Thursday, February 29, 2024

Superman: Reign of the Supermen: Book Review


On My Shelves: February 04, 2024 
Started: February 18, 2024
Finished: February 29, 2024

As I mentioned in the video, this is largely a reread.  In my youth, I had a copy of The Return of Superman (A), which had some of the same issues as this collection.  However, since this is the first time I'm reviewing this book on this blog, according to my new rules, I'm doing it as a video only review.






February 25, 2024 No page numbers on this edition, but I'm over halfway through

Playlist HERE

Charade: Movie Review

 (Movie Reviews

This is my first time watching this movie, so according to my new rules, I'm doing this as a video only review.



* As mentioned in the video, there are multiple copies available on Youtube.  Here is one: https://youtu.be/-uc86VH8hdA?si=k4oBNcLWsSqffdk0


Finished: Superman: Reign of the Supermen  (Review coming soon)


From VNExpress:

Tuesday, February 27, 2024

I came back to the 1995 Outer Limits again.  
I know I gave it a bad review last time, but I had ordered pizza for dinner, and I just wanted to put on something mindless while I ate my food.
Besides, the Outer Limits was an anthology show. Each episode was its own thing. Just because the last couple episodes I had watched were bad, it didn't mean they were all bad.  I could still find good episodes.
Now, because The Outer Limits is famous for its surprise endings, the less you know about an episode in advance, the better.  So I didn't do any research on the Internet.  I just searched for "The Outer Limits" on Youtube and clicked on a random episode.

The Voice Of Reason - The Outer Limits 1995 TV Series


Oh, man, what a stinker!
I'm reminded of what I said in my previous review of the 1995 Outer Limits:
The story establishes itself in the first act, and then, it plays out incredibly predictably from there.  The viewer is not rewarded for sticking to the end of this story.  What happens at the end is exactly what you think will happen.  
In the case of The Voice of Reason, the twist ending (the fact that some of the members on this committee were themselves aliens) was so obvious I don't know how anyone could fail to guess it from the very beginning.  By 3 minutes in, I had already guessed this.  I kept watching the episode anyway, partly because I had already turned it on and I was relaxed and eating pizza, but also partly in the hope that in the next 40 minutes it would go somewhere interesting.  
Nope.
It also turns out that this episode is a clip show.  (I guess they must have needed to save money at this point in the season.)  
Now clip shows always suck.  I don't need to convince anyone of that.
But this one doesn't make any sense, because the scientist starts out worried about an alien invasion of the Sandkings (W), but he's also worried that aliens are infiltrating the government, and he appears to think that this is all part of the same problem, but what is the connection between the Sandkings and the body snatchers?
Remind me not to watch any more episodes of this show again.  It's a waste of time.

Path to War: Movie Review


Although I had seen parts of this movie before, this was my first time watching it all the way through.  And it's my first time reviewing it on this blog.  So, according to my new rules, I'm doing a video only review.





Monday, February 26, 2024

Started: Tides of War by Steven Pressfield (On my shelves since September 17, 2023)



* Overly Sarcastic Production Video on Alcibiades: https://youtu.be/kRLkjBUgB2o?si=XALboabWimRD-YYa

Men Like Gods by H.G. Wells: Book Review


On My Shelves: October 30, 2022 
Started: February 18, 2024
Finished: February 25, 2024

This is my first time reading this book, so according to my new rules, I'm doing this as a video only review.





February 25, 2024 p.1-261

Playlist HERE:

Sunday, February 25, 2024



 

Books (261pages this week--the goal is 200 pages)
Comic Books (Comic Books don't count towards weekly page counts)
Superman: Reign of the Supermen No page numbers on this edition, but I'm over halfway through
Revolutions Season 9: The Mexican Revolution From the beginning to 9.09- The Tiger (from Revolutions Podcast)
From: Section 2, Unit 7, Level 5, Lesson 6 To: Section 2, Unit 8, Level 4, Lesson Legendary (My Duolingo profile is hereHere is the quizlet I use to practice all of the vocabulary I've learned in Duolingo, and here is a smaller quizlet I use to consolidate the new or difficult vocabulary.)

Videos from this week:

For more information about what this is and why I'm doing it, see HERE.
Finished: Men Like Gods by H.G. Wells (Review coming soon.)


Men Like Gods by H.G. Wells: Book Review

Saturday, February 24, 2024

The '60s (TV Movie): Review

(Movie Reviews--TV Reviews

As I mention in the video, I had seen parts of this movie before, but this is the first time watching the whole thing.  It's also the first time reviewing it on this blog, so according to my new rules, it gets a video only review.







Friday, February 23, 2024

Teaching Young Language Learners by Annamaria Pinter: Book Review (Complete)


This video was originally published in two parts: 
At the time, I didn't have access to editing equipment, so I just uploaded the videos separately.  But now I've combined them into one video.

From this old blogpost:

Started: Revolutions Season 9: The Mexican Revolution by Mike Duncan

Part of working through the Revolutions Podcast, as mentioned HERE.  I plan to listen to this 3 times through (I'll keep track of my progress at the bottom of this post), and then at the end give it a video review.


Listening Progress
February 23, 2024--9.03- Mexico
February 24--9.06- The Presidential Succession of 1910
February 25--9.09- The Tiger
February 26--9.11- Not Quite President Madero
February 27--9.13- The Plan of Ayala
February 28--9.14- The Ten Tragic Days
February 29--9.19- The Conventionists
March 1--9.26- The Last Caudillo
Finished 1st Listening.  Starting 2nd Listening
March 2--9.01- New Spain
March 3--9.03- Mexico
March 4--9.04- The Porfiriato
March 5--9.05- The Creelman Interview
March 6--9.06- The Presidential Succession of 1910
March 9--9.09- The Tiger
March 10--9.10- Chickens Coming Home To Roost
March 11--9.11- Not Quite President Madero
March 12--9.12- No Peace
March 13--9.14- The Ten Tragic Days
March 14--9.15- The Constitutionalists
March 16--9.18- The Fall of Huerta
March 17--9.20- The Guns of Veracruz
March 18--9.22- The Punitive Expedition
March 21--9.25- Loyalty and Betrayal
March 22--9.26- The Last Caudillo
Finished 2nd Listening.  Starting 3rd Listening
March 23--9.01- New Spain
March 24--9.03- Mexico
March 25--9.05- The Creelman Interview
March 26--9.06- 9.07- Morelos
March 27--9.08- The Plan of San Luis
March 28--9.09- The Tiger
March 29--9.12- No Peace
March 30--9.16- The Legend of Pancho Villa
March 31--9.18- The Fall of Huerta
April 1--9.19- The Conventionists
April 3--9.20- The Guns of Veracruz
April 5--9.23- The Constitution of 1917
April 6--9.27- The Institutional Revolution
Finished 3rd Listening
April 7 --9.01- New Spain

Started: Revolutions Podcast by Mike Duncan

Revolutions Season 8: The Paris Commune by Mike Duncan: Review

(Podcasts--History

Started: January 20, 2024
Finished: 1st Listening: January 25, 2024
2nd Listening: February 1, 2024
3rd Listening: February 18, 2024
4th Listening: February 23, 2024

(This is my first time listening through to this podcast, so according to my new rules, I'm doing this as a video only review.)



