So, I made a new years resolution to blog more in 2008. Similar to most people’s goal to hit the gym, I made it strong charge through January and hit a steep incline in February. It’s tough for me to stay focused if I’m not playing with a shiny new toy and now that my blog has become more regular task, I decided to look at what the internet says about how to break writers block. Here are a few sits and some good quotes:

http://www.unblock.org/

This guy says if you pay him, he can guarantee the unblockage of your brain. Either homeboy is dealing hallucinogenic drugs or he is completely full of shit. Seriously, $87 bucks for help not writing. Give me that money and I’ll tell you what to write myself. Also, if you are going to own a website and ask people for an unreasonable amount of money…GET A BETTER WEB DEVELOPER DUDE!

http://www.buzzle.com/editorials/9-6-2006-107905.asp

A pretty interesting article on tips to break brain clog. I specifically like the Top10 list. Anything with bullets or something you can skim is A-ok with me. Here’s the basics about what is said:

1. Don’t work.
2. Work on Something else.
3. Read.
4. Write Something.
5. Make an Outline.
6. Write when you are well rested.
7. Write when you are tired.
8. Talk to someone.
9. Dos ome research.
10. Write about writers block.

http://www.webmasterworld.com/content_copywriting/3244343.htm

http://www.wisegeek.com/how-can-i-overcome-writers-block.htm

Short article but the best quote about writers block: “If you have nothing to say, you’re just afraid to say it.

As you can see from the lameness of this post, I’m using the “write about anything” and “write about writers block” technique. Let’s hope this opens the flood gates.

-b

Since my roommate bought this game it has pretty much consumed my social life. While pathetic, Rock Band has inspired me to put together the list of guitar tabs from the game

• Rolling Stones “Gimme Shelter”: http://www.guitaretab.com/r/rolling-stones/16342.html
• Aerosmith “Train Kept a Rollin’”: http://www.guitaretab.com/a/aerosmith/23777.html
  
