I took a ton of pictures back then. Looking back, it's crazy to still remember taking certain ones. Or, in the case of these two, capturing something that so completely embodied the feeling of that time in my life.

Without many weekend plans, an old friend of mine and I spent a fair amount of 2002 and 2003 riding up and down our quiet suburban street on Friday and Saturday nights. We'd ride for hours, late into the still of the night, talking some, but mostly just taking in the gentle feeling of carving down a single lane road, the cool air in our faces, and maybe the familiarity and comfort of the life we knew was ultimately fleeting.

I never thought that after almost 10 years and transfers between 3 laptops, images like these would not only survive, but still mean so much. After all, it was just a normal night when I snatched these shots of my friend while cruising beside him all those years ago.

My wife and I didn't do much Black Friday shopping last week, but we did get a great deal on another Canon PowerShot (my how the specs have changed since that first camera).

I've realized I haven't taken a lot of pictures since graduating. With this new camera, I'm trying to do it more regularly, remembering that even a picture you didn't think much of might make you pause in ten years time.

I'm not gonna lie: it took me a solid 45 minutes to get this sorted out. First I took out the high-beam light bulb and the new low-beam bulb, not surprisingly, wouldn't fit. Then I couldn't get my hand in well enough to do anything (that's when I figured out how easy it is to "remove the radiator reserve tank"). Then, thinking I had the hang of it, I thought doing the same thing on the driver's side would be no big shmeal. It was, but eventually I used a screwdriver I'd brought "just in case" to pry the plastic cap off the light bulb. By the time I finally shut the hood with a completely satisfying slam that echoed through the parking deck, by hands were black, and my fingers were sore from trying to pinch off those plastic caps. But I got it.

I feel like this is what it's all about though. It reminds me of something Merlin said in one of his 43folders videos. He was talking about writing his book, and he was saying how you can watch all the how to videos and read all the blog posts on 7 tips to do x, but sooner or later you have to plant your butt in a chair and just get to work. Just do it until you get better at it, or figure it out, or wade through the crap to your solution. I feel like we're bombarded with the idea that there are shortcuts everywhere. And while I think given technology today, there are more than we probably take advantage of, there's no substitute for--wow, sorry for this--getting one's hands dirty. For starting on something not knowing the solution, and coming out on the other side. For building that confidence that you'll figure it out, and learning the 10 other things you didn't set out to learn along the way.

I'm trying to imagine a time when Siri-like technology turns into Jane-like technology. When it's not just a computer program that can pick out the commands from common speech, but instead develops a personality and a memory/understanding of the user. When the input-output process evolves into something more complex--something, ironically, more human.

That's a question I asked myself a lot through my years at UMBC. In 2005, during my sophomore year, a great friend and I looked at this question when we entered an entrepreneurship competition at UMBC. Realizing how uncomplicated and easy high school really was in retrospect, we pitched a program to guarantee high schoolers straight A's, or amazing college application essays, or achieving whatever goal our paying customers had in mind. Looking back, I think our idea was basically an after-school program that employed amazing tutors and a healthy dose of Dale Carnegie. Long story short, we didn't win (or even come close), but the question continues to be valuable.

In college, my answer to that question typically involved more learning for learning's sake, putting out the additional x% effort to get far greater than x returns, and generally chilling out. Being more present. Taking risks, realizing that basically everything I ever worried about in high school turned out to be ok or didn't matter in the end.

With UMBC a few years behind me now, it's interesting to note that these same things are almost verbatim the things I would change if I could go back and start UMBC over.  

I'm taking my first graduate course now. It's technically on leadership, which is starting to equate to lots of self-reflection and strategies for self-creation. I guess I'm realizing most people repeat the same patterns, tendencies, and mistakes over and over and over again -- myself included. So, new goal: get out in front of myself so when I look back on this time in 3 years, I hopefully won't think "wow, it was so easy then, why didn't I do more?"

Hello America. Spotify Here.
Many thanks for requesting an invite to enjoy Spotify. So far we’re thrilled by our welcome here in the US…and by the demand for invites. It’s great to know that so many of our US friends are excited to try Spotify.

The demand for invites has been so huge that it’s going to take us a few weeks to get them all sent out. Please bear with us – we’ll be as quick as we can.

Of course, if you just can’t wait, you can jump the queue by signing up directly for Spotify Premium or Unlimited. Spotify Premium gives you access on your phone, your computer, in your home on Sonos and a whole heap of other devices.