The other books I've read on the Paris Commune is below:

History Books that are Partially about the Paris Commune (but are also about other things as well):

Historical Fiction Dealing with the Paris Commune:


Other books mentioned in the video:

Finished: Revolutions Season 8: The Paris Commune by Mike Duncan

I actually finished this season back on February 18, 2024, but as I wrote at the time, I decided to do a 4th listening of it rather than my usual 3 listenings.  I've now finished my 4th listening (my complete progress is listed below), so it's time to film the review.  Stay tuned.


Listening Progress
January 20, 2024--8.1- The Second French Empire
January 21--8.3- The Government of National Defence
January 22--8.5- The Cannons
January 23--8.6- The Commune
Finished 1st Listening.  Started 2nd Listening
January 25--8.1- The Second French Empire
January 27--8.3- The Government of National Defence
January 28--8.4- The Siege of Paris
January 29--8.5- The Cannons
January 30--8.6- The Commune
January 31--8.7- Year 79
Finished 2nd Listening.  Started 3rd Listening
February 1--8.1- The Second French Empire
February 3--8.2- The Franco-Prussian War
February 4--8.3- The Government of National Defence
February 5--8.5- The Cannons
February 17--8.8- The Bloody Week
February 18--8.1- The Second French Empire
February 19--8.2- The Franco-Prussian War
February 20--8.3- The Government of National Defence
February 21--8.4- The Siege of Paris
February 22--8.7- Year 79
February 23--8.8- The Bloody Week


Lawrence of Arabia: Movie Review

(Movie Review--Biopic, Rewatch)  

As I mentioned in the video, is my third time watching this movie.  But it's my first time reviewing it on this blog so according to my new rules, I'm doing this as a video only review.




Watch this movie on Youtube below:


Thursday, February 22, 2024

As I've mentioned in a couple recent - blog posts, I've got the apartment to myself again for the week.
Once again, time to see what my TV viewing options are on Youtube. 
Just like last time,  my first instinct was to search for episodes of The Outer Limits.  But this time, instead of the original TV show coming up, it's just episodes from the 1990s reboot that come up.  (It looks like Youtube must have taken down all the full episodes from the original 1960s.  If you look at my post from 8 months ago, the episodes I linked to are now unavailable.)
According to Wikipedia, the revival of the  Outer Limits ran from 1995 to 2001.  This was right during the prime of my life, but as far as I can remember, I think I was completely unaware of its existence at the time--despite being a fan of the original series.
I attribute my obliviousness to a few factors: 
2) According to Wikipedia, this show was airing on Showtime and SyFy, which I didn't have access to at that time.
3) Before the rise of the modern Internet, it was just a lot easier to be oblivious to stuff outside your radar.

Alright, well, let's give the rebooted Outer Limits a try and see if its watchable.
The first episode, which I chose just at random, was Lion's Den.


...the production values on this aren't great, but I think this was within the normal range for mediocre TV back in the 1990s. 
Still, it's pretty cheesy.
Now, the original 1960s Outer Limits was also arguably pretty cheesy, but, for whatever reason, I really like the ambiance of those old 1960s sci-fi TV shows.  I don't know why, maybe it's because when I was growing up there was so much nostalgia for the 1950s and 60s in the culture, and I just absorbed it, but I like the eerie black and white Outer Limits, even if I know it's low production quality.
But low-budget 1990s TV?  It's pretty hard to romanticize that, because I remember this type of dreck all too well.  (Not this show particularly, but certainly this type of show.)

That being said, Lion's Den is still largely watchable.  I mean, if you just want to put something on the screen to entertain you while you eat dinner, it's mostly entertaining.  It held my attention, at least for the first 2/3rds.
It lost me at the end, because I was starting to realize at that point that there was going to be no twist ending to this story.  The story establishes itself in the first act, and then, it plays out incredibly predictably from there.  The viewer is not rewarded for sticking to the end of this story.  What happens at the end is exactly what you think will happen.  
The one note of interest is that it stars Shawn Ashmore, who would later go on to play Iceman in the X-Men movies.

But, because I wanted something to watch over dinner the next night, I came back to this series one more time.  I saw the title "Time to Time" and I thought: Time travel stories usually have a few twists in them.  Maybe this one will be more interesting.



...remember I mentioned above that there was a lot of nostalgia for the 1950s and 1960s in the culture when I was growing up?
Well, this is a classic example of the romanticization of the 1960s that was going on in the 1990s.
Now, as I've confessed on this blog a few times (e.g. here, here , here, etc), I totally got caught up in that romanticization myself.  I was young and impressionable and I just got swept up in all the myth-making that my elders were engaging in.
To give some credit to myself, even while I was getting taken-in by the myth, I did at least have some cognizance of what was going on--that is, I did kind of recognize even at the time that there was romanticization of the period going on.
What I didn't realize at the time was how temporary this nostalgia was. That is, I assumed that romanticizaiton of the 1960s was now a permanent part of our culture--that in 2024 people would still be talking about the 1960s just as much as they were doing in the 1990s.  I didn't realize that in the 1990s the myth of the 1960s was just a result of Baby-Boomers being at the point in their lives when they were at their peak economic influence, and that this state of affairs wouldn't last forever. I was too young to know how nostalgia cycles work.   (The death of oldies radio stations (W) also took me by surprise.  I had just assumed that pop songs from the 1950s and 60s were a permanent part of the cultural landscape, and never anticipated they would fade away with their target demographic.)

...anyway, all that is to say that Time to Time is a perfect example of the nostalgia for the 1960s that was being done in the 1990s.  And as such, it's a great time piece.  It's incredibly cheesy and cliched, but then most of the 1990s nostalgia for the 1960s was incredibly cheesy and cliched, so its a perfect example of its genre.  (It's odd, but, for whatever reason, people in the 1990s couldn't write 1960s characters as believable human beings--they always resorted to writing 1960s characters as if they were walking billboards, incapable of normal emotions and always communicating in slogans.)

In terms of watchability, Time to Time rates a bit higher than Lion's Den, and at least has a couple of twists to keep you awake.
I am Charlotte Simmons by Tom Wolfe: Book Review (Complete)


This video was originally published in two parts: 
I had previously posted these videos on this blog here.
At the time, I didn't have access to editing equipment, so I just uploaded the videos separately.  But now I've combined them into one video.

Lenin is Turned Into a Frog in 1917 by ChatGPT: ESL Listening Poems

Transcript: docs, pub
Video: HERE
[Notes: This poem comes from my previous blogpost: Playing Around With ChatGPT]



Lenin is Turned Into a Frog in 1917 by ChatGPT: poems

Video: https://youtu.be/SLRQ5zdlQAI


In the year of 1917, a momentous time,

Amidst the Russian Revolution, a paradigm,

A figure emerged, a leader so bold,

But fate had a twist, a tale to be told.