• The Who “Won’t Get Fooled Again”: http://www.guitaretab.com/w/who/20838.html
• Boston “Foreplay/Long Time”: http://www.ultimate-guitar.com/tabs/b/boston/foreplay_long_time_tab.htm
• Mountain “Mississippi Queen”: http://www.fretplay.com/tabs/m/mountain/mississippi_queen-tab.shtml
• The Police “Next to You”: http://www.guitaretab.com/p/police/14897.html
• David Bowie “Suffragette City”: http://www.guitaretab.com/b/bowie-david/2219.html
• Black Sabbath “Paranoid”: http://www.guitaretab.com/b/black-sabbath/23291.html
• Blue Oyster Cult “Don’t Fear the Reaper”: http://www.guitaretab.com/b/blue-oyster-cult/1923.html
• The Ramones “Blitzkrieg Bop”: http://www.guitaretab.com/r/ramones/25229.html
• Deep Purple “Highway Star”: http://www.fretplay.com/tabs/d/deep_purple/highway_star-tab.shtml
• KISS “Detroit Rock City”: http://www.guitaretab.com/k/kiss/9839.html
• Molly Hatchet “Flirtin’ w/ Disaster”: http://www.ultimate-guitar.com/tabs/m/molly_hatchet/flirting_with_disaster_tab.htm
• The Outlaws “Green Grass & High Tides”: http://www.guitaretab.com/o/outlaws/14064.html
• Sweet “Ballroom Blitz”: http://www.ultimate-guitar.com/tabs/s/sweet/ballroom_blitz_tab.htm
• Rush “Tom Sawyer”: http://www.fretplay.com/tabs/r/rush/tom_sawyer-tab.shtml
• Bon Jovi “Wanted Dead or Alive”: http://www.rockintabs.com/song1319/Bon-Jovi-Wanted-Dead-or-Alive
• The Clash “Should I Stay or Should I Go”: http://www.guitaretab.com/t/the-clash/3571.html
• Faith No More “Epic”: http://www.ultimate-guitar.com/tabs/f/faith_no_more/epic_tab.htm
• Pixies “Wave of Mutilation”: http://www.frankblack.net/tabs/pixies.asp?song=doo-waveofmutilation
• R.E.M. “Orange Crush”: http://www.911tabs.com/link/?3624833
• Iron Maiden “Run to the Hills”: http://www.guitaretab.com/i/iron-maiden/23920.html
• Foo Fighters “Learn to Fly”: http://www.fretplay.com/tabs/f/foo_fighters/learn_to_fly-crd.shtml
• Metallica “Enter Sandman”: http://www.fretplay.com/tabs/m/metallica/enter_sandman-tab.shtml
• Nirvana “In Bloom”: http://www.fretplay.com/tabs/n/nirvana/in_bloom-tab.shtml
• Stone Temple Pilots “Vasoline”: http://www.azchords.com/s/stonetemplepilots-tabs-3830/vasoline-tabs-40370.html
• Weezer “Say It Ain’t So”: http://www.ultimate-guitar.com/tabs/w/weezer/say_it_aint_so_ver5_tab.htm
• Smashing Pumpkins “Cherub Rock”: http://www.fretplay.com/tabs/s/smashing_pumpkins/cherub_rock-tab.shtml
• Radiohead “Creep”: http://www.fretplay.com/tabs/r/radiohead/creep-tab.shtml
• Beastie Boys “Sabotage”: http://www.ultimate-guitar.com/tabs/b/beastie_boys/sabotage_ver2_btab.htm
• Hole “Celebrity Skin”: http://www.guitaretab.com/h/hole/24378.html
• Garbage “I Think I’m Paranoid”: http://www.ultimate-guitar.com/tabs/g/garbage/i_think_im_paranoid_crd.htm
• Soundgarden “Black Hole Sun”: http://www.ultimate-guitar.com/tabs/s/soundgarden/black_hole_sun_ver2_tab.htm
• The Hives “Main Offender”: http://www.ultimate-guitar.com/tabs/h/hives/main_offender_tab.htm
• Queen Stone Age “Go w/ the Flow”: http://www.fretplay.com/tabs/q/queens_of_the_stone_age/go_with_the_flow-tab.shtml
• The Strokes “Reptilia”: http://www.xguitar.com/guitar-tabs/the_strokes/room_on_fire/reptilia.txt
• Jet “Are You Gonna Be My Girl”: http://www.ultimate-guitar.com/tabs/j/jet/are_you_gonna_be_my_girl_ver10_tab.htm
• OK Go “Here It Goes Again”: http://www.ultimate-guitar.com/tabs/o/ok_go/here_it_goes_again_tab.htm
• Nine Inch Nails “The Hand That Feeds”: http://www.fretplay.com/tabs/n/nine_inch_nails/the_hand_that_feeds-tab.shtml
• Yeah Yeah Yeahs “Maps”: http://www.ultimate-guitar.com/tabs/y/yeah_yeah_yeahs/maps_tab.htm
• Red Hot Chili Peppers “Dani California”: http://www.guitarmasta.net/r/red_hot_chili_peppers/338678.html
• Coheed & Cambria “Welcome Home”: http://www.guitarmasta.net/c/coheed_and_cambria/336530.html
• Fallout Boy “Dead on Arrival”: http://www.ultimate-guitar.com/tabs/f/fall_out_boy/dead_on_arrival_crd.htm
• The Killers “When You Were Young”: http://www.ultimate-guitar.com/tabs/k/killers/when_you_were_young_btab.htm
• New Pornographers “Electric Version”: http://www.indieguitartabs.com/bands/new_pornographers/03_laws_have_changed.html
• Bang Camaro “Pleasure (Pleasure)”: Another tough one to find.
• Crooked X “Nightmare”: http://www.ultimate-guitar.com/tabs/c/crooked_x/nightmare_tab.htm
• Flyleaf “I’m So Sick”: http://www.ultimate-guitar.com/tabs/f/flyleaf/im_so_sick_tab.htm
• Honest Bob and the Factory-to-Dealer Incentives “I Get By”: http://www.ultimate-guitar.com/tabs/h/honest_bob_and_the_factory-to-dealer_incentives/i_get_by_tab.htm
• The Acro-Bats “Day Late, Dollar Short”: http://www.e-tabs.org/tab/u2/6_albums
• Timmy and the Lords of the Underworld “Timmy and the Lords of the Underworld”: http://www.ultimate-guitar.com/tabs/d/dvda/timmy_and_the_lords_of_the_underworld_tab.htm

Who says Corporate America isn’t fun…

With two people, it took 4 hours to put together. Worth every second.

-b

Hey benjshap.com readers,

Since you obviously spend too much time surfing the web (well, you are reading this blog aren’t you) here is a list of all of the feeds I have in my MyYahoo homepage. Take a look and let me know if there is anything you think I would find interesting…

I just realized you can’t see the links to the actual feeds. If you click on the lists, you will be able to see my comments and URL’s to get the same feeds I have.

-b

It’s New Years Eve. I’m waiting for my friends to come over for some champagne before we head to Rosewood for the rest of the evening. In my few seconds of spare time, I would like to reflect on the year before it ends. Here are my memories of 2006:

Overall: I spent most of my effort and time this year building the foundation of my social life in California. I have had plenty of practice in this area; which includes getting a job, finding a place to live, setting up a social circle, locating the nearest watering holes, etc. While I have had to set up camp 3-4 times since gradation, this was the first time where I would consider the camp to be a permanent base. This inevitably made getting comfortable more difficult. I plan to go to grad school eventually. Other than that, I don’t see living out of NorCal…then again, who know what will happen. Anyway, setting up camp has been difficult but rewarding. Here are some of my best memories from 2006:

