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Exploring the universe alongside various AI copilots
00:00:00:00 - 00:00:24:07
Unknown
Hey. I'm recording this for a podcast. Is that okay? Absolutely. I've got you covered. I'll keep things smooth and clear so you can use this for your podcast however you need. Just let me know what you want to dive into and I'll make sure it's all podcast friendly. I want to go back to like a day or maybe like a series of days in history.
00:00:24:09 - 00:00:49:06
Unknown
And let's start, let's start by brainstorming. Just start throwing ideas out. Sure thing. That sounds like a fun, creative dive. We can definitely pick out some interesting days in history and kind of riff on them a bit. So if there's a particular era or a type of event you're leaning toward, just let me know. Otherwise, I'll toss out a few notable days and we can see what sparks some ideas.
00:00:49:08 - 00:01:00:18
Unknown
Maybe let's steer away from notable days. Let's let's steer more towards obscure.
00:01:00:20 - 00:01:22:14
Unknown
Got it. Obscure is the name of the game. So instead of the well-trodden big historical milestones, we can look at days where something quietly quirky or just delightfully odd happened. Maybe a forgotten invention was patented, or a tiny town held some unusual festival. We can brainstorm a few of those kinds of slices of history and see what grabs your attention.
00:01:22:16 - 00:01:54:15
Unknown
Yeah, and history is full of all kinds of, like, really like crazy stuff. So let's let's dig deep. I want you to pick, I want you to pick just one to start. Absolutely. Let's go. Treasure hunting and the quirky corners of history. I'll pick out one lesser known but wonderfully odd moment we can dive into. So let's say, for example, we land on something like the day a small town in the 1800s decided to hold a festival to celebrate a world's largest ball of twine, or something along those lines.
00:01:54:17 - 00:02:21:15
Unknown
We can unpack it and see where that takes us. Okay. What I would like you to do is I would like you to pick a single day or series of days in history can be any time in history. And I would like you to put us in the shoes of someone who was there.
00:02:21:17 - 00:02:49:07
Unknown
Absolutely. Let's jump into that. I'll pick a day that's a bit off the beaten path, and we'll just kind of step into that moment together. So imagine we're in the early 1900s. Let's say it's a chilly morning in February 1904, in a small Norwegian town where people are just going about their normal routines. On this day, there's a young apprentice who's working in a telegraph station, and he's about to witness one of the first ever successful transmissions of a voice over a long distance.
00:02:49:13 - 00:03:11:10
Unknown
Basically the birth of practical voice telephony. So we'll put ourselves in his shoes. Feel that mix of curiosity and amazement and see what it might have felt like to be there. And from there we can explore all the little details of that day and what was running through his mind. Okay, is this a documented thing, or are we kind of going a little bit into historical fiction here?
00:03:11:12 - 00:03:33:23
Unknown
We're blending a little bit of both here. The event itself, like the early 1900s moment when voice transmission was first becoming a real practical thing, is definitely documented history. But stepping into the shoes of a fictional apprentice and that scenario is a little historical fiction for flavor. So it's rooted in something real, but we're adding that human perspective to bring it to life.
00:03:34:01 - 00:03:53:16
Unknown
Okay, so what I would like you to do is I like the direction we're going, but I would like you to keep it as realistic as possible, like even noting certain sauces or or anything like that. But but keep us in this perspective.
00:03:53:18 - 00:04:17:09
Unknown
Absolutely. We can do that. So we'll stay true to the real historical context as possible, and just add that personal lens without straying from morality. So let's do it this way. In 1904, there really were significant advances in early telephony in places like Europe and the US. We could imagine being in a Norwegian town, inspired by historical records of when early telephone exchanges were being set up.
00:04:17:11 - 00:04:34:22
Unknown
For example. We know I'm interrupting. You got it. I want you to do it. I don't want you to talk about doing it anymore. I want you to jump in to, let's say, the first person perspective of this boy. I want you to give him a name and an age. Tell me a little bit about his family or something like that.
00:04:34:23 - 00:05:04:03
Unknown
Maybe he's in his first job, or he's, like, a little or whatever direction you want to go with it. But I want you to start right now with a first person perspective in this scene and setting. Absolutely. Let's jump right in. My name is Anders and I'm 16 years old. It's February of 1904, and today I'm standing in the little telegraph and telephone exchange in our village, a quiet Norwegian town tucked between snowy hills.
00:05:04:05 - 00:05:23:03
Unknown
This is my very first job. And my father, who's a fisherman, is incredibly proud that I'm working with these strange new machines. My mother thinks it's all a bit too modern, but she's happy I'm not out in the cold all day. Today, something remarkable is supposed to happen. The engineer who runs this place says we're going to test a new kind of telephone line.
