TheArtofBalance's recent activity
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Comment on What are the origins of your favorite comic book in your collection? in ~comics
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Comment on What are the origins of your favorite comic book in your collection? in ~comics
TheArtofBalance Link ParentI agree, You sort of have to have a fondness for everything in your collection to even want to collect it. I really like The Sandman as well. Neil Gaiman is an excellent writer. I have a copy of...The tough thing about these kinds of threads is to pinpoint the favorite in the first place.
I agree, You sort of have to have a fondness for everything in your collection to even want to collect it.
I bought the first of my original (with the original coloring) collected volumes of The Sandman personally in London at a Borders (now defunct).
I really like The Sandman as well. Neil Gaiman is an excellent writer. I have a copy of issue #1 in pretty good condition in my collection. Did you see the Netflix adaption of The Sandman? If so, Id be curious as to what you thought of it.
Couldn't get that shit in Portugal! Couldn't get much of anything, really, only a narrow selection of translated BD (Asterix, Tintin, etc.) and even fewer mangas. These days I believe there's more stuff, although I still order comics (not many) in english from abroad.
I'm from the US and I have never had the opportunity to travel abroad. It's sad to hear comics are so hard to get ahold of in some parts of the world.
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What are the origins of your favorite comic book in your collection?
I have been a big X-Men fan since I was very small, and I have been ever-so-slowly collecting the Volume 1 Uncanny X-Men series (1963) since the late 1980's. I was surprised with a graded (6.5)...
I have been a big X-Men fan since I was very small, and I have been ever-so-slowly collecting the Volume 1 Uncanny X-Men series (1963) since the late 1980's. I was surprised with a graded (6.5) copy of Uncanny X-Men #94 by my wife for my birthday a few years ago. I've always wanted a copy, but it's a fairly expensive book and one I never thought I would own.
In the issue, the original X-Men quit the team except Cyclops, and are replaced by Colossus, Wolverine, Storm, Nightcrawler, and Banshee while Sunfire returns to Japan. It's their first appearance in the Uncanny series and their second appearance outside of Giant Size X-Men #1.
I'm looking forward to an opportunity to get it signed, if Christ Clairmont does another CGC signing.
Fun fact about the issue from Wikipedia: There are no issues of Uncanny X-Men #94 that rate higher than a 9.8 on the Comic Guaranty LLC grading scale, so if you have an ungraded copy in pristine condition, you might have an extremely rare piece of comic book history.
So, How did you come across your favorite comic book in your collection? Was it a lucky find at a local comic book store or a treasured gift from a friend? Did you stumble upon it while exploring the crazy world of online auctions or conventions? I'm eager to hear the tales of how you obtained your cherished piece of comic book history.
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Comment on Artists you love, and are surprised are not more popular than they are? in ~music
TheArtofBalance Link ParentIt's very hard to know where to start. It's most absolutely a part of the problem. When a website dedicated to discovering his songs by genre becomes necessary, there's definitely a barrier to entry.It's very hard to know where to start. It's most absolutely a part of the problem. When a website dedicated to discovering his songs by genre becomes necessary, there's definitely a barrier to entry.
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Comment on Artists you love, and are surprised are not more popular than they are? in ~music
TheArtofBalance LinkBuckethead. Buckethead is an immensely talented guitarist with a signature style that blends elements of progressive rock, metal, funk, and avant-garde. His discography is nothing short of...Buckethead is an immensely talented guitarist with a signature style that blends elements of progressive rock, metal, funk, and avant-garde. His discography is nothing short of prolific, with an estimated 300 studio albums, collaborations, and solo releases.
His music often flies under the radar and remains relatively underrated in mainstream circles. This might be because of his unconventional persona (wears a white mask and a KFC chicken bucket on his head) and his limited engagement with traditional promotional channels. However, his loyal fan base, consisting mostly of fellow musicians and guitar enthusiasts, recognize him as a true musical genius.
I'm a big fan of "Mount Shasta." It really showcases his ability to create mesmerizing and atmospheric guitar melodies.
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Comment on Progressive metal: What are you listening to? in ~music
TheArtofBalance Link ParentNice, I'm glad you liked my list! Instrumental prog also helps me get through work, vocals can distract me sometimes, especially when I need to focus. Scale the Summit is great. I saw them live in...Nice, I'm glad you liked my list! Instrumental prog also helps me get through work, vocals can distract me sometimes, especially when I need to focus. Scale the Summit is great. I saw them live in 2009 with Big Elf, Dweezil Zappa, Beardfish and Dream Theater. I believe Pain of Salvation was also suppose to co-headline but dropped out when they finally got to me.
