Jeremy C. Shipp

jeremy c. shipp

what is your name?

My name is Jeremy C. Shipp. Some call me Jer-Bear. The clowns in my attic call me Dinner. But they’re only kidding. I think. I hope.

how would you describe what you do?

I write weird stories from my heart, my mind, my soul, my gut, my spleen. I also spend quite a bit of time living my life in a semi-haunted farmhouse with my wife, my kittens, the aforementioned clowns, and an army of yard gnomes.
what are you currently working on?

I’m living and breathing a new story collection called Fungus of the Heart. Also, I’m creating a few new novels, a comic script, a short film, and other projects.
what has had the greatest influence on your work?

Playing pretend with my brothers as a kid. We would come up with complicated plots and complex characters and we would have fun living in a strange world for a while. And I’m still having a blast doing this. Only now people call me a weird little writer instead of a weird little kid.
what is the greatest misconception about you or your work?

Most people who read my tales understand the meaning of my work. But there are those who hear that I write dark fiction, and assume that I’m an evil person with evil intentions. Some people seem to believe that those who write about disrespectful behaviors are somehow condoning those behaviors. But when I write a dark tale, I’m showing people the horrifying consequences of sexism or racism or hierarchical thought, etc. I’m doing what I can do shine a light on the darkness. I’m trying to do my small part to make our world a better place.

what do you see as the main strengths and weaknesses of the medium you work in?

primarily, I write weird tales, and utilizing such a medium, I can take my readers to strange, unbelievable worlds. And when my characters react to the unbelievable in believable ways, then my characters help to suspend the disbelief of my readers. I don’t really think about art in terms of weakness. Every medium is different, with different powers.
how has technology impacted upon the work you do?

I tend to write about the horrors spawned by civilization and technology, at times, plays a part in those horrors. And so, technology affects the subject matter of my work. In addition, technology is constantly changing the way people read my stories.

what’s the greatest piece of advice you would like to pass on?

Advice for aspiring writers: Never give up.

Advice for everyone in the world: Never tickle an attic clown.

where can we find you online?

http://www.jeremycshipp.com

http://www.twitter.com/JeremyCShipp

http://www.facebook.com/JeremyCShipp

And you can read a bunch of free stories of mine here:

http://jeremycshipp.com/onlinestories.htm
what are you reading at the moment?

A bunch of Bizarro books, as well as Breathers by S.G. Browne, Holes by Louis Sachar, The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman, Catch-22 by Joseph Heller, Callahan’s Crosstime Saloon by Spider Robinson, and a couple others.
what are you listening to at the moment?

A Fine Frenzy, Anathallo, The Innocence Mission, Regina Spektor, Yusuf Islam, the theme song from Mr. Belvedere and Charles in Charge.

anything else we should know?

You should know:

1. I have stories forthcoming in Cemetery Dance, Apex Magazine, and other wonderful publications.

2. Boo Berry is more dangerous than he looks.

3. Vicki, from Small Wonder, is secretly plotting to destroy all of humankind.

4. Hedgehogs love to eat carrots.

5. The sound of one hand clapping is: PLINK PLINK PLINK.

[Via http://intoviews.wordpress.com]

Interviews/Employment

It’s not enough to just apply for jobs, even though that’s important. You need to thoroughly prepare for the entire hiring process, so you can ace the interview and secure a job offer. These resources, including interview questions and answers, interview attire, types of job interviews, interview tips, thank you letters, following up, background checks, and salary negotiations, will help you get hired.

1. Types of Interviews
2. How to Interview
3. Job Interview Tips
4. Interview Questions / Answers
5. Interview Attire
6. Thank You Letters
7. Interview Follow Up
8. References
9. Background Checks

1. Job Offers
2. Wages and Salary
3. Employee Benefits
4. Employee Privacy
5. Employment Information
6. Fired / Termination From Employment
7. Resignation
8. Unemployment

Types of Interviews

It’s important to be aware of the various types of job interviews, so you’re prepared to effectively interview. Here are all the details on behavioral interviews, exit interviews, group interviews, phone and video interviews, second interviews, and dining interviews.

