Sexy Short Story: The Secret Cove

The following is a sexy short story about a young love and covert intimacy. For those of you who experienced young love, I hope it brings back fond memories, among other things. Enjoy!


Young love was supposed to be immature, fleeting, and shallow. Some didn’t even call it love. They just wrote it off as overactive hormones within overwhelmed teenagers. It was more than a little demeaning. And more than a few teenagers resented those sentiments, especially when it came from parents and teachers.

Then again, teenagers did tend to make immature decisions on immature feelings. The glut of teenage melodrama and meltdowns on any given week proved that. But Lauren Wyncove believed such broad assumptions ignored the exceptions. And those exceptions were uniquely special.

“Is it just me? Or does has this week been twice a long and ten times more frustrating?” asked a restless Jonas Kelpern as he walked beside her.

“Rest assured. It’s not just you,” Lauren replied with a bemused grin.

“Good. Because I swear it’s starting to get to me,” he said, “every project due date…every upcoming exam…and the SAT test. God damn, I’m sick of hearing about that!”

“If you’re expecting me to argue that, you’re wasting your time. My dad still insists on sending me to that test prep place…on Saturdays.”

“You sure it’s not just his way of keeping us from going on dates?” Jonas asked.

“Relax. He doesn’t hate you…or the fact that you’re dating his youngest daughter,” Lauren teased, giving him a playful swat.

“But he still doesn’t trust me to be in a room alone with you for more than ten minutes.”

“To be fair, I doubt anyone trusts teenagers to be alone in a room for that long…especially not in our neighborhood.”

“Sad, but true,” he sighed.

They both laughed. Even though it had been a long day, she and Jonas still found a way to lighten the mood. They’d needed that more and more lately. This was their senior year. The end of high school was in sight. Like most teenagers, they were ready for it to be over. But she and Jonas had other reasons for counting down the days till graduation.

Now smiling and in a better mood, Lauren latched onto her boyfriend’s arm and walked with him down the main sidewalk leading away from their school. The building was still in sight. They could still hear the usual commotion that came along with the final bell. Just finding each other through the crowd so that they could walk home together was a challenge. But they’d learned to navigate it well. They had to in order to spend time together like this, away from the prying eyes of parents and school administrators.

That time was precious to them, even before they started dating. Lauren had known Jonas since the fourth grade, back when she still thought boys were gross. He’d moved into the same neighborhood two blocks away from her home, his parents seeking more comfortable surroundings for him and his two younger siblings. They quickly became friends, bonding over their love of the outdoors, camping, and horror movies. Then, by the time they started high school, that friendship blossomed into something more.

That was when things got a little more tense, both with their families and every adult who regularly dealt with teenagers.

“You think they’ll ever feel different about us?” Lauren wondered aloud. “Once we’re out of high school and in college together?”

“I hope so,” said Jonas, grasping her hand with his. “But some still think we’ll break up after graduation. My Uncle Marvin is even betting on it.”

“Seriously?” she said. “We’ve been together since freshmen year.”

“Doesn’t matter,” he said. “We’re teenagers. He still thinks what we have is just hormonal puppy love.”

“Of course, he does! The guy has been divorced what? Twice already?”

“He claims that makes him an expert or something,” Jonas muttered.

“Well, to hell with him! He can believe what he wants. What we have is more than that.”

“I know it is,” he said, squeezing her hand. “I just wish someone would take it seriously. Like when I say I love you, they think it’s cute. Not real…just cute. It’s a nice sentiment, but…”

Jonas’ words trailed off, his frustration showing once more. Lauren cast him a reassuring smile and gave his arm an affectionate squeeze.

“It’s okay. I know you mean it when you say it,” she told him. “You mean it just as much whenever I say I love you.”

“I don’t doubt that. I never doubt that,” he said, smiling back as his frustration lessened.

“Then, it doesn’t matter what our uptight families think. What we have…it’s ours and ours alone. We know how real it is.”

“And how to appreciate it,” Jonas added.

Their mood eased as they continued walking together under the afternoon sun. By now, they were out of sight from the school. They could no longer hear the crowds, commotions, or bus engines. They were on the main sidewalk that connected the school to the various cul-de-sacs that made up their upper middle-class neighborhood.

