Kat Hall 📚
@kathall.bsky.social
Editor & translator (GER ➡️ EN) Tr. of von Schirach's PUNISHMENT + COFFEE & CIGS. At peabodyink.com (my work) & mrspeabodyinvestigates.com (crime blog). Europhile 💛
Reposted by Kat Hall 📚
🚨 “A court in Munich has ruled that OpenAI’s chatbot ChatGPT violated German copyright laws by using hits from musicians to train its language models”
A landmark European ruling!
www.theguardian.com/technology/2...
A landmark European ruling!
www.theguardian.com/technology/2...
ChatGPT violated copyright law by ‘learning’ from song lyrics, German court rules
OpenAI ordered to pay undisclosed damages for training its language models on artists’ work without permission
www.theguardian.com
November 11, 2025 at 9:46 PM
🚨 “A court in Munich has ruled that OpenAI’s chatbot ChatGPT violated German copyright laws by using hits from musicians to train its language models”
A landmark European ruling!
www.theguardian.com/technology/2...
A landmark European ruling!
www.theguardian.com/technology/2...
Reposted by Kat Hall 📚
Amazon here, targeting the market consisting of people who for some reason buy books but don't actually like books, or writers, or reading.
(Authors, please have nothing to do with this slop-dispenser, which will mangle your prose and put translators — your allies — out of work.)
(Authors, please have nothing to do with this slop-dispenser, which will mangle your prose and put translators — your allies — out of work.)
Amazon has launched a new AI-driven translation service, Kindle Translate, for Kindle Direct Publishing authors 👇 #BookSky
Amazon launches AI translation service for indie authors
ebx.sh
November 7, 2025 at 3:18 PM
Amazon here, targeting the market consisting of people who for some reason buy books but don't actually like books, or writers, or reading.
(Authors, please have nothing to do with this slop-dispenser, which will mangle your prose and put translators — your allies — out of work.)
(Authors, please have nothing to do with this slop-dispenser, which will mangle your prose and put translators — your allies — out of work.)
Reposted by Kat Hall 📚
I am hearing that @uniofnottingham.bsky.social is suspending (i.e shutting down) *all modern language courses* in 2026-27. One of the largest departments in the UK. A shocking short sighted move that damages regional and national prospects @britishacademy.bsky.social @hetanshah.bsky.social
November 6, 2025 at 12:39 PM
I am hearing that @uniofnottingham.bsky.social is suspending (i.e shutting down) *all modern language courses* in 2026-27. One of the largest departments in the UK. A shocking short sighted move that damages regional and national prospects @britishacademy.bsky.social @hetanshah.bsky.social
Reposted by Kat Hall 📚
ANNOUNCEMENT!
The Big Green Books Advent Calendar!
Choose from 4, 6 or 12 books.
Your chance to unwrap a new surprise book every few days in the run up to Christmas.
The books will be chosen based on what you enjoy reading.
More info HERE
www.biggreenbookshop.com/simon-likes-...
PLEASE SHARE
The Big Green Books Advent Calendar!
Choose from 4, 6 or 12 books.
Your chance to unwrap a new surprise book every few days in the run up to Christmas.
The books will be chosen based on what you enjoy reading.
More info HERE
www.biggreenbookshop.com/simon-likes-...
PLEASE SHARE
November 2, 2025 at 7:32 PM
ANNOUNCEMENT!
The Big Green Books Advent Calendar!
Choose from 4, 6 or 12 books.
Your chance to unwrap a new surprise book every few days in the run up to Christmas.
The books will be chosen based on what you enjoy reading.
More info HERE
www.biggreenbookshop.com/simon-likes-...
PLEASE SHARE
The Big Green Books Advent Calendar!
Choose from 4, 6 or 12 books.
Your chance to unwrap a new surprise book every few days in the run up to Christmas.
The books will be chosen based on what you enjoy reading.
More info HERE
www.biggreenbookshop.com/simon-likes-...
