CursèdZebra

CursèdZebra

@cursedzebra.bsky.social

40+ • Non-binary ☿ • What the fuck are They talking about/is She serious? • Disabled • Neurodivergent • Artist • D&D • F1 • Pig Stacking Champion 📍 UK

367 followers345 following3.9K posts

Pinned

CursèdZebra
@cursedzebra.bsky.social

It took me 3 weeks, but she's finished! This is Pruella (Aka Proo), my first ever D&D character from many years ago. I miss playing as her a lot. There are things about this that i think could be improved. But I needed to get her done, and actually finish a drawing for once. #DnD #CharacterArt

CursèdZebra
@cursedzebra.bsky.social

You know, a couple of months ago my hair was so tangled, and matted, and messed up, but I finally sorted it out, and brushed out all the knots, and trimmed it, and bought some products to get it back in good condition. And for a couple of weeks it was nice...

CursèdZebra
@cursedzebra.bsky.social

And then I hit a big depressed phase and now it's a horrible matted mess again. Anyway, I'm going to go have a bath and stick my head in a bucket of conditioner.

CursèdZebra
@cursedzebra.bsky.social

My predictions were Verstappen, Hamilton, Norris. I might get Hamilton right if he can get behind Leclerc. But I've biffed this weekend a bit. #f1 #fantasygp

CursèdZebra
@cursedzebra.bsky.social

He's driving like a man who needs to finish 8th or higher to WIN it, not 8th or higher just to stay in the fight #f1

Chain Bear F1@chainbear.bsky.social

Russell having the kind of race that shows he isn't this year's champion. He needs to figure out some things to reset for next year.

CursèdZebra
@cursedzebra.bsky.social

You know that thing where someone changes their profile picture and then you don't recognise them in your timeline? I changed my own picture on discord about a month ago and am still confused by it when I scroll past.

CursèdZebra
@cursedzebra.bsky.social

I didn't really have a clue with my predictions today. I put Hamilton for pole, but I nearly put Verstappen or Norris too. I haven't put either mercedes on the podium #f1 #fantasygp

CursèdZebra reposted

Rose Schmits
@roseschmits.bsky.social
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. * * *
CursèdZebra
@cursedzebra.bsky.social

Are we to believe George Russell understands what a 'self driving network' is? He does not have the face of a man who has seen emails, much less whatever shit this is. #f1

CursèdZebra
@cursedzebra.bsky.social

When I come to power Linkedin will be banned. I think it would solve many arguably more important problems in the world, but it also this type of shit. #f1

CursèdZebra
@cursedzebra.bsky.social

So... We're stockpiling food again are we?

CursèdZebra@cursedzebra.bsky.social

PSA: if you might still have tinned tomatoes or something in the back of your cupboard that you bought during lockdown and have forgotten about - FUCKIN CHECK 'EM I've just had one loudly explode and make a mess at the back of my cupboard. And there were some other spicy pillows back there.

CursèdZebra
@cursedzebra.bsky.social

I saw in the change log that it has Android tablet support now, which they made it sound like a big deal.... I don't know what the best use of the space would be, but it isn't this.

Bluesky@bsky.app

Also new in today’s v1.136 update: iPad support! One of our most-requested features is finally here in beta. Try out the Bluesky app on your iPad, and if you see anything off, let us know under Settings > Beta features.

CursèdZebra
@cursedzebra.bsky.social

I try not to Rowling post because gods who we're all sick of her, but whatever else she is, remember- this is what she is as well.

Kathy O'Donnell@kathyodonnell.bsky.social

Billionaire JK Rowling is to be the subject of a BBC Scotland doc. Rowling spends much of her time and part of her huge wealth funding anti-trans law suits and organisations. You can tell a lot about a person by their yacht. So let's take a look at Rowling's 300ft yacht Samsara.

CursèdZebra
@cursedzebra.bsky.social

You're washing yogurt pots for recycling and taking shorter showers to save water and suffering in the heat and the cold to save energy - meanwhile she's burning more fuel than you'll use in a lifetime swanning around the Caribbean or wherever.

CursèdZebra
@cursedzebra.bsky.social

There's been a lot of talk about people cutting off their parents on here recently, and as someone who has done that, I keep wanting to talk about it. But I when I start writing about I just end up deleting it and giving up. I dunno. I'm not even sure what the point of this post is.

CursèdZebra
@cursedzebra.bsky.social

It would have been nice to have more than a few weeks between 'the country is on fire' weather and 'i need to put the heating on to stop my bones from hurting weather'. It's not even that cold. Not really. But my hands hurt.

CursèdZebra
@cursedzebra.bsky.social

I wish I didn't isolate myself from people when I'm going through a tough time. It's really self defeating, but somehow I continue to do it every time.

CursèdZebra
@cursedzebra.bsky.social

I think the £100 fine for playing music on a train is... Fine. Whatever. What's telling is that Burnham has chosen to put himself as the face of this, rather than it just quietly being announced. He's got fuck all else to offer, and thinks this will make it look like he's Doing Something.