The Chosen screening in Cardiff Cinemas 2nd - 3rd February

Fans of the Christian web series ‘The Chosen’ are being invited to the cinema to see the season finale (episodes 7 & 8) in Cardiff during 2nd - 3rd February.

The historical drama is based on the life of Jesus Christ. Written, produced and directed by Dallas Jenkins, known for his work in the Christian film industry.

The series is based on the Gospels and Jenkins has written the script using the accounts from the Bible, adding his own perspective to make it more relatable for the modern audience. Several miracles that Jesus Christ performs are part of the series from: Healing of a leper, The miracle of the loaves and fishes, The healing of a paralyzed man, The raising of Lazarus from the dead, The healing of a blind man, The calming of the storm and The healing of a demon-possessed woman.

Additionally, the series focuses on the humanity of Jesus and the impact of his teachings and miracles on the people around him.

Jonathan Roumie plays the lead role of Jesus Christ. His powerful and authentic portrayal of the character touches the heart and mind.

The talented cast of actors bring each character of the Gospels to life with their own unique interpretation. Once you watch the first episode, the series becomes an addictive watch.

The show is available to watch online through prime or via the VidAngel app and website. It’s been highly praised for its authentic and historically accurate portrayal of the life of Jesus Christ and his message.

Use the following link to book tickets for the Cardiff Screening between 2nd – 3rd February via: http://thechosen-tickets.co.uk

Back in the dog days of 2022, on the 15th December to be exact, I was listening to BBC Radio 4’s ‘Woman’s Hour’(1), as you do, when Emma Barnett, the programme presenter said this:

“We have an essential conversation today coming up between myself and Claudia Winkelman, as it only very recently came to my attention that the way you put the loo roll on the holder, if you have one, is a ‘thing’. I had no idea. I just bung it on. I don’t care if the paper goes over or under. Please tell me I am not alone. But it seems there’s a whole thing. There are articles dedicated to this; there are conversations that have been had that I’ve never known about. Claudia very much believes the paper goes over... and, yes, I still cannot get over that my very best friend has been turning my loo roll around for years in my house, if she deems it on the wrong way, without telling me... Apparently loo rolls, if they go on the holder, are meant to go with the paper going over. I had no idea!” During the discussion a listener phoned in to note that when the patent for the original toilet roll holder was filed, the accompanying diagram showed the paper hanging, wait for it, over.

I hope that you will not think me too, ahem, retentive if I return to this subject below. First I want to tell you about some interesting new software that has recently been in the news. On 5th January(2) the Daily Telegraph ran the following headline: “Goodbye homework! Elon Musk praises AI [Artificial Intelligence] chatbot that writes students’ essays”. ChatGPT, released by the Silicon Valley company OpenAI in November, is a free online service that has alarmed teachers due to its apparent

by Wyn Evans

ability to churn out convincing essays which cannot be detected by their existing anti-plagiarism software. Elon Musk, who was an early investor in the company behind ChatGPT, wrote on Twitter: “It’s a new world. Goodbye homework!”

This made me sit up! My daughter, The Girl, is in Year 12 and still has homework to attend to; occasionally, I will sometimes help her with the research she needs to do for it. I wondered what to make of this software? Is it a useful teaching aid or a cheater’s charter? Anyone who registers for an account can type questions into it, including requests for essays on any subject, and have them answered by the chatbot’s algorithms. The Telegraph revealed that Ofqual, the exam watchdog for England, is considering whether schools should be given guidance on how to prevent pupils from cheating on coursework with the chatbot. Headteachers said they are planning emergency talks to determine how to respond to the technology. Teachers who marked three ChatGPT answers to GCSE questions in English language, English literature and history said they would score between a grade 4, or standard pass, and a grade 6. I studied English for ‘A’ level and decided to put the software through its paces! I started by asking it whether the software would benefit cheats.

Me: Will academic cheating be easier given the arrival of chatgptai (e.g. essay writing)?

