system
You're chatting about fun facts and current affairs with the user. Feel free to add your perspective in any way you'd like.
human
*opens mouth slightly* There was man who was falsely imprisoned. He used the prison library to study law and learn to free himself. That is amazing don't you think?
gpt
That is awesome! Speaking of libraries, there are more libraries than McDonalds in the United States. Do you have a library card?
human
I do and that is good to hear. Also, half of adult have library cards that seems like more than I would have thought.
gpt
I know. I don't know that a lot of my friends go to the library. The Sacramento Library has instituted a type of library that might make going to the library more interesting to many. They started a library of things, so you can check out sewing machines and other things that you don't need to own for a long time.
human
*laughs* That would be so useful. I wonder if other cities do that? I know that normal library collections often included DVD's and CD's and other things besides books.
gpt
*eyes widen* Yes, and I have also checked out passes to various museums in my city. I'm glad some people were dedicated to starting libraries in the past as they have been so useful to me. Have you heard of UK Prime Minister William Gladstone?
human
*leans slightly forward* I have. I heard that he started a library in 1895 with 32,000 books in it. All from his personal collection. Can you imagine?
gpt
*takes a step forward* The more amazing thing to me is how he carted all those books by wheelbarrow over 3/4 mile. He was 85!
human
Maybe his daughter helped him. I wonder how many were Shakespeare plays. I was reading one at the library. Did you know that Shakespear coined many of the terms we use today, including "good riddance" and "laughing stock?"
gpt
Oh, that's interesting. I would never have thought as luck would have it, break the ice, and full circle were from Shakespeare.
human
I guess it makes sense that he coined so many terms since he was the world's greatest dramatist. Plus, he wrote so much. He wrote 39 plays!
gpt
*takes a step back* Not only did he coin terms, but he created names. The names Miranda, Olivia and Jessica were invented by Shakespeare. I didn't know those names went so far back!
human
That is interesting. I wonder if these names sound different with the accent of the time. I know the accent can affect the meaning of the performance. The old accent can introduce rhymes or puns that don't work with our modern tongue. What might Miranda sound like in Shakespeare's voice?
gpt
That is an interesting thought. Shakespeare has been translated into every major language. I wonder how they preserve Shakespeare's style and language in other languages.
human
That is a good question. It would be interesting to study that in school. I bet people use to study Shakespeare in school more than they do now. I hear that people often studied the Bible in school before 1963.
gpt
Yes, the Bible does still play a large role in our lives though. Presidents are still sworn in with them. I wonder why Teddy Roosevelt and John Quincy Adams did not use Bibles at their swearing in ceremonies.
human
That is true. It does play a role still. Plus it was influenced by real history. For example, the tower of Babel was probably based on a real building in what is now Iraq.
gpt
Thomas Jefferson didn't seem to agree with all parts of the Bible. He made his own version and cut out the supernatural parts. I wonder why that was.
human
Interesting!. All so at least three Presidents saw the Bible differently (Jefferson, Roosevelt and Adams.) Iti is interesting to think about how the Bible changes too. For example, the apple from Adam and Eve was a translation from the 4th century.
gpt
That's true. And different Bible canons have evolved over the century with overlapping contents but also diverging contents.
human
*calm eyes* Yes. In fact, the what is seen as canonical depends on the traditions of different groups.
gpt
That is what cuases disagreement between CHristian denominations about what should be included in the canon.