It does tend to make a boring interview more interesting. -via Arbroath

“Ho, ho,” I thought to myself. “Someone has had the idea that it would be amusing for the ‘quintessentially English’ Mr Fry to be seen ‘taking afternoon tea’ with a broad from the Bowery. Oh well, one plays these games and the scones did look rather delicious. I readied my iPhone for recording, sat on the sofa and consulted the notebook in which I had jotted down my questions.

Read the rest of the piece, which is just fascinating, on FT.com.

Link | Image: Shamil Tanna

Do you, like, have trouble getting a job? Maybe it’s how you use "like" when you talk. Don’t laugh – it’s now scientifically proven:

“This study examined the use of hesitations and discourse markers such as “uh” and “like,” sex of an interviewee, and professional or student participants on hiring decisions of job interviewees. Participants consisted of 105 students between the ages of 18 to 43 years and 71 professionals between the ages of 22 to 76 years (120 women, 56 men). Adult professionals and students were least likely to want to hire, perceived the applicant as less professional, and were less likely to recommend the interviewee for hiring if the interviewee overused the word “like” compared to “uh” or control. Professionals were less likely than students overall to want to hire interviewees across conditions. Sex of the interviewee was not found to be significant.”

2. “How many ridges [are there] around a quarter?”

6. “How many basketball[s] can you fit in this room”

12. “An apple costs 20 cents, an orange costs 40 cents, and a grapefruit costs 60 cents, how much is a pear?”

20. “You are in charge of 20 people, organize them to figure out how many bicycles were sold in your area last year.”

The list at Glassdoor has links to possible answers from readers. I think the correct answer to many of these might be, “I don’t know, but I know how to find the answer.” Link -via Austin Business Journal

(Image credit: Flickr user Tiffany Trewin)

The following is an Neatorama-exclusive interview with Matt Busch, the “Rock Star of Illustration” (a tagline given to him by Real Detroit Weekly), who’s famous for his Star Wars drawings, and more recently, the Zombie posters series. I met Matt at the 2010 Comic Con in San Diego and was immediately impressed by his art (Don’t let the “rock star” nickname mislead you, Matt’s actually super nice guy.)

Here’s a quickie interview with Matt Busch, as conducted by our very own David Israel:

NEATORAMA: For many years, you’ve been creating “official” Star Wars art and illustrations. This is, of course, a geek-artists wet dream job. How’d you score it?

Matt Busch: Way back in 1994. Hard to believe I’ve been doing it for over 15 years! It’s kind of an odd story when I managed to get West End Games (one of the Star Wars licensees working with Lucasfilm at the time) to look at a script I had written. They didn’t need artists but I decided to illustrate my story anyway. They didn’t care for my story much, but they did like my art. I was told they’d keep my work on file, but actually got a call the very next day when another artist flaked out. The rest is history.

NEATORAMA: You’ve got an awesome series called You Can Draw Star Wars. Some of the vids have been seen tens of thousands of times. Tell us about them, their inception, the purpose, etc.

MB: They combine my three loves, Star Wars, drawing, and teaching. So to say I’ve had a blast doing them has been an understatement. The videos began as a side project to help promote the book You Can Draw Star Wars, which was written by Bonnie Burton, and illustrated by Tom Hodges and yours truly. I was asked if I could make a couple quick videos of me sketching some Star Wars characters. The way I saw it, if I was given the green light from Lucasfilm to create official videos, I wanted to go all out and do a top notch job. The videos have definitely been a huge milestone in my career. I have two more left to do, which will complete the 21 video series.

NEATORAMA: Of all the Star Wars characters, who’s the hardest to draw?

MB: Vader. Drawing all the planes of his face and helmet is extremely difficult. If you don’t get each angle correct, it doesn’t look like him any more. I’d say See Threepio is a runner up, though. He’s so reflective, but if you focus too much on the contrast, it won’t look like him any more.

NEATORAMA: You work in a lot of different mediums, acrylics, pencil, etc. Which do you prefer?

MB: Mostly because I get bored. I like to experiment and play around with different mediums and techniques. For regular drawing, I like to use lead holders with 2B leads- that way my pencil always stays the same length. For painting, I prefer acrylics. They dry quick, are non-toxic, and the colors last longer than any other paint.

