The AH Coffee Shop and Reading Room 09

[Duleigh]

People are weird!

Over at Nightcafe I'm learning how to create AI images, mostly so I can control my book covers. I've made incredible artwork, Queen Octavia flying on the back of a dragon (my favorite) astronauts in space battles, soldiers trying to deal with their internal battles, imaginary creatures, joyful images of village life, and what is my most popular work over there?

This nonsense!

 

[MillieDynamite]

View attachment 2537457
I swear, I don't remember Monaca so, um, full of charm! It's AI, and I'm pretty sure they used Courteney Cox for their model. It doesn't look like serious silicone, though.

And yes, this is a cover of a story on an alternate pen name!

 

[Duleigh]

View attachment 2537457
I swear, I don't remember Monaca so, um, full of charm! It's AI, and I'm pretty sure they used Courteney Cox for their model. It doesn't look like serious silicone, though.

And yes, this is a cover of a story on an alternate pen name!

She looks tired. It's so weird, I have to describe any woman I create by associating them with a celebrity otherwise they come out Asian.

Baby dragons love carrots...

 

[MillieDynamite]

Me, too! I think the pic came from Adobe, but the cover artist might have made it herself. It's a mom-son story. I'm still trying to get incest right.

She looks tired. It's so weird, I have to describe any woman I create by associating them with a celebrity otherwise they come out Asian.

Baby dragons love carrots...

View attachment 2537463

 

[Duleigh]

Me, too! I think the pic came from Adobe, but the cover artist might have made it herself. It's a mom-son story. I'm still trying to get incest right.

At nightcafe, you can start with someone else's jpg and make changes. I've seen some incredible work but when I look into the settings I see the original picture and suddenly I'm not crazy over the photo any more. I've tried uploading a photo and modifying it but I don't do that very often. I consider it a mild form of cheating.

 

[NotWise]

I don't appreciate your AI graphics.

 

[MillieDynamite]

Our cover artist can create some fantastic things from just prompts.

At nightcafe, you can start with someone else's jpg and make changes. I've seen some incredible work but when I look into the settings I see the original picture and suddenly I'm not crazy over the photo any more. I've tried uploading a photo and modifying it but I don't do that very often. I consider it a mild form of cheating.

 

[Duleigh]

Our cover artist can create some fantastic things from just prompts.

Yep, that's what AI is - text prompts become a picture. This one was done for a contest where the prompt had to include the word Euphoria. Can you imagine what else I had to write to get this level of image? It was a really fun contest

 

[Candy_Kane54]

I'm doing okay now, but if anyone who is going to stick a needle in your knee says, "It may sting a bit," is lying to you. I nearly elevated off the table when she inserted the needle and it took nearly fifteen seconds (felt like minutes to me) to get the gel injected.

 

[_Lynn_]

I'm doing okay now, but if anyone who is going to stick a needle in your knee says, "It may sting a bit," is lying to you. I nearly elevated off the table when she inserted the needle and it took nearly fifteen seconds (felt like minutes to me) to get the gel injected.

It's still better than getting the knee replaced.

 

[old_prof]

It's still better than getting the knee replaced.

Did you have one replaced? That may be in the cards for me. (I got stabbed last week.)

 

[_Lynn_]

Did you have one replaced? That may be in the cards for me. (I got stabbed last week.)

Yes, after several rounds of the injections. Just had a hip replaced a few weeks ago.

Good luck with whatever is in your cards moving forward.

 

[Candy_Kane54]

It's still better than getting the knee replaced.

No doubt. I honestly don't know if I could face another shot. A few unladylike words nearly forced their way past my lips ...

 

[NotWise]

No doubt. I honestly don't know if I could face another shot. A few unladylike words nearly forced their way past my lips ...

Air Force women don't swear like sailors?

 

[Candy_Kane54]

Air Force women don't swear like sailors?

They can, but I try to behave.