Vladimir Lenin, with ideals burning bright,

Led the Bolsheviks, their cause taking flight,

But destiny, fickle, had a different plan,

Transforming Lenin into a creature so grand.


The revolution surged, the people's cry,

But as Lenin spoke, a change caught his eye,

His form shifted, his body rearranged,

From a man to a frog, a transformation so strange.


Confusion descended upon the revolution's stage,

As Lenin, now a frog, hopped onto history's page,

His words, once commanding, now croaked in the air,

As he struggled to adapt, his new life to bear.


The people, astonished, recoiled in surprise,

Witnessing their leader's unexpected guise,

Yet, in their hearts, his ideals still burned,

For it was his vision that the people yearned.


Lenin, the frog, hopped amidst the turmoil,

Navigating a world now strange and coil,

He croaked of revolution, from his amphibian perch,

Inspiring the masses, despite his altered search.


His amphibious presence became symbolic, you see,

Of the revolution's spirit, of ideals running free,

A reminder that leaders, no matter their guise,

Could inspire change, even with different eyes.


The frog-Lenin, with leaps both small and wide,

Embodied resilience, adapting with pride,

He hopped through challenges, undeterred,

A symbol of revolution, in every word.


Though frogs may not rule, their influence profound,

Lenin, the frog, left his mark on the ground,

His ideas, like ripples, spread far and wide,

Transforming the nation, with revolutionary tide.


And when the time came, as history recalls,

The frog shed its skin, revealing Lenin in its walls,

His transformation complete, a leader reborn,

But forever remembered as the frog that was borne.


In the annals of time, this tale remains,

Of Lenin, the frog, and his revolutionary reins,

A reminder that change can come in disguise,

And leaders can emerge, from unexpected skies.


Wednesday, February 21, 2024

Playing Around with ChatGPT: Part 2

This is a continuation of a previous post.  In that previous post, I talked about how I had recently discovered ChatGPT's usefulness for creating poems about bizarre situations.
The next thing I've discovered is that ChatGPT is great for creating stories that result from banter.
You know how it is.  You're standing around with a group of guys, joking around, saying, "Wouldn't it be funny if such and such happened?"
Well, nowadays, you can actually take that funny hypothetical, and feed it into ChatGPT.

Okay, so today's funny hypothetical:
Someone was telling me a true story about how she was conducting the IELTS speaking test, and in the course of gesturing to welcome the candidate into the room, she knocked over her cup of tea, and spilled hot tea all over the table and the exam materials.  IELTS staff had to be called in to clean up mess, while the candidate just waited in silence.
That part was all true.  But here was the funny hypothetical that immediately sprung to my mind: it's a well-known open-secret that in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnamese people who work at IELTS prep centers will often take the IELTS test not for the purpose of getting a bandscore, but for the purpose of learning about the test, so that they can pass on information to their students.  What if this candidate had actually been one of those teachers?  And then, the teacher went back and reported to their students that possibly tea might be spilled in the IELTS exam, and (because these IELTS prep centers are notorious for always creating lists of useful tips for their students), they actually incorporated the tips about the tea spilling into their lessons.

So, I gave the prompt to ChatGPT:
write a story about an IELTS teacher who is taking the IELTS speaking test simply to gather information about the test for his students. While he is taking the test, the examiner accidentally spills her tea all over the table. The teacher then mistakenly assumes this is part of the test procedure, and goes back to inform his students that there is a tea spilling part of the IELTS speaking exam
...and, it actually did a very good job.  Here is the story it created:

In a bustling city, renowned for its language institutes, there lived a dedicated IELTS teacher named Mr. Davis. He was passionate about his profession and was always on the lookout for innovative ways to help his students excel in their language skills. Mr. Davis had a reputation for going the extra mile, and his students adored him for his creativity and commitment.

One day, as Mr. Davis was preparing his lesson plans, he came across a dilemma. He wanted to gather firsthand information about the IELTS speaking test to better guide his students. Eager to understand the nuances of the exam, he decided to take the test himself. He registered and eagerly awaited the day of his speaking test.

The day arrived, and Mr. Davis entered the test center with a mix of excitement and nervousness. He greeted the examiner, a kind and professional woman, and took his seat. As the speaking test began, Mr. Davis listened attentively to the examiner's questions and responded with confidence, drawing from his extensive knowledge and experience as a teacher.

Midway through the test, as the examiner reached for her cup of tea, a moment of misfortune occurred. The cup slipped from her hand, and tea spilled all over the table, splattering the test papers and creating a small mess. The examiner gasped, her face turning slightly red with embarrassment.

In that moment, Mr. Davis, unknowingly assuming this was part of the test procedure, found himself intrigued by this unexpected turn of events. He perceived it as a unique task designed to assess the test-taker's ability to handle unexpected situations. His mind raced with excitement as he contemplated how he would incorporate this new "tea spilling" element into his future lessons.

After completing the speaking test, Mr. Davis left the examination room, his mind buzzing with ideas. He couldn't wait to share the news with his students. Little did he know that what he had witnessed was simply an accident and not a deliberate part of the IELTS speaking test.

The following day, Mr. Davis eagerly entered his classroom, a mischievous smile playing on his lips. His students, intrigued by his excitement, eagerly awaited his announcement. With a theatrical flair, he proclaimed, "Guess what, my dear students? There's an exciting new addition to the IELTS speaking test! They've introduced a tea spilling task to assess your ability to handle unexpected situations!"

The students exchanged puzzled glances, unsure of how tea spills could be connected to their language proficiency. Nevertheless, they trusted their beloved teacher and embraced the challenge with enthusiasm.

In the weeks that followed, Mr. Davis incorporated the "tea spilling" task into his lessons. He designed mock exams where students had to gracefully navigate through imagined tea spills, demonstrating their ability to maintain composure and adapt their responses smoothly. Surprisingly, the students found these exercises to be both amusing and engaging, and they willingly participated.

As time passed, news of the "tea spilling" task in the IELTS speaking test spread beyond Mr. Davis's classroom. Other teachers caught wind of it and began incorporating similar exercises into their lessons. The "tea spilling" trend became a sensation among IELTS preparation classes, with students across the city preparing for this unexpected challenge.

Eventually, the truth reached Mr. Davis's ears. A fellow teacher, who had attended an examiner's workshop, revealed that the spilled tea incident during Mr. Davis's test was simply an accident and not a part of the actual IELTS speaking test.

Mr. Davis felt a mix of embarrassment and amusement at his mistaken assumption. He realized that his enthusiasm had led him astray, but he couldn't help but appreciate the unintended benefits that came from his well-intentioned mistake. The "tea spilling" task had sparked creativity, engagement, and a sense of camaraderie among his students.

With newfound humility, Mr. Davis gathered his students and shared the truth. They laughed together at the misunderstanding, cherishing the memories they had created through their tea-spilling adventures. Mr. Davis reassured them that even though the task was not an official part of the IELTS speaking test, the skills they had developed—adaptability, composure, and quick thinking—were essential in real-life situations.