• Behavioral Interviews
• Dining Interviews
• Exit Interviews
• Group Interviews
• Individual Interview

• Informational Interview
• Phone Interview
• Second Interview
• Teen Interview Tips
• Video Interview

How to Interview

Successful interviewing is essential to getting a job offer. That means practicing interview questions and answers, dressing in appropriate interview attire, and, being able to present your skills and experience to a prospective employer.

• Job Interview Guide
• Acing the Interview
• Video: How to Impress the Interviewer
• Behavioral Interviewing
• Interviewing in Public
• Interviewing While Dining

• Non-Verbal Interviewing Skills
• Second Interviews
• Successful Interviewing
• Top Interview Blunders
• Video: Preparing For an Interview
• Video: Interview Body Language

Job Interview Tips

Job interviewing never seems to get any easier – even when you have gone on more interviews than you can count. Review these interview tips and suggestions so you can dazzle your potential employer and ace the interview.

• Job Interview Tips
• Interview Etiquette
• Interviewing in Public
• Job Interview Tips Videos
• Check Out the Company
• Handle a Panel Interview
• Improve Your Interview Technique
• Lunch and Dinner Interviews

[Via http://blog.localjobs.com]

Better Know a Farm Manager: Peter Beck MC '12

When Peter Beck wanted to learn about organic farming, he went to the source: Eliot Coleman’s Four Seasons Farm in Maine. Coleman is the author of New Organic Grower, the text by which countless sustainable farms (including our own Yale Farm) are run. Now Peter works at the Farm, where all this winter he’s been heading up our crop planning in preparation for the spring and summer. Peter also loves the local cheese store/restaurant Caseus so much that he eats there at least once every couple of weeks! Here’s an interview with a guy who really loves food and farming:

Peter Beck/Morse/2012/Ecology & Evolutionary Biology

What made you want to be a farm manager?
I wanted to be a Farm Manager to learn more about running, teaching at, and working on a small-scale organic farm.

What’s your favorite vegetable?
Brussels Sprouts.

What’s your favorite dish to cook?
Pasta alla carbonara or pollo al mattone.

What fruit or veggie best typifies you?
Kale (hmm, I’m not sure if kale actually typifies me [or what that means], but I do love to eat it).

Describe a fun/hard/exceptional story from working at the Farm.
After the Young Farmer’s Conference in New York, Jacki and I brought back seeds from a heritage wheat plant that has been out of fashion for a half a century (at least). We planted a few of them way too late in the season in a back corner of our North hoophouse, not thinking anything would come up. After getting back from winter break, we saw every one of the seeds had sprouted, and we’ll have our first very very small crop of experimental wheat plants this spring to make a pound of flour for a truly Yale Farm pizza.

What’s your favorite food cause? Why?
My favorite food cause may be that of the incredibly hardworking English (and Naked) chef Jamie Oliver. His goal is so simple and so achievable: teach more people about food and cooking. That’s it — no patronizing moral or cheffy pretension. There are a lot of interesting and important causes out there related to food and sustainability, but I really think that Jamie is on to something important. If more people cook, enjoy, and appreciate food, then those family cooks and amateur food-lovers will fix many of the problems with our food system themselves.

Tell us about other work you’ve done in the world of food and farming.
I spent a year cooking in restaurants in Tuscany and Rome, and spent the summer farming for Eliot Coleman at his Four Season Farm in Maine, before starting work at the Yale Farm this fall. Most importantly though, I cook as often as I can, for friends and family, at school and at home.

[Via http://yalesustainablefoodproject.wordpress.com]

The man, the myth HENRY ROLLINS

 

Hey all, here is a interview i did with henry rollins, a huge influence on me.  Unfortunately, i didnt get a chance to ask more questions. So im a little bit bummed out about how it turned out. Anyway some interesting response’s none the less.  I hope you enjoy it.  Keep reading!

 

How are you? And what’s happening over your side of the world?
I just finished a lot of shows in Europe and am about to start a lot of shows in America. I have been travelling all over for several weeks and it’s been very interesting, frustrating and everything else.

You are coming to Australia soon, on your talking tour. Not to give away any secrets, but can you tell me a little about what you might want to talk about?
I will talk about a lot of the places I have been to and things happening in America with our unending bullshit.

What do you think about the Australian Government trying to filter the internet (like China do) in this country and Iran banning Google Gmail. We will have one of the highest level of filtration anywhere in the world?
I must say, I am surprised and very disappointed. I would think that Rudd would have made better decisions than to treat his people like sheep. Truly, Australia is one of the last places you would think this kind of thing would happen. I have been following it all online and the hacker crew are very inspiring.

