Alexander Muse
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Alexander Muse is a serial entrepreneur.
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Why You Should Get Out of Your Team's Way When Building a Startup Recently a friend of mine reached out to me and asked me to fly to Mississippi to help him shoot a music video. While I was there it occurred to me that making a music video is a lot like building a startup. The producer comes up with…
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How many times has the United States experienced two-quarters of negative GDP without being in a recession? What are the dates?
FAST TAKE: “Since the United States began releasing quarterly economic data in 1947 each time nominal GDP has declined in two successive quarters the NBER has determined the economy was in recession - and there is no doubt that they will do the same a year from now.” The Organisation for Economic Co-…
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How can Elon Musk’s Twitter deal be on hold if he already fired the board?
The media’s use of hyperbole is the problem here. I have seen headlines that said that Elon Musk ‘bought’ Twitter. Elon Musk signed a merger agreement that outlines the terms of a deal that would take the company private and give him control. The agreement contemplates a six month process to consumm…
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How do you sous vide steak?
Sous Vide Steak Recipe For years I’ve been grilling amazing steaks to perfection on my Weber grill. My favorite, the New York strip, comes from the short loin of the cow and is almost as tender as the tenderloin and I think it is the perfect cut for the grill. The relatively low fat content in the st…
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What foods are prepared better in the pressure cooker vs. the sous vide method?
Every protein.
Is it okay to sous vide meat after it’s been soaked in a marinade?
YES!
Can you cook sous vide with a delayed start?
No.
Is there a dotcom 2.0 bubble brewing, given Wework CEO Adam Neumann's quasi-criminal behaviour?
I call B.S. Adam Neumann’s behavior at WeWork hasn’t violated the law.
Can frozen meat be cooked sous vide without thawing first?
Certainly. The cooking time should simply be lengthened. Add about 45 minutes to the recipe and you’ll be fine. I write about it in my sous vide book: Alexander Muse: 9781694349941: Amazon.com: Books
How can I get somewhere from LAX airport now that Uber and Lyft are banned? Will this become the norm for other airports?
Simply take the shuttle to the parking lot next to Terminal 1. There are signs. This happens in lots of airports.
What do startup employees most often misunderstand about their company's funding?
That we already spent it…
There are so many companies that don't turn a profit like Uber, Netflix, and Spotify. Why are they valued so highly?
Companies with the highest growth rates are often the most highly valued and as a result they’ll often forgo profits for growth. For example, it took Amazon 14 years to turn a profit—they reinvested all of their capital into growing the business. When Amazon got so big that they couldn’t find ways t…
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Why is public transit unpopular in Texas?
I disagree with your premise. I live in Dallas and our light rail system is the longest in the United States. The system is over 93 miles long and began operation in 1996. Currently Texas is building a high-speed train between Houston and Dallas. The Texas Central will connect Houston and Dallas in u…
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Why did FDR serve four terms? What's to keep the current President or any future Presidents from serving more than two terms?
The 22nd Amendment limited the president’s term in office. Prior to its passage a president could serve indefinitely. The 22nd Amendment of the U.S. Constitution
When is it not okay to touch food with one's bare hands that is being prepared so it can be sold in a restaurant or place of business?
When your hand is not completely clean.
Should employees be paid during lunch time?
Employees SHOULD be paid during lunch when required by law. In the US the FSLA does not require paid lunches, but some states do. Here is a list: Minimum Paid Rest Period Requirements Under State Law for Adult Employees in Private Sector…
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Why do so many people subscribe to the myth that mental illness is a significant part of the threat of mass shootings? There is no evidence that mental illness plays an important role in mass shootings.
I think you and your source might be a little behind on the latest science related to the brains of mass shooters. I’d take a look at: Inside The Brains Of Mass Shooters | Amen Clinics If you’re not into reading much you could also watch this video. It is fascinating:…
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Why do a majority of Americans support banning of assault rifles, but not gun confiscation?
When I read your question I immediately had a hard time believing the premise—that a majority of Americans supported banning assault rifles. I read the poll you linked to and I can assure that you the majority of Americans do NOT support banning semi-automatic rifles like the AR-15. The reality is th…
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Why isn't Uber making a profit? If they're squeezing the drivers so hard and getting all that money from riders and just have to pay for administrative costs, why aren't they making a profit?
Uber isn’t ‘squeezing’ anyone. Each day hundreds of drivers apply to drive for the company. If people didn’t want to drive for Uber they wouldn’t keep driving and new drivers wouldn’t keep signing up. The weird thing is that I’ve been an Uber customer since 2010 and each time I get picked up I talk t…
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Now that Uber and Lyft drivers will be considered employees, will this drive up costs for rides?