In many respects, Lauren and Jonas were lucky. They lived close by to one another and their neighborhoods were close enough that they could walk home every day. They made sure to do so as often as possible because it was one of the few times when they could be together, alone and unsupervised.

Those times had been few and fleeting, ever since they became official. Even if their respective families thought their relationship was cute, they didn’t trust them to be alone together for too long. They weren’t too subtle with their reasons, either. Lauren’s own mother had said it best.

“You’re two hormonal teenagers whose brains and genitals aren’t on the same page.”

Lauren had laughed at that when she’d first heard it, but it was no joke. Both her parents and Jonas’ agreed. The two of them were not allowed to have any intimate time together. This was a nice neighborhood that espoused high values. That meant things like sex, drugs, or parties of any kind were discouraged at every turn. And she and Jonas were expected to uphold those values, regardless of their love.

For the most part, they did just that. They abided by those rules. They didn’t go to parties or experiment with drugs, even though there were plenty of opportunities – more so than any adult would dare admit. But that didn’t mean they never tested those rules. In fact, recent events had led them to develop their own set of rules for exploring their love.

“Speaking of appreciating our love,” Jonas said in a suggestive tone. “We’re coming up on our stop.”

“I noticed that,” Lauren said, her voice just as flirty. “How much time do think we’ll have?”

“More than usual,” he answered. “I told my dad I was staying a bit later to finish up a bio project…which I already finished at lunch.”

“And I told my mother I had a meeting with my SAT tutor,” she said, “which she doesn’t know got cancelled at the last minute.”

Their demeanor shifted. Lauren felt that special twinge of heat between her and her boyfriend, but it had nothing to do with the afternoon sun. His touch became less subtle. And the way she clung to his arm took on a more intimate overtone. Before she knew it, some of that heat found its way to her inner thighs.

It effectively confirmed what sort of extracurricular activities they would share in today.

“In that case, wanna pay a visit to our secret cove?” Jonas asked.

“Definitely!” Lauren said without hesitation.

With newfound energy, they checked around to make sure no cars or buses were passing by. They were now at a lengthy stretch of road with some dense forest to the east and old flood plains to the west. There was little in terms of trails or paths. But there was one notable dirt trail up ahead. Anyone driving by never would’ve known it was there. But Lauren and Jonas knew. And they knew where it led.

“The coast is clear. Let’s go!” said Jonas with growing excitement.

Lauren giggled to herself as she followed her boyfriend onto the trail. Like a couple of thieves evading the cops, they slipped into the thick brush and followed the dirt path. It was narrow, muddy, and uneven at times. Near as they could tell, it had once been used by a utility crew. But time and erosion had left it in poor condition.

That didn’t bother her and Jonas. It actually worked to their advantage. They did have to avoid some low trees and hazardous bushes, but the risk was worth the reward. Because at the end of the trail was their best kept secret, as well as a major violation of all those uptight rules.

“There it is!” Lauren said.

“I see it too,” said Jonas.

It appeared quickly through the heavy brush. It was a small cabin-like structure, located just a few steps from a dried-up creek bed. They’d found it nearly a year ago while hiking around after school. Jonas surmised it had been a tool shed, likely used by the utility crews. It wasn’t very big. It had about the same space as her mother’s walk-in closet. But it was large enough to accommodate some battery-powered lights, an old mattress, and some sheets that Jonas’ father threw away.

They called it their secret cove. She and Jonas had used some spare lumber and tools from a neighbor to fix it up. It acted as a refuge from all the rules, structures, and scrutiny they faced every day. It was where they came to be alone, get away from it all, and share in some unsupervised activities.

Those activities included the kind fueled by those raging hormones her mother once warned about.

“Sorry, mom,” she said under her breath. “Sometimes brains and genitals are on the same page…even for teenagers”

Lauren’s heart raced and the heat within her loins intensified. She couldn’t stop giggling as she and Jonas entered the cove and set their backpacks aside. From there, Jonas retrieved the plastic bag of sheets they kept hanging from the ceiling and Lauren turned on the lights she’d set up on the walls. The mattress was still there on the floor, untouched since their last visit.

Before long, the scene was set. The bed was made and ready for them. Knowing times like these were precious, they kicked off their shoes and got on the bed together. Jonas eagerly wrapped his arms around her while she latched onto his shoulders.

