For some years, painting was my hobby. Sometimes, I was able to convert my brush stroke errors into the trappings of an attractive canvas piece. In recent years, blogging replaced my abstract art obsession. With blogging came new challenges like writing and…graphics.
When entering into the blogging world, master bloggers hand down the following advice “Words don’t count!” Cyberspace senseis impart the wisdom that you need the visual to catch the reader’s attention. Graphics matter. Pictures apparently make people read.
Like other bloggers, I suffered the monotony of choosing graphics. How many phony stock photos do I have to go through to find something decent? Is this one going to give me a copyright issue? Oy!
This illustration quagmire was partially solved when I started to use WordPress’ Jetpak AI Image Generator. In almost a minute, one can create a targeted original graphics.
AI has some catches. It is not all nirvana all the time. Unlike painting errors which can be turned into something special, the AI’s image mistakes often cannot be transformed into a masterpiece. Rather, AI mistakes can either a source of great humor or something sinister.
While one would never paint a person two right hands, AI artistry has no problem doing it. For AI, it is easy peasy; I guess. AI will never leave you shorthanded. Also, one could’nt fail painting a diverse group of people, AI can make it happen. For AI, a mistake can be “all white.”
September’s Going Postal celebrates the triumphs and failures of AI image creating. Understanding these quirks can only enhance one’s capacity to harness the power.
Going Postal
My first September Post tackled how the Torah imposed mutual obligations towards acts of charity. This piece explored the two-way street with respect to one’s rights to eat produce- i.e. grapes and grains- from another’s field.
For this post, the AI image generator produced comedy gold. A two right armed guy! The picture was great on multiple levels. First, it is funny. Second, it reveals that AI image generation operates in a far different manner than humans. HI, Human Intelligence, would never conceive such an illustration.
This piece is inspirational for those using AI. it is a reminder that those using it need to gain better understanding as to how it generates the image. Familiarity with the process may unlock opportunities for better imagery.
Perhaps my greatest achievement this year was to have two blog posts using the word triskaidekaphobia. The mindset for the post’s graphics concerned the fear of the number thirteen. Playing with the Image Generator on this was one was exhilarating.
Exercising patience, I made a number of suggestions and the image was finally came out excellent. In essence, using a few descriptive words can create a (fantastic) image.
The “Success Story” post was seemingly the Titanic of blog writing. Using solely the AI Feedback generator for my outside input, I struggled to stay above the frigid waters.
It appears that the AI Feedback Generator was updated. It has been transformed into a sadistic leather laced version of the original. With each request for input, I felt another whipping from a virtual cat of nine tales coming. Ouch! May I have some more?
My AI dominatrix was consistently delivering me approximately nine harsh input comments with each and every edit. I don’t recall getting any feedback like this in the past. Sometimes, I got complements! Ouch! May I have some more?
At about the tenth edit, my AI mistress became too tedious and sapped my originality. The post’s content, I must confess, improved in the process. Ouch! Please, no more.
The “Success” post is a painful reminder. Sometimes, writing is akin to the physicality of scrunching up the draft into a solid condensed ball. Removing unnecessary words and concepts tightens things up.
News Shaming’s inspiration traces back to my family’s Jackson 5 connection. As a young child with horrible teeth, I spent hours with the Jacksons. In the dentist office’s lobby, the Jacksons and I all sat together nervously reading Highlights magazine. We all waited our turns to be poked, prodded or drilled by our respective dentists. My impression of Jackson family were that they were nice people.
Thus, when Janet Jackson was attacked for making a comment concerning VP Harris’ heritage, it bothered me.
Prior to the attacks on Ms. Jackson, I had happened to come across a video of the Prime Minister of India’s address before the US Congress in which VP Harris’ heritage was addressed. I strongly suggest people watch it.
The post dealt with the issue of when main stream media narratives change. In a normal world, the Congress Address would be considered a wonderful tribute to the VP and her Indian Heritage. Now, however, it is a problem. (PS. Years ago, before she was VP, I met VP Harris. I enjoyed meeting her. She was gracious. )
Given this information that I was aware of, I thought that the media’s attacks on Janet Jackson were horrible. Did the media watch Modi’s Congressional Address? What are people to believe? Their own lying eyes or the press?
In sum, we now live in which we can witness the erasure of history in real time.
Final point, I used the AI graphic generator and told it to make an image of Ms. Jackson. I am surprised that it will attempt to draw pictures of public figures. Does it look like her? I am not sure. At least, it is attractive.
The Societal Literacy Project is another post in which AI graphics work very well. Again, adding a little direction to the AI can make something nice.
This again, however, was a post that continued my struggle with the new AI feedback generator. My work once again became a crumpled up ball on multiple occasions. Again, I must confess, however, that there was some improvement. At what cost? Ouch! Don’t whip me again! May I have some more?
The Root of Zionism post was inspired by the week’s Torah Portion. Thus, I added to my weekly commentary. While Zionism has become a touchy topic during these turbulent times, it is undeniable that its origins is scriptural.
The post intends to educate others that Zionism is something quite ancient. It did not originate as a political movement in the late 1800’s.
For the AI Image, this was one upon which detailed instruction was given. While not great, it works.
The Parental Advice post’s graphic is a perfect illustration of how political correctness is programmed into AI. (Note: I strongly recommend the book The Language Police to read to properly understand how it happens.)
In essence, the post was about how peers can harm children. I analogized it to the Men in Black movies. The Men in Black, a force for good, employed a neuralyzer device that could alter an individual’s mind. It was capable of both erasing and planting thoughts in one’s mind. In my post, however, I portrayed them akin to bad peers.
In generating the image, actors such as Will Smith and Tommy Lee Jonescame to mind as to what would pop up on the picture. The Men In Black were diverse in a multitude of ways. in fact, some were not even men! Thus, I was expecting, something like the movie. Instead, I got the trapping of Mr. Smith from the Matrix movies. The image came out “all white,” Was this due to the fact that the Men in Black, in my instance, were negative influences. It makes you wonder.
Thus, one must take into account that there is some censorship or mandate employed with respect to the results.
Conclusion
If you have made it this far, I would like to thank you for your dedication. I hope that you found going down the rabbit hole rewarding.
Be well!!
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The Ten Commandments Project 