When I discovered scale the summit, they reminded me of epic video game songs from games I played as a kid from like Megaman or the final fantasy series on the NES. Oddly enough I was recommended 8-bit covers of their music on youtube. They are incredibly good!
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Comment on Progressive metal: What are you listening to? in ~music
TheArtofBalance Link ParentGlad to share them! Maybe you'll find something you like? I think I remember the tour you are referencing. They also played with Meshuggah if I remember correctly.Glad to share them! Maybe you'll find something you like? I think I remember the tour you are referencing. They also played with Meshuggah if I remember correctly.
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Comment on Progressive metal: What are you listening to? in ~music
TheArtofBalance LinkThanks for posting this thread. I'm a /r/progmetal refugee. I used to comb that board for new music constantly. There's already a great mix of prog in this thread. I really like instrumental prog...Thanks for posting this thread. I'm a /r/progmetal refugee. I used to comb that board for new music constantly. There's already a great mix of prog in this thread. I really like instrumental prog so my list is a bit weighted:
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Comment on What weird food combo did you not realise was weird? in ~food
TheArtofBalance LinkMy dad used to make Peanut butter and Bacon on toast when I was a kid. Kind of a light version of the 'Elvis Sandwich' I guess. - Surprisingly good!My dad used to make Peanut butter and Bacon on toast when I was a kid. Kind of a light version of the 'Elvis Sandwich' I guess. - Surprisingly good!
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Comment on Spider-Man: Across The Spider-Verse editor confirms there are multiple versions of the film currently in theaters in ~movies
TheArtofBalance Link ParentI hope you are wrong, but I agree it would be very easy to abuse and exploit this idea in pursuit of more money. I'm sure the film makers discussed all of the possible business incentives long...I hope you are wrong, but I agree it would be very easy to abuse and exploit this idea in pursuit of more money. I'm sure the film makers discussed all of the possible business incentives long before they green lit it.
I've also seen some articles recently about poor working conditions for artists on the film. I wonder if the inclusion of all the extra scenes played a part in their abuse.
The creatives in the Vulture article are saying they were pushed to work more than 11 hours a day, 7 days a week, for more than a year to make up for time lost and were forced back to the drawing board as many as five times to revise work during the final rendering stage.
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Comment on Spider-Man: Across The Spider-Verse editor confirms there are multiple versions of the film currently in theaters in ~movies
TheArtofBalance Link ParentScreen Rant has an article detailing at least two cuts with various differences.Screen Rant has an article detailing at least two cuts with various differences.
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Comment on Spider-Man: Across The Spider-Verse editor confirms there are multiple versions of the film currently in theaters in ~movies
TheArtofBalance LinkDirectly from the film editor as well: https://twitter.com/AlliterAndy From a creative perspective I think this is a fun and unique way to approach the post production of a film. It allows film...Directly from the film editor as well: https://twitter.com/AlliterAndy
From a creative perspective I think this is a fun and unique way to approach the post production of a film. It allows film makers to include their choice of Easter eggs and multiple scenes that might have otherwise been cut from the film or shown in the credits. It also incentivizes multiple viewings at different theaters. The twitter thread linked to this post lists a number of differences. I'm curious how many versions of the film exist.
What do you think Tildes? Do you like this idea? Do you think it could work with other films or does the theme of the Spider-Verse movie sort of allow for this unique twist on story telling?
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Spider-Man: Across The Spider-Verse editor confirms there are multiple versions of the film currently in theaters
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Comment on Why is there something, rather than nothing? in ~humanities
TheArtofBalance LinkGreat topic. From a purely philosophical perspective, I really like Alan Watts take on the subject of nothing. He argues something and nothing contrast, are inseparable and one cannot exist...Great topic. From a purely philosophical perspective, I really like Alan Watts take on the subject of nothing. He argues something and nothing contrast, are inseparable and one cannot exist without the other. Sort of a comforting cosmic thought.
Imagine nothing but space, space, space, space with nothing in it, forever. But there you are imagining it and you're something in it. The whole idea of there being only space, and nothing else at all, is not only inconceivable but perfectly meaningless, because we always know what we mean by contrast.
We know what we mean by white in comparison with black. We know life in comparison with death. We know pleasure in comparison with pain, up in comparison with down. But all these things must come into being together. You don't have first something and then nothing or first nothing and then something. Something and nothing are two sides of the same coin. If you file away the tails side of a coin completely, the heads side of it will disappear as well. So in this sense, the positive and negative, the something and the nothing, are inseparable—they go together. The nothing is the force whereby the something can be manifested.