“Ah. Alone at last,” Jonas said with a beaming grin.

“Alone indeed,” said Lauren, grinning back at him.

Few words were needed at that point. Now comfortably in one another’s embrace, they she and Jonas came together in a deep kiss. With nobody watching or scrutinizing their every move, they could finally do so with a little extra passion. That passion included much more tongue and body contact. It also ignited the pent-up desire within them.

From that first kiss, a heated make-out session followed. Lying side-by-side on the bed, their loving gestures quickly grew bolder and more targeted. Jonas slipped his hands from her waist to her butt, giving it a nice squeeze through her jeans. Lauren loved that. She returned the favor by biting his lower lip and rubbing her thigh up against his groin. It evoked a light gasp, as well as a growing hardness within his pants.

That set the tone for this intimate moment. Like the many others before it, they spent the first part just sharing all the affectionate gestures they couldn’t give in front of teachers and parents. It got their hearts racing and their bodies excited. Together, they followed that excitement, letting the all the heavy petting evolve naturally into full blown foreplay.

At that point, their greatest hindrance was their clothing. But that was an easy fix.

“What do you say we ditch these clothes?” said Jonas, briefly breaking the kiss.

“And break every rule our parents imposed on us? Even during sleepovers in fourth grade?” Lauren said, pretending to be aghast.

“Yep!” he said without hesitation.

“That’s so bad and bold. No wonder I fell in love with you!”

They laughed and kissed again. Through more heated foreplay, they got undressed. Jonas’ shirt and pants were the first to go. Lauren followed soon after, slipping out of her jeans and T-shirt. As soon as he slipped off his boxers, he helped her undo her bra. He’d gotten quite adept at that since they started making love. It was his way of showing that he paid attention during their intimate moments, more so than most would expect of a teenager.

Once her bra came off, Jonas reached for her breasts and gave them a nice squeeze. That sent special shivers through Lauren – the kind that felt so good on a muggy afternoon. She couldn’t never stop herself from cooing under that feeling. She sounded overly giddy, but Jonas didn’t seem to mind.

“Your boobs look so nice in the afternoon sun,” he said to her.

“Spoken like a true gentleman,” Lauren said jokingly.

“Good thing I’m a man of action rather than words.”

There was another joke about his poor English grades she could’ve made. She chose not to. Jonas already had her moaning and purring as he continued fondling her breasts, evoking more impassioned cooing. It sent more warm shivers coursing through her body, turning that twinge of heat between her thighs into full-blown sexual arousal.

They were officially past the point of no return now.

Lauren wanted him.

She wanted to give herself to this man – to feel his body with hers – to make love to him in this dirty, cramped, less-than-romantic shack. These were not just the basic urges of horny teenagers. This was a genuine desire to express their love.

“Jonas…” gasped Lauren, her desire echoing through her voice.

He took that as a sign to escalate his actions.

Like a caring lover, he laid her on her back and got on top of her. He was fully nude, his manhood hanging out for her to see. But she still had her panties on. Jonas saw that too. And sensing her growing impatience, he playfully trailed his lips down her torso – following a clear path to her lower body.

As he drew near, he grasped the sides of her panties. Lauren lifted her hips accordingly. Then, with the utmost care, he slid them down her thighs and legs. Now every bit as naked at him, Jonas narrowed his gaze on her exposed vagina. She was visibly aroused, but that didn’t stop him from being thorough.

Casting her a playful gaze, he pushed her legs farther apart and buried his face between her thighs. As soon as Lauren felt his lips on her womanly flesh, she clenched the sheets and gasped.

“Mmm…delicious,” Jonas said, his voice muffled by her pussy.

“Ooh Jonas! That’s it! Gorge away!” she exclaimed.

Lauren’s playful coos turned to vocal moans of approval. Ever since they started having sex, Jonas had developed a fondness for giving her oral sex. She wasn’t sure how they discovered it. One day – in this same secret cove, no less – he discovered he loved eating pussy.

She certainly didn’t mind. After exploring and experimenting, Jonas came to know her inner depths very well. He could hit all those special spots with his tongue and lips, applying just the right amount of stimulation to really heighten her arousal. Such dedication and commitment to navigating her lady parts just made her love him even more.

Most of the time, she was content to let him dine on her flesh until she climaxed. But on this day, that wasn’t going to cut it.

