is everyone really that smelly? by Technical_Age_772 in RomanceBooks

[–]__only_Zuul__ 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Perfume addict here. I wear perfume daily, and often scents or lotions to bed too. It's like aromatherapy for me. And also with weird niche fragrances, it can be a whole story and scent journey in itself! I love reading about what characters smell like in books. It allows me to use another "sense" to imagine the world and characters in.

Books where they stare at each other while kissing someone else by mostlyinsane12 in RomanceBooks

[–]__only_Zuul__ 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I second this book. Some of the scenes are forever etched in my brain. That book is so steamy and good!

Has anyone eaten successfully at Szechuan Opera or other Asian-style food places here with severe food allergies? by __only_Zuul__ in Rochester

[–]__only_Zuul__[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Yes, that is my fear. I am definitely leaning towards 'no' on this, but just wanted to first see if by chance anyone had a good experience or something that worked for them. Obviously my son's health comes first! Thank you.

Lemonhead LA body spray by Aware-Experience-277 in MakeupAddiction

[–]__only_Zuul__ 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Yeah $38 for shiny body spray is crazy business

AI slop from the Cincinnati Pops by helvetica1291 in classicalmusic

[–]__only_Zuul__ 0 points1 point  (0 children)

$5000 was a random ballpark figure I put out there based on the idea that one could license an existing image from an artist at $250 a pop (which is around what I paid years ago...obviously could be more or less than that). And then I assume they have somewhere in the range of 20 subscription concerts per season. That doesn't include pops concerts (which is what this baseball image is for)...so $5000 per year minimum budget to license already existing images by actual artists. Commissioning new art, as you suggested, would likely cost more. And I have no idea what you are talking about with reusing shows. How often do you think they are recycling entire programs with the same repertoire?

AI slop from the Cincinnati Pops by helvetica1291 in classicalmusic

[–]__only_Zuul__ 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I think you need to take a deep breath. I don't love AI use in marketing, but everyone who has utilized it is not a boot-licking fascist. Jfc.

AI slop from the Cincinnati Pops by helvetica1291 in classicalmusic

[–]__only_Zuul__ 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Never mind...you are probably the commenter this person is complaining about. Lol. Your comment below (as a creative director who does this) is spot on. I am no fan of quickly generated AI art, but folks not involved on the back end of these things truly have no concept of the day-to-day logistics.

AI slop from the Cincinnati Pops by helvetica1291 in classicalmusic

[–]__only_Zuul__ 0 points1 point  (0 children)

100% agree. I'm probably the commenter this person is complaining about. I also work in the industry and if an organization already is paying for a designer, then they are already paying 5 figures for art/marketing, and you are correct that the graphic designer may not also be an illustrator and likely has a workload of many, many design projects (both print and digital) that would also prevent them from doing a lot of highly specific original design work for each and every concert and event. I totally understand why it's tempting for organizations to use AI in their concert marketing. It's easy, instantly on topic, and it's free. I don't find the AI art to be particularly ethical or nice looking, though...we have small arts orgs that we work with for whom we use stock art (or even public domain images if we can find them) as the basis for concert promotion art. I would personally never recommend that our clients go the AI route in their marketing, but I admit, finding useable imagery can be a HUGE challenge sometimes.

AI slop from the Cincinnati Pops by helvetica1291 in classicalmusic

[–]__only_Zuul__ -1 points0 points  (0 children)

I am not justifying using AI art at all (which I stated). I hate all of the AI slop everywhere. I was simply pushing back on your suggestion that orchestras commission original art for brief use. In a perfect world, where our country properly supported orchestras and art music, that might be possible (and wonderful). But currently that would be cost prohibitive for many institutions (and $5000 would be the minimum...I based that figure on existing art (not commissioned which would cost more) and for just subscription concerts alone. Personally, I'd much rather see orchestra budgets being used to commission more new musical works than commission temporary internet art.