Matt Busch’s Zombie Posters (signed series – NeatoShop Exclusive) – $19.95

NEATORAMA: What’s the deal with the zombie posters? They seem to be really big suddenly.

MB: Zombies have always been cool, it’s just the last year or so that the rest of the world have caught on. Last year, Lucasfilm asked me to do something that infused Star Wars and zombies, so my first reaction was to do the classic Star Wars posters zombified. That was a big hit, and everyone started emailing me asking when we were going to see zombie Indiana Jones, and zombie Harry Potter. So it kind of grew into this big project I have called Hollywood is Dead. There are nearly 30 posters in the collection now, with many more on the way.

Matt Busch’s Zombie Posters

NEATORAMA: Let’s back up. When did you first realize you had some serious talent?

MB: No such thing as talent. People hate when I say that, but it’s absolutely what I believe. I think what people call talent, I call “when inspiration meets perspiration.” Meaning, you need to be inspired and passionate, and you need to put in the effort and do the hard work. If you don’t have both ingredients, you got nothing. You mix those two together… Instant talent!

NEATORAMA: Talk a little about your background. Did you train at an art school?

MB: Yeah, I’ve studied at numerous art schools, but I spent most of my time building my chops in the Media and Communication Arts Department at Macomb College here in Michigan, studying Illustration and Film at the Art Center College of Design in Los Angeles, and studying Entertainment Art at the Los Angeles Art Academy. Because I dig teaching so much, I’m back at Macomb College on the other side of the desk. I’m actually a professor. Haha!

NEATORAMA: Okay, back to the present. You had the honor of having a droid figure named after you: MB-RA-7. What did that feel like?

MB: That was very surreal, but definitely cool. Truth be told, when Hasbro named the figure MB-RA-7, they just asked Lucasfilm for a name other than “Death Star Droid.” Looking through their files, Lucasfilm noted that the Droid that taught the How to Draw Star Wars exercises in Star Wars Kids Magazines was called MB-RA-7. These were a series of articles that were written and illustrated by myself, but I no one really knew that the MB stood for Matt Busch. It’s still cool, but it’s not like Hasbro awarded me with my name on a figure or anything.

NEATORAMA: What was it like drawing Obama? Did you work off a photo or did he model for you, old-school style?

MB: Ha! No, I worked from several photos and stitched them together. I did get some weird hassle from his peeps, though. They kept getting paranoid, like I was sneaking anti-Obama secret messages in the art. I think they didn’t like the idea of using an artist whose last name is Busch.

NEATORAMA: Tell me about the film Conjure, which you pretty much made all by yourself. How’d you get the idea?

MB: The idea kind of exploded when visiting my manager at the time, who lived in this crazy-cool castle in North Hollywood. My idea was to give the illusion that all the creepy stuff that I drew would manifest and come to life. It’s a unique spin on a haunted house kind of film. The movie was really more of an experiment, but kept getting better and bigger. In the end, I was able to nab both national and international distribution on DVD.

NEATORAMA: With the success of Conjure, are you moving more toward film now? What can we expect in the future?

MB: Yes, but knew that I wanted to hone my filmmaking chops, so I could come back bigger and better. The You Can Draw STAR WARS series has been an incredible Film School for me, as each episode has its own flavor to it. My next film will be less of an experiment, and more of a concise plan to hopefully dazzle and delight. I’m going to take my time with it, so I guess we’ll see.

NEATORAMA: Anything you wish we’d asked?

MB: Yes, I’m a little bummed out that you didn’t ask about my chocolate chip cookie recipe. I make the best chocolate chip cookies this side of tattooine!

Over at NeatoBambino, we’ve got an interview/book giveaway goin’ on. My lovely wife Tiffany interviewed Dallas Clayton, a Los Angeles-based children’s book author who self-published a book about dreaming big called An Awesome Book. Best of all, you can win a free book: Link

That’s why this tell-all interview with Ivan Solotaroff of Details Magazine is so interesting. For one, it hints on the American weakness for personal redemption. Plus it’s filled with obscenities

Details: Twenty years ago, you were one of the most famous men on the planet. Is there a big plan for Act 2?