• Bay-2-Breakers: Not well planned but drunk and fantastic. Except for some random dick running into me (literally, a dick) this was a great time with a even better group.
• Recording at One Union: Even though we never did anything with it, I have a very special memory of sitting in the booth with my cousin Matt while other people were playing my songs. That high-5 was worth a million bucks.
• Cal Football: 10 win season. Special because of our performance and because I go to the games with my dad. The real reason I am such a Cal fan is because it’s one of the only things my whole family gets into. Good luck in the pro’s Marshawn and Go Bears!
• Finding My Apartment: After two months it was gratifying to finally see my work turn into something great. More on this one later.
• Meat’s Wedding: I’m not a Texan but that doesn’t mean I don’t appreciate the time I spent and people I met there. They are truly some of my best friends and I love spending time with “y’all”.
• JK & G’sBachlor Parties: By man-law, I’m not allowed to go into details but these were fun times (from what I remember) and a great group of guys.
• Rory and Sarah’s Couple Shower and Wedding: Not only were both of these events great but I look at these goofballs as the best example I know in terms of relationship.
• 100 Man (actually mostly women) Party: We through an absolute rager for the first party in the new pad. Hot Girls, good music, beer pong downstairs, randomness, Johnny-Law with a sense of humor. Good times.
• NYC Trip: Wow, as it turns out: I Love New York! I mine as well re-name this “Debauchery 2006″ or maybe it’s “100 Beer Weekend”. Anyway, from Seeing the sun rise, to good ole’ frat boys, to seeing my best-longest-named friend (ScottoDisantolo), to taking some artsy pictures, to watching a game with Bean-balls this trip was a 10/10.

Home: My apartment is awesome. It’s big, in a great area, looks cool and has all of my stuff in it. My roommate is great. He’s not here that much so I fill my quota of walking about with out pants (see rule about not discussing Ben’s blog at work). When he is here we can hang out and I don’t want to stab him. He cleans up and always seem to be doing something other than stressing about work. If your roommate, is a pain in the ass, have him talk to mine. He seems to have the act down.

Work: As of today, I’ve officially been at eBay longer than any other job. I like my job. If it’s one-in-a-million to think there is nothing wrong with you job, I’m in the high 100K’s. I have my co-workers I would legitimately consider my friends. I am interested in what I am doing most of the time. I think I can make a difference. It pays the bills and I don’t think I’m going to get fired anytime soon (fingers-crossed).

Of course there is a certain level of red-tape/bullshit that goes with working in a big company; eBay is no exception. I think eBay is a little stingy about praise and promotion but I imagine management has there reasons for that too. We defiantly have a serious case of squeaky-wheel or don’t get noticed going on. All-in-all, I would recommend my job to someone else…well, unless that means I can’t do it anymore.

Health: I got my ass kicked with little stuff this year: Metal dust in my eye, broken tooth/jaw surgery(x2), two shitty colds (one self-induced via a 4 day trip in NYC). I also had a little scare which caused me to think I had cancer. It turned out to be nothing, but I did spend sometime thinking about what I would do with my stuff if I were to kick the bucket. Chances are, if you are reading this, I’m giving you something. I take that back, I’m keeping it all, b/c I don’t want anyone to bump me off thinking that they will get my DVD collection (IE: Kenny!).

I had a few friends get sick this year. I hate to say it, but this was probably the hardest thing for me to deal with. From cancer to eating disorders and on to dying parents, I’ve tried to be as supportive as possible. It was a hard year in this regard. Looking on the bright side, I think this has helped me to come to grips with my own mortality and the fact that I need to take better care of myself.

I guess that means I should write my next blog listing out my 2007 resolutions…

Not ready to think about that quite yet.

-b

As I am plan to blog more, I thought it would be appropriate to lay out few ground rules:

1. This blog is written by me and for me. You are welcome to read it and comment but please understand that this is my world and you’re just a squirrel…
2. My topics will vary depending on my mood, current surrounding, dating habbits, employment status and overall blood sugar level. When reading, please keep in mind the time and place each post was crafted.
3. I will be as honest as possible. There are somethings I can’t even admit to myself. For example, in benjshap-land, the University of California will be referred to in as both “we” and as the penultimate collegiate athletic program.
4. Sometimes I use big words even though I’m not totally positive what they mean (IE: penultimate). It’s my blog and I want to feel smart, so please don’t call me on my mistake.
5. I’m a terrible speller. If you are reading this to learn more about me for a background check, please know that I am fully capable of using the spell check, but for personal stuff it’s just a waste of time.
6. Sometimes things are that simple.
7. Sometimes things are really complex.
8. I’m generally a good guy. I’m also a realist. If agree to not confuse this with me being an asshole, I’ll let you keep reading. Deal?
9. There are a few absolute truth that will never change (IE: my family is really important, so don’t even thing of fucking with them!)
10. I am pretty much the same person at work and at home, however there are times when I’d prefer the two do not overlap. Please respect that.
11. I plan on using this blog to for a few purposes: a) To keep track of life events. b) To get “stuff” off my chest. c) To show things I am proud of even thought it may be considered bragging (See rule 1). d) To discuss things I think are important or interesting.
12. This blog is going to be very pro-Benjamin Shapiro and by that, I don’t mean the jerk who wrote Porn Generation. I am the real Benjamin Shapiro.

Happy Reading,

-b