“Jonas please!” Lauren cried out, which got his attention. “Take me.”

He knew what she meant. And once again, he didn’t hesitate to deliver.

Jonas arose from her thighs and got on top of her, positioning himself between her legs and slipping eagerly into her arms. Their eyes now locked, his naked skin pressed against hers, he aligned the tip of his erect manhood with her moist entrance. Going down on did plenty to hasten his arousal, ensuring he was as ready as her for the final joining of flesh.

Their bodies were ready.

Their emotions were focused entirely on each other.

And with a simple motion of their lower bodies, Jonas entered her. From there, their lovemaking commenced.

“Oh God!” Lauren gasped.

“Lauren…” Jonas said, caressing her face in a daze of passion.

Their union was smooth and effortless, her body embracing his as he penetrated her depths. Once they felt their blissful warmth, their bodies started moving. Together, they established a steady rhythm, his hips undulating with hers in a perfect venting of sexual energy.

It was simple, but effective. She and Jonas weren’t the kind of lovers who liked it rough and rowdy. They had come to enjoy a more measured kind of lovemaking – one they could draw out and enjoy to the utmost. It allowed every sensation and emotion to become more streamlined. Through this intimate act, the substance of their love became so raw and basic.

Lauren sat it in his eyes.

She felt it through his kiss.

She heard it in every gasp, grunt, and pant.

As their sex played out, their gestures mirrored their passion. They kissed in between gasps, eagerly caressing and grazing one another’s naked skin. Lauren trailed her fingers around the sinews of his back while Jonas traced his hands up her feminine curves. Even though they preferred a gentler kind of lovemaking, every kiss felt more desperate. Every touch seemed more eager.

It wasn’t just that it had been a while since they’d made love. Being so in love and not being allowed to express it had really affected them, more so than usual.

“Lauren! Oh God, Lauren!” Jonas panted.

“Yes! Oh yes! Ohhh yes!” she exclaimed. “I…I’m getting close!”

“Already?” he said.

“Yes!” she affirmed. “Please…don’t stop!”

He did exactly as she asked, not letting up in his movements. He buried his face in her neck, shifted his grip to her thighs, and held her legs apart at just the right angle to maximize the impact of every pelvic thrust.

It showed once again that Jonas knew her body well. Lauren could feel those extra sensitive spots come ablaze with pleasure, building up the feeling more and more. Now raking her nails down his back, she held on tight and let her lover take her to that special domain of ecstasy. And she let him know when she arrived.

“Ohhh Jonas!”

When she let out that cry, her world shook. Fireworks went off in her mind and body, toes curling and core muscles contracting. Jonas even slowed his movements and rose up so he could enjoy the show. He once told her that she looked so beautiful when she climaxed. The way she grinned, bit her lower lip, and trembled to the feeling was a sight to behold. And she was happy for him to watch the fruits of their sex play out before them.

“I never get tired of hearing that,” said Jonas with a wide grin.

Lauren barely heard his remark. She just continued writhing under his grasp, soaking in every blissful wave of pleasure that went coursing through her body. Every orgasm felt great, but this one was extra satisfying for some reason. Either she and Jonas were getting really good at sex or they had more pent-up desire than usual.

Whatever the reason, Lauren showed her appreciation by drawing her lover into another keep kiss. Jonas gladly kissed back, his soft lips capping off the last rush of pleasure. For a moment, they lingered in that moment, letting gestures of love supplement their sex. It was a subtle acknowledgement that this feeling went beyond two horny teenagers going at it.

But it wasn’t lost on her that their flesh was still entwined. His cock remained deep inside her folds, aching for a release after all the hot throbbing of her inner muscles. Never one to leave her love unrewarded for his efforts, she broke the kiss and whispered into his ear.

“Your turn,” Lauren told him.

With surprising strength, she rolled him over on the bed, taking most of the sheets with them in the process. Before he knew it, Lauren had him pinned flat on his back with her on top of him, straddling his waist. He didn’t seem to mind. He just kept grinning, now admiring the sight of her naked body hovering over him. While he gazed up in a daze, she took her hands in his and guided them to her breasts.

“Hold on,” said Lauren. “I’ll take you where you need to go.”

“Do what you need to do, my love,” Jonas replied.