Mike Tyson: The first stage of my life was just a whole bunch of selfishness. Just a whole bunch of gifts to myself and people who didn’t necessarily deserve it. Now I’m 44, and I realize that my whole life is just a fucking waste. "Greatest man on the planet"? I wasn’t half the man I thought I was. So if there’s a big plan now, it’s just to give—it’s selflessness, caring for the people who deserve it. Because I think I’m a pig. I have this uncanny ability to look at myself in the mirror and say, "This is a pig. You are a fucking piece of shit."

Details: Sounds painful.

Mike Tyson: No, not at all. Objectively, I’m a pig. That’s why it’s very difficult for me when people are offering me all that adulation and love. I just feel dirty. These people want to hug me, they want to touch me, and I’m feeling like, "Get your fucking hands off me." I feel that energy of theirs, and it’s just filth and murder. It’s not that they’re bad people necessarily; it’s just that they did something bad, and you can feel it on them. I have to go and wash up before I touch my own kids. And after I lost my 4-year-old daughter? All these people reached out and I realized: I just want to be of service to people. I need to help. I need to have something, finally, that I can offer people in this world.

Link – Thanks Eric! (Photo: Terry Richardson)

Of course if you’re just looking for the bits of weirdness, then Buzzfeed has got you covered: 9 Best Quotes from Mike Tyson’s Details Magazine Intervew

“We must have talked about it even before that,” 73-year-old Jackie told Scott at StoryCorps in New York City. “You know, we’re very methodical people.”

But while Scott Miller knew he was adopted, he didn’t know what prompted his parents to choose adoption to grow their family.

That’s when the 73-year-old revealed a family secret she’d been holding for over half a century. Link to audio. Link to text.

Lost fans have marked May 23rd as the ending of an era, when the final episode of the TV series will air. Executive producer Jean Higgins took some time to reveal some secrets -no, not how the show will end, but a behind-the-scenes look at what it was like to film the series in Hawaii and how they recreated other settings in the island paradise. There’s even some travel tips in this interview at National Geographic Adventure. Link

(Photographs courtesy of ABC, Jean Higgins)

Well, Bill made good on his end of the bargain by answering a lot of those questions! Check out the full interview below. Meantime, we’re going to make good on our end of the bargain too, by giving away FOUR copies of The Simpsons Futurama Crossover Crisis, which goes on sale tomorrow. But we got advance copies and are ready to unload them on four lucky neatoramanauts. Here’s how to win: Read the interview! At the end you’ll find a couple questions. Send your answers to me: david ‘at’ neatorama.com. We’ll pick winners at random and shoot you an e-mail to find out where you want your book sent. Pretty easy, right?

—— Now, on with the interview!——

Alex: How did you get started drawing cartoons? Where do you get your inspirations from? And lastly, do you have any advice for budding cartoonists?

Bill Morrison: I have an older sister who taught me to draw when I was only three years old! But I think I really got into some serious doodling when I discovered Batman on TV. I started reading Batman comics, and then every other kind of comic book, and I was hooked. I decided I wanted to be a comic book artist.

My inspiration comes from everywhere; current events, history, old movies, you name it. I recently wrote a story that was inspired by an urban legend I’d heard as a child. My series from the 1990’s, Roswell, Little Green Man was inspired by the story of the Roswell UFO crash, but also by my desire to draw vintage cars, fashions, architecture, etc. from the 1940’s. I was also influenced heavily by Dave Stevens’ wonderful Rocketeer strip.

My advice to budding cartoonists is to get a good education. Soak up as much knowledge and culture as you possibly can. It may seem boring now, but everything you learn will enrich your writing and your art in the years to come. When I was a student, I thought I would only be a comic book artist, and that I didn’t need to study certain things like English or History. Big mistake! I eventually became a writer and an editor, and had to educate myself in the areas I’d avoided in school.

Bill Peschel: Have there been proposed Treehouses of Horror stories that made y’all blanch and say, “Absolutely no way, Jose”?