-Alan Watts -
Comment on Creatives, how do you feel about the impact of artificial intelligence on the future of art, illustration and design? in ~creative
TheArtofBalance Link ParentDefinitely an insightful perspective. I'm sure AI's impact will be felt throughout society as we move into the future. Sometimes for good and sometimes... maybe not so much. I will say that in...We should be worried about union busting, copyright infringement, where this data is stored, how data is being collected, who has access, privacy, internet scraping, and proprietary information being leaked. Just for starters.
Definitely an insightful perspective. I'm sure AI's impact will be felt throughout society as we move into the future. Sometimes for good and sometimes... maybe not so much.
I will say that in terms of copyright infringement (which is a very important point) these large learning models already exist as a proof of concept regardless of the data they are trained on. Pick your favorite copyright infringer and shut their business down. It's not going to stop the technology or new models that are trained ethically. Adobe's Firefly is a good example.
I think AI will streamline some of my workflow. I won’t have to fuss with clone-stamping for more skyline when the photo I have to use isn’t big enough, I can just render more. While there are fears of devaluing my abilities I think what will happen is that AI will just be the new starting point for me to refine a client’s concept.
I agree, and I can attest to the positive changes to daily work flow. I try to look at AI as a tool to enhance my workflow and remove redundancy.
AI is not going to render creativity moot.
Very insightful. I think this is an important point that needed to be made.
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Comment on Are any AI virtual assistants actually useful? in ~tech
TheArtofBalance LinkI've never used an AI virtual assistant. Mostly because my job and schedule generally don't require them, although they do seem appealing for addressing some tasks. That said, I use There's an AI...I've never used an AI virtual assistant. Mostly because my job and schedule generally don't require them, although they do seem appealing for addressing some tasks.
That said, I use There's an AI for that pretty regularly. Mostly just to get an idea of what new AI tools are being made. Sometimes there's a genuinely good tool listed. Maybe you'll find something useful.
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Comment on ‘Iron Man’ creator Jack Kirby’s son slams Stan Lee Disney+ documentary: ‘Over thirty-five years of uncontested publicity’ in ~comics
TheArtofBalance LinkJack Kirby's family and supporters have argued that he played a more significant role in the creation and development of Marvel's characters and universe than he was given credit for. They believe...Jack Kirby's family and supporters have argued that he played a more significant role in the creation and development of Marvel's characters and universe than he was given credit for. They believe that Kirby's artistic vision and storytelling abilities were crucial to the success of these properties. (The X-Men, Fantastic Four, Iron Man, & Thor to name a few) Some have criticized Stan Lee for receiving more recognition and acclaim while Kirby's contributions were downplayed or overlooked.
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‘Iron Man’ creator Jack Kirby’s son slams Stan Lee Disney+ documentary: ‘Over thirty-five years of uncontested publicity’
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Comment on Where do you share your art with the world? in ~creative
TheArtofBalance LinkMost of my art is created for commercial purposes. It's gratifying to see it living out in the world, but I generally dont share it outside of professional circles. I have been considering...Most of my art is created for commercial purposes. It's gratifying to see it living out in the world, but I generally dont share it outside of professional circles.
I have been considering designing and building a personal website to curate it all though.
When I do share, it's usually in the form of transient or ephemeral art installations I make on the beach with seaweed. They only last for a day or two, so Im never sure how many people I really share them with. I made a post here on Tildes where I shared some recently.
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Comment on Creatives, how do you feel about the impact of artificial intelligence on the future of art, illustration and design? in ~creative
TheArtofBalance Link ParentHave you used any AI tools in your work flow? There seems to be a new tool with a unique application popping up daily. https://theresanaiforthat.com/Have you used any AI tools in your work flow? There seems to be a new tool with a unique application popping up daily. https://theresanaiforthat.com/
I am aware of some for sure like Tintin, Asterix, & XIII. Maybe a few others that escape me. What are your favorites?
If something is even slightly rare or in another market I can usually only obtain a copy on ebay.
I liked it too! I enjoyed most of the characters, but I also pictured Rose Walker differently. Death was a favorite. I really like how she was portrayed. I was really hoping it would get renewed as well. Now that it's renewed I'm worried they'll recast someone important like they did with The Witcher and Henry Cavill. Nexflix is incomprehensible sometimes for sure.