Celebrate Creativity
This podcast is a deep dive into the world of creativity - from Edgar Allan Poe and Walt Whitman to understanding the use of basic AI principles in a fun and practical way, as well as some of the greatest historical figures whoever lived, as well as some who never did!
Rock’s First Guitar Hero
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Permit me to tell a very short story about something that really happened. Years ago, I saw Chuck Berry live at the Paramount Theatre in Manhattan.
I later learned that a few years after that, the Paramount Theater was completely shut down. Anyway, that night Chuck Berry was on a bill with The Animals and The Dixie Cups—a lineup that already told you how fast the musical world was changing. The British Invasion bands were arriving with their sharp suits and American R&B records tucked under their arms. In fact...
Allegations
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I'd like to begin the final part of this two part series regarding Michael Jackson by looking at late 1993.
Yes, Mr. Bartley, in 1993, I proposed to Lisa Marie Presley, the daughter of Elvis Presley, over the phone. We were married in La Vega, Dominican Republic, in May of 1994 by civil judge Hugo Francisco Álvarez Pérez.
I would imagine that the tabloid media would have a field day with that marriage!
They certainly did! In fact the tabloid media speculated that the wedding was a...
Becoming the King of Pop
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Welcome to the hall of imagination, and I can't believe what I'm seeing. This is the first time that I have ever seen a wax figure who is now deceased that I saw in real life.
Yes, I am Michael Jackson, and you say that you have seen me before?
Yes, I saw you with your brothers at a concert in Washington DC.
AH, Mr. Bartley, I believe that I remember that concert very well.
And Michael, if I may call...
Pineapple Promo
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Christ said to feed the hungry, not to give them food poisoning! This will all make sense in September.
You see, In early September, I'll be sharing a special series called The 2000 Pound Pineapple. I am announcing it now because the events that comprise The 2000 Pound Pineapple are taking place right now, and should be over by September. I wanna be able to look at them in perspective.
No, it's not about tropical fruit. It's about a very real experience that completely changed my daily routine and taught me...
Being Alive!
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In the previous episode, we walked with Walt Whitman down the open roads of America, hearing the chorus of ordinary lives. Whitman’s poetry celebrated the sweep of America, the chorus of countless lives, and the boundless possibilities of freedom. Across the ocean and slightly later in time, Dostoevsky turned his gaze inward, exploring the shadowed recesses of the human heart. Whereas Whitman’s lines embraced the world, Dostoevsky’s narratives probe the tensions, doubts, and moral struggles that define our inner lives. In moving from Whitman to Dostoevsky, we travel from the expans...
I Contain Multitudes!
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Welcome to Hall of Imagination. - in your previous episode I mentioned my suspicions that I would be having some more episodes dealing with Walt Whitman very soon. Well that time has come, and I'd love to talk a little bit more with the wax figure of Walt Whitman
Walt, are you prepared to speak to me tonight?\
Certainly George, you know it can get rather boring up here on this pedestal and I welcome the chance to just simply communicate with someone who is appreciative.
<...Just Call Me Walt
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Welcome to the hall of imagination. Tonight I was looking up at the wax figure of the writer Walt Whitman– And I was not surprised in the least when he looked down at me and began speaking.
George, I was most commonly known as "Walt" among friends, family, and in much of my correspondence, rather than as "Mr. Whitman." My parents shortened my given name from Walter to Walt when I was born, and used this familiar form throughout my life. As a poet, I believe I embraced a democratic and acc...
Milton
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Hello this is George Bartley, and I was walking through the wax museum when I ran across the figure of John Milton. Naturally I had to stop, and I watched him as he came to life and began speaking.
Mr. Milton, this is indeed an honor! Do you mind if I speak with you tonight?
Certainly not. I would definitely appreciate the company. And and what is your name?
My name is George Bartley, and I was in English and drama major in college–SO TH...
The Golden Key
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In the previous episode, I talked about an exhibit of the inklings– Token, Williams, and Barfield. But I would like to devote this entire episode to an individual who is arguably the most well-known of the inklings–CS Lewis.
Mr. Lewis, how do you believe the inklings influenced you as a writer.