Bill Morrison: Yes, but not often. The writers we invite to craft Treehouse of Horror stories tend to be great fans of The Simpsons, and they seem to know instinctively what to stay away from when they pitch ideas.

Paul in Prep: How does hearing the word Chondroitin, out loud, make you feel?

Bill Morrison: I love that word! It sounds like a noise that Jerry Lewis or Professor Frink would make!

Patty The Fatty: Any chance we’re going to see a Roswell – Little Green Man TV series? If so, when? If not, why not?!?!

Bill Morrison: I would love to do a Roswell TV series or movie in the near future! I’m working on reviving the comic book at the moment, so after I reintroduce my little green pal to the world, I definitely intend to set my sights on the big or small screen (or both!)

burninglily: What’s your muse? What was the deciding factor, that it moment when you just “knew” you were going to do this for the rest of your life?

Bill Morrison: As I mentioned earlier, I’ve wanted to be a comic book artist since I was a kid, but I think the moment I knew I wanted to make this my life’s work was when we won the Eisner Award™ for Simpsons Comics #1. Will Eisner’s work inspired me and influenced me from the moment I was aware of it, so receiving the award named for him meant a great deal to me, and made me want to be a part of the art form he called “sequential art.” By the way, if you missed it way back in 1993, we’ve included a reprint edition of the historic Simpsons Comics #1 inside The Simpsons Futurama Crossover Crisis book!

Hellboy: Did the Simpsons created a new kind of hero : the stupid hero ? It seems to be the new standard in animated series (futurama, family guy, spongebob…) Does it reflect any kind of change in american society ?

Bill Morrison: I think “stupid” heroes have existed in animation going back at least as far as Disney’s Goofy (known way back at his inception in 1932 as Dippy Dawg!) In comics, the Captain from The Katzenjammer Kids, created in 1897 comes to mind. So no, I don’t think “stupid” characters are anything new. I do happen to believe that The Simpsons and Futurama are two of the most smartly-written shows on television. If there’s any conclusion about change in American society to be drawn from shows like these, I think it’s that we enjoy viewing smarter TV shows (and comics!)

Zim999: Will the following Simpsons Comics stories ever be reprinted?:  Bongos that time forgot from 32, More Bongos that time forgot from 35, The Itchy and Scratchy comics, The last 3 Bartman comics, The 4 stories from Simpson Comics and Stories, The Super Spectacular comics, The Winter Wingding comics, The Summer Shindig comics.

Bill Morrison: I was wondering what stories we had yet to reprint! Thanks for the handy list! I’m sure we’ll get to them all, eventually!

Bizznatch: Will there be a Bongo Comics website anytime soon?

Bill Morrison: Yes!

Bizznatch: How about a third Simpsons/Futurama Crossover comic series?

Bill Morrison: Funny you should ask! While compiling the material for The Simpsons Futurama Crossover Crisis book, we got very excited and started talking about doing a third series. But we won’t do it just to cash in on the huge success of our hardcover collection. First, we need to think up a third story worthy of the first two!

Bizznatch: Any more Itchy & Scratchy comics coing?

Bill Morrison: We like to follow the lead of The Simpsons TV show by working Itchy & Scratchy episodes into our Simpsons comic book stories. We’ve found that the ultra-violent cartoon humor is much funnier in small doses!

Bizznatch: Will Sergio Aragones draw a full-length Futurama issue or cover? What other Bongo comics will Sergio Aragones be drawing this year?  All glory to the Hypnotooooad!

Bill Morrison: With Sergio, anything is possible! In the meantime, check out the dynamite two-page pin-up that Senõr Aragonés drew especially for The Simpsons Futurama Crossover Crisis book! It features characters from both the Simpsons and Futurama meeting face to face at a very crowded comic book convention! And of course, Sergio’s work will appear regularly in each and every issue of Bart Simpson comics!

—–Contest Questions—–

1. Which neatoramanaut got props from Bill for helping him out with a list?

2. What’s Bill’s advice to cartoonists looking to break into the field?

That’s it! Don’t leave these answers in the comments please. Send them to me via e-mail!