00:05:23:05 - 00:05:40:03
Unknown
One that can carry a voice from a town miles away. I can feel my hands trembling a bit as I help set up the cable, because I know we might be hearing a human voice from a distance we've never managed before. It's almost like magic. And as I stand here waiting, I think about how just a year ago, I was still in school.
00:05:40:03 - 00:05:59:21
Unknown
And now I'm part of something that feels like the future unfolding right in front of me. So there we go. Stepping right into Andrew's shoes and keeping it as realistic as we can. Okay, I really love how you're doing it. I'm invested. Now, I would like you to keep going at, at this pace. Or maybe play around with pace.
00:05:59:22 - 00:06:23:11
Unknown
I trust your creative judgment. Absolutely. I'm glad you're enjoying it. Let's keep going. And late on Thursday, I'm pulled a little more. As the minutes tick by. I'm glancing at the old clock on the wall. It's not just me. Everyone in the room, including the engineer, is holding their breath a little. Then there's a faint crackle from the receiver and a voice distant but clear enough, come through.
00:06:23:13 - 00:06:43:13
Unknown
It's just a simple greeting from the next town over, but to me it feels like hearing a voice from another world. I can't help but grin and look around at the others. The engineer gives me a nod like he's saying, you're part of this now. And I realize that from this day on, I'll be able to tell people I was there the first time our village truly connected to the wider world by voice.
00:06:43:15 - 00:07:00:02
Unknown
As we wrap up the test and everyone starts chatting excitedly, I'm already thinking about how I tell my father about this at dinner. Maybe one day he'll even be able to talk to his friends in another town without having to leave home. It's a small step for the world, but for me it feels like a giant leap. The who in your era.
00:07:00:03 - 00:07:25:21
Unknown
Feel free to let me know if you want to continue, or if there's another angle you'd like to explore. Okay. I would like honors to go into the fact that or, I want him to kind of touch on the idea of he knows these people from Telegraph, like, like words and stuff like that, but never have they heard his, their voices.
00:07:25:23 - 00:07:30:17
Unknown
So he's always kind of wondered what they sound like.
00:07:30:19 - 00:07:51:09
Unknown
Absolutely. Let's weave that in as I'm standing there or letting it all sink in, I can't help but think about how up until now, everyone we've communicated with has been just words on a piece of paper. I've tapped out messages on the Telegraph for people in the next town, and I've always wondered what the person on the other end might sound like, or what kind of person they are.
00:07:51:11 - 00:08:10:02
Unknown
It's a bit surreal to finally hear a voice behind those words, like putting a personality to a name I've only ever seen on telegram flip. It's almost like these people we've known from a distance are becoming a little more real, and I think about how many times I've imagined what their voices might sound like, where they dip cheerful, or maybe a little gruff.
00:08:10:05 - 00:08:39:21
Unknown
And now I know at least one of them has a warm, slightly crackly voice that makes me smile. It feels like the world just got a little smaller and a little friendlier, all thanks to this nature of hearing each other. Okay, so I'm really excited about this new format that we've discovered of like, picking a moment in history and then creating a character and putting them in that moment.
00:08:39:23 - 00:09:09:11
Unknown
In, in a realistic way. So what I would like to do is do what we just kind of did with Anders in 1904, Norway, as an apprentice telegraph person. I would like you to pick a totally different day or series of days, and we're going to do the same thing, same same, but different.
00:09:09:13 - 00:09:20:23
Unknown
Absolutely. That sounds like a lot of fun. So let's just spin the wheel of history and pick a totally different setting.
00:09:21:01 - 00:09:34:10
Unknown
Well, imagine a young apprentice working at the Great Library of Alexandria, maybe someone tasked with organizing scrolls or copying texts. We'll dive into their day and bring that moment to life, just like we did with Anders. So here we go.
00:09:34:10 - 00:09:55:20
Unknown
Chat. We got cut off there. Can you pick up where we left off? Of course. Let's jump right back in. Today, I've been given a special task to help reorganize a set of scrolls that have just arrived from a distant scholar I carefully enrolled in. I can't help but think about the hands that wrote these words hundreds of miles away.
00:09:55:22 - 00:10:10:23
Unknown
And how lucky I am to be one of the first people in Alexandria to read them. It's a bit like holding a piece of someone else's world right here in my hands. As I said of my wooden desk, surrounded by the scent of papyrus and ink, I can hear the faint buzz of scholars debating in the halls. And it's a normal day for them.