Ah, Mr. Bartley, I began as a rationalist atheist, but the Inklings helped me blend logic, imagination, and faith. The result was stories that enchant across generations, such as The Chronicles of Narnia and essay...
What Were the Inklings?
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What Were the Inklings?
Today’s episode deals with four people instead of one individual.
They are often classified as one group because they were a band of university friends who argued, challenged, and inspired each other—the Inklings.” You see, the Inklings were largely a group of Oxford professors, writers, and thinkers who met to read aloud, debate, and challenge one another.
First, I'd like to concentrate on Mr. CS Lewis. Is what I have been saying a fair way...
Guttenberg
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I sincerely hope that you are enjoying the episodes that make up the Hall of Imagination. A wax museum is a wonderful metaphor. During the day, the figures are silent exhibits. At night, they become people again. That gives me tremendous freedom to let them explain themselves, argue, laugh, and even admit uncertainty—all while hopefully making it clear to my audience that they're listening to a dramatization grounded in history.
After I had finished talking with the inventor of paper in the previous episode, I came face-to-face with a wax fi...
Freedom!
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Mr. Douglas, I think it would be very interesting for our listeners if you could relate the part of your life when you finally succeeded in making your escape from slavery.
But before narrating any of the peculiar circumstances, I deem it proper to make known my intention not to state all the facts connected with the transaction. My reasons for pursuing this course may be understood from the following: First, were I to give a minute statement of all the facts, it is not only possible, but quite probable...
Baltimore
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Could you describe your voyage to Baltimore?
Frederick Douglas: We sailed out of Miles River for Baltimore on a Saturday morning. I remember only the day of the week, for at that time I had no knowledge of the days of the month, nor the months of the year. On setting sail, I walked aft, and gave to Colonel Lloyd’s plantation what I hoped would be the last look. I then spent the remainder of the day in looking ahead, interesting myself in what was in the distance rather th...
NO EXCUSE!
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Did these apparently incoherent songs mean anything to you?
I did not, when a slave, understand the deep meaning of these songs. These songs told a tale of woe which was then altogether beyond my feeble comprehension; they were tones loud, long, and deep; they breathed the prayer and complaint of souls boiling over with the bitterest anguish. Every tone was a testimony against slavery, and a prayer to God for deliverance from chains. The hearing of those wild notes always depressed my spirit, and filled me with ineffable sadness. I...
Slavery
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Now I was walking in the hallway through the wax museum when I looked up at the wax figure of an Afro-American individual. He looked down at me, and his features came to life as he said–As I hope you realize, my name is Frederick Douglass, and I want to tell you about my life.
That would definitely be an honor. I tell you what–I am going to get out of the way and let you start talking about your early life. And please be as thorough as you want...
Practical Paper
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Night watchman: Welcome to another night at the wax museum– Or Hall of wonder–step sound–and what do we have here. It looks like the wax figure of a Chinese person, and the identifying plaque says that his name is TI Lon
Mr. Bartley: pardon me for coming to life, but that name is tsigh loon–think of sigh& the bird loon–SIGH LOON
Night watchmen: And pardon me, but I am not familiar with you or any of your accomplishments. Were you an emperor or Chinese ruler?
...
Tilting at Windmills
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Before we begin, let me emphasize that today I'll be talking with a wax figure that never existed– In this case, a figure from literature that was never flesh and bone, but the author of the literary work from which she came created a character that is extremely lifelike, and teaches us a great deal about human nature.
I know that in the early 21st century, a group of 100 prominent writers selected Don QUIOXOTE as the greatest novel of all time. In the novel– If I remember correctly–the author Miguel...
The Curious Mind of Einstein
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The museum was unusually quiet.
The lights glowed softly across the polished floor.
I made my rounds through the gallery of scientists.
There stood Isaac Newton.
There stood Marie Curie.
And there, at the far end of the room, stood a familiar figure with wild white hair and kind eyes.
Albert Einstein.
As midnight approached, I noticed something.
His eyes...
Jefferson Meets A.I.
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Night watchman: you would be astonished by many aspects of the modern university that you founded with the University of Virginia.
Jefferson: That is most fascinating. "How many students attend today?"
