Here’s how I imagine the meeting for Blindspot happened:

OK folks everyone loves the cop procedurals but they are getting stale. We need something to spice it up this fall.

“Pirates!”

Jim, what the hell. That’s not even our demo. Come on think people! What do guys 18-35 like?!

“Sports!”
“Beer!”
“Beautiful women!”

Hang on I think you have something with that last one. But how is our beautiful woman different?!

“Let’s make her naked most of the time!”

BRILLIANT! Dave, you get a promotion. Except we can’t just show gratutious nudity. The censors will be riding our asses all the way to the bank. How can we justify the nudity?

“What if it’s like Prison Break and she’s covered with tattoos that mean shit?”

HOLY HELL GARY YOU JUST MADE US BILLIONS OF DOLLARS

One minute you’re typing away and the next, the past six hours of late night paper writing are all gone in the blink of an eye. And you didn’t back up. You figured you’d be fine. It’s a good computer. What are the odds?

I figure I’m 1 in 50. Don’t be me.

You need to back up. Google Docs is nice, but you’ll want some programs on your computer to make copies. Dropbox is great (and has version control so you’ll be able to see old versions of your files). I also use Crashplan, but that’s not free. Onedrive is another decent option, and I’ve heard some decent things about Spideroak.

Now everything I do is backed up in as many places as possible. But Dropbox is my bae.

If you use this Dropbox link, you’ll get extra space: https://www.dropbox.com/referrals/NTE3MTcxMjk?src=global9

Everything gets harder as I get older. My eyesight, my hearing, my focus. This makes driving very difficult. Very recently, my son helped my download an app called Uber, and I haven’t had to drive since.

Uber’s a bit like a taxi company but better. You don’t need to call anyone, it’s all done through your phone.

You click a button on your phone to send your location to the car that’s picking you up. You can watch the car on the map as it comes to pick you up and Uber tells you how long it will be.

You can tell the app where you’re going so that when you get in the car, the driver can automatically see the map and how to get there. And you can send where you are and your travel itinerary with your friends.

The entire transaction is completed with your phone – which is securely connected to your credit card. You don’t have to do anything. The app knows when the ride is done...

As a recent college grad, I’ve compiled a list of everything I wish I had known as a freshman. Here’s what you need to stay safe out there.

Backup

Holy shit, you need to back up. Google Docs is nice, but you’ll want some programs on your computer to make copies. Dropbox is great (and has version control so you’ll be able to see old versions of your files). I also use Crashplan, but that’s not free. Onedrive is another decent option, but Dropbox is really the most reliable.

If you use this Dropbox link, you’ll get extra space: https://db.tt/LgOpUjw

Transportation

Do this now before you forget. Because you’re going to need to get around late at night and something always goes wrong. So be prepared, take the two minutes to sign up for Uber & Zipcar now so that you have it in your back pocket.

Uber is a taxi app that only needs your phone - no cash, no calls, with lots of GPS...

1. Google - between ATAP and X, Google has so many brilliant people working on interesting ideas
2. Telsa - led by one of the most ambitious CEOs out there, Tesla will continue to make waves in the industry
3. Apple - the watch didn’t change things much, but Apple is still a very strong company with talent
4. Facebook - here’s a company that understands the value of products and diversification with the purchase of Instagram and Whatsapp
5. Microsoft - out of all the dead companies to be resurrected with interesting technology, Microsoft is near the top
6. Amazon - the Fire phone was a dud, but don’t let that fool you. Bezos is a brilliant CEO.
7. Snapchat - overvalued or the future of communication? This is my wild card.

One of the best college professors I ever had was a man who didn’t ask “does anyone have any questions?”

Instead, he’d ask “someone PLEASE ask me a question” or “what was most unclear about that?” OR “what are your questions?”

He never asked if there were questions because there are always questions. He wanted to encourage people to ask questions. For engagement, for learning, for life.

But most people shy away from “does anyone have any questions” because it seems to imply “is anyone stupid enough to not get what I just explained.”

Ask for questions. Demand questions. They’re the best way to encourage students to get involved.

The Fugitive

Harrison Ford in an old classic movie reminds you what real acting looks like. And that you need to rewatch Indiana Jones.

Daredevil

The key to life is low expectations. Because when I saw the trailer for Netflix’s Daredevil I thought “this looks awful.” It’s great.

A Crash Course in American Law

This book surprised me by being seemingly written by a kind of funny frat boy. But the cases highlighted in this free Kindle book were interesting enough to merit a mention.

I work on a tech team for a news production company. On my resume, I’m the head honcho. But at work I try to be anything but.

Because to be irreplaceable means that you can’t take a day off. That means you’re working with a crippled crew.

It’s better to have a skilled crew with lots of independent team members that work well together and can quickly fill in when one person doesn’t come.

Take your ego out of it. Make yourself replaceable.

Stroker (2013)

What a visually striking and powerfully acted film. The audio editing is also intensely done.

Double Down by Mark Halperin

For someone who watched all the Republican 2012 debates for laughs, this was a fascinating look at the election.

How to Get Away with Murder

Brilliant acting, compelling storylines if a bit derivative.