Encouraged and determined, she began riding him cowgirl style. With her own brand of grace and skill, she gyrated her hips at the same pace that he’d employed with her. A steady pace with constant exertion got their naked bodies rocking and grooving together. Through each movement, the sweet, fleshy feel of her vaginal muscles slithering along the length of his cock sent more hot sensations coursing through them.

Those sensations compounded fast. Lauren watched her lover’s expression twist and contort as he approached his climax. His grasp on her breasts tightened as well, kneading her fleshy orbs in anticipation of his release. That sent more of those warm shivers coursing through her body, giving her even more incentive to get the job done. When that time came, she gave his hands a firm squeeze and held on for the ride.

“I’m ready, Lauren!” Jonas panted. “I’m gonna…I’m gonna…ohhh God!”

It finally hit, the orgasmic rush overcoming him as he crossed the point of no return. Like her, Jonas had a distinct reaction during orgasm. He would partially close his eyes, tense his leg muscles, and let out this long, deep moan.

It was so distinctly manly. Lauren loved taking it all in. Still squeezing his hands, she admired his reaction while feeling his member throb inside her. She then felt that distinct warmth that came with him filling her depths, her fluids mixing with his within her womb. She loved that feeling too. It added a sense of raw intimacy. It meant being very diligent with birth control, but the end result was so worth it.

“Lauren…I love you,” said Jonas in his blissful daze.

“I love you too, Jonas,” she told him.

He smiled up at her and she smiled back, their bodies lingering in their intimate entanglement a bit longer. When they finally parted, Lauren laid down on top of him and they shared another soft kiss.

From there, the afterglow quickly set in. It was one of Lauren’s favorite parts of sex, enjoying that special feeling of love and satisfaction after mutual orgasms. She eagerly curled up to her lover while Jonas laid on his back, his arm still draped over her. Now breathless, sweaty, and drained, they just held each other within this special sanctum.

“One of these days, we’ll be able to do this without hiding,” Jonas mused while stroking the side of her face. “At some point, everyone will realize we’re not just two horny teenagers. We really do love each other.”

“I hope that day comes soon,” Lauren said with a content sigh. “But for now, I don’t mind sharing this in this secret little cover of ours.”

“Even if it’s dirty, cramped, and hidden in the woods?” he teased.

“Yep!” she said proudly. “Now, kiss me again before I get too comfortable. I’m up for another quickie if you are!”

“I was hoping you’d say that.”

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A Tale Of Two Ultrons: MCU vs. EMH

The following is a video from my YouTube channel, Jack’s World. This video essay is a deep dive into two memorable of versions of Ultron, one of Marvel’s most menacing and daunting villains. He’s had many versions over the years, but the two most contemporary versions come from the Marvel Cinematic Universe and Avengers: Earth’s Mightiest Heroes. And I analyze both version, highlighting their strengths and weaknesses. I also make the case for what I feel is the best version of Ultron. Enjoy!

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Quick Reacts: The Last Of Us Premier

This video is my quick reaction to the series premier of HBO’s The Last of Us. Please note I didn’t script this like I usually do. So it’s a little messy and I do stutter quite a bit. But if you’d like to see more of these kinds of reaction videos, please let me know.

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Remember The Dream On Martin Luther King Jr. Day

Today is Martin Luther King Jr. Day. It’s a day some take for granted, seeing it just another day off. For others, it’s a solemn reminder of a Civil Rights icon who dared to dream of a more equal and just society. There’s a lot I could say about Dr. King, what he did, what he achieved, and what he stood for. There’s even more I could say about the regressive forces that opposed him, some of which are still very prominent and very dangerous today.

However, I’ll save those words for another time. For this special day commemorating a very special man, I’ll just encourage everyone to listen to his words once more and keep his dream alive.

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The Exciting/Distressing World Of AI-Generated Art

Whenever I talk about artificial intelligence, I often talk about the possibilities and potential it has for the near and distant future. I admit I sometimes to a bit overboard with the speculation and the hyperbole. In case I haven’t made it abundantly clear already, I am not an expert. I do not consider myself exceptionally smart or well-informed on this topic. I just find it very interesting and quite tantalizing, given how much I’ve seen computer technology evolve over the course of my lifetime.