PLEASE SHARE
Reposted by Kat Hall 📚
Amazon is helping fund a $300 million build of a ballroom for the White House.
Independent bookstores are donating to food banks and organizations that help with food insecurity.
They are not the same.
Independent bookstores are donating to food banks and organizations that help with food insecurity.
They are not the same.
October 30, 2025 at 4:01 PM
Amazon is helping fund a $300 million build of a ballroom for the White House.
Independent bookstores are donating to food banks and organizations that help with food insecurity.
They are not the same.
Independent bookstores are donating to food banks and organizations that help with food insecurity.
They are not the same.
Reposted by Kat Hall 📚
Farage: epic grifter
October 27, 2025 at 12:45 PM
Farage: epic grifter
Reposted by Kat Hall 📚
RIP to David Bellos whose book Is That a Fish in Your Ear?: Translation and the Meaning of Everything massively contributed to me wanting to become a literary translator. When I was writing my own book about translation, I kept in mind how funny and accessible his book was.
October 27, 2025 at 4:23 PM
RIP to David Bellos whose book Is That a Fish in Your Ear?: Translation and the Meaning of Everything massively contributed to me wanting to become a literary translator. When I was writing my own book about translation, I kept in mind how funny and accessible his book was.
How it started….
How it’s going…
Is there any more potent symbol of how Trump is wrecking America?
#BallroomBlitz
How it’s going…
Is there any more potent symbol of how Trump is wrecking America?
#BallroomBlitz
October 21, 2025 at 7:26 PM
How it started….
How it’s going…
Is there any more potent symbol of how Trump is wrecking America?
#BallroomBlitz
How it’s going…
Is there any more potent symbol of how Trump is wrecking America?
#BallroomBlitz
Reposted by Kat Hall 📚
Brexit has robbed young people of exciting opportunities, such as Erasmus, while also hurting our economy.
Baroness Coussins: "The international experience provided by Erasmus significantly enhances future employability and language skills."
Baroness Coussins: "The international experience provided by Erasmus significantly enhances future employability and language skills."
October 21, 2025 at 2:34 PM
Brexit has robbed young people of exciting opportunities, such as Erasmus, while also hurting our economy.
Baroness Coussins: "The international experience provided by Erasmus significantly enhances future employability and language skills."
Baroness Coussins: "The international experience provided by Erasmus significantly enhances future employability and language skills."
Reposted by Kat Hall 📚
Whatever you do, please don’t stop reading.
Read for joy. Read for education. Read for resistance. Read banned books. Read books by marginalized authors. Read about experiences that differ from your own.
Just. Keep. Reading.
Read for joy. Read for education. Read for resistance. Read banned books. Read books by marginalized authors. Read about experiences that differ from your own.
Just. Keep. Reading.
September 18, 2025 at 6:20 PM
Whatever you do, please don’t stop reading.
Read for joy. Read for education. Read for resistance. Read banned books. Read books by marginalized authors. Read about experiences that differ from your own.
Just. Keep. Reading.
Read for joy. Read for education. Read for resistance. Read banned books. Read books by marginalized authors. Read about experiences that differ from your own.
Just. Keep. Reading.
Reposted by Kat Hall 📚
"I think the greatest single enemy is the misuse of information, the perversion of truth in the hands of terribly skillful people."
John le Carre, born on this day in 1931
John le Carre, born on this day in 1931
October 19, 2025 at 10:14 AM
"I think the greatest single enemy is the misuse of information, the perversion of truth in the hands of terribly skillful people."
John le Carre, born on this day in 1931
John le Carre, born on this day in 1931
Reposted by Kat Hall 📚
CNN talking about the possibility of violence as a guy in a giraffe costume waddles by
October 18, 2025 at 5:08 PM
CNN talking about the possibility of violence as a guy in a giraffe costume waddles by
Reposted by Kat Hall 📚
On my blog today: margot-kin-berg.com/2025/10/11/t...
