I ask fwooshmembers questions.
They answer them.
Lucid Silverback, Esq.
" I think that equates to 3.027 % of my waking life."
Can I call you “Lucie”?
Sure. Lucie’s cool.
It’s serves as a double entendre, considering "Lucy" is the name given to the earliest australopithecus afarensis skeleton found in the archaeological record.
Where do you live?
I reside just outside of Portland Maine. I grew up just outside of Phoenix Arizona, and I banked college right in the middle of Flagstaff Arizona. (NAU to be specific.)
However, I actually "live" just behind my paranasal sinus cavities.
It’s a great place.
You should visit sometime.
You make money sometimes by doing something artistic?
"Sometimes" is the magic word in that inquisitive sentence.
What kind of "artistic" do you do?
Well, I grew up on the Marvel rags which naturally pulled me into the illustration field. My BFA has an emphasis in both painting and ceramics. These days I primarily experiment in painting and illustration which occasionally brings in a little loot, but not much. I also dabble in the musical field, but alas, it brings in even less loot. Alas, I begrudgingly appreciate my mundane day-job. But just barely.
In my world view, financial compensation is irrelevant to the art equation. The virtuous art-path is one of creativity, insight, and innovation illuminated by education, self-edification, and conscientious experimentation regardless of monetary reward. Basically, it’s about art and the world from which that art originates. Our very consciousness depends on the relations between subject and object. The true role of the artist is to make insightful connections between seemingly disparate-but-interrelated subjects-and/or-objects so as to illuminate truth and make available to the audience, that which is often obfuscated.
If that means struggling from time-to-time to make ends meet, then so be it.
I saw some Mods done to some ML by you somewhere...
Yah, I have posted some work in my very own customs thread. Though, they’re not really customs, in the literal sense. They are more like modifications. I just thought it would be fun to document them.
I think the only true custom I did was a Scarlet Witch out of a Wasp figure. All the rest are engineering corrections and paintjobs.
Who is your favorite comic character?
I enjoy the sweet bejeezus out of most all of the Marvel characters.
However, when I was a wee silverback, it was all about my boy, Wolverine as I assume many a manly Fwoosher would similarly profess.
He was one of my major role-models in early adolescence.
I also really loved the Incredible Hulk.
The fact that we have the actual green goliath here at the Fwoosh answering our questions in the Ezine, is more wonderful a reality than I ever dared dream for myself.
Are there any figures in ML you still want made?
Oooh. That’s a sticky question.
Short answer: Yes.
Long answer: Yes. However, I have been having premonitions of being presented with poorly-articulated kids toys which will bear some resemblance to a beloved classic character such as Crimson Dynamo or Polaris, yet fall short of what I have come to expect from a product calling itself "Marvel Legends". Understand that originally, I had no real reservations regarding the transfer of license from TB to Hasbro. I was hoping for the best of both worlds. You know, better construction, better detail quality control, better distribution, more characters, etc..
Unfortunately, my hopes have been disenchanted for the most part. But I will admit, a handful of Hasbro’s offerings (or at least what we have seen of them) appear quite suitable indeed. To no one’s surprise, they are the figures utilizing the TB formula, such as FA Daredevil, Nova, FA Cap, and Silver Surfer. Uh, …okay, that wasn’t quite a handful, but you get my meaning. You know, I just don’t understand why a company would mess with a winning formula. I mean, Getting rid of the comics was one thing, and then they go and… oh, whoops. I started to rant there, didn’t I? Sorry about that.
Next question?
You like Jazz music?
I enjoy most Jazz out there, but primarily identify with Hard Bop, avant-garde, and Bebop. I also appreciate some helpings of Swing, Latin, Acid-Jazz, and Fusion mixed into my aural diet from time to time.
The only form of Jazz I truly harbor a strong distaste for, is anything called "Smooth" or "New-Age Jazz". You know, …all that commercialized David-Sanborn-soundin’, watered-down sax-laden elevator Jazz?
I happen to find that style of music absolutely intolerable.
Do you like certain instruments?
For some reason, I’m not a big fan of the Xylophone. But other than that, all instruments (voice included) bring much pleasure to my fuzzy ears.
Do you play an instrument or compose music?
Maybe sometimes, when I’m feelin’ crazy.
What is a good size combo?
I really have no preference, though most of the stuff I listen to on a regular basis has, in the neighborhood of 4 to 6 members. I’ve heard powerful riffs from three piece groups as well as delicate ambient grooves from large ensembles. So, I guess, …uh,… size doesn’t matter?
Which is better "Kind of Blue" or "Bitches Brew"?
Definitely Kind of Blue -in my humble opinion from another species.
Is it a close decision? Between "Bitches Brew" and "Kinda Blue"? The incredibly long "Bitches Brew" allows the mind to wander, where
the unique soundscapes of "Kinda Blue" force an attentive listen.
In all honesty, I’ve only listened to a couple tracks off "Bitches Brew". I actually own "Kind of Blue", so that’s how I roll. It’s a fantastic album.
Understand, I really love Jazz, but I’m far from an aficionado. Jazz is merely one facet of an eclectic music collection.
What are some of your favorite musicians?
Well, considering we are assumedly steering clear of my acknowledged predilection for Hiphop, I’ll restrict this list to my top 20 Jazz musicians (in no particular order). Art Blakey, Hank Mobley, McCoy Tyner, Chico Hamilton, Charles Mingus, John Coltrane, Sonny Rollins, Lee Morgan, Freddie Hubbard, Charlie Parker, Billie Holiday, Max Roach, Sun Ra, Miles Davis, Kenny Dorham, Herbie Hancock, Thelonius Monk, Wayne Shorter, Bobby Hutcherson, and Cannonball Adderley.