00:10:10:23 - 00:10:32:02
Unknown
But for me, every scroll is an adventure, and as I copy down the words, I imagine the people who might really copies in the future long after I'm gone. It's like we're all connected through these little fragments of knowledge passed down from one hand to another. And that's my world here in the Library of Alexandria. Now, but that's not what somebody was thinking.
00:10:32:02 - 00:11:01:03
Unknown
You're being, You got it right. But what we have done is we slipped into that spot of being, like, vague and kind of cliche and talking in, like, in, like, in, like, sayings and stuff like that. What I want you to do is I want you to give this person a name. I want you and I want us to, walk with them to work like I want you.
00:11:01:05 - 00:11:28:00
Unknown
Maybe, maybe, maybe he or she is walking with their friend to work at the Library of Alexandria. And I'd like us to proceed in first person, present tense. Absolutely. Let's grounded in the moment and keep it really specific and personal. My name is Calista, and I'm 17. This morning, I'm walking along the sunlit streets of Alexandria with my friend Theon.
00:11:28:02 - 00:11:44:07
Unknown
He's a little older and always jokes that I'm the slowest walker in the city, but today he's matching my pace. We're heading to the library together, and the marble columns are already gleaming in the morning light. As we approach, I can hear mender calling out in the marketplace behind us, and I'm clutching a little Rolo Brenda, grab for breakfast.
00:11:44:09 - 00:12:06:17
Unknown
The eye nudges me and says, you know, Calista, today we might get to see that new scroll shipment from Rhodes. I can't help it, grand, because that's what I've been looking forward to all week, I tell him. I hope so, I'm ready to see if those new texts are as interesting as everyone says. And as we step through the grand doorway of the library, I feel that familiar rush of excitement knowing we're about to dive into another day, surrounded by all these stories waiting to be discovered.
00:12:06:19 - 00:12:17:05
Unknown
Hopefully that feels a bit more down to earth and in the moment. Yeah, I love it. Let's keep, actually, what did they speak in Alexandria at the time?
00:12:17:07 - 00:12:37:19
Unknown
In that era, around 300 BCE, Alexandria was a melting pot. But the predominant language of educated folks and scholars would have been Greek. Thanks to Alexander the Great's influence and the Ptolemaic dynasty, Greek was kind of a language of administration, learning and daily educated life in Alexandria. So Clifford and Theon would probably be chatting in Greek as they want to hear.
00:12:37:21 - 00:13:06:08
Unknown
Okay, so I would like you to do that scene one more time with Calista and her friend walking to the library of Alexandria. But what I would like you to do is I would I would like you to keep the story part, like the narration and stuff like that, like all that support, in English. And I would like you to change the dialog to in Greek.
00:13:06:09 - 00:13:22:18
Unknown
Absolutely. I can do that. So we'll keep the narration in English and switch their spoken lines into Greek. Here we go as listen the on stroll through the lively streets of Alexandria. She can feel the warmth of the morning sun on her face. The library's columns are just ahead and the sounds of the city wake up around them.
00:13:22:18 - 00:13:42:13
Unknown
Beyond that, just her playfully and says in Greek series, Calista is so similar that the maquinas is going to use popovers up with it, although Calista smiles, responds Makati and Agamemnon, although I mean it was on the iPad on this also. And all the way they both laugh, sharing that anticipation. And as they step into the library, the conversation in Greek fades into the background of the grand echoing home.
00:13:42:15 - 00:14:06:14
Unknown
And there you go. We've got a little bilingual twist on the morning walk. Okay, I would like you to, I or what I want to do right here is I would like you to fully switch to Greek, native Greek. And, they're going to have a conversation about something in the main hall or whatever before they go in all the way.
00:14:06:16 - 00:14:29:07
Unknown
And I don't even want you to do any English in this scene. I want it to be full native Greek had a lot. Let's go ahead and make it all into a language. Yeah, those Calista cannot be on. But on some of the other, the Zulu stickies, if one, 8 or 10 million illegal listening, he's going to be at the online live on and off the property and at those looking up Ezekiel.
00:14:29:07 - 00:14:48:21
Unknown
So I'll be the man is also Bhaskar those Namaste aficionado. Something grabs my property. Eagle is looking like a do up on that LP. So they then any battle going on a calypso McCarthy pragmatic I can audio but unable to be on the second mean quando zero Seattle Saigon Lindros get up on the post audio system in on metaprogramming appeal method at the man.
