A Comment On Bill Maher’s (Dystopian) Rant About Sex Robots

Remember that time someone old, out of touch, and under-informed made an accurate prediction about the impact of emerging technology? That’s not a rhetorical question. Honestly, does anyone remember that ever happening to a meaningful extent?

I ask because it’s been happening for years. People keep seeing an amazing new technology and assume the worst. In some cases, they’re just dead wrong about trends that will or won’t catch on. Some just made dead wrong assumptions about how technology and society would evolve.

At the end of the day, nobody truly knows for sure. It’s fun to speculate, especially when that technology involves sex robots. I know I’ve entertained some colorful possibilities and potential issues, but I never claim I know for certain. I try not to be overly optimistic, but I don’t try to be downright fatalistic, either.

Then, there’s Bill Maher’s latest rant about the future of sex robots. I could try and break down every flaw in his commentary, but I’ll let the clip speak for itself.

Now, I need to disclose that I’m a fan of Bill Maher. I like his show. I think he’s funny. He’s got a great wit and a dry style that I’ve always found entertaining. When it comes to technology, though, he’s more a chronic whiner than a visionary.

He compares social media to cigarettes and complains about how technology has become too complicated. For a man who’s over 60, that’s not surprising. However, for someone smart enough to stay on TV for over three decades, it’s still absurd.

Deconstructing his rant is not that hard. Maher frames the impact of sex robots as an either/or position. To him, people will either completely reject human intimacy for robots or reject robots in favor of human intimacy. However, he never justifies why people would choose only one or the other.

Would people only interact with a sex robot because they can have sex on a level that humans just can’t match? That assumes people are really basic and would all react the same if they somehow had access to a life-like sex robot. However, people are not basic. People are complicated. They have many different wants, needs, and attitudes. Maher himself has noted this when discussing other issues.

Sex robots will change human dynamics significantly. It won’t destroy them. It won’t completely destroy the whole of society. They’re not nuclear weapons. They’ll just change how things are and for older people, especially in Maher’s demographic, that can be scary. It’s easy to assume the worst, but it’s still an assumption and those are notoriously unreliable for predicting the future. The stock market alone is proof of that.

There are many other things I can say about Maher’s rant, but it would all come back to the same point. It’s just flawed and misguided. It assumes there’s not room for both human connection and sex robots in the future. Considering how adaptive and social humans are, I believe we’ll find a way to incorporate them into a new social dynamic that nobody can predict.

It’ll be nothing like Maher can ever imagine.

It’ll be nothing like I can imagine, either.

The future will still come. It’s just a matter of how we’ll adapt, evolve, and grow with it.

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Jack Fisher’s Sexy Sunday Thoughts: Post-Valentine’s Day 2020 Edition

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I hope everyone had a great Valentine’s Day. That’s not me being facetious. I mean it. I really do hope everyone who is lucky enough to have a special someone in their life made the most of this most Hallmark of holidays. As a lover of romance and a writer of romantic content, I believe genuine love is worth celebrating.

That’s not easy to say for someone who is currently single and has been lacking in romantic prospects for the past several years. I’ve tried online dating. I’ve even tried to let friends hook me up with someone. It hasn’t worked. To date, the most I’ve gotten out of it is a bunch of spam for cam girls from online dating accounts.

It’s easy to be cynical on Valentine’s Day. It’s also easy to be bitter when your hope for finding love clashes with the inescapable fact that you’re not getting any younger. At the same time, seeing other people celebrate the love they have found is genuinely uplifting. It helps remind me that love is real. It doesn’t just exist in the sexy stories I read and write about.

Love is a beautiful thing. As corny as that sounds, it’s true and Valentine’s Day brings that beauty to life. Whether it’s through exchanging chocolates or romantic getaways to tropical islands, I encourage everyone to celebrate that feeling. I just hope I get to celebrate it with a special someone one of these days.

It didn’t happen this year. That’s disappointing, but not overly discouraging. I have another year ahead of me. Who knows what will happen between now and then? For now, here are some Sexy Sunday Thoughts for those still bathing in the afterglow. Enjoy!


“What is perversion if not a kink that hasn’t gone mainstream?”


“Does good sex help you sleep or does it just render you too exhausted?”


“We’re either not as horny as we think we are or much hornier than we care to admit.”


“A fear of commitment often implies a tacit mistrust of one’s genitals.”


“Can you ever fully trust an open container of butter on a nymphomaniac’s kitchen counter?”


“If ghosts were real, then wouldn’t supermodels’ bathrooms with the most haunted places in the world?”