From that day forward, Mr. Davis continued to inspire his students with his innovative teaching methods, always emphasizing the importance of adapting to unexpected challenges. And while the "tea spilling" task may have been a delightful misconception, it had taught them all a valuable lesson—sometimes, the most unexpected detours can lead to the most memorable and significant journeys.


****END OF STORY****

Well, that certainly made me chuckle, at any rate.  Hopefully it will bring a laugh to someone else as well.

Also... man, it is scary how good ChatGPT is, isn't it?  I know this technology is a year old at this point, but I still  can't believe how good it is.  How does this even work?  My understanding is that the computer is just predicting text based on models that it has encountered, but it's managed to produce a complex and coherent piece of text that understood the complicated prompt I gave it, and made the story exactly.
I hate to say it, but this technology is definitely going to put a lot of people out of work in the next couple decades.  I really hope I'm not going to be one of them.  I am both excited and really worried about all of its possibilities.  (I know, I know, I'm just repeating what everyone else has already been saying for the past year.  I just want to add my voice to the chorus.)

One thing I have noticed, though, is that you do have to spell out exactly what you want in the prompt.  ChatGPT is not very good at picking up on implications.  So the first prompt I used was:
write a story about an IELTS teacher who is taking the IELTS test simply to gather information about the test for his students. While he is taking the test, the examiner accidentally spills her tea all over the table
...and this just produced a rather boring story about how the tea was spilled, but then the test continued.  To get the computer to understand what I was going for, I had to spell everything out exactly.  But then, once I put everything in the prompt, I got exactly what I was looking for.

Tuesday, February 20, 2024

Playing Around With ChatGPT

I know, I know.  This post is one year too late.  ChatGPT is old news now.
When ChatGPT first came out, about a year and a half ago, lots of my colleagues instantly became addicted.  They were constantly playing on it, and showing me all the odd things that they had ChatGPT create.  "I just asked ChatGPT to compose a poem about our waitress in the style of Eminem, and look what it did!"
But I didn't get into it at the time.
For one thing, I've always been a late-adopter of technology.  Now, once I get used to a piece of technology, I'm as addicted to it as anyone else, but it takes a lot to get me to start using it.  As you probably can tell.  After all, I didn't join Twitter until 2014.  I was one of the last people on Earth to buy a Smartphone.  And I've been sticking with blogspot for over 20 years now--oh, sure, there are lots of newer blogging platforms out there now, but I don't want to change.  I'm happy with what's familiar.  
The other reason that I was reluctant to start using ChatGPT is that it just sounded like a hassle.  The guys in my office were saying you had to download a copy, and install it, and apparently it wasn't available in Vietnam, so you had to get a VPN or something like that, and I just couldn't be bothered to deal with all that hassle.
But I was talking with my manager today, and she was recommending to me that I use ChatGPT to help with some of my admin work, and I went through my usual spiel about how I didn't want to go through the hassle, and she said, "No, it's super easy.  You just go to the website Poe, and you can use it from there."
She sent me the link: https://poe.com/login.  I went to the website.  (You do have to login, but you can login through Google, so you don't need to create a separate account.)  And all of a sudden, I had ChatGPT at my fingertips.
Well... time to play around I guess.   
The first thing that came into my head (blame Robert C. O'Brien) was: "write a poem about rats building bicycles".  I typed the prompt into ChatGPT, hit "enter", and then instantly the following poem started being written out before me, line by line:
In a world unseen, where whimsy abounds,
Where rats dream big and their talents astound,
Amidst the shadows of the moonlit night,
A tale unfolds of extraordinary delight.

Within a forgotten attic, a hidden domain,
Rats huddled together, a determined campaign,
Their tiny paws, nimble and fleet,
Yearning to fashion a masterpiece so sweet.

With scraps and discarded bits they gather,
A symphony of whispers, their plans they tether,
Through cobwebs and dust, they tirelessly toil,
Assembling dreams with unwavering coil.

Their whiskers twitch with anticipation,
As they construct, with fervent dedication,
Tiny wheels spun with spider silk,
Frames fashioned from twigs, as soft as milk.

Each rat lends a paw, a skill to bestow,
Some sculpt the handlebars, others the pedals below,
Their unity, a testament to their might,
Building bicycles, an enchanting sight.

In the quietude of night, their fervor unfurls,
As they forge the wheels and align the pearls,
Their tails entwined, a chorus of cheer,
As they envision the thrill, devoid of fear.

Through moonlit streets, they'll soon take flight,
Rats atop bicycles, a wondrous sight,
Pedaling swiftly, wind whispering through fur,
Journeying together, a grand adventure to stir.

With every turn of the wheel, the rats will find,
A world they had never known, left behind,
Through bustling alleys and meadows so green,
Their spirit unbridled and dreams unforeseen.

For in their hearts, they carry a spark,
That transcends their nature, ignites the dark,
Rats building bicycles, a testament true,
That dreams can be woven and brought to life too.

So let us applaud these creatures so small,
Who defy expectations and stand tall,
For in their tiny paws, a lesson we find,
That even the humblest can leave limits behind.

And when you hear the tinkle of bells in the air,
Know it's the rats, cycling without a care,
Their joyful chorus rings through the night,
Rats building bicycles, a whimsical delight.
Now, at this late date, I don't necessarily want to spend too much time rehashing the basics of ChatGPT.  But, I can't help myself, I have to say it--It is absolutely amazing what AI can do nowadays.  This poem was created instantly.  With a working rhyme scheme, and a narrative that makes sense.  ChatGPT even seems to mostly understand the world building behind this concept--e.g. rats are small, so the bicycles that they make will be made of small things and that the whole idea of rats building bicycles is inherently whimsical.
But also, seeing this poem written out instantly made me feel scared.  Here was something produced in 2 seconds that was much better than anything I could ever hope to write.  So what's the point of me ever trying to create a poem ever again when I could just go to ChatGPT?  It makes you worry about the future of human literary endeavors.
Now, because I've read Freddie Deboer's essay I Continue to be Unimpressed by ChatGPT, I guess I should also look at this poem critically.  Okay, so, in the spirit of Freddie Deboer, let's take a critical look at it.  The poem is technically competent, but uninspired.  It's not magical.  It does not reward a second reading.  In fact, it's kind of tedious to just read through once, isn't it?
I have more thoughts, but I'll leave it there.  Like I said, I don't want to spend too much time rehashing everything that's already been said about ChatGPT.

But the thing is, for all the discussion that's been had about ChatGPT, you don't really appreciate the attraction of it until you actually use it.  There's an addictive feeling of godlike power that it gives you.
I mean, this poem about rats making bicycles didn't exist two seconds ago.  Now it exists.  It exists because I called it into existence.  I didn't actually write it, but I ordered it into being.  And with a few more words, I could order another poem into being.  
Now I see why all my co-workers were so obsessed with this thing one year ago.  It is so exhilarating to just order stuff created.

Okay, so what's next? "write about rats building bicycles and then suddenly becoming disillusioned with their work"  I hit enter, and then...
The rats, oh the rats, building bicycles with glee,
Crafting dreams with their paws, so wild and free,
But as the moon waned and the dawn drew near,
Disillusionment whispered, filling the air.

