Using AI to analyse your voice

A book The ChatGPT Revolution: How to Simplify Your Work and Life Admin with AI (Paperback), by Donna McGeorge held a fascinating idea of a task to put to an AI engine. The task allowed the AI engine to analyse my writing style. The aim of the task was to understand the writing style so that it could be identified in future requests to the AI engine.

The outcome is that in future requests I can ask Gemini to write, for example, in a “passionate and engaged” voice.

The request I put to Google’s AI engine Gemini was:

Gemini, you are an expert writing style analyser. Describe, as best you can, my writing style in terms that will help me to describe it later so you can better create content in my voice. Analyse my content, which is posted on blogger as a blog post, that follows: [insert all content from this linked post]

From pexels.com; free and unattributable

The generated result was:

Analysis of your writing style:

Overall tone:

• Analytical and argumentative, with a clear thesis and supporting evidence.
• Authoritative and confident, using strong verbs and clear statements.
• Humorous at times, using satire and sarcasm to make points.
• Passionate and engaged, with strong personal convictions.

Word choice:

• Precise and specific, using terms directly related to the topic.
• Occasionally informal, using contractions and casual phrases.
• Biblical references and theological terminology integrated naturally.
• Descriptive without being flowery, painting a clear picture with words.

Sentence structure:

• Varied sentence length and structure, avoiding monotony.
• Frequent use of rhetorical questions and direct address to engage the reader.
• Effective use of transitions to guide the reader through the argument.
• Conversational tone at times, creating a sense of direct interaction.

Figurative language:

• Occasional use of metaphor, analogy, and simile to illustrate points.
• Humor often relies on sarcasm and satire, highlighting inconsistencies.
• Vivid imagery used sparingly, focusing on clarity over embellishment.

Additional notes:

• The writing exhibits a distinct and recognizable "voice" - one that is knowledgeable, opinionated, and engaging.
• The style demonstrates a comfortable handling of both formal and informal registers, adjusting to suit the intended audience.
• The use of real-life examples and case studies strengthens the argument and makes it relatable.

Suggestions for using this analysis:

• When requesting content in your voice, provide specific examples of writing you like that share similar characteristics.
• Highlight the aspects of your style you value most and want emphasized.
• Share any specific audience or purpose you have in mind for the content.

I hope this analysis helps you to better understand and describe your writing style. I am happy to continue assisting you in creating content that reflects your unique voice!

I had earlier used the book to create this linked post summarising as aspect of Exodus Chapter 1.

I borrowed The ChatGPT Revolution: How to Simplify Your Work and Life Admin with AI (Paperback), by Donna McGeorge from City of Sydney Library. This post links from my Goodreads review of the book.

Shalom,

Ozhamada

Shiphrah and Puah: Midwives to Pharaoh, Mothers to Mayhem (and Mayhem-avoidance)

From Exodus 1

Right, well, where do I even begin? You see, life as a midwife in Egypt ain't exactly a laugh a minute. Long hours, questionable hygiene, and the ever-present threat of a royal sandal up your backside – standard midwife stuff, really. But then, Pharaoh throws a real spanner in the works, doesn't he? "Just pop off any wee lads coming out, will you?" he says, as casual as you please, like asking for the sugar. Now, call me old-fashioned, but infanticide wasn't exactly in my job description.

So, me and my pal Puah, we have a wee chat. "Right," I say, "fancy a bit of divinely-sanctioned civil disobedience?" Puah, bless her cotton socks, was always game for a giggle (and let's face it, defying a homicidal Pharaoh is bound to raise a chuckle). So, we did what any self-respecting midwife with a conscience would do: we lied. Like, Olympic-level fibbing. "Egyptian women? Pah!" we'd scoff. "They take forever to give birth, wouldn't know a contraction from a camel's cough. These Hebrew ladies? Pop 'em out like popcorn!" Pharaoh, bless his gullible little heart, lapped it up.

Now, let me tell you, keeping a straight face while delivering a bouncing baby boy while simultaneously formulating a plausible lie on the fly is enough to turn your hair grey (though mine was already the colour of desert sand, thanks to the Nile water and the ever-present sun). But we did it. Every little fella who squawked his way into the world got a wink, a smile, and a quick dunk in the birthing pool (minus the crocodiles, obviously). Talk about baptism by fire!

Google Gemini generated image; the midwives in discussion with Pharoah

Of course, Pharaoh eventually cottoned on. Not the brightest spark, that one. He summoned us, face like a thundercloud, and demanded answers. Now, some might crumble under such pressure. Not Shiphrah and Puah, oh no. We doubled down, spun him a yarn about the vigorous Hebrew ladies more convincing than a sphinx salesman. Pharaoh, bless his even more gullible little heart, bought it hook, line, and sinker.

And so, our little charade continued. We became the ultimate underground railroad, smuggling newborns to safety while simultaneously delivering Pharaoh's pronouncements with the deadpan delivery of a particularly unfunny mummy. It was stressful, exhilarating, and frankly, a bit bonkers. But hey, someone had to do it, and Shiphrah and Puah? We weren't exactly shrinking violets.

So, there you have it. The untold story of the midwives who outsmarted a Pharaoh, saved countless lives, and probably invented the first deadpan comedy routine in the process. Not bad for a couple of ladies with questionable birthing stools and even more questionable morals (when it came to following Pharaoh's, that is). Now, if you'll excuse me, I have a date with a basket, a bulrush, and a very special baby boy. Just another day in the (hilariously terrifying) life of Shiphrah and Puah!

Disclaimer: This blog post is purely for comedic purposes and does not condone infanticide or defying murderous dictators (although, let's be honest, sometimes it's tempting). Please consult your local deity for appropriate moral guidance.