 

[_Lynn_]

No doubt. I honestly don't know if I could face another shot. A few unladylike words nearly forced their way past my lips ...

The next one might not hurt as much. But I totally understand.

 

[JuanSeiszFitzHall]

Will the new site policy on nudes makes this illo go away? I sure hope not.

Well, I've reconsidered this a bit. Whatever reason for the policy, I endorse the notion that endless reproduction of photos of real people, without compensation of the model (or the photog), shouldn't happen.

 

[Candy_Kane54]

I don't know if the shot is already kicking in, or it's the placebo effect kicking in, but my knee seems to be feeling better this morning. I had anticipated that the shot would hurt but had no real idea how much until it was done. Now I know and I hope it really works because it will take me some time to psych myself up to get it done again.

Enough about me. I've got a fresh pot of coffee going and the teapot is steaming. There are pastries on the counter, including some donuts with handles on them for dunking. The cappuccino machine looks lonely so I hope some of you give it a try today and make it happy.

I'll be over in the corner working on the last scene for my story, a steamy sex scene where our hero finally works up the nerve to go out on a date for the first time ...

 

[Duleigh]

Glad you're feeling better! I know the hell of trying to write something steamy and sweet when in agony. I'll send Pipi over with a nice cappuccino

https://images.nightcafe.studio/jobs/C7SHwL57kFY5Dt7C34HQ/C7SHwL57kFY5Dt7C34HQ--0--qjq8z.jpg?tr=w-1600,c-at_max

 

[TarnishedPenny]

I popped in early since I couldn't sleep, worried about my mobility, and how I'm going to hate not being able to get around on my own. Oh, and of course, it's going to be our first nice sunny day in two weeks and I'm not going to be able to enjoy it.

I'll try to be back tomorrow. I doubt I'm going to get any writing done today. Take care everyone!

I'm doing okay now, but if anyone who is going to stick a needle in your knee says, "It may sting a bit," is lying to you. I nearly elevated off the table when she inserted the needle and it took nearly fifteen seconds (felt like minutes to me) to get the gel injected.

 

[NotWise]

I was notified by email that my last seeds for the gardens were shipped, so I thought I'd better start getting their bed ready. I turned it all once, and damn I'm hot.

Some time I'd like to say that with a meaning that didn't imply sweat, dust, and exhaustion.

 

[NotWise]

I'm back to sampling heavy metal to get in touch with Zelda's self-destructive side. Korn has some good cuts, but now I've moved on to Slipknot.

 

[Candy_Kane54]

It's the third sunny morning in a row and the dew is sparkling on the grass. My knee is still tender and hurts when I walk on it but at least the constant throbbing has been dialed way back. I'm optimistic that the treatment may be starting to work.

There's a fresh pot of coffee going and the teapot is hot. The cappuccino machine seems to be pouting a bit because no one has been paying any attention to it. I'm almost afraid to go near it because it seems to glare at me whenever I do. There are donuts on the counter and some danishes fresh from the oven. Enjoy.

I'll be over in the corner deep into the hot and steamy sex scene so if you interrupt me, don't blame me if you suffer the consequences (depending on who interrupts, of course) ...

 

[Rustyoznail]

I've got Isabella making me a mug regularly, but even in a keeper cup it's cold by the time it gets here.

Need that damn transporter. "Scotty, beam me a coffee!"

 

[MrPixel]

It's the third sunny morning in a row and the dew is sparkling on the grass. ...

We've been partly cloudy since the rain stopped, but the great thing is the rain stopped! The lake in the backyard is now a couple of mud puddles. More rain expected tomorrow and Tuesday, but not a lot. Maybe we'll get that fence installed this week? ...sigh... Dream on, I guess.

I am exhausted from the electrical work for the hot tub. The constant ups and downs from squatting because of so much close to the ground is more exercise than I am accustomed to. There is more in the cards this afternoon, but I'm going to put a lounging chair out in the courtyard and work on the tan during breaks.