At first, the thrill of creation was profound,
Their tiny hands weaving dreams, unbound,
But as the frames took shape, doubts crept in,
Their excitement waned, a melancholy within.

The wheels spun true, the gears clicked in place,
Yet a void lingered, casting shadows on their grace,
The bicycles they built, now hollow and cold,
A mirage of freedom, a story untold.

"What's the purpose?" the rats began to ponder,
Their dreams shattered, their spirits torn asunder,
The handlebars, once held with joyous might,
Now felt heavy, burdened with a stifled plight.

They rode through the city, their creations gleaming,
Yet a sense of emptiness, so deeply seething,
The streets echoed with the sound of their wheels,
But the rats felt lost, their hearts no longer thrilled.

In the midst of the chaos, they yearned for connection,
To share their passion, to find true affection,
But the world rushed by, indifferent and cold,
Leaving the rats disillusioned, their dreams untold.

They gathered in the attic, a somber affair,
Their eyes weary, burdened by despair,
The bicycles they built, now symbols of regret,
Their hopes dashed, a bitter truth they couldn't forget.

Yet within their disillusionment, a glimmer remained,
A spark of resilience, a longing unchained,
For the rats knew deep down, despite the strife,
That the true meaning of creation lies in the journey, not the ride.

So they set aside their bicycles, their dreams on hold,
And turned to each other, their spirits yet bold,
In unity, they found solace and release,
Rediscovering joy, finding inner peace.

The rats, once builders, now seekers of truth,
Embraced the uncertainty, the eternal pursuit,
For sometimes, in disillusionment's guise,
We uncover new paths, where true meaning lies.

And so, the rats moved on, their bicycles left behind,
But their spirits soared, a new purpose to find,
For in the cycle of life, dreams may fade away,
But the resilience within us always finds a way.
Wow, that's actually pretty cool.  I mean, the AI got it.  It understood the concept of getting disillusioned.  It understood the narrative sequence.
Okay, well, can't stop now: "write about rats building bicycles and then suddenly becoming disillusioned with their work and becoming pirates"
The rats, oh the rats, builders turned astray,
Disillusioned with their work, they sought a different way,
Their bicycles abandoned, dreams cast asunder,
They set sail on the seas, their hearts filled with thunder.

From the attic to the shores, their course was set,
Rats turned pirates, a daring piratical mindset,
Their tiny paws now grasping cutlasses tight,
They sailed the open waters, under the moon's guiding light.

No longer bound by frames and wheels of steel,
They sought adventure, treasures to reveal,
Their disillusionment transformed into an audacious spree,
Rats turned pirates, sailing wild and free.

The sea became their canvas, their ship a mighty steed,
They plundered and roamed, fulfilling their every need,
With patched-up sails and a flag of defiance,
They navigated the tides, embracing the pirate alliance.

No longer building bicycles, their hands now held the helm,
Their dreams of freedom found amidst the maritime realm,
Treasure maps and hidden coves became their guide,
As they chased the thrill of the ocean's wild tide.

The once disillusioned rats found purpose anew,
In the life of a pirate, where dreams could come true,
Their bicycles forgotten, but not their fiery hearts,
As they charted their course, embracing pirate arts.

With each new conquest, their spirits soared high,
The disillusionment fading, replaced by a battle cry,
They reveled in the chaos, the freedom of the sea,
Rats turned pirates, living fiercely and carefree.

But deep within their souls, a longing remained,
For the days of creation, the bicycles they had named,
And so, in quiet moments, when the waves calmed down,
They reminisced, wondering about the roads left unbound.

For the pirates and builders shared a common thread,
A thirst for adventure, a hunger to be led,
And as the rats sailed on, their hearts torn in two,
They yearned for the bicycles, the dreams they once knew.

So, in the twilight of their piratical quest,
They returned to the attic, their hearts laid to rest,
And with a newfound clarity, they saw the truth unfold,
That the bicycles they built were stories yet untold.

The rats, once pirates, now builders once more,
Resurrecting their dreams like never before,
For in the cycles of life, they found their place,
Pirates turned builders, embracing grace.

And so, the rats set to work, their paws filled with might,
Building bicycles once more, under the starry night,
With a pirate's spirit and a builder's zest,
They sailed the roads, their dreams truly blessed.
Okay, what next? "write a poem about rats building bicycles, and then suddenly becoming disillusioned with their work and becoming pirates, and then finally finding religion"
In a realm where whimsy and wonder reside,
A tale of rats, their dreams collide.
With nimble paws and curious minds,
They set to build, their vision entwined.

Rats, the artisans of the rodent domain,
Crafted bicycles, a feat quite insane.
Tiny wheels spun, gears clicked and turned,
As dreams of cycling adventures burned.

Each rat, a builder with passion aflame,
Wove spokes of hope into the frame.
They toiled together, their tiny hands swift,
Inventing contraptions, their spirits adrift.

Pedals were fashioned with utmost care,
Handlebars curved, a true rat's affair.
From scraps and salvaged parts they gleaned,
A testament to what their dreams could mean.

But as the wheels spun, a change took hold,
Disillusionment seeped, their spirits untold.
The bicycles, once marvels, now seemed mundane,
And their once-shared vision began to wane.

"No more," cried the rats, their voices resound,
Their hearts longing for adventure unbound.
With sails unfurled, they took to the sea,
Transformed from builders to pirates, wild and free.

They navigated waves, their ship a small craft,
Their furry crew, daring and daft.
They plundered treasures, their tails held high,
Living a life of freedom, beneath the sky.

But amidst the ransacking and raucous cheer,
A longing grew, a whisper so clear.
The rats, once pirates, now yearned for more,
A higher purpose, a truth to explore.

They sailed to a land where spirituality thrived,
Seeking solace, seeking to be revived.
In temples they meditated, seeking inner peace,
Finding solace and comfort, their worries ceased.

The pirates turned devotees, their hearts renewed,
Faith in something greater, their doubts subdued.
The bicycles forgotten, but lessons they learned,
In cycles of life, new pathways discerned.

So, remember the tale of rats bold and true,
Builders turned pirates, seekers anew.
In their journey, we find wisdom's seed,
To chase dreams, seek truth, and let hearts lead.
Alright, that's enough, I really should get back to work now.
...okay, just one more: "write a poem about rats building bicycles, and then suddenly becoming disillusioned with their work and becoming pirates, and then finding religion, but finally becoming atheists"
In the realm of whimsical tales untold,
Where imagination weaves its threads of gold,
There lived a band of rats, clever and bright,
Creating wonders that danced in the night.

With nimble paws and curious minds,
They forged their dreams in secret binds,
Tiny artisans of a grand design,
Building bicycles, oh so fine.

Each spoke in place, each wheel aligned,
Rat engineers with vision refined,
Pedals turned by tiny paws,
Their creations defying nature's laws.

But as their wheels spun round and round,
A whisper of discontent profound,
For the rats grew weary of their art,
Yearning for a life with a different start.

