top prize has to go to Robin Williams.

Most of the time when celebrities pass, I feel a tinge of regret and move on. When Robin passed, I mourned for days. He was an utterly unique human being who brought so much laughter and deep feeling into the world. Into my world.

The intentionality and energy with which he played the Genie (again, brought into stark relief by seeing another actor try) is beautiful to behold. His range - from zany million miles a minute energy, to the sad but hopeful realization that all he wants is to be free - is almost heartbreaking.

Ultimately, I think, any attempt to recreate the story, the magic and the genie is inevitably destined to fall short and leave audiences wanting.

We'll see how the upcoming movie remake goes. I wish them luck.

I wish I’d seen the Lion King. I imagine it would be an easier story to adapt.

Originally posted on Facebook