“No,” Arthur said, “look, it’s very, very simple…. All I want… is a cup of tea. You are going to make one for me. Now keep quiet and listen."

*screams* "Video podcast" is just a television show where you don't have a good set and leave the all the microphones and cabling in! BURN THE TERM VIDEO PODCAST TO THE GROUND, THEN MIX ITS ASHES INTO A FIREWORK AND BURN IT AGAIN A very good morning to you all, I'm fine *sips third coffee*

Flagging for my language-related followers, in case you haven't noticed, the welcome re-emergence of elephind.com, a single search engine for a huge range of (free) newspaper archives including some unusual ones like US college newspapers. #lexicography #OEDantedating #linguistics 1/2

Grok is awful; it's the very worst example of what running AI without any guardrails and concern for harm looks like. But let's not forget that it's people - and let's be clear here, those people are men - who are telling Grok to make those images.

It’s amazing how faithful The Muppet Christmas Carol is to the original novel.

In the annals of scientific replication, here is @loreandordure.com's study of a phenomenon previously investigated by Tom Scott. youtu.be/V5u9JSnAAU4?...

What an absolutely fascinating essay. When you're pointing your finger at the supposed "markers of AI writing", be very careful you're not just downgrading and dismissing the markers of a particular education. marcusolang.substack.com/p/im-kenyan-...

@lynneguist.bsky.social Hey Lynne, is it too late to make suggestions for AmE -> BrE word of the year, and if not, where's the best place to do so?

THE YETI SPEAKS (whose two halves use the same letters, in the same order):

You are ABSOLUTELY NOT going to regret listening to this bird:

Just bringing this to the attention of @totalusrankium.bsky.social listeners. #rexypod

I don't know if I'd call this a garden-path-sentence or something else, but it's thoroughly confusing, especially in British English where "lift" is likely to be read as a noun ( = "elevator") and more so if you've not come across the company. #linguistics www.linkedin.com/news/story/o...

What is the question if the answer is Naples? The prelims Which question in each group should go forward into the final? forms.gle/uEQAzEVur5Zq...

@quoteinvestigator.com After the Brighton hotel bombing in 1984 which nearly killed Margaret Thatcher, a statement from the IRA said, "we have only to be lucky once, you will have to be lucky always". That line has since been reused many times (in different contexts) but was that its first use?

What is the question if the answer is ham? The prelims Which question in each group should go forward into the final? forms.gle/htAsdo1zMoMu...

The email has found me laminating another strict No Entry sign for the canteen. The sinkholes are back, pouring forth the usual black fire and tortured screaming, and we all know what happened to Derek. Great news from the hospital though, they say he’s stopped shrieking in an unknown tongue!

One of my favourite eldritch accounts has reawakened after an ominous nine months away. I'm not certain that I want to know what's been gestating in that time.

The National Autistic Society has said that studies suggesting a correlation were weak, poorly designed, and ultimately did not provide reliable evidence. Other high-quality, well-controlled studies have instead indicated there is no link between paracetamol in pregnancy and autism.

@alakazammit.bsky.social Did you know that you're quoted in the Oxford English Dictionary? They've just added the word "armscye" and you're one of the five quotations they list

🚨NEW EPISODE🚨 It's time to find an answer to the most important question the Simpsons ever asked. William Pitt the Elder has made many cameo appearances in the episodes of other #PrimeMinisters, but now it's FINALLY time to take a look at him properly. #history #politics #geogians

Thousands of Londoners have indefinite leave to remain. They have legal rights and are our friends, neighbours and colleagues, contributing hugely to our city. Threatening to deport people living and working here legally is unacceptable.

Ben Folds and Jeremy Irons should get together and start a dry cleaning business. They could call it Ben and Jerry's.

Always a good morning to wake up and find a new @primetimepod.bsky.social has dropped.

New episode! 🚨 He was Rockingham's secretary, so far from a #primeminister himself, but #EdmundBurke 's political writings are some of the most significant in British history. We pause our narrative to take a look at his impact on how politics works today #history #podcast #georgians #politics

Nightlife's a boozy zoo: Base filth. Gin. #palindrome

@misterslang.bsky.social Have you come across "pair of rattlers"? In context it looks like it might be false teeth, but I've not found any other instances. books.google.co.uk/books?id=B8f...

COLOURSCAPE: An ottava rima in iambic pentameter, intersected by a sonnet in iambic monometer — such that the third foot of each line of the ottava rima belongs also to the sonnet.

FILM NOIR (Palindrome) Prepare trope résumé: Mad, arid antihero. Man in a motel, at a femme fatale, to man in a more hit nadir. A dame, muse, reporter — a perp.

SUMMER SOLSTICE AT STONEHENGE (Palindrome) Sun! In my halo, open, I mull its altar: All. I plait its lost light. I lag, emanating: I lay a ray, align. I tan a megalith gilt. Solstitial pillar, at last illumine — pool a hymn in us.

Paging @themerl.bsky.social - someone's trying to usurp your rightful spot as conveyors of farming-based social media content!

Emit a tale woven one vowel at a time. #palindrome

What's your sign?

I tried to sign Eddie "the Eagle" Edwards up for a direct debit to the Gloucestershire Wildlife Trust.

Today, the Government launches plans to fast-track driverless vehicle trials in the UK. One of the companies involved says London presents a big challenge: “It has seven times more jaywalkers than San Francisco.” Except… it doesn't. 🧵

FOR IDRIS ELBA (Palindrome) Able sir, did nobody fit recognise it ties in? Go, certify — do Bond, Idris Elba!

Still, I did find this excellent chart

ANTIKYTHERA MECHANISM (Anagrammed Lines) Mythic Athenian makers match a marine sky in the Antikythera Mechanism. In the sea, I mark my chant. I chart the main sky; name a heart’s kinematic hymn. Antikythera Mechanism: Animate, rhythmic snake. Stray ankh. Time machine.

Can always rely on Portugal for the moment for a toilet break. #Eurovision

Looking forward to #Netherlands - loved it in the semi-final. #Eurovision

You're guaranteed one song every year that sounds like this from somewhere in eastern Europe. I really like this one. #Eurovision #Latvia

Things that are back this year: key-changes. Things that are very out and Spain didn't get the memo: women in revealing sparkly silver dresses. #Eurovision

Of the four acts so far, only Luxembourg has noticeably stepped it up from the semi-final #Eurovision

I don't particularly like Espresso Macchiato, but "life is like spaghetti, it's hard until you make it" is the best lyric you'll hear tonight #Eurovision

I like Lighter, but it should be sung by a scantily-clad Cypriot woman, not a Norwegian goth. #Eurovision

Podcast on the new pope from the excellent Popeular History: popeularhistory.podbean.com/e/cardinal-e...

For those who enjoyed the seagulls on the Vatican roof, be aware that @bobbyseagull.bsky.social, as an unmarried male Catholic, is eligible to become the next Pope.

Fascinating thread here on "habemus Papam" and assorted Latin nerdery; may be of interest to my #linguistics followers as well as to @pontifactspod.bsky.social and @popeular.bsky.social.

If you have any interest in wordplay, poetry, anagrams and palindromes, and you're not already following the amazing @anthonyetherin.bsky.social, you're really missing out.

The Papal conclave is expected to start between the 6th and 12th of May. Eurovision is between the 13th and 17th of May. Social media is about to get very confusing.