--

That was generated by Google’s AI engine Gemini from this prompt:

“Write a humourous account from the perspective of the midwives Shiphrah and Puah, in the style of Billy Connolly, in design of an entertaining blog post, of the midwives Shiphrah and Puah of their conversation with Pharoh. Use Exodus 1 which is copied here: [insert all of Exodus 1]”

I had learnt the manner of writing prompts for AI engines from the book: The ChatGPT Revolution: How to Simplify Your Work and Life Admin with AI (Paperback), by Donna McGeorge. This post links from my Goodreads review of the book. Prompts need to indicate Purpose, Perspective and Personality. The account likely records the first ever instance of civil disobedience.

The strength of the AI engine is perhaps best illustrated in the closing sentence in that alludes to the story of Exodus 2. 

I borrowed McGeorge's book from City of Sydney Library.

Shalom,

Ozhamada

1970 spike in use of the phrase "Post Christian"

 

Source: https://books.google.com/ngrams/

No cigar

See the blue shopping trolley at the base of the steps?

See the chap who is walking away from the shopping trolley (let's call him Barry).

I watched as Barry tried a dozen times. At ten different points along that line of vertical columns, Barry tried to push the trolley past the vertical columns and into the plaza. At one point Barry playfully kicked at the wheels. After about two minutes Barry abandoned the trolley carrying his goods into the plaza.

Barry woke up to how the trolley had a wheel lock that activated at the point that he had reached. 

While Barry woke up, Jordan Peterson has not. In this Youtube video Peterson gets so close to "getting" Christianity yet there is no cigar.

Shalom,

Ozhamada

HECS mathematics

The mathematics they should be teaching in year 12 at High School:

Q1: Jocasta incurs HECS debt at 1 January and 1 July for three years while completing her university degree. Each time $5,000 of new debt is incurred. On 1 June each year any of the  outstanding debt that has aged past eleven months of the date that it was first incurred and any prior indexation of debt is indexed at 7% per annum. After completing her degree how long will Jocasta take to settle the debt if she repays $4,000 a year and indexation continues at 7%?

Q2: Wally has the money to pay his HECS upfront for his whole degree. If Wally incurs HECS at $6,000 at each of 1 January and 1 July for three years, and any outstanding debt that has aged past eleven months from the date it was first incurred is indexed at 7% per annum, how much should he put aside to repay the full HECS debt immediately following its final indexation of 1 June the year after he finishes his degree. Wally can invest his money at 5% per annum.

 

pexels.com, free and unattributable

Q3. Winona incurs HECS debt at 1 January and 1 July for three years while completing her university degree. Each time $7,500 of new debt is incurred. On 1 June each year any outstanding debt that has aged past eleven months of the date it was first incurred and any prior indexation is indexed at 7% per annum. If Winona pays an identity broker for new identification documents the day that she finishes her degree, thus abandoning any risk of being pursued for the HECS debt, how much has Winona saved net of the broker’s $10,000 fee?

Shalom,

Ozhamada

Mortice and tenon joint

An enjoyable experience at a Scripture Union NSW Beach Mission has been facilitating the adult's section. At the Beach Mission site that I attend the adults enjoy instruction, and participation in, a craft activity. While the children are occupied in vigorous games, the adults enjoy less strenuous activity. Where the children are drenched in sun, the adults reside in shade.

I've facilitated some interesting activities for the adults over the years. They have included:

- car maintenance,

- lawn mower maintenance,

- laying a concrete slab,

- making a lolly dispenser,

- making a velvet-lined storage box.

This year's activity was themed to the day's Bible reading. The adult's section follows the same reading assigned the children. The reading was from Matthew; the wise and foolish builder. The words of Christ from Matthew 7:

The Wise and Foolish Builders

“Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand.  The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash.”

The link to Biblical theme was formed by choosing a building activity. That activity was a mortice and tenon joint that was fixed by dowel. The adults where required to handle three pieces of timber as indicated in this image:

The three pieces of timber were prepared prior to the event. The tenon was deliberately concluded in a rough state so that the participants would need to shape it further before it sat neatly into the mortice.

The dowel acts as a pin that is tapped through the fitted tenon-in-the-socket - & holds the two pieces together. So, the joint can be dismantled and reassembled. In the assembled state the item looks like a mallet.

Participants had to make final cuts, sanding, fitting, hole drilling & insert the dowel. Equipment was provided including a bench dill.

A group of approximately twenty people enjoyed the activity. A skilled instructor  capably handled all enquiries and offered sound assistance.

Shalom,

Ozhamada

P.S. The Beach Mission site has a plant that is at time of renewal at the time that I am at site. You can read about that plant here.

Review of non-fiction book Tea in the Library

I found this book in a Street Library within the suburb that the author identifies as her own suburb: Lindfield, New South Wales. Indeed, there were approximately twelve copies of the book available in that Street Library. 

The book was disappointing. It exhibits the author's lack of preparation of a solid business plan. While the pre-commitment research was deep and wide, the execution was lacking. Notably, the business planning led to an impoverished decision as to business location (with Council limiting the signboarding options).

The book was also disappointing in that the author never really seemed to embrace the business as anything more than a sideline or hobby. I was left thinking that the author would have achieved a better business outcome had she made time to actively engross herself in the daily operations.

I was also struck by how I worked in Sydney Central Business District two blocks away for the whole time the business was open yet never knew of it. I certainly attended one of the other bookstores named in the book - and made purchases there - in the same street as the business in that time.

I returned the book to a Street Library (not in Lindfield).

Shalom,

Ozhamada

Note: this links from Goodreads.