10 Neatest NY Inventions Over at HuffPo
I wrote an article titled 10 Neatest New York Inventions Ever that got frontpaged at the Huffington Post. For example, whoddathunk that Jell-O (OK, OK, gelatin desert) was invented in New York?

Not satisfied with having built the first American locomotive and running for president (for the Greenback Party ticket), industrialist Peter Cooper decided to try his hand in desserts. In 1845, he patented the formula for powdered gelatin.

You may not know the name "Peter Cooper," but I bet you’ve heard of what his invention later became known as. That’s right. Jell-O.

Link – Thanks David!

Technorati State of the Blogosphere Interview
In addition to a completely new article-based front page and a new way to calculate the ranking of Technorati Top 100 Blogs, Technorati has just finished releasing their annual State of the Blogosphere 2009 report. Tucked in between all the interesting statistics and interviews with Internet heavyweights like Arianna Huffington, Seth Godin, Mathew Ingram, Simon Mackie, Andrew Breitbart, and Dean Takahashi, is little ol’ me.

Many thanks to Eric Olsen who conducted the interview and tolerated me being a rambling doofus and butchering the English language (and is that how I sound like? OMG!). We talked about the Neatorama Shop, how Neatorama grew, the blog’s counter-intuitive strategy of reducing pageviews, Neatorama’s statistics and so on and so on for about 23 minutes: Link

wetoku is still in beta, but I can tell you this: it’s one to watch out for. The interview was a snap to set up – all I had to do was plug in my webcam (otherwise it sits in a box somewhere on my bookshelf) and click on a link sent to me via email. The web page consisted of the image of the interviewer (in my case, Eric Olsen of Blogcritics and Technorati) and the interviewee (me), and a simple chatbox where we can text each other. The interviewer presses the "record" button and we started talking. Simple!

It’s easy to see how wetoku can be very useful (just view all of the interviews done by Technorati for their State of the Blogosphere report). I won’t be surprised if we see many more wetoku interviews popping up in many blogs.

Link

Karl Fabricius of Environmental Graffiti has just posted an interview with me about Neatorama and how the blog came to be. Actually it’s a story I’ve never told anyone online – so it’s a neat exclusive for Environmental Graffiti. Here’s the interview: Link – Thanks Karl, that was a treat!

Neatorama on Twitter!

A while ago, I posted about Neatorama’s account on Twitter. Long story short, we got the account @neatorama back amicably from a fan (Thanks Mike!) … and now am wondering what we should do with it.

Should we continue displaying Neatorama’s posts (using Twitterfeed?) or should we do Twitter only content (like mini-posts)? Or both? What do you think?

The only thing we’ve decided so far is that we should do twitter-only contests – so if you’re on Twitter, here’s Neatorama Twitter page: Link

Geeks Are Sexy has a two-part interview with Grobe and Yoltz about how they took six months to develop the Bellagio Fountain routine for their “Experiment #137″ video and what went into the creation of their “Sticky Notes Experiments” video the next year.

You’ll also see them do the Diet Coke/Mentos routine in front of a live audience at the Maker Fair! Link

Artist Brian Despain is a fantastic painter with a unique subject – robots. In this video, Roq La Rue Gallery’s Kristen Anderson and Kenny Montana interview Despain about his art, his inspiration and why he’s so passionate about robots.

– via boingboing

From the Upcoming ueue, submitted by whitespace.

The mother of octuplets born last week in Bellflower told NBC News she wanted to have a "huge family" because she longed for personal connections she felt she lacked in her childhood.

"I just longed for certain connections and attachments with another person that I — I really lacked, I believe, growing up," Nadya Suleman said in an interview today with NBC’s Ann Curry. "Reflecting back on my childhood, I know it wasn’t functional. It was pretty — pretty dysfunctional, and whose isn’t?"

Link (Photo: NBC Universal)

Previously on Neatorama:

• Suddenly, 14 Children
• Octuplets’ Mom Obsessed with Having Babies

We posted about Jen Stark’s amazing construction paper art a while ago on Neatorama, but we’ve just run across her interview by ArtStreet on WLRN South Florida.

It’s definitely worth another look: Hit play or go to Link [YouTube] | Jen Stark’s website