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

Who says Corporate America isn’t fun…

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

-b

Looking for a great way to find new music? Why not get the hookup from while growing your social network…

Join the San Francisco Music Exchange!

Here’s your ticket to getting in “the know” about the best tunes around:

• Each member is responsible a making a for the club the entire club.
• The mixes must be a minimum of 10 songs.
• Mixes must include liner notes w/ mix theme, song, artist, and any details for why the song was chosen.
• Everyone is encouraged to differentiate and personalize their mix to represent their taste and personality.
• The person making the mix is responsible for distribution (mailing list will be provided).

The group will consist of between 12 to 24 people, (1-2 mixes per month). In addition to mix distribution, depending on the level of interest in the group, the book club type thing is always an option. This means group members would get together, chat about the music, do a pot luck, and most likely get a little drunk.

The founders of this group are professional/Silicon Valley types…yes, I am one of them. We are looking for cool/professional/responsible people for this club.

If interested, please click reply to my craigslist post (http://sfbay.craigslist.org/sfc/grp/541431066.html) with a little bit about yourself. Be sure to include your name, contact info, occupation and musical preferences. This information will not be shared outside the group.

You can also check out my the web page I made with Google Page Creator: http://sfmusicexchange.googlepages.com/home

Once we have enough people, we will hold a meet-’n-greet somewhere in Russian Hill.

Rock on!

-b

Hi all,

My friend Shannon is an up and coming singer/songwriter biased in NYC. I’ve been asking her to perform in San Francisco for a long time and she finally gave into my persistent pestering. She will be playing at Grant and Green in San Francisco on the 31st. The show is free a must see. Shannon has been described as a mix between Tori Amos and a female Ben Folds. She’s really, really good. You can check out here music at http://www.myspace.com/shannoncorey .

If this show goes well, we are (I am) hoping it will generate some bigger shows in the area, thus making Shannon come back soon.

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

Here I am, walking around on a New York City Sunday night in late December 2006. Accompanied by a good buddy/co-worker (Jarrod) and one of his pal’s from college (Peter), we are heading back from a dinner uptown. After 3 days of long night, our quorum walks past a bar that is chalked full of inebriated 20-somethings. Tired, full and mentally drained, I turn to Peter and say:

Ben: How they can party so hard at 6pm on the Sunday before Xmas.
Peter: Not sure…let’s go see.

Next thing you know, it’s 3am. Jarrod has a flight in 4 hours. Peter has work in 5 hrs and walking a straight line or talking coherently is a task that somewhat difficult for all of us. While this may seem irresponsible or rediculous, it was one of the more spontaneous and entertaining night of my year. Thinking of my previous question, Peter looks to both Jarrod and myself and coins the phase:

“I am the how”

Meaning: Sometimes you just have break convention and enjoy yourself no matter the circumstances or timing.

Thanks Peter.

-b

Just a hint, it might be time to go to bed…

-b

Looks like we all survived 2007. At the beginning of the year (see “tree branch” story), I wasn’t sure if I would make it through. As it turns out it was quite a year. While I stuck it out at eBay, had a sore back for about 6 months, watched Cal fall short, and lived through a MLB wide steroid scandal, they year wasn’t all bad. While I’m sure there are many others I should mention, my first trip over the Atlantic was easily the highlight of the year. I can’t wait to go back. With that said, here’s my initial plans for 2008:

• New Years: Throwing a New Years Day party this year. Hoping by having to be up in the morning, I won’t be as hung over as I was last year. This also might mean I am just as hung over and have to entertain anyone who is reading this…damn you!
• Host the Shannon Corey Concert Tour: Ok, well maybe it’s not a tour but Miss Corey will be crashing at my place and playing at Grant & Green.
• Eurotrip Round Duex: After working for a week in London, my plan is to spend the better part of a week in Paris. Lot’s of great plans for the trip, such as wearing a beret and fake mustache under the Eiffel Tower (Hi Jen) and touring around the museum circuit with my nifty two day pass (thanks Jrod).
• Bethie’s Wedding: Yes, one of the Shapiro’s is actually getting married. Cabo in April. I couldn’t be happier for my sister. I am pro-Dave.
• GMat-a-Thon: Yep, if all goes well, I’m going to take a nice hard look at getting my MBA in 2009. Unfortunately, that means it’s time to hit the book
• SF Street Festival Season: Sure, this might be a giant gathering of the “Marina People” but it’s an awful lot of fun. Let’s just hope it’s sunny for the Union St Fair this year.
• Cal Football Season: Sept to Jan 1. This is gonna be our year…I can feel it! (Yes, I say this every year). I swear I will be way less fanatic once we win the big one.
• Tahoe-HO!: This is a little bit of an extension of the end of this year, but I plan on making a couple of trips to the slopes in the hopes of…well, the hopes of having a good time. Who’s comin’ with me???