However, in talking about artificial intelligence, I rarely get a chance to talk about some actual tools and products powered by AI that we can use today. That’s just the nature of technology like this. It takes a while to develop and refine. It also takes a while to actually create a usable product with it that don’t require a Masters Degree in computer programming.

But this past year has seen the rise of a new type of AI-powered product that is making its presence felt. It’s called AI-Generated art and it’s exactly what it sounds like. It’s art entirely created by an artificial intelligence that uses massive amounts of data on art, shapes, and design to craft artwork based solely on text suggestions.

It’s not entirely new. For a number of years now, there have been AI systems that can essentially create photo-realistic depictions of people who don’t exist. That, alone, is an impressive feat and one that has some distressing implications for those worried about fake IDs, identity theft, or catfishing. However, these new AI-Generated art programs have the potential to do so much more.

While the mechanisms behind it are very complex, the interface itself is very simple. A user just enters a brief description of what kind of artwork they want. Then, the program processes that and crunches the data. Finally, it generates an image. Sometimes, it takes a few seconds. Sometimes, it takes a bit longer, especially if the prompt is more elaborate. If you want to see a good example of what it can create, just check out the brief, but hilarious skit John Oliver did. Just don’t watch it while eating cabbage.

Aside from the inherent comedy gold that can be mined from this technology, just take a step back and consider the larger implications of these tools. These are prompts being entered by people who probably don’t have much in terms of art skills. And as John Oliver noted, some are being entered by people who aren’t entirely sober. While the images they generate don’t exactly look like masterpieces or anything someone would mistake for photo-realism, it’s still remarkable they’re as good as they are.

In seeing some of this art, it actually reminds me somewhat of early video game consoles that began rendering 3D graphics. I’m old enough to remember the somewhat clunky transition between 2D to 3D graphics. Just look at early Playstation games or games like Super Mario 64. They weren’t exactly polished, but they were a step in that direction.

Now, compare that to a typical game on the Playstation 5. In the span of just 20 years, the graphics and renderings have become so realistic that they’re navigating uncanny valley territory. With that in mind, imagine what these AI-generating art programs will do with that kind of refinement. I don’t know if it’ll take 20 years or longer, but it does create some tantalizing possibilities.

Ordinary people could conjure detailed, photo-realistic backgrounds for games, portraits, or stock art.

Ordinary people could conjure elaborate scenes and illustrations for stories they wish to tell.

Ordinary people could create artistic depictions of elaborate fantasies, including the sexy kind.

This is especially intriguing for someone like me because, as I’ve noted in the past, I cannot draw worth a damn. I have practically no skills when it comes to creating visual artwork, be it with a pencil or a computer program. I’ve never had that skill. I’ve tried many times in the past do develop those skills. I’ve never succeeded. I’ve always been better with writing and words. And I’ve been perfectly content with that.

Now, this technology gives someone like me an opportunity to craft images to go along with my words. It opens the possibility that I could one day write a story, sexy or non-sexy, and supplement it with real, vivid depictions of the characters and scenes. That is definitely something I want to pursue. I have experimented a bit with the AI art programs, but they’re still someone limited. I won’t be incorporating them into my sexy short stories anytime soon.

But if these programs continue to improve, then it’s only a matter of time before I craft a story in that manner. Honestly, that really does excite me, more so than a lot of the promising news surrounding artificial intelligence. I understand there are aspects to the technology that may never happen or just won’t be happening within my lifetime. But these AI art programs are real. They exist now and they’re going to be refined, like most emerging technology. It remains to be seen how fast they’ll achieve a higher quality, but I will certainly be watching it closely.

If you want, you can even test these programs out yourself. This site lists 10 sites you can go to right now, but these are the sites I recommend.

Dall-E 2

Artbreeder

DeepAI

StarryAI

Please note that most of these services are limited and none allow anyone to create images that are overly pornographic or outright illegal. However, you can still create some legitimately good images, which you can save and use in whatever way you please. I’m already hoping to use some for my YouTube channel.

But even though this technology is especially intriguing to people like me with no art skills, I don’t deny it has actual artists very concerned. There has already been one instance where an AI-generated artwork won an art contest, which the real artists did not appreciate. It’s not just that an AI like this won without putting in the effort an artist usually would. In many cases, these programs used art other artists had created to refine its code. Over time, these programs could conceivably put those same artists out of work.