In a sudden twist of fate's cruel hand,
They cast aside their wheels so grand,
And donned the masks of pirates bold,
Seeking treasures, untold and untold.

Sailing the seas, their hearts set free,
They pillaged and plundered with reckless glee,
Yet amidst the chaos and stolen gold,
A longing for something more took hold.

They sailed to distant shores, far and wide,
Searching for solace, seeking to confide,
And there, on an island bathed in light,
They found religion, shining bright.

The rats knelt down with fervent zeal,
Their pirate hearts beginning to heal,
Prayers on their lips, they found solace there,
Embracing faith with a newfound flair.

But as the days turned into years,
A doubt crept in, causing silent tears,
The rats questioned the gods they once adored,
Their boundless faith now slowly ignored.

They turned their backs on belief's embrace,
Atheism claimed their newfound space,
No longer swayed by divine decree,
They sought their own truth, wild and free.

The rats, once builders of bikes sublime,
Became pirates, seekers of lost time,
Found religion, then let it go,
Embracing atheism's uncertain glow.

In this tale of rats' fickle plight,
We find reflections of our human light,
For in our search for purpose and truth,
We navigate the seas of doubt with youth.

So let us learn from these rats gone astray,
Embracing change as we find our own way,
Building, doubting, seeking, and more,
For life's mysteries still lie at our core.
...As these prompts get more and more ridiculous, I keep thinking I'll get to a point where ChatGPT will say, "No, that's just too much."  But that point never seems to come.  ChatGPT keeps rising to the challenge.
And you know, in spite of Freddie Deboer, I have to say it, I think this is one of the best rats building bicycles, and then suddenly becoming disillusioned with their work and becoming pirates, and then finding religion, but finally becoming atheists poems that you could ask for.  It handles each consecutive theme neatly and appropriately, and still has some good rhymes in it.  I'm actually pretty happy with it.  
My only reservation is that I'm not sure that this poem would be entirely intelligible to someone who didn't know the prompt.  I mean, if you know the prompt, it makes perfect sense.  But if you were to just hand this poem to someone without any context, would they be able to make sense of it?  (I'll have to try this experiment tomorrow.)

Okay, so, how to top this one?  What do the rats do next?
What if after all this, their community finally dissolved into civil war.  What if the rats re-enacted the Spanish Civil War?
"write a poem about rats who build bicycles then become suddenly disillusioned with their work, become pirates, find religion, but then become atheists, and then finally have a civil war among themselves over the cause of republicanism versus fascism"
In a world unseen by human eyes,
Where furry creatures wear disguise,
A tale of rats, both bold and meek,
Whose destinies took a curious peak.

In the depths of tunnels, dark and deep,
Where secrets and mysteries silently creep,
A colony of rats, clever and sly,
Set out to build bicycles, oh so high.

With nimble paws and cunning minds,
They forged their wheels with dreams that bind,
Pedals turned by their industrious might,
Their creations gleaming in the moon's soft light.

But as the wheels spun round and round,
A sense of disillusionment began to abound,
The rats, once enthralled by their invention,
Felt empty, void of purpose, without mention.

Their dreams shattered, their spirits torn,
They set sail on the seas, their hearts reborn,
Pirates they became, seeking new thrill,
As the ocean waves danced with a mischievous will.

But fortune's fickle hand soon turned away,
And the rats grew tired of their pirating play,
They sought solace in religion's embrace,
Finding answers in faith, seeking solace and grace.

Temples they built, adorned with care,
Kneeling in prayer, their hopes laid bare,
Yet doubts crept in, their faith unwound,
And the rats turned away, their beliefs unbound.

Atheism embraced, they sailed once more,
Their souls unburdened, their spirits soar,
But division arose amidst their ranks,
A civil war, where unity tanks.

Republicanism versus fascism, the great divide,
Ideologies clashed, spreading discontent wide,
The once united colony now torn apart,
Brother against brother, heart against heart.

Their wheels of progress lay abandoned, untouched,
As battles raged on, the rats' dreams were clutched,
Yet in the midst of chaos, one rat dared to rise,
A voice for unity, a beacon in disguise.

With words that bridged the gaping chasm,
He called for peace, an end to the spasm,
The rats, weary and worn, listened with care,
Realizing the futility of the war they did bear.

From the ashes of conflict, they began to heal,
Rebuilding their dreams and forging a new deal,
Hand in paw, they restored their creation,
Learning to embrace differences, a unified nation.

For the rats who once built bicycles high,
Learned a lesson as their dreams soared the sky,
That unity and purpose, beyond any strife,
Are the true wheels that propel a fulfilling life.
...okay, I admit it, I pushed it too far on that last one.  That was too much.  The whimsy is all gone.  It still makes narrative sense, but it's no longer fun.
Still... thinking about rats fighting a civil war does kind of remind me of Battle of the Frogs and Mice from Greek Mythology.  Why don't we try that next? "the trojan war is being re-enacted with mice playing the part of the greeks and frogs playing the part of the Trojans"
In a realm where legends come alive,
A peculiar scene begins to thrive,
The Trojan War, a tale of old,
Now re-enacted, with a twist untold.

Mice, valiant and swift, donned Greek attire,
Their spirits ablaze with a warrior's fire,
With tiny spears and shields held high,
They marched forth, ready to defy.

Frogs, amphibious and proud, took their stance,
As Trojans, ready to defend their expanse,
Their voices croaking, a battle cry,
They stood firm, beneath the open sky.

The stage was set, the battle lines drawn,
Two armies clashed, with hearts forlorn,
Mice scurried, their movements precise,
Frogs leaped, their defense concise.

Amidst the chaos, a hero emerged,
A mouse named Ajax, his valor surged,
With a heart of bravery, unmatched in might,
He led the Greeks, a beacon of light.

Yet the frogs, resilient in their defense,
Held their ground, their courage immense,
Led by Hector, their noble command,
They fought fiercely, united, hand in hand.

The clash of spears, the clash of wills,
Echoed through the air, amidst the hills,
The battlefield painted with valor and strife,
As the mice and frogs fought for their life.

But as the war raged, a realization came,
That this re-enactment held more than just fame,
The mice and frogs, once enemies bold,
Found empathy, their stories now unfold.

They saw the cost, the pain, the despair,
In the eyes of their foes, they began to care,
They questioned the cycle of eternal fight,
And yearned for a path towards the light.

Together they gathered, leaders and all,
In a moment of truth, they let down the wall,
Realizing that unity held the key,
To end the strife and set both armies free.

The mice and frogs, once locked in combat,
Embraced a new path, leaving behind the combat,
They forged a treaty, a pact of peace,
Their animosity forever to cease.

No longer Greeks or Trojans, they would be,
Friends and allies, united and free,
And as the curtains closed on their re-enactment stage,
A lesson of harmony transcended the age.

