It is well known that The Simpsons is a cultural icon TV show. Its success is partly attributable to how current the subjects it takes on are, in addition to its trademark wits and cynicism.

Last Sunday, The Simpsons' “Loan-A-Lisa” episode was star-studded with cameo appearance from Mark Zuckerberg, Bill Gates and Richard Branson, as promptly reported by TechCrunch. But we all know who these guys are, showing how the web and geeks have forever changed the way we live, work and play.

A lesser known, yet equally impacting personality also made an important appearance: Muhammad Yunus, Nobel Peace Prize winner, and founder of Grameen Bank. Yunus pioneered microcredit, the innovative banking program that allows perfect strangers to lend to each other. Microfinance was definitely the main theme in Matt Groening's newest creation, showing how microlending, peer-to-peer lending and crowdfunding are becoming mainstream concepts right in front of our own eyes, literally.

But the three ideas explored in this episode that really got me excited were:

1. Frugal living: live within your means, and do not overextend yourself to the point of owing more than you earn.  Marge learned a lesson when trying to show off by buying an excessively expensive purse that she did not need, nor did she have the money to pay for it, readily charging it on her credit card.
2. Education is the way: yes, Zuckerberg, Gates and Branson are school drop-outs that are swimming in money, but they are the exception.  Success comes from education and work, combined with passion and dedication to what you love.
3. Choose the "good" investment:  why throw the money on frivolous things when you can invest it in others to improve their lives.  Lisa got it right... again.

Here is the full episode, courtesy of Hulu and Fox.  Enjoy!

@RobGarciaSJ

Join Us at the next San Francisco New Tech on Wednesday September 15, 2010 for a live demo and discussion of Lending Club and other startups.

SF New Tech is the Bay Area’s largest and longest running monthly technology event and networking mixer for people who can’t get enough of technology.  Other companies showing off their cool stuff are Vufind, Spreaker, Let's Woosh!, Law Pivot and Bee.TV.

Tickets are $22.50 and always sell out, so hurry up to get yours.  Use the following discount codes to get yourself a deal:

25% off with the code : 15sept-whatadeal
10% off with the code : 15sept-isnoozed

Buy tickets now>>

For those attending and wanting to try Lending Club, there is a $50 bonus when you open an account and start investing.

Oh, and I almost forgot: there will free tacos before the demos start.

See you there!

@RobGarciaSJ

Back in March, Lending Club launched its first ever Lending Club Photo Contest to celebrate our new site and brand.  We invited all professional and amateur photographers to submit up to 4 photographs for a chance to win the $1,000 first place prize and many other prizes.  The response was fantastic with more than 250 pictures submitted, and over 300 votes during final face of the contest on Facebook.

Today, we present you the winners and honorary mentions:

1st Place / $1,000 prize:
The Promise by J. Griffin Stewart (103 votes)

2nd Place / $500 prize:
Mountainside Beauty by Greg Hahner (61 votes)

3rd Place / $300 prize:
Hidden Beach by Michelle C (55 votes)

Honorary Mention #1 ($100 prize):
Green and White by Larry McCloskey

Honorary Mention #2 ($100 prize):
Clean Whitewashing by Peter Anderson

Honorary Mention #3 ($100 prize):
Cloud Bells by Andy Cook

Congratulations to all winners.  See all 15 finalists on our Facebook fan page.

@RobGarciaSJ

We are thrilled to announce the top 15 photographs of our first Lending Club Photo Contest.

More than 250 photos from hundreds of artists were submitted, making the final selection even more arduous...  so arduous, we could not keep it to just 10.

We invite you to vote for your favorite photograph(s) on our Facebook fan page before July 15th, 2010.  To vote, just leave a comment on or "like" the photograph you'd like to see win, directly on our Facebook fan page (you must be a Lending Club Facebook fan to vote).

VOTE NOW>>

Last week, Lending Club unveiled its new financial offering, 5-year Notes, to our fast-growing financial network, rapidly capturing the attention and interest of investors.  These represent 60-month loans made to creditworthy borrowers under the same stringent credit policy that has made our site an attractive investment.

In today's webcast, we have invited our own Rob Garcia, Sr. Director of Product Strategy, to share with us more about 5-year Notes and their benefits to investors:

• More investment options,
• Greater control, and
• The opportunity to earn more interest while diversifying across terms.

Rob will also provide a quick introduction on how peer investing works, an update on Lending Club's growth and performance, and an overview of investor tools.  You'll have the chance to ask questions online and learn about new Lending Club developments. This WebCast is offered at no cost to Lending Club Investors.

Upcoming WebCast: Introducing 5-year Notes

Register Now >>>

Limited space, so save your spot today.
Wednesday, May 19th
3:00pm PT (6:00pm ET)

See you there,
Sam Kasle
Sr Director, Marketing