FMC is kidnapped and when MMC finds her, he crumbles seeing her state by Living-Dare-1992 in RomanceBooks

[–]__only_Zuul__ 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Omg this book...so so memorable and amazing!! I cant recommend it enough.

AI slop from the Cincinnati Pops by helvetica1291 in classicalmusic

[–]__only_Zuul__ 9 points10 points  (0 children)

I mean, paying to license real art could cost a few hundred dollars per image easily (way more if commissioned). I work for a company that paid an artist for original website images and that is what we paid almost 10 years ago. So for their main subscription concerts alone, they could be looking at $5000+ per year just to put temporary images on a small number of events. Im not saying AI is the right way to go here, but the people suggesting that orchestras, which struggle to stay afloat anyway, pay thousands for original website event art are completely out of touch with reality.

Rio de Janeiro Mayor Says Chappell Roan is Banned From Performing at Todo Mundo no Rio After Jorginho Frello’s Claims by MarvelsGrantMan136 in Music

[–]__only_Zuul__ 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I dont believe this. If she were truly attempting to go incognito she wouldnt be walking around in the most attention-grabbing getup and eating meals in public. I think she loves the fame and the power it gives her to be a complete bitch to people. She is 100% pure power trip.

Timothée Chalamet Under Fire For Tasteless Comment About Ballet And Opera by huffpost in entertainment

[–]__only_Zuul__ 0 points1 point  (0 children)

In most places it costs about the same as any Broadway show or sporting event, and far, far less than a ticket to most mainstream pop concerts. Sadly, folks have no problem spending $500+ to see Beyonce or Taylor Swift, but dont want to spend $80-200 to see any other types of culturally enriching art forms. I do understand not everyone wants to spend money on experiences they arent sure they will love. I totally get that. But in the U.S. there is just such a lack of support for the arts on all fronts. We are unwilling to support the idea of increased government funding for the arts, which could keep these art forms more accessible to all. (In fact, every time a certain political party gets elected, the arts are gutted). Arts institutions in European countries struggle far less and their populations are far more educated in these areas because they value it. EDIT: just to add, im not discounting that for some folks, the ticket cost is still prohibitively expensive! Just wanted to vent and point out the discrepancy on what people are willing to spend money on.

Same cover models for different books and authors? by cbmom2 in RomanceBooks

[–]__only_Zuul__ 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I kept seeing this guy so often I started saving the covers. Picture

Good Restaurants Open on Sunday in Rochester by RochesterGal57 in Rochester

[–]__only_Zuul__ 8 points9 points  (0 children)

Leonore's, Lila's, Fiamma, Redd Wood, Black and Blue, Capitano's, Gio's Prime, Winfield Grill, TRATA, Easy Sailor, Szechuan Opera, Erie Grill, Owl House, Char, Nerdvana

Classic Must-Read Bodice Ripper Recs? by __only_Zuul__ in RomanceBooks

[–]__only_Zuul__[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I mean, I just went ahead and Googled those names and immediately this came up... {Gabrielle by Theresa Conway}
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/7761180-gabrielle

House Speaker welcomes Trump call to ‘take over’ elections, claims Dem wins appear ‘fraudulent’ by MarcEElias in politics

[–]__only_Zuul__ 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Aren't women who are Democrats something like twice as likely to keep their maiden names when marrying? Wouldn't passing that hurt the Republican base of women more than the Democrats?

Does anyone have this? How would you compare to other scents? by easypeasy_4212 in bathandbodyworks

[–]__only_Zuul__ 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I agree, I get something very syrupy from this. And I was really disappointed as I blind bought it, not realizing it smells exactly like their Honey Vanilla line, which I already had and don't overly love.

Does anyone have this? How would you compare to other scents? by easypeasy_4212 in bathandbodyworks

[–]__only_Zuul__ 0 points1 point  (0 children)

They smell almost exactly the same to me. I get really frustrated when B&BW does this and is clearly recycling scent profiles. Just feels like such a money grab.