For in the tale of mice and frogs, we find,
That even in conflict, unity can bind,
And as they walked hand in hand, side by side,
A new chapter of friendship turned the tide.
To give ChatGPT credit, it got the little details right.  Hector is a Trojan so he's a frog, Ajax is a Greek so he's a mouse, etc.  But this isn't a very good retelling of the Trojan War.  I mean, where's the Trojan horse?  
Okay, try again. Change the prompt a little bit.  This time it's the normal Trojan War, but the twist is that when the Trojan Horse opens, it's not Greeks inside, but frogs.  "The Trojan War, but when the Trojan horse opens, it's full of frogs instead of greeks"
In the realm of ancient Troy, a tale unfolds,
Of a war that shook the land, a story yet untold,
The Greeks and Trojans clashed, their fates entwined,
But in this twist of fate, a different surprise we find.

The mighty walls of Troy, they stood so tall,
But the Greeks, determined, planned a scheme to befall,
A wooden horse, crafted with care and deceit,
Concealing within, not Greeks, but creatures petite.

As the Trojan horse loomed on the city's shore,
The Trojans rejoiced, victory seeming more,
But when the gates swung wide with hope and cheer,
Out leaped a sea of frogs, a sight unclear.

Croaking and leaping, the frogs filled the air,
Confusion and chaos, the Trojans could but stare,
For in their midst, not warriors fierce and bold,
But amphibian invaders, the Greeks' story untold.

The Trojans, bewildered, tried to comprehend,
How frogs, not Greeks, their city did intend,
But the frogs, with their hopping and splashing delight,
Brought a strange twist to this epic fight.

The city echoed with ribbits and croaks,
As the frogs hopped around, evoking both laughs and jokes,
The Trojans, once fearful, now puzzled and bemused,
Their city transformed into a marshy refuge.

Yet, amidst the laughter, the Trojans grew wary,
For in this amphibian invasion, they sensed something eerie,
Perhaps the frogs were messengers of divine decree,
A sign of impending doom that they couldn't foresee.

The gods, it seemed, had played a trick so sly,
Changing the course of this war with a frog-filled sky,
The Trojans now faced a perplexing plight,
To decipher the message hidden within this strange sight.

Were the frogs a symbol of transformation and change,
Or a warning of impending fortune, so strange?
The Trojans debated, their minds in a whirl,
As the frogs continued their amphibious swirl.

In the end, the Trojans chose their fate,
They embraced the frogs, accepting this twist of late,
For perhaps the gods had a lesson to teach,
To find peace in chaos, and unity in breach.

And so, the Trojan War, forever marked,
Not by swords and spears, but by frogs that embarked,
A tale of unexpected turns and divine decree,
Where frogs and Trojans danced in a surreal harmony.

In this altered version of the Trojan War's lore,
Frogs, not Greeks, emerged from that wooden core,
A reminder that destiny's path can take a turn,
And even in chaos, new lessons we can learn.
Okay, not bad.  Not the greatest poem in the world, but it did what I asked it to, and ChatGPT appears to have thoroughly understood the concept and the world of this poem, even though the poem seems to be plodding through the narrative rather than enjoying the story. Still, all in all, very impressive.
Now, what other historical events would be more interesting if things were changed to frogs?
What if Lenin became a frog right in the middle of 1917?  "Lenin gets transformed into a frog in 1917"
In the year of 1917, a momentous time,
Amidst the Russian Revolution, a paradigm,
A figure emerged, a leader so bold,
But fate had a twist, a tale to be told.

Vladimir Lenin, with ideals burning bright,
Led the Bolsheviks, their cause taking flight,
But destiny, fickle, had a different plan,
Transforming Lenin into a creature so grand.

The revolution surged, the people's cry,
But as Lenin spoke, a change caught his eye,
His form shifted, his body rearranged,
From a man to a frog, a transformation so strange.

Confusion descended upon the revolution's stage,
As Lenin, now a frog, hopped onto history's page,
His words, once commanding, now croaked in the air,
As he struggled to adapt, his new life to bear.

The people, astonished, recoiled in surprise,
Witnessing their leader's unexpected guise,
Yet, in their hearts, his ideals still burned,
For it was his vision that the people yearned.

Lenin, the frog, hopped amidst the turmoil,
Navigating a world now strange and coil,
He croaked of revolution, from his amphibian perch,
Inspiring the masses, despite his altered search.

His amphibious presence became symbolic, you see,
Of the revolution's spirit, of ideals running free,
A reminder that leaders, no matter their guise,
Could inspire change, even with different eyes.

The frog-Lenin, with leaps both small and wide,
Embodied resilience, adapting with pride,
He hopped through challenges, undeterred,
A symbol of revolution, in every word.

Though frogs may not rule, their influence profound,
Lenin, the frog, left his mark on the ground,
His ideas, like ripples, spread far and wide,
Transforming the nation, with revolutionary tide.

And when the time came, as history recalls,
The frog shed its skin, revealing Lenin in its walls,
His transformation complete, a leader reborn,
But forever remembered as the frog that was borne.

In the annals of time, this tale remains,
Of Lenin, the frog, and his revolutionary reins,
A reminder that change can come in disguise,
And leaders can emerge, from unexpected skies.
Okay, that one I really like.  That's actually pretty good, right? I may use that one later.

Alright, but what other historical leaders can we do?  "write a poem describing how history would be different if Abraham lincoln had been a spider"
In a world spun with a different thread,
Where history took a different tread,
Imagine, if you will, a tale anew,
Where Abraham Lincoln was a spider, it's true.

With silken strands, he weaves his way,
A web of change, a different display,
Eight legs, not two, guide his stride,
As a spinner of destiny, with grace, he glides.

In the halls of power, his presence felt,
A spider's wisdom, where truths are dealt,
His web of justice, intricately spun,
To bind the nation, as one.

With patience, he waits, observing all,
A spider's vigilance, standing tall,
He senses the tensions, the impending storm,
And seeks a way to transform.

Through delicate threads of empathy,
He bridges divides, sets spirits free,
His spider's silk, a unifying force,
Bringing people together, altering the course.

In his speeches, he weaves a tale,
Of equality and justice, without fail,
His words, like silk, glisten and bind,
Inspiring hearts, opening minds.

The Emancipation Web he does decree,
Freeing those trapped, longing to be free,
No longer chains, but silk's embrace,
A symbol of liberty, in this altered space.

The Civil War, a different scene,
A spider's strategy, cunning and keen,
He spins his web to end the strife,
To save lives, to protect each life.

With eight eyes, he sees the cost,
The lives shattered, the lives lost,
And in his heart, compassion blooms,
Seeking peace, dispelling dooms.

Through the tangled web of diplomacy,
He weaves his path to unity,
Bringing foes together, thread by thread,
Averting bloodshed, averting dread.

In this world, where a spider leads,
A new chapter, our history heeds,
Lincoln, the arachnid, wise and just,
His legacy, a web of trust.

For in the realm of spider's might,
He taught us lessons, shining bright,
That with patience and hope, we can aspire,
To weave a world where all inspire.