I can totally understand that concern. Who would hire a talented, but expensive artists to create images if they could just use an AI program to create it in seconds and for free? Do you really think big companies like Disney, Warner Brothers, and Universal wouldn’t fire their entire art team if they could get the same results for a fraction of the cost? They’re billion-dollar profit-driven companies. You know they would.

Even if this technology doesn’t completely replace real-life artists, it’s still essentially doing most of the work. On some level, it dehumanizes the artistic process, even more so than a camera. A camera can only render the image in front of it. These programs could conceivably conjure images that nobody has ever seen or imagined, a feat that once belonged solely to artists.

What does that mean for the future of artists?

What does that mean for the future of art?

I don’t claim to know the answers. I’m not even sure how to speculate on something like this. Again, I have no art skills with respect to drawing or creating images from scratch. I’m the kind of person who will embrace this technology more than most, so I’m going to be somewhat bias in that regard.

But artists and governments are starting to take notice. China has already made waves by attempting to ban AI-generated media that isn’t appropriately marked. While that may temper some trends in this field, it’s not going to stop it. There’s just too much to be gained at this point. The genie is out of the bottle and there’s no putting it back.

It’s sure to cause more issues, especially as the technology becomes more refined. It probably won’t be long before a major problem occurs because someone used AI-generated art in some nefarious way. Some are already trying, but they can only achieve so much, given the limits of technology.

That will eventually change. If you’re reading this, you’re likely to see some AI-generated artwork that you’ll mistake for something real. At that point, even concerns about deep fakes will be minor in comparison. Only time will tell.

Until then, non-artistically inclined people like me can start contemplating what thoughts and ideas we can one day make real.

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Jack’s CreepyPastas: Hell VR

This video from my YouTube channel is a CreepyPasta that I wrote and narrated myself. Enjoy!

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How Cindy Moon Won Me Over And Why Her Story Matters

This video is a brief exploration of Cindy “Silk” Moon, the second person that infamous spider bit after Peter Parker. She’s a fairly new character to the world of Spider-Man and Marvel Comics. Her journey since debuting in 2014 has been a erratic. But she won me over as her story unfolded and I think her story matters now more than it did when she debuted. Enjoy!

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A Few Simple Ways To Help Make 2023 Better

With every new year comes new challenges and opportunities. And once the New Year holiday celebrations are over, a lot of people like to be extra ambitions. They’ll make bold resolutions like getting into shape, quitting smoking, saving more money, or working on their relationships.

These are all good, admirable goals to seek. If these are among your resolutions, then more power to you. I certainly encourage anyone making a sincere effort to improve their lives.

However, it’s also common to let your bolder resolutions obscure the smaller goals that are also worth pursuing. I can attest that I am guilty of this, as well. For much of my life, I’ve let bigger goals get in the way of smaller, more achievable endeavors. And even if I make progress on those bigger goals, it still feels like I miss some opportunities along the way.

In that spirit, I’d like to share a few little things that you can do to help make 2023 a good year for you. I’ve talked before about bold resolutions and I still encourage everyone to make them. But rather than repeat myself or share random anecdotes, I want to offer something small, but tangible that you can do to improve yourself and your life. I won’t charge for them. I won’t even ask for tips or donations. This is all freely given from me to you.

Tip #1: Go to sleep an hour earlier for one week and see how an extra hour of sleep improves your mood, health, and overall well-being.

Tip #2: Just go for a walk around your neighborhood, but make sure you walk down paths and streets you’ve never gone down before. Get out of your comfort zone to see what’s out there.

Tip #3: Do one act of random, unprovoked kindness every week for a random stranger. It doesn’t matter what it is. It can be as simple as anonymously donating to charity. A simple act of altruism is good for you.

Tip #4: Schedule a small chunk of time out of every day for a week for yourself. It can be as brief as an hour. Just use that time to stop, catch your breath, and decompress from all your daily stresses.

Tip #5: Make one minor change to your routine for a few days and see how much or how little that improves things.

Tip #6: Don’t follow any major news for a full 24 hours.

Tip #7: Learn to cook something new that you’ve never cooked before and share it with others.

These are just a few tips I felt are worth sharing. I tried to make them specific, but generalized enough that most people can incorporate it into their lives. You can try one or all of them. I simply encourage you to use the new year to try something different in your life.