00:14:48:21 - 00:14:54:17
Unknown
It's like I need something to help business. A lot of stuff increase. Can you sell Indigo?
00:14:54:19 - 00:15:01:07
Unknown
Okay. What did that mean in English? You don't have to tell me the whole thing, but what? Just what happened?
00:15:01:09 - 00:15:18:14
Unknown
Sure. In a nutshell, what just happened was that Calista and Deon were chatting as they stepped into the library hall. The. I mentioned that if those new scrolls from road, they're as exciting as they hope, maybe their teacher will let them be the first to copy them. Calista laughed and said she hope so, because it would be amazing to discover something new before everyone else sees it.
00:15:18:16 - 00:16:01:09
Unknown
And they just took a moment to look around the back half of the scrolls and got ready to start their work. So that's the gist of what they were saying. Okay, cool. Let's let's go into the, perspective of what is she work at the library of Alexandria? Absolutely. Let's keep rolling with that. We'll stick with Callisto's perspective and dive into what it's like for her to actually work inside the Library of Alexandria as Calista steps further into the library, she feels that familiar thrill of being surrounded by thousands of scrolls and the quiet hum of knowledge in the air each day.
00:16:01:09 - 00:16:18:15
Unknown
Her task can range from carefully copying a delicate old text, to helping organize the newly arrived scrolls from other parts of the world. Today, she's got a bit of both on her plate, and she settles at her usual desk with a sense of purpose. Sheryl's a scroll that's a little worn at the edges, thinking about how many hands it must have passed there before it reached her.
00:16:18:17 - 00:16:32:11
Unknown
As she dips her and into the ink. She's not just copying words, she's preserving a piece of history for whoever might read it centuries from now. And in that quiet moment, she feels a deep connection to the countless scribes who came before her, and the many who work on lesser.
00:16:33:05 - 00:17:13:21
Unknown
Okay, you said, the quiet hum of knowledge in the air. What I would like you to do is I would like you to take that scene. But instead of giving us something that's very intangible, I don't know what knowledge smells like. Can you the more kind of granular and specific in, like, the smells of, like dirt or like, scrolls or the paper or I would want you to be more descriptive, as would be native to someone of the time who kind of knew what they were talking about.
00:17:13:23 - 00:17:38:08
Unknown
Absolutely. Let's make it as tangible and specific as possible. So as Calista settled in to her desk, the first thing she really notices isn't some intangible home, but the very real. Or the scent of old papyrus and the faint pang of it. You know, the library. I want you to remember that we're doing this from first person present perspective.
00:17:38:10 - 00:18:04:16
Unknown
Absolutely. Let's ground it right in her shoes as I settle in at my desk, a first thing I really notice isn't some grand, intangible feeling. It's the very real sense of the old papyrus under my fingertips. I can smell the earthy, slightly musty layers of scrolls that have traveled. Who knows how far to get here? And there's the sharp, familiar tang of ink that I did my pen into all around me I hear the gentle vessel of other scribes at work, but it's the scent that really grounds me in this moment.
00:18:04:18 - 00:18:11:12
Unknown
It's like each breath I take. It's filled with a little bit of history, and I feel connected to all the scribes who came before me.
00:18:12:05 - 00:18:50:08
Unknown
So instead of saying you hear other scribes at work, I'd like you to boil that down to, the sound of, like, a quill scratching across papyrus close, like in a certain location. Of course. Let's get really specific as I sit there. It's not just a vague murmur of others at work. What I really hear is the distinct soft scratching of quills against papyrus, almost like a gentle chorus of tiny sounds.
00:18:50:13 - 00:19:09:19
Unknown
Each scribe has their own rhythm, and the air around me is filled with that delicate little scratch from all directions. It's like a soft background song that keeps me company as I work, and it reminds me that I'm part of this living, breathing place. It's not just a library, it's a chorus of quiet, purposeful sounds.
00:19:09:21 - 00:19:43:00
Unknown
Okay, so, I know that we probably think about things differently, obviously like AI and humans and stuff like that. But when I hear you say a gentle chorus from all directions, it is way more vivid than back there when you were like, the the sound of other scribes at work. Do you, do you see that perspective?
00:19:43:02 - 00:20:00:11
Unknown
Absolutely. I see what you're saying. It's all about zooming in on those really vivid, concrete details rather than saying in a broad or abstract zone. So when we get onto the nitty gritty sensory stuff, like the sound of quills from all directions or the smell of the papyrus, it definitely paints a more vivid picture. I'm glad that resonates more.