“A drunken hookup is an accident, but a drunken three way is an accomplishment.”


Valentine’s Day may be over, but you don’t need a holiday to celebrate love. You just need to have a special someone in your life and a desire to cherish the love you share. When the love you share is that real, every day feels like a holiday. I hope I get to experience that feeling one day. Until then, I encourage those who have found love to treasure it, regardless of what day it is.

Yes, I know that’s also corny.

No, I do not care.

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“My Sweet” A Sexy Short Story (For The Day After Valentine’s Day)

couple-taking-a-romantic-bath-at-the-health-spa-royalty-free-image-1577127157

The following is a sexy short story for those still basking in the afterglow of Valentine’s Day. If you had a bad Valentine’s Day or were alone, then maybe this will help rekindle your sense of romance. I know it’s been a while since I wrote a sexy short story. I decided Valentine’s Day warranted the extra effort. If you’d like to see more, please let me know in the comments. Enjoy!

“Mmm…that smells so good,” said Calvin Gains with a wide, excited grin.

“You must be hungry. I just put a fresh batch in the oven,” replied his beautiful wife, Candy.

“You’re right, my sweet. I am hungry…and then some.”

Joyous, playful laughter filled the kitchen of the undersized suburban house Calvin shared with his high school sweetheart turned dedicated spouse. Candy – a perfectly befitting name, if ever there was one – had a knack for making every kitchen smell heavenly. With the holidays around the corner, she’d been busier than usual.

Calvin, always one to show his appreciation, snuck up behind his long-time lover and slipped his arms around her waist. She responded with a soft purr and a loving smile. The fact that she still smelled like flour, sugar, and cinnamon wasn’t lost on him, either. If anything, it gave him more reasons to kiss down her neck and inhale her sweet scent.

“I used your favorite recipe,” Candy told him, still standing in front of the hot oven, “an extra pinch of vanilla…a little bit of nutmeg…and a double dose of cocoa powder.”

“If you’re trying to make me hungrier, you’re doing too good a job,” Calvin said, deepening his embrace and intensifying his kisses.

“You know me. When it comes to cooking the best holiday treats and pleasing my husband, I like to overdo it!”

Ever since they got married, Calvin didn’t think he could love this woman more than he already did. Time and again, year after year, she proved him wrong. During the holidays, she always went the extra mile.

The kitchen was still a mess, as it often was whenever Candy spent more than an hour laboring over her famous triple chocolate sheet cake. It was just one of the many wonderous dishes she prepared for him and the family over the holidays. Her grandmother had owned a bake shop and her mother was a renowned chef. She’d grown up in a home surrounded by skilled cooks who knew their way around the kitchen.

To her, cooking for loved ones meant more than just preparing a meal. It was its own unique way of conveying affection. Calvin, having grown up on TV dinners and soggy leftovers, didn’t know just how much affection could be shared through something as simple as food. She’d actually made him cookies when they went on their first date. She offered them to him with the same loving sentiment that he’d shared when he offered her flowers.

It was the first sign that Candy was a special woman. She proved it once more when she turned around within his embrace, wrapped her arms around his neck, and captured her lips with hers. Even through her lipstick, Calvin could taste traces of the batter. It was so sweet that his heart skipped a beat.

“Mmm…tasty,” she said lovingly.

“Speak for yourself,” he quipped.

That little taste stirred more than just his appetite. As they kissed in the middle of the dirty kitchen, the heat from the oven raised the temperature of the area. It was already hot to begin with, as was often the case whenever Candy cooked, but such heat only intensified his passions.

It made clothes feel sticky and sweaty.

It made hearts beat faster.

It made every touch seem more intimate.

Whether due to the growing heat or his escalating hunger, Calvin craved a more fulfilling form of love. He held her closer and kissed her harder, their bodies pressing together, as if nourished by their ambitious touch. He was just wearing a sweater and jeans. She had on a skirt, a tight-fitting T-shirt, and an apron. However, when he traced his hand down her waist, eventually making his way towards her inner thighs, he discovered an unexpected treat.

“Ooh! What have we here?” Calvin said, breaking the kiss, but keeping her in his embrace. “Candy Gains, are you wearing fancy lace underwear while you’re cooking?”

“You mean the same underwear I wore on our anniversary last month?” she said coyly. “I think I am.”

