For a writer, there are two kinds of writing. There’s the kind that serves as an excercise to get the creative juices flowing and the kind that you get paid for. If this were a forum for the latter, that sentence wouldn’t have ended with a preposition.Tumblr (3.0; @writersblogk)http://www.jeffshall.com/“How do you handle pain?” he asked nonchalantly. “Um, I guess pretty good,”...http://www.jeffshall.com/post/838794892http://www.jeffshall.com/post/838794892Tue, 20 Jul 2010 22:09:40 -0400I know St. Patrick’s Day was a few weeks ago, but with pictures finally coming together on...http://www.jeffshall.com/post/497167422http://www.jeffshall.com/post/497167422Sun, 04 Apr 2010 23:12:00 -0400“If you’re still talking about the NCAA tournament but didn’t go to any of the 4...http://www.jeffshall.com/post/480495741http://www.jeffshall.com/post/480495741Sun, 28 Mar 2010 21:24:41 -0400I was having a conversation the other day that led me to realize there were major issues surrounding...http://www.jeffshall.com/post/475120203http://www.jeffshall.com/post/475120203Fri, 26 Mar 2010 13:43:37 -0400The massive gift-exchange that was the entire month of December ended with a few new additions to...http://www.jeffshall.com/post/322720342http://www.jeffshall.com/post/322720342Thu, 07 Jan 2010 23:26:52 -0500<embed type="application/x-shockwave-flash" src="http://www.jeffshall.com/swf/audio_player.swf?audio_file=http://www.tumblr.com/audio_file/274290960/tumblr_kubekx4JT41qzo8xj&color=FFFFFF" height="27" width="207" quality="best"></embed><br/><br/><p><b>Child Development</b> <i>written and read by Billy Collins</i></p> <p>I was introduced to Billy Collins through a poetry-writing course I took during my senior year of college. A few months ago, I downloaded some audio recordings of him reading a few of his poems and put them on my iPod. While going through my music tonight, I realized that this is the most listened-to “song” on my iPod. At first I was surprised, but after thinking about it, I realized this is one of the only recordings on my iPod that I never skip and always let it play through to the end (I have a tendency to press next 3/4 of the way through familiar songs). I was hesitant to post this, afraid that admitting I keep poetry on my iPod would come off as pretentious in the same manner that people insist they love opera or their favorite music is classical, but I really wanted to share it.</p> <p>Sometimes, while huddled in my cubicle at work, when I’m at a point where I just want to pull my hair out or punch the computer monitor in front of me, this comes on my iPod, makes me laugh a little to myself and reminds me that although I’m getting older, there will always be a part of me that will never grow up.</p> <p>Oh, and I don’t care what you say: if you were born after 1935 and have ever said your favorite music genre is classical or something to the effect of, “It doesn’t get any better than a Puccini aria,” then you’re a liar. Also, people probably think you’re an asshole. Not me, but almost everyone else. Okay, me too.</p>http://www.jeffshall.com/post/274290960http://www.jeffshall.com/post/274290960Tue, 08 Dec 2009 00:54:00 -0500Abby: Knock, knock. Me: Who's there? Abby: Orange. Me: Orange who? Abbey: Eat me! Me: Tell that...http://www.jeffshall.com/post/272562363http://www.jeffshall.com/post/272562363Sun, 06 Dec 2009 21:37:00 -0500Have you ever noticed that when single people congregate, the attitude towards each person’s...http://www.jeffshall.com/post/264125488http://www.jeffshall.com/post/264125488Mon, 30 Nov 2009 19:46:00 -0500To my dismay, when I am at the beach, I am usually accompanied by those who prefer to tan or read or...http://www.jeffshall.com/post/249318931http://www.jeffshall.com/post/249318931Thu, 19 Nov 2009 00:35:00 -0500Why is it suddenly considered quirky and amusing to refer to one’s significant other using...http://www.jeffshall.com/post/241203121http://www.jeffshall.com/post/241203121Thu, 12 Nov 2009 01:18:47 -0500I just sat and listened imagining that, if TV were never invented, this would be the equivalent of...http://www.jeffshall.com/post/238793102http://www.jeffshall.com/post/238793102Mon, 09 Nov 2009 23:42:41 -0500<img src="http://26.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_kso9y0ZAOF1qzo8xjo1_500.jpg"/><br/><br/><p>This is the profile page of my brother’s dog. I haven’t written on a human Facebook-user’s wall in a long time. Oh well, I guess that says something about me. Or Facebook. But probably me.