MadParrot.bsky.social
@madparrot.bsky.social
Interpreter (European Parliament), trainer, writer, comedian. Queen's, Oxford. On a train. All views personal.
Can’t help thinking how the French translation of the book he didn’t quite write is “L’Art de La Négociation”. Slippery, euphemistic language, English, isn’t it?
February 10, 2025 at 10:58 AM
Can’t help thinking how the French translation of the book he didn’t quite write is “L’Art de La Négociation”. Slippery, euphemistic language, English, isn’t it?
Excellent SCIC #InterpretingEurope with old friends & new- inc slam poet Leopoldo-Costa-prizewinner Annika Biedermann. "Do we understand processes of AI, Machine Translation, and human translation using Large Language Models? Or is it all ‘magic’ we can choose to believe in or not?”- Kilian Seeber
February 10, 2025 at 10:11 AM
Excellent SCIC #InterpretingEurope with old friends & new- inc slam poet Leopoldo-Costa-prizewinner Annika Biedermann. "Do we understand processes of AI, Machine Translation, and human translation using Large Language Models? Or is it all ‘magic’ we can choose to believe in or not?”- Kilian Seeber
Alsace is full of quirky traditions. Here we see the death-defying “Exterior Advent Calendar”. The chocolate treats and iron trinkets of the less nimble were redistributed among the survivors in a 19th century Prussian version of natural selection.
December 18, 2024 at 1:48 PM
Alsace is full of quirky traditions. Here we see the death-defying “Exterior Advent Calendar”. The chocolate treats and iron trinkets of the less nimble were redistributed among the survivors in a 19th century Prussian version of natural selection.
Before the 14th century Boar’s Head Gaudy with my fellow Queen’s matriculands, we visit the subterranean library extension. “Bit too brightly lit,” mutters a Lancashire voice. “You couldn’t get a decent kip in here.” 35 years have passed in a blink.
December 15, 2024 at 10:53 AM
Before the 14th century Boar’s Head Gaudy with my fellow Queen’s matriculands, we visit the subterranean library extension. “Bit too brightly lit,” mutters a Lancashire voice. “You couldn’t get a decent kip in here.” 35 years have passed in a blink.
Reposted by MadParrot.bsky.social
We're here to turn the Bluesky red and show you the interesting ways you can get from A to B in Europe (and some othe countries too...). Check out our bundle deals that include the Winter 2024/25 edition, published next month!
December 5, 2024 at 10:00 AM
We're here to turn the Bluesky red and show you the interesting ways you can get from A to B in Europe (and some othe countries too...). Check out our bundle deals that include the Winter 2024/25 edition, published next month!
Part rave-in-a-field, advertised by flyer alone; part échangisme in a hangar- Saint-Ghislain has all you need for le train-train quotidien
December 7, 2024 at 4:02 PM
Part rave-in-a-field, advertised by flyer alone; part échangisme in a hangar- Saint-Ghislain has all you need for le train-train quotidien
This week I’ve been reading about machine translation algorithms, fake news causing a riot, AI bots turning on their makers, an overheating planet, absurd nuclear brinkmanship. All in this 1966 sci-fi short story compilation. (Here’s the language-barrier scene in Harry Harrison’s Final Encounter).
November 24, 2024 at 8:27 AM
This week I’ve been reading about machine translation algorithms, fake news causing a riot, AI bots turning on their makers, an overheating planet, absurd nuclear brinkmanship. All in this 1966 sci-fi short story compilation. (Here’s the language-barrier scene in Harry Harrison’s Final Encounter).
Reposted by MadParrot.bsky.social
This is a criticism to level at tech companies, which intentionally obfuscated the differences--and branded stuff that is not intelligence as "AI" to begin with--so when you criticize e.g. Google search being filled with inaccurate results they can say "Oh so now you hate curing cancer!!!"
I am begging people to add some nuance when they talk about AI.
AI is a huge field filled with actual groundbreaking things like programs that detect cancer.
Saying "I hate AI" when you mean you hate *generative AI* is as inaccurate as saying "I hate animals" when you mean you hate mosquitoes.
AI is a huge field filled with actual groundbreaking things like programs that detect cancer.
Saying "I hate AI" when you mean you hate *generative AI* is as inaccurate as saying "I hate animals" when you mean you hate mosquitoes.