The problem is that an employee doesn’t have the freedom a contractor has. The vast majority of Uber drivers, for example, also drive for Lyft. If Uber has to provide benefits to their drivers that are the same as their employees they won’t be able to allow their drivers to work for their competitor…
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Why is the Trump administration attempting to ban flavored e-cigs and not guns although guns kill more people?
One simple reason—e-cigs aren’t protected by the constitution. The Second Amendment protects an American’s right to bear arms. Fortunately, Trump can’t suspend the constitution to save us from ourselves. It sounds like e-cigs might be killing people. I have no idea if the FDA is right, but I don’t sm…
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Why aren't VCs/angels interested in my bootstrapped, profitable startup?
Don’t Raise Capital for your Lifestyle Business The original Architel datacenter and NOC ($1,500 a month in rent) This afternoon I spoke with an entrepreneur who pivoted his mobile app into a services business. He had raised a small amount of seed capital — less than a hundred thousand dollars. Over t…
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Why do disruptive technologies only seem to benefit the originators and the end users? Uber drivers earn very low wages now compared to traditional cab drivers so why in general do workers get the worst end of the deal every time?
The weird thing is that I’ve been an Uber customer since 2010 and each time I get picked up I talk to the driver about their experiences. The vast majority of them really like driving for Uber (and Lyft as the majority drive for both). Very few depend on Uber/Lyft as their sole source of income and…
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If a founder's equity vests over 4 years, what incentive does the founder have to remain with the company instead of leaving after all his shares have vested?
If the founder’s continued participation is critical for the success of a startup the board should make annual option grants. For example, upon funding a founder would receive his initial grant with a four year reverse vest feature. Then upon his next anniversary the board would make him another fou…
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You’re taking a cute girl out to a Michelin Starred restaurant that cost over $300 per person and it took you many months to land a reservation. What date activities are upscale enough to do afterwards?
Just between us, you sound a bit thirsty. Take your mom instead. Cook the cute girl dinner at your house and work your way up to a Michelin Star…
Was it smart for President Trump to invite the Taliban to camp David?
I suspect Taliban leader, Mawlawi Hibatullah Akhundzada, never actually bought a plane ticket. Just last month he called on his followers to continue their jihad to “pave the way for withdrawal of invaders and establishment of a true Islamic system.” FDD's Long War Journal…
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Why is Uber still not able to make a profit, when at one time it was willing to break all the rules and take over the world?
To justify its high valuation Uber has to deliver growth—growth is expensive. You may recall a company called Amazon. They failed to generate a profit for 14 years—instead focusing on growth at the expense of profit. Amazon is finally generating a profit—after they captured 50% of the global ecommer…
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Since Uber has not turned a profit year to date, why is it now expanding into the freight business?
High growth startups shouldn’t focus on profits. Remember, it took Amazon 14 years to generate a profit.
What is your reaction to US President Donald Trump firing his security adviser John Bolton, and who do you think will replace him?
The left were frustrated by the president’s decision to hire John Bolton. I wasn’t frustrated and was hopeful he’d be successful in dealing with Iran and North Korea. The president’s goal with both were far less ambitious than Bolton’s. He simply wanted a better deal with Iran—not regime change. He…
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If a leader is brought into an already existing but failing organization and is responsible for 90% of its rise to success, what is the proper term for that individual? Is it ‘founder’?
Perhaps it was said by Winston Churchill that, “History is written by the victors.” If the leader is the CEO I’d simply call him the CEO. He wasn’t a founder or a cofounder. More than 90% of founders are ultimately fired by their investors—the folks that are hired to replace them are never founders. …
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Why is Uber's revenue slowing down?
The easy answer: it isn’t! 2019 Q1 revenue was $3.10 billion. 2018 Q1 revenue was $2.58 billion. Wall Street had estimated the company would generate $3.04 billion—and that is a pretty big beat. https://www.cnbc.com/2019/05/30/uber-earnings-q1-2019.html…
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How can Trump still be President and still make profit from his businesses. Does the Emoluments clause not matter anymore in the constitution why does Trump go by a different set of rules, compared to other Presidents of the past?
The Emoluments Clause does not prevent the president from profiting from his various business interests. The Emoluments Clause prohibits the president from receiving money or titles from foreign powers. The idea was to prevent foreign powers from being able to use gifts to influence the policies of…
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