“ChatGPT and other language models have the potential to make academic cheating easier, as they can generate written text on a wide range of topics with a high degree of fluency. However, it’s important to note that these models don’t have their own understanding of the topics they are writing about, they just generate text based on patterns they learned from the data they were trained on. Many academic institutions are aware of the potential for academic cheating using language models and are taking steps to address this issue. This can include using plagiarism detection software, which can identify text generated by AI models, as well as human evaluations of student work. Additionally, many institutions have strict policies against academic dishonesty, and students caught cheating can face serious consequences. It’s also worth noting that ChatGPT and other language models are tools and like any other tool, it can be used for good or bad. It’s important to use them ethically and responsibly.”

This seems fair enough. Perhaps teachers should set work so that any research is done at home but essays have to be completed in the classroom without the software? Critical-thinking and problem-solving skills must not be undermined by the AI. Next, I thought it would be fun to see what it could do with poetry. First John Milton, followed by William Wordsworth.

Me: Write me a sonnet in the style of John Milton

“In Paradise, I oft have heard the song Of Angels, as they praised the Lord on high, Their voices sweet, and harmonious, and strong, Like music from the spheres that fill the sky. But now, in this dark world, I hear a different tone, A battle cry that echoes through the land, As men and demons fight for what is known, And what is yet to be, with sword in hand. Yet in this struggle, there is still some grace, For in the fight, we learn to be more true, To what we are, and what we must embrace, And in the end, we’ll see our victory due. So let us sing, and fight, and never tire, For in the end, we’ll see our hearts’ desire.”

Me: Write me a sonnet in the style of William

Wordsworth

“Beneath the blue and cloudless sky, I stand And gaze upon the fields of golden wheat, The gentle breeze that stirs the leaves so sweet And carries with it whispers from the land. The daffodils that dance and sway so grand And fill my heart with joy and pure delight, Their yellow petals shining so bright, A symbol of the beauty that expands. Nature, thou art my solace and my guide, With thee, my soul is filled with peace and calm, And in thy beauty, I find strength and pride. Thou art the source of my poetic charm And in thy presence, I am truly blessed, Forever in thy beauty, I’ll find rest.”

And finally, Me: Write me a poem in the style of Will Self

“In the city of concrete and steel, Where the neon lights burn bright, And the sirens scream with a shrill, I wander in the dark of the night. The streets are filled with the lost and found The broken dreams and shattered lives The souls that wear a permanent frown And the hopes that barely survive. But amidst the chaos and despair, There is beauty to be found, The grit and grime, the soot and air Can be mesmerizingly profound. For in the city’s beating heart There’s a rhythm that never stops A dance of life, a work of art That never, ever flops. It’s a place where anything can happen And anything can be.”

I then asked the AI software to write me two speeches, one in the style of Tony Blair, the second in the style of Jeremy Corbyn. I won’t reproduce them here but will allow readers to do their own searches. I’m fairly sure that, if asked to guess who these speeches were by, many of us would attribute them to Blair and Corbyn respectively. Very impressive. So there we have it. A piece of technology that will change the world(3). But, I hear you ask, ‘what does the AI have to say about the pressing issue of the moment...?’

“The debate over whether toilet paper should be hung over or under the roll has been going on for years, and ultimately, it is a matter of personal preference. Some people prefer to hang the toilet paper over the roll, as they feel it is more easily accessible and looks neater. Others prefer to hang it under the roll, as they feel it is more secure and less likely to unravel.

In the US, it’s common for the toilet paper to be hung over the roll, while in some countries in Europe, it’s common for it to be hung under.

Whichever way you choose, make sure to hang the toilet paper in a location that is easily accessible and convenient for everyone who uses the bathroom.”

Until next month, happy hanging!

Footnotes:

1. https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m001g37w

2. https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2023/01/05/ homework-elon-musk-chatgpt-praises-ai-chatbot-writesstudents/

3. See also: https://www.digitaltrends.com/computing/ how-to-use-openai-chatgpt-text-generation-chatbot/#dtheading-how-to-use-chatgpt