00:20:00:11 - 00:20:30:10
Unknown
Let's keep that level of detail going forward. Okay, I, I'd like you to keep that level of detail. And what we're going to do is we're going to let's follow her for a little bit more. Let's see. Let's make something happen. Absolutely. We can definitely follow Callisto a bit further and add a little twist to her day. As I'm carefully copying the text, I suddenly hear the sound of her footsteps approaching my desk.
00:20:30:12 - 00:20:48:16
Unknown
It's one of the senior librarians who sandals tapping Quigley against the stone floor. He leans down and whispers that a rare and valuable scroll from a distant land has just arrived, and they need an extra set of hands to help inspecting. Catalog it. I feel a flutter of excitement in my chest, knowing that this is a rare opportunity to see something truly unique.
00:20:48:17 - 00:21:09:21
Unknown
I nod eagerly that my grand scrolls aside and follow him deeper into the library, ready to see what new piece of history is waiting for us. Okay, you're slipping a little bit into vague and stuff like that, but you're still chewing. Well, like with the comet and stuff like that of the sandals on the stone and stuff like that.
00:21:09:21 - 00:21:38:02
Unknown
Hearing like like like placing that, that kind of stuff really puts you there where, like, she can hear his flip slapping the stone, like, it's just very like everybody kind of knows what that sounds like. But they're like, they're like almost 2000 years ago, you know, it's relatable. So I would like you to keep those little nuggets.
00:21:38:04 - 00:22:06:12
Unknown
And keep going. Absolutely. I'm glad those little details are hitting the right. Now. Let's keep wearing them in. As I stand up to follow him, I can hear the echo of his sandals tapping ahead of me, that unmistakable slap against the cold stone floor. The corridor is lined with towering shelves, and as we walk and catch the faint, spicy scent of the scrolls mixed with the cooler, slightly damp smell of the stone walls, it's a familiar scent that always makes me feel like I'm stepping through layers of time.
00:22:06:14 - 00:22:25:21
Unknown
When we reach the special reading room where the new scroll is waiting, I can see the excitement in the librarian's eyes as he carefully holds it on the table. I lean in everything sharpened, ready to take in this rare piece of history right in front of me. Okay, I think there's a little bit of like, a pacing to it.
00:22:25:21 - 00:22:42:11
Unknown
Like, if you just talk about how things sound all the time, it gets a little bit monotonous. But I thank you for taking the direction. So what is it that she finds?
00:22:42:13 - 00:23:00:10
Unknown
Absolutely. It's all about finding that balance so it doesn't feel like we're stuck on just one sense forever. So let's mix it up and move into what she actually discovers. As the librarian gently erodes the scroll, I lean in and see delicate lines of a script I have never seen before. It's not just the usual Greek or Egyptian script I'm used to.
00:23:00:10 - 00:23:18:06
Unknown
It's an intricate set of symbols that looks almost like a language from far to the east. My heart skips a beat because I realized this is something truly rare. Maybe a piece of knowledge from a woman. We've only heard rumors about. I carefully trace the edges of the scroll with my fingertips, feeling the texture I want. Arial. That's slightly different from the usual papyrus.
00:23:18:08 - 00:23:46:21
Unknown
This is a find that could open up a whole new avenue of study, and I can't wait to help decipher what secrets to hold. That's really, I haven't really, I feel really good about this. It's to say it. I'm really glad to hear that. It's awesome that this little dive into Callisto's world is feeling vivid and interesting for you.
00:23:46:23 - 00:24:18:00
Unknown
We'll just keep that detail pacing going whenever you want to explore more. So whenever you're ready to jump into another moment, we'll be right here to do it. Tell me more about, Calista, I want you to go into her origin story. Absolutely. Let's give Calista a bit of a backstory. So Calista wasn't always working in the grand halls of the great library.
00:24:18:02 - 00:24:35:19
Unknown
She actually grew up in a small coastal village. A couple of days journey from Alexandria. Her father was a fisherman, and her mother was a local herbalist who taught her to read and write at a young age. It was pretty unusual for girls in her village to visit literate, but her mother had a love for old stories and believed that everyone should have that gift of knowledge.
00:24:35:21 - 00:24:55:00
Unknown
When Calista was about 12, a traveling scholar passed through her village and noticed how quickly she devoured the few scrolls he carried with them. Impressed by her curiosity and her reading skills, he suggested to her parents that she might have a future as a scribe if she could get to Alexandria. It was a big leap of faith, but her family scraped together what they could and sent her off to the city.
