Comments on: Beijing restaurant serves "Wikipedia" http://boingboing.net/2007/12/03/beijing-restaurant-s.html Brain candy for Happy Mutants Fri, 24 May 2013 01:09:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.4.1 By: mano negra http://boingboing.net/2007/12/03/beijing-restaurant-s.html#comment-88591 mano negra Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-88591 Here are two more: http://sexybeijing.tv/new/eblog/default.asp?view=plink&id=127 http://flickr.com/photos/goodape/460763315/ Here are two more: http://sexybeijing.tv/new/eblog/default.asp?view=plink&id=127
http://flickr.com/photos/goodape/460763315/

]]> By: codeman38 http://boingboing.net/2007/12/03/beijing-restaurant-s.html#comment-88854 codeman38 Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-88854 SPT3125: Y'know, I think you're on to something here. The first result for "鱿鱼" (squid), as seen in #18, is also from Wikipedia. SPT3125: Y’know, I think you’re on to something here. The first result for “鱿鱼” (squid), as seen in #18, is also from Wikipedia.

]]> By: Robert http://boingboing.net/2007/12/03/beijing-restaurant-s.html#comment-88604 Robert Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-88604 Wasn't there a move by China to stamp out bad English translations ahead of the Olympics? Wasn’t there a move by China to stamp out bad English translations ahead of the Olympics?

]]> By: acb http://boingboing.net/2007/12/03/beijing-restaurant-s.html#comment-88610 acb Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-88610 This is not the first time this has happened; two years ago, <a href="http://community.livejournal.com/metaquotes/4442126.html">a French restaurant in Taiwan listed cheesecake as "wikipedia"</a>. This is not the first time this has happened; two years ago, a French restaurant in Taiwan listed cheesecake as “wikipedia”.

]]> By: Doomstalk http://boingboing.net/2007/12/03/beijing-restaurant-s.html#comment-88613 Doomstalk Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-88613 Wikipedia is a dish best served cold... or is that revenge? I always get those two mixed up. Wikipedia is a dish best served cold… or is that revenge? I always get those two mixed up.

]]> By: Adam Rakunas http://boingboing.net/2007/12/03/beijing-restaurant-s.html#comment-88621 Adam Rakunas Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-88621 Better that than the Farked Noodles. Better that than the Farked Noodles.

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2007/12/03/beijing-restaurant-s.html#comment-724019 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-724019 The Wiktionary article for this (http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/鸡枞) includes the following: References 鸡枞 on the Mandarin Wikipedia. This is a plausible origin of this. The Wiktionary article for this (http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/鸡枞) includes the following:

References
鸡枞 on the Mandarin Wikipedia.

This is a plausible origin of this.

]]> By: woolie http://boingboing.net/2007/12/03/beijing-restaurant-s.html#comment-88681 woolie Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-88681 What machine translation program is causing these strange errors I wonder? I asked a chinese friend -- one instance was "chicken", another instance was "squid" (the one linked in the comments.) What machine translation program is causing these strange errors I wonder? I asked a chinese friend — one instance was “chicken”, another instance was “squid” (the one linked in the comments.)

]]> By: Tedly Teddington http://boingboing.net/2007/12/03/beijing-restaurant-s.html#comment-88430 Tedly Teddington Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-88430 I've had their wikipedia. It's almost as good as <a href="http://lunchballz.com">Lunchballz!</a> I’ve had their wikipedia. It’s almost as good as Lunchballz!

]]> By: Sudasana http://boingboing.net/2007/12/03/beijing-restaurant-s.html#comment-88438 Sudasana Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-88438 The work they're translating as "wikipedia" is 雞樅 jicong, apparently a type of fungus native to Yunnan province. Google translate gives "Zongyang", and there's no English Wikipedia page on it, so it's a mystery where that word was pulled from. <a href="http://baike.baidu.com/view/164511.htm">Picture here</a>. The work they’re translating as “wikipedia” is 雞樅 jicong, apparently a type of fungus native to Yunnan province. Google translate gives “Zongyang”, and there’s no English Wikipedia page on it, so it’s a mystery where that word was pulled from. Picture here.

]]> By: Registrado http://boingboing.net/2007/12/03/beijing-restaurant-s.html#comment-88445 Registrado Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-88445 Does it come with Jimmy Wales' Own Special Sauce? Does it come with Jimmy Wales’ Own Special Sauce?

