Grumpyrocker

Grumpyrocker

@grumpyrocker.bsky.social

Harry | Not so grumpy these days | Head like an upside-down potato | Autistic | GenX | He/Him | 📷 Photography 🎸 Guitars 🤘 Metal 🕹️ Gaming

403 followers458 following4.7K posts

Grumpyrocker
@grumpyrocker.bsky.social

I finished watching the latest series of Slow Horses last night. I Really enjoyed it. Tense all the way through, right to the end. Kyle Soller (Andor) and MyAnna Buring (The Witcher) were great additions to this season's cast.

Grumpyrocker
@grumpyrocker.bsky.social

RIP. Of course everyone remembers Chekov. But he was also brilliant as evil Psi-Cop Bester in Babylon 5.

The Spaceshipper 🚀@thespaceshipper.com

Oh no 😭 One of the last members of the USS Enterprise has left. RIP Walter Marvin Koenig (1936-2026) Star Trek, Babylon 5, Moontrap, The Starlost, The Questor Tapes, Futurama... What a career in sci-fi. I will miss Pavel Chekov. Again 😞

Grumpyrocker
@grumpyrocker.bsky.social

Our house has the vibe of Covid times today. Due to reading week and half term my daughter (degree) and son (A levels) are set at the dining table with laptops getting work done. Wife working in her office. Me? I've got the week off.

Grumpyrocker reposted

flyingrodent
@flyingrodent.bsky.social

Again, it’s important to understand that the transgender terror did not arise organically from the public. It was imposed from above, by the world’s most hateful and poisonous media class.

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. * * *
Grumpyrocker
@grumpyrocker.bsky.social

If you ever post any AI slop - music, photography, film etc. and claim that it is real art, or that it was a real creative endeavor, I will block you so quickly that I'm in danger of breaking my mouse. Art takes work, from the lowliest toddler scribble to the Sistine Chapel. Prompt typing loser.

Grumpyrocker
@grumpyrocker.bsky.social

The BBC has a fucking nerve. Will it be editing out poppies?

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. * * *
Grumpyrocker
@grumpyrocker.bsky.social

Share who you think looked the hottest anyone had ever looked in a movie. A tie between these two.

hoskas@hoskas.bsky.social

Share who you think looked the hottest anyone has ever looked in a movie

Grumpyrocker
@grumpyrocker.bsky.social

There are few things I give as little a shit about. You'd need the LHC to find the merest hint I give the remotest fuck about Celebrity Traitors. And fuck off with actual news stories about events in a gameshow.

Grumpyrocker reposted

Alex Navarro
@alexnavarro.bsky.social

What else is there to say about this man's career besides

Mark Harris@markharris.bsky.social

RIP Tom Skerritt, a reliable and enduring actor who you probably remember from...everything, basically. www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie...

hollywoodreporter.comTom Skerritt, Star of ‘Picket Fences’ and ‘Alien,’ Dies at 93Mentored by Robert Altman in 'M*A*S*H,' the Emmy-winning actor later stood out in 'Top Gun,' 'The Turning Point' and 'A River Runs Through It.'
Grumpyrocker
@grumpyrocker.bsky.social

I was working at Ubidays in Paris in 2008 where they showed the teaser trailer for the first time.

Eurogamer@eurogamer.bsky.social

Beyond Good & Evil 2 is reportedly still in pre-production a staggering 18 years after it was first announced, and it has apparently evolved from being a multiplayer-first project to being "solo-first" and story based, with additional, optional co-op. https://bit.ly/4BkimBB

Grumpyrocker
@grumpyrocker.bsky.social

My daughter was supposed to be travelling back from university in Cornwall tomorrow morning. But trains are beginning to be cancelled ahead of the storm. Thankfully she's got a ticket for this evening.

Grumpyrocker
@grumpyrocker.bsky.social

The gen gen of consoles is going to be massively expensive. And that sucks. Yet so many people are willing to pay the same amount for a new iPhone every year or other year.

Grumpyrocker
@grumpyrocker.bsky.social

Very sad news. Another big name in the industry is gone.

Jason Schreier@jasonschreier.bsky.social

BioWare, which was once hundreds of employees across three offices, had around 50 staff remaining when EA closed the studio this morning. EA gutted BioWare after the release of Dragon Age: The Veilguard last year, as we reported then: www.bloomberg.com/news/newslet...

bloomberg.comElectronic Arts Slashes BioWare After ‘Dragon Age’ Sales MissThe studio has shrunk to less than 100 people following the release of Dragon Age: The Veilguard

Grumpyrocker reposted

Kate Griffin
@griffinkate.bsky.social

eBay users! Don't ignore today's email, even though it looks like a boring standard update to the User Privacy Notice. They want to use your data to train AI models. If you click the link over the words "the right to object", it takes you to a page with a toggle button letting you opt out.

Grumpyrocker reposted

Max Kennerly
@maxkennerly.bsky.social

It's a key part of conservative ideology: "I have no obligations to you and I can treat you however I like, but you are required to love me."

Michael Hobbes@michaelhobbes.bsky.social

This is a quietly metastasizing moral panic

Grumpyrocker
@grumpyrocker.bsky.social

I'd like to thank that nazi billionaire idiot with the fake flying car for having a unique enough name to allow it to be muted here without much consequence for unrelated posts.

Grumpyrocker
@grumpyrocker.bsky.social

A good day for Sadboi metal today. I've almost finished the new Insomnium and that's a great release. Shores of Null and Mother of Graves new albums coming up next.

Grumpyrocker
@grumpyrocker.bsky.social

My youngest has final A Level mock this morning. Fingers crossed all goes well. He seems very chill about the whole thing. And feels it's gone well. I wish I had his ability for calm.

Grumpyrocker
@grumpyrocker.bsky.social

Turns out my Timex watch isn't broken. I had just kept leaving it on top of my iPad mini next to my bed at night. And the magnets in the iPad case were making the watch stop. Mystery solved.

Grumpyrocker
@grumpyrocker.bsky.social

I was thinking of watching the new version of Carrie. Watched the first episode until she started walking into school. Bit realised I'm not sure I can deal with the bullying. It's too close to home.

Grumpyrocker
@grumpyrocker.bsky.social

Don't rinse after brushing your teeth. It's one of the biggest differences you can make to your dental health. If I had known sooner I'd have more teeth now.

Omfg It’s Bunsz !@copaceticbunsz.com

If you’re over 30, quote this with some life advice 🤌🏼

Grumpyrocker
@grumpyrocker.bsky.social

Thames Water, how about you stick it up your arse and fuck off while you're doing it.

The Guardian@theguardian.com

Thames Water asks for £2.4bn more to avoid going bust this year or early 2027

theguardian.comThames Water asks for £2.4bn more to avoid going bust this year or early 2027Water company tells creditors it will not survive long enough to agree refinancing deal without more money Thames Water has asked its creditors for another £2.4bn as the embattled water company comes close to running out of cash. The UK’s largest water company said on Thursday it needed another short-term cash injection because it would be unable to reach a longer-term deal to sort out its giant debt pile before running out of cash by “the end of 2026 or the start of 2027”. Continue reading...
Grumpyrocker
@grumpyrocker.bsky.social

The new OLED Rog Ally X Z20 does look cool. But if you're happy streaming from another machine or online, then there are much cheaper options. My Redmagic Astra tablet has a 2k 165Hz OLED screen. And about the third of the price of the Z20. The tablet can even run PC games via Gamehub.