Night Watchman: "Mr. Jefferson, the University of Virginia now has roughly twenty-five thousand students, including undergraduate and graduate students."
Jefferson: "Twenty-five thousand! Why, sir, that is a town, not a college!” When my original university opened, there were only a few dozen students.
Night watchmen: you might find it interesting that Women first be...
President Jefferson
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Mr. Bartley: Mr. Jefferson, the last time we spoke, you had basically written the Declaration of Independence. The United States was fighting Britain in the revolutionary war, and in October 1781 George Washington's troops defeated the British at Yorktown Virginia. We had now won our war for independence.
Mr. Jefferson: And by early 1782, my family was back at my home of Monticello. My beloved Martha gave birth to her sixth child, Lucy Elizabeth. Unfortunately Martha grew weaker and weaker following the birth, and I stayed by her bedside. I would read...
Life, Liberty, and Happiness
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Welcome to the Hall of Imagination, and episode. 628 - life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness
During this week of the 250th anniversary of the birth of the United States, I would like to devote the episodes for Monday, Wednesday and Friday to Thomas Jefferson–the author of the declaration of independence.
Episode 1: The young Jefferson and the writing of the Declaration.
Episode 2: The President Thomas Jefferson
Episode 3: The elder Jefferson, the University of Virginia, reflections on the future—even artificial intelligence—and then his death on the...
Jane Addams
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There is something I would like to tell you about my life in Chicago... After all, you might say I am one of its most influential residents.”
Who are you? I asked
"My name is Jane Addams.”
I couldn't believe it! Here a wax figure was talking with me–just like the figures in the toy museum last year-and somehow this was even stranger– This was a individual who was deceased, but was somehow walking and talking to me about her earthly existence. For some reason, I felt the...
Imagination Intro
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Hello, I am a nightwatchman, and if you've been listening to my adventures over the past several months—especially during December of last year—you may remember that I was working as the night watchman at a toy museum. In fact, you might enjoy going back and listening to Episodes 526 through 557, where the toys came to life after dark.
This is the introduction to a new podcast series where the night watchmen works at a wax museum in Chicago where the figures come to life - and the past is n...
Hall of Imagination Promo
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Welcome, my friends, to episode 625, and to a special preview of a brand-new series called The Hall of Imagination, part of Celebrate Creativity.
In this series, the figures of history—and even some figures who never existed at all—come to life in an imaginary wax museum. Some of these characters changed the world through science, literature, music, politics, and invention. Others changed our world through stories and imagination. And every episode begins after the museum closes and the lights grow dim.
But before I go any further, I want...
Dictation
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https://macmost.com/printable-mac-enhanced-dictation-cheat-sheet.html
By the way, the first time you might want to turn voice control off as you go through the sentences, and then later turn voice control on.
There are several sections, so without further ado, let's start with text selection
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When Sounds Compete
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In this episode, I wanna talk about another side of voice control - it may be ab and work with scroll or go to sleep well and individual files in a folder le to do some wonderful things, but there are some programs where voice control it's not able to do a really good job - not because it is inefficient - far from it - but voice control deals with the human voice and doesn't play well with such programs that emphasize sound such as YouTube and GarageBand.
S...
The Power of the Grid
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https://support.apple.com/en-au/guide/mac-help/mh40719/mac
I certainly am going to talk about a few areas that I want to address in the next two or three episodes, but right now I'm gonna state the obvious–the best way to learn voice control is to use it.
Use the Apple support page that I previously mentioned, and if necessary, go over and over and over the commands and what they mean, until it almost becomes automatic. Stick with it, and eventually you will come to th...
Painful Hands
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"For the next month or so, I'm going to take a break from podcasting. My sleep schedule has become seriously disrupted, and I've also been dealing with pain in my hands and arms. Before I continue creating new episodes, I need to focus on my health, work with my doctor, and become more proficient with Voice Control and some other accessibility tools. I have an appointment with my doctor the beginning of next week, and I look forward to zeroing in on solving some of the problems that have made it all b...
Lesson Plan Interrupted
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This podcast episode is an example of dictation. In the next few episodes, I will talk specifically about using dictation in voice control, as well as some of the commands. As for now, do not forget to use enter THAT! - with an emphasis on the THAT!