To Post or Not to Post…
As this is posted, it’s 81 years since Otto Preminger’s Laura was released in cinemas. The film is, of course, based on Vera Caspary’s novel of the same name, and it’s a solid example of a noir sto…
margot-kin-berg.com
October 11, 2025 at 6:12 PM
On my blog today: margot-kin-berg.com/2025/10/11/t...
Reposted by Kat Hall 📚
repost this if an editor has ever saved you from yourself
An actual hot take: Too many authors are afraid of editors watering down their voice or whatever and not afraid enough of editors letting you put any old slop on the page.
October 8, 2025 at 10:44 PM
repost this if an editor has ever saved you from yourself
Reposted by Kat Hall 📚
35 years ago today this happened. I’d grown up in the belief it could never happen, but then it did. It’s not been easy and even now reunification is an ongoing process. However, it makes me wonder what good things may be just around the corner that we currently think are impossible.
October 3, 2025 at 3:38 PM
35 years ago today this happened. I’d grown up in the belief it could never happen, but then it did. It’s not been easy and even now reunification is an ongoing process. However, it makes me wonder what good things may be just around the corner that we currently think are impossible.
Reposted by Kat Hall 📚
Some good news.
London is meeting legal limits for toxic NO2 pollution for the first time – almost 200 years earlier than predicted – following the Mayor’s "world leading air pollution policies," City Hall announces.
The Ultra Low Emissions Zone - and similar policies - really do work.
London is meeting legal limits for toxic NO2 pollution for the first time – almost 200 years earlier than predicted – following the Mayor’s "world leading air pollution policies," City Hall announces.
The Ultra Low Emissions Zone - and similar policies - really do work.
September 30, 2025 at 7:39 PM
Some good news.
London is meeting legal limits for toxic NO2 pollution for the first time – almost 200 years earlier than predicted – following the Mayor’s "world leading air pollution policies," City Hall announces.
The Ultra Low Emissions Zone - and similar policies - really do work.
London is meeting legal limits for toxic NO2 pollution for the first time – almost 200 years earlier than predicted – following the Mayor’s "world leading air pollution policies," City Hall announces.
The Ultra Low Emissions Zone - and similar policies - really do work.
Reposted by Kat Hall 📚
Happy International Translation Day!
Here’s part of my translation manifesto, which can be found in full at the end of Fair: The Life-Art of Translation.
(Written out in replies)
Here’s part of my translation manifesto, which can be found in full at the end of Fair: The Life-Art of Translation.
(Written out in replies)
September 30, 2025 at 8:07 AM
Happy International Translation Day!
Here’s part of my translation manifesto, which can be found in full at the end of Fair: The Life-Art of Translation.
(Written out in replies)
Here’s part of my translation manifesto, which can be found in full at the end of Fair: The Life-Art of Translation.
(Written out in replies)
Reposted by Kat Hall 📚
📢 Translators, you too can join the @alcs.co.uk and get paid for having your books checked out of the library.
A lifetime membership costs just £36. They take it out of your first payment, so you don’t pay a penny up front.
Since I joined in 2020, I have received £515.45! What are you waiting for?
A lifetime membership costs just £36. They take it out of your first payment, so you don’t pay a penny up front.
Since I joined in 2020, I have received £515.45! What are you waiting for?
🥳 This week, we will pay 31,487 members their share of £11,588,572!
Find out more:
www.alcs.co.uk/news/your-di...
Find out more:
www.alcs.co.uk/news/your-di...
Your distribution questions answered
This week, we will pay 31,487 members their share of £11,588,572. Get answers to your most pressing questions about our latest distribution.
www.alcs.co.uk
September 22, 2025 at 2:12 PM
📢 Translators, you too can join the @alcs.co.uk and get paid for having your books checked out of the library.
A lifetime membership costs just £36. They take it out of your first payment, so you don’t pay a penny up front.
Since I joined in 2020, I have received £515.45! What are you waiting for?
