BUMRAGE

BUMRAGE

@bumrage.bsky.social

A distended pile of bollocks, glistening in the sun.

161 followers223 following761 posts

BUMRAGE reposted

LiLBazula 👻 🎃
@lilbazza.bsky.social

Comes around earlier every year

Leicester Gazette@leicestergazette.leicester.news

Two University of Leicester students speak out over ‘absurd’ and ‘Orwellian’ decision by the BBC and ITV Studios to edit out pride pins worn on University Challenge

leicester.newsBBC edits out pride pins on University Challenge in ‘Orwellian’ move* * * This story was published by **The Leicester Gazette** : a local, independent newspaper about Leicestershire. 1,000 people have already joined our community. Just use those buttons below to download our app and **sign up for free**. * * * Astrophysics student Samuel Carlier and History student Emmeline Hague-Wright were shocked to find that their LGBTQ+ pride pins had been edited out of their University Challenge appearance earlier this year. The episode, initially scheduled for BBC Two on 24 August, was delayed twice before airing on 7 September 2026. The pins showed the progressive LGBTQ+ pride flag, the bisexual pride flag and a rainbow feather. Speaking to the Leicester Gazette, Sam said: “Living in a liberal democracy and having the state broadcaster tell you ‘we’re editing how you look’, seems very Orwellian.” Sam described the choice to remove the pins before broadcast as “weird” and “absurd”. He said: “[Censoring] that seemed weird. If I had worn a rainbow shirt, would they have censored that? If the idea is to keep things impartial, where is that line in the sand?” A side by-side image of Sam wearing the pin and with it having been digitally removed. Photograph: supplied Sam contacted the BBC to try to understand why his pins had been edited out. He told the Gazette: “The BBC people said they’d ring me, and I chased them, they just said go to the complaints website and file a complaint there, that’s what I did.” Since then, Sam hasn’t had a response from the BBC as to why his pins were removed. After the episode had aired, Sam noted that his shirt ‘melted’ into itself occasionally, as a result of the editing. Photograph: supplied ## Students believe the decision was made following online transphobia Emmeline was also shocked when she found out that the feather pin she wore was due to be removed from the episode she was in. It was understood by Emmeline that there was online transphobia in response to previous episode of University Challenge, and she had been contacted by the BBC, anticipating support from the broadcaster. When the BBC contacted her, instead of an offer of support, she was told her pin was going to be removed. “At first it was mostly confusion,” she said. “I heard that they had received a lot of nastiness online from people and I thought they were going to call me to say ‘we have support services if needed,’ and that wasn't what I got at all.” Instead, Emmeline was notified that the episodes were going to be delayed. “It was out of left field, I was confused for a while,” she said. “This entire delay has been because of a feather and two badges on a teammate that were basically impossible [for viewers] to see.” Emmeline had expressed her frustrations with the repeated delays from the BBC, spanning from mid-July to early-September. She said: “We were announced on the website and then delayed again, and then announced on the website a second time, and delayed even further. Speaking about the removal, she said: “It takes a lot of time” she said. “Making it [the edit] look good would be even more expensive and time-consuming. It seems like drastically a lot of effort.” ## Join the conversation Our app is more than just a way to keep up – it's a gateway to award-winning journalism and the local community. __Want to support our work?__ Click here for membership__.__ ## Wider criticism on LGBTQ+ support The pins Sam wore during the episode. Photograph: supplied According to leading LGBTQ+ charity Stonewall UK, two in five LGBTQ+ students will hide their identities at university for fear of discrimination. Stonewall has reported that more than 36 per cent of trans students have received hostile conduct from university staff due to their gender identity. Reflecting on the digital removal of the pins, Sam spoke about how disheartening the choice was. He said: “There was maybe like a span of eight years where someone could be uncontroversially out in the open queer – now that’s gone again.” he said. The BBC has also been widely criticised for ‘an attack on the LGBTQ+ community’ by pulling its involvement with the popular show, RuPaul's Drag Race. The broadcaster pulled its involvement in September following “significant financial pressures” as the reason for axing their involvement. The criticism follows another recent controversial edit by the BBC. On its hit show, Strictly Come Dancing, a decision was made to edit out ‘Protect the Dolls’ from contestant Bethany Antonia’s T-shirt. It’s a slogan which has become widely used to support the rights of trans women. The BBC defended their decision, saying the changes were made to meet editorial guidelines. It comes as the LGBTQ+ community has faced challenges amid an increasingly less tolerant political climate. ## What the BBC had to say When we asked them about editing out the pins worn by Leicester’s University Challenge team, a BBC spokesperson said: “In line with our editorial guidelines, we advise that no badges, flags, and emblems or symbols are worn or visible during filming, along with clothing with obvious branding or slogans. If such items are not removed for any reason then a decision is made between the programme makers and the BBC regarding any edits to the programme.” The BBC said the delays to the episode were unrelated to the decision to edit out the pins. A spokesperson for ITV Studios said: “University Challenge is an entertainment quiz show and is made in accordance with the BBC Editorial Guidelines requirements for impartiality.” The University of Leicester refused to comment on the matter. * * * **Before you go…** We’ve recently surpassed 1,000 subscribers, which is amazing considering we’re a small team on a shoestring budget. Now, we’re ready for the next stage of the Leicester Gazette. **Download our new app and get all of our journalism anytime, anywhere.** The app connects with **Bluesky** , **Mastodon** and **Threads** , giving you access to a network of around 60 million people. It’s a safer, more meaningful alternative to mainstream social media – owned by the community. * * *