So let us imagine this altered past,
Where a spider's wisdom was steadfast,
Abraham Lincoln, the spinner of fate,
Weaving a web, where harmony awaits.
Now, we have to follow this up with "Gettysburg address as written by a spider"
My fellow beings, both near and far,
We gather amidst this web, a celestial star,
In hallowed corners where dewdrops glisten,
I, a humble spider, speak, and you, my web, shall listen.

Four score and seven times we've spun,
Since this nation, a tapestry, was begun,
Woven with hopes, dreams, and unity's thread,
A fragile web, where freedom's path does tread.

Weavers of justice, we stand on sacred ground,
Where brave souls, entwined, their purpose found,
They spun their lives, threads unbroken,
For a land where liberty's words were spoken.

Yet, in this great web, shadows cast,
A nation divided, its unity surpassed,
Now, we gather, eight-legged and small,
To mend the fractures, to restore the call.

It is for us, the weavers of this age,
To ensure justice, never to disengage,
To bind together, with silken grace,
To heal the wounds, this sacred space.

The battlefields, where lives were lost,
The echoes still linger, a haunting cost,
But from this web, let unity arise,
A nation reborn, where freedom never dies.

We, the spiders, with wisdom deep,
Shall guide this land from shadows' keep,
With threads of empathy, compassion, and might,
We'll spin a future, where all can take flight.

Let us remember those who've sacrificed,
Their spirits entwined, forever prized,
Their webs of valor, forever spun,
In the tapestry of this nation, as one.

This web of ours, a symbol grand,
A beacon of hope across this land,
For a government of spiders, by spiders, we stand,
Ensuring justice weaves, with every strand.

So let us spin, my fellow weavers true,
With eight legs, united, strong and through,
May our web be a testament, a guiding light,
For this nation, entangled, in perpetual flight.

And as we weave, our purpose clear,
To honor the fallen, to hold them dear,
From this web of ours, let freedom ring,
A symphony of justice, for which we'll cling.

In this Gettysburg, this sacred place,
Let our weaving hearts embrace,
A nation united, in diversity's grace,
Forging a future where all find their place.

So spin, my fellow spiders, spin,
For liberty, for justice, let our webs begin,
With each thread we lay, with each strand we lace,
We'll shape a destiny, where all find solace.

From the smallest spinner to the grandest weaver,
Let our unity be the nation's great retriever,
For a spider's purpose, resolute and true,
To mend this web, and make it anew.

And as we spin, united we'll be,
A spider-led nation, a sight to see,
For in this tapestry, so strong and vast,
The strength of spider-kind, forever shall last.
Alright, enough of this.  Back to work.  I'm behind on my admin.  That's the whole reason I'm supposed to be using ChatGPT in the first place.
...
...
...Just one more!  What if mice were missionaries, but instead of trying to convert the other animals to religion, they were just trying to convert them to be mice?  "mice proselytize to all the other animals to convert them to the mice way of life"
In the realm where animals reside,
The mice, emboldened by their stride,
Took upon themselves a missionary quest,
To share their beliefs, to be the best.

With fervent zeal, they spread their word,
To creatures big and small, they urged,
Proselytizing with passion and might,
To convert all beings to the mice's light.

They spoke of unity and meticulous ways,
Of perseverance and hard work's praise,
The virtues that defined the mice's path,
They sought to inspire, to remove the wraths.

To the birds soaring high upon the sky,
They preached discipline, aiming high,
To embrace the precision of their flight,
To join the mice's cause, shining bright.

To the squirrels, nimble and quick,
They preached organization, a clever trick,
To gather and store, to plan ahead,
To follow the mice's ways, they said.

To the rabbits, gentle and swift,
They preached diligence, a vital gift,
To burrow deep and multiply,
To adopt the mice's way, they imply.

To the turtles, steady and slow,
They preached focus, a steady flow,
To move with purpose, step by step,
To join the mice's ranks, they adept.

To all the animals they encountered,
The mice's message resolutely entered,
They sought to convert, to make them see,
The virtues of the mice's way, to set them free.

Yet amidst their missionary work,
Some animals questioned, began to smirk,
For diversity and differences abound,
In the animal kingdom, profound.

The mice's path, though they believed,
Could not be embraced by all, perceived,
That each creature had its unique role,
A tapestry of life, a diverse whole.

And so, the animals, with voices true,
Expressed their thoughts, their point of view,
That unity lies in embracing the blend,
In respecting differences, hand in hand.

The mice, humbled by the animals' plea,
Realized the need for empathy,
To celebrate diversity, to understand,
That harmony thrives in a varied land.

They shifted their focus, their missionary quest,
To connect and learn, to be the best,
To foster unity through respect and grace,
Embracing the animals' diverse space.

They stood beside, rather than above,
Their message transformed, rooted in love,
No longer proselytizing, but sharing a bond,
With all creatures, united and fond.

And so, in the realm where animals reside,
The mice learned to walk alongside,
Celebrating differences, finding common ground,
Creating a symphony of unity profound.
Okay, that one didn't really work.  ChatGPT understood that the mice were proselytizing, but it didn't understand that the mice were supposed to be trying to get the other animals to be more like mice.  But, change the prompt just a little bit, and viola!
"write a poem in which the mice are trying to get the other animals to be more like mice"
In fields of green where creatures roam,
A tale unfolds of mice and home.
With tiny paws and hearts so bold,
Their dreams of unity unfold.

The mice, they whispered in the night,
Seeking allies in their plight.
"Come, friends, let's gather, let's convene,
And build a world where mice are seen."

The rabbits hopped with fluffy pride,
Their ears stood tall, they gently chide,
"Why should we be like mice, so small?
We bound and leap, we'll never crawl."

The squirrels chattered, tails held high,
"Our nimble ways, we won't deny.
Why mimic mice, so meek and shy?
Our acrobatics paint the sky!"

The birds, they fluttered, feathers bright,
"Our wings take flight, oh, what a sight!
Why should we nest upon the ground?
Our freedom's song, let it resound!"

The mice, undeterred, spoke with care,
"We do not seek to make you share
Our tiny frames or timid gait,
But virtues we'd like to propagate."

"Though small in size, we hold great strength,
Our unity knows no bounds or length.
We teach humility, unity too,
To cherish what's small, to love what's true."

"We gather scraps with utmost grace,
We tend to kin in every place.
Our diligence, a lesson to learn,
A sense of duty, let it burn."

The creatures listened, pondering deep,
Seeing the mice, their souls did seep.
With open minds and hearts aflame,
They saw the truth, they felt no shame.

The rabbits hushed their bounding glee,
The squirrels paused their leaps in trees.
The birds descended from the skies,
To hear the mice, to empathize.

And slowly, change began to bloom,
In every creature's earthly room.
They saw the value in each role,
No creature lesser, none a toll.

The mice rejoiced, their mission clear,
To foster kinship, banish fear.
In unity, they found their might,
A tapestry woven, shining bright.

So let us learn from mice so small,
Embrace the virtues, one and all.
For in diversity, we find our might,
And create a world, harmonious and bright.
Now, seriously, it's time to get back to work

Lenin is Turned Into a Frog in 1917 by ChatGPT: ESL Listening Poems












Playlist HERE