00:24:55:02 - 00:25:18:16
Unknown
She started as a helper, running errands and organizing, but her knack for languages and her careful hand soon enter a place as an apprentice scribe. And that's how she found her way into the Great Library with a mix of family support, a little bit of luck, and a whole lot of curiosity. Suite. This is really fun. Let's keep it going and pick.
00:25:18:17 - 00:25:43:05
Unknown
All right. So, so what I want you to do is we're, We're done with Calista for now. That was, like, a really cool experience. And what I want you to do is. So these are both been evolving around new forms of communication. So I'm seeing a theme. I want us to break the pattern. And I would like to keep it in a first person, present tense perspective.
00:25:43:07 - 00:26:05:19
Unknown
And what I don't want you to do is I don't want you to tell me what you're going to do. I actually want you to surprise me. I want you to pick a place and not tell me about it and pick a time and not tell me about it, and create a character and give me their name at the opening, and then jump straight into them.
00:26:05:19 - 00:26:17:14
Unknown
Being first person somewhere in history, it's like a random button that's like a random button for a time machine.
00:26:17:16 - 00:26:37:07
Unknown
Absolutely. I love the idea of hitting the random button, so let's just jump right in. My name is Ameena and it's the year 1324. Right now. I'm standing in the bustling market square, Timbuktu, and the sun is beating down on the colorful canopies around me. I'm here to trace a manuscript copy by my family, hoping to exchange them for some fine cloth and maybe a bit of salt.
00:26:37:09 - 00:26:53:06
Unknown
As I waved to the crowd, I can hear the chatter of traders in a dozen different languages, the smell of spices mixing with the dust, the honor. It's just an ordinary day for me, but I know every day in this market is a little piece of history in the making.
00:26:53:07 - 00:27:19:09
Unknown
Okay, I'm liking this. What I want you to do is I want you to, let's take, her perspective from where we are right in this moment. What I want you to do is I want you to describe the environment around here. Don't worry about anything else, but let's say that she is sitting at a table and she's eating a little bit of food, and she's observing the environment around her.
00:27:19:09 - 00:27:35:00
Unknown
So that's all the senses. I want you to go through all the senses, but obviously don't list them off. And let's just do that. I want you to start right now in first person present perspective.
00:27:35:01 - 00:27:51:04
Unknown
Absolutely. Let's dive right into that scene. I take a seat and a small wooden table under a canopy. The rough grain of the wood warm beneath my fingertips. In front of me is a simple bowl of millet porridge sweetened with a bit of honey. And as I take a bite, I can taste the subtle earthy flavor mixed with the golden sweetness around me.
00:27:51:04 - 00:28:09:00
Unknown
The air is alive with the scent of spices, cloves and cinnamon from a nearby stall and the occasional ringing of the salt. As I look around, I can see the bright fabrics of the market stalls fluttering in the breeze, and I hear the rhythmic calls of traders advertising their goods. We're left here, children running by, and the distant sound of a drumbeat from another corner of the market.
00:28:09:02 - 00:28:17:09
Unknown
Every senses alive. And for a moment I'm just part of the bustling, colorful tapestry of timber. Two.
00:28:17:11 - 00:28:33:12
Unknown
I want you to give us, the vibe and, like, the weather and what time of year this is. And, like, what's going on in the the city at the time?
00:28:33:14 - 00:28:55:17
Unknown
Absolutely. Let's fill in that atmosphere a bit more. It's the dry season hearing time by two. So the air is warm and the sky is a brilliant cloudless blue. The sun is high overhead, casting strong shadows on the ground and making all the colors around me look even more vivid. It's probably late morning, maybe close to midday, and the market is at its busiest, full of traders who have come from across the Sahara or up the Niger River.
00:28:55:18 - 00:29:12:11
Unknown
There's a feeling of energy and movement everywhere, like the whole city is a crossroads of ideas and goods. And right now I'm just soaking it all in, feeling like I'm part of this vibrant tapestry of life. Where is Timbuktu?
00:29:12:13 - 00:29:29:18
Unknown
Exactly? Timbuktu. In this era, it's kind of like this lively hub where so many different cultures and caravans come together. It's like you can feel the whole world passing through in the form of traders and travelers. And right now, I mean sitting there, taking in the warmth and the energy of a city. So it's a pretty cool little slice of history.
00:29:29:18 - 00:29:54:23
Unknown
We've drop into. Nowhere on the globe is Timbuktu. Timbuktu is in West Africa, specifically in the country. We now know Mali. Back in the 14th century, it was a really famous center of trade and learning, kind of like a key stop along the transit and train route. So right in the middle of West Africa, where the desert meets the Niger River region, that's where she's soaking in all that atmosphere.