</p>http://www.jeffshall.com/post/234663294http://www.jeffshall.com/post/234663294Fri, 06 Nov 2009 00:30:00 -0500<img src="http://28.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_ksiqg7mBRX1qzo8xjo1_500.jpg"/><br/> 1<br/><br/> <img src="http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_ksiqg7mBRX1qzo8xjo3_500.jpg"/><br/> 2<br/><br/> <img src="http://27.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_ksiqg7mBRX1qzo8xjo2_500.jpg"/><br/> 3<br/><br/> <p>1. Kurt Russell reacts to a big screen clip of <i>Bride Wars </i>being shown. Surprising Best Actor Award in this picture: Kate Hudson, starring as someone who abandoned their child to attend a baseball game with her much more rich and much more famous daddy. Sorry, Kurt, but Best Supporting Actor nod went to the guy with the big ears — never overlook potential rain protection</p> <p>2. Look at the old white guy that clearly wants to punch Spike Lee in this photo. He would probably sell this as a racist reaction to him getting a ball, but don’t ignore the fact that Lee leapt into the lap of a lady in a brown leather jacket to steal her souvenir (I love me some alliteration). I guess money can’t buy everything. Like a $15 baseball. Or class.</p> <p>3. Matthew McConnaughy is a Yankees fan but not a fan of shirt-mandating dress codes.</p>http://www.jeffshall.com/post/231556877http://www.jeffshall.com/post/231556877Tue, 03 Nov 2009 00:40:54 -0500“I don’t believe in rape, but if it’s what it takes to please my dinner hosts,...http://www.jeffshall.com/post/226642234http://www.jeffshall.com/post/226642234Thu, 29 Oct 2009 01:00:00 -0400<object width="400" height="326"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/5iF35HRuRow&rel=0&egm=0&showinfo=0&fs=1"></param><param name="wmode" value="transparent"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/5iF35HRuRow&rel=0&egm=0&showinfo=0&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="400" height="326" allowFullScreen="true" wmode="transparent"></embed></object><br/><br/><p>Filmed in December 2007, this is an original video that serves to document the worst night I’ve ever had with alcohol <strike>since college</strike>. I don’t think this video has gotten nearly enough views for the time I put into editing the raw footage for this documentary. This video only tells half the story. If you’re kind, perhaps <a title="wernerpants" target="_blank" href="http://wernerpants.tumblr.com">wernerpants</a> or myself will fill you in on the aftermath…</p> <p><i>*Although it was never completed, the trailer pretty much is enough to give you an idea of what happened.</i></p>http://www.jeffshall.com/post/226630696http://www.jeffshall.com/post/226630696Thu, 29 Oct 2009 00:46:04 -0400The plane ride had lasted several hours when an announcement was heard over the cabin...http://www.jeffshall.com/post/225578198http://www.jeffshall.com/post/225578198Wed, 28 Oct 2009 00:20:00 -0400<object width="400" height="325"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/2seAJsrtIbQ&rel=0&egm=0&showinfo=0&fs=1"></param><param name="wmode" value="transparent"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/2seAJsrtIbQ&rel=0&egm=0&showinfo=0&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="400" height="325" allowFullScreen="true" wmode="transparent"></embed></object><br/><br/><p>If only Hall &/or Oates could have worked this choreography into their live show. Also, unlike this scene, which shows my peers enjoying this classic masterpiece from the duo, I was about 24 years younger than the average attendee at last nights H&O concert. It was like that new show “Cougertown” only unattractive, and I actually saw it.</p> <p><a href="http://wernerpants.tumblr.com/post/221606957/yea-i-want-to-be-him-at-least-in-this-case" target="_blank">wernerpants</a>:</p> <blockquote> <p>Yea, I want to be him. At least in this case anyway.</p> </blockquote>http://www.jeffshall.com/post/222326580http://www.jeffshall.com/post/222326580Sat, 24 Oct 2009 21:49:56 -0400I’ve known I was taking this trip for a year. I waited until 6 days to book my flight. Two...http://www.jeffshall.com/post/197576049http://www.jeffshall.com/post/197576049Sat, 26 Sep 2009 13:30:46 -0400The advent of the Internet dawned with it a plethora of credible sources to aid me in the academic...http://www.jeffshall.com/post/169106590http://www.jeffshall.com/post/169106590Sat, 22 Aug 2009 15:13:12 -0400CNN is where I go for news. I must check it at least a dozen times a day to see if anyone...http://www.jeffshall.com/post/165304700http://www.jeffshall.com/post/165304700Mon, 17 Aug 2009 21:21:00 -0400