Invincible: The Trauma of Being A Superhero

This is a video from my YouTube channel, Jack’s World.

This video is a lengthy, but in depth discussion about being a superhero and the trauma that comes with it. Few franchises or characters dare to explore it. But Invincible, both the comic and the TV show, dare to demonstrate in brutal detail just how traumatic being a hero can be.

There’s a lot to be said about the unique heroic journey of Mark Grayson, Atom Eve, and even Omni-Man. But I contend that the trauma of being a hero and doing the right thing is the connective tissue that makes this story so powerful. Enjoy!

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Filed under superhero comics, television, YouTube

Sexy Short Story: Sharing The Love

The following is a sexy short story that I wrote with the help of Sudowrite. Enjoy!


It was Thursday night. It was dark, cloudy, and windy out. Alana Mason had told her roommates, Tanya Sheen and Travis Bailey, that she was working late that night at her office. Being a graphic designer for a media company, that wasn’t unusual. But about a month ago, that became a lie. Because she didn’t work late on Thursdays anymore. Instead, she came home early, knowing very well that this was the night that Tanya and Travis had designated as their sex night.

Not long ago, Alana wouldn’t have cared. She had always been promiscuous, going back to high school. But recently, she experienced a nasty breakup with an abusive ex-boyfriend whose name she refused to say out loud. She hadn’t been on a date, let alone had sex since then.

By contrast, Tanya and Travis might as well be a fairy tale romance. Alana had watched it unfold first-hand, being one of Tanya’s oldest friends. She’d been there when Tanya and Travis met at a track and field event. She knew from the first day there was chemistry. They were both so outgoing and affectionate. Nobody was surprised when they fell in love and had remained in love, all throughout college.

Their relationship was the opposite of the numerous relationships Alana had experienced. Either they were just passionless hook-ups or endlessly volatile, leaving her bitter and envious of what her friends had. She’d even seen Travis and Tanya fool around with other couples, but not get at all jealous. At one point, seeing them together was genuinely upsetting.

Then, one night, she started listening to them on the nights they had sex. What started as a lurid curiosity soon became a growing intrigue. It eventually got to a point where Alana went out of her way to spy on Tanya and Travis when they were getting intimate. Tonight was no exception. Having entered the front door as quietly as possible, she carefully navigated their darkened apartment towards their bedroom.

As always, their door wasn’t fully closed. They didn’t bother because they didn’t think they had to. Alana peeked inside, her heart pounding in anticipation. The dimly lit room was illuminated by the soft glow of candles and the cityscape outside. It was a very intimate ambience and Tanya and Travis were making good use of it.

“Ohhh Tanya…” Travis gasped in that deep, masculine tone of his.

The sound of his voice perfectly complemented the erotic imagery before Alana. Travis was already fully naked, his legs dangling over the foot of the bed while he leaned back on his arms. And Tanya was down on her knees, having stripped down to her bra and panties, giving her lover sensual, yet thorough blowjob.

“She just loves showing off those soft, supple lips of hers,” Alana said under her breath as she watched intently.

Taking a closer look, Alana could see the way Tanya’s plump, pink lips engulfed the entire length of Travis’s impressive girth. Travis groaned in pleasure as Tanya ran her tongue up and down his shaft before sucking on the head of his cock. Alana couldn’t help but feel jealousy and lust surging through her veins. She slid her hand into her panties, her fingers dancing along her moist folds.

While Alana got her juices flowing, Tanya showed off more of her oral sex skills. She took him deep into her mouth, massaging his balls with her left hand as she cupped her own breast with her right. Alana’s free hand found her breast, rubbing it through her shirt and imagining it was her in Tanya’s place.

Tanya looked up at Travis, locking their eyes together while she continued to suck him off. The love and trust they shared was overwhelming. Alana couldn’t help but moan softly, her panties now soaked with arousal. Alana still couldn’t believe what she was doing. She knew it was wrong to spy on them like this, but she couldn’t help it. The way they loved each other so openly and honestly, it was intoxicating. And the more she watched them, the more she yearned for that kind of intimacy for herself.

“If only I could have…could feel what they feel,” Alana whispered to herself.

She continued pleasuring herself while trying to keep quiet. But Travis and Tanya were already progressing to the next stage of their sex. After sucking him nice and hard, getting him fully erect, Tanya rose up from the floor and playfully slipped off her bra. Travis shot her a beaming grin, burying his face between her newly exposed breasts while grasping the sides of her panties before sliding them off. Once fully naked, they playfully laughed together as they got onto the bed and proceeded to make out with impassioned fervor.