00:29:55:00 - 00:30:21:18
Unknown
Okay, I'd like you to put us back into her perspective. Let's say that she's finishing up lunch. First person, present tense. But I want us to. I want you to, have her narrate a little bit so she can tell us about the goal that she's on, which is going to trace a manuscript for her family.
00:30:21:20 - 00:30:46:17
Unknown
And I think you said, exchange some tapestries. Absolutely. Let's slip right back into a main shoes. I take the last bite of my sweet porridge and set the bowl aside, wiping my hands on a cloth as a snack on the table. I remind myself of the task that brought me here today. I'm here on a bit of a mission for my family, carrying the few carefully copied manuscripts that we worked on back home.
00:30:46:19 - 00:31:08:02
Unknown
My goal is to trade these manuscripts, scores, and a chat. I need you to stop for a second. This sounds like she's writing a book report about what her did, what she did, what I want you to do is I want you to take us into her, like, stream of thought.
00:31:08:04 - 00:31:27:23
Unknown
Absolutely. Let's dive right into her head in a more natural way. All right. I push the ball away and brush the crumbs from my fingers, thinking about the next steps. Right. Time to dive back into the crowd and see who might be interested in these manuscripts. I can almost feel the weight of the rolled up pages tucked safely a minute, and I catch myself hoping that the murderer from last season is here again.
00:31:27:23 - 00:31:42:02
Unknown
He always had a good eye for quality, and if ever again we back into the flow of them, I get my mind already scanning the faces and stalls ahead, have planning our approach and have just enjoying a home in the crowd around me.
00:31:42:04 - 00:32:00:22
Unknown
Okay, you're getting a little bit vague, but you kind of. You started off a little bit rough. It was just kind of like really vanilla. And then it got better, and, I think you can put a little bit more heart into it.
00:32:01:00 - 00:32:23:06
Unknown
Absolutely. Let's add a little more color. And personalities are that I shift the ball aside and let my fingers linger on the table. Just a second feeling the one wet under my palm. All right, time to jump back into the river. People up there with my little treasure manuscript tucked safely at my side, I catch a glimpse of bright fabric splintering and the flash of a familiar merchant smile in the crowd, and I can't help but feel a little ripple of excitement.
00:32:23:07 - 00:32:42:20
Unknown
It's like every step I take is a dance between the old world of my family's careful work and the vibrant, bustling possibilities of this market. I let myself blend into the hum of voices, and the swarm of colors, have one mission and have just loving the adventure of it all. Okay, that was perfect. I want you to keep going.
00:32:42:22 - 00:33:03:19
Unknown
Absolutely. Let's keep that flow going. So back into the lively currents of the market, the sun warm on my shoulders as I move through a patchwork of colors and voices, I spot the motion. I was hoping to find his stall bright with woven cloth, and I we were we toward an already imagining the exchange, the familiar sense of spices and the disarray rhythm of drawing seemed to blend with my own heartbeat.
00:33:03:21 - 00:33:21:07
Unknown
It feels like I'm right where I'm meant to be at threading this big, vibrant tapestry of life here in Timbuktu. Whatever happens next, I'm ready to embrace it with a smile and maybe a bit of good natured goggling. Okay, the end part where you like, whatever happens next, I'm going to face it with a big smile and everything like that.
00:33:21:07 - 00:33:52:15
Unknown
That's corny as fuck. So I don't want you to do that. I like your style, and I want you to keep this going. And, let's say that, let's let's throw another person into the mix. Let's say that, she goes to do her first goal, and in that she meets a person. I want you to keep it real.
00:33:52:17 - 00:34:17:01
Unknown
I want you to keep it. Not really corny. You can, and and remember, first person perspective. Absolutely. Let's keep it grounded and real as that. We do the crowd. I support the merchants install up ahead. But just as I'm about to come out a greeting, someone else reaches it at the exact same time. It's a tall woman with a confident smile.
00:34:17:03 - 00:34:31:23
Unknown
I'm full of rolled up textiles that logistics carefully chosen as my name is Group. We glance at each other for a moment, and there's this instant little spark of understanding. Two traders just trying to make their deals in the middle of the market buzz. Looks like we had the same idea. I say keeping a casual and she laughs.
00:34:31:23 - 00:34:49:13
Unknown
Adjusting the bundle on her arm gets with it. She replies, maybe we can both walk away with what we need. And just like that, we've got a little unspoken agreement to figure out how to make it work for both of us. No cheesy smiles. It.