We all have things we can improve upon and we should never stop trying to improve. There’s always a place for large improvements, but don’t negate the little things. You’ll find that, over time and beyond any new year, they accumulate. And when they do, you’ll appreciate just how much they’ve helped you.

I hope everyone has a safe, happy, and productive 2023.

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Filed under Current Events, Jack Fisher's Insights

Hard Lessons In Redemption: Bojack Horseman Vs. Prince Zuko

The following is a video from my YouTube channel, Jack’s World. This video is an exploration in how characters succeed or fail to redeem themselves. There are many characters in various mediums who walk the path of redemption, but not all complete it.

Bojack Horseman is one character who tried to walk it, but failed.

Prince Zuko is another who walked that path, but he managed to succeed.

How they each went about their respective journeys is unique and it offers some powerful lessons worth highlighting. Enjoy!

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Filed under Bojack Horseman, Jack's World, television, writing, YouTube

A Brief Message To All Those Who Exploited The Damar Hamlin Injury On Monday Night Football

Firstly, and most importantly, fuck everyone who would exploit a situation like what happened on Monday Night Football between the Buffalo Bills and the Cincinnati Bengals.

Seriously, fuck you to the ends of the multiverse.

I apologize for my crude choice of words, but that’s just something I just had to get out. I knew as soon as it happened on live TV that there were going to be assholes who used this grim situation to push a bullshit agenda. I could even surmise the main details of that agenda and accurately predict how they probably voted in the last Presidential Election. I won’t name names, but it doesn’t take much to surmise who I’m talking about.

Here’s a clue. Most of these same assholes still won’t admit who won that last Presidential Election I just mentioned.

Since this situation is still ongoing, I’ll just relay what is known at the moment I’m writing this. In the first quarter of the Bills/Bengals game, Bills safety Damar Hamlin suffered a major blow to the chest. After getting up initially, he fell back to the ground and suffered what appeared to be a serious cardiac episode. It was so bad and so serious that the medical staff had to perform CPR and AED before sending him off to a nearby hospital for further treatment.

As a result, the NFL opted to suspend the game. As someone who has been watching football all his life, I cannot overstate just how serious a situation has to be for the league to stop a game in the first quarter. Absent a serious weather event, this is quite unprecedented. There have been serious injuries during games in the past. In fact, one Lions player famously died on the field in the middle of a game due to an undiagnosed heart condition.

For now, we don’t know how serious Hamlin’s injury is or what his prognosis is. At the very least, please keep the man and his family in your thoughts. Also, consider donating to Hamlin’s charity. That’s the most anyone can do right now. It’s entirely up to Hamlin and the doctors treating him now.

But not surprisingly, it didn’t take long for those assholes I mentioned earlier to derail this terrible situation for their own benefit. They basically used Hamlin as an excuse to push their insane, bullshit anti-vaccine conspiracies. Their terrible logic is that Hamlin was likely vaccinated. As a result, it is the likely culprit of is condition and the “mainstream media,” also known as media that says things they don’t like, is hiding the truth.

Again, that’s total bullshit.

And again, fuck every person pushing that agenda.

Damar Hamlin is a human being in a life-threatening situation. He’s not a prop for your political agenda or your bullshit anti-vaccine agenda. And if you in any way use what happened to him to propagate your own bullshit, then you are beyond despicable. Just calling you an asshole is the nicest label I can use. There are plenty of other words I would love to use, but I’d rather not draw the ire of the FCC.

Right now, the most likely cause of Hamlin’s condition is something called Commotio Cordis. It’s not common, but it’s not unknown either. It’s basically a perfect storm of events that happens when someone, such as an athlete playing a contact sport, suffers just the right kind of trauma to the chest area while the heart is in a certain part of its rhythm. It’s akin to two bullets hitting one another in mid-air. It’s extremely rare, but it does happen.

That diagnosis could change as more information emerges over the course of the next few days. Hopefully, Hamlin makes a full recovery. At that point, I don’t doubt the same assholes who used his experience for their own end will move onto their next bullshit grift regarding vaccines, elections, or anything the media says that they don’t like.

To those same people, I have one final message.

Fuck you.

Fuck you and fuck all the way off.

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Filed under Current Events, NFL