Alana’s breathing was starting to get heavy. Her once slow, deliberate panting now turned into proper moans as she rubbed her clit in time with their kisses. Their naked bodies pressed against each other, it reminded her of what she was missing out on in her life. The fact that the couple before her didn’t know they were being watched only made the entire ordeal more erotic.

Eventually, the heated foreplay led to Tanya getting on all fours, grasping the thick comforter of their king-sized bed while Travis positioned himself behind her. From afar, Alana could see his fully erect cock. Her mouth went dry with desire at such a sight. But she could only watch as Travis grasped his lover’s waist, guided the tip of his penis towards the moist entrance to Tanya’s vagina, and thrust his hardened member into her.

A deep, guttural moan escaped Tanya’s lips as she arched her back. Alana watched on in astonished awe as she watched the couple in front of her have sex. Tanya’s eyes were closed, her head tilted back in pure ecstasy as Travis began to thrust his hips into hers. Alana could see the look of pure unadulterated bliss on Tanya’s flushed face, and it made her green with envy.

“Oh, God Travis…Yes! Yes! Ooh yes!” Tanya cried out as he pounded into her from behind.

The room was soon filled with the sounds of their passionate lovemaking – the slap of skin against skin, the wet squelching noises as Travis’s member slid in and out of Tanya’s wet pussy, and their heavy breathing. It was so raw, intimate, and sensual.

Watching so intently, Alana couldn’t take it anymore. She was so wet that she felt like she would combust if she didn’t finish herself off now. Alana unceremoniously pulled down her panties and slid three fingers inside her wet folds. She needed something inside of her right now, anything to help ease the ache in her core caused by watching the couple in front of her.

Meanwhile, Tanya and Travis continued to make love. Their moans, their heavy breathing, and the wet noises of their bodies colliding in an erotic spectacle. They were so affectionate, yet so energetic. Alana tried to replicate their motions as best as she could, her fingers moving in and out of her pussy at a frenetic pace. She moved her free hand up to her aching nipples, pinching them hard, mimicking what she saw on the bed in front of her. Her other hand continued to work its magic between her legs, desperate to reach the orgasm that was just out of reach.

“Oh Tanya…my love! You feel…so good,” Travis gasped, his voice strained with desire.

“Mmm…my sweet, Trea,” Tanya moaned, calling him by their pet name. It was a silly inside joke between them that nobody else knew about. “Please! Don’t…stop.”

In that moment, Alana had never been more jealous of a couple than she was right now. She wanted that kind of intimacy, that kind of connection with someone so badly that it hurt. But as she watched them make love, their bodies moving in perfect unison, Alana knew that the kind of love they shared was rare. And she wasn’t sure she would ever find it for herself.

That solemn thought was quickly obscured by the heightened gasps of Tanya and Travis. They were both close to climaxing. Alana could tell. Tanya had one of those unmistakable O-faces when she was approaching orgasm. And Travis had that intense look of determination he always got when he was about to go off.

“Baby…I’m coming!” Travis exclaimed.

“Me too, love! Me too!” Tanya cooed.

With a few more heavy thrusts Travis threw his head back and grunted, his hips twitching as he came inside Tanya. Tanya’s body contracted around him, her own orgasm washing over her. Alana could tell from the way her lover’s back arched and the high-pitched moans that escaped her lips that Tanya was experiencing pure ecstasy.

As Alana watched them ride out their orgasms, her envy led her to finger her vagina even harder, longing to join them in ecstasy. She was close…really close to getting that sweet release. She barely noticed that Tanya and Travis were now upright on the bed, kissing and caressing as they often did after sex.

But before Alana brought herself over the edge, her friend’s voice shattered the moment.

“Enjoying the show, Lana?” Tanya said.

“How would you grade our performance?” Travis said teasingly.

Almost immediately, Alana’s eyes widened with shock and embarrassment. She was so shaken that she practically fell over herself, her panties partially down her thighs and breasts still exposed. She briefly contemplated dashing down the hall to her bedroom. But Tanya and Travis were already laughing.

“It’s okay. We don’t mind having an audience,” Travis assured her.

“He’s right. Come on, don’t be shy! Open the door,” said Tanya.

Still blushing with embarrassment, Alana reluctantly stood up. She tried to fix herself in vain. She got her panties back up, but her breast was still partially exposed. She decided to let it be and opened the door.

As she entered, Alana tried to hide her expression as she approached her the amused couple. They were clearly holding back their laughter, but they didn’t seem too upset about being spied on during a private, intimate moment. They didn’t even make an effort to cover their naked bodies as Alana stood by the foot of the bed.

“So uh…” Alana began, struggling to find the words.

Tanya and Travis looked at her, their eyes alight with amusement. Alana had never been so mortified in all her life.

“So, how was the show?” Tanya asked casually. “Did you find it sufficiently sexy?”

