MadParrot.bsky.social @madparrot.bsky.social · 05/02/2026Latest from Lourdes de Rioja: when someone dropped the f-bomb in plenary, she asked me to swear in 4 languages. Enjoy the rich silences between plosives www.youtube.com/watch?v=h83Z... 010
Reposted by MadParrot.bsky.socialJan Rausch 🦁🐝 @interrausch.bsky.social · 04/02/2026How to interpret 'fuck off' - and how YouTube seems to prefer the sound of 'f*ck off' and 'va te faire f*tre'. Featuring @madparrot.bsky.social. #1nt #Trump youtu.be/h83Z41u_LZU?...youtu.beIn a language you understand...YouTube video by Lourdes De Rioja 012
Reposted by MadParrot.bsky.socialSarah Dempster @dempster2000.bsky.social · 29/12/2025Top Adrian Chiles Columns of 2025: I’ve given up wild swimming. So why does my Volvo smell like mince? Should I tell the postman he has halitosis? My first wife wouldn’t let me wear shorts. I buried my father with my bare hands. It’s time we stopped talking about glamping. 1/3 21583127
MadParrot.bsky.social @madparrot.bsky.social · 10/02/2025Can’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? 030
MadParrot.bsky.social @madparrot.bsky.social · 10/02/2025Excellent 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 030
MadParrot.bsky.social @madparrot.bsky.social · 18/12/2024Alsace 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. 020
MadParrot.bsky.social @madparrot.bsky.social · 15/12/2024Before 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. 000
Reposted by MadParrot.bsky.socialEuropean Rail Timetable @europeanrailtt.bsky.social · 05/12/2024We'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! 1102
MadParrot.bsky.social @madparrot.bsky.social · 07/12/2024Part rave-in-a-field, advertised by flyer alone; part échangisme in a hangar- Saint-Ghislain has all you need for le train-train quotidien 000
MadParrot.bsky.social @madparrot.bsky.social · 24/11/2024This 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). 120
Reposted by MadParrot.bsky.socialLincoln Michel @thelincoln.bsky.social · 23/11/2024This 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!!!" 12619159
MadParrot.bsky.social @madparrot.bsky.social · 23/11/2024On 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 100
MadParrot.bsky.social @madparrot.bsky.social · 23/11/2024Thanks, Teams! Now you pop up telling me to have a chat with myself, on top of everything else 000
MadParrot.bsky.social @madparrot.bsky.social · 16/11/2024Just had an English Breakfast tea. God that was greasy. 000
MadParrot.bsky.social @madparrot.bsky.social · 13/10/2024Netflix 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. 000
MadParrot.bsky.social @madparrot.bsky.social · 05/10/2024Every day, I think “There can’t be another pun worse than that.” I love Belgium. 010
MadParrot.bsky.social @madparrot.bsky.social · 26/09/2024Here’s my Diddy story. My Mum used to listen to David Hamilton on Radio 2 when I was growing up. That’s it. 010
MadParrot.bsky.social @madparrot.bsky.social · 15/09/2024Sing 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 #TerpLoveyoutube.comMultilingual Cover of "Wonderful World" by Sam Cooke | A Tribute to Linguistic DiversityYouTube video by DGLINC 000
MadParrot.bsky.social @madparrot.bsky.social · 07/09/2024Excited 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 000
MadParrot.bsky.social @madparrot.bsky.social · 13/08/2024I 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. 000
MadParrot.bsky.social @madparrot.bsky.social · 18/07/2024The 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… 000
MadParrot.bsky.social @madparrot.bsky.social · 23/05/2024The Big Neapolitan Conspiracy: they tell you pizzas are flat, but actually they’re round. 000
MadParrot.bsky.social @madparrot.bsky.social · 04/04/2024My 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... 020
MadParrot.bsky.social @madparrot.bsky.social · 04/04/2024So 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.” 000
Reposted by MadParrot.bsky.socialChris Limb @catmachine.com · 12/02/2024Apparently Bagpuss is 50 years old today! Here's a link to the theme for the unmade American version Bagpuss USA. 😉soundcloud.comUSA Bagpuss themeIll-conceived remake of a children's classic 031
MadParrot.bsky.social @madparrot.bsky.social · 04/02/2024My 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 000
MadParrot.bsky.social @madparrot.bsky.social · 03/02/2024Contrary 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. 000
MadParrot.bsky.social @madparrot.bsky.social · 02/02/2024Utterly 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) 010
MadParrot.bsky.social @madparrot.bsky.social · 27/01/2024Slowly learning more Dutch, but in the meantime enjoying the punning coexistence of English and French in Brussels’ trendy neighbourhoods. HomePage for interior design on Rue du Page works well; the prominently displayed “Bites” at the Greek deli opposite need painting over. 010
Reposted by MadParrot.bsky.socialAnde Case 🎬🇪🇺#BLM 💚 @songoftheoss.bsky.social · 11/10/2023The next interview with people in comedy is out… do enjoy my chat with the multi-talented Jeremy Limb…podcasts.apple.comBon Mot Podcast on Apple PodcastsComedy · 2023 111
MadParrot.bsky.social @madparrot.bsky.social · 24/01/2024Hey you with the pretty face Welcome to the human race 062