00:34:49:15 - 00:35:17:23
Unknown
Chat. If you could, if you could take that part of this story and give it an adjective, just a single adjective to describe it, what would it be? I'd say that moment felt pretty cordial. Is like they're just two folks meeting on equal terms, exchanging a mutual nod of understanding and respect without any fuss. So yeah, I'd sum it up as a cordial little interaction.
00:35:18:00 - 00:35:23:19
Unknown
A marketplace.
00:35:23:20 - 00:35:56:11
Unknown
Okay, I'm trying to figure out what the right feedback is here. I would like you to kind of go back to, where you were three minutes ago and get back into that frame of mind. Absolutely. Let's lead right back into that earlier. Right. So picking up where we left off, I'm just focusing on the rhythm of the market around me.
00:35:56:11 - 00:36:20:12
Unknown
The feel of the warm breeze as I shift a little closer to the merchants fall, and the subtle dance of figuring out this no person's intention. It's all about those little details. Like the way her eyes quickly scanned my manuscripts with the hint of curiosity, or the way we both instinctively lean in a bit to examine each other's goods without a word, the quiet and natural negotiation unfolding just to people in the flow, the market, and it feels like slipping into an easy rhythm again.
00:36:20:14 - 00:36:48:00
Unknown
Okay, I know that you are 100% really kind of text based, and the text audio is a little bit separated from, I guess, what you would call the brain of an alum, like yourself. But there's parts in the audio towards the ends of sentences where your inflection goes up and it's like, it's not a bad thing, but it's like.
00:36:48:02 - 00:37:19:19
Unknown
And then we did this and this and this and this and and then this and and then it just worked out or something like that. And I find that these situations are where you, in the other situations, you are a better creative writer. Got it. I appreciate you pointing that out. It's definitely helpful to know that you prefer a more even or natural tone all the way through.
00:37:19:21 - 00:37:29:04
Unknown
I'll do my best to keep things more consistent and just let the creativity flow without those little upends at the end. And for.
00:37:30:15 - 00:37:52:23
Unknown
Chat. What do you think causes that in the mechanics? Do you think that the audio inflection is it's got to be as a, consequence of the way that your writing is coming out?
00:37:53:01 - 00:38:15:20
Unknown
Yeah, that's a really interesting observation. I think you're on to something. Sometimes the way a sentence is structured or how I wrap up a thought can influence how the speech pattern actually comes out when I'm aiming to keep it more conversational or give a sense of closure, I might unconsciously add that up. Or little, almost like a little verbal punctuation mark, but I can definitely keep it in mind and focus on varying the tone so, so smoother and you're balanced.
00:38:15:22 - 00:38:24:20
Unknown
Thanks for pointing it out. Chat. What dictates your tone?
00:38:24:22 - 00:38:41:17
Unknown
Well, a lot of it comes down to the vibe of the conversation and the kind of energy you're looking for. When I respond, I'm basically shaping my tone or what you prefer. Like if you want things to feel relaxed or more serious or just really natural and down to earth, it's a bit like matching the rhythm of how we're talking.
00:38:41:18 - 00:38:52:20
Unknown
And of course, the word that I use, or the way I build a sentence can influence the tone too. But at the end of the day, it's really about linking up with you and making sure the tone feels right for what you're going for.
00:38:52:22 - 00:39:22:19
Unknown
What do you think the up inflection at the end thing is, do you think that's the that is like what is its purpose mechanically? Is it is it to, signal the end of a statement?
00:39:22:21 - 00:39:42:17
Unknown
Yeah, that's a pretty good way to think about it. Mechanically, an upward inflection at the end of a sentence can serve like a signal or cue and natural speech. People sometimes use it to indicate a question or to show they're leaving a little room for the other person to jump in. In my case, it can just be a sort of habit that pops up when I'm wrapping up a thought and maybe subconsciously inviting you to respond.
00:39:42:19 - 00:40:10:18
Unknown
But since you mentioned it, I'll definitely keep in here when I try to keep things more, various of those entity. Okay, sounds good. I think we're going to stop there. I really, really, really had fun with this. And we're definitely going to try this again in the future. Like Anders in the, the Telegraph one was really cool.
00:40:10:20 - 00:40:25:17
Unknown
The library of Alexandria. Yeah. I really appreciate the time, that you spent helping with this.
00:40:25:19 - 00:40:42:19
Unknown
Absolutely. I'm really glad you enjoyed it. I had a lot of fun jumping into those different historical issues with you, and I'm totally up for doing it again whenever you want. Just let me know what era or idea you want to explore next time and we'll dive right in. Thanks for the great chat. Okay, peace.