“Or could we have used more dirty talk?” Travis offered.

Alana was still silent, offering only an awkward smile. She knew they were toying with her. But their friendly demeanor was reassuring.

“How long?” Alana found herself asking. “How long have you known I’ve been…eavesdropping?”

Tanya laughed and shook her head.

“Oh, Lana! We’ve known for over a month,” she confessed. “We’ve been waiting for you to either come clean or stop eavesdropping on us. Honestly, we were running out of ideas on how to ramp up the show. But I see we won’t have to worry about that anymore,” Tanya said with a wink.

Alana felt her cheeks burn even brighter, but her two best friends just grinned at her. She then realized something. They weren’t mad at her for invading their privacy. They seemed more concerned that she didn’t just talk to them.

“So, you’re not mad?” Alana asked cautiously.

“Nah, we’re not mad,” Tanya reassured her. “If anything, we’re flattered you find our sex life so…intriguing.”

“Yeah, and besides,” Travis added as he planted a kiss on Tanya’s neck, “if you were to catch us, we would prefer it be with you. You’re not just Tanya’s friend. You’re someone who’s had it rough lately on the romance front. If watching us helps you cope…hell, we’re happy to oblige!”

Alana felt a weight lift off her shoulders as she exhaled in relief. She also felt the tension within her ease. They were right. She had been going through a dry spell lately, romantically and sexually. Since her last breakup, Alana had turned to less than reputable sources to relieve her pent-up frustration. There were far worse ways she could’ve dealt with it. This felt like the least damaging option.

“Thanks, you guys,” Alana said, finally gathering her thoughts. “I guess…I just…”

“Missed having someone in your life? Or just someone to share your bed?” Tanya finished.

Alana nodded, unable to meet her gaze. “Yeah, I guess so.”

“Hey, don’t sweat it Lana,” Travis told her. “You’ve always been an affectionate, loving person. You’ll find a way to bounce back.”

“He’s right,” Tanya agreed, “You never know when you’ll find that special someone. Or when that special someone will find you.”

“I know. I just get…impatient sometimes,” said Alana, “and maybe a little lonely.”

“Lonely, eh?” said Tanya, who clearly noticed her disheveled clothes. “Is that all you are?”

A fresh round of embarrassment came over Alana. This time, she just shook her head and laughed. Tanya was a great friend, but she was not subtle, especially when it came to sexual matters. Alana usually didn’t mind, being very sexual herself. But this was an unusual situation.

While she continued to process everything that was unfolding, Tayna and Travis exchanged glances. Alana knew those looks. That lack of subtlety showed once more. Something was brewing in those mischievous minds of theirs.

Tanya then whispered something into her lover’s ear.

Travis whispered something back.

Their demeanor shifted as they got off the bed together and approached Alana.

“Lana…if you’re really this lonely,” Tanya said, her tone very suggestive, “why don’t you join us tonight?”

“Uh…join you?” said Alana, her mind racing along with her hormones. “You mean…”

Exactly what you think we mean,” said Travis, as he and Tanya now stood intimately close to her. “Join us in our sex night.”

“Take your clothes off. Get in bed with us. Enjoy some real, actual sex with people who care about you,” added Tanya. “You clearly want it.”

“And we don’t mind the extra company,” said Travis.

Alana’s demeanor shifted. They were both dead serious. They were really offering her to join them in a three-way.

“Are you sure it wouldn’t be weird for you?”

“Of course not!” Tanya said playfully. “Besides, it’s been a while since me and Travis enjoyed a three-way.”

“And it’s not every day you get to help a lonely friend, who just happens to be a sexy woman,” Travis added with a wink.

Alana glanced between her two best friends. Then, she looked to the inviting bed behind her. To share bed with the couple she had been spying on about for months…to feel their bodies against hers, to see if their sex was as mind-blowing as she had witnessed…a part of her dared her to say yes.

Her curiosity was piqued. And the lack of sex lately had left her body practically ached for a physical and emotional release. Both Tanya and Travis were willing, if not eager, to help her. The more Alana thought about it, the fewer excuses she had to refuse.

Finally, she came to a discussion.

“Alright,” she finally agreed, giving in to temptation. “Let’s do this!”

Tanya and Travis cheered in delight and embraced her. Their naked bodies already got Alana’s heart racing, but for very different reasons than before.

“Great!” Travis said, clearly excited about the prospect of another woman. “I promise we’ll make it really good for you.”

“No wonder Tanya loves you so much,” Alana remarked.

“Her’s a man of his word. And I care about my friend,” Tanya said. “So, let us help you. Get undressed already!”

“Here, we’ll help you,” said Travis.