I recognize some of the people on your list.
Many of the rest were, at one time or another, members of the Jazz Messengers, led by Art Blakey.
If you haven’t checked out the Messengers, I suggest you do so. They are superfantastic!
Have you ever been to the church of John Coltrane in San Francisco?
No, but from the internet search I just performed, I have learned much about this church of which you speak.
I think the relevant excerpt from their website is, "The inspiration came after the young couple had seen John Coltrane perform live in San Francisco in the year 1965".
I gather somebody sipped a little kool-aid that night.
Alot of the jazz musicians had lives steeped in drugs and alcohol. You can make a pattern out of the behavior. Why is the connection so strong?
I don’t imagine the connection is any stronger than with other artists in other genres/disciplines.
What can I say? Altering one’s consciousness has its creative benefits.
Since the dawn of humankind, people have altered their consciousnesses in order to gain perspective, creativity, spiritual connection, or even to merely cut loose and have a good time.
Which is what life is all about after all: Experiences and the perspective gained from those experiences.
The Human mind has a propensity for becoming entrenched within inflexible antiquated paradigms/modes-of-thought, when in fact, the world around us is anything but static. Altering one’s consciousness facilitates self exploration or introspection and sometimes allows the experiencee accessibility to an uneasily obtainable state of mind which is conducive to creativity. I ask, what is creativity, if not novel perspective?
To truly find your mind, you must lose it first.
Unfortunately, some people abuse drugs by attempting to escape reality or, sometimes, merely lack self control. In those situations the drug often gets the better of them. And some drugs (i.e., heroin, PCP, crack, meth, and some prescription meds) are extremely dangerous -meaning DEADLY- and are better left untouched.
I believe artists are communicating in a language which almost demands such exploration, so that they might be able to escape hegemonic conditioning, and re-frame or rather update the cultural discourse.
Sun Ra combines both jazz and outer space. Two things you enjoy. Why?
Why do I enjoy those two things, or why does Sun Ra combine those two things?
I’m so confused.
Jazz and outer-space, are the two great tastes that taste great together.
I guess, until you have listened to John Coltrane’s "A Love Supreme" while at zero-G, you just won’t understand.
Do you think galaxies are elliptical or more of a spiral? Assuming all galaxies rotate.
Yes, as far as I know, all galaxies rotate, unless interfered with by the gravity of another galaxy in close proximity. Furthermore, they rotate counterclockwise in relation to their polarity, if I’m not mistaken.
Undisturbed spiral galaxies -the predominant form found in astronomy- are most often elliptical in shape and bulge in the center.
There are only 750 gorillas left in the wild and that number is split into 3 different locations.
Yes. Maine being one of them.
Seriously though, from what I understand, many natural habitats (not just those home to gorillas) are being egregiously mismanaged. Human population has encroached upon the natural world to the point that many natural habitats have been reduced to isolated islands of dwindling biodiversity. I would be pleasantly astonished to find the gorilla species sustain itself in the wild through this 21st century.
Do you like snakes?
Of course.
I love them.
I mean, I don’t keep ’em as pets or anything.
They eat rodents which not only have a propensity to infest and wreak havoc on the structural integrity of a home, but also function as a biological vector -which makes snakes a-ok in my book.
Whenever one of our cats is caught goofin’ with one of my reptilian friends, I spring into action, diffuse the situation, and return Mr. Slithers to his wooded home.
Unfortunately, some of the most benign organisms have been villainized through religio-cultural myths.
For example, bats consume vast amounts of insects and are a top tier pollenator. And yet, in western culture, they -like Mr. Slithers- are associated with the occult and death. Often, this misunderstanding is expressed in fear and the subsequent violent termination of any stigmatized creature unfortunate enough to encounter a misinformed member of the human race.
How much time is spent on the internet?
Not all that much. Maybe an hour or two a day on average?
I think that equates to 3.027 % of my waking life.
It sure-as-sugar beats staring at the mind-control device.
What do you spend money on?
In honesty, I’m in charge of everyday reality, and the girl is in charge of futures and debt. In other words, I deal with all the front-line battles (vet bills, groceries, etc.) and she plots courses-of-action from behind the scenes (investments, student-loans, etc.). I’m not the fiscally responsible type.
Go figure.
And, if what we’ve seen of Hasbro Marvel Legends is any indication of what future offerings will entail, the girl will be quite relieved indeed that regarding the issue of "being filled", her stomach will take priority over the glass case.
Are you a vegetarian?
I like to consider myself "Predominantly vegetarian" – meaning, my diet is 98% vegetarian, yet I still can’t resist a hot bowl of Tom Kha Gai when we go for Thai food, and also occasionally indulge in some Chicken Masala when the mood for Indian food strikes.
But, I avoid eating red meat altogether -as a general rule. And I even made that decision long before the introduction of Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy.
Do you cook?
I’m a regular Iron Chef, or more so a Benihana of Tokyo.
One thing I learned at a young age: The ability to cook is a sexy thang.
Where do you live again?
I live in the hearts and minds of all good Earthlings such as yourself.
If you stop and listen carefully, you may hear me whisper the call of William Wallace.
Thanks Lucie!
Especially for conforming to my schedule! Thanks again!
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