We’ll be back in touch soon!

The team at Spotify

Yeah, I'm sure it'll be cool. I'm sure tons of people will flock to it. But I'm really happy with Grooveshark, and I think there's something for being first.

I first wrote about Grooveshark back in January of 2010. That is a LONG time ago. I think that's why in Spotify's promo video, when they said "This will change how you listen to music," I'm sort of annoyed and thinking, "Um, y'all are a little late."

Guess my allegiance for Grooveshark runs deeper than I realized. [Hey Grooveshark, if you're listening... free upgrade for being a loyal fan?]

Spotify's website isn't clear on when things will start rolling out, but you can of course sign up to get on the invite list. And if you haven't tried Grooveshark yet, that's where you can find me.

1. You'll need more time than you think. For interstate moves, if possible, shoot to start the process at least 2 months before you need to get where you're going. Because it's summer and companies are booked up, trucks can be unavailable for 3-4 weeks, making it very tough to work within timeline if you're just getting started. For local moves, you'll need less time, but I'd still shoot for 3-4 weeks.

2. Make sure you get a visual estimate (and get it as soon as you're even starting to think about moving). It's required by law, and no estimate can be reasonably reliable without one. Surveys take 30-45 minutes, and once you have it, you'll be able to quickly take next steps in booking your move once other things pan out, like selling your house or getting a job offer . You can really shoot yourself in the foot by trusting a company that gives a firm price over the phone, as you may get lured in by a great price, only to get slammed at the end of the move when they reveal what the actual price and won't release your goods until you pay.

3. Get it in writing. There are lots of sketchy "moving companies" out there that just have a website and a way to accept credit card payment. Don't go with a mover that you've never gotten anything in writing from, or you can't see their physical location on Google Maps. I've gotten several calls from people so far this summer saying they booked with a company that gave them a price through an online form, then never showed up when they said they would. Worse yet, a few had their offered up their credit cards and never had anyone show up.

4. Hang on to the little things. Saving the box your flat screen TV came in can save you from needing to spend ~$75 for a new one to transport. On front load washer and dryers, they come with a couple little screws, used to stabilize the drum when moving. If you throw these away, you'll have to have a third-party come in and stabilize the drum for you.

5. Are you supposed to tip movers? That's a question I didn't know the answer to when I started, but now, I'd say this: I don't think you have to feel obligated, but if you want to, giving the crew money to go out and get lunch seems like a nice, reasonable gesture.

Here are some more tips from the U.S. Dept. of Transportation. I understand it can be scary to leave a stranger responsible for all your possessions, but if you are smart about it and do your homework to find a high-quality company, it can be a very easy, straight-forward process.

I'm happy to answer any more questions about moving at andrew@apgordon.com

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Listening to: "Jacksonville" - Sufjan Stevens

But I get it. Things cost money. Other universities charge for this service, "budget deficits, times are tough, etc..."

Still, I worry. I guess I still have it in me to care a lot about UMBC after all my time and experiences there--and, often just as much, feel frustrated by things like this.  I just imagine an alum going to get transcripts, thinking:  "Really, after all the money I paid, you're gonna nickel and dime me for transcripts?" There are only so many reasons alumni have to interact with their alma mater after graduating, and I feel like this is bad potentially last interaction. I feel like UMBC graduates get through and then get as far away as possible, hoping never to need or interact with UMBC again for fear or additional fees.

I wonder what's more valuable: collecting the $8 - $? (depending on # of transcripts) now, or partnering with alumni as they take those transcripts to graduate school and advance their careers, with the chance that they'll feel inclined to donate significantly more than ~$8 - $? down the line because of how much UMBC helped them achieve their goals. Maybe that's naive. Or maybe it's a way for UMBC to distinguish itself from other universities and create life-long relationships with alumni that continuously benefit all parties involved.

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Listening to: "Soft Parachutes" - Paul Simon

One Simple Request to Brands on Facebook and Twitter - mizzinformation.com

Using Evernote for World Travel – Travel Series - blog.evernote.com

Denny's - tensexyladies.tumblr.com

SGA Election Results - cocreateumbc.blogspot.com

No Easter Without Good Friday - allthecatsjoinin.wordpress.com

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Listening to: "Jolene" - Ray Lamontagne
Guess what?:  This could be the first time I've posted something on here for 5 consecutive days. What do you think? Yay? Nay?