How do you form your talks? Is there any method to the madness?
Yes, much method. I don’t want to go onstage and waste anyone’s time. I plan out what I want to say and get into it. I think some planning is the right idea; otherwise, things can go sideways.

You seem like a pretty unapologetic man, is there anything you regret saying or doing?
How are you staying fit at the moment? Do you still lift weights?
 I have made many mistakes. I would rather take the beating than have regret. I train about 5 days a week with weights and cardio.

Do you listen to much music? Is so what have been listening to lately? Any Australian bands you know and like?
I have a radio show. I am always checking out bands whenever possible. I am listening to a lot of music from a thing called The Nurse With Wound List. A lot of interesting stuff that I have never heard before. I will be getting Kim Salmon’s new album when I get there as well as Rowland Howard’s last one.

My girlfriend talks about the Melbourne hardcore scene in 2002/3 and how much fun it was to go to shows with friends and have a good time. But it’s since changed; people are judged for what they wear, who they know, how long they’ve been “in the scene”, etc. where do you, if at all, think hardcore went wrong?
I think any scene falls prey to that kind of thing. It’s what happens when things get too familiar, the contempt sets in and you start commenting on clothing. I say just go to the show and have a great time, past that, it’s a little too precious to waste time on. Life is short.

As i understand it Ian MacKaye early on dabble in a zine? Did you ever work on or do your own zine?
I don’t know that about Ian. I do my own zine, all my books are nothing but overgrown zines.

Do you ever get nostalgic about early days of hardcore? The confrontation of the music (ideals) and the frontier culture you and the early hardcore bands started? Or just the unknown element to it all?
I have fond memories of the early days of the DC scene. Things were small and you knew that it was happening and it was a great thing to be a part of when being young. Youth is a great thing, knowing that you have so much life ahead of you and that so much is still to come. Holding onto that curiosity is the challenge of adulthood, I think. It has been for me.

Do you feel there is a band, from the early hardcore days, that has slipped under the radar and you feel more people should know about?
That scene has been pretty well documented. I can’t think of any band that is not on some site somewhere.

What piss’s you off lately?
My country’s inability to allow its residents to have a decent health care plan so they don’t have to live in fear of getting sick.

What do you think of Obama’s administration?
I think he walked into a bad situation. I wish he was a lot more forceful. He will never make friends with those who oppose him and he keeps trying. Meanwhile, time is wasting. He put more soldiers into Afghanistan, I don’t like that. I don’t want to be in Iraq anymore, Gitmo either. Things are not moving in the direction I want them to. That’s a lot to do with Democrats not having the spine to get things done. I think Obama could be a four year president. 

I just finished watching season 2 of Sons of Anarchy. Which is an awesome show, so congratulations. How was it being a part of that? And was it difficult filming that rape scene?
It was a great thing for me. I had a great time, the cast and crew were great. The rape scene was over quickly thankfully. It was the best time I have ever had in an acting job.

Have you ever questioned your ability to control your own life? And felt helpless? If so when?
I can’t think of a situation in my life where I felt that way. I guess that would be an addiction situation or something? I have had some hard times as we all have but I handled it and am still here.

[Via http://unabletoconvey.wordpress.com]

Interview Trip – Day 14

I can hardly believe I’m still in Virginia. Before I traveled, I had a week’s worth of interviews scheduled. I’ve had at least one interview every day for two weeks (excluding weekends). I was planning on heading home tomorrow, but secured another interview for Monday. I am very grateful for so many wonderful opportunities even though it has been mentally exhausting.

I’ve been very fortunate to have been housed by friends in the area. I’ve been living with three girls in their two bedroom apartment for the past two weeks. They were so amazingly hospitable and wonderful, but I felt I couldn’t possibly stay any longer. I had already extended my stay once. So, I’m kind of in limbo, staying at one place, waiting for another to open. I hate feeling like a burden, but so appreciate not having to pay for a hotel.