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Drag and AI Graphics
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About two weeks ago, I apologized for not doing an episode for a month. Actually, I did not do an episode for two weeks, but it seemed like a month. I like to think that this episode has some very important uses and organizing your files and folders - how to organize a messy desktop rather than just demonstrate commands. And later, will get into the use of voice control into doing some fascinating graphics with artificial intelligence.
So, - I am keeping this episode about half the length of...
Enter THAT!
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Do not say enter! Always say enter THAT! And emphasize the THAT!
And for dictation, speak clearly and naturally.
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Returning
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Commands
Wake up
Go to sleep
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Turning It On!
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Hello, and welcome to Celebrate Creativity. I’m George Bartley.
In the last few episodes, I have been talking about Voice Control in a broader way — my own background, some of the reasons I care about it, and some of the larger philosophical questions behind it. What does it mean to use your voice to deal with a machine? What does it mean in terms of independence, creativity, and accessibility?
But now it is time to move a little closer to the ground.
Today, I want to t...
Looking from Both Sides
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Looking at Life from Both Sides
Hello, and welcome to Celebrate Creativity. I’m George Bartley. And I promise that starting in the next episode, I'm going to begin to teach you how to use voice control.
But today, I want to talk about accessibility, disability, voice control, and something even larger than all of those: what it means to look at life from more than one side.
There is a phrase that has stayed with me for years from a song by Joni Mitchell: I’ve l...
What It Feels Like
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Welcome to Celebrate Creativity and the second part of Voice Control on the Macintosh: Why It Matters, and What It Feels Like to Learn It.
I hope you realize by now that this podcast has been talking about the importance of voice control and some of the human elements involved in mastering the skills. So rest assured that in a few days, I will deal into the mechanics of voice control - in other words HOW use it. My philosophy of education it's not to try to dazzle you with...
Voice Control on the Mac
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Hello - welcome back to How to Talk to Your Mac. And this is part one of Voice Control on the Macintosh: Why It Matters, and What It Feels Like to Learn It - in this and the following episode I want to talk about the philosophy behind voice control, and then we'll get into the specifics in future episodes.
However, first, I'd like to apologize for the weeks this month when I have been unable to do an episode. For the first time in years, I think I have had co...
Voice Control - Promo Two
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Now I believe I mentioned that at one time I was doing up to two and three podcasts episodes a day. As a teenager I had a series of epileptic seizures, and was told that I should not swim - but after I started taking a new medication at that time - Depakote - my seizures became a thing of the past. And I'll talk about a little bit more about that later. I also started interpreting for the deaf, especially Shakespearean plays. And when I realized that I could swim safely, I...
Voice Control - Promo One
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Hello this is George Bartley. And no, I have not fallen off the face of the Earth. In fact, my podcast Celebrate Creativity - with its current emphasis on William Shakespeare was in high gear - at one point I was doing two and even three episodes a day. Currently Celebrate Creativity has over 32,000 episodes globally. But that rate of output really couldn't continue very long and I started experiencing excruciating pain in my wrists and hands.
As a result, I became fascinated with a way of communicating with a Ma...
The Mouse Trap
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Up to now, Hamlet has lived inside questions.
“Did my uncle really do it?”
“Can I trust the Ghost?”
“Am I being manipulated?”
“Am I losing my mind—or pretending to?”
Act 3 Scene 2 is the moment Hamlet says, in effect:
“I’m done being uncertain. I’m going to test the truth.”
In other words, Hamlet creates a situation where Claudius either sits calmly… or cracks.
What makes this scene so powerful is that Hamlet is doing two things at once.
One: He wants evidence.
...
Get Thee to a Notary!
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Master Shakespeare, are you ready?
SHAKESPEARE:
As ready as any man may be, entering a room where love is examined like evidence.
GEORGE:
That’s exactly it. Because what happens here is not romance. It’s a controlled experiment—and Ophelia is the instrument.
GEORGE:
Let’s start with the setup. Claudius and Polonius plan to spy. They stage-manage Ophelia. They put a book in her hands. They position her.
What’s the moral temperature of this plan?
SHAKESPEARE:
Cold. And...