BUMRAGE reposted

The SNP
@snp.org

⚡️ Scotland is energy rich, yet has some of the highest energy bills in Europe. It's time for a fresh start with lower energy bills. Support our campaign by pledging your support and encourage your followers to do the same. www.snp.org/energy

BUMRAGE reposted

The Spaceshipper 🚀
@thespaceshipper.com

[Thread] Behind the ships of Dune (2021): Interview with Rodeo FX's Deak Ferrand He was involved very early in the creation of Denis Villeneuve's Dune. Harkonnen gunship, art by Deak Ferrand: (1/22)

BUMRAGE reposted

Yael
@elle91.bsky.social

Me: "Don't you dare" sounds perfectly normal but "do not you dare" sounds absolutely ridiculous which is insane because "don't" is a contraction for "do not." Doctor: I meant is anything bothering you physically

BUMRAGE
@bumrage.bsky.social

Surely that's just taunting them

ChrisO_wiki@chriso-wiki.bsky.social

6/ "They maintain the correct altitude using ballast, just like in the early days of aviation and in Jules Verne novels. They have two 2.5-litre containers filled with alcohol, which they pump out overboard using an electric pump.

BUMRAGE reposted

Disappointed Optimist
@disappoptimism.bsky.social

Credit default swaps eh?

JW Mason@jwmason.bsky.social

The big question, it seems to me, is not whether we’ll see a major tech company fail in the near future. It is what happens afterward. giftarticle.ft.com/giftarticle/...

BUMRAGE
@bumrage.bsky.social

and absolutely yes, the gig economy is a bad thing! And what would politicians understand about it exactly other than raw numbers? F me sideways

David Henig@davidheniguk.bsky.social

I would particularly like to hear from politicians who understand that the gig economy is now for many people the way they experience work, rather than assuming this is a bad thing that must be reversed.

BUMRAGE
@bumrage.bsky.social

Like… haha, but also Todd Spangler.

Carl Quintanilla@carlquintanilla.bsky.social

“.. Today, Skydance has a market cap of under $40 billion — less than half the predecessor companies’ combined value.” @variety.com $SKYD variety.com/2026/film/ne...

BUMRAGE reposted

Dewie
@judgedewie.bsky.social

I have seen every imaginable insult, slur and term of abuse in witness statements in criminal cases over the years, describing the verbals uttered by a drunk defendant. Today, for the first time ever, I encountered a case where a police officer was called "a fucking satchel" and "a dirty biscuit".

BUMRAGE reposted

Morgan Johnson
@poormojo.bsky.social

No joke. I think this is the most important video I have ever seen about mobile games. This guy breaks down how this game psychologically profiles you, and makes the game harder or easier in order to show you ads

BUMRAGE reposted

Nicholas D Carter
@nicholasdcarter.bsky.social

Replying to @nicholasdcarter.bsky.social

NCA treated global warming as “a public relations concern that could affect consumer demand.” U.S. methane fell 19% from 1990–2022, driven by reductions from landfills & fossil fuels. Agricultural methane increased and livestock (mostly cattle) are now the leading anthropogenic methane source:

BUMRAGE
@bumrage.bsky.social

“Delights up the house” is a new shit boiler

Jamie Noguchi | Drawing and Drawing Some More@jamienoguchi.bsky.social

I look at this thing and I think, man, 12 year old me would have lost his shit! I can talk to the computer and Star Trek call someone face to face? Transparent Aluminum baby!! Today me thinks, no fucking way am I ever gonna let any of this spy shit in my house. www.youtube.com/watch?v=QeQA...

youtube.comThe new Apple HomeView: Keep the whole home connected, entertained, and in the know.YouTube video by Apple
BUMRAGE
@bumrage.bsky.social

lol, it begins

POLITICO Europe@politico.eu

Britain’s Zack Polanski has failed in his bid to win a seat in the British Parliament. His defeat has triggered a round of soul-searching among the left-wing Greens. POLITICO's Isabel Loubser explains 👇 🔗 vist.ly/5mnug

BUMRAGE reposted

Peter Walker
@peterwalker99.bsky.social

NEW: Kemi Badenoch’s flagship party conference policy document, The Right Way, overestimated the cost of net zero by nearly £500bn, seemingly after someone accidentally double-counted figures on a spreadsheet. www.theguardian.com/politics/202...

theguardian.comTories overstate net zero cost by nearly £500bn in apparent spreadsheet errorExclusive: Badenoch’s flagship conference policy document cites £957bn estimate, twice the total in climate advisers’ data

BUMRAGE reposted

Transition Security Project
@transitionsec.bsky.social

NEW: Keir Starmer declared last year that the “peace dividend” was over, promoting the myth that Britain’s military spending has declined since the end of the Cold War.   Our latest report shows this simply isn’t true. 🧵

BUMRAGE reposted

flyingrodent
@flyingrodent.bsky.social

Replying to @flyingrodent.bsky.social

Go back 20 years: Tony Blair is fighting the battle that will end his leadership and get him ousted, insisting that the 2006 Lebanon war is a principled battle for freedom - US crank Condoleeza Rice says it’s “the birth pangs of a new Middle East”. The UN ceasefire vote looks like this.

BUMRAGE reposted

Kevin Beaumont
@doublepulsar.com

Microsoft running their ‘new products’ live stream with the CEO and their viewer count is going down as the event is going on. Why? It’s all AI.