November 23, 2024 at 3:24 PM
This is a criticism to level at tech companies, which intentionally obfuscated the differences--and branded stuff that is not intelligence as "AI" to begin with--so when you criticize e.g. Google search being filled with inaccurate results they can say "Oh so now you hate curing cancer!!!"
On a railtour tracing the Christmas 1944 battle which marked a turning point in WW2. Of course what this trainful of unfashionable middle-aged white men really needs is an all-day disco in the buffet car. Sous les pavés, la plage- under the anorak, my dancing trousers. The Battle Of The Bulge indeed
November 23, 2024 at 2:26 PM
On a railtour tracing the Christmas 1944 battle which marked a turning point in WW2. Of course what this trainful of unfashionable middle-aged white men really needs is an all-day disco in the buffet car. Sous les pavés, la plage- under the anorak, my dancing trousers. The Battle Of The Bulge indeed
Thanks, Teams! Now you pop up telling me to have a chat with myself, on top of everything else
November 23, 2024 at 12:34 PM
Thanks, Teams! Now you pop up telling me to have a chat with myself, on top of everything else
Just had an English Breakfast tea. God that was greasy.
November 16, 2024 at 5:25 PM
Just had an English Breakfast tea. God that was greasy.
Netflix is plugging me a "murder mystery in the Australian Alps". Presumably part of the mystery is how, when you're hiking from Krajnska Gora to the Laghi di Fusine via Arnoldstein on a perfectly clear day, if you take a wrong turn you can find yourself in Yarrangobilly.
October 13, 2024 at 7:35 AM
Netflix is plugging me a "murder mystery in the Australian Alps". Presumably part of the mystery is how, when you're hiking from Krajnska Gora to the Laghi di Fusine via Arnoldstein on a perfectly clear day, if you take a wrong turn you can find yourself in Yarrangobilly.
Every day, I think “There can’t be another pun worse than that.” I love Belgium.
October 5, 2024 at 1:11 PM
Every day, I think “There can’t be another pun worse than that.” I love Belgium.
Here’s my Diddy story. My Mum used to listen to David Hamilton on Radio 2 when I was growing up. That’s it.
September 26, 2024 at 7:16 AM
Here’s my Diddy story. My Mum used to listen to David Hamilton on Radio 2 when I was growing up. That’s it.
Sing along to my mad attempt to render Wonderful World in all 24 official languages (in order of accession) to round off our Summer of Languages at European Parliament Interpreters www.youtube.com/watch?v=cl6o... #1nt #TerpLove
Multilingual Cover of "Wonderful World" by Sam Cooke | A Tribute to Linguistic Diversity
YouTube video by DGLINC
www.youtube.com
September 15, 2024 at 6:40 AM
Sing along to my mad attempt to render Wonderful World in all 24 official languages (in order of accession) to round off our Summer of Languages at European Parliament Interpreters www.youtube.com/watch?v=cl6o... #1nt #TerpLove
Excited to be offering online workshops on Fri 27 Sep:
- 11:00 Ask Me Anything (in EN FR IT ES PT)
- 12:15 How I Became An Interpreter
- 14:45 Virtual Booth Visit
You can register at: visiting.europarl.europa.eu/en/event/bru...
See you there! #1nt #TerpLove
- 11:00 Ask Me Anything (in EN FR IT ES PT)
- 12:15 How I Became An Interpreter
- 14:45 Virtual Booth Visit
You can register at: visiting.europarl.europa.eu/en/event/bru...
See you there! #1nt #TerpLove
September 7, 2024 at 5:50 PM
Excited to be offering online workshops on Fri 27 Sep:
- 11:00 Ask Me Anything (in EN FR IT ES PT)
- 12:15 How I Became An Interpreter
- 14:45 Virtual Booth Visit
You can register at: visiting.europarl.europa.eu/en/event/bru...
See you there! #1nt #TerpLove
- 11:00 Ask Me Anything (in EN FR IT ES PT)
- 12:15 How I Became An Interpreter
- 14:45 Virtual Booth Visit
You can register at: visiting.europarl.europa.eu/en/event/bru...
See you there! #1nt #TerpLove
I told the passport officer I was grateful for their work because I collect stamps.
They replied “Philately will get you everywhere.”
And then I woke up wishing I could remember the joke.