“I want to say I’m shocked, but given how much you love to cook and how much passion you put into each dish…”

Calvin’s words trailed off. As his tone grew deeper and manlier, he skillfully slipped his fingers into her panties to feel the womanly flesh beneath. He was gentle, but direct. He knew just how his wife liked to be touched in her intimate areas. He also knew what got her aroused. Being in a kitchen, cooking her favorite treats for her loved ones, definitely got her juices flowing.

“Just so you know…the cake needs to cook for at least 20 minutes,” Candy told him, already gasping intently under his touch.

“Hmm…20 minutes, you say?” Caivin said, now speaking directly into her ear. “That’s a long wait when you’re hungry.”

“Well, there are ways we can pass the time.”

“Oh? What did you have in mind?” he asked, as though he didn’t already know.

Candy laughed playfully before turning around within his embrace, locking eyes with his and casting that beaming smile that was every bit as sweet as her name. The fact that she still smelled like flour and chocolate only made it sweeter.

Without saying a word, she kissed him passionately on the lips. At the same time, she slipped her hands under his sweater and pawed his manly flesh. It sent the message she needed to send. He responded in kind, twirling his tongue with hers while still feeling up her skirt. While one appetite eagerly waited, another became more pressing.

“Sweater…pants…off!” she gasped in between desperate kissing.

Her voice was muffled, but Calvin heeded her impassioned call. He removed his sweater as quickly as he could. He didn’t even think twice about tossing it into the dining room, leaving him shirtless in the middle of a hot kitchen. Before it was even off, Candy went to work undoing his pants. There was already a noticeable bulge in the way. That didn’t stop her from getting them off, underwear and all.

Even as she helped strip him naked, the heated kissing continued. It kept the passions flowing while also supplementing his wife’s arousal. As soon as he kicked his pants off, he lifted her up in his arms and set her down on the kitchen counter across from the oven. From there, he reached up her skirt again and removed her panties. She even elevated her hips, assisting him every step of the way.

“Do me, Cal. Do me right here on the kitchen counter!” Candy urged.

“Does this count as an appetizer?” he asked coyly.

“It can be…depending on how mannerly you intend to be.”

“You know me, my love. Even when I’m hungry, I always mind my manner!”

As if to remind – and it wouldn’t have been the first time he did so in the kitchen – he dropped to his knees and pushed her legs apart. He spread them so wide that she knocked over some empty cans of ingredients, but she didn’t mind in the slightest. He’d clean it up later himself. For now, he had another kind of meal before him.

Candy had become more aroused than he thought. He could already see her exposed womanhood under her skirt. She was already wet, but in the same way she loved cooking delicious treats, he loved getting her intensely aroused.

“Mmm…my favorite appetizer,” Calvin said as he licked his lips in anticipation.

With an unobstructed view and a clear path, he buried his head between her legs and gorged on her pussy. He was thorough, but mannerly, using his lips and tongue with the utmost care to stimulate her tender folds.

His good manners paid off. Candy let out sharp gasps that echoed loudly throughout the kitchen. She became so aroused that she reached under her apron, lifted up her shirt, and began fondling her breasts. In doing so, she revealed that she hadn’t been wearing a bra. That hinted to Calvin that she’d planned on getting him horny with her holiday cooking. If that were the case, then her plan worked perfectly.

“Cal! Oohhh Cal!” Candy moaned with delight. “Dine on me, my love! Dine!”

Calvin responded with only a muffled grunt. Still holding onto her thighs, her legs spread in a perfect V-shape, he stepped up his oral efforts.

He probed her hot folds with his tongue, hitting all those special parts that he knew so well. He trailed his lips up and down her slit, giving special attention to her swollen clitoris. He felt her body shudder under the onslaught of sensations. Looking up, he saw her joyous expression. She even banged her head back against the kitchen cabinet at one point, arching her back and squeezing her breasts. It was a beautifully erotic sight, one that made her feminine juices taste even sweeter.

It would’ve been good manners to keep eating her out until she climaxed. However, Calvin couldn’t keep ignoring his own escalating appetite. Between his stomach and his dick, desire compounded desire. Now intoxicated by the taste of his wife’s flesh, he broke with formality and rose back to his feet.

“I know it’s not time for dessert,” he said as he positioned himself between her legs, “but I need at least a sample of the main course.”

“Calvin, my darling husband,” Candy said with a seductive grin, “take all the samples you need!”

“Even if I work up a bigger appetite in the end?”

Especially if you work up an appetite!” she said intently.

Like an angel seeking to nourish his very soul, his beautiful wife drew him into another embrace and kissed him. She didn’t care that his face had just been between her legs. If anything, that turned her on even more. She wanted him. She was as hungry for his sex as he was hungry for hers. With their lips locked and their bodies eager to satiate that hunger, Calvin took the first proverbial bite.