Interviews have gone very well! Even my informational interviewers have been open and wonderful with sharing advice and contacts in the area. Networking has landed me additional interviews. I’ve had two call back interviews and am waiting to hear results from both of those. A few of my informational interviews have even said, “I’d hire you if I had the work/money.” (Though I’m not sure how much value to put in those comments – it’s easy to say that when you don’t have the work or money…)

I was able to secure one interview through a positing I found on Craigslist.com. I haven’t used Craiglist before this trip – I’ve always thought it to be unreliable. However, I’ve learned many places post on Craiglist because it’s free.

The weather in Virginia has been cold, but I’ve only seen snow two days. There is talk of another crazy storm coming soon, so hopefully I’ll be able to slip out in clear weather and roads on my trip back home. Michigan has been getting a lot of snow this week, so it’s a good thing my trip was extended as this would not have been a good weekend for travel.

[Via http://thecareersearch.wordpress.com]

Tests & Treatments : Shut Up Babies!

Download Tests & Treatments : Shut Up Babies!

Allison and Bryan are covering episode four of the very excellent Solitary 4.0! Not only is there the usual recap, but a totally kick ass interview w/ #5 Mr. Todd Ranck. Not only does he talk about his time in the pod, but also enlightens us to his experiences in his professional game show career. On top of all that he even starts to interview Allison and Bryan!

Part 1 : Episode 4 Recap
Part 2 : Interview with #5 Todd Ranck
Part 3 : Episode 4 Ratings

[Via http://notmakefriends.wordpress.com]

Monday Interview: Tarie, from ASIA IN THE HEART, WORLD ON MY MIND

Today I’m excited to interview Tarie, book reviewer and blogger extraordinaire! Tarie started the blogs Asia in the Heart, World on the mind, as well as Into the Wardrobe. Both blogs focus on multicultural literature for children and young adults, with a generosity of information about Asian writers and illustrators through book reviews and interviews. Tarie is also a staff member for Color Online, a website dedicated to empowering women writers and readers. Tarie is a grad student in Anglo-American Literature, an editor of EFL instructional material, as well as a former (and future) English teacher. She currently lives in the Philippines. Her websites are a living illustration that multicultural books know no borders!

Hi Tarie, thank you for joining us today!

Tarie: Thank you so much for having me, Nathalie. It’s great to be here at Multiculturalism Rocks! =D

Please, further develop the statements implied in the names of your blogs, and tell us what prompted you to start them.

Here is my blog story:

I started Into the Wardrobe in early 2005. Even though it was a personal blog, many of my posts were about children’s and YA books because I started reading a lot of children’s and YA books around that time. (But I didn’t know the kidlitosphere and YA blogosphere even existed!) I named my blog Into the Wardrobe because a book takes us to a different world, just like the magical wardrobe in The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe took the Pevensie siblings to Narnia. I love traveling to different worlds by reading books and The Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. Lewis are some of my favorites.

In late 2007, I received an email from an author in the UK asking if I was interested in reading and reviewing her YA fantasy novel for my blog. I was really bemused. I thought, “How does this author know about me and my blog? Why is she sending me her novel and wow, she cares about what I will think of it???” I said yes to the author because I love fantasy novels for young readers and because reading and reviewing a book for my blog was a new and exciting thing to do.

Then the personal assistant of an author in the US contacted me about reviewing a picture book. A YA fantasy author, also in the US, invited me to be part of her blog tour. I had a lot of fun reviewing books and participating in a blog tour. I also discovered that there was an entire community of people blogging passionately and seriously about children’s and YA books. I discovered blogs like A Fuse #8 Production, Chicken Spaghetti, and Big a Little a and was so inspired by them that I decided to blog passionately and seriously about children’s and YA books too!

In 2008, I started searching for a blog just on Asian children’s and YA books. I couldn’t find one and told myself that I would wait until such a blog was created and fully support it. In 2009, I discovered and was inspired by Color Online and Reading In Color, but there was still no similar blog for Asian children’s and YA books. Of course there are many, many blogs that feature Asian books, authors, and illustrators. But I couldn’t find one that was WHOLLY devoted to Asian children’s and YA books. And I was looking for an international blog. I wanted to read interviews of Filipino and Filipino American children’s book authors. I wanted to read reviews of YA books by Japanese and Japanese Canadian authors. I wanted to see the work of Chinese illustrators from Sydney and Melbourne, not just from Hong Kong and Taipei. I was interested in Indian kid characters in India and Indian kid characters in the UK. I was interested in Persian teen characters in Tehran and Persian teen characters in Paris.