A lifetime membership costs just £36. They take it out of your first payment, so you don’t pay a penny up front.
Since I joined in 2020, I have received £515.45! What are you waiting for?
Reposted by Kat Hall 📚
Academics in #Gaza reflect on how a virtual fellowship scheme with the @bristoluni.bsky.social has offered "a lifeline for researchers, fighting to keep our voices heard despite the #war and the destruction of our academic institutions" and explain how it works: ow.ly/yfsl50WZisX #academicsky
Virtual fellowships as ‘material solidarity’ against scholasticide
Gaza virtual research fellows and UK-based scholars share reflections, alongside a practical overview of the design, development and early implementation of a virtual fellowship
ow.ly
September 19, 2025 at 1:01 PM
Academics in #Gaza reflect on how a virtual fellowship scheme with the @bristoluni.bsky.social has offered "a lifeline for researchers, fighting to keep our voices heard despite the #war and the destruction of our academic institutions" and explain how it works: ow.ly/yfsl50WZisX #academicsky
Reposted by Kat Hall 📚
It's here! The Petrona Award 2025- Best Scandinavian Crime Novel Of The Year- The Shortlist. #PetronaAward25
ravencrimereads.wordpress.com/2025/09/18/p...
ravencrimereads.wordpress.com/2025/09/18/p...
Petrona Award 2025- Best Scandinavian Crime Novel Of The Year- The Shortlist #PetronaAward25
Outstanding crime fiction from Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden shortlisted for the 2025 Petrona Award. Seven impressive crime novels from Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden have been shortlist…
ravencrimereads.wordpress.com
September 18, 2025 at 7:13 AM
It's here! The Petrona Award 2025- Best Scandinavian Crime Novel Of The Year- The Shortlist. #PetronaAward25
ravencrimereads.wordpress.com/2025/09/18/p...
ravencrimereads.wordpress.com/2025/09/18/p...
Reposted by Kat Hall 📚
Finally! 🤩 Our position piece: Against the Uncritical Adoption of 'AI' Technologies in Academia:
doi.org/10.5281/zeno...
We unpick the tech industry’s marketing, hype, & harm; and we argue for safeguarding higher education, critical
thinking, expertise, academic freedom, & scientific integrity.
1/n
doi.org/10.5281/zeno...
We unpick the tech industry’s marketing, hype, & harm; and we argue for safeguarding higher education, critical
thinking, expertise, academic freedom, & scientific integrity.
1/n
September 6, 2025 at 8:13 AM
Finally! 🤩 Our position piece: Against the Uncritical Adoption of 'AI' Technologies in Academia:
doi.org/10.5281/zeno...
We unpick the tech industry’s marketing, hype, & harm; and we argue for safeguarding higher education, critical
thinking, expertise, academic freedom, & scientific integrity.
1/n
doi.org/10.5281/zeno...
We unpick the tech industry’s marketing, hype, & harm; and we argue for safeguarding higher education, critical
thinking, expertise, academic freedom, & scientific integrity.
1/n
Reposted by Kat Hall 📚
Unsolicited writing advice, no. 13:
If you are lucky enough to be translated into other languages, always know this: you are NOTHING without your translator. Your translator has skills far beyond just putting words into another language. A good translator is a stylist, an interpreter, a composer.
If you are lucky enough to be translated into other languages, always know this: you are NOTHING without your translator. Your translator has skills far beyond just putting words into another language. A good translator is a stylist, an interpreter, a composer.
August 31, 2025 at 3:15 PM
Unsolicited writing advice, no. 13:
If you are lucky enough to be translated into other languages, always know this: you are NOTHING without your translator. Your translator has skills far beyond just putting words into another language. A good translator is a stylist, an interpreter, a composer.
If you are lucky enough to be translated into other languages, always know this: you are NOTHING without your translator. Your translator has skills far beyond just putting words into another language. A good translator is a stylist, an interpreter, a composer.