He thrust his hips forward.

He entered her wet womanly depths with his hard, manly flesh.

He shifted his hands to her hips while she locked her legs around his.

From there, their passions overtook their hunger. It didn’t matter that their kitchen wasn’t the most spacious room in the house. It also didn’t matter that the counter was dirty, cluttered, and not made to support an impassioned woman making love to her husband. The only thing that mattered was that they were together, their bodies entwined and their love taking a tangible form, just as his wife’s delicious treats cooked behind them.

“Yes! Yes! Oh Cal! Ohhh Cal!” Candy panted as they moved to the heated rhythm.

“Candy! My sweet, beautiful love! Ohhh yes!” he gasped.

He stepped up the pace of their lovemaking, moving his hips back and forth, working his throbbing manhood within her tight folds. They had already worked up quite a sweat and not just because of oven. Calvin could still smell the cake. That hadn’t been lost on him, even as their bodies rocked and their moans filled the kitchen. It was almost fitting, making love to the woman who nourished his body with the same passion she put into her meals.

Like her uncanny culinary skills during the holidays, such passion paid off. He sensed her nearing an orgasm already. Candy always got very animated during their lovemaking, even during spontaneous acts. She hitched her legs up, grabbed onto his shoulders, and narrowed her gaze on him. He could even feel her inner muscles contracting harder around his manhood, as if her body were embracing him as much as her heart.

“Cal…I’m close,” was all she got out through labored gasps.

“Come, my sweet. Come!” he told her.

She took his loving words to heart. After a few more focused movements, Calvin sent his lover over the edge. Her expression tensed to the flood of sensations. Her nails dug into his shoulders while her grip with her legs tightened. He could feel his lover shudder under the weight of her release. As he took in the view, he smiled and caressed her face.

Watching her react to the rush of ecstasy was always such a spectacle. Seeing it while her delicious treats cooked in the background made it even more rewarding. Candy even acknowledged that. As she took in her release, she leaned in and kissed him lovingly. She then whispered something telling into her ear.

“There’s still time to work up an appetite,” she said to him.

“I know,” he said with a mischievous undertone. “And I intend to use it!”

He kissed her again, trailing his lips down her neck and listening to her labored gasps. Once certain she had caught her breath, he resumed their impromptu kitchen lovemaking.

With plenty of hunger still driving him, he withdrew from her briefly and realigned their now-sweaty bodies. Candy laughed gleefully, still in a post-orgasmic daze, as he bent her over the kitchen counter and positioned himself behind her. Now with a perfect view of her heart-shaped butt, which was still partially covered by her skirt, he guided his manhood back into her.

Once their flesh was re-entwined, he resumed their sensual rhythm. This time, however, he stepped up the intensity.

“Ooh, Cal! Oohhh yeah!” Candy moaned. “That’s it! Work it! Work it like that!”

“Mmm…Candy,” Calvin grunted.

She was encouraging him to cut loose and use that well-nourished body of his. Having helped nourish it through her cooking, she enjoyed the fruits of her labor as much as him. Calvin responded to her encouragement as best he could. The results were as sweet as any treat.

Back and forth, he worked his hips. He rocked her body with his intimate motions, keeping a firm hold of her hips. The sound of their flesh colliding filled the kitchen, along with more moans. Like any delicious appetizer, Calvin savored every bit of it. He enjoyed drawing out their lovemaking, just as he enjoyed drawing out a good meal. At times, he even leaned in and whispered his loving sentiment’s into his wife’s ear.

“You are…the sweetest thing…in the world,” he said to her.

Candy responded with more joyous moans and loving gestures. Through their steady succession of movements, Calvin built towards his own release. Candy even helped, bucking her hips and guiding his hands to her breasts to give him the energy he needed for that final push. He could already feel that intimate heat in his core building. His beautiful wife simply gave it the necessary spark to ignite it.

“Candy…I’m close too,” Calvin said through labored grunts.

“Come, my love! Your dessert awaits!” she said playfully.

He delivered the last round of desperate motions. Finally, Calvin crossed that final threshold and entered that special world of delectable bliss. It was as savory as any hungry, impassioned man could’ve hoped.

As he soaked in his release, he wrapped his arms around his wife, rested his chin on her shoulder, and let out a euphoric gasp that filled the kitchen. She took his hands in hers, holding onto him as he enjoyed the feeling. He felt her womanhood embrace him as well, contracting and throbbing as he released his load into her womanly depths. It was the final ingredient to a perfect dish of passion and it couldn’t have been sweeter.