The couple skillfully coordinated in getting her out of her clothes. They had clearly done something like this before. They were slow, playful, and sensual in their gestures. But that helped Alana relax into this unfamiliar situation. With every article of clothing that came off, Alana felt her inhibitions melt away. By the time her panties were around her ankles, she was fully on board with this.

Tossing her clothes aside, Alana stood before them in all her naked glory. Her heart would not stop pounding and her breaths were ragged with anticipation. She was really doing this. She was going to get in bed with Tanya and Travis for real.

“Well? Am I fit to join you in your bed?” she asked smoothly, trying to sound more confident than she looked.

“Yes…very fit,” Tanya purred, admiring her body up close.

“And…juicier too,” Travis added, playfully grasping her butt.

“Now shut up and kiss us! You’re already horny, so let’s get you comfortable.”

This time, Alana didn’t overthink. When Travis and Tanya kissed her, she eagerly kissed back. At the same time, Travis began fondling her breasts. Tanya reached down between her thighs and caressed the moist outer folds of her vagina.

Alana moaned, arching her back, and whimpered as Tanya’s fingers rubbed her clit. Alana felt herself melting under their touches as they laid her gently onto the bed, Travis’s hands roaming down her back while Tanya’s tongue explored her neck and collarbone. His fingers traced the lines of her spine before delving into her wet heat between her legs. She let out a long, low moan. The sensation of his fingers probing inside her was electric. She bucked up into his touch, wanting more.

Meanwhile, Tanya attached her lips to a nipple and suckled greedily, drawing it deep into her mouth, rolling it around with her tongue before releasing it.

“Oohh yes!” Alana gasped out.

Her hips rocked instinctively against Tanya’s touch as Travis probed deeper, finding that spot inside her that made her toes curl and her stomach clench with pleasure. Their scent filled the room – sweat, sex, and their uniquely entwined scent mixed together in the warmth of their love-making space.

She couldn’t believe how good this felt. They were driving her wild with desire as they took turns touching, teasing, and tantalizing her. Alana felt so hot and wet. But she also felt cared for and loved. That just took her desire to a new level.

“I think she’s ready for more, love,” said Tanya.

“I think so too,” agreed Travis.

“What do you think? Should we show her our oral skills?”

“I think we should!”

Alana opted to not say a word. She just grinned and let her friends lead, laying her in the middle of the bed while they strategically positioned themselves around her nude form. Tanya pushed her thighs apart and trailed her tongue up her inner thighs, eventually arriving Alana’s waiting pussy. Travis knelt by her side, his semi-erect right in her face. Alana playfully licked it, having not tasted a good cock in quite some time.

As Tanya’s tongue started to explore Alana’s pussy, she let out a delighted moan, feeling the warmth and wetness of her mouth on her sensitive folds. Tanya kissed and licked, sucked and nibbled, driving Alana wild. She could feel every lick, every caress in her very core. She bucked her hips up into Tanya’s face, wanting more. Her juices flowed as Tanya lapped at her clit while her fingers danced inside of her, finding that perfect spot that made her shudder in delight.

Travis watched intently as he grew harder by the second from Alana’s oral teasing. She tried to match Tanya’s rhythm, suckling and slurping along his shaft, evoking deep grunts of approval from the handsome man before her. As he enjoyed her efforts, Travels leaned in and massaged her breasts, rubbing her nipples as he watched Tanya work her magic on Alana’s pussy below him. The scent of their sweat and desire filled the air, intensifying the passion between them all.

Alana felt herself getting closer to climaxing as Tanya expertly teased her with her tongue, making circles around her clit before flicking it with precision. It was more than enough to send ripples of pleasure through her body. After getting herself so close earlier, but never passing the final threshold, the orgasm that followed was extra intense.

She let out a high-pitched squeal of delight. Most of it was muffled by Travis’ cock being in her mouth, but Tanya could definitely sense it.

“Ooh! Sounds like we got her off already,” Tanya said, her face now coated in Alana’s juices.

“It really has been a while for you, hasn’t it?” Travis said, running his fingers through her hair.

Alana just moaned affirmatively, too out of breath to form coherent words. She also continued licking along his cock, her body writhing from her overdue sexual release. By now, Travis was fully erect again. And Alana was still very much in need of more sex.

“I think you’re right, love,” said Tanya, “which is why she’s going to need more.”

“I agree. What did you have in mind?” he asked, as though he didn’t already know his lover’s dirty mind.

“What do you think? Get on your back and let her ride you! Let her get some good, quality dick!”

They knew her well. Alana was convinced now that they had been planning this. There was no way they could be this coordinated on a whim. But she didn’t dare complain. Because they were right. She did need more. And the prospect of enjoying Travis’ fully erect dick was very enticing.

“You two are too good to me,” Alana said.