So I started Asia in the Heart, World on the Mind in 2009 because I wanted to celebrate, share, and promote Asian children’s and YA books, authors, and illustrators from around the world. I love my Asian heritage and Asian cultures and I love children’s and YA books. My second blog allows me to combine those loves.

I started Asia in the Heart, World on the Mind because it was needed.

If a Djinn were to appear and tell you he would grant any wish regarding Asia in the heart, World on the Mind and Into the Wardrobe, what would you ask? (note: this is a twisted way to ask you what you wish to accomplish through your blogs, lol)

I would wish that both my blogs would inform, entertain, and inspire readers. And I would wish (I get more than one wish, right? =D) that Asia in the Heart, World on the Mind would become an invaluable resource and help the development and visibility of Asian children’s and YA books around the world.

May your wishes be granted, though if you ask me you’re well on your way to experience them. As a member of Color Online, what are your functions?

For Color Online, I can contribute any reviews of books by women writers of color and interviews of women writers of color. The books can be for children, teens, or adults, but I try to focus on books for children.

This is a strange question, but I need to ask. In America multicultural books are not considered mainstream. Is this the case in Asia, meaning from your experience would a teen in the Philippines easily pick up a MG or YA book with characters from a culture other than his? Hispanic for example ?

A young reader in the Philippines would easily pick up a book from another country, especially books from the U.S., the U.K., and Japan! I think that in some ways Filipinos are open to other cultures. This is partly because of our history (we have been under the Spanish, American, and Japanese governments), partly because of the Filipino diaspora, and partly because geographically the Philippines is at a global crossroad.

Now the problem is that a young reader in the Philippines would not easily pick up a book from his own country. This is mostly because there aren’t a lot of Philippine books to choose from. Philippine picture books are going strong, but there aren’t a lot of Philippine middle grade and YA books – yet. We’re working on it! =D

I look forward to MG and YA Filipino books! What is the latest book that made you cry?

Where the Mountain Meets the Moon by Grace Lin. It is just so beautiful, moving, enlightening, and inspiring.

And laugh?

The Teashop Girls by Laura Schaefer.

I knock on your door one evening, in the middle of a life crisis, an unprecedented emergency: I have nothing to read! Without skipping a beat, you slap a book in my hand. What’s its title? (And why that one)

Ha! If you knock on my door, that means you are in the Philippines. I would give you Naku, Nakuu, Nakuuu! written by Nanoy Rafael and illustrated by Sergio Bumatay III. You’d have to spent the night of course. Naku, Nakuu, Nakuuu! is a touching story about a boy who is about to become a big brother. We would oooh and aaah over the playful and surreal illustrations. I would explain to you the Filipino words and details in the illustrations. And we’d eat all the dried mangoes and durian candy in the refrigerator!

I am so coming to visit you, now! Which Filipino children’s book author would you recommend?

Candy Gourlay! She has a fresh voice and a wonderful combination of Filipino humor and British dry wit. Everyone should watch out for her debut novel for young readers, Tall Story. Tall Story is set in the Philippines and in the U.K. It’s out in the U.K. and in the Philippines this year, and next year in the U.S.
Note from MR: Amazon.com lists the release date of Tall Story as May 27, 2010, so the book might be available online at that date as well.

And regarding a Filipino picture book?

Check out Naku, Nakuu, Nakuuu! written by Nanoy Rafael and illustrated by Sergio Bumatay III.

Favorite Asian MG and YA?

Where the Mountain Meets the Moon by Grace Lin.
Note from MR: Where the Mountain Meets the Moon is the winner of the Newbery Honor. Don’t miss a chance to read it!

Tarie, thank you so much for your time and for sharing your knowledge with us. I look forward to your reviews and author/illustrator interviews on your blog. Thank you for highlighting multicultural books and their authors!

Nathalie, thank you for making multicultural children’s books so much fun through your blog!

For more information about Tarie and her blogs, visit
o Asia in the heart, World on my Mind
o Into the Wardrobe
o Tarie’s Review Policy
o Color Online
o Follow Tarie on Twitter
o To contact Tarie: asiaintheheart@yahoo.com

Books mentioned in this interview:

[Via http://nathaliemvondo.wordpress.com]