“I love you, my sweet wife,” Calvin said to her.

“I love you too, Cal…my delicious husband,” Candy replied.

Their intimate flesh parted, but they remained in a loving embrace. Still hot and sweaty from their lovemaking, they shared another soft kiss to complete their intimate act.

Then, in a moment that couldn’t have been timed better, the timer on the oven went off. Candy’s cake was complete.

“Perfect timing!” she laughed.

“I’ll say,” Calvin said.

“See? That wasn’t too long a wait.”

“I admit, you made it easier,” he said. “It’s almost as though you knew your famous holiday treats would get me in a particular mood.”

“What can I say? I enjoy satisfying all my husband’s appetites!”

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Happy Valentine’s Day 2020!

To everyone out there, whether you’ve found the love of your life, are looking for them, or just want another reason to share affection with the world, Happy Valentine’s Day!

As a romance fan, I have a special affinity for a day that celebrates romance.

As a single man who has nobody to spend the day with, I’m also somewhat conflicted.

I don’t deny that it’s disheartening on some levels, seeing couples going the extra mile to celebrate their love today. At the same time, I’m encouraged. It reminds me that love is worth pursuing. Finding that special someone is worth the effort, no matter how daunting it may seem.

One day, I’ll find that someone. When that day comes, Valentine’s Day will become even more special. Until then, please use this day to enjoy and cherish the love you’ve found. If you need to get into the spirit, check out some of my sexy novels and my sexy short stories.

Love is a beautiful thing. Whether you celebrate it with chocolates or extended periods of lovemaking, do what you can to make Valentine’s Day special.

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A Rant About Going To The Dentist

I hate going to the dentist.

I know that’s not a very controversial statement. Most people who go the dentist don’t go because they want to. They go because they have to. It’s about as fun as getting a colonoscopy, although I would argue a colonoscopy is preferable. At least you’re not expected to undergo that literal shit show at least twice a year.

I say this after having just come back from my latest six-month checkup. While going to the dentist has never been an overly pleasant experience, this was more frustrating than usual. It’s not just because it’s inconvenient, uncomfortable, and distressing, although that is a big part of it. This trip was a special kind of annoying.

It’s an annoyance that has been building and compounding over the past several years. In the past, going to the dentist was just a formality. I’d go, get my teeth cleaned, and make an appointment for six months later. It’s still never a pleasant feeling, having a hygienist poke your teeth with metal for a half-hour. It was still bearable, at the very least.

These past few trips have changed things up and not in a good way. Now, every time I go, both the dentist and the hygienist seem to find something wrong with my teeth or come up with some new, exceedingly uncomfortable procedure.

Last time, it was X-rays. I’ve had them done before, but something must have changed because I swear the hygienist tried to X-ray every individual tooth. Doing so required me to bite down on this uncomfortable contraption that made my mouth feel like someone was punching it from the inside. It didn’t help that the hygienist seemed unfamiliar with the technology.

Then, there was the exam itself. For the past several years, this dentist has been telling me to do all these elaborate things to prevent cavities, tooth decay, and gum recession. As a result, I’ve tried to be responsible and follow his professional recommendations. That includes the following:

  • Buying an expensive electronic toothbrush that has equally expensive replacement heads
  • Switching toothpaste to a pricier brand
  • Flossing more regularly, both with regular floss and an expensive water floss pick
  • Regularly using special mouth wash to prevent cavities
  • Undergoing gum graft surgery that was so uncomfortable that I would not wish it on my worst enemy

I did all of this over the span of the past five years. I’ve invested time and money to ensure that I maintain proper dental care, just as he asked. It should pay off, shouldn’t it?

Apparently, all that money and time was totally wasted. At my last appointment, the dentist tells me I still got a cavity. On top of that, he didn’t even make clear that it was a cavity.

He used some weird dentist jargon that I didn’t understand. He never even told me I had to come back into the office, get my mouth numbed up again, and have it filled in a procedure that ruins at least half of your day. I didn’t find out until the receptionist asked when I wanted to schedule a filling.

I was pissed, to say the least. It took a great deal of restraint to keep myself from yelling at her and my dentist. At this point, it feels like they’re just plundering my dental insurance and seeing how much I can endure hours in an uncomfortable dental chair. I don’t know if it’s just my dentist, but if I keep having experiences like this, I’m going to find someone else.

I know it’s impossible to get around.