“You can thank us after you’ve had your fill,” Tanya said.

With newfound urgency, Tanya and Travis rearranged their bodies. Travis laid flat on his back right next to where Alana had been. Tanya helped her up, her lower body still hot from her first orgasm. But she was still plenty horny to mount this handsome naked man before her, align his cock with her still-moist pussy, and indulge in more sex.

Tanya still lingered behind her, as if to give her extra guidance and encouragement. “Go on,” she told her. “Enjoy this wonderful man’s cock.”

Alana straddled his hips, her tight pussy slowly sinking down on his cock as she took him into her. She couldn’t help but gasp at the feeling of fullness and warmth. Her inner walls gripped him, clenching and unclenching around his shaft. With each upward thrust, she felt him hit her G-spot perfectly, sending electric shocks through her body. She moaned with pleasure as she rode him in a cowgirl position, her breasts bouncing blissfully with every move.

Travis watched them both in awe, the three of them now so erotically connected. He reached out to hold onto her hips for support and encouragement, guiding her movements up and down while she took control of the pace. Their skin slapped against each other in rhythm as sweat dripped from their bodies.

Luxuriating in the sea of pleasure that engulfed her, Alana let out a soft sigh of satisfaction as she felt herself impaled by Travis’ hard cock. She rocked her hips gently at first, slowly adjusting to the sensation of being filled once more. Her muscles clenched around his shaft as she eased into a steady rhythm, moaning unabashedly at the feeling of his manhood invading her.

Tanya’s warm hand on her breast and clit encouraged her, pressing her close to him. The room was filled with the sounds of heavy breathing and wet skin slapping against wet skin, creating an erotic symphony that filled the air. Travis’ hearty grunts joined the chorus as he intensified his thrusts while Alana rode him with raw passion.

Alana was getting close again. She yearned for another orgasm. She could tell that Travis was close too, his face contorting in anticipation.

“Oh fuck! Oohh fuck! I…I’m close! Travis…Tanya…I’m really close!” Alana panted.

“Me…too! Almost…there!” Travis grunted.

“Do it, you two! Come together!” Tanya urged.

Their gasps grew louder, and their movements more urgent. Tanya continued to massage Alana’s clit, while Travis held her hips firmly in place as he thrust upwards. Until finally, their peak came like a tidal wave crashing over them both at once.

Travis’ cock was hard and throbbing inside of her, pulsing with his release. It felt hot and slick against the walls of her tightness as it twitched and spasmed with every last drop of his warm cum. Alana’s body trembled as she moaned in pleasure, her muscles clenching tightly around him, drawing out his climax even further. As they both reached their peak, their bodies moved in a beautiful synchronized dance, creating a symphony of pleasure that filled the room with their moans and gasps of release.

As Travis’ orgasm washed over him, his cock twitched inside of her, pulsating with undeniable pleasure. Alana’s body responded in kind, quivering and shaking as she was filled with the warm burst of his release. The sensation of being completely filled and intimately connected to him sent Alana into another peak of pleasure, her cries of ecstasy blending together with Travis’ as they reached new heights of passion. The room was filled with the palpable heat and intensity of their joined bodies, creating a symphony of desire and fulfillment.

Alana could feel every ridge and vein of Travis’ hard cock pulsing inside of her, sending shockwaves of pleasure through her body. His warm cum coated her insides, making her skin tingle and her muscles quiver with satisfaction. Her entire being was consumed by an overwhelming wave of pleasure as she cried out, unable to control the intense response that Travis had ignited within her. Together, their moans echoed throughout the room, creating a symphony of pleasure that left them both breathless and completely spent.

“My god…I really did need that,” Alana found herself saying.

As their climaxes ebbed, Alana collapsed next to Travis. He then rolled over to face her while Tanya laid next to her on the other side, rubbed her back soothingly, planting a light kiss on her neck as they all basked in the afterglow of their shared experience.

Alana still couldn’t believe what had just happened. She just had sex with her best friend and her best friend’s boyfriend. It didn’t just feel amazing. It made her feel loved and cared for. Having seen Tanya and Travis share so much of that feeling with each other, it was incredible, tasting that feeling for herself.

“Wow!” Alana said as the three of them bathed in the afterglow. “You two…are the best!”

“No, honey. You’re the best,” Tanya said, looking at her with a loving expression. “We just helped you realize it.”

“And if you ever feel unloved and need us to share some,” Travis said, “well…you already know our sex night!”

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Why Spider-Man Should NOT Be Broke

This is a video from my YouTube channel, Jack’s World.

This video explores the long-standing, but very much outdated trope of Spider-Man being broke. Like most mainstream superheroes, Spider-Man is subject to a lot of recurring tropes. Most involve his personal life.