Ok, so I really don’t have a whole mess of events planned for next year yet, but there is a lot of stuff I’d like to check off my list. Here goes:

• Launch a website: This is kind of already in the works, so keep your eyes peeled for the launch.
• Apply to B-School: I’d really like to say I actually went to Cal if someone asks.
• Learn to Golf: Last time I went to the range, I figured out you don’t have to swing as hard as you can to make the ball go far. Now to actually figure out where it is going.
• Wine Tasting: Yeah, little snobby, but seeing that I live near the wine country, I’d like to have an idea what I’m talking about.
• Turn 28: Holy shit…old!
• Finish my Demo: Life in Blue by Benjamin Cobalt is long overdue. Chris and Kenny and I will get this project done and it will be effing awesome!
• Play in public: Yes, once the demo is done, I intend to showcase my total lack of musical talent. Please don’t boo!
• Update Blog Regularly: Thanks Nii.

Well, that’s it for now. Happy New Years to all and see you next year!

-b

Needless to say, this vacation couldn’t have come soon enough. I’ve been pretty burnt between the back and having people out at work. I’m not looking at this trip as just a vacation…it’s more of a change of scenery/temporary escape from the daily grind. Truthfully, I haven’t taken a vacation more than 4 days (NYC last year) since I started at eBay. This is also my first time in Europe. It’s funny, that even though it wasn’t initially planned out, I started this trip in Boston. Somehow Billy Bob and I ended up at the Store24 on Harvard and Comm Ave. For those of you who didn’t know me back then, I spent a lot of “quality” time on that block in college (x lived there). It was quite a nastalgic flashback and I think it put me in the right frame of mind to get the most out of this trip.

I’m very excited to be here. Since this is somewhat of a spritual journey, I will be growing out my facial hair for the first time since I had the “Adam Morrison/Gardner” Stache Freshmen year of high school. When I find the cord, I’ll add some pictures of the growth. We are on day 3, so nothing out of the ordinary yet.

Adios Amigos,

-b

So far 2007 has got off to a great start. So far I’ve worked on a recording project, planned a limo escorted trip to Napa with 10 friends, met the President (of Boston University), watched Cal beat Stanford at Maples Pavilion, took a weekend trip to LA/San Diego and back, seen Joe Purdy, Bob Schneider twice in 7 days, saw the Warriors beat the Mavericks and got promoted at work.

So far so good…Here’s what I have on tap fro the rest of the year:

• April 20-23: Fly to Dallas for Tim and Ashley’s couples shower (still a secret…shhh!)
• April 28: SF Beer Festival
• May 5th: Something involving Corona’s (Cinco De Mayo)
• May 12: See Cross Canadian Ragweed at The Independent
• May 19: Beer and Oyster Festival
• May 20: Bay to Breakers
• June 2-3: Union Street Fair
• June 5: John Mayer at the HP Pavilion
• June 7th: Bob Schneider at The Independent
• June 10: Haight Street Fair
• June 14-15: eBay Live in Boston (incl: Red Sox vs Giants)
• June 15: Fly to Barcelona Spain
• June 18: Fly to Rome Italy
• June 20: Train to Florence, Italy
• June 23: Fly to London, England
• June 29: Return to San Francisco from Europe for the first time.
• June 30-July 1: Filmore Street Fair
• July 5-8: Lisa/Leigh’s Wedding in Boston
• July 21: The Fray at Shoreline
• July 25-29 North Beach Jazz Festival
• August 31- September 2: Adam/Jess’s Wedding
• September 1: Cal vs Tenn
• September 8: Cal vs. Colorado St
• September 15: Cal vs Louisiana Tech
• September 18: Turn 27…shit that sounds old!
• September 22: Cal vs Arizona
• September 28-20: SF Blues Festival
• September 29: Cal at Oregon & DMB at Shoreline
• October 4-: Fleet week
• October 13-14: Dana Zipser’s Wedding
• October 13: Cal vs Oregon State
• October 20: Cal at UCLA
• October 27: Cal at ASU
• November 3: Cal vs Washington State
• November 10: Cal vs USC
• November 17: Cal at Washington
• December 1: Big Game at Stanford

Hopefully my new years plans will entail a trip to Pasadena…

Lemmie know if you want to join in any of the festivities.

-b