I know dental hygiene is important.

Even so, I’ll say it again.

I hate going to the dentist.

Fuck going to the dentist.

I just needed to get that off my chest.

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New Comic Book Day February 12, 2020: My Pull List And Pick Of The Week

There are just a few days left until Valentine’s Day. For a romance lover like myself, it should be exciting. However, since I’m currently single, it’s hard to get that excited. Being single on Valentine’s Day is like being sick at an all-you-can-eat buffet. You feel awful, but see so many others enjoying the many treats available to them.

I still hold out hope that I’ll one day meet someone that will make every Valentine’s Day both exciting and special. In the meantime, it helps to be a comic book fan. It’s not just that comics offer a weekly dose of concentrated joy, courtesy of Comixology and my local comic shop. Many of my favorite comics also include top quality romance narratives.

I’ve mentioned a few before and every week seems to build on that foundation. Lately, romance in superhero comics has been more refined than usual. I attribute that to far less reliance on horrendous love triangles and more emphasis on actual romantic chemistry. What a concept, right?

Romantic undertones aside, superhero comics are a fertile ground for romance. Some are more iconic than others, but even the non-iconic ones help add a little drama into the narrative. I find myself appreciating those narratives more and more as my tastes in romance mature.

Eventually, I’d like to craft my own real-world romance narrative with that special someone. For now, I’m content being single and enjoying a fresh batch of new comics. Below is my pull list, which tends to be larger than usual around Valentine’s Day, and my pick of the week. Enjoy!


My List

Amazing Spider-Man #39

Catwoman #20

Excalibur #7

Gwen Stacy #1

Harley Quinn & Poison Ivy #6

Immortal Hulk #31

Iron Man 2020 #2

Go Go Power Rangers #29

Savage Avengers #10

Supergirl #39

Superman #20

Thor #3

X-Force #7

X-Men #6


My Pick of the Week

It’s never too late for a character to become more compelling. It doesn’t matter if they’re in a superhero comic, a Seth Rogan movie, or cartoon created by Seth MacFarlane. A character, no matter how flat or one-dimensional they may be, needs just one quality story to give them the depth they need.

It’s been years since Mystique had a story like that. Aside from the underrated and over-criticized version offered by Jennifer Lawrence in the X-Men movies, Mystique has been one of the flattest characters in the entire X-Men franchise. In a franchise that includes the likes of Deadpool and Mojo, that’s saying something. That finally changed in “X-Men #6.”

This is one of those issues that may ultimately become one of the most important single issues in Mystique’s chaotic, yet colorful history. Writer Jonathan Hickman builds on the role she played in “House of X/Powers of X.” Having been part of the deadly battle to destroy Mother Mold and the Orchis Forge, she was on the front lines of the pivotal battles that helped establish Krakoa.

In the shadow of those events, “X-Men #6” expands on Mystique’s motivation and how it clashes with both Charles Xavier and Magneto. For once, her motivation has nothing to do with tormenting the X-Men, alienating off her kids, or messing with Wolverine. Instead of her usual hatred and vindictiveness, this duplicitous woman who never misses a chance to back-stab the X-men is driven by love.

It’s true. Mystique is capable of love. It may seem strange to anyone familiar with her blood-soaked history, but it’s true. She has always had one true love in her life. Her name is Irene “Destiny” Adler.

It’s impossible to overstate how important Destiny is to Mystique. She may be selfish, violent, and misguided most of the time, but her love for Destiny has always been a driving force. Even though Destiny has been dead for years, she still influences Mystique a great deal.

That makes her continued absence a bit of a problem for Mystique. She was among those resurrected by the Krakoan resurrection protocols in “House of X/Powers of X.” She knows the protocols work. She knows that Magneto and Charles Xavier have the ability to resurrect Destiny, but they won’t.

While they have their reasons, which were also made abundantly clear in “House of X/Powers of X,” it’s not enough for Mystique. She wants the love of her life back. Hickman further establishes just how much Destiny means to her. It makes her motivations and frustrations understandable. It even makes Mystique somewhat sympathetic, which is saying a lot for someone with her body count.

It’s refreshing and ominous. “X-Men #6” doesn’t just give Mystique an overdue does of depth. It sets her up to be one of the biggest threats to the future of Krakoa. She’s willing to do all sorts of horrible things for selfish reasons, but when she’s motivated by love, she’s more dangerous than a million sentinel attacks. That’s what makes her worth keeping an eye on. It’s also what makes “X-Men #6” my pick of the week.