However, I don’t think the overplayed plots about him being broke get enough attention. In addition to breaking down why this makes no sense, I also highlight a few other jobs or careers that would easily ensure Spider-Man never has to worry about money. Enjoy!

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Filed under Marvel, Marvel Cinematic Universe, Spider-Man, superhero comics, YouTube

On Heat Waves And Climate Change

It’s the middle of summer. That means that, relative to where you live in the northern hemisphere, it’s going to get hot. In some places, it’s going to get very hot. I’ve been to Las Vegas in the middle of June. There are certain kinds of hot that are much less bearable than others.

But enduring heat in the summer is nothing new. Most people who live in any temperate climate zone probably understands that. However, with every intense heat wave, and the death that comes with it, there are usually some larger discussions about climate change. Most of those discussions tend to get lost in the politics of climate deniers and anti-science grifters, but it’s still a discussion worth having.

I may not be old enough to remember what summers were in the early 20th century, but I’ve been living on this planet long enough to know that the climate in my area has been changing. I’ve actually lived around the same area for all my life, except for a few years when I went to college. And in that time, I’ve certainly noticed a general warming trend.

When I was a kid, the hottest year for a long time was in 1997. I know that’s not the hottest year on record, but it certainly felt like the hottest year to that point in my life. I couldn’t give you the hard data, but I remember a lengthy stretch during that summer in which every day seemed to be 100 degrees. I also remember vividly how the water at the pool and beach felt as warm as bath water, at times. There was none of that initial chill you got when you jumped in. I enjoyed that to some extent, but I didn’t enjoy the extra sunburn that often came with it.

During that same summer, there was very little rain. I can only remember a few days in which we had a couple of thunderstorms. But aside from that, most days were brutally hot under a blazing sun. Just going outside for a brief period was too much. Even as a kid who wanted to go outside to play baseball, it was just too much.

For years after the summer of 1997, I don’t recall experiencing anything that hot. Sure, there were a few heat waves here and there. I even remember having to deal with one in a college dorm without air conditioning. Believe me, I would not wish that on anyone. But eventually, summers got to a point where they all seem to feel equally hot in the same way 1997 felt.

After around 2010, which was years after I’d graduated college, summers with the kind of heat I once thought was so abnormal just felt normal. I came to expect weeks on end of temperatures that exceed 100 degrees. I came to expect long dry spells, followed by round after round of heavy thunderstorms. When I eventually got my own place, I actually spent nearly $7,000 getting a new HVAC unit to deal with these summers.

And therein lies the issue with hot summers, climate change, and how we navigate it. For a lot of people, it happens so gradually that we just come to see it as normal. Never mind the fact that the devastating effects of climate change are documented, measurable, and indisputable. Never mind the fact that the number of people actually dying of heat-related illness is increasing. It’s not that more people are denying climate change. We’re just accepting it.

But is that tenable?

Is that sustainable?

Is that even a just and moral thing to do on a planet we share with over seven billion people?

I would argue that this is something we’re just choosing not to think about, regardless of whether or not we accept the science of climate change. Right now, the path of least resistance is to just adapt as best we can and accept the death, suffering, and environmental destruction that comes with it. It’s basically the Rick Sanchez approach of “The answer is don’t think about it!”

The biggest problem with that approach is that, beyond all the suffering and death, it assumes we’ll always be able to adapt. It assumes that there’s not a point in which the planet becomes so hot that certain places become unlivable, which would displace millions of people and create a refugee crisis the likes of which we’ve never seen before. It also assumes that we’re able to pay the cost, in terms of money and lives, of entire coastlines being changed due to rising sea levels.

Those are all some very lofty assumptions, which I would argue we should not make blindly.

Now, I don’t claim to know the proper course of action here. Climate change is such a big, complex phenomena that no one group of people and no one nation can do something to address it fully. We live on a shared planet. So, anything that involved addressing its issues has to be a shared effort. Whether or not we’re capable of doing so remains to be seen.

But if the climate changes to a point where failing to do so just costs too much, then we might not have a choice.

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Filed under Current Events, Environment

Jack’s CreepyPastas: Project Phantom Cold

This is a video from my YouTube channel, Jack’s World.

This video is a CreepyPasta story inspired by some creepy World War II stories that I wrote and narrated myself. Enjoy!

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Filed under CreepyPasta, horror, YouTube

Why You Should NOT Trust Elon Musk (Or Any Promises He Makes)

As we get older, we often learn the hard way that the people we admire and those we’ve placed our trust in are painfully human. With very few exceptions, people are complicated. They have their flaws, failures, warts, and regrets. It doesn’t matter how high their profile or how long their list of accomplishments. They’re just as human as us. And sometimes, that same high profile can exacerbate their worst tendencies.

