Headshot Tweetup

Last night in Durham, NC, I had the privilege of attending the Headshot Tweetup. For those unfamiliar with the term "Tweetup," it is essentially a meetup that is marketed and promoted via Twitter. Often the events are catered with beverages and snacks. Most of the Tweetups that I have attended have taken place at either a tavern or company office. Headshot Tweetup was hosted at MindWorks Multimedia in Durham, NC.

The Headshot Tweetup was refreshingly different from other Tweetups I had attended previously. The focus of the Tweetup was that local professional photographers were donating their services to provide attendees with free professional "headshots." I've got an idea of what it costs to have a headshot taken at a professional studio. Hint: [Not Cheap]. I couldn't pass up that offer. 

The photographers were setup in two different areas. One was in a professionally lit room with a green screen backdrop, and the other was setup in the rear corner of the brick building with a nice window as a backdrop. The green screen headshot will prove useful for graphic designers that can substitute any location in lieu of the green screen. Thanks to Allison Davis Satterfield and Lianna Slaughter from Sandfoot Photography and Studio You Photography for donating their time and services.

Beer was provided by Raleigh, NC based LoneRider Brewing Company. Other refreshments and snacks like wine, cheese, crackers, and fruits were also on hand for guests. 

Overall, I made several great new connections with some wonderful people last night. It's nice to see a group of people passionate about technology and other fields gather in a social environment to swap personal and professional insights. Many in attendance agree that the area needs more Tweetup events on a regular basis. I totally agree. Let's start planning the next one now!

If you attended the Tweetup last evening, I'd love to hear your take on the event. Those that may not have made it, have you ever been to a tweetup?

Thanks for reading. 

Can the Web Save You Money On Your Next Car?

Today on the way to the office, I became "that guy." As in, the guy that runs out of gas in the highway passing lane during morning rush hour. Incredibly humiliating, and such a wonderful way to start the day. Thanks to the help of a neighbor and co-worker that were nearby on the same highway, I was able to get the car moved to the shoulder and return later with some gas.

Recently my car has been showing signs of disrepair. I've had to since a substantial amount of money into it to have some components replaced. Its reliability is becoming more questionable with time. Currently, I'm trying to decide whether to continue repairing it as needed, or to purchase a newer, more reliable vehicle.

The internet is a great source of information, and I have been wondering if I could save some myself significant money by researching cars, pricing, and availability online.

My first stop was Kelly Blue Book which I used to research the potential trade-in and private sale pricing for my current vehicle. I do not have a lot of cash saved for a down payment on a newer car, so I'm hoping to get as much for my current vehicle as possible.

Next, I headed over to Edmunds.com to read some articles on the best vehicles in their respective categories as well as some tips on car buying. Edmunds also lets you see the invoice price for vehicles you're interested in, as well as search local inventories and solicit email quotations for dealers.

I'm seeing some variation between local dealer pricing on identical vehicles. I'm wondering if I would be able to initiate some pricing battles between dealers. At this point I'm still waiting for the price quotes to arrive from the dealers, so I will be posting my findings once they arrive. For my research purposes, I'm looking at a 2010 Ford Fusion Hybrid with base trim.

I have requested quotes from 6 local dealerships, but haven't yet decided whether or not this is the car I would like, if I will buy a new vehicle, a used one, or keep repairing mine. My choice will be influenced by how much of my budget I am willing to dedicate to transportation. I'll be sure to post updates on my decision and experiences in using the web to arrive to the proper conclusion.

Have you used the web as a tool that figured prominently in a vehicle purchase? I'm interested in hearing your experiences and any tips you can offer.

Thanks for reading!

~Tim