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A Simple Comment On The Criticism/Whining On “Birds Of Prey”

Sometimes, a movie just fails to find an audience.

It’s not because of some larger social agenda that backfired horribly.

It’s not because of some huge backlash caused by misguided marketing strategies, either.

Most of the time, the world isn’t that fanciful. It’s just chaotic, unpredictable, and messy. No matter how much a movie, TV show, or product attempts to appeal to a broad audience, it can just fail. That’s all there is to it.

Trying to fit an agenda into that failure is like trying to build a conspiracy around why you’re stuck in traffic. The world isn’t out to get you or people like you. Most of the time, shit just happens and you’re just caught up in it. That’s not to say that agendas never squeeze themselves into the media. It happens, but it’s effect is often exaggerated. Most of the time, the final product just doesn’t work.

That brings me to “Birds of Prey.” Now, in the interest of full disclosure, I completely forgot about this movie. I had no excitement for it and not just because I was underwhelmed by “Suicide Squad.” I like Margot Robbie. I like Harley Quinn. She’s a great actress who plays a great character. The movie just did not grab my attention.

I saw the trailer. It was fine, but forgettable. I didn’t feel compelled to watch it 10 times in a row, as I did with “Wonder Woman 1984.” I didn’t feel compelled to see the movie, either. Even though it got good reviews, it just didn’t appeal to me. I planned to watch it when it came out on cable. Based on the early box office haul, I’m not alone in that sentiment.

I’d be perfectly fine to leave it at that. In previous years, I wouldn’t even bring it up. However, due to the growing inclination to make everything political, the under-performance of “Birds of Prey” is already getting the wrong people talking about it for all the wrong reasons.

Some are already lumping this movie in the same category as 2016’s “Ghostbusters” or the horrendously bad “Charlie Angels” reboot. Now, I don’t want to get into the politics behind it, mostly because I value the integrity of my brain cells. I’ll just say this. Whether you’re liberal, conservative, feminist, traditionalist, anarchist, or Marxist, there’s one thing to remember.

It’s a goddamn movie. Sometimes, movies just fail to find an audience. That’s it. That’s all there is to it.

Maybe it eventually becomes a cult classic, like “Blade.” Maybe it rebounds with good word of mouth. Either way, it has nothing to do with an agenda. The public, as a whole, just didn’t respond to it. Any criticism/whining beyond that is just asinine.

That’s all I have to say about “Birds of Prey.” Harley Quinn is still a great character and Margot Robbie is still a great actress. Your agenda, whatever it may be, has no bearing on that. It never has. It never will. Get over yourself and just watch the movies you enjoy.

 

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Filed under gender issues, media issues, movies, outrage culture, political correctness, politics, sex in media, sex in society, superhero comics, superhero movies

My Reaction To Week One Of The (New And Improved) XFL

Two years ago, I expressed intrigue and excitement about the prospect of the XFL returning almost 20 years after its initial failure. Part of that is because I’m a lifelong football fan. My annual excitement over the Super Bowl is proof of that. Another part of that is because the months between February and April, when baseball season starts, is a sports desert.

The NBA and NHL regular season is winding down.

The NCAA basketball tournament hasn’t started yet.

There’s a real void to be filled. Many have tried to fill it with spring football, including the first version of the XFL. To date, all have failed. It has led some to believe that spring football just isn’t possible. I respectfully disagree with that sentiment.

I believe there is a market for more football and I believe this new version of the XFL is doing everything right in pursuing it. They took their time, using the past two years to make sure they had plenty of money in hand and refine the rules. After plenty of waiting and anticipation, week one kicked off this past weekend. I honestly wasn’t sure what to expect. Given how the first XFL failed, it could’ve been a disaster.

After watching all four games and seeing the quality of the product on the field, I have just one thing to say. As it just so happens, Morty Smith said it better.

I know it’s premature.

I know a lot can change between the first week of the season in the last.

For now, that doesn’t matter. I’m in. The XFL 2.0 has sold me. It’s real football at a time when the sports world needs it. I was rooting for it before. Now, I’m rooting even harder. The world of football and the world of sports, in general, will benefit from the XFL succeeding.

I still miss the old XFL cheerleaders, but I’ll manage.

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Jack Fisher’s Sexy Sunday Thoughts: Sexy Love Letters

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In the era of the internet, the idea of sending anyone a love letter probably seems dated. Anyone under the age of 30 might look at the letters people used to send and cringe. The notion that you couldn’t send a message and get a response in under five seconds must seem horrifying on some level. Who could possibly wait that long?

