Liz Ottosson

Got to love a manuscript that isn't just citing page numbers, but folio numbers. 😍

Working through the third consecutive weekend: not good. But also, this book is full of the geekiest historical footnotes about minutiae, which is so much fun! My inner history nerd is having a ball. #amEditing

Thanks! Moving it up my wanted list. :)

Last time I read Handmaid's Tale, I was shocked by how terrifying it was, compared to my memory of reading it as an ebullient teenager!
I've been eyeing the Kerri Andrews book - good to see it recommended.

Thank you. It's been a really grim few years for translators! But now it feels like AI is coming for everyone.

(NB: I don't do this any more.)

I have been asked to post-edit AI-powered translations for some of the biggest financial institutions in Europe. I went from being their preferred actual translator, paid a decent rate, to being a post-editor paid a few quid to correct the most startling errors and inconsistencies you can imagine.

It's no surprise at all that AI translations in wiki articles are hallucinating facts and otherwise messing around with the truth. I've translated professionally for 20+ years, and that's exactly what they do in translations I'm now asked to 'post-edit' (often for pennies), as well.

Promo slide for a book called The Disappeared by Amy Lord. The slide shows themes including dual POV, urban decay, authoritarian control, resistance, dystopian future, banned books, Orwellian narrative.

Periodic reminder that I wrote a book about an authoritarian government snatching people off the streets, banning books, restricting universities and the media. Who knew it would turn out to be quite this on the nose.

It's called The Disappeared.

srlpublishing.co.uk/product/the-...

Minority Rule: Adventures in the Culture War – the instant Sunday Times bestseller Adventures in the Culture War – the instant Sunday Times bestseller

And ooh, Minority Rule is UK Bookshop.org book of the month! uk.bookshop.org/p/books/mino...

I read this last month; it is excellent!

ICE Took Wael Tarabishi's Full Time Caregiver Away... and it Killed Him Wael Tarabishi was a 30 year old disabled man who's father Maher was his full time caregiver. ICE took Maher in October, leaving Wael without support. He died three months later.

On this Disability Day of Mourning, let’s honor Wael Tarabishi, a disabled man who died when ICE took his caregiver away.

Wael told them he would die without his father who was his “arms, legs & lungs”.

ICE took him anyways.

Wael died 3 months later:

www.disabledginger.com/p/ice-took-w...

It wasn't until I reread Jingo about five years ago that I realised how steamingly furious Pratchett was about the (first) Iraq war.

a woman with long black hair is making a funny face in front of a painting of a building . Alt: a woman with long black hair is making a funny face in front of a painting of a building .

You and many of the best people.

Gotta love that incessant confusion re ideology.

Discworld QOTD, from Jingo

“History was full of the bones of good men who'd followed bad orders in the hope that they could soften the blow. Oh, yes, there were worse things they could do, but most of them began right where they started following bad orders.”

Another good thing is that a lot of people who are now supporting the Greens were Labour members during the vicious 2017-2019 attacks on Corbyn and his policies. Meaning we know what to expect this time around.

I've nothing against Angeliki Stogia, who had a thankless task in Gorton & Denton in the teeth of Starmer's own goals and the Mandelson scandal - but it's kind of fascinating watching the local Labour people go, 'oh, it was all down to tactical voting'. Mates, I really don't think that that was it.

This is so fabulous. Thanks, @eoinglackin.bsky.social ! ❤️

Amazing how 'families' suddenly becomes a dirty word for Reform when they're talking about voting rather than values. 😅

Also... this is definitely a day when I wish I still lived in Levenshulme. 😁💚

Amazing how 'families' suddenly becomes a dirty word for Reform when they're talking about voting rather than values. 😅

I am really pleased that Hannah Spencer has won for the Greens in Gorton. I also think it's good that Starmer's inability to tolerate a potential threat (in Andy Burnham) was so transparent. The tactics 'Labour Together' 🤮used against members for years are now out in the open for us all to see.

Template for creation of AI slop story, created by Liz Ottosson, a human [start with a date/timeframe/setting [setting only relevant if humble]], [insert protagonist] did [something that made the whole world stop scrolling/no one saw coming]. They did it [quietly/unassumingly; insert extra fluff about the lack of staging or polish]. No countdown. No loud marketing. Just a straight [insert some info. Make sure no actual names are included – just use ‘she’ or ‘he’]. [add some power words. Wind everything up to the max: stunning, explosive, shockwaves] [If you like put each phrase on a new line. It really hits home. It really winds me up. People apparently love it.] [But what really] [insert massive reaction] wasn’t [insert fluff]. It was [insert the ‘real’ truth]. [insert more fluff to hammer home what a huge moment this was] [do you see the uncanny valley yet?] [do you?] [insert a bit about people being silenced] [awed] [clips spread like wildfire] [a few more single lines] This time it wasn’t [insert boring action]. It was [insert facile analysis]. [insert ‘powerful’ closing line] [drop monetisation link in comments] [drop mic]

A poem I call 'Please for the love of god stop sharing this slop' 💚 #AISlop #copywriting #WriteSky

#WIPSnips - I didn't expect to find 'highlight' in there, but here's Maggie, learning to do a bit of activism. And ooh, Loreena is just out of shot. #WriteSky

You didn't ask for it, you might not want it, but you're getting it anyway. DAMS: PART II.

Heal Minds Gaza: empowering Palestinian children who were in detention Palestinian children in Israeli occupation prisons face severe psychological violence that deeply impacts their sense of safety, identity, and community after their detention. The Heal Minds Gaza…

For the next month, I'll be here every two to three hours to get eyes on this NEW, amazing project, focusing on children formerly in occupation prisons. We're trying to get these kids urgent mental health care, but we need YOUR help.

Help make it happen: chuffed.org/project/hmg

I have been wondering about them - coincidentally I got paid and sent them a bit of money this morning. <3

10 Solarpunk Books Every Library Should Have

Also a good time to remind folks of the Top 10 Solarpunk Books Every Library Should Have! brightgreenfutures.substack.com/p/for-librar...

Libraries❤️when patrons make requests! It makes solarpunk accessible to more readers. And libraries copies support authors. Win all around!
#library #booksky

I'll take the boring + being able to write and not waking up with crushing heebie jeebies, though! From a fellow sober person.