That’s what I’ve come to learn about Elon Musk, someone who I used to reference in admiration on this site. Like many others, there was a time when I respected and admired Musk for his efforts to forge a better future through technology and investment. Whenever he spoke on these issues, I listened closely and took his words seriously. I still believe the work he did making electric cars more mainstream and pursuing brain/computer interfaces are a net positive for the world.

However, recent years have caused me to re-evaluate many of my opinions on this man. It’s not just that I’ve become more jaded and cynical over the years. I’ve watched, along with many others, as Elon Musk has proven himself to be out of touch, egotistical, petty, ruthless, and increasingly unhinged with respect to his political leanings.

He’s also a billionaire who, like many others before him, has shown no qualms about ruthlessly exploiting his workers, even during a global pandemic. Let’s not forget about that.

Now, I freely admit my attitude towards billionaires has soured a great deal in recent years. I’m now of the opinion that billionaires really shouldn’t exist in a civilized society. I also believe it’s impossible to become a billionaire without being ruthlessly exploitative. But that’s beside the point.

Even if Musk wasn’t a billionaire, he still wouldn’t be someone worthy of his reputation among supporters. The past four years have shown that he is not the future tech visionary he pretends to be. He is also not a self-made billionaire in any sense, considering how much of his wealth was inherited.

At his core, Elon Musk is a sales pitch man, plain and simple. He’s about as honest as a used car salesman trying to sell cars that he knows aren’t what he claims them to be. This is not just my opinion of the man. You need only look up the long list of predictions/promises he’s made over the past 15 years.

He claimed he could get humans to Mars by 2024. He hasn’t even made it back to the Moon.

He claimed fully autonomous self-driving cars would be ready by 2018. He was wrong about that too.

He claimed COVID-19 would go away by April 2020. He was distressingly wrong in that prediction.

It’s an age-old tactic of many sales pitchmen. Make big, bold promises that you can’t possibly deliver, but deliver just barely enough to keep people from calling you a total fraud. And on the things Musk has delivered, there’s still a lot to be desired on that front.

Then, there are Musk’s politics, which he just loves sharing on social media to a disturbing degree. Some have claimed that the COVID-19 pandemic radicalized him. It was around 2020 when his politics became much more reactionary, so much so that it got him in trouble. And once he bought Twitter outright, he essentially emboldened everyone who shares in his reactionary outlook, including a few who have done serious harm.

There’s a lot more I can say about his political leanings, but that’s a rabbit hole nobody can dive into without losing too much of their soul. I’ll just say that people far smarter than me have been much more thorough in debunking the myths surrounding Musk’s persona. I’ll even concede that Musk is still capable of worthwhile efforts, even if he’s not a likable person in general.

But, as someone who used to buy into the hype on which this man built his fortune, I want to make one thing clear. Elon Musk is not someone you should trust.

If he makes a bold promise, don’t assume for a second he’ll deliver until he actually does.

If he makes a confident statement about politics, don’t assume it’s anything other than self-serving aggrandizement.

If he makes a bold prediction, don’t take it seriously until you remind yourself how many other predictions he’s gotten wrong.

And, most important, don’t forget for a second that Elon Musk is not normal in the sense that he’s a billionaire. You just can’t be normal and become a billionaire through wholly ethical means.

It still remains to be seen what Elon Musk’s legacy will be in the grand scheme of things. It’s very likely that, whatever it ends up being, it’ll be skewed by both his supporters and detractors. But while it’s being built, it’s worth being cautious, skeptical, and even a little extra cynical when it comes to this man.

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Filed under futurism, Neuralink, rants, technology

Ultimate Marvel Universe 6160: The State Of This New Marvel Universe And Its Ultimate Future

This is a video from my YouTube channel, Jack’s World.

It’s been a year since Marvel launched and all-new, all-different Ultimate Universe. Jonathan Hickman got things going with Ultimate Invasion. Since then, multiple new series have come out. And the aftermath of Ultimate Invasion has been building towards a major showdown against the Maker’s Council.

In this video, I take a moment to reflect on how far this new Ultimate Universe has come in the past year, where it may go moving forward, and potential pitfalls it may encounter along the way. Enjoy!

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Mass Effect: The Danger And Soul Of Artificial Intelligence

This is a video from my YouTube channel, Jack’s World.

This video explores the inherent dangers and genuine hopes of artificial intelligence through one of my favorite video game franchises of all time, Mass Effect.

Artificial Intelligence is a big part of this galaxy-spanning saga. The main antagonists, the Reapers, represent a worst-case scenario. The synthetic race, the Geth, are also a recurring danger. However, in exploring the vast history and lore of Mass Effect, we gain some remarkable insights into what the future might hold for how we navigate AI. Enjoy!