While writing letters may be outdated, the idea of a love letter isn’t, especially with Valentine’s Day just around the corner. It doesn’t matter if it takes the form of an email or a text. The sentiment is the same. When your lover isn’t there to share a romantic sentiment, you have to send a message and hope they get it. A love letter may not be as effective as other gestures, but it helps convey passion on an important level.

I learned to appreciate love letters at an early age. Years back, my grandmother actually showed me a box of old letters that my grandfather sent her while he was serving in the military during World War II. The letters weren’t just a unique piece of history. They demonstrated that love is a powerful feeling, no matter the era or the medium.

Whether it’s pen on paper or through a smart phone, a love letter tells someone how much you love them. It conveys that your love is something that’s worth articulating in a tangible form. It’s a special sentiment that’s worth sharing. Please let these Sexy Sunday Thoughts inspire you to write a love letter at some point today. Enjoy!


“Multiple orgasm are the deep fried Twinkies of sex.”


“When you’re married to someone you don’t love, foreplay is like commuting.”


“Logically speaking, we’ll never know who first successfully faked an orgasm.”


“You can’t promote family values without indirectly promoting incest porn.”


“Loving someone often means acknowledging all the kinky stuff they want to do to you.”


“Technically, the first orgy was the first diversity initiative.”


“Prostitutes and celibate priests are the only ones who can put a numeric value on how many fucks they give.”


Love is a beautiful thing. It’s worth celebrating, sharing, and exploring. There are many ways to go about it. A love letter is just one of them. You never know how big a difference it can make in your relationship until you write one out. One day, you may get to share them with your grandchildren, if only to show that love is beautiful in any generation.

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How I Would (Most Likely) Use A Self-Driving Car

The future can be scary at times, but the prospect of improved technology helps make it more exciting. I would argue it’s the most exciting part of the future. You see some of the fancy gadgets that tech companies are working on and you want to live long enough to use them, especially the sexy ones.

I’ve talked about emerging technology before. While I tend to be hopeful about the impact of certain technologies, I don’t overlook the existential dangers they pose. Some of those dangers are more relevant than others, but others are less fantastic and more pragmatic. One of those advances is self-driving cars.

Unlike some of the other advanced technologies that are decades away, this one already exists, albeit in a limited form. There are cars on the market today that can drive themselves in certain situations. I even had a chance to ride in one a couple years back. It works remarkably well, albeit it could only function on major highways.

There’s plenty of room for improvement, but it’s a promising start. The fact that it exists and is being refined as we speak means this is happening. It’s at an early stage, but like cell phones before it, the technology will continue to be refined. Eventually, it’ll get to the point where it’s better at navigating traffic than any human.

I honestly look forward to that day because I’m not a big fan of driving. I don’t mind it, but I’ve never been particularly fond of long drives, even if it’s for a vacation. My back gets sore, my arms get stiff, and I just get frustrated after the third hour behind the wheel.

It’s because of my aversion to long drives that I don’t take as many trips as I wish. I believe that if I had access to a perfectly functioning self-driving car, that would change. If the technology were refined to a point that I’d just type in an address and let it do the rest, then I would definitely go on trips. .With that in mind, I’d like to share a brief anecdote for how I would use a self-driving car.

It’s Friday night. I finished my last workout of the week, cleaned myself up, and ate my dinner. I’m tired, but I don’t intend to spend the weekend lounging around the house.

About a half-hour before I usually turn in, I pack my bag. I then put on my most comfortable pair of clothes, take a quick bathroom break, and head to the nearest self-driving car. As soon as I’m inside, I punch in the address to the beach that’s furthest south from where I am, whether it’s Florida, South Carolina, or somewhere in between.

I make sure the car has the range and speed. I then close it up, turn the car on, and let it work. From there, I just lay back in the seat and let myself fall asleep.

If all goes well, I wake up just as the car arrives at the beach. Even if the sun hasn’t risen yet, it’s right there in the nearest parking lot to the shore. I get out of the car, find the best spot I can on the beach, and wait to watch the sunrise. I then spend the rest of the day at the beach, lounging about and hitting up beach bars.

Once the sun sets, I return to the self-driving car, punch in my home address, make sure its charged, and ride it home. If I’ve done everything right, I sleep through the ride and wake up in my driveway. It caps off the end of a nice, relaxing day at the beach in which I slept through the commute.

This is just one idea from the perspective of what I’d do. If you have other ideas on how you’d use a self-driving car, please share them in the comments.

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Filed under Artificial Intelligence, futurism, technology