They replied “Philately will get you everywhere.”
And then I woke up wishing I could remember the joke.
August 13, 2024 at 3:18 PM
I told the passport officer I was grateful for their work because I collect stamps.
They replied “Philately will get you everywhere.”
And then I woke up wishing I could remember the joke.
They replied “Philately will get you everywhere.”
And then I woke up wishing I could remember the joke.
The Italo Calvino of unreliable narrator stand-up has a TV special launching on Sat 20th on Sky and Now. Don’t miss it! You can see him play the room as it’s dealt here: youtube.com/watch?v=CoNb_b…
July 18, 2024 at 8:04 PM
The Italo Calvino of unreliable narrator stand-up has a TV special launching on Sat 20th on Sky and Now. Don’t miss it! You can see him play the room as it’s dealt here: youtube.com/watch?v=CoNb_b…
The Big Neapolitan Conspiracy: they tell you pizzas are flat, but actually they’re round.
May 23, 2024 at 5:58 AM
The Big Neapolitan Conspiracy: they tell you pizzas are flat, but actually they’re round.
My review of BE FUNNY OR DIE, by @gralefrit.bsky.social A new book on comedy with relevance for #xl8 and #1nt #TerpLove mattperret.wordpress.com/2024/04/04/a...
April 4, 2024 at 6:04 PM
My review of BE FUNNY OR DIE, by @gralefrit.bsky.social A new book on comedy with relevance for #xl8 and #1nt #TerpLove mattperret.wordpress.com/2024/04/04/a...
So busy thinking about how neither chilli peppers nor Sichuan peppers are peppers, and so excited to find 麻辣 in Brussels, that I order it in bad French. “Ce n’est pas le piment de Sichuan, monsieur. C’est le poivre.”
April 4, 2024 at 12:08 PM
So busy thinking about how neither chilli peppers nor Sichuan peppers are peppers, and so excited to find 麻辣 in Brussels, that I order it in bad French. “Ce n’est pas le piment de Sichuan, monsieur. C’est le poivre.”
Reposted by MadParrot.bsky.social
Apparently Bagpuss is 50 years old today!
Here's a link to the theme for the unmade American version Bagpuss USA.
😉
Here's a link to the theme for the unmade American version Bagpuss USA.
😉
USA Bagpuss theme
Ill-conceived remake of a children's classic
soundcloud.com
February 12, 2024 at 12:11 PM
Apparently Bagpuss is 50 years old today!
Here's a link to the theme for the unmade American version Bagpuss USA.
😉
Here's a link to the theme for the unmade American version Bagpuss USA.
😉
My recent interview with China Social Sciences Today, alongside the fabulous Maha El-Metwally, is on its way to me, old-style. Thanks, Madeline Weng- v interesting chat (for me at least!) English version here (try Safari or Firefox): csstoday.com/Item/12404.a... #1nt #TerpLove
February 4, 2024 at 8:42 AM
My recent interview with China Social Sciences Today, alongside the fabulous Maha El-Metwally, is on its way to me, old-style. Thanks, Madeline Weng- v interesting chat (for me at least!) English version here (try Safari or Firefox): csstoday.com/Item/12404.a... #1nt #TerpLove
Contrary to my years-old assumption, it turns out Elon Musk is not in a romantic relationship with ultra-conservative activist Darren Grimes. This new reality is going to take some getting used to.
February 3, 2024 at 12:34 PM
Contrary to my years-old assumption, it turns out Elon Musk is not in a romantic relationship with ultra-conservative activist Darren Grimes. This new reality is going to take some getting used to.
Utterly joyful, giddying riff on what was already a highlight of a top show. (Also contains this week's best joke about Javier Pérez de Cuéllar)
Who wants to read every Technotronic 'Pump Up The Jam' Chart Show fact I submitted one afternoon for Cunk On Earth?
I think we probably used... two of these. And there are exactly one million (estimated).
open.substack.com/pub/joelmorr...
I think we probably used... two of these. And there are exactly one million (estimated).
open.substack.com/pub/joelmorr...
Pump Up The Jam
Technotronic, Philomena Cunk and the joy of excess...
open.substack.com
February 2, 2024 at 9:58 PM
Utterly joyful, giddying riff on what was already a highlight of a top show. (Also contains this week's best joke about Javier Pérez de Cuéllar)