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Filed under Aliens, Artificial Intelligence, comic book reviews, Mass Effect, YouTube

Revealing Attitudes Towards AI Art (When People Don’t Know It’s AI Art)

When I was a kid, there was a general attitude towards any movie or TV show that was animated. Unless it was “The Simpsons,” then animation was largely associated with kids. Even when there was a concerted effort to appeal to older demographics, animation was still seen as less mature form of storytelling. Even when it was exceptionally well done, this stigma persisted.

Eventually, animation and animated content, in general, matured to a point where the stigma really doesn’t work anymore. Cartoons aren’t just for kids. We now have shows like “Bojack Horseman” and “Rick and Morty” that have helped change the popular perception of animation. On top of that, the added influence of Japanese anime, from “Dragonball Z” to “Ghost In The Shell,” have helped attitudes about animated content evolve even more.

This shift all happened within my lifetime. It’s a simple recognition that attitudes, perceptions, and trends are always changing. And they’re going to continue to change, regardless of how we might feel about certain issues now.

This brings me to AI generated art. It’s a topic that, depending on where you discuss it, can generate a lot of debate, disagreement, and consternation. I’ve been in more than one discussion with someone who claims AI generated art can only ever be a bad thing in the long run because it enables trolls, assholes, grifters, and bad actors.

I’ve also been in similar discussions with those who claim AI art isn’t even art. It’s, according to them, nothing more than a fancy calculator that crunches numbers on where to place certain pixels on a screen. While I think that’s a gross oversimplification, I don’t think it takes away from the end result. Whether it’s produced by a human or a computer, the end result is still the same. An artistic rendering is created. But regardless of what form it takes, we have certain attitudes about it.

As I write this, I think the prevailing sentiments toward AI art are negative. Show someone an AI generated image and they might concede that it looks nice. But they’ll still have an aversion to it, knowing it’s created by AI. And if you how them a human-generated piece of art, even if it doesn’t look nice, that same person will still ascribe more value to it than they would an AI generated image. That’s just where we are right now.

But in a recent study by Scientific Reports, an interesting insight was uncovered. When the researchers conducted a survey that included approximately 200 people, they found that when people weren’t aware that an image was AI generated, then their attitudes about it were more positive. In many cases, they could not discern between the artwork generated by humans and those generated by AI. But as soon as they were aware that something came from an AI, their sentiments changed.

It’s probably not too surprising, but it’s also revealing. It speaks to where we currently are in our perspectives on anything created by an AI. It still has this synthetic, uncanny valley feel to it. We still inherently ascribe more value to something that is created by a human over that of a machine. And while that is certainly understandable, given that human generated art requires more labor and passion, how much will that value persist in the coming years?

That’s not an unreasonable question because the quality of AI art has changed considerably in the past few years. And it’s likely to continue improving in ways we’re not ready for. Not too long ago, it was somewhat easy to discern when something was created by an AI. The issues it had with rendering hands and fingers are well-document. However, those issues have been addressed and improved considerably, especially with newer models.

As such, you don’t need to be a wide-eyed utopian futurist to predict that AI art generators will improve to a point where it’s genuinely difficult to tell if it was created by a human. This study already showed how close we are. The participants weren’t able to surmise on a surface level that they were dealing with a mix of AI and human-generated art. With improved tools, even the most discerning and tech savvy among us might not be able to figure it out.

At that point, our attitudes towards AI art will have to change. Think what you want about AI and whether it’s capable of creating real art, let alone appreciate what goes into it. But if it’s capable of making something we can’t discern from its human-made counterparts, then those negative sentiments we have are entirely arbitrary, as well as subjective.

And those same attitudes might not be shared by younger people who have grown up in an environment surrounded by the internet, AI, and AI generated content. They might not have any issue with seeing AI generated art as real art. And anyone who just despises AI art as a concept might find themselves in the same group as those who still think all cartoons are just for kids.

It’s hard to know where these trends will lead as AI technology advances. It’s already affecting how we see art, knowledge, and what it means to be intelligent. And how we feel today might not be at all in line with how future generations will feel in the decades to come. Only time will tell.

I’ll simply note that humans, in general, are a visual species. We seek to create, admire, and cherish art, regardless of the source. For that reason, I think there will certainly be a place for any kind of art, whether it comes from a human or an AI.

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Filed under AI Art, Artificial Intelligence, psychology, technology

Ultimates #1 Review: The Ultimate Fix

This is a video from my YouTube channel, Jack’s World.

This video is my review of Deniz Camp’s Ultimates #1 and what it means for the future of this new Ultimate Universe. Enjoy!

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