]]> By: JoshuaZ http://boingboing.net/2007/12/03/beijing-restaurant-s.html#comment-88451 JoshuaZ Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-88451 Wow, and only a few days about a recent Questionable Content that advertised a similar food: http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1023 Wow, and only a few days about a recent Questionable Content that advertised a similar food:

http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1023

]]> By: JY Yang http://boingboing.net/2007/12/03/beijing-restaurant-s.html#comment-88455 JY Yang Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-88455 @＃2 posted by Sudasana: After linking seemed to imply that the scientific name of the fungus in question is either Collybia albuminosa or Termitomyces albuminosus, or... "chicken flavored mushroom". No, not very scientific. In any case it's some kind of rare fungus that only grows in the mountains of the Yunnan province. Nothing to shed light on how they came up with 'wikipedia'. 鸡枞 looks just like 'chicken fungus' to me. Apparently one of the other names for it is "chicken foot mushroom" so maybe that's where the 'pedia' part came from? @＃2 posted by Sudasana:

After linking seemed to imply that the scientific name of the fungus in question is either Collybia albuminosa or Termitomyces albuminosus, or… “chicken flavored mushroom”. No, not very scientific. In any case it’s some kind of rare fungus that only grows in the mountains of the Yunnan province. Nothing to shed light on how they came up with ‘wikipedia’. 鸡枞 looks just like ‘chicken fungus’ to me.

Apparently one of the other names for it is “chicken foot mushroom” so maybe that’s where the ‘pedia’ part came from?

]]> By: JKG http://boingboing.net/2007/12/03/beijing-restaurant-s.html#comment-88461 JKG Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-88461 I bet its del.icio.us I bet its del.icio.us

]]> By: jahknow http://boingboing.net/2007/12/03/beijing-restaurant-s.html#comment-89491 jahknow Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-89491 http://www.rahoi.com/2006/03/may-i-take-your-order/ You haven't lived until you've had #1313, the "Benumbed hot vegetables fries fuck silk." http://www.rahoi.com/2006/03/may-i-take-your-order/

You haven’t lived until you’ve had #1313, the “Benumbed hot vegetables fries fuck silk.”

]]> By: Nora http://boingboing.net/2007/12/03/beijing-restaurant-s.html#comment-88468 Nora Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-88468 The steamed egg dish that anyone can edit! The steamed egg dish that anyone can edit!

]]> By: Tian http://boingboing.net/2007/12/03/beijing-restaurant-s.html#comment-88469 Tian Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-88469 That is nothing. I dare you to try this "fuck the frog rice" dish from a cafe in Shanghai, China: http://www.tian.cc/2007/11/fuckthefrogrice.html That is nothing. I dare you to try this “fuck the frog rice” dish from a cafe in Shanghai, China:

http://www.tian.cc/2007/11/fuckthefrogrice.html

]]> By: W. James Au http://boingboing.net/2007/12/03/beijing-restaurant-s.html#comment-88470 W. James Au Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-88470 If you don't agree with the vegetables in the stir fry Wikipedia, you can remove them and add your own, and your changes will be tracked with a grease pencil on the tablecloth. Careful, because the kitchen staff will vote on your additions, and if you can't provide a source for your veggies, they'll quickly restore your plate to its original form. If you don’t agree with the vegetables in the stir fry Wikipedia, you can remove them and add your own, and your changes will be tracked with a grease pencil on the tablecloth. Careful, because the kitchen staff will vote on your additions, and if you can’t provide a source for your veggies, they’ll quickly restore your plate to its original form.

]]> By: Halloween Jack http://boingboing.net/2007/12/03/beijing-restaurant-s.html#comment-88483 Halloween Jack Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-88483 I'd like mine with troll eyes, vowels on the side. I’d like mine with troll eyes, vowels on the side.

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2007/12/03/beijing-restaurant-s.html#comment-1077417 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1077417 I’m sure this was anything but the quality translation they were after. Who would have thought Wikipedia would be a popular cooking ingredient? This is the difference between relying on an automated translation tool and an actual <a rel="follow" href="http://www.rosettatranslation.com">translation agency</a>. Professional language specialists would never have allowed this mistake to happen, as funny as it may be. Well maybe it’s something they may now consider if they ever decide to co I’m sure this was anything but the quality translation they were after. Who would have thought Wikipedia would be a popular cooking ingredient? This is the difference between relying on an automated translation tool and an actual translation agency. Professional language specialists would never have allowed this mistake to happen, as funny as it may be. Well maybe it’s something they may now consider if they ever decide to co

]]> By: Dan http://boingboing.net/2007/12/03/beijing-restaurant-s.html#comment-88495 Dan Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-88495 That's an especially baffling case of Engrish run amok. That’s an especially baffling case of Engrish run amok.

]]> By: Teresa Nielsen Hayden / Moderator http://boingboing.net/2007/12/03/beijing-restaurant-s.html#comment-88496 Teresa Nielsen Hayden / Moderator Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-88496 Jy Yang (5):<blockquote>鸡枞 looks just like 'chicken fungus' to me.<p>Apparently one of the other names for it is "chicken foot mushroom" so maybe that's where the 'pedia' part came from?</blockquote>Right! It's Chikipedia! Jy Yang (5):
鸡枞 looks just like ‘chicken fungus’ to me.

Apparently one of the other names for it is “chicken foot mushroom” so maybe that’s where the ‘pedia’ part came from?

Right! It’s Chikipedia!

]]> By: doktor tchock http://boingboing.net/2007/12/03/beijing-restaurant-s.html#comment-88507 doktor tchock Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-88507 to #12 - congrats, you got an audible laugh out of me. good show, good show. to #12 – congrats, you got an audible laugh out of me. good show, good show.

]]> By: tp1024 http://boingboing.net/2007/12/03/beijing-restaurant-s.html#comment-88524 tp1024 Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-88524 Now that's an easy one. "Per pedes" means to walk by foot. Pedes obviously means something like foot. And getting from pedia to pedes to foot to a chinese "chicken foot mushroom" should be obvious ... ;) Since both "pedia" and "pedes" are of latin origin it could have been mixed up somehow. Try translating something to chinese and have it read back to you in english - you'll probably do worse. ;) If you really don't want to be understood: instead of writing, try reading it out aloud. Now that’s an easy one. “Per pedes” means to walk by foot. Pedes obviously means something like foot. And getting from pedia to pedes to foot to a chinese “chicken foot mushroom” should be obvious … ;)

Since both “pedia” and “pedes” are of latin origin it could have been mixed up somehow. Try translating something to chinese and have it read back to you in english – you’ll probably do worse. ;) If you really don’t want to be understood: instead of writing, try reading it out aloud.

]]> By: Patapete http://boingboing.net/2007/12/03/beijing-restaurant-s.html#comment-88529 Patapete Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-88529 Now you can have your wiki and eat it too! Now you can have your wiki and eat it too!

]]> By: spt3125 http://boingboing.net/2007/12/03/beijing-restaurant-s.html#comment-88787 spt3125 Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-88787 I think i may have found a plausible explanation: <a href="http://www.google.com/search?q=%E9%9B%9E%E6%A8%85">Google "雞樅"</a>. Scroll down a bit, and what word jumps out at you? The first search result* to have any English words in its title is "雞樅- Wikipedia". It's easy to imagine a non-English speaker seeing this and mistaking it for a translation! This also works for #24's cheesecake (<a href="http://www.google.com/search?q=%E8%B5%B7%E5%A3%AB%E8%9B%8B%E7%B3%95">起士蛋糕</a>). Probably explains the other cases as well, since Wikipedia often comes up near the top in a Google search for a single word or common phrase. *(Interestingly, the Wikipedia link is in the top 10 search results when you use Google in English or Traditional Chinese (Taiwan), but with Google in Simplified Chinese (as used in mainland China) it's on like the 5th page of search results.) #22's <a href="http://en.wikinews.org/wiki/Wikipedia_making_bread_in_China%3F_Not_so,_but_close">Wekipidia bread</a> has me truly baffled, though... I think i may have found a plausible explanation:

Google “雞樅”. Scroll down a bit, and what word jumps out at you?

The first search result* to have any English words in its title is “雞樅- Wikipedia”.

It’s easy to imagine a non-English speaker seeing this and mistaking it for a translation!

This also works for #24′s cheesecake (起士蛋糕). Probably explains the other cases as well, since Wikipedia often comes up near the top in a Google search for a single word or common phrase.

*(Interestingly, the Wikipedia link is in the top 10 search results when you use Google in English or Traditional Chinese (Taiwan), but with Google in Simplified Chinese (as used in mainland China) it’s on like the 5th page of search results.)

#22′s Wekipidia bread has me truly baffled, though…

]]> By: semiotix http://boingboing.net/2007/12/03/beijing-restaurant-s.html#comment-88537 semiotix Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-88537 The fine print is troubling: "The tastiness of this item is disputed. Please see the waiter for a discussion. It has been suggested that this item be merged with 'an order of spring rolls.'" The fine print is troubling:

“The tastiness of this item is disputed. Please see the waiter for a discussion. It has been suggested that this item be merged with ‘an order of spring rolls.’”

]]> By: js7a http://boingboing.net/2007/12/03/beijing-restaurant-s.html#comment-88539 js7a Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-88539 [tasting needed] [tasting needed]

]]> By: xiaosquared http://boingboing.net/2007/12/03/beijing-restaurant-s.html#comment-88544 xiaosquared Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-88544 I saw BBW Wikipedia at a restaurant in Dalian this summer. http://web.mit.edu/x_x/www/uploaded_images/CIMG0912-781329.JPG It turned out that it was squid. Here's me with a plate of it: http://web.mit.edu/x_x/www/uploaded_images/CIMG0844-750896.JPG I saw BBW Wikipedia at a restaurant in Dalian this summer.

http://web.mit.edu/x_x/www/uploaded_images/CIMG0912-781329.JPG

It turned out that it was squid. Here’s me with a plate of it: http://web.mit.edu/x_x/www/uploaded_images/CIMG0844-750896.JPG

]]> By: Paul D http://boingboing.net/2007/12/03/beijing-restaurant-s.html#comment-88564 Paul D Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-88564 And here I thought Wikipedia was banned in China. It turns out you can get it fresh in Beijing restaurants! And here I thought Wikipedia was banned